The impact of discharge change on physical instream habitats and its response to river morphology

The impact of climate-induced discharge change on fish habitats, based on 1951–2008 time series, was investigated within the crystalline catchment of the Grosse Mühl River in Northern Austria. A significant trend change of air temperature, based on Mann–Whitney statistical testing, was recorded for spring 1989 (P?=?98.9 %) and summer 1990 (P?=?99.9 %). This led to a pronounced increase in summer low flow periods. Hydrodynamic-numerical (one-dimensional/two-dimensional) modelling was applied to simulate the changing habitat characteristics due to decreasing discharge in relation to various morphological patterns (riffle-pool/plane-bed reaches). Using bathymetric data, which were sampled on cross sectional measurements, we clearly determined that plane-bed reaches (featureless bed forms) are sensitive to climate-related, reduced discharge, whereas riffle-pool reaches continued to exhibit suitable physical fish habitats even under extreme low-flow conditions. The impact of the decreased summer discharge on instream habitats was strong for subadult and adult grayling which have been used as target fish species. In situ measurements in microhabitats (velocity/depth) revealed habitat suitabilities. These values were taken as biotic input for habitat evaluation on the micro scale. The findings clearly show that river morphology is a decisive parameter in terms of habitat preservation and restoration in the context of the future impacts of climate change (decreased discharge).     

Comment la Terre a-t-elle pu vieillir de plus de quatre milliards d’années en quatre siècles ?

The history of the determination of the Earth's age is interesting in two ways. First, it is a great school for understanding the genesis of a scientific theory. It stands at the crossroads of almost all scientific disciplines, and also philosophy or even theology. This history shows how what one may well call a “scientific truth” was established through polemics. Second, that age of 4.567 billion years is not just another figure in the series of ages that would be of concern only to astrophysicists; this scale is the only one that makes it possible to understand the genesis of the marvelous order of the solar system (that Newton attributed to God) and the fantastic complexity of Life on Earth.     

Sulfur-rich monazite with high common Pb in ore-bearing schists from the Schellgaden mining district (Tauern Window, Eastern Alps)

The compositional variation of accessory monazite in ore bearing micaschists from the Schellgaden mining district, Tauern Window, Eastern Alps, was studied by means of the electron microprobe. In ore-rich domains monazite yields unusually high sulfur contents (up to 2.5?wt.% SO₃), which enter the monazite structure together with Ca and Sr as ??anhydrite-celestine?? component replacing P and REEs. The exchange reaction is S⁶⁺+ (Ca, Sr)²⁺ = REE³⁺+ P⁵⁺. Sulfur-rich monazite is intergrown with anglesite, pyromorphite or galena and shows oscillatory zoning indicating growth from S-bearing fluids. This type of S-enriched monazite yields very high common lead contents (up to 0.5?wt.% PbO) and unrealistic high apparent Th-U-total Pb single dates (> 1?Ga). However, S-enriched monazite grains provide a flat trendline in the Th* vs. Pb isochron diagram similar to the trendline defined through low-S, and low-Pb monazite crystals (0.1?C1?wt.% SO₃, < 0.05?wt.% PbO), which were observed in ore-poor parts of micaschists. Results from this study imply an Alpine rather than a pre-Alpine formation age for monazite and a strong S-rich fluid activity during the Alpine orogeny. Apart from this geological aspect, the current study also shows that the detection of sulfur in monazite may serve as a warning for a possible presence of common Pb.     

Spatio-temporal diversity of free-living and particle-attached prokaryotes in the tropical lagoon of Ahe atoll (Tuamotu Archipelago) and its surrounding oceanic waters

Spatio-temporal variability of prokaryotic water column communities inside and outside a Polynesian tropical lagoon subjected to pearl oysters farming was assessed in terms of abundance by quantitative PCR and diversity by DGGE. Communities and operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were analysed according to dry/rainy seasons and free-living/particle-attached state. Bacterial density was higher in the lagoon compared to ocean and a seasonal trend was observed. No influence of the localisation within lagoon or of the planktonic/attached states was noticed on bacterial abundance and diversity. The OTUs belonged to Cyanobacteria, to heterotrophic groups in Proteobacteria and Flavobacteria. Archaeal abundance showed seasonal tendency and particle-prevalence, but no effect of lagoon or oceanic location was observed. Lagoon and oceanic archaeal diversity were different and Euryarchaeota (MG-II, MBG, and Halobacteria) were detected. During the dry season, planktonic and particle-associated community differed, whereas at rainy season, both communities were similar and included members usually associated with coral.     

Field observations in a small subtropical estuary during and after a rainstorm event

In Australia, a large majority of small subtropical estuaries are narrow, elongated and meandering channels with large width to depth ratio and cross-sections which deepen and widen towards the mouth. Up to date, episodic rainstorm events in such small systems were rarely documented, and this study presents a field data set collected during and immediately after a rainstorm. A number of hydrodynamic and physio-chemical parameters were recorded simultaneously at several longitudinal locations for 12 h. The field measurements demonstrated a significant flushing of the estuarine zone, caused primarily by the rainfall runoff from the nearby shopping malls and roadways. Some strong vertical stratification of the water column was observed at all sampling locations, and the depth-averaged salinity data exhibited a dome-shaped intrusion curve. A solution of the salt dispersion equation provided some agreement with the freshwater flushing conditions during the wet weather.     

Factors Influencing the Stream‐Aquifer Flow Exchange Coefficient

Knowledge of river gain from or loss to a hydraulically connected water table aquifer is crucial in issues of water rights and also when attempting to optimize conjunctive use of surface and ground waters. Typically in groundwater models this exchange flow is related to a difference in head between the river and some point in the aquifer, through a “coefficient.” This coefficient has been defined differently as well as the location for the head in the aquifer. This paper proposes a new coefficient, analytically derived, and a specific location for the point where the aquifer head is used in the difference. The dimensionless part of the coefficient is referred to as the SAFE (stream‐aquifer flow exchange) dimensionless conductance. The paper investigates the factors that influence the value of this new conductance. Among these factors are (1) the wetted perimeter of the cross‐section, (2) the degree of penetration of the cross‐section, and (3) the shape of the cross‐section. The study shows that these factors just listed are indeed ordered in their respective level of importance. In addition the study verifies that the analytical correct value of the coefficient is matched by finite difference simulation only if the grid system is sufficiently fine. Thus the use of the analytical value of the coefficient is an accurate and efficient alternative to ad hoc estimates for the coefficient typically used in finite difference and finite element methods.