东湖生物膜的建群过程及其生理特性研究

为探讨天然水体中生物膜的建群过程及生理特性,本研究将人工基质大理石投放到东湖沿岸带浅水区域,分析了生物膜在人工基质上从开始建群直至发育为成熟群落,并最终衰退的整个过程。结果表明,建群过程中,生物膜的生物量(叶绿素a、蛋白质、干重、无灰干重)、营养物质含量(总氮、总磷)均呈现先上升后下降的趋势,各指标之间具有显著相关性。低温会减缓生物膜的生长,弱光会加剧生物膜的衰退,生物膜的生长发育会影响周围水体氮、磷元素浓度。生物膜中碱性磷酸酶活性与自身生物量呈显著正相关性。水体中氮/磷的比值决定生物膜中氮/磷的比值。刚毛藻属是东湖生物膜的优势物种。对生物膜建群过程及生理特性的研究,有助于更好地将生物膜应用于污染水体的净化和修复。     

洞庭湖氮磷时空分布及形态组成特征

为探究洞庭湖水体营养盐形态结构与时空分布特征,分别于2014年8月(丰水期)和2015年1月(枯水期)在入湖河流、湖体、出湖口设置16个代表性断面采集水样,分析了氮、磷营养盐的特征指标。结果表明:1洞庭湖水体中,总氮(TN)含量为1.60~3.65 mg/L,平均值2.25 mg/L,总磷(TP)含量为0.060~0.359 mg/L,平均值0.138 mg/L;颗粒态总氮(TPN)含量为0.07~1.39 mg/L,平均值0.25 mg/L,颗粒态总磷(TPP)含量为0.003~0.172 mg/L,平均值0.05 mg/L;2时空分布上,水体中氮、磷含量整体表现为丰水期高于枯水期,出湖口最高,东洞庭湖高于西、南洞庭湖,入湖河流差异大的特征,颗粒态氮磷呈现自西向东呈逐渐增加趋势,与悬浮物(SS)的空间分布一致;3形态组成上,洞庭湖水体中氮磷以溶解态为主(TDN/TN为88.0%、TDP/TP为66.7%),三峡工程2003年蓄水前后,洞庭湖磷营养盐形态组成发生了大的变化,由以颗粒态磷为主(TDP/TP 20.0%~35.6%)转变为以溶解态为主,而氮营养盐形态组成基本未变;4营养结构上,洞庭湖大多数断面TN/TP在10~22,且氮、磷浓度远高于水体富营养的限制阈值,比较适宜藻类生长。相关分析显示,洞庭湖TN、TP、TDN、TDP均与Chl-a相关性不显著,因此认为洞庭湖氮、磷营养盐对藻类生长的限制作用不明显。     

Sedimentation and sediment characteristics in sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka) culture ponds

Annual sedimentation, re-suspension rates and contents of particulate organic carbon (POC), particulate organic nitrogen (PON) and total phosphorus (TP) in the sediment were investigated in two sea cucumber culture ponds at Rongcheng, Shandong Province, China. The results showed that the average flux of total particulate matter in the ponds was 22.1 g m² d⁻¹. The average re-suspension rate of the sediment in the ponds was 81.7%. The re-suspension rates in spring and autumn were higher than those in summer and winter. The mean contents of POC, PON and TP in the sediment of the ponds were 4.4, 0.5 and 0.6 (mg g⁻¹), respectively, and the mean contents of Chlorophyll a (Chl a) and pheophytin in the sediment were 8.1 and 12.1 μg g⁻¹ respectively. The POC, PON and TP contents in the sediment of the ponds increased during the period of sea cucumber aestivation (summer) and hibernation (winter), while they decreased during the feeding periods. The organic matter accumulation rate and the contents of POC, PON, TP, Chl a and pheophytin in the sediment were even lower than those in the pond without sea cucumber (P<0.05). The results demonstrated that sea cucumber culture can effectively stop nutrient accumulation at the bottom of the cucumber culture ponds.     

