Causes of change in nitrophytic and oligotrophic lichen species in a Mediterranean climate: impact of land cover and atmospheric pollutants

With the aim of determining the main drivers of changes in nitrophytic and oligotrophic macro-lichen communities in an industrial region with a Mediterranean climate, we considered both land-cover types and atmospheric pollutants. We determined the relation between the abundance of nitrophytic and oligotrophic species with environmental factors considering the distance of influence of land-cover types. The results showed that oligotrophic species decreased in the proximity of artificial areas, barren land and agricultural areas, associated with higher concentrations of NO₂ and Zn, and Ti, probably dust of industrial and agricultural origin. Nitrophytic species were positively related to all the mentioned land-cover types, and with higher concentrations of Fe and N. Magnesium, probably from ocean aerosols, was negatively related to oligotrophic species and positively to nitrophytic.     

Modification of the biochemical pathways of plants induced by ozone: what are the varied routes to change?

When plants are observed under a low dose of ozone, some physiological and metabolic shifts occur. Barring extreme injury such as tissue damage or stomata closure, most of these disruptive changes are likely to have been initiated at the level of gene expression. The belief is oxidative products formed in ozone exposed leaves, e.g. hydrogen peroxide, are responsible for much of the biochemical adjustments. The first line of defense is a range of antioxidants, such as ascorbate and glutathione, but if this defense is overwhelmed, subsequent actions occur, similar to systemic acquired resistance or general wounding. Yet there are seemingly unrelated metabolic responses which are also triggered, such as early senescence. We discuss here the current understanding of gene control and signal transduction/control in order to increase our comprehension of how ozone alters the basic metabolism of plants and how plants counteract or cope with ozone.     

Influence of Relative Humidity and Ozone on the Sampling of Volatile Organic Compounds on Carbotrap/Carbosieve Adsorbents

By using a dynamic dilution system, the atmospheric measurement of 11 selected toxics VOCs (ethylene, acetylene, propene, 1-butene, 1,3-butadiene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m+p-xylene) from the list WHO of 1996 and TO-14 method of US EPA by preconcentration by thermal desorption (TD), analysis by gas chromatography (GC), identification and quantification with a flame ionisation detector (FID) was developed and validated in term of metrology, especially the techniques of sampling of these VOCs with adsorbents cartridges "Air Toxics" when used with an "UMEG sampler" equipped in the inlet with a nafion membrane. In particular the influence of climatic conditions (temperature and relative humidity) and the influence of chemical factors like ozone, on the representativity of sampling were studied. Experiments made with various humidities showed that the addition of a nafion membrane in the inlet of the sampling system was required. Without this membrane, losses of compounds were observed for RH >50%. With this membrane, storage for 2 weeks in a refrigerator, as for canisters, did not induce a loss of compounds. No significative decrease of concentrations of the studied VOCs after 14 days storage, which are known to react with ozone, were observed with an ozone concentrations of 55 ppb. One explanation is that nafion membrane, placed in the inlet of the sampler, will neutralize ozone before entering the sampling tubes. This observation is in accordance with literature which states that the sampling of VOCs on Carbotrap cartridges without ozone scrubber induce a loss of compounds.     

Interactions of forests with secondary air pollutants: some challenges for future research

The effects of ozone and other photochemical oxidants on individual trees have been studied for several decades, but there has been much less research on the potential effects on entire forest ecosystems. Given that ozone and other oxidants affect the production and subsequent fate of biogenic volatile organic compounds that act as signalling molecules, there is a need for more detailed study of the role of oxidants in modifying trophic interactions in forests. Deposition of fine particulates to forests may act as a source of nutrients, but also changes leaf surface properties, increasing the duration of surface wetness and modifying the habitat for epiphytic organisms, leading to increased risks from pathogens. Even where this pathway contributes a relatively small input of nutrients to forests, the indirect effects on canopy processes and subsequent deposition to the forest floor in throughfall and litter may play a more important role that has yet to be fully investigated.     

Sensitivity analysis of a parameterization of the stomatal component of the DO3SE model for Quercus ilex to estimate ozone fluxes

A sensitivity analysis of a proposed parameterization of the stomatal conductance (g(s)) module of the European ozone deposition model (DO(3)SE) for Quercus ilex was performed. The performance of the model was tested against measured g(s) in the field at three sites in Spain. The best fit of the model was found for those sites, or during those periods, facing no or mild stress conditions, but a worse performance was found under severe drought or temperature stress, mostly occurring at continental sites. The best performance was obtained when both f(phen) and f(SWP) were included. A local parameterization accounting for the lower temperatures recorded in winter and the higher water shortage at the continental sites resulted in a better performance of the model. The overall results indicate that two different parameterizations of the model are needed, one for marine-influenced sites and another one for continental sites.     

