大型底栖动物在水生态系统健康评价中的应用

大型底栖动物是维系水生态系统结构和功能的重要组成部分,也是影响水生态系统健康与功能的重要水生生物指标。随着中国对基于流域完整性水生态管理的日益重视,水生态系统健康的研究也更加深入,因而底栖动物的研究在深度和广度上均有所提高。概述了近年来国内外底栖动物的主要研究方向、影响因素及其分析方法。结果表明：在研究方向上,由于底栖动物对水生态系统变化的响应具有明显的空间尺度效应,因而以不同尺度空间上的自然环境、生境条件和水质等因子为分界,分析其对底栖动物多样性及其群落结构的重要影响。综合分析各种影响因素,流域内人类活动所造成的水环境因子变化或生境受损可直接影响底栖动物物种组成和种群特征。对底栖动物的研究方法可分为模型分析法和生物指数评价法两类,在应用中可侧重不同模型和指数的特点进行针对性选择。     

辽河流域水生态功能一级分区指标体系与技术方法

流域水生态功能分区是实现流域综合管理的重要基础,也是水环境管理由水质目标管理向流域水生态管理转变的重要依据。根据辽河流域大尺度水生态空间格局分异的自然属性,结合国内外相关生态环境分区的研究进展,通过对辽河流域水热比（P/T）、径流深（RD）、数字高程（DEM）、多年归一化植被指数（NDVI）和水文地质（RP）等自然因素、河流水环境因子及水生生物指标的典型相关分析（CCA）,筛选出DEM、RD、RP、NDVI指数作为水生态功能一级分区的主要因子,并依此建立了辽河流域水生态功能一级分区指标体系与分区技术方法。结果表明：辽河流域可分为4个水生态功能一级区,即西辽河上游内蒙古大兴安岭东南—冀北山地丘陵水生态区、西辽河中下游西辽河平原水生态区和辽河中下游平原水生态区及浑河—太子河上游山地丘陵水生态区。辽河流域多年历史数据与野外水生态调查数据分析表明,流域内鱼类聚类分析结果与水生态功能一级分区结果在空间分布上具有较好的吻合性。水生态功能分区结果为辽河流域水生态综合管理提供了科技支撑,同时也为中国水生态功能分区技术方法的制订提供了参考依据。     

Hydrogeochemical and multi-tracer investigations of arsenic-affected aquifers in semi-arid West Africa

The semi-arid Sahel regions of West Africa rely heavily on groundwater from shallow to moderately deep(100 m b.g.l.)crystalline bedrock aquifers for drinking water production.Groundwater quality may be affected by high geogenic arsenic(As)concentrations(10μg/L)stemming from the oxidation of sulphide minerals(pyrite,arsenopyrite)in mineralised zones.These aquifers are still little investigated,especially concerning groundwater residence times and the influence of the annual monsoon season on groundwater chemistry.To gain insights on the temporal aspects of As contamination,we have used isotope tracers(noble gases,~3H,stable water isotopes(~2 H,~(18)O))and performed hydrochemical analyses on groundwater abstracted from tube wells and dug wells in a small study area in southwestern Burkina Faso.Results revealed a great variability in groundwater properties(e.g.redox conditions,As concentrations,water level,residence time)over spatial scales of only a few hundred metres,characteristic of the highly heterogeneous fractured underground.Elevated As levels are found in oxic groundwater of circum-neutral pH and show little relation with any of the measured parameters.Arsenic concentrations are relatively stable over the course of the year,with little effect seen by the monsoon.Groundwater residence time does not seem to have an influence on As concentrations,as elevated As can be found both in groundwater with short(50 a)and long(10~3 a)residence times as indicated by ~3He/~4He ratios spanning three orders of magnitude.These results support the hypothesis that the proximity to mineralised zones is the most crucial factor controlling As concentrations in the observed redox/pH conditions.The existence of very old water portions with residence times10~3 years already at depths of50 m b.g.l.is a new finding for the shallow fractured bedrock aquifers of Burkina Faso,suggesting that overexploitation of these relatively low-yielding aquifers may be an issue in the future.     

