Self-contamination of aquaculture cages in shallow water

Fish farms, which initially colonized quiet and protected natural coastal areas, are now frequently installed in open flow zones, due to the lack of space along coasts and to the emergence of new environmental constraints. For the past two decades, a salmon fish farm has been located inside the roadstead of Cherbourg (France) to benefit from both sea protection and tide currents which regularly refresh the water. In spite of these favourable environmental conditions, periods of non-negligible fish mortalities have been observed to occur without clear evidence of their origin. This motivated the turbidity measurements and the numerical simulations presented in this paper. Firstly, it is shown that high turbidities in the farm site under study are mainly due to the flow acceleration under the cages, which causes the re-suspension of sediments and bio-deposits. Secondly, particles which enter the fishnet can have different origins (external source, bottom, or the net itself). Numerical simulations, based on the Reynolds equations and on the discrete random walk model for particle dispersion, suggest that the rear area of the net can be reached by particles emerging from below the net. It is observed that turbulent dispersion is a key ingredient for such a behaviour, as it can lead particles towards a large recirculation cell behind the net. Dispersion by realistic unsteady vortices has also been analysed by means of a Lattice-Boltzmann model. Though these computations involve smaller Reynolds numbers, they confirm qualitatively the observations of the random walk model. In addition, they suggest that vortex shedding and unsteady recirculation cells near the bottom can force particles from the sand bed to be lifted up and reach the rear of the net.     

农田降雨径流污染模型探讨——以上海郊区农田氮素污染模型为例

农田降雨径流污染是非点源污染研究中的一个重要问题 ,估算其发生负荷的难度很大。通过对农田降雨径流污染模型结构的理解和适当简化不可直接建模的部分 ,对农田非点源污染物输出的重要环节———降雨径流和污染物迁移进行了模拟。根据实测资料对SCS法的部分参数作了修正 ,使小块农田的降雨径流关系适合上海的区域自然地理条件 ;采用比较完善的径流试验资料建立了相应的径流单位线 ;并利用水流流速与固体颗粒被冲刷强度的关系 ,选择合适的试验资料 ,分析得到了径流过程与氮素流失浓度的相关关系 ,从而建立了以修正的SCS法、径流单位线和径流过程与氮素流失浓度的关系为基础的农田降雨径流污染模型。在具备较长系列降雨量资料的条件下 ,该模型确定了不同降雨量频率代表年份上海郊区农田氮素的年流失量     

Effects of paclobutrazol (PP333) on lead and zinc accumulations in Pseudostellaria maximowicziana

Paclobutrazol (PP333) can enhance the resistance capabilities of plants to stress conditions. In this study, PP333 were sprayed on the lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) accumulator plant Pseudostellaria maximowicziana, which was planted in Pb–Zn contaminated soil, and the effects of PP333 on Pb and Zn accumulation levels in P. maximowicziana were studied. Spraying 10?mg/L PP333 increased, while 20, 30 and 50?mg/L PP333 decreased, the biomass of P. maximowicziana compared with the control. The 10?mg/L PP333 had no significant effects on the photosynthetic pigment contents of P. maximowicziana compared with the control, while the other doses increased the contents. The activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, peroxidase and catalase) and the Pb and Zn concentrations in P. maximowicziana were increased by PP333 compared with the control. These items had the increase trend with the increase of PP333 concentrations. Only 10 and 20?mg/L PP333 increased the amount of Pb extracted by P. maximowicziana shoots, while all of the doses increased the amount of Zn extracted by P. maximowicziana shoots. Thus, low concentration of PP333 could promote the growth and heavy metal extraction ability of P. maximowicziana shoots, with the 10?mg/L being the best.     

酸雨对生菜的光合、抗氧化系统和产量的影响研究

目前国内外有关酸雨对植物生长危害的影响研究多集中在森林植物和粮食作物,而酸雨对叶菜类蔬菜生长的相关研究较少。酸雨的频发可能会影响蔬菜的生长,进而降低蔬菜产量。为探究酸雨对叶菜类蔬菜生理和产量的影响,选取生菜(Lactuca sativa L.var.ramosa Hort.)作为试验材料,采用野外原位研究方法,探究模拟酸雨(pH梯度为3.0、4.0、5.0)和自然降水(CK)对生菜光合、抗氧化系统和产量的影响。结果表明,pH 4.0和5.0酸雨对生菜光合系统影响不显著,pH 3.0酸雨对生菜光合系统影响显著;在整个试验期内,pH 3.0酸雨显著降低生菜净光合作用8.4%—17.0%。pH 3.0、4.0和5.0酸雨均显著提高生菜超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性和丙二醛(MDA)含量,表明酸雨会激活生菜抗氧化系统,同时会对生菜叶片膜系统造成损伤;在第20天后,pH 3.0酸雨下生菜过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性显著下降13.8%%—35.2%。pH 5.0酸雨对生菜产量影响不显著;pH 4.0和3.0酸雨显著降低生菜地上部产量,分别降低14.6%和16.7%。pH 3.0酸雨使生菜地下部产量显著降低19.0%。综上可见,模拟酸雨对生菜的光合系统、抗氧化酶系统和产量均产生显著影响,且酸雨对生菜的影响阈值在pH 4—5之间,pH 4.0以下的酸雨明显降低生菜产量,但酸雨强度为pH 5.0时已存在生菜减产的风险,研究结果可为生菜栽培的相关农户以及决策部门提供参考。     

Effects of melatonin on cadmium accumulation in the accumulator plant Perilla frutescens

