Distribution and Risk Assessment of Heavy Metals in Sediments of the Pearl River Estuary,Southern China

Sediment cores collected at six freshwater discharge outlets of the Pearl River Estuary were analyzed for metal (Al, Fe, Cr, Pb, and Cd) concentration and risk assessment. The contents of Cr, Pb, Fe, and Al in these samples were measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), and Cd was measured by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). The result showed that the concentration ranged (in mg/kg dry weight) as follows: Al, 7,880–97,700; Fe, 30,100–51,900; Cd, 0.23–1.09; Cr, 48.7–109; Pb, 22.3–70.2; respectively. The sediments of different particle size were measured and the result showed that the pelitic fraction (< 0.05 mm) was more enriched in heavy metals. Cd and Pb showed a similar spatial distribution in the sediment, which reflected similar anthropogenic origins. In addition, the temporal distribution of Cr, Pb, and Cd showed a light increase from the 1970s to the 2000s. Furthermore, the enrichment factor (EF) and the geo-accumulation index (I_geo) were used to comprehensively evaluate the pollution degree of heavy metals. The findings will be useful in proposing measures for strategic environmental control in estuaries.     

Model-Based Assessment of Estuary Ecosystem Health Using the Latent Health Factor Index,with Application to the Richibucto Estuary

The ability to quantitatively assess ecological health is of great interest to those tasked with monitoring and conserving ecosystems. For decades, biomonitoring research and policies have relied on multimetric health indices of various forms. Although indices are numbers, many are constructed based on qualitative procedures, thus limiting the quantitative rigor of the practical interpretations of such indices. The statistical modeling approach to construct the latent health factor index (LHFI) was recently developed. With ecological data that otherwise are used to construct conventional multimetric indices, the LHFI framework expresses such data in a rigorous quantitative model, integrating qualitative features of ecosystem health and preconceived ecological relationships among such features. This hierarchical modeling approach allows unified statistical inference of health for observed sites (along with prediction of health for partially observed sites, if desired) and of the relevance of ecological drivers, all accompanied by formal uncertainty statements from a single, integrated analysis. Thus far, the LHFI approach has been demonstrated and validated in a freshwater context. We adapt this approach to modeling estuarine health, and illustrate it on the previously unassessed system in Richibucto in New Brunswick, Canada, where active oyster farming is a potential stressor through its effects on sediment properties. Field data correspond to health metrics that constitute the popular AZTI marine biotic index and the infaunal trophic index, as well as abiotic predictors preconceived to influence biota. Our paper is the first to construct a scientifically sensible model that rigorously identifies the collective explanatory capacity of salinity, distance downstream, channel depth, and silt–clay content–all regarded a priori as qualitatively important abiotic drivers–towards site health in the Richibucto ecosystem. This suggests the potential effectiveness of the LHFI approach for assessing not only freshwater systems but aquatic ecosystems in general.     

珠江口淇澳岛红树林湿地生态系统健康评价

基于湿地生态系统健康理论和压力-状态-响应模型,以珠江口淇澳岛红树林湿地生态系统为研究对象,构建了红树林湿地生态系统健康评价指标体系,并确定了具体的评价指标、评价标准、指标权重、评价等级和评价方法,对珠江口淇澳岛红树林湿地生态系统健康状况进行了评价.结果表明:2008年,淇澳岛红树林湿地生态系统总健康指数为0.6580,评价等级为Ⅱ级(健康);压力、状态和响应指标的健康指数分别为0.3469、0.8718和0.7554,说明该评价系统存在一定的压力,而状态和响应方面较好.作为省级自然保护区,珠江口淇澳岛红树林湿地生态系统健康水平有待进一步提升.红树林湿地生态系统健康评价研究目前尚不成熟,进一步研究需重点关注针对红树林特征的评价因子筛选、相关数据的长期定位监测、生态系统健康与生态系统功能的定量关系研究等.     

