The use of turbidimeters in suspended sediment research

Accurate characterisation of the trend in suspended sediment concentration in streams throughout runoff events requires a sampling interval much shorter than the one hour typically used. For logistical reasons this is not usually feasible, so continuously recording turbidimeters offer a potential alternative. The variety of correlations and relationships between sediment concentration and turbidity reported in the literature is not surprising in view of the many confounding effects present in natural stream systems. Data from five sites in a small forested catchment indicated variability in the turbidity-suspended sediment concentration relationship, but improvements were obtained by considering the effects of very fine sediment and background water colour. Throughout runoff events variations in sediment properties, organic acids concentration and turbulence can occur. It is concluded that a good linear relationship between turbidity and suspended sediment concentration should not necessarily be expected and any observed hysteresis could actually help explain erosion and transport processes. The detail and continuity of data generated by turbidimeters provides the opportunity for greater understanding of storm sediment dynamics, however, calibration requires careful consideration of site characteristics.     

The influence of catchment characteristics on suspended sediment properties

In order to investigate the influence of catchment characteristics on suspended sediment properties, suspended sediment samples were collected from the outlets of 60 small catchments located throughout Southwest England over a 14-month period. The catchments were selected to provide a representative range of topographic, land use, soil and geological characteristics. The suspended sediment samples were collected using time-integrating trap samplers, emptied at monthly intervals. Laboratory analysis focused on a selection of suspended sediment properties, including particle size composition, cation exchange capacity, and organic carbon, nitrogen, metal, radionuclide and phosphorus content. The results presented show that despite the substantial variability of catchment characteristics associated with the 60 sampling sites, the suspended sediment properties generally fell within a relatively limited range. However, statistical analysis identified significant spatial variability of suspended sediment within Southwest England, which in turn can be linked to catchment characteristics.     

A simulation of the process of sedimentation of suspended solids in the Yoshii River estuary

A vertical plane 2D model has been applied to the Yoshii River estuary, Japan, as a means of simulating the process of sedimentation. The current velocity and isohaline distributions were well reproduced in the estuary and the model simulated the concentration distribution of suspended solids for 8 particle size classes by using a transport equation based only on physical processes. The changes of the particle size distribution in surface water were well reproduced by the model. The vertical velocity component plays an important role in the behaviour of suspended solids.     

黄土高原小流域淤地坝泥沙粒度的剖面分布

2006年6月,按照泥沙旋回分层连续取样,分析了黄土高原丘陵沟壑区典型小流域1954年修建的淤地坝泥沙粒径的剖面分布特征.结果表明：该坝地泥沙旋回至少28个,旋回层的厚度范围在2～60 cm;沉积剖面土壤粒径以粉砂（0.05～0.002 mm）为主,占60%以上,其粒径集中分布于0.01～0.05 mm,粗泥沙（粒径>0.05 mm）含量约占23.09%;随淤积深度的增加,泥沙各粒径范围的变异程度增加,2 m土壤深处可作为研究区淤地坝粒径变异突变点的标识,粒径变异是河道比降和水沙动力条件共同作用的结果;研究区淤地坝泥沙沉积剖面存在72 cm厚的累积耕作层,累积耕作层的明确对于淤地坝泥沙侵蚀环境具有指示作用.     

近50年黄土高原水土流失的时空变化

在降水变化和人类活动的影响下,近50a黄土高原水土流失发生了深刻变化.利用黄土高原115个水文站的输沙量数据和276个雨量站的降水数据,分析了近50a来黄土高原输沙强度的时空变化特征,并评估了降水变化对其影响.研究表明:近50a黄土高原输沙强度呈现明显下降趋势,尤其是自20世纪80年代以来,下降趋势非常显著.从水土保持措施实施前后两时期对比来看,黄土高原输沙强度整体呈现减弱态势,并存在明显的空间差异.输沙模数＞5000t/(km2·a)区域的输沙强度减弱明显,其面积较前期减少了44.3%.输沙强度减弱最为明显的区域位于无定河中下游以及山西中北部地区,输沙强度减少在40%以上.降水减少是近50a黄土高原输沙强度减弱的重要原因,它们时空变化格局在空间上一致.从黄河中游10条主要支流来看,人类活动对输沙量减少可能起主要作用,其贡献率在61%～93%之间.     

