黄柏河梯级水库沉积物营养盐与重金属分布特征及污染评价

黄柏河为长江左岸的一级支流,是宜昌市重要的水源地和长江流域最大的磷矿基地之一,评价其沉积物营养盐和重金属污染特征,对于揭示高磷矿背景区域沉积物的污染状况及其控制与管理具有重要意义,也是当前长江大保护形势下的必然需求。分别采集了黄柏河4个梯级水库库首、库中和库尾的表层沉积物,研究分析了沉积物中营养盐和重金属的质量分数及分布特征,采用综合污染指数法和有机污染指数法评价了表层沉积物营养盐污染状况,使用潜在生态风险指数法和地累积指数法评价了沉积物6种重金属的污染状况。结果表明:黄柏河梯级水库表层沉积物总有机碳(TOC)和总氮(TN)平均质量分数分别为26.9 g·kg~(-1)和1 500.4 mg·kg~(-1),其中最下游的尚家河水库质量分数最小,TOC和TN污染主要处于轻度到中度污染水平;总磷(TP)质量分数空间差异性较大,介于622.2—9 631.5 mg·kg~(-1)之间,受流域磷矿矿点分布以及水库拦截作用的影响,TP分布从上游至下游呈现递减的趋势,流域整体处于磷重度污染水平。重金属锌(Zn)、铅(Pb)、铜(Cu)、砷(As)、镉(Cd)和汞(Hg)的平均质量分数分别为128.63、39.37、27.95、10.23、0.35、0.26 mg·kg~(-1),潜在生态风险指数和地累积指数评价表明黄柏河梯级水库表层沉积物Hg的生态风险较高,其次为Cd,剩余4种重金属的生态风险较低。沉积物碳氮比(TOC/TN)和Pearson相关性分析指出,沉积物有机质来源主要为陆源性输入,重金属Hg和Cd输入可能分别与面源性的TN输入和磷矿开采导致的TP输入具有同源性。     

小清河口及邻近海域表层沉积物重金属污染及生态风险特征

本文基于6个航次的生态调查,研究了莱州湾小清河口及邻近海域表层沉积物5种重金属的含量分布及生态风险特征.结果表明,沉积物中Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd和Hg的平均含量分别为17.95、22.08、63.99、0.15、0.08 mg·kg~(-1),均小于国家海洋沉积物质量一类标准.其中Hg的含量高于渤海典型河口,甚至大部分海湾表层沉积物Hg含量.重金属Cu和Pb含量随时间整体呈先升高后降低趋势,区域间差异不显著;重金属Zn、Cd和Hg含量在2010年后呈下降趋势,且河口区域含量明显高于近海区域(P0.05).地累积指数(Igeo)评价结果表明,沉积物重金属污染累积程度依次为:HgPbZnCdCu,整体污染较轻,重金属Hg在河道和河口区域污染累积程度较高.沉积物质量基准(SQGs)评价结果表明,重金属Pb和Cd基本不产生生物不利效应,Cu、Zn和Hg偶尔产生生物不利效应.平均沉积物质量基准商(m-ERM-Q)评价结果显示,总体上研究区沉积物重金属产生潜在生态毒性的可能性较低,河道与河口区域产生重金属生态毒性可能性为21%,其中Hg对重金属复合污染风险贡献较大,生态污染隐患较重.     

