Macrofaunal density and biomass in the Campeche Canyon, Southwestern Gulf of Mexico

The composition, density and community structure of the benthic macrofauna were investigated in sediments of the Campeche Canyon in the SW Gulf of Mexico. Total macrofaunal density ranged from 9466±2736 ind m⁻² at the continental shelf station to 1550±195 ind m⁻² in the canyon. Density values significantly diminished with distance from the coast and depth; only a few stations in the center of the canyon displayed larger density values (E-37 with 4666±1530 ind m⁻², E-36 with 5791±642 ind m⁻² and E-26 with 6925±2258 ind m⁻²). Densities were positively correlated to organic nitrogen in the sediment (r=0.82) and coarse silt (r=0.43), and negatively with depth (r=−0.74) and distance from the coast (r=−0.68). At all stations, the polychaete worms contributed most to the multi-species community structure. The nematodes and Foraminifera displayed their highest densities in the center of the canyon. The biomass values declined significantly with depth. We conclude that the macrofauna density and biomass changed in response to organic matter contents in the sediment, both with distance from the coast and with depth.     

Methylmercury production in sediments of Chesapeake Bay and the mid-Atlantic continental margin

Methylmercury (MeHg) concentration and production rates were studied in bottom sediments along the mainstem of Chesapeake Bay and on the adjoining continental shelf and slope. Our objectives were to 1) observe spatial and temporal changes in total mercury (HgT) and MeHg concentrations in the mid-Atlantic coastal region, 2) investigate biogeochemical factors that affect MeHg production, and 3) examine the potential of these sediments as sources of MeHg to coastal and open waters. Estuarine, shelf and slope sediments contained on average 0.5 to 1.5% Hg as MeHg (% MeHg), which increased significantly with salinity across our study site, with weak seasonal trends. Methylation rate constants (k_meth), estimated using enriched stable mercury isotope spikes to intact cores, showed a similar, but weaker, salinity trend, but strong seasonality, and was highly correlated with % MeHg. Together, these patterns suggest that some fraction of MeHg is preserved thru seasons, as found by others [Orihel, D.M., Paterson, M.J., Blanchfield, P.J., Bodaly, R.A., Gilmour, C.C., Hintelmann, H., 2008. Temporal changes in the distribution, methylation, and bioaccumulation of newly deposited mercury in an aquatic ecosystem. Environmental Pollution 154, 77] Similar to other ecosystems, methylation was most favored in sediment depth horizons where sulfate was available, but sulfide concentrations were low (between 0.1 and 10 μM). MeHg production was maximal at the sediment surface in the organic sediments of the upper and mid Bay where oxygen penetration was small, but was found at increasingly deeper depths, and across a wider vertical range, as salinity increased, where oxygen penetration was deeper. Vertical trends in MeHg production mirrored the deeper, vertically expanded redox boundary layers in these offshore sediments. The organic content of the sediments had a strong impact on the sediment:water partitioning of Hg, and therefore, on methylation rates. However, the HgT distribution coefficient (K_D) normalized to organic matter varied by more than an order of magnitude across the study area, suggesting an important role of organic matter quality in Hg sequestration. We hypothesize that the lower sulfur content organic matter of shelf and slope sediments has a lower binding capacity for Hg resulting in higher MeHg production, relative to sediments in the estuary. Substantially higher MeHg concentrations in pore water relative to the water column indicate all sites are sources of MeHg to the water column throughout the seasons studied. Calculated diffusional fluxes for MeHg averaged  1 pmol m^− 2 day^− 1. It is likely that the total MeHg flux in sediments of the lower Bay and continental margin are significantly higher than their estimated diffusive fluxes due to enhanced MeHg mobilization by biological and/or physical processes. Our flux estimates across the full salinity gradient of Chesapeake Bay and its adjacent slope and shelf strongly suggest that the flux from coastal sediments is of the same order as other sources and contributes substantially to the coastal MeHg budget.     

