LIMNOLOGICAL BIBLIOGRAPHY FOR AFRICA SOUTH OF THE SAHARA

SUMMARY

Before inundation in September 1976 Barbus holubi and Labeo capensis were the dominant species each making up 46% of the total catch. Immediately after impoundment the relative density of B. holubi increased to 75% while that of L. capensis dropped to 18%. With minor changes the relative densities remained roughly constant until April 1978 when the turbidity of the dam increased. After this date the relative density of B. holubi rapidly declined, probably due to environmental changes, while that of L. capensis increased due to post-impoundment recruitment. The catches of other species remained low. Changes in catch per unit effort, which were determined from April 1978 onwards substantiate these findings.     

TAXONOMIC BIBLIOGRAPHY OF VASCULAR AQUATIC PLANTS IN SOUTHERN AFRICA

SUMMARY

The length mass relationship for a Labeo capensis population is described by the equation M = 0,0134 L^2'999 where 2,999 represents a constant the value of which indicates isometric growth. There is very little difference between the length/mass relationship for males and that for females and this is similar to the results found by Mulder (1973) for L. capensis in the Vaal River. The length/mass relationships for gravid males and females are different from that of the population as a whole indicating that maturity does result in a change of the body form which is in accordance with the results of Mulder (1973).

A modified formula to take into account, small length intervals of an age group, is used to calculate the relative condition factor for Labeo capensis from the Caledon River for a consecutive “winter” and “summer” period. The results show that the conhd1t10ni for Labeo capensis of the 0⁺, 1⁺ and 2⁺ age groups is better in the summer period than in the winter period, whereas in the older age groups 3⁺ to 5⁺ the condition in winter is better than in summer. This can be attributed to the attainment of sexual maturity at the age of 3⁺ years and the presence of large quantities of fat deposited in the body during the winter months, which are then utilised for the development of the gonads prior to spawning. These results are similar to those obtained for the same species by Mulder (1973) in the Vaal River and by Bloemhof (1974) in the Hardap Dam.     

INFLUENCE OF FRESHWATER FLOW REGIME ON FISH ASSEMBLAGES IN THE GREAT FISH RIVER AND ESTUARY

Summary

Two and a half years of data were collected from the lower Great Fish River, head region and estuary to determine the fish species composition within these areas. Gilchristella aestuaria, Liza dumerilii, Rhabdosargus holubi and Pomadasys commersonnii were the four most abundant species captured, with riverine flow rate having an important effect on both species composition and numbers of fishes in the different regions. Most marine species displayed a strong inverse relationship between catch per unit effort and elevated freshwater inputs. Euryhaline marine species dominated the catches at all sampling sites during low flows but were less common during high flow periods when catadromous species were most abundant. Based on the available evidence it is suggested that for most marine species in the river this decline in abundance is related to low conductivity levels following floods rather than avoidance of elevated flows. The impact of elevated suspensoid concentrations and lowered dissolved oxygen concentrations on freshwater and estuarine fish populations during major river flooding is also discussed.     

The effect of copper and zinc at neutral and acidic pH on the general haematology and osmoregulation of Oreochromis mossambicus

The objective of this study was to determine the effect of sublethal copper and zinc concentrations at a neutral and an acidic pH, on selected haematological parameters as well as on the total osmolality and electrolyte concentrations of Oreochromis mossambicus. In general, at neutral pH copper and zinc caused blood acidosis, increases in circulating white blood cell numbers, causing stimulation of the immune system, and a rapid release of red blood cells from haemopoietic tissue, as reflected in the decreases in mean corpuscular volume. Increases in red blood cells are attributed to an increase in the oxygen-carrying haemoglobin as an adaptation to altered respiratory homeostasis caused by copper and zinc. These increases are therefore a secondary reaction to the metals and not the result of direct stimulation of the haemopoietic tissue. In contrast, at an acidic pH copper and zinc concentrations usually caused blood alkalosis and decreases in white blood cell numbers, due to the bioconcentration of metals which blocks and suppresses the leucopoietic tissue. Decreases were also recorded in red blood cell counts, haemoglobin, haematocrit and mean corpuscular volume, which can be ascribed to anaemic and hypoxic conditions, gill damage and impaired osmoregulation.     

