SURF 2014 Poster - Code 201409
1
Assessing the Impact of Urban Intensification on Water Quality and Dynamics of Microbial Communities Zimeng Zhang, Felicia Lim and Jing Zhang Supervisor: Dr. Sekar Raju Department of Biological Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China ABSTRACT The rapidly increasing urbanization in China has various impacts on freshwater environments including eutrophication, chemical and microbial contamination, and loss of biodiversity. This study aims to assess the water quality through organic matter breakdown of leaf litter and changes in microbial community in Suzhou canals across a gradient of urban intensification. The study was carried out in high, medium, and low population density areas in summer, and the results were compared with similar analysis done in spring. The results show that the concentrations of nutrients, breakdown of leaf litter and microbial abundance varied among three intensity areas in different seasons. The microbial community analysis is still in progress. INTRODUCTION Rapid urbanization along the Yangtze River canals flowing in Suzhou has led to eutrophication and heavy metal contamination due to various discharges such as industrial effluent, domestic sewage, and agricultural runoff. This pollution may cause further contamination of the groundwater, which could endanger the local human population through water and soil contamination. This project aims to assess the influence of urban intensification on water quality and diversity-ecosystem function relationships. Specifically, the leaf litter breakdown and changes in microbial diversity will be assessed along with physicochemical changes of water in relation to increasing urbanization. Nine sampling sites within three land-use classes (High, Medium and Low) were selected for this study and replicated in different seasons. Step 1 Preparation of leaf bags Step 2 Field experiment/sampling CONCLUSIONS The urbanization alters the water quality in Suzhou canals as seen in the nutrient analysis, and this subsequently alters the microbial abundance in the water and the decomposition rate of the leaves. Elevated nutrient levels were observed in high intensity areas followed by medium and low intensity areas. The nutrient content and microbial abundance trends also change in climatic patterns, as we obtain slightly different trends in both summer and spring. Organic matter breakdown indeed is higher in summer, as seen in lower organic carbon content in water samples, as well as lower biomass of the leaf samples. The HTP sequencing (in progress) might provide a better picture of the impact of urban intensification on microbial communities. Acknowledgements We would like to thank • Dr. Ying Chang (UPD) and Ms. Jing Lu (Library) for help with selection of sampling locations based on population density data. • Ms. Wenting Wu and Ms. Yue Wu (Env. Sci.) for help with field work. • Mr. Kiran Kumar and Ms. Sijing Meng (BIO) for laboratory support. • Drs. J Tonkin and J Wang for their support with some experiments. • USTC and NIGLAS for help with AFDM and nutrient analyses. • Department of Biological Sciences, XJTLU for providing research facilities. • XJTLU and Jiangsu University Natural Science Research Programme for funding. Leaf samples • Dry & AFDM measurements • Microbial community analysis via HTP sequencing • Microbial abundance analysis via qPCR Water samples • Physico- chemical analysis • Microscopic observation • Microbial community analysis via HTP sequencing • Microbial abundance analysis via qPCR. Step 3 Measurement and data analysis 1 High 2 Medium 3 Low MATERIALS AND METHODS Microscopic observation of water samples by DAPI Staining High Medium Low Microbial abundance in leaf samples Urban Intensification Level Various grazers found in the leaf bags 0 5E+09 1E+10 1.5E+10 2E+10 2.5E+10 3E+10 3.5E+10 4E+10 1 2 3 Gene copies per gram of leaves Spring 14th Day Spring 42nd Day 0 2E+09 4E+09 6E+09 8E+09 1E+10 1.2E+10 1 2 3 Summer 14th Day Summer 42nd Day 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 1 2 3 Ash Free Dry Mass (AFDM) (%) Spring 14th Day Spring 42nd Day 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 1 2 3 Summer 14th Day Summer 42nd Day Urban Intensification Level Biomass content of leaf samples RESULTS Physico-chemical analysis of water samples 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 1 2 3 pH Level 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5.5 6 1 2 3 Total Nitrogen (mg/l) 0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 1 2 3 NO 2 -N (mg/l) 0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 1 2 3 P0 4 -P (μg/l) 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 1 2 3 Total Organic Carbon (PPM) Urban Intensification Level 0 0.05 0.1 0.15 0.2 0.25 0.3 0.35 1 2 3 Total Phosphorus (mg/l) Spring Summer
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Transcript of SURF 2014 Poster - Code 201409
Assessing the Impact of Urban Intensification on Water Quality and Dynamics of Microbial Communities
Zimeng Zhang, Felicia Lim and Jing Zhang
Supervisor: Dr. Sekar Raju Department of Biological Sciences, Xi’an Jiaotong Liverpool University, Suzhou 215123, China
ABSTRACT
The rapidly increasing urbanization in China has various impacts on freshwater environments including eutrophication, chemical and microbial contamination, and loss of biodiversity. This study aims to assess the water quality through organic matter breakdown of leaf litter and changes in microbial community in Suzhou canals across a gradient of urban intensification. The study was carried out in high, medium, and low population density areas in summer, and the results were compared with similar analysis done in spring. The results show that the concentrations of nutrients, breakdown of leaf litter and microbial abundance varied among three intensity areas in different seasons. The microbial community analysis is still in progress.