Trace element and molecular markers of organic carbon dynamics along a shelf–basin continuum in sediments of the western Arctic Ocean

Molecular organic biomarkers together with trace element composition were investigated in sediments east of Barrow Canyon in the western Arctic Ocean to determine sources and recycling of organic carbon in a continuum from the shelf to the basin. Algal biomarkers (polyunsaturated and short-chain saturated fatty acids, 24-methylcholesta-5,24(28)-dien-3β-ol, dinosterol) highlight the substantial contribution of organic matter from water column and sea-ice primary productivity in shelf environments, while redox markers such as acid volatile sulfide (AVS), Mn, and Re indicate intense metabolism of this material leading to sediment anoxia. Shelf sediments also receive considerable inputs from terrestrial organic carbon, with biomarker composition suggesting the presence of multiple pools of terrestrial organic matter segregated by age/lability or hydrodynamic sorting. Sedimentary metabolism was not as intense in slope sediments as on the shelf; however, sufficient labile organic matter is present to create suboxic and anoxic conditions, at least intermittently, as organic matter is focused towards the slope. Basin sediments also showed evidence for episodic delivery of labile organic carbon inputs despite the strong physical controls of water depth and sea-ice cover. Principal components analysis of the lipid biomarker data was used to estimate fractions of preserved recalcitrant (of terrestrial origin) and labile (of marine origin) organic matter in the sediments, with ranges of 12–79%, 14–45%, and 37–66% found for the shelf, slope, and basin cores, respectively. On average, the relative preserved terrestrial organic matter in basin sediments was 56%, suggesting exchange of organic carbon between nearshore and basin environments in the western Arctic.     

MedFlux: Investigations of particle flux in the Twilight Zone

The MedFlux project was devised to determine and model relationships between organic matter and mineral ballasts of sinking particulate matter in the ocean. Specifically we investigated the ballast ratio hypothesis, tested various commonly used sampling and modeling techniques, and developed new technologies that would allow better characterization of particle biogeochemistry. Here we describe the rationale for the project, the biogeochemical provenance of the DYFAMED site, the international support structure, and highlights from the papers published here. Additional MedFlux papers can be accessed at the MedFlux web site (http://msrc.sunysb.edu/MedFlux/).     

臭氧及臭氧类高级氧化技术降解甲基对硫磷的效能

文章研究了臭氧及臭氧类高级氧化技术(AOPs-O3)在不同pH条件下降解甲基对硫磷(MP)的效能。结果表明,在pH 3~10的条件下(反应过程控制pH),单独臭氧化5min即可完全降解MP,但不同pH下化学耗氧量(COD)和有机磷的释放率差异明显。在pH为3.3,7.5和9.4的条件下单独臭氧30min后COD的去除率分别为55.17%,89.64%和93.10%,有机磷的释放率分别为16.33%,95.00%和99.99%。考虑酸性条件下可以规避碳酸盐的负面影响(特别是高浓度废水),利用O3/H2O2/Ti(IV)在pH 3.3条件下处理MP溶液,COD去除率和有机磷释放率分别达到89.64%和81.57%。相对法计算求得MP与O3和羟基自由基(·OH)的速率常数分别为31.98L·(mol·s)-1和7.488×109 L·(mol·s)-1。活性污泥法的测试结果表明,MP经O3/Ti(IV)/H2O2(pH=3.3)和O3(pH=9.4)可提升含MP废水的可生化性,但与培养液体系相比仍具有一定的毒性。     

世界水产品绿色养殖比较研究及对中国启示

当前全球渔业捕捞量已接近顶峰局势,水产养殖发展面临巨大环境压力,水产品绿色养殖能满足消费者对优质蛋白需求的同时,还能有效缓解生态问题,保证食品质量安全。水产品养殖绿色发展已成为世界各国的共识,渔业发达国家在一定程度上已形成较完善的绿色水产养殖体系。文章基于全球水产业发展现状和趋势,通过研究欧盟、美国和日本水产品绿色养殖的相关经验,最后结合中国水产养殖业发展现状,提出在建立严格认证标准的基础上,国内政府应加强对“绿色水产品”消费的正确引导;借鉴别国对渔业可持续发展的政策和管理制度;注重关键科学技术的研发,做到产学结合;保障资金的有效投入等相关政策建议。     

渤海海洋线虫与底栖桡足类数量之比的应用研究

在渤海的22个站位，分3个航次采集未受扰动的沉积物样品，进行了小型底栖动物中两个主要类群自由生活海洋线虫和底栖桡足类数量变动和两者数量之比评价沉积物有机污染环境的研究。结果表明：对于同一航次的不同重复，数量变动差异显著或极显著；在同一个站位24h，6次重复取样，两者数量的变异系数较大；在应用该比值进行沉积物有机污染评价时，在同一站位该比值波动较大。     

太湖水体光学衰减系数的特征及参数化

利用2001-2002年周年太湖全湖不同湖区湖泊光学及表层水样的实测资料,分析了太湖水体表层光学衰减系数与透明度、无机和有机颗粒物质及叶绿素a的相关关系,建立了表层水光学衰减系数与无机、有机颗粒物质及叶绿素a多元线性回归方程。结果表明,光学衰减系数与透明度的关系为：Kdg0.096 1.852/ST;表层水光学衰减系数与无机、有机颗粒物质及叶绿素a多元线性回归方程为：Kd=0.219 0.0768Ciss 0.214Cdet 0.006Cchl;光学衰减系数变化的主要影响因子是无机及有机颗粒物。     

