Palynological assemblages from the holocene sediments of the Changjiang (Yangtze) River Delta and its implications

The palynolpgical study on the Quaternary sediments of 42 cores in the region of the Yangtze River Delta and the sections of 4 relics had been done since 1960. Palynological assemblages from the region of the Yangtze River Delta, showing obviously .common characteristics but with slight differences because of the vast areas covered, can be divided into five spores and pollen zones and three subzones in ascendant order:I.Quercus alienc-Pinus-Cupressaceae-Chenopodiaceae spores and pollen zone reflecting the cool, then cold and dry climate--Preboreal.II.Quercus dentata-Quefcus acutissima-Pinus-Castanea-Artemisia spores and pollen zone reflecting the temperate and cool, but a little dry climate--Boreal.III.Quercus glauca-Caslanopsis-Myrica-Caslanea spores and pollen zone reflecting the hot and moist climate--Atlantic.IV.Quercus acutissima-Pinus-Castanea-Quercus glauca- Chenopodiaceae spores and pollen zone reflecting the warm, and a little dry climate--Subboreal.V.Quercus acutissima-Costarica-Quercus glauca     

Distribution and migration of the common squidTodarodes pacificus in the Yellow Sea

Study of the distribution and migration of the common squid,Todarodes pacificus Steenstrup,basedon the index of important fishing ground(P) and fisheries statistics on the Yellow Sea and northern EastChina Sea during 1980—1991 showed that:1.Its catch in the fishing period(June to November) is 91.77% of the annual yield.The fishingground distributes over the northem and middle Yel1ow Sea and adjacent area of the Changjiang Estuary.2. It over-winters in the northem East China Sea and waters adjacent to Goto Island from De-cember to February and spawns in waters near Haijiao Is1and and west of Kyushu. The main stock mi-grates along 123°30′E to the ChangJiang Estuary, Haizhou Bay. offsea from Shidao to Qingdao,mideastern Yellow Sea, and offsea Weihai and Haiyang Island succesively for feeding after April. The sur-plus stock migrates again to the wintering ground in December.3.The favorable feeding temperature is 6-23℃(optimum of l3-20℃ in the Changjiang Estua-ry and 7-13℃ in the northern and middle Yel     

Geochemistry of re and trace elements in ferromanganese nodules and their genesis

Trace and RE element geochemistry and genesis have been studied with respect to ferromanganese nodules from the sediments of the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans.     

Characteristics of organic geochemistry of sediments in the northern part of the South Huanghai Sea

It is known that the organic matter in the upper layer of sediments gets lost fast, but not in the South Huanghai Sea (Yellow sea). Some of the major characteristics of organic geochemistry of sediments in the South Huanghai Sea can be summarized as follows:1. The contents of organic carbon and bitumen increase with the decrease in grain size.2.Loss of organic matter is closely related to grain size but less so in clay sediments.3.The contents of bitumen and hydrocarbon are low, about n ×102 ppm for bitumen and n ×10 ppm for hydrocarbon.A scattered show of organic matter does not necessarily indicate the presence of petroleum in recent marine sediments.In research into the genesis of petroleum, people pay more attention to the study of the organic geochemistry of recent marine sediments. How much organic materials was lost during the deposition up to the diagenesis ? The problem is as important as the study on the transformation of organic matter. This study on the organic geochemistry of the sediment     

The movement of bed-load discharge near the shore of Shijiu harbour

Shijiu Harbour is to be constructed at southern Shandong as an important shipping center with a docking capacity of 100 thousand tonnages of a single vessel.Tides and tidal currents were frequently observed at three different layers from December 1979 to April 1980. Bed-load discharge was sampled and calculated for different weather conditions. Some of the results are as follows:1. The amount of bed-load discharge is 0.1359 g/cm2/day during the spring tide, 0.09 g/cm2/day during the neap tide, 0.488 g/cm2/day during storm weather, which is four times as high as that during average tides.2. The maximum amount of the sediments that settle to the waterway is less than 46.7768 g/cm2 per year, therefore the waterway will not be blocked by the transported sand and clay even after a storm weather.     

