Long-term response of the biotic community to fluctuating water levels and changes in water quality in Cootes Paradise Marsh,a degraded coastal wetland of Lake Ontario

During the early 1900s, more than 90% of the surface area of Cootes Paradise Marsh was covered with emergent vegetation; currently, less than 15% of the surface is covered with aquatic vegetation and the remainder is wind-swept, turbid, open water. The loss of emergent cover is significantly correlated with mean annual water levels that increased more than 1.5 m over the past 60 years. Species diversity and the percent cover of the submerged macrophtye community also declined dramatically after the 1940s, coincident with decreased water clarity and increased nutrients from pollution by sewage and stormwater effluent. Phosphorus levels in the marsh dropped ten-fold after the sewage plant was upgraded to a tertiary-treatment facility in 1978; however, there was no measurable improvement in water clarity, in spite of a decrease in chlorophyll concentrations. Long-term changes in the composition of the planktonic, benthic and fish communities accompanied changes in water clarity, nutrient status and macrophyte cover. Phytoplankton changed from a community dominated by diverse taxa of green algae and diatoms during the 1940s, to a less diverse community dominated by a few taxa of green and blue-green algae in the 1970s, then to a much more diverse community recently, including many taxa of green algae, diatoms and chrysophytes; however, because water turbidity continues to be high, and algae tolerant of low light levels are now very abundant. Daphnia, which were prominent during the 1940s (especially in the vegetated sites) were replaced in the 1970s by smaller zooplankton such as the cladoceran, Bosmina, and several rotifer species including Brachionus, Asplanchna and Keratella. In the recent survey conducted in 1993 and 1994, small-bodied forms still dominate the turbid open-water areas, while medium-sized cladocerans such as Moina were common near macrophyte beds. Generally, total herbivorous zooplankton biomass tended to be highest next to Typha beds and declined with increasing distance from the plants. Conversely, biomass of edible algae at these sites increased with distance from the macrophytes. Species diversity of aquatic insects declined dramatically over the past 40 years, from 57 genera (23 families and 6 orders) in 1948, to 9 genera (6 families and 3 orders) in 1978, to only 5 genera (3 families and 2 orders) in 1995. The diverse benthic community present 5 decades ago has now been replaced by a community consisting primarily of chironomid larvae, oligochaetes and other worms associated with low-oxygen environments. These successional changes illustrate the impact of natural (fluctuating water levels) and anthropogenic (deterioration in water quality) stressors on the character of the biotic communities, and reveal the complex interactions among the various trophic levels and the abiotic environment as degradation and remediation proceeded.     

Interactions between land use,habitat use,and population increase in greater snow geese: what are the consequences for natural wetlands?

The North American greater snow goose population has increased dramatically during the last 40 years. We evaluated whether refuge creation, changes in land use on the wintering and staging grounds, and climate warming have contributed to this expansion by affecting the distribution, habitat use, body condition, and migration phenology of birds. We also reviewed the effects of the increasing population on marshes on the wintering grounds, along the migratory routes and on the tundra in summer. Refuges established before 1970 may have contributed to the initial demographic increase. The most important change, however, was the switch from a diet entirely based on marsh plants in spring and winter (rhizomes of Scirpus/Spartina) to one dominated by crops (corn/young grass shoots) during the 1970s and 1980s. Geese now winter further north along the US Atlantic coast, leading to reduced hunting mortality. Their migratory routes now include portions of southwestern Québec where corn production has increased exponentially. Since the mid‐1960s, average temperatures have increased by 1–2.4°C throughout the geographic range of geese, which may have contributed to the northward shift in wintering range and an earlier migration in spring. Access to spilled corn in spring improved fat reserves upon departure for the Arctic and may have contributed to a high fecundity. The population increase has led to intense grazing of natural wetlands used by geese although these habitats are still largely undamaged. The foraging in fields allowed the population to exceed limits imposed by natural marshes in winter and spring, but also prevented permanent damage because of their overgrazing.     

