Shengrui Wang

The response of water quality variation in Poyang Lake (Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China) to hydrological changes using historical data and DOM fluorescence

Poyang Lake is a unique wetland system that has evolved in response to natural seasonal fluctuations in water levels. To better characterize the response of water quality to hydrological variation, historical data were analyzed in combination with dissolved organic matter (DOM) fluorescence samplings conducted in situ. Historical data showed that long-term changes in water quality are mainly controlled by the sewage inputs to Poyang Lake. Monthly changes in water quality recorded during 2008 and 2012 suggest that water level may be the most important factor for water quality during a hydrological year. DOM fluorescence samples were identified as three humic-like components (C1, C2, and C3) and a protein-like component (C4). These obvious compositional changes in DOM fluorescence were considered to be related to the hydrodynamic differences controlled by water regimen. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed higher C1 and C2 signals during a normal season than the wet season, whereas C3 was lower, and C4 was higher in the dry season than in the wet or normal seasons. From the open lake to the Yangtze River mouth, increased C3 component carried by backflows of the Yangtze River to the lake resulted in these unique variations of PCA factor 2 scores during September. These obvious compositional changes in DOM fluorescence were considered to be related to the hydrodynamic differences controlled by water regimen. DOM fluorescence could be a proxy for capturing rapid changes in water quality and thereby provide an early warning signal for the quality of water supply.

Element remobilization, “internal P-loading,” and sediment-P reactivity researched by DGT (diffusive gradients in thin films) technique

Labile P, Fe, and sulfide with the high spatial resolution in sediment porewater of five sites (A–E) of Dianchi Lake (China) were measured at same locations using AgI/Chelex-100, Chelex-100, and ferrihydrite DGT (diffusive gradients in thin films) probes. DGT derived P/Fe/S concentrations in sediment porewater on millimeter or sub-millimeter scale in order to reveal the element remobilization process and the mechanism of “internal P-loading” of sediments in Dianchi Lake. Decomposition of alga biomass in the uppermost sediment layer and the reductive dissolution of Fe-bound P in the anoxic sediment were the two main processes causing P release. A dynamic numerical model-DIFS (DGT-induced flux in sediments) was used to assess sediment-P reactivity (capacity of solid pool and rate of transfer) and P release risk by kinetic parameter—TC (1089∼20,450xa0s), distribution coefficient—Kd (167.09∼502.0xa0cm3xa0g−1), resupply parameter—R (from 0.242 to 0.518), and changes of dissolved/sorbed concentration, R and M at the microzone of DGT/porewater/sediment.

Molecular characterization of lake sediment WEON by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry and its environmental implications

The compositional properties of water-extractable organic nitrogen (WEON) affect its behavior in lake ecosystems. This work is the first comprehensive study using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) for the characterization of the molecular composition of WEON in lake sediment. In sediments of Erhai Lake in China, this study found complex WEON species, with N-containing compounds in the northern, central, and southern regions contributing 34.47%, 42.44%, and 40.6%, respectively, of total compounds. Additionally, a van Krevelen diagram revealed that lignin components were dominant in sediment WEON structures (68% of the total), suggesting terrestrial sources. Furthermore, this study applied ESI-FT-ICR-MS to the examination of the environmental processes of lake sediment WEON on a molecular level. The results indicated that sediment depth impacted WEON composition and geochemical processes. Compared with other ecosystems, the double bond equivalent (DBE) value was apparently lower in Erhai sediment, indicating the presence of relatively fewer and smaller aromatic compounds. In addition, the presence of a large number of N-containing species and abundant oxidized nitrogen functional compounds that were likely to biodegrade may have further increased the potential releasing risk of WEON from Erhai sediment under certain environmental conditions.

Characteristics of dissolved organic phosphorus inputs to freshwater lakes: A case study of Lake Erhai, southwest China

In this study, we made the first estimate of the annual dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) load to Lake Erhai, a typical mesotrophic-eutrophic lake in China. We also evaluated what proportion of DOP was bioavailable using enzymatically hydrolyzable phosphorus (EHP), and further assessed the potential impacts of DOP on lake water quality. We estimated that the annual DOP load into Lake Erhai accounted for nearly 50% of total dissolved phosphorus, while EHP accounted for about 30% of the bioavailable phosphorus (BAP) pool. The DOP load increased and accounted for a greater proportion of total dissolved phosphorus and BAP loads during the wet season, and helped maintain algal blooms. Inflowing rivers were the main source of DOP with high bioavailability to Lake Erhai, especially in the wet season. The EHP concentrations of the inflowing rivers were positively correlated with algal biomass. The observation suggests that, as a significant source of BAP, the contribution of the DOP load to eutrophication of the lake should not be ignored, especially given the low soluble reactive phosphorus concentrations in the lake water during the algal biomass period. Information on the contributions from different pollution sources is needed to support the development of effective P pollution control strategies. Short-term strategies to protect Lake Erhai include better management of the inflowing rivers, especially in the northern part during the wet season, while, over the long-term, strategies to decrease P release from lake sediments should be considered.

