Fast response of lake plankton and nutrients to river inundations on floodplain lakes

Key variables in ecosystems tend to operate on widely different time‐scales. These time‐scales become relevant when a disturbance rocks the ecosystem. Here we try to explain the fast dynamics of plankton and nutrients in the water column of floodplain lakes after disturbances (inundations). We take advantage of natural experiments, that is occasional massive overflow of floodplain lakes with river water. We sampled 10 lakes in two floodplains along the Dutch river Waal monthly for 3 years, capturing the impact of three inundation events. The inundations reset the plankton as well as chemical composition of most lakes to largely the same state. While biologically inert macro‐ion data reflected a large and long lasting impact of the river water, dynamics of nutrients, phytoplankton and zooplankton communities between lakes diverged in a few weeks to regimes characteristic for the different lakes. While one spring inundation synchronized plankton dynamics to let the subsequent clear water phase occur at the same moment in different lakes, winter inundations did not have the same effect and apparently dynamics quickly diverged. Our results showed that effects of inundations and other processes that affect the state of the ecosystem should be studied considering the level of the slow components such as the sediment nutrient pool, fish stock and macrophyte communities. Plankton communities and lake water nutrient status give a practically instantaneous reflection of the condition of these slow components. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Channel forms and vegetation adjustment to damming in a Mediterranean gravel‐bed river (Serpis River,Spain)

This paper focuses on the analysis of changes observed in channel morphology in the Serpis River (Alicante, Spain), a gravel‐bed river dammed since 1958. The paper analyses flow series and several aerial images, prior and subsequent to dam construction, to analyse changes in channel morphology and vegetation colonisation using Geographical Information Systems (GIS) techniques. Results show a concatenation of morphological changes throughout an adjustment sequence (60 years), which started with the transformation from wandering to single thread channel pattern, was followed by a slow vegetation encroachment, and culminated with the stabilization of channel migration. The role of vegetation (particularly Salicaceae species) has been critical in controlling floods' effectiveness, reducing river mobility and shifting, and consolidating a channel planform model adapted to the post‐dam flow conditions.     

Impact of damming the Mogi-Guaçu River (São Paulo State, Brazil) on reservoir limnological variables

This study examined the effects of the damming of the Mogi‐Guaçu River (São Paulo State, Brazil) on the surface current velocity, water temperature, Secchi disc transparency, turbidity, colour, conductivity, pH and concentrations of nutrients and pigments. Surface‐water samples were taken before, during and after the reservoir was filled. Three sampling sites were established, one in the upper reach of the reservoir, one in the central area of the reservoir and one downstream from the dam. An additional sampling site was established on the Peixe River, the major tributary of the Mogi‐Guaçu in the study area. After filling of the reservoir, the surface current velocity tended to decrease, excepting downstream of the dam. The pH, and the Kjeldahl nitrogen, ammonia and chlorophyll‐a concentrations, tended to increase. The nitrite concentrations increased mainly in the upper reach and central area of the reservoir. The Secchi disc transparency and colour tended to decrease. A decreasing trend in dissolved oxygen concentration was observed mainly at the central area of reservoir. The conductivity tended to decrease, later returning to levels observed prior to reservoir filling. The nitrate, total phosphorus and orthophosphate concentrations exhibited an increasing trend after reservoir filling, followed by a decreasing concentration, reaching lower levels than those found prior to reservoir filling. High phaeophytin concentrations were measured for the filling phase. The observed water quality changes for Mogi‐Guaçu Reservoir generally were not as extreme as those observed for other tropical reservoirs. This trend was related to the operation of the reservoir. As Mogi‐Guaçu Reservoir is a run‐of‐the‐river reservoir with a short water retention time, the flooded area is not extensive and the retention of material and sedimentation upstream from the dam is not remarkable. These facts explain the small water quality changes observed for most of the variables after reservoir filling. The water quality decreased at the in‐lake site in the central part of the reservoir, attaining a hypereutrophic condition. This fact was related to the ageing of the reservoir and to cultural eutrophication.     