To enhance the phytoremediation ability of the heavy metal accumulator Perilla frutescens, melatonin (MT) was applied at different concentrations (0, 25, 50, 100, 150, and 200?μmol/L) to P. frutescens growing in cadmium (Cd) contaminated soil (10?mg/kg). The MT treatments increased the root and shoot biomasses of P. frutescens, with the maximum increase in the 150?μmol/L MT treatment (79.51% and 36.18% higher, respectively, than those of the control). The MT treatments also enhanced superoxide dismutase activity, peroxidase activity, and the soluble protein concentration of P. frutescens, and 100–200?μmol/L MT increased the chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll concentrations in P. frutescens. The MT treatments increased the Cd concentrations in roots and shoots of P. frutescens in a dose-dependent manner. Different MT concentrations increased the Cd accumulation amounts of roots and shoots of P. frutescens, with the maxima accumulation amounts in the 150?μmol/L MT treatment (226.98% and 85.89% higher, respectively, than those of the control). These results show that MT can promote the growth and phytoremediation ability of P. frutescens growing in Cd-contaminated soil, and the optimum MT dose is 150?μmol/L.     

Integrating Economic Development and the Environment: Artisan Fishing Production in Guanabara Bay,Rio de Janeiro

The adoption of environmentally sustainable techniques by cooperatives and small companies results in specific difficulties rarely discussed in the literature. This paper describes an action-research carried out by seafood cultivators and university researchers in Guanabara Bay, which resulted in the substitution of the previous technique, based on extraction, by one without negative environmental impacts. The economic results have been satisfactory, so it can be expected that this activity may become more widespread in the region.     

A chronology of nitrogen deposition in the UK between 1900 and 2000

Measurements of the concentrations of nitrogen compounds in air and precipitation in the UK have been made since the mid-19th century, but no networks operating to common protocols and having traceable analytical procedures were established until the 1950s. From 1986 onwards, a high-quality network of sampling stations for precipitation chemistry was established across the UK. In the following decade, monitoring networks provided measurement of NO₂, NH₃, HNO₃ and a satisfactory understanding of the dry deposition process for these gases allowed dry deposition to be quantified. Maps of N deposition for oxidized and reduced compounds at a spatial scale of 5 km × 5 km are available from 1986 to 2000. Between 1950 and 1985, the more limited measurements, beginning with those of the European Air Chemistry Network (EACN) provide a reasonable basis to estimate wet deposition of NO^? ₃?N and NH⁺ ₄?N. For the first half of the century, estimates of deposition were scaled with emissions assuming a constant relationship between emission and deposition for each of the components of the wet and dry deposition budget at the country scale. Emissions of oxidized N, which dominated total nitrogen emissions throughout the century, increased from 312 kt N annually in 1900 to a peak of 787 kt for the decade 1980–1990 and then declined to 460 kt in 2000. Emissions of reduced N, largely from coal combustion were about 168 kt N in 1900, increasing to a peak of 263 kt N in 2000 and by now dominated by agricultural sources. Reduced N dominated the deposition budget at the country scale, increasing from 163 kt N in 1900 to 211 kt N in 2000, while deposition of oxidized N was 66 kt N in 1900 and 191 kt N in 2000. Over the century, 68 Mt (Tg) of fixed N was emitted within the UK, 78% as NO _x , while 29 Mt of nitrogen was deposited (43% of emissions), equivalent to 1.2 t N ha^?1, on average, with 60% in the reduced form. Deposition to semi-natural ecosystems is approximately 15 Tg N, equivalent to between 1 and 5 t N ha^?1, over the century and appears to be accumulating in soil. The N deposition over the century is similar in magnitude to the total soil N inventory in surface horizons.     

Self-Organizing Maps for Integrated Environmental Assessment of the Mid-Atlantic Region

A new method has been developed to perform environmental assessment at regional scale. This involves a combination of a self-organizing map (SOM) neural network and principal component analysis (PCA). The method is capable of clustering ecosystems in terms of environmental conditions and suggesting relative cumulative environmental impacts of multiple factors across a large region. Using data on land-cover, population, roads, streams, air pollution, and topography of the Mid-Atlantic region, the method was able to indicate areas that are in relatively poor environmental condition or vulnerable to future deterioration. Combining the strengths of SOM with those of PCA, the method offers an easy and useful way to perform a regional environmental assessment. Compared with traditional clustering and ranking approaches, the described method has considerable advantages, such as providing a valuable means for visualizing complex multidimensional environmental data at multiple scales and offering a single assessment or ranking needed for a regional environmental assessment while still facilitating the opportunity for more detailed analyses.     

广州地区秋冬季细颗粒物PM_(2.5)化学组分分析

本文对广州地区2009~2010年秋冬季节大气中PM2.5进行采样,并分析PM2.5样品的水溶性离子、重金属元素、有机碳/元素碳(OC/EC)、有机酸、多环芳烃浓度和粒径分布。通过分析初步掌握了广州地区秋冬季节大气中PM2.5的化学组分和特点:广州地区秋冬季PM2.5呈现城区高于城郊,PM2.5中有机质(OM)是最主要的成分,其次是硫酸根离子、硝酸根离子和铵根;PM2.5中有机碳和元素碳的空间分布特征相似,并受一次源排放影响;PM2.5中铝、锌、铅是含量最高的重金属,且城区重金属浓度高于城郊;PM2.5中17种多环芳烃、苯并a芘(BaP)均为城郊浓度最高。