Stochastic process is main factor to affect plateau river fish community assembly.

Plateau river ecosystems are often highly vulnerable and responsive to environmental change. The driving mechanism of fish diversity and community assembly in plateau rivers under changing environments presents a significant complexity to the interdisciplinary study of ecology and environment. This study integrated molecular biological techniques and mathematical models to identify the mechanisms influencing spatial heterogeneity of freshwater fish diversity and driving fish community assembly in plateau rivers. By utilizing environmental-DNA metabarcoding and the null model, this study revealed the impact of the stochastic process on fish diversity variations and community assembly in the Huangshui Plateau River of the Yellow River Basin (YRB) in China. This research identified 30 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), which correspond to 20 different fish species. The findings of this study revealed that the fish α-diversity in the upstream region of Xining is significantly higher than in the middle-lower reach (Shannon index: P = 0.017 and Simpson: P = 0.035). This pattern was not found to be related to any other environmental factors besides altitude (P = 0.023) that we measured. Further, the study indicated that the assembly of fish communities in the Huangshui River primarily depends on stochastic ecological processes. These findings suggested that elevation was not the primary factor impacting the biodiversity patterns of fish in plateau rivers. In plateau rivers, spatial heterogeneity of fish community on elevation is mainly determined by stochastic processes under habitat fragmentation, rather than any other physicochemical environmental factors. The limitations of connectivity in the downstream channel of the river could be taken the mainly responsibility for stochastic processes of fish community in Huangshui River. Incorporating ecological processes in the eDNA approach holds great potential for future monitoring and evaluation of fish biodiversity and community assembly in plateau rivers.

Responses of bacterial taxonomic attributes to mercury species in rhizosphere paddy soil under natural sulphur-rich biochar amendment.

Biochar and sulphur (S) are important factors regulating the level, speciation and transformation of mercury (Hg), leading to alterations in the assemblage of the soil microbial community. However, variations in the taxonomic attributes of the rhizosphere soil bacterial community arising from the Hg speciation in paddy soil, amended with natural S-rich biochar (NSBC) derived from the pyrolysis of S-rich oilseed rape straw, remain unclear. Herein, a rice pot experiment was conducted. Hg-polluted paddy soils were amended with NSBC and low-S biochar (LSBC) to evaluate the role of Hg chemical form affected by NSBC in regulating the taxonomic attributes of rhizosphere soil, including microbial abundance, composition, and ecological clusters within the co-occurrence network of microbial communities. Results showed that microbial abundance was higher in soils with lower Hg levels, and mean increases of 149 observed operational taxonomic units (OTUs) and 238 predicted OTUs (Chao 1) were observed, with a 1 mg kg-1 decrease in the total Hg (T-Hg) content. Among the 13 predictor variables, the T-Hg content was the strongest and most consistent predictor of the bacterial taxonomic attributes. This finding may be attributed to the fact that the drastic reduction in T-Hg and Hg bioavailability induced by NSBC results in the decrease of Hg stress on the soil microbiome. Moreover, NSBC amendment shifted the ecological clusters toward the amelioration of Hg pollution.

Spatial distribution of organochlorine and organophosphorus pesticides in soil-groundwater systems and their associated risks in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River Basin.

Soil and groundwater samples were collected from paddy fields in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River Basin to study the occurrence and the risks associated with organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and organophosphorus pesticides (OPPs) in soil and groundwater. Results showed that OCPs and OPPs were widely distributed throughout the study area. The levels of OCPs and OPPs in the soil were much lower than those specified by soil quality standards. However, the levels of four OCPs (heptachlors, aldrin, dieldrin, and γ-hexachlorocyclohexane) in groundwater were higher than those permitted by drinking water standards. The health risk assessment method suggested by the US Environment Protection Agency was used to evaluate the regional risks from selected pesticides. Results showed that there were low health risks from OCPs and OPPs in soil at the regional scale, but high risks from heptachlor, aldrin, and endrin in groundwater, suggesting an urgent need for groundwater protection. There are widespread concerns on dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane and hexachlorocyclohexane, but little focus on other pesticides in China. However, our results suggest that the presence of, and risks from, other pesticides in groundwater should be a focus from the region aspect.

