Ecotoxicological aspects of the tolerance of hydrobionts to acidification of the aquatic environment in the Taiga natural climatic zone

Experimental ecotoxicological studies on the norm of reaction to anthropogenic acidification were performed with representative hydrobionts from aquatic ecosystems of the northern taiga zone. Interspecific, interpopulation, and age-related differences in tolerance to acidity and the significant dependence of this parameter on water pH in natural habitats of corresponding populations were revealed.     

长江中下游稻-麦轮作系统生命周期环境影响评价——以江苏南京为例

长江中下游地区是我国稻麦主产区,辨析该区农业生产过程的环境效应,可为实现农业绿色发展提供理论指导。以稻麦轮作典型生产区江苏南京为例,应用生命周期评价方法对该系统生命周期的资源消耗和污染物排放清单进行分析和评价。结果表明:在该稻-麦轮作体系中,水稻生命周期的环境影响主要是富营养化、水体毒性、环境酸化和土壤毒性,环境影响指数分别为2.32、0.76、0.33和0.27;而小麦生命周期的环境影响主要为富营养化、水体毒性、土壤毒性和环境酸化,环境影响指数分别为2.50、2.09、0.32和0.23。肥料、农药、柴油的生产和使用是引起能源消耗和气候变暖的主要因素;农户超量施用氮肥是造成潜在环境酸化和富营养化的关键;农药的使用是造成水体毒素和土壤毒素的最主要原因;而氮肥和农药投入对人类毒性均有较大影响。因此,在工业领域加快新型能源开发,实施清洁生产;在农业领域优化田间管理措施(如减少氮肥施用、研发多功能一体化农机及推广低毒高效农药)能有效控制长江中下游地区稻麦生产负面环境影响,提高该区农业可持续发展能力。     

Soil and soil water studies at the HUMEX site

Changes to natural organic compounds by acid deposition and subsequent effects on Al mobilization are not well understood. The HUMEX catchment-scale acidification experiment in western Norway offers a unique possibility for an integrated assessment of these interactions. In this report, the soil and soil water chemical data from the HUMEX site, from before and after the onset of experimental acidification, are used to characterize the catchment. Changes in soil water chemistry are discussed and controls on dissolved organic carbon are addressed in relation to Al mobilization. Decreases in the concentration of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and organic Al fractions were found in soil water after the treatment started. These changes were related to an increase in soil water sulphate concentrations. The sulphate levels showed a significant increase (on a 95% level) in four of ten soil horizons while nitrate remained nearly unchanged. In organic soils, where the dissolved organic carbon content was high, the major control for monomeric aluminum concentration appeared to be the amount of exchangeable aluminum in the soil. In mineral soils, the gibbsite dissolution may govern inorganic Al concentrations in soil water, though substantial undersaturation was found when DOC was high.     

Tree bark — sensitive biotest for environment acidification

The Niepo?omice Forest, a large forest complex (11,000 ha), situated about 20 km from a large steel mill and about 40 km from the city of Cracow was the object of study. Sulphur dioxide emitted by the steel mill and the city has already caused acidification of the environment of the Niepo?omice Forest. The degree of such acidification was estimated using tree bark as a bioindicator. The pH value and buffer capacity were determined for three tree species — Quercus robur, Tilia cordata and Pinus sylvestris. The bark of all trees showed acidic reaction ranging from pH 2.2 to 4.7. Difference in pH of bark were found between various localities. The bark of examined species was much more acidic in the western part in the Niepoo?mice Forest than in the eastern part of the forest complex. The buffer capacity of bark also differs in various localities increasing with SO₂ concentration in the air. A good correlation between acidification of tree bark and the concentration of SO₂ in the air of Niepo?omice Forest was found; therefore tree bark may be regarded as a good bioindicator and recommended for practical use to estimate the degree of air pollution. The procedure of sampling and analysis of tree bark is described in detail.     

