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.”     

HISTORICAL TRENDS IN SEDIMENTATION RATES AND SEDIMENT PROVENANCE,FAIRFIELD LAKE,WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA1

Sedimentation rates and sediment provenance were examined for lacustrine sediments deposited in Fairfield Lake, western North Carolina, during the past 111 years. Stratigraphic, radionuclide, and cartographic data indicate that sedimentation rates have increased several fold during the past three decades in response to localized development. The magnitude of increased sedimentation was surprising given limited development within the basin: 0.12 to 0.68 buildings/ha in 2000 in those parts directly delivering sediment to the dated cores. Thus, the analysis illustrates the potential sensitivity of watersheds in the southern Appalachians to changes in land cover. An approach that combined geochemical fingerprinting with sediment mixing models was subsequently evaluated to determine its ability to accurately estimate the contribution of sediment from (1) major bedrock formations that underlie the watershed and (2) potential sources associated with four land cover categories. Sediment sources in both analyses proved difficult to geochemically fingerprint to greater than 90 percent accuracy using data on acid‐soluble metals and selected isotopes of lead (Pb). The relative contributions of sediment from delineated sources, estimated by the mixing models, generally corresponded with known temporal and spatial patterns of land cover. However, the models were plagued by two significant problems — the chemical alteration of sediments as they were transported through upland streams to depositional sites within the lake and the loss of elemental mass. Thus, future investigations using the fingerprinting approach in this area of intense weathering, and presumably others, will need to modify the existing methods to more accurately elucidate changes in sediment provenance related to development.     

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.     

基于生态分区的我国湖泊营养盐控制目标研究

为更好地控制我国湖泊的富营养化水平,在五大湖泊生态分区的基础上,对不同生态分区的100个湖泊总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)、TN/TP与叶绿素a(Chl-a)的关系进行了分析,进而提出了不同生态分区的湖泊营养盐控制目标.结果表明,五大湖泊生态分区中,东北湖区富营养化水平最低,华北湖区富营养化水平最高,近几年五大湖区湖泊富营养水平呈上升趋势.从TN、TP对五大生态分区湖泊Chl-a浓度的影响看,TP是东北和华北湖区湖泊藻类生长的限制性营养盐,而TN和TP同时是中东部、云贵和蒙新湖区湖泊藻类生长的限制性营养盐.从TN/TP判断,在TN/TP<10的湖泊中,除华北湖区外的其他4个湖区湖泊Chl-a均受TN显著影响;TP仅对东北、蒙新湖区湖泊的Chl-a有显著影响.在TN/TP>17的湖泊中,除蒙新湖区外的其他4个湖区湖泊Chl-a均受TP显著影响,而在中东部、云贵和蒙新湖区,TN对Chl-a也有显著影响.在10相似文献   

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.     

大庆市草原和湖泊生态保护建设研究

通过对大庆草甸草原和湖泊湿地发生发展自然生态过程的分析,以大庆生态环境的整体性特征为基础,提出草甸草原是大庆生态环境的基础,湖泊湿地是大庆生态环境的特色.以保护和恢复为主巩固草原生态基础地位,以生态重建为主突出湖泊湿地特色.对生态功能正常发挥的草原,以生态保护为主,对生态功能退化草原,以生态恢复为主.对油田生产区的草原,重视生态功能和景观效应.以生态重建为主突出湖泊湿地特色,通过地表水结构的调整增加生态系统的活力和生态服务功能.草甸草原和湖泊湿地的保护与利用要扬长补短、协同并进.     

Effects of physical and chemical characteristics of surface sediments in the formation of shallow lake algae-induced black bloom

Surface sediments are closely related to lake black blooms. The dissolved oxygen （DO） distribution and its penetration depth in surface sediments as well as the migration and transformation of redox sensitive elements such as Fe and S at the sediment-water interface are important factors that could influence the formation of the black bloom. In this study, dredged and undredged sediment cores with different surface properties were used to simulate black blooms in the laboratory. The Micro Profiling System was employed to explore features of the DO and ∑H2S distribution at the sediment-water interface. Physical and chemical characteristics in sediments and pore waters were also analyzed. The results showed that sediment dredging effectively suppressed the black blooms. In the undredged treatment, DO penetration depth was only 50 μm. Fe^2＋ concentrations, ∑H2S concentrations, and ∑H2S production rates were remarkably higher in surface sediments and pore waters compared to control and dredged treatments. Furthermore, depletion of DO and accumulation of Fe^2＋ and ∑H2S in surface sediments and pore waters provided favorable redox environments and necessary material sources for the blooms. The study results proved that physical and chemical characteristics in surface sediments are important factors in the formation of the black bloom, and could provide scientific guidance for emergency treatment and long-term pre-control of black blooms.     

Critical velocity in phosphorus exchange processes across the sediment-water interface

Sediments are ultimate sinks of nutrients in lakes that record the pollution history evolutionary processes, and anthropogenic activities of a lake. However, sediments are considered as inner sources of environmental factor changes such as the variation in hydrodynamic conditions because of the nutrients they release. How does this process happen？ This study investigates a typical nutrient phosphorus （P） exchange among sediment, suspended particle matter （SPM）, and water. Compared with numerical and experimental studies, this study confirms that the critical velocity that occurs at a lower flow rate state exists in the range of 7 to 15 crn/sec. Critical velocity below the critical flow rate promotes the migration of particulate phosphorus （PP） to the SPM. On the other hand, critical velocity above the critical flow rate promotes the release of PP in water.     

不同类型湖泊沉积物中氮释放规律研究

通过对武汉市东湖子湖郭郑湖、庙湖以及南湖这3个不同类型的湖泊进行释氮模拟实验,结果表明:(1)在厌氧条件下,不同污染程度的湖泊中沉积物释氮作用均比较明显。为了抑制沉积物向上覆水释氮,控制湖泊富营养化,保持湖泊较高的溶解氧水平是必要的。(2)在厌氧条件下,高温对不同类型湖泊总氮和氨氮的释放均能起到促进作用。(3)沉积物与上覆水间污染物的浓度梯度越大,总氮和氨氮的释放速率与释氮量也越大,此时温度的影响不明显。(4)通过比较3类湖泊沉积物上覆水中总氮和氨氮两者的释放浓度可知,氨氮的释放贡献十分显著,因此控制氨氮的释放量对于控制湖泊氮释放量具有显著效果。     

富营养化湖泊中微囊藻毒素及其控制去除技术

微囊藻水华是湖泊水体中产生最频繁、危害最严重的一类。微囊藻毒素作为富营养化水体中最常见的藻类毒素,获得了国内外的广泛关注与研究报道。我国淡水水体受微囊藻毒素污染的程度已经相当严重,尤其是饮用水水源的污染,对人们的健康构成了极大的危害。因此当前急需确认藻类毒素对我国水环境影响的程度,研究蓝藻水华产毒的生态条件及控制去除途径,探索毒素对人体健康的影响和防治对策,目前关于微囊藻毒素的健康效应的研究多是从饮用水角度出发,今后的研究可收集详细的数据以建立危险性评估模型,并评价各种降低微囊藻毒素危险性措施的效果。文章就微囊藻毒素的产生、性质与结构、对环境与人类健康的危害、以及微囊藻毒素在水处理过程中的控制方法等方面的研究进展进行了综述,并提出了研究展望。