Use of otolith chemistry to discriminate juvenile Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) from different wild populations and hatcheries in Lake Huron

Chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytscha) in Lake Huron consist of wild and hatchery-reared fish distributed among several populations. This study tested whether otolith chemistry can be used to identify the natal origin of Chinook salmon in this system. Concentrations of nine elements (Mg, K, Mn, Fe, Zn, Rb, Sr, Ba, and Pb) in the otoliths of Chinook salmon juveniles from 24 collection sites (17 streams and 7 hatcheries) around Lake Huron were analyzed using laser-ablation inductively-coupled mass spectrometry. Differences in otolith chemistry were found between rearing environments (wild and hatchery), among geological regions (Precambrian, Ordovician, Silurian, Devonian, and Carboniferous), and among collection sites. Discriminant function analysis showed high classification accuracies of juveniles to their rearing environment (wild versus hatchery, 82%), geological region (84%), and collection site (87%) of origin. With these values, there is excellent potential for otolith chemistry to be used to predict the natal origin of adults, and thus inform research and management of Chinook salmon in Lake Huron.     

Distinguishing Wild vs. Stocked Lake Trout (Salvelinus namaycush) in Lake Ontario: Evidence from Carbon and Oxygen Stable Isotope Values of Otoliths

We investigated the potential for using carbon and oxygen isotope values of otolith carbonate as a method to distinguish naturally produced (wild) lake trout (Salvelinus namaycush) from hatchery-reared lake trout in Lake Ontario. We determined δ ¹³C_(CaCO3) and δ ¹⁸O_(CaCO3) values of otoliths from juvenile fish taken from two hatcheries, and of otoliths from wild yearlings. Clear differences in isotope values were observed between the three groups. Subsequently we examined otoliths from large marked and unmarked fish captured in the lake, determining isotope values for regions of the otolith corresponding to the first year of life. Marked (i.e., stocked) fish showed isotope ratios similar to one of the hatchery groups, whereas unmarked fish, (wild fish or stocked fish that lost the mark) showed isotope ratios similar either to one of the hatchery groups or to the wild group. We interpret these data to suggest that carbon and oxygen isotope values can be used to determine the origin of lake trout in Lake Ontario, if a catalogue of characteristic isotope values from all candidate years and hatcheries is compiled.     

Advancing Africa’s Great Lakes research and academic potential: Answering the call for harmonized,long-term,collaborative networks and partnerships

The African Great Lakes (AGL) have rich fisheries and are renowned “biodiversity hotspots”. Consequently the AGL and the ecosystem services they provide, underpin the welfare and livelihoods of over 50 million people across 10 countries. Despite the recognized importance of the AGL, these vital ecosystems and their livelihood support systems are threatened by numerous anthropogenic stressors at local, regional, and global scales. Past and continued efforts to address critical challenges on these lakes are often short-term, parochial, disparate, and uncoordinated resulting in a lack of comprehensive and comparable scientific data and inadequate resources to influence evidence-based policy. Over the past two decades, several international workshops, conferences and scientific publications have identified the need for collaboration, knowledge sharing, and harmonization of research and management as key elements to enhance conservation efforts in the AGL. In this commentary, we introduce the African Center for Aquatic Research and Education (ACARE), which aims to strengthen research and provide the scientific evidence needed to make informed decisions related to sustainable fisheries and aquatic resource management in the AGL. To do this, ACARE will administer a highly collaborative network of experts with three long-term goals: (1) strengthen global and regional research partnerships; (2) establish transboundary and inter-jurisdictional lake advisory groups; and (3) build capacity of freshwater scientists through experiential education and public engagement.     

