Relict communities and populations of petrophilous plant species in northern regions of Sverdlovsk oblast and problems in their conservation

An inventory of rock vegetation has been taken in river valleys on the eastern slope of the southern part of the Northern Urals and the northern part of the Middle Urals. New habitats of some rare plant species, relict communities of forest-steppe species at the northern limit of their distribution, and ultrasmall populations of petrophilous species growing in isolation for a long time have been revealed. In studies on a group of similar specially protected areas (e.g., within river valleys), it is proposed to identify key sites distinguished by the highest species richness of vegetation     

Specific features of phenetic structure of the terrestrial snail <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cepaea vindobonensis</Emphasis> (Pulmonata; Helicidae) in urbanized and natural populations

The phenetic structure of natural and urbanized populations of the terrestrial snail Cepaea vindobonensis has been studied with respect to polymorphism in the shell-band color and pattern. It is noted that C. vindobonensis snails populating different artificial habitats in the city of Nikolaev and its suburbs are characterized by a higher level of both intra-and interpopulation diversity with respect to the type of this polymorphism. In addition, urban populations show a very wide range of variation in the frequencies of particular morphs or their groups. Conversely, natural populations are characterized by a more uniform frequency structure with respect to polymorphism of the shell banding pattern.     

Origin of major ions in monthly rainfall events at the Bamenda Highlands, North West Cameroon

Rainwater characteristics can reveal emissions from various anthropogenic and natural sources into the atmosphere. The physico-chemical characteristics of 44 monthly rainfall events （collected between January and December 2012） from 4 weather stations （Bamenda, Ndop plain, Ndawara and Kumbo） in the Bamenda Highlands （BH） were investigated. The purpose was to determine the sources of chemical species, their seasonal inputs and suitability of the rainwater for drinking. The mean pH of 5 indicated the slightly acidic nature of the rainwater. Average total dissolved solids （TDS） were low （6.7 mg/L）, characteristic of unpolluted atmospheric moisture/air. Major ion concentrations （mg/L） were low and in the order K＋ 〉 Ca2＋ 〉 Mg2~ 〉 Na＋ for cations and NO3 〉〉 HCO3 〉 SO] 〉 CI- 〉 PO3- 〉 F- for anions. The average rainwater in the area was mixed Ca-Mg-SO4-CI water type. The CI-/Na＋ ratio （1.04） was comparable to that of seawater （1.16）, an indication that N a＋ and CI originated mainly from marine （Atlantic Ocean） aerosols. High enrichments of Ca2＋, Mg2＋ and SO2- to Na＋ ratios relative to seawater ratios （constituting 44% of the total ions） demonstrated their terrigenous origin, mainly from Saharan and Sahelian arid dusts. The K＋/Na＋ ratio （2.24）, which was similar to tropical vegetation ash （2.38）, and NO3 was essentially from biomass burning. Light （〈 100 mm） pre-monsoon and post-monsoon convective rains were enriched in major ions than the heavy （〉 100 mm） monsoon rains, indicating a high contribution of major ions during the low convective showers. Despite the acidic nature, the TDS and major ion concentrations classified the rainwater as potable based on the WHO guidelines.     

A time-compressed simulated geomagnetic storm influences the nest-exiting flight angles of the stingless bee Tetragonisca angustula

Insects have been used as models for understanding animal orientation. It is well accepted that social insects such as honeybees and ants use different natural cues in their orientation mechanism. A magnetic sensitivity was suggested for the stingless bee Schwarziana quadripunctata, based on the observation of a surprising effect of a geomagnetic storm on the nest-exiting flight angles. Stimulated by this result, in this paper, the effects of a time-compressed simulated geomagnetic storm (TC-SGS) on the nest-exiting flight angles of another stingless bee, Tetragonisca angustula, are presented. Under an applied SGS, either on the horizontal or vertical component of the geomagnetic field, both nest-exiting flight angles, dip and azimuth, are statistically different from those under geomagnetic conditions. The angular dependence of ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) spectra of whole stingless bees shows the presence of organized magnetic nanoparticles in their bodies, which indicates this material as a possible magnetic detector.     

Low abundance of long-tongued pollinators leads to pollen limitation in four specialized hawkmoth-pollinated plants in the Atlantic Rain forest,Brazil

Long-tubed hawkmoth-pollinated species present some of the most remarkable examples of floral specialization depending exclusively on long-tongued hawkmoths for sexual reproduction. Nonetheless, long-tongued hawkmoths do not rely exclusively on specialized plants as nectar sources, which may limit sexual reproduction through pollen limitation. However, very few studies have quantified the level of pollen limitation in plants with highly specialized floral traits in tropical regions. In this context, we studied four sympatric hawkmoth-pollinated species in a highland Atlantic Rain forest and assessed pollen limitation and their dependence on pollinators by analyzing the floral biology, breeding system, pollination mechanisms, and abundance of long-tongued pollinators. We showed that the four species are self-compatible, but are completely dependent on long-tongued hawkmoths to set fruits, and that flower visitation was infrequent in all plant species. Pollen limitation indices ranged from 0.53 to 0.96 showing that fruit set is highly limited by pollen receipt. Long-tongued moths are much less abundant and comprise only one sixth of the hawkmoth fauna. Pollen analyses of 578 sampled moths revealed that hawkmoths visited ca. 80 plant species in the community, but only two of the four species studied. Visited plants included a long-tubed hawkmoth-pollinated species endemic to the lowland forest ca. 15–20 km away from the study site. Specialization index (H ₂ ′?=?0.20) showed that community-level interactions between hawkmoths and plants are generalized. We suggest that sexual reproduction of these highly specialized hawkmoth-pollinated species is impaired by competition among plants for pollinators, in conjunction with the low abundance and diversity of long-tongued pollinators.     

