Nursery function of mangrove: A comparison with mudflat in terms of fish species composition and fish diet

Shallow soft-bottom habitats including mangroves and mudflats provide important nursery functions for juvenile fishes, but little information exists concerning the relative nursery value of these habitats for juvenile fishes. We compared the potential of a mangrove and a mudflat in a semi-enclosed bay in Hong Kong to serve as fish nurseries by measuring species composition, dietary composition, gut fullness and diet breadth of juvenile fishes. Fish abundance was higher in mangrove than mudflat, but species richness was almost similar between the two habitats. After excluding Ambassis gymnocephalus, which was found mainly in the mangrove, difference in fish abundance between the two habitats was small. The gut fullness and diet breath of most species did not differ between mangrove and mudflat, suggesting that the two habitats were very similar in terms of providing feeding opportunity for juvenile fishes. While the importance of mangrove as nursery of fishes has been repeatedly emphasized, our data suggest that other soft-bottom habitats, such as mudflats, are also important and need to be protected.     

Obtaining the steady‐state drawdown solutions of constant‐head and constant‐flux tests

The solutions of constant‐head and constant‐flux tests are commonly used to predict the temporal or spatial drawdown distribution or to determine aquifer parameters. Theis and Thiem equations, for instance, are well‐known transient and steady‐state drawdown solutions, respectively, of the constant‐flux test. It is known that the Theis equation is not applicable to the case where the aquifer has a finite boundary or the pumping time tends to infinity. On the other hand, the Thiem equation does not apply to the case where the aquifer boundary is infinite. However, the issue of obtaining the Thiem equation from the transient drawdown solution has not previously been addressed. In this paper, the drawdown solutions for constant‐head and constant‐flux tests conducted in finite or infinite confined aquifers with or without consideration of the effect of the well radius are examined comprehensively. Mathematical verification and physical interpretation of the solutions to these two tests converging or not converging to the Thiem equation are presented. The result shows that there are some finite‐domain solutions for these two tests that can converge to the Thiem equation when the time becomes infinitely large. In addition, the time criteria to give a good approximation to the finite‐domain solution by the infinite‐domain solution and the Thiem equation are investigated and presented. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Discharge determination by Acoustic Doppler Current Profilers (ADCP): a moving bottom error correction method and its application on the River Amazon at Óbidos

Abstract

Since 1995, hydrologists of the HiBAm (Hydrology and Geochemistry of the Amazon Basin) Research Program carried out several hundred discharge measurements in the Amazon basin. Implementation of modern discharge measurement techniques using ultrasonic devices (ADCP), give evidence of a systematic error linked to the displacement of the river bottom due to high water velocity close to the bottom. This error leads to an underestimation of discharge value. It was possible to establish a correlation between the water velocity close to the river bottom and the error between real position and position computed by ADCP when the boat returns to its starting point after a two-way crossing of the river. When there is no bottom displacement, i.e. during low flow period, this return position error is weak (less than 50 m). This has allowed quantification of river bed load speed, or bottom displacement speed. A correction method was developed on the basis of this correlation. This method, systematically applied to ADCP discharge measurements obtained at Óbidos hydrometric station, allowed all measured discharges to be corrected, especially for 1997 and 1999 floods. Another method, based on the analysis of real trajectory of the boat (obtained from topographic measurement or GPS positioning) compared with the ADCP computed trajectory, is under study.     

Uptake and depuration of PAHs and chlorinated pesticides by semi-permeable membrane devices (SPMDs) and green-lipped mussels (Perna viridis)

Semi-batch seawater experiments were conducted to follow the uptake and release of selected PAHs (anthracene, fluorathene, pyrene and B[a]P) and organochlorine pesticides (-HCH, aldrin, dieldrin, p,p′-DDT) in semi-permeable membrane devices (SPMDs) and green-lipped mussels (Perna viridis). Mathematical models were applied to describe the uptake and elimination curves of the contaminants for SPMDs, and kinetic parameters, such as uptake rate constants, and equilibrium triolein/water partitioning coefficients were calculated. SPMD data showed a good fit to estimate rate constant and partition coefficient equations, but only those contaminants which partitioned mainly in the dissolved phase (-HCH and dieldrin) were well explained for mussels. Poor conformity of the other contaminants indicated mussels uptake by routes other than diffusion, such as ingestion of algae. An apparent equilibrium state was only noted for -HCH in mussels. Aldrin was not detected in mussels in the first few days of exposure, indicating potential metabolism of this compound. B[a]P was not detected in the triolein of SPMDs, which suggests that the membrane may act as a reservoir. Loss of spiked B[a]P from the triolein was evident in a depuration experiment, which may indicate transfer to the membrane. Rate constants for mussels were higher than those for SPMDs, but the reverse was true for partition coefficients. Overall, mussels and SPMDs had similar uptake rates for all compounds in this study, excluding p,p′-DDT and dieldrin. Contaminant elimination took place more rapidly in mussels, implying that SPMDs are better candidates for detecting episodic discharge of organic contaminants.     

