Comparison of benthic diatom assemblages from streams draining abandoned and reclaimed coal mines and nonimpacted sites

Verb, Robert G.; Vis, Morgan L.

doi:10.2307/1468070

Cited by 102 publications

(85 citation statements)

References 15 publications

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“…Another major gradient emerged in the CCAs where the second axis represented the pH and DO gradients. The pH has a major effect on diatom assemblage composition (Verb and Vis 2000;Smucker and Vis 2011). C. placentula and Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using benthic diatom assemblages to assess human impacts on streams across a rural to urban gradient

Yang

Cao

Pei

et al. 2015

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Benthic diatom assemblages on the natural substrata were investigated at 21 sites of the Ganhe River watershed (China) once per season and in addition, early spring in 2013. A total of 487 diatom taxa from 36 genera were identified during five investigations. The assemblages were dominated by Achnanthidium minutissimum (Kützing) Czarnecki and Cocconeis placentula in the rural reach, whereas Navicula, Nitzschia, and Gomphonema species were characteristic of urbanized sites. Our results suggest that biodiversity was positively related to high nutrient levels and strongly negatively related to diatom-based indices. The periphyton biomass (expressed as chlorophyll a and ash-free dry mass) was not related to water quality. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that the nutrient concentration gradient was the most important factor that affected the diatom assemblage composition and species distribution. The diatom-based indices (specific pollution sensitivity index (IPS), biological diatom index (IBD), and trophic diatom index (TDI)) were significantly positively correlated with water quality and are adequate for use in China. Slight changes in the biodiversity and diatom-based indices followed a temporal pattern. The species composition was less related to the season or hydrological characteristics of the river but more strongly related to differences in the trophic status. In this region, urbanization masked the impact of rural land use on benthic diatoms. The research will expand the understanding of using benthic diatom assemblages for water quality monitoring in urban streams and improve watershed-scale management and conservation efforts in the Ganhe River, China.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Using benthic diatom assemblages to assess human impacts on streams across a rural to urban gradient

Yang

Cao

Pei

et al. 2015

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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“…Therefore, the increase in terrestrial arthropod diversity observed in this study indicates that restoration of native riparian zones not only improves stream ecosystem health, but also improves riparian ecosystem health and may be a viable and sustainable restoration option. Algae are considered excellent indicators of the health of aquatic ecosystems [61][62][63][64] and algal biodiversity, especially that of diatoms, has been correlated with nutrient levels, the presence of contaminants and temporal variability [65,66]. In our study, Shannon algal biodiversity within the garden sites was significantly (p < 0.05) greater at the start and end of the monitoring period, but not significantly different during the most active growing season (April through July).…”

Section: Assessment Strategies For Riparian Restorationmentioning

confidence: 43%

Pilot Study on the Effects of Partially Restored Riparian Plant Communities on Habitat Quality and Biodiversity along First-Order Tributaries of the Lower St. Johns River

Rossi¹,

Moon²,

Casamatta³

et al. 2010

JWARP

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The St. Johns River is one of the premiere waterways in the southeastern United States, but it is increasingly affected by anthropogenic disturbances and influences such as excessive loading of nutrients. In the current pilot project, small native plant communities ("garden sites") were established along sections of riparian corridors of five first-order tributaries in residential-commercial areas that drain into the lower St. Johns River in north Florida. In addition, four "non-garden" (control) tributaries were monitored for comparison. Garden sites included five species native to the area; 20 plants of each species on both banks (200 total plants). These sites were used to assess the ability of partially restored riparian areas to ameliorate nutrient loading and water quality and determine their impact on local biodiversity in disturbed suburban drainage systems. Partially restored sites showed a significant reduction in both NO 3 -and P concentrations in both soil and water samples compared to control sites. For instance, soil NO 3 -levels were reduced by 14% in garden sites, while water samples were 30% lower. Moreover, both plant species richness and Shannon diversity (H') were significantly higher at partially restored sites, 33 and 19% respectively, compared to control streams after two years. Garden sites also had significantly higher terrestrial and invertebrate diversity than non-restored tributaries. Intermittent patches of partially restored habitat along suburban riparian corridors may provide a practical cost-effective technique for improving ecosystem function, water quality and increasing biodiversity along these frequently disturbed lotic habitats. Trends detected in the current study may have general implications for riparian restoration and reduction of nutrient loading in these small tributaries and, ultimately, effect water quality of the lower St. Johns River basin.

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“…Research has suggested that exposure of mine spoil material when unremediated may lead to chronic inputs of ARD into aquatic systems for greater than 50 years (Herricks 1977;Verb and Vis 2000). The direct effect of mine drainage on aquatic ecosystems is readily identifiable by the biotoxicity of extreme acid and dissolved metal concentrations, and the smothering of available benthic habitat by metal hydroxides.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Evaluation of Biotic Integrity Associated With Coal Mine Reclamation in the Dry Creek Drainage Basin, Tennessee

Brookens¹,

DeAngelo²,

Stearns³

2001

ASMR

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Acidification of freshwater aquatic habitats and resultant mobilization of metals due to acid rock drainage (ARD) has been documented as a principal cause of aquatic impairment throughout the eastern United States. This impairment has been documented by the scientific community through various biological community indicators. One indicator ofbiotic integrity within aquatic ecosystems are inhabitant benthic macroinvertebrate communities. Sequatchie Valley Coal Corporation has actively mined bituminous coal reserves and conducted reclamation in the Dry Creek drainage basin on the Cumberland Plateau of Tennessee over the last twenty years. In addition, the Dry Creek basin has historically been affected by discharges from numerous adjacent abandoned mine lands. During active operations by Sequatchie Valley Coal Corporation, benthic macroinvertebrate communities within these drainage basins have been monitored to evaluate probable hydrologic consequences of proposed mining and reclamation activities. Baseline monitoring prior to active mining and reclamation activities determined that portions of these drainage basins were already heavily impaired by acid rock drainage from abandoned mine lands, however, minimally affected, reference conditions were also present. These reference sections provided an important means for establishing best attainable conditions for biotic integrity. The utilization of passive treatment systems has been undertaken during the reclamation process to mitigate the effects ofabandoned mine drainage. Biological monitoring since 1994 has illustrated the effectiveness of passive treatment methodologies, however, the reestablishment ofbiotic integrity within the receiving drainage basin has not been observed. Macroinvertebrate community integrity continues to be compromised by water quality impairment, and extensive physical habitat impairment from metal hydroxide precipitation and sedimentation from abandoned mine lands elsewhere in the drainage basin. As mandated by NPDES permit conditions for the reclamation of Sequatchie Valley Coal Corporation operations, evaluations of biotic integrity within the Dry Creek basin utilizing macroinvertebrate communities will continue. The macroinvertebrate data provides additional information to the scientific community on the response of biological communities to passive treatment strategies and reclamation within drainage basins affected by acid rock drainage.

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Comparison of benthic diatom assemblages from streams draining abandoned and reclaimed coal mines and nonimpacted sites

Cited by 102 publications

References 15 publications

Using benthic diatom assemblages to assess human impacts on streams across a rural to urban gradient

Using benthic diatom assemblages to assess human impacts on streams across a rural to urban gradient

Pilot Study on the Effects of Partially Restored Riparian Plant Communities on Habitat Quality and Biodiversity along First-Order Tributaries of the Lower St. Johns River

An Evaluation of Biotic Integrity Associated With Coal Mine Reclamation in the Dry Creek Drainage Basin, Tennessee

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