珠江口淇澳岛红树林湿地生态系统健康评价

基于湿地生态系统健康理论和压力-状态-响应模型,以珠江口淇澳岛红树林湿地生态系统为研究对象,构建了红树林湿地生态系统健康评价指标体系,并确定了具体的评价指标、评价标准、指标权重、评价等级和评价方法,对珠江口淇澳岛红树林湿地生态系统健康状况进行了评价.结果表明:2008年,淇澳岛红树林湿地生态系统总健康指数为0.6580,评价等级为Ⅱ级(健康);压力、状态和响应指标的健康指数分别为0.3469、0.8718和0.7554,说明该评价系统存在一定的压力,而状态和响应方面较好.作为省级自然保护区,珠江口淇澳岛红树林湿地生态系统健康水平有待进一步提升.红树林湿地生态系统健康评价研究目前尚不成熟,进一步研究需重点关注针对红树林特征的评价因子筛选、相关数据的长期定位监测、生态系统健康与生态系统功能的定量关系研究等.     

海洋溢油后浮游植物藻华观测分析和机制探讨

海洋溢油事件频率增加,严重影响了生态环境。该研究收集MODIS 叶绿素a 数据和现场资料,对全球20 次重大海洋溢油事件后浮游植物进行了研究分析。结果显示,溢油可能引发大面积藻华,且一般发生在溢油20 d 以后,多数发生在3-10个月间。深入分析发现,溢油后的藻华多数发生在春季、秋季和/或温度在20℃-30℃条件下。若溢油发生在夏季,短期内发生藻华的几率较高,且可能发生多次藻华;若溢油发生时温度较低,溢油后藻华发生几率也较低。需要关注的是,2013 年晚秋我国青岛市黄岛输油管线破裂引起的溢油事件,可能提高2014 年春季胶州湾发生藻华的几率。     

石油污染对海洋浮游生物的影响

从浮游植物和浮游动物两方面分析了海洋石油污染对海洋浮游生物的影响。石油污染影响多种海洋浮游生物的生长、分布、营养吸收、光合作用及浮游植物参与DMS的产生和循环的过程,可以引发赤潮。石油污染对浮游生物的生长可以表现出促进作用也可表现出抑制作用。由于石油的遮光作用,浮游生物的光合作用受到抑制,进而影响垂直分布及昼夜移动情况。石油污染可由浮游生物经食物链对其它海洋生物产生的影响。     

河流生态系统服务功能及水坝对其影响

河流生态系统服务功能是指河流生态系统与河流生态过程所形成及所维持的人类赖以生存的自然环境条件与效用,包括河流生态系统产品与河流生态系统服务两个方面。文中分析了河流生态系统的15项服务功能,其中包括供水、水产品生产、内陆航运、水力发电、休闲娱乐和文化美学等6项河流生态系统产品与调蓄洪水、河流输送、蓄积水分、土壤持留、净化环境、固定CO2、养分循环、提供生境和维持生物多样性等9项河流生态系统服务;同时又分析了修建水坝对这此服务功能的影响。研究表明,使河流生态系统服务功能得到正常发挥,是水坝建设决策中应考虑的必要因素。     

基于资源等价分析法的海洋溢油生物资源损害评估

评估海洋溢油造成的生物资源损害,对我国目前迫切需要制定的海洋生态补偿政策以及生态修复计划具有重要的现实意义。针对我国2011年渤海蓬莱19-3油田溢油事故,评估生物资源受损程度,利用资源等价分析法计算修复工程规模。结果表明,底栖生物和非底栖生物(包括浮游幼虫幼体、鱼卵、仔稚鱼等)的受损程度分别为30%和71.4%,受损面积分别为1600 km2和6400 km2。若以修建海洋生态保护区作为补偿修复工程,在修复期为20 a、贴现率为3%条件下,修复工程规模应为1059km2,才能补偿溢油造成的底栖和非底栖生物资源损失。其结论可以作为海洋管理部门进行溢油生物资源损害评估和生态修复管理的技术依据。     

