Spatial and temporal dynamics of microbial community composition and factors influencing the surface water and sediments of urban rivers

The temporal and spatial characteristics of urban river bacterial communities help us understand the feedback mechanism of bacteria to changes in the aquatic environment.The Fuhe River plays an important role in determining the water ecological environment of Baiyangdian Lake.16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to study the microbial distribution characteristics in the Fuhe River in different seasons.The results showed that some environmental factors of the surface water (ammonia nitrogen (NH_...     

GeoChip-based analysis of the microbial community functional structures in simultaneous desulfurization and denitrification process

The elemental sulfur （S^0） recover）, was evaluated in the presence of hi,ate in two development models of simultaneous desulfurization and denitrification （SDD） process. At the loading rates of 0.9 kg S/（m^3.day） for sulfide and 0.4 kg N/（m^3.day） for nitrate, SO conversion rate was 91.1% in denitrifying sulfide removal （DSR） model which was higher than in integrated simultaneous desulfurization and denitrification （ISDD） model （25.6%）. A comprehensive analysis of functional diversity, structure and metabolic potential of microbial communities was examined in two models by using functional gene array （GeoChip 2.0）. GeoChip data indicated that diversity indices, community structure, and abundance of functional genes were distinct between two models. Diversity indices （Simpson＇s diversity index （1/D） and Shannon-Weaver index （H′）） of all detected genes showed that with elevated infiuent loading rate, the functional diversity decreased in ISDD model but increased in DSR model. In contrast to ISDD model, the overall abundance of dsr genes was lower in DSR model, while some functional genes targeting from nitrate-reducing sulfide-oxidizingbacteria {NR-SOB）, such as Thiobacillus denitrficans, Sulfurimonas denitrificans, and Paracoccus pantotrophus were more abundant in DSR model which were highly associated with the change of SO conversion rate obtained in two models. The results obtained in this study provide additional insights into the microbial metabolic mechanisms involved in ISDD and DSR models, which in turn will improve the overall performance of SDD process.     

Removal of natural organic matter by cationic hydrogel with magnetic properties

Magnetic cationic hydrogel (MCH) was synthesized, and its removal efficiency and mechanisms in regard to natural organic matter (NOM, represented by humic acid and fulvic acid) from the aqueous environment were studied. The effects of time, adsorbent dosage, initial pH, ionic strength, background ions, and NOM types were also investigated. MCH was characterized and found to have a strong magnetic character, yielding an extra advantage for recycling and reuse. Batch studies showed that the removal of Aldrich humic acid (AHA) by MCH was effective. The main mechanism for the removal of NOM is believed to be due to electrostatic interaction. NOM with larger molecular weight tended to be preferentially removed. Solutions with low pH, high ionic strength, and background electrolytes containing calcium, sulfate and bicarbonate were unfavorable for AHA removal. The adsorption-desorption of MCH was evaluated in three cycles, and demonstrated high regeneration rates.     

Interactions between cod, herring and sprat in the changing environment of the Baltic Sea: A dynamic model analysis

The interactions between cod (Gadus morhua), herring (Clupea harengus) and sprat (Sprattus sprattus) in the Central Baltic Sea were examined with a simple dynamic model, an alternative to more complicated and data-demanding multispecies and ecosystem models. The main aims of the study were to compare the effect of alternative structures on the model output and examine the control relationships in the fish assemblage under different environmental conditions. The effect of environmental conditions was modelled using a stock-recruitment equation for cod incorporating an environmental index. The model output was especially sensitive to the functional response in predation by cod on herring and sprat. The type II functional response led to a collapse of the clupeid stocks when cod was abundant, while the type III response produced more realistic stock dynamics. According to the simulations, an abundant cod stock was able to keep the sprat stock at a low level, while the herring stock was less affected and benefited from the decreased density of sprat. Simulation of different fishing scenarios indicated that reducing fishing mortality to the level currently advised by ICES would allow the recovery of the cod stock even in unfavourable environmental conditions.     

