A community level sediment bioassay applied to an estuarine heavy metal gradient

A simple laboratory microcosm system, previously used as a community level sediment bioassay for laboratory contaminated sediments, has been used for testing contaminated field sediments. Meiobenthic communities from the Lynher Estuary were incubated with defaunated sediment collected from the Fal Estuary system where a gradient of heavy metal concentrations is reflected in meiofaunal community structure. In the microcosms changes in nematode community structure were related to sediment metal concentrations. These changes in community structure were similar to those previously observed between creeks in the Fal Estuary system indicating that an experimental microcosm approach can be useful both as a sediment bioassay and in the validation of conclusions drawn from field surveys.     

Sea urchin sperm bioassay for sewage and chlorinated seawater and its relation to fish bioassays

Bioassays were conducted with sea urchin and sand dollar sperm to determine the toxicity of chlorinated and unchlorinated sewage effluent and chlorinated and brominated seawater. The sperm cells were exposed to seawater dilutions of each toxicant for 5–15 min. The fertilisation of eggs served as the indicators of sperm viability. The effective concentrations which reduced fertilisation success by 50% (EC50) averaged 2·2 and 4·8% chlorinated and unchlorinated sewage in seawater, respectively. The sperm cells were extremely sensitive to chlorinated seawater at concentrations from 0·002 to 0·020 mg/litre total residual oxidant (TRO). Brominated seawater proved toxic to sperm in one test at 0·015 mg/litre TRO. Results of the sperm bioassays are compared with previous acute and chronic bioassays with fish.     

Trophic relationships in the demersal fish community off Namibia

The benthic fish community off Namibia (between the Cunene River and Walvis Bay) in 50–650 m of water was studied during three bottom trawl surveys. The community was investigated on the basis of distribution, abundance and diet of 51 species, constituting 95 per cent of the demersal fish biomass. Dietary studies revealed the existence of three major trophic groups, one containing species that prey on pelagic and nektonic organisms, a second dominated by predators that feed on benthic polychaetes and copepods and a third group containing predators of benthic crabs, demersal shrimps and fish. Well differentiated from these groups are a few species that prey mainly on jellyfish and ophiuroids. Because for most of the species, their trophic level changes with growth, they were divided into size classes which are analysed independently. To describe interactions between the size classes, a similarity index combining diet affinity with spatial coincidence was applied. Cluster analysis showed that, for Merluccius capensis, Raja straeleni, R. clavata and Trachurus trachurus, there is a large difference in both geographic distribution and dietary preference between the size classes. For species such as Hoplostethus atlanticus, Austroglossus microlepis and Coelorinchus flabellispinis, the different size classes seem to share the same ecological niche. Variation in the number of species and the parameters mean abundance and niche width are described to enhance knowledge of the general structure of the community.     

Spatial and temporal characteristics of trophic structure of the southern Huanghai Sea fish communities

The spatial and temporal characteristics of trophic structure of fish communities in the southern Huanghai Sea were examined based on the data sampled from bottom trawl surveys conducted during the autumn of 2000 and the spring of 2001. Hierarchical agglomerative cluster method and bootstrap randomization were used to identify significant trophic groups for each fish assemblage in the southern Huanghai Sea. A total of six major trophic groups were identified within this system, which classified predators based upon location in the water column or prey size （ i. e. , benthic to pelagic predators or fish to small invertebrate prey predators）. The similarity level used to identify significant trophic groups in each assemblage ranged from 24% to 34%. Although planktivores were the dominant trophic group in each assemblage （60% - 79% ）, there were spatial and temporal variations in the trophic structure, which reflected the differences in the abundance and availability of dominant preys. Simplified food webs were constructed to evaluate the most important trophic relationships between the dominant prey taxa and the fishes in each assemblage within this system. Although there were some differences in the key prey species among different food webs, pelagic prey items （mainly euphausiids and copepods） represent the most important energetic link between primary producers and higher trophic level predators. The trophic level for most fishes was between 3 and d, and the weighted mean trophic level for each assemblage ranged from 3.3 to 3.4. Compared with previous study in the mid-1980s, there was an obvious downward trend in the trophic level for most fish species, which resulted mainly from the fluctuation in key prey species in the Huanghai Sea. The decrease in the importance of Japanese anchovy seems to be offset by other abundant prey species such as Euphausia pacifica and copepods （ mainly Calanus sinicus ） .     