放牧对草地生态系统影响的研究进展

全球草地占据30%左右的陆地面积, 在全球气候变化、碳氮及养分循环、保持水土、调节畜牧业生产等方面具有重要的作用。目前草地的主要利用方式之一就是放牧, 不同的牲畜种类、放牧强度、年限、历史和制度等, 会影响草地植物群落、生物多样性及土壤微生物, 进而影响草地生态系统结构、功能和过程。该文围绕放牧对草地生态系统结构、功能和过程的影响, 1)回顾了20世纪50年代到现在各个历史阶段放牧对草地生态系统影响的研究; 2)利用文献计量分析的方法, 剖析了放牧对草地影响研究的热点内容、重要区域和关键词等; 3)阐明了放牧对草地植物生长、群落特征、碳氮及养分循环、生产力及土壤质量等的各方面影响的研究进展及国内相关研究的优势及存在的主要问题和不足; 4)基于上述分析, 从草地放牧精准管理、经典假说验证、放牧和全球变化研究相结合等方面, 提出未来研究的前沿方向和优先领域。该文在系统总结放牧对草地生态系统影响的研究进展、研究优势及存在问题的基础上, 提出未来的研究应与全球变化相结合, 为我国的草地放牧生态学研究、适应性管理和可持续利用等提供科学基础。     

海洋溢油生态环境损害因果关系判定方法与模型研究

海洋溢油对生态环境造成污染损害,构成了对海洋环境安全和人体健康的重大威胁,科学地评估溢油污染损害可以发挥为损害修复和赔偿仲裁提供依据的重要作用,为成就这一目标,亟待加强有关溢油污染损害的因果关系及其判定方法与准则的相关理论、技术方法和业务化应用的研究。为此,在对不同原油的各馏分占比和分类组分及含量进行统计分析的基础上,构建了溢油成分统计均值指标体系,基于WHO/IARC化学物质引起人类癌症危险性评价,揭示了不同种类溢油所造成的海洋生态环境损害类型和程度有所不同的因果关系,进而研究提出了基于溢油环境归宿和POPs毒性理论的损害机理分析方法,构建了包括事故发生、成分含量、分类后果、时空分布4类判定准则及其相应指标体系的海洋生态环境损害因果关系判定方法,提出了包括因果关系判定模型、多类型辅助评估模型、调查试验诊断评估方法及业务化流程、以及损害基线与程度判定准则及指标体系的海洋生态损害评估模型体系总体架构,设计阐述了多类型辅助评估模型、损害基线与程度判定准则及指标体系的构建方案。针对辅助评估模型中具有代表性的易受损因子--海水水质指标的损害因果关系判定和损害程度量化问题,构建了基于溢油风化缩比仿真试验的溢油风化水质影响评估模型,采用溢油事故引起海水水质超过不同等级水质标准的超标面积,以及事故发生前后实测的相关海域海水水质超过不同等级水质标准的超标面积发生变化以及出现峰值的状况,作为判定损害因果关系存在和评估损害程度的量化指标,通过开展"塔兹曼海"、大连"7.16"等发生于渤海和黄海的溢油及危化品事故案例调查,实施了判定方法与模型的应用研究,对模型参数进行了率定,模型和实测结果均显示,在具有连通性的渤海和黄海海域,不同时段超过不同等级海水水质标准的超标面积增量与该海域实际发生溢油事故的时间存在显著的关联响应关系。综合判断,溢油污染损害与污染事故发生的时间和位置、所处海域的连通性及扩散条件、入海溢油的总量及环境污染持久性呈密切相关的因果关系。     

水坝对河流生态系统服务功能影响评价

客观评价水坝对河流生态系统服务功能的影响问题,对完善我国水利工程环境影响评价和保护河流生态系统具有重要意义。根据水坝对河流生态系统服务功能影响的特点,建立了评价指标体系,以2002年为评价基准年份,对全国水坝对河流生态系统服务功能影响进行了评估。结果表明,防洪和水力发电是水坝的主要功能,两者分别占其正面影响的53．94％和26．77％;供水、减少有害气体排放和内陆航运等,也是水坝的重要功能。水库泥沙淤积的负面影响最大,年损失值为-508．63×10^8元;其次是水库淹没,从生态系统的角度进行核算,年损失值为-56．65×10^8元;水坝对河流生态系统的占据也是其重要的负面影响,年损失值为-10．43× 10^8元。     

