Effects of dune stabilization on the plant diversity of interdune wetlands in northeastern Inner Mongolia,China

Maintaining species richness and conserving endemic or rare species in dune areas has been a research focus in recent years. However, few reports can be found on how dune stabilization affects species composition in the interdune wetland. This paper is to elucidate how dune stabilization in the northeastern Inner Mongolia of China is linked to plant diversity in the interdune wetland of different sizes. We selected 11 interdune wetlands of different sizes in both stabilized and active dunes, respectively. The change in species richness between the active and stabilized dunes was compared. Total species number in the interdune wetland increased logarithmically with the enlargement of wetland area for both stabilized and active dunes. However, when the area was the same, species number in stabilized dunes was 15 more than that in active dunes. Pioneer species number in interdune wetlands increased with the increase in wetland area for both stabilized and active dunes, but not statistically significant. However, when the area was the same, species number in stabilized dunes was slightly 1 fewer than that in active dunes. Artemisia wudanica, an endemic pioneering dune semishrub, was found in 9 of 11 investigated interdune wetlands of active dunes, but did not occur in 11 investigated interdune wetlands of stabilized dunes. We concluded dune stabilization in the northeastern Inner Mongolia, on one hand, raises species richness, and on the other, leads to the loss of endemic or rare pioneer species in interdune wetlands. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

达里诺尔湿地的小气候特征

利用实测达里诺尔湿地小气候资料与邻近的两个常规气象站观测资料进行对比分析,结果表明：在夏季,湿地有明显的降低气温作用;湿地的春季增温和秋季降温均比陆地慢,因此具有降低春季气温、提高秋季气温的作用,这不仅可以调节当地气候,同时也为该区域特有动植物的生存提供了特定的气候条件.在以考察月份为代表的三个季节内,湿地的相对湿度均比陆地高.因此该湿地的小气候特征表现为“冷湿效应”显著.     

4种湿地植物的生理性状对人工湿地床设计的影响

野外调查分析了4种常见湿地植物的最长根长,根系体积,植物密度,植株的氮、磷和锌含量等对人工湿地去除污染物、人工湿地设计和人工湿地使用寿命的影响。结果表明,最长根长以美人蕉为最长（43.73cm）,芦苇其次（32.50cm）,黄花鸢尾最短（12.57cm）;根系体积以美人蕉最大（66.72cm^3）,芦苇其次（17.42cm^3）,黄花鸢尾最低（4.70cm^3）;密度以芦苇最高（257株·m^-2）,美人蕉其次（61株·m^-2）,茭白最低（54株·m^-2）;单位面积上芦苇、美人蕉、茭白和黄花鸢尾地上部分生物量分别是4.27、2.12、0.94和0.78kg·m^-2。相应地,单位面积上植物地上部分对氮、磷和锌的吸收量以芦苇最高,美人蕉其次,黄花鸢尾最低。不同植物对人工湿地的使用寿命没有显著影响,但植物的最长根长和密度可作为人工湿地基质深度设计和植物数量配置的依据。     

Design and implementation of functional wetland mitigation: Case studies in Ohio and South Carolina

Wetland development offers the opportunity to replace and enhance ecological functions lost through permitted wetland impacts. Components necessary for the restoration and creation of wetlands are presented and examples of wetland construction are described to illustrate the application of wetland design. Land contours, top soil, hydrology and vegetation were manipulated to develop wooded wetlands at sites in Ohio and South Carolina. In Ohio, approximately 30 ha of former crop land/sod farm were modified to bring water from the adjacent creek onto the site and hold it to saturate soils for wetland development. A 2.8 ha ponding area and channels were constructed, berms were built to slow the exit of stormwater runoff, and trees were planted in spring 1994. The mitigation site lies adjacent to a park and high school, thereby also providing community benefits and wetland education opportunities. In South Carolina, 9.5 ha of an abandoned soil borrow pit were converted into wooded wetlands, hydrologically connected to an adjacent swamp. Native plants were removed from the 4 ha of isolated wetlands to be impacted, and were augmented with nursery stock to create the mitigation wetland. Monitoring of vegetation, hydrology and wildlife usage of the constructed system continues to document wetland development and success.     

