How does wildfire impact carbon delivery to peatland drainage networks?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Pickard ◽  
Stacey Felgate ◽  
Paula Fernandez Garcia ◽  
Peter Gilbert ◽  
Dan Mayor ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
C Sequestration ◽  
Dry Period ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressures ◽  
Sampling Locations ◽  
Drainage Networks ◽  
Blanket Bog ◽  
Climate Events ◽  
Land Types ◽  
Ecological Functioning

<p>Peatlands are a globally important carbon (C) store, although it is well understood that anthropogenic pressures including drainage can reduce potential for C sequestration, in part due to increased losses of C via the aquatic pathway. Superimposed onto land-use pressures on peatlands are those caused by extreme climate events. Following a drought in 2018 and a subsequent dry period in spring 2019, a large wildfire burnt approximately >60 km<sup>2</sup> of blanket bog and wet heath within the Flow Country peatlands, North Scotland in May 2019. The fire burned various peatland land types, including near-natural peatland and drained peatland areas. This event created an urgent opportunity to quantify the interacting effects of peat condition and wildfire on water quality, with a focus on dissolved organic matter (DOM) losses. An extensive water monitoring programme was established, covering 40 individual headwater stream sampling locations across the Flow Country, and monthly sampling ran from September 2019 to October 2020, with samples analysed for dissolved organic carbon (DOC), nutrients and UV-vis-based measurements to inform DOM composition. Initial data shows that samples from burned, drained areas are associated with higher DOC concentrations relative to both burned, near natural peatland areas, and unburned control sites. Furthermore the DOM from burned, drained sites is of a more aromatic nature, as indicated by elevated specific UV absorbance (SUVA), compared to unburned control sites. Such findings imply that wildfires may adversely affect water quality through changes DOM quantity and quality in areas of damaged (drained) peatland. However, more detailed compositional analyses are required to accurately predict changes in the ecological functioning of this peatland derived DOM as it enters the aquatic environment and, therefore, its likely end-fate.</p>

Influence of Anthropogenic Pressures on Groundwater Quality from a Rural Area

2017 ◽  
Vol 68 (8) ◽  
pp. 1744-1748
Author(s):  
Catalina Stoica ◽  
Gabriela Geanina Vasile ◽  
Alina Banciu ◽  
Daniela Niculescu ◽  
Irina Lucaciu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Anthropogenic Activities ◽  
Groundwater Resources ◽  
Bacterial Load ◽  
Animal Husbandry ◽  
Anthropogenic Factors ◽  
Contamination Level ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressures ◽  
Limit Values ◽  
Physico Chemical

During the past few decades, the anthropogenic activities induced worldwide changes in the ecological systems, including the aquatic systems. This work analysed the contamination level of groundwater resources from a rural agglomeration (Central-Western part of Prahova County) by biological and physico-chemical approaches. The study was performed during the autumn of 2016 on several sampling sites (four drilling wells, depth higher than 100 m supplying three villages; two wells lower than 10 m depth and one spring). The water quality was evaluated by comparison with the limit values of the drinking water quality legislation (Law no.458/2002) and the Order 621/2014 (applicable to all groundwater bodies of Romania). The results showed that phenols and metals (iron and manganese) exceeded the threshold values in all sampling sites. Moreover, the anthropogenic factors including agriculture, use of fertilizers, manures, animal husbandry led to an increase of the bacterial load, particularly at wells sites.

scholarly journals Catchment water quality in the year preceding and immediately following restoration of a drained afforested blanket bog

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul P. J. Gaffney ◽  
Mark H. Hancock ◽  
Mark A. Taggart ◽  
Roxane Andersen
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Nutrient Release ◽  
Pass Rate ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Peatland Restoration ◽  
Blanket Bog ◽  
Quality Threshold ◽  
Policy Incentives

