Soil chemical and physical properties at the Bear Brook Watershed in Maine, USA

Acidic deposition leads to the acidification of waters and accelerated leaching and depletion of soil base cations. The Bear Brook Watershed in Maine has used whole-watershed chemical manipulations to study the effects of elevated N and S on forest ecosystem function on a decadal time scale. The objectives of this study were to define the chemical and physical characteristics of soils in both the reference and treated watersheds after 17 years of treatment and assess evidence of change in soil chemistry by comparing soil studies in 1998 and 2006. Results from 1998 confirmed depletion of soil base cation pools and decreased pH due to elevated N and S within the treated watershed. However, between 1998 and 2006, during a period of declining SO $_{4}^{\,\,2-}$ deposition and continued whole-watershed experimental acidification on the treated watershed, there was little evidence of continued soil exchangeable base cation concentration depletion or recovery. The addition of a pulse of litterfall and accelerating mineralization from a severe ice storm in 1998 may have had significant effects on forest floor nutrient pools and cycling between 1998 and 2006. Our findings suggest that mineralization of additional litter inputs from the ice storm may have obscured temporal trends in soil chemistry. The physical data presented also demonstrate the importance of coarse fragments in the architecture of these soils. This study underscores the importance of long-term, quantitative soil monitoring in determining the trajectories of change in forest soils and ecosystem processes over time.     

环境DNA宏条形码监测水生态系统变化与健康状态

开展快速可靠的水生态监测并预测其变化趋势,对保护水生态环境具有重要的价值。近年来,环境DNA宏条形码技术(简称环境DNA技术)的快速发展弥补了传统形态学生物监测的缺陷,显著提升了水生生物群落的监测能力。与机器学习、遥感和云服务等技术结合,环境DNA技术不仅能大尺度、高频率、高灵敏度、自动化地获取生态监测信息,而且能准确地识别水生态系统的变化趋势,进而改变对水生态系统的认识与管理方式。因此,研究着重总结了环境DNA技术在水生态监测中的应用,分析了环境DNA技术与机器学习、卫星遥感等跨学科合作的潜在机遇,基于环境DNA技术简单、便捷的优势,提出了社会公民参与水环境保护的生态监测新思路。     

水环境生物监测的发展方向与核心技术

水环境生物监测是环境监测的重要内容,它应重点说清环境胁迫的生物效应。简述了总量管理、流域管理、风险管理、生态管理等环境管理对水环境生物监测有迫切需求,应引入＂生态系统健康＂、＂生物完整性＂、＂环境胁迫＂、＂全排水毒性＂等现代环境生物监测的基本概念,建立水环境生物监测技术发展的理论基础,发展生物完整性、综合毒性等监测与评价核心技术;革新现行监测方法体系,建立包括QA/QC、快速方法等支持系统在内的现代水环境生物监测业务化方法体系;创新评价技术体系,建立水环境生态健康评价及综合毒性评价指标体系、基准及分级管理标准,确立水环境质量管理的生物学目标。     

Development of environmental impact monitoring protocol for offshore carbon capture and storage (CCS): A biological perspective

Offshore geologic storage of carbon dioxide (CO₂), known as offshore carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), has been under active investigation as a safe, effective mitigation option for reducing CO₂ levels from anthropogenic fossil fuel burning and climate change. Along with increasing trends in implementation plans and related logistics on offshore CCS, thorough risk assessment (i.e. environmental impact monitoring) needs to be conducted to evaluate potential risks, such as CO₂ gas leakage at injection sites. Gas leaks from offshore CCS may affect the physiology of marine organisms and disrupt certain ecosystem functions, thereby posing an environmental risk. Here, we synthesize current knowledge on environmental impact monitoring of offshore CCS with an emphasis on biological aspects and provide suggestions for better practice. Based on our critical review of preexisting literatures, this paper: 1) discusses key variables sensitive to or indicative of gas leakage by summarizing physico-chemical and ecological variables measured from previous monitoring cruises on offshore CCS; 2) lists ecosystem and organism responses to a similar environmental condition to CO₂ leakage and associated impacts, such as ocean acidification and hypercapnia, to predict how they serve as responsive indicators of short- and long-term gas exposure, and 3) discusses the designs of the artificial gas release experiments in fields and the best model simulation to produce realistic leakage scenarios in marine ecosystems. Based on our analysis, we suggest that proper incorporation of biological aspects will provide successful and robust long-term monitoring strategies with earlier detection of gas leakage, thus reducing the risks associated with offshore CCS.     

