How EU policies could reduce nutrient pollution in European inland and coastal waters

Intensive agriculture and densely populated areas represent major sources of nutrient pollution for European inland and coastal waters, altering the aquatic ecosystems and affecting their capacity to provide ecosystem services and support economic activities. Ambitious water policies are in place in the European Union (EU) for protecting and restoring aquatic ecosystems under the Water Framework Directive and the Marine Strategy Framework Directive. This research quantified the current pressures of point and diffuse nitrogen and phosphorus emissions to European fresh and coastal waters (2005–2012), and analysed the effects of three policy scenarios of nutrient reduction: 1) the application of measures currently planned in the Rural Development Programmes and under the Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive (UWWTD); 2) the full implementation of the UWWTD and the absence of derogations in the Nitrates Directive; 3) high reduction of nutrient, using best technologies in wastewaters treatment and optimal fertilisation in agriculture. The results of the study show that for the period 2005–2012, the nitrogen load to European seas was 3.3–4.1 TgN/y and the phosphorus load was 0.26–0.30 TgP/y. Policy measures supporting technological improvements (third scenario) could decrease the nutrient export to the seas up to 14% for nitrogen and 20% for phosphorus, improving the ecological status of rivers and lakes, but widening the nutrient imbalance in coastal ecosystems (i.e. increasing nitrogen availability with respect to phosphorus), affecting eutrophication. Further nutrient reductions could be possible by a combination of measures especially in the agricultural sector. However, without tackling current agricultural production and consumption system, the reduction might not be sufficient for achieving the goals of EU water policy in some regions. The study analysed the expected changes and the source contribution in different European regional seas, and highlights the advantages of addressing the land-sea dynamics, checking the coherence of measures taken under different policies.     

生态因子对萱藻(Scytosiphon lomentaria)孢子体生长发育的影响

采用实验生态学方法,研究了温度、光照、营养盐(N、P)对萱藻孢子体生长发育的影响.结果表明,在5-23℃范围内,温度越高,越有利于萱藻孢子体的生长.9-17℃是比较利于孢子囊产生的温度范围,其中13 ℃,L:D=10:14,20μmol/(m<'2>·s)条件下最有利于孢子囊的形成与孢子的放散.光强6-30μmol/(...     

Bloom of Hemidiscus hardmannianus (Bacillariophyceae) and Its Impact on Water Quality and Plankton Community Structure in a Mangrove Wetland

An intense monospecies bloom of the centric diatom Hemidiscus hardmannianus (Greville) Mann. (Bacillariophyceae) occurred in the coastal waters of Sundarban mangrove wetland, India on 22 July, 2010. The species was abruptly flourished (mean density 8.86 × 10⁶ cells/L) resulting intense green coloration of water. The greatest impoverishment of diversity and density of phytoplankton, micro‐ and mesozooplankton community was observed during the bloom. The phytoplankton community showed an extreme reduction in diversity (12 species to one) and sharp decrease in standing stock (12.84 × 10³ to 8.86 × 10⁶ cells/L) during this period. The late bloom condition coincided with sudden and huge arrival of a clupoid fish Hilsa ilisha which forms the most potential fisheries in Sundarban deltaic region. An attempt has been made to correlate the satellite remote sensing‐derived information to the bloom conditions. The MODIS‐Aqua derived chlorophyll and TMI satellite derived sea surface temperature and wind speed maps have been interpreted.     

Impact of episodic herbivory by the tamarisk leaf beetle on leaf litter nitrogen and stem starch content: A short communication

Tamarisk (Tamarix spp.) has in recent decades come to dominate riparian corridors throughout much of the western U.S. The implementation of biological control, utilizing the tamarisk leaf beetle (Diorhabda spp., particularly Diorhabda carinulata), has focused attention and research on this method for Tamarix suppression. Researchers are just beginning to understand how herbivory by Diorhabda affects Tamarix physiology and nutritional dynamics. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether herbivory by D. carinulata altered leaf litter nitrogen and stem starch content, and if so, how such alteration varied across a gradient of herbivory chronosequence. Leaf litter and stem analysis showed significantly higher levels of both nitrogen and stem starch content in trees that had experienced herbivory by the leaf beetle. However, there were no significant differences in nitrogen or stem starch content based on years of beetle herbivory. Higher levels of nitrogen in leaf litter from beetle-affected trees may be a result of herbivory-induced desiccation and foliar mortality prior to the translocation of nitrogen back into plant reserves. Additionally, higher stem starch may be a result of either phloem damage reducing the translocation of photoassimilates, or an increase in the shunting of carbohydrates to the site of new leaf growth. Finally, the lack of correlation between years of herbivory and both leaf litter nitrogen and stem starch may indicate that as of yet there have not been sufficient defoliation events to yield anticipated host plant impact.     

