Publications of Bellinger, E.G.

Use and value of landscapes, flora and fauna by Tsonga communities in the rural areas of Limpopo Province, South Africa

Many parts of the former homeland areas of South Africa are believed to be experiencing environmental scarcity, and are increasingly vulnerable to resource over-exploitation. Frequently, these areas are adjacent to formally protected areas and present unique challenges in integrating biodiversity conservation and sustaining livelihoods, especially for resource-dependent rural communities. Although studies have been undertaken on the use of various plants by Tsonga communities, and the economic value of specific taxa, no investigation on the relative importance value that considers both wild flora and fauna, together with landscapes, has been carried out previously in the former Gazankulu homeland. We used a weighted ranking exercise for nine focus groups within three rural villages bordering the Kruger National Park, which are largely dependent on wild resources, to assess the relative importance of landscape units and species-level biodiversity. Landscape units, particularly forest/bush and river/stream, were found to be extensively used in meeting community needs, across a range of resource use categories including maintaining socio-cultural norms. Moreover, landscape units vary among villages and age/gender regarding how they contribute to sustaining livelihoods. In total, 162 taxa were identified, with two taxa (Sclerocarya birrea subsp. caffra; Ficus spp.) exploited in up to seven use categories. Sclerocarya birrea, Combretum imberbe and Colophospermum mopane were the most highly valued species among those surveyed, contributing 22% to the overall value of wild flora and fauna in the area. Of those identified, 28 faunal (60%) and 10 floral (8.7%) taxa are listed in either IUCN, national or provincial protected species schedules. Based on combined Local Users Value scores, over 20% of all biodiversity value for local communities comes from protected tree species. Similarly, faunal taxa with enhanced protection constitute almost 12% of all local biodiversity value. In developing strategies for resource conservation, it is necessary to recognize this widespread use of the natural environment and the wild products, including those under formal protection, exploited by local people.

Water and nutrient budgeting of Rostherne Mere, Cheshire, UK

This paper presents a simple model of the Rostherne Mere water catchment. The model allows calculation of water and elemental budgets on meteorological data using regressions derived from a monitoring data set. Estimates of yearly inputs and outputs of Ca, Mg, K and N suggest that the lake is currently acting as a sink for these elements. Comparison with earlier estimates shows an increase in N loading. High inputs of particulate P appear to be balanced by outputs of inorganic P, suggesting that the two may be coupled by certain physical and biogeochemical processes within the lake ecosystem, including adsorption to/desorption from particles, coprecipitation with various chemical compounds, uptake and excretion by biota, mineralisation and release from sediments.

A one-year study of the Rostherne Mere ecosystem: seasonal dynamics of water chemistry, plankton, internal nutrient release, and implications for long-term trophic status and overall functioning of the lake

A study of Rostherne Mere (Cheshire, UK) was undertaken to reveal relationships among various ecosystem components and assess the progress in lake recovery following sewage diversion. An intensive monitoring programme included measurements of dissolved oxygen. T, pH, electric conductivity, K, Mg, Ca, Si, N and P species, Secchi depth, suspended solids, chlorophyll-a, phyto- and zooplankton counts. Recorded changes and the results of correlation analysis broadly confirmed to the classic limnoecological theory and allowed detailed interpretation of the dynamics observed. The Si level was used to estimate the amount of diatom detritus produced in spring. Chemical profiles were used to estimate the amount of nutrients ac:cumulated in the hypolimnion during the stratified period. These estimates were compared with simulations made using the model of exponential decay, which showed a good performance in the case of Si but considerable underestimation in the case of P. The differences between the values simulated by the model and estimates based on field observations resulted from the additional P release from the sediments. This release could have been stimulated by a combination of factors, including the development of anoxic layers on the sediment-water interface and Si-induced desorption from Fe, Al and Mn oxides. Internal P loading during the stratified period was thus estimated at about 4-9 g/m(2), suggesting that rapid changes in the lake's trophic status are at present unlikely. Certain aspects of this work (including interpretation of interrelationships between ecosystem components, estimation of the decomposition constant. analysis of factors controlling nutrient accumulation in the hypolimnion, and a low-cost method to estimate intern; l P release) may be useful for studies of other aquatic systems and have, therefore, general limnological applicability. Copyright (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Environmental Impact Assessment in the Former Soviet Union in its Historical Context

