Distribution and risk assessment of heavy metals in surface sediments of coastal mudflats on Leizhou Peninsula,China

Mudflats play a vital role in maintaining the dynamic balance between sea and land.To understand the characteristics,sources,and pollution risks of six heavy metals(As,Cd,Cr,Cu,Hg,and Pb)in the coastal mudflats on the Leizhou Peninsula,257 surface sediment samples were studied using mathematical statistics,correlation analysis,and factor analysis.The results show that the overall concentrations of these heavy metals are low although there are several high abnormal points in the local areas.The strong correlation between these heavy metals indicates that the sources of some of the metals are similar,yet their elemental combinations in different cities(counties)varied.According to the calculated enrichment factor(EF),anthropogenic activity-induced heavy metals were determined in order of decreasing influence:As,Cd,Pb,Cr,Cu,and Hg.The low EF values of Hg indicate that it does not present as a contaminant in the study area,while low values of Cr and Cu from the Lianjiang City suggest that these two metals were also attributed to natural sources.The presence of As,Cd,Cr,Cu,and Pb from the remaining cities(counties)should be influenced by anthropogenic activities.The overall potential ecological risk index indicates that the ecological risks posed by the six analyzed heavy metals to the Leizhou Peninsula mudflats,in order of decreasing risk,are Cd,As,Hg,Pb,Cu,and Cr.It is noteworthy that only Cd in Lianjiang City demonstrated substantial ecological risk.Other examined heavy metals in other cities of the study area showed slight ecological risk.

Using benthic macrofauna to assess environmental quality of four intertidal mudflats in Hong Kong and Shenzhen Coast

Intertidal zone is a significant wetland between land and ocean. It plays an important rolein maintaining local ecological balance. Both Mai Po and Futian intertidal mudflats are located in Shenzhen Bay and are important 'refueling' point along the East Asian/Australian flyway of migratory birds. The environmental quality of Mai Po and Futian mudflats have aroused great concern due to rapid economic developments in Hong Kong and Shenzhen in recent decades. Macroinfauna of Mai Po and Futian mudflats was investigated in December 2000 and the faunal data were used to assess their environmental quality. Two other mudflats, namely Ma Wan Typhoon Shelter (a more disturbed area) and Luk Keng intertidal mudflat (a place with relatively less human disturbance), were also sampled for macroinfauna and used as reference mudflats. Shannon - Weaver species diversity index (Isd), biotic coefficient (Cb) and macrofaunal pollution index (Imp) of the macrofauna community on four intertidal mudflats were used to determine their environmental quality. The results showed that Luk Keng intertidal mudflat was unpolluted, Mai Po and Futian mudflats were slightly polluted, and Ma Wan was moderately polluted. The pollution in Ma Wan Typhoon Shelter mainly came from various types of rubbish and fishing boats that disturbed the sediment, while pollution sources in Mai Po and Futian mudflats were discharges of industrial water, municipal sewage and from nearby rivers.

Responses of Ryegrass(Lolium perenne L.) Grown in Mudflats to Sewage Sludge Amendment

Sewage sludge amendment （SSA） is an alternative waste disposal technique and a potential way to increase fertility of mudflats for crop growth. The present study aimed to assess the suitability of SSA by assessing the nitrogen （N） and phosphorous （P） uptakes, heavy metal accumulation, growth, biomass, and yield response of ryegrass （Lolium perenne L.） at 0, 30, 75, 150, and 300 t ha-1 SSA rates at various growth stages. The results showed that the highest biomass ofryegrass at seedling and vegetative stages were at 300 and 150 t ha-1 SSA rate, respectively. The increments of ryegrass yield at reproductive stage at 30, 75, 150, and 300 t ha1 SSA rates were 98.0, 122.6, 88.1, and 61.2%, compared to unamended soil. N and P concentrations in ryegrass increased with increasing SSA rates at all stages except N and P in roots dropped significantly at 300 t ha-1 rate at vegetative stage. The metal concentration for Mn, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd, Cr, and Pb in shoot of ryegrass at 300 t ha-1 S SA rate increased by 0.63-, 2.34-, 15.02-, 0.97-, 10.00-, 0.01- and 1.13-fold, respectively, compared to unamended soil. However, heavy metal concentrations in shoot of ryegrass were lower than the standard for forage products in China. The study suggested that sewage sludge amendment in mudflat soils might be feasible. However, the impacts of sludge application on edible crop plants and soil environment need further investigations.

