BIOECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF SELECTED CONSERVATION PRACTICES ON SOIL EROSION AND FRESHWATER FISHERIES1

ABSTRACT: Farmers can generate environmental benefits (improved water quality and fisheries and wildlife habitat), but they may not be able to quantify them. Furthermore, farmers may reduce their incomes from managing lands to produce these positive externalities but receive little monetary compensation in return. This study simulated the relationship between agricultural practices, water quality, fish responses to suspended sediment and farm income within two small watersheds, one of a cool water stream and one of a warm water stream. Using the Agricultural Drainage and Pesticide Transport (ADAPT) model, this study related best management practices (BMPs) to calculated instream suspended sediment concentrations by estimating sediment delivery, runoff, base flow, and streambank erosion to quantify the effects of suspended sediment exposure on fish communities. By implementing selected BMPs in each watershed, annual net farm income declined $18,000 to $28,000 (1 to 3 percent) from previous levels. “Lethal” fish events from suspended sediments in the cool water watershed decreased by 60 percent as conservation tillage and riparian buffers increased. Despite reducing suspended sediments by 25 percent, BMPs in the warm water watershed did not reduce the negative response of the fisheries. Differences in responses (physical and biological) between watersheds highlight potential gains in economic efficiency by targeting BMPs or by offering performance based “green payments.”     

巢湖流域河流鱼类群落的时空分布

基于2013年4月和10月对巢湖流域66个河道样点的调查数据,初步研究了巢湖流域河流鱼类群落的时空变化特征。主要研究结果显示,鱼类多样性无显著性的水系间、生态分区间的变化,但随季节和河流级别显著变化:10月份的个体数显著高于4月份,2级河流的物种数和个体数均显著大于1级、3级和4级河流。鱼类群落结构的季节动态显著,随生态分区显著变化,但不受水系、河流级别的显著影响。在二级生态分区水平上,仅西南森林生态亚区的鱼类群落结构与其他5个生态亚区的显著差异;宽鳍鱲、吻虾虎鱼等在西南森林生态亚区具有更高多度,而鲫、鰐、鲤等物种在其他生态亚区多度更高。     

自动化前处理-气相色谱串联质谱法测定淡水鱼体中的有机磷阻燃剂

应用自动化前处理设备和气相色谱串联四级杆质谱仪建立了淡水鱼体中10种有机磷阻燃剂的检测方法。该方法先采用自动索氏提取仪进行样品的提取,再应用凝胶渗透色谱净化仪和florisil柱对提取液进行两级净化,最后用气相色谱串联四级杆质谱法(多反应监测模式)对样品中的有机磷阻燃剂(OPFRs)定性定量。实验表明,凝胶渗透色谱净化系统在以乙酸乙酯∶环己烷(1∶1,V/V)为流动相,流速为5.0 m L·min-1的条件下,收集OPFRs的最佳时间为900~1 680 s;方法的检出限为0.002~0.192 ng·g~(-1)湿重,加标水平为5.000 ng·g~(-1)湿重时,平均加标回收率为48.7%~122%,相对偏差除磷酸三乙酯(TEP)(17.7%)和磷酸三(1,3-二氯异丙基)酯(TDCP)(11.9%)外均小于10%。应用该方法测定采集于东江某污水处理厂入河排污口的鱼类样品时,回收率指示物(d27-TBP)的回收率为82.4%~114%,鱼类样品中∑OPFRs的浓度范围为nd~6.41 ng·g~(-1)湿重。     

Risk estimation to human health caused by the mercury content of Sushi and Sashimi sold in Japanese restaurants in Brazil

Although fish is a healthy alternative for meat, it can be a vehicle for mercury (Hg), including in its most toxic organic form, methylmercury (MeHg). The objective of the present study was to estimate the risk to human health caused by the consumption of sushi and sashimi as commercialized by Japanese food restaurants in the city of Campinas (SP, Brazil). The total Hg content was determined by atomic absorption spectrometry with thermal decomposition and amalgamation, and the MeHg content calculated considering that 90% of the total Hg is in the organic form. The health risk was estimated from the values for the provisional tolerable weekly ingestion (PTWI) by both adults and children. The mean concentrations for total Hg were: 147.99, 6.13, and 3.42 µg kg^?1 in the tuna, kani, and salmon sushi samples, respectively, and 589.09, 85.09, and 11.38 µg kg^?1 in the tuna, octopus and salmon sashimi samples, respectively. The tuna samples showed the highest Hg concentrations. One portion of tuna sashimi exceeded the PTWI value for MeHg established for children and adults. The estimate of risk for human health indicated that the level of toxicity depended on the type of fish and size of the portion consumed.     

Toward reassessing data‐deficient species

One in 6 species (13,465 species) on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List is classified as data deficient due to lack of information on their taxonomy, population status, or impact of threats. Despite the chance that many are at high risk of extinction, data‐deficient species are typically excluded from global and local conservation priorities, as well as funding schemes. The number of data‐deficient species will greatly increase as the IUCN Red List becomes more inclusive of poorly known and speciose groups. A strategic approach is urgently needed to enhance the conservation value of data‐deficient assessments. To develop this, we reviewed 2879 data‐deficient assessments in 6 animal groups and identified 8 main justifications for assigning data‐deficient status (type series, few records, old records, uncertain provenance, uncertain population status or distribution, uncertain threats, taxonomic uncertainty, and new species). Assigning a consistent set of justification tags (i.e., consistent assignment to assessment justifications) to species classified as data deficient is a simple way to achieve more strategic assessments. Such tags would clarify the causes of data deficiency; facilitate the prediction of extinction risk; facilitate comparisons of data deficiency among taxonomic groups; and help prioritize species for reassessment. With renewed efforts, it could be straightforward to prevent thousands of data‐deficient species slipping unnoticed toward extinction.     