沉积再悬浮颗粒物对马氏珠母贝摄食生理影响的室内模拟

采用实验生态学方法室内模拟研究了不同浓度沉积再悬浮颗粒物对马氏珠母贝清滤率、摄食率、吸收率的影响。结果表明:(1)水体中总悬浮颗粒物对马氏珠母贝清滤率的影响极显著(P<0.01)。总悬浮颗粒物由低浓度(12.6 mg/L)趋高浓度(500 mg/L)时,马氏珠母贝的清滤率呈现峰值变化规律。与总悬浮颗粒物浓度50 mg/L时的最大清滤率(1.12 L.个体-1.h-1)比较,悬浮颗粒物浓度为500 mg/L时,清滤率达最小值(0.17 L.个体-1.h-1)),其清滤率降幅达85%。这表明在高浓度悬浮颗粒物的水环境下,贝类受到环境胁迫,其生理和自身摄食机制受到限制,引起摄食减少和机体损伤。马氏珠母贝类的清滤率(CR)与总悬浮颗粒物浓度(TPM)之间的关系可表达为:CR=-0.701+1.627×TPM-0.463×TPM2+0.036×TPM3(R2=0.928)。(2)水体中总悬浮颗粒物对马氏珠母贝摄食率的影响极显著(P<0.01)。马氏珠母贝的摄食率随着总悬浮颗粒物浓度的升高而增加,在50 mg/L时达最大值(38.28 mg/h),当总悬浮颗粒物浓度超过50 mg/L时,摄食率反而下降,在总悬浮颗粒物浓度为500 mg/L时,降为最小值(16.22 mg/h),摄食率降幅为58%。随着悬浮颗粒物浓度的增加,马氏珠母贝摄食率受到的影响小于清滤率受到的影响。马氏珠母贝类的摄食率(IR)与总悬浮颗粒物浓度(TPM)之间的关系可表达为:IR=-46.631+70.957×TPM-18.385×TPM2+1.367×TPM3(R2=0.907)。(3)水体中总悬浮颗粒物对马氏珠母贝吸收率影响极显著(P<0.01)。总悬浮颗粒物由低浓度(12.6 mg/L)趋高浓度(500 mg/L)时,马氏珠母贝的吸收率呈逐渐下降趋势,在总悬浮颗粒物12.6 mg/L时,马氏珠母贝的吸收率最大(48.57%),而总悬浮颗粒物500 mg/L时,马氏珠母贝的吸收率最小(8.56%)。马氏珠母贝的吸收率(AE)与总悬浮颗粒物浓度(TPM)之间的关系可表达为:AE=52.189+0.132×TPM-3.111×TPM2+0.316×TPM3(R2=0.976)。     

The variability of orchid population size

Orchid population size has long been believed to be highly variable in time and space. Here we present the first quantitative assessment of the variability of orchid population sizes and compare them with plant and animal population data from the literature. Three measures of temporal variation were used (standard deviation of log₁₀ (population size), Hurst exponent and variance in the intrinsic rate of increase). Eight unfertilized plots of Orchis morio in a factorial fertilizer experiment were assessed for variability in population size over a 26 year period. The Hurst exponent across the eight plots gave measures consistent with pink noise well into black noise (0.86 to 1.87). The variation in the intrinsic rate of increase suggested that the expected time to extinction in the plots differed by an order of magnitude. Standard deviation of log₁₀ (population size) across plots was greater than the corresponding temporal variation within plots. Standard deviation of log₁₀ (population size) reached an asymptote between 10 and 20 years. The range of temporal variation between plots in this and other orchid populations was as great as the mean values reported for birds, insects and mammals. These results have highlighted the importance of spatial variation: until we know the relative importance of spatial and temporal variation for more plant species we will be unable to assess whether orchid populations are more variable in size than other species.     

