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Developing Ecological Thresholds for Nitrogen and Phosphorus in the Haihe River Basin in China

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  • Fan Wu

    (Jinan Environmental Research Academy, Jinan 250000, China)

  • Yuan Fang

    (Key Laboratory of Pollution Process and Environmental Criteria of Ministry of Education and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China)

  • Mingfeng Feng

    (Tianjin Huanke Environment Consulting Co., Ltd., Tianjin 300450, China)

  • Zhicheng Xie

    (Tianjin Academy of Ecological and Environmental Science, Tianjin 300191, China)

  • Lin Zhu

    (Key Laboratory of Pollution Process and Environmental Criteria of Ministry of Education and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China)

  • Jianfeng Feng

    (Key Laboratory of Pollution Process and Environmental Criteria of Ministry of Education and Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China)

Abstract

Many aquatic ecosystems are eutrophicated due to human inputs of nitrogen and phosphorus. Therefore, it is now considered important to establish nutrient criteria to prevent eutrophication. In this study, the water quality and biological data for 26 stations in the lower reaches of the Haihe River Basin were collected. The total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) ecological thresholds were derived from the threshold indicator taxa analysis (TITAN) and frequency distribution approach. The results showed that the TN threshold was 1.8 mg/L based on the TITAN and the TP threshold was 0.039 mg/L based on the frequency distribution approach. The TITAN also identified 29 indicator species of TN and 28 indicator species of TP. Based on these criteria, we found 73% sites with TN concentrations higher than the 1.8 mg/L. As for TP, 58% sites exceeded 0.039 mg/L. This study showed that most of the downstream areas of the Haihe River are subject to relatively serious disturbances. This finding could provide implications for identifying the water quality traits of and generating protection strategies for the Haihe River in Tianjin.

Suggested Citation

  • Fan Wu & Yuan Fang & Mingfeng Feng & Zhicheng Xie & Lin Zhu & Jianfeng Feng, 2022. "Developing Ecological Thresholds for Nitrogen and Phosphorus in the Haihe River Basin in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:24:p:16951-:d:1006008
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Andreas Karlsson, 2007. "Introduction to Linear Regression Analysis," Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series A, Royal Statistical Society, vol. 170(3), pages 856-857, July.
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