Stable carbon isotope variability in marine macrophytes and its implications for food web studies

Stable carbon isotope ratios (¹³C) of eelgrass Zostera marina and of kelp Laminaria longicruris showed considerable variation in time and space. The isotopic composition of Z. marina varied seasonally from a mean of-6 for leaves formed in June to a mean of-10 for leaves formed in February. The maximum range for individual leaves was from-5 to-11.4. Once a leaf was fully formed, its isotopic composition appeared not to change. In L. longicruris there was no clear seasonal pattern of variation, but in any given blade there was a spatial pattern of variation, with the thickened central band tending to be least negative and the margins most negative. In one blade the range was from-12 to-20. Since this range overlaps values that are found in various other macrophytes and in seston, the value of the stable carbon isotope ratio as a tracer in food webs involving macroalgae is questioned. For Z. marina, in which the values are seasonally predictable, the technique may be useful if interpreted with care. The most probable explanation of variation in the ratios is differential storage of biochemical components of different isotopic compostion.     

Degradation and metabolism of hexazinone by two isolated bacterial strains from soil

Two hexazinone-degrading bacterial strains were isolated from soil by enrichment culture technique, and identified as Pseudomonas sp. and Enterobacter cloacap. The two purified isolates, designated as WFX-1 and WFX-2, could rapidly degrade hexazinone with a half-life of 3.08 days and 2.95 days in mineral salt medium (MSM), while their mixed bacterial culture was found to degrade hexazinone, at an initial concentration of 50 microg/ml, by enhancing 2.3-fold over that when the isolates were used alone. Two microbial metabolites (A and D) were obtained by preparative TLC and identified on the basis of the spectral data of IR, 1H NMR and HPLC-ESI-MS, but both of them were known products as they had been reported in soil and vegetation metabolites of hexazinone. However, metabolites B and C were new degradates, whose molecular weights (MW) were 157 and 156, respectively, being reported from microbial metabolism for the first time.     

两种掺气水流的计算模型比较

在污水压力输送管道中，污水中气体的存在会影响液体的流动，以污水管中的气、液相流为研究对象，运用集中空穴模型（气泡离散分布模型）和均匀分布模型两种计算方法，来研究停泵水锤过程的压力和流速的变化趋势，实例计算结果表，在设有止回阀的水锤现象中，利用离散分布模型所得的最高水位要比利用均匀分布模型的计算值高，在不设止回阀的水锤现象中，两者的结构基本保持一致。均匀分布模型假定气体在水中呈均匀分布，因此在计算断面上的气体量变化不如离散分布模型来得剧烈，其水位正峰值比离散分布模型低，负峰值比离散分布模型高。     

Contrasting structure and composition of the understory in species-rich tropical rain forests

In large samples of trees > or = 1 cm dbh (more than 1 million trees and 3000 species), in six lowland tropical forests on three continents, we assigned species with >30 individuals to one of six classes of stature at maturity (SAM). We then compared the proportional representation of understory trees (1-2 cm dbh) among these classes. The understory of the three Asian sites was predominantly composed of the saplings of large-canopy trees whereas the African and American sites were more richly stocked with trees of the smaller SAM classes. Differences in class representation were related to taxonomic families that were present exclusively in one continent or another. Families found in the Asian plots but not in the American plot (e.g., Dipterocarpaceae, Fagaceae) were predominantly species of the largest SAM classes, whereas families exclusive to the American plots (e.g., Melastomataceae sensu stricto, Piperaceae, and Malvaceae [Bombacacoidea]) were predominantly species of small classes. The African plot was similar to Asia in the absence of those American families rich in understory species, while similar to America in lacking the Asian families rich in canopy species. The numerous understory species of Africa were chiefly derived from families shared with Asia and/or America. The ratio of saplings (1-2 cm dbh) to conspecific canopy trees (>40 cm dbh) was lower in American plots than in the Asian plots. Possible explanations for these differences include phenology, moisture and soil fertility regimes, phyletic constraints, and the role of early successional plants in forest development. These results demonstrate that tropical forests that appear similar in tree number, basal area, and the family taxonomy of canopy trees nonetheless differ in ecological structure in ways that may impact the ecology of pollinators, dispersers, and herbivores and might reflect fundamental differences in canopy tree regeneration.     

