Transitional waters: A new approach, semantics or just muddying the waters?

Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science has throughout its history considered a diverse range of habitats including estuaries and fjords, brackish water and lagoons, as well as coastal marine systems. Its articles have reflected recent trends and developments within the estuarine and coastal fields and this includes the changing use of well-accepted terms. The term “transitional waters” first came to prominence in 2000 with the publication of the Water Framework Directive of the European Communities [European Communities, 2000. Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in the field of water policy. Official Journal of the European Communities 43 (L327), 75 pp.], where “transitional waters” are defined as “bodies of surface water in the vicinity of river mouths which are partially saline in character as a result of their proximity to coastal waters but which are substantially influenced by freshwater flows”. The inclusion of the term transitional waters in our own aims and scope reflects the evolution of language in this subject area, encompassing tidal estuaries and non-tidal brackish water lagoons. This article reflects on some of the difficulties posed by the use of the term and its attempts to be inclusive by incorporating fjords, fjards, river mouths, deltas, rias and lagoons as well as the more classical estuaries. It also discusses the problems of including in the term river mouths discharging either into predominantly brackish areas such as the Baltic Sea, or into freshwater-poor areas bordering the Mediterranean.     

A methodology for defining homogeneous water bodies in estuaries – Application to the transitional systems of the EU Water Framework Directive

A methodology is developed and tested for division of estuarine and coastal systems into water bodies for monitoring and management purposes. This division is often implicit in the choice of sampling stations and in pollution abatement measures applied to different locations – it is now an explicit requirement of European Union Directive 2000/60/EC (Water Framework Directive) and recommended by United States Agencies such as EPA and NOAA. The approach considers both natural characteristics and the human dimension, by means of a stepwise methodology, which considers, on the one hand, morphology and salinity distribution, and, on the other, appropriate indicators of pressure and state. In the present application, nitrogen and phosphorus loading was used as the pressure component and chlorophyll a and dissolved oxygen as indicators of state. The criteria for system division were defined based on (1) an adimensional shape factor and salinity classes for the natural component; and (2) a normalised pressure index and (ASSETS) eutrophication symptom classes for the human dimension. Water quality databases and GIS were used to develop spatial distributions for the various components, and the results were aggregated into a final water body division, using tidal excursion as a “common sense” test. The methodology was applied to three well-studied systems in Portugal, a tubular estuary (Mondego), a wide lagunal estuary (Sado) and a coastal barrier island system (Ria Formosa). Although a final definition of water bodies will usually be a policy decision, this type of approach for the division of coastal systems into management units scientifically informs the decision-making process.     

Long-term abundance patterns of macroalgae in relation to environmental variables in the Tagus Estuary (Portugal)

Seasonal and inter-annual patterns of macroalgal abundance in a Tagus Estuary oyster reef are described. Macroalgal abundance was estimated as canopy percent cover by three permanent point intercept transects over a 7-year period. Four categories were defined, corresponding to bare substrate and three different macroalgal functional-form groups: (1) ULVA, foliose group, included Ulva spp.; (2) GRACIL, terete corticated macrophyte group, included only Gracilaria gracilis; and (3) FILAM, small (<10 cm) filamentous group, including eight species. A canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that: (1) ULVA were associated with long and hot days, being usually dominant during spring and especially summer; (2) FILAM were associated with mild temperatures and relatively long days, abundant in spring but showed frequent peaks in summer; and (3) GRACIL were also favoured by spring season, although associated to lower temperature and less daylight hours than FILAM. GRACIL and FILAM were present throughout the year. On the contrary, ULVA were absent or with low cover during colder periods. A negative correlation between GRACIL and FILAM seems to indicate competition between the two categories. The applied models explained 23.3% of the temporal variance in category abundance. Rainfall negatively affected macroalgal cover, as indicated by the positive correlation between rainfall and bare substrate. Our conclusions are in agreement with previous studies that consider algae as excellent environmental integrators, even on a small scale, due to a strong link between the macroalgal communities and relevant environmental variables. It is also relevant that this study used open-access databases of environmental variables, which open up new possibilities for mining existing data resources in new ways. Due to large inter-annual variability, long-term studies are essential to understand population dynamics in estuarine phytobenthic communities.     

