Worms and submersed macrophytes reduce methane release and increase nutrient removal in organic sediments

Benelli, Sara; Bartoli, Marco

doi:10.1002/lol2.10207

Cited by 18 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 46 publications

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“…Where emergent vegetation dominates, they may limit light and reduce water column nutrients, both of which are needed by phytoplankton and periphyton. Macrophytes can also modify water column and sediment geochemistry by providing autotrophic organic carbon and oxygen to rooting systems in the sediments 46 . Consequently, these opposing drivers can explain the high variability in primary production we observed (Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A functional definition to distinguish ponds from lakes and wetlands

Richardson

Holgerson

Farragher

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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Ponds are often identified by their small size and shallow depths, but the lack of a universal evidence-based definition hampers science and weakens legal protection. Here, we compile existing pond definitions, compare ecosystem metrics (e.g., metabolism, nutrient concentrations, and gas fluxes) among ponds, wetlands, and lakes, and propose an evidence-based pond definition. Compiled definitions often mentioned surface area and depth, but were largely qualitative and variable. Government legislation rarely defined ponds, despite commonly using the term. Ponds, as defined in published studies, varied in origin and hydroperiod and were often distinct from lakes and wetlands in water chemistry. We also compared how ecosystem metrics related to three variables often seen in waterbody definitions: waterbody size, maximum depth, and emergent vegetation cover. Most ecosystem metrics (e.g., water chemistry, gas fluxes, and metabolism) exhibited nonlinear relationships with these variables, with average threshold changes at 3.7 ± 1.8 ha (median: 1.5 ha) in surface area, 5.8 ± 2.5 m (median: 5.2 m) in depth, and 13.4 ± 6.3% (median: 8.2%) emergent vegetation cover. We use this evidence and prior definitions to define ponds as waterbodies that are small (< 5 ha), shallow (< 5 m), with < 30% emergent vegetation and we highlight areas for further study near these boundaries. This definition will inform the science, policy, and management of globally abundant and ecologically significant pond ecosystems.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A functional definition to distinguish ponds from lakes and wetlands

Richardson

Holgerson

Farragher

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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show abstract

“…This emission-suppressing effect would be even stronger than presently calculated when considering the emitted GHGs by ebullition, which was especially happening when Chironomus was not present [ 26 ]. These observations indicate that in our experiment Chironomus burrows were likely an important CH 4 oxidation site, and that their burrowing activity also prevented the built-up of GHGs as bubbles in the sludge [ 14 ]. Chironomus larvae did not affect CO 2 emission, suggesting that the CO 2 produced by their respiration was compensated for by reduced CO 2 production of the microbial community.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…Indeed, multiple species of macroinvertebrate collector-gatherers can feed on WWTP sludge, thereby affecting fluxes of nutrients and metals [ 12 , 13 ]. They can also reduce GHG emissions from organically rich sediments, for example through burrowing, thereby oxygenating deeper layers and thus limiting methane (CH 4 ) production and favouring CH 4 oxidation [ 14 ]. A similar effect of benthic invertebrate bioturbation on WWTP sludge may be expected, because redox conditions in WWTP sludge are similar to those in organically enriched sediments.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sludge degradation, nutrient removal and reduction of greenhouse gas emission by a Chironomus-Azolla wastewater treatment cascade

Hendriks,

van der Meer,

Kraak

et al. 2024

PLoS ONE

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Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are a point source of nutrients, emit greenhouse gases (GHGs), and produce large volumes of excess sludge. The use of aquatic organisms may be an alternative to the technical post-treatment of WWTP effluent, as they play an important role in nutrient dynamics and carbon balance in natural ecosystems. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the performance of an experimental wastewater-treatment cascade of bioturbating macroinvertebrates and floating plants in terms of sludge degradation, nutrient removal and lowering GHG emission. To this end, a full-factorial experiment was designed, using a recirculating cascade with a WWTP sludge compartment with or without bioturbating Chironomus riparius larvae, and an effluent container with or without the floating plant Azolla filiculoides, resulting in four treatments. To calculate the nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and carbon (C) mass balance of this system, the N, P and C concentrations in the effluent, biomass production, and sludge degradation, as well as the N, P and C content of all compartments in the cascade were measured during the 26-day experiment. The presence of Chironomus led to an increased sludge degradation of 44% compared to 25% in the control, a 1.4 times decreased transport of P from the sludge and a 2.4 times increased transport of N out of the sludge, either into Chironomus biomass or into the water column. Furthermore, Chironomus activity decreased methane emissions by 92%. The presence of Azolla resulted in a 15% lower P concentration in the effluent than in the control treatment, and a CO2 uptake of 1.13 kg ha-1 day-1. These additive effects of Chironomus and Azolla resulted in an almost two times higher sludge degradation, and an almost two times lower P concentration in the effluent. This is the first study that shows that a bio-based cascade can strongly reduce GHG and P emissions simultaneously during the combined polishing of wastewater sludge and effluent, benefitting from the additive effects of the presence of both macrophytes and invertebrates. In addition to the microbial based treatment steps already employed on WWTPs, the integration of higher organisms in the treatment process expands the WWTP based ecosystem and allows for the inclusion of macroinvertebrate and macrophyte mediated processes. Applying macroinvertebrate-plant cascades may therefore be a promising tool to tackle the present and future challenges of WWTPs.

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“…In sediment met bioturbatie kan meer denitrificatie plaatsvinden (Benelli & Bartoli, 2021;Nogaro & Burgin, 2014), ook bij hoge en lage nitraatwaarden (Nogaro & Burgin, 2014). Bij bioturbatie van chironomiden (dansmuggen) was denitrificatie afhankelijk van de watertemperatuur, alleen boven de 10 o C werd denitrificatie door bioturbatie verhoogd.…”

Section: Faunaunclassified

Effectiviteit van bufferzones : Een overzicht van de relevante processen en actoren

Bakker¹,

Meer²,

Verdonschot³

2023

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Worms and submersed macrophytes reduce methane release and increase nutrient removal in organic sediments

Cited by 18 publications

References 46 publications

A functional definition to distinguish ponds from lakes and wetlands

A functional definition to distinguish ponds from lakes and wetlands

Sludge degradation, nutrient removal and reduction of greenhouse gas emission by a Chironomus-Azolla wastewater treatment cascade

Effectiviteit van bufferzones : Een overzicht van de relevante processen en actoren

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