Biogeochemical signatures in the lichen Hypogymnia physodes in the mid Urals

Multi-element content and uranium (U) isotopes were investigated in the lichen Hypogymnia physodes (native and transplants) sampled across a 60-km transect, centred on Karabash smelter town, from Turgoyak Lake (SW) to Kyshtym (NE) to investigate the origin of U. Kyshtym was the site of a major nuclear accident in 1957. (234)U/(238)U activity ratios in native thalli sampled during July 2001 were within the natural isotopic ratio in minerals. Uranium/thorium (U/Th) ratios were higher in native thalli towards the NE (average 0.73) than those in the SW (average 0.57). Element signatures in native thalli and transplants suggest U was derived from fossil fuel combustion from Karabash and sources lying further to the east. Systematic and significant U enrichment indicative of a nuclear fuel cycle source was not detected in any sample. Element signatures in epiphytic lichen transplants and native thalli provide a powerful method to evaluate U deposition.     

Improving inferences about private land conservation by accounting for incomplete reporting

Private lands provide key habitat for imperiled species and are core components of function protectected area networks; yet, their incorporation into national and regional conservation planning has been challenging. Identifying locations where private landowners are likely to participate in conservation initiatives can help avoid conflict and clarify trade-offs between ecological benefits and sociopolitical costs. Empirical, spatially explicit assessment of the factors associated with conservation on private land is an emerging tool for identifying future conservation opportunities. However, most data on private land conservation are voluntarily reported and incomplete, which complicates these assessments. We used a novel application of occupancy models to analyze the occurrence of conservation easements on private land. We compared multiple formulations of occupancy models with a logistic regression model to predict the locations of conservation easements based on a spatially explicit social–ecological systems framework. We combined a simulation experiment with a case study of easement data in Idaho and Montana (United States) to illustrate the utility of the occupancy framework for modeling conservation on private land. Occupancy models that explicitly accounted for variation in reporting produced estimates of predictors that were substantially less biased than estimates produced by logistic regression under all simulated conditions. Occupancy models produced estimates for the 6 predictors we evaluated in our case study that were larger in magnitude, but less certain than those produced by logistic regression. These results suggest that occupancy models result in qualitatively different inferences regarding the effects of predictors on conservation easement occurrence than logistic regression and highlight the importance of integrating variable and incomplete reporting of participation in empirical analysis of conservation initiatives. Failure to do so can lead to emphasizing the wrong social, institutional, and environmental factors that enable conservation and underestimating conservation opportunities in landscapes where social norms or institutional constraints inhibit reporting.     

Principal biogeochemical factors affecting the speciation and transport of mercury through the terrestrial environment

It is increasingly becoming known that mercury transport and speciation in the terrestrial environment play major roles in methyl-mercury bioaccumulation potential in surface water. This review discusses the principal biogeochemical reactions affecting the transport and speciation of mercury in the terrestrial watershed. The issues presented are mercury-ligand formation, mercury adsorption/desorption, and elemental mercury reduction and volatilization. In terrestrial environments, OH-, Cl- and S- ions have the largest influence on ligand formation. Under oxidized surface soil conditions Hg(OH)2, HgCl2, HgOH+, HgS, and Hg0 are the predominant inorganic mercury forms. In reduced environments, common mercury forms are HgSH+, HgOHSH, and HgClSH. Many of these mercury forms are further bound to organic and inorganic ligands. Mercury adsorption to mineral and organic surfaces is mainly dictated by two factors: pH and dissolved ions. An increase in Cl- concentration and a decrease in pH can, together or separately, decrease mercury adsorption. Clay and organic soils have the highest capability of adsorbing mercury. Important parameters that increase abiotic inorganic mercury reduction are availability of electron donors, low redox potential, and sunlight intensity. Primary factors that increase volatilization are soil permeability and temperature. A decrease in mercury adsorption and an increase in soil moisture will also increase volatilization. The effect of climate on biogeochemical reactions in the terrestrial watershed indicates mercury speciation and transport to receiving water will vary on a regional basis.     

