Chemical and Microbiological <Emphasis Type="Italic">in situ</Emphasis> Characterization of Benthic Communities in Sediments with Different Contamination Levels

Background  River sediments are natural habitats of complex bacterial and fungal communities and therefore play a decisive role in the mineralization process of organic matter in freshwater systems. By means of comparative temporal and spatial analyses of microbial communities, the in situ impact of anthropogenically generated pollutants on these biofilm associations can be assessed and discriminated from seasonal variations. Aim  The aim was the adaptation of hybridization with fluorescently labelled rRNA-targeted oligonucleotides (FISH) for the in situ characterization of the structural and functional diversity of native microbial communities in complex lotic sediments. The impact of qualitatively and quantitatively different water pollutants on the microbial diversity, metabolic potential, and relative abundance of characteristic bacterial groups was assessed by oligonucleotide probes on different phylogenetic levels. In particular, sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB) were investigated to evaluate their potential applicability as microbial biomonitors in sediments. Methods  Sediment samples from the German lowland rivers Elbe and Oder were investigated over 12 months with regard to physico-chemical parameters and the composition of the attached microbial communities. Mechanical treatment including ultrasonification and sagitation under aerobic conditions combined with the use of pyrophosphate ensured the equal dispersion of fixed microbial cells within the sediment samples. The optimized whole-sediment FISH-technique was combined with an improved cell extraction procedure and applied, due to the specific grain size fraction distribution, at the different sampling sites. Resultsand discussion  Up to 85.6% of the total bacterial cell counts as determined by DAPI (4’, 6-diamidino-2-phenylindole) staining could be successfully monitored by the eubacterial oligonucleotide probe set EUB338, EUB338-II and EUB338-III, simultaneously indicating a high proportion of Eubacteria and the high metabolic potential of the bacterial community. Desulfobacteriaceae could be detected by the specific probe SRB385Db in various relative percentages ranging from 2.4 to 16.0% of the total bacterial cell counts. The total number of bacteria and the metabolic potential of sediment related bacteria were barely affected by the different pollution pattern of the sampling sites. Conclusions  The pre-treatment step as conducted by cell extraction as well as the FISH hybridization procedure was successfully optimized to the specific conditions present within freshwater sediments. Beside seasonal variations, particularly occurring at hydrologically influenced sites, sampling sites with different pol lution levels could be successfully distinguished by the relative abundance of Desulfobacteriaceae used as microbial indicator organisms. Outlook  The integration of ongoing insights into pollution induced changes of natural bacterial consortia should result in a system of ecotoxicological classes representing the different ecological status of riverine systems. Physiological directed methods like Community Level Physiological Profiling (CLPP) or Pollution Induced Community Tolerance (PICT), and structural techniques as FISH or microarrays should be used to investigate the influence of harmful substances on the biodiversity in natural microbial sediment communities.     

Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Coastal Sediments Covered by Cyanobacteria Mats (9 pp)

Background   Biocommunities of phototrophic microorganisms (principally cyanobacteria) developing on the surface sediments of shallow, warm and semi-isolated coastal environments, bind or trap small particles on their polysaccharide sheaths creating organosedimentary structures. Those structures are called algal mats and they are commonly flat and laminar in shape. They are also called recent stromatolites due to their remarkable similarity to the fossil ones. Objectives   Not many geochemical studies exist concerning cyanobacterial mats in Mediterranean coasts, in comparison with the biological ones. Considering the importance of nitrogen and phosphorus in the cyanobacteria mat development, the present study aims to contribute to the knowledge of their chemical behaviour in such environments. Methods   Sediment cores of about 10 cm length along with water samples were collected during the course of a year from two Greek coastal areas. Sediments were fractionated in three distinct layers according to their structure. A wet oxidation method for the simultaneous determination of total nitrogen and total phosphorus was applied to all sediment samples. The total organic carbon (TOC), the total inorganic phosphorus and the natural pigment content in the sediment samples were also determined. Standard spectrophotometric methods were used for the determination of the concentration of dissolved nutrients. In situ measurements of pH, temperature and salinity were also carried out. Results and Discussion   The sampling areas were found to be in the mesotrophic level. The group of aerobic filamentous cyanobacteria dominated the sediment biocommunities. The pH of the sediment showed a gradual reduction downwards. The highest content of TOC, total nitrogen and total phosphorus were detected in the surface layer of the sediment samples. The contribution of organic phosphorus to the total phosphorous ranged between 0% and 50% with an average value of 26.6%. A depletion of organic phosphorus in the anoxic middle layer of the sediment was detected. A good positive correlation between total nitrogen and chlorophyll-a, as well as total nitrogen and TOC in the surface sediment layer, was observed. A good negative correlation between total phosphorous in sediments and dissolved phosphates in seawater was also observed. Conclusions   The high content of total nitrogen recorded in the surface sediments indicate that cyanobacteria accumulate nitrogen acquiring it from the sediment, the marine environment and the air (in the form of N2). A proportional accumulation in phosphorus also happens, although to a lesser degree. The temporal fluctuation of nitrogen content in the sediment's surface layer agrees with the temporal fluctuation of primary production. The cyanobacterial mat acts as a natural pump that transfers phosphorus from seawater to the surface of the sediment. Recommendations and Outlook   A further, more extensive, multidisciplinary study of cyanobacterial mats is needed for the determination of the biogeochemical processes that take place there and for the effective environmental management of the areas where these forms develop.     

