Using fluorescence surrogates to track algogenic dissolved organic matter (AOM) during growth and coagulation/flocculation processes of green algae

Tracking the variation of the algogenic organic matter (AOM) released during the proliferation of green algae and subsequent treatment processes is crucial for constructing and optimizing control strategies. In this study, the potential of the spectroscopic tool was fully explored as a surrogate of AOM upon the cultivation of green algae and subsequent coagulation/flocculation (C/F) treatment processes using ZrCl₄ and Al₂(SO₄)₃. Fluorescence excitation emission matrix coupled with parallel factor analysis (EEM-PARAFAC) identified the presence of three independent fluorescent components in AOM, including protein-like (C1), fulvic-like (C2) and humic-like components (C3). Size exclusion chromatography (SEC) revealed that C1 in AOM was composed of large-sized proteins and aromatic amino acids. The individual components exhibited their unique characteristics with respect to the dynamic changes. C1 showed the highest correlation with AOM concentrations (R²?=?0.843) upon the C/F processes. C1 could also be suggested as an optical predictor for the formation of trihalomethanes upon the C/F processes. This study sheds a light for the potential application of the protein-like component (C1) as a practical surrogate to track the evolution of AOM in water treatment or wastewater reclamation systems involving Chlorella vulgaris green algae.     

How to Build an Efficient Conservation Fence

Abstract:  Barriers are used to achieve diverse objectives in conservation and biosecurity. In conservation management, fences are often erected to exclude introduced predators and to contain diseased animals or invasive species. Planning an efficient conservation fence involves a number of decisions, including the size and design of the enclosure. We formulated the first general framework for building a fence that minimizes long-term management costs by balancing the expense of constructing a more secure barrier against the costs of coping with more frequent failures. The approach systematically considers the range of potential solutions to a well-defined fencing problem and results in a solution that maximizes conservation return on investment. We illustrated this method by designing efficient fences to address two different conservation goals: exclusion of invasive predators from populations of threatened eastern barred bandicoots ( Perameles gunnii ) and maintenance of isolated populations of healthy Tasmanian devils ( Sarcophilus harrisii ). A systematic approach to conservation fencing allows the best fence design to be chosen quantitatively and defensibly. It also facilitates conservation decisions at a strategic level by allowing fencing to be compared transparently with alternative conservation management actions.     

盐池柳杨堡人工封育区植被特征研究

封育措施是一种主要的草场恢复和重建的措施。在宁夏自治区盐池县人工封育区采用样方调查法对不同封育年限和不同封育措施下封育区植被的群落结构和生物量进行调查分析。结果表明：封育可以提高生物多样性,使群落的组成趋于稳定。但是长期封育并不利于植被恢复,边缘区和外围区分别在封育后的第五年和第四年生物多样性指数达到最大,边缘区的丰富度指数（R1）和综合多样性指数D、H分别为22、2.26、6.18,外围区的分别达到13、1.67、3.24,然后逐年减小。在不同封育措施下,生物多样性指数核心区最大,说明封育是有效的植被恢复措施。植被盖度和生物量都是外围区最大,说明对草场进行适当的利用是有利于植被恢复的。带状翻耕对植被的恢复作用并不明显,建议进行适当的放牧或刈割。     

Speciation studies on simulated gastro‐intestinal digests of foodstuffs†

The factors affecting the solubilisation of metals during digestion of food have been examined in a two‐stage model system comprising simulated gastric and intestinal juices. The solubilisation of iron, copper and zinc was examined in digests of white and wholemeal bread. Zinc solubility was principally governed by pH and the simulated digestion had little additional effect. In contrast both iron and copper solubility were markedly affected by digestion of the bread. In the case of copper the enzymolysis increased solubility appreciably at neutral pH. All of the cadmium in a simulated gastric digest of canned crab meat was associated with soluble low molecular weight species of less than 1000 daltons. Cadmium solubility resulted from the acidic conditions of the digest rather than enzymatic solubilisation of binding proteins. Ninety percent of the cadmium in the digest became rebound to the insoluble fraction on adjustment to pH7.0. Subsequent simulated intestinal digestion increased the level of soluble cadmium to 20%; 1.0–1.5% was associated with soluble species in the range 26,000–37,000 daltons and 15.0–20.0% with soluble species of less than 3,000 daltons.     

