Bioaccumulation and physiological effects of excess lead in a roadside pioneer species Sonchus oleraceus L

Seedlings of Sonchus oleraceus L. were transplanted to soil supplied with lead acetate at dosages of 0, 800, 1600 and 3200 mg kg(-1) DW. Measures of chlorophyll content, peroxidase (POD) activity, shoot length, biomass and Pb content in the plant tissues were obtained from the experimental plants. With increasing amounts of Pb in the soil, the chlorophyll content, shoot length and biomass decreased, while POD activity and Pb content in the plant tissues increased. At 3200 mg kg(-1) Pb treatment, Pb content in the plant leaf, stem and root were 65.67, 149.82 and 1113.24 mg kg(-1), respectively. Only at 3200 mg kg(-1) Pb treatment did chlorophyll content, shoot length and biomass significantly increase by 18, 15 and 44%, respectively, while POD decreased by 39% over the control. The potential of applying this species in phytoremediation of Pb contaminated roadside soils and thus restoration of the roadside vegetation are discussed.     

A comparative study on the biosorption characteristics of some yeasts for Remazol Blue reactive dye

Biosorption capacities and rates of different kinds of dried yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Kluyveromyces marxianus, Candida sp., C. tropicalis, C. lipolytica, C. utilis, C. quilliermendii and C. membranaefaciens) for Remazol Blue reactive dye from aqueous solutions were compared under laboratory conditions as a function of initial pH and initial dye concentration. Optimum initial biosorption pH was determined as 2 for all the yeasts. All the yeast species showed comparable and very high dye sorption at 100 mg/l initial dye concentration. The equilibrium sorption capacity of the biomass increased with increasing initial dye concentration up to 400 mg/l for Candida sp. C. lipolytica and C. tropicalis; up to 300 mg/l for C. quilliermendii and C. utilis and up to 200 mg/l for S. cerevisiae, S. pombe, K. marxianus and C. membranaefaciens while the adsorption yield of dye showed the opposite trend for all the yeasts. Among the nine yeast species, C. lipolytica exhibited the highest dye uptake capacity (Q(0) = 250 mg/g). Both the Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption models were found suitable for describing the biosorption of the dye by all the Candida yeasts (except C. membranaefaciens). The results indicated that the dye uptake process followed the pseudo-second-order kinetics for each dye-yeast system.     

Sample purification for analysis of organochlorine pesticides in sediment and fish muscle

The methods of sample purification for determinations of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in sediment and fish muscle were investigated in this study. A two-step procedure with preliminary cleanup and florisil column fraction was adopted. The working conditions of florisil column were firstly optimized. As to preliminary cleanup, liquid-liquid extraction by mixture of dimethyl formamide (DMF) and hexane and sulphonation by concentrated sulfuric acid were applied respectively and compared for the studied samples. The results indicated that liquid-liquid distribution could effectively separate lipids from fish muscle extracts, while failed in elimination of chlorophyll extracted from the relicts of hydrophytes in the sediment sample. In view of the sample appearance and clarity of gas chromatogram, sulphonation was more suitable to purify the sediment sample, however, the recoveries of the spiked standards were poor. The use of eluting solvent with stronger polarity could improve the corresponding recoveries significantly. Due to complete loss of Dieldrin, Endrin, and Endrin aldehyde after sulphonation, this pretreatment was improper to the three components. Sulfur, as the particular disturbing element in sediment, could be removed sufficiently by addition of activated copper powder. The relevant detection limits of the selected methods for OCPs in the studied substrates were also provided.     

Halogen production from aqueous tropospheric particles

Box model studies have been performed to study the role of aqueous phase chemistry with regard to halogen activation for marine and urban clouds and the marine aerosol as well. Different chemical pathways leading to halogen activation in diluted cloud droplets and highly concentrated sea salt aerosol particles are investigated. The concentration of halides in cloud droplets is significantly smaller than in sea-salt particles, and hence different reaction sequences control the overall chemical conversions. In diluted droplets radical chemistry involving OH, NO(3), Cl/Cl(2)(-)/ClOH(-), and Br/Br(2)(-)/BrOH(-) gains in importance and pH independent pathways lead to the release of halogens from the particle phase whereas the chemistry in aerosol particles with high electrolyte concentrations is controlled by non-radical reactions at high ionic strengths and relatively low pH values.For the simulation of halogen activation in tropospheric clouds and aqueous aerosol particles in different environments a halogen module was developed including both gas and aqueous phase processes of halogen containing species. This module is coupled to a base mechanism consisting of RACM (Regional Atmospheric Chemistry Mechanism) and the Chemical Aqueous Phase Radical Mechanism CAPRAM 2.4 (MODAC-mechanism). Phase exchange is described by the resistance model by Chemistry of Multiphase Atmospheric Systems, NATO ASI Series, 1986.It can be shown that under cloud conditions the bromine atom is mainly produced by OH initiated reactions, i.e. its concentration maximum is reached at noon. In contrast, the concentration level of chlorine atoms is linked to NO(3) radical chemistry leading to a smaller amplitude between day and night time concentrations.The contribution of radical processes to halogen atom formation in the particle phase is evident, e.g. by halogen atoms which undergo direct phase transfer. Furthermore, the application of the multiphase model for initial concentrations for sea-salt aerosols shows that the particle phase can act as a main source of halogen containing molecules (Cl(2), BrCl, Br(2)) which are photolysed in the gas phase to yield halogen atoms (about 70% of all Cl sources and more than 99% for Br).     

