Interaction of tides and storm surges at the Elbe River mouth

The main regularities in the interaction of tides and storm surges at river mouths are discussed. A study of the Elbe River mouth area is used to describe the processes of interaction of the eustatic sea level rise, tides, surges, and river flow and special features of formation of maximum water levels. As shown, the intensification of cyclonic activity over the Northern Atlantic in the second half of the XX century resulted in more frequent extremely high storm surges at the Elbe River mouth. An assessment is given for possible changes in the regime of tides and surges at the Elbe River mouth in the XXI century, which may be caused by the acceleration of the eustatic sea level rise. The impact of local hydraulic engineering works (diking, dredging, and channel straightening) on maximum water levels within the town of Hamburg is analyzed.     

The dynamics of phytoplankton, bacteria and heterotrophic flagellates at two Banks near Magdeburg in the River Elbe (Germany)

The main objectives of this study were to describe the seasonal standing stock dynamics of phytoplankton, bacterioplankton and heterotrophic flagellates in the highly eutrophic River Elbe (Germany), and to compare the seasonal patterns observed with other streams. Emphasis was placed on examining and assessing abiotic and biotic controlling factors influencing the structure and dynamics of the riverine plankton. All the physico-chemical and biological parameters determined were within the range or somewhat higher (in the case of phytoplankton abundance and biomass) than reported for other large streams. The underwater light conditions resulting from atypically short phytoplankton growth periods of about 6 months per year and the low phytoplankton carbon to chl a ratio of 23 were identified as a major limiting factor for phytoplankton development in the River Elbe. The seasonal distribution pattern of bacterioplankton indicated probable tight trophodynamical coupling both with phytoplankton and with heterotrophic flagellates, whereas heterotrophic flagellates showed a more trophic link with bacterial densities. Although approximately constant DOC and DON levels throughout the year sustained bacterial growth rates, during the phytoplankton growing season an increase of bacterial standing stocks was observed. Although the left-bank sampling site of the Elbe is strongly influenced by the tributaries Mulde and Saale containing higher concentrations of chloride, nitrogen nutrients, heavy metals and organic pollutants, no clear differences were observed between the two sides of the river concerning the biological parameters measured. Possible reasons and the slightly higher phytoplankton abundance and diversity at the right bank are discussed.     

Assessment of Water Quality in the Elbe River at Flood Water Conditions Based on Cluster Analysis,Principle Components Analysis,and Source Apportionment

An assessment of water quality measurements during a spring flood in the Elbe River is presented. Daily samples were taken at a site in the middle Elbe, which is part of the network of the International Commission for the Protection of the Elbe River (IKSE/MKOL). Cluster analysis (CA), principal components analysis (PCA), and source apportionment (APCS apportioning) were used to assess the flood‐dependent matter transport. As a result, three main components could be extracted as important to the matter transport in the Elbe River basin during flood events: (i) re‐suspended contaminated sediments, which led to temporarily increased concentrations of suspended matter and of most of the investigated heavy metals; (ii) water discharge related concentrations of pedogenic dissolved organic matter (DOM) as well as preliminary diluted concentrations of uranium and chloride, parameters with stable pollution background in the river basin; and (iii) abandoned mines, i.e., their dewatering systems, with particular influence on nickel, manganese, and zinc concentrations.     

同形溞(Daphnia similis)对幽蚊幼虫反捕食策略的模拟研究

枝角类溞会由于捕食者的存在而发生形态、行为、生活史等的变化.通过为期10 d对太湖春、夏季优势种同形溞(Daphnia similis)在有幽蚊幼虫(CL)、无幽蚊幼虫(CK)及培养过幽蚊幼虫的过滤水(FL)3个环境水平的模拟实验,发现同形溞在有幽蚊幼虫和培养过幽蚊幼虫的过滤水处理下平均体长、累积产仔数及平均产仔数均显著大于无幽蚊幼虫组,表明幽蚊幼虫释放的信息素能改变同形溞的体长、产仔数等生活史参数,这种改变会降低同形溞被捕食的风险.说明在自然环境下,幽蚊幼虫等无脊椎捕食者能通过直接捕食和信息素的间接作用共同影响枝角类种群.     