闽北建溪流域表层沉积物营养元素分布特征及生态风险评价

为了解闽江上游流域沉积物环境的现状,本文研究闽北建溪流域表层沉积物中营养元素的分布特征及生态风险,描述了表层沉积物中有机碳(TOC)、总氮(TN)和总磷(TP)的含量分布,运用单因子指数法进行生态风险评价,并分析碳、氮、磷的比例,阐述其相关关系及其环境意义.结果表明,沉积物中TOC、TN和TP的含量均值分别为3.05%、1858.05 mg·kg~(-1)和624.68 mg·kg~(-1),对多数底栖生物处于安全范围; TOC的单因子污染指数范围为2.0—5.8,TN污染指数范围为2.3—4.4,TP指数范围则为0.4—1.7,具有潜在的生态风险;沉积物营养元素比值中TOC/TN均值为16.9,TOC/TP均值为53.7,TN/TP均值为3.2,表明建溪流域沉积物营养元素受内、外源共同输入影响,且以外源作用为主导,其中林地营养物质输出是沉积物营养累积的主要原因之一.总体而言,建溪流域沉积物TN的生态风险较高且主要受流域面源排放影响,TOC与TP的生态风险较低.因此,应着重加强流域氮素面源污染调查并对重点污染源加以严控,减轻流域总氮的生态风险.     

埒子口海域表层沉积物重金属空间分布特征及生态风险评价

根据2012年5月埒子口海域17个站位的环境监测资料,采用地统计学方法分析表层沉积物中7种重金属(As、Hg、Cu、Pb、Zn、Cr和Cd)的空间分布特征,利用潜在生态风险指数法进行重金属生态风险评价。结果表明,埒子口海域表层沉积物重金属含量均达GB 18668—2002《海洋沉积物质量》中规定的1类标准,质量总体较好。重金属空间分布趋势表现为西墅河口和灌河口附近海域重金属含量偏高,靠近外海一侧海域偏低,西北-东南向相关性较好;西墅河口和灌河口入海污染物是重金属的主要污染来源。重金属综合污染系数与潜在生态风险指数具有较好的相关性和一致性,总体处于低~中等水平。Cd既是主要的重金属污染元素,也是重要的生态风险贡献因子。生态风险高值区主要分布在西墅河口和灌河口附近海域,说明排放入海的污染物对海洋生态环境影响较大。     

春、夏季长江口海水、沉积物及生物体中重金属含量及其评价

根据2009年5月（春季）、8月（夏季）长江口海域的环境调查资料,分析了长江口及其临近海域水相、表层沉积物及生物体内的6种重金属含量及分布特征,利用单因子指数法对污染状况进行了评价,并就污染来源进行了探讨。结果表明：研究海域春季表层水体中以Cu和Hg污染为主,超标率均为30%,而底层则主要为Hg污染,超标率为35%,Zn和Pb除个别站位超标外,其它站位状况良好;夏季表、底层水体中重金属污染以Cu、Zn和Hg污染较为严重,各重金属质量浓度约为春季水体中的2倍。研究海域春季表层沉积物中重金属污染状况由大到小依次为Cd、As、Cu、Zn、Pb、Hg,夏季表层沉积物中重金属污染状况由大到小依次为Cd、Cu、As、Hg、Zn、Pb,春、夏季沉积物中各重金属质量分数有所差异,总体表现为春季高于夏季。生物体内重金属质量分数状况较好,均符合各类食品安全标准。春、夏季沉积物对重金属的富集能力有所不同;但总体表现为春季富集能力高于夏季,这可能与泥沙再悬浮造成的重金属重新释放有关;鱼类和甲壳类对不同重金属的富集能力有所差异,鱼类对重金属的富集能力由大到小依次为Cd、Pb、Cu、Zn、Hg、As,而甲壳类对重金属的富集能力由大到小依次为Pb、Cd、Hg、Zn、Cu、As。     

