An Evaluation of Selenium Concentrations in Water, Sediment, Invertebrates, and Fish from the Republican River Basin: 1997–1999

The Republican River Basin of Colorado,Nebraska, and Kansas lies in a valley which contains PierreShale as part of its geological substrata. Selenium is anindigenous constituent in the shale and is readily leached intosurrounding groundwater. The Basin is heavily irrigated throughthe pumping of groundwater, some of which is selenium-contaminated, onto fields in agricultural production. Water,sediment, benthic invertebrates, and/or fish were collected from46 sites in the Basin and were analyzed for selenium to determinethe potential for food-chain bioaccumulation, dietary toxicity,and reproductive effects of selenium in biota. Resultingselenium concentrations were compared to published guidelines orbiological effects thresholds. Water from 38% of the sites (n = 18) contained selenium concentrations exceeding 5 g L^-1, which is reported to be a high hazard for selenium accumulation into the planktonic food chain. An additional 12 sites (26% of the sites) contained selenium in water between 3–5 g L^-1, constituting a moderate hazard. Selenium concentrations in sedimentindicated little to no hazard for selenium accumulation fromsediments into the benthic food chain. Ninety-five percent ofbenthic invertebrates collected exhibited selenium concentrationsexceeding 3 g g^-1, a level reported as potentially lethal to fish and birds that consume them. Seventy-five percent of fish collected in 1997, 90% in 1998, and 64% in 1999 exceeded 4 g g^-1selenium, indicating a high potential for toxicity andreproductive effects. However, examination of weight profilesof various species of collected individual fish suggestedsuccessful recruitment in spite of selenium concentrations thatexceeded published biological effects thresholds for health andreproductive success. This finding suggested that universalapplication of published guidelines for selenium may beinappropriate or at least may need refinement for systems similarto the Republican River Basin. Additional research is needed todetermine the true impact of selenium on fish and wildliferesources in the Basin.     

Integration of ecological–biological thresholds in conservation decision making

In the Anthropocene, coupled human and natural systems dominate and only a few natural systems remain relatively unaffected by human influence. On the one hand, conservation criteria based on areas of minimal human impact are not relevant to much of the biosphere. On the other hand, conservation criteria based on economic factors are problematic with respect to their ability to arrive at operational indicators of well‐being that can be applied in practice over multiple generations. Coupled human and natural systems are subject to economic development which, under current management structures, tends to affect natural systems and cross planetary boundaries. Hence, designing and applying conservation criteria applicable in real‐world systems where human and natural systems need to interact and sustainably coexist is essential. By recognizing the criticality of satisfying basic needs as well as the great uncertainty over the needs and preferences of future generations, we sought to incorporate conservation criteria based on minimal human impact into economic evaluation. These criteria require the conservation of environmental conditions such that the opportunity for intergenerational welfare optimization is maintained. Toward this end, we propose the integration of ecological–biological thresholds into decision making and use as an example the planetary‐boundaries approach. Both conservation scientists and economists must be involved in defining operational ecological–biological thresholds that can be incorporated into economic thinking and reflect the objectives of conservation, sustainability, and intergenerational welfare optimization.     

The Role of Prices in Conserving Critical Natural Capital

Abstract: Until recent decades, economic decision makers have largely ignored the nonmarket benefits provided by nature, resulting in unprecedented threats to ecological life‐support functions. The economic challenge today is to decide how much ecosystem structure can be converted to economic production and how much must be conserved to provide essential ecosystem services. Many economists and a growing number of life scientists hope to address this challenge by estimating the marginal value of environmental benefits and then using this information to make economic decisions. I assessed this approach first by examining the role and effectiveness of the price mechanism in a well‐functioning market economy, second by identifying the issues that prevent markets from pricing many ecological benefits, and third by focusing on problems inherent to valuing services generated by complex and poorly understood ecosystems subject to irreversible change. I then focus on critical natural capital (CNC), which generates benefits that are essential to human welfare and have few if any substitutes. When imminent ecological thresholds threaten CNC, conservation is essential and marginal valuation becomes inappropriate. Once conservation needs have been met, remaining ecosystem structure is potentially available for economic production. Demand for this available supply will determine prices. In other words, conservation needs should be price determining, not price determined. Conservation science must help identify CNC and the quantity and quality of ecosystem structure required to ensure its sustained provision.     

