Ecological Integrity Assessment of Lakes Using Fish Communities: An Example from Traunsee Exposed to Intensive Fishing and to Effluents from the Soda Industry

In order to analyse potential influences of soda industryeffluents on the ecological integrity of Traunsee (TS) weinvestigated the fish community of the lake in comparison witha reference lake (Hallstättersee HS) and used a reconstructionfrom the (older) literature concerning the original speciescomposition of Traunsee. Published `Index of Biotic Integrity(IBI)' metrics were considered to be of limited value due tothe relatively low species number in the oligotrophic, Alpinelake. Therefore we included, in addition to speciescomposition, studies on egg distribution, larval fishdensities, life-history parameters (i.e. growth, maturity,fecundity, age and size composition), stress levels and heavymetal content of the dominant whitefish (Coregonuslavaretus), as well as overall fish density and biomass (usinghydroacoustics) to assess the ecological status of the fishcommunity. Two of the original 18 species have disappearedfrom the lake, presumably in connection with the introductionof non-native eel (Anguilla anguilla) and theconstruction of a power plant in the outflow. Silt from grindedlimestone together with highly alkaline pore waters is emittedvia industrial wastewater from Sodaworks and covers part of thelake bottom. We observed that eggs of whitefish were spawnedmainly in the main inflowing river and close to the shore, thusavoiding the silty areas and making the anticipated damage tothe reproductive potential of whitefish neglectable. This wascorroborated by larval surveys done weekly on both lakes fromJanuary to May, which showed halve the density of whitefishlarvae in TS compared to HS. Estimates of potentially spawningfish from hydroacoustic surveys resulted in a ratio of 1(TS) :3 (HS). Analysis of whitefish revealed that they are growingfaster in TS and have higher fecundity leading to somecompensation of lower abundance. High levels of fishing in TSmight have led to this pattern and to depressed yields asindicated by the age composition. Level of oxidative stress andheavy metal content were not discernible from the referencelake. Therefore we concluded that negative impacts on theecological status of the fish community resulted from fisheriesmismanagement and a power plant situated in the outflow of thelake, considered to have damaged spawning places for somespecies, but not from soda industry effluents.     

Trends in Fish Community Structure,Biomass, and Production in Three Algoma,Ontario, Lakes

Long-term (i.e. >10 years) whole community fish dataincluding catch-per-unit-effort, abundance, biomass, andproduction from three lakes were used: 1) to examine variabilityin fish population and community measures among years using wholelake assessments of fish populations derived from mark recaptureexperiments, 2) to assess implications arising from monitoringindividual species vs. the whole fish community, and 3) toascertain whether, in fisheries assessments (science) a commonlyused surrogate measure, [catch-per-unit-effort (CPUE)] reflectedannual changes in the fish assemblage, and thus may be a goodestimator of abundance. High, long-term variability was evident in the abundance andbiomass of a fish species in our lakes, yet the communityremained relatively stable in terms of its biomass andproduction. Changes in total fish community biomass appear drivenby large species, which, relative to small fish species, remainstable among years. Among years, species richness remainedstable; however, fish species changed in the community. AnnualCPUE was found to be a suitable surrogate for abundance (N) ofsmall fishes; CPUE x mean weight of the catch (bCPUE) was asuitable surrogate for biomass (B) of large fishes. Prior toconcluding that a change in a fish population has occurred as aresult of a stressor, care must be taken to critically examinethe level of population assessment in order to avoid acceptingpotentially invalid conclusions.     

Explaining the resource curse, with special reference to mineral-exporting countries

Recent studies have found an inverse correlation between economic growth and natural resource abundance among developing countries. There appears to be no obvious explanation for this finding, such as an important growth variable that is common in resource-poor countries and deficient in resource-abundant countries. The resource curse hypothesis is closely related to the problem of sustainability for resource-exporting countries since periods of high growth are frequently followed by long periods of stagnation. Models are examined showing how increases in export income can affect relative prices in the trade and nontrade sectors and how the changes in relative prices affect investment and growth. It is the thesis of this article that there is nothing inherent in resource-abundance that condemns countries to either low growth or nonsustainability.     

中国湖泊富营养化的现状分析

城市废水的污染及其它活动的影响使湖泊富营养化。本文分析了我国湖泊富营养化的现状、危害，提出了防治对策。     

锑的成矿构造地球化学特性研究

概括了锑元素在地球及地壳各圈层中的丰度及分配特性 ,总结了锑的一般矿物地球化学特征及迁移富集形式 ,最后对锑元素成矿构造地球化学特性进行了探讨。     

Linear features and butterflies: the importance of green lanes

Green lanes are unmetalled tracks between fields of variable width, which may be sunk below or raised above field level, and bounded on both sides by ‘grass’ banks, hedgerows or dry-stone walls. In the UK they have no unique planning status and have been overlooked as discrete landscape elements. Green lanes were surveyed for butterflies in 1997 on lowland arable farmland on the Trafford/north Cheshire border (Warburton) and on upland grassland in the Yorkshire Dales (Ribble Valley). At the lowland site the green lanes were bounded by vegetation and were compared with grass banks and single hedgerow field boundaries; at the upland farm, the green lanes were bounded by dry-stone walls and were compared with grass banks and single dry-stone walls. Data from earlier work on a largely arable farm (Manydown) in Hampshire in 1987 and 1988 were re-analysed to make comparisons between a green lane, the rides and glades of two coppiced woodlands, and the grass banks and single hedgerows surrounding arable fields. Green lanes, whether bounded by vegetation or stone were superior to other common farmland biotopes with the exception of woodland, in terms of both butterfly abundance and species richness.Multiple regression of the Warburton data indicated the importance of green lanes, adjacent habitat type, and nectar sources for species richness and butterfly abundance. The interior of green lanes had lower windspeeds, and more bramble nectar sources than hedgerows or grass banks. By their nature they occupy a larger area of uncropped land, and are subject to a reduced disturbance regime and reduced inputs of agrochemicals and fertilisers. Their value as biodiversity reservoirs in intensively managed land is likely to be high.     