湖北省鄂州市湿地净初级生产力及固碳释氧量估算

[目的] 估算湖北省鄂州市净初级生产力(net primary productivity,NPP)以及固碳释氧量,探索一种适用于中小尺度上,涉及大量水体的湿地NPP估算方法,为制定相关湿地生态保护政策提供更为准确的数据支撑。[方法] 构建湿地分类模型,将鄂州市湿地划分为浅水地表湿地与深水水体湿地。对浅水地表湿地,采用基于遥感影像的光能利用率模型进行NPP估算;对深水水体湿地,引入叶绿素a与生物量指标,构建回归模型,对湿地水体NPP进行估算。汇总两者的估算结果,得到鄂州市湿地2020年度NPP总量及其空间分布和固碳释氧量。[结果] 鄂州市湿地2020年度净初级生产力总量为2.99×10⁵ t (以C计),CO₂的固定量为4.87×10⁵ t,O₂的释放量为3.59×10⁵ t,整体上呈现南高北低的分布格局。[结论] 采用湿地分类的方法,对深水水体湿地NPP单独进行估算,弥补了基于遥感影像的模型估算方法中对湿地水体部分估算的不足,使估算结果更接近湿地真实水平,采用的模型方法可为类似涉及水体的湿地NPP估算工作提供一种新思路和方法。     

Landscape-level processes and wetland conservation in the Southern Appalachian Mountains

The function of wetland ecosystems is not independent of the landscapes in which they are embedded. They have strong physical and biotic linkages to the surrounding landscape. Therefore, incorporating a broad-scale perspective in our study of wetland ecology will promote our understanding of these habitats in the Southern Appalachians. Changes in the surrounding landscape will likely affect wetlands. Broad-scale changes that are likely to affect wetlands include: 1) climate change, 2) land use and land cover change, 3) water and air-borne pollution, 4) a shift in disturbance/recovery regimes, and 5) habitat loss and fragmentation. Changes in climate and land cover can affect the hydrology of the landscape and, therefore, the water balance of wetlands. Excessive nutrients and toxin transported by air and water to wetlands can disrupt natural patterns of nutrient cycling. Periodic disturbances, like flooding in riparian zones, is required to maintain some wetlands. A change in disturbance regimes, such as an increase in fire frequency, could alter species composition and nutrient cycles in certain wetlands. Many plant and animal species that found in small, isolated wetlands have populations that are dependent on complementary habitats found in the surrounding landscape. Loss or fragmentation of these complementary habitats could result in the collapse of wetland populations.     

Constructed wetlands for the treatment of organic pollutants

Background  Constructed wetlands (wetland treatment systems) are wetlands designed to improve water quality. They use the same processes that occur in natural wetlands but have the flexibility of being constructed. As in natural wetlands vegetation, soil and hydrology are the major components. Different soil types and plant species are used in constructed wetlands. Regarding hydrology surface flow and subsurface flow constructed wetlands are the main types. Subsurface flow constructed wetlands are further subdivided into horizontal or vertical flow. Many constructed wetlands deal with domestic wastewater where BOD and COD (Biochemical and Chemical Oxygen Demand respectively) are used as a sum parameter for organic matter. However, also special organic compounds can be removed. Objective  The objectives are to summarise the state-of-the-art on constructed wetlands for treatment of specific organic compounds, to the present the lack of knowledge, and to derive future research needs. Methods  Case studies in combination with a literature review are used to summarise the available knowledge on removal processes for specific organic compounds. Results and Discussion  Case studies are presented for the treatment of wastewaters contaminated with aromatic organic compounds, and sulphonated anthraquinones, olive mill wastewater, landfill leachate, and groundwater contaminated with hydrocarbons, cyanides, chlorinated volatile organics, and explosives. In general the removal efficiency for organic contaminants is high in all presented studies. Conclusion  Constructed wetlands are an effective and low cost way to treat water polluted with organic compounds. There is a lack of knowledge on the detailed removal pathways for most of the contaminants. Removal rates as well as optimal plant species are substance-specific, and also typically not available. If a constructed wetland provides different environmental conditions and uses different plant species the treatment efficiency can be improved. Recommendations and Outlook  There is a great need to lighten the black box ‘constructed wetland’ to obtain performance data for both microbial activity and the contribution of the plants to the overall removal process. Also genetic modified plants should be considered to enhance the treatment performance of constructed wetlands for specific compounds.     