南太湖近岸水域叶绿素a含量与氮磷浓度的关系

2007年6月-2008年4月对南太湖近岸水域进行了4次生态环境调查,在此基础上,对叶绿素a含量（Chl.a）与总氮（TN）、总磷（TP）浓度及氮磷比（N/P）的关系进行了统计分析。结果表明：南太湖水体中Chl.a含量与TN浓度的关系存在显著的季节差异,在蓝藻水华大范围爆发的2007年6月和2008年4月2者呈极显著的正相关,而2007年10月和2008年1月2者无显著性关系;Chl.a含量与TP浓度在4次调查中皆无显著相关关系;岭回归分析显示,N/P 10～25是南太湖水体中附着藻类的最佳生长范围,此时总氮、总磷浓度及氮磷比与Chl.a含量呈显著的正相关,4者的多元回归关系为Chl.a=-0.0012＋0.0064 TN＋0.0215 TP＋0.0005N/P（R=0.543,P〈0.023）。总体来说,南太湖水体中的总氮、总磷浓度及氮磷比皆在藻类生长的适宜范围内,氮磷浓度处于较高水平,已经不是藻类生长的限制因素,在不同水温、光照等环境因子的作用下,加上本水域复杂的水文和季风共同影响下形成了蓝藻水华爆发的季节性差异。     

南四湖水环境状态分析与评价

根据南四湖主要入湖河流及湖内15个站点的水质监测参数-叶绿素a（Chl-a）、总磷（TP）、总氮（TN）、透明度（SD）和高锰酸盐指数（CODMn）,从年际、年内不同时间段和不同监测点对南四湖及其入湖河流水质进行综合分析,旨在为南四湖的资源保护、南水北调东线工程建设及可持续发展提供依据。结果表明,湖区氮、磷浓度分布不均,空间分布具有非均一性;2010年与2004年相比,TN、CODMn有波动,总磷和叶绿素a分别下降了65.00%和60.59%,透明度升高了40.62%。南四湖及其周边河流水质总体有改善,水体的富营养化状况有所好转,但远低于Ⅲ类水质标准,尤其南阳湖,有些监测点已达重度富营养。通过对该水域的富营养化状况进行综合分析与评价。     

Beneficial co‐culture of jellyfish Rhopilema esculenta (Kishinouye) and sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (Selenka): implications for pelagic‐benthic coupling

This study investigated monthly changes of sedimentation and sediment properties in three different culture systems (ponds) – i.e. jellyfish Rhopilema esculenta monoculture (J), sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus and jellyfish co‐culture (SJ) and sea cucumber monoculture (S) – to verify the feasibility of co‐culturing jellyfish and sea cucumbers. Results showed that jellyfish culture accelerated the settling velocity of total particulate matter (TPM). Average TPM settling velocities in the SJ (75.6 g m^?2 day^?1) and J (71.1 g m^?2 day^?1) ponds were significantly higher than that in the S pond (21.7 g m^?2 day^?1) from June to September during the jellyfish culture period. Average settling velocities of organic matter (OM), total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) in the SJ pond increased significantly by 3.0, 2.9, 3.3 and 3.8 times, respectively, compared with those in the S pond. Sediment contents of OM, TOC, TN and TP in the SJ and J ponds were significantly higher than those in the S pond during the jellyfish culture season. The specific growth rate of sea cucumbers feeding on SJ sediment was significantly higher than that of those feeding on S sediment. Co‐culturing sea cucumbers with jellyfish may help alleviate benthic nutrient loading due to the jellyfish and provide a secondary cash crop.     

水文气象过程对千岛湖氮磷变化的影响

水库作为一类人工修建的重要水资源调蓄地,其水体营养盐含量等指标受水文气象过程的影响很大。为探索我国东南山区水库营养盐的时空变化规律,以钱塘江流域千岛湖(新安江水库)为例,利用2016年8月至2017年12月的水质调查数据,结合同期气温、降雨量和入库流量等气象水文数据,分析了水文气象过程对千岛湖水体氮、磷等营养盐浓度的影响特征。结果显示:(1)千岛湖营养盐浓度具有较大的时空差异性,TN浓度0.69～2.06 mg/L,平均值为(1.12±0.26) mg/L,高值出现在冬季和春季;TP浓度0.004～0.096 mg/L,平均值为(0.030±0.021)mg/L,高值出现在春季;空间上呈现为河流区到湖泊区浓度逐渐降低的趋势;(2)千岛湖降雨量、入库流量及气温等水文气象条件存在显著季节差异(P0.01),3-7月的降雨和入库流量超过总量的70%,高温出现在7-8月,月均温度高达30℃;(3)氮磷营养盐浓度与入库流量的相关性强于降雨,且入库流量及降雨对磷的影响更大;不同区域对入库流量的响应时间存在差异,河流区响应最快,其次是过渡区,湖泊区最慢,反映出氮、磷在水库扩散过程中的滞后性;(4)温度通过影响水体浮游植物生长带来的水体颗粒态氮、磷变化影响水体TN、TP浓度,但不同湖区的响应不同;3～7 d的累积温度与过渡区氮、磷的关系好于河流区,可能与过渡区浮游植物生长与营养盐浓度变化更为敏感有关。研究表明,水文气象过程对大型水库水体氮磷的影响作用强烈且复杂,物理扩散与沉降、化学变化及生物生长累积等作用使得水体氮磷浓度对水文气象过程响应具有较大的时空差异性,在水库水质管理和机制分析中应当充分考虑这种非同步性。     