Coastal mudflats as reservoirs of extracellular antibiotic resistance genes: Studies in Eastern China

Despite coastal mudflats serving as essential ecological zones interconnecting terrestrial/freshwater and marine systems,little is known about the profiles of antibiotic resistance genes(ARGs)in this area.In this study,characteristics of typical ARGs,involving both intracellular(iARGs)and extracellular ARGs(eARGs)at different physical states,were explored in over 1000 km of coastal mudflats in Eastern China.Results indicated the presence of iARGs and eARGs at states of both freely present or attached by particles.The abundance of eARGs was significantly higher than that of iARGs(87.3%vs 12.7%),and their dominance was more significant than those in other habitats(52.7%-76.3%).ARG abundance,especially for eARGs,showed an increasing trend(p<0.05)from southern(Nantong)to northern(Lianyungang)coastalmudflats.Higher salinity facilitated the transformation from iARGs to eARGs,and smaller soil particle size was conducive to the persistence of eARGs in northern coastal mudflats.This study addresses the neglected function of coastal mudflats as eARGs reservoirs.

Preservation potential of individual couplet and deposition rates on mudflats in the Changjiang Estuary

Non-barrier mudflats in the Changjiang Estuary is examined to obtain preservation potentials and deposition rates over different time scales. The preservation potential of couplet is ca. 46.6% within daily scale and decreases as the time-interval extending, with 9.2% on a semi-lunar scale and 3.7% on a seasonal scale. In the long term, only 1.6% of daily deposition can potentially be preserved in the tidal flat sequence and other 98.4% have been eroded and leave sedimentary discordances, discernable or un-discernable, in the mudflat deposits. A negative log-linear relationship is examined between sedimentation rates and the time spans. The length of sedimentary hiatuses on the mudflat deposition were estimated with considerable uncertainty, but it can provide from an actualistic base some further insights into the nature and origin of ancient mudflat deposits with emphasis on the sedimentary discordances.

Migration routes,population status and important sites used by the globally threatened Black-faced Spoonbill(Platalea minor):a synthesis of surveys and tracking studies

Background:The Black-faced Spoonbill(Platalea minor)is a globally threatened species,nesting mainly in western Korea with smaller numbers breeding in Liaoning Province,China,and Far East Russia.Recent winter field surveys to estimate the species'population size were almost totally conducted in coastal areas,but tracking studies showed that some individuals now winter inland.To ensure its long-term survival,we need a more comprehensive assessment of the current distribution and abundance of the species.Methods:We combined the most recent count data and satellite tracking information to update existing informa-tion about the population abundance and distribution of the Black-faced Spoonbill at all stages of its annual life cycle,and how these have changed during 2004-2020.Results:Black-faced Spoonbills mainly breed on the west coast of the Korean peninsula,while immature birds show a wider summer distribution throughout Yellow Sea coastal areas,when a few remain on wintering sites in the south.Combined tracking results and mid-winter counts confirmed known wintering sites on the east and south coasts of China,but showed that the species also winters on wetlands in the Yangtze River floodplain and in Southeast Asia.During 2004-2020,counts of wintering birds in coastal habitats increased from 1198 to 4864,with numbers wintering on the island of Taiwan contributing most to the overall increase.Latest counts found 5222 in 2021.We also identify key wintering and stopover sites as well as their current conservation status.Conclusions:This study revised the known summering and wintering ranges of the Black-faced Spoonbill and assessed the conservation status of key sites based on a combination of field survey and satellite tracking data.We recommend prioritisation of further field research to identify and survey inland wintering areas in the Yangtze River floodplain and summering areas of immature birds.More tracking of adult individuals and birds during spring migration is necessary to fill these information gaps.We also suggest establishing a Black-faced Spoonbill monitoring platform to store,share and show real-time distribution range and population abundance data.

