森林生态系统土壤呼吸时空异质性及影响因子研究进展

土壤呼吸是全球碳循环的一个重要流通途径,是大气CO2的重要来源之一,是陆地碳循环的重要环节,对温室气体的排放产生直接影响,且关系到科学把握全球变化背景下CO2的排放动态,在全球碳收支中占据重要地位,越来越受到各国学者的广泛关注。在全球变化背景下研究土壤呼吸的时空异质性及其影响因子,可为探索陆地生态系统在碳循环方面的碳源/碳汇功能和揭示“碳失汇之迷”,以及减缓气候变暖等方面提供有力的依据。作为一个复杂的生物学与生态学过程,土壤呼吸受到气候、生物以及非生物等因子的影响而呈现时空异质性,并随着各种干扰因子影响的增强,人为因素的作用亦越来越大,该文阐述了森林生态系统土壤呼吸作用的时空动态变化规律、并探讨了影响土壤呼吸速率的各种影响因子,剖析了导致土壤呼吸时空异质性的影响因子,指出自然因子、生物因子和干扰因子共同驱动着土壤呼吸的时空动态变化。并对森林生态系统土壤呼吸作用的模型模拟方面的研究进展进行了综述。最后讨论了森林土壤呼吸时空异质性研究中存在的相关问题,同时提出了今后土壤呼吸研究中应关注的问题,同时对森林生态系统土壤呼吸时空异质性及影响因子的研究方向进行了展望。     

冻融作用对土壤磷素迁移转化影响研究进展

磷素是生态系统中重要的生源要素之一,其在土壤中的丰缺变化制约着植物的生长状况,寒冷地区土壤的结构与理化性质常年受到冻结和融化的周期性影响,而冻融作用又强烈的影响着土壤磷的迁移转化途径,磷的生物地球化学行为是生态系统初级生产力的决定因素之一。系统的归纳分析了近年来国内外关于土壤吸附作用、土壤含水率以及土壤生物对磷素迁移转化过程影响的研究报道,主要研究结论认为：（1）冻融循环导致土壤颗粒粒径变小以及铁铝化合物形态改变,进而影响了磷在冻融土壤上的吸附行为;（2）土壤水在冻融作用下的固液相转换改变了土壤浸提液中磷的含量,而土壤含水率的高低与磷在土壤中的汇聚和释放存在密切关系;（3）土壤微生物和植物体内的磷在冻融过程中成为土壤中有机磷的主要来源之一。众多研究结果显示,同一制约因素在冻融作用驱动下对土壤磷的影响效果各不相同,这是因为冻融过程中土壤成分、水分含量、冻融时间、循环次数、植被类型和微生物状况等条件共同影响着磷的迁移转化行为,众多相互关联的因子产生的综合效应导致磷在冻融土壤中的迁移转化行为各异。总结分析当前的研究成果,提出冻融作用对土壤磷的影响应在土壤景观尺度、研究方法和手段、预防和治理措施方面进行深入的研究和探索。     

胚胎期和哺乳期全氟辛烷磺酸(PFOS)暴露致大鼠学习记忆能力下降

为了探讨全氟辛烷磺酸(PFOS)的发育神经毒性,寻找PFOS发育神经毒性作用的敏感期,利用水迷宫和组织病理切片技术,研究了胚胎期和哺乳期暴露于PFOS后新生大鼠发育情况、学习记忆能力、抓力以及海马组织病理学改变。结果显示：PFOS导致仔鼠发育迟缓,睁眼期延迟。仔鼠出生后体重与对照组相比出现显著性降低。同一PFOS暴露浓度下,胚胎期暴露组体重低于哺乳期暴露组,抓力差异不显著。水迷宫实验结果显示,TT15(胚胎期和哺乳期均暴露于15 mg·L^-1 PFOS)和TC15(仅胚胎期暴露于15 mg·L^-1 PFOS)暴露组仔鼠逃避潜伏期显著高于对照组,且TC15暴露组仔鼠逃避潜伏期显著性高于CT15(仅哺乳期暴露于15 mg·L^-1 PFOS)暴露组。空间探索实验中,TT15暴露组仔鼠在目标象限的游泳时间显著性低于对照组,其他组无显著性差异。组织病理切片结果显示暴露组海马组织细胞数量减少,出现细胞凋亡现象。结果表明,PFOS造成仔鼠的发育延迟以及学习记忆能力下降的关键作用时期可能是胚胎期。     

