Plankton community composition in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region revealed by PCR-DGGE and its relationships with environmental factors

To explore the relationships between community composition and the environment in a reservoir ecosystem, plankton communities from the Three Gorges Reservoir Region were studied by PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis fingerprinting. Bacterial and eukaryotic operational taxonomic units （OTUs）, generated by DGGE analysis of the PCR-amplified 16S and 18S rRNA genes, were used as surrogates for the dominant ＂biodiversity units＂. OTU composition among the sites was heterogeneous; 46.7% of the total bacterial OTUs （45） and 64.1% of the eukaryotic OTUs （39） were identified in less than half of the sampling sites. Unweighted pair group method with arithmetic averages （UPGMA） clustering of the OTUs suggested that the plankton communities in the Xiangxi Rive sites were not always significantly different from those from the Yangtze River sites, despite clear differences in their environmental characterizations. Canonical correspondence analysis （CCA） was applied to further investigate the relationships between OTU composition and the environmental factors. The first two CCA ordination axes suggested that the bacterial community composition was primarily correlated with the variables of NO3^--N, dissolved oxygen （DO）, and SiO3^2--Si, whereas, the eukaryotic community was mainly correlated with the concentrations of DO, PO4^3--P, and SiO3^2--Si.

Using ^(137)Cs Tracing Methods to Estimate Soil Redistribution Rates and to Construct a Sediment Budget for a Small Agricultural Catchment in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region,China

Soil erosion and associated off-site sedimentation are threatening the sustainable use of the Three Gorges Dam. To initiate management intervention to reduce sediment yields, there is an increasing need for reliable information on soil erosion in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region （TGRR）. The purpose of this study is to use 137Cs tracing methods to construct a sediment budget for a small agricultural catchment in the TGRR. Cores were taken from a pond and from paddy fields, for laTCs measurements. The results show that the average sedimentation rate in the pond since 1963 is 1.50 g cm-2 yr-1 and the corresponding amount of sediment deposited is 1,553 t. The surface erosion rate for the sloping cultivated lands and the sedimentation rate in the paddy fields were estimated to be 3,770 t km-2 yr-1 and 2,600 t km-2 yr^1 respectively. Based on the estimated erosion and deposition rates, and the area of each unit, the post 197o sediment budget for the catchment has been constructed. A sediment delivery ratio of 0.5 has been estimated for the past 42 years. The data indicate that the sloping cultivated lands are the primary sediment source areas, and that the paddy fields are deposition zones. The typical land use pattern （with the upper parts characterized by sloping cultivated land and the lower parts by paddy fields） plays an important role in reducing sediment yield from agricultural catchments in the TGRR. A 137Cs profile for the sediment deposited in a pond is shownto provide an effective means of estimating the land surface erosion rate in the upstream catchment.

Evapotranspiration and humidity variations in response to land cover conversions in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region

A new land cover classification system was established for the Three Gorges Reservoir Region(TGRR) after considering the continuity of inundation and the natural characteristics of land cover. The potential evapotranspiration(PET) was predicted using a modified Penman-Monteith(P-M) model. The region's ratio of precipitation to evapotranspiration was calculated as the humidity index(HI). The data obtained was used to analyze climatic responses to land cover conversions from the perspectives of evapotranspiration and humidity variations. The results show that, from 1997 to 2009, the average annual PET increased in the early years and decreased later. In terms of overall spatial distribution, a significant reciprocal relationship appeared between annual PET and annual HI. In 1997,the annual PET was higher in the lower reaches than in the upper reaches of the TGRR, but the areas with high PET shifted substantially westward by 2003. The annual PET continued to increase in 2006, but the areas with high PET shrank by 2009. In contrast, the annual HI showed varying degrees of localized spatial variability. Over the three periods, the dominantforms of land cover conversions occurred from evergreen cover to seasonal green cover, from seasonal green cover to evergreen cover, and from seasonal green cover to seasonally inundated areas, respectively. These accounted for 48.0%, 38.4%, and 23.8% of the total areas of converted land covers in the three periods, respectively. During the period between 1997 and 2003, the main forms of land cover conversions resulted in both positive and negative growths in the average annual PET, while all of them pushed down the average annual HI. From 2003 to 2006, the reservoir region experienced neither a decrease in the annual PET nor an increase in the annual HI. The period between 2006 and 2009 saw a consistent downward trend in the annual PET and a consistent upward trend in the annual HI.

