Spatial distribution and risk assessment of heavy metals and As pollution in the sediments of a shallow lake.

The concentrations and spatial distributions of eight heavy metals in surface sediments and sediment core samples from a shallow lake in China were investigated to evaluate the extent of the contamination and potential ecological risks. The results showed that the heavy metal concentrations were higher in the northern and southwestern lake zones than those in the other lake zones, with lower levels of As, Hg, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr, and Ni primarily observed in the central and eastern lake regions and Cd primarily confined to areas surrounding the lake. The concentrations of the eight heavy metals in the sediment profiles tended to decrease with increasing sediment depth. The contents of Ni, Cu, Zn, Pb, and Cd in the surface sediment were approximately 1.23-18.41-fold higher than their background values (BVs), whereas the contents of Cr, As, and Hg were nearly identical to their BVs. The calculated pollution load index (PLI) suggested that the surface sediments of this lake were heavily polluted by these heavy metals and indicated that Cd was a predominant contamination factor. The comprehensive potential ecological risk index (PERI) in the surface sediments ranged from 99.2 to 2882.1, with an average of 606.1. Cd contributed 78.7 % to the PERI, and Hg contributed 8.4 %. Multivariate statistical analyses revealed that the surface sediment pollution with heavy metals mainly originated from industrial wastewater discharged by rivers located in the western and northwestern portion of the lake.

Sulfur-containing amino acid methionine as the precursor of volatile organic sulfur compounds in algea-induced black bloom.

After the application of methionine, a progressive and significant increase occurred in five volatile organic sulfur compounds (VOSCs): methanethiol (MeSH), dimethyl sulfide (DMS), dimethyl disulfide (DMDS), dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS) and dimethyl tetrasulfide (DMTeS). Even in the untreated control without a methionine addition, methionine and its catabolites (VOSCs, mainly DMDS) were found in considerable amounts that were high enough to account for the water's offensive odor. However, blackening only occurred in two methionine-amended treatments. The VOSCs production was observed to precede black color development, and the reaching of a peak value for total VOSCs was often followed by water blackening. The presence of glucose stimulated the degradation of methionine while postponing the occurrence of the black color and inhibiting the production of VOSCs. In addition, DMDS was found to be the most abundant species produced after the addition of methionine alone, and DMTeS appeared to be the most important compound produced after the addition of methionine+glucose. These results suggest that methionine acted as an important precursor of the VOSCs in lakes suffering from algea-induced black bloom. The existence of glucose may change the transformation pathway of methionine into VOSCs to form larger molecular weight compounds, such as DMTS and DMTeS.

Triolein embedded cellulose acetate membrane as a tool to evaluate sequestration of PAHs in lake sediment core at large temporal scale.

Although numerous studies have addressed sequestration of hydrophobic organic compounds (HOCs) in laboratory, little attention has been paid to its evaluation method in field at large temporal scale. A biomimetic tool, triolein embedded cellulose acetate membrane (TECAM), was therefore tested to evaluate sequestration of six PAHs with various hydrophobicity in a well-dated sediment core sampled from Nanyi Lake, China. Properties of sediment organic matter (OM) varying with aging time dominated the sequestration of PAHs in the sediment core. TECAM-sediment accumulation factors (MSAFs) of the PAHs declined with aging time, and significantly correlated with the corresponding biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAFs) for gastropod (Bellamya aeruginosa) simultaneously incubated in the same sediment slices. Sequestration rates of the PAHs in the sediment core evaluated by TECAM were much lower than those obtained from laboratory study. The relationship between relative availability for TECAM (MSAF(t)/MSAF(0)) and aging time followed the first order exponential decay model. MSAF(t)/MSAF(0) was well-related to the minor changes of the properties of OM varying with aging time. Compared with chemical extraction, sequestration reflected by TECAM was much closer to that by B. aeruginosa. In contrast to B. aeruginosa, TECAM could avoid metabolism and the influences from feeding and other behaviors of organisms, and it is much easier to deploy and ready in laboratory. Hence TECAM provides an effective and convenient way to study sequestration of PAHs and probably other HOCs in field at large temporal scale.