Benthic macroinvertebrates along the soil/water interface of the HUMEX Lake 1989–1991

The taxonomic composition, abundance, and size distribution of benthic macroinvertebrates were studied at the soil/water interface two years before and the first year after the start of artificial acidification of a small catchment and its humic lake. The macroinvertebrate assemblage consisted mainly of predators; dragonflies (Odonata), damselflies (Zygoptera), net-building caddisflies (Polycentropodidae), diving beetles (Dytiscidae), and water bugs (Hemiptera). It is suggested that benthic and planktonic microcrustaceans are important prey for damselflies and that intraguild predation is important for the structure of the community. The typical bog tarn assemblage did not include snails, mussels, or macrocrustaceans, which are algae- and detritus feeders known to be affected by low pH. The only potential herbivores on filaments algae and shredders of coarse detritus were case building caddisflies and the ephemeropteran Leptophlebia vespertina, which were all found in low numbers. If the artificial acidification will eliminate these macroinvertebrates, it will have little impact on attached filaments algae, and on processing of coarse detritus. Although there was a general similarity in taxonomic structure on the two sides, significantly higher numbers of dytiscids (Acilius sulcatus and Ilybius spp.) were consistently found on the experimental side than on the control side through the three years of study. The first year after acidification, the number of Zygoptera was lower on the experimental side than on the control side. The abundance on the control side in this year was, however, also higher than in the previous two years. The size distribution of Coenagrion hastulatum, the dominating zygopteran, showed no difference between lake sides. Significant difference between years indicate, however, that size distribution could be used to detect altered growth conditions.     

Effects of acidification on aquatic ecosystems

Effects of acidification on aquatic ecosystems are analyzed on the basis of an analytical synopsis of relevant data. Major active agents influencing aquatic organisms and main trends in the reorganization of microbial, phyto- and zooplanktonic, benthic, and fish communities in an acidified environment are described. A generalized concept of changes in ecosystems caused by acid precipitation and accompanying factors is formulated. These changes include the reduction of biodiversity of all structural elements due to the disappearance of species sensitive to acidification, modification of trophic structure, and decrease of fish stock.Translated from Ekologiya, No. 2, 2005, pp. 110–119.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Moiseenko.     

Physiological mechanisms of degradation of fish populations in acidified water bodies

Disturbances in fish that result from water acidification and related factors are analyzed in the context of generalizations based on the results of experimental and field studies. It is shown that low pH, monomeric aluminum, and other metal ions have an adverse effect on physiological processes in fish and are a major cause of their death in acidified lakes and rivers. The vulnerability of fish to low water pH at different stages of their life cycle and mechanisms of delayed mortality are discussed.     

三峡库区典型土壤酸碱缓冲性能及其影响因素研究

受酸沉降和化肥施用等外源性酸输入的影响,三峡库区土壤面临着严重的酸化威胁。通过选取三峡库区两种典型土壤(紫色土和黄壤)作为研究对象,采用酸碱滴定法对土壤酸碱缓冲性能及其影响因素进行了研究。结果表明:在一定的p H范围内,紫色土(p H 6.5~2.5、6.2~11.5)和黄壤(p H 5.6~2.8、5.5~10.7)的p H变化与外源性酸、碱加入量均呈线性相关关系。通过分段拟合获取的缓冲容量结果显示,紫色土酸、碱缓冲容量分别为101.3、34.6 mmol/kg;而黄壤酸、碱缓冲容量分别为105.3、38.0 mmol/kg。黄壤和紫色土主要受碳酸钙与阳离子交换的缓冲作用;缓冲体系及初始p H、机械组成等土壤理化性质的不同是导致库区典型土壤酸碱缓冲容量差异的主要原因,总体表现为黄壤酸、碱缓冲性能略优于紫色土。此外,由于近年来酸沉降和氮肥用量的增加,使得库区土壤面临的酸化威胁呈上升趋势。该结果对库区土壤环境容量和典型土壤酸化潜势等研究具有参考价值,还可为区域外源性酸临界值评估以及应对策略制定提供理论依据。     

