Structure and diversity of Erica ciliaris and Erica tetralix heathlands at different successional stages after cutting

In NW Europe, it is known that cutting is a useful tool for managers with regard to decisions about the conservation and management of wet heathlands. Nevertheless it is rarely described quantitatively in the international literature. In Spain, knowledge about this is scarce or lacking. In this study, twenty communities were selected in Galicia (NW Spain) that would represent from one to four stages of vegetation development after cutting. Two 5?×?5?m plots were established for each stage to characterise the vegetation on the basis of its species composition, frequency values, vertical structure and linear cover features. The Diversity Shannon index was calculated and multivariate analyses were performed. As succession advanced, notable changes were produced in the cover of dominant species, Erica ciliaris and Ulex gallii in the first stages and Erica tetralix and Genista berberidea in mature ones. Also, the species richness decreased because of the reduced number of herbs species in the mature stages and, finally, the cover values are indicators of the degree of vegetation development, together with the other parameters of height, overlayering or diversity. Cutting is a useful tool for management of heathlands because the existence of vegetation units belonging to different succession stages increases the internal diversity of communities. On the other hand, the vertical and horizontal structure reflects the formidable resilience of the vegetation community to this practice. This study offers a global vision of the dynamics of wet heathlands after cutting, with very useful ecological information that can be used by the people responsible for their management.     

Lead isotope ratios in lichen samples evaluated by ICP-ToF-MS to assess possible atmospheric pollution sources in Havana,Cuba

Epiphytic lichens, collected from 119 sampling sites grown over “Roistonea Royal Palm” trees, were used to assess the spatial distribution pattern of lead (Pb) and identify possible pollution sources in Havana (Cuba). Lead concentrations in lichens and topsoils were determined by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) atomic emission spectrometry, respectively, while Pb in crude oils and gasoline samples were measured by ICP-time of flight mass spectrometry (ICP-ToF-MS). Lead isotopic ratios measurements for lichens, soils, and crude oils were obtained by ICP-ToF-MS. We found that enrichment factors (EF) reflected a moderate contamination for 71% of the samples (EF > 10). The ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratio values for lichens ranged from 1.17 to 1.20 and were a mixture of natural radiogenic and industrial activities (e.g., crude oils and fire plants). The low concentration of Pb found in gasoline (<7.0 μg L^?1) confirms the official statement that leaded gasoline is no longer used in Cuba.     

Expanding Kenya's protected areas under the Convention on Biological Diversity to maximize coverage of plant diversity

Biodiversity is highly valuable and critically threatened by anthropogenic degradation of the natural environment. In response, governments have pledged enhanced protected‐area coverage, which requires scarce biological data to identify conservation priorities. To assist this effort, we mapped conservation priorities in Kenya based on maximizing alpha (species richness) and beta diversity (species turnover) of plant communities while minimizing economic costs. We used plant‐cover percentages from vegetation surveys of over 2000 plots to build separate models for each type of diversity. Opportunity and management costs were based on literature data and interviews with conservation organizations. Species richness was predicted to be highest in a belt from Lake Turkana through Mount Kenya and in a belt parallel to the coast, and species turnover was predicted to be highest in western Kenya and along the coast. Our results suggest the expanding reserve network should focus on the coast and northeastern provinces of Kenya, where new biological surveys would also fill biological data gaps. Meeting the Convention on Biological Diversity target of 17% terrestrial coverage by 2020 would increase representation of Kenya's plant communities by 75%. However, this would require about 50 times more funds than Kenya has received thus far from the Global Environment Facility.     

