Analysis of foraminifera assemblages and sediment geochemical properties to characterise the environment near Araçá and Saco da Capela domestic sewage submarine outfalls of São Sebastião Channel, São Paulo State, Brazil

Superficial bottom samples were collected near diffusers of domestic sewage submarine outfalls at Araçá and Saco da Capela, São Sebastião Channel, Brazil. The goal of this study was to investigate the distribution and composition of live benthic foraminifera assemblages and integrate the results obtained with geochemical analyses to assess human-induced changes. According to the results obtained no environmental stress was observed near the Saco da Capela submarine outfall diffusers. The foraminifera assemblage is characterised by species typical of highly hydrodynamic environments, with well-oxygenated bottom waters and low nutrient contents. In contrast, near Araçá submarine outfall, organic enrichment was denoted by high phosphorus, sulphur and, to a lesser extent, total organic carbon content. Harmful influences on foraminifera could be identified by low richness and specific diversity, as well as the predominance of detritivore feeder species, which are associated with higher organic matter flux and low oxygen in the interstitial pore water.     

Der Einfluss von Kläranlagenabwässern auf benthische Wirbellose im Zürichsee

In 1981–83 sublittoral macroinvertebrates were collected by means of SCUBA diving from artificial substrates submerged near the outfalls from eight sewage treatment plants in Lake Zürich. Pollution around the outfall resulted on the one hand in a reduction of pollution intolerant benthic invertebrates, on the other hand in a considerable increase in the relative abundance of pollution tolerant taxa such as leeches, flatworms and crustaceans. Changes in the faunal composition were related to nutrient enrichment and changes in the nature of the substratum due to sedimentation of sewage sludge. Species diversity (Simpson index) showed low values near the outfall from some plants, high values near the outfall from others. Low species diversity did not always mark the sites where greatest pollution has been observed.      

Medium-term responses of rocky bottoms to sewage discharges from a deepwater outfall in the NE Atlantic

An investigation on the effects of deepwater outfall discharges on the status of rocky reef communities was carried out. The sanitation system was found to be an environmentally suitable option for the protection of those habitats situated in high energy coastal environments. Sediments occurring between the predominating rocky substrates showed low values of the fine fraction (<63microm) and organic matter content. In addition, high average concentrations of Cd, Hg and Zn were found in these sediments, though these values were similar to those registered in non-affected sites, far away from the outfall. On the other hand, those assemblages typical of hard substrates that settled near the outfall showed an increase in total richness and abundance of macroinvertebrates. Moreover, the average number of species of each taxonomic group, a good indicator of the maintenance of the previous trophic structure, only varied considerably over time at the rip-rap protection. In a global context, those changes were not directly related to the discharge disturbances, but to the natural variability or the successional processes occurring within those communities. Only communities dwelling in the rip-rap protection area were affected by the proximity of the discharges.     

Biological monitoring of the marine ocean outfall at black rock, Victoria, Australia

The Barwon Region Water Authority in Victoria, Australia, commissioned a new subtidal ocean sewage outfall in February 1989. This outfall replaced an old intertidal outfall, and presently discharges via a diffuser in an average depth of 15m some 1.2km offshore in Bass Strait. Examination of biological communities around the old outfall prior to the change revealed distinct differences in biotic assemblages close to the outfall. An ongoing monitoring programme, implemented in 1986, has assessed not only the recovery in this intertidal area, but also the major changes to macroalgal communities on surrounding reefs, subtidal infauna populations in sandy sediments, and rocky shore communities.     

Stable isotope evidence for the environmental impact of a land-based fish farm in the western Mediterranean

Isotopic examination (delta(13)C and delta(15)N) of organic matter sources and consumers was used to assess the impact and trace the dispersal of wastewater from a land-based fish farm in western Mediterranean. The results provide evidence of the non-negligible effect of aquaculture facilities on the natural stable isotopic composition of organisms. Aquaculture waste entered the food web, altering the natural isotopic composition of organic matter sources at the base and the upper trophic levels. Nitrogen-rich fish waste mainly affected delta(15)N values, while delta(13)C showed less alteration. Waste seemed to disperse widely enough to affect the isotopic composition at the study site about 500 m from the outfall, while sites at 1 and 2 km from the outfall showed values that were similar to each other and different from those of the impacted site. The impact was detected at different ecosystem levels, although primary producers were more affected by fish farm waste taking up aquaculture-derived nutrients.     

