Impact of Climate Change on Ecological Quality Indicators and Biogeochemical Fluxes in the Baltic Sea: A Multi-Model Ensemble Study

Multi-model ensemble simulations using three coupled physical-biogeochemical models were performed to calculate the combined impact of projected future climate change and plausible nutrient load changes on biogeochemical cycles in the Baltic Sea. Climate projections for 1961-2099 were combined with four nutrient load scenarios ranging from a pessimistic business-as-usual to a more optimistic case following the Helsinki Commission's (HELCOM) Baltic Sea Action Plan (BSAP). The model results suggest that in a future climate, water quality, characterized by ecological quality indicators like winter nutrient, summer bottom oxygen, and annual mean phytoplankton concentrations as well as annual mean Secchi depth (water transparency), will be deteriorated compared to present conditions. In case of nutrient load reductions required by the BSAP, water quality is only slightly improved. Based on the analysis of biogeochemical fluxes, we find that in warmer and more anoxic waters, internal feedbacks could be reinforced. Increased phosphorus fluxes out of the sediments, reduced denitrification efficiency and increased nitrogen fixation may partly counteract nutrient load abatement strategies.     

Correlation and toxicological inference of trace elements in tissues from stranded and free-ranging bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus)

The significance of metal concentrations in marine mammals is not well understood and relating concentrations between stranded and free-ranging populations has been difficult. In order to predict liver concentrations in free-ranging dolphins, we examined concentrations of trace elements (Al, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Li, Mn, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn, total Hg (THg), V, Zn) in skin and liver of stranded bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) from the South Carolina (SC) coast and the Indian River Lagoon, Florida (FL) during 2000-2008. Significantly higher concentrations of Zn, Fe, Se, Al, Cu and THg were found in skin while liver exhibited significantly higher Cu, Fe, Mn and THg concentrations for both study sites. Mean skin concentrations of Cu and Mn were significantly higher in SC dolphins while higher concentrations of THg and V were found in FL dolphins. In addition, liver tissues in SC dolphins exhibited significantly higher As concentrations while higher Fe, Pb, Se, THg, and V levels were found in FL dolphins. Two elements (Cu and THg) showed significant age-related correlations with skin concentration while five elements (Cu, Se, THg, Zn and V) showed age-related correlations with liver concentrations. Geographic location influenced age-related accumulation of several trace elements and age-related accumulation of THg in hepatic tissue was observed for both sites to have the highest correlations (r² = 0.90SC; r² = 0.69FL). Mean THg concentration in liver was about 10 times higher in FL dolphins (330 μg g⁻¹ dw) than those samples from SC dolphins (34.3 μg g⁻¹ dw). The mean molar ratio of Hg to Se was 0.93 ± 0.32 and 1.08 ± 0.38 for SC and FL dolphins, respectively. However, the Hg:Se ratio varied with age as much lower ratios (0.2-0.4) were found in younger animals. Of the 18 measured elements, only THg was significantly correlated in skin and liver of stranded dolphins and skin of free-ranging dolphins from both sites suggesting that skin may be useful in predicting Hg concentrations in liver tissue of free-ranging dolphins. Results indicate that 33% of the stranded and 15% of the free-ranging dolphins from FL exceed the minimum 100 μg g⁻¹ wet weight (ww) (∼400 dw) Hg threshold for hepatic damage while none from SC reached this level. Hepatic concentrations of As in SC dolphins and V in FL dolphins were also highly correlated with skin concentrations which may have some regional specificity predictive value. The present study provides the first application of trace element concentrations derived from stranded bottlenose dolphins to predict liver concentrations in free-ranging populations.     

Ocean to continent transfer of atmospheric Se as revealed by epiphytic lichens

There is still a long-term debate concerning the relative contributions of naturally emitted and anthropogenic Se at the regional and local scales. Here, Se and heavy metal concentrations are reported for epiphytic lichens collected in coastal and inland areas from the USA, Canada and France for assessing atmospheric Se source. Correlations found between Se and Cl in lichens confirmed the major marine biogenic source for atmospheric Se. Continental samples do not show systematic relationships between Se and other metal (Pb, Cu, In …) contents, even for lichens collected in the vicinity of smelters or close to urban areas. Our results suggest that, although anthropogenic Se may be present, the marine biogenic Se source is a major contributor to atmospheric Se for our sampling locations. The contribution of naturally emitted atmospheric Se may be significant in urban and industrial areas and should be taken into account for further studies.     

