Challenge Future – Technical Progress and Globalization

Central elements of the challenges of the future are the population, supply and disposal trap, the question of how the increasing world population will be supplied with long‐lasting and effective sources of energy, raw materials and food? How do we deal with the problems of greenhouse effect, ozone hole, forest dieback, ground erosion, desertification and other environmental threats? Driven by the dynamics of the technical progress the world is in the midst of experiencing the transition from an industrial to an information society. The process of globalization is intrinsically tied to the information society and plays a vital role in the path to a new, digital development of the world. Therefore, new challenges have been added to the traditional ecological challenges at the beginning of the 21^st century, which the world community must react swiftly to.     

The large-scale flux of nutrients from land to water and the eutrophication of lakes and marine waters

The large-scale flux of nitrogen and phosphorus in modern society is coupled to the exponentially growing world population. During the last three decades there has been a several-fold growth in use of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), for example, for agriculture production, in chemical products such as in detergents, and as food additives. Feeding a growing population means increased human nutrient excretion.

The mobility of N differs from that of P. For the easily mobile nitrate ion, river exports are positively correlated to the size of local human populations. P on the other hand is fixed in different systems, at least temporarily. Modern agro-ecosystems accumulate about 60% of the annual input of P. The Stockholm region representing an urban ecosystem served by dephosphatation in sewage, accumulated about 80% of imported P during 1990. With increasing accumulation there is an apparent risk for increasing non-point source pollution.

In some shallow recipient lakes the sediments have been saturated with P. Even after the reduction of external loading these lakes are exporting more P than they are importing. Lakes normally are traps for P.

In order to prevent damage to natural resources and to stop the large-scale flux of nutrients from land to water, the world population growth rate must be decreased and a number of measures taken: agricultural structures must be changed including new concepts for the use of fertilizers; new municipal sewage treatment processes must be developed permitting high-degree recycling of nutrients; unnecessary use of nutrients must be stopped, for example, in detergents and by reducing nutrient additives in food and drinks. Cola drinks, for example, contain 180 mg P l⁻¹, a concentration about 350 times higher than that of the effluent (0.5 mg P l⁻¹) from modern sewage treatment plants operating with dephosphatation. Financial resources and effort are required to stop large-scale eutrophication of marine waters.     

Trapping Ionic Mercury Using Different Adsorbents

Of recent, adsorption process has gained a lot of attention as a cheap and effective means of removing trace metals from wastewater prior to discharge into water bodies. Being flexible in design and operation, the process has enabled an optimal recovery of trace metals such that the treated effluents meet the desired standards for waste disposal. Mercury is a toxicant released into the environment from natural and anthropogenic sources. It is notorious for having an unusual tendency to bio‐accumulate and persist in the food chain. Presence of mercury in food, especially those of aquatic sources has drastic implications on human health. Therefore, efforts have been made to develop and optimize low‐cost activated carbon (AC) as adsorbents for scavenging mercury from aqueous effluents. Herein, how mercury accumulates across the food chain, its health implications, and the recent advancement in the use of low‐cost ACs as adsorbent for trapping mercury from wastewater are highlighted. Relationship between the mercury removal efficiency and the surface morphology of the adsorbents as well as the influence of prevailing experimental condition on the sorption process were addressed. Challenges and future prospects of the use of low‐cost adsorbents in addressing mercury pollution in the environment are discussed.     

Ethical aspects of water and ecosystems

Water is essential to all life. Human species use water directly for domestic needs, growing food, generating power and for industrial processes. Ensuring sufficient water for people for these purposes is an important ethical question. People also use water indirectly by benefitting from valuable products (e.g. fish), and services (e.g. water regulation) provided by aquatic ecosystems. Additionally, it satisfies the growing belief amongst many people that human species have a moral duty to protect biodiversity, through providing sufficient water to maintain flora and fauna. Many decisions on water allocation are made on economic grounds. However, traditional cost-benefit analysis does not consider other ethical, political, social, historical or ecological issues, which cannot be readily given a monetary value. Wider decision-making frameworks, such as multi-criteria analysis are thus required that incorporate other factors, such as ecological support systems that keep the planet fit for life.     

