Structure of littoral zoocenoses in the macroalgae zones of the Neva River Estuary

The biodiversity and spatial distribution of macrofauna biomass are studied for 12 sites of stonesand littoral in the Neva Estuary in 2002–2005. The highest biodiversity has been observed for chironomids and oligochaetes in the Neva Bay (36% and 24% of total species number) and in the eastern Gulf of Finland (33% and 23%). Amphipods (≤89%), molluscs (≤61%), and chironomids (≤37%) dominate by biomass. The biomass spatial distribution vary dramatically from 9 to 37 g m⁻² in the freshwater Neva Bay and from 1 to 68 g m⁻² for the other Neva Estuary areas. The bottom fauna biomass in the Neva Bay is significantly lower than in the 1980–1990’s and constitutes 20–50% of the biomass previously observed. We explain such a significant decrease by a reduction of the insects and aborigine crustaceans Gammarus lacustris Sars and Asellus aquaticus L. The invasive amphipod species Gmelinoides fasciatus (Stebbing) dominated by biomass for the study period (3.8–15.6 g m⁻², or >30% of total macrozoobenthos biomass).     

Rapid Communication: Climatic Control on Eutrophication of the Hudson River Estuary

Eutrophication is arguably the biggest pollution problem facing estuaries globally, with extensive consequences including anoxic and hypoxic waters, reduced fishery harvests, toxic algal blooms, and loss of biotic diversity. However, estuaries vary greatly in their susceptibility to eutrophication. The Hudson River estuary receives very high levels of nutrient inputs yet in the past has shown relatively low rates of phytoplankton productivity and is generally considered to be only moderately susceptible to eutrophication. Here, we show that eutrophication and primary production in the Hudson estuary can increase dramatically in response to climatic variation and lowered freshwater discharge from the watershed. During dry summer periods in 1995 and 1997, rates of primary production were substantially higher than those measured during the 1970s, when freshwater discharge tended to be high. In the Hudson, low freshwater discharge increases waterresidence times and stratification and deepens the photic zone, all of which (alone or in combination) could lead to the observed increase in primary production. Our data, along with the prediction of most climate change models that freshwater discharge will be lower in the future during the summer in the northeastern US, suggest that the Hudson will become more susceptible to eutrophication. Eutrophication in an estuary is a complex process, and climate change is likely to affect each estuary differently due to interactions with nutrient loadings and physical circulation. Hence, it is essential to consider the effects of climate change in the context of individual estuarine functioning to successfully manage eutrophication in the future. Received 22 December 1999; accepted 28 December 1999.     

Phytoplankton primary production in the Neva Estuary at the turn of the 21st century

A review of data on the phytoplankton primary production in the Neva Estuary for the period of 1980–2000 is presented. The dynamics of primary production is affected by a complex estuarine geomorphology, geochemical boundaries, reconstitution and sedimentation processes, and deep currents. The maximal primary production is usually observed for the areas of the geochemical boundaries in the central part of the Neva Estuary. A positive correlation was found for the concentration of mineral particulate matter and concentration of total phosphorus. The increase in the anthropogenic load has a significant impact on the trophic status of the estuary.     

The Status and Characteristics of Eutrophication in the Yangtze River (Changjiang) Estuary and the Adjacent East China Sea, China

