Pond Plant Research Articles

Use of environmental DNA to survey the distribution of an invasive submerged plant in ponds

AbstractThe first step toward solving the problems caused by an invasive alien species is to know the distribution of the species. However, species in underwater environments are difficult to investigate. The recent development of environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis has made it possible to investigate the distribution of a target species simply by analyzing the DNA in the water. To date, few investigators have used eDNA detection of aquatic plants. We established an eDNA detection method for Egeria densa, an invasive aquatic plant species in Japan; used eDNA detection to survey the species in aquaria; and applied this method to water samples from 23 outdoor ponds. We also used visual observations of the ponds. The aquarium experiments revealed that the eDNA concentration in the water increased rapidly and peaked 1 or 2 d after starting the experiment, after which it decreased rapidly, reaching its lowest point on the 5th day. In the field surveys, we visually observed E. densa at 5 ponds, and the eDNA of E....

Potential pest transfer mediated by international ornamental plant trade

In recent years, the keeping of ornamental freshwater animals and plants in garden ponds has been growing in popularity. Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) is one of the preferred macrophytes seasonally imported mainly from South-eastern Asia throughout the world. This constitutes a secondary introduction inasmuch as the species is native to South America. Although many assemblages of aquatic invertebrates have been described as associated with this plant in the wild, there has been no research focused on their potential introduction via the international plant trade. We examined 216 specimens of water hyacinths imported for ornamental purposes from Indonesia into the Czech Republic. Numerous meio- and macroinvertebrates belonging to at least 39 species were captured. On the total number of individuals, the highest prevalence was of Tubulinea and Rotifera. Most of these were still alive and vital, including a caterpillar of the Indo–Australian invasive moth Spodoptera litura. Water hyacinths are usually placed into outdoor ponds immediately after import, which facilitates the release of non-target alien species. The present paper aims to draw attention to “hitchhikers” associated with the ornamental trade.

Myriophyllum heterophyllum Michaux

<i>Myriophyllum heterophyllum</i> Michaux

Physico-chemical water properties and flora diversity under the old mining load influence (Rudnansky creek, Slovakia)

Mining and processing activities in the former mining Middle Spis area caused serious environmental problems. The aim of the study is to determine the content of heavy metals (Cu, As, Pb, Fe, Hg) in water and describe the flora diversity along the Rudnansky creek, which flows through the area. Chemical (pH) and physical (water conductivity, oxygen saturation) water properties were also evaluated. High values of copper and mercury were determined at the localities close to the tailing pond and mercury processing plant. Presence of plant species resistant to heavy metals, such as Calamagrostis epigejos, Arctium lappa, Cirsium rivulare, Geranium palustre, indicates toxic element pollution.

Effects of surrounding land use on metal accumulation in environments and submerged plants in subtropical ponds

Ponds are widely used as stormwater treatment facilities to retain contaminants, including metals, and to improve water quality throughout the world. However, there is still a limited understanding of the effects of surrounding land use on metal accumulation in pond environments and organisms. To address this gap, we measured the concentrations of nine metals (i.e., Al, Ba, Ca, K, Li, Mg, Na, Se, and Sr) in water, sediments, and submerged plants collected from 37 ponds with different surrounding land uses in southwestern China and assessed the metal accumulation capacity of four dominant submerged plant species. Our results showed that Al, Ca, and K concentrations in the water were above drinking water standards. In the sediments, the average concentrations of Ca and Sr were higher than the corresponding soil background values. Ceratophyllum demersum L. could accumulate more K in aboveground biomass than Myriophyllum spicatum L. and Potamogeton maackianus A. Benn. The K concentration in submerged plants was positively influenced by the corresponding metal concentration in the water and negatively influenced by water temperature. Among the nine studied metals, only the water K concentration in ponds receiving agricultural runoff was significantly higher than that for ponds receiving urban and forested runoff. This result suggests that surrounding land use types have no significant effect on metal accumulation in sediments and submerged plants in the studied ponds. A large percentage of the metals in these ponds may be derived from natural sources such as the weathering of rocks.

