Search

Coypu (Myocastor coypus) was recognized as ecological engineer for its ability to alter wet habitats and build structures throughout its life cycle. Platforms still represent poorly studied structures built by this rodent for various purposes, including reproduction, resting and thermoregulation. In order to obtain data on plant composition, size and density on the territory of coypu's platforms, we carried out a study in a Mediterranean wetland reed bed, stratifying data on two sub-habitat types (back dune and canal banks). Platforms were composed exclusively of common reed (Phragmites australis) stems, leaves, and inflorescences; they were elliptical in shape, and significantly higher in the back dune than on the canal banks. Density of platforms was higher in the back dune than on the canal banks. Platforms have been used as resting and feeding sites, as showed by drone images and remnants of red swamp crayfish (Procambarus clarkii). More than 40% of coypu's platforms along the canal banks showed traces of birds, suggesting an opportunistic use by waterfowls and waders. In this regard, platforms may be considered "key structures", locally increasing habitat heterogeneity. In a limited number of back dune platforms, remnants of plastic litter have been detected. The use of drone flights over wetlands may be useful to check the spatial pattern of coypu's platforms, especially in hard-to-reach areas. Ecological and management implications of our data have been reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Platforms are structures built by coypus for various purposes, such as reproduction, resting, and thermoregulation. In a coastal wetland of central Italy, during a study aimed at investigating the characteristics of coypu's platforms, it was recorded, for the first time worldwide, the presence of plastic in these structures. Through a transect survey, we censused 83 platforms, among which three (3.61%) were found with presence of macro- and megaplastics (polystyrene, polypropylene, and low-density polyethylene in film form; polyester, polyamide, and expanded polystyrene in fragments). Through the FTIR spectra, it was possible to highlight the degradation of the polymeric materials. To stimulate possible in-depth investigations at the level of the food chain (e.g., coypu predators, including canids) in wet habitats, we discussed possible causes and implications of plastic presence in coypus' nest structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most widespread global challenges is the insufficient provision of potable water, which affects individuals across diverse geographical regions. It is anticipated that issues related to water scarcity and quality will escalate in tandem with the expanding human population and the rapid pace of global development. Water sources are massively polluted hence, not safe for drinking nor irrigation. As a consequence, it is very important to have a water purification treatment plant to provide good water quality. Given the pressing need to ensure universal access to safe and clean drinking water, this investigation aims to engineer a compact and space-efficient apparatus that can expeditiously produce purified water. The proposed system seeks to optimize water purification performance while minimizing spatial requirements and operational duration. Its size is minimized by combining the three processes: coagulation, flocculation, and clarification together in one tank. Following to the aforementioned reservoir, an integrated natural system is employed to reduce the usage of chemicals and establish an ecologically sustainable platform. A hydraulic study is conducted to obtain the dimensioning of the several units which can be later scaled according to the flowrate. The latter was assumed in this study to be 2 L/s, then the compact unit can serve up to 800 persons by scaling the model and adjusting it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the overall performance and bed length effect of the horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland (CW) process for full-scale municipal wastewater treatment. 168 samples were collected, including 84 samples in the hot and 84 in the cold season. Seven sampling points were selected as follows: (1) inlet raw wastewater, (2) effluent from an anaerobic pond, (3) from the first 5 m of the selected reed bed, (4) 5 m second, (5) 5 m third, (6) 5 m fourth, and (7) 5 m fifth from the reed bed. The evaluation parameters included biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5 ), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP). The results showed that the removal efficiency for the BOD5, COD, TSS, TN, and TP was equal to 90.6%, 90.1%, 94%, 50.2%, and 35.4%, respectively. In the final treated effluent, the concentration of all studied parameters was less than the maximum allowable amount for discharge to the receiving water. The results