Geochemical characterisation and erosion stability of fine‐grained groyne field sediments of the Middle Elbe River

Because of the significant reduction of flow velocity relative to the main current there is an accumulation of sediment material in the centre of the groyne fields over time (years to decades) up to a maximum of 1.5 m. Based on the element‐ and compound‐specific depth functions of this fine‐grained material with high organic matter content the sedimentation history of the Elbe River sediments concerning the environmentally relevant nutrients and pollutants can be reconstructed. It could be shown that the fresh sediments are less polluted than the deeper older ones. During the extreme flood of the river Elbe in August 2002 the critical erosion shear stress in the groyne fields was high enough to remobilise a considerable portion of the sediment depot. The hazard to the environment is high due to the fact that a significant part of the remobilised polluted sediments was distributed over the recent floodplain which is normally used as pasture. Thus these groyne field sediments represent a temporary danger for the water quality of the river Elbe. But the hazard of the solids sedimented in the recent floodplain of the river can be viewed as long‐lasting.     

Survival of crucian carp,Carassius carassius,exposed to a high low-molecular weight inorganic aluminium challenge

Crucian carp were exposed to three combinations of pH and inorganic aluminium concentrations for 25 days. Mortality, plasma chloride and haematocrit, and gill aluminium content were investigated. No mortality was observed in any of the three exposures. Crucian carp survived acidic Al-rich water (pH 5.17) with a high concentration of low-molecular weight inorganic Al species (242 µgl^–1) for 25 days. These fish had lowered plasma chloride levels and high amounts of aluminium on their gills compared to fish exposed to acidic Al-poor water (pH 5.16 and 12 µgl^–1 Al_i) and control water (pH 6.29 and 4 µgl^–1 Al_i). Haematocrit was the same in all three exposures. Because aluminium was not acutely toxic to the anoxia tolerant crucian carp, the present results give support to the hypothesis that Al polymerization with subsequent hypoxia is of high importance for the mechanism of acute Al toxicity to fish.     

三峡水库香溪河库湾拟多甲藻(Peridiniopsis)水华对环境中磷的响应机制

于2015年春季拟多甲藻水华暴发期在香溪河支流高岚河、南阳河与干流设置9个采样点,探讨浮游植物种群与水体总磷浓度等环境因子的相关性;同时,分离纯化拟多甲藻后,设置5个不同磷浓度(0、0.005、0.020、0.100、0.600 mg/L)对其进行实验室培养,分别测定其比生长速率;在对数生长期,检测不同磷浓度培养下的藻细胞的快速光曲线及其参数;检测不同磷浓度培养下的藻细胞对外源无机碳的吸收效率及其参数.结果表明,水体中总磷浓度越高的河段,拟多甲藻细胞密度越高;培养基中磷浓度越高,拟多甲藻的比生长速率越大,光合效率越高,其对外源无机碳的吸收能力越强.这些结果表明高磷的水环境可能是促使拟多甲藻形成水华的关键因素之一.     

Assessment of Primary Production by Statistical Analysis of Water‐quality Data

Time series of weekly water‐quality data at Schnackenburg on the Elbe River (1985—2000) were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA). Considering the amplitudes of composite patterns of variables is a step towards a process‐oriented interpretation of waterquality data. One specific objective was to investigate the impact of improved water quality after the German reunification in 1990 on primary production and the oxygen budget. To discriminate anthropogenic signals from natural fluctuations a separation of the impact of discharge was attempted based on a linear regression approach. A dominant pattern of co‐variation in the residual data could be attributed to biological activity (primary production). The most relevant variables of this 'biomode' are oxygen saturation, pH, and orthophosphate. We conclude that multivariate statistical analysis of water‐quality data can help to estimate primary production when direct observations of algal concentrations are missing. In the years from 1998—2000 the trend of the ‘biomode’ indicates an increased load of oxygen consuming biomass caused by enhanced primary production in the middle stretches of the Elbe River which corresponds with the observation of more severe oxygen deficits in the tidal section of the river.     

Developmental disorders in larvae of eelpout (Zoarces viviparus) from German and Swedish Baltic coastal waters

Pregnant eelpout were collected for several years at German and Swedish Baltic coastal stations with different impact of pollutants and the prevalence of fry abnormalities compared between sites. Mortality of apparently normal developed larvae was observed with high variability in both German and Swedish sites. Malformation of larvae was a prominent disorder at all German stations with a prevalence ranging from about 50% up to a maximum of 90% in almost all analysed samples. At the Swedish stations malformation rates were significantly lower (range: 0-6%). Growth retardation of fry was clearly more prominent in eelpout from German coastal waters as well. Taken together the field data suggests that impaired larval development was associated with the state of environmental pollution at the sampling locations.     

