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Multi-scale spatial determinants of dissolved oxygen and nutrients in Qiantang River, China

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Abstract

This study employed spatial regression to analyze the determinants of dissolved oxygen (DO) and nutrients in the Qiantang River, China. Determinants of their spatial patterns in 1996 and 2003 as well as their dynamics during this time period were characterized at sub-basin and 500-m riparian buffer scales. Results indicated that the determinants differed by variable and by scale. Built-ups, farmland, water body, population density and gross domestic product were positive indicators for nutrient pollution and hypoxia, while distance to river source and forest were negative indicators. Higher slope variability indicates more DO and nutrients. In addition, built-up increases that were accelerated by population growth and economic development accounted for DO and nutrients dynamics to a large extent. This study highlighted that incorporation of spatial autocorrelation into regression was not only a methodological advantage but also a promising management tool.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Editor-in-Chief Wolfgang Cramer, Editor Jintao Xu and two reviewers for providing professional comments that substantially improved the original manuscript. We also thank Prof. S. D. DeGloria at Cornell University for polishing the language and structure. This work was partially supported by the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities, the National Key Project Grant (No. 2011ZX07), and State Scholarship Fund (No. 2011632110).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Environment and Natural Resources, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China

    Shiliang Su, Rui Xiao, Xiangyang Xu, Zhonghao Zhang, Xiaoya Mi & Jiaping Wu

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  1. Shiliang Su
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  2. Rui Xiao
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  3. Xiangyang Xu
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  4. Zhonghao Zhang
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  5. Xiaoya Mi
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  6. Jiaping Wu
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Correspondence to Jiaping Wu.

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Su, S., Xiao, R., Xu, X. et al. Multi-scale spatial determinants of dissolved oxygen and nutrients in Qiantang River, China. Reg Environ Change 13, 77–89 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-012-0313-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-012-0313-6

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