Responses of alkaline phosphatase activity to wind-driven waves in a large, shallow lake: Implications for phosphorus availability and algal blooms

Phosphorus is a vital nutrient for algal growth, thus, a better understanding of phosphorus availability is essential to mitigate harmful algal blooms in lakes. Wind waves are a ubiquitous characteristic of lake ecosystems. However, its effects on the cycling of organic phosphorus and its usage by phytoplankton remain poorly elucidated in shallow eutrophic lakes. A mesocosm experiment was carried out to investigate the responses of alkaline phosphatase activity fractions to wind waves in large, shallow, eutrophic Lake Taihu. Results showed that wind-driven waves induced the release of alkaline phosphatase and phosphorus from the sediment, and dramatically enhanced phytoplanktonic alkaline phosphatase activity. However, compared to the calm conditions, bacterial and dissolved alkaline phosphatase activity decreased in wind-wave conditions. Consistently, the gene copies of Microcystis phoX increased but bacterial phoX decreased under wind-wave conditions. The ecological effects of these waves on phosphorus and phytoplankton likely accelerated the biogeochemical cycling of phosphorus and promoted phytoplankton production in Lake Taihu. This study provides an improved current understanding of phosphorus availability and the phosphorus strategies of plankton in shallow, eutrophic lakes.     

Pollutant toxicology with respect to microalgae and cyanobacteria

Microalgae and cyanobacteria are fundamental components of aquatic ecosystems. Pollution in aquatic environment is a worldwide problem. Toxicological research on microalgae and cyanobacteria can help to establish a solid foundation for aquatic ecotoxicological assessments. Algae and cyanobacteria occupy a large proportion of the biomass in aquatic environments; thus, their toxicological responses have been investigated extensively. However, the depth of toxic mechanisms and breadth of toxicological investigations need to be improved. While existing pollutants are being discharged into the environment daily, new ones are also being produced continuously. As a result, the phenomenon of water pollution has become unprecedentedly complex. In this review, we summarize the latest findings on five kinds of aquatic pollutants, namely, metals, nanomaterials, pesticides, pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs), and persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Further, we present information on emerging pollutants such as graphene, microplastics, and ionic liquids. Efforts in studying the toxicological effects of pollutants on microalgae and cyanobacteria must be increased in order to better predict the potential risks posed by these materials to aquatic ecosystems as well as human health.     

An assessment of potential responses of Melaleuca genus to global climate change

The genus Melaleuca consists of around 260 species covering over eight million hectares (including native and introduced species) and distributed mostly in Australia, but also occurring in South-East Asia, the Southern United States and the Caribbean. Melaleuca populations predominantly occur in wetland or/and coastal ecosystems where they have been significantly affected by climate change. This paper assesses the potential responses of the Melaleuca genus to climate change, based on the synthesis of worldwide published data. The main findings include: (i) that the Melaleuca genus has a rich species diversity, and significant phenotypic diversity in a variety of ecosystems; (ii) they demonstrate significant local adaptation to harsh conditions; and (iii) the fossil records and taxon biology indicate the evolution of the Melaleuca genus began around 38 million years ago and they have survived several significant climatic alterations, particularly a shift towards cooler and drier climates that has occurred over this period. These findings show that the Melaleuca genus is highly resilient and adaptable and based on this, this paper argues that Melaleuca can adapt to climate change through Wright’s ‘migrational adaptation’, and can be managed to achieve sustainable benefits.     

Effect of post-fire resprouting on leaf fluctuating asymmetry, extrafloral nectar quality, and ant–plant–herbivore interactions

Fires in the Cerrado savanna are a severe form of disturbance, but some species are capable of resprouting afterwards. It is unknown, however, how and whether post-fire resprouting represents a stressful condition to plants and how their rapid re-growth influences both the production of biochemical compounds, and interactions with mutualistic ants. In this study, we examined the influence of post-fire resprouting on biotic interactions (ant–plant–herbivore relationships) and on plant stress. The study was performed on two groups of the extrafloral nectaried shrub Banisteriopsis campestris (Malpighiaceae); one group was recovering from fire while the other acted as control. With respect to biotic interactions, we examined whether resprouting influenced extrafloral nectar concentration (milligrams per microliter), the abundance of the ant Camponotus crassus and leaf herbivory rates. Plant stress was assessed via fluctuating asymmetry (FA) analysis, which refers to deviations from perfect symmetry in bilaterally symmetrical traits (e.g., leaves) and indicates whether species are under stress. Results revealed that FA, sugar concentration, and ant abundance were 51.7 %, 35.7 % and 21.7 % higher in resprouting plants. Furthermore, C. crassus was significantly associated with low herbivory rates, but only in resprouting plants. This study showed that post-fire resprouting induced high levels of plant stress and influenced extrafloral nectar quality and ant-herbivore relationships in B. campestris. Therefore, despite being a stressful condition to the plant, post-fire resprouting individuals had concentrated extrafloral nectar and sustained more ants, thus strengthening the outcomes of ant–plant mutualism.     