珠江广州河段轮虫的时空分布研究

2004年4月-2007年3月,对珠江广州河段轮虫群落结构的时空变化进行了三年的调查研究。调查期间,共发现轮虫56种。优势种为裂痕龟纹轮虫(Anuraeopsis fissa),微型多突轮虫(Proalides subtilis),西式三肢轮虫(Filinia novaezealandiae),角突臂尾轮虫(Brachionus angularis),尾突臂尾轮虫(Brachionus caudatus),暗小异尾轮虫(Trichocerca pusilla),蛭态目(Bdelloidea sp.)和萼花臂尾轮虫(Brachionus calyciflorus)。调查发现,珠江径流量对轮虫密度有重要影响。在丰水期,两个采样站点(分别为中大码头和黄埔码头)的轮虫密度变化不大,而在枯水期,位于下游的黄埔码头的轮虫密度显著低于上游的中大码头。轮虫的密度高峰出现在秋季(9月底至12月初)。中大码头轮虫的最高峰出现在2004年12月初,为5975ind./L;黄埔码头的轮虫高峰出现在2004年4月中旬,为5877ind.·L^-1。轮虫密度变化范围为4~5975 ind.·L^-1。中大码头轮虫密度的平均值为1627±233 ind.·L^-1;而黄埔码头的平均值为1051±147 ind.·L^-1。     

Ecosystem Health Assessment of the Jinghe River Watershed on the Huangtu Plateau

An improved Costanza model was developed to assess the health of the Jinhe River Watershed ecosystem. The watershed is located at the center of the Huangtu Plateau in China and has suffered a severe disturbance in the last few decades. Three indicators including vigor, organization, and resilience were calculated respectively by merging ground-based observations with remotely sensed data on a watershed scale. Health indices of 12 topographic sub-watersheds were calculated using a modified Costanza formula. Health evaluated results indicated that sub-watersheds in the Huangtu mountain region were relatively healthy ecosystems with scores over 0.673. The sub-watersheds in the loess mountain and the loess gully regions, e.g., Jinghe, Heihe, and Honghe regions, scored moderately; their evaluated value ranged from 0.505 to 0.606. The two sub-watersheds in the loess gully region and all sub-watersheds in the loess hilly region scored the lowest, less than 0.50 and were considered unhealthy ecosystems. It can be argued that the loess hilly region and the loess gully regions should be in primary consideration for ecological protection and rehabilitation. This study provided a possible quantitative model for ecological planning and landscape management with respect to topographic conditions in this area.     

珠江口伶仃洋海域底层游泳动物的季节变化

珠江口伶仃洋海域是渔业资源的重要栖息地,近年来由于人类活动的加剧导致生态环境质量下降。为进一步了解栖息环境恶化对渔业资源的影响,于2009年8月至2010年4月采用底拖网在珠江口伶仃洋海域进行了游泳动物4个季节的调查。共鉴定游泳动物92种,其中鱼类54种,甲壳类32种和头足类6种。游泳动物种数夏季最高,为52种,春季最低,仅35种,春、夏季和冬、春季种类季节更替显著。优势种组成较为稳定,以日本蟳(Charybdis japonica)、黑斑口虾蛄(Oratosquilla kempi)和棘头梅童鱼(Collichthys lucidus)为主要优势种,其中日本蟳为全年优势种,平均尾数密度占总密度的8.07%～26.22%。游泳动物资源密度和尾数密度季节变化趋势一致,均为夏季最高,秋季和春季次之,冬季最低。珠江口伶仃洋海域温度和盐度有明显的季节变化,夏季和秋季温度较高,盐度较低,冬季和春季温度较低,而盐度较高。温度是伶仃洋海域游泳动物种类和数量季节变化的主要因子。与历史资料比较,珠江口主要经济鱼、虾类出现小型化趋势。     

Stratification of Archaeal communities in shallow sediments of the Pearl River Estuary,Southern China

Microorganisms are known to play fundamental roles in the biogeochemical cycling of carbon in the coastal environments. To get to know the composition and ecological roles of the archaeal communities within the sediments of the Pearl River Estuary, Southern China, the diversity and vertical distribution of archaea in a sediment core was reported based on the 16S rRNA and mcrA genes for the first time. Quantitative PCR analysis revealed that archaea were present at 10⁶–10⁷ 16S rRNA gene copies/g (wet weight) in the sediment core, and the proportion of mcrA versus 16S rRNA gene copies varied from 11 to 45%. 16S rRNA gene libraries were constructed and analyzed for the top layer (0–6 cm), middle layer (18–24 cm), sulfate-methane transition zone (SMTZ, 32–42 cm), and bottom layer (44–50 cm) sediments. The results indicated that Miscellaneous Crenarchaeotal Group (MCG) was the main component in the sediments. The MCG archaea could be further divided into six subgroups: MCG-A, B, C, D, E, and F. On the other hand, mcrA sequences from methanogens related to the order Methanomicrobiales and ANME-2 methanotrophs were detected in all sediment layers. Taken together, our data revealed a largely unknown archaeal community in which MCG dominated within the Pearl River estuarine sediments, while methanogens and methane-oxidizing archaea putatively involving in methane metabolism, were also found in the community. This is the first important step towards elucidating the biogeochemical roles of these archaea in the Pearl River Estuary.     

