Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Defining physico-chemical variables, chlorophyll-a and Secchi depth reference conditions in northeast eco-region lakes, China

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Environmental Earth Sciences Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Establishing reference conditions for regional lakes is necessary to assess human impact on aquatic ecosystems, protect water quality and biotic integrity. The northeast eco-region lakes often present a marked seasonal variability in hydrological, biological and geochemical processes, which could affect physico-chemical variables, chlorophyll-a and Secchi depth reference conditions. Reference conditions were calculated using two different methods: lake population distribution method and trisection method. General physico-chemical reference conditions (pH, conductivity, BOD and nutrients) and chlorophyll-a, and Secchi depth reference conditions were established using the two approaches combined with the analysis of seasonal variability for each parameter for shallow and deep lake types in the northeast eco-region lakes. The results indicated that depth was an important factor affecting physico-chemical variables, chlorophyll-a and Secchi depth reference values. Moreover, the seasonal differences in parameters were also assessed using a non-parametric repeated measure ANOVA (Friedman test) in the shallow and deep lakes. Some parameters showed a seasonal variability for shallow and deep lakes. The least restrictive reference values of the four seasons were proposed to simplify the water quality assessment for regional lake management goals. These results indicated that the 50th percentile (median) value from the best one-third of the nutrient-concentration data distributions is more appropriate for the northeast eco-region lakes.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Andersen JH, Conley DJ, Hedal S (2004) Paleoecology, reference conditions and classification of ecological status: the EU water framework directive in practice. Mar Pollut Bull 49:283–290

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anonymous (2003) River and lakes—typology, reference conditions and classification systems. Guidance No 10. CIS working group 2.3 REFCOND. European Communities, Luxembourg, p 87

    Google Scholar 

  • Bennion H, Battarbee R (2007) The european union water framework directive: opportunities for palaeolimnology. J Paleolimnol 38:285–295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Braak CJF, Juggins S (1993) Weighted averaging partial least squares regression (WA-PLS): an improved method for reconstructing environmental variables from species assemblages. Hydrobiologia 1:485–502

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cardoso AC, Solimini A, Premazzi G, Carvalho L, Lyche A, Rekolainen S (2007) Phosphorus reference concentrations in European lakes. Hydrobiologia 584:3–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Carvalho L, Solimini A, Phillips G, Berg M, Pietila¨inen OP, Solheim AL, Poikane S, Mischke U (2008) Chlorophyll reference conditions for European lake types used for intercalibration of ecological status. Aquat Ecol 42:203–211

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Q, Huo SL, Xi BD, Zan FY, Li XJ (2010) Study on establishing lake reference condition for nutrient. Ecol Environ Sci 219(3):544–549 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cunha DGF, Dodds WK, Calijuri MC (2011) Defining nutrient and biochemical oxygen demand baselines for tropical rivers and streams in Sao Paulo State (Brazil): a comparison between reference and impacted sites. Environ Manage 48:945–956

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dodds WK, Oakes RM (2004) A technique for establishing reference nutrient concentrations across watersheds affected by humans. Limnol Oceanogr-Meth 2:333–341

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dodds WK, Carney E, Angelo RT (2006) Determining eco-regional reference conditions for nutrients, Secchi Depth and Chlorophyll a in Kansas lakes and reservoirs. Lake Reserv Manage 22(2):151–159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • EC (2000) Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23rd October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy. Official Journal of the European Communities, L 327/1. European Commission, Brussels

  • Gibson G, Carlson R, Simpson J, Smeltzer E, Gerritson J, Chapra S, Heiskary S, Jones J, Kennedy R (2000) Nutrient criteria technical guidance manual lakes and reservoirs. US Environmental Protection Agency, EPA-822-B00-001

  • Heiskary SA, Wilson CB (2005) Lake water quality assessment report: developing phosphorus criteria for minnesota lakes. Third Edition. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, MN, pp 176. http://www.pca.state.mn.us/water/lakequality.html#reports

  • Huo SL, Chen Q, Xi BD (2009) A literature review for lake nutrient criteria development. Ecol Environ Sci 18(2):743–748 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Huo SL, Chen Q, Xi BD, Zan FY, Chen YQ (2010a) Candidate variables and indicator for lake nutrient criteria. Ecol Environ Sci 19(6):1445–1451 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Huo SL, Xi BD, Zan FY, Chen Q, Chen YQ (2010b) Discussing on technique of selecting reference lakes in eco-regions. Environ Pollut Control 32(12):87–89 (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Huo SL, Zan FY, Chen Q, Xi BD, Su J, Ji DF, Xu QG (2012) Determining reference conditions for nutrients, chlorophyll a and Secchi depth in Yungui Plateau eco-region lakes, China. Water Environ J 26:324–334

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huo SL, Xi BD, Su J, Zan FY, Chen Q, Ji DF, Ma CZ (2013a) Determining reference conditions for TN, TP, SD and Chl a in Eastern plain eco-region lakes. China. J Environ Sci 25(5):1001–1006

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Huo SL, Ma CZ, Xi BD, Su J, Zan FY, Ji DF, He ZS (2013b) Establishing eutrophication assessment standards for four lake regions. China. J Environ Sci. doi:10.1016/S1001-0742(12)60250-2

    Google Scholar 

  • Irvine K (2004) Classifying ecological status under the European water framework directive: the need for monitoring to account for natural variability. Aquat Conserv 14:107–112

