Assessing the impact of nutrient enrichment in estuaries: susceptibility to eutrophication

The main aim of this study was to develop a generic tool for assessing risks and impacts of nutrient enrichment in estuaries. A simple model was developed to predict the magnitude of primary production by phytoplankton in different estuaries from nutrient input (total available nitrogen and/or phosphorus) and to determine likely trophic status. In the model, primary production is strongly influenced by water residence times and relative light regimes. The model indicates that estuaries with low and moderate light levels are the least likely to show a biological response to nutrient inputs. Estuaries with a good light regime are likely to be sensitive to nutrient enrichment, and to show similar responses, mediated only by site-specific geomorphological features. Nixon's scale was used to describe the relative trophic status of estuaries, and to set nutrient and chlorophyll thresholds for assessing trophic status. Estuaries identified as being eutrophic may not show any signs of eutrophication. Additional attributes need to be considered to assess negative impacts. Here, likely detriment to the oxygen regime was considered, but is most applicable to areas of restricted exchange. Factors which limit phytoplankton growth under high nutrient conditions (water residence times and/or light availability) may favour the growth of other primary producers, such as macrophytes, which may have a negative impact on other biological communities. The assessment tool was developed for estuaries in England and Wales, based on a simple 3-category typology determined by geomorphology and relative light levels. Nixon's scale needs to be validated for estuaries in England and Wales, once more data are available on light levels and primary production.     

Integrated use of biomarkers (superoxide dismutase, catalase and lipid peroxidation) in mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis for assessing heavy metals' pollution in coastal areas from the Saronikos Gulf of Greece

Mussels are used as sentinel organisms and bioindicators to evaluate the toxic effects of chemical pollutants in marine organisms, especially heavy metals, representing an important tool for biomonitoring environmental pollution in coastal areas. Antioxidant defence enzymes play an important role in cellular antioxidant defence systems and protect from oxidative damage by reactive oxygen species (ROS). Indigenous mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis of the Saronikos Gulf of Greece were used for monitoring heavy metal pollution in three polluted sites in the area and in one unpolluted site. Seasonal variations of the activity of antioxidant defence enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), as well as lipid peroxidation (LP) were measured as biomarkers in a period of three years in relation to concentrations of trace metals in their gills and mantle and compared to mussels from an unpolluted sampling site. SOD activity increased at least 2 fold at the polluted sites when compared to the control site (the high activity was recorded in the spring time). CAT activity was increased 2-3 times at the polluted sites, with high activity in the winter and spring time, compared to the control site. LP concentration was twice higher at the polluted sites, following the same seasonal pattern. Trace metals contents in mussels collected at polluted sites were 3-4 fold higher compared to the control site and showed moderate variations along the months, with a winter maximum followed by a summer pre-spawning minimum matching the seasonal trends of temperature and salinity. Our results showed that metal pollution in the Elefsis Bay (the most polluted coastal area) causes relatively medium levels of oxidative stress in tissues of mussels due to cellular oxy-radical generation. This study, which is the first in the area, showed that seasonal variations of the activity of antioxidant defence enzymes and LP concentrations in mussels can be used as potential biomarkers of toxicity for long-term monitoring in marine coastal ecosystems.     

Recovery of meiofauna communities following mudflat disturbance by trampling associated with crab-tiling

The provision of artificial shelters for the collection of crabs, known as crab-tiling, and the subsequent harvesting of the soft "peeler" crabs for angling bait, are associated with trampling disturbance of intertidal mudflats in the United Kingdom. Recovery of meiofauna communities following crab-tiling activity was investigated on an intertidal mudflat in SW England. Harvesting of experimental plots was reproduced six times over a 2-week period. Meiofauna was collected at low tides 12h, 36 h and 144 h after treatment. Meiofaunal and nematode abundance, and nematode species number, was significantly greater in controls compared to crab-tile stations at 12h. At 36 h and 144 h there were no significant differences between treatments, indicating recovery had occurred in 12-36 h. Multivariate analysis showed nematode assemblage composition from control plots to be significantly different from crab-tile plots at 12h. No significant differences were observed between sediment physical parameters with treatment. Results suggest that the predominant effect of disturbance may be vibration-induced burial, which causes nematodes to bury deeper into the sediment, beyond the depth sampled, and explains the rapid recovery.     

Influence of salinity and fish species on PAH uptake from dispersed crude oil

The use of chemical oil dispersants to minimize spill impacts causes a transient increase in hydrocarbon concentrations in water, which increases the risk to aquatic species if toxic components become more bioavailable. The risk of effects depends on the extent to which dispersants enhance the exposure to toxic components, such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). Increased salinities can reduce the solubility of PAH and the efficiency of oil dispersants. This study measured changes in the induction of CYP1A enzymes of fish to demonstrate the effect of salinity on PAH availability. Freshwater rainbow trout and euryhaline mummichog were exposed to water accommodated fractions (WAF), and chemically-enhanced water accommodated fractions (CEWAF) at 0 per thousand, 15 per thousand, and 30 per thousand salinity. For both species, PAH exposure decreased as salinity increased whereas dispersant effectiveness decreased only at the highest salinity. Hence, risks to fish of PAH from dispersed oil will be greatest in coastal waters where salinities are low.     

