The soft-bottom macrobenthos of North Carolina estuaries

The structure of macro infaunal (>0.5 mm sieve size) assemblages was examined in samples of unconsolidated substrates collected during the summers of 1994–1997 at 208 stations throughout North Carolina estuaries. Numerical classification (cluster analysis) of stations resulted in 14 distinct site groups that reflected discernible habitatrelated patterns in species distributions. Multiple discriminant analysis, performed on synoptic abiotic variables (depth, salinity, dissolved oxygen, pH, percent silt-clay), showed that the separation of site groups was related primarily to salinity. Percent silt-clay had a secondary influence on the separation of sites within similar salinity zones. Species diversity among site groups generally decreased with decreasing salinity and increasing mud content of sediment. Nodal analysis showed a wide range in constancy and fidelity of species assemblages within site groups. Some assemblages dominated by euryhaline species had no particular affinity with any one site group. The strongest affinities, as evidenced by high values of both constancy and fidelity, were displayed by an assemblage of oligochaetes, insect larvae, gammaridean amphipods, and the clamCorbicula fluminea in tidal freshwater muds; and an assemblage of haustoriid amphipods, the bivalveDonax variabilis, the polychaeteParaonis fulgens, and unidentified echinoids at high-salinity sites in outer Pamlico Sound near ocean inlets. A series of stations with impaired benthic assemblages in polluted habitats emerged from the cluster analysis and was distinguishable from other site groups that reflected a greater influence of natural controlling factors (such as salinity and sediment type) on species distributions. These results suggest that the interaction of both anthropogenic and natural environmental controlling factors is important in defining the structure of these infaunal assemblages.     

Estuarine and coastal connectivity of an estuarine-dependent fishery species,Pomadasys commersonnii (Haemulidae)

Understanding the level of connectivity between estuarine and coastal waters is essential for appropriate management of estuarine-associated taxa. Most studies have focused on the role of a single estuary, while limited research exists on the importance of multiple estuaries to individuals of estuarine-associated species. This study used acoustic telemetry to assess the usage of multiple estuaries and coastal waters by the estuarine-dependent spotted grunter Pomadasys commersonnii. Twenty-six adult fish were tagged with acoustic transmitters in the Kariega and Bushmans estuaries, South Africa, and their movements along a 300-km stretch of Indian Ocean coastline were monitored for up to 17 months. Tagged individuals spent most of their time in the estuary where they were tagged (55% and 85% for fish tagged in the two estuaries, respectively), followed by time in the sea (30% and 15%) and in other estuaries (15% and <1%). The mean durations of sea trips for fish tagged in the Kariega Estuary or Bushmans Estuary, respectively, were 25 days (range 3–55) and 12 days (range 2–22). Of the fish that went to sea, 93% from the Kariega Estuary and 60% from the Bushmans Estuary visited other estuaries. Most visits were undertaken to the Swartkops, Bushmans and Kowie estuaries, although the longest durations were spent in the Sundays Estuary. Individuals moved to estuaries up to 130 km away. The total distance travelled between estuaries by an individual during the study was ～529 km, with means of 201 and 184 km, respectively, for fish tagged in the Kariega and Bushmans estuaries. Despite covering large distances between estuaries, individuals often returned to their tagging estuary. Residency in their tagging estuary, combined with frequent visits to a neighbouring estuary, highlights the importance of estuarine habitats for this popular fish species, even after reaching maturity.     

The determinants of vulnerability and adaptive capacity at the municipal level: Evidence from floodplain management programs in the United States

This article provides a quantitative test of the relationship between adaptive capacity and socio-economic status (SES) at the municipal level. Local participation in a U.S. floodplain management program, the Community Rating System (CRS), is used as an indicator of adaptive capacity. The relationship between aggregated measures of SES and CRS participation is tested using probit, OLS and tobit models. The analysis indicates that socio-economic characteristics of a municipality's population are associated with the capacity of municipal leaders to effect collective action in response to environmental challenges. More theoretical work and case studies are needed to fully explain the reasons for this association.     

