Validation of an Invertebrate Community Index for Urban Streams for an Alabama Coastal Plains Watershed1

Abstract: The purpose of this study was to validate the application of an invertebrate community index (ICI) to assess the biological integrity of urban streams. Validation involved comparing chemical and habitat data to ICI scores from 20 urban streams and four least‐impacted streams in the Choctawhatchee and Pea River watersheds located in Southeast Alabama. Chemical and habitat data were collected to support whether the ICI accurately predicts the health of the streams. A significant difference between urban and least‐impacted ICI scores, habitat evaluation scores, chemical variables, taxa richness, and Shannon‐Wiener diversity were observed when urban sites were compared with least‐impacted sites using Mann‐Whitney U‐test. Urban sites having low ICI scores, low species richness and diversity, and poor habitat showed greater impairment than least‐impacted sites. Cluster analysis of macroinvertebrate assemblages indicated two clusters. Significant differences between clusters in habitat evaluations, chemical parameters, and ICI scores showed that some urban sites were more degraded than other urban sites in the study. Differentiation between least‐impacted and urban sites indicated that the ICI provided valid biotic assessments. Therefore, this study validated that the ICI is capable of predicting the biological integrity of urban streams in the Choctawhatchee and Pea River watersheds.     

Hydrology of Clay Settling Areas and Surrounding Landscapes in the Phosphate Mining District,Peninsular Florida1

Abstract: The objective of this study was to use applied and naturally occurring geochemical tracers to study the hydrology of clay settling areas (CSAs) and the hydrological connectivity between CSAs and surrounding hydrological landscapes. The study site is located on the Fort Meade Mine in Polk County, Florida. The CSA has a well‐developed, subangular‐blocky, clay‐rich surface layer with abundant desiccation cracks and other macropores, and a massive, clay‐rich sublayer that is saturated below ～1.0‐2.5 m. A bromide tracer was applied to study hydrological processes in the upper part of the CSA. Bromide infiltrated rapidly and perched on a massive, clay‐rich sublayer. Bromide concentrations decreased in the upper part of the profile without being transported vertically down through the lower part of the profile suggesting that bromide was lost to lateral rather than to vertical transport. Infiltration and lateral flow were rapid suggesting that preferential flow through desiccation cracks and other macropores likely dominates flow in the upper part of the CSA. Naturally occurring solute and stable isotope tracers were used to study the hydrological connectivity between the CSA and the surrounding hydrological landscape. Three‐end mass‐balance mixing model results indicate that shallow and/or deep CSA water can be found in all downgradient waters and must be as much as ～50% of some downgradient waters. Discharge from the CSA to the surrounding surface water‐bodies and surficial aquifer occurs laterally through the berms and/or vertically through the massive, clay‐rich sublayer. However, the precise flow paths from the CSA to the surrounding hydrological landscape are unclear and the fluxes remain unquantified, so the precise effects of CSAs on the hydrology of the surrounding hydrological landscape also remain unquantified.     

Issues and impacts of Redwood National Park expansion

In 1968, Redwood National Park was created in an atmosphere of controversy and compromise to preserve remnants of the coastal redwood (Sequoia sempervirens) ecosystems and the streams and seashores with which they are associated. The 1968 boundary included the lower portions of several watersheds in the park, which meant that potential impacts from upstream, privately owned lands might occur. Between 1968 and 1978, controversy continued between preservation and forest industry interests over the impacts of harvesting old growth timber upslope and upstream from the park. In 1978, the southern portion of the park around Redwood Creek was expanded by 48,000 acres, moving the boundary from a narrow, one-half mile riparian corridor to ridgelines, but still leaving two-thirds of the total watershed outside of the park. The park expansion has generated biological and social impacts and opportunities. Meeting the objectives of the 1978 legislation will require close coordination between federal and state government and local communities.     

我国季风区5 ka BP气候事件

5.0 ka BP前后全球普遍经历了一次快速的降温事件,对世界范围内很多地区的环境产生了显著影响。本文利用公开发表的有高精度年代控制的、高分辨率石笋和湖沼沉积记录,系统回顾了5 ka BP气候事件在我国不同地区的降雨表现。这次气候事件在我国季风区不同区域都有记录,其中在季风区北方和青藏高原地区记录的最为清楚,体现为显著的干旱。事件起始于5.6—5.5 ka BP,在5.0 ka BP左右达到峰值,其后快速回升。5 ka BP气候事件对我国新石器文化的发展产生了重要影响。太阳辐射减少导致的赤道辐合带南移和大西洋经向翻转环流减弱导致的亚洲夏季风减弱可能驱动了此次气候事件。然而,不同地区、特别是南方地区的不同记录在此次事件的表现形式和开始时间有所差异。云南和湖北的泥炭记录显示此次事件为突变事件,发生于4.7—4.9 ka BP,不同于其他地质记录的渐变状态。未来还需加强在南方地区,特别是华东地区重建涵盖5 ka BP气候事件的有绝对定年的高分辨率可靠降雨记录。进一步厘清这些记录的差异是由于不同气候代用指标和记录分辨率的不同以及测年误差导致的,还是对气候事件的响应存在着区域差异。     

