鱼类形态特征与营养级位置之间关系初探

以长江中下游洪泛平原湖泊鱼类为例,探讨鱼类功能性形态特征与其营养级位置之间的关系.所用的116种鱼的食性数据来自于226个鱼类群落,总计16267尾鱼.用几何形态测量法的界标分析法提取鱼类形态特征,相对扭曲度法的前2个主成份能较好地区分鱼类的形态差异,它不仅能够生成散点图,而且能客观地反映出鱼类的形态性状.营养级位置采用肠含物定量分析法,合理地假定肠含物的营养级位置,利用食性数据计算出鱼类的营养级位置.采用广义加性模型分析鱼类营养级位置与功能性形态之间的关系.结果表明:只有当鱼类为植食性鱼类和肉食性鱼类才有特化的功能性形态与之相适应,植食性鱼类有较窄的口裂,而对肉食性鱼类而言,不同生活型的鱼类拥有各自特化的形态特征,如伏击型肉食性鱼类体型呈纺锤形,背鳍靠近头部,眼睛较大且靠上,头部面积较大;而追击型肉食性鱼类体型呈流线型,头部较小,背鳍和腹鳍靠近尾部.而杂食性鱼类在本研究中无更多证据证明有特化的外部形态,亟待进一步研究.     

Stable isotopes in the source waters of the Yamuna and its tributaries: seasonal and altitudinal variations and relation to major cations

Water samples from the Yamuna and its tributaries, one of the major river systems draining the Himalaya, have been analysed for their stable oxygen and hydrogen isotopes during three seasons (summer, monsoon and post‐monsoon). The data show clear seasonal and altitudinal variations; waters from higher altitudes and those collected during monsoon season are characterized by relatively depleted isotopic composition. Regression analysis of δD–δ¹⁸O data of samples collected during summer and monsoon seasons shows that the slope of the best‐fit lines are nearly identical to those of precipitation at New Delhi for the same period. The similarity in their slopes suggests that the isotopic composition of precipitation contributing water to these rivers are reasonably well preserved in both monsoon and non‐monsoon seasons, however, during the non‐monsoon period both rainfall and river waters carry signatures of evaporation. The ‘deuterium excess’ in river waters during the three seasons though overlap with each other, the values during October are higher. This can be understood in terms of recycled moisture contributions to precipitation. The ‘altitude effect’ for δ¹⁸O in these waters is determined to be 0·11‰ per 100 m, a factor of about two less than that reported for the Ganga source waters from similar altitudinal range. The variability in altitude effects in rivers draining the Himalaya seems to be controlled by the ‘amount effect’ associated with the monsoon. The significant spatial variability in altitude effect in these river basins, which are a few hundred kilometers apart, suggests that reconstruction of palaeoelevation in the Himalaya, based on δ¹⁸O‐altitude gradients, would depend critically on its proper assessment in the region. This study has established a relationship between total cation abundance and δ¹⁸O in waters of the Yamuna mainstream; total cations (corrected for cyclic components) double for a 1·4 km decrease in altitude as the Yamuna flows downstream. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A micromorphological record of contemporary and relict pedogenic processes in soils of the Indo‐Gangetic Plains: implications for mineral weathering,provenance and climatic changes