莱州湾表层沉积物中重金属时空分布、污染来源及风险评价

运用污染风险评价标准和方法研究了2010年5月(春)、8月(夏)、10月(秋)和12月(冬)莱州湾表层沉积物中7种重金属污染物的时空分布特征、来源及生态风险。结果表明,表层沉积物中Cr、Zn和Pb含量均呈现春季低于其他季节特征,秋季Hg含量是其他季节的4倍,Cu、As和Pb含量无显著季节差异。表层沉积物中Cr、Cu、Zn、As和Cd最高值出现在莱州湾中部及小清河河口等西部水域,来源呈现受自然作用影响较大的特征;而Hg和Pb最高值出现在龙口和界河河口等东部水域,来源呈现受周边工业污染物的人为排放影响较大的特征。基于地理累积指数、生态效应浓度以及Hakanson潜在生态风险指数的综合评价表明,13%~29%的研究区域的表层沉积物受到轻微程度的Cd、Hg和Pb污染,Cd和Hg高值水域达到中等生态风险程度;Hg和As在65%~68%的研究区域的表层沉积物中达到可能对沉积物底质环境及生物群落产生不利生态影响水平。基于对重金属污染物的评价结果,莱州湾表层沉积物质量较好,局部区域存在Hg、Pb、Cd和As的潜在污染风险。     

滇池及其河口沉积物中重金属污染评价

本文对滇池及其入湖河口表层沉积物中As、Pb、Cd、Cr、Cu、Zn和Hg等重金属含量进行了分析,并采用地质累积指数法和潜在生态风险指数法评价了其污染程度和生态危害.结果表明,滇池草海北部重金属含量最高,草海及其河口重金属污染强度明显高于外海及其河口;以"全国土壤环境质量标准"为依据,As和Cd是沉积物中主要的超标污染物.地质累积指数法评价结果表明,草海及其河口沉积物中Cd达到了"严重"污染程度,是主要重金属污染物,其他金属总体处于"中度"以下污染程度;外海及其河口所有重金属基本处于"清洁"到"偏中度"污染程度.潜在生态风险评价结果表明,草海及其河口沉积物总体上达到了"很强"的潜在生态危害程度,而外海及其河口大部分区域总体属于"低度"危害程度.Cd是最主要的潜在生态危害重金属污染物,其次是Hg、As、Pb和Cu,而Zn和Cr对潜在生态危害指数的贡献率很小,在整个研究区域产生的潜在生态风险均为"轻微".相关性和主成分分析结果表明,滇池表层沉积物中Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd、Hg和As可能有相似的污染来源,而Cr主要受地球化学成分影响.     

金盆水库表层沉积物中营养盐分布特征与污染评价

为探究西安黑河金盆水库表层沉积物中营养盐的分布特征及其污染状况,本研究测定了表层沉积物中总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)和有机质(OM)的含量,并与其它湖库进行比较,分析了TN、TP和OM的相关性,并探究了表层沉积物中营养元素的来源及其污染状况.结果表明,TN平均含量为1132 mg·kg~(-1),TP平均含量为1131 mg·kg~(-1),OM平均含量为7.02%,三者空间变化趋势基本一致,从上游至库区,含量先减小后增加.与其它湖库相比,金盆水库表层沉积物中TN含量相对较小,TP和OM含量均处于中等水平.TOC/TN值表明,水库表层沉积物中OM均来源于高等陆生植物.TOC与TN、TP均存在显著的相关性,且与TN相关性更高,表明金盆水库表层沉积物有机质的矿化过程与氮、磷,尤其是氮的物质来源和沉积变化过程关系更为密切.根据沉积物质量评价指南,TN、TP和TOC含量均达到最低级别,说明金盆水库已受到一定程度的污染.     