Disappearing Arctic tundra ponds: Fine‐scale analysis of surface hydrology in drained thaw lake basins over a 65 year period (1948–2013)

AbstractLong‐term fine‐scale dynamics of surface hydrology in Arctic tundra ponds (less than 1 ha) are largely unknown; however, these small water bodies may contribute substantially to carbon fluxes, energy balance, and biodiversity in the Arctic system. Change in pond area and abundance across the upper Barrow Peninsula, Alaska, was assessed by comparing historic aerial imagery (1948) and modern submeter resolution satellite imagery (2002, 2008, and 2010). This was complemented by photogrammetric analysis of low‐altitude kite‐borne imagery in combination with field observations (2010–2013) of pond water and thaw depth transects in seven ponds of the International Biological Program historic research site. Over 2800 ponds in 22 drained thaw lake basins (DTLB) with different geological ages were analyzed. We observed a net decrease of 30.3% in area and 17.1% in number of ponds over the 62 year period. The inclusion of field observations of pond areas in 1972 from a historic research site confirms the linear downward trend in area. Pond area and number were dependent on the age of DTLB; however, changes through time were independent of DTLB age, with potential long‐term implications for the hypothesized geomorphologic landscape succession of the thaw lake cycle. These losses were coincident with increases in air temperature, active layer, and density and cover of aquatic emergent plants in ponds. Increased evaporation due to warmer and longer summers, permafrost degradation, and transpiration from encroaching aquatic emergent macrophytes are likely the factors contributing to the decline in surface area and number of ponds.

Waterhyacinth: Florida’s Worst Floating Weed

Waterhyacinth is one of the world’s worst aquatic weeds and is Florida’s most intensively managed floating plant. Dense mats formed by this species interfere with human uses of water bodies and disrupt ecosystems by preventing penetration of light and oxygen into the water column. This attractive, free-floating aquatic plant grows throughout the year in southern Florida but often dies back during the winter in the northern parts of the state. Waterhyacinth is cultivated as a water garden and pond plant, but cultivation, sale, and possession of this noxious weed is prohibited in Florida. This 5-page fact sheet was written by Lyn A. Gettys and published by the UF Department of Agronomy, September 2014.&#x0D; SS-AGR-380/AG385: Waterhyacinth: Florida's Worst Floating Weed (ufl.edu)

H.M. The King's Royally Initiated LERD Project on Community Wastewater Treatment through Small Wetlands and Oxidation Pond in Phetchaburi, Thailand

The research on community wastewater treatment through small aquatic-planting and grass-filtration constructed wetland in cooperating with oxidation ponds is aimed to establish demonstration models for eliminating organic contaminants under nature-by-nature process, simple technology and less expenses. There have been 7 small wetlands on 100-m x 5-m x 0.75-m small vertical flow construction wetlands (VFCW), 7 small wetlands on 25-m x 5-m x 0.75-m small VFCW in cooperating with zero discharge, 2 experimental plots of planted mangrove forest and 5-consecutive oxidation ponds plus 3 herbivore fishes per square meter. For research operation, some municipal wastewater were pumped about 0.025-cms flow rate from Phetchaburi collected pond through 18.5-km HPDE pipe with separating receivers: firstly, to small grass and aquatic planted wetlands; secondly, to small constructed wetlands; thirdly, to the planted mangrove forest; and finally to the 5-consecutive ponds in descending order of 20 cm by beginning the depth of 2.6 m at the first pond (sedimentation pond) till 1.8 m at the last pond, In basic principles, an influent has to flow continuously at height of one-third depth below surface of oxidation pond on hydraulic retention time (HRT), then flowing over weir crest about 5 cm. The effluent of each oxidation pond was monthly sampled for analyzing the water quality in order to estimate the efficiency of wastewater treatment. In the same procedures, the effluent from small wetlands as grown by aquatic plants as well as zero discharge had to collect for water quality analysis. The results found the wastewater treatment efficiency above 60 percentages for COD, BOD, and TSS. The usable life of plants for maximum wastewater treatment efficiency were specified at 90 days and 45 days for aquatic plants (Typha angustifolia Linn. and Cyperus corymbosus Rottb.), respectively. It was noticed that small wetland and oxidation pond were suitable for community wastewater treatment and gained benefits from the wastewater treatment system.

