Use of fungal technology in soil remediation: A Case Study

Two white rot fungi Irpex lacteus and Pleurotus ostreatus and a PAH-degrading bacterial strain of Pseudomonas putida were used as inoculum for bioremediation of petroleum hydrocarbon-contaminated soil from a manufactured-gas-plant-area. Also two cocultures comprising a fungus with Pseudomonas putida were applied. After 10-week treatment out of 12 different PAHs, concentration of phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene and pyrene decreased up to 66%. The ecotoxicity of the soil after bioremediation did not reveal any effect on the survival of Daphnia magna, a crustacian. However, the toxic effect on seed germination of plant Brassica alba and oxidoreductase activity of bacterium Bacillus cereus decreased after 5 and 10 weeks of treatment.     

Response of ammonia-oxidizing archaea to heavy metal contamination in freshwater sediment

It has been well-documented that the distribution of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria(AOB) and archaea(AOA) in soils can be affected by heavy metal contamination, whereas information about the impact of heavy metal on these ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms in freshwater sediment is still lacking. The present study explored the change of sediment ammonia-oxidizing microorganisms in a freshwater reservoir after being accidentally contaminated by industrial discharge containing high levels of metals. Bacterial amoA gene was found to be below the quantitative PCR detection and was not successfully amplified by conventional PCR. The number of archaeal amoA gene in reservoir sediments were 9.62 × 10~2–1.35 × 10~7 copies per gram dry sediment. AOA abundance continuously decreased, and AOA richness, diversity and community structure also considerably varied with time. Therefore, heavy metal pollution could have a profound impact on freshwater sediment AOA community. This work could expand our knowledge of the effect of heavy metal contamination on nitrification in natural ecosystems.     

土壤镉污染毒性效应的多指标综合评价

以草甸棕壤为供试土壤,以蚕豆幼苗根尖有丝分裂指数、染色体畸变率以及微核率,幼苗叶片内抗氧化酶活性、植物内源激素含量为指标,采用盆栽方法研究了0～10 mg·kg^-1镉胁迫对植物细胞的遗传和生态毒性效应.结果表明,在此浓度范围内,蚕豆根尖细胞有丝分裂指数、染色体畸变率以及微核率均随镉浓度增加呈显著的剂量-效应正相关关系,其中微核率变化最为明显,处理组微核率分别为对照组的1.43～3.22倍;蚕豆幼苗叶片内的SOD和POD活性变化呈先升高后下降的趋势;而CAT活性随镉浓度增加其变化规律与SOD、POD相反.此外,镉胁迫下植物激素脱落酸(ABA)、赤霉素(GA₃)与细胞分裂素类的玉米素和玉米素核苷总含量(Z&ZR)均表现出低浓度下诱导和较高浓度下诱导率降低的趋势,在镉浓度为2.5 mg·kg^-1时３种植物激素含量均达到最高值,分别比对照组增加了6.6%、 4.0%和12.6%.研究表明,各指标对污染物的毒性具有响应且响应的域值及其敏感度不同,将各指标综合使用可使土壤镉污染的遗传和生态毒性诊断更为有效.     

1,2,4-三氯苯对蚯蚓生长和表皮及肠道超微结构的影响

通过自然土壤法对蚯蚓进行1,2,4-TCB急性暴露实验,研究了不同剂量的1,2,4-TCB对蚯蚓存亡、生长和表皮及肠道粘膜上皮细胞超微结构的影响。结果表明:1,2,4-TCB对蚯蚓14d半致死浓度为890.295mg·L-1;暴露剂量和培养时间均对蚯蚓生长抑制率产生正相关显著影响,但交互作用不显著;暴露于50mg·kg-11,2,4-TCB时,蚯蚓表皮分泌细胞增多,角质层增厚或上角质层损伤,肠道粘膜上皮细胞凹陷形成一定的溃疡面或呈撕裂分散状,第14天时,上角质层和肠道粘膜上皮细胞损伤均有所恢复;当暴露浓度为400mg·kg-1时,蚯蚓的角质层明显增厚,表皮出现大量的分泌细胞,肠上皮组织呈一定程度的撕裂并少量脱落,第14天时角质层变薄,分泌细胞减少,上角质层破损加剧,肠上皮细胞撕裂严重并持续脱落。第14天电镜观察显示:暴露浓度为50mg·kg-1时,肠上皮细胞线粒体嵴不清晰或断裂,结构模糊;暴露浓度为400mg·L-1时,部分线粒体空泡化或内部有絮状沉淀,嵴变短甚至消失。     

