Northern Rivers Ecosystem Initiative: Nutrients and Dissolved Oxygen – Issues and Impacts

Anthropogenic inputs of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and oxygen-consuming material to aquatic ecosystems can change nutrient dynamics, deplete oxygen, and change abundance and diversity of aquatic plants and animals. The Northern Rivers Ecosystem Initiative required a research and assessment program to establish the contribution of pulp mill and sewage discharges to eutrophication and depressions in dissolved oxygen (DO) in the Athabasca and Wapiti rivers of northern Alberta, Canada and examine the adequacy of existing guidelines for protecting these systems. Analysis of long-term data showed that total N (TN) and total P (TP) concentrations in exposed river reaches exceeded concentrations in reference reaches by ≤ 2 times for the Athabasca River, and by 9.6 (TP) and 2.6 (TN) times for the Wapiti River. Results from nutrient limitation experiments conducted in situ and in mesocosms showed that benthic algal production was nutrient sufficient downstream of pulp mill discharges but constrained in upper river reaches by insufficient P (Athabasca River) or N + P (Wapiti River). Dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations in both rivers declined during winter such that median concentrations in the Athabasca River 945 km downstream of the headwaters were approximately 8 mg L⁻¹ in mid-February. Although water column DO rarely approached the guideline of 6.5 mg L⁻¹, DO studies undertaken in the Wapiti River showed that pore water DO often failed to meet this guideline and could not be predicted from water column DO. Results from this integrated program of monitoring and experimentation have improved understanding of the interactions between nutrients, DO and aquatic ecosystem productivity and resulted in recommendations for revisions to nutrient and DO guidelines for these northern rivers.The Canadian Crown reserves the right to retain a non-exclusive, royalty free licence in and to any copyright.     

Characterizing Small Subbasins: A Case Study from Coastal Oregon

A fine-grained statisticaly robust probability sample of stream segments is used to compare two small (20,000 hectare) subbasins of the Tillamook watershed, north coastal Oregon. The two subbasins are matched with respect to several variables [size coastal climates], but vary in terms of geology and consequently land use. A total of 67 wadeable + non-wadeable sizes were identified for sampling in the two subbasins (combined) over two field seasons from a sampling universe consisting of the River Reach File 3 (blue lines on 1:100,000 maps). Target variables include an extensive array of physical habitat endpoints, selected water chemistry endpoints, species composition, and relative abundance of both benthic macroinvertebrates and fish. Field protocols generally followed those of the U.S. EPA's Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP).Eleven fish species were encountered, a typically low number for coastal Oregon streams. Exploratory analysis using nonmetric multidimensional scaling revealed that 92.4% of the variation in the fish assemblages could be explained with two ordination axes. Environmental factors related to stream size and substate were the most correlated to these axes. Further, stream segments for the two subbasins tended to map in different areas of species space. Therefore, we also give unweighted probability distributions for several of the factors that heavily on these two axes by subbasins, as well as probability distributions for chemical endpoints. Results from the subset of sites sampled during the first year (21 wadeable sites) reveal: 1) differences between samples from the two subbasins relates to dream size and substrate composition that are consistent with known differences in geology and land use, 2) unexpectedly minor differences between samples from the two subbasins for stream temperature, canopy cover, and dissolved oxygen, 3) differences between samples from the two subbasins for total P, and total N, possibly related to land use, and 4) unexpected differences in samples from the two subbasins for conductivity, probably related to geological factors. Sample size for each subbasin is low and therefore our samples cannot be taken to necessarily characterize either subbasin. However, our findings are consistent with a comprehensive assessment that had been previously produced for one of the two subbasins.All field work was completed in 8 weeks 3-person field crew. We conclude that rapid assessment protocols, based on probability samples at this level of resolution, can be a cost-effective approach to watershed analysis. This approach should be seen as a complement to, rather than a replacement for, systematic surveys that produced finer scale, reach specific information on factors such as channel complexity and cover relevant to in-stream restoration planning.     

