The development of Integrated Stream health assessment in Taizi River, China
--- by applying the land use as main disturbances pilot research
Dr. Xiaodong Qu
流 域 水 生 态 研 究 室
Agenda
1. Background information
2. Steps to assess
3. Significance
Around 413km long
above13,000 km2
Quick development of Urban
Long history industrial and
farmland pollution
Background information-Research area (Taizi River)
North east of China-The fifth biggest watershed in China
Incident human water security and
biodiversity threat
Vörösmarty et al., 2010
Background information-Main threatens
Urbanization
Farmland
TN1
TN2 TN3
TN4
TN5
TN6
TN7
TN8
TS1
TS2
TS3
TS4 TS5
QH
XT1
XT2
XT3
TZ1
TZ2
TZ3 TZ4
TZ5
TZ6
TZ7
TZ8
TZ9
TZ10
TZ11
TZ12
TZ13
TZ14 TZ15
BS1
BS2
BS3
BS4
SD
TZ16
TZ17
TZ18
TZ19
TZ20
TZ21 XH1
XH2
XH3
XH4 XH5
XH6
XH7
LH1
LH2
TH1 TH2
TH3
TH4
TH5
HC1
HC2
HC3
HC4
HC5
NS1
NS2 NS3
YL1 YL2
HW TZ22
TZ23
Xiaoshi
Benxi Dengta
Liaoyang
Liaoyang*
Anshan
Haicheng
GYG-R
SW-R
TH-R
Cluster I
Cluster II
Cluster III
Cluster IV
Ctenogobius brunneus Squalidus chankaensis Hypseleotris swinhonis
Lampetra morii
Background information-Main threatens
Identify the stressors
Suitable methods to assess
Background information-Main purpose
Development
Method Management
Improve & restore
STEPS TO ASSESS-LIAO RIVER
1. Classification of watershed
2. Construction of conceptual model
3. Identification of stressors and indicators
4. Sampling procedures
5. Quantification-stressors & indicators
6. Target and threshold setting
7. Scoring for Assessment and reporting
8. Connecting to the management
Step 1-Classification
DEM, A-T, A-R
(similar stream habitat and orders)
Upper Mountain Stream region (M-S)
Step 2-Conceptual model
Middle Hilly Stream region (H-S)
Step 2-Conceptual model
Step 3- Identifying the stressor and Indicators
Physical/
Oxygen
demands
Basic Chemical Cations/Anions Nutrient Heavy
metals
Water-T/
BOD5,
COD,
pH, DO, EC, SS,
Alkalinity, TDS,
Silicate,
volatile phenols,
Escherichia coli
Potassium ,
Calcium, Sodium,
Magnesium,
Chlorine, Sulphate,
Bicarbonate
TN, TP,
NH3-N,
NO2-N,
NO3-N,
P04-P
Pb, Cd,
Cr, Al,
Zn, Cu,
Hg, As
STEP 4. SAMPLING, MEASURING & CALCULATION
Algae 288 sites A-IBI, SR, diversity index,
Macroinvertebrate 288 sites B-IBI, diversity index, EPT, BMWP
Fish 290 sites F-IBI, Ind., SR, diversity index,
Collection of aquatic organism
Physical-Chemical and nutrient
Step 5. Quantification
100 150 200 250 300 350
10
20
30
40
50
EC
M_
S
Conductivity
(LR) Richness= 3.7027 – 0.0024EC. P < 0.0001. Adjusted R2 = 0.1502.
5 10 15 20
02
04
06
08
0
%Construction in Catchment
Fi_
DUrbanization
Ind
ivid
ua
ls o
f F
ish
(LR) Ind. = 4.4303 – 0.1382*Urban%. P < 0.0001. Adjusted R2 = 0.3169.
SR
of
Ma
cro
inve
rtb
rate
Taizi River Indicators with significant* relationship with stressors
M-S
DO, EC,
NH3-N, TN, TP
M:SR (F),BMWP,EPT R(F)
F: SR, F-IBI, F-BP index, ;
A: A-IBI, A-BP index
H-S
DO, EC, volatile phenols,
NH3-N, TN, TP
M:SR (F),BMWP,EPT R(F)
F: SR, F-IBI, F-BP index, ;
A: A-IBI, A-BP index
F-S
DO, EC, volatile phenols,BOD5, CODCr,
NH3-N, TN, TP
M:SR (F),BMWP,EPT R(F)
F: SR, F-IBI, F-BP index, ;
A: A-IBI, A-BP index
Indicators list
Step 5. Quantification
*(p<0.05)
Indicator values
Fre
quency
Lower
stress
a) b)Considerable
stress
High
stress
Indicator values
Lower
stress
Considerable
stress
High
stress
5th percentile 95th percentilemedian median
Observed values of an indicator may be used to inform
decisions about target and threshold values for aquatic
ecosystem health.
Step 6. Target & threshold
Step 7. Scoring
a) Site index score = 1-(target-obs)/(target-threshold)
For negative trends with the stressor
or
b) Site index score = 1-(obs-target)/(threshold-target)
For positive trends with the stressor
The standardise scores from 0 to 1 was used:
1=health condition equal to or over the target value
0=disaster condition lower than the threshold value
Step 7. Assessment and reports
Step 8. Connection with Management
Challenges:
1) The low monitoring data of the aquatic
organisms
2) Methods to improve the stream health and
restoration
3) Suitable indicators for the local government
What kind of information we can give to
the stream manager?
Challenges:
1) Be aware of the importance of the
biological assessment
2) The join in of the local residents
3) The communication-Liao River Reserve &
Liao River Research Center (CRAES)
What kind of information the stream
manager need?
Step 8. Connection with Management
520 km long
Step 8. Connection with Management
SIGNIFICANCE
Up to now, the river health assessment mainly based on the
water quality monitoring.
As we known, the river health is always more than the health of
water quality based on the all over world research (US-EPA,
Europe-EWF).
A new river health assessment program is under development by
MEP, and would be promoted for whole country (over US$1.5
Billion for the next ten years).
In the future, our research results and methods would be highly
recommended.
This workshop had provided an excellent chance to share the
experience for the river health assessment, and examples for the
national river systems biological monitoring.
Thanks!