Micromorphology has important application in earth surface process and landform studies particularly in alluvial settings such as the Indo‐Gangetic Plains (IGP) with different geomorphic surfaces to identify climatic changes and neotectonic events and their influence on pedogenesis. The soils of the IGP extending from arid upland in the west to per humid deltaic plains in the east developed on five geomorphic surfaces namely QIG1 to QIG5 originating during the last 13.5 ka. Four soil‐geomorphic systems across the entire IGP are identified as: (i) the western Yamuna Plains/Uplands, (ii) the Yamuna‐Ganga Interfluve, (iii) the Ganga‐Ghaghara Interfluve, and (iv) the Deltaic Plains. Thin section analysis of the soils across the four soil‐geomorphic systems provides a record of provenance, mineral weathering, pedogenic processes and polygenesis in IGP. The soils over major parts of the IGP dominantly contain muscovite and quartz and small fraction of highly altered feldspar derived from the Himalayas. However, soils in the western and eastern parts of the IGP contain large volumes of fresh to weakly altered plagioclase and smectitic clay derived from the Indian craton. The soils in western Yamuna Plains/Uplands dominated by QIG2–QIG3 geomorphic surfaces and pedogenic carbonate developed in semi‐arid climate prior to 5 ka. However, soils of the central part of the IGP in the Yamuna‐Ganga Interfluve and Ganga‐Ghaghara Interfluve regions with dominance of QIG4–QIG5 surfaces are polygenetic due to climate change over the last 13.5 ka. The clay pedofeatures formed during earlier wet phase (13.5–11 ka) show degradation, loss of preferred orientation, speckled appearance in contrast with the later phase of wet climate (6.5–4 ka). The soils over the deltaic plains with dominance of vertic features along with clay pedofeatures suggest that illuviation of fine clay is an important pedogenic process even in soils with shrink‐swell characteristics. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Population traits of invasive bleak Alburnus alburnus between different habitats in Iberian fresh waters

The bleak Alburnus alburnus (L.) is a cyprinid native to most of Europe, mainly inhabiting lentic environments. This fish species is a successful invader in the Iberian Peninsula, where it was first introduced to reservoirs as forage fish during the 1990s. Bleaks threaten the highly endemic Iberian fish fauna by means of trophic competition and hybridization. Yet, little is known about the environmental biology of bleaks in the Iberian Peninsula, particularly far from impounded waters. Thus, the aim of this work was to compare seasonal and gender variation of size structure, body condition and reproductive investment of bleaks between different habitats. Only sexually mature bleaks were seasonally collected and examined from the River Gévora and the Sierra Brava Reservoir (southwestern Spain) to assess more in-depth the adaptive capacity at the population level and the subsequent invasiveness. Bleak was an abundant species in the fish assemblages of both habitat types (i.e. river and reservoir). The proportion of smaller mature bleaks was lower in the river than the reservoir during spring and the opposite pattern was observed during winter. Both male and females were larger in the river during the breeding season in the study areas (i.e. spring), as well as with higher body condition and reproductive investment. These findings suggest that bleaks enhance their reproduction rate in the river to compensate for higher mortality in this habitat, where environmental conditions may be harsher due to the winter floods and summer droughts typical of Mediterranean water courses. Overall results highlight the high degree of plasticity in population traits of the bleak in the Iberian Peninsula, which will surely aid its ability to adapt to a wide variety of Mediterranean ecosystems, including lentic and lotic environments. Consequently, this invasive fish may pose a serious risk for the highly valuable fauna of Mediterranean Europe.     

Origin of the mass mortality of the flathead grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) in the Tanshui River, northern Taiwan, as indicated by otolith elemental signatures

A massive fish kill of approximately 50 tons of flathead grey mullet (Mugil cephalus) occurred in August 2006 in the Tanshui River, northern Taiwan. To clarify the origin of these mullets, 42 individuals were randomly collected to determine their ages by reading otolith annuli and to measure the trace elements in the otolith. The total lengths of the fish averaged 32.7 ± 4.4 cm, and most of the individuals were 2 years old, indicating that the mullets in the mass fish kill event were in the immature and growth stages. The Sr/Ca and Ba/Ca ratios of a subsample of 14 otoliths showed that half of the fish killed were estuarine residents, and the rest originated from marine and freshwater habitats. The multiple causes involved in this fish kill implied that additional unknown factors influenced the mullet populations on a large scale and induced them to move quickly and gather at this estuary.     

