Seasonal Changes in Water Quality in Commercial Channel Catfish Ponds in Mississippi

Selected water quality variables were measured at monthly intervals for 1 yr in 10 commercial channel catfish ponds in northwest Mississippi. Temporal changes in most variables appeared to be related to seasonal periodicity of phytoplankton abundance. Phytoplankton standing crops and total organic matter were highest in summer months when primary production was favored by warm water temperatures, high solar irradiance, and large inputs of nutrients resulting from high summer fish feed allowances. As day length, water temperature, and feed inputs decreased in autumn and winter, phytoplankton abundance and organic matter concentrations decreased. Seasonal changes in total nitrogen and total phosphorus concentrations were similar to phytoplankton abundance because much of the total nitrogen and phosphorus was contained within phytoplankton cells. Contrasting to the seasonal trend for total nitrogen, concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen were lowest in the summer and highest in the cooler months. Rapid assimilation by phytoplankton served to maintain relatively low concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen during the summer despite highest nitrogen loading rates during that period. Low water temperatures and generally less favorable conditions for phytoplankton growth decreased rates of nitrogen assimilation in the winter and ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate accumulated. Soluble reactive phosphorus concentrations were low throughout the year because physico-chemical processes, such as precipitation and adsorption to bottom muds acted to continually remove inorganic phosphorus from the water column.     

枸杞岛贻贝养殖水域碳氮磷分布格局

于2013年贻贝成熟期和幼苗期对枸杞岛贻贝筏式养殖水域营养分布和碳分布格局开展相关实验。结果表明:从生态健康角度,夏季成熟期的贻贝养殖造成养殖海域氮、磷营养盐浓度升高,尤其是无机氮浓度显著高于非养殖区(P<0.05),养殖区处于受磷限制性的重富营养化,对其水体健康产生一定压力;秋季幼苗期贻贝养殖使养殖海域氮、磷浓度均降低,尤其是无机氮浓度显著低于非养殖区(P<0.05),与夏季分布格局相反,对水体有净化作用。从生态效应看,贻贝养殖使表层水体中溶解无机碳浓度显著低于非养殖区(P<0.05),产生碳汇效应;同时,贻贝养殖使水体中溶解有机碳浓度显著高于非养殖区(P<0.05),由于丰富的氮营养盐,溶解有机碳处于不稳定态,为碳源。因此,成熟期与幼苗期贻贝养殖对其水域健康产生不同作用,养殖的碳汇、碳源还有待进一步的系统研究。     

Benthic Recovery after the Cessation of a Gilt‐head Seabream,Sparus aurata,Farm in the Mediterranean Sea

An environmental recovery study was carried out after the cessation of a gilt‐head seabream farm off the Mediterranean coast of Spain. Physicochemical variables of sediments, in situ benthic fluxes of oxygen and nutrients, and benthic macrofauna were measured in the farming area and at a control station. Five sampling campaigns were done, one before the closure and the others at 1, 3, 9, and 24 mo after cessation. Benthic flux of ammonium was the first variable to recover, followed by benthic fluxes of phosphate and dissolved oxygen and percentage organic matter in the sediments, which 3 mo after the cessation of farming already showed levels similar to those in the control station. Nine months after cessation, the other abiotic variables of the sediments disturbed by the activity had recovered, such as percentage coarse fraction, total phosphorus concentrations, and redox potential measurements. The recovery of the macrofauna was slower than the abiotic variables. Three months after cessation, Capitella capitata abundance had reduced drastically in the farming area, but similar specific richness levels were not observed between the two sampled zones until 2 yr after farming cessation.     