Impact of Different Contour Hedgerows on Runoff,Nutrient and Soil on Sloping Farmland in Danjiangkou Reservoir Region of China

Soil and water loss has been a major environmental problem in the Danjiangkou Reservoir Region.A study of 14°sloping farmland was performed on impact of different contour hedgerows on runoff,losses of soil and nutrients during 2008 and 2011,with five treatments and three replications.The winter wheat and summer maize were used as the test crops.Treatments consisted of four hedgerows:Amorpha(Amorpha fruticosa L.),Honeysuckle(Lonicera japonica Thunb.),Day-lily flower(Hemerocallis citrina Baroni.),and Sabaigrass(Eulaliopsis binata),and a control without hedgerow.Result showed that the runoff under the control treatment was much higher than that of hedgerows.Amorpha could reduce the runoff by 35.2%compared with the control.Soil losses in four hedgerows showed significant reduction in four years(e.g.,Amorpha:78.3%;Honeysuckle:77.1%).Nutrient losses in winter were much higher than that in summer,especially total nitrogen,total phosphorus and total potassium,even though there was an abundant precipitation in summer.Hedgerows greatly affected the soil and nutrient losses on slopping farmland compared with the control treatment,especially Amorpha treatment.The present study found that the Amorpha could be used as the hedgerow species for reducing soil and water loss in the Danjiangkou Reservoir Region.

Soil Geochemistry Changes Induced by a Foreign Soil Reconstruction Project in Three Gorges Reservoir Region of China

Fertile topsoil was added onto the surface of barren slope land in Three Gorges Reservoir region of China in an anthropogenic process known as the foreign soil reconstruction project. The main goal of this paper was to reveal the influence of anthropogenic activities on pedogenic processes and soil classifications. Chemical weathering indices and comparative analysis were applied to discuss changes in geochemical compositions and weathering features of purplish soils(Cambisols) before and after the project. Results showed that:(1) The foreign soil reconstruction project slightly altered the major element composition of topsoil and improved the soil structure. Although the distributions of major elements in the original topsoil, original subsoil, foreign topsoil and newly constructed topsoil were all similar to that in upper continental crust, newly constructed topsoil was the most similar soil.(2) The chemical index of alteration was more sensitive than the weathering index of Parker at indicating chemical weathering status of purplish soil. The chemical weathering status of newly constructed topsoil was higher than that of the original topsoil and lower than that of foreign topsoil.(3) Anthropogenic activities may provide a promising new thought for the anthropogenic soil classification system. The scope and subgroups of Anthrosols should be extended and strengthened. Or there may be a need to combine Anthrosols and Technosols orders to create a new soil order. The results may be used for optimizing soil mellowing engineering activities and enriching the soil classification system.

Ecological Approaches to Urban Migration of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region

With the approach of the second water storage of the Three Gorges Project, urban migration has become a great concern. However, being influenced by economical, social or other factors, ecological problems have apparently become pressing. All these problems are exerting great impact upon the speed and quality of new city’s or town’s construction. By means of ecology, urban ecology, landscape ecology, human settlement science as well as the principle of sustainable development, this paper analyzes the ecological problems in urban migration, and the corresponding approaches in order to promote ecological environment construction of new cities and give an impetus to sustainable development of the whole human settlements in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region.

