Paradigmatic responses of marine benthic communities to different anthropogenic pressures, using M-AMBI, within the European Water Framework Directive

The use of AMBI and M-AMBI in benthic quality assessments, within the European Water Framework Directive (WFD), has increased dramatically in recent years. M-AMBI is a multivariate tool, which incorporates AMBI, richness and Shannon diversity within the assessment. The response of this approach to different human pressures in coastal and estuarine waters has been investigated for the Basque Country (Northern Spain). In this contribution, several paradigmatic examples of these applications to different water bodies are presented. The time-series extend to samples collected between 1995 and 2007, showing the evolution of M-AMBI values under different pressures, i.e. urban and industrial discharges, dredging and disposal of sediments, and engineering works (such as land reclamation or marina construction), and, in addition, for illustrating the benthic quality recovery after positive actions have been undertaken, i.e. the removal of point-source discharges or water treatment programmes. In most cases, M-AMBI responds to these pressures as expected, with decreases in the ecological status immediately following the pressure. Conversely, when a pressure is removed, the recovery takes between 2 and 15 years, depending upon the intensity of the pressure and the characteristics of the water body. M-AMBI has been intercalibrated previously in coastal waters. After intercalibration in transitional waters, M-AMBI will be able to be used in the integrative quality assessment of European water bodies.     

Response of BITS (a benthic index based on taxonomic sufficiency) to water and sedimentary variables and comparison with other indices in three Adriatic lagoons

The European Water Framework Directive (WFD, 2000/60/EC) recommends the development of biotic indices for assessing the ecological quality status of water bodies. The Benthic Index based on Taxonomic Sufficiency (BITS) was specifically developed for lagoonal systems, according to the tolerant/opportunistic approach. Macrobenthic data, variables indicative of eutrophication and variables indicative of sedimentary organic matter quality were collected during 18 surveys carried out between 2004 and 2005 in three Adriatic coastal lagoons (Venice Lagoon, Sacca di Goro, Lesina Lagoon). The relationship between environmental variables and biotic indices (AMBI, BENTIX, BITS, BOPA and FINE) was tested using multivariate analyses. Indices based on species classification level appeared to relate better with the variables describing organic matter quality, whereas BITS, which is based on family classification level, seemed related to eutrophication indicative variables, such as sulphide, ammonium, dissolved oxygen and orthophosphate concentrations. The BITS approach reduces the costs associated with sorting and identification of organisms. Providing a rapid assessment of ecological quality, and producing an ecologically relevant classification, BITS seems a promising tool for monitoring programs of Adriatic lagoonal ecosystems. Its sensitivity in reflecting the field conditions elsewhere, however, remains to be assessed.     

山东半岛近岸海域生态系统健康综合评价

为了构建基于多指标体系的生态系统健康评价方法,作者在调研了大量国内外文献的基础上,通过实证研究和量化分析,对山东半岛近岸海域生态系统健康的现状做出了较为客观的评价。在综合考虑影响海洋生态系统健康的各种因素的基础上,构建了山东半岛近岸海域生态系统健康评价指标体系,从陆源压力、水质状态和生物响应3个方面对山东半岛近岸海域生态系统健康和环境压力进行分析。结果显示:2006年山东半岛近岸海域生态健康状况基本呈现由外海到近岸逐渐变差的态势,其中生态健康状况较差的海域主要集中在莱州湾西南部、烟台北部海域、威海的沿岸海域以及山东半岛东南部海域。     

Implementation of the European Water Framework Directive: Natural variability associated with the CARLIT method on the rocky shores of the Ligurian Sea (Italy)

