Impacts of epigeic, anecic and endogeic earthworms on metal and metalloid mobility and availability

The introduction of earthworms into soils contaminated with metals and metalloids has been suggested to aid restoration practices. Eisenia veneta (epigeic), Lumbricus terrestris (anecic) and Allolobophora chlorotica (endogeic) earthworms were cultivated in columns containing 900 g soil with 1130, 345, 113 and 131 mg kg(-1) of As, Cu, Pb and Zn, respectively, for up to 112 days, in parallel with earthworm-free columns. Leachate was produced by pouring water on the soil surface to saturate the soil and generate downflow. Ryegrass was grown on the top of columns to assess metal uptake into biota. Different ecological groups affected metals in the same way by increasing concentrations and free ion activities in leachate, but anecic L. terrestris had the greatest effect by increasing leachate concentrations of As by 267%, Cu by 393%, Pb by 190%, and Zn by 429% compared to earthworm-free columns. Ryegrass grown in earthworm-bearing soil accumulated more metal and the soil microbial community exhibited greater stress. Results are consistent with earthworm enhanced degradation of organic matter leading to release of organically bound elements. The degradation of organic matter also releases organic acids which decrease the soil pH. The earthworms do not appear to carry out a unique process, but increase the rate of a process that is already occurring. The impact of earthworms on metal mobility and availability should therefore be considered when inoculating earthworms into contaminated soils as new pathways to receptors may be created or the flow of metals and metalloids to receptors may be elevated.     

活性炭催化过硫酸钠降解金橙G动力学

采用颗粒活性炭(granular active carbon,GAC)催化过硫酸钠(sodium persulfate,PDS)产生具有强氧化性的硫酸根自由基,以偶氮染料金橙G(orange G,OG)为目标污染物,研究了其降解过程及动力学.结果表明,GAC/PDS体系能通过氧化作用有效地去除金橙G,其中氧化降解速率主要与PDS投量、GAC投加量、溶液的初始浓度及反应温度有关,升高温度和GAC投量可以显著地加快OG的降解.且在初始浓度为0.050～0.125 mmol·L-1、pH值为5.0、n(PDS)/n(OG)为10/1～160/1、GAC投量为0.1～1.6 g·L-1、温度为298～338 K的实验范围内,反应的氧化降解符合一级动力学模型且与实验值吻合良好.另外还对GAC重复使用之后的催化效果进行了初步考察.     

中国东北主要河流沉积物中多溴二苯醚的含量状况及生态风险分析

为揭示多溴二苯醚(PBDEs)在东北主要河流流域内的污染现状,通过采集该地区流域内表层沉积物样品,采用GC-NCIMS技术对沉积物中41种PBDEs同类物进行分析.结果发现沉积物中BDE209含量低于检出限,其它40种PBDEs同类物总含量(不包含BDE209)范围(干重)为0.91~17.67 ng·g-1.其中第二松花江吉林市上游和下游沉积物样品中PBDEs的检出含量最高,分别为15.86 ng·g-1、17.67 ng·g-1,以BDE207和BDE47为主,分别占PBDEs总量的86.5%和76.6%;其它河流沉积物中各同族体含量差异并不明显.实验结果与国内外最近的文献报道值相比较,再结合生态风险分析显示,东北主要河流沉积物中PBDEs的含量处于低污染水平,目前不存在生态风险.     

Study on coupling coordination and spatiotemporal heterogeneity between economic development and ecological environment of cities along the Yellow River Basin

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The Yellow River Basin (YRB) is an important ecological barrier and an important economic zone in China. Under the new requirements of realizing...     

