Estimation of ammonia nitrogen load from nonpoint sources in the Xitiao River catchment, China

Ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) is one of the three main forms of total nitrogen (TN). Most studies have estimated the load of TN from nonpoint sources instead of one specific form. The relationship between land use and concentrations of NH4+-N in runoff was analyzed using the hydraulic analysis functions of a Geographic Information Systems (GIS), and the annual loads of NH4+-N in the Xitiao River catchment were estimated according to model results. The results suggested that the calculated annual loads of NH4+-N...

Economic polarized trends,function and expanded boundaries of the Yangtze Delta Region

In the era of economic globalization,the concept of Economic Polarized Area comes into being as an effective vehicle to agglomerate the economic elements and sustain the economic lifeline of the region. Based on the region's specific development mode and construction form the concept is working in such a way that it will contribute to guide the economic development of the country and will play an important role in competing with other regions or countries in the world. Due to the high speed development of the last 30 years,the Yangtze Delta Region starts to show the features of Economic Polarized Area. But,compared with other world-class Economic Polarized Areas,the economic strength and the ability of the Yangtze Delta Region to drive the country's economic development is still very low and the competitive power is still very limited. Expanding the boundaries of the Economic Polarized Area of the Yangtze Delta may extend the economic hinterland of the core area of the Yangtze Delta Region,will lighten the pressures from the limited resource and promote the rationalization of the industrial structure in the Yangtze Delta Region's core area. With regard to the reasonable boundaries of the Yangtze Delta Region,there are different opinions and controversial arguments in political and academic circles. Starting from the idea of increasing the competitive power and improving the economic strength of the Yangtze Delta Region,the paper firstly is discussing the requirements to become a world-class Economic Polarized Area. In a second step an analysis of functional complementation and economic collaboration between the cities of an "extended" Yangtze Delta Region has been carried out by in particular considering the feasibility of integrating these "newly included" cities. The final result of the study is,that the Region should be expanded from the number of 16 cities to 37 cities,and the appended cities should be divided up into two categories:Wenzhou,Jinhua,Yancheng,Huaian,Maanshan,Wuhu,Tongling,Chaohu,Hefei,Chuzhou,Xuancheng should be taken as Preferred Extending Area,and Suqian,Xuzhou,Lianyungang,Lishui,Quzhou,Chizhou,Anqing,Bengbu,Huangshan,Suzhou (Anhui Province) should be taken as Retained Qualification Area.

Geochemical features of heavy metals in core sediments of northwestern Taihu Lake, China

Sequential core sediments from northwestern Taihu Lake in China were analyzed for grain size, organic carbon and heavy metal content. The sediments are composed of organic-poor clayey-fine silts. The chemical speciations of Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn were also analyzed using the BCR sequential extraction procedure. Cu, Fe, Ni, and Zn are mainly associated with the residue fraction; Mn is concentrated mainly in exchangeable/carbonate fraction and residue fraction; and Pb mainly in Fe/Mn oxide fraction and organic/sulfide fraction. The exchangeable/carbonate fractions of Cu, Fe, Ni, Zn and Pb are lower. The fractions of Ni, Pb and Zn bound to the Fe/Mn oxide have significant correlations with reducible Mn; the organic/sulfide fractions of Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn have significant correlations with TOC. The extractable fractions of Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn are high at the top 4 cm of the core sediments as compared to those in the deeper layers, showing the anthropogenic input of heavy metals is due to rapid industrial development. The heavy metal pollution history of the sediments has been recorded since the late 1970s, determined by the result of {{}+{137}Cs} dating.

Three Types of Spatial Function Zoning in Key Ecological Function Areas Based on Ecological and Economic Coordinated Development: A Case Study of Tacheng Basin, China

