MODERN HYDROMORPHOLOGICAL, HYDROBIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS AND STATE OF FISH POPULATIONS OF LAKE GALICHSKOYE AND LAKE CHUKHLOMSKOYE IN KOSTROMA REGION

Hydrochemical, hydrobiological and ichthyological studies of the two largest lakes in the Kostroma region - Galichskoye and Chukhlomskoye for the period 2005–19 were carried out. Current state of the fish population in comparison with previous periods was analysed. Area of water bodies was updated according to geographic information systems data for 2017–19. The collection and processing of hydrochemical and hydrobiological samples were carried out according to standard methods. The collection of ichthyological materials was carried out by conventional methods using fry drag, small-mesh seines and fixed nets. The boundaries of the lakes were digitized using Landsat satellite images. The hydrochemical indicators of both lakes are within the limits of fishery standards. The hydrochemical regime of Lake Galichskoye is stable. The rise in the water level of Lake Chukhlomskoye had a positive effect on its hydrochemical regime. It has been established that both investigated lakes are currently, as before, highly productive water bodies. According to the concentration of chlorophyll “a” they have a β-eutrophic status, according to quantitative indicators of phytoplankton development they correspond to a high eutrophic level. According to the quantitative indicators of zooplankton, Lake Galichskoye is a low-forage water body (0.37 g/m3), and Chukhlomskoye is a medium-forage water body (2.12 g/m3). Lake Galichskoye is medium-fodder, and Lake Chukhlomskoye is high-forage lakes for benthofagous fish. According to indicator species of zoobenthos, the water of both lakes is classified as an α-mesosaprobic zone, polluted (quality class IV). The species richness of fish on Lake Galich – 16 species, on Lake Chukhloma – 12 species, ichthyomass – 221.9 and 176.5 kg/ha, respectively. It was noted that in the reservoirs over the past two decades, serious changes have occurred in the structure of the fish population. In both lakes, perch fish were replaced by cyprinids, which is associated with the process of eutrophication. In Galichskoye Lake, after a sharp decrease in fishing load since 2005, there has been a significant increase in the number of small-sized fish species caused a corresponding increase in stocks of predatory species (pike and pike perch). In the Lake Chukhlomskoye, the ecological niche of the crucian was occupied by the bream, which was acclimatized in the reservoir almost a century ago. It was determined that during the growing season the average area of Lake Galichskoye is 7124.3 ± 57.5 hectares, of Lake Chukhlomskoye – 4862.7 ± 14.7 hectares.

Decomposing drivers of changes in productive and domestic water use based on the logarithmic mean Divisia index method: a regional comparison in Northern China

It is crucial to consider regional heterogeneity while analyzing drivers of changes in sectoral water use for developing differentiated and effective demand-regulation strategies in China. By using the logarithmic mean Divisia index method, this study compares dynamic influences of intensity, structure and scale factors on changes in productive and domestic water use during 2003–2017 between Tianjin (a socio-economic developed region) and Hebei (less-developed). The results show that the scale effect stimulated the growth of productive water use in both regions, while structure and intensity effects restrained such growth. The three effects all stimulated the growth of domestic water use in most years in both regions. In both regions, the largest contributor to changes in productive and domestic water use was the scale and intensity effect, respectively. However, in the two regions, the synergies of three effects resulted in different change trends of productive water use, and cumulative contributions of sub-sectors to the intensity, structure and scale effects were not exactly the same. Tianjin and Hebei need to keep on adjusting industrial structure and lowering water-use intensity to control future growth of productive water use and take strict measures to tackle the increasing trend of domestic water use but should have different policy implementation focuses.

Biomonitoring the Health of Lake Mansar (Jammu), Using Phytoplankton

Phytoplankton investigation of a sub-tropical Lake Mansar has revealed a total of 92 species belonging to Chlorophyceae (57 spp.), Bacillariophyceae (20 spp.), Cyanophyceae (11 spp.), Dinophyceae (2spp.) and Euglenophyceae (2 spp.). Perennial Chlorophyceae was recorded to be the most occurred group throughout the study period. Palmer algal genus and species pollution index was used to monitor the health of Mansar Lake. The total scores of 36 for algal genus and 16 for algal species have shown organic pollution of the lake. Thus, phytoplankton can be considered as good bio-indicator for assessing the health of the Lake. Present observations showed that the lake is a highly productive water body, facing pollution problems and is approaching towards eutrophication due to the presence of high number of pollution indicator species of algae. Conservation strategies of the lake must take cognizance to protect it from further deterioration.

