Spatial cost–benefit analysis of blue restoration and factors driving net benefits globally

Marine coastal ecosystems, commonly referred to as blue ecosystems, provide valuable services to society but are under increasing threat worldwide due to a variety of drivers, including eutrophication, development, land-use change, land reclamation, and climate change. Ecological restoration is sometimes necessary to facilitate recovery in coastal ecosystems. Blue restoration (i.e., in marine coastal systems) is a developing field, and projects to date have been small scale and expensive, leading to the perception that restoration may not be economically viable. We conducted a global cost–benefit analysis to determine the net benefits of restoring coral reef, mangrove, saltmarsh, and seagrass ecosystems, where the benefit is defined as the monetary value of ecosystem services. We estimated costs from published restoration case studies and used an adjusted-value-transfer method to assign benefit values to these case studies. Benefit values were estimated as the monetary value provided by ecosystem services of the restored habitats. Benefits outweighed costs (i.e., there were positive net benefits) for restoration of all blue ecosystems. Mean benefit:cost ratios for ecosystem restoration were eight to 10 times higher than prior studies of coral reef and seagrass restoration, most likely due to the more recent lower cost estimates we used. Among ecosystems, saltmarsh had the greatest net benefits followed by mangrove; coral reef and seagrass ecosystems had lower net benefits. In general, restoration in nations with middle incomes had higher (eight times higher in coral reefs and 40 times higher in mangroves) net benefits than those with high incomes. Within an ecosystem type, net benefit varied with restoration technique (coral reef and saltmarsh), ecosystem service produced (mangrove and saltmarsh), and project duration (seagrass). These results challenge the perceptions of the low economic viability of blue restoration and should encourage further targeted investment in this field.     

Incorporating putatively neutral and adaptive genomic data into marine conservation planning

The availability of genomic data for an increasing number of species makes it possible to incorporate evolutionary processes into conservation plans. Recent studies show how genetic data can inform spatial conservation prioritization (SCP), but they focus on metrics of diversity and distinctness derived primarily from neutral genetic data sets. Identifying adaptive genetic markers can provide important information regarding the capacity for populations to adapt to environmental change. Yet, the effect of including metrics based on adaptive genomic data into SCP in comparison to more widely used neutral genetic metrics has not been explored. We used existing genomic data on a commercially exploited species, the giant California sea cucumber (Parastichopus californicus), to perform SCP for the coastal region of British Columbia (BC), Canada. Using a RAD-seq data set for 717 P. californicus individuals across 24 sampling locations, we identified putatively adaptive (i.e., candidate) single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) based on genotype–environment associations with seafloor temperature. We calculated various metrics for both neutral and candidate SNPs and compared SCP outcomes with independent metrics and combinations of metrics. Priority areas varied depending on whether neutral or candidate SNPs were used and on the specific metric used. For example, targeting sites with a high frequency of warm-temperature-associated alleles to support persistence under future warming prioritized areas in the southern coastal region. In contrast, targeting sites with high expected heterozygosity at candidate loci to support persistence under future environmental uncertainty prioritized areas in the north. When combining metrics, all scenarios generated intermediate solutions, protecting sites that span latitudinal and thermal gradients. Our results demonstrate that distinguishing between neutral and adaptive markers can affect conservation solutions and emphasize the importance of defining objectives when choosing among various genomic metrics for SCP.     

Historical and contemporary indigenous marine conservation strategies in the North Pacific

Strategies to reduce, halt, and reverse global declines in marine biodiversity are needed urgently. We reviewed, coded, and synthesized historical and contemporary marine conservation strategies of the Kitasoo/Xai'xais First Nation in British Columbia, Canada to show how their approaches work. We assessed whether the conservation actions classification system by the Conservation Measures Partnership was able to encompass this nation's conservation approaches. All first-order conservation actions aligned with the Kitasoo/Xai'xais First Nation's historical and contemporary marine conservation actions; hereditary chief management responsibility played a key role. A conservation ethic permeates Kitasoo/Xai'xais culture, and indigenous resource management and conservation existed historically and remains strong despite extreme efforts by colonizers to suppress all indigenous practices. The Kitasoo/Xai'xais's embodiment of conservation actions as part of their worldview, rather than as requiring actions separate from everyday life (the norm in nonindigenous cultures), was missing from the conservation action classification system. The Kitasoo/Xai'xais are one of many indigenous peoples working to revitalize their governance and management authorities. With the Canadian government's declared willingness to work toward reconciliation, there is an opportunity to enable First Nations to lead on marine and other conservation efforts. Global conservation efforts would also benefit from enhanced support for indigenous conservation approaches, including expanding the conservation actions classification to encompass a new category of conservation or sacredness ethic.     