SFBR中好氧颗粒污泥的培养及特性研究

接种自行培养的活性污泥,以模拟废水为基质,采用连续进水、间歇出水及厌氧/好氧交替的运行模式,尝试了在SFBR中进行好氧颗粒污泥的培养,并研究了好氧颗粒污泥的特性及反应器对污染物的去除效果.结果表明,通过逐步缩短沉降时间,28 d时成功培养出好氧颗粒污泥,所形成的好氧颗粒污泥呈黄色、形状不规则,且粒径较小(平均粒径0.56 mm),正常情况下的SVI保持在70 mL·g-1以下,EPS在59 d时达到最大值(以MLVSS计)373.24 mg·g-1,较培养初期增加了约2.5倍,运行后期由于颗粒出现解体,导致EPS急剧下降;反应器在运行过程中未能保持较高的污泥量,中后期MLSS始终在3 000mg·L-1以下;在63 d的运行时间里,除异常波动外,反应器对COD的去除率基本维持在90%左右,正常情况下出水COD小于100 mg·L-1,反应器对NH+4-N、TIN的去除效果波动较大,去除率分别为44.45%~94.72%及43.87%~93.13%,反应器对TP的去除率在44.50%~97.40%之间,正常情况下TP去除率可维持在60%以上;限于自动控制水平,夜间长时间的好氧饥饿期容易造成丝状菌过度生长,使得AGS在生长竞争中处于劣势,最终导致了AGS的解体.     

胞外聚合物磷酸盐形态对生物除磷过程的影响研究

以不同DO条件下污泥龄(SRT)分别为10 d和30 d的两组实验室A/O-SBR反应器活性污泥为研究对象,探讨了胞外聚合物(EPS)磷酸盐形态对生物除磷过程的影响.结果表明,污泥絮体中的磷主要分布于EPS中,PO3-4-P和聚磷酸盐(Poly-P,包括低分子量聚磷酸盐LMW PolyP和高分子量聚磷酸盐HMW Poly-P)是EPS磷的主要形态;EPS对生物除磷的影响明显大于细菌细胞,EPS磷的厌氧降低量和好氧升高量为胞内磷变化量的2.8~6.4倍.EPS中的LMW Poly-P和HMW Poly-P含量均表现厌氧降低和好氧升高的变化规律;对于相同SRT的污泥,中DO(2.5~3.5 mg·L-1)条件较低DO(0.7~1.0 mg·L-1)条件下EPS的LMW Poly-P和HMW Poly-P有更大的厌氧降低量和好氧升高量,对应着更明显的生物除磷过程,说明EPS不仅是生物除磷过程的中转站,而且参与了生物聚磷过程.     

树脂基固态胺吸附剂室温下对低浓度CO2的吸附性能研究

以大孔甲基丙烯酸酯吸附树脂为载体,聚乙烯亚胺(PEI)为有机胺,采用液相浸渍法制备出固态胺吸附剂,并研究了其在室温下对低浓度CO2的吸附行为.同时,利用氮气吸附、热重分析和扫描电镜表征了材料的物理化学性质,并采用热重法和固定床吸附法考察了材料的CO2吸附性能.结果表明,大孔树脂担载50%PEI(质量分数)时吸附性能最佳,对纯CO2的最大吸附量为175 mg·g-1;CO2的吸附行为由扩散动力学与吸附热力学共同决定,低温有利于提高吸附容量;吸附剂对400 ppm~15%浓度的CO2都具有优异的动态吸附性能,其中对400 ppm CO2的吸附量达到86 mg·g-1,对15%CO2的吸附量达到150 mg·g-1;湿度对吸附起促进作用,相对湿度为10%时,对400 ppm CO2的吸附量提高至139mg·g-1;吸附剂具有优异的循环性能,具有直接空气捕集CO2的潜力.     

填埋场中铁的生物化学循环对反硝化的影响

在模拟填埋体系中,以填埋场稳定的垃圾为接种物,通过控制有机物和硝氮负荷,研究了铁的生物化学循环对反硝化的影响.结果表明,垃圾填埋场内蕴藏着能实现铁的厌氧氧化还原并同步还原硝氮的复合功能菌群.通过改变有机物和硝氮的负荷,可使得填埋场内持续进行着铁的氧化还原循环和同步氮素转化.从氮素转化产物来看,铁的循环体系中氨氮浓度比传统的反硝化体系低4 mmol·L-1.填埋场内铁的生物化学循环过程对于原位脱氮具有极大贡献.     

HPLC-ICP-MS在植物有机硒形态分析中的应用现状

植物是人们摄取硒的主要来源,富硒植物中富含可开发利用的有机硒,我国湖北恩施高硒地区富硒植物资源丰富亟待开发利用。植物中硒的形态分析是研究开发富硒植物资源的基础,而高效液相色谱与电感耦合等离子体质谱联用技术(HPLC-ICP-MS)是目前硒形态分析使用最为广泛的技术,它在样品的前处理、分析灵敏度、准确性等方面均具有优势,可以实现富硒植物中含硒生物大分子、硒形态以及与氨基酸结合位点及机理的分析。因此作者综述了植物样品的预处理过程,介绍了HPLC-ICP-MS联用技术在测定植物硒形态及其应用方面的研究成果,为我国富硒植物、富硒产品中硒形态的分析测定、开发富硒植物资源提供指导。