Trends of Superoxide Dismutase and Soluble Protein of Aquatic Plants in Lakes of Different Trophic Levels in the Middle and Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River, China

A limnological study was carried out to determine the responses of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and soluble protein (SP) contents of 11 common aquatic plants to eutrophication stress. Field investigation in 12 lakes in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River was carried out from March to September 2004. Our results indicated that non-submersed (emergent and floating-leafed) plants and submersed plants showed different responses to eutrophication stress. Both SOD activities of the non-submersed and submersed plants were negatively correlated with their SP contents (P < 0.000 1). SP contents of non-submersed plants were significantly correlated with all nitrogen variables in the water (P < 0.05), whereas SP contents of submersed plants were only significantly correlated with carbon variables as well as ammonium and Secchi depth (SD) in water (P < 0.05). Only SOD activities of submersed plants were decreased with decline of SD in water (P < 0.001). Our results indicate that the decline of SOD activities of submersed plants were mainly caused by light limitation, this showed a coincidence with the decline of macrophytes in eutrophic lakes, which might imply that the antioxidant system of the submersed plants were impaired under eutrophication stress.

The distribution and economic losses of alien species invasion to China

Invasive alien species have become one of the most serious environmental issues in the world. Data of taxon, origin, pathway, and environmental impacts of invasive alien microorganisms, invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles, fish, birds, mammals, herbs, trees, and, marine organisms in terrestrial, aquatic, and marine ecosystems of China were analyzed during 2001 and 2003, based on literature retrieval and field survey. There were 283 invasive alien species in China, and the number of species of invasive alien microorganisms, aquatic plants, terrestrial plants, aquatic invertebrates, terrestrial invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles, fish, and mammals were 19, 18, 170, 25, 33, 3, 10, and 5, respectively. The proportion of invasive alien species originated from America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Oceania were 55.1, 21.7, 9.9, 8.1, and 0.6%, respectively. Methods for estimation of direct economic losses to agriculture, forestry, stockbreeding, fishery, road and water transportation, storage, water conservancy, environment and public facilities, and human health were established. Methods for estimation of indirect economic losses caused by invasive alien species to service functions of forest ecosystems, agricultural ecosystems, grassland ecosystems, and wetland ecosystems were also established. The total economic losses caused by invasive alien species to China were to the time of USD 14.45 billion, with direct and indirect economic losses accounting for 16.59% and 83.41% of total economic losses, respectively.

Biodiversity changes in the lakes of the Central Yangtze

The Central Yangtze ecoregion in China includes a number of lakes, but these have been greatly affected by human activities over the past several decades, resulting in severe loss of biodiversity. In this paper, we document the present distribution of the major lakes and the changes in size that have taken place over the past 50 years, using remote sensing data and historical observations of land cover in the region. We also provide an overview of the changes in species richness, community composition, population size and age structure, and individual body size of aquatic plants, fishes, and waterfowl in these lakes. The overall species richness of aquatic plants found in eight major lakes has decreased substantially during the study period. Community composition has also been greatly altered, as have population size and age and individual body size in some species. These changes are largely attributed to the integrated effects of lake degradation, the construction of large hydroelectric dams, the establishment of nature reserves, and lake restoration practices.

The status and causes of alien species invasion in China

Data of classification, origin, pathway and environmental impacts of invasive alien micro-organisms, invertebrates, amphibians and reptiles, fish, birds, mammals, weeds, trees, and marine organisms in terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecosystems of China, were analyzed, based on literature retrieval, field survey and consultation. Some 283 invasive alien species were recorded in China, including 19 invasive alien micro-organisms, 18 aquatic plants, 170 terrestrial plants, 25 aquatic invertebrates, 33 terrestrial invertebrates, 3 amphibians and reptiles, 10 fish, and 5 mammals. Of the invasive alien species, 55.1% originated from North and South America, 21.7% from Europe, 9.9% from Asia, 8.1% from Africa and 0.6% from Oceania. Many institutions and individuals in China lack adequate knowledge of ecological and environmental consequences caused by invasive alien species, with some ignorance of the dangerous invasion in the introduction of alien species. For instance, 50.0% of invasive alien plants were intentionally introduced as pasture, feedingstuff, ornamental plants, textile plants, medicinal plants, vegetables, or lawn plants, 25% of alien invasive animals were intentionally introduced for cultivation, ornament, or biological control, In addition, more efforts are being made in the introduction of alien species, and little attention is paid on the management of introduced alien species, which may cause their escape into natural environment and potential threats to the environment. There were also gaps in quarantine system in China. All microorganisms were unintentionally introduced, through timber, seedling, flowerpot, or soil; 76.3% of alien invasive animals invaded through commodity or transportation facility because of the failure of quarantine. Therefore, quarantine measures should be strictly implemented; and meanwhile the intentional introduction of alien species should be strictly managed and a system of risk assessment should be implemented.

