Qinghua Cai

Changes in benthic algal communities following construction of a run-of-river dam

Abstract Ecological responses to dam construction are poorly understood, especially for downstream benthic algal communities. We examined the responses of benthic algal communities in downstream reaches of a tributary of the Xiangxi River, China, to the construction of a small run-of-river dam. From February 2003 to August 2006, benthic algae, chemical factors, and habitat characteristics were monitored upstream and downstream of the dam site. This period spanned 6 mo before dam construction and 37 mo after dam construction. Benthic algal sampling yielded 199 taxa in 59 genera that belonged to Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta, and Cyanophyta. Some physical factors (flow velocity, water depth, and channel width) and 3 algal metrics (diatom species richness, Margalef diversity, and % erect individuals) were significantly affected by the dam construction, whereas chemical factors (e.g., NH4-N, total N, SiO2) were not. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMS) ordinations showed that overall algal assemblage structure downstream of the dam sites was similar to that of upstream control sites before dam construction and for 1 year after dam construction (p > 0.05). However, sites belonging to upstream and downstream reaches were well separated on NMS axis 1 during the 2nd and 3rd years after dam construction. Our results suggest that impacts of dam construction on benthic algal communities took 2 to 3 y to emerge. Further development of a complete set of indicators is needed to address the impact of small-dam construction. Our observations underscore the need for additional studies that quantify ecological responses to dam construction over longer time spans.

Daily Dynamics of Nutrients and Chlorophyll a during a Spring Phytoplankton Bloom in Xiangxi Bay of the Three Gorges Reservoir

ABSTRACT We studied the daily dynamics of nutrients (total phosphorus [TP], total nitrogen [TN], and dissolved silicate [SiO2]) and chlorophyll a (chl a) during a spring bloom in Xiangxi Bay of the Three Gorges Reservoir in year 2005. According to the daily dynamics of chl a, the bloom occurred in two stages (23 February–25 March and 26 March–28 April). The concentration of SiO2 decreased at different layers of the water column with the development of the bloom. However, the decrease of SiO2 in the layers with high concentration of chl a was more dramatic than in the layers with low concentration of chl a. The concentration of TP was lowest value a few days after the peak of chl a during the first bloom period, and the lowest value of TN was found a few days after the peak of chl a during the second bloom period. Correlative analyses indicated that SiO2 and TP were limiting factors in the first bloom period, and SiO2 and TN were limiting factors in the second bloom period.

Impacts of cascade run-of-river dams on benthic diatoms in the Xiangxi River, China

The ecological effects of small run-of-river dams on aquatic ecosystems are poorly understood, especially on downstream benthic algal communities. We examined impacts of such dams on the benthic diatom community at a regional scale in the Xiangxi River, China. A total of 90 sites were visited, which were divided into five habitats (H1–H5) according to impact extent of each dam. Using partial least squares (PLS) modeling, we developed two predictive models (diatom species richness and total diatom density) based on environmental variables of an unregulated habitat (H1). These models were then used to predict species richness and total densities at impacted habitats (H2–H5) and residuals, i.e. the differences between observed and predicted values, were used to evaluate impact strength of flow regulation. Significant impacts of flow regulation on diatom species richness were detected at three impacted habitats (H3–H5), where observed species richness were significantly higher—70.6, 63.9 and 46.6%, respectively—than predicted values. Then, possible mechanisms for observed impacts were discussed. Further research is necessary to address the potential negative impacts of cascade run-of-river dams on other aquatic organisms in different seasons, and to explore more appropriate mechanisms for such impacts, which may lead to sustainable management strategies and help to determine the optimal ecological water requirement for the Xiangxi River.

Distribution of epilithic algae in the Xiangxi River system and their relationships with environmental factors

ABSTRACT The spatial pattern of epilithic algae in the Xiangxi River system was studied in relation to several environmental factors by two-way indictor species analysis (TWINSPAN), detrended correspondence analysis (DCA), and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). Eighty-nine taxa including diatoms, green algae, and blue-green algae were observed. Diatoms were dominant, and Cocconeis placentula, Cymbella minuta, Diatoma vulgare, and Gomphonema angustatum appeared in most of sampling sites. By TWINSPAN and DCA, thirty-one sites were divided into three groups based on composition and relative richness of benthic algae. CCA indicated that SiO2, pH, total phosphorus, Ca2+, velocity, elevation, and Cl− were significant environmental factors affecting the distribution of algae communities. In this minimal subset, SiO2 and pH were the most influential variables.

Phytoplankton development and ecological status during a cyanobacterial bloom in a tributary bay of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China.

Reservoirs can provide suitable conditions for cyanobacterial bloom development, which may impact on water quality and biological communities. Weekly surveys in a cyanobacterial bloom process were carried out in the mainstream and Xiangxi Bay of the Three Gorges Reservoir (China), from June 6 to July 18 in 2008. By application of the phytoplankton functional group approach, the spatiotemporal pattern, impact factors, and the ecological status based on Q index (assemblage index) were analyzed. The depth of euphotic layer was apparently the key factor driving the phytoplankton functional group variations. Longitudinal patterns of phytoplankton distribution were detected during this bloom: in the beginning phase, groups D (mainly Stephanodiscus hantzschii) and B (Cyclotella stelligera) dominated in the mainstream of the Three Gorges Reservoir and the mouth area of Xiangxi Bay, group Y (Cryptomonas species) dominated in the upper area, while groups J (mainly Pediastrum duplex), F (mainly Sphaerocystis schroeteri) and G (Pandorina morum and Eudorina elegans) were important in other areas; in the mid phase, group M became absolutely dominant in the whole region; and in the ending phase, besides groups M and Y, groups X2 (Chroomonas acuta, Pyramimonas nanella, etc.) and Lo (Ceratium hirundinella) became more important in the lower and upper area respectively. Generally the ecological status was bad, temporally varied with the bloom process. No spatial difference of ecological status was found in the mainstream, while longitudinal patterns in Xiangxi Bay were detected for different phases: firstly a few sites had relatively better status than the others, then nearly all the sites were in the bad condition, and at last the status in the downstream was better than that in the upstream. The longitudinal patterns of ecological status were related to phytoplankton distribution, disturbed by jacking from the downstream and flood from the upstream of Xiangxi Bay.

