Algal epilithon and water quality of a stream receiving oil refinery effluent

Changes in epilithic algal communities colonizing introduced substrata were determined in a stream polluted with oil refinery effluent at Digboi (Assam, India). The number of algal taxa was reduced but the growth of blue-green algae, particularly two species ofOscillatoria, was encouraged. Epilithic biomass (as chlorophylla) also declined at polluted stations. The algal community of the upstream station was markedly different from the community occurring just after the confluence of effluent; however, the differences were gradually reduced downstream, indicating improvement in water quality. Of the various criteria tested for possible relationships with the level of pollutants, species richness, Shannon diversity and biomass showed significant relationships. The study demonstrates the usefulness of algal criteria for monitoring oil pollution in running waters.     

Woody Debris Amendment Enhances Reclamation after Oil Sands Mining in Alberta,Canada

Mining disturbs large forested areas around the world, including boreal forests after oil sands mining in Canada. Industrial companies are expected to reclaim degraded land to ecosystems with equivalent land capability. This research showed the value of woody debris for reclamation of dramatically disturbed landscapes with a forest ecosystem end land use. Adding woody debris during reclamation can facilitate recovery of flora, soil nutrient cycling and water and nutrient holding capacity. Combined with forest floor material, woody debris can provide native plant propagules that would be otherwise commercially unavailable. Sites with and without woody debris on forest floor material containing identifiable litter (L), fragmented and fermented litter (F), and humus (H) (LFH), and peat mineral soil mix (peat) cover soils were studied. Within 2 years, woody debris decreased bare ground and created microsites which were positively associated with greater vegetation cover and woody plant density. Woody debris treatments had lower soil available nitrate and soil under woody debris had a lower temperature range and higher soil volumetric water content than control treatments without woody debris. Woody debris did not affect first year microbial biomass carbon or mycorrhizae, but both were greater on LFH than peat cover soil. LFH was associated with lower bare ground and greater vegetation cover, species richness, and soil phosphorus and potassium than peat cover soil, which had greater soil sulfate .     

The Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Epipelic Algae in a Shallow Eutrophic Prairie-parkland Lake,Alberta, Canada

Investigations were conducted upon the epipelic algal community of a shallow eutrophic lake in central Alberta, Canada. The lake was Hastings Lake (longitudes 112° 50′ and 113° 00′ W; latitudes 53° 15′ and 53° 50′ N). The epipelic algae displayed both spatial and temporal distributions for species composition, standing crop as well as productivity. In situ cross incubation experiments showed the potential photosynthetic viability of epipelic algae living below the 1% irradiance level.     

Epilithic bacterial and algal colonization in a stream run, riffle, and pool: a test of biomass covariation

Epilithic bacterial and algal biomass were compared among a run, riffle, and pool along an open-canopy section of a third-order, temperate stream. Epilithic biofilms were sampled after 3, 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 days colonization on unglazed ceramic tiles that were attached to plastic trays (n = 3) placed across each of the three habitats (i.e., run, riffle, pool). The diverse habitats and sampling regime were selected to provide a range in algal biomass so that potential covariation between epilithic bacterial and algal biomass could be assessed. There were significant differences among habitats and among trays within each habitat for both chlorophyll a and AFDM. Chlorophyll a and AFDM increased in the run and pool throughout the colonization period. In the riffle, chlorophyll a and AFDM increased rapidly early in colonization, then decreased. Epilithic bacterial biomass increased rapidly with no significant differences among the three habitats throughout colonization. Further, bacterial biomass did not correlate with either chlorophyll a or AFDM in any of the three habitats or on any of the sampling days. These results suggest that epilithic algal and bacterial biomass may be regulated by independent controls in some stream environments.     