Top-down versus bottom-up limitation in benthic infaunal communities: Direct and indirect effects

Top-down effects of predators and bottom-up effects related to resource availability can be important in determining community structure and function through both direct and indirect processes. Their relative influence may vary among habitats. We examined the effects of nutrient enhancement and predation in southeastern North Carolina to determine relative effects on benthic macrofaunal communities. Short-term nutrient additions and predator exclusions were conducted in two estuaries to examine main and interactive effects on benthic microalgae and infauna. This experimental approach was complemented by comparisons of microalgal biomass, infaunal abundance and composition, predator abundance and predator exclusion among four estuarine systems that varied in background nutrient levels. In the short-term experiments, nutrient enhancement induced increased microalgal biomass but had limited effects on abundances or sizes of infauna. Predator exclusion increased the density of sedentary and near-surface dwelling fauna, but we did not observe interactions between predation and responses to nutrient additions as might be predicted from a simple cascade model. General patterns of abundance were explained to a larger extent by interannual and amongestuary pattems. These results indicate a lack of simple trophic cascade responses for this community over a short time scale and little evidence for local interactive effects. The lack of interactive effects may reflect the opportunistic nature of the dominant infaunal species and potentially different time and spatial scales for the effects of predation and resource controls.     

豫西沙沟脉状Ag-Pb-Zn矿床地质特征和成矿流体研究

豫西沙沟薄脉状Ag-Pb-Zn硫化物矿床位于华北陆块南缘熊耳山地区,主要由多金属硫化物-石英-碳酸盐脉型和石英-碳酸盐-绢云母-多金属硫化物蚀变岩型两种矿化类型组成。主要矿脉的矿物共生序列可以分为成矿前的石英-黄铁矿阶段(Ⅰ)、闪锌矿-石英-方铅矿-少量银矿物阶段(Ⅱ1)、方铅矿-石英-闪锌矿-含铁白云石-银矿物阶段(Ⅱ2)和成矿后的方解石-(石英)阶段(Ⅲ)。对不同阶段的成矿流体研究表明,石英-黄铁矿阶段(Ⅰ)中的含氯化钠子晶三相(LVH)包裹体(Ⅰ1)可能是直接从饱和水的结晶岩浆熔体中出溶形成或是由岩浆流体的减压沸腾形成,显示该区很可能存在岩浆流体端元。多金属硫化物阶段(Ⅱ1Ⅱ2)捕获富液相包裹体(LV型)和个别CO2包裹体(C型),这两个阶段流体包裹体反映了主成矿阶段流体的基本特征,结合包裹体气相和液相成分色谱分析以及包裹体初融温度,认为成矿流体应该为中-低温低盐度含CO2的H2O-NaCl体系。其中,阶段(Ⅱ2)的均一温度(145～288℃,平均为194℃)比阶段(Ⅱ1)的均一温度(185～357℃,平均240℃)低46℃;同时,阶段(Ⅱ2)的盐度(1.91%～10.86%,平均6.38%)较阶段(Ⅱ1)盐度(4.65%～10.11%,平均7.77%)略低。对这一温度和盐度的总体下降趋势的合理解释是大气水的逐渐混入。多金属硫化物阶段(Ⅱ1Ⅱ2)之后的方解石-(石英)阶段普遍为富液相包裹体(LV型),该阶段显著降低的温度(129～208℃,平均165℃)和盐度(1.40%～4.03%,平均2.50%),进一步佐证大气水的不断混入。而且,流体混合可能在引起矿石矿物从热液中沉淀方面起到重要作用。     

Ecosystem service values of sediment generation and entrapment by marginal coral reefs at Sodwana Bay,South Africa

Coral reefs provide a multitude of goods and services, some of which are difficult to value due to their intangible nature and the absence of markets to ascribe their relative worth. The coral reefs of Sodwana Bay on the northeast coast of South Africa provide several ecological goods and services, of which only two are considered here: namely, sediment generation and sediment entrapment. Both are deemed essential to the functioning of the Sodwana Bay economy. The replacement-cost method was used to estimate the annual financial cost of sediment provided to the study area if it were replaced by dredging. Sediment generation by the coral reefs was valued at R2.6–R4.8 million, and sediment entrapment valued at R71.8–R84.6 million, totalling between R74.4 million and R89.4 million (≈$5.6–$6.7 million, at R13.38/US$1) per year.     