Levels and distributions of organochlorine pesticides in the soil-groundwater system of vegetable planting area in Tianjin City, Northern China.

To study the influence of long-term pesticide application on the distribution of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the soil-groundwater system, 19 soil samples and 19 groundwater samples were collected from agricultural area with long-term pesticide application history in Northern China. Results showed that the composition of OCPs changed significantly from soil to groundwater. For example, ∑DDT, ∑HCH, and ∑heptachlor had high levels in the soil and low levels in the groundwater; in contrast, endrin had low level in the soil and high level in the groundwater. Further study showed that OCP distribution in the soil was significantly influenced by its residue time, soil organic carbon level, and small soil particle contents (i.d. <0.0002 mm). Correlation analysis also indicates that the distribution of OCPs in the groundwater was closely related to the levels of OCPs in the soil layer, which may act as a pollution source.

Spatial heterogeneity of lake eutrophication caused by physiogeographic conditions: An analysis of 143 lakes in China.

In order to identify the effect of geographic characteristics on the variations of nutrient concentrations and the utilization efficiency of nutrients by phytoplankton, data from 143 lakes, from 2008 to 2010, including three very different types of topography, i.e., the first topography ladder (FTL), second topography ladder (STL), and third topography ladder (TTL), were statistically analyzed. Lakes in the FTL and STL, located at high elevation (above 1000 m) and low longitudes (lower than 105° E), were sporadically oligotrophic, whereas lakes in the TTL were almost all mesotrophic and eutrophic. The trophic level index (TLI) became higher with the rise of longitude. Two turning points (5 and 15°C) on the curve of TLI as function of the average annual temperature (AAT) corresponded with the AAT in different lake regions in the STL and TTL. Because the responses of TLI to AAT differ significantly, there were variations of nutrient and algal biomass concentrations in different lake regions in the same type of topography ladder. According to the differences in utilization efficiency of total nitrogen or total phosphorus by phytoplankton, China could be partitioned into six lake regions. Scientific nutrient criteria for each lake region shall be established considering these differences in China.

Assessment of the sources and transformations of nitrogen in a plain river network region using a stable isotope approach.

The great spatial and temporal variability in hydrological conditions and nitrogen (N) processing introduces large uncertainties to the identification of N sources and quantifying N cycles in plain river network regions. By combining isotopic data with chemical and hydrologic measurements, we determined the relative importance of N sources and biogeochemical N processes in the Taige River in the East Plain Region of China. The river was polluted more seriously by anthropogenic inputs in winter than in summer. Manure and urban sewage effluent were the main nitrate (NO3-) sources, with the nitrification of N-containing organic materials serving as another important source of NO3-. In the downstream, with minor variations in hydrological conditions, nitrification played a more important role than assimilation for the decreasing ammonium (NH4+-N) concentrations. The N isotopic enrichment factors (ε) during NH4+ utilization ranged from -13.88‰ in March to -29.00‰ in July. The ratio of the increase in δ18O and δ15N of river NO3- in the downstream was 1.04 in January and 0.92 in March. This ratio indicated that NO3- assimilation by phytoplankton was responsible for the increasing δ15N and δ18O values of NO3- in winter. The relationships between δ15N of particulate organic nitrogen and isotopic compositions of dissolved inorganic nitrogen indicated that the phytoplankton in the Taige River probably utilized NH4+ preferentially and mainly in summer, while in winter, NO3- assimilation by phytoplankton was dominant.

Analysis of spatial distribution characteristics of dissolved organic matter in typical greenhouse soil of northern China using three dimensional fluorescence spectra technique and parallel factor analysis model.

