Element Concentrations in Some Species of Seaweeds from La Paz Bay and La Paz Lagoon, South-Western Baja California, Mexico

La Paz Bay and La Paz Lagoon are water bodies of the Gulf of California that are influenced by waste water discharges from the City of La Paz and from activities of the phosphorite mining company “Rofomex”. Because seaweeds concentrate elements from the water and are used as effective indicators of contamination by metals, we investigated their usefulness in this region. Concentrations of certain major elements (Ca, Fe, K and Na) and trace elements (As, Ba, Co, Cr, Cs, Hf, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sr, Ta, Th, U, Zn and Zr) were determined in 12 species of seaweeds from La Paz Bay and La Paz Lagoon using instrumental neutron activation analysis. The contents of trace elements of environmental importance (As, Co, Cr, Fe, Sb, Se and Zn) in all studied samples are within the range of typical levels for a pristine environment not subjected to anthropogenic impact. Somewhat higher concentrations of Cr (81mg kg⁻¹), Hf (4mg kg⁻¹), Rb (48mg kg⁻¹), Sc (6.3mg kg⁻¹), Ta (0.95mg kg⁻¹), Th (6.8mg kg⁻¹), U (33mg kg⁻¹) and Zn (90mg kg⁻¹) were found in the green seaweed species Ulva (formerly Enteromorpha) intestinalis, whereas such elements as As (77mg kg⁻¹), Sb (1.4mg kg⁻¹) and Se (1.8mg kg⁻¹) were mainly concentrated in the species Sargassum sinicola, Codium cuneatum and Padina mexicana respectively. Because of their higher abundance and heterogeneity in elemental composition the seaweeds species Ulva intestinalis and Caulerpa sertularioides seem to be more suitable for further biomonitoring of heavy metal pollution of the coastal waters in this zone.     

Variable responses within epiphytic and benthic microalgal communities to nutrient enrichment

We evaluated how changes in nutrient supply altered the composition of epiphytic and benthic microalgal communities in a Thalassia testudinum (turtle grass) bed in Florida Bay. We established study plots at four sites in the bay and added nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) to the sediments in a factorial design. After 18, 24, and 30 months of fertilization we measured the pigment concentrations in the epiphytic and benthic microalgal assemblages using high performance liquid chromatography. Overall, the epiphytic assemblage was P-limited in the eastern portion of the bay, but each phototrophic group displayed unique spatial and temporal responses to N and P addition. Epiphytic chlorophyll a, an indicator of total microalgal load, and epiphytic fucoxanthin, an indicator of diatoms, increased in response to P addition at one eastern bay site, decreased at another eastern bay site, and were not affected by P or N addition at two western bay sites. Epiphytic zeaxanthin, an indicator of the cyanobacterial/coralline red algae complex, and epiphytic chlorophyll b, an indicator of green algae, generally increased in response to P addition at both eastern bay sites but did not respond to P or N addition in the western bay. Benthic chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, fucoxanthin, and zeaxanthin showed complex responses to N and P addition in the eastern bay, suggesting that the benthic assemblage is limited by both N and P. Benthic assemblages in the western bay were variable over time and displayed few responses to N or P addition. The contrasting nutrient limitation patterns between the epiphytic and benthic communities in the eastern bay suggest that altering nutrient input to the bay, as might occur during Everglades restoration, can shift microalgal community structure, which may subsequently alter food web support for upper trophic levels.     

Variation in soil phosphorus, sulfur, and iron pools among south Florida wetlands

To determine relationships between soil nutrient status and known gradients in primary production, we collected and analyzed soils from 17 LTER sampling sites along two transects through south Florida wetland ecosystems. Through upstream freshwater marsh, a middle reach including the oligohaline marsh/mangrove ecotone, and downstream estuarine habitats, we observed systematic variation in soil bulk density, organic content, and pools of phosphorus (P), inorganic sulfur, and extractable iron. Consistent with observed differences in wetland productivity known to be limited by P availability, total P averaged ~200 μg g dw⁻¹ in soils from the eastern Taylor Slough/Panhandle and was on average three times higher in soils from the western Shark River Slough. Along both transects, the largest pool of phosphorus was the inorganic, carbonate-bound fraction, comprising 35–44% of total P. Greater than 90% of the total inorganic sulfur pool in these south Florida wetland soils was extracted as pyrite. Freshwater marsh sites typically were lower in pyrite sulfur (0.2–0.8 mg g dw⁻¹) relative to marsh/mangrove ecotone and downstream estuary sites (0.5–2.9 mg g dw⁻¹). Extractable iron in freshwater marsh soils was significantly higher from the Taylor Slough/Panhandle transect (3.2 mg g dw⁻¹) relative to the western Shark River Slough transect (1.1 mg g dw⁻¹), suggesting spatial variation in sources and/or depositional environments for iron. Further, these soil characteristics represent the collective, integrated signal of ecosystem structure, so any long-term changes in factors like water flow or water quality may be reflected in changes in bulk soil properties. Since the objective of current Everglades restoration initiatives is the enhancement and re-distribution of freshwater flows through the south Florida landscape, the antecedent soil conditions reported here provide a baseline against which future, post-restoration measurements can be compared.     