Handling Sediments in Dutch River Management: The Planning Stage of the Maaswerken River Widening Project

Background, Aim and Scope   Faced with higher peak discharges in the foreseeable future, the Dutch government has decided to increase the discharge capacities of the Dutch Rhine and Meuse rivers. Instead of raising the dikes, river widening measures are to be undertaken, in and along the riverbed. Such measures include surface level lowering along the rivers, channel deepening, the addition of high-discharge channels and the removal of hydraulic obstacles. To cover or reduce the costs of river widening, a coupling with aggregates (sand and/or gravel) extraction has been considered. Although the rationale of this concept is basically sound, it has met with considerable resistance, especially along the southernmost stretch of the Dutch Meuse River, in the Maaswerken project area. Main Features: The Dutch river widening projects are quite unique in size and occurrence, and the number of publicly documented case histories available for the planning of such works is inevitably few. We review the planning and decision-making process for the Maaswerken project, which is in a more advanced stage than that of the corresponding project for the Rhine. Sediment handling and aggregates extraction are focused on, which are key issues to this case. Results: - Discussion: In the study area, there is a conflict of interests between the extractive industry and the local communities. The industry faces a policy of phasing out mineral extraction; river widening presents the last significant prospects in the area. The general public, however, has come to resent mineral extraction because of its historical impacts. Aiming at a manageable process, the Maaswerken project management kept most stakeholders in a basically reactive position: the general public was kept informed and enabled to submit formal reactions to draft planning decisions. Aggregate extraction plans and extraction volumes were only discussed with the industry. Despite not being represented, the public influenced this negotiation process by expressing dissatisfaction with interim outcomes through the media and political channels. Plans had to be reconsidered, and this closed process turned out to be only seemingly efficient. Conclusions: The level of public concern regarding the Maaswerken project suggests that the overall level of stakeholder involvement may have been insufficient, even though it complied with pertinent environmental and planning legislation. A participation deficit seems to have mainly occurred when defining the project's preconditions: a predefined, controversial role for the extractive industry was implicit in self-financed river widening. As planning and decision making in large projects such as the Maaswerken are prone to be affected by a negative public opinion, it is recommended that social feasibility is assessed and addressed at the very outset. Perspectives: -     

黄河泥沙充填复垦中土工布排水拦沙效果的模拟试验

为验证土工布用于加速引黄河泥沙充填采煤沉陷地的后期侧向排水及降低排水中泥沙含量的效果,在室内进行了基于土工布的泥沙充填排水模拟试验。该试验在玻璃槽内完成,设计3个试验处理,分别为ZT-250(整个断面开口+铁丝网+ZW-250土工布)、ZT-300(整个断面开口+铁丝网+ZW-300土工布)以及CK(断面中间部分开口+可调节高度的塑料板)。测定了3个处理的排水含沙量及泥沙粒径、玻璃槽内表层泥沙粒径以及充填表层和底层泥沙含水率随时间的变化。结果表明:1)3种处理排水含沙量整体差异较小,但使用土工布处理的排水含沙量随时间的延长逐渐降低,而对照处理排水含沙量随时间的延长逐渐增大;2)排水初期和中期,对照CK的排水中泥沙的黏粒含量均高于使用土工布的2个处理。排水后期CK的黏粒含量介于处理ZT-250和ZT-300之间。随着试验的进行,使用土工布的2个处理排水中泥沙的黏粒含量逐渐升高,粉粒含量逐渐降低,而对照处理呈现相反的变化趋势。使用土工布的2个处理拦沙效果较为稳定。3)3种处理充填表层泥沙粒径级配无明显差异,但使用土工布处理充填的表层泥沙的极细砂粒含量较高。4)3种处理充填泥沙表层和底层含水率变化存在差异,使用土工布可以加速泥沙中过饱和水的排除,其中处理ZT-250排水效果最好。该研究可为中国东部高潜水位平原矿区采煤沉陷地引黄河泥沙充填复垦的快速排水工艺革新提供依据。     

