scholarly journals Variability in Environmental Conditions Strongly Impacts Ostracod Assemblages of Lowland Springs in a Heavily Anthropized Area

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (11) ◽  
pp. 3276
Author(s):  
Giampaolo Rossetti ◽  
Valentina Pieri ◽  
Rossano Bolpagni ◽  
Daniele Nizzoli ◽  
Pierluigi Viaroli
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Species Turnover ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Alpha Diversity ◽  
Po River ◽  
Physical And Chemical Variables ◽  
River Plain ◽  
Physical And Chemical ◽  
Restoration Measures

The Po river plain (Northern Italy) hosts artificial, lowland springs locally known as fontanili, which provide important ecosystem services in an area dominated by intensive agricultural activities. Here we present a study carried out in 50 springs. Each spring was visited once from October 2015 to January 2016. The sampled sites were selected to include springs studied in 2001 and 2004, to evaluate changes in water quality and ostracod assemblages that possibly occurred over a period of 10–15 years, and explore the relationships between ostracod community composition and water physical and chemical variables. Our results showed a decrease in the chemical water quality especially, in springs south of the Po river, evidenced by high nitrate levels. Most of the studied springs showed a relevant decrease in dissolved reactive silica, probably related to recent transformations of either agricultural practices or crop typology. Ostracods were mostly represented by common and tolerant species, and communities were characterized by low alpha diversity and high species turnover. Water temperature and mineralization level were the most influential variables in structuring the ostracod communities. We stress the need to implement conservation and restoration measures for these threatened ecosystems, to regain their role as ecosystem services providers.

scholarly journals Reactive Silica Traces Manure Spreading in Alluvial Aquifers Affected by Nitrate Contamination: A Case Study in a High Plain of Northern Italy

Water ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (9) ◽  
pp. 2511 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edoardo Severini ◽  
Marco Bartoli ◽  
Monica Pinardi ◽  
Fulvio Celico
Keyword(s):  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Nitrate Contamination ◽  
Coarse Grained ◽  
Aquifer Recharge ◽  
Flood Irrigation ◽  
Po River ◽  
Conservative Tracer ◽  
Steep Decrease ◽  
River Plain

In the northern sector of the Po River Plain (Italy), widespread intensive agriculture and animal farming are supported by large amounts of water from Alpine lakes and their emissaries. Flood irrigation and excess fertilization with manure affect both the hydrology and the chemical quality of surface and groundwater, resulting in diffuse nitrogen pollution. However, studies analyzing the mechanisms linking agricultural practices with vertical and horizontal nitrogen paths are scarce in this area. We investigated groundwater quality and quantity in an unconfined, coarse-grained alluvial aquifer adjacent to the Mincio River (a tributary of the Po River), where steep summer gradients of nitrate (NO3−) concentrations are reported. The effects of manure on solutes’ vertical transport during precipitation events in fertilized and in control soils were simulated under laboratory conditions. The results show high SiO2 and NO3− leaching in fertilized soils. Similarly, field data are characterized by high SiO2 and NO3− concentrations, with a comparable spatial distribution but a different temporal evolution, suggesting their common origin but different processes affecting their concentrations in the study area. Our results show that SiO2 can be used as a conservative tracer of manure spreading, as it does not undergo biogeochemical processes that significantly alter its concentrations. On the contrary, nitrate displays large short-term variations related to aquifer recharge (i.e., flood irrigation and precipitation). In fact, aquifer recharge may promote immediate solubilization and stimulate nitrification, resulting in high NO3− concentrations up to 95.9 mg/L, exceeding the Water Framework Directive (WFD) thresholds. When recharge ends, anoxic conditions likely establish in the saturated zone, favoring denitrification and resulting in a steep decrease in NO3− concentrations.

scholarly journals Mangrove oyster (Crassostrea rhizophorae) (Guilding, 1928) farming areas as artificial reefs for fish: A case study in the State of Ceará, Brazil

2006 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luiz Eduardo Lima de Freitas ◽  
Caroline Vieira Feitosa ◽  
Maria Elisabeth de Araújo
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Artificial Reefs ◽  
Visual Census ◽  
Ecological Aspects ◽  
Physical And Chemical Variables ◽  
Crassostrea Rhizophorae ◽  
Tidal Variations ◽  
Physical And Chemical ◽  
Permanent Residents

A type of platform, known as a table, is now being used for mangrove oyster farming. In Fortim, Ceará, Brazil, this activity was begun in June 2000 and covers an area of 50 m² overlying a sand-clay substrate. The present study has the following main objectives: to identify and catalogue the ichthyofauna colonizing the Crassostrea rhizophorae farming platforms; to evaluate ecological aspects, such as the possible correlation between the physical and chemical variables for water quality and the occurrence of the ichthyofauna; and to observe the differences in the fish species found during tidal variations. Specimens were identified and quantified using the linear-transect, visual census methodology. The ichthyofauna observed comprised 3,030 individuals belonging to 28 species and 20 families. Of the 28 species found in the area studied, 14 were marine transients, 12 marine dependent, and only 2 permanent residents. A significant association was observed between the abundance of 11 species and the physical and chemical variables studied. Based on these results, it may be concluded that the platforms act as artificial reefs for the ichthyofauna, being colonized by at least 28 species, and providing protection from predators as well as a source of food and a reproductive substrate.

