Metal-algae interaction contributes to the water environment heterogeneity in an urbanized river

The ecological environments of urban rivers are greatly affected by human activities, leading to serious water quality deterioration. We thus investigated urban aquatic environment and water pollution factors by collecting water samples over one year upstream, midstream and downstream of the Funan River in Chengdu, Sichuan, China. Measured water quality indicators included total N/P ratio, ammonia N, chemical oxygen demand, chlorophyll a, biochemical oxygen demand, transparency, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, conductivity, and pH, as well as the heavy metal concentrations and algal communities in the river sediments. Additionally, a water pollution index (WPI) and trophic level index (TLI) were calculated and a principal component analysis (PCA) was performed. The WPI analysis indicated serious pollution in this river during the sampling year. Moreover, moderate eutrophication with high pollution was found in summer (TLI = 64.7), while mild eutrophication occurred in the other seasons. The number of Cyanobacteria species sharply increased from 6 to 23 in summer, indicating a high risk of blooms. Furthermore, the PCA also revealed that two metals, chromium and cadmium, affected the water quality, which may be because of the interaction of nutrients and metals due to the land use types, industrial activities and hydrodynamic conditions. In general, we have systematically discussed the influences of various factors on the water environment and the mechanisms of their interactions in urbanized rivers, which is very important for the protection and restoration of river ecology as China and the world become more urbanized.

Automated summary

The ecological environments of urban rivers are greatly impacted by human activities, resulting in water quality deterioration. This study investigated the urban aquatic environment and water pollution factors in the Funan River in Chengdu, China. Water quality indicators, heavy metal concentrations, and algal communities were measured, and pollution indices and a principal component analysis were performed. The study revealed serious pollution in the river, with moderate eutrophication in summer and an increased risk of harmful algal blooms. Chromium and cadmium were found to affect water quality, likely due to interactions between nutrients and metals influenced by land use, industrial activities, and hydrodynamic conditions. Overall, this study provides important insights for the protection and restoration of urbanized river ecology as societies become more urbanized.