Bioaccumulation of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans in the foodweb of Ya-Er Lake area, China

Bioaccumulation of PCDD/F in the foodweb was investigated in the Ya-Er Lake area, which was heavily polluted by PCDD/F. The high concentrations of PCDD/F in sediment can be transferred and bioaccumulated by aquatic organisms and humans through various pathways. Benthonic invertebrate animals and aquatic plants with a lot of fibers in the root can accumulate PCDD/F from sediment and water. Snail (Bellamya aeruginosa), shrimp (Macrobranchium sp.) and freshwater mussel (Acuticosta chinensis (Lea)) took up PCDD/F from the water and maintained the emission patterns, whereas fish tended to selectively accumulate 2,3,7,8-substituted isomers. The tissues of fish-eating bird and duck (Anas platyrhynchos) were very highly contaminated by PCDD/F due to ingestion of fish and other aquatic organisms from sediment. The residual concentration in breast milk depended on the original concentration of PCDD/F in the food. A resident in Ya-Er Lake area showed a daily intake of PCDD/ F of about 9.14 pg TEQ/kg body weight/day. This is higher than the tolerable daily intake (TDI) for PCDD/F (1 pg TEQ/kg body weight/day), which was recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

九寨沟湖泊湿地植物群落与植物地理研究

九寨沟湖泊湿地在维持九寨沟的生态平衡中起着重要的作用，在旅游产业的发展下，湿地生态系统及生物多样性面临着较大的威胁。尽管九寨沟湿地具有重要的生态价值，但目前对其研究尚比较薄弱。湿地植物群落和植物地理研究可以为湿地资源的可持续利用和监测保护提供科学依据。作者从2004年8月到2007年11月对九寨沟湿地的植物物种组成、地理分布、优势植物群落的结构、生长动态、湿地土壤种子库进行了调查研究。主要结果如下： 1. 九寨沟湿地物种组成、地理分布特点及湿地植物群落特点 九寨沟湿地共有苔藓植物8科13属16种，维管植物为48科107属199种。九寨沟湿地植物的地理成份较为丰富，维管植物在科级水平上有7种地理分布型（变型），在属级水平上有13种地理分布型（变型）， 在种级水平上共有29种地理分布型（变型）。九寨沟湿地植物以温带成份和我国特有成份为主，同时兼有热带、亚热带成份和环极—高山成份。九寨沟湿地植物的分布表现出明显的垂直地带性和水平地带性。湿地植物群落可划分21个群落类型，不同植物群落类型的物种多样性及物种组成存在较大的差异。九寨沟湿地植物的物种多样性和群落多样性以及较高的生产力特征，是维持其湿地生态景观多样性和稳定性的基础。 2. 土壤、水环境、海拔等对湿地植物的分布及生物多样性的影响 九寨沟湿地土壤、水等环境因子存在较大的差异。帕米尔苔草和宽叶香蒲等群落的凋落物较多，土壤有机碳、土壤总磷较高，可能是九寨沟湿地的重要土壤碳库。 九寨沟湿地植物沿水环境梯度的分布规律表现为：沉水植物（轮藻—篦齿眼子菜，水苦荬，杉叶藻）——挺水植物（水木贼，芦苇，宽叶香蒲）——湿生草本（苔草、节节草、披散木贼）——湿生灌木（柳灌丛，小檗灌丛）等。海拔也影响湿地植物的物种组成。 水深对物种多样性有影响，水深与物种丰富度负相关。随着水深的增加，水木贼、芦苇、杉叶藻、宽叶香蒲等群落的物种多样性下降；在长期淹水和季节性淹水的地方，水木贼群落物种多样性存在显著差异。土壤总氮与水木贼群落物种丰富度正相关。 3. 土壤营养元素、水环境对植物生长的影响 水深影响湿地植物生物量的分配。芦苇无性系分株在47 cm水深的环境中单株平均生物量最大；在干滩地中（地面水深0 cm），叶生物量百分比最大，而茎生物量百分比最小，茎的生物量百分比和生长速率随水深的增加而增加；在较干的滩地生境中，开花率、花序的生物量百分比明显大于水较深的生境。 水深与水木贼地上生物量负相关，但水木贼地上生物量在长期淹水和季节性淹水的地方没有显著的差异。在水浅的地方，杉叶藻、水木贼、芦苇等植物群落中，其他伴生物种的生物量占样方总生物量的百分比较大。 土壤有机碳、土壤总氮、土壤总磷等对湿地植物生物量的影响比较大：宽叶香蒲地上生物量与土壤总磷正相关；水木贼地上生物量与土壤总氮正相关；杉叶藻地上生物量与土壤有机碳正相关。 水深、土壤营养成分对湿地植物高度、密度等有影响。水木贼的平均高度在季节性淹水的地方比长期淹水的地方低，平均密度在长期淹水的地方比季节性淹水的地方低；除了5月份，其他观察月份水木贼的密度都与水深负相关，同时与土壤有机碳正相关。另外，芦苇密度与土壤有机碳含量正相关，宽叶香蒲密度与水深负相关，帕米尔苔草高度与土壤有机碳负相关。 4. 优势植物群落的动态变化 在优势植物群落中，优势种的高度、密度、盖度、生物量等在群落中占绝对优势。除五花海，水木贼群落的物种组成、高度、生物量在两年间没有显著的变化。芦苇群落的物种丰富度在近两年有所增加。 湿地植物生长表现为明显的季节动态，生长的峰值大多在7月－8月。优势植物群落的物候与水文周期有关。湿地植物群落的物种组成和密度，可以作为对湿地监测和保护的生物指示。 5. 九寨沟湿地土壤种子库特征及其在湿地生物多样性恢复中的作用 水深和现存植被物种丰富度可以解释湿地土壤种子库的变化。水深可以解释表层物种丰富度45%的变化。现存植被物种丰富度可以分别解释10 cm土层、2－5 cm土层及5－10 cm土层土壤种子库45%、48%和25%的变化。 湿地土壤种子库的密度为0－15945粒m-2, 种子库中共发现23个物种。现存植被优势物种和种子库优势物种不同。各层土壤种子库密度和物种丰富度并不存在显著的差异，但第二层土壤种子库密度最大。海拔、现存植被优势种盖度、土壤总磷、土壤总氮、土壤有机碳对湿地土壤种子库的密度和垂直结构没有影响。土壤种子库物种丰富度小于地上植被物种丰富度。湿地土壤种子库与地上植被的相关性不大。在浅水区域，湿地土壤种子库在湿地植被恢复中有一定作用。但在深水区域，保护现存植被更重要。 