Precipitation or evapotranspiration? Bayesian analysis of potential error sources in the simulation of sub-basin discharges in the Czech Elbe River basin

A global change assessment required detailed simulation of water availability in the Elbe River basin in Central Europe (148,268?km2). Using the spatially semi-distributed, eco-hydrological model SWIM, spatial calibration was applied. For 225 sub-areas covering the model domain (134,890?km2), evapotranspiration and groundwater dynamics were individually adjusted. The calibration aimed at good correspondences with long-term run-off contributions and the hydrographs for two extreme years. Measured run-off was revised from water management effects to produce quasi-natural discharges for calibration. At some gauges, there were large volume differences between these reference data and the simulations of the spatially uncalibrated model. Most affected were some sub-basins in the Czech part of the basin where the density of available climate stations was much lower than the German part. Thus, both erroneous precipitation data and systematic flaws in the evapotranspiration module of SWIM could have caused the differences. In order to identify the major error source and to validate the choice of spatial calibration parameters (evapotranspiration and groundwater dynamic corrections), MCMC analyses were made for three Czech areas. Optional precipitation correction had been considered by a third calibration parameter in the MCMC assessment. In two of the three cases, it can be shown that evapotranspiration corrections are preferable as precipitation errors are negligible. In the third case, where the analyses indicate a substantial error in precipitation data, an interpolation problem of the climate data at the edge of the model domain could be found. Hence, the applied method shows its potential to identify specific sources of uncertainty in hydrological modelling.     

Lipids and fatty acids as indicators of egg condition,larval feeding and maternal effects in Cape hakes (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Merluccius paradoxus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">M. capensis</Emphasis>)

Cape hakes, Merluccius paradoxus and M. capensis, are important gadoid fish that are commercially harvested in the Benguela Current system off Namibia and South Africa. The aim of this study was to elucidate the nutritional condition and feeding preferences of their larvae. Hake eggs and larvae were sampled in austral spring of two consecutive years, 2007 and 2008, off the west coast of South Africa. They were identified to species using genetics, and total lipid content and fatty acid (FA) composition were analysed for each individual egg and larva to compare the condition of different early life stages of both hake species. Higher abundances of M. paradoxus eggs and larvae were consistently found compared to M. capensis. In both species, eggs contained wax esters (WE) and had significantly higher lipid content per dry mass than larvae. Lipid content as well as FA composition changed with the developmental stage of larvae. Quantities of essential fatty acid (EFA) increased with feeding of larvae due to dietary lipid incorporation. In 2007, yolk-sac larvae contained significantly lower total lipids than in 2008. It is argued that this was due to reduced lipid transfer by the spawning females to the eggs. These findings indicate that maternal effects are important in determining condition of hake larvae and that this may have an effect on their survival and subsequent recruitment.     

On the lipid biochemistry of polar copepods: compositional differences in the Antarctic calanoids Euchaeta antarctica and Euchirella rostromagna

During austral summer of 1985 different developmental stages (CIII, CIV, CV, females, males) of the Antarctic copepod Euchaeta antarctica and females of Euchirella rostromagna were collected in the southeastern Weddell Sea to determine their lipid contents and compositions. For E. antarctica the analyses revealed a strong ontogenetic accumulation of lipids towards the older copepodids with highest lipid contents in late CV stages and adults. The females of E. rostromagna had moderate lipid levels. The most striking difference between these two species concerns their lipid class compositions. E. antarctica deposited predominantly wax esters, whereas in E. rostromagna the major lipid class consisted of triacylglycerols, an unusual storage lipid in polar marine copepods. Principal fatty acids in E. antarctica were the monounsaturates 18:1(n-9) and 16:1(n-7), especially in the lipid-rich stages, while the polyunsaturated fatty acids 20:5(n-3) and 22:6(n-3), usually membrane lipids, dominated in the lipid-poor stages. The wax ester moieties in E. antarctica consisted almost entirely of 14:0 and 16:0 fatty alcohols. Major components in E. rostromagna were the fatty acids 18:1(n-9), 16:0, 20:5(n-3) and 22:6(n-3). The potential of fatty acids and alcohols as typical trophic markers is rendered largely insignificant in the two species due to catabolic processes.     