Aquifer modelling of the Ganga–Mahawa sub‐basin,a part of the Central Ganga Plain,Uttar Pradesh,India

The Ganga–Mahawa sub‐basin, which has an area of 1280 km² forms the western part of the Central Ganga Plain in the Moradabad and Badaun districts of western Uttar Pradesh, India. The Bundelkhand granite forms the basement complex, overlain unconformably by the upper Vindhyan sequence, which is further overlain by the Neogene (Middle and Upper) Siwaliks and finally by Quaternary alluvium. Four geomorphological units, the Varanasi older alluvial plain, Aligarh older alluvial plain, terrace zones and the Ganga recent floodplain, abandoned channels, channel scars and meander scars represent various landforms. The hydrogeological cross‐sections indicate the occurrence of a single aquifer down to 120 m. Some influent seepage from the River Ganga could be seen around Gangeswari, but the rest of the River Ganga is effluent. Groundwater‐flow modelling was carried out to assess the degree of Ganga river and aquifer interaction. The River Ganga marks the western boundary; boundaries to the northeast and southeast are set as fixed heads to simulate lateral inflow into and outflow from the sub‐basin respectively. The eastern boundary is simulated as a no‐flow condition. The Mahawa and Badmar rivers are considered to be effluent. The area modelled is covered by a grid of 34 rows×46 columns with three layers, viz., an unconfined aquifer, an aquitard which is underlain by a semi‐confined to confined aquifer. The permeability distribution was inferred from morphometric analysis and pumping tests. Natural recharge due to monsoon rainfall forms the main input. The River Ganga stage data at Ahar, Naora and Ramghat has been used for assigning surface water levels and river bed elevations in the model. Abstraction from all existing deep and shallow tube wells has been assigned as output at various cells. A steady state flow simulation was carried out and calibrated against the June 1986 water level; subsequent transient conditions were calibrated up to May 1995. The computed groundwater balance was comparable to that estimated from field investigations. The aquifer modelling study has attempted to integrate all available information and provided a tool that could be used for predictive simulation. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Sympatry and possible hybridization among species of the killifish genus Aphanius Nardo, 1827 (Teleostei: Cyprinodontidae) in Southwestern Iran

Studies of the taxonomy and present-day distribution of landlocked populations of the killifish Aphanius Nardo, 1827 (Cyprinodontidae) provide a key to understanding their zoogeographic history, and shape conservation strategies and habitat management. Here we report for the first time on the sympatric occurrence of the rare Mesopotamian tooth-carp A. mesopotamicus with a member of the widely distributed common tooth-carp (A. dispar group). Both were found in the Shadegan Wetland of the Mesopotamian drainage system (Southwestern Iran). External characters of individuals, otolith morphology and molecular data based on the cytochrome b gene confirm species identification. The otolith morphology of A. mesopotamicus, hitherto unknown, is strikingly similar to previously described otoliths of A. cf. pluristriatus from the Khonj stream (Southern Iran), which apparently reflects a close relationship between these recently diverged species. Several of the specimens recovered from the Shadegan Wetland showed intermediate characters in pigmentation, otolith morphology and some morphometric values. These specimens are interpreted as putative hybrids, which is additionally supported by a multivariate analysis of the morphometric data. Previous reports suggest that natural hybridization between species of Aphanius results largely from range overlap and range extension. A virtual distribution map derived from climatic modelling studies based on DIVA-GIS (7.5.0) indicates that sympatry of the A. dispar group and A. mesopotamicus is primarily determined by levels of precipitation during the warmest quarter, and is likely to occur only in Southwestern Iran.     