Aquatic grazers reduce the establishment and growth of riparian plants along an environmental gradient

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Evapotranspiration and water use efficiency in a Chesapeake Bay wetland under carbon dioxide enrichment

Wetlands evapotranspire more water than other ecosystems, including agricultural, forest and grassland ecosystems. However, the effects of elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration (C_a) on wetland evapotranspiration (ET) are largely unknown. Here, we present data on 12 years of measurements of ET, net ecosystem CO₂ exchange (NEE), and ecosystem water use efficiency (EWUE, i.e. NEE/ET) at 13:00–15:00 hours in July and August for a Scirpus olneyi (C3 sedge) community and a Spartina patens (C4 grass) community exposed to ambient and elevated (ambient+340 μmol mol^?1) C_a in a Chesapeake Bay wetland. Although a decrease in stomatal conductance at elevated C_a in the S. olneyi community was counteracted by an increase in leaf area index (LAI) to some extend, ET was still reduced by 19% on average over 12 years. In the S. patens community, LAI was not affected by elevated C_a and the reduction of ET was 34%, larger than in the S. olneyi community. For both communities, the relative reduction in ET by elevated C_a was directly proportional to precipitation due to a larger reduction in stomatal conductance in the control plants as precipitation decreased. NEE was stimulated about 36% at elevated C_a in the S. olneyi community but was not significantly affected by elevated C_a in S. patens community. A negative correlation between salinity and precipitation observed in the field indicated that precipitation affected ET through altered salinity and interacted with growth C_a. This proposed mechanism was supported by a greenhouse study that showed a greater C_a effect on ET in controlled low salinity conditions compared with high salinity. In spite of the differences between the two communities in their responses to elevated C_a, EWUE was increased about 83% by elevated C_a in both the S. olneyi and S. patens communities. These findings suggest that rising C_a could have significant impacts on the hydrologic cycles of coastal wetlands.     

湿地植物根系泌氧及其在自然基质中的扩散效应研究进展

湿地植物根系径向泌氧(ROL)是构造根际氧化-还原异质微生态系统的核心要素,其扩散层为好氧、厌氧微生物提供了良好生境并促进其代谢活动,使湿地植物根际成为有机物降解、物质循环及生命活动最为强烈的场所,已有成果证明湿地植物根系ROL的强弱与污染物的去除效果密切相关。因此,开展湿地植物根系ROL及其在自然基质中的扩散效应研究,对于了解湿地植物根系ROL机理及其根际氧环境特征,进而发挥湿地植物的污染去除功能具有十分重要的意义。基于此,首先归纳了湿地植物根系ROL特征及其受影响机制的研究现状,而后从种属差异、时空分布及对微生物的影响等方面对根系ROL在自然基质中的扩散效应国内外研究成果进行了总结,最终根据研究现状与不足对今后的研究方向进行了简要展望。创新之处在于:1)提出影响根系氧供给及氧输送释放通道的环境、生物等因素,阐述了其对根系ROL的影响机制;2)着重阐述了目前研究较少提及的根系ROL扩散效应测定方法。     

Methane emissions from wet grasslands on peat soil in a nature preserve

The area of wet grasslands on peat soil in the Netherlands is slowly increasing at the expense of drained, agriculturally used grasslands. This study aimed (i) to assess the contribution of wet grasslands on peat soil to methane (CH₄) emissions, and (ii) to explain differences among sites and between years in order to improve our understanding of controlling factors. For these purposes, a field study was conducted in the period 1994–1996 in the nature preserve Nieuwkoopse Plassen, which is a former peat mining and agricultural area. Net CH₄ emissions were measured weekly to monthly with vented closed flux chambers at three representative sites, and at ditches near these sites. Three-years average of CH₄ emissions was 7.9 g CH₄ m^–2 yr^–1 for Drie Berken Zudde, 13.3 for Koole, and 20.4 for Brampjesgat. Ditches near the sites emitted 4.2–22.5 g CH₄ m^–2 yr^–1. The time-course of CH₄ emissions for all experimental sites and years was fit with a multiple linear regression model with ground water level and soil temperature as independent variables. Lowering or raising the ground water level by 5 cm could decrease or increase CH₄ emissions by 30–50%. Therefore, ground water level management of these grasslands should be done with care.     