DGT induced fluxes in sediments model for the simulation of phosphorus process and the assessment of phosphorus release risk.

Diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT)-induced flux in sediments (DIFS) (DGT-DIFS) model for phosphorus (P) has been investigated to provide a numerical simulation of a dynamic system of the DGT–pore water–sediment in Dianchi Lake (China). Kinetic parameter—TC (33–56,060xa0s), distribution coefficient—Kd (134.7–1536xa0cm3g−1), and resupply parameter—R (0.189–0.743) are derived by DGT measurement, the sediment/pore water test, and the DIFS model. The changes of dissolved concentration in DGT diffusive layer and pore water and sorbed concentration in sediment, as well as the ratio of CDGT and the initial concentration in pore water (R) and mass accumulated by DGT resin (M) at the DGT–pore water–sediment interface (distance) of nine sampling sites during DGT deployment time (t) are derived through the DIFS simulation. Based on parameter and curves derived by the DIFS model, the P release-transfer character and mechanism in sediment microzone were revealed. Moreover, the DGT-DIFS parameters (R, TC, K−1, CDGT), sediment P pool, sediment properties (Al and Ca), and soluble reactive P (SRP) in overlying water can be used to assess “P eutrophication level” at different sampling sites with different types of “external P loading.” The DGT-DIFS model is a reliable tool to reveal the dynamic P release in sediment microzone and assess “internal P loading” in the plateau lake Dianchi.

Role of hydrological conditions on organic phosphorus forms and their availability in sediments from Poyang Lake, China

Biogeochemical cycling of internal bioavailable organic phosphorus (OP) is an important source for algal bloom after exogenous P inputs are controlled. Biogeochemical cycling may be affected by hydrological processes and the water cycle and eventually result in water quality deterioration and accelerated lake eutrophication. Poyang Lake is the largest freshwater lake in China. The hydrological condition of the lake has significantly changed since 2003, thereby causing a continuous decline in water level. In this study, sediments were obtained from different elevations and different hydrological conditions in Poyang Lake. The sediments were subjected to sequential extraction and enzymatic hydrolysis to determine the transformation of OP into various chemical forms, their bioavailability, and the exchange between the sediments and overlying water. Results suggested that the descending water level caused by the changes in hydrological conditions was one of the major factors affecting OP dynamics. Long exposure of sediments resulted in high OP content and increased availability. The increased OP content in exposed sediments was primarily derived from H2O-Po and NaOH-EDTA-Po. Moreover, the increased OP availability in exposed sediments was mainly attributed to the increasing amount of orthophosphate caused by processes governing sediment exposure, promotion of OP release, and transformation of chemical forms from nonlabile to labile. Sediment exposure time and area have considerably expanded since 2003; hence, the amounts of OP and orthophosphate in the sediments have increased by as much as 600 and 120 tons in the lake every year, respectively. Although the increase in orthophosphate only accounted for 6xa0% of the external total phosphorus, the local region may exhibit higher risk for OP release from the sediments, thereby accelerating quality deterioration. Therefore, maintaining reasonable hydrological conditions is important to protect Poyang Lake water.

Effects of organic matter content and composition on ammonium adsorption in lake sediments

The nature of the influence of organic matter (OM) on ammonium adsorption in lake sediments remains disputed. In this study, the kinetics and thermodynamics of ammonium adsorption were investigated on sediment samples with different OM contents (ignoring the effects of OM mineralization) previously collected from Lake Wuli, a northern bay of Lake Taihu, a shallow lake in southern China. The mechanisms of ammonium adsorption in these samples were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the ammonium adsorption capacity of the sediments is highly correlated with their OM content and with the humic content of the OM. The ammonium adsorption capacity of OM varies with its composition, i.e., with the surface properties of the different functional groups present. Indeed, humic acid was found to have a greater ammonium adsorption capacity by itself than when mixed with kerogen and black carbon, the mixture of the latter two components proving a better adsorbent than pure black carbon.

Characterization of dissolved organic nitrogen in wet deposition from Lake Erhai basin by using ultrahigh resolution FT-ICR mass spectrometry.