蓄水后向家坝库区鱼类物种、分类和功能多样性变化

为了解向家坝水电工程对金沙江下游鱼类多样性的影响,基于2016—2018年邵女坪(库首)、绥江(库中)和桧溪(库尾)3个江段的鱼类群落调查数据,分析了向家坝库区鱼类物种、分类和功能多样性空间格局,结合蓄水前(2011年)和蓄水初期(2015年)的资料,探讨了蓄水后向家坝库区不同维度鱼类多样性的变化趋势。向家坝库区各江段以广适性的瓦氏黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus vachelli)和静水性的(Hemiculter leucisculus)占优势,两者的数量百分比分别为30.15%±14.82%和13.91%±11.16%。非度量多维尺度分析显示,蓄水后向家坝库区库首邵女坪和库中绥江鱼类群落差异最小,库首邵女坪和库尾桧溪鱼类群落差异最大;库中绥江在蓄水前、蓄水初期和2016—2018年3个时期的鱼类群落差异均较大,表明蓄水后绥江江段鱼类群落经历了剧烈变化。库区不同江段鱼类Margalef丰富度指数、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数和Pielou均匀度指数均表现为:桧溪>邵女坪>绥江,鱼类分类多样性指数和分类差异指数均表现为:桧溪>绥江>邵女坪。库区鱼类摄食、运动和繁殖等不同维度的功能多样性(功能丰富度、功能均匀度、功能离散度)空间格局不同,但总体上库中绥江鱼类功能丰富度最高,功能均匀度最低。与蓄水前相比,绥江江段鱼类物种、分类多样性呈下降趋势,鱼类功能丰富度和均匀度也有下降趋势。蓄水后绥江江段鱼类群落主要功能性状发生了明显变化,如蓄水前以下位口、纺锤形体型鱼类占优势,蓄水后以端位口、侧扁形体型鱼类占优势。不同维度多样性指数侧重于鱼类多样性的不同方面,结合多种指数分析有利于更全面地了解鱼类群落对环境变化和外界干扰的响应。研究结果有助于深入了解水电工程建设对金沙江下游鱼类多样性的影响,为鱼类多样性保护提供依据,也可为长江“十年禁渔”效果评估提供本底资料。     

Geometric morphometric analysis of the early Pleistocene hominin teeth from Jianshi,Hubei Province,China

Although the early Pleistocene hominin fossils found in East Asia continent are widely recognized as the earliest hominins migrated from Africa, debates remain on the morphology and taxonomy of these fossils. In this study, dental crown shape of the three early Pleistocene hominin teeth (P³, M¹, and M₁) found in Jianshi, Hubei Province of China was analyzed by means of geometric morphometrics. The comparative samples of fossil hominins from Africa, Asia, and Europe as well as those of modern humans (N=257) were used. The results indicate that the contour, asymmetry, and cusp patterns of these three types of teeth differ obviously between the fossil hominins and modern humans. The crown shape of P³ in most fossil hominins including Australopithecus, African early Homo, and Asian Pleistocene hominins are asymmetric with their crown occlusal contours long and curving elliptic-shaped. The occlusal contour of the fossil hominin M¹ is symmetric and rectangle-shaped with no marked cusp protrusion. The crown shape of fossil M¹ is characterized by asymmetric contour with slightly projected metaconid and hypoconid. On the contrary, in modern Chinese and some European late Pleistocene hominins, the crowns of P³s show symmetric contours with buccal side wider than lingual side; the crown shape of M¹ is asymmetric with lingual cusp distal-placed, especially for hypoconid; the M₁ has symmetric and round crown contour. Our study reveals that Australopithecus has wide variations in its crown shape, whereas these dental morphospaces of Asian hominins are closely placed. The crown contour, symmetry, and cusp patterns of these three teeth of Jianshi hominin resemble those of Asian early and middle Pleistocene hominins. No marked difference in dental crown shape is shown between the Jianshi hominin and other Chinese Homo erectus, and there is also no evidence in support of the Jianshi hominin’s closeness to Australopithecus and African early Homo members.     

赣江发现溯河洄游型刀鲚(Coilia nasus)

基于鱼类江海洄游与否的电子探针耳石锶和钙微化学判别手段,对2020年5月采于赣江炉子窑江段的21尾刀鲚的生态表型进行了生活史重建的探索.研究发现,16尾为典型的溯河洄游型刀鲚,其占总刀鲚标本数量的比例达76%,远高于迄今鄱阳湖及其通湖水系所报道的相关比率.赣江中应该存在洄游型刀鲚的产卵场.这些首次确证了赣江中溯河洄游型刀鲚的存在,并体现出了在长江生态大保护及2019年2月1日业已开始的相关禁渔等国策下,赣江水域洄游型刀鲚资源量和栖息地有恢复向好的趋势.宜尽快开展赣江下游相关类群分布区和产卵场等及水利工程、河道挖沙等潜在威胁因素影响的全面调查,以便有效保护该水域的刀鲚资源及其关键栖息地.     