Assessment of water quality of some swimming pools: a case study in Alexandria, Egypt

In spite of the importance and popularity of swimming pools in summer, they have been identified as posing some public health risks to users due to either chemical or microbiological contamination. This study was carried out aiming at assessing the quality of water for some Alexandria's swimming pools in order to determine its compliance with the Egyptian standards no. 418/1995. Five swimming pools were selected randomly from different districts. Physical and chemical parameters, as well as biological examination of a total of 30 samples, were carried out using standard analytical methods. Water samples were collected from the studied swimming pools monthly over 6?months and pool water monitoring was carried out during afternoon of the weekends when the pools were most heavily used. The results indicated overall poor compliance with the standards. Compliance of the pool water to the microbial parameters, residual chlorine, pH, and turbidity were 56.7% (17 samples), 20% (6 samples), 46.7% (14 samples), and 46.7% (14 samples), respectively. Statistical analysis showed significant association between water contamination with microbial indicators and physical–chemical aspects such as residual chlorine, temperature, turbidity, and load of swimmers. Furthermore, Cryptosporidium oocysts and Giardia lamblia cysts has been found in 10% of samples. It was concluded that there is a need to improve disinfection and cleaning procedures, with consideration given to safety, and size of the pool in relation to bathing load. There is also a need to monitor swimming pool water quality continuously, and to increase bather hygienic practices and awareness of the risks as well as training of governmental inspectors.     

生物监测技术在工业废水监测领域的应用研究

生物监测可以系统反映污染物对生物生长的影响及其在生物体内的转化和迁移,在水环境监测与生态健康管理中的重要性日益突出。伴随着工业化的快速发展,中国水环境污染问题依然严峻,工业废水治理和排放问题仍旧突出。为进一步保障工业废水出水及受纳水体水质安全,迫切需要在工业废水监测中引入生物监测技术。对传统微生物群落监测法、水生生物毒性监测法和基于分子生物学技术的微生群落监测法等在工业废水监测领域的研究及应用进行了综述,并对存在的问题进行了总结。建议后续进一步完善工业废水生物监测体系时,参考国外成熟经验,制定出符合国内需求及特征的工业废水生物监测方法与评价标准,以便更好地掌握工业区整体环境健康及污染状况。     

Some international activities in environmental health monitoring and surveillance

Environmental health monitoring and surveillance include activities such as collection of information on the production and use of chemicals; preparation of inventories of waste discharges; measurement of physical, chemical and biological agents in air, water and food, at work place and at home; epidemiological investigations, and collection and analysis of environmental, and health statistical data. There are two main objectives of these activities: estimation of human exposure to potentially harmful environmental factors and timely detection of adverse health effects; and the assessment of environmental conditions in relation to established guidelines and standards. Environmental health monitoring and surveillance projects initiated, organized and implemented by the Specialized Agencies and other bodies of the United Nations system include monitoring of air and water quality and of food and animal feed contamination; pilot projects on air pollution exposure assessment and biological monitoring; and ionizing radiation surveillance. Principles of environmental and health monitoring in occupational environment, and of monitoring and surveillance of environmental health effects are outlined. Two examples are provided of national environmental health surveillance systems.Revised and up-dated text of a paper presented at the World congress on Environmental Health in Development Planning, Mexico City, November 1979.Formerly Manager, Environmental Health Criteria and Standards, and Chief Central Unit, International Programme on Chemical Safety, Division of Environmental Health, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland.     

Beyond data management: how ecoinformatics can benefit environmental monitoring programs

We review ways in which the new discipline of ecoinformatics is changing how environmental monitoring data are managed, synthesized, and analyzed. Rapid improvements in information technology and strong interest in biodiversity and sustainable ecosystems are driving a vigorous phase of development in ecological databases. Emerging data standards and protocols enable these data to be shared in ways that have previously been difficult. We use the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s National Coastal Assessment (NCA) as an example. The NCA has collected biological, chemical, and physical data from thousands of stations around the U.S. coasts since 1990. NCA data that were collected primarily to assess the ecological condition of the U.S. coasts can be used in innovative ways, such as biogeographical studies to analyze species invasions. NCA application of ecoinformatics tools leads to new possibilities for integrating the hundreds of thousands of NCA species records with other databases to address broad-scale and long-term questions such as environmental impacts, global climate change, and species invasions.     