武汉沉湖湿地水鸟群落特征及其与富营养化关系研究

富营养化是水中氮、磷等营养物质大量积累引起的水质污染现象,直接导致水体群落结构的改变,这一定程度上引起了以水生生物为食的水鸟的群落特征的变化。为找寻水鸟群落特征与富营养化两者的关系,2010年1月~2013年1月3年内按春夏秋冬4季对武汉沉湖湿地自然地保护区水鸟进行了调查,沉湖和张家大湖的水鸟多样性有明显的周年变化规律,多样性指数冬季最高,最高值分别为12.19和9.89;春夏季最低,最低值分别为7.53和2.45;对比分析了两个子湖,沉湖湖区与张家大湖湖区富营养化指数TLI分别为64和78,沉湖水鸟种类、数量和多样性指数皆高于张家大湖,湖泊富营养化会影响水鸟多样性。     

武汉市金银湖水鸟多样性及其与水环境关系的初步研究

2007年11月～2009年3月对金银湖越冬期和迁徙期水鸟进行了调查研究,共计水鸟34种,隶属于8目11科,其中冬候鸟21种,夏候鸟6种,留鸟5种,旅鸟2种;古北种21种,东洋种2种,广布种11种;列入国家重点保护Ⅱ级鸟类和中国濒危动物红皮书名录的有白琵鹭（Platalea leucorodia）1种,省级保护鸟类10种。按食性分,主食鱼虾类水鸟种数占优势,而主食水生植物类水鸟生物量较大。水质测试结果表明金银湖为劣Ⅴ类水体。通过分析不同季节以及栖息地环境改变前后水鸟多样性指数的变化,认为重建湿生植被和通过调节水位改变滩涂与水域的面积可提高水鸟多样性。武汉城市湖泊与远郊湖泊的水鸟多样性及环境条件的比较结果显示：水鸟多样性与水体污染程度呈负相关,与水域面积呈明显正相关,因此应严禁湿地的过度开发和蚕食湿地的行为,同时改善湖泊水质迫在眉睫。     

Distribution of leeches in aquatic ecosystems of the city of Yekaterinburg and its vicinity

Ecological features and species composition of leeches were studied in 25 water bodies located in the city of Yekaterinburg and its vicinity. Specific features of their occurrence and distribution in water bodies of various types were analyzed. Dominant, mass, common, and rare species were distinguished.     

Tolerance of Freshwater Invertebrates to Changes in Water Salinity

Tolerance to an increase or decrease in water salinity was studied in experiments with some species of freshwater turbellarians, oligochaetes, leeches, mollusks, crustaceans, caddis flies, biting midges, and chironomids from water bodies of the Upper Volga basin. Insect larvae and crustaceans were most tolerant, whereas mollusks and leeches were sensitive to a decrease in water salinity. Specific responses of the studied species to changes in water salinity were revealed.     

Ecological effects of various toxic agents on the aquatic microcosm in comparison with acute ionizing radiation

The purpose of this study was an evaluation of the effect levels of various toxic agents compared with acute doses of ionizing radiation for the experimental model ecosystem, i.e., microcosm mimicking aquatic microbial communities. For this purpose, the authors used the microcosm consisting of populations of the flagellate alga Euglena gracilis as a producer, the ciliate protozoan Tetrahymena thermophila as a consumer and the bacterium Escherichia coli as a decomposer. Effects of aluminum and copper on the microcosm were investigated in this study, while effects of gamma-rays, ultraviolet radiation, acidification, manganese, nickel and gadolinium were reported in previous studies. The microcosm could detect not only the direct effects of these agents but also the community-level effects due to the interspecies interactions or the interactions between organisms and toxic agents. The authors evaluated doses or concentrations of each toxic agent which had the following effects on the microcosm: (1) no effects; (2) recognizable effects, i.e., decrease or increase in the cell densities of at least one species; (3) severe effects, i.e., extinction of one or two species; and (4) destructive effects, i.e., extinction of all species. The resulting effects data will contribute to an ecological risk assessment of the toxic agents compared with acute doses of ionizing radiation.     

