Aquatic and swamp plant communities as indicators of habitat properties of astatic water bodies in north-eastern Poland

Phytosociological and habitat studies were conducted on the water and swamp vegetation of astatic water bodies within north-eastern Poland. The phytocoenoses were selected on the basis of dominance of species forming the particular communities. The analysis of 147 relevés showed the existence of 10 vegetation types: Lemnetum minoris, Spirodeletum polyrrhizae, Riccietum fluitantis, Elodeetum canadensis, Polygonetum natantis, Typhetum latifoliae, Caricetum elatae, Calletum palustris, Potentilletum palustris, Menyanthetum trifoliatae. Among the properties of water analysed water depth, , pH, total and carbonate hardness, PO₄³⁻, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Na⁺ were found to be most important in differentiating the habitats of the vegetation types studied. Substrate properties, which best differentiated the habitats of the associations studied were NO₃⁻, Na⁺, water content, pH and total N. In spite of the wide variability of habitat conditions occurring in astatic water bodies, particular phytocoenoses distinguished on the basis of dominance of one species were associated with specific habitats. The particular phytocoenoses or groups of phytocoenoses could be good indicators of various habitat conditions that occur within astatic water bodies or changes taking place in these habitats.     

Long-term modification of Arctic lake ecosystems: Reference condition, degradation under toxic impacts and recovery (case study Imandra Lakes, Russia)

In this study, published data on Lake Imandra, north-west Russia, have been synthesised to investigate trends in lake contamination and recovery due to changing inputs of heavy metals and nutrients over time. Records of water chemistry, phytoplankton, zooplankton and fish communities have been used to determine the status of aquatic ecosystem health in three distinct phases of Lake Imandra's recent history. Firstly, background (reference) conditions within the lake have been established to determine lake conditions prior to anthropogenic influences. Secondly, a period of ecosystem degradation due to anthropogenic inputs of toxic metals and nutrients has been described. Finally, evidence of lake recovery due to recent decreases of toxic metals and nutrients has been explored. Pollution of Lake Imandra began in the 1930s, reaching a peak in the 1980s. Increases in heavy metal and nutrient inputs transformed the typical Arctic ecosystem. During the contamination phase, there was a decrease in Arctic species and in biodiversity. During the last 10 years, pollution has decreased and the lake has been recolonised by Arctic water species. Ecosystem recovery is indicated by a change of predominant species, an increase in the individual mass of organisms and an increase in the biodiversity index of plankton communities. In accordance with Odum's ecosystem succession theory, this paper demonstrates that the ecosystem has transformed to a more stable condition with new defining parameters. This illustrates that the recovery of Arctic ecosystems towards pre-industrial reference conditions after a reduction in anthropogenic stresses occur, although a complete return to background conditions may not be achievable. Having determined the status of current ecosystem health within Lake Imandra, the effect of global warming on the recovery process is discussed. Climate warming in Arctic regions is likely to move the ecosystem towards a predominance of eurybiontic species in the community structure. These organisms have the ability to tolerate a wider range of environmental conditions than typical Arctic inhabitants and will gain advantages in development. This indicates that the full recovery of Arctic ecosystems in a warming climate may not be possible.     

Intra-coastal ballast water flux and the potential for secondary spread of non-native species on the US West Coast

Ballast water is a dominant mechanism for the interoceanic and transoceanic dispersal of aquatic non-native species (ANS), but few studies have addressed ANS transfers via smaller scale vessel movements. We analyzed ballast water reporting records and ANS occurrence data from four US West Coast port systems to examine patterns of intra-coastal ballast water transfer, and assess how ballast transfers may have influenced the secondary spread of ANS. In 2005, one third of the vessels arriving to the US West Coast originated at one of four West Coast port systems (intra-coastal traffic). These vessels transported and discharged 27% (5,987,588 MT) of the total ballast water volume discharged at these ports that year. The overlap of ANS (shared species) among port systems varied between 3% and 80%, with the largest overlap occurring between San Francisco Bay and LA/Long Beach. Our results suggest that intra-coastal ballast water needs further consideration as an invasion pathway, especially as efforts to promote short-sea shipping are being developed.     

Inorganic and methylmercury: do they transfer along a tropical coastal food web?

Methylmercury (MeHg) and inorganic mercury (Hg_inorg) were evaluated in the water of a Brazilian estuary, with two size classes of plankton and seven fish species of different feeding habits. Water partition coefficients (PCs) in microplankton were fourfold higher for MeHg than for Hg_inorg; and water PCs in mesoplankton were 26 times higher for MeHg than Hg_inorg. Difference between microplankton and mesoplankton MeHg bioaccumulation factor (BAF) was higher (0.60 log units) than Hg_inorg BAF (0.24 log units), indicating that trophic transfer of MeHg between planktonic organisms is more efficient than Hg_inorg transference. MeHg concentrations, proportion of mercury as MeHg and its biotransference factors (BTFs) in the microplankton, mesoplankton and fish increased with increasing trophic level while biotic concentrations of Hg_inorg and proportion of mercury as Hg_inorg decreased thus indicating that MeHg was indeed the biomagnified species of mercury. MeHg reflected the vertical trophic guilds distribution, due to the fact that the top predator fish presented the highest concentration (0.77 μg g⁻¹ d.w.), followed by the less voracious species (0.43 μg g⁻¹ d.w.); while planktivorous fish presented the lowest concentrations (0.044 μg g⁻¹ d.w.). Hg_inorg did not present the same behavior. Results suggest that feeding habits and trophic guild are important parameters, influencing biotransference and biomagnification processes.     

