Nutrient dynamics in shallow lakes of northern greece

GOAL, SCOPE, BACKGROUND: Shallow lakes display a number of features that set them apart from the more frequently studied deeper systems. The majority of lakes in Northern Greece are small to moderate in size with a relatively low depth and are considered as sites of high value of the wetland habitat. However, the water quality of these lakes has only been evaluated segmentally and occasionally. OBJECTIVE: The objectives of this study were to thoroughly investigate nitrogen and phosphorus speciation in lakes of a high ecological significance located in N. Greece, in order to evaluate their eutrophication status and possible nutrient limitation factors, and to investigate the main factors/sources that affect the water quality of these systems. METHODS: An extensive survey was carried out during the period from 1998-1999. Water samples were collected on a monthly basis from lakes Koronia, Volvi, Doirani, Mikri Prespa and Megali Prespa located in N. Greece. Water quality parameters (temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH and conductivity), organic indices (COD, BOD5), and N- and P-species (NO3(-), NO2(-), NH4(+), and PO4(3-), Kieldahl nitrogen and acid-hydrolysable phosphorus) were determined according to standard methods for surface water. Statistical treatment of the data was employed. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The physicochemical parameters determined in the lakes studied revealed a high temporal variation. The trophic state of the lakes ranged from meso- to hypertrophic. The nutrient limiting factor varied among lakes suggesting either P-limitation conditions or mixed conditions changing from P- to N-limitation throughout the year. Urban/industrial activities and agricultural runoff are the major factors affecting all lakes, although with a varying contribution. RECOMMENDATION AND OUTLOOK: This lake-specific research offers valuable information about water quality and nutrient dynamics in lakes of significant ecological value located in N. Greece that can be useful for an effective pollution control/management of these systems. Due to the large intra-annual variability of certain physicochemical parameters, a properly designed monitoring program of lake water is recommended.     

Stable chlorine intramolecular kinetic isotope effects from the abiotic dehydrochlorination of DDT

INTENTION, GOAL, SCOPE, BACKGROUND: Identifying different sources and following reaction pathways of chlorinated organic contaminants in the environment can be challenging, especially when only their concentrations are available. Compound-specific stable chlorine measurements of some contaminants have recently been shown to provide additional information and an increased understanding of their biogeochemistry. These studies, however, have been generally limited to volatile molecules. OBJECTIVE: Here, the stable chlorine isotope ratios of the semi-volatile pesticide, 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane (DDT) were investigated. Specifically, the intramolecular stable chlorine isotopic compositions of DDT and the kinetic isotope effect (KIE) for the abiotic dehydrochlorination of DDT to 2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethene (DDE) were determined. METHODS: Selective chemical oxidation of DDT to dichlorobenzophenone (DCBP) and analysis of each compound was used to calculate the stable chlorine isotope ratios of the alkyl and aromatic chlorines in DDT. To determine the KIE for dehydrochlorination, DDT was reacted in a basic solution to yield DDE at 52 degrees C, 60 degrees C, and 72 degrees C for 3, 5, and 5 days, respectively. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: Significant intramolecular stable chlorine isotopic differences were observed in one sample of DDT where the alkyl and aromatic delta 37Cl values were -5.76 +/- 0.45 and -2.21 +/- 0.24%@1000, respectively. Dehydrochlorination of DDT to DDE in basic solutions at 52, 60, and 70 degrees C resulted in a substantial intramolecular KIE where the alkyl chlorines of DDE shifted by approximately 3%@1000 relative to the alkyl chlorines in DDT. However, no temperature dependence was observed. The KIE, calculated by an iterative program, was 1.009. CONCLUSIONS: Intramolecular differences in the stable chlorine isotope ratios were observed in DDT and this is the first such finding. Dehydrochlorination of DDT yields a measurable and distinct intramolecular stable chlorine KIE. RECOMMENDATION AND OUTLOOK: The results of this study demonstrate the existence of significant intramolecular differences in chlorinated organic compounds. Many other chlorinated semi-volatile and volatile organic contaminants are synthesized from multiple sources of chlorine, and we recommend that similar studies be performed on many such molecules in order to attain a clear understanding of their intramolecular chlorine isotopic differences. The existence of a measurable KIE for the dehydrochlorination of DDT to DDE shows the potential strength of using isotopic measurements to investigate the biogeochemistry of these important compounds. For example, the isotopically depleted aqueous chloride produced by dehydrochlorination of DDT to DDE may be a useful tracer of these reactions in freshwater environments.     

