Human land uses enhance sediment denitrification and N<sub>2</sub>O production in Yangtze lakes primarily by influencing lake water quality

Sediment denitrification in lakes alleviates the effects of eutrophication through the removal of nitrogen to the atmosphere as N<sub>2</sub>O and N<sub>2</sub>. However, N<sub>2</sub>O contributes notably to the greenhouse effect and global warming. Human land us...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: W. Liu, L. Yao, Z. Wang, Z. Xiong, G. Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Copernicus Publications 2015-10-01
Series:Biogeosciences
Online Access:http://www.biogeosciences.net/12/6059/2015/bg-12-6059-2015.pdf
_version_ 1818006943701139456
author W. Liu
L. Yao
Z. Wang
Z. Xiong
G. Liu
author_facet W. Liu
L. Yao
Z. Wang
Z. Xiong
G. Liu
author_sort W. Liu
collection DOAJ
description Sediment denitrification in lakes alleviates the effects of eutrophication through the removal of nitrogen to the atmosphere as N<sub>2</sub>O and N<sub>2</sub>. However, N<sub>2</sub>O contributes notably to the greenhouse effect and global warming. Human land uses (e.g. agricultural and urban areas) strongly affect lake water quality and sediment characteristics, which, in turn, may regulate lake sediment denitrification and N<sub>2</sub>O production. In this study, we investigated sediment denitrification and N<sub>2</sub>O production and their relationships to within-lake variables and watershed land uses in 20 lakes from the Yangtze River basin in China. The results indicated that both lake water quality and sediment characteristics were significantly influenced by watershed land uses. N<sub>2</sub>O production rates increased with increasing background denitrification rates. Background denitrification and N<sub>2</sub>O production rates were positively related to water nitrogen concentrations but were not significantly correlated with sediment characteristics and plant community structure. A significant positive relationship was observed between background denitrification rate and percentage of human-dominated land uses (HDL) in watersheds. Structural equation modelling revealed that the indirect effects of HDL on sediment denitrification and N<sub>2</sub>O production in Yangtze lakes were mediated primarily through lake water quality. Our findings also suggest that although sediments in Yangtze lakes can remove large quantities of nitrogen through denitrification, they may also be an important source of N<sub>2</sub>O, especially in lakes with high nitrogen content.
first_indexed 2024-04-14T05:08:20Z
format Article
id doaj.art-4b739bae53ac4b23a59a1637a159681b
institution Directory Open Access Journal
issn 1726-4170
1726-4189
language English
last_indexed 2024-04-14T05:08:20Z
publishDate 2015-10-01
publisher Copernicus Publications
record_format Article
series Biogeosciences
spelling doaj.art-4b739bae53ac4b23a59a1637a159681b2022-12-22T02:10:37ZengCopernicus PublicationsBiogeosciences1726-41701726-41892015-10-0112206059607010.5194/bg-12-6059-2015Human land uses enhance sediment denitrification and N<sub>2</sub>O production in Yangtze lakes primarily by influencing lake water qualityW. Liu0L. Yao1Z. Wang2Z. Xiong3G. Liu4Key Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, P.R. ChinaKey Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, P.R. ChinaKey Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, P.R. ChinaKey Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, P.R. ChinaKey Laboratory of Aquatic Botany and Watershed Ecology, Wuhan Botanical Garden, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wuhan 430074, P.R. ChinaSediment denitrification in lakes alleviates the effects of eutrophication through the removal of nitrogen to the atmosphere as N<sub>2</sub>O and N<sub>2</sub>. However, N<sub>2</sub>O contributes notably to the greenhouse effect and global warming. Human land uses (e.g. agricultural and urban areas) strongly affect lake water quality and sediment characteristics, which, in turn, may regulate lake sediment denitrification and N<sub>2</sub>O production. In this study, we investigated sediment denitrification and N<sub>2</sub>O production and their relationships to within-lake variables and watershed land uses in 20 lakes from the Yangtze River basin in China. The results indicated that both lake water quality and sediment characteristics were significantly influenced by watershed land uses. N<sub>2</sub>O production rates increased with increasing background denitrification rates. Background denitrification and N<sub>2</sub>O production rates were positively related to water nitrogen concentrations but were not significantly correlated with sediment characteristics and plant community structure. A significant positive relationship was observed between background denitrification rate and percentage of human-dominated land uses (HDL) in watersheds. Structural equation modelling revealed that the indirect effects of HDL on sediment denitrification and N<sub>2</sub>O production in Yangtze lakes were mediated primarily through lake water quality. Our findings also suggest that although sediments in Yangtze lakes can remove large quantities of nitrogen through denitrification, they may also be an important source of N<sub>2</sub>O, especially in lakes with high nitrogen content.http://www.biogeosciences.net/12/6059/2015/bg-12-6059-2015.pdf
spellingShingle W. Liu
L. Yao
Z. Wang
Z. Xiong
G. Liu
Human land uses enhance sediment denitrification and N<sub>2</sub>O production in Yangtze lakes primarily by influencing lake water quality
Biogeosciences
title Human land uses enhance sediment denitrification and N<sub>2</sub>O production in Yangtze lakes primarily by influencing lake water quality
title_full Human land uses enhance sediment denitrification and N<sub>2</sub>O production in Yangtze lakes primarily by influencing lake water quality
title_fullStr Human land uses enhance sediment denitrification and N<sub>2</sub>O production in Yangtze lakes primarily by influencing lake water quality
title_full_unstemmed Human land uses enhance sediment denitrification and N<sub>2</sub>O production in Yangtze lakes primarily by influencing lake water quality
title_short Human land uses enhance sediment denitrification and N<sub>2</sub>O production in Yangtze lakes primarily by influencing lake water quality
title_sort human land uses enhance sediment denitrification and n sub 2 sub o production in yangtze lakes primarily by influencing lake water quality
url http://www.biogeosciences.net/12/6059/2015/bg-12-6059-2015.pdf
work_keys_str_mv AT wliu humanlandusesenhancesedimentdenitrificationandnsub2suboproductioninyangtzelakesprimarilybyinfluencinglakewaterquality
AT lyao humanlandusesenhancesedimentdenitrificationandnsub2suboproductioninyangtzelakesprimarilybyinfluencinglakewaterquality
AT zwang humanlandusesenhancesedimentdenitrificationandnsub2suboproductioninyangtzelakesprimarilybyinfluencinglakewaterquality
AT zxiong humanlandusesenhancesedimentdenitrificationandnsub2suboproductioninyangtzelakesprimarilybyinfluencinglakewaterquality
AT gliu humanlandusesenhancesedimentdenitrificationandnsub2suboproductioninyangtzelakesprimarilybyinfluencinglakewaterquality