基于动力学与物质条件的泥石流阻塞大河综合判据

受强震与极端天气事件的影响,泥石流阻塞大河事件呈急剧上升趋势,以往的研究多数针对泥石流堵断小河的物理过程,所建立的公式不适用于主河强水流作用下的泥石流阻塞大河问题.本文参考了Takahashi提出的泥石流在坡度变化沟道中的运动方程,考虑泥石流汇入主河后动力过程受主河水流阻力影响的因素,建立了泥石流进入主河后的运移距离计算公式;基于岷江典型河段实测和泥石流堵河水槽模型试验,确定了泥石流物质总量与堵塞系数之间的关系式;大直剪试验表明,当大颗粒体积比达到50%时,粗细混合料的抗剪强度由大颗粒所决定,据此提出堰塞坝形成稳定坝体的条件是抗水流冲刷的大颗粒所占比例达到50%以上,并通过现场资料对这一结论进行了验证.从而建立了基于泥石流在大河中运移距离、泥石流物质总量及泥石流体颗粒组构条件的泥石流阻塞大河综合判据.     

Spatial and seasonal variations in phytoplankton community structure in alkaline–saline Lake Nakuru,Kenya

Spatial and seasonal variations of phytoplankton, expressed in terms of species composition, cell density, biovolumes and biomass, collected at 10 sampling sites in alkaline–saline Lake Nakuru, Kenya, were investigated monthly from March 2004 to February 2005, in relation to selected physical and chemical water quality parameters. A total of eight species, belonging to five genera and three classes, were recorded. The Cyanophyceae comprised the bulk of the phytoplankton, followed by Euglenophyceae, while Bacillariophyceae were the least abundant. Arthrospira fusiformis was the most dominant species, in terms of density, among the Cyanophyceae, while Euglena spp. and Navicula elkabs dominated the Euglenophyceae and Bacillariophyceae density, respectively. Seasonal variations in phytoplankton species composition, density and biomass were significant (P < 0.05) with minimum cell density and biomass occurring during the dry season, and being maximum following the end of the two rainy seasons from May to November 2004, suggesting the possible influence of various environmental factors on the lake. Sampling sites located close to the inlets of inflowing rivers exhibited significantly (P < 0.05) higher phytoplankton cell density and biomass than those by the inshore sites. Soluble reactive phosphorus, ammonia‐nitrogen, conductivity and total alkalinity accounted for most of the variations in the cell densities of phytoplankton species.     

The effect of damming on biological quality according to macroinvertebrates in some Estonian streams,Central—Baltic Europe: A pilot study

The effect of damming on the structure of the macroinvertebrate community and biological quality was studied in nine (the 3–6th order) lowland streams of Estonia, Central—Baltic ecoregion of Europe. Four habitats—reservoirs with accumulated fine sediments, reservoirs with hard bottom, and two corresponding below‐dam areas (both fast‐flowing)—were compared to study whether and how significantly the bottom substrata in dammed areas affected macroinvertebrates and biological quality downstream of dams. The standard kick‐net samples (1.25 m², complemented with qualitative sample) were collected in autumn 2005—spring 2006. The multimetric biological quality, based on five macroinvertebrate indices (total taxa richness, EPT taxa richness, Average Score Per Taxon, Danish Stream Fauna Index, Shannon diversity) was estimated and compared with reference values. Biological quality in reservoirs with hard bottom and their downstream reaches corresponded to good, or even high quality. Conversely, damming affected biological quality significantly and negatively, above the dam if fine sediments were accumulated. The effect was the strongest within muddy reservoirs themselves (revealing moderate quality only). However, some harmful consequences of mud were observed also downstream of dams. The results also demonstrated that the indices of estimation of organic pollution and/or general quality were able to reflect significant changes in stream flow. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Importance of environmental flow on feeding and distribution of juvenile Labeobarbus species in the Gumara River,Lake Tana Sub-basin,Ethiopia