Three types of spatial function zoning is an effective measure for regional environmental protection and orderly development.For ecological and economic coordinated development, spatial function zones should be divided scientifically to clear its direction of development and protection. Therefore, based on ecological constraints, a beneficial discussion would be about the key ecological function areas adopting the concept of ecological protection restriction and supporting socioeconomic development for spatial function zoning. In this paper, the researchers, taking Tacheng Basin, Xinjiang of China as an example, choose township as basic research unit and set up an evaluation index system from three aspects, namely, ecological protection suitability, agricultural production suitability, and urban development suitability, which are analyzed by using spatial analysis functions and exclusive matrix method. The results showed that: 1) This paper formed a set of multilevel evaluation index systems for three types of spatial function zoning of the key ecological function areas based on a novel perspective by scientifically dividing Tacheng Basin into ecological space, agricultural space, and urban space,which realized the integration and scientific orientation for spatial function at the township scale. 2) Under the guidance of three types of spatial pattern, the functional orientation and suggestions of development and protection was clearly defined for ecological protection zones,ecological economic zones, agricultural production zones, and urban development zones. 3) A new idea of space governance is provided to promote the coordinated and sustainable development between ecology and economy, which can break the traditional mode of thinking about regional economic development, and offers a scientific basis and reference for macro decision-making.

Concentrations and contamination trends of heavy metals in the sediment cores of Taihu Lake,East China,and their relationship with historical eutrophication

To assess the contamination trends and potential bio-availability of sediment-bound heavy metals,concentrations of heavy metals in acid-leaching fraction and in bulk sediments from the two typical bays(the Meiliang Bay and Xuhu Bay) of the Taihu Lake,East China,were studied.Pb and Zn showed elevated concentrations in the sediments from both areas,although sedimentation history and degree of pollution are different between the two bays.In the Meiliang Bay,both Pb and Zn pollutions started in the late 1970's,the same time as the beginning of eutrophication of the lake,while the in the Xuhu Bay the metal contamination started since recent 10 years.The concentrations of acid-leachable Pb in the sediments from the Meiliang Bay are correlated with the historical eutrophication process.Before the eutrophication and heavy metal pollution,the chemical properties of the lake sediments were the same as the source compositions of the Xiashu loess.Both Pb and Zn in the sediments mainly occur in leachable forms by nitric or hydrochloric acid,whilst most of Cu is in residual fraction.The results indicate that both Pb and Zn may have higher mobility and bioavailability in water and biology than Cu.

Carbon dioxide partial pressure and carbon fluxes of air-water interface in Taihu Lake, China

To obtain carbon dioxide （CO2） flux between water-air interface of Taihu lake, monthly water samplers at 14 sites and the local meteorological data of the lake were collected and analyzed in 1998. Carbon dioxide partial pressures （pCO2） at air-water interface in the lake were calculated using alkalinity, pH, ionic strength, active coefficient, and water temperature. The carbon fluxes at different sublakes and areas were estimated by concentration gradient between water and air in consideration of Schmidt numbers of 600 and daily mean windspeed at 10 m above water surface. The results indicated that the mean values of pCO2 in Wuli Lake,Meiliang Bay, hydrophyte area, west littoral zone, riverine mouths, and the open lake areas were 1 807.8±1 071.4（mean±standard deviation）μatm （latm=1.013 25×10^5pa）, 416.3±217.0μatm, 576.5±758.8μatm, 304.2±9.43.5μatm, 1 933.6±1 144.7 μatm, and 448.5±202.6μatm, respectively. Maximum and minimum pCO2 values were found in the hypertrophic （4 053.7μatm） and the eutrophic （3.2 μatm） areas. The riverine mouth areas have the maximum fluxes （82.0±62.8 mmol/m^2a）. But there was no significant difference between eutrophic and mesotrophic areas in pCO2 and the flux of CO2. The hydrophyte area, however, has the minimum （--0.58±12.9mmol/m^2a）. In respect to CO2 equilibrium, input of the rivers will obviously influence inorganic carbon distribution in the riverine estuary. For example, the annual mean CO2 flux in Zhihugang River estuary was 19 times of that in Meiliang Bay, although the former is only a part of the latter. The sites in the body of the lake show a clear seasonal cycle with pCO2 higher than atmospheric equilibrium in winter, and much lower than atmospheric in summer due to CO2 consumption by photosynthesis. The CO2 amount of the net annual evasion that enters the atmosphere is 28.42×10^4 t/a, of which those from the west littoral zone and the open lake account for 53.8% and 36.7%, respectively.

