Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS) in the marine environment: prioritizing HNS that pose major risk in a European context

Increases in the maritime transportation of Hazardous and Noxious Substances (HNS), alongside the need for an effective response to HNS spills have led environmental managers and the scientific community to focus attention on HNS spill preparedness and responsiveness. In the context of the ARCOPOL project, a weight-of-evidence approach was developed aimed at prioritizing HNS that pose major environmental risks to European waters. This approach takes into consideration the occurrence probability of HNS spills in European Atlantic waters and the severity of exposure associated with their physico-chemical properties and toxicity to marine organisms. Additionally, a screening analysis of the toxicological information available for the prioritization of HNS was performed. Here we discuss the need for a prioritization methodology to select HNS that are likely to cause severe marine environmental effects as an essential step towards the establishment of a more effective preparedness and response to HNS incidents.     

Enormous PCBs increase in oysters from the coast of Guangdong, China

PCBs equivalent to Aroclor 1242 and 1254 in soft tissues of oysters Crassostrea rivularis from the Guangdong coast, China, were measured using a GC-ECD. PCB concentrations (ng g⁻¹ d.w.) ranged from 30 to 2040 with an average of 315 in 2003-2007, and 0.35-1.43 with an average of 0.56 in 1989-1991. Annual averages were 0.61, 0.65, 313, 290 and 342 ng g⁻¹, respectively in 1989, 1991, 2003, 2006 and 2007. In east Guangdong, the Pearl River Estuary, and west Guangdong, regional means were 444, 273, 194 ng g⁻¹, respectively in 2003-2007, and 0.43, 0.78, 0.38 ng g⁻¹, respectively in 1989-1991, indicating PCB levels in oysters have risen greatly by ratios of 350-1032 compared with earlier data. PCB sources may derive from older transformers, printing materials and pressworks. Fortunately, current residual PCBs in the oysters were 0.004-0.253 mg kg⁻¹ (w.w.), still below hygienic criteria of China and developed countries.     

南通近岸海域水质特征的因子及聚类分析研究

基于2012年5月、8月和10月3个航次水质环境调查资料,利用因子分析探讨南通近岸海域海水水质主要影响因素的空间分布特征;通过站位聚类分析进行了区域类别划分,并对各区的主要影响因素及其季节变化进行了分析。因子分析结果显示,南通近岸海域主要存在4种水质影响因素,总体表现为受近岸污染源的控制影响,其中F1(NO-2-N、石油类)高值区位于冷家沙西北侧,是北上长江径流与外海水在冷家沙浅滩处相遇作用的结果;F2(DO、NO-3-N)体现了外海水进入的影响,其值由近岸向离岸逐渐增大;F3(COD、PO3-4-P)显示了河流输入的影响,F4(NH+4-N)体现了人为源的作用,两者高值区均分布于栟茶运河河口和长江口北侧。站位聚类分析显示,南通近岸海域可划分为5个类型区,其中A区(小洋口港近岸区域)受陆源河口排污影响,且所处水道尾部水文动力条件弱,污染严重;B区(烂沙洋海域)受西侧相邻的河口排污区和近岸污染影响,在主要潮汐通道的强动力作用下,污染程度较轻;C区(冷家沙区域)为B、D两区之间的潮滩区,受到B、D两区域污染的综合影响;D区(冷家沙南侧近岸海域)主要受近岸污染影响,为小庙洪和网仓洪的强动力控制区;长江入海携带污染物及水流扰动对E区(东南部离岸海域)有一定干扰。不同空间类型分区体现了区域动力地貌在海洋污染物分布中的强烈影响。     

厦门大嶝岛潮间带底栖微藻叶绿素荧光对温度和光照变化的响应

采用PAM叶绿素荧光技术,于2013年5月在厦门大嶝岛潮间带,对不同底质类型（泥质、泥砂质和砂质）底栖微藻的光合作用特征进行了初步研究.结果显示：底栖微藻的光合系统II最大光量子效率（Fv/Fm）呈泥质（0.33）〉泥砂质（0.28）〉砂质（0.01）;底栖微藻叶绿素a含量亦呈上述变化趋势.不同温度（15-35℃）和不同光照透射率（0-100%）的短期（0.5-2.0 h）培养实验表明,底栖微藻光合作用的最适温度（27℃左右）接近于环境温度,体现了其对生长环境的适应;过高的温度（35℃及以上）会抑制光合作用活性,进而限制其生长;此外,光照实验表明底栖微藻可通过自身的运动和变化来适应光照强度的变化,不同底质类型可能存在不同的光适应策略.     

