Using environmental and geographic data to optimize ex situ collections and preserve evolutionary potential

Maintenance of biodiversity through seed banks and botanical gardens, where the wealth of species’ genetic variation may be preserved ex situ, is a major goal of conservation. However, challenges can persist in optimizing ex situ collections if trade-offs exist among cost, effort, and conserving species evolutionary potential, particularly when genetic data are not available. We evaluated the genetic consequences of population preservation informed by geographic (isolation by distance [IBD]) and environmental (isolation by environment [IBE]) distance for ex situ collections for which population provenance is available. We used 19 genetic and genomic data sets from 15 plant species to assess the proportion of population genetic differentiation explained by geographic and environmental factors and to simulate ex situ collections prioritizing source populations based on pairwise geographic distance, environmental distance, or both. Specifically, we tested the impact prioritizing sampling based on these distances may have on the capture of neutral, functional, or putatively adaptive genetic diversity and differentiation. Individually, IBD and IBE explained limited population genetic differences across all 3 genetic marker classes (IBD, 10–16%; IBE, 1–5.5%). Together, they explained a substantial proportion of population genetic differences for functional (45%) and adaptive (71%) variation. Simulated ex situ collections revealed that inclusion of IBD, IBE, or both increased allelic diversity and genetic differentiation captured among populations, particularly for loci that may be important for adaptation. Thus, prioritizing population collections based on environmental and geographic distance data can optimize genetic variation captured ex situ. For the vast majority of plant species for which there is no genetic information, these data are invaluable to conservation because they can guide preservation of genetic variation needed to maintain evolutionary potential within collections.     

Contrasting home-range size and spatial partitioning in cryptic and sympatric pipistrelle bats

The extent of spatial partitioning in insectivorous bats, whose prey is patchily distributed and transient in nature, remains a contentious issue. The recent separation of a common Palaearctic bat, the pipistrelle, into Pipistrellus pipistrellus and Pipistrellus pygmaeus, which are morphologically similar and sympatric, provides an opportunity to examine this question. The present study used radio telemetry to address the spatial distribution and foraging characteristics of P. pipistrellus and P. pygmaeus in northeast Scotland, to test the hypothesis that coexistence between these species is facilitated through spatial segregation. We reveal large and significant differences in the spatial distribution and foraging characteristics of these two cryptic species. Individual P. pipistrellus home ranges were on average three times as large as that of P. pygmaeus, and they foraged for approximately an hour longer each night. Inter-specific spatial overlap was minimal (<5%) and core foraging areas of either species were essentially mutually exclusive despite the proximity of the two roosts. Inter-specific differences in range size were associated with the spatial dispersion of productive foraging sites within individual foraging ranges. P. pipistrellus foraging sites were highly dispersed, necessitating larger ranges. It is predicted that the spatial segregation revealed by the present study is a result of selection favouring the avoidance of competition in these species through differential habitat use.     

初论元素富集成矿的地球化学机理—以岩浆热液矿床的形成为例

元素富集成矿的过程实质上是元素在地球不同圈层和不同相以及不同集合体之间分配的结果。元素的富集起始于地球形成的初期。对于大多数金属成矿元素 ,地壳特别是上地壳是大多数矿石和矿胎的储库 ,地壳丰度是元素富集成矿的物质基础。元素在地质体系演化共存相间的分配是元素富集成矿的关键过程。对于以侵入体为中心的热液矿床的形成 ,岩浆部分熔融、结晶分异、液态分离、挥发分分离以及气液相不混溶等过程能够导致金属元素最终达到矿石级的富集。挥发分则是元素富集成矿的重要制约因素     

Determination of polyfluoroalkyl compounds in water and suspended particulate matter in the river Elbe and North Sea, Germany