Composition and distribution of seabed and suspended sediments in north and central Torres Strait,Australia

Widespread seagrass dieback in central Torres Strait, Australia has been anecdotally linked to the delivery of vast quantities of terrigenous sediments from New Guinea. The composition and distribution, and sedimentological and geochemical properties, of seabed and suspended sediments in north and central Torres Strait have been determined to investigate this issue. In northern Torres Strait, next to Saibai Island, seabed sediments comprise poorly sorted, muddy, mixed calcareous–siliciclastic sand. Seabed sediments in this region are dominated by aluminosilicate (terrigenous) phases. In central Torres Strait, next to Turnagain Island, seabed and suspended sediments comprise moderately sorted coarse to medium carbonate sand. Seabed sediments in this region are dominated by carbonate and magnesium (marine) phases. Mean Cu/Al ratios for seabed sediments next to Saibai Island are 0.01, and are similar to those found in New Guinea south coastal sediments by previous workers. Mean Cu/Al ratios for seabed sediments next to Turnagain Island are 0.02, indicating an enrichment of Cu in central Torres Strait. This enrichment comes from an exogenous biogenic source, principally from foraminifers and molluscs. We could not uniquely trace terrigenous sediments from New Guinea to Turnagain Island in central Torres Strait. If sediments are a factor in the widespread seagrass dieback in central Torres Strait, then our data suggest these are marine-derived sediments sourced from resuspension and advection from the immediate shelf areas and not terrigenous sediments dispersed from New Guinea rivers. This finding is consistent with outputs from recently developed regional hydrodynamic and sediment transport models.     

A comparison of stygofauna communities inside and outside groundwater bores

Sampling stygofauna is both time consuming and labour intensive. The challenge is to get samples from as many bores as possible within a limited time. The essential assumption for this is that faunal communities inside bores are comparable and representative of the communities outside.To compare relative abundance, taxonomic richness and community composition of the fauna inside groundwater bores to the fauna of the surrounding aquifer, 20 monitoring bores in Palatinate, southwestern Germany, were sampled twice in 1 month. Initially, a sample of 4 l of water was collected from the bottom of each bore. A further sample of 51 l was collected from the groundwater surrounding the bore using a pneumatic piston pump with double packer sampler.Water chemistry inside and outside the bore was similar, but the relative amounts of sediments within the bores were higher compared to those from outside. Relative abundances of fauna inside the bores were higher than in the aquifer, but taxonomic composition was similar with the exception of the proportions of nematodes and amphipods, which were higher inside. As a result, the proportions of cyclopoids were lower inside. Higher nematode proportions are explained partially by the nearly complete extraction of bore sediment. A “habitat heterogeneity effect” states that in heterogeneous aquifers with few suitable habitats, faunal distribution is supposed to be extremely patchy. Thus, detritus accumulates in bores, attracting animals and providing “habitat islands” in the groundwater. This effect could explain the higher amphipode proportions inside the bores, which were generally more frequently populated than the surrounding groundwater. As a consequence, fauna is thought to be nearly absent from groundwater, where suitable habitats are lacking. In those sparsely populated aquifers, samples representative of the aquifer taxonomic richness and composition can only be collected by removing large volumes of water, or by sampling the bottom of bores. These findings also suggest that the use of unbaited colonisation chambers or traps in the groundwater, which are comparable with bores, would seem to be a promising approach.     