Wastewater Management in Third World Cities: Case Study of Cotonou, Benin

Poor wastewater management coupled with lack of sanitation facilities has aggravated the sanitation challenges in developing countries. This study was aimed at providing information on the current state of sanitation in Cotonou City through surveys. The most common sanitation facilities in the city were septic tanks, latrines and soakaway pits. Mechanical desulging was mainly used (94%) for desludging latrines and septic tanks with a frequency of less than once a year for 73% of the houses; manual desludging was most common for soakaway pits. 84% of sullage generated is disposed without treatment. The only existing stabilization pond plant, managed by a private company SIBEAU, is overloaded; the effluent is poor (up to 2250mg/l BOD5) and does not meet any quality standards. 96% of survey respondents recognise that the sanitation situation in the city is not good; it has to be improved by providing an appropriate and sustainable sanitation management system.

An Explorement of Multi-Habitat Ecological Pond with Situ Water Purification Technology in Treating Nitrogen and Phosphorus from Petrochemical Wastewater

The objective is to explore degradation and removal of nitrogen and phosphorus in each unit of pond when using an artificially enhanced ecological system treats petrochemical wastes. The system consists of anoxic pond, the aerobic pond and aquatic plants pond, aiming to achieve a coordinate treatment effect in the multi-habitat system. The system combines treatment effects including assimilation, decomposition, interception, absorption, adsorption and filtration of microorganisms, aquatic plants and soil in the anaerobic, anoxic and aerobic state. It shows that the system has a good removal effect on COD, NH3-N, TN, and TP, and the removal rate range for each is 26.7% ~ 48.6%, 55.4% ~ 91.3%, 20.4% ~ 43.6% and 25.7% ~ 46.4%, respectively. It is also found that the treatment effects change with seasons, which are the best in summer because of vigorous plant growth and strong microbial activity. In conclusion, the system has a higher efficiency to remove nitrogen and phosphorus than the traditional stabilization pond technology.

Biomonitoring of Effects Following Exposure of Fish to Sugar Refinery Effluent

Biomarker is the newest concept in environmental biomonitoring. One of the key functions of biomarker is to provide an early warning signal of significant biological effects. The objective of this research was to determine biomarker as a water quality monitoring tool on the waste water treatment plant (WWTP). The experiment was conducted at waste water treatment plant ponds (WWTPs) of a sugar refinery by growing Nile tilapia in floating net cages for 60 days. Results show that CF and LSI decreased in all WWTP whereas the GSI value in first and second aeration ponds increased compared to the control fish. The SDH enzyme activity significantly increased in the first aeration and monitoring ponds compared to those of the other ponds. The most severe hyperemia in hepatic cells occurred in the first and second aeration ponds. The highest value of SGR and SR was observed in stabilization pond.

Dissolved organic carbon from the traditional jute processing technique and its potential influence on arsenic enrichment in the Bengal Delta

Abstract Dissolved organic C (DOC) plays an important role in the mobilization of As from sediments. In West Bengal, the widely used technique for obtaining jute fiber involves retting of the jute plant in ponds (hereafter such ponds are termed jute decomposing ponds) for several weeks, which produces significant amounts of DOC in the ponds. These ponds thus act as point sources of DOC and supply huge quantities of organic C to the Bengal Delta sediments. This study has been carried out to investigate the role of such DOC in enriching the groundwater with As in the Bengal Delta. Data clearly show that due to the effect of DOC, As is mobilized from the upper 2.6 m of the sediment profile, and is fixed between 2.6 and 6.1 m, while the lower part (6.1–9 m) largely remains unaffected. The reducing conditions mainly developed due to the decay of the percolating DOC seem to help the mobilization and transportation of As and other redox sensitive elements (Fe, Mn), as well as elements (Cu, Zn) attached to oxy-hydroxides of those redox-sensitive elements. Experiments also indicate that if the DOC production at the surface continues for a longer period of time, the zone of As fixation (2.6–6.1 m) may get shifted further downwards and ultimately intercept the water table resulting in As enrichment of groundwater.