Eutrophication has become increasingly serious and noxious algal blooms have been of more frequent occurrence in the Yangtze River Estuary and in the adjacent East China Sea. In 2003 and 2004, four cruises were undertaken in three zones in the estuary and in the adjacent sea to investigate nitrate (NO₃–N), ammonium (NH₄–N), nitrite (NO₂–N), soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), dissolved reactive silica (DRSi), dissolved oxygen (DO), phytoplankton chlorophyll a (Chl a) and suspended particulate matter (SPM). The highest concentrations of DIN (NO₃–N+NH₄–N+NO₂–N), SRP and DRSi were 131.6, 1.2 and 155.6 μM, respectively. The maximum Chl a concentration was 19.5 mg m⁻³ in spring. An analysis of historical and recent data revealed that in the last 40 years, nitrate and SRP concentrations increased from 11 to 97 μM and from 0.4 to 0.95 μM, respectively. From 1963 to 2004, N:P ratios also increased from 30–40 up to 150. In parallel with the N and P enrichment, a significant increase of Chl a was detected, Chl a maximum being 20 mg m⁻³, nearly four times higher than in the 1980s. In 2004, the mean DO concentration in bottom waters was 4.35 mg l⁻¹, much lower than in the 1980s. In comparison with other estuaries, the Yangtze River Estuary was characterized by high DIN and DRSi concentrations, with low SRP concentrations. Despite the higher nutrient concentrations, Chl a concentrations were lower in the inner estuary (Zones 1 and 2) than in the adjacent sea (Zone 3). Based on nutrient availability, SPM and hydrodynamics, we assumed that in Zones 1 and 2 phytoplankton growth was suppressed by high turbidity, large tidal amplitude and short residence time. Furthermore, in Zone 3 water stratification was also an important factor that resulted in a greater phytoplankton biomass and lower DO concentrations. Due to hydrodynamics and turbidity, the open sea was unexpectedly more sensitive to nutrient enrichment and related eutrophication processes.     

A Stochastic Model Incorporating the Effect of Weather Conditions on Anthracnose Development in Stylosanthes scabra

Spatial and temporal progress of anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum gloeosporioides in quantitatively resistant accessions of the tropical pasture legume Stylosanthes scabra were studied in a field experiment at the Southedge Research Station, Queensland, Australia. In a previously published work a conditional ordinal logistic regression model was developed to explain the probability of a plant developing a given disease severity level, depending on its previous disease state and that of its neighbours. In the present study this model is augmented to incorporate the effects of three weather variables which were measured daily during a growing season. Two approaches were used: (a) threshold values for relative humidity (RH), rainfall and net evaporation were used to classify days as suitable or unsuitable for anthracnose growth; (b) days were assumed to vary continuously in their rate of anthracnose growth depending on the numerical values of the weather variables. High 9am RH, low net evaporation and low 9am temperatures are significantly associated with anthracnose growth. Net evaporation proved to be a better index than rainfall and heavy rainfall was not conducive to high levels of anthracnose; however, rainfall was useful once evaporation was taken into account. The effect of 9am RH can be described either by a threshold value around 70% or by a quadratic function. A two-variable model with net evaporation and log(rain+1) explains 97.6% of the available deviance.     

珠江河口区大型底栖动物群落结构

河口区大型底栖动物具有的重要群落特征往往可以反映群落所经历的环境污染。为更好地了解珠江河口区大型底栖动物群落结构, 作者于2014年11月至2015年8月进行了4个季度的大型底栖动物调查, 并利用PRIMER 6.0软件进行群落生物多样性指数计算、群落等级聚类(Cluster)和非度量多维标度排序(nMDS)分析。研究结果显示: 珠江河口区共获得大型底栖动物52种, 优势种包括光滑河篮蛤(Potamocorbula laevis)、中国绿螂(Glaucomya chinensis)、焦河篮蛤(Potamocorbula ustulata)和羽须鳃沙蚕(Dendroneris pinnaticirrus)。大型底栖动物年平均密度为269.3 ind./m ², 年平均生物量为129.61 g/m ²。12个站次的丰富度指数(D)、均匀度指数(J')和Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(H')平均值分别为1.81 ± 1.38、0.50 ± 0.27和1.60 ± 1.13。该结果显示除P01断面的秋季和冬季环境质量为优良外, 其他站位在不同季度都显示出轻度到重度的污染。Cluster聚类分析和nMDS标序结果表明, P01断面与P02和P03断面群落相似度较低, 与断面地理分布情况一致; P02断面和P03断面存在交叉聚集, 群落相似度较高。结合环境因子结果可知, 沉积物理化因子与群落分布特征相关性较大, 其中最能解释珠江河口区群落多样性分布特征的环境因子为盐度和pH值。     

