The effects of different carbon sources on microbial mediation of arsenic in arsenic-contaminated sediment

Changes in speciation and mobility of As by indigenous bacteria in As-contaminated sediments (339 mg/kg) from an abandoned Au–Ag mine area in Korea were investigated after biostimulation with a variety of carbon sources, including acetate, lactate and glucose in batch experiments. Sequential extraction analysis designed to determine the form of As occurrence revealed that 40 and 47% of As were present in the sediment as Fe-associated and residual fractions, respectively. After 22-day incubation with acetate and lactate, the presence of indigenous bacteria increased the amount of total dissolved As from both Fe-associated and residual fractions in the sediment. More than 99% of dissolved As existed as As(V) in biotic slurries in contrast to sterile controls (less than 50% of total dissolved As), which indicated that indigenous bacteria transformed some dissolved As(III) to As(V). In real environments, depending on the pH, microbially-produced aqueous As(V) may be either immobilized through adsorption or reduced to As(III) after migration to the anoxic subsurface.     

Lag Effects in the Impacts of Mass Coral Bleaching on Coral Reef Fish, Fisheries, and Ecosystems

Abstract:  Recent episodes of coral bleaching have led to wide-scale loss of reef corals and raised concerns over the effectiveness of existing conservation and management efforts. The 1998 bleaching event was most severe in the western Indian Ocean, where coral declined by up to 90% in some locations. Using fisheries-independent data, we assessed the long-term impacts of this event on fishery target species in the Seychelles, the overall size structure of the fish assemblage, and the effectiveness of two marine protected areas (MPAs) in protecting fish communities. The biomass of fished species above the size retained in fish traps changed little between 1994 and 2005, indicating no current effect on fishery yields. Biomass remained higher in MPAs, indicating they were effective in protecting fish stocks. Nevertheless, the size structure of the fish communities, as described with size-spectra analysis, changed in both fished areas and MPAs, with a decline in smaller fish (<30 cm) and an increase in larger fish (>45 cm). We believe this represents a time-lag response to a reduction in reef structural complexity brought about because fishes are being lost through natural mortality and fishing, and are not being replaced by juveniles. This effect is expected to be greater in terms of fisheries productivity and, because congruent patterns are observed for herbivores, suggests that MPAs do not offer coral reefs long-term resilience to bleaching events. Corallivores and planktivores declined strikingly in abundance, particularly in MPAs, and this decline was associated with a similar pattern of decline in their preferred corals. We suggest that climate-mediated disturbances, such as coral bleaching, be at the fore of conservation planning for coral reefs.     

北京市区公路旁尘土中铂族元素的化学形态

用ICP-MS 法检测北京市区公路旁尘土中铂、铑和钯各种形态的含量及总含量.结果表明,北京市区采样点公路旁土壤中铂,铑和钯的总量分别为154.23 ng·g-1,62.77 ng·g-1和 77.97 ng·g-1,其中非残留态的百分比含量为铑(37.82%) ＞钯(27.45%) ＞铂(26.87%);在自然条件作用下可进入地下水和可被植物吸收部分的百分比为铑(29.14%)＞钯(23.87%)＞＞铂(7.92%).     

塿土中可给态镍浸提方法的研究

在前人工作的基础上,应用主成分分析、逐步回归分析和通径分析的方法,提出了(土娄)土中可给态镍的浸提方法及影响可给态镍的土壤性质.结果表明,DTPA浸提法可作为(土娄)土中可给态镍的浸提方法,铁锰氧化物结合态镍是(土娄)土可给镍的主要来源.碳酸盐结合态镍和有机质结合态镍是(土娄)土可给镍的潜在来源.它们在调控可给态镍的储量上起着重要作用.影响(土娄)土可给态镍最重要的土壤性质是pH和E_h_7.     

基于生态系统对宝鸡传统乡村旅游新模式探究

基于生态系统对宝鸡传统乡村旅游新模式进行了探究。首先通过分析宝鸡部分传统乡村旅游的现状,对宝鸡传统乡村旅游现状进行了介绍。提出宝鸡开展民俗旅游的一些不足之处;其次说明基于生态系统理念,对宝鸡传统乡村旅游和生态环境的促进作用;然后提出观光主题公园与乡村民俗旅游的结合,可以更好地促进乡村生态环境和乡村旅游的可持续性发展,更能充分开发旅游资源,丰富旅游项目,促进乡村环境和乡村经济的双重发展,使宝鸡传统乡村旅游新模式得到发展。     

一种高效测试污泥可生物降解性的实验方法研究

污泥的可生物降解性能由其有机组分的生物可及度和组分分子的复杂度共同决定。通过采用化学分级提取方法研究污泥组分的生物可及度,使用不同强度的提取溶液分离出4种化学可及度不同的提取组分,同时结合三维荧光光谱法对各组分中有机物质的复杂度进行分析。分析结果表明:组分的化学可及度与其生物可及度之间存在正相关关系;生物可及度较高,其成分有机物分子结构简单的组分SPOM(soluble particulate organic matter,SPOM)与REOM(readily extractible organic matter,REOM)在厌氧消化过程中降解率较高,分别为59.2%与46.3%的COD;而生物可及度低,组成复杂的组分SEOM(slowly extractible organic matter,SEOM)与PEOM(poorly extractible organic matter,PEOM)的生物降解率分别只有18.4%和5.8%的COD。     

