南京市大气中挥发性有机物污染的研究

1　IntroductionVolatileorganiccompounds (VOCs)areimportantairpollutantsintheurbanatmosphere .SomeVOCsaretoxicandpotentiallycarcinogenic.ExposuretoVOCsisofconcernasitmayresultinsignificantrisktohumanhealth .AmbientVOCsareemittedfromvariousurban ,industrial…     

Indoor air quality in elementary schools of Lisbon in spring

Analysis of indoor air quality (IAQ) in schools usually reveals higher levels of pollutants than in outdoor environments. The aims of this study are to measure indoor and outdoor concentrations of NO₂, speciated volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and carbonyls at 14 elementary schools in Lisbon, Portugal. The investigation was carried out in May–June 2009. Three of the schools were selected to also measure comfort parameters, such as temperature and relative humidity, carbon dioxide (CO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), total VOCs, and bacterial and fungal colony-forming units per cubic metre. Indoor concentrations of CO₂ in the three main schools indicated inadequate classroom air exchange rates. The indoor/outdoor (I/O) NO₂ ratio ranged between 0.36 and 0.95. At the three main schools, the total bacterial and fungal colony-forming units (CFU) in both indoor and outdoor air were above the advised maximum value of 500 CFU/m³ defined by Portuguese legislation. The aromatic compounds benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes, followed by ethers, alcohols and terpenes, were usually the most abundant classes of VOCs. In general, the indoor total VOC concentrations were markedly higher than those observed outdoors. At all locations, indoor aldehyde levels were higher than those observed outdoors, particularly for formaldehyde. The inadequate ventilation observed likely favours accumulation of pollutants with additional indoor sources.     

Source apportionment and ozone formation potential of volatile organic compounds in Lagos (Nigeria)

Concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) of the city air in Oba Akran road, Lagos were investigated. The chlorinated VOCs and xylene in Oba Akran were high. The average benzene/toluene ratio in Oba Akran was 1.7 suggesting that vehicular emission was a possible VOC source in most areas of Oba Akran. The toluene/(m+p-xylene) ratio also suggests a common source of toluene and xylene at these sites, presumably organic solvent used by industries located at Oba Akran. Our results showed that 7.10 tons of CO ₂ equivalents of VOCs are being emitted per year from Oba Akran. Xylenes were found to be the largest contributor to the ozone formation followed by trichloroethylene. A multivariate statistical analysis (Factor analysis extracted with Principal Component Analysis) has been applied to a set of data, and it was found that the main principal components, extracted from the air VOC pollution data, were related to gasoline and oil combustion/industrial activities.     

Organically modified low-grade kaolin as a secondary containment material for underground storage tanks

Batch scale reactions were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of modified low-grade kaolin for the treatment of petroleum contaminants. Low-grade kaolin, which has been unvalued as material in the mining process because of its low quality for commercial products, was modified with HDTMA (hexadecyl-trimethylammonium), and its efficiency was compared with that of HDTMA-modified bentonite, which is used as a secondary containment barrier for underground storage tanks. The sorption capacity and hydraulic conductivity of both the HDTMA-modified bentonite and low-grade kaolin were investigated and showed distribution coefficients in the sorption of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene ranging between 45.7 and 583.7 and 57.0 and 525.1, respectively. The hydraulic conductivities were 2.53 × 10⁻⁸ and 5.62 × 10⁻⁸ cm/s for the HDTMA-modified bentonite and low-grade kaolin, respectively. These results suggest that HDTMA-modified low-grade kaolin could be used as a hydraulic barrier against advection migration of petroleum contaminants. Simulation of the one-dimensional transport of benzene through a liner made of either one of the compounds was also performed. These results also showed that HDTMA-modified kaolin more effectively retards the transport of benzene.     

