Seabirds as Indicators of Changes in Marine Ecosystems: Ecological Monitoring on Machias Seal Island

Changes in marine ecosystems can be manifested in many different ways, on different temporal and spatial scales. Seabirds are top consumers in marine foodwebs and offer opportunities to detect and assess the biological effects of changes in physical parameters (sea-surface temperature [SST], salinity, depth of thermocline etc.) of the marine ecosystem. We compare six-eight years' of data on the biology (diet, and breeding success) of four species of seabird (arctic tern Sterna paradisaeaand common tern S. hirundo, which feed at the sea surface; and Atlantic puffin Fratercula arctica and razorbill Alca torda, which dive 30–60 m for their prey) breeding on Machias Seal Island (MSI) in the Bay of Fundy with both our own meteorological and oceanographic measurements, and with standard measurements from conventional sources. These are compared with fisheries data on changes in the main prey of all the seabirds concerned (juvenile or 0-group herring Clupea harengus) which are the most direct link between the seabirds and the physical properties of the marine system. We explore relationships between seabird productivity and diet, and other aspects of both herring biology (larval surveys, and fat content) and oceanography (SST data from the island, and remotely sensed data from the entrance to the Bay of Fundy). Timing of laying by puffins followed SST variation at neither the local (MSI) nor regional scales, but at the scale of the North Atlantic, following the trend of populations breeding off northern Norway. The proportion of herring in the diet of terns over 6 years varied inversely with herring larval abundance the previous fall; this relationship was not statistically significant in the puffin and razorbill. A major new finding is the considerable (50%) inter-annual variation in the energy density (fat content) of juvenile herring that are the main seabird prey; breeding success of both species of tern varied in parallel with the energy density of juvenile herring in the diet until the last two years of the study, when sandlance (Ammodytes sp.) and euphausid shrimp predominated in the diet. Our long-term research approach combines traditional population monitoring (of numbers of breeding birds) with demographic, behavioural and environmental monitoring, to provide new understanding of the marine ecosystem as well as of seabirds.     

CHANGES IN ACID PRECIPITATION-RELATED WATER CHEMISTRY OF LAKES FROM SOUTHWESTERN NEW BRUNSWICK, CANADA, 1986–2001

Between 1986 and 2001, thirty-nine lakes in southwestern New Brunswick in Atlantic Canada were surveyed for acid precipitation-related water quality changes. Most of the study lakes are located on granite bedrock and represent the most acid sensitive lakes in the province. Between 1987 and 1992, hydrogen ion deposition to the lake study area averaged 452 eq ha^–1 yr^–1, compared to 338 eq ha^–1 yr^–1 between 1993 and 2000, a 25% reduction. The lake chemistry data were evaluated by dividing the lakes into four clusters for each survey year based on their acid neutralizing capacity. Twenty percent of the lakes (cluster IV) had an average ANC of 40 eq L^–1or greater and maintained an average pH of greater than 6 over the duration of the study period. A pH of 6 or greater is considered a healthy benchmark for maintaining biodiversity. The remaining 31 lakes (clusters I to III) had an average ANC of less than 40 eq L^–1and maintained an average pH of less than 6. Other lake chemistry changes included a general decline in lake sulphate and colour over the duration of the survey period, followed by more recent improvements in calcium ion, pH and ANC, and notably higher but declining aluminum levels in lower ANC and pH lakes. Nitrate accounted for 37% of the acid deposition to the study area, however it was not detectable in the lakes. Although acid deposition has declined and these lakes are beginning to show signs of acid recovery, 80% of the study lakes remain acid sensitive having little buffering capacity with low calcium, pH and ANC.     

