Vulnerability assessment of coastal wetlands in Minjiang River Estuary based on cloud model under sea level rise

The change of coastal wetland vulnerability affects the ecological environment and the economic development of the estuary area.In the past,most of the assessment studies on the vulnerability of coastal ecosystems stayed in static qualitative research,lacking predictability,and the qualitative and quantitative relationship was not objective enough.In this study,the“Source-Pathway-Receptor-Consequence”model and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change vulnerability definition were used to analyze the main impact of sea level rise caused by climate change on coastal wetland ecosystem in Minjiang River Estuary.The results show that:(1)With the increase of time and carbon emission,the area of high vulnerability and the higher vulnerability increased continuously,and the area of low vulnerability and the lower vulnerability decreased.(2)The eastern and northeastern part of the Culu Island in the Minjiang River Estuary of Fujian Province and the eastern coastal wetland of Meihua Town in Changle District are areas with high vulnerability risk.The area of high vulnerability area of coastal wetland under high emission scenario is wider than that under low emission scenario.(3)Under different sea level rise scenarios,elevation has the greatest impact on the vulnerability of coastal wetlands,and slope has less impact.The impact of sea level rise caused by climate change on the coastal wetland ecosystem in the Minjiang River Estuary is mainly manifested in the sea level rise,which changes the habitat elevation and daily flooding time of coastal wetlands,and then affects the survival and distribution of coastal wetland ecosystems.

Inter-annual variations of dissolved oxygen and hypoxia off the northern Changjiang River(Yangtze River) Estuary in summer from 1997 to 2014

Hypoxia off the Changjiang River Estuary has been the subject of much attention,yet systematic observations have been lacking,resulting in a lack of knowledge regarding its long-term change and drivers.By revisiting the repeated surveys of dissolved oxygen(DO) and other relevant hydrographic parameters along the section from the Changjiang River Estuary to the Jeju-do in the summer from 1997 to 2014,rather different trends were revealed for the dual low-DO cores.The nearshore low-DO core,located close to the river mouth and relatively stable,shows that hypoxia has become more severe with the lowest DO descen ding at a rate of -0.07 mg/(L·a) and the thickness of low-DO zone rising at a rate of 0.43 m/a.The offshore core,centered around 40-m isobath but moving back and forth between 123.5°-125°E,shows large fluctuations in the minimum DO concentration,with the thickness of low-DO zone falling at a rate of -1.55 m/a.The probable factors affecting the minimum DO concentration in the two regions also vary.In the nearshore region,the decreasing minimum DO is driven by the increase in both stratification and primary productivity,with the enhanced extension of the Changjiang River Diluted Water(CDW) strengthening stratification.In the offshore region,the fluctuating trend of the minimum DO concentration indicates that both DO loss and DO supplement are distinct.The DO loss is primarily attributed to bottom apparent oxygen utilization caused by the organic matter decay and is also relevant to the advection of low-DO water from the nearshore region.The DO supplement is primarily due to weakened stratification.Our analysis also shows that the minimum DO concentration in the nearshore region was extremely low in 1998,2003,2007 and 2010,related to El Ni?o signal in these summers.

Stability of the Stratification of Water Bodies in the North Passage of the Yangtze River Estuary Based on the EFDC Model

To study the stratified stability of a water column in the North Passage of the Yangtze River Estuary,a numerical model of the hydrodynamics of this estuary is established using the EFDC model.On the basis of EFDC results,this paper derives and pro-vides the discriminative index of water body stability caused by salinity and analyzes the along-range variation in water body strati-fication stability in the North Passage of the Yangtze River Estuary and the periodic variation at a key location(bend area)based on the simulation results of the numerical model.This work shows that the water body in the bend area varies between mixed and strati-fied types,and the vertical average flow velocity has a good negative correlation with the differential velocity between the surface and bottom layers of the water body.The model simulation results validate the formulae for the stratified stability discriminant during spring tides.