The effects of wastewater effluent and river discharge on benthic heterotrophic production,organic biomass and respiration in marine coastal sediments

We examine effects of high river particulate flux and municipal wastewater effluent on heterotrophic organic carbon cycling in coastal subtidal sediments. Heterotrophic production was a predictable (r² = 0.95) proportion (56%) of oxidized OC flux and strongly correlated with organic/inorganic flux. Consistent growth efficiencies (36%) occurred at all stations. Organic biomass was correlated with total, OC and buried OC fluxes, but not oxidized OC flux. Near the river, production was modest and biomass high, resulting in low P/B. Outfall deposition resulted in depleted biomass and high bacterial production, resulting in the highest P/B. These patterns explain why this region is production “saturated”. The δ¹⁵N in outfall effluent, sediments and dominant taxa provided insight into where, and which types of organisms feed directly on fresh outfall particulates, on older, refractory material buried in sediments, or utilize chemosynthetic symbiotic bacteria. Results are discussed in the context of declining bottom oxygen conditions along the coast.     

The effects of domestic sewage effluent on marine communities at Coffs Harbour, New South Wales, Australia

Studies of the impact of secondary treated domestic effluent have been conducted at Coffs Harbour, NSW, Australia for the last 8 years. During that time, monitoring has shown that impacts are restricted to within approximately 300 m of the outfall for most variables (e.g. algal species richness, changes to the structure of invertebrate communities living in kelp holdfasts) but that the ephemeral green alga Ulva lactuca has significantly greater cover than at reference sites for a distance of 500 m from the point of discharge. Based on the results of this study, a new outfall proposed for the northern area of Coffs Harbour was predicted to have effects over a much smaller spatial scale. It is suggested, therefore, that the recent decision to abandon the plans for the new outfall reflects growing public concern over issues other than cost minimization and biological impact in the use of ocean disposal as an option for the management of human sewage waste.     

Use of physiological responses in Mytilus trossulus as integrative bioindicators of sewage pollution

Mussels, Mytilus trossulus (average shell length 43+/-0.8 mm), were sampled from a beach in Alaska that received untreated sewage for several years, a second beach adjacent to a secondary wastewater outfall, and two nearby reference beaches. Survival time in air, byssal thread production rate, and prevalence of trematode parasites were determined for each group. Tolerances to aerial exposure was significantly lower (P<0.05) at both sewage outfall sites than at the reference sites. Mussels exposed to untreated sewage produced fewer byssal threads and had a significantly higher prevalence of encysted trematodes than mussels from the other beaches, including the secondary wastewater site. Survival in air, byssal thread production, and trematode prevalence in mussels may be useful indicators in evaluating the longterm health of beaches exposed to sewage.     

Tracing the influence of sewage discharge on coastal bays of Southern Vancouver Island (BC,Canada) using sedimentary records of phytoplankton

The impact of sewage and stormwater effluents on phytoplankton is investigated by comparing organic-walled dinoflagellate cyst abundance and diversity from 38 surface sediment samples, flanking southern Vancouver Island. Site locations include those directly adjacent to wastewater outfall at Clover and Macaulay Points and Saanich Peninsula, as well as from a variety of near-shore environments with differing tidal flow influences. Excellently preserved dinoflagellate cyst assemblages have been recovered and 36 cyst taxa were identified. Local assemblages are characterized by a high relative proportion (average 56%) of cysts produced by heterotrophic dinoflagellates, which is typical for regions of high primary production. Relative proportional increases of cysts from heterotrophic species with particular increases of Polykrikos kofoidii/schwartzii and Dubridinium species, known to reflect areas affected by eutrophication, occur directly adjacent to all three sewage outfalls, as well as in the more stagnant waters of Esquimalt and Victoria Harbours and at the mouth of Cadboro Bay. Further effects of an anthropogenic effluent can be seen in the relatively higher concentrations of organic carbon and the diatom production proxy, biogenic opal. Results from this study clearly indicate a much larger impact zone than predicted by a sewage effluent plume model or trends found in monitored benthic biota and sediment chemistry that evidence primary outfall affects <800 m eastward of Macaulay Point and about 200 m eastward of the Clover Point. Enhanced production of cysts from potentially toxic Alexandrium species is also observed near locations of sewage outfalls.     

