Natural and Anthropogenic Effects On Phytoplankton Primary Productivity in Mangroves

Abstract

Spatial and temporal variations and the factors influencing primary production have been studied in three different mangrove waters (Pichavaram, Ennore Creek and Adyar Estuary) of South India characterised by different anthropogenic impacts. the gross primary productivity in the unpolluted Pichavaram mangrove was 113 g Cm^?2yr^?1 exhibiting natural variability with the environmental forcing factors. Human activities have elevated primary productivity in the Ennore Creek mangrove (157g Cm^?2yr^?1) primarily through the direct discharge of fertilizer effluents. By contrast, a combination of domestic and industrial effluent discharges into the Adyar Estuary mangrove has considerably reduced phytoplankton primary productivity 83g Cm^?2yr^?1 the Redfield N: P ratio varies from 0.96 N: 1P at Ennore Creek, 1.75N: 1P at Adyar Estuary to 15.2 N: 1P at Pichavaram mangroves. This suggests that the Pichavaram mangroves represent a well equilibrated ecosystem with N: P ratio close to steady-state values in contrast to the anthropogenically altered mangrove ecosystems studied. Results show a significant temporal variability in nutrient concentration in the three mangrove areas. Distinct differences in nutrient concentrations between the dry and the wet seasons have been observed.     

Biochemical composition of a meso-bathyal lobster

To characterise some traits of the life strategies of Polycheles typhlops, a deep-sea small lobster usually encountered as by-catch within deep trawls in the Southern Tyrrhenian Sea (Mediterranean Sea), we analysed the biochemical composition of the caudal muscles of 49 specimens collected in March and April 2007. Differences in the biochemical composition between females and males were weak, but relevant differences in protein (>90% of the organic C) and lipid (4–6%) contents were observed between developmental stages both in females and males. These differences are likely to be related to different food items and/or to the metabolic shifts associated with their reproduction. We argue that this deep-sea lobster could cover a relevant role in the meso-pelagic food webs and attract future commercial interest.     

Assessment of forest vegetation and conservation priorities of communities in part of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve,West Himalaya. Part I

In most protected areas of the Indian Himalayan region site/habitat characteristics, community diversity and distribution pattern, vegetation composition (richness of native and endemic species), structural patterns, economic importance of forest communities and community priorities have rarely been studied. Therefore, the present study has focused on these in the buffer zone of Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. Seventy-six woody species (trees: 24; shrubs: 52) and 13 forest communities have been recorded between 2300–3800 m asl. Tree density ranged from 533–1220 ind ha-¹, tree basal area from 14.68-80.28 m²ha-¹ and shrub density from 1490–6695 ind ha-¹. Mean density of trees was significantly lower in temperate forests in comparison to subalpine forests. Richness of trees ranged from 3–18 and shrubs from 5–29. Species diversity (H') of trees ranged from 0.45-2.08 and shrubs from 0.90-3.14. In the temperate zone, species richness and altitude had significant positive correlations whereas in the subalpine zone the two variables were negatively correlated. The native species were high in the area (> 65% species) and in communities (> 70% species), and was highest for the Picea smithiana-Pinus wallichiana mixed community, whereas the maximum numbers of natives and endemic species were recorded in the Pinus wallichiana community. The density and richness of non-natives were found to be significantly lower in comparison to the natives. Economic importance and conservation value of the communities were assessed and communities prioritized. Monitoring of the identified habitats, species, populations and communities, and development of appropriate strategies for their conservation and management are suggested.     

The representation of cyanobacteria life cycle processes in aquatic ecosystem models

Two simplified versions of a numerical life cycle model for diazotrophic cyanobacteria (of the order Nostocales) are developed and evaluated. Both consider two-life cycle stages, one growing, nitrogen-fixing stage and one stage that combines the resting, germinating and vegetative stages. The versions differ in the vertical resolution of the non-diazotrophic stage: version 1 collects the biomass in one layer at the bottom, version 2 considers sinking and rising of biomass explicitly. The results of the two versions are compared with a complex cyanobacteria life cycle model which describes four different life cycle stages each with two internal quotas for energy and nitrogen. The two simplified approaches show a good agreement with respect to the main characteristics of cyanobacteria dynamics (timing and duration of blooms, magnitude of nitrogen fixation, interannual variability). Our model study shows that both simplified approaches are suitable to be implemented into three-dimensional coastal or lake models.     

深圳湾浮游植物的季节变化

2008年2月至11月对深圳湾的浮游植物和理化环境因子进行了4个季度月的调查,结果共检出浮游植物150种（包括变种和变型）：春季66种、夏季72种、秋季54种、冬季50种,其中硅藻门36属108种,甲藻门14属36种,绿藻门3属3种,蓝藻门2属3种。优势种共有湖沼圆筛藻Coscinodiscus lacustris、中肋骨条藻Skeletonema costatum、夜光藻Noctiluca scientillans 3种：春季1种、夏季1种、秋季1种、冬季2种,优势种群由春夏季的湖沼圆筛藻演替至秋季的中肋骨条藻、冬季的中肋骨条藻和夜光藻,没有全年广布优势种;4季均出现的种类共有9种,其中硅藻8种,甲藻1种,各季节间共有种类数在13～31种,Jaccard种类相似性指数范围在0.12~0.35,季节更替明显。多样性指数和均匀度的变化范围分别为0.006~1.724和0.001~0.306,群落结构较脆弱。细胞密度在1.25×107~217.90×107 cells.m-3,夏季最高,春季次之,冬季最低,属季节单峰型变化,与一般亚热带春、秋季出现密度高峰不一致,这与深圳湾陆源营养物质的扰动有关,其无机氮和活性磷酸盐含量均劣于国家海水水质标准的四类水,因此,该海域水质营养类型属于亚热带富营养型。细胞密度与硅酸盐呈极显著的负相关,相关系数为-0.446（p〈0.01,n=36,双尾）,与水温呈显著的正相关,相关系数为0.371（p〈0.05,n=36,双尾）,与其他因子的相关性不明显。从优势种的种类数和多样性指数分析,深圳湾浮游植物的群落结构已趋于单一化,生态系统抗干扰能力极为脆弱。     

