Plant Community Composition and Biomass in Gulf Coast Chenier Plain Marshes: Responses to Winter Burning and Structural Marsh Management

Many marshes in the Gulf Coast Chenier Plain, USA, are managed through a combination of fall or winter burning and structural marsh management (i.e., levees and water control structures; hereafter SMM). The goals of winter burning and SMM include improvement of waterfowl and furbearer habitat, maintenance of historic isohaline lines, and creation and maintenance of emergent wetlands. Although management practices are intended to influence the plant community, effects of these practices on primary productivity have not been investigated. Marsh processes, such as vertical accretion and nutrient cycles, which depend on primary productivity may be affected directly or indirectly by winter burning or SMM. We compared Chenier Plain plant community characteristics (species composition and above- and belowground biomass) in experimentally burned and unburned control plots within impounded and unimpounded marshes at 7 months (1996), 19 months (1997), and 31 months (1998) after burning. Burning and SMM did not affect number of plant species or species composition in our experiment. For all three years combined, burned plots had higher live above-ground biomass than did unburned plots. Total above-ground and dead above-ground biomasses were reduced in burned plots for two and three years, respectively, compared to those in unburned control plots. During all three years, belowground biomass was lower in impounded than in unimpounded marshes but did not differ between burn treatments. Our results clearly indicate that current marsh management practices influence marsh primary productivity and may impact other marsh processes, such as vertical accretion, that are dependent on organic matter accumulation and decay.     

北部湾钦江流域土壤侵蚀及其硒元素流失评估

以钦江流域2015年的气象数据、遥感数据及数字高程模型、土壤类型以及土壤质地等数据为基础,基于修正的通用土壤流失方程（RUSLE）和GIS空间分析技术,定量分析了广西北部湾钦江流域土壤侵蚀及其硒元素流失的空间分布特征.研究结果表明：（1）北部湾钦江流域2015年土壤侵蚀总量为381.64×104t/a,平均土壤侵蚀模数为14.79t/（hm²·a）,小于2010年钦江流域的土壤侵蚀模数,但远大于水利部规定的在南方红壤丘陵区土壤允许流失量;（2）流域土壤侵蚀强度以微度侵蚀为主,侵蚀强度从流域上游到下游依次降低,0~240m之间的高程带以及>15°的坡度带是未来土壤侵蚀防治的重点区域;（3）山地地区的土壤侵蚀模数最高,达23.49t/（hm²·a）,高于流域平均土壤侵蚀模数约1.59倍,丘陵地区次之,而冲积平原最小;（4）流域土壤的硒含量介于0.38~0.72mg/kg之间,平均值0.49mg/kg,高于中国土壤硒元素背景值的1.69倍;（5）不同土地利用类型土壤硒含量随着土壤剖面深度的增加均呈现出减低趋势,硒的含量在不同土地利用类型中的排序为林地 > 园地 > 草地 > 水田 > 旱地,而在不同土壤类型中硒含量大小顺序则为：新积土 > 石灰岩土 > 潜育水稻土 > 淹育水稻土 > 赤红壤 > 潴育水稻土 > 砖红壤 > 滨海沙土 > 紫色土 > 咸酸水稻土.（6）流域土壤硒元素的流失总量为8987.05kg/a,平均流失模数为0.0344kg/（hm²·a）,其中流域中游的硒元素流失量最大.该项研究成果可为钦江市政府开发富硒农产品、发展富硒农业以及提升钦江流域土地利用的价值提供科学依据.     

Cadmium bioaccumulation in three benthic fish species, Salaria basilisca, Zosterisessor ophiocephalus and Solea vulgaris collected from the Gulf of Gabes in Tunisia

To select a marine teleost fish which can be used as a bioindicator of cadmium (Cd) pollution in the Gulf of Gabes in Tunisia, Cd concentrations in liver and gill were compared in three benthic fish species including Salaria basilisca, Zosterisessor ophiocephalus and Solea vulgaris. Fish samples were collected from three selected sites in the Gulf of Gabes, with different degrees of Cd contamination: the industrialized coast of Sfax (S1), the coast of Douar Chatt (S2) and the coast of Luza (S3). The results shows that Cd concentrations in both sediment and water collected from S1 were significantly higher (p < 0.0001) than those from S2 and S3. For each species, Cd concentrations, in both liver and gill, showed the decreasing order: S1 > S2 > S3. The highest concentration of Cd was detected in the liver of S. basilisca, and only S. basilisca showed bioaccumulation factors (BAF) greater than 1 in all studied sites. In S1 and S2, BAF values respect the following order: S. basilisca > Z. ophiocephalus > S. vulgaris. These results of significant bioaccumulation of Cd, in terms of hepatic concentrations and bioaccumulation factors, indicated that S. basilisca can be used as bioindicator to evaluate the evolution of Cd pollution in the Gulf of Gabes.     

秋季南海珠江口和北部湾溶解有机物的光降解

利用三维荧光光谱分析手段,结合吸收光谱测定,分析了2007年10月中国珠江口及北部湾水体中4个典型有色溶解有机物(CDOM)样在太阳光辐照下的光降解特性.结果表明,珠江口及广西沿海CDOM样受陆源输入影响较大,而北部湾中部的HX样具有典型海洋CDOM特征,80m水深的HN样则受到北部湾环流的主要影响.这些CDOM样品中均观测到类腐殖质荧光峰A、C、M以及类色氨酸荧光峰R、T,它们的荧光峰强度及吸收系数a(280)在秋季短期日光辐照下发生了较明显的光化学降解,受陆源输入影响较大的珠江口及广西沿海样品的光降解程度高于北部湾的远岸样品,反映出它们含有更多的发色团.光降解未引起CDOM荧光峰位置的显著变化,类腐殖质荧光峰M和A、类蛋白质荧光峰R和T的强度变化趋势一致,表明这两对峰具有相似的性质.A峰区存在的双峰现象表明其为多个荧光组分的叠加.CDOM吸收光谱的光谱斜率S(270～350)随光辐射而逐渐增加,可用于指示光降解引起的CDOM分子量的减小趋势.研究表明,光降解在南海生源要素的生物地球化学循环中起重要作用.     