石羊河流域降水稳定同位素变化的区域差异

为了了解干旱内陆河流域降水稳定同位素变化过程及其影响因素,基于石羊河流域荒漠区、绿洲区和山区8个站点2013年7月至2014年7月,497个降水样品氢氧稳定同位素数据及相应气象数据,研究了石羊河流域降水稳定同位素的时空变化、环境效应以及降水水汽来源.结果显示：石羊河流域局地大气水线斜率和截距表现出夏低冬高的变化趋势;降水稳定同位素表现出夏高冬低的变化趋势,从荒漠区、绿洲区到山区,稳定同位素值随海拔升高而降低,海拔效应为-0.22‰/100m,这是温度效应的另一种体现;流域降水稳定同位素表现出显著的温度效应,温度效应为0.43‰/℃,在天气尺度下受季风水汽和降水淋洗过程的影响表现出降水量效应;流域降水来源主要受西风水汽控制,夏季也会会受到季风水汽影响,冬季也受到极地气团影响.     

基于动态质量平衡的室内颗粒物沉降规律研究

目前室内颗粒物污染问题已经受到广泛关注.越来越多的流行病学研究表明,大气悬浮颗粒物浓度对人体健康存在显著的负影响.由于个人在室内滞留的时间可能超过全天时间的90％,因此剖析室外颗粒物向室内的传输渗透机理,对掌握室内微环境下的颗粒浓度水平至关重要.本实验以青岛一办公室为研究对象,使用具有4个尺寸间隔的光学计数器同时测量室内和室外的颗粒物浓度,粒径分布范围在0.3~2.5μm,采集时间为2016年4月~9月.根据实验数据,采用基于时间的动态质量平衡模型,估算了换气次数在0.03~0.25h^-1范围内的室内颗粒物渗透率和沉降速率分别为0.45~0.82h^-1和0.94~2.82m/h,并分析了这些参数随粒径大小的变化规律.其结论为进一步研究颗粒物在室内的传输机理和运动轨迹提供参数.     

云南保山中晚志留世碳酸盐岩的锶同位素组成及海平面变化

本文以云南保山地区中上志留统栗柴坝组海相碳酸盐岩作为研究载体,运用锶同位素比值方法,结合岩石学、古生物学等,对该区志留系中晚期的海平面变化情况及其影响因素进行了研究。其中锶同位素比值数据为该区首次获得,其所反映的海平面变化趋势与同时期美国中西部的海平面演化曲线具有良好的耦合性。研究结果表明;剖面第一段至第二段,~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr值逐渐减小,表明此时海平面相对逐渐升高;第二段~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr值整体处于相对低的水平,总体呈现出逐渐减小趋势,且在21号样品处达到最低值(0.710 5),说明此阶段海侵作用明显;第三段,在较短的地质时期内,~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr值表现出相对强烈的正偏移,达到极值0.728 49,说明海平面相对下降明显。总之,志留系中晚期海平面表现为先升后降的过程。锶同位素的强烈偏移以及岩石内较高的~(87)Sr/~(86)Sr值,正是同时期造山运动和海平面下降事件的反映。     

重庆地区石笋δ13C记录的全新世气候环境变化

本文利用重庆市青木关镇狮子洞石笋QM09铀系测年数据和氧碳稳定同位素数据,重建了研究区9.4~0 ka BP的古气候环境演化历史。依据狮子洞石笋δ~(13)C记录变化趋势,将其划分为2个阶段:(1)9.4~3.0 ka BP期间,狮子洞石笋δ~(13)C记录除了在4.2 ka BP附近发生一次短暂的偏重事件外,整体变化比较平缓,石笋δ~(13)C值比较偏轻;同时石笋δ~(18)O值在该期也较为偏轻,暗示了此时段季风强盛,气候温暖湿润,地表植被变化稳定。此时人类活动比较弱,对自然环境的影响小,植被变化主要受自然气候环境的影响;(2)3.0~0 ka BP期间,石笋δ~(13)C记录不再呈现如第一阶段般平稳变动的趋势,在3.0 ka BP时开始波动下降,在经历1.7 ka BP大幅下降后,δ~(13)C便频繁波动大幅升降。石笋δ~(18)O记录显示该时段季风减弱,气候变干,植被退化,土壤水中溶解的CO_2含量减少。加之该期人类活动剧烈,地表自然植被遭到破坏,当地无机环境更多的参与到地下水循环体系中来,使得石笋δ~(13)C逐渐加重。     

