Quantifying suitable dynamic water levels in marsh wetlands based on hydrodynamic modelling

The water level of marsh wetlands is a dominant force controlling the wetland ecosystem function, especially for aquatic habitat. For different species, water level requirements vary in time and space, and therefore ensuring suitable water levels in different periods is crucial for the maintenance of biodiversity in marsh wetlands. Based on hydrodynamic modelling and habitat suitability assessment, we determined suitable dynamic water levels considering aquatic habitat service at different periods in marsh wetlands. The two-dimensional hydrodynamic model was used to simulate the temporal and spatial variation of water level. The habitat suitability for target species at various water levels was evaluated to obtain the fitting curves between Weighted Usable Area (WUA) and water levels. And then suitable water levels throughout the year were proposed according to the fitting curves. Using the Zhalong Wetland (located in northeastern China) as a case study, we confirmed that the proposed MIKE 21 model can successfully be used to simulate the water level process in the wetland. Suitable water levels were identified as being from 143.9–144.2 m for April to May, 144.1–144.3 m for June to September, and 144.3–144.4 m for October to November (before the freezing season). Furthermore, proposed water diversion schemes have been identified which can effectively sustain the proposed dynamic water levels. This study is expected to provide appropriate guidance for the determination of environmental flows and water management strategies in marsh wetlands.     

底拖网作业对珠江口香港海域底层鱼类的影响

【目的】研究底拖网作业对珠江口香港海域底层鱼类的影响。【方法】根据2007-2009年及2014-2016年在珠江口香港海域进行的定点底拖网调查数据,分析该海域在禁止底拖网捕捞实施前后鱼类种类组成及生物量和生态多样性指数,评估5种典型底层鱼类资源的变化。【结果与结论】该海域捕获鱼类种类数在禁止底拖网作业后明显增加,鱼类种类数量从44种升至73种。种类丰富度指数D变化范围为:2007至2009年,4.937~5.711,2014至2016年,6.559~7.074;多样性指数H'变化范围为:2007至2009年,1.945~2.841,2014至2016年,2.220~2.381;均匀度指数J变化范围为:2007至2009年,0.539~0.776,2014至2016年,0.557~0.600。卵鳎Solea ovata、韦式羊舌鮃Arnoglossus waitei、尖嘴魟Dasyatis zugei这3种底层鱼类禁止底拖网实施后在数量(number)和生物量(biomass)上都增幅明显。不同站位数量和生物量的数值在“禁拖令”实施后也都有所增加,其中以站位2(大屿山以北,较靠近香港国际机场海域)增加最为显著。     

基于遥感和InVEST模型的白龙江流域景观生物多样性时空格局研究

以甘肃白龙江流域为例,结合遥感、GIS技术和InVEST模型,从景观地理学角度选取区域生境质量、植物净初级生产力和景观状态指数为评价指标,构建区域景观尺度上生物多样性空间格局综合评估方法,并在栅格像元尺度上开展白龙江流域景观生物多样性时空变化特征分析。结果表明：白龙江流域景观生物多样性空间格局差异显著,其生物多样性高值区主要集中在自然保护区和林业管护区,低值区主要分布在舟曲-武都-文县的白龙江两岸及其以北区域、宕昌县岷江沿岸、高寒稀疏植被区和高山积雪-裸岩区。1990~2010年,流域景观生物多样性较为丰富,整体呈现不断增长的趋势,个别局部区域减弱,其增长区主要体现在生态工程实施区和林业管护区,减少区多分布在人类活动频繁的城乡农耕区和灾害多发区。     

长沙都市区生境质量对城市扩张的时空响应

生境质量是评价生态环境的重要指标,掌握其对城市扩张的时空响应规律,有助于提升都市区城乡规划质量和生态管控的合理性。本文在运用InVEST模型对长沙都市区1995-2015年生境质量时空演化的基本特征进行分析的基础上,利用缓冲区由内向外逐层剖析,探讨长沙都市区近20年来城市扩张格局及其对生境质量的影响。结果表明：①长沙都市区建设用地面积从170.26 km²增至487.19 km²;三环线以内建设用地快速扩张,从三环线起向外扩张逐渐放缓;②生境质量中等及以上的区域占比从1995年的43.49%下降到2015年的27.22%,生境质量平均值则相应地从0.46下降到0.31,且退化最明显的区域从核心外围区(5-10号缓冲区)外移到三环线附近(10-15号缓冲区);③各圈层建设用地扩张强度与生境质量变化之间存在显著的空间负相关性,生境质量变化对城市扩张响应最强烈的区域始终位于核心外围区;④建设用地空间布局零散和几何形态不规则程度的增加加剧了生境质量的退化,并在三环线附近区域(10-15号缓冲区)表现最为明显,应成为未来长沙都市区城乡规划和生态管控的重点区域。     

