Settlement seasonality and temporal changes in hard substrate macrozoobenthic communities of Lesina Lagoon (Apulia, Southern Adriatic Sea)

The macrofauna settling on experimental substrates was studied at two sites of the Lesina Lagoon to test its possible role in monitoring ecological variations in a brackish-water ecosystem. The community settlement was seasonally investigated on 3-month-old wooden poles; the development was monitored from 2001 to 2005. Comparisons with benthic assemblages settled on 10-yr-old poles were also performed. The main hydrological parameters were periodically measured during the study. A total of 38 species were collected. The assemblage reached the highest development in the central lagoon, showing relevant carbonate structures which supported a rich vagile fauna. Close to the sea-water inlet species richness and abundance values were lower, with the disappearance of some brackish-water species. A remarkable salinity drop during 2004 produced some faunistic changes in the assemblages, which however maintained different structures between the study sites, thus confirming macrozoobenthos as an efficient bioindicator of different environmental conditions for transition biotopes and a useful investigation tool in monitoring programmes.     

渤海海洋资源价值量核算的研究

探讨海洋资源核算的目的在于重新建立海洋资源价值观，科学评价、合理开发利用海洋资源，为实施有效的管理、保障区域海洋经济的可持续发展提供依据。以海洋资源分类为基础，构建了水产，港址、海洋石油、海盐、滨海景观、滩涂等海洋资源价值量评估的基本方法。以渤海为研究区域．以2004年为基准年．对上述海洋资源初步进行货币化的价值量核算。结果表明：环渤海地区主要海洋资源价值为8028亿元．相当于当年环渤海地区生产总值的24％；海洋资源价值以港址资源为主。占总价值的38．56％；海洋资源价值主要分布在山东地区。占总价值的47.4％；单位岸线海洋资源价值差异大，其中天津最高为7．84亿元／km；海洋资源开发雷同现象严重．环渤海各地区均以海洋渔业、港口运输业和滨海旅游业为主。     

Sources and Distribution of Heavy Metals in East China Sea Surface Sediments

Box cores and surficial sediments collected from the shelf, slope and Okinawa Trough of the East China Sea were analyzed for loss on ignition, and concentration and speciation of Al, Fe, Mn, Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn. in general, concentrations of these metals are higher in the inner shelf and lower in the midshelf, but the highest LOI, Cd and Mn levels are found in the Okinawa Trough. Spatial distributions of these metals in surficial sediments indicate that the Yangtze River is the major source for materials deposited in the inner shelf. the results of a six-stage sequential leaching experiment indicate that the fluvial input includes natural (e.g., Al and Fe) and anthropogenic (e.g., Pb) materials. the depletion concentration of these metals in the midshelf sediments reflects the dominance (∼ 70%) of coarse, relict sand, while the enrichments in the inner shelf and the Okinawa Trough sediments are due to the fine grained, organic-rich sediments. the speciation of Mn in the sediments of the Okinawa Trough indicates that its distribution is diagentically or hydrothermally controlled.     

Storm surges: perspectives and options

This review paper attempts to summarize the scattered and fragmented knowledge about past and possible future changing storm-surge statistics using the particularly well-studied case of the North Sea as an example. For this region, a complete and robust analysis methodology has been developed in recent years. This methodology is based on dynamical and statistical models. Using the concept of dynamical downscaling, development during recent decades, when sufficiently good and homogeneous weather data exist, has been “reconstructed,” and scenarios of possible future change are described. “Localization” allows estimation of changes at specific sites, e.g., harbors. As local water-level statistics depend not only on climate variations but also on local modifications of the local bathymetry, new options for adaptation emerge. For the case of Hamburg, an option for such future adaptations is discussed.     

Vertical Distribution and Inventories of 239,240Pu in Deep Sea Sediments of the Mediterranean Sea (Algerian Basin, Ionian Sea)

Deep-sea sediments collected in two areas of the Mediterranean Sea having different sedimentological characteristics have been analyzed to determine present concentrations and inventories of ^239,240Pu and to study the main mechanisms controlling them. Plutonium distribution in the deepest part of a submarine canyon (Taranto Valley, Ionian Sea) is compared to that obtained in an abyssal plain (north Algerian Plain). in the latter case, sedimentation is mainly due to the sinking of biogenic particles, while in the former lateral transport of terrigenous material along the slope of the canyon can significantly contribute to sediment accumulation on the bottom.