Tetrabromobisphenol A and hexabromocyclododecane in sediments from the Zhujiang(Pearl) River Estuary and South China Sea

Marine sediments collected from the Zhujiang(Pearl) River Estuary(ZRE) and South China Sea(SCS) were utilized to study the occurrence and spatial distribution of tetrabromobisphenol A(TBBPA) and hexabromocyclododecane(HBCDD).The levels of TBBPA and HBCDD in sediments ranged from not detected(nd) to 6.14 ng/g dry weight(dw) and nd to 0.42 ng/g dw.TBBPA concentrations in marine sediments were substantially higher than HBCDD.The concentrations of TBBPA and HBCDD in the ZRE sediments were significantly greater than those in the SCS.α-HBCDD(48.7%) and γ-HBCDD(46.2%) were the two main diastereoisomers of HBCDD in sediments from the ZRE,with minor contribution of β-HBCDD(5.1%).HBCDD were only found in one sample from the northern SCS.The enantiomeric fraction of α-HBCDD in sediments from the ZRE was obviously greater than 0.5,indicating an accumulation of(+)-α-HBCDD.The enantiomers of HBCDD were not measured in sediments from the SCS.This work highlighted the environmental behaviors of TBBPA and HBCDD in marine sediments.

Effects of phosphorus limitation on sinking velocities of phytoplankton during summer in the Changjiang River Estuary

The sinking of phytoplankton is critical to organic matter transportation in the ocean and it is an essential process for the formation of coastal hypoxic zones.This study was based on a field investigation conducted during the summer of 2022 in the Changjiang River(Yangtze River) Estuary(CJE) and its adjacent waters.The settling column method was employed to measure the sinking velocity(SV) of different size fractions of phytoplankton at the surface of the sea and to analyze their environmental control mechanisms.The findings reveal significant spatial variation in phytoplankton SV(-0.55-2.41 m/d) within the CJE.High-speed sinking was predominantly observed in phosphate-depleted regions beyond the CJE front.At the same time,an upward trend was more commonly observed in the phosphate-rich regions near the CJE mouth.The SV ranges for different sizefractionated phytoplankton,including micro-(>20 μm),nano-(2-20 μm),and picophytoplankton(0.7-2 μm),were-0.50-4.74 m/d,-1.04-1.59 m/d,and-1.24-1.65 m/d,respectively.Correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between SV and dissolved inorganic phosphorus(DIP),implying that the influence of DIP contributes to SV.The variations in phytoplankton alkaline phosphatase activity suggested a significant increase in SV across all size fractions in the event of phosphorus limitation.Phytoplankton communities with limited photo synthetic capacity(maximum photochemical efficience,Fv/Fm <0.3) were found to have higher SV than that of communities with strong capacity,suggesting a link between sinking and alterations in physiological conditions due to phosphate depletion.The findings from the in situ phosphate enrichment experiments confirmed a marked decrease in SV following phosphate supplementation.These findings suggest that phosphorus limitation is the primary driver of elevated SV in the CJE.This study enhances the comprehension of the potential mechanisms underlying hypoxic zone formation in the CJE,providing novel insights into how nearshore eutrophication influences organic carbon migration.

Coastal hypoxia response to the coupling of catastrophic flood,extreme marine heatwave and typhoon:a case study off the Changjiang River Estuary in summer 2020

Massive bodies of low-oxygen bottom waters are found in coastal areas worldwide,which are detrimental to coastal ecosystems.In summer 2020,the response of coastal hypoxia to extreme weather events,including a catastrophic flooding,an extreme marine heatwave,and Typhoon Bavi,is investigated based on multiple satellite,four cruises,and mooring observations.The extensive fan-shaped hypoxia zone presents significant northward extension during July-September 2020,and is estimated as large as 13 000 km^(2) with rather low oxygen minimum(0.42 mg/L) during its peak in 28-30 August.This severe hypoxia is attributed to the persistent strong stratification,which is indicated by flood-induced larger amount of riverine freshwater input and subsequent marine heatwave off the Changjiang River Estuary.Moreover,the Typhoon Bavi has limited effect on the marine heatwave and coastal hypoxia in summer 2020.