Sensors key to advances in precision agriculture

Sensor Review ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-6 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Bogue
Keyword(s):  
Precision Agriculture ◽  
Vegetation Index ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Normalised Difference Vegetation Index ◽  
Physical And Chemical Variables ◽  
Physical And Chemical ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Agricultural Machines

Purpose This study aims to illustrate the growing role that sensors play in agriculture, with an emphasis on precision agricultural practices. Design/methodology/approach Following a short introduction, this study first provides an overview of agricultural measurements and applications. It then discusses the importance of airborne and land-based optical sensing techniques and the role of the normalised difference vegetation index. Sensors used on conventional and robotic agricultural machines are considered next, and fixed sensors and sensor networks are then discussed. Finally, brief concluding comments are drawn. Findings This shows that much modern agriculture is a high-technology business which relies on a multitude of sensor-based measurements. Sensors are based on a diversity of optical and other technologies and measure a wide range of physical and chemical variables. They are deployed in the air, on agricultural machines and in the field and generate data that can be used to enhance productivity and reduce both costs and the impact on the environment. Originality/value This provides a detailed insight into the important role played by sensors in modern agricultural practices.

scholarly journals Can zooplankton species be used as indicators of trophic status and ecological potential of reservoirs?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manuel E. Muñoz-Colmenares ◽  
Juan M. Soria ◽  
Eduardo Vicente
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Trophic Status ◽  
Ecological Status ◽  
Zooplankton Species ◽  
Keratella Cochlearis ◽  
Physical And Chemical Variables ◽  
Daphnia Cucullata ◽  
Good Ecological Status ◽  
Physical And Chemical ◽  
Ecological Potential

AbstractThe European Water Framework Directive implements the policies to achieve a good ecological status of all European waterbodies. To determine the ecological potential in freshwater environments, abiotic (morphology, physical and chemical variables) and biotics (algae, fishes, etc.) metrics are used. Despite their importance in trophic web, zooplankton was not included as one of the Biological Quality Elements (BQE) to determine the water quality. In the present research, we studied the zooplankton species that can be considered as indicators of trophic status and ecological potential for more than 60 water reservoirs. The data were obtained from more of 300 samples collected during 10 years from reservoirs at Ebro River watershed, which is the largest basin in Spain. According to their physicochemical and biological elements, the trophic status and ecological potential of these reservoirs were established. More than 150 zooplankton species were identified during the study. The results from this research indicate that species that are related with low water quality are: Acanthocyclops americanus, Ceriodaphnia spp., Daphnia cucullata, Daphnia párvula, Diaphanosoma brachyurum, Brachionus angularis, Keratella cochlearis and Phompolyx sulcata. An indicator of moderate quality was Bosmina longirostris, while Daphnia longispina, Ascomorpha ovalis and Ascomorpha saltans were considered as indicators of good water quality. The data obtained suggest that zooplankton species can be used as a valuable tool to determine the water quality status and should be considered, in a near future, as one more of the BQE within the WFD metrics.

scholarly journals Farming and soil urban occupation in the water quality of Jaboticabal and Cerradinho streams

2016 ◽  
Vol 40 (6) ◽  
pp. 633-646 ◽  
Author(s):  
Géssica Aparecida Silveira ◽  
Luciana Maria Saran ◽  
Wanderley José de Melo ◽  
Lucia Maria Carareto Alves
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Urban Sewage ◽  
Environmental Care ◽  
Farming Area ◽  
Physical And Chemical Variables ◽  
Physical And Chemical ◽  
The City

ABSTRACT Since the end of the twentieth century, 100% of the urban sewage from the city of Jaboticabal has been collected by interceptors and routed to a treatment plant. Between 1999 and 2000, studies on the effect of this environmental care showed that it did not efficiently clean up the water from the two streams that run through the city and flow into an agricultural area. This paper focuses on assessing the influence of soil use on the water quality of surface waters from these two streams. The study was conducted 15 years after the implementation of sewage interceptors. The sampling dates were bimonthly at eight points (P1 to P8) in the Cerradinho and Jaboticabal streams, in Jaboticabal (São Paulo State, Brazil). P1 was located at the source of the Jaboticabal stream, P2 was in a farming area, P3, P4 and P5 were in an urban area, and P6, P7 and P8 were in a farming area. The physical and chemical variables of the water were assessed. We compared the ability of microorganisms to metabolize different sources of carbon using the EcoPlate (Biolog). The total phosphorus (TP) concentration exceeded the limit set by the Brazilian legislation as well as values found in previous studies, which was also observed for the chemical oxygen demand. However, the bacterial metabolic profile had no association with urban or farming practices. The results of the analysis indicated the possibility of clandestine discharge of wastewater in the streams studied and the influence of the agricultural soil.

