Water quality research in the area of the river Kromme Rijn

Summary From 1974 till 1977 research was carried out in the Kromme Rijn area. The aim of this research was to observe nature and quantity of the surface water and the different influences on the surface water (e.g. inflow from Rhine water, waste water, etc.). On the basis of monthly gathered data about discharge, chemistry, phytoplankton and macrofauna evaluation schemes have been developed. The surface water has been classified and qualified. The most important pollutants appeared to be the river Rhine and the sewage treatment plants.Suggestions are made to stop the pollution; the water quality expected after these measures is shown.The group consists basically of the physical geographer W. Bleuten, the botanist P. R. M. Maas, the agricultural-economist J. van Driel, the hydrobiologist-chemist B. Beltman, the technical assistent A. V. Hendriks and the chemical analyst C. Kalwer.     

Status of water environment pollution in the Xixi Wetland and its ecological treatment countermeasures

In this paper, the water quality of the Xixi Wetland was evaluated and the characteristics of water pollution were described according to the survey data. Based on the status of water quality and its functional requirements as an urban wetland, biological-ecological countermeasures were suggested. The experimental use of ecological technologies, such as artificial wetlands, ecological aquiculture and artificial floating island, were done in several fish ponds in the Xixi Wetland. Water monitoring results show that the quality of the treated water has improved significantly and the measures to purify the eutrophic water in the wetland have been effective.     

Status of water environment pollution in the Xixi Wetland and its ecological treatment countermeasures

In this paper,the water quality of the Xixi Wetland was evaluated and the characteristics of water pollution were described according to the survey data.Based on the status of water quality and its functional requirements as an urban wetland,biological-ecological countermeasures were suggested.The experimental use of ecological technologies,such as artificial wetlands,ecological aquiculture and artificial floating island,were done in several fish ponds in the Xixi Wetland.Water monitoring results show that the quality of the treated water has improved significantly and the measures to purify the eutrophic water in the wetland have been effective.     

Cholera in the Far East of Russia. Communication 1. Epidemiological characteristics of the outbreak of cholera El tor in Vladivostok

The materials on the investigation of the outbreak cholera eltor in Vladivostok, caused by the import of infection from China. The leading role of the water route of transmission of this infection is shown due to the contamination of water sources with non-decontaminated sewage water. The complex of antiepidemic measures was carried out, which made it possible to arrest the spread of cholera and liquidate its foci.     

玛纳斯河流域水资源可持续利用评价方法

水资源短缺是制约玛纳斯河流域水资源可持续发展的"瓶颈"因素,对流域水资源可持续发展水平进行综合评价对其国民经济可持续发展至关重要。从水资源、社会、经济、生态环境四个子系统出发,采用了熵值法和投影寻踪理论相结合的评价模型,对流域水资源可持续利用水平进行评价,并将两种方法的评价结果进行加权求和,得出流域水资源可持续利用变化趋势。评价结果表明,该模型方法可靠,分析结果合理,评价结果可以为水资源可持续开发利用提供科学依据,是评价水资源可持续利用水平的一种有效新方法。最后,提出了促进流域水资源可持续利用的建议,为实现水资源可持续开发利用提供借鉴和参考。     

新疆塔里木河下游断流河道输水与生态恢复

结合塔里木河下游输水过程中对9个地下水监测断面、18个植被样地的实地监测资料,分析了塔里木河下游输水条件下的浅层地下水位变化和天然植被的响应和恢复情况。研究结果表明,塔里木河下游输水有效地抬升了河道两侧的地下水位由输水前的6～8m抬升到了2～4m。在横向上,地下水位对输水的响应范围达到850m,胡杨和柽柳对地下水位变化的响应范围分别达到700和600m但对草本植物的影响范围较窄,林间沙地活化现象仍未得到遏制。提出为扩大输水的生态效应和加快受损生态系统的恢复重建,应在目前沿自然河道“线型”输水的基础上,分段实施河水漫溢的面上供水方案,并通过加强流域水管理、推广农业节水技术和加大河道整治力度等措施,来确保塔里木河下游一定的生态用水量。     

