Small cetacean bycatch as estimated from stranding schemes: The common dolphin case in the northeast Atlantic

Death in fishing gear of non-target species (called ‘bycatch’) is a major concern for marine wildlife, and mostly worrying for long-lived species like cetaceans, considering their demographic characteristics (slow population growth rates and low fecundity). In European waters, cetaceans are highly impacted by this phenomenon. Under the Common Fishery Policy, the EC 812/2004 regulation constitutes a legal frame for bycatch monitoring on 5–10% of fishing vessels >15 m. The aim of this work was to compare parameters and bycatch estimates of common dolphins (Delphinus delphis) provided by observer programmes in France and UK national reports and those inferred from stranding data, through two approaches. Bycatch was estimated from stranding data, first by correcting effectives from drift conditions (using a drift prediction model) and then by estimating the probability of being buoyant. Observer programmes on fishing vessels allowed us to identify the specificity of the interaction between common dolphins and fishing gear, and provided low estimates of annual bycaught animals (around 550 animals year⁻¹). However, observer programmes are hindered by logistical and administrative constraints, and the sampling scheme seems to be poorly designed for the detection of marine mammal bycatches. The analyses of strandings by considering drift conditions highlighted areas with high levels of interactions between common dolphins and fisheries. Since 1997, the highest densities of bycaught dolphins at sea were located in the southern part of the continental shelf and slope of the Bay of Biscay. Bycatch numbers inferred from strandings suggested very high levels, ranging from 3650 dolphins year⁻¹ [2250–7000] to 4700 [3850–5750] dolphins year⁻¹, depending on methodological choices. The main advantage of stranding data is its large spatial scale, cutting across administrative boundaries. Diverging estimates between observer programmes and stranding interpretation can set very different management consequences: observer programmes suggest a sustainable situation for common dolphins, whereas estimates based on strandings highlight a very worrying and unsustainable process.     

Biospheric influence on carbon dioxide measurements in Italy

The study concerning carbon dioxide measurements taken during the 1997, 1998 and 1999 summer campaigns at two different altitude stations and biospheric conditions are presented. The higher station (Mt. Cimone, 2165 m a.s.l.) is characterised by 360° free horizon and is located on a rocky mountain while the lower (Ninfa lake, 1550 m a.s.l.) is located inside the red spruce and beech forest. The different behaviour of CO₂ at the two mountain stations has been registered. It shows the strong effect of nighttime soil emission and vegetation respiration on CO₂ mixing ratio increases and of diurnal vegetative activity on CO₂ concentration decreases at the lower measurement site. The baseline character of the higher measurement site has been confirmed by comparison of CO₂ diurnal amplitudes recorded at the two stations.     

The Role of Headwater Streams in Downstream Water Quality1

Abstract: Knowledge of headwater influences on the water‐quality and flow conditions of downstream waters is essential to water‐resource management at all governmental levels; this includes recent court decisions on the jurisdiction of the Federal Clean Water Act (CWA) over upland areas that contribute to larger downstream water bodies. We review current watershed research and use a water‐quality model to investigate headwater influences on downstream receiving waters. Our evaluations demonstrate the intrinsic connections of headwaters to landscape processes and downstream waters through their influence on the supply, transport, and fate of water and solutes in watersheds. Hydrological processes in headwater catchments control the recharge of subsurface water stores, flow paths, and residence times of water throughout landscapes. The dynamic coupling of hydrological and biogeochemical processes in upland streams further controls the chemical form, timing, and longitudinal distances of solute transport to downstream waters. We apply the spatially explicit, mass‐balance watershed model SPARROW to consider transport and transformations of water and nutrients throughout stream networks in the northeastern United States. We simulate fluxes of nitrogen, a primary nutrient that is a water‐quality concern for acidification of streams and lakes and eutrophication of coastal waters, and refine the model structure to include literature observations of nitrogen removal in streams and lakes. We quantify nitrogen transport from headwaters to downstream navigable waters, where headwaters are defined within the model as first‐order, perennial streams that include flow and nitrogen contributions from smaller, intermittent and ephemeral streams. We find that first‐order headwaters contribute approximately 70% of the mean‐annual water volume and 65% of the nitrogen flux in second‐order streams. Their contributions to mean water volume and nitrogen flux decline only marginally to about 55% and 40% in fourth‐ and higher‐order rivers that include navigable waters and their tributaries. These results underscore the profound influence that headwater areas have on shaping downstream water quantity and water quality. The results have relevance to water‐resource management and regulatory decisions and potentially broaden understanding of the spatial extent of Federal CWA jurisdiction in U.S. waters.     

NUMERICAL MODEL OF A TRACER TEST ON THE SANTA CLARA RWER,VENTURA COUNTY,CALIFORNIA1

ABSTRACT: To better understand the flow processes, solute-trans. port processes, and ground-water/surface-water interactions on the Santa Clara River in Ventura County, California, a 24-hour fluorescent-dye tracer study was performed under steady-state flow conditions on a 45-km reach of the river. The study reach includes perennial (uppermost and lowermost) subreaches and ephemeral subreaches of the lower Piru Creek and the middle Santa Clara River. The tracer-test data were used to calibrate a one-dimensional flow model (DAFLOW) and a solute-transport model (BLTM). The dye-arrival times at each sample location were simulated by calibrating the velocity parameters in DAFLOW. The simulations of dye transport indicated that (1) ground-water recharge explains the loss of mass in the ephemeral middle subreaches, and (2) ground-water recharge does not explain the loss of mass in the perennial uppermost and lowermost subreaches. The observed tracer curves in the perennial subreaches were indicative of sorptive dye losses, transient storage, and (or) photodecay - these phenomena were simulated using a linear decay term. However, analysis of the linear decay terms indicated that photodecay was not a dominant source of dye loss.     