Concurrent Exposure Assessments of Atrazine and Metolachlor in the Mainstem, Major Tributaries and Small Streams of the Chesapeake Bay Watershed: Indicators of Ecological Risk

The goals of this study were to: (1) measure atrazine and metolachlor concentrations during both high and low use periods in the Chesapeake Bay's mainstem/major tributaries, smaller tributaries and representative small agricultural streams during 1995 and 1996; (2) compare these exposure data with toxicity benchmarks for each herbicide to predict ecological risk and (3) use in-stream fish community data collected in the streams to provide supportive data for ecological risk characterization. Spatially, atrazine (<0.10–98 g/L) and metolachlor (<0.10–68 g/L) concentrations were highest in the streams, followed by the small tributaries (<0.10–11 g/L atrazine; <0.10–8.6 g/L metolachlor) with the lowest concentration in the mainstem Bay/larger tributaries (<0.10–0.22 g/L atrazine; <0.10–0.24 g/L metolachlor). Temporally, concentrations of both herbicides were greatest in all three types of habitats in the late spring and early summer. Concentrations of atrazine and metolachlor were very low or non-detectable in all habitats sampled from early August to mid-April. Toxicity benchmarks of 20 g/L for atrazine based on an ecological No Observed Effect Concentration (NOEC) for microcosm/mesocosm studies and an acute 10th percentile of 53 g/L for metolachlor (protection of ninety % of the species) based on laboratory toxicity data were selected to assess annual and seasonal ecological risk. Both of these toxicity benchmarks were conservative estimates of ecological risk designed to protect the trophic group (plants) most sensitive to these herbicides. Based on a comparison of these toxicity benchmarks with two years of exposure data, the ecological risk from both atrazine and metolachlor exposure in the mainstem Chesapeake Bay/large tributaries, small tributaries and representative agriculturally dominated streams was generally judged to be low. During one 72-h stream rain event in 1995, the atrazine toxicity benchmark (20 g/L) was exceeded during part of the event. However, long-term permanent ecological effects are not expected based on the documented recovery potential of the most sensitive trophic group (plant communities) to the concentrations of atrazine reported and the transient nature of the atrazine pulses. Fish communities at the stream sites receiving the highest concentrations of both herbicides were judged to be healthy based on an Index of Biotic Integrity (IBI) developed for Maryland's coastal plain.     

An approach for identifying the causes of benthic degradation in Chesapeake Bay

We developed an index to differentiate between low dissolved oxygen effects and sediment contamination effects for sites classified as degraded by the Chesapeake Bay Benthic Index of Biotic Integrity (B-IBI), using discriminant analysis. We tested 126 metrics for differences between sites with low dissolved oxygen and sites with contaminated sediments. A total of 16 benthic community metrics met the variable selection criteria and were used to develop a discriminant function that classified degraded sites into one of two stress groups. The resulting discriminant function correctly classified 77% of the low dissolved oxygen sites and 80% of the contaminated sites in the validation data.     

珠江口湾区靠港船舶转用低硫油的成本与环境效益

船舶对区域大气污染的贡献备受关注.为控制船舶大气污染物排放,推进我国靠港船舶转用低硫油,以珠江口湾区为案例区,在利用统计分析法确定船舶辅机功率、靠港时间等关键参数的基础上,采用燃料动力法估算靠港船舶转用低硫油的经济成本与环境效益.结果表明:①珠江口湾区靠港船舶燃油消耗量大,2015年珠江口湾区船舶在靠港期间的总耗油量达31.35×104 t.②珠江口湾区靠港船舶转用低硫油的环境效益显著.2015年珠江口湾区大于3 000 DWT（载重吨）的靠港船舶转用w（S）（硫含量）为0.5%的燃油时,PM₁₀、PM_2.5、NO_x、SO_x排放量分别减少792.8、729.1、566.3、6 979.9 t;转用w（S）为0.1%的燃油时,PM₁₀、PM_2.5、NO_x、SO_x排放量分别减少835.3、792.8、1769.7、8 155.0 t.③靠港船舶转用低硫油会增加船东的成本.2015年珠江口湾区大于3 000 DWT靠港船舶都转用w（S）为0.1%的燃料油,因燃油价格差导致的额外成本为2.29×108元.在目前航运经济不景气的背景下,可通过财政补贴方式鼓励船东转用低硫油.参照深圳对靠港船舶转用低硫油的补贴政策,2015年大于3 000 DWT靠港船舶转用w（S）为0.5%的燃油时需补贴资金1.71×108元,转用w（S）为0.1%的燃油时需补贴资金2.29×108元.研究显示,靠港船舶转用低硫油能显著降低大气污染物排放,但转用低硫油需要船东承担一定的经济成本,政府应通过补贴等激励方式,逐步推进靠港船舶转用低硫油.      

