Effects of increased elevation and macro- and micronutrient additions onSpartina alterniflora transplant success in salt-marsh dieback areas in Louisiana

Spartina alterniflora was transplanted into dieback areas of a salt marsh in southeast Louisiana at two elevations (ambient and +30 cm) with and without macro- (N, P, and K) and micronutrient (Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn) additions to determine if transplant success is dependent on increasing elevation or nutrients.Spartina alterniflora transplanted into elevated plots had more than twice the above- and belowground biomass as compared to nonelevated plots after three months of growth. Additionally, there was significantly more vegetative reproduction (greater culm density and number of newly produced culms) in elevated plots as compared to plots at ambient elevation. Macronutrient additions increased culm densities only in elevated plots.Spartina alterniflora transplanted into nonelevated plots had lower survival rates even when transplants received nutrient additions. These results suggest thatS. alterniflora may be transplanted successfully into degraded salt-marsh areas if elevation is increased. The addition of nutrients without a concomitant increase in elevation is not sufficient for transplant success.     

互花米草入侵对长江河口湿地CH4排放的影响

为了探讨互花米草入侵对长江河口湿地CH₄排放的影响以及入侵至不同潮位对CH₄排放影响程度的差异及其可能机制,采用邻近互花米草与土著植物群落相配对的试验设计,在长江口东滩湿地的高潮滩和低潮滩各设置1条样线.结果表明,与土著植物相比,互花米草入侵显著增加了长江河口湿地的植物生物量,显著增加了土壤含水量、土壤有机碳含量、总氮含量、微生物碳和氮含量.高潮滩互花米草群落年均CH₄排放强度为（0.68±0.08）mg/（m²·h）,显著高于芦苇群落（0.21±0.01）mg/（m²·h）,低潮滩互花米草和海三棱藨草群落年均CH₄排放速率分别为（8.31±0.50）和（3.93±0.18）mg/（m²·h）,前者显著高于后者.此外,高潮滩互花米草与芦苇群落之间年均CH₄排放强度的差异为（0.47±0.08）mg/（m²·h）,显著低于低潮滩互花米草与海三棱藨草群落之间年均CH₄排放强度的差异（4.37±0.48）mg/（m²·h）.上述结果表明,互花米草入侵通过改善CH₄产生所需底物的质和量,增加土壤含水量和微生物的量,从而显著增加了长江河口湿地CH₄排放量.互花米草入侵至低潮滩增加的CH₄排放量是互花米草入侵至高潮滩的10倍左右,表明互花米草入侵至长江河口湿地对CH₄排放的影响程度可能会有很强的空间异质性,互花米草入侵至更厌氧的土壤环境可能会对CH₄排放的影响程度更大.本研究可为准确估算互花米草入侵对中国海岸带湿地CH₄排放的影响程度,科学管理和合理利用海岸带湿地资源以及应对全球气候变化提供理论依据和科技支撑.     

Role of Crab Herbivory in Die-Off of New England Salt Marshes

Abstract:  Die-offs of cordgrass are pervasive throughout western Atlantic salt marshes, yet understanding of the mechanisms precipitating these events is limited. We tested whether herbivory by the native crab , Sesarma reticulatum , is generating die-offs of cordgrass that are currently occurring on Cape Cod, Massachusetts (U.S.A.), by manipulating crab access to cordgrass transplanted into die-off areas and healthy vegetation. We surveyed 12 Cape Cod marshes to investigate whether the extent of cordgrass die-off on creek banks, where die-offs are concentrated, was related to local Sesarma grazing intensity and crab density. We then used archived aerial images to examine whether creek bank die-off areas have expanded over the past 2 decades and tested the hypothesis that release from predation, leading to elevated Sesarma densities, is triggering cordgrass die-offs by tethering crabs where die-offs are pervasive and where die-offs have not yet been reported. Intensity of crab grazing on transplanted cordgrass was an order of magnitude higher in die-off areas than in adjacent vegetation. Surveys revealed that Sesarma herbivory has denuded nearly half the creek banks in Cape Cod marshes, and differences in crab-grazing intensity among marshes explained >80% of variation in the extent of the die-offs. Moreover, the rate of die-off expansion and area of marsh affected have more than doubled since 2000. Crab-tethering experiments suggest that release from predation has triggered elevated crab densities that are driving these die-offs, indicating that disruption of predator–prey interactions may be generating the collapse of marsh ecosystems previously thought to be exclusively under bottom-up control .     