利用细菌表面展示技术构建镉耐受性的重组根瘤菌

通过细菌表面展示功能基因InaXN、猴金属硫蛋白α亚基四聚体MT4α和两种启动子PnifH及Plac元件,分别构建两个重组质粒pTNIM和pBLIM.进一步通过三亲本杂交,将重组质粒分别导入费氏中华根瘤菌HN01,分别构建获得诱导表达型重组菌HN01(pTNIM)和组成表达型重组菌HN01(pBLIM).在培养条件下比较测定重组菌和出发菌对镉的吸附能力和耐受性,结果表明,组成表达型重组菌HN01(pBLIM)在上述两个方面的能力得到明显增强,对镉的吸附富集能力提高了2倍.研究还发现重组根瘤菌也具有很好的静态吸附效果.盆栽实验结果表明,接种诱导表达型重组菌HN01(pTNIM)的大豆根瘤和根中Cd2+的富集量均明显高于野生菌株HN01.本实验为后续探索重组根瘤菌与宿主植物共生体系在Cd2+污染土壤修复中的应用前景奠定了基础.     

天台铅锌矿区香根草(Vetiveria zizanioides)等几种草本植物的重金属耐性

研究了浙江天台铅锌矿区香根草 (Vetiveriazizanioides)及其群落中几种主要植物Cu、Cd、Zn、Pb的累积分布 ,对植物与土壤元素、对重金属的耐受性作了初步探讨 .结果表明 ,香根草植物中元素含量表现为Zn >Pb >Cu >Cd,其中Cu表现为根 >茎 >叶 ,Cd表现为叶 >茎 >根 ,Zn、Pb表现为根 >叶 >茎 .香根草中的Zn、Pb含量均显著地高于其它几种植物 .香根草与土壤元素关系中 ,Zn的相关性最显著 ,其次为Pb .图 1表 5参 19     

庐山地区底栖大型无脊椎动物耐污值与水质生物学评价

自1996年至1999年，对庐山自然保护区22个采样点的底栖大型无脊椎动物进行了调查．完成了庐山底栖大型无脊椎动物大多数科与部分属的耐污值核定工作，在Hilsenhoff(1988)与Lenat(1993)工作基础上，新增73科的耐污值．首次提出了蜚蠊目B1attodea、脉翅目Neuroptera、半翅目Hemiptera及鞘翅目Coleoptera水生类群的耐污值．其它主要水生昆虫11个目，凡在中国有分布记录或可能在中国及邻近地区有分布的科均收入并提出耐污值．摇蚊科中国常见的16属引用了Lenat(1994)推荐的耐污值，增加了甲壳纲Crustacea、寡毛纲O1igochaeta、腹足纲Gastropoda、腮瓣纲Lemellibranchia、蛭纲Hirudinea、涡虫纲Turbellria与蜱螨纲Acarina水螨总科Hydrachnoidea等的耐污值．利用上述耐污值系统，对22个采样点中的13个进行了连续水质生物监测，对其余9个采样点水质进行了评估．1996年5月至1999年9月期间，13个采样点水质由重污染至极清洁排序可分6类：如琴湖、东谷溪流、电站水库属重污染水体；天桥由轻污染至重污染；2级站、1级站、3级站由很清洁或清洁至一般；芦林湖、电站水库南支流很清洁；黄龙潭由很清洁至轻污染；三叠泉、第四纪冰川遗址、大月山水库为极清洁．多数采样点1996年11月水质好于5月份的水质．1999年所有采样点水质均比1996年2次调查时差，说明庐山水质污染呈加重趋势．图2表2参18     

Impacts of atmospheric pollution on the plant communities of British acid grasslands

Air pollutants are recognised as important agents of ecosystem change but few studies consider the effects of multiple pollutants and their interactions. Here we use ordination, constrained cluster analysis and indicator value analyses to identify potential environmental controls on species composition, ecological groupings and indicator species in a gradient study of UK acid grasslands. The community composition of these grasslands is related to climate, grazing, ozone exposure and nitrogen deposition, with evidence for an interaction between the ecological impacts of base cation and nitrogen deposition. Ozone is a key agent in species compositional change but is not associated with a reduction in species richness or diversity indices, showing the subtly different drivers on these two aspects of ecosystem degradation. Our results demonstrate the effects of multiple interacting pollutants, which may collectively have a greater impact than any individual agent.     

Removal of Alachlor from Water by Catalyzed Ozonation in the Presence of Fe2+, Mn2+, and Humic Substances

Abstract

The effects of Fe(II), Mn(II) and humic substances on the catalyzed ozonation of alachlor, an endocrine disruptor were investigated. Results revealed that small amounts of Fe(II), Mn(II), and humic substances could enhance the ozonation of alachlor, but larger amounts of them would retard the oxidation. These results were successfully identified by an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy/spin-trapping method that could quantify hydroxyl radicals. The production of hydroxyl radicals was obviously increased with the increasing of Fe(II) concentration, which contributed to enhance ozonation at low concentrations. But the excess Fe(II) consumed some of the radicals when it was added at a higher concentration (1.5 mg/L). However, no obvious radicals were observed when a different amount of Mn(II) was used, and the catalytic ozonation of alachlor by Mn(II) mainly followed the mechanism of “active sites created on the surface of MnO₂.” The radical pathway was followed when alachlor was ozonated with different concentrations of humic substances because of its radical initiating, promoting, and inhibiting effects.