Efficient and resilient governance of social–ecological systems

New institutions are critically needed to improve the resilience of social–ecological systems globally. Watershed management offers an important model due to its ability to govern mixed-ownership landscapes through common property regimes, translating national goals into local action. Here, I assess the efficacy of state watershed management institutions in the Pacific Northwest, based on their ability to support local watershed groups. I use document analysis to describe and compare state institutions in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and California. Results indicate that state institutional efficiency and resilience are the key factors determining watershed group activity and stability. The primary drivers of institutional efficiency and resilience were institutional unification, robust funding portfolios, low agency conflict, and strong support for economic multiplier effects, creative partnerships, and scholarly research. My findings elucidate the critical role of institutional efficiency and resilience in governing dynamic and complex social–ecological systems, enabling the flexibility to address emergent transformations.     

Ecological modelling of nitrate pollution in small river basins by spreadsheets and GIS

With the increasing importance and awareness of water quality in the small basins, the modelling system is developed for monitoring and predictions of surface water pollution. The compartment model deals with basin characteristics extended by land cover attributes. The parameters of the model are estimated by experimental data of water quality together with land cover types that serve as nutrient detention media or transformers. The study examines methodology to determine the potential areas of nitrate pollution from point and non-point sources by remote sensing techniques. Classification of water, agricultural, forest and urban areas is processed with satellite images (LANDSAT 7). Whereas the agricultural and urban areas act as sources of pollution, forest zones operate as sinks. The nitrate levels are decreased downstream, if the proportion of the forest inside contribution zones increases. The modelling system is used to simulate amounts of nitrates in each compartment of the stream during the monitored period of one year. The number of compartments and their lengths are estimated on the basis of morphology of the basin. Simulation of the dynamic model is carried out with the TabSim. Geographic information system (GIS) and remote sensing tools are used to manage and estimate nitrate inflows from point and non-point sources of pollution. The article presents the spatial and time variation of the nitrate (NO₃⁻) within the basin of the stream Rakovnický (the west part of Bohemia, the whole area of 368 km²). It is shown that the model approach extended by the GIS and remote sensing can support decision-making process for better management practices in the basins.     

Variations of denitrification in a farming catchment area

We measured denitrification at 15 sites during 1 year in a agricultural catchment in Brittany, France. Our objective was to assess the relative importance of heterotrophic denitrification on the fate of excess nitrogen at the catchment scale, and to quantify the relative importance of riparian areas on the N₂O emissions. Using the C₂H₂ inhibition technique, denitrification rate on soil core and denitrifying enzyme activity (DEA) were each determined, for samples taken from two soil layers: 0–20 and 20–40 cm. Denitrification rates, ranging from 0 to 417 mg N m⁻² d⁻¹, were significantly higher in riparian areas than for hillslopes (median of 24.87 against 10.38 mg N m⁻² d⁻¹). However, since denitrification rates are significant in the hillslope and given that hillslope surface area is much greater (79% of catchment surface), this domain could be responsible for half of the overall denitrified nitrogen (N). Also, the 20–40 cm deep soil layer was found to account for more than 46% of the denitrification. The DEA indicates the potential for denitrifying activity by the soil under non-limiting conditions, measured values ranged from 76.48 to 530.63 ng N g⁻¹ dry soil h⁻¹. The ratio N₂O/(N₂O + N₂) was about 60% with no clear spatial or temporal trends. Soil moisture appeared to be the main limiting factor for denitrification at the field scale. The results suggest that, for this catchment, denitrification is a major route for nitrogen removal, but a significant proportion of this removal occurs as N₂O.     

