Nestmate recognition in the ant Cataglyphis niger : do queens matter?

This study compares two basic models for the origin and maintenance of colony gestalt odor in the polygynous ant species Cataglyphis niger. In the first model, queens are centers of de novo biosynthesis and distribution of recognition odors (“queen-centered” model); in the second, colony odors are primarily synthesized and distributed by workers (“worker-centered” model). We tested the behavioral patterns that are predicted from each model, and verified by biochemical means the distributional directionality of these signals. Encounters between nestmates originating from split colonies were as amicable as between nestmates from non-split colonies; queenless ants were as aggressive as their queenright nestmates, and both were equally aggressed by alien ants. These results indicate that queens have little impact on the recognition system of this species, and lend credence to the worker-centered model. The queen-centered model predicts that unique queen substances should be produced in appreciable quantities and that, in this respect, queens should be more metabolically active than workers. Analysis of the chemical composition of postpharyngeal glands (PPGs) or cuticular extracts of queens and workers revealed high similarity. Quantitatively, queens possessed significantly greater amounts of hydrocarbons in the PPG than workers, but the amount on the thoracic epicuticle was the same. Queens, however, possess a lower hydrocarbon biosynthesis capability than workers. The biochemical evidence thus refutes the queen-centered model and supports a worker-centered model. To elucidate the directionality of cue distribution, we investigated exchange of hydrocarbons between the castes in dyadic or group encounters in which selective participants were prelabeled. Queens tended to receive more and give less PPG content, whereas transfer to the epicuticle was low and similar in all encounters, as predicted from the worker-centered hypothesis. In the group encounters, workers transferred, in most cases, more hydrocarbons to the queen than to a worker. This slight preference for the queen is presumably amplified in a whole colony and can explain their copious PPG content. We hypothesize that preferential transfer to the queen may reflect selection to maintain her individual odor as close to the average colony odor as possible. Received: 4 November 1997 / Accepted after revision: 5 February 1998     

Hydrocarbon contamination of a terrestrial ecosystem: the case of Oshire-2 oil spill in Niger Delta,Nigeria

An oil-impacted site at Oshire-2 in Niger Delta (Nigeria) was delimited by reconnaissance. Surface and subsurface soils were analyzed for total extractable hydrocarbon content and some physicochemical characteristics. The oil-impacted soils had a mean hydrocarbon content of 1.99 × 10³ mg/kg (no overlap in Standard Error at 95% Confidence Limit) and were characterized by an isohyperthermic temperature regime >22°C, high moisture content, high acidity (low soil-pH) and low electrical conductivity. The intense infusion of degradable hydrocarbons at the site must have stimulated aerobic and anaerobic microbial metabolism and so, as oxygen became limiting, utilization of alternate electron acceptors produced an increasingly reducing environment.     

微生物修复土壤多环芳烃污染的研究进展

多环芳烃是一类具有致癌、致畸、致突变性质的持久性有机污染物,主要来源于煤、石油等燃料的不完全燃烧,易吸附于固体颗粒表面和有机腐殖质,化学结构稳定,能长期存在于自然环境,给人类健康和生态环境带来很大的危害。中国土壤多环芳烃污染严重,因此急需寻求有效的修复方法进行治理。在众多的多环芳烃污染修复方法中,微生物修复因其低成本、高效、污染少等优点成为研究热点。科学家们从自然界中分离出了多种细菌、真菌等具有降解多环芳烃能力的微生物,并对多环芳烃的降解机理进行了探索,结果表明,微生物在代谢活动过程中能够产生酶来实现对土壤中多环芳烃的降解。细菌主要通过产生双加氧酶来催化多环芳烃的加氧反应,而真菌可以通过分泌木质素降解酶系或单加氧酶来氧化多环芳烃。两种途径均是首先通过降低多环芳烃的稳定性,使之容易被进一步降解。目前,微生物修复技术正逐步应用于PAHs污染土壤的实地修复,且已取得一定成效。文章简要介绍了降解多环芳烃的微生物,对多环芳烃的微生物降解机制进行了综述,讨论了影响微生物修复过程的因素,列举了常见的微生物修复相关技术,展望了今后的研究趋势。     