珠江口水体浮游细菌种群多样性空间分布特征

为认识珠江口水体浮游细菌的多样性分布规律,运用聚合酶链式反应-变性梯度凝胶电泳(PCR-DGGE)和多维尺度分析(MDS)的方法,研究了春季珠江口十个站位表底水层浮游细菌种群16SrRNA基因多样性特征。研究结果表明,珠江口浮游细菌种群具有丰富的基因多样性;不同站位细菌群落结构和优势种群变化显著:大多数站位表底层细菌群落结构比较相似,河口外站位(A12,A14和C5),表底层细菌群落结构差异性较大:多样性分析表明A14,B6和C5站位底层细菌多样性大于表层。遗传发育分析表明,序列归属于变形细菌(Proteobacteria),酸杆菌(Acidobacteria),蓝细菌(Cyanobacteria),厚壁细菌(Firmicutes)和放线菌(Actinobacteria)。变形细菌(Proteobacteria)种类最多,从河口内淡水区到河口外海水区都有大量分布,是珠江口水域占优势的菌群;同时也检测到种类丰富的放线菌(Actinobacteria)的存在,也是珠江口水域的优势菌群。     

珠江河口区大型底栖动物群落结构

河口区大型底栖动物具有的重要群落特征往往可以反映群落所经历的环境污染。为更好地了解珠江河口区大型底栖动物群落结构, 作者于2014年11月至2015年8月进行了4个季度的大型底栖动物调查, 并利用PRIMER 6.0软件进行群落生物多样性指数计算、群落等级聚类(Cluster)和非度量多维标度排序(nMDS)分析。研究结果显示: 珠江河口区共获得大型底栖动物52种, 优势种包括光滑河篮蛤(Potamocorbula laevis)、中国绿螂(Glaucomya chinensis)、焦河篮蛤(Potamocorbula ustulata)和羽须鳃沙蚕(Dendroneris pinnaticirrus)。大型底栖动物年平均密度为269.3 ind./m ², 年平均生物量为129.61 g/m ²。12个站次的丰富度指数(D)、均匀度指数(J')和Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(H')平均值分别为1.81 ± 1.38、0.50 ± 0.27和1.60 ± 1.13。该结果显示除P01断面的秋季和冬季环境质量为优良外, 其他站位在不同季度都显示出轻度到重度的污染。Cluster聚类分析和nMDS标序结果表明, P01断面与P02和P03断面群落相似度较低, 与断面地理分布情况一致; P02断面和P03断面存在交叉聚集, 群落相似度较高。结合环境因子结果可知, 沉积物理化因子与群落分布特征相关性较大, 其中最能解释珠江河口区群落多样性分布特征的环境因子为盐度和pH值。     

珠江口大型底栖生物群落生态特征

2006年夏季和冬季分别对珠江口附近海域进行了大型底栖生物调查.调查共鉴定出大型底栖生物245种,多毛类最多(140 种).其中夏季共获大型底栖生物153种,多毛类最多(91种);冬季共获大型底栖生物157 种,多毛类最多(93种).夏冬季调查都有出现的生物种类65种.夏季珠江口大型底栖生物平均生物量为14.313 g/m2,平均丰度为205.3 ind/m2.冬季珠江口大型底栖生物平均生物量为13.077 g/m2,平均丰度为168.8 ind/m2.大型底栖生物种类数、生物量和丰度均呈现由河口内向外海增加的趋势.根据Bray-Curtis相似性系数矩阵数据对调查区域的大型底栖生物群落做了聚类(CLUSTER)和多维排序尺度(MDS)分析.结果显示,夏季可以划分为3类生物群落,冬季可以划分为5类生物群落.群落生物多样性分析结果显示,夏季珠江口北部和中部比南部生物多样性低;冬季珠江口北部生物多样性最低.利用丰度生物量比较曲线分析了大型底栖生物群落受干扰程度.结果表明,夏季大型底栖生物群落未受到干扰;冬季珠江口最北部生物群落Ⅰ处于中等干扰程度,其它生物群落未受干扰或受轻微干扰.海区大型底栖生物分布受珠江冲淡水的影响较为明显.     

