Development of a hydrothermal time seed germination model which uses the Weibull distribution to describe base water potential

Seed germination has been modelled extensively using hydrothermal time (HTT) models, that predict time to germination as a function of the extent to which seedbed temperature, T, and water potential, Ψ, exceed the base temperature, T_b, and base water potential, Ψ_b, of each seed percentile, g. Within a seed population the variation in time to germination arises from variation in Ψ_b(g) modelled by a normal distribution. We tested the assumption of normality in the distribution of Ψ_b(g) by germinating seed of two unrelated species with non-dormant seed (Buddleja davidii (Franch.) and Pinus radiata D. Don) across a range of constant Ψ at sub-optimal T. When incorporated into a HTT model the Weibull distribution more accurately described both the right skewed distribution of Ψ_b(g) and germination time course over sub-optimal T than the HTT based on the normal distribution, for both species. Given the flexibility of the Weibull distribution this model not only provides a useful method for predicting germination but also a means of determining the distribution of Ψ_b(g).     

Bioactivity as an Options Value of Sea Cucumbers in the Egyptian Red Sea

Abstract:  The utility of a species can be divided into its direct, indirect, and options values. In the marine environment, direct consumptive values predominate and often lead to overexploitation at the expense of significant options values derived through bioprospecting for natural products. We surveyed the waters of the Egyptian Red Sea coast (Gulf of Aqaba [north] and the Red Sea [south]) for species of sea cucumbers and analyzed extracts from species for a range of bioactivities with potential biomedical applications. All habitat types were surveyed within these regions. We found 22 species of sea cucumber of which two, Holothuria fuscogilva and Holothuria flavomaculata , were recorded in Egypt for the first time. Although none of the species identified were unique to the Gulf of Aqaba, 10 species were only found in the Red Sea sector. Bioassay results showed that although no species had antibacterial activity, most extracts exhibited activity against Candida and Leishmania but were most active against a LoVo mammalian carcinoma cell line. Our most significant finding was the intraspecific variation in bioactivity in individuals collected from different habitat types and sectors of the coast. This variation may reflect the effect of environment on secondary metabolite production or may indicate significant genetic diversity between populations within a species. Our results indicate a potentially significant options value to sea cucumbers through bioprospecting. Given the importance of economic development in countries such as Egypt and the perceived low conservation value of invertebrates such as sea cucumbers, the linking of these factors to conservation is vital for the maintenance and sustainable exploitation of these animals .     

中国大气颗粒物中金属元素环境地球化学行为研究

大气颗粒物金属污染已成为目前大气污染的研究热点之一。文章梳理、分析归纳了中国近年来大气颗粒中金属元素的环境地球化学方面的研究。目前研究较多的是Fe、Ca、Mg、Si等地壳元素和Cu、Pb、Cd、Zn、Hg等污染元素;大气颗粒物中对人体有害的Cu、Pb、Cd、As、Zn等污染较严重,而Cr、Mn、Co、Ni等污染较轻。大气颗粒物中金属含量随时间分布变化显著,总体上呈现冬季〉秋季〉春季〉夏季的特点,空间分布上一般北方燃煤城市大于南方一般城市;城市内部一般工业区〉交通区〉居民区〉郊区;金属元素在细粒径颗粒（〈2μm）中高,粗颗粒（〉2μm）中低,尤其以污染元素明显。污染元素与地壳元素的垂直分布规律差异较大。大气颗粒物中金属元素的富集程度与元素种类、区域类型、季节变化、粒径大小等有关。最后,提出应加强大气颗粒物中金属元素空间分布差异、时间分布的尺度及差异性研究;同时加强超细颗粒物的研究,以便建立大气颗粒物金属元素与人类健康关系的风险模型。     

辽宁省农用地质量空间分布格局及影响因素研究

采用GIS技术、地统计学分析和景观生态学方法对辽宁省农用地质量的空间分布规律及其多样性、均匀度、集中度、优势度等进行研究,结果表明：辽宁省农用地质量的区域分异明显,等别表现出由辽西低山丘陵区和辽东山地丘陵区向中部平原区的递增规律。探讨农用地质量空间格局的影响因素,发现农用地自然质量空间分布格局主要受到地带性因素与大尺度的非地带性因素的控制,农用地利用质量和经济质量空间分布格局受到人类活动的影响显著。     

潜流人工湿地理化性质及不同形态氮素的空间分布

对潜流人工湿地系统的可溶解氧、pH、氧化还原电位以及水温等理化因子和不同形态氮素的空间分布进行了较全面研究。结果表明,潜流人工湿地上部溶解氧高于下部;湿地下部pH较小,主要在6.9～7.2之间;氧化还原电位表现为上部前端氧化,下部后端还原;湿地装置内下部温度总体比上部要高,前端表现得尤其明显;湿地前端上部是COD和氨氮降解的主要场所,在前端下部区域硝氮的浓度低而亚硝氮、氨氮的浓度相对较高;湿地系统中亚硝氮含量较低,仅在前端中下部有所积累;总氮浓度在湿地前端较高而后端较低,其去除率在根本上依赖于反硝化作用的强度。     