The distribution of polyfluoroalkyl compounds (PFCs) in the dissolved and particulate phase and their discharge from the river Elbe into the North Sea were studied. The PFCs quantified included C₄-C₈ perfluorinated sulfonates (PFSAs), 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS), C₆ and C₈ perfluorinated sulfinates (PFSiAs), C₄-C₁₂ perfluorinated carboxylic acids (PFCAs), perfluoro-3,7-dimethyl-octanoic acid (3,7m₂-PFOA), perfluorooctane sulfonamide (FOSA), and n-ethyl perfluroctane sulfonamidoethanol (EtFOSE). PFCs were mostly distributed in the dissolved phase, where perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) dominated with 2.9–12.5 ng/L. In the suspended particulate matter FOSA and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) showed the highest concentrations (4.0 ng/L and 2.3 ng/L, respectively). The total flux of ΣPFCs from the river Elbe was estimated to be 802 kg/year for the dissolved phase and 152 kg/year for the particulate phase. This indicates that the river Elbe acts as a source of PFCs into the North Sea. However, the concentrations of perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS) and perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) in the North Sea were higher than that in the river Elbe, thus an alternative source must exist for these compounds.     

Fate and transport of the β-adrenergic agonist ractopamine hydrochloride in soil–water systems

The feed additive ractopamine hydrochloride was fortified at four concentrations into batch vials containing soils that differed in both biological activity and organic matter(OM).Sampling of the liquid layer for 14 days demonstrated that ractopamine rapidly dissipated from the liquid layer. Less than 20% of the fortified dose remained in the liquid layer after 4 hr,and recoveries of dosed ractopamine ranged from 8 to 18% in the liquid layer at 336 hr. Sorption to soil was the major fate for ractopamine in soil:water systems, i.e., 42%–51% of the dose at14 days. The major portion of the sorbed fraction was comprised of non-extractables; a smaller fraction of the sorbed dose was extracted into water and acetone, portions which would be potentially mobile in the environment. Partitioning coefficients for all soils suggested strong sorption of ractopamine to soil which is governed by hydrophobic interactions and cation exchange complexes within the soil OM. Ractopamine degradation was observed, but to mostly non-polar compounds which had a higher potential than ractopamine to sorb to soil. The formation of volatiles was also suggested. Therefore, despite rapid and extensive soil sorption,these studies indicated a portion of ractopamine, present in manures used to fertilize soils,may be mobile in the environment via water-borne events.     

典型电子垃圾拆解区二噁英污染特征、相分配及暴露风险

选取南方某典型电子垃圾拆解区不同作业区为研究对象,重点研究了拆解地大气中二噁英的污染特征、气相-颗粒相分配及呼吸暴露风险。通过对5个采样点（包括1个背景点）的研究发现,电子垃圾拆解作业区颗粒相ΣPCDD/Fs的质量浓度为：20.64-56.14 pg·m^-3,毒性当量为：I-TEQ 0.293-1.490 pg·m^-3;气相ΣPCDD/Fs的质量浓度为：3.861-19.29 pg·m^-3,毒性当量为：I-TEQ 0.384-2.150 pg·m^-3。背景点大气中二噁英浓度相对较低,颗粒相和气相样品中质量浓度值分别为：3.734 pg·m^-3和2.637 pg·m^-3,毒性当量仅为I-TEQ 0.176-0.267 pg·m^-3;要明显低于电子垃圾拆解区。基于污染物气相-颗粒相分配系数与蒸汽压的关系对二噁英的气-固分配行为研究显示,除了拆解混合作业区有较好的分配系数（-0.64）外,其它监测点位二噁英的气-固平衡状态较弱（-0.27--0.03）,更多的是以低分子量的单体化合物赋存于气相样品中。对拆解区二噁英呼吸暴露风险研究结果表明,儿童呼吸暴露风险要高于成年人;同时无论是儿童还是成年人,其二噁英的呼吸暴露量均要高于国内外城市报道的二噁英人体呼吸暴露量,说明本次监测的电子垃圾拆解区存在的潜在健康风险不容忽视。     