showed that although the treatment plant’s pollution load for BOD5 and COD parameters in winter was significantly higher than in summer, the treatment plant efficiency in winter was not significantly different from summer. The results also showed that a 15-m bed in the CW system is suitable for achieving the standard of the environmental protection organization of Iran for municipal wastewater treatment in the hot season; however, it seems not to be enough in the cold season. So, 25 m of reed bed length will be required in practice. Finally, it can be concluded that the Qasr-e-Shirin wastewater treatment plant has the proper capability to remove municipal wastewater pollutants in different temperature conditions and the quality of the final effluent indicates the accuracy of the design criteria for this system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bee genus Pseudoanthidium is represented by nine species in Europe. Of these nine species, Pseudoanthidium nanum is the most widespread, occurs mainly in xerothermic open habitats and creates nests in various cavity types. In this study, we provide information on the nest structure of this species in reed stalks and oak galls and about its parasitic species. We provide the first report of P. nanum as a host of Xylophrurus augustus (Ichneumonidae). The biology of the much rarer related species Pseudoanthidium tenellum is described here for the first time. This species occurs in terrestrial reed beds and wet meadows with the presence of reed galls and flowering plants in the family Asteraceae and is rare throughout its entire distribution area. This species nests inside reed galls induced by Lipara frit flies, and the nest structure is very similar to that of P. nanum. We report new parasitic species of this bee, namely, the cuckoo bee Stelis punctulatissima, the predator-inquiline Gasteruption nigrescens and two parasitoids, Leucospis biguetina and Miltogramma punctata. This bee collects pollen mainly from wetland plants in Bidens and Pulicaria. We also describe mature larvae of both species. The larvae do not differ greatly from one another; only the shape of mandibles and sclerotisation of mouthparts are slightly different. Further research should address the ecological requirements of P. tenellum, a poorly understood reed gall inquiline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To treat degraded agricultural wastewater due to non-point pollution source in cultivated area (Tina Plain), Egypt, a wetland system within branch drain network was proposed and designed, which consists of a sedimentation pond followed by four vegetated bed cells of reed (Phragmites australis), and an open water disinfection zone. The relaxed tank in series model was used to design the wetland. The model input data were influent flow 600 m3 d−1, winter temperature 18 °C, hydraulic retention time 5.8 d, influent pollutant concentrations 500, 300, 480, and 20 mg L−1 for TSS, BOD, COD, and TN, respectively, and 100,000 MPN 100 mL−1 for FC. Results show a wetland system area of 0.078, 0.24, and 0.3 ha for sedimentation pond, vegetated reed bed cells, and disinfection zone, respectively. The expected removal efficiencies for TSS, BOD, COD, TN, and FC were 96.4%, 96.2%, 95%, 75%, and 97%, respectively. The wetland hydrology was computed using local climate data and FAO-CROPWAT 8 model. The proposed wetland area was compared with literature to show its feasibility for wetland operation conditions. The proposed system met the allowable limits of Egyptian environmental regulations, simple construction, operation, and has a low construction cost of one UDS m−2 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reed beds are wetland habitats with the dominance of Phragmites australis, which are inhabited by diverse communities of organisms of high conservation value, known to be good diagnostic species for conservation measures. We studied bees and wasps associated with ten reed bed types and with the galls of frit flies of the genus Lipara in hundreds of localities in central Europe between the years 2011 and 2017. Species assemblages differ among specific types of reed beds; these differences are prominent compared between the near-natural and anthropogenic sites. Species of high conservation value prefer wet meadows with flowering plants and a portion of common reed, or terrestrial reed beds near fishponds, rivers and streams. Similar species also inhabit temporary field wetlands. Reed beds in sand pits, quarries, enduro tracks, brown coal spoil heaps or power plant tailing ponds are inhabited by generalist species. Mowing, the most frequently used management tool for removing common reed, has a positive effect on species nesting in reed stalks but negative on those nesting in reed galls. It is thus necessary to implement mowing only of a part of the reed bed into the management tools and to leave some parts of the reed