An integrated modeling framework for performing environmental assessments: Application to ecosystem services in the Albemarle-Pamlico basins (NC and VA, USA)

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency uses environmental models to inform rulemaking and policy decisions at multiple spatial and temporal scales. As decision-making has moved towards integrated thinking and assessment (e.g. media, site, region, services), the increasing complexity and interdisciplinary nature of modern environmental problems has necessitated a new generation of integrated modeling technologies. Environmental modelers are now faced with the challenge of determining how data from manifold sources, types of process-based and empirical models, and hardware/software computing infrastructure can be reliably integrated and applied to protect human health and the environment.In this study, we demonstrate an Integrated Modeling Framework that allows us to predict the state of freshwater ecosystem services within and across the Albemarle-Pamlico Watershed, North Carolina and Virginia (USA). The Framework consists of three facilitating technologies: Data for Environmental Modeling automates the collection and standardization of input data; the Framework for Risk Assessment of Multimedia Environmental Systems manages the flow of information between linked models; and the Supercomputer for Model Uncertainty and Sensitivity Evaluation is a hardware and software parallel-computing interface with pre/post-processing analysis tools, including parameter estimation, uncertainty and sensitivity analysis. In this application, five environmental models are linked within the Framework to provide multimedia simulation capabilities: the Soil Water Assessment Tool predicts watershed runoff; the Watershed Mercury Model simulates mercury runoff and loading to streams; the Water quality Analysis and Simulation Program predicts water quality within the stream channel; the Habitat Suitability Index model predicts physicochemical habitat quality for individual fish species; and the Bioaccumulation and Aquatic System Simulator predicts fish growth and production, as well as exposure and bioaccumulation of toxic substances (e.g., mercury).Using this Framework, we present a baseline assessment of two freshwater ecosystem services-water quality and fisheries resources-in headwater streams throughout the Albemarle-Pamlico. A stratified random sample of 50 headwater streams is used to draw inferences about the target population of headwater streams across the region. Input data is developed for a twenty-year baseline simulation in each sampled stream using current land use and climate conditions. Monte Carlo sampling (n = 100 iterations per stream) is also used to demonstrate some of the Framework's experimental design and data analysis features. To evaluate model performance and accuracy, we compare initial (i.e., uncalibrated) model predictions (water temperature, dissolved oxygen, fish density, and methylmercury concentration within fish tissue) against empirical field data. Finally, we ‘roll-up’ the results from individual streams, to assess freshwater ecosystem services at the regional scale.     

五氯苯酚的生态毒性效应及其遗传毒性

为评价环境内分泌干扰物——五氯苯酚对土壤生态系统动植物的生态毒性效应,检测了五氯苯酚对8种作物种子的萌发和根伸长的抑制作用以及对赤子爱胜蚓(Eisenia fetida)的急性毒性作用;并运用小麦根尖细胞微核实验和赤子爱胜蚓体细胞核的彗星实验,检测了五氯苯酚的遗传毒性效应.结果表明,五氯苯酚在一定浓度范围内对作物种子的...     

Soil organic carbon of degraded wetlands treated with freshwater in the Yellow River Delta, China

Supplying freshwater is one of the important methods to help restore degraded wetlands. Changes in soil properties and plant community biomass were evaluated by comparing sites with freshwater treatment versus reference sites following freshwater addition to wetlands of the Yellow River Delta for 7 years. The results indicated that soil organic carbon (SOC) was significantly increased in all wetland sites that were treated with freshwater compared to the reference sites. The treatment wetlands had greater total nitrogen (TN), lower pH and electrical conductivity and higher water content in the soil compared to the reference wetlands. In general, the upper soil layer (0-20 cm) had greater SOC than the lower soil layer (20-40 cm). The increase of SOC in the freshwater reintroduction wetlands was higher in the Suaeda salsa plant community (mean ± standard error) (6.89 ± 0.63 g/kg) and Phragmites communis plant community (4.11 ± 0.12 g/kg) than in the Tamarix chinensis plant community (1.40 ± 0.31 g/kg) in the upper soil layer. The differences were especially marked between the treated and reference wetlands for SOC and TN in the P. communis plant communities. The C:N ratio of the soil was significantly greater in the treated compared to the reference wetlands for the S. salsa plant community. Although the C: N ratios increased after treatment, they were all <25 suggesting that N availability was not limiting soil organic matter decomposition. Our results indicate that freshwater addition and the concomitant increase in soil moisture content enhances the accumulation of SOC in the Yellow River Delta.     