Differences in organotin accumulation in relation to life history in the white-spotted charr Salvelinus leucomaenis

To examine the accumulation pattern of organotins (OTs) in relation to the migration of diadromous fish, tributyltin (TBT) and triphenyltin (TPT) and their derivatives were determined in the muscle tissue of both sea-run (anadromous) and freshwater-resident (nonanadromous) types of the white-spotted charr Salvelinus leucomaenis. Ontogenic changes in otolith strontium (Sr) and calcium (Ca) concentrations were examined along life history transect to discriminate migration type. Mean Sr:Ca ratio from the core to the edge of the otolith in sea-run individuals was significantly higher than those in freshwater-resident one. There were no significant correlations in S. leucomaenis between OT accumulation and various biological characteristics. It is noteworthy that TBT and TPT concentrations in sea-run type were significantly higher than those in freshwater-resident individuals, although they are both of the same species. These results suggest that sea-run S. leucomaenis have a higher ecological risk of OT exposure than freshwater-residents during their life histories.     

Effectiveness of different types of block ramps for fish upstream movement

Rivers are worldwide highly fragmented due to human impacts. This fragmentation has a negative effect on fish movement and dispersal. Many artificial barriers such as river bed sills and small weirs are nowadays replaced by block ramps in order to reestablish longitudinal connectivity for fish in rivers and streams. We studied the upstream passage of several fish species on different types of block ramps with slopes between 3.6 and 13.4 %. We conducted translocation experiments in the field based on mark-recapture and on the use of PIT-tags. Temporal movement patterns were observed by an instream antenna. Hydraulic and morphological characteristics of block ramps were measured and compared with fish passage efficiency. Our results clearly showed that upstream passage efficiency differs between fish species, size classes and block ramps. We observed that brown trout (Salmo trutta fario) performed better than bullhead (Cottus gobio) and several cyprinid species on the same block ramps. Passage efficiency of brown trout and chub (Leuciscus cephalus) was size-selective, with small-sized individuals being less successful. For brown trout, size-selectivity became more relevant with increasing slope of ramp. We conclude that block ramps with slopes of >5 % are ineffective for the small-sized cyprinid species and that vertical drops within step-pool ramps can hinder successful upstream passage of bullhead.     

Appraisal of the carbon to nitrogen(C/N)ratio in the bed sediment of the Betwa River,Peninsular India

Bed sediment carbon to nitrogen(C/N) ratio is one of the essential variables reflecting sources of organic matter in river basins.In order to explore the spatial variability in sources of sediment C/N ratios,and the influence of land use and land cover(LULC) changes on the Betwa River basin in Peninsular India,51 river bed sediment samples were collected in December 2016.The coefficient of variation(CV) was35%indicating highly variable biogeochemical parameters.The sediment C/N ratio varied from 2.94 to 10.09.3.21-56.40,and 6.50-76.97 in upstream,mid-stream,and downstream regions,respectively,indicating a progressive change in sources of organic matter and depositional environment.The positive correlation between total carbon(TC) and C/N ratio was increasing in the downstream direction [upstream(+0.560) mid-stream(+0.603) downstream(+0.838)],which is an indication of high deposition and slow decomposition of sedimentary terrigenous organic matter distant from the regions of urban pollution.The LULC change analysis done by remote sensing and Geographic Information System(GIS)methods revealed an adverse change for the forests and barren land and a positive change for the agricultural land and built-up areas.The sediment C/N ratio mapping showed the impact of LULC changes on the sediment quality.The spatial distribution of bed sediment C/N ratio in the Betwa River basin has important reference value for managing organic matter transport in the downstream Yamuna River and Ganga River basin.     

