JMarinas: A simple tool for the environmentally sound management of small marinas

A novel index for the preliminary evaluation of the distribution of pollutants in the harbor environment (Small Marinas Pollution Risk) is proposed. An associated Environmental Decision Support System (JMarinas) has been developed which implements the Multiple Attribute Decision Making theory (MADM) and uses the harbor’s map as geographical support for computations. The MADM matrix is built considering various attributes of the marina and is calculated using both qualitative and quantitative data.     

Interactions between cod, herring and sprat in the changing environment of the Baltic Sea: A dynamic model analysis

The interactions between cod (Gadus morhua), herring (Clupea harengus) and sprat (Sprattus sprattus) in the Central Baltic Sea were examined with a simple dynamic model, an alternative to more complicated and data-demanding multispecies and ecosystem models. The main aims of the study were to compare the effect of alternative structures on the model output and examine the control relationships in the fish assemblage under different environmental conditions. The effect of environmental conditions was modelled using a stock-recruitment equation for cod incorporating an environmental index. The model output was especially sensitive to the functional response in predation by cod on herring and sprat. The type II functional response led to a collapse of the clupeid stocks when cod was abundant, while the type III response produced more realistic stock dynamics. According to the simulations, an abundant cod stock was able to keep the sprat stock at a low level, while the herring stock was less affected and benefited from the decreased density of sprat. Simulation of different fishing scenarios indicated that reducing fishing mortality to the level currently advised by ICES would allow the recovery of the cod stock even in unfavourable environmental conditions.     

花岗岩风化壳的不均一性与海岸带的可蚀性研究——以南海北大陆海岸带为例

海岸带岩土动力学特征的差异是影响海岸侵蚀过程与方向的重要因素之一。南海北大陆海岸带主要由花岗岩风化边坡组成。通过对该海岸带的北东翼及西南翼典型花岗岩风化壳剖面的黏土矿物及风化指标研究发现,两者存在不均一性：横向上,北东翼黏土矿物主要以高岭石、伊利石为主;西南翼黏土矿物主要以高岭石、伊利石和绿泥石为主,两翼均未见较明显的蒙脱石。相同层位比较,西南翼黏土矿物总量高于北东翼。垂向上,自地表到深部,北东翼黏土矿物组合及总量无明显的分层性,而西南翼则呈明显的分层性且地表含量明显高于深部。海岸带的风化作用也存在明显的不均一性：表现为横向上,北东翼海岸带风化程度要稍弱于西南翼;垂向上,北东翼化学风化指标n（Al2O3）/n（SiO2）,n（Fe2O3＋Al2O3）/n（SiO2）,n（TiO2）/n（Al2O3）、CIA在风化壳中呈无规律变化,而西南翼则呈明显的分层性,这种分层基本与表土层、红土层及砂土层成一定的对应关系。从化学可蚀性指标来看,由南海北大陆海岸带花岗岩风化壳演化而成的土壤均为强抗蚀性,但相同层位比较,北东翼可蚀性要稍弱于西南翼剖面。研究认为,组成南海北大陆海岸带的花岗岩风化壳之黏土矿物与风化作用的不均一性可很大程度影响海岸带的可蚀性。     

广州南沙海岸防护林群落的生态效应初步研究

采用群落生态学和植物化学监测的研究方法,对广州市南沙海岸滩头近6 a生防护林群落的生物量、高温胁迫光合特征、NPP及吸储C、N、S、Pb、Cd、Cu、Hg的生态效应进行了定位观测研究,结果表明：海岸6种防护林群落的生物量的平均达到10.7 t.hm-2、NPP达到2.5 t·hm-2·a-1、生长要素表现为速生性生长特征。各种海防林群落的年均吸储空间CO2、NO2、SO2质量分别为4.2 t.hm-2、27.1 kg·hm-2和3.4 kg·hm-2,吸储Pb、Cd、Cu分别为13.2、4.4、0.1 g·hm-2,其生态环境功能已经初步凸显,可有效地减少这些元素在地表和土壤积累、迁移或随地表径流输出至生活环境的危害,对于海岸环境区域是非常有益的。雨季高温（气温t≥35.5℃）胁迫下,海岸路网林群落的优势种群净光合速率日均达到9.8μmol·m-2·s-1且乡土树种高于引进树种,高山榕（Ficus altissima）的日最高净光合速率达到14.3μmol·m-2·s-1,较羊蹄甲（Bauhinia blakeana）高0.4μmol·m-2·s-1、较塞楝（Kaya senegaiensis）高2.2μmol·m-2·s-1,优势树种适宜海岸滩头立地、高温胁迫的光合生理特点,是其速生长的原因之一。     

黄渤海表层沉积物中正构烷烃和甾醇的分布及来源研究

在黄海、渤海湾和莱州湾采集64个表层沉积物样品,分析正构烷烃(C15～C33)和甾醇(菜子甾醇、菜油甾醇、谷甾醇和豆甾醇)的质量分数和分子组合特征,探讨其来源,比较物质来源的空间差异。结果表明:(1)黄海表层沉积物中类脂生物标志物主要呈现陆源和海源共同影响的特征,其中北黄海以陆源输入为主,高碳数正构烷烃(>C24)具有明显的奇碳优势,陆源高等植物的贡献较大;南黄海陆源输入与海洋自身贡献相当;渤海湾与莱州湾接受来自河流的大量陆源物质;(2)来源于陆源高等植物的甾醇(包括菜油甾醇、谷甾醇和豆甾醇)在黄海表层沉积物中的质量分数远小于渤海湾和莱州湾,但指示硅藻来源的菜子甾醇在整个研究区域均具有较高的质量分数。     