A new collector for in situ pore water sampling in wetland sediment.

Currently available pore water samplers generally do not allow continuous monitoring of temporal variations in pore water composition. Therefore, a new type of pore water collector was designed and constructed. These collectors were constructed of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) materials, including PVC tubing with one end sealed and another end topped with a removable PVC screw-cap. A row of holes was drilled 10 cm from the sealed end of each collector. These new collectors were deployed in different layers of the sediment in a constructed wetland in Lake Taihu, China, to reveal variations in the nutrient composition of pore water with high spatial and temporal resolution. Specifically, the collectors were driven into the sediment, and the pore water flowed into the tubing via gravity. The pore water was then sampled from the PVC tubing using a portable vacuum pump, and then was taken to the lab within 20 min for analysis of the dissolved oxygen (DO) and nutrient concentration. The DO concentration of the pore water was below the detection limit for all samples, indicating that the pore water was probably not influenced by the air and that the water in the collector tube was representative of the pore water. These findings suggest that the collector is capable of measuring the temporal and spatial variations in the nutrient concentrations in pore water. Furthermore, the inexpensive material, ease of construction, minimal disturbance to the sediment and applicability for wetland sediments are advantages of the collector presented here compared with traditional pore water sampling techniques.

Distribution characteristics and toxicity assessment of heavy metals in the sediments of Lake Chaohu, China.

The concentrations of Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, and Ni were measured in surface and core sediments to determine their distribution characteristics and toxicity in the sediments of Lake Chaohu. The results revealed that metal concentrations in the surface sediments had a tendency to increase from the estuarine mouth to the lake center. The distribution characteristics of the five target metals were similar along the sediment profiles at each site. Principal component analysis revealed that all of the measured variables were loaded in the same component, indicating that there was a strong relationship among these measured variables, which was confirmed by the correlation analysis. Two sets of sediment quality guidelines (SQGs): simultaneously extracted metal (SEM) and acid volatile sulfides (AVS) models (including ∑SEM/AVS, ∑SEM-AVS, and ∑SEM-AVS/ f (oc)) and threshold effect level and probable effect level values were used to predict the sediment toxicity. Comparison of the results obtained using these two sets of SQGs revealed that only a small portion of the entire set was identical, while the majority of the results were different and sometimes completely contradictory. These contradictory results would cause a great deal of trouble for environment managers. More accurate and universal SQGs must be developed for environmental researchers and local environmental managers and regulators.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments from drinking water sources of Taihu Lake, China: sources, partitioning and toxicological risk.

Sources, partitioning and toxicological risk of 15 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in surface sediments from drinking water sources of Taihu Lake, with an area of 2428 km(2) located in the most developed and populated area of China, were studied, and the results were compared with those in other lakes of China and the USA. Concentrations of the 15 PAHs in sediments ranged from 436.6 to 1334.9 ng g(-1) (dw). Gasoline combustion, coal combustion, diesel combustion from shipping and spillage of petroleum were apportioned to be the main sources of PAHs in this area by principal component analysis, which contributed 35.19%, 26.43%, 25.41% and 12.97% to the PAH sources estimated by further multiple linear regression. Levels of PAHs in sediments were negatively correlated with contents of clay and fine silt (<16 µm), while positively with contents of medium silt, coarse silt and sand (>16 µm). Humin with size larger than 16 µm contained the largest part of the burden of PAHs in sediments, but the specific partitioning domain (bound humic acid, lipid or insoluble residue) depended on properties of organic matter reflected by optical absorbance at 465 and 665 nm. Total toxic benzo[a]pyrene equivalent (TEQ(carc)) of the carcinogenic PAHs in sediments varied from 31.8 to 209.3 ngTEQ(carc) g(-1). Benzo[a]pyrene and dibenzo[a,h]anthracene contributed 45.36 and 25.31% to total TEQ(carc), posing high toxicological risk to this area.

Quantifying hysteresis of atrazine desorption from a sandy loam soil.

