Seasonal variations of organic-carbon and nutrient transport through a tropical estuary (Tsengwen) in southwestern Taiwan

This paper reports the fluvial fluxes and estuarine transport of organic carbon and nutrients from a tropical river (Tsengwen River), southwestern Taiwan. Riverine fluxes of organic carbon and nutrients were highly variable temporally, due primarily to temporal variations in river discharge and suspended load. The sediment yield of the drainage basin during the study period (1995–1996, 616 tonne km^–2 year^–1) was ca. 15 times lower than that of the long-term (1960–1998) average (9379 tonne km² year^–1), resulting mainly from the damming effect and historically low record of river water discharge (5.02 m³ s^–1) in 1995. The flushing time of river water in the estuary varied from 5 months in the dry season to >4.5 days in the wet season and about 1 day in the flood period. Consequently, distributions of nutrients, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and particulate organic carbon (POC) were of highly seasonal variability in the estuary. Nutrients and POC behaved nonconservatively but DOC behaved conservatively in the estuary. DOC fluxes were generally greater than POC fluxes with the exception that POC fluxes considerably exceeded DOC fluxes during the flood period. Degradation of DOC and POC within the span of flushing time was insignificant and may contribute little amount of CO₂ to the estuary during the wet season and flood period. Net estuarine fluxes of nutrients were determined by riverine fluxes and estuarine removals (or additions) of nutrients. The magnitude of estuarine removal or addition for a nutrient was also seasonally variable, and these processes must be considered for net flux estimates from the river to the sea. As a result, nonconservative fluxes of dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP) from the estuary are –0.002, –0.09 and –0.59 mmol m^–2 day^–1, respectively, for dry season, wet season and flood period, indicating internal sinks of DIP during all seasons. Due to high turbidity and short flushing time of estuarine water, DIP in the flood period may be derived largely from geochemical processes rather than biological removal, and this DIP should not be included in an annual estimate of carbon budget. The internal sink of phosphorus corresponds to a net organic carbon production (photosynthesis–respiration, p–r) during dry (0.21 mmol m^–2 day^–1) and wet (9.5 mmol m^–2 day^–1) seasons. The magnitude of net production (p–r) is 1.5 mol m^–2 year^–1, indicating that the estuary is autotrophic in 1995. However, there is a net nitrogen loss (nitrogen fixation–denitrification < 0) in 1995, but the magnitude is small (–0.17 mol m^–2 year^–1).     

Direct-push geochemical profiling for assessment of inorganic chemical heterogeneity in aquifers

Discrete-depth sampling of inorganic groundwater chemistry is essential for a variety of site characterization activities. Although the mobility and rapid sampling capabilities of direct-push techniques have led to their widespread use for evaluating the distribution of organic contaminants, complementary methods for the characterization of spatial variations in geochemical conditions have not been developed. In this study, a direct-push-based approach for high-resolution inorganic chemical profiling was developed at a site where sharp chemical contrasts and iron-reducing conditions had previously been observed. Existing multilevel samplers (MLSs) that span a fining-upward alluvial sequence were used for comparison with the direct-push profiling. Chemical profiles obtained with a conventional direct-push exposed-screen sampler differed from those obtained with an adjacent MLS because of sampler reactivity and mixing with water from previous sampling levels. The sampler was modified by replacing steel sampling components with stainless-steel and heat-treated parts, and adding an adapter that prevents mixing. Profiles obtained with the modified approach were in excellent agreement with those obtained from an adjacent MLS for all constituents and parameters monitored (Cl, NO(3), Fe, Mn, DO, ORP, specific conductance and pH). Interpretations of site redox conditions based on field-measured parameters were supported by laboratory analysis of dissolved Fe. The discrete-depth capability of this approach allows inorganic chemical variations to be described at a level of detail that has rarely been possible. When combined with the mobility afforded by direct-push rigs and on-site methods of chemical analysis, the new approach is well suited for a variety of interactive site-characterization endeavors.     