北京市典型城区环境空气中苯系物的污染特征、来源分析与健康风险评价

自2013年6月以来,利用Airmo VOC在线分析仪在北京市典型城区开展了环境空气中挥发性有机物(VOCs)的连续观测,选取2014年4个季节中各1个月的苯系物在线数据,分析了其浓度水平、变化特征、光化学反应活性,利用美国环保署(US EPA)提出的健康风险评价方法开展了有毒有害苯系物物种的健康风险评价,结合来源分析结果,明确北京市应重点控制的苯系物污染来源。研究区观测期间环境空气中16种苯系物的质量浓度为(22.64±16.83)μg·m-3,且具有秋季冬季春季夏季的特点,其中BTEX(苯、甲苯、乙苯和二甲苯)的质量浓度为(19.27±14.46)μg·m-3,占苯系物浓度水平的41.09%~95.16%。研究区观测期间苯系物质量浓度夜间高于日间,日变化呈V字形,在13:00—15:00时质量浓度低。16种苯系物的臭氧生成潜势(OFP)的范围为66.62~170.67μg·m-3,其中间+对二甲苯、甲苯和邻二甲苯的OFP值相对较大;二次有机气溶胶生成潜势(SOAFP)的范围为0.71~1.86μg·m-3,其中甲苯、间+对二甲苯和乙苯的SOAFP值相对较大。研究区观测期间6种苯系物(BTEX和苯乙烯)的危害指数在8.19E-03~5.01E-02之间,在4个季节中对暴露人群尚不存在非致癌性风险;而Ⅰ类致癌物质苯的风险值处于7.13E-08~8.13E-06之间,在夏、秋和冬季对研究区暴露人群的人体健康均存在潜在的致癌性风险。来源分析结果表明,研究区春、秋季苯系物主要来源于机动车尾气的排放,其中春季还受到溶剂等挥发的影响,夏、冬季苯系物则主要来自于燃煤源。     

Carbonaceous resin capsule for vapor-phase monitoring of volatile hydrocarbons in soil: partitioning and kinetic model verification

The resin capsule system (RCS) was tested as a means of providing data on the presence and forms of volatile hydrocarbons. Results indicated that resin capsules provided data showing sensitivity to soil variables (texture and moisture content) and time. The objectives of this paper are to evaluate the RCS methodology and to determine whether carbonaceous resin capsules provide results that can be described by fundamental chemical partitioning and kinetic principles. Findings revealed a significant relationship between quantities of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene adsorbed on the capsule and quantities partitioned into the vapor phase. Kinetic evaluation indicated that the vapor adsorption by the resin capsule is regulated by diffusion processes. No verification of rate-limiting processes was possible due to limitations imposed by the experimental design, but it appears that during early stages, adsorption rate was limited by vapor diffusion through the soil. The resin capsule data also reflected differences that would be expected due to properties of the organic liquids present. These results provide further evidence that the RCS could be developed to suggest direct in situ monitoring to reveal quantities and nature of organic substances in soils.     

Monitoring trihalomethanes in water by differential ultraviolet spectroscopy

Ultraviolet (UV) spectroscopy is a valid surrogate for monitoring the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs). Sodium thiosulphate is commonly used to remove disinfectant residual. However, it produces interferences with absorbance in the UV region. Relationship between trihalomethane (THM) formation and differential UV absorbance (−ΔA _λ ) was explored in the presence of sodium thiosulphate. Chlorination of two synthetic and five natural waters was carried out. Sodium thiosulphate showed high UV absorption at 254 nm. This effect can be overcome selecting a higher wavelength. Optimum wavelength varied being about 290 nm for fulvic acid and 300 nm for humic acid type natural organic matter. Correlation between THMs formation and −ΔA _λ was linear for all the analysed samples. Regression curves do not pass through zero indicating the existence of a threshold absorbance decreasment. Once it is surpassed THM release begins. Chlorination of surface waters showed that the presence of bromide significantly increases THMs vs. −ΔA _λ slope. Furthermore, slope decreased with the aromaticity–hydrophobicity of organic matter.     