Channel morphodynamics and sediment budget of the Lower Ganga River using a hydrogeomorphological approach

The Ganga River is one of the largest river systems in the world that has built extensive alluvial plains in northern India. The stretch of the Lower Ganga River is vulnerable to siltation because of: (a) the naturally low slope in the alluvial stretch; (b) the confluence of several highly sediment-charged rivers such as the Ghaghra, Gandak, and Kosi; and (c) the reduction in non-monsoon flows because of upstream abstractions of both surface and groundwater. Additionally, the Farakka barrage has impacted the morphology of the Ganga River significantly, both upstream and downstream of the barrage. Large-scale siltation in several reaches has reduced the channel capacity, leading to catastrophic floods in this region even at low discharges. This work has utilized historical remote sensing data and UAV surveys to reconstruct channel morphodynamics and compute sediment volumes accumulated in the channel belt along the Lower Ganga River between Buxar and Farakka. The work was carried out by dividing the total length of the river into four continuous stretches: (a) Buxar–Gandhighat (GW1, 160 km); (b) Gandhighat–Hathidah (GW2, 106 km); (c) Hathidah–Azmabad (GW3, 182 km); and (d) Azmabad–Farakka (GW4, 132 km). We document that major ‘hotspots’ of siltation have developed in several reaches of the Lower Ganga during the last four to five decades. Sediment budgeting using planform maps provides estimates of ‘extractable’ volumes of sediment in GW1, GW2, GW3, and GW4 as 656 ± 48, 706 ± 52, 876 ± 71, and 200 ± 85 Mm³, respectively. These estimates are considerably lower than those computed from the hydrological approach using observed suspended sediment load data, which assumes uniform sedimentation between two stations. Further, our approach provides reach-scale hotspots of aggradation and estimates of extractable sediment volumes, and this can be very useful for river managers to develop a strategic sediment management plan for the given stretch of the Ganga River.     

Impact of urbanization on the ecology of Mukuvisi River,Harare, Zimbabwe

The main objective in this study was to compare the physico-chemical characteristics and biota of a river (Mukuvisi) passing through an urban area to that of a non-urbanised river (Gwebi). Five sites in the Mukuvisi River and five sites in the Gwebi River were sampled for water physico-chemical parameters (pH, conductivity, DO, BOD, TDS, ammonia, Cl, SO₄²⁻, PO₄²⁻, NO₃³⁻, F⁻, Pb, Cu, Fe, Mn, Zn and Cr) once every month between August, 2012–August, 2013. Cluster analysis based on the physico-chemical parameters grouped the sites into two groups. Mukuvisi River sites formed their own grouping except for one site which was grouped with Gwebi River sites. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was used to extract the physico-chemical parameters that account for most variations in water quality in the Mukuvisi and Gwebi Rivers. PCA identified sulphate, chloride, fluoride, iron, manganese and zinc as the major factors contributing to the variability of Mukuvisi River water quality. In the Gwebi river, sulphate, nitrate, fluoride and copper accounted for most of the variation in water quality. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was used to explore the relationship between physico-chemical parameters and macroinvertebrate communities. CCA plots in both Mukuvisi and Gwebi Rivers showed significant relationships between macroinvertebrate communities and water quality variables. Phosphate, ammonia and nitrates were correlated with Chironomidae and Simulidae. Gwebi River had higher (P < 0.05, ANOVA) macroinvertebrates and fish diversity than Mukuvisi River. Clarias gariepinus from the Mukuvisi River had high liver histological lesions and low AChE activity and this led to lower growth rates in this river.     

On the Length-Weight Relationship of the Ganga River Prawn Macro-brachium birmanicum choprai (TIWARI)

A total of 331 male and 237 female individuals of the Ganga river prawn, Macrobrachium birmanicum choprai (TIWARI), were examined to establish relationship between its length and weight. The individuals of both the sexes were placed separately in different size groups. When plotted against corresponding values of weight, the average length computed for each size group exhibited an exponential relationship. However, the logarithimic values of observed lengths when plotted against corresponding values of weight exhibited a linear relationship. Correlation coefficient values for both the sexes were found highly significant (r = 0.9846 for males and 0.9762 for females).     

