Estimation of Similarity in the Qualitative Composition of Humic Substance in Marine Sediments By Means of an Uv-Spectroscopic Library

In this paper a method for the study of the qualitative similarity of extractable humic substance (EHS) in marine sediments based on the realisation of UV spectral library of EHS is described. the spectral library was built including the digitised spectra of humic substance extracted from several marine sediments (46 samples) and two samples of standard materials (lignin sulphonate and humic substance) in a Statistica data file. the data matrix was elaborated by means of different multivariate statistic techniques such as Cluster Analysis (CA), Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and the univariate technique Spectral Correlation Analysis (SCA). This approach allows us to show the contribution of different organic compounds (aromatic, lipid and acid) to the composition of EHS and moreover it evidences also the structural characteristics of EHS in terms of similarities in the qualitative composition of samples such as presence of terrestrial and/or vegetal contributions. the UV library is an objective tool to study the qualitative composition of EHS and it represents a complementary approach to the most common methods based on the application of spectroscopic (IR, ¹³CNMR), potentiometric and chromatographic techniques.     

Investigations of some trace elements in the Bay of Lim

Sea water was collected at several stations in the Bay of Lim at a depth of one meter below the surface, and before analysis, was filtered with 0.45-μm Millipore filters. Shallow water sediments were collected at the same locations. Humic acids used in this work were separated from near-shore sediments taken from various saline waters of the Bay of Lim. The prepared humic acids were then analysed for their elementary composition and also for positions of their hydrolytic products to obtain more data on how and to which characteristic part, the trace elements were related. The hydrolysis of humic acids was done by chemical methods in order to obtain four main components: amino acids, sugars, phenols and condensed benzene core. Neutron activation analysis was used for trace element analysis in evaporated portions of filtered sea water, sediments, soil, living organisms, humic acids and their hydrolytic products. This work was undertaken to obtain more data on the organic matter present in sediments and in seagrass flats, and also to collect more data on trace elements that are associated with typical and representative samples for the Bay of Lim. Analyses of trace elements associated with either humic acids or their hydrolytic products were performed with the purpose of gaining evidence as to which part of humic acids metals are bound. Humic acids or their decomposition products play an important role in the distribution and availability of a number of essential or nonessential trace elements. Results of this work indicate that humic acids influence the process of redistribution of trace elements in the investigated local coastal area.     

Humic substances as surfactants

Humic substances from soils and sediments can be defined as surface active substances based on the surface tension measurements. Although there are several micellar structural models of humic substances currently available, few studies evaluating humic substances as surfactants have been conducted to date. Therefore, we evaluated the ability of humic substances and their derivatives to influence surface tension. We found that the ability of a humic substance to influence the surface tension of a solution depends on its origin. Many industrially produced humic materials exerted little or no impact on surface tension, whereas humic substances isolated from natural environments (water, soil, peat, sediments, sludge from wastewater treatment facilities) exerted a large impact on surface tension. These findings indicate that the modification of humic substances can enable their use as surfactants. In addition, these findings indicate that solutions of humic substances and their derivatives can be used to increase the solubility of organic compounds.     

Using vertebrate environmental DNA from seawater in biomonitoring of marine habitats

Conservation and management of marine biodiversity depends on biomonitoring of marine habitats, but current approaches are resource-intensive and require different approaches for different organisms. Environmental DNA (eDNA) extracted from water samples is an efficient and versatile approach to detecting aquatic animals. In the ocean, eDNA composition reflects local fauna at fine spatial scales, but little is known about the effectiveness of eDNA-based monitoring of marine communities at larger scales. We investigated the potential of eDNA to characterize and distinguish marine communities at large spatial scales by comparing vertebrate species composition among marine habitats in Qatar, the Arabian Gulf (also known as the Persian Gulf), based on eDNA metabarcoding of seawater samples. We conducted species accumulation analyses to estimate how much of the vertebrate diversity we detected. We obtained eDNA sequences from a diverse assemblage of marine vertebrates, spanning 191 taxa in 73 families. These included rare and endangered species and covered 36% of the bony fish genera previously recorded in the Gulf. Sites of similar habitat type were also similar in eDNA composition. The species accumulation analyses showed that the number of sample replicates was insufficient for some sampling sites but suggested that a few hundred eDNA samples could potentially capture >90% of the marine vertebrate diversity in the study area. Our results confirm that seawater samples contain habitat-characteristic molecular signatures and that eDNA monitoring can efficiently cover vertebrate diversity at scales relevant to national and regional conservation and management.     