海洋可持续发展目标与海洋和滨海生态系统管理

海洋和海岸带可以为人类提供多种生态系统服务,保护与持续利用海洋资源以促进海洋和海岸带可持续发展已被正式纳入联合国可持续发展目标。实施海洋可持续发展目标面临几大挑战,包括如何减小陆基人类活动的影响、加强海岸带的综合管理、提高海洋资源效率、适应气候变化和提高沿海居民的人类福祉等。为应对这些挑战,需要将海洋和海岸带融合为一个大型生态系统,利用基于生态系统的管理方法,综合考虑各个部门和多种胁迫因素的累积影响,通过建立综合的海洋观测体系,合理划分海洋功能区,按照海洋环境承载力限制陆基人类活动,合理配置并有效利用海洋资源,提升海洋和海岸带生态系统的整体服务功能,从而进一步推进实施海洋可持续发展目标。     

植物功能性状对生态系统服务影响研究进展

全面认识和理解生态系统服务的形成机制是维持其持续供给的前提。植物功能性状直接参与多种生态系统过程, 影响生态系统服务供给, 探讨植物功能性状与生态系统服务的关系是揭示生态系统服务形成机制的重要途径。该文采用系统的文献综述方法, 分析了植物功能性状与生态系统服务关系的研究特点, 总结了影响不同生态系统服务的主要植物功能性状, 阐述了可能的影响途径。结果表明: 植物功能性状与生态系统服务关系研究以草地和森林等自然生态系统为主; 大部分研究集中在生态系统供给服务和支持服务, 包括生物量、净初级生产力、土壤肥力等; 根据植物功能性状对不同生态系统服务的影响程度, 植物功能性状可以聚类为土壤保持服务相关性状、水分循环相关性状、多功能相关性状、产品提供服务与养分循环相关性状以及授粉与生物控制服务相关性状; 并阐述了植物功能性状指标影响不同的生态系统服务途径。围绕植物功能性状对生态系统服务的影响, 今后尚需进一步探讨生态系统多功能性、植物功能性状相关性、气候变化和人类活动不确定性、时空尺度差异等因素对二者关系的影响。     

石油泄漏对暴风海燕群体的短期影响

2002年11月原油泄漏前后,我们对伊比利亚半岛比斯开湾内的Aketx岛上的暴风海燕(Hydrobatespelagicus)进行了监测。1993 -2005年期间,利用雾网法调查了暴风海燕的数量,并通过直接观察法来统计雏鸟出飞率。在石油泄漏前,暴风海燕的种群数量亦存在年际波动,天气变化和食物丰盛度可能是引起这一现象的根本原因。在2003年,繁殖个体的身体条件较前些年差,繁殖对的数量和雏鸟成活率也有所下降。2004年繁殖对的数量明显少于2003年,繁殖个体的身体状况稍强于2003年,且所有卵都孵化成功。2005年的种群数量已经回升到石油泄漏前的水平,几乎所有配对的暴风海燕都能成功繁殖,亲鸟的身体条件也恢复到了石油泄漏前的水平。值得注意的是,这一群体中幼年个体的数量仍在减少,表明石油污染对种群数量的影响仍然存在,确定污染物在体内积累对这些海鸟所造成的影响将是下一步研究的重点。     

Bioremediation of oil by marine microbial mats

Cyanobacterial mats developing in oil-contaminated sabkhas along the African coasts of the Gulf of Suez and in the pristine Solar Lake, Sinai, were collected for laboratory studies. Samples of both mats showed efficient degradation of crude oil in the light, followed by development of an intense bloom of Phormidium spp. and Oscillatoria spp. Isolated cyanobacterial strains, however, did not degrade crude oil in axenic cultures. Strains of sulfate-reducing bacteria and aerobic heterotrophs were capable of degrading model compounds of aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons. Results indicate that degradation of oil was done primarily by aerobic heterotrophic bacteria. The oxygenic photosynthesis of oil-insensitive cyanobacteria supplied the molecular oxygen for the efficient aerobic metabolism of organisms, such as Marinobacter sp. The diurnal shifts in environmental conditions at the mat surface, from highly oxic conditions in the light to anaerobic sulfide-rich habitat in the dark, may allow the combined aerobic and anaerobic degradation of crude oil at the mat surface. Hence, coastal cyanobacterial mats may be used for the degradation of coastline oil spills. Oxygen microelectrodes detected a significant inhibition of photosynthetic activity subsequent to oil addition. This prevailed for a few hours and then rapidly recovered. In addition, shifts in bacterial community structure following exposure to oil were determined by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of PCR-amplified fractions of 16S rRNA from eubacteria, cyanobacteria and sulfate-reducing bacteria. Since the mats used for the present study were obtained from oil-contaminated environments, they were believed to be preequilibrated for petroleum remediation. The mesocosm system at Eilat provided a unique opportunity to study petroleum degradation by mats formed under different salinities (up to 21%). These mats, dominated by cyanobacteria, can serve as close analogues to the sabkhas contaminated during the Gulf War in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Electronic Publication     

