Interspecific competition effects on phosphorus accumulation by Hydrilla verticillata and Vallisneria natans

The competition between submersed plants has been recognized as an important factor influencing the structure of plant communities in shallow lakes. The ability of different species to take up and store nutrients from the surrounding ambience varies, and hence plant community structure might be expected to affect the cycling of nutrients in lake ecosystems. In this study, the uptake of phosphorus by Hydrilla verticillata and Vallisneria natans was studied and compared in monoculture and competitive mixed-culture plantings. Results showed that for both studied species the phosphorus concentrations of different tissues and of whole plants was unaffected by competition. However, the quantity of phosphorus accumulated by whole plants of H. verticillata was significantly higher in mixture culture than in monoculture, while that of V. natans was lower in the mixed culture. The results indicated that H. verticillata has a competitive advantage over V. natans, when the two species are grown in competition, and is able to accumulate a greater quantity of phosphorus.     

淀山湖入湖水质净化的生态工程实践研究

作为上海境内最大的天然淡水湖泊以及黄浦江上游重要的水源保护地,淀山湖的水质状况对上海市饮用水水源安全起着举足轻重的作用。文章运用生物治理与工程措施相结合的手段,在淀山湖大朱厍港实施了净化人湖水质的生态工程试验。研究表明工程示范区域存在风浪大、水位较深、水流较急等特点,是水生植被尤其是沉水植物恢复的重要限制因素。通过选择...     

燃煤电厂烟气氮氧化物排放控制技术发展现状

在广泛查阅文献的基础上,对近年来国内外已成功应用和正在研究开发的一些主要的燃煤烟气氮氧化物控制技术进行了介绍。结合我国目前脱硝行业整体水平和国家环保政策要求,对我国脱硝行业技术研发方向提出了建议。     

滇池外海沉水植物生态环境调查与分布特点分析

设立8个调查区对滇池外海湖滨水生植物现状和分布特点进行了调查,结合历史资料对比,分析了环境改变对自然湖滨带水生植物演替变化的影响。     

江苏省300MW以上燃煤电厂汞排放现状分析

基于2012年江苏省10家典型燃煤电厂相关数据,分析了影响烟气中汞(Hg)排放浓度的因素。其中电厂负荷、烟气净化设施、燃烧炉类型等会直接影响烟气中Hg的排放浓度,而原煤中Hg的含量与烟气中Hg的浓度没有直接的关系。通过模型对江苏省现有300 MW以上燃煤电厂Hg排放量进行了估算,2012年Hg排放总量约为7.307 t。通过反距权重插值进行分析,发现在区域分布上江苏省整体呈现出南部高于北部的趋势。     

树木水分胁迫和抗旱性机理研究进展

本文从植物对干旱胁迫的反应和抗旱指标、光合作用和蒸腾作用和水分利用效率等研究途径,以及人工采取的抗旱措施等方面阐述了森林植物的抗旱性机理研究现状,并提出了今后研究的重点方向。     

6种陕北适生豆科植物生长对原油污染土壤的响应

为筛选优良的石油污染土壤修复植物,选取陕北适生的6种豆科乡土植物,对不同浓度原油污染土壤中植物的生长差异进行研究.采用混油法盆栽试验,分设0、5 000、10 000、20 000、40 000 mg·kg-1共5个不同的原油污染浓度,分析其对土壤理化性质的改变,对植物出芽时间、出芽率、株高、植物干重、叶绿素含量和枯萎率的影响.结果表明,原油污染显著改变土壤理化性质.5 000 mg·kg-1低浓度原油污染,对受试植物的发芽率和植物株高有促进作用,后随原油浓度加大植物生长受到明显抑制.原油污染浓度低时草本植物耐受力较强,其中紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa)在出芽时间、出芽率、株高及枯萎率等方面综合表现较优.从40 000 mg·kg-1浓度时枯萎率及叶绿素含量分析,刺槐(Robinia pseudoacacia)表现较高的耐受力.相关分析表明,原油污染浓度与植物出芽时间、出芽率、株高、干重均呈显著负相关,但与叶绿素含量呈极显著正相关.     

广东省新型POPs监测防控体系建设研究

2009年和2011年斯德哥尔摩公约新纳入的9种和1种持久性有机污染物（POPs）的研究是目前国际上环境领域研究的热点之一,所引起的环境污染和人体健康问题也逐步得到中国环保部门的关注.随着国际斯德哥尔摩公约履约活动的不断深入,中国正面临着履行公约以及削减与控制持久性有机污染物的巨大挑战.本文总结了广东省新型持久性有机污染物监测防控体系建设的必要性和意义,阐述了国内外在该领域的研究现状以及对解决新型POPs问题的作用.     

