Table Of ContentNutrient Dynamics and Retention in Land/Water
Ecotones of Lowland, Temperate Lakes and Rivers
Developments in Hydrobiology 82
Series editor
H. J. Dumont
Nutrient Dynamics and Retention in
Land/Water Ecotones of Lowland,
Temperate Lakes and Rivers
Edited by
A. Hillbricht-llkowska & E. Pieczynska
Reprinted from Hydrobiologia, vol. 251 (1993)
Ii« SI
Springer-Science+Business Media, B.V.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Nutrient dynamics and retention in land/water ecotones of lowland,
temperate lakes, and rivers / edited by A. Hi 11bricht-11kowska and
E. Pieczynska.
p. cm. — (Developments in hydrobiology ; 82)
"Reprinted from Hydrobio 1 ogia , vol. 251 "
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-94-010-4698-5 ISBN 978-94-011-1602-2 (eBook)
DOI 10.1007/978-94-011-1602-2
1. Freshwater ecology—Congresses. 2. Eutrophication—Congresses.
3. Landscape ecology—Congresses. 4. Biogeochemica1 cycles-
-Congresses. 5. Ecotones—Congresses. I. Hi 11bricht-11kowska,
Anna. I I. Pieczynska, Ewa. III. Hydrobio1ogia. IV. Series.
QH96.A1N87 1993
574.5'2632~dc20 92-46548
ISBN 978-94-010-4698-5
Printed on acid-free paper
All Rights Reserved
© 1993 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht
Originally published by Kluwer Academic Publishers in 1993
Softcover reprint of the hardcover 1st edition 1993
No part of the material protected by this copyright notice may be reproduced or utilized in any
form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any
information storage and retrieval system, without written permission from the copyright owner.
v
Contents
Foreword: Towards a better management of the margins of lakes and river
by H. Decamps (UNESCO/MAB) .............................................. IX
Preface
by Anna Hillbricht-Ilkowska & Ewa Pieczynska XI
Wetlands, lake littoral zones
Seasonal nitrogen dynamics in reed beds (Phragmites australis. (Cav.)Trin. ex. Steudel) in relation
to productivity
by H. Kohl & J. G. Kohl ..................................................... .
Growth and nutrient uptake by two species of Elodea in experimental conditions and their role in
nutrient accumulation in a macrophyte-dominated lake
by T. Ozimek, E. van Donk & R. D. Gulati ...................................... 13
Macrophyte-related shifts in the nitrogen and phosphorus contents of the different trophic levels
in a biomanipulated shallow lake
by E. van Donk, R. D. Gulati, A. Iedema & J. Meulemans . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Functioning of land-water ecotones in relation to nutrient cycling
by H. de Haan, H. T. S. Boschker, K. Buis & T. E. Cappenberg ..................... 27
Some considerations on the functioning of tropical riparian ecotones
by F. W. B. Bugenyi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 33
Nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics and retention in ecotones of Lake Titicaca, Bolivia/Peru
c.
by H. J. Carney, M. W. Binford, R. R. Marin & R. Goldman ..................... 39
Detritus and nutrient dynamics in the shore zone of lakes: a review
by E. Pieczynska ............................................................. 49
Microbial decomposition of freshwater macrophytes in the littoral zones of lakes
by M. Belova ................................................................ 59
Frost formation in the ecotonal zone and its role for release of nutrients
by G. Renman ............................................................... 65
Effect of filtering activity of Dreissena polymorpha (Pall.) on the nutrient budget of the littoral of Lake
Mikolajskie
by A. Stanczykowska & K. Lewandowski ........................................ 73
The role of small mammals and birds in transport of matter through the shore zone of lakes
by K. A. Dobrowolski, A. Kozakiewicz & B. Leznicka ............................. 81
Streams, rivers, riparian vegetation
Transport and retention of matter in riparian ecotones
by G. Bretschko & H. Moser. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 95
VI
Nitrate transformation and water movement in a wetland area
by W. Briisch & B. Nilsson .................................................... 103
Retention of nitrogen in small streams artificially polluted with nitrate
by B. A. Faafeng & R. Roseth .................................................. 113
Retention of nitrogen and phosphorus in a Danish lowland river system: implications for the export
from the watershed
by L. M. Svendsen & B. Kronvang .............................................. 123
Flow and retention of particulate organic matter in riparian fluvial habitats under different climates
by H. Chergui & E. Pattee ..................................................... 137
Importance of flood zones for nitrogen and phosphorus dynamics in the Danube Delta
by S. Cristofor, A. Vadineanu & G. Ignat ........................................ 143
The Vistula river and its riparian zones
by Z. Kajak . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 149
Hydrological problems of the Vistula river valley near Plock
by E. Bajkiewicz-Grabowska ................................................... 159
Groundwater-swface water ecotones, air-water interface
The role of water exchange between a stream channel and its hyporheic zone in nitrogen cycling
at the terrestrial-aquatic interface
by F. J. Triska, J. H. Duff & R. J. Avanzino ...................................... 167
Nutrient and flow vector dynamics and the hyporheic/groundwater interface and their effects on
the interstitial fauna
by D. D. Williams ............................................................ 185
Storage and dynamics of organic matter in different springs of small floodplain streams
by M. Chafiq & J. Gibert ...................................................... 199
Transport of groundwater-borne phosphorus to Lake Bysjon, South Sweden
