SEDIMENT TRANSPORT IN A SHALLOW COASTAL ESTUARY DURING THE WINTER SEASON1

ABSTRACT: This project analyzes suspended sediment flux through the upper Barataria basin in Louisiana during the winter season defined from November through April. The Barataria is a shallow coastal estuary located in southeastern Louisiana. The controls exerted by environmental parameters (such as wind or atmospheric pressure) in wetlands‐shallow bay ecosystems on transport of water and sediment were examined. Water samples were taken at a bayou (which serve as the inlet for flow to the estuary) on a regular basis. These samples were analyzed for total suspended solids and volatile suspended solids. Velocity, depth, temperature, salinity, conductivity, and meteorological measurements were all recorded at the time of each sampling. A multi‐parameter field probe was employed to continually monitor turbidity, water level, conductivity, and temperature during frontal events. These data were used in a regression analysis to examine the factors that drive carbon flux in the region. Investigations have determined that synoptic climate and prevailing weather conditions explain much of the variations in water levels, flow circulation patterns, salinity, and suspended sediment. Relatively small amounts of sediment appear to leave the estuary during normal tidal activity, but winter storm fronts result in significant fluxes of sediment in both up‐basin and down‐basin directions.     

GRASS VERSUS TREES: MANAGING RIPARIAN AREAS TO BENEFIT STREAMS OF CENTRAL NORTH AMERICA1

ABSTRACT: Forestation of riparian areas has long been promoted to restore stream ecosystems degraded by agriculture in central North America. Although trees and shrubs in the riparian zone can provide many benefits to streams, grassy or herbaceous riparian vegetation can also provide benefits and may be more appropriate in some situations. Here we review some of the positive and negative implications of grassy versus wooded riparian zones and discuss potential management outcomes. Compared to wooded areas, grassy riparian areas result in stream reaches with different patterns of bank stability, erosion, channel morphology, cover for fish, terrestrial runoff, hydrology, water temperature, organic matter inputs, primary production, aquatic macroinvertebrates, and fish. Of particular relevance in agricultural regions, grassy riparian areas may be more effective in reducing bank erosion and trapping suspended sediments than wooded areas. Maintenance of grassy riparian vegetation usually requires active management (e.g., mowing, burning, herbicide treatments, and grazing), as successional processes will tend ultimately to favor woody vegetation. Riparian agricultural practices that promote a dense, healthy, grassy turf, such as certain types of intensively managed livestock grazing, have potential to restore degraded stream ecosystems.     

Impact of Native Plants on Bird and Butterfly Biodiversity in Suburban Landscapes

Abstract:  Managed landscapes in which non-native ornamental plants are favored over native vegetation now dominate the United States, particularly east of the Mississippi River. We measured how landscaping with native plants affects the avian and lepidopteran communities on 6 pairs of suburban properties in southeastern Pennsylvania. One property in each pair was landscaped entirely with native plants and the other exhibited a more conventional suburban mixture of plants—a native canopy with non-native groundcover and shrubs. Vegetation sampling confirmed that total plant cover and plant diversity did not differ between treatments, but non-native plant cover was greater on the conventional sites and native plant cover was greater on the native sites. Several avian (abundance, species richness, biomass, and breeding-bird abundance) and larval lepidopteran (abundance and species richness) community parameters were measured from June 2006 to August 2006. Native properties supported significantly more caterpillars and caterpillar species and significantly greater bird abundance, diversity, species richness, biomass, and breeding pairs of native species. Of particular importance is that bird species of regional conservation concern were 8 times more abundant and significantly more diverse on native properties. In our study area, native landscaping positively influenced the avian and lepidopteran carrying capacity of suburbia and provided a mechanism for reducing biodiversity losses in human-dominated landscapes.     

