Characterization of humic substances in salt marsh soils under sea rush (Juncus maritimus)

Humic substances (HS) from salt marsh soils were characterized and the relationships among HS composition and some geochemical factors were analysed. For this, three salt marshes with the same vegetation cover (Juncus maritimus), but with different geochemical characteristics, were selected. The qualitative characterization of the soil humic acids and fulvic acids was carried out by elemental analysis, FTIR spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy and VACP/MAS ¹³C NMR spectroscopy.HS from salt marsh soils under sea rush (Juncus maritimus) displayed some shared characteristics such as low degree of humification, low aromatic content and high proportion of labile compounds, mainly polysaccharides and proteins. However, although the three salt marsh soils under study were covered by the same type of vegetation, the HS showed some important differences. HS composition was found to be determined not only by the nature of the original organic material, but also by environmental factors such as soil texture, redox conditions and tidal influence. In general, an increase in the humification process appeared to be related to aerobic conditions and predominance of sand in the mineral fraction of the soil, while the preservation of labile organic compounds may be associated with low redox potential values and fine soil texture.     

Analyses of stomach contents and stable isotopes reveal food sources of estuarine detritivorous fish in tropical/subtropical Taiwan

Detritivorous fish generally refers to fish that primarily ingest unidentified organic detritus. We analyzed stomach contents in combination with stable isotopes to trace and compare the food sources of the large-scale mullet Liza macrolepis and other detritivorous fish species in subtropical mangrove creeks and a tropical lagoon in Taiwan. The volume of organic detritus always contributed >50% of the stomach content of L. macrolepis in the two habitats. However, consumed items were distinct between the two habitats and corresponded to the types in which they reside. The consumed items in the lagoon were more diverse than those observed in the mangroves. In the mangroves, the diet composition of L. macrolepis was primarily determined by season, not by body size. In the lagoon, there were no clear seasonal or size-dependent grouping patterns for the diet composition. There were significant seasonal and spatial variations in δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N values of potential food sources and L. macrolepis. However, neither δ¹³C nor δ¹⁵N values of L. macrolepis were correlated with fish body size. Joint analyses of stomach contents and stable isotopes indicated that benthic microalgae on sediments were the most important assimilated food in both seasons for the dominant detritivorous fish in the mangroves, whereas a greater reliance on microalgal and macroalgal periphyton on oyster-culture pens was observed in the lagoon. Mangrove and marsh plants and phytoplankton, which are mostly locally produced within each habitat, were of minor importance in the assimilated food.     

Seasonal methyltin and (3-dimethylsulphonio)propionate concentrations in leaf tissue of Spartina alterniflora of the Great Bay estuary (NH)

Concentrations of total recoverable inorganic tin (TRISn), monomethyltin (MeSn³⁺), dimethyltin (Me₂Sn²⁺), trimethyltin (Me₃Sn⁺) and (3-dimethylsulphonio)propionate (DMSP) were determined in leaves of Spartina alterniflora from three sites in the Great Bay estuary (NH) from 8 May to 15 September 1989. Total methyltin concentration increased from 8·9 ng g⁻¹ (fresh weight) on 8 May to 472 ng g⁻¹ on 23 May, decreased to 52 ng g⁻¹ on 7 June and 16ng g⁻¹ on 20 June, and remained low until the last sample on 18 September. Statistical calculations showed that methyltin concentrations varied significantly with sampling week, but not with site. DMSP concentrations showed very different behaviour. During the same sampling period DMSP concentrations varied only from 7·5 to 26 μmol g⁻¹ (fresh weight). DMSP concentrations varied significantly for site, but not sampling week.     