Characterization of leached layers on olivine and pyroxenes using high-resolution XPS and density functional calculations

High-resolution core level and valence band (VB) X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) of olivine [(Mg_0.87Fe_0.13)₂SiO₄], bronzite [(Mg_0.8Fe_0.2)₂Si₂O₆] and diopside [Ca(Mg_0.8Fe_0.2)Si₂O₆] were collected before and after leaching in pH ∼2 solutions with the Kratos magnetic confinement charge compensation system which minimizes differential charge broadening. The leached samples yield Si 2p, Mg 2p, Ca 2p and O 1s XPS spectral linewidths and lineshapes similar to those collected from the respective pristine samples prior to leaching. As with previous XPS studies on crushed samples, our broadscan XPS spectra show evidence for initial, preferential leaching of cations (i.e., Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺) from the near-surface of these minerals. The O 1s spectra of leached olivine and pyroxenes show an additional peak due to OH⁻, which arises from H⁺ exchange with near-surface cations (Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺) via electrophilic attack of H⁺ on the M-O-Si moiety to produce the H₂Mg(M1)SiO_4(surf) complex at olivine surfaces, and two complexes, H₂Mg(M1)Si₂O_6(surf) and H₄Si₂O_6(surf) at diopside and enstatite surfaces. The olivine and pyroxene surface complexes H₂Mg(M1)SiO_4(surf) and H₂Mg(M1)Si₂O_6(surf) have been proposed previously, but the second pyroxene surface complex H₄Si₂O_6(surf) has not. Two electrophilic reactions occur in both olivine and pyroxene. For olivine, the more rapid attacks the M2-O-Si moiety producing H₂Mg(M1)SiO_4(surf); while the second attacks the M1-O-Si moiety ultimately producing H₄SiO₄ which is released to solution. For pyroxenes, the first electrophilic reaction produces H₂Mg(M1)Si₂O_6(surf), while the second produces.H₄Si₂O_6(surf). These two reactions are followed by a nucleophilic attack of H₂O (or H₃O⁺) on Si of H₄Si₂O_6(surf). This reaction is responsible for rupture of the brigding oxygen bond of the Si-O-Si moiety and release of H₄SiO₄ to solution. The intensity of the OH⁻ peak for the leached pyroxenes is about double the OH⁻ intensity for the leached olivine, consistent with the equivalent of about a monolayer of the above surface complexes being formed in all three minerals.Valence band XPS spectra and density functional calculations demonstrate the remarkable insensitivity of the valence band to leaching of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ from the surface layers. This insensitivity is due to a dearth of Ca and Mg valence electron density in the valence band: the Ca-O and Mg-O bonds are highly ionic, with metal-derived s orbital electrons taking on strong O 2p character. The valence band spectrum of leached olivine shows an additional very weak peak at about 13.5 eV, which is assigned to Si 3s valence orbitals in the surface complex H₂Mg(M1)SiO₄, as indicated by high quality density functional calculations on an olivine where Mg²⁺ in M2 is replaced by 2H⁺. The intensity of this new peak is consistent with formation of the equivalent of a monolayer of the surface complex.     

Effects of urban development on future multi-hazard risk: the case of Vancouver,Canada

Natural Hazards - Disaster risk reduction should anticipate how future natural hazard risk would be influenced by changes in urban vulnerability. This paper investigates the effect of one key...     

Estimation of submarine groundwater discharge in Plover Cove, Tolo Harbour, Hong Kong by Rn

Algal blooms in Tolo Harbour, Hong Kong have received much attention and submarine groundwater discharge is speculated to be a significant pathway carrying nutrients into the constricted estuary. Plover Cove, a small cove in the Harbour, was selected for SGD analysis using ²²²Rn budget. The volumetric SGD rates are estimated to be about 8000 m³/day for neap tide and about 17,000 m³/day for spring tide. Result of nutrient analysis of the porewater indicates that the nutrient loading through this pathway is speculated to be crucial for eutrophication in Tolo Harbour. Current practice for the management of algal blooms in Hong Kong, in which nutrient loading through SGD was ignored, has to be reviewed and the control measures of groundwater contamination are obviously required.     

Use of satellite communication of hydrometric data for the whole of Brazil

Abstract

The difficulties of exploiting the huge Brazilian hydrometeorological network led hydrologists of the Departamento Nacional de Águas e Energie Elétrica (DNAEE—Brazilian Department of Water and Electric Power) to use real time satellite telecommunications to improve network management. Data-gathering satellites, which are perfectly adapted to this network, were first used in 1975 and have interested DNAEE since 1980. Collaboration with ORSTOM permitted an initial evaluation of the technique in 1982. In 1984 DNAEE, together with ORSTOM, was able to set up a 20-station network in the Amazon. The results have been so encouraging that a scheme for 200 stations equipped with telecommunications facilities which use the Brazilian Satélite de Colecta de Dados number 1 (SCD1) satellite is in the final stages. This network will cover the entire country.     

Iron speciation in minerals and glasses probed by $$\hbox{M}_{2/3}$$-edge X-ray Raman scattering spectroscopy

We present a spectroscopic study of the iron \(\hbox{M}_{2/3}\)-edge for several minerals and compounds to reveal information about the oxidation state and the local coordination of iron. We describe a novel approach to probe the iron \(\hbox{M}_{2/3}\)-edge bulk sensitively using X-ray Raman scattering. Significant changes in the onset and shape of the Fe \(\hbox{M}_{2/3}\)-edge were observed on ferrous and ferric model compounds with Fe in octahedral and tetrahedral coordination. Simulation of the spectra is possible using an atomic multiplet code, which potentially allows determination of, e.g., crystal-field parameters in a quantitative manner. A protocol is discussed for determination of the Fe oxidation state in compounds by linear combination of spectra of ferric and ferrous end members. The presented results demonstrate the capabilities of Fe \(\hbox{M}_{2/3}\)-edge spectroscopy by X-ray Raman scattering to extract information on the ratio of trivalent to total iron \(\hbox{Fe}^{3+}/\sum \hbox{Fe}\) and local coordination. As X-ray Raman scattering is performed with hard X-rays, this approach is suitable for in situ experiments at high pressure and temperature. It thus may provide indispensable information on oxidation state, electronic structure and local structure of materials that are important for physical and chemical processes of the deep Earth.