Black Disease (Terpios hoshinota): A Probable Cause for the Rapid Coral Mortality at the Northern Reef of Yongxing Island in the South China Sea

The northern reef of Yongxing Island, the largest reef island of the Xisha Islands in the South China Sea, was in good condition with significant cover of scleractinian corals until 2002. Surveys in 2008 and 2010, however, found that coral coverage had declined rapidly and severely, implying that catastrophic coral mortality occurred during the past 8 years. A blackish mat was observed covering live and dead corals in both 2008 and 2010 that was identified as an encrusting sponge, Terpios hoshinota, by special surface morphology and spicule structure. In addition, spicule residues were found on the surface of long-dead corals, indicating a previous invasion of T. hosinota. T. hoshinota is referred to as the "black disease" because it rapidly overgrows and kills corals. Our evidence indicates that outbreaks of black disease are at least partially responsible for the massive coral mortality at the northern reef of Yongxing Island over the past 8 years, although human activities and heat-related coral bleaching cannot be discounted as minor causes for this coral decline.     

Oxidative transformation of carbamazepine by manganese oxides

This study presents oxidative transformation of carbamazepine by synthetic manganese oxide (??-MnO₂) as well as impact of variables including initial MnO₂ loading, pH, coexisting metal ions, and humic acid (HA) on transformation. Manganese oxide (??-MnO₂) was synthesized and stored in the form of suspension. The oxidative reactions were conducted in 50?mL polyethylene (PE) centrifuge tubes with constant pH maintained by buffers. The kinetic experiment was carried out in the solution of pH 2.72 containing 5.0?mg/L of carbamazepine and 130.5?mg/L of MnO₂. Effects of initial MnO₂ loading (0?C130.5?mg/L), pH (2.72?C8.58) and 0.01?M of coexisting solutes (metal ions and HA) on carbamazepine oxidation were also determined. Reaction kinetics indicated that carbamazepine was rapidly degraded in the first 5?min, and approximately 95?% of carbamazepine was eliminated within 60?min. The reaction exhibited pronounced pH dependence and increased with decreasing pH values. The transformation of carbamazepine was also accelerated with increasing MnO₂ loadings. Coexisting metal ions competed with carbamazepine for reactive sites leading to reduced carbamazepine removal, and the inhibitive capacity followed the order of Mn²⁺?>?Fe³⁺?>?Ca²⁺????Mg²⁺. Presence of HA in aqueous solution caused a significant reduction on the magnitude of carbamazepine transformation. This study indicated that carbamazepine can be effectively degraded by ??-MnO₂, and transformation efficiency was strongly dependent on reaction conditions. It suggests that amendment of soil with MnO₂ be a potential alternative to solve carbamazepine pollution.     

Algae community and trophic state of subtropical reservoirs in southeast Fujian, China

Background,

aim, and scope Fujian reservoirs in southeast China are important water resources for economic and social sustainable development, although few have been studied previously. In recent years, growing population and increasing demands for water shifted the focus of many reservoirs from flood control and irrigation water to drinking water. However, most of them showed a rapid increase in the level of eutrophication, which is one of the most serious and challenging environmental problems. In this study, we investigated the algae community characteristics, trophic state, and eutrophication control strategies for typical subtropical reservoirs in southeast Fujian.

Materials and methods

Surface water samples were collected using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic bottles from 11 Fujian reservoirs in summer 2010. Planktonic algae were investigated by optical microscopy. Water properties were determined according to the national standard methods.

Results and discussion

Shallow reservoirs generally have higher values of trophic state index (TSI) and appear to be more susceptible to anthropogenic disturbance than deeper reservoirs. A total of 129 taxa belonging to eight phyla (i.e., Bacillariophyta, Chlorophyta, Chrysophyta, Cryptophyta, Cyanophyta, Euglenophyta, Pyrrophyta, Xanthophyta) were observed and the most diverse groups were Chlorophyta (52 taxa), Cyanophyta (20 taxa), Euglenophyta (17 taxa), Chrysophyta (14 taxa). The dominant groups were Chlorophyta (40.58%), Cyanophyta (22.91%), Bacillariophyta (21.61%), Chrysophyta (6.91%). The species richness, abundance, diversity, and evenness of algae varied significantly between reservoirs. TSI results indicated that all 11 reservoirs were eutrophic, three of them were hypereutrophic, six were middle eutrophic, and two were light eutrophic. There was a strong positive correlation between algal diversity and TSI at P?4-N, NO _x -N, TP, and chlorophyll a were significant environmental variables affecting the distribution of algae communities. The transparency and chlorophyll a were the strongest environmental factors in explaining the community data. Furthermore, the degradation of water quality associated with excess levels of nitrogen and phosphorus in Fujian reservoirs may be impacted by interactions among agriculture and urban factors. A watershed-based management strategy, especially phosphorus control, should be developed for drinking water source protection and sustainable reservoirs in the future.

Conclusion and recommendations

All investigated reservoirs were eutrophicated based on the comprehensive TSI values; thus, our results provided an early warning of water degradation in Fujian reservoirs. Furthermore, the trophic state plays an important role in shaping community structure and in determining species diversity of algae. Therefore, long-term and regular monitoring of Euglenophyta, Cyanophyta, TN, TP and chlorophyll a in reservoirs is urgently needed to further understand the future trend of eutrophication and to develop a watershed-based strategy to manage the Cyanophyta bloom hazards.     