The aim of the present work is to study the soil DOM characteristics in the vegetable greenhouse with a long-term of cultivation. Results showed that the soil DOM mainly consisted of three components, fulvic acid-like (C1), humic acid-like (C2) and protein-like (C3), with C1 as the majority one. The distribution of DOM in space was also studied. In vertical direction, C1 and C2 decreased significantly with the increase in soil depth, while C3 component decreased after increased. The humification coefficient decreased fast from 0-20 to 30-40 cm, and then increased from 30-40 to 40-50 cm. In the horizontal direction, the level of C2 component varied greatly in space, while that of C1 component changed little, and that of C3 component fell in between the above two. The change in the humification degree of each soil layer significantly varied spatially. Humification process of soil organic matter mainly occurred in the surface soil layer. In addition, the humification degree in space also changed significantly. The new ideas of this study are: (1) Analyze the composition and spatial heterogeneity of soil DOM in the vegetable greenhouse; (2) Use three dimensional fluorescence spectra technology and parallel factor analysis model successfully to quantify the components of soil DOM, which provides a new method for the soil DOM analysis.

[Studies on fluorescence spectral characteristics of fulvic acid (FA) from Xingkai Lake sediments].

Four samples (sample No. HXXD, HXXX, HXDX and HXDB) were taken from Xingkai Lake Sediments in Heilongjiang province and fluorescence spectral characteristics of Fulvic acid (FA) from sediments were studied. Conventional and excitation-emission matrix (EEM) all indicated that FA from HXXD sediment exhibited primary peaks at longer wavelengths. The analysis of fluorescence characteristic parameters indicated that the degree of humification of FA from all sample points were in the order: HXXD > HXDX > HXDB > HXXX. Fluorescence index (f450/500) suggested that FA from HXXD mainly originated from terrestrial sources, while the FA from other samples mainly originated from aquatic organism sources and terrestrial sources. Based on EEM fluorescence regional integration (FIR), the percent fluorescence responses (P(i, n)) of five regions in 3EEMs was calculated. The distributions of P(V, n) (humic acid-like region) and P(III, n) (fulvic acid-like region) were the largest in all samples. The conclusion of the degree of humification of FA based on FIR was consistent with the analysis of conventional fluorescence parameters. The correlation analysis showed that, gamma(A, C) was significantly correlative with P(V, n)/P(III, n), (P(V, n) + P(III, n))/(P(I, n) + P(II, n) + P(III, n)) and P(V, n). The results suggest that gamma(A, C) index is a reasonable tool for assessing humification degree of FA from Xingkai Lake sediments.

[Fluorescence spectroscopic characteristics of dissolved organic matters (DOM) from Jingpo Lake water].

Six samples (sample J1-J6) from Jingpo Lake in Heilongjiang province were analyzed by fluorescence and fluorescence excitation-emission matrix regional integration (FIR) to determine the different characteristics of dissolved organic matters (DOM). The results with the traditional method just analyzing the excitation, emission and synchronous fluorescence spectra indicated that DOM molecular condensation degree was highest at sample J4 and sample J5, however, the study with the three-dimensional-excitation emission matrix spectra (3EEMs) method showed that the content of protein-like material was higher in sample J6 than others. In the second method, 3EEMs was divided into five regions, among which Region I, Region II, and Region IV were related to protein-like material, Region II was related to fulvic acid-like material, Region V was related to humic acid-like organics, and then these regions were integrated named as A(I), A(II), A(III), A(IV) and A(V). The integration results showed that the volume of A(V) occupied the largest proportion of the DOM region integration from all samples, and it exhibited the most prominent both in sample J4 and sample J5, while it's opposite in sample J6. Integral ratio, which means humic acid-like region (A(III), A(V)) divided by protein-like region(A(I), A(II), A(IV)), showed that the value of J4(4. 94) was close to J5 (5.18), J1 (3.52) was close to J2 (3.66), and the minimum value appeared in J6 (2.11). From the above analysis, the DOM humification degree could be confirmed as follows: J4, J5 > J1, J2 > J3 > J6.

Nitrogen addition increases the ecological and human health risks of PAHs in different fractions of soil in sewage-irrigated area.