Environmental correlates of plant and invertebrate species richness in ponds

Ponds (lentic water bodies <2 ha) constitute a considerable biodiversity resource. Understanding the environmental factors that underlie this diversity is important in protecting and managing the habitat. We surveyed 425 ponds for biological and physical characteristics with 78 of those also surveyed for chemical characteristics. A total of 277 invertebrate species and 265 plant species were found. Species richness varied between 2 and 99 (mean 27.2 ± 0.6 SE) for invertebrates and 1 and 58 (mean 20.8 ± 0.4 SE) for plants. Generalised additive models were used to investigate variables that correlate with the species richness of plants and invertebrates, with additional models to investigate insect, Coleoptera, Odonata, Hemiptera, Trichoptera and Mollusca species richness. Models performed reasonably well for invertebrates in general (R 2 = 30.3%) but varied between lower-order invertebrate taxa (12.7–34.7%). Ponds with lower levels of shading and no history of drying contained higher numbers of species of plants and all invertebrate groups. Aquatic plant coverage positively correlated with species richness in all invertebrate groups apart from Trichoptera and the presence of fish was associated with high invertebrate species richness in all groups apart from Coleoptera. The addition of chemistry variables suggested non-linear relationships between oxygen demand and phosphate concentration and higher-order richness. We demonstrate that the composition of biological communities varies along with their species richness and that less diverse ponds are more variable compared to more diverse ponds. Variables positively correlated with richness of one taxon may be negatively correlated with that of another, making comprehensive management recommendations difficult. Promoting a high landscape-level pond biodiversity will involve the management of a high diversity of pond types within that landscape.

Aquatic insects associated with two morphologically different submerged macrophytes, Lagarosiphon ilicifolius and Vallisneria aethiopica, in small fishless ponds

The study assessed the composition and abundance of insect assemblages associated with two submerged macrophytes, Lagarosiphon ilicifolius and Vallisneria aethiopica, in fishless ponds. Six ponds were used, with each plant occurring singly in two ponds, whilst the remainder had both plants. The insects were sampled using a 500-μm mesh. The number of insect taxa, diversity and total abundance on Lagarosiphon were greater than on Vallisneria when the plants occurred in separate ponds. In ponds comprising both plants, the total insect abundance on Lagarosiphon was greater than on Vallisneria. In all ponds, anisopteran naiads were dominant. Hemicordulia, Diplacodes and Trithemis made up 36.2, 27.1 and 15.2%, respectively, of the total number of insects on Lagarosiphon in single plant ponds. Trithemis was the only odonate in ponds comprised exclusively of Vallisneria and made up 68.7% of insects. In ponds that were cultured with both plants, four anisopteran taxa, Hemicordulia, Diplacodes, Trithemis and Tramea, were collected. In single plant ponds, the body-size class distribution of naiads on Lagarosiphon was characterised by a broader range, with significantly greater numbers of smaller and larger size classes than on Vallisneria (Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, P < 0.05). The study shows that in fishless waters, epiphytic insect assemblages may differ between the two plant species, especially when they are widely separated in space, probably due to greater predator–prey interactions on Vallisneria than on Lagarosiphon. The two plants may also differentially affect water physicochemical conditions, which may possibly influence insect ovipositing behaviour, and so affect insect community assemblage.