悬沙的ADCP估测方法

ADCP估测悬沙含量是基于声波的背散射强度正比于悬沙浓度的理论。在实际测验中，由于多种因素干扰，ADCP所得到的背散射强度与悬沙浓度之间存在着不定的非线性关系。同传统的回归方法比较，BP网络模型方法可以使含沙估测精度有较大的提高。     

Trophic relationships in tidepool fish assemblages of the tropical Southwestern Atlantic

Trophic studies are fundamental to understanding the dynamics of assemblages and functional roles of species within ecosystems, contributing to the identification of factors responsible for the organization and structure of communities. This study aimed to analyse the trophic organization of tidepool fish assemblages in the tropical Southwestern Atlantic, based on the underlying idea that food resources are not limiting and that trophic guild formation is not driven by food competition. Diets were based on feeding index values of food categories for 12 representative species collected in six tidepools (20º49′ S, 40º36′ W) at quarterly intervals (2005 to 2007). The main food categories were small crustaceans, polychaetes and macroalgae. Multivariate techniques evidenced two multispecific trophic guilds: small‐prey carnivores, including Bathygobius soporator, Bathygobius geminatus, Malacoctenus delalandii and Halichoeres poeyi, and herbivores, including Sparisoma axillare and Acanthurus bahianus. Other species presented significantly different diets and were classified into the following guilds: omnivores feeding on filamentous algae and copepods (Abudefduf saxatilis); large‐prey carnivores (Labrisomus nuchipinnis); omnivores feeding on polychaetes and filamentous algae (Stegastes fuscus); and polychaete feeders (Ahlia egmontis). Gymnothorax funebris and Gymnothorax moringa were classified as carcinophagores and piscivores, respectively. Trophic organization appears related to species convergence toward the use of abundant food resources, driven by a combination of factors allowing some resource partitioning through inter‐specific differences in consumer size, microhabitat, behavior, and trophic specialization.     

Seasonal abundance of non-commercial demersal fish in the eastern Mediterranean Sea in relation to hydrographic and sediment characteristics

Fish-habitat associations were investigated for twenty-five non-commercial demersal species in the Aegean Sea (eastern Mediterranean) using Generalized Additive Modeling techniques. Fishery related abundance indices, derived from experimental bottom trawl surveys, were linked to various habitat variables: substrate characteristics, area, season, depth, temperature and salinity. Depth was the most important factor for all species. Eleven species showed decreasing abundance with depth, while the remaining species were more abundant in specific depth zones either on the continental shelf or in the upper continental slope. Most species were associated with specific substratum characteristics such as the dry weight percentage of sand-gravel and the carbonate content. The dry weight percentage of sand-gravel in the sediments was selected as a predictor of the relative abundance of most (twenty three) species. Seasonal patterns in the relative abundance of species were observed, related in most cases to the seasonal differentiation of temperature. The effect of temperature was more pronounced in summer and autumn, when a marked thermocline is observed, while it was much less intense in winter. For most of the species, the preferable habitat was identified, that contributes valuable information for the successful implementation of an ecosystem approach to fisheries management.     

利用鱼卵胚胎发育毒性试验评价城市废水的处理效果

以真鲷鱼卵为材料试验了两个污水处理厂不同处理单元水样(进水口、中间处理过程、出水口的水样)对鱼卵胚胎发育的毒性效应.结果表明:(1)鱼卵胚胎发育毒性试验是检查废水生态毒性的敏感指标.(2)城市废水对鱼卵胚胎发育的死亡率、畸形率效应显著高于对照组.(3)随着废水的处理过程,进水口、中间处理过程、出水口的水样对鱼卵胚胎发育的死亡率、总致死率不断降低,但是降低的幅度远低于废水中COD降低的幅度.(4)杏林污水处理厂的出水口水样COD值低于集美污水处理厂出水口水样的COD值,但是,鱼卵的死亡率和总致死率却较高;目前仍采用COD表征废水的处理效果存在一定的局限性,鱼卵胚胎毒性试验可弥补这方面的不足.     

不同藻类生态参数在反演沉积物环境中的应用比较

海洋沉积物中残留的硅壳、甲藻孢囊、类脂类化合物及生物硅等生态参数被广泛应用于反演和指示海洋古环境特征.本研究通过测定烟台四十里湾表层沉积物中的硅藻化石、甲藻孢囊、菜籽甾醇、甲藻甾醇及生物硅5种生态参数,比较不同生态参数的相关性及它们在反演海洋环境中的功能差异,建立了多参数综合应用的研究方法.研究发现,沉积物中的硅壳丰度与菜籽甾醇含量及生物硅含量存在明显正相关关系(P＜0.05),菜籽甾醇含量与生物硅含量可以较好的佐证与提高沉积物中硅壳对硅藻生物量指示的准确性;甲藻孢囊与甲藻甾醇含量相关性不明显(P＞0.05),相较而言,甲藻甾醇可以更准确的反演甲藻的生物量.因此,生物与化学参数的结合应用不仅可以提高生物量指示的精确性,而且有助于从物种组成角度更好的了解藻类对环境变化的响应特征.     