水体沉积物质量基准研究现状

沉积物质量基准是对水质基准的补充,对水质管理具有重要意义。目前国际上沉积物质量基准计算方法有十几种。对各种方法的理论基础、数据需求、适用范围等方面进行了概述之后,综合分析了各种方法的理论基础。研究结果认为,应将建立沉积物质量基准的方法分为以生物效应数据为基础的生物效应数据库法和以相平衡分配原理为依据的相平衡分配法。而根据统计方法不同,生物效应数据库法又分为单值基准、双值基准和三轴图法。同时还对美国、加拿大、荷兰、英国、澳大利亚和新西兰的沉积物质量基准研究发展和应用概况进行了分析。结合我国实际情况认为,依赖于大量生物效应数据的生物效应数据库法,目前在我国的适用范围有限,只能用于推导少数几种污染物的基准值。相平衡分配法具有可靠的理论基础而且不需要大量的生物效应数据,具有很大的发展潜力。因此,对于目前沉积物质量基准研究处于初级阶段的我国,更适合使用相平衡分配法计算污染物沉积物质量基准。     

两相分配生物反应器治理高浓度有机污染研究进展

高浓度有机污染物难以进行生物降解的主要原因之一是其会对微生物产生较大毒害作用而抑制微生物生长以及降解过程,而两相分配生物反应器(Two-phase partitioning bioreactor,TPPB)可以有效解决污染物毒性的问题,因而在高浓度有机污染治理中具有较大的应用潜力.本文系统介绍了TPPB类型以及各自的工作原理,即TPPB通过非水相的引入可以溶解系统内大部分有机污染物,减少水相中污染物的浓度,降低其对微生物的毒性,并通过微生物的代谢活动实现污染物的降解,随着降解过程的进行污染物在两相间的分配平衡不断被打破,污染物又不断从非水相进入到水相之中,使得微生物的降解过程持续进行.同时分析了反应过程中的各种影响因素,如传质速率、微生物影响等,进而阐述了该技术在水体、土壤、大气污染治理中的应用,最后根据目前的研究进展,对TPPB技术的工程应用前景进行了展望.     

重金属污染沉积物质量评价研究—以太湖为例

以太湖的表层沉积物为研究对象,运用相平衡分配法(EqP)探讨了沉积物中4种重金属(Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd)的沉积物质量基准(CSQC)值;根据美国国家环境保护局(US EPA)基于水生生物对重金属的最终慢性毒理水平的淡水水质基准,制定了太湖4种重金属(Cu, Pb, Zn,和Cd)的沉积物质量基准值分别为145.2,308.72,293.01,0.46mg/kg.以此CSQC为参比值,参考潜在生态危害指数法对各元素赋予不同的权重值,运用综合污染指数法对太湖沉积物重金属的环境质量进行评价,结果显示,2010年8~9月太湖沉积物质量基本为良.这一结果与沉积物重金属总量分析结果一致.     

藻类的光谱吸收特征及其混合藻吸收系数的分离

利用定量滤膜技术测定了实验室培养的聚球藻(Synechococcus 7942)、铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)、斜生栅藻(Scenedesmusobliquus)、蛋白核小球藻(Chlorella pyrenoidosa)、直链硅藻的吸收光谱(Melosira granulate Var.angustissima),通过其标准化吸收谱,分析了同种藻不同生长时期的吸收谱特征,并比较分析了不同藻类的标准化吸收谱.结果表明,同一藻的标准化吸收光谱在不同生长时期基本恒定不变.色素组成及其比例的不同是引起藻类间吸收光谱变化的主要原因,同时也是大型浅水湖泊中浮游植物种群演替的原因之一.蓝藻光谱主要存在620nm左右的吸收峰,使得其在水体中较易获取生长所需的光能.直链硅藻在短波范围内稍强的吸收能力被非藻类颗粒物、黄质所弱化,而其在630nm的吸收峰较低,因而难以成为浅水湖泊中的优势种;绿藻在655nm处的吸收肩峰有利于其光能竞争.通过纯种藻的标准化吸收谱,较为成功地对混合藻的吸收谱进行了分离.