Effects of an Oil Spill on Soil Physico-Chemical Properties of a Spill Site in a Typic Udipsamment of the Niger Delta Basin of Nigeria

Physico-chemical analysis of soil samples at an oil spill site in a Typic Udipsamment of the Niger Delta Basin of Nigeria showed that the total hydrocarbon content of top soil layers ranged from 18.6 to 23.6 ppm in the heavy impact zone and the oil had penetrated to a depth op 8.4 m. The concentration of hydrocarbons in the medium impact zone ranged from 10.04 to 10.38 ppm while hydrocarbons were not detected in 85% of samples from the unimpacted reference zone. Heavy metal concentration measurements in the soil revealed a significant build-up (P < 0.05) of lead, copper and zinc in the heavy impact zone. Other quality parameters including electrical conductity, exchangeable cations, total nitrogen and available phosphorus in impacted soils were relatively low, while the total organic carbon was high compared with the reference site. Textural class of soil from the different depths showed a predominantly brown sand at the topsoil, loamy sand and grey coarse sand at medium depths, and grey coarse sand and greyish sandy clay at greater depths.     

Tolerance of an Albino Fish to Ultraviolet-B Radiation

We exposed albino and pigmented medakaOryzias latipes to simulated solar ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation to determine if albino medaka were less tolerant of UVB radiation than medaka pigmented with melanin. There was no difference in the number of albino and pigmented medaka that died during the exposure period. Spectrophotometric analyses of the outer dorsal skin layers from albino and pigmented medaka indicated that, prior to exposure, both groups of fish had similar amounts of an apparent colorless non-melanin photoprotective substance that appears to protect other fish species from UVB radiation. Our results indicate that albino medaka were as tolerant of UVB radiation as pigmented medaka because they had similar amounts of this photoprotective substance in the outer layers of the skin.     

A Constant Erosion Rate Model for Fine Sediment in the York River,Virginia

Results of field experiments using the Virginia Institute of Marine Science' Sea Carousel and tripod system reveal a highly dynamic sediment activity at the Clay Bank site in the York River. At the water-sediment interface, the critical bed shear stress for sediment erosion varied between 0.026 Pa and 0.1 Pa. For the well consolidated sediment below the interface, the critical bed shear stress increased significantly, to more than 0.6 Pa. The seasonal variation of erosion rate for the surficial sediment is significant. For the well consolidated sediment below the surficial sediment, however, the seasonal variation diminished and erosion rate approached a constant. Experimental results from the Carousel deployments imply that the erosion process for quasi-steady tidal flows is always near equilibrium. For this reason, a constant rate erosion model is proposed for the time during tidal acceleration phases. For other times, the erosion rate would be zero. The measured suspended sediment concentration at 10 cm above bed from the VIMS tripod system also Supports this model.     

Multi-Decadal Changes in Snow Characteristics in Sub-Arctic Sweden

A unique long term, 49-year record (divided into three time periods 1961–1976, 1977–1992, and 1993–2009) of snow profile stratigraphy from the Swedish sub Arctic, was analyzed with a focus on changes in snow characteristics. The data set contained grain size, snow layer hardness, grain compactness, and snow layer dryness, observed every second week during the winter season. The results showed an increase in very hard snow layers, with harder snow in early winter and more moist snow during spring. There was a striking increase in the number of observations with very hard snow at ground level over time. More than twice as many occasions with hard snow at ground level were observed between 1993 and 2009 compared to previous years, which may have a significant effect on plants and animals. The changes in snow characteristics are most likely a result of the increasing temperatures during the start and the end of the snow season.     

