Evaluation of mine tailings effects on a benthic marine infaunal community over 29 years

Benthic infaunal and sediment data collected over 29 years were used to examine the extent and geographic range of effects and recovery from submarine tailings deposition. Empirical data were used to determine extreme and moderate effects, and identify near-, mid- and far-field zones. A simple probability test using overlap in frequency distributions was then used to determine less obvious effects, identify "normal" or "reference" conditions, and verify the geographic range of effect zones. Tailings thickness and sediment particulate copper were elevated from the outfall to 16-20 km distant, particularly below discharge depth (50 m). Changes in tailings thickness and copper levels before, during and after mining showed three distinct impact zones below discharge depth: near-field (<5 km from outfall); mid-field (5-16 km); and far-field (20 + km). Consistent faunal declines during mining were noted at sediment particulate copper levels >300 microg g(-1), and sediment tailings thickness > 15-20 cm. Extreme impoverishment at these sediment levels were; < 100 animals/m2, <2.5 g/m2 biomass and <7 taxa per station. No stations with >300 microg g(-1) copper and 20 cm tailings had more than 40 taxa. Amphipods were particularly affected by tailings, with distributions reflecting the instability in sediments from heavy deposition and/or shifting of tailings due to resuspension. The probability testing method assumed that reference conditions existed in far-field stations. There was no difference in abundance distributions between near-, mid- and far-field zones. Total taxa per station during mining was significantly reduced (<45) in both near- and mid-field stations compared with far-field (less than 10% overlap in distributions). One midfield station in Quatsino Sound (23) was in reference condition throughout the study period. Post-closure stations in the near- and mid-field had total taxa numbers approaching far-field conditions (overlap of 62% in distributions). Within 3 years following closure, total taxa values were within the far-field range for all stations sampled. Biomass showed a distinct decline in the near-field during mining, but with more overlap in near-field and far-field distributions (27%) than for total taxa per station, and was returning to far-field conditions in the post-closure years. A multivariate (Bray-Curtis) measure of dissimilarity indicated that the near- and mid-field infaunal compositions were distinct from the far-field during mining (< 10% overlap in distributions). The mid-field composition overlapped more with the far-field in the post-closure years, but the near-field composition did not, suggesting that the mine tailings are still affecting the fauna. The most abundant taxon in each of the reference and near-field station groups both showed significantly distinct relative abundance distributions between near- and far-field stations. In summary, the probability method showed that species richness, biomass, species composition and indicator taxa were useful for differentiating affected and non-affected stations. Polychaetes recolonize stable tailings most quickly, and have dominated the tailings stations in the post-closure years. Amphipods have recolonized sporadically, but seem to be highly sensitive to tailings stability. There was no evidence of recovery in dominant bivalves or echinoderms within three years after mine closure.     

Estrogenic responses of larval sunshine bass (Morone saxatilis x M. Chrysops) exposed to New York City sewage effluent

To determine the estrogenicity of effluents from sewage treatment plants (STPs) to larval fish, 2-day-old sunshine bass were exposed to effluents from three STPs serving New York City (NYC), varying in size and treatment level. Estrogenic response was evaluated by measuring vitellogenin (VTG) and estrogen receptor (ER) expression in cytosolic fractions of whole body homogenates. Concentrations of the presumptive endocrine disruptors in the effluents were also measured. VTG and ER levels in sewage-exposed fish were 3-5 times that observed in controls. Combined concentrations of estradiol and estrone ranged from 5 to 13 ng/l and nonylphenol-ethoxylate metabolites (NPEOs: 4-nonylphenol, and 1-, 2-, and 3-nonylphenol-ethoxylates) ranged from 180 to 470 microg/l in chlorinated effluent. Results indicate that both ER and VTG can be used as biomarkers for endocrine disruption in larval fish, and that 4-day exposure to sewage effluent is sufficient to elicit significant expression of these markers in sunshine bass larvae. The extremely higher concentrations of NPEOs found in effluent relative to hormones (approximately 40,000-fold) indicates that surfactant metabolites may be contributing significantly to the estrogenic effects observed.     

