Comparing Wetland Ecosystems Service Provision under Different Management Approaches: Two Cases Study of Tianfu Wetland and Nansha Wetland in China

The largest blue-green infrastructures in industrialized, urbanized and developed regions in China are often multiuse wetlands, located just outside growing urban centers. These areas have multiple development pressures while providing environmental, economic, and social benefits to the local and regional populations. Given the limited information available about the tradeoffs in ecosystem services with respect to competing wetland uses, wetland managers and provincial decision makers face challenges in regulating the use of these important landscapes. In the present study, measurements made by citizen scientists were used to support a comparative study of water quality and wetland functions in two large multiuse wetlands, comparing areas of natural wetland vegetation, tourism-based wetland management and wetland agriculture. The study sites, the Nansha and Tianfu wetlands, are located in two of the most urbanized areas of China: the lower Yangtze River and Pearl River catchments, respectively. Our results indicated that the capacity of wetlands to mitigate water quality is closely related to the quality of the surrounding waters and hydrological conditions. Agricultural areas in both wetlands provided the lowest sediment and nutrient retention. The results show that the delivery of supporting ecosystem services is strongly influenced by the location and use of the wetland. Furthermore, we show that citizen scientist-acquired data can provide fundamental information on quantifying these ecosystem services, providing needed information to wetland park managers and provincial wetland administrators.

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Managing the small stream network for improved water quality, biodiversity and ecosystem services protection (SSNet)

Research Ideas and Outcomes ◽

10.3897/rio.5.e33400 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

Author(s):

Mary Kelly-Quinn ◽

Michael Bruen ◽

Jens Carlsson ◽

Angela Gurnell ◽

Helen Jarvie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Ecosystem Services ◽

Environmental Protection Agency ◽

Nutrient Retention ◽

Integrated Approach ◽

Stream Network ◽

Management Options ◽

Small Stream ◽

Biological Water ◽

Small Streams

This paper outlines the research being undertaken by the recently-initiated four-year (to March 2022) project on the small stream network in Ireland (SSNet) funded by the Irish Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The overarching objective of SSNet is to advance knowledge on the role of small streams in water quality, biodiversity and ecosystem services protection that will inform policy, measures and management options to meet water quality and other resources protection targets. The project will start with a synthesis of available information on the importance of small streams to initiate communication with stakeholders and introduce the project. This will be followed by a compilation and analysis of existing data on small streams in Ireland to inform the selection of sites for the proposed research. Three work packages will collect new data on hydrochemistry with a focus on the nutrient retention potential of headwater streams, hydromorphology and biodiversity. All three investigations will share common sites to enable interconnections between the three elements to be explored and provide an integrated approach to the research. Modelling based on the results from each of the aforementioned tasks will be used to estimate the level of intervention in the small stream network required to have measurable effects throughout a catchment on both water quality (N, P & sediment) and flows, and overall delivery/maintenance of ecosystem services. We will also engage volunteers in both biological water quality and hydromorphological assessments and evaluate the potential of citizen science in facilitating greater monitoring coverage of the small stream network.

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Connections and Feedback: Aquatic, Plant, and Soil Microbiomes in Heterogeneous and Changing Environments

BioScience ◽

10.1093/biosci/biaa046 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 70 (7) ◽

pp. 548-562 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Walter K Dodds ◽

Lydia H Zeglin ◽

Robert J Ramos ◽

Thomas G Platt ◽

Aakash Pandey ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Harmful Algal Blooms ◽

Algal Blooms ◽

Crop Production ◽

Nutrient Retention ◽

Anthropogenic Factors ◽

Aquatic Habitats ◽

Plant Soil ◽

Gas Fluxes ◽

Management Approaches

Abstract Plant, soil, and aquatic microbiomes interact, but scientists often study them independently. Integrating knowledge across these traditionally separate subdisciplines will generate better understanding of microbial ecological properties. Interactions among plant, soil, and aquatic microbiomes, as well as anthropogenic factors, influence important ecosystem processes, including greenhouse gas fluxes, crop production, nonnative species control, and nutrient flux from terrestrial to aquatic habitats. Terrestrial microbiomes influence nutrient retention and particle movement, thereby influencing the composition and functioning of aquatic microbiomes, which, themselves, govern water quality, and the potential for harmful algal blooms. Understanding how microbiomes drive links among terrestrial (plant and soil) and aquatic habitats will inform management decisions influencing ecosystem services. In the present article, we synthesize knowledge of microbiomes from traditionally disparate fields and how they mediate connections across physically separated systems. We identify knowledge gaps currently limiting our abilities to actualize microbiome management approaches for addressing environmental problems and optimize ecosystem services.