Population dynamics and the physical and financial impacts to cereal crops of the Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus on the Agulhas Plain, Western Cape, South Africa

Cereal crop farmers in the Western Cape province of South Africa regard the Egyptian Goose as a serious pest. The Agulhas Plain, in particular, attracts thousands of geese annually primarily because of the abundance and availability of nutritious crops such as wheat Triticum spp. and barley Hordeum spp. for food and permanent water bodies for roosting, moulting and breeding. Therefore, this paper investigates the population dynamics and physical and financial impacts to cereal crops of the Egyptian Goose on the Agulhas Plain, Western Cape. Egyptian Geese inflict damage during three main periods, viz. soon after sowing (surface seeds); young, developing plants (growing plants); and cut plants stacked in windrows (long, linear piles) to dry. The largest numbers of geese were recorded during June and July when they foraged on growing plants less than 25 cm tall. Overall, the mean yield loss was 65.6% in 1997 and 63.5% in 1998. Fields suffering greatest yield loss in 1997 and 1998 were generally those within 600 m of the roosting sites and had about 300 geese grazing on them on areas of around 2 ha in size for about 2 months. By August, geese moved from croplands on to pastures. During October and November, geese once again fed primarily on barley seeds in harvested crops stacked in windrows. Damage by geese to farmers was estimated to be >2.5 and 7% of annual revenue received from barley and wheat farming, in 1997 and 1998, respectively. There are many variables that need to be considered when attempting to quantify and explain damage to cereal crops by Egyptian Geese.     

红树林区硅藻丰度和生物量构成及与底栖动物的关系

对深圳福田红树林湿地中百亩区、上沙、下沙、沙嘴、观鸟亭等5个亚区中的硅藻种类、丰度和生物量等进行了研究。结果显示，5区中硅藻门藻类在种类及丰度组成上均为优势类群。硅藻总生物量以观鸟亭最高，达25．076mg/L,下沙8．446mg／L，百亩区4．488mg／L，沙嘴2．111mg／L，上沙仅为0．742mg／L。最高与最低硅藻总生物量相关可达38倍。生物量份布趋势和其丰度分布相似，相关系数为0．998，但每一种硅藻生物量之间存在较大差异。硅藻生物量及丰度与底栖动物总密度分布之间呈负相关性。     

The value of agricultural wetlands as invertebrate resources for wintering shorebirds

Agricultural landscapes have received little recognition for the food resources they provide to wintering waterbirds. In the Willamette Valley of Oregon, modest yet significant populations of wintering shorebirds (Charadriiformes) regularly use hundreds of dispersed wetlands on agricultural lands. Benthic invertebrates are a critical resource for the survival of overwintering shorebirds, yet the abundance of invertebrate resources in agricultural wetlands such as these has not been quantified. To evaluate the importance of agricultural wetlands to a population of wintering shorebirds, the density, biomass, and general community composition of invertebrates available to birds were quantified at a sample of Willamette Valley sites during a wet (1999–2000) and a dry winter (2000–2001). Invertebrate densities ranged among wetlands from 173 to 1925 (mean ± S.E.: 936 ± 106) individuals/m² in the wet winter, and from 214 to 3484 (1028 ± 155) individuals/m² in the dry winter. Total invertebrate estimated biomass among wetlands ranged from 35 to 652 (mean ± S.E.: 364 ± 35) mg/m² in the wet winter, and from 85 to 1405 (437 ± 62) mg/m² in the dry winter. These estimates for food abundance were comparable to that observed in some other important freshwater wintering regions in North America.     

青藏高原不同海拔梯度厌氧氨氧化细菌丰度及其生物多样性空间分布

厌氧氨氧化作为新型微生物氮循环过程,已经成为国内外研究热点.目前对厌氧氨氧化细菌的研究主要集中在海洋生态系统中,而在陆地生态系统外源氮污染物较少的地区是否存在厌氧氨氧化过程且其在氮循环中发挥的作用,还很少有相关报道.本研究应用分子生物学技术研究了氮污染负荷较低的青藏高原地区不同海拔湿地和旱地土壤样品中厌氧氨氧化细菌的丰度及其生物多样性.结果表明,在青藏高原地区,普遍存在厌氧氨氧化细菌.使用厌氧氨氧化细菌特异性引物HSBeta396f/HSBeta742r进行定量发现,厌氧氨氧化细菌丰度随着海拔的升高而降低.垂向尺度上,海拔较低地区表层样品厌氧氨氧化细菌丰度高于底层样品,海拔较高地区则相反.通过构建厌氧氨氧化细菌系统发育分析发现,青藏高原地区厌氧氨氧化细菌的生物多样性较高,且多数可能属于新型厌氧氨氧化细菌.该区域湿地沉积物样品厌氧氨氧化细菌生物多样性明显低于旱地土壤样品.湿地沉积物样品厌氧氨氧化细菌生物多样性与海拔无明显关系,但旱地土壤样品厌氧氨氧化细菌生物多样性随着海拔的增高有上升趋势.