Australian water quality guidelines: a new approach for protecting ecosystem health

The Australian and New Zealand Environment and Conservation Council (ANZECC) and the Australian Water Resources Council (AWRC) have developed a National Water Quality Management Strategy which seeks to ensure that the nation's water resources are managed on a sustainable basis. An important element of this strategy are the Australian Water Quality Guidelines which focus on the protection of Australian freshwater and marine ecosystems. Here the aim is to protect biodiversity and maintain the ecological integrity of each marine and freshwater resource. Specific guidelines have been formulated in terms of key indicators of quality, with a single reference value or ranges of reference values provided for guidance. For those indicators where ranges are provided, it is the expectation that State environmental and resource management agencies will undertake local, site-specific investigations of their own systems to define the specific levels to be adopted. For the first time, specific and quantitative biological indicators have been introduced; these are species richness, species composition, primary production, and ecosystem function.As Australia progresses towards broader, more holistic, ecologically-based management of the nation's water resources, the present water quality guidelines must be extended to ecosystem or environmental guidelines, where the maintenance of adequate water quality is seen as only one (albeit important) component. Other considerations must include habitat protection, sediment quality, and stream flow maintenance. This increased emphasis on more ecologically-focused management of Australia's inland and coastal waters will present a number of challenges for the three major groups involved: the community, the managers, and the researchers. These challenges are discussed.Based on a paper presented at a Workshop on Biological Assessment of Aquatic Ecosystem Health, Sydney, 1–2 October 1992.     

基于生态系统服务和生态系统健康的生态风险评价——以长株潭城市群为例

基于生态系统服务和生态系统健康的生态风险评估框架为城市群生态风险管理和国土生态修复提供新的视角。以生态风险评估框架为基础,综合运用生态系统服务、生态系统健康评估模型以及相关分析法对长株潭城市群展开生态风险评价,并对风险程度进行分类。结果表明:(1)城市群的城市化水平提升,区域生态风险也随之增加。生态系统服务价值、生态系统组织、生态系统活力、生态系统弹性等生态指数呈现下降趋势。(2)人工表面比率和生态指数之间的Pearson相关系数表明,人工表面比率与生态指数之间存在负相关关系,人工表面比率是生态风险提升的关键因素。(3)城市群人工表面比率要控制在36%以下,以进行生态风险管理和国土生态修复。总的来说,评价框架可以作为区域生态风险的评价终点。     

1990-2018年中国生态系统水源涵养功能时空格局与演变

探明生态系统水源涵养服务格局演变对中国生态系统水源涵养保护和管理具有重要意义。采用水量平衡模型,探明1990-2018年中国生态系统水源涵养分布特征,从全国、分区和栅格3个尺度揭示中国水源涵养演变规律。结果表明：（1）中国生态系统水源涵养时空异质性显著,整体南高北低、东高西低。不同植被水源涵养服务差异显著,以常绿阔叶林最高,草地最低。（2）中国水源涵养服务随高程升高呈阶梯式下降,随坡度变化因坡度梯度而不同,平坡区随坡度升高而升高,缓坡-陡坡区随坡度升高而降低。（3）中国多年平均水源涵养量为1.54×10¹² m³/a,以热带-亚热带季风区为主导,约占总量的77.9%。水源涵养服务演变全国尺度显著下降,分区尺度仅温带大陆气候区显著下降。（4）栅格尺度仅16.0%栅格变化显著,主要为极显著降低和显著降低,约占栅格总数的7.61%和5.30%,主要分布于藏东南、云贵高原西部、冀东北、浑善达克沙地、天山东麓和台湾省等地,它们是中国水源涵养保护与建设的重点区域。     

生态系统服务理论与山水林田湖草生态保护修复的应用

科学有效的理论基础是推进山水林田湖草生态保护修复工程顺利实施的保障。探讨了生态系统服务理论在山水林田湖草生态保护修复中的应用,以“压力-状态-响应”为主线构建了不同时空尺度上山水林田湖草与生态系统服务之间的关系认知框架,分析了山水林田湖草系统修复工程中生态系统服务研究的关键问题：（1）山水林田湖草系统修复工程区主要生态系统服务的时空演变规律与驱动机制;（2）山水林田湖草系统修复工程区多种生态系统服务之间的权衡与协同关系;（3）山水林田湖草系统修复工程区生态系统服务集成与生态系统管理策略;（4）山水林田湖草系统修复工程调控及其尺度效应;（5）探索优质生态产品价值实现机制,阐述了生态系统服务理论在山水林田湖草系统修复中的现实意义,以期有效推动山水林田湖草生态保护修复工程从科学到实践的深入。     

