The influence of arsenic speciation (AsIII & AsV) and concentration on the growth, uptake and translocation of arsenic in vegetable crops (silverbeet and amaranth): greenhouse study

We examined arsenic (As) uptake by vegetable crops (amaranth, Amaranthus gangeticus, and silverbeet, Beta vulgaris) as affected by As speciation (As^III and As^V) and their concentrations in nutrient solution. Amaranth and silverbeet were grown in a nutrient solution containing four levels of arsenate (As^V): 0, 1, 5, and 25 mg As/l and three levels of arsenite (As^III): 0, 5, 10 mg As/l. Both As^V and As^III are phytotoxic to these crops with the latter being five times more toxic. Amaranth treated with As^III exhibited As toxicity symptoms within 48 h of exposure and was close to death within 1 week. However, As^V treatment did not show clear toxicity symptoms other than wilting and yield reduction at the highest dose rate of 25 mg As^V/l. The main mechanism used by vegetable crops to tolerate As^V is probably avoidance—limiting As transport to shoots and increasing As accumulation in the root system. When As^V was added to the nutrient solution, the uptake of As in shoots increased and, at the highest dose (25 mg As^V/l), 60 μg As/g DW (3.6 mg/kg FW) accumulated in the edible portion, which exceeds the WHO recommended limit for food stuffs (2 mg/kg FW) as the water contents of the crops were 94%. It is therefore important to determine the nature of the As species and their bio-accessibility. Iron treatment with 0.5 mg NaFe(III)EDTA/l dose decreased silverbeet As uptake by 45% given its affinity to bind As at the root surface or root rhizosphere and so restrict As translocation to the shoots.     

Field based speciation of arsenic in UK and Argentinean water samples

A field method is reported for the speciation of arsenic in water samples that is simple, rapid, safe to use beyond laboratory environments, and cost effective. The method utilises solid-phase extraction cartridges (SPE) in series for selective retention of arsenic species, followed by elution and measurement of eluted fractions by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for “total” arsenic. The method is suitable for on-site separation and preservation of arsenic species from water. Mean percentage accuracies (n = 25) for synthetic solutions of arsenite (As^III), arsenate (As^V), monomethylarsonic acid (MA), and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA) containing 10 μg l⁻¹ As, were 98, 101, 94, and 105%, respectively. Data are presented to demonstrate the effect of pH and competing anions on the retention of the arsenic species. The cartridges were tested in the UK and Argentina at sites where arsenic was known to be present in surface and groundwaters, respectively, at elevated concentrations and under challenging matrix conditions. In Argentinean groundwater, 4–20% of speciated arsenic was present as MA and 20–73% as As^III. In UK surface waters, speciated arsenic was measured as 7–49% MA and 12–42% DMA. Comparative data from the field method using SPE cartridges and the laboratory method using liquid chromatography coupled to ICP-MS for all water samples provided a correlation of greater than 0.999 for As^III and DMA, 0.991 for MA, and 0.982 for As^V (P < 0.01).     