典型红树林生态系统藻类多样性及其在生态过程中的作用

藻类是红树林生态系统重要的生物类群, 根据生态习性可分为浮游植物、底栖微藻和大型藻类三个生态类群, 它们在红树林生态系统生物多样性、初级生产、元素循环等方面起着重要作用。但在红树林生态系统中, 关注重点多集中在红树植物和动物, 对其中的藻类重视不够, 且多数研究集中在近20年以及亚洲的红树林区。事实上, 红树林生态系统藻类非常丰富, 其多样性研究有助于深入揭示红树林生态系统的结构与功能。本文介绍了红树林生态系统藻类的组成类群及其重要性, 重点对红树林区浮游植物、底栖硅藻和大型海藻的种类组成、地理分布及其与初级生产力、水质污染、元素循环、碳库形成等生态过程中的作用的研究动态和进展等进行了总结。根据已有研究, 红树林区浮游植物和底栖硅藻的种类数一般为几十到上百种, 其中硅藻在种类和数量上都占绝对优势, 它们是重要的初级生产者、饵料生物和水质污染指示生物; 红树林区底栖大型藻类主要由红藻、绿藻、褐藻、蓝藻组成, 绿藻的种类较多, 红藻在数量上占优势; 藻类是红树林湿地碳库的重要贡献者, 在红树林湿地生态系统碳汇和碳循环中起重要作用。红树林生态系统是个高度动态和异质的系统, 今后应加强红树林藻类多样性的长周期、大尺度变化及不同生境藻类的综合研究, 关注大陆径流和潮汐对藻类多样性和蓝碳的影响, 借助沉积物藻类记录, 探明红树林区藻类的长周期变化, 反演气候变化和人类活动对红树林生态系统的影响过程和机制。     

不同藻类对成熟前文蛤的生长及其生化成分的影响

为了找到适于文蛤(Meretrix meretrix)暂养、育肥的藻类,通过实验观察了不同藻类对成熟前文蛤生长的影响.实验共分为5组,分别单独投喂4种单胞藻,包括海水小球藻(CMorella vulgaris)(A组)、球等边金藻(Isochrysis golbana)(B组)、青岛大扁藻(Platymonas halgolandica)(C组)和牟氏角毛藻(Chaetoceros müelleri)(D组),及混合投喂海水小球藻、球等边金藻与牟氏角毛藻(E组).结果表明,单胞藻无论是单独投喂还是混合投喂,对成熟前文蛤的壳长和体重增长没有显著影响(P>0.05),其常规生化成分如蛋白质、脂肪、总糖及各种脂肪酸含量在某些实验组之间存在显著性差异(P<0.05).E组蛋白质含量(63.57%)最低,与其他组之间存在显著性差异;E组脂肪含量(8.17%)除低于D组(8.64%)外,高于其他3组,但与其他组间无显著性差异;E组总糖含量(7.08%)除低于C组(7.62%)外,高于其他3组,与其他组之间存在显著性差异(P<0.05).亚油酸(C18:2)、亚麻酸(C18:3)和花生四烯酸(C20:4)均为C组最高,含量分别为2.06%、2.28%和6.50%,与其他组之间存在显著性差异.EPA以D组为最高(8.51%),DHA以B组为最高(10.33%).     

The Epipelic Algal Flora of the River Wye System,Wales, U. K. 2. Algal Phyla and Species Population Dynamics

The Bacillariophyta dominated over the other phyla and were mainly recorded in high densities during summer and autumn. The Chlorophyta and Myxophyta (Cyanobacteria) were represented by coccoid forms and by non-heterocystous, filamentous forms, respectively. Both were mainly recorded during summer and mostly absent during winter. Other phyla were occasionally recorded in low densities; the Chrysophyta being found in the River Elan and at one site on the River Wye during June 1980. Their members were considered as “contaminants” or “fall-out” from other communities. Pennate diatoms were the most “constant” species and either showed a general upstream or downstream increase or a general distribution throughout the study area. Populations of the same species colonising both sediments and stones were not correlated or insignificantly correlated with each other at most stations. It was concluded that sediments were unsuitable for algal colonisation. The River Elan and upper Wye were rated as oligosaprobic, the River Ithon and lower Wye as β-mesosaprobic and the River Lugg as α-mesosaprobic.     

Divergent Pathways of Successional Recovery for In Situ Oil Sands Exploration Drilling Pads on Wooded Moderate‐Rich Fens in Alberta,Canada

Peatlands in northern Alberta, Canada, are being rapidly impacted by oil sands activities, with potentially long‐term consequences for their recovery. In situ oil sands extraction requires exploration of oil resources on a dense network of drilling pads across the landscape. This study examined the recovery of wooded moderate‐rich (WMR) fens 10 years after abandonment of these sites with minimal restorative measures. Bryophyte and vascular plant diversity, site microtopography, and water chemistry were assessed on drilling pads and in adjacent areas of undisturbed reference habitat. WMR fens affected by drilling activities were divided a priori into two groups based on strongly divergent trends in their successional development. One group represented the majority of WMR fens observed on the land base; at these sites hummock‐forming mosses including minerotrophic Sphagnum species were infrequent and tree recruitment was almost absent. The other group was dominated by Sphagnum species, had Picea mariana and Larix laricina recruitment, and appeared to recover more quickly. Both groups had high abundance of wetland sedges, notably Carex aquatilis. Further, drilling pads belonging to the first group had a high water table, limited elevated microsites, and had surface flooding over a portion of the growing season, in contrast to Sphagnum‐dominated sites. Development of the aquatic, bryophyte‐poor wetland type is comparable to early stages of wetland succession and these systems will recover relatively slowly, likely from decades to more than a century. Restoring part of the vertical distribution of microhabitats before abandonment of these pads could stimulate the successional recovery of vegetation.     