Grain source and marginal changes in forage particle size modulate digestive processes and nutrient intake of dairy cows

This study investigated the effects of, and interactions between, dietary grain source and marginal changes in alfalfa hay (AH) particle size (PS) on digestive processes of dairy cows. A total of eight Holstein dairy cows (175 days in milk) were allocated in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with four 21-day periods. The experiment was a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement with two levels of theoretical PS of AH (fine = 15 mm or long = 30 mm) each combined with two different sources of cereal grains (barley grain alone or barley plus corn grain in a 50 : 50 ratio). Results showed that cows consuming diets supplemented with corn had greater dry matter and nutrient intakes (P < 0.01), independent of forage PS. In addition, the apparent digestibility of fiber fractions was greater for diets supplemented with corn (P = 0.01). The feeding of barley grain-based diets was associated with greater apparent digestibility of non-fiber carbohydrates, and this variable was even greater when long AH was fed (P = 0.04). Moreover, the feeding of long AH resulted in longer time spent eating (P = 0.03) and higher pH (P < 0.01), as well as a tendency for higher acetate-to-propionate ratio in the rumen fluid (P = 0.06) at 3 h post feeding. In conclusion, the results indicated that the marginal increase of PS of AH may prolong eating time and improve rumen fermentation, particularly in diets based on barley grain. Partial substitution of barley grain by corn can improve feed intake and fiber digestibility in mid-lactation dairy cows.     

The role of fine sediment characteristics and body size on the vertical movement of a freshwater amphipod

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Population dynamics of Turbo militaris (Gastropoda: Turbinidae) on rocky shores in a subtropical marine park: implications for management

Understanding the relative impacts of harvesting across an area such as a marine park is vital if the goals of fisheries management are to be met. Given their accessibility, densities of targeted intertidal turbinids should be relatively simple to quantify; however, natural spatial and temporal variability in these populations has hampered this effort. This study aimed to quantify short-term population dynamics of Turbo militaris in relation to current zoning regulations and accessibility. While our results reflected the variability found by other studies, we also detected significantly lower densities at a headland where harvesting is known to occur, and found a trend towards denser aggregations at more remote locations. Importantly, we found that densities at some locations were so low that current fisheries bag limits may be ineffective for protecting populations at local scales. Comparisons between study sites suggest a combination of no-take zoning and inaccessibility may provide the most effective protection for this species. However, a greater understanding of the wider impacts of harvesting, and processes affecting recovery, are essential to ensure sustainable management of this fishery.     

The effects of suspended sediment concentration on turbulence in an annular flume

The effect of suspended sediment concentrations (SSC) on fluid turbulence in an annular flume was investigated. Flow speed was held constant at 0.57 m s⁻¹, and the resulting turbulent conditions were recorded using a 3-D Acoustic Doppler Velocimeter (ADV) at height (z) of 8.5 cm above the bed. The suspended material was composed of a natural glacial clay made up of particles smaller than 6 μm. The SSC in the flume were increased from clear water to 4800 mg l⁻¹ in nine discrete increments; temporal variations of SSC were monitored using three optical backscatter sensors (OBS) mounted in the flume wall at heights of 0.03, 0.10 and 0.20 m above the flume base. The results showed that turbulent intensity ( ) and energy dissipation rate (ɛ) did not change significantly between clear water and 200 mg l⁻¹, but decreased by nearly 30% in the SSC range between 200 and 2400 mg l⁻¹. Above 2400 mg l⁻¹, no further decrease was observed. Analyses of the velocity variances over narrow frequency bands (0.2 Hz wide) from 0 to 12.5 Hz showed that most of the flow turbulent energy (~70–80%) was contained within the lower frequencies i.e. larger eddies, and that these eddies experienced the greatest decrease in energy due to turbidity. It is proposed that these patterns are the consequence of the increase in suspended sediment concentrations and of the vertical stratification of sediments for SSC >200 mg l⁻¹.     

悬浮物对造礁石珊瑚营养方式的影响及其适应性研究进展

营养方式是造礁石珊瑚获取能量与营养物质的基础,影响其生长与分布。近年来珊瑚礁区悬浮物含量与组分结构发生显著变化,其对造礁石珊瑚营养方式的诸多影响正成为当前研究热点。研究系统综述了珊瑚礁区悬浮物变化特征、悬浮物对造礁石珊瑚营养方式的影响及其适应性研究现状。发现近年来人类活动加剧与强降雨事件频发是驱动珊瑚礁,尤其是近岸珊瑚礁区悬浮物含量递增、组分改变与变频加剧的主因;悬浮物变化对造礁石珊瑚光合自养与异养营养的影响存在显著的种间差异,这主要与悬浮物消光效应、生物可利用性及造礁石珊瑚种类密切相关。虽然少数种类造礁石珊瑚具光合可塑性或异养可塑性,能在高含量悬浮物存在的弱光环境中较好生长。然而对绝大多数造礁石珊瑚而言,其营养方式适应性较差,无法在悬浮物影响下较好地获取生命活动所需的能量与营养物质,进而难以生存。总体来说,悬浮物被认为是近年来影响造礁石珊瑚生长与分布的重要环境因子之一,而关于造礁石珊瑚营养方式对悬浮物变化的响应及其适应机制,当前研究仍较薄弱,需要进一步加强相关研究。     