The GW-Fauna-Index: A first approach to a quantitative ecological assessment of groundwater habitats

Between June 2001 and December 2002, 18 hyporheic and groundwater bores were sampled for fauna and environmental data using phreatic traps. The bores were situated in three different natural geographic regions in Palatinate, Southwestern Germany.Faunal data correlated with the relative amount of detritus, bacterial abundances and the standard deviation of temperature, while very few and weak correlations were found with physical–chemical variables. Dissolved oxygen was assumed to be a limiting factor for most metazoans with a critical concentration at around 0.5–1 mg l⁻¹.To quantify the strength of the hydrological exchange with surface water and its effects on fauna, a so-called GW-Fauna-Index was developed and calculated using the relative amount of detritus, standard deviation of temperature, and oxygen concentration. From all environmental data and on all spatial scales, this index best explained the total faunal abundance and taxonomic richness.To describe the availability of organic aliments in the groundwater, the terms of “alimonic” and “alimony” [from lat. alimonium=(food) supply] were proposed.Although stygofauna was different in the geographic regions investigated, the GW-Fauna-Index was independent from these regional particularities. Using the GW-Fauna-Index, three groups of groundwater habitats could be classified according to the alimonic conditions. From oligo-alimonic group I samples, fauna was mostly absent, while meso-alimonic group II samples were prevailingly populated by stygobites, and eu-alimonic group III samples by ubiquists and stygoxenes. Total abundances and taxonomic richness increased significantly from group I to group III. Group I samples were characterized by low index values, group II samples by intermediate and group III samples by high values.The GW-Fauna-Index provides promising perspectives for application, but needs some improvement. First of all, detritus should be analysed quantitatively and qualitatively, rather than semi-quantitatively. Also, a standard protocol for sampling has to be developed.     

青海湖意外湖花介(Limnocythere inopinata Bird)壳体稳定氧同位素组成对盐度的可能响应

介形类壳体的氧同位素组成已成为恢复湖区古气候/古环境的有效代用指标,而其氧同位素分馏及环境意义目前还缺乏研究.为评价青海湖介形类壳体氧同位素分馏及其环境意义,在青海湖进行系统的表层沉积物和水样的采集,测定表层沉积物中的意外湖花介(Limnocythere inopinata Bird)和相应水样的氧同位素组成.结果表明:意外湖花介壳体的氧同位素组成主要受控于水体的氧同位素组成,除温度的影响外,还可能受到盐度的影响,随着盐度变化,该种壳体与水体之间的同位素分馏呈减小趋势,而两者的氧同位素组成均呈偏正趋势.青海湖意外湖花介壳体的氧同位素组成在一定程度上可能间接反映水体盐度的变化,值得进行更深入的研究.     

The magmatic- and hydrothermal-dominated fumarolic system at the Active Crater of Lascar volcano,northern Chile

Low-to-high temperature fumaroles discharging from the Active Crater of Lascar volcano (northern Chile) have been collected in November 2002, May 2005 and October 2006 for chemical and isotopic analysis to provide the first geochemical survey on the magmatic-hydrothermal system of this active volcano. Chemical and isotopic gas composition shows direct addition of high-temperature fluids from magmatic degassing, mainly testified by the very high contents of SO₂, HCl and HF (up to 87,800, 29,500 and 2,900 μmol/mol) and the high R/Ra values (up to 7.29). Contributions from a hydrothermal source, mainly in gas discharges of the Active Crater rim, has also been detected. Significant variations in fluid chemistry, mainly consisting of a general decrease of magmatic-related compounds, i.e. SO₂, have affected the fumarolic system during the period of observation, indicating an increase of the influence of the hydrothermal system surrounding the ascending deep fluids. The chemical composition of Active Crater fumaroles has been used to build up a geochemical model describing the main processes that regulate the fluid circulation system of Lascar volcano to be utilized in volcanic surveillance.     