Evaluating the NOAA Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard in estuarine systems: A Columbia River Estuary case study

A common first step in conservation planning and resource management is to identify and classify habitat types, and this has led to a proliferation of habitat classification systems. Ideally, classifications should be scientifically and conceptually rigorous, with broad applicability across spatial and temporal scales. Successful systems will also be flexible and adaptable, with a framework and supporting lexicon accessible to users from a variety of disciplines and locations. A new, continental-scale classification system for coastal and marine habitats—the Coastal and Marine Ecological Classification Standard (CMECS)—is currently being developed for North America by NatureServe and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). CMECS is a nested, hierarchical framework that applies a uniform set of rules and terminology across multiple habitat scales using a combination of oceanographic (e.g. salinity, temperature), physiographic (e.g. depth, substratum), and biological (e.g. community type) criteria. Estuaries are arguably the most difficult marine environments to classify due to large spatio-temporal variability resulting in rapidly shifting benthic and water column conditions. We simultaneously collected data at eleven subtidal sites in the Columbia River Estuary (CRE) in fall 2004 to evaluate whether the estuarine component of CMECS could adequately classify habitats across several scales for representative sites within the estuary spanning a range of conditions. Using outputs from an acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP), CTD (conductivity, temperature, depth) sensor, and PONAR (benthic dredge) we concluded that the CMECS hierarchy provided a spatially explicit framework in which to integrate multiple parameters to define macro-habitats at the 100 m² to >1000 m² scales, or across several tiers of the CMECS system. The classification's strengths lie in its nested, hierarchical structure and in the development of a standardized, yet flexible classification lexicon. The application of the CMECS to other estuaries in North America should therefore identify similar habitat types at similar scales as we identified in the CRE. We also suggest that the CMECS could be improved by refining classification thresholds to better reflect ecological processes, by direct integration of temporal variability, and by more explicitly linking physical and biological processes with habitat patterns.     

厦门白哈礁海域石珊瑚的分类鉴定

根据传统形态学分类方法,对2015年5~11月厦门白哈礁海域进行的珊瑚资源调查所采集到的8个石珊瑚样本进行了初步分类鉴定.通过对比鉴定文献和图集,结果显示:厦门白哈礁海域分布的石珊瑚有6种,分别是筒星珊瑚属的猩红筒星珊瑚(Tubastraea coccinea)、Tubastraea tagusensis和筒星珊瑚属未知种(Tubastraea sp.)以及木珊瑚属的未知种(Dendrophyllia sp.),木珊瑚科2个未知种(Dendrophylliidae sp.1、Dendrophylliidae sp.2).同历史文献对比显示,除了猩红筒星珊瑚外,其余5种都是厦门发现的新记录种.     

福建沿岸海域主要赤潮生物的生态学特征

福建沿岸海域是中国的赤潮多发海区之一.据统计,1962～2008年间,福建沿岸海域共发生赤潮180起以上,潜在的赤潮生物有124种,已经引发过赤潮的种类有27种.本文对中肋骨条藻（Skeletonema costatum）、角毛藻（Chaetocerosspp.）、夜光藻（Noctiluca scintillans）、东海原甲藻（Proro-centrum donghaiense）、米氏凯伦藻（Karenia mikimotoi）、裸甲藻（Gymnodinium spp.）和球形棕囊藻（Phaeocystis globosa）等福建沿岸海域主要赤潮生物的生态学特征和发生原因进行了分析和探讨,评述了福建沿岸海域赤潮发生的特点.福建沿岸海域引发赤潮频率最高的赤潮生物是夜光藻,米氏凯伦藻造成的水产养殖损失最大.其赤潮多发季节在春夏季的4～7月.其赤潮多发区主要分布在3个区域：宁德沿岸海域（以四礵列岛为中心）、厦门西港海域和平潭沿岸海域.对福建沿岸海域几种主要赤潮生物的研究表明,赤潮的发生与水温、盐度、气象、水动力、营养盐等环境条件密切相关.     

The chemical, physical and structural properties of estuarine ice in Great Bay, New Hampshire

The purpose of this study was to provide general information on the chemical, physical and structural properties of estuarine ice and show how it compares with sea ice found at higher latitudes in order to determine whether the ice in Great Bay can be used as an analog in the study of arctic sea ice.Ice cores and water samples were collected during the 1983–1984 winter season at Adams Point in Great Bay, New Hampshire. Concentrations of chloride, nitrogen (as nitrate and nitrite), bromide, phosphate, sulfate and silicate were determined for samples chosen on the basis of identifiable stratigraphic layers (i.e. bubble size and shape, sediment layers, etc.).Similarities between ice formation in Great Bay and those in the arctic regions include the nature of the freezing process and the ice types produced. In addition, the distribution and concentration of chemical constituents were found to be similar to those observed in arctic sea ice. Factors affecting the chemistry of the ice in Great Bay include rainfall during the freezing season, the presence of sediment layers in the ice cores, the nature of incorporation of brine into the crystal structure of the ice and the drainage of brine.     

