Riverine Ecosystem Management
Riverine Ecosystem Management

Author: Stefan Schmutz

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2018-05-08

Total Pages: 562

ISBN-13: 3319732501

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This open access book surveys the frontier of scientific river research and provides examples to guide management towards a sustainable future of riverine ecosystems. Principal structures and functions of the biogeosphere of rivers are explained; key threats are identified, and effective solutions for restoration and mitigation are provided. Rivers are among the most threatened ecosystems of the world. They increasingly suffer from pollution, water abstraction, river channelisation and damming. Fundamental knowledge of ecosystem structure and function is necessary to understand how human acitivities interfere with natural processes and which interventions are feasible to rectify this. Modern water legislation strives for sustainable water resource management and protection of important habitats and species. However, decision makers would benefit from more profound understanding of ecosystem degradation processes and of innovative methodologies and tools for efficient mitigation and restoration. The book provides best-practice examples of sustainable river management from on-site studies, European-wide analyses and case studies from other parts of the world. This book will be of interest to researchers in the field of aquatic ecology, river system functioning, conservation and restoration, to postgraduate students, to institutions involved in water management, and to water related industries.

Nitrogen Transformations in a Simulated Overland Flow Wastewater Treatment System
Nitrogen Transformations in a Simulated Overland Flow Wastewater Treatment System

Author: Rex L. Chen

Publisher:

Published: 1980

Total Pages: 34

ISBN-13:

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Treating wastewater in properly designed and operated overland flow systems results in significant amounts of N being removed through nitrification-denitrification reactions. Application of wastewater containing NH4(+)-N in a simulated overland flow model led to the disappearance of ammonium and the formation of nitrate in oxidized surface oil. The N balance in the simulated overland flow system was estimated by using labeled 15N. The amount of N removed in the system depends upon denitrification rates. The results of this study indicated that N adsorption on the soil complex and uptake of applied ammonium by vegetation accounted for the N removed in the overland flow systems. The adsorbed ammonium on the aerated surface soil mass was nitrified and converted to oxidized forms of N. The nitrate thus formed diffused downward to the reduced zone during subsequent wastewater applications. Some of this nitrate then denitrified and converted to gaseous forms of N or was assimilated and reduced by plant life. Results of the overland flow studies indicated that approximately 55-68% of wastewater NH4(+)-N added to the simulated overland flow system was unaccounted for in controlled laboratory environments and was presumably returned to the atmosphere.