Mesozooplankton community structure, abundance and biomass in the central Arctic Ocean

During the "International Arctic Ocean Expedition 1991" (20 August-21 September 1991) mesozooplankton was sampled at six stations in the Nansen, Amundsen and Makarov Basins of the central Arctic Ocean from 1,500 m depth to the surface by multiple opening/closing net hauls. Total mesozooplankton abundance decreased from 268 ind. m^-3 in the surface layer (0-50 m) to <25 ind. m^-3 below 200 m depth. The small copepods Oithona similis and Microcalanus pygmaeus, as well as copepod nauplii, were most abundant close to the surface, while Oncaea borealis and Spinocalanus spp. frequently occurred at greater depth. Mesozooplankton dry mass (DM) integrated over the upper 1,500 m of the water column was surprisingly stable throughout the investigation area and measured 2.0ǂ.3 g DM m^-2. Dry mass in the upper 50 m measured 20.9 mg m^-3 and was dominated by Calanus hyperboreus (57.4%) and C. glacialis (21.1%). C. finmarchicus was very abundant only in the Nansen Basin. Below 200 m the calanoid copepods Metridia longa, Microcalanus pygmaeus and Pareuchaeta spp., the decapod Hymenodora glacialis and chaetognaths of the genus Eukrohnia were the principal contributors to biomass values of <1 mg DM m^-3. Hence, vertical changes in abundance, biomass and species composition were much more pronounced than regional differences between the basins. Three different mesozooplankton communities were differentiated according to their faunistic composition and are discussed in context with the major water masses: Polar Surface Water, Atlantic Layer and Arctic Deep Water.     

Trophodynamics and seasonal cycle of the copepod Pseudocalanus acuspes in the Central Baltic Sea (Bornholm Basin): evidence from lipid composition

Seasonal lipid dynamics of the copepod Pseudocalanus acuspes were studied in the Bornholm Basin (Central Baltic Sea) on a monthly basis from March 2002 until March 2003 and were interpreted in light of life cycle strategies and diet selection. The individual total lipid content of females ranged from 0.9 to 1.8 μg, with relative wax ester content reaching a significant maximum in May (44% of total lipids) and minimum (17% of total lipids) in April and November. Significant changes in size, lipid content, lipid classes and fatty acid composition of structural as well as storage lipids suggested five characteristic seasonal phases that were induced by different feeding histories and environmental conditions. Storage lipids were characterized by 18:1(n−9) as major component, which ranged between 44% of total fatty acids in June and 23% in February. The strong coherence between 18:1(n−9) in the seston lipids and the occurrence of ciliates emphasized the importance of ciliates in the diet of P. acuspes. As indicated by changes in the amounts of fatty acid markers, other food sources varied over the year, suggesting an opportunistic feeding behavior. The spring period was characterized by an increase in typical diatom and dinoflagellate markers, whereas other sources, potentially cyanobacteria, became more important during summer. The life cycle strategy is discussed with respect to extant adaptations to high latitudinal habitats.     

Genetische Wirkungen kleiner Strahlendosen

There are several approaches to evaluate the genetic effects of low doses of ionizing radiation in a human population. Based on experiments on mice using high doses, the genetic risk for humans has to be derived by extrapolation to low doses, assuming mouse and man respond in a similar way. Microdosimetric considerations indicate a linear relationship; studies on the molecular mechanism of radiation-induced mutagenesis lead to the conclusion that, in addition to a constitutive mutagenic process, an inducible compound exists which may cause linear-quadratic dose-effect curves. Linear extrapolation seems thus to be justified; however, the genetic risk of low doses may be slightly overestimated.     

Integrated hydro- and wind power generation: a game changer towards environmental flow in the Sub-middle and Lower São Francisco River Basin?

Many renewable resources for the generation of electricity, such as hydropower and wind power, are dependent on climatic factors. Reservoirs have been created to overcome the stochastic nature of river flows and to make water supply more reliable. However, reservoirs are affecting the ecological status of river ecosystems, e.g., by modifying the flow regime, triggering discussions regarding the discharge of reservoirs. In Brazil’s northeast region, the installed capacity for wind power generation has increased substantially in recent years. Setting up a modeling system for simulating wind power and hydropower generation in this study, it is analyzed whether wind power generation, peaking in the dry season, can help to achieve a more environmentally oriented flow regime in the Sub-middle and Lower São Francisco River Basin. Simulated higher discharges from reservoirs during the rainy season and lower discharges during the dry season, representing a more natural flow regime, will reduce hydropower generation in the dry season. Under recent conditions, the resulting gap in electricity generation can only be partially covered by wind power. A large share needs to be generated by thermal power plants or be imported from other regions in Brazil. The planned future increase in installed wind power capacity can change this picture; the demand for electricity generated by thermal power plants and imported will decrease. Adopting an integrated approach for hydropower and wind power generation, the flow regime in the Sub-middle and Lower São Francisco River Basin can be modified to improve the ecological status of the river system.