A Paddock to reef monitoring and modelling framework for the Great Barrier Reef: Paddock and catchment component

Targets for improvements in water quality entering the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) have been set through the Reef Water Quality Protection Plan (Reef Plan). To measure and report on progress towards the targets set a program has been established that combines monitoring and modelling at paddock through to catchment and reef scales; the Paddock to Reef Integrated Monitoring, Modelling and Reporting Program (Paddock to Reef Program). This program aims to provide evidence of links between land management activities, water quality and reef health. Five lines of evidence are used: the effectiveness of management practices to improve water quality; the prevalence of management practice adoption and change in catchment indicators; long-term monitoring of catchment water quality; paddock & catchment modelling to provide a relative assessment of progress towards meeting targets; and finally marine monitoring of GBR water quality and reef ecosystem health. This paper outlines the first four lines of evidence.     

Determination of deployment specific chemical uptake rates for SPMD and PDMS using a passive flow monitor

Passive sampling techniques facilitate the time-integrated measurement of pollutant concentrations through the use of a selective receiving phase. Accurate quantification using passive sampling devices rely on the implementation of methods that will negate the effects of environmental factors (flow, temperature, etc.) or that will allow the calculation of the chemical specific rates of uptake (R(s)) into the passive sampler employed. We have applied an in situ calibration technique based on the dissolution of gypsum to measure the average water velocity to which a sampler has been exposed. We demonstrate that the loss of gypsum from the passive flow monitor (PFM) can be applied to predict changes in R(s) dependent on flow when using the absorbent SPMD (semipermeable membrane device) and PDMS (polydimethyl siloxan) passive samplers. The application of the PFM will enhance the accuracy of measurements made when calculating and reporting environmental pollutant concentrations using a passive sampling device.     

Distribution and controlling factors of phytoplankton assemblages in a semi-enclosed bay during spring and summer

The phytoplankton assemblages' patterns and their correlation to environmental factors were studied in Bohai Bay during spring and summer. Two zones, the northern (NWA) and southern (SWA) water area, were identified by cluster analysis based on their physical and chemical properties. Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that more phytoplankton species was found in the SWA with low nutrient concentration, while high phytoplankton abundance occurred in the NWA with high nutrient concentration. The seasonal variability in phytoplankton can be explained by water temperature, nutrient, and hydrodynamic conditions (includes mixing during spring and stratification during summer). Results of redundancy analysis (RDA) showed that silicate (SiO(4)) and soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) were the most important environmental factors influencing the phytoplankton distribution during spring and summer, respectively. Hydrodynamics condition plays a key role in controlling variation of the environmental factors, which determined phytoplankton distribution in Bohai Bay.     

GhostNet marine debris survey in the Gulf of Alaska--satellite guidance and aircraft observations

Marine debris, particularly debris that is composed of lost or abandoned fishing gear, is recognized as a serious threat to marine life, vessels, and coral reefs. The goal of the GhostNet project is the detection of derelict nets at sea through the use of weather and ocean models, drifting buoys and satellite imagery to locate convergent areas where nets are likely to collect, followed by airborne surveys with trained observers and remote sensing instruments to spot individual derelict nets. These components of GhostNet were first tested together in the field during a 14-day marine debris survey of the Gulf of Alaska in July and August 2003. Model, buoy, and satellite data were used in flight planning. A manned aircraft survey with visible and IR cameras and a LIDAR instrument located debris in the targeted locations, including 102 individual pieces of debris of anthropogenic or terrestrial origin.     

Effect of zinc sacrificial anode degradation on the defence system of the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas: Chronic and acute exposures

Two types of exposures were performed to assess the effects of zinc released from sacrificial anode degradation: a chronic exposure, in which oysters were exposed to 0.53±0.04mgZnL(-1) for 10weeks, and an acute exposure, where oysters were exposed to 10.2±1.2mgZnL(-1) for 1week. At the end of the acute exposure experiment, 81.8% mortality was recorded. In contrast, no mortality was detected after 10weeks exposure. Moreover, all of the immune system biomarkers studied, except the number of circulating haemocytes, were stimulated by a moderate level of zinc and inhibited by a high level. Our exposure conditions did not induce SOD or MXR mRNA expression in gills and digestive gland. However, an increase of MT mRNA is observed in these tissues. The results indicate that oysters are sensitive to acute zinc toxicity but are only moderately affected by a mild zinc concentration.     

