The strengthening East Australian Current, its eddies and biological effects — an introduction and overview

The poleward flowing East Australian Current (EAC) is characterised by its separation from the coast, 100-200 nautical miles north of Sydney, to form the eastward flowing Tasman Front and a southward flowing eddy field. The separation zone greatly influences coastal ecosystems for the relatively narrow continental shelf (only 15-50 km wide), particularly between 32-34°S. In this region the continental shelf has a marked shift in the seasonal temperature-salinity relationship and elevated surface nitrate concentrations. This current parallels the portion of the coast where Australia’s population is concentrated and has a long history of scientific research. However, understanding of physical and biological processes driven by the EAC, particularly in linking circulation to ecosystems, is limited. In this special issue of 16 papers on the EAC, we examine the effects of climatic wind-stress forced ocean dynamics on EAC transport variability and coastal sea level, from ENSO to multi-decadal time scales; eddy formation and structure; fine scale connectivity and larval retention. Comparisons with the poleward-flowing Leeuwin Current on Australia’s west coast show differences in ecosystem productivity that can be attributed to the underlying physics in each region. On average there is double the chlorophyll a concentration on the east coast than the west. In comparison to the Leeuwin, the EAC may have less local retention of larvae and act as a partial barrier to onshore transport, which may also be related to the local spawning and early life history of small pelagic fish on each coast. Inter-annual variations in the EAC transport produce a detectable sea-level signal in Sydney Harbour, which could provide a useful fisheries index as does the Fremantle sea level and Leeuwin Current relationship. The EAC’s eddy structure and formation by the EAC are examined. A particular cold-core eddy is shown to have a “tilt” towards the coast, and that during a rotation the flow of particles may rise up to the euphotic zone and then down beneath. In a warm-core eddy, surface flooding is shown to produce a new shallower surface mixed layer and promote algal growth. An assessment of plankton data from 1938-1942 showed that the local, synoptic conditions had to be incorporated before any comparison with the present. There are useful relationships of water mass characteristics in the Tasman Sea and separation zone with larval fish diversity and abundance, as well as with long-line fisheries. These fisheries-pelagic habitat relationships are invaluable for fisheries management, as well as for climate change assessments.There is further need to examine the EAC influence on rainfall, storm activity, dust deposition, and on the movements by fish, sharks and whales. The Australian Integrated Marine Observing System (IMOS) has provided new infrastructure to determine the changing behaviour of the EAC and its bio-physical interaction with the coasts and estuaries. The forecasting and hindcasting capability developed under the Bluelink project has provided a new tool for data synthesis and dynamical analysis. The impact of a strengthening EAC and how it influences the livelihoods of over half the Australian population, from Brisbane to Sydney, Hobart and Melbourne, is just being realised.     

How good is good? Human values and Europe's proposed Marine Strategy Directive

The adoption of the proposed European Marine Strategy Directive is an opportunity for a comprehensive policy for protecting, improving and sustainably using Europe's environmentally degraded seas. It calls for an ecosystem-based approach to management where humans are regarded as a key system component. Although the proposed wording has been the subject of fierce debate, the central policy goal remains achieving "Good Environmental Status". The interpretation of "good" is key to implementation and relates to human values and worldviews. We demonstrate how these vary widely across Europe. Solution of fundamental considerations such as the assignation of reference states, the balance between precautionary and evidence-based action, the degree of subsidiarity, and conservation strategies including marine protected areas, will ultimately depend upon public understanding, involvement in and support for the Directive. The social element, critical to effective adaptive management, requires greater attention within the context of a regional seas geographical framework.     

Changes in material fluxes from the Changjiang River and their implications on the adjoining continental shelf ecosystem

This study aims to examine the changing patterns of Changjiang material fluxes, which are influenced by anthropogenic activities, and the resultant modifications to the coastal and shelf oceanographic conditions, and to propose future research about the effect of these changes on the estuarine and shelf ecosystem. Within the catchment basin of the Changjiang River, the construction of more than 48,000 dams has caused significant sediment discharge reduction, together with modifications to the timing of seasonal freshwater discharge. In the future, the mean freshwater discharge will decrease following the completion of the water-diverting project for water supply to northern China. At the same time, the riverine nutrient loadings (N and P) have increased due to the extensive use of chemical fertilizers and the large discharge of industrial wastewater and domestic sewage. These changes are modifying the oceanographic conditions of the estuarine and shelf waters. The flushing time for the river water becomes longer in wet seasons but shorter in dry seasons. An increase in salinity can be expected after the completion of the water-diverting project. Nutrient concentrations will be enhanced in the shelf waters. In contrast to the decrease in the suspended sediment concentration of the river water, field measurements have not shown well-defined patterns of changes within the estuary; nevertheless, net sediment accumulation and carbon burial rates would be reduced in the deltaic areas because of the reduced sediment discharge. Finally, increase in the nutrient input appears to enhance the primary production in the East China Sea region, which, in turn, may enhance the fishery catch.     

