Modeling heavy-metal removal in wetlands (final report). Master's thesis

Technical Report · Fri May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1992

OSTI ID:6994420

Light, R N

A computer model has been developed to simulate the fate transport of heavy metals introduced to a wetland ecosystem. Modeled water quality variables include plankton biomass and productivity; macrophyte (Nuiumbo lutea) biomass; total phosphorus in the water column; dissolved copper in the water column and sediments; particulate copper in the water column and sediments; and suspended solids. These variables directly affect the modeled rate of copper uptake by macrophytes, and the rate of copper recycling as a function of the decomposition of copper-laden biomass litter. The model was calibrated using total phosphorus and chlorophyll-a data from the Old Woman Creek Wetland in Ohio. Verification of the model was achieved using data on the copper content of the macrophyte Nelumbo lutea. The effects of harvesting copper-laden biomass on the longevity of the wetland ecosystem were also evaluated.

• Research Organization: Virginia Univ., Charlottesville, VA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 6994420
• Report Number(s): AD-A-253643/1/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
540320* -- Environment
Aquatic-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (1990-)
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS
AQUATIC ORGANISMS
BIODEGRADATION
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMPUTERIZED SIMULATION
COPPER
DECOMPOSITION
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
ECOSYSTEMS
ELEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
MANAGEMENT
MATERIALS RECOVERY
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
METALS
NONMETALS
NORTH AMERICA
OHIO
PHOSPHORUS
PLANKTON
POLLUTION
PROCESSING
PRODUCTIVITY
SEDIMENTS
SIMULATION
TRANSITION ELEMENTS
USA
WASTE MANAGEMENT
WASTE PROCESSING
WATER POLLUTION
WATER QUALITY
WETLANDS