广东红海湾表层沉积物重金属含量的空间分布特征与污染状况评价

对红海湾近岸海域20个采样站沉积物样品中的7种重金属含量分布进行了研究,结果表明:该海域表层沉积物中Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd、Cr、Hg和As质量分数范围分别为2.60~13.30、16.70~38.00、45.20~81.10、0.00~0.11、10.40~23.10、0.03~0.50、6.42~10.20 mg·kg~(-1),平均值分别为6.29、25.44、57.87、0.03、15.32、0.07、7.97 mg·kg~(-1),其中,Cu、Zn、Cd、Cr和Hg平均值低于全国海岸带重金属的背景值。海洋沉积物质量单因子污染指数法评价结果显示,Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd、Cr、Hg和As的平均含量均符合海洋沉积物质量Ⅰ类标准,7种重金属平均含量的污染程度为PbAsZnHgCrCuCd。潜在生态危害指数法评价结果显示,红海湾近岸海域潜在生态风险指数等级"较低",海洋生态环境状况较好;结合重金属富集程度分析,该海域Pb的富集程度较高且集中于近岸海域。表层沉积物中重金属和TOC相关性分析表明:该海域表层沉积物TOC含量与重金属Cu、Pb、Zn、Cr和As含量具有一定的正相关性。进一步通过主成分分析研究沉积物中重金属污染来源,发现前2个主成分的贡献率分别为60.41%和16.48%;结合相关性分析,认为该海域沉积物重金属Cu、Pb、Zn、Cr和As的主要来源为工业废水与城市污水。文章揭示了红海湾近岸海域沉积物中重金属的分布特征,可为海洋生态环境建设提供依据。     

湛江湾红树林湿地表层沉积物重金属形态特征、生态风险评价及来源分析

随着工业化与城市化进程加快,湛江湾重金属污染物入海量逐年增加,沿岸红树林湿地承受着愈来愈大的环境压力。为了解湛江湾红树林表层(0-15 cm)沉积物重金属污染状况,对湾内沉积物中8种重金属元素(As、Cd、Cr、Cu、Hg、Ni、Pb、Zn)的质量分数、赋存形态特征及潜在生态风险进行了研究。采用改进BCR提取法分析重金属形态特征,运用基于总质量分数的潜在生态风险指数法和基于形态学的次生相与原生相分布比值法与风险评估编码法进行风险评价,并结合多元统计方法对重金属来源进行解析。结果表明,(1)沉积物中除Cr、Pb外,其余6种重金属的质量分数平均值均超过雷州半岛土壤环境背景值;8种重金属空间分布差异明显,变异系数在37.24%-108.19%之间。(2)As、Hg以残渣态为主要赋存形态,Cd、Zn以酸提取态为主要赋存形态,Cu、Ni、Pb以可还原态为主要赋存形态,Cr、Ni以可氧化态为主要赋存形态。(3)8种重金属元素非残渣态所占比例排序依次为CdCuNiZnPbCrAsHg,其中Cd、Cu、Ni、Zn、Pb、Cr的非残渣态所占比例均超过70%,说明重金属元素具有极强的迁移性和生物有效性,再次释放风险较大;非残渣态质量分数高值区出现在NHD和GHCL站位,说明这两个区域红树林沉积物重金属活性较高,重金属污染问题应引起重视。(4)湛江湾红树林表层沉积物中重金属RI均值为273.076,为中等潜在生态风险;而总体RSP值为5.79,表现为重度污染。从空间分布看,各站位重金属元素为中度至重度污染;其中NHD站位重金属污染程度最高,RSP值为11.97,与非残渣态空间分布特征一致。(5)多元统计结果表明,湾内红树林表层沉积物中重金属来源主要与生活排污、养殖排污和工业排污有关,其次为自然风化产物的输入。     

Phosphate enrichment in the northern Gulf of Aqaba: Regulation by carbonate sediments and impact on nitrogen elevation

The effect of carbonate sediment in regulating phosphate concentrations in sea water was investigated by laboratory incubation experiments using different sediment types. Incubation experiments were made with two types of sediments: uncontaminated sediment from a marine reserve and contaminated sediment with deposited phosphate powders. Fluxes of inorganic nitrogen and phosphate were estimated from linear regressions of solute concentrations over incubation periods. Ammonium and phosphate fluxes were about twofold higher in the uncontaminated sediment that had significantly lower organic carbon and total phosphate concentrations than in the phosphate-contaminated sediment. To test the effect of dissolved phosphate on increasing nitrogen fixation, additional incubation experiments were carried out using treated carbonate and silicate sediments with added dissolved phosphate (20 μM). Incubations were made under sterile conditions with HgCl₂ added to distinguish between biologically enhanced processes and pure physicochemical processes. The adsorption rate of phosphate onto carbonate sediment was about twice that onto silicate sediments. No nitrogen elevation either as ammonium or as nitrate was observed in the soluble phosphate enrichment incubations. In conclusion, this study demonstrates the importance of the regulation of soluble phosphate concentrations in carbonate sediment environments where the carbonate sediment acts as a buffering system keeping soluble phosphate concentrations at certain steady-state levels. The study also demonstrates the lack of evidence on enhancement of nitrogen concentrations due to the increase phosphate concentrations.     