Stratified Communities of Active Archaea in Shallow Sediments of the Pearl River Estuary, Southern China

Marine subsurface sediments represent a novel archaeal biosphere with unknown physiology. To get to know the composition and ecological roles of the archaeal communities within the sediments of the Pearl River Estuary, Southern China, the diversity and vertical distribution of active archaea in a sediment core were characterized by 16S rRNA phylogenetic analysis of clone libraries derived from RNA. In this study, the archaeal diversity above, within, and beneath the sulfate-methane transition zone (SMTZ) in the Pearl River Estuary sediment core was described. The majority of the clones obtained from the metabolically active fraction of the archaeal community were most closely related to miscellaneous crenarchaeotal group and terrestrial miscellaneous euryarchaeotal group. Notably, although the Pearl River Estuary sediment belong to high methane and high organic carbon environment, sequences affiliated with methanotrophic and methanogenic archaea were detected as minor group in 16S rRNA clone libraries. No obvious evidence suggested that these unknown archaeal phylotypes related directly to anaerobic oxidation of methane in SMTZ. This is the first phylogenetic analysis of the metabolically active fraction of the archaeal community in the coastal sediment environments.     

珠江口水域夏季小型底栖生物群落结构

于2010年8月在珠江口水域进行小型底栖生物取样分析,结果表明,该调查水域夏季小型底栖生物的平均丰度为(183±174)个/10 cm2,平均生物量为(345±334)μg干重/10 cm2,平均生产量为(3104±3008)μg干重/10 cm2。共鉴定出小型底栖生物16个类群,按丰度,自由生活海洋线虫和双壳类幼体为优势类群,其丰度分别占调查水域小型底栖生物总丰度的62.61%和22.62%。按生物量,优势类群由双壳类幼体(50.57%)、线虫(13.33%)和多毛类(12.47%)等组成。81.15%的小型底栖生物分布在0—5 cm的沉积物中。与环境因子相关分析表明:小型底栖生物丰度、线虫丰度与温度呈显著负相关,与盐度呈显著正相关。调查水域线虫与桡足类数量的比值(N/C)呈现出由河口上游向下游递增,且西岸明显高于东岸的趋势。     

珠江口超微型浮游植物时空分布及其与环境因子的关系

对珠江口及近海区域进行了夏季和冬季超微型浮游植物(0.2-3μm)调查,分析了其时空分布及其与环境因子的关系.夏季,珠江口浮游植物密度与磷酸盐成显著正相关,且N/P远远高于30,表明浮游植物受到P限制.夏季超微型藻数量比冬季高一个数量级,其丰度与盐度成显著正相关而和营养盐(溶解性无机氮(DIN),PO4-P,SiO4-Si)显著负相关,表明珠江口超微型藻受到径流的负面影响,表现出其数量在虎门附近海域低,随着咸淡水混合程度的加剧逐渐增大的分布特征;超微型浮游植物叶绿素a在总叶绿素a中的比例也表现为河口上游低,到万山群岛附近海域达到最大,推测近海高光照、低营养盐更适宜超微型藻的生长,同时也说明超微型浮游植物适应贫营养环境的生态特点.     

Emergy evaluations of three aquaculture systems on wetlands surrounding the Pearl River Estuary,China

Emergy and economic analysis, accompanied by sensitivity analysis, were used to evaluate the ecological economic characteristics of three fish aquaculture systems on wetlands surrounding the Pearl River Estuary in China. The sustainability of these systems was compared to two aquaculture systems and two wetland systems, to provide reference conditions for the best use of limited wetland areas. We found that the three systems studied had similar emergy characteristics, despite their very different economic characteristics. Counter intuitively, the high economic input and output mode did not have higher environmental impact or lower sustainability compared with low economic input and output mode. Apparently, the sustainability of an intensive aquaculture system is determined mainly by how many natural renewable resources are exploited. The large differences in economic benefit and environmental impacts between the mangrove reserve and the aquaculture systems demonstrated the important role of nature reserves on preserving the sustainability of an estuary. Transformity (TR) and Emergy Yield Ratio (EYR) are both indicators of system efficiency, but from different points of view, and they produced opposite results in assessing the efficiency of the same system in this study. The ratio of EYR to TR might be used in addition to the EYR and transformity as a discreet perspective on overall system production efficiency.     

Diversity and quantity of ammonia-oxidizing Archaea and Bacteria in sediment of the Pearl River Estuary, China

The diversity and abundance of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) in the sediment of the Pearl River Estuary were investigated by cloning and quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). From one sediment sample S16, 36 AOA OTUs (3% cutoff) were obtained from three clone libraries constructed using three primer sets for amoA gene. Among the 36 OTUs, six were shared by all three clone libraries, two appeared in two clone libraries, and the other 28 were only recovered in one of the libraries. For AOB, only seven OTUs (based on 16S rRNA gene) and eight OTUs (based on amoA gene) were obtained, showing lower diversity than AOA. The qPCR results revealed that AOA amoA gene copy numbers ranged from 9.6 × 10⁶ to 5.1 × 10⁷ copies per gram of sediment and AOB amoA gene ranged from 9.5 × 10⁴ to 6.2 × 10⁵ copies per gram of sediment, indicating that the dominant ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms in the sediment of the Pearl River Estuary were AOA. The terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism results showed that the relative abundance of AOB species in the sediment samples of different salinity were significantly different, indicating that salinity might be a key factor shaping the AOB community composition.     