Nitrogen (N) is one of the most important nutrients required by soil and crops. N addition improves soil quality and fertility. However, long-term N addition changes the soil environment, which may affect the adsorption and accumulation of organic pollutants in soil. The adsorption of pollutants by the light fractions (LF) and heavy fractions (HF) of soil, and their resulting risks, might differ. In addition, several organic pollutants, especially PAHs, accumulate in farmland soil under long-term sewage irrigation. However, few studies have examined the response of PAHs to N addition in soil in sewage-irrigated areas, including whether there is a difference in the response of the LF and HF of soil. Here, a long-term experiment was carried out in farmland soils in typical sewage-irrigated areas to reveal the adsorption and accumulation of PAHs in bulk soil, LF, and HF, and the human health and ecological environment risks posed by PAHs under different levels of N addition. Under long-term N addition, the concentration of PAHs in soil increased and fluctuated from 7598 µg kg-1 to 10,414 µg kg-1. Significant differences in the PAHs concentration in the LF (5048 µg kg-1 to 1889 µg kg-1) and HF (2536 µg kg-1 to 8521 µg kg-1) and the human health and ecological risks of soil with N addition in typical sewage-irrigated areas were observed. The HF of soil was characterized by low carcinogenic and ecological risks. The results of our research provide insight into possible management actions that could be taken to enhance the environmental protection and safety of agricultural production activities, such as sustainability fertilization.

Isotopic evidence of nitrate sources and its transformations in a human-impacted watershed.

The considerable spatial and temporal variabilities of nitrogen (N) processing introduce large uncertainties for quantifying N cycles on a large scale, particularly in plain river network regions with complicated hydrographic connections and mixed multiple N sources. In this paper, the dual isotopes δ15N and δ18O and dissolved anions in regularly collected samples (n = 10) from the studied river, which is one of the most seriously polluted rivers in the plain river network regions of the Taihu Lake catchment, were analyzed to ascertain the main nitrate (NO3-) sources and watershed N processing in the context of monsoon climate. The seasonal variations in precipitation, temperature, and hydrology play key roles in the regulation of the river NO3- concentration, NO3- sources, and watershed N processing. Nitrification of N-containing materials in the soil was possibly the major source of NO3- all year round, especially in the rainy season, whereas manure and sewage significantly contributed to the NO3- load in the Taige River in the dry season. Nitrification and denitrification processes within the area were closely related. The significant negative relationship between the water temperature and δ18O-NO3- values indicated the occurrence of nitrification in the soil throughout the year. By contrast, seasonal variations of denitrification were apparent from May to July with the high soil temperature and moisture, thereby indicating the occurrence of denitrification (22.9%) within the watershed. After the assessment of temporal variations of NO3- sources and watershed N processing, improved environmental management practices can be implemented to protect water resources and prevent further water quality deterioration in human-impacted watersheds.

[Analysis on the forms and release potential of nutrients in sediments from lakes in the West Jiangsu Province].

To probe the effect of nitrogen and phosphorus (P) in sediment on aqueous nutrient concentrations, forms of phosphorus, sediment water interface diffusion fluxes and phosphorus release and adsorption of 10 lakes in the west Jiangsu province were studied. Sediments were sequentially extracted by the modified Ruttenberg's method, and the result showed that inorganic phosphorus in sediments of the lakes was the major fraction of total phosphorus, but the proportion of bioavailable phosphorus was relatively low. Compared with the lakes in northern Jiangsu, the Fe-P was relatively high in sediments of lakes in southern Jiangsu. The diffusion fluxes of lakes were mainly based on NH4(+) -N diffusion in the west Jiangsu, and ions of most of lakes diffused from overlying water to sediment, NO3(-) -N diffused from sediment to overlying water in lakes except for Lake Hongze, Lake Shijiu and Lake Xuanwu. The condition leaning to acidic (pH < 4) or alkaline (pH > 10) was beneficial to phosphorus release, and except for Lake Xuanwu, the least amount of phosphorus released form sediment was higher in acidic condition than that in alkaline condition. The amount of phosphorus adsorption was increasing with temperature increase. Considering the phosphorus adsorption on native phosphorus polluted (NAP-polluted) sediments. All data of P adsorption on sediment samples collected from 7 lakes were fitted to the modified Langmuir model. And the values of the maximum adsorption capacity (Q(m)), phosphorus binding constant (k), native adsorbed exchangeable phosphorus (Q(NAP)), were subsequently obtained. The results showed that the adsorption amount of P in Lake Hongze and Lake Xuanwu was relatively low, which were liable to release P from sediments.

