Release into the environment of metals by two vascular salt marsh plants

Metals in contaminated salt marshes are mainly locked in the anaerobic layer of sediments, where they are tightly bound as sulfides and organic complexes. Vascular plants survive in saturated soils in part by pumping O2 into their root zones, changing their microenvironment to an oxic one. This, along with chelating exudates, mobilizes metals, allowing uptake by the roots. We compared the common reed Phragmites australis and cordgrass Spartina alterniflora in lab and field studies for ways in which they handle trace metals. Both plants store most of their metal burden in their roots, but some is transported to aboveground tissues. Spartina leaves contain approximately 2-3 x more Cr, Pb, and Hg than Phragmites leaves, but equivalent Cu and Zn. Furthermore, Spartina leaves have salt glands, so leaf excretion of all metals is twice that of Phragmites. In-depth studies with Hg indicate that Hg excretion correlates with Na release but not with transpiration, which is 2.2 x higher in Phragmites; and that more Hg accumulates in early-appearing leaves than in upper (i.e. later) leaves in both species. Spartina thus makes more metals available to salt marsh ecosystems than Phragmites by direct excretion and via dead leaves which will enter the food web as detritus.     

Dynamik der Schilfröhrichte am Bodensee unter dem Einfluss von Wasserstandsvariationen

On the basis of different sets of aerial photos the dynamics of the reed bed areas of Lake Constance were investigated in relation to the dynamics of the water levels. The objectives of the study were to quantify the changes of reed areas due to different flood events in the last decades and their recovery in the time periods between these events. The results should given information of the relevance of water level variations on reed bed dynamics and the regeneration times of reed beds after extreme disturbance events.Following the extreme flood at Lake Constance in 1999 the reed belts of Lake Constance lost approximately 30 ha (24%) of the lakeside reed beds. The loss is comparable to the situation in the late 1960s, when approximately 40 ha died back due to the extreme flood in 1965 and the high spring water levels in the subsequent years. In the time period between the extreme floods of 1965 and 1999, the reed areas expanded to nearly 85% of the area before 1965. The expansion rates increased with increasing distance to the flood event of 1965. Especially in periods with series of years of low spring water level the expansion rates were high.The damage degrees of the reed areas in the years 2000 and 2002 showed a clear relation to the elevation (i.e. average water level) of the stands. The damage degree increased with decreasing elevation. Furthermore the regeneration process of severely damaged stands was related to the elevation level of the stands. Whereas stands at high elevation regenerate fast, those at low elevation died off completely in the years after the extreme flood. This supports the hypothesis that the water level flutuations play a major role in the reed dynamics of Lake Constance.As a consequence of the climate change an increase in the frequency of high spring water levels is expected. Thus, it seems unlikely that reed stands will ever expand again to the same area as before 1965.     

Managed water levels and the expansion of emergent vegetation along a lakeshore

Water-level fluctuations may be used to promote the expansion of emergent vegetation along lakeshores. We present the case of the lake Volkerak-Zoommeer in the Netherlands, a fresh-water lake created in 1987 after the enclosure of an estuary. Using an experimental area in which the water level could be manipulated, it was shown that partial summer drawdown of the shoreline created suitable conditions for germination and growth of tall emergent species (in particular Phragmites australis). Plant survival and growth depended on subsequent water-level fluctuations and grazing by waterbirds. Based on the experiment and empirical data, a model was developed to predict the effects of the water-level regime on potential reed bed development. The model was applied for four hydrological scenarios that have been considered for the water-level management of the lake.     

Growth of red gurnard (Teleostei: Triglidae) from Pegasus bay,Canterbury, New Zealand

Growth of the red gurnard, Chelidonichthys kumu (Lesson and Garnot), from Pegasus Bay, Canterbury, was measured during 1966–67. Otoliths were used as an indicator of fish growth; mean length‐at‐age data were obtained from back‐calculated fish lengths at the time of formation of successive annual rings in the otoliths. Growth in length was found to be adequately expressed by the von Bertalanffy growth equation :

l_t = 52.0 [1 ‐ e‐^{0.406 (t‐o.291)}]

(where l_t is the fork length in cm at age t). The length: weight relationship was:

w = 78.56 × 10^‐4 l ^3.072

(where w is the weight in grams). From this relationship, growth in weight was described by the equation:

w_t = 1469 [1 ‐ e‐0.406 (t‐0.291)]³.     