Rapid risk assessment of wetland degradation and loss in low-lying coastal zone of Shanghai,China

Coastal wetlands are facing an increasingly high risk of degradation and loss due to a wide variety of human activities and natural processes. Human encroachment, including land reclamation, drainage, and introduction of invasive species, has direct negative effects on wetlands, mainly through changes in hydrology and vegetation. Additionally, accelerated sea level rise (SLR) can result in flooding of wetlands in low-lying coastal zones. In this study, we present a rapid risk assessment method for coastal wetland loss and degradation. The main stress factors, i.e., urban sprawl, agriculture, coastal erosion, and SLR, have been examined and quantified through remote sensing and geographic information system spatial analysis. A weighted factor-based linear model has been used to evaluate the spatial risk levels of wetland loss. The proposed methodology is applied to the low-lying coastal wetlands of Hangzhou Bay in Shanghai, China. The results show that the regions closer to the sea have relatively higher risk levels on the landward side of the coastline, but relatively low risk levels on the seaward side of the coastline. This work emphasizes the need to sustainably use and protect wetlands in order to reduce disaster risks and contribute to the improvement of human well-being.     

Ecological risk and contamination history of heavy metals in the Andong tidal flat,Hangzhou Bay,China

In this study, we collected two sediment cores (C1 and C2) from the Andong tidal flat, Hangzhou Bay, and studied the temporal variations of heavy metals in the cores. Vertical distributions of heavy metals were almost unchanged in both the cores before 2000. After 2000, however, the heavy metal concentrations increased dramatically, suggesting that the sediments have been affected by enhanced human pollution in the recent decade. In the core C1, the sediments were severely polluted by Pb, moderately to considerably polluted by Cr and Zn, and low to moderately polluted by other heavy metals. The core C2 was relatively unpolluted before 2000 and low to moderately polluted after 2000. Multi-statistical analyses indicated that the core C1 was additionally contaminated by local human activities such as wastewater discharge and the Hangzhou Bay Bridge. The heavy metals in the core C2, however, were largely contributed by the Yangtze River and controlled by sedimentation process. The calculated sedimentary flux (4–8 g m^?2 a^?1) of heavy metals generally increased with time. It was closely related to the wastewater discharge in adjacent areas. This study reconstructed the local heavy metal pollution history and provides important information for environmental protection and policy making.     

三门湾大型底栖动物时空分布及其与环境因子的关系

2006年11月、2007年1月、4月和8月在三门湾18个采样点对大型底栖动物进行调查,分析了其时空分布及其与环境因子的关系.结果表明:调查共采集到大型底栖动物124种,其中多毛类44种、软体动物34种、甲壳动物22种、棘皮动物11种、其他类动物13种;多毛类和软体动物种数占总种数的62.9％,二者构成了三门湾大型底栖动物的主要类群.双鳃内卷齿蚕、小头虫和不倒翁虫是春季三门湾大型底栖动物的优势种;不倒翁虫、双鳃内卷齿蚕和海稚虫为夏季的优势种;不倒翁虫、小头虫、双鳃内卷齿蚕和白沙箸为秋季的优势种;双鳃内卷齿蚕、不倒翁虫、小头虫和海稚虫为冬季的优势种.三门湾大型底栖动物年均生物量为17.36 g·m-2,年均栖息密度为72 ind·m-2.不同季节大型底栖动物的平均生物量和平均栖息密度存在显著性差异.大型底栖动物群落平均Shannon多样性指数在1.53 ～ 1.89,平均Margalef物种丰富度指数在2.25 ～2.96,平均均匀度指数在0.83 ～0.94,3个指数在不同季节间均存在显著性差异.经典范对应分析,影响三门湾大型底栖动物群落的主要环境因子包括海水的温度、盐度、溶解性无机氮以及表层沉积物中的有机质、总氮和总磷等,环境变量可以较好地解释主要类群的变化.     

