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Water
Special Issues
Impacts of Environmental Change and Human Activities on Aquatic Ecosystems
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Impacts of Environmental Change and Human Activities on Aquatic Ecosystems

A special issue of Water (ISSN 2073-4441). This special issue belongs to the section "Biodiversity and Functionality of Aquatic Ecosystems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 April 2025 | Viewed by 7932

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Jian Hu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
Interests: isotope geochemistry; ecological risk assessment; heavy metal pollution; organic pollution
Prof. Dr. Guilin Han

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Institute of Earth Sciences, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China
Interests: hydrology; hydro-geochemistry; water chemistry; water quality; aquatic geochemistry; isotopic geochemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Qian Zhang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China
Interests: hydrology; hydro-geochemistry; aquatic ecology; aquatic geochemistry; isotopic geochemistry

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, due to natural environmental changes and human activities, aquatic ecosystems have faced unprecedented challenges. Natural environmental shifts, including climate change, shifts in precipitation patterns, ecosystem degradation, and occurrences like droughts, extreme rainfall, and rising global temperatures, have exerted extensive and profound impacts on aquatic ecosystems. These changes have resulted in the loss of biodiversity, habitat destruction, and the disruption of ecological processes. Simultaneously, unsustainable human activities like excessive industrialization, urbanization, and agricultural production have led to the degradation of water quality and aquatic ecosystems, further disturbing the balance of aquatic ecosystems.

The aim of this Special Issue is to present our understanding of the impacts of natural environmental changes and human activities on aquatic ecosystems and the approaches to resolve these issues, thereby providing important theoretical and practical pollution control and sustainable development solutions. This Special Issue welcomes original research and review articles, and its scope includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:

  1. The monitoring and assessment of hydrogeological changes.
  2. The management and conservation of aquatic ecosystems.
  3. Pollutant migration and risk assessment.
  4. The sustainable development of aquatic ecosystems.

Dr. Jian Hu
Prof. Dr. Guilin Han
Dr. Qian Zhang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Water is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • aquatic ecosystems
  • migration and transformation
  • source identification
  • risk assessment
  • sustainable development