An approach to the transgressive sedimentary pattern of the present continental shelf

On the basis of our study of the present sediments in the northern part of the continental shelf of the South China Sea, this article clarifies our views that a "three-zone pattern" is the basic feature of transgression-type sedimentation.The classification of transgression-type sedimentation of the present continental shelf is based on: the close relationships between the formation of the present continental shelf and the position of the low sea level of the Wiirrn glacial stage, the genetic types and environmental features of sedimentary zoning, the relationship between the formation of glauconite with different maturity and the migration of coastline, the speed of transgression, and the overlying speed of sedimentation. We put forward the genetic name of the "three-zone pattern" to denote:1.The inner zouu, river mouth-coastal current sedimentary area;2.The intermediate zone, coastal current-sea current scouring-sedimentary area;3.The outer zone, sea current scouring area.All these are of significance     

Bioreactor technology for production of valuable algal products

INTRODUCTIONManystudiesonvascularplantSduringthenontwperiodhavedrireP0redinChinaandabroad.TherearefeWreportSonwhethertherearesomevasctilarplantS,andhowmanyspedessurvive,underice,andontheirbiomassesandphotosyntheticproduCtivitiesduringwinter,espedal1yduringbeAfpinchLillyamepe0ylenctal.,l976,Liuetal.,l994).WeimtlycarriedoutaseadriontheunderforvascularplantsdurinwinderinsomewaterbodieswherevascularplantSgrowluxdrianhydurinInildareonsinnorthemareas,soastoimproveourknowedgeofvascularplaflt…     

Analysis of Yellow Sea low-frequency current variation

Low frequency (LF) current (period>25 hour) variation at 5 stations in Jiaozhou Bay. Shijiousuo, and the central part of the Yellow Sea were studied by analyzing the observed long-period current data series in the study area.1) There are obvious periods of 3 and 5 days in the LF current spectra. The energy spectral value of LF current of a 5 day period is remarkably larger than that of a 3 day period. These periods reflect the correlations between the LF current variation and the LF water level variation.2) The feet that the 15-day period in the LF current spectra corresponds to the semi-monthly celestial tide period indicates that the tide-induced residual current is an important and most evident LF current component in the bay.3) The LF current spectral energy density in the northward direction is much larger than that in the eastward direction. This shows the frequency and strength of the wind field in the northward direction are evidently larger than that in the eastward direction.     

Vertical zonation of horticultural farming in the Alaknanda basin of Garhwal Himalaya, India

Introduction In the Alakananda Basin, undulating terrain constitutes the most fragile elements of the ecosystem. Traditional economy rests on the terraced cultivation with extremely limited viability to expansion and modernization. Consequently, low economic return remains the characteristic feature of the agrarian landscape. It is the common experience that the ecological conditions of the basin are more suited to fruit cultivation rather than cereal farming (Atkinson 1889). Along with frui…     

The internal hydrographic structure of the Huanghai cold water mass (HCWM) in summer

The deep and bottom water within the Huanghai Cold Water Mass (HCWM) in summer was, for a long time, considered as a homogeneous body of water. Various investigations in recent years showed this may not be true.After a detailed analysis of the most recently obtained refined CTD data and other historical hydrographic data at our disposal, some significant results have been obtained.1.It is definitely shown that the Huanghai Warm Current (HWC) did not enter the HCWM in summer. However, there exist two types of second class water masses within the HCWM in summer. They are: (1) a water mass with low temperature and low salinity, which was formed in the preceding winter by a vertical mixing process locally, and (2) a water mass of relatively high temperature and high salinity, which is the remanent body of the HWC that entered the HCWM in preceding seasons, but was completely cut off from its source in summer. The spreading of these two water masses, the existence of a frontal zone at the boundary of the two     

Cadmium flux and genotoxicity in an experimental marine food chain

Cadmium flux through a lab food chain (Phaeodactylum tricornutum Bohlin- Penaeus orientate Kishinouye- Hexagrammos otakii Jordan et Starks) and its genotoxicity were investigated. The results are as follows:1. High doses of cadmium (>0.003 mol / L) induced flocculation and quick precipitation of Phaeodactylum tricornutum; lower doses of cadmium could be adsorbed on and absorbed by P. tricornutum without delaying its growth. Cadmium concentrations in algae increased with dosage, and cadmium ions removed from the medium were in proportion to dosage. In vivo chelation and organizable combination of absorbed cadmium ions by metabolites of P. tricornutum can be considered as bio-detoxification.2. Cadmium concentration decreased in the transfers from P. tricornutum to P. orientalis and from the latter to H. otakii. Transfer coefficient of cadmium in the first flux was 66.6% and 29.9% in the second. Results of t tests showed that mutagenicity of ashed internal organs of experimental prawns was significantly hi     