Monitoring Long-Term Ecological Changes Through the Ecological Monitoring and Assessment Network: Science-Based and Policy Relevant

Ecological monitoring and its associated research programshave often provided answers to various environmental management issues. In the face of changing environmental conditions, ecological monitoring provides decision-makers with reliable information as they grapple with maintaining a sustainable economy and healthy environment. The EcologicalMonitoring and Assessment Network (EMAN) is a national ecological monitoring network consisting of (1) about 100 casestudy sites across the country characterized by long-term multi-disciplinary environmental work conducted by a multitudeof agencies (142 partners and counting); (2) a variety of lesscomprehensive yet more extensive monitoring sites; (3) a network where core monitoring variables of ecosystem change aremeasured; and (4) geo-referenced environmental observations. Environment Canada is the co-ordinating partner for the network through the EMAN Co-ordinating Office. EMAN's mission is to focus a scientifically-sound, policy-relevant ecosystem monitoring and research network based on (a) stabilizing a network of case-study sites operated by a varietyof partners, and (b) developing a number of cooperative dispersedmonitoring initiatives in order to deliver unique and needed goods and services. These goods and services include: (1) an efficient and cost-effective early warning system which detects,describes and reports on changes in Canadian ecosystems at a national or ecozone scale; and (2) cross-disciplinary and cross-jurisdictional assessments of ecosystem status, trends and processes. The early warning system and assessments of ecosystem status, trends and processes provide Environment Canada and partner organizations with timely information thatfacilitates increasingly adaptive policies and priority setting. Canadians are also informed of changes and trends occurring in Canadian ecosystems and, as a result, are betterable to make decisions related to conservation and sustainability.     

深入推进新时代生态环境质量综合分析工作

生态环境质量综合分析是生态环境监测业务流程的重要环节,直接反映生态环境监测服务支撑能力水平。回顾了生态环境质量综合分析的历史沿革与主要成绩,并分析了新时代面临的新形势,如生态系统理论的引领、生态环境考核的要求、信息公开的深化、信息化与大数据的发展等,提出需要在系统化、精细化、信息化和形象化等方向上不断强化,实现新时代生态环境质量综合分析服务生态环境管理和社会公众能力水平的新飞跃。     

关于近岸海域生态环境监测技术体系的探讨

在近岸海域环境管理从污染控制管理发展为生态环境综合管理的情况下,厘清近岸海域生态环境监测技术体系并加以完善十分必要。通过对中国环境监测和管理发展的梳理得出,中国近岸海域生态环境监测技术体系在生态环境、污染和损害等方面已有一定的基础;研究国内外环境监测和管理的发展趋势发现,中国近岸海域生态环境监测技术体系在河口区域、生态恢复力、风险源、灾害、海域使用影响、湿地损害、生物入侵、环境风险源方面需要不断完善,质量保证和质量控制方面也需要加强。     

基于生物导向的水生态健康监测及评估概述

环境监测是水生态健康监测与评估的重要环节,基于物理、化学监测的传统水质监测通常仅能提供独立的数据信息,不能全面、直观地反映水环境状况。基于生物等生命体导向的水生态监测通过生物对环境的响应,能够直接反应复杂水体状况,在水环境健康监测与评估中占据重要地位。基于病原微生物、指示生物介绍了生物监测中的常规生物指标,总结了包括藻类、无脊椎动物和鱼类在内的常见指示生物在不同类型污染水体中的环境指示作用。从生物毒性效应出发介绍了常用的毒性效应测试方法、分析了污染物在不同生物学水平的响应,从而指明生物毒性效应在水环境健康评估中的发展优势。再从生态完整性角度阐述了生态完整性评价的一般方法和新兴分子生物学技术在水生态健康评估中的应用。重点指出环境毒理学和分子生物学在水环境监测的优势,以期为更加科学精确地进行水生态健康监测预警提供支撑。     

Results from the NOAA National Status and Trends Program on distribution and effects of chemical contamination in the coastal and estuarine United States