Comparative toxicity of nine metals to two Malaysian aquatic dipterian larvae with reference to sediment composition

A study was conducted on the effects of sediment type in modifying the toxicity of heavy metals to chironomus and culicoides larvae. Three types of sediment were obtained from three locations within the University Malaysia Terengganu compound and analyzed for sediment type. Based on the analysis, the sediment samples were classified as silt loam, silty–clay loam, and loam. Sediment toxicity tests were conducted following the standard methods of ASTM (2005). Toxicity studies using the three sediment samples were conducted to determine if sediment type affected the toxicity of heavy metals to the two dipterian larvae. The LC₅₀ of the different heavy metals was observed to vary between the three sediment types. In the case of zinc, the LC₅₀ value was observed to be 38.53 mg L^?1 for silt loam, 42.22 mg L^?1 for silty-clay loam and 70.99 mg L^?1 for loam, in the case of Chironomus plumosus. This trend was observed for all nine heavy metals tested, as well as for both dipterian larvae. The data indicate that sediment type plays a role in the manner in which these organisms react to pollutants entering their habitat.     

水库疏浚底泥农用对芥菜生长和品质的影响

疏浚底泥重金属污染是限制底泥农用的主要因素。采用土培盆栽试验,研究了底泥与土壤按不同质量比混合,对芥菜生物量、重金属、硝酸盐、维生素C（Vc）、以及可溶性糖含量的影响;并研究了m（底泥）：m（土壤）=2：1时,施加20mg·kg-1的碳酸钙对土壤有效态重金属含量影响,以及对芥菜生物量和品质的影响。结果表明：加入水库底泥可以显著促进芥菜的生长,随着底泥加入比例的增加,芥菜地上部生物量表现出先上升后降低的趋势,以m（底泥）：m（土壤）=2：1芥菜地上部生物量最高,是对照的1.71倍。底泥处理均能显著地增加芥菜地上部重金属含量,其中以全底泥处理芥菜地上部鲜质量Zn、Cd质量分数最高,分别是53.3、0.595mg·kg-1,是食品卫生标准的2.67、2.98倍。施用底泥可以提高芥菜地上部Vc、降低其硝酸盐含量。在m（底泥）：m（土壤）=2：1的土壤上,施入20mg·kg-1的碳酸钙处理可以显著降低土壤有效态重金属质量分数,有效态Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd质量分数分别下降到对照的58.7%、75.4%、59.8%、44.0%,从而有效地降低了芥菜对重金属的吸收积累,施加碳酸钙处理后,芥菜地上部Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd分别下降66.1%、83.2%、70.5%、53.1%。施加碳酸钙处理不仅可以促进芥菜生长还可以提高芥菜品质,与对照相比施加20mg·kg-1的碳酸钙处理后,芥菜生物量、可溶性糖质量分数、Vc质量分数分别增加了3.2%、6.0%、27.5%,而地上部硝酸盐质量分数降低了24.4%。     

Distributions of heavy metals in the sediments of South Korean harbors

Bottom sediments of harbors in the South Korea have been long suspected for metal contamination due to ship-based and urban-based activities for the past several decades. A number of areas have been suspected to impair ecosystem services to the local residents and drawn complaints from main stakeholders. Twelve contamination suspected harbors were subject to evaluate the level of contamination of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Pb and Hg. The level of sediment contamination for each metal was evaluated comparing the relative enrichment of a given metal to pollution-insensitive aluminum. Regional background concentration of a given metal was also determined based on its down core measurement and sediment texture. Ecological risk posed by the presence of heavy metals was evaluated using the sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) developed by United States National Ocean and Atmosphere Administration (US NOAA) as benchmarks for evaluating sediment chemistry to aquatic organisms. Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb and Hg in the surface sediment were found to be higher than a factor of 1.5 than background sediments, and the overall metal contaminations of surface sediment can be regarded as medium–high- to high-priority sites in the sense of SQGs.     