Antioxidant enzyme activities of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Microcystis aeruginosa</Emphasis> in response to nonylphenols and degradation of nonylphenols by <Emphasis Type="Italic">M. aeruginosa</Emphasis>

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of chemical nonylphenols (NPs) on the antioxidant system of Microcystis aeruginosa strains. The degradation and sorption of NPs by M. aeruginosa were also evaluated. High concentrations of NPs (1 and 2 mg/l) were found to cause increases in superoxidase dismutase (SOD) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activities and in glutathione (GSH) levels. These results suggest that toxic stress manifested by elevated SOD and GST levels and GSH contents may be responsible for the toxicity of NPs to M. aeruginosa and that the algal cells could improve their antioxidant and detoxification ability through the enhancement of enzymatic and nonenzymatic prevention substances. The observed elevations in GSH levels and GST activities were relatively higher than those in SOD activities, indicating that GSH and GST contributed more in eliminating toxic effects than SOD. Low concentrations of NPs (0.05–0.2 mg/l) enhanced cell growth and decreased GST activity in algal cells of M. aeruginosa, suggesting that NPs may have acted as a protecting factor, such as an antioxidant. The larger portion of the NPs (>60%) disappeared after 12 days of incubation, indicating the strong ability of M. aeruginosa to degrade the moderate persistent NP compounds. The sorption ratio of M. aeruginosa after a 12-day exposure to low nominal concentrations of NPs (0.02–0.5 mg/l) was relatively high (>30%). The fact that M. aeruginosa effectively resisted the toxic effects of NPs and strongly degraded these pollutants indicate that M. aeruginosa cells have a strong ability to adapt to variations in environmental conditions and that low and moderate concentrations of organic compounds may favor its survival. Further studies are needed to provide detailed information on the fate of persistent organic pollutants and the survival of algae and to determine the possible role of organic pollutants in the occurrence of water blooms in eutrophic lakes.     

Patterns of organic osmolytes in two marine bivalves, Macoma balthica, and Mytilus spp., along their European distribution

Patterns of nine intracellular free amino acids (FAA), which are utilized as organic osmolytes for salinity-induced cell volume regulation in marine osmoconformers, were compared in five Macoma balthica populations and seven Mytilus spp. populations along their European distribution. Three types of FAA patterns were classified within both taxa: a northern Baltic type, a southern Baltic type and an Atlantic/Mediterranean type which mainly differ regarding the share of alanine and taurine. Differences are discussed in relation to habitat salinity and population genetics. Along a salinity gradient, the total size of the intracellular FAA pool did not differ between sympatric M. balthica and Mytilus spp., and was significantly correlated with habitat osmolality in a range from 70 to 600 mmol kg⁻¹ H₂O (oligohaline to mesohaline) in both bivalves. In M. balthica, this correlation was mainly based on significant correlations of alanine (15–100 mmol kg⁻¹ DW), glycine (30–100 mmol kg⁻¹ DW) and taurine (0–70 mmol kg⁻¹ DW) with habitat osmolality. In Mytilus spp., only glycine (25–100 mmol kg⁻¹ DW) and taurine (4–180 mmol kg⁻¹ DW) were significantly correlated with habitat osmolality. The concentration of alanine was three times lower in Mytilus spp. than in M. balthica and did not correlate with habitat osmolality. Within a habitat osmolality range from 600 to 1,100 mmol kg⁻¹ H₂O (mesohaline to marine) the concentration of FAA remained constant in both taxa. It is suggested that under marine conditions additional organic osmolytes must become more important for cell volume regulation in Macoma and Mytilus.     

Aluminium in tea plantations: mobility in soils and plants, and the influence of nitrogen fertilization

The levels of extractable aluminum (Al) in soils of tea plantations, Al concentrations in tea leaves and the impact of nitrogen fertilization on these two parameters were investigated. In addition, the properties of soils from tea plantations were compared to those from soils of adjacent non-tea fields to evaluate the effect of land use conversion (from non-tea soils to tea soils). Exchangeable Al (extracted in 1 mol l⁻¹ KCl) ranged from 0.03 to 7.32 cmol_c kg⁻¹ in 94 tea fields and decreased rapidly with increasing soil pH. In comparison with non-tea soils, tea soils had a significantly lower pH and exchangeable Mg²⁺ concentration but higher organic matter contents and exchangeable K⁺ concentration. Contents of extractable Al were not different (P > 0.05) between these two soils. The concentrations of Al in mature tea leaves correlated significantly with exchangeable Al in soil samples taken at a depth of 20–40 cm and with exchangeable Al saturations in soil sampled at␣depths of 0–20 and 20–40 cm. In the pot experiment, nitrogen fertilization significantly increased extractable Al levels but decreased soil pH and the levels of exchangeable base cations. Nevertheless, the levels of Al in mature leaves and young shoots were significantly reduced by the application of large amounts of N fertilizer.     