闽江河口入侵植物互花米草对短叶茳芏的化感效应

外来植物入侵问题是当下生态安全和生物多样性的研究热点.研究其入侵机制对制定相应的防控措施具有重要意义.选用外来入侵种互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)的根、茎、叶3种构件,分别提取其水浸液为处理液(0.325 g/cm3),通过设置室内模拟实验,揭示其对闽江河口土著种短叶茳芏(Cyperus malaccensis)植株生长的影响.结果表明:互花米草的根、茎及叶浸提液对短叶茳芏的不同生长指标具有不同程度的化感作用.互花米草浸提液处理3个月后,根、茎及叶浸提液对短叶茳芏的分蘖数、叶面积均具有一定的抑制作用,但仅叶浸提液对分蘖数和叶面积的抑制作用分别达到显著水平和极显著水平,根及茎浸提液的抑制作用均不显著;茎浸提液对短叶茳芏的株高具有一定的促进作用,根及叶浸提液对短叶茳芏的株高具有一定的抑制作用,但三者的作用强度均未达到显著水平;根浸提液对短叶茳芏的根系活力具有轻微的促进作用,茎及叶浸提液对短叶茳芏的根系活力具有显著抑制作用;根、茎及叶浸提液对短叶茳芏的综合化感效应均表现为抑制作用,根与茎浸提液的综合化感效应相当,均小于叶浸提液的综合化感效应.     

大米草多糖的提取及其单糖组成的GC-MS 分析

分析了海洋滩涂生物大米草(Spartina anglica)中的多糖成分和单糖组成,为这种生物资源的开发提供科学依据。利用水提醇沉、Sevag法脱蛋白得到纯大米草多糖,经三氟乙酸降解、糖腈乙酸酯衍生,最后用气相色谱-质谱联用法(GC-MS)分析大米草多糖中的单糖组成。结果表明大米草单糖组成为鼠李糖、核糖、阿拉伯糖、木糖、甘露糖、葡萄糖、半乳糖,其质量分数分别是:4.13%,3.02%,11.94%,8.89%,6.82%,27.18%,38.00%。大米草多糖是一种可利用的食品资源,其主要成分半乳糖、葡萄糖都是营养价值很高的单糖,大米草多糖可深入研究开发其生物活性用作保健食品。     

基于回归分析的滨海湿地草本植物生物量估算方法研究

为了研究利用滨海湿地草本植物的形态指标来估算植物生物量,根据黄河三角洲互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)的调查数据,运用Pearson相关系数和回归分析法,分析了互花米草的形态指标高度、密度、茎直径与地上生物量、地下生物量、总生物量的相关性,构建了回归模型。结果表明:地上生物量和总生物量均与植株高度、密度、茎直径在0.01水平上显著相关,地下生物量与植株密度在0.01水平上显著相关。将相关性显著的生物量和相应的形态指标进行回归分析发现,其拟合优度较好,其中,拟合优度最优的回归模型分别是地上生物量与高度的“J”型增长曲线模型(拟合优度为R²=0.904)、总生物量与密度的一元线性回归模型(拟合优度为R²=0.659)。经过应用精度验证,上述两个模型评价结果均较好,估算值与实测值绝对误差范围为0.01~0.17 kg/m²,相对误差范围为0.71%~12.02%,符合实际估算应用需求。研究结果说明互花米草的生物量可以通过与其相关性较高的形态指标进行回归估算获得。     

中国滨海湿地互花米草群落甲烷通量研究的综述

互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)具有较强的固碳作用,了解互花米草群落的甲烷通量可为评估互花米草的净碳汇功能提供重要参数。本文分析了我国滨海湿地互花米草群落CH₄通量的总体特点和机制,结果表明：①不同地区互花米草群落CH₄通量无明显规律且差异较大。不同生长环境下的环境因子对CH₄排放有综合调控作用,其中很大部分是通过影响土壤中与CH₄产生有关的微生物影响CH₄通量。②互花米草群落CH₄通量夏季最高、冬春较低;日通量则处于不规则的波动中,但总体白天通量高于夜晚。CH₄通量季节差异与温度、生物量和光照呈正相关,温度影响参与CH₄生成的微生物的活性,生物量为CH₄产生提供有机质原料,光照则通过光合作用影响有机质的合成;日通量差异除与温度和光照有关外,最主要还受到潮汐变化的影响。③无潮水覆盖时CH₄通量远大于有潮水覆盖时。有潮水覆盖时互花米草下部作为CH₄排向大气的重要通道受阻,同时CH₄被储存于土壤或排放到潮水中,落潮后才进入大气,因此CH₄通量更低。④刈割会降低CH₄通量。互花米草植株为CH₄的产生提供了重要原料,同时利用通气组织将CH₄排放到大气,刈割切断了CH₄传输途径并减少了地上生物量,因此降低了CH₄通量。     