Arsenic contamination of natural waters in San Juan and La Pampa, Argentina

Arsenic (As) speciation in surface and groundwater from two provinces in Argentina (San Juan and La Pampa) was investigated using solid phase extraction (SPE) cartridge methodology with comparison to total arsenic concentrations. A third province, Río Negro, was used as a control to the study. Strong cation exchange (SCX) and strong anion exchange (SAX) cartridges were utilised in series for the separation and preservation of arsenite (As^III), arsenate (As^V), monomethylarsonic acid (MA^V) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA^V). Samples were collected from a range of water outlets (rivers/streams, wells, untreated domestic taps, well water treatment works) to assess the relationship between total arsenic and arsenic species, water type and water parameters (pH, conductivity and total dissolved solids, TDS). Analysis of the waters for arsenic (total and species) was performed by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in collision cell mode. Total arsenic concentrations in the surface and groundwater from Encon and the San José de Jáchal region of San Juan (north-west Argentina within the Cuyo region) ranged from 9 to 357 μg l^?1 As. Groundwater from Eduardo Castex (EC) and Ingeniero Luiggi (LU) in La Pampa (central Argentina within the Chaco-Pampean Plain) ranged from 3 to 1326 μg l^?1 As. The pH range for the provinces of San Juan (7.2–9.7) and La Pampa (7.0–9.9) are in agreement with other published literature. The highest total arsenic concentrations were found in La Pampa well waters (both rural farms and pre-treated urban sources), particularly where there was high pH (typically > 8.2), conductivity (>2,600 μS cm^?1) and TDS (>1,400 mg l^?1). Reverse osmosis (RO) treatment of well waters in La Pampa for domestic drinking water in EC and LU significantly reduced total arsenic concentrations from a range of 216–224 μg l^?1 As to 0.3–0.8 μg l^?1 As. Arsenic species for both provinces were predominantly As^III and As^V. As^III and As^V concentrations in San Juan ranged from 4–138 μg l^?1 to <0.02–22 μg l^?1 for surface waters (in the San José de Jáchal region) and 23–346 μg l^?1 and 0.04–76 μg l^?1 for groundwater, respectively. This translates to a relative As^III abundance of 69–100% of the total arsenic in surface waters and 32–100% in groundwater. This is unexpected because it is typically thought that in oxidising conditions (surface waters), the dominant arsenic species is As^V. However, data from the SPE methodology suggests that As^III is the prevalent species in San Juan, indicating a greater influence from reductive processes. La Pampa groundwater had As^III and As^V concentrations of 5–1,332 μg l^?1 and 0.09–592 μg l^?1 for EC and 32–242 μg l^?1 and 30–277 μg l^?1 As for LU, respectively. Detectable levels of MA^V were reported in both provinces up to a concentration of 79 μg l^?1 (equating to up to 33% of the total arsenic). Previously published literature has focused primarily on the inorganic arsenic species, however this study highlights the potentially significant concentrations of organoarsenicals present in natural waters. The potential for separating and preserving individual arsenic species in the field to avoid transformation during transport to the laboratory, enabling an accurate assessment of in situ arsenic speciation in water supplies is discussed.     

Sorption and bioavailability of arsenic in selected Bangladesh soils

The bioavailability of arsenic (As) in the soil environment is largely governed by its adsorption–desorption reactions with soil constituents. We have investigated the sorption–desorption behaviour of As in four typical Bangladeshi soils subjected to irrigation with As-contaminated groundwater. The total As content of soils (160 samples) from the Laksham district ranged from <0.03 to approximately 43 mg kg⁻¹. Despite the low total soil As content, the concentration of As in the pore water of soils freshly irrigated with As-contaminated groundwater ranged from 0.01 to 0.1 mg l⁻¹. However, when these soils were allowed to dry, the concentration of As released in the pore water decreased to undetectable levels. Remoistening of soils to field moisture over a 10-day period resulted in a significant (up to 0.06 mg l⁻¹) release of As in the pore water of soils containing >10 mg As kg⁻¹ soil, indicating the potential availability of As. In soils containing <5 mg As kg⁻¹, As was not detected in the pore water. A comparison of Bangladeshi soils with strongly weathered long-term As-contaminated soils from Queensland, Australia showed a much greater release of As in water extracts from the Australian soils. However, this was attributed to the much higher loading of As in these Australian soils. The correlation of pore water As with other inorganic ions (P, S) showed a strongly significant (P < 0.001) relationship with P, although there was no significant relationship between As and other inorganic cations, such as Fe and Mn. Batch sorption studies showed an appreciable capacity for both As^V and As^III sorption, with As^V being retained in much greater concentrations than As^III.     