Batch experiments were carried out to investigate the effects of initial atrazine concentrations and consecutive desorption steps on the desorption characteristics of atrazine from a sandy loam soil. As initial atrazine concentration increased, the average percentage of atrazine desorption on the sandy loam soil ranged gradually from 23.1% to 38.5% after five consecutive desorption steps. The values of the Freundlich capacity parameter, k(des), derived from the initial concentration and time-dependent desorption isotherm were consistently higher than those associated with sorption. The opposite trend was observed only for the values of nonlinear parameter, n(des), from the initial concentration-dependent desorption isotherms. Atrazine hydrolysis to hydroxyatrazine and bound residue formation were mainly responsible for the observed hysteresis in its sorption and desorption isotherms. For the initial concentration-dependent desorption isotherms, as initial atrazine concentration increased, the values of hysteretic coefficients omega and lamda decreased, and eta values increased. However, the relationships between initial atrazine concentration and hysteretic coefficients were not pronounced for omega, eta, or lamda. For the time-dependent desorption isotherms, lamda and eta values increased as the atrazine desorption step proceeded. The correlation between hysteretic coefficient and desorption step was highly significant for lamda (P < 0.0001), but not for eta.

Ecological risk assessment and source apportionment of metals in the surface sediments of river systems in Lake Taihu Basin, China.

In this study, the concentrations of Zn, Cr, Ni, Cu, Pb, As, Cd, and Hg in the surface sediments of 94 sites sampled from six water systems in the Lake Taihu Basin in China were measured, and the pollution risks and sources of the metals were identified. The results showed that the mean concentrations of Zn, Cr, Ni, Cu, Pb, As, Cd, and Hg in the riverine surface sediments were 163.6, 102.5, 45.5, 44.7, 37.0, 13.3, 0.5, and 0.1 mg/kg, respectively, higher than the corresponding background values (except for Hg). According to the geoaccumulation index (Igeo), the Pb, Ni, Zn, Cu, and Cd concentrations in the riverine surface sediments were generally at low levels of pollution. Based on a pollution load index (PLI) evaluation, the Pb, Ni, Zn, and Cu concentrations in the riverine surface sediments were generally at moderate levels of pollution. According to the thresholds of potential ecological risk, the Cd and Hg concentrations in the riverine surface sediments exhibited moderate potential ecological risks. Multivariate statistical analysis indicated that the Pb in the riverine surface sediments primarily originated from domestic sewage, agricultural wastewater discharge, and petroleum combustion; the concentrations of Cr, Ni, and Zn were influenced by the electroplating and alloy manufacturing industries; the concentrations of Cu and As mainly originated from pesticide use and industrial wastewater discharge; and those of Cd and Hg primarily stemmed from industrial wastewater discharge. This research provides information regarding metallic contamination and the possible associated ecological risks to benthic organisms in the surface sediments of river systems and is useful for developing sustainable strategies for environmental pollution control and management in the Lake Taihu Basin.

Spatial-temporal characteristics of nitrogen degradation in typical Rivers of Taihu Lake Basin, China.

In this study, we focus on the measurement of different nitrogen (N) forms and investigate the spatial-temporal variability of degradation coefficient in river channels. We aim to provide a new approach of deriving in-situ degradation coefficients of different N forms, and highlight factors that determine the spatial-temporal variability of degradation coefficients. Our results are based on a two-year field survey in 34 channels around the Taihu Lake Basin, eastern China. The derived degradation coefficients of different N forms based our newly-developed experimental device are: degradation coefficients of TN, NH4+-N and NO3-N range from 0.006-0.449 d-1, 0.022-1.175 d-1 and -0.096-2.402 d-1, respectively. The degradation coefficients of N show strong dependence on N concentration and water temperature. The seasonal difference of water temperature and N concentration leads to spatial-temporal variability of degradation coefficients. The derived degradation coefficients of N are further verified through one-dimensional water quality model simulations. The degradation coefficient obtained in this study and the influencing factors of its spatial-temporal variability provide invaluable reference for studies in aquatic environment.

Physiological responses and accumulation ability of Microcystis aeruginosa to zinc and cadmium: Implications for bioremediation of heavy metal pollution.