Spartina anglica eradication experiment and in situ monitoring assess structuring strength of habitat complexity on marine macrofauna at high tidal level

The cordgrass Spartina anglica is an introduced species that tends to invade sheltered sand and mudflats, at the upper low marsh level. In Arcachon Bay, a lagoon in South West of France, the cordgrass can also replace Zostera noltii beds. The consequence of cordgrass presence on macrobenthic fauna was estimated and compared to adjacent habitats (bare sands, Z. noltii sea grass beds) during one year. The communities of the three habitats were characterised by low species richness, low abundance and biomass (when Hydrobia ulvae, 90% of abundance, is not considered) and high seasonal stability. The infaunal assemblages were particularly homogeneous between habitats without any characteristic species.Cordgrass eradication experiments were performed and zoobenthic recolonisation was observed the following year. Modifications in benthic fauna were observed on epifauna only.These results highlight the limited structuring effect of habitat heterogeneity at high tidal levels and in soft-bottom sediments where desiccation becomes the dominant factor determining infauna community structure.     

The effect of standing biomass on flow velocity and turbulence in Spartina alterniflora canopies

Plant-flow interactions on the surface of tidal wetlands result in flow characteristics that are profoundly different from non-vegetated flows. Reductions in mean flow velocity and turbulence, especially the vertical components, limit vertical mixing and may impact a wide range of processes including geochemical exchanges at the sediment water interface, larval recruitment and dispersion, and sediment deposition and retention. The goal of this paper is to quantify horizontal and vertical components of velocity, turbulence intensity and total turbulent kinetic energy in Spartina alterniflora canopies in southeastern North Carolina and to relate flow characteristics to particulate transport on the marsh surface. Another aim of this paper is to assess the extent to which the distribution of standing biomass affects mean flow and turbulence by comparing S. alterniflora data to other canopy types and through a series of canopy manipulations which altered canopy height and stem densities.The results of this study indicate that flow velocity, turbulence intensity, and total turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) are significantly reduced within the vegetated canopy and that this reduction is inversely related to the amount of biomass present in the water column. Within the canopy, approximately 50% of the initial mean velocity and TKE is reduced within 5 m of the canopy edge. Within the canopy, mean velocity and TKE_horiz usually exceeded vertical velocity or TKE_vert and the vertical components of flow were attenuated more strongly than the horizontal. These results suggest that within the vegetation, turbulence contributes more to lateral advection than to vertical mixing. As a result, total suspended solid concentrations were shown to decrease logarithmically with distance from the canopy edge and to decrease at a faster rate in more densely vegetated regions of the canopy (i.e. lower TKE_vert) as compared to areas of sparser vegetation (i.e. higher TKE_vert).     

除草剂对滨海外来物种互化米草除控效果

互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)作为入侵物种,对我国沿海滩涂生态环境造成不利影响。为筛选成本低、见效快的互花米草化学除控剂,本研究选取了草甘膦、草铵膦2种除草剂,采用盆栽与大田试验探讨除草剂剂量及复配对互花米草的除控效果,通过底栖生物白蛤(Mactra veneriformis)和青蛤(Cyclina sinensis)培养模拟实验评价其生态安全性。结果表明,单一施用时草铵膦效果要优于草甘膦,最佳用量是药剂制造商推荐量的150%,但单一施用对互花米草致死率仅为20%;复配可以显著提高互花米草致死率、降低生物量,草甘膦、草铵膦复配处理的大田试验最佳用量为9 450 mL/hm²、13 500 mL/hm²,致死率可达90%。底栖生物培养试验结果表明,在所应用的剂量范围内,草甘膦和草铵膦对本土底栖生物致死率为0,在体内略有富集,但总体生态安全影响较小。本研究着重于滨海湿地互花米草的化学除控方式及生物安全性评价,以期为今后互花米草的除控研究提供参考。     

