Tiny Stowaways: Analyzing the Economic Benefits of a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Permit Regulating Ballast Water Discharges

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has proposed permitting ballast water discharges—a benefit of which would be to reduce the economic damages associated with the introduction and spread of aquatic invasive species. Research on ship-borne aquatic invasive species has been conducted in earnest for decades, but determining the economic damages they cause remains troublesome. Furthermore, with the exception of harmful algal blooms, the economic consequences of microscopic invaders have not been studied, despite their potentially great negative effects. In this paper, we show how to estimate the economic benefits of preventing the introduction and spread of harmful bacteria, microalgae, and viruses delivered in U.S. waters. Our calculations of net social welfare show the damages from a localized incident, cholera-causing bacteria found in shellfish in the Gulf of Mexico, to be approximately $706,000 (2006$). On a larger scale, harmful algal species have the potential to be transported in ships’ ballast tanks, and their effects in the United States have been to reduce commercial fisheries landings and impair water quality. We examine the economic repercussions of one bloom-forming species. Finally, we consider the possible translocation within the Great Lakes of a virus that has the potential to harm commercial and recreational fisheries. These calculations illustrate an approach to quantifying the benefits of preventing invasive aquatic microorganisms from controls on ballast water discharges. The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.     

水体pH和曝气方式对藻类生长的影响

利用水族箱微宇宙研究了藻类在不同pH和曝气条件下的生长和种类变化.使用天然湖水,一组试验每天调节pH,使其分别保持在8.0、8.5、9.0和9.5;另一组试验是设定不同的曝气方式,分别为不曝气、完全曝气、昼间曝气和夜间曝气,定期测定水体叶绿素a和藻类组成.pH试验结果显示,在pH 8.0～9.5范围内,pH 8.5下藻类生长状况最好,pH 9.5下生长最差,人为改变pH使其远离8.5能够抑制藻类生长.曝气试验结果显示,曝气不能抑制水体中藻类的生长,昼间曝气甚至还有明显的促进作用.     

Physiological and biochemical responses of Microcystis aeruginosa to phosphine (PH3) under elevated CO2

Phosphine (PH₃) is an important factor driving the outbreak of cyanobacterial blooms that produce toxic microcystin threating human health. To clarify the physiological and biochemical responses of cyanobacteria to PH₃ under elevated CO₂ concentration, Microcystis aeruginosa was used in the coupling treatment of 1000 ppmv CO₂ and PH₃ at different concentrations respectively. The chlorophyll a (Chl-a), carotenoid, net photosynthetic rate and total protein of M. aeruginosa exhibited evidently increasing tendency under the coupling treatment of 1000 ppmv CO₂ and PH₃ at different concentrations (7.51 × 10^?3, 2.48 × 10^?2, 7.51 × 10^?2 mg/L). The coupling treatments resulted in the higher concentrations of Chl-a and carotenoid of M. aeruginosa, compared to those in the control and the treatment with CO₂ alone, and their enhancement increased with the increase in PH₃ concentrations. The total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) in the coupling treatment with CO₂ and PH₃ of 2.48 × 10^?2 mg/L and 7.51 × 10^?3 mg/L showed increasing tendency, compared to the treatment with PH₃ alone. Additionally, the coupling treatment with 1000 ppmv CO₂ and PH₃ also altered the pH and DO level in the culture medium. In this regard, the coupling treatment with CO₂ and PH₃ at an appropriate concentration can enhance the resistance of M. aeruginosa to PH₃ toxicity and is beneficial to the reproduction of M. aeruginosa, presumably resulting in potential for the outbreak of cyanobacteria bloom. Given the concern about global warming and the increase in atmospheric CO₂ level, our research laid a foundation for the scientific understanding of the correlation between PH₃ and cyanobacteria blooms.     

利用微生物消除故黄河藻类的初步研究

采用徐州迈克尔·派克微生物工程有限公司提供的 Micro-Bac发酵液 ,对藻类有明显的沉降和消除效果 ,研究结果表明水体中 BOD5、CODMn、CODCr和总磷 ( TP)的平均去除率分别为 66%、73 %、78%和94 % ,处理后 ,可使故黄河水质基本达到功能区划规定的 类水标准。     

高效藻类氧化塘处理有机废水的研究和应用

在普通氧化塘（SP）的基础上,发展起来的高效藻类氧化塘（HRAP）具有停留时间短、水深浅、连续搅拌等特点,在氮、磷的去除上具有明显的优势。通过比较高效藻类氧化塘与传统氧化塘的不同特点,详细叙述了高效藻类氧化塘对有机碳、N、P和病原体的去除机制,以及阳光、温度、pH等因素对COD、NH4－N、P、病原体的去除和对藻类生长的影响,并展望了研究前景。     

藻类固定化技术在环境领域中的应用

在近年来，藻类固定化技术在环境领域中的应用逐渐得到重视，通过全面调研８０年代以来１００多篇文献后，文章精辟地综述了藻类固定化技术及其在污染治理和环境监测中的应用和发展趋势，以及国内的研究成果。     

"去藻247"在除藻过程中对水体中氮磷的影响

随着目前水体藻类富营养化日益严重,国内外针对藻类的去除技术可分为物理、化学、生物法.实验采用国外引进的"去藻247"作为除藻剂,通过对滇池藻类去除效果进行试验和分析,研究"去藻247"中生物Cu2 通过改变水体中氮磷比例以及氮磷浓度的变化,以达到除藻的目的.结果表明,降低TP的浓度更易加大藻类的去除率,并且,其去除率随着藻类厚度(3～15 mm)的增加而提高,说明了"去藻247"具有一定的生物稳定性.     

广东大亚湾藻类水华的动力学分析Ⅰ. 藻类水华的生消过程及其与环境因子的关系

1998年广东大亚湾澳头海域先后发生日本星杆藻(Asterionellajaponica)水华(01-24～02-23)、细弱海链藻(Thalathiosirasubtilis)水华(04-08～04-20)、裸甲藻(Gymnodiniumspp.)水华(04-29～05-08)、角毛藻(Chaetocerosspp.)水华(05-11～05-20)。本文研究了水华期间藻类的生消过程及其动态变化,并分析环境因子在水华形成和消亡过程中的作用和机制。研究结果显示稳定、适宜的水温是水华形成的必要条件,水温的急剧改变是水华消散的重要原因。海水盐度的大幅度波动与水华的消散密切相关。连续的低光照对藻类有诱导作用,而不同的藻类对光照强度的需求和反应并不完全相同。     

不同接种量对蓝藻水华生消的影响探讨

通过构建微宇宙模型,以铜绿微囊藻为供试藻种模拟蓝藻水华生消过程.在控制光照、温度等环境条件和氮磷等营养物质含量条件下,重点研究不同接种量对蓝藻水华生消模拟的影响.结果表明,微宇宙模型中蓝藻生长经过延滞期、对数期到稳定期直至衰退期,符合野外湖库水华生消特征;不同藻液接种量对水华生消影响较大,当接种量为1:50时有利于微宇宙模型中蓝藻水华的发生.水华生消机制复杂,控制污染源、加强管理是防止水华暴发的较好措施.     

东牙溪水库偏碱性污染的成因研究

每年的3-6月份，东牙溪水库表层水出现大面积的偏碱性污染的现象。调查发现水体中pH值与氨氮、溶解氧和水温等指标具有显著的相关性，其污染的规律性与浮游藻类强烈的光合作用特征十分一致。