scholarly journals Hypoxia in deep waters of moderately eutrophic marine lakes, Island of Mljet, eastern Adriatic Sea

2017 ◽  
Vol 81 (4) ◽  
pp. 431 ◽  
Author(s):  
Enis Hrustić ◽  
Svjetlana Bobanović-Ćolić

In this study, we explored the impact of eutrophication and stratification on hypoxia in deep waters of moderately warm Croatian marine lakes. Although the Mljet Lakes (MLs) are predominantly oligotrophic, mesotrophic conditions are present at depths below 20 m in the Small Lake (SL) and below 30 m in the Big Lake (BL), along with higher apparent oxygen utilization (AOU). Hypoxia at depths ≥ 25 m in SL and and ≥ 40 m in BL was observed between October 2009 and January 2010, and in SL in summer (July and September 2010). Significant differences (p < 0.05) in several physical, biological and chemical parameters were detected between the lakes, while AOU, derived oxygen utilization rate (OUR) and organic carbon remineralization rate (OCRR) were not significantly different (p >0.05) between the lakes. An intense and persistent pycnocline throughout the year, comparatively high water temperature, extended water renewal time and summer phytoplankton bloom were identified as physical and biological parameters which might have significantly contributed to increased frequency of hypoxic events in a shallow SL. Significantly (p < 0.05) higher ammonium concentration in SL, especially in its deep water, seems to be a long-term chemical feature related to the poor ventilation and higher sediment oxygen demand. At the current level of eutrophication and the present climate change trends, the MLs and similar systems may experience more persistent and intense stratification, which could further prevent mixing between upper and deep waters, likely leading to increasing duration of hypoxia and its negative impacts on the biodiversity of benthic communities.

1998 ◽  
Vol 38 (10) ◽  
pp. 23-30
Author(s):  
Sarah Jubb ◽  
Philip Hulme ◽  
Ian Guymer ◽  
John Martin

This paper describes a preliminary investigation that identified factors important in the prediction of river water quality, especially regarding dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration. Intermittent discharges from combined sewer overflows (CSOs) within the sewerage, and overflows at water reclamation works (WRW) cause dynamic conditions with respect to both river hydraulics and water quality. The impact of such discharges has been investigated under both wet and dry weather flow conditions. Data collected from the River Maun, UK, has shown that an immediate, transient oxygen demand exists downstream of an outfall during storm conditions. The presence of a delayed oxygen demand has also been identified. With regard to modelling, initial investigations used a simplified channel and the Streeter-Phelps (1925) dissolved oxygen sag curve equation. Later, a model taking into account hydrodynamic, transport and dispersion processes was used. This suggested that processes other than water phase degradation of organic matter significantly affect the dissolved oxygen concentration downstream of the location of an intermittent discharge. It is proposed that the dynamic rate of reaeration and the sediment oxygen demand should be the focus of further investigation.


1997 ◽  
Vol 48 (5) ◽  
pp. 445 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. I. Robertson ◽  
M. R. Healey ◽  
A. J. King

Two billabongs on the floodplain of the Murrumbidgee River, Australia, were partitioned in half with impermeable plastic barriers and the biomass of carp was manipulated to establish high- and low-carp biomass treatments in each billabong. Measurements of benthic variables (rates of particle settlement, biofilm development, sediment respiration, macrophyte detritus decomposition, sediment solid-phase nutrient concentrations and benthic algal biomass) were performed over four months from summer to winter 1995. Rates of particle settlement were greater in the high-carp treatment of each billabong throughout the experiment. High carp biomass had a negative impact on the autotrophic component of the biofilm developing on wood blocks placed at different heights above the sediment surface but the mechanism responsible differed between billabongs. Sediment oxygen demand became greater in the presence of a higher biomass of carp during the experiment but time courses differed between billabongs. Manipulations of carp biomass did not influence algal biomass on the sediment surface, the rate of decomposition of macrophyte detritus or sediment solid-phase nutrients or nutrient ratios. The impact of carp on benthic and surficial processes was significant but the mechanisms of change differed between billabongs.


2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (9) ◽  
pp. 1593 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lynda Radke ◽  
Tony Nicholas ◽  
Peter A. Thompson ◽  
Jin Li ◽  
Eric Raes ◽  
...  