Chemistry of inorganic arsenic in soils: kinetics of arsenic adsorption–desorption

The influence of ionic strength, index cations and competing anions on arsenate (As^V) adsorption–desorption kinetics was studied in an Alfisol soil. A flow-through reactor system similar to that developed by Carski and Sparks (Soil Sci Soc Am J 49:1114–1116, 1985) was constructed for the experiments. Arsenate adsorption kinetics for all the treatments were initially fast with 58–91% of As^V adsorbed in the first 15 min. Beyond 15 min, As^V adsorption continued at a slower rate for the observation period of the experiments. Changes in the solution composition had differing effects on the cumulative amount of As^V adsorbed by the soil. Ionic strength and different index cations had little effect on the amount of As^V adsorbed, while the presence of phosphate decreased the amount of As^V adsorbed from 169 to 89 and 177 to 115 g As^V μg⁻¹ in 0.03 M sodium nitrate and 0.01 M calcium nitrate, respectively. Considerably less As^V was desorbed than was adsorbed, with only between 2 to 17% of the adsorbed As^V desorbed. The presence of phosphate increased the amount of As^V desorbed by 17%, but other changes in the solution ionic strength or index cation had little effect on the amount of As^V desorbed.     

Arsenic speciation in polychaetes (Annelida) and sediments from the intertidal mudflat of Sundarban mangrove wetland, India

This paper documents the concentration of total arsenic and individual arsenic species in four soft-bottom benthic polychaetes (Perenereis cultifera, Ganganereis sootai, Lumbrinereis notocirrata and Dendronereis arborifera) along with host sediments from Sundarban mangrove wetland, India. An additional six sites were considered exclusively for surface sediments for this purpose. Polychaetes were collected along with the host sediments and measured for their total arsenic content using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Arsenic concentrations in polychaete body tissues varied greatly, suggesting species-specific characteristics and inherent peculiarities in arsenic metabolism. Arsenic was generally present in polychaetes as arsenate (As^V ranges from 0.16 to 0.50 mg kg^?1) or arsenite (As^III ranges from 0.10 to 0.41 mg kg^?1) (30–53 % as inorganic As) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA^V <1–25 %). Arsenobetaine (AB < 16 %), and PO₄-arsenoriboside (8–48 %) were also detected as minor constituents, whilst monomethylarsonic acid (MA^V) was not detected in any of the polychaetes. The highest total As (14.7 mg kg^?1 dry wt) was observed in the polychaete D. arborifera collected from the vicinity of a sewage outfall in which the majority of As was present as an uncharacterised compound (10.3 mg kg^?1 dry wt) eluted prior to AB. Host sediments ranged from 2.5 to 10.4 mg kg^?1 of total As. This work supports the importance of speciation analysis of As, because of the ubiquitous occurrence of this metalloid in the environment, and its variable toxicity depending on chemical form. It is also the first work to report the composition of As species in polychaetes from the Indian Sundarban wetlands.     

广州市菜园土主要蔬菜重金属背景含量的研究

研究了广州市几个主要的蔬菜生产基地种植的白菜、芥蓝、芥菜、菜薹、萝卜、大白菜、豆瓣菜、结球甘蓝、芹菜、菜豆、豌豆、结球莴苣、尖叶莴苣、菠菜、番茄等15种蔬菜中Pb、Hg、Cd、Cr和As等5种重金属的背景质量分数。其背景质量分数为：Pb 0．002～0．148mg/kg；Hg ND-0．006mg/kg；Cd 0．001～0．034mg/kg；Cr 0．002～0．150mg/kg；As 0.001～0．070mg／kg。由于不同种类蔬菜的吸收特性和遗传特性有所不同，其重金属背景质量分数也有很大差异。蔬菜中元素水平还与土壤条件等因素有关。     

Influence of fertilizer and sewage sludge compost on yield and heavy metal accumulation by lettuce grown in urban soils