Effects of marine fish farming on nutrient composition and plankton communities in the Eastern Aegean Sea (Turkey)

The hypothesis that the presence of fish farming zones affects the water quality and plankton communities was investigated in an Aegean Sea fish farm during February, June, September and January 2000–2001. In the spatial coverage, a total of 12 stations were sampled; three of them were reference stations. A variance analysis was applied to the measurements made at the stations near the fish farms and at the control stations. While no significant differences in concentrations of nutrients, chlorophyll a, particulate organic carbon and particulate organic nitrogen were detected between the stations and the control sites within one season, significant differences were detected between the parameter values measured except for total dissolved phosphorus and dissolved organic phosphorus at different seasons. The seasonal differences were also significant with regard to the biodiversity. Together with these temporal differences in general, there was a higher diversity of species at the control site as compared with the other stations in September, which was the key season to detection of significant changes. The most important consideration is that it is not sufficient to take the instantaneous values for the physico‐chemical variables; rather, it is necessary to monitor the biological parameters in order to define the differences in the ecosystem.     

Loading of nutrient from a land-based fish farm(Orbetello, Italy) at different times

. A marine fish farm (production ~ 100 tonnes per year) located in the Orbetello lagoon area (Tuscany, Italy) was selected to study the waste water quality discharged. The aims of study were: a) quantify the nitrogen and phosphorus discharged from the fish farm at the beginning and the end of feeding time; b) verify nutrient trend during a daily cycle, and difference of release between nitrogen and phosphorus by reared biomass. From June 1999 to May 2000, water temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen and redox were hourly recorded in output wastewater station (E). Two water sampling strategies were adopted: monthly and daily. Monthly, in E, two field water samples at 8:00 a.m. (E8), at the beginning of feeding, and at 4:00 p.m. (E16), at the end of feeding, were collected. The dissolved and particulate nitrogen and phosphorus were analysed. With respect to total dissolved nitrogen (TDN), the total ammonia (NH₃ + NH₄⁺) concentration constituted more than 64%. With respect to total nitrogen and phosphorus, the particulated component represented, respectively, the 16% and 29–36%. A 24 h water sampling, at 4:00, 10:00, 12:00 a.m and at 4:00, 8:00, 12:00 p.m., was carried out. The results showed that TDN was excreted shortly after feeding, with a peak 4 h after the end of feeding. Most of the total dissolved phosphorus (TDP) was excreted after many hours, with a peak 8 h after the end of feeding.     

Heavy metal concentrations and sediment quality of a cage farm on Lake Volta,Ghana

This study involved the determination of sediment quality and heavy metals in the water column and bottom sediment of a selected cage fish farm in Lake Volta, to assess the potential impact of metals and organic matter pollution on the lake due to cage fish farming. Sediment analysis indicated that the texture of all sampling sites was sandy clay loam with sand dominating with a range of 31.5%–81.2%. The organic matter (TOM) ranged from 4.42%–8.89%, while organic carbon (TOC) was from 2.57%–5.22%. Total nitrogen (TN) fluctuated between 0.22% and 0.45%; total phosphate ranged between 0.22% and 5.30%. The TOC, TOM and TN content in the farm sediment were significantly lower than those of the reference sites (ANOVA, p < .05). Lead, copper, cadmium and selenium were not detected in the water. The results revealed that heavy metal concentrations in the water column and sediments were low and within tolerable levels, indicating no influence of metals from fish feed was observed on the lake water quality. However, the farm seemed to have moderate impact on sediment quality from organic matter. Water and sediment quality monitoring should be embarked upon periodically to ensure sustainable cage culture in the Lake Volta.     

Effect of organic nitrogen and carbon mineralization on sediment organic matter accumulation in fish ponds

