Effects of substratum type on fish assemblages in shallow areas of a tropical estuary

While there is already a comprehensive understanding of the effects of environmental variables, such as dissolved oxygen, temperature and salinity, on the structure, biomass and metabolism of aquatic biota in estuarine habitats, the effect of sedimentation, a harmful underlying factor, remains unclear. The aim of this study was to assess the differences in fish assemblages along the freshwater to salt water gradient of a large tropical estuary, and to evaluate the effects on them of habitat disturbance associated with shallow water sedimentation in the intertidal areas. Fish and environmental variables were recorded in the upper, middle and lower salinity zones of the estuary at ebb tide in both the dry and wet seasons. Sediment samples associated with different levels of habitat disturbance were analysed using granulometry, and their organic content and dissolved oxygen levels were quantified. Water temperature, salinity, pH and dissolved oxygen levels were also measured. Habitat disturbance was found to be correlated with the density, biomass and richness of fish assemblages. A total of 77 species were recorded, forming two distinct fish assemblages, with the Eleotridae family dominating in the upper zone, and Gerreidae, Gobiidae and Tetraodontidae the most common in the middle and lower estuary. Changes in the structure of fish assemblages, including reductions in density, biomass and richness, were associated with disturbance to natural features, where muddy sediment was replaced by sandy sediment and the quantity of organic matter fell. Atherinella brasiliensis was the species which showed a preference for the disturbed areas in the middle and lower zones, while Dormitator maculatus showed a preference for them in the upper estuary. They may be taken as indicators of habitat disturbance due to shallow sedimentation.     

长江口河口锋的悬沙及动力特征初探

通过对2002年9月、2003年4月和2004年10月在长江口滨外区多船同步定点观测的数据进行分析,捕捉到了长江口河口锋带位置,并利用调查数据分析了河口锋带的动力特征.结果表明:长江口河口锋的位置大约位于122°10′E,30°50′N至122°20′E,31°00′N一线附近,在河口锋带有着较为强烈的河海相互作用,流速不符合典型的对数流速曲线,河水与海水的相互消长局限于海面以下5 m的表层范围,观测表明在河口锋面区悬浮泥沙为泥沙流伏在海水之上输运.     

Rare earth elements in suspended and bottom sediments of the Mandovi estuary, central west coast of India: Influence of mining

Rare earth elements (REEs) in the suspended particulate matter (SPM) of the Mandovi estuary indicated that the mean total-REEs (∑REE) and light REE to heavy REE ratios are lower than that of the average suspended sediment in World Rivers and Post-Archean average Australian shale. High ∑REE were associated with high SPM/low salinity and also with high SPM/high salinity. Although the ∑REE broadly agree with SPM levels at each station, their seasonal distributions along transect are different. SPM increased seaward in the estuary both during the monsoon and pre-monsoon, but consistently low at all stations during the post-monsoon. The mean ∑REE decreased marginally seaward and was <25% at sea-end station than at river-end station. Spatial variations in ∑REE are maximum (64%) during the pre-monsoon. Strong to moderate correlation of ∑REE with Al, Fe and Mn in all seasons indicates adsorption and co-precipitation of REEs with aluminosilicate phases and Fe, Mn-oxyhydroxides. The ratio of mean ∑REE in sediment/SPM is low during the monsoon (1.27), followed by pre-monsoon (1.5) and post-monsoon (1.62). The middle REE- and heavy REE-enriched patterns with positive Ce and Eu anomalies are characteristic at every station and season, both in SPM and sediment. They also exhibit tetrad effect with distinct third and fourth tetrads. Fe-Mn ore dust is the most dominant source for REEs. However, the seasonal changes in the supply of detrital silicates, Fe-Mn ore dust and particulates resuspended from bottom sediments diluted the overall effect of salinity on fractionation and distribution of REEs in the estuary.     

长江口和黄东海沉积物单矿物分选的常用方法和流程

沉积物碎屑矿物组分既受物源控制,又受水动力影响,单矿物分选应首先选取适当的粒级,细砂粒级经常采用,但不是固定在这一粒级; 控制重液密度是重液分选的关键环节,不同目标矿物,可通过调配不同的比重液进行分离分选,并可使用离心重液法提高分选效能; 磁选是分选不同磁性特征矿物的简单便捷方法,钕铁硼强磁铁的使用,可部分代替电磁分选仪的功能,对样品量少、矿物种类多、磁性变化大地矿物组合可起到重要的分组作用; 化学分选采用不同浓度的各种溶剂在不同条件下处理试样,有选择性地溶掉妨碍矿物,留下目标矿物; 手工分选单矿物重点在于剔除其他方法难以分离的杂质,保障样品的纯度和代表性; 角闪石和石英分选流程,代表着单矿物分选的基本技术路线,不同方法合理的前后衔接,使单矿物分选高效、快捷、准确,但还有一些矿物分选难题尚未解决,需要深入研究和实践。     