Biogeochemistry of sedimentary organic matter in the Yongjiang River estuary in the southern part of Hangzhou Bay,China,since the Late Pleistocene

A sediment core(YJK19-02)collected from the southern outlet of Hangzhou Bay near the Yongjiang River estuary in East China was analyzed for grain size,lignin,bulk elemental composition,stable carbon isotope,and rare earth elements(REEs)to determine the sources and diagenesis of sedimentary organic matter(OM)of the estuary and adjacent areas since the Late Pleistocene.δ^(13)C values(-24.80‰–-23.60‰),total organic carbon/total nitrogen(TOC/TN)molar ratios(8.00–12.14),and light rare earth element/heavy rare earth element ratios(LREE/HREE=8.34–8.91)revealed the predominance of terrestrial sources of OM,mainly from the Changjiang(Yangtze)River.The lignin parameters of syringyl/vanillyl(S/V=0.20–0.73)and cinnamyl/vanillyl(C/V=0.03–0.19)ratios indicate the predominance of nonwoody angiosperms,and the vanillic acid/vanillin ratios[(Ad/Al)_(V)=0.32–1.57]indicate medium to high degrees of lignin degradation.An increasing trend ofΛ(total lignin in mg/100-mg OC)values from ca.14500 a BP to ca.11000 a BP reflected the increase in temperature during the Late Pleistocene.However,a time lag effect of temperature on vegetation abundance was also revealed.The relatively higher and stableΛvalues correspond to the higher temperature during the mid-Holocene from ca.8500 a BP to ca.4500 a BP.Λvalues decreased from ca.4000 a BP to the present,corresponding to historical temperature fluctuations during this time.Our results show that the vegetation abundance in the Yongjiang River Basin since the Late Pleistocene was related to the temperature fluctuation duo to climate change.

Semantic Segmentation of the Intertidal Zone of an Estuary—In Search of the Best Solution

An aerial photographic coverage acquired on two consecutive days in October 2021 with a ground resolution of 20 cm and a spectral resolution of 4 bands (red, green, blue and near infrared), allowed to distinguish most of the classes of interest present in the intertidal zone of the Sado estuary. We explored the possibilities of thematic classification in the powerful and complex software ArcGIS Pro;we presented the methodology used in a detailed way that allows others with minimal knowledge of GIS to reproduce the classification process without having to decipher the specifics of the software. The classification implemented used ground truth from four classes related to the macro-occupations of the area. In a first phase we explore the standard algorithms with object-based capabilities, like K-Nearest Neighbor, Random Trees Forest and Support Vector Machine, and in a second phase we proceed to test three deep learning classifiers that provide semantic segmentation: a U-Net configuration, a Pyramid Scene Parsing Network and DeepLabV3. The resulting classifications were quantitatively evaluated with a set of 500 control points in a test area of 37,500 × 12,500 pixels, using confusion matrices and resorting to Cohen’s kappa statistic and the concept of global accuracy, achieving a Kappa in the range [0.72, 0.81] and a global accuracy between 88.9% and 92.9%;the option U-Net had the most interesting results. This work establishes a methodology to provide a baseline for assessing future changes in the distribution of Sado estuarine habitats, which can be replicated in other wetland ecosystems for conservation and management purposes.

