Abstract
The spatial distribution characteristics of soil elements in estuarine wetlands, which are important indicators for the health of estuaries, are affected by the dynamic changes of river flow paths. To reveal the differences of the spatial distribution characteristics of soil elements following channel diversion, we selected three typical reed (Phragmites australis) communities in the Yellow River Delta: the abandoned Yellow River course (OC): the reed community in the riparian zone of the old course of the Yellow River, which was diverted in 1996; the new Yellow River course (NC): the reed community on the current river bank; the intertidal area (TC): reed communities on tidal flats not affected by the Yellow River but frequently by tides. The soil properties and spatial distribution characteristics of 17 soil elements were analyzed, and the Geoaccumulation Index (Igeo), Enrichment Factor (EF), Toxin Units (TUs) and New Toxicity Index (TRI) were used to evaluate the ecotoxicity of heavy metals. The mean pH value followed the order TC site (8.05) > NC site (7.97) > OC site (7.87). The electrical conductivity at the NC site (4.10 mS cm−1) was significantly lower than at the OC site (6.46 mS cm−1) and TC site (6.86 mS cm−1) (p < 0.05). The mean concentrations of P, Mo, Fe, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni and As in the surface soil (0–20 cm) at the NC site were lower than those at the OC site and TC site (p < 0.05). The results of vertical distribution of elements showed that the concentrations of most heavy metals at the OC and TC site decreased along the depth of the soil layers and the highest values appeared in the upper soil layers. While the NC site was different, the highest heavy metal concentrations were found in the lower soil layers. The values of Igeo indicated that Ni, As and Mo at the OC and TC site, and As and Hg at the NC site showed high toxicity risks. The EF values for Cu, Ni, As, Mo and Hg of all three sites exceeded 1.5, implying that these elements might come mostly from anthropogenic sources. In addition, Ni, As and Cr exhibited higher contribution ratios based on TRI values and ΣTUs. Meantime, the ΣTUs and TRI values indicated that the TC site had the highest, and the NC site had the lowest toxicity risk. The channel diversion increased the risk of soil pollution at the OC site. It is necessary to carry out long-term monitoring and control measures to avoid potential ecological damage.
摘要
河口湿地土壤元素空间分布受河流流路动态变化的影响, 同时土壤元素含量也是指示河口湿地生态系统健康的重要指标。为揭示黄河河道变迁对河口湿地土壤元素空间分布的影响, 我们在黄河三角洲选取3种典型的芦苇群落, 即: 故道区(OC): 1996年改道的黄河故道河岸带芦苇群落; 新生区(NC): 现行黄河河岸带新生芦苇群落; 潮水区(TC): 远离新旧河道但受潮汐影响的潮滩芦苇群落。分析了土壤理化性质及17种土壤元素的空间分布特征, 并采用地累积指数(Igeo)、富集因子(EF)、毒素单位(ΣTUs)和新毒性指标(TRI)对重金属生态毒性进行综合评估。其中, 土壤pH由大到小依次为潮水区 (8.05) > 新生区 (7.97) > 故道区 (7.87), 新生区电导率(4.10 mS cm−1)显著低于故道区(6.46 mS cm−1)和潮水区(6.86 mS cm−1) (p < 0.05)。淡水区表层土壤(0–20 cm)中P、Mo、Fe、Zn、Cu、Cr、Ni和As的平均浓度低于故道区和潮水区(p < 0.05)。在垂向分布上, 故道区和潮水区多数重金属浓度沿土层深度加深呈下降趋势, 最高值出现在土壤表层。而新生区有所不同, 其重金属浓度最高值多出现在下层土层。Igeo 值结果表明, 故道区和潮水区Ni、As和Mo, 新生区As和Hg表现出较高毒性风险。3个研究区Cu、Ni、As、Mo和Hg的EF值均超过1.5, 这意味着这些元素可能主要来自人为源。此外, Ni、As和Cr在TRI和 ΣTUs中表现出了较高的贡献率。同时, ΣTUs 和 TRI 值均表明潮水区毒性风险最高, 新生区的毒性风险最低。黄河改道提高了故道区土壤污染风险, 因此, 有必要对该区域进行长期监测并采取适当的控制措施, 以避免潜在的生态风险。
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The datasets generated during and/or analysed during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.
The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.
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Acknowledgements
This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U1806218 and 41871091).The authors acknowledge Haiyang Zhao (Northeast Institute of Geography and Agroecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences) for soil elements testing. We also thank Marinus L. Otte and three anonymous reviewers for the constructive comments.
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This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (U1806218 and 41871091).
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QT and BG contributed to the conception of the study; QT and FH contributed to the data collection, analysis and manuscript preparation; FE and BG rewrote the manuscript and improved the language of manuscript; MD and GX helped field investigation; BG and JB provided the funding.
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Wu, Q., Bian, F., Eller, F. et al. Pollution levels and toxicity risks of heavy metals in different reed wetland soils following channel diversion in the Yellow River Delta. Wetlands 42, 31 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-022-01547-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-022-01547-5