Biodegradation of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol in the presence of primary substrate by immobilized pure culture bacteria

In this study, pure strains that are capable of utilizing 2,4,6-trichlorophenol have been isolated from the mixed culture grown on substrates containing chlorophenolic compounds. Studies have been carried out on the capability of these isolated pure strains in suspended and immobilized forms to decompose 2,4,6-trichlorophenol. Additionally, the influence of primary substrates (e.g., phenol, 2-chlorophenol, 3-chlorophenol, 4-chlorophenol, 2,4-dichlorophenol) on the decomposition of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol by the isolated pure strains grown in immobilized form is also investigated. The results are: Through bacterial isolation and identification, three pure strains have been obtained: Pseudomonas spp. strain 01, Pseudomonas spp. strain 02 and Agrobacterium spp. Whether in suspended or immobilized forms, all strains have poor removal efficiencies of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol. However, addition of 200 mg/l phenol will enable the immobilized Pseudomonas spp. strain 01, and Pseudomonas spp. strain 02 to achieve 65% and 48% removal of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, respectively. Addition of phenol will assist the immobilized Pseudomonas spp. strain 02 in achieving removal of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol but the removal efficiency is not good if the phenol concentration is too low. The optimum phenol concentration should be between 200 and 400 mg/l.     

The use of mosses and pine needles to detect persistent organic pollutants at local and regional scales

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analysed in mosses (Hypnum cupressiforme) and pine needles (Pinus sylvestris) collected in the Czech Republic between 1988-94 at a regional background site in Kosetice, south Bohemia (1988-94) and two industrial sources. One industrial site (sampled 1989-91) in middle Moravia, was near a factory producing PAHs, carbon black and phthalates, the other (sampled 1991-93) near a coal and gas fuel production plant in western Bohemia. Selected chlorinated pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyl congeners were also analysed in samples at the regional background site. This study clearly shows that vegetation sampling can be used to show spatial differences in the atmospheric burden of a range of persistent organic pollutants with differences in the mixtures of compounds reflecting differences in their regional or local use/atmospheric emission.     

Synthesis of effects in four Arctic subregions

An assessment of impacts on Arctic terrestrial ecosystems has emphasized geographical variability in responses of species and ecosystems to environmental change. This variability is usually associated with north-south gradients in climate, biodiversity, vegetation zones, and ecosystem structure and function. It is clear, however, that significant east-west variability in environment, ecosystem structure and function, environmental history, and recent climate variability is also important. Some areas have cooled while others have become warmer. Also, east-west differences between geographical barriers of oceans, archipelagos and mountains have contributed significantly in the past to the ability of species and vegetation zones to relocate in response to climate changes, and they have created the isolation necessary for genetic differentiation of populations and biodiversity hot-spots to occur. These barriers will also affect the ability of species to relocate during projected future warming. To include this east-west variability and also to strike a balance between overgeneralization and overspecialization, the ACIA identified four major sub regions based on large-scale differences in weather and climate-shaping factors. Drawing on information, mostly model output that can be related to the four ACIA subregions, it is evident that geographical barriers to species re-location, particularly the distribution of landmasses and separation by seas, will affect the northwards shift in vegetation zones. The geographical constraints--or facilitation--of northward movement of vegetation zones will affect the future storage and release of carbon, and the exchange of energy and water between biosphere and atmosphere. In addition, differences in the ability of vegetation zones to re-locate will affect the biodiversity associated with each zone while the number of species threatened by climate change varies greatly between subregions with a significant hot-spot in Beringia. Overall, the subregional synthesis demonstrates the difficulty of generalizing projections of responses of ecosystem structure and function, species loss, and biospheric feedbacks to the climate system for the whole Arctic region and implies a need for a far greater understanding of the spatial variability in the responses of terrestrial arctic ecosystems to climate change.     

Assessing the efficacy of dredged materials from lake panasoffkee,Florida: Implication to environment and agriculture