The tributary rivers of Lake Tana are important nursery grounds for larvae and juveniles of the migratory endemic Labeobarbus species, but very little is known about their functional habitat and feeding preferences. This study investigated nursery grounds, habitat shifts, and potential energy sources for juvenile Labeobarbus species. Electrofishing point abundance sampling for juvenile sampling and stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ¹³C) and nitrogen (δ¹⁵N) were applied to trace potential energy sources. Habitat use shifting was observed among labeobarbus size classes from weak or no flow pool to fast-flowing riffle mesohabitats. The young-of-the-year (YOY) were mainly found in microhabitats with a weak to moderate water velocity (i.e., < 0.3 m s^?1), while 1⁺ juveniles (>7 cm FL) adapted to velocities of > 0.3 m s^?1. Juveniles suffered from limited access to run and riffle habitats during the peak dry season (March-April). They were subsequently exposed to resource competition and predation risk which led to lower catches. Juveniles of different size classes used different food sources. C1 (<3 cm) and C3 (5.1–7 cm) size classes mainly relied on algal sources, while C2 (3 – 5 cm) and C4 (>7 cm) on zooplankton. Insect larvae were a relatively important source for larger juveniles. Maintaining appropriate flow that permits juveniles to access preferred foraging and nursery habitat in the Gumara River is crucial for the sustainable management and conservation of the Labeobarbus population in Lake Tana.     

Macroinvertebrate assemblages along a land-use gradient in the upper River Njoro watershed of Lake Nakuru drainage basin, Kenya

A study was conducted in the upper reaches of the River Njoro watershed to test the impacts of changing land‐use patterns, from predominantly forest to pasture and agriculture, on benthic macroinvertebrate communities. Stream sampling sites were chosen to correspond to the main offstream land uses, including forests, grazing, small‐scale agriculture, and intensive agriculture. Physicochemical variables were measured at each sampling site, and from collected water samples. Sampled macroinvertebrates were identified, and taxon diversity, richness, evenness and dominance were estimated for each site. Higher mean temperatures were recorded at the grazed and cultivated sites, compared to the forested sites. Higher ammonia concentrations were characteristic of the grazed parts of the watershed, while higher mean total phosphorus and total nitrogen concentrations were observed at the intensively cultivated sites. Baetis and Simulidae composed 65% by number of all the invertebrates collected. They dominated the benthos of the cultivated sections of the watershed, where they formed up to 75% of the observed invertebrate numbers. However, higher mean diversities, richness and evenness were recorded at forested sites, with a few taxa (notably Lepidostoma hirtum, Potamon sp., Leptophlebia sp. and Helodidae) being restricted to these unpolluted reaches, although many other taxa were common to all sites. Our findings suggest that a change from forestry to agriculture and grazing land uses have affected the physicochemical environment of the River Njoro, leading to a reduction in the diversity and evenness of benthic macroinvertebrates.     

Preference by juvenile Chinese sucker Myxocyprinus asiaticus,for substrate colour in zero versus slow velocity regimes suggest a change in habitat preference of wild juveniles after damming the Yangtze river

Habitat preference of benthic riverine juvenile Chinese sucker, Myxocyprinus asiaticus, a protected species in China, is poorly understood. This situation makes it difficult to evaluate the potential impacts on juveniles after river alteration. To better understand the impact of damming, we studied preference of cultured juvenile Chinese sucker (7.90–8.55 cm, standard length) for dark versus light substrate colours in 2 velocity regimes: zero velocity (like on a reservoir bottom) and in a slow water current of 0.15–0.19 cm/s (like on the bottom of a slow flowing stream). In the slow current regime, juveniles chose black substrate during the day and night. This likely represents the natural substrate preference by wild suckers in a river. However, in the zero velocity regime, juveniles chose a black substrate during the day, but switched preference to a white substrate at night. The results suggest wild juveniles in the natural Yangtze River have evolved a preference for a black substrate during the day and night. However, after the river was impounded by the Three Gorges Dam and bottom velocity changed to a static regime, juveniles in the reservoir changed substrate colour preference and now prefer a light‐coloured substrate colour at night. Thus, damming likely caused a major behavioural change by juveniles. The adaptive significance and effect on fitness of this change in habitat preference is not known but should be investigated as wild Chinese sucker continue to decline in abundance.     