应用生物完整性指数评价我国河流的生态健康

河流生态健康评价是开展流域水生态健康评估和管理的重要技术基础,生物完整性是评估流域生态完整性的重要构成指标.基于生物群落特征参数的多参数指数（MMI）和预测模型的样点物种组成观测值与期望值比值的O/E指数（O,观测值;E,期望值）,是应用最广泛的评价生物完整性的两个重要指数;美国和欧盟等都已建立完善的基于生物完整性指数评价水生态健康的国家和地方规范.本文综述了MMI和O/E指数的基本概念和构建方法,比较了两者的共同点和优缺点;回顾了两者的发展简史和国内外的应用现状,分析了目前我国对MMI和O/E指数研究与应用的现状和不足,并提出了国内未来研究和应用MMI与O/E指数的建议.     

To drink or grasp? How bullet ants (Paraponera clavata) differentiate between sugars and proteins in liquids

Flexibility in behavior can increase the likelihood that a forager may respond optimally in a fluctuating environment. Nevertheless, physiological or neuronal constraints may result in suboptimal responses to stimuli. We observed foraging workers of the giant tropical ant (also referred to as the “bullet ant”), Paraponera clavata, as they reacted to liquid solutions with varying concentrations of sugar and protein. We show that when protein/sucrose concentration is high, many bullet ants will often try to grasp at the droplet, rather than gather it by drinking. Because P. clavata actively hunt for prey, fixed action patterns and rapid responses to protein may be adaptively important, regardless of the medium in which it is presented. We conclude that, in P. clavata, food-handling decisions are made in response to the nutrient content of the food rather than the texture of the food. Further, we suggest that colonies that maintain a mixture of individuals with consistent fixed or flexible behavioral responses to food-handling decisions may be better adapted to fluctuating environmental conditions, and we propose future studies that could address this.     

Modeling mitigation strategies for toxic cyanobacteria blooms in shallow and eutrophic Lake Kasumigaura, Japan

This paper explores mitigation scenarios for toxic cyanobacteria blooms in Lake Kasumigaura is located about 60–90 km northeast of Tokyo, in the southeast of Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. Dominant species of cyanobacteria (Microcystis aeruginosa, Microcystis viridis and Microcystis ichthyoblabe) produce highly potent toxins as (Microcystin-(Leucine + Arginine, MC-LR), Microcystin-(Arginine + Arginine, MC-RR) and Microcystin-(Tyrosine + Arginine, MC-YR) in the Lake. Toxin production is generally the result of two major factors-natural processes and human interferences. Both factors have an extreme influence on the generation of cyanobacteria toxins within lake ecosystems. To address these factors, we propose two concepts for mitigation. The first concept is intended for examining the natural process of toxin production behavior within the lake and the second concept is used for evaluating inflow of wastes and nutrients from human activities that form toxins. Our research aims to combine both strategies to mitigate impacts of toxins, by examining trends of cyanobacteria nutrient sources, buoyancy regulations that influence bloom formation, and the environmental conditions that spur blooms. This study proposes a simple IMPACT (Integrating Mitigation Policies for Aquatic Cyanobacteria Toxin) model for diminution strategies of harmful algal blooms and their toxins. A mixed-methods approach is employed, nested within the Environmental Systems Analysis (ESA) tools e.g. scenario analysis and stakeholder analysis. The quality of the lake is assessed through a combination of observation and field study analysis. The findings suggest that successful mitigation of cyanobacteria toxins is highly dependent on multi-functional, multi-stakeholder involvement, and relevant intergovernmental policy. Without integrating approaches among different stakeholders, diverse socioeconomic activists, local-national policymakers and effective policy measures, prevention of cyanobacteria toxin production within lakes becomes extremely complex and difficult. The proposed IMPACT model could be a decision framework for identifying suitable policies that mitigate cyanobacteria impacts.     

