The Role of Soil Organic Carbon in Maintaining Surface Elevation in Rapidly Subsiding U.S. Gulf of Mexico Coastal Marshes

Subsidence is a primary factor governing marsh deterioration in Mississippi River deltaic plain coastal marshes. Marsh surface-water level relationships are maintained primarily through soil organic matter accumulation and inorganic sediment input. In this study we examined the role of soil organic matter accumulation in maintaining marsh elevation in a brackish Spartina patens marsh. Measured rates of soil organic accumulation were compared to plant biomass production and soil respiration (carbon dioxide and methane emission) at the study sites. The study demonstrated the importance of plant biomass production to soil organic carbon accumulation in maintaining viable Spartina patens marshes in sediment-deficient coastal environments. The role of Mississippi River freshwater reintroduction in maintaining conditions for organic accretion is discussed.     

Quantitative Assessment of the Intertidal Environment of Kuwait I: Integrated Environmental Classification

Quantitative analysis of physical, chemical and biological data of the intertidal zone in Kuwait was undertaken to develop an integrated basis for assessing and protecting this sensitive coastal ecosystem. Cluster analyses were performed to determine the resemblance between the sampling stations based on the sediment composition, the benthic macrofauna and the physico-chemical characteristics of the intertidal sediment/water. Five distinct sub-environments were delineated within the intertidal zone of Kuwait. Each sub-environment was described in terms of number of taxa, mean density of organisms, sediment type, tidal level and dominant organisms. The physico-chemical parameters investigated were found to be unimportant in the distribution of the intertidal benthic macrofauna. On the other hand, sediment type was found to be a major factor in the overall composition of the benthic community. The benthic fauna and related characteristics of the sub-environments could be used as indicators to monitor changes in the intertidal ecosystem and as guides to protection and management of the different coasts. The approach described in this paper could also be adopted elsewhere to provide a sound basis for evaluating environmental impacts and for developing sustainable coastal management.     

人工湿地系统在河网水质污染治理中的应用初探

姚北平原河网水体榨菜废水污染严重，根据废水的排放特点，分卤水落水前、卤水落水期和卤水落水后3个典型时段对河网水质进行监测，结果表明，其污染类型为有机污染。基于榨菜废水排放的分散性和不定期的特点，提出人工湿地系统治理榨菜废水污染的方案设想，并就工艺流程、耐盐型水生植物等进行了初步探讨。     

黄河三角洲风暴潮灾害及其对滨海湿地的影响

黄河三角洲是中国重要的滨海湿地分布区，也是中国风暴潮易发区。该区的风暴潮有温带气旋型与热带台风型两种，以温带风暴潮为主。近年来，重大风暴潮的发生有频率增加、危害加重的趋势。风暴潮对滨海湿地的影响是广泛而深远的，主要表现为淹没滨海低地、加速海岸蚀退、破坏地表结构、毁坏湿地植被、加剧海水入侵等，使滨海湿地不断损失退化，生态环境恶化。     

人工湿地控制非点源污染的应用

随着点源污染的有效管理和控制，非点源污染已成为水环境污染的主要原因。人工湿地作为一种控制水环境非点源污染的有效工具，已被世界上很多国家所认可。本文首先简述了非点源污染的危害，其次对人工湿地的概念和类型进行了介绍，论述了人工湿地对非点源污染中氮、磷、重金属和农药等主要污染物的去除机理，最后对人工湿地处理系统的附属设施、水力因素、表土层以及植物收割等应用问题进行了探讨。     

我国海岸带环境灾害的基本特征与减灾对策

海岸带是自然灾害与社会经济发达区相互重叠的特殊环境地带.我国海岸带环境灾害的基本特征是种类繁多,频次高,破坏性强,与社会经济发展耦合,易形成复杂灾害链等.本文提出了基于可持续发展观点的、以工程建设与生态建设相结合、灾害区划与综合减灾相结合、基础研究与高科技应用相结合的减灾对策.     

运城湿地自然保护区管理现状及对策建议

针对运城湿地自然保护区的管理现状,分析了其存在的主要问题与产生原因,并结合自然保护区管理相关法律、法规、政策和制度,从多方面提出了加强和改进运城湿地自然保护区管理的若干对策与建议.     

湿地生态系统累积影响评价研究

定量分析湿地生态系统的累积环境影响,确定所要评价的功能,然后定量分析影响该功能的各种累积方式,将湿地生态系统的累积方式分为四种方式进行描述,对各种干扰活动的相互关系予以定性并进行量化,探讨湿地生态系统累积影响评价的步骤,有助于湿地生态系统CEA方法体系的建立与完善.     

芦苇生态湿地系统处理造纸废水的探讨

根据造纸污水的特点,在科学详细地分析、评价、论证了现有造纸污水处理技术的基础上,从滨州市的实际情况出发,充分分析了应用湿地生态技术处理造纸污水的可行性,对造纸企业实现环保与经济双赢具有很好的指导作用.     

Understanding local community attitudes toward industrial development in the Great Barrier Reef region World Heritage Area: are environmental impacts perceived to overshadow economic benefits?

Conflicts between industrial development and environmental conservation can be particularly acute when such development occurs in the vicinity of World Heritage sites. A key example is the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA) in northeastern Australia, where a 2012 review by the World Heritage Council found that rapid port development inshore of the coral reef posed significant risks to local marine ecosystems. Such instances pose pressing challenges for decision‐makers seeking to manage World Heritage sites for multiple values and needs, including those of key stakeholder groups, such as local communities. There is increasingly a societal expectation that public decision‐making takes into account local views and priorities, and that companies seek a ‘social license to operate’. This research explored local community attitudes toward port development associated with the export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) and coal through the GBRWHA. Using data drawn from a survey and interviews, the research examined how a range of geographical factors, including proximity to gas infrastructure and the perceived impacts and risks of development to the local community, economy and environment shape community perceptions of the industry. Findings suggest that local attitudes toward gas and coal terminal development inshore of the GBRWHA are shaped predominantly by community perceptions of environmental impacts and risks associated with such infrastructure, in contrast to a broader public narrative that focuses largely on economic benefits. A complex combination of other factors, including social impacts, personal environmental values, community trust in industry, and equity in decision‐making and distribution of the risks and benefits of industrial development also contribute. Placed in a broader, global context, the findings have important implications for public decision‐making processes in Australia and elsewhere as they suggest that, for local communities, the perceived impacts of gas development on the environment may overshadow the benefits of industry.