长江干流典型区域河流生境健康评价

河流生境是河流生态系统中的重要组成部分，是维持河流健康的重要因素。河流生境健康的准确评估可以为河流生态系统的保护与修复提供重要依据。针对长江干流生境特点，从河流物理生境形态、河流岸边带生境和水环境特征3个方面选取了10个指标，构建了长江干流生境评价的指标体系。基于该评价体系，在2017年8~9月对长江干流的金沙江下游、三峡库区、长江中下游3个典型区域的127个调查断面进行河流生境综合评估。结果表明：金沙江下游、三峡库区、长江中下游河流生境综合指数（RHI）分值的分别为133.9、124.6、130.8，总体评价等级均为“良”。水流情势、受人类活动干扰是金沙江下游生境变化的主要驱动因子，河岸渠化硬化、河岸植被覆盖、河岸植被带宽则是三峡库区和长江中下游生境变化的主要驱动因子。建议长江上游区域强化水生生物重要栖息地完整性保护，中下游区域加强岸边带、洲滩的生态修复，恢复江湖连通性，构建长江流域生态廊道和生物多样性保护网络。     

Performance of Greater Sage-Grouse Models for Conservation Assessment in the Interior Columbia Basin, U.S.A.

Abstract: Valid modeling of habitats and populations of Greater Sage-Grouse ( Centrocercus urophasianus) is a critical management need because of increasing concern about population viability. Consequently, we evaluated the performance of two models designed to assess landscape conditions for Greater Sage-Grouse across 13.6 million ha of sagebrush steppe in the interior Columbia Basin and adjacent portions of the Great Basin of the western United States (referred to as the basin). The first model, the environmental index model, predicted conditions at the scale of the subwatershed (mean size of approximately 7800 ha) based on inputs of habitat density, habitat quality, and effects of human disturbance. Predictions ranged on a continuous scale from 0 for lowest environmental index to 2 for optimal environmental index. The second model, the population outcome model, predicted the composite, range-wide conditions for sage grouse based on the contribution of environmental index values from all subwatersheds and measures of range extent and connectivity. Population outcomes were expressed as five classes (A through E) that represented a gradient from continuous, well-distributed populations (outcome A) to sparse, highly isolated populations with a high likelihood of extirpation (outcome E). To evaluate performance, we predicted environmental index values and population outcome classes in areas currently occupied by sage grouse versus areas where extirpation has occurred. Our a priori expectations were that models should predict substantially worse environmental conditions ( lower environmental index) and a substantially higher probability of extirpation ( lower population outcome class) in extirpated areas. Results for both models met these expectations. For example, a population outcome of class E was predicted for extirpated areas, as opposed to class C for occupied areas. These results suggest that our models provided reliable landscape predictions for the conditions tested. This finding is important for conservation planning in the basin, where the models were used to evaluate management of federal lands for sage grouse.     

The genetic population structure of the gray mouse lemur (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Microcebus murinus), </Emphasis>a basal primate from Madagascar

The genetic structure of a population is closely connected to fundamental evolutionary processes and aspects of social behavior. Information on genetic structure is therefore instrumental for the interpretation of social behavior and evolutionary reconstructions of social systems. Gray mouse lemurs (Microcebus murinus) are basal primates endemic to Madagascar whose social organization is characterized by solitary foraging at night and communal resting during the day. Conflicting reports about population structure based on behavioral observations led us to examine the genetic structure of one population in detail in order to: (1) identify natural genetic units in this solitary primate, and (2) to test the assumption of current models of primate social evolution that solitary primates are organized in matrilines. DNA was extracted from tissue samples of 85 individuals from Kirindy forest to determine their variability at a 530 bp fragment of the mitochondrial D-loop and at six microsatellite loci. We found that this population was characterized by a great general diversity among mtDNA haplotypes, a pronounced sex difference in mtDNA haplotype diversity and spatial clustering of females with a particular haplotype, but low average relatedness among members of haplotype clusters. Specifically, we identified 13 different haplotypes, which were unevenly distributed among individuals. About 80% of all individuals, most of which were females or juvenile males, shared a single haplotype. Rare haplotypes were almost exclusively represented by single adult males, who apparently migrated into this population. One other haplotype was represented by a small group of females living at one edge of the study area. Microsatellite analysis revealed above-average relatedness among females with overlapping home ranges, as well as no signs of inbreeding, implying that male dispersal results in high levels of gene flow among matrilineal groups. We conclude that gray mouse lemur populations are hierarchically organized in small family units of closely related females that form stable sleeping groups, several of which are connected through a common mtDNA haplotype and form spatially distinct clusters. The presence of such matrilines supports a basic assumption of current models of primate social evolution.