水生植物对岩溶水化学日变化的影响——以桂林岩溶水文地质试验场为例

以桂林岩溶水文地质试验场为研究点,以研究水生植物对岩溶水化学日变化的影响为目的,着重研究水葫芦和水藻对岩溶水的pH、电导率、溶解氧含量、方解石饱和指数以及CO2 分压日变化的影响。试验结果表明: 在不同水生植物生长的岩溶水中,水化学的日动态变化规律是不同的。在水藻生长的水池出水口处,水的pH、电导、溶解氧含量、饱和指数以及CO2 分压所受的影响主要以水生植物的光合作用为主;而在有水葫芦生长的岩溶水中,水生植物的光合作用影响降低,而温度和根呼吸作用的影响增强。在以桂林岩溶水文地质试验场S31号泉水池出水口堰板处和堰板下游约3m 处为监测点试验时,试验结果表明其水生植物的影响占70%以上,强于温度作用的影响。      

Degradation and Transformation of Aquatic Humic Substances by Laccase-producing Fungi Cladosporium cladosporioides and Polyporus versicolor

A phenoloxidase-producing fungus – Cladosporium cladosporioides – was isolated from water of a bog lake. At high concentrations of carbon (333 mM) and nitrogen (12 mM), the fungus demonstrated the formation of a laccase and a high ligninolytic activity. After addition of riverine or groundwater humic substances into culture media (ca. 1 mg mL^–1), the fungus showed the ability of degrading (utilizing) of about 60% of these substances. However, the exact quantification of the degree of degradation was difficult because of adsorption of humic matter on fungal mycelium. Reisolated humic substances were lower in aromatic and higher in aliphatic structures. A crude enzyme from the C. cladosporioides culture showed only low activity in decolorizing humic substances, whereas decolorization up to 50% was observed when using a laccase preparation from Polyporus versicolor, and especially in the presence of a redox mediator.     

水生态评价方法研究进展及展望

水生态系统是人类赖以生存的基础,近年来气候变化和水资源开发、水体污染、过度捕捞等人类活动导致水生态系统严重受损,水生态系统的保护和修复已成为全球面临的重大挑战。科学合理的水生态评价方法是实现水生态系统稳定、健康和可持续管理的基本保障,也是目前我国各相关管理部门高度重视的关键问题,多个部门围绕水生态评价展开了积极探索与实践。本文系统回顾了水生态评价方法的发展历程并阐释了水生态评价的内涵,梳理了常用的水生态评价方法,明晰了各方法的基本理念和应用场景,分析了各方法的优点和不足,提出了基于生态完整性的水生态健康评价方法,最后对目前我国水生态评价需进一步完善的工作进行了展望。本文以期与相关领域研究者和管理者在水生态评价理论和方法方面进行探讨,为我国水生态考核工作提供理论支持。     

在藻型富营养湖泊中恢复大型水生植物净化水质的物理生态工程——以中国太湖五里湖为例

In the barren lake, algae-type eutrophication lake, fifteen aquatic vascular plants were introduced and vegetated in our enclosures of physical-ecological engineering. The area of each enclosure is 200 m², with length of 40m, width of 5m and depth of 1.8m. From 1995 to 1997, we had successfully vegetated 15 communities with the propagation techniques of pot-culture and sturdy seedling. The communities included floating, leave-floating and submerged macrophytes, such as Altemanthera phyiloxeroides, Eichhomia crassipes, Trapa maximowiczii, Nymphoides peltata, Potamogeton maackianus, P. crispus, Myriophyllum spicatum, Hydrilla verticillata, Elodea nuttallii, etc. These aquatic macrophytes not only adapted themselves to the environment but also purified the lake water.     

东太湖水生植物生物质腐烂分解实验

以东太湖挺水植物、浮叶植物、沉水植物优势种的茎叶为实验材料,并引入原位底泥中的微生物。在室内开展了为期1周年的水生植物生物质腐烂分解实验,对总重量以及碳、氮、磷的消减过程特征进行了分析研究,结果表明,浮叶植物腐烂分解速度快,周年腐烂分解率高;沉水植物初期腐烂分解速度较快,但周年腐烂分解率较低;挺水植物腐烂分解过程比较缓慢,挺水植物和浮叶植物生物质的周年腐烂分解率在70%以上,沉水植物则不到50%,在前期,水生植物生物质所包含的磷优先释放出来。     

水体沉积物环境质量基准建立方法研究进展

近20年来,不同的研究机构和研究者先后提出了多种水体沉积物环境质量基准建立方法,这些方法大多产生于北美地区,都是以底栖动物为保护目标,直接或间接地以污染物的生物效应为依据,可划分为2类：即基于沉积物毒性试验、现场生物效应观察和效应发生频率统计的方法;基于平衡分配理论,污染物在沉积物固相—间隙水相间的分配关系的方法。各种方法都有其适用范围和局限性。目前研究中存在的主要问题是：无法明确污染物—生物效应间的因果关系,难以确定影响污染物生物有效性的因素及其影响程度。因此,至今还没有提出一种可广泛应用的沉积物环境质量基准建立方法。建立统一的沉积物毒性试验、测定标准,提高数据的可靠性,重视不同基准建立方法的结合,将是今后研究的重点和发展方向。