华北地区农田潜在生态毒性评估与农业可持续发展——以山东桓台县冬小麦-夏玉米轮作系统为例

使用USES-LCA模型,对连续10多年过量使用化肥和农药的华北高产粮区农田系统进行了潜在生态毒性评估。结果表明,虽然潜在的人体毒性表现不明显,但1997和2007年小麦-玉米轮作的潜在水体毒性分别是225.15、261.08、308.24和303.45 kg1,4-DCBeq;土壤毒性分别是3.12、2.76、3.55和3.24 kg1,4-DCBeq,都呈正增长趋势,以潜在水体毒性表现最为明显。虽然农药对环境的实际威胁还需进一步证实,但严格禁止高毒农药的使用,规范农药的施用量和使用方式已经刻不容缓;与此同时,必须加强农业生态毒性评价体系和生态污染防控机制研究,这样才能促进农业的可持续发展。     

Scientists’ warning to humanity on the freshwater biodiversity crisis

Freshwater ecosystems provide irreplaceable services for both nature and society. The quality and quantity of freshwater affect biogeochemical processes and ecological dynamics that determine biodiversity, ecosystem productivity, and human health and welfare at local, regional and global scales. Freshwater ecosystems and their associated riparian habitats are amongst the most biologically diverse on Earth, and have inestimable economic, health, cultural, scientific and educational values. Yet human impacts to lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands and groundwater are dramatically reducing biodiversity and robbing critical natural resources and services from current and future generations. Freshwater biodiversity is declining rapidly on every continent and in every major river basin on Earth, and this degradation is occurring more rapidly than in terrestrial ecosystems. Currently, about one third of all global freshwater discharges pass through human agricultural, industrial or urban infrastructure. About one fifth of the Earth’s arable land is now already equipped for irrigation, including all the most productive lands, and this proportion is projected to surpass one third by midcentury to feed the rapidly expanding populations of humans and commensal species, especially poultry and ruminant livestock. Less than one fifth of the world’s preindustrial freshwater wetlands remain, and this proportion is projected to decline to under one tenth by midcentury, with imminent threats from water transfer megaprojects in Brazil and India, and coastal wetland drainage megaprojects in China. The Living Planet Index for freshwater vertebrate populations has declined to just one third that of 1970, and is projected to sink below one fifth by midcentury. A linear model of global economic expansion yields the chilling prediction that human utilization of critical freshwater resources will approach one half of the Earth’s total capacity by midcentury. Although the magnitude and growth of the human freshwater footprint are greater than is generally understood by policy makers, the news media, or the general public, slowing and reversing dramatic losses of freshwater species and ecosystems is still possible. We recommend a set of urgent policy actions that promote clean water, conserve watershed services, and restore freshwater ecosystems and their vital services. Effective management of freshwater resources and ecosystems must be ranked amongst humanity’s highest priorities.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s13280-020-01318-8) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

The legacy from the 50 years of acid rain research,forming present and future research and monitoring of ecosystem impact: This article belongs to Ambio’s 50th Anniversary Collection. Theme: Acidification

Acid rain and acidification research are indeed a multidisciplinary field. This field evolved from the first attempts to mitigate acid freshwater in the 1920s, then linking acid rain to the acidification in late 1950s, to the broad project-concepts on cause and effect from the late 1960s. Three papers from 1974, 1976 and 1988 demonstrate a broad approach and comprise scientific areas from analytical chemistry, biochemistry, limnology, ecology, physiology and genetics. Few, if any, environmental problems have led to a public awareness, political decisions and binding limitations as the story of acid rain. Acid precipitation and acidification problems still exist, but at a lower pressure, and liming has been reduced accordingly. However, the biological responses in the process of recovery are slow and delayed. The need for basic science, multidisciplinary studies, long time series of high-quality data, is a legacy from the acid rain era, and must form the platform for all future environmental projects.