Nutrient Limitation in Macroalgae (Ulva and Enteromorpha) from the Rías Baixas (NW Spain)

Abstract.  Photosynthesis and growth rates in samples of two green seaweeds ( Ulva and Enteromorpha ) were monitored in the laboratory. The macroalgae were collected every 15 days from four coastal embayments in Galicia (NW Spain). Ulva samples were found to be nutritionally limited, particularly in summer. The physiological activity of Enteromorpha did not appear to be as affected by nutrient scarcity, although it may have suffered from phosphorus limitation. The subsistence quotas, critical concentrations and storage capacity for N and P in Ulva were comparable to those obtained by other investigators in similar studies. The trace metals analysed apparently did not negatively affect the macroalgae at the measured concentrations; one explanation is that many of these metals function as essential micronutrients. The complex physiological interactions between metals and nutrients, however, may complicate interpretation of the results.     

The reconstruction of a glacial lake outburst flood using HEC-RAS and its significance for future hazard assessments: an example from Lake 513 in the Cordillera Blanca,Peru

In April 2010, an ice/rockfall into Lake 513 triggered a glacial lake outburst flood (GLOF) along the Chucchun River in the Cordillera Blanca of Peru. This paper reconstructs the hydrological characteristics of this as yet undocumented event using a 1D flood model prepared with HEC-RAS. The principle model inputs were obtained during detailed field surveys of surface characteristics and topography within the river and across the adjacent floodplain; a total of 120 cross-sections were surveyed. These inputs were refined further by eyewitness accounts and additional geomorphological observations. The flood modelling has enabled us to constrain the extent of the water surface and its elevation at each cross-section in addition to defining the peak discharge (580 m³ s^?1). These modelling results show good agreement with other information about the flood including: flood marks and minimum flood levels; the lake displacement wave height; the extent of the flooded area; and the travel time from Lake 513 to the confluence with the Santa River. This demonstrates that the model offers a reliable reconstruction of the basic hydrological characteristics of the GLOF. It provides important information about the flood intensity and significantly improves our ability to model future flood scenarios along both the studied river and within neighbouring catchments. The flood hazard, defined by the flood depth during peak discharge, shows that the majority of the damaged infrastructure (houses, bridges, and a drinking water treatment plant) was only subjected to low or medium flood intensities (defined by a maximum water depth of less than 2 m). These low flood intensities help to explain why the flooding caused comparatively minor damage despite the significant public attention it attracted.     

Effect of growth on active biomonitoring with terrestrial mosses

The effects of growth of autoirrigated, shaded transplants of Pseudoscleropodium purum on the quantification of tissue concentrations of Cd, Cu, Hg, V and Zn, were investigated in 4 exposure periods, each of 56 days, at 7 sampling sites (contaminated and uncontaminated). Concentrations of the elements in the basal portions of the moss shoots were compared with the concentrations in the portions of the shoots that grew during the exposure period. Mercury and V were present at lower concentrations in the new portions of the shoots than in the basal portions, whereas the opposite was true for Cd, Cu and Zn. The magnitude of error introduced by growth was not negligible, and in some cases was higher than 40%, relative to the results obtained by analysis of the whole shoot. Devitalization of moss prior to its use as transplant material is recommended to avoid growth of the plant during the exposure period.     

Carbon pricing in practice: a review of existing emissions trading systems

This article analyses the implementation of emissions trading systems (ETSs) in eight jurisdictions: the EU, Switzerland, the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and California in the US, Québec in Canada, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea and pilot schemes in China. The article clarifies what is working, what isn’t and why, when it comes to the practice of implementing an ETS. The eight ETSs are evaluated against five main criteria: environmental effectiveness, economic efficiency, market management, revenue management and stakeholder engagement. Within each of these categories, ETS attributes ? including abatement cost, stringency of the cap, improved allocation practices over time and the trajectory of price stability ? are assessed for each system. Institutional learning, administrative prudence, appropriate carbon revenue management and stakeholder engagement are identified as key ingredients for successful ETS regimes. Recent implementation of ETSs in regions including California, Québec and South Korea indicates significant institutional learning from prior systems, especially the EU ETS, with these regions implementing more robust administrative and regulatory structures suitable for handling unique national and sub-national opportunities and constraints. The analysis also shows that there is potential for a ‘double dividend’ in emissions reductions even with a modest carbon price, provided the cap tightens over time and a portion of the auctioned revenues are reinvested in other emissions-reduction activities. Knowledge gaps exist in understanding the interaction of pricing instruments with other climate policy instruments and how governments manage these policies to achieve optimum emissions reductions with lower administrative costs.

