Structure of interstitial assemblages in a regulated channel of the river rhine (France)

The interstitial assemblages of the River Rhine were studied in the Rhinau sector (France). The studied area is located in aVegulated channel of the river, controlled by a hydroelectric dam. Twenty stations were sampled in September 1988. Ten litres of interstitial water were pumped at 50 cm depth in each station using the Bou-Rouch technique. Interstitial waters were poorly oxygenated and the hyporheic fauna had three major characteristics: (1) microcrustaceans were dominant, (2) the insects were rare and (3) the stygofauna was absent. The richest stations were well oxygenated and did not correspond to any particular geomorphological features. These findings contrast with the situation observed on other large European rivers (Rhǒne, Danube) where the interstitial assemblages appear to be locally more diversified and rich in stygofauna.     

Importance of Reservoir Tributaries to Spawning of Migratory Fish in the Upper Paraná River

Regulation of rivers by dams transforms previously lotic reaches above the dam into lentic ones and limits or prevents longitudinal connectivity, which impairs access to suitable habitats for the reproduction of many migratory fish species. Frequently, unregulated tributaries can provide important habitat heterogeneity to a regulated river and may mitigate the influence of impoundments on the mainstem river. We evaluated the importance of tributaries to spawning of migratory fish species over three spawning seasons, by comparing several abiotic conditions and larval fish distributions in four rivers that are tributaries to an impounded reach of the Upper Paraná River, Brazil. Our study confirmed reproduction of at least 8 long‐distance migrators, likely nine, out of a total of 19 occurring in the Upper Paraná River. Total larval densities and percentage species composition differed among tributaries, but the differences were not consistent among spawning seasons and unexpectedly were not strongly related to annual differences in temperature and hydrology. We hypothesize that under present conditions, densities of larvae of migratory species may be better related to efficiency of fish passage facilities than to temperature and hydrology. Our study indicates that adult fish are finding suitable habitat for spawning in tributaries, fish eggs are developing into larvae, and larvae are finding suitable rearing space in lagoons adjacent to the tributaries. Our findings also suggest the need for establishment of protected areas in unregulated and lightly regulated tributaries to preserve essential spawning and nursery habitats. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Spatial distribution and habitat characterization of schistosomiasis host snails in lake and land habitats of western Kenya

Intermediate host snails of schistosomiasis were surveyed in this study to determine their abundance and distribution in the lake and land aquatic habitats of Lake Victoria basin of Kenya. Several sites were sampled at eight locations, both in the lake and on the land. The habitat and/or vegetation type (i.e. open water, hippo grass, hyacinth, ambatch trees, other vegetation, stream, swamp, pond, dam) of the sampled aquatic sites within the locations were also differentiated, water physicochemical parameters were determined, and the abundance of different species or taxa of phytoplankton and zooplankton were enumerated and correlated with the abundance of schistosomiasis snails in the sites. The results indicated significantly more Biomphalaria sudanica snails than Bulinus africanus snails in different physical habitats on land (Student's t‐test, P < 0.05), as well as in different locations on land (Student's t‐test, P = 0.026). Regression analyses revealed that several physicochemical parameters, including dissolved oxygen (R² = ?0.659; n = 8; P = 0.014), pH (R² = 0.728; n = 8; P = 0.007) and turbulence (R² = ?0.616; n = 8; P = 0.02), were predictive of Biomphalaria spp. abundance, while pH (R² = 0.610; n = 8; P = 0.02) and turbulence (R² = ?0.578; n = 8; P = 0.028) were predictive of Bulinus spp. abundance in different locations in the lake. Cyanobacteria (R² = 0.638; n = 8; P = 0.02) and chlorophyceae (R² = ?0.50; n = 8; P = 0.05) were shown to be predictive of both Biomphalaria spp. and Bulinus spp. abundance in different locations in the lake. Zooplankton abundance varied significantly between different locations in the lake (One‐way anova , P < 0.001). Bosmina spp. were found to be predictive of both Biomphalaria spp. (R² = ?0.627; n = 8; P = 0.01) and Bulinus spp. (R² = ?0.50; n = 8; P = 0.05) in different locations in the lake. The results from this study will help inform policy regarding control measures for schistosomias and intermediate snail hosts in Lake Victoria waters, as well as in adjacent terrestrial aquatic habitats and even beyond.     