Surficial marine sediments are an important source of nutrients for productivity and biodiversity, yet the biogeochemistry of these sediments is poorly known in Australia. Seabed samples were collected at >350 locations in Australia’s western, northern and eastern continental margins during Federal Government surveys (2007–14). Parameters analysed included measures of organic matter (OM) source (δ13C, δ15N and C:N ratios), concentration (percentage total organic carbon,%TOC, and surface area-normalised TOC, OC:SA) and bioavailability (chlorin indices, total reactive chlorins, total oxygen uptake, total sediment metabolism (TSM), sediment oxygen demand (SOD) and SOD and TSM normalised against TOC). The aim of the present study was to summarise these biogeochemical ‘baseline’ data and make contextualised inferences about processes that govern the observed concentrations. The OM was primarily from marine sources and the OC:SA broadly reflected water column productivity (based on Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, MODIS). Approximately 40% of sediments were organic poor by global standards, reflecting seawater oligotrophy; ~12% were organic rich due to benthic production, high water column productivity and pockmark formation. OM freshness varied due to pigment degradation in water columns and dilution with refractory OM in reworked sediments. δ15N values confirmed the importance of N2 fixation to Timor Sea productivity, and point to recycling of fixed nitrogen within food chains in Western Australia.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivier Aumont ◽  
Marco van Hulten ◽  
Matthieu Roy-Barman ◽  
Jean-Claude Dutay ◽  
Christian Ethé ◽  
...  

Abstract. The marine biological carbon pump is dominated by the vertical transfer of Particulate Organic Carbon (POC) from the surface ocean to its interior. The efficiency of this transfer plays an important role in controlling the amount of atmospheric carbon that is sequestered in the ocean. Furthermore, the abundance and composition of POC is critical for the removal of numerous trace elements by scavenging, a number of which such as iron are essential for the growth of marine organisms, including phytoplankton. Observations and laboratory experiments have shown that POC is composed of numerous organic compounds that can have very different reactivities. Yet, this variable reactivity of POC has never been extensively considered, especially in modeling studies. Here, we introduced in the global ocean biogeochemical model NEMO-PISCES a description of the variable composition of POC based on the theoretical Reactivity Continuum Model proposed by (Boudreau and Ruddick, 1991). Our model experiments show that accounting for a variable lability of POC increases POC concentrations in the ocean’s interior by one to two orders of magnitude. This increase is mainly the consequence of a better preservation of small particles that sink slowly from the surface. Comparison with observations is significantly improved both in abundance and in size distribution. Furthermore, the amount of carbon that reaches the sediments is increased by more than a factor of two, which is in better agreement with global estimates of the sediment oxygen demand. The impact on the major macro-nutrients (nitrate and phosphate) remains modest. However, iron (Fe) distribution is strongly altered, especially in the upper mesopelagic zone as a result of more intense scavenging: Vertical gradients in Fe are milder in the upper ocean which appears to be closer to observations. Thus, our study shows that the variable lability of POC can play a critical role in the marine biogeochemical cycles which advocates for more dedicated in situ and laboratory experiments.


2013 ◽  
Vol 69 (6) ◽  
pp. 1136-1144 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Drewnowski

The hydrolysis process of slowly biodegradable substrate (XS) has an impact on the efficiencies of nutrient removal in activated sludge systems. Measurement of oxygen utilization rates (OURs) and corresponding chemical oxygen demand (COD) is accepted as a very useful tool to reflect the consumption of biodegradable substrates. The influence of the SS fraction in biological wastewater treatment systems has been extensively investigated, but little information is known about the effects of XS on OUR. The aim of this study was to determine the immediate effects of particulate and colloidal (XS) biodegradable compounds on oxygen utilization for a full-scale process mixed liquor from a large wastewater treatment plant located in northern Poland. Since it is difficult to distinguish XS in a direct way, a novel procedure, based on the standard batch tests, was developed and run in parallel reactors with settled wastewater (SWW) and pretreated SWW samples. Two types of aerobic OUR experiments with low and high substrate/biomass (S0/X0 ratio) concentration, were carried out with the SWW without pretreatment, and pretreated with a coagulation–flocculation (C–F) method. The removal of colloidal and particulate fractions by C–F resulted in reduced process rates. The major discrepancy in the rate reductions (over 300% referred to the OURmax) was observed during the OUR batch test with high S0/X0 ratio.


1984 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 459-473
Author(s):  
T. P. Halappa Gowda ◽  
R. J. Dewey

The Thames River water management study report, prepared in 1975 by the Ontario Ministries of Natural Resources and Environment, recommended the construction of the Glengowan Dam primarily for flow augmentation to improve the river water quality (Recommendation No. 1). As part of the environmental impact assessment of the proposed dam, detailed water quality prediction studies were carried out using deterministic and stochastic models to evaluate the impact of the proposed flow augmentation and wastewater loading options. The river receives treated wastewater effluents from five water pollution control plants (WPCP) in the study area, all located within the City of London. The processes simulated by the models include advection, decay of carbonaceous and nitrogenous oxygen demand (CBOD and NOD), sediment oxygen demand, atmospheric reaeration, and respiration and photosynthetic activity of aquatic macrophyte community. The options modelled include (a) projected CBOD and NOD loading rates from the five WPCP's for the planning period 1981–2001; (b) low flows attainable with augmentation from existing Fanshawe reservoir and the proposed Glengowan Dam; and (c) zero loadings to the Thames River from WPCP's, attainable with effluent bypassing to Lake Erie. The results of the modelling studies are presented in this paper. Key words: water quality, dissolved oxygen, flow augmentation, environmental assessment, Glengowan Dam, Thames River Basin, deterministic model, stochastic model.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. 554
Author(s):  
Sung-Han Kim ◽  
Jae-Seong Lee ◽  
Kyung-Tae Kim ◽  
Hyung-Chul Kim ◽  
Won-Chan Lee ◽  
...  