Drying Urban lakes: A consequence of climate change,urbanization or other anthropogenic causes? An insight from northern India

Urban lakes in many places around the world are rapidly becoming vulnerable because of such factors as urbanization, climate change, anthropogenic pollutant inputs, etc. The influence of such forcing factors on lakes hydrology must be correctly recognized and addressed in order to protect them over the long term. Facing similar challenges, Sukhna Lake, an urban lake in northern India, has apparently dried up frequently in the recent past. Numerous hypotheses were subsequently proposed to isolate the possible factors affecting the lake and its water budget, including the potential impacts of land use changes, climate change, anthropogenic activities and other natural processes. Using meteorological data, lake‐catchment information and a hydrologic model, these hypotheses were comprehensively analysed. Relevant data on rainfall, wind, temperature, lake inflows, groundwater, lake physical characteristics, catchment land uses, soil texture, etc., were gathered for the analysis. A temporal trend analysis of factors relevant to these hypotheses was undertaken to identify critical drivers of hydrological changes. A sensitivity analysis also was performed, using the lake water budget, to determine and prioritize the predominant factors affecting the lake, leading to the creation of an annual lake water budget for the period from 1971 to 2013, highlighting the lake inflows and outflows. The lake annual inflow (catchment run‐off) was computed by adopting a rainfall–run‐off model based on the SCS‐curve number. Lacking any anthropogenic water withdrawals, the outflow was quantified by estimating the evaporation loss (using the FAO‐based Penman–Monteith Equation). The results of the present study  indicate that the process of siltation and the construction of check dams in the catchment, rather than urbanization and climate change, were the dominating reasons contributing to changes in the lake hydrology, and affecting the lake most in recent years.     

抚仙湖北岸生态调蓄带工程入湖污染物减排效益核算

抚仙湖属珠江流域西江水系的源头型深水湖泊,湖岸陡峭,岸滩不发育,湖泊生态系统十分脆弱,水质一旦被污染将很难恢复。近年来受流域内人类活动强度持续加剧与全球气候变化的双重驱动影响,抚仙湖水位持续降低、河湖水污染问题日益突出,湖泊水质保护问题迫在眉睫,因此,2017年针对入湖污染负荷占比最大且农田面源污染问题最为突出的抚仙湖北岸片区实施了集截污、调蓄、水质净化、水资源回用、清水置换、湿地补水建设于一体的抚仙湖北岸生态调蓄带工程,并将1179.09亩农田改建为调蓄带湿地。从实施效果来看,调蓄带工程2018—2021年期间减少的TN、TP入湖负荷量分别为245.84 t、28.99 t,调蓄带对抚仙湖北岸片区农田面源负荷削减率均超过81%;从生态调蓄带入湖污染物减排效益贡献大小来看,土地利用方式变化＞湿地水质净化＞湖滨湿地补水＞水资源回用＞清洁水资源置换;从调蓄带入湖污染物减排效益持续提升来看,水资源回用和清洁水资源替换潜力有待进一步挖掘和提升。     

鄱阳湖氮磷时空特征和异常变化及其影响途径

为进一步掌握鄱阳湖水环境演变趋势,维护鄱阳湖生态区的可持续健康发展,本研究深入分析了近13 年鄱阳湖水体氮磷时空特征及其异常情况,剖析了其主要驱动因素的影响途径。研究发现,2010—2022 年期间,鄱阳湖总氮（TN）和总磷（TP）浓度丰水期总体低于枯水期,南部湖区高于北部的入江水道。而在2015 年,鄱阳湖氮磷时空特征出现异常变化,丰水期TN 和TP 高于枯水期,北部湖区TN 和TP 浓度高于南部湖区。入湖污染负荷与水文变化仍然是影响鄱阳湖水体氮磷浓度的主要因素,而中低水位时期湖泊格局造成的“碟形湖”结构和水量分布差异是鄱阳湖TN 和TP 时空特征异常变化的重要驱动因素。本研究可为鄱阳湖水资源可持续利用及生态环境保护提供科学参考。     

巢湖市龟山-巢湖闸段多目标融合规划设计思路

为推进城市内湖防洪、生态、景观协同治理,充分挖掘城市内湖滨河空间,提升景观品质,以环巢湖生态修复工程巢湖市龟山-巢湖闸段治理工程为例,从水利、生态、景观角度出发,结合区域规划,开展防洪、排涝、生态、景观等多目标融合规划设计,既满足了防洪安全要求,又美化了城市滨水生态环境,为城市内湖治理提供了全新的设计思路和理念。