Wetlands and coastal water quality: Should wetland size matter?

Generally, wetlands are thought to perform water purification functions, removing contaminants as water flows through sediment and vegetation. This paradigm was challenged when Grant et al. (2001) reported that Talbert Salt Marsh (Figure 1.) increased fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) output to coastal waters, contributing to poor coastal water quality. Like most southern California wetlands, Talbert Salt Marsh has been severely degraded. It is a small (10 ha), restored wetland, only 1/100th its original size, and located at the base of a highly urbanized watershed. Is it reasonable to expect that this or any severely altered wetland will perform the same water purification benefits as a natural wetland? To determine how a more pristine southern California coastal wetland attenuated bacterial contaminants, we investigated FIB concentrations entering and exiting Carpinteria Salt Marsh (Figure 2.), a 93 ha, moderate-sized, relatively natural wetland.(PDF contains 4 pages)

Interpreting the environmental record in the sediments of Blelham Tarn

Two aspects of the environmental record in the sediments of Blelham Tarn have been investigated: (1) the ecological history of the catchment, and lake-catchment relationships, by detailed analysis of the preserved pollen (as an indication of vegetation) and sediment composition with respect to a range of inorganic and organic geochemical variables and (2) a detailed investigation of the manner in which sediment is being formed today, including the way in which microfossils (pollen and diatoms) are being recruited and incorporated into sediments. When the record was examined by biological and geochemical analysis, together with radionuclide dating, of closely spaced samples, it was found that the changes of the last 30 yrs represented only the most recent episode in a long history of modification of the lake by man. To find an approach to this it is necessary to go back for at least 2500 yrs.

Final Evaluation Memorandum: Strategies for Resolving Low Dissolved Oxygen and Methylmercury Events in Northern Suisun Marsh

The purpose of the project is to improve our understanding about best management practices that can be utilized on diked managed wetlands in Suisun Marsh for reducing the occurrence of low dissolved oxygen (DO) and high methylmercury (MeHg) events associated primarily with fall flood-up practices. Low DO events are of concern because they can lead to undue stress and even mortality of sensitive aquatic organisms. Elevated MeHg levels are of concern because MeHg is a neurotoxin that bio-magnifies up the food chain and can cause deleterious effects to higher trophic level consumers such as piscivorous fish, birds, and mammals (including humans). This study involved two years (2007-2008) of intensive field data collection at two managed wetland sites in northwest Suisun Marsh and their surrounding tidal sloughs, an area with prior documented low DO events. In addition, the study collected limited soils and water quality field data and mapped vegetation for three managed wetland sites in the central interior of Suisun Marsh, for the purpose of examining whether wetlands at other locations exhibit characteristics that could indicate potential for similar concerns. In Year 1 of the study, the objective was to identify the baseline conditions in the managed wetlands and determine which physical management conditions could be modified for Year 2 to reduce low DO and MeHg production issues most effectively. The objective of Year 2 was to evaluate the effectiveness of these modified management actions at reducing production of low DO and elevated MeHg conditions within the managed wetlands and to continue improving understanding of the underlying biogeochemical processes at play. This Final Evaluation Memorandum examined a total of 19 BMPs, 14 involving modified water management operations and the remaining five involving modified soil and vegetation management practices. Some of these BMPs were previously employed and others have not yet been tested. For each BMP this report assesses its efficacy in improving water quality conditions and potential conflicts with wetland management. It makes recommendations for further study (either feasibility assessments or field testing) and whether to consider for future use. Certain previously used BMPs were found to be important contributors to poor water quality conditions and their continued use is not recommended. Some BMPs that could improve water quality conditions appear difficult to implement in regards to compatibility with wetland management; these BMPs require further elaboration and feasibility assessment to determine whether they should be field tested. In practice for any given wetland, there is likely a combination of BMPs that would together have the greatest potential to address the low DO and high MeHg water quality concerns. Consequently, this report makes no sweeping recommendations applicable to large groups of wetlands but instead promotes a careful consideration of factors at each wetland or small groups of wetlands and from that assessment to apply the most effective suite of BMPs. This report also identifies a number of recommended future actions and studies. These recommendations are geared toward improving the process understanding of factors that promote low DO and high MeHg conditions, the extent of these problems in Suisun Marsh, the regulatory basis for the DO standards for a large estuarine marsh, the economics of BMPs, and alternative approaches to BMPs on diked managed wetlands that may address the water quality issues. The most important of these recommendations is that future BMP implementation should be carried out within the context of rigorous scientific evaluation so as to gain the maximum improvement in how to manage these water quality issues in the diked managed wetlands of Suisun Marsh.