Restoration of Some Parameters in the Development of Benthos After Reduction of Anthropogenous Loading in the Ecosystem of the Sevastopol Bay in the Black Sea

Research on benthic communities have been carried out in the Sevastopol Bay of the Black Sea for a hundred years. The anthropogenous influence began to have an effect already in the 20–30^th. In this period, all oyster-banks were lost and the mussel-silt and mellina-silt communities have begun to degrade and were not found during almost seventy years in the Bay. The worst state of benthic communities was observed in the 60–90^th, when species of bottom animals were not found over some parts of the sea. In this period, only 10 macrozoobenthic species were registered in the Bay. Mollusks: Nassarius reticulatus, Bittium reticulatum, Cerastoderma glaucum and polychaetes: Nephtys hombergii, Neanthes succinea have proved the most enduring at high anthropogenous loadings The faunistic complex of benthic species registered in 1913 had the greatest similarity to the benthic species complex of 2002. Return of mussel, Melinna palmata polychaete and Ascidiella aspersa sea squirt in benthic communities of the Sevastopol Bay are responsible for the similarity between these faunistic complexes. The restoration of local populations of these benthic species has followed the significant decrease of the anthropogenous loading on the sea ecosystems as a result of the significant reduction of the military naval base in the Bay during the last five to ten years.     

芝罘湾沉积物中可提取相重金属研究

讨论了芝罘湾沉积物酸提取相中Ｐｂ、Ｃｕ、Ｃｒ、Ｆｅ、Ｍｎ、Ｌｉ、Ｋ的分特征，及其在环境中的赋存形式，并与其它海区资料相比，得出该湾沉积物已受到重金属污染的结论。     

王哥庄湾陆源硝酸盐氮输送通量研究

以汇水区域相对独立的崂山王哥庄地区为例 ,通过研究该区的水文地质条件、分析地表水和地下水中的硝酸盐氮 (NO3 N) ,采用流量法和断面法分别对河流和地下水向王哥庄湾的NO3 N输送量进行了计算。结果表明 ,1999年 5月下旬地下水向海洋输送的NO3 N占整个陆源输入量的 30 .0 6 % ,说明地下水向海洋的营养盐输送量是海洋环境评估的重要边界条件。     

胶州湾COD、N、P污染物浓度数值模拟

在已建潮流模型的基础上，建立了胶州湾三维变边界污染物平流-扩散模型，模拟了胶州湾COD、N、P污染物现状浓度分布。结果表明，胶州湾主要污染因子为N，海湾东北部污染较为严重，东岸形成一条狭长的带状污染区，模拟结果与实测资料符合良好。本文统计了COD、N、P超标面积，N超一类水域面积为253km^2，占整个胶州湾面积的64％，COD和P大部分水域满足一类海水水质标准。模拟结果可为胶州湾水质管理、入海污染物总量控制提供依据。     

Methylmercury and total mercury in estuarine organisms from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Guanabara Bay (GB), located in the Rio de Janeiro State, is still a productive estuary on the south-eastern Brazilian coast. It is an ecosystem heavily impacted by organic matter, oil and a number of other toxic compounds, including Hg. The present study aimed to comparatively evaluate the aquatic total mercury (THg) and MeHg contamination, and the ratios of MeHg to THg (% MeHg), in 3 species of marine organisms, Micropogonias furnieri-carnivorous fish (N = 81), Mugil spp.--detritivorous fish (N = 20) and Perna perna--filter-feeding bivalves (N = 190), which are widely consumed by the population. A total of 291 specimens were collected at the bay in different periods between 1988 and 1998. THg concentrations were determined by cold vapour AAS with stannous chloride as a reducing agent. MeHg was extracted by dithizone-benzene and measured by GC-ECD. Analytical quality was checked through certified standards. All organisms presented both low THg and MeHg concentrations and they were below the maximum limit of 1,000 micrograms Hg.kg-1 wet wt. as established for human intake of predatory fish by the new Brazilian legislation. Carnivorous fish showed higher THg and MeHg concentrations, and also % MeHg in muscle tissues, than organisms with other feeding habits and lower trophic levels. The average of THg concentrations in carnivorous fish was 108.9 +/- 58.6 micrograms.kg-1 wet wt. (N = 61) in 1990 and 199.5 +/- 116.2 micrograms.kg-1 wet wt. (N = 20) in 1998, but they presented different total length and body weights. The average THg content in detritivorous fish was 15.4 +/- 5.8 micrograms.kg-1 wet wt., whereas THg concentrations ranged from 4.1 to 53.5 micrograms.kg-1 wet wt. for the molluscs. The THg and MeHg contents of mussel varied according to the sampling point and water quality. MeHg concentration in detritivorous fish was similar to MeHg concentration in molluscs, but there was a significant difference in the MeHg/THg ratio: the carnivorous fish presented higher MeHg percentages (98%) than the detritivorous fish (54%) and the molluscs (33%). Weight-normalised average concentration of THg in carnivorous fish collected in 1990 (0.18 +/- 0.08 microgram.g-1/0.7 kg wet wt.) and in 1998 (0.16 +/- 0.09 microgram.g-1/0.7 kg wet wt.) presented no significant difference (t = 1.34; P < 0.5). In conclusion, the low THg and MeHg concentrations in the organisms from the GB ecosystem, are related to its eutrophic conditions and elevated amounts of suspended matter. In this situation, Hg could be strongly complexed or adsorbed by the particulate, which would dilute the Hg inputs and reduce its residence time in the water column, with a consequent decrease in its availability to organisms.     