The Water Framework Directive (WFD) 2000/60/EC, adopted by the European Community in 2000 with the goal of maintaining and improving the aquatic environments, requires that member states achieve and maintain a good ecological status of all water bodies by 2015. In the marine context, the ecological status has to be quantified applying indexes based on appropriate key biological elements, which allow the categorization of water bodies into five Ecological Status (ES) classes. The CARLIT index is a cartographic monitoring tool enabling the Ecological Quality Ratio (EQR) to be calculated using macroalgae in coastal hard bottoms as a key biological element; at present it is being applied in Spain, France and Italy. To detect actual changes of water quality and, consequently, rely on the application of indexes for the assessment of the ecological status in the marine environment, it is necessary to evaluate their sensitivity to natural variability at different temporal and spatial scales. In this study we present a first quantification of natural (spatial and temporal) variability of EQR‐CARLIT quality assessment in 2006 and 2007 along the Ligurian coast (North‐Western Mediterranean, Italy). The EQR‐CARLIT values recorded along the Ligurian coastline show that natural variability of EQR‐CARLIT is low and that it does not affect the attribution of a given stretch of coast to a particular ES class, in agreement with the major human pressures acting in the area (urbanization, river load, sea‐farming). A small‐scale variability was detected, strengthening the use of cartography of the whole rocky shore, whenever possible, or, alternatively, the assessment of the ecological status for long stretches of coast, to encompass the small‐scale variability due to local factors.     

河口和沿岸海域生态环境质量综合评价方法评介

海洋环境管理从以往单纯的海洋污染管理已发展到当前的海洋生态环境综合管理。相应地,海洋环境质量评价也从以往单一的污染状况评价(包括水质、沉积物和生物体)发展到海洋生态环境质量综合评价。重点介绍了2种有代表性并被广泛应用的河口和沿岸海域生态环境质量综合评价方法———欧盟的“生态状况评价综合方法”和美国的“沿岸海域状况综合评价”。比较和评析了2种方法的异同和优缺点。建议尽快建立适合中国河口和沿岸海域特点的海洋生态环境质量综合评价方法以及相应的监测和管理体系。     

Assessing benthic health under multiple human pressures in Bohai Bay (China), using density and biomass in calculating AMBI and M‐AMBI

In recent decades, China has undergone an impressive development, which has produced increasing human pressures including coastal degradation. Bohai Bay, located in the west of the Bohai Sea (north of China), has been affected by various human pressures, including waste water discharges, land reclamation and oil exploitation. To monitor the effects of these pressures on this ecosystem, benthic macroinvertebrates and environmental variables (dissolved oxygen, nutrients, metals, etc.) were sampled in 2009 and 2011. To assess the ecological status of the benthic communities, the AZTI Marine Biotic Index (AMBI) and multivariate‐AMBI (M‐AMBI) were used, including both density and biomass in the calculation. This is the first research in which M‐AMBI based on biomass (M‐bAMBI) is applied. Both methods showed that the nearshore areas, especially close to the Haihe and Jiyun estuaries, were affected by human pressures, with a clear gradient of decreasing impacts offshore. The ecological status as assessed using density and biomass was quite similar. Significant relationships were also found between both methods and environmental variables. The use of AMBI and M‐AMBI, based upon density and biomass, in assessing the ecological status of water bodies in China seems to be promising.     

Relationships between suspended particulate material, light attenuation and Secchi depth in UK marine waters

Measurements of sub-surface light attenuation (K_d), Secchi depth and suspended particulate material (SPM) were made at 382 locations in transitional, coastal and offshore waters around the United Kingdom (hereafter UK) between August 2004 and December 2005. Data were analysed statistically in relation to a marine water typology characterised by differences in tidal range, mixing and salinity. There was a strong statistically significant linear relationship between SPM and K_d for the full data set. We show that slightly better results are obtained by fitting separate models to data from transitional waters and coastal and offshore waters combined. These linear models were used to predict K_d from SPM. Using a statistic (D) to quantify the error of prediction of K_d from SPM, we found an overall prediction error rate of 23.1%. Statistically significant linear relationships were also evident between the log of Secchi depth and the log of K_d in waters around the UK. Again, statistically significant improvements were obtained by fitting separate models to estuarine and combined coastal/offshore data – however, the prediction error was improved only marginally, from 31.6% to 29.7%. Prediction was poor in transitional waters (D = 39.5%) but relatively good in coastal/offshore waters (D = 26.9%).SPM data were extracted from long term monitoring data sites held by the UK Environment Agency. The appropriate linear models (estuarine or combined coastal/offshore) were applied to the SPM data to obtain representative K_d values from estuarine, coastal and offshore sites. Estuarine waters typically had higher concentrations of SPM (8.2–73.8 mg l⁻¹) compared to coastal waters (3.0–24.1 mg l⁻¹) and offshore waters (9.3 mg l⁻¹). The higher SPM values in estuarine waters corresponded to higher values of K_d (0.8–5.6 m⁻¹). Water types that were identified by large tidal ranges and exposure typically had the highest K_d ranges in both estuarine and coastal waters. In terms of susceptibility to eutrophication, large macrotidal, well mixed estuarine waters, such as the Thames embayment and the Humber estuary were identified at least risk from eutrophic conditions due to light-limiting conditions of the water type.     

