Meiofauna ratios as environmental indicators in the profundal depths of large lakes

Two sets of samples from Lake Päijänne and one from Lake Ladoga were used to examine the relations between the meiofauna and environmental variables. The most obvious indicators of an unpolluted environment were, in order of importance, the true meiofauna/total meiofauna ratio, the proportion of Aeolosomatidae, the proportion of Harpacticoida (excluding C. staphylinus), the meiofauna/macrofauna biomass ratio, the proportion of Naididae and the A. crassa + P. schmeili/true meiofauna ratio. Conversely, the clearest indicators of a polluted environment were the proportion of resting stages of Cyclopinae, the Nematoda/non-resting Copepoda ratio, and the proportions of Tubificidae, Oligochaeta, Cladocera, C. staphylinus and benthic Eucyclopinae. Oxygen saturation exercised a highly significant effect on the meiofauna variables, and the next in order of importance were sedimentation, sediment chlorophenols originating from the chlorobleaching of pulp, total phosphorus, COD and phytoplankton biomass. The dependence of the meiofauna on environmental variables was somewhat more pronounced in the deepest areas of Lake Päijänne than in the epiprofundal zone, and largely similar in the two lakes.     

Monitoring of a Coastal Mediterranean Area: Culturable Bacteria, Phytoplankton, Environmental Factors and their Relationships in the Southern Adriatic Sea

Culturable heterotrophic bacterial and phytoplanktonic densities were investigated at four sites in the Southern Adriatic Sea (Brindisi, S. Cataldo, Otranto and S. M. di Leuca) over an annual cycle. The main phytoplankton groups, the bacterial biodiversity, as well as the faecal contamination indicators were determined. Culturable bacterial numbers averaged 4.8 ± 0.2 log CFU ml⁻¹ whereas phytoplankton numbers averaged 2.1 ± 0.4 log cells ml⁻¹. Relationships between culturable bacteria, phytoplankton and the environmental factors were established. Bacterial and phytoplankton densities usually depended significantly on temperature, dissolved oxygen, phosphate and nitrite only in the S. Cataldo transect. In all the examined transects phytoplankton showed a bloom during the January–February period followed by a bacterial peak during the February–March period. Thus we can suppose that the phytoplankton winter bloom is responsible for the availabily of organic matter for bacterial populations in the following months in this oligotrophic ecosystem.     

溪源水库蓄水前后冬春季水体营养盐和浮游植物特征研究

于2007—2008年溪源水库蓄水前,2014—2015年溪源水库蓄水后对溪源宫水源地水体进行采样,分析了冬春季水体的理化指标、浮游植物生物量及群落组成。蓄水前共鉴定出浮游植物6门26属43种,水体水质状况较好,浮游植物细胞密度平均为7.31×10~5cells/L,以硅藻、绿藻门为优势门类,两者占浮游植物总生物量的比例约为54.7%、32.2%,水体呈贫-中营养状态。蓄水后,水体氮、磷营养盐浓度分别约为蓄水前的2.4倍、3倍,浮游植物细胞密度平均为1.42×10~7cells/L,约为蓄水前的20倍,且群落结构发生改变,优势门类为硅藻、蓝藻、绿藻,所占比例分别为40.2%、38.7%、14.4%,蓝藻门比例有显著提高,约为蓄水前的5倍。说明建库蓄水对浮游植物的影响显著。     

Effects of an oil spill on soil physico-chemical properties of a spill site in the Niger Delta Area of Nigeria

Physico-chemical analysis of soil samples at an oil spill site in the Niger Delta Area of Nigeria showed that the total hydrocarbon content of top soil layers ranged from 0.8 to 12.4 ppm in the heavy impact zone and the oil had penetrated to a depth of 7.2 m. Hydrocarbon concentration in the medium impact zone ranged from 0.02 to 0.40 ppm while hydrocarbons were not detected in 75% of samples from the unimpacted reference zone. Measurement of heavy metal concentrations in the soils revealed a significant build-up (p<0.05) of lead, iron and zinc in the heavy impact zone. Other parameters including electrical conductivity, exchangeable cations, available phosphorus and total nitrogen in impacted soils were comparatively low while the total organic carbon was high, compared with the reference site. Textural class of soil from the different depths showed a predominantly brown sand at the top soil, loamy sand at medium depths and grey coarse sand at greater depths.     