Recent distribution and size structure of gelatinous organisms in the southern Black Sea and their interactions with fish catches

The spatial distributions of gelatinous organism were studied during three cruises in 2006–2007. These were the first such studies conducted in the southern Black Sea for last decade. Additionally, the different methods of estimating gelatinous organism biomass presently in use were compared and recent situation of pelagic fishery interacting with zooplankton in the Black Sea were overviewed. Biomasses and abundances of both invading Mnemiopsis leidyi, and the resident Aurelia aurita and Pleurobrachia pileus were remarkably reduced (total gelatinous biomass: 417–537 g m⁻² in May, June, and 150 g m⁻² in October) as compared with those before the 1997 with invasion Beroe ovata in the southern Black Sea. Specimens of B. ovata were detected only in October when individuals with lengths of 10–50 mm comprised 93% of its population. Length–weight based biomasses were significantly variable for all species depending on the size structure in time. Larger sized individuals (>30 mm) of M. leidyi appeared as compared with those before year 1997. The ecosystem of the Black Sea has been suppressed both bottom–up through decreased eutrophication and top–down through reduced grazing on mesozooplankton by M. leidyi that are in turn controlled by grazing by B. ovata. The catch of anchovy was abruptly reduced to 120,000 tons due presumably to the considerably increased catch of its predator, the bonito (64,000 tons) in the year 2005.     

Life cycle of the jellyfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lychnorhiza lucerna</Emphasis> (Scyphozoa: Rhizostomeae)

The life cycle of Lychnorhiza lucerna (Scyphozoa: Rhizostomeae) and the settlement preferences of its larvae were studied using laboratory-based rearing experiments. Mature medusae of L. lucerna were collected from the beach of the Río de la Plata estuary, Argentina. This species displayed the typical metagenetic, (i.e. medusoid and polypoid), life cycle reported for other rhizostomes. The fertilized eggs developed into motile and short lived planulae. The majority of planulae settled on the air-water interface (p < 0.001). Of those that settled on the settlement plates provided, no significant differences were observed between styrene slides, glass slides and shells of the bivalve Mactra isabelleana (p > 0.05). No planulae settled on stones. Several hours after planulae settled, they metamorphosed into sessile four-tentacled scyphistomae. Most scyphistomae attached onto the air-water interface. At 19–22°C, the scyphistomae grew up to 22 tentacles and reached 1,500 μm height. The scyphistomae increased their numbers by means of formation of podocysts from which new polyps emerged and strobilated. Strobilation occurred 46 days after settlement. Only polydisk strobilation was observed and each strobila always produced three ephyrae. After releasing ephyrae, strobilae returned to normal scyphistomae and were capable of repeating strobilation. A single founder polyp was estimated to produce up to 60 ephyrae over 4 months. Ephyrae developed into metephyrae 15 days after release at 19–22°C. In this paper we describe the morphological and some behavioural features of L. lucerna in the polypoid and early medusoid stages.     

Determination of volatile organic sulfur compounds in contaminated groundwater

A practical method for the quantification of total purgeable organic sulfur (POS) in highly contaminated groundwater is described. Volatile organic sulfur compounds (VOSC) are purged from the water samples by a stream of oxygen and combusted. The emerging sulfur dioxide is absorbed in H₂O₂ and converted to sulfate which is quantified by ion chromatography and reported as mass sulfur equivalent. The overall limit of quantification is 0.03 mg l⁻¹. The content of POS is balanced with the total VOSC determined by GC-AED after liquid–liquid extraction. Separate determination of the non-volatile organic sulfur compounds by direct combustion of the water sample and adsorption to charcoal yielded a mass balance of the total sulfur content. Semi-quantitative GC-MS after purge & trap accumulation revealed that the VOSC mixture is composed of C₁–C₄ alkyl sulfides. The implementation of the developed methodology for the quantification of VOSC as potential catalyst poison in a cleaning plant for groundwater contaminated with volatile haloorganics (VOX) is presented.     