天津滨海新区湿地生态恢复需水量评估

生态需水量的核算是湿地水文生态恢复的关键步骤。通过分析计算,评估天津滨海新区湿地生态系统各类生态需水的3个特征值:最低生态需水量(即湿地生态系统丧失生态功能的临界需水量)、最适生态需水量(即维持湿地生态功能最佳状态的需水量)、最高生态需水量(即湿地生态系统所能承受的最大水量),得出如下结论:天津滨海地区湿地的生态需水主要包括蒸发蒸散需水量、湿地土壤需水量、补给地下水、湿地生物栖息地需水量4个部分;湿地的最低生态需水量为177.68×106～276.85×106 m3,最适生态需水量539.23×106～807.81×106 m3,最高生态需水量1 206.55×106～1 409.02×106 m3。     

Relative contributions of nearshore and wetland habitats to coastal food webs in the Great Lakes

Hydrologic linkages among coastal wetland and nearshore areas allow coastal fish to move among the habitats, which has led to a variety of habitat use patterns. We determined nutritional support of coastal fishes from 12 wetland-nearshore habitat pairs using stable isotope analyses, which revealed differences among species and systems in multi-habitat use. Substantial (proportions?>?0.30) nutrition often came from the habitat other than that in which fish were captured. Nearshore subsidies to coastal wetlands indicate wetlands are not exclusively exporters of energy and materials; rather, there is reciprocity in the mutual energetic support of nearshore and wetland food webs. Coastal wetland hydrogeomorphology influenced the amount of multi-habitat use by coastal fishes. Fishes from systems with relatively open interfaces between wetland and nearshore habitats exhibited less nutritional reliance on the habitat in which they were captured, and higher use of resources from the adjacent habitat. Comparisons of stable isotope analyses of nutrition with otolith analyses of occupancy indicated nutritional sources often corresponded with habitat occupancy; however, disparities among place of capture, otolith analyses, and nutritional analyses indicated differences in the types of support those analyses inform. Disparities between occupancy information and nutritional information can stem from movements for support functions other than foraging. Together, occupancy information from otolith microchemistry and nutritional information from stable isotope analyses provide complementary measures of the use of multiple habitats by mobile consumers. This work underscores the importance of protecting or restoring a diversity of coastal habitats and the hydrologic linkages among them.     

Mean Flow and Turbulence Structure in Vertical Slot Fishways

This paper presents the results of an experimental study on the mean and turbulence structures of flow in a vertical slot fishway with slopes of 5.06 and 10.52%. Two flow patterns existed in the fishway and for each one, two flow regions were formed in the pools: a jet flow region and a recirculating flow region. The mean kinetic energy decays rapidly in the jet region and the dissipation rate in most of the areas in the pool is less than 200?W/m3. For the jet flow, the nondimensional mean velocity profile across the jet agrees very well with that of a plane turbulent jet in the central part of the jet with some scatter near its boundaries. Its maximum velocity decays faster compared to a plane turbulent jet in a large stagnant ambient. The jet presents different turbulence structure for the two flow patterns and for each pattern, the turbulence characteristics appear different between the left and right halves of the jet. However, the turbulence characteristics show some similarity for each case. The normalized energy dissipation rate shows some similarity and has a maximum value on the center of the jet. The results are believed to provide useful insight on the turbulence characteristics of flow in vertical slot fishways and can be used to verify numerical models and also for guidance in the design of fishways in the future.     