珠江口底栖动物生态学研究

采泥样调查所获底栖动物一般为体形较小,活动能力较弱的种类,往往是一些底层鱼类和虾类等良好的天然饵料。珠江口海域渔业资源丰富,是中国南海区的主要渔场之一,因此,对该海域饵料底栖动物进行研究有重要意义。通过1999年9月和2000年4月分别对珠江口底栖生物进行的两个航次的采泥样调查,分别鉴定出底栖动物15衙睡21种,共计32种。底栖动物的优势种,秋季为光滑河篮蛤Potamocorbula laevis(Hinds)(Y=0.387),春季为光滑河篮蛤（Y＝0．464）和欧虫Owenia fusformis Delle Chiaje(Y=0.120)。平均个体数量和生物量,春季为591.7ind./m^2和26.7g/m^2,秋季为85.0ing./m^2和7.4g/m^2;而在各类群生物中,软体动物占绝大部分,其次为多毛类,其它各类群所占比例都不足5％。生物多样性,个体数量和生物量的分布均呈由北向南增加的趋势。另外,与近20a中的历史资料相比,珠江口底栖动物个体数量变化不大,除2000年春季较高为591.7ind./m^2外,其变化范围在72.4-128ing./m^2之间。春季生物量除1991年较高为27．0g/m^2外,变化不是很大,大约10g/m^2;但秋季生物量呈明显下降趋势,1980年为30.1g/m^2,1990年为27.8g/m^2,1999年秋季急剧下降至7.4g/m^2。此外,从底栖动物各大类群的百分组成变化情况来看,一般以软体动物个体数量（22．7％－83．2％）和生物量（57．9％－82．5％）都最高;多毛类的个体数量百分组成占第二倍,其范围是13．4％－52．3％;其它各类群的百分组成除个别时候所占比例较大外,一般都较小。     

特殊天气对麻雀集群行为的影响

采用直接观察法对麻雀在特殊气候条件下傍晚的集群行为进行研究,结果表明强度较小的降水或降雪对麻雀集群时群体大小影响较小,而在大的降水、降雪或大风天气下,麻雀没有傍晚集群行为。在上述特殊天气下,麻雀集群时间均有所提前,集群时光照强度较正常天气下有所降低,表明光照强度可能是影响麻雀集群时间提前的主要生态因子。     

笼养绿尾虹雉炫耀行为节律及天气因素对该行为的影响研究

求偶炫耀行为有助于鸟类吸引配偶,促进发情同步。目前,笼养绿尾虹雉面临的最大问题是自然繁殖率低,发情不同步导致卵不受精是一个重要因素。本文采用瞬时扫描记录法,对四川蜂桶寨国家级自然保护区笼养绿尾虹雉的求偶炫耀行为节律及天气因素对该行为的影响进行了研究。通过对4只雄性个体和5只雌性个体的观察发现,求偶炫耀仅由雄性来发起。3月底雄性开始出现求偶炫耀行为;4月求偶炫耀进入高峰阶段,并持续到5月初,5月中、下旬渐渐消失。在一天之中,07∶00—09∶00为求偶炫耀行为的高峰期。天气因素显著影响雄性求偶炫耀行为的发生频次,与晴天相比,阴天和雨天里求偶炫耀行为发生频次更高。建议在绿尾虹雉求偶炫耀期间,尽量减少人为干扰。同时适当创造阴湿环境,将笼舍的环境温湿度调控到一个适中的区域,为发情营造良好的条件,以促进绿尾虹雉自然交配行为发生。     