Mechanisms for the prevention of marine bioinvasions for better biosecurity

Biosecurity management allows countries to meet a number of international obligations and provides some protection from potential degradation of environmental, economic, social and cultural values. Ocean governance relies on the precepts of ecologically sustainable development to manage the multiple uses in the coastal zone. The increasing reliance on aquaculture to provide food security and economic development has led to an increase in the use of non-native target species grown as food sources. Increased economic activity has led to shifting trade patterns and increased efficiencies in vessels with the resulting increase in the number of introduced marine species via ballast water and hull fouling. Herein we review the different marine biosecurity strategies and legislation that have been implemented internationally and locally that aid in preventing and managing introduced marine species, with some attention to Australia and New Zealand as examples. Typical tools being used include quarantine, Import Health Standards, voluntary cleaning guidelines, and risk assessment, all of which aim to prevent introductions.     

Local dynamical equivalence of certain food webs

An important challenge in theoretical ecology is to find good coarse-grained representations of complex food webs. Here, we use the approach of generalized modeling to show that it may be possible to formulate a coarse-graining algorithm that conserves the local dynamics of the model exactly. We show examples of food webs with a different number of species that have exactly identical local bifurcation diagrams. Based on these observations, we formulate a conjecture governing which populations of complex food webs can be grouped together into a single variable without changing the local dynamics. As an illustration, we use this conjecture to show that chaotic regions generically exist in the parameter space of a class of food webs with more than three trophic levels. While our conjecture is at present only applicable to relatively special cases, we believe that its applicability could be greatly extended if a more sophisticated mapping of parameters were used in the model reduction.     

长江下游沿江湿地升金湖越冬水鸟觅食集团结构及生态位特征

集团结构和生态位特征是量化动物群落组织过程的重要指标,鸟类集团结构及其食物资源分割的分析对于理解群落中不同鸟种生态适应性具有重要意义.越冬水鸟集团结构和生态位特征取决于食物资源的丰富度和可获得性.本文通过对升金湖越冬水鸟的觅食生境和觅食行为的观察,对水鸟群落的集团结构进行划分,采用Levins指数和Pianka指数计算...     

Perspectives on biogeomorphology, ecosystem engineering and self-organisation in island-braided fluvial ecosystems

Using the River Tagliamento, Italy, as an example, we examine the role of self-organisation in the formation and dynamics of vegetated islands in fluvial ecosystems. We consider how various biogeomorphic processes, such as feedbacks between tree growth and sedimentation, influence island self-assembly, as well as the potential influences of island landforms on resource distribution and shifts in ecosystem state. Despite the abundance of island landforms of different sizes and ages in island-braided reaches along the River Tagliamento, island formation is only found within a specific hydrological and sedimentary envelope, and depends upon a delicate balance of biotic-abiotic feedbacks. As a result, island landforms tend to be lost when river functioning is altered by human interventions. We argue that the specific biogeomorphic processes and self-organisation associated with river island dynamics offer an example of biogeomorphic inheritance, in which reciprocal feedbacks between species and geomorphic processes favour engineer species and promote the future development of the landforms. Thus, islands represent extended phenotypes – or external expressions of genetic traits – of key riparian ecosystem engineers. This capacity to modify the physical environment has important implications for landform evolution and riparian biodiversity. In conclusion, we propose several topics that merit investigation to improve our understanding of the biogeomorphology and self-organisation of river island systems.     

老碳对水生态系统食物网的贡献

传统理论认为,支撑水生态系统食物网的碳主要来自于系统内部的初级生产者,如藻类、大型水生植物等,或者来自陆源输入的新鲜且容易分解的有机质;而部分生物或非生物生产的有机碳,在冰川、冻土等环境中可停留数百年至数千年(定义为老碳),由于储存环境稳定、物理化学性质顽固,难以参与水生生态系统有机碳循环.近年来这一观念不断被挑战.研究表明老碳能够参与水生态系统食物网碳循环:可以被微生物分解利用;被浮游动物、无脊椎动物直接或者间接摄取、或沿着营养级传递至鱼类、水禽等高级消费者.这意味着除了内部初级生产,老碳是支撑水生态系统重要的碳源.本文概述了当前老碳与水生态系统食物网关系研究最新进展和所取得的研究成果,介绍放射性14C同位素技术在水生态学领域的应用,同时提出研究中存在的问题以及未来研究应关注的方向,以期促进我国水生态系统碳循环研究的进一步发展.     

