Species sensitivity distributions: data and model choice

Species sensitivity distributions (SSDs) are increasingly incorporated into ecological risk assessment procedures. Although these new techniques offer a more transparent approach to risk assessment they demand more and superior quality data. Issues of data quantity and quality are especially important for marine datasets that tend to be smaller (and have fewer standard test methods) when compared with freshwater data. An additional source of uncertainty when using SSDs is appropriate selection from the range of methods used in their construction. We show through examples the influence of data quantity, data quality, and choice of model. We then show how regulatory decisions may be affected by these factors.     

Assessing surface water quality of the Yangtze Estuary with genotoxicity data

The present study investigated the genotoxicity of the surface water samples from the Yangtze Estuary with the Ames test in three seasons. Several important chemical parameters, such as COD inorganic nitrogen, active phosphate and heavy metals, were also analyzed at the same time. According the results, surface water samples from the south branch and a few of samples at the seaward end of the Yangtze Estuary show positive genotoxicity in some seasons. Chemical analysis revealed that the Yangtze Estuary was seriously polluted by inorganic nitrogen and by active phosphate. However, chemical parameters could not demonstrate the spatial variation of water quality of the estuary, and they could not assess adverse effects of chemicals in mixtures as well. Therefore, it is recommended that genotoxicity data, mutation rate of the Salmonella typhimurium strain TA98 at the dose of 1 l per plate, be taken as a new parameter assessing surface water quality of the Yangtze Estuary. Our studies also suggested that genetic toxicology assays, such as the Ames test, could be applied as a routine measure to monitoring marine environment in China. The paper proposes a development of the National Seawater Quality Standard of China.     

Urban stormwater quality I. Hillcrest,Hamilton, New Zealand

Water quality parameters associated with siltation (non‐volatile and volatile suspended solids), oxygen depletion (chemical and biochemical oxygen demand), nutrient enrichment (N, P), toxicity (Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, Cd), and human pathogenic micro‐organisms (coliforms, faecal coliforms, faecal streptococci) were measured in baseflow and stormflow from a residential catchment in Hamilton, New Zealand, from November 1979 to December 1981. A macro‐invertebrate survey was conducted. All parameters, except nitrogen, were predominantly associated with particulate material, and closely followed suspended solids behaviour during storm runoff. The concentrations of these particulate parameters are linearly related to suspended solid concentrations, which implies a reasonable consistency in the particulate source material, probably attributable to the uniform stable land use. The runoff was enriched with nitrate (from septic tank seepage) and the particles by Zn, Pb, and Cu. There was little or no enrichment of the particulates with phosphorus, nitrogen, organic matter, Cr, or Ni relative to catchment soils. Ni, Cr, and Cd were generally below detection limits. Dissolved reactive phosphorus and NH₄ ⁺‐N levels were low and unimportant in total P or N leaving the catchment. Most organic matter was particulate and only slowly degraded, and consequently the biological oxygen demand was only a small fraction (c. 13%) of chemical oxygen demand. Interpretation of the water quality data allows some tentative predictions to be made of potential receiving water impacts. It is doubtful that urban runoff will cause significant oxygen depletion, although the high level of organic‐rich particulate material could lead to a deterioration of receiving water sediments and affect benthic invertebrates. Urban runoff may be an important source of nutrients, but (apart from nitrate) its importance depends on the amount of suspended material in the runoff rather than increased input of nutrients from urban‐related activities. Bacterial counts indicate a poor water quality. The impact of metals will depend largely on the bioavailability of the particulate‐bound fraction. The key to the understanding of transport, treatment, and impact of most potential pollutants in urban runoff is probably their association with particulate materials.     

日照万平口沙滩质量评价及“蓝旗沙滩”建设建议

沙滩质量评价是有效的沙滩管理工具。“蓝旗”标准是目前世界上认可度最高的沙滩评价标准。文章基于“蓝旗”标准,根据国内外已有沙滩质量评价体系,结合实地调研和问卷调查,构建适用于万平口沙滩的质量评价体系。评价结果表明：(1)万平口环境因素、安全与教育和环境管理准则层评价结果均为良好,社会因素准则层达到优质等级,说明万平口风景区作为旅游地,其气候条件适宜,服务水平和安全及教育水平都较为发达。(2）万平口沙滩的自然条件本底优良,是最能体现日照“蓝天、碧海、金沙滩”的特色景区。但由于自然及人为因素造成的沙滩侵蚀退化现象严重,影响了沙滩的可持续发展。根据评价结果及万平口与“蓝旗沙滩”的对比差异,认为万平口建设“蓝旗沙滩”,需要完善景区水质监测、加强景区内及周边环境管理、重视沙滩养护、完善基础设施的投放、进一步提高景区的服务水平、重视景区内安全保障及加强景区的宣传,提高公众对“蓝旗”的认知度。     

