Metal accumulation in intertidal litter through decomposing leaf blades, sheaths and stems of Phragmites australis

Metal contents of decomposing leaf blades, leaf sheaths and stems of common reed (Phragmites australis) were monitored by a litter bag method on the sediment of an intertidal brackish marsh in the Scheldt estuary (The Netherlands). On monthly intervals, two litter bags were retrieved from the marsh during 9 months for both leaf blades and sheaths and during 16 months for stems. All samples were dried, weighed and analysed for ash and Cd, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb and Zn contents. Most concentrations increased considerably during the decomposition. Generally, also a very important net metal inflow into the litter bags could be observed. The inflow was highest for leaf blades. High correlations between ash contents and metal concentrations for leaf blades suggest that the increase of leaf blade metal contents can be due to physicochemical sorption of dissolved metals and an important infiltration of mud particles, which were not removed by rinsing the leaf blades with distilled water preceding the analyses. For stems, smaller amounts of inflowing ash and even outflowing ash amounts were found, which suggests that inflow of inorganic particles is not the major factor determining metal accumulation by stems on medium term. Ergosterol concentrations in stem tissue however proved to be correlated with metal contents, which suggests a significant role of fungal litter colonizers in metal accumulation. For leaf sheaths, the effects of physicochemical sorption, infiltration of mud particles and incorporation by microbial litter colonizers do not seem to be as pronounced as for stems and leaf blades.     

Uptake and transformation of phenol and chlorophenols by hairy root cultures of Daucus carota, Ipomoea batatas and Solanum aviculare

Hairy root cultures of Daucus carota L., Ipomoea batatas L. and Solanum aviculare Forst were investigated for their susceptibility to the highly toxic pollutants phenol and chlorophenols and for the involvement of inherent peroxidases in the removal of phenols from liquid media. Roots of D. carota grew normally in medium containing 1000 micromol l(-1) of phenol, whilst normal growth of roots of I. batatas and S. aviculare was only possible at levels up to 500 micromol l(-1). In the presence of chlorophenols, normal root growth was possible only in concentrations not exceeding 50 micromol l(-1), except for I. batatas which was severely affected at all concentrations. Despite the reduction in biomass, the growth of S. aviculare cultures was sustained in medium containing up to 2000 micromol l(-1) of phenol or 2-chlorophenol, and up to 500 micromol l(-1) of 2,6-dichlorophenol. The amounts of phenol removed by the roots within 72 h of treatment were 72.7%, 90.7% and 98.6% of the initial concentration for D. carota, I. batatas and S. aviculare, respectively. For the removal of 2,6-dichlorophenol the values were, respectively, 83.0%, 57.7% and 73.1%. Phenols labelled with 14C were absorbed by the root tissues and condensed with highly polar cellular substances as well as being incorporated into the cell walls or membranes. The results suggest that S. aviculare, an ornamental plant, would be best suited for remediation trials under field conditions.     

Assessment of ecotoxicological risks related to depositing dredged materials from canals in northern France on soil

The implementation of an ecological risk assessment framework is presented for dredged material deposits on soil close to a canal and groundwater, and tested with sediment samples from canals in northern France. This framework includes two steps: a simplified risk assessment based on contaminant concentrations and a detailed risk assessment based on toxicity bioassays and column leaching tests. The tested framework includes three related assumptions: (a) effects on plants (Lolium perenne L.), (b) effects on aquatic organisms (Escherichia coli, Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, Ceriodaphnia dubia, and Xenopus laevis) and (c) effects on groundwater contamination. Several exposure conditions were tested using standardised bioassays. According to the specific dredged material tested, the three assumptions were more or less discriminatory, soil and groundwater pollution being the most sensitive. Several aspects of the assessment procedure must now be improved, in particular assessment endpoint design for risks to ecosystems (e.g., integration of pollutant bioaccumulation), bioassay protocols and column leaching test design.     

雨雪冰冻灾害后粤北森林各林型凋落物动态

为了考察中国亚热带不同森林类型对雨雪冰冻灾害的响应模式,以粤北天井山3种代表性的林型—针叶林、阔叶林和混交林为对象,于不同森林类型中比较受损森林与未受损森林在凋落物年产量、成分及月际动态方面的差异,从而在凋落物水平上反映不同森林类型在雨雪冰冻灾害后的早期恢复力。研究结果表明,灾后针叶林、阔叶林和混交林的年凋落量分别为0.52、3.21、1.37 t.hm-2,比未受损的同种森林类型年凋落量显著减少,减少程度分别为87.89%、53.46%、76.78%。由此可以看出阔叶林的植被恢复情况最好,说明在凋落物水平上,其灾后恢复的早期阶段恢复力最强。在凋落物成分方面,灾后各森林类型叶凋落物所占比例显著增加,枝凋落物所占比例则显著减少。受损针叶林和阔叶林的凋落物月动态与未受损森林基本一致,但其波动幅度较小;在混交林中,受损和未受损森林其凋落量的季节动态模式则表现出不一致性且为不规则型。根据研究结果,建议在亚热带地区优先考虑种植阔叶林以促进受损森林在类似雨雪冰冻灾害的极端天气后的恢复。     

Searching for Networks: Ecological Connectivity for Amphibians Under Climate Change

Environmental Management - Ecological connectivity depends on key elements within the landscape, which can support ecological fluxes, species richness and long-term viability of a biological...     