The lakeshore wetlands are valuable ecological units of the Jiuzhaigou lakes. Pressure for travel industry development pose a continuing and severe threat to the biodiversity-support function of the wetland system. Despite the ecological importance of wetlands in Jiuzhaigou, they are so far poorly studied. Both general plant communties and biogeographical studies are needed in order to attain basis for sustainable use the wetland resources and adequate protection of these areas. The present study was undertaken to examine aquatic plants distribution and the species compositon, structure and growth dynamics of their communities with variations of environmental factors along altitudes, water depth and soil properities gradients in Jiuzhaigou. Analysis of field survey data collected during August 2004 and November 2007 in lakeshore wetlands in Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve, Sichuan, China. The results were as following: (i) Species composition and biogeography in wetland vegetation 8 families, 13 genus, 16 species of moss and 48 families, 107 genus and 199 species of vascular plants in Jiuzhaigou wetlands were found. The floristic compositions were abundunt. Ten geographical distribution types at family level, 13 geographical distributions types at generic level and 29 geographical distribution types at specific level in vascular plants were found. Most species in Jiuzhaigou wetlands are temperate elements and Chinese endemic elements, with a few of tropical and subtropical and some circumarctic elements. And the plant distributions show clear vertical and horizontal patterns. There were 21 major wetland plant community types. Species composition and species richness in different plant communities are different. The species diversity and plant community diversity and their high biomass are the basis for the diversity and stability of wetland landscapes in Jiuzhaigou. (ii) Water depth, soil nutrients and altitudes influence on the species diversity and plant distribution. Total phosphorous and organic cabon in soil were higher in C. pamiernensis and T. latifolia communities, where are important cabon reservoirs in Jiuzhaigou wetlands. Along gradients of water depth, among populations of the dominant plant species present: submerged macrophytes (Chara vulgaris, Potagemonton pectinatus, Veronica anagalis-aquatica，Hippuris vulgaris), emergent macrophytes (Equisetum fluviatile, Phragamites australis, Typha latifolia), helophytes (Carex pamirensis )and shrubs (Salix sp., Berberis sp. ). Altitudes influence on the assemblage of plant communities. Water depth negatively correlated with species richness. Specie richness showed differences between permanently flooded sites and seasonally flooded sites in E. fluvatile communities. And total nitrogen in soil was negatively correlated with species richness in E. fluviatile communities. Altitudes show no significant influence on species richness, but in fact, through our analyses, they do have influence on the assemblage of wetland plants. (iii) Water depth, soil nutrients influence on the plant growth Water depth influences the biomass allocation in Phragmities australis. The average aboveground biomass of a single ramet (4.2 g) was the largest in the habitat with water level 47 cm above the soil surface. At the habitat with water level under