[Regional heterogeneity of lake eutrophication effects in China].

Although biomass of algae (Chl-a) were in variant levels between different lake regions in China under the same nutrients conditions, it demonstrated that efficiencies of TN/TP used by algae had regional differences. In order to clarify the differences, curve estimation in SPSS was used to analyze the linear relationship between Ig Chl-a and Ig TN/lg TP. The slopes of these linear equations were identified as the efficiencies of TN/TP used by algae. The slopes of linear equations from Mengxin Plateau, Yungui Plateau, Northeast Mountain-Plain, lower reach of Yangtze River Plain and North Plain were 1.002, 0.817, 0.761, 0.545, 0.250, orderly. The efficiencies of TN used by algae ranged from the highest to the lowest were lower reach of Yangtze River Plain, Yungui Plateau, North Plain, Northeast Mountain-Plain, Mengxin Plateau, and the slopes of linear equations were 1.401, 1.058, 0.447, 0.239, 0. 099, respectively. Consequently, in Northeast Mountain-Plain, Mengxin Plateau the efficiencies of TP used by algae were higher than those of TN, and in Yangtze River Plain, Yungui Plateau, North Plain, the efficiencies of TN used by algae were higher than those of TP. On the other hand, in order to describe the effects of algae on transparency in different lakes, the relationships between Chl-a and SD were analyzed. The results showed that in Yungui Plateau the effect of algae on transparency was the most obvious as the variation of SD explained by Chl-a was the highest, and Northeast Mountain-Plain, Mengxin Plateau and North Plain followed. However, in lower reach of Yangtze River Plain, the relationship between Chl-a and SD was not significant.

[Occurrence of PFOA and PFOS in the aquatic environments and their ecological toxicities in the aquatic environments].

Based on current researches, described the sources, toxicities, analytical methods and occurrence of PFOA and PFOS in wastewater treatment plants, lakes, rivers, coastal areas and tap waters in different countries in the world. According to the limited concentrations of PFOA + PFOS in effluents of wastewater treatment plants (WTPs) put forward by Germany, the concentrations of PFOA + PFOS in WTP effluents in Singapore, Germany, Korea and England were assessed. The results showed that the concentrations of PFOA + PFOS in WTP effluents in Singapore were higher than the liminted concentration of 300 microg/L. Researches done by China, Japan, USA, and other countries showed that the concentrations of POFA and PFOS in rivers and coastal areas reached to ng/L, and the concentrations in Tennessee River, USA were the highest, reached to 100 ng/L. The risk assessments of PFOA and PFOS in tap water in some cities in China were assessed according to the risk quotients(RQ). The assessment results showed that tap waters from 19 cities in China were all below the risk level.

[Study on ecoregion techniques of lake nutrients in Yunnan-Guizhou plateau Lake regions].

The primary objective of this research is to present an ecoregion model based on the principle components analysis (PCA), the cluster analysis (CA), the discriminant analysis (DA) and the spatial autocorrelation analysis (SAA), which were applied to establish the ecorigion of lake nutrients in Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau Lakes. First, the principle components analysis method was used not only to reduce the dimensionality of the feature space, but also to deal with new indexes. The accumulation contribution ratio of the four new indexes achieved 93.69%, which had the full representation. These complementary indexes which reflect the conditions of lakes were helpful to establish the index system of ecorigion of lake nutrients in Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau Lakes. Second, initial classification of lake drainage area was accomplished by new indicator values and cluster analysis which contained five classes, and then the categories of non-lake drainage area could be identified by the discriminant analysis. Finally, the cluster result was carried on the global statistics, Moran's I was 0.32 which was higher than 0, and the examination value Z was 68.28 which was higher than marginal value (remarkable level 1% correspond 2.58), it was indicated that the cluster result and the space position had the remarkable relativity, afterward spatial distribution pattern of the region was achieved by the quantificational analysis about over score of principle components and application of local spatial autocorrelation method. Then the ecorigion of lake nutrients was accomplished by the association and difference between different districts of the scattered regions' s spatial character. These results indicated that the ecoregion model initiated in the paper was appropriate and feasible to receive objective results and avoid artificial factors. Also it has provided a new method to explore the index system and techniques about the ecoregion of lake nutrients. Scientifically, the model was in favor of the foundation of lake nutrient criteria and eutrophication control standards in China.