黄河口潮间带大型底栖动物群落特征

2013年2月、5月和8月对黄河入海口附近潮间带的大型底栖动物进行了调查,调查工作涵盖3个季节2条断面的样品,分析了黄河口潮间带大型底栖动物的群落结构特征,包括群落种类组成、丰度和生物量、优势种、多样性,采用CLUSTER聚类分析了大型底栖动物的群落结构,并用AMBI和m-AMBI对底栖群落和环境质量进行了评估。本次调查共鉴定出大型底栖动物52种,其中,多毛纲动物24种,软体动物14种,甲壳动物12种,鱼类1种,纽虫1种。多毛纲动物为该海域底栖群落的主要成分,占据了群落总种数的46.15%。从季节来看,物种数春季最高(38种),夏季则处于最低水平(16种)。群落丰度和生物量均具有明显的季节变化,丰度在春季达到最高,为3 549.33 ind/m2,远高于冬季的256.67 ind/m2和夏季的100.67 ind/m2,其中扁玉螺(Neverita didyma)是丰度的主要贡献者,贡献了全年群落总丰度的75.44%。生物量春季最高,夏季次之,冬季最低。在全年尺度上,甲壳动物的日本大眼蟹(Macrophthalmusjaponicus)是生物量的主要贡献者,占据总生物量的49.86%。群落的季节变化也得到了群落CLUSTER分析与SIMPER分析结果的验证。这与黄河入海口附近底质不稳定,易受侵蚀、环境条件如盐度等具有明显季节差异,以及一定程度的人为扰动密切相关。AMBI和m-AMBI的分析结果显示,该区域环境质量状况较好,仅受到了轻微扰动影响。     

Benthic phosphorus regeneration in the Potomac River Estuary

The flux of dissolved reactive phosphate from Potomac riverine and estuarine sediments is controlled by processes occurring at the water-sediment interface and within surficial sediment.In situ benthic fluxes (0.1 to 2.0 mmoles m⁻² day⁻¹) are generally five to ten times higher than calculated diffusive fluxes (0.020 to 0.30 mmoles m⁻² day⁻¹). The discrepancy between the two flux estimates is greatest in the transition zone (river mile 50 to 70) and is attributd to macrofaunal irrigation. Bothin situ and diffusive fluxes of dissolved reactive phosphate from Potomac tidal river sediments are low while those from anoxic lower estuarine sediments are high. The net accumulation rate of phosphorus in benthic sediment exhibits an inverse pattern. Thus a large fraction of phosphorus is retained by Potomac tidal river sediments, which contain a surficial oxidized layer and oligochaete worms tolerant of low oxygen conditions, and a large fraction of phosphorus is released from anoxic lower estuary sediments. Tidal river sediment pore waters are in equilibrium with amorphous Fe (OH)₃ while lower estuary pore waters are significantly undersaturated with respect to this phase. Benthic regeneration of dissolved reactive phosphorus is sufficient to supply all the phosphorus requirements for net primary production in the lower tidal river and transition-zone waters of the Potomac River Estuary. Benthic regeneration supplies approximately 25% as much phosphorus as inputs from sewage treatment plants and 10% of all phosphorus inputs to the tidal Potomac River. When all available point source phosphorus data are put into a steady-state conservation of mass model and reasonable coefficients for uptake of dissolved phosphorus, remineralization of particulate phosphorus, and sedimentation of particulate phosphorus are used in the model, a reasonably accurate simulation of dissolved and particulate phosphorus in the water column is obtained for the summer of 1980.     

天气条件对放归大熊猫活动的影响

放归已被广泛应用于濒危物种的保护和管理。作为重要环境因子之一,天气条件对动物活动有重要影响。了解不同天气条件下放归动物的活动特点,对于改进放归技术和提高放归成功率具有重要意义。本研究利用GPS项圈数据对5只人工繁育大熊猫Ailuropoda melanoleuca放归后的行为进行研究,比较不同天气条件下放归个体日移动距离、日活动率和日活动强度的差异。研究结果显示,放归个体在晴/多云天活动性更强,日移动距离(426.74 m±17.54 m)更长、日活动率(32.60%±0.60%)和日活动强度(21.00±0.49)更高,而长时间降雨(小雨、中/大雨)会导致放归个体活动性降低(日移动距离:359.32 m±18.95 m、338.19 m±32.36 m,日活动率:24.38%±0.71%、23.25%±1.28%,日活动强度:15.22±0.56、12.97±0.79),阴天的活动性(日移动距离:345.83 m±14.27 m,日活动率:27.79%±0.56%,日活动强度:18.15±0.47)总体介于晴天和长时间降雨天之间。短时间降雨(阵雨)对日活动率(28.78%±1.81%)和日活动强度(17.82±1.46)影响较小,大熊猫活动性更接近晴/多云天。结果表明,天气条件对放归大熊猫个体的活动有显著影响。此外,尽管大熊猫属食肉目Carnivora,但是放归大熊猫在不同天气条件下的活动模式更接近杂食动物。     

