Decades needed for ecosystem components to respond to a sharp and drastic phosphorus load reduction

Lake Tegel is an extreme case of restoration: inflow treatment reduced its main external phosphorus (TP) load 40-fold, sharply focused in time, and low-P water flushed the lake volume ≈ 4 times per year. We analysed 35 years of data for the time TP concentrations took to decline from ≈ 700 to 20–30 µg/l, biota to respond and cyanobacteria to become negligible. The internal load proved of minor relevance. After 10 years, TP reached 35–40 µg/l, phytoplankton biomass abruptly declined by 50% and cyanobacteria no longer dominated; yet 10 years later at TP < 20–30 µg/l they were below quantifiable levels. 20–25 years after load reduction, the lake was stably mesotrophic, macrophytes had returned down to 6–8 m, and vivianite now forms, binding P insolubly in the sediment. Bottom-up control of phytoplankton through TP proved decisive. Five intermittent years with a higher external P load caused some ‘re-eutrophication’, delaying recovery by 5 years. While some restoration responses required undercutting thresholds, particularly that of phytoplankton biomass to TP, resilience and hysteresis proved irrelevant. Future research needs to focus on the littoral zone, and for predicting time spans for recovery more generally, meta-analyses should address P load reduction in combination with flushing rates.

Model of Estimating the Aquaculture Carrying Capacity for Shallow-Water Tidal Embayments. Model application to Ben Beo bay, Cat Ba island, Hai Phong

Abstracts: Model was developed to estimate the production carrying capacity of water bodies based on nutrient inputs from aquacultures, flushing rates and the risk of algal blooms for Shallow-Water Tidal Embayments. Model was applied to Ben Beo bay, Cat Ba island, Hai Phong.The calculations suggest that nutrient loadings from cage-culture practices in 2017 were greater than the carrying capacity of Ben Beo during low and average tidal exchange. The emission of nutrients by fish cultures in 2008 into water body was greater than the sustainable carrying capacity. The aquaculture production in Plan has not overcome Ben Beo’s carrying capacity even during low tidal exchange. However, during neap tide, carrying capacity has been able to overcome Keyword: Carrying capacity, nutrient, aquacultures

A glimpse into the littoral nutrient dynamics of a lake system connected to the sea

In South Africa more than 80% of estuaries are small, dynamic and predominantly linear systems. Nutrient characteristics in these systems are mostly influenced by external catchment processes, except during extended periods of closure. However, a small percentage of the country’s estuaries (< 3%) comprise larger estuarine lakes mostly evolved from drowned river valleys. The physical properties of these systems suggest relatively low flushing rates, and the potentially stronger influence of in-situ processes on nutrient characteristics. This study investigates dissolved inorganic nutrient dynamics in the littoral zones of these estuarine lake systems, and potential influencing factors, using the Wilderness Lake System as a case study. Comparison of inter-annual and seasonal trends in dissolved inorganic nutrients (NOx-N, NH4-N and PO4-P) in river inflow and in the three lakes confirmed that external catchment fluxes are most likely not the sole, or even the dominant drivers of average long-term or seasonal dissolved inorganic nutrient patterns in the lake littoral zones. Relatively low NOx:NH4 ratios (mostly less than 1) in the lakes (especially in Eilandvlei and Langvlei) indicated a stronger influence of in-situ processes, such as bacteriological remineralisation, similar to observations in other lake type systems with low flushing rates. Low NO3:NH4 ratios are known to stimulate cyanobacteria, having the metabolic ability to potentially produce microcystins. Therefore, incremental dissolved inorganic nutrient and organic matter enrichment may cause these systems to tip into eutrophic, possibly toxic, aquatic states that will be difficult, if not impossible, to reverse given their weak flushing mechanisms. The findings from this study highlight the importance of appropriate water resource management, both in the catchments and within the floodplains of estuarine lake systems.

Impact of filamentous cyanobacteria on the water quality of two tropical reservoirs

ABSTRACT Artificial lakes play an important role in water availability in tropical semi-arid Northeastern Brazil. However, in addition to the negative effects that dams have on the water quality of rivers, other practices such as discharge of untreated wastewater, intensive crop fertilization and fish farming have been contributing to water quality deterioration. Climate change may be another driver of water quality decrease. Increases in precipitation and drought intensities as well as temperature increase may redefine the dynamics of planktonic communities and favour species more adapted to the new environment. Water samples were collected in two reservoirs selected based on the recurrence of positive results for saxitoxins, Acarape do Meio (AM) and Sitios Novos (SN). In general, diversity in SN (1.08) was higher than in the AM (0.60). Phytoplankton dynamics in these reservoirs differ from other reservoirs in the same region of Brazil, in the sense that filamentous cyanobacteria are dominant. Furthermore, lower diversity, concentration and richness of chlorophyceae and bacillariophyceae were found in both reservoirs. Increase in diversity was observed during the intense rainy season of 2011, suggesting a slight improvement of water quality. A close inverse correlation between Cylindrospermopsis sp and other cyanobacteria was found in SN (R2= –0.862) and in AM (R2= –0.997) and the data collected demonstrates that a season with intensive rainfall may lead to lower cyanobacteria concentrations probably due to water dilution and higher flushing rates.

Sunda Shelf Seas: flushing rates and residence times

The region of the Sunda Shelf has an average depth of approx. 48 m and is subject to many physical and biogeochemical processes with a strong impact from human activities. For the investigation of marine environmental water properties and quality, it is helpful to have an idea about exchange rates of water masses in the different parts of this region. Four numerical models, the global hydrodynamical model MPI-OM, the global hydrological model MPI-HM, the regional hydrodynamical model HAMSOM and a Lagrangian tracer model have been utilized to estimate the flushing rates and residence times in different seas on the Sunda Shelf. Using decadal averaged monthly transports, the commonly used flushing rate formula gives rates for the different months of approximately 40 to 70 days for the entire Sunda Shelf. For most parts of it (Malacca Strait, southern South China Sea, Java Sea), the results are similar, while for the Gulf of Thailand, the flushing rates amount to 80 to 170 days. The tracer model provides quite different but very detailed 3-D pictures with residence times of below 30 days to more than two years, depending on the location within the region, on the starting layer and on the season.

The Port Clearance Test: Why It Is Important to Clinicians

Understanding proper chamber flushing volume for each port manufacturer and port chamber shape is of value to both clinicians and patients. Failing to follow adequate flushing volumes may lead to sludge buildup and further complications. By sampling the chamber flushing volume of ports of various shapes from different manufacturers, we were able to assess cumulative volume flushing rates using a mixture approximating the viscosity of blood. The data collected highlight the relationship between chamber shape, flushing volume, and flow rate and why it is important that manufacturers recommend adequate flushing volumes specific to each port.