In aquaculture, ponds with high loads of organic inputs, organic matter accumulates at the bottom over time. Uneaten feed, senescent phytoplankton and faeces are the principal sources of accumulated material, but quantifications are scarce. The sedimented organic matter develops into a flocculent layer in which different processes transform the material into inorganic forms. A better understanding of factors influencing organic matter accumulation/decomposition in the sediment is needed to better understand and manage the dynamics of nitrogen in fish ponds. In this study, the rate of mineralization of organic nitrogen and the nitrogen flux between the sediment and the water column were measured. Organic matter accumulation in fish ponds was quantified, and the data were used to construct, calibrate and validate a dynamic simulation model of organic matter deposition/decomposition in fish ponds. The accumulating material consisted of dead phytoplankton, fish faeces and uneaten feed. Through model calibration, the proportion of these materials in the total accumulated organic matter was determined. In the model, gross photosynthetic rate was estimated from an empirical relationship with feed input. After calibration, the model was validated using independent data. The model simulated well the concentrations of organic carbon and nitrogen in the sediments but it may be developed further, especially by considering the effects of resuspension.     

Comparative changes in water quality and role of pond soil after application of different levels of organic and inorganic inputs

Changes in water parameters were studied in a yard experiment for 7 weeks after application of cow dung at 20, 50 and 100 t ha^?1, poultry manure at 4, 10 and 20 t ha^?1, feed mixture (groundnut oil cake and rice bran at 1:1) at 10, 20 and 30 t ha^?1 and inorganic fertilizers at 100 kg urea+50 kg single super phosphate (SSP) ha^?1, twice this dose (2x ha^?1) and thrice this dose (3x ha^?1). To study the role of soil in the mineralization process, each treatment was divided into two groups – one with and the other without soil substrate. Higher degree of changes in water parameters was observed at higher input levels. Both organic amendment and inorganic fertilization caused significant reduction (P<0.05) in dissolved oxygen and increase in free CO₂, dissolved organic matter, total ammonia, nitrite, nitrate and phosphorus contents of water. Organic inputs significantly decreased (P<0.05) water pH and increased total alkalinity and hardness. In contrast, inorganic fertilization caused a significant increase in pH; alkalinity and hardness increased significantly in the presence of soil, but reduced in its absence. In organic input, presence of soil substrate caused significantly lower value of pH, dissolved oxygen, dissolved organic matter and phosphate‐phosphorus and significantly higher free CO₂, alkalinity, hardness, ammonia, nitrite and nitrate contents, compared with those in the absence of soil, revealing enhanced microbial mineralization in the presence of soil.     

Effects of organic effluents from a salmon farm on a fjord system. I. Vertical export and dispersal processes

Vertical flux of organic waste from a Norwegian salmon farm (which produced 2910 tonnes of fish in 19 months) located in 230-m-deep water was measured nine times in the course of 2 years by sediment traps along a transect stretching from the farm and 3 km out towards the sea. The chemical composition of the trapped material and the sediment below the traps were analyzed. The results showed that when the fish farm was empty, sedimentation rates of organic matter were similar all along the transect. Throughout the production cycle high and very variable sedimentation rates of particulate organic matter, particulate organic carbon and particulate organic nitrogen were measured within 250 m from the farm, while between 550 and 3000 m away from the farm sedimentation rates were lower and constant throughout the cycle. During the second year of production, the annual vertical flux of particulate organic carbon to the bottom adjacent to the farm was 365 g m^− 2, nine times as high as what was found 3 km away from the farm. While the sedimentation rates showed that most of the waste matter settled within 250 m of the farm, the fatty acid composition and δ¹³C isotope ratio of the material in the bottom traps indicate that some components of the organic waste were transported as far as 550 to 900 m, probably due to resuspension of surface sediment. Despite the high sedimentation rates the content of sedimentary organic matter, total organic carbon and total organic nitrogen was not elevated in the sediment around the farm. However, phosphorus was found in higher concentrations in the sediments close to the farm, indicating that organic matter had settled on the sediment and been decomposed. The unchanged content of organic matter in the sediment during the production cycle showed that at this site the local resuspension and dispersal conditions and the decomposition capacity of the benthos were sufficient to prevent overloading of the locality.     