Effects of Life History Strategy on Fish Distribution and Use of Estuarine Salt Marsh and Shallow-Water Flat Habitats

To assess the potential for habitat isolation effects on estuarine nekton, we used two species with different dispersal abilities and life history strategies, mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) and pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides) to examine: (1) distribution trends among estuarine shallow-water flat and various intertidal salt marsh habitats and (2) the influence of salt marsh habitat size and isolation. Collections were conducted using baited minnow traps set within nonisolated interior marshes (interior), nonisolated fringing marshes (nonisolated), isolated island marshes (isolated), and shallow-water flat habitats (flat) that were adjacent to isolated and nonisolated marshes. Size range of individuals collected included juvenile and adult F. heteroclitus (20–82-mm standard length) and L. rhomboides (22–151-mm standard length). During high tide, F. heteroclitus exclusively used marsh habitats, particularly high marsh, whereas L. rhomboides used marshes and flats. F. heteroclitus abundance followed an interior > nonisolated > isolated pattern. L. rhomboides abundance patterns were less consistent but followed a nonisolated > isolated > interior pattern. A size-dependent water depth relationship was observed for both species and suggests size class partitioning of marsh and flat habitats during high tide. Minimum water depth (~31 cm) restricted L. rhomboides populations in marshes, while maximum water depth (~69 cm) restricted F. heteroclitus population use of marshes and movement between marsh habitats. Disparities in F. heteroclitus young of year contribution between isolated compared to nonisolated and interior marsh types suggests isolated marshes acted as population sinks and were dependent on adult emigrants. Resident and transient salt marsh nekton species utilize estuarine habitats in different ways and these fundamental differences can translate into how estuarine landscape might affect nekton.     

Interactive effects of nutrient additions and predation on infaunal communities

Nutrient additions represent an important anthropogenic stress on coastal ecosystems. At moderate levels, increased nutrients may lead to increased primary production and, possibly, to increased biomass of consumers although complex trophic interactions may modify or mask these effects. We examined the influence of nutrient additions and interactive effects of trophic interactions (predation) on benthic infaunal composition and abundances through small-scale field experiments in 2 estuaries that differed in ambient nutrient conditions. A blocked experimental design was used that allowed an assessment of direct nutrient effects in the presence and absence of predation by epibenthic predators as well as an assessment of the independent effects of predation. Benthic microalgal, production increased with experimental nutrient additions and was greater when infaunal abundances were lower, but there were no significant interactions between these factors. Increased abundances of one infaunal taxa,Laeonereis culveri, as well as the grazer feeding guild were observed with nutrient additions and a number of taxa exhibited higher abundances with predator exclusion. In contrast to results from freshwater systems there were no significant interactive effects between nutrient additions and predator exclusion as was predicted. The infaunal responses observed here emphasize the importance of both bottom-up (nutrient addition and primary producer driven) and top-down (predation) controls in structuring benthic communities. These processes may work at different spatial and temporal scales, and affect different taxa, making observation of potential interactive effects difficult.     

Influence of Salt Marsh Size and Landscape Setting on Salt Marsh Nekton Populations

Recruitment- and predation-related effects on populations of salt marsh codominants mummichog (Fundulus heteroclitus) and pinfish (Lagodon rhomboides), were examined based on marsh size and landscape setting. Six island marshes—three small island marshes (SIM) ~40–1,000 m² and three large island marshes (LIM) ~3,000–10,000 m²—were paired with six expansive fringing marshes (EFM), each >76,000 m² in size and located within ~1.0 km of a paired SIM or LIM. Over a 2-year period, triannual collections at these sites assessed F. heteroclitus, L. rhomboides, and predator finfish populations as well as habitat characteristics. No significant population density trends were apparent for L. rhomboides young-of-year (YOY) or year-one-and-older (Y1+) cohorts based on marsh size or were any significant differences in density apparent among marsh types. F. heteroclitus YOY and Y1+ densities differed significantly among marsh types demonstrating a positive relationship between density and marsh size. Larval and juvenile F. heteroclitus abundances were significantly lower within SIM than LIM and EFM. Although larval F. heteroclitus abundances between LIM and EFM did not differ significantly, juvenile abundances did, suggesting mortality constrained LIM juvenile abundances. A significant negative relationship of F. heteroclitus to predator finfish density and a significant negative relationship of predator finfish density to low marsh area/perimeter (access restriction) estimates suggest that predation on F. heteroclitus is greater within SIM and LIM than within EFM. Habitat and landscape level attributes can affect resident nekton population regulation and these effects should be considered relative to the life history traits of targeted species when managing coastal resources.