Effects of different phosphorus concentrations and N/P ratios on the growth and photosynthetic characteristics of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Skeletonema costatum</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prorocentrum donghaiense</Emphasis>

The effects of different phosphorus (P) concentrations (0.36, 3.6, and 36 μmol/L corresponding to low-, middle-, and high-P concentration groups, respectively) and nitrogen (N)/P ratios on the growth and photosynthetic characteristics of Skeletonema costatum and Prorocentrum donghaiense were studied. For both species, the high-P (HP) concentration group showed the greatest algal density and highest specific growth rate. Changes in the maximum efficiency of photosystem II (F _v /F _m ) were monitored under the various P and N/P conditions. The largest decrease in F _v /F _m was in the low-P (LP) group in S. costatum and in the HP group in P. donghaiense. There were high rapid light curves and photochemical quantum yields (Φ _PSII) for S. costatum in the HP group, while the actual photosynthetic capacity was higher in P. donghaiense than in S. costatum in the MP group. Under eutrophic but relatively P-restricted conditions, P. donghaiense had higher photosynthetic activity and potential, which could cause this dinoflagellate to increasingly dominate the phytoplankton community in these conditions. Under the same P concentration and N/P ratio, P. donghaiense had a larger relative maximum rate of electron transport and higher Φ _{PS II} values than those of S. costatum. These differences between P. donghaiense and S. costatum may explain the interaction and succession patterns of these two species in the Changjiang (Yangtze) River estuary from a photosynthesis perspective.     

Flume simulation of wave-induced release of internal dissolved nitrogen in Taihu Lake, China

A wave flume simulator was used to study internal nitrogen release from the surface sediment collected from Taihu Lake,China.Particulate nitrogen concentrations were positively correlated with the concentrations of suspended solids,primarily from surface erosion related to the shear stress and duration of wave action.In response to 4 cm-and 10 cm-high wave production representing waves generated in Taihu Lake by gentle and gusty winds,respectively,the mean dynamic release rate of ammonium(NH+4) from the sediment to the overlying water was 1×10-3 mg/(m2.s) and the NH4+ concentration in the overlying water increased by 0.016 mg/L,indicating that waves resulting from strong wind can induce the rapid release of dissolved nitrogen from Taihu Lake sediments.The decrease in interstitial NH+4 concentrations at all sediment depths was associated with an increase in NH4+ concentrations in the overlying water by 0.01 mg/L,showing that sediment below the eroded layer was the main source of internal nitrogen release.Changes in the interstitial dissolved oxygen and NH+4 concentrations showed that wave-induced pore water movement can greatly increase the diffusion rate,and that these effects can influence the sediment to a depth of at least 15 cm.Diffusion induced by pore water movement may be very important for the formation of an active sediment layer in Taihu Lake.     

Emissions of biogenic sulfur gases (H<Subscript>2</Subscript>S,COS) from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phragmites australis</Emphasis> coastal marsh in the Yellow River estuary of China

Emissions of biogenic sulfur gases (hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and carbonyl sulfide (COS)) from Phragmites australis coastal marsh in the Yellow River estuary of China were determined during April to December in 2014 using static chamber-gas chromatography technique with monthly sampling. The results showed that the fluxes of H₂S and COS both had distinct seasonal and diurnal variations. The H₂S fluxes ranged from 0.09 μg/(m²·h) to 7.65 μg/(m²·h), and the COS fluxes ranged from–1.10 μg/(m²·h) to 3.32 μg/(m²·h). The mean fluxes of H₂S and COS from the P. australis coastal marsh were 2.28 μg/(m²·h), and 1.05 μg/(m²·h), respectively. The P. australis coastal marsh was the emission source of both H₂S and COS over the whole year. Fluxes of H₂S and COS were both higher in plant growing season than in the non-growing season. Temperature had a dramatic effect on the H₂S emission flux, while the correlations between COS flux and the environmental factors were not found during sampling periods. More in-depth and comprehensive research on other related factors, such as vegetation, sediment substrates, and tidal action is needed to discover and further understand the key factors and the release mechanism of sulfur gases.     

Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus on the growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Levanderina fissa</Emphasis>: How it blooms in Pearl River Estuary

Effects of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from different sources and at different concentrations on the growth of Levanderina fissa (= Gyrodinium instriatum) were studied in laboratory conditions. The findings might explain the recurrent blooms of this species in Pearl River Estuary, China. Results showed that nutrient limitation significantly inhibited the growth of L. fissa. The values of specific growth rate (μ _max) and half-saturation nutrient concentration (K _S) were 0.37 divisions/d and 8.49 μmol L^?1 for N, and 0.39 divisions/d and 1.99 μmol L^?1 for P, respectively. Based on K _S values, dissolved inorganic N level in PRE was sufficient to support the high proliferation of L. fissa, while dissolved inorganic P concentration was far lower than the minimum requirement for its effective growth. L. fissa was not able to utilize dissolved organic N (DON) compounds such as urea, amino acids, and uric acid. However, it grew well by using a wide variety of dissolved organic P (DOP) sources like nucleotides, glycerophosphate, and 4-nitrophenylphosphate. The results from this study suggested that the ability in DOP utilization of L. fissa offers this species a competitive advantage in phytoplankton communities. The high level and continuous supply of DIN, enrichment of DOP, together with warm climate and low salinity in the Pearl River Estuary provided a suitable nutrient niche for the growth of L. fissa, and resulted in the recurrent blooms in the estuary.     

Effects of Anthropogenic Disturbance on Sediment Organic Carbon Mineralization Under Different Water Conditions in Coastal Wetland of a Subtropical Estuary

The changes in soil organic carbon(C) mineralization as affected by anthropogenic disturbance directly determine the role of soils as C source or sink in the global C budget. The objectives of this study were to investigate the effects of anthropogenic disturbance(aquaculture pond, pollutant discharge and agricultural activity) on soil organic C mineralization under different water conditions in the Minjiang River estuary wetland, Southeast China. The results showed that the organic C mineralization in the wetland soils was significantly affected by human disturbance and water conditions(P 0.001), and the interaction between human disturbance activities and water conditions was also significant(P 0.01). The C mineralization rate and the cumulative mineralized carbon dioxide-carbon(CO_2-C)(at the 49th day) ranked from highest to lowest as follows: Phragmites australis wetland soil aquaculture pond sediment soil near the discharge outlet rice paddy soil. This indicated that human disturbance inhibited the mineralization of C in soils of the Minjiang River estuary wetland, and the inhibition increased with the intensity of human disturbance. The data for cumulative mineralized CO_2-C showed a good fit(R~2 0.91) to the first-order kinetic model C_t = C_0(1 – exp(–kt)). The kinetic parameters C_0, k and C_0 k were significantly affected by human disturbance and water conditions. In addition, the total amount of mineralized C(in 49 d) was positively related to C_0, C_0 k and electrical conductivity of soils. These findings indicated that anthropogenic disturbance suppressed the organic C mineralization potential in subtropical coastal wetland soils, and changes of water pattern as affected by human activities in the future would have a strong influence on C cycling in the subtropical estuarine wetlands.     

Distribution of diatoms and silicoflagellates in surface sediments of the Yellow Sea and offshore from the Changjiang River,China