The NOAA National Status and Trends (NS&T) Program has been monitoring chemical contamination in fish livers, and surface sediments since 1984 and in molluscan tissue and sediments since 1986. Data from fine-grained sediment at 175 sites are used to describe the spatial distribution of contamination throughout the coastal and estuarine United States. Highest levels are generally found in, and considered representative of, urban areas. It should be noted, however, that these levels are not as high as have been found near discharge pipes or in isolated industrial areas through other monitoring efforts. Dramatic biological responses, such as liver tumors in fish or apparently toxic contaminant levels in sediment, are found infrequently. Subtle biological changes, especially those that affect reproductive ability, are being sought. Data from three annual collections of mollusks have been used to identify early signals of temporal trends in contamination at NS&T sites.     

Limnochemistry and nutrient dynamics in Upper Lake, Bhopal, India

In limnetic ecosystem, water quality depends upon physical, chemical, and biological factors. Effects of temperature, light scattering, and absorption by suspended and dissolved matter, transport, and mixing of nutrients within the lake are the significant factors as far as water quality is concerned. Nutrient loading into the lake and internal cycling of nutrients is always a matter of concern and critical to number of processes. During the winter season, heat and momentum transfer at the lake surface and the temperature-density relation of water destabilize the water column and drive vertical mixing and transport processes. The deepening of the surface layer produces nutrient transfer from the hypolimnion into the euphotic zone of epilimnion. It may also resuspend sediments that would have settled under stratified conditions, or redistribute particles that may still be in suspension. Thus, there exists a complex connection between the hydrodynamics and water quality issues. Present study is an effort to understand how seasonal changes in the limnetic ecosystem regulate the limnochemistry and movement of nutrient. The study revealed that significant variations of nutrients and organic load were observed between epilimnion and hypolimnion during summer season, and the lake was found in hyper-eutrophic condition throughout the study period.     

浅谈环境监测化学测量结果的计量溯源性

确保测量结果的计量溯源性是保障数据有效性的基本要求。为此,国家明确提出要建立健全国家生态环境监测量值溯源体系。化学测量是环境监测工作中最常用的一种测量方式。由于基体、浓度等的影响往往比较复杂,如何确保环境监测化学测量结果的计量溯源性成为环境监测领域的重要研究内容。通过总结建立环境监测化学测量结果计量溯源性的途径,对环境监测分析方法标准、国家环境标准样品、环境检测能力验证等在保证环境监测化学测量结果计量溯源性中的作用进行了分析,以期为环境监测化学测量结果计量溯源性的建立提供参考。     

Assessment and monitoring of nutrient loading in the sediments of tidal creeks receiving shrimp farm effluent in Quang Ninh, Vietnam

Coastal shrimp farming may lead to the contamination of sediments of surrounding estuarine and marine ecosystems as shrimp farm effluent often contains high levels of pollutants including a range of organic compounds (from uneaten feed, shrimp feces, and living and dead organisms) which can accumulate in the sediments of receiving waterways. The assessment and monitoring of sediment quality in tidal creeks receiving shrimp farm effluent can support environmental protection and decision making for sustainable development in coastal areas since sediment quality often shows essential information on long-term aquatic ecosystem health. Within this context, this paper investigates nutrient loadings in the sediments of tidal creeks receiving shrimp farm effluent in Quang Ninh, Vietnam, which now have a high concentration of intensive and semi-intensive shrimp farms. Sediment samples taken from inside creek sections directly receiving effluent from concentrated shrimp farms (IEC), from main creeks adjacent to points of effluent discharge outside concentrated shrimp farms (OEC), and few kilometers away from shrimp farms (ASF) as reference sites were collected and analyzed before and after shrimp crops to investigate spatial and temporal variation. The results showed that there were statistically significant differences in the concentrations of total nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total organic carbon among IEC, OEC, and ASF sites while the seasonal variation being limited over study times. A sediment nutrient index (SNI) computed from coefficient scores of the factor analysis efficiently summarizes sediment nutrient loads, which are high, albeit quite variable, in canals directly receiving effluents from farms but then decline sharply with distance from shrimp farms. The visualization and monitoring of sediment quality data including SNI on maps can strongly support managers to manage eutrophication at concentrated shrimp farming areas, contributing to sustainable development and management at coastal zones.     