Seasonal Variation in the Capacity for Plant Trait Measures to Predict Grassland Carbon and Water Fluxes

There is a need for accurate predictions of ecosystem carbon (C) and water fluxes in field conditions. Previous research has shown that ecosystem properties can be predicted from community abundance-weighted means (CWM) of plant functional traits and measures of trait variability within a community (FDvar). The capacity for traits to predict carbon (C) and water fluxes, and the seasonal dependency of these trait-function relationships has not been fully explored. Here we measured daytime C and water fluxes over four seasons in grasslands of a range of successional ages in southern England. In a model selection procedure, we related these fluxes to environmental covariates and plant biomass measures before adding CWM and FDvar plant trait measures that were scaled up from measures of individual plants grown in greenhouse conditions. Models describing fluxes in periods of low biological activity contained few predictors, which were usually abiotic factors. In more biologically active periods, models contained more predictors, including plant trait measures. Field-based plant biomass measures were generally better predictors of fluxes than CWM and FDvar traits. However, when these measures were used in combination traits accounted for additional variation. Where traits were significant predictors their identity often reflected seasonal vegetation dynamics. These results suggest that database derived trait measures can improve the prediction of ecosystem C and water fluxes. Controlled studies and those involving more detailed flux measurements are required to validate and explore these findings, a worthwhile effort given the potential for using simple vegetation measures to help predict landscape-scale fluxes.     

Prognosis of typhoid morbidity in a region of northern new construction projects

The mathematical model describing the dependence of typhoid fever morbidity on water supply and the migration of the population has been constructed. The checking of the model has shown the 95% coincidence of the predicted and actual morbidity. The model has been used for the prognostication of morbidity rate in typhoid fever in new economic development regions, thus making it possible to plan in advance the measures necessary for the prevention of negative consequences connected with the realization of economic development projects.     

Assessing the Environmental Impact of Water Consumption by Energy Crops Grown in Spain

The environmental impact of the water consumption of four typical crop rotations grown in Spain, including energy crops, was analyzed and compared against Spanish agricultural and natural reference situations. The life cycle assessment (LCA) methodology was used for the assessment of the potential environmental impact of blue water (withdrawal from water bodies) and green water (uptake of soil moisture) consumption. The latter has so far been disregarded in LCA. To account for green water, two approaches have been applied: the first accounts for the difference in green water demand of the crops and a reference situation. The second is a green water scarcity index, which measures the fraction of the soil‐water plant consumption to the available green water. Our results show that, if the aim is to minimize the environmental impacts of water consumption, the energy crop rotations assessed in this study were most suitable in basins in the northeast of Spain. In contrast, the energy crops grown in basins in the southeast of Spain were associated with the greatest environmental impacts. Further research into the integration of quantitative green water assessment in LCA is crucial in studies of systems with a high dependence on green water resources.     

Temperature-dependent growth rates of larval midges (Diptera: Chironomidae) from a southeastern U.S. stream

Inland aquatic ecosystems and their biodiversity in Asia represent a wide spectrum along a complex continuum of interacting ecological, economic, socio-cultural and political gradients all of which determine their present and future. Whereas the diversity of biophysical environments ensures a rich inland aquatic biodiversity, their present status has been greatly influenced by human societies that have depended on them for millennia. Besides high population densities and developmental pressures, socio-cultural factors, economic considerations and various policies concerning land and water resources are major factors responsible for the degradation of habitats and loss of biodiversity. The looming global climate change may only worsen the situation unless remedial measures are taken on a large scale and urgently. The future of aquatic biodiversity in Asian countries will depend upon a radical change in national policies on water, and upon research that can support the development of appropriate policies.     