Characteristics of MnO2 catalytic ozonation of sulfosalicylic acid and propionic acid in water

The characteristics of different types of MnO₂ catalytic ozonation of sulfosalicylic acid (SSal) and propionic acid (PPA) have been investigated in this paper. The experimental results show the dependence of catalytic activity of MnO₂ on organic compounds and the pH of solutions, but it is independent on the type of MnO₂. For example, three types of MnO₂ have not any catalytic activity when ozonation of PPA under the condition of this experiment. All MnO₂ catalytic ozonation of SSal at pH=1.0 have a greater total organic carbon removal than ozonation alone has, however, at pH=6.8 and 8.5, catalytic efficiency is not observed. Furthermore, the batch experimental results indicate that there are no direct relationship between the activity of metal oxide catalytic decomposition of ozone and that of its catalytic degradation of organic compounds.     

膜生物反应器中膜分离单元运行参数优化试验

用生活杂排水对膜生物反应器中膜分离单元的运行参数进行了优化试验研究，膜分离单元采用中空纤维超滤膜，试验表明，在适宜的反冲洗和化学清洗条件下，膜的透水率可及时、有效地恢复，使膜生物反应器能长期稳定地运行。     

Das neue Chemikalienprogramm von UNEP Chemicals

Zusammenfassung  UNEP International Register of Potentially Toxic Chemicals (IRPTC) wurde von der ersten VN-Umweltkonferenz 1972 geschaffen. Sein Einfu? und Zusammenwirken in den 80ziger Jahren mit anderen internationalen Programmen der WHO, FAO, OECD und EG in der Chemikalienkontrolle wird beschrieben. Nach dem Erdgipfel von Rio 1992 werden im VN-Rahmen drei neue Gremien gebildet, die das Fachprogramm des Kapitels 19 der Agenda 21 (umweltfreundliches Chemikalienmanagement) umsetzen sollen: die United nations Commission of Sustainable Development, das Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety und das Interorganization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals. Der Erdgipfel brachte auch für IRPTC eine Neuorientierung. Seit 1996 hat UNEP Chemicals, wie sich IRPTC nunmehr nennt, drei Aufgaben in sein Arbeitsprogramm aufgenommen, die beschrieben werden: das internationale übereinkommen zum Prior Informed Consent, das internationale übereinkommen zur Kontrolle der Persistent Organic Pollutants, und schlie?lich sein traditionelles Arbeitsgebiet des Informations-austausches über Stoffe wird weitergeführt.

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Die Aussagen dieses Beitrages sind die Meinung des Autors. Sie müssen nicht mit der Auffassung des Umweitbundesamtes oder von UNEP Chemicals übereinstimmen.     

The timing of chemical signaling with urine in dominance fights of male lobsters (Homarus americanus)

Chemicals carried in the urine are a rich source of information about the identity, sex, aggressive motivation, and other attributes of an animal. In agonistic interactions, animals should be careful about disclosing such information, since it can be used by receivers to the disadvantage of the sender. By adjusting the timing of urine release, the signaler may still influence the behavior of the receiver to its own benefit. Here we investigate the urine signaling of American lobsters (Homarus americanus), necessary for the maintenance of dominance, using a catheter technique with high temporal resolution. We hypothesize that urine release in lobster fights is not continuous but restricted to moments that may elicit a reaction in the receiver beneficial to the sender. We found that eventual winners signaled more readily in the initial phase of the fight. Eventual losers did not show such initial urination. This suggests that a confident lobster may use urine signals to influence the behavior of its opponent into giving up the fight at an early stage. For both winners and losers, urine release is linked to offensive behavior and increases as the intensity of agonistic behavior increases. The coupling of urine release to offensive behaviors appears to improve both the reliability and efficacy of the chemical signal. Releasing urine under the increasing risk of inflicting injury during the fight provides a handicap that may ensure reliability of the threat signal. Furthermore, the immediate coupling of urine components to offensive behavior may help to consolidate the receiver"s memory of the signaler"s individual scent and thus facilitate future recognition of the dominant animal. Received: 6 October 1999 / Accepted 28 August 2000     

