Morphological indices and otolith microstructure of Atlantic croaker,Micropogonias undulatus,as indicators of habitat quality along an estuarine pollution gradient

Synopsis Atlantic croaker, Micropogonias undulatus, sampled from a transect along a pollution gradient show a trend of declining growth and physical condition. This trend is apparent in the mean size of 0-group croaker, in their recent growth rate measured by marginal otolith increment widths, in longer term growth rate as indicated by relative otolith weights, and in general physical condition as measured by an index of condition of the caudal fin. We suggest that these measures are indicators of stress associated with environmental conditions. Because croaker from different positions along the pollution gradient were distinguishable, it appears that they remain for extended periods within areas of degraded environmental quality.     

Response of fishes and aquatic habitats to sand-bed stream restoration using large woody debris

Effects of habitat rehabilitation of Little Topashaw Creek, a sinuous, sand-bed stream draining 37 km² in northwest Mississippi are described. The rehabilitation project consisted of placing 72 large woody debris structures along eroding concave banks and planting 4000 willow cuttings in sandbars. Response was measured by monitoring flow, channel geometry, physical aquatic habitat, and fish populations. Initially, debris structures reduced high flow velocities at concave bank toes, preventing further erosion and inducing deposition. Physical response during the first year following construction included creation of sand berms along eroding banks and slight increases in base flow water width and depth. Fish collections showed assemblages typical of incising streams within the region, but minor initial responses to debris addition were evident. Progressive failure of the structures and renewed erosion were observed during the second year after construction.     

Production of moss‐dominated biocrusts to enhance the stability and function of the margins of artificial water bodies

Margins of water reservoirs associated with dams can have high‐frequency tides, promoting soil erosion and nutrient leaching. We propose the use of biocrusts for restoration and ecological engineering purposes, due to their poikilohydric character, to stabilize reservoir margins. We promoted biocrust growth under controlled conditions, testing two types of substrate: native sand and organic substrate. After 2 months, biocrusts grew on organic substrate covering almost all the area, but not on native sand. This fast and easy nature‐based solution for soil stabilization can be used as an environmental engineering tool in highly degraded sites.     

Assess the human and environmental vulnerability for coastal hazard by using a multi-criteria decision analysis

This study provides an integrated approach using geographical information system (GIS) based on a multi-criteria approach (MCDA) to assess coastal vulnerability, resulting from human activity, population density, erosion, and climate change-induced sea level rise. A coastal vulnerability index (CVI) for erosion and floods was calculated and mapped (～24 km in length; ～400 m in width, and 11.47 km² in surface) for the lagoon barrier of Nador located on the Mediterranean coast of Morocco. Results suggest that 54% (～13 km) of the shoreline is moderately vulnerable, while 42% (～10 km) is highly vulnerable and only 4% (1 km) present a low vulnerability. The vulnerability map of the socio-economic activities indicates that most wetlands and forest areas 83% (～31 ha) and 50% (～440 ha) respectively, present low vulnerability. 52% percent of artificial areas (～23 ha), 73% of agricultural land (～128 ha), and 41% of natural areas (～363 ha) present moderate vulnerability. However, the level of vulnerability of the remaining artificial and agricultural areas classifies from high to very high. The north-western sector was classified as the most vulnerable area, characterized by an erosion (?0.6 m/yr to ?1.20 m/yr) for 70% of this area, while the south-eastern part shows a low to moderate vulnerability marked by an erosion (?0.1 m/yr to ?1m/yr) for 40% of this area. Coastal vulnerability maps have potential as decision tools to prepare and respond to sea level rise, and identify exposed coastal zones, as such contributing to national climate action and disaster risk reduction sustainable development goals (goals 13 and 11, respectively).     

Four dominant loci for the vascular responses by the antitumor polysaccharide, lentinan

 Lentinan, β-1,6;1,3-glucan, showing an antitumor effect against mouse solid type tumors, can induce marked vascular dilation and hemorrhage (VDH) in very localized areas such as the ears, feet, and tails of mice in the early stages after its administration (Maeda et al. 1984). VDH has been found to be one of the T-cell-mediated responses triggered by lentinan. We reported previously that the responsiveness of mice to lentinan with respect to VDH induction is controlled by a dominant gene(s), Ltn2 (formerly), and that no sex difference was observed (Maeda et al. 1991). To determine the chromosomal location of the Ltn2 gene(s), we typed genomic DNAs of 193 N₂ segregants of crosses between a high responder MA/MyJ and a low responder AKR/J by the polymerase chain reaction-simple sequence length polymorphism technique using 83 chromosome-specific microsatellite markers. We identified one major gene (Ltnr3) and three minor genes (Ltnr4, Ltnr5, and Ltnr6) responsible for the VDH induction. Ltnr3 was closely linked to D6Mit135 on chromosome 6 (P <0.00000) and Ltnr4, Ltnr5, and Ltnr6 to D9Mit161 on chromosome 9 (P <0.00032), D15Mit147 on chromosome 15 (P <0.00014) and D16Mit4 on chromosome 16 (P <0.00014), respectively. Received: 26 May 1997 / Revised: 3 September 1997     