Ecological impact of land reclamation on Jiangsu coast(China):A novel ecotope assessment for Tongzhou Bay

China’s continuous and rapid economic growth has led to the reclamation of large sections of the intertidal mud coast in combination with port construction,such as that of the proposed Tongzhou Bay port on the Jiangsu coast.These reclamations threaten the local ecosystem services.An ecotope distribution map was created and a hydrodynamic numerical model of Tongzhou Bay was set up to quantify the impacts of reclamation on the ecosystem.Based on the field data and model results,several abiotic features were classified into 11 ecotopes and visualized in an ecotope map of the Tongzhou Bay ecosystem.Validation with spatial distributions of two threatened shorebird species(bar-tailed godwit and great knot) showed confirmation with the mid-range and low-range littoral zones(inundated from 40% to 100% of a tidal cycle),indicating the importance of the areas with these conditions to these populations.Overlaying the ecotope map with recent and proposed land reclamation schemes revealed a loss of ecotopes,composed of the high-range(42%),mid-range(48%),and low-range(38%) littoral habitats,corresponding to a 44%-45% loss of the most important ecotopes for bar-tailed godwit and great knot(mid-range and low-range littoral zones).These results confirm the applicability of the novel ecotope assessment approach in practice.

Identifying important habitats for waterbird conservation at a Greek Regional Nature Park

Background:Small coastal wetlands are vital sites for wintering waterbirds.Identifying important habitats is critical for managing waterbirds effectively.The Vourkari inlet is a small coastal wetland located near the capital Athens,within the most urbanized and industrialized area of Greece.We aimed at identifying the most important habitats for waterbirds at the Vourkari inlet during winter.Methods:Data about habitat use and availability were collected for 14 waterbird species and for seven habitat classes.Habitat selection(Manly’s selection ratio),overlap indices(Pianka’s niche overlap index)and null models were calculated.Results:All the studied waterbird species selected available habitats nonrandomly.Shallow waters(0–2 m),were used by 13 waterbirds and selected by five waterbirds.Pools and channels were used and selected by 10 species.Mud was used by nine species and selected by six species.Mud with rocky substrate was used by nine species and selected by eight species.Medium(2–4 m)and deep(4–6 m)open water habitats were used by seven species and selected by four species.Halophytic vegetation was used by six species and selected by two species.Several habitats were selected by nationally important populations:mudflat habitats(i.e.,mud,mud with rocky substrate and pools and channels)by Common Redshanks(Tringa totanus),halophytic vegetation by Little Egrets(Egretta garzetta),shallow waters by Common Shelducks(Tadorna tadorna)and medium and deep waters by Sandwich Terns(Thalasseus sandvicencis),whilst shallow waters and mudflat habitats were preferred by a possibly internationally important population of Mediterranean Gulls(Ichthyaetus melanocephalus).Although overlap in habitat use between species was generally low,null models indicated habitat sharing and a lack of competition.Conclusions:Waterbirds coexisted in the absence of competition for habitats at Vourkari,where they mostly used and preferred shallow water and mudflats.Small coastal wetlands are numerous,both in Greece and worldwide,therefore our findings would be useful as a basis for comparisons,both temporal at the inlet and spatial with other sites,that would help assess the importance of habitats and improve management strategies to benefit waterbirds,especially in areas with similar Mediterranean-type habitats and climate.

