Assessment of Ecological Risk of Seasonal Ammonia Nitrogen to Aquatic Organisms in Poyang Lake

MA Xiang-yu; YAN Feng

doi:10.11988/ckyyb.20220831

PDF(7521 KB)

Journal of Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute ›› 2024, Vol. 41 ›› Issue (1) : 66-74. DOI: 10.11988/ckyyb.20220831

Water Environment and Water Ecology

Assessment of Ecological Risk of Seasonal Ammonia Nitrogen to Aquatic Organisms in Poyang Lake

MA Xiang-yu, YAN Feng

Author information +

History +

Abstract

In line with the finite discrete benchmark values specified in the China 2020 Water Quality Criteria for Freshwater Aquatic Organisms:Ammonia Nitrogen issued by China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment, we quantitatively assessed the ecological risk (RQ) associated with ammonia nitrogen to aquatic organisms at six key measurement stations within Poyang Lake in 2018. We further elaborated the influences of temperature and pH levels on the toxicity of ammonia nitrogen to aquatic organisms, and advocated for the application of the China 2020 Water Quality Criteria for Freshwater Aquatic Organisms:Ammonia Nitrogen. This offers a much-need empirical reference and quantitative database for effectively managing ammonia nitrogen levels within Poyang Lake. The findings reveal several trends: the most elevated average concentration of ammonia nitrogen arises during the winter months while the lowest happens in the fall; both the short-term water quality benchmarks (SWQC) and long-term water quality benchmark (LWQC) in summer are the least, whereas the spring records the highest. Noting an LRQ>1 in representative summer months for Poyang Lake indicates that the ongoing ecological risk posed by ammonia nitrogen surpasses environmental tolerance levels in that period. Furthermore, raised water temperature and pH levels contribute to a decrease in summer SWQC and LWQC, hence escalating the ecological risk. As such, pH value monitoring and early warning should serve as a prime focus of water resource management strategies for Poyang Lake.

Key words

water environment / ammonia nitrogen / aquatic organism / water quality criteria / ecological risk / Poyang Lake

Cite this article

EndNote

Ris (Procite)

Bibtex

Download Citations

MA Xiang-yu, YAN Feng. Assessment of Ecological Risk of Seasonal Ammonia Nitrogen to Aquatic Organisms in Poyang Lake[J]. Journal of Changjiang River Scientific Research Institute. 2024, 41(1): 66-74 https://doi.org/10.11988/ckyyb.20220831

