Population Growth of Zooplankton (Rotifers and Cladocerans) Fed Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus acutus in Different Proportions

In the present work we tested the effect of Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus acutus in different proportions on the population growth of Brachionus calyciflorus, Brachionus patulus, Ceriodaphnia dubia, and Moina macrocopa. In general, both rotifer species grew well on either type of algae. Regardless of algal mixture, B. calyciflorus had a shorter initial phase, while B. patulus needed more than a week to begin the exponential phase of growth. Both the rotifer species showed consistently better population growth with Chlorella than on Scenedesmus, or the mixture. At any given algal combination, B. patulus had higher peak values than B. calyciflorus. The rate of population increase (r) for both the rotifers varied from 0.18 to 0.48 d^—1 depending on the algal type and combination. Regardless of algal type and combination, B. calyciflorus had a much higher value of r than B. patulus. Both C. dubia and M. macrocopa grew on the algal types, whether offered separately or in mixture. Regardless of the treatment type, C. dubia needed a longer period (about 2 weeks) than M. macrocopa to reach peak abundances. Thus, our study did not support the view that Scenedesmus is consistently superior to Chlorella as a basic diet to the tested species of zooplankton.     

Bloom of Hemidiscus hardmannianus (Bacillariophyceae) and Its Impact on Water Quality and Plankton Community Structure in a Mangrove Wetland

An intense monospecies bloom of the centric diatom Hemidiscus hardmannianus (Greville) Mann. (Bacillariophyceae) occurred in the coastal waters of Sundarban mangrove wetland, India on 22 July, 2010. The species was abruptly flourished (mean density 8.86 × 10⁶ cells/L) resulting intense green coloration of water. The greatest impoverishment of diversity and density of phytoplankton, micro‐ and mesozooplankton community was observed during the bloom. The phytoplankton community showed an extreme reduction in diversity (12 species to one) and sharp decrease in standing stock (12.84 × 10³ to 8.86 × 10⁶ cells/L) during this period. The late bloom condition coincided with sudden and huge arrival of a clupoid fish Hilsa ilisha which forms the most potential fisheries in Sundarban deltaic region. An attempt has been made to correlate the satellite remote sensing‐derived information to the bloom conditions. The MODIS‐Aqua derived chlorophyll and TMI satellite derived sea surface temperature and wind speed maps have been interpreted.     

Effect of Single Species or Mixed Algal (Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus acutus) Diets on the Life Table Demography of Brachionus calyciflorus and Brachionus patulus (Rotifera: Brachionidae)

We tested the effect of two algal diets (Chlorella vulgaris at 1 · 10⁶ cells mL^?1and Scenedesmus acutus at 0.57 · 10⁶ cells mL^?1) offered alone or in combination (50 % each, 75 % or 25 % of either alga), at a total dry weight of 14.2 μg mL^?1on the life table demography of two rotifer species, Brachionus calyciflorus and Brachionus patulus. Data on fecundity indicated that, for any given algal food type or combination of food types, B. calyciflorus had a higher rate of offspring production than B. patulus. Regardless of the rotifer species, the average lifespan varied from 4 to 6 days. The gross and net reproductive rates were higher for B. calyciflorus than for B. patulus. These values ranged from 45 to 71 offspring female^?1 lifespan^?1 and 15 to 24 offspring female^?1 lifespan^?1, respectively, for B. calyciflorus. Generation times (around 4…5 days) were similar for both rotifer species in most of the treatments. Whatever the algal food combination, the rate of population increase (d^?1) of B. patulus was less than half (i.e. 45 %) of that for B. calyciflorus. The observed differences in the life history variables of Brachionus probably explain species‐specific adaptations to the changing phytoplankton composition occurring seasonally in natural waterbodies.     

温度对两品系蒙古裸腹溞(Moina mongolica Daday)种群增长和生殖的影响

本文报道两品系蒙古裸腹溞(Moina mongolica Daday)(晋南、内蒙)在5种温度梯度下(15℃、18℃、25℃、28℃、32℃)的种群内禀增长率(rm)、总生殖量、寿命、产幼间隔期、生殖频率和产幼前发育期,以及在28℃条件下两品系生物学的研究结果．结果表明,温度对两品系蒙古裸腹涵的种群繁殖均具有显著的影响．在试验温度范围内,随着温度升高,两品系蒙古裸腹涵的产幼前发育期、产幼间隔期、寿命随之缩短;而内禀增长率、总生殖量、生殖频率随温度升高而先升后降．温度28℃是两品系蒙古裸腹涵种群增长的最适温度,28-32℃是其种群增长的最适温度范围．晋南品系10组个体重复试验的内禀增长率结果仍高于内蒙品系．经比较可知：在相同温度条件下,晋南品系在种群增长能力方面要明显强于内蒙品系,反映在前者的内禀增长率要大于后者．在相对较高或较低的温度条件下,内蒙品系则表现出更强的耐受能力．     