宁夏回族自治区沙坡头地区半荒漠土壤中藻类的垂直分布

对沙坡头地区半荒漠土壤中藻类植物的垂直分布进行了为期一年多的采样、分析,结果发现结皮层有藻类植物24种,蓝藻及其丝状种类的比例最大;结皮下0-50mm和50-100mm层次分别有15种、10种,且都以硅藻及细胞种类丰富;深层次出现的种类在浅层次都出现;100mm以下层次没有任何藻种发现。生物量从表及里随深度的增加而锐减,99％的分布在结皮层;就结皮层中78％的在0-0.1mm层次,96％在0-1.0mm深度。种类数变化在结皮层和结皮下0-50mm层次都与降水量相关,而结皮下50-100mm层次基本不变。     

Interrelation between plankton and benthos in the littoral algal community of Lake Yunoko,Central Japan

To ascertain the floristic interaction between phytoplankton and benthos in the littoral, the composition of each community was investigated and the effect of the substrata on the benthic communities was also examined.The main component of the benthic algal population wasFragilaria pinnata followed byF. pinnata var.lancettula. Although the dominant species of the plankton in the upper layers were similar to those in the limnetic, and those immediately above the bottom contained species of benthic origin, the similarity index of C implied high similarity between these two plankton layers. This index was developed by Morishita (1959) to measure the degree of overlap of component species between two communities. The value of C distributes from 0 to 1. The closer the value approaches 1, the more the communities are similar.For the dominant species, a significant difference was observed between the phytoplankton and benthic communities and in addition, C values indicated low overall similarity in the composition of the communities. These results suggest that there is little interrelation between phytoplankton and benthos even in the shallow littoral zone.     

Seasonal succession,standing crop and determinants of primary productivity of the phytoplankton of Ministik Lake,Alberta, Canada

Ministik Lake (longitude 113°01; latitude 53°21), a well-mixed, shallow (mean depth 1.83 m), eutrophic lake is characterized by eutrophic chlorococcalean and cyanophycean phytoplankton associations, and little change in standing crop size with increasing depth. Standing crops and primary productivity are low during the winter but pronounced spring and late summer/early autumn maxima occur. Mean yearly areal standing crop (B) and primary productivity (A) were 199.2 mg m^–2 chlorophyll a and 319.5 mg C hr^–1 m^–2 respectively. Annual productivity was estimated at 1399,6 g C m^–2yr^–1. The mean increase in the extinction coefficient () per unit increase in standing crop (B) was 0.03 In units m^–1. High non-algal light attenuation (q) occurred averaging 46% which prevented the ratio B from attaining more than 74.2% of the theoretical maximum except once when selfshading occurred. Insignificant relationships existed between B (mg m^–3 chlorophyll a) and A_max (mg C hr^–1 m^–3), A and B and A and B. Close correlations existed between A and A_max/ and A and I₀ (W m^–2). The depth of the euphotic zone (Z_eu) varied between 0.6 and 2.0 m; the average relationship between z_eu and was z_eu = 3.78/_te, and the mean standing crop in the euphotic zone represented 58.3% of the theoritical maximum. The high _q values made the model of Talling (1957) inapplicable to this lake. The Q₁₀ value for the lake was 1.20. _max (mg C chlorophyll a ^–1 hr^–1) was closely related to both temperature and irradiance, and depressed by high pH values.Growth of the cyanophycean algae was correlated with temperature, chlorophycean algae with phosphate-phosphorus and temperature and the diatoms with dissolved silica and phosphate-phosphorus, but only in the case of Chaetoceros elmorii did any nutrient appear limiting. Indirect evidence that free CO₂ limited photosynthetic rates is provided by the _max:pH relationship.     