Algae has potential to remediate heavy metals. However, the physiological responses of live algae to heavy metals are not well studied. In this study, the physiological responses of Microcystis aeruginosa to zinc (Zn) and cadmium (Cd) ions and its ability to accumulate ions were investigated. Low concentrations (<0.1 mg/l) of Zn and Cd had little influence on algal growth and physiological processes, whereas concentrations above 0.1 mg/l increased the esterase activity (from 42.5% to 621.9%), superoxide dismutase activity (from 12.8% to 45.4%), and malondialdehyde content (from 18.2% to 103.9%), and dramatically inhibited the cell division (from 12.6% to 70.0%) and photosynthetic performance (from 7.1% to 53.1%) of M. aeruginosa. The accumulation of Zn or Cd ions by M. aeruginosa increased exponentially with the initial concentration of metallic ions. Collectively, these findings reveal that M. aeruginosa has considerable potential in the remediation of freshwater lakes with heavy metal contamination during cyanobacterial blooms, where metallic ions are lower than 0.1 mg/l.

[Spatiotemporal Variations in Nutrient Loads in River-lake System of Changdang Lake Catchment in 2016-2017].

Eutrophication of shallow lakes in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River has become an increasingly serious problem. In this study, we investigated the temporal and spatial variations in nutrient loads (nitrogen, N and phosphorus, P) in the Changdang Lake Catchment located to the northwest of Lake Taihu through field sampling and laboratory analysis in 2016-2017. The results show the severity of the N and P pollution in the Changdang Lake catchment. The mean river water concentrations of TN, NO3--N, NH4+-N, TP, Chla, and permanganate index are (3.70±0.76) mg ·L-1, (1.81±0.42) mg ·L-1, (1.03±0.61) mg ·L-1, (0.38±0.31) mg ·L-1, (25.74±37.00) µg ·L-1, and (6.35±0.81) mg ·L-1, respectively. N pollution in the river is more severe in winter and spring than in summer and autumn whereas P pollution in the river is worse in autumn and winter than in spring and summer. Spatially, the magnitude of river N and P pollution follows the order of northern > northwestern > southern > eastern part of the study area. The rivers are in a state of moderate to severe eutrophication. The mean lake water concentrations of TN, NO3--N, NH4+-N, TP, Chla, and permanganate index are (2.25±0.94) mg ·L-1, (0.98±0.47) mg ·L-1, (0.19±0.14) mg ·L-1, (0.11±0.03) mg ·L-1, (18.71±8.76) µg ·L-1, and (4.59±1.09) mg ·L-1, respectively. The water quality in Changdang Lake is categorized as worse than class Ⅲ for TN and TP concentrations, which show decreasing trends from the west to the east to the south of the lake. The lake is in a status of slight to moderate eutrophication. The lake water quality is affected by the combination of sewage discharge and non-point source pollutant losses. The inflow rivers including the Danjinlicao River, Tongji River, and Xuebu River are the dominant pollution sources for Changdang Lake. The Danjinlicao River transports 10-12 times the total N and P loads transported by Tongji and Xuebu rivers. Changes in land use and atmospheric deposition are the driving factors of the deterioration of water quality and eutrophication in the catchment.

[Spatial Distribution and Pollution Assessment of Heavy Metals in River Sediments from Lake Taihu Basin].

To clarify the pollution characteristics of heavy metals in the surface sediments of rivers in economically developed areas, analysis of the contents of eight heavy metals, assessment of ecological risks, and identification of the source of heavy metals in surface sediments from typical rivers of Lake Taihu Basin were carried out in this study. The results showed that the average contents of Zn, Cr, Ni, Cu, Pb, As, Cd, and Hg in the surface sediments of Lake Taihu Basin were 163.62, 102.46, 45.50, 44.71, 37.00, 13.34, 0.479, and 0.109 mg·kg-1, respectively. Except for Hg, the average contents of other 7 heavy metals were higher than their background values. The geo-accumulation index indicated that Pb, Ni, Zn, Cu, and Cd amount to a low pollution state. According to the pollution load index, Pb, Ni, Zn, and Cu represent a moderately polluted state, while Cd, Cr, and As a low degree pollution state. Based on the potential ecological risk index, Cd and Hg represent moderate potential ecological risk, and the others low potential ecological risk. Source identification of heavy metals by multivariate statistical analysis showed that Pb was largely from non-point pollutions; Cr, Ni, and Zn stemmed from electroplating, alloy manufacturing industries, and nature; Cu and As were mainly from pesticides and discharge of industrial wastewater; Cd was dominantly from smelting industry; and Hg was mainly derived from fossil fuel combustion and petroleum products.