Chemical Approach to Study the Environmental Implications of Humic Acid and Gamma-Hch Interaction

Pesticide-humic interactions are known to have environmental significance in modifying the toxicity and mobility of agricultural chemicals. to test this, interaction between gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (gamma-HCH) released from the sand coated with gamma-HCH and humic acid was investigated using thin layer chromatography and spectral studies such as UV (ultraviolet), IR (infrared), mass and FAB (fast atom bombardment) mass spectrometry. These studies revealed the evidence of loose interchelation between gamma-HCH and humic acid. the significance of the results in relation to detoxification of gamma-HCH in aquatic ecosystems are discussed.     

西湖沉积物有机质特征

分析了西湖沉积物腐殖质的组成及腐殖酸的红光谱特性,结果显示西湖沉积物腐殖质具有典型的湖泊沉积物腐质特征,腐殖化程度较高;结合形分析表明,腐殖质中：胡敏素〉胡敏酸〉富里酸〉脂类,钱塘江引水工程、水面种植荷花明显改变了沉积物有机质的构成,对西湖的碳和富营养化状况有显著影响。     

Species of Trace Metals, Organic Residues and Humic Substances in Sediments From the Taiwan Erhjin River and Coastal Areas

Total organic carbon, humic substances, and the species of trace metals (including Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Mn and Fe) in six and seven phases, such as bioexchangeable (P1), skeletal (carbonates, P2), easily reducible (Fe and Mn oxides, P3), moderately reducible (crystalline Mn oxides, P4), organic matters with sulphides (P5), and detritus with minerals (P6) as well as organic with humic substances (PB4) and organic residues (PB6), were analyzed in sediments from the Taiwan Erhjin coastal (including river and estuarine) area, where places we found the copper pollution. Results indicate that higher percentages of P1 and P2 for copper, zinc, lead, cadmium and manganese in samples collected in March and September of 1990 were much higher than those in P3-P6. High percentages of chromium and iron in samples respectively collected in March and September of 1990 were found in P6. for the seven phase analysis, higher percentages of copper species in PB4 and PB6 as well as iron species in PB7 were observed. On the other hand, purified humic acid with the high contents of manganese and iron in humic acid as well as purified fulvic acids were generally found at the upstream stations; and low values at coastal stations. However, extremely high copper (as high as 1750μg g^-1, dry weight in fulvic acid and 820μg g^-1 in humic acid) and lead (821μg g^-1 in humic acid) concentrations with relatively high manganese and iron concentrations were observed in humic substances from the station near the copper recycling area. Comparing the results obtained from the Antarctic Ocean sediments with those from the Taiwan Erhjin Chi coastal sediments, the human impacts on the latter are evaluated.     

Influence of the mineralogical composition on microbial activities in marine sediments: an experimental approach

We investigated the influence of the mineralogical composition of marine sediments on bacterial activity in experimental microcosms. Calcite and quartz were added to natural marine sediments and microbial response in terms of total bacterial abundance and biomass, β-D-glucosidase exo-enzymatic activity and bacterial incorporation of a radio-labelled (³H-leucine) substrate were investigated for a period of one month. We report here that after 15 days the mineralogical composition of the sediment (calcite vs. quartz) had an impact on bacterial abundance and activity (reduced for ca 15% and 56%, respectively). However, such impact was mitigated or even disappeared in high organic nutrient conditions.     

Influence of the mineralogical composition on microbial activities in marine sediments: an experimental approach

We investigated the influence of the mineralogical composition of marine sediments on bacterial activity in experimental microcosms. Calcite and quartz were added to natural marine sediments and microbial response in terms of total bacterial abundance and biomass, β-D-glucosidase exo-enzymatic activity and bacterial incorporation of a radio-labelled (³H-leucine) substrate were investigated for a period of one month. We report here that after 15 days the mineralogical composition of the sediment (calcite vs. quartz) had an impact on bacterial abundance and activity (reduced for ca 15% and 56%, respectively). However, such impact was mitigated or even disappeared in high organic nutrient conditions.     