新安江水库悬浮颗粒物时空分布、沉降通量及其营养盐效应

为分析降雨入流影响下水库悬浮颗粒物的时空分布及沉降特征,在华东地区最大水库新安江水库(千岛湖)的河流区、过渡区和湖泊区(分别对应街口、小金山和大坝这3个水质断面)布设水体沉降物自动捕获器和水质高频自动监测浮标,结合定期水样采集分析,开展了为期1 a的水体颗粒物沉降通量及其营养盐效应观测研究.结果发现,水库水体浊度、悬浮颗粒物浓度(SS)、颗粒物沉降通量与降雨量、入库流量极显著相关(P0.01),其中浊度与SS的相关性最好(R~2=0.86);在降雨较多的春夏季,SS空间差异明显(河流区过渡区湖泊区),而秋冬空间差异不大;颗粒物沉降通量具有明显的时空异质性,空间上河流区过渡区湖泊区[分别为27.82、 4.34和0.26 g·(m~2·d)~(-1)],时间上春夏季秋冬季;结合全湖60个点位四季悬浮物浓度调查估算,全库颗粒物沉降通量为2.57×10~6 t·a~(-1),其中春夏季沉降通量高于秋冬季;街口、小金山和大坝捕获沉降物中颗粒态氮含量(PN)分别为6 812、 15 886和21 986 mg·kg~(-1),磷含量(PP)分别为2 545、 3 269和3 077 mg·kg~(-1),自上游向下递增.统计分析表明,中雨以上降雨过程与河流区浊度增量呈指数相关(R~2=0.81),持续强降雨则对浊度有累加效应,但对过渡区影响不大;SS浓度自河流入库区至下游大坝随距离增加呈较好的指数下降特征(R~2=0.84),降雨较多的春夏季更为明显.结果还表明,新安江水库年均库容淤损率为0.07%,与全国其它大型水库相比较低,但是坝前沉降物营养盐含量较高,具有一定的内源释放风险;管理上应加强流域水土保持治理,降低降雨冲刷对水质的影响;同时关注坝前高营养沉积物的内源释放对水质的影响.     

新安江水库河口区水质及藻类群落结构高频变化

水库库尾区的水环境多变,是水库生态系统突变的重要策源地.为探究大型水库水源地水环境演变特征及其突变的促发机制,以新安江水库为例,通过库尾河口断面18个月水质浮标的高频记录及3 d一次的藻类群落结构人工鉴定数据等,分析了气象水文过程影响下的水库库尾区的水温、溶解氧、浊度及营养盐等环境指标及藻类群落结构的高频变化特征,揭示了降雨、入流及季节温度变化等关键气象水文过程对水库水质及藻类群落结构的影响机制.结果表明:①在27 m深的河流入库区的水体温度和溶解氧存在明显的季节分层,相应水体藻类叶绿素a和营养盐等指标也同步发生分层,水温分层从气温达到14℃以上的3月中旬开始,至气温降至24℃后的10月中旬结束,期间较大降雨和入流多次破坏水温分层;②河道入库区水体氮、磷等营养盐变幅大,总磷浓度变幅为0. 011～0. 188 mg·L~(-1)之间,总氮浓度变幅为0. 75～2. 76 mg·L~(-1)之间,总磷和总氮中的溶解态占比分别为56%及88%,降雨入流对水体营养盐浓度影响巨大,3 d的累积降雨与水体氮、磷浓度显著正相关,3～6月(雨季)的营养盐含量明显高于其他月份(P 0. 001),藻类的季节性增殖反过来也会影响水体总磷浓度;③藻类群落结构及其优势属呈现明显的季节变化,在总体硅藻门类占优的背景下,蓝藻、绿藻、隐藻等在不同季节形成明显峰值,蓝藻在7～10月的夏秋季形成明显的生物量峰值,其峰值形成原因除了高温之外,还与暴雨入流有关.蓝藻主要优势属为束丝藻属(Aphanizomenon spp.)、微囊藻(Microcystis spp.)及颤藻(Oscillatoria spp.)等,绿藻峰值与蓝藻基本同步,优势属为盘星藻属(Pediastrum spp.)和新月藻属(Closterium spp.),隐藻在3～5月形成峰值,优势属为隐藻属(Cryptomonas spp.),硅藻门中的优势属分别为脆杆藻属(Fragilaria spp.)、小环藻属(Cyclotella spp.)、针杆藻属(Synedra spp.)及直链藻属(Melosira spp.)等;④入库流量、温度、水位、透明度、总氮、总磷及氮磷比等均为影响藻类优势属演替的主要因子,秋冬季节的控制因子为气象水文条件,而夏秋季节则受气象水文及营养盐的共同控制.本研究表明强降雨过程能对水库库尾区水环境及水生态系统结构产生巨大冲击,是水库藻类水华发生的可能诱发因子,通过对该过程的规律认识及关键指标监测,能够为水库水源地水质风险提供预警信息.     