Mercury content of sarotherodon melanotheron and chrysischthys nigrodigitatus of Lake Nokoue and Porto Novo lagoon in Benin

Ratification of Minamata Convention by Bénin requires identification of contaminated sites and preservation of health. In this context, the Ministry of Living Environment and Sustainable Development supported the study by making its mercury analyzer DMA80 available. The study aims to identify the level of mercury contamination in two highly valued fish species caught in one of the most productive water bodies where mercury is reported. So, three monthly sample collection campaigns were carried out from April to juin 2018 at nine (09) sites. The back flesh of sarotherodon melanotheron and chrysischthys nigrodigitatus of lake Nokoue and Porto Novo lagoon was analyzed by direct mercury analyzer (DMA 80). it Its operating principle is atomic absorption after thermal decomposition coupled with a gold sensor. The average mercury contents are 20.8 ± 15.5 μg / kg and 6.5 ± 3.8 wet μg / kg weight respectively for Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus and Sarotherodon melanotheron. The highest values obtained at the Porto-Novo bridge for both species remain well below the standard (0.5 mg / kg wet weight). With consumption habits of fish in Benin, the weekly exposure doses seem to be much lower than WHO recommendation. However, deepened studies are needed.Keywords: Fish, mercury, spatial distribution, NoKoué Lake, Porto-Novo Lagoon.

Partitioning evapotranspiration into transpiration and evaporation by use of isotope balance calculation

<p>Knowledge and quantification of water fluxes within the soil-vegetation-atmosphere continuum is fundamental to understand ecohydrological systems. It is also essential to further develop water management practices and irrigation systems in times of increasing needs for water and rising water scarcity. A major component in this regard is evapotranspiration (ET) as it links the energy balance and the water balance. Evapotranspiration can be fractionated into productive water fluxes through plants’ stomata (transpiration) and non-productive water loss from soil surface (evaporation). Determination and understanding of factors influencing this ratio are assumed to help improving water use efficiency through best management practices in agriculture, especially in water limited environments. Aim of this study was to adapt a stable isotope mass balance method for determining evapotranspiration and its components transpiration and evaporation for soybeans under natural conditions.</p><p>The study site was in Groß-Enzersdorf, east of Vienna, Austria (48°12’ N, 16°34’ E; 157 m elevation a.s.l.). The study period covered the vegetation period of soybeans in 2019. Crop evapotranspiration was determined using a weighing lysimeter with 1.8 m diameter. For the fractionation, a stable isotope mass balance method from literature was adapted and further developed for soybeans under natural (stressed) climatic conditions. The underlying principle of isotope fractionation is that different physical properties of naturally occurring stable isotopes in water cause shifts in the isotopic composition due to evaporation. Therefore, evaporation causes enrichment of heavier stable isotopes in the near surface soil water, whereas water uptake by plant roots does not cause considerable partitioning in soil water. This allows determination of both fractions, assuming all other water balance components are known. Soil samples for the stable isotope mass balance were taken near a weighing lysimeter (1.8 m diameter). Evapotranspiration determined by the lysimeter provided the basis for the mass balance fractionation calculations. Monitoring throughout the soybeans vegetation period included weekly analyses of isotopic composition of soil samples, measurements of water content over the soil profile in 10 cm steps down to 80 cm, weather data, and crop growing stages.</p><p>Results reveal a plausible course of soybean evapotranspiration and its components. The preliminary designed method of soil water sampling could be adequately adapted to determine representative isotopic soil profiles for water balance determination under the given conditions. Water extraction from the soil samples worked well under moist as well as very dry soil conditions. Further data analysis was done to assess applicability of the modified method to determine fractionation ratios for different plant development stages. The available results encourage further experiments to test and investigate the versatility of this method with respect to different soil cultivation methods for a water use efficiency review.</p>

Application of bentonite for the construction of process wells for bore-hole mining of uranium

Production of uranium by the method of bore-hole mining (BHM) is carried out from productive water-bearing formations represented by sands of various sizes. The beds are opened by the process well drilling using bentonite clay mud. This is accompanied by colmatation of the near-filter zone (NFZ) rocks. The performed studies showed the need for the complete removal of clay mud from the NFZ at the stage of well construction. It is shown that this can be done by the methods of interval-by-interval filter development or by the collapse of the productive horizon sands when NFZ after-filter washing with technical water. Laboratory tests on the chemical resistance of bentonite sleeves to the acid solutions action were carried out. Geological and process conditions for the use of bentonite sleeves for waterproofing the bore-hole annulus of process BHM wells were defined.