Growth and grazing responses of Chrysochromulina ericina (Prymnesiophyceae): the role of irradiance, prey concentration and pH

The effect of irradiance, prey concentration and pH on the growth and grazing responses of the mixotrophic prymnesiophyte Chrysochromulina ericina under N-and P-replete conditions was studied using the pedinophyte Marsupiomonas pelliculata as prey. The two organisms were inoculated in monocultures and in mixed cultures at different predator: prey ratios at three irradiances and allowed to grow for 4–7 days. All cultures were non-axenic. Algal densities and pH were monitored throughout the experiments and growth and grazing rates were measured. An increase in growth of C. ericina cultures at irradiances of 25 and 70 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹ was observed after the addition of prey, while growth of C. ericina cultures at the high irradiance (150 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹) was unaffected by the addition of prey. However, although the growth of C. ericina increased at low irradiance (25 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹), it did not reach the same level as monocultures at the high irradiance (150 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹), suggesting that phagotrophy can only partly replace photosynthesis in C. ericina. Maximum growth rates of C. ericina at irradiances of 25 and 70 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹ were obtained at concentrations of > 0.15–0.3×10⁵ M. pelliculata ml⁻¹, corresponding to 50–100 μg C 1⁻¹. Ingestion of M. pelliculata cells by C. ericina did not generally follow Michaelis—Menten kinetics. Deviation from the expected saturation kinetics was especially pronounced at irradiances of 70 and 150 μmol photons m⁻² s⁻¹. At these irradiances ingestion of M. pelliculata cells by C. ericina decreased at high concentrations of M. pelliculata, indicating an increased uptake of bacterial prey in these cultures. The growth rate of C. ericina was affected in both monocultures and in mixed cultures when pH increased above 8.6, and growth stopped around pH 9. The prey alga M. pelliculata tolerated high pH better and, consequently, took over in the mixed cultures when pH exceeded 9. The ecological significance of mixotrophy in the genus Chrysochromulina is discussed. Published online: 4 July 2002     

Effects of diurnal variations in phytoplankton photosynthesis obtained from natural fluorescence

Effects of diurnal variation in phytoplankton photosynthesis on estimating daily primary production (DPP) were examined using field data from Sagami Bay, Japan. DPP at 5 m depth was calculated from the continuous data of chlorophyll a (Chl a) and light intensity monitored by a natural fluorescence sensor with and without considering time-dependent changes in the photosynthesis–irradiance (P–E) relationship. Chl a could be estimated from natural fluorescence examining the variations in the quantum yield of fluorescence (φ _f) and Chl a-specific light absorption coefficient (a*_ph), and relating them to Chl a. The P–E relationship was determined by water sampling three times daily. A distinct diurnal pattern was observed for the maximum photosynthetic rate (P*_max), being maximal at noon, while periodicity of the maximum light utilization coefficient (α*) was less obvious. The actual DPP was calculated by interpolating the P–E parameters from those obtained at dawn, noon, and dusk. For comparison, DPP was calculated by fixing the P–E parameters as the constants measured at dawn, noon or dusk for a day. The difference from the actual DPP was small when the P–E parameters measured at dawn (3% on average) and noon (5%) were used as the constants for a day. The difference was largest when the values at dusk were used (−43%). The medium values of P*_max at dawn, its low values at dusk, and the fact that a major part of the DPP was produced around noon were responsible for these results. The present study demonstrates that measurement of the P–E parameters at dawn or noon can give a good estimation of DPP from natural fluorescence.     