Variations in zooplankton community structure and water quality conditions in three habitat types in northern Lake Victoria

Lake Victoria is vulnerable to increasing eutrophication, which has become manifested in ecological changes not yet fully understood. From October 2009 to January 2010, the influence of water quality on zooplankton community structure in three habitats in northern Lake Victoria, including sewage lagoons at the lake shores, Napoleon Gulf (NG) and the interface between the lake and the Nile River (also known as Source of the Nile River), was examined. Selected physico‐chemical parameters (dissolved oxygen concentration; water temperature; electrical conductivity; water depth) were measured in‐situ, while water samples were collected for chlorophyll‐a determinations. Zooplankton was sampled with conical plankton net (mesh size 60 μm; 0.25‐m mouth diameter). The NG and Source of the River Nile (SN) sampling sites exhibited significantly higher species richness, relative to the Sewage Lagoons (SL) site (F_2,69 = 68.533; P < 0.05). Higher mean densities and dry biomass of zooplankton was generally a characteristic of the SL site (8715 ± 3241 ind L^?1; 1862 ± 451 μg L^?1), compared to the NG (119 ± 24 ind L^?1; 53 ± 8 μg L^?1) and SN sites (151 ± 26 ind L^?1; 58 ± 9 μg L^?1). Copepoda constituted a high numerical composition of the zooplankton at the NG and SN sites (>90% for both sites), while Rotifera dominated the zooplankton community at the SL site (97%). The mean values (±SE) of soluble reactive phosphorus (4060.7 ± 776.6 μg L^?1) and nitrate–nitrogen (2121.7 ± 355.5 μg L^?1) were much higher for the SL site, compared with the SN (8.2 ± 1.1 μg L^?1; 28.6 ± 5.3 μg L^?1, respectively), and NG site (7.8 ± 0.8 μg L^?1; 32.7 ± 5.4 μg L^?1, respectively). This study indicated the nutrient‐rich conditions observed at the SL site suppress the zooplankton species diversity, but favour species‐specific abundance and biomass. These study results indicate the zooplankton community structure can be used as a biological indicator of water quality in the Lake Victoria region.     

The three Rs of river ecosystem resilience: Resources,recruitment, and refugia

Resilience in river ecosystems requires that organisms must persist in the face of highly dynamic hydrological and geomorphological variations. Disturbance events such as floods and droughts are postulated to shape life history traits that support resilience, but river management and conservation would benefit from greater understanding of the emergent effects in communities of river organisms. We unify current knowledge of taxonomic‐, phylogenetic‐, and trait‐based aspects of river communities that might aid the identification and quantification of resilience mechanisms. Temporal variations in river productivity, physical connectivity, and environmental heterogeneity resulting from floods and droughts are highlighted as key characteristics that promote resilience in these dynamic ecosystems. Three community‐wide mechanisms that underlie resilience are (a) partitioning (competition/facilitation) of dynamically varying resources, (b) dispersal, recolonization, and recruitment promoted by connectivity, and (c) functional redundancy in communities promoted by resource heterogeneity and refugia. Along with taxonomic and phylogenetic identity, biological traits related to feeding specialization, dispersal ability, and habitat specialization mediate organism responses to disturbance. Measures of these factors might also enable assessment of the relative contributions of different mechanisms to community resilience. Interactions between abiotic drivers and biotic aspects of resource use, dispersal, and persistence have clear implications for river conservation and management. To support these management needs, we propose a set of taxonomic, phylogenetic, and life‐history trait metrics that might be used to measure resilience mechanisms. By identifying such indicators, our proposed framework can enable targeted management strategies to adapt river ecosystems to global change.     