Degradation and rehabilitation of wetlands in the Alligator Rivers Region of northern Australia

The wetlands of the Alligator Rivers Region of northern Australia have been recognized as having high national and international conservation value. The diversity and productivity of these habitats is, however, under current and future threat from invasive feral animals (Asian water buffalo and pigs) and naturalized alien plants (mimosa, salvinia and para grass) and also from climate change and sea level rise. Some habitats have already been severely degraded and require rehabilitation. In response to this situation feral animal management has centered on eradicating the buffalo population and introducing measures to control pigs. Weed management has focused on control of mimosa and salvinia with an increasing emphasis on integrated control measures. The vulnerability of the freshwater wetlands to climate change and sea level rise is considerable, although the exact nature of environmental change has not been determined.Rehabilitation of the degraded wetlands has centered on controlling the cause of the problem (e.g., the invasive species) and allowing subsequent natural succession to occur. It is recommended that further monitoring and assessment of successional change is undertaken to ascertain if this is sufficient. An integrated monitoring program for detecting the extent and rate of ecological change because of climate change and sea level rise is also proposed. Specific management and research tasks for each of the major broad causes of wetland degradation within the region are made. It is then strongly recommended that all rehabilitation and monitoring activities, including related research, are conducted within a holistic management framework that takes into account the different land jurisdictions within the region and also within the broader landscape context. The utilization of existing management and research structures and processes is stressed as one means of achieving an integrated approach.     

Rivers Through Time: Historical Changes in the Riparian Vegetation of the Semi-Arid,Winter Rainfall Region of South Africa in Response to Climate and Land Use

This paper examines how the riparian vegetation of perennial and ephemeral rivers systems in the semi-arid, winter rainfall region of South Africa has changed over time. Using an environmental history approach we assess the extent of change in plant cover at 32 sites using repeat photographs that cover a time span of 36–113 years. The results indicate that in the majority of sites there has been a significant increase in cover of riparian vegetation in both the channel beds and adjacent floodplain environments. The most important species to have increased in cover across the region is Acacia karroo. We interpret the findings in the context of historical changes in climate and land use practices. Damage to riparian vegetation caused by mega-herbivores probably ceased sometime during the early 19th century as did scouring events related to large floods that occurred at regular intervals from the 15th to early 20th centuries. Extensive cutting of riparian vegetation for charcoal and firewood has also declined over the last 150 years. Changes in the grazing history as well as increased abstraction and dam building along perennial rivers in the region also account for some of the changes observed in riparian vegetation during the second half of the 20th century. Predictions of climate change related to global warming anticipate increased drought events with the subsequent loss of species and habitats in the study area. The evidence presented here suggests that an awareness of the region’s historical ecology should be considered more carefully in the modelling and formulation of future climate change predictions as well as in the understanding of climate change impacts over time frames of decades and centuries.     

Epilithic cyanobacterial communities and water quality: an alternative tool for monitoring eutrophication in the Alberche River (Spain)

Changes in epilithic cyanobacterial communities were determined in a river characterized by variations in nutrient content. The cyanobacterial community composition of the upstream sites was different from that of the downstream communities, where anthropogenic influences lead to an increase in nutrients (principally soluble reactive phosphate, SRP). There was a general trend in downstream sites towards a decrease in species richness, abundance, and diversity of cyanobacteria. The reduced cyanobacterial species richness in downstream locations was due largely to a marked decrease in the number of heterocystous species, although the number of non-heterocystous species also decreased. Epilithic phycobiliprotein content was positively correlated with the number of cyanobacterial cells, implying that this pigment provides information about the abundance of the cyanobacteria community in the epilithon. The lowest concentrations of phycobiliprotein in the epilithon were observed where concentrations of phosphate were highest. Similarly, the number of heterocystous and non-heterocystous species tended to decrease as the SRP increased, and as the DIN:SRP ratio decreased. However, no relation was found with dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN). The differences among cyanobacterial communities could be interpreted as being a consequence of variations in nutrient composition. Finally, the usefulness of cyanobacteria as an alternative tool for assessing changes in water quality is discussed. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

古尔班通古特沙漠生物结皮藻类的组成和生态分布研究

通过对新疆古尔班通古特沙漠中9个样地73份生物结皮土样藻类的培养和鉴定,分析了古尔班通古特沙漠中生物结皮藻类的种类组成和生态分布特点。结果表明．该沙漠中有藻类植物49属121种．隶属于蓝藻门、绿藻门、硅藻门和裸藻门。其中监藻83种,绿藻20种,硅藻11种。裸藻7种。蓝藻占总种数的68．60％,其中又以丝状种类为优势．占66．27％;绿藻则以单细胞种类为主。在古尔班通古特沙漠不同地带中,其藻类物种多样性和群落组成均有所不同,中部藻类物种最为丰富,北部和南部次之。而东部和西部则明显减少。在沙垄不同部位的分布中,少数种类对地貌部位的选择性不明显,但有些种类在不同地貌部位分布有差异。藻类在结皮不同层次的分布不同,在结皮层中藻类的种类和数量都较丰富．且以丝状种类较多,而在结皮下层藻类的种类和数量明显减少。     