珠江口横琴岛海域春季海洋浮游生物的初步研究

根据2008年5月在珠江口横琴岛海域的调查采样,本文对该海域的叶绿素a、初级生产力(C)、浮游动、植物进行了初步的研究,分析了浮游动、植物的种类组成、群落结构、数量和生物量等.结果表明,叶绿素a浓度和初级生产力(C)均值分别为5.27 mg·m^-3和123.56 mg·m^-2·d^-1.浮游植物共有111种,以硅藻为主,绝对优势种为中肋骨条藻Skeletonema costatum,调查海域浮游植物平均细胞丰度为6832.75×10⁴cell·m^-3,以近海广布种为主要类群,多样性指数和均匀度均值分别为2.29和0.45.浮游动物共有41种,暖水种沿岸类群种类占大多数,以中华异水蚤Acartiella sinensis为绝对优势种,平均丰度和生物量分别742.25 ind·m^-3和131.12 mg·m^-3,多样性指数和均匀度均值分别为2.54和0.67.     

Life history of the Indo‐Pacific humpback dolphin in the Pearl River Estuary,southern China

We studied life history characteristics of the Hong Kong/Pearl River Estuary population of Indo‐Pacific humpback dolphins (Sousa chinensis), based on data from 120 specimens stranded between 1995 and 2009, 40 individuals biopsied at sea, and a long‐term (14+ yr) photo‐identification study. Ages were determined for 112 specimens by thin‐sectioning teeth and counting growth layer groups. Estimated length at birth was 101 cm. Longevity was at least 38 yr, and there was little difference in growth patterns of males and females. Growth was described by a Bayesian two‐phase Gompertz model; asymptotic length was reached at 249 cm. The tooth pulp cavity filled at an average of 18.5 yr of age. Physical maturity was reached at between 14 and 17 yr of age, apparently a few years after attainment of sexual maturity. Maximum lengths and weights of about 268 cm and 240 kg were attained. Females appear to lose all their spots by 30 yr, although males may retain some spotting throughout life. Calving occurred throughout the year, with a broad peak from March to June. Of 60 females monitored at sea for >14 yr of the study, none were documented to have more than three calves, suggestive of low reproductive output or low calf survival.     

珠江口底栖动物生态学研究

采泥样调查所获底栖动物一般为体形较小,活动能力较弱的种类,往往是一些底层鱼类和虾类等良好的天然饵料。珠江口海域渔业资源丰富,是中国南海区的主要渔场之一,因此,对该海域饵料底栖动物进行研究有重要意义。通过1999年9月和2000年4月分别对珠江口底栖生物进行的两个航次的采泥样调查,分别鉴定出底栖动物15衙睡21种,共计32种。底栖动物的优势种,秋季为光滑河篮蛤Potamocorbula laevis(Hinds)(Y=0.387),春季为光滑河篮蛤（Y＝0．464）和欧虫Owenia fusformis Delle Chiaje(Y=0.120)。平均个体数量和生物量,春季为591.7ind./m^2和26.7g/m^2,秋季为85.0ing./m^2和7.4g/m^2;而在各类群生物中,软体动物占绝大部分,其次为多毛类,其它各类群所占比例都不足5％。生物多样性,个体数量和生物量的分布均呈由北向南增加的趋势。另外,与近20a中的历史资料相比,珠江口底栖动物个体数量变化不大,除2000年春季较高为591.7ind./m^2外,其变化范围在72.4-128ing./m^2之间。春季生物量除1991年较高为27．0g/m^2外,变化不是很大,大约10g/m^2;但秋季生物量呈明显下降趋势,1980年为30.1g/m^2,1990年为27.8g/m^2,1999年秋季急剧下降至7.4g/m^2。此外,从底栖动物各大类群的百分组成变化情况来看,一般以软体动物个体数量（22．7％－83．2％）和生物量（57．9％－82．5％）都最高;多毛类的个体数量百分组成占第二倍,其范围是13．4％－52．3％;其它各类群的百分组成除个别时候所占比例较大外,一般都较小。