Defence force activities in marine protected areas:environmental management of Shoalwater Bay Training Area,Queensland,Australia

Environmental management of military activities is of growing global concern by defence forces. As one of the largest landholders in Australia, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) is increasingly concerned with sustainable environmental management. This paper focuses on how the ADF is maintaining effective environmental management, especially in environmentally sensitive marine protected areas. It uses Shoalwater Bay Training Area (SWBTA) as a research example to examine environmental management strategies conducted by the ADF. SWBTA is one of the most significant Defence training areas in Australia, with a large number of single, joint and combined military exercises conducted in the area. With its maritime component contained in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park (GBRMP), the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA), and abutting Queensland’s State Marine Parks, it has high protection values. It is therefore vital for the ADF to adopt environmentally responsible management while they are conducting military activities. As to various tools employed to manage environmental performance, the ISO 14001 Environmental Management System (EMS) is widely used by the ADF. This paper examines military activities and marine environmental management within SWBTA, using the Talisman Saber (TS) exercise series as an example. These are extensive joint exercises conducted by the ADF and the United States defence forces. The paper outlines relevant legislative framework and environmental policies, analyses how the EMS operates in environmental management of military activities, and how military activities comply with these regulations. It discusses the implementation of the ADF EMS, including risk reduction measures, environmental awareness training, consultation and communication with stakeholders. A number of environmental management actions used in the TS exercises are presented to demonstrate the EMS application. Our investigations to this point indicate that the ADF is complying with all relevant legislation and policies. Further research is required to confirm compliance and conclude that military activities have good accord with environmental management objectives.     

澳大利亚昆士兰州Forsayth地区金矿地质特征及找矿标志

Forsayth矿区地处澳大利亚昆士兰州SE—NW向“大礁”成矿带的东南部Ropewalk群金矿集区。工作区内含矿构造近EW走向。区内金矿床属中温岩浆热液多金属硫化物石英脉型,地表-50m以浅矿石为氧化矿,50m以深矿石为原生矿。利用地质块段法、SD法与澳大利亚地质专家资源量估算结果进行对比,矿区内累计探获金金属量25 t。该文通过地质探矿,结合成矿地质背景、矿床地质特征,总结矿床成因及找矿标志,并指出深部找矿远景。     

Relationship between environmental factors and plankton in the Bayuquan Port,Liaodong Bay,China: a five-year study

To understand the relationship between the plankton community and environmental factors and water quality in the Bayuquan Port of Liaodong Bay, China, and investigations were carried out during six different periods (April 2009, April 2010, October 2011, April 2012, October 2012, and April 2013). This area was characterized by high levels of nutrient and suspended solids (SPS) during survey periods, and eutrophication led to the occurrence of red tides in April and October 2012 and April 2013. Our analyses revealed that the plankton communities of Bayuquan Port lacked stability and were affected seriously by external disturbance (e.g., oceanographic engineering and river runoff). Our data indicate that oil, dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), SPS, and chlorophyll a (Chl-a) were key factors that regulated the phytoplankton and zooplankton communities. The partial redundancy analysis (partial RDA) suggested that oil and SPS were the most important environmental variables affecting the phytoplankton community in April 2010 and 2012, whereas DIN concentration played a governing role in zooplankton dynamics. Oil and Chl- a concentrations affected significantly the zooplankton community in October 2012. Therefore, the plankton communities could reflect both dynamic changes in coastal environmental factors and the ongoing eutrophication process caused by anthropogenic activities in this area.     

