Introduction to the special issue of Ecological Modelling: “Advances in Modeling Estuarine and Coastal Ecosystems: Approaches, Validation, and Applications”

The development and application of ecosystem models in estuarine and coastal systems has grown exponentially over the past four decades. Models have become ensconced as major tools for both heuristic study of ecosystem structure and function as well as for informing management decisions, particularly with respect to cultural eutrophication. In recent years an ever-expanding toolbox of modeling approaches is being offered to complement traditional methods. This expansion of modeling in estuarine and coastal science was exemplified by four sessions devoted to modeling at the 2007 biennial conference of the Estuarine Research Federation in Providence, RI. We felt the time was right to propose a special session of Ecological Modelling to synthesize talks from these sessions to present the state of the art in coastal and estuarine modeling. The collection of papers contained in this special issue presents a diversity of traditional and novel modeling approaches, methods for assessing model validity and predictability, and the utility of models in management applications. We believe that together these papers provide an excellent overview of current approaches to modeling estuarine hydrodynamics, water quality, and ecosystem/food web dynamics, applications of complex and relatively simple modeling approaches, applications in both deep and shallow coastal systems, goals relevant for both heuristic and management applications, and perspectives based on traditional mechanistic model development as well as more recent alternative approaches.     

Monitoring, modeling, and management impacts of bivalve filter feeders in the oligohaline and tidal fresh regions of the Chesapeake Bay system

Populations of bivalve filter feeders are distributed throughout the oligohaline waters of the Chesapeake Bay system and, to a lesser extent, in tidal fresh waters as well. Previous studies indicate these bivalves significantly diminish phytoplankton concentrations in one major tributary, the Potomac River, and observed chlorophyll concentrations suggest bivalve influence on phytoplankton in other oligohaline reaches. We incorporated a model of these bivalves into an existing eutrophication model of the system. The model indicated that bivalves may reduce phytoplankton concentrations in oligohaline and tidal fresh waters throughout the system but the most significant effects were noted in the Potomac and Patuxent tributaries. Bivalve impacts were related to hydraulic residence time. The greatest phytoplankton reductions occurred in the regions with the longest residence time. Model carbon and nutrient budgets indicated bivalves removed 14% to 40% of the carbon load, 11% to 23% of the nitrogen load, and 37% to 84% of the phosphorus load to the regions where their impact on computed chlorophyll was greatest.     

Classification of nutrient emission sources in the Vistula River system

Eutrophication of the Baltic sea still remains one of the biggest problems in the north-eastern area of Europe. Recognizing the sources of nutrient emission, classification of their importance and finding the way towards reduction of pollution are the most important tasks for scientists researching this area. This article presents the chemometric approach to the classification of nutrient emission with respect to the regionalisation of emission sources within the Vistula River basin (Poland). Modelled data for mean yearly emission of nitrogen and phosphorus in 1991-2000 has been used for the classification. Seventeen subcatchements in the Vistula basin have been classified according to cluster and factor analyses. The results of this analysis allowed determination of groups of areas with similar pollution characteristics and indicate the need for spatial differentiation of policies and strategies. Three major factors indicating urban, erosion and agricultural sources have been identified as major discriminants of the groups.     

Environmental history: A piece in the puzzle for establishing plans for environmental management

Establishment of plans for environmental planning and management requires that a number of natural and societal factors must be taken into consideration. Insights into the inherent dynamics of nature as well as the role that past human activities have played for establishing the current condition of the landscape and the natural environment in general are essential. Many natural and man-made changes occur over time scales of decades or centuries, and these are difficult to comprehend without a historical perspective. Such a perspective can be obtained using palaeoecological studies, i.e. by geochemical and biological analyses of lake sediment and peat deposits. To illustrate the long-term dynamics of nature and particularly the role of man, we present here five case studies from Sweden concerning pollution, lake acidification, lake eutrophication, biodiversity, and landscape dynamics and conservation – topics of broad interests – and discuss benefits of including a longer time perspective in environmental management.     