[Effects of land management measures on nutrients emission].

The SWAT model, coupled with a GIS, was applied to simulate the effects of fertilizer application, contour planting and returning land for farming to forestry on nutrients discharges. The results showed that when nitrogen fertilizer of agricultural land increased from 630 to 955 kg/hm2, and phosphorus fertilizer increased from 200 to 300 kg/hm2, nitrogen and phosphorus nutrient emissions have shown a growing trend. Nitrate nitrogen loads reached to 3 776.59 kg which increased 19.7% and the rate of changes was the largest. The change rate of inorganic phosphorus was the smallest which increased only 2.7%. The impact of emission loads on nitrogen and phosphorus was the smallest if contour planting was adopted. When slope farmland which slope is greater than 25% all returned land for farming to forestry, the emission loads of various forms of nitrogen and phosphorus decreased, organic phosphorus decreased 16.3% among them. Organic nitrogen, ammonia nitrogen and inorganic phosphorus compared with before returning land for farming to forestry, decreased 22.7%, 25.4% and 27.9% respectively. In small basin of Zhangjiachong, returning farmlands to forests and reducing the amount of chemical fertilizer on the slope farmlands which slopes are larger than 25% have played a prominent role.

[Effects of parameter spatial distribution on non-point pollution source model].

The SWAT model was used to simulate the effects of parameter spatial distribution on flow and nutrients loadings in the Daning river watershed. It was first calibrated and validated using the measured data for the period of 2000 - 2004. Then the model was used to simulate the effects of watershed delineation scenarios on flow and nutrients loadings, using six watershed delineations, each with a different number of sub-watersheds. The max relative error is 19.6% for the annual mean flow under different watershed delineation scenarios. The flow increase first and then decrease with the number of sub-watersheds. The efficiencies coefficient is 0.52 - 0.82 for annual mean flow and 0.80 - 0.83 for monthly mean flow under six delineation scenarios. Outlet nutrients simulations are slightly affected by changes in watershed delineation scenarios. The relative errors of organic nitrogen and organic phosphorous are 16.2% and 7.7% respectively and no explicit trend is observed.

[Simulation of nonpoint source pollution load in Maoping River watershed].

The nitrogen and phosphorous transport in the Maoping River watershed was modelled using the SWAT model, which simulates the water cycle and the transformation of nutrients. The model was first calibrated by comparing the observed and the simulated data from May to October 2004, and then validated. The Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient (R2), the mean square root error (RMSE) and the relative error(CV) were used to test the agreement between observed and simulated data. The validated model was then be used to simulate the nutrients load in Maoping River watershed. The Nash-Sutcliffe coefficient of flow, nitrogen and phosphorous was 0.71, 0.51 and 0.62 with the minimum relative error 1.8%, 1.1% and 10% respectively. Despite achieving the relatively lower resemblance between observed and simulated phosphorous and nitrogen load the model showed good agreement in simulating runoff. The results showed that 102.5t nitrogen and 9.46t phosphorous entered intoYangtze River during May to October 2004. One of the important reason that caused the water quality deterioration can be attributed to the nonpoint source pollution.

[A study on ANAMMOX A2/O process for ammonium-rich leachates].

The ANAMMOX reaction could be realized by recycling the aerobic effluent to the anaerobic fluidized bed. A TN removal rate of 32% could be reached in ANAMMOX A2/O process for the ammonium-rich leachate. It is increased by 15%-20% compared to the A2/O process without ANAMMOX. NO2(-)-N concentration and NO2(-)-N/NOx(-)-N ratio in the aerobic effluent are decreased significantly. The effluent quality is improved. The ANAMMOX reaction has a total reaction order of 3, and the reaction orders for NH4(+)-N, NO2(-)-N and NO3(-)-N are 1. The reaction constant is -3.43E-5 L2.(mmol2.h)-1.