渤海东部庙北地区古近系层序与沉积特征

综合壁心、薄片、钻井和三维地震等资料分析渤海东部庙北地区古近系层序与沉积特征,并运用地震相、古地貌和地震
属性刻画沉积体系平面展布。研究表明,古近系由1个二级层序、4个三级层序组成,经历了一个完整的湖泊初始发育、扩张及萎
缩阶段,主要发育扇三角洲、碳酸盐岩浅滩、半深湖-深湖、辫状河三角洲等沉积体系。不同的沉积体系形成于不同的湖泊演化阶
段,地震响应特征也不同。扇三角洲和碳酸盐岩浅滩发育于湖泊初始发育阶段,扇三角洲表现为填充型楔形前积反射,沿凸起边
缘断坡带呈朵状分布;碳酸盐岩浅滩表现为水进型丘形叠瓦状反射,呈椭圆状分布于水下古隆起带上,椭圆的长轴方向平行于水
下古隆起带走向;半深湖-深湖相暗色泥岩发育于湖泊扩张期,表现为平行连续中弱振幅反射,在庙西北洼和渤东凹陷深陷带最
为发育;辫状河三角洲发育于湖泊萎缩期,表现为低角度中高频、中弱振幅前积反射,沿凸起边缘挠曲坡折带呈朵叶状分布。庙北
地区油气显示普遍,这种沉积体系识别与刻画结果对于该区油气勘探具有重要意义。      

TIDAL FRONTS AND THEIR INFLUENCE ON PRAWN POSTLARVAE IMMIGRATION IN ALBATROSS BAY, THE GULF OF CARPENTARIA, AUSTRALIA

Studies of dynamics in Albatross Bay, the Gulf of Carpentaria, Australia, show strong tides of which M_2is the dominant constituent in the region. Tidal fronts are present and they can be modeled by a 2-Dtidal model. Density currents have also been observed with seasonal variations due to the influence ofwet or dry seasons. This paper reviews the effects of these dynamics on the migration of prawn postlarvae in AlbatrossBay and its estuaries. It is found that through its vertical movement triggered by change of salinity theprawn postlarvae can be transported from the coast to the estuary by tides within 2.8 weeks. Howeverthis horizontal displacement mechanism may be destroyed by the tidal front in Albatross Bay. Densitycurrents may alter prawn postlarvae positions in Albatross Bay on a seasonal scale.     

THE EVOLUTION OF STENOLS AND STANOLS IN MARINE SEDIMENT CORE FROM BEIBU BAY, THE SOUTH CHINA SEA

Ten stenols and stanols were identified by TLC , GC and GC-MS-DS in a marine sediment core from Beibu Bay , the South China Sea .C27, C28 and C29 A5 stenols and 5a- stanols mainly come from zoopiankton, algae and phytoplankton in marine environment. C29 24-ethylcholest- 5 - en- 3B- ol is thought to indicate input of terrigenous organic matter . The increase of C27 . C28 and C29 5a-stanol /5 stenol ratios with sediment depth shows the evolution of stenols and stanols in the marine sediment core .     

Diversity and seasonal variation of marine phytoplankton in Jiaozhou Bay,China revealed by morphological observation and metabarcoding

Journal of Oceanology and Limnology - Phytoplankton are central components of marine environments, and are major players in the production and respiration budgeting. However, their diversity and...     

The origin,historical variations,and distribution of heavy metals in the Qiongzhou Strait and nearby marine areas

We analyzed heavy metal concentrations in a number of surface sediments and cores from the Qiongzhou Strait and surrounding marine areas.The areas of high concentrations are primarily outside the eastern mouth of the Qiongzhou Strait and on the west side of the Leizhou Peninsula,whereas the areas of low concentrations are located primarily in the eastern Qiongzhou Strait.The maximum Cd,Pb and Zn concentrations in the samples collected in our study do not exceed the official standards for marine sediments,whereas the concentrations of Cr and Cu slightly exceed the standards.Correlations exist between the concentrations of Cu,Pb,Zn,Cr and Cd,and the concentrations of these metals are positively correlated with the mean particle size(φ value),indicating that the finer sediments have adsorbed greater amounts of heavy metal elements than the coarser sediments.An evaluation of the potential environmental risks demonstrates that certain indices of heavy metal pollution and environmental risks are relatively low and may be assigned low risk levels,thereby indicating that,in terms of heavy metals,the marine sedimentary environment in this region is only mildly impacted.Our analysis of the contaminant origins shows that the heavy metals in this region primarily originate in the Pearl River Estuary and that a small amount of them is derived from local runoff.The elevated heavy metal concentrations from the upper sections of the cores started 130 years ago,which indicats that heavy metals in the surface sediments are primarily due to human activities associated with industrialization.     