A Numerical Model for the Transport of Chromium and Fine Sediments

A mathematical model which represents the transport processes of heavy metals and fine sediments in a fluvial stream was developed. The model consists of a three-equation system: the first one for total chromium concentration in the water column, C _Tw, the second one for total suspended sediment concentration, S _w, and the third one for chromium concentration in bed sediments, r. The third equation represents the chromium exchange between the water column and bed sediments by two processes: diffusion of soluble chromium and erosion/deposition of chromium sorbed to sediments. The basic assumption of the model is the instantaneous equilibrium. The main parameters are the partition coefficients in the water column and bed sediments, the depth of the active bed sediment layer, and the mass transfer coefficient between the water column and sediment pore water. The numerical model approximates the equations of advection–dispersion for chromium in water and suspended sediments by using a Eulerian third-order scheme. Numerical vs. analytical solutions were considered satisfactory for different initial, boundary, and sedimentological conditions. In order to estimate the impact of a chromium side discharge, the model was implemented for the Salado River in a reach of 65.6-km long (Santa Fe, Argentina). The results showed the effect of chromium discharge on almost the whole reach, then the vulnerability of the water quality in the Salado River when the flow was low was evidenced. When comparing the computed and measured results, the former showed a reasonable representation of the presence of chromium in water and bed sediments.     

Risk assessment of soils contaminated by mercury mining, Northern Spain

Analytical results of soil samples taken in three different mercury mining sites in Northern Spain are studied to assess the potential adverse health effects of the exposure to trace elements associated with the mining process. Doses contacted through ingestion and inhalation and the dose absorbed through the skin were calculated using USEPA's exposure parameters and the US Department of Energy's toxicity values. The results of the risk assessment indicate that the highest risk is associated with ingestion of soil particles and that the trace element of major concern is arsenic, the exposure to which results in a high cancer risk value for all the sites ranging from 3.3 × 10(-5) to 3.6 × 10(-3), well above the 1 × 10(-5) probability level deemed unacceptable by most regulatory agencies. Regarding non-cancer effects, exposure to polluted soils yields an aggregate hazard index above the threshold value of 1 for all three sites, with As and Hg as the main contributors. Risk assessment has proven to be a very useful tool to identify the contaminants and exposure pathways of most concern in the soils from metal mining sites, as well as to categorize them in terms of action priority to ensure fitness for use.     

离子色谱法测定环境空气中氯化氢时应注意的问题

用离子色谱法测定大气中低浓度氯化氢,方法灵敏、准确度高,但测定过程极易受污染干扰.本文主要探讨了在前期准备、采样和分析全过程中应注意的一些问题.     

Mangrove mapping in Ecuador: The impact of shrimp pond construction

A cooperative mangrove mapping project between the Ecuadorian Center for Remote Sensing (CLIRSEN) and the University of Delaware was begun in August 1982. The objectives of the project were to create historical maps of mangrove ecosystem extent and change, while transferring aerial photographic interpretation techniques to Ecuadorian personnel. The result of this cooperation was a series of three 125,000 scale maps of historical mangrove extent and change from 1966 to 1982 in the southern Gulf of Guayaquil. This multitemporal study showed a 16% decrease in mangrove extent and a 27% increase in shrimp pond development. If these rates of change prevail into the future, mangroves in Ecuador will reach parity with shrimp ponds in 1984 and completely disappear by mid-1990. Recognizing the significance of this loss to shellfish and fish production along the coast, Ecuadorian scientists at CLIRSEN have subsequently initiated a nationwide mangrove mapping program to create a historical base for future mangrove management strategies.