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Modelling the Impacts of Aquaculture in Wetland Ecosystems for Sustainable Aquaculture Management: An Integrated Ecosystem Approach

International Journal of Engineering & Technology ◽

10.14419/ijet.v7i4.34.23887 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 7 (4.34) ◽

pp. 197

Author(s):

Roseliza Mat Alipiah ◽

Fathilah Ismail ◽

Siti Aisyah Saat ◽

Ahmad Puad Mat Som

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Wetland Management ◽

Anthropogenic Activities ◽

Status Quo ◽

Management Approach ◽

Wetland Ecosystem ◽

Management Scenarios ◽

Wetland Ecosystems ◽

Ordinal Ranking ◽

Intensive Aquaculture

This research integrates information from both environmental and social sciences to inform effective management of the wetlands. A three-stage research framework was developed for modelling the drivers and pressures imposed on the wetlands and their impacts to the ecosystem and the local communities. Firstly, a Bayesian Belief Network (BBN) was used to predict the probability of anthropogenic activities affecting the delivery of different key wetland ecosystem services under different management scenarios. Secondly, Choice Experiment (CE) was used to quantify the relative preferences which key wetland stakeholder group (aquaculturists) held for delivery of different levels of these key ecosystem services. Thirdly, a Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) was applied to produce an ordinal ranking of the alternative management scenarios accounting for their impacts upon ecosystem service delivery as perceived through the preferences of the aquaculturists. This integrated ecosystem management approach was applied to a wetland ecosystem in Setiu, Terengganu, Malaysia which currently supports a significant level of aquaculture activities. This research has produced clear guidelines to inform policy makers considering alternative wetland management scenarios: Intensive Aquaculture, Conservation or Ecotourism, in addition to the Status Quo. The findings of this research are as follows. The BBN revealed that current aquaculture activity is likely to have significant impacts on water column nutrient enrichment, but trivial impacts on caged fish biomass, especially under the Intensive Aquaculture scenario. Secondly, the best fitting CE models identified several stakeholder sub-groups for aquaculturists, each with distinct sets of preferences for the delivery of key ecosystem services. Thirdly the MCDA identified Conservation as the most desirable scenario overall based on ordinal ranking in the eyes of most of the stakeholder sub-groups. Ecotourism and Status Quo scenarios were the next most preferred and Intensive Aquaculture was the least desirable scenario. The methodologies developed through this research provide an opportunity for improving planning and decision making processes that aim to deliver sustainable management of wetland ecosystems in Malaysia.

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A Survey of Nursery Water Quality Best Management Practices

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.33.3.501e ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 33 (3) ◽

pp. 501e-502

Author(s):

Cody J. White ◽

Michael A. Schnelle ◽

Gerrit W. Cuperus

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Best Management Practices ◽

Management Practices ◽

Cultural Practices ◽

Plant Materials ◽

Best Management ◽

Employee Safety ◽

Current Water ◽

Management Approaches ◽

Environmentally Sound

A survey was designed to assess high-risk areas with respect to environmental contamination, specifically how it relates to water quality. Oklahoma growers of all economic levels, retail and/or wholesale, were queried at their place of business for their current state of implementing best management practices (BMPs) and other strategic actions that could potentially affect current and future water quality standards. Specific areas such as the physical environment of the nursery, primary pesticides and fertilizers used, Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices, and employee safety training were covered as well as other aspects germane to preserving and protecting current water quality and related environmental issues. More than 75 nurseries were surveyed and given the opportunity to participate in future training at Oklahoma State Univ. Results indicated that nurseries have not fully implemented many BMPs, but have adopted fundamental IPM approaches. The stage is set for the implementation of the next phase of expansion and refinement into ecologically based programs such as propagation and sale of low pesticide input plant materials, improved cultural practices, and the integration of environmentally sound management approaches. As an example, many growers are in the process of phasing out calendar-based pesticide application programs in favor of aesthetic and/or economic threshold-driven pesticide spray programs.

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Smart Nutrient Retention Networks: a novel approach for nutrient conservation through water quality management

Inland Waters ◽

10.1080/20442041.2020.1870852 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-16

Author(s):

Dianneke van Wijk ◽

Sven Teurlincx ◽

Robert J. Brederveld ◽

Jeroen J. M. de Klein ◽

Annette B. G. Janssen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Quality Management ◽

Water Quality Management ◽

Nutrient Retention ◽

Novel Approach ◽

Nutrient Conservation

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The Wetland Contract as a Tool for Successful Wetland Governance: A Case Study of Ljubljansko Barje Nature Park, Slovenia

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su13010425 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (1) ◽

pp. 425

Author(s):

Katarina Polajnar Horvat ◽

Ales Smrekar

Keyword(s):

