BIOECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF SELECTED CONSERVATION PRACTICES ON SOIL EROSION AND FRESHWATER FISHERIES1

ABSTRACT: Farmers can generate environmental benefits (improved water quality and fisheries and wildlife habitat), but they may not be able to quantify them. Furthermore, farmers may reduce their incomes from managing lands to produce these positive externalities but receive little monetary compensation in return. This study simulated the relationship between agricultural practices, water quality, fish responses to suspended sediment and farm income within two small watersheds, one of a cool water stream and one of a warm water stream. Using the Agricultural Drainage and Pesticide Transport (ADAPT) model, this study related best management practices (BMPs) to calculated instream suspended sediment concentrations by estimating sediment delivery, runoff, base flow, and streambank erosion to quantify the effects of suspended sediment exposure on fish communities. By implementing selected BMPs in each watershed, annual net farm income declined $18,000 to $28,000 (1 to 3 percent) from previous levels. “Lethal” fish events from suspended sediments in the cool water watershed decreased by 60 percent as conservation tillage and riparian buffers increased. Despite reducing suspended sediments by 25 percent, BMPs in the warm water watershed did not reduce the negative response of the fisheries. Differences in responses (physical and biological) between watersheds highlight potential gains in economic efficiency by targeting BMPs or by offering performance based “green payments.”     

Trait‐based prediction of extinction risk of small‐bodied freshwater fishes

Small body size is generally correlated with r‐selected life‐history traits, including early maturation, short‐generation times, and rapid growth rates, that result in high population turnover and a reduced risk of extinction. Unlike other classes of vertebrates, however, small freshwater fishes appear to have an equal or greater risk of extinction than large fishes. We explored whether particular traits explain the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List conservation status of small‐bodied freshwater fishes from 4 temperate river basins: Murray‐Darling, Australia; Danube, Europe; Mississippi‐Missouri, North America; and the Rio Grande, North America. Twenty‐three ecological and life‐history traits were collated for all 171 freshwater fishes of ≤120 mm total length. We used generalized linear mixed‐effects models to assess which combination of the 23 traits best explained whether a species was threatened or not threatened. We used the best models to predict the probability of 29 unclassified species being listed as threatened. With and without controlling for phylogeny at the family level, small body size—among small‐bodied species—was the most influential trait correlated with threatened species listings. The k‐folds cross‐validation demonstrated that body size and a random effect structure that included family predicted the threat status with an accuracy of 78% (SE 0.5). We identified 10 species likely to be threatened that are not listed as such on the IUCN Red List. Small body size is not a trait that provides universal resistance to extinction, particularly for vertebrates inhabiting environments affected by extreme habitat loss and fragmentation. We hypothesize that this is because small‐bodied species have smaller home ranges, lower dispersal capabilities, and heightened ecological specialization relative to larger vertebrates. Trait data and further model development are needed to predict the IUCN conservation status of the over 11,000 unclassified freshwater fishes, especially those under threat from proposed dam construction in the world's most biodiverse river basins.     

Bioaccumulation and the expression of hepatic cytochrome P450 genes in marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) exposed to difenoconazole

This study was conducted to assess the effects of difenoconazole (DFZ), a triazole fungicide, on the hepatic biotransformation system and its bioaccumulation in marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma). Fish were exposed to DFZ (1, 10, 100, 1000 ng/L) for 180 days. The results showed that: (1) The mRNA levels of hepatic CYP1A1, CYP1B, CYP1C1, CYP27B and CYP3A40 were up-regulated, but those of CYP3A38 and CYP27A1 were down-regulated. (2) The activity of ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) and the content of reduced glutathione (GSH) in the liver were increased in the DFZ-treated groups, and glutathione S-transferase (GST) activity was increased in the 100 and 1000 ng/L groups. (3) DFZ was accumulated in the muscle and the biological concentration factors in the 10, 100, and 1000 ng/L groups were respectively 149, 81 and 25. These results suggested that long-term exposure to DFZ at low concentrations would result in a bioaccumulation of this compound and disturb the biotransformation system.     

海水鱼类网箱养殖的环境效应及多营养层次的综合养殖

海水鱼类网箱养殖是世界主要渔业国家(如挪威、日本等)广泛开展的一种高密度、集约化的养鱼方式,这种养殖方式在给广大从业者带来巨大经济、社会效益的同时,对环境也造成了不可忽视的负面影响。开展多营养层次的综合养殖(IMTA)是缓解这一环境压力的有效途径,鱼类养殖过程中释放出的二氧化碳、氮、磷等物质,由无机提取单元(大型藻类)来吸收,粪便和残饵等微小颗粒则成为有机提取单元(滤食性贝类)的饵料,较大的颗粒物质沉到海底后,可以为腐食性单元(海参等)提供食物,通过这种养殖模式,最大限度地实现系统内营养物质的高效利用,在减轻养殖对环境压力的同时,使系统具有较高的容纳量和食物产出能力。     

四溴双酚A在5种巢湖鱼类体内的组织分布与生物浓缩因子研究

利用SPE-HPLC法,分析了四溴双酚A（TBBPA）在巢湖5种经济鱼类体内的组织分布及生物浓缩因子.结果表明,TBBPA在5种鱼体内的平均含量（以干重计）为4.70～11.20 ng.g-1,高低排序为白鱼〉白鲢〉鳙鱼〉鲤鱼〉长吻鮠.不同器官中,白鱼、鳙鱼、鲤鱼和长吻鮠的肾脏中TBBPA含量最高,其次为肝脏和鳃,腹部和背部组织含量较低,无显著脂肪蓄积效应.白鲢体内肝脏的TBBPA含量最高,肾脏和鳃次之.对白鱼各组织中TBBPA含量与体重间的相关关系分析表明,肝脏、肾脏和鳃中TBBPA浓度随体重的增加而增大,而背部、腹部无显著相关关系.同时测得巢湖水体中TBBPA平均浓度为0.52μg.L-1,计算得到5种鱼的生物浓缩因子为9.56～22.64,表明TBBPA在巢湖鱼体中的浓缩效应不显著.     

