Wetland management: an analysis of past practice and recent policy changes in Ontario

The Ontario Government has recently released its latest Provincial Policy Statement (PPS), which includes a policy concerning wetland protection. This paper uses interviews with key respondents and the results of three separate case studies that examined the former PPS in order to assess the ability of the new policy to improve wetland conservation efforts in Ontario. The case studies include wetland conservation and urban stormwater management in the City of London for the periods 1978-1999 and 1978-2000, respectively. As well, agricultural drainage that occurred in the Township of Zorra for the period 1978-1997 is used to address this management dimension. While progress is evident, the current policy will be difficult to implement effectively because it inadequately deals with the fundamental aspects of management: fragmented jurisdiction, interagency communication, financial arrangements, enforcement, and promoting informed decision making.     

The role of remote sensing in hydrological modelling of the Okavango Delta, Botswana

A coupled surface water-groundwater model of the Okavango Delta has been built based on the United States Geological Survey software MODFLOW 2000 including the SFR2 package for stream-flow routing. It will provide a new tool for evaluating water management and climate change scenarios. The delta's size and limited accessibility make direct, on the ground data acquisition difficult. Remote sensing methods are the most promising source of acquiring spatially distributed data for both model input parameters and calibration. Topography, aquifer thickness, channel positions, evapotranspiration and precipitation data are all based on remote sensing. Simulated flooding patterns are compared to patterns derived from visible to thermal NOAA-AVHRR data and microwave radar ENVISAT-ASAR data.     

Hydrologic analysis for coastal wetland restoration

Increasing recognition of the value of tidal wetlands has led to interest in how to restore and enhance areas that have been modified by human activity. The policy of recognizing restoration or enhancement as mitigation for destruction of other wetlands is controversial. Once policy questions are separated from technical questions, the steps in a successful project are straightforward A key element in the design of a successful project is quantitative hydraulic and hydrologic analysis of alternatives. Restoration projects at two sites in California used a combination of empirical geomorphic relationships, numerical modeling, and verification with field observations. Experience with these and other wetland restoration projects indicates the importance of longterm postproject monitoring, inspection, and maintenance     

野鸭湖湿地挺水植物磷素截留量动态变化分析

野鸭湖湿地位于官厅水库上游,在截留养分、预防水库水体富营养化方面发挥着重要作用.通过野鸭湖湿地中4种优势挺水植物(茭白、扁秆藨草、香蒲、芦苇)的分布区域研究,分析了植物生物量及养分元素磷含量随季节的动态变化特征,得到了研究区域内4种挺水植物对磷素截留总量的动态变化.结果表明,研究区域内4种优势挺水植物地上部分磷含量为茭白>香蒲>扁秆藨草>芦苇;地下部分磷含量呈现茭白>扁秆藨草>香蒲>芦苇的分布特点;4种植物的地上部分和地下部分磷含量均随生长季节而降低;4种植物的单位面积磷素蓄积能力存在明显差异,表现为茭白>香蒲>扁秆藨草>芦苇的规律,其单位面积蓄积峰值依次为4910、4140、2190和1390g.m-2;研究区域内挺水植物磷素蓄积总量在夏季达到峰值2210.8kg,最小值出现在冬季,为1263.5kg;区域内上、中、下游挺水植物的磷素截留总量依次递减.     

Simulating the dynamics of sulfur species and zinc in wetland sediments

In situ measurements comparing vertical SO₄²⁻ profiles in vegetated and non-vegetated sediments showed that SO₄²⁻ concentrations in vegetated sediments increased significantly at the beginning of the growing season and then gradually decreased during the rest of the growing season. Throughout the growing season, SO₄²⁻ concentrations remained higher in the vegetated sediments than in the sediments without plants. The higher SO₄²⁻ concentrations in the vegetated sediments indicate that oxygen release from roots and evapotranspiration-induced advection by plants play an important role in the dynamics of sulfur species in sediments. Since the total pool of solid-phase sulfide is relatively large compared to the mass of SO₄²⁻ in the sediments, the gradual decrease of SO₄²⁻ concentrations may result from limitation of the solid-phase sulfide that is in direct contact with or very close to the roots and rhizomes. This would mean that the main pool of solid-phase sulfide and associated trace metals are not affected by the oxygen release from roots, and the associated trace metals will not become bioavailable during the growing season.     

Bird Use of Restoration and Reference Marshes Within the Barn Island Wildlife Management Area, Stonington, Connecticut, USA

/ Tidal marshes have been actively restored in Connecticut for nearly 20 years, but evaluations of these projects are typically based solely on observations of vegetation change. A formerly impounded valley marsh at the Barn Island Wildlife Management Area is a notable exception; previous research at this site has also included assessments of primary productivity, macroinvertebrates, and use by fishes. To determine the effects of marsh restoration on higher trophic levels, we monitored bird use at five sites within the Barn Island complex, including both restoration and reference marshes. Use by summer bird populations within fixed plots was monitored over two years at all sites. Our principal focus was Impoundment One, a previously impounded valley marsh reopened to full tidal exchange in 1982. This restoration site supported a greater abundance of wetland birds than our other sites, indicating that it is at least equivalent to reference marshes within the same system for this ecological function. Moreover, the species richness of birds and their frequency of occurrence at Impoundment One was greater than at 11 other estuarine marshes in southeastern Connecticut surveyed in a related investigation. A second marsh, under restoration for approximately ten years, appears to be developing in a similar fashion. These results complement previous studies on vegetation, macroinvertebrates, and fish use in this system to show that, over time, the reintroduction of tidal flooding can effectively restore important ecological functions to previously impounded tidal marshes.KEY WORDS: Estuarine; Tidal marsh; Wetland birds; Restoration     

湿地生态地球化学研究进展

湿地生态地球化学研究是湿地研究的核心内容之一, 是研究其物理过程、化学过程和生物过程及其相互关系以及这些过程与湿地功能的关系.回顾了近年来国内外湿地生态地球化学方面的研究成果,介绍了它的概念,并评述了湿地的生态功能、元素地球化学、生物地球化学、湿地模型和3S技术等新技术在湿地研究中的应用等方面的研究进展.提出了中国湿地生态地球化学研究的优先领域,应加强湿地基础理论研究及在湿地的演化、生态过程、界面过程、预测与评价、信息系统等方面的研究.     

“水解酸化—预曝气—人工湿地”处理生活污水的试验研究

试验研究了"水解酸化-预曝气-人工湿地"组合工艺对农村生活污水的处理效果,结果表明系统对COD、BOD5、TN、NH3-N、TP去除率分别为75%~85%8、8%~91%、54%~67%、75%~87%8、8%~94%。该工艺操作简易,处理效果好,符合村镇生活污水处理的需求。     

关于大庆龙凤湿地环境管理问题的思考

大庆龙凤湿地是除香港外国内唯一的城区中的湿地,在城市生态环境保护中具有重要意义。虽然建成自然保护区,并设立保护区管理处,但湿地资源仍受到破坏。剖析大庆龙凤湿地环境管理中问题的产生原因,研究湿地的保护措施及合理开发利用。