Dumpton syndrome reduces the tributyltin (TBT) sterilising effect on Nucella lapillus (L.) by limiting the development of the imposed vas deferens

TBT induces imposex and sterilisation in female Nucella lapillus. Interestingly, there are populations where individuals (both males and imposexed females) may suffer from a genetic aberration [Dumpton Syndrome (DS)] which results in the development of no penis (i.e. aphally). This anomaly confers a so far unexplained protection against TBT. Six populations with contrasting DS frequency were sampled; the imposex stage in females and the mean calibre of every vas deferens (VDC) were assessed. While the sex ratio in the 600 specimens examined was close to 1, aphally was more frequent in females than in males (31 and 7%, respectively). VDC was significantly higher in normal than in aphallic (DS) specimens, independently of sex and/or site. It is concluded that the vas deferens imposed by TBT onto DS females is less prone to develop thick enough so as to interfere with normal egg laying.     

Mass balance of lead through a small macrotidal estuary: The Morlaix River estuary (Brittany,France)

Dissolved and particulate lead were measured over an annual cycle (12 surveys between February 1998 and January 1999) in the Morlaix River estuary (Brittany, France). The concentrations were investigated in both the water column and the sediment of the river bottom in relation to hydrological conditions. In the water column, dissolved and particulate lead concentrations ranged from 0.1 to 4.4 nM and from 0.04 to 1.9 μmol g^− 1, respectively. Lead concentrations in surface sediment varied from 0.04 to 0.19 μmol g^− 1 and concentrations in the sediment pore water of the estuary were below the detection limit. Compared with the ranges known for pristine estuaries, concentrations of Pb in the water column of the Morlaix River estuary were found to be much higher. Concentrations of Pb also exceeded the lower range of those known for industrialized estuaries. Extensive agricultural activities in the drainage basin may be responsible for Pb levels above pristine conditions. Furthermore, the sediment appeared not to be contaminated. A mass balance was constructed quantifying all known sources and sinks for the Pb in the estuary. Riverine input accounts for most of the total annual metal flux. Burial in sediments was the major sink within the estuary, which acts as a trap especially for the particulate lead. The mass balance shows that the metal accumulation ranged between 414.6 and 446.0 kg year^− 1.     

Survival, growth, metallothionein and glycogen levels of Nucella lapillus (L.) exposed to subchronic cadmium stress: the influence of nutritional state and prey type

Dogwhelks Nucella lapillus feed mainly on mussels and barnacles, and may experience periods of starvation. We report effects of nutritional state and prey type on the survival, growth, cadmium (Cd) accumulation, metallothionein (MT) induction and glycogen stores in N. lapillus exposed to Cd in water. Adult dogwhelks, with similar shell length (30.0+/-1.5 mm), were either starved or fed to satiation with barnacles Semibalanus balanoides, mussels Mytilus edulis or Cd-dosed M. edulis, and kept in filtered natural seawater (< 0.01 microg Cd 1(-1)) or Cd-contaminated (400 microg Cd 1(-1)) seawater for 80 days. Mortality and individual growth rate were determined. Cd, MT and glycogen were measured in different tissues. Prolonged starvation and exposure to Cd significantly reduced the survivorship of N. lapillus, but feeding could help dogwhelks to combat Cd toxicity and minimise mortality. Extended starvation also caused tissue wastage, leading to higher concentrations of Cd and MT in tissues, whereas fed animals increased in weight and had lower Cd and MT concentrations because of the tissue dilution effect. Prey type significantly affected growth rate of dogwhelks and indirectly influenced Cd accumulation, MT induction and glycogen stores. Eating mussels promoted better growth and higher glycogen reserves than eating barnacles. Individual growth rate decreased with increasing Cd accumulation. Cd-exposed survivors grew faster and consumed more than control animals, implying that these survivors may have better fitness and greater tolerance to Cd toxicity. The use of growth, condition index, MT and glycogen as biomarkers of environmental pollution are discussed. These results indicate a need to incorporate biological data including growth (or at least condition index) and prey type into biomonitoring programmes to allow sound interpretation.     