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 2013 KiB  
Article
Ecological Compensation Based on the Ecosystem Service Value: A Case Study of the Xin’an River Basin in China
by Yuanhua Chen, Qinglian Wu and Liang Guo
Water 2024, 16(20), 2923; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16202923 - 14 Oct 2024
Viewed by 544
Abstract
To establish a sound ecological compensation (EC) mechanism in the Xin’an River Basin, this study suggested utilizing ecosystem service valuation to determine the compensation amount. In this study, the first step was to establish a reasonable watershed EC model using the ecological compensation [...] Read more.
To establish a sound ecological compensation (EC) mechanism in the Xin’an River Basin, this study suggested utilizing ecosystem service valuation to determine the compensation amount. In this study, the first step was to establish a reasonable watershed EC model using the ecological compensation supply coefficient (ECSC) based on the value spillover theory (VST) of the ecosystem services and the ecological compensation demand coefficient (ECDC). The second step was to classify the ecosystem services of the Xin’an River Basin into three categories, including supply service, regulating service, and cultural service, with 14 specific functions to determine the ecological compensation standard accounting scope in these services. Then, a case study on the Xin’an River Basin for EC standards was presented. The total ecosystem service value (ESV) in the Xin’an River Basin was estimated to be CNY 70.271 billion, with supply service accounting for 22.7%, regulating service accounting for 24.6%, and cultural service accounting for 52.7%. Based on the compensation scope, the ecosystem service values for the upper and lower limits of the EC were calculated as CNY 57.779 billion and CNY 17.292 billion. Combined with the results of the ECSC and ECDC, the upper and lower limits of the EC standard in the Xin’an River Basin were computed to be CNY 4.085 billion and CNY 1.438 billion, respectively. Therefore, the ESV-based EC model for the Xin’an River Basin can effectively address the challenge of inadequate EC in the watershed. It also facilitates balanced regional development and serves as a theoretical foundation and empirical evidence for the government to establish a unified national policy on cross-border river basin ecological compensation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impacts of Environmental Change and Human Activities on Aquatic Ecosystems)
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13 pages, 1069 KiB  
Article
Antibiotics in Wastewater Treatment Plants in Tangshan: Perspectives on Temporal Variation, Residents’ Use and Ecological Risk Assessment
by Zhuo Dong, Jian Hu, Pengjie Wang, Gengtao Han and Zheng Jia
Water 2024, 16(11), 1627; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16111627 - 6 Jun 2024
Viewed by 963
Abstract
In 2023, this study monitored nine types of antibiotics in the influent and effluent of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the urban and suburban areas of Tangshan. The total antibiotics concentration detected in influent WWTPs was highest in winter, followed by spring, summer, [...] Read more.
In 2023, this study monitored nine types of antibiotics in the influent and effluent of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in the urban and suburban areas of Tangshan. The total antibiotics concentration detected in influent WWTPs was highest in winter, followed by spring, summer, and autumn. The antibiotics concentration in influent and effluent urban WWTPs was higher than that in the suburban WWTPs in spring, summer, and winter, while the trend was reversed in autumn. Roxithromycin and oxytetracycline had a risk quotient (RQ) value of ≥0.1 in the effluent of WWTPs in winter, indicating that they are medium-risk antibiotics that pose a risk to the aquatic ecosystem after discharge. In the study area, the per capita pollution load of antibiotics was highest in spring, summer, and autumn for sulfamethoxazole, while it was highest in winter for ofloxacin. In the urban area, the use of roxithromycin, sulfamethoxazole, sulfamethoxazole, and ofloxacin was highest in spring, summer, autumn, and winter, respectively, while in suburban areas, the use of sulfamethoxazole, norfloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, and ofloxacin was highest during the same period. The use of antibiotics in the urban area was one order of magnitude higher than that in suburban areas, indicating a possible overuse of antibiotics in urban environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impacts of Environmental Change and Human Activities on Aquatic Ecosystems)
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22 pages, 5546 KiB  
Article
A Comprehensive Assessment of the Ecological State of the Transboundary Irtysh River (Kazakhstan, Central Asia)
by Elena Krupa, Sophia Romanova, Aizada Serikova and Larisa Shakhvorostova
Water 2024, 16(7), 973; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16070973 - 27 Mar 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1508
Abstract
The diverse anthropogenic load on the transboundary Irtysh River necessitates an assessment of its ecological state, which was the goal of this work. We conducted this research in July 2023 in the upper and lower reaches of the Kazakh part of the Irtysh [...] Read more.
The diverse anthropogenic load on the transboundary Irtysh River necessitates an assessment of its ecological state, which was the goal of this work. We conducted this research in July 2023 in the upper and lower reaches of the Kazakh part of the Irtysh basin. We determined transparency; temperature; pH; salinity (TDS); oxygen, N-NO3, N-NO2, N-NH4, PO4, Mn, Fe, Si, Cd, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cr, Co, and Hg contents; permanganate index; and zooplankton variables at 27 stations. We assessed the ecological state of the river by comparing the contents of pollutants with their maximum permissible concentrations (MPCfw), Classification Scales, and bioindications. An excess of MPCfw was detected for N-NO2, Cu, and Fe and locally for Cr and Zn. According to the Classification Scales, most analysed variables corresponded to slightly polluted waters; N-NO2, Cr, and Zn corresponded to moderately and heavily polluted waters. Zooplankton was represented by 82 species, with an average abundance of 6728 individuals/m3, biomass of 2.81 mg/m3, Shannon index of 1.99–2.08 bit, ∆-Shannon of 0.09, and average individual mass of 0.0019 mg. The spatial distribution of abiotic and biotic variables indicated increased organic and toxic pollution downstream in the Irtysh. Potential sources of pollution of the Irtysh basin are discussed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impacts of Environmental Change and Human Activities on Aquatic Ecosystems)
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22 pages, 11635 KiB  
Article
Nitrate Source and Transformation in Groundwater under Urban and Agricultural Arid Environment in the Southeastern Nile Delta, Egypt
by Alaa M. Kasem, Zhifang Xu, Hao Jiang, Wenjing Liu, Jiangyi Zhang and Ahmed M. Nosair
Water 2024, 16(1), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16010022 - 20 Dec 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1599
Abstract
With the intensification of human activities, nitrate pollutants in groundwater are receiving increasing attention worldwide. Especially in the arid Nile Delta of Egypt, groundwater is one of the most valuable water resources in the region. Identifying the source of nitrate in groundwater with [...] Read more.
With the intensification of human activities, nitrate pollutants in groundwater are receiving increasing attention worldwide. Especially in the arid Nile Delta of Egypt, groundwater is one of the most valuable water resources in the region. Identifying the source of nitrate in groundwater with strong human disturbances is important to effective water resource management. This paper examined the stable isotopes (δ15N/δ18O-NO3 and δ2H/δ18O-H2O) and the hydrogeochemical parameters of the shallow groundwaters in the arid southeast of the Nile Delta to assess the potential sources and transformation processes of nitrate under severe urban and agricultural activities. The results revealed that the groundwaters were recharged by the Nile River. Meanwhile, the infiltration of irrigation water occurred in the west, while the mixing with the deep groundwater occurred in the east regions of the study area. The TDS, SO42−, NO3−, and Mn2+ concentrations of groundwaters (n = 55) exceeded the WHO permissible limit with 34.6%, 23.6%, 23.6%, and 65.5%, respectively. The NO3− concentrations in the shallow groundwaters ranged from 0.42 mg/L to 652 mg/L, and the higher levels were observed in the middle region of the study area where the unconfined condition prevailed. It extended to the deep groundwater and eastward of the study area in the groundwater flow direction. The δ15N-NO3 and δ18O-NO3 values suggested that the groundwater NO3− in the west and east regions of semi-confined condition were largely from the nitrification of soil organic nitrogen (SON) and chemical fertilizer (CF). In contrast, wastewater input (e.g., domestic sewage and unlined drains) and prevalent denitrification were identified in the middle region. The denitrification might be tightly coupled with the biogeochemical cycling of manganese. This study provides the first report on the groundwater NO3− dynamics in the Nile Delta, which generated valuable clues for effective water resource management in the arid region. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impacts of Environmental Change and Human Activities on Aquatic Ecosystems)
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Review