Response of seasonal pond plant communities to upland forest harvest in northern Minnesota forests, USA

Small seasonally flooded forest ponds have received increased attention due to a growing recognition of their abundance in many landscapes, their importance as habitat for a variety of organisms, and the contributions they make to species and ecosystem diversity. There also is concern over potential negative effects of forest management in adjacent uplands on seasonal pond ecology. Several studies have examined invertebrate and songbird responses to upland harvest around seasonal ponds. Less attention has been given to examining how seasonal pond plant communities respond to adjacent forest harvesting. We studied the response of seasonal pond plant communities to adjacent upland timber harvests, assessing whether buffers around ponds (15.25 m uncut and partially cut) mitigated changes in species abundance and community composition, relative to changes in ponds that were clearcut to the pond margin. We addressed our objective using an operational-scale experiment in northern Minnesota, which included pre-harvest sampling, replicated treatments, and uncut controls. After treatment, changes in tree basal area and canopy openness in the pond basins reflected reductions in upland basal areas. Specifically, control ponds had significantly higher basal area and lower openness than ponds cut to their margins, while ponds with uncut buffers and partially cut buffers were intermediate. Changes in plant communities were evident in the ground layer and shrub/large regeneration layer. After treatment and over time, the control stands did not change significantly in ground layer structure or shrub/large regeneration layer composition. The three upland harvest treatments displayed increasingly greater deviation from their starting conditions and from the control along a gradient of increasing treatment intensity, from the buffer treatment to the partially cut buffer to the clearcut. The response in the ground layer was largely associated with increased sedge and grass cover, while the response in the shrub/large regeneration layer was associated with increases of Salix sp., Alnus incana, and Populus tremuloides. Our results indicate that adjacent upland timber harvest can lead to altered plant communities within seasonal ponds, at least temporarily. Moreover, uncut forest buffers (∼15.25 m) surrounding seasonal ponds can mitigate plant community changes to some degree. If seasonal ponds are an important resource on the management landscape and a high percentage of upland forest is in a recently cut condition at any given time, than use of harvest buffers around seasonal ponds may be an appropriate approach for mitigating short term alteration of pond plant communities.

Revisiting the influence of loading on organic material removal in primary facultative ponds

This paper investigated the influence of organic loading on BOD and COD removal in primary facultative ponds. The study was based on six full-scale pond plants in which average removals of unfiltered biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were 72 and 50%, respectively. For filtered samples, the removals were 89 and 83%, respectively. First-order removal rates assuming ideal hydraulic patterns (completely mixed and plug-flow) decreased with increments in the mean hydraulic retention time (HRT). Reduction in organic loading also caused a decrease in removal rates. The results emphasized that HRT and surface organic loading are more reliable to estimate first-order removal rates than traditional Arrhenius-style equations. Thus, HRT and surface organic loading can be used to compute more realistic first-order removal rates and surface removal rates. An alternative design procedure based on HRT and surface organic loading was proposed and demonstrated.

In situ nutrient removal from aquaculture wastewater by aquatic vegetable Ipomoea aquatica on floating beds

Nutrient-rich effluents caused rising concern due to eutrophication of aquatic environment by utilization of a large amount of formula feed. Nutrient removal and water quality were investigated by planting aquatic vegetable on artificial beds in 36-m(2) concrete fishponds. After treatment of 120 days, 30.6% of total nitrogen (TN) and 18.2% of total phosphorus (TP) were removed from the total input nutrients by 6-m(2) aquatic vegetable Ipomoea aquatica. The concentrations of TN, TP, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and chlorophyll a in planted ponds were significantly lower than those in non-planted ponds (P<0.05). Transparency of water in planted ponds was much higher than that of control ponds. No significant differences in the concentration of total ammonia nitrogen (TAN), nitrate nitrogen (NO(3) (-)-N) and nitrite nitrogen (NO(2) (-)-N) were found between planted and non-planted ponds. These results suggested that planting aquatic vegetable with one-sixth covered area of the fishponds could efficiently remove nutrient and improve water quality.

