In situ experimental decomposition studies in estuaries: A comparison of Phragmites australis and Fucus vesiculosus

The decomposition rates of Phragmites australis and Fucus vesiculosus were experimentally determined in an estuarine system using the leaf-bag technique. The study was conducted in fifteen sites arranged in five areas, extending from freshwater, outside the tidal range, to the marine environment, near the mouth of the estuary. The leaf-bags (5 mm mesh), were set up with 3.0 g of dried substrate, submerged in the experimental sites at day 0 and collected at days 3, 7, 15, 30 and 60, to follow biomass loss. The biomass loss through the leaching phase (day 3) was about 16% for Phragmites australis and 33% for Fucus vesiculosus and was independent of salinity for both substrates. The difference in the remaining biomass between the two species increased with time and the decomposition rates differed along the salinity gradient. For F. vesiculosus, the decomposition rate was highest near the mouth of the estuary, corresponding to the preferential distribution area of the algae, and decreased towards freshwater. For Phragmites australis, the fastest decay was observed in the mid estuary, where Phragmites australis occurs naturally, confirming previous studies. The decomposition rates measured at different time intervals (0–15, 0–30 and 0–60 days) were always higher for the algae and decreased with time for both species. These results indicate that the use of decomposition rates as a measure of ecosystem integrity or quality status in transitional waters will not be straightforward and must take into account, among others, the test species, the study area positioning along the estuarine gradient, and the time interval for the calculation of the decomposition rate.     

Nitrogen Removal in Vegetated and Unvegetated Drainage Ditches Impacted by Diffuse and Point Sources of Pollution

Secondary drainage canals have the potential to effectively mitigate excess nitrogen loads from diffuse and point sources. In vegetated (Phragmites australis and Typha latifolia) and in unvegetated canals subjected to diffuse and point pollution, nitrogen removal was evaluated by means of simple in–out mass balance and potential uptake by macrophytes was estimated from biomass data. Results suggest an elevated control of nitrogen in vegetated ditches receiving point source of pollution (average abatement of 50% of the total N load per linear km), whereas removal processes are much less effective in unvegetated ditches. The comparison between net abatement and plant uptake, highlights the presence of other unaccounted for processes responsible for a relevant percentage of total N removal. Overall, results from this study suggest the importance of actions aiming at the appropriate management of emergent vegetation, in order to improve its direct and indirect metabolic functions and maximize nitrogen removal in impacted watersheds.     

Nyctiphanes australis (Euphausiacea) and an upwelling plume in western Cook Strait,New Zealand

Quantitative data are presented on the distribution of adult and larval stages of the euphausiid Nyctiphanes australis G. O. Sars, in western Cook Strait, New Zealand, an area influenced by an upwelling plume. The behaviour of N. australis in the Kahurangi Point region at different stages of its life history appears to ensure its maintenance, in general, over the continental shelf on an upwelling coast. Population structure at the source of the upwelling near Kahurangi Point differed from that in regions “down stream” from the plume. Nyctiphanes australis was most abundant at the “downstream” eastern end of the upwelling plume, and the evidence suggesting that the dense populations there may be resident is discussed. Possible reasons for low densities of furcilia II and III stages in the eastern plume region are considered.     

Distribution of helminths in the digestive tracts of New Zealand freshwater eels 1. Distribution of digeneans

The distributions of Stegodexamene anguillae and Telogaster opisthorchis in Anguilla dieffenbachii and A. australis studied over two years are described. Peak occurrence of S. anguillae was in the anterior intestine, declining posteriorly, except for mature flukes under crowded conditions in A. dieffenbachii which predominated in the mid intestine, declining anteriorly and posteriorly. Peak occurrence of T. opisthorchis was in the rectum of A. australis and posterior intestine of A. dieffenbachii; occurrence declined anteriorly. Distributions appeared to be maintained by selective site segregation. Flukes moved down the tract, with or without subsequent loss, in both host species held live or examined after death. T. opisthorchis were lost before S. anguillae, and the larger mature flukes of both parasite species were lost before the less mobile immature flukes. Fluke loss from electric‐fished A. dieffenbachii was more rapid than from netted A. australis. Chilling and freezing retarded movement in, and evacuation from, dead hosts.     

The distribution characteristics of nitrogen and phosphorus in the ecological system of Mt. Beigu wetland

The Mt. Beigu wetland, which has undergone periodical changes in water level, lies by the Yangtze River, and its dominant plants are Phragmites communis, Phalaris arundinacea and Polygonum lapathifolium. In order to study the distribution characteristics of nitrogen and phosphorus in the ecological system of the Mt. Beigu wetland, the authors measured the contents of total nitrogen and total phosphorus in Phragmites communis, Phalaris arundinacea and Polygonum lapathifolium, and the contents of nitrogen and phosphorus in the wetland soils with different plant species. In addition the authors investigated the influence of various plants on the spatial and seasonal (spring/autumn) distributions of nitrogen and phosphorus in the wetland soil. The contents of nitrogen and phosphoms in Phalaris arundinacea are significantly higher than those of the other two plant species in the same part. Secondary pollution of phosphorus in the wetland results mainly from Phalaris arundinacea. Phragmites com-munis effectively carries away nitrogen and phosphorus in the wetland soil in the wet season. The capacity of Poly-gonum lapathifolium to remove nitrogen is lowest among the 3 species of plants. These findings offer a theoretical foundation for the selection of plant species to restore the ecological environment and for the selection of time and depth for purging silt on the riverside wetland.     

