Impact of Phenanthrene on Denitrification Activity and Transcription of Related Functional Genes in Estuarine and Marine Sediments

The effects of phenanthrene(Phe)on the denitrification activity and denitrifying genes(narG,nirS and nosZ)were evaluated by dose-response experiments in sediments of Dagu River Estuary(DRE)and Jiaozhou Bay(JZB).The results showed that potential denitrification activity(PDA),N2O,NO3−and NO2−reduction rates of both areas were inhibited with an increase of Phe concentrations.The PDA,N2O,NO3−and NO2−reduction rates of both areas was highest and lowest in the control(DRE:0.453,0.427,7.439 and 3.222mgNkg−1 h−1,JZB:0.592,0.555,8.470 and 3.793mgNkg−1 h−1)and highest Phe amended treatments(DRE:0.069,0.001,4.486,and 1.563 mgNkg−1 h−1;JZB:0.114,0.024,5.527 and 2.200 mgNkg−1 h−1).The inhibition rate of PDA was highest,follow by NO2−reduction and then NO3−reduction.Moreover,with the increasing of Phe concentrations,total bacteria count and the abundance of denitrifying genes were decreased.And N2O accumulation was promoted with the addition of Phe for both areas.Based on the comparison of EC50 values,denitrifiers harboring three genes were more sensitive to Phe than PDA,and denitrifiers harboring nirS gene were more sensitive,followed by nosZ gene,and then narG gene.Furthermore,according to correlation analysis,the relative abundance of denitrifying genes was much more positively correlated with PDA,NO3−and NO2−reduction than total bacteria count.In addition,the denitrification activity and total bacteria count in JZB were more inhibited than that of DRE.This study is useful for understanding the impact of Phe pollution on denitrification in estuary and marine sediments,with profound implications for the management of aquatic ecosystems regarding eutrophication(N-removal)and greenhouse effect.     

Nutrient compositions of cultured Skeletonema costatum, Chaetoceros curvisetus, and Thalassiosira nordenskiöldii

We cultured different-sized fractions of dominant phytoplankton species, Skeletonema costatum, Chaetoceros curvisetus, and Thalassiosira nordenskiöldii, collected in different sea areas in various seasons, and measured and compared their C, N, P, Si contents. The N content of these species is similar, while the C, P, and Si contents of S. costatum from eutrophic Changjiang (Yangtze River) estuary are higher than those from Jiaozhou Bay (JZB), particularly the content of Si. The C, N, P, and Si contents of cultured phytoplankton in JZB increase with size fraction augmentation, and the percentages of C, N, and P follow the same trend, while the percentage of Si remain constant. Moreover, S. costatum from small-sized fraction assimilated Si more easily than C. curvisetus and T. nordenskiöldii, which is explained by the dominance of S. costatum under the conditions of low SiO₃-Si concentration in JZB. The C, N, P, and Si contents of cultured S. costatum collected during summer and winter are higher, which is consistent with the phytoplankton blooming seasons in JZB. The SiO₃-Si concentration of seawater during spring restrain the growth of phytoplankton, supported by the fact that the N, P, and Si contents and their ratios in cells of cultured S. costatum are low in spring season.     

Nutrient compositions of cultured Skeletonema costatum,Chaetoceros curvisetus,and Thalassiosira nordenskildii

We cultured different-sized fractions of dominant phytoplankton species,Skeletonema costatum,Chaetoceros curvisetus,and Thalassiosira nordenski ldii,collected in different sea areas in various seasons,and measured and compared their C,N,P,Si contents.The N content of these species is similar,while the C,P,and Si contents of S.costatum from eutrophic Changjiang (Yangtze River) estuary are higher than those from Jiaozhou Bay (JZB),particularly the content of Si.The C,N,P,and Si contents of cultured phytoplank...     

Analysis and Prediction of Influence Imposed on Jiaozhou Bay Tidal Currents and Tidal Energy of M_2 Tidal System by Jiaozhou Bay Reclamation

The 3-D ECOMSED ocean model was applied to establish a time-dependent boundary model for Jiaozhou Bay (JZB), in which the operator-splitting technique was used and the ‘dry and wet’ method was introduced. The influence caused by JZB reclamation on the surface level, residual currents, tidal system and tidal energy of M2 tidal system were predicted and analyzed. The results show that JZB reclamation has slight impact on the M2 tidal system, in which the variation of amplitude and phase is less than 1%.The ch...     