Losses of soil organic carbon under wind erosion in China

Soil organic carbon (SOC) storage generally represents the long‐term net balance of photosynthesis and total respiration in terrestrial ecosystems. However, soil erosion can affect SOC content by direct removal of soil and reduction of the surface soil depth; it also affects plant growth and soil biological activity, soil air CO₂ concentration, water regimes, soil temperature, soil respiration, carbon flux to the atmosphere, and carbon deposition in soil. In arid and semi‐arid region of northern China, wind erosion caused soil degradation and desert expansion. This paper estimated the SOC loss of the surface horizon at eroded regions based on soil property and wind erosion intensity data. The SOC loss in China because of wind erosion was about 75 Tg C yr^?1 in 1990s. The spatial pattern of SOC loss indicates that SOC loss of the surface horizon increases significantly with the increase of soil wind erosion intensity. The comparison of SOC loss and annual net primary productivity (NPP) of terrestrial ecosystem was discussed in wind erosion regions of China. We found that NPP is also low in the eroded regions and heavy SOC loss often occurs in regions where NPP is very small. However, there is potential to improve our study to resolve uncertainty on the soil organic matter oxidation and soil deposition processes in eroded and deposited sites.     

聚丙烯酰胺(PAM)防治土壤风蚀的研究进展

在我国西北地区,风蚀是造成土地退化的主要影响因素之一.聚丙烯酰胺(PAM)是一种高效的土壤结构改良剂.因其具有特殊的物理化学性质,可以与土壤作用而改善土壤表层结构,近年来一直受到人们的广泛关注.本文介绍了PAM的物理化学性质,详细论述了PAM对土壤风蚀量、起动风速的影响,及PAM在风蚀防治中的不同使用量、使用方法和效果,及其与其他材料的对比,并通过PAM对土壤物理性质的改善进一步分析PAM防治风蚀的机理.综合分析得出,虽然PAM在风蚀防治中存在一些问题,但作为一种固沙剂,它不仅能提高土壤抗风蚀的能力,而且也能改善土壤的物理性状,可为植物生长创造良好的水土条件;提出若在风蚀治理和改良城市环境中将PAM与植物种植相结合,将能大大提高植物的成活率、改善风蚀区的风蚀状况和生态环境工程建设的质量.因此,PAM在防治风蚀方面具有重要的现实意义和广阔的应用前景.     

黑土坡耕地有机碳及其组分累积-损耗格局对耕作侵蚀与水蚀的响应

耕作与水蚀是黑土区坡耕地碳库退化的主导因素,为进一步探究土壤有机碳(SOC)及其组分对不同侵蚀驱动力(耕作、水力)的响应格局,基于该区耕作侵蚀与水蚀模型,在定量表达耕作侵蚀-沉积量与水蚀量的基础上,利用地统计学的方法,分析了东北黑土区典型漫岗地形坡面尺度SOC及其3种组分的空间分布特征.结果表明: 耕作侵蚀与沉积速率分别表现为坡上>坡下>坡中>坡脚和坡脚>坡下>坡中>坡上;水蚀速率表现为坡下>坡脚>坡中>坡上;坡下陡坡位置耕作侵蚀与水蚀协同引起严重的土壤流失.虽然耕作侵蚀速率(0.02～7.02 t·hm^-2·a^-1)远小于水蚀速率(5.96～101.17 t·hm^-2·a^-1),但耕作侵蚀在全坡面范围均可对SOC产生不同程度的影响,而水蚀则主要在坡下径流汇集区显著影响SOC的累积-损耗.受水蚀与耕作侵蚀-沉积作用影响,SOC、颗粒有机碳、水溶性有机碳在侵蚀点含量低于沉积点,而微生物生物量碳变化趋势相反;耕作侵蚀通过影响颗粒有机碳参与SOC的积累-损耗过程.