贵州草海重污染区生态修复水质效果评估

对比分析贵州草海重污染湖区沉水植物生态修复区与对照区沉积物内源磷释放通量,探讨外源负荷得到有效控制后草海重污染区沉水植物生态修复效果,为草海综合污染治理与生态恢复提供一定的数据支撑和科学依据。2018年在草海修复区内和对照区各布设3个采样点, 10月至次年10月每个月分别对修复区和对照区水质开展连续跟踪监测。利用薄膜梯度扩散技术（DGT）对比分析了修复区和对照区内源磷释放通量,综合评估了草海重污染区生态修复效果。结果表明,沉水植物修复工程实施一年后,修复区水体氨氮（NH3-N）、总磷（TP）和溶解活性磷（SRP）浓度分别降低为对照区的65%、42%和67%。修复区沉水植物生长茂盛,水体DO含量稳定在8 mg/L以上,透明度显著提高,水质明显改善,CODMn 、NH3-N、TP浓度分别降低至5.7、0.39 、0.05 mg/L,达到地表水Ⅲ类标准。生态修复工程对内源磷释放量削减30% 以上,修复区内源磷贡献率38%,远低于对照区（74%）。当草海流域外源污染得到有效控制后,沉水植物生态系统恢复成为重污染区内源污染控制与水环境修复有效的手段。     

澧县王家厂水库生态因子的灰关联分析

采用灰色系统关联度分析方法,以空间理论数学为基础,依规范性、偶对称性、整体性和接近性原则,计算并分析了在人工控制条件下澧县王家厂水库13个生态因子(透明度、水深、水温、溶解氧、酸碱度、电导率、氨氮、硝酸盐氮、总磷、总氮、氮磷比、浮游动物和浮游植物)的关联度,南河关联序结果为:氮磷比>总氮>硝酸氮>氨氮>浮游植物>浮游动物>溶解氧>酸碱度>总磷>水温>电导率>透明度>水深;北河:氮磷比>总氮>总磷>硝酸氮>浮游动物>水温>水深>酸碱度>溶氧>透明度>浮游植物>电导率>氨氮。分析表明,氮磷比、总氮和总磷是水库水体的优势影响因子。在研究过程中发现,除个别样点超出Ⅲ类水标准外,其余均在Ⅲ类范围内;说明王家厂水库在放养鱼类的情况下,通过合理的人工能量投入,可以达到既增加水体生物的多样性,又提高水体生产力,实现水生态保护的目的。     

Enclosure culture ban and its effects on water quality and phytoplankton community in a subtropical shallow lake

Enclosure culture, ubiquitous anthropogenic activity in shallow lakes, was prohibited in East Taihu Lake with all breeding infrastructure demolished at the end of 2018. However, the ecological responses of water quality change and phytoplankton community succession to the enclosure culture ban remain largely unknown. In this study, we conducted field investigations monthly in East Taihu Lake to present a comprehensive study of water quality and phytoplankton community variation before (2018) and after (2019) the enclosure culture ban. With the cessation of aquaculture activities, water quality significantly improved, TN and TP decreased by 54% and 34%, respectively, and eutrophic state shifted from light eutrophic (mean TSI = 59) to mesotrophic status (mean TSI = 48) in autumn. Chl-a decreased from 33.34 ± 16.87 to 24.84 ± 15.43 μg/L, and SDD increased from 0.76 ± 0.19 to 0.95 ± 0.36 m. Meanwhile, phytoplankton abundance significantly decreased from 3.6 × 10⁷ to 1.6 × 10⁷ cell/L, with the contribution of Cyanophyta markedly decreasing from 82% to 63%. In addition, the heterogeneity of phytoplankton community markedly increased. The changes in water quality and phytoplankton following the enclosure culture ban were largely due to the suspension of external nutrient input from breeding activity and improved water clarity. Redundancy analysis (RDA) analysis further elucidated that water temperature and nutrients were the main factors affecting phytoplankton dynamics. Our findings showed that the ban on enclosure culture had an extremely positive ecological impact.     