基于Mann-Kendall检验的浙江省近岸海域海洋环境变化趋势和对策研究

文章选取2006—2015年浙江省近岸海域的海洋环境监测数据,基于Mann-Kendall检验方法,分别分析水质、生物生态、江河入海污染物和海洋环境风险的时间序列变化趋势。根据研究结果,提出浙江省海洋环境保护和生态建设的对策建议,即加强近岸海域污染防治和陆海统筹污染控制、加强海洋生物多样性保护和海洋保护区建设、加强近岸海域生态修复和生态建设以及加强海洋环境风险防控和应急体系建设。     

Ecological indices tracking distinct impacts along disturbance-recovery gradients in a temperate NE Atlantic Estuary – Guidance on reference values

Results gathered from a monitoring programme on the Mondego Estuary (Western Coast of Portugal) were compliant with findings drawn from other studies, which pointed out that unstable environments, namely estuarine systems, constitute a great challenge for the use of environmental tools such as ecological indices. The Margalef Index, the Shannon–Wiener Index and AMBI were proposed to evaluate the ecological status of benthic communities in the scope of the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) in Portugal and other European member states. In this system these indices were not equally effective in tracking changes in benthic communities that expressed obvious responses to anthropogenic disturbances (eutrophic situations and severe physical disturbance) and to subsequent impacts' cessation. Natural variability played an important role on the indices' response, with estuarine gradient and habitat heterogeneity affecting the ranges of values obtained, and with extreme climate events slowing down the ongoing recovery process. Nonetheless, both natural and anthropogenic variability during the study period could be satisfactorily detected if we accounted for the information provided by all three indices. Based on the whole range of variation observed (a) as a response to different kinds of impacts, and (b) along recovery gradients, as well as accounting for the natural driving forces acting upon estuarine benthic invertebrate communities, we propose a set of reference values for these three indices. This proposal aims at contributing to the implementation of classification tools within the scope of the European WFD.     

半分析模型在近岸及河口水体透明度反演应用研究

Secchi depth(SD, m) is a direct and intuitive measure of water's transparency, which is also an indicator of water quality. In 2015, a semi-analytical model was developed to derive SD from remote sensing reflectance, thus able to provide maps of water's transparency in satellite images. Here an in-situ dataset(338 stations) is used to evaluate its potential ability to monitor water quality in the coastal and estuarine waters, with measurements covering the Zhujiang(Pearl) River Estuary, the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea where measured SD values span a range of 0.2–21.0 m. As a preliminary validation result, according to the whole dataset, the unbiased percent difference(UPD) between estimated and measured SD is 23.3%(N=338, R~2=0.89), with about 60% of stations in the dataset having relative difference(RD)≤20%, over 80% of stations having RD≤40%. Furthermore, by excluding the field data which with relatively larger uncertainties, the semi-analytical model yielded the UPD of 17.7%(N=132,R~2=0.92) with SD range of 0.2–11.0 m. In addition, the semi-analytical model was applied to Landsat-8 images in the Zhujiang River Estuary, and retrieved high-quality mapping and reliable spatial-temporal patterns of water clarity. Taking into account the uncertainties associated with both field measurements and satellite data processing, and that there were no tuning of the semi-analytical model for these regions, these findings indicate highly robust retrieval of SD from spectral techniques for such turbid coastal and estuarine waters. The results suggest it is now possible to routinely monitor coastal water transparency or visibility at high-spatial resolutions from measurements, like Landsat-8 and Sentinel-2 and newly launched Gaofen-5.     

