The structure of the fire fighting foam surfactant Forafac®1157 and its biological and photolytic transformation products

For several decades, perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) has widely been used as a fluorinated surfactant in aqueous film forming foams used as hydrocarbon fuel fire extinguishers. Due to concerns regarding its environmental persistence and toxicological effects, PFOS has recently been replaced by novel fluorinated surfactants such as Forafac®1157, developed by the DuPont company. The major component of Forafac®1157 is a 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamide alkylbetaine (6:2 FTAB), and a link between the trade name and the exact chemical structure is presented here to the scientific community for the first time. In the present work, the structure of the 6:2 FTAB was elucidated by ¹H, ¹³C and ¹⁹F nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and high-resolution mass spectrometry. Moreover, its major metabolites from blue mussel (Mytilus edulis) and turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) and its photolytic transformation products were identified. Contrary to what has earlier been observed for PFOS, the 6:2 FTAB was extensively metabolized by blue mussel and turbot exposed to Forafac®1157. The major metabolite was a deacetylated betaine species, from which mono- and di-demethylated metabolites also were formed. Another abundant metabolite was the 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamide. In another experiment, Forafac®1157 was subjected to UV-light induced photolysis. The experimental conditions aimed to simulate Arctic conditions and the deacetylated species was again the primary transformation product of 6:2 FTAB. A 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonamide was also formed along with a non-identified transformation product. The environmental presence of most of the metabolites and transformation products was qualitatively demonstrated by analysis of soil samples taken in close proximity to an airport fire training facility.     

Modeling estuarine-shelf exchanges in a deltaic estuary: Implications for coastal carbon budgets and hypoxia

The export of wetland-derived materials to the coastal ocean (i.e., the “Outwelling” hypothesis) has received considerable attention over the past several decades. While a number of studies have shown that estuaries export appreciable amounts of nutrients and carbon, few studies have attempted to estimate the importance of estuarine sources for the coastal carbon budgets in river-dominated coastal ecosystems. A novel tidal prism model was developed to examine estuarine-shelf exchanges in the Barataria estuary, a deltaic estuary located in the north-central Gulf of Mexico. This estuary has been the site of a massive wetland loss, and it has been hypothesized that carbon export from the eroding coastal wetlands supports the development of a large hypoxic zone in the coastal Gulf of Mexico. The model results show that the Barataria estuary receives nitrogen through the tidal passes and releases carbon to the coastal ocean. The mean calculated tidal water discharge of 6930 m³ s⁻¹ is equivalent to about 43% of the lower Mississippi River discharge. The annual total organic carbon (TOC) export is 109 million kg, or 57 gC m² yr⁻¹ when prorated to the total water area of the estuary. This carbon export is equivalent to a loss of 0.5 m of wetland soil horizon over an area of 8.4 km², and accounts for about 34% of the observed annual wetland loss in the estuary between 1978 and 2000. Compared to the lower Mississippi River, the Barataria estuary appears to be a very small source of TOC for the northern Gulf of Mexico (2.7% of riverine TOC), and is unlikely to have a significant influence on the development of the Gulf's hypoxia.     

Continuous versus binary representations of landscape heterogeneity in spatially-explicit models of mobile populations

How a landscape is represented is an important structural assumption in spatially-explicit simulation models. Simple models tend to specify just habitat and non-habitat (binary), while more complex models may use multiple levels or a continuum of habitat quality (continuous). How these different representations influence model projections is unclear. To assess the influence of landscape representation on population models, I developed a general, individual-based model with local dispersal and examined population persistence across binary and continuous landscapes varying in the amount and fragmentation of habitat. In binary and continuous landscapes habitat and non-habitat were assigned a unique mean suitability. In continuous landscapes, suitability of each individual site was then drawn from a normal distribution with fixed variance. Populations went extinct less often and abundances were higher in continuous landscapes. Production in habitat and non-habitat was higher in continuous landscapes, because the range of habitat suitability sampled by randomly dispersing individuals was higher than the overall mean habitat suitability. Increasing mortality, dispersal distance, and spatial heterogeneity all increased the discrepancy between continuous and binary landscapes. The effect of spatial structure on the probability of extinction was greater in binary landscapes. These results show that, under certain circumstances, model projections are influenced by how variation in suitability within a landscape is represented. Care should be taken to assess how a given species actually perceives the landscape when conducting population viability analyses or empirical validation of theory.     