Monitoring and modelling total phosphorus contributions to a freshwater lake with cage‐aquaculture

A mass‐balance modelling approach combined with a sensitivity analysis was utilized to gain an improved understanding of the relative contributions of phosphorus (P) loading from various anthropogenic and non‐anthropogenic sources into Lake Wolsey (Manitoulin Island, Ontario, Canada), a Type 2 freshwater lake with a cage‐aquaculture facility. Total P loadings were estimated from eight sources (inlet exchange, non‐point sources, cage‐aquaculture facility, internal loading, groundwater seepage, atmospheric deposition, leaf litter and dwellings) and three sinks (outlet exchange, sedimentation and sportfishing). Results indicated that over the study period (May–November 2007) the non‐point sources were the leading contributor of total P to Lake Wolsey (1120 kg P) followed by the cage‐aquaculture facility loading (915 kg P), inlet exchange (539 kg P), groundwater inputs (305 kg P), dwellings (219 kg P), internal P recycling loads from the hypoxic hypolimnion (186 kg P), atmospheric deposition (79 kg P) and decomposing leaf litter (8.1 kg P). When comparing the loadings in this study, the sensitivity analysis showed that non‐point sources were the only significant input parameter of total P loading to the in‐lake concentrations of P in Lake Wolsey(P = 0.05). Information from this project will provide water quality managers with sound scientific information to make defencible decisions pertaining to policy and regulatory approaches for water quality risk assessment and management of cage‐aquaculture in Type 2 sites.     

人工湖泊滴水湖水质演变趋势及富营养化分析

对上海临港新城滴水湖自建成以来的水质指标进行为期6年的监测。结果表明,湖区自2004年蓄水以来,水体盐度已由3逐渐下降到2010年的1左右;N/P也呈现逐年下降的趋势,其中磷是滴水湖的营养限制元素;湖区总体水质基本维持在地表水Ⅳ～Ⅴ类,影响水质的主要污染物为CODMn、TP、TN和BOD。对湖区富营养化分析的结果表明,其富营养化程度变化趋势与水体中叶绿素a含量的变化基本一致,TP是影响其叶绿素a含量和水体富营养化程度的主要指标,且在夏秋季节容易出现富营养化指数上升的现象。     

凡纳滨对虾养殖塘叶绿素a与水质因子的多元回归分析

2009年4-9月期间,对上海市奉贤区某凡纳滨对虾养殖场22个养殖池塘水体叶绿素a、水温、pH、溶解氧、透明度、悬浮物(SS)、总有机碳(TOC)、五日生化需氧量(BOD₅)、高锰酸盐指数(COD_Mn)等15项水质因子进行测定。取164组测定数据,进行描述性统计,分析叶绿素a与各项因子的相关性系数。分析结果显示,与叶绿素a呈极显著线性正相关的水质因子为SS、TOC、BOD₅、COD_Mn、TN、TP;呈显著正相关的为DO;而叶绿素a与透明度呈极显著线性负相关,与PO^3-₄-P呈显著线性负相关;与水温、pH、NO^-₂-N、 NO^-₃-N、NH₃-N则未呈现显著相关性。根据多元线性回归选择自变量的原则,选择了TOC、TN、PO^3-₄-P和TP₄项水质因子,建立了叶绿素a与4项水质因子的逐步回归模型:Chl.a =-0.054 5+0.0034 9 TOC+0.015 3 TN-0.418 PO^3-₄-P+0.276 TP(r=0.715 5)。利用偏回归系数检验各水质因子对叶绿素a的影响,结果表明,对叶绿素a影响从大到小依次是TP、TOC、PO^3-₄-P和TN。研究结果对进一步探讨养殖池塘生态系统的变化规律及水环境质量保护提供了依据。     

Responses of scallop biodeposits to bioturbation by a deposit‐feeder Apostichopus japonicus (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea): does the holothurian density matter?