融合浅层特征的深度卷积神经网络互花米草遥感监测方法

基于2018年10月份黄河口入海两侧的LANDSAT8 OLI影像,提取植被指数和缨帽变换分量共9维光谱特征,构建融合浅层特征的8层深度卷积神经网络(deepconvolutionalneuralnetwork,DCNN)分类模型,开展互花米草(SpartinaalternifloraLoisel)遥感监测的方法研究,并从不同的浅层特征来具体分析互花米草的监测结果。结果表明:(1)在分类方法上,DCNN模型的总体分类精度最高,达到90.33%,与支持向量机(support vector machine, SVM)、随机森林(random forest, RF)分类器相比,精度分别提高4.78%、2.7%,互花米草的生产者精度分别提高了2.56%、0.47%,说明在滨海湿地遥感影像分类中, DCNN有着更好的应用潜力;(2)融合浅层特征后, DCNN的总体分类精度和互花米草的识别精度分别提高了0.34%和3.25%,有效提高了对互花米草的监测能力。其中,融合归一化植被水分指数(NDII)浅层特征的DCNN分类方法中,互花米草的识别精度提高最多,为2.56%,比值植被指数(RVI)次之,为2.32%。研究结果可为互花米草的监测与管理提供技术与数据支撑。     

Comparison of ecophysiological characteristics between introduced and indigenous mangrove species in China

Due to its rapid growth, the introduced mangrove species Sonneratia apetala from Bangladesh has been widely used in mangrove restoration in southeastern China since 1985. As an indigenous mangrove species in Hainan, China, Sonneratia caseolaris was also planted in Guangdong Province for afforestation purposes. Both species have developed well in their new habitats, but their ecophysiological differences with the native mangrove species have not been studied. In this study, leaf gas exchange, water and nitrogen use efficiencies of two Sonneratia species were compared with those of selected native mangrove species (Avicennia marina, Aegiceras corniculatum, Kandelia candel, and Excoecaria agallocha) in Hainan and Shenzhen. The introduced S. apetala maintained lower carbon assimilation rate (A) and photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (PNUE) than the indigenous S. caseolaris. In Shenzhen, the two introduced Sonneratia had comparable photosynthetic rates and water use efficiency (WUE) with the native mangrove species, except that PNUE in S. caseolaris was significantly higher than in the native mangrove species. The two Sonneratia species showed significant overlap in PNUE and long-term WUE. Photosynthetic parameters derived from leaf photosynthetic light–response curves and A–C_i curves also suggested lower carbon assimilation capacities for the introduced Sonneratia than for the native mangrove species in both study sites. The lower light compensation point (LCP) of two introduced Sonneratia in both study sites also indicated a better adaptation to a low light regime than the native mangrove species. The results of photosynthetic capacities indicated that the introduced mangrove species have little competitive advantage over local native mangrove species in their respective new habitats.     

Variability of organic δC and C/N in the Mersey Estuary, U.K. and its implications for sea-level reconstruction studies

Microfossil analysis (e.g. diatoms, foraminifera and pollen) represents the cornerstone of Holocene relative sea-level (RSL) reconstruction because their distribution in the contemporary inter-tidal zone is principally controlled by ground elevation within the tidal frame. A combination of poor microfossil preservation and a limited range in the sediment record may severely restrict the accuracy of resulting RSL reconstructions. Organic δ¹³C and C/N analysis of inter-tidal sediments have shown some potential as coastal palaeoenvironmental proxies. Here we assess their viability for reconstructing RSL change by examining patterns of organic δ¹³C and C/N values in a modern estuarine environment. δ¹³C and C/N analysis of bulk organic inter-tidal sediments and vegetation, as well as suspended and bedload organic sediments of the Mersey Estuary, U.K., demonstrate that the two main sources of organic carbon to surface saltmarsh sediments (terrestrial vegetation and tidal-derived particulate organic matter) have distinctive δ¹³C and C/N signatures. The resulting relationship between ground elevation within the tidal frame and surface sediment δ¹³C and C/N is unaffected by decompositional changes. The potential of this technique for RSL reconstruction is demonstrated by the analysis of part of an early Holocene sediment core from the Mersey Estuary. Organic δ¹³C and C/N analysis is less time consuming than microfossil analysis and is likely to provide continuous records of RSL change.     