秦岭火地塘森林生态系统不同层次的水质效应

根据降水与森林生态系统相互作用的空间顺序,分别对火地塘林区火地沟流域大气降水、林内雨、枯透水、支沟溪流水和流域出口径流水质进行了比较分析和变化机理分析。结果表明：森林生态系统不同层次均有使微酸性降水pH值升高的作用,但以林冠层和森林土壤的作用最大,升幅分别为0．58和0．61;森林生态系统对NO3^-、NH4^＋、K、PO4^3均有净化作用,净化NO3^-的关键阶段为沟道径流阶段,净化NH4^＋、K、PO4^3的主要方式则为土壤吸附;森林生态系统各层次均增加Ca含量,除土壤外,也增加Mg,但Ca主要来源于土壤和岩石,Mg主要来源于岩石;降水中的Cd、Pb、Mn、Zn经过森林生态系统不同层次的阻减,含量分别降低了0．721μg·L^-1、6．528μg·L^-1、0．0128mg·L^-1和1．4674mg·L^-1,其中以林冠层的阻减作用最大,阻减效果分别为83％、76．7％、54％和99％。总体上,林冠层是净化水质的关键层次,其次为森林土壤。     

The need for biological assessment of water quality: Australian perspective

Abstract Biological assessment of water quality in Australia is entering a stage of rapid development largely because of the inclusion of biological indicators in water quality guidelines and growing concern for ecological values. Approaches to water quality assessment include toxicity testing, use of biomarkers and several methods using community structure. For assessment diverse organisms such as fish, algae and (the most commonly used) macro-invertebrates are used. Interaction of data analysis with methods of data collection requires co-ordinated research on both fronts. Recent developments in the use of multivariate statistics to produce models for predicting water quality are likely to be useful in Australia. Much innovative work is still needed in Australia on the use of algae and fish, defining tolerance categories and establishing monitoring programmes performed in time-frames equivalent to those in use for physical and chemical methods.     

Marine ecosystem regime shifts: challenges and opportunities for ecosystem-based management

Regime shifts have been observed in marine ecosystems around the globe. These phenomena can result in dramatic changes in the provision of ecosystem services to coastal communities. Accounting for regime shifts in management clearly requires integrative, ecosystem-based management (EBM) approaches. EBM has emerged as an accepted paradigm for ocean management worldwide, yet, despite the rapid and intense development of EBM theory, implementation has languished, and many implemented or proposed EBM schemes largely ignore the special characteristics of regime shifts. Here, we first explore key aspects of regime shifts that are of critical importance to EBM, and then suggest how regime shifts can be better incorporated into EBM using the concept of integrated ecosystem assessment (IEA). An IEA uses approaches that determine the likelihood that ecological or socio-economic properties of systems will move beyond or return to acceptable bounds as defined by resource managers and policy makers. We suggest an approach for implementing IEAs for cases of regime shifts where the objectives are either avoiding an undesired state or returning to a desired condition. We discuss the suitability and short-comings of methods summarizing the status of ecosystem components, screening and prioritizing potential risks, and evaluating alternative management strategies. IEAs are evolving as an EBM approach that can address regime shifts; however, advances in statistical, analytical and simulation modelling are needed before IEAs can robustly inform tactical management in systems characterized by regime shifts.     

生态系统质量及其状态演变的生态学理论和评估方法之探索

生态文明建设和生态环境治理是国家治理的基本任务之一,我国已经明确提出了提升生态系统质量和稳定性的目标。然而,生态系统质量的科学概念及其状态演变的评估理论和方法却是一直困扰学术界且尚未形成广泛共识的难题。本文在梳理生态系统质量的科学概念及其状态演变研究进展基础上,借鉴物质生产的产品质量、质量管理和质量评价概念,论述了生态系统质量概念及生态学理论基础,从生态系统的自然属性-社会属性-经济属性及其相互关系,生态系统组分-结构-过程-功能-服务-功效的级联关系,系统要素-系统-环境互馈关系,以及生态系统的状态波动-数量变化-质量改变的逻辑关系等视角,讨论了生态系统质量及演变的科学内涵,进而从自然资源环境系统、典型生态系统、区域宏观生态系统、生态工程效应/功效等方面,提出了多应用目标的生态系统质量变化评估的视角和方法。     

