Assessing estuarine environmental quality using fish-based indices: performance evaluation under climatic instability

The seasonal variation of five selected multimetric indices for the determination of the Ecological Quality Status (EQS) of transitional waters was evaluated, as well as the indices’ responses to an extreme drought event that occurred in 2005. The database used regards the Mondego River estuary, which was sampled from June 2003 to August 2006 on a monthly basis. Among the selected indices (EBI - Deegan et al. [Deegan, L., Finn, J.T., Ayvazlan, S.G., Ryder-Kieffer, C.A., Buonaccoesi, J., 1997. Development and validation of an Estuarine Biotic Integrity Index. Estuaries 30(3), 601-617], EDI - Borja et al. [Borja, A., Franco, J., Valencia, V., Bald, J., Muxika, I., Belzunce, M.J., Solaun, O., 2004. Implementation of the European Water Framework Directive from the Basque Country (northern Spain): a methodological approach. Marine Pollution Bulletin 48(3-4), 209-218], EFCI - Harrison and Whitfield [Harrison, T.D., Whitfield, A.K., 2004. A multi-metric fish index to assess the environmental condition of estuaries. Journal of Fish Biology 65, 683-710], EBI - Breine et al. [Breine, J.J., Maes, J., Quataert, P., Van den Bergh, E., Simoens, I., Van Thuyne, G., Belpaire, C., 2007. A fish-based assessment tool for the ecological quality of the brackish Scheldt estuary in Flanders (Belgium). Hydrobiologia 575, 141-159] and TFCI - Coates et al. [Coates, S., Waugh, A., Anwar, A., Robson, M., 2007. Efficacy of a multi-metric fish index as an analysis tool for the transitional fish component of the Water Framework Directive. Marine Pollution Bulletin 55, 225-240]), the EBI by Breine et al. (2007) was the only that evidenced clear interannual and seasonal variations. The EQS by the several indices ranged from “Low” to “High”, depending on the index considered, evidencing the high level of mismatch between indices. The results are discussed in the scope of the EU Water Framework Directive, regarding monitoring strategies, application of indices and EQS assessment.     

Spatial assessment of fishing effort around European marine reserves: implications for successful fisheries management

We examined the spatial dynamic of artisanal fishing fleets around five European marine protected areas (MPAs) to derive general implications for the evaluation of MPAs as fisheries management tools. The coastal MPAs studied were located off France, Malta and Spain and presented a variety of spatial designs and processes of establishment. We developed a standardized methodology to define factors influencing effort allocation and to produce fishing effort maps by merging GIS with geostatistical modelling techniques. Results revealed that in most cases the factors “distance to the no-take”, “water depth”, and “distance to the port” had a significant influence on effort allocation by the fishing fleets. Overall, we found local concentration of fishing effort around the MPA borders. Thus, neglecting the pattern of fishing effort distribution in evaluating MPA benefits, such as spillover of biomass, could hamper sound interpretation of MPAs as fisheries management tools.     

Faecal-indicator bacteria and sedimentary processes in estuarine mudflats (Seine, France)

Over a three-year period, quantification of faecal indicators and the molecular detection of Escherichia coli and Salmonella were monitored in sediments from three contrasting mudflats of the Seine estuary (France). The elevation of the mudflat surface was monitored concurrently using a high-resolution altimeter. During the period of the study, estuarine mudflats were areas of deposition for faecal-indicator bacteria and were mainly controlled by sedimentary processes. In the intertidal freshwater and subtidal mudflats, the highest abundances of faecal-indicator bacteria were counted during a depositional period. Maximum levels were observed in the freshwater mudflats during periods of high flow: thermotolerant coliforms: 3.9 x 10(4) cfu cm(-2), enterococci: 1.2 x 10(4) cfu cm(-2), Clostridium perfringens spores: 9.8 x 10(5) spores cm(-2). Loss of culturability of enteric bacteria in sediment microcosms demonstrated the remediatory capacity of the mudflats, even if they might be a secondary source of bacteria-forming spores to the water column through erosion and resuspension events.     

Comparison of benthic foraminiferal and macrofaunal responses to organic pollution in the Firth of Clyde (Scotland)

By comparing benthic foraminiferal and macrofaunal responses to sewage sludge disposal in the Firth of Clyde (Scotland), we wanted to investigate the possibility of using foraminifera as bio-indicators of marine environmental degradation. Both groups present a similar distributional pattern, with poor faunas composed of species tolerant to strong oxygen depletion near to the disposal site, surrounded by high density of opportunistic species. Farther away, faunal density decreases and equilibrium taxa gradually replace opportunistic species. No more environmental impact is perceptible beyond 3 km. Nevertheless, some differences exist: foraminifera appear to be more impacted at the disposal site, probably as a consequence of the low pH, a supplementary stress factor for organisms provided with a calcareous test. At 3 km west of the disposal site, macrofauna is comparable to the reference station, whereas foraminifera still indicate environmental degradation, suggesting their higher sensitivity to this type of pollution. It appears that benthic foraminifera may add valuable information to open marine environmental monitoring.     

