Zooplankton of Lake Taupo

Seasonal changes in species composition and abundance of zooplankton in Lake Taupo were measured at three sites each month from August 1974 to January 1976. The normalised data showed no differences in abundance between sites. Crustaceans comprised 50.3% and rotifers 49.7% of the zooplankton. Boeckella propinqua was the most prominent crustacean especially in spring and early summer, whereas the rotifers, dominated by Polyarthra vulgaris and Conochilus coenobasis, appeared in late summer, autumn, and winter.     

A fast indicator for detecting gross pollution by hazardous chemicals

Median survival, 10% mortality, and 10% turnover times of rainbow trout, Salmo gairdneri Richardson, were compared in solutions containing copper or cyanide ions. For all concentrations of poisons (0.5, 1.0, and 2.0 g.nr³ of copper as Cu²⁺ and 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, and 5.0 g.m³ of cyanide, as KCN), the times for turnover were the least. These were short enough (4.5–96 min) to be of use in monitoring waters which are being abstracted by water treatment plants; the method may be generally applicable for detection of gross forms of pollution by hazardous chemicals.     

On the occurrence of fossil microspores,pollen grains,and microplankton in bottom sediments of the Ross Sea,Antarctica

Palynomorphs from off‐shore glacial sediments provide information on the nature and age of strata buried beneath the Antarctic ice. Four mud samples, collected between 530 and 1,300 m, from widely separated areas of the Ross Sea floor contain palynomorphs of Lower Tertiary and Permo‐Triassic ages. The Lower Tertiary species, which include both marine and non‐marine taxa, can be correlated directly with similar forms occurring in Tertiary erratics in moraines in the McMurdo Sound region. This could indicate a widespread occurrence of Tertiary rocks beneath the Ross Sea, Ross Ice Shelf, and adjacent ice‐covered areas. The Permo‐Triassic species show considerable variation in degree of carbonisation. They do not include marine forms and have probably been derived, either directly or indirectly, from various horizons and facies of the Beacon Group.     

Mass stranding of molluscs at Te Waewae bay,southland, New Zealand (note)

A stranding of shellfish on the beach at Te Waewae Bay, Southland, occurred during a period of very cold, stormy weather in September 1970. More than 20 million shellfish were stranded, the majority being Mactra discors Gray. It is suggested that the cause was a combination of Strong inshore winds and low air temperatures, coupled with an increased flow of fresh, cold water across the beach.     

Changes in the faunal composition of two thermal streams near Taupo,New Zealand

The distributions of macroinverte‐brates in two thermal streams near Taupo were examined and compared with observations made in 1966. The cooling of the streams associated with abstraction has altered the species composition. Odonata and Trichoptera were recorded for the first time in the lower reaches of the Waipahihi Stream whereas Ephydridae and Hydrophilidae were restricted to the upper reaches at temperatures above 33.5°C. Molluscs dominated the fauna at sites with temperatures below 33.5°C in the Waipahihi and Waipuwerawera Streams. Potamopyrgus anti‐podarum was present at sites with temperatures below 28°C.     

Factors controlling litter input dynamics in streams draining pasture,pine, and native forest catchments

The effects of varying land use on the inputs of litter to streams were investigated in nine small Waikato, New Zealand, hill country streams between June 1995 and October 1997. Mass, timing, and composition of both vertical and lateral litter inputs were measured. Litter inputs to pasture streams were lower than those to streams in native or exotic pine forest. Litter inputs to native forest streams peaked in summer, with leaf material forming the dominant litter‐type throughout the year. The pine forest sites showed a winter minimum, with a pulse of reproductive litter (pollen heads) in spring. One pasture site, where riparian vegetation included willow and poplar showed an autumnal peak, with low inputs at other times of the year. Climate variables (air temperature, rainfall, and windrun) varied in their power of prediction of litter inputs. Mean air temperature showed a strong positive relationship with monthly litter input at the most intensively sampled native forest site. Annual litter inputs were positively related to canopy cover, although canopy‐type modified this relationship. At several sites lateral inputs of litter showed a positive relationship with the slope of the contributing area. Overall, lateral inputs were positively related to % unvegetated groundcover. In open pastures the combination of a lack of riparian trees, and the potential litter‐trapping capacity of pasture grasses, severely limits inputs of coarse particulate organic matter to streams.     

