Influence of sample size on ecological status assessment using marine benthic invertebrate‐based indices

Routine monitoring of the quality status of water bodies demands the best cost‐benefit relation and sample‐size reduction is therefore welcomed. However, great caution is needed because such reduction affects the accuracy and variation of the results. In the present study we tested the influence of sample size (number of replicate samples) on reference condition values and within‐sample ecological quality ratio (EQR) variability of six commonly used ecological indices (taxa richness, Shannon–Wiener diversity, AMBI, Medocc index, Bentix and M‐AMBI). Analysis of soft‐bottom benthic invertebrate data from Slovenian coastal waters showed that sample size influenced the reference condition values of richness/diversity indices (taxa richness and Shannon–Wiener diversity) but not of the sensitivity/tolerance indices (AMBI, Medocc index, Bentix). Increased sample size decreased the within‐sample EQR variability and, concomitantly, increased the accuracy of site ecological status classification for all indices. The size of EQR variability differed depending on the index used. EQR variability of M‐AMBI, an index composed of metrics with different within‐sample EQR variability, was statistically the same as that of the metric with the lowest within‐sample EQR variability. Whether this is a common principle for multimetric indices remains to be confirmed. Based on these results, the use of at least three replicates is suggested to obtain reliable measures of reference condition and EQR for the assessment of ecological status. This level of replication is particularly necessary in areas with high diversity and environmental patchiness, and when richness/diversity measures and indices that include these measures are used.     

人工海岸生态化改造及修复效果评价指标体系研究

海岸作为海洋资源开发、沿海经济发展的重要支撑,大量人口、产业向海岸带区域聚集,高强度的人类活动导致海岸带环境日益恶化、自然岸线严重受损、海岸带资源锐减。海岸整治修复成为保护海岸带生态环境、恢复海岸带资源的重要技术手段。为评价人工海岸生态化改造及整治修复工作效果,基于国内外学者对海岸生态修复的研究成果,综合考虑生态指标、经济指标和功能指标三方面,筛选出50项产出性指标构建人工海岸生态化改造及修复效果评价指标体系,力求科学全面、客观合理地评价人工海岸整治修复效果,为人工海岸生态化改造及整治修复工作的检查、考核以及验收提供参考依据。     

海洋生态系统健康评价的底栖生物指数法研究进展

海洋大型底栖无脊椎动物能对自然和人为活动导致的水和沉积物质量变化做出可预测的响应,因此利用底栖生物作为海洋生态环境监测的生物指标和进行系统健康度量的生物指数已经得到了广泛的认可.本文比较分析了几种常用的和正在发展的海洋生态系统健康和生态环境质量状况评估的底栖生物指数,包括指示生物法、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、BI指数、AMBI指数和Bentix指数,总结了这几种生物指数的应用和特性,探讨了底栖生物指数在实际应用中可能存在的问题和解决的办法,以期为我国海洋生态系统健康评估工作提供参考.     

滨海生态廊道构建指标体系研究——以杭州湾北岸上海段为例

由于受自然侵蚀和人类活动的影响,海岸带生态环境遭到破坏,正面临海岸线受损、湿地面积减少和植被退化等问题,如何实施生态修复保护海岸带已经成为沿海城市面临的重大机遇与挑战。构建滨海生态廊道正是保护海岸带的有效措施之一。生态廊道具有保护生物多样性、过滤污染物、调控洪水和连接景观斑块等多种生态功能,滨海生态廊道的构建可以缓冲海洋资源保护与城市发展之间的矛盾。文章以杭州湾北岸上海段为例,在上海市海洋保护修复和生态廊道建设的实践基础上,从廊道内部与外部空间、景观绿化和海洋生态基底等方面提出了一系列滨海生态廊道的具体指标和建议值,并结合杭州湾北段的生境现状,从廊道的生态功能与社会功能两方面提出构建滨海廊道的建议。     

Study of the macrophyte assemblages and application of phytobenthic indices to assess the Ecological Status of the Marano‐Grado Lagoon (Italy)