Earthquakes: Recurrence and Interoccurrence Times

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the statistical distributions of recurrence times of earthquakes. Recurrence times are the time intervals between successive earthquakes at a specified location on a specified fault. Although a number of statistical distributions have been proposed for recurrence times, we argue in favor of the Weibull distribution. The Weibull distribution is the only distribution that has a scale-invariant hazard function. We consider three sets of characteristic earthquakes on the San Andreas fault: (1) The Parkfield earthquakes, (2) the sequence of earthquakes identified by paleoseismic studies at the Wrightwood site, and (3) an example of a sequence of micro-repeating earthquakes at a site near San Juan Bautista. In each case we make a comparison with the applicable Weibull distribution. The number of earthquakes in each of these sequences is too small to make definitive conclusions. To overcome this difficulty we consider a sequence of earthquakes obtained from a one million year “Virtual California” simulation of San Andreas earthquakes. Very good agreement with a Weibull distribution is found. We also obtain recurrence statistics for two other model studies. The first is a modified forest-fire model and the second is a slider-block model. In both cases good agreements with Weibull distributions are obtained. Our conclusion is that the Weibull distribution is the preferred distribution for estimating the risk of future earthquakes on the San Andreas fault and elsewhere.     

论中国半精养水库渔业及其饲料问题

中国水库放养鱼的种类、食性以及可利用的天然饵料生物决定了半精养渔业是水库渔业的主要模式。水库半精养有中、小型水库、水库库汊、网拦、网围、网箱养鱼等多种形式。其产量与肥料、饲料的投入有直接关系。最大限度地利用天然饵料,并辅以补充性人工饲料,可实现高产高效。本文以水库鱼类的营养和饲料利用为基础,论述半精养水库渔业的理论和实用技术,并提出尚须研究的问题,以推进半精养水库渔业的发展。     

量纲分析应用于地震预测的探索

加卸载响应比(LURR)的基本思路是希望能够通过刻画震源区介质的损伤程度,反映地震孕育的进程,从而预测地震.近30年来,很多人对加卸载响应比做了大量基础研究,取得了一系列新的进展.加卸载响应比在地震预测实践中也取得了一定的效果,异常区与地震发生的位置有较好的对应性,但是预测效果仍不够理想.究其原因主要是:在实际预测中对当地的地球物理情况考虑的不够.本文采用量纲分析与加卸载响应比结合的方法,综合考虑当地的地球物理情况,例如剪应变率和平均地震波能量等因素的影响.文中选取1970年以来发生在中国大陆的34个震例资料,通过分析得到了与发震震级和时间相关的无量纲量π₁和π₃,根据对实际数据的拟合,π₁和π₃均与震级成指数关系.在应用于地震预测实践时,首先根据LURR空间扫描结果选取异常区,然后确定异常区的地球物理参数,通过π₁确定震级M,再由π₃确定发震时间T.     

地震发生过程的有限单元法模拟——以苏门答腊俯冲带上的大地震为例

地震预报由目前的经验预报走向物理预报,数值模拟地震过程是其中的关键.文中应用统一的数学公式表述了速率相关的摩擦接触中黏着（sticking）和滑移(sliding)这两种不同的运动状态;有限元计算中采用静力显示的时间积分方法,基于R最小策略,控制时间步长以保持力学状态变化稳定,从而保证有限元计算过程平稳、收敛.以2004年发生过M_m=9.3特大地震的苏门答腊俯冲带为例,模拟了俯冲带上俯冲板片与上伏板块之间的闭锁、解锁、滑动到再闭锁这一准周期性过程,即地震的孕育、发生过程.计算结果表明,俯冲带上具有较大尺度、介质均匀、摩擦系数相同的区域是产生大规模、大幅度整体突然滑动（即大地震）的条件;模拟的苏门答腊俯冲带上的大地震在时间上有准周期性,空间上有迁移特征,破裂由深部向浅部进行;此外,俯冲带的几何特征对大地震的震源位置有很大的影响.     

Cellular and molecular responses to endocrine-modulators and the impact on fish reproduction

Anthropogenic chemicals in the aquatic environment are known to cause reproductive disturbances in vertebrate and invertebrate organisms, by interfering with the endocrine systems. Laboratory-based in vivo and in vitro studies have indicated that several of the anthropogenic and other naturally occurring chemicals in the environment can cause adverse reproductive effects. Various definite or possible reproductive abnormalities caused by endocrine disruption have been identified, but in majority of the reported cases, it is not known whether adverse effects have occurred in the population level of biological organization. Disruption of the hormonal functions in fish may have effects on a number of events, including sexual maturation, gamete production and transport, sexual behaviour, fertility, gestation, lactation or modifications in other functions that are dependent on the integrity of the reproductive system. Although several reproductive effects have been reported, but the degree of causality established between the abnormalities observed and exposure to particular chemicals is variable, and understanding of the mechanism(s) is limited. Fishes are a vital source of proteins and lipids for humans and domestic animals, forming the basis for economically important fisheries and aquaculture. Large efforts have recently been denoted to dissect the mechanisms of action of xenobiotics in aquatic species, with the ultimate aim of detecting, controlling and possibly intervening in chemical exposure and its effects on the aquatic ecosystem and humans. In this context, we ought to be concerned with the health and safety of aquatic species per se, as well as a resource for human needs.     

