A histological evaluation of pansteatitis-affected Mozambique tilapia,Oreochromis mossambicus (Peters 1852), from different geographical locations in South Africa

Pansteatitis is the leading cause for the decline in Nile crocodile populations and the sporadic mortality of fish in the Olifants River System, South Africa. To determine the prevalence of this disease in lentic systems, Mozambique tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus, were collected from Lake Loskop, Lake Flag Boshielo, Phalaborwa Barrage and Lake Luphephe-Nwanedi. The former three impoundments are located within the main stem of the Olifants River, while the latter, which is geographically isolated and situated in the Limpopo River System, served as a reference site. Mesenteric adipose, liver, serosa of the swim bladder, gill and the skeletal muscle of fish sampled were examined for gross and microscopic evidence of pansteatitis. Microscopically observed changes were used to statistically compare pansteatitis prevalence between samples and sites. Based on histopathological evaluation, the adipose tissue in the liver, swim bladder serosa and coelom from severely debilitated individuals showed the most significant pathological changes. Lesions indicative of steatitis were observed in fish collected from Lake Loskop (75%), Lake Flag Boshielo (22%) and Lake Luphephe-Nwanedi (15%). Further investigation is warranted to understand the pervasiveness and mechanisms driving pathological changes of pansteatitis at Lake Flag Boshielo, Phalaborwa Barrage and Lake Luphephe-Nwanedi.     

应用浮游植物生物完整性指数评价长江上游河流健康

2013年11月-2014年6月对长江上游宜宾至江津段五个断面的浮游植物进行了四次调查,共鉴定出浮游植物6门38属95种。对13个备选指标进行分布范围、判别能力及Pearson相关性分析,构建了适合长江上游的浮游植物生物完整性指数(P-IBI)指标体系,即香农多样性指数、Margalef丰富度指数、Pielou均匀度指数、浮游植物密度、硅藻密度百分比等参数指标。采用3分制法、4分制法和比值法分别对生物指标计分,评价结果显示:高庄桥、羊石处于"健康"状态;白沙处于"亚健康"状态;而江安、德感处于"亚健康"向"一般"过渡状态。综合来看,三种评价方法所反映各样点的健康状况基本一致,只是4分制法和比值法在划分评价等级上更细致,评价结果更精确。Pearson相关性分析显示:TN、pH与P-IBI值呈显著负相关(P0.05)。     

Large‐scale patterns of fish diversity and assemblage structure in the longest tropical river in Asia

Although the Mekong River is one of the world's 35 biodiversity hot spots, the large‐scale patterns of fish diversity and assemblage structure remain poorly addressed. This study aimed to investigate the fish distribution patterns in the Lower Mekong River (LMR) and to identify their environmental determinants. Daily fish catch data (i.e. from December 2000 to November 2001) at 38 sites distributed along the LMR were related to 15 physicochemical and 19 climatic variables. As a result, four different clusters were defined according to the similarity in assemblage composition and 80 indicator species were identified. While fish species richness was highest in the Mekong delta and lowest in the upper part of the LMR, the diversity index was highest in the middle part of the LMR and lowest in the delta. We found that fish assemblages changed along the environmental gradients and that the main drivers affecting the fish assemblage structure were the seasonal variation of temperature, precipitation, dissolved oxygen, pH and total phosphorus. Specifically, upstream assemblages were characterised by cyprinids and Pangasius catfish, well suited to low temperature, high dissolved oxygen and high pH. Fish assemblages in the delta were dominated by perch‐like fish and clupeids, more tolerant to high temperatures, and high levels of nutrients (nitrates and total phosphorus) and salinity. Overall, the patterns were consistent between seasons. Our study contributes to establishing the first holistic fish community study in the LMR.     

Effects of Natural and Artificial Colorants on Hot Smoked Garfish—Belone belone (Linnaeus, 1761)—Stored at 4 ± 1ºC

In this study, the effects of natural and artificial colorants on the shelf life of hot smoked garfish were investigated in terms of its chemical, microbiological, and sensory quality. Turmeric and Sunset Yellow FCF were used as the natural and artificial colorants, respectively. The amount of total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) and thiobarbituric acid (TBA), counts of total mesophilic aerobic bacteria, total psychrophilic aerobic bacteria, total yeast and molds increased during the storage (p < 0.05). The results showed that turmeric and Sunset Yellow FCF had a significant effect on pH value and salt content of hot smoked garfish samples during storage (p < 0.05). According to the sensory analysis results, the shelf life of hot smoked garfish stored at 4 ± 1ºC was determined as 17 days.     