bed, as well as reed margins, untouched. A high number of small to large reed beds increases the biodiversity of bees, wasps and other invertebrates, and these habitats can serve as biodiversity hotspots in increasingly anthropized and agricultural landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Semi-natural grasslands were previously established through traditional land use and maintained by active management, but their extension nowadays is declining rapidly, particularly in areas that also have tourism potential. In parallel, the conservation value of the remaining areas is increasing. The shore of Lake Balaton is a particularly good example, as Lake Balaton is an area highly affected by tourism, yet there have been valuable habitats able to survive and provide refuge for many vulnerable, protected species. Fortunately, we have reliable information about the vegetation of the area from two decades ago. Comparing these data with our recent surveys we investigated the changes in habitats and the distribution of protected plant species in connection with the active conservation treatments such as grazing or cutting. Our results show that in areas where treatments are still ongoing, protected plant species are more likely to survive, or even other species can appear, which is in clear contrast with conditions experienced in abandoned areas, where at least seven protected species have disappeared. According to our results, minor, but appropriately chosen and well-executed management interventions, can help in the long-term maintenance of species-rich habitats and improving the conservation status of threatened species.

Avian malaria (caused by Plasmodium spp.) and avian malaria-like infections (caused by Haemoproteus spp.) are widespread and can seriously affect the health of their bird hosts, especially of immunologically naïve individuals. Therefore, these parasites have long been in the focus of bird-parasite studies. However, the species richness and diversity of these protozoan species have only been revealed since the use of molecular techniques. Diversity and prevalence of these parasites among different bird species and even between populations of a species show a large variation. Here, we investigated prevalence of avian malaria and avian malaria-like parasites in two distant populations of a non-migratory wetland specialist passerine, the bearded reedling (Panurus biarmicus). While previous studies have shown that reed-dwelling bird species often carry various blood parasite lineages and the presence of the vectors transmitting Plasmodium and Haemoproteus species has been confirmed from our study sites, prevalence of these parasites was extremely low in our populations. This may either suggest that bearded reedlings may avoid or quickly clear these infections, or these parasites cause high mortality in this species. The remarkably low prevalence of infection in this species is consistent with earlier studies and makes bearded reedlings a possible model organism for investigating the genetic or behavioural adaptations of parasite resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The rapid loss of wetlands during the 20th century has caused a severe decline in the biota associated with these habitats. In Europe, the loss of wet grasslands has seriously affected breeding waders, whose numbers have halved in the past 50 years and remaining populations are facing fragmented, low quality habitats. To improve the remaining sites as breeding grounds for these birds, the exact habitat requirements of the species need to be known. Our study was carried out in Boreal Baltic coastal grasslands in Estonia, where land abandonment has been the main reason behind waders' population declines in the past decades. Hence, we focus on partially overgrown fields, aiming to ascertain habitat characteristics determining the breeding site selection of meadow birds, especially the endangered Southern Dunlin (Calidris alpina schinzii). We studied the breeding site selection of four wader species (Southern Dunlin, Common Redshank (Tringa totanus), Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) and Common Snipe (Gallinago gallinago)) in 23 coastal grasslands over two years. We analysed seven habitat characteristics which could influence the breeding habitat selection of these species. Our study demonstrates that breeding sites of all studied wader species are located closer to wet areas and coastline and further away from woodland. Also, the height of the ground level has an impact on the breeding probability, with lower areas favoured. Concerning the Southern Dunlin, our results show that on sites where the species was absent, suitable breeding sites, regarding the distance from woodland edge, were absent. Thus, reforestation of grasslands may be the key reason behind the poor population status of the species. We also demonstrated that proximity of reed beds did