Four desert waters: Setting arid zone wetland conservation priorities through understanding patterns of endemism

Long-lasting surface water in arid-lands provide oases for aquatic biota, but their values as biological refugia have rarely been assessed. This study identified and mapped permanent natural wetlands across the Eastern Lake Eyre Basin in Australia and classified them into four types: riverine waterholes, rockholes, discharge springs and outcrop springs. Waterholes are the most widespread and numerous source of lasting water, while springs and rockholes are confined to relatively discrete clusters. The characteristics of each wetland type are summarised, and their biological values compared by examining various scales of endemism for vascular plant, fish and mollusc species. Discharge springs contain an exceptional concentration of endemic species across all three lifeforms at a range of scales. Waterholes are critical drought refugia for native fish species that also utilise a vast network of ephemeral streams during and after floods. Rockholes and outcrop springs do not contain any known specialised endemics, although the latter have disjunct populations of some plants and fish. The existing knowledge of antiquity, connectivity and habitat differentiation of the wetland types is compiled and their role in determining biological endemism is discussed. Exotic fish are a major conservation issue, the recovery of the discharge springs should be paramount, and the intact network of permanent waterholes should be preserved. A focus on endemism, combined with an understanding of the biogeographical processes underlying the observed patterns provides an effective and systematic approach to setting priorities for regional biodiversity conservation.     

基于Apack的若尔盖高原湿地景观空间格局分析

以2000年的遥感影像为数据源,基于Apaek软件运用景观格局指数数量方法研究了若尔盖高原高寒湿地的景观空间分布格局特征及其空间异质性特征.结果表明:2000年若尔盖高原湿地率为9.7%,其中沼泽湿地景观是主要景观组分,占湿地景观面积的96.32%;若尔盖高原湿地的景观多样性指数和均匀度都很小,聚集度较高,景观破碎化水平低,几何形状复杂,自相似性差.在5县域中,若尔盖县湿地景观的面积和湿地率最大,阿坝县和碌曲县所占比例较小;红原县的斑块数最多,碌曲县最少,但平均斑块面积以若尔盖县最大,阿坝县最小.各县湿地景观组分的比例分配差异大,但均以沼泽湿地景观为主要景观类型,且湿地景观聚集度高,破碎化水平低,几何形状复杂.在区域尺度上若尔盖高原湿地以自然湿地景观为主,且具有高度的空照间异质性特征.     

FARMERS' KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTION OF AGRICULTURAL WETLAND MANAGEMENT IN RWANDA

Most of Rwanda's wetlands are being reclaimed under government schemes with the aim of growing rice as the main crop. In the present study, information on farmers' knowledge and perceptions of agricultural wetland management was collected in Cyabayaga and Rugeramigozi wetlands. The two wetlands were selected as representatives for typical reclaimed wetland agriculture in Rwanda. They provide contrasts in both environmental and social terms. Three tools were used to investigate farmers' knowledge and perception of agricultural wetland management: (i) household survey; (ii) focus group discussions; and (iii) transect walk. The major constraints identified by farmers in the two wetlands were water shortage and lack of availability of improved seeds and high prices of fertilisers. The primary benefits from wetlands for farmers are income generation in Cyabayaga and food security in Rugeramigozi. The most commonly reported concern about the wetlands in the Cyabayaga and Rugerameragozi was that they are a source of malaria. Rice is an important crop in both wetlands, whereas farmers in Cyabahaga wish to continue cultivating rice, Rugeramigozi farmers prefer to grow rice only after it has been tested for its adaptability. Farmers have sufficient knowledge on the causes and the potential solutions to overcome most constraints. They know that soil suitability is closely related to relief. They classify soils by a number of criteria and choose crops accordingly. Any programme designed to address wetland management in the region will have to take account of farmers' knowledge and adopt a holistic view of wetland management. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Wetland creation in agricultural landscapes: Biodiversity benefits on local and regional scales