Variations in the Distribution of Chl-a and Simulation Using a Multiple Regression Model.

Chlorophyll a (Chl-a) is an important indicator of algal biomass in aquatic ecosystems. In this study, monthly monitoring data for Chl-a concentration were collected between 2005 and 2015 at four stations in Meiliang Bay, a eutrophic bay in Lake Taihu, China. The spatiotemporal distribution of Chl-a in the bay was investigated, and a statistical model to relate the Chl-a concentration to key driving variables was also developed. The monthly Chl-a concentration in Meiliang Bay changed from 2.6 to 330.0 µg/L, and the monthly mean Chl-a concentration over 11 years was found to be higher at sampling site 1, the northernmost site near Liangxihe River, than at the three other sampling sites. The annual mean Chl-a concentration fluctuated greatly over time and exhibited an upward trend at all sites except sampling site 3 in the middle of Meiliang Bay. The Chl-a concentration was positively correlated with total phosphorus (TP; r = 0.57, p < 0.01), dissolved organic matter (DOM; r = 0.73, p < 0.01), pH (r = 0.44, p < 0.01), and water temperature (WT; r = 0.37, p < 0.01), and negatively correlated with nitrate (NO3--N; r = -0.28, p < 0.01), dissolved oxygen (DO; r = -0.12, p < 0.01), and Secchi depth (ln(SD); r = -0.11, p < 0.05). A multiple linear regression model integrating the interactive effects of TP, DOM, WT, and pH on Chl-a concentrations was established (R = 0.80, F = 230.7, p < 0.01) and was found to adequately simulate the spatiotemporal dynamics of the Chl-a concentrations in other regions of Lake Taihu. This model provides lake managers with an alternative for the control of eutrophication and the suppression of aggregations of phytoplankton biomass at the water surface.

[Distribution and Pollution Assessment of Nutrients in the Surface Sediments of a Macrophyte-Dominated Zone in Lake Taihu].

To clarify the spatial distribution and pollution status of nutrients in the surface sediments from a macrophyte-dominated zone in Lake Taihu, total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), alkali nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP), and organic matter (OM) were measured at 60 sampling sites in Xukou Bay. A pollution evaluation and source apportionment analysis of these nutrients was also carried out. The average contents of TN, TP, AN, AP, and OM in the surface sediments of Xukou Bay were 1027.5, 423.2, 46.4, 15.3, and 17096.6 mg·kg-1, respectively, with the OM content being significantly higher in the northeast zone than in other areas of the bay. The average value of STN and STP was 1.75 and 0.91, respectively, indicating that TN and TP represent moderate and mild levels of pollution, respectively. The average comprehensive pollution index (FF) was 1.57, indicated that the surface sediment was moderately polluted. The observed organic pollution index indicated that the surface sediments in Xukou Bay were generally clean. Based on C/N values, organic matter in the surface sediments is derived from the bio-deposition of non-fibrous plants and phytoplankton. Based on correlation analysis, OM and TN in the surface sediments of Xukou Bay are derived from the same source, while TP is derived from an alternative source.

Response of bloom-forming cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa to 17ß-estradiol at different nitrogen levels.