The spatial distribution of siliceous microfossils (diatoms and silicoflagellates) in the surface sediments was mapped at 113 sites in the Yellow Sea and sea areas adjacent to the Changjiang (Yangtze) River, China. In total, 267 diatom taxa and two silicoflagellate species were identified from the sediments. The spatial variations in abundance and diversity were classified into three distinct geographic patterns using Q mode clustering: a south-north geographic pattern, a coastal-offshore pattern and a unique pattern in the Changjiang River mouth. The south-north geographic pattern was related to the spatial variations in sea temperature. Coscinodiscus oculatus, a warm-water species, indicated these variations by a gradual decrease in abundance from the south to the north. The coastal-offshore pattern was in response to the spatial variations in salinity. Cyclotella stylorum, Actinocyclus ehrenbergii and Dictyocha messanensis, the dominant brackish species in coastal waters, significantly decreased at the isobaths of approximately 30 m, where the salinity was higher than 31. Paralia sulcata and Podosira stelliger indicated the impact of the Yellow Sea Warm Current in the central Yellow Sea. The unique pattern in the Changjiang River mouth showed the highest species diversity but lower abundance, apparently because: freshwater input can significantly increase the proportion of brackish species; nutrients can supply the growth of phytoplankton; and high sedimentation rates can dilute the microfossil abundance in the sediments. Our results show that an integration of environmental factors (e.g., nutrient levels, sedimentation rate, sea temperature, salinity and water depth) determined the spatial characteristics of the siliceous microfossils in the surface sediments.     

Distribution patterns of phytoplankton in the Changjiang River estuary and adjacent waters in spring 2009

The Changjiang River estuary and adjacent waters are one of the most notable regions for red tides/harmful algal blooms in China's coastal waters.In this study,phytoplankton samples were collected and analyzed during the outbreak stage of red tides in May 2009.It was found that dinoflagellates,Prorocentrum donghaiense and Karenia mikimotoi,and diatoms,Skeletonema spp.and Paralia sulcata,were the major taxa dominating the phytoplankton community.Cluster analysis,non-metric multidimensional scaling(NMDS) and analysis of similarities(ANOSIM) was conducted on a data matrix including taxa composition and cell abundance of the phytoplankton samples.The analyses categorized the samples into three groups at a similarity level of 30%.Group Ⅰ was characterized by estuarine diatoms and distributed mainly in the highly turbid estuarine region.Group Ⅱ,which was dominated by the diatom Skeletonema spp.and represented the red tide of Skeletonema spp.,was situated around Group Ⅰ in the sea area west of 122°50'E.Group Ⅲ was characterized by a high proportion of dinoflagellates and was found further offshore compared with Groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ.Group Ⅲ was further divided into two subgroups(Ⅲ-S1 and Ⅲ-S2) at a similarity level of 40%.Group Ⅲ-S1 was characterized by the presence of the benthic diatom P.sulcata,representing phytoplankton samples collected either from the bottom or from the sea area affected by upwelling.GroupⅢ-S2 was dominated by dinoflagellates and represented red tides formed by P.donghaiense and K.mikimotoi.A gradual change of red-tide causative species was observed from the estuary to the offshore sea area,from diatoms to armored dinoflagellates and then unarmored dinoflagellates.Environmental factors associated with each group,and thus affecting the distribution of phytoplankton and red tides,are discussed.     

Spatial and seasonal pattern of macrozoobenthic assemblages and the congruence in water quality bioassessment using different taxa in artificial Mingzhu Lake in Shanghai

The spatial and seasonal pattern of macrozoobenthic structure and its relationship with environmental factors were studied from July 2006 to April 2008 in Mingzhu Lake, Chongming Island, Shanghai at the Changjiang River mouth. The congruences in water quality bioassessment based on diversity and biotic indices and using different taxonomic categories were also explored to find the best assessment method of water quality for the lake. All major structural characteristics of macrozoobenthic community, including species composition, abundance, biomass and four biomass-based diversity indices (Shannon’s diversity, Simpson’s diversity, Pielou’s evenness and Simpson’s evenness index) fluctuated significantly in season but in space. The above four abundance-based diversity indices plus abundance-based Margalef’s richness index did not display significant spatial variations; and significant seasonal differences were found in three indices only. Water temperature was the key environmental factor responsible for macrozoobenthic spatio-temporal distribution patterns. Water quality assessed by Shannon’s index (H _a′) and biological pollution index (BPI) rather than the other four biotic indices were consistent with those by trophic state index (TSI). Results from chironomids and oligochaetes did not always agree to those from the whole community when H _a′ or Hilsenhoff biotic index was applied to bioassessment. Therefore, combining multiple indices and avoiding a single taxonomic category to assess water quality are strongly recommended and in Mingzhu Lake using a mixture of H _a′ and BPI will ensure the most effective investigation of water quality. Our results also show that the main structural characteristics of macrozoobenthic communities in the small lake may display consistent spatial patterns.