AbstractThe restoration of drained afforested peatlands, through drain blocking and tree removal, is increasing in response to peatland restoration targets and policy incentives. In the short term, these intensive restoration operations may affect receiving watercourses and the biota that depend upon them. This study assessed the immediate effect of ‘forest-to-bog’ restoration by measuring stream and river water quality for a 15 month period pre- and post-restoration, in the Flow Country peatlands of northern Scotland. We found that the chemistry of streams draining restoration areas differed from that of control streams following restoration, with phosphate concentrations significantly higher (1.7–6.2 fold, mean 4.4) in restoration streams compared to the pre-restoration period. This led to a decrease in the pass rate (from 100 to 75%) for the target “good” quality threshold (based on EU Water Framework Directive guidelines) in rivers in this immediate post-restoration period, when compared to unaffected river baseline sites (which fell from 100 to 90% post-restoration). While overall increases in turbidity, dissolved organic carbon, iron, potassium and manganese were not significant post-restoration, they exhibited an exaggerated seasonal cycle, peaking in summer months in restoration streams. We attribute these relatively limited, minor short-term impacts to the fact that relatively small percentages of the catchment area (3–23%), in our study catchments were felled, and that drain blocking and silt traps, put in place as part of restoration management, were likely effective in mitigating negative effects. Looking ahead, we suggest that future research should investigate longer term water quality effects and compare different ways of potentially controlling nutrient release.

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

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

<p>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.</p><p>Here we examine bacterial and fungal communities across a spectrum of “intact” 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. </p><p> </p>

scholarly journals KUALITAS LINGKUNGAN PERAIRAN PANTAI DI SEKITAR LOKASI TAMBAK PERIKANAN KECAMATAN GEROKGAK KABUPATEN BULELENG BALI

2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 111
Author(s):  
Beny Mustofa ◽  
I Wayan Arthana ◽  
Ni Luh Watiniasih
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Research Method ◽  
Species Abundance ◽  
Field Research ◽  
Dominant Type ◽  
Blue Green Algae ◽  
Sampling Locations ◽  
Quality Of Waters ◽  
Better Than

The purpose of this study was to determine the quality of waters, community structure of phytoplankton and zooplankton around the fishponds waters of Gerokgak Subdistrict. This research was conducted for 2 months, from May to June 2019. There were three sampling locations, namely in Gerokgak, Patas and Sumberkima Villages. The research method used was field research using quantitative analysis of phytoplankton biological indice. The waters condition around the Gerokgak Subdistrict waters was rather polluted, except for the around Sumberkima Village waters. The quality of the waters of Sumberkima Village was better than that of Gerokgak Village and Patas Village waters. Plankton abundance in the waters of Sumberkima Village was slightly low. The highest abundance of plankton in the waters of Patas Village and the lowest in Gerokgak Village waters. The dominant type of plankton was Cyanophyceae (blue-green algae). Keywords: water quality; plankton; species; abundance.

scholarly journals Spatial model of water quality in Southeast Asian urban lake based on HBI using macrozoobenthos diversity as a proxy

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andri Wibowo
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Model Selection ◽  
Water Temperature ◽  
Spatial Model ◽  
Aquatic Organism ◽  
Biotic Index ◽  
Urban Lake ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressures ◽  
Robust Approach ◽  
Temperature Variable

AbstractUrban lake is one of ecosystem that has experienced anthropogenic pressures and this can affect its water quality. One of a robust approach to assess the water quality is by using Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI). This tool is quite versatile since it can be applied by using any aquatic organism as proxy including macrozoobenthos. This invertebrate group also has an advantage since it is common and easy to collect. Here this study is first, aiming to provide HBI based water quality spatial model using macrozoobenthos as a proxy applied in urban lake in West Java in Southeast Asia and second to seek the best model that can represent the water quality variables in particular dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, and temperature. Based on the spatial model and HBI, either inlet or outlet parts of the lake, it has better water quality in comparison to central parts. Based on HBI values, water quality in inlet and outlet parts (HBI = 6.7) is categorized as fair and poor (HBI = 6.9) for the central parts of the lake. The increase in HBI and decrease in water quality are positively correlated with the increase in water temperature variable in comparison to water DO and pH variables. Akaike model selection confirms that the macrozoobenthos diversity can be used as a proxy for increase in water temperature (Ψ)HBI (~temp)(AIC = −10.264) followed by combination of water temperature increase and decrease in DO(Ψ)HBI (~temp+DO)(AIC = −9.042398).