Technology transfer of an innovative remediation technology from the laboratory to the field: a case study of <Emphasis Type="Italic">in situ</Emphasis> aerobic cometabolic bioremediation

Scaling-up an environmental remediation technology from the laboratory to the field to commercial use may be problematic at various levels. There could be a number of scientific and engineering problems that must be overcome when transitioning a technology from the laboratory to the field. Mass transfer limitations, large-scale spatial heterogeneities, and fluctuating environmental conditions, all of which may not play a role in the laboratory, must be addressed in the field. Added to these considerations are regulatory and legal issues. Questions regarding liability and permitting must be satisfactorily dealt with in order to demonstrate and evaluate a new remediation technology in the field. Finally, to commercialize an innovative technology that has been successfully demonstrated, cost and performance data must be presented in a manner that convinces stake-holders (site owners, regulators, consultants/contractors, and the public) that the technology can accomplish remediation more economically, safely, and efficiently than conventional technologies.     

耕作深度调控秸秆还田对农田土壤呼吸的影响

秸秆还田和耕作深度处理是影响农田土壤呼吸最重要的农业管理措施之一,但二者交互作用影响农田土壤呼吸的机制尚不清楚.基于此,针对中国的旱地农田生态系统,利用已发表的116篇研究论文,借助Meta分析技术,探究秸秆还田和耕作深度处理及其二者交互作用对农田土壤呼吸的影响及其调控因素,为农田生态系统实现“碳中和”提供重要的数据支撑和理论依据.结果表明,免耕导致土壤呼吸减少了8.3%,而浅耕和深耕处理对土壤呼吸的影响不显著,但对土壤呼吸的增加量仍呈现出深耕>浅耕>免耕的趋势.虽然,浅耕和深耕对土壤呼吸和土壤有机碳（SOC）的影响均相对较小,但是免耕导致土壤呼吸减少了8.3%的同时却又导致SOC增加了7.05%,因此实施免耕措施对农田土壤固碳减排具有重要意义.此外,耕作深度会显著调控秸秆还田对土壤呼吸的影响,且土壤呼吸的增加量呈现出深耕秸秆还田>浅耕秸秆还田>免耕秸秆还田的趋势,整体平均增加了14.51%.秸秆还田后不同深度耕作处理下土壤呼吸的增加量与土壤容重、农作物产量、土壤有机碳、以及土壤温度和水分的改变量密切相关,且对土壤呼吸增加量的贡献呈现出土壤容重>农作物产量>土壤有机碳>土壤水分>土壤温度的趋势.虽然SOC在深耕秸秆还田、浅耕秸秆还田和免耕秸秆还田处理下分别增加了29.32%、10.12%和23.94%,但是土壤呼吸在深耕秸秆还田和浅耕秸秆还田处理分别增加了29.32%和18.92%,而在免耕秸秆还田处理下仅增加1.2%.所以,免耕秸秆还田也有利于农田土壤固碳减排.因此,在中国的旱地农田生态系统中,耕作深度会调控秸秆还田对土壤呼吸的影响程度,而这种调控主要与土壤理化性质有关,尤其与土壤容重关系最为紧密,且免耕和免耕秸秆还田均是有利于农田土壤固碳减排的重要农业管理措施.     

Contribution of spatially explicit models to climate change adaptation and mitigation plans for a priority forest habitat

Climate change will impact forest ecosystems, their biodiversity and the livelihoods they sustain. Several adaptation and mitigation strategies to counteract climate change impacts have been proposed for these ecosystems. However, effective implementation of such strategies requires a clear understanding of how climate change will influence the future distribution of forest ecosystems. This study uses maximum entropy modelling (MaxEnt) to predict environmentally suitable areas for cork oak (Quercus suber) woodlands, a socio-economically important forest ecosystem protected by the European Union Habitats Directive. Specifically, we use two climate change scenarios to predict changes in environmental suitability across the entire geographical range of the cork oak and in areas where stands were recently established. Up to 40 % of current environmentally suitable areas for cork oak may be lost by 2070, mainly in northern Africa and southern Iberian Peninsula. Almost 90 % of new cork oak stands are predicted to lose suitability by the end of the century, but future plantations can take advantage of increasing suitability in northern Iberian Peninsula and France. The predicted impacts cross-country borders, showing that a multinational strategy, will be required for cork oak woodland adaptation to climate change. Such a strategy must be regionally adjusted, featuring the protection of refugia sites in southern areas and stimulating sustainable forest management in areas that will keep long-term suitability. Afforestation efforts should also be promoted but must consider environmental suitability and land competition issues.     