Wetland resource evaluation and the NRA's role in its conservation. 1. Resource assessment

This is the Wetland resource evaluation and the NRA's role in its conservation: Resource assessment report produced by the National Rivers Authority in 1995. This R&D document provides a strategy for the assessment of the wetland resource of England and Wales. As a first step the report defines wetlands in their UK context. The following working definition is suggested: Wetland is land that has (or had until modified) a water level predominantly at, near, or up to 1.5 m above the ground surface for sufficient time during the year to allow hydrological processes to be a major influence on the soils and biota. These processes may be expressed in certain features, such as characteristic soils and vegetation. The report also summarises a hydrotopographical classification of wetlands. The report then develops a strategy for the establishment of a wetland resource Inventory based on a geographical information system (GIS) as a means of storing and manipulating site data from across England and Wales.

滇西北地区晚更新世以来植被演替与气候变化研究

随着全球环境的变化，人们迫切的希望了解整个地球环境的变化过程、规律和未来发展的趋势。对地质历史时期发生过的环境事件的了解，能为我们研究现在的和预测未来的环境变化提供有价值的资料。 孢粉分析作为一种古环境的代用指标，在恢复古植被与古气候方面起着不可替代的作用。而精确的孢粉分析建立在对现代花粉与当地植被的关系正确的认识基础上，由此才可以更准确地提取地层中的花粉所蕴含的植被和环境信息。 云南省地理位置较特殊，地貌复杂，气候类型多样，与之对应的植物种类多样性丰富，植被类型多样。本项研究选择云南省南部和西部地区作为研究地点，采集表土、地表苔藓、蜘蛛网、树皮和树上地衣苔藓五种天然孢粉捕捉器来研究现代花粉与当地植被的关系，为认识现代花粉雨提供新的研究思路。同时，我们在滇西北选择拉市海、文海、哈里谷和属都湖这四个高原湖泊来研究晚更新世以来滇西北地区植被演替和气候变化，为云南历史时期气候变化提供新的研究资料，同时也为全面认识晚更新世以来的气候变化提供新的证据。研究结果如下： 1. 现代花粉雨与当地植被关系的研究 对云南省西北部、中部和南部采集的19个蜘蛛网样品分析得出：云南省西北部样品中共鉴定20个孢粉类型，分属于16个科;云南省中部样品中共鉴定28个类型，分属于23个科;在云南省南部勐腊县采集的样品中共鉴定28个类型，分属于25个科;在望天树北京植物园中采集的样品共鉴定38个类型，分属于34个科;在西双版纳北京植物园中采集的样品中共有11个类型，分属于10个科。结果表明：蜘蛛网样品中分析出的孢粉类型反映了云南省从南到北不同的植被类型，说明蜘蛛网可以作为一种天然孢粉捕捉器来进行现代花粉雨的研究。 同时，在云南西北部文笔水库采集的五种天然孢粉捕捉器（表土、地表苔藓、树皮、蜘蛛网、树上地衣和苔藓）进行了对比研究。结果表明：表土所得的孢粉中木本植物花粉的百分含量为90.5-96%，远大于地表苔藓（53.1-81.7%）、蜘蛛网（61.7%）、树皮（53.8%）和树上地衣、苔藓（50-53.6%）所获得的木本植物花粉的百分含量。与当地植被进行对比结果表明：这五种天然孢粉捕捉器中，表土、地表苔藓和蜘蛛网比树皮和树上地衣、苔藓能更好的反映当地的植被。 2. 滇西北地区晚更新世以来植被演替与气候变化 在过去2, 5000年左右的地质历史时期，滇西北地区植被和气候变化大致经历了以下三个发展阶段。 （1） 2, 5381 B.P—1, 9335 B.P.：属都湖地区（海拔：3620m）主要是以蓼科植物为主的草甸植被，气候寒冷湿润。 （2） 1, 9335 B.P.—1, 2426 B.P.：属都湖地区是以藜科或蒿属为主的草甸植被，气候从湿润过渡到干旱;而在海拔稍低的文海地区（海拔3080m），主要是阔叶栎林或针阔混交林，气候温凉略湿到寒冷干旱。 （3） 1, 2426 B.P.—至今：属都湖地区是以蓼科为主的草甸植被，气候仍寒冷湿润;海拔稍低的哈里谷（海拔3277m）是以松和冷杉为主的针叶林，气候冷干;文海地区的植被逐渐演替为以松和冷杉为主的针阔叶混交林，但栎属花粉的含量远高于哈里谷地区，说明当时文海的气温虽然低，却比哈里谷稍高;而海拔更低的拉市海（海拔2440m）则是以松为主的针叶林，气候比其他几个地区温暖。 在全新世气候最适宜期（约8000 B.P.以来），哈里谷是以栎和松为主的针阔混交林;文海是以松为主的针阔混交林;而拉市海是以松和蕨类植物为主。说明随着海拔的升高（从拉市海到属都湖），温度逐渐下降，植被类型也由暖性针叶林过渡到针阔混交林再到草甸。 从6000 B.P.至今，文海和哈里谷植被在这一阶段都是以松和冷杉为主的暗针叶林，少量混生一些阔叶类植物，气候变得冷湿;属都湖则仍是以蓼科为主的草甸，气候变得更加寒冷。 研究证明：滇西北地区总的气候变化趋势与全球变化规律基本一致，在1,1805—9990 B.P.期间发生新仙女木事件，在8000B.P.以来，气候变得温暖湿润，为全新世气候最适宜期。此后，气候逐渐变得接近现代。