闽东沿岸2004～2006年浮游植物生态特征研究

根据闽东海洋环境监测中心2004年-2006年阂东沿岸生态调查的资料,分析和研究了闽东沿岸浮游植物的生态特征．共鉴定出浮游植物的种类3个门39属共134种,其中硅藻门的种类占总种数的80％,为该调查海域主要门类．主要优势种是中肋骨条藻（Skeletonema costatum）、旋链角毛藻（Chaetoceros curvisetus）、尖刺拟菱形藻（Pseudo—nitzschia pungens）和丹麦细柱藻（Leptocylindrus danicus）等．浮游植物的丰度分布,呈现由调查海域东北侧向西南侧、由近岸向远岸减少的空间特征,夏季高、春季低的季节变化特点,并且有逐年减少的年际变化趋势．本调查海域浮游植物多样性指数较高,群落较稳定．     

福建沿海海域波浪能资源分析与评价

采用波浪模拟的方法,较准确计算得出福建沿海海域波浪能资源分布状况,并给出相应的分析和综合评价.主要结论如下:(1)福建沿海海域波浪能平均密度为2.6～7.3 kW/m,波浪能资源储量为2 210.45 MW,在我国沿海海域仅次于台湾和广东,是波浪能开发利用可以优先考虑的海区之一.(2)福建沿海海域波浪能资源储量的70%分布于平潭岛以北海域,其值达1 512.49 MW.其中,尤以北礵地区值最大,为378.80 MW.(3)以年平均波高为指标,福建沿海海域中东山区段为三类区,其他区段均为一类区和二类区,具有良好的开发前景.(4)福建沿海海域波浪能具有波功率密度低、资源分布广泛且不均匀、波功率密度随季节变化、能量具有多向性等分布特点.(5)基于福建波浪能的开发与利用现状,建议应优先着眼于解决边远海岛等特殊场所的用电问题.     

舟山海区几种藤壶的食性分析

舟山海区五种藤壶的食性成分分析表明：其胃含物可分为浮游动物、浮游植物、有机碎屑及无机颗粒四类。浮游动物以挠足类为主，浮游植物以硅藻为主。不同大小个体的藤壶摄食偏向有所差别：大个体藤壶较多地摄食大型的烧足类等浮游动物，而小个体藤壶较多地摄食小型的硅藻等浮游植物和有机碎屑。藤壶食物成分种类与其生活海区中的浮游生物种类相一致，并随海区中浮游生物种类和数量变化而变化。通过测定发现，分布于外海的三角藤壶的食物颗粒度明显大于近海虾塘中的纹藤壶的食物颗粒度。     

2006年夏季粤东至闽南近岸海域上升流的特征

利用2006年夏季粤东至闽南近岸海域海水的实测温度、盐度资料和海表温度、叶绿素0含量的卫星遥感资料,分析了该海域的上升流现象．结果表明：上升流区水体具有低温、高盐特征,其中心区域位于汕头至东山一带近岸海域．在汕头以西海域,外海深层低温高盐水沿海底地形向岸爬升形成上升流．汕头以东近岸海域的上升流为爬升至惠来近岸的外海水随沿岸流向东北方向运动,并在各地沿海底地形爬升所致．研究海域上升流区的水体属同一来源,均来自汕头西南外海．汕头以东近岸海域的上升流强度大于汕头以西,水温低于23．0℃、盐度高于34．00的外海水仅爬升至汕头以西近岸海表以下25m左右,但可出现在汕头以东近岸10m以浅海域．以研究海域海表温度低于27．5℃的沿岸低温区的面积来反映上升流的强度,通过对海表温度遥感数据的分析可知：7月初至7月中旬和7月28日至8月上旬,低温区域面积较大且较为稳定,上升流强度较大;7月19—27日期间和8月中旬以后,低温区域面积较小或短暂消失,上升流强度较弱．该上升流在2006年7—8月期间经历了强一弱-强．弱的短期变化过程．     

Phosphatase activities in the waters of a shallow estuary,Western Australia

Phosphatase activities in a large, shallow estuary in south western Western Australia have been assessed. Differences were found in enzyme activities in the two sections of the estuary. There were seasonal and diurnal variations as well. Phosphatase activities were most closely correlated with chlorophyll and organic nitrogen concentrations. In diurnal studies, the rates of change of phosphatase activity corresponded with the rates of change in orthophosphate. The role of phosphatase activity in regeneration of esterified phosphorus in the estuary is discussed.     