Effect of Groundwater Level Fluctuation on Phragmites australis Evapotranspiration in the Baiyangdian Lake

Abstract:Hydrological regimes influence ecological patterns and processes as well as alter rates of wetland evapotranspiration.This study aimed to investigate the impact of groundwater fluctuation on evapotranspiration of Phragmites australis.Supported by field data obtained from the Baiyangdian Lake in northern China,the variations in groundwater levels were explored,and the changes in soil water and evapotranspiration of reed were analyzed to investigate different groundwater level scenarios using HYDRUS-1D model.The results showed that soil water content,recharged by groundwater,remained stable in the lower soil layer but varied strongly in the upper layer of the soil profile;in comparison to evaporation,Phragmites australis transpiration contributed significantly more to the overall evapotranspiration rate;the high levels of evapotranspiration could be maintained when groundwater levels vary between 1.0 m and 1.8 m,while it was reduced with an increase in groundwater levels as a result of water stress conditions.The results also indicated that the evapotranspiration of Phragmites australis could maintain higher evapotranspiration rates under natural water levels.The evapotranspiration,in other words,might be the main water consumer,but it nevertheless has little effect on water levels during water shortages.The evapotranspiration of Phragmites australis responded to the changes in groundwater levels could help researchers understand water requirements of the wetlands and establish suitable water levels for the wetlands.     

冬、春季芦苇(Phragmites australis)和狭叶香蒲(Typha angustifolia)的腐解过程及其对水质的影响

水生植物修复已经成为水体富营养化修复的重要手段,但其周期性的衰亡也给水体带来不容忽视的负效应.以府河流域丘陵地带农业区小水系自然生长的芦苇(Phragmites australis)和狭叶香蒲(Typha angustifolia)为研究对象,通过模拟实验,研究其冬季和春季腐烂分解过程的差异以及对水体营养盐水平的影响.结果表明,2种挺水植物的剩余干物质量整体上都呈现先快速下降再缓慢下降的趋势,芦苇和狭叶香蒲春季的分解速率分别为0.0251和0.0169 d~(-1),分别明显高于冬季分解速率(0.0027和0.0052 d~(-1));且腐烂分解速率与植物初始氮磷含量和氮磷比都有一定相关性.2种植物在冬季和春季磷的矿化速率都明显高于氮的矿化速率.实验水体的总氮和总磷浓度在腐解过程呈现初期迅速上升、中期迅速下降、后期缓慢下降的趋势.总体来看,芦苇和狭叶香蒲的腐烂分解受季节和初始氮磷浓度的影响较大,芦苇反应较香蒲更敏感且对水质的影响具有时效性.     

长春南湖芦苇(Phragmites australis)茎、叶植硅体随生长期和生境的变化特征

对于不同生长期、不同湿度条件下芦苇(Phragmites australis)茎、叶中多种类型植硅体含量变化的探讨,能够为植硅体形成机理研究和探讨植硅体对气候变化的响应提供理论依据.选取长春市南湖为实验样点,于5—10月在3种不同生境(旱生、季节性水生和水生生境)采集芦苇样品,并分别统计芦苇茎、叶植硅体形态和数量.实验结果显示:首先,茎、叶植硅体组合特征存在明显差异,茎中帽型及个体较大的尖型等植硅体多于叶中,而叶中硅化气孔含量明显高于茎中.其次,随着植株的生长,芦苇茎中硅化气孔含量先增加后减少,鞍型植硅体含量变化较小而帽型植硅体含量先减少后增加,棒型植硅体含量逐渐增加、尖型植硅体含量先增加后减少;芦苇叶中硅化气孔含量持续增加,鞍型、帽型等短细胞植硅体含量下降,尖型、扇型等个体较大的植硅体含量逐渐增加.最后,不同植硅体类型的含量在3种生境中的变化情况较为复杂,茎中植硅体的数量变化没有明显规律,而芦苇叶中硅化气孔含量由旱生生境向水生生境逐渐增加,可见叶中硅化气孔含量的增加可以指示相对湿润的生境条件.总之,芦苇茎、叶内不同类型植硅体的数量对植株生长及不同湿度环境有不同程度的响应,对芦苇植硅体的研究也有助于理解湿生植物植硅体与环境因子的关系,进而为探讨植硅体对古环境、古气候的响应提供理论基础.     

