Empirical Trials of Plant Field Guides

We designed 3 image‐based field guides to tropical forest plant species in Ghana, Grenada, and Cameroon and tested them with 1095 local residents and 20 botanists in the United Kingdom. We compared users’ identification accuracy with different image formats, including drawings, specimen photos, living plant photos, and paintings. We compared users’ accuracy with the guides to their accuracy with only their prior knowledge of the flora. We asked respondents to score each format for usability, beauty, and how much they would pay for it. Prior knowledge of plant names was generally low (<22%). With a few exceptions, identification accuracy did not differ significantly among image formats. In Cameroon, users identifying sterile Cola species achieved 46–56% accuracy across formats; identification was most accurate with living plant photos. Botanists in the United Kingdom accurately identified 82–93% of the same Cameroonian species; identification was most accurate with specimens. In Grenada, users accurately identified 74–82% of plants; drawings yielded significantly less accurate identifications than paintings and photos of living plants. In Ghana, users accurately identified 85% of plants. Digital color photos of living plants ranked high for beauty, usability, and what users would pay. Black and white drawings ranked low. Our results show the potential and limitations of the use of field guides and nonspecialists to identify plants, for example, in conservation applications. We recommend authors of plant field guides use the cheapest or easiest illustration format because image type had limited bearing on accuracy; match the type of illustration to the most likely use of the guide for slight improvements in accuracy; avoid black and white formats unless the audience is experienced at interpreting illustrations or keeping costs low is imperative; discourage false‐positive identifications, which were common; and encourage users to ask an expert or use a herbarium for groups that are difficult to identify. Pruebas Empíricas de Guías de Campo de Plantas Hawthorne, Cable & Marshall     

Level of environmental threat posed by horticultural trade in Cactaceae

Ornamental horticulture has been identified as an important threat to plant biodiversity and is a major pathway for plant invasions worldwide. In this context, the family Cactaceae is particularly challenging because it is considered the fifth most threatened large taxonomic group in the world; several species are among the most widespread and damaging invasive species; and Cactaceae is one of the most popular horticultural plant groups. Based on the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna and the 11 largest online auction sites selling cacti, we documented the international cactus trade. To provide an in‐depth look at the dynamics of the industry, we surveyed the businesses involved in the cactus trade in South Africa (a hotspot of cactus trade and invasions). We purchased seeds of every available species and used DNA barcoding to identify species to the genus level. Although <20% of this trade involved threatened species and <3% involved known invasive species, many species were identified by a common name. However, only 0.02% of the globally traded cacti were collected from wild populations. Despite a large commercial network, all South African imports (of which 15% and 1.5% were of species listed as threatened and invasive, respectively) came from the same source. With DNA barcoding, we identified 24% of the species to genus level. Based on our results, we believe that if trade restrictions are placed on the small proportion of cacti that are invasive and there is no major increase in harvesting of native populations, then the commercial trade in cactus poses a negligible environmental threat. However, there are currently no effective methods for easily identifying which cacti are traded, and both the illicit harvesting of cacti from the wild and the informal trade in invasive taxa pose on‐going conservation challenges.     

蠡河底泥中反硝化复合菌群富集及菌群结构研究

从无锡市滨湖区蠡河底泥中富集培养反硝化复合菌群,研究其在不同富集培养阶段TN、NO-3-N、NO-2-N、NH+4-N和COD动态变化,分析反硝化过程中气体释放总量、释放速率和成分,通过构建全长16S r DNA克隆文库研究其菌落结构.结果表明,反硝化复合菌群富集在阶段4时脱氮效果最佳,仅在9 h内,330 mg·L-1的TN负荷下,TN去除率达90.9%,NO-3-N去除率达100%,中间产物NO-2-N和NH+4-N积累量最少,分别为3.39 mg·L-1和16.64 mg·L-1,COD去除率达85%;释放气体260m L,气体主要成分为N2,同时还有少量的CH4和CO2等.富集培养反硝化复合菌群细菌属于Pseudomonadaceae科和Rhodocyclaceae科,为Proteobacteria门,OUT丰度分别为57.8%和31.6%,Pseudomonadaceae科是优势类群.     

活性污泥中硝化螺菌(Nitrospira)的富集及其动力学参数

采用连续进水的进水方式对污水处理厂活性污泥系统中的Nitrospira富集培养并对其相关动力学参数进行研究.结果表明,在控制反应器亚硝酸盐浓度不高于2 mg·L~(-1)的条件下可以成功富集出以Nitrospira为优势种属的活性污泥,其最大比亚硝酸盐氧化速率(以N/VSS计)为48.72 mg·(g·h)~(-1).荧光原位杂交结果显示Nitrospira占活性污泥总微生物量的75%左右,而Nitrobacter仅占总微生物的0.1%.此外通过对Nitrospira在20℃时的动力学参数进行测定,结果表明Nitrospira的最适生长温度为30~35℃,温度修正系数τN为1.046,其基质半饱和常数KS和氧半饱和常数KO分别为(0.32±0.03)mg·L~(-1)和(1.52±0.09)mg·L~(-1).Nitrospira动力学参数的研究为污水处理厂的设计运行及工艺优化提供理论参考.     