辽东湾近岸海域油污染生态风险评价研究

以2014–2015年海洋调查数据为基础,Arc GIS软件为平台,通过选取致灾因子危险性、承灾体脆弱性相关影响因子,基于灾害理论和层次分析法构建了辽东湾近岸海域油污染生态风险评价指标体系、评价模型及评价标准,将致灾因子危险性等级和承灾体脆弱性等级进行叠加,从而实现对研究海域油污染生态风险进行综合评价,并对该海域溢油风险可能导致的环境影响进行了系统分析、诊断和综合评价。结果表明:辽东湾近岸海域风险处于较高风险,应加强对环境敏感区域的保护,并完善环境监测体系。本文同时为重要湿地生态敏感区合理配置溢油应急资源和实施风险决策提供技术支撑,也为目前事故后的危机管理到预防性风险管理的转变提供理论依据。     

环境因子对菲在黄河口沉积物上吸附的影响

为研究多环芳烃从河口到近海的环境归趋行为与生态风险,考察了沉积物质量浓度、溶解性有机质、温度、盐度4种典型环境因子对菲在黄河口沉积物上吸附的影响,比较了黄河口与近海两种沉积物对菲的吸附性能。研究结果表明,沉积物质量浓度越低,单位质量颗粒物的菲吸附量越高;共存的溶解性有机质对菲的吸附具有增促作用,且腐殖酸比黄腐酸的作用更显著;温度的升高不利于菲的吸附,而盐度的增加有利于菲的吸附。菲在沉积物上的吸附是分配作用与表面吸附两种行为的耦合,其中黄河口沉积物以表面吸附为主,而近海沉积物以分配作用为主。近海沉积物菲吸附量显著高于黄河口沉积物菲吸附量。基于此,菲从河口到近海的迁移过程中,更易于在沉积物表面发生吸附沉降,从而可能降低水相中的生态危害,但对近海底栖生物具有潜在的健康生态风险。     

我国近岸海域富营养化评价新方法及应用

参考目前国际上被广泛应用的第2代富营养化评价方法体系,结合我国近岸海域生态环境特点和监测资料现状,建立了一种以压力-状态-响应模式为基本框架、以富营养化症状为主的第2代近岸海域富营养化评价体系。实际应用结果表明,应用本方法得出的长江口海域富营养化状况评价结论,与目前国外主流评价方法的评价结论一致,而且本方法具有评价指标代表性强、数据资料易得、评价标准有据、方法简便易行等优点。     

我国近岸海域富营养化评价新方法及应用

参考目前国际上被广泛应用的第2代富营养化评价方法体系,结合我国近岸海域生态环境特点和监测资料现状,建立了一种以压力-状态-响应模式为基本框架、以富营养化症状为主的第2代近岸海域富营养化评价体系。实际应用结果表明,应用本方法得出的长江口海域富营养化状况评价结论,与目前国外主流评价方法的评价结论一致,而且本方法具有评价指标代表性强、数据资料易得、评价标准有据、方法简便易行等优点。     

海上化学品泄漏环境风险生态损害价值评估

选择厦门市海沧化工园区为典型案例区,以二甲苯为研究对象,采用数值模拟技术,对海岸带化工园区化学品泄漏的环境风险与生态效应进行了预测和识别,评估了海洋生态服务功能、水质、生物、潮滩生境4种对象的价值损失．结果表明,泄漏地点、风向、潮时以及泄漏量是影响化学品泄漏环境风险差异的主要因素．当泄漏量较小、泄漏点靠近化工泊位时,E风低潮时对海洋生态影响最大,此时最大生态价值损失约为3994万元;当泄漏量较大、泄漏点位于靠近外海的船舶锚地时,SSW风高潮时对海洋生态影响最大,生态价值损失最大为18732万元．在4种对象中,生态服务功能损失和生物损失对价值损害的贡献最大．     

Potential impacts of Three Gorges Dam in China on the ecosystem of East China Sea