腐殖质对BDE209、Pb和Cd在水/沉积物界面吸附行为的影响

水/沉积物界面是有机和无机污染物的物理、化学等过程的重要载体和场所。为了探究溴代阻燃剂与重金属在水/沉积物体系的分布规律,以电子垃圾拆解地水体中常见的溴代阻燃剂十溴联苯醚(BDE209)和重金属Pb、Cd为目标污染物,考察了腐殖质对BDE209、Pb和Cd在水/沉积物界面吸附行为的影响。红外光谱分析表明沉积物腐殖质活性基团包括醇、酚和羧基类等官能团;1H核磁共振分析显示沉积物腐殖质主要由碳水化合物与脂肪族类化合物组成。吸附试验结果表明,水体中腐殖质能够促进沉积物表面BDE209、Pb和Cd的释放,BDE209在水/沉积物体系的吸附行为主要受水溶性腐殖质的影响,而对Pb、Cd而言,负载于沉积物表面的碱溶性腐殖质比水溶性腐殖质对其分配行为的作用更显著。此外,沉积物组分对BDE209在水/沉积物体系的分配行为无显著影响;粘土组分对Pb、Cd的富集能力高于砂粒,并且对Pb的富集能力比Cd更为突出。     

Distributions of heavy metals in the sediments of South Korean harbors

Bottom sediments of harbors in the South Korea have been long suspected for metal contamination due to ship-based and urban-based activities for the past several decades. A number of areas have been suspected to impair ecosystem services to the local residents and drawn complaints from main stakeholders. Twelve contamination suspected harbors were subject to evaluate the level of contamination of Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Pb and Hg. The level of sediment contamination for each metal was evaluated comparing the relative enrichment of a given metal to pollution-insensitive aluminum. Regional background concentration of a given metal was also determined based on its down core measurement and sediment texture. Ecological risk posed by the presence of heavy metals was evaluated using the sediment quality guidelines (SQGs) developed by United States National Ocean and Atmosphere Administration (US NOAA) as benchmarks for evaluating sediment chemistry to aquatic organisms. Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb and Hg in the surface sediment were found to be higher than a factor of 1.5 than background sediments, and the overall metal contaminations of surface sediment can be regarded as medium-high- to high-priority sites in the sense of SQGs.     

Pools of chlorophyll and live planktonic diatoms in aphotic marine sediments

Chlorophyll a and numbers of live pelagic diatoms were recorded from sediment depth profiles at 11 stations in the oligotrophic Øresund, Denmark, in late-June. Extraction efficiency of chlorophyll a analysed fluorometrically did not differ significantly between paired samples of frozen-thawed and fresh sediment. The depth profiles of chlorophyll a could be explained by a diagenetic model involving two different chlorophyll pools: one reactive pool declining exponentially with core depth, and one non-reactive pool, of about 1 µg Chl ml^-1 wet sediment, being constant with depth. The number of live diatoms, quantified by the dilution-extinction method, and expressed in terms of most probable number (MPN), declined from an average of about 300,000 g^-1 in the surface sediment to zero values at a depth of 13 cm. The number of live cells was significantly correlated with the sediment chlorophyll a, and the profiles of live cells as well as reactive chlorophyll followed the same exponential decline with core depth, suggesting that the main source of chlorophyll in the sediment was live pelagic diatoms. Taxonomic composition of diatoms in the sediment, dominated by the pelagic genera Chaetoceros, Thalassiosira and Skeletonema, matched the species composition in the water column 3 months earlier during the spring bloom. Regular recordings of the phytoplankton community in the water column showed that only these specific bloom species could be the source of the sediment content of diatoms and chlorophyll a. Further, the ratios between live cells and chlorophyll a were similar in the sediment and in the spring bloom. A conservative estimate of depth-integrated pools of diatoms in the sediment suggested that about 44% of the total phytoplankton biomass during the spring bloom was still present as live cells in the sediment after 3 months. This indicates that the spring bloom input to the sediment is not degraded immediately by the benthic fauna.     

