Unprecedented bleaching-induced mortality in Porites spp. at Rangiroa Atoll, French Polynesia

In April-May 1998, mass coral bleaching was observed in the lagoon of Rangiroa Atoll, Tuamotu Archipelago, French Polynesia. Six months later, the extent of bleaching-induced coral mortality was assessed at three sites. Corals in the fast-growing genus Pocillopora had experienced >99% mortality. Many large colonies of the slow-growing genus Porites (mean horizontal cross-sectional area 5.8 m²) had also died - a phenomenon not previously observed in French Polynesia and virtually unprecedented world-wide. At one site, 25% of colonies, or 44% of the pre-bleaching cover of living Porites, experienced whole-colony mortality. At the two other sites, recently dead Porites accounted for 41% and 82% of the pre-bleaching live cover. Mortality in Porites was negatively correlated with depth between 1.5 and 5 m. Using a 50-year dataset of mean monthly sea surface temperature (SST), derived from ship- and satellite-borne instruments, we show that bleaching occurred during a period of exceptionally high summer SST. 1998 was the first year in which mean monthly SSTs exceeded the 1961-1990 upper 95% confidence limit (29.4°C) for a period of three consecutive months. We suggest that the sustained 3-month anomaly in local summer SST was a major cause of coral mortality, but do not discount the synergistic effect of solar radiation. Recovery of the size-frequency distribution of Porites colonies to pre-bleaching levels may take at least 100 years.     

春季健康养生之道

春季是生发的季节，天气由寒转暖，自然界各种生物萌生发育，弃故从新。中医认为，受四季之气影响，人体的气血阴阳会随之发生变化。春季阳气始生，气血渐趋于表，毛孔初开，血气稍减，所以有“困”的感觉。夏季阳气流溢，气血通达于表，毛孔开，汗大泄，所以常有“昏昏欲睡”的感觉。而秋季阳气始衰，阴气始生，气血渐趋于里，但充而不实，所以仍有“乏”的感觉。     

Phenological development stages variation versus mercury tolerance,accumulation, and allocation in salt marsh macrophytes <Emphasis Type="Italic">Triglochin maritima</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scirpus maritimus</Emphasis> prevalent in Ria de Aveiro coastal lagoon (Portugal)

Efficient and sustainable management of rapidly mounting environmental issues has been the focus of current intensive research. The present study aimed to investigate the impact of plant phenological development stage variation on mercury (Hg) tolerance, accumulation, and allocation in two salt marsh macrophytes Triglochin maritima and Scirpus maritimus prevalent in historically Hg-contaminated Ria de Aveiro coastal lagoon (Portugal). Both plant samples and the sediments vegetated by monospecific stands of T. maritima and S. maritimus were collected from reference (R) and sites with moderate (M) and high (H) Hg contamination in Laranjo bay within Ria de Aveiro lagoon. Hg tolerance, uptake, and allocation in T. maritima and S. maritimus, physico-chemical traits (pH, redox potential, and organic matter content) and Hg concentrations in sediments vegetated by these species were impacted differentially by phenological development stages variation irrespective of the Hg contamination level. In T. maritima, Hg concentration increased with increase in Hg contamination gradient where root displayed significantly higher Hg followed by rhizome and leaf maximally at H. However, in S. maritimus, the highest Hg concentration was perceptible in rhizome followed by root maximally at M. Between the two studied plant species, S. maritimus displayed higher Hg tolerance index (depicted by higher plant dry mass allocated to reproductive stage) and higher available Hg at M (during all growth stages) and H (during senescent stage) when compared to T. maritimus. Both plant species proved to be Hg excluder (low root/rhizome–leaf Hg translocation). Additionally, T. maritima also acted as Hg stabilizer while, S. maritimus as Hg accumulator. It can be inferred from the study that (a) the plant phenological development stage variations significantly influenced plant Hg sensitivity by impacting sediment chemistry, plant growth (in terms of plant dry mass), Hg accumulation, and its subsequent allocation capacity, contingent to Hg contamination gradient; (b) S. maritimus accumulated higher Hg but restricted its translocation to above-ground part using exclusion process at both M and H due to its accelerated growth during Hg-tolerant reproductive/metabolically active phenological development stage greater than its counterpart T. maritima; and (c) the studied salt marsh plants although hailed from the same C3 and monocot group did not necessarily display similar phenotypic plasticity and behavior towards Hg-contaminated scenario during their life cycle.     

