Ecosystem Functions Connecting Contributions from Ecosystem Services to Human Wellbeing in a Mangrove System in Northern Taiwan.

The present study examined a mangrove ecosystem in northern Taiwan to determine how the various components of ecosystem function, ecosystem services and human wellbeing are connected. The overall contributions of mangrove services to specific components of human wellbeing were also assessed. A network was developed and evaluated by an expert panel consisting of hydrologists, ecologists, and experts in the field of culture, landscape or architecture.

An ecosystem-service approach to evaluate the role of non-native species in urbanized wetlands.

Natural wetlands have been increasingly transformed into urbanized ecosystems commonly colonized by stress-tolerant non-native species. Although non-native species present numerous threats to natural ecosystems, some could provide important benefits to urbanized ecosystems. This study investigated the extent of colonization by non-native fish and bird species of three urbanized wetlands in subtropical Taiwan.

Diversity and composition of sulfate- and sulfite-reducing prokaryotes as affected by marine-freshwater gradient and sulfate availability.

Sulfate- and sulfite-reducing prokaryotes (SSRP) communities play a key role in both sulfur and carbon cycles. In estuarine ecosystems, sulfate concentrations change with tides and could be limited in tidal freshwater reach or deep sediments. In a subtropical estuary of northern Taiwan in December 2007, we examined the compositional changes of SSRP communities.

Tungsten and other heavy metal contamination in aquatic environments receiving wastewater from semiconductor manufacturing.

Through analyses of water and sediments, we investigate tungsten and 14 other heavy metals in a stream receiving treated effluents from a semiconductor manufacturer-clustered science park in Taiwan. Treated effluents account for ∼ 50% of total annual river discharge and <1% of total sediment discharge. Dissolved tungsten concentrations in the effluents abnormally reach 400 μg/L, as compared to the world river average concentration of <0.

Effects of semidiurnal tidal circulation on the distribution of holo- and meroplankton in a subtropical estuary.

We examined how tidal changes and which physical factors affected holo- and meroplankton assemblages in a subtropical estuary in Taiwan in February 1999. A factor analysis showed that during tidal flooding, the water mass properties changed from low salinity (5-16) and high particulate organic carbon (POC, 2.6-4.

Isolation and characteristics of 10 microsatellite markers from the endangered coconut crab (Birgus latro).

The coconut crab (Birgus latro), an endangered marine-dispersed crustacean, is facing severe and probably accelerating population extinction worldwide, but biological information on its conservation remains deficient. In order to reveal the genetic structure of B. latro, 10 microsatellite loci were developed.

A trophic model for the Danshuei River Estuary, a hypoxic estuary in northern Taiwan.

The estuary of the Danshuei River, a hypoxic subtropical estuary, receives a high rate of untreated sewage effluent. The Ecopath with Ecosim software system was used to construct a mass-balanced trophic model for the estuary, and network analysis was used to characterize the structure and matter flow in the food web. The estuary model was comprised of 16 compartments, and the trophic levels varied from 1.

Population subdivision of the tri-spine horseshoe crab, Tachypleus tridentatus, in Taiwan Strait.

The genetic structure of the Asian tri-spine horseshoe crab, Tachypleus tridentatus, was investigated in three populations of Taiwan Strait using mitochondrial (mt) AT-rich region DNA sequences. We examined 23 individuals from Kinmen, an island located on the western side of Taiwan Strait, and 12 each from Tiexianwei and Dongwei near Magong Island in the Penghu Archipelago, in the middle of Taiwan Strait. DNA sequence analysis of 369 base pairs (bp) of the mt AT-rich region revealed 10 haplotypes among the 47 individuals, with a mean haplotypic diversity (h) of 0.

Relationships between pesticides and organic carbon fractions in sediments of the Danshui River estuary and adjacent coastal areas of Taiwan.

In order to understand the fate of pesticides in marine environments, concentrations of pesticides and different carbonaceous fractions were determined for surface sediments in the Danshui River and nearby coastal areas of Taiwan. The major compounds detected were tetrachlorobenzene, HCHs, chlordane, aldrin, DDDs, DDEs and DDTs. Total concentrations of pesticides in the sediments ranged from not detectable to 23 ng g(-1), with the maximum value detected near the discharge point of the marine outfall from the Pali sewage treatment plant.

Relationship between carbonaceous materials and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in the sediments of the Danshui River and adjacent coastal areas, Taiwan.

Persistent organic pollutants, POPs (e.g., polychlorinated biphenyls) can seriously and deleteriously affect environmental quality and human health.

Trophic structure and functioning in a eutrophic and poorly flushed lagoon in southwestern Taiwan.

Tapong Bay, a eutrophic and poorly flushed tropical lagoon, supports intensive oyster culture. Using the Ecopath approach and network analysis, a mass-balanced trophic model was constructed to analyze the structure and matter flows within the food web. The lagoon model is comprised of 18 compartments with the highest trophic level of 3.

Nucleotide sequences of ribosomal internal transcribed spacers and their utility in distinguishing closely related Perinereis polychaets (Annelida; Polychaeta; Nereididae).

Nucleotide sequences of a segment of the rRNA transcription unit spanning from the 3' end of the 18S rDNA to the 5' end of 28S rDNA were determined for four species of Perinereis polychaetes: P. aibuhitensis, P. floridana, and two undescribed species, Perinereis sp1 and sp2.