Global parameter estimation of the Cochlodinium polykrikoides model using bioassay data

Cochlodinium polykrikoides is a notoriously harmful algal species that inflicts severe damage on the aquacultures of the coastal seas of Korea and Japan. Information on their expected movement tracks and boundaries of influence is very useful and important for the effective establishment of a reduction plan. In general, the information is supported by a red-tide(a.k.a algal bloom) model. The performance of the model is highly dependent on the accuracy of parameters, which are the coefficients of functions approximating the biological growth and loss patterns of the C. polykrikoides. These parameters have been estimated using the bioassay data composed of growth-limiting factor and net growth rate value pairs. In the case of the C. polykrikoides, the parameters are different from each other in accordance with the used data because the bioassay data are sufficient compared to the other algal species. The parameters estimated by one specific dataset can be viewed as locally-optimized because they are adjusted only by that dataset. In cases where the other one data set is used, the estimation error might be considerable. In this study, the parameters are estimated by all available data sets without the use of only one specific data set and thus can be considered globally optimized. The cost function for the optimization is defined as the integrated mean squared estimation error, i.e., the difference between the values of the experimental and estimated rates. Based on quantitative error analysis, the root-mean squared errors of the global parameters show smaller values, approximately 25%–50%, than the values of the local parameters. In addition, bias is removed completely in the case of the globally estimated parameters. The parameter sets can be used as the reference default values of a red-tide model because they are optimal and representative. However, additional tuning of the parameters using the in-situ monitoring data is highly required.As opposed to the bioassay data, it is necessary because the bioassay data have limitations in terms of the in-situ coastal conditions.     

悬浮泥沙含量与电导率关系及其影响因素的实验研究

为了寻求一种简单、快速、连续测定悬浮泥沙含量的方法,以高含沙量海区黄河口泥沙为研究对象,利用电导率仪测定了不同悬浮泥沙含量水体的电导率.前期实验结果已经证明悬浮泥沙含量与电导率之间有很好的线性关系.在此基础上扩大研究范围,并对影响悬浮泥沙含量与电导率关系的因素进行定量分析,结果表明,盐度、温度、颗粒粒径对电导率具有一定...     

Changes in trophic flows and ecosystem properties of the Beibu Gulf ecosystem before and after the collapse of fish stocks

Mass-balance models (Ecopath) of the ecosystem before and after collapse (1959-1961 and 1997-1999) of fish stocks were developed with Ecopath software to compare the differences in ecosystem structure, functioning and ecosystem properties of the Beibu Gulf. The model includes 20 functional groups consisting of commercial important fish groups and other ecologically important groups in the ecosystem such as zooplankton, phytoplankton, and detritus. Results indicated that biomass and catches of the system have changed drastically between the 1960s and 1990s, especially for the high trophic levels (TL). The biomass of level V in the early 1960s was 32 times higher than that of the late 1990s, however, the biomass of level I and II in the 1990s was higher than the 1960s. Despite the higher catches in the 1990s, fishing was ecologically less expensive during the 1990s than 1960s due to small fish catches were large. Mean transfer efficiency decreased from for 10.2% in the 1960s to 9.1% in the 1990s periods. According to the summary statistics, the parameters of net system production (NPS) and total primary production to total respiration ratio were increased from 1.013 in the 1960s to 2.184 in the 1990s, however, the connectance index (CI), system omnivore index, Finn’s cycling index and mean path length decreased from the 1960s to the 1990s. The overhead (O) was higher in the 1990s model while the ascendancy (A) decreased nearly 10% in the 1960s. The ‘Keystoneness’ result indicate that zooplankton was identified as keystone species in 1960s, however, the elasmobranches was keystone species in the late 1990s. The average trophic level of the fishery decreased from 3.32 in the 1960s to 2.98 in the 1990s, and exhibits classic symptoms of “fishing down the food web”. All the indices of the system attributes suggests that the Beibu Gulf ecosystem in 1960s was found to be more mature than in the 1990s due to the collapse of demersal ecosystem, and the ecosystem changed from being dominated by long-lived, high trophic level groundfish dominated system toward a system with small-size and low-value species over fifty years.     