微藻处理城市污水反渗透浓水的条件优化

城市污水回用是缓解水资源危机的有效措施。反渗透工艺是生产优质再生水的重要方法,但在实际应用过程中,25%~50%的城市污水会转化成反渗透浓水 (ROC) 。ROC的总氮 (TN) 、总磷 (TP) 和硬度离子 (Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺) 质量浓度等指标较高。利用微藻去除氮、磷和Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺是城市污水ROC处理的有效途径之一,且可实现资源回收,但目前对其应用条件的优化研究仍较少。利用微藻Scenedesmus sp. FACHB-1574处理城市污水ROC,在不同总溶解性固体 (TDS) 质量浓度 (1.35 g·L⁻¹和2.70 g·L⁻¹) 、光暗时间比 (12 h/12 h、16 h/8 h、20 h/4 h、24 h/0 h) 、光强 (25 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹、50 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹、100 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹) 和氮磷质量比 (107:1、14:1、7:1) 的条件下,研究了微藻对污水的处理效果及其生长状况。结果表明,Scenedesmus sp. FACHB-1574可适应城市污水ROC中TDS质量浓度为2.70 g·L⁻¹的条件;对TN的去除速率随光照时间和光强的增加而增大;氮磷质量比为14:1时微藻对TN的去除速率及微藻生物量等性能均得以强化。在最优处理条件下 (光暗时间比20 h/4 h,光强100 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹,氮磷质量比14:1) 处理10 d后,微藻对城市污水ROC中TN和TP去除率分别为92.83%和99.68%,藻密度、质量浓度 (干重) 、脂质含量分别为23.62×10⁶ cells·mL⁻¹ 、1.10 g·L⁻¹、34.55%。随着微藻的生长,在无CO₂的条件下,废水的pH值从7.5升高到10.7,并可去除52.7%的Ca²⁺和33.9%的Mg²⁺。本研究可为微藻在城市污水处理及资源化工艺中的应用提供参考。     

Liver lesions in demersal fishes near a large ocean outfall on the San Pedro Shelf, California

The prevalence of toxicopathic liver lesions in demersal fish on the San Pedro Shelf, California was determined for a 15-year period (1988–2003). Fish livers were sampled at fixed locations as part of the Orange County Sanitation Districts (OCSD) ocean monitoring program. Histopathological examination of selected fish liver tissues was studied to determine whether the wastewater discharge had affected fish health. The prevalence of toxicopathic lesion classes neoplasms (NEO), preneoplastic foci of cellular alteration (FCA), and hydropic vacuolation (HYDVAC) varied among species and locations. For all species sampled, severe lesions occurred in 6.2% of the fish examined (n = 7,694). HYDVAC (4.1%) was the most common toxicopathic lesion type followed by FCA (1.4%) and NEO (0.7%). HYDVAC occurred only in white croaker (Genyonemus lineatus), accounting for 84.8% of the toxicopathic lesions for this species. Prevalence of HYDVAC, NEO, and FCA in white croaker was 15.2, 2.0, and 0.7%, respectively. The prevalence of HYDVAC and NEO in white croaker increased with age and size but there was no sexual difference. A linear regression model was used for hypothesis testing to account for significant differences in fish size (and age for croakers) at the different sampling locations. This analysis showed that for HYDVAC there was no spatial or location effect for lesion rate or size/age of onset. For NEO, the model predicted that white croaker near the wastewater outfall may acquire these lesions at a smaller size/younger age, and at a higher rate, than at other sites. However, this result may be biased due to the unequal size frequency distributions and the low prevalence of NEO in white croaker at the different sampling sites. Bigmouth sole (Hippoglossina stomata) had a prevalence of FCA and NEO of 1.3 and 0.35%, respectively, but the prevalence and distribution of lesions was too few for statistical testing. There was no sexual difference for lesion prevalence in hornyhead turbot (Pleuronichthys verticalis) and the prevalence of FCA and NEO was 3.4 and 0.37%, respectively. FCA prevalence increased with size in hornyhead turbot and there were no significant spatial differences for lesion rates and fish size at lesion onset. Overall, consistent spatial differences for lesion prevalence were not demonstrated and highlight the analytical difficulties of detecting a possible point source impact when the effect is rare, correlated with the size/age structure of the population, and may be caused by exposure to unknown multiple sources. Thus, the usefulness of liver histopathology as a point-source monitoring tool is best applied to where the spatial scale of impact generally exceeds the home range of the target species.     