The deposit‐feeding holothurians can reduce the negative impact of bivalve farming by feeding and reworking bivalve wastes (biodeposits) in the context of co‐culture. To test effects of the bioturbation by holothurians of different densities on bivalve wastes, a stocking density regime of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus (35.4 ± 1.2 g, mean ± SE) was set at 0.0, 6.6, 13.2 ind m^?2, and responses of the biotic parameters including chlorophyll a concentration (Chl. a), bacterial biomass and the abiotic ones as oxidation‐reduction potential (ORP), organic matter (OM), organic carbon (OC), total nitrogen (TN) and organic phosphorus (OP) in biodeposits discharged by Japanese scallop Patinopecten yessoensis were investigated. Results showed that A. japonicus grew in a density‐dependent manner, and the density‐dependent effect on both biotic and abiotic parameters in biodeposits were also observed. Apostichopus japonicus stimulated a transfer process from reduction to weak reduction state of the biodeposits with a trend of higher density holothurians stimulating the process more. Furthermore, A. japonicus significantly controlled the bacterial abundance and Chl. a, as well as reducing the contents of OM, OC, TN and OP in the biodeposits. Yet, the response of abiotic parameters delayed rather than that of biotic parameters, underling the biotic parameters could be more sensitive to bioturbation than the abiotic ones. Our study suggests that the bioturbation of A. japonicus plays an important role in retarding organic waste accumulation and cleansing nutrients in bivalve farming wastes under co‐culture condition and the bioremediation capacity may be closely dependent on its stocking density in practice.     

Seasonal movements of non‐native lake trout in a connected lake and river system

Abstract Non‐native lake trout, Salvelinus namaycush (Walbaum), threaten native salmonid populations in the western United States. Effective management of lake trout requires understanding movements within connected lake and river systems. This study determined the seasonal movements of subadult lake trout in the Flathead River upstream of Flathead Lake, Montana, USA using radio telemetry. The spatiotemporal distribution of lake trout in the river was related to water temperature. Lake trout were detected in the river primarily during autumn, winter and spring, when water temperatures were cool. By contrast, fewer were detected when temperatures were warmest during summer and during high spring flows. Downriver movements to Flathead Lake occurred throughout autumn and winter when water temperature decreased below 5 °C, and in late spring as water temperature rose towards 15 °C and river discharge declined following spring runoff. Upriver movements occurred primarily in October, which coincided with migrations of prey fishes. These results suggest that lake trout are capable of moving throughout connected river and lake systems (up to 230 km) and that warm water temperatures function as an impediment to occupancy of the river during summer. Controlling source populations and maintaining natural water temperatures may be effective management strategies for reducing the spread of non‐native lake trout.     

澧县王家厂水库生态因子的灰关联分析

采用灰色系统关联度分析方法,以空间理论数学为基础,依规范性、偶对称性、整体性和接近性原则,计算并分析了在人工控制条件下澧县王家厂水库13个生态因子（透明度、水深、水温、溶解氧、酸碱度、电导率、氨氮、硝酸盐氮、总磷、总氮、氮磷比、浮游动物和浮游植物）的关联度,南河关联序结果为：氮磷比〉总氮〉硝酸氮〉氨氮〉浮游植物〉浮游动...     

Stable isotope evaluation of population‐ and individual‐level diet variability in a large,oligotrophic lake with non‐native lake trout

Non‐native piscivores can alter food web dynamics; therefore, evaluating interspecific relationships is vital for conservation and management of ecosystems with introduced fishes. Priest Lake, Idaho, supports a number of introduced species, including lake trout Salvelinus namaycush, brook trout S. fontinalis and opossum shrimp Mysis diluviana. In this study, we used stable isotopes (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N) to describe the food web structure of Priest Lake and to test hypotheses about apparent patterns in lake trout growth. We found that isotopic niches of species using pelagic‐origin carbon did not overlap with those using more littoral‐origin carbon. Species using more littoral‐origin carbon, such as brook trout and westslope cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarki lewisi, exhibited a high degree of isotopic niche overlap and high intrapopulation variability in resource use. Although we hypothesised that lake trout would experience an ontogenetic diet shift, no such patterns were apparent in isotopic signatures. Lake trout growth rates were not associated with patterns in δ¹⁵N, indicating that variation in adult body composition may not be related to adult diet. Understanding trophic relationships at both the individual and species levels provides a more complete understanding of food webs altered by non‐native species.     