References

[1] CHEN G, CAO X, SONG C, et al. Adverse Effects of Ammonia on Nitrification Process: The Case of Chinese Shallow Freshwater Lakes[J]. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 2010, 210(1/2/3/4): 297-306.
[2] CONSTABLE M, CHARLTON M, JENSEN F, et al. An Ecological Risk Assessment of Ammonia in the Aquatic Environment[J]. Human and Ecological Risk Assessment: an International Journal, 2003, 9(2): 527-548.
[3] USEPA. Aquatic Life Ambient Water Quality Criteria for Ammonia-Freshwater 2013[S]. Washington, DC: USEPA, 2013: 5-6.
[4] CHENG C H,MA H L,SU Y L,et al.Ammonia Toxicity in the Mud Crab (Scylla Paramamosain):The Mechanistic Insight from Physiology to Transcriptome Analysis[J].Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety,2019,179:9-16.
[5] FAN B, LI J, WANG X, et al. Ammonia Spatiotemporal Distribution and Risk Assessment for Freshwater Species in Aquatic Ecosystem in China[J]. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 2021, 207: 111541.
[6] CHEN C S.Ecological Risk Assessment for Aquatic Species Exposed to Contaminants in Keelung River, Taiwan[J]. Chemosphere, 2005, 61(8): 1142-1158.
[7] 中华人民共和国生态环境部. 2019年中国生态环境统计年报[R].北京:中华人民共和国生态环境部,2019.(Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China.2019 China Ecological Environment Statistical Annual Report [R].Beijing:Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China,2019.(in Chinese))
[8] WANG H J, XIAO X C, WANG H Z, et al. Effects of High Ammonia Concentrations on Three Cyprinid Fish: Acute and Whole-Ecosystem Chronic Tests[J]. Science of the Total Environment, 2017, 598: 900-909.
[9] Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council. Australian and New Zealand Guidelines for Fresh and Marine Water Quality: Volume 3-Primary Industries-Rationale and Background Information[S]. Canberra: Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council, 2020.
[10] JARVIE H, MACRAE M, ANDERSON M, et al. A Canadian Water Quality Guidelines for the Protection of Aquatic Life AMMONIA[S]. Ottawa: Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment, 2009.
[11] GB 3838—2002,地表水环境质量标准[S]. 北京:中国环境科学出版社,2003.(GB 3838—2002, Environmental Quality Standard for Surface Water[S]. Beijing: China Environmental Science Press, 2003. (in Chinese))
[12] USEPA. Methodology for Deriving Ambient Water Quality Criteria for the Protection of Human Health[R]. Washington, DC: USEPA, 2000.
[13] CRANE M, BABUT M. Environmental Quality Standards for Water Framework Directive Priority Substances: Challenges and Opportunities[J]. Integrated Environmental Assessment and Management, 2007, 3(2): 290-296.
[14] YANG Z,WANG L,LIANG T,et al.Nitrogen Distribution and Ammonia Release from the Overlying Water and Sediments of Poyang Lake,China[J].Environmental Earth Sciences,2015,74(1):771-778.
[15] SHANKMAN D, LIANG Q. Landscape Changes and Increasing Flood Frequency in China's Poyang Lake Region[J]. The Professional Geographer, 2003, 55(4): 434-445.
[16] GUO H, HU Q, JIANG T. Annual and Seasonal Streamflow Responses to Climate and Land-Cover Changes in the Poyang Lake Basin, China[J]. Journal of Hydrology, 2008, 355(1/2/3/4): 106-122.
[17] LU M, ZENG D C, LIAO Y, et al. Distribution and Characterization of Organochlorine Pesticides and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Surface Sediment from Poyang Lake, China[J]. Science of the Total Environment, 2012, 433: 491-497.
[18] 中华人民共和国生态环境部. 淡水水生生物水质基准—氨氮[EB/OL].2020.https:∥www.mee.gov.cn/xxgk2018/xxgk/xxgk01/202004/t20200410_773914.html.(Ministry of Ecology and Environment of the People's Republic of China.Freshwater Aquatic Biological Water Quality Benchmark-Ammonia Nitrogen[EB/OL].2020.https:∥www.mee.gov.cn/xxgk2018/xxgk/xxgk01/202004/t20200410_773914.html.(in Chinese))
[19] JIN X, LIU F, WANG Y, et al. Probabilistic Ecological Risk Assessment of Copper in Chinese Offshore Marine Environments from 2005 to 2012[J]. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 2015, 94(1/2): 96-102.
[20] SIRIPONG S,RITTMANN B E.Diversity Study of Nitrifying Bacteria in Full-scale Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants[J]. Water Research,2007,41(5):1110-1120.
[21] CHO K H, KIM J-O, KANG S, et al. Achieving Enhanced Nitrification in Communities of Nitrifying Bacteria in Full-scale Wastewater Treatment Plants via Optimal Temperature and pH[J]. Separation and Purification Technology, 2014, 132: 697-703.
[22] GONG Y, YU Z, YAO Q, et al. Seasonal Variation and Sources of Dissolved Nutrients in the Yellow River, China[J]. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2015, 12(8): 9603-9622.
[23] RATTAN K J, CORRIVEAU J C, BRUA R B, et al. Quantifying Seasonal Variation in Total Phosphorus and Nitrogen from Prairie Streams in the Red River Basin, Manitoba Canada[J]. Science of the Total Environment, 2017, 575: 649-659.
[24] HOFMEIER M, ROELCKE M, HAN Y, et al. Nitrogen Management in a Rice-Wheat System in the Taihu Region: Recommendations Based on Field Experiments and Surveys[J]. Agriculture, Ecosystems & Environment, 2015, 209: 60-73.
[25] CHEN W K, BAI X J, CAO M M, et al. Dissecting the Variations of Ripening Progression and Flavonoid Metabolism in Grape Berries Grown under Double Cropping System[J]. Frontiers in Plant Science, 2017, Doi: 10.3389/fpls.2017.01912.
[26] 董胜年. 湖泊中水下植物光合作用对溶解氧和pH值的影响[J]. 中国环境监测, 1997, 13(5): 48-50.(DONG Sheng-nian. The Photosynthesis Effect of Plant under the Water in the Lake on DO and pH[J]. Environmental Monitoring in China, 1997, 13(5): 48-50.(in Chinese))
[27] KÄLLQVIST T, SVENSON A. Assessment of Ammonia Toxicity in Tests with the Microalga, Nephroselmis Pyriformis, Chlorophyta[J]. Water Research, 2003, 37(3): 477-484.
[28] ALONSO A, CAMARGO J A. Toxic Effects of Unionized Ammonia on Survival and Feeding Activity of the Freshwater Amphipod Eulimnogammarus Toletanus (Gammaridae, Crustacea)[J]. Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology, 2004, 72(5): 1052-1058.
[29] MITZ S V,GIESY J P.Sewage Effluent Biomonitoring[J].Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety,1985,10(1):40-52.
[30] MILNE I, SEAGER J, MALLETT M, et al. Effects of Short-Term Pulsed Ammonia Exposure on Fish[J]. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 2000, 19(12): 2929-2936.