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Chemical constraints on new man-made lakes

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Abstract

The formation of reservoirs often affects water quality strongly, with the changes in the physicochemical properties being ascribed to decomposition of remaining organic matter arising from leaching and (biological and chemical) breakdown processes. In this study, experiments under laboratory conditions were performed to show that the nature of the course particulate organic matter (CPOM; i.e., leaves, branches, barks, and litter) determines the decomposition kinetics in new reservoirs. Effects on the water quality can be of short-, mid-, and long-term duration for all types of CPOM, as indicated in the mathematical modeling of the decomposition kinetics. Leaves and litter displayed the shortest half-life times (51 and 40 days, respectively) and the highest potential of leaching/oxidation of labile compounds (19 and 21 %, respectively). On the other hand, decomposition of branches and barks generated the lowest oxygen consumption (74 and 44 mg oxygen/g dry mass (DM), respectively). During formation of the reservoir, the incorporation and decomposition of organic matter prevailed over material exportation. Therefore, in addition to a decrease in oxygen availability the concentration of biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and nutrients increased. After the filling stage, there was significant loss of organic matter via oxidation, sedimentation, biological assimilation, and export, thus causing the BOD concentration and the fertility of the water to decrease.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Companhia Energética de São Paulo (CESP) for the aid in the achievement of water and of plant samples and to Dr. Osvaldo N. Oliveira Jr. (IFSC-USP) for his critical proof reading of the manuscript.

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  1. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Recursos Naturais, Departamento de Hidrobiologia, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, Rodovia Washington Luiz, km 235, Cx. Postal 676, 13565-905, São Carlos, São Paulo, Brazil

    Marcela B. Cunha-Santino, Alexandre L. Bitar & I. Bianchini Jr.

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  1. Marcela B. Cunha-Santino
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  2. Alexandre L. Bitar
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  3. I. Bianchini Jr.
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Correspondence to Marcela B. Cunha-Santino.

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Cunha-Santino, M.B., Bitar, A.L. & Bianchini, I. Chemical constraints on new man-made lakes. Environ Monit Assess 185, 10177–10190 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-013-3322-0

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