填海造地生态损害评估:理论、方法及应用研究

论文建立了一系列生态-经济模型,用于评估填海造地生态损害的价值以及被填海域作为生产要素的价值。用所建立的模型对厦门填海造地进行经验估算,得出在厦门每m²填海造地生态损害的价值为279元,远远高于现行的填海造地海域使用金征收标准。加上海域作为生产要素的价值,厦门工业用填海造地海域使用金征收标准应该为327.82元/m²,商业用填海造地的海域使用金征收标准应该为相邻土地价格的50%～55%。研究结果可以为制定填海造地规划和控制填海造地的经济手段提供强有力的科技支撑。     

Ecological service assessment of human-dominated freshwater ecosystem with a case study in Yangzhou Prefecture, China

Freshwater ecosystems provide a host of services to humanity. These services are now rapidly being lost, not least because of the inability of making the impacts measurable. To overcome this obstacle, assessment frameworks for freshwater ecosystem services are needed. A simple water equivalent framework to assess the ecological services provided by freshwater ecosystems was developed in this study. It translated the occupation of freshwater ecosystem services into biologically freshwater volumes and then compares this consumption to the freshwater throughput, that is, the ecological capacity available in this region. In this way, we use the example of Yangzhou Prefecture, to account the main categories of human occupation of water ecosystem services. The result showed that there is a huge gap between the consumption and the supply of freshwater ecosystem services. This must encourage local government to make land-use and water management decisions both economically rational and environmentally sound.     

Extracellular polymeric substance induces biogenesis of vivianite under inorganic phosphate-free conditions

Vivianite is often found in reducing environments rich in iron and phosphorus from organic debris degradation or phosphorus mineral dissolution. The formation of vivianite is essential to the geochemical cycling of phosphorus and iron elements in natural environments. In this study, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) were selected as the source of phosphorus. Microcosm experiments were conducted to test the evolution of mineralogy during the reduction of polyferric sulfate flocs (PFS) by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 (S. oneidensis MR-1) at EPS concentrations of 0, 0.03, and 0.3 g/L. Vivianite was found to be the secondary mineral in EPS treatment when there was no phosphate in the media. The EPS DNA served as the phosphorus source and DNA-supplied phosphate could induce the formation of vivianite. EPS impedes PFS aggregation, contains redox proteins and stores electron shuttle, and thus greatly promotes the formation of minerals and enhances the reduction of Fe(III). At EPS concentration of 0, 0.03, and 0.3 g/L, the produced HCl-extractable Fe(II) was 107.9, 111.0, and 115.2 mg/L, respectively. However, when the microcosms remained unstirred, vivianite can be formed without the addition of EPS. In unstirred systems, the EPS secreted by S. oneidensis MR-1 could agglomerate at some areas, resulting in the formation of vivianite in the proximity of microbial cells. It was found that vivianite can be generated biogenetically by S. oneidensis MR-1 strain and EPS may play a key role in iron reduction and concentrating phosphorus in the oligotrophic ecosystems where quiescent conditions prevail.     

考虑脉动压力相关性的自由体随机振动分析

目的获得自由体在脉动压力载荷作用下的结构响应。方法采用有限元方法,建立锥壳自由体结构的随机振动分析有限元模型,根据自由体的脉动压力载荷和随机振动分析理论,计算自由体在脉动压力下的加速度响应均方根值。结果载荷为一定程度相关时的计算结果在完全相关和不相关之间,最小相差约15%,最大相差约50%。结论在进行自由体结构脉动压力下的响应分析时,载荷间的相关性是不能忽略的,分区加载可改善计算精度。     

再入飞行器振动环境工程预示方法

目的为再入飞行器振动环境设计提供方法支撑,并为结构设计和地面环境试验条件制定提供载荷输入。方法分析再入飞行器振动环境主要特征及其诱导因素,结合飞行试验实测振动数据研究小攻角对飞行振动环境的影响规律,辨识出脉动压力与动压、马赫数以及攻角的关系式。在传统脉动压力预测方法基础上,建立涉及攻角影响的再入飞行均方根脉动压力预测模型,并给出再入振动环境工程预示方法。结果构建模型计算的脉动压力变化趋势与实测振动量值变化趋势基本一致,辨识出来的脉动压力与攻角、动压以及马赫数之间的关系式是基本合理的。结论基于实测数据及脉动压力特性建立了再入飞行器振动环境工程预示模型,结合实测振动数据和气动载荷数据可预测出再入飞行器振动环境,能够实现再入飞行器振动环境载荷的精细化设计,并为结构设计提供载荷输入。     