北方农田镉污染土壤玉米生产阈值及产区划分初探

为探究我国北方镉(Cd)污染农田中玉米安全生产的土壤阈值以及产区划分,于部分北方玉米主要产区(含不同程度Cd污染)收集了 129套点对点的土壤-玉米样品,分析了土壤理化性质与土壤、玉米籽粒Cd含量之间的相关性,利用多元线性回归法和物种敏感度分布曲线法(SSD)推导不同土壤情景下土壤Cd的生态阈值,并进行了玉米"宜产、限产、禁产"产区划分.结果表明,研究区土壤与玉米籽粒中Cd含量超标分别为99.62％和49.61％;玉米籽粒中Cd富集系数(BCF)与土壤pH、土壤有机质(SOM)、阳离子交换量(CEC)和土壤有效态Cd含量(DTPA浸提)均呈极显著相关性(P＜0.01).多元线性回归法的预测可解释因变量71.9％的变异量;基于研究区土壤特性以及参考资料,划分3种不同土壤情景分别为,情景1:6.5＜pH≤7.5,土壤 ω(SOM)=15 g·kg-1,土壤 CEC=15 cmol·kg-1;情景2:7.5＜pH＜8.5,土壤 ω(SOM)=20 g·kg-1,土壤 CEC=20 cmol·kg-1;情景3:pH≥8.5,土壤 ω(SOM)=17 g·kg-1,土壤 CEC=17 cmol.kg-1,利用 SSD 法中 Logistic 函数模型推导以上3种情景的粮食宜产区土壤Cd阈值分别为3.00、3.80和3.11 mg·kg-1;禁产区阈值为8.95、9.10和7.21 mg～kg-1,当土壤Cd含量介于宜产区阈值与禁产区阈值之间时该区域划分为粮食限产区;玉米用于饲料使用时3种情景下的饲料宜产区阈值分别为14.94、18.90和15.55 mg·kg-1,禁产区阈值分别为44.93、45.40和36.05 mg·kg-1,两者之间的区域为饲料限产区.以上方法和结果可为我国北方农田土壤的安全生产提供参考,并为土壤生态阈值的标准制定提供科学依据.     

Sensitivity to biologically relevant odours may exceed the sum of component thresholds

Summary In four fruit-eating bats sniff-rate analysis revealed the threshold value for natural banana odour to be 1 × 10^–4 vol% of head-space while the threshold values for its major components were found to be 3–6 orders of magnitude higher; even the total of molecules present at the threshold dilution of banana odour was 2 orders of magnitude below the lowest threshold values obtained for single components. Thus, the responsiveness of the bats to threshold concentration of natural banana odour is discussed as an example of synergism of stimuli.     

The SeKT joint research project: definition of reference conditions, control sediments and toxicity thresholds for limnic sediment contact tests

- In current biotest approaches, intact organisms or in vitro systems are exposed to sediments using different exposure scenarios. The most important issue in sediment toxicity testing protocols is the question which test phase (solid or liquid) should be used. Whole-sediment exposure protocols represent the most realistic scenario to simulate in situ exposure conditions in the laboratory. However, until now there is no agreement in how to acquire and to evaluate the data of the various available sediment contact assays. The SeKT joint research project was initiated with the aim to compare recently developed sediment contact assays by addressing reference conditions, control sediments and toxicity thresholds for limnic sediment contact tests.     

北京市北运河水系底栖动物群落与水环境驱动因子的关系及水生态健康评价

底栖动物可反映多种生态威胁对水环境的积累效应,与河流水生态系统健康状态密切相关.本研究以北京市典型流域北运河流域为例,基于2015年夏季野外采样调查34个站点水生态数据,对底栖动物群落特征进行分析,采用典型对应分析筛选得到水质驱动因子,利用临界点指示类群分析方法探究关键影响因子的指示物种及其阈值,并基于底栖动物完整性指...     

ASSESSING STREAM CHANNEL STABILITY THRESHOLDS USING FLOW COMPETENCE ESTIMATES AT BANKFULL STAGE1

ABSTRACT: Stream channel stability is affected by peak flows rather than average annual water yield. Timber harvesting and other land management activities that contribute to soil compaction, vegetation removal, or increased drainage density can increase peak discharges and decrease the recurrence interval of bankfull discharges. Increased peak discharges can cause more frequent movement of large streambed materials, leading to more rapid stream channel change or instability. This study proposes a relationship between increased discharge and channel stability, and presents a methodology that can be used to evaluate stream channel stability thresholds on a stream reach basis. Detailed surveys of the channel cross section, water surface slope, streambed particle size distribution, and field identification of bankfull stage are used to estimate existing bankfull flow conditions. These site specific stream channel characteristics are used in bed load movement formulae to predict critical flow conditions for entrainment of coarse bed material (D₈₄ size fraction). The “relative bed stability” index, defined as the ratio of critical flow condition to the existing condition at bankfull discharge, can predict whether increased peak discharges will exceed stream channel thresholds.     

FLUVIAL PROCESSES AND MORPHOLOGICAL THRESHOLDS IN INCISED CHANNEL RESTORATION1

ABSTRACT: Incised channels are those in which an imbalance between sediment transport capacity and sediment supply has led to degradation of their beds. This is a frequent response to stream channelization, changes in land use, or lowering of base level. If the degradation causes a critical bank-height threshold to be exceeded, which is dependent on the geotechnical properties of the bank materials, then bank failure and channel widening follow. Interdependent adjustments of channel slope and cross-sectional area occur until a new state of dynamic equilibrium with the imposed discharge and sediment load is attained. These geomorphic adjustments can be described and quantified by using location-for-time substitution and a model of channel evolution can be formulated. Three approaches to rehabilitation of the degraded channels are possible; geomorphic, engineering and rational. The rational approach, which integrates elements of both the engineering and geomorphic approaches, is based on the channel evolution model, and it generally involves control of grade, control of discharge, or a combination of both.