紫色土小流域土壤及氮磷流失特征研究

紫色土区土壤及其养分流失对长江水环境产生严重威胁。然而,有关该地区自然降雨侵蚀下土壤及氮磷流失规律的研究却较为少见。以紫色土农田利用为主小流域为研究对象,监测自然降雨侵蚀下土壤及其氮磷的流失过程,以期服务于流域尺度土壤及养分流失的模拟与控制。结果表明,次降雨径流含沙量与流量的变化基本同步,峰值含沙量往往出现在峰值流量处或略有提前,此后,含沙量迅速降低。硝态氮流失浓度与流量的变化成反比,峰值流量处流失浓度一般达到最低,此后,随着流量的降低,其流失浓度存在较为明显的升高过程。铵态氮与水溶性磷的流失表现为剧烈波动的变化特征。氮素流失的主要形态是硝态氮,其占到次降雨无机氮流失总量的88%～97%。     

基于水土流失的景观格局分析方法

景观格局和生态过程是景观生态学研究的重要内容,但是很多研究只重视景观格局的研究,而忽略了生态过程的研究。文章针对水土流失这一重要生态过程,提出了基于水土流失过程的景观坡度指数和景观空间负荷对比指数,并对黄土高原泾河流域15个子流域的景观格局进行了分析,认为泾河流北部各子流域主要以水土流失的＂源＂景观为主,景观坡度指数大,空间负荷指数小,水土流失风险大;流域南部各子流域上游以＂汇＂景观为主,坡度指数大,中下游以＂源＂景观为主,景观空间分布不均衡,存在一定的水土流失风险;流域东部局部子流域主要以水土流失的＂汇＂景观为主,＂源＂景观相对较小,＂源＂-＂汇＂景观空间分布均衡,水土流失风险小。     

太湖流域农村生活污水产排污系数测算

选取太湖流域典型地区9户农户(高、中、低收入水平各3户)作为研究对象,采用现场监测及入户调查的方法对农户生活污水各类污染物产排污系数进行系统定量研究。结果表明,收入水平对农户总生活污水中TN、NH4+-N、TP产污系数无显著影响,但对污水量、COD产污系数及总生活污水中各类污染物排污系数影响显著,均表现为高收入农户中收入农户低收入农户。厕所污水对污水污染总负荷贡献率极高,COD占67%以上,TN、NH4+-N、TP占84%以上,因此,厕所污水的利用与处理率是影响污染物排污系数的主导因素,而农业收入水平及化粪池类型则对这2种因素影响显著。     

不同油类对虾蟹类幼体的胁迫效应

了解不同油类对虾蟹类幼体的急性毒性效应。曝油处理采用磁力搅拌器搅拌,一定时间的超声波乳化等操作,模拟溢油在海洋中风浪、涡动、湍流的乳化过程;设置阶梯浓度组,并在多个平行组急性试验的基础上,估算出8种油品对2种虾类和2种蟹类的半致死质量浓度LC50和安全质量浓度MPC,并运用程序编制溢油质量浓度与虾蟹类死亡率相关性的估算模型。经过分析,结果得到：各MPC值参差不齐,差距较大;燃料油普遍比原油的毒性效应大;相同生长阶段,蟹类比虾类抗油毒害性强、中国明对虾Fenneropenaeuschinensis比日本囊对虾Marsupenaeusjaponicus抗油毒害性强、锯缘青蟹Scyllaserrata比三疣梭子蟹Portunustrituberculatu抗油毒害性强。编制的溢油质量浓度与死亡率相关性的评估模型,简易方便直观,为渔业污染事故理赔提供了一定的参考价值,亦为海域的生态经济学评估提供了一种新的研究方法。     