在闽东海域发现的石珊瑚的种类组成和分布

首次报道了闽东海域分布的3种石珊瑚,分别为造礁石珊瑚陀螺珊瑚（Turbinaria sp．）、非造礁石珊瑚猩红筒星珊瑚（Tubastrea coccinea Lesson）和1个珊瑚待定种,其中陀螺珊瑚和1个珊瑚待定种为中国新记录．珊瑚分布面积约3．24km2,主要呈零星斑块状分布在岛礁周围水深2—25m近岸岩礁区．2012年5～8月对闽东台山列岛和星仔列岛4km2范围内的55个岛礁近岸海域进行4个航次的调查表明,珊瑚的分布总体上南部的台山列岛海域分布数量多于北部的星仔列岛,海岛东部海域略多于西部．研究认为,闽东海域发现陀螺珊瑚说明其分布主要受台湾暖流的影响,揭示我国大陆沿岸造礁石珊瑚分布北缘可能扩展到台山列岛和星仔列岛．     

A POSSIBLE IMPACT OF ELNi?o MODOKI ON SEA SURFACE TEMPERATURE OF CHINA’S OFFSHORE AND ITS ADJACENT REGIONS

E1 Nino Modoki, similar to but different from canonical E1 Nino, has been observed since the late 1970s. In this paper, using HadlSST and NCEP/NCAR wind data, we analyze the relationship between E1 Nifio Modoki and Sea Surface Temperature （SST） in the offshore area of China and its adjacent waters for different seasons. Our results show a significant negative correlation between E1 Nifio Modoki in summer and SST in autumn in the offshore area of China and its adjacent waters, particularly for regions located in the east of the Kuroshio. It is also found that during E1 Nifio Modoki period, anomalous northerlies prevail over the regions from the northern part of the Philippines to the offshore area of China, indicating that the northerlies are unfavorable for the transport of warm water from the western tropical Pacific to the mid-latitude area. Consequently, E1 Nifio Modoki in summer may play a substantial role in cold SST anomalies in the offshore area of China and its adjacent waters in autumn through the influence of the Kuroshio, with a lagged response of the ocean to the atmospheric wind field.     

山东省近岸海域沉积物类型及变化趋势

文章依据山东省近岸海域表层沉积物调查资料,分析了沉积物粒度的时空变化特征及其影响因素。结果显示:2020年,山东省近岸海域表层沉积物粒径总体呈由近岸向远海逐渐变小的趋势,其中,粉砂含量最高,平均66.45%;砂次之,平均26.78%;黏土含量较低,平均6.77%。沉积物不同粒级组分具有明显的空间分布差异性,类型包含粉砂、砂质粉砂、粉砂质砂和砂,以粉砂为主,占调查站位的61.9%。2016—2020年,山东省近岸海域表层沉积物整体呈现粗化的趋势,其中,日照、青岛、潍坊和滨州近岸海域粗化趋势较为明显,东营次之,烟台和威海粗化程度最低。沉积物粒度时空特征的主要影响因素包含物源、区域水动力条件(如,渤海和黄海海流、山东省沿岸流等)及沿海海岸工程建设情况,具体的影响机制仍需进一步调查研究。本研究成果可以为山东省近岸海域底质类型变化分析和海岸带保护与利用提供参考。     

Strontium isotope identification of water mixing and recharge sources in a river system (Oder River,central Europe): A quantitative approach