上海世博园后滩湿地底栖动物群落特征与水质评价

2009年9月-2011年1月对上海世博园后滩湿地底栖动物群落进行了调查.结果发现,在后滩湿地共采集到53个物种,隶属4门,8纲.节肢动物门物种数最多为32种,占60.4％.底栖动物密度为(256.7 ±37.9) ind·m-2,生物量为(15.2±3.5) g·m-2.聚类分析表明,后滩湿地存在两类底栖动物群落:纹沼螺群落(未受投螺影响的群落,群落Ⅰ)和铜锈环棱螺群落(受投螺影响的群落,群落Ⅱ).双因素方差分析表明,群落Ⅱ的生物量显著高于群落Ⅰ,密度、多样性指数在群落类型间均无显著差异.对未受投螺影响水域的底栖动物而言,前后期群落优势类群均为软体动物,优势种为纹沼螺,但后期软体动物优势度(重要值)较前期下降28.6％,节肢动物优势度急剧增加260.0％,仅低于软体动物;后期群落的密度、物种数(S)、香农-威纳多样性指数(H’)、Margalef丰富度指数(R)及Pielou均匀度指数(J)较前期均有不同程度的增加,生物量及Simpson优势度指数(λ)前期高于后期,但除J外其它指标在两者间均无显著差异;Jaccard指数指示前后期群落极不相似.5种生物指数中,Carlander生物量指数、Hilsenhoff生物指数(BI)、H’与营养状态指数的水质评价结果最为接近,4个指标显示后滩湿地水质处于轻-中污染水平或中-富营养状态.     

庵里水库湿地生态健康的生物学评价

近三、四十年来,庵里水库湿地受人类活动影响,健康状况退化严重,危及流域内社会经济的协调发展。通过背景资料收集、野外采样、实验室鉴定与分析,主要利用生物学指标数据的95th百分位标准化指标数据,用简单加和法计算综合指数,根据流域内生态健康等级评价庵里水库湿地生态健康状况。结果表明:(1)庵里水库湿地生态健康状况一般;(2)不同种类的底栖大型无脊椎动物对环境的适应能力、耐受力和敏感程度不同,底栖大型无脊椎动物的结构、种类、数量能够客观地反映栖息地健康;(3)利用样点数据百分位进行指数标准化和生态健康级别划分,能够体现评价标准的区域性特征;(4)限于条件,底栖大型无脊椎动物分类鉴定粗略,进一步降低底栖动物的分类单元是提高生态健康评价准确性的重要措施之一。研究结果可为庵里水库的生态研究、综合管理提供科学依据。     

基于底栖动物完整性指数的河口健康评价

建立底栖动物完整性（B-IBI）评价指标体系和评价标准评价长江口及毗邻海域健康.根据2005年7月长江口及毗邻海域41个站位的底栖动物数据（参照点13个,干扰点28个）,通过对14个生物参数的分布范围、判别能力和相关关系分析,筛选出了多样性指数、种类数、总栖息密度、总生物量、甲壳类的密度百分比和棘皮动物的密度百分比等6个生物参数构成B-IBI指标体系.采用比值法统一参数量纲,直接累加得到B-IBI指数值.根据参照点B-IBI值的50%分位数值确定健康等级标准,建立了评价长江口及毗邻海域健康的B-IBI标准：＞2.48为健康,1.86～2.48为亚健康,1.24～1.86为一般,0.62～1.24为差,＜0.62为极差.评价结果表明,长江口及毗邻海域41个站位中,7个为健康,2个为亚健康,8个为一般,8个为较差,16个为极差.用2006年6月底栖动物数据进行评价结果验证,准确率为89%.     

基于干扰梯度的钦江流域底栖动物完整性指数候选参数筛选

候选参数的科学筛选是构建底栖动物完整性指数的关键步骤.在缺乏足够参照样点的情况下,生物参数与环境梯度的响应关系是重要依据.以广西钦江流域冬季枯水期22个样点的环境和底栖动物数据为例,应用主成分分析法提取研究流域的环境梯度,进而采用多重回归分析确定对环境干扰敏感且预测性强的构成参数.相关性分析表明,38个候选参数中有12个参数与其他参数间的信息冗余性很高(|r|>0.80,P<0.05);余下的26个生物参数与环境梯度主成分Ⅰ(PCⅠ)、主成分Ⅱ(PCⅡ)和栖境质量参数的多重回归分析表明,有13个参数能和环境胁迫较好地响应(P<0.05).参考各指数的代表性和实用性,提出了适于构建该区域底栖动物完整性指数的8个生物参数:科级丰度、蜉蝣目丰度、鞘翅目丰度,EPT多度、优势种百分比,捕食者百分比,属级香农多样性指数和BI指数.本研究为类似情况下底栖动物完整性指数的构建提供了一个较好的解决途径.