Distribution and behaviour of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in subtropical river estuary,Okinawa, Japan

Surface water samples were collected along the salinity gradient of Manko estuary in Okinawa, Japan, between January and November 2012, to examine spatial and temporal variability in the distribution, composition, behaviour, and sources of particulate polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Concentrations of total particulate PAHs ranged from 169.7?ng?g^?1 at riverine station (N1) in November 2012 to 922?ng?g^?1 at another riverine station (K3) in May 2012. Based on observed environmental behaviour, particularly relationships to organic matter, the PAHs appear divisible into two groups: group I (low molecular weight) PAHs were characterised by low particles affinity and strong correlations with a pool of autochthonous organic matter (e.g. high concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids), reflecting processes controlling their delivery to the estuary; and, in contrast, group II (high molecular weight) PAHs were characterised by high particles affinity and exhibited estuarine distribution primarily controlled by suspended solid load and inputs from terrigenous sources through river inflows. This relationship, coupled with isomer ratios indicative of combined mixed sources from petroleum and petroleum combustions, indicates that terrestrial run-off is the dominant mode of delivery of particulate PAHs in the estuary. The relationships between distinct groups of PAHs and lipid biomarkers demonstrated in this study suggest that very specific pools of particulate organic matter, as opposed to concentrations of particulate organic carbon alone, can be important in the transport and fate of hydrophobic contaminants.     

用于水中多环芳烃被动采样的聚合物厚度和材料的选择：哪个更有力地影响采样器性能？

本文使用3种单相聚合物制作用于多环芳烃被动采样的装置,这3种聚合物分别为聚甲醛(POM)、硅橡胶(SR)和聚乙烯(PE),通过室内试验测定了它们的分配系数和POM的扩散系数以及验证了动态积累模型。此外,在野外现场对每种装置的性能进行了评估。基于已开发模型的支持,讨论了使用不同材料和聚合物厚度的装置性能。结果表明,采样器性能,比如浓度平均周期的长短和多环芳烃的采集容量,都广受所选材料的影响。采样器的厚度也会对装置的性能造成影响,但程度很小。选择合适的聚合物和/或厚度可以使采样器更有适用于快速平衡或动态积累,以及促进膜或水边界层对动态积累的控制。此外,利用膜技术控制或平衡的化合物能够更精确的被量化,因为它们不需要利用参比法(PRC)来校正。然而,当富集浓度达到平衡后,采样器中的平均浓度就不能准备测量化合物浓度,而由膜控制的采样装置通过动态累积的方式能够提供不需要PRC校正的平均浓度;随着膜传质阻力的提高,采样器的检测限也得到提高。
精选自Angel Belles, Claire Alary, Yannick Mamindy-Pajany.Thickness and material selection of polymeric passive samplers for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water: which more strongly affects sampler properties?. Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry: Volume 35, Issue 7, pages 1708–1717, July 2016. DOI: 10.1002/etc.3326
详情请见http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/etc.3326/full
     

Water quality in a mediterranean marine protected area (North Sporades Islands,Greece)

Pollution in the marine protected area of North Sporades Islands was investigated in July 1997. Salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen, dissolved inorganic nutrients, organic carbon, hydrocarbons as well as dissolved and particulate trace metals were determined at 15 offshore and coastal stations. Dissolved organic carbon and inorganic nutrient concentrations indicate the mesotrophic character of the investigated waters. The dissolved forms of nitrogen were slightly higher at coastal stations. Dissolved and particulate Cu, Zn and Ni, were higher in coastal stations, whereas concentrations of Pb were generally low and likely of atmospheric origin. Dissolved/Dispersed petroleum hydrocarbons (DDPH) were close to detection limits at all stations. Temperature and salinity vertical profiles, nutrient and trace metal concentrations revealed the presence of a slight influence of the Black Sea water coming from Dardanelles straits.     