Previous research has demonstrated that many urban soils are enriched in Pb, Cd and Zn. Culture of vegetable crops in these soils could allow transfer of potentially toxic metals to foods. Tanya lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) was grown in pots of five urban garden soils and one control agricultural soil to assess the effect of urban-soil metal enrichment, and the effect of soil amendments, on heavy metal uptake by garden vegetables. The amendments included NPK fertilizer, limestone, Ca(H₂PO₄)₂, and two rates of limed sewage sludge compost. Soil Cd ranged from 0.08 to 9.6 mg kg^–1; soil Zn from 38 to 3490 mg kg^–1; and soil Pb from 12 to 5210 mg kg^–1. Lettuce yield on the urban garden soils was as great as or greater than that on the control soil. Lettuce Cd, Zn and Pb concentrations increased from 0.65, 23, and 2.2 mg kg^–1 dry matter in the control soil to as high as 3.53, 422 and 37.0 mg kg^–1 on the metal-rich urban garden soils. Adding limestone or limed sewage sludge compost raised soil pH and significantly reduced lettuce Cd and Zn, while phosphate fertilizer lowered soil pH and had little effect on Zn but increased Cd concentration in lettuce. Urban garden soils caused a significant increase in lettuce leaf Pb concentration, especially on the highest Pb soil. Adding NPK fertilizer, phosphate, or sludge compost to two high Pb soils lowered lettuce Pb concentration, but adding limestone generally did not. On normally fertilized soils, Pb uptake by lettuce was not exceptionally high until soil Pb substantially exceeded 500 mg kg^–1. Comparing garden vegetables and soil as potential sources of Pb risk to children, it is clear that the risk is greater through ingestion of soil or dust than through ingestion of garden vegetables grown on the soil. Urban dwellers should obtain soil metal analyses before selecting garden locations to reduce Pb risk to their children.     

Mercury contamination in agricultural soils from abandoned metal mines classified by geology and mineralization

Lead (Pb) contents and partition in soils collected from eleven vegetable-growing lands in Fujian Province, China, were investigated using a modification of the BCR (Community Bureau of Reference) sequential extraction procedure coupled with the Pb isotope ratio technique. Pb contents in Chinese white cabbage (B. Chinensis L.) grown on the lands for this study were also measured. Results showed that Pb concentrations in fifty samples of topsoil ranged from 456 to 21.5 mg kg⁻¹, with each mean concentration of six sampling lands exceeding the national standard (50 mg kg⁻¹); while Pb concentrations in edible portions of thirty-two vegetable samples ranged from 0.009 to 2.20 mg kg⁻¹, with four sampling sites exceeding the national sanitary standard (0.2 mg kg⁻¹). A significant correlation (r = 0.971, P < 0.01) of Pb contents in the acid-extractable fractions by BCR approach and the vegetables was observed, which indicates that the acid-extractable Pb is useful for evaluating the metal bioavailability for plants and potential risk for human health in soils. The determination of lead isotope ratios in different chemical forms of soils by BCR sequential extraction procedures provides useful information on the Pb isotopic composition associated with different soil fractions (especially in the acid-extractable fractions), and the result is helpful for the further study on controlling and reducing Pb contamination in vegetable-growing soils.     

The fate of exogenous iodine in pot soil cultivated with vegetables

A pot experiment was conducted to explore a more effective approach to enhancing vegetable uptake of soil iodine, with the ultimate goal of using agricultural fortification as a measure to prevent iodine deficiency disorders in local communities. Two types of iodine fertilizers were added separately to pot soil samples at various dosages. The fortified soil in each of the flower pots was seeded with one of four test crops (pakchoi, celery, pepper, and radish) in an effort to examine the effect of vegetable cultivation. The fate and residual levels of the exogenous iodine in the fortified soil samples were then monitored and quantified. The data showed that the soil iodine contents decreased with time (and hence with plant growth as well). At the second cutting, iodine from the inorganic form (KI) as the exogenous source was reduced to approximately 50% (41.6–61.0%) of the applied dose, whereas that in soil fortified with the seaweed fertilizer was down to approximately 60% (53.9–71.5%). The abilities of the edible portion of the four vegetables in accumulating the soil iodine were as follows: pakchoi > celery > radish > pepper. On the whole, iodine residues were found less in soil cultivated with vegetables. Vegetable cultivation appeared to have enhanced the soil content of the water-soluble form of iodine somewhat, especially in soil fortified with the inorganic forms. There also appeared to be a significant negative correlation between the residual iodine and its dissolution rate in soil. Overall, the results of the present study pointed toward the direction that the seaweed fertilizer tends to be a (more) preferred source of agricultural fortification in promoting human iodine nutrition.     