soil surface 15 cm (－15 cm), the leaf biomass percentage (of the total ramet biomass) was the largest (46.1%), and the height and percentage of ramose ramets ( with branches on stem )(of the total ramets in a plot) were found obviously different. The deeper in water, the larger the biomass percentage and growth rate of stems were. The flowering rate and biomass of panicles were greater in shallow water than those in deep water. Water depth negatively correlated with aboveground biomass of E. fluviatile. However, above-ground biomass of E. fluviatile showed no significant difference between permanently flooded sites and seasonally flooded sites. But in shallow water, more biomasses of accompanying species were found in dominant plant communities such as H. vulgaris communities, E. fluviatile communities and P. australis communities. Water depth, soil nutrients influence on shoot density and shoot length of wetland plants. The shoot density of E. fluviatile was correlated to water depth in all growth months. Annual average density was significantly lower at permanently flooded sites than at seasonally flooded sites. But the annual average shoot length was significantly lower at seasonally flooded sites than at permanently flooded sites. (iv) Growth dynamics of dominant communities in Jiuzhaigou wetland The shoot length and shoot density, coverage and biomass of domiant species were dominated in plant communities. The species composition increased in P. australis communities in recent two years. The species richness in E. fluviatile communities showed no difference between 2005 and 2007. The above-ground biomass and shoot density in Five－flower Lake from July 2005 to July 2007 were significantly different, while in other sites, the differences were not significant. Shoot height, shoot density and above-ground biomass showed significant seasonal changes in all sites. Growth dynamics correlated with the cycle of water levels in lakes. Most plants growth parameters peaked at July or August. The biomass of T. latifolia peaked in August. But the shoot length of T. latifolia in deeper water peaked in July. The shoot length of E. fluviatile increased significantly from May to August except in seasonally flooded sites in Arrow-bamboo Lake. The species composition of communities and shoot density can be used as bioindicators in Jiuzhaigou wetland. (v) Soil seed bank in Jiuzhaigou wetland and its role in vegetation restoration Seed density in all soil layer samples was negatively correlated to water depth. Water depth can explain 45% variance of species richness in surface layer in sediment. Species richness in extant vegetation can explain 45%, 48%, 25% variance of species richness in total 10 cm and in 2－5 cm and 5－10 cm layer sediment respectively. Mean seed densities in wetlands ranged from 0 to 15945 m–2. A total of 23 species germinated in seed bank. The dominant species in seed bank and extant vegetation showed great difference. The total number of species and seedlings that germinated in different layers was not significantly different. But the second layer had the greatest seed density. In shallow water, seed bank can contribute to vegetation restoration, while in deeper water, protection of extant vegetation may be a better strategy.

