Growth, photosynthetic and respiratory responses to sub-lethal copper concentrations in Scenedesmus incrassatulus (Chlorophyceae)

In the present paper we investigated the effects of sub-lethal concentrations of Cu²⁺ in the growth and metabolism of Scenedesmus incrassatulus. We found that the effect of Cu²⁺ on growth, photosynthetic pigments (chlorophylls and carotenoids) and metabolism do not follow the same pattern. Photosynthesis was more sensitive than respiration. The analysis of chlorophyll a fluorescence transient shows that the effect of sub-lethal Cu²⁺ concentration in vivo, causes a reduction of the active PSII reaction centers and the primary charge separation, decreasing the quantum yield of PSII, the electron transport rate and the photosynthetic O₂ evolution. The order of sensitivity found was: Growth > photosynthetic pigments content = photosynthetic O₂ evolution > photosynthetic electron transport > respiration. The uncoupled relationship between growth and metabolism is discussed.     

A study of climate change and anthropogenic impacts in West Africa

BACKGROUND, AIM AND SCOPE: During the last decades ecological conditions in West Africa have dramatically changed. Very evident is the climate change, which has resulted in a southward shift of the climate zones, e.g. a spread of the desert (Sahara) into the Sahelian zone. After the drought period of the early 1970s and 1980s, livestock density increased resulting in an intensification of grazing pressure. This anthropogenous phenomenon leads to similar landscape changes as those caused by the climate. Only very few investigations exist on vegetation dynamics, climate changes and land use changes for the Sudanian zone. The paper presents data on changes of precipitation, of land use, of the geographical range of species, and of the composition of the flora, which have to be regarded as proofs of the sahelisation of large areas of the Sudanian zone. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Area of investigation: Burkina Faso. Precipitation data analysis: precipitation data from 67 stations; time series analysis and geo-statistical spatial interpolation. Analysis of land use change: Landsat satellite MSS and ETM+ data, acquired for two different dates between 1972 and 2001 analyzed by the software ERDAS/IMAGINE version 8.6 and ArcView 3.2 with the Spatial Analyst extension. Intensive ground truthing (160 training areas). Inventory of the flora: based on the data of the Herbarium Senckenbergianum (FR) in Frankfurt, Germany, and of the herbarium of the university of Ouagadougou (OUA), Burkina Faso, as well as on various investigations on the vegetation of Burkina Faso carried out in the years 1990 to 2005 by the team of the senior author. Life form analysis of the flora: based on the inventory of permanent plots. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Precipitation: Remarkable latitudinal shift of isohyets towards the South translates to a general reduction of average rainfall in great parts of the country. The last decade (1990-1999) shows some improvement, however, the more humid conditions of the 1950's and 1960's are not yet established again. Landcover change: In the study region the extent of arable fields and young fallows increased during the last 30 years from 580 km(2) in 1972 to 2870 km(2) in 2001. This means an average land cover conversion rate of 0.9% per year for the 6 departments considered. Change of the distribution of Sahelian and Sudanian species: Several species, mentioned in older literature as strictly Sahelian, today also occur in the Sudanian zone. Parallel to the spread of former strictly Sahelian species into the Sudanian zone, some former Sahelo-Sudanian species have withdrawn from the Sahel. Changes of the life form spectra of the flora: Considering their life form spectra, the flora of heavily grazed and of protected areas in the Sudanian zone show great differences. On areas intensively grazed the percentage of therophytes is evidently higher than on protected areas. Just the opposite is true for the phanerophytes. Their percentage is higher on the protected area than on the grazed zones. At the first glance, it is obvious to link the changes in flora and vegetation with the climate changes that have occurred during the last five decades (decrease of annual precipitation). However, not only climatic conditions have changed, but also population has increased, the percentage of land intensively used for agriculture and pasturing has increased and the time for soil regeneration today is much shorter than it was some decades ago. Thus, the landscape of the Sudanian zone has become a more Sahelian character. A comparison of the flora of an intensively used area of the Sudanian zone with that of a protected area shows a remarkable change in the life form spectra. The spectrum of the intensively used area is almost identical with that of the typical Sahelian flora. This comparison shows that the anthropogenic influence plays a greater role in the sahelisation of the Sudanian zone than the climate change. CONCLUSION: Climate change and anthropogenic influence both, lead to a sahelisation of landscape and flora. Thus in many parts of the Sudanian zone of West Africa sahelisation phenomena will remain and even increase independently from the reestablishment of the more humid climate conditions of the 1950ies. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: In order to maintain some parts of the characteristic Sudanian landscape with its characteristic flora and vegetation, the number and size of protected areas should be augmented. For all protected areas it has to be ensured, that protection is reality, i.e. respected an understood by local people, not only fiction. As long as the enlargement of intensively used areas continues the sahelisation of flora, vegetation and landscape will continue too.     

铁盐与铝盐对腈纶废水生化出水混凝特性的对比

针对腈纶废水生化单元出水,对比研究了Al2(SO4)3和Fe2(SO4)3在不同絮凝剂投量和p H时的混凝处理效果,并利用紫外-可见分光光度法(UV-Vis)、三维荧光光谱(EEM)、凝胶渗透色谱(HPSEC)等对混凝特性进行了初步探讨。研究显示,2种混凝剂在投量为63.5 mg/L时可获得30%以上的COD去除率,且最佳p H为中性附近。当投量小于32 mg/L时,Al2(SO4)3较Fe2(SO4)3具有更高的COD去除率,进一步增大混凝剂的投量很难提高Al2(SO4)3对COD的去除率,而Fe2(SO4)3则在有限范围内能持续提高COD去除率。EEM光谱分析显示,与Al2(SO4)3相比,Fe2(SO4)3对有机物具有更广的处理范围和更好的去除效果。HPSEC分析表明,Fe2(SO4)3相对于Al2(SO4)3在去除重均分子量为2 776、1 856和1 325 Da的有机物组分方面具有优势。铁盐或铝盐混凝是深度净化腈纶废水生化单元出水的可行方案之一。     