利用SEDD模型模拟岷江上游小流域的年产沙量

以GIS为平台,建立了泥沙输移分布模型SEDD(sediment delivery distributed model),包括模拟流域年侵蚀量的修正通用水土流失方程RUSLE(revised universal soil loss equation)和模拟泥沙输移比SDR(sediment delivery ratio)的方程.利用该模型模拟了岷江上游黑水、镇江关流域的年侵蚀、产沙量及其空间分布特征.模拟结果表明:两个流域侵蚀强度以轻度和中度侵蚀为主,并伴有强度侵蚀;流域产沙量低,不到侵蚀总量的5%;泥沙输移比与流域产沙量的空间分布相似,均呈现在河流附近较高、其他区域接近零的格局;灌木林地和林地是主要的产沙源,两种类型的产沙量之和约占流域总产沙量的70%.     

Grazing and the distribution of sediment particle sizes in artificial stream systems

Recent research has shown that grazing by the algivorous minnows of the genus Campostoma can have a significant effect on both structural and functional parameters in stream ecosystems, influencing algal height and type, primary productivity, carbon dynamics, bacterial biomass and the size fractionation of benthic organic matter. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of minnow grazing on benthic particulate organic matter (BPOM) under the controlled conditions available in experimental streams. For this study, four grazed and four ungrazed artificial streams were sampled for BPOM on two dates. The samples were partitioned into large, medium, fine and ultrafine fractions via wet filtration. Fish grazed systems had significantly larger percentages of the fine fraction and significantly smaller percentages of the ultrafine fraction. The ability of grazers to alter particle size distribution is important to overall stream organic matter dynamics because recent studies have shown the importance of particle size in determining bacterial numbers and activity, which in turn influence fundamental stream process like respiration and organic carbon dynamics.     

The relationship between body size, sediment grain size and the burying ability of juvenile plaice, Pleuronectes platessa L.

The ability of juvenile plaice (18–190 mm) to bury in sands varying in grain size from 0.062–2 mm was examined. For fish greater than approximately 30 mm in length the relationship between the proportion of the body covered with sand ( C ), total length ( L , mm) and grain size ( S , mm) can be estimated from the equation: logit C = 3.250 + 0.069 L – 6.771 S . Based on their performance in coarser sediments, fish smaller than approximately 30 mm did not bury as well as expected in the finest sediments (0.062 and 0.125 mm).     

Relationship between sediment characteristics and size of the acoel turbellarian Convoluta roscoffensis graff

Samples of the acoel turbellarian Convoluta roscoffensis and of sediment were taken from several beaches on the Channel Islands. A positive relationship between the mean length of the animals and median particle size of the sediment is demonstrated by regression analysis. It is suggested that the size of C. roscoffensis is limited by the size of spaces between the particles.     

The effect of particle characteristics on the beam attenuation coefficient and output from an optical backscatter sensor

Experiments were conducted to measure optical backscatter and beam transmission of suspensions of 180, 150 and 90 μm sand, and 40 μm clay, in a recirculation tank designed to house an optical backscatterance sensor (O.B.S.) and a beam transmissometer. Particle size was determined using gravimetric techniques and Coulter counter. By contriving known sediment distributions from the fractionated sediment samples, it was found that both the O.B.S. and beam transmissometer responded approximately linearly to narrow band and broad band particle suspensions. The beam transmissometer showed greater sensitivity to the fine-grain fraction of a poly-disperse suspension than the O.B.S.     