Benthic macrophytes from 19 sites within the Marano‐Grado Lagoon were sampled in July 2007 in order to update the available information on the flora and vegetation and to assess the Ecological Status (ES) within the European Water Framework Directive (WFD). Data on macrophytes were analysed using two phytobenthic indices (EEI and R‐MaQI) recently set up to evaluate the ecological status of transitional environments in the Mediterranean eco‐region. Notwithstanding the extension (c. 160 km²) that places this lagoon as the second largest Italian transitional environment, ecological studies are relatively few. The present research revealed a relatively poor flora, mainly characterized by the dominance of low‐diversity settlements of Ulvaceae. Moreover, the absence of intensive aquaculture activities and commercial big harbours, which account for the new species introductions recorded in other lagoons, limits the presence of non‐autochthonous species. The comparison with previous data ( Curiel et al. 1998 ) highlighted the reduction of macrophyte coverage and biomass, especially Ulvaceae stands, and an increase in species richness. In particular, there was evidence of a worsening of the area north of the Grado bridge. This area, which in the past was colonized by widespread angiosperm coverage, at present is almost lacking in vegetation. According to these observations, by applying both the phytobenthic indices available in the literature for the transitional environments, the Marano‐Grado Lagoon showed a ‘Good–High’ quality in the central part of the basin and near the lagoon inlets and a ‘Poor–Bad’ quality in the northern and southern areas. The evaluation of some physico‐chemical parameters, coupled with the distribution of the angiosperms, also allowed a first delineation of the main lagoon water bodies.     

基于信息熵的溢油对天然渔业可持续承载力损害的评估

作者基于信息熵理论,以溢油事故对海洋天然渔业损害为切入点探讨海洋生态系统可持续承载力损害评估方法。论文从生态系统状态、功能、污染、修复等4个方面构建了熵流和熵产生指标体系,以"塔斯曼海"轮溢油事故为例进行计算和评估,结果表明:溢油使海洋生态系统的价值产出能力下降94.7%、总的承载力下降194.9%,溢油治理的效果小于溢油对生态承载力的损害。本评价是现有溢油生态损害评价的补充,可为长期生态损害评估、生态修复和环境管理决策提供科学依据。     

海洋生态文明考核指标体系研究

为全面和系统地梳理和总结沿海各地海洋生态文明建设的成果和不足,进一步引导和督促沿海地方各级政府自觉推进海洋生态文明建设,文章从规章制度执行情况、海水环境质量、污染控制成效、修复整治成效、海洋保护区能力建设、海洋生态文明建设示范区成果以及宣传教育和公众参与7个层面,选取覆盖面广、具有代表性和可操作性的23个考核指标,建立海洋生态文明考核指标体系;运用德尔菲法和层次分析法相结合的方法,确定各指标的权重,并综合评估考核结果,具有较强的应用性和科学性。     

The Mediterranean intercalibration exercise on soft‐bottom benthic invertebrates with special emphasis on the Italian situation

The intercalibration exercise is an important step in the building process of the surface water ecological quality assessment, which is required by the Water Framework Directive (WFD). Its aim is to apply the water quality classification in a uniform manner to all the Member States belonging to the same eco‐region. Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Slovenia and Spain participated in the soft‐bottom benthic invertebrate subgroup for the Mediterranean coastal region. The methodologies proposed by Member States were applied and tested; the results were compared and harmonized to establish agreed and comparable boundaries for the benthic invertebrate ecological status classes. The national methods used in the intercalibration process were: for Cyprus and Greece, the Bentix Index; for Slovenia, a combination of AZTI Marine Biotic Index (AMBI), richness and diversity with the use of factor and discriminant analysis (Multimetric AMBI); for Spain, a new index, named MEDOCC, which is an adaptation of the AMBI index to the Western Mediterranean area. Italy and France tested different methods, none of which have been officially adopted. Final class boundary values for the different official classification systems were obtained and compared. Besides describing methods and results obtained by the different countries, the Italian situation is examined in more detail. All the above methods have been applied to Italian data, but the results were not conclusive. Major causes for concern are related to insufficient sites and data, to the lack of real non‐impacted reference sites, and to the difficulties in validating the ecological status classification in sites not showing a pollution gradient.     