Gold and gold working in Late Bronze Age Northern Greece

Numerous objects of gold displaying an impressive variety of types and manufacturing techniques are known from the Late Bronze Age (LBA) contexts of Mycenaean Greece, but very little is known about the origin and processing of gold during the second millennium B.C: . Ancient literature and recent research indicate that northern Greece is probably the richest gold-bearing region in Greece, and yet, very little evidence exists regarding the exploitation of its deposits and the production as well as use of gold in the area during prehistory. The unusual find of a group of small stone crucibles at the prehistoric settlement of Thessaloniki Toumba, one with visible traces of gold melting, proves local production and offers a rare opportunity to examine the process of on-site gold working. Furthermore, the comparison of the chemical composition of prehistoric artefacts from two settlements with those of gold deposits in their immediate areas supports the local extraction of gold and opens up the prospect for some of the Mycenaean gold to have originated in northern Greece. The scarcity of gold items in northern Greek LBA contexts may not represent the actual amount of gold produced and consumed, but could be a result of the local social attitudes towards the circulation and deposition of artefacts from precious metals.     

Field-breeding birds on organic and conventional arable farms in the Netherlands

In this study territory densities of field-breeding farmland birds were compared on pairwise-selected organic and conventional arable farms for two years. Differences in territory densities between the two farm types were explained examining the effects of three factors on territory densities: (1) non-crop habitats, (2) crop types and (3) within-crop factors. In both years, densities of most species did not differ between organic and conventional farms. Only skylark and lapwing were more abundant on organic farms, but only skylarks showed a consistent pattern over both years. Differences in crop types grown between the two systems were the only explaining factor for differences in densities of skylark. For lapwing, the difference was only partly due to differences in crop type, but differences in within-crop factors (probably as a result of crop management) were likely to have had an effect as well. There were no significant differences in abundance of non-crop habitats between the two farming systems, so this could not explain differences in territory densities.     

炼焦过程排放挥发性有机物的排放特征和组成分布研究

为控制炼焦排放以及为预防城市大气污染提供可靠的污染源数据支持,利用不锈钢采样罐和全自动预浓缩/GC/MS系统,研究了58-Ⅱ型和JN43-80型焦炉在装煤时刻和炼焦过程(包括装煤时刻)中挥发有机物(VOCs)的排放特征及其组成分布,分析了焦化行业排放VOCs的反应活性。研究发现,在装煤时刻和炼焦过程中,58-Ⅱ型焦炉产生的总挥发性有机物(TVOCs)浓度分别为7022μg/m~3和6266μg/m~3;JN43-80型焦炉产生的TVOCs浓度分别为4185μg/m~3和3298μg/m~3。装煤时刻产生的TVOCs浓度明显高于炼焦过程产生的。炼焦过程无组织排放的VOCs包含烯烃、烷烃、芳香烃、卤代烃以及少量的醛和酮,其中乙烯、乙烷、丙烯、苯、甲苯等为主要成分。这些产生的VOCs反应活性各不相同,活性最大的是烯烃类物质,其活性占TVOCs反应活性比重为(86.2±2.1)%;其次是芳香烃类物质,其活性比重为(9.2±3.1)%;反应活性最大的5个物种分别是丙烯、乙烯、1,3-丁二烯、1-丁烯以及苯乙烯。     

Current state and long-term changes of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Crenomytilus grayanus</Emphasis> community in Vostok Bay,Sea of Japan

The composition and structure of the Gray mussel (Crenomytilus grayanus) community in Vostok Bay of the Sea of Japan have been studied. A total of 165 species have been identified in the macrobenthos. Its species composition has changed insignificantly since the 1970s. The total biomass of the biocenosis has decreased, and the size-age composition of the C. grayanus population has changed due to poaching. The trophic structure of the community has also changed, with the Shannon indices of species diversity and equitability (E) becoming lower, due to intensive organic pollution of Vostok Bay resulting from increasing recreational activities and sewage discharge.     

引黄水库沉沙条渠沉积物的组成及理化特征

研究了济南市引黄供水鹊山水库沉沙条渠6个地理位置泥沙沉积物的组成及理化特征,并分析了沉积物的组成及理化特征参数间的相关性.结果表明,沉沙条渠内的泥沙沉积物在组成成分上与黄河沉积物基本相同,但含量及理化性质上有一定的差异.泥沙沉积物颗粒主要以粘粒、粉砂和细砂粒为主,颗粒粒度分布在0.3—125μm之间;沉积物的矿物主要由...