The Changjiang River in China was dammed in 2003. The possible changes in matters fluxes from the river downstream after the completion of Three Gorges Dam and their potential impacts on the ecosystem of the East China Sea are discussed . The estuarine and coastal waters in the East China Sea were heavily fertilized by the inflow of nutrient-rich freshwater from the Changjiang River, which has led to severe eutrophication and frequent harmful algal blooms ,thus worsening the ecosystem health in this area. Analy- sis showed that the nutrient loadings are very likely to be reduced in the lower Changjiang River due to the construction of Three Gorges Dam. Especially for the total phosphorus, the discharges to the East China Sea will be reduced by one-third, which would relieve the severe eutrophication in this area. However, the expected decrease in the riverine silicate discharge would lead the ratio of silicon to nitrogen to be much less than 1 in the estuarine and coastal waters and thus may cause an elevation of flagellate growth. The changes in the annual water discharges and their seasonal distributions below the dam will be minor. Reduction of suspended particulate matter loading, due to the sedimentation behind the dam, will reduce the nutrient loadings of the particulate form especially for phosphorus, and decrease the turbidity of estuarine and coastal waters. On the other hand, this may enhance the erosion of the delta and the coasts as well as modifythe benthic ecosystem.     

Short-term variability of the phytoplankton community in coastal ecosystem in response to physical and chemical conditions' changes

The short-term dynamics (time scale of a few days) of phytoplankton communities in coastal ecosystems, particularly those of toxic species, are often neglected. Such phenomena can be important, especially since these very species can endanger the sustainability of shellfish farming. In this study, we investigated the short-term changes in phytoplankton community structure (species succession) in two coastal zones in parallel with physical and chemical conditions. Mixing events with allochtonous waters could thus be distinguished from local processes associated with population growth when it was associated with a change in light or nutrient limitation. Mixing events and water advection influenced fluctuations in total phytoplankton biomass and concentration of dominant species, while local processes influenced delayed changes in community structure. The estuarine species Asterionellopsis glacialis increased in concentration when the water mass mixed with the nearest estuarine water masses. The biological response, measured as photosynthetic capacity, occurred after a time-lag of a few hours, while the changes in community structure occurred after a time-lag of a few days. Finally, the coastal water mass was constantly mixed with both the nearest estuarine and marine water masses, leading in turn to delayed changes in phytoplankton community structure. These changes in species composition and dominance were observed on a time scale of a few days, which means that some toxic species may be missed with a bi-weekly sampling strategy.     

A weight-of-evidence approach to assessing the ecological impact of organotin pollution in Dutch marine and brackish waters; combining risk prognosis and field monitoring using common periwinkles (Littorina littorea)

In the present study an integrated ecological risk assessment based on multiple lines of evidence (LOEs) was evaluated in order to better assess the risk from TBT in Dutch harbours and open coastal waters. On the basis of spatial distributions of measured tributyltin (TBT) concentrations in sediments and suspended matter, predictions of the intersex index (ISI) in Littorina littorea and the ecological risk expressed as the Potentially Affected Fraction (PAF) of species were made. The results were compared to actual ISI measurements and presence of L. littorea in the field. The PAF calculated on the basis of TBT levels for open coastal waters ranged from 4.2% to 15.3%; for harbours it ranged from 3.5% to 26.9%. Significant intersex levels were observed only in waters where the risk was calculated above 10% PAF. This study suggests that the absence of L. littorea from some harbours with high ecological risk values can be explained by high TBT concentrations. A call is made for the use of integrated approaches like weight-of-evidence (WOE) to help practitioners improve ecological risk assessment.     

Role of environmental factors in affecting macrophyte dominance in transitional environments: The Italian Lagoons as a study case

One of the main challenges to facilitate the classification of water bodies is to identify direct relationships between anthropogenic pressures and the behavior of biological organisms such as macrophytes in different environments including transitional areas. The investigation of many lagoons and ponds described here shows that macrophyte variables and the community composition have strong and univocal relationships with ecological parameters that are a measure of anthropogenic pressure on the ecological status of water bodies. The areas surveyed represent about 78% of the Italian transitional waters (169 sites sampled both in spring and fall). Anthropogenic impacts affect the availability of nutrients in the water column and surface sediments, causing changes in water transparency and phytoplankton concentration (as chlorophyll‐a [Chl‐a]) that act as the main drivers of variation for macrophyte assemblages, changing species dominance and the conditions that govern their presence or absence. The response of macrophytes to anthropogenic pressure is quite similar in all the examined transitional environments, even when the basin morphology, species richness and composition are different. Some taxa and species assemblages are so sensitive to environmental changes that monitoring them can be considered the most suitable and rapid method for assessing the quality of the environment they inhabit.