Ecological status assessment and response of benthic communities to environmental variability: The Valli di Comacchio (Italy) as a study case

The Valli di Comacchio is one of most representative choked (not influenced by the tidal regime) lagoons in the Mediterranean and Europe. We compared the ecological status (ES) classification (sensu European Water Framework Directive, 2000/60/EC) of the Valli obtained through supporting physicochemical elements and biotic indices. The variability of water parameters was investigated through 1997–2002 at 4 permanent sampling stations. During the six years of investigation, macrobenthic data were collected to identify the response of several biological indices (taxonomic, functional and ecological). ES classification through supporting physicochemical elements resulted in discordant patterns. Nor taxonomic neither functional measures were able to add more information than that given by univariate biodiversity measures. Gaps and bias of the indices used were identified. Due to the absence of well defined environmental gradients, taxonomic and functional measures loose most of their usefulnesses. ES classification through ecological indices (M-AMBI and BITS) resulted in quite a concordant pattern, although BITS underestimated ES when there was a strong dominance of one opportunist family in the benthic community.     

Assessing the ecological status of the North-western Adriatic Sea within the European Water Framework Directive: a comparison of Bentix, AMBI and M-AMBI methods

In this paper we looked for the most suitable method for benthic ecological quality status (EcoQS) assessment of the North-western Adriatic Sea. Taking into account the historical and present information, we inter-compared our expectations in terms of EcoQS, with the Bentix, AMBI and M-AMBI classification metrics results, and investigated the sensitivity of these indices to the spatial, seasonal and inter-annual variability of benthic communities. The sampling sites were located at increasing distances with respect to the Po River mouth, along an (inverse) gradient of eutrophication. Moreover, a 2-year monthly monitoring plan (October 2004–September 2006) was carried out at the CEBEB site, located in a central position with respect to the investigated area. The results highlighted that the three indices differed in the sensitivity to spatial and temporal variability of the benthic communities. The strong seasonal and inter-annual changes in the benthic communities had a significant effect on the Bentix, whereas no relevant modifications were observed on the EcoQS assignation obtained using the M-AMBI and AMBI methods. The environmental quality ratios (EQR) values and EcoQS classification obtained by the Bentix and AMBI did not match expectations, as they were not inversely correlated with the site distances with respect to the Po mouth, whereas the M-AMBI clearly discriminated the most and the least eutrophicated sites. It thus appears that the M-AMBI could be considered to be the most valuable method for the ecological-status assessment of the North-western Adriatic Sea benthic ecosystem.     

High gene flow promotes the genetic homogeneity of the fish goby Pomatoschistus marmoratus (Risso, 1810) from Mar Menor coastal lagoon and adjacent marine waters (Spain)

The extreme environmental variability of coastal lagoons suggests that physical and ecological factors could contribute to the genetic divergence among populations occurring in lagoon and open‐coast environments. In this study we analysed the genetic variability of lagoon and marine samples of the sand goby, Pomatoschistus marmoratus (Risso, 1810) (Pisces: Gobiidae), on the SW Spain coast. A fragment of mitochondrial DNA control region (570 bp) was sequenced for 196 individuals collected in five localities: Lo Pagan, Los Urrutias and Playa Honda (Mar Menor coastal lagoon), and Veneziola and Mazarrón (Mediterranean Sea). The total haplotype diversity was h = 0.9424 ± 0.0229, and the total nucleotide diversity was π = 0.0108 ± 0.0058. Among‐sample genetic differentiation was not significant and small‐scale patterns in the distribution of haplotypes were not apparent. Gene flow and dispersal‐related life history traits may account for low genetic structure at a small spatial scale. The high genetic diversity found in P. marmoratus increases its potential to adapt to changing conditions of the Mar Menor coastal lagoon.     

Yield and catch changes in a Mediterranean small tuna trap: a warming change effect?

Since the 17th century, the Tonnarella of Camogli, a small tuna trap, has been used to catch pelagic fish along the western coast of the Portofino Promontory (Ligurian Sea, Northwestern Mediterranean). The availability of long‐term datasets on fish yields (1950–1974 and 1996–2011), with information related to the seawater temperatures and the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO), has allowed us to study the qualitative and quantitative changes in fish yields in the last decade and the possible relationships with the seasonal anomalies of temperature that have occurred in the Ligurian Sea. In 1950–1974, yields remained relatively constant over time (average of 35.6 ± 8.7 t·year^?1). From 1996 through 2011, yields were high (42.9 ± 15.9 t·year^?1) but inconsistent with strong annual variability in catches. The primary catches are Seriola dumerili, Auxis rochei, Trachurus spp. and Sarda sarda. Changes in species composition have occurred as well: S. dumerili, Sardinella sp. and Belone belone have appeared recently. Moreover, a significant decrease in the boreal scombroid (Scomber scombrus) and an increase of warm‐temperate carangids and other typically Southern Mediterranean species such as Coryphaena hippurus and Sphyraena viridensis, appear to be linked to the warming of the surface water layer, particularly evident in the Ligurian Sea, for the last 10 years. The analysis of this kind of trend may be a powerful tool for assessing structural changes of the pelagic fish community in the Ligurian Sea (Northwestern Mediterranean).     