scholarly journals Assessment of Water Quality in Kuntaur, Central River Region, The Gambia

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 233-243
Author(s):  
Oladele Oyelakin ◽  
◽  
Mustapha Conteh ◽  
Osaro Iyekowa ◽  
Adjivon Anthony ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
The Gambia ◽  
World Health ◽  
Sampling Locations ◽  
River Region ◽  
National Environment ◽  
Environment Agency ◽  
Health Organization ◽  
Nitrite Nitrate

The study deals with twelve water quality parameters on twenty-four sampling locations in Kuntaur. Samples were collected from the both surface water and groundwater. Twelve parameters were: temperature, pH, conductivity, acidity, alkalinity, total dissolved solids, turbidity, iron, nitrite, nitrate, sulphate and phosphorus (orthophosphate). Nearly all the measured parameters fell within the standard reference of the various parameters. The standards were: National Environment Agency, NEA, (The Gambia), World Health Organization, WHO and European Union, EU, Standards.

scholarly journals Seasonal effects of wastewater to the water quality of the Caeté river estuary, Brazilian Amazon

2010 ◽  
Vol 82 (2) ◽  
pp. 467-478 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luci C.C. Pereira ◽  
Marcela C. Monteiro ◽  
Danielly O. Guimarães ◽  
Jislene B. Matos ◽  
Rauquírio M. da Costa
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
River Estuary ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Local Environment ◽  
Local Economy ◽  
Seasonal Effects ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Dry Period ◽  
Biological Resources

Bragança's socioeconomic situation is highly dependent on estuarine and marine biological resources that are influenced by tidal cycles and climatology. Field measurements (hydrological, hydrodynamic and microbiological variables) were taken in the most urbanized zone from Caeté estuary to characterise the quality of the local environment. During the dry period, the estuary was more eutrophic and presented the highest temperature (30.5 °C in Oct./06), salinity (17 psu in Feb./07), pH (8.24 in Feb./07) and fecal coliform (> 1000 MPN/100 ml in Dec./06 and Feb./07) values. The phytoplankton Cyclotella meneghiniana, Coscinodiscus centralis and other r-strategist species were observed. The lack of basic hydric canalization was responsible for the local contamination, especially during the dry period when more concentrated wastewater from the city was emitted into the estuary, showing the human influence on the reduction of local estuarine water quality. In Bragança, the fishery is considered one of the main economic activities so, this contamination is worrisome because a large part of the local economy depends on biological resources and, thus, the contamination could negatively affect the environmental health of this Amazon ecosystem.

scholarly journals Quality of water resources in the Niger basin and in the region of Lagos (Nigeria)

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olusegun Adeaga ◽  
Gil Mahe ◽  
Claudine Dieulin ◽  
Francoise Elbaz-Poulichet ◽  
Nathalie Rouche ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Water Resources ◽  
Trace Element ◽  
Quality Standards ◽  
Water Type ◽  
Metal Concentrations ◽  
Quality Of Water ◽  
Sampling Locations ◽  
Trace Element Contamination

AbstractWater quality studies in Nigeria are usually conducted at local scales and limited to a restricted number of chemical contaminants, while reliable data on trace metal concentrations (including arsenic) are relatively scarce. This study focuses on the quality of available renewable water resources in terms of major ion and trace element concentrations at selected sampling locations in the Lower River Niger basin and part of the Lagos region. A screening of water contamination by arsenic and heavy metals was carried out through water sampling at selected locations using in situ measurement and laboratory testing to estimate heavy metal concentrations and water type. The analysis reveals moderate trace element contamination of the water resources, with the exception of Pb, while Mn and, to a lesser extent, Al exceeded WHO quality standards, but the Arsenic concentrations are within drinking water quality standards and are safe for consumption and irrigation, while the water type is Bicarbonate.