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jin XC (1995) Lake environment in china. Ocean Press, Beijing (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Jin XC, Liu HL, Tu QY, Zhang ZS, Zhu X (1990) Eutrophication of lakes in China. Environmental Science Press House, Beijing (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu HL (2011) Lake eutrophication control. China Environmental Science Press, Beijing (In Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  • Moss B, Stephen D, Alvarez C, Becares E, Bund W, Collings SE, Van Donk E, de Eyto E, Feldmann T, Ferna′ndez-ala′ez C, Fernandez-alaez M, Franken RJM, Garcı′a-Criado F, Gross EM, Gyllstro¨m M, Hansson LA, Irvine K, Ja¨rvalt A, Jensen JP, Jeppesen E, Kairesalo T, Kornijow R, Krause T, Ku¨nnap H, Laas A, Lill E, Lorens B, Luup H, Miracle MR, No˜ges P, No˜ges T, Nyka¨nen M, Ott I, Peczula W, Peeters ETHM, Phillips G, Romo S, Russell V, Salujo˜e J, Scheffer M, Siewertsen K, Smal H, Tesch C, Timm H, Tuvikene L, Tonno I, Virro T, Vicente E, Wilson D (2003) The determination of ecological status in shallow lakes—a tested system (ECOFRAME) for implementation of the European water framework directive. Aquat Conserv 13:507–549

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pardo I, Gómez-Rodríguez C, Wasson JG, Owen R, Bund W, Kelly M, Bennett C, Birk S, Buffagni A, Erba S, Mengin N, Murray-Bligh J, Ofenböeck G (2012) The European reference condition concept: a scientific and technical approach to identify minimally-impacted river ecosystems. Sci Total Environ 420:33–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Paul MJ, Gerritsen J (2002) Nutrient criteria for Florida lakes: a comparison of approaches. Tetra Technologies Inc., Tallahassee

    Google Scholar 

  • Poikane S, Alves MH, Argillier C, Berg M, Buzzi F, Hoehn E, Hoyos C, Karottki I, Laplace-Treyture C, Solheim AL, Ortiz-Casas J, Ott I, Phillips G, Pilke A, Pa′dua J, Remec-Rekar S, Riedmu¨ller U, Schaumburg J, Serrano ML, Soszka H, Tierney D, Urbanic G, Wolfram G (2010) Defining chlorophyll-a reference conditions in European lakes. Environ Manage 45:1286–1298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reynoldson TB, Rosenberg DR, Day KE, Norris RH, Resh VH (1997) The reference condition: a comparison of multi metric and multivariate approaches to assess water quality impairment using benthic macro invertebrates. J N Am Benthol Soc 16:833–852

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sánchez-Montoya MM, Arce MI, Vidal-Abarca MR, Suárez ML, Prat N, Gómez R (2012) Establishing physico-chemical reference conditions in Mediterranean streams according to the european water framework directive. Water Res 46:2257–2269

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • SEPA (1989) The method of monitoring and analyzing water and wastewater. Environmental Science Press House, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Solheim AL (2005) Reference conditions of European lakes: indicators and methods for the water framework directive assessment of reference conditions. http://www.rbm-toolbox.net/docstore/docs/3.1713.D7-uusi.pdf

  • Stoddard JL, Larsen DP, Hawkins CP, Johnson RK, Norris RH (2006) Setting expectations for the ecological condition of streams: the concept of reference condition. Ecol Appl 16(4):1267–1276

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suplee MW, Varghese A, Leland J (2007) Developing nutrient criteria for streams and evaluation of the frequency distribution method. J Am Water Res As 43(2):453–472

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thebault JM (2004) Simulation of a mesotrophic reservoir (Lake Pareloup) over a long period (1983–1998) using ASTER2000 biological model. Water Res 38:393–403

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • US EPA (1998a) Lake and reservoir bio assessment and bio criteria technical guidance document. US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds, Office of Science and Technology, Office of Water, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • US EPA (1998b) Level III eco-regions of the continental United States (revision of Omernik, 1987). US Environmental Protection Agency, National Health and Environmental Effects Laboratory, Western Ecology Division, Corvallis

    Google Scholar 

  • US EPA (2000) Nutrient criteria technical guidance manual: lakes and reservoirs (EPA-822-B-00-001). United States Environment Protection Agency, Washington

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker JL, Younos T, Zipper CE (2007) Nutrients in lakes and reservoirs: a literature review for use in nutrient criteria development. Virginia Water Resources Research Center, Blacksburg, pp 58–79

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study is supported by the China Basic Research Program (Program No. 2008CB418206), the Mega-projects of Science Research for Water Environment Improvement (Program No. 2009ZX07106-001, 2012ZX07101-002) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 40901248).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Science, Beijing, 100012, China

    Shouliang Huo, Beidou Xi, Jing Su, Zhuoshi He, Fengyu Zan & Hong Yu

  2. College of Environmental Science, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui, 241000, China

    Fengyu Zan

Authors
  1. Shouliang Huo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Beidou Xi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Jing Su
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Zhuoshi He
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Fengyu Zan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Hong Yu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Shouliang Huo.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Huo, S., Xi, B., Su, J. et al. Defining physico-chemical variables, chlorophyll-a and Secchi depth reference conditions in northeast eco-region lakes, China. Environ Earth Sci 71, 995–1005 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2656-9

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-013-2656-9

Keywords

Search

Navigation