The carbohydrates in relation to mineralogic and granulometric composition of surface sediments in the karst estuary (River Krka estuary,Yugoslavia)

The investigation of mineral, granulometric and chemical composition of sediments of the River Krka estuary (Yugoslavia) were performed in order to elucidate the origin of the sediments and the pattern of sedimentation. Estuarine surface sediments were found to be fine-grained with a bimodal distribution. Environmental conditions in estuarine sediments favour conservation of the organic matter (anoxic conditions). The carbohydrates in the sediments were investigated to determine whether they are of terrigenous or authigenous origin. Glucose, galactose, mannose, xylose, rhamnose, glucosamine and glucuronic acid were detected in the sediments. Their mutual relationship indicates a preferentially terrigenous source of sedimented organic material in estuarine sediments.     

Diel patterns of mysid drift (Crustacea: Mysidacea) in the Taieri River estuary,New Zealand

Drifting mysids were sampled to determine diel activity, and whether mysid numbers vary with respect to inflowing and outflowing tides. Samples of drifting mysids were collected at the mouth of the Taieri River, New Zealand, over one 24‐h cycle using five replicate conical drift nets in January 1999. One‐night and 1‐day ebb and flood tide were each sampled. Four species of mysid Tenagomysis macropsis, T. novae‐zealandiae, T. robusta, and an apparently undescribed species of Gastrosaccus sp., were collected over the sampling period. One species, T. robusta, has not previously been collected from estuarine or riverine systems. The undescribed Gastrosaccus sp. was the most abundant of the four species. All four species were more abundant at night, with T. robusta and Gastrosaccus sp. being considerably more abundant in the drift on outflowing tides. In contrast, roughly equal numbers of T. macropsis and T. novae‐zealandiae were observed drifting in and out of the estuary at night.     

Temporal and spatial changes of dunes in the Changjiang (Yangtze) estuary,China

The response of subaqueous dunes to the variation of riverine sediment supply in an estuary is rarely reported. Five sets of field measurements of bed sediments and topography were made in the Changjiang estuary, China during dry and flood seasons for the past 9 years. Results show that dunes were mainly three-dimensional (3D) during flood seasons and two-dimensional (2D) dunes during dry seasons. Dunes were also much larger in flood seasons. Dunes mainly occurred within the main channels of the estuary although they extended 11.7 km seaward of their normal extent in the South Channel during dry seasons from 2002 to 2006. This extension of the dune field is likely due to a sharp decline of sediment discharge caused by large reservoirs such as Three Gorges.     

Metallothionein and stress protein levels in shore crabs (Carcinus maenas) along a trace metal gradient in the Fal estuary (UK)

A field study was conducted to assess the potential use of metallothionein (MT) and stress proteins as biomarkers of trace metal exposure. Shore crabs (Carcinus maenas) were collected from five sites: three located in the metal-contaminated Fal estuary (Southwest England) and two control sites located on the south coast of England. Two methods for determining MT levels in crab midgut gland were compared. A direct method in which MT was quantified by spectrophotometric measurement of SH content, and an indirect method in which the metal content (Cu and Zn) of partially purified MT was measured. Stress protein levels (stress-70) were quantified in crab gills using an improved western blotting technique. Elevated Cu and Cd concentrations compared to values in control crabs were found in the midgut glands of crabs from the Fal estuary. No significant variation was seen in Zn concentrations among the five sites. The two techniques used for MT analysis yielded similar results. Metallothionein concentrations were slightly higher in crabs from Restronguet Creek (the most metal-contaminated site) than in crabs from the other four sites, however this difference was not significant (p > 0.05). Stress protein levels did not reflect the metal gradient.     