Indicators of ecosystem health at the species level and the example of selenium effects on fish

Chemical monitoring of aquatic ecosystems describes the chemical exposures of aquatic biota and measures the success of pollution control. However, meeting water quality criteria cannot assure that aquatic biota are protected from the effects of unexpected chemicals, mixtures and interactions between toxicity and environmental stressors.Biological monitoring is an obvious solution since aquatic biota integrate spatial and temporal variations in exposure to many simultaneous stressors. Top predators, typical of specific ecosystems (e.g. lake trout in cold water oligotrophic lakes) indicate whether environmental criteria have been met. The presence of naturally reproducing, self-sustaining and productive stocks of edible fish demonstrates a high quality environment. If these conditions are not met, there is a clear sign of environmental degradation. Specific changes in population structure and performance may also diagnose which life stage is affected and the nature of the stressor.Unfortunately, environmental managers cannot rely solely on populations, communities or ecosystems to indicate chmical effects. The lag between identifying a problem and finding a cause may destroy the resource that we wish to protect, particularly where chemicals are persistent.A solution to this dilemma is the measurement of primary or secondary responses of individual organisms to chemical exposure. Since toxicity at any level of organization must start with a reaction between a chemical and a biological substrate, these responses are the most sensitive and earliest sign of chemical exposure and effect.Application of this idea requires research on molecular mechanisms of chemical toxicity in aquatic biota and adaptation of existing mammalian diagnostic tools. Since relevance of biochemical responses to populations and ecosystems is not obvious, there is a need to study the links between chemical exposure and responses of individuals, populations and ecosystems.The recognition of chemical problems and cause-effect relationships requires the integration of chemical and biological monitoring, using the principles of epidemiology to test the strength of relationships and to identify specific research needs. The contamination of a reservoir with selenium and impacts on fish populations provide an excellent example of this approach.     

Long-term ecosystem monitoring and assessment of the Detroit River and Western Lake Erie

Over 35 years of US and Canadian pollution prevention and control efforts have led to substantial improvements in environmental quality of the Detroit River and western Lake Erie. However, the available information also shows that much remains to be done. Improvements in environmental quality have resulted in significant ecological recovery, including increasing populations of bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), peregrine falcons (Falco columbarius), lake sturgeon (Acipenser fulvescens), lake whitefish (Coregonus clupeaformis), walleye (Sander vitreus), and burrowing mayflies (Hexagenia spp.). Although this recovery is remarkable, many challenges remain, including population growth, transportation expansion, and land use changes; nonpoint source pollution; toxic substances contamination; habitat loss and degradation; introduction of exotic species; and greenhouse gases and global warming. Research/monitoring must be sustained for effective management. Priority research and monitoring needs include: demonstrating and quantifying cause-effect relationships; establishing quantitative endpoints and desired future states; determining cumulative impacts and how indicators relate; improving modeling and prediction; prioritizing geographic areas for protection and restoration; and fostering long-term monitoring for adaptive management. Key management agencies, universities, and environmental and conservation organizations should pool resources and undertake comprehensive and integrative assessments of the health of the Detroit River and western Lake Erie at least every 5 years to practice adaptive management for long-term sustainability.     

水生态监测方法研究进展及在黄河流域的应用实践

水生态监测能够为水生态环境监督、管理和保护提供重要的数据和技术支撑。加强黄河水生态监测,维护流域水生态系统健康,对促进黄河流域高质量发展具有重要意义。从常规水质监测、生境监测和生物监测3个方面,分析了中国水生态监测方法的研究进展及在黄河流域的应用实践。结合黄河流域水生态监测尤其是生物监测相对滞后的现状,探讨了流域水生态监测的发展方向。建议加快黄河流域水生态监测能力建设,建立适用于黄河流域的水生态监测与评价标准体系,探索新兴监测技术与传统技术的有机结合。     

Mammals as biological monitors of environmental metal levels

Wild mammals can be valuable biological monitors of environmental gradients of metal concentrations. The choice of a particular species for a biological monitor must be based upon the circumstances of each study including species availability, the metals to be examined, area, and the study objectives and priorities. Ideally, a biological monitoring study should be designed to obtain and make use of the optimum amount of available information by complementing existing environmental studies, or through the simultaneous collection of other environmental data.