俯冲带火山下岩浆的形成、上升和存储的时间尺度

现在有足够的资料可用来尝试建立一个关于俯冲带火山下熔体的产生、迁移和存储的完整的模型。在喷发前的几十万年到少于一千年的时间里,都可以发生流体从俯冲的洋壳流到地幔楔中的现象。这支持了认为流体的加入是与部分熔融紧密相关的模型,但也有一些证据可以证明流体是降压熔融的结果。流体开始加入的时间可能与俯冲的速率(例如,水供应的速率)、俯冲的角度以及由此决定的地幔楔的热结构有关。相反,俯冲沉积物到俯冲带熔岩源区的贡献在喷发前大约35万年到4百万年的时候看来就发生了。沉积组分的部分熔融证据与短的流体迁移时间、斑晶平衡温度及其他观测结果的结合都指出,地幔楔在接近于俯冲板块边界上的地方具有相当高的温度。新的226Ra资料表明,在流体加入和火山喷发之间只有很短的时间。这就要求快速的熔体分凝、沿通道流动的岩浆上升过程以及在岩石层内最短的停滞时间。一般说来,在上升期间或者在岩浆房里,发生从玄武岩到安山岩的演化是快速的,这可以从一些有关地幔的地球物理资料来推断。矿物等时线资料表明,一些安山质岩浆后来停在了更浅的岩浆房中。它们可以在那里以几万年或更短些的时间尺度通过分异作用演化成英安质成分,通常都伴有同化作用。     

基于库仑应力计算和依赖速率与状态摩擦反应的余震预测敏感性研究

利用Dieterich（1994）提出的物理模型模拟应力的变化而引起的地震活动时空演化过程。通过依赖于速率和状态的摩擦定律,将其应用于无限地震成核点群。模拟结果显示,地震活动速率变化取决于应力扰动的幅度、断层的基本物理特性（用参数Aa表示）、应力加载速率和研究区的参考地震活动速率。为了使该模型具有一定的预报性,我们着重研究了物理模型的参数和参数间的相关关系对模拟结果的影响。首先,我们讨论了参考地震活动速率的不同定义,并以美国1992年的兰德斯地震序列为例,说明其对地震发生速率计算中的影响;其次,我们从物理上和统计上论证了模型各参数间均存在强相关。我们讨论了这种相关性并强调指出,参考地震活动速率、应力加载速率和Aa值这些模型参数的估计与模拟再现观测到余震序列密切相关。我们推导出的解析关系证明了这些模型参数对于与大森定律相当的余震衰减律的意义,模型参数决定了大森定律中时间常数C值和常数因子K,并表示p值≤1．0。论文最后讨论了以准实时预测为目标的约束模型参数的最优策略。     

南半球冰期—间冰期大洋表面条件的变化

与天水线的偏差定义为重氢余量ｄ（以下称余量）,ｄ＝δＤ－８δ１８Ｏ。余量主要反映因重轻分子之间的扩散差而产生在非平衡过程中的动力分异。正如基于闭包方程的简单模式显示的那样,大洋表面之上蒸气的余量随着大洋表面温度的增加而增加（３５‰／℃）,并且随着相对湿度的增加而减少（每％下降－０．４３‰）。简单模式也显示反映大洋源区信息的初始余量至少部分保存在整个朝向极地运移的气团轨道上。利用通过同位素示踪识别校正的更复杂的大气物理环流模式（ＡＧＣＭ）获得的结果支持了极地重氢余量值含有远距离蒸发源气象信息的想法…     

用活有孔虫分布指示三亚汊道外港潮流格局

由因子分析得知,海南岛三亚湾汊道外港海底分布有四个主因子活有孔虫群,它们分别代表海湾内水体、湖冲出半盐水水体、湾外内陆架水体及内陆架与海湾水相混的过渡水体.这些水体在潮汐作用下的运动、相互混合,可由各水体的有孔虫指示.由每个主因子因子得分最高的三个属种百分含量之和等值线图所指示的外港潮流循环格局,与海洋学研究所得的结果相当一致.利用有孔虫指示潮汐汊道潮流格局尚属首次尝试,这方法对海岸开发分析泥沙运动、污染物排放等有实践意义.     

Ultramafic Xenoliths From a Kamafugite Lava in Cenozoic Volcanic Field of West Qinling, China and Its Geological Implication

ULTRAMAFIC XENOLITHS FROM A KAMAFUGITE LAVA IN CENOZOIC VOLCANIC FIELD OF WEST QINLING, CHINA AND ITS GEOLOGICAL IMPLICATION