Size fractionation and optical properties of colloids in an organic-rich estuary (Thurso, UK)

The optical characteristics of a black water river estuary from the north coast of Scotland were examined in the filtered (0.4 µm), ultrafiltered (5 kDa) and colloid-enriched fractions of estuarine samples. The samples were collected over the full salinity range during a period when the pH was relatively constant (8.2–8.5) throughout the estuary, allowing the influence of salinity on estuarine colloidal processes to be distinguished. The properties examined in the bulk, the low molecular weight (LMW) and the colloidal fraction (HMW) were UV–visible absorption, 3-D fluorescence excitation–emission matrix (EEM) spectrum, inorganic and organic carbon, mean size (by dynamic light scattering), and size distribution by flow field-flow fractionation analysis (FlFFF). The combined results of these analyses support the view that river-borne, humic-rich colloids underwent two types of transformation upon mixing with the seawater end member. The first one resulted in an apparent increase in the abundance of LMW constituents and may be explained by coiling of the individual humic macromolecules. The second one resulted in an increase in the mean size measured in both the lower and higher colloidal size ranges, and may be explained by aggregation of colloids to form entities that were still mostly colloidal i.e., smaller than 0.4 µm. The LMW contribution to the bulk optical properties increased with increasing salinity. Very similar findings were obtained from simulated mixing experiments using a Nordic Reference NOM extract as a source of freshwater colloids. This indicates that changes in the molecular architecture and molar mass of river-borne colloids—not changes in their chemical nature—were responsible for the observed variations in the spectral characteristics of CDOM in this estuary.     

Horizontal distribution and population dynamics of the dominant mysid Hyperacanthomysis longirostris along a temperate macrotidal estuary (Chikugo River estuary, Japan)

The estuarine turbidity maximum (ETM) that develops in the lower salinity areas of macrotidal estuaries has been considered as an important nursery for many fish species. Mysids are one of the dominant organisms in the ETM, serving as a key food source for juvenile fish. To investigate the horizontal distribution and population dynamics of dominant mysids in relation to the fluctuation of physical conditions (temperature, salinity, turbidity, and freshwater discharge), we conducted monthly sampling (hauls of a ring net in the surface water) along the macrotidal Chikugo River estuary in Japan from May 2005 to December 2006. Hyperacanthomysis longirostris was the dominant mysid in the estuary, usually showing peaks of density and biomass in or close to the ETM (salinity 1–10). In addition, intra-specific differences (life-cycle stage, sex, and size) in horizontal distribution were found along the estuary. Larger males and females, particularly gravid females, were distributed upstream from the center of distribution where juveniles were overwhelmingly dominant. Juveniles increased in size toward the sea in marked contrast with males and females. The findings suggest a possible system of population maintenance within the estuary; gravid females release juveniles in the upper estuary, juveniles grow during downstream transport, young males and females mature during the upstream migration. Density and biomass were primarily controlled by seasonal changes of temperature, being high at intermediate temperatures (ca. 15–25 °C in late spring and fall) and being low at the extreme temperatures (ca. 10 °C in midwinter and 30 °C in midsummer). High density (up to 666 ind. m⁻³) and biomass (up to 168 mg dry weight m⁻³) of H. longirostris were considered to be comparable with those of copepods in the estuary.     

珠江河口区风暴潮增水过程非线性叠加效应研究

珠江河口区水网密布,水动力条件复杂,风暴潮增水过程存在明显非线性叠加特征。本文运用ADCIRC(AdvancedCirculationHydrodynamicmodel)与SWAN(SimulatingWavesNearshore)模型,以1713号台风“天鸽”为实例,构建了珠江河口区风暴潮增水数值模拟模型,研究了珠江河口区风暴潮增水非线性叠加特征,得出如下结论:(1)在台风强度不变的情况下,在珠江口西岸登陆台风带来的增水最大,在伶仃洋西岸超过2 m。(2)风暴潮在珠江口西岸、东岸、河口区登陆,在高低潮和低低潮登陆带来的非线性效应水位较高,最高超过1 m。在高高潮和高低潮期登陆带来的非线性效应水位较低,最低非线性水位接近0 m。在珠江口西岸登陆的台风,其风暴潮-天文潮的非线性效应最大。     

Total selenium and selenium (IV) in the James River estuary and southern Chesapeake Bay

The concentrations of total selenium (Se) and Se (IV) were determined in the surface waters of 30 stations located in the James River and southern Chesapeake Bay. The concentrations of total Se and Se (IV) ranged from 0·28 to 1·91 nM and from 0·07 to 1·36 nM, respectively, between salinities of 31·78 and 0·06‰. The concentration of Se (VI), calculated as the difference between the concentrations of total Se and Se (IV), ranged from 0·08 to 0·67 nM. While total Se seemed to be conservative in this study area at salinities above 0·36‰, Se (IV) might have been removed during estuarine mixing. The removal of Se (IV) occurred primarily at salinities below 4‰ possibly via the oxidation of Se (IV) to Se (VI).     