Wetland Management ◽

Stakeholder Participation ◽

Shared Responsibility ◽

Economic Activities ◽

Wetland Ecosystems ◽

Positive Effects ◽

Management And Development ◽

Nature Park ◽

Ljubljansko Barje

Our research focuses on implementing multilevel governance of wetlands to achieve an effective participatory process and its overall positive effects on wetland ecosystems and their protection as well as on local sustainable development. The aim of the research is to develop a methodology for establishing the Wetland Contract, a voluntary agreement to foster sustainable management and development of wetlands, to ensure greater coordination and consensus building between various stakeholders involved in management and to limit conflicts between preservation issues and economic activities in wetlands. The Wetland Contract and the integration process for establishing it in Ljubljansko barje Nature Park proved itself able to overcome conflicts between institutional and legal jurisdiction and is showing itself to be a dynamic path capable of activating a desirable relationship between various interests and supporting new forms of multi-sectoral stakeholder participation in wetland management. It has also contributed to a dialogue and shared responsibility among stakeholders.

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Validation of the ecosystem services of created wetlands: Two decades of plant succession, nutrient retention, and carbon sequestration in experimental riverine marshes

Ecological Engineering ◽

10.1016/j.ecoleng.2014.09.108 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 72 ◽

pp. 11-24 ◽

Cited By ~ 56

Author(s):

William J. Mitsch ◽

Li Zhang ◽

Evan Waletzko ◽

Blanca Bernal

Keyword(s):

Ecosystem Services ◽

Carbon Sequestration ◽

Nutrient Retention ◽

Plant Succession ◽

Created Wetlands

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The Use of Biological Indices for the Assessment of the River Quality (Ruda River, Poland)

Ecological Chemistry and Engineering S ◽

10.1515/eces-2017-0020 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 24 (2) ◽

pp. 285-298 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Aneta Spyra ◽

Justyna Kubicka ◽

Małgorzata Strzelec

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Benthic Invertebrates ◽

Ecological Status ◽

Field Studies ◽

Human Pressure ◽

Dam Reservoir ◽

River Quality ◽

Water Field ◽

Study Sites

AbstractRecognition of the deteriorating conditions of rivers worldwide has called for increased efforts to improve the ecological quality of impacted river systems. This is particularly important in areas that have suffered from a significant impact of human pressure on the ecological status of water. Field studies were conducted in the Ruda River in an area that had undergone anthropogenic disturbances. The objectives of our survey were to test the biological metrics based on benthic macroinvertebrates at four study sites. Spring and autumn surveys of benthic invertebrates indicated that based on the BMWP and BMWP(PL) indices, water quality was higher in comparison with the value of Multimetric index at all of the sites that were studied. Our results revealed that the water quality was higher at the study sites that are located above the dam reservoir based on both the chemical and biological parameters. This study also indicated that both spring and autumn constitute appropriate periods for carrying out monitoring studies. The values of multimeric index indicated the same water quality (except for site 1) in both sampling periods. Anthropogenic transformations of a riverbed influence the flora and fauna and affect the ecological status of rivers.

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The Hidden Half: Linking microbial communities to habitat condition and vegetation management in UK blanket bogs

10.5194/egusphere-egu21-11861 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

William Burn ◽

Andreas Heinemeyer ◽

Thorunn Helgason ◽

David Glaves ◽

Michael Morecroft

Keyword(s):

Water Quality ◽

Ecosystem Services ◽

Microbial Communities ◽

Structural Equation ◽

Management Strategies ◽

Vegetation Management ◽

Equation Model ◽

Habitat Condition ◽

Blanket Bog ◽

The Uk

Peatlands are globally valued for the ecosystem services they deliver, including water quality regulation and carbon sequestration. In the UK, blanket bogs are the main peatland habitat and previous work has linked blanket bog management, especially rotational burning of heather vegetation on grousemoors, to impacts on these ecosystem services. However, we still lack a mechanistic, process-level understanding of how peatland management and habitat status is linked to ecosystem service provision, which is mostly driven by soil microbial processes.Here we examine bacterial and fungal communities across a spectrum of &#8220;intact&#8221; to degraded UK blanket bogs and under different vegetation management strategies. Sites included grousemoors under burnt and alternative mown or uncut management along with further locations including 'near intact', degraded and restored sites across a UK climatic gradient ranging from Exmoor (South UK), the Peak District (Mid) to the Flow Country (North). Moreover, an experiment was setup at the University of York with peat mesocosms taken from all sites and management/habitat conditions to allow a comparison between field and controlled conditions and assessing root-mediated processes. Using a structural equation model, we linked grousemoor management to specific fungal/bacterial functional groups, and have started to relate this to changes in water quality provision and carbon cycle aspects. This represents a significant step in the effort to use microbial communities as indicators of peatland habitat condition in UK upland blanket bogs.&#160;&#160;

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