Shifts in Microbial Communities,Microbial Biomass and Organic Matter Mineralization for Three Mediterranean Soils Contaminated By Metals

Microbial communities (phospholipid fatty acid pattern, bacterial growing strategies, eco-physiological index (EPI) and total bacteria counts, as a number of heterotrophic cuhurable bacteria), substrate-induced respiration (SIR), and nitrogen mineralization were studied in three Mediterranean soils at three different depth levels (A, B and C). Soils were experimentally treated with a final concentration of 1000 ppm of trace metals (Cu²⁺, Zn²⁺, Al³⁺, Fe²⁺, Pb²⁺, Ni²⁺, Mn²⁺, Cr³⁺ and Cd²⁺). Soils were stored in 571 plastic containers for one year, and watered with 1001 during this period. Leachate was recovered through a bottom tap. Samples of the three depths were studied. Soil microbial communities showed different effects to other studies presented in the literature, but carried out on non-Mediterranean soils. Dramatic differences were found between treated soils and untreated ones, but not between soils or horizons. the treated soil displayed a decrease in CFUs, SIR N-mineralization and EPI together with a dominance of r-growing strategists. the relative moles percent of several PLFAs, especially 15:0, 16: 1ω7, cy17: 0, br18:0 and 18: 1ω7 decreased because of the pollution of soils, whereas 10Me16, 18:2ω6, cy19:0, i16:0 and br17:0 showed higher values than in untreated soils.     

Population genetic structure of the prosobranch Nassarius reticulatus (L.) in a ria seascape (NW Iberian Peninsula) as revealed by RAPD analysis

Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) banding patterns were compared between samples of the netted dogwhelk Nassarius reticulatus from 11 locations along the NW Iberian Peninsula coast. To detect if rias (estuaries formed by drowned river valleys) might promote genetic differentiation, five sampling sites were located within a ria (ria of Muros) and the remaining six were scattered along open-coast areas at increasing distances from the ria mouth. Population differentiation statistics (Φ-values) were estimated using a hierarchical analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) with samples sorted into two groups: open-coast and ria populations. Despite a high potential to disperse, AMOVA demonstrated a modest, statistically significant genetic heterogeneity among N. reticulatus populations. Most of the genetic structure resided in differences among open-coast populations; ria populations were genetically homogeneous. No obvious geographical pattern was detected for the pairwise genetic distances (non-metric multidimensional scaling; UPGMA tree; Mantel test). Unlike previous studies with other species at a variety of estuarine systems other than rias, there was no evidence that the ria of Muros may enhance the genetic divergence of N. reticulatus populations. This discrepancy is discussed in relation to the biological features of the species (high dispersal potential and a preference for mid-low estuarine habitat) and the strong hydrographic connectivity between ria and neighbouring off-shore waters.     

Mercury accumulation in soils and plants in the Almadén mining district, Spain: one of the most contaminated sites on Earth

Although mercury (Hg) mining in the Almadén district ceased in May 2002, the consequences of 2000 years of mining in the district has resulted in the dissemination of Hg into the surrounding environment where it poses an evident risk to biota and human health. This risk needs to be properly evaluated. The uptake of Hg has been found to be plant-specific. To establish the different manners in which plants absorb Hg, we carried out a survey of Hg levels in the soils and plants in the most representative habitats of this Mediterranean area and found that the Hg concentrations varied greatly and were dependent on the sample being tested (0.13–2,695 μg g⁻¹ Hg). For example, the root samples had concentrations ranging from 0.06 (Oenanthe crocata, Rumex induratus) to 1095 (Polypogon monspeliensis) μg g⁻¹ Hg, while in the leaf samples, the range was from 0.16 (Cyperus longus) to 1278 (Polypogon monspeliensis) μg g⁻¹ Hg. There are four well-differentiated patterns of Hg uptake: (1) the rate of uptake is constant, independent of Hg concentration in the soil (e.g., Pistacia lentiscus, Quercus rotundifolia); (2) after an initial linear relationship between uptake and soil concentration, no further increase in Hg_plant is observed (e.g., Asparagus acutifolius, Cistus ladanifer); (3) no increase in uptake is recorded until a threshold is surpassed, and thereafter a linear relationship between Hg_plant and Hg_soil is established (e.g., Rumex bucephalophorus, Cistus crispus); (4) there is no relationship between Hg_plant and Hg_soil (e.g., Oenanthe crocata and Cistus monspeliensis). Overall, the Hg concentrations found in plants from the Almadén district clearly reflect the importance of contamination processes throughout the study region.     