Growth and feeding habits of invasive Pseudorasbora parva in the Chabalang Wetland(Lhasa,China) and its trophic impacts on native fish

In recent years, fish invasion has become one of the main reasons for the decline of native fish stocks. Pseudorasbora parva is considered one of the major invasive species worldwide. The present study investigated the fish resources of the Chabalang Wetland (Lhasa, Tibet) during diff erent seasons in 2009 and 2013. Four hundred and twelve individuals were subsampled to estimate age, growth, and feeding habit of P . parva . Furthermore, food relationships between P . parva and the native Schizothoracinae fish were also examined. The results revealed a significant shift in species composition and community structure characterized by the disappearance of native fish and outbreak of non-native fish. The percentage of nonnative P . parva in the fish collections significantly increased from 33.64% in 2009 to 64.08% in 2013. The standard length (SL) ranged from 22.00 to 78.71 mm, and their age was 1–5 a. The von Bertalanff y function was used to model the observed length-at-age data as L t =112.19(1–e^-0.1495 ( t +0.8012)) for females and as L t =123.12 (1–e^-0.1500 ( t +0.7132)) for males. The results indicated that P . parva in Tibet has lower growth and mortality rates compared with that from the native ranges. Ninety-seven prey taxa belonging to 9 prey categories were identified in the gut of 38 P . parva . P . parva can be considered a generalized and opportunistic predator, competing with the native fish, especially Schizothorax o’connori , Schizopygopsis younghusbandi younghusbandi , and Ptychobarbus dipogon , for Bacillariophyta and Chironomid larvae. This is an important reason for the decline in native fish population.

Isotopic Tracing of Trophication Processes over the Last Millennia on Lake Chenghai

Multi-parameter studies (stable isotopes in carbonate and or ganic matter, pigment, organic carbon and nitrogen contents) from a 660-yr cont inuous sediment core from Lake Chenghai, a closed, eutropic lake in southern Chi na, provide information on lake historical eutrophication. During the last 660 y ears, great changes have taken place in productivity and eutrophication of Lake Chenghai in response to human activities. In 1690, the productivity of the lake began to increase as Lake Chenghai became closed from agriculture in the lake’s watershed. In 1942, Lake Chenghai evolved to eutrophic state, marked by an incr ease in organic carbon, nitrogen, CaCO\-3, pigment contents and obvious negative values of stable isotopes, which is more or less simultaneous with the large-s cale population immigration during the period. In 1984, intensive human activiti es induced modern lacustrine productivity and eutrophic level. Human-induced tr ophic changes during the past few decades have affected the Lake Chenghai ecosys tem to such an extent that it has never experienced before in the last 660 years .

Strategy &Techniques for Restoration of Healthy Aquaecosystem from Toxic Super Eutrophic Water Body

There are complex river-lake systems in the Taihu Lake catchment with total water surface area of 6174.7 km2, and population density of 1079/km2, including Taihu Lake water surface area of 2338 km2. The water systems in this catchment have healthy aquaecosystems during long history. However, in some riverlets in this catchment the water quality was estimated as “acute toxicity for higher organisms” and over standards for many heavy metal elements content;there were no any living plants and macro organisms in the water body, because there were developed a series of industry with abundant release of heavy metals and difficult decomposition organic chemical components along the riverlets during last decades. The even more serious situation was observed in sediments of the riverlets. How to restore such riverlet into a healthy aquaeosystem with abound plants and higher organisms? The main strategy and techniques are described in this paper as summarizing a report of engineering in a riverlet in Wuxi New District during last years, which leads to restore the aquaecosystem into a healthy one with abundant surface plant cultured on floating islands and observed living fish, lobster, frog, toad, mollusk and others in the riverlet. The main techniques are: 1) softwall buffer technic;2) floating eco-island technic by using which can culture any plant which can be cultured in solution;3) immobilized nitrogen cycle bacteria (INCB) technic;4) tattering esters and other big-molecule organic chemicals by using electronic pulse technic and photosensitization technic;5) mist spray facility technic for improving dissolved oxygen in deep water layers;6) technic for buffering and suppressing H2S release from water;7) the appropriate portion of surface with cultured plant to the total water surface area is about 1/3;8) Cress [Oenanthe Ljavanica (Bl.) DC.] and Myriophyllum verticilatum L. may be cultured in Taihu Lake catchment during the whole year as main plants with mosaic combination of other supplement plants in different seasons.