太湖湖滨带浮游植物群落特征及指示种筛选

针对太湖湖滨带,均匀布设49个点位,分别于2009年12月、2010年4、8月开展浮游植物及水质监测。结果显示,湖滨带浮游植物群落多样性整体较低,优势种从枯水期到丰水期呈"鱼腥藻-鱼腥藻-微囊藻"的演变趋势;西北部湖区(竺山湖、梅梁湾、西部沿岸)浮游植物密度明显高于东南部湖区(东部沿岸、东太湖、南部沿岸);湖滨带浮游植物群落结构与湖体相似,密度比湖体高1个数量级;RDA排序筛选出在显著水平上解释浮游植物分布的最小变量组合为TN、CODMn、SS、p H、SD,且方差分解指出TN是相对最重要的变量;当物种适合度为50%~100%时,与TN具有较好梯度响应关系的是四尾栅藻及弓型藻,并且这2个种与TN、TP及综合营养状态指数的组合变量也有较好的梯度响应关系,具备指示太湖湖滨带富营养化的可能,但定量指示意义尚待进一步研究。     

南黄海2007—2017年浮游植物群落结构及多样性变化

在2007-2017年秋季，利用专业海洋调查船对整个南黄海海域开展了5个航次的浮游植物调查。结果发现：调查海域共有浮游植物371种，隶属4门108属。其中硅藻门有56属237种，甲藻门有24属98种，硅藻和甲藻是组成南黄海海域浮游植物最主要的两大类群。主要优势种有裸甲藻（Gymnodinium sp.）、柔弱拟菱形藻（Nitz.delicatissima）、蓝隐藻（Chroomonas sp.）、菱形海线藻（Thalassionema nitzschioides）、锥状施克里普藻（Scrippsiella trochoidea）和环沟藻（Gyrodinium spp.）等。2007年以来，南黄海浮游植物种类数呈明显上升趋势。浮游植物细胞密度平均为1.96×10⁴个/L，年际变化较大。将调查结果与众多文献比对，共发现9种藻类为中国新记录藻种，其中有4种硅藻和5种甲藻。     

成都市河流生态健康评价

研究以成都市域内河流为研究对象,通过采样分析得到水质、生境状况、浮游藻类、底栖动物等相关指标,利用综合指标体系法,评价成都市域内河流生态系统健康状况,并结合成都市人口、土地利用、地区生产总值等因素分析人类活动与河流生态健康的关系。结果表明:成都市河流浮游藻类以硅藻和绿藻为主,部分中下游采样点出现以蓝藻为主的情况;底栖动物以指示有机污染的颤蚓科出现的频率最高,约48%的采样点以颤蚓科为优势种;约74%的河流生态健康状况为"差"或"很差",河流生态健康状况整体呈现中上游优于下游、城市周边优于市区的特征;人口密度、人类活动用地比例与河流中氨氮呈显著正相关,人类活动会显著影响河流生态系统健康。     

River discharge as a major driving force on spatial and temporal variations in zooplankton biomass and community structure in the Godavari estuary India

Variability in horizontal zooplankton biomass distribution was investigated over 13 months in the Godavari estuary, along with physical (river discharge, temperature, salinity), chemical (nutrients, particulate organic matter), biological (phytoplankton biomass), and geological (suspended matter) properties to examine the influencing factors on their spatial and temporal variabilities. The entire estuary was filled with freshwater during peak discharge period and salinity near zero, increased to ~ 34 psu during dry period with relatively high nutrient levels during former than the latter period. Due to low flushing time (< 1 day) and high suspended load (> 500 mg L^?1) during peak discharge period, picoplankton (cyanophyceae) contributed significantly to the phytoplankton biomass (Chl-a) whereas microplankton and nanoplankton (bacillariophyceae, and chlorophyceae) during moderate and mostly microplankton during dry period. Zooplankton biomass was the lowest during peak discharge period and increased during moderate followed by dry period. The zooplankton abundance was controlled by dead organic matter during peak discharge period, while both phytoplankton biomass and dead organic matter during moderate discharge and mostly phytoplankton biomass during dry period. This study suggests that significant modification of physico-chemical properties by river discharge led to changes in phytoplankton composition and dead organic matter concentrations that alters biomass, abundance, and composition of zooplankton in the Godavari estuary.     