Key policy insights

• Countries are learning from each other on ETS implementation.

• Administrative and regulatory structures of ETS jurisdictions appear to evolve and become more robust in every ETS analysed.

• A ‘double dividend’ for emissions reductions may also exist in cases where mitigation occurs as a result of the ETS policy and when auction revenues are reinvested in other emissions-reduction activities.

     

Metal levels in estuarine macrophytes: Differences among species

With the aim of studying the interspectific differences in the bioaccumulation of a series of elements in six species of estuarine macrophytes, we measured the concentrations of various metals (Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn), as well as C and N, in several species of macroalgae and one species of seagrass in estuaries in northwest Spain. To facilitate the interpretation of the results, we also determined the concentrations of the same metals in sediments. Contamination by particulate metal did not appear to be important. The levels of Cu in the different species were generally high in comparison with those found in similar studies; in contrast, the concentrations of Pb and Zn were relatively low. The metal concentrations showed greater variability and a distibution that was further from normal than those of C and N. In general the highest concentrations of elements were found inEnteromorpha spp. andZostera noltii, and the lowest occurred inUlva spp. There were several significant positive correlations among tissue concentrations of Cr, Cu, and Ni. There were also significant correlations between tissue concentrations of N and Zn, suggesting possible synergetic effects between them. Cluster analysis clearly revealed that the chemical composition ofZ. noltii differed from that of the macroalage. Macroalgae were not grouped according to their taxonomic position, therefore it appears that the concentrations of the elements depended more on the ecological traits of the macroalgal species rather than on any possible, physiological differences among different taxonomic groups. Of the species studied,Ascophyllum nodosum andEnteromorpha spp. appeared to be the best biomonitors of metal contamination.     

Applicability of the Climate Hazards Group Infrared Precipitation with Stations as Rainfall Input for SWAT Watershed Modeling

Water Resources - This study assessed the applicability of Climate Hazards Group Infrared Precipitation with Stations (CHIRPS) as rainfall input in watershed modeling using the Soil and Water...     

Holocene evolution of a rock‐bounded barrier‐lagoon system,Cíes Islands,northwest Iberia

Coastal geomorphology results from the combined effects of contemporary dynamics, sea‐level rise and the inherited geological framework, yet the relative importance of these driving mechanisms may change throughout the evolutionary history of coastal deposits. In this contribution, we analyse the depositional history of the Cíes Islands barrier‐lagoon system, based on lithofacies, radiocarbon ages, and pollen analysis. Our results reveal a sedimentary sequence that provides evidence for striking changes in the dynamical functioning of this complex since the mid‐Holocene. The sedimentary sequence commenced about 7700 cal years bp by fresh‐water ponding of an upland depression located about 4 m below present mean sea‐level. Fresh‐water ponds were infilled by aeolian sediments following a gradual lowering of the water‐table 4000 cal years bp . Post‐3600 cal years bp sea‐level rise allowed water oscillations to reach the elevation of the bedrock causing the inundation of fresh‐water ponds and subsequent lagoonal and marine sedimentation. Subsequently, landward and upward migration of a sand‐barrier led to overwash and deposition of sand in the newly formed lagoon. The resultant sedimentary sequence suggests that climatic conditions played an important role controlling the sedimentation regime during the entire history of the basin; changing water‐table levels during early stages of evolution and increasing storminess during more recent times. In addition, background sea‐level rise related to the Holocene transgression was a key factor in controlling the evolution of the system, yet its influence depended to an extent on the relative elevation of the bedrock topography. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the morphological characteristics of overdeepenings in high‐mountain glacier beds