基于点云与影像融合的黄河三角洲互花米草提取方法

针对卫星遥感技术在对滨海湿地互花米草监测时受分辨率、气候条件等多种因素限制存在一定局限性且通过单一的影像数据提取互花米草时精度不稳定的问题,提出了基于无人机点云与影像融合的面向对象互花米草提取方法。以黄河三角洲自然保护区为研究对象,获取了该区域的点云和多光谱影像。先将地面滤波后提取的植被点云与多光谱影像进行特征组合优化,然后对融合影像采用FNEA算法进行多尺度分割后采用基于改进的最近邻算法进行面向对象分类,最终得到的互花米草生产者精度和用户精度分别达到了82.53%和86.43%,较未融合点云的提取精度分别提高了22.34%和7.66%,分类结果的总体精度从89.54%提升至92.61%,且融合点云后影像能够有效区分两种生长状态的互花米草,表明本文提出的方法能够有效提高互花米草的提取精度。     

Impact of predation on the polychaete Hediste diversicolor in estuarine intertidal flats

In estuarine sediment flats benthic macroinvertebrates are intensively consumed by a variety of predators, such as aquatic birds and nekton (mostly fish and crustaceans). However, there is still a lack of conclusive studies that evaluate if this predation has a relevant impact on the populations of those invertebrates, which are a key element of the estuarine food chain. In the Tagus estuary we experimentally tested and quantified the impact of predation on the polychaete Hediste diversicolor, one of the most important prey for a variety of predators in many estuaries. Using an exclusion experiment, we compared the seasonal variation in the densities of H. diversicolor from February to November in sediment plots (1) available to both bird and nekton predators, (2) just to nekton, and (3) without predators. We also followed changes in the abundance of potential predators throughout the study. The lowest densities were systematically observed in the plots accessible to all predators, followed by those which excluded just birds, and finally by those that excluded all predators. The exclosures were in place for 9 months, at the end of which the average density of H. diversicolor in the plots protected from all predators was eight times greater than in those without any protection. These results demonstrate that predation had a major impact on the densities of H. diversicolor. The relative importance of bird and nekton predation varied along the study, and this seems to be determined by different peaks of abundance of the two types of predators. However, when present in high densities, birds and nekton seem to have a similar impact on H. diversicolor. Our results suggest that predation is a key factor on the population dynamics of H. diversicolor. In addition, the levels of predation that we observed suggest that this polychaete can be a limited resource, and this could have major ecological consequences for predators for which it is a key prey.     

Food web structure of two Mediterranean lagoons under varying degree of eutrophication

The food web structure and functioning of two north-western Mediterranean lagoons exhibiting contrasting degrees of eutrophication and marine influences were compared through δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N analysis of major potential food sources and consumers. The Lapalme Lagoon is well preserved and has kept a natural and temporary connection with the open sea. Conversely, the Canet Lagoon is heavily eutrophicated and its water exchange with the open sea has been artificially reduced. In Lapalme, all potential food sources and consumers exhibited δ¹⁵N values indicative of pristine coastal areas. Suspended particulate organic matter (POM) and sediment organic matter (SOM) pools seemed to constitute the main food sources of most primary consumers. Both primary producers and all consumers were much more ¹⁵N-enriched (by  10‰) and more ¹³C-depleted in Canet than in Lapalme. This reflected: (1) the assimilation of important amounts of anthropogenic nitrogen in the food web, and (2) a marked and uniform influence of ¹³C-depleted allochtonous sources of carbon. Based on the mean δ¹⁵N of primary consumers, we found rather similar food web lengths in both lagoons with top consumers at trophic levels 3.6 and 4.0 in Canet and Lapalme, respectively. However, the eutrophication of the Canet Lagoon resulted in a simplification of the food web structure (i.e., a single trophic pathway from a ¹⁵N-enriched fraction of the SOM pool to top predators) compared to what was observed in Lapalme Lagoon where additional ¹³C-enriched food sources played a significant trophic role. Moreover, some consumers of Canet tended to exploit primary producers to a larger extent (and thus to exhibit lower trophic levels) than in Lapalme.     