Modeling of climate change impacts on Lake Burullus,coastal lagoon (Egypt)

Coastal lagoons are particularly vulnerable to climate change, in particular, Sea Level Rise (SLR) due to their shallowness. Lake Burullus provides a variety of socio-economic services as the second largest coastal lagoon in Egypt. Recently, it has experienced significant ecological deterioration. Thus, its ecosystem is fragile in the face of anthropogenic induced changes. The main objective of the current study is to investigate the climate change impacts on characteristics of Lake Burullus. A depth averaged hydro-ecological modeling system, MIKE21, was applied to develop an eco - hydrodynamic model for the lake. The developed model was calibrated and verified for two successive years: July 2011–June 2012 and July 2012–June 2013. The model simulations exhibited good agreement with the measurements during the calibration and verification processes. Six different Regional Climate Models (RCMs) were compared, using six different statistical metrics, to determine the most accurate one for the study area. The required meteorological input, including surface air temperature, precipitation, and evaporation were derived from the selected RCM. The meteorological input was extracted for two different years in the 21 ^st century considering one Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) scenario, based on the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 5th Report. Regional SLR projections for the Mediterranean Sea for the selected RCP scenario and the two studied years were obtained. These future climate change estimates were used to modify the validated model of the lake. A sensitivity analysis was applied to assess effect of future climatic conditions and SLR, separately. The results revealed that the lake water depths will increase and it will be warmer and more saline. Significant spatial variability of the studied parameters under climate change forcing is expected. Consequently, climate change is going to restrict the lake's ability to preserve the present-day species. An urgent management plan involving adaptation works, should be implemented to reduce such potential species losses in Egyptian lagoons.     

Critical appraisal on the identification of Reference Conditions for the evaluation of ecological quality status along the Emilia-Romagna coast (Italy) using M-AMBI

According to the European Water Framework Directive, the ecological status (ES) of a water body is determined by comparing observation data with undisturbed Reference Conditions (RCs). Defining RCs is crucial when evaluating the ES of a water body as it strongly affects the final outcome of any index application. Identifying RCs by observing real sites is not feasible in many marine environments, such as the Emilia-Romagna coast (Italy, N-Adriatic Sea). We used a statistical approach on a large dataset to derive RCs for the application of the benthic index M-AMBI in this area. We then applied M-AMBI to samples collected along a gradient of presumed environmental disturbance. The results put 14.8% of the Emilia-Romagna samples in “High” ES, 60.2% in “Good”, 23.0% in “Moderate” and 2.0% in “Poor”, showing a spatial gradient of improving quality. These results are in agreement with the extensive ecological knowledge available for this area.     

Application of food waste based diets in polyculture of low trophic level fish: Effects on fish growth,water quality and plankton density

Food waste was collected from local hotels and fish feed pellets were produced for a 6 months long field feeding trial. Three types of fish feed pellets (control diet: Jinfeng® 613 formulated feed, contains mainly fish meal, plant product and fish oil; Diet A: food waste based diet without meat and 53% cereal; Diet B: food waste based diet with 25% meat and 28% cereal) were used in polyculture fish ponds to investigate the growth of fish (grass carp, bighead and mud carp), changes in water quality and plankton density. No significant differences in the levels of nitrogen and phosphorous compounds of water body were observed between 3 fish ponds after the half-year feeding trial, while pond receiving Diet A had the highest density of plankton. The food waste combination of Diet B seems to be a better formulation in terms of the overall performance on fish growth.     

水丰水库亚洲公鱼和大银鱼种群生态的比较研究

1998年 10月至 2 0 0 0年 11月对水丰水库亚洲公鱼和大银鱼的食性、生长、繁殖、群体结构进行了比较研究 .亚洲公鱼为杂食性鱼类但主要以浮游动物为食 ,繁殖时还摄食同类卵 ,出现频率达 4 2 .9% ,在冬季也摄食大银鱼卵 (2 .8% ) ;体长 (L)、体重 (W)呈异速生长 (W =1.176×10 - 6 L3.5555) ;群体繁殖速度比 1984年以前提高了 4 9.2 % ;群体结构中体长、体重的离散度很小 .大银鱼前期主要以浮游动物为食 ,后期以小鱼小虾为主要食物 ,也捕食公鱼 ,出现频率 6 .9% -9 6 % ;体长、体重呈等速生长 ,W =4 .4 82× 10 - 6 L3.0 0 0 9;群体繁殖速度高出公鱼 1.18倍 ;群体结构中体长、体重的离散度较大 ,表现出了个体间的差异性     