Elevated CO2 facilitates C and N accumulation in a rice paddy ecosystem

Elevated CO2 can stimulate wetland carbon(C) and nitrogen(N) exports through gaseous and dissolved pathways, however, the consequent influences on the C and N pools are still not fully known. Therefore, we set up a free-air CO2 enrichment experiment in a paddy field in Eastern China. After five year fumigation, we studied C and N in the plant–water–soil system. The results showed:(1) elevated CO2 stimulated rice aboveground biomass and N accumulations by 19.1% and 12.5%, respectively.(2) Elevated CO2 significantly increased paddy soil TOC and TN contents by 12.5% and 15.5%, respectively in the 0–15 cm layer, and22.7% and 26.0% in the 15–30 cm soil layer.(3) Averaged across the rice growing period,elevated CO2 greatly increased TOC and TN contents in the surface water by 7.6% and 11.4%,respectively.(4) The TOC/TN ratio and natural δ15N value in the surface soil showed a decreasing trend under elevated CO2. The above results indicate that elevated CO2 can benefit C and N accumulation in paddy fields. Given the similarity between the paddies and natural wetlands, our results also suggest a great potential for long-term C and N accumulation in natural wetlands under future climate patterns.     

Hydrograph Separation by Incorporating Climatological Factors: Application to Small Experimental Watersheds 1

Abstract: Evaluating the relative amounts of water moving through the different components of the hydrological cycle is required for precise management and planning of water resources. An important aspect of this evaluation is the partitioning of streamflow into surface (quick flow) and base‐flow components. A prior study evaluated 40 different approaches for hydrograph‐partitioning on a field scale watershed in the Coastal Plain of the Southeastern United States and concluded that the Boughton’s method produced the most consistent and accurate results. However, its accuracy depends upon the proper estimation of: (1) the end of surface runoff, and (2) the fraction factor (α) that is function of many physical and hydrologic characteristics of a watershed. Proper identification of the end of surface runoff was accomplished by using a second derivative approach. Applying this approach to 12 years of separately measured surface and subsurface flow data from a field scale watershed (study area) proved to be accurate for 87% of the time. Estimation of the α value was accomplished in this study using two steps: (1) alpha was fitted to individual hydrographs: and, (2) a regression equation that determines these alpha values based on climatological factors (e.g., rainfall, evapotranspiration) was developed. Using these strategies improved the streamflow partitioning method’s performance significantly.     

三峡库区城镇建设用地驱动因子路径分析

随着三峡大坝的修建．三峡经济飞速发展．带动了利用三峡库区城镇建设用地的变化。本文以三峡库区21个县市1995—2005年城镇建设用用地的变化量为主要研究对象。结合1995-2005年期间第二产业与第三产业的集中指数与区位商的空间分布变化。采用路径分析建模的方法。奠立了城镇建设用地与固定资产投资、社会商品零售总额、第二产值、第三产值及城镇人口的路径模型．确定了备影响因子对蜮镇建设用地变化的影响程度。其中第二产值对城镇建设用地的变化影响最大．影响力最小的是城镇人口。此项研究进一步验证了路径分析模型在土地利用变化驱动力分析研究中的可行性．同时也为库区城镇建设用地的控制提供了参考。     

西南岩溶石山地区岩溶水资源合理开发利用模式

针对湘西洛塔岩溶区特殊的地质环境所造成的干旱缺水、水土流失、生态环境恶化等问题的特点，在调查、分析洛塔自然条件与水土资源、生态环境基本条件的基础上，实施了13处岩溶水资源开发利用示范工程。通过系统总结洛塔地区岩溶水资源合理开发利用技术与方法及岩溶水资源开发利用成功经验，提出了以岩溶水小流域为单元对岩溶水资源进行综合开发利用的5种模式：①地下河堵洞引水开发利用模式；②地下河出口及岩溶大泉引水开发利用模式；③凿引水隧洞拦截地下河开发利用模式；④地表地下联合水库开发利用模式；⑤表层岩溶泉开发利用模式。通过对失败工程的案例分析，认为在岩溶水资源开发利用过程中，应查清工程的岩溶发育规律及工程地质条件，分析经济技术支持的可行性，然后采取相适应的开采方式与方法。岩溶水资源进行综合开发利用的5种模式的提出，为在湘西实施“水源〖DK1〗·土地〖DK1〗·生态”持续发展战略，发展生态经济，实现脱贫致富，促进社会经济、生态环境良性循环，提供了切实可行的实用技术与方法借鉴。     

基于FTA-SVM的车辆发动机故障识别方法

发动机结构日益复杂,其故障具有多样性和频发性的特点,收集大量故障样本存在很多实施障碍。为了提高车辆发动机的故障识别的效率和准确性,提出了一种新的结合故障树(FTA)和支持向量机(SVM)各自特点,从故障模式分析到故障类型识别的FTA-SVM故障识别方法。首先利用故障树在复杂系统故障模式分析中的优势,找出系统的故障模式,建立故障树模型,通过对故障树模型中各故障事件的分析,采集与故障事件状态相关的数据,建立数据与故障树底事件的映射模型,最后利用支持向量机在小样本数据处理中的优势,进行故障类型的识别。以发动机的失火故障为例建立了发动机失火故障树模型及故障数据与故障模式映射模型,验证了FTA-SVM方法的有效性和适用性。