Distribution and composition characteristics of heavy minerals in surficial sediment of Minjiang Estuary

Heavy minerals with a size range of 0.125￣0.250 mm in the surficial sediment of Minjiang Estuary are studied. Thirty-four heavy min- erals have been identified, with an average content of 1.92%. Major minerals include magnetite, epidote, hematite, hornblende, il- menite, and zircon mica. These types are the same as those in the 0.063￣0.125 mm range; however, the average content is lower, which reveals that the heavy minerals in Minjiang Estuary are mainly enriched in the very-fine sand fraction. According to the content and distribution characteristics of the major heavy minerals, Minjiang Estuary can be divided into 4 mineral assemblage zones. In each zone the assemblage of heavy minerals is greatly affected by the hydrodynamic condition and the sedimentary environment. Heavy mineral types also show that detrital matters in Minjiang Estuary are originated from the weathering and erosion of the bedrock in the Minjiang River drainage area.

BIOGEOCHEMICAL BEHAVIOR OF NUTRIENTS AND THEIR FLUXES IN THE MINJIANG RIVER ESTUARY

The biogeochemical behavior of DIN (dissolved inorganic nitrogen), phosphate and silicate in the Minjiang River estuary is discussed based on data obtained from May, 1990 to Feb., 1991 oceanographic surveys in the area. The annual fluxes of nutrients in the Minjiang River estuary were estimated to be 326.8 ×103 t for silicate, 771.0 t for phosphate, 45.7×103 t for DIN (42.1×103 t for nitrate, 3.0×103 t for ammonia. 600 t for nitrite), respectively.

Numerical Simulation of Storm Surge and Compound Flooding Events in the Minjiang Estuary,China

In this study,a high-resolution storm surge floodplain numerical model was established based on the ADCIRC ocean numerical model,and was used to simulate the storm surge floodplain of typhoon 9608"HERB",and the simulation results of tide level and storm water increase are in good agreement with the observation data.On this basis,the influences of runoff,typhoon path,and typhoon intensity on the floodplain submerged area and depth were discussed.Based on the measured runoff data,10 sets of sensitivity experiments with runoff sizes ranging from 0 to 2.5 times were set up.The experimental results show that the increase of runoff mainly increases the submerged area of the coastal area in the upper reaches of the Minjiang River,but has a small effect on the submerged area of the coastal area in the lower reaches of the Minjiang River and the outer sea mouth.Based on the original typhoon path,8 different deflection paths after the typhoon landed were constructed to carry out sensitivity experiments.The results show that the clockwise deflection of typhoon path of 10°-40°to the south will reduce the submerged area,and the counterclockwise deflection of 10°-30°to the north will increase the submerged area,but the counterclockwise deflection of more than 40°to the north will decrease the submerged area.Three weather systems before and after landing of typhoon center pressure of 955 HPA,935 HPA,and 915 HPA was constructed.The results show that the decrease of typhoon center pressure will significantly increase the submerged area of the entire area.Compared with the air pressure of 975 HPA,the submerged area is increased by about 2 times.

Diatom distribution and its relationship to sediment property in the Minjiang Estuary, southeast China

The distribution of diatoms in surface sediments in the Minjiang Estuary, southeast China, was investigated in2009. Total 56 species and other species belonging to 25 genera were identified, among them 11 species were dominant over 5%. Dominant species included Actinocyclus ehrenbergii, Coscinodiscus curvatulus, C. divisus, C.jonesianus, C. radiatus, C. rothii, C. subtilis, Cyclotella stylorum, Epithemia hyndmanii, Hydrosera whampoensis,and Trachyneis aspera. Diatom abundance varied spatially, with the absolute abundance of diatoms ranging from13 valves/g to 11×104 valves/g, and averaging 2.5×104 valves/g. A canonical correspondence analysis（CCA） was used to explain the relationships between diatom distribution and sediment properties in the Minjiang Estuary.CCA revealed that the major elements（Fe_2O_3, Na_2O, CaO, MgO, TiO_2, SiO_2, Al_2O_3, and K_2O） were closely related to diatom abundance. Four diatom assemblages were distinguished, representing different sediment properties,which may assist late Quaternary palaeoceanographic reconstructions of the Minjiang Estuary.