水库生态系统特征研究及其在水库水质管理中的应用

水库是一种半人工半自然水体,兴建水库是人类调节自然水资源在时间和空间上分布的主要手段,水库生态系统受人类调节明显,具有独特的生态学特征,对近20a来国际水库生态系统的研究进行总结,概括水库生态系统的主要特征,阐述这些特征在水库中水质管理中的应用与实施方法,强调开展水库生态学研究在我国水资源可持续利用中的重要性和必要性。     

生态系统服务研究在生态红线政策保护成效评估中的应用

生态保护红线政策是中国推进生态保护与建设的宏观政策,其保护成效评估是国内外关注的重大科学问题。在分析国内外生态系统服务研究进展及中国生态保护红线内涵、划定进程及管控要求的基础上,结合生态红线政策与生态系统服务研究的关联及生态系统服务研究在红线政策保护成效评估应用中面临的挑战,提出了红线政策实施效果评估的技术框架和基本思路。开展生态红线政策保护成效评估,能从科学上明确生态红线政策实施对多尺度利益相关者成本、效益的影响,为生态红线政策的综合研究提供框架和科学方法;从政策设计上,为生态红线布局进一步优化提供依据;从制度建设上,提出符合生态红线政策实施的制度框架,推动生态保护红线制度建设由理论走向实践。     

北京市森林生态系统的水源涵养功能

以北京市森林资源第6次二类调查数据为基础,采用区域水量平衡法和土壤蓄水能力评估了森林水源涵养的功能,并重点分析了不同类型和区位条件下森林涵养水源功能的差异。结果表明：2004年北京市森林生态系统涵养水源1.26×10^9m^3;其中,怀柔区、延庆县、密云县、门头沟区和房山区的森林是水源涵养功能的主要贡献者（累积贡献率63.3%）;从森林类型来看,阔叶林和灌木林是水源涵养的主体（累积贡献率80.8%）;位于不同海拔高度的森林对水源涵养功能的贡献不同,其中位于海拔〈100m、100～500m和500～800m森林的贡献率分别为29%、30.7%和23.3%;而且位于不同坡位的森林涵养水源的贡献也不同,其中平地和全坡的森林最高,贡献率分别为37.12%和40.7%。     

Influence of anthropogenic activities on water quality of a tropical stream ecosystem

Water samples were collected from three sites located in the middle reach of the Njoro River, Kenya, and analysed for total phosphorus (TP), orthophosphate, ammonia‐nitrogen, and nitrate‐nitrogen to evaluate stressor sources (e.g. factories and wastewater ponds) and the general stream water quality. The stream surface water was also analysed for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅) to provide an overview of organic matter loading. Mugo, Egerton Bridge and the canning factory sites of the Njoro River had low water quality which is likely to be due to poor farming, partially treated effluents and poor provision of sanitation facilities to the riparian communities. The concentrations of the selected nutrients did not differ significantly among the three sites, presumably due to pollution of the whole stream reach by the catchment nutrient sources. High phosphate concentrations (i.e. ～0.76 mgPO₄ l^?1 and ～0.87 mgTP l^?1) at Canning Factory were recorded during the low flow dry season. Nitrate‐nitrogen concentrations varied significantly with water discharge which explained between 63 and 87% of the nutrient variability in the three sites. BOD₅ differed significantly among the three sites, with historical effects of wastewater and factory effluent discharge being reflected in the results of Egerton Bridge and Canning Factory. The concentrations of ammonia‐nitrogen, TP and orthophosphate were higher in the wastewater than in the river water whereas nitrate‐nitrogen was lower. This study indicates that the Njoro River is stressed by nutrients from the activities within its catchment. With the increasing population, the nutrient load to the river will continue to increase and the water quality will continue to deteriorate. Reductions of nutrient loads into the river as well as provision of sanitation facilities to the riparian communities are needed to control further water degradation.     