Modelling the biogeochemistry of a tidal flat ecosystem with EcoTiM

The ecological tidal model simulates the cycling of carbon, nitrogen, phosphate, and silicate and describes the tidal, diurnal, and annual dynamics of the back barrier area of the island Spiekeroog in the German Bight. The region is characterized by strong tidal currents and extensive tidal flats. It is strongly influenced by the conditions in the southern part of the German Bight. This model study investigates the dependence of the model behavior on the boundary conditions and the forcing. The effect of short- and long-term sea level rise on nutrient and plankton dynamics is analyzed. As the model is set up as semi-Lagrangian with only a coarse approximation of the hydrodynamics, the seasonal and intratidal variability in the biogeochemical cycling can only be reproduced qualitatively. By varying the boundary conditions, the intrinsic dynamics of the back barrier area can be separated from boundary condition effects. This study shows that any agreement between model results and field data cannot be expected without correct boundary conditions. The seasonal variability is of major importance, while higher-frequency variability only plays a minor role.     

Nitrogen and carbon cycling in the North Sea and exchange with the North Atlantic—A model study. Part I. Nitrogen budget and fluxes

The three-dimensional biogeochemical model ECOHAM was applied to the Northwest European Shelf (47°41′–63°53′N, 15°5′W–13°55′E) for the years 1993–1996. Nitrogen budgets were calculated for the years 1995 and 1996 for the inner shelf region, the North Sea (511,725 km²). Simulated temperatures as well as nitrate, oxygen, and chlorophyll concentrations are compared with observations.     

意愿价值法评估生态服务价值的有效性与可靠性及实例设计研究

意愿价值评估法(CVM)以新古典经济学需求理论为基础,通过构造假想市场使生态服务价值的评估成为可能.但是,经验研究中出现了与新古典经济理论及其预期不一致的异常现象,致使CVM的有效性与可靠性受到广泛质疑,而成为目前国际CVM研究的主要方向.对国际、国内CVM有效性与可靠性的研究进展进行了综述,重点梳理了国际上对WTP的内容依赖性、WTP与WTA的显著差异及可靠性与效益转移等方面的经验研究;而国内由于缺乏该方面的系统研究,制约了CVM在我国生态价值评估及环境公共政策制定中的应用.为此,在前期开展的实例研究基础上,设计了适合我国社会经济特征和生态环境特点的CVM有效性与可靠性研究的技术路线和多重调查方案,以期推动CVM在我国的进一步发展与应用.     

全球生态系统服务未来变化的情景

[ZW（*][HT6H]〓收稿日期：;修回日期：2007 05 18. 〓作者简介：[HT6SS]张永民（1973 ）,男,河南延津人,副研究员,主要从事生态系统研究.[WT6HZ]E mail: [WT6BZ]zym0810@yahoo.com.cn[ZW)] [HT4F] [HT5K]（JZ)] [HT5H][GK2] 摘〓要:[HT5K]简要介绍了千年生态系统评估（MA）项目情景工作组的报告《生态系统与人类福祉：情景》的核心内容。该报告主要构建和评估了全球生态系统服务在21世纪前50年可能出现的4个情景,总的来讲,生态系统服务的主要变化包括：①在实力秩序情景中,生态系统的供给服务、调节服务、文化服务和支持服务都呈现下降趋势;②在适应组合情景中,生态系统的供给服务、调节服务和文化服务呈现上升趋势,而支持服务变化不大;③在全球协同情景中,生态系统的供给服务呈现上升趋势,而调节服务、文化服务与支持服务则呈现下降趋势;④在技术家园情景中,生态系统的文化服务呈现下降趋势,供给服务和调节服务呈现上升趋势,而支持服务变化不大;⑤在4个情景中,有些供给服务与其它服务之间存在显著的此长彼消的关系;⑥在4个情景中,有些生态系统服务的变化在工业化国家和发展中国家之间存在显著的差异。     

异龙湖流域湿地生态系统健康评价

湿地生态系统健康状况评价为湿地资源的合理开发、生态系统的维护提供了重要的借鉴。在充分了解异龙湖流域湿地资源环境的基础上,结合湖泊湿地生态系统的概念及内涵,采用PSR(压力-状态-响应)框架模型和生态系统健康指数计算方法对研究区湿地生态系统健康状况进行评价。结果表明:(1)异龙湖流域湿地生态系统健康评价综合分值(Y)为2.8494,处于[2,3]之间,属于脆弱状态;(2)从三大指标状况来看,压力指标(P)、状态指标(S)和响应指标(R)在评价等级中的得分及表现情况分别为0.7368(脆弱状态)、1.1620(亚健康状态)和0.9506(亚健康状态);(3)人口密度、人类活动强度、单位面积化肥和农药负荷、水土流失强度、湖泊水富营养化、人们的环保意识等指标是影响流域内湿地生态系统健康状况的关键因素,人为因素占主导地位。     

Trade-offs between carbon,water, soil and food in Guanzhong-Tianshui economic region from remotely sensed data

It is important to ensure the efficient supply of land ecosystem services when the competition for land is increasing. In this paper we simulated the ecosystem services function under two scenarios, including carbon sequestration, agricultural production, water and soil conservation, and analyzed the tradeoffs among these ecosystem services in Guanzhong-Tianshui region from 2000 to 2050. Then the productive efficiency of ecosystem services was assessed under two scenarios and compared their production possibility frontiers (PPFs). Through the simulation analysis of their optimum allocation, we also provide the scientific evidence to the development of ecosystem. The natural rules were revealed that if these trade-offs emphasize the potential to sequester carbon in the landscape, along with very little loss of agricultural production, much more water is used. It could be identified to adhere to combine the exploitation and utilization, remediation and protection for land to promote the effective circulation of land eco-system, and meet the society’s preferences for land ecosystem service function by adjusting the use of multiple eco-services.