Spatial and temporal distribution of atmospheric mercury species over the Adriatic Sea

Field measurements of atmospheric mercury and related species were carried out during an intensive cruise campaign performed over the Adriatic sea from October 26th to November 12th, 2004 on board the R/V Urania. Hg⁰ ranged between 0.8 and 3.3 ng/m³ with an average of 1.6 ± 0.4 ng/m³ over the entire period. Hg(II) concentrations ranged from 0.1 to 62.8 pg/m³ with an average of 6.7 ± 11.7 pg/m³ whereas Hg-p levels were in a range of 0.04 and 51 pg/m³ with an average of 4.5 ± 8 pg/m³. Higher Hg⁰ and Hg-p concentrations were observed in the Gulf of Venice and Gulf of Trieste due primarily to air masses transported from the mainland reflecting the contribution from anthropogenic sources. In contrast, higher Hg(II) concentrations observed during the first period of the cruise campaign were likely due to the occurrence of photo-oxidants production which are the main players of the gas phase oxidation of to Hg(II)_(g). These findings have been confirmed by the backward trajectories analysis of air masses crossing the studied area during selected days.     

昌邑海洋生态特别保护区潮间带大型底栖动物时空分布特征

于2011年3、6、8、10、12月在昌邑海洋生态特别保护区内对潮间带大型底栖动物进行采样,共采集到潮间带动物55种,以多毛类、软体动物和甲壳动物为主。各潮带间密度、生物量及多样性指数(H')差异极显著(P0.01),月份间差异均不显著。Bray-Curtis相似性聚类分析显示,该潮间带大型底栖动物可划分为3个群落(P0.01),潮汐与季节是影响大型底栖动物分布的主要因子。     

环介导恒温扩增技术快速检测短凯伦藻

短凯伦藻(Karenia brevis)是一种有毒赤潮微藻,所产生的短藻毒素对海洋生物乃至人类都有毒害作用,为加强对短凯伦藻赤潮的监控,建立了稳定的短凯伦藻环介导恒温扩增(LAMP)鉴定体系,在此基础上进行了特异性和灵敏性验证.特异性实验结果显示只有短凯伦藻或者含短凯伦藻的模板呈现阳性反应,其他微藻为阴性反应,从而验证了该LAMP方法的特异性;同时,对短凯伦藻的基因组DNA进行一系列10倍稀释作为敏感度实验的模板,并与常规PCR做了对比,结果表明:短凯伦藻的LAMP方法最低检测限度为50 pg,敏感度比常规PCR高10倍.LAMP产物鉴定不需要常规的胶电泳过程,直接采用肉眼观察的方法,在含有短凯伦藻的阳性反应管中会出现白色混浊,加入SYBRòGreen I染料呈现绿色,而未含有短凯伦藻的阴性管为澄清,染色后仍为原来的橙色.因此,该方法操作简便、特异性强、灵敏度高而成本低,在赤潮原因种检测监控方面具有良好的应用前景.     

不同微藻对典型行业废水急性毒性响应的敏感性研究

研究考察了不同行业废水对4种微藻24 h和72 h的急性毒性效应。以斜生栅藻(Scenedesmus obliquus)、蛋白核小球藻(Chlorella pyrenoidosa)、海水小球藻(Chlorella spp.)以及等鞭金藻(Isochrysis galbana)为指示生物,采用COD浓度较高的焦化厂实际生产废水和制药厂实际生产废水、COD浓度较低的印染厂生化处理后出水和城市污水处理厂进出水作为受试水体,以微藻的生长抑制率为测试指标,评价微藻对不同行业废水的急性毒性效应和敏感性。结果表明,不同行业废水对4种微藻的急性毒性效应有所不同:焦化废水对等鞭金藻的生长抑制作用最强,制药废水对斜生栅藻的毒性效应最为明显,印染废水及城市污水处理厂的进出水对海水小球藻的毒性较为显著,说明不同微藻对不同行业废水毒性的敏感性存在差异。上述研究结果为废水毒性评价中受试物种的选择提供了基础数据。     

污水稳定塘除藻的可行性技术研究

研究了稳定塘系统出水中微藻的自动絮凝作用规律．在光暗交替条件下,微藻生物量呈增减替换趋势;在遮光条件下即出现所谓“暗沉降”现象;揭示了由于优势种的不同所显现的沉降速率的差异．研究还肯定了水生动物（ 如蚌和鱼） 对微藻的滤食作用及絮凝剂（ Ｐ Ｆ Ｓ 和 Ｐ Ａ Ｃ） 在适当ｐ Ｈ 值下对微藻的快速絮凝沉降效率．在此基础上提出了几种廉价且便于操作的除藻技术,如采用间歇排水方式除藻或采用遮光措施,或用 Ｐ Ｆ Ｓ 絮凝剂除藻等