关中平原明代霜雪灾害特征及小波分析研究

通过对关中平原明代历史文献资料的搜集和统计分析,研究了该区明代霜雪灾害等级、阶段与灾害发生周期等。结果表明,关中平原明代霜雪灾害可划分为轻度、中度、重度三级,各占总灾害频次的23%,54%,23%。该区明代霜雪灾害可划分为4个阶段,第1阶段(1368～1448年)和第3阶段(1508～1568年)为灾害少发期,第2阶段(1449～1507年)和第4阶段(1569～1644年)为灾害多发生期。小波分析显示,关中平原明代轻度、中度和重度霜雪灾害分别存在11 a、8 a、44 a的周期变化。初步确定关中平原明代1618～1631年发生了1次寒冷气候事件。     

1368—1948年陇中地区干旱灾害时间序列分形特征研究

采用标度变换法对陇中地区1368—1948年(明代至新中国建立前)各等级干旱灾害及旱季序列的时间分维值进行测算。并深入讨论了各旱灾序列时间分维与其线性特征之间的关系,以及分维随时间演进的变化趋势。对4个干旱等级、4个旱季序列的分维值进行研究,发现:①干旱灾害具有客观的分形结构,其时间序列是具有自组织性质的,干旱灾害是自组织系统;②各等级干旱灾害有自己的时间重演律,干旱灾害越轻,无标度区越宽,分维值越高,短周期更明显;③各旱季分维值与其发生频次成正比;④整个时期的动态总体上表现为:各旱灾序列(旱灾、大旱灾、中度干旱、春旱及伏旱)分维值逐渐增大,旱灾发生趋向混沌无序,旱灾系统趋向平衡态,稳定性减小;⑤分形分析法与常规统计方法之间有着内在联系。     

黄土中古土壤淀积类型

作者在西安附近发现了第１、４层古土壤的双层淀积和第５、８层古土壤多层淀积现象。资料表明，双层淀积、多层淀积和厚度异常大的ＣａＣＯ３淀积层是土壤具多元发生过程或受后期淋溶的产物，它们常代表两个或两个以上的成壤期。第１层古土壤下部的两层结构均不属古土壤组合部分，该层土壤为中、酸性森林土壤。第８层古土壤特殊的厚层淀积代表了气候的多次变化和多个成壤期。第４、５层古土壤具不连续ＣａＣＯ３和Ｆｅ２Ｏ３、Ａｌ２     

陕西黄土高原晚更新世环境变化

岐山剖面孢粉分析表明,黄土高原东南部晚更新世植被与气候变化可分为７个阶段和１３个小阶段。其中末次冰期的３个冷干阶段和２个温湿阶段被分别命名为秦家寨,岐山,坡头冰阶和尚家坡,杨家湾间冰阶。冰阶的植被以温带森林草原为主,间冰阶的植被以落叶阔叶林为主。     

底栖腕足动物种群的生长率及与底质有关的死亡率

生物的染色和对其可能附着的基底的详细调查能够对Ｔｅｒｅｂｒａｔｕｌｉｎａｒｅｔｕｓａ进行准确的普查，并促进对其群体动态的研究。从深水腕足动物Ｍｏｄｉｏｌｕｓ组合中对Ｔｅｒｅｂｒａｔｕｌｉｎａｒｅｔｕｓａ的季节性取样中总是以小的（＜１ｍｍ）个体为主，从群组的平均长度变化估计，幼年期后的生长速度突然放慢。幼虫在下沉６个月后，动物体在其长度、生长速度方面与实验室的研究一致，但种类比通常估计的要少。就其保护程度而言，腕足动物个体达到一定的大小是其唯一的生存对策，据此可干扰或抑制其过度生长，这对其生存有重要影响。Ｌｏｒｎ地区的Ｆｉｒｔｈ附近，不同的附着层，Ｔ．ｒｅｔｕｓａ的死亡率有着意想不到的情况。实际上，尽管附在Ｍ．ｍｏｄｉｏｌｕｓ壳表面的幼年Ｔ．ｒｅｔｕｓａ个体有较高的死亡率，可它又是成年Ｔ．ｒｅｔｕｓａ个体的唯一附着基层。认为在复杂的表面上，摄食压力和空间竞争可以减小，这或许表明被附着的腕足动物Ｍ．ｍｏｄｉｏｌｕｓ首先达到２ｍｍ长度的巨大保护程度时，幼年期后的个体死亡率升高。