Application of the new multimetric MMI_PL index for biological water quality assessment in reference and human-impacted streams (Poland,the Slovak Republic)

A new multimetric MMI_PL index, which is based on the macroinvertebrate composition and combines six single key metrics, has already been implemented in Poland according to the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive. The objectives of our survey were to assess the biological water quality using the new multimetric MMI_PL index in both reference and human-impacted streams, to analyze whether the values of the new multimetric index properly reflect the ecological status of the water in upland and mountain streams as well as to determine which environmental factors influence the distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates and the values of the metrics. The study was carried out from 2007 to 2010 in three Ecoregions that were established by the EU WFD. A total of 60 sampling sites: 36 reference sites that were situated in the headwaters of mountain streams at mid- and high-altitudes and 24, human-impacted sampling sites were selected. The benthic macroinvertebrate surveys were supported by both a hydromorphological and macrophyte assessment according to the River Habitat Survey (RHS) and to the Macrophyte Methods for Rivers. Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) showed that the values of the Habitat Quality Assessment (HQA) index, conductivity, pH and altitude were the parameters most associated (statistically significant) with the distribution of benthic macroinvertebrate taxa and the values of the metrics in both the reference and human-impacted (impaired) sections of the streams in Ecoregions 9, 10 and 14. The new MMI_PL index was useful for biological water quality assessment and was also important for separating both the reference and impaired sections of streams. The MMI_PL index and some key metrics performed contrary to what was expected in relation to the reference high-altitude siliceous streams (the High Tatra Mts., Ecoregion 10). Low values of multimetric index and key metrics did not properly reflect their high ecological status and pristine character as reflected by the hydromorphological (RHS) and macrophyte surveys or the physical and chemical parameters of the water.     

辽宁省大伙房水库及入库河流水质空间特征与河库水质关系

入库河流与水库存在空间上的连续性,河流污染物输入是水库水质恶化的主要原因,对大伙房水库及其入库支流61个采样点的水质状况进行调查,并运用聚类分析和主成分分析对大伙房水库及入库支流的水质空间特性和主要污染物进行分析.聚类分析显示,按照水质相似性将大伙房水库及入库支流水质可分为上游区、下游区和库区3个典型空间区域.分别对3个区域进行主成分分析,结果显示:入库支流上游区和下游区水质主要影响因素为氨氮、总氮和化学需氧量,库区影响水质的主要因素为温度、p H值、浊度、溶解氧、电导率、氨氮和总氮.对上游、下游和库区水质均有显著影响的因子为氨氮和总氮,上游区、下游区和库区氨氮浓度均值分别为0.06、0.10和0.19 mg/L,总氮浓度均值分别为0.13、0.16和0.26 mg/L.入库河流下游区对水库水质影响较大,受社河和浑河污染物输入的影响,大伙房水库水质在空间上呈现社河入库区水质优于浑河入库区水质.并且库区氨氮和总氮浓度均与距岸边距离呈负相关,溶解氧和p H值均与距入库口距离呈负相关,表明入库河流污染物输入和环库区面源污染均对大伙房水库水质产生一定影响.     

浙江铜山源水库美国大口胭脂鱼的年龄组成及生长

2002-2004年,在浙江衢州铜山源水库,对该库放养的美国大口胭脂鱼的生长情况进行了研究,结果表明,该水 库美国大口胭脂鱼的鳞片以环片的切割型为主要年轮特征．用刺网所捕的美国大口胭脂鱼渔获物中以Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ龄个体为 主．体长和体重的关系式为：W=8．595×10~(-5)15 L~(2.662),Von Bertalanffy 生长方程的主要生物学参数：L_∞=36．54cm,W_∞= 1．245kg,K=0．6377,t_0=-0．261龄,体重生长的拐点年龄 t_1=1．92龄,拐点体重W_1=0．396kg．与池养鱼类生长情况相 比,铜山源水库的美国大口胭脂鱼生长较慢．     

An intercalibration of classification metrics of benthic macroinvertebrates in coastal and transitional ecosystems of the Eastern Mediterranean ecoregion (Greece)