PnET-CN模型对东亚森林生态系统碳通量模拟的适用性和不确定性分析

东亚地区森林类型多样,开展区域生态系统碳循环模拟时应考虑森林类型的差异。论文利用基于叶氮浓度-最大净光合作用速率关系的PnET-CN模型,对东亚地区8 个森林生态系统通量观测站点的总生态系统碳交换（GEE）和生态系统呼吸（RE）进行模拟,以探讨模型的适用性并对不确定性来源进行分析。研究结果表明：①PnET-CN模型能较为准确地模拟东亚地区大部分森林生态系统站点的GEE和RE;②模型的适用性排序依次为温带、寒温带、亚热带、 热带,模型未能很好地模拟热带湿地森林GEE和RE 的季节与年际变异;③在同一气候区中,PnET-CN模型更加适用于针叶林碳交换的模拟;④PnET-CN模型比较准确地反映了东亚森林生态系统GEE、RE对气候因子（例如,温度或辐射）的响应,但在低温、较弱辐射条件下模型低估了GEE,在高温或较强辐射条件下高估了GEE;在低温条件下模型低估了RE,在高温条件下模型高估了RE。针对东亚多个森林通量站点的模拟情况,论文提出模型应在以下方面进行改进：①PnET-CN模型计算物候时除了考虑温度之外还应加入土壤湿度的影响,并对不同气候区森林生态系统赋予不同叶片凋落时长;②PnET-CN模型中温度对GEE的限制以及光合最适温度应该根据不同站点设置;③PnET-CN模型应该考虑森林生态系统对环境胁迫的适应性,加强对干旱等干扰的模拟;④同时对于拥有复杂水文条件的森林生态系统应该改进土壤含水量的算法,以准确反映该类型森林生态系统GEE和RE的季节变化。     

人为干扰对闽江河口湿地土壤硝化-反硝化潜力的影响

选择闽江河口芦苇湿地为研究对象,研究了人为干扰活动(养殖塘、污染物排放和农业活动)对湿地土壤硝化-反硝化潜力的影响.结果表明,人类干扰活动对湿地土壤硝化和反硝化潜力均具有显著影响,4种土壤的硝化潜力表现为水稻田>养殖塘>排污闸口>芦苇湿地,其最大硝化率分别为103.45%、99.38%、12.58%和4.16%,而反硝化作用的变化规律则与之相反,24d内的最大反硝化率分别为21.89%、26.95%、78.15%和88.28%,说明人类干扰和管理程度越大,土壤硝化潜力越大,反硝化潜力越弱.土壤NO3--N含量是闽江河口地区不同人为干扰方式下土壤硝化-反硝化作用差异的重要指示指标,土壤pH值与土壤硝化-反硝化作用也具有密切关系,而土壤有机质、全氮、全磷和可溶性碳含量以及电导率等则与土壤硝化-反硝化作用不具有显著的相关关系.人类干扰活动导致土壤硝化能力的提高,反硝化能力的降低,能够增加土壤氮素以硝态氮形式淋失的风险.     

The Thermal Discharges From Nuclear Power Plants in Taiwan

The increasing use of sea water for industrial cooling presents a real threat to the ecological environment in the ocean. in Taiwan where many electric power plants along the coast take sea water for cooling, people are concerned seriously about nuclear power plants. There are three nuclear power plants in Taiwan. Each plant has two units for generating power. the first two are located along the northern coast of Taiwan. the third is located in Kenting National Park along the coast of southernmost Taiwan. the plants take sea water for cooling, and discharge their heated effluents to the ocean surface from the coast. the thermal effluents have variable effects on the ecological environment near the plants. Fishermen living near the power plants complain that the heated water affects the inshore fishery catch. in addition, the thermal water from the second plant is easily accumulated near the coastal zone to influence the nearby swimming area in the summer-time. the thermal water from the third plant bleaches or kills some corals in shallow water near the outlet, and this conflicts with the interests of Kenting National Park.     