内蒙古荒漠草原放牧强度对风沙通量和沉积物粒径的影响

以内蒙古短花针茅(Stipa breviflora)草原为研究对象, 在放牧11年的样地布设BSNE集沙仪, 通过2013年4月到2015年4月4个采样期对短花针茅草原放牧强度与风沙通量的定量关系及风蚀物粒度特征进行了研究。结果表明: (1)放牧强度对风沙通量有显著影响(p < 0.05)。随着放牧强度增强, 风沙通量逐渐增加; 风沙通量对放牧强度的响应存在季节差异, 生长季的日平均风沙通量小于非生长季, 且生长季不同放牧强度间风沙通量差异较大, 其中重度放牧区风沙通量是对照区的5倍, 而非生长季不同放牧强度间风沙通量差异较小, 重度放牧区是对照区的1.7倍; (2)生长季不同高度风沙通量的自然对数和垂直高度之间存在较好的二项式拟合结果, 而非生长季风沙通量的垂直分布没有明显规律; 放牧强度间通量的垂直分布差异主要表现在0-50 cm高度; 在同样高度, 放牧强度大, 垂直通量也大; (3)风蚀沉积物中粒径≤250 μm颗粒富集度随垂直高度变化而变化; 风沙沉积物中, ≤250 μm的颗粒占沉积物总量的85%以上, 沉积物中粒径≤50 μm的颗粒有明显的富集作用, 且随垂直高度增加富集比逐渐增加; 粒径为125-250 μm和50-125 μm的颗粒表现为随垂直高度增加富集比降低的趋势, 且125-250 μm粒径的富集比显著小于50-125 μm颗粒的富集比; 荒漠草原放牧强度对风沙通量有不同程度的影响, 放牧强度越大, 风蚀越重, 风蚀作用强化了重度放牧对草地退化的影响作用。     

Effect of particle size of alfalfa hay and reconstitution with water on intake, digestion and milk production in Holstein dairy cows

Twenty-four lactating Holstein dairy cows (12 first lactation and 12 multiparous; day in milk = 11 ± 5 days) were allotted to a randomised complete block design in a 2 × 3 factorial with four replicates per treatment to evaluate the effects of two methods of alfalfa feeding (dry and reconstituted to achieve a theoretical dry matter (DM) content of 350 g/kg) and three geometric mean (GM) particle sizes of alfalfa (9.13, 4.51 and 1.20 mm) on performance of dairy cows for a period of 28 days. Diets were offered for ad libitum intake as total mixed rations (TMR). The GM particle size, its standard deviation, and the values of physical effectiveness factor of alfalfa and TMR decreased as alfalfa particle size decreased. Reduction of particle size and reconstitution of alfalfa increased the bulk density and the functional specific gravity of alfalfa and rations. Reduction of particle size decreased insoluble dry matter, water-holding capacity, and hydration rate of alfalfa. As particle size decreased, the amount of physically effective NDF in the ration (g/kg) decreased but the daily intake of physically effective NDF (kg/day) increased. Reduction of particle size and reconstitution increased dry matter intake (DMI) and ruminal passage rate, but reduced NDF and ash digestibilities, ruminal pH, N-NH3, milk fat, total chewing activity, rumination and eating time, total and ruminal mean retention time, and time delay of marker. Increased functional specific gravity, from reduced forage particle size and the reconstitution of alfalfa, was the most important factor influencing DMI, milk composition, and chewing activity.     

Skewed reproductive success among male white-spotted charr land-locked by an erosion control dam: Implications for effective population size

In 1996 and 1997, the spawning behavior of fluvial white-spotted charr Salvelinus leucomaenis, was observed in the upstream area of an erosion control dam. A small number of males with relatively large body size mated successfully with females as a pair, while almost all satellite males did not sneak successfully, resulting in a non-random mating system. The low sneaking success of subordinate males, in addition to the monopolization of spawning opportunities by a few dominant males, is one of the most important causes of skewed reproductive success among males. The total number of adult fishes in the study area (N: approximately half of the whole tributary above a dam) was estimated as 148 and 102 in 1996 and 1997, respectively. Based on these findings and some further assumptions, the estimated effective population size (N_e) was low in both years. The N_e/N ratio ranged from 0.33 to 0.36 in both years. In addition to reduced population size by construction of an impassable dam, the above-dam population suffered low N_e due to skewed reproductive success among males. The low N_e may be one cause of extinction in above-dam populations of fluvial charr, especially just after the construction of impassable barriers.