悬浮泥沙含量与电导率关系及其影响因素的实验研究

为了寻求一种简单、快速、连续测定悬浮泥沙含量的方法,以高含沙量海区黄河口泥沙为研究对象,利用电导率仪测定了不同悬浮泥沙含量水体的电导率。前期实验结果已经证明悬浮泥沙含量与电导率之间有很好的线性关系。在此基础上扩大研究范围,并对影响悬浮泥沙含量与电导率关系的因素进行定量分析,结果表明,盐度、温度、颗粒粒径对电导率具有一定的影响,其中盐度的影响最大,颗粒粒径的影响最小,几乎可以忽略。在此基础上通过大量的实验数据初步建立起在盐度、温度较大变化范围内电导率与泥沙含量的一般函数关系,为实现海水悬浮泥沙含量的现场电导率原位监测系统提供可靠的数据支持。     

Vertical distribution of the macrobenthic community and its relationships to trace metals and natural sediment characteristics in the lower Douro estuary, Portugal

Vertical distribution (0–15 cm) of the macrobenthic community and its relationships to natural sediment characteristics and trace metal contents and bioavailability were studied at five locations in the lower Douro estuary, Portugal. An analysis of vertical metal distribution, for the interpretation of anthropogenic impact on the estuarine sediments, was also investigated. Sediment characterisation included organic matter, grain size, metals (Al, Fe, Cu, Pb, Cr, Ni, Cd, Zn and Mn), acid volatile sulphide (AVS) and simultaneously extracted metals (SEM). The macrobenthic community had low diversity (14 species), was dominated by small size opportunists and seemed to be controlled mainly by natural factors such as grain size distribution, Al and Fe contents and sediment depth. The vertically heterogeneous distribution of macrobenthic community appears to affect redox status of the sediments and consequently metal bioavailability. Despite anthropogenic contamination in terms of Zn, Cu, Pb, Cr and Ni having already been detected in the north bank, the analysis of vertical distribution was essential for the identification of current anthropogenic contamination in terms of Zn, Pb and Cd in the south bank.     

A note on the relationships between organic matter and some geotechnical properties of a marine sediment

Abstract

An analysis of the relationship between organic matter and liquid and plastic limits, and grain‐specific gravity of a marine sediment was accomplished by making a stepwise adjustment in the organic content of that sediment. The sample used was from Santa Barbara Basin (off southern California) and is typical of fine‐grained marine sediments: it is a clayey silt with a common suite of minerals and other constituents. During the experiment, texture and composition (except organic content) were constant; only the quantity of natural, indigenous organic matter was changed.

A strong linear relationship exists between the independent variable, the amount of organic carbon present in the sample, and the dependent variables. Liquid limit, plastic limit, and plasticity index all increased with increasing organic content over the range studied (0.57–3.20% organic carbon). Grain‐specific gravity decreased. All had linear correlation coefficients (r) greater than |0.90| and r ² values greater than 90%, except the plasticity index (83%).

Comparing the results of regression analyses from this and several similar studies shows that although there is good qualitative agreement, there are quantitative inconsistencies. In particular there is considerable overall variability in the regression coefficients. Among studies on marine sediments the inconsistencies are less pronounced, yet still evident. The increase in liquid limit as organic carbon increased by 1 % sediment dry weight ranged from 9 to 28% water content; in the plastic limit the range was from 4 to 18%. However, in these marine studies regression coefficients are relatively close in value in some cases, levels of significance of the regressions are high in most cases, and in all cases the relationships appear to be linear over the range of organic carbon percentage studied. Finally, we believe that a relatively clear relationship between plasticity and organic carbon begins to emerge when the latter exceeds a value of 2%.     

一株假单胞菌的亚硝酸盐降解特性及其对鱼池底泥的净化作用

从海水养殖池的底泥中筛选到一株对亚硝酸盐有强降解作用的假单胞菌(Pseudomonas sp.)SF1,在实验室条件下研究了SF1 的亚硝酸盐降解特性及其对高污染鱼池底泥的净化作用。研究结果表明,SF1 具有高效降解转化高浓度亚硝酸钠的能力, 其适宜降解条件为: 亚硝酸钠质量浓度范围为1～1 000mg/L; 菌种接种量为10%; 中量充气发酵; 发酵时间为12～36 h;发酵pH 值为6.5～8.0。直接接种SF1发酵液(接种量10%, 菌液A 值0.36)到鱼池底泥, 36 h 后, 底泥的亚硝酸盐去除率达到67%, 显示了SF1对鱼池底泥较强的净化作用。     

一株假单胞菌的亚硝酸盐降解特性及其对鱼池底泥的净化作用

从海水养殖池的底泥中筛选到一株对亚硝酸盐有强降解作用的假单胞菌（Pseudomonas sp．）SF1,在实验室条件下研究了SF1的亚硝酸盐降解特性及其对高污染鱼池底泥的净化作用。研究结果表明,SF1具有高效降解转化高浓度亚硝酸钠的能力,其适宜降解条件为：亚硝酸钠质量浓度范围为1～1000mg／L;菌种接种量为10％;...