POLLUTION THREATS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA: AN OVERVIEW

This overview summarises the present knowledge on major sources of pollution, which are of concern for the Mediterranean Sea. Eutrophication, red tides, organic loads, hydrocarbon spills, heavy metal contamination and their biological effects are described on the light of the ecological characteristics of the Mediterranean. In particular special attention is paid to the "new pollution" processes; i.e. , the introduction of novel substances with biological activity that might have synergetic effects with "classical pollutants". Different compartments and marine ecosystems are considered and compared. The degree of anthropogenic impact and its apparent trends are discussed. Possible monitoring plans and remedial actions for a sustainable management of coastal zones subjected to increasing pollution are also suggested.     

Preferential incubation positions for different sized eggs and their influence on incubation period and hatching asynchrony in Snares crested (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eudyptes robustus</Emphasis>) and yellow-eyed penguins (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Megadyptes antipodes</Emphasis>)

In crested penguins (Eudyptes spp.), second-laid eggs typically hatch before first eggs. Amongst a variety of factors that have been considered as mechanisms underlying this reversal, has been the idea that crested penguins can adjust the degree of hatching asynchrony by manipulating egg positions (i.e. placing the smaller first egg in the supposedly thermally disadvantaged anterior position) during incubation (termed Preferential Incubation Hypothesis). We tested this in the Snares crested penguin (Eudyptes robustus) and the closely related, but synchronously-hatching, yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes antipodes). Snares crested penguins were more likely to place their first eggs, which are smaller than second eggs, in the anterior incubation position than were yellow-eyed penguins, which have a clutch of two similar-sized eggs. But when yellow-eyed penguins, a non-brood reducing species, were provided with an artificial size-dimorphic clutch, they also placed smaller eggs more frequently in the anterior position, suggesting that a general preference exists among penguins to place smaller eggs in the anterior position. Egg temperatures of small first eggs of Snares crested penguins were higher in the anterior than in the posterior position. Large first eggs in lesser size-dimorphic clutches experienced high temperature differences in relation to position, while small first eggs in greater size-dimorphic clutches were incubated at similar temperatures. In yellow-eyed penguins, large eggs within clutches generally had higher egg temperatures than small eggs. Incubation periods of second eggs declined with increasing egg size. Egg-size variation, rather than egg positioning behaviour, influenced hatching patterns in Snares crested penguins. In lesser size-dimorphic clutches, second eggs were more likely to hatch first while in greater size-dimorphic clutches, small first eggs were more likely to hatch at the same time or before the second eggs. This was similar in yellow-eyed penguins, where second eggs hatched earlier in clutches with large first eggs. Our data contradicts the Preferential Incubation Hypothesis and we conclude that this hypothesis is unlikely to explain the reversed hatching asynchrony in crested penguins.Communicated by C. Brown     

The Surface Roughness of a Rubber Soling Material Determines the Coefficient of Friction on Water-Lubricated Surfaces

For more than a decade, evidence has been accumulating that points to the fact that the microscopic roughness of the footwear soling surface is a major determinant of slip-resistance on lubricated surfaces, but conclusive experimental proof has been lacking. This article describes an experiment in which five pairs of shoes were soled with the same rubber compound. Four of the pairs were abraded by different grades of grit to produce a range of roughness values. The coefficient of friction (CoF) of the five solings was then measured repeatedly by the walking traction method on wet surfaces including glazed wall tiles, vinyl asbestos coated with the wax floor polish, and both sides of a sheet of float glass. The Kruskal-Wallis statistical test proved beyond doubt that the soling roughness is a major factor in determining the CoF of this rubber soling material; p < 10⁻⁵. Nearly all of the grip was due to surface roughness of the soling material on these atypically smooth floors, although the surface roughness of the floors also had a significant effect on CoF; p < 0.003. Float glass is shown to be a promising reference floor material for the measurement of CoF of footwear; there was no statistical difference between results for the two sides of the glass sheet. Float glass could be used in the development of a standard CoF test method because new sheets of glass from the same manufacturer are identical and extremely smooth. The specification of CoF values for solings/floors combinations in lubricated conditions is of little value unless associated with roughness measurements and knowledge of how wear will affect the surface roughness of the sole. This article reports the first evidence that any specification of flooring by measuring CoF based on dry surfaces could lead to an increase in the number of injuries caused by slipping on the wet surfaces. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd     

巢湖流域不同土地利用类型地表径流污染特征研究

巢湖是我国五大淡水湖之一,目前正面临着严重的环境污染与水体富营养化问题。通过对巢湖流域塘西地区大豆地,水稻田,菜地,山芋地,小麦地,集镇街道,山坡地,饲养场地,农村道路,湖滩芦苇地,荒地等１１种土地利用类型地表径流污染现状的详细调查与分析,建立了巢湖流域不同土地利用类型地表径流污染研究的一般程序与方法。     

RUNOFF RESPONSE FROM TWO RECLAIMED WATERSHEDS1

ABSTRACT: Detailed studies of the surface hydrology of reclaimed surface-mined watersheds for both rainfall and snowmelt events are non-existent for central Alberta yet this information is crucial for design of runoff conveyance and storage structures. A study was initiated in 1992 with principal objectives of quantifying surface runoff for both summer rainfall and spring snowmelt events and identifying the dominant flow processes occurring in two reclaimed watersheds. Snowmelt accounted for 86 and 100% of annual watershed runoff in 1993 and 1994, respectively. The highest instantaneous peak flow was recorded during a summer rainfall event with a return period of greater than 50 years. Infiltration-excess overland flow was identified as the dominant flow process occurring within the Sandy Subsoil Watershed, whereas saturation overland flow was the principal runoff process occurring within the West Watershed.     