Sediment oxygen demand (SOD) and benthic nutrient fluxes (BNFs) were measured using an in situ benthic chamber at a fish farm (FF), oyster farm (OF), and controls (FF-C and OF-C) to assess the impact of aquaculture activities on organic carbon (OC) and nutrients cycles in coastal waters of Korea. The SOD at FF and OF ranged from 60 ± 2 to 157 ± 3 mmol m−2 d−1 and from 77 ± 14 to 84 ± 16 mmol m−2 d−1, respectively, more than five times those of the control sites. The SOD at farm sites is highly correlated with fish stock and food input, suggesting that excess feed input is an important control factor for OC remineralization. The combined analysis of sediment trap and SOD indicates that most of the deposited OC oxidized in the sediment and/or was laterally transported by the current before being buried in the sediment. The benthic nutrient fluxes at farms ranged from 5.45 to 8.95 mmol N m−2 d−1 for nitrogen and from 0.51 to 1.67 mmol P m−2 d−1 for phosphate, respectively, accounting for 37–270% and 52–804% of the N and P required for primary production in the water column. These results indicate that aquaculture farming may profoundly impact biogeochemical cycles in coastal waters.


2017 ◽  
Vol 14 (9) ◽  
pp. 2321-2341 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olivier Aumont ◽  
Marco van Hulten ◽  
Matthieu Roy-Barman ◽  
Jean-Claude Dutay ◽  
Christian Éthé ◽  
...  

Abstract. The marine biological carbon pump is dominated by the vertical transfer of particulate organic carbon (POC) from the surface ocean to its interior. The efficiency of this transfer plays an important role in controlling the amount of atmospheric carbon that is sequestered in the ocean. Furthermore, the abundance and composition of POC is critical for the removal of numerous trace elements by scavenging, a number of which, such as iron, are essential for the growth of marine organisms, including phytoplankton. Observations and laboratory experiments have shown that POC is composed of numerous organic compounds that can have very different reactivities. However, this variable reactivity of POC has never been extensively considered, especially in modelling studies. Here, we introduced in the global ocean biogeochemical model NEMO-PISCES a description of the variable composition of POC based on the theoretical reactivity continuum model proposed by Boudreau and Ruddick (1991). Our model experiments show that accounting for a variable lability of POC increases POC concentrations in the ocean's interior by 1 to 2 orders of magnitude. This increase is mainly the consequence of a better preservation of small particles that sink slowly from the surface. Comparison with observations is significantly improved both in abundance and in size distribution. Furthermore, the amount of carbon that reaches the sediments is increased by more than a factor of 2, which is in better agreement with global estimates of the sediment oxygen demand. The impact on the major macronutrients (nitrate and phosphate) remains modest. However, iron (Fe) distribution is strongly altered, especially in the upper mesopelagic zone as a result of more intense scavenging: vertical gradients in Fe are milder in the upper ocean, which appears to be closer to observations. Thus, our study shows that the variable lability of POC can play a critical role in the marine biogeochemical cycles which advocates for more dedicated in situ and laboratory experiments.


1988 ◽  
Vol 20 (11-12) ◽  
pp. 131-136 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. D. Wong ◽  
C. D. Goldsmith

The effect of discharging specific oil degrading bacteria from a chemostat to a refinery activated sludge process was determined biokinetically. Plant data for the kinetic evaluation of the waste treatment plant was collected before and during treatment. During treatment, the 500 gallon chemostatic growth chamber was operated on an eight hour hydraulic retention time, at a neutral pH, and was fed a mixture of refinery wastewater and simple sugars. The biokinetic constants k (days−1), Ks (mg/L), and K (L/mg-day) were determined before and after treatment by Monod and Lineweaver-Burk plots. Solids discharged and effluent organic concentrations were also evaluated against the mean cell retention time (MCRT). The maximum utilization rate, k, was found to increase from 0.47 to 0.95 days−1 during the operation of the chemostat. Subsequently, Ks increased from 141 to 556 mg/L. Effluent solids were shown to increase slightly with treatment. However, this was acceptable due to the polishing pond and the benefit of increased ability to accept shock loads of oily wastewater. The reason for the increased suspended solids in the effluent was most likely due to the continual addition of bacteria in exponential growth that were capable of responding to excess substrate. The effect of the chemostatic addition of specific microbial inocula to the refinery waste treatment plant has been to improve the overall organic removal capacity along with subsequent gains in plant stability.


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