A Study of Soil Nutrients in the Terrace Field Changed from Mountain Slope in Three Gorges Reservoir Region

In order to accurately grasp the soil fertility in Three Gorges Reservoir Region after changing mountain slope into terrace field,we take Wushan County for example,and use the spatio-temporal substitution method to analyze the soil nutrient status and trend about the terrace field changed from mountain slope under different length of implementation.The results show that the soil fertility is generally low in the study area,and according to the soil nutrient grading standards in the second national land survey,the average content of total nitrogen,available potassium,organic matter and available phosphorus reaches Standard III,Standard III,Standard IV and Standard V,respectively,and the spatial heterogeneity of soil nutrients is small.Compared to the sloping land,the terrace field changed from mountain slope has increasing soil nutrients on the whole with the length of farming.The mean of various indicators about soil nutrients in the terrace field changed from mountain slope for 2 years is lower than in the sloping land,and there is the biggest difference in soil fertility,while the mean of various indicators about soil nutrients in the terrace field changed from mountain slope for 14 years shows a linear upward trend,and the difference in soil fertility decreases.

Dry cropland changes in China's Three Gorges Reservoir Region during the period 1990 to 2015

Monitoring and analyzing changes in the extent of cultivated land may inform strategic decisions on issues of environmental and food security.The dry cropland area of 12000 km^2in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region(TGRR)of China is essential for feeding the local population of^20 million,but is highly prone to soil erosion,leading to the delivery of excessive amounts of sediment and associated pollutants to the Three Gorges Reservoir(TGR),and causing serious eco-environmental consequences.Against this background,this paper used Landsat images and a digital elevation model to analyze the altitudinal distribution of,and dynamic changes in,the area of dry cropland during the period 1990 to 2015.The results suggest that dry cropland was mainly distributed in the elevation range of 200-600 m.The dry cropland area decreased from 12525.37 km^2to 11796.27 km^2during the 25-year study period,including a particularly significant decrease in the rate of decrease from 6.93 km^2/yr to 43.99 km^2/yr after 2000.The largest decline in the dry cropland area occurred in the elevation range of 600-900 m.The transformations between dry cropland and forest revealed the impact of the TGR operation on the extent of dry cropland.A total of 528.79 km^2of dry cropland with slopes>25°were converted to forest after 2000,whereas a total of 642 km^2of forest was converted to dry cropland during the study period,and these conversions mainly occurred between the elevation of 200–900 m.These spatiotemporal changes in the dry cropland area are likely to raise new issues concerning food security in the TGRR.

Current Situation of Land Use in Three-gorges Reservoir Region in 2010

Land is rare natural resource.Production and construction of all sectors in a region must be based on land.Thus,overall research and analysis on current situation of land use can reveal scope,depth and reasonableness of land use,is helpful for analyzing internal mechanism land use change,and can reflect production scale,level and characteristics,and also can provide basis for optimization and adjustment of land use structure.Based on RS and GIS technologies,with the aid of TM image data of the Three-gorges Reservoir Region in 2010,the data of current situation of land use in Three-gorges Reservoir Region was obtained,and current land use situation was analyzed using geographimetrics and landscape ecology methods.Results show that since natural,social and economic conditions are different,land type diversity,combination type and location index of counties in the Three-gorges Reservoir Region are varied.In the land use diversity index,Xingshan County has the most single land use type(mainly forest land); in land use degree,Yuzhong District has the highest land use degree; in the integrated index of land use,Changshou District has the lowest integrated index of land use.This study is expected to provide reference and basis for formulating policies of protecting ecological environment of the Three-gorges Reservoir Region.

Land Use Zoning in Three-Gorge Reservoir Region:A Case Study of Fengdu County in Chongqing Municipality

Taking Fengdu County in Three-Gorge Reservoir region as an example,this paper applies the dynamic clustering analysis model, and divides land resource utilization of Fengdu County into three zones: Yangtze River valley economic zone,low mountains and hills agricultural zone,and low and middle agricultural,forestry and animal husbandry zone. It also analyzes current situation and existing problems in the land utilization of every zone,and finally puts forward corresponding recommendations.