连云港海州湾海域表层水体和沉积物中微塑料的分布特征

近年来,微塑料成为国内外广泛关注的新型海洋污染物,海湾作为人类在海岸环境中的主要活动地区,一直是海洋污染物聚集地,但我国对近岸大部分中小型海湾环境中微塑料的分布状况仍鲜见报道.为了解我国近岸中小型海湾的微塑料污染特征,本研究以江苏省海州湾海域表层海水和沉积物中采集的微塑料为样本,通过定性和定量方法研究了表层水和沉积物中微塑料主要类型和丰度及空间分布特征.结果表明,海州湾表层水体和沉积物中的微塑料丰度分别为(2.60±1.40)个·m~(-3)和(0.33±0.26)个·g~(-1),在国内近岸环境(表层水0.33～545.00个·m~(-3),沉积物0.07～2.58个·g~(-1))中,海州湾表层水中的微塑料丰度处于较低水平,但沉积物中的微塑料处于较高水平.塑料污染物的粒径大小在水体中分布范围为0.08～13.48 mm,其中,微塑料(粒径5 mm)占91.8%,塑料污染物在沉积物中粒径的分布范围为0.04～14.74 mm,微塑料占91.4%,水体和沉积物中60%以上的微塑料粒径小于2.00 mm.海州湾海域微塑料的形态以纤维状为主,占92%;颜色以蓝色和黑色为主,占70%;材质以人造纤维和PET为主,占79.4%.表层水中微塑料的分布与悬浮物浓度分布具有显著的相关性(P0.05),沉积物中微塑料的分布受多方面因素影响,其分布规律与表层水中微塑料的分布以及沉积物中粒径的分布都具有较大差异性.通过对微塑料的形态特征以及成分组成的分析表明,海州湾的微塑料主要来源于海水养殖和沿岸陆源输入.     

纳米银对胶州湾西北部海区及河口区沉积物反硝化能力和功能基因丰度的影响

在胶州湾西北部海区和大沽河河口区选择S站和E站2个研究站位,现场采样带回实验室进行模拟培养,研究纳米银对沉积物反硝化能力、反硝化酶活性及功能基因丰度的影响.将不同剂量(0、135、1 350 mg·L~(-1))的纳米银添加至由表层沉积物和原位底层海水组成的培养体系中培养6 d,测定其在不同时间内NO_3~-和NO_2~-含量、NO_3~-还原酶和NO_2~-还原酶活性、反硝化功能基因narG和nirS相对丰度的变化,探讨纳米银对不同区域沉积物反硝化过程的影响和可能的作用途径.结果表明,纳米银胁迫对2个站位沉积物NO_3~-和NO_2~-的还原能力、NO_3~-和NO_2~-还原酶活性及narG和nirS的基因丰度均具有明显的抑制效应,纳米银浓度越高,抑制程度越强,并会导致NO_2~-累积量的增加;纳米银对NO_2~-还原酶的抑制程度明显大于NO_3~-还原酶,对功能基因nirS的抑制程度明显大于narG;纳米银胁迫对NO_3~-还原过程的影响主要通过对功能基因的抑制作用,而对NO_2~-还原过程的影响主要是通过对还原酶活性的抑制作用;纳米银对胶州湾西北部海域反硝化能力、NO_3~-还原酶和基因丰度的抑制程度大于大沽河河口区.