A review of biomarker compounds as source indicators and tracers for air pollution

An overview of the application of organic geochemistry to the analysis of organic matter on aerosol particles is presented here. This organic matter is analyzed as solvent extractable bitumen/ lipids by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The organic geochemical approach assesses the origin, the environmental history and the nature of secondary products of organic matter by using the data derived from specific molecular analyses. Evaluations of production and fluxes, with cross-correlations can thus be made by the application of the same separation and analytical procedures to samples from point source emissions and the ambient atmosphere. This will be illustrated here with typical examples from the ambient atmosphere (aerosol particles) and from emissions of biomass burning (smoke). Organic matter in aerosols is derived from two major sources and is admixed depending on the geographic relief of the air shed. These sources are biogenic detritus (e.g., plant wax, microbes, etc.) and anthropogenic particle emissions (e.g., oils, soot, synthetics, etc.). Both biogenic detritus and some of the anthropogenic particle emissions contain organic materials which have unique and distinguishable compound distribution patterns (C₁₄-C₄₀). Microbial and vascular plant lipids are the dominant biogenic residues and petroleum hydrocarbons, with lesser amounts of the pyrogenic polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and synthetics (e.g., chlorinated compounds), are the major anthropogenic residues. Biomass combustion is another important primary source of particles injected into the global atmosphere. It contributes many trace substances which are reactants in atmospheric chemistry and soot paniculate matter with adsorbed biomarker compounds, most of which are unknown chemical structures. The injection of natural product organic compounds into smoke occurs primarily by direct volatilization/steam stripping and by thermal alteration based on combustion temperature. Although the molecular composition of organic matter in smoke particles is highly variable, the molecular tracers are generally still source specific. Retene has been utilized as a tracer for conifer smoke in urban aerosols, but is not always detectable. Dehydroabietic acid is generally more concentrated in the atmosphere from the same emission sources. Degradation products from biopolymers (e.g., levoglucosan from cellulose) are also excellent tracers. An overview of the biomarker compositions of biomass smoke types is presented here. Defining additional tracers of thermally-altered and directly-emitted natural products in smoke aids the assessment of the organic matter type and input from biomass combustion to aerosols. The precursor to product approach of compound characterization by organic geochemistry can be applied successfully to provide tracers for studying the chemistry and dispersion of ambient aerosols and smoke plumes. Presented at the 6th FECS Conference on Chemistry and the Environment, Atmospheric Chemistry and Air Pollution, August 26–28, 1998, Copenhagen.     

农林生物质在含铬废水处理中的应用

农林生物质作为低成本吸附剂在环境污染治理中日益受到重视。综述了农林生物质在含铬废水处理中的应用研究进展，分析了生物质处理含铬废水的机理、影响因素，指出了生物质法处理含铬废水的发展方向。     

Pencycuron application to soils: degradation and effect on microbiological parameters

Clay loam soil from agricultural fields of alluvial (AL) soil (typic udifluvent) and coastal saline (CS) soil (typic endoaquept) were investigated for the degradation and effect of pencycuron application at field rate (FR), 2-times FR (2FR) and 10-times FR (10FR) with and without decomposed cow manure (DCM) on soil microbial variables under laboratory conditions. Pencycuron degraded faster in CS soil and in soil amended with DCM. Pencycuron spiking at FR and 2FR resulted in a short-lived (in case of 10FR slightly longer) and transitory toxic effect on soil microbial biomass-C (MBC), ergosterol content and fluorescein diacetate hydrolyzing activity (FDHA). Amendment of DCM did not seem to have any counteractive effect of the toxicity of pencycuron on the microbial variables. The ecophysiological status of the soil microbial communities as expressed by microbial metabolic quotient (qCO2) and microbial respiration quotient (Q(R)) changed, but for a short period, indicating pencycuron induced disturbance. The duration of this disturbance was slightly longer at 10FR. Pencycuron was more toxic to the metabolically activated soil microbial populations, specifically the fungi. It is concluded that side effects of pencycuron at 10FR on the microbial variables studied were only short-lived and probably of little ecological significance.     