Trophic stability in an Irish mesotrophic lake: Lough Melvin

• 1. Mesotrophic lakes are a threatened habitat in the United Kingdom (UK), and are specified within the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UKBAP) as requiring protection. Lough Melvin is a large mesotrophic lake that is of particular interest owing to the genetic diversity of its brown trout, but it is currently showing signs of nutrient enrichment.
• 2. In 1990, average lake total phosphorus (TP) was less than 19 µg P L^?1 but increased to 29.5 µg P L^?1 by July 2001. Inflow TP also increased from 34 µg P L^?1 to 41 µg P L^?1 over the same period. Neither phosphorus nor nitrogen appeared to be limiting.
• 3. Despite higher lake TP, annual chlorophyll a did not increase, remaining less than 5 µg L^?1. The phytoplankton was dominated by cyanobacteria and seems to have remained unchanged since the 1950s. Rotifer numbers increased significantly after 2001 but the macro‐zooplankton did not. The absence of a phytoplankton response to P enrichment is attributed to light limitation caused by peat staining and thorough mixing.
• 4. In the catchment, an accelerated programme of clear‐felling began in 1999. Recent changes in the lake are consistent with the known impacts of clear‐felling conifers on peat soils, namely larger P and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) losses. The latter was reflected in a lower Secchi depth and an enhanced microbial food‐web supporting a larger rotifer population.
• 5. It is suggested that, for the purposes of the Water Framework Directive (WFD), Lough Melvin and other large, alkaline but peat‐stained lakes may be treated as a distinct lake type as they do not fit easily into the conventional classifications of dystrophic or mesotrophic lakes.

Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

梅溪湖表层沉积物营养盐和有机质分布特征及污染评价

梅溪湖属于城市浅水湖泊，其沉积物特征可反映湖泊的水生态环境状况，对防止湖泊富营养化具有重要意义。2020年11月至2021年7月，分季节对梅溪湖表层沉积物（0～10 cm）进行了采样，分析了沉积物TN、NH4+、NO3-、TP、有效磷（AP）和有机质（OM）等指标的时空分布特征和污染程度。结果表明：沉积物（0～10 cm）TN、NH4+、NO3-、TP、AP和OM的平均含量依次为1654.68± 754.22 mg/kg、24.66± 20.02 mg/kg、13.60± 2.33 mg/kg、512.60± 281.39 mg/kg、8.58± 6.81 mg/kg和2.84± 1.43 %。湖区东部营养物和有机质含量最高。人类活动对梅溪湖表层沉积物营养盐的空间分布有着较大的影响。梅溪湖沉积物TP和NO3-含量在春季最高（4月份），冬季（1月）最低。AP含量在春季（4月）最高，在夏季最低（7月份）。沉积物TN、NH4+和OM含量没有明显的季节差异。梅溪湖沉积物TN和TP的含量变幅分别为667～4000 mg/kg和184～1475mg/kg，均已超出我国东部浅水湖泊沉积物的营养物参考阈值范围；TN和TP的标准指数变幅分别为1.21～7.27和0.31～2.46，TN全部超标，梅溪湖生态环境质量受N元素的影响较为严重，对湖泊生态系统安全构成了一定的威胁。相关分析表明，沉积物OM与TN、TP、AP、NH4+、NO3-均显著正相关，说明沉积物有机质的降解和释放对梅溪湖氮磷营养盐具有重要影响。     

Phosphorus,total ammonia nitrogen and chlorophyll a from fish cages in a tropical lake (Lake Palminhas,Espirito Santo,Brazil)

Cage fish farming in natural and artificial lakes has become increasingly popular in recent years in tropical countries. The most commonly farmed tropical fish species is the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.). The aim of this study was to characterize the concentration of phosphorus, total ammonia nitrogen and chlorophyll a from existing fish farms (FF) in Lake Palminhas, located in Linhares/ES, Brazil. Three transects were drawn from 0 to 500 m from each of the four FF (FF1 to FF4) in the lake during six trials (three in the rainy season and three in the dry season). The lake presented a monomictic‐hot pattern, with stratification during the rainy season. Dilution of the monitored parameters did not occur sufficient over a distance of up to 500 m from the FF. The location of the FF in the lake and the input of N and P were critical to ensure optimal mixing conditions because the worst results was observed for the fish farm (FF1) located on a finger of the lake, where the highest concentrations of total phosphorus and chlorophyll a occurred. It was also noted that there was possible total phosphorus interference between FF3 and FF4. The results of this study demonstrate that Lake Palminhas had a low dilution power, and these findings may inform environmental assessments of cage fish farming in this region, providing instruments that may support environmental control of cage fish farming.