Long-term trends in cetacean occurrence during the annual sardine run off the Wild Coast,South Africa

During the austral winter, cetaceans and other apex predators follow the annual northeastward movement of shoaling sardines, known as the sardine run, along the southeast coast of South Africa, including a 400-km stretch called the Wild Coast. In total, 131 opportunistic aerial surveys were conducted between May and July, from 1996 to 2014, to monitor sardine movement. Cetacean-sighting data from these surveys were analysed, focusing on long-term trends in frequencies of the cetaceans. In total, 630 sightings involving five cetacean species were recorded: 268 (approximately 32 400 individuals) of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin Tursiops aduncus, 108 (approximately 79 400 individuals) of long-beaked common dolphin Delphinus capensis, 242 (approximately 670 individuals) of humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae, 1 (two individuals) of southern right whale Eubalaena australis, and 11 (16 individuals) of Bryde’s whale Balaenoptera edeni. The occurrence of common dolphins, typically associated with sardines, decreased significantly in average group size over the study period (p = 0.0343); bottlenose dolphins, considered generalist feeders, demonstrated no such trend (p = 0.916). Humpback whales were most frequently sighted between 2010 and 2014, and with significantly larger groups observed towards the end of the study period (p = 0.0121). For all these species, more sightings were made inside than outside of marine protected areas (>70% of the dolphin species, and >65% of the humpback whales), both pre- and post-2005 (from 2005 the size of the survey area increased). The results indicate that movements of the common dolphin may be employed as a proxy for sardine occurrence. Long-term trends evident in the data also demonstrate the importance of this coastal region for bottlenose dolphins as well as use as a migratory corridor for humpback whales.     

Studies on twelve common bivalve larvae,with notes on bivalve spawning seasons in New Zealand

Twelve common bivalve larvae occurring in the plankton from the Bay of Islands (35°15'S, 174°10'E), Wellington Harbour (41°16'S, 174°51'E), and off Raumati Beach (40°56'S, 174°58'E), New Zealand, during 1970–72 are described and, wherever possible, provisionally identified. The seasonal occurrences of these larvae in the plankton are also described. Information on the spawning cycles of some New Zealand adult bivalves is reviewed; although some species have a short (4 months or less) spawning season, for most it is much longer, possibly with ‘trickle’ spawning through several months of the year.     

Acoustic behaviour of southern right whales in relation to numbers of whales present in Walker Bay,South Africa

Estimating numbers of whales present in an area from recorded call rates could be a useful conservation tool. We recorded southern right whale Eubalaena australis vocalisations and presence in Walker Bay on the south coast of South Africa. In all, 45 sessions with synchronous acoustic and visual data were analysed to determine call rates directly (overall call rate, OCR) and in relation to the number of whales sighted (call rate per whale, CPW) and number of groups sighted (call rate per group, CPG). The OCRs were examined in the presence of varying numbers of whales, using a log-linear model to investigate the dependence of the call rate on whale density. The number of whales present exerted a strong quadratic effect on the OCR, which peaked at around 15 whales and decreased to a low rate as whale presence approached a maximum, for all calls combined and for four of their constituent 13 call types: a quadratic trend was present to varying degrees among the remaining call types. Both quadratic and linear trends were absent when OCR was assessed against number of groups present, possibly because group size increased with increasing density of whales. A linear regression on the CPW and CPG suggested that there was a negative inverse relationship with the number of whales and groups present respectively. These findings are important in that, while they preclude the estimation of absolute numbers from call rates, they imply that, under the conditions prevailing in Walker Bay, southern right whales were aware of the presence, arrival and departure of other animals in their vicinity and adjusted their vocal behaviour accordingly.