Zhenbin Wu

The restoration of aquatic macrophytes for improving water quality in a hypertrophic shallow lake in Hubei Province, China

This paper deals with a case study of the restoration of submerged macrophytes for improving water quality in a hypertrophic shallow lake, Lake Donghu of Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Macrophyte restoration experiments were conducted in large-scale enclosures established in three sublakes of different trophic status, and the effectiveness for water quality improvement was tested by using the enclosure experiment in the hypertrophic sublake. Water quality was remarkably improved after the reestablishment of aquatic macrophytes. It is suggested that the submerged vegetation of less polluted sublakes could be capable of recovering spontaneously once the stocking of herbivorous fishes has been ceased, and the K-selected plants such as Potamogeton maackianus should be introduced into these sublakes to enhance the stability of aquatic vegetation. However, it may not be possible and economical to restore the submerged macrophytes in severely polluted basins unless external pollution has been cut off and internal nutrient loadings considerably reduced. In this case, the r-selected submerged plants should be used as the pioneer species for macrophyte recovery

Study on the mechanism of allelopathic influence on cyanobacteria and chlorophytes by submerged macrophyte (Myriophyllum spicatum) and its secretion

For revealing the mechanism of allelopathic influence on phytoplankton by aquatic macrophytes, the growth and photosynthetic activities of cyanobacteria Microcystis aeruginosa and the chlorophyte Selenastrum capricornutum were investigated when they coexisted with submerged macrophyte Myriophyllum spicatum and were exposed to allelopathic polyphenols: pyrogallic acid (PA), gallic acid (GA), ellagic acid (EA) and (+)-catechin (CA). According to the results of coexistence assays, the non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) and effective quantum efficiency (YII) of M. aeruginosa were affected earlier and more rapidly than the cell density. However, the influence of M. spicatum on S. capricornutum was not found. When the Toxicity Index (TI) was applied to evaluate the combined effects of binary and multiple mixtures of polyphenols, it was found that the four tested polyphenols with the proportion identified in the M. spicatum-cultured solution were observed to present synergistic effect (0.36-0.49) according to the cell density, NPQ and YII of M. aeruginosa. With the combined effects of polyphenols on S. capricornutum, only additive action (0.52-1.62) was found. On the other hand, PA (2.97mgL(-1)), GA (2.65mgL(-1)) caused significant reductions of photosystem II (PSII) and whole electron transport chain activities of M. aeruginosa by 71.43 and 18.37%, 70.95 and 40.77% (P<0.05), respectively, after 24-h exposure, but no inhibition effect was found in S. capricornutum. The dark respiration and photosystem I (PSI) activities of M. aeruginosa were significantly increased by exposure to PA and GA (P<0.05). Nevertheless, EA and CA had no influence on the electron transport activities of the tested organisms. These results indicate that the reduction in photosynthetic activity of M. aeruginosa and the synergistic effect of allelochemicals may be two important causes for the inhibition of undesired phytoplankton by submersed macrophytes in natural aquatic ecosystems, and PSII in cyanobacteria is considered to be one of the target sites attacked by allelopathic polyphenols.

Effects of sediment anoxia and light on turion germination and early growth of Potamogeton crispus

Potamogeton crispus is a cosmopolitan aquatic species and is widely used as a pioneer species for vegetation restoration of eutrophic lakes. However, many restoration projects applying P. crispus turions have not been successful. Earlier studies focused on effects of light and temperature on turion germination. The purpose of this study was to determine whether sediment anoxia and light interactively affected the turion germination and early growth of P. crispus. Anoxic conditions in the experiment were produced by adding sucrose to the sediment. The germination rate of the turions was 68–73% lower in the highly anoxic condition treatment than in the control. Medium light intensity (10% of natural light at the water surface) was more favorable for germination under slightly anoxic conditions than either low or high light intensity. The growth of newly-formed sprouts was also significantly inhibited by sediment anoxia. Photosynthesis and shoot biomass were reduced under sediment anoxia, whereas total chlorophyll content, root biomass, and soluble protein content were highest in the low anoxic condition treatment. Medium light improved net photosynthesis and biomass production of the sprouts. We conclude that turion germination and sprout growth can be significantly inhibited by sediment anoxia. Medium light intensity may alleviate this inhibition by anoxia, but light has little effect when sediment anoxia is severe. For the purposes of vegetation restoration, more attention should be paid to the role of sediment anoxia, and it is necessary to improve sediment and light conditions for turion germination and early growth of P. crispus in eutrophic lakes. These results will contribute to a more complete understanding of turion germination dynamics of P. crispus and will be useful for future restoration programs.