内蒙古河套地区水体中砷的地球化学特征

采样分析典型地砷病区域——内蒙古河套地区地下水、地表水和自来水中砷含量和形态,研究河套地区水体中砷分布状况,并采集山西山阴县大营村(地下水)和山东招远地区水样(地表水、地下水),以用于污染特性比较和源解析。结果发现,内蒙古河套地区和山西省山阴县大营村作为生活饮用水的地下水中砷含量超标率较高,其中内蒙古临河区狼山镇先锋七社和山西大营村地下水砷含量平均值分别为368.9和443.5μg.L-1,分别有75%和100%的水样超过GB 5749—2006《生活饮用水卫生标准》中农村小型集中和分散式供水砷含量限值。内蒙古五原县乃日乡的175个水样中,也有59%的地下水样砷含量高于50μg.L-1,且砷形态主要以无机砷为主。河套地区地表水水样砷含量大部分在50μg.L-1以下,部分自来水(水源为地下水)样砷含量超过生活饮用水标准。     

程海冬季水华暴发期间氮、磷营养元素的形态与分布

氮、磷营养元素是湖泊生态系统中极其重要的生态因子,它们以不同形态存在于湖泊水体中,表现出不同的地球化学行为和生态效应,从而支配着湖泊生态系统的生产力水平和湖泊富营养化进程。通过设置3个断面9个采样站14个采样点,研究了程海湖水体中氮、磷营养元素的形态与分布,结果表明：2009年11月23日—2010年2月20日,以铜绿微囊藻（Microcystis aeruginosa Kutz.）为主的程海冬季水华暴发期间,总氮质量浓度0.540~3.906 mg.L-1,平均0.836 mg.L-1;总磷质量浓度0.036~0.166 mg.L-1,平均0.061 mg.L-1。其中,溶解态氮、溶解态磷分别为61.7%和50.8%。溶解态氮以有机氮为主,溶解态磷则以无机磷为主。水华期间生物可直接利用氮质量浓度0.118 mg.L-1;生物可直接利用磷质量浓度0.021 mg.L-1,分别占总氮、总磷质量浓度的14.1%和34.4%,显示出此特定时期,氮的消耗速度较磷快。氮素、磷素及其赋存形态在程海的时间分布上有不同的节奏;水平分布差异不明显;垂直分布在水表层至亚底层的水柱中差异也不明显,而在湖底层最高。     

分岔隧道火灾火源位置对临界风速影响的数值模拟分析

为探究分岔隧道火灾火源位置对临界风速的影响规律,使用数值模拟方法对火源位于分岔隧道分岔口前和分岔口后的火灾场景下的临界风速进行研究.研究结果表明:火源位于分岔口后的主隧道时,临界风速明显大于火源位于分岔口前的临界风速;在一定范围热释放速率下,分岔隧道临界风速与热释放速率的1/3次方成正比;在分岔隧道模型中,相同热释放速...     

基于活性微生物特征的供水管壁生物膜生长特性

管网生物膜由各种活性微生物、微生物残体及有机无机杂质组成,管网生物膜的生长会导致机会致病菌寄居、管道腐蚀以及水质恶化等系列饮用水卫生问题.为研究供水管壁生物膜形成过程和附着生长活性微生物的分布特征,采用异养菌平板计数(HPC)、流式细胞术(FCM)和16S rRNA高通量测序对3种典型室内供水管材:聚氯乙烯(PVC)、无规共聚聚丙烯(PPR)、不锈钢(STS)内壁活性微生物的生长特性和群落多样性进行了分析.结果表明,PVC管壁生物量在第73 d最先达到峰值,3种管材内壁单位面积最大生物量、生物膜成熟时期生物量均呈现PVC PPR STS的规律. 3种管材表面活性细菌群落结构组成上,PVC管表面主要以硝化螺旋菌门为主,PPR和STS管以疣微菌门为主,其中STS管壁上生物膜物种丰富度最低、多样性最小,群落结构最简单. PVC和PPR管内壁表面相较STS管存在更多的蓝藻细菌和放线菌,在饮用水输配过程中更易引发饮用水嗅味问题.管材介质对管壁生物膜上微生物群落结构存在一定影响.     

Influence of haze pollution on water-soluble chemical species in PM2.5 and size-resolved particles at an urban site during fall

To investigate the influence of haze on the chemical composition and formation processes of ambient aerosol particles,PM_(2.5) and size-segregated aerosol particles were collected daily during fall at an urban site of Gwangju,Korea.During the study period,the total concentration of secondary ionic species(SIS) contributed an average of 43.9% to the PM_(2.5) ,whereas the contribution of SIS to the PM_(2.5) during the haze period was 62.3%.The NO_3 and SO~(2-)_4 concentrations in PM_(2.5) during the haze period were highly elevated,being 13.4 and 5.0 times higher than those during non-haze period,respectively.The PM,NO~-_3,SO~(2-)_4,oxalate,water-soluble organic carbon(WSOC),and humic-like substances(HULIS) had tri-modal size distributions peaks at 0.32,1.0,and 5.2 μm during the non-haze and haze periods.However,during the non-haze period they exhibited dominant size distributions at the condensation mode peaking at 0.32 μm,while on October 21 when the heaviest haze event occurred,they had predominant droplet mode size distributions peaking at 1.00 μm.Moreover,strong correlations of WSOC and HULIS with SO~(2-)_4,oxalate,and K+at particle sizes of 1.8 μm indicate that secondary processes and emissions from biomass burning could be responsible for WSOC and HULIS formations.It was found that the factors affecting haze formation could be the local stable synoptic conditions,including the weak surface winds and high surface pressures,the long-range transportation of haze from eastern China and upwind regions of the Korean peninsula,as well as the locally emitted and produced aerosol particles.