山东半岛近岸海域生态系统健康综合评价

为了构建基于多指标体系的生态系统健康评价方法,作者在调研了大量国内外文献的基础上,通过实证研究和量化分析,对山东半岛近岸海域生态系统健康的现状做出了较为客观的评价。在综合考虑影响海洋生态系统健康的各种因素的基础上,构建了山东半岛近岸海域生态系统健康评价指标体系,从陆源压力、水质状态和生物响应3个方面对山东半岛近岸海域生态系统健康和环境压力进行分析。结果显示:2006年山东半岛近岸海域生态健康状况基本呈现由外海到近岸逐渐变差的态势,其中生态健康状况较差的海域主要集中在莱州湾西南部、烟台北部海域、威海的沿岸海域以及山东半岛东南部海域。     

基于MODIS影像的2016—2017年东海赤潮高发期水体时空分布及其气象控制因子分析

近年来,东海区域赤潮灾害频发,对沿海地区的经济发展和海洋生态环境造成了极大的破坏。本研究基于赤潮暴发年2016—2017年夏季MODIS影像数据,采用半经验多光谱识别算法对东海夏季赤潮暴发期的水体类型分布特征进行反演。结果表明,赤潮高发期东海水体类型从近岸向开阔海域呈现浑浊水体 赤潮水体 混合水体 干净水体的时空分布特征。其中,硅藻和甲藻赤潮水体在空间分布上具有相互演替变化的特征。此外,通过对浙江省近岸的大陈站、石浦站和嵊泗站3个站点的气象因子进行主成分分析发现,气温、风速和天空云量对赤潮的生消演替起着积极的促进作用。     

闽东沿岸生态监控区海洋生态健康评价与变化趋势研究

文章以生态系统健康评价(EHA)为工具,利用2004-2013年以来闽东沿岸生态监控区的监测数据及相关文献资料,对闽东沿岸生态监控区的海洋生态健康状况进行分析评价,分析影响闽东沿岸生态监控区海洋生态健康的主要因子。结果表明:闽东沿岸生态监控区生态环境健康状况基本处亚健康状态,但有进一步恶化的风险,水环境中pH值、氮-磷营养盐含量呈明显上升的趋势;生物质量受到不同程度的污染,贝类体内铅含量显著上升;生物环境处于不健康状态,生物种类数呈减少的趋势。结合闽东沿岸生态监控区存在的问题提出:(1)加强污染物入海总量控制制度,推行节能减排措施;(2)加强生物质量控制,发展蓝色海洋经济;(3)休渔、生态补偿制度相结合,有效利用和保护海洋资源;(4)严格控制围填海工程,保护滩涂湿地;(5)加强海洋环境监测体系建设等建议。     

Unexpected fast rate of morphological evolution of geologically-active continental margins during Quaternary: Examples from selected areas in the Italian seas

In the last few decades, seafloor imagery systems have drastically changed our vision of a mostly regular and depositional marine landscape, evidencing how erosive and mass-wasting processes are widespread in the marine environments, with particular reference to geologically-active areas. Most of the previous studies have focused on the characterization of these features, whereas a very few ones have tried to estimate what is the extent and order of magnitude of erosion rates in these areas. In this paper, we show several examples from some of the most geologically-active margins off Southern Italy aimed to a) quantify the spatial extent of such processes, b) better understand the role of submarine erosion in the morphogenesis of the coastal sector, and c) try to roughly estimate the order of magnitude of erosion rates in these areas. The results are impressive, with mass-wasting features widespread from coast down to −2600, affecting from the 52% up to 97% of the whole continental slope. Because of the narrow or totally lacking shelves in these areas, mass-wasting processes often occur close to the coast and match embayment of the coast, so indicating a key role in the morphogenesis of coastal sector, with significant implication on the related geohazard. Finally, based on a morphological approach integrated by available stratigraphic constraints we have roughly estimated average erosion rates in these areas, ranging from (at least) some mm/year to a few cm/year, i.e., some hundreds of meters up to kilometers eroded in each eustatic cycle. Despite the large uncertainties of these estimates as well as their spatial and temporal variability in response to regional and local factors, the obtained values are very high and they should be considered for future model of margin evolution, source-to-sink computation and marine/coastal geohazard assessment.     