Effects of sediment dredging on water quality and zooplankton community structure in a shallow of eutrophic lake

Effects of suction dredging on water quality and zooplankton community structure in a shallow of eutrophic lake, were evaluated. The results showed that a decreasing trend for levels of phosphorus, organic matter, total suspended solids, Chlorophyll a and Secchi transparency in the water column was found, while levels of water depth, electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids and NO3- -N concentration increased markedly post-dredging. The effects of dredging on dissolved oxygen, pH value and temperature were almost negligible. The zooplankton community structure responded rapidly to the environmental changes caused mainly by dredging. As a result, the abundance of rotifers decreased, while the density of zooplanktonic crustaceans increased markedly. The representative taxa were Brachionus angularis, B. budapestinensis, B. diversicornis, Synchaeta spp. and Neodiaptomus schmackeri. A distinct relationship between zooplankton taxa composition and their environment, unraveled by a redundancy analysis, indicating that the measured environment contributed to the variations in the zooplankton community structure to some extent. The first four synthetic environmental variables explained 51.7% of the taxonomic structure. Therefore, with the reduction of internal nutrient load and a shift in dominance by less eutrophic species, it inferred that dredging might be one of effective measures for environmental improvements of such lakes.

Comparative study of microbial community structure in different filter media of constructed wetland

Comparisons of microbial community structure, in eight filter media of zeolites, anthracite, shale, vermiculite, ceramic filter media, gravel, steel slag and bio-ceramic, were undertaken by analyzing the phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) composition. A total of 20 fatty acids in the range of C11 to C20 were determined but only 13 PLFAs were detected in steel slag. They consist of saturated fatty acids, branched fatty acids, monounsaturated fatty acids, and polyunsaturated fatty acids. The variation of fatty acids was revealed in the relative proportions of these fatty acids in different media. The aerobic prokaryotes were the predominant group in all media. The PLFA composition showed significant differences among the eight different media by Tukeys honestly test. It was found that steel slag was significantly different in the microbial community as compared to other filter media, probably due to its alkaline effluent. Steel slag alone is probably not a good choice of substratum in constructed wetlands. The principle components analysis (PCA) showed that zeolites, bio-ceramic, shale and vermiculite had a similar microbial community structure while steel slag and ceramic filter media were distinct from other media.

Microbial nitrogen removal pathways in integrated vertical-flow constructed wetland systems.

Microbial nitrogen (N) removal pathways in planted (Canna indica L.) and unplanted integrated vertical-flow constructed wetland systems (IVCWs) were investigated. Results of, molecular biological and isotope pairing experiments showed that nitrifying, anammox, and denitrifying bacteria were distributed in both down-flow and up-flow columns of the IVCWs. Further, the N transforming bacteria in the planted IVCWs were significantly higher than that in the unplanted ones (p<0.05). Moreover, the potential nitrification, anammox, and denitrification rates were highest (18.90, 11.75, and 7.84nmolNg(-1)h(-1), respectively) in the down-flow column of the planted IVCWs. Significant correlations between these potential rates and the absolute abundance of N transformation genes further confirmed the existence of simultaneous nitrification, anammox, and denitrification (SNAD) processes in the IVCWs. The anammox process was the major N removal pathway (55.6-60.0%) in the IVCWs. The results will further our understanding of the microbial N removal mechanisms in IVCWs.

Allelopathic effects of the submerged macrophyte Potamogeton malaianus on Scenedesmus obliquus

Allelopathic effects of the submerged macrophyte Potamogeton malaianus on Scenedesmus obliquus were assessed using a two-phase approach under controlled laboratory conditions. In the co-culture experiment (phase І), the growth of S. obliquus at two different initial cell densities was significantly inhibited by P. malaianus. Moreover, the growth inhibition was dependent on the biomass density of P. malaianus. Antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT and POD), MDA, APA, total soluble protein, protein electrophoretic pattern and morphology of S. obliquus were determined after the co-culture experiment was terminated. The activities of SOD, CAT, POD and APA at the low initial cell density were stimulated, the contents of MDA and total soluble protein were increased, and some special protein bands disappeared in P. malaianus treatments. The macrophyte had no effect on the activities of SOD and APA at the high initial cell density, but significantly influenced other physiological parameters of S. obliquus with the increase of biomass density. The morphology of S. obliquus showed no difference in the macrophyte treatments and the controls, and the cultures were dominated by 4-celled coenobia. The results indicated P. malaianus had significant allelopathic effects on the growth and physiological processes of S. obliquus. Moreover, the allelopathic effects depended on initial algal cell density, biomass density of the macrophyte, and their interaction. In the experiment of P. malaianus culture filtrates (phase II), filtrates from combined culture of plant and S. obliquus at the low initial cell density exhibited no apparent growth inhibitory effect on S. obliquus. The result showed that initial addition of growth-inhibiting plant filtrates had no allelopathic effect on S. obliquus. We concluded that the allelopathic effects on S. obliquus were found in the presence of P. malaianus, but not in P. malaianus filtrates. However, the absence of allelopathic effect on S. obliquus might be due to the very low concentrations of allelochemicals in the filtrates.