Concentration of some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in rain,soil and ground water around Ismailia,Egypt

Residues of acenaphthylene, fluorene, anthracene, pyrene, chrysene, benzo(b)fluoranthene and benzo(k)fluoranthene were monitored in rain, soil and groundwater around Ismailia, in northeast Egypt. Residues detected in rain water in 1995 and 1996 were mainly of relatively low molecular weight. Both acenaphthylene and fluorene were detected in rain for the two consecutive years. Top soil has shown a wider spectrum and higher concentrations of (PAHs) than those detected in deep soil, rain and ground water. Only three compounds, acenaphthylene, fluorene and anthracene were detected in samples collected at 50 cm depth. While no traces of PAHs were detected at 1 m depth detectable concentrations of fluorene and anthracene were monitored in groundwater.     

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in red mullet (Mullus bavbatus) and sediments from the Eastern Aegean Sea

The distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was investigated in red mullet (Mullus barbatus) and sediment samples in the eastern Aegean Sea. The data were collected during cruises in July and November 1994, in the framework of National Marine Measurement and Monitoring Programme in the Aegean Sea. PAHs were detected in the tissue of Mullus barbatus of different sex and size from nine sampling sites throughout the study area ranging from 0.03 to 0.46 ug/g (fresh weight). The observations show the high levels of PAHs were found in tissues of females. The average concentration of PAHs in Aegean Sea sediments ranged from 0.20 to 1.8 ug/g (dry weight). No significant correlation was observed between PAH and sedimentary organic carbon.     

Revealing the factors affecting occurrence and distribution of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in water and sediments of Lake Baikal and its tributaries

The concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), total carbon (TC), total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN) and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) in water and sediments of Lake Baikal and its tributaries were measured. It was found that according to existing water and sediment quality standards limiting permissible PAH concentrations, both surface waters and sediments in Lake Baikal watershed can be considered as unpolluted with PAHs compounds. Nevertheless, the spatial distribution of PAH concentrations in lake water indicates the existence of some point PAH sources in and around the lake. These sources were natural oil seeps and communal facilities such as residential coal-fired and oil-fired boilers. It was observed that concentrations of PAHs in both water and sediments are controlled by organic matter content and organic matter mineralisation degree, as indicated by PAH-to-carbon and nitrogen-to-carbon ratios respectively. It was found that PAH/TOC and PAH/TC ratios characterise PAH loading on water and sediments respectively, whereas DIN/TOC and TN/TC ratios characterise self-purification of water and sediments respectively. It was proved that PAH/TOC and DIN/TOC ratios can be used as tracers to evaluate the PAH contributions from tributaries to Lake Baikal.     

The changes of T-PAH levels and health status of mussels in Izmit bay (Turkey) after Marmara earthquake and subsequent refinery fire

As is well known, a powerful earthquake along the North Anatolian Fault struck the eastern part of the Marmara region on August 17, 1999. Izmit Bay, which is known as one of the most polluted sites of Turkey, was also affected by the quake and the subsequent refinery fire. The measurements performed just before and after the earthquake showed that T-PAH levels increased significantly after the event [Okay OS, Tolun L, Telli-Karako? F, Tüfek?i V, Tüfek?i H, Morko? E. Izmit Bay (Turkey) ecosystem after Marmara earthquake and subsequent refinery fire: the long-term data. Marine Pollution Bulletin 2001;42:361-9]. In the framework of ecotoxicological studies, the Bay ecosystem was continuously monitored for T-PAH levels in seawater, sediments and mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) to find out whether change occurred during the 2-year period following the earthquake. For that purpose, after the earthquake, the samples were collected six times between the period of September 1999 and March 2001 at coastal stations of the Bay situated away from the mouth of main discharges. The responses of the mussels were also measured by means of the lysosomal stability of the blood cells and feeding rate biomarker techniques at two different sites of the bay. Although the T-PAH levels in all matrices generally showed a decreasing trend, they were found to be still high especially at stations near the refinery. Both biomarker results showed that the health status of the mussels is very poor in the Bay ecosystem, based on the results obtained from the two sites monitored.