RETRACTED ARTICLE: Removal of lead and cadmium ions from aqueous solutions using the macroalga Caulerpa racemosa

Sediment bulk parameters and fatty acid biomarkers were used to investigate the relative contribution of major sources of particulate organic matter during upwelling and non-upwelling conditions, at organic enriched sites on the south-eastern Brazilian coast. The degradation state of the organic material and its implications for benthic food webs were also evaluated. Temperature and salinity values indicate the intrusion of the South Atlantic Central Water in spring with a strong influence at station 4S. C:N ratios and fatty acid biomarkers suggest that sedimentary particulate organic matter is mainly autochthonous and originated from phytoplankton, zooplankton and bacteria, with a minor terrestrial contribution. Short-chain saturated fatty acids predominated, indicating the prevalence of partially degraded detritus. An exception was station 4S, where polyunsaturated fatty acids dominated, indicating the input of labile organic matter linked to upwelling of the South Atlantic Central Water. Fatty acid concentrations and the organic carbon content of the sediments suggest that food quantity is not a limiting factor for benthic fauna. Despite the high organic background of the sediments, the sporadic inputs of labile organic matter associated with South Atlantic Central Water intrusions may produce an important impact on benthic fauna and on the biogeochemistry of the sediments.     

Influence of human activity and monsoon dynamics on spatial and temporal hydrochemistry in tropical coastal waters (Sanya Bay,South China Sea)

Human activities and oceanic influences like mixing and/or upwelling define the hydrochemical and biological characteristics of coastal regions. In Sanya Bay, northern South China Sea, the balance between these two influences on spatial and temporal scales is poorly understood. The influence from human activities was due to discharge from Sanya River, whereas the most important marine influence was related to seasonal changes in hydrodynamics. Spatial differences (p<0.05) in total nitrogen (TN) and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) were observed. Seasonal differences were observed for temperature and nutrients. Human activities are the dominant factor influemcing hydrochemistry in the inner bay. This region exhibited the maximum influence of discharge from Saya River as estimated by higher nutrient levels. Oceanic influences like upwelling and mixing caused by monsoons are the dominant factors influencing hydrochemistry in the central and outer bay. Both human activities and oceanic influences play important roles in coastal ecosystems in Sanya Bay. This study has defined these characteristics so that better management policies can be enacted.     

基于主体建模的废物交换模型与仿真分析

作为产业共生中一种重要的关系,废物交换不仅能解决废物处置的难题,还可以降低原料供给的成本与风险. 企业进行废物交换的动力主要来源于经济利益的驱动. 从交换的市场机制出发,运用基于主体建模的方法构建了废物交换的模型框架,并且基于Swarm平台进行了仿真分析. 结果表明:系统的废物交换价格指数在仿真开始后10个周期内迅速降至4左右,并在之后的周期内缓慢下降;系统中单个废物的价格波动较大,但这种波动并未反映到整体的价格指数中;系统中的废物交换量和参与交换的企业数量均呈上升的趋势,但废物交换量的增长呈先慢后快的态势,在第200个周期时达到25×104 t. 而参与交换企业数量的增长呈先快后慢态势并逐渐稳定在100家左右. 示范企业的选取对于系统的废物交换量有一定的影响,选取规模较大的企业作为示范企业比随机选取更能促进系统中的废物交换,在第200个周期时比随机选择下的交换量高出约50%.      

苏北沿海某滩涂区土壤重金属含量及其污染评价

为揭示沿海滩涂快速发展区土壤重金属的污染风险状况,分别采用潜在生态风险指数法与内梅罗综合污染指数法,对苏北沿海某滩涂区土壤重金属(Pb、Cr、Cd、Hg和As)含量、污染风险及其空间格局进行了评价.结果表明:目前该滩涂区土壤环境质量总体良好,土壤重金属呈轻度潜在生态风险和警戒级综合污染水平,其趋势均为工业园区>居民区>镇郊农田>围垦滩涂;2种评价方法的研究结果均表明,工业发展和城镇化建设是驱动土壤重金属污染风险升高的主因,强烈的人类活动加速了土壤重金属累积,宜采用优化产业布局、加强监测监控和强化源头防治以防控和削减该区土壤重金属危害.