Title: Influence of impounding process on the variation of phytoplankton and microcystin-LR in a tributary of Three Gorges Reservoir, China

Authors: Huigang Liu; Juan Li

Addresses: School of Medicine, China Three Gorges University, #8 Daxue Avenue, Yichang, 443002, China ' School of Medicine, China Three Gorges University, #8 Daxue Avenue, Yichang, 443002, China

Abstract: Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) was filled to the target water level for the first time in 2010 since the building of Three-Gorges Dam. The present study was carried out to investigate the influence of water storage process on phytoplankton density and microcystin-LR (MC-LR) concentration in Xiangxi Bay (XXB), a tributary of TGR. The results showed that the phytoplankton cell density varied from 51.5 × 10⁵. L⁻¹ to 121.25 × 10⁵. L⁻¹ and the mean value increased from the estuary to the upper part of XXB. The variation of phytoplankton cell density coincided with the variation of MC-LR equivalent concentrations which reach the highest concentration of 1.09 ± 0.35 µg. L⁻¹ in impounding season. The study has provided an ideal model to investigate the MC-LR and relevant alga seasonal variation in a specific water body. Based on these findings, intensive attention should be paid to the water quality in the tributaries of TGR.

Keywords: phytoplankton density; microcystins; tributaries; environmental pollution; impoundment; impounding process; Three Gorges Reservoir; China; water storage; algae seasonal variation; water quality; water pollution.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.2015.072117

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 2015 Vol.57 No.1/2, pp.57 - 67

Received: 26 Jul 2014
Accepted: 20 May 2015
Published online: 30 Sep 2015 *

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