江苏滨海北部近岸海域海洋环境现状调查及风险评价

本文对2019年秋季江苏滨海北部近岸海域水质和沉积物环境进行了调查,分析研究结果表明：水质主要超标因子为化学需氧量、无机氮、活性磷酸盐、Cu、Pb和Cd;沉积物中As和硫化物超过第一类沉积物质量标准,但满足第二类海洋质量标准,其他指标均符合第一类沉积物质量标准。采用地累积指数法和潜在生态风险指数法进行评价,沉积物重金属除Cd外,潜在生态风险整体为低风险,单因子生态风险由高到低为Cd>Hg>As>Pb>Cu>Cr>Zn。     

基于贝叶斯网络的海洋生态环境状况评价——以山东省为例

在海洋开发利用活动日益增多,海洋环境保护压力日益增大的背景下,进行海洋生态环境状况科学评价方法的研究可以为开展海洋生态环境监测评估与海洋生态环境保护政策制定提供科学依据,促进改善海洋生态环境状况。本文首先基于贝叶斯网络基本理论,构建了海洋生态环境状况贝叶斯网络评价模型;再以山东省为例,充分融合专家经验知识与客观数据,从定性与定量两个角度评价了2013—2019年山东省近海生态环境状况,分析了各评价指标间关系及其对近海生态环境状况的影响程度。评价结果表明2013—2019年山东省近海生态环境状况保持一般状态,海洋环境质量与海洋生态灾害类指标对评价结果影响最大,山东省海洋环境保护工作初见成效。研究结果表明该评价模型能有效评价海洋生态环境状况,分析结果对于环境保护政策制定具有一定的借鉴意义。     

曹妃甸近岸海域海洋生态系统健康评价

为全面了解曹妃甸近岸海域海洋生态系统健康状况,促进其合理开发利用海洋资源和建设海洋生态文明,文章根据2010—2014年的相关监测数据,采用区域生态系统健康评价方法,选取海水环境、沉积物环境、生物栖息地、生物残毒和生物5类评价指标,并确定指标标准、赋值和计算方法,从而确定各评价指标的健康指数。研究结果表明:2010—2014年曹妃甸近岸海域海水环境、沉积物环境和生物残毒均为健康状态,生物栖息地均为不健康状态,生物除2011年10月外(不健康)均为亚健康状态;海洋生态系统除2011年10月为不健康状态外,其余年份均为亚健康状态;生物指标决定整个海洋生态系统的健康状态,而围填海活动对生物栖息地的破坏是生物健康指数较低的主要原因。在此基础上,提出应尤其注重对生物环境的保护和修复,加强近岸海域生态环境综合整治和围填海管控。     

The influence of coastal dynamics on the upper limit of the Posidonia oceanica meadow

The recognized ecological importance of Posidonia oceanica, the most important seagrass of the Mediterranean Sea, makes it crucial to assess the state of health of its meadows, discriminating natural from anthropogenic impacts. In this paper, the hydrodynamic conditions at the upper limit of P. oceanica meadows along the Ligurian coast (NW Mediterranean Sea) were investigated. A relationship between the distance of the upper limit of the meadow from the shoreline and the morphodynamic domain of the beach (i.e. distinctive types of beach produced by the topography, wave climate and sediment composition) was found. A zonation of the state of the shallow portions of the meadows down the submerged beach profile was identified. Zone a, from the shoreline to the breaking limit, is naturally critical for the development of the meadow. Zone b, from the breaking limit to the closure depth, is subjected to natural and human impacts. Zone c, below the closure depth, is little influenced by coastal dynamics. This study quantifies for the first time how much the status of the shallow portions of P. oceanica meadows is dependent on coastal dynamics, which is important for their proper management.