温州沿海互花米草变迁及其与滩涂开发响应

利用TM数据比较了1993年、2000年和2003年温州沿海互花米草的面积变化,以灵昆岛为例,研究了互花米草引种、繁殖和扩散的特征,并且利用样地和样线对比互花米草与滩涂发育、围垦造陆、海水池塘养殖的相互响应关系.结果显示,温州滩涂互花米草1993～2003年间总面积增加231.99 hm2;互花米草在温州没有形成成熟种子,自然繁殖以根茎为主;在灵昆岛淤长型滩涂上,1993～2003期间互花米草与围垦海堤和海水养殖池塘呈现正响应关系,滩涂淤长速率远大于互花米草,为后者在潮间带中下部扩散提供条件.互花米草对滩涂潮上带的促淤作用明显,因而有利于海水池塘养殖规模扩大,也有利于围海造陆工程.     

盐城湿地大米草-芦苇群落对生活污水净化效果的实验研究

大米草、芦苇群落对COD、N、P和NH4-N等污染物有着明显的净化作用,这对潮间带水质稳定起着积极的作用.研究发现在同一淹水深度下,随着群落盖度的增加,芦苇与大米草对有机物、N,P的净化能力也随之增强;而随着淹水深度的增加,大米草对COD的去除率在淹水深度为30 cm时效果最佳;而芦苇群落对COD去除率随淹水深度的增加呈缓慢下降的趋势.光照能够促进湿地植物群落对污染物的净化,但受植物群落垂直结构与淹水深度的影响很大.在群落盖度大于60%、淹水深度为30 cm与当前水质条件下,大米草、芦苇二者联合净化作用在一个潮周期内对有机物、N、P和NH4-N分别可达33.6、24.9、20.8和27.6%以上.     

牛粪对互花米草混合厌氧消化过程的影响研究

以互花米草和牛粪为原料,采用中温（35℃）批式发酵的方式,考察了添加牛粪对互花米草厌氧消化过程的影响.结果表明,互花米草单独发酵时,单位VS产气量为222.61 mL/g,发酵过程出现酸化现象,pH最低为5.60;添加牛粪改善了厌氧微生物的生存环境,提高了系统的缓冲能力,发酵过程未出现酸化现象,pH经短暂下降后很快恢复到7.2～7.5,累积产气量提高了38.83%,互花米草单位VS产气量为309.05 mL/g.混合发酵对消化液中有机酸产量影响不大,但有机酸高峰提前5d出现.FTIR表明,混合发酵促进了微生物对互花米草中易分解有机物的利用.发酵前、后和混合发酵互花米草的结晶度指数cri分别为0.617 6、　0.620 0和0.615 4.     

持续淹水治理互花米草技术对盐沼土壤的影响

为了研究持续淹水治理互花米草技术对盐沼土壤理化特性的影响,应用化学分析测定方法跟踪监测了崇明东滩治理互花米草示范样地内水淹控制样区的土壤有机质、pH值、氯离子、重碳酸根、钙离子、镁离子和硫酸根离子含量随持续淹水时间的变化.结果表明,随淹水时间的延长,盐沼土壤有机质含量降低,而盐沼土壤pH值、氯离子、重碳酸根、钙离子、镁离子和硫酸根离子含量升高.除了氯离子和重碳酸根外,其他指标在0～15cm和15～30cm土壤层间的含量略有差异,但变化趋势相同.长期淹水造成的厌氧环境对盐沼土壤产生了一定的负面影响,而且持续淹水时间越长,对盐沼土壤产生的负面影响也越大.因此,应用持续淹水技术治理互花米草时,应尽可能减少持续淹水时间,以便在迅速、有效控制互花米草后为受损湿地的修复提供条件.     