Treatment of hydrocarbon contamination under flow through conditions by using magnetite catalyzed chemical oxidation

Soil pollution by hydrocarbons (aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons) is a major environmental issue. Various treatments have been used to remove them from contaminated soils. In our previous studies, the ability of magnetite has been successfully explored to catalyze chemical oxidation for hydrocarbon remediation in batch slurry system. In the present laboratory study, column experiments were performed to evaluate the efficiency of magnetite catalyzed Fenton-like (FL) and activated persulfate (AP) oxidation for hydrocarbon degradation. Flow-through column experiments are intended to provide a better representation of field conditions. Organic extracts isolated from three different soils (an oil-contaminated soil from petrochemical industrial site and two soils polluted by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) originating from coking plant sites) were spiked on sand. After solvent evaporation, spiked sand was packed in column and was subjected to oxidation using magnetite as catalyst. Oxidant solution was injected at a flow rate of 0.1 mL min^?1 under water-saturated conditions. Organic analyses were performed by GC–mass spectrometry, GC–flame ionization detector, and micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Significant abatement of both types of hydrocarbons (60–70 %) was achieved after chemical oxidation (FL and AP) of organic extracts. No significant by-products were formed during oxidation experiment, underscoring the complete degradation of hydrocarbons. No selective degradation was observed for FL with almost similar efficiency towards all hydrocarbons. However, AP showed less reactivity towards higher molecular weight PAHs and aromatic oxygenated compounds. Results of this study demonstrated that magnetite-catalyzed chemical oxidation can effectively degrade both aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons (enhanced available contaminants) under flow-through conditions.     

Analysis of a Summertime PM2.5 and Haze Episode in the Mid-Atlantic Region

Abstract

Observations of the mass and chemical composition of particles less than 2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM_2.5), light extinction, and meteorology in the urban Baltimore-Washington corridor during July 1999 and July 2000 are presented and analyzed to study summertime haze formation in the mid-Atlantic region. The mass fraction of ammoniated sulfate (SO₄ ^2-) and carbonaceous material in PM_2.5 were each ～50% for cleaner air (PM_2.5 < 10 μg/m³) but changed to ～60% and ～20%, respectively, for more polluted air (PM_2.5 > 30 μg/m³). This signifies the role of SO₄ ^2- in haze formation. Comparisons of data from this study with the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments network suggest that SO₄ ^2? is more regional than carbonaceous material and originates in part from upwind source regions. The light extinction coefficient is well correlated to PM_2.5 mass plus water associated with inorganic salt, leading to a mass extinction efficiency of 7.6 ± 1.7 m²/g for hydrated aerosol. The most serious haze episode occurring between July 15 and 19, 1999, was characterized by westerly transport and recirculation slowing removal of pollutants. At the peak of this episode, 1-hr PM_2.5 concentration reached ～45 μg/m³, visual range dropped to ～5 km, and aerosol water likely contributed to ～40% of the light extinction coefficient.     

水位波动带氮素迁移转化规律

为考察水位波动对非饱和-饱和土层中氮素迁移转化的影响，设计土柱实验装置Ⅰ和Ⅱ分别模拟水位稳定与波动两种情景，测定一个水位波动周期内地下水中NO₃^--N、NO₂^--N和NH₄⁺-N浓度变化情况。结果表明，柱Ⅱ水位第1次下降柱内1^#，2^#，3^#，4^#采样点NO₃^--N浓度均增大，增幅分别为6.5%、14.9%、15.33%和19.8%。水位上升时结果相反，分别降低17.3%、26.15%、50.29%和44.61%。第2次水位下降至初始位置4个采样点NO₃^--N浓度再次增大，幅度分别为7.1%、10.6%、13.89%和7.76%。铵态氮呈相反趋势不同程度的变化。水位波动柱Ⅱ连通水槽内总氮量增加显著高于柱I水槽，即水位波动有利于波动带地下水中氮素垂向迁移，加重波动带以下地下水硝酸盐污染。因此，水位波动对氮素迁移转化的影响不容忽视。     

Bacterial community profiles from sediments of the Anacostia River using metabolic and molecular analyses

Background aim and scope  

Though the tidal Anacostia River, a highly polluted riverine system, has been well characterized with regard to contaminants, its overall resident bacterial populations have remained largely unknown. Improving the health of this system will rely upon enhanced understanding of the diversity and functions of these communities. Bacterial DNA was extracted from archived (AR, year 2000) and fresh sediments (RE, year 2006) collected from various locations within the Anacostia River. Using a combination of metabolic and molecular techniques, community snapshots of sediment bacterial diversity and activity were produced.     