考洲洋海域水质季节变化及评价方法初步研究

文章于2018年1月（冬季）、4月（春季）、7月（夏季）、10月（秋季）对我国考洲洋海域海水中的溶解氧（DO）、化学需氧量（COD）、无机氮（DIN）、活性磷酸盐（DIP）4个主要海水水质因子进行了综合调查。结果表明,4个水质因子DIP、DIN、COD、DO的平均浓度由高到低的季节变化分别为：冬季（0.058 mg/L）、春季（0.046 mg/L）、夏季（0.009 mg/L）、秋季（0.006 mg/L）;冬季（0.465 mg/L）、春季（0.171 mg/L）、夏季（0.064 mg/L）、秋季（0.040 mg/L）;夏季（1.57 mg/L）、冬季（1.26 mg/L）、秋季（1.22 mg/L）、春季（0.89 mg/L）;冬季（11.70 mg/L）、夏季（7.41 mg/L）、秋季（7.36 mg/L）、春季（7.18 mg/L）。评价结果显示,春季和冬季主要超标因子为DIP和DIN,夏季超标因子为DIP,秋季水质因子均满足要求。同时,本研究利用单因子标准指数法、富营养化指数法和有机污染评价指数法对考洲洋地区水质状况进行评价并对其进行初步比较和分析,结果表明,3种方法在季节性变化上的评价结果基本一致（由高到低均为:冬季、春季、夏季、秋季）,然而,同一季节不同评价方法的超标站位比例不同（单因子指数法:冬季占100%,春季占80%,夏季占10%,秋季则无;富营养化指数法:冬季占90%,春季占70%,夏季和秋季均为无;有机污染指数评价法:冬季和春季均占80%,夏季和秋季均为无）,比较分析表明,3种评价方法具有不同的评价作用和适用性。     

Towards developing sediment quality assessment guidelines for aquatic systems: An Australian perspective

Sediment at the sediment‐water interface of natural and man‐made waterways forms an integral part of the ecosystem because it is affected by a continuous flux of physical, chemical and biological components between the sediment, interstitial water and the overlying water column. Aquatic sediments contain records of past and present urban and rural runoff, chemical discharges and spills. In recent years sediment quality has received increasing attention following identification of the role of sediment as both a sink for pollutants and as a contaminant source with potential impacts on the quality of receiving waters. Research has indicated that the processes leading to remobilization of contaminated sediments in upstream reaches of a waterway may, through time, exert a significant influence on water quality in the downstream reaches. This, together with the cumulative effects due to contaminant input from point and non‐point source discharges, have dramatic effects on water quality and thus on ecosystem structure and functioning.

The problems associated with elevated concentrations of many hazardous organic and inorganic compounds have resulted in the establishment of aquatic sediment quality criteria and management guidelines in many overseas countries, with the objectives being the reduction and elimination of adverse environmental effects and human health risks associated with contaminated sediments. Whereas more than 70% of the Australian population is clustered around the coastal waterways, little is known about the role of sediments as a repository of environmental pollutants and/or as a source of adverse impacts on water quality and the health of our rivers. The paucity of knowledge on the quality of aquatic sediment highlights the need for the development of coherent guidelines for sediment quality assessment and management of contaminated sites, which are consistent with Australian environmental conditions and land use features.

A comparative evaluation of sediment quality information from eight coastal rivers along the east coast of Australia, presented in this paper, indicates the possibility for establishing a framework for regional sediment quality assessment. This may be achievable by using textural and compositional attributes of bottom sediments in depositional areas to develop databases on the loading and concentration trends of nutrients and contaminants. Regional variability in sediment quality determinants are shown to reflect the influence of catchment hydrology, lithology and land use on nutrient and contaminant concentration trends. Locally, the loading and partitioning behaviour of sediment‐bound contaminants is largely controlled by the nature and the extent of interactions occurring at the sediment‐water interface within individual depositional units.

The concept of ‘Sediment Effect Zone’ is introduced to provide a compartmental approach to the characterization of aquatic sediments and depositional environments in different hydrologic zones. This approach offers a rational basis for follow‐up chemical and biological assessments to establish sediment quality standards and management guidelines. Because of the complex influences of environmental, methodological and statistical factors on defining the sediment variability, the need for implementing proper quality control measures from early stages of design of a sediment quality assessment program is highlighted.