九龙江河口区营养盐分布特征及其影响因素分析

根据2009、2010年"丰水期"和"枯水期"四航次九龙江河口混合区的调查资料,且结合历史资料对营养盐含量及分布特征、周日变化特征进行了统计和相关分析,研究了九龙江流域营养盐输入海洋的变化过程,探讨九龙江河口营养盐伴随潮汐变化,以及河口混合过程中的生物地球化学行为。调查期间溶解无机氮、硅和磷含量的平面分布呈现出由径流冲淡水高值向河口外海端递减的变化趋势;在涨潮时,河口区感潮段高溶解无机氮、硅、磷营养盐的陆源冲淡水与低溶解无机氮、硅、磷营养盐外海水相遇,随着外海水的侵入,外海水的作用逐渐加强,在稀释混合过程中呈现出无机营养盐逐步降低的变化趋势,退潮时则相反;营养盐在这复杂的河口过程中往往表现出在水动力的作用下稀释混合是主要过程,无机氮和活性硅酸盐在河口稀释混合过程中呈现保守性特征,活性磷酸盐在河口转移(补充)过程的行为复杂化,呈现缓冲作用为主。     

Estuarine macrofauna responses to continuous in situ nutrient addition on a tropical mudflat

A field experiment to assess the effects of continuous nutrient addition on the macrobenthic community was carried out on an estuarine mudflat on the northeast coast of Brazil. The experiment began on 5 October 2005 and ended on 8 February 2006. Macrofauna was compared at approximately four-week intervals in triplicate plots with three levels (Control – C, Low Dose – LD and High Dose – HD) of weekly fertilizer additions for 17 weeks. Inorganic fertilizer (N–P–K) was applied on nine randomly defined quadrangular plots (4 m² each). All measurements were calculated from species abundances. Multivariate analyses as well as the univariate indices (richness, abundance and Shannon–Wiener index) showed statistically significant differences between the enriched and control areas during the period of the experiment. The expected gradual response based on the succession model of Pearson and Rosenberg was not observed. The nutrient doses used were high enough to cause severe decreases in abundance, richness and evenness, and an increase in dominance.     

基于muddy-LOICZ模型的小清河河口及下游河段营养盐通量估算

基于2013年7月、9月小清河口及9月小清河下游河道分段营养盐数据,采用LOICZ及改进的muddy LOICZ生物地球化学收支模型,分析了小清河口及下游河道分区域的水体存留时间和营养盐收支。结果表明,小清河口夏、秋季水体存留时间分别为0.67 d和3.09 d,夏、秋季DIP平均收支分别为–2.96×103、–1.72×103 mol/d,夏、秋季DIN平均收支分别为–1.55×106、–0.77×106 mol/d。进一步分析表明,河口生产力旺盛,存在净生产过程,成为氮磷的汇,且磷汇通量要远远小于氮汇,存在强烈的反硝化反应的脱氮过程,说明该河口的低氧问题需得到进一步重视。不同的河道区域其生产力水平、呼吸作用、光合作用和硝化作用等强度等均有所不同,且在羊口镇附近有大量支流和生活排污进入,小清河下游流域的综合治理不能单一全篇而论,而应该针对不同的河道区域特点进行分别治理。需要注意的是,LOICZ模型为箱式模型,忽略物理过程的作用以及更详细的生物地球化学过程。     

Macroalgal bioindicators (growth, tissue N, delta(15)N) detect nutrient enrichment from shrimp farm effluent entering Opunohu Bay, Moorea, French Polynesia

Nutrient enrichment from shrimp aquaculture poses an increasing environmental threat due to the industry's projected rapid growth and unsustainable management practices. Traditional methods to monitor impacts emphasize water quality sampling; however, there are many advantages to bioindicators, especially in developing countries. We investigated the usefulness of three bioindicators -- growth, tissue nitrogen content and nitrogen stable isotope signature (delta(15)N) -- in the tropical red macroalga Acanthophora spicifera. Algae were collected, cultured, and deployed in a spatial array around the outflow from a shrimp farm in Moorea, French Polynesia, to detect nitrogenous wastes. All three parameters were highest adjacent to the shrimp farm indicating nutrient enrichment, and delta(15)N values confirmed the shrimp farm as the dominant nutrient source (5.63-5.96 per thousand). Isotope ratios proved the most sensitive indicator, as delta(15)N signatures were detected at the most distant sites tested, confirming their usefulness in tracing nutrients and mapping the spatial extent of enrichment.