Larval dispersion of the estuarine crab Neohelice granulata in coastal marine waters of the Southwest Atlantic

The estuarine brachyuran crab Neohelice granulata export their larvae from the parental intertidal population of the Mar Chiquita coastal lagoon, and probably other populations, to marine waters. The degree of larval dispersion or self-recruitment of populations is unknown. We evaluated the presence of all larval stages of N. granulata in coastal waters of Argentina between 37.9° and 35.8° S, at two different spatial scales: a broad scale of tens to hundreds of kilometers from the Río de la Plata estuary in the north, to Mar Chiquita lagoon in the south, and a small scale of hundreds of meters to some kilometers around the mouth of Mar Chiquita, during spring and summer. Additionally, we registered the larval composition and density at San Clemente creek population, in Samborombon Bay (Río de la Plata estuary), every 3 h along a 30-hour period. Evidence indicates that larval release of N. granulata is temporally synchronized with nocturnal ebb tides and all development from Zoea I to Zoea IV occur in areas close to the parental population, even with very different oceanographic characteristics. A possible mechanism based on salinity selection and wind-driven transport is proposed for such behavior, and some considerations related to the connectivity of present populations are made.     

Influence of atmospheric inputs on the iron distribution in the subtropical North-East Atlantic Ocean

Aerosol (soluble and total) iron and water-column dissolved (DFe, < 0.2 μm) and total dissolvable (TDFe, unfiltered) iron concentrations were determined in the Canary Basin and along a transect towards the Strait of Gibraltar, in order to sample across the Saharan dust plume. Cumulative dust deposition fluxes estimated from direct aerosol sampling during our one-month cruise are representative of the estimated deposition fluxes based on near surface water dissolved aluminium concentrations measured on board. Iron inventories in near surface waters combined with flux estimates confirmed the relatively short residence time of DFe in waters influenced by the Saharan dust plume (6–14 months). Enhanced near surface water concentrations of DFe (5.90–6.99 nM) were observed at the Strait of Gibraltar mainly due to inputs from metal-rich rivers. In the Canary Basin and the transect towards Gibraltar, DFe concentrations (0.07–0.76 nM) were typical of concentrations observed in the surface North Atlantic Waters, with the highest concentrations associated with higher atmospheric inputs in the Canary Basin. Depth profiles showed that DFe and TDFe were influenced by atmospheric inputs in this area with an accumulation of aeolian Fe in the surface waters. The sub-surface minimum of both DFe and TDFe suggests that a simple partitioning between dissolved and particulate Fe is not obvious there and that export may occur for both phases. At depths of around 1000–1300 m, both regeneration and Meddies may explain the observed maximum. Our data suggest that, in deep waters, higher particle concentrations likely due to dust storms may increase the scavenging flux and thus decrease DFe concentrations in deep waters.     

基于Argo浮标和历史资料的热带西太平洋次表层与中层水年代变化分析

利用20世纪80年代和90年代WOD01(World Ocean Database2001)中的CTD温盐剖面资料和2000年以后Argo资料,对比分析了热带西太平洋次表层和中层水团分布的年代变化特征。分析结果表明,在这两个时期,起源于南北太平洋中高纬度海域的各次表层水和中层水,在热带西太平洋分布特征和交织在一起的总体态势基本一致,水团性质的年代变化不大。这与上述两个时段全球海洋-大气耦合系统趋于正常状态相吻合。通过辨识和跟踪表征次表层水性质的盐度极大值,发现南太平洋热带水沿西边界向北扩散程度有所加大,由前一时期的5°N,进一步扩散到6°~7°N;北太平洋热带水在西边界附近的向南扩散程度有所削弱,在2002-2005年间只向南扩散到4°N,而前一个时期则可向南扩散到2°N。通过辨识表征中层水性质的盐度极小值,南极中层水在西边界附近向北扩散程度有所加大,在2002-2005年到达13°N附近,而前一个时期只到达11°N;同期,北太平洋中层水在西边界附近的向南扩散程度有所削弱。上述年代变化与全球水循环强度的变化之间有何关系有待进一步研究。