氧化镁烟气脱硫反应特性研究

利用实验室规模的鼓泡式反应装置,对比了碳酸钙、氧化镁和氧化镁/硫酸镁脱硫剂的反应活性,证实脱硫液中高浓度硫酸镁的存在是保证镁法脱硫效率高于钙法的重要因素,并考察了硫酸镁浓度、脱硫剂(氧化镁)浓度、烟气量、SO2浓度和吸收液温度等因素对脱硫效率的影响。结果表明,脱硫反应可以根据pH分为2个不同阶段;反应过程中脱硫效率随着硫酸镁浓度的增加而显著升高;烟气量增加将会导致脱硫效率有所下降;入口SO2浓度升高,脱硫效率下降;氧化镁浓度、温度对脱硫效率影响不显著。结合实验现象进行推断,氧化镁脱硫的反应过程受SO2在气液两相界面的传质扩散和其水解产物在液相的扩散控制。     

Potential effects on the marine environment of dredging of the Bonny channel in the Niger Delta

This study is an assessment of the possible effects of the dredging project on the water quality of the surrounding environment. Water quality data for the Bonny offshore river were collected. The parameters assessed were temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), pH, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), nitrogen as nitrate, and phosphate. The concentrations of TDS, TSS, and nitrate far exceeded the permissible standard. There were significant differences between the dry and rainy season values of BOD5, TDS, TSS, nitrate, and phosphate. Also, the sediment physicochemical analysis indicated the presence of heavy metals such as Pb, Fe, Cd, Zn, Cr, and elements such as Ca, K, and Na. Following an assessment of the potential impact of the project using interaction matrix and checklist questionnaires, results showed that the major physicochemical parameters influenced by dredging are DO, TDS, TSS, heavy metals and calcium, potassium, and sodium. Mitigation measures for eliminating or reducing the negative impacts of dredging are presented.     

Chemical mass balance source apportionment for combined PM2.5 measurements from U.S. non-urban and urban long-term networks

The Minnesota Particulate Matter 2.5 (PM_2.5) Source Apportionment Study was undertaken to explore the utility of PM_2.5 mass, element, ion, and carbon measurements from long-term speciation networks for pollution source attribution. Ambient monitoring data at eight sites across the state were retrieved from the archives of the Interagency Monitoring of Protected Visual Environments (IMPROVE) and the Speciation Trends Network (STN; part of the Chemical Speciation Network [CSN]) and analyzed by an Effective Variance – Chemical Mass Balance (EV-CMB) receptor model with region-specific geological source profiles developed in this study. PM_2.5 was apportioned into contributions of fugitive soil dust, calcium-rich dust, taconite (low grade iron ore) dust, road salt, motor vehicle exhaust, biomass burning, coal-fired utility, and secondary aerosol. Secondary sulfate and nitrate contributed strongly (49–71% of PM_2.5) across all sites and was dominant (≥60%) at IMPROVE sites. Vehicle exhausts accounted for 20–70% of the primary PM_2.5 contribution, largely exceeding the proportion in the primary PM_2.5 emission inventory. The diesel exhaust contribution was separable from the gasoline engine exhaust contribution at the STN sites. Higher detection limits for several marker elements in the STN resulted in non-detectable coal-fired boiler contributions which were detected in the IMPROVE data. Despite the different measured variables, analytical methods, and detection limits, EV-CMB results from a nearby IMPROVE-STN non-urban/urban sites showed similar contributions from regional sources – including fugitive dust and secondary aerosol. Seasonal variations of source contributions were examined and extreme PM_2.5 episodes were explained by both local and regional pollution events.