数字填图系统（RGMAP）在金厂矿区大比例尺填图中的应用

计算机辅助地质填图系统(RGMAP软件),通过建立PRB数字填图过程及其相应的数据模型,把地质数据采集的过程延伸到野外,真正实现了地学数据获取全过程的数字化,实现了地质填图从手工到计算机化的质的飞跃.但该系统的研制初衷是为在区域调查中地质调查服务的,而对大例尺的填图尚未开展过研究.这里以在黑龙江省东宁县金厂矿区开展的1∶10 000大比例尺数字填图为例,总结出利用该系统在大比例尺数字填图中的主要方法步骤和注意事项.     

地震前兆仪器嵌入TCP/IP协议的初步试验

根据“十五”总体设计方案的要求，对TCP／IP协议在地震前兆仪器上的实现进行了试验，在有关设备上进行了程序开发，取得了预期的效果。     

依法行政,加强管理,提高防震减灾法制化管理能力和水平

结合广东省防震减灾工作实际，针对依法行政管理工作中存在的问题，提出强化法制观念，提高法制化管理水平；坚持依法行政，加强防震减灾行政执法工作；加强法律法规宣传教育，增强全社会防震减灾意识；认真履行管理职责，提高防震减灾管理能力和水平的建议。     

发展基于IPv6的地震传感器网络是科技自主创新的实践

IPv6的网络架构为传感器网络的发展创造了良好的环境，基于IPv6的地震传感器网络已列为CNGI（China Next Generation Intemet）具有行业特色的，在中国下一代互联网示范项目中的应用项引。以科学的发展观研究和发展基于IPv6的地震传感器网络，是贯彻十六届五中全会精神，科技自主创新的实践；是推进地震监测和预报进一步发展的重要契机；我们需要认真努力，为我国下一代互联网建设和防震减灾事业做出贡献。[编者按]     

基于网格密度控制的全国崩塌滑坡泥石流编图

本文是一篇关于全国崩塌滑坡泥石流分布图编制方法探索的论文。基于全国崩塌滑坡泥石流数据库,根据图面承载能力,用不同灾害类型之间数量比例和网格密度共同控制的方法,筛选出代表整体发育分布规律的崩塌滑坡泥石流隐患点;用点状符号表达崩塌滑坡泥石流隐患点空间分布特征,线状符号表达崩塌滑坡泥石流时间分布特征,面状普染色表达崩塌滑坡泥石流发育数量分级特征;结合人们正常视觉感受,建立均衡的构图,选用协调美观的色彩,合理处置图上点、线、面各图层之间的冲突以及图层内部分级关系,编制集科学与艺术为一体的全国崩塌滑坡泥石流分布图。     

2010—2015年全国地质灾害发育分布特征分析

近年来,在全球气候变暖的背景下,我国突发性、局地性极端强降雨事件频发,加之城镇化进程中的人类社会经济活动,导致发生了大量的地质灾害事件,地质灾害造成的人员伤亡占我国自然灾害造成人员伤亡总数的比例呈逐渐上升趋势。本文以"十二五"期间我国发生的地质灾害为主要研究对象,搜集了全国省级国土部门的权威数据,通过数理统计,以及对孕灾条件和诱发因素的分析等,研究总结了2010—2015年("十二五")期间全国发生的地质灾害的总体情况及特征:(1)在全国发生的64 530起地质灾害中,滑坡、崩塌、泥石流为主要灾害类型,中小型灾害最为发育;(2)强降雨是地质灾害的主要诱发因素,汛期降雨型地质灾害在地域上具有随时间由东南向西北逐渐推移的特征;(3)地质灾害造成的危害具有向低人员伤亡、高财产损失方向发展的趋势。研究结果对今后一段时期全国地质灾害防治工作部署提出了建议。