Seasonal and spatial variations in rare earth elements and yttrium of dissolved load in the middle,lower reaches and estuary of the Minjiang River,southeastern China

A bstract With the aim of elucidating the spatial and seasonal behaviors of rare earth elements(REEs), we investigated the dissolved REE concentrations of surface water collected during four seasons from middle, lower reaches and estuary of the Minjiang River, southeastern China. The results display that the REE abundances in Minjiang River, ranging from 3.3–785.9 ng/L, were higher than those of many of the major global rivers. The total REE concentrations(∑REE) were seasonally variable, averaging in 5 937.30, 863.79, 825.65 and 1 065.75 ng/L during second highest flow(SHF), normal flow(NF), low flow(LF) and high flow(HF) season, respectively. The R_(( L/M)) and R_((H/M)) ratios reveal the spatial and temporal variations of REE patterns, and particularly vary apparently in the maximum turbidity zone and estuary. REE patterns of dissolved loads are characterized by progressing weaker LREEs-enrichment and stronger HREEsenrichment downstream from middle reaches to estuary during all four seasons. Comparing with NF and LF seasons, in which REE patterns are relatively flat, samples of SHF season have more LREE-enriched and HREE-depleted patterns that close to parent rocks, while samples of HF season are more LREEs-depleted and HREE-enriched. REE fractionations from the middle to lower reaches are stronger in the SHF and HF seasons than those in NF and LF seasons. Generally, spatial and seasonal variations in REE abundance and pattern are presumably due to several factors, such as chemical weathering, mixture with rainfall and groundwater, estuarine mixing, runoff, biological production and mountain river characters, such as strong hydrodynamic forces and steep slopes. The highest Gd/Gd* always occurs at north ports during all four seasons, where most of the large hospitals are located. This suggests Gd anomalies are depended on the density of modern medical facilities. Y/Ho ratios fl uctuate and positively correlate to salinity in estuary, probably because of the geochemical behavior differences between Y and Ho.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN MINJIANG RIVER ESTUARY TRACE METALS AND NUTRIENTS

This study on the relationships between dissolved Cd, Cu, Pb and nutrients in the Minjiang River Estuaryduring high and low discharges (in June and Oct., 1990) showed that during both high and lowdischarges Cd, Cu and Pb exhibited additive, conservative and removal behaviour, respectively. Cd increaseappeared to be primarily related to Cd regeneration from microplankton and its organic remains. while Pbremoval was dominated by abiotic processes.

Spatiotemporal changes of biogenic elements in the Changjiang River Estuary and adjacent waters in summer over the last decade

The long-term spatiotemporal changes of surface biogenic elements in the Changjiang River Estuary and adjacent waters during the summer of 2008–2016 were analyzed in this study.The concentrations of dissolved inorganic nitrogen(DIN),soluble reactive phosphate(PO_(4)^(3−))and silicate(SiO_(3)^(2−))were generally stable,with a slight decrease of DIN and PO_(4)^(3−),and a slight increase of SiO_(3)^(2−),which mainly occurred in the estuarine waters.The grey correlation analysis was carried out between biogenic elements and chlorophyll a(Chl-a).Results showed that compared with the absolute values of biogenic elements,the correlations between the concentration ratio of nitrogen to phosphorus(N/P),ratio of silicon to nitrogen(Si/N)and Chl-a were closer,indicating the important influence on phytoplankton by the structure of biogenic elements.The study area was generally in a state of potential P limitation,and could have potential impact on the phytoplankton community,triggering the shift of red tide dominant species from diatoms to dinoflagellates.