海南岛洋浦湾沉积物重金属和营养元素的污染评价与来源分析

本研究对洋浦湾沉积物中重金属和营养元素的含量分布、累积趋势、富集状况、来源及其潜在生态风险进行了分析。洋浦湾表层沉积物中Cu、Zn、Pb、Cr、As、Cd、Hg、TN、TP和TOC的含量分别为11.9±6.8、48.8±27.3、22.6±6.2、33.7±23.3、5.17±2.20、0.035±0.022、0.055±0.034、549.80±392.80、300.72±175.79 μg/g和0.62±0.62%。Cr、As、Hg和TP四种元素的平均含量在外湾高于内湾。大多数元素含量在洋浦湾外湾、北岸和东南岸春江口较高,但在内湾西南岸存在重或严重富集。主成分分析表明表层沉积物中TOC、TP和Hg含量受人为因素的影响较为显著。洋浦湾现代沉积速率约为0.58~1.18 cm/a。TN、TP、Hg、TOC和Cu等元素约从上世纪50年代或80年代开始在沉积物中出现富集趋势,主要与新中国的成立和改革开放政策实施后,研究区陆域生产力的大发展引起的向海排污的增加有关。根据估算,洋浦湾七种重金属的沉积通量约为1 100 mg/（m²·a）,TOC、TN和TP的沉积通量约为130 mg/（m²·a）。洋浦湾沉积物质量整体较好,重金属的生态风险较低,但需警惕并防控As、TOC和Hg等元素的污染,避免它们在沉积物中的持续累积以及可能引起的负面生态效应。     

厦门湾海洋塑料垃圾对中华白海豚的摄食风险评价

以厦门湾为研究区域,借鉴相对风险模型评价海洋塑料垃圾对中华白海豚可能产生的摄食风险.以4类不同尺寸的海洋塑料垃圾作为风险源、以中华白海豚作为风险受体,利用GIS中的空间分析工具,评价和量化厦门湾摄食性塑料垃圾对该区域中华白海豚的风险及其时空分布.识别高风险的塑料垃圾类型、高风险区域和高风险季节.结果表明：不同尺寸的海洋塑料垃圾对中华白海豚构成的潜在生态风险不同,其中小型和中型垃圾的风险较高.塑料垃圾对中华白海豚的生态风险呈现出明显的时间和空间差异,夏季和冬季是风险高值相对集中的季节,夏季的高风险主要是因为受到台风和旅游业等影响造成海洋垃圾源强较高,冬季的高风险则与中华白海豚在此季节最为活跃有关;高风险区域主要分布于塑料垃圾和中华白海豚密度分布重叠较高的位置,夏季的高风险区域分布于大嶝以及九龙江口的鸡屿附近海域,冬季的高风险区域分布于西海域以南水域和九龙江口的鸡屿附近水域.研究成果可为厦门湾中华白海豚的保护管理提供决策依据.     