The influence of troughs and crests of ripple marks on the structure of subtidal benthic assemblages around rocky reefs

This study tested the hypothesis that the small-scale topography caused by ripples in sediment would affect benthic macrofaunal assemblages. Ripple marks were measured and macrofauna and sediments were sampled near to and far from subtidal rocky reefs at two sites. Ripples were significantly wider and taller close to than far from reefs. Sediment grain-size was significantly different between crests and troughs. Microtopography clearly influenced the structure of the benthic macrofaunal assemblages in three of the four locations (and 8 of the 12 sites) examined. Numbers of taxa of the benthic macrofaunal assemblages and almost all individual taxa analysed showed significant greater abundances in troughs than in crests. The results strongly support the model that benthic macrofauna are affected by locally varying hydrodynamic environments produced by ripple-beds. These, in turn, were influenced by their proximity to a reef. Models about passive transport of the macrofauna by water-movement and active movements of the fauna are discussed. Furthermore, it appeared that there was a relationship between spatial variability of the macrofaunal assemblages and size of ripples. It is suggested that microtopography should be considered in experimental designs when patterns of distribution of benthic organisms are being evaluated.     

Vertical structure of larval fish assemblages during diel cycles in summer and winter in the southern part of Bahía de La Paz, México

The effect of environmental variables on the vertical structure of larval fish assemblages in a tropical coastal lagoon was analyzed. Ichthyoplankton samples were collected from the near-bottom and surface strata near the mouth of a subtropical lagoon during contrasting seasonal conditions of temperature, photoperiod, light intensity, and tidal heights. During summer, larval fish assemblages had high species richness (R) and were dominated by tropical species. During winter, assemblages had lower R values and were dominated by subtropical and temperate species. Vertical distribution patterns of the taxa were determined by the interaction of environmental variables and behavior of each species to maintain their position in a stratum in the water column, or to achieve vertical migrations induced by environmental stimuli that, in this case, were thermal gradient, column water stratification, and intensity of light. Depth position and vertical migration of fish larvae, coupled with the flood and ebb tide conditions, played an important role in their retention and displacement toward the lagoon. Fish larvae with distribution restricted to the inner part of the inlet, such as Achirus mazatlanus, Etropus sp., and several gobies, were more abundant in the near-bottom stratum during the ebb tide, allowing them to avoid exportation, whereas those that could spawn outside, but depended on the inlet as a nursery area, were more abundant near the surface during flood tide, such as Abudefduf troschelii and Stegastes rectifraenum.     

The characteristics of the nematode faunas in subtidal sediments of a large microtidal estuary and nearshore coastal waters differ markedly

The present study examines traditional paradigms regarding the differences between faunas in estuaries vs coastal waters. The ecological characteristics of the free-living nematode faunas of nearshore, subtidal sediments in downstream and upstream areas of the large, microtidal Swan River Estuary are compared with those similarly recorded seasonally in subtidal sediments along an adjacent part of the coast of temperate south-western Australia. Overall, the nematode species richness recorded in the upstream (38) and downstream estuarine areas (58) and from throughout the estuary (61) were substantially less than in marine waters (75). In addition, the value for Simpson’s diversity index was marginally less in the estuary and the dominance of the most abundant species greater. In contrast, the mean nematode species richness and diversity in individual cores followed the reverse trend, reflecting a combination of less variability among the species compositions and far greater densities in the cores from estuarine sediments. Furthermore, the mean density (numbers 10 cm⁻²) was far higher in both upstream (341) and downstream (903) areas of the estuary than in marine waters (87). Although the compositions of the assemblages in upstream and downstream estuarine areas differed markedly from each other at the species, genus and family levels, these differences were less pronounced than those between either of these areas and marine waters. The trophic compositions at the moderately sheltered and fully exposed marine sites differed from that in both areas of the estuary, whereas that at the most sheltered marine site was similar to that in the downstream estuarine area, with both containing substantial proportions of epistrate-grazing species. The variations among the species richness, diversity, densities and taxonomic and trophic compositions of nematode assemblages in the sediments of the two estuarine areas and nearby marine waters appear to reflect differences in 1) salinity regimes, 2) extents of exposure to wave action and its related effects and 3) amounts and types of food available to nematodes.     