Microbiota of a seepage face at the mouth of a subterranean estuary:diversity,distribution and substrate dependence

Subterranean estuaries,i.e.,the mixing zone between terrestrial groundwater and recirculated seawater,host a wide range of microbiota.Here,field campaigns were conducted at the mouth of the subterranean estuary at the Sanggou Bay(Shandong Province,China)over four consecutive seasons at a seepage face(0−20 cm depth).The diversity of benthic microbiome was characterized via 16S rRNA gene sequencing and metagenomics,combined with physic-chemical parameters,e.g.,organic carbon,total nitrogen and sulfate contents in sediments.During spring,the dominant species were assigned to the phylum Proteobacteria.Important opportunistic species was assigned to Acidobacteria,Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes.The key components were identified to be species of the genera Pseudoalteromonas,Colwellia and Sphingobium,indicating the involvement of sediment microbiota in the degradation of sedimentary organic carbon,particularly that of pelagic origin,e.g.,phytoplankton detritus and bivalve pseudo-feces.During spring,the microbial community was statistically similar along the depth profiles and among the three sampled stations.Similar spatial distributions were obtained in the remaining seasons.By contrast,the dominant species assemblages varied significantly among seasons,with key genera being Thioprofundum and Nitrosopumilus during summer and autumn and Thioprofundum and Ilumatobacter during winter.Network analysis revealed a seasonal shift in benthic nitrogen and sulfur metabolism associated with these variations in microbial community composition.Overall,our findings suggested that macro elements derived from pelagic inputs,particularly detrital phytoplankton,shaped the microbial community compositions at the seepage face,resulting in significant seasonal variations,while the influence of terrestrial materials transported by groundwater on the sediment microbiota at the seepage face found to be minor.

Study on Volume Variation and Stability of Riverbed in the Yangtze Estuary

In recent years,regional floods and typhoons have occurred in the Yangtze Estuary.Changing dynamic conditions and dramatic reduction of sediment discharge in the basin are affecting the dynamic equilibrium pattern of the Yangtze Estuary.Based on the field measurement data and theoretical derivation,this paper analyzed the changing process of runoff-sediment discharge into the sea after the operation of the Three Gorges Project(TGP),and the tidal dynamics and sediment variation characteristics of the Yangtze Estuary.The erosion of South Branch mainly occurs in the channel below-10 m contour,and the riverbed volume below contours 0 m and-10 m has a good correlation with the sediment discharge of Datong Station in the previous year.On this basis,the ratio of the horizontal distance from the starting point to the section centroid below the average water level(B_c)and the water depth at the section centroid(H_c)was proposed to describe the change of the section shape.The relationships between the water-diverting ratio,the sediment-diverting ratio and the water-diverting angle,the conditions of runoff and sediment discharge from the upper reach and the characteristics of the riverway section were established,and the theoretical calculation equations of the water-diverting ratio,the sediment-diverting ratio and the diverting angle of each bifurcation were also established.

Mechanism of the Impact of Floods and Typhoons on the Morphological Evolution of the Yangtze Estuary

In the last two decades,the Yangtze Estuary has undergone significant changes under the influence of reduced sediment inflow and estuary engineering.This study investigates the influence of floods and typhoons on sediment concentration and the morphological evolution of shoals and channels in the Yangtze Estuary.The analysis is conducted through the utilization of topographic data measured pre-and post-flood events and observations of hydro-sedimentary changes during typhoons.By using a generalized estuary mathematical model,this study examines the interplay between varying tidal ranges,tidal divisions,runoff volumes,and regulation projects on the erosion and deposition of shoals and channels in bifurcated estuaries.The results show that due to the implementation of river and waterway regulation projects,the impact of the 2020 flood on the main channel and shoal was significantly less than that of the1998 flood.The swing amplitude of the South Branch main channel decreased.However,local river sections such as the Southern Waterway of Baimao Shoal exhibited erosion.During typhoons,sediment concentration in the 20 cm above the bottom increased significantly and was closely related to wave processes,with a weakened correlation to tidal dynamics.After typhoons,high shoals in South Passage above 0 m were silted up,while the terrain on one side of the tail of Jiuduan Shoal in the downstream deep-water area was generally scoured due to strong wave action.The generalized mathematical model of the bifurcated estuary revealed that M2 tidal component contributed most to the ero sion and deposition evolution of estuary shoals and channels,with floods exhibiting characteristics of sedime ntation on shoals and erosion on channels.With the implementation of a branch rectification project,branch resistance increased,diversion decreased,and the riverbed changed from pre-project erosion to post-project sedimentation,with an increase in erosion in non-project branches.