Effect of water-loving bird colonies on zooplankton in littoral zones of water bodies of different types

Changes in zooplankton developing under the effect of waste products from water-loving bird colonies were studied in water bodies of different types. The trophic status index in the nesting area showed no difference from its background values in an oligomesotrophic water body but was decreased in mesoeutrophic and eutrophic-hypertrophic water bodies. The abundance and biomass of zooplankton in the oligomesotrophic and mesoeutrophic water bodies were consistently higher than background values, while in the eutrophichypertrophic water body they were higher only at the beginning and in the middle of the nesting period. Irrespective of the trophic state of water body, the species diversity of zooplankton in the zone of impact from bird colonies was increased, but the number of dominant species remained unchanged, and no mass development of species indicating high organic load was observed; the proportion of Rotifera in the total abundance and biomass of zooplankton was decreased, that of Copepoda was increased, and the abundance of Cladocera was found to increase with the degree of overgrowing. Among possible explanations, this specific response of zooplankton is most likely due to changes in the ratio of nitrogen and phosphorus in the water.     

Fuel particles in the Chernobyl cooling pond: current state and prediction for remediation options

During the coming years, a management and remediation strategy for the Chernobyl cooling pond (CP) will be implemented. Remediation options include a controlled reduction in surface water level of the cooling pond and stabilisation of exposed sediments. In terrestrial soils, fuel particles deposited during the Chernobyl accident have now almost completely disintegrated. However, in the CP sediments the majority of ⁹⁰Sr activity is still in the form of fuel particles. Due to the low dissolved oxygen concentration and high pH, dissolution of fuel particles in the CP sediments is significantly slower than in soils. After the planned cessation of water pumping from the Pripyat River to the Pond, significant areas of sediments will be drained and exposed to the air. This will significantly enhance the dissolution rate and, correspondingly, the mobility and bioavailability of radionuclides will increase with time. The rate of acidification of exposed bottom sediments was predicted on the basis of acidification of similar soils after liming. Using empirical equations relating the fuel particle dissolution rate to soil and sediment pH allowed prediction of fuel particle dissolution and ⁹⁰Sr mobilisation for different remediation scenarios. It is shown that in exposed sediments, fuel particles will be almost completely dissolved in 15–25 years, while in parts of the cooling pond which remain flooded, fuel particle dissolution will take about a century.     

Acid-base characteristics of organic carbon in the HUMEX lake Skjervatjern

The Humic Lake Acidification Experiment (HUMEX) was launched in 1988 to study the role of humic substances in the acidification of surface waters and the impacts of acidic deposition on the chemical and biological properties of humic substances. This subproject was designed to determine the contribution of organic acids to the acidity of Lake Skjervatjern (the HUMEX Lake) and the impacts of the acidification on the characteristics of organic carbon. In order to get an empirical measure for organic acidity, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was fractionated, isolated, and base-titrated from each half of Lake Skjervatjern. Hydrophobic acids were the dominant organic carbon fraction; the total organic acid content was generally greater than 80% of the DOC. The reliability of the fractionation procedure was tested with synthetic acids and the Nordic Fulvic acid. The DOC fractions did not show high variation over the 1.5-y acidification period. Hydrophilic acids had consistently greater exchange acidities compared to hydrophobic acids, averaging 12.9 μeq/mg DOC vs. 10.9 μeq/mg DOC, respectively. The dissociation of organic acids during acid-base titrations clearly increased with increasing pH. The high organic anion contribution to the ion balances indicates that humic matter is an important acidity source in Lake Skjervatjern. There are slight signs that the contribution of organic acids to overall lake acidity has decreased since acidification was initiated.     

鄱阳湖鱼类群落结构及其时空动态

为系统阐明鄱阳湖鱼类群落特征及其影响因素,以便为鄱阳湖的鱼类资源保护及可持续利用提供理论依据,2010年4~11月对鄱阳湖鱼类群落空间差异和季节动态进行了调查。结果表明,共调查到鱼类72种,隶属于7目14科46属。在群落结构上,江湖洄游型鱼类占鱼类种数的25.00%,河流型鱼类占鱼类种数的19.44%,湖泊定居型鱼类占鱼类种数的55.56%。在空间结构上,沿岸带共采集到鱼类49种,其中鲫(Carassius auratus)、鲤(Cyprinus carpio)、鲇(Silurus asotus)、黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus fulvidraco)等10个种类在数量上占优势;敞水区共采集到鱼类68种,其中刀鲚(Coilia ectenes)、鲫(Carassius auratus)、贝氏(Hemiculter bleekeri)、似鳊(Pseudobrama simoni)等10个种类在数量上占优势;沿岸带鱼类密度和生物量在各样点间存在显著差异。在季节变化方面,敞水区物种数和生物量在月份间存在显著差异。鱼类群落组成与环境因子的CCA分析发现,影响鄱阳湖沿岸带鱼类群落的环境因子为水温、支流影响、离长江距离和透明度,而影响敞水区鱼类群落的环境因子为离长江距离和透明度。     