基于无人机高光谱的外来入侵种互花米草遥感监测方法研究——以黄河三角洲为研究区

互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)入侵性非常强,已被正式纳入我国第一批外来入侵物种名单。互花米草的疯狂蔓延已影响到当地土著物种的生长和空间分布,因此有关管理部门迫切需要互花米草的空间分布和扩散动态数据,但目前还没有一个有效的监测手段。针对这一需求,本文作者提出了基于无人机高光谱的外来入侵种互花米草遥感监测研究方案,拟以黄河三角洲为研究区,利用无人机高光谱遥感新型技术,分析不同情形下(不同生长状况、不同观测条件、不同环境条件等)互花米草的光谱特征,建立鲁棒的互花米草遥感检测模型,研究互花米草无人机高光谱图像高效获取方法,以实现互花米草的高效、准确监测,为亟需的外来入侵种互花米草业务化监测提供有效的技术手段。     

Distinctive C isotopic signature distinguishes a novel sea ice biomarker in Arctic sediments and sediment traps

A C₂₅ highly branched isoprenoid (HBI) monoene hydrocarbon, designated IP₂₅, has been proposed previously to originate from diatoms living in Arctic sea ice, while the presence of IP₂₅ in sediments has been suggested to be a proxy for the occurrence of former Arctic sea ice. Here, we show that the ¹³C isotopic composition of IP₂₅ in sea ice, in sediment trap material collected under sea ice, and in high latitude northern sediments, is distinctive (isotopically ‘heavy’) and distinguishable from that of organic matter of planktonic or terrigenous origin. Mean δ¹³C values for IP₂₅ were − 22.3 ± 0.4‰ (sea ice), − 19.6 ± 1.1‰ (sediment traps) and − 19.3 ± 2.3‰ (sediments). These measurements, therefore, support further the proposed use of IP₂₅ as an Arctic sea ice proxy.     

Stable isotope analysis of some representative fish and invertebrates of the Newfoundland and Labrador continental shelf food web

We examined stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic signatures of 17 fish and 16 invertebrate taxa common to the Newfoundland and Labrador (NL) continental shelf food web. Particular sampling emphasis was placed on Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) and related prey species (e.g. shrimp, Pandalus borealis, and capelin, Mallotus villosus). We found highly significant (p < 0.0001) differences between near-shore (bays) and offshore (shelf edge) δ¹⁵N signatures for cod, ‘other fish’ (pooled) and invertebrates (pooled). In contrast, there were only minor differences in δ¹³C signatures of ‘other fish’ (p < 0.05) and no difference for cod and invertebrates among the two habitats. We sampled at two times of the year (January and June) and found no systematic effect of season on both δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N in cod, ‘other fish’ and invertebrates. We calculated isotopic fractionation factors for cod from the entire shelf (mixed diet) and for cod with diets composed mainly of capelin or shrimp. These values ranged between 2.2‰ and 3.9‰ for δ¹⁵N and −0.4‰ and 0.8‰ for δ¹³C and, for δ¹⁵N, may reflect diet-related differences in bioenergetic status. We discuss potential mechanisms for near-shore versus offshore enrichment of δ¹⁵N signatures, and demonstrate the implications of this spatial variation on δ¹⁵N-derived trophic position estimates.     

The effect of salinity on clearance rate in the suspension-feeding estuarine gastropod Crepipatella dilatata under natural and controlled conditions

The suspension-feeding gastropod Crepipatella dilatata occurs in estuaries in southern Chile that experience considerable fluctuations in salinity, driven by tidal and atmospheric forces. In the Quempillén estuary salinities as low as 9 psu may occur after severe rainstorms, and persist for several hours. In this study salinity was the major factor influencing the clearance rate of C. dilatata. At salinities below 20 psu, filtration ceased, whereas at high salinities (>22 psu) mean clearance rate was 0.24 l h⁻¹ standard animal⁻¹ (S.D. 0.18) for actively filtering individuals. This was confirmed by laboratory experiments under controlled conditions. Endoscopic observations were consistent with measurements of clearance rate, and showed that at salinity 25–30 psu the rate of transport along the gill filaments of particulate material embedded in mucus was 759 μm s⁻¹ (S.D. 480), but particle transport ceased at and below salinity 20 psu. Complete or partial isolation of the mantle cavity from the environment may be a mechanism to protect soft tissues and/or incubated egg capsules from osmotic stress.