not influence the breeding site selection of waders – a result which contradicts current wet grassland management suggestions. Expanding the open landscape, maintaining a large quantity of wet features suitable for foraging and preventing overgrowth of coastline and lower parts of the meadow makes the habitat optimal for breeding waders. Concerning the growth of the population size and spatial distribution of the Southern Dunlin, removal of woodlands adjacent to grasslands is crucial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An experimental study was carried out using in pilot-scale constructed wetland systems, operated in parallel to treat raw sewage. Each system consisted of a vertical flow (VF) unit that was filled with biochar as the main media, followed by a horizontal flow (HF) unit filled with crushed cement mortar. Hydraulic loading (HL) ranged 340-680 mm/day was applied on the VF wetland units, where high total nitrogen (TN) mass removal rate (20-23 g N/m2 d) was obtained, demonstrating that biochar media had a beneficial effect on the degradation of nitrogenous pollutants. Total phosphorus (TP) removal percentage (concentration based) was ≥ 86% in HF wetlands packed with mortar materials. In one system, the flow direction of the sewage was directed by the deployment of downflow pipes and vertical baffles, aiming to facilitate the formation of aerobic and anaerobic zones in the wetland matrices. The effects of such arrangement were analyzed by comparing pollutant removal efficiencies in the two systems. On average, 99, 96, 93, and 86 percentage removals were obtained for ammonia (NH4-N), TN, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and TP, respectively, during the experiments. Biochar and crushed mortar proved to be a highly effective combination as media in subsurface flow constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bees and stinging wasps (Hymenoptera Aculeata) are well known for the great variety of their nesting resources, which include cavities such as empty reed galls. The majority of the species aremass provisioners, and they do not take any care of their brood after provisioning of the nest. Pemphredon fabricii (Crabronidae) nests in abandoned reed galls of Lipara (Diptera Chloropidae) frit flies. However, P. fabricii uses a different type of late progressive provisioning, described here. Nesting females do not make separate chambers for larvae, but instead fill the interior space of the gall with paralysed aphids and lay a single egg at the body surface of one to eight aphids out of the total number of aphids provisioned. Larvae are polyphagous, and are provisioned with at least 21 aphid species. Hyalopterus pruni is the most common prey, since it feeds on common reed in summer.Before pupation, the larvae sort in the cavity fromthe biggest (turning to females) at the base to the smallest (turning to males) at the apex. In about 20% of nests, the nesting female brings fresh aphids to feed the smallest larvae at the apex of the nest, while the bigger larvae at the bottomreach maturitymuch earlier. Similar care for larvae at the end of their development has never been reported in any other insect species. Nests of P. fabricii are commonly attacked by two predator beetle and 14 parasitoid species. All these parasites are generalists, and P. fabricii serves as their satellite host. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AlthoughPhragmites australisis commonly planted in constructed wetlands, very little is known about its roots-associated bacterial communities, especially in wetlands used for the remediation of oil produced waters. Here, we describe the bacterial diversity, using molecular (illumina MiSeq sequencing) and cultivation techniques, in the rhizosphere soils ofP. australisfrom an oil-polluted wetland in Oman. The obtained isolates were tested for their plant-growth promoting properties. Most sequences belonged toProteobacteria, BacteriodetesandFirmicutes. Sequences of potential hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria (e.g.Ochrobactrum, andPseudomonas) were frequently encountered. All soils contained sequences of known sulfur-oxidizing (e.g.Thiobacillus, Thiofaba, RhodobacterandSulfurovum) and sulfate-reducing bacteria, although the latter group made up only 0.1% to 3% of total sequences. The obtained isolates from the rhizosphere soils were phylogenetically affiliated toSerratia, Acinetobacter, Xenorhabdus, EscherichiaandSalmonella. All strains were able to solubilize phosphate and about half were capable of producing organic acids and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) deaminase. Around 42% of the strains had the ability to produce indole acetic acid and siderophores. We conclude that the rhizosphere soils ofP. australisin oil polluted wetlands harbor diverse bacterial communities that could enhance the wetland performance through hydrocarbon degradation, nutrient cycling and supporting plant growth. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Scarcity of water resources increases the pressure to develop methods for wastewater treatments. In this study, modifications of sand filter were made by installing vertical devices with different length to change the conditions inside the sand filter; consequently, the produced water may be suitable for reuse. We assessed the performance of modified sand filters cultivated with and without reed plant in changing the flow rate, removing biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5 ), chemical oxygen demand (COD), removal of ammonia, total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), removal of nitrate, total suspended solids (TSS), and fecal coliforms (FC). Two types of sand filters were used in this study: one sand filter was planted with reed bed and the second without reed bed. Results showed that modified sand filters had the ability to reduce the flow rate nearly 10 times lower than regular sand filter (horizontal flow). Moreover, removal of BOD5, COD, nitrogen compound, TSS, and FC was also significant. An interesting outcome of the study is that sand filter removed 52% of BOD5, 32% of COD, 39% of TKN, 35% of NH4 as result of NH3 conversion to NO3, 93% of FC, and 71% of TSS. It is evident that modified filters have higher efficiency in removing pollutants from wastewater. It can be concluded that application of sand filters will significantly improve the quality of treated wastewater. The study revalued that increasing retention time in the sand filters considerably increased the removal efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A combined reed bed-freezing bed (RB-FB) technology was effective at treating septage under Canadian climatic conditions over a 5-year period with average loading rates of 82-104 kg TS/m2/y. Varying hydraulic and solid loading rates as well as the increasing sludge cake with time had little to no effect on treatment efficiency, with almost complete removal of organic matter, solids, heavy metals and nutrients. Filtrate concentrations varied significantly between the freeze-thaw and growing seasons for many parameters, although the differences were not important from a treatment or reuse perspective with filtrate quality similar to a low to medium strength domestic wastewater. The potential to reuse the filtrate as a source of irrigation water will depend upon local regulations. The dewatered sludge cake consistently met biosolids land application standards in terms of pathogen and metals content, with Escherichia coli numbers declining with time as sludge cake depth increased. A combined RB-FB technology can provide a cost-effective solution for septage management in northern rural communities with potential for beneficial reuse of both the filtrate and dewatered sludge cake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 208 m2compact vertical flow treatment wetland (cVFTW) was studied, treating the rotating biological contactor (RBC) effluent of a busy UK visitor attraction, with widely varying daily sewage loads up to 111 resident population equivalent. Results are presented from monthly spot-sampling and analysis for inlet and outlet concentrations of BOD, SS, NH4-N and TN, including load rates, for the first four-and-a-half years of operation. From commissioning to 13 weeks, outlet BOD, SS and NH4-N were below 12 mg l−1, until a sudden outlet NH4-N spike, to 31.9 mg l−1, the reasons for which are discussed. Thereafter, final effluent quality was <3:<3:<0.5 mg l−1BOD/SS/NH4-N almost without exception,regardlessof the determinand load rates imposed. Recirculation of controlled proportions of cVFTW effluent to the RBC inlet eliminated foul odour emanating from the RBC, and considerably increased overall nitrogen removal via denitrification.Phragmites australisdevelopment was poor, with the majority of plants experiencing chlorosis, putatively owing to insufficient bioavailable iron. By year three, despite ongoing weed removal to select forPhragmites, the wetland was increasingly colonised by other species, predominantlyEpilobium hirsutum.Glyceria maxima, planted in year three, outcompeted evenEpilobium, recommending itself as an alternative toPhragmitesin high redox potential treatment wetlands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to legislation change (which made General Binding Rules effective from 1 January 2015) unless discharge is to specified environmentally sensitive sites, small sewage discharges (SSDs) in England – that is, <2 m3 d−1to ground; <5 m3 d−1to surface waters – no longer require an Environmental Permit (EP) and need not be registered for exemption, provided discharge to surface waters is preceded by treatment using equipment complying with BS EN 12566. This effectively excludes the use of treatment wetlands, unless covered by an EP, because the cost of