Daphne: a new multimetric benthic index for the quality assessment of marine coastal environment in the Northern Adriatic Sea

A new benthic index, named Daphne, is proposed for the Northern Adriatic coastal area, near the Po river delta. It is based on six characteristics of the community that do not require in-depth taxonomic expertise: number of mollusc species, % of bivalves, % of polychaetes, abundance of the opportunistic species Corbula gibba, % of amphipods and number of 'typical mollusc species' that are individuated by multivariate analysis. The application of the index in selected stations along a gradient of decreasing disturbance shows that it is simple to use in regular monitoring campaigns and that the results are consistent with environmental quality data in the special conditions of this area subjected to considerable river runoff. The index can be used in addition and as a complement to more widespread indices (such as M-AMBI); a comparison of the two indices performance is discussed.     

Classification of coastal waters according to the new Italian water legislation and comparison with the European Water Directive

New legislation for the protection of inland surface waters, transitional waters, coastal waters and ground waters has recently been established in Italy. This law presents a new integrated approach, where all water bodies are considered as complex ecosystems to be studied in each of their components. The new concept of environmental quality of the water body, based on the ecological and chemical status, is also introduced. At the same time (i.e. the end of 2000), the European Community approved the European Water Framework Directive based on the same basic environmental concepts and criteria of the new Italian law. This paper analyses the important points and innovations required by the new Italian legislation for monitoring and classification of marine coastal waters. Details of definitions, parameters, analysis and monitoring programs are discussed. A comparison with the European Water Framework Directive is eventually given, underlining the specific characteristics of the Mediterranean sea, which have to be taken into consideration when applying the European Directive to this particular ecoregion.     

Sea-level rise and coastal vulnerability: an assessment of Andhra Pradesh coast,India through remote sensing and GIS

The eustatic sea-level rise due to global warming is predicted to be about 18 to 59 cm by the 2100 (IPCC 2007), which necessitates identification and protection of vulnerable sections of coasts. Assessment of vulnerability level of Andhra Pradesh (AP) coast as an example is demonstrated in this study using five physical variables, namely coastal geomorphology, coastal slope, shoreline change, mean spring tide range, and significant wave height. A coastal vulnerability index was prepared by integrating the differentially weighted rank values of the five variables, based on which the coastline is segmented into low-, moderate-, high-, and very high risk categories. About 43% of the 1,030-km-long AP coast is under very high-risk, followed by another 35% under high-risk if the sea level rises by ~0.6 m displacing more than 1.29 million people living within 2.0 m elevation in 282 villages in the region.     

Heavy metal pollution in Suva harbour sediments,Fiji

In Fiji, contamination of the coastal environment by heavy metals is proving to be a real concern. This work reports for the first time analyses carried out on an extensive basis, to ascertain the extent of anthropogenic contamination by heavy metals in the <0.063 mm surface sediments of Suva harbour. Sediment samples from 40 sites selected within the harbour were collected and analysed for five heavy metals. The levels of the metals range from 21.4 to 143.0 ± 0.1 mg/kg Cu, 1.40 to 4.87 ± 0.07 wt.% Fe, 22.1 to 93.5 ± 0.3 mg/kg Pb, 40.2 to 269.0 ± 0.3 mg/kg Zn and 1.1 to 2.6 ± 0.2 mg/kg Sn. With reference to the pristine area of the Great Astrolabe, in Kadavu, the acquired data from the harbour are indicative of heavy metal pollution. This could be attributed to the numerous industrial and commercial activities at Wailada and Walu Bay industrial areas, the municipal dump located at the Suva foreshore and the Suva wharf. The pollution is further compounded by the high population density in Suva city.     

Soft intervention technology as a tool for integrated coastal zone management

After introducing soft defence techniques as an alternative to hard defence techniques, the need is emphasized to consider the coastal area as an integral system. By recalling the main driving factors for coastal management: conflict resolution, resilience and sustainability, we logically arrive at the concepts of ecological engineering and ecotechnology, which are increasingly acknowledged as possible solutions to achieve sustainable use of coastal space as a resource. In this context, we refer to the principles of self design and of ecosystem conservation. In order to deal with real situations we are in need of fundamental ‘tools’ for the application of the soft intervention technology approach. We therefore introduce the concept of physiographic units and develop an initial elaboration for a coastal stretch and for coastal wetlands. The latter deserve more attention because of the already established practices of ecotechnology, at least as far as water and soil quality are concerned, but certainly also concerning morphology, especially in the future. We conclude by briefly discussing how activities undertaken in two research projects currently being conducted under the framework of the Marine Science and Technology Program of the Commission of the European Communities are expected to contribute to the concepts introduced here.     