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21 pages, 2740 KiB  
Review
Natural Factors of Microplastics Distribution and Migration in Water: A Review
by Xianjin An, Yanling Wang, Muhammad Adnan, Wei Li and Yaqin Zhang
Water 2024, 16(11), 1595; https://doi.org/10.3390/w16111595 - 3 Jun 2024
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2363
Abstract
Microplastics are widely present worldwide and are of great concern to scientists and governments due to their toxicity and ability to serve as carriers of other environmental pollutants. The abundance of microplastics in different water bodies varied significantly, mainly attributed to the initial [...] Read more.
Microplastics are widely present worldwide and are of great concern to scientists and governments due to their toxicity and ability to serve as carriers of other environmental pollutants. The abundance of microplastics in different water bodies varied significantly, mainly attributed to the initial emission concentration of pollutants and the migration ability of pollutants. The migration process of microplastics determines the abundance, fate, and bioavailability of microplastics in water. Previous studies have proved that the physicochemical properties of water bodies and the properties of microplastics themselves are important factors affecting their migration, but the change in external environmental conditions is also one of the main factors controlling the migration of microplastics. In this paper, we focus on the effects of meteorological factors (rainfall, light, and wind) on the distribution and migration of microplastics and conclude that the influence of meteorological factors on microplastics mainly affects the inflow abundance of microplastics, the physical and chemical properties of water, and the dynamics of water. At the same time, we briefly summarized the effects of aquatic organisms, water substrates, and water topography on microplastics. It is believed that aquatic organisms can affect the physical and chemical properties of microplastics through the physical adsorption and in vivo transmission of aquatic plants, through the feeding behavior, swimming, and metabolism of animals, and through the extracellular polymers formed by microorganisms, and can change their original environmental processes in water bodies. A full understanding of the influence and mechanism of external environmental factors on the migration of microplastics is of great theoretical significance for understanding the migration law of microplastics in water and comprehensively assessing the pollution load and safety risk of microplastics in water. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Impacts of Environmental Change and Human Activities on Aquatic Ecosystems)
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Planned Papers

The below list represents only planned manuscripts. Some of these manuscripts have not been received by the Editorial Office yet. Papers submitted to MDPI journals are subject to peer-review.

Title: Responses of phytoplankton traits to changing environments: A bibliometric analysis
Author: Song
Highlights: 1. A comprehensive examination of 1611 articles from the online Web of Science (WoS) database over 15 years was conducted. 2. Several highly promising keywords related to phytoplankton traits including growth, diversity, biodiversity, climate change, and community dynamics. 3. More studies explored multidimensional trade-offs between traits and their responses’ manifestation under changing climatic conditions.

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