酸性硫酸盐土的环境影响及其防治

酸性硫酸盐土是一种分布于热带、亚热带湿润气候区海岸带的劣质土壤,在港湾生态系统中实际扮演着潜在污染源的角色.本文系统综述了酸性硫酸盐土的环境影响及其防治技术,提出了我国酸性硫酸盐土环境影响防治的对策。     

Recovery of an estuary in the southwest coast of India from tsunami impacts

Water quality in the Cochin Estuary, southwest coast of India during the tsunami attack was assessed and compared with the pre and post tsunami characteristics. From the results obtained, it is evident that a drastic change in hydrography has been inflicted by the energy transferred through the tsunami, which disturbed the entire estuarine embayment. However, the post tsunami water quality showed normal levels indicating that the region has recovered from the tsunami impacts.     

累积环境影响评价中若干问题的探讨

本文回顾了国内外累积影响评价研究的现状和进展,分析了累积环境影响评价的各种方法,对当前累积环境影响评价研究中存在的问题进行了总结,并对今后的发展方向进行了展望。     

A Fast Method for Monitoring Foliage Density in Single Lower-canopy Trees

A subjective visual assessment of foliage density is the mostwidely used rapid method of determining forest health. Forthese assessments to be ecologically meaningful they must bereliable (have low inter- and intra-observer variability) andreadily relate to a measure of physiological or physicalstress. A simple rapid method for assessing percent foliagedensity in lower stature trees is described. This method haslow inter-observer variability (standard deviation betweenobservers=8.6%) and therefore, minimizes the risk ofconfounding the effects of different observers with genuinechanges in density. The percentage changes in this measure offoliage density correlate well with percentage changes inbiomass, allowing a ready interpretation of observed changes.The technique does not specifically identify the cause of themeasured changes, however, with appropriate additionalmeasures this problem may be overcome.     

Assessing cumulative impacts within state environmental review frameworks in the United States

Cumulative impact assessment (CIA) is the process of systematically assessing a proposed action's cumulative environmental effects in the context of past, present, and future actions, regardless of who undertakes such actions. Previous studies have examined CIA efforts at the federal level but little is known about how states assess the cumulative impacts of nonfederal projects. By examining state environmental review statutes, administrative rules, agency-prepared materials, and a national survey of the administrators of state environmental review programs, this study identifies the legal and administrative frameworks for CIA. It examines current CIA practice, discusses the relationship between CIA policy and its implementation, and explores the opportunities for improvement. The results of the study show that twenty-nine state environmental review programs across twenty-six states required the assessment of cumulative environmental impacts. More than half of these programs have adopted specific procedures for implementing their policies. Some programs assessed cumulative impacts using a standard review document, and others have created their own documentations incorporated into applications for state permits or funding. The majority of programs have adopted various scales, baselines, significance criteria, and coordination practices in their CIA processes. Mixed methods were generally used for data collection and analysis; qualitative methods were more prevalent than quantitative methods. The results also suggest that a program with comprehensive and consistent environmental review policies and procedures does not always imply extensive CIA requirements and practices. Finally, this study discusses the potential for improving existing CIA processes and promoting CIA efforts in states without established environmental review programs.     

Network and system diagrams revisited: Satisfying CEA requirements for causality analysis

Published guidelines for Cumulative Effects Assessment (CEA) have called for the identification of cause-and-effect relationships, or causality, challenging researchers to identify methods that can possibly meet CEA's specific requirements. Together with an outline of these requirements from CEA key literature, the various definitions of cumulative effects point to the direction of a method for causality analysis that is visually-oriented and qualitative. This article consequently revisits network and system diagrams, resolves their reported shortcomings, and extends their capabilities with causal loop diagramming methodology. The application of the resulting composite causality analysis method to three Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) case studies appears to satisfy the specific requirements of CEA regarding causality. Three “moments” are envisaged for the use of the proposed method: during the scoping stage, during the assessment process, and during the stakeholder participation process.