Based on papers and proceedings of the CEU Summer University Workshop, Budapest July 1996; updated Autumn 1997; finalised for publication December 1999 – t.p. verso

Globalnaia ekologicheskaia perspektiva, 2000

Globalnaia ekologicheskaia perspektiva, 2000 : doklad IUNEP o sostoianii okruzhaiushchei sredy v kontse tysiacheletiia

Incorporation of the intracellular elemental correlation pattern into simulation models of phytoplankton uptake and population dynamics

Compelling evidence of complex statistical relationships among various elements contained within phytoplankton cells has traditionally been ignored in models of algal nutrient uptake and population dynamics. Here we present a new approach, incorporating a phytoplankton intracellular elemental correlation pattern into the existing dynamic simulation model of a freshwater lake. Within this approach, uptake and cycling of elements that are likely to become limiting during the simulation period are described by ordinary differential equations. Dynamics of nutrients that are unlikely to become limiting are described either by differential equations or, when more practicable, by multiple regressions on environmental variables and cell quotas of other elements. This allows an easy simultaneous consideration of a wide range of elements. The model adopting the described approach was tested on a data set for Rostherne Mere, Cheshire, UK. It showed a good fit between observations and simulations for all considered variables, including the population dynamics of Ceratium hirundinella and Microcystis aeruginosa, the outcome of interspecific competition and changes in concentrations within algal cells and in the surrounding lake water. The approach could easily be implemented in models of bioreactors, chemostat experiments and aquatic ecosystems.

Biological control of cyanobacteria: principles and possibilities

A range of naturally occurring organisms are available for the biological control of cyanobacteria: including viruses, bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes and protozoa. Development of these organisms as biological control agents involves isolation from environmental samples, characterisation of anti-cyanobacterial activity, microcosm and large-scale field experiments and final development of a biological control lake management strategy. Two groups of antagonist are considered in detail – actinomycetes (e.g. Streptomyces exfoliatus, mode of action by production of a lytic agent) and protozoa (Nuclearia delicatula and Nassula tumida, mode of action by predation). The effectiveness of biological control agents in the lake environment depends on a range of biological and physico-chemical factors. Various strategies can be implemented to optimise their activity.

Examination of the phytoplankton of Rostherne Mere using a simulation mathematical model

Changes of phytoplankton populations in Rostherne Mere in 1996 were examined by means of simulation mathematical models. Simple models, solely based on Monod or Michaelis Menten equations, failed to give a reasonable simulation of the phytoplankton succession. A more complex model Rostherne (version 1.1a) calibrated on an extensive set of XRMA and conventional data, however, proved to be useful both for prediction of the outcome of the spring and summer competition and for the estimation of values of certain non-measured variables. It also helped to identify the limiting factors for different times of the year. Alteration of the simulated magnitude of the spring diatom bloom had a major influence on summer cyanobacterial maxima, demonstrating fine regulation of the biogeochemical balance within the modelled system.

Elemental concentrations, correlations and ratios in micropopulations of Ceratium hirundinella (Pyrrhophyta): an X-ray microanalytical study

