Abstract
The Hula Nature Reserve (HNR) (0.3 km 2) in northern Israel is a semiarid wetland ecosystem within the greater Hula Valley. In the 1950s, approximately 60 km 2 of wetlands were drained and converted to farmland. The HNR was established during this time to preserve some of the native flora and fauna. Agricultural runoff and a reflooding of the area with peat water in 1999 resulted in high sulfate (SO 4 2-) concentrations of 66.67 ± 4.00 mg/L. We identified the existence of SO 4 2-, nitrate (NO 3 -), and ammonium (NH 4 +) nutrient gradients as well as related mechanisms affecting the growth and dieback of Cyperus papyrus. The observed changes in the C. papyrus populations were caused primarily by fluctuations in SO 4 2-. After two key events that affected levels of SO 4 2- in the HNR, C. papyrus coverage was altered by more than 80%.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 1096-1103 |
Number of pages | 8 |
Journal | Journal of Environmental Science and Health - Part A Toxic/Hazardous Substances and Environmental Engineering |
Volume | 47 |
Issue number | 8 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - 1 Jul 2012 |
Keywords
- Altered wetlands
- Cyperus papyrus
- Nutrient gradient
- Peat water
- Semiarid wetlands