Pseudomonas gallaeciensis sp. nov., isolated from crude-oil-contaminated intertidal sand samples after the Prestige oil spill

Strains V113^T, V92 and V120 have been isolated from sand samples taken at the Atlantic intertidal shore in Galicia, Spain, after the Prestige oil spill. A preliminary analysis of the 16S rRNA and the partial rpoD gene sequences indicated that these strains belonged to the Pseudomonas genus, but they were distinct from any known Pseudomonas species. They were extensively characterized by a polyphasic taxonomic approach and phylogenetic data that confirmed that these strains belonged to the Pseudomonas pertucinogena group. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA, gyrB and rpoD gene sequences showed that the three strains were 99% similar and were closely related to members of the P. pertucinogena group, with less than 94% similarity to strains of established species; Pseudomonas pachastrellae was the closest relative. The Average Nucleotide Index based on blast values was 89.0% between V113^T and the P. pachastrellae type strain, below the accepted species level (95%). The predominant cellular fatty acid contents and whole cell protein profiles determined by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry also differentiated the studied strains from known Pseudomonas species. We therefore conclude that strains V113^T, V92 and V120 represent a novel species of Pseudomonas, for which the name Pseudomonas gallaeciensis is proposed; the type strain is V113^T (= CCUG 67583^T = LMG 29038^T).     

Laboratory evaluation of oil spill bioremediation products in salt and freshwater systems

Ten oil spill bioremediation products were tested in the laboratory for their ability to enhance biodegradation of weathered Alaskan North Slope crude oil in both freshwater and saltwater media. The products included nutrients to stimulate inoculated microorganisms, nutrients plus an oil-degrading inoculum, nutrients plus compounds intended to stimulate oil-degrading activity, or other compounds intended to enhance microbial activity. The product tests were undertaken to evaluate significant modifications in the existing official United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) protocol used for qualifying commercial bioremediation agents for use in oil spills. The EPA protocol was modified to include defined formulas for the exposure waters (freshwater, saltwater), a positive control using a known inoculum and nutrients, two negative controls (one sterile, the other inoculated but nutrient-limited), and simplified oil chemical analysis. Three analysts conducted the product test independently in each type of exposure water in round-robin fashion. Statistical tests were performed on analyst variability, reproducibility, and repeatability, and the performance of the various products was quantified in both exposure media. Analysis of variance showed that the analyst error at each time-point was highly significant (P values ranged from 0.0001 to 0.008, depending on water type and oil fraction). In the saltwater tests, six products demonstrated various degrees of biodegradative activity against the alkane fraction of the crude oil and three degraded the aromatic hydrocarbons by >10%. In the freshwater tests, eight products caused >20% loss of alkane hydrocarbons, of which five degraded the alkanes by >50%. Only four products were able to degrade polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) by >20%, one of which caused 88% removal. However, when the variability of the analysts was taken into consideration, only one of the ten products was found to yield significant percent removals of the PAH fraction and only in freshwater. Viable microorganism population analysis (most-probable-number method) was also performed on every sample by each operator to measure the changes in aromatic and alkane hydrocarbon-degrading organism numbers. In general, little evidence of significant growth of either alkane- or PAH-degraders occurred among any of the ten products in either the saltwater or freshwater testing.     

An initial assessment of the genotoxic impact of the Sea Empress oil spill by the measurement of DNA adduct levels in the intertidal teleost Lipophrys pholis

The Sea Empress oil spill resulted in the release of vast quantities of potentially genotoxic contaminants into the coastal environment of the county of Pembrokeshire (UK). We are at present attempting to determine the potential genotoxic impact of the incident upon the native marine species of the area. Here we describe the levels of DNA adducts in specimens of the intertidal teleost, Lipophrys pholis, exposed to extensive oil contamination as an indication of exposure to potential genotoxins. We detected elevated levels of adducts in L. pholis specimens from an area that underwent heavy oil contamination as compared to specimens from a clean reference area devoid of oil contamination. These preliminary studies indicated that the oil contamination induced DNA adducts in the L. pholis specimens, which could potentially cause genetic damage in this native marine species. Further studies are now required to assess the full extent of the genotoxic impact of the oil spill upon the Pembrokeshire area's native marine life.     