Monitoring air quality with lichens: a comparison between mapping in forest sites and in open areas

Four different methods of epiphytic lichen mapping were used for the assessment of air quality in the region under the influence of the Sostanj Thermal Power Plant (Salek Valley, Slovenia). Three methods were based on the presence of different lichen species (VDI, EU and ICP-Forest), the fourth on a frequency and coverage assessment of different growth forms of epiphytic lichens, e.g. crustose, foliose and fruticose (SI). A comparison of the results from the assessment of air quality between forest sites (ICP-Forest, SI) and open areas (VDI, EU and SI), obtained by the different methods of epiphytic lichen mapping, is presented in the contribution. Data showed that lichen species richness is worse in forest sites in comparison with open areas. From the data obtained it can be concluded that epiphytic lichen mapping in open areas is a better method for the assessment of air pollution in a given area than mapping in forest sites. The species-based methods in open areas are more powerful and useful for air quality assessment in polluted research areas than the SI and ICP-Forest methods.     

Modulation of steroidogenesis by coastal waters and sewage effluents of Hong Kong, China, using the H295R assay

BACKGROUND, AIM, AND SCOPE: The presence of a variety of pollutants in the aquatic environment that can potentially interfere with the production of sex steroid hormones in wildlife and humans has been of increasing concern. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of extracts from Hong Kong marine waters, and influents and effluents from wastewater treatment plants on steroidogenesis using the H295R cell bioassay. After exposing H295R cells to extracts of water, the expression of four steroidogenic genes and the production of three steroid hormones were measured. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Water samples were collected during the summer of 2005 from 24 coastal marine areas and from the influents and effluents of two major waste water treatment plants (WWTPs) in Hong Kong, China. Samples were extracted by solid phase extraction (SPE). H295R cells were exposed for 48 h to dilutions of these extracts. Modulations of the expression of the steroidogenic genes CYP19, CYP17, 3betaHSD2, and CYP11beta2 were determined by measuring mRNA concentrations by real-time polymerase chain reaction (Q-RT-PCR). Production of the hormones progesterone (P), estradiol (E2), and testosterone (T) was quantified using enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). RESULTS: Extracts from samples collected in two fish culture areas inhibited growth and proliferation of H295R cells at concentrations greater or equal to 10(5) L equivalents. The cells were exposed to the equivalent concentration of active substances in 10,000 L of water. Thus, to observe the same level of effect as observed in vitro on aquatic organisms would require a bioaccumulation factor of this same magnitude. None of the other 22 marine samples affected growth of the cells at any dilution tested. Twelve of the marine water samples completely inhibited the expression of CYP19 without affecting E2 production; inhibition of CYP17 expression was observed only in one of the samples while expression of CYP11beta2 was induced as much as five- and ninefold after exposure of cells to extracts from two locations. The expression of the progesterone gene 3betaHSD2 was not affected by any of the samples; only one sample induced approximately fourfold the production of E2. Although more than twofold inductions were observed for P and T production, none of these values were statistically significant to conclude effects on the production of these two hormones. While influents from WWTPs did not affect gene expression, an approximately 30% inhibition in the production of E2 and a 40% increase in P occurred for the exposure with influents from the Sha Tin and Stonecutters WWTPs, respectively. Effluents from WWTPs did not affect the production of any of the studied hormones, but a decrement in the expression of the aldosterone gene CYP11beta2 was observed for the Sha Tin WWTP exposure. No direct correlation could be established between gene expression and hormone production. DISCUSSION: Observed cytotoxicity in the two samples from fish culture areas suggest the presence of toxic compounds; chemical analysis is required for their full identification. Although effluents from WWTPs did not affect hormone production, other types of endocrine activity such as receptor-mediated effects cannot be ruled out. Interactions due to the complexity of the samples and alternative steroidogenic pathways might explain the lack of correlation between gene expression and hormone production results. CONCLUSIONS: Changes observed in gene expression and hormone production suggest the presence in Hong Kong coastal waters of pollutants with endocrine disruption potential and others of significant toxic effects. The aromatase and aldosterone genes seem to be the most affected by the exposures, while E2 and P are the hormones with more significant changes observed. Results also suggest effectiveness in the removing of compounds with endocrine activity by the WWTPs studied, as effluent samples did not significantly affect hormone production. The H295R cell showed to be a valuable toll in the battery required for the analysis of endocrine disrupting activities of complex environmental samples. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: Due to the intrinsic complexity of environmental samples, a combination of analytical tools is required to realistically assess environmental conditions, especially in aquatic systems. In the evaluation of endocrine disrupting activities, the H295R cell bioassay should be used in combination with other genomic, biological, chemical, and hydrological tests to establish viable modes for endocrine disruption and identify compounds responsible for the observed effects.