长江的生物多样性危机——水利工程是祸首,酷渔乱捕是帮凶

长江是我国第一大河流,全长达6300 km.长江是一条生命之河,它的活力来自于干流、支流、湖泊和湿地的血脉沟通形成的独特生命系统.长江流域是世界生物多样性的热点区域,分布有鱼类400余种,其中纯淡水鱼类350种左右,特有鱼类多达156种.长江中下游是东亚季风气候下形成的洪泛平原区域,湖泊星罗棋布,并与江河相连,生活有珍稀水生哺乳动物——白鱀豚和江豚.1980s初中下游湖泊面积约有23123 km~2.1950—1970年间,沿江大建闸节制,除鄱阳湖(2933 km~2)和洞庭湖(2625 km~2)等外,绝大多数湖泊失去了与长江的自然联系,江湖阻隔使支撑长江鱼类的有效湖泊面积减少了76%.1981年,长江上建成了第一个大坝——葛洲坝;2003年,三峡大坝开始蓄水.长江干流的渔业捕捞量从1954年的43万t下降到1980s的20万t,最后到2011年的8万t(降幅为81%).与此完全不同的是,1950s以来,洞庭湖和鄱阳湖的渔产量分别在2~4万t之间徘徊.长江干流的饵料生物丰度不足两湖的1/7,因此干流对物种的承载力十分有限,以鱼为生的白鱀豚和江豚种群的衰退属于情理之中,加上酷捕误杀,白鱀豚已经灭绝,江豚也危在旦夕.葛洲坝的建设阻挡了鲟鱼和胭脂鱼等的生殖洄游通道,中华鲟和白鲟的灭绝已近在咫尺.长江上游建有1万多座水坝,大部分鱼类的生存受到威胁.根据对长江生物多样性危机成因的粗略估算,节制闸和水电站等水利工程"贡献"了70%,酷渔乱捕等其它因素"贡献"了30%.所谓的生态调度、鱼道或人工放流等也难以拯救膏肓之疾,即使在长江干流十年禁渔也难有根本改观.如果鄱阳湖和洞庭湖相继建闸,将使长江中下游的渔业资源量进一步衰退,江豚的灭绝在所难免,其它物种的灭绝将难以预料.长江在哭泣,众多的物种需要生态文明的呵护!     

太湖鱼类区系变化和渔获物分析

20世纪80年代之前,太湖有鱼类107种、25科,属4个生态类型:洄游型、江湖洄游型、河流型和湖沼型.自2002年9月至2006年1月进行了太湖鱼类采集,共采得鱼类60种、18科.其中,除放流的鱼类外,都能在封闭的湖泊环境中完成生命周期(湖沼生态型);团头鲂、鲮、银鲫和尼罗罗非鱼属移植种类.团头鲂、鳙、鲢、草鱼和青鱼是从20世纪60年代起每年向湖中放流的鱼类;鳗鲡则是自1976年起放流从长江采捕的鳗苗.20世纪50年末至1985年,长江和太湖之间人为隔断,不能在静水中繁殖的鱼类在湖中消失,自然鱼类资源下降;加上过度捕捞和对繁殖群体缺少保护,导致鱼类群体小型化.最后,对太湖渔业资源的优化进行了讨论,并进一步提出对策.     

Diet of two invading gobiid species (Proterorhinus semilunaris and Neogobius melanostomus) during the breeding and hatching season: No field evidence of extensive predation on fish eggs and fry

One of the potential impacts of invasive gobies on native fish fauna is predation on eggs and fry. Therefore, the diet composition of two invading gobiid species, the tubenose goby Proterorhinus semilunaris and round goby Neogobius melanostomus, was examined in the Dyje river system (Danube basin, Central Europe) during the 2011 reproductive season to ascertain the extent of gobiid predation on heterospecific and conspecific eggs and juveniles. Consumption of fish eggs and juveniles by invading gobies was very low. The diets of both species consisted largely of benthic macroinvertebrates, and particularly insect larvae. These results indicate that invading gobies in the Dyje river system are likely to impact native fish fauna more through competitive effects than through direct predation on eggs and juveniles.     

Variability of a cyprinid lake ecosystem with special emphasis on the native fish fauna under intensive fisheries management including common carp (Cyprinus carpio) and silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix)