Soil Erosion and Sediment Control Effects in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, China

The Three Gorges Reservoir, the world’s largest hydropower reservoir, receives a significant sediment yield from soil erosion. Sloping farmland is the main source, exacerbated by changes in land use from relocating the inhabitants, and from engineering projects related to dam construction. Related geo-hazards, including landsliding of valley-side slopes, will further increase the sediment yield to the completed reservoir. Integrated watershed management, begun extensively in 1989, has effectively controlled soil erosion and sediment delivery to date. What is described here as the Taipinxi Mode of integrated watershed management, based on its application in the 26.14 km2 watershed of that name in Yiling District, has been successful and is recommended for the entire region. The effects of this set of erosion-mitigation measures are assessed, using experienced formulas for soil and water conservation and information from remote sensing. The amount of soil erosion, and of sediment delivery to the reservoir were reduced by 43.75–45.94 × 106 t y-1, and by 12.25–12.86 × 106 t y-1, respectively, by 2005, by which time the project had been operative for 16 years.

Simulation of future land-use scenarios in the Three Gorges Reservoir Region under the effects of multiple factors

Model simulation and scenario change analysis are the core contents of the future land-use change（LUC） study. In this paper, land use status data of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region（TGRR） in 1990 was used as base data. The relationship between driving factors and land-use change was analyzed by using binary logistic stepwise regression analysis, based on which land use in 2010 was simulated by CLUE-S model. After the inspection and determination of main parameters impacting on driving factors of land use in the TGRR, land use of this region in 2030 was simulated based on four scenarios, including natural growth, food security, migration-related construction and ecological conservation. The results were shown as follows：（1） The areas under ROC curves of land-use types（LUTs） were both greater than 0.8 under the analysis and inspection of binary logistic model. These LUTs include paddy field, dryland, woodland, grassland, construction land and water area. Therefore, it has a strong interpretation ability of driving factors on land use, which can be used in the estimation of land use probability distribution.（2） The Kappa coefficients, verified from the result of land-use simulation in 2010, were shown of paddy field 0.9, dryland 0.95, woodland 0.97, grassland 0.84, construction land 0.85 and water area 0.77. So the results of simulation could meet the needs of future simulation and prediction.（3） The results of multi-scenario simulation showed a spatial competitive relationship between different LUTs, and an influence on food security, migration-related construction and ecological conservation in the TGRR, including some land use actions such as the large-scale conversion from paddy field to dryland, the occupation on cultivated land, woodland and grassland for rapid expansion of construction land, the reclamation of woodland and grassland into cultivated land, returning steep sloping farmland back into woodland and grassland. Therefore, it is necessary to balance the needs of various aspects in land use optimization, to achieve the coordination between socio-economy and ecological environment.

Geological characteristics and accumulation mechanisms of the "continuous" tight gas reservoirs of the Xu2 Member in the middle-south transition region,Sichuan Basin,China

＂Continuous＂ tight gas reservoirs are those reservoirs which develop in widespread tight sandstones with a continuous distribution of natural gas. In this paper, we summarize the geological features of the source rocks and ＂＇continuous＂ tight gas reservoirs in the Xujiahe Formation of the middle- south transition region, Sichuan Basin. The source rocks of the Xul Member and reservoir rocks of the Xu2 Member are thick （Xul Member： 40 m, Xu2 Member： 120 m） and are distributed continuously in this study area. The results of drilled wells show that the widespread sandstone reservoirs of the Xu2 Member are charged with natural gas. Therefore, the natural gas reservoirs of the Xu2 Member in the middle-south transition region are ＂continuous＂ tight gas reservoirs. The accumulation of ＂continuous＂ tight gas reservoirs is controlled by an adequate driving force of the pressure differences between source rocks and reservoirs, which is demonstrated by a ＂one-dimensional＂ physical simulation experiment. In this simulation, the natural gas of＂continuous＂ tight gas reservoirs moves tbrward with no preferential petroleum migration pathways （PPMP）, and the natural gas saturation of＂continuous＂ tight gas reservoirs is higher than that of conventional reservoirs.