湿地在面源污染治理中的应用回顾与展望

面源污染是导致水环境污染的主要因素之一,具有分布面广、排放量大、随机性强等特征,因此治理难度非常大。湿地通常指位于陆地和水域生态系统之间的过渡带,被认为是治理面源污染最有效的方式之一。湿地主要通过微生物反硝化、土壤吸附、沉淀以及植物吸收等途径来实现对面源污染物的截留和降解。国内对湿地在面源污染防治中的作用关注较晚,始于上世纪80年代初期。运用于面源污染防治的湿地类型主要有人工湿地、湖滨带、河岸带湿地、氧化塘、生态沟渠等。面源污染的治理应当同点源污染的治理紧密结合,高效发挥湿地的净化功能和景观效应。在构建人工湿地时应保护好天然湿地并慎用外来物种,此外人工湿地的后续管理也需要进一步加强。     

深圳经济特区环境系统动态模型的研究

针对深圳经济特区环境问题的特殊性,在近中期本区环境规划的着眼点,不仅是局限于对废水、废气、废渣和噪声污染的治理,而且着眼于解决过去和防范未来在环境发展中的现实性和潜在性环境问题。我们选用了以系统动力学原理为基础的动态研究方法。把深切特区的环境问题构造成一个有自然条件、资源消耗、经济发展、生态平衡和环境污染等因素参与的复杂大系统进行研究。本文由五部分组成: 1.问题和思路 2.建模原理和方法 3.模型的结构 4.模型的功能和应用 5.结论 通过年项研究,阐明了深圳经济恃区的环境现状,建立了深圳经济特区环境系统动态模型、应用模型分别进行了灵敏度分析、策略分析和预测分析,动态地回答了人们对深圳经济特区感兴趣的一系列问题:如,经济发展、资源消耗、人口增长、生态平衡和环境污染等方面的问题。从而,为新兴城市建设和经济开发区获得最大的经济效益、社会效益和环境效益的途径和方法,对于协调深圳经济特区的经济开发与环境保护之间的关系提供了重要手段,同时,为深圳经济特区进行现代化的环境管理创造了条件。      

Nitrate in shallow groundwater in typical agricultural and forest ecosystems in China, 2004-2010

The nitrate-nitrogen(NO 3-N) concentrations from shallow groundwater wells situated in 29 of the Chinese Ecosystem Research Network field stations,representing typical agroand forest ecosystems,were assessed using monitoring data collected between 2004 and 2010.Results from this assessment permit a national scale assessment of nitrate concentrations in shallow groundwater,and allow linkages between nitrate concentrations in groundwater and broad land use categories to be made.Results indicated that most of the NO 3--N concentrations in groundwater from the agroand forest ecosystems were below the Class 3 drinking water standard stated in the Chinese National Standard:Quality Standard for Ground Water(≤ 20 mg/L).Over the study period,the average NO 3--N concentrations were significantly higher in agro-ecosystems(4.1 ± 0.33 mg/L) than in forest ecosystems(0.5 ± 0.04 mg/L).NO 3-N concentrations were relatively higher(> 10 mg N /L) in 10 of the 43 wells sampled in the agricultural ecosystems.These elevated concentrations occurred mainly in the Ansai,Yucheng,Linze,Fukang,Akesu,and Cele field sites,which were located in arid and semiarid areas where irrigation rates are high.We suggest that improvements in N fertilizer application and irrigation management practices in the arid and semi-arid agricultural ecosystems of China are the key to managing groundwater nitrate concentrations.     

九龙江流域上游浅水湖泊富营养化机制

基于对九龙江上游龙潭湖富营养化水体和沉积物现状的监测结果,通过与国内富营养化深水湖库和流域下游大型富营养化浅水湖泊进行对比,深入探讨了流域上游浅水湖泊富营养化发生的原因及主导机制.流域上游浅水湖泊具有外源污染物输入较少的特点,较下游大型浅水湖泊更易受温度等气候条件和沉积物氧化还原状态的影响,以及外源输入总磷控制具有较强的滞后效应,因此对流域上游浅水湖泊富营养化的控制必须重视内源营养盐释放,特别是结合态磷的内源释放问题.