The lake investigated (Lake Heiliger See near the town of Angermünde, North-East Germany) is small (10.2 ha) but deep (z_max = 12 m, ? = 6.5 m). During summer the thermocline is at a depth of 4-5 m, and the hypolimnion is filled with H₂S already by mid-June, making 60-75% of the bottom area inaccessible to fish. The native fish fauna is dominated by planktivorous roach (Rutilus rutilus). A test stocking of silver carp (Hypophthalmichthys molitrix) together with an unplanned and erroneous stocking of common carp (Cyprinus carpio), coupled with an incorrectly calculated strong stocking of eel (Anguilla anguilla), which assumed that the total lake area yielded fish food organisms, brought about a strong depression of the food biomass available to native fish. Both silver carp and common carp showed a pattern of behaviour which only partly agreed with results obtained in experimental ponds prior to lake stocking. At least for 10 years there was a very low zooplankton biomass (mostly below 1 mg/l fresh weight) caused by silver carp and a strongly reduced benthos biomass (frequently below 1 g/m² fresh weight) caused by common carp and eel on H₂S-free bottom areas. Despite this extreme situation, which lasted for 20 years and is rarely found in lakes elsewhere, it was not possible to demonstrate negative effects on the native fish fauna comprising 16 species. Also the dominance pattern seems uninfluenced in the long run. A strong decline of the catchable roach stock was observed for some years, but the stock reappeared soon in comparable quantity. During the time of roach stock depression the individual growth of roach (and common carp) was particularly low. Nevertheless, roach succeeded in reproduction during this time in spite of the reduced zooplankton and detritus concentrations. Fry numbers per year ranged from 500-15 000 individuals/ha. The pike perch (Stizostedion lucioperca) was perhaps the most endangered species of all those living at small population numbers in the lake, since its fry is confined to the limnion where competition from silver carp and adult roach and perhaps predation by roach is highest. However the pike perch stock remained unchanged at the low level of 1950, the time prior of carp and eel stocking. All other rare species of Lake Heiliger See spawn in the littoral zone where fry survival conditions were less impacted. In summary, we present more evidence that the fish fauna of cyprinid lakes is more robust than in salmonid lakes. The regulation capacity of fish communities of eutrophic lakes seems to be able to offset even severe direct and indirect influences of fisheries management.     

Fatty Acid Composition of Plankton and Bighead Carp (Aristichthys nobilis) in Freshwater Ponds

The community structure and fatty acid composition of plankton in broodstock ponds were studied at the Bishui Fisheries Company in the Liaoning Province, northeast China, between May and December 2002 and in March 2003. The Fatty acid analysis of bighead carp larvae and plankton in the fry pond occurred during June, July, and September 2002. The fatty acid composition of the plankton varied with seasonal changes in the community structure. When blue‐green algae dominated the broodstock ponds in spring and summer, the percentage of saturated fatty acids (SFA) (especially 16:0) was high. When diatoms and cryptophytes dominated in autumn and winter, the percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) (mainly n–3 PUFA) was high. Similarly, a high content of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) occurred in autumn and winter when DHA‐rich copepods became an important group of zooplankton. In addition, environmental factors, especially water temperature, influenced the fatty acid composition of plankton. 16:0, DHA, and 18:1n–9 were dominant fatty acids of bighead carp larvae during ontogeny. 16:0, C18 unsaturated fatty acids, and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) were major fatty acids of plankton in the fry pond. Analysis of the relationship between the fatty acids of the larvae and those of plankton showed that the fatty acid profiles of the larvae did not always agree with those of plankton.     

金沙江支流黑水河松新电站短须裂腹鱼（Schizothorax wangchiachii）过坝后上溯行为

鱼类过坝后的上溯行为对鱼类寻找适宜的产卵、索饵等功能性栖息地至关重要。现阶段我国大多数研究聚焦于鱼类上溯通过鱼道的游泳行为量化,而过坝后的上溯行为分析鲜有报道。本研究在金沙江下游支流黑水河松新坝址处利用PIT(passive integrated transponder)遥测技术对松新电站过鱼对象短须裂腹鱼(Schizothorax wangchiachii)过坝后的上溯行为开展监测,考虑监测过程中水文情势变化对过坝后上溯行为的影响,采用生存分析方法,构建了耦合多因素(流量、水温、河道涨落水率、昼夜节律、肥满度等)的Cox风险比例回归模型,利用AIC模型准则筛选出最优模型参数,识别了影响鱼类过坝后上溯成功率的关键因素。结果表明:(1)短须裂腹鱼在松新鱼道的上溯效果显著优于河道;(2)水温及河道涨落率是影响短须裂腹鱼过坝后上溯效果的关键因素;(3)水温与短须裂腹鱼过坝后河道上溯成功率呈负相关,当水温超过短须裂腹鱼最适温度后,河道上溯成功率随着温度的上升呈递减趋势;河道涨落水率与短须裂腹鱼过坝后河道上溯成功率呈正相关,其中涨水情势下短须裂腹鱼河道成功上溯的概率高于落水,河道上溯成功率随着涨...     