scholarly journals Limnological characteristics of a hydrographic basin of the Brazilian semiarid region

2015 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 51-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodrigo Sávio Teixeira de Moura ◽  
Gustavo Gonzaga Henry-Silva
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Semiarid Region ◽  
Aquatic Environments ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressures ◽  
Longitudinal Gradient ◽  
Rainy Period ◽  
Hydrographic Basin ◽  
Water Characteristics ◽  
High Concentrations

AimThis study aimed to verify if the water characteristics of Apodi/Mossoró River basin aquatic environments are mainly determined by a longitudinal gradient or its rain regime.MethodsThrough one year quarterly sample expeditions were carried (August/2007 to May/2008), in 24 sampling stations. In each place, water samples were collected and direct parameters were measured. Concentrations of nutrients, biochemical oxygen demand and thermotolerant coliforms were determined. For ordination of the sampling stations and in order to find patterns in water quality was conducted a Principal Components Analysis.ResultsThe results showed that points inside urban agglomerates had depreciated water quality, with high concentrations of nutrients. In general, it was not possible to define a longitudinal gradient for the studied variables, probably due to anthropogenic interferences along the basin. Otherwise, the effect of rainy and dry seasons were marked, resulting in a grouping of the sampling stations during the dry months, mainly due to the raised values of nutrients and biochemical oxygen demand.ConclusionIt could be concluded that in the rainy period a homogenizer effect occurred, not being verified the zonation of the hydrographic basin aquatic environments. The anthropogenic pressures probably contributed for the absence of a longitudinal gradient, since they generate disorders which modify the aquatic environments.

scholarly journals Assessment of the Ecological Health of Afrotropical Rivers Using Fish Assemblages: A Case Study of Selected Rivers in the Lake Victoria Basin, Kenya

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alfred O. Achieng ◽  
Frank O. Masese ◽  
Tracey J. Coffey ◽  
Phillip O. Raburu ◽  
Simon W. Agembe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Fish Species ◽  
Fish Assemblages ◽  
Lake Victoria ◽  
Principal Component ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Water Quality Parameters ◽  
Lake Victoria Basin ◽  
Anthropogenic Pressures ◽  
Species Tolerance

Streams and rivers are globally threatened ecosystems because of increasing levels of exploitation, habitat degradation and other anthropogenic pressures. In the Lake Victoria Basin (LVB) in East Africa, these threats are mostly caused by unsustainable land use; however, the monitoring of ecological integrity of river systems has been hampered by a lack of locally developed indices. This study assessed the health of four rivers (Nzoia, Nyando, Sondu–Miriu and Mara) on the Kenyan side of the LVB using physicochemical water quality parameters and a fish-based index of biotic integrity (IBI). Fish tolerance ranking was derived from principal component analysis of water quality parameters, and the concept of niche breadth (NB). The relationship between fish species and water quality parameters was examined with canonical correspondence analysis, whereas community metrics and stressors were evaluated through Pearson network correlation analysis. Fish species richness, trophic structures, taxonomic composition and species tolerance were used to generate the metrics for fish-based IBI. NB showed that most of the fish species were moderately tolerant to poor water. Moderately tolerant and intolerant fish species were negatively correlated with a high level of organic loading in the Mara River. Fish-based IBI scores for the rivers ranged from 26 to 34, with Sondu–Miriu scoring the lowest. Our results show that the cumulative effect of stressors can adequately rank fish species tolerance according to the disturbance gradients and further develop regional metrics to assess river health. Despite the fact that fish communities are declining, continual management and enforcement of environmental regulations are important, with conservation and management of headwaters and low-order streams being essential while they are still species rich.

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