scholarly journals Potential for Mycorrhizae-Assisted Phytoremediation of Phosphorus for Improved Water Quality

2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 7
Author(s):  
Jessica A. Rubin ◽  
Josef H. Görres
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Animal Health ◽  
Phosphorus Uptake ◽  
Agricultural Practices ◽  
Fold Increase ◽  
Landscape Patterns ◽  
Cyanobacterial Blooms ◽  
Terrestrial Plants ◽  
Source Reduction ◽  
Water Ecosystems

During this 6th Great Extinction, freshwater quality is imperiled by upland terrestrial practices. Phosphorus, a macronutrient critical for life, can be a concerning contaminant when excessively present in waterways due to its stimulation of algal and cyanobacterial blooms, with consequences for ecosystem functioning, water use, and human and animal health. Landscape patterns from residential, industrial and agricultural practices release phosphorus at alarming rates and concentrations threaten watershed communities. In an effort to reconcile the anthropogenic effects of phosphorus pollution, several strategies are available to land managers. These include source reduction, contamination event prevention and interception. A total of 80% of terrestrial plants host mycorrhizae which facilitate increased phosphorus uptake and thus removal from soil and water. This symbiotic relationship between fungi and plants facilitates a several-fold increase in phosphorus uptake. It is surprising how little this relationship has been encouraged to mitigate phosphorus for water quality improvement. This paper explores how facilitating this symbiosis in different landscape and land-use contexts can help reduce the application of fertility amendments, prevent non-point source leaching and erosion, and intercept remineralized phosphorus before it enters surface water ecosystems. This literature survey offers promising insights into how mycorrhizae can aid ecological restoration to reconcile humans’ damage to Earth’s freshwater. We also identify areas where research is needed.

scholarly journals Comparing Wetland Ecosystems Service Provision under Different Management Approaches: Two Cases Study of Tianfu Wetland and Nansha Wetland in China

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 8710
Author(s):  
Yuchao Zhang ◽  
Steven Loiselle ◽  
Yimo Zhang ◽  
Qian Wang ◽  
Xia Sun ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Ecosystem Services ◽  
Wetland Management ◽  
Nutrient Retention ◽  
Limited Information ◽  
Urban Centers ◽  
Wetland Ecosystems ◽  
Fundamental Information ◽  
Management Approaches ◽  
Study Sites

The largest blue-green infrastructures in industrialized, urbanized and developed regions in China are often multiuse wetlands, located just outside growing urban centers. These areas have multiple development pressures while providing environmental, economic, and social benefits to the local and regional populations. Given the limited information available about the tradeoffs in ecosystem services with respect to competing wetland uses, wetland managers and provincial decision makers face challenges in regulating the use of these important landscapes. In the present study, measurements made by citizen scientists were used to support a comparative study of water quality and wetland functions in two large multiuse wetlands, comparing areas of natural wetland vegetation, tourism-based wetland management and wetland agriculture. The study sites, the Nansha and Tianfu wetlands, are located in two of the most urbanized areas of China: the lower Yangtze River and Pearl River catchments, respectively. Our results indicated that the capacity of wetlands to mitigate water quality is closely related to the quality of the surrounding waters and hydrological conditions. Agricultural areas in both wetlands provided the lowest sediment and nutrient retention. The results show that the delivery of supporting ecosystem services is strongly influenced by the location and use of the wetland. Furthermore, we show that citizen scientist-acquired data can provide fundamental information on quantifying these ecosystem services, providing needed information to wetland park managers and provincial wetland administrators.

Environment Study on Liaohe River Basin Ecological Footprint and Ecological Restoration Measures

2013 ◽  
Vol 830 ◽  
pp. 372-375 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang Wang ◽  
Yu Min Shi ◽  
Jun Zhao
Keyword(s):  
Water Quality ◽  
Environmental Pollution ◽  
Ecological Restoration ◽  
River Basin ◽  
Pollution Control ◽  
Ecological Footprint ◽  
Liaohe River ◽  
Environment Study ◽  
Liaohe River Basin ◽  
Restoration Measures

Liaohe River is one of seven big river in China, its environmental pollution control is an important task all the time. In this paper, Liaohe River basin ecological footprint was introduced, water quality and ecological restoration measures were analyzed in the period of the 9th Five-Year, the 10th Five-Year and the 11th Five-Year, the development on ecological restoration in the 12th Five-Year was put forward.

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