辽东湾毒害微藻潜在风险分布及环境关联

以18S rDNA V4区作为目标基因,利用自行设计的真核浮游植物鉴定引物V4（F/R）,结合高通量测序技术,对辽东湾2014年四季海水中真核藻类多样性进行了检测.结果发现了辽东湾毒害藻类共29种,曾引发赤潮或褐潮的种类有19种,可导致鱼类大规模死亡的有8种,主要为甲藻门.有18种疑似为辽东湾新记录种,其中9种在中国海域未见报道;发现麻痹性贝毒（PSP）产毒藻8种,腹泻性贝毒（DSP）产毒藻2种,产虾夷扇贝毒素（YTX）产毒藻3种,神经性贝毒（NSP）产毒藻2种,溶血毒素（hemolysin）产毒藻13种,另外还有1种褐潮产毒藻（EPS）.辽东湾检出的毒害藻类中有8种自养型、1种异养型、20种混合营养型藻类.麻痹性贝毒、虾夷扇贝毒素、溶血毒素在夏季风险较高,神经性贝毒在秋季风险较高,腹泻性贝毒在春、夏季风险均较高,辽东湾东西两岸是贝毒风险高发区.辽东湾春季水温对YTX、NSP产毒藻影响显著负相关;夏季COD、Oil、DIN、Pb、Cd对各产毒藻类影响显著正相关;秋季各环境因子对各产毒藻类影响不显著;冬季Zn、As、Oil、DIN对各产毒藻类影响显著正相关,水温对各产毒藻类影响显著负相关,各产毒藻类与环境因子关联性有待于进一步研究.     

初夏渤海湾营养盐结构特征及其限制状况分析

根据2016年初夏渤海湾营养盐、叶绿素a和相关水文参数等数据,利用浮游植物吸收营养盐最低阈值和化学计量关系作为判断依据对渤海湾营养盐限制状况进行分析.结果表明：受陆地径流和渤海中部冷水输入的影响,初夏渤海湾在近岸、中部和湾口呈现三个明显的温盐特征海区.溶解无机氮（DIN）和活性硅酸盐（SiO₃^2--Si）受陆源输入影响,呈现近岸高湾口低的特征;DIN平均浓度为（7.67±6.48）μmol/L,SiO₃^2--Si平均浓度为（5.44±3.01）μmol/L,在湾口表层,DIN含量较低仅为（2.21±2.94）μmol/L,其中50%站点含量低于阈值（1μmol/L）,58.3%的站点存在DIN限制.而活性磷酸盐（PO₄^3--P）受陆源输入和浮游植物吸收储存作用等因素影响,呈现西部和曹妃甸外近海高中部较低的分布特征,平均浓度为（0.07±0.07）μmol/L,近岸受陆源氮磷输入总量差异影响,表层存在磷潜在限制比例达100%,而中部表层受浮游植物消耗吸收的影响,PO₄^3--P含量较低,仅为（0.02±0.02）μmol/L （未检出设为0）,其中近74.3%的水样含量低于阈值（0.03μmol/L）,磷限制状况严重.随着渤海湾氮磷营养盐陆源输入总量差距不断扩大,磷限制状况必将会进一步发展.     

Coastal Zone Problems and Environmental Strategies to be Implemented at Edremit Bay, Turkey

This case study examines the coastal zone problems focusing on the existing conflicts between tourism and commercial activities on the coasts of Edremit Bay, Turkey, and attempts to suggest solutions to these problems. Edremit Bay is a characteristic example of such a conflict in collective use of natural resources. The study area, with its 100-km-long sandy beach, naturally attracts different coastal user groups with different beneficial expectations: in terms of rest and recreation for one group and commercial gain offered in a variety of ways for another group. Significant coastal zone problems exist in the study area. Deterioration of shoreline due to tourism activities and illegal constructions, damage to the coastal ecosystem due to domestic/industrial wastewater discharges and some agricultural activities, and disordered urbanization are only a few of the many problems. The data presented here were partly derived from field study and partly collected from local state or private organizations. In this study, it is emphasized that there is a need for viable economic and environmental strategies to be designated in Edremit Bay, Turkey, in order to provide sustainable resource use. For this purpose, an integrated project together with a relevant planning chart including subprojects is also suggested. The success of a local environmental protection management project depends on active participation of all stakeholders including governmental organizations and nongovernmental organizations.