Harvest time residues of pendimethalin in tomato,cauliflower, and radish under field conditions

Herbicides applied to vegetables play an important role in higher production of vegetables due to effective and timely control of weeds but at the same time herbicides residue may produce numerous environmental problems. The aim of this study was to determine whether application of herbicide for control of annual weeds in vegetable growing areas at recommended levels resulted in residues at the time of harvest. Thus, terminal residues of pendimethalin in vegetables such as tomato, cauliflower, and radishes were studies under field conditions. Pendimethalin was applied as pre-emergence herbicides at 1 kg a.i. ha^?1 to tomato, cauliflower, and radish crops. Soil and vegetables samples were collected from pendimethalin-treated plots at maturity to determine harvest time residues of pendimethalin. At harvest, 0.008, 0.001, and 0.014 μg/g residues of pendimethalin were found in tomato, cauliflower, and radishes, respectively.     

Uranium in vegetable foodstuffs: should residents near the Cunha Baixa uranium mine site (Central Northern Portugal) be concerned?

Large uranium accumulations in vegetable foodstuffs may present risks of human health if they are consumed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the uranium concentrations in different vegetable foodstuffs and grown in agricultural soils, which are then consumed by the residents of the village of Cunha Baixa (Portugal),—located in an former uranium mining area. This study was conducted to address concerns expressed by the local farmers as well as to provide data for uranium-related health risk assessments for the area. Soils, irrigation water and edible tissues of lettuce, potato, green bean, carrot, cabbage, apple and maize (Latuca sativa L., Solanum tuberosum L., Phaseolus vulgaris L., Daucus carota L., Brassica oleracea L., Malus domestica Borkh, Zea mays L., respectively) were sampled and uranium determined. High uranium concentrations were found in some soils (U_total > 50 mg/kg), in irrigation waters (218 to 1,035 μg/l) and in some vegetable foodstuffs (up to 234, 110, 30, 26, 22, 16 and 1.6 μg/kg fresh weight for lettuce, potato with peel, green bean pods, cabbage, corn, carrot and apple, respectively). However, the results of the toxicity hazard analysis were reassuring the estimated level of uranium exposure through the ingestion of these vegetable foodstuffs was low, suggesting no chemical health risk (hazard quotient <1) to this uranium exposure pathway for a local residents during their lifetime, even for the most sensitive part of the population (child).     

The influence of solid matrices on arsenic toxicity to Corophium orientale

In marine ecosystems, benthic organisms are really important because they are the first step in the transfer of contaminants from environment to biota. To this end, this study focused on biological assays with the amphipod Corophium orientale exposed to two different molecules of arsenic: arsenate (As^V), the most abundant form in sediments, and dimethyl-arsinate (DMA), expected to be moderately toxic as an intermediate in the process of detoxification. The toxicity of arsenic compounds was measured after exposure to three different matrices: water, spiked natural sediment and inert spiked quartz sand. LC₅₀ values were calculated for each exposure, and the results confirmed the highest toxicity of As^V, in addition to underlining the importance of matrix of exposure. Water exposure was the matrix which presented the highest toxicity for inorganic arsenic (As^V LC₅₀=3.51 mg L^?1 vs DMA LC₅₀=54.65 mg L^?1), spiked natural sediment demonstrated its capability to chelate arsenate toxicity (As^V LC₅₀=34.27 mg kg^?1 vs. DMA LC₅₀=52.19 mg kg^?1) and spiked quartz sand presented intermediate values for As^V (LC₅₀=25.26 mg kg^?1), whereas for DMA a lower toxicity was registered (LC₅₀=872.35 mg kg^?1). This study can provide some useful data linked with chemical speciation of arsenic and exposure matrix, for improving the correct management of contaminated sediment.     

