CO2倍增和施氮对水稻不同生长期土壤反硝化细菌丰度的影响

随着全球气候变化的不断加剧,大气CO₂浓度呈明显增加趋势,这将间接影响土壤-植物-微生物系统的氮循环过程.为研究典型水稻土壤反硝化细菌对CO₂浓度升高的响应规律和机制,借助水稻密闭培养箱,运用实时荧光定量聚合酶链式反应（Real-Time qPCR）分子技术,设置不施氮（0 mg/kg）和常规施氮（100 mg/kg）2个处理,研究CO₂倍增对水稻不同生长期土壤关键反硝化功能细菌（narG、nirK和nirS型）丰度的影响.结果表明:①在2种施氮水平,CO₂倍增显著促进了水稻分蘖期、孕穗期、扬花期和成熟期水稻根系生长（增幅为2.96%~28.4%）、地上部生物量增加（增幅为7.1%~107.3%）以及成熟期籽粒干质量的增加（增幅为19.5%和38.0%）,具有显著的增产效应.②反硝化细菌丰度对CO₂倍增的响应与生育期及施氮水平有关,CO₂倍增在2个施氮水平均抑制分蘖期反硝化细菌的繁殖,显著增加孕穗期反硝化细菌数量;在水稻扬花期,CO₂倍增促进了施氮处理narG和nirS型反硝化细菌数量的增加,在成熟期抑制未施氮处理下narG、nirK和nirS型反硝化细菌的生长.另外,narG、nirK、nirS型反硝化细菌丰度整体表现为narG > nirS > nirK,且随水稻的生长,其在成熟期的丰度均呈降低趋势.nirK和nirS基因同属亚硝酸还原酶,但nirS基因丰度高于nirK,且对CO₂倍增和施氮的响应有所差异.研究显示,CO₂倍增可显著增加水稻生长和产量,不同施氮水平对稻田土壤反硝化细菌丰度的影响存在差异.      

水生生态系统中的氮

从淡水到河口、沿海和海水系统的连续统一体中,水生生态系统对营养富集和营养比变化的反应各不相同.尽管在淡水系统里,人们认为磷是浮游植物生产的限制性营养元素,但大气中氮的影响和它对淡水酸化所起的作用却可以是有害的.从河口到海岸带的连续统一体中,随着盐的梯度和季节不同,在氮、磷、硅之间出现多元的营养限制,但是,一般认为氮是浮游植物生物量积累的主要限制性营养元素.在氮和磷通量、浮游植物初级生产及渔业产量之间有确切的、非线性的正相关关系.流向河口.海岸和海洋系统的营养负载超过了营养富集后生产活动的同化能力,以及水质发生恶化时,存在着各种阈值.其影响包括有害和有毒藻类的滋生、混浊度增加,随后是沉水植物消失、缺氧、生态系统功能瓦解、栖息地丧失、生物多样性丧失、食物网变换,以及捕捞渔业的损失.     

Distributions of zinc, copper, cadmium and lead in a tropical ultisol after long-term disposal of sewage sludge

Heavy metals present in soils constitute serious environmental hazards from the point of view of polluting the soils and adjoining streams and rivers. The distribution of heavy metals in a sandy Ultisol (Arenic Kandiustult) in south eastern Nigeria subjected to 40 years disposal of sewage wastes (sludge and effluents) was studied using two profile pits (S/NSK/1 and S/NSK/2) sited in the sewage disposal area and one profile pit (NS/NSK) sited in the non-sewage disposal area. Soil samples were collected in duplicate from these soil horizons and analyzed for their heavy metal contents. The mean concentrations of Zn, Cu, Cd and Pb in the top- and sub-soil horizons of sewage soil were 79.3, 32, 0.29 and 1.15 mg/kg, respectively. These levels were high enough to constitute health and phytotoxic risks. All the metal levels were much higher in the AB horizon in the sewage than in the non-sewage soil profile, but Pb and Cu contents were also high down to the Bt1 horizon, indicating their apparent relatively high mobility in this soil. There was a significant correlation between organic matter (OM) and Zn (r=0.818**), and between OM and Cd (0.864**) in the sewage soil. The high OM status of the sewage sludge, together with its corresponding low pH, might have favoured metal-OM complexation that could reduce heavy metal mobility and phytotoxicity in this soil.     