Reproductive biology of bream Abramis brama (L.) in the lower reaches of the Irtysh River, China

The reproductive biology of bream Ahramis brama （L.） was studied from 546 fish collected from the lower reaches of the Irtysh River in Xinjiang, north-west China, from March to November 2013. The overall sex ratio （M/F） was 1.06：1, and was not significantly different from the theoretical 1：1 ratio （P〉0.5）. However, there was a dominance of males during the pre-spawning season （ 1.33 in March and 1.56 in April, P〈0.5）, while females were dominant during the peak spawning season （0.88 in June, P〈0.5）. The monthly variation in gonadosomatic index （GSI） and proportion of gonads at each macroscopic maturity stage, indicated that A. brama spawned once a year with peak spawning occurring from late May to June. The unimodal distribution of oocyte diameter each month indicated that A. brama is a single spawner, with a high degree of spawning synchronicity. The standard lengths （SLs0） and ages （As0） at first maturity for males and females, were 178 and 204 mm, and 5.6 and 6.8 years, respectively. The mean absolute fecundity （AF） was 77 311 eggs per fish, and mean relative fecundity （RF） was 162 eggs per gram of body weight （BW）. The AF ofA. brama increased linearly with increasing of gonad weight （GW）, eviscerated weight （EW） and standard length （SL）, but was not significantly correlated with age. As, A. brama in the lower reaches of the Irtysh River reaches reproductive maturity relatively late in their life span, is mature for a short period and spawns in aggregations, this fish is vulnerable to overexploitation.

Advance and application of lake optics research

The mainstreams of lake optics research in recent decades include optical properties of lakewater, observation, transmission and calculation of underwater radiation, determination of absorption coefficient S of yellow substance, influence of UV-B radiation of lake primary productivity by bio-optical model. Major lake optics applications, such as calculation of lake primary productivity and chl-a, analysis of factors restricting eu- trophication, and protection against lake eutrophication are summarized.

Origin of Illites at Dexing Porphyry Copper Deposit, Jiangxi Province, East China: Implications for Alteration Zoning and Ore-Forming Fluid Evolution

According to differences in features of illites including spatial distribution, crystallinity index, volume of swelling layer, polytype and relationship between its index and copper grade, two typical kinds of illite can be classified within the Tongchang porphyry copper deposit, Dexing County, East China. One is a kind of hydrothermally altered minerals within the hydrothermal alteration zone, including altered granodiorite\|porphyry and altered metamorphic tuffaceous phyllite near the contact zone with porphyry rockbody. The illite crystallinity and expandability are mainly affected by water/rock ratio or fluid flux, and hydrothermal illite is formed by illitization of plagioclase and/or micas during hydrothermal fluid evolution within the porphyry body and near the contact zone with wall rocks. The other is a product of low\|grade metamorphism itself by illitization of smectite, whose crystallinity index is lower than the hydrothermal illite and which is of 2M\-1 polytype with no swelling layer, in the altered metamorphic tuffaceous phyllite far from porphyry rockbody (>2 km). Moreover, the negative correlation between illite index and copper grade indicates that, within the alteration zone, the smaller the illite crystallinity, the stronger the alteration degree, and the higher the copper grade due to higher water/rock ratio. At lower levels of the porphyry body, however, the illite crystallinity (IC) values are controlled mainly by temperature and time.

Paleoclimatic Change Inferred from Carbon Isotope Composition of Organic Matter in Sediments of Dabusu Lake, Jilin Province, China

Study on the organic compounds and stable isotope composition of a sediment section in Dabusu Lake revealed that the organic materials in the sediments came mainly from terrestrial plants brought into the lake by runoff. The δ 13 C of the organic materials had high values during warm-dry climatic stages and decreased in cold-wet stages. Analysis of data on carbonate content and 14 C age showed that the lake basin had experienced several wet-cold and warm-dry climatic cycles since 15000 a BP. Since 6700 a BP, the climate reached a relatively stable warm-dry stage, so that the lake water was gradually condensed and finally a saline lake was formed.