三峡水库忠县至秭归县段消落带植被群落特征研究

为了研究三峡水库周期性的水位调节对消落带植被群落特征的影响，选择重庆忠县至宜昌秭归段的消落带植被群落进行研究，运用重要值和多样性指数分析不同高程的植物种类组成、生活型分布特征及物种多样性。结果表明：（1）研究区域统计植物共32科70属73种，禾本科、菊科和豆科是3个优势科，单种、属现象明显；狗牙根、苍耳、鬼针草、苘麻、鳢肠、酸模叶蓼、莲子草是3个高程的共存种，其中，狗牙根和苍耳在3个高程均为优势物种。（2）研究区域共统计11种植物生活型，在消落带下部和中部，一年生草本植物占绝对优势；在消落带上部，多年生草本植物成为优势生活型，生活型类型多样化，蕨类、藤本、灌木以及乔木植物开始出现。（3）消落带植物群落的丰富度、多样性、均匀度指数均随海拔变化表现出显著差异，并且随海拔升高呈现上升趋势。由此可见，水位变化对植物群落结构和物种多样性产生很大影响，在低海拔区段，消落带物种组成简单化，耐水淹和繁衍能力强的植物成为优势物种；随着海拔上升，水淹胁迫减弱，出现更多适应水位变化的植物种类，使植物群落沿海拔变化形成不同的分布特征。这些研究结果对三峡库区消落带生态修复植物的筛选，以及物种多样性的提高具有参考价值。     

浙江青山水库浮游植物群落结构变化及与环境因子的关系

于2009年按季度对浙江省临安市内的青山水库进行调查,测定了水体环境因子、浮游植物群落,采用营养状态指数法对水库水质现状进行了分析和评价,并探讨了浮游植物与环境因子之间的关系。结果表明:青山水库处于轻度富营养化和中度富营养化之间,水库入库处营养状态综合指数高于库中和大坝处。调查期间共发现浮游植物7门40属89种。不同季节浮游植物主要优势种类不同,春季以硅藻、隐藻和甲藻为主,夏季以蓝藻和绿藻为主,秋季以蓝藻、硅藻和隐藻为主,冬季以硅藻和隐藻为主。相关分析表明,青山水库浮游植物密度与出入库流量和透明度呈显著负相关,与总磷呈显著正相关。典范对应分析(CCA)表明,出入库流量、水温、溶解氧和营养盐是影响水体浮游植物分布格局的重要环境因子。     

嘉陵江下游江段春季浮游藻类特征及污染现状

2006年春季,通过水质分析和浮游藻类调查,应用污生谱分析法及生物多样性指数法,对嘉陵江下游江段春季浮游藻类特征及污染现状进行了研究。结果发现,该江段共有浮游藻类7门42属85种（包括变种）;优势种群并不单一,以黄藻、绿藻和硅藻占优势,优势种为黄藻门中的黄丝藻,绿藻门中的小球藻和硅藻门中的小环藻。5月份藻类的种类和个数均比4月份有所减少,可能与5月份降雨量比4月份多有关;流速最快的石门大桥具有最低的藻类细胞密度,流速最慢的化龙桥具有较高的藻类细胞密度,说明流速对浮游藻类种类和数量产生一定的影响。嘉陵江下游沿岸一带的氨氮含量都很高,氨氮已经形成全江段水系的主要污染,磷酸盐含量也较高,均超过水体富营养化的氮、磷含量最低限制标准,该江段水质污染较严重。污生谱分析法及生物多样性指数法的评价结果表明,该江段整体污染状况为中度污染,农业和工业污染不容忽视。〖