UV-Filtersubstanzen in Wasser und Fischen

A method was developed for the analysis of fish samples to detect sunscreen agents (SSA) together with organochlorides (PCB, DDT) in different fish tissues. Detection limits of the compounds analyzed are in the range of ng/kg and vary between 40 and 90 ng/kg fillet. Recovery rates range from 78 to 104%. The contamination of water and fish with SSA in Meerfelder Maar lake, the Eifel, Germany was investigated in 1991 and 1993 and allowed the identification and quantification of six different SSA in the fish. The sum of SSA concentrations in perch taken in the summer of 1991 was 2.0 mg/kg lipid and 0.50 mg/kg lipid was found in roach sampled during the summer of 1993. Both species were contaminated with SSA and organochlorides to the same ranges as PCB and DDT. Even in the fillet of roach taken from three other lakes in Germany, methylbenzylidene camphor, a lipophilic SSA, was detected. These results indicate that SSA are wide-spread in German lakes. Therefore, they can be seen as a new group of relevant environmental chemicals. In the investigated lakes, the concentrations of the SSA in water were mostly below the detection limits. Thus, fish can be used as a biomonitor for these lipophilic compounds. Due to the lack of toxicological data for aquatic organisms, an ecotoxicological assessment is impossible at the moment.     

酸雨对土壤营养元素迁移转化的影响

针对近年来北方一些城市大气污染严重并导致部分月份出现酸雨,及酸雨对主要营养元素产生影响的实际情况,通过模拟pH=5.6的酸雨的淋溶实验,对土壤营养元素迁移转化规律作了较深入的研究。结果表明,土壤中硝态氮质量分数随土壤深度的增加而呈下降的趋势;土壤中速效磷、速效钾对酸雨不敏感;拟合出在土壤表层(<5 cm)、10 cm、20 cm、30 cm的不同深度,硝态氮随时间变化的迁移规律方程。     

Interactive effects of natural and human disturbances on vegetation dynamics across landscapes.

Accurate measures of human effects on landscape processes require consideration of both the direct impacts from human activities and the indirect consequences of the interactions between humans and the landscape. This is particularly evident in systems experiencing regular natural disturbances such as in the mountainous areas of southwestern China, where the remaining population of giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) is supported. Here the spatiotemporal patterns of human impacts, forests, and bamboo episodic die-offs combine to determine the distribution of panda habitat. To study the complex interactions of humans and landscapes, we developed an integrated spatiotemporally explicit model of household activities, natural vegetation dynamics, and their impacts on panda habitat. Using this model we examined the direct consequences of local fuelwood collection and household creation on areas of critical giant panda habitat and the indirect impacts when coupled with vegetation dynamics. Through simulations, we found that over the next 30 years household impacts would result in the loss of up to 30% of the habitat relied on by pandas during past bamboo die-offs. The accumulation and spatial distribution of household impacts would also have a considerable indirect influence on the spatial distribution of understory bamboo. While human impacts influence both bamboo die-off and regeneration, over 19% of pre-existing low-elevation bamboo habitat may be lost following an episodic die-off depending on the severity of the impacts and timing of the die-offs. Our study showed not only the importance of the spatial distribution of direct household impacts on habitat, but also the far-reaching effects of the indirect interactions between humans and the landscapes they are modifying.     

雷州半岛地区磷肥高效利用技术及其应用

在研究雷州半岛土壤特殊的强固磷机理基础上，以改性的工农业废弃物作为活化剂，活化磷矿粉制得高效磷肥，不仅利用了废弃物资源，变废为宝，而且节省了硫酸资源，降低了肥料成本。在雷州半岛不同地区，以西瓜、甘蔗、辣椒、水稻为供试作物，以过磷酸钙为对照，在等质量(低成本)条件下进行了大量的田间试验，结果表明，除水稻产量持平外，其他作物均表现出明显的增产效果，增产幅度在3％-22％之间，且产品品质改善。因此，高效磷肥在雷州半岛地区有广阔的应用前景。     

Toxicity and attraction effects produced byMorinda citrifolia fruits on theDrosophila melanogaster complex of species

Summary The ripe fruit of the Indian mulberry,Morinda citrifolia, is the host plant forDrosophila sechellia but is highly toxic for three closely related species (D. melanogaster, D. simulans, D. mauritiana). A simple bioassay is described with which a clear dose response to the fruit was found for these species. Significant differences in reactivity to the ripe fruit were found among species. Tested strains ofD. simulans andD. mauritiana adults were more sensitive to the toxic properties of the fruit thanD. melanogaster. A marked intraspecific variability was shown inD. melanogaster. Reciprocal interspecific hybridizations betweenD. sechellia andD. mauritiana suggested an autosomal dominant control of resistance. MoreoverD. melanogaster intraspecific crossings suggested the influence of an additional X-linked factor. Responses of flies toMorinda fruit in different states were tested in a T olfactometer. The less resistant strains ofDrosophila generally showed less preference for the ripe fruit.