面向污染场地的环境修复功能材料

在回顾环境功能材料研究进展的基础上,将材料按功效分为固化/稳定化材料、氧化还原剂类材料以及催化剂类材料,重点对固化/稳定化材料进行了介绍。根据环境材料科学的发展前沿提出了污染场地环境修复功能材料的发展趋势,并总结了功能材料开发与应用中的一些问题。     

A functional perspective on the analysis of land use and land cover data in ecology

Assessments of large-scale changes in habitat are a priority for management and conservation. Traditional approaches use land use and land cover data (LULC) that focus mostly on “structural” properties of landscapes, rather than “functional” properties related to specific ecological processes. Here, we contend that designing functional analyses of LULC can provide important and complementary information to traditional, structural analyses. We substantiate this perspective with an example of functional changes in habitat due to industrial anthropogenic footprints in Alberta’s boreal forest, where there has been little overall forest loss (~ 6% structural change), but high levels of functional change (up to 93% functional change) for species’ habitat, biodiversity, and wildfire ignition. We discuss the methods needed to achieve functional LULC analyses, when they are most appropriate to add to structural assessments, and conclude by providing recommendations for analyses of LULC in a future of increasingly high-resolution, dynamic remote sensing data.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s13280-020-01434-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Classification of multiple types of organic carbon composition in atmospheric particles by scanning transmission X-ray microscopy analysis

A scanning transmission X-ray microscope at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory is used to measure organic functional group abundance and morphology of atmospheric aerosols. We present a summary of spectra, sizes, and shapes observed in 595 particles that were collected and analyzed between 2000 and 2006. These particles ranged between 0.1 and 12 μm and represent aerosols found in a large range of geographical areas, altitudes, and times. They include samples from seven different field campaigns: PELTI, ACE-ASIA, DYCOMS II, Princeton, MILAGRO (urban), MILAGRO (C-130), and INTEX-B. At least 14 different classes of organic particles show different types of spectroscopic signatures. Different particle types are found within the same region while the same particle types are also found in different geographical domains. Particles chemically resembling black carbon, humic-like aerosols, pine ultisol, and secondary or processed aerosol have been identified from functional group abundance and comparison of spectra with those published in the literature.     

On the Issue of Functional Form Choice in Hedonic Price Functions: Further Evidence

/ Historically, researchers applying the hedonic technique devoted little effort to testing alternative functional forms. This study used Box-Cox transformations on a hedonic model examining property value effects of a closed landfill to help select among alternative functional forms. Although this particular application found that a log-log functional form was appropriate, it appears that functional form may vary by problem and case study area selected. Benefit estimates generated using the hedonic technique may be substantial over- or underestimates if the incorrect functional form is chosen. Proximity to the landfill had no significant effect on property values.KEY WORDS: Hedonics; Functional form; Box-Cox; Landfills     

Interacting effects of habitat destruction and changing disturbance rates on biodiversity: Who is going to survive?

Changes in disturbance rates due to climate change may increase or decrease diversity, whereas permanent loss of habitat is generally believed to decrease diversity. It is, however, very likely that the effects of disturbances and habitat destruction interact. Understanding such combined effects is essential to predict the response of communities to global changes and in particular which functional types of species are most endangered. Using an individual-based spatially explicit community model, we investigate (1) whether diversity-disturbance curves alter when spatially uncorrelated or autocorrelated habitat destruction is added, and (2) which functional types of species are able to survive under these altered conditions. Model communities consisted of four functional types of species trading off between colonisation ability and competition strength. We found that habitat destruction may alter both height and shape of diversity-disturbance curves: maximum diversity at intermediate disturbance rates may shift to other disturbance rates or even split into two peaks giving rise to bimodal diversity-disturbance relationships with different sub-communities persisting at low and high disturbance rates. Diversity responded differentially depending on how the colonisation-competition trade-off was represented. Our results suggest that, for trade-offs in seed production rate, generally the best coloniser will better withstand the interacting effects of habitat destruction and changing disturbance rates; however, for trade-offs in mean dispersal distances, functional types characterized by intermediate abilities will perform best. We conclude that predictions of the impacts of changing disturbance rates on biodiversity depend on community structure and cannot be made without knowledge of concurrent permanent habitat destruction.     

新建铁路站区对城市环境噪声影响特征及预测研究

在铁路车站噪声影响中,车站影响区域产生的次生噪声相对于站中心的原生噪声,是城区噪声污染的主要因素。根据不同规模车站区对周边社会及人文景观的影响程度,划分出站区噪声监测范围。通过监测对比分析,发现站中心噪声与车站规模具有显著的正相关关系,而车站影响区噪声值在中小规模车站中,二者有一定的正相关关系,但当车站发展到一定大规模后,影响区内的噪声反而略有下降并趋于平稳。通过分析认为,大规模车站的建立有利于促进周边城市更合理地规划布局。根据车站布局与兴建对城市环境噪声影响的关系,以及站区噪声源变化特点,建立了不同车站规模站区的噪声值预测模型,其预测结果为新建铁路路站在城市中的规划布局,提供了实用的参考依据及有价值的建议。