Phytotoxicity and uptake of chlorpyrifos in cabbage

Chinese cabbage, Brassica chinensis L., and cabbage, Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata, are the main daily foliar vegetables of the vast majority of the population of eastern and southern China. Cabbages are also planted and consumed widely in other countries. The insecticide and acaricide chlorpyrifos is registered in many countries. Chlorpyrifos controls a variety of insects in plants and soils, and chlorpyrifos is extensively used in the Chinese market. Food poisoning due to the presence of organophosphorus pesticide residues in vegetables has been reported in China provinces. Plant uptake of pesticide residues in air, water, and soil is a source of pesticide residues in vegetables. Here, phytotoxicity and uptake of chlorpyrifos by Chinese cabbage and cabbage were studied in the laboratory using the batch technique. From 0 to 16 days after chlorpyrifos treatment, vegetables roots, stems, leaves, and culture water samples were collected, and the residues of chlorpyrifos in culture water, plant tissues were analyzed using GC-FPD. The results demonstrate that culture solutions with chlorpyrifos had no significant inhibitory effects on vegetable plant height. However, at 1.0 mg/l, it had significant inhibitory effects on the root length and fresh weight of Chinese cabbage. Then, at 10.0 mg/l, it had only significant inhibitory effects on the root length and fresh weight of cabbage compared to the control treatment. The disappearance rates of chlorpyrifos in solutions were in sequence as: nutrition solution with Chinese cabbage, nutrition solution with cabbage, pond water, nutrition solution. The results showed also that chlorpyrifos can be taken up by roots of Chinese cabbage and cabbage from water and subsequently translocated as a function of time. Uptake dynamics of chlorpyrifos from culture solutions by the two cabbage plants were similar.     

江汉平原农村食品中农药残留研究

研究了湖北省潜江市农村６类食品中农药的残留情况,采样测定结果表明,在被检食品中有机氯农药污染普遍存在,但残留量均低于最大残留限量（ＭＲＬ）,以植物油残留量为最大;有机磷农药残留只在蔬菜中检出,检出率以根菜类为最大,叶菜类次之,果菜类和花菜类最小;菊酯类农药残留较少;杀菌剂多菌灵残留未检出。     

6种蔬菜对施用含砷禽畜粪土壤中砷的吸收

由于现代集约化养殖业普遍使用有机胂制剂,禽畜粪中往往含有一定的砷(As).在水稻土中分别以2%和4%(w/w)比例施入含As鸡粪和猪粪及无机肥(N:0.2g·kg-1;P2O5;0.1g·kg-1;K2O:0.15g·kg-1(以干土计)),以不施肥为对照进行菜心、小白菜、油麦、茼蒿、苋菜和通菜6种蔬菜盆栽试验,研究比较含As禽畜粪施入土壤后蔬菜对土壤中As的吸收累积情况.结果表明,1)整体上施用鸡粪处理蔬菜生物量高于无机肥处理,而施用猪粪处理除通菜外5种蔬菜生物量均低于无机肥处理.2)施肥可降低除通菜外的5种蔬菜As含量,而施用鸡、猪粪可显著提高通菜As含量.3)菜心、小白菜、油麦和茼蒿地上部As含量与其生物量呈显著负相关(p<0.05,p<0.01);苋菜也表现为负相关,但未达到显著;通菜则表现为显著正相关(p<0.01).4)菜心、小白菜、油麦和茼蒿As吸收量整体表现为施用鸡粪>无机肥>猪粪≈不施肥;苋菜表现为无机肥>不施肥>鸡、猪粪;通菜则表现为鸡、猪粪>无机肥≈不施肥.整体上通菜As吸收量高于其他5种蔬菜.5)施肥可降低除通菜外5种蔬菜As吸收系数,而施用鸡、猪粪可显著提高通菜As吸收系数.建议含As禽畜粪在通菜上尽量少施.     