Application of SO(4)(2-)/TiO2 solid superacid in decontaminating radioactive pollutants

Polyaniline doped with SO(4)(2-)/TiO(2) superacid shows good conductive ability. When used in a strippable coating film for decontaminating radioactive pollutants, the SO(4)(2-)/TiO(2) solid superacid replacing HCl exhibits higher electrical conductivity (7.01 s/cm) and a decontamination ratio higher than 97%. Coating and electrolyzing the film in solution or in dry medium were effective methods, the latter was more promising for decontaminating radioactive pollutants which were attached to the surface or within the body of equipments used in nuclear industry.     

某厂氩气纯化器失效分析及对策

某厂氩气纯化器是由1Cr18Ni9不锈钢制成,在使用过程中出现致密性的网状裂纹开裂。详细论述了氩气纯化器开裂失效的原因,并通过理论分析及实践摸索,找出了应对氩气纯化器失效的对策。并在实际运行中得到了验证,确保了新制氩气纯化器的安全可靠运行。     

多元可燃性混合气体临界氧浓度的测定

可燃性气体(蒸气)的临界氧浓度目前只限于对单元气体混合物的研究,且影响因素较少提及。通过实验测定了人工煤气、液化石油气的爆炸极限和临界氧浓度,对可燃性气体(蒸气)临界氧浓度的影响因素进行了研究,所测定的数据为煤气、液化石油气的安全防爆工作提供了依据。     

The toxicity of cadmium ion (Cd2+) to phycocyanin: an in vitro spectroscopic study

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The pollution of heavy metals is a severer problem for the ecosystems in waters. The toxicity of Cd2+ on phycocyanin (PC) is studied in molecular...     

Recycling sewage sludge into ceramic materials: A review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Huge amounts of unwanted sewage sludge are generated in the process of wastewater treatment, calling for methods to recycle sewage sludges into value-added...     

Slowest of the slow: latitudinal insensitivity of burrowing capacity in the bivalve <Emphasis Type="Italic">Laternula</Emphasis>

Low temperature limits the rate of biochemical reactions and aerobic scopes of cold water ectotherms. To compensate for this limiting effect, animals living in cold environments often possess physiological or morphological adaptations to maintain vital functions. Cross-latitudinal comparison of aerobic capacities is one method to test which factors constrain activity in thermally distinct environments particularly when congeneric studies are carried out on related species with conservative ecology and habitat. Burrowing is a major aerobic activity of bivalve molluscs that is described here for the first time for the tropical mangrove species Laternula truncata and Laternula boschasina and then compared with their Antarctic congener Laternula elliptica. About 80% of L. truncata (16.3–46.1 mm shell length) and 63% of L. boschasina (11.3–27.7 mm shell length) buried within 24 h at 28°C. The burrowing rate index (BRI = [³√wet weight/time to bury]×10⁴) ranged between 1.1 and 20.2 for L. boschasina and 1.1–32.9 for L. truncata. These values are 2–3 orders of magnitude less than other tropical bivalve molluscs and are amongst the lowest recorded for any bivalve. Comparisons with the Antarctic L. elliptica showed little or no differences in BRI (Q ₁₀ of 1.0–1.2 for specimens of the same size). This is contrary to the general pattern over a wide range of bivalves, where BRI increases with a Q ₁₀ of between 2.9 and 6.4 between high latitudes and the equator. L. elliptica has 25–30% longer relative foot length than tropical congeners of the same size, which could be a morphological adaptation compensating for reduced burrowing speeds in a colder environment. Burrowing rates within the genus Laternula could, however, also be maintained by differing habitat, ecological and physiological constraints on burrowing capability.