南黄海东部海域浮游生态系统要素季节变化的模拟研究

利用海洋生态系统动力学垂直一维物理-生物耦合模式模拟研究了南黄海东部海域浮游生态系统要素垂直分布的季节变化.物理亚模型为一维POM模式(Princeton Ocean Model),基于文献结果对垂直混合系数Kh和Km进行了调整;生态亚模型为ERSEM模式(European Regional Sea Ecosystem Model),主要考虑浮游植物、浮游动物、细菌、底栖碎屑和营养盐(氮、磷、硅)等状态变量.模拟结果表明,浮游植物出现一年双峰的态势和夏季次表层叶绿素最大值的现象,春、秋季水华期间,表层叶绿素峰值分别为3.25 mg/m3和0.71 mg/m3.浮游动物和细菌在春季水华后表层出现峰值,分别为143.6 mg C/m3和23.55 mg C/m3.硝酸盐、磷酸盐和硅酸盐的垂直分布均在5-11月呈现表层浓度低、底层浓度高的分布.通过计算碳通量可以看出,在春、夏季,浮游植物对无机碳的摄取量分别为58.944 g C·m-2·quarter-1和68.276 g C·m-2·quarter-1,高于细菌对非生命有机碳的摄取.在冬季,细菌对非生命有机碳的摄取超过浮游植物对无机碳的摄取量.浮游动物在冬季主要摄食细菌,占71%;春、夏季主要摄食浮游植物,可达67.5%.浮游植物对碳的释放主要是以DOC的形式,约占90%.     

深水型水库藻类功能组时空演替及生境变化的影响

藻类功能分组是近年来生态学藻类研究的重要理论和方法.为了探明西安某深水型水源水库藻类功能组时空演替及生境变化的影响,于2011年8月起开展实验研究.研究采用现场在线监测和实验室分析相结合的方法.结果表明,水库藻类可分为10个功能组类别:B、D、P、X1、X3、F、G、J、LM、MP.其中,功能组B、P、F、X1、MP、D、J在水库中较为常见,X3、G、LM出现几率较低,功能组B、D、P、X1、X3的藻类数量占优.通过分析环境因子的变化对功能组时空演替的影响,发现水温为最主要的影响因子.水库藻类生长策略为:春季R/CR策略藻种→春末夏初CR/C策略藻种→夏末秋初C/CR/R/CS/S策略藻种→秋末及冬季CR/R策略藻种.此研究可为深水型水库安全取水提供理论支持.     

崂山水库的浮游植物群落特征及变化研究

2007年-2011年连续5年,采用生物群落法,对崂山水库浮游植物的群落结构进行了监测分析.结果为：2011年崂山水库共检出浮游植物8门93种,库区优势种为尖针杆藻（S.acus）、小胶鞘藻（P.tenue）、卵形隐藻（Cryptomonas ovata）、尖尾蓝隐藻（Chroomonas acuta）.5年来群落结构相对稳定,浮游植物细胞密度呈上升趋势.库区为B-中污型水体.     

阳澄湖浮游植物群落结构与环境因子的典范对应研究

2013年4月（春季）和10月（秋季）对阳澄湖6个点位的浮游植物群落结构进行了调查,共发现浮游植物8门91属184种,其中硅藻门为阳澄湖的主要优势门类,硅藻门中的小环藻属占主要优势种.对六个点位的浮游植物结构组成与9个环境因子的关系进行典范对应分析,结果表明东湖南与中湖北的浮游植物群落结构与其他4个点位差异性较大,pH、高锰酸盐指数、总磷、氨氮、水温是影响浮游植物分布的主要环境因子.     

六都寨水库夏季富营养化状况与浮游植物分布特征研究

六都寨水库是湖南省邵阳市重要的备用水源地,本文在2012年夏季对六都寨水库水体理化指标和浮游植物群落结构进行调查,评价水库富营养化状况.结果显示六都寨水库氮、磷浓度较高,TN和TP平均值分别为0.88和0.04 mg·L-1,部分点位超过Ⅲ类水标准.调查期间库区浮游植物总细胞密度变化范围为3.68×106~5.84×106cells·L-1,水库中心区域以绿藻为主,靠近坝首处则以蓝藻为主.各点位Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(H')介于2.19~3.17之间,Chl.a浓度范围为3.64~20.24μg·L-1,综合营养状态指数(TLI)为38.51~48.11,六都寨水库水体已处于中营养状态.要从根本上控制六都寨水库水体富营养化进程,防范蓝藻水华风险,需通过长期科学监控和综合防治.     

广东省船舶排放源清单及时空分布特征研究

分别采用基于船舶引擎功率和耗油量的排放因子法,估算了广东省地区2010年的船舶排放清单,并选取客货运输吞吐量、航道通航能力因子和港口地理坐标等数据作为权重因子,研究了该地区各类船舶排放的时空分布特征.结果表明,广东省各类船舶在2010年的SO2、NO x、CO、PM10、PM2.5和VOCs排放总量分别为14.6×104t、23.1×104t、3.0×104t、7.9×103t、7.2×103t和9.3×103t.广东省客货运输船舶月排放波动较小;渔业船舶在1月、4月和11月份的排放比例最高.广东省客货运输船舶水域排放集中在西江干线水道和珠江三角洲高等级航道网内,港口排放主要分布在广东省珠江三角洲沿海发达城市地区;渔船港口排放量呈显著的沿海条带状空间分布特征.     

福州市跃进河行政中心段浮游植物群落结构及水质评价研究

于2014年6月(夏季),9月(秋季)及12月(冬季)对福州市内河跃进河(行政中心段)水体进行了水质理化指标测定及浮游植物群落的生态调查,共检出浮游植物4门132种,浮游植物密度平均为208 826 ind./L,浮游植物生物量平均为3.500 3 mg/L.浮游植物多样性指数Shannon-Wiener指数(H’)、Simpson指数(D),Margalef指数(d)和Pielou均匀度指数(J)变动范围分别为1.94～4.17、0.59～ 0.92、3.53 ～6.66和0.38～0.81.总体评价跃进河(行政中心段)的水体为劣V类,水体营养化水平较高.