Nonylphenol in the environment: a critical review on occurrence, fate, toxicity and treatment in wastewaters

Nonylphenol is a toxic xenobiotic compound classified as an endocrine disrupter capable of interfering with the hormonal system of numerous organisms. It originates principally from the degradation of nonylphenol ethoxylates which are widely used as industrial surfactants. Nonylphenol ethoxylates reach sewage treatment works in substantial quantities where they biodegrade into several by-products including nonylphenol. Due to its physical-chemical characteristics, such as low solubility and high hydrophobicity, nonylphenol accumulates in environmental compartments that are characterised by high organic content, typically sewage sludge and river sediments, where it persists. The occurrence of nonylphenol in the environment is clearly correlated with anthropogenic activities such as wastewater treatment, landfilling and sewage sludge recycling. Nonylphenol is found often in matrices such as sewage sludge, effluents from sewage treatment works, river water and sediments, soil and groundwater. The impacts of nonylphenol in the environment include feminization of aquatic organisms, decrease in male fertility and the survival of juveniles at concentrations as low as 8.2 mug/l. Due to the harmful effects of the degradation products of nonylphenol ethoxylates in the environment, the use and production of such compounds have been banned in EU countries and strictly monitored in many other countries such as Canada and Japan. Although it has been shown that the concentration of nonylphenol in the environment is decreasing, it is still found at concentrations of 4.1 mug/l in river waters and 1 mg/kg in sediments. Nonylphenol has been referred to in the list of priority substances in the Water Frame Directive and in the 3rd draft Working Document on Sludge of the EU. Consequently there is currently a concern within some industries about the possibility of future regulations that may impose the removal of trace contaminants from contaminated effluents. The significance of upgrading sewage treatment works with advanced treatment technologies for removal of trace contaminants is discussed.     

Risk assessment and pathway study of arsenic in industrially contaminated sites of Hyderabad: a case study

Different areas in the industrial region of Patancheru near Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh (A.P), India are contaminated with high concentration of arsenic, which is attributed to industrial source like veterinary chemicals, pharmaceuticals, pesticide industries, etc. Fourteen villages of this area of Patancheru were assessed for arsenic contamination by collecting samples of water (surface and ground), soil, fodder, milk, and vegetables. The total arsenic content in the whole blood, urine, hair, and nails of the residents showing arsenical skin lesions and other clinical manifestations were also studied. To understand the bioavailability of arsenic in this environment and its possible entry into human food chain, speciation studies of arsenic was carried out and the results are presented in this paper.     

A model testing study for the transfer of radioactivity to fruit

This paper compares predictions of the foodchain model SPADE with experimental data for the transfer of (134)Cs and (85)Sr to strawberry plants following acute foliar and soil contamination. The transfer pathways considered in this exercise included direct deposition to fruit, leaf-to-fruit, soil-to-leaf and soil-to-fruit transfers. Following foliar contamination, the difference between predicted and measured radionuclide activity values varied between a factor of 0.5-10 for fruit and 4.5-7 for leaf. Following soil contamination, the difference between predicted and measured values varied between a factor of 3-74 for fruit and 32-44 for leaf. In all cases the difference between measured and predicted values was smaller for (85)Sr than (134)Cs. Measured and predicted activities were higher for leaf than fruit. Both measured and predicted (134)Cs concentrations in fruit and leaf are higher when deposition occurs at ripening than at anthesis. These results confirm the need for more data on fruit, even for Cs and Sr, to support models in predicting the transfer of radionuclides to fruit crops. Ongoing research projects funded by the UK Food Standards Agency aim to provide some data on radionuclide transfer to herbaceous, shrub and tree fruits, which will help improve radiological assessment models in order to provide better protection for consumers.     

Exoautometabolic regulation of transgenes in microorganisms

Data on the existence of a specific system regulating the growth, size, and structure of enterobacterial populations are first summarized in terms of the chemical ecology concept formulated by S.S. Shvarts. The role of this system in transgene functioning is described using the example of the lux operon integrated into Escherichia coli. A relatively simple test for estimating such interactions is proposed.Translated from Ekologiya, No. 2, 2005, pp. 91–96.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Pshenichnov, Maslennikova, Nikitina.