Monitoring the effect of restoration measures in Indonesian peatlands by radar satellite imagery

In the context of the ongoing climate change discussions the importance of peatlands as carbon stores is increasingly recognised in the public. Drainage, deforestation and peat fires are the main reasons for the release of huge amounts of carbon from peatlands. Successful restoration of degraded tropical peatlands is of high interest due to their huge carbon store and sequestration potential. The blocking of drainage canals by dam building has become one of the most important measures to restore the hydrology and the ecological function of the peat domes. This study investigates the capability of using multitemporal radar remote sensing imagery for monitoring the hydrological effects of these measures. The study area is the former Mega Rice Project area in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia, where peat drainage and forest degradation is especially intense. Restoration measures started in July 2004 by building 30 large dams until June 2008. We applied change detection analysis with more than 80 ENVISAT ASAR and ALOS PALSAR images, acquired between 2004 and 2009. Radar signal increases of up to 1.36 dB show that high frequency multitemporal radar satellite imagery can be used to detect an increase in peat soil moisture after dam construction, especially in deforested areas with a high density of dams. Furthermore, a strong correlation between cross-polarised radar backscatter coefficients and groundwater levels above -50 cm was found. Monitoring peatland rewetting and quantifying groundwater level variations is important information for vegetation re-establishment, fire hazard warning and making carbon emission mitigation tradable under the voluntary carbon market or REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation) mechanism.     

Impact of canal development on intertidal microalgal productivity: Comparative assessment of Patterson Lakes and Ralphs Bay,South East Australia

We assessed the potential impact of a proposed canal development in an estuarine sandflat at Ralphs Bay, Tasmania on intertidal microalgal productivity and species composition, by comparing it over summer and winter seasons with a well- established (30 year old) canal estate at Patterson Lakes, Victoria. Pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) fluorometry was used to generate a relative measure of photosynthetic performance, which combined with microalgal chlorophyll biomass and irradiance provides an assessment of potential primary productivity. We present a sophisticated mathematical model for calculating benthic microalgal production and the contribution to total primary production, taking into account sediment light attenuation as estimated from sediment grain size. Ralphs Bay had a total productive microalgal biomass of 44 mg chlorophyll a m⁻² which was six times higher than Patterson Lakes, while the relative productivity of Ralphs Bay was four times greater compared to Patterson Lakes where productivity was virtually absent in the subtidal zone of the canal waterway. Ralphs Bay exhibited a more or less homogeneous spatial distribution of microphytobenthos biomass but this was subject to some seasonal variation in species composition, abundance and productivity. By contrast, at Patterson Lakes biomass distribution, diversity and productivity was highly spatially variable in the canal system in both seasons. Patterson Lakes exhibited 60% lower microphytobenthos species richness than Ralphs Bay but little variation in species composition occurred between seasons in the canal estate. This suggests that the dominant diatom species in Patterson Lakes, Pinnularia yarrensis, Gyrosigma balticum and Pleurosigma salinarum, are well adapted to the disturbance regime within the canal estate. The proposed canal development at Ralphs Bay is estimated to cause a decrease in microalgal productivity by both reducing available marine substrate (66% reduction) and replacing productive intertidal phytobenthic habitat with nonproductive canal substrate. These combine to cause a decline in productivity of 92% with significant flow-on effects predicted for higher trophic levels such as migratory wading birds.     

Recreational impacts on Colorado River beaches in Glen Canyon,Arizona

Recreational impact was measured on eight beaches in Glen Canyon National Recreation Area and 15 beaches in Grand Canyon National Park using permanently located transects and plots. Recreational impact indices included densities of human trash and charcoal and a measure of sand discoloration due to charcoal. Significant increases in the indices occurred on several Glen Canyon beaches over a seven-month period. Sand discoloration became significantly higher over all Glen Canyon beaches during the same time period. All indices were significantly higher in Glen Canyon than on similar Grand Canyon beaches. These differences are probably due to differences in: (a) level of impacts tolerated by the respective management regimes and, (b) in the number of user days among the two National Park Service administrative units. Management alternatives are presented for reversing the present trends of recreational impact on Glen Canyon beaches.     

Environmental management of the Colorado River within the Grand Canyon

Irreversible environmental changes are occurring along the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon as a result of regulation of the river flow by the Glen Canyon Dam. The questions of primary importance in managing this great natural resource are 1) in what manner and how rapidly are the physical and ecological adjustments taking place, and 2) is the increased use of the river for recreational boating contributing to the degradation? Human use along the Colorado River is limited, for the most part, to the relic, pre-dam fluvial deposits colloquially called “beaches.” With the new river regime these deposits are positioned well above the present high-water stage, 27,000 cubic feet/second (cfs), or 765 cubic meters/second (cms), so they are not replenished periodically as they were prior to construction of the dam in 1963. The dominant natural processes now are aeolian sand transport and mass wasting. The float-trip passengers use the river beaches for hiking, camping, and. lunch stops. At the most desirable sites thirty to forty people camp on the beaches each night over a four to five month season. Human impact includes incorporation of campsite litter, burial of chemically treated waste, and the direct stress associated with people walking on the vegetation and unstable sedimentary deposits. Results of our investigations indicate that the rate of degradation at the most heavily used sites exceeds the capacity of aeolian processes to reestablish natural landscapes. Therefore, careful management of float trjps is needed if these environments are to be maintained in a natural state rather than a “sand-box” state.     