SHORT-TERM IMPACTS OF FORMULATIONS OF BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS VAR. ISRAELENSIS DE BARJAC AND THE ORGANOPHOSPHATE TEMEPHOS,USED IN BLACKFLY (DIPTERA: SIMULIIDAE) CONTROL,ON RHEOPHILIC BENTHIC MACROINVERTEBRATES IN THE MIDDLE ORANGE RIVER,SOUTH AFRICA

Summary

The impacts of larvicides used in the control of blackflies (Diptera: Simuliidae) on macroinvertebrates in the stones-in-current biotope were assessed during 8 field trials in the middle Orange River, South Africa. Two Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis (B.t.i.) products (Vectobac^R 12AS and Teknar^R HP-D) and the organophosphate temephos (Abate^R 200EC) were applied at recommended and high dosages to simulate “operational” and “worst-possible” scenario's respectively. Mortality was evaluated either by direct counting of invertebrates on stones before and after application, or by ranking invertebrates on a 4-point relative abundance scale before and after application. In addition, the re-appearance of benthic invertebrate population densities after temephos application was examined.

At the recommended dosage (1.2 ppm/10 min), B.t.i. significantly reduced blackfly larval numbers (P<0.001) and those of the chironomid Rheotanytarsus fuscus Freeman (P<0.05). At high dosage (20 ppm/10 min), numbers of the filter-feeding mayfly Tricorythus discolor (Burmeister) (P<0.01) and the chironomid Cardiocladius sp. (P<0.05) were also significantly reduced. No Simulium predators were directly affected by B.t.i., but there were indications of food shortage amongst Hydropsychidae and Hirudinea.

Temephos caused significant reductions in the relative abundance of 5 taxa at 0.05 ppm, 3 to 6 taxa at 0.1 ppm, and 9 taxa at 1.0 ppm (P<0.05). “Non-target” organisms which were most affected included the chironomid R. fuscus, the mayflies Baetis glaucus Agnew and Choroterpes elegans Barnard, and the caddisflies Cheumatopsyche thomasseti Ulmer and Amphipsyche scottae Kimmins. The mayfly T. discolor was tolerant of temephos, even at high dosage (1.0 ppm/10 min). In winter, most taxa re-appeared within 19 days, and population densities were back to pre-treatment levels within 35 days.

It is concluded that good reduction of blackfly populations may be obtained with minimal direct impact on the “non-target” fauna, provided recommended dosages of temephos are not exceeded. Overdosing with temephos may result in high mortality of “non-target” organisms, including blackfly predators, and should be avoided.     

近20年疏勒河流域生态承载力和生态需水研究

水资源是一切生物赖以生存和不可替代的基本自然资源,生态需水在维持流域生态系统平衡和生态承载力可持续性方面扮演着极其重要的角色,干旱区内陆河流域尤为突出。以疏勒河流域和其所辖县区为不同尺度区域,利用LandsatTM/ETM+/OLI遥感数据(30 m分辨率),解译该流域近20年5期土地利用数据,同时在收集和整理流域多年水文水资源基础数据的基础上,以流域生态需水为研究主线,运用多学科方法和原理,结合遥感技术、GIS技术,通过现场调查和观测,计算了流域及其所辖县区近20年生态承载力和天然植被生态需水量。结果表明:近20年来,伴随流域生态承载力的增加,生态需水量也呈增加趋势,两者呈非常明显的正相关关系,相关系数达0.6076;县域尺度上,生态需水与生态承载力正相关关系也较高,其中林、草地的生态需水与生态承载力拟合优度R~2分别达0.8519、0.7235,说明林、草地生态承载力的变化对生态需水变化的解释能力更强,二者之间的关系更为紧密;基于空间热点分析,该流域生态承载力和生态需水的热点和冷点区域均呈现相似的空间格局,说明二者之间在空间尺度上也呈正相关关系。研究结论可为疏勒河流域生态水资源量的科学配置和调控提供重要的决策依据。     

新疆叶尔羌河流域胡杨林时空格局特征

叶尔羌河流域胡杨林对保障我国新疆南疆地区生态安全有着重要的功能,到目前对该区胡杨林时空格局特征规律的研究极少。基于1995—2015年Landsat TM/OLI长时间序列遥感监测数据,通过土地利用程度变化指数、转移矩阵以及景观指数对叶尔羌河流域胡杨林时空格局变化进行动态监测与分析。结果表明:(1)胡杨林面积从1995年的1916.15 km~2减少到2015年的1652.25 km~2,面积减少了263.90 km~2。永安坝至夏河林场段,耕地向河道扩张,胡杨林转为耕地;而夏河林场至三河口段,水资源匮乏,胡杨林被迫向河道收缩,转为未利用地。(2)胡杨林动态度和空间动态度降低,而胡杨林变化状态指数、斑块密度、最大斑块指数和散布与并列指数增加,斑块结合度指数高,胡杨林空间分布逐渐集中、破碎度降低、连通性增加。流域景观要素连接性逐渐减弱,破碎化程度较高,优势度斑块类型比例逐渐下降,景观类型向复杂化方向发展。(3)1995—2005年胡杨林受气候变化和人类活动的干扰,胡杨林面积减少较快,景观格局变化剧烈,而2005—2015年胡杨林保护措施的实施、区域产业结构的调整以及生态安全输水区域的扩大等,胡杨林面积减少速度减缓,但形势仍较为严峻。在叶尔羌河流域合理利用水资源,统筹协调生活、生产和生态用水、强化水资源管理力度,以及调整产业结构、控制人口增长速度等是该区胡杨林生态系统恢复的有效手段和途径。研究可以为叶尔羌河流域生态系统恢复以及胡杨林保护提供参考。     