Adaptable mesocosm facility to study oil spill impacts on corals

Although numerous studies have been carried out on the impacts of oil spills on coral physiology, most have relied on laboratory assays. This scarcity is partly explained by the difficulty of reproducing realistic conditions in a laboratory setting or of performing experiments with toxic compounds in the field. Mesocosm systems provide the opportunity to carry out such studies with safe handling of contaminants while reproducing natural conditions required by living organisms. The mesocosm design is crucial and can lead to the development of innovative technologies to mitigate environmental impacts. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a mesocosm system for studies simulating oil spills with several key advantages, including true replication and the use of gravity to control flow‐through that reduces reliance on pumps that can clog thereby decreasing errors and costs. This adaptable system can be configured to (a) have continuous flow‐through; (b) operate as an open or closed system; (c) be fed by gravity; (d) have separate mesocosm sections that can be used for individual and simultaneous experiments; and (e) simulate the migration of oil from ocean oil spills to the nearby reefs. The mesocosm performance was assessed with two experiments using the hydrocoral Millepora alcicornis and different configurations to simulate two magnitudes of oil spills. With few exceptions, physical and chemical parameters remained stable within replicates and within treatments throughout the experiments. Physical and chemical parameters that expressed change during the experiment were still within the range of natural conditions observed in Brazilian marine environments. The photosynthetic potential (F_v/F_m) of the algae associated with M. alcicornis decreased in response to an 1% crude‐oil contamination, suggesting a successful delivery of the toxic contaminant to the targeted replicates. This mesocosm is customizable and adjustable for several types of experiments and proved to be effective for studies of oil spills.     

Evaluation of differential cytotoxic effects of the oil spill dispersant Corexit 9500

Aims

The British Petroleum (BP) oil spill has raised several ecological and health concerns. As the first response, BP used a chemical dispersant, Corexit-9500, to disperse the crude oil in the Gulf of Mexico to limit shoreline contamination problems. Nevertheless, portions of this oil/Corexit mixture reached the shoreline and still remain in various Gulf shore environments. The use of Corexit itself has become a significant concern since its impacts on human health and environment is unclear.

Main methods

In this study, in vitro cytotoxic effects of Corexit were evaluated using different mammalian cells.

Key findings

Under serum free conditions, the LC50 value for Corexit in BL16/BL6 cell was 16 ppm, in 1321N1 cell was 33 ppm, in H19-7 cell was 70 ppm, in HEK293 was 93 ppm, and in HK-2 cell was 95 ppm. With regard to the mechanisms of cytotoxicity, we hypothesize that Corexit can possibly induce cytotoxicity in mammalian cells by altering the intracellular oxidative balance and inhibiting mitochondrial functions. Corexit induced increased reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxide levels; also, it depleted glutathione content and altered catalase activity in H19-7 cells. In addition, there was mitochondrial complex-I inhibition and increase in the pro-apoptotic factors including caspase-3 and BAX expression.

Significance

The experimental results show changes in intracellular oxidative radicals leading to mitochondrial dysfunctions and apoptosis in Corexit treatments, possibly contributing to cell death. Our findings raise concerns about using large volumes of Corexit, a potential environmental toxin, in sensitive ocean environments.     

Invertebrate and vertebrate predation rates in a hyperarid ecosystem following an oil spill

Extreme temperatures and scarce precipitation in deserts have led to abiotic factors often being regarded as more important than biotic ones in shaping desert communities. The presumed low biological activity of deserts is also one reason why deserts are often overlooked by conservation programs. We provide the first quantification of predation intensity from a desert ecosystem using artificial sentinel prey emulating caterpillars, a standardized monitoring tool to quantify relative predation pressure by many invertebrate and vertebrate predators. The study was conducted in a protected natural area affected by oil spills in 1975 and 2014; hence, we assessed the potential effects of oil pollution on predation rates. We found that predation was mostly due to invertebrate rather than vertebrate predators, fluctuated throughout the year, was higher at the ground level than in the tree canopy, and was not negatively affected by the oil spills. The mean predation rate per day (12.9%) was within the range found in other ecosystems, suggesting that biotic interactions in deserts ought not to be neglected and that ecologists should adopt standardized tools to track ecological functions and allow for comparisons among ecosystems.