Strength May Lie in Numbers: Intertidal Foraminifera Non-Negligible Contribution to Surface Sediment Reworking

The contribution of benthic foraminifera to sediment bioturbation has widely been overlooked despite their huge abundance in intertidal soft sediments. In this preliminary study, we specifically chose to focus on two key species of benthic foraminifera in temperate intertidal mudflats, Quinqueloculina seminula and Ammonia tepida, and first experimentally investigated their individual movements at the sediment surface. We subsequently derived from these observations the individual-level surface sediment reworking rates, and used the actual abundance of these species to extrapolate these rates at the population level. Individual surface sediment reworking rates SSRRi ranged between 0.13 and 0.32 cm2·ind-1·day-1 for Q. seminula, and between 0.12 and 0.28 cm2·ind-1·day-1 for A. tepida. Population-level surface sediment reworking rates were subsequently estimated as ranging between 11,484 and 28,710 cm2·m-2·day-1 for Q. seminula and 27,876 and 65,044 cm2·m-2·day-1 for A. tepida. Noticeably, these reworking rates are comparable to, and eventually even higher than, the rates reported in the literature for populations of intertidal macro-invertebrates, such as the annelid polychaete Melinna palmata and the bivalve Abra ovata. Taken together these results suggest that despite their minute size intertidal benthic foraminifera are, thanks to their abundance, non-negligible contributors to the reworking of surface sediment, and may then play an unanticipated role in the benthic ecosystem functioning, through e.g. the enhancement of fluxes at the sediment-water interface.

Seasonal and Spatial Variations of Macro Benthos in the Intertidal Mudflat of Southern Yellow River Delta,China in 2007/2008

In order to examine the seasonal and spatial distributions of benthic animals in the intertidal mudflat of the southern Yellow River Delta,field investigations were carried out in 2007 and 2008 and multiple methods were applied.Results showed that,the biomass of macro benthos ranged at 0.75-1151.00 g wet m^(-2) and averaged at 156.31 g wet m^(-2),in which Mactra veneriformis accounted for 75.6%-93.4% of the total macro benthic biomass.More than 90% of macro benthos inhabited in the middle and low tide lines,and higher biomass occurred in early summer and lower in winter.Statistical analysis showed that:1)M.veneriformis growth was primarily favored at higher temperature and lower salinity;2)after long time interaction,benthic bivalve grazers led to patching distributions of Chlorophyll a(Chl a);3)macro benthic biomass positively related with Chl a when the concentration of Chl a was low,but they were negatively related when Chl a concentration was high;and 4)furthermore,the biomass of benthic bivalves peaked in the sediment with median grain size about 0.55 mm,but decreased gradually in coarse or fine sediments.The secondary productivity ranged at 0.37-283.68 g m^(-2)yr^(-1) and averaged at 47.88 g m^(-2) yr^(-1),in which 69.7% was contributed by M.veneriformis It was estimated that primary production was transformed to secondary production at a rate of 6.87%approximately,which implies that there is a local sustainability of high bivalve production.

江苏淤泥质潮滩湿地互花米草扩张对湿地景观的影响

在RS和GIS技术支持下,结合盐城自然保护区典型区域潮滩湿地的区域特点,通过景观多样性指数、优势度、聚集度指数、分布质心和转移矩阵等方法,系统地分析了1996-2010年的14年间盐城潮滩湿地互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)沼泽景观的时空动态及其对湿地景观空间格局的影响。结果表明:1盐城潮滩湿地互花米草沼泽分布面积呈显著增加趋势。1996-2010年,面积增长了2 661.74hm2,年均增长177.45hm2,增幅215.42%,年均变化率14.36%;2空间上,潮滩湿地上的互花米草斑块质心总体向海偏移。其中,1996-2006年,年均向海移动110.96m/a;2006-2010年,年均向海移动74.97m/a;3受互花米草扩张影响,研究区景观格局发生了明显的变化。互花米草生长不仅抑制了本地湿地植被的自然增长,而且还改变着湿地植被景观的组成、结构和潮滩湿地景观系统整体格局。