NPZ Models of Plankton Dynamics: Their Construction, Coupling to Physics, and Application

Nutrient-phytoplankton-zooplankton (NPZ) models have been in use in oceanography for at least three decades, and are still a common research tool. Given the discoveries of the last two decades, particularly concerning the role of bacteria in the plankton, there are questions as to whether NPZ models can still be supported as a useful tool in planktonic research. Here I review the construction of NPZ models, and some of the physical platforms they have been coupled to. I then discuss the applications of NPZ-physical models, and conclude that they still constitute an important and viable research tool, provided that the questions being explored are clearly stated. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The acid neutralizing capacity （ANC） of South Africa＇s freshwater ecosystems

Acidification is considered the most important one of the primary chemical stress factors that impact on freshwater ecosystems. In unpolluted freshwater systems, the primary controls on the degree of acidification are factors such as the geological substrate of the catchment area, the presence of organic acids secreted by vegetation in the river system, and equilibrium exchange of carbon dioxide with the atmosphere. Anthropogenic factors that can impact on the degree of acidification of freshwater systems include agricultural, mining and industrial activities, either through direct runoff into river systems or through deposition of atmospheric pollutants from these sources. The capacity factors alkalinity and acidity, which represent the acid- and base-neutralizing capacity （ANC and BCN） of an aqueous system, have been used as more reliable measures of the acidic character of freshwater systems than pH. Unlike pH, ANC and BNC are not affected by parameters such as temperature and pressure. Therefore, ANC has been employed as a predictor of biological status in critical load assessments. Freshwater systems with ANC＇s eq/L isμeq/L are considered sensitive to acidification, ANC=0 μbelow 150 commonly used as the predictor for fish species such as trout in lakes, and an eq/L as more realistic for streams. Acid-neutralizing capacity μANC value of 40 （ANC） can be determined by titration with a strong acid to a preselected equivalence point. Alternatively, it can be calculated as the difference between base cations （[BC]） and strong acid anions （[SAA]）： ANC=[BC]- [SAA]=[Ca^2＋]＋[Mg^2＋]＋[Na^＋]＋[K^＋]-[SO4^2-]-[NO3^-]-[Cl^-] To date, there has been no attempt to establish the ANC of South Africa＇s freshwater ecosystems or variability therein, despite the fact that long-term water quality monitoring data exist for all the parameters needed to calculate it according to the above equations. As a result, the relationship between the acid neutralizing capacity of freshwater ecosystems in South Africa and biodiversity factors, such as fish status, is unknown. Results of the first comprehensive （country-wide scale） evaluation of the acid neutralizing capacity of river systems in South Africa will be presented. Long-term monitoring data obtained from the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry （DWAF） from most of South Africa＇s river systems were used to establish geographic and temporal variabilities in ANC. The results show that the Berg and Breede River systems are most susceptible to acidification, and that geological substrate appears to explain most of the geographic variabilities observed.     

陕西省区域环境地球化学分区

为了利用地壳元素分布特征与动植物微量元素含量间的关系,指导生态环境综合治理,借助已有的基础地球化学资料,进行陕西省地球化学分区,确定各分区的环境背景值、污染起始值、缺乏临界值、过剩值临界值,并将陕西省分为陕北、关中、陕南3个地球化学区,圈定了1个元素贫化区和2个元素富集区。提出应该在元素的缺乏和过剩的异常区内进行生物体内微量元素含量的定期检测。做到对地球化学疾病及时发现及时寻找对策,以保证人类生存环境的安全,提高生存质量。     

Establishment of apparent quantum yield and maximum ecosystem assimilation on Tibetan Plateau alpine meadow ecosystem

The alpine meadow is widely distributed on the Tibetan Plateau with an area of about 1.2×106kn2. Damxung County, located in the hinterland of the Tibetan Plateau, is the place covered with this typical vegetation. An open-path eddy covariance system was set up in Damxung rangeland station to measure the carbon flux of alpine meadow from July to October,2003. The continuous carbon flux data were used to analyze the relationship between net ecosystem carbon dioxide exchange (NEE) and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), as well as the seasonal patterns of apparent quantum yield (α) and maximum ecosystem assimilation (Pmax).Results showed that the daytime NEE fitted fairly well with the PAR in a rectangular hyperbola function, with α declining in the order of peak growth period (0.0244 μmolCO2 · μmol-1pAR) ＞early growth period ＞ seed maturing period ＞ withering period (0.0098 μmolCO2 · μmol-1pAR).The Pmax did not change greatly during the first three periods, with an average of 0.433mgCO2· m-2· s-1, i.e. 9.829 μmolCO2· m-2· s-1. However, during the withering period, Pmax was only 0.35 mgCO2 · m-2 · s-1, i.e. 7.945 μmolCO2 · m-2 · s-1. Compared with other grassland ecosystems, the α of the Tibetan Plateau alpine meadow ecosystem was much lower.     

我国典型资源枯竭型城市生态系统健康综合评价

资源枯竭和环境恶化影响着典型资源枯竭型城市的发展。根据"压力-状态-响应"模型,构建了一个度量典型资源枯竭型城市生态系统健康水平的含有4个层次35项具体指标的指标体系,并运用客观的改进的熵值法赋权、模糊综合评价法及划分的等级标准对我国9个典型资源枯竭型城市的生态系统健康水平进行量化分析。结果表明,阜新市的生态系统健康水平属于"较健康"级,伊春、辽源、白银、焦作属于"临界状态"级,盘锦、白山、萍乡属于"较不健康"级,而石嘴山则属于"不健康"级。典型资源枯竭型城市的生态系统健康水平总体上不容乐观。     

异龙湖流域湿地生态系统健康评价

湿地生态系统健康状况评价为湿地资源的合理开发、生态系统的维护提供了重要的借鉴。在充分了解异龙湖流域湿地资源环境的基础上,结合湖泊湿地生态系统的概念及内涵,采用PSR(压力-状态-响应)框架模型和生态系统健康指数计算方法对研究区湿地生态系统健康状况进行评价。结果表明:(1)异龙湖流域湿地生态系统健康评价综合分值(Y)为2.8494,处于[2,3]之间,属于脆弱状态;(2)从三大指标状况来看,压力指标(P)、状态指标(S)和响应指标(R)在评价等级中的得分及表现情况分别为0.7368(脆弱状态)、1.1620(亚健康状态)和0.9506(亚健康状态);(3)人口密度、人类活动强度、单位面积化肥和农药负荷、水土流失强度、湖泊水富营养化、人们的环保意识等指标是影响流域内湿地生态系统健康状况的关键因素,人为因素占主导地位。     

地下水中钼的含量及其与人群健康的关系

本文以丰富的实际资料，论证了地下水中微量元素钼形成的主要控制因素及其与人群健康的关系。