Distribution, species composition and management implications of seed banks in southern New England coastal plain ponds

Buried seeds that germinate during periods of low water or water level drawdown can play important roles in shaping plant community composition, community dynamics and species richness in ecosystems with fluctuating water levels. Northeastern US coastal plain ponds have fluctuating water levels and contain a characteristic shoreline flora that contains many rare plants. The objectives of this study were to: (1) test whether geographically distant ponds in Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard had distinct seed banks, (2) determine if hydrologic status as permanent and ephemeral ponds led to differences in seed banks, and (3) examine seed diversity and seed abundance across gradients of shoreline elevations and sediment characteristics. Viable seeds of 45 plant species were identified from nine ponds. Native species dominated pond-shore seed banks and made up 89–100% of all species. There was high overlap in seed bank composition across hydrological classes and geographic regions. One hydrological class captured 73–76% of total species and one geographical region captured 69–78% of the total species recovered from the entire suite of seed bank samples. Seeds were relatively evenly distributed along the shorelines of ephemeral ponds but seed diversity and abundance were lower at low elevations in permanent ponds. Results suggest that strategies to protect pond shorelines to capture maximum diversity of coastal plain pond plants contained in pond sediment seed banks should be implemented across pond hydrologic classes and across a wide geographic area. Shoreline seed distributions indicate that ground-water withdrawals or climate changes that lower pond water levels in permanent ponds will reduce the diversity and abundance of plants recovered from seed banks by shifting water levels to a shoreline zone of high sediment organic matter where seed densities are lower. This effect will be much less in ephemeral ponds where seed diversity and abundance on pond bottoms was high.

The spatial and temporal heterogeneity of macrophyte communities in thirty small, temporary ponds over a period of ten years

Ponds are important habitats within many landscapes because of the diversity of wildlife they support. This arises in part because of the heterogeneity of ecological communities found in neighbouring ponds but this variation has proved difficult to explain. Chance and unrecorded historic events have often been emphasised as explanations. This study describes the development of spatial heterogeneity and the role of historic events in the development of pond plant macrophyte communities from the ponds’ creation until ten later using thirty small, adjacent temporary ponds in Northumberland. Plant communities showed significant spatial variation from the first year onwards. Metacommunity spatial patterns changed over time but even after ten years several distinct macrophyte communities persisted in different ponds. The outcome was that a greater variety of pond communities persisted than was likely if a single, larger pond had been created on the site. The spatial patterns of the plants communities were compared to spatial variation of summer dry‐phase and winter inundation. Macrophyte heterogeneity appeared to result from deterministic change which would have been difficult to detect in a snap‐shot survey not knowing the history of the ponds. Winter inundation showed significant spatial trends every year which mirrored the changing distribution of macrophyte communities between ponds. The proximate influence of the inundation is ultimately determined by the position of each pond in the landscape so that the marked spatial and temporal heterogeneity of plant communities was strongly influenced by small scale variation in hydrology. The results suggest that the heterogeneity of pondlife across a landscape may be deterministic when recorded over a longer time period and not due to chance, but that the determining environmental factors are highly contingent on the locality of the pond.

Comparison of microbial community structures in intensive and extensive shrimp culture ponds and a mangrove area in Thailand

A pelagic bacterial community structure was examined in experimental intensive shrimp culture ponds that have a shrimp-mangrove complex aquaculture system, and extensive shrimp culture pond and a mangrove area in Thailand by denaturant gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of polymerase chain reaction amplified partial 16S rRNA genes. Bacterial community structure in the intensive shrimp culture ponds was distinguishable from that of the mangrove area. In the extensive shrimp culture pond, the bacterial community structure resembled that in the mangrove area, but bacterial abundance was as great as that in the intensive shrimp culture ponds. Among the intensive shrimp culture ponds, the bacterial community structure was different between a closed culture system and a shrimp-mangrove complex culture system. Moreover, the bacterial community structure in mangrove planted ponds was close to those in the intensive shrimp culture ponds when shrimp culture was conducted, but it was close to those in the mangrove areas without shrimp culture. These results suggest that intensive shrimp culture with shrimp feed input affects the bacterial community structures in pond water.