Spatial variation of lipophilic marine algal toxins and its relationship with physicochemical parameters in spring in Laizhou Bay,China

Journal of Oceanology and Limnology - Lipophilic marine algal toxins (LMATs) are produced by some toxigenic microalgae, which pose a serious threat to marine ecosystem and even human health. The...     

Seasonal change in body length of important small copepods and relationship with environmental factors in Jiaozhou Bay,China

Differences among species in prosome length and in species’ response to environmental factors do exist. Therefore, it is useful to examine prosome length for different copepod species in variable environments. Seasonal variations in prosome length of four small copepods and their copepodite stages in the Jiaozhou Bay were compared and the relative influence of temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll concentration were examined. Two peaks were found in the mean prosome length of Paracalanus parvus (in early winter and May). For Acartia bifilosa, the maximum values of all copepodites occurred mainly from February to April, and decreased to the bottom in July. Prosome length of Acartia pacifica peaked when it first appeared in June, then reached to the minimum in July. Parvocalanus crassirostris only appeared from late summer to autumn and the mean prosome length showed no clear changes. Correlations of adult prosome length with environmental factors were evaluated. For the four species, temperature was negatively correlated to prosome length except for P. crassirostris. But the different species varied markedly in their responds to temperature. A. bifilosa showed a more definite trend of size variation with temperature than P. parvus and A. pacifica. Correlations of prosome length with salinity were significantly positive for almost all the small copepods. The relationship between chlorophyll concentration and prosome length was complicated for these copepods, but for P. parvus, chlorophyll concentration was also an important affecting factor. Furthermore, investigation needs to be done on food quality for some copepod. These results are essential to estimate the biomass and the production, and to understand these small copepods’ population dynamics in this human-affected bay.     

Chlorophenols in marine organisms from the southern coast of Hangzhou Bay,China, and an assessment of risks posed to human health

The composition of chlorophenols in marine organisms from the southern coast of Hangzhou Bay, China, was analyzed and the health risks posed to humans assessed. A total of 19 chlorophenols from 16 types of marine organism were analyzed across nine survey sections in Hangzhou Bay. The chlorophenols were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry using a DB-5MS quartz capillary column. The concentrations of monochlorophenol, dichlorophenol, trichlorophenol, tetrachlorophenol, and pentachlorophenol ranged from below the detection limit(ND) to 132 μg/kg, ND–51.0 μg/kg, ND–42.5 μg/kg, ND–69.0 μg/kg, and ND–9.06 μg/kg, respectively. Additionally, concentration differences between each type of chlorophenol were not significant( P 0.05). However, significant differences were found between monochlorophenol( F =8.13, P 0.01) and total chlorophenol(F =5.19, P 0.01) concentrations. As the noncarcinogenic risk indices were 0.1(10-5 –10-2) for all of the organisms, no high risk was posed by 2-chlorophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, 2,4,5-trichlorophenol, 2,3,4,6-tetrachlorophenol, and pentachlorophenol to humans consuming marine organisms from the study area. Furthermore, the carcinogenic risks posed by 2,4,6-trichlorophenol and pentachlorophenol were lower than limits set by the International Commission on Radiological Protection and the US Environmental Protection Agency. However, the noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic risks posed by chlorophenols in marine organisms from four of the survey sections(Sizaopu, Niluoshan, Longshan Town and Xinhong zha) were higher than the other survey sections.     

Identifying Spatial Heterogeneity in the Effects of High-Tech Firm Density on Housing Prices: Evidence from Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area,China

Innovation capitalization is a new concept in innovation geography research. Extant research on a city scale has proven that innovation is an important factor affecting housing prices and verified that innovation has a capitalization effect. However, few studies investigate the spatial heterogeneity of innovation capitalization. Thus, case verification at the urban agglomeration scale is needed.Therefore, this study proposes a theoretical framework for the spatial heterogeneity of innovation cap...     