Carbon dioxide dynamics and controls in a deep-water wetland on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

To initially characterize the dynamics and environmental controls of CO2, ecosystem CO2 fluxes were measured for different vegetation zones in a deep-water wetland on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau during the growing season of 2002. Four zones of vegetation along a gradient from shallow to deep water were dominated, respectively by the emergent species Carex allivescens V. Krez., Scirpus distigmaticus L., Hippuris vulgaris L., and the submerged species Potamogeton pectinatus L. Gross primary production (GPP), ecosystem respiration (Re), and net ecosystem production (NEP) were markedly different among the vegetation zones, with lower Re and GPP in deeper water. NEP was highest in the Scirpus-dominated zone with moderate water depth, but lowest in the Potamogeton-zone that occupied approximately 75% of the total wetland area. Diurnal variation in CO2 flux was highly correlated with variation in light intensity and soil temperature. The relationship between CO2 flux and these environmental variables varied among the vegetation zones. Seasonal CO2 fluxes, including GPP, Re, and NEP, were strongly correlated with aboveground biomass, which was in turn determined by water depth. In the early growing season, temperature sensitivity (Q(10)) for Re varied from 6.0 to 8.9 depending on vegetation zone. Q(10) decreased in the late growing season. Estimated NEP for the whole deep-water wetland over the growing season was 24 g C m(-2). Our results suggest that water depth is the major environmental control of seasonal variation in CO2 flux, whereas photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) controls diurnal dynamics.

The potential importance of grazing to the fluxes of carbon dioxide and methane in an alpine wetland on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

To assess the impact of livestock grazing on the emission of greenhouse gases from grazed wetlands, we examined biomass growth of plants, CO2 and CH4 fluxes under grazing and non-grazing conditions on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau wetland. After the grazing treatment for a period of about 3 months, net ecosystem CO2 uptake and aboveground biomass were significantly smaller, but ecosystem CH4 emissions were remarkably greater, under grazing conditions than under non-grazing conditions. Examination of the gas-transport system showed that the increased CH4 emissions resulted from mainly the increase of conductance in the gas-transport system of the grazed plants. The sum of global warming potential, which was estimated from the measured CO2 and CH4 fluxes, was 5.6- to 11.3-fold higher under grazing conditions than under non-grazing conditions. The results suggest that livestock grazing may increase the global warming potential of the alpine wetlands. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Relationships among the contents of total phenolics, soluble carbohydrate, and free amino acids of 15 aquatic macrophytes

In order to examine how carbon and nitrogen status of a macrophyte may affect its total phenolics (TP) production, the contents of free amino acids (FAA), soluble carbohydrate (SC) and TP were examined in leaves of seven submersed, four floating-leaved, and four emergent macrophytes. The floating-leaved and emergent macrophytes had much higher contents of SC and TP than the submersed macrophytes. The contents of FAA were not significantly different among the submersed, floating-leaved, and emergent macrophytes. Correlations among the contents of FAA, SC, and TP indicated that the production of TP was more dependent on the SC content than on the FAA content.

The restoration of aquatic macrophytes for improving water quality in a hypertrophic shallow lake in Hubei Province, China

This paper deals with a case study of the restoration of submerged macrophytes for improving water quality in a hypertrophic shallow lake, Lake Donghu of Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Macrophyte restoration experiments were conducted in large-scale enclosures established in three sublakes of different trophic status, and the effectiveness for water quality improvement was tested by using the enclosure experiment in the hypertrophic sublake. Water quality was remarkably improved after the reestablishment of aquatic macrophytes. It is suggested that the submerged vegetation of less polluted sublakes could be capable of recovering spontaneously once the stocking of herbivorous fishes has been ceased, and the K-selected plants such as Potamogeton maackianus should be introduced into these sublakes to enhance the stability of aquatic vegetation. However, it may not be possible and economical to restore the submerged macrophytes in severely polluted basins unless external pollution has been cut off and internal nutrient loadings considerably reduced. In this case, the r-selected submerged plants should be used as the pioneer species for macrophyte recovery. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.