基于生态系统服务的生态风险评价研究进展

生态风险评价对科学管理与保护生态系统具有重要的意义,为弥补传统生态风险评价方法的不足和提高风险管理的效率,将生态系统服务引入生态风险评价中进行发展和完善,成为了当前生态风险评价研究的前沿和热点。系统分析了生态系统服务在生态风险评价中的应用,指出生态系统服务在问题形成阶段中可明确保护对象和属性,在风险分析阶段可联系生态系统结构过程作用,在风险表征阶段及后续阶段能可提供清晰明确的评价结果,加强风险交流和管理,能有效地改进生态系统传统生态风险评价。在实践上,基于生态系统服务的生态风险评价可从3个不同层面开展:一是针对外界压力对某类特定功能或者系统中某些服务功能的影响,构建基于某种特定服务的实体属性评价方法;二是针对外界压力作用下生态系统结构与过程变化下对功能影响,构建基于复杂生态系统作用的评价方法,实现对生态风险的模拟评价;三是评价社会生态系统下外界驱动对人类福祉的影响时,可将DPSIR(Drive-Pressure-State-Impact-Response)理论模型运用到生态风险管理中,也可基于景观生态系统服务与压力源的空间作用关系,实现社会生态系统风险评价与管理。作为生态风险表征手段,可基于生态系统服务损失与不利服务进行表征,也可选取热力学等指标作为评估量纲。从理论、评价方法、风险管理等方面对基于生态系统服务生态风险评价给予展望。     

湖泊生态系统健康定量评价方法

提出了湖泊生态系统健康定量评价的一种新方法生态系统健康指数法。该方法首先设计了一个0～100的生态系统健康指数作为定量尺度,然后通过评价指标选择、各指标生态系统健康分指数计算、各指标权重计算、生态系统健康综合指数计算等基本步骤,评价湖泊生态系统健康状态。以实用实例对意大利西西里湖泊群及单个湖泊进行了生态系统健康评价。结果表明,该方法原理简单,计算简便,结果可靠、直观,既可用于同一湖泊又可用于不同湖泊生态系统健康状态的定量评价与比较,是一种值得推广的定量评价方法。     

Health risk assessment of a reservoir-type water source in the northeastern region of China

Urban water sources are the major source of water resources for urban life, and its water quality affects the daily life and health of the local people. However, there were some reports on the poor water quality status of water sources in the past. In the present study, by applying fuzzy synthetic evaluation, the water quality was studied from a total of 24 water samples from a reservoir-type water source in the northeastern region of China. Health risks of eight trace elements in source water were assessed using health risk assessment model and Monte Carlo simulation, and source apportionment of eight trace elements in source water were also analyzed. The results indicated that the water quality of the source water was acceptable for category I surface water, while the concentrations of total phosphorus (TP) and manganese (Mn) were higher than the permissible level. The noncarcinogenic risks due to eight trace elements exposure were As > Mn > Pb > Cd ≈ Cr > Se > Zn > Cu and carcinogenic risk of Arsenic (As) was 3E?05 with a maximum probability. Furthermore, statistical analyses, such as correlation analysis, principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) showed that the trace metals in the water source have a certain degree of anthropogenic contributions, especially Mn. Overall, both the contents of TP and Mn and the health risk of As require some attention of the relevant department, and further protected measures should be taken in the source water.     

浙江省生态保护修复优先区识别

生态保护修复是维持和提升生态系统稳定性和可持续性的重要举措。识别生态保护修复优先区并进行有规划的生态保护修复能够达到抑制生态环境退化的目的。以浙江省为研究对象,运用生态系统服务价值计算模型、神经网络自组织映射(SOM)聚类分析法、空间统计、Spearman非参数相关性分析等方法,识别生态系统服务簇,分析生态系统服务簇演化和人类活动强度变化特征,识别生态保护修复优先区,探讨不同生态系统服务价值的权衡/协同关系,提出生态保护修复优先区规划策略。结果表明:(1)2000-2021年浙江省生态系统服务空间分布逐渐趋于均衡,生态系统服务价值总量由7279.73亿元降低至6980.28亿元;(2)2000-2021年浙江省人类活动强度显著增加,呈现由西到东、由南到北的递增趋势;(3)2000-2021年浙江省生态系统服务与人类活动强度变化Moran''s I指数呈现显著负相关性,说明人类活动强度与生态服务价值两者空间上处于相互制约状态;(4)2000-2021年浙江省 90 县(区)可划分为4类生态系统服务簇,包括:城市中心簇、农业生产簇、核心生态簇和生态保育簇;(5)基于2021年双变量Moran''s I指数聚类结果将研究区划分的5种类型分区作为生态保护修复一级分区,以区域内主导生态系统服务簇作为生态保护修复二级分区划分依据。浙江省生态保护修复优先区划分为4个类型,即面积占比14.83%的生态预防治理区、面积占比19.94%的生态调控建设区、面积占比50.23%的核心生态保护区和面积占比15.00%的生态综合提升区。据此,提出不同类型优先分区实施生态保护修复的规划策略。     