Man-induced hydrological changes, metazooplankton communities and invasive species in the Berre Lagoon (Mediterranean Sea, France)

The Berre Lagoon has been under strong anthropogenic pressure since the early 1950s. The opening of the hydroelectric EDF power plant in 1966 led to large salinity drops. The zooplankton community was mainly composed of two common brackish species: Acartia tonsa and Brachionus plicatilis. Since 2006, European litigation has strongly constrained the input of freshwater, maintaining the salinity above 15. A study was performed between 2008 and 2010 to evaluate how these modifications have impacted the zooplankton community. Our results show that the community is more diverse and contains several coastal marine species (i.e., Centropages typicus, Paracalanus parvus and Acartia clausi). A. tonsa is still present but is less abundant, whereas B. plicatilis has completely disappeared. Strong predatory marine species, such as chaetognaths, the large conspicuous autochtonous jellyfish Aurelia aurita and the invasive ctenophore Mnemiopsis leidyi, are now very common as either seasonal or permanent features of the lagoon.     

Reproductive characteristics and steroid levels in the scleractinian coral Oculina patagonica inhabiting contaminated sites along the Israeli Mediterranean coast

In this study we compared reproductive characteristics and steroid hormone levels in the non-indigenous scleractinian coral, Oculina patagonica, inhabiting contaminated vs. uncontaminated reference sites along the Israeli Mediterranean coast. Our results indicate significantly higher steroid levels in both seawater and coral tissue samples from contaminated sites as compared to reference sites, suggesting that corals tend to accumulate steroids from the surrounding waters. Despite their higher steroid levels, corals from the contaminated sites showed reproductive potential comparable to those of the reference sites. Interestingly, a clear distinction could be seen between corals exposed to pollution for long vs. short durations, with the latter showing a failure to complete gametogenesis. This suggests that reproduction in O. patagonica is susceptible to acute rather than chronic stress. The involvement of adjustment/adaptation processes may explain this species tolerance, and may reflect the ability of O. patagonica to successfully invade new areas in the Mediterranean Sea.     

Distribution and sources of aliphatic hydrocarbons in surface sediments of Sergipe River estuarine system

The assessment of aliphatic hydrocarbons was performed in the Sergipe River estuarine system, northeastern Brazil. Aliphatic hydrocarbons concentration ranged from 9.9 ug g?1 up to 30.8 ug g?1 of dry sediment. The carbon preference index (CPI, based on nC?? to nC?? range), indicated predominance of petrogenic input in two of the sites analyzed (P4 and P5). The unresolved complex mixture (UCM) was found to be present in seven of the nine sites sampled (except for P4 and P5). Overall, the results of this work suggest that there is a mix of organic matter sources to the sediment. Although the coast of Sergipe has an intense off shore petroleum exploration and the Sergipe River crosses the entire city of Aracaju, the capital city of Sergipe, non-significant anthropogenic fingerprint was assessed.     

阿留申岛弧的非火山颤动

在阿留申岛弧观测到了一些非火山颤动。在数座火山上的大跨区的地震台网也监测到颤动状的事件,因此不可能与任何一座火山体有关。虽然目前还不能给这些颤动定位,但我们根据多个台网的反射时差和振幅给出了大概的位置。多数非火山颤动是在所推断的太平洋消减板块闭锁区或从蠕动到闭锁转换区记录到的。有一次非火山颤动事件是在拉特群岛和安德烈亚诺夫群岛附近地区地震活动和火山活动增强时期记录到的。类似的同步增加以往在阿留申群岛记录到过,并被假设是由慢滑动事件引起的大范围应力变化造成的。2008年7月12日奥克莫克火山喷发约1小时后在科罗文和大锡特金地震台网记录到显著的非火山颤动。非火山颤动并不是分散地出现在整个阿留申岛弧,而似乎是集中在几个地区。用2500km的消减带,我们有机会检查这些地区并将其与不产生非火山颤动地区加以比较,以便确定产生该颤动的作用因素。     

滑坡编目:地震滑坡危险性分析中必不可少的部分

详细精确的滑坡编目是地震滑坡危险性分析工作中必不可少的一部分。理想的编目要满足如下条件:覆盖整个地震影响区;应包含所有可调查到的滑坡,滑坡的最小长度应小至1～5m左右;编目中的滑坡位置也必须准确,应使用能够反应它们真实的平面形状的区要素来表征。符合上述要求的滑坡编目可以用来进行地震滑坡危险性分析和其他的定量分析研究。详细的地震滑坡编目可以追溯到1960年代初的航空摄影技术的出现与应用。近年来,随着空间技术科学的进步,高分辨率卫星影像获取成为可能,从而使得除最小的滑坡之外可以识别并绘出所有由地震事件触发的滑坡。得益于遥感技术的这种可以观测到地球任何地方的能力,我们可以获取到任何大量地震滑坡发生区域的遥感影像。然而,随着高分辨率遥感影像时代的到来,地震滑坡编目数据不完整也成为当前研究中的一个普遍存在的问题。