Varying Stable Nitrogen Isotope Ratios of Different Coastal Marsh Plants and Their Relationships with Wastewater Nitrogen and Land Use in New England, USA

The stable nitrogen isotope ratios of some biota have been used as indicators of sources of anthropogenic nitrogen. In this study the relationships of the stable nitrogen isotope ratios of marsh plants, Iva frutescens (L.), Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin ex Steud, Spartina patens (Ait.) Muhl, Spartina alterniflora Loisel, Ulva lactuca (L.), and Enteromorpha intestinalis (L.) with wastewater nitrogen and land development in New England are described. Five of the six plant species (all but U. lactuca) showed significant relationships of increasing δ ¹⁵N values with increasing wastewater nitrogen. There was a significant (P < 0.0001) downward shift in the δ ¹⁵N of S. patens (6.0 ± 0.48‰) which is mycorrhizal compared with S. alterniflora (8.5 ± 0.41‰). The downward shift in δ ¹⁵N may be caused by the assimilation of fixed nitrogen in the roots of S. patens. P. australis within sites had wide ranges of δ ¹⁵N values, evidently influenced by the type of shoreline development or buffer at the upland border. In residential areas, the presence of a vegetated buffer (n = 24 locations) significantly (P < 0.001) reduced the δ ¹⁵N (mean = 7.4 ± 0.43‰) of the P. australis compared to stands where there was no buffer (mean = 10.9 ± 1.0‰; n = 15). Among the plant species, I. frutescens located near the upland border showed the most significant (R ² = 0.64; P = 0.006) inverse relationship with the percent agricultural land in the watershed. The δ ¹⁵N of P. australis and I. frustescens is apparently an indicator of local inputs near the upland border, while the δ ¹⁵N of Spartina relates with the integrated, watershed-sea nitrogen inputs.     

Microbially Mediated Redox Cycling at the Oxic–Anoxic Boundary in Sediments: Comparison of Animal and Plants Habitats

Microorganisms are responsible for the bulk of transformations that occur in surficial sediments. They are most active at redox boundaries where they can benefit from access to various oxidants and reductants generated during redox cycling events. To illustrate the dynamics of microbially mediated processes, especially those involving sulfur and metal cycles, processes were compared in habitats either bioturbated by a capitellid worm or inhabited by a salt marsh grass. The presence of macrofauna and macroflora greatly altered the three-dimensional array of redox gradients in sediments, but the type and form of reductants and oxidants provided varied greatly; clastic sedimentary infauna subducted solid phase organic material and iron oxides, whereas plant roots released dissolved organic matter and oxygen. These differences resulted in a bioturbated system that exhibited a rapid sulfur cycle (residence time of minutes), but a slower iron cycle (days), whereas vegetation caused a slow sulfur cycle and rapid iron cycle. Alteration of sediments by higher life forms also greatly affected the composition and relative abundances of sedimentary bacteria, even on short time scales. Although redox cycling at interfaces can be somewhat predictable, variations in response to biological and physical perturbations demonstrated wide differences in the dynamics of redox-mediated processes.     

半月周期的潮汐对滨海湿地土壤理化性质的影响

周期性的潮汐是滨海湿地重要的水文特征,为了探讨潮汐的半月周期(包括小潮期和大潮期)对土壤理化性质的影响及可能的机制,于2009年7月中下旬测定了长江口崇明东滩湿地土壤理化性质在小潮期和大潮期交替周期内的变化规律。结果表明,与小潮期相比,由于频繁的潮水淹没,大潮期0～5 cm土壤含水量的增加量从低潮滩向高潮位依次为:44.8%、18.5%、10.9%和14.3%,5～10 cm含水量的增加量从低潮滩向高潮位依次为:19.2%、9.8%、12.6%和16.2%,10～20 cm则依次为:5.6%、6.1%、2.5%和7.3%。大潮期,从低潮滩向高潮滩增加的盐度依次为0.18、0.13、0.10和0.09 ms·cm^-1,增加的硫酸盐依次为0.32、0.21、0.16、0.13 mg·g^-1。与小潮期相比,大潮期氧化还原电位(Eh)显著降低;土壤容重、pH、可溶性有机碳和可溶性氮在大小潮期间无明显差异。此外,在潮汐的半月周期内,低潮滩土壤比高潮滩有更高淹水频率和更长淹水时间,受潮水的影响更明显,大潮期低潮滩土壤含水量、盐度和硫酸盐的增加幅度大于高潮滩,低潮滩土壤Eh降低幅度则小于高潮滩。半月周期的潮汐可以显著影响滨海湿地的部分土壤理化性质,且不同潮位的土壤性质对潮汐的响应程度不同,进而可能会对湿地植物生长和相关生态过程起到重要的调控作用。