人工湿地对北方城市污水深度处理效果的研究

采用三级串联人工湿地试验装置以及无芦苇的空白对照装置在户外自然条件下进行试验,分阶段考察该组合式人工湿地系统对实际城市污水的深度处理效果.第一阶段为装置初运行阶段,采用较长的停留时间,该阶段装置对COD、TN、NH3-N、NO2--N和TP的去除率分别为75%、75%、95%、75%和50%.芦苇的存在使以上各指标相对于空白对照分别提高了10%、40%,20%、20%和50%;第二阶段采用较短的停留时间,该阶段装置对COD、TN、NH3-N、NO2--N和TP的去除率分别为85%、75%、100%、70%和98%,芦苇的存在使以上各指标相对于空白对照分别提高了10%、20%、35%、25%和63%.试验结果表明,该试验装置对城市污水具有较好的深度处理效果,能够有效降低水中的N和P,对改善水质、恢复生态系统和控制水体富营养化问题具有重要意义.     

Summer total phosphorus in lakes: A map of Minnesota,Wisconsin, and Michigan,USA

A map of summer total phosphorus in lakes has been compiled for Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan to clarify regional patterns in attainable lake trophic state. Total phosphorus was used as a measure of lake trophic state because: (1) phosphorus plays a central role in controlling the overall fertility of most lakes, (2) total phosphorus values are available for a great number of lakes, and (3) phosphorus is measured in a consistent manner. The maps were compiled using patterns of total phosphorus data and observed associations between these data and geographic characteristics including physiography, land use, geology, and soils. Regions depicted on the map represent areas of similarity in phosphorus concentrations in lakes, or similarity in the mosaic of values, as compared to adjacent areas. Within each region, differences in total phosphorus can be compared to natural and anthropogenic factors to determine the types of lakes representative of each region, the factors associated with differences in quality, and the realistically attainable phosphorus levels for each type of lake.     

平原河网地区非点源污染分析

在流域水环境中，非点源污染已成为首要污染源，其研究正成为业内人士关注的重要课题。文中分析了平源河网地区非点源污染研究的现状、进展和防治途径。     

Phosphorus loss from different farming systems estimated from soil surface phosphorus balance

The phosphorus load originating from crop production and animal husbandry is a major contributor to the eutrophication of lakes, rivers and coastal waters. The P losses to surface waters may, however, differ drastically due to the diversity of agricultural production systems practised under contrasting environmental conditions. To assess the most problematic types of agriculture, we need information on the P load from different alternative farming practices. Such information cannot, however, be obtained solely from field runoff experiments, as the number of treatment combinations required to account for all relevant farming systems and environmental conditions far exceeds our research capabilities. To facilitate the comparison of P loads, we therefore need reasonably simple models. A key factor controlling the P load from agriculture is the past and present use of nutrients in fertilizers and manure in relation to a crop's uptake, i.e. the soil-surface balance of P. Here, we present a simple empirical model that relates the P surplus (or deficit) in a farm to the edge-of-field losses of algal-available P. Based on long-term fertilizer trials, the model first estimates the change in soil-test P of top soil with the aid of the soil-surface balance of P. Soil-test P is then used to approximate the concentration of dissolved reactive P in surface runoff and drainage flow, as adjusted for different P application types. The loss of particulate P is obtained from typical erosion rates. The model can be applied in life-cycle analyses and in assessing future developments. We illustrate use of the model by calculating the loss of algal-available P from conventional and organic crop and dairy farms located on clay and fine sand soils.     

四川省清平水库流域非点源污染负荷计算

使用美国通用流失方程（ＵＳＬＥ）计算出四川清平水库流域１２个集水区域的高地潜在侵蚀量，并用０．２的输沙系数计算出每年流入水库中的泥沙为１９．３２万ｔ，同时也计算了氮磷进入水库的数量，文中讨论了ＵＳＬＥ模型在山区水库流域的适用性和模型参数的率定方法。     

应用微生物组合技术治理富营养化水体的研究

应用光合细菌、硝化、玉垒菌等高效微生物及其组合，采用悬浮浮与挂膜两种批式工艺，对比分析其对富化水体有机物的却除及含氮化合物的转化效果，同时，采用接触氧化反应器进行连续流试验考察其对氨氮的转化效果。结果证明，采用微生物组合技术处理方法治理富营养水切实可行。