Local extinction of a foundation species in a hypoxic estuary: integrating individuals to ecosystem

We integrated across individual, population, community, and ecosystem levels to understand the impact of environmental stress by tracking the foundation species Mytilus edulis in the hypoxic estuary Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, USA. Our initial surveys revealed that the mussels occurred in nine extensive (2-28 ha) dense (814-9943 individuals/m2) subtidal reefs that attracted a diverse suite of predators (sea stars, crabs, gastropods). Hypoxia occurred in the summer of 2001, and a mussel transplant experiment revealed overall reduced growth rates of individuals, and higher mortality rates among larger mussels. At the population level, large decreases in densities and cover of mussels were correlated with dissolved oxygen concentrations, leading to extinction at one site and reductions of over an order of magnitude at others. Within one year, seven of the eight remaining populations were edged to extinction, and the previously extinct population was recolonized. At the community level, a predator exclusion experiment indicated that predation was an unimportant source of mussel mortality during the hypoxic period, in part due to the emigration of sea stars, as predicted by the Consumer Stress Model. However, mussels were too intolerant to hypoxia to have a net benefit from the predation refuge. The seasonal (summer) occurrence of hypoxia allowed sea stars to return following a lag, as predicted by a stress return time model, and the resumption of predation contributed to the subsequent extinction of mussel populations. At the ecosystem level, the initial filtration rate of the mussel reefs was estimated at 134.6 x 10(6) m3/d, equivalent to filtering the volume of the bay 1.3 times during the 26-d average residence time. That function was reduced by >75% following hypoxia. The effect of hypoxia on each level of organization had consequences at others. For example, size-specific mortality and decreased growth of individuals, and reduced filtration capacity of reefs, indicated a loss of the ability of mussels to entrain planktonic productivity and potential to control future eutrophication and hypoxia. Our study quantified patterns of loss and identified pathways within an integrative framework of feedbacks, summarized in a conceptual model that is applicable to similar foundation species subjected to environmental stress.     

Toenail cerium levels and risk of a first acute myocardial infarction: the EURAMIC and heavy metals study

The association between cerium status and risk of first acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was examined in a case-control study in 10 centres from Europe and Israel. Cerium in toenails was assessed by neutron activation analysis in 684 cases and 724 controls aged 70 years or younger. Mean concentrations of cerium were 186 and 173 microg/kg in cases and controls, respectively. Cerium was positively associated with low socio-economic status, smoking, mercury, zinc and scandium (p0.001). Cases had significantly higher levels of cerium than controls after adjustment for age and centre (case-control ratio 1.074; 95% CI 1.002-1.151) and increased in further adjustment for other cardiovascular risk factors 1.085; 95% CI 1.025-1.149. The risk after adjustment for age and centre was higher with increasing cerium levels (p for trend=0.02). After adjustment for BMI, history of hypertension, smoking, alcohol intake, diabetes, family history of CHD, beta-carotene, lycopene, alpha-tocopherol, selenium, mercury and scandium, the OR for the highest quintile was 1.43 (95% CI 0.85-2.41; p-trend 0.08). When we applied this same model in non-smokers the odds ratios in the 4th and 5th quintiles of cerium as compared with the lowest were 2.09 (95% CI 1.05-4.16) and 2.81 (95% CI 1.21-6.52), respectively, p-trend 0.011. Our results suggest that toenail cerium levels may be associated with an increased risk of AMI, but more research is warranted to shed further light and fully understand the plausibility and public health implications of these findings.     

A link between lead and cadmium kinetic speciation in seawater and accumulation by the green alga Ulva lactuca

In this work, studies on the bioaccumulation of Cd and Pb by Ulva lactuca at different sites of Gulf San Jorge (Patagonia, Argentina) are presented. Higher values of bioaccumulated Cd were found in Punta Maqueda - a site believed to serve as a control - in comparison to those in Punta Borja, a place highly exposed to urban and industrial activities. Consequently; the labile fractions of Cd and Pb in seawater were determined with a flow injection-preconcentration manifold interfaced to a graphite furnace-atomic absorption spectrometer (FI-GFAAS). The results obtained by kinetic speciation showed that the variable that correctly explains heavy metals accumulation in the alga, is the labile metal fraction in seawater. We propose to use an enhancement ratio - on the basis of the kinetically labile metal fraction - for calculation of the metal accumulated by the alga relative to its environment.     

Ecological Success in Stream Restoration: Case Studies from the Midwestern United States

Despite rapid growth in river restoration, few projects receive the necessary evaluation and reporting to determine their success or failure and to learn from experience. As part of the National River Restoration Science Synthesis, we interviewed 39 project contacts from a database of 1,345 restoration projects in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ohio to (1) verify project information; (2) gather data on project design, implementation, and coordination; (3) assess the extent of monitoring; and (4) evaluate success and the factors that may influence it. Projects were selected randomly within the four most common project goals from a national database: in-stream habitat improvement, channel reconfiguration, riparian management, and water-quality improvement. Roughly half of the projects were implemented as part of a watershed management plan and had some advisory group. Monitoring occurred in 79% of projects but often was minimal and seldom documented biological improvements. Baseline data for evaluation often relied on previous data obtained under regional monitoring programs using state protocols. Although 89% of project contacts reported success, only 11% of the projects were considered successful because of the response of a specific ecological indicator, and monitoring data were underused in project assessment. Estimates of ecological success, using three criteria from Palmer and others (2005), indicated that half or fewer of the projects were ecologically successful, markedly below the success level that project contacts self-reported, and sent a strong signal of the need for well-designed evaluation programs that can document ecological success.     