Recreational impacts on backcountry campsites in Grand Canyon National Park,Arizona, USA

Backcountry campsites were studied in three desert vegetation types (pinyon-juniper, catclaw, and desert scrub) in Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. Relationships between amount of use and amount of impact were examined within each vegetation type. The area disturbed was small, but impacts were generally severe. Important impacts were increased soil compaction and associated decreases in infiltration rates and soil moisture content; these were substantially more pronounced on high than low use sites. The only impact parameter that differed significantly between vegetation types was core area. The types of impact identified are similar to those found in the coniferous forests studied elsewhere, as is the logarithmic relationship between amount of use and amount of impact. However, Grand Canyon sites can support more visitor use before reaching near-maximum levels of impact for important impact parameters.     

北运河流域(北京段)沉积物中PAHs污染特征与风险评估

为探明北运河流域（北京段）多层沉积物中PAHs（多环芳烃）的污染状况,利用活塞式底泥取样器于2014年11月采集了9处沉积物样品,取样深度为30~80 cm,每处样品根据其垂向介质特征大致分成3~4层,分别测定各层样品的粒径、TOM（总有机质）及16种PAHs的质量分数,探讨PAHs在河道沿程与垂向上的分布特征、来源及生态风险评价.结果表明,北运河流域（北京段）沉积物以砂质壤土为主,w（TOM）（以干质量计,下同）为103.4~146.8 g/kg,w（∑₁₆PAHs）为598.1~28 730.6 ng/g,各层w（∑₁₆PAHs）为108.5~8 810.8 ng/g.沉积物中PAHs以高环为主,主要包括有Phe（Phenanthrene,菲）、Fla（Fluoranthene,荧蒽）、Pyr（Pyrene,芘）、BbF〔Benzo（b）fluoranthene,苯并[b]荧蒽〕.在河道沿程变化上,中下游沉积物的污染程度远高于上游.在垂向变化上,w（TOM）和沉积物粒径对PAHs的分布影响有限,PAHs的垂向分布主要受所处沉积环境与历史污染程度影响.根据主成分分析与同分异构体比值法推断,PAHs主要来源于化石燃料与生物燃料的燃烧,少部分为石油源.利用效应区间值得出的生态风险评价结果表明,北运河流域（北京段）沉积物中PAHs可能已对环境产生负面影响,其中BbF、BkF、InP与BgP已对环境产生毒副作用,需要给予关注与解决.      

河流多生境自然塑造技术在北运河流域再生水河道修复中的应用研究

遵循"基于自然的解决方案(Natural based solution)"理念,本研究开发了由渗滤型边滩、生态跌水和近自然河溪构成的河流多生境自然塑造技术及系统,并在北运河流域的再生水河道台头沟实施了工程应用与示范.结果表明,该技术与系统具有良好的水质净化效果,对氨氮、总氮、总磷和化学需氧量的平均削减率分别为62.15...     

南运河重金属污染状况及生态风险评价

采集南运河的水样和沉积物样品,对其重金属污染状况和生态风险进行了分析评价。利用电感耦合等离子体质谱仪(ICP-MS)对水、沉积物中铅(Pb)、铬(Cr)、砷(As)、铜(Cu)和镉(Cd)浓度进行分析。结果显示南运河水样中这5种重金属浓度均低于地表水环境质量标准I类水质标准,虽然运河上游沉积物中As和Cd浓度较高,但沉积物中重金属浓度总体上均处于较低水平。地累积指数法计算显示:As和Cd在部分河段达到重度和中度污染水平,Cu、Cr、Pb均处于无污染水平。各种重金属的潜在生态风险指数(Eir)从大到小的顺序为:CdAsCuPbCr,与地累积指数法结果相似。南运河总的潜在生态风险指数(RI)均值为128.85,潜在生态风险程度为"中",沉积物中Cd和As是南运河需要优先控制的重金属污染物。     

中运河宿迁段水体氮污染特征分析

通过对中运河宿迁段2001～2002年进行水质监测,结合历年监测资料,分析了中运河宿迁段氮污染特征。     

天津蓟运河故道消落带土壤种子库特征与土壤理化性质分析

为确定蓟运河故道消落带土壤种子库特征与土壤理化性质之间的关系,开展土壤萌发试验并测定了土壤理化性质. 结果表明:①土壤物种呈3个聚类组,聚类组1分布在土壤含水率为50%~100%、w(全盐)为0.8~1.4 g/kg的区域,聚类组2分布在土壤含水率为40%~50%、w(全盐)为0.4~0.8 g/kg的区域,聚类组3分布在土壤含水率为25%~40%、w(全盐)为0.2~0.4 g/kg的区域;②土壤w(有机质)、w(全盐)和含水率对土壤种子库物种的分布影响较大,而w(速效K)、w(速效N)、w(速效P)和pH对其影响不大;③随着土壤w(全盐)、含水率的增加及w(有机质)的减少,土壤种子库物种中一年生植物所占比例呈增加趋势,二年生植物比例先减少后增加,多年生植物比例先增加后减少;④随着土壤w(全盐)、含水率的增加以及w(有机质)的减少,消落带土壤种子库的Shannon-Wiener指数和Margalef丰富度指数呈下降趋势,而生态优势度和Pielou均匀度指数随着水位的降低有增大的趋势. 研究得出天津蓟运河故道消落带土壤种子库特征与土壤理化性质有重要关系,适当地进行人为管理和调控对土壤环境的改善及土壤种子库多样性增加有积极作用.