Co-existence of cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CyanoHABs) and steroid estrogens (SEs) has been an increasing concern in eutrophic waters. The cellular responses and biodegradation of 17ß-estradiol (E2) in cyanobacterium Microcystis aeruginosa were investigated at different nitrogen levels. During the 10-d experiment, the growth of M. aeruginosa was stimulated by 10-100 µg L-1 of E2 at the lowest nitrogen level of 0.5 mg L-1, whereas the presence of E2 inhibited the cyanobacterial growth at 5 mg L-1 of nitrogen. With nitrogen concentration increased to 50 mg L-1, the impact of E2 on levels of growth rate and chlorophyll a (Chla) alleviated. Exposure to E2 also promoted the superoxide dismutase activity of M. aeruginosa, coupled with cellular oxidative damage as indicated by the increasing malondialdehyde content. A sufficient nitrogen supply mitigated the oxidative stress of E2 through enhancing the synthesis of detoxification-related enzymes. Simultaneously, the secretion of tryptophan-like substances in loosely- and tightly-bound extracellular polymeric substances was triggered for adapting to an E2 addition in the short term. Moreover, significant biodegradation of E2 was observed, and the process followed a first-order kinetic reaction. The obtained half-lives decreased with nitrogen levels and ranged from 2.47 to 2.81 and 3.39-5.04 d, respectively, at 10 and 100 µg L-1 of E2. These results provide a better understanding of the potential effects of SEs on CyanoHABs formation, as well as the important role of CyanoHABs on SEs removal in aquatic ecosystems, which should be fully considered in the control of combined pollution.

Continuous time random walk model better describes the tailing of atrazine transport in soil.

Contaminant transport in soils is complicated and involves some physical and chemical nonequilibrium processes. In this research, the soil column displacement experiments of Cl(-) and atrazine under different flow velocities were carried out. The data sets of Cl(-) transport in sandy loam fitted to the convection dispersion equation (CDE) and the two-region model (TRM) indicated that the effects of physical nonequilibrium process produced by immobile water on the breakthrough curves (BTCs) of Cl(-) and atrazine transport through the repacking soil columns were negligible. The two-site model (TSM) and the continuous time random walk (CTRW) were also used to fit atrazine transport behavior at the flow rate of 19.86 cm h(-1). The CTRW convincingly captured the full evolution of atrazine BTC in the soil column, especially for the part of long tailing. However, the TSM failed to characterize the tailing of atrazine BTC in the soil column. The calculated fraction of equilibrium sorption sites, F, ranging from 0.78 to 0.80 for all flow rates suggested the contribution of nonequilibrium sorption sites to the asymmetry of atrazine BTCs. Furthermore, the data sets for the flow rates of 6.68 cm h(-1) and 32.81 cm h(-1) were predicted by the TSM and the CTRW. As to the flow rate of 6.68 cm h(-1), the CTRW predicted the entire BTC of atrazine transport better than the TSM did. For the flow rate of 32.81 cm h(-1), the CTRW characterized the late part of the tail better, while the TSM failed to predict the tailings of atrazine BTC.

Spatio-Temporal Differences in Nitrogen Reduction Rates under Biotic and Abiotic Processes in River Water of the Taihu Basin, China.

Understanding spatio-temporal differences in nitrogen (N) transformation, transport and reduction rates in water bodies is critical to achieve effective mitigation of river eutrophication. We performed culture experiments in six rivers in the Taihu Basin using a custom made in-situ experimental apparatus. We investigated spatio-temporal differences in reduce processes and rates of different N forms and assessed the contribution of biological processes to dissolved inorganic N (DIN) reduce. Results showed that biological processes played a major role in N reduction in summer, while non-microbial processes were dominant in winter. We observed significant spatial and temporal differences in the studied mechanisms, with reduction rates of different N compounds being significantly higher in summer and autumn than spring and winter. Reduction rates ranged from 105.4 ± 25.3 to 1458.8 ± 98.4 mg·(m³·d)-1 for total N, 33.1 ± 12.3 to 440.9 ± 33.1 mg·(m³·d)-1 for ammonium, 56.3 ± 22.7 to 332.1 ± 61.9 mg·(m³·d)-1 for nitrate and 0.4 ± 0.3 to 31.8 ± 9.0 mg·(m³·d)-1 for nitrite across four seasons. Mean DIN reduction rates with and without microbial activity were 96.0 ± 46.4 mg·(m³·d)-1 and 288.1 ± 67.8 mg·(m³·d)-1, respectively, with microbial activity rates accounting for 29.7% of the DIN load and 2.2% of the N load. Results of correlation and principal component analysis showed that the main factors influencing N processing were the concentrations of different N forms and multiple environmental factors in spring, N concentrations, DO and pH in summer, N concentrations and water velocity in autumn and N concentrations in winter.