Estimation of total sediment load concentration obtained by experimental study using artificial neural networks

Estimation of sediment concentration in rivers is very important for water resources projects planning and managements. The sediment concentration is generally determined from the direct measurement of sediment concentration of river or from sediment transport equations. Direct measurement is very expensive and cannot be conducted for all river gauge stations. However, sediment transport equations do not agree with each other and require many detailed data on the flow and sediment characteristics. The main purpose of the study is to establish an effective model which includes nonlinear relations between dependent (total sediment load concentration) and independent (bed slope, flow discharge, and sediment particle size) variables. In the present study, by performing 60 experiments for various independent data, dependent variables were obtained, because of the complexity of the phenomena, as a soft computing method artificial neural networks (ANNs) which is the powerful tool for input–output mapping is used. However, ANN model was compared with total sediment transport equations. The results show that ANN model is found to be significantly superior to total sediment transport equations.     

Geologic processes influence the effects of mining on aquatic ecosystems

Geologic processes strongly influence water and sediment quality in aquatic ecosystems but rarely are geologic principles incorporated into routine biomonitoring studies. We test if elevated concentrations of metals in water and sediment are restricted to streams downstream of mines or areas that may discharge mine wastes. We surveyed 198 catchments classified as "historically mined" or "unmined," and based on mineral-deposit criteria, to determine whether water and sediment quality were influenced by naturally occurring mineralized rock, by historical mining, or by a combination of both. By accounting for different geologic sources of metals to the environment, we were able to distinguish aquatic ecosystems limited by metals derived from natural processes from those due to mining. Elevated concentrations of metals in water and sediment were not restricted to mined catchments; depauperate aquatic communities were found in unmined catchments. The type and intensity of hydrothermal alteration and the mineral deposit type were important determinants of water and sediment quality as well as the aquatic community in both mined and unmined catchments. This study distinguished the effects of different rock types and geologic sources of metals on ecosystems by incorporating basic geologic processes into reference and baseline site selection, resulting in a refined assessment. Our results indicate that biomonitoring studies should account for natural sources of metals in some geologic environments as contributors to the effect of mines on aquatic ecosystems, recognizing that in mining-impacted drainages there may have been high pre-mining background metal concentrations.     

Effects of sedimentation on the gorgonian <Emphasis Type="Italic">Subergorgia suberosa</Emphasis> (Pallas, 1766)

Effects of oceanic and terrestrial sediment suspensions on the behavioral traits activity, colony expansion, and mucus formation of the gorgonian octocoral Subergorgia suberosa (Pallas, 1766) were studied in the laboratory. Increased sediment concentration significantly changed the logits of activity indices (as colony expansion) and was correlated with decreased activity. For both sources of sediments, the activity index decreased as the concentration of sediment increased. The level of decrease was more significance for terrestrial sediments. The activity index showed no clear time pattern for the control group, but a decrease over time occurred in both sediment treatment groups. Activity change was linearly correlated with exposure time and concentration of terrestrial and ocean sediments. The activity indices of polyps were negatively correlated with the formation of mucus sheets (correlation = −0.536, p = 0.048). For both sources of sediments, the frequency of mucus sheet formation (MSF) increased with sediment concentration. Increases in terrestrial sediment loads resulted in more striking effects. The probability for MSF under different sediment groups at different concentrations over time was modeled by regressions. Frequency of polyp activity is suggested as a suitable biomarker to monitor the effects of sedimentation stress.