Energy flow and elemental concentrations in the Steina River ecosystem (Black Forest, Germany)

Considering food web energetics and elemental cycling together allows the testing of hypotheses about the coevolution of biological systems and their physical environment. We investigated the energy flow and the distribution of 25 elements in the Steina River.¶We constructed an annual energy flow network and estimated the emergy ("embodied energy" that includes all the energy involved in a process) contributions of resources sustaining the system. Furthermore, we measured the concentration of various macronutrients, essential elements, and heavy metals in the physical environment and trophic compartments. Finally, we examined the hypothesis of a positive relationship between the "rarity" of an element and its tendency to bioaccumulate. To do so, we used transformity, the relative energy input required to sustain a compartment's net production or the concentration differential of an element between the living community and the physical environment.¶The resulting energy flow network is one of the most complete available for streams. In the Steina, over 99% of the energy input is transported through the system without being processed. Dissolved inorganic matter and sunlight are the largest inputs, but uptake efficiency is much higher for dissolved and particulate organic matter. Transformities of trophic compartments and elements span 6 to 7 orders of magnitude.¶The tendency to bioaccumulate was as predicted for most elements, with macronutrients showing no accumulation and heavy elements accumulating in high-transformity compartments. However, Na and K were found at highest concentrations in consumers, and Pb, Ga, and Cd in algae. Improved estimates may become possible as more knowledge is available on ecosystem flows. We suggest further ways of testing hypotheses about strategies of element processing.     

The potential use of fairy prions (Pachyptila turtur) as monitors of heavy metal levels in Tasmanian waters

The purpose of the present study was to examine the potential use of the fairy prion to monitor contamination in the marine food chain following ocean dumping of industrial waste in S.E. Tasmania. Factors considered that can complicate interpretation of heavy metal levels detected include age, sex, seasonal, and other ecological aspects of the indicator species chosen. Unlike some other species of seabirds, the influence of sex and season on metal levels was unimportant. Copper, zinc, cadmium, and lead were tested in the liver and muscle tissue of fairy prions. In this preliminary study, cadmium levels were found to be significantly higher statistically in fairy prions closest to a potential source of pollution compared to levels from distant locations. This trend was not found in other metals investigated. However, it is suggested that this species would provide a useful future means of monitoring heavy metal levels.     

圆尾斗鱼食物选择性的实验研究

在实验条件下,圆尾斗鱼优摄食纹幼虫和摇蚊幼虫,对食物的选择性明显,同时表明,用数量指标,以选择指数和Ｘ＾２检验能较客观地,可靠地说明食物选择性的大小。     

Studies of short and long memory in mining-induced seismic processes

Memory of a stochastic process implies its predictability, understood as a possibility to gain information on the future above the random guess level. Here we search for memory in the mining-induced seismic process (MIS), that is, a process induced or triggered by mining operations. Long memory is investigated by means of the Hurst rescaled range analysis, and the autocorrelation function estimate is used to test for short memory. Both methods are complemented with result uncertainty analyses based on different resampling techniques. The analyzed data comprise event series from Rudna copper mine in Poland. The studies show that the interevent time and interevent distance processes have both long and short memory. MIS occurrences and locations are internally interrelated. Internal relations among the sizes of MIS events are apparently weaker than those of other two studied parameterizations and are limited to long term interactions.     

Biomagnification in marine systems: the perspective of an ecologist

Biomagnification is the process where xenobiotic substances are transferred from food to an organism resulting in higher concentrations compared with the source. It is widely believed that this is a general phenomenon for marine food webs. An analysis of 148 papers with biomagnification in the title shows that under half show biomagnification. Of studies on metals only organic mercury shows biomagnification and most metals are regulated and excreted and do not biomagnify. Of the studies on organic compounds 67% claimed to show biomagnification. However, bioconcentration (uptake from the surrounding water) is the most usual way that organic compounds are accumulated in organisms from invertebrates to and including fish. Only in sea-birds and marine mammals is food intake the major route and where biomagnification can be clearly shown. Body concentrations of organic compounds vary with lipid content and thus in order to compare across species normalisation to uniform lipid content should be done. Yet often this is not done so data purporting to show biomagnification merely relate to differing lipid content in the different species studied. Finally suggestions are made as to how data can be collected to better interpret the process of biomagnification in marine food webs.