Wetland creation aiming at a simultaneous increase in nutrient retention and species diversity in agricultural landscapes has recently become applied as a catchment-scale compensation measure for past wetland losses. Here, we evaluate if, and to what extend, dual-purpose wetlands benefit local and regional diversity of agricultural landscapes. We analysed composition and α, β, and γ diversity of aquatic macroinvertebrate assemblages among dual-purpose wetlands in an agricultural region in southwest Sweden in relation to local (water quality, wetland morphology, succession stage, proximity to other aquatic habitats) and landscape parameters (regional connectivity, wetland density). Diversity of mature agricultural ponds was used as a standard to evaluate the value of dual-purpose wetlands. Dual-purpose wetlands sustained α, β, and γ diversity similar to that of natural lentic water bodies in agricultural landscapes in the region and elsewhere. Over 80% of the overall species richness was attributed to β diversity, and each created wetland contributed to overall species accumulation. Ecosystem parameters explained 19% of the compositional variation among assemblages, but were only marginally related to diversity. Wetland density promoted α and γ diversity, while spatial heterogeneity (β) remained equally high, independent of wetland density. Our results indicate that catchment-scale wetland creation for simultaneous retention and diversity purposes benefits the biodiversity of agricultural landscapes, particularly if the density of aquatic habitats is increased by at least 30%.     

Alteration of soil microbial communities and water quality in restored wetlands

Land usage is a strong determinant of soil microbial community composition and activity, which in turn determine organic matter decomposition rates and decomposition products in soils. Microbial communities in permanently flooded wetlands, such as those created by wetland restoration on Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta islands in California, function under restricted aeration conditions that result in increasing anaerobiosis with depth. It was hypothesized that the change from agricultural management to permanently flooded wetland would alter microbial community composition, increase the amount and reactivity of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) compounds in Delta waters; and have a predominant impact on microbial communities as compared with the effects of other environmental factors including soil type and agricultural management. Based on phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis, active microbial communities of the restored wetlands were changed significantly from those of the agricultural fields, and wetland microbial communities varied widely with soil depth. The relative abundance of monounsaturated fatty acids decreased with increasing soil depth in both wetland and agricultural profiles, whereas branched fatty acids were relatively more abundant at all soil depths in wetlands as compared to agricultural fields. Decomposition conditions were linked to DOC quantity and quality using fatty acid functional groups to conclude that restricted aeration conditions found in the wetlands were strongly related to production of reactive carbon compounds. But current vegetation may have had an equally important role in determining DOC quality in restored wetlands. In a larger scale analysis, that included data from wetland and agricultural sites on Delta islands and data from two previous studies from the Sacramento Valley, an aeration gradient was defined as the predominant determinant of active microbial communities across soil types and land usage.     

基于遥感的郑州市黄河湿地植被覆盖度变化研究

城市滨河湿地的治理与保护对于城市生态环境具有重要意义,而监测植被覆盖度是研究湿地植被状况的重要方法。以郑州市黄河湿地为研究对象,采用等密度模型,基于1999-2011年的郑州市黄河湿地TM遥感影像,进行湿地植被覆盖度的反演,并结合降水数据和实际调研情况,分析了郑州市黄河湿地植被覆盖度的变化情况。结果表明,郑州市黄河湿地生态环境比较脆弱,研究期内平均植被盖度由60%下降到40%,典型黄河湿地植被遭到破坏。年降水的差异对植被覆盖度影响明显,同时越来越多的人类活动是导致植被持续减少的重要因子。该研究结果可为制定区域生态修复规划,提高黄河湿地的生态价值和经济价值服务提供参考。     

