Sediment contamination alters the submersed macrophyte Vallisneria natans and root-associated microbiome profiles during phytoremediation.

The submerged plant Vallisneria natans plays an important role in the remediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-contaminated sediments. In this study, V. natans and sediments were collected from different V. natans natural vegetation zones, and sediment mesocosms were set up for phytoremediation tests. In addition, commercial-grade V. natans were obtained from the Fish-Bird-Flower market for comparison with phytoremediation. Phytoremediation using V. natans from natural growth significantly increased the degradation of PAHs in Dashui Harbor (0.0148±0.0015 d-1) and Taihu Lake bay sediments (0.0082±0.0010 d-1) but not in commercial-grade V. natans. Transplanted V. natans from natural growth had a significant (p=0.002) effect on PAH degradation, especially in highly PAH-contaminated sedimentary environments. The distinct bacterial communities were strongly affected by sediment type and V. natans type, which contributed to different phytoremediation patterns. Less complex but more stable microbial co-occurrence networks play key roles in improving PAH phytoremediation potential. In addition, V. natans from natural growth in highly PAH-contaminated sediment could adapt to PAH stress by exuding tryptophan metabolites to assemble health-promoting microbiomes. This study provides novel evidence that initial microbial and physicochemical characteristics of sediment and submerged plant types should be considered in the use of bioremediation management strategies for organic pollutant-contaminated sediments.

Effects of Different Saline-Alkaline Conditions on the Characteristics of Phytoplankton Communities in the Lakes of Songnen Plain, China.

Many lakes located in the Songnen Plain of China exhibit a high saline-alkaline level. 25 lakes in the Songnen Plain were selected as research objects in this study. Water samples in these lakes were collected from June to August in 2008. Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Total Alkalinity (TA) were measured to assess the saline-alkaline level, and partial canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) was conducted as well. The results show that the majority of these lakes in the study area could be categorized into HCO3--Na+-I type. According to the TDS assessment, of the total 25 lakes, there are 14 for freshwater, 7 for brackish water and 4 for saltwater; and the respective range of TA was from 0.98 to 40.52. The relationship between TA and TDS indicated significant linear relationship (R2 = 0.9292) in the HCO3--Na+-I type lakes in the Songnen Plain. There was a general trend that cell density, genera richness and taxonomic diversity decreased with the increase of saline-alkaline gradient, whereas a contrary trend was observed for the proportion of dominant species. When the TDS values were above 3×103mg/L and the TA values were above 15mg/L, there was a significant reduction in cell density, genera richness and biodiversity, and their corresponding values were respectively below 10×106 (ind/L), 15 and approximately 2.5. Through the partial canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), 10.7% of the genera variation was explained by pure saline-alkaline variables. Cyclotella meneghiniana, Melosira ambigua and Melosira granulate were found to become the dominant species in most of these lakes, which indicated that there may be rather wide saline-alkaline niches for common dominant species. About one-quarters of the genera which have certain tolerance to salinity and alkalinity preferred to live in the regions with relatively higher saline-alkaline levels in this study.

[Distribution and potential ecological risk assessment of heavy metals in sediments of Zhalong Wetland].

This study investigated the concentrations of heavy metals in the sediments of the Zhalong Wetland using ICP-MS, analyzed their spatial distributions, evaluated the potential ecological risk, and explored the pollution sources and environmental influencing factors. The results can be summarized as the followings: (1) The concentrations of Hg, Cd, As, Cu, Pb, Zn and Cr were 0.065, 0.155, 10.26, 18.20, 21.35, 52.08 and 46.47 mg x kg(-1), respectively, which were all above the soil background values of the Songnen Plain. Their spatial distributions were distinctly different. The concentration of heavy metals in the north was higher than that in the south, and the east was higher than the west. Particularly in the eastern region, the concentrations of Hg and Cd were 20.8 and 32.4 times the minimum values of the whole area. And in the core zone, the concentration was relatively low. (2) The sequence of the potential ecological risk posed by the metals was Hg > Cd > As > Pb > Cu > Cr > Zn. The average potential ecological risk index (RI) of the Zhalong Wetland was 171.9 (ranged from 76.9-473.5), suggesting a moderate ecological risk. However, the potential ecological risk was extremely high in the east which should be treated as the major heavy metal pollution prevention site in the future. (3) Except for Hg and Pb, the concentrations of all heavy metals were significantly correlated to each other, indicating that those heavy metals had homology. (4) Organic matter was the major environmental influencing factor. However, the trend of land salinization in the Zhalong Wetland has been intensified, indicating a higher risk of heavy metal releasing from the sediments, to which the local authorities should pay enough attention.

[Character and sources identification of heavy metals contamination in sediment from the core sediment in Nanshan Lake, the Zhalong wetland].

NSH2 sediment core from Nanshan Lake in the south of Zhalong wetland was studied, which was a typical lake for both empolder and aquaculture. The vertical distributions of heavy metals (Hg, Cd, Pb, Cr, As, Mn, Ag, Cu, Co, Fe and Zn) were investigated. The method of principal component analysis (PCA) was adopted to apportion the sources of heavy metals, and particle size, combined with 210Pb(ex) dating data were used to indicate characteristics, sources and polluted history of heavy metals in lake sediments since 1829. The results showed that: 1) the trend of changes in accumulation in the sedimentation was rather slow in the earlier stage, then was fast in the middle stage, and finally slowed down again in the later stage. The history of elements pollution is correspondent with the production of human activities and policies of soil and water conservation of Nanshan Lake; 2) the contents of all elements varied smoothly before 1957, and which fluctuated slightly from 1957 to 1985. The contents of Hg, Cd and Ag increased obviously since 1985. The sources of heavy metals determined were mainly from sewage, the loss of fertilizers, and combustion of fuel such as coal and gasoline; 3) natural sources of the degradation of organic matter, rock weathering and erosion, as well as the source of industrial emissions, with the contributions of 50.14%, 19.90% and 10.32%, respectively. High potential risk of heavy metals existed in NSH2 sediment core. Hence, enough attention must be paid to the pollution control of lakes. Therefore, this study can provide basic data for help wetland ecological environment improvement in Zhalong wetland.