湿地生态水文结构理论与分析

针对水土资源开发利用引发的湿地消退问题,通过研究湿地水分运动与补给规律,分析湿地和径流进退的关系、湿地生境和生物的扩展关系,分析湿地水文连接度下降引起的湿地消退效应.根据湿地水循环原理和湿地生境空间分布规律,建立湿地径流场与生物多样性场的概念,从而提出湿地生态水文结构理论.以维持湿地存在、保障湿地生物多样性为目标,通过湿地径流场与生物多样性场的耦合关系,将湿地划分为中心区和适宜活动区,以维持湿地生态水文结构所需要的水分条件定义为湿地生态需水.湿地生态需水问题的核心为确定湿地生态水文结构,并以湿地中心区和适宜活动区为边界条件,通过地表水地下水转化的水量平衡模型对湿地生态需水量进行分析计算.以维持中心区的水分条件作为最小生态需水;维持适宜活动区的水分条件作为适宜生态需水.湿地生态水文结构更对湿地管理提供生态安全阈值.根据湿地生态水文结构的稳定程度,建立湿地生态安全危机管理机制,进行不同级别的预警管理.     

黄河三角洲滨海湿地潮沟分布与植被覆盖度的关系

基于黄河三角洲滨海湿地2005、2010与2017年3个时期的Landsat TM/OLI影像,利用遥感和地理信息技术,对黄河三角洲滨海湿地的潮沟与植被覆盖度的分布格局与动态变化进行了分析,并运用网格搜索法,对研究区的潮沟与植被覆盖度进行相关分析。结果表明:(1) 2005—2017年黄河三角洲滨海湿地植被覆盖度不断提高,低植被覆盖度的面积减少了233.73 km2,高植被覆盖度的面积增加了165.85 km2;(2) 2005—2017年黄河三角洲滨海湿地的潮沟长度和面积不断增加,频数也在增加,其中2017年滨海湿地东南部的潮沟长度达到216.13 km,面积为22.23 km2,长度和面积分别比2005年增加了36.91%和49%;(3) 2005—2017年黄河三角洲潮沟分布与植被覆盖度呈负相关,其中2010年、2017年的潮沟与植被覆盖度呈显著相关(P<0.05),这说明黄河三角洲的潮沟的空间分布与区域植被的长势密切相关。     

东洞庭湖丁字堤苔草群落特征及其影响因子

近20年来,洞庭湖湿地的湖草面积大幅度减少,退化严重.为寻求湖草的恢复途径,本文以位于洞庭湖丁字堤的短尖苔草为对象,依高程差划分成7条样带,调查了63个样方的植被特征(株高、盖度、密度、生物量、多样性指数)和土壤理化特征(土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷、土壤容重、土壤含水量).结果表明: 除多样性指数先下降后升高外,其余生物学指标均随高程增加呈现倒“U”型分布,即靠近水域(低海拔区)和堤岸(高海拔区)的苔草长势较差,而位于中间的苔草长势较好;土壤容重随高程增加而增加,土壤含水量的变化则相反,土壤有机碳和全氮含量均呈中海拔区高、低和高海拔区低的分布规律.主成分分析表明,影响苔草生物量的关键因子依次为土壤有机碳含量、氮含量、含水量和土壤容重.可见,提高土壤肥力和保持适当的土壤含水量可能是短尖苔草恢复的有效途径.     

扎龙芦苇湿地生长季的甲烷排放通量

为研究高寒地区天然淡水芦苇湿地的甲烷排放特征,采用静态箱-气相色谱法,测定了扎龙不同水位芦苇湿地生长季的甲烷排放通量.结果表明:观测期内,扎龙芦苇湿地甲烷排放通量平均为7.67 mg·m^-2·h^-1（-21.18～46.15 mg·m^-2·h^-1）,其中深水区(平均水深100 cm)和浅水区(平均水深25 cm)的平均甲烷排放通量分别为5.81和9.52 mg·m^-2·h^-1,排放峰值分别出现在8月和7月,最低值均出现在10月.深水区夏季(6-7月)的甲烷排放通量显著低于浅水区,而春(5月)、秋(8-10月)季节显著高于浅水区.生长季甲烷排放通量的变化为夏季>秋季>春季;昼夜排放量为12:00和14:00最高,0:00最低.温度和水位是高寒地区淡水芦苇湿地甲烷排放通量变化的主要影响因子.