^239,240Pu surface concentration in the canyon ranged from 0.2 to 1 Bq kg^-1 (dry weight) and this was lower in the abyssal plain. in this area, plutonium was detectable only in the first 4 cm, while in the canyon it was present down to 11-15 cm. ^239,240Pu inventories are 3 Bq m^-2 in the plain and 45-60 Bq m^-2 in the canyon, indicating considerable input of terrigenous material towards the final part of the Taranto Valley.     

The State of Food Resources and Reproductive Success of Tufted and Horned Puffins in the Northern Sea of Okhotsk

Studies on the reproductive biology of seabirds on Talan and Umara islands in 1987–1999 showed that the diet of nestlings and reproductive success of the tufted puffin (Lunda cirrhata) and horned puffin (Fratercula corniculata) considerably varied in different colonies. This was determined by differences in the hydrologic characteristics of water areas and the state of food resources in Taui Bay (the northern Sea of Okhotsk). The reproductive success of tufted puffins was higher on Umara Island due to more favorable environmental conditions and relatively stable food resources in Odyan Bay. The parameters of reproductive success and the nestling diet in tufted and horned puffins from Talan Island differed considerably. The survival of nestlings was always higher in horned puffins, which was related to some characteristics of their feeding ecology.     

The Monitoring of UK Sewage Sludge Disposal Sites

In recent years there has been an increase in the intensity and frequency of environmental monitoring surveys at UK sewage sludge disposal sites. These have been carried out by the regulatory authorities and by the licensees. in order to ensure maximum efficiency, a coordinated and harmonised programme of monitoring has been developed. the programme concentrates on sediment chemical and biological quality but also includes assessments of water and fish quality

In England and Wales the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food is the regulatory authority and the Water Authorities are the licensees. the Ministry's first priority is the collection of samples for temporal trend analysis but in addition, infrequent surveys are made to check the status of the disposal site and surrounding areas. in the periods between status surveys, regular spatial surveys designed to define the area of impact are carried out by the Water Authorities.     

Phytoplankton photosynthetic activity and growth rates in the NW Adriatic Sea

Taxonomic composition, biomass, primary production and growth rates of the phytoplankton community were studied in two stations in the NW Adriatic Sea on a seasonal basis, in areas characterized by differing hydrological and trophic conditions. The main differences between the two stations were quantitative rather than qualitative, most phytoplankton species being common to both stations. The effects of differing nutrient concentrations and plume spreading were evident. Biomass and primary production rates were significantly higher in the coastal station (S1), and the phytoplankton distribution in the water column was markedly stratified in S1 and more even in the offshore station (S3). However, chlorophyll a specific production, potential growth rate and production efficiencies were very similar in both stations, even when phosphorus concentrations were limiting. A discrepancy between potential and actual growth rate was observed: as a feature common to both stations, comparisons between potential and actual growth rates revealed that little carbon produced by phytoplankton accumulated as algal biomass; therefore, very high loss rates were estimated.     

VARIABILITY OF DISSOLVED ORGANIC MATTER IN NORTHERN ADRIATIC COASTAL WATERS

The results obtained in the four seasonal cruises planned in the PRISMA II project are reported. These concern dissolved and colloidal organic carbon, free amino acids and total dissolved carbohydrates and heterotrophic activity. Main factors controlling organic matter degradation, resulting from laboratory tests not planned in the above project, are also discussed. Dissolved organic matter shows seasonal accumulation, which may be markedly different from year to year, and large contributions by colloidal and saccharide components. Heterotrophic activities play an important role in the carbon cycle, although laboratory runs highlight limitations caused by aging of organic matter and phosphorus deficiency.     

南海海洋环境下机载电子设备的腐蚀及外场防护对策

针对南海海洋大气环境下机载电子设备腐蚀故障率较大的问题,对现役飞机机载电子设备材料体系、外场故障现象及腐蚀机理进行了系统分析。结果表明,电子设备及其元器件受到微量的腐蚀就会对其功能、性能产生较大的影响,现役飞机电子设备的三防设计无法满足南海严酷的环境适应性要求,开展综合环境加速试验技术、微腐蚀机制及电信号传输与腐蚀间的对应关系等关键技术研究,是今后的重点研究方向。最后结合腐蚀原因和特点,给出了飞机外场具体腐蚀防护对策。