活性污泥数学模型中异养菌产率系数的测定

活性污泥数学模型常被用于预测污水处理厂中的生物过程。模型中异养菌产率系数YH对其他组分的测定值有显著的影响。目前．测定YH的主要方法有序批式活性污泥法和序批式呼吸计量法。在序批式呼吸计量法中．起始F／M值的选择十分关键。以醋酸钠为底物．对这两种方法进行了分析比较,序批式呼吸计量法为文章的推荐方法。     

A Screening Test for the Determination of Ethylene Sensitivity

Ethephon, which releases ethylene within plant tissues after application, was chosen to perform assessments of the relative sensitivity of crops to ethylene and to determine which stages of plant development were most sensitive. The species chosen were: barley, wheat, oats, canola and field pea, all of which are important crops in the province of Alberta, Canada. Plants were treated with ethephon at one of 7 different stages. Plants were assessed for their vegetative and reproductive growth, including height, biomass, yield and seed quality. Visual symptoms were photographed and documented to compare them with symptoms caused by ethylene applied as a gas. It was concluded that in barley, wheat and canola the late vegetative and early reproductive stages were most sensitive, at least when sensitivity was defined as reductions in yield and quality. As for field pea, ethephon had no effect on yield but did cause increased numbers of pods, which in certain conditions could lead to increased yields. Significant effects on vegetative growth were only observed in the early vegetative stages of development but with no effects on yield. The screening protocol successfully identified sensitive cultivars and growth stages for further investigation of the effects of ethylene exposure.     

Soil and vegetation carbon stocks in Brazilian Western Amazonia: relationships and ecological implications for natural landscapes

The relationships between soils attributes, soil carbon stocks and vegetation carbon stocks are poorly know in Amazonia, even at regional scale. In this paper, we used the large and reliable soil database from Western Amazonia obtained from the RADAMBRASIL project and recent estimates of vegetation biomass to investigate some environmental relationships, quantifying C stocks of intact ecosystem in Western Amazonia. The results allowed separating the western Amazonia into 6 sectors, called pedo-zones: Roraima, Rio Negro Basin, Tertiary Plateaux of the Amazon, Javari-Juruá-Purus lowland, Acre Basin and Rondonia uplands. The highest C stock for the whole soil is observed in the Acre and in the Rio Negro sectors. In the former, this is due to the high nutrient status and high clay activity, whereas in the latter, it is attributed to a downward carbon movement attributed to widespread podzolization and arenization, forming spodic horizons. The youthful nature of shallow soils of the Javari-Juruá-Purus lowlands, associated with high Al, results in a high phytomass C/soil C ratio. A similar trend was observed for the shallow soils from the Roraima and Rondonia highlands. A consistent east–west decline in biomass carbon in the Rio Negro Basin sector is associated with increasing rainfall and higher sand amounts. It is related to lesser C protection and greater C loss of sandy soils, subjected to active chemical leaching and widespread podzolization. Also, these soils possess lower cation exchangeable capacity and lower water retention capacity. Zones where deeply weathered Latosols dominate have a overall pattern of high C sequestration, and greater than the shallower soils from the upper Amazon, west of Madeira and Negro rivers. This was attributed to deeper incorporation of carbon in these clayey and highly pedo-bioturbated soils. The results highlight the urgent need for refining soil data at an appropriate scale for C stocks calculations purposes in Amazonia. There is a risk of misinterpreting C stocks in Amazonia when such great pedological variability is not taken into account.     

串叶松香草生物量和营养成分动态及其对土壤理化性质的影响

田间试验和化学分析结果表明,串叶松香草两个品种４个生育期的茎、叶产量均以Ａ型＞Ｂ型,在３ａ内串叶松香草产量随生长年限增加,且以Ａ型品种产量高．串叶松香草３个生育期叶片氨基酸和蛋白质含量高于茎,并以Ａ型品种现蕾期为最高;两个品种氨基酸组分以Ａｓｐ、Ｇｌｕ、Ｌｅｕ和Ｌｙｓ含量高,各生育期氨基酸组分含量变化规律不同．串叶松香草的粗脂肪、Ｃａ、Ｐ和灰分含量以叶＞茎,而粗纤维和可溶性糖含量却以茎中较高．除粗纤维外,其余饲用成分含量均随生育期的出现而呈递降之趋势．串叶松香草现蕾期Ｎ、Ｋ含量和莲座期Ｐ含量达最高．种植３ａ后串叶松香草明显改善土壤物理性质,提高土壤酶活性,明显降低土壤有效Ｎ、Ｐ和Ｋ含量     