Determination of alkali-labile phosphoprotein phosphorus from fish plasma using the Tb^3＋-tiron complex as a fluorescence probe

A sensitive method based on the fluorescence quenching effect of the Tb^3＋-Tiron complex is proposed for the determination of alkali-labile phosphoprotein phosphorus （ALP） released from fish plasma. The detection limit was 5.4 ng/ml （S/N=2）, and the relative standard deviation of the quenching effect （6 replicates） was 4.6%. The results obtained by the proposed method were in good agreement with those obtained by the colorimetric assay. The advantages of the present method are its relatively simple detection procedure, the lack of toxic organic solvents, and high sensitivity.     

Bioaccumulation of heavy metals in fishes from Taihu Lake, China

The Cr,Zn,Cu,Cd,Pb contents were determined in Cyprinus carpio Linnaeus,Carassius auratus Linnaeus,Hypophthalmichthys molitrix and Aristichthys nobilis,which were caught from Meiliang Bay,Taihu Lake,a large,shallow and eutrophic lake of China.The results showed that:(1)the Cr,Cu,Pb,Cd contents in the edible parts of the four fish species were much lower than Chinese Food Health Criterion(1994),but the Zn contents were higher than the Criterion;(2)Cd contents were the highest in the liver of fish,Pb contents were almost the same in all organs of fish,Cr contents mainly enriched in the skin and gonads,Zn contents were the highest in the gonad(♀),and Cu contents were the highest in the liver;(3)the total metal accumulation was the greatest in the liver and the lowest in the muscle.The total metal accumulation was the highest in C.auratus L.This investigation indicated that fish products in Taihu Lake were still safe for human consumption,but the amount consumed should be controlled under the Chinese Food Health Criterion to avoid excessive intake of Zn.     

葛洲坝至古老背江段鱼类的水声学调查

2004年10月~2006年5月利用Bisonics DT-X科学回声探测仪(200 kHz)对葛洲坝至古老背-葛洲坝下游中华鲟(Acipenser sinensis Gray)自然保护区核心江段(30 km)的鱼类进行了5次水声学调查。结果表明：鱼类在该江段中分布呈现不均一性,深潭处分布集中,而急流处分布很少,葛洲坝至艾家河江段鱼的密度明显大于艾家河至古老背江段;在中华鲟产卵日,鱼类在葛洲坝至庙咀江段高度密集,2004年的平均密度达到62.62±24.77尾/1 000 m3,2005年的平均密度达到70.58±37.45尾/1 000 m3;整个江段中,体长60~106 mm的鱼类占有较高比例,约7.0%以上,53 mm以下的鱼类和750 mm以上的鱼类占较低比例,均小于2.0%;调查期间,探测到中华鲟产卵亲鱼,初步估算2004年的资源量约为1 453尾,2005年的资源量约为789尾;95%置信度下分别为1 370~1 537尾、775~803尾。     

崇西湿地冬季潮滩鱼类种类组成及多样性分析

根据2006年冬季在崇西湿地进行的光滩和草滩插网渔获调查,首次对冬季长江口潮滩鱼类种类组成、多样性及相关环境因子作了分析。结果表明：冬季崇西湿地潮滩鱼类主要由淡水小型鱼类组成,共23种,隶属7科,20属。光滩和草滩插网的最大优势种皆为油,两种网具的渔获种类组成具一定的相似性。在一个潮周期内,3种多样性指数D、H′ 和J值波动范围较大,小汛潮时多样性指数比其它潮汛低。白天和晚上潮水的鱼类种类数无显著变化（P>0.5）,但在个体数和生物量上白天较晚上潮水高（P<0.5）。水温、潮汐大小对潮滩鱼类丰度影响较大,而与盐度相关较小。此外,天气状况也是影响潮滩鱼类的一个重要因子。总之,潮滩鱼类的种类组成和多样性受到各种环境因子的综合影响。     

藻毒素复合污染对鱼体的免疫毒性研究

针对水体富营养化问题,通过单一暴露和联合暴露方式研究两种MCs四种暴露剂量（0．1,1,10,100μg／L）下对鱼体的免疫毒效应。结果发现,不同剂量MCLR和MCRR单一暴露都能使鲫鱼淋巴细胞发生死亡,呈现明显的剂量效应和时间效应关系。且MCLR对鱼体的毒性相对McRR要更显著;MCLR和McRR复合暴露对鱼体淋巴细胞的毒性效应表现为协同作用,且随着毒素浓度的增加,其毒性效应差异显著性也随之升高,故而鱼体的免疫系统造成重大的影响,因此应当加强控制藻毒素在水体中的复合污染。