黑龙江嘉荫地区古新世孢粉植物群及古植被、古气候研究

植物是环境变化的重要指示物之一。晚白垩至早第三纪时期，全球生态系统发生了剧烈变化，研究这一时期植物对了解地质历史时期环境变化趋势, 认识和保护当今环境有重要意义。我国黑龙江省嘉荫县有这一时期的地层发育，其中乌云煤矿和白山头是主要的露头剖面。前人曾从地质时代、孢粉及植物化石角度对这两个剖面进行过研究，但是仍有部分问题尚存争议。在本项工作中，我们对两个剖面的孢粉样品进行了系统采样，部分孢粉类型同时在光镜和电镜下进行了拍照。我们还对存在争议的这两个剖面的地质时代进行了讨论。同时，首次用共存分析法对这两个剖面的在沉积时期的气候进行了整体及分段的定量重建。另外，我们结合中其它地点的气候重建工作对不同时期的纬度温度梯度进行了研究。 乌云煤矿和白山头两个乌云组剖面的古新世孢粉植物群的研究结果表明：乌云煤矿孢粉植物群主要是与榛属（Corylus），桤木属（Alnus），桦木属（Betula），榆属（Ulmus）及松属（Pinus）有亲缘关系的植物；白山头剖面的孢粉植物类型与乌云煤矿基本一致，但是其中针叶类植物的花粉所占比重较大。 根据乌云煤矿与白山头剖面的孢粉类型在地层中的分布，以及与其它古新世地层的对比，我们认为乌云煤矿与白山头含孢粉段的地质时代为古新世。 用共存分析法得到乌云组古新世气候参数有两组。孢粉类型的共存结果为：年均温14.8-14.9℃，年降水量816-1389mm；植物化石类型的共存结果为：年均温16.3-16.8℃, 年降水：1124-1623mm。对乌云煤矿与白山头两个剖面孢粉带中的孢粉类型的气候参数分别进行共存，结果表明，除乌云煤矿孢粉第三带到第四带外，乌云地区的年均温在整个沉积时期均呈上升趋势；年均降水量的变化趋势与年均温基本一致。 根据从古新世到现代不同地点气候定量重建的年均温参数，我们计算得到了不同时期纬度温度梯度变化的值：<0.1℃/古纬度（古新世）、 0.1℃/古纬度（始新世）、0.45℃/纬度（中新世）、0.55℃/纬度（上新世）。结合当今全球的平均温度梯度值（0.7℃/纬度），我们得出纬度温度梯度的值从古新世以来呈不断上升的趋势。这一结果显示65Ma 以来赤道与极地间的温度差异逐渐增大，同时也提示了全球温度可能呈下降趋势。