黄河中游绿水系数变化及其生态环境意义

绿水和蓝水的概念和理论对于半干旱、半湿润区水资源的评价和管理有重要意义。引入流域尺度上绿水系数指标,定义为某一流域内由降水到绿水的转换系数。研究发现,1950—2011年间,黄河中游河口镇至龙门区间(河龙区间)的绿水系数呈现增大的趋势。除了气温、降水的影响外,水土保持是一个重要因素。水土保持措施减少了降雨到径流(蓝水)的转化率,增大了降雨到绿水的转化率。绿水系数的增大意味着坡面径流减弱和河流径流的减弱,从而减少了坡面侵蚀和流域产沙。同时,绿水系数的增大意味着植被蒸腾作用的增强,说明植被对地表的保护作用增强,这也会导致坡面侵蚀的减弱。河龙区间产沙量与流域绿水系数之间呈显著的负相关关系,产沙量变化的53.7%可以用流域绿水系数的变化来解释。水土保持实施后,梯田和坝地使得生产性绿水系数增大,从而增加了粮食产量。梯田、坝地面积与绿水系数和粮食产量之间都存在着显著的正相关关系,粮食产量与绿水系数之间也存在显著的正相关关系。绿水系数具有流域生态环境质量变化的指示意义,在年降水可比的情况下,流域绿水系数的减小意味着集水区生态环境环境质量降低,流域绿水系数的增大意味着集水区生态环境质量提高。依照绿水系数的变化,可以将近60余年来河龙区间生态环境的变化过程划分为3个阶段。     

Proton NMR spin grouping and exchange in dentin.

The nuclear magnetic resonance spin-grouping technique has been applied to dentin from human donors of different ages. The apparent T2, T1, and T1 rho have been determined for natural dentin, for dentin which has been dried in vacuum, and for dried dentin which has been rehydrated in an atmosphere with 75% relative humidity. All apparent spin relaxation has been analyzed for exchange between the spin groups in which the dentin protons exist; the analyses incorporate the results of selective inversion recovery T1 measurements which better probe the effects of exchange. The exchange analyses of the high fields and rotating frame spin-lattice relaxation have also been correlated to determine uniquely the inherent relaxation parameters of the proton spin groups constituting the dentin magnetization. The natural dentin contains protons on water, protein, and hydroxy apatite; these spins contribute 50%, 45%, and 5% to the total dentin proton magnetization, respectively. The water exists in three distinct environments, the dynamics of each environment has been modeled. In the natural dentin 30% of the water undergoes uni-axial reorientation. 52% of the water has similar relaxation characteristics to bound water hydrating a large molecule, and the majority of the remaining water acts as bulk water undergoing isotropic reorientation. The results are independent of the age of the donor.     

Epidemic shigellosis on a worktrain in Labrador.

An epidemic of shigellosis occurred on a worktrain in western Labrador in October 1974. During the outbreak 62 persons out of a crew of 91 became ill, 11 having recurrent illness; 14 were hospitalized. Epidemiologic analysis with laboratory confirmation implicated unchlorinated and contaminated lake water as the source of the epidemic. Faulty design of water storage tanks perpetuated the use of contaminated water; hence a second wave of illness occurred. The tanks were then thoroughly drained, cleaned and repaired. Many deficiencies in sanitation measures (most of which have since been rectified) were noted at the site of the epidemic as well as at other locations along the railway. Careful sanitation controls are essential in rapidly developing areas of northern Canada.     

Submerged macrophyte vegetation and the European Water Framework Directive: assessment of status and trends in shallow,alkaline lakes in the Netherlands

The submerged macrophyte vegetation of lakes created after enclosing former estuaries, situated in the central and south-western part of the Netherlands, has been monitored annually from 1992 onwards. Between 1992 and 2004, pronounced changes in overall cover and species composition of the submerged vegetation have occurred, resulting from changes of water quality and morphology in the lakes. In most cases vegetation cover and species diversity increased or remained stable, with the exception of two lakes in the southwest part of the country. Abundance and species composition were assessed according to the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive, using the assessment procedure proposed to assess macrophytes in natural water bodies in the Netherlands. The assessment procedure included calculation of the ‘ecological quality ratio’ (EQR) for each of eleven water bodies in each of 13 years, based on transect monitoring data. The EQR indicating Good Ecological Status for Macrophytes was achieved in only three of the lakes. The consequences of hydromorphological modifications, and measures necessary to achieve the desired condition are discussed. Nutrient concentrations should be reduced further, while additional management measures are necessary to improve conditions for macrophytes.     