A metapopulation approach of the dynamics of arthropods from Mediterranean-type ecosystems

In this paper we developed a general stage-structured, Leslie-type model, suitable to simulate dynamics of soil arthropods under typical Mediterranean conditions. In order to explore arthropods’ life-history strategies in relation to enhanced spatial heterogeneity of the Mediterranean ecosystems, metapopulation characteristics were considered and different habitat quality regimes, in terms of dominant microclimatic conditions, were taken into account. Environmental stochasticity in temperature and humidity was incorporated into the model, and an elasticity analysis was conducted to quantify contribution of different life-history traits to metapopulation growth rate. The application of the model revealed well-known life-cycle characteristics of Mediterranean arthropods, such as seasonally fluctuating population sizes and skewing phenologies, a fact that confirms models’ reliability. Furthermore, the model seems able to elucidate controversial points of the animals’ life-cycle development, such as the long-term maintenance of populations in the field and the underlying mechanisms related to the adjustment to the specific features of the Mediterranean ecosystem. Subpopulations inhabiting various microsites display different dynamics and the interaction between these subpopulations, via dispersion, seems to be able to ensure stochastic equilibrium for the system. Dispersal appears to play a decisive role, allowing arthropods to conform to spatial severities and habitats fragmentation, rescuing individuals and recolonizing previously extinct habitats.     

Integrated Measures of Anthropogenic Stress in the U.S. Great Lakes Basin

Integrated, quantitative expressions of anthropogenic stress over large geographic regions can be valuable tools in environmental research and management. Despite the fundamental appeal of a regional approach, development of regional stress measures remains one of the most important current challenges in environmental science. Using publicly available, pre-existing spatial datasets, we developed a geographic information system database of 86 variables related to five classes of anthropogenic stress in the U.S. Great Lakes basin: agriculture, atmospheric deposition, human population, land cover, and point source pollution. The original variables were quantified by a variety of data types over a broad range of spatial and classification resolutions. We summarized the original data for 762 watershed-based units that comprise the U.S. portion of the basin and then used principal components analysis to develop overall stress measures within each stress category. We developed a cumulative stress index by combining the first principal component from each of the five stress categories. Maps of the stress measures illustrate strong spatial patterns across the basin, with the greatest amount of stress occurring on the western shore of Lake Michigan, southwest Lake Erie, and southeastern Lake Ontario. We found strong relationships between the stress measures and characteristics of bird communities, fish communities, and water chemistry measurements from the coastal region. The stress measures are taken to represent the major threats to coastal ecosystems in the U.S. Great Lakes. Such regional-scale efforts are critical for understanding relationships between human disturbance and ecosystem response, and can be used to guide environmental decision-making at both regional and local scales.     

南京市城市污泥和工业污泥中典型矿质元素含量和形态分布研究

采用三态连续提取法研究南京市部分城市污泥和工业污泥中典型矿质元素的含量和形态分布,为污泥资源化的合理利用提供科学参考.结果表明,污泥总体呈高有机质、高氮磷、低K的相似性,但其理化性质如阳离子交换容量(CEC)、pH等有差异.污泥中不同矿质元素含量差异也较大,Fe的浓度最高,其次是Mg、Zn;且不同污泥间同一矿质元素含量的差异也较大.各元素的形态分布有一定差异,Cu主要分布在可氧化态,其酸溶/交换态和可还原态的百分率很低;Zn三态分布均较高;Mg、Mn主要分布在酸溶/交换态;Fe主要分布在残渣态.但三种提取形态百分率之和除Fe外均超过50%.研究同时表明,城市污泥和工业污泥中矿质元素形态分布无显著性差异.     

Bioaccumulation of Hg, Cu, and Zn in the Azores triple junction hydrothermal vent fields food web

In this work, mercury (Hg), copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) concentrations and tissue distribution are determined in seven benthic invertebrates species (the key species) from the Mid Atlantic Ridge (MAR) hydrothermal vent fields. The samples were collected from three hydrothermal vent fields – Menez Gwen, 840 m; Lucky Strike, 1700 m and Rainbow, 2300 m – near the Azores Triple Junction. These fields are characterized by different depths, geological context and chemical composition of the hydrothermal fluid, particularly the metal content, which is reflected by the metal concentrations in the organisms. Indeed, our results show that organisms from Menez Gwen presented the highest Hg concentrations, while those from Lucky Strike and Rainbow were richer in Cu and Zn. The potential transfer of these metals through two trophic links are also evaluated and include (1) the mussel Bathymodiolus azoricus and the commensal worm Branchipolynoe seepensis, and (2) three different species of shrimps and the crab Segonzacia mesatlantica. No evidence of Hg biomagnification in either of the vent food chains is clearly observed but an increase in Hg accumulation from prey to predator in the crustacean food chain. The same pattern was observed for Cu and Zn, even though these metals are not known to be generally biomagnified in food chains.