Using hydroacoustics to relate fluctuations in fish abundance to river restoration efforts and environmental conditions in the Penobscot River,Maine

Quantifying change after large habitat restoration efforts is critical to assessing the effort's success. After river restoration activities, fish abundance is expected to increase and also fluctuates naturally by season and with environmental conditions. A side‐looking hydroacoustic system was used to estimate fish abundance in the Penobscot River, ME, from 2010 to 2016 during predam (2010–2013) and postdam (2014–2016) removal years during nonice periods. Automated data processing enabled continuous abundance estimates from fish tracks. A threefold increase in mean fish abundance was recorded after dam removal. A fourfold increase in median fish abundance occurred in the fall relative to spring and summer of the same year, regardless of dam presence. Interannual fish abundance in every season monitored increased at least twofold after dam removal. We related variability in fish abundance to tide, discharge, temperature, diurnal cycle, daylength, moon phase, and restoration activities (focusing on dam presence). Daylength corresponding to the fall and summer was the most important indicator for higher fish abundance. Fish abundance was generally greatest in the fall during outgoing tides at night, with lesser peaks occurring during the month of June at night. Before dam removal, fish abundance peaked when water temperature was less than 9.25°C, at night, during outgoing tides. After dam removal, fish abundance peaked when daylength was less than 11.3 hr, at night, during outgoing tides, when water temperature was above 4.56°C and no full moon was present. Peak fish abundance occurred during only 0.02–2.3% of the total time sampled. The threefold increase in fish abundance recorded after dam removal was observed despite yearly stocking efforts of adult alewife increasing 24% in postdam removal years. Finally, parallel studies of fish presence in the Penobscot River were used to compare the utility of this method as an indicator of fish abundance in response to dam removal.     

涡河中下游浮游植物时空分布及成因

为探明涡河中下游水质状况,基于2016年12月至2017年9月涡河中下游4次监测的浮游植物和水质数据,利用物种优势度和多样性指数对浮游植物的时空分布特征进行定量分析。结果表明:涡河中下游的浮游植物主要表现出种类分布不均匀、不同河段差异性大等特点;涡河中下游共发现浮游植物7门89属种,以绿藻门和硅藻门为主;浮游植物的优势类群随季节变化较大,4次采样共发现16个优势物种,4个季节中绿藻门的优势种类均为最多;浮游植物Shannon-Wiener多样性指数水质评价等级显示涡河中下游整体污染程度呈转好趋势;冗余度分析表明环境因子对浮游植物时空分布总体变异的解释度为60.02%;温度、电导率和总磷是影响涡河中下游浮游植物时空分布的主要环境因子。     

Algal ecology and composition in the Garmat ali river,Iraq

Planktonic, epipelic and epiphytic algae were studied monthly, during the period from January to December 1985 in the Garmat ali river, a naturally regulated river draining to the al-Hammar marsh, Iraq. Chlorophyll-a, primary productivity and water quality variables were also measured. High light penetration was noticed during the winter and spring. The water is oligohaline, alkaline and very hard. Reactive nitrate was found in higher concentrations than nitrite, and there were low concentrations of reactive phosphate. Two peaks were noticed for chlorophyll-a concentrations during spring and autumn, whereas only one occurred during autumn for primary productivity. The study area may be characterized as typically mesotrophic. A total of 154 species of algae was identified, including 65, 89, 98 and 77 species of plankton, epipelic and epiphytic algae on Potamogeton lucens and on Ceratophyllum demersum, respectively. Only 25 species were common to all the different communities. Diatoms were the dominant group in the epipelic and epiphytic algae during the study period, as well as in the plankton during spring and autumn. Seasonal variations were clear in the total cell numbers of algae from different habitats.     