Guest dechlorination and covalent capture following photoexcitation of inclusion complexes in water

Photoexcitation of complexes between cyclophane 1 and 1- or 2-chloronaphthalene in aqueous solution leads to rapid dechlorination of the guest, a reaction driven by electron transfer from host to excited guest. The main photoproducts contain a naphthyl group covalently attached to the host framework. The results may lead to new approaches for remediating water contaminated with chlorinated aromatic compounds.     

园林绿化树种香樟叶片的含硫量动态分析

植物对一定浓度范围内的大气污染物,具有一定程度的抵抗及吸收净化作用。为了解南京市主要园林绿化树种香樟（Cinnamomum camphora）叶片吸收净化SO2的能力,选择在5个不同污染靶区,以3个不同胸径级的香樟叶片为研究对象,采用硫酸钡比浊法测定了不同季节香樟叶片的含硫量。结果表明：香樟叶片对SO2具有一定的吸收净化能力,其叶片含硫量平均为0.2160%,且其含量随分布区、生长季节及个体胸径不同差异显著;并与异域大气中SO2污染指数成一定的正相关;与个体胸径大小成显著负相关;季节间呈现出＂先降后升再降＂的动态趋势,于春秋季较高,而夏冬季较低。     

江苏水源地型水库异味物质发生风险及影响因素

为认知水源地型水库异味发生风险及其规律,本研究于异味风险高危期(夏季),对江苏17个省级水源地型水库开展了水质、浮游生物和异味物质状况调查.结果表明,本次调查的17个水库普遍存在富营养化程度偏高(如藻类生物量偏大和水体透明度偏低)的问题,约三分之一的水库出现部分水层异味物质2-甲基异莰醇(MIB)浓度超标,MIB平均浓度为(13. 7±20. 7) ng·L-1,表明江苏省水库型水源地普遍存在MIB风险;多个水库检出土臭素(GSM),但其浓度均没有超过10ng·L-1的饮用水标准浓度(最大浓度为4. 6 ng·L-1);同步水质调查及统计分析表明,MIB浓度和水体叶绿素a浓度、水体透明度、悬浮颗粒物浓度、富营养化指数等重要水质指标及浮游植物生物量(特别是蓝藻生物量)相关性显著(P 0. 05),其中MIB与叶绿素a、富营养化指数呈极显著的相关关系(P 0. 01).因此,水源地型水库的异味物质风险与水库的富营养化密切相关;实施营养盐外源输入削减、提高流域植被覆盖度、科学调控渔业养殖规模等水体富营养化控制措施是水库异味物质控制的关键.     

离子色谱法同时测定土壤中可溶性Na^、K^＋、Mg^2＋、Ca^2＋

应用离子色谱法（IC）同时测定土壤中可溶性Na^、K^＋、Mg^2＋、Ca^2＋。以CS12A阳离子交换柱分离,稀硫酸为淋洗液,电导检测器检测,对土壤中的Na^、K^＋、Mg^2＋、Ca^2＋进行同时测定。方法具有较宽的线性范围和较高的灵敏度。在0～40mg／L内呈良好的线性关系,土壤中Na^、K^＋、Mg^2＋、Ca...     

Environmental impact of highway construction and repair materials on surface and ground waters. Case study: crumb rubber asphalt concrete

The practice of incorporating certain waste products into highway construction and repair materials (CRMs) has become more popular. These practices have prompted the National Academy of Science, National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) to research the possible impacts of these CRMs on the quality of surface and ground waters. State department of transportations (DOTs) are currently experimenting with use of ground tire rubber ( crumb rubber) in bituminous construction and as a crack sealer. Crumb rubber asphalt concrete (CR-AC) leachates contain a mixture of organic and metallic contaminants. Benzothiazole and 2(3H)-benzothiazolone (organic compounds used in tire rubber manufacturing) and the metals mercury and aluminum were leached in potentially harmful concentrations (exceeding toxic concentrations for aquatic toxicity tests). CR-AC leachate exhibited moderate to high toxicity for algae ( Selenastrum capriconutum) and moderate toxicity for water fleas ( Daphnia magna). Benzothiazole was readily removed from CR-AC leachate by the environmental processes of soil sorption, volatilization, and biodegradation. Metals, which do not volatilize or photochemically or biologically degrade, were removed from the leachate by soil sorption. Contaminants from CR-AC leachates are thus degraded or retarded in their transport through nearby soils and ground waters.