2种人工湿地的水力停留时间及净化效果

以复合垂直流人工湿地(IVCW)和水平潜流人工湿地(HSCW)为研究对象,研究了2种湿地运行的季节性最佳水力停留时间(HRT)参数,并监测了2种湿地在最佳HRT参数下运行时对污水的净化效果。结果显示:(1)在IVCW中,最佳HRT在春、秋季为8～10 h;夏季为6 h;冬季为12 h。在HSCW中,最佳HRT在春、秋季为10～12 h;夏季为6～8h;冬季为24～36 h。(2)2种湿地对COD的去除率均无显著的季节性差异;湿地进水中NH4+-N/TN比值与TN去除率显著负相关;不同季节下IVCW对TN的去除效果均高于HSCW。(3)水温对TN、TP去除率的影响在IVCW中比HSCW中的明显;水温高时,2种湿地中的TN去除率较高,IVCW中的TP去除率也较高,但HSCW中的TP去除率则较低,它们间均未达到显著的相关性。     

接种比对碱超声波耦合溶胞污泥水解酸化的影响

以城市污水生物处理过程中的剩余污泥减量化为研究背景,通过实验研究了经碱超声波耦合溶胞后的剩余污泥在不同接种比下水解酸化的效果,分析了污泥上清液中pH、SCOD、VFAs、NH4+-N和PO34--P等参数随时间的变化趋势。结果表明,溶胞污泥经过72 h的水解酸化反应,20%接种比下的水解酸化COD溶出率和VFAs增长率最高,分别为75.5%和177%。蛋白质水解程度为16.9%,也高于50%和70%两组接种比。此外,COD、NH4+-N和PO34--P等主要溶出物均在12 h后达到基本稳定状态。     

采用配方均匀设计法利用脱水污泥制备陶粒的研究

长期以来,对城市污水处理后产生的污泥处置一直是环保的难题,传统的处理处置方法均存在诸多问题,寻求一种好的处理处置污泥方法迫在眉睫。针对目前的问题运用带约束条件的配方均匀设计方法对粉煤灰-脱水污泥陶粒配方进行实验设计,运用三叶回转窑进行小试。研究了陶粒组分中粉煤灰、污泥、黏土的比例对烧成陶粒堆积密度、颗粒强度的影响;确定了最佳物料配比,使陶粒的性能测试指标均符合GB/17431.2-1998标准的规定。实验结果表明:烧制陶粒湿比例下脱水污泥用量达45%,干比例污泥用量15.2%,污泥减量化和资源化效果显著;陶粒浸出毒性实验结果表明各项指标均低于浸出液中危害成分浓度限值,达到了污泥无害化的效果;粉煤灰、污泥和黏土的优化质量(干)比例为79%,15.2%,5.8%;陶粒的堆积密度为600 kg/m3,筒压强度2.2 MPa,1 h吸水率10.2%,粒型系数1.3。     

Characterization of particle number concentrations and PM<Subscript>2.5</Subscript> in a school: influence of outdoor air pollution on indoor air

Background, Aim and Scope  

The impact of air pollution on school children’s health is currently one of the key foci of international and national agencies. Of particular concern are ultrafine particles which are emitted in large quantities, contain large concentrations of toxins and are deposited deeply in the respiratory tract.     

Habitat selection of Asiatic toad, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bufo gargarizans</Emphasis> (Cantor, 1842), in southwestern China

We studied feeding and shelter site selection by an Asiatic toad(Bufo gargarizans) from March to November 2006 in southwestern China. Toads emerged to select significantly more often bare surfaces or low vegetable as feeding sites at night. Toads used daily shelters similar to those described for other terrestrial amphibians, but vegetable cover was a crucial factor for their shelter selection in lacking rock crevices and hollow trees. At the same time, our results showed surficial temperatures greatly influenced feeding activity of toads.     

Nitrous oxide generation in denitrifying phosphorus removal process: main causes and control measures

Despite the many benefits of denitrifying phosphorus removal process, the significant generation of nitrous oxide (N₂O), a potent greenhouse gas, remains a problem for this innovative and promising process. To better understand and more effectively control N₂O generation in denitrifying phosphorus removal process, batch experiments were carried out to investigate the main causes of N₂O generation, based on which the control measures were subsequently proposed. The results showed that N₂O generation accounted for 0.41 % of the total nitrogen removal in denitrifying phosphorus removal process, whereas, in contrast, almost no N₂O was generated in conventional denitrification process. It was further demonstrated that the weak competition of N₂O reductase for electrons and the high nitrite accumulation were the two main causes for N₂O generation, evidenced by N₂O production and reduction rates under different conditions. Accordingly, the reduction of N₂O generation was successfully achieved via two control measures: (1) the use of continuous nitrate addition reducing N₂O generation by around 91.4 % and (2) the use of propionate as the carbon source reducing N₂O generation by around 69.8 %.     

自燃煤矸石山覆盖材料压缩及压实特性实验

自燃煤矸石山表面构建覆盖层，需要具备一定的低渗透性能以有效阻隔空气，防止煤矸石山内部发生自燃。本研究通过室内实验，测定煤矸石山构建覆盖层涉及的碾压材料包括黄土、粉煤灰及掺有粉煤灰的混合土样的界限含水率、一维压缩特性及压实特性，揭示和分析7种覆盖材料配方的压缩压实特性，表明覆盖材料通过碾压可有效阻隔空气，起到阻燃作用；将粉煤灰掺人到一般黄土材料中，可减缓混合土样击实曲线的陡峭性，从而降低材料在碾压中对含水率的敏感度。实验旨在为进行煤矸石山覆盖层碾压提供科学的实验数据及设计参数。