Complex sources of air-soil-water pollution processes in the Miyun reservoir region

The comprehensive impact of atmospheric dry deposition and wet deposition and the pollution sources of farmlands, mining areas, and towns along the Baihe River on the water quality of Miyun reservoir is investigated from the angle of the complex sources of air-soil-water pollution processes, in the context of the 1990-2001 precipitation chemical data at Shangdianzi station-a WMO regional background air pollution monitoring station 15 km far from the Miyun reservoir, in conjunction with the atmospheric dry deposition and wet deposition data of the 2002 -2003 Beijing City Air Pollution Observation Field Experiment (BECAPEX). Analysis results suggest that the major ions in precipitation in the Miyun reservoir region in this period were SO 42-, NO 3-, NH4+ and Ca2+; wet acid deposition quantity of Miyun reservoir in the summer half year (April to September) was greater than the quantity in the winter half year (October to March), and the annual wet acid deposition in the reservoir exhibited a rising trend with the mean 1038.45 t, the maximum 1766.31 t occurred in 1996, and the minimum 604.02 t in 1994; the long-term averaged pH of atmospheric precipitation in the Miyun reservoir region was 5.20, i.e. weakly acidic, and the interannual variation of pH values displayed a falling trend. pH values of water body at various depths in the Miyun reservoir were all greater than 7.0, but they exhibited vertical and horizontal nonhomogeneity, and at the same region pH decreased vertically with depth; the 2002 and 2003 annual dustfalls in the Miyun reservoir were 13513.08 t and 3577.64 t, respectively, and the spring dustfall was the number one in a year, accounting for the 61.91% and 44.56% of the annual totals of 2002 and 2003, respectively. Because the atmospheric dry deposition and wet depositions contain multiple types heavy metal elements and harmful elements, they to some extent exacerbated the eutrophication, acidification and potential heavy metal pollution of the reservoir water. The above comprehensive analysis results reveal the complex source characters of the air-soil-water pollution process and the multi-sphere interaction effect. Besides, summer (rainy season) is a season when local soil pollutants enter the water system of reservoir after being washed out by torrential rain or heavy precipitation, which starts the air-soil-water chaining pollution processes, and results in the water pollution of rivers and reservoirs. It is found from the statistical analysis in this paper that the water pollution of Miyun reservoir was correlated with the rain wash-out and confluent flow in the peripheral and upstream local region of the reservoir, and the pollutant concentration of the reservoir water was significantly correlated with the upstream local region precipitation. Those correlation characters reveal the effect of the air-soil-water multi-spheric interaction of reservoir water pollution process. This paper presents the point of view of the complex source analysis of reservoir water pollution and a technical approach for tracing the spatial distribution of the upstream pollution source of the water systems of reservoir.

Diageneses and Their Influences on Reservoir Properties of Chang 2 Oil Member in Renshan Region, Zhidan Oilfield, Ordos Basin

1 Introduction Yanchang Formation in Upper Triassic,Ordos basin contains the most abundant hydrocarbon resources in North China(Wang et al.,2014).The sandstones are the most important oil-bearing reservoirs in Yanchang

Reservoir Characterization of the Early Jurassic Butmah Formation Using Well Log Data in Selected Wells from Iraqi Kurdistan Region