^(15)N isotope fractionation in an aquatic food chain:Bellamya aeruginosa(Reeve) as an algal control agent

^ 15N isotope tracer techniques and ecological modeling were adopted to investigate the fractionation of nitrogen, its uptake and transformation in algae and snail （Bellamya aeruginosa Reeve）. Different algal species were found to differ in their uptake of nitrogen isotopes. Microcystis aeruginisa Ktitz. demonstrated the greatest ^15N accumulation capacity, with the natural variation in isotopic ratio （δ^15N） and the isotope fractionation factor （ε,‰） being the highest among the species investigated. The transformation and utilization of ^15N by snails differed depending on the specific algae consumed （highest for Chlorella pyrenoidosa Chick., lowest for M. aeruginisa）. When snails was seeded in the experimental pond, the algae population structure changed significantly, and total algal biomass as well as the concentration of all nitrogen species decreased, causing an increase in water transparency. A model, incorporating several chemical and biological parameters, was developed to predict algal biomass in an aquatic system when snails was present. The data collected during this investigation indicated that the gastropods such as snails could significantly impact biological community and water quality of small water bodies, suggesting a role for biological control of noxious algal blooms associated with eutrophication.

A vertically integrated eutrophication model and its application to a river-style reservoir-Fuchunjiang,China

Based on a 2-D hydrodynamic model, a vertically integrated eutrophication model was developed. The physical sub-model can be used for calculation of water density at different depths, and the water quality sub-model was used for calculation of algal growth. The cohesive and non-cohesive sediments were simulated separately with different methods. The light extinction coefficient used in the underwater light regime sub-model was linearly related to the sum of sediment and phytoplankton biomass. Some components less important to the model were simplified to improve practicability and calculation efficiency. Using field data from Fuchunjiang Reservoir, we calculated the sensitivity of ecological parameters included in this model and validated the model. The results of sensitivity analysis showed that the parameters strongly influenced the phytoplankton biomass, including phytoplankton maximum growth rate, respiration rate, non-predatory mortality rate, settling rate, zooplankton maximum filtration rate, specific extinction coefficient for suspended solids and sediment oxygen demand rate. The model was calibrated by adjusting these parameters. Total chlorophyll α （chl-α） concentrations at different layers in the water column were reproduced very well by the model simulations. The simulated chl-α values were positively correlated to the measured values with Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.92. The mean difference between measured and simulated chl-α concentrations was 12% of the measured chl-α concentration. Measured and simulated DO concentrations were also positively correlated （r = 0.74） and the mean difference was 4% of measured DO concentrations. The successful validation of model indicated that it would be very useful in water quality management and algal bloom prediction in Fuchunjiang Reservoir and a good tool for water quality regulation of other fiver-style reservoirs.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INLAND LAKES EVOLUTION AND CLIMATIC FLUCTUATION IN ARID ZONE

The evolution of the inland lakes in arid and semi-arid zones is accorded with the climatic fluctuation. The humid climate is in harmony with the higher water level and greater lake water quantity budget while arid climate is in correspondence with the lower water level and little water budget. Based on the analysis of the lake fluctuation and lake budget change, with the aid of the data of geom’orphology, palynology, sedimentology and chronology, It is found that the climate experienced a warm and humid period during 7000-3500 yr. B. P. and showed a drying and warming trend in the last century in the Central Asia.

Spatial Function Regionalization Based on an Ecological-economic Analysis in Wuxi City, China

As a result of rapid urbanization in China, urban sprawl has increased rapidly, and land-use regulation and smart urban growth are equally important. Spatial function regionalization can provide the scientific groundwork for the regulation of land use and protection. This paper probes the system of evaluation indices and applies the methods of spatial analysis and classification clustering to the calculation of the ecologically significant value and economically significant value in each evaluation unit. After use of a classification matrix integrated by the two significant values, city space can be divided into four functional types, namely, feasible development area, moderate development area, moderate conservation area and prohibited exploiting area, and these are the basis for spatial development and control.

Spatiotemporal variations of Chinese lakes and their driving mechanisms since the Last Glacial Maximum:A review and synthesis of lacustrine sediment archives

In this article,the author provides the first synthesis and classification of available environment-indicating proxies for lacustrine sediment.A review of spatio-temporal variations in lakes from the Tibetan Plateau,the dry areas of Northwestern China,the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau and the plains of Eastern China since the LGM is then provided.The driving mechanism for variations in lake processes and characteristics is also discussed based on various temporal scales.The author then proposes that future investigations be conducted to:(1) strengthen the study of theoretics and interpretation of environment-indicating proxies,(2) enhance the study of high-resolution time series and spatial variability of lake environment evolution,(3) provide more attention on the influence of human activities on lake environments,and(4) boost construction of the Quaternary lake database of China.