N2O产生机制的同位素方法研究进展

N₂O是一种重要的温室气体,是由多种微生物的硝化与反硝化作用产生,但是它产生的生物地球化学机制还不十分清楚。本文结合N₂O产生的微生物过程,阐述了国内外利用同位素标记法、N₂O的δ¹⁵N和δ¹⁸O双同位素法、N₂O的δ¹⁵N^α（¹⁴N¹⁵N¹⁶O）和δ¹⁵N^β（¹⁵N¹⁴N¹⁶O）、SP值同位素异构体法以及多种同位素法相结合研究N₂O的产生机制及微生物过程,比较了这些方法的优缺点,尤其重点阐述了近些年来兴起的N₂O同位素异构体计算各过程贡献比例及其判别源与汇的理论及其应用。¹⁵N同位素富集因子法和SP值法也分别应用于产生N₂O的微生物群落结构、数量和活性变化的研究,以从根本上达到控制N₂O排放量的目的。同时指出同位素方法研究N₂O产生机制的困难和不足。     

Isotopes, Wool, and Rangeland Monitoring: Let the Sheep Do the Sampling

3 and C₄ plant species consumed by animals. Sheep sample vegetation continuously throughout a year, and as their wool grows it integrates and stores information about their diet. In subtropical and tropical rangelands the majority of grass species are C₄. Since sheep prefer to graze, and their wool is an isotopic record of their diet, we now have the potential to develop a high resolution index to the availability of grass from a sheep's perspective. Isotopic analyses of wool suggest a new direction for monitoring grazing and for the reconstruction of past vegetation changes, which will make a significant contribution to traditional rangeland ecology and management. It is recommended that isotopic and other analyses of wool be further developed for use in rangeland monitoring programs to provide valuable feedback for land managers.     

Sex ratios,mating behavior and sexual size dimorphism of the northern water snake,Nerodia sipedon

Competition among males to mate is generally associated with male-biased size dimorphism. In this study we examine mating behavior in the northern water snake (Nerodia sipedon), a species in which males are much smaller than females despite substantial competition among males to mate. Competition among males was a consequence of a male-biased operational sex ratio due to slightly higher female mortality from a birth sex ratio of 1 : 1, and, in 1 year, more synchronous and longer mating activity by males. Approximately one-third of both males and females appeared not to mate in a given year. Larger males were generally more likely to attempt mating, but size did not explain the variance in the number of aggregations in which individual males participated. Within aggregations, males that were successful at achieving intromission were larger than unsuccessful males in 1 of 2 years. Variation in condition (mass relative to length) and relative tail length were not generally useful predictors of either mating effort or success in males. Because large size was often advantageous to males, sexual size dimorphism appeared not to be a consequence of sexual selection favoring smaller males. Because sexual dimorphism was evident at birth, and both males and females matured sexually at about 4 years, sexual dimorphism was not simply a consequence of one sex growing at the maximum rate for longer. Female fecundity increased with size, and sex differences in size-fecundity relations may underly the pattern of sexual size dimorphism. However, because multiple mating by females is common, sperm competition is likely to be important in determining male reproductive success. Therefore, allocation of energy to sperm rather than growth may also prove to be an important influence on male growth rates and sexual size dimorphism.     

Evolutionarily stable strategies of age-dependent sexual advertisement

In various models of sexual selection mediated by the viability indicator (“good genes”) mechanism, a sexually selected trait will truly reflect male quality if its expression is costly for the male. However, in long-lived species, the expression of a trait often increases with age while the genotype of the male remains unchanged. This fact may obscure the indicator mechanism. Hitherto, game theory models of honesty in sexual advertisement have not taken life-history effects into account, whereas life-history models of reproductive effort have only seldom considered the dependence of mating success on the actions of other individuals. Here, the two approaches are combined, and I examine whether honesty is maintained if males can divide their advertisement effort over their lifetime. The model shows that an increase in the expression of the sexually selected trait over several years is an evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS) under a wide range of situations, so that a correlated preference for old age can emerge through a viability indicator mechanism. Honesty in the strict sense is not preserved: an optimally behaving low-quality male will in some cases advertise more than a high-quality male of equal age, to the extent that the strongest advertisement found in the population can be associated with a low-quality male. Due to life-history trade-offs, however, honesty in an average sense holds true over the lifetime of individuals: “cheater” age classes will remain small enough, that a female will obtain a higher expected mate quality if she trusts in the trait as an indicator of viability. Received: 25 June 1996 / Accepted after revision: 15 April 1997