Influence of environmental properties on macrobenthos in the northwest Indian shelf

The paper deals with the standing stock of macrobenthic infauna and associated environmental factors influencing the benthic community in the shelf region of the northwest Indian coast. The data were collected onboard FORV Sagar Sampada during the winter monsoon (January–February, 2003) to understand the community structure and the factors influencing the benthic distribution. The environmental parameters, sediment characteristics and macrobenthic infauna were collected at 26 stations distributed in the depths between 30 and 200 m extending from nobreak{Mormugao} to Porbander. Total benthic abundance was high in lower depths (50–75 m), and low values noticed at 30 m depth contour was peculiar. Polychaetes were the dominant group and were more abundant in shallow and middle depths with moderate organic matter, clay and relatively high dissolved oxygen. On the other hand crustaceans and molluscs were more abundant in deeper areas having sandy sediment and low temperature. High richness and diversity of whole benthic groups observed in deeper depths counter balanced the opposite trend shown by polychaete species. Generally benthos preferred medium grain sized texture with low organic matter and high organic matter had an adverse effect especially on filter feeders. Deposit feeding polychaetes dominated in shallow depths while carnivore species in the middle depths. Ecologically, benthos were controlled by a combination of factors such as temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, sand and organic matter and no single factor could be considered as an ecological master factor.     

Zooplankton and its grazing as indicators of trophic status in Dutch lakes

The existing data on the species composition of zooplankton and grazing intensities of crustacean plankton are discussed in the light of trophic status, particularly in the Dutch lakes of varying trophy. Several species of rotifers in northern Europe and North America are considered to indicate eutrophic environments. However, unanimity is less regarding crustacean zooplankton, since several species are encountered in lakes varying widely in trophic degree. The zooplankton to seston (33 μm) biomass ratio may provide information about the ecological transfer efficiency and trophic status. In the Dutch lakes the ratio decreases sharply with increase in food concentration during eutrophication, namely from ca 0.4 in oligotrophic lakes to about 0.05 in the hypertrophic ones. The zooplankton community grazing is high and variable in lakes of low trophy but low and relatively constant in lakes of high trophy. The fluctuations in the filtering rates of Daphnia sp. (e.g. D. magna) may provide information both on trophic degree as well as dissolved substances in lake waters. The dominance of small cladocerans in lakes may be due to quality of food and trophic level, besides fish predation. The recurrent clear-water phase in lakes would indicate oligo-mesotrophic situations in which the zooplankton plays an important role in the phytoplankton wax and wane.     

Phytoplankton variation and its relationship with the environment in Xiangxi Bay in spring after damming of the Three-Gorges, China

Following the completion of the Three-Gorges Dam, there was a strong spring phytoplankton bloom in Xiangxi Bay of Three-Gorges Reservoir. However, our knowledge of relationship between spring phytoplankton bloom and environmental factors was still limited. In this study, phytoplankton species composition, biomass, chlorophyll a concentration and environmental factors at two sampling sites in Xiangxi Bay were investigated during 25 March to 18 May 2007. The Xiangxi Bay was eutrophic with the lowest values of total nitrogen and total phosphorus being 0.80 and 0.07?mg/L, respectively. A total of 66 algal taxa belonging to seven phyla and 45 genera were identified. Peridiniopsis niei Liu was the most abundant species which preferred standing water. Canonical correspondence analysis and correlation analysis revealed that nitrate was significantly associated with phytoplankton growth. The phytoplankton chlorophyll a concentration was correlated significantly negatively with nitrate concentration, and nitrate concentration was very low during bloom periods. Heavy rainfall was the main reason of phytoplankton chlorophyll a concentration and biomass decreasing and blooms disappearing. In addition, heavy rainfall also brought more nitrate into the Bay which provided sufficient nitrogen source for blooms occurring again.     