Application of lead isotopic methods to the study of the anthropogenic lead provenance in Spanish overbank floodplain deposits

Changes in the principal sources of Pb in overbank sediment profiles have been documented for two Spanish areas by using Pb isotopes and Pb concentrations. These locations (Madrid and Tinto–Odiel basin) represent two of the most contaminated regions in Spain. The Community of Madrid is characterized by heavy industrial and urban activity, focused mainly in Madrid City. The Tinto–Odiel basin drains the Iberian Pyrite Belt, which hosts many polymetallic massive sulphides and is heavily affected by mining activities in their headwaters. It has been proven that the influence of anthropogenic activity is reflected in these overbank deposits by variations in Pb concentrations that, in general, correlate with shifts in the ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratio. Rivas profile (downstream of Madrid) was found to be the most anthropogenically influenced site. The sediments within this profile which were recently deposited (170 ± 40 years BP) have the least radiogenic signatures. ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios ranged between 1.1763 and 1.1876 indicating significant contributions of anthropogenic Pb. In contrast, profiles upstream of Madrid possess an average ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratio of 1.2272. It is difficult to clearly identify the most prominent source as the sediments appear to be characterized by an input from several sources. The floodplain profiles in the Tinto–Odiel basin exhibit uniform ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁷Pb ratios ranging from 1.1627 (Odiel river) to 1.1665 (Tinto river). These ratios are similar to the ones possessed by sulphide ores in the area and differ from the ratios of other nonmineralized formations in the basin, indicating that mining activities are the primary, if not sole, source of Pb to the sediments.     

Pseudomonas sp.L19抗除草剂AHAS基因的克隆、表达及特性

乙酰羟酸合酶(AHAS)是磺酰脲类、咪唑啉酮类、三唑嘧啶类、磺酰胺类和嘧啶水杨酸类等乙酰羟酸合酶抑制剂类除草剂的作用靶标,获得能抗此类除草剂的AHAS突变基因资源具有非常重要的理论和应用价值.从长期使用甲磺隆的农田土壤中分离到1株对乙酰羟酸合酶抑制剂类除草剂有广谱抗性的菌株L19,根据表型特征、生理生化特性和16S rDNA序列系统发育分析,将其鉴定为假单孢菌属(Pseudomonas sp.).利用PCR技术从Pseudomonas sp.L19的总DNA中克隆AHAS基因,氨基酸序列比对结果表明,L19与对除草剂敏感菌株P.putida KT2440的AHAS调节亚基氨基酸序列完全相同,而催化亚基有4个氨基酸位点不同:[Val 29→Ala(L19→KT2440),Pro93→Ser,Val 345→Ala,Pro 484→Arg].分别将菌株L19与KT2440的AHAS催化亚基克隆到pET29a(+)的多克隆位点,构建了表达载体pET-L19AHASc和pET-KT2440AHASc,通过镍柱亲和层析纯化得到带有组氨酸标签的乙酰羟酸合酶.抗性试验结果表明菌株L19的乙酰羟酸合酶对四大类乙酰羟酸合酶抑制剂类除草剂的抗性均要强于KT2440的乙酰羟酸合酶,对甲磺隆、咪唑乙烟酸、唑嘧磺草胺和嘧草醚的抗性倍数分别达到53.6、9.3、8.2和9.5倍.菌株L19的乙酰羟酸合酶比活力、对ThDP和Mg2+的Kc值相应地比KT2440乙酰羟酸合酶的要低;而对底物丙酮酸钠的米氏常数Km值要比KT2440乙酰羟酸合酶的要高近1倍.     