2022年泸定MS6.8地震的同震地表变形特征及地震地质启示

2022年泸定地震的同震地表变形特征是认识鲜水河断裂强震破裂行为和评估其未来强震风险的重要依据。应用遥感影像解译、大比例尺地质地貌填图、探槽古地震分析和无人机航空摄影测量等方法,调查了本次地震地表破裂、滑坡和崩塌等同震变形特征。综合同震变形带的分布特征及震源机制解研究结果认为：本次地震类型主要表现为左旋走滑;地表裂缝集中发育在燕子沟、磨西镇、猛虎岗、幸福村一带,整体沿NNW方向断续展布,长约35km,最大垂直位错(15±1)cm,伴随滑坡和崩塌等地震地质灾害。滑坡分为东、西两部分,整体分布受断裂带和大渡河水系的空间展布影响较大。西部滑坡区以燕子沟至爱国村一带最为严重,滑坡体规模大,范围广,整体呈NNW向,平行于鲜水河断裂磨西段延伸约40km;东部滑坡区主要分布于得妥镇以北约5km处至泸定县城西南端,滑坡体沿大渡河两岸呈NE向展布,延伸约10km。根据现有资料,并结合野外调查结果和构造类比等方法,讨论认为巴颜喀拉块体及邻近地区短期内仍可能是强震活动的高风险地区,块体南边界带鲜水河断裂西北端当江段的强震危险性尤需高度重视。     

正相液体色谱法测定ppt量级的硒

硒作为生命必需的微量元素,其有关研究报告日见增多。在我国,已经报道了由区域环境低硒引起的大骨节病、克山病、以及区域性癌症。相关研究工作包括我国低硒带的成因、硒的生物地球化学循环、地方病病因的探讨。由于中国低硒带内环境样品硒含量低,其中饮水中硒的总量一般低于0.1ppb,形态分析中的组成部分含量甚至低于0.01ppb,因     

千岛湖湖泊区水体季节性分层特征研究

千岛湖是典型的亚热带人工深水水库.为了解水库的物理特征,于2011年对水库温度、溶解氧(DO)、pH值、浊度、有效光合作用辐照强度(PAR)和叶绿素a的季节动态和垂直分层结构进行分析,探讨水库水体季节性分层特征.结果表明,千岛湖水库表层水温在10.4～32.7℃,在4～12月间出现水体分层现象,在夏季形成明显分层,是典型的亚热带单混合水体.水温分层结构对DO、pH值、浊度、PAR和叶绿素a的垂直剖面变化有一定的影响作用.水体溶解氧出现显著的分层现象,且温跃层内DO浓度较低,冬季底层溶解氧出现暂时周期性缺氧;浊度在温跃层内达到最大值,其表层大小主要受降水的影响;叶绿素a含量表层含量较高,且温跃层以下水深维持较低水平,这说明水体分层对水库水质的变化起重要作用.此外,水体光合作用最强处在5～10 m左右,此深度适合藻类生长,这为分析千岛湖水体蓝藻暴发取样和分析提供了依据.     

重庆市主城区次级河流总氮总磷污染特征分析及富营养化评价

为掌握重庆市主城区次级河流水环境状况,于2013年4月~2014年3月,在重庆市主城区选取6条典型次级河流测定水体理化指标,开展水体总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)污染特征分析及富营养化评价.结果表明:16条河流TN、TP污染较为严重,不同季节TN、TP均超过国际认可的发生水体富营养化临界值;富营养状态指数评价结果表明,各季节所有河流都处于富营养化状态,富营养化程度排序为:盘溪河清水溪跳蹬河花溪河伏牛溪朝阳河.2各次级河流TN、TP季节变化情况较为显著,为春、冬季TN、TP质量浓度高,夏、秋季TN、TP质量浓度低;3河流在各季节TN、TP从上游向下游增加趋势比较明显,污染物沿河流不断聚集,污染物质量浓度递增率最大达到1.25 mg·(L·km)-1.因此,进一步深入研究城市次级河流污染特征对城市水体污染控制具有重要意义.     

实际污水与模拟污水活性污泥系统的特性差异

实验中经常采用人工配置的模拟生活污水,为了研究其与实际生活污水活性污泥系统的特性差异,采用2个序批式间歇反应器(SBR)进行平行实验(厌氧、好氧方式运行),系统地考察了在进水主要组分和运行参数相同的情况下,不同原水对活性污泥系统脱氮、除磷、比好氧速率、污泥絮体形态和出水水质等方面的影响。结果表明,模拟污水系统的硝化活性强于实际污水系统,两者的平均硝化速率分别为7.43 mg NH4+-N/(L.h)和5.55 mg NH4+-N/(L.h)。在前置厌氧段,模拟污水系统的释磷量比实际污水系统高出36.45%。两者在后续好氧阶段都能够充分吸磷。模拟污水系统的平均比好氧速率(SOUR)高达64.54 mg O2/(g MLSS.h),而实际污水系统的则只有32.81 mg O2/(g MLSS.h)。模拟污水系统的污泥絮体疏松,粒径小,形状不规则,沉降性差,沉后出水平均悬浮物浓度(SS)为20 mg/L;而实际污水系统的污泥絮体则密实、粒径大,沉降性好,沉后水十分清澈,SS几乎检测不出。