The elemental composition of <e1>Ceratium hirundinella</e1> was determined in mixed phytoplankton samples collected over a 2-month period (late June to early September 1995). Electron probe X-ray microanalysis spectra of single cells routinely showed clear peaks of monovalent (Na, K) and divalent (Mg, Ca) cations, plus Si, P, S and Cl. Considerable variation in elemental concentrations occurred both within and between samples (20 cells). The overall ratio of monovalent to divalent cations was relatively constant at about 1.3. Intracellular concentrations of anions/cations and electronegative/electropositive elements were significantly correlated in most samples, suggesting a controlled internal balance of these ionic groups. Correlation analysis of elemental concentrations revealed clear patterns of statistical association within individual samples, with significant positive correlations between particular pairs of elements (Mg–P, K–Cl and K–P). Some pairs of highly correlated elements (particularly Mg–P) occurred in defined ratios throughout the samples, while others (e.g. K–Cl, Na–Mg) were variable. Factor analysis showed that elemental associations were determined by two Principal Factors in most samples, possibly related to insoluble and soluble components of cells. Decrease in the level of available P in lake water was associated with a sharp decrease in the intracellular P concentration and the concentration of other correlated elements. The estimated C/P ratio markedly differed from the classical (Redfield) value at times of low P availability. The concentration of P in cells of <e1>Ceratium</e1> was approximately 10⁴ times greater than in the surrounding water medium (total P) compared with values of 10²–10³ for K.

Application of SEM XRMA data to lake ecosystem modelling

The model Rostherne represents the first attempt to apply SEM XRMA (scanning electron microscopy X-ray microanalysis) data to lake ecosystem modelling. It considers subsystems proved to be most important for Rostherne mere (Cheshire, UK) with incorporation of uptake dependency of one nutrient upon internal deficiency in another. The model showed a reasonable fit (R-2 = 0.87, P < 0.001) between measured data and simulation curves for most of the considered variables (i.e. P, Si, chlorophyll-a and algal concentrations in the lake water, nutrient mass fractions of algal cells, etc.) and could, therefore, have been used to estimate some parameters and variables which were not measured otherwise (e.g. sedimentation and growth rates, etc.). The possibility of incorporating alternative expressions for the processes considered is discussed and tasks for future research in relation to coupling of Various submodels with the proposed submodel of nutrient uptake are envisaged. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Elemental composition of phytoplankton in a subtropical lake: X-ray microanalytical studies on the dominant algae Spirulina platensis (Cyanophyta) and Cyclotella meneghiniana (Bacillariophyceae)

Studies were carried out on the phytoplankton of a subtropical polluted lake (Lake Maryut, Egypt) over a 1 year sampling period. The elemental composition of two major algal constituents-Spirulina platensis (Cyanophyta) and Cyclotella meneghiniana (Bacillariophyceae) – was determined from mixed plankton samples using electron-probe X-ray microanalysis. X-ray emission spectra obtained from S. platensis revealed a wide range of detectable elements. Clear positive (e.g. K-P, Na-Cl) and negative (e.g. Na-S, P-Cl) statistical correlations were interpreted in terms of elemental associations and compartmentation within the cell. C. meneghiniana had a broadly similar range of elements, but differed in the additional presence of Al and frequent peaks of Fe and Cu. The high concentration of Si reduced the detectability of other elements, causing a general reduction in mass fraction levels. Comparison of correlation coefficients derived from four sets of data revealed a clear pattern of elemental occurrence in the cell. There were two major groupings (involving divalent and monovalent cations) which may relate respectively to the frustule and protoplasmic compartments of the cell. Uptake of metal pollutants and P was investigated by comparison of cellular and environmental levels. Although metal pollution in the lake was high, no significant uptake was detected in S. platensis and only limited uptake (of Fe and Cu) occurred in C. meneghiniana. In this alga, cell loading with Fe and Cu did not relate to concentrations in contemporary water samples, suggesting that metal accumulation may not be in synchrony with environmental changes. Similar considerations apply to P, since neither S. platensis nor C. meneghiniana showed clear or consistent correlations between cellular and environmental concentrations.

A note on the use of algal sizes in estimates of population standing crops

Counts of cell numbers of phytoplankton algae of differing sizes do not accurately reflect the biomass of the population present. For a better estimate it is suggested that cell numbers be multiplied by the average cell volume for each species present. Data on cell volumes for certain species are given and compared with results from other authors. Surface areas and surface area to volume ratios are also given and the importance of these parameters noted.