Impact of land use on the faecal microbial quality of hill‐country streams

Faecal contamination of rural streams is of increasing concern in New Zealand. This study assessed hill‐country streams in the Whatawhata district that were impacted by pastoral farming, indigenous forest, or Pinus radiata forest; by measuring Escherichia coli bacteria at 14 sampling sites fortnightly for 2 years. E. coli concentrations were highest in streams flowing through grazed pasture. In both years there was a noticeable seasonal pattern in all streams irrespective of land use, with highest bacterial concentrations in summer and autumn and lowest in winter and early spring. There was no obvious correlation between E. coli concentration and rainfall or stream flow. In those streams impacted by a change in land use from pastoral to pines during the study, E. coli concentration fell rapidly and remained at levels lower than those in streams impacted by either indigenous or 7‐year pine forests. As E. coli was detected in all but two samples, the water in these streams is not suitable for human consumption. The pastoral streams consistently failed to meet stock drinking‐water guidelines (median concentration not greater than 100 E. coli 100 ml^–1) and the forest streams failed to do so in summer. Twenty‐eight percent of pastoral samples, 25% of indigenous forest samples, 14% of 7‐year pine forest samples, and 5% in New Pines stream samples (after planting) had E. coli concentrations associated with a high level of risk for contact recreation (>500 E. coli 100 ml^‐1) and the high concentrations usually occurred in summer.     

新西兰陶波酸性火山岩Sr－O同位素体系

新西兰陶波酸性火山岩Ｓｒ－Ｏ同位素体系胡瑞忠Ｐ．ＢｌａｔｔｎｅｒＩ．Ｊ．Ｇｒａｈａｍ（中国科学院地球化学研究所，贵阳５５０００２）（新西兰地质与核科学研究所下哈特）关键词陶波酸性火山岩，Ｓｒ－Ｏ同位素体系，岩石成因新西兰北岛呈ＮＥ向分布的陶波（Ｔａｕ...     

Impact of wastewater discharge on the channel morphology of ephemeral streams

The impact of wastewater flow on the channel bed morphology was evaluated in four ephemeral streams in Israel and the Palestinian Territories: Nahal Og, Nahal Kidron, Nahal Qeult and Nahal Hebron. Channel changes before, during and after the halting of wastewater flow were monitored. The wastewater flow causes a shift from a dry ephemeral channel with intermittent floods to a continuous flow pattern similar to that of humid areas. Within a few months, nutrient‐rich wastewater flow leads to rapid development of vegetation along channel and bars. The colonization of part of the active channel by vegetation increases flow resistance as well as bank and bed stability, and limits sediment availability from bars and other sediment stores along the channels. In some cases the established vegetation covers the entire channel width and halts the transport of bed material along the channel. During low and medium size flood events, bars remain stable and the vegetation intact. Extreme events destroy the vegetation and activate the bars. The wastewater flow results in the development of new small bars, which are usually destroyed by flood flows. Due to the vegetation establishment, the active channel width decreases by up to 700 per cent. The deposition of fine sediment and organic material changed the sediment texture within the stable bar surface and the whole bed surface texture in Nahal Hebron. The recovery of Nahal Og after the halting of the wastewater flow was relatively fast; within two flood seasons the channel almost returned to pre‐wastewater characteristics. The results of the study could be used to indicate what would happen if wastewater flows were introduced along natural desert streams. Also, the results could be used to predict the consequences of vegetation removal as a result of human intervention within the active channel of humid streams. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Secondary flow in anabranch confluences of a braided,gravel-bed stream

Measurements of the primary and secondary velocity components were máde in two, active, braided river anabranch confluences with a simple Y-shaped plan form, in the gravelly Sunwapta River (D₅₀ of approximately 30 mm). Flow velocity was measured at regularly-spaced intervals using a bidirectional electromagnetic current meter and the measured downstream and cross-stream velocities were converted to primary and secondary velocities to yield the secondary circulation. The primary (downstream) velocity field shows two high velocity streams from the two tributaries which merge (and, in some cases, accelerate) into a single high velocity core over the thalweg. Primary flow velocity declines as the flow expands and diverges at the downstream end of the confluence. The secondary circulation is dominated by two helical cells, back-to-back, plunging over the thalweg and diverging at the bed. This is the first confirmation of this flow structure in confluences, based on field measurements. The strength of the secondary cells declines downstream through each confluence, and laterally away from the thalweg area in cross-section. There is also a tendency for one cell, from the larger of the tributaries, to override the other. The secondary and primary flow structure and strength differs slightly between the two confluences and this is reflected in differences in scour hole form.