Geochemical signature as paleoenvironmental markers in Holocene sediments of the Tinto River estuary (Southwestern Spain)

High absolute concentrations of metals associated to sulfide deposits located at the river source (Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, and As) have been determined from the study of major and trace element concentrations in sediment samples obtained in two vibracores in the Tinto River estuary. In most cases, the enrichment factor (EF) for these metals is over 2. Cu, Zn and As have much higher EF, over 10 in surficial samples. Fe oxy-hydroxide precipitation in high-chlorinity zones and its scavenging effect on metals is the main control process on the chemical composition of sediment. Vertical evolution of the sedimentary and geochemical characteristics of the cores show that the estuary has undergone a process of progressive shallowness and a relative increase in acidic river water volume with respect to seawater. This effect has originated a downstream displacement of acid mixing processes affecting the estuary, which is reflected in higher metal concentrations in sediments of the outer zones of the system.     

High partial pressure of CO2 and its maintaining mechanism in a subtropical estuary: the Pearl River estuary,China

We investigated distributions of surface water CO₂ partial pressure (pCO₂), dissolved oxygen (DO) and associated carbonate parameters in the Pearl River estuary, a large subtropical estuary under increasingly anthropogenic pressure in China, in the summer of 2000 and late spring of 2001. pCO₂ levels, measured underway using a continuous measurement system, were high during both seasons, with levels of >4000 μatm at salinity <0.5. pCO₂ distribution overall mirrored DO across the salinity gradient. Using the linear relationship between excess CO₂ and apparent oxygen utilization (AOU) in surface water, we conclude that aerobic respiration is the most important process in maintaining such high pCO₂ measured upstream. The material being respired is likely in a close association with the organic pollutants discharged into the system. Based on the measured excess CO₂ vs. AOU plots, we estimate that the upper limit of pCO₂ should be ∼7000 μatm in the Pearl River estuary assuming that CO₂ was produced solely by aerobic respiration.     

The nitrogen isotopic composition of dissolved nitrate in the Yangtze River (Changjiang) estuary,China

The nitrogen isotopic composition of dissolved nitrate (δ¹⁵N-NO₃⁻) in surface water of the Yangtze River estuary was determined in four seasons of 2006. δ¹⁵N-NO₃⁻ ranged from 0.4‰ to 6.5‰ and varied with seasons and geographic regions, reflecting the dynamics of nitrogen cycling in the estuarine ecosystem. δ¹⁵N-NO₃⁻ was markedly lower in February than in other seasons and exhibited conservative mixing, which was probably attributed to the NO₃⁻ being sourced from the atmospheric deposition and agricultural fertilizer. In the upper estuary, the influence of riverine inputs was important during all surveys. In the turbidity maximum zone, nitrification was found with nitrate depleted in ¹⁵N in May, whereas denitrification resulting in heavy δ¹⁵N-NO₃⁻ played an important role in August. More enriched δ¹⁵N-NO₃⁻ values coinciding with losses of nitrate concentrations based on the conservative mixing model were found in the adjacent marine area in May, and may reflect obvious phytoplankton assimilation of dissolved nitrate. In this manner, δ¹⁵N-NO₃⁻ may be a sensitive indicator of nitrogen sources and biogeochemical processing existing in this estuary in conjunction with the variations of dissolved nitrate and other environmental factors.     