滇池浮游藻类群落构成调查

对滇池浮游藻类群落组成和空间分布开展了2次调查,鉴定出藻类8门66属159种及变种,绿藻种类最多,蓝藻次之。5、12月滇池全湖平均藻类密度分别为1.398×108、2.180×108个/升,蓝藻门微囊藻属为优势藻类。5月的调查中滇池外海藻类生物量呈北高南低的格局,而12月则呈现南部和中部高,北部低。外海的藻类生物量明显高于草海,草海藻类群落构成与外海明显不同,主要表现为绿藻门藻类所占比例较高。12月滇池外海及全湖藻类生物量都显著高于5月。与上一次(2006—2007年)滇池浮游藻类的系统调查相比,滇池(主要是外海)浮游藻类在物种数量、常见藻类、优势藻类及生物量水平方面与之接近。     

陆源有机污染对舟山海域大型底栖生物分布的影响

2009年4月对舟山海域进行了25个站位的底栖生物调查,结合同期进行初级生产力、海水水质等的调查数据,分析了初级生产力、富营养化等环境因子对舟山海域大型底栖生物分布的影响。结果表明,舟山海域大型底栖生物共获得84种,多毛类是主要优势类群。舟山海域大型底栖生物平均生物量为11.62g/m²,平均丰度为208.5个/平方米,多样性指数(H')为1.64。舟山海域大型底栖生物的生物量、丰度和多样性指数均呈现由近岸向外海递增的趋势。应用相关性统计分析表明,舟山海域大型底栖生物的分布与海水化学耗氧量(COD)、无机氮(DIN)、磷酸盐(DIP)、富营养化指数和底层溶解氧(DO)存在显著负相关;与初级生产力、盐度和透明度存在显著正相关。说明陆源有机污染、盐度、透明度、初级生产力和底层溶解氧是影响舟山海域大型底栖生物分布的主要因素,其中陆源有机污染是最主要的影响因素。     

Fish abundances in shoreline habitats and submerged aquatic vegetation in a tidal freshwater embayment of the Potomac River

Submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) is considered an important habitat for juvenile and small forage fish species, but many long-term recruitment surveys do not effectively monitor fish communities in SAV. To better understand the impact of recent large increases of SAV on the fish community in tidal freshwater reaches of the Potomac River, we compared traditional seine sampling from shore with drop ring sampling of SAV beds (primarily Hydrilla) in a shallow water (depths, <1.5 m) embayment, Gunston Cove. To accomplish this, we developed species-specific catch efficiency values for the seine gear and calculated area-based density in both shoreline and SAV habitats in late summer of three different years (2007, 2008, and 2009). For the dominant species (Fundulus diaphanus, Lepomis macrochirus, Etheostoma olmstedi, Morone americana, Lepomis gibbosus, and Fundulus heteroclitus), density was nearly always higher in SAV, but overall, species richness was highest in shoreline habitats sampled with seines. Although historical monitoring of fish in Gunston Cove (and throughout Chesapeake Bay) is based upon seine sampling (and trawl sampling in deeper areas), the high densities of fish and larger areal extent of SAV indicated that complementary sampling of SAV habitats would produce more accurate trends in abundances of common species. Because drop ring samples cover much less area than seines and may miss rare species, a combination of methods that includes seine sampling is needed for biodiversity assessment. The resurgence of SAV in tidal freshwater signifies improving water quality, and methods we evaluated here support improved inferences about population trends and fish community structure as indicators of ecosystem condition.     

