Evaluation of Storage and Filtration Protocols for Alpine/Subalpine Lake Water Quality Samples

Many government agencies and other organizations sample natural alpine and subalpine surface waters using varying protocols for sample storage and filtration. Simplification of protocols would be beneficial if it could be shown that sample quality is unaffected. In this study, samples collected from low ionic strength waters in alpine and subalpine lake inlets and outlets in the western United States were used to evaluate (1) effects of refrigerated storage time on the chemistry of unfiltered samples, and (2) differences in sample filtration protocols. No analytes exhibited significant changes when stored less than 48 h. Six analytes (pH, sodium, ammonium, potassium, chloride, sulfate) exhibited statistically significant (but small) changes when storage time exceeded 48 h. Two analytes (calcium, nitrate) were significantly higher when samples were field filtered than when filtered in the laboratory, but the differences were also small. For waters similar to those in this test, unfiltered refrigerated samples may be stored up to 48 h without compromising sample quality. The small differences between field and lab filtration do not justify the expense, training, and contamination risk of field filtration.     

锡林郭勒草原荒漠化状况及原因分析

锡林郭勒草原的生态状况对我国北方大区域生态环境具有重要影响.野外调查与遥感数据分析表明,锡林郭勒草原退化现象十分严重,退化草原面积近64%,导致草地质量严重下降.由于自然条件与人为利用程度的差别,在不同的地理区域,草原退化程度也存在显著差异.研究表明,受植物生长发育节律的影响,在生长季初期(5月前半个月),植物群落的生产能力较低,是年内草原容易发生退化现象的"临界期",再加上牧草供应量存在年际波动而载畜量缺乏及时调整、超载过牧等都是造成草原退化的原因.