6种苯系物对球等鞭金藻和新月菱形藻的生长抑制

海洋环境中苯系物污染主要来源于海洋溢油事故以及沿海石油化工企业的废水排放。为探究苯系物对海洋微藻的毒性作用,选择球等鞭金藻和新月菱形藻作为受试生物,分别考察了苯、甲苯、乙基苯、邻-二甲苯、间-二甲苯和对-二甲苯6种苯系物对2种海洋微藻生长的影响。结果表明,在0.25~64.0 mg·L-1暴露浓度下,6种苯系物对2种微藻生长具有显著的抑制作用,随着暴露浓度的升高,抑制作用明显增强。苯、甲苯、乙基苯、邻-二甲苯、间-二甲苯、对-二甲苯对球等鞭金藻的24 h的半数效应浓度(24 h-EC50)分别为:17.07、12.88、7.58、0.55、0.36、0.27 mg·L-1;对新月菱形藻的24 h-EC50值分别为:1.03、0.68、0.46、0.40、0.42、0.38 mg·L-1。上述研究结果为确定苯系物海洋环境质量标准、保护海洋生态环境提供了基础数据。     

Microbial activity and carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus content in a subtropical seagrass estuary (Florida Bay): evidence for limited bacterial use of seagrass production

Bacterial abundance, production, and extracellular enzyme activity were determined in the shallow water column, in the epiphytic community of Thalassia testudinum, and at the sediment surface along with total carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in Florida Bay, a subtropical seagrass estuary. Data were statistically reduced by principle components analysis (PCA) and multidimensional scaling and related to T. testudinum leaf total phosphorus content and phytoplankton biomass. Each zone (i.e., pelagic, epiphytic, and surface sediment community) was significantly dissimilar to each other (Global R = 0.65). Pelagic aminopeptidase and sum of carbon hydrolytic enzyme (esterase, peptidase, and α- and β-glucosidase) activities ranged from 8 to 284 mg N m⁻² day⁻¹ and 113–1,671 mg C m⁻² day⁻¹, respectively, and were 1–3 orders of magnitude higher than epiphytic and sediment surface activities. Due to the phosphorus-limited nature of Florida Bay, alkaline phosphatase activity was similar between pelagic (51–710 mg P m⁻² day⁻¹) and sediment (77–224 mg P m⁻² day⁻¹) zones but lower in the epiphytes (1.1–5.2 mg P m⁻² day⁻¹). Total (and/or organic) C (111–311 g C m⁻²), N (9.4–27.2 g N m⁻²), and P (212–1,623 mg P m⁻²) content were the highest in the sediment surface and typically the lowest in the seagrass epiphytes, ranging from 0.6 to 8.7 g C m⁻², 0.02–0.99 g N m⁻², and 0.5–43.5 mg P m⁻². Unlike nutrient content and enzyme activities, bacterial production was highest in the epiphytes (8.0–235.1 mg C m⁻² day⁻¹) and sediment surface (11.5–233.2 mg C m⁻² day⁻¹) and low in the water column (1.6–85.6 mg C m⁻² day⁻¹). At an assumed 50% bacterial growth efficiency, for example, extracellular enzyme hydrolysis could supply 1.8 and 69% of epiphytic and sediment bacteria carbon demand, respectively, while pelagic bacteria could fulfill their carbon demand completely by enzyme-hydrolyzable organic matter. Similarly, previously measured T. testudinum extracellular photosynthetic carbon exudation rates could not satisfy epiphytic and sediment surface bacterial carbon demand, suggesting that epiphytic algae and microphytobenthos might provide usable substrates to support high benthic bacterial production rates. PCA revealed that T. testudinum nutrient content was related positively to epiphytic nutrient content and carbon hydrolase activity in the sediment, but unrelated to pelagic variables. Phytoplankton biomass correlated positively with all pelagic components and sediment aminopeptidase activity but negatively with epiphytic alkaline phosphatase activity. In conclusion, seagrass production and nutrient content was unrelated to pelagic bacteria activity, but did influence extracellular enzyme hydrolysis at the sediment surface and in the epiphytes. This study suggests that seagrass-derived organic matter is of secondary importance in Florida Bay and that bacteria rely primarily on algal/cyanobacteria production. Pelagic bacteria seem coupled to phytoplankton, while the benthic community appears supported by epiphytic and/or microphytobenthos production.     