新疆干旱区湿地景观格局遥感动态监测与时空变异

为了解和掌握全球变化环境下中国干旱区湿地的分布现状、变化过程和时空格局特征,该文通过多源遥感技术手段,采用面向对象分类方法和目视解译相结合,完成了干旱区湿地信息的多期监测,实现了新疆地区2000、2005和2010年的湿地分布制图,并利用动态度模型和地统计方法计算了近10 a时空变化情况,分析了湿地变化的时空特征。研究结果表明:1)近10 a来全疆干旱区湿地约增加了10.1%,2010年新疆湿地总面积达到22 438 km2,较2000年约增加了2 065 km2;2)在类型构成上,2010年河流湿地、湖泊湿地、沼泽湿地和人工湿地所占比例分别为42.73%、29.43%、17.98%、8.92%和0.94%;3)在空间分布上,南北疆呈现不均衡,南疆湿地约占总体的76%,北疆湿地仅占24%;主要分布在塔里木流域,以河流湿地为主,空间分布差异显著;4)新疆湿地面积总体上呈增多的趋势,不同类型的湿地面积变化幅度差异较大。沼泽湿地和人工湿地的动态度分别为:2.58%、2.43%,河流湿地与湖泊湿地的动态度为:0.59%、0.43%;净增量最大的是沼泽湿地和河流湿地,分别增加了827.92和531.86 km2,占湿地净增量的65.85%。在变化原因上,全球变暖、新疆区域气温升高和降水增多是湿地近年来增加的主要原因;人类活动的干扰,加剧了湿地变化的复杂性和空间差异性。研究结果可为区域生态环境变化研究以及湿地资源的保护规划提供数据支持和结论参考。     

Constructed wetland treatment systems applied research program at The Electric Power Research Institute

The Electric Power Research Institute's (EPRI) Environmental and Health Sciences Business Unit, within the Environment Group, has initiated a multi-disciplinary applied research program to develop constructed wetland treatment systems as a cost-effective technology for the treatment of metal-bearing electric utility aqueous discharges. EPRI's program involves the building of constructed wetland treatment systems, collection of field data from these systems, and conduct of controlled laboratory experiments to more fully understand their functions and the factors affecting these functions. Both data collected through this program and existing data will be used to develop and deliver design criteria for the effective use of this technology to reduce or eliminate the risk that electric utilities will not meet regulatory-imposed effluent discharge limits. Currently, EPRI along with one of its members, is funding the construction of a state-of-the-art constructed wetland treatment system to treat a discharge from a closed dry ash management facility in Pennsylvania. This constructed wetland treatment system, along with existing ones located in California and Tennessee, will be used to collect data on the cycling of trace metals. Controlled laboratory experiments are underway to develop trace element uptake curves for wetland plant species, to determine which plant species one should plant in a wetland in a particular geographic area to maximize trace element removal. Plants also will be identified that are high volatilizers for selenium, arsenic and lead. As part of this research, the best plant/microbe associations (i.e., best plant species with the best microbe species) will be identified for achieving the highest rates of trace metal removal. Once this work is completed, these plants will be introduced into the three constructed wetland treatment systems mentioned above and the wetlands will be monitored to determine if any improvement in trace metal uptake is occurring. Additionally, EPRI is coordinating its research program with the Tennessee Valley Authority's (TVA) program, where design criteria for manganese rock drains for the removal of manganese and successive alkalinity-producing constructed wetlands for the treatment of acidic aerobic discharges will be developed. TVA is also supporting the development of EPRI's Wetland Environmental and Management (WEM) Model and is conducting research on anoxic limestone drains.     

Plant community functional shifts in response to livestock grazing in intermountain depressional wetlands in British Columbia, Canada

Wetlands are ecologically and economically important ecosystems with high conservation value. Although wetland vegetation is strongly determined by abiotic factors, grazing disturbance may also be an important influence on this community. We evaluated the effects of livestock grazing on wetland vegetation in marsh and wet meadow zones in intermountain depressional wetlands in the southern interior of British Columbia, Canada. We sampled marshes and wet meadows in 36 wetlands along a grazing intensity gradient ranging from fully fenced and ungrazed wetlands to unfenced wetlands heavily grazed by livestock. The amount of bare ground was used as a surrogate measure of the intensity of livestock grazing. Vegetation community structure and composition was strongly associated with grazing intensity. Increased livestock grazing favored shorter-lived and smaller plants; conversely, the frequency of tall and rhizomatous species, which constitute the dominant plant species in these systems, declined with higher livestock use. The effects of grazing were more pronounced in the marsh than in the wet meadow. Associations between species richness and grazing differed between zones: native and exotic species richness showed a unimodal response in the marsh while in the wet meadow exotic richness increased and native richness showed no response. The relationship between exotic frequency and grazing was also inconsistent between zones, with a negative association in the marsh and a positive but weak association in the wet meadow. Grazing-related changes in vegetation along the grazing intensity gradient were substantial and may affect the habitat value of these wetlands for dependent wildlife such as breeding waterfowl.     