大鹏澳海湾养殖生态环境的化学计量分析

根据2008 2009年在深圳大鹏澳养殖海域周年4个季节的生态环境调查数据,采用化学计量学方法(主成分分析、系统聚类分析和分类主成分分析)研究了大鹏澳养殖海域生态环境的时空变化。结果表明,第一主成分以海水温度、盐度、海水营养盐中的无机三氮、硫化物、叶绿素a(Chla)和颗粒有机物(POM)等为特征,表征了大鹏澳海洋生态环境主要受气候和水文因素的影响;第二主成分以海水磷酸盐(PO4-P)和沉积物硫化物为特征,与网箱养殖自身污染效应有关;第三主成分以海水溶解氧(DO)和化学需氧量(CODMn)为特征,与养殖生物耗氧代谢活动有关;第四主成分以沉积物有机质为特征,与养殖贝类的生物沉降作用有关。该养殖海域生态环境的时空分布特征主要受亚热带季风气候和养殖活动的空间布局及其季节周期性养殖生产的共同影响。     

菊花心江蓠在网箱养殖区的生物修复作用

2003年8～12月，利用菊花心江蓠(Gracilaria lichenoides)在福建省东山县八尺门网箱养殖区进行生物修复实验。通过定点跟踪监测，定点连续监测，断面监测和平面监测，结果表明，江蓠对受污染的海水具有较好的修复效果。菊花心江蓠能有效提高水中的DO浓度，使修复实验区的DO浓度明显高于非养殖区和网箱养殖区的DO浓度；菊花心江蓠还能降低水中的IN、IP浓度，特别是3种价态的IN中，菊花心江蓠优先吸收铵氮，这对减轻网箱养殖区自身污染的影响更具实际意义。     

Sediment Quality in Arkansas Bait Minnow Ponds

Sediment cores were collected from 7-yr-old, 20- to 25-yr-old, and 30- to 35-yr-old ponds at a bait minnow farm at Lonoke, Arkansas, USA. Average depths of soft sediment (S and M horizons) were 8 cm in young ponds, 12 em in intermediate-age ponds, and 26 cm in old ponds. Organic carbon concentrations in sediment were low to moderate (1–2%) and carbon to nitrogen ratios were wide (20–50). Phosphorus and sulfur concentrations increased as ponds aged. Most of the phosphorus (78.9%) was in organic form, but sulfur was primarily inorganic in form (presumably iron sulfide). There appears to be two major problems associated with sediment accumulation over time. Deep, soft sediment interferes with pond management and especially with harvest. High phosphorus concentration in old sediment may contribute to dense phytoplankton blooms by supplying phosphorus to the water. Sodium nitrate treatment did not increase the rate of sediment organic matter decomposition in laboratory trials and would not be expected to enhance the degradation of sediment organic matter in ponds. The best method for improving the condition of bottoms in older bait minnow ponds probably is to remove the sediment.     

Effect of feed and feeding in the culture of salmonids on the marine aquatic environment: a synthesis for European aquaculture

While marine aquaculture has grown rapidly, so have concerns regarding the environmental impacts caused by the industry. In particular, increasing discharges of solid and dissolved fish excretions, nutrients and therapeutic chemicals have coincided with greater public awareness of the possibility of environmental damage. This has stimulated a number of criticisms, drawn from a wide spectrum of interests, ranging from the use of natural fish stocks to produce fish meal for aqua feeds to the effects of enhanced nutrient input on the coastal marine environment. The present study reviews available information on the environmental effects of feeding practices in salmonid aquaculture in Europe. Accumulation of waste food and fish faecal material results in changes in the sediment under fish cages, characterized by a low redox potential, high content of organic material and accumulation of nitrogenous and phosphorous compounds. Although significant environmental impacts have been reported in the literature at distances of up to 100 m from the cages, in general such impacts are reported to be localized to within 20–50 m around the cages. For farmed salmon and trout, mass balance models have been developed for nitrogen and phosphorus, indicating that 50% of the nitrogen and 28% of the phosphorus supplied with the food is wasted in dissolved form. The maximum nutrient release can be estimated from the hydrographic conditions in the immediate vicinity of the farm, such as water volume, tidal water exchange and currents. At present production levels, improvements in the feeding efficiency and feed quality of aquafeeds could reduce waste and consequent environmental impacts.     