Toxicity of tri- and penta-valent arsenic, alone and in combination, to the cladoceran Daphnia carinata: the influence of microbial transformation in natural waters

The acute toxicity of arsenic(III) and arsenic(V) alone and in combination to a cladoceran, Daphnia carinata, was studied in both cladoceran culture medium and natural water collected from a local suburban stream. As(III) was found to be more toxic than As(V) to Daphnia survival. The LC₅₀ values for As(III), As(V), and As(III) + As(V) were 0.554, 1.499, and 0.692 mg l⁻¹, respectively. Although various species of As, particularly As(III) and As(V) co-exist together in natural waters, the existing guidelines for water quality are based on individual As species. The results of this investigation suggest that As(III) and As(V) can interact either synergistically or additively resulting in an increase in the overall toxicity of the mixture compared to individual As species. Also, indigenous microorganisms in natural water may play a significant role in the transformation of As, thereby influencing the toxicity of As in receiving waters. This study clearly suggests that the joint action of As species should be considered in the development of water quality guidelines. To our knowledge this is the first study on the interactive effect of As(III) and As(V) to a cladoceran. Thus, this study suggests that these two species of As, when present together above 0.1 mg l⁻¹ concentration, are toxic to fresh water invertebrates; therefore, pollution with these compounds may adversely affect natural ecosystems.     

Release thresholds strongly determine the range of seed dispersal by wind

The effect of the seed abscission process on the dispersal distance of seeds has never been studied explicitly and is often ignored in studies that aim to estimate the seed shadows of species. To examine the importance of the abscission process for the seed shadow we used a seed trajectory model that keeps track of the release threshold dynamics of the individual seeds on mother plant. We defined the release threshold as the critical wind speed that induces a mechanical force that is just large enough to release a seed from its mother plant. The model used real wind speed sequences and seed appearance over time on the mother plant.Several calculations were performed to investigate the effect of release thresholds dynamics on seed shadow of two herbaceous species with contrasting terminal velocity values (V_t): Centaurea jacea (V_t = 4.1 m s⁻¹) and Hypochaeris radicata (V_t = 0.49 m s⁻¹).Release thresholds were responsible for a two-fold increase of median dispersal distances in both species. Tails of the seed shadows, the fraction of seeds that travel furthest, were even more sensitive and increased with a factor 4.5 for Centaurea and 7.0 for Hypochaeris. Our work indicates that the abscission process appears to be very important and suggests that dispersal distance of plants is currently severely underestimated, which, in turn, has major consequences for our current understanding of the distribution, metapopulation dynamics and survival of plant species.     

Assessment of total and organic vanadium levels and their bioaccumulation in edible sea cucumbers: tissues distribution,inter-species-specific,locational differences and seasonal variations

The objective of this study is to investigate the levels, inter-species-specific, locational differences and seasonal variations of vanadium in sea cucumbers and to validate further several potential factors controlling the distribution of metals in sea cucumbers. Vanadium levels were evaluated in samples of edible sea cucumbers and were demonstrated exhibit differences in different seasons, species and sampling sites. High vanadium concentrations were measured in the sea cucumbers, and all of the vanadium detected was in an organic form. Mean vanadium concentrations were considerably higher in the blood (sea cucumber) than in the other studied tissues. The highest concentration of vanadium (2.56 μg g⁻¹), as well as a higher degree of organic vanadium (85.5 %), was observed in the Holothuria scabra samples compared with all other samples. Vanadium levels in Apostichopus japonicus from Bohai Bay and Yellow Sea have marked seasonal variations. Average values of 1.09 μg g⁻¹ of total vanadium and 0.79 μg g⁻¹ of organic vanadium were obtained in various species of sea cucumbers. Significant positive correlations between vanadium in the seawater and V _org in the sea cucumber (r = 81.67 %, p = 0.00), as well as between vanadium in the sediment and V _org in the sea cucumber (r = 77.98 %, p = 0.00), were observed. Vanadium concentrations depend on the seasons (salinity, temperature), species, sampling sites and seawater environment (seawater, sediment). Given the adverse toxicological effects of inorganic vanadium and positive roles in controlling the development of diabetes in humans, a regular monitoring programme of vanadium content in edible sea cucumbers can be recommended.