同安湾表层沉积物重金属污染特征及潜在生态风险评价

对厦门同安湾表层沉积物7种重金属（Hg、Cd、Pb、As、Cu、Zn和Cr）、有机碳和硫化物含量进行了相关性分析和因子分析,并应用沉积物质量评价标准及潜在生态危害指数法对重金属的潜在生态风险进行了评价.结果表明：Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd、Cr、Hg、As含量范围和均值分别为6.49～46.20,16.95;6.68～46.90,23.93;45.4～162.0,87.4;0.028 9～0.402 0,0.147 6;8.50～33.20,15.95;0.013～0.117,0.047和1.5～6.8,4.8mg/kg.除As之外,各重金属含量之间有显著的相关性（相关系数为0.666～0.970）,且与有机碳含量的相关系数较高（相关系数为0.674～0.980）.重金属元素及有机碳与硫化物含量的相关系数较低.潜在生态风险评价显示：该海区沉积物中重金属生物毒性效应频繁发生的几率相对较小,生态危害程度也较低,尚属轻微生态危害.7种重金属潜在生物毒性风险大小依次为：Hg〉Cd〉Pb〉As〉Cu〉Zn〉Cr.     

2010年秋季黄河口及其邻近海域中小型浮游动物的群落特征

为掌握黄河口邻近水域中小型浮游动物的现状并弥补此类重要浮游生物类群在以往调查研究中的欠缺, 于2010 年9 月在黄河口及其邻近海域用浅水Ⅱ型浮游生物网采集了浮游动物样品, 分析了中小型浮游动物的种类组成、丰度分布、优势种、生物多样性及群落结构。本次调查共鉴定浮游动物成体48 种, 浮游幼虫21 类, 桡足类和水螅水母为最主要的浮游动物类群, 分别占浮游动物成体种数的37.5%和20.8%。浮游动物丰度为2 300.1～266 232.0 个/m³, 平均丰度为37 074.3 个/m³。优势种(类)8种, 分别为夜光虫、强额拟哲水蚤、小拟哲水蚤、背针胸刺水蚤、异体住囊虫、桡足类无节幼虫、双壳类幼体以及腹足类幼体, 其中夜光虫为研究水域最主要优势种。对各站位物种组成和丰度进行分析,调查水域中小型浮游动物可划分为4 个组群, 各组群的分布格局受到水温、盐度和海流的共同影响。该研究为此水域生态系统的长期变化研究提供了重要基础资料和参考依据。     

The effect of a natural water-movement related disturbance on the structure of meiofauna and macrofauna communities in the intertidal sand flat of Rocas Atoll (NE, Brazil)

Rocas, the only atoll in the South Atlantic, is located 266 km off the northeast Brazilian coast. Spatial patterns in community structure of meiofauna, particularly nematodes, and macrofauna were examined along a transect through the sediment path from windward to leeward of the Rocas Atoll sand flat. Differences in benthic community structure between four zones of the sand flat were found to be significant and related to the major local processes of carbonate-grain transport and sedimentation. Both meiobenthic and macrobenthic assemblages were significantly more diverse and abundant within the sediment inflow zone (the initial part of the detrital path of Rocas sand flat) than in the other zones, where a clear impoverishment of benthic invertebrates occurred. This first study of the benthos of an intertidal sand flat over a reef island in the Atlantic showed that the meiofauna is numerically dominated by the nematodes Metoncholainussp. 1 (Oncholaimidae) and Epsilonema sp. 1 (Epsilonematidade), whilst the macrofauna is largely dominated by oligochaetes and large Oncholaimidae nematodes. Analysis of the species composition, trophic structure and abundance of both the meiobenthos and the macrobenthos revealed an impoverished community subjected to an intense water-movement disturbance.     

The benthic communities of the Snorre field in the Northern North Sea (61°30′ N 2°10′ E): 1. The distribution and structure of communities in undisturbed sediments

The fauna of the Snorre oil field is diverse and varies along a 40 m depth gradient across the area. Abundance and species richness increase with increasing depth but diversity is highest in the centre of the gradient. The communities present differ widely from those of the adjacent but shallower Statfjord, Gullfaks and Tordis Fields and from the major communities found throughout much of the northern North Sea, a fact attributable to the greater depth, finer sediments, higher sediment organic levels and position on the western slope of the Norwegian Trench. They have greater affinities with the communities in the Troll Field, 85 km SE on silt/clay sediments in the floor of the trench and the Heidrun Field, situated approximately 390 km N at similar depths and in an area of similar sedimentary composition. However the Snorre communities have a much higher number of suspension feeding and surface deposit feeding organisms than either of these other areas. This might be caused by higher current speeds in the Snorre area which could create favourable conditions for suspensivores. Such water movements might bring occasional incursions of intermediate Norwegian Sea water into the area. Indeed the Snorre fauna appears to bear some relationships to the intermediate depth faunas of the Norwegian Sea, and is clearly different from most of the better described northern North Sea faunas.