A pollen/dinoflagellate chronology for DSDP Site 480, Gulf of California

DSDP Site 480 in the Gulf of California represents a paleoclimatic record of great potential significance. Much of the 152-meter section is varved, which means that proxy records of climatic change can be analyzed with unusual precision on a variety of time scales. In this paper we present pollen and dinoflagellate evidence that suggests that the base of the section is much older than was previously thought. We propose a basal date of between 300,000 and 350,000 YBP.

中国东北样带孢粉-植被的定量关系及古生物群区的反演

基于中国东北样带（NECT）30个植被样方调查和表土孢粉资料，从个体、群落水平研究了孢粉－植被关系，结果表明，孢粉类型与植被关系密切，在 ＝ 0．05的显著性水平上，相关系数大于0．5;表土孢粉组合与植物群落间有较大的相似性，相似系数大于50％。采用定量描述花粉与植物关系的参数：联合指数（association）A、超代表性指数（over-representation）O、低代表性指数（under-representation）U、相关系数（correlation coefficient）C和代表性系数（representation coefficient）R等值，应用TWINSPAN分类、PCA排序和回归分析，把表土花粉类型划分为4类：具代表性类群组Group1，它们能正确反映植被;超代表性类群组Group2，它们常具有高花粉值与植被不成比例;低代表性类群组Group3，它们的花粉很难分离提取;以及低代表性类群的Group4，其花粉在土壤地层中较常见;指出一些常见花粉类型：松（Pinus）、桦（Betula）、栎（Quercus）、椴（Tilia）、槭（Acer）、榆（Ulmus）、蒿（Artemisia）、藜（Chenopodiaceae）、禾本科（Gramineae）和莎草科（Cyperaceae）的回归参数在东部森林区和西部草原区是有变化的，因此回归参数在应用于古植被恢复中要注意适用范围。 以Biomization模型为基础，根据植物的生理生态特性，定义了NECT孢粉类型的植物功能型（PETs）各种生物群区（Biome）的PFTs组合，构建了经表土孢粉检验的适用于NECT的以孢粉数据为驱动的模型框架，该模型模拟的生物群区与其化指标（气候、植物生理、土壤等）模拟划分的BIOME（Holdrige, BIOME3）是可比的，与植被类型有较好的对应性。 根据29剖面（986个样品）的孢粉数据，重建了NECT 6 kaB.P以来的生物群区。从时空二方面阐述了NECT6kaB.P以来生物群区的分布特点： （1）6ka B. P是一暖湿期，气温比现在高1～4℃，降水比现在多50％。落叶阔叶林分最广，面积最大。森林草原、落叶阔叶林、针阔混交林向西延伸最远。 （2）5ka B. P 是一降温期，气温比现在低2℃，降水多30％。有苔原、寒温带针叶林分布。 （3）4ka B. P是一暖湿期，气温比现在高1～2℃，降水比现在多50％。针阔光林和森林草原有最大分布面积。 （4）3Ka－2kaBP的气温与现代相似，降水比现在多20％左右。与4Ka B. P相比，森林和森林草原过渡带都向东移动。 （5）1Ka B. P的气温与现代相似，降水比现在多10％左右。草原向东大幅度扩张，森林分布面积减小。 （6）东部森林，中部森林草原，西部草原的分布格局的3Ka B. P基本确定，此后随着气候的不断变干冷，草原向东扩张。 （7）森林向扩张最大距离的时期发生在6Ka B. P，此时也是森林草原向西扩张最远时期。落叶阔叶林、针阔混交林、森林草原向西移动最大距离的时间是6Ka B. P，草原向西移动最远距离的时期发生在3Ka B. P。