Coupling of one- and two-dimensional finite elements for the computation of tidal flow in estuaries

A new method for the numerical computation of tidal flow in estuaries is demonstrated. One- and two-dimensional finite elements are directly coupled in a single model requiring the solution of only one common set of equations for all unknown parameters in each time step. The utility of the method is demonstrated with the computation of the tide in the Elbe Estuary. The computed water levels are compared with measured hydrographs at different gauges on the Elbe River.     

The hydrogeomorphic influences on alluvial gully erosion along the Mitchell River fluvial megafan

Hydrogeomorphic processes influencing alluvial gully erosion were evaluated at multiple spatial and temporal scales across the Mitchell River fluvial megafan in tropical Queensland, Australia. Longitudinal changes in floodplain inundation were quantified using river gauge data, local stage recorders and HEC‐RAS modelling based on LiDAR topographic data. Intra‐ and interannual gully scarp retreat rates were measured using daily time‐lapse photographs and annual GPS surveys. Erosion was analysed in response to different water sources and associated erosion processes across the floodplain perirheic zone, including direct rainfall, infiltration‐excess runoff, soil‐water seepage, river backwater and overbank flood inundation. The frequency of river flood inundation of alluvial gullies changed longitudinally according to river incision and confinement. Near the top of the megafan, flood water was contained within the macrochannel up to the 100‐year recurrence interval, but river backwater still partially inundated adjacent gullies eroding into Pleistocene alluvium. In downstream Holocene floodplains, inundation of alluvial gullies occurred beyond the 2‐ to 5‐year recurrence interval and contributed significantly to total annual erosion. However, most gully scarp retreat at all sites was driven by direct rainfall and infiltration‐excess runoff, with the 24‐h rainfall total being the most predictive variable. The remaining variability can be explained by seasonal vegetative conditions, complex cycles of soil wetting and drying, tension crack development, near‐surface pore‐water pressure, soil block undermining from spalling and overland flow, and soil property heterogeneity. Implications for grazing management impacts on soil surface and perennial grass conditions include effects on direct rainfall erosion, water infiltration, runoff volume, water concentration along tracks, and the resistance of highly dispersible soils to gully initiation or propagation under intense tropical rainfall. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Alien aquatic plants in a thermally abnormal river and their assembly to neophyte-dominated macrophyte stands (River Erft, Northrhine-Westphalia)

Floristic surveys, vegetation mapping, and detailed transect analyses rendered a macrophyte flora of 14 native and five alien taxa of flowering plants in the River Erft, a contributory of the River Rhine in Northrhine-Westphalia. Water temperatures of this river do not fall below 10 °C all the year round, for reasons of geothermically heated water discharged from nearby opencast mining areas. Macrophyte stand structures, composed of the neophytes Azolla filiculoides and Lemna minuta (floating) and Myriophyllum aquaticum, Egeria densa, and Vallisneria spiralis (rooted in the muddy or sandy ground of the river) are described and the ecological requirements of these taxa are characterized. The alien species can be seen as elements that increase the α-diversity of the aquatic vegetation of the River Erft. They do not replace any of the native species, even if shifts in the competition dynamics occur. The colonization by neophytes of the abnormally warmed River Erft can be appreciated as paradigmatic for trends in the macrophyte vegetation of medium-sized rivers in Central Europe when climate-related or discharge-based heating of the waterbody occurs and propagules of alien plants imported by waterfowl or – more important – plants from aquarium waste will find suitable places of existence and spread.     

Shifts in the Processes of Oxygen and Nutrient Balances in the River Elbe since the Transformation of the Economic Structure

The reduction of pollution in the river Elbe since 1990 has resulted in changes in the processes taking place in the river. The heterotrophic degradation which dominated until 1990 was accompanied by a lack of oxygen, floating masses of sewage fungi, and sludge formation in the areas of still water. Since the early 1990s, autotrophic processes have come to dominate, with an increase in pH fluctuations and the oxygen production potential, but evidently not the chlorophyll level during the growing season. The degradable organic pollution of the Elbe is determined by algae production. The high levels of ammonium previously encountered in the Elbe were attributable to not only dischargers but also in particular the lack of oxygen in the water. Via heterotrophic nitrate assimilation, nitrate served as an oxygen reserve, resulting in high levels of nitrite. At present, when the oxygen contents are sufficient, the concentration reductions of nitrate and nitrite along the reach of the Elbe are approximately parallel, which in view of the lack of ammonium indicates the denitrification of microzones low in oxygen. The relative proportion of structurally bound substance turnover will become increasingly important for the Elbeπs material budget.