慈姑(Sagittaria trifolia)根系泌氧特征

借助高精度溶解氧微电极,研究了自然沉积物中慈姑(Sagittaria trifolia)根不同部位的泌氧能力差异以及光照对根系泌氧能力的影响。结果表明,慈姑根系不同部位的泌氧能力存在差异,光照和黑暗条件下根区氧气扩散层厚度由大到小依次为1/2根长(0.98、0.72 mm)、3/4根长(0.68、0.28 mm)、根尖(0.58、0.44 mm)和1/4根长(0.42、0.32 mm);光照条件下不同根长部位根表面溶解氧含量由大到小依次为1/2根长〔64.56%(以%空气饱和度计)〕、3/4根长(52.73%)、根尖(38.55%)和1/4根长(20.55%),这与根部泌氧屏障、通气组织发育程度和根组织呼吸代谢有关。无论有无光照,慈姑根均有泌氧产生,光照条件下根表面溶解氧含量和根区氧气扩散层厚度均高于黑暗条件;在光照和黑暗条件下1/2根长处根表面溶解氧含量均显著高于其他测定点(P<0.05);除1/2根长处以外的其他测定点,在光照条件下的根表面溶解氧含量差异显著(P<0.05),但在黑暗条件下趋于相同(P>0.05)。     

Effects of different endogenous fungi on the mass loss and nutrient content of leaf litter of Cunninghamia lanceolata北大核心CSCD

To explore the role of endophytic fungi in the decomposition of litter, the endophytic fungi Penicillium sp. strain CG2 (A), Fusarium flavum strain AY13 (B), and Talaromyces strain AJ14 (C) of Cunninghamia lanceolata were added to experimental pots in different forms (mycelium, sterilized fermentation broth, single fungus, and mixed fungi), and a control treatment (CK) was set up (no fungi added). At 10, 30, 60, 90, and 120 days after litter decomposition, a study on the decomposition dynamics of C. lanceolata litter under different treatments was performed. The results showed that the rate of leaf mass loss was the highest in the sterilized fermentation broth treatment A after 120 days, and that there was a significant difference (P < 0.05) between the mycelium treatment AC and the control treatment after 60 days (23.97% higher than the control group). On day 60, the litter carbon content from the mycelium treatment A was significantly different from that of the control (P < 0.05), showing a 16.74% lower value, whereas the litter carbon content of the mycelium treatment B was 21.13% lower than that of the control after 90 days. The nitrogen content of the litters of most mycelium and sterilized fermentation broth treatments was increased compared to that of the control group; there was significant difference (P < 0.05) between the sterilized fermentation broth treatment A and the control (P < 0.05), with a 17.05% higher value than that of the control. Similar to nitrogen, the litter phosphorus content also increased; there was a statistically significant difference between the mycelium treatment A and the control group, with treatment A showing a 46.67% higher value than the control group. The potassium content was 28% lower than that of the control group under the sterilized fermentation broth treatment C, a result that was significantly different from that of the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment for 90 days, the ratio of carbon to nitrogen was the lowest under the treatments with the mycelium A and the mycelium B, with values 25.54% and 25.11% lower than that of the control group, respectively, and a statistically significant difference from that of the control group (P < 0.05). The ratio of carbon to phosphorus was the lowest under the treatment with mycelium A after 60 days, and the result was significantly different from that of the control (P < 0.05), with a 43.05% lower value than the control. Thus, the three endophytic fungi had different effects on the mass loss rate and nutrient content of the litter. The Penicillium sp. strain CG2 (A) had statistically significant effects on the mass loss and nutrient content of leaf litter, which was within the range of fungi fertilizer reference values for the breeding of C. lanceolata. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.