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17 pages, 2897 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Climate-Driven Dynamics of Runoff in the Dayekou Basin: A Comprehensive Analysis of Temperature, Precipitation, and Anthropogenic Influences over a 25-Year Period

by Erwen Xu, Xiaofeng Ren, Isaac Dennis Amoah, Cleophas Achisa Mecha, Kevin Emmanuel Scriber II, Rongxin Wang and Jingzhong Zhao

Water 2024, 16(7), 919; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16070919 - 22 Mar 2024

Viewed by 551

Abstract

Understanding runoff dynamics is vital for effective water management in climate-affected areas. This study focuses on the Dayekou basin in China’s Qilian Mountains, known for their high climate variability. Using 25 years of data (1994–2018) on river runoff, precipitation, and temperature, statistical methods were applied to explore the annual variations and climate change impacts on these parameters. Results reveal a significant variability in the river runoff (132.27 to 225.03 mm), precipitation (340.19 to 433.29 mm), and average temperature (1.38 to 2.08 °C) over the period. Decadal rising rates average 17 mm for runoff, 17 mm for precipitation, and 0.25 °C for temperature, with the peak precipitation and runoff occurring in 1998–2000, 2008, and 2016. The annual runoff distribution also exhibited a unimodal pattern, peaking at 39.68 mm in July. The cumulative runoff during low periods constituted only 13.84% of the annual total, concentrated in the second half of the year, particularly during the June-October flood season. The correlation analysis underscored a strong relationship between river runoff and precipitation (correlation coefficient > 0.80), while the temperature correlation was weaker (correlation coefficient < 0.80). This 25-year analysis provides valuable insights into runoff variation, elucidating the interconnected effects of temperature and precipitation in the Dayekou basin, with substantial implications for sustainable development amid climate challenges. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Watershed Ecology, Hydrology and Climate)

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14 pages, 2224 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploration of Applicability of Diatom Indices to Evaluate Water Ecosystem Quality in Tangwang River in Northeast China

by Hao Xue, Lei Wang, Lingsong Zhang, Yeyao Wang, Fansheng Meng and Min Xu

Water 2023, 15(20), 3695; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15203695 - 23 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 940

Abstract

The diatom index has been widely used in the evaluation of water ecological quality, but the applicability of the diatom index often varies in different study areas. The accuracy of the evaluation results depends on the applicability of the diatom index, especially when it is not applied to the place where it is created. In order to screen out the diatom index suitable for the evaluation of the water ecological quality of Tangwang River in northeast China, and to identify the factors affecting the accuracy of the diatom index, the community structure and water environment characteristics of 24 sample sites were investigated in Tangwang River in August 2018, and 18 diatom indices were calculated. The discriminative ability of diatom indices was analyzed using the box plot method, and the factors affecting the accuracy of the diatom index were identified by combining Pearson and Spearman correlation analyses. The results show that the discriminability of the Biological Diatom Index (BDI), Specific Pollution Sensitivity Index (IPS), Idse Leclercq (IDSE), Indice Diatomique Artois Picardie (IDAP), Diatom Eutrophication Pollution Index (EPI-D), Trophic Index (Rott TI), European Economic Community Index (CEE), and Watanabe Index (WAT) was the strongest, which could reasonably distinguish the reference group from the lightly damaged group. In general, the water ecological condition of Tangwang River Basin is good in the wet season, and the water ecological quality of about 80% of the sample sites was “moderate” or better. The main factors affecting the evaluation accuracy of the diatom index in Tangwang River Basin are the correlation strength between the diatom index and habitat quality, organic pollution, and nutrients. The coverage of diatom index species had no significant effect on the accuracy of evaluation. In order to reasonably evaluate the aquatic ecological status, it is recommended to use the diatom index, which has a good correlation with the environmental factors in the study area, or to establish a new diatom index based on the diatom community and environmental factors in the study area. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Watershed Ecology, Hydrology and Climate)

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15 pages, 1602 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Taxon-Specific Species Sensitivity and Aquatic Ecological Risk Assessment of Three Heavy Metals in Songhua River Water, China

by Lingsong Zhang, Fansheng Meng, Na Liu, Jiasheng Zhang and Hao Xue

Water 2023, 15(20), 3694; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15203694 - 23 Oct 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 893

Abstract

Copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), and nickel (Ni) are essential micronutrients for aquatic life, but they produce adverse effects on aquatic organisms when environmental concentrations exceed a certain threshold. The objective of this study was to analyze the taxon-specific sensitivities of aquatic life to the three metals and assess ecological risks at exposure levels prevalent in the Songhua River, China. The results showed that sensitivities to these metals varied among different taxonomic groups, with intra-taxon sensitivities being lower than inter-taxa sensitivities, and the consistency of intra-taxon sensitivity increased from phylum to order. The maximum detected concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Ni in the Songhua River were 52.7, 166.0, and 65.3 μg/L, respectively, which met the water quality standards set by China but exceeded the chronic criteria established by the USA. A probabilistic risk assessment based on chronic toxicity data revealed that these three metals posed an intermediate to high risk to aquatic animals, with maximum risk products of 36.4% for Cu, 14.3% for Ni, and 6.2% for Zn, respectively. These results indicate that the ecological damage of heavy metals in the Songhua River cannot be ignored. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Research on Watershed Ecology, Hydrology and Climate)

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