河北何家庄流体观测井水文地球化学特征分析

应力、应变或地震活动会打破地壳中流体原有的水-岩平衡状态,引起地下流体化学组分和同位素的变化。根据河北何家庄流体观测井氢氧同位素和离子化学组分测试结果,分析了该井的地球化学特征及与构造活动的关系。由氢氧同位素结果及高程效应,判定井水来源主要为大气降水,大气降水沿断裂裂隙渗入,深循环后温度增加,经溶滤作用等形成热水;按照舒卡列夫分类法,何家庄井水为Cl-Na.Ca型。受2015年9月14日昌黎M4.2地震的影响,区域应力变化使井孔断裂岩石裂隙增大,深部热水上涌,引起何家庄井水离子组分和氢氧同位素组成等发生变化。研究结果表明,对何家庄井流体地球化学特征进行分析,可以为井孔附近断裂构造活动和地震前兆异常分析提供地球化学依据。     

Tidal-induced inorganic carbon dynamics in the Strait of Gibraltar

This study presents the distribution of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) along the Strait of Gibraltar, its tidal-induced variability, as well as the inorganic carbon exchange between the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. During November 2003, water column samples were collected at nine stations to measure total alkalinity (TA), pH, and dissolved oxygen (DO) for the spatial characterization of the carbonate system. At the same time, anchored samplings were carried out, above the Camarinal Sill and in the Eastern Section of the Strait, in order to assess the tidal mixing effects for oxygen and DIC distribution on the water column. Three distinct water masses can be discerned in this area: the Surface Atlantic Water (SAW), the Mediterranean Water (MW), and the less abundant North Atlantic Central Water (NACW). The observations show an increase in the DIC and a decrease in oxygen concentration with depth, related to the different physico-chemical features of each water mass. The results show the high time-dependence of the vertical distribution of DIC with the interface oscillation, affected by the intense mixing processes taking place in the Strait. Intense mixing episodes over the Camarinal Sill are responsible for an increase in the DIC concentrations in the upper layer of the Eastern Section of the Strait. Higher DIC concentrations in the Mediterranean than in the Atlantic waters are responsible for a net DIC transport of 1.47×10¹² mol C yr⁻¹ to the Atlantic Ocean. Nevertheless, the net exchange is highly sensitive to the interface definition, as well as to the estimate of water volume transport used.     

A particle-tracking model for simulating pollutant dispersion in the Strait of Gibraltar

A particle-tracking model to simulate the dispersion of contaminants in the Strait of Gibraltar has been developed. The model solves the hydrodynamic equations off-line and tidal analysis is carried out to determine tidal constants for the two main constituents. Tidal constants and residuals are stored in files that are read by the dispersion model. A lagrangian approach is used to solve dispersion; diffusion and decay are simulated by a Monte Carlo method. A method for assessing the areas of the Strait with higher probability of being affected by contamination occurring after an accident in the shipping routes is given. Generally speaking, the fate of a pollutant discharge strongly depends on wind conditions. Winds from the east tend to retain contamination into the Strait. As a consequence, transverse mixing occurs and both Spain and Morocco coasts are affected by contamination. Under calm conditions and west winds, contaminants are flushed out of the Strait faster and transverse mixing does not occur. Thus, only part of Morocco coast has a higher probability of being affected by contamination.     

Are toxic contaminants accumulating in Massachusetts coastal sediments following startup of the Massachusetts Bay outfall: a comprehensive comparison of baseline and post-diversion periods

The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) conducts monitoring to address concerns related to the 2000 diversion of secondarily treated effluent discharge into Massachusetts Bay. Baseline data (1992-2000) showed multiple regions defined by physical and chemical composition. Near the Massachusetts Bay outfall, there is a series of heterogeneous sediments in relatively close proximity to the primary historic source of contaminants (Boston Harbor). Farfield sediments exhibited greater compositional definition from one another, which was attributed to the greater spatial separation of the sampling locations. Factors that influence contaminant variability include local and distributed sources, and are primarily related to gradients in depositional environments. Post-diversion sediment data suggest that 4 years of treated effluent discharge has not increased contaminant concentrations to the bay system. However, abundance of the sewage tracer, Clostridium perfringens, has increased variably in sediments located within 2 km of the outfall, providing a distinct effluent signal near the outfall.