Testing hypotheses about management to enhance habitat for feeding birds in a freshwater wetland

The level of water was manipulated in a freshwater wetland, with the aim of enhancing abundances of benthic animals and, ultimately, improving habitat for feeding birds (Japanese Snipe, Gallinago hardwickii). We tested whether these actions had the predicted and desired effects on benthic animals, by contrasting changes in two managed locations to one control location which was left unmanipulated. The number of taxa and abundances of chironomids decreased strongly and significantly in the manipulated locations, while the abundance of oligochaetes appeared to vary in a seasonal manner. Temporal variability of the structure and composition of assemblages was also increased in manipulated locations. Such effects have previously been suggested to indicate stress in benthic assemblages. Therefore, in contrast to what was predicted, managerial actions made benthic fauna less abundant and thus, less suitable as habitat for feeding birds. Several general lessons can be learned from these results. (1) Effects of managerial actions like these are difficult to predict a priori and can only be reliably evaluated with an experimental framework. (2) Because abundances of animals vary naturally, evaluations of managerial actions must include appropriate spatial replication. (3) Sampling at hierarchical temporal scales is important, because abundances of animals may vary in an unpredictable manner at short temporal scales and because changes in temporal variability may be a symptom of stress. (4) Combined use of uni- and multivariate techniques provides a comprehensive set of tools to assess the effects of restoration and creation of new habitats. Finally, these results emphasise the need for clear predictions about desired outcomes and specific experimental plans about how to test whether the desired results were achieved, before managerial actions are taken. Although this is often very difficult to achieve in real situations, it is necessary for practices of management to evolve on the basis of sound empirical experience.     

A Multimethodological Approach for the Sustainable Management of Perifluvial Wetlands of the Po River (Italy)

/ Marginal aquatic systems (wetlands) of the Po River (Italy) have become the target of a renewed interest because of their value for recreation, natural reserves, and deposits of sand. To preserve these sites, wise management must be the objective of local administrations. In this paper a strategy for the sustainable use of 11 wetlands is presented. It uses simple economic analysis and multiple criteria techniques and provides suggestions to promote sustainability in terms of conservation of natural resources, economic self-sufficiency, and minimization of potential conflicts about the use of the wetlands. In the understanding that sustainability is framed in a long-term perspective, stability analysis is also considered and performed by means of loop analysis, a qualitative technique. Conditions for stability are then discussed about management opportunities.     

FORESTED WETLANDS IN EASTERN CONNECTICUT: THEIR TRANSITION ZONES AND DELINEATION1

ABSTRACT: The delineation of inland wetlands requires close field examination of the biological and physical gradients (transition zones) between wetlands and bordering uplands. As part of a study on the detection and delineation of inland wetlands in eastern Connecticut by remote sensing techniques, this effort was designed to investigate vegetation distribution and composition and selected physical and chemical properties of the soils of wetland to upland transition zones in deciduous wetland forests. Field research was conducted during the growing season of 1975 within a test area consisting of the 45 mi² Town of Mansfield, Connecticut. Changes in vegetation composition and structure, soil pH, and soil water content were determined along line transects extended over wetland to upland transition zones. Differences in soil pH occurred along the transects but were of such magnitude that they probably have little impact on plant distribution. There were significant changes in soil water content along the wetland to upland gradients. Discriminant analysis applied to statistical “index of abundance” data describing vegetation distribution among the various zones (wetland, transition, upland) showed which plant species best distinguish wetlands from uplands. Of the criteria studied, vegetation composition and distribution, soil water content, and relief are the most useful criteria for delineating deciduous wetland forests.     

Risk assessment and binding mechanisms of potentially toxic metals in sediments from different water levels in a coastal wetland

The excessive accumulation of potentially toxic metals (Pb and Cd) in coastal wetlands is among the main factors threatening wetland ecosystems. However, the effects of water table depth (WTD) on the risk and binding mechanisms of potentially toxic metals in sediments remain unclear. Here, sediments from different WTD obtained from a typical coastal wetland were evaluated using a newly developed strategy based on chemical extraction methods coupled with high-resolution spectroscopy. Our findings indicated that the WTD of the coastal wetland fluctuates frequently and the average enrichment factor for Pb was categorized as minor, whereas Cd enrichment was categorized as moderate. High-resolution spectroscopy techniques also demonstrated that organic functional groups and partly inorganic compounds (e.g., Fe-O/Si-O) played a vital role in the binding of Pb and Cd to surface sediments. Additionally, mineral components rather than organic groups were mainly bound to these metals in the bottom sediments. Collectively, our findings provide key insights into the potential health effects and binding characteristics of potentially toxic metals in sediments, as well as their dynamic behavior under varying sediment depths at a microscale.     

人工湿地常用生物陶粒基质LDHs覆膜改性及其除磷效果研究

分别利用3种二价金属化合物和3种三价金属化合物,采用水热共沉淀法在碱性条件下对人工湿地中常用的生物陶粒基质进行层状双金属氢氧化物(LDHs)覆膜改性,并将9种不同类型的LDHs覆膜改性生物陶粒基质和普通生物陶粒基质分别填充于10个垂直流人工湿地模拟实验柱中,进行除磷净化实验.结果表明,9种不同类型的改性生物陶粒基质均能有效提高磷素的净化效果;Zn系LDHs改性生物陶粒对总磷、溶解性总磷、磷酸盐均有很好的处理效果,其中Zn Fe-LDHs、Zn Co-LDHs和Zn Al-LDHs对总磷的平均去除率均在92%以上,对溶解性总磷和磷酸盐的平均去除率均超过95%;其对磷素的净化机理主要集中于物理化学作用,同时还应与其对微生物生长的促进作用有关.     