Remote sensing-GIS and GPR studies of two active faults,Western Gangetic Plains,India

Northern parts of the Ganga–Yamuna Interfluve in the Gangetic Plains, India have been investigated by remote sensing and Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) techniques. Digital analysis of remote sensing data and Geographical Information System (GIS) techniques were used to locate a new active transverse Muzaffarnagar Fault and confirmed an earlier described Solani-II Fault in almost flat or gently sloping terrain. The Solani-II and Muzaffarnagar faults are members of two major systems of surficial faults i.e. longitudinal and transverse faults, respectively. Longitudinal faults are curvilinear in nature, trending N–S in the northern regions and veering to E–W in the southern regions of the plains and transverse faults are normal to the longitudinal faults occurring in the Upper Gangetic plains.GPR survey was carried out by common offset method across the Muzaffarnagar and the Solani-II faults, using a 100 MHz antenna. Our GPR data indicate that both regions around the Solani-II Fault and Muzaffarnagar Fault are characterized by 2–3 major steeply dipping normal faults at shallow depth (< 20 m). One of the major faults is always associated with cliffs on the surface. In addition, a number of smaller synthetic and antithetic faults are present, thus forming members of an array covering wide regions. Also, several small folds observed in all the three radargrams which are probably seismites. Both the Solani-II and Muzaffarnagar faults probably developed at about 2.5 ka and almost at the same time fans were deposited on the downthrown block of the Muzaffarnagar Fault.     

Diversity as a Measure of Water Pollution and an Aid for Biological Water Analysis

– Five aquatic ecosystems, Yamuna river, Krishna river Eastern Kalinadi, Kadrabad drain and Peacock lake have been studied with reference to diversity and physico-chemical characteristics and biological indices. – A list of species have been selected with reference to polluted, mildly polluted or unpolluted water conditions. Though it is difficult to call any species strictly indicator species, certain species of Bacillariophyceae, bottom biota and Entomostraca can be regarded as indicative species. – The quantitative distributions of the species of different groups have been analysed statistically. Margalef's Community Diversity Index (d), Shannon Weaver Function, coefficient of rank correlation and partial and multiple correlation coefficient were calculated as to find out the order of precedence in different taxonomical groups. – The linear regression against BOD and the whole biocenosis were calculated, which indicate the relation as diversity d=6.7854 –0.0080 BOD±0.9695 where r₂= B=0.7365. Similarly, multiple linear regressions were also calculated using diversity against BOD, pH and temperature for each aquatic ecosystem. – All these observations indicate that diversity of organisms can be used to measure the water pollution intensity.     

The role of the hyporheic zone for a benthic fish in an intermittent river: a refuge, not a graveyard

In lotic systems, the hyporheic zone has been suggested as a potential refuge for aquatic organisms during disturbances (hyporheic refuge hypothesis). However, the supporting evidence is unclear, especially regarding the survival of hyporheic refugees and their contribution to the recovery of post-disturbance populations. Moreover, few studies have focused on the importance of the hyporheic refuge for aquatic vertebrates such as fish. In this study, we present evidence that the hyporheic zone acts as a refuge for a small benthic fish (Cobitis shikokuensis) following surface drying in an intermittent river. We examined its survival during and recolonization after dry periods by direct hyporheic sampling and mark-and-recapture surveys. When the streambed dried, hyporheic sampling was conducted 58 times across 33 locations in the intermittent reach and 31 individuals of C. shikokuensis were captured from extracted hyporheic water. Mark-and-recapture surveys revealed that recolonizers after re-wetting included C. shikokuensis individuals that had survived dry periods in the hyporheic refuge. The condition factor of C. shikokuensis significantly declined after dry periods, suggesting that most recolonizers suffered from physiological stress, probably within the hyporheic refuge. These results clearly support the long-debated, hyporheic refuge hypothesis, and provide a striking example of the critical role of the hyporheic zone in population maintenance of lotic organisms.