Overdeepenings, i.e. closed topographic depressions with adverse slopes in the direction of flow, are characteristic for glacier beds and glacially sculpted landscapes. Quantitative information about their morphological characteristics, however, has so far hardly been available. The present study provides such information by combining the analysis of (a) numerous bed overdeepenings below still existing glaciers of the Swiss Alps and the Himalaya‐Karakoram region modelled with a robust shear stress approximation and (b) detailed bathymetries from recently exposed lakes in the Peruvian Andes. The investigated overdeepenings exist where glacier surface slopes are low (< 5°–10°), occur in bedrock or morainic material and are most commonly a fraction of a kilometre squared in surface area, hundreds of metres long, about half the length in width and tens of metres deep. They form under conditions of low to high basal shear stresses, at cirque, confluence, trunk valley and terminus positions. The most striking phenomenon, however, is the high variability of their geometries: Depths, surface areas, lengths and widths of the overdeepenings vary over orders of magnitude and are only weakly – if at all – interrelated. Inclinations of adverse slopes do not differ significantly from those of forward slopes and are in many cases higher than so far assumed theoretical limits for supercooling of ascending water and corresponding closure of sub‐glacial channels. Such steep adverse slopes are a robust observation and in support of recently developed new concepts concerning the question about where supercooling of sub‐glacial water and closure of ice channels can or must occur. However, the question of when and under what climatic, topographic and ice conditions the overdeepenings had formed remains unanswered. This open question constitutes a key problem concerning the interpretation of observed overdeepenings, the understanding of the involved glacio‐hydraulic processes and the possibility of realistic predictive modelling of overdeepening formation. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reconstruction of the environmental history of a coastal insular system using shallow marine records: the last three millennia of the Cíes Islands (Ría de Vigo,NW Iberia)

The coastal lagoon‐beach complex at the Cíes Islands located at the opening of the Ría de Vigo (NW Iberia) is an important ecosystem currently threatened by anthropogenic impacts and climate variations. We used multiproxy marine sediment analyses to reconstruct the millennial environmental dynamics of this insular system and, in particular, the recent history of its coastal lagoon. Geophysical surveys were used to obtain bathymetry and identify the major sedimentary units of its closest submarine basin as well as their sediment sources. Core samples were taken in the middle and distal parts of the sedimentary body, where several prograding sedimentary units are thinner, allowing continuous sampling of the facies. Lithological, textural, elemental and chronological analyses were carried out on two cores. The detailed palynological studies on one of the cores included the analyses of the pollen, non‐pollen palynomorphs and dinocysts dating back three millennia. Our results revealed noticeable environmental changes affecting this area during the last 3000 years, due mainly to changing climate and oceanic conditions but also to the impact of historic human occupation of the islands. Several cold events (the 2.8 ka BP event and the Little Ice Age) characterized by enhanced upwelling alternated with warmer stormy periods of prevailing downwelling conditions in the ria. These circumstances altered the balance amongst the lacustrine, marsh, dune and lagoon systems, opening ephemeral inlets and modifying the trophic stage of the shallow waters surrounding the archipelago. Here we provide a background of the human and climatic impacts affecting these highly sensitive habitats, which may serve to improve their future management strategies.     

Radio imaging of the Subaru/XMM–Newton Deep Field – I. The 100-μJy catalogue, optical identifications, and the nature of the faint radio source population

We describe deep radio imaging at 1.4 GHz of the 1.3-deg² Subaru/ XMM–Newton Deep Field (SXDF), made with the Very Large Array in B and C configurations. We present a radio map of the entire field, and a catalogue of 505 sources covering 0.8 deg² to a peak flux density limit of 100 μJy. Robust optical identifications are provided for 90 per cent of the sources, and suggested identifications are presented for all but 14 (of which seven are optically blank, and seven are close to bright contaminating objects). We show that the optical properties of the radio sources do not change with flux density, suggesting that active galactic nuclei (AGN) continue to contribute significantly at faint flux densities. We test this assertion by cross-correlating our radio catalogue with the X-ray source catalogue and conclude that radio-quiet AGN become a significant population at flux densities below 300 μJy, and may dominate the population responsible for the flattening of the radio source counts if a significant fraction of them are Compton-thick.