Effects of landscape characteristics on amphibian distribution in a forest-dominated landscape

We investigated the influence of landscape and wetland characteristics on pond-breeding amphibian assemblages in south-central New Hampshire, a relatively low populated and heavily forested region of the northeastern United States. This allowed us to better understand landscape influences in less disturbed areas, and to determine critical landscape disturbance thresholds, above which amphibians are negatively impacted. We sampled 61 wetlands for larval amphibians in 1998 and 1999 to examine the influence of forest cover and road density (at seven buffer distances between 100 and 2000 m) and wetland characteristics on larval amphibian assemblages. Assemblages were influenced primarily by forest cover and wetland hydroperiod. Species richness was most strongly influenced by the proportion of forest cover within 1000 m of the wetland. Several species were also influenced by forest cover, but were differentially influenced by buffer widths. Our study suggests that, at least in the northeast US, wetlands with <40% forest cover within a 1000 m radius may have depauperate larval amphibian assemblages, and forest cover above 60% within a 1000 m radius is likely to ensure species rich and abundant larval amphibian assemblages. Given the above, current federal and state regulations that focus amphibian protection efforts on narrow terrestrial buffers surrounding wetlands are likely to be inadequate.     

安徽省安庆市沿江沼泽湿地恢复空间分析

[目的]对安徽省安庆市沿江沼泽湿地区的沼泽湿地生态系统恢复进行空间分析,为沼泽湿地生态环境的改善提供科学依据。[方法]针对安庆市沿江沼泽湿地退化严重的现状,在分析区域功能特征的基础上,构建沼泽湿地空间恢复模型,并实现区域内沼泽湿地空间恢复,继而得到沼泽湿地优先、次优先恢复以及不可恢复级别。最后从整体景观效果和沼泽湿地功能两个恢复角度评价沼泽湿地恢复效果。[结果]安庆市沿江沼泽湿地恢复面积为5.78×104 hm2,在现有沼泽湿地面积基础上提高了35.78%。以耕地为主,占沼泽湿地恢复面积的91.43%。其中,优先恢复面积为2.92×104 hm2,主要分布于研究区的中北部地区;次优先沼泽湿地恢复面积为2.86×104 hm2。不可恢复面积为3.61×104 hm2,主要为水域、建筑用地等不可变更区域。[结论]经过恢复效果验证,从景观整体格局分析可知,沼泽湿地恢复后,研究及区域内沼泽湿地的斑块数量减少,而平均斑块密度增加,聚集度指数增加,景观多样性指数上升,说明沼泽湿地恢复实施后,景观格局更有利于朝着沼泽湿地生态功能的发挥,对维护区域生态安全具有很大的现实意义。     

黄河兰州段湿地植物多样性研究

兰州段黄河湿地在其城市生态系统中占有重要地位。采用样带和典型样方相结合的方法对黄河湿地3种生境系统进行实地调查,研究了兰州城市湿地的植物多样性。结果表明:(1)不同生境系统湿地植物群落以草本为主,乔木多以杨柳科的垂柳为主,灌木只调查到1科1种。过渡带湿地植物种类几乎涵盖了其他生境系统的所有物种。(2)近裸露湿地赖草、稗草、虎尾草的重要值分别达到16.336,14.112,11.723;过渡带湿地中芦苇的地位得到加强,近自然湿地中芦苇的重要值已达13.153,其常见伴生种如水芹、香蒲、罔草也具有一定的地位。(3)3种生境湿地丰富度指数,Simpson指数及Shannon—Wiener多样性指数大小依次为:过渡带>近裸露湿地>近自然湿地,均匀度指数与之变化趋势不一致。近裸露湿地与过渡带β多样性小于近自然湿地与过渡带,不同生境间的相异性也表现为近裸露湿地与过渡带小于近自然湿地与过渡带。