The influence of key environmental variables on phytoplankton community structure in the estuary of tidal rivers around Luoyuan Bay,China

A total of 348 species belonging to 8 phyla and 125 genera were observed in seasonally sampled phytoplankton of tidal rivers from 13 sampling sites around Luoyuan Bay, and all field samplings were carried out in productive period(March/June/August/December) at ebb tide. Bacillariophyta species were the most abundant species, followed by Chlorophyta, Cyanophytes, Euglenophyta, Cryptophyta, Dinophyta, Xanthophyta and Chrysophytas. Seasonal distribution index(SDI) value ranged from 0.63 to 0.86, which meant that species found at those sites in 4 seasons tended to be largely different. Phytoplankton individuals ranged from 5.939×10~4 ind L~(-1) in winter to 75.31×10~4 ind L~(-1) in autumn. Phytoplankton biomass ranged from 0.620 mg L~(-1) in summer to 2.373 mg L~(-1) in autumn. The grey correlation analysis(GCA) showed that the nutrient variables played an important role in the influence on phytoplankton community in every season. The canonical correspondence analysis(CCA) revealed impact of environmental variables on the different species, most of Bacillariophyta species were negative correlation with nutrients(TP and NH_3-N) in the four seasons, Chlorophyta species and Cyanophyta species did not show obvious correlation with environment variables in every season. The combination of GRA analysis and CCA analysis provided a method to quantitatively reveal the correlation between phytoplankton community and environmental variables in water body of tidal rivers at this region.     

Overall-effective Measures for Sustainable Water Resources Management in the Coastal Areas of Shandong Province, China ——Case Study： the Huangshuihe River Catchment of Longkou City

In the coastal catchments of Shandong Province the water scarcity is aggravated due to saltwater intrusion, reducing the usability of water resources available. Such a situation calls for sustainable integrated water resources management （IWRM）. The idea for the objectives and implementation of the IWRM are explained in this paper. The general objective of the planned project disscussed in the present study is to bring together German traditional expertise in water resources management and newer developments in the context of the European Water Framework Directive; the research efforts aim to relieve the desperate water scarcity situation in the costal area of Shandong Province.     

Relationships between river water quality and landscape factors in Haihe River Basin,China: Implications for environmental management

River water plays a key role in human health, and in social and economic development, and is often affected by both natural factors and human activities. An in-depth understanding of the role of these factors can help in developing an effective catchment management strategy to protect precious water resources. This study analyzed river water quality, patterns of terrestrial and riparian ecosystems, intensity of agricultural activities, industrial structure, and spatial distribution of pollutant emissions in the Haihe River Basin in China for the year of 2010, identifying the variables that have the greatest impact on river water quality. The area percentage of farmland in study area, the percentage of natural vegetation cover in the 1000-m riparian zone, rural population density, industrial Gross Domestic Product (GDP)/km², and industrial amino nitrogen emissions were all significantly correlated with river water quality (P < 0.05). Farming had the largest impact on river water quality, explaining 43.0% of the water quality variance, followed by the coverage of natural vegetation in the 1000-m riparian zone, which explained 36.2% of the water quality variance. Industrial amino nitrogen emissions intensity and rural population density explained 31.6% and 31.4% of the water quality variance, respectively, while industrial GDP/km² explained 26.6%. Together, these five indicators explained 67.3% of the total variance in water quality. Consequently, water environmental management of the Haihe River Basin should focus on adjusting agricultural activities, conserving riparian vegetation, and reducing industrial pollutant emissions by optimizing industrial structure. The results demonstrate how human activities drive the spatial pattern changes of river water quality, and they can provide reference for developing land use guidelines and for prioritizing management practices to maintain stream water quality in a large river basin.     

Distribution and Ecological Risk Assessment of HCHs and DDTs in Surface Seawater and Sediment of the Mariculture Area of Jincheng Bay,China