by V. Vanek ................................................................. 211
Role of aquatic surface microlayer in the dynamics of nutrients and organic compounds in lakes,
with implications for their ecotones
by A. Sodergren .............................................................. 217
Patch/ecotone pattern in watershed, lake-river systems
The shore vegetation in selected lakeland areas in northeastern Poland
by S. Klosowski .............................................................. 227
Energy control of matter fluxes through land-water ecotones in an agricultural landscape
by L. Ryszkowski & A. K<idziora ............................................... 239
Role of meadow strips for migration of dissolved organic compounds and heavy metals with
groundwater
by I. Zyczynska-Baloniak, B. Szpakowska, L. Ryszkowski & J. Pempkowiak .......... 249
The dynamics and retention of phosphorus in lentic and lotic patches of river-lake systems
by A. Hillbricht-Ilkowska ...................................................... 257
Particulate phosphorus sedimentation at the river inflow to a lake
by L. Kufel .................................................................. 269
Patterns of spatial distribution of phosphorus regeneration by zooplankton in a river-lake
transitory zone
by J. Ejsmont-Karabin, J. Kr6likowska & T. W<iglenska ............................ 275
VB
Drainage history and land use pattern of a Swedish river system - their importance for under
standing nitrogen and phosphorus load
by A. Krug .................................................................. 285
Impact on lake development of changed agricultural watershed exploitation during the last three
centuries
by T. Klein .................................................................. 297
Ecotone recovery and management
Nutrient retention of the Kis-Balaton Water Protection System
by P. Pomogyi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 309
A multi-pond system as a protective zone for the management of lakes in China
by C. Yin, M. Zhao, W. Jin & Z. Lan ........................................... 321
Management of land/inland water ecotones: needs for regional approaches to achieve sustainable
ecological systems
by M. M. Holland ............................................................ 331
The application of the ecotone concept in defining nutrient management requirements for the upper
Potomac River basin
by N. A. Jaworski ............................................................ 341
Modelling the effects of alternative nutrient control policies - the example of Slapton Ley, Devon,
UK
by P. E. O'Sullivan ............................................................ 351
Hydrobiologia 251: ix-x, 1993.
A. Hillbricht-Ilkowska & E. Pieczynska (eds),
Nutrient Dynamics and Retention in Land/Water Ecotones of Lowland. Temperate Lakes and Rivers. IX
Foreword
Towards a better management of the margins of lakes and rivers
The role of land/inland water ecotones in regulating landscape biogeochemistry has raised some
important questions. It is now largely recognised that edges or transition zones of varying width between
aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems have buffer capacities (Schlosser & Karr, 1981; Lowrance et al., 1984;
Peterjohn & Correl, 1984; Jacobs & Gilliam, 1985; Pinay & Decamps, 1988). However, we need to
known more precisely how far land/inland water ecotones are important in regulating landscape
biogeochemistry, and what factors affect their ability to retain and process materials. For example, Pinay
et al. (1992) have shown recently that nutrient and carbon retention along a river depends on the
arrangement of erosional and depositional patches of riparian woodlands. This arrangement is controlled
by hydrology and subject to large variations in time. This temporal variability must be included in
hypotheses concerning ecotone biogeochemistry (Naiman et al., 1989).
It is now two years since the beginning of the first field project of the Unesco collaborative research
on "Role ofland/inland water ecotones in landscape management and restoration" (Naiman et al., 1989),
and thus there is a need to redefine these hypotheses. Which of these hypotheses are the most valid and
useful? These questions were addressed by the workshop "Wetland and riparian ecotones in landscape
dynamics", September 1990, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, USA, and by the workshop "Phosphorus and
nitrogen dynamics and retention in ecotones of lowland temperate lakes and rivers", May 1991,
Mikolajki, Poland. This second workshop was more specifically concerned with biogeochemistry.
Both workshops resulted in advances in methodology. After the Mikolajki workshop, it was clear that
five linked approaches need to be developed in order to understand the biogeochemical processes that
occur at lake and river margins. The first of these is the landscape approach which aims to understand
the effect of pattern on process (Turner, 1989). Width, continuity of ecotones, physical characteristics
such as slope, distribution of soil types may have different influences on fluxes across the land/inland
water ecotones. The second approach is an experimental one: man-made modifications oflake and river
margins may be used as the basis for experiments at the regional level. Thirdly, an interdisciplinary
approach is necessary as a basis for the predictive modelling of complex processes which include
hydrological, geomorphological and ecological elements. Fourthly, a comparative approach is necessary
for a better understanding of the processes involved not only between sites of lowland temperate lakes
and rivers, but also between temperate and tropical sites. Fifthly, a long term approach is still the only
way to follow the consequences of environmental changes that are taking place everywhere as a result
of human activities.