The reservoir characterization of Butmah Formation (Early Jurassic) was studied in two wells: (AT-1) and (SH-1B) from Atrush and Shaikhan Oilfields respectively, in Iraqi Kurdistan Region. Well logs including;sonic, density, neutron, gamma ray, and resistivity, were employed to investigate the formation. The petrophysical properties, such as lithology, shale volume, porosity, water saturation, hydrocarbon saturation, and bulk water volume, were estimated using Interactive Petrophysics Software (IP). Water saturation, bulk volume of water, residual hydrocarbon, and movable hydrocarbon were plotted as Computer Processed Interpretation (CPI) for Butmah Formation in the studied wells. In order to check reliability of log data, lithology of the formation was detected using neutron-density cross plot and M-N cross plot. The results of log interpretation display that Butmah Formation is composed of dolomite, limestone with anhydrite and shale in the studied wells. The calculated shale volume shows low clay content. Therefore, Butmah Formation is considered as a clean formation in both wells. Porosity was estimated using porosity logs (sonic, density, and neutron) and had the average total porosity of (7% - 8%) in the two wells. Based on the determined petrophysical properties, particularly porosity and hydrocarbon saturation, it can be concluded that Butmah Formation seems potentially good in reserving oil.

Landslides and Slope Aspect in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area Based on GIS and Information Value Model

Slope aspect is one of the indispensable internal factors besides lithology, relative elevation and slope degree. In this paper authors use information value model with Geo graphical Information System （GIS） technology to study how slope aspect contributes to landslide growth from Yunyang to Wushan segment in the Three Gorges Reservoir area, and the relationship between aspect and landslide growth is quantified. Through the research on 205 landslides examples, it is found that the slope contributes most whose aspect is towards south,southeast and southwest aspect contribute moderately, and other five aspects contribute little. The research result inosculates preferably with the fact. The result of this paper can provide potent gist to the construction of Three Gorges Reservoir area in future.

Temporal and Spatial Conversion Analysis of Soil Erosion in the Three Gorges Region Based on RS and GIS Technique——A Case Study in Kaixian County

In this paper, Kaixian County, situated in the hinterland of the Three Gorges Reservoir Region, was selected for the case study. Factors of soil erosion were obtained based on the technique of remote sensing （RS） and geographic information system （GIS）. Combining with field survey, soil erosion data in the years of 1988, 2000 and 2004 which covered the period from the beginning of the Three Gorges Reservoir Project to nowadays were investigated through the judgment model established on soil erosion intensity. With the function of spatial analysis in the geographic information system, the analysis and appraisal of dynamic soil erosion changes were carried out, and the spatial characteristics of the vicious change were highlighted, and the main causes of the vicious change of soil erosion were explored.

Influential Factors in Employment Location Selection Based on “Push-Pull” Migration Theory—A Case Study in Three Gorges Reservoir Area in China

In China, farmers employed in non-farm work have become important socio-economic actors, but few studies have examined the farmers' perspective in making their work location choices. Based on "push-pull" migration theory, this paper utilizes sectional data from a 2013 survey of farmers in China's Three Gorges Reservoir area to empirically analyze the factors influencing migrant workers' choice of employment location. The results indicate that 60.46% of laborers have migrated from their home province, whereas 39.54% have remained in their home province. Focusing on personal, household, and community characteristics—in addition to the economic characteristics of the sample counties—multinomial logistic regression models reveal that farmer-laborers' employment location decisions are influenced by their personal capital endowment(age, years of education and social networks), family structure(the number of laborers, elders, children and students), home village characteristics(location, economic development level and the degree of relief of the land) and home county economic development level. Notably, male and female laborers' location decisions reveal a converging trend, and their differences are not pronounced. Per capita arable land area has little influence on location decisions, whereas the educational level of laborers has a significant impact. The results differ significantly from those found in previous studies.

The Main Ecological Issues of Water-Level -Fluctuating Zone and The strategies in Three Gorges Reservoir Area

After the completion of the Three Gorges dam, a 30 m high water-level-fluctuating zone （WLFZ） will appear along the banks, and will form a seasonal wetland ecosystem. According to the program of storing water in the Three Gorges reservoir, the main ecological and environmental problems probably incurred in WLFZ are discussed, such as formation of contaminated belt along banks, appearance of epidemic diseases in the reservoir region （including urban districts）, aggravation of geologic disasters, degradation of biodiversity and exacerbation of the ecosystem vulnerability. Six items of strategies are put forward according to the causes, distributed features and trends of these problems in this paper.