Aboveground biomass and carbon stock are related with soil humidity in a mangrove at the Piraquê-Açu River,Southeastern Brazil

In Brazil, few studies have been conducted about the assimilation of carbon and biomass accumulation in mangroves despite its great role as a carbon sink. In this sense, this study aimed to estimate the aboveground biomass (AGB) and carbon stocked by mangrove species in a stretch along the Piraquê-Açu River in southeastern Brazil, and to verify their relation with some soil parameters. For such, the height and diameter of all trees inside six plots of 100 m² were measured and used to quantify AGB through an allometric equation, and soil samples were collected to calculate granulometry, humidity, time of infiltration and permeability. Multiple regressions were used to identify relations between AGB and soil parameters. A total of 296 trees were found in the area and the AGB and carbon assimilated were 2.92 t ha^?1 and 1.46 t ha^?1, respectively. Laguncularia racemosa was the most abundant species and contributed with 61% of these values. Only a positive relation between AGB/carbon of L. racemosa and soil humidity was found, probably due to the substrate characteristics which contain a large concentration of silt/clay, and may store more water and do not yet provide firmness to the roots. By comparison, this mangrove had a low amount of AGB and carbon stocked and has yet to develop structurally. Along with other ecological functions and its associated ecosystem services such as supplying food for the local community, these features highlight the importance to conserve the studied mangrove and the interlinked coastal ecosystems.     

广东省雾霾天气能见度的时空特征分析Ⅰ:季节变化

雾霾已经成为一种新的气象及环境灾害性现象,分析雾霾天气下低能见度的时空分布特征,对掌握雾霾的发生规律和减灾预报具有重要意义。文章利用1980—2003年广东省沿海地区26个地面气象观测站23年的气象观测资料,分析了广东省雾霾天气下能见度的时空分布特征。分析结果发现,1980—2003年广东地区雾霾天气下能见度的季节变化规律与雾天气时能见度的季节变化规律大体一致,即广东地区低能见度天气主要受雾天气的影响;另一方面,雾、霾天气时能见度的季节变化规律有很大不同,雾天气时能见度观测值在冬、春两季相对较高,最低值出现在3月份,最高值出现在9月份,其年变化表现为峰—谷型、稳定型和不规则波动型三种变化;霾天气时能见度的值在秋、冬两季相对较高,最低值出现在6月份,而且在5、6、7三个月中能见度值都很低;受广东沿海地形特征影响,雾天能见度的空间分布从西到东呈低—高—低—高的波列状分布,而霾天气时能见度的空间分布则没有明显的区域差异。     

金钟藤的地理分布

对已有的标本信息进行研究，并对野外做进一步的补充调查，结果表明，金钟藤虽然主要分布于热带，但亚热带也有分布；以往认为该种是热带植物的观点是不确切的。金钟藤的地理分布原有三个中心，第一个是中国的海南岛；第二个是加里曼丹岛（现在的马来西亚的沙劳越和印尼的东加里曼丹岛）；第三个在中越边界的是越南北部的沙巴、先安等，老挝的湄公河流域，以及中国广西、云南靠近越老边界的地区。而广州及其附近地区正逐渐成为金钟藤新崛起的一个分布中心。     

城市热岛效应研究进展

作为现代城市气候主要特征之一的城市热岛效应有日渐严重的趋势。文章综述了城市热岛的生态环境效应、热岛的主要形成机制、时空分布特征等研究状况和发展趋势；基于当前城市热岛研究的现状，提出了未来城市热岛效应研究的方向及缓解城市热岛效应的有关对策。