深圳市观澜河流域水土流失规律研究

深圳市观澜河流域地处南亚热带,受自然因素和人为因素的影响,流域存在着严重的水土流失,改革开放以来,流域的大片土地被开发成了工业开发区。工业开发区在建设阶段,机械夷平土地所形成的各种松散的堆积坡,引起了新的水土流失类型。本文研究和探讨了该流域的水土流失规律及水土流失对流域水环境的影响。     

长江流域太湖区降雨侵蚀力及其应用的研究

本研究利用太湖区代表站３０年和４３个一般站２５年的降雨资料，改进和完善了降雨侵蚀力新算法，使之与经典法达到９０％的一致性，查清了该区降雨侵蚀力时空变化持证，并编制出全区阵雨侵蚀力（Ｒ）值分布图。同时，还时Ｒ值在水土保持、耕作制度变革和防洪减灾中的应用，尤其对１９９１年特大洪涝灾害的根本原因，作了讨论。太湖区Ｒ值较大，不可忽视水土保持，做好山区、坡耕地的水土保持，是防洪减灾最长久有效的根本措施。     

Quantifying the efficiency of soil sampling designs: A multivariate approach

The objective of this paper is to quantify and compare the loss functions of the standard two-stage design and its composite sample alternative in the context of multivariate soil sampling. The loss function is defined (conceptually) as the ratio of cost over information and measures design inefficiency. The efficiency of the design is the reciprocal of the loss function. The focus of this paper is twofold: (a) we define a measure of multivariate information using the Kullback–Leibler distance, and (b) we derive the variance-covariance structure for two soil sampling designs: a standard two-stage design and its composite sample counterpart. Randomness in the mass of soil samples is taken into account in both designs. A pilot study in Slovenia is used to demonstrate the calculations of the loss function and to compare the efficiency of the two designs. The results show that the composite sample design is more efficient than the two-stage design. The efficiency ratio is 1.3 for pH, 2.0 for C, 2.1 for N, and 2.5 for CEC. The multivariate efficiency ratio is 2.3. These ratios primarily reflect cost ratios; influence of the information is small.     

Two herbivore-deterrent iridoid glycosides reduce the in-vitro growth of a specialist but not of a generalist pathogenic fungus of Plantago lanceolata L

Summary. Many secondary plant compounds are involved in defense against both insect herbivores and pathogens. Two secondary plant compounds of Plantago lanceolata, the iridoid glycosides catalpol and its precursor aucubin, are well known for their deterrent effects on generalist and non-adapted specialist insect herbivores. We tested the effects of these compounds on the in-vitro growth of a specialist and generalist fungal pathogen of this host species. Two chemical forms of these iridoids were tested. The glycosides and their aglycones, the products of enzymatic conversion by specific $/Beta$-glucosidase enzymes. The glycosides enhanced growth of both the specialist fungus Diaporthe adunca and the generalist fungus Fusarium moniliforme var. subglutinans. The positive effect of these glycosides on the generalist fungus is in sharp contrast with the generally negative effects of these glysosides on generalist insect herbivores. The aglycones of aucubin and catalpol reduced the growth of the specialist fungus D. adunca, but, contrary to expectation, enhanced the growth of the generalist fungus F. moniliforme var. subglutinans. Effects of aucubin on D. adunca were stronger than effects of catalpol. This was true both for the growth stimulating effects of the glycosides and for the fungitoxic effects of the aglycones. We therefore expect that the effects of these iridoids in P. lanceolata on the specialist fungus will strongly depend on the ratio between catalpol and its precursor aucubin and the chemical form (glycoside or aglycone) in which these compounds are encountered by the fungus during growth. Our results suggest that iridoid glycosides in P. lanceolata can be used as defense against both herbivores and pathogens, but that their effects are highly specific with respect to the natural enemy species that is encountered. Received 11 April 2002; accepted 9 August 2002