假单胞菌XD-1(Pseuomonas XD-1)的产表面活性剂性能研究

从含油废水中分离到1株表面活性剂产生菌,经鉴定为假单胞菌(Pseuomonassp.),命名为XD 1.对假单胞菌XD 1的产表面活性剂性能进行研究,实验结果表明,在正交优化的培养基中发酵培养时,菌XD 1可将培养液的表面张力从70 0mN·m-1降至30 2mN·m-1,其产表面活性剂方式为生长相关型;经提取分析,菌XD 1所产表面活性剂为脂肽类和糖脂类物质的混合物,脂肽类物质为主要成分;菌XD 1所产表面活性剂的CMC值为50mg·L-1,在pH=6 0时表面活性剂表现出最佳活性;菌XD 1所产表面活性剂主要积累在胞内特定的细胞器中,并在细胞壁上产生一层粘附的表面活性剂膜,膜厚140nm,在生长过程中,菌体会将细胞器和细胞壁上的表面活性剂释放到胞外.将培养72h的菌体浸入双蒸水中,6h后菌体能把积累在细胞器和细胞壁上的表面活性剂释放到水体中.     

厦门港表层水体中有机氯农药和多氯联苯的研究

利用ＧＣ－ＥＣＤ对厦门西港１９９８年７月取得上位表层水体中的１８种有机氯农药（ＨＣＨｓ，ＤＤＴｓ等）和１２种多氯联苯（ＰＣＢｓ）进行分析。其中有机氯农药的浓度范围６．６０～３２．６ｎｇ／Ｌ（其中ＨＣＨｓ：３．５１～２７．８ｎｇ／Ｌ），ｎｇ／Ｌ，ＤＤＴｓ，０．９５～２．２５ｎｇ／Ｌ均值１．４５ｎｇ／Ｌ），多氯联苯的浓度为０．０８～１．６９ｎｇ／Ｌ，同国内外其他港口海区相比较，其污染和蔼相对较低。同时     

Speciation and fractionation of heavy metals in soil experimentally contaminated with Pb,Cd, Cu and Zn together and effects on soil negative surface charge

Speciation and fractionation of heavy metals in soil subsamples experimentally loaded with Pb, Cd, Cu and Zn in orthogonal design was investigated by sequential extraction, and operationally defined as water-soluble and exchangeable(SE), weakly specific adsorbed( WSA),Fe and Mn oxides-bound(OX) and organic-bound( ORG). The results showed that fractions of heavy metals in the soil subsamples depended on their speciation. About 90% of Cd and 75% of Zn existed in soil subsamples in the SE fraction. Lead and Cu existed in soil subsamples as SE, WSA and OX fractions simultaneously, although SE was still the major fraction. Organic-bound heavy metals were not clearly apparent in all the soil subsamples. The concentration of some heavy metal fractions in soil subsamples showed the good correlation with ionic impulsion of soil, especially for the SE fraction. Continuous saturation of soil subsamples with 0.20 mol/L NH4CI, which is the first step for determination of the negative surface charge of soil by the ion retention method, resulted in desorption of certain heavy metals from the soil. It was found that the percentage desorption of heavy metals from soil subsamples depended greatly on pH, the composition and original heavy metal content of the soil subsamples. However, most of the heavy metals in the soil subsamples were still be retained after multiple saturation. Compared with the parent soil, the negative surface charge of soil subsamples loaded with heavy metals did not show difference significantly from that of the parent one by statistical analysis. Heavy metals existed in the soil subsamples mainly as exchangeable and precipitated simultaneously.     

示波极谱法测定地面水中的钒

应用钒（ Ｖ） ５ Ｂｒ Ｐ Ａ Ｄ Ａ Ｐ Ｈ２ Ｏ２ 体 系产生的 络合极 谱波对地 面水中 的钒 进行 了测 定，并 讨论了测试 条件。钒 浓度在 ００１ ～２２５ μｇ／２５ ｍ Ｌ 范围 内极谱 电流与钒 含量呈线 性关系 ，本法具有 较高的选择 性和灵 敏度，测定 地面水 中的钒结 果令人 满意     

Comparison of Black Carbon,Total Organic Carbon,and PAH Concentrations in Surface Sediments from Two Main Rivers in Henan Province,China

Black carbon (BC) in surface sediments from Henan section of Yellow River and Huaihe River, China, was determined. Average content of BC in Huaihe River was 0.33%, higher than that in Yellow River (n?=?23) with mean value of 0.15%. Distribution patterns of BC in Yellow River and Huaihe River were similar, namely that tributaries had higher BC content than main stream. In addition, BC content in the mainstream of Yellow River and Huaihe River decreased with altitude. The BC content presented a significant positive correlation with clay (r?=?0.672; p?<?0.01) content in Yellow River, while neither did in Huaihe River. The ratio of BC/TOC ranged from 1.8–57.4% (median 29.6%), evidencing pyrogenic fossil fuel source of BC in Yellow River. Relatively low values of BC/TOC in Huaihe River (5.3%–28.8%, median 7.5%,) reflected that the origin of BC is from burning of biomass. In addition, Pearson rank correlation analysis showed that BC was in strong correlation with lighter PAH in Yellow River, while BC was in significant correlation with heavier PAH in Huaihe River. The ratio of BC/TOC indicated that BC in Yellow River mainly came from fossil fuel combustion, while BC in Huaihe River was primarily from biomass burning.