离子液体氯化1-辛基-3-甲基咪唑对酵母细胞增殖生长和细胞膜通透性的影响

为探讨咪唑类离子液体氯化1-辛基-3-甲基咪唑([C₈mim][Cl])对酵母细胞的增殖生长和细胞膜通透性的影响,以不同浓度的[C₈mim][Cl]处理酵母细胞,研究离子液体对酵母细胞增殖和菌落形成的影响,通过测定酵母细胞外液蛋白质和核酸的含量,判断膜通透性的大小和[C₈mim][Cl]对细胞膜性结构的损伤。结果显示,0.1 mmol·L^-1的[C₈mim][Cl]延长了酵母细胞到达对数生长期的时间,在6～9 h之间对酵母细胞的增殖存在明显的抑制作用。1 mmol·L^-1的[C₈mim][Cl]使酵母细胞增殖不能到达对数生长期,对酵母细胞的增殖一直具有较强的抑制作用。随着离子液体浓度的增加,小菌落的数量增多。当平板内[C₈mim][Cl]浓度达到10 mmol·L^-1时,完全抑制了菌落的形成。[C₈mim][Cl]处理酵母细胞后,细胞外液中OD₂₈₀、OD₂₆₀的值显著升高。研究表明,细胞膜等膜性结构通透性的增加是离子液体[C₈mim][Cl]抑制酵母细胞增殖生长的原因之一。     

离子液体分析方法研究进展

离子液体(ILs)由于挥发性小和化学稳定性高常称为绿色溶剂而得以广泛生产与应用.同时由于水溶性高和难降解可能给水生生物带来潜在危害,已逐渐引起广大环境化学工作者的关注.如何有效地分离分析ILs是研究其迁移、转化等环境行为及生物毒性的首要问题.为此,本文系统论述了反相液相色谱法、离子对-反相液相色谱法、极性-反相液相色谱法、离子色谱法、毛细管电泳及等速电泳等方法分析ILs的研究进展,分析了各个方法的优缺点和适用对象,展望了ILs分离分析发展的未来趋势.     

四氨基钴酞菁催化产生活性氧的性能

四氨基钴酞菁作为一种有前途的可见光催化剂,可光敏化为三线态,与溶液中的O2反应产生活性氧.实验考察了反应过程中的光照时间、光敏剂质量、光照强度和pH等4个因素对活性氧产生的影响,同时确定了一种简单可行的检测方法:活性氧与卡巴肼(DPCI)反应,生成卡巴腙(DPCO),以苯-四氯化碳萃取,在563 nm处测其吸光度,从而表示出活性氧的相对产量.实验优化了四氨基钴酞菁催化产生活性氧的条件:于50 mL的溶液中,光照时间为25 min,光敏剂质量为5 mg,光照强度为60 W,pH值为4.同时证明了在反应体系中生成了自由基和单线态氧等活性氧,并且对光催化产生活性氧的机理进行了探讨.     

滇西北高原生态恢复过程中土壤侵蚀特征及其影响因子

滇西北高原由于地处生态脆弱的石灰岩区,水土流失严重,探讨该区生态恢复过程中土壤侵蚀的变化规律,为开展人工植被建设提供依据。以时空互代的方法,通过径流小区,对坡面的产沙产流特性及其影响因素进行研究。结果表明:天然次生林和人工混交林均有较好的调节径流和减少泥沙的作用,产沙量分别比坡耕地减少了51.46%、43.18%,产流量也相应降低了39.39%、24.24%。在最大次降雨条件下,荒草丛、坡耕地、次生林和混交林单次降雨的产沙量分别占试验期产沙总量的55.38%、55.58%、58.35%和58.05%,产流量相应占产流总量的64.72%、64.63%、73.85%和55.39%。而且,产流产沙量与土壤有机质质量分数均存在明显正相关,与乔、灌层植物多样性及均匀度指数等呈显著负相关性(P<0.05)。因此,乔灌草结合的群落结构配置模式是滇西北地区水土保持林营造的目标和方向。     