Does nutritional behavior affect gut endosymbiont prevalence? The case of Paramoebidium avitruviense (Mesomycetozoa) within Siphonoperla torrentium (Plecoptera) nymphs

Aquatic macroinvertebrates harbor a broad spectrum of gut endosymbionts, among them trichomycetes species (including fungi and protozoa) are predominantly associated with shredders, collector or scraper hosts, which only rarely may ingest some animal tissues. An exception to this rule may be the protozoan Paramoebidium avitruviense, documented within opportunistic-predator nymphs of the stonefly Siphonoperla torrentium. In the present work, we studied a population of S. torrentium bearing P. avitruviense during 21 months to describe the life cycle and feeding habits of S. torrentium. We tested for associations between host diet, process of infestation and the prevalence of P. avitruviense, and provide information about the temporal dynamics of both the stonefly and the protozoan. Siphonoperla torrentium presented a univoltine life cycle and displayed an omnivorous diet which changed toward an invertebrate-based diet in older nymphs. The endosymbiont P. avitruviense showed fluctuations in relation to the host nymphal size, and prevalence peaks concurred with the highest host growth rate. Binary logistic regressions revealed that the diet influenced the prevalence of the protozoan, at least for some of the gut content fractions. Whereas an increment of the animal fraction decreased the probability of being infested, the consumption of other fractions related to a gatherer–collector activity increased the probabilities of infestation. However, the most decisive factor affecting endosymbiont prevalence was the melanization grade of S. torrentium, whereby the higher the melanization of the nymph (= longer post-ecdysis period), the higher the infestation probability by P. avitruviense.     

Decomposition of macrophytes in a shallow subtropical lake

Submerged macrophyte detritus is a major component of the organic matter entering shallow lakes. Plant litter decomposition is a complex process that is mediated by microorganisms and some invertebrates. However, the role that aquatic organisms play in the decomposition of macrophytes in shallow subtropical lakes is unclear. This study compared the decomposition rates of Potamogeton pectinatus and Chara zeylanica in a shallow lake (southern Brazil) and assessed the fungal biomass and the macroinvertebrate community associated with the detritus. Aliquots of both species were incubated in litter bags and placed in the lake. After 1, 7, 20, 40, 60, and 80 days of incubation, one set of litter bags was removed from the lake. In a laboratory, plant material was washed for the determination of decomposition rates, chemical characterisation, and quantification of microorganisms and invertebrates. After 80 days of incubation, there was no C. zeylanica detritus, with a decomposition that was four times faster than that of P. pectinatus. The chemical composition was also different between the two detritus, with P. pectinatus showing a higher concentration of nitrogen, phosphorus, organic matter, polyphenols, and carbon. The fungal biomass was similar between the two species. In total, 7502 invertebrates belonging to 27 taxa were sampled in this study. The composition and abundance of invertebrates was different between the two species. In conclusion, the chemical structure of the macrophyte species studied was important for the microorganisms’ and invertebrates’ colonisation. In addition, leaching had an important function in the initial degradation process.     

Temporal abiotic variability structures invertebrate communities in agricultural drainage ditches

Abiotic variability is known to structure lotic invertebrate communities, yet its influence on lentic invertebrates is not clear. This study tests the hypothesis that variability of nutrients and macro-ions are structuring invertebrate communities in agricultural drainage ditches. This was determined by investigating invertebrate adaptations to disturbance using insect life-history strategies. Many low-lying agricultural areas contain drainage ditches which potentially provide suitable habitat for aquatic invertebrates. In the province of North Holland (The Netherlands) the extensive network of eutrophic ditches are hydrologically managed, creating seasonal variability of water quality arising from agricultural run-off and the inlet of mineral rich, river derived water. This temporal variability was analysed from monitoring data, collected over a 7 month period (February till August) and covering 84 ditches in three soil regions; sand, clay and peat. Invertebrate diversity was determined as local (α diversity), regional (γ diversity) and species-turnover (β diversity). We ran canonical correspondence analysis and linear mixed models to determine correlations between invertebrate diversity, functional community composition and specific abiotic parameters, including variability (expressed as the Median Absolute Deviation). Invertebrate α diversity was positively correlated to variability in water transparency and negatively correlated to average pH, with the two parameters reflecting a water quality gradient in the environment. Insect life-history strategies expressed adaptations to abiotic variability and harsh (eutrophic) conditions. These adaptations were mainly achieved through good dispersal abilities and developmental trade-offs. The results support measures to reduce influxes of excess nutrients to this network of ditches.