Aquafluor藻细胞活体分析法在三峡库区次级河流回水区Chla测定中的校准及应用

从三峡库区次级河流大宁河、小江、汤溪河及梅溪河139m回水区中段采集水样,经实验室培养后,用丙酮萃取分光光度法和Aquafluor藻细胞活体分析法测定Chla浓度.通过对Chla萃取值(y)和活体值(x)进行回归分析,得到其回归方程为y=4.15x 2.48,t检验显示回归方程具有线性.在库区次级河流139m回水区富营养化监测中,Chla模拟值与萃取值基本吻合,相对误差＜±7%,故可以采用Chla模拟值对水体富营养化程度进行评价.     

罗丹明染料荧光猝灭法分别测定痕量二氧化氯和亚氯酸根

在碱性条件下,ClO2氧化罗丹明染料发生荧光猝灭可选择性地测定ClO2的含量,而ClO2-不干扰测定;在酸性条件下可测量ClO2与ClO2-共同产生的荧光猝灭强度,利用差减法可求出ClO2-的含量.对于罗丹明S,罗丹明G,罗丹明B及丁基罗丹明B四体系,ClO2浓度分别在0.00840-0.53μg·ml-1,0.0930-3.15μg·ml-1,0.215-2.610μg·ml-1及0.0825-1.096μg·ml-1范围内,与四体系的荧光猝灭强度呈线性关系;亚氯酸根浓度分别在0.00950-0.711μg·ml-1,0.0940-2.36μg·ml-1,0.473-4.73μg·ml-1及0.473-2.36μg·ml-1范围内,与四体系的荧光猝灭强度呈线性关系.另外,选择罗丹明S荧光猝灭法分别测定了饮用水中ClO2及ClO2-,获得了满意的结果.     

4-硝基苯胺与人血清白蛋白相互作用的研究

通过荧光和紫外光谱法研究了4-硝基苯胺与人血清白蛋白（HSA）的作用.结果表明,4-硝基苯胺对HSA的内源荧光具有强烈的猝灭作用.猝灭机理为静态猝灭,同时伴随有非辐射能量转移的发生.根据双对数方程计算其结合常数和结合位点数.确定4-硝基苯胺与HSA有一类结合部位.根据热力学参数得出4-硝基苯胺与HSA之间的主要作用力为氢键和疏水作用力.同步荧光的结果表明,作用点位靠近色氨酸,并且使色氨酸的疏水环境增强.     

荧光分光光度法测定土壤中石油类

建立了荧光分光光度法测定土壤中石油类.方法检出限为3 mg/kg,实际土壤加标回收率为95.5％ ～108％,精密度(RSD,n=6)为2.4％ ～8.7％.实验结果表明,该方法准确可靠、灵敏度高、选择性好、操作简便,与红外分光光度法有较好的可比性,满足土壤中石油类分析要求.     

重金属离子存在下腐植酸和芘之间的相互作用

建立并验证了腐植酸(HA)和芘结合常数(Koc)测定的荧光猝灭法,进而研究了重金属离子对HA和芘相互作用的影响,测定了重金属离子存在下HA和芘之间的Koc.结果表明:纯化后的HA是分子质量较小的部分,水溶性较高,具有羟基、羧基和碳氧键等极性基团;HA利用其分子中的羟基、羧基、碳氧键等基团和重金属离子产生络合作用,这种络合作用影响了HA的结构;随着重金属离子浓度的增大,Koc遵循先增大,再减小,最后趋于不变的趋势.     

流动注射-氢化物发生-原子荧光光谱法测定土壤中铅

采用流动注射-氢化物发生-原子荧光光谱法测定土壤中的铅,工作曲线线性关系良好,检出限为0.25 mg/kg,相对标准偏差＜3.5%,加标回收率为93.0%～105%.该方法简便快速,测定结果准确可靠.     

Spring leaf flush in aspen (Populus tremuloides) clones is altered by long-term growth at elevated carbon dioxide and elevated ozone concentration

Early spring leaf out is important to the success of deciduous trees competing for light and space in dense forest plantation canopies. In this study, we investigated spring leaf flush and how long-term growth at elevated carbon dioxide concentration ([CO₂]) and elevated ozone concentration ([O₃]) altered leaf area index development in a closed Populus tremuloides (aspen) canopy. This work was done at the Aspen FACE experiment where aspen clones have been grown since 1997 in conditions simulating the [CO₂] and [O₃] predicted for ∼2050. The responses of two clones were compared during the first month of spring leaf out when CO₂ fumigation had begun, but O₃ fumigation had not. Trees in elevated [CO₂] plots showed a stimulation of leaf area index (36%), while trees in elevated [O₃] plots had lower leaf area index (−20%). While individual leaf area was not significantly affected by elevated [CO₂], the photosynthetic operating efficiency of aspen leaves was significantly improved (51%). There were no significant differences in the way that the two aspen clones responded to elevated [CO₂]; however, the two clones responded differently to long-term growth at elevated [O₃]. The O₃-sensitive clone, 42E, had reduced individual leaf area when grown at elevated [O₃] (−32%), while the tolerant clone, 216, had larger mature leaf area at elevated [O₃] (46%). These results indicate a clear difference between the two clones in their long-term response to elevated [O₃], which could affect competition between the clones, and result in altered genotypic composition in future atmospheric conditions.