An exploratory analysis of benthic macroinvertebrates as indicators of the ecological status of the Upper Yellow and Yangtze Rivers
An exploratory analysis of benthic macroinvertebrates as indicators of the ecological status of the Upper Yellow and Yangtze Rivers
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DOI：
10.1007/s11442-013-1050-6
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发表时间：
2013-08
影响因子：
4.9
通讯作者：
Baozhu Pan;Zhaoyin Wang;Zhiwei Li;Guoan Yu;Mengzhen Xu;N. Zhao;G. Brierley
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Baozhu Pan;Zhaoyin Wang;Zhiwei Li;Guoan Yu;Mengzhen Xu;N. Zhao;G. Brierley
本文首次对黄河源区水生生物群落进行了系统分析。为选择具有代表性的生物作为评价该地区河流水生态状况的指标提供了初步依据。大型无脊椎动物被认为是长期环境变化的良好指标，因为它们的范围有限，而且随着时间的推移具有持久性。于2009年8月和2010年7月分别对黄河源区和长江源区的大型无脊椎动物进行了实地调查。共鉴定出大型无脊椎动物68种，隶属于29科59属。其中环节动物8只，软体动物5只，节肢动物54只，其它动物1只。黄河源区大型无脊椎动物的类群数、密度和生物量分别为50，329个/m-2和0.3966 g/m-2。长江源区的相应数字为29，59只m-2和0.0307 g干重m-2。长江源区的底栖动物资源主要受海拔高、含沙量大和湿地退化的影响。这项探索性研究的初步结果表明，水电站对底栖动物的影响很小，但一系列人类活动造成的湿地退化对大型无脊椎动物的生存产生了灾难性的影响。需要采取保护性放牧和植被管理等生态保护措施，以最大限度地减少草地退化和荒漠化，减少土壤侵蚀率和河流泥沙排放。
This study presents findings of the first systematic analysis of aquatic biotic assemblages in the source region of the Yellow and Yangtze Rivers. It provides an initial basis with which to select representative organisms as indicators to assess the aquatic ecological status of rivers in this region. Macroinvertebrates are considered to be good indicators of long-term environmental changes due to their restricted range and persistence over time. Field investigations of macroinvertebrates were conducted in August 2009 in the source region of the Yellow River, and in July 2010 in the source region of the Yangtze River. Altogether 68 taxa of macroinvertebrates belonging to 29 families and 59 genera were identified. Among them were 8 annelids, 5 mollusks, 54 arthropods and 1 other animal. In the source region of the Yellow River, taxa number, density and biomass of macroinvertebrates were 50, 329 individuals m−2and 0.3966 g dry weight m−2, respectively. Equivalent figures for the source region of the Yangtze River were 29, 59 individuals m−2and 0.0307 g dry weight m−2. The lower benthic animal resources in the source region of the Yangtze River are ascribed to higher altitude, higher sediment concentration and wetland degradation. Preliminary findings of this exploratory study indicate that hydroelectric power stations had a weak impact on benthic dwellers but wetland degradation caused by a series of human activities had a catastrophic impact on survival of macroinvertebrates. Ecological protection measures such as conservative grazing and vegetation management are required to minimize grassland degradation and desertification, and reduce soil erosion rate and river sediment discharge.