Assessing river water quality using water quality index in Lake Taihu Basin, China.

Lake Taihu Basin, one of the most developed regions in China, has received considerable attention due to its severe pollution. Our study provides a clear understanding of the water quality in the rivers of Lake Taihu Basin based on basin-scale monitoring and a water quality index (WQI) method. From September 2014 to January 2016, four samplings across four seasons were conducted at 96 sites along main rivers. Fifteen parameters, including water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), conductivity, turbidity (tur), permanganate index (CODMn), total nitrogen, total phosphorus, ammonium (NH4-N), nitrite, nitrate (NO3-N), calcium, magnesium, chloride, and sulfate, were measured to calculate the WQI. The average WQI value during our study period was 59.33; consequently, the water quality was considered as generally "moderate". Significant differences in WQI values were detected among the 6 river systems, with better water quality in the Tiaoxi and Nanhe systems. The water quality presented distinct seasonal variation, with the highest WQI values in autumn, followed by spring and summer, and the lowest values in winter. The minimum WQI (WQImin), which was developed based on a stepwise linear regression analysis, consisted of five parameters: NH4-N, CODMn, NO3-N, DO, and tur. The model exhibited excellent performance in representing the water quality in Lake Taihu Basin, especially when weights were fully considered. Our results are beneficial for water quality management and could be used for rapid and low-cost water quality evaluation in Lake Taihu Basin. Additionally, we suggest that weights of environmental parameters should be fully considered in water quality assessments when using the WQImin method.

Will elevated atmospheric CO2 boost the growth of an invasive submerged macrophyte Cabomba caroliniana under the interference of phytoplankton?

The growth of most submerged macrophytes is likely to be limited by the availability of carbon resource, and this is especially true for the obligatory carbon dioxide (CO2) users. A mesocosm experiment was performed to investigate the physiological, photophysiological, and biochemical responses of Cabomba caroliniana, an invasive macrophyte specie in the Lake Taihu Basin, to elevated atmospheric CO2 (1000 µmol mol-1); we also examined the possible impacts of interferences derived from the phytoplankton proliferation and its concomitant disturbances on the growth of C. caroliniana. The results demonstrated that elevated atmospheric CO2 significantly enhanced the biomass, relative growth rate, and photosynthate accumulation of C. caroliniana. C. caroliniana exposed to elevated atmospheric CO2 exhibited a higher relative maximum electron transport rate and photosynthetic efficiency, compared to those exposed to ambient atmospheric CO2. However, the positive effects of elevated atmospheric CO2 on C. caroliniana were gradually compromised as time went by, and the down-regulations of the relative growth rate (RGR) and photosynthetic activity were coupled with phytoplankton proliferation under elevated atmospheric CO2. This study demonstrated that the growth of C. caroliniana under the phytoplankton interference can be greatly affected, directly and indirectly, by the increasing atmospheric CO2.

[Biodegradation Coefficients of Typical Pollutants in the Plain Rivers Network].

Biodegradation is a significant part of pollutant integrated degradation, the process rate of which is represented by the biodegradation coefficient. To investigate the biodegradation law of typical pollutants in the plain rivers network located in the upstream of the Lake Taihu, experiments were conducted in site in September 2015, one order kinetics model was used to measure the biodegradation coefficients for permanganate index, ammonia, total nitrogen and total phosphorus, and influencing factors of the biodegradation coefficients were also analyzed. The results showed that the biodegradation coefficients for permanganate index, ammonia, total nitrogen and total phosphorus were 0.008 3-0.126 4 d⁻¹, 0.002 1-0.213 8 d⁻¹, 0.002 1-0.090 5 d⁻¹ and 0.011 0- 0.152 8 d⁻¹, respectively. The influencing factors of the biodegradation coefficients for permanganate index were permanganate index and pH; those for ammonia were ammonia concentration and pH; those for total nitrogen were inorganic nitrogen concentration, total dissolved solid concentration and nitrite concentration; and those for total phosphorus were background concentration and pH. The research results were of important guiding significance for pollutants removal and ecological restoration of the plain rivers network located in the unstream of the Lake Taihu.