Anaerobic sediment potential acidification and metal release risk assessment by chemical characterization and batch resuspension experiments

Background, Aim and Scope  Sediments act as a sink for toxic substances (heavy metals, organic pollutants) and, consequently, dredged materials often contain pollutants which are above safe limits. In polluted anaerobic sediments, the presence of sulphides and redox potential changes creates a favorable condition for sulphide oxidation to sulphate, resulting in potential toxic metal release. The oxidation reaction is catalyzed by several microorganisms. Some clean up measures, such as dredging, can initiate the process. The aim of the present work is to assess the acidification and metal release risk in the event of sediment dredging and also to compare two different acid base account techniques with the resuspension results. The oxidation mechanism by means of inoculation with an Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strain was also evaluated. Methodology  The sediments were chemically characterized (pH; organic oxidizable carbon; acid volatile sulphides; total sulphur; moisture; Cr, Cu and Zn aqua regia contents). A metal sequential extraction procedure (Community Bureau of Reference, BCR technique) was applied to calculate the Acid Producing Potential (APP) and Acid Consuming Capacity (ACC) of the sediment samples through Fe, Ca²⁺ and SO₄ ²⁻ measurements. The acid base account was also performed by the Sobek methodology (Acid producing potential — AP — calculated with total sulphur and neutralization potential — NP — by titration of the remaining acid after a reaction period with the sample). Fresh sediments were placed in agitated shake flasks and samples were taken at different times to evaluate pH, SO₄ ²⁻ and Cr, Cu, Zn and Fe²⁺ concentration. Some of the systems were inoculated with an Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans strain to assess the biological catalysis on sulphide oxidation. Results  Sediment chemical characterization showed high organic matter content (5.4–10.6%), total sulphur (0.36–0.86%) and equivalent CaCO₃ percentages (4.5–8%). pH was neutral-alkaline for all of the samples. AVS content was high except for sample 5. The acid base account obtained with the two methods gave different results for the acid generating risk of the samples. A decrease of 0.4 to 3.1 pH units was measured in the agitated shake flasks. In all of the systems, sulphate concentration increased (2,100–2,200 mg L⁻¹ to 2,500–3,000 mg L⁻¹), and positively correlated with the initial total sulphur content of the samples in the inoculated flasks. Cu and Cr in solution were not detected in most of the sampling occasions (<0.5 mg Cu L⁻¹ and <0.5 mg Cr L⁻¹). Zn reached high concentrations (up to 11.8 mg L⁻¹). For every system — except sediment 1 — the lowest pH registered was similar in comparison to inoculated and control systems. The inoculation effect was mostly evidenced in the systems by a higher sulphate release rate compared to the control systems. Discussion  The BCR method categorized all of the samples as potentially acid generating material. The Sobek method using NPR (NP/AP) criteria classified sample 3 as a possible acid generator and samples 1, 2 and 5 with a low acid generation potential. Despite this, all the samples acidified the media in the kinetic tests in at least one of the conditions employed in this work. It would seem that NPR and NNP (NP-AP) risk classification criteria should not be directly used with anaerobic sediments. Appropriate classification levels for sediments should be developed considering the different sulphide reactivity between rock and sediments. Sediment oxidation can cause acidification, which is partially explained by sulphide oxidation. In the samples studied, we found a positive correlation between sulphate increase in solution after oxidation and total sulphur content in the inoculated systems. Significant amounts of Zn could be released to solution while Cr and Cu remained insoluble despite the pH decrease observed. The low Cu and Cr mobility could be explained by the very low solubility of their hydroxides and high affinity for organic matter and iron oxides/hydroxides that might form during sediment oxidation. Dredged sediment management and disposal should be carefully planned. Conclusions  All of the sediment samples lowered the pH media in the laboratory batch resuspension experiments. However, both risk classification criteria (NNP, NPR) from Sobek acid base account were not able to predict the samples’ behavior as accurately as the BCR derived base account. The inoculation effect was mostly associated with a higher sulphate release and not to a lower pH due to acid base equilibrium. Recommendations and Perspectives  Appropriate risk classification levels for sediments should be developed considering the different sulphide reactivity between rock and sediments. ESS-Submission Editor: Dr. Sabine Ulrike Gerbersdorf (sug@st-andrews.ac.uk)     