Species of Trace Metals,Organic Residues and Humic Substances in Sediments From the Taiwan Erhjin River and Coastal Areas

Abstract

Total organic carbon, humic substances, and the species of trace metals (including Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Mn and Fe) in six and seven phases, such as bioexchangeable (P1), skeletal (carbonates, P2), easily reducible (Fe and Mn oxides, P3), moderately reducible (crystalline Mn oxides, P4), organic matters with sulphides (P5), and detritus with minerals (P6) as well as organic with humic substances (PB4) and organic residues (PB6), were analyzed in sediments from the Taiwan Erhjin coastal (including river and estuarine) area, where places we found the copper pollution. Results indicate that higher percentages of P1 and P2 for copper, zinc, lead, cadmium and manganese in samples collected in March and September of 1990 were much higher than those in P3-P6. High percentages of chromium and iron in samples respectively collected in March and September of 1990 were found in P6. for the seven phase analysis, higher percentages of copper species in PB4 and PB6 as well as iron species in PB7 were observed. On the other hand, purified humic acid with the high contents of manganese and iron in humic acid as well as purified fulvic acids were generally found at the upstream stations; and low values at coastal stations. However, extremely high copper (as high as 1750μg g^?1, dry weight in fulvic acid and 820μg g^?1 in humic acid) and lead (821μg g^?1 in humic acid) concentrations with relatively high manganese and iron concentrations were observed in humic substances from the station near the copper recycling area. Comparing the results obtained from the Antarctic Ocean sediments with those from the Taiwan Erhjin Chi coastal sediments, the human impacts on the latter are evaluated.     

Sediment organic matter and meiofauna community response to long-term fish-farm impact in the Ligurian Sea (Western Mediterranean)

Quantitative and qualitative changes in meiofauna community structure were investigated to assess the impact of a fish farm, which was operating continuously for 15 years (La Spezia Gulf, W Mediterranean). Sediment samples were collected in June, July, September, October 2000 and February 2001 for the analysis of phytopigments (chlorophyll-a and phaeopigments), the biochemical composition of organic matter (proteins, carbohydrates and lipids) and related to meiofaunal parameters.

Sediment organic matter reached extremely high concentrations beneath the fish cages when compared to the control. Particularly lipids, carbohydrates and chlorophyll-a were significantly higher in fish-farm sediments. On a long-term basis meiofauna displayed adaptations in sediments beneath the cages resulting in an increase of density. Organic impact on meiofaunal community structure was evident in terms of an increase of the nematodes to copepods (Ne/Co) and nauplius to copepods (Na/Co) ratios in fish farm sediments. Cumaceans and kinorhynchs were encountered in control sediments, but disappeared in fish-farm samples. These data suggest that meiofauna is a sensitive tool for evaluating the effects of organic enrichment in fish farm impacted areas.     

Sediment organic matter and meiofauna community response to long-term fish-farm impact in the Ligurian Sea (Western Mediterranean)

Quantitative and qualitative changes in meiofauna community structure were investigated to assess the impact of a fish farm, which was operating continuously for 15 years (La Spezia Gulf, W Mediterranean). Sediment samples were collected in June, July, September, October 2000 and February 2001 for the analysis of phytopigments (chlorophyll-a and phaeopigments), the biochemical composition of organic matter (proteins, carbohydrates and lipids) and related to meiofaunal parameters.

Sediment organic matter reached extremely high concentrations beneath the fish cages when compared to the control. Particularly lipids, carbohydrates and chlorophyll-a were significantly higher in fish-farm sediments. On a long-term basis meiofauna displayed adaptations in sediments beneath the cages resulting in an increase of density. Organic impact on meiofaunal community structure was evident in terms of an increase of the nematodes to copepods (Ne/Co) and nauplius to copepods (Na/Co) ratios in fish farm sediments. Cumaceans and kinorhynchs were encountered in control sediments, but disappeared in fish-farm samples. These data suggest that meiofauna is a sensitive tool for evaluating the effects of organic enrichment in fish farm impacted areas.     