Dissolved Organic Nitrogen (DON) of wet deposition in Erhai basin (EWD) was characterized at the molecular level by using electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI FT-ICR MS). The structure and composition of DON were investigated by the combined ESI FT-ICR MS, UV-Vis absorbance and fluorescence techniques. The FT-ICR MS measurements indicate that a large (∼790) number of organic species present in the wet deposition, in which DON account for 18.3%, with most of DON containing a single nitrogen atom. The typical relative molecular mass of the DON species was found to be in the range of 200-400 Da. Approximately 57.2% of DON species are highly unsaturated (DBE (Double Bond Equivalent)xa0>xa05) with the nitrogen- and sulfur-containing species, which are probably represented mainly by active nitrooxy organosulfates, accounting forxa0∼xa019.3% of the total DON. The low average SUVA254 and A253/A203 values (0.02 and 0.06, respectively), indicates that the aromaticity of the EWD samples is particularly weak. The average values of E2/E3 and E4/E6 in the EWD samples were 6.84 and 1.84, respectively. This is a clear indication of the low degree of humification of EWD samples, in agreement with ESI FT-ICR MS measurements. Our study demonstrates that multiple experimental techniques combined with FT-ICR MS, UV-Vis absorbance and fluorescence can be efficiently used for in-depth studying the DON at the molecular level. Thus it allows us to achieve a deep and insightful understanding of the DON structure and composition.

Features and influencing factors of nitrogen and phosphorus diffusive fluxes at the sediment-water interface of Erhai Lake

Nitrogen and phosphorus diffusion at the sediment-water interface is vital to the water quality of lakes. In this paper, N and P diffusive fluxes at the sediment-water interface in Erhai Lake were studied using the sediment-pore water diffusive flux method. Characteristics of temporal and spatial variation of N and P diffusive fluxes were analyzed. Effects of the physicochemical properties of sediments and overlying water were discussed. Results showed that (1) the total N and P diffusive fluxes at the sediment-water interface of Erhai Lake are relatively low. The diffusive flux of ammonia nitrogen is 8.97~74.84xa0mgd−1xa0m−2, higher in the middle of the lake, followed by the northern and southern regions successively. The P diffusive flux is −0.007~0.050xa0mgd−1xa0m−2, higher in northern region of the lake, followed by middle and southern regions successively. The annual N diffusive flux has two peaks, and the higher peak is in September. The annual P diffusive flux shows a “V-shaped” variation, reaching the valley in July. N and P diffusive fluxes decrease with an increase of sediment depth. Overall, N and P diffusive fluxes at the sediment-water interface in Erhai Lake show different temporal and spatial variation. (2) Aquatic plants promote N and P diffusion at the sediment-water interface in Erhai Lake. The pH, DO, and SD of the overlying water are important influencing factors for the P diffusive flux. P diffusive flux is inversely proportional to the total phosphorous (TP) concentration of the overlying water. The physicochemical environment of overlying water slightly influences the N diffusive flux. The activity of sediments and the organic content are two main influencing factors of N diffusive flux, while P content and morphology of sediments are the main influencing factors of P diffusive flux. Iron and manganese ions are important elements that influence N and P diffusive fluxes at the sediment-water interface. (3) The P diffusive flux at the sediment-water interface in Erhai Lake is mainly affected by the physical and chemical properties of water, whereas the N diffusive flux is mainly influenced by the mineralization of organic matter in sediments. The P diffusive flux at the sediment-water interface is sensitive to the overlying water quality. Sediment transformation from “source” to “sink” was observed in 1xa0year. On the contrary, N diffusive flux is less sensitive to lake water quality. Endogenetic pollutant control in Erhai Lake should focus on P control.

In-depth molecular characterization and biodegradability of water-extractable organic nitrogen in Erhai Lake sediment

AbstractDissolved organic nitrogen (DON) constitutes a significant fraction of the total dissolved nitrogen content of most aquatic systems and is thus a major nitrogen source for bacteria and phytoplankton. The present work applied Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR MS) to a compound-level analysis of the depth-dependent molecular composition of water-extractable organic nitrogen (WEON) in lake sediment. The study focused on Erhai Lake, China. It was found that a large portion (from 16.33u2009±u20097.87 to 39.54u2009±u20095.77%) of the WEON in the lake sediment was reactive under cultivation by algal or bacteria. The WEON in the mid-region of Erhai sediment particularly exhibited a lower bioavailability, having been less affected by the basin environment. The FT-ICR MS results revealed the presence of thousands of compounds in the Erhai Lake sediment samples collected at different depths, with the N-containing compounds accounting for 28.3–34.4% of all the compounds. The WEON molecular weight was also observed to increase with increasing sediment depth. A van Krevelen diagram showed that the lignin-type components were dominant (~u200956.2%) in the sediment WEON, contributing to its stabilization and reducing the risk of sediment nutrient release. The FT-ICR MS results further revealed 204 overlapping formulas of WEON for each core sediment sample, attributable to the presence of refractory components. It was observed that 78.4% of the formulas were within the lignin-like region, suggesting unique allochthonous DON sources. The aliphatic component proportion of all the unique formulas was also found to increase with increasing sediment depth. This indicates that, with the development and evolution of the Erhai Basin, the more labile WEON components were transformed into more stable lignin-like substrates, with a positive effect on the Lake Erhai ecosystem.n Graphical abstractᅟ