A combination of these approaches will allow a better management of the margins of lakes and rivers
in order to control the quality of our continental waters.
References
Jacobs, T. C. & J. W. Gilliam, 1985. Riparian losses of nitrate from agricultural drainage waters. J. environ. Qual. 14: 472-478.
Naiman, R. J., H. Decamps & F. Fournier, 1989. Role ofiand/inland water ecotones in landscape management and restoration.
Proposals for collaborative research. MAE Digest 4: 1-93.
x
Lowrance, R. R., R. L. Todd & L. E. Asmussen, 1984. Nutrient cycling in an agricultural watershed: Streamflow and artificial
drainage. J. environ. Qual. 13: 27-32.
Peterjohn, W. T. & D. L. Correl, 1984. Nutrient dynamics in an agricultural watershed: observations on the role of a riparian
forest. Ecology 65: 1466-1475.
Pinay, G. & H. Decamps, 1988. The role of riparian woods in regulating nitrogen fluxes between the alluvial aquifer and surface
water: a conceptual model. Regulated Rivers 2: 507-516.
Pinay, G., A. Fabre, Ph. Vervier & F. Gazelle, 1992. Control ofC, N, P distribution in soils of riparian forests. Landscape Ecology
(in press).
Schlosser, I. J. & I. R. Karr, 1981. Water quality in agricultural watersheds: impact of riparian vegetation during baseflow. Wat.
Res. Bull. 17: 233-240.
Turner, M. G., 1989. Landscape ecology: the effect of pattern on process. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 20: 171-197.
HENRI DECAMPS
(UNESCO/MAB)
Hydrobiologia 251: xi-xiv, 1993.
A. Hillbricht-Ilkowska & E. Pieczynska (eds),
Nutrient Dynamics and Retention in Land/Water Ecotones of Lowland, Temperate Lakes and Rivers. Xl
Preface
Ecotones or boundary zones between land and inland waters (such as lakes, streams and rivers) are the
principal routes for transport of organic matter and nutrients across landscapes via physical and
biological vectors. The ecotone is the place of cumulation and transformation of in situ production as well
as of allochthonous material from adjacent aquatic and terrestrial systems (Di Castri et al., 1988; Naiman
et al., 1989; Naiman & Decamps, 1990).
The ecotone functions as an important barrier or filter for principal nutrients like phosphorus and
nitrogen, responsible for eutrophication and degradation of surface waters. Intensive forest cutting,
agriculture, pollution and bank regulation, urbanization and hydrotechnical constructions seriously
endanger ecotone systems, and damage their protective function. It is vital to develop a scientific
understanding of the behaviour of phosphorus and nitrogen in these transitional, boundary habitats. Such
an understanding is important for rational protection, management and restoration of ecotones connected
with lakes and rivers.
These problems are centered mostly on temperate regions, and were the main objective of the workshop
on "Phosphorus and nitrogen dynamics and retention in ecotones oflowland temperate lakes and rivers"
(20-26 May, 1991) sponsored by UNESCO/MAB (Man and the Biosphere Programme) and IHP
(International Hydrological Programme) and by the Polish Committee for MAB. The workshop was
organized by the Institute of Ecology, Polish Academy of Sciences, and hosted by its Hydrobiological
Station at Lake Mikolajskie (Masurian Lakeland, Poland).
The importance of nutrient cycling and retention was discussed from the point of view of ecotone
functioning, management and reconstruction in order to sustain its protective role for water bodies.
Various types of land/water transitory zones were discussed: wetlands, lake littoral systems, riparian
zones of rivers, streams and brooks, the contact zones between groundwater and surface waters of lakes
and rivers, air-water interfaces as well as patch/ecotone structures in watersheds.
Some 70 participants from 22 countries attended the workshop, and 54 oral and poster contributions
(including longer papers on general topics) were presented. Most of them are included in this volume and
are arranged in five sections.
The section Wetlands, lake littoral zones is concerned with the role of physical and biological variables
in nutrient dynamics and retention. Macrophytes are the most important structural and functional biotic
element in the shore zone of lakes. Species composition and biomass distribution of plants, seasonality
of nutrient uptake, storage and release, all are very important for the functions of ecotones. Detritus
origin and processing (including microbial decomposition) and exchange of nutrients between water and
sediments are discussed in relation to matter cycling. Physical factors (water level fluctuations), land use
pattern of surrounding terrestrial patches as well as biomanipulation (introduction of piscivorous fish)
change internal heterogeneity of ecotone habitats and cause shifts in community structure. Animals (birds
and mammals) can effectively transfer nutrients across ecotones. Littoral invertebrates, which occur in
massive numbers, can be important in nutrient storage. Specificity of tropical wetlands as compared with
temperate ones is also demonstrated and discussed.
The importance of physical factors and biological processes for nutrient and organic matter cycling
and retention in riverine ecotones is discussed in the section Streams, rivers, riparian vegetation. Narrow
shore zones of small brooks and streams as well as wide floodplains of larger rivers are discussed.