Use a Spatial Analysis Model to Assess Habitat Quality in Lashihai Watershed

Habitat quality assessments are of great significance for protecting biodiversity. This study analyzes the changing habitat quality of Lashihai watershed based on SPOT satellite images. We extracted the land use data for Lashihai watershed in Yunnan province for the years 2000 and 2015, and then used an InVEST model to evaluate habitat degradation, habitat quality and habitat scarcity in the study area from 2000 to 2015. Spatial statistical methods were used to determine changes to spatial dynamics. Results indicate that the number of areas with habitat degradation was generally small, and that both the number of areas with habitat degradation and the degree of degradation had fallen noticeably during the fifteen-year study period. In general, the quality of habitats was maintained or improved, while the quality of habitats decreased in only a few areas. The scarcity of habitats for cultivated land had increased, the tension between people and land use was relatively prominent. The reason habitat quality in Lashihai watershed has improved can be attributed to three factors: 1) The policy of returning farmland to forests since 2000 has been well implemented and has achieved remarkable results. Loss of forests from logging and deforestation has basically been eliminated, and great progress has been made restoring the ecological environment. 2) High background value of quality habitat suitability benefits from the research area’s high vegetation coverage. 3) The development of the local tourism economy has transformed the area’s ecological advantages into an economic bonus, greatly increasing the income level and living standards of residents. At the same time, the ecological resource bonus has increased the enthusiasm of residents for ecological protection and has helped to promote the protection of local eco-systems, both reducing ecological degradation and improving habitat quality. At the same time, increasing conflicts between land and people should be addressed. Support is needed to promote development of the ecological economy while continuously reducing ecological degradation and further increasing residents’ income. There must be less reliance on industry and less pressure on both land and people, all the while ensuring that the local economy and ecology can more forward together in a sustainable way.     

Comparisons between the reproductive biology of black bream Acanthopagrus butcheri (Teleostei: Sparidae) in four estuaries with widely differing characteristics

The reproductive biology of Acanthopagrus butcheri has been studied in the permanently open Swan River and intermittently open Moore River estuaries on the lower west coast of Australia (31--32 °S) and in the permanently open Nornalup Walpole and normally closed Wellstead estuaries on the southern coast of Western Australia (34--35 °S). Trends exhibited by gonadosomatic indices, gonadal maturity stages and the sizes and developmental stages of the oocytes demonstrate that A. butcher typically spawns in spring and early summer. However, spawning occurred in salinities ranging from as low as 3.5-8 g L^–1 in the Moore River Estuary to as high as 41-45 g L^–1 in the Wellstead Estuary. Furthermore, water temperatures during spawning were greater in the two northern estuaries (19.7--28.5 °C) than in the two southern and cooler estuaries (17.5--23.4 °C). Histological studies strongly indicate that A. butcheri spawn more than once in a breeding season and demonstrate that the development of its oocytes exhibits group synchrony sensu de Vlaming (1983). The ages and total lengths at which, on average, female and male A. butcheri both first attain maturity in the Swan River Estuary were ca 2 years and ca 215 mm. However, the age at which individual fish in that system reach maturity was influenced by body size. This suggests that the attainment of first maturity at an older age but smaller length in the Moore River and Nornalup Walpole estuaries than is the case in the Swan River Estuary is a consequence of the slower growth rates of A. butcheri in those estuaries. The combination of the young age (ca 2 years) but small length (ca 145 mm) at which maturity is first attained in the Wellstead Estuary could have resulted from selection pressures brought about by high mortality rates and/or heavy fishing pressure in this estuary. The mean fecundity of A. butcheri, based on the combined number of yolk vesicle and yolk granule oocytes found in ovaries just prior to the onset of spawning, was 1580 × 10³. The significance of the sizes at first maturity, minimum legal length for capture, mesh selectivity data and closure of certain regions of estuaries to fishing for the management of the recreational and commercial fishery for A. butcheri is discussed.     

广东二叠纪动物群的古生态

广东二叠纪地层分布广泛,尤以粤北、粤东、粤西北发育最好,也是广东的主要含煤地层。二叠纪动物群繁盛,大量的动物化石大多采自泥岩和灰岩,计有138属421种,主要包括（?）、腕足、双壳类、头足类和牙形刺等。根据动物的生态特征、分布状况以及沉积环境,广东二叠纪古生物地理区可分成连阳区和粤北-粤东-粤中区,同时依照不同的年代、不同的地区有12个动物群。这些动物群总属于浅海相和海陆交互相的古生态环境。      

中国近海浮游介形类大尺度生态研究 Ⅴ.浮游介形类群落生境地理位置的季节性变迁

综合分析黑潮、南海暖流、黄海冷水团、对马暖流、闽浙沿岸流、粤东沿岸流、季风和径流对中国近海影响的季节性差异,从而导致中国近海浮游介形类的群落生境地理位置随之进行季节性的变迁。本文选择差异甚大的夏、冬两季进行分析。     

Response of Spartina alterniflora Vegetation to Oiling and Burning of Applied Oil

A field study evaluated Spartina alterniflora sensitivity to oiling and to in situ burning of applied crude oil. Experimental plots (2.4 m × 2.4 m × 0.6 m) were constructed in the salt marsh for control, oiling (natural clean-up) and oiling/burning treatments. South Louisiana Crude was applied to oiling and oiling/burning treatment plots at 2 l m⁻² and the burn conducted. S. alterniflora responses (height, live stem density, carbon fixation and biomass) were measured for 50 weeks after the August burn. Oiling and oiling/burning had short-term detrimental effects on the salt marsh. One year after the late summer burn, S. alterniflora responses measured in the oiled and oiled/burned plots were not significantly different compared to control values. Results suggest that, under our experimental conditions, intervention may not be required for marsh recovery. However, if spill conditions require a rapid response to control contaminant spread or protect other sensitive resources, burning may be a clean-up operation to consider.