厦门近海沉积物中高分子有机质的来源初探

采用多步连续-湿法-化学方法,分离提纯了于2010年7月和12月在厦门近海采集的沉积物样品,获得3类高分子有机质,即腐殖酸（HA）、干酪根和碳黑（KB）和碳黑（BC）。以扫描电镜（SEM）作为有效的辅助手段,观察沉积物原样及高分子有机质的形貌特征,结合稳定碳同位素（δ13C）的分析,初步探讨了厦门近海沉积物中高分子有机质的来源。扫描电镜观察发现,在原样沉积物中存在多种海源物质（如钙质硅藻和圆筛藻/冠盘藻）;而在KB样品中同时发现类似于陆地植物的木质碎片以及来自海洋的藻胶鞘,暗示了其来源是海源与陆源共同作用的结果。稳定碳同位素研究表明厦门湾近海海域沉积物中有机质以陆源影响占优势,其比例在58.32%至84.45%之间;δ13C值整体上显示为夏季的贫于冬季的,这与研究区域的生态系统中陆源C3植被和海源水生植物的繁殖生长有关,同时还有排海污水及化石燃料煤燃烧后或者运煤船只洒落的碎屑的贡献。     

渤海典型海域表层沉积物正构烷烃特征比较

对渤海典型海域表层沉积物正构烷烃特征进行比较研究.分别采集葫芦岛市近岸海域(1#)、东营市近岸海域(2#)、营口市近岸海域(3#)9个站点的表层沉积物样品,经索氏提取、柱净化后进行GC-MS分析.结果表明,各站位都表现为双峰型,显示了陆源与海源双重贡献特征,但主导峰各不相同;正构烷烃含量(∑n-alk)均值分别为5.43μg.g-1、2.27μg.g-1、4.30μg.g-1;三海域碳优势指数CPI、奇偶优势指数OEP、姥鲛烷和植烷比值Pr/Ph等特征比值基本相同,指示混合来源及中性偏氧化的沉积环境;C31/C19均值分别为11.19、4.51、6.73,短/长链比值L/H均值分别为0.50、1.48、1.31,类脂物比值TAR均值分别为3.61、1.03、1.19,综合显示葫芦岛市近岸海域正构烷烃来源主要为陆源高等植物,而营口及东营近岸海域沉积物正构烷烃更多来源于内生浮游生物源及石油源,三海域沉积物受人类污染影响程度从高到低分别为2#海域(东营)>3#海域(营口)>1#海域(葫芦岛市),且东营近岸海域沉积物受石油污染特征明显.这些特征都与3个海域周边城市发展与污染输入特征有直接的关系.     

Evaluating the coastal environment for marine birds

The marine environment is being increasingly exploited by fisheries and the oil and gas industry. Conservationists urgently need the ability to identify the processes that determine patterns of abundance of marine species. We describe a preliminary Geographic Information System (GIS) in which spatial data on environmental variables (seabird colony locations, sea depth and seabed sediments) are integrated with realistic energy constraints faced by marine birds during the breeding season. A simple foraging model predicts the spatial variation in the quality of given locations as potential feeding sites under different feeding conditions and stages of the breeding cycle. We show how the approach can be used to help managers identify key marine areas and assess the impacts of environmental change or damage.     

Sources and concentrations of vascular plant material in sediments of Buzzards Bay,Massachusetts, USA

Samples of surface sediment from Buzzards Bay and creek sediment from Great Sippewissett Marsh were analyzed for lignin and stable carbon isotope composition in 1984. The lack of change in composition of lignins in detritus of Spartina alterniflora over two years of decomposition and similar aldehyde/acid ratios of lignin oxidation products of plant and sediment samples indicated minimal diagenesis of lignins in sediments. Remains of non-woody angiosperm tissues made up the bulk of the vascular plant debris in Great Sippewissett Marsh and Buzzards Bay sediments. These plant remains were evenly distributed over the sampling area in Buzzards Bay. Based on model calculations, salt marshes potentially contributed a significant fraction of the total amount of vascular plant debris in coastal marine sediments. The bulk of the organic matter in Buzzards Bay sediments, however, was derived from phytoplankton; vascular plant remains made up only 5 to 7% of the total amount of organic carbon in these sediments.     