粤东大规模海水增养殖区柘林湾浮游细菌的时空分布

2001年9月至2004年12月对粤东大规模海水增养区柘林湾表、底层水体中浮游细菌的时空分布进行调查。结果表明,柘林湾浮游细菌总均值为59．4×10^4／dm^3,与国内外富营养化程度较高的内湾海域大致相当。在平面分布上,浮游细菌总体上表现出湾内高于湾外、养殖区高于非养殖区的分布格局,说明大规模增养殖业对浮游细菌的时空分布具有重要的影响,其中网箱养殖的影响尤其显著。湾顶黄冈河口浮游细菌呈现显著的逐年增加趋势,其原因一方面与调查期间降雨减少有关;另一方面可能是受周边陆源污染输入加剧的影响。在周年变化上,浮游细菌表现为典型的单峰型周年变化模式,主要是受水温的调控。年度峰值出现在夏季高温季节（6～8月）,低谷出现在冬季低温季节（12～2月）。浮游细菌与溶氧呈现显著意义的负相关关系,但低溶氧可能是湾内养殖区初级生产力低下所致,而非浮游细菌耗氧所为。相反,溶氧降低可能会促进专性或兼性厌氧细菌的增加,使养殖环境进一步恶化。     

Assessing the geographical distribution of carnivorous and planktivorous fishes in the western Bay of Bengal

There is a clear distinction in the feeding habits of fishes between the northeastern and southeastern Arabian Sea (west coast of India) — the north is carnivorous, and the south is planktivorous —, but such a distinction is not available for the western Bay of Bengal (BoB; comprising the east coast of India and the coasts of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh). We address this question by using publicly available landing data of finfishes for the four Indian states (Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal) located along the western boundary of the BoB. Our analysis shows that the southwestern BoB is rich in fisheries and is more planktivorous compared to the northwestern BoB, which is more carnivorous. North–south variability exists even within the group of fishes such as anchovies and carangids. The meagre landing information for Sri Lanka and Bangladesh suggests that they show planktivorous and carnivorous characteristics of the southwestern and northwestern BoB, respectively. We show that monthly data and clarity on where the fish were caught are necessary to link the climatic conditions to the fishery along the western BoB. The landings on the Arabian-Sea and Gulf-of-Mannar part of the Tamil Nadu coast must be separated from the landings on its BoB coast. This separation can not be done with existing landing data and should be the first step in analysing fisheries data from the western BoB. The challenges in delineating the distribution of finfishes using available data illustrated here deliver guidance for future data collection and analysis at higher spatial and temporal scales for sustainable fisheries resource management in the region.     

基于探索性空间数据分析和地统计分析的湾区生态安全空间分异及差异化管理——以浙江大湾区为例

湾区是世界一流滨海城市的显著标志,生态安全是湾区可持续发展的基本保障。以浙江大湾区为研究区域,基于生态安全评价,采用探索性空间数据分析(ESDA)和地统计分析(GA)方法揭示生态安全的空间相关性与异质性。结合大湾区生态安全空间特征、未来土地利用管理和行政单元的空间分布提出生态保护的差异化管理策略,为大湾区经济社会发展及生态安全保障提供理论支撑。结果表明：(1)生态安全呈现出“北低南高”的分布格局,生态安全区占比71.7%,生态系统整体较安全。(2)生态安全莫兰指数Moran′I值达0.878,“热点”区域占比50.65%,空间正相关性显著。结构性变异在生态安全空间分布中占据主导,宁波、绍兴受结构性变异和随机性变异的综合影响,人口密度、产业布局是影响生态安全空间异质性的主要随机因素。(3)城市发展类型分为优先发展区、综合开发区和生态保护区,其中优先发展区和综合开发区是大湾区经济发展重点区域,生态保护区是保障大湾区生态安全的关键区域,未来城市管理者应对生态环境分区管理,落实差异化管控措施。     

ALEXANDRIUM SATOANUM SP. NOV. (DINOPHYCEAE) FROM MATOYA BAY,CENTRAL JAPAN1

The gonyaulacoid dinofiagellate Alexandrium satoanum Yuki et Fukuyo sp. nov. is described from Matoya Bay, Pacific coast of central Japan. The species is distinctive in its conical epitheca with almost straight sides and dorsal concavity of the hypotheca. The plate formula is Po, pc, 4′, 6″, 6c, 10s, 5″″, and 2″″, including two accessory plates inside the sulcus. The apical pore plate is triangular and possesses an anterior attachment pore at the right margin. The first apical plate does not make contact with the apical pore plate and lacks a ventral pore. A posterior attachment pore lies at the center of the posterior sulcal plate. In Matoya Bay, vegetative cells occur as solitary cells or sometimes in pairs during late spring and early summer in low concentrations. In connection with this study, the following new combination is proposed: Alexandrium pseudogonyaulax (Biecheler) Horiguchi ex Yuki et Fukuyo comb. nov.