The role of suspended matter in the biogeochemical cycles in the Adige River estuary (Northern Adriatic Sea)

Suspended matter and sediments from the Adige River mouth were analysed in an attempt to elucidate the transfer of heavy metals from the river to the sea. The vertical profile of grain-size spectra of suspended matter in front of the river mouth has shown that the riverine particles are limited to the upper brackish layer.Particulate matter was found to have a large specific surface area, up to 20 m² g⁻¹ in the estuarine sample. High quantities of quartz and phyllosilicates (micas and clay minerals) were found in the riverine suspended matter. The quartz content of the suspended matter from the brackish layer was found to be diminishing and with the organic matter becoming the essential component (22%). Higher levels of trace metals were usually detected in suspended matter samples (40 ppm Ni, 200 ppm Cr, 60 ppm Pb, 100 ppm Cu, 320 ppm Zn, and 0·9 ppm Cd) than in sediments.The observed similarity of physico-chemical, mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of riverine suspended matter and recent marine sediments, indicates that most of the riverborne particulate matter is deposited in the proximity of the Adige River mouth.The peculiar characteristics of the chromium level (high bulk concentration and its abundance in the organic fraction of the particular matter) when compared to the other trace metals, indicates the anthropogenic influence on its biogeocycle.     

长江口北槽黏性细颗粒泥沙特性的试验研究

选用长江口北槽黏性细颗粒泥沙,在不同盐度的人工海水中通过静水沉降、动水沉降等各种试验手段了解其基本特性。在静水沉降管中观测了胶粒的电化学絮凝过程和重力碰并过程,于不同盐度条件下找出最佳絮凝盐度;并通过黏性细颗粒泥沙在流动海水中絮凝的试验研究,揭示其在动水中絮凝的机理和规律,及不同条件下的起动流速、不淤流速、沉降速度等特征值,从而分析其落淤情况。研究结果表明,长江口北槽细颗粒黏性泥沙的最佳絮凝盐度约为15,起动流速为15~20 cm/s,这与泥沙的淤积固结时间有关,而不淤流速约为60 cm/s。并由试验得到了挟沙力与流速之间的经验关系,以及用于估算不同流速条件下泥沙沉降速度及淤积量的经验公式。这些结果可用于长江口航道的疏浚、整治工作中,具有一定的理论指导意义。     

Myrionecta rubra (Mesodinium rubrum) bloom initiation in the Columbia River estuary

To better understand the development of the annually recurring late summer red water blooms of the phototrophic ciliate Myrionecta rubra in the Columbia River estuary we examined its standing stocks and measured its growth rates both in the estuary main channels and in Baker Bay, a peripheral embayment situated near the river mouth. Data collected during two summers show a biphasic development of M. rubra blooms, with an initial phase when the protist was only detected in Baker Bay, followed by an established phase when red waters were observed throughout the lower estuary. Ilwaco harbor (Baker Bay’s seaward-end) is at least one of the locations where the bloom starts since M. rubra was detected there at concentrations >100s cell L⁻¹ before Chinook harbor (Baker Bay’s upriver-end) or the estuary main channels. In 2010, this initial phase lasted about 1.5 months, spanning the neap tide of early July to the beginning of the neap tide of mid-August. While high growth rates were measured in Ilwaco harbor during the initial phase (1.2–3.1 d⁻¹) and in the estuary main channels in both surface red (0.7 d⁻¹) and adjacent non-red (1.1 d⁻¹) waters during the established period, growth of the ciliate was not detected in Ilwaco harbor during this second phase. Growth rate data obtained during the established bloom phase also suggest that M. rubra cells in the estuary mostly divide during the daytime and that red water patches might experience self-shading.     

中国温带海域新发现较大面积(大于50ha)的海草床:Ⅰ黄河河口区罕见大面积日本鳗草海草床

日本鳗草(Zostera japonica)原是中国沿海潮间带较为常见的海草种类,近些年来随着生境的破坏其分布面积急遽下降,较大面积连续分布的海草床已经非常少见。2015年5月和8月,在山东黄河河口区发现了超过1000 ha几乎连续分布的日本鳗草海草床,与互花米草生境相邻,形成独特的生态景观。对日本鳗草生物量和种群补充等基本生物学指标也进行了调查。该发现极大丰富了中国海草数据库,并为日本鳗草的深入研究及保护提供了得天独厚的实验基地。