The nutrient forms, cycling and exchange flux in the sediment and overlying water system in lakes from the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River

This paper is a review of research works concerning the nutrient transportation, transformation and exchange between water, sediment and biota in the lakes from the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River conducted in the context of project entitled 'The Processes and Mechanism of Lake Eutrophication in Middle and Lower Reaches of Yangtze River'. All the lakes from this area are shallow lakes. According to the typical lake site research, the lakes from the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River have a higher baseline of nutrition in the history. Normally the trophic status of these lakes can be categorized into medium-trophic or eutrophic. Human activities have been enhanced during the last decades, which speed up the lake eutrophic process. Lake eutrophication control needs to reduce not only the external nutrient inputs from watershed but also the internal loading from the sediments. Investigations revealed that the lake sediments in this area are considerablly high in nutrition in which at most about 30% of phosphorus exists in the form of bio-available in the sediment. The surface sediment will exert great effects on the nutrient exchange between water-sediment interface via adsorption and release of nutrient. The nutrient release from the sediment in these shallow lakes is mainly in two ways, i.e. in the undisturbed condition the nutrient is released through diffusion created by the nutrient gradient from sediment to overlying water; whereas in disturbed condition, the nutrient release is determined by the hydrodynamic forcing intensity and the sediment resuspension. Metallic elements such as the iron, manganese and aluminium and the aerobic-anaerobic ambience will affect the release of nutrients. The disturbed release will increase the total nutrients in the water column significantly in the short period. At the beginning of sediment resuspension, the dissolved nutrient concentration will increase. This increase will be damped if the ferric oxide and aluminium are rich in sediment because of the adsorption and flocculation. This means that the lakes have capability of eliminating the nutrient loadings. Investigations for the lakes from middle and down stream of Yangtze River have suggested that most lakes have the self-cleaning capability. Dredging the control of the internal loading, therefore, is only applicable to the small lakes or undisturbed bays which normally are situated nearby the city or town and rich in organic materials in the sediment. In addition, the strong reduction condition and weak aeration of these lakes and bays make these small lakes and bays release much more bio-available nutrient and without much self-eliminating capability. Moreover, eutrophication induced algal bloom in these lakes will change the pH of water, which further induces the increase in the nutrient release. In turn, the increase in nutrient release promotes the growth of phytoplankton and results in severe algal bloom. For the heavily polluted water, research suggests that the biomass of bacteria and alkaline phosphatase activity will be higher corresponding to the higher concentration of nutrients, which accelerates the nutrient recycling between water, sediment and biota. Quick recycling of nutrient, in turn, promotes the production and biomass growth of microorganism and leads to more severe eutrophication. Further research work should focus on the nutrient transformation mechanism and the effects of microbial loop on the eutrophication.

Variation characteristics of heavy metals and nutrients in the core sediments of Taihu Lake and their pollution history

The sedimentary environment change, trophic evolution and heavy metals pollution history of the northern Taihu Lake in the last 100 years are studied according to the sedimentary geochemical proxies of the core sediments, such as grain size, nutrients, heavy metals, diatom, etc. The nutrients in the sediments depended mainly on the lake internal circulation and the heavy metals were from natural geogenic sources before the 1920s, which were not influenced by human activities generally, and grain size was one of the key factors influencing heavy metals content in the sediments.The alternation of manner and strength of human activities in Taihu Lake catchment before and after the 1920s made the lake sediments coarser, and hence heavy metals and TP content decreased contrasted with that before the 1920s. TP content in sediments and water increased from the 1950s to late 1970s due to anthropogenic pollutants discharge, and the lake belonging to mesotrophic state.TN and TOC content and C/N ratio increased due to the increasing external pollutants into Taihu Lake by human activities, TP content also increased obviously in water and sediments, and the diatom association was dominated by eutrophic species since the late 1970s, indicating the eutrophication state of Taihu Lake in this period. Meanwhile the increasing in heavy metals content, such as Cu, Mn,Ni, Pb and Zn, and their proportion of valid fractions in the sediments indicates that they all result from human pollutants since the late 1970s. The heavy metals in the surface sediments have certain potential biological toxicity due to the higher SEM/AVS ratio.