瓯江干流丽水段水体富营养化评价

2009年3月、5月、8月、11月在全长41.7 Km的瓯江干流丽水段设10个站点,对DO、CODMn、NH3-N、TN、TP等5项水质指标进行了测定,并运用营养状态指数对水体水质进行了分析和评价。结果显示,2个站点水体水质达到地表水环境质量Ⅲ类标准,5个站点水体水质为Ⅳ类标准,3个站点为Ⅴ类标准。评价结果显示2009年全江段水体水质的营养水平全部为中营养水平。     

Juvenile Salmon Usage of the Skeena River Estuary

Migratory salmon transit estuary habitats on their way out to the ocean but this phase of their life cycle is more poorly understood than other phases. The estuaries of large river systems in particular may support many populations and several species of salmon that originate from throughout the upstream river. The Skeena River of British Columbia, Canada, is a large river system with high salmon population- and species-level diversity. The estuary of the Skeena River is under pressure from industrial development, with two gas liquefaction terminals and a potash loading facility in various stages of environmental review processes, providing motivation for understanding the usage of the estuary by juvenile salmon. We conducted a juvenile salmonid sampling program throughout the Skeena River estuary in 2007 and 2013 to investigate the spatial and temporal distribution of different species and populations of salmon. We captured six species of juvenile anadromous salmonids throughout the estuary in both years, and found that areas proposed for development support some of the highest abundances of some species of salmon. Specifically, the highest abundances of sockeye (both years), Chinook in 2007, and coho salmon in 2013 were captured in areas proposed for development. For example, juvenile sockeye salmon were 2–8 times more abundant in the proposed development areas. Genetic stock assignment demonstrated that the Chinook salmon and most of the sockeye salmon that were captured originated from throughout the Skeena watershed, while some sockeye salmon came from the Nass, Stikine, Southeast Alaska, and coastal systems on the northern and central coasts of British Columbia. These fish support extensive commercial, recreational, and First Nations fisheries throughout the Skeena River and beyond. Our results demonstrate that estuary habitats integrate species and population diversity of salmon, and that if proposed development negatively affects the salmon populations that use the estuary, then numerous fisheries would also be negatively affected.     

The Influence of Dry-season Conditions on the Bottom Dwelling Fauna of an East Australian Sub-tropical Estuary

Spatial patterns in benthic infaunal community structure of Port Curtis estuary (north-eastern Australia) were determined from quantitative grab samples and examined in relation to environmental variables. A total of 149 riverine, estuarine and open coastal stations were sampled during the winter survey, and 5744 individuals from 466 species identified. Filter-feeding organisms (primarily polychaetes, molluscs and crustaceans) dominated the benthos, and accounted for 50% of the total species abundance and 30% of the total species richness. Most taxa were uncommon, and 98% of species individually represented less than 2% of the total abundance. Distributional patterns in total species richness and abundance were highly correlated, and both parameters varied significantly with sediment grain size. Numbers of species and individuals were typically highest in coarse-sand and gravel sediments, and were lowest in fine, well-sorted, sands. Cluster analysis of species abundance data revealed nine community groupings characterised by small species sub-sets with restricted distributions. These groupings were primarily related to sediment grain size, sediment organic carbon content, salinity and depth. Not all variation in community structure was explained by these environmental variables, and it is likely that other unmeasured factors play an important role in determining benthic faunal composition in the estuary.     