Physical and chemical limnology of northern boreal lakes, Wood Buffalo National Park, northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories, Canada

Physical and chemical variables were measured in 35 lakes from Wood Buffalo National Park, northern Alberta and the Northwest Territories, Canada. Of these lakes, 22 were sinkholes, situated on limestone and gypsum, five were situated on the Canadian Shield and eight were shallow 'muskeg' lakes located on calcareous shales. All of the lakes were small to moderate in size. For each of the 35 lakes, 37 environmental variables were measured. Principal component analysis (PCA) revealed that underlying geology strongly influenced limnic properties. Shield lakes were characterized by higher concentrations of A1 and Fe, and lower pH values, specific conductivities and concentrations of ions such as, Ca, SO4, Li, Mg and Na, than either the sinkhole or the muskeg lakes. The muskeg lakes were differentiated from the sinkhole lakes by decreased Secchi depth owing to higher concentrations of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and greater productivity, as evidenced by high concentrations of particulate organic carbon (POC) and chlorophyll a. Nitrogen (NH3 and NO2) was also notably higher at these sites. The 22 sinkhole lakes were further classified by the type of surrounding vegetation. Six vegetation groups were recognized: (1) spruce; (2) pine; (3) mixed; (4) shrubs/poplar; (5) recently burned and (6) rocky. These vegetation groups largely reflect fire history, but also differences in soils and drainage. Unlike geology, surrounding vegetation, and therefore recent fire history, generally had little influence on limnic properties. PCA showed that of the six vegetation groups, only the spruce lake group, which was characterized by high levels of DIC, was distinct. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

中国连珠藻属(串珠藻科)的分类研究

记述了中国产连珠藻属Sirodotia Kylin的6个种,即黄山连珠藻S.huangshanensis Z．X．Shi et S．L.Xie,威拉连珠藻S．huillensis(Welwitsch ex W．et G．S．West)Skuja,中华连珠藻S.sinica Jao,纤细连珠藻S.delicatula Skuja,瑞典连珠藻S.suecica Kylin和细连珠藻S．tenuissima(Collins)Skuja ex Flint。其中,黄山连珠藻S．huangshanensis Z．X．Shi et S．L.Xie为新种,威拉连珠藻S.huillensis(Welwitsch ex W．et G．S．West)Skuja,纤细连珠藻S．delicatula Skuja和瑞典连珠藻S.suecica Kylin为中国新记录。     

Seasonal dynamics of cell numbers and biodiversity of marine heterotrophic bacteria inhabiting invertebrates and water ecosystems of the Peter the Great Bay,Sea of Japan

The annual changes in bacterial numbers and diversity of the heterotrophic microflora in invertebrates and ambient water were studied. During the whole period of observation, bacterial cell numbers were higher in invertebrate specimens than in the ambient water. The highest number of bacterial cells was detected in trepangs and sea urchins, while the lowest number of cells was detected in starfish. Based on the results of phenotypic analysis and analysis of fatty acid composition of bacterial cell lipids, 487 strains (out of the total of 502 isolates) of heterotrophic bacteria were identified to the genus level. Morphological differences between the winter and summer isolates of vibrios and halomonads were analyzed. The seasonal dynamics of the cell numbers of vibrios and halomonads was revealed. The gram-positive microflora was most often present in animals during the winter, fall, and spring periods. The diversity of heterotrophic bacteria was greater in the water column than in animal tissues.     

泉州湾海域鱼类多样性及营养级变化

利用2008年5月和10月在泉州湾进行的拖网渔业资源调查资料, 探讨了该海域鱼类群落结构和物种多样性特征。结果表明, 两次拖网调查共鉴定鱼类54种, 隶属于2纲13目32科。其中中上层鱼类12种, 近底层鱼类19种, 底层鱼类23种; 暖水性鱼类40种, 暖温性鱼类14种, 未发现冷温性和冷水性种类; 杂食性鱼类4种, 低级肉食性鱼类37种, 中级肉食性鱼类8种, 高级肉食性鱼类5种。白姑鱼(Argyrosomus argentatus)和叫姑鱼(Johnius belengerii)是5月份最主要的优势种, 凤鲚(Coilia mystus)和龙头鱼(Harpodon nehereus)是10月份最主要的优势种。与1985年的调查资料相比, 泉州湾鱼类组成和优势种发生了很大的变化, 多样性指数由3.05下降到2.32, 均匀度指数由0.76下降到0.58, 营养级指数由2.79下降到2.54。泉州湾鱼类多样性下降的主要原因可能是过度捕捞、水域污染和栖息地丧失等。