The use of high rate algal ponds for the treatment of marine effluent from a recirculating fish rearing system

A high rate algal pond (HRAP) system was used to treat effluent from a recirculating sea water aquaculture system in southern France. Dicentrarchus labrax L. were farmed at a high density, with effluents containing an average of 10 mg L^?1 dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and 1.3 mg L^?1 reactive phosphorus (RP). On a yearly basis, the algal pond removed 59% of the dissolved nitrogen and 56% of the phosphorus input, which was converted into 3.3 kg DW m^?2 algae. Green macroalgae were dominant throughout the year and the algal biomass mirrored the seasonal changes in daily irradiance and temperature. This first year study supports the possibility of treating marine aquaculture wastes using HPAPs, although conditions will have to be found to mitigate the strong influence of climate on the algal community during winter. During the more temperate season, only 150 m² of treatment ponds would be necessary to remove the nutrients produced by 1 ton of fish. Treated water was characterized by a high pH, elevated levels of dissolved oxygen (midday value) and low concentrations of nutrients and suspended solids. The absence of toxic phytoplankton meant that the water could be recycled through the farm tanks.     

沉积环境对鱼类网箱养殖的响应

网箱养殖是鱼类集约化养殖的主要方式,近年来得到大力发展,但是网箱养殖也带来诸多的环境问题。本文从沉积环境改变的角度阐述了网箱养殖对环境的影响,包括底层水环境要素、底质理化环境要素和底栖生物环境要素对网箱养殖的响应,并探讨了有机负荷的消减对策。网箱养殖区水环境中溶解氧(DO)通常下降,而化学耗氧量(COD)、氨氮(NH4-N)和无机磷(D IP)增多;底泥沉积物中N、P、硫化物、有机质等大量富集,其中富集现象最明显的是P、硫化物和NH4-N,其次是总氮(TN)和有机质;一般情况下,网箱养殖区底栖生物尤其是多毛类增加,而当污染严重时,会使底栖生物缺失。有机负荷的消减对策包括收集残饵粪便等沉积物、利用生物方法去除有机碎屑和加强养殖管理提高饲料利用率等。     

Sydney rock oyster, Saccostrea commercialis (Iredale & Roughley), filtration of shrimp farm effluent: the effects on water quality

Shrimp pond effluent water can contain higher concentrations of dissolved nutrients and suspended particulates than the influent water. Consequently, there are concerns about adverse environmental impacts on coastal waters caused by eutrophication and increased turbidity. One potential method of improving effluent water quality prior to discharge or recirculation is to use bivalves to filter the effluent. In this study, we examined the effects of the Sydney rock oyster, Saccostrea commercialis (Iredale & Roughley), on the water quality of shrimp pond effluent. Effluent from a shrimp farm stocked with Penaeus japonicus (Bate) was pumped directly into 34-L tanks stocked with different densities of oysters. Combinations of live and dead oysters were used to test the effects of three different densities of live oysters (24, 16 and 8 live oysters per tank). The concentrations of total suspended solids, the proportion of organic and inorganic matter, total nitrogen, total phosphorous, chlorophyll a and the total number of bacteria in the pond effluent water were determined before and after filtration by oysters. The oysters significantly reduced the concentration of all the parameters examined, with the highest oyster density having the greatest effect. Shrimp pond effluent contained a higher proportion of inorganic matter (72%) than organic matter (28%). The organic component appeared to be mainly detritus, with chlorophyll a comprising only a minor proportion. Filtration by the high density of oysters reduced the effluent total suspended solids to 49% of the initial level, the bacterial numbers to 58%, total nitrogen to 80% and total phosphorous to 67%. The combined effects of settlement and oyster filtration reduced the concentration of chlorophyll a to 8% of the initial effluent value.     