An assessment of water quality and primary productivity in Perdido Bay,a Northern Gulf of Mexico Estuary

Perdido Bay is a shallow estuarine system of approximately 130 km² with three major freshwater inputs. On a seasonal basis the productivity and chlorophyll a concentration of phytoplankton in Perdido Bay are controlled by temperature. One input, Eleven Mile Creek, is influenced by a paper mill discharge. Eleven Mile Creek exhibits high levels of light attenuation, high concentrations of dissolved nutrients, and low rates of carbon fixation that are significantly different from the other inputs or areas of Perdido Bay and productivity in Eleven Mile Creek is light limited. Upper Perdido Bay had slightly elevated concentrations of dissolved nutrients which correlate with significantly higher rates of carbon fixation and phytoplankton biomass. Nutrients and color from Eleven Mile Creck are diluted by the Perdido River inflow, restricting nutrient and light limitations to the area at the mouth of Eleven Mile Creek.     

A classification of freshwater Louisiana lakes based on water quality and user perception data

An index system developed for Louisiana lakes was based on correlations between measurable water quality parameters and perceived lake quality. Support data was provided by an extensive monitoring program of 30 lakes coordinated with opinion surveys undertaken during summer 1984. Lakes included in the survey ranged from 4 to 735 km² in surface area with mean depths ranging from 0.5 to 8.0 m. Water quality data indicated most of these lakes are eutrophic, although many have productive fisheries and are considered recreational assets. Perception ratings of fishing quality and its associated water quality were obtained by distributing approximately 1200 surveys to Louisiana Bass Club Associaton members. The ability of Secchi disc transparency, total organic carbon, total Kjeldahl nitrogen, total phosphorus, and chlorophyll a to discriminate between perception classes was examined using probability distributions and multivariate analyses. Secchi disc and total organic carbon best reflected perceived lake conditions; however, these parameters did not provide the discrimination necessary for developing a quantitative risk assessment of lake trophic state. Consequently, an interim lakes index system was developed based on total organic carbon and perceived lake conditions. The developed index system will aid State officials in interpretating and evaluating regularly collected lake quality data, recognizing potential problem areas, and identifying proper management policies for protecting fisheries usage within the State.     

Seasonal dynamics of phytoplankton and its relationship with the environmental factors in Dongping Lake, China

Dongping Lake is the final adjusting and storing lake in the east route of the South-to-North Water Diversion Project in China, and there has been serious concern regarding the water quality. Understanding the process of phytoplankton variation can be particularly useful in water quality improvement and management decisions. In this study, the phytoplankton taxonomic composition, abundance, temporal variations, spatial distribution, and diversity were studied based on a monthly sampling campaign from three sampling stations between May 2010 and May 2011. A total of 132 species (8 phyla, 72 genera), including 64 species of Chlorophyta, 26 species of Bacillariophyta, 21 species of Cyanophyta, 12 species of Euglenophyta, 3 species of Cryptophyta, 2 species of Xanthophyta, 1 species of Pyrrophyta, and 3 species of Chrysophyta were identified. Average phytoplankton diversity index and evenness values were 3.83 and 0.77, respectively, revealing a high biodiversity of phytoplankton community. The phytoplankton abundance averaged 5.11?×?10⁶ cells/L, with Bacillariophyta dominant in winter and spring, but Cyanophyta in summer and autumn. There were 14 predominant species including Pseudanabaena limnetica, Chlamydomonas simplex, Cyclotella stelligera, and Chroomonas acuta. Phytoplankton community structure and water quality variables changed substantially over the survey period; redundancy analysis, Pearson correlations, and regression analysis as an integrated approach were applied to analyze the relationships among them. Total phosphorus and ammonium played governing roles in the phytoplankton dynamics of Dongping Lake during all periods investigated.     