荒漠地区两种生态型芦苇叶片的抗氧化生理特性分析

以生长于腾格里沙漠南缘的沙丘芦苇（沙芦,DR）和戈壁盐湖芦苇（盐芦,GSR）为研究对象,以水生芦苇（SR）为对照材料,研究荒漠地区两种生态型芦苇在各自自然生境下改变体内还原状态的抗氧化机制。结果表明,沙芦和盐芦的脂质过氧化水平高于水芦,过氧化氢和一氧化氮含量也高,类胡萝卜素与叶绿素的比率增加,且盐芦高于沙芦。这表明沙芦和盐芦的体内氧化水平高于水芦,盐芦的氧化程度更高。抗氧化系统酶活性的响应分析表明,沙芦和盐芦叶片中总抗氧化能力大于水芦,超氧化物歧化酶、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶和一氧化氮合酶活性也高于水芦,但过氧化氢酶和谷胱甘肽还原酶活性没有明显的差异,而过氧化物酶活性却比水芦低。与质膜渗透调节能力相关的Na+/K+-ATP酶和Ca2+/Mg2+-ATP酶活性在盐芦中明显高于沙芦和水芦。这表明芦苇在干旱和盐渍条件下忍受诱导的次级氧化胁迫的能力提高。     

Remembering kauri on the ‘Kauri Coast’

This paper explores how the recent history of kauri is remembered and commemorated on the Kauri Coast, western Northland, focusing on three specific heritage sites: The Kauri Museum at Matakohe, Trounson Kauri Park, and Waipoua Forest Sanctuary. Each site was established to preserve elements of the past before they were lost or irrevocably altered. The museum commemorates the pioneers and the kauri timber and gum industries, while Trounson Kauri Park and Waipoua Forest were intended to represent primeval forest and stand as monuments to people who advocated their protection.     

Transfer of results from reed research into practice as illustrated by reed protection measures in Berlin

There is great interest in solving the question of how far the successful establishment of common reed for shore restoration is influenced by genetically determined characteristics of different reed clones. For this purpose, ten reed clones were planted at six artificial sand banks in 1995, according to a special planting design. The growth and expansion performance of the clones was compared.The reed plants grew without significant stress in the first vegetation period, resulting in newly established reed stands in a very good condition at the end of the season. Despite the same site conditions at the experimental plots, the planted clones differed significantly in their morphology and stand structure. By comparison, reed plants of the same clone exhibited strong similarity on all experimental plots. These results appear to justify the assertion that, at least during the initial phase of establishing a reed stand, the development of stand structure is determined more by genetically controlled programmes than by site conditions. Only long-term investigations will be able to clarify to what extent stable stand structures are formed by genetically controlled programmes after polycormons reach maturity.     

Susceptibility of lakeside phragmites reeds to environmental stresses: Examples from Lake Constance-Untersee (SW-Germany)

The lakeside border of Phragmites reeds is under the control of many environmental factors, among which the flooding height and the degree of mechanical load by waves and washes are the most prominent. Examples from Lake Constance-Untersee show that the reed front retreats under enhanced stresses. Models are presented that describe the susceptibility of lakeside reeds to mechanical damage and to flooding events. A monitoring programme which ran from 1984/85 to 1992/93 showed a slow lakeward progression of the reeds in a decade of abnormally low water conditions.     

Insect communities of Phragmites habitats used for sewage purification: Effects of age and area of habitats on species richness and herbivore-parasitoid interactions

In 1994, 28 sewage purification plants based on common reed Phragmites australis were analyzed, to study fragmentation effects on diversity and on food web structure of insect communities. Purification plants differed in age (2 to 11 years) and area (10 to 2,500 m²). Both age and area were significantly correlated with species richness of herbivores. Populations of the two most abundant herbivores, the gall makers Lipara pullitarsis (Diptera, Chloropidae) and Giraudiella inclusa (Diptera, Cecidomyiidae), increased significantly with age and size of the Phragmites habitats, i.e. the purification plants. Incidence curves showed that only habitats older than 6 years and larger than 100 m² have a 50% probability of finding these two most abundant gall makers, and can correspondingly be considered to contribute to insect species conservation. Natural enemies were even more susceptible to habitat fragmentation than their phytophagous hosts or prey, thereby hampering possible biocontrol. Percent parasitism of both the Lipara and Giraudiella gall makers significantly increased with habitat age.