Characterization of dissolved organic carbon and Humic substances in the well water of the Blackfoot disease area in Taiwan

Since the early 1960s, many investigators have reported that blackfoot disease, a peripheral vascular disease, observed in southwestern Taiwan is due to drinking the higher arsenic concentration in well water. However, recent studies indicated that the relationship with blackfoot disease is not only with arsenic but also humic substances. This paper presents some results concerning the characterization (such as fluorescence, elemental composition, molecular weight and carbon distribution) of humic substances isolated from the Fuhsing well water of the blackfoot disease area. For comparison, the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and humic substances in the normal well water from Chiuying and the Nanwan coastal water were also analyzed. In general, in the well water of the blackfoot disease area, extremely high concentrations of DOC (18.5mg/L) and fulvic acid (7.54mg/L) with high fluorescence intensity (59.1, equivalent to 0.0282uM quinine sulfate solution) and high percentages (over 50%) of low molecular weights of less than 1,000 were obtained compared with those of normal waters. C‐13 Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy showed a high content (37.2%) of aromatic carbon. These higher concentrations of DOC and fulvic acid with the higher content of aromatic carbon in well water might be one of the key factors causing the blackfoot disease in Taiwan.     

腐殖酸存在下镉和铅对土壤脱氢酶活性的影响

采用室内培养试验研究Cd和Pb污染红壤添加不同组分腐殖酸后,其脱氢酶活性的变化,结果表明,红壤遭受镉和铅污染后,脱氢酶活性显著降低,然而腐殖酸特别是胡敏酸的存在能够使脱氢酶活性得到显著回升,说明腐殖酸与重金属的相互作用对重金属污染土壤微生物活性的改善和修复功能,对土壤有一定的去污降毒作用.不同腐殖酸组分的效应大小为:灰色胡敏酸(GHA)>棕色胡敏酸(BHA)>富里酸(FA),表明分子量愈大、芳构化程度愈高的腐殖酸组分,其对重金属的钝化愈强,从而解除土壤重金属对生物毒害的能力愈强.     

Different response of bacterial community to the changes of nutrients and pollutants in sediments from an urban river network

• Bacterial community varied spatially in sediments from the urban river network. • Key environmental factors shaping bacterial community were detected by RDA. • Bacterial co-occurrence networks changed at different levels of nutrient and metal. • Potential indicator species were selected to predict pollution risk in sediment. Microbial communities in sediment are an important indicator linking to environmental pollution in urban river systems. However, how the diversity and structure of bacterial communities in sediments from an urban river network respond to different environmental factors has not been well studied. The goal of this study was to understand the patterns of bacterial communities in sediments from a highly dense urbanized river network in the lower Yangtze River Delta by Illumina MiSeq sequencing. The correlations between bacterial communities, the environmental gradient and geographical distance were analyzed by redundancy analysis (RDA) and network methods. The diversity and richness of bacterial community in sediments increased from upstream to downstream consistently with the accumulation of nutrient in the urban river network. Bacterial community composition and structure showed obvious spatial changes, leading to two distinct groups, which were significantly related to the characteristics of nutrient and heavy metal in sediments. Humic substance, available nitrogen, available phosphorus, Zn, Cu, Hg and As were selected as the key environmental factors shaping the bacterial community in sediments based on RDA. The co-occurrence patterns of bacterial networks showed that positive interaction between bacterial communities increased but the connectivity among bacterial genera and stability of sediment ecosystem reduced under a higher content of nutrient and heavy metal in average. The sensitive and ubiquitous taxa with an overproportional response to key environmental factors were detected as indicator species, which provided a novel method for the prediction of the pollution risk of sediment in an urban river network.     

褐煤风化过程中化学特性的变化

本文测定了６种不同风化程度褐煤的化学性状。结果表明，随着在自然界堆积风化时间的延长，褐煤的总碳，总氮含量及碳氮比都下降，灰分含量则增大，可提取的腐植酸及黄腐酸量明显增大，且紫外吸光值呈系统变化，尤其是黄腐酸中聚乙烯吡咯烷酮树脂可吸附部分（黄腐酸中腐植部分）随风化加深而降低，各种不同风化程度褐煤中腐植酸的红外吸收光谱变化不是很明显，且与土壤腐植吸收光谱相似。