Trait‐based prediction of extinction risk of small‐bodied freshwater fishes

Small body size is generally correlated with r‐selected life‐history traits, including early maturation, short‐generation times, and rapid growth rates, that result in high population turnover and a reduced risk of extinction. Unlike other classes of vertebrates, however, small freshwater fishes appear to have an equal or greater risk of extinction than large fishes. We explored whether particular traits explain the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List conservation status of small‐bodied freshwater fishes from 4 temperate river basins: Murray‐Darling, Australia; Danube, Europe; Mississippi‐Missouri, North America; and the Rio Grande, North America. Twenty‐three ecological and life‐history traits were collated for all 171 freshwater fishes of ≤120 mm total length. We used generalized linear mixed‐effects models to assess which combination of the 23 traits best explained whether a species was threatened or not threatened. We used the best models to predict the probability of 29 unclassified species being listed as threatened. With and without controlling for phylogeny at the family level, small body size—among small‐bodied species—was the most influential trait correlated with threatened species listings. The k‐folds cross‐validation demonstrated that body size and a random effect structure that included family predicted the threat status with an accuracy of 78% (SE 0.5). We identified 10 species likely to be threatened that are not listed as such on the IUCN Red List. Small body size is not a trait that provides universal resistance to extinction, particularly for vertebrates inhabiting environments affected by extreme habitat loss and fragmentation. We hypothesize that this is because small‐bodied species have smaller home ranges, lower dispersal capabilities, and heightened ecological specialization relative to larger vertebrates. Trait data and further model development are needed to predict the IUCN conservation status of the over 11,000 unclassified freshwater fishes, especially those under threat from proposed dam construction in the world's most biodiverse river basins.     

典型湖泊水华特征及相关影响因素分析

通过2011-2015年对太湖、巢湖和滇池水华高发季节的连续监测，以藻类密度和水华面积为判据评价了3个湖体的水华情况及变化趋势，探讨了水华发生的主要影响因素。结果表明：太湖水华程度以"轻度水华"为主，巢湖水华程度以"轻微水华"为主，滇池水华程度以"中度水华"为主；太湖、巢湖和滇池水华规模均以"零星性水华"为主；太湖和巢湖藻类密度与水温、pH、溶解氧、总氮、总磷和高锰酸盐指数均呈显著正相关，与透明度呈显著负相关，与氨氮无显著相关性；滇池藻类密度与水温、总磷和高锰酸盐指数均呈显著正相关，与透明度和氨氮呈显著负相关，与pH、溶解氧和总氮无显著相关性。     

Flow‐Biology Relationships Based on Fish Habitat Guilds in North Carolina

The health of freshwater biota is dependent on streamflow, yet identification of the flow regimes required to maintain ecological integrity remains challenging to states in the United States seeking to establish ecological flows. We tested the relationship between decreases in streamflow and Shannon‐Weaver diversity index of fish species for four flow‐based habitat guilds: riffle, riffle‐run, pool‐run, and pool in North Carolina. We found species that prefer shallow habitats, such as riffles and riffle‐runs were the most sensitive to decreases in streamflow; whereas no significant relationships were found for pool or pool‐run species. The sensitivity to decreases in streamflow was greatest during summer and fall, when streams are naturally lower. When all fish habitat guilds were included in the assessment of flow‐biology relationships, there were no significant relationships to decreases in streamflow. As the sensitivity of fish to reductions in streamflow is not constant across habitat guilds, combining all fish species together for flow‐biology analyses may greatly underestimate the response of fish species to decreases in flow and should be acknowledged when establishing ecological flows.     

珠江三角洲4种淡水养殖鱼类重金属的残留及食用风险评价

为全面了解珠江三角洲淡水水产品中重金属污染现状,评估其生态风险与食用安全,于2014年8月至2015年8月采集罗非鱼、草鱼、乌鳢及鳜鱼主要养殖鱼类样品共计57份,采用原子荧光光谱仪(AFS),电感耦合等离子体质谱(ICP-MS)仪进行分析测定,并采用单因子污染指数(Pi)、重金属污染指数(MPI)、每周可耐受摄入量(PTWI)以及食入健康风险指标(Ri总)分别评估其污染程度、食用安全性与健康风险。结果表明,样品中Cr、Ni、Cu、Zn、As、Cd、Hg、Pb的含量范围分别为0.020~3.240,0.020~0.800,0.110~1.100,0.190~19.970,0.030~1.480,nd~0.606,0.003~0.118,0.040~0.803 mg·kg-1(湿重),Cr、As、Cd、Pb在水产品中超标率大小依次为As(7.0%),Pb(7.0%),Cd(5.3%),Cr(1.8%)。Pi结果表明,目前珠江三角洲养殖水域水产品中Cu与Zn残留处于正常范围内,Cr和Hg有少量样品为轻度污染,Pb、Cd与As存在重度污染样品,所占比例为2.86%、6.02%和5.74%。MPI结果显示不同水产品污染程度为乌鳢>鳜鱼>罗非鱼>草鱼,总体上各种水产品MPI依然处于较低的水平;食用安全性结果显示,目前成人每周摄入水产品是安全的,但乌鳢Cr,罗非鱼As含量较高分别达到PTWI的37.76%和19.51%,表明水产品中Cr、As残留可能存在一定的食用安全隐患。健康风险模型结果显示,所有样品均未超过国际辐射防护委员会(ICRP)的推荐的最大可接受水平(5×10-6a-1)。综合分析珠江三角洲淡水养殖主要水产品可知,其尚未出现明显的污染安全问题,但As与Cr等元素的潜在风险值得进一步关注。