Sensitivity of a coupled physical–biological model to turbulence: high-frequency simulations in a northern Adriatic station

This paper investigates the impacts of different turbulence models on the biological state at an ocean station in the northern Adriatic sea, named S3, comparing them with other uncertainties inherent to coupled physical–biological simulations. The numerical tool is a 1-D model resulting from the coupling of two advanced numerical models. The hydrodynamic part is modelled using the General Ocean Turbulence Model (www.gotm.net), in a version adopting state-of-the-art second-moment Turbulence Closure Models (TCMs). Marine biogeochemistry is parameterized with the Biogeochemical Flux Model (http://www.bo.ingv.it/bfm), which is a direct descendant of ERSEM (European Regional Sea Ecosystem Model). Results, obtained by forcing the model with hourly wind and solar radiation data and assimilating salinity casts, are compared against monthly observations made at the station during 2000–2001. Provided that modern second-moment TCMs are employed, the comparisons indicate that both the physical and the biological dynamics are relatively insensitive to the choice of the particular scheme adopted, suggesting that TCMs have finally ‘converged’ in recent years. As a further example, the choice of the nutrient boundary conditions has an impact on the system evolution that is more significant than the choice of the specific TCM, therefore representing a possible limitation of the 1-D model applied to stations located in a Region of Freshwater Influence. The 1-D model simulates the onset and intensity of the spring–summer bloom quite well, although the duration of the bloom is not as prolonged as in the data. Since local dynamics appears unable to sustain the bloom conditions well into summer, phytoplankton at the station was most likely influenced by river input or advection processes, an aspect that was not found when the S3 behaviour was adequately modelled using climatological forcings. When the focus is in predicting high-frequency dynamics, it is more likely that lateral advection cannot be neglected. While the physical state can be satisfactorily estimated at these short time scales, the accurate estimation of the biological state in coastal regions still appears as rather elusive.     

高校校园绿化环境评价指标体系构建

从景观生态学的角度，借助有关景观指数构建高校校园绿化环境评价指标体系，从绿化面积、空间格局、结构特征以及性能评价等4个层面着手，建立与其相对应的评价指标分体系；并设立相应的压力指标、状态指标、改进指标；最终为评价高校校园绿化环境提供新的思路，也为高校校园绿化环境建设提供一定的参考依据。     

中国西北地区生态环境的现状及保护对策

近四十年来,由于种种原因,我国西北原本十分脆弱的生态环境愈加恶化,主要表现存:水土流失严重;绿色植被边培植、边破坏;草原退化,土地沙化;气候干旱,水资源短缺并遭受污染;大批珍稀动值物种群濒临灭绝。对此现状,我们认为,只有加强领导,强化生态意识,克服短期行为,大力植树种草,增加绿色覆盖,保护和合理利用水资源,才能改善大西北的生态环境。     

Sustainability of sand dune restoration along the coast of the Tyrrhenian sea

This study reports the results of restoration management on sand dune environments along the coastal belt of the Castelporziano nature reserve (Rome, Italy) and the subsequent monitoring phases to test the sustainability of the ‘soft techniques’ applied. In the area concerned, over a length of ca. 3 km, 40 dunes were built up along with three belts located at <40 m, 40–70 m, and >70 m, respectively, from the shoreline. On each of 38 dunes 20 individuals ofAmmophila littoralis were planted; this species is one of the local autochthonous species considered particularly suitable for stabilizing sand dunes. After one year, two years and five years, respectively the changes in height and surface of each dune, the survival rates ofA. littoralis, and its changes in cover, the appearance of new shoots and the establishment of new species were observed. A progressive increase in species number, which five years after the restoration amounted to about 60% of those characterizing the natural dunes, was reported indicating a progressive trend towards populations similar to natural ones. In the colonization of new species there is a prevalence of theSporobolus-Elymetum farcti and theSalsolo Kali-Cakiletum maritimae association, while the species established successively refer to theEchinophoro spinosae-Ammophiletum arundinaceae association and theCrucianellion maritimae alliance as occurring in natural successions. This succession runs parallel to the natural dune colonization processes. In particular, the data regarding survival, cover and number of vegetative shoots indicate that the dune belt between 40 and 70 m from the sea is the one most suitable for restoration. Some changes in dune morphology was observed: the height of the artificial dunes tended to decrease considerably in the five years of observation, whereas a progressive increase in their surface area was observed. During the study period.A littoralis favoured the establishment of new species, but as yet exercises no action on increasing dune height.     

重庆市投资环境评价指标体系的实证分析

以重庆市为研究对象,在指标体系构建的基础上,运用因子分析法和聚类分析法,对重庆市的投资环境进行了以定量分析为主的实证分析,旨在针对性的为进一步改善该市投资环境提供切实可靠的依据,并为投资环境的理论研究提供方法参考。     

基于指标规范变换的生态环境质量评价普适指数公式

为了建立科学合理、计算简便和实用性强的生态环境质量评价普适指数公式,在确定典型区域的生态环境评价指标体系及其分级标准的基础上,适当设定各项生态环境指标的参照值和指标值的(规范)变换式,使不同指标同级标准值的变换值差异较小,而变换值的对数值差异更小,从而可以认为用变换值表示的不同指标皆等效于某个指标。因此,用变换值表示的不同指标的某种类型的生态环境质量评价指数公式都可以用该等效指标的生态环境质量评价指数公式代替。在满足一定优化目标准则的条件下,用免疫进化粒子群混洗蛙跳算法对公式中的普适参数进行优化,分别得到优化后对23项生态环境指标皆适用的对数型幂函数、韦伯-费希纳定律、Γ型分布函数、污染危害S型函数和加权加和型幂函数5种形式的生态环质量评价普适指数公式,并对公式的可靠性进行了理论分析,对其实用效果进行了检验。     