A multilevel analysis of private-vehicle evacuation clearance times along the US Gulf Coast

This study uses multilevel regression analysis to examine the effect of social characteristics and the built environment on clearance time under an evacuation scenario. The primary unit of analysis is the US Census tract (N?=?1660), nested within 31 incorporated places spanning five US states. The dependent variable is an estimate of clearance time in hours derived using network analysis techniques within a geographic information system. We find that tracts with a more peripheral location, more female residents, a higher proportion of Hispanic residents, and higher median household incomes are associated with higher clearance times, on average. Our research suggests the relationship between suburbanization and clearance time is complex and evolving, mediated by past investments in the built environment and shifting social conditions. In addition to facilitating the evacuation of areas with low access to personal vehicles, urban planners and emergency management officials should also consider how the degree of connectivity in the street network impacts congestion and clearance time.     

Influence of marine alga against mercury-induced biochemical changes,structural destabilization,and genotoxicity in marine tiger fish,Therapon jarbua

This study elucidated the protective role of alga against mercury (Hg)-induced toxicity in marine fish. Bath immersion with mercury chloride (HgCl) [0.125 and 0.25?ppm] in combination with the algal extract (3?ppm) to Therapon jarbua offered a significant protection against Hg only induced disturbed liver function, damaged histoarchitecture, elevated oxidative stress, and DNA fragmentation of tissues. Mercury exposure decreased hepatic superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) activities, and the level of nonprotein-soluble thiol (NPSH, GSH), with a concomitant increase in thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in the gill, kidneys, liver, and blood. Algal supplementation diminished the rise in TBARS restoring CAT, SOD, and GSH levels to control. Reduced generation of free radicals may be correlated to protect DNA stability and morphology. This study indicates the ability of alga to ameliorate Hg-mediated injuries. In conclusion, Kappaphycus alvarezii extract did not show any toxicity and its safety is suggestive for using as a supplement in fish food.     

Denitrification in bottom sediment near oil production facilities off the Louisiana Gulf Coast

There is little information on denitrification in Gulf of Mexico bottom sediment. Potential denitrification rates in surface sediment were measured along transects legs extending 0–800 m from two offshore oil production platforms. The average potential denitrification ranged from approximately 50 mg N m^?2 d^?1 in surface sediment near the platforms to 15 mg N m^?2 d^?1 in sediment 800 m from the platforms. Measured denitrification rates were correlated to a higher organic matter content in sediment nearer the platforms. This research examined only a small component of nitrogen processing in Gulf of Mexico sediment. Additional research should examine the effect of nitrogen loading and temporal and spatial variability on denitrification rate.     

Accumulation of Organochlorine Compounds in Oysters (Crassostrea Gasar) of an Estuarine Environment: Case of A Tropical Lagoon in the Gulf of Guinea

As part of a pollution monitoring study, oysters (Crassostrea gasar) were sampled in June 1996, in order to determine the concentrations and distribution of chlorinated hydrocarbons in two stations (near Boulay Island and Riviera Golf) of the Ebrie Lagoon, in the Abidjan area.

The chromatographic analysis of the oven dried samples revealed the presence of PCBs (2.13 to 86.22 ppb or ng/g dry weight), DDE (<0.48 to 169.55 ppb), DDD (<1.04 to 60.27 ppb), DDT (1.43 to 77.81 ppb, lindane (<0.22 to 91.64 ppb), aldrin (<0.30 to 154.1 ppb), endrin (<0.23 to 293.31 ppb) and dieldrin (<0.26 to 199.74 ppb). the results indicated high concentrations in oysters sampled near Boulay Island, due to industrial, agricultural and port activities going on in this area.

Compared to DDD/ΣDDT and DDT/ΣDDT, the DDE/ΣDDT ratios were high indicating old DDT inputs. the ΣDDT/PCBs ratios were higher than 1 illustrated the predominance of organochlorine inputs from agriculture activities. the presence of lindane in both stations illustrated the problem of fishing with toxic products.

Negative correlations found between dry tissue weight and organochlorine compounds concentrations showed that young oysters may concentrate more of these substances. More studies are needed in order to make any conclusions on their bioaccumulation trends.     

Horizontal Distribution of Some Artificial Radionuclides in Sediments Collected Off the Rhone Mouth (Gulf of Lions-Mediterranean Sea)

Abstract

The Rhône delta is a typical microtidal estuary. River runoff spreads out into the Gulf of Lions as a surface plume influenced by the prevailing N or NW wind and the Liguro-Provençal-Catalan current. in the prodelta, sediments form a filter that traps radionuclides released by the different nuclear installations on the Rhône River and which are associated with fine particles. the horizontal distribution of various artificial radionuclides shows the highest concentrations at the Rhône River mouth. There,¹³⁷Cs reaches 86.6 and 94.4 Bq·kg^?1 dry wt. and is still present 10 miles away (32.5 Bq·kg^?1 dry wt.) in the southwestward direction (influence of the general circulation). Data obtained in the sediment at Roustan station between 1980 and 1990 show that in 1990, ¹³⁷Cs levels were similar to those found previous to the Chernobyl accident.