生态系统质量评估方法——理想参照系和关键指标

良好的生态系统质量是社会可持续发展的重要基础,也是国家生态文明建设的重要目标之一。目前,我国在生态系统质量评估体系建设方面取得了很好的进展,但由于缺乏科学的评估标准和统一的指标体系,不同区域间评估结果的可比性差或同一区域不同时期间评估结果难以比较,难以开展区域和国家尺度的集成研究,同时也难以满足快速评估关键区域或国家尺度生态系统质量的需求。为了有效克服上述困难与挑战,迫切需要构建一套科学的、经济可行的、简单快速的、且适用于区域或国家尺度的生态系统质量评估体系。以国内生态系统质量评估现状为基础,通过梳理现有的评估体系,提出了"理想参照系"的概念体系,旨在进一步完善评估体系的基本框架;同时,较详细地阐述了理想参照系中阈值的确定方法。此外,从科学、直观、快速、经济可行等角度出发,建议重新思考生态系统质量评估的关键指标(如生产力、土壤有机质、植物多样性和景观破碎度)。新构建的"理想参照系+关键指标"的新型生态系统质量评估体系,理论上可满足新时期区域或国家生态系统质量快速评估的需求,但许多技术细节仍待于进一步完善;由于新评估体系能量化生态系统质量的恢复潜力与发展阶段,它可为更合理配置资源、提高保...     

鄂尔多斯市生态系统格局和质量变化及驱动力

生态系统变化是生态问题产生的主要驱动力之一,研究生态系统格局与质量变化对于认识人类活动与生态系统关系具有重要意义。鄂尔多斯市能源资源丰富,但生态环境脆弱,2000年以来,鄂尔多斯市在大规模开发能源的同时,也在不断加强生态环境的保护,而研究鄂尔多斯市生态系统格局与质量演变过程,对认识生态脆弱区发展与保护的关系有重要价值。应用遥感数据和GIS技术,评估了鄂尔多斯市生态系统类型与格局、生态系统质量的特征,以及2000年以来的时空变化趋势,分析了导致鄂尔多斯市生态系统格局与质量变化的驱动力因素。结果表明:(1)鄂尔多斯市的草地、荒漠裸地和农田为主要生态系统类型,分别占2010年市域面积的64.46%、21.34%与5.93%。(2)鄂尔多斯市城镇、灌丛、森林面积有所增加,草地、湿地、农田、荒漠裸地面积有所下降。城镇面积增幅最大,相对变化率增加33.37%,草地面积降幅最大,相对变化率减少0.78%,变化主要集中在中部、东北部。(3)鄂尔多斯市生态系统质量整体偏低,低等级与差等级的生态系统面积比例高达98.91%。全市的生态系统质量没有明显改善,其中生态系统质量有不同程度改善的面积为15.84%,质量降低的面积比例为15.29%。(4)生态系统格局与质量变化的主要驱动力有城市扩张、农田开垦、退耕还林(草湿)、生态保护、矿山开采等,鄂尔多斯市生态系统质量与降水、退耕还草工程、道路密度、温度、GDP1、放牧因子相关性显著。     

Contamination and environmental risk assessment of heavy metals in marine sediments from Tahaddart estuary (NW of Morocco)

Abstract

The distribution, contamination status, and ecological risks of heavy metals in Tahaddart estuary were investigated. 24 surface sediment samples and two cores were collected and analyzed for major (Al and Fe), heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn), and grain size composition. The heavy metals assessment was carried out using different environmental indices. The results indicated that the spatial distribution patterns of Al, Fe, and Zn were mainly determined by the distribution of the finer grained fraction (<63?μm) in the sediment. In contrast, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb concentrations were controlled by anthropogenic activities (vehicular traffic from Highway Bridge and thermal power plant). The distribution of heavy metals in sediment cores showed an upward enrichment in heavy metals with high concentration found in the uppermost may related to the increasing in human activities. The pollution indexes confirmed that the Tahaddart estuary sediment was considerably to high contaminated by heavy metals near to different anthropogenic inputs. Similarly, the potential ecological risk index and the biological risk index present 21% probability of toxicity posing potential risk to the aquatic organisms. These results provide basic information that can be used to protect and improve the quality of this ecosystem.