夏季黄海和渤海微表层和次表层海水中营养盐的分布特征

基于2011年6月黄海和渤海微表层和次表层中营养盐(DIN、PO34--P、SiO23--Si)的调查数据,分析讨论了营养盐的平面分布特征,并选取黄海冷水团断面和长江口断面对营养盐的垂直分布特征进行了分析.结果表明,不论是微表层还是次表层,营养盐的分布都是从近岸向远海递减,在河口地区有明显的高浓度分布;由于夏季长江冲淡水左转北上,营养盐在黄海南部长江口区呈现出水舌状分布特征;受黄海冷水团的影响,北黄海冷水团断面的垂直分布出现表层层化和底层垂直混合均匀的现象;受长江径流输入的影响,长江口断面DIN和SiO23--Si的垂直分布呈现表层浓度大于底层浓度的特征.另外,研究了微表层对NH4+-N、NO2--N、NO3--N、PO34--P、SiO23--Si和DIN的富集情况,结果表明除NO3--N外,微表层对次表层中的其它营养盐都产生了明显的富集作用,平均富集因子介于1.37～2.21之间.     

Modeling eelgrass spatial response to nutrient abatement measures in a changing climate

For many coastal areas including the Baltic Sea, ambitious nutrient abatement goals have been set to curb eutrophication, but benefits of such measures were normally not studied in light of anticipated climate change. To project the likely responses of nutrient abatement on eelgrass (Zostera marina), we coupled a species distribution model with a biogeochemical model, obtaining future water turbidity, and a wave model for predicting the future hydrodynamics in the coastal area. Using this, eelgrass distribution was modeled for different combinations of nutrient scenarios and future wind fields. We are the first to demonstrate that while under a business as usual scenario overall eelgrass area will not recover, nutrient reductions that fulfill the Helsinki Commission’s Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP) are likely to lead to a substantial areal expansion of eelgrass coverage, primarily at the current distribution’s lower depth limits, thereby overcompensating losses in shallow areas caused by a stormier climate.     

First monospecific bloom of the harmful raphidophyte Chattonella antiqua (Hada) Ono in Alexandria waters related to water quality and copepod grazing

The massive red tide bloom of Chattonella antiqua that occurred in Alexandria waters during late August/early September 2006 was monospecific, of very high density, and of wide spatial distribution, and was accompanied by mass fish and invertebrates mortalities. During the bloom, surface water temperature ranged between 26.5 and 28.5 °C and salinity between 23 and 27 psu. The bloom started under very high nitrate and ammonia levels; where the uptake of ammonia seemed to be faster than that of nitrate, and the bloom seemed to avoid the copepod grazing. Mass fish and invertebrates mortality was observed. Few cells of Heterosigma species have been reported for the first time in the Alexandria waters. Several environmental constraints (including physical factors), nutrient loading, copepod grazing and comparison with other data for C. antiqua blooms in Alexandria waters are also discussed.     

daNUbs: Lessons learned for nutrient management in the Danube Basin and its relation to Black Sea euthrophication

The results of the daNUbs-project deliver a basis for a proper management of nutrients in the Danube Basin. The understanding of the sources, pathways, and sinks of nutrients in the Basin and their effects on the Western ad North-Western Black Sea (WBS) ecosystem has been improved. Quantitative models on the emission of nutrients, their transport along the rivers, and their impact on the WBS have been further developed and combined. Phosphorus loads discharged by the Danube are 30-50% lower than in the 1980s (dissolved P even to a higher extent). Nitrogen emissions have decreased considerably as well. The lower nutrient discharges from the Danube have led to a significant improvement in the WBS ecosystem. Current low discharges of N and P to the WBS are the result of (1) improved nutrient removal from waste water in Germany, Austria, and Czech Republic, (2) reduced P-discharges from detergents and (3) the consequences of the economic crisis in central and eastern European countries following the political changes of 1989/1990. As the decrease is partly due to the economic breakdown in the formerly communist countries, economic development in these countries has to go along with proper nutrient management. Otherwise, the situation in the WBS ecosystem will deteriorate again.     

Relationships between dissolved and particulate carbohydrate temporal patterns and mucilaginous aggregates formation: evidences from time series analysis and biochemical composition of aggregates

A 3-year monitoring of dissolved and particulate carbohydrate concentrations in four transects located in the Adriatic and Tyrrhenian Seas was performed in order to get information on the role played by carbohydrates in the mucilage formation in these areas. The application of time series analysis pointed out that the concentration of dissolved carbohydrates does not vary significantly in coincidence of the mucilage appearance showing an almost constant state with respect to time. In contrast, wider temporal variations of carbohydrate amounts, either increase or decrease, were observed when mucilages were lacking or reduced. This almost constant state of carbohydrate amounts observed in presence of mucilages that we define 'steady state' could be associated to an alteration of the complex chemical equilibrium between synthesis and degradation (either hydrolysis or oxidation) reactions of the organic polymers which are typical of the humification processes in the marine environment. The results of this study suggest that the monitoring of carbohydrates can represent an useful tool for the comprehension of the most relevant phenomena of mucilage appearance in the Northern Adriatic Sea.