certification to EN 12566 for bespoke designs is prohibitive. EPs take up to four months to obtain. Therefore, the new legislation has created a commercial disadvantage for constructed wetlands treating SSDs, compared with mass-produced sewage treatment plants. However, the UK statutory pollution regulators have maintained a dialogue with the Constructed Wetland Association (CWA), with a view to assessing whether treatment of SSD using constructed wetlands might be allowable, without requiring EPs. This paper presents treatment performance data obtained over 15 years, from a variety of full-scale operational treatment wetlands, as supporting evidence for design guidelines, proposed by the CWA to the UK regulators, for the implementation of constructed wetlands continuously passively treating SSD to 20:30:20 mg l−1BOD/SS/NH4-N under a wide range of loading rates. Relevant experience of UK designers, installers and operators since the early 1990s is included, resulting in recommended physical design criteria and loading rates for compact vertical flow reed beds, presented here as key elements of the draft guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study followed three field-scale hybrid subsurface flow constructed wetland (CW) systems constructed in Hokkaido, northern Japan: piggery O (2009), dairy G (2011), and dairy S (2006). Treatment performance was monitored from the outset of operation for each CW. The ranges of overall purification efficiency for these systems were 70–86%, 40–85%, 71–90%, 91–96%, 94–98%, 84–97%, and 70–97% for total N (TN), NH4-N, total P, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand, suspended solid, and total Coliform, respectively. The hybrid system’s removal rates were highest when influent loads were high. COD removal rates were 46.4 ± 49.2, 94.1 ± 36.6, and 25.1 ± 15.5 g COD m−2d−1in piggery O, dairy G, and dairy S, with average influent loads of 50.5 ± 51.5, 98.9 ± 37.1, and 26.9 ± 16.0 g COD m−2d−1, respectively. The systems had overall COD removal efficiencies of around 90%. TN removal efficiencies were 62 ± 19%, 82 ± 9%, and 82 ± 15% in piggery O, dairy G, and dairy S, respectively. NH4-N removal efficiency was adversely affected by the COD/TN ratio. Results from this study prove that these treatment systems have sustained and positive pollutant removal efficiencies, which were achieved even under extremely cold climate conditions and many years after initial construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to avoid environmental pollution and eliminate the need for using fertiliser, this study assessed for the first time the optimum performance of mature (in operation since 2011) vertical flow constructed wetlands in treating domestic wastewater (with and without hydrocarbon) and the subsequent recycling of the outflow to irrigate chillies (De Cayenne; Capsicum annuum (Linnaeus) Longum Group 'De Cayenne') grown in a greenhouse. Various variables were investigated to assess the treatment performance. Concerning chilli fruit numbers, findings showed that the highest fruit yields for all wetland filters were associated with those that received inflow wastewater with a high loading rate, reflecting the high nutrient availability in treated wastewater, which is of obvious importance for yield production. Findings also indicated that wetlands without hydrocarbon, small aggregate size, low contact time and low inflow loading rate provided high marketable yields (expressed in economic return). In comparison, chillies irrigated by filters with hydrocarbon contamination, small aggregate size, high contact time and high loading rate also resulted in high marketable yields of chillies, which pointed out the role of high contact time and high inflow load for better diesel degradation rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The common reed die-back syndrome was formerly reported mostly in Central Europe and more recently in the Mediterranean basin. This study investigates a case of reed die-back in Central Italy through a Geographic Information System (GIS) diachronic survey and the analysis of macromorphological and ecological parameters. Data were recorded during field activities on ten plots randomly distributed according to two ecological statuses, permanently and temporarily flooded. Culm density, height and diameter, clumping habit, flowering head and dead apical bud number and rate were measured; for each plot, chemical parameters of sediments were analyzed. Information on interstitial waters for the flooded plots was also provided. Floristic-vegetational features of the reed-bed community such as the total vegetation cover, the species composition and abundance were estimated. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used to demonstrate differences between morphological traits of flooded and emerged stands and their relationships with the chemical features of sediment. Macromorphological traits differed according to the ecological status, with flooded stands showing patterns related to poor health status of Phragmites australis, such as high rates of clumping habit and dead apical bud rate, high culm density and, to a lesser extent, low culm diameter and flowering head rate. Sulfates were relatively abundant in the sediment of flooded stands and, together with some heavy metals, resulted in some of the mentioned traits. Our results showed a relationship between reed die-back and prolonged flooding and highlighted the potential role of some chemical parameters in affecting the growth of permanently flooded reeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate performance of a hybrid constructed wetland (CW) built for high organic content piggery wastewater treatment in a cold region. The system consists of four vertical and one horizontal flow subsurface CWs. The wetland was built in 2009 and water quality was monitored from the outset. Average purification efficiency of this system was 95±5, 91±7, 89±8, 70±10, 84±15, 90±6, 99±2, and 93± 16% for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), ammonium-N (NH4-N), total phosphorus (TP), total coliform (T. Coliform), and suspended solids (SS), respectively during August 2010-December 2013. Pollutant removal rate was 15±18 gm-2 d-1, 49±52 gm-2 d-1, 6±4 gm-2 d-1, 7±5 gm-2 d-1, and 1 ±1 gm-2 d-1 for BOD5, COD, TN, NH4-N, and TP, respectively. The removal efficiency of BOD5, COD, NH4-N, and SS improved yearly since the start of operation. With respect to removal of TN and TP, efficiency improved in the first three years but slightly declined in the fourth year. The system performed well during both warm and cold periods, but was more efficient in the warm period. The nitrate increase may be attributed to a low C/N ratio, due to limited availability of carbon required for denitrification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We surveyed five reed habitats (mining pond, sand pit, large canal, small canal, and lowland river) in north-western Vojvodina (Serbia) between 2009-2011 to study habitat use and to estimate nesting success in an understudied region of the breeding range of the Great Reed Warbler ( Acrocephalus arundinaceus). Data from 174 nests showed that habitat use differed considerably between habitat types but was not related to the area of the study site or the reed bed. Higher than expected numbers of nests along the small canal and the river suggested that Great Reed Warblers preferred these to other habitats for nesting. Habitat use was closely linked to the availability of reed edges and the quality of the reed stand. Overall Mayfield nesting success was 43%, slightly lower than in northern and western Europe. Nesting success was low along the small and large canal, where brood parasitism by Common Cuckoos ( Cuculus canorus) and nest predation were high because of the nearby presence of tree lines that provided perching sites for cuckoos and predators. Nesting success was intermediate at the mining pond because of high predation pressure and adverse weather, and nesting success was highest in the sand pit (despite high cuckoo parasitism) and the river (despite relatively high predation). Our results suggest that canals can function as ecological traps, which attract edge-preferring Great Reed Warblers but are highly accessible to predators and brood parasites. In contrast, sand pits can be perceptual traps because they provide good resources for nesting but were less attractive to Great Reed Warblers than other habitats. Habitat use in relation to habitat availability thus depends primarily on the availability of reed edges and the quality of the reed stand, whereas nesting success also depends on the characteristics of the surroundings and weather conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Removal of mercury from municipal wastewater using a constructed wetland was studied. Wastewater, wetland plant, and sediment samples were analyzed using an advanced mercury analyzer AMA-254. Average concentrations of total mercury in inflow and outflow water were 0.157 and 0.057 µg L-1, respectively. Significant fraction of mercury (38.2 %) was removed from wastewater during pretreatment. Mercury concentrations in vegetation (Phragmites australis) varied in the range of 0.0099-0.0105 and 0.0079-0.0086 mg kg-1 for the above and belowground biomass, respectively. Total mercury concentrations in the constructed wetland sediments were 0.151 and 0.103 mg kg-1 at distances 1 and 10 m from the inflow zone. Mercury can be precipitated and deposited at the initial part of the wetland bed and thus removed from wastewater. The formation of volatile mercury species is another mechanism of its removal. On the other hand, assimilation of Hg in wetland plants does apparently not contribute to mercury removal from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]