Feeding of Clausocalanids (Calanoida,Copepoda) on naturally occurring particles in the northern Gulf of Aqaba (Red Sea)

A total of 12 feeding experiments were conducted in the northern Gulf of Aqaba during spring (March/April) and autumn (September/October) 2002 at the Marine Science Station (MSS) in Aqaba. Females of three species of clausocalanids were selected: Clausocalanus farrani, C. furcatus and Ctenocalanus vanus. Natural occurring particle (NOP) larger than 5 μm were investigated as food source. The ambient chlorophyll a concentration at sampling depth (∼70 m) ranged between 0.15 and 1.00 μg chl a l⁻¹ and NOP concentrations ranged between 1.78 and 14.0 × 10³ cells l⁻¹ during the sampling periods. The division of particles into five size classes (5–10, 10–20, 20–50, 50–100 and >100 μm) revealed that most of the particles were found in the size classes below 50 μm (81–98%), while most of the natural occurring carbon (NOC) was concentrated in the size classes larger than 20 μm (70–95%). Ingestion rates were food density dependent rather than size dependent ranging between 0.02 and 1.65 × 10³ NOP ind⁻¹ day⁻¹ and 0.01 and 0.41 μg NOC ind⁻¹ day⁻¹, respectively, equivalent to a body carbon (BC) uptake between 0.4 and 51.8% BC day⁻¹. The share of the size classes to the total ingestion resembled in most cases the size class composition of the natural particle community.     

Diet induced differences in carbon isotope fractionation between sirenians and terrestrial ungulates

Carbon isotope differences (Δ¹³C) between bioapatite and diet, collagen and diet, and bioapatite and collagen were calculated for four species of sirenians, Dugong dugon (Müller), Trichechus manatus (Linnaeus), Trichechus inunguis (Natterer), and the extinct Hydrodamalis gigas (Zimmerman). Bone and tooth samples were taken from archived materials collected from populations during the mid eighteenth century (H. gigas), between 1978 and 1984 (T. manatus, T. inunguis), and between 1997 and 1999 (D. dugon). Mean Δ¹³C values were compared with those for terrestrial ungulates, carnivores, and six species of carnivorous marine mammals (cetaceans = 1; pinnipeds = 4; mustelids = 1). Significant differences in mean δ¹³C values among species for all tissue types were detected that separated species or populations foraging on freshwater plants or attached marine macroalgae (δ¹³C values < −6‰; Δ¹³C_{bioapatite–diet} ∼14‰) from those feeding on marine seagrasses (δ¹³C values > −4‰; Δ¹³C_{bioapatite–diet} ∼11‰). Likewise, Δ¹³C_{bioapatite–collagen} values for freshwater and algal-foraging species (∼7‰) were greater than those for seagrass-foraging species (∼5‰). Variation in Δ¹³C values calculated between tissues and between tissues and diet among species may relate to the nutritional composition of a species’ diet and the extent and type of microbial fermentation that occurs during digestion of different types of plants. These results highlight the complications that can arise when making dietary interpretations without having first determined species-specific Δ¹³C_{tissue–diet} values. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Development of sol–gel formulations for slow release of pheromones

A new type of dispenser for slow-release of sex pheromones and other semiochemicals was developed based on sol–gel polymers that can be useful for monitoring, mass trapping, and mating disruption in integrated pest management (IPM). Sol–gel matrices exhibit glass characteristics and allow control of the degree of cross-linking during the polymerization process in order to provide an optimal release rate for a particular pheromone. The advantages of sol–gel (silica) matrixes include keeping the added molecules chemically stable and enabling the sol–gel material to be applied in any desired thickness and pheromone quantity, and thereby readily modify release rates. In addition, sol–gels are primarily silica and water that are common in the environment and therefore safe for field dispensing. We developed a method for the entrapment of pheromones in sol–gel matrices that allowed release at an almost constant rate over many days in the field. For example, 2.5 mg (E)-5-decenyl acetate pheromone of peach twig borer, Anarsia lineatella, entrapped in various sol–gel formulations released 14–45 μg/day for up to 28 days. The codling moth (Cydia pomonella) pheromone in sol–gels was used in field tests to capture more codling moth males than unbaited control traps. We describe how the method may be modified to entrap other types of pheromones by making sol–gels with different pore sizes.