Molecular evolution study in China: progress and future promise

China has a large land area with highly diverse topography, climate and vegetation, and animal resources and is ranked eighth in the world and first in the Northern Hemisphere on richness of biodiversity. Even though little work on molecular evolution had

A study on the piscifauna of the Idukki Reservoir and catchment area

From the area under report 17 species, 15 endemic and 2 exotic, of freshwater fish have been identified. Of these, 8 species are commonly found in the catches and are of fishery significance. The fact that small fish species which have no fishery importance also support life in other trophic levels of this ecosystem is well exemplified by the interaction of the birds and mammals with these species. A scientific management and monitoring of the reservoir waters as well as the remaining segments of forests are recommended to salvage the wild life and vegetation from a possible rapid deterioration within years.

延安地区全新世黄土孢粉分析及其植被演化

采用孢粉分析和 1 4 C测年法 ,通过花粉植被化模拟技术 ,研究了延安地区全新世的孢粉组合特征及其古植被的演替历史。全新世时期延安地区的气候变化在全球和中国区域气候的格局下 ,也呈现出早、中、晚三个气候阶段 ,中期 (75 0 0～ 45 0 0 a)为气候最佳期 ,与之相对应的植被演替也分为三个阶段 :中期植被为松、桦、栎、漆为主具亚热带成分的暖温带落叶阔叶林 ,早期和晚期的气候较干冷 ,乔木花粉的含量减少 ,呈现以松、栎为主的暖温带针阔叶混交林

NDVI spatial pattern and its differentiation on the Mongolian Plateau

GIMMS NDVI database and geo-statistics were used to depict the spatial distribution and temporal stability of NDVI on the Mongolian Plateau. The results demonstrated that: (1) Regions of interest with high NDVI indices were distributed primarily in forested mountainous regions of the east and the north, areas with low NDVI indices were primarily distributed in the Gobi desert regions of the west and the southwest, and areas with moderate NDVI values were mainly distributed in a middle steppe strap from northwest to southeast. (2) The maximum NDVI values maintained for the past 22 years showed little variation. The average NDVI variance coefficient for the 22-year period was 15.2%. (3) NDVI distribution and vegetation cover showed spatial autocorrelations on a global scale. NDVI patterns from the vegetation cover also demonstrated anisotropy; a higher positive spatial correlation was indicated in a NW-SE direction, which suggested that vegetation cover in a NW-SE direction maintained increased integrity, and vegetation assemblage was mainly distributed in the same specific direction. (4) The NDVI spatial distribution was mainly controlled by structural factors, 88.7% of the total spatial variation was influenced by structural and 11.3% by random factors. And the global autocorrelation distance was 1178 km, and the average vegetation patch length (NW-SE) to width (NE-SW) ratio was approximately 2.4:1.0.