Variation of phytoplankton assemblages of Kongsfjorden in early autumn 2012: a microscopic and pigment ratio-based assessment

Phytoplankton species distribution and composition were determined by using microscopy and pigment ratios in the Kongsfjorden during early autumn 2012. Variation in sea surface temperature (SST) was minimal and matched well with satellite-derived SST. Nutrients were generally limited. Surface phytoplankton abundance ranged from 0.21?×?10³ to 10.28?×?10³ cells L^?1. Phytoplankton abundance decreased with depth and did not show any significant correlation with chlorophyll a (chl a). Column-integrated phytoplankton cell counts (PCC) ranged from 94.3?×?10⁶ cells m^?2 (Kf4) to 13.7?×?10⁶ cells m^?2 (Kf5), while chl a was lowest at inner part of the fjord (6.3 mg m^?2) and highest towards the mouth (24.83 mg m^?2). Biomass from prymnesiophytes and raphidophytes dominated at surface and 10 m, respectively. The contribution of Bacillariophyceae to biomass was low. Generally, heterotrophic dinoflagellates were great in abundance (12.82 %) and ubiquitous in nature and were major contributors to biomass. Various chl pigments (chl b, chl c, phaeopigments (phaeo)) were measured to obtain pigment/chl a ratios to ascertain phytoplankton composition. Phaeo were observed only in inner fjord. Chl b:a ratios and microscopic observations indicated dominance of Chlorophyceae at greater depths than surface. Furthermore, microscopic observations confirmed dominance of chl c containing algae throughout the fjord. The study indicates that pigment ratios can be used as a tool for preliminary identification of major phytoplankton groups. However, under the presence of a large number of heterotrophic dinoflagellates such as Gymnodinium sp. and Gyrodinium sp., pigment signatures need to be supplemented by microscopic observations.     

The interactions between tree-herb layer diversity and soil properties in the oriental beech (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fagus orientalis</Emphasis> Lipsky) stands in Hyrcanian forest

This study investigated the interactions between tree-herb layer diversity and some physico-chemical and eco-physiological characteristics of soil in natural oriental beech stand in western Guilan, Iran. The data were collected from nine research sites (50 m?×?50 m) which were described as a gradient from pure oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lipsky) stands to mixed stands with up to nine deciduous tree species (n =?27) in Hyrcanian forest. Herbaceous plants were sampled within ten 1 m?×?1 m sub-plots in two plots of 400 m² which were installed randomly in each research site. Composite soil samples were taken at five positions in each research site. We found that the increase in tree diversity in mature oriental beech stands brought about an increase in microbial biomass carbon, soil carbon content, and the ratio of microbial biomass carbon to the organic carbon (C_mic/C_org). Increased soil organic carbon raised microbial biomass carbon through creating suitable environment for microorganisms. The findings also indicated that the ratio of microbial biomass carbon to the organic carbon (C_mic/C_org) increased as a quantitative indicator of soil carbon dynamics that finally benefits soil fertility of mixed oriental beech stands compared to pure oriental beech stands. The results showed that humus layer and litter thickness were negatively correlated with tree layer richness. Generally, it can be stated that maintaining a mixture of tree layer species in natural oriental beech stands results in an increase in richness and diversity values of herb plants as well as carbon content and microbial biomass carbon of soil.     

Spatial Analysis of Volatile Organic Compounds from a Community-Based Air Toxics Monitoring Network in Deer Park,Texas, USA

In the summer of 2003, ambient air concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured at 12 sites within a 3-km radius in Deer Park, Texas near Houston. The purpose of the study was to assess local spatial influence of traffic and other urban sources and was part of a larger investigation of VOC spatial and temporal heterogeneity influences in selected areas of Houston. Seventy 2-h samples were collected using passive organic vapor monitors. Most measurements of 13 VOC species were greater than the method detection limits. Samplers were located at 10 residential sites, a regulatory air monitoring station, and a site located at the centroid of the census tract in which the regulatory station was located. For residential sites, sampler placement locations (e. g., covered porch vs. house eaves) had no effect on concentration with the exception of methyl tertiary-butyl ether (MTBE). Relatively high correlations (Pearson r > 0.8) were found between toluene, ethylbenzene, and o,m,p-xylenes suggesting petroleum-related influence. Chloroform was not correlated with these species or benzene (Pearson r < 0.35) suggesting a different source influence, possibly from process-related activities. As shown in other spatial studies, wind direction relative to source location had an effect on VOC concentrations.