The management of undesirable cyanobacteria blooms in channel catfish ponds using a constructed wetland: Contribution to the control of off-flavor occurrences

An exploratory study on the management of undesirable cyanobacteria blooms with respect to off-flavor problems using an integrated vertical-flow constructed wetland (CW) was performed at a small commercial-scale channel catfish farm from 2004 to 2007. The results of the three-year experiment indicated that water treatment by the CW could reduce the possibility of dominance by undesirable cyanobacteria species that often cause off-flavor problems. A detailed investigation in 2007, showed that the concentrations of geosmin, MIB (2-methylisoborneol), and β-cyclocitral in the water of the recirculating pond (4.3ngL(-1), U.D. (undetected) and 0.2ngL(-1), respectively) treated by the CW were significantly lower than those in the control pond (152.6ngL(-1), 63.3ngL(-1) and 254.8ngL(-1), respectively). In addition, the relationships among the cyanobacteria species, the off-flavor compounds and ten environmental variables were explored by canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). The results showed that Oscillatoria sp., Oscillatoria kawamurae and Microcystis aeruginosa were the main sources of off-flavor compounds in the catfish ponds. The successful manipulation of undesirable cyanobacteria species potentially resulted in lower concentrations of odorous compounds in the water of the recirculating pond. An investigation of the concentrations of geosmin and MIB in catfish fillets showed that the levels of odorous compounds were below the OTC (odor threshold concentration) values in the recirculating pond but were above the OTC values from July to October in the control pond. Water recycling by the CW could potentially be one of the best management practices to control off-flavor occurrences in aquaculture.

Effects of humic acids on phytoextraction of Cu and Cd from sediment by Elodea nuttallii

Growth and metal-accumulation of Elodea nuttallii exposed to Cu and Cd-contaminated sediment were examined and the effects of humic acids on phytoextraction of Cu and Cd were also investigated. The growth of plants were promoted with the increasing concentration of Cu in sediment, while inhibited by Cd during the 21d exposure. The concentrations of Cu in roots and shoots of E. nuttallii ranged 25-99mgkg(-1) dry weight (DW) and 23-83mgkg(-1)DW under different concentration of Cu treatments in sediment at the end of exposure, and they were 0-6.5mgkg(-1)DW and 0-7.9mgkg(-1)DW for Cd, respectively. With addition of humic acids from 3.0 to 7.8gkg(-1)DW, the bioavailability of heavy metals in the sediment were reduced significantly, therefore, the accumulation of Cd was inhibited and the Cd concentrations in roots and shoots of plants decreased. However, as the result of release Cu from sediment into water column with addition of humic acids, and E. nuttallii could uptake Cu from water directly, the Cu concentrations in roots and shoots in plant increased 26-69% and 40-78%, respectively. In conclusion, E. nuttallii could be suitable for remedying Cu and Cd-contaminated sediment in situ as a pioneer species, but for phytoextraction of Cd, the application of humic acids should be careful.

Effects of cadmium on chlorophyll content, photochemical efficiency, and photosynthetic intensity of Canna indica Linn.

ABSTRACT The effects of cadmium (Cd2+) on growth status, chlorophyll (Chl) content, photochemical efficiency, and photosynthetic intensity were studied on Canna indica Linn. Plant specimens that were produced from a constructed wetland and precultivated hydroponically in 20 L of 1/10 Hoagland solution under greenhouse conditions for 1 week were exposed to cadmium in concentrations of 0, 0.4, 0.8, 1.6 and 3.2 mg L―1 Cd2+, respectively. The results show that leaves were injured in the Cd2+ solution by the third day of exposure and the injury became more serious with an increase in the applied heavy metal. Under 3.2 mg L―1 Cd2+ treatment, growth retardation, the decrease of chlorophyll content from 0.70 to 0.43 mg g―1 FW, and a decrease in Chl a/b ratio from 2.0 to 1.2 were observed. Chl a was more sensitive than Chl b to Cd2+ stress. The decrease was the same with photochemical efficiency. Photosynthetic intensity decreased by 13.3% from 1.5×104 μmol m―2s―1 CO2 in control to 1.3×104 μmol m―2s―1 CO2 in the treatment of 3.2 mg L―1. Because Canna species are used in heavy metal phytoremediation, these results show that C. indica can tolerate 0.4 to 0.8 mg L―1 Cd2+. Therefore, it is a potential species for phytoremediation of cadmium with some limitations only at higher concentrations.