义乌市城市生态环境的变化

本文从环境学和城市生态学的角度剖析了义乌市区工业化所带来的一系列城市生态环境的变化。通过大量数据计算，对主要环境因子，整体生态环境质量作了定性，定量分析。表明目前城区整体生态环境在退化。针对城市发展现状和发展目标，提出了保护环境的一些措施。     

廊坊市区地下水质量现状评价与分析

为阐明人类活动影响下廊坊市区地下水环境状况,2015年在研究区进行现场调查采集并分析了深浅层（包含3组地表水）水样50组,测试指标包括有机指标（30项）和无机指标（31项）.利用基于分类指标的单指标综合评价法进行本区地下水质量评价.结果表明,研究区地下水质量综合评价结果较差,深层地下水相比浅层地下水水质较好;从分类指标来看,对区域地下水质量影响最大的为无机毒理指标,其次为一般化学指标,毒性（类）金属指标及有机指标对地下水质量影响很小,各项指标主要影响浅层地下水;单项组分分析表明,深、浅层地下水水质贡献指标相差较大,其中影响浅层地下水水质的主要指标有总硬度、\"三氮\"、砷、氟化物、铁锰等,深层地下水影响指标主要为氟化物（50.0%）,其次为砷（13.6%）;有机组分少量指标检出但无超标.分析认为原生水文地质环境和人类活动是影响该区地下水质量的主要因素,是导致地下水中污染组分异常的根源.     

农村环境质量区划原则及指标体系

目前工业“三废”对农村环境污染的发展趋势有所减缓，但乡镇工业对农村环境污染的比重仍在逐渐增大，污染势头继续增强。从整体上讲，农村环境质量继续恶化的趋势尚未得到有效的控制。为加强农村环境质量的管理，本文着重论述了农村环境质量区划应遵循的４条原则，以层次分析法为原理，从自然生态环境、人类开发强度、环境状况３个方面，提出由２８个指标组成的农村环境质量区划指标体系，该指标体系简便适用、易于操作，对不同层次、不同地区的具体区划具有指导意义。     

天水市2013-2017年饮用水源水质分析及健康风险评价

以天水市为研究区域,以区域内7个监测点2013-2017年饮用水源常规指标监测结果为依据,采用内梅罗综合指数法对各监测点水质进行了评价,并应用水环境健康风险评价模型评价了各监测点健康风险.结果 表明,5年间天水市西十里、慕滩、武山、清水的4个监测点地下水F值在2.13-2.20之间,质量级别属良好,甘谷、秦安的2个监测...     

三峡库区生态环境综合评价与聚类分析

三峡库区是我国水土流失比较严重的地区之一 ,面临着生物多样性下降、生态系统功能降低、农业非点源污染加剧、岸边污染带扩大、水质恶化等一系列的环境问题。本文在建立生态环境综合评价指标体系的基础上 ,根据三峡库区不同地区生态环境问题的相似性和差异性 ,进行了聚类分析。依据聚类分析结果可以将该区 19个县市区划分为7类地区     

茂名近岸海域中、小型浮游动物群落特征及其与环境因子的关系

近年来,随着茂名经济迅猛发展及涉海工程建设,其近海海域遭到日益严重的污染,海域环境日趋恶化。为更好地了解茂名近岸海域中小型浮游动物群落结构及其与环境因子的关系,摸清中小型浮游动物的种类组成及其空间分布状况,保护近岸海域生物多样性,分别于2019年夏季(6月)和秋季(9月)对茂名近海浮游动物进行调查。调查共发现浮游动物52种,以桡足类为主(达到40种,占比76.92%)。秋季浮游动物平均丰度和平均生物量(分别为29.82 ind·m^-3和282.08 mg·m^-3)均高于夏季(分别为15.71×10³ ind·m^-3和110.23 mg·m^-3)。短角长腹剑水蚤(Oithona brevicornis)、小长腹剑水蚤(Oithona nana)、强额拟哲水蚤(Paracalanus crassirostris)和小拟哲水蚤(Paracalanus parvus)为茂名近岸海域春、夏季优势种。夏季和秋季浮游植物物种多样性指数平均值分别为3.06和2.69,丰富度指数平均值分别为3.65和3.38,均匀度指数平均值分别为0.71和0.66。运用BIO-ENV方法分析了浮游动物群落结构以及与浮游植物丰度、环境因子之间的关系,结果表明浮游植物丰度、溶解氧、盐度、水温、水深是影响夏季浮游动物群落的主要环境因子,水深、浮游植物丰度是影响秋季浮游动物群落的主要环境因子。