广州街口至良口高速公路对水环境影响的评价分析

在对区域水环境现状进行调查分析的基础上,预测了街口至良口高速公路建设工程施工期与运营期对水环境的影响,特别是对流溪河水质的影响程度进行了详细分析。评价和预测结果表明:流溪河水质现状良好,符合相应的水环境功能要求;该工程中两大桥的水下施工分别对下游100和150m范围内水质影响较大,影响属局部短暂性;运营期影响程度较小,通过采取环保措施,对水环境产生的不利影响可以得到减轻或消除。     

Impact of local- and regional-scale restoration measures on a vulnerable rich fen in the Naardermeer nature reserve (the Netherlands)

Restoration of rich fens is commonly attempted through local-scale measures, such as removal of sod or blockage of ditches. However, regional-scale restoration measures, that aim to re-establish the original hydrology in which rich fens developed, might have a more long-lasting effect. We investigated the effect of local- and regional-scale restoration measures on a vulnerable rich fen in the Naardermeer nature reserve in the Netherlands. We compared water quality and vegetation composition of the fen before and after the restoration measures, almost 30 years apart. Overall rich fen species increased and although this indicates the desired increased supply of fresh mineral-rich groundwater to the fen, continued succession towards poor fen vegetation has not been prevented in the entire fen. Despite sod layer removal, we observed an increase in a Polytrichum-dominated vegetation in patches that are primarily fed by rainwater. Our findings confirm results from a previous study which showed that brackish palaeo-groundwater is still contributing substantially to the water balance of the fen, especially in periods of precipitation deficit. We conclude that the local- and regional-scale restoration measures have been successful in increasing the abundance of rich fen species in parts of the fen. However, considering the pressures of climate change and high atmospheric N-deposition on the fen, it is uncertain whether rich fen species can be sustained in quite nutrient-poor conditions in the future. Therefore, there is a need for continued management that keeps the nutrient-poor and mineral-rich conditions of the fen intact.

     

The spatial distribution of desmids in lakes in northern Minnesota, U.S.A.

As a result of studies in certain lakes in northern Minnesota it has been found that the spatial distribution of desmids in them depends especially on the following factors: the constitution, abundance and distribution of the lakes' submerged aquatic flora and the morphometry and consequent patterns of their water circulation. The study has also shown a positive relationship between the size of desmid cells present in the plankton and the extent of water circulation. The latter factor may determine the composition and hence the diversity of lake phytoplankton.     

Through pore diameter in the cell wall of Chara corallina.

Determination of pore size of the cell wall of Chara corallina has been made by using the polyethylene glycol (PEG) series as the hydrophilic probing molecules. In these experiments, the polydispersity of commercial preparation of PEGs was allowed for. The mass share (gamma(p)) of polyethylene glycol preparation fractions penetrating through the pores was determined using a cellular 'ghost', i.e. fragments of internodal cell walls filled with a 25% solution of non-penetrating PEG 6000 and tied up at the ends. In water, such a 'ghost' developed a hydrostatic pressure close to the cell turgor which persisted for several days. The determination of gamma(p), for polydisperse polyethylene glycols with different average molecular mass (M) was calculated from the degree of pressure restoration after water was replaced by a 5-10% polymer solution. Pressure was recorded using a dynamometer, which measures, in the quasi-isometric mode, the force necessary for the partial compression of the 'ghost' in its small fragment. By utilizing the data on the distribution of PEG 1000, 1450, 2000, and 3350 fractions over molecular mass (M), it was found that gamma(p), for these polyethylene glycols corresponded to the upper limit of ML=800-1100 D (hydrodynamic radius of molecules, r(h)=0.85-1.05 nm). Thus, the effective diameter of the pores in the cell wall of Chara did not exceed 2.1 nm.