Occurrence of the non-native annual bluegrass on the Antarctic mainland and its negative effects on native plants

Few non-native species have colonized Antarctica, although increased human activity and accelerated climate change may increase their number, distributional range, and effects on native species on the continent. We searched 13 sites on the maritime Antarctic islands and 12 sites on the Antarctic Peninsula for annual bluegrass (Poa annua), a non-native flowering plant. We also evaluated the possible effects of competition between P. annua and 2 vascular plants native to Antarctica, Antarctic pearlwort (Colobanthus quitensis) and Antarctic hairgrass (Deschampsia antarctica). We grew the native species in experimental plots with and without annual bluegrass under conditions that mimicked the Antarctic environment. After 5 months, we measured photosynthetic performance on the basis of chlorophyll fluorescence and determined total biomass of both native species. We found individual specimens of annual bluegrass at 3 different sites on the Antarctic Peninsula during the 2007-2008 and 2009-2010 austral summers. The presence of bluegrass was associated with a statistically significant reduction in biomass of pearlwort and hairgrass, whereas the decrease in biomass of bluegrass was not statistically significant. Similarly, the presence of bluegrass significantly reduced the photosynthetic performance of the 2 native species. Sites where bluegrass occurred were close to major maritime routes of scientific expeditions and of tourist cruises to Antarctica. We believe that if current levels of human activity and regional warming persist, more non-native plant species are likely to colonize the Antarctic and may affect native species.     

环境和营养条件对煤油生物降解的影响

研究了南极假丝酵母（Candida antarctica)JWSH-112降解煤油烃的影响因素。利用正交试验方法，确证了最优条件为煤油14（ψ/%），NaNO32.0gL61,NaH2PO40.1gL^-1，蛋白胨2.0gL^-1，初始pH6.5，其中蛋白胨是影响JWSH－112降解煤油烃的重要因素。采用优化后的条件进行验证实验，煤油烃的生物降解率（49．2％）和细胞生长质量浓度（1.9gL^-1)均加高于正交试验中的最高生物降解率（47．9％）和细胞生长质量浓度（1.5gL^-1)。通过气相色谱定性分析发现，生物降解后煤油中的部分组份消失或含量明显降低。图6表5参13     

The significance of PCBs in the atmosphere of the southern hemisphere

Air monitoring stations were set up at 2 sites in the southern hemisphere--Moody Brook, Falkland Island (51 degrees 25' S, 57 degrees 56' W) and Halley, Research Station, Antarctica (75 degrees 35' S, 26 degrees 30' W). PCBs were monitored at the stations throughout 1999. Highest concentrations were observed when temperatures were greater. In general, concentrations were greater at Moody Brook than at Halley, although the difference in concentrations between sites was less for more chlorinated congeners. Air concentrations at both sites were compared with samples collected nearby over-water. Over water air concentrations were found to be greater than over land air concentrations. Concentrations were also compared with literature data for air concentrations at a remote site in the Canadian Arctic. Atmospheric concentrations of tri-chlorinated biphenyls were found to be approximately double those reported for Ellesmere Island in the Canadian Arctic, whilst concentrations in samples from Antarctica were very similar to those found in the high Arctic. Most other PCBs were a factor of 2-4 greater in the Canadian Arctic.     

Phaeocystis globosa核糖体大亚基(28SrDNA)的序列分析与分类学意义

对一株Phaeocystisglobosa的28SrDNA基因序列测定,共得到碱基大小为1795bp的两个序列片段,其中序列一的长度为970bp,序列二的长度为825bp。将Ph.globosa与Ph.antarctica和Prymnesiumpatelliferum同源序列进行对比,发现Ph.globosa与Ph.antarctica仅在序列二中有一个碱基插入/缺失,同源性为99.99%,而与Pr.patelliferum相比,有7处插入/缺失,碱基总变异率为6.13%;研究发现序列一中有一个比较明显的高度保守区和两个高变区;序列二中有两个比较明显的高变区、一个保守区和一个高度保守区。对28SrDNA基因RNA二级结构分析发现,DNA序列保守区在RNA二级结构上也非常保守,与DNA序列分析结果一致,都证明28SrDNA基因只适用于种以上水平的分类研究,不宜用于种间和种下水平的研究。     

全球气候变化对南极淡水藻类的影响

1982～2008年对中国南极长城站和中山站地区主要湖泊、溪流、雪地等淡水藻类进行了调查研究.结果表明,淡水藻类优势种类为:双尖菱板藻(Hantzschiaa mphioxys),端泥生藻(Luticola mutica),拟钝泥生藻(Lutiola muticopsis),细小隐球藻(Aphanocapsa elachista),极小色球藻(Chroococcus minimus),寒冷席藻(Phormidium frigidum),赖氏鞘氏藻(Lyngbya lagerheimii),拉氏黏球藻(Gloecapsa ralfsiana),易脆席藻(Phormidium fragile),雪衣藻(Chlamydomo nasnivalis),南极侧果藻(Pleurococcus antarcticus),南极螺翼藻(Scotiella antarctica)和细长聚球藻(Synechococcus elongates).回归分析显示了微、小型藻类细胞丰度与水温呈显著的正相关,而与磷酸盐和硝酸盐呈显著负相关.南极气候尤其是水温的变化,引起湖泊藻类丰度与种群结构发生改变.     

Biocatalytic amidation of carboxylic acids and their antinemic activity

A series of novel N-alkyl substituted amides, synthesized by enzyme catalysis, were evaluated against root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita and found to have potential antinemic activity. The corresponding amides were prepared by the condensation of equimolar amounts of carboxylic acids with different alkyl amines in the presence of Candida antarctica lipase at 60–90°C in 16–20 h. The reactions were carried out in a non - solvent system without the use of any activating agents. All the products were obtained in appreciable amounts and the yields for different compounds varied between 77.4–82.3%. The synthesized compounds were characterized using spectroscopy techniques namely Infra Red (IR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) (¹H and ¹³C). Nematicidal activity of synthesized amides was evaluated against J₂s of Meloidogyne incognita at 500, 250, 125 and 62.5 ppm concentrations after 24 h, 48 h and 72 h of exposure. Among all the tested compounds, N-propyl-butyramide, N-propyl-pentanamide and N-propyl-hexanamide were found to possess significant activity with LC₅₀ values of 67.46, 83.49 and 96.53 respectively. N-propyl-butyramide with LC₅₀ value of 67.46 ppm was found to be most active amide against J₂s of Meloidogyne incognita. The bioactivity study showed that an increase in alkyl chain significantly decreased the activity of amides against root-knot nematode.