黄土丘陵沟壑区多尺度地貌单元输沙能力及水沙关系

以黄土丘陵沟壑区裴家峁沟为原型观测流域,利用流域内相互嵌套的全坡面径流场、水文站网等观测设施,定量研究黄土丘陵沟壑区不同空间尺度地貌单元水沙关系和输沙能力特征。结果表明:1)坡面尺度地貌单元的径流深和输沙模数在多年平均时间尺度上均大于流域尺度地貌单元。当地貌单元空间尺度达到流域尺度时,多年平均径流深随着流域尺度增加而增加,输沙模数与流域面积之间存在着负相关关系。但在次降雨条件下,不同空间尺度地貌单元径流深和输沙模数峰值可能出现在全坡面、桥沟一支沟、桥沟或裴家峁沟。2)不同空间尺度地貌单元水流输沙能力随着空间尺度的增大而减少,相对于裴家峁沟,全坡面径流场、桥沟一支沟和桥沟的单位水流功率含沙量分别是裴家峁沟的186、77和58倍。3)不同空间尺度地貌单元径流量与输沙模数的水沙关系表现出较好的线性关系,且径流量与输沙模数关系随着空间尺度增加更为密切,但随着空间尺度增加,径流量和输沙模数的水沙关系曲线斜率急剧减小。研究成果可为水土流失空间尺度效应及尺度转换的研究提供科学依据。     

土壤/沉积物中全氟辛酸(PFOA)、全氟辛烷磺酸(PFOS)吸附–解吸行为研究进展

全氟辛酸(PFOA)和全氟辛烷磺酸(PFOS)在土壤/沉积物–水中分配、吸附–解吸作用是影响其在环境中的残留浓度、迁移、转化及生物可利用性、毒性等的重要因素之一。本文对土壤/沉积物中PFOA、PFOS吸附–解吸行为影响因素,吸附–解吸机理,常用的土壤/沉积物中PFOA、PFOS吸附/解吸等温线方程、常数及参数等的研究情况进行综述,吸附–解吸过程Freundlich方程的相关系数为0.74~0.99,线性方程的相关系数为0.91~0.99。PFOS在土壤/沉积物中吸附常数logKoc的平均值为3.0,变异系数为23.3%;解吸常数logKoc的平均值为1.8,变异系数为15.4%。PFOA在土壤/沉积物中吸附常数logKoc的平均值为2.1,变异系数为45.6%;解吸常数logKoc的平均值为5.4,变异系数为52.3%。实验室基础上计算所得吸附常数logKoc比野外条件下实测数据计算值(PFOA为3.7,PFOS为4.2)小,野外条件下土壤/沉积物中PFOA和PFOS吸附–解吸过程和土壤–植物共生系统对其污染控制效应有待于进一步研究。     

基于点云数据的切沟泥沙负载量不确定性研究

通过对不同期数字高程模型(DEM,digital elevation model)的相减计算,可以获得侵蚀和淤积的空间分布及泥沙负载估算值,为了度量泥沙负载量估算的不确定性,提高野外切沟泥沙负载量的估算精度,该文提出了一种修正泥沙负载量估算值的方法,通过对大样本点云数据的统计抽样,得到了对应DEM差值结果不同坡度位置的误差δz,使得DEM误差具有一定的空间可变性,根据δz和DEM差值结果,通过t检验,建立了侵蚀和沉积发生的先验概率;再以侵蚀和沉积发生的空间相关性为基础,建立了一个由权重因子构成的概率修正滤波器,用来计算侵蚀和沉积发生的条件概率,最后,通过Bayesian推理方法,计算侵蚀和沉积发生的后验概率,用来更新和修正泥沙负载量估算值。经在甘肃天水桥子沟切沟应用,使用该文方法计算得到的侵蚀/沉积变化量相比未经处理的DEM差值结果和用Brasington和Lane方法修正的DEM差值结果估算的净负载量,在95%的置信水平下分别下降了13.13%和7.53%,经与天水水保站实际径流泥沙观测资料对照,与实际观测净负载量相差2%;该文同时还探讨了切沟坡度、点云点密度、地表粗糙度与侵蚀/沉积不确定性的关系,研究结果为提高黄土沟壑区侵蚀沟侵蚀量的估算精度提供了参考依据。