应用根去除法对内蒙古温带半干旱草原根系呼吸与土壤总呼吸的区分研究

2005年生长季分别对内蒙古锡林河流域温带半干旱草原中的羊草自由放牧草原、大针茅自由放牧草原和羊草退化草原中的土壤总呼吸速率和去根土壤的呼吸速率进行了野外测定,初步探讨了在草地群落应用根去除法间接进行根系呼吸测定的可能性,并应用该方法对草地群落根系呼吸占土壤总呼吸的比例进行了估测. 结果表明,应用根去除法在不同草地群落进行根系呼吸占土壤总呼吸比例的估测是切实可行的,其比值范围介于25%～45%之间,平均值为3566%,与国内外相关研究比较,大大提高了其比值的估测精度,在草地碳循环研究中具有较高的应用价值.     

土壤和植物中硼酸的离子排斥色谱法分析研究

本文研究了用酒石酸－甘露醇作淋洗液，氢氧化钠作再生液测定土壤和植物中硼酸的离子排斥色谱条件。硼酸的检测限为０．０５ｍｇ／ｌ相对标准偏差１．８５％，样品测定回收率为１００±１０％。     

宁夏盐池封育区植物特征值及多样性影响

封育措施是一种主要的草场恢复和重建的措施。通过对半干旱沙地老封育、新封育和对照区的比较分析,量化了不同封育措施下植被变化。对3种封育措施群落组成和生物多样性的分析结果表明,封育改变了群落的组成成分并增加了生物多样性,同时对群落植物的生活型、饲用价值分析计算结果则显示,老封育的群落植物逐渐向多年生发展,放牧价值开始降低,而对照区则明显处于一种非平衡的稳定状态。从3种措施植被的盖度、高度、生物量和饲用价值来看,老封育区均低于新封育区和对照区,表明长期封育不利于促进并提高草场的放牧利用价值。     

环境样品中C2-C5脂肪羧酸的直接电导离子色谱法分析

叙述离子排斥色谱法分析环境样品中的C2-C5脂肪羧酸,以4%的正丁醇水溶液代替无机酸溶液作淋洗液,使分析物质得到较好地分离,尤其本底电导降低,可使用电导检测器直接检测,不需抑制,从而使灵敏度有很大提高,适合环境样品的分析.     

Striking a Balance between Biodiversity Conservation and Socioeconomic Viability in the Design of Marine Protected Areas

Abstract: The establishment of marine protected areas is often viewed as a conflict between conservation and fishing. We considered consumptive and nonconsumptive interests of multiple stakeholders (i.e., fishers, scuba divers, conservationists, managers, scientists) in the systematic design of a network of marine protected areas along California's central coast in the context of the Marine Life Protection Act Initiative. With advice from managers, administrators, and scientists, a representative group of stakeholders defined biodiversity conservation and socioeconomic goals that accommodated social needs and conserved marine ecosystems, consistent with legal requirements. To satisfy biodiversity goals, we targeted 11 marine habitats across 5 depth zones, areas of high species diversity, and areas containing species of special status. We minimized adverse socioeconomic impacts by minimizing negative effects on fishers. We included fine‐scale fishing data from the recreational and commercial fishing sectors across 24 fisheries. Protected areas designed with consideration of commercial and recreational fisheries reduced potential impact to the fisheries approximately 21% more than protected areas designed without consideration of fishing effort and resulted in a small increase in the total area protected (approximately 3.4%). We incorporated confidential fishing data without revealing the identity of specific fisheries or individual fishing grounds. We sited a portion of the protected areas near land parks, marine laboratories, and scientific monitoring sites to address nonconsumptive socioeconomic goals. Our results show that a stakeholder‐driven design process can use systematic conservation‐planning methods to successfully produce options for network design that satisfy multiple conservation and socioeconomic objectives. Marine protected areas that incorporate multiple stakeholder interests without compromising biodiversity conservation goals are more likely to protect marine ecosystems.     

Pahokee泥炭腐殖酸的相对分子量分布特征及其对菲的吸附影响

使用切面流超滤方法,将Pahokee泥炭中分离出的腐殖酸分为具有不同相对分子质量的8个级分(UF1:<1k;UF2:1～3k;UF3:3～5k;UF4:5～10k;UF5:10～30k;UF6:30～50k;UF7:50～100k:UF8:>300k),表明该泥炭中的腐殖酸主要分布于几个高相对分子量级分中(UF5,UF6和UF8),可占所提取的腐殖酸质量的83 5%.体积排阻色谱的流出曲线说明可以通过超滤手段将腐殖酸这种复杂的、非均匀性的大分子物质分成相对均一的、窄相对分子量分布的分子.而两种方法所测相对分子量的差异可能与两个操作系统间不同的操作条件有关.各超滤级分的腐殖酸对菲的吸附实验说明相对分子量是影响腐殖酸吸附的一个重要参数;随相对分子量的增加,腐殖酸对菲的吸附及其非线性特征均增强.