Effects of fish farming on microbial planktonic communities in the middle Adriatic sea

The effects of farming on planktonic microbial communities were investigated at the coastal sea bass/sea bream farm in the oligotrophic middle Adriatic Sea. Analyses of nutrients, chlorophyll a, cyanobacteria (Prochlorococcus), heterotrophic bacteria and nanoflagellates (both pigmented and heterotrophic) were carried out on samples taken during six seasonal cruises at different water depths. Farming activity increased the natural concentrations of some nutrients (ammonium, nitrite, phosphate, dissolved inorganic nitrogen) and changed their seasonal pattern. The values still remained typical for oligotrophic environ‐ments demonstrating no risk for eutrophication. Enhanced nutrient supply provoked an immediate increase in abundances of both autotrophic and heterotrophic microbial groups (except pigmented nanoflagellates) and chlorophyll a. The effect of farming was more visible for the heterotrophic microbial component. Results from this study reveal a potential common pattern of microbial response to farming in the oligotrophic environments. It also suggests the importance of heterotrophic microbial web in transferring the matter and energy released from the fish farms in nutrient poor environments.     

莱州人工鱼礁海域水质状况的变化特征

根据2010～2011年莱州人工鱼礁海域春、夏、秋、冬4个季节共8个航次的化学需氧量（COD）、无机氮（DIN）、活性磷酸盐（DIP）、总氮（TN）、总磷（TP）、有机碳（TOC）等要素的分析结果,运用N/P比值、有机污染指数A和富营养化指数E等方法,对投放人工鱼礁海域不同年份水体的质量状况进行了评价,分析了该海域水环境在人工鱼礁投放后的变化.结果表明,投礁区第2年DIN含量明显降低,而DIP含量略有上升,使得海区中的DIN/DIP值降低,由89.60降低到44.54.2011年和2010年投礁区DIN/DIP有显著性差异（P＜0.05）,而对照区无显著性差异（P＞0.05）,表明人工鱼礁对水体有改善作用;营养化指数E分析表明,调查海域水质未达到富营养化状态,处于较低营养水平,且2010年与2011年、礁区和对照区E值的平均值均相差不大,营养状况无明显差异;调查海域有机污染指数A小于0或小于1,且投礁区和对照区无明显差异,2010年与2011年也无明显差异,表明该海域未受到有机污染,水质状况良好或较好.     

基于有机水产养殖对农业面源污染的比较研究

我国农业面源污染的核心问题是水体的氮、磷富集,目前尚无有效的工程治理方法,本研究通过有机水产养殖减轻水体的氮、磷污染。结果表明,有机水产养殖可以有效降低养殖水体的COD、无机氮和无机磷的浓度,有机海水养殖控制污染物排放的效果较有机淡水养殖更明显;有机养殖方式下严格而系统的管理措施及饵料质量的控制可能是减少氮、磷富集的主要因素。     

The benthic impacts of a large cod farm — Are there indicators for environmental sustainability?

A cod farm in Vidlin Voe, Shetland was at the time of the study the largest cod farm in Europe, and was started in 2003. Run according to organic principles, the farm consisted of 17  32 m diameter cages in the 3 km long sea loch (locally known as voe), which though extremely exposed at the mouth, is sheltered near the cages.Benthic macrofauna and physical/chemical sediment parameters were measured in the summer months of 2004, 2005 and 2006 as biomass increased in the growing cycle. A range of biotic indices showed the benthic environment was enriched at peak biomass of the farm, but by contrast, surficial CHN levels and organic matter were low and uniform. The commonly used sediment indicators redox, total organic carbon and total organic nitrogen did not correlate well with biotic indicators at this site. Predictions from a near-field particle tracking and resuspension model (CODMOD) and a simple nutrient enhancement box model of the voe system (Equilibrium Concentration Enhancement (ECE) model), were used to assess the assimilative capacity of the system.