Implications of piscine predator control on the federally listed fountain darter

One strategy for protecting the federally listed fountain darter, Etheostoma fonticola (Jordan & Gilbert), during low flow conditions is the removal of piscine carnivores [in this case, largemouth bass, Micropterus salmoides (Lacepède)]. However, headwater spring communities of the Comal and San Marcos rivers include another potential predator [red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii (Girard)]. Removal of piscine carnivores could produce cascading effects by increasing crayfish consumption of benthic fish. The purpose of this study was to evaluate if piscine carnivore removal will lessen predatory pressure or induce a trophic cascade with crayfish increasing and causing declines in fountain darter. The numbers of fountain darter consumed were quantified among three predator treatments (red swamp crayfish only, largemouth bass only and red swamp crayfish and largemouth bass combined) and vegetation treatments (vegetated and non‐vegetated) at three temperature regimes (18, 22, 27°C). Vegetation had no effect on fountain darter predation. Among temperature trials, largemouth bass only and red swamp crayfish and largemouth bass combined consumed similar numbers of fountain darter, and red swamp crayfish only consumed the least numbers of fountain darter, except at 22°C. Largemouth bass did not consume more red swamp crayfish than fountain darter. Therefore, largemouth bass removal appears to be a viable option for reducing fountain darter predation during periods of low flow.     

用综合污染指数法分析评价黄河陕西段的水环境

2013年-2015年,逐月监测分析了黄河陕西段府谷、吴堡、龙门、洽川、港口、汾河入黄口和渭河入黄口7个段面22项水质指标,并用综合污染指数法进行评价。结果显示:黄河陕西段处于4级中度污染水平,5级较重污染段面汾河入黄口(P=9.26)1个,其余6个段面处于4级中度污染水平(2.04≤P≤4.67)。主要污染物为总氮、总磷和有机物,部分段面还受到重金属汞、砷、铜、锌的影响,所有段面未受有机氯和有机磷的污染。同期断面比较,上游污染轻于下游,污染逐年下降。     

Influences of sand cover on erosion processes of loess slopes based on rainfall simulation experiments

Aeolian-fluvial interplay erosion regions are subject to intense soil erosion and are of particular concern in loess areas of northwestern China.Understanding the composition,distribution,and transport processes of eroded sediments in these regions is of considerable scientific significance for controlling soil erosion.In this study,based on laboratory rainfall simulation experiments,we analyzed rainfall-induced erosion processes on sand-covered loess slopes(SS)with different sand cover patterns(including length and thickness)and uncovered loess slopes(LS)to investigate the influences of sand cover on erosion processes of loess slopes in case regions of aeolian-fluvial erosion.The grain-size curves of eroded sediments were fitted using the Weibull function.Compositions of eroded sediments under different sand cover patterns and rainfall intensities were analyzed to explore sediment transport modes of SS.The influences of sand cover amount and pattern on erosion processes of loess slopes were also discussed.The results show that sand cover on loess slopes influences the proportion of loess erosion and that the compositions of eroded sediments vary between SS and LS.Sand cover on loess slopes transforms silt erosion into sand erosion by reducing splash erosion and changing the rainfall-induced erosion processes.The percentage of eroded sand from SS in the early stage of runoff and sediment generation is always higher than that in the late stage.Sand cover on loess slopes aggravates loess erosion,not only by adding sand as additional eroded sediments but also by increasing the amount of eroded loess,compared with the loess slopes without sand cover.The influence of sand cover pattern on runoff yield and the amount of eroded sediments is larger than that of sand cover amount.Furthermore,given the same sand cover pattern,a thicker sand cover could increase sand erosion while a thinner sand cover could aggravate loess erosion.This difference explains the existence of intense erosion on slopes that are thinly covered with sand in regions where aeolian erosion and fluvial erosion interact.     