The distribution of hexachlorocyclohexanes(HCHs) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes(DDTs) in the surface seawater and sediment of Jincheng Bay mariculture area were investigated in the present study. The concentration of total HCHs and DDTs ranged from 2.98 to 14.87 ng L-1 and were 0.032 ng L-1, respectively, in surface seawater, and ranged from 5.52 to 9.43 and from 4.11 to 6.72 ng g-1, respectively, in surface sediment. It was deduced from the composition profile of HCH isomers and DDT congeners that HCH residues derived from a mixture of technical-grade HCH and lindane whereas the DDT residues derived from technical-grade DDT and dicofol. Moreover, both HCH and DDT residues may mainly originate from historical inputs. The hazard quotient of α-HCH, β-HCH, γ-HCH and δ-HCH to marine species was 0.030, 0.157, 3.008 and 0.008, respectively. It was estimated that the overall probability of adverse biological effect from HCHs was less than 5%, indicating that its risk to seawater column species was low. The threshold effect concentration exceeding frequency of γ-HCH, p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDE and p,p'-DDT in sediment ranged from 8.3% to 100%, and the relative concentration of the HCH and DDT mixture exceeded their probable effect level in sediment. These findings indicated that the risk to marine benthos was high and potentially detrimental to the safety of aquatic products, e.g., sea cucumber and benthic shellfish.     

晚泥盆世大陆风化作用增强及其海洋环境效应:来自华南碳酸盐岩锶同位素的制约

上泥盆统弗拉斯阶和法门阶界线附近发生了大规模的生物灭绝, 其起因被认为是植物登陆导致的陆地化学风化作用加强及其引起的海洋水体缺氧所致, 但其直接证据还比较缺乏。运用广西地区广泛发育的浅海碳酸盐岩中锶元素(Sr)和同位素(87Sr/86Sr)、铀钍比值(U/Th)记录, 探究了从中泥盆统到下石炭统的陆地化学风化速率及海水氧化还原条件的变化。研究结果表明, 在晚泥盆世(法门阶早期)陆地化学风化作用加强, 导致海水中Sr浓度升高, 及更富集重的Sr同位素组分; 低的U/Th比值也显示该时期水体缺氧严重, 海水中U元素被还原到沉积物中, 导致海水中的U浓度降低。陆地表面化学风化的加强对晚泥盆世海洋水体氧化还原条件的波动以及海洋生物的灭绝有重要影响。      

Landslide risk perception and communication for disaster risk management in mountain areas of developing countries: a Mexican foretaste

The increasing impact of disasters at local,national,regional and global scales in recent decades has provided enough evidence to urgently direct attention towards the necessity of disaster risk reduction and management,and this requires knowledge.Knowledge without communication is barren,and to communicate the risk of disaster it is necessary to understand the perception of the people at risk.In particular,this paper deals with the necessity to delineate strategies of risk communication in pursuance of risk knowledge as a core of disaster risk reduction and management,especially in mountain areas of developing countries.To portray this issue,an analysis of landslide risk perception in terms of experience,landslide risk awareness,exposure,preparedness,and risk communication and trust was undertaken in the municipality of Teziutlán,Puebla,Mexico,an area that has been affected for several decades by episodes of mass movement.Analysis of the responses to a risk perception questionnaire has offered valuable insights in terms of the information and knowledge most required by the people living in the area of interest,in order to devise a realistic and functional strategy to communicate the risk of a landslide disaster.This includes better understanding of controlling factorsand drivers of this risk,and the establishment of potential trusted sources of risk communication.Beyond considering practical matters of risk assessment and management,risk perception and communication can increase the resilience of vulnerable people,and can enhance capacity building for present and future generations.     

Environmental capacity of petroleum hydrocarbon pollutants in Jiaozhou Bay, China: Modeling and calculation

An environmental capacity model for the petroleum hydrocarbon pollutions (PHs) in Jiaozhou Bay is constructed based on field surveys, mesocosm, and parallel laboratory experiments. Simulated results of PHs seasonal successions in 2003 match the field surveys of Jiaozhou Bay resaonably well with a highest value in July. The Monte Carlo analysis confirms that the variation of PHs concentration significantly correlates with the river input. The water body in the bay is reasonably subjected to self-purification processes, such as volatilization to the atmosphere, biodegradation by microorganism, and transport to the Yellow Sea by water exchange. The environmental capacity of PHs in Jiaozhou Bay is 1500 tons per year IF the seawater quality criterion (Grade Ⅰ/Ⅱ, 0.05 mgL-1) in the region is to be satisfied. The contribution to self-purification by volatilization, biodegradation, and transport to the Yellow Sea accounts for 48%, 28%, and 23%, respectively, which make these three processes the main ways of PHs purification in Jiaozhou Bay.