珠江口水体浮游细菌种群多样性空间分布特征

为认识珠江口水体浮游细菌的多样性分布规律,运用聚合酶链式反应-变性梯度凝胶电泳(PCR-DGGE)和多维尺度分析(MDS)的方法,研究了春季珠江口十个站位表底水层浮游细菌种群16SrRNA基因多样性特征。研究结果表明,珠江口浮游细菌种群具有丰富的基因多样性;不同站位细菌群落结构和优势种群变化显著:大多数站位表底层细菌群落结构比较相似,河口外站位(A12,A14和C5),表底层细菌群落结构差异性较大:多样性分析表明A14,B6和C5站位底层细菌多样性大于表层。遗传发育分析表明,序列归属于变形细菌(Proteobacteria),酸杆菌(Acidobacteria),蓝细菌(Cyanobacteria),厚壁细菌(Firmicutes)和放线菌(Actinobacteria)。变形细菌(Proteobacteria)种类最多,从河口内淡水区到河口外海水区都有大量分布,是珠江口水域占优势的菌群;同时也检测到种类丰富的放线菌(Actinobacteria)的存在,也是珠江口水域的优势菌群。     

The influence of seasonal and year-to-year variability of water discharge from the Lake Ladoga—Neva River system on the salinity regime of the Baltic Sea

The study is based on multi-year monthly and yearly averaged time series of the Neva River discharge, monthly salinity observations from near-shore hydrographic and hydrometeorological stations in the Gulf of Finland, and several years of data from international seasonal salinity observations in the open region of NE Baltic Sea. There is a good coherence between seasonal variations of the Neva River flow and the salinity regime in the upper layer of the Baltic Sea. Near the shores periods of low, normal and high salinity correspond to the periods of high, normal and low river runoff, and the same trends are observed with some time lag in the open parts of the Sea as well. The impacts of the Neva River discharge oscillations on salinity of the Gulf of Finland surface waters are analyzed in terms of time regression probability models. The obtained river flow-marine salinity transfer functions summarize well the observation data on both multiannual and seasonal scales of variability. Some seasonal periods with different anomalies of the influence are distinguished.     

珠江口水域夏季小型底栖生物群落结构

于2010年8月在珠江口水域进行小型底栖生物取样分析,结果表明,该调查水域夏季小型底栖生物的平均丰度为(183±174)个/10 cm2,平均生物量为(345±334)μg干重/10 cm2,平均生产量为(3104±3008)μg干重/10 cm2。共鉴定出小型底栖生物16个类群,按丰度,自由生活海洋线虫和双壳类幼体为优势类群,其丰度分别占调查水域小型底栖生物总丰度的62.61%和22.62%。按生物量,优势类群由双壳类幼体(50.57%)、线虫(13.33%)和多毛类(12.47%)等组成。81.15%的小型底栖生物分布在0—5 cm的沉积物中。与环境因子相关分析表明:小型底栖生物丰度、线虫丰度与温度呈显著负相关,与盐度呈显著正相关。调查水域线虫与桡足类数量的比值(N/C)呈现出由河口上游向下游递增,且西岸明显高于东岸的趋势。     

Origin of carbon in organic matter in the Neva estuary

Analysis of the isotopic composition of tissues of representatives of zoobenthos and organic matter of seston have shown that the major part of carbon participating in the biological turnover in the ecosystem of the upper part of the Neva estuary is of terrestrial origin. Obviously, it is discharged from the lake drainage area to the Lake Ladoga–Neva–Neva estuary system. The results have revealed an important role in aquatic ecosystems of the humid zone of allochthonous humic substances creating a supplementary stock of nutrients and enhancing the productivity of ecosystems. Detailed investigations of the role of various forms of allochthonous organic compounds of terrestrial origin are necessary for elaboration of efficient measures for alleviation of eutrophication of the Neva estuary.