BACKGROUND, AIMS AND SCOPE: Current dredged material disposal alternatives have several limitations. Options for dealing with dredged materials include leaving them alone, capping them with clean sediments, placing them in confined facilities, disposing of them at upland sites, treating them chemically, or using them for wetlands creation or other beneficial uses The ability to reuse lake-dredge materials (LDM) for agricultural purposes is important because it reduces the need for offshore disposal and provides an alternative to disposal of the materials in landfills. Often these materials can be obtained at little or no cost to the farmers or landowners. Thus, forage production offers an alternative to waste management since nutrients in the LDM are recycled into crops that are not directly consumed by humans. The objective of this study (Part 2) were to: (1) assess dredge materials from Lake Panasoffkee, Florida as a soil amendment to establish bahiagrass (BG) in a subtropical beef cattle pasture in Sumter County, Florida; and (2) determine the effect of LDM application on the crude protein (CP) and nutrient uptake of BG. This series of two papers aims at providing assessment of the efficacy of lake-dredged materials especially its implication to environment (soil quality, Part 1) and agriculture (forage quality and pasture establishment, Part 2). METHODS: The experimental treatments that were evaluated consisted of different ratios of natural soil (NS) to LDM: LDM0 (100% NS:0% LDM); LDM25 (75% NS:25% LDM); LDM50 (50% NS:50% LDM); LDM75 (25% NS:75% LDM); and LDM100 (0% NS:100% LDM). Bahiagrass plots at its early establishment were cut to a 5-cm stubble height on Julian days 112 and harvested to the same stubble height on Julian days 238 and on Julian days 546 following the double-ring method. Field layout was based on the principle of a completely randomized block design with four replications. Plant samples harvested at 546 Julian days were ground to pass through a 1-mm mesh screen in a Wiley mill. Ground forage was analyzed for crude protein. Ground forage samples were also analyzed for tissue P, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Cu, Fe, Al, and Mo concentrations using an ICP spectroscopy. The effects of dredged materials addition on forage yield and on crude protein and nutrient uptake that were taken at 546 Julian days were analyzed statistically following the PROC ANOVA procedures. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Part 1 of this study demonstrated that the heavy and trace metal contents of LDM were below the probable effect levels and threshold effect levels. As such, the agricultural or livestock industry could utilize these LDM to produce forages. Resuits showed consistently and significantly (p < 0.001) higher BG biomass production and CP from plots amended with LDM than those of BG planted on plots with 0% LDM. Forage yield of BG during its establishment increased linearly (Forage Yield = 1724.3 + 25.64*LDM; R2 = 0.83; p < or = 0.0001) with increasing rates of LDM application. The CP of BG also varied significantly with varying levels of LDM applications. The tissues of BG with 100% LDM had the greatest CP content while the lowest CP content was from the control plots (LDM0). The CP of BG increased linearly with increasing rates of LDM application. The crude protein response to BG application can be described by a linear equation: Crude Protein = 10.38 + 0.052*LDM; R2 = 0.85 p < or = 0.0001. Addition of LDM had increased the levels of Ca by about 1811% when compared with the level of soil Ca among plots with no LDM application. Liming the field could have some direct and indirect effects on the chemical status of the soils. The physiological functions performed by Ca in plants are not clearly defined, but it has been suggested that Ca favors the formation of and increases the protein content of mitochondria. CONCLUSIONS: Beneficial uses of dredged materials from LP, Florida are both economical and environmental. Often these materials can be obtained at little or no cost to the farmers or landowners. Results showed that dredged materials can be used as soil amendments (lime and fertilizer) for early establishment of BG in beef cattle pastures. Environmentally, dredging of sediments that are rich in CaCO3 should restore the 19.4-sq km LP by removing natural sediments from the lake bottom to improve the fishery, water quality, and navigation of the lake. The nutritional uptake of BG grown in unfertile sandy soils of Sumter County was enhanced significantly (p < or = 0.001) by LDM addition. Uptake of TKN, TP, K, Ca, and Mg were remarkably increased as a result of LDM. RECOMMENDATION AND OUTLOOK: Land application of LDM from LP may not only provide substantial benefits that will enhance the environment, community, and society in south Florida, but also in other parts of the world especially those areas with forage-based beef cattle pastures and similar climatic conditions. The heavy and trace metal contents of these materials were below the PEL and TEL (see Part 1). As such, the agricultural or livestock industry could utilize these LDM to produce forages. LDM should be regarded as a beneficial resource, as a part of the ecological system. Although our results have demonstrated the favorable and beneficial effects of added LDM on the early establishment of BG in pasture fields., further studies are still needed not only in pastures of south Florida, but also in other areas with subtropical or tropical climatic conditions to determine whether the environmental and ecological implications of LDM application are satisfied over the longer term.     

Parental care compromises feeding in the pumpkinseed (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Lepomis gibbosus</Emphasis>)

Providing parental care is potentially costly. Costs can arise through elevated energy expenditure or from an increased risk of mortality. A cost of parental care can also occur because a parent is compromised in their ability to forage. We used pumpkinseed Lepomis gibbosus, a fish with an alternative male mating strategy, to test whether parental males differed in their feeding in comparison with females and cuckolder males. To address this question, we examined the stomach contents of female, cuckolder male, and parental male pumpkinseed during the breeding season over an entire diel cycle. We showed that parental males had a lower total weight of food in their stomachs in comparison with females, while cuckolder males did not. Parental males also had a lower weight and number of chironomids in their stomachs. The temporal pattern of feeding of parental males diverged from that of females, and they had a lower probability of pupal chironomids in their stomachs, which implies spatial segregation in foraging. Parental males had a greater probability of conspecific eggs in their stomachs than females, while the probability of egg cannibalism did not differ between cuckolder males and females. Overall, these finding meet predictions in accordance with an assumption that parental care and territoriality can compromise feeding.