Potential value of red and brown seaweed for sustainable bioethanol production

Algae are renewable sources of feedstock for bioethanol that can be grown on non arable lands, non productive water sources and inexpensive culture systems. Red seaweed Laurencia obtusa and brown seaweeds Cystoseira compressa, Colpomenia sinuosa were analysed by determining sugar content by HPLC and converted into suitable fermentable feedstock by NaOH, H2SO4, HCl and H3PO4 at concentrations 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5% at 21°C of 20 minutes. The efficiency of hydrolysis significantly improved by 5% HCl for Laurencia obtusa at 42.84 g sugar/100 g dry biomass. Pretreatment of Cystoseira compressa and Colpomenia sinuosa with 3 and 5% H3PO4 gave higher sugar content of 30.51 and 41.34 g/100 g dry biomass, respectively. A relatively high level ethanol of 0.146 g/g dry biomass of Laurencia obtusa was produced. Results indicate that Cystoseira compressa and Laurencia obtusa can be good feedstocks for bioethanol production.

An introductory guide to gas exchange analysis of photosynthesis and its application to plant phenotyping and precision irrigation to enhance water use efficiency

Leaf gas exchange is central to the analysis of photosynthetic processes and the development of more productive, water efficient and stress tolerant crops. This has led to a rapid expansion in the use of commercial plant photosynthesis systems which combine infra-red gas analysis and chlorophyll fluorescence (Chl-Flr) capabilities. The present review provides an introduction to the principles, common sources of error, basic measurements and protocols when using these plant photosynthesis systems. We summarise techniques to characterise the physiology of light harvesting, photosynthetic capacity and rates of respiration in the light and dark. The underlying concepts and calculation of mesophyll conductance of CO2 from the intercellular air-space to the carboxylation site within chloroplasts using leaf gas exchange and Chl-Flr are introduced. The analysis of stomatal kinetic responses is also presented, and its significance in terms of stomatal physiological control of photosynthesis that determines plant carbon and water efficiency in response to short-term variations in environmental conditions. These techniques can be utilised in the identification of the irrigation technique most suited to a particular crop, scheduling of water application in precision irrigation, and phenotyping of crops for growth under conditions of drought, temperature extremes, elevated [CO2] or exposure to pollutants.

Investigation of Geological Structures of Hydrogeological Importance of 1:100,000 Sheet 185 (Paiko) North-Central Nigeria Using Integrated Geophysical and Remote Sensing Techniques

Aeromagnetic data coupled with Landsat ETM+ data and SRTM DEM have been processed in order to map regional hydrogeological structures in the basement complex region of Paiko, north-central Nigeria. Lineaments were extracted from derivative maps from aeromagnetic, Landsat ETM+ and SRTM DEM datasets. Ground geophysical investigation utilizing Radial Vertical Electrical Sounding (RVES) was established in nine transects comprising of four sounding stations which are oriented in three azimuths. Source Parameter Imaging (SPI) was employed to map the average depths structures from aeromagnetic dataset. Selected thematic layers which included lineaments density, lithologic, slope, drainage density and geomorphologic maps were integrated and modelled using ArcGIS to generate groundwater potential map of the area. Groundwater zones were classified into four categories: very good, good, moderate and poor according to their potential to yield sustainable water to drilled wells. Results from RVES survey reveal a close correlation to lineaments delineated from surface structural mapping and remotely sensed datasets. Hydrogeological significance of these orientations suggest that aeromagnetic data can be used to map relatively deep-seated fractures which are likely to be open groundwater conduits while remotely sensed lineaments and orientations delineated from the RVES survey may indicate areas of recharge. Regions with high lineament density have relatively better groundwater potential. This is attributable to areas having deep weathering profiles associated with intrusive bodies that have resulted in intense fracturing in the area. Drill depths in this area should target a minimum of 80 m to ensure sufficient and sustainable supplies to drilled wells. The outcome of this study should act as information framework that would guide the siting of productive water wells and while providing needed information for relevant agencies in need of data for the development of groundwater resources.

Water and Poverty

The use and transformation of water is intimately connected to wealth, poverty, and social change. Does the extension of irrigation, for example, allow escape from poverty or does it cause dispossession and deprivation? Can the transformation of water be shaped to increase opportunities for breaking free from deprivation and exclusion? Do infrastructure projects like big dams inevitably uproot and impoverish millions? This chapter employs ideas of income poverty and relational poverty to examine how uses of water are implicated in the making and the breaking of poverty. It considers three pathways of escape—the provision of irrigation, access to safe drinking water, and access to adequate domestic water—and examines two pathways causing descent into poverty. The evaluation suggests that escape can be facilitated and descent discouraged through initiatives to contest water injustice, to advance access to domestic productive water, and to develop anti-deprivation practices for irrigation and infrastructure.