Elemental carbon record of paleofire history on the Chinese Loess Plateau during the last 420 ka and its response to environmental and climate changes

An elemental carbon (EC) record, covering the last 420 ka, was reconstructed using chemical oxidation method on a loess and paleosol sequence from the Lingtai section on the Chinese Loess Plateau. The EC record reveals the paleofire history and its relationship with climate and vegetation changes on the Chinese Loess Plateau. Our results show that the EC abundance is generally higher in the paleosols than in the loess layers, showing a glacial/interglacial pattern, which is coincident with biomass changes. This variation pattern indicates that paleofires were intensified when biomass accumulated and climate changed abruptly especially from wet to dry conditions. The EC abundance increases sharply at similar to 130 kaB.P., indicating a dramatic change in the vegetation and climate variation patterns. The occurrence of a peak value with the highest average EC abundance in the Holocene may reflect the occurrence of a major climate event at similar to 6 kaB.P., and may also be partly due to more frequent anthropogenic fire usages. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Changes in plant biomass and species composition of alpine Kobresia meadows along altitudinal gradient on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau

Alpine Kobresia meadows are major vegetation types on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. There is growing concern over their relationships among biodiversity, productivity and environments. Despite the importance of species composition, species richness, the type of different growth forms, and plant biomass structure for Kobresia meadow ecosystems, few studies have been focused on the relationship between biomass and environmental gradient in the Kobresia meadow plant communities, particularly in relation to soil moisture and edaphic gradients. We measured the plant species composition, herbaceous litter, aboveground and belowground biomass in three Kobresia meadow plant communities in Haibei Alpine Meadow Ecosystem Research Station from 2001 to 2004. Community differences in plant species composition were reflected in biomass distribution. The total biomass showed a decrease from 13196.96 +/- 719.69 g/m(2) in the sedge-dominated K. tibetica swamp to 2869.58 +/- 147.52 g/m(2) in the forb and sedge dominated K. pygmaea meadow, and to 2153.08 +/- 141.95 g/m(2) in the forbs and grasses dominated K. humilis along with the increase of altitude. The vertical distribution of belowground biomass is distinct in the three meadow communities, and the belowground biomass at the depth of 0-10 cm in K. tibetica swamp meadow was significantly higher than that in K. humilis and K. pygmaea meadows (P < 0.01). The herbaceous litter in K. tibetica swamp was significantly higher than those in K. pygnaeca and K. humilis meadows. The effects of plant litter are enhanced when ground water and soil moisture levels are raised. The relative importance of litter and vegetation may vary with soil water availability. In the K. tibetica swamp, total biomass was negatively correlated to species richness (P < 0.05); aboveground biomass was positively correlated to soil organic matter, soil moisture, and plant cover (P < 0.05); belowground biomass was positively correlated with soil moisture (P < 0.05). However, in the K. pygnaeca and K. humilis meadow communities, aboveground biomass was positively correlated to soil organic matter and soil total nitrogen (P < 0.05). This suggests that the distribution of biomass coincided with soil moisture and edaphic gradient in alpine meadows.

The effect of land management on plant community composition, species diversity, and productivity of alpine Kobersia steppe meadow

Grassland degradation is widespread and severe on the Tibet Plateau. To explore management approaches for sustainable development of degraded and restored ecosystems, we studied the effect of land degradation on species composition, species diversity, and vegetation productivity, and examined the relative influence of various rehabilitation practices (two seeding treatments and a non-seeded natural recovery treatment) on community structure and vegetation productivity in early secondary succession. The results showed: (1) All sedge and grass species of the natural steppe meadow had disappeared from the severely degraded land. The above-ground and root biomass of severely degraded land were only 38 and 14.7%, respectively, of those of the control. So, the original ecosystem has been dramatically altered by land degradation on alpine steppe meadow. (2) Seeding measures may promote above-ground biomass, particularly grass biomass, and ground cover. Except for the grasses seeded, however, other grass and sedge species did not occur after seeding treatments in the sixth year of seeding. Establishment of grasses during natural recovery treatment progressed slowly compared with during seeding treatments. Many annual forbs invaded and established during the 6 years of natural recovery. In addition, there was greater diversity after natural recovery treatment than after seeding treatments. (3) The above-ground biomass after seeding treatment and natural recovery treatment were 114 and 55%, respectively, of that of the control. No significant differences in root biomass occurred among the natural recovery and seeded treatments. Root biomass after rehabilitation treatment was 23-31% that of the control.