INTRODUCTION
Rapid urbanization along the Yangtze River canals flowing in Suzhou has led to eutrophication and heavy metal contamination due to various discharges such as industrial effluent, domestic sewage, and agricultural runoff. This pollution may cause further contamination of the groundwater, which could endanger the local human population through water and soil contamination.
This project aims to assess the influence of urban intensification on water quality and diversity-ecosystem function relationships. Specifically, the leaf litter breakdown and changes in microbial diversity will be assessed along with physicochemical changes of water in relation to increasing urbanization. Nine sampling sites within three land-use classes (High, Medium and Low) were selected for this study and replicated in different seasons.
Step 1 Preparation of leaf bags
Step 2 Field experiment/sampling
CONCLUSIONS 0
The urbanization alters the water quality in Suzhou canals as seen in the nutrient analysis, and this subsequently alters the microbial abundance in the water and the decomposition rate of the leaves.
Elevated nutrient levels were observed in high intensity areas followed by medium and low intensity areas. The nutrient content and microbial abundance trends also change in climatic patterns, as we obtain slightly different trends in both summer and spring.
Organic matter breakdown indeed is higher in summer, as seen in lower organic carbon content in water samples, as well as lower biomass of the leaf samples.
The HTP sequencing (in progress) might provide a better picture of the impact of urban intensification on microbial communities.
Acknowledgements We would like to thank • Dr. Ying Chang (UPD) and Ms. Jing Lu (Library) for help with
selection of sampling locations based on population density data. • Ms. Wenting Wu and Ms. Yue Wu (Env. Sci.) for help with field work. • Mr. Kiran Kumar and Ms. Sijing Meng (BIO) for laboratory support. • Drs. J Tonkin and J Wang for their support with some experiments. • USTC and NIGLAS for help with AFDM and nutrient analyses. • Department of Biological Sciences, XJTLU for providing research
facilities. • XJTLU and Jiangsu University Natural Science Research Programme
for funding.
Leaf samples • Dry & AFDM measurements • Microbial community analysis
via HTP sequencing • Microbial abundance analysis
via qPCR
Water samples • Physico- chemical analysis • Microscopic observation • Microbial community analysis
via HTP sequencing • Microbial abundance analysis
via qPCR.
Step 3 Measurement and data analysis
1 High
2 Medium
3 Low
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Microscopic observation of water samples by DAPI Staining
High Medium Low
Microbial abundance in leaf samples
Urban Intensification Level
Various grazers found in the leaf bags
0
5E+09
1E+10
1.5E+10
2E+10
2.5E+10
3E+10
3.5E+10
4E+10
1 2 3
Gen
e co
pie
s p
er g
ram
of
leav
es
Spring 14th Day
Spring 42nd Day
0
2E+09
4E+09
6E+09
8E+09
1E+10
1.2E+10
1 2 3
Summer 14th Day
Summer 42nd Day
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
1 2 3
Ash
Fre
e D
ry M
ass
(AFD
M)
(%)
Spring 14th Day
Spring 42nd Day
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
1 2 3
Summer 14th Day
Summer 42nd Day
Urban Intensification Level
Biomass content of leaf samples
RESULTS
Physico-chemical analysis of water samples
7.3
7.4
7.5
7.6
7.7
7.8
1 2 3
pH
Lev
el
2
2.5
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
5.5
6
1 2 3
Tota
l Nit
roge
n (
mg
/l)
0
0.1
0.2
0.3
0.4
1 2 3
NO
2-N
(m
g/l
)
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
1 2 3
P0
4-P
(μg/l
)
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
1 2 3
Tota
l Org
anic
Car
bo
n
(PP
M)
Urban Intensification Level
0
0.05
0.1
0.15
0.2
0.25
0.3
0.35
1 2 3
Tota
l Ph
osp
ho
rus
(mg
/l)
SpringSummer