Benthic algae of the Xiangxi River, China

ABSTRACT From June 2000 to June 2002, four sites on the mainstem of the Xiangxi River and one site on each of its major tributaries were sampled 16 times each for benthic algae. All total, 223 taxa (most to species and variety levels) were found (193 Bacillariophyta, 20 Chlorophyta, nine Cyanophyta and one Xanthophyta). The diatoms Cocconeis placentula, Achnanthes linearis, and Diatoma vulgare dominated the system, with relative abundance of 33.3%, 18.8%, and 6.4%, respectively. The abundances of all the other taxa were under 5%, and 210 taxa collectively contributed less than 1% of the total abundance. Taxa diversity peaked in winter and reached a minimum in summer. Species richness varied considerably but was not significantly different over time. Maximum algal density occurred in later winterlspring (1.4x109 ind./m2) but was not significantly different from the minimum density, which occurred in August. Chlorophyll a showed similar seasonal fluctuation but also was not significantly different over time. Canonical correspondence analysis demonstrated that water hardness, depth, conductivity, and alkalinity had important influences on variation of epilithic algae in the Xiangxi River system.

Effects of Reservoir Mainstream on Longitudinal Zonation in Reservoir Bays

ABSTRACT Spatial longitudinal zonation in reservoir bays is poorly documented, and most published papers considered that longitudinal zonation in bays is similar to that in reservoirs. Our results from analyses of the benthic macroinvertebrate community in the bays of the Three-Gorges Reservoir, China, showed that a typical bay contains four distinct zones—one more zones than a reservoir. This newly distinguished zone lies along the mouth stretch of a reservoir bay, and we call it a mainstream zone because it is disturbed by the reservoir mainstream. The mainstream zone is characterized by a lower standing crop and a more unstable macroinvertebrate community than in the lacustrine zone. Longitudinal zonation of reservoir bays is related to their lengths, and lacustrine zones develop only where the bay is sufficiently long. Similar to reservoirs, longitudinal zonation in bays is also dynamic and is to some extent influenced by the ages of bays and seasons.

Distribution of the Macroinvertebrate Communities in the Xiangxi River System and Relationships with Environmental Factors

ABSTRACT Surveys of macroinvertebrates were carried out in the Xiangxi River system during July of 2001. Among the 121 taxa collected, Ephemeroptera, Trichoptera, and Diptera dominated (41.7, 26.0, and 24.5% of the total relative abundance, respectively). Two-way indictor species analysis and detrended correspondence analysis divided the 49 sites into four groups based on species composition and relative abundance. Canonical correspondence analysis indicated that elevation, SiO2, pH, conductivity, hardness, and NO2-N were significant environmental factors affecting the distribution of macroinvertebrates.

Species richness in a riparian plant community along the banks of the Xiangxi River, the Three Gorges region

The distribution of vascular plant species richness along an altitudinal gradient and their relationships with environmental variables, including slope, aspect, bank (flooding) height, and river width of the Xiangxi River, Hubei Province, were examined. Total vascular plant species richness changed with elevation: it increased at lower elevations, reached a maximum in the midreaches and decreased thereafter. In particular, tree and herbaceous species richness were related to altitude. Correlation analysis (Kendalls τ) between species richness and environmental variables indicated that the change in species richness in the riparian zone was determined by riparian environmental factors and characteristics of regional vegetation distribution along the altitudinal gradient. The low species richness at lower elevations resulted from seasonal flooding and human activities – agriculture and fuel collection – and the higher species richness in the midreaches reflected transitional zones in natural vegetation types that had had little disturbance. These results on species distribution in the riparian community could be utilized as a reference for restoration efforts to improve water quality of the emerging reservoir resulting from the Three Gorges Hydroelectric Dam project.

Spring Diatom Blooming Phases in a Representative Eutrophic Bay of the Three-Gorges Reservoir, China

ABSTRACT We investigated dynamics of the phytoplankton community and abiotic factors in Xiangxi Bay of the Three-Gorge Reservoir, China, by daily sampling a specific site during a spring algal bloom (February 23-April 28, 2005). Among the 76 taxa observed, Asterionella formosa and Cyclotella spp. were the dominants, accounting for 47.2% and 29.9% of the total abundance, respectively. We determined the five distinct developing phases of the bloom by analyzing the dissimilarity of physicochemical parameters. Simultaneously, six phytoplankton community groups were distinguished by TWINSPAN classifications. The pattern for algal community succession was similar to that for the bloom phase shift, and the structural complexity of communities significantly decreased over time. Water temperature and silicate were the main factors that related to the development of the bloom and the shifts of the phytoplankton community.