Projections of temperature extremes based on preferred CMIP5 models:a case study in the Kaidu-Kongqi River basin in Northwest China

The extreme temperature has more outstanding impact on ecology and water resources in arid regions than the average temperature. Using the downscaled daily temperature data from 21 Coupled Model Inter-comparison Project(CMIP) models of NASA Earth Exchange Global Daily Downscaled Projections(NEX-GDDP) and the observation data, this paper analyzed the changes in temporal and spatiotemporal variation of temperature extremes, i.e., the maximum temperature(Tmax) and minimum temperature(Tmin), in the Kaidu-Kongqi River basin in Northwest China over the period 2020–2050 based on the evaluation of preferred Multi-Model Ensemble(MME). Results showed that the Partial Least Square ensemble mean participated by Preferred Models(PM-PLS) was better representing the temporal change and spatial distribution of temperature extremes during 1961–2005 and was chosen to project the future change. In 2020–2050, the increasing rate of Tmax(Tmin) under RCP(Representative Concentration Pathway) 8.5 will be 2.0(1.6) times that under RCP4.5, and that of Tmin will be larger than that of Tmax under each corresponding RCP. Tmin will keep contributing more to global warming than Tmax. The spatial distribution characteristics of Tmax and Tmin under the two RCPs will overall the same; but compared to the baseline period(1986–2005), the increments of Tmax and Tmin in plain area will be larger than those in mountainous area. With the emission concentration increased, however, the response of Tmax in mountainous area will be more sensitive than that in plain area, and that of Tmin will be equivalently sensitive in mountainous area and plain area. The impacts induced by Tmin will be universal and farreaching. Results of spatiotemporal variation of temperature extremes indicate that large increases in the magnitude of warming in the basin may occur in the future. The projections can provide the scientific basis for water and land plan management and disaster prevention and mitigation in the inland river basin.     

基于SD变化环境下农业水资源供需平衡模拟

为了探讨变化环境对农业水资源供需平衡的影响,运用系统动力学软件Vensim-Dss建立了农业水资源供需平衡的系统动力学模型,综合考虑社会经济发展和气候变化情景,仿真模拟了变化环境下农业供、需水量及缺水量的变化情况.石羊河流域模拟结果表明:未来农业供水量和需水量受气候变化的影响程度不同,但 2033年以后,农业供水量在不同气候变化情景下的变化趋势相同;不同行政区农业水资源系统对气候变化的响应存在明显差异,金昌市A2气候情境缺水率大于B2情景,在2029年、2038年缺水率分别达到32.0%,28.6%, B2情境下,2021年开始出现轻度缺水,中度缺水年仅出现在2023年和2039年,缺水率分别为30.7%,30.5%;武威市A2气候情境下缺水率小于B2情景,仅2038年为中度缺水,缺水率为24.9%,B2气候情景中度缺水年较多,2023年缺水率最大,达到33.2%.研究结果可以对变化环境下区域用水规划和农业发展规划提供指导.     

西江流域卷口鱼线粒体D-loop序列的遗传多样性分析

为研究西江流域广西境内卷口鱼(Ptychidio jordani)种群的遗传变异情况，自广西境内6个江段采集了139尾样本，采用PCR与DNA测序技术分析其线粒体D-loop序列的遗传多样性及群体历史动态；139条D-loop序列长度均为725 bp，碱基组成A+T (65.7%)远远高于C+G (34.3%)，共检测到变异位点25个，转颠换比R值为11.5。139尾样本共定义23个单倍型。单倍型的NJ系统树以及网络结构图显示，23个单倍型间有2个明显分支，不同地理群体来源的单倍型混杂分布在2个分支中，未能观察到明显的地理聚群。6个群体遗传多样性较好，单倍型多样性Hd=0.71585~0.92063，核苷酸多样性Pi=0.00173~0.00668，遗传分化极其显著(遗传分化系数Fst=0.36737，P<0.001)。AMOVA分析表明，群体内变异占63.26%，群体间为36.74%。中性检验(Tajima’s D= –0.50322，P=0.34600；Fu’s Fs= –5.05210，P=0.08800)与核苷酸错配分布表明，西江流域卷口鱼种群近期内未经历过种群扩张。综上所述，西江流域广西境内的卷口鱼遗传多样性表现为高单倍型、低核苷酸多样性的特征，群体间不同程度的遗传分化表明水坝阻隔及捕捞因素可能促进其发生，而水利梯级开发可能是促进卷口鱼群体遗传分化的首要原因。