This study uses Sr isotope composition (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr) and Sr content of waters of the Oder, one of the largest rivers in central Europe, to fingerprint natural and anthropogenic contributions to its Sr budget and to evaluate water mixing processes in its hydrological system. It also demonstrates a simple method of quantifying natural and anthropogenic Sr inputs in the watershed. The method has potential for environmental and archaeological research because past Sr geochemistry of river water can easily be reconstructed. For the first time, a catchment‐scale impact of anthropogenic sources on the Sr budget of a middle‐size river is shown in a quantitative way. The water of the Oder is characterized by a relatively uniform Sr isotope composition, from 0.7100 to 0.7108, contrasting with strong variations in Sr concentration, from 0.25 to 1.27 mg/L. There is a general seasonal trend in variability, with waters becoming more radiogenic and dilute with respect to the Sr in the spring time. This Sr systematics differs significantly from the Sr budgets of the majority of the Oder tributaries that exhibit more radiogenic composition and systematically lower Sr concentrations. A mixing scenario in the Oder involves Sr contribution from four principal water sources: (a) shallow ground waters with Sr derived from near‐surface weathering of silicates, (b) moderately radiogenic mine waters from the Upper Silesian Coal Basin, (c) unradiogenic mine waters from the Permian sequence of the copper district, and (d) unradiogenic ground waters from shallow‐seated Palaeogene, Neogene, and Mesozoic aquifers. The Sr budget of the Oder is primarily controlled by inputs of dissolved Sr from anthropogenic sources, which overprint the natural background, controlled by geology. Thus, about 47.5% of Sr originates from agriculture, industrial, and municipal additions, 31.5% from mine water inputs, and only 21% from natural sources, that is, rock weathering and atmospheric precipitation. Reconstruction of the past Sr chemistry of the Oder reveals that its present‐day Sr isotope composition is temporary and significantly different from that of the preindustrial times.     

Uptake and resource allocation of ammonium and nitrate in temperate seagrasses Posidonia and Amphibolis

Ecologically relevant estimates of seasonal variability in nitrogen uptake and allocation in two species of temperate seagrasses were obtained using in situ isotope-labelling approach. Significantly higher uptake rates of ammonium by leaves, roots and epiphytes of Amphibolis than Posidonia were observed. Overall, root uptake rates were lower than other components. Effect of season was not significant for leaves, roots or epiphytes of the two species. However, plankton uptake varied seasonally with higher rates in winter (0.98 mg N g⁻¹ DW h⁻¹). In contrast, nitrate uptake rates for various components were significantly affected by seasons. Uptake rates by plankton were highest ranging from 0.003 mg N g⁻¹ DW h⁻¹ (summer, Amphibolis) to 0.69 mg N g⁻¹ DW h⁻¹ (winter, Posidonia). Uptake of nitrate by roots was negligible. Biotic uptake rates for nitrate were an order of magnitude slower than ammonium, demonstrating an affinity for ammonium over nitrate as a preferred inorganic nitrogen source. Adelaide coastal waters have lost over 5000 ha of seagrasses, much of this attributed to nutrient inputs from wastewater, industrial and stormwater. Managing these inputs into future requires better understanding of the fate of nutrients, particularly biological uptake. This study attempts to quantify uptake rates of nitrogen by seagrasses.     

Planktonic rotifers in mining lakes in the Silesian Upland: Relationship to environmental parameters

The effects of coal-mine waters on the structure and the density of planktonic rotifer communities were studied in lakes formed as a result of subsidence due to mining (collapse of underground tunnels). Water samples were collected according to the standard methods from four mining lakes in Tychy-Czu?ów (near Katowice, southern Poland), twice a month from June till October in 2004-2006. Two of the studied lakes were fed by mine waters but differed in flow rate, conductivity, water pH, and the amount of aquatic vegetation. The effects of those factors on the planktonic rotifer communities were analysed. In total, 83 species and forms of rotifers were recorded. The highest diversity of rotifers was found in the lakes with the largest patches of aquatic vegetation, while the highest density of rotifers was observed in the smallest and the most eutrophicated lake. High-water conductivity limited both species diversity and densities of rotifers. The rotifer communities of the studied lakes differed significantly in species diversity, although all the lakes were dominated by eurytopic species: Keratella cochlearis, Brachionus angularis, Brachionus calyciflorus, and Polyarthra sp. In the largest lake, characterized by the lowest conductivity and pH, the superdominant was Polyarthra luminosa, which in the other lakes was rare or absent. Higher conductivity was correlated with a lower density of P. luminosa, Brachionus diversicornis, K. cochlearis f. tecta, and a higher density of B. calyciflorus. In the lakes with the largest patches of aquatic vegetation, conductivity affected the number of dominant rotifer species. Apparently no other abiotic factors (pH, phosphates, and nitrates) affected the rotifer communities.