菌根真菌侵染对植物生物量累积的影响

为了从生态系统尺度探讨菌根资源与植物生物量累积的关系,调查了鼎湖山不同成熟度的三个森林群落主要优势树种的菌根侵染情况.综合分析各森林群落优势树种的个体数、生物量和菌根侵染率发现：1）菌根侵染率与径向生长速率相关,植物生长迅速的阶段菌根侵染率更高.中径级（胸径15-30 cm）的马尾松（Pinus massoniana）和锥（Castanopsis chinensis）的侵染率比小径级（胸径1-15 cm）个体的侵染率高,而大径级个体（胸径30 cm 以上）的侵染率略低于中径级个体的侵染率.木荷（Schima superba）则表现出侵染率随着胸径增大而增高的趋势.2）树种在群落内的侵染率越高,其对群落生物量的贡献率越大.如马尾松在马尾松林和混交林的侵染率分别为（77.30±18.02）%和（40.50±14.42）%,其对马尾松林群落生物量的贡献率达到87.43%,是对混交林生物量贡献率（17.51%）的5 倍.混交林和阔叶林的共有优势树种锥的侵染率和生物量贡献率也有存在相同规律.3）根系碳储量占群落总碳储量比例较高的群落其优势树种平均侵染率相对较高.马尾松林、混交林和季风常绿阔叶林中,根系碳储量占群落总碳储量的比例分别为55%、54%、42%,群落优势树种平均侵染率分别为（66.73±10.55）%、（46.97±27.28）%、（54.22±25.45）%,马尾松林的根系碳储量和平均侵染率均高于混交林和季风常绿阔叶林.以上结果表明,菌根真菌侵染对于植物个体生长速率以及群落水平的生物量累积具有-定的促进作用.     

Resilience of Southwestern Amazon Forests to Anthropogenic Edge Effects

Abstract:  Anthropogenic edge effects can compromise the conservation value of mature tropical forests. To date most edge-effect research in Amazonia has concentrated on forests in relatively seasonal locations or with poor soils in the east of the basin. We present the first evaluation from the relatively richer soils of far western Amazonia on the extent to which mature forest biomass, diversity, and composition are affected by edges. In a southwestern Amazonian landscape we surveyed woody plant diversity, species composition, and biomass in 88 × 0.1 ha samples of unflooded forest that spanned a wide range in soil properties and included samples as close as 50 m and as distant as >10 km from anthropogenic edges. We applied Mantel tests, multiple regression on distance matrices, and other multivariate techniques to identify anthropogenic effects before and after accounting for soil factors and spatial autocorrelation. The distance to the nearest edge, access point, and the geographical center of the nearest community ("anthropogenic-distance effects") all had no detectable effect on tree biomass or species diversity. Anthropogenic-distance effects on tree species composition were also below the limits of detection and were negligible in comparison with natural environmental and spatial factors. Analysis of the data set's capacity to detect anthropogenic effects confirmed that the forests were not severely affected by edges, although because our study had few plots within 100 m of forest edges, our confidence in patterns in the immediate vicinity of edges is limited. It therefore appears that the conservation value of most "edge" forests in this region has not yet been compromised substantially. We caution that because this is one case study it should not be overinterpreted, but one explanation for our findings may be that western Amazonian tree species are naturally faster growing and more disturbance adapted than those farther east.     

Endpoint ‘floating leaves’ of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Potamogeton natans</Emphasis>: A new method to evaluate the development of macrophytes in pond mesocosms

Goal, Scope and Background One of the advantages of long-term mesocosm experiments as compared to short-term standard toxicity tests in the laboratory is the potential for detecting secondary effects due to the interaction of species and recovery with biomass of macrophytes being an important endpoint. However, generating biomass data by harvesting is often laborious, time-consuming, costly and restricted to the end of the experiment. Moreover, valuable information may get lost, in particular in single application studies, since maximal primary effects and secondary effects or recovery occur per se at different times. Potamogeton natans was used as an example in order to test whether number and area of floating leaves can be reliably measured and be used as intermediate and final endpoints in mesocosm effect studies. Methods Digital photos, which were taken of the water surface in the course of an indoor pond mesocosm study on herbicide effects, were subjected to image analysis. The results were compared to wet weight and ash-free dry weight of Potamogeton at the end of the herbicide study. Results and Discussion Both number and area of floating leaves indicated the same herbicide effects as wet weight and ash-free dry weight of Potamogeton. Error introduced by the different work steps is small and can be further minimised by a number of method improvements. Recommendations and Perspectives In indoor mesocosm studies, errors due to the perspective adjustment may be circumvented by taking the photos perpendicular to the water surface. Correction for lens aberration, identical light conditions and the use of fluorescence images are considered promising. Field applications are proposed.