植被收割对滨海湿地沉积物中CO_2和N_2O释放的影响

为了揭示冬季滨海湿地植被收割对其沉积物中温室气体释放的影响,以长江入海口典型滨海湿地——崇明东滩为研究对象,观测季节性(冬季)植被收割(分别于收割后第0天、第10天、第30天、第60天采样)与不收割条件下芦苇(Phragmites australis)、米草(Spartina alterniflora)、芦苇-米草交互带和光滩沉积物中CO2与N2O的释放特征.结果表明:1米草和芦苇-米草交互带植被收割并未增加沉积物中CO2的释放(P0.05),但芦苇收割可能会增加N2O的释放(P0.05),说明植被收割对湿地沉积物中CO2和N2O释放的影响与植被类型密切相关.2与芦苇带相比,米草和芦苇-米草交互带沉积物中CO2累积释放量分别高出12%~57%和17%~43%,但芦苇植被覆盖下沉积物中N2O累积释放量分别比二者高出11%~81%和8%~95%.可见,米草和芦苇-米草交互带沉积物碳的呼吸损失明显高于芦苇带,但芦苇植被覆盖下沉积物中N2O逸失量相对较高.34种植被类型下,沉积物中N2O累积释放量为0.1~0.4 mg/kg,CO2累积释放量则高达1 024~2 645 mg/kg.因此,冬季滨海湿地植被收割不会显著增加N2O的温室效应,但选择性收割米草有望减少沉积物碳的呼吸损失.     

天津市七里海湿地土壤地球化学特征及生态环境意义研究

以七里海湿地为研究对象,通过表层土壤元素含量变化和元素间的相关关系,运用R型聚类分析方法,对指标组合特征进行分析,以相关系数0.35划分,分为3个指标组合,土壤中元素的积累以非生物积累为主.探讨了湿地土壤元素分布分配的地球化学规律.通过湿地的环境变化对土壤元素含量变化的影响,表层土壤有机碳、总氮以及碳氮比的研究,表明七里海湿地土壤有机碳含量和总氮的含量高度呈正相关,相关系数R达到0.95,有机碳和总氮的含量分布特征也很相似.从地球化学角度,分析了七里海湿地的生态环境作用.     

锰氧化物改性生物炭基质材料对典型喹诺酮类抗生素的吸附及其在人工湿地的应用

以废弃花生壳为原料,制备锰氧化物改性生物炭球（MBCB）用于去除水中的环丙沙星（CIP）和恩诺沙星（ENR）,探究MBCB对CIP和ENR的吸附特性及在人工湿地中的应用效果.结果表明,负载锰氧化物的MBCB对CIP和ENR的吸附过程分别符合准一级和准二级动力学模型,混合吸附过程符合准二级动力学模型,Langmuir和Freundlich等温模型都可以较好地拟合MBCB对CIP和ENR的吸附过程,在25℃条件下,通过Langmuir模型拟合出的对CIP和ENR的最大吸附量分别为3.84 mg·g^-1和2.01 mg·g^-1.MBCB对CIP和ENR的吸附过程主要受到内扩散和边界层扩散的控制,是自发的吸热过程,氢键和静电相互作用参与到吸附过程当中.添加MBCB作为基质的人工湿地对CIP和ENR的平均去除率达70.7%和62.9%,分别为对照组的1.625倍和1.719倍.同时,添加MBCB的湿地微生物丰度和多样性所受影响相对较小,这说明MBCB能缓解人工湿地中CIP和ENR的毒性,保证人工湿地对抗生素的去除效果.     

Hydrologic Controls on Nitrogen and Phosphorous Dynamics in Relict Oxbow Wetlands Adjacent to an Urban Restored Stream

Although wetlands are known to be sinks for nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P), their function in urban watersheds remains unclear. We analyzed water and nitrate (NO₃^?) and phosphate (PO₄^3?) dynamics during precipitation events in two oxbow wetlands that were created during geomorphic stream restoration in Baltimore County, Maryland that varied in the nature and extent of connectivity to the adjacent stream. Oxbow 1 (Ox1) received 1.6‐4.2% and Oxbow 2 (Ox2) received 4.2‐7.4% of cumulative streamflow during storm events from subsurface seepage (Ox1) and surface flow (Ox2). The retention time of incoming stormwater ranged from 0.2 to 6.7 days in Ox1 and 1.8 to 4.3 days in Ox2. Retention rates in the wetlands ranged from 0.25 to 2.74 g N/m²/day in Ox1 and 0.29 to 1.94 g N/m²/day in Ox2. Percent retention of the NO₃^?‐N load that entered the wetlands during the storm events ranged from 64 to 87% and 23 to 26%, in Ox1 and Ox2, respectively. During all four storm events, Ox1 and Ox2 were a small net source of dissolved PO₄^3? to the adjacent stream (i.e., more P exited than entered the wetland), releasing P at a rate of 0.23‐20.83 mg P/m²/day and 3.43‐24.84 mg P/m²/day, respectively. N and P removal efficiency of the oxbows were regulated by hydrologic connectivity, hydraulic loading, and retention time. Incidental oxbow wetlands have potential to receive urban stream and storm flow and to be significant N sinks, but they may be sources of P in urban watersheds.     

上海新城区构建湿地处理污水的经济技术分析

根据上海市郊新城区发展规模以及绿地规划，从构建湿地处理污水的效果、投资和运行费用以及与市郊新城区绿地景观系统规划相容性方面进行了经济技术分析。分析结果表明：上海市郊新城区利用构建湿地建设生活污水处理系统，基本可以满足污水综合排放标准的要求，不但技术上可行，经济上更节省，而且能够与新城区绿地系统、亲水景观的规划建设有机结合。