75t/h燃煤锅炉汞迁移转化规律研究

通过对2台75 t/h循环流化床锅炉烟气中汞排放浓度、燃煤和其他固体副产物中的汞含量进行测试,分析了燃煤大气汞的排放因子,并建立了燃煤汞的质量平衡。结果表明:燃煤锅炉中,大部分汞主要存在于烟气和脱硫副产物中,燃烧后进入炉渣、飞灰中的汞含量较少,低于5%。燃煤汞排放去向与脱硫除尘控制技术有关,不同控制技术协同除汞的效果差异较大,而单质汞是燃煤锅炉汞污染防治的重点和难点。     

长春市春季PM2.5中金属污染与潜在生态风险评价研究

2014年春季采集了长春市大气PM2.5样品,测定了PM2.5及其17种金属元素的含量.PM2.5质量浓度为175.2±75.1μg/m3,变异系数为0.44,环境重污染日与优良日空气质量差异较大.PM2.5中金属元素平均含量顺序为Ca>Fe>K>Mg>Al>Zn>Ti>Mn>Pb>As>Cu>V>Ni>Cr>Co>Ba>Cd.采用富集因子法和潜在生态风险指数法对PM2.5中金属进行了评价.其中Cd、As、Zn、Pb、Cu富集因子大于100.金属综合潜在生态风险等级为极强生态风险,Cd的贡献率为83.2%,受人类活动干扰严重.     

模型模拟土壤性质和植被种类对再生水灌溉水盐运移的影响

为推动再生水安全灌溉,本研究运用ENVIRO-GRO模型模拟了不同土壤性质、植被条件下土壤盐分的分布规律及累积趋势,探讨了土壤性质和植被种类对再生水灌溉水盐运移的影响.研究发现,不同土壤初始含盐量下,经多年重复模拟后最终达到统一的平衡状态;而不同土壤质地下,随着灌溉年份的增加,壤土、黏壤土中的土壤ECe年均值逐渐增加直到平衡,砂壤土中的土壤ECe年均值逐渐减少直到平衡,平衡时土层中的ECe值砂壤土〈壤土〈黏壤土.3种植被下,大叶黄杨、油松的土壤ECe值增加量小于早熟禾;土壤盐分在土层中的空间、时间分布也均有所不同.此外,不同模拟情景下,土壤盐分累积都不会影响植被的生长（黏壤土除外）,但均出现轻度盐渍化（砂壤土除外）.     

我国沿海地区城镇污水处理厂污泥重金属污染状况及其处置分析

采用ICP-MS分析法测定了我国3个典型沿海城市广州、上海和大连共13个污水处理厂污泥的7种重金属含量,并与2006年和2001年的数据进行了对比,以了解我国沿海城市污水处理厂重金属污染状况、变化趋势和处置方案.结果表明,我国沿海城市污泥中重金属污染分布存在较大差异,7种重金属平均含量大小顺序为Cr>Zn>Cu>Pb>As>Hg>Cd,Cr、Cu和As的含量超出了《城镇污水处理厂污染物排放标准》,污染严重.相对于以前,我国沿海城市污泥中Zn的含量明显减少,Pb、Hg和Cd的含量与没有明显变化,但Cr、Cu、As均明显增加.各区域各类型污水处理厂城市污泥重金属含量分析表明,来源于工业废水的城市污泥中Zn、Cu和Hg的平均含量较生活污水为主的污泥高;广州污水处理厂城市污泥中Cr、Pb、As、Hg和Cd的含量均高于上海和大连.沿海城市污水处理厂中超出《城镇污水处理厂污染物排放标准》中污泥农用标准限值的占总调查污水处理厂的23%,我国沿海城市污泥大部分仍可采用污泥农用的有益处置方式进行处置.同时,本次调查数据也为我国沿海城市开展污水污泥海洋倾倒相关技术标准的制定提供了基础数据.     

连环湖牙门气泡沉积物重金属演化和污染研究

2010年8月在牙门气泡的湖心位置采集了柱状沉积岩心.采用HNO3-HClO4-HF联合消解并运用ICP-MS测试了柱状沉积岩心中金属元素Cr、Cu、Mn、Ni、Fe、Pb、Zn、Cd、Al、Ba、Ca、K、Li、Mg、Na和Sr的含量,结合沉积岩心年代测定,研究了该湖区沉积物重金属元素演化特征及污染历史.应用富集系数法探讨了湖泊重金属的污染特征.结果表明,1950年以前各元素含量变化趋势平稳,1950～1990年间波动较大,1990年以后金属元素Mn、Zn、Cd、Pb、Fe、Ni、Cr、Cu、Ca、Li和Sr浓度明显增加.牙门气泡重金属元素Mn、Zn、Cd、Pb存在轻微污染,而Ni、Cr和Cu无污染.     

Tolerance of Chrysantemum maximum to heavy metals: The potential for its use in the revegetation of tailings heaps

To find if ornamental plants are applicable to the remediation of metal-polluted areas, the tolerance of chrysanthemum plants (Chysanthemum maximum) var. Shasta to different metals under hydroponic conditions was studied. Their responses as influenced by the mycorrhizal fungus Glomus mosseae (Nicol. & Gerd.) Gerdemann & Trappe BEG25 on substrates containing mine residues were also investigated. Our results showed that chrysanthemum is a metal-tolerant plant under hydroponic conditions, plants behaving as Pb-excluders, whereas Cd, Cu and Ni were accumulated in roots. Low accumulation in flowers was observed for Cd and Cu but it was concentration-dependent. Ni and Pb were not translocated to flowers. Shoot biomass was not significantly affected by the different rates of mine residue addition for both mycorrhizal and non-mycorrhizal plants. Mycorrhizal plants accumulated less Pb and Cu in both shoots and roots than non-mycorrhizal plants. Chysanthemum could be a prospective plant for revegetation of tailings and the use of inoculation may decrease plant metal accumulation in polluted soils.