贵州晴隆-安龙露采金矿矿山地质环境质量评价体系探讨与应用

据贵州省晴隆―安龙金矿矿山地质环境背景、现状、矿山环境地质问题、人类工程活动强度与地质环境质量的相关性,并结合金矿露采的特点,探索性地提出了一套金矿露采矿山地质环境质量评价的方法体系并用之于调查区的地质环境质量分区评价,通过专家进行野外验收和成果报告审查,一致认为评价结果比较真实地反映了调查区的实际地质环境质量状况,提出的评价方法是合理可行的,对类似金矿矿山的地质环境质量评价具有一定的借鉴意义。     

遥感技术在古丹阳湖演变研究中的应用

根据1987—1988年太湖实测水质数据,利用系统动态聚类分析方法,将17个指标按营养盐、有机质、有毒有害物质三种污染类型进行综合评估,获得了太湖水域各类污染指标空间分布态势及差异特点,揭示了太湖现存的三种污染模式及地域分布状况,为进一步治理和改善太湖水质提供依据。     

海底柱状沉积物超声测量

运用RS-ST01C超声测试仪,对32个海底沉积物柱状样品进行了现场超声波声学测量,并作了声速剖面初步分析,结果表明,样品及其固定方法、耦合剂、t0值、生物含量、取样效果和频率等因素对测量的结果均有一定影响,其中,样品及其固定方法、t0值、生物含量以及取样效果对声速测量的结果影响较大,而耦合剂和频率等因素对其影响较小。     

应用于SAR图像配准的自适应SIFT特征均匀分布算法

SAR图像配准要求提取出稳定且分布均匀的同名点,但是传统的SIFT算法没有考虑特征点的空间分布情况,提取的特征呈块状分布。针对SAR图像数据的特点,提出了一种自适应控制SIFT特征均匀分布算法,利用局部纹理特征,并结合最优化筛选策略,在保证特征点稳定性和准确性的同时,自适应控制特征在不同空间的分布情况,实现SIFT特征点在图像空间和尺度空间的合理分布。最后从提取效率、匹配正确率和分布质量等方面进行对比试验,验证了算法应用于SAR图像配准的能力。     

四川省芦山—宝兴地区花岗石石材产出地质特征及其品质

本文扼要阐明四川省芦山－宝兴地区花岗石石材产出地质特征的基础上，重点讨论花岗石石材的品种、规模和质量。     

Protected geographical indications: Institutional roles in food systems governance and rural development

This paper examines the importance of national-level institutional arrangements for promoting the EU’s Protected Geographic Indication scheme (PGI). Taking the example of Ireland, for which PGI designations remain comparatively low, it explores whether the approach to providing institutional supports to the PGI scheme is influenced by top-down technocratic governance structures that pertain to food safety and quality certification that encompass the broader operating environment for food production in Ireland. Although the regulation of food safety and quality certification are distinct remits to the administration of the PGI scheme, in the Irish context the same institutional bodies are involved in governance of both. Using a discourse analysis interpretative framework, this paper draws on interviews with Irish producer group members and institutional representatives to examine how governance of the PGI scheme reflects management perspectives and practices more in keeping with a regulatory environment for food safety and quality than with development of place-based food product links. It suggests that incentives to avail of the PGI scheme as a means of realising value-added for producers are not well established because they require the development of more subjective, context-dependent processes and practices linked to geographical place and place identity. These are not easily accommodated under current institutional arrangements that also incorporate food safety and quality remits because these are in turn strongly established through nationally and internationally recognised systems of regulation and benchmarking. The findings point to the benefits to be gained from a more layered governance structure for PGI; devolving operation of the scheme to relevant regional and local development organisations that possess the expertise and relevant local knowledge to (a) incentivise the formation of producer groups, and (b) prioritise mentoring and support for PGI concept development as a clearer reflection of bottom-up rural sustainability policy.