Potential Impacts of Exogenous Nitrogen Enrichment on Distribution and Transfer of Nitrogen in Plant-Soil System of Suaeda salsa Marsh in the Yellow River Estuary, China

To determine the potential impacts of exogenous nitrogen(N)enrichment on distribution and transfer of N in Suaeda salsa marsh in the Yellow River Estuary,the variations of N in plant-soil system during the growing season were investigated by field N addition experiment.The experiment included four treatments:NN(no N input treatment,0gNm^(−2) yr^(−1)),LN(low N input treatment,3.0 gNm^(−2) yr^(−1)),MN(medium N input treatment,6 gNm^(−2) yr^(−1))and HN(high N input treatment,12 gNm^(−2) yr^(−1)).Results showed that N additions generally increased the contents of total nitrogen(TN),ammonia nitrogen(NH_(4)^(+)-N)and nitrate nitrogen(NO_(3)^(−)-N)in different soil layers and the increasing trend was particularly evident in topsoil.Compared with the NN treatment,the average contents of TN in topsoil in the LN,MN and HN treatments during the growing season increased by 10.85%,30.14%and 43.98%,the mean contents of NH_(4)^(+)-N increased by 8.56%,6.96%and 14.34%,and the average contents of NO_(3)^(−)-N increased by 35.73%,45.99%and 46.66%,respectively.Although exogenous N import did not alter the temporal variation patterns of TN contents in organs,the N transfer and accumulation differed among tissues in different treatments.With increasing N import,both the N stocks in soil and plant showed increasing trend and the values in N addition treatments increased by 9.43%–38.22%and 13.40%–62.20%,respectively.It was worth noting that,compared with other treatments,the S.salsa in the MN treatments was very likely to have special response to N enrichment since not only the period of peak growth was prolonged by about 20 days but also the maximum of TN content in leaves was advanced by approximately one month.This paper found that,as N loading reached MN level in future,the growth rhythm of S.salsa and the accumulation and transference of N in its tissues would be altered significantly,which might generate great impact on the stability and health of S.salsa marsh ecosystem.

Impacts of human activities on morphological evolution in the Modaomen Estuary, China

The morphology of the Modaomen Estuary(ME)has undergone drastic changes in recent decades,and quantifying the contribution of human activities and natural processes is crucial for estuary management.Using Landsat images,chart data,and hydrological and meteorological data,this study analyzed the evolution of the shoreline and subaqueous topography of the ME and attempted to quantify the extent of the contributions of human activities.The results show that local human activities dominated morphological evolution in some periods.From 1973 to 2003,the shoreline advanced rapidly seaward,resulting in approximately half of the water area being converted into land.Human activity is critical to this process,with the direct contribution of local land reclamation projects reaching more than 85%.After 2003,the shoreline remained relatively stable,probably due to a decrease in land reclamation projects.Regarding the evolution of subaqueous topography,the shoals in the estuary were heavily silted and gradually disappeared during 1983–2003,and the waterways narrowed and deepened.The average siltation rate decreased from 15.43 mm/a to-1.02 mm/a,indicating that the ME changed from sedimentation to slight erosion.By detecting variations of sediment load,we found that upstream human activities reduced river sediment,while downstream human activities significantly increased sediment input to the ME,leaving little change in the actual sediment input to the ME for a relatively long period.In addition,based on the empirical relationship between the sediment input and siltation rate,local human activities influenced the shift in the siltation state more than upstream and downstream human activities did.These findings suggest that more attention should be paid to local human activities to improve the estuarine management in the ME.