Connecting sources, fractions and algal availability of sediment phosphorus in shallow lakes: An approach to the criteria for sediment phosphorus concentrations

Although point and nonpoint sources contribute roughly equal nutrient loads to lakes, their relative role in supporting algae growth has not been clarified. In this research, we have established a quantitative relationship between algae-available phosphorus (P) and P chemical fractions in sediments; the latter indicates the relative contribution of point versus nonpoint sources. Surface sediments from three large shallow lakes in eastern China, namely, the Chaohu, Taihu and Hongzehu Lakes, were sampled to assess their algae-available P and chemically extracted P fractions. The algae-available P primarily comes from iron/aluminium (hydr)oxide-bound P (Fe/Al-bound P), 45% of which is algae-available P. The ratio of Fe/Al-bound P to calcium compound-bound P (Ca-bound P) indicated the relative contribution of point to nonpoint sources, with the point sources contributing the majority of increased Fe/Al-bound P in sediments. Therefore, the reduction of point sources from urbanized areas, rather than nonpoint sources from agricultural areas that primarily contribute to the Ca-bound P fraction, should be prioritized to alleviate cyanobacterial algal blooms (CyanoHABs) in shallow lakes with sediment P as a potential source to support algae growth. With these important results, we proposed a conceptual model for “P-pumping suction” from sediments to algae to aid in the development of the criteria for sediment P concentrations in shallow lakes.     

Backwater Confluences of the Ohio River: Organic and Inorganic Fingerprints Explain Sediment Dynamics in Wetlands and Marinas

In the Ohio River (OR), backwater confluence sedimentation dynamics are understudied, however, these river features are expected to be influential on the system’s ecological and economic function when integrated along the river’s length. In the following paper, we test the efficacy of organic and inorganic tracers for sediment fingerprinting in backwater confluences; we use fingerprinting results to evidence sediment dynamics controlling deposition patterns in confluences used for wetland and marina functions; and we quantify the spatial extent of tributary drainages with wetland and marina features in OR confluences. Both organic and inorganic tracers statistically differentiate sediment from stream and river end‐members. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes produce greater uncertainty in fingerprinting results than inorganic elemental tracers. Uncertainty analysis of the nonconservative tracer term in the organic matter fingerprinting application estimates an apparent enrichment of the carbon stable isotopes during instream residence, and the nonconservativeness is quantified with a statistical approach unique to the fingerprinting literature. Wetland and marina features in OR confluences impact 42% and 11% of tributary drainage areas, respectively. Sediment dynamics show wetland and marina confluences experience deposition from river backwaters with longitudinally linear and nonlinear patterns, respectively, from sediment sources.     

Sanitation workers at the frontline: work and vulnerability in response to COVID-19

ABSTRACT

The absence of a vaccine and effective treatment for COVID-19 has created public panic and burdened the health systems in most countries. Along with health workers’, sanitation personnel are also working at the frontlines in the war against the disease by keeping cities clean. Sanitation workers are engaged in Drudgery, Dangerous, Dirty and Dehumanising work that makes them vulnerable for developing the chronic respiratory diseases due to the exposure of various hazardous materials and toxic gases that are emitted from the solid waste. The sanitation workers working on a contractual basis are excluded from the labour policies and welfare programs who are playing a vital role in fighting the pandemic. Women sanitation workers are even more vulnerable because most of them are non-literate, poor in financial management and under-represented in the sanitation employee’s union. The local and state governments should protect and safeguard sanitation workers by providing them with adequate protective equipment, ensure payment of paying adequate salaries and provide them with health insurance.