Three coastal and three lagoonal sites located in Greece (Eastern Mediterranean) were selected to test and intercalibrate classification methods developed for benthic invertebrates ecological quality assessments. These methods were developed for the purposes of the European Water Framework Directive which is a European legislation adopted for the protection and improvement of the coastal and transitional waters. However, through testing these methods, this work addresses in general the issue of determining and comparing the ecological status of the coastal and transitional macrobenthic communities in Eastern Mediterranean ecosystems. Among methods tested were the biotic indices AMBI and BENTIX, the multivariate method M-AMBI and the biomass size structure index ISD in lagoonal sites only. ISD index is a rather new method developed especially for transitional ecosystems and in this contribution its performance is intercalibrated with the other benthic classification metrics. Comparison and intercalibration of the indices results in assessing the ecological quality status (EQS) are presented graphically and statistically performing the Kappa analysis. Results of the comparison and the indices' performance are evaluated based on the knowledge of the sites' environmental condition and baseline studies. Based on an extended dataset of coastal and transitional ecosystems benthic invertebrates, an evaluation of each index performance and effectiveness is attempted through an insight and comparative analysis of each methods' structure and design. Results showed that in these Eastern Mediterranean coastal sites the BENTIX index seems to give a more biologically relevant classification and gives a higher confidence level regarding the classification compared to the other indices. In the coastal areas AMBI showed a tendency for the "good" class classification, while the factorial M-AMBI gave more consistent results with the BENTIX. In the lagoonal sites the biotic indices tested were not proved efficient enough and the biomass based ISD index proved more appropriate for these ecosystems. AMBI showed the highest agreement with the ISD which is due to the better performance of this index in the slightly and moderately polluted lagoons, compared to the other indices. However, AMBI failed to classify the polluted lagoon, in which case the BENTIX gave a more relevant classification.     

Assessment of the ecological status of transitional waters in Sicily (Italy): First characterisation and classification according to a multiparametric approach

A 1-year cycle of observations was performed in four Sicilian transitional water systems (Oliveri-Tindari, Cape Peloro, Vendicari and Marsala) to characterise their ecological status. A panel of variables among which trophic and microbial (enzyme activities, abundance of hetetrophic bacteria and of bacterial pollution indicators) parameters, were selected. Particulate organic carbon (POC) and nitrogen (PON) and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) contents defined the trophic state, while microbial hydrolysis rates and abundance gave insights on microbial community efficiency in organic matter transformation and on allochthonous inputs. To classify the trophic state of examined waters, the synthetic trophic state index (TRIX) was calculated.Microbial hydrolysis rates correlated positively with POC and Chl-a, which increased along the eutrophication gradient. The significant relationships among TRIX, trophic and microbial parameters suggested the use of leucine aminopeptidase, alkaline phosphatase and POC as suitable parameters to implement the Water Framework Directive when assessing the ecological status of transitional water systems.     

Dependence of eelgrass (Zostera marina) light requirements on sediment organic matter in Massachusetts coastal bays: Implications for remediation and restoration

Using a calibrated bio-optical model we determined that the optical water quality conditions in several nitrogen-impaired embayments and in one unimpaired system were within the range of values known to support eelgrass growth. We also used the model to identify a range of light requirements for eelgrass (Zostera marina). Higher eelgrass light requirements, expressed as a percentage of surface-incident irradiance, corresponded with higher sediment organic matter content. These results corroborated findings by previous studies which indicate a generalized relationship: seagrasses growing in turbid conditions with poorer water and sediment quality have higher light requirements than those growing in less degraded conditions. The mechanistic reason for the variation in light requirements is still not completely explained and cannot be attributed to a single independent variable. Varying light requirement have important implications for eelgrass protection and should be considered when setting restoration targets for eelgrass in water quality and nitrogen remediation programs.     

Influence of stock origin and environmental conditions on the survival and growth of juvenile freshwater pearl mussels (Margaritifera margaritifera) in a cross-exposure experiment

The freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) is a highly specialized and sensitive freshwater bivalve, whose survival in the juvenile phase is indicative of high quality habitats. This contribution investigates the use of juvenile freshwater pearl mussels as bioindicators, considering the influence of mussel stock and study stream conditions on juvenile performance, as described by survival and growth rates. A standardized cross experiment was carried out investigating juvenile performance in four different pearl mussel stocks originating from the Rhine, Danube and Elbe drainages, representing distinct genetic conservation units. The juveniles were exposed in five study streams which were selected to integrate pearl mussel streams with different water qualities and recruitment status of the mussel population. Per study stream, five standard mesh cages containing an equal number of 20 (10 × 2) juvenile pearl mussels per stock in separate chambers were installed. Survival and growth rates of juveniles were checked after three months (i.e. before their first winter) and after nine months (i.e. after their first winter). Mussel stock and study stream conditions significantly influenced juvenile performance. Growth rates were determined by study stream conditions and increased with stream water temperature, organic carbon and C/N ratios. Survival rates varied stock-specifically, indicating different levels of local adaptation to their native streams. Due to the detection of stream-specific differences in juvenile performance, freshwater pearl mussels appear suitable as bioindicators. However, a careful consideration of stock-specificity is necessary to avoid false interpretation of bioindication results. The comparison of stock-specific survival in native versus non-native streams implicates that exposure of juveniles outside their native habitats is able to increase breeding success or else serve for risk spreading in breeding programs.