浙江5座水源水库浮游动物调查及水质评价

为研究浙江5座水源水库浮游动物群落结构特征及水质状况,分别于2014年8月(丰水期)和12月(枯水期)对浮游动物的群落组成、优势种、密度、生物量和多样性进行了调查分析。共鉴定出浮游动物53种,包括原生动物14种、轮虫18种、枝角类9种、桡足类12种,优势种为台湾温剑水蚤(Thermocyclopstaihokuensis)。水源水库物种年均密度和生物量分别为1088.85 ind./L和1.1 mg/L,丰水期(1869.49 ind./L和1.85 mg/L)明显高于枯水期(308.22 ind./L和0.35 mg/L)。运用香农威纳指数H'、Margalef物种丰富度指数d_M和Pielou均匀度指数J对5座中型水源水库综合评价,结果显示总体水质为清洁-轻污染水平,丰水期水质明显好于枯水期。     

不同降雨强度对亚热带水源水库浮游植物群落结构的影响及其驱动因子

为了解降雨事件对亚热带水库浮游植物群落结构的影响,于2022年5月和6月分别在两次不同强度降雨期间进行浮游植物采集调查。结合浮游植物门分类和功能群分类方法,运用非度量多维尺度分析（NMDS）探究两次降雨以及降雨前后浮游植物群落的差异性,并采用冗余分析（RDA）和方差分析（VPA）探明浮游植物群落结构演替的驱动因子。结果表明：共检出浮游植物8门69属125种,功能群划分为11种,其中S1、SN、MP和N为主要功能群。降雨Ⅰ和降雨Ⅱ前后浮游植物群落结构均发生了变化：降雨Ⅰ期间由蓝藻向硅藻演替,且雨期硅藻占优;降雨Ⅱ期间由蓝藻向硅藻和绿藻轻微演替,但蓝藻始终处于绝对优势地位。雨期功能群SN和S1丰度百分比减小,而MP或N丰度百分比增大,与蓝藻向硅藻或绿藻演替的变化特征一致。冗余分析和方差分析表明,混合层深度（Z_mix）、水温和营养盐共同驱动了浮游植物群落的演替,且门分类比功能群分类能更好地解释浮游植物群落变化。本文可为降雨条件下浮游植物的响应机制研究提供参考。     

山区中小型水库滑坡堵江预测及负效应分析

库区滑坡失稳易引起堵江事件,而堵江堰塞坝的高度则直接影响水库能否正常运营调度,特别是对中小型水库而言。综合前人对滑坡堵江的研究成果,以西南山区某中型水库库区滑坡堆积体为研究对象,假设滑坡失稳堵江为完全堵江,对滑坡堵江可能性进行预测,着重选取三种方法对滑坡堵江的高度进行预测,并讨论了滑坡堵江的负效应,从而完成对库区滑坡堵江的风险性预判。以此初步建立了针对山区中小型水库滑坡堵江预测的研究思路,以期为此类问题的分析提供参考。     

Responses of macroinvertebrate communities to river restoration in a channelized segment of the Shibetsu River,Northern Japan

The effects of restoration of channel meandering and of groyne structures on physical variables and river‐dwelling macroinvertebrates were examined in a lowland river, the Shibetsu River in Northern Japan. The lowland segment of the Shibetsu River, which previously meandered, was straightened by channelization and groynes installed on some portions of the channelized reach. In 2002, the channelization works were partly reversed to improve the degraded river ecosystem. Physical environment variables and macroinvertebrate community structure and composition were compared among reconstructed meanders and channelized reaches with and without groynes. The shear stress of the river edge in reconstructed meanders and groyne reaches was lower than that in a channelized reach. In addition, the edge habitat near the stream bank created by the reconstructed meander and groyne reaches had higher total density and taxon richness of macroinvertebrates than those of the channelized reach. Restoration provided a relatively stable edge habitat, contributing to the recovery of macroinvertebrate communities in such channelized lowland rivers. The placement of groynes can be an effective method of in‐stream habitat restoration for macroinvertebrates. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.