疏勒河流域气候变化和人类活动对植被NPP的相对影响评价

气候变化和人类活动是对陆地生态系统碳循环产生重要影响的两个因素,定量评估气候变化与人类活动对植被净初级生产力(NPP)的相对影响,对深入理解其驱动机制和控制荒漠化发展具有重要意义。以疏勒河流域为研究区,利用遥感和气象数据计算潜在NPP(PNPP)及其与实际NPP(ANPP)之间的差值,分别衡量了气候变化和人类活动对流域NPP的相对影响。研究结果表明:(1)2001—2015年疏勒河流域年ANPP整体呈缓慢增加趋势,与全国和西北地区相比,普遍较低,流域植被整体生产力水平不高。流域年ANPP空间分布呈现上游祁连山区和中下游绿洲区ANPP较高,而中下游荒漠戈壁区ANPP较低的分布格局。(2)2001—2015年流域年PNPP的变化趋势表明,降水量的变化是导致疏勒河流域植被退化加剧或缓解的主要气候驱动因素,但气温的变化对植被的影响较为复杂。(3)2001—2015年流域大部分地区植被退化系人类活动造成的,但人类活动的负向影响力在减弱。(4)气候变化和人类活动对植被NPP的相对影响均表现出明显的空间异质性,其中人类活动是疏勒河流域植被变化的主要驱动因素。     

阿克苏河流域土壤湿度反演与监测研究

以新疆阿克苏河流域为研究区,以GF-1 WFV和Landsat8 OLI两种高分辨率遥感影像为数据源,结合102个不同深度层的土壤湿度实测数据,选择垂直干旱指数(PDI)、改进型垂直干旱指数(MPDI)和植被调整垂直干旱指数(VAPDI),对土壤湿度指数反演的效果进行比较和验证。结果表明,两种数据源下的PDI、MPDI、VAPDI与土壤湿度实测含水量的决定系数较高,尤其是0—10 cm的相关性最强,平均决定系数达到0.68,说明基于光学遥感影像近红外和红光波段反射率构建的反演指数对近地表层土壤湿度信息更敏感,但对地下较深层次的土壤湿度反演精度略低;MPDI和VAPDI能够在一定程度上克服混合像元对土壤湿度光谱信息的影响,反演的精度要比PDI高,尤其是高植被覆盖度区,采用垂直植被指数(PVI)修正的VAPDI反演精度最佳;基于两种遥感数据源的土壤湿度空间异质性基本一致,但空间分辨率较高的GF-1 WFV模拟的土壤湿度空间分异更加精细和明显。研究结果可为"一带一路"背景下干旱半干旱地区大范围和动态监测土壤湿度、开展定量节水灌溉等提供理论基础和实践参考。     

有机碳质量对黄河三角洲芦苇凋落物分解及其温度敏感性的影响

凋落物分解速率及其温度敏感性Q_(10)能够影响凋落物对土壤的碳归还及其对全球变暖的响应。然而,凋落物有机碳质量对凋落物分解及其温度敏感性的影响研究仍不充分。以黄河三角洲芦苇(Phragmites australi)为例,通过凋落物袋法、室内模拟实验及固态~(13)C核磁共振技术,研究有机碳质量对凋落物分解及其温度敏感性的影响,探讨预测凋落物分解及其温度敏感性的指标。结果表明:(1)随着凋落物分解,易分解碳组分(烷氧碳、双烷氧碳)相对含量逐渐降低,而难分解碳组分(芳香碳)相对含量显著增加,疏水碳/亲水碳、芳香碳/烷氧碳比值逐渐增大,凋落物有机碳更加稳定,凋落物呼吸速率及失重率呈下降趋势。(2)凋落物失重主要受烷基碳、烷氧碳相对含量及C/N的影响,凋落物CO_2累积释放量主要受烷氧碳及双烷氧碳相对含量的影响。羰基碳相对含量可以用来解释Q_(10)的变异。因此,相对于生态化学计量比,烷基碳、烷氧碳、双烷氧碳、羰基碳相对含量是预测凋落物分解及其温度敏感性的敏感性指标。