Stream regulation and nitrogen dynamics in sediment interstices: comparison of natural and straightened sectors of a third‐order stream

Nitrogen dynamics were studied in the interstitial environment (i.e. hyporheic zone) of a sandy‐bottom stream in a rural landscape. A third‐order stream in Brittany (France) was studied at 11 stations (riffles) to evaluate spatial patterns of water exchange between surface and interstitial habitats. More intensive sampling was conducted in three riffles selected according to their hydrological characteristics. Chemical characteristics (especially nitrogen) and microbial denitrification were studied at 12.5 and 25 cm depth upstream, and 25 cm depth downstream of each riffle. This study confirms that the interstitial habitat of a N‐rich stream acts as a sink for the nitrate‐nitrogen. Experimental manipulation of sediment cores indicates that denitrification is limited by carbon in surface (i.e. benthic) and by nitrate in hyporheic sediments. River regulation increases inputs of fine sediments, modifies river channel location, and generates changes in the spatial patterns of biogeochemical processes, water origins, and hydrologic exchanges. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

格物致知：一个永恒的教育理想——黄晓慧博士论文《大学教育知识的微观政治哲学分析》序

格物致知,是2000多年前儒家为人生理想提炼的一句箴言;而知识栖息地,则是2010年英国学者哈珀为大学伟大描绘的一个隐喻。山高水长,时空穿越,不灭的光亮正是格物致知这个永恒的教育理想。也许就是这个点燃智慧的光亮,引领每一个人、所有学校和整个人类,孜孜不倦地投身到格物致知那绵延不绝的追求行动之中。一种理想的格物致知教育生活便一直伴随着我们：人类在创造知识中进步,学校在传播知识中发展,个人在识知探求中升华。     

Development and Evaluation of a New Helical Fish-Friendly Hydroturbine

A new hydroturbine was developed to improve fish survival during their downstream migration. This turbine includes a normal scroll case, few but relatively long wicket gates, a streamlined downturn before the runner inlet, a runner with only three helical blades attached to a tapered hub and a rotating shroud attached to the outside edges of the blades. After design of the turbine using analytical methods and construction of a 1:3.25 scale pilot turbine and flow loop, engineering studies and tests with live fish were conducted at full-scale heads and velocities. Resulting test data indicated that the full-scale turbine would have an efficiency of about 90% and that fish survival would be about 98% for fish 100?mm (4?in.) long. Survival would be greater for smaller fish and less for larger fish. Various improvements to the turbine design were identified prior to full-scale field application.     

Are marron,Cherax tenuimanus (Crustacea: Decapoda), populations in irrigation reservoirs habitat limited? A trial using artificial habitats

Many valleys in Western Australia have been dammed to provide irrigation and potable water. To minimize the risks of outlet blockages, basins have been cleared of vegetation and rocky outcrops during construction. As a result, dam basins contain limited numbers of aquatic habitats, being dominated by sandy and muddy substrata. Nonetheless, endemic crayfishes (especially marron, Cherax tenuimanus) and three introduced species of fishes support large recreational fisheries in irrigation reservoirs. Recently, it has been shown that Perca fluviatilis (red‐fin perch) imposes an extremely high mortality on C. tenuimanus in reservoirs, with the result that marron populations might be below reservoir‐carrying capacity. To test this hypothesis, three types of artificial habitats (pipes, tiles, mesh) that mimic natural habitat types were placed into a reservoir and their use by C. tenuimanus was assessed. As C. tenuimanus is an annual brooder, releasing young during November and December, the effects of artificial habitats on biomass concentration and productivity can be differentiated. The study results showed that C. tenuimanus rapidly populated artificial habitats (concentration effects). Small, newly recruited C. tenuimanus also utilized the pipe and tile habitats (productivity effects). The addition of these types of habitats increased the suitability of the reservoir for the studied C. tenuimanus population, increasing productivity, probably via reduction of teleost predation. The increased productivity of the C. tenuimanus population might, in turn, increase the productivity and sustainability of the recreational marron fishery. Other aquatic species, including a biofilm community, also utilized the artificial habitats, increasing the species richness in the dam. Due to the success of the current study, large artificial habitats have been installed into two irrigation reservoirs in order to increase recreational marron fishing and conservation values.