Characterization of the growth,chlorophyll content and lipid accumulation in a marine microalgae Dunaliella tertiolecta under different nitrogen to phosphorus ratios

Microalgal lipids are regarded as main future feedstock of biofuels for its higher efficiency of accumulation and sustainable production.In order to investigate the effect of various nitrogen to phosphorus ratios on cells growth,chlorophyll content and accumulation of lipids in Dunaliella tertiolecta,experiments were carried out in modified microalgal medium with inorganic nitrogen(nitrate-nitrogen) or organic nitrogen(urea-nitrogen) as the sole nitrogen source at initial N:P ratios ranging from 1:1 to 32:1.The favorable N:P of 16:1 in the nitrate-N or urea-N medium yielded the maximum cell density and specific growth rate.Decrease in chlorophyll content were observed at the N:P of 4:1 in both nitrate-N and urea-N cultures.It was also observed that the maximum lipids concentration was obtained at the N:P of 4:1 in both nitrate and urea nutrient medium.The lipid productivity and lipid content of cultures in the urea-N medium at the N:P of 4:1were markedly higher than those from cultures with other N:P ratios(p 0.05).The results of this work illustrate the possibility that higher ratios of nitrogen to phosphorus have enhancing effect on cells growth of D.tertiolecta.Conversely,higher lipid accumulation is associated with a decrease in chlorophyll content under lower ratios of nitrogen to phosphorus.The results confirm the hypothesis of this study that a larger metabolic flux has been channeled to lipid accumulation in D.tertiolecta cells when the ratios of nitrogen to phosphorus drop below a critical level.     

Effects of ambient DIN:DIP ratio on the nitrogen uptake of harmful dinoflagellate Prorocentrum minimum and Prorocentrum donghaiense in turbidistat

The effects of varying nitrogen (N): phosphorus (P) ratios on the growth and N-uptake and assimilation of the harmful dinoflagellates Prorocentrum minimum and Prorocentrum donghaiense were examined in turbidistat culture experiments. Algal cultures were supplied with media containing PO34? in various concentrations to obtain a wide range of N:P ratios. Experiments to determine rates of N uptake and assimilation of different N sources (NO3?, NH4+, urea and glycine by P. minimum and NO3?, NH4+ by P. donghaiense) were conducted using 15N tracer techniques at each N:P ratio. The growth rates suggested nutrient limitation at both high and low N:P ratios relative to the Redfield ratio. On a diel basis, the growth of both species was regulated by the light-dark cycle, which may be a result of regulation of both light- dependent growth and light-independent nutrient uptake. Maximum growth rates of both species always occurred at the beginning of light phase. In P-rich medium (low N:P ratio), both species had higher N assimilation rates, suggesting N limitation. Low assimilation coefficients at high N:P ratios suggested P limitation of N uptake and assimilation. NO3? and NH4+ contributed more than 90% of the total N uptake of P. minimum. Reduced N sources were more quickly assimilated than NO3?. Highest average daily growth rates were recorded near an N:P ratio of 12 for both species. The N uptake rates of cultures at N:P ratios near Redfield ratio were more balanced with growth rates. The linkage between growth rates and N uptake/assimilation rates were conceptually described by the variation of cell N quota. The N:P ratios affect the N uptake and growth of Prorocentrum spp., and may regulate their bloom progression in eutrophic ecosystems.     

Pyrosequencing of nirS gene revealed spatial variation of denitrifying bacterial assemblages in response to wetland desertification at Tibet plateau

Amplicon sequencing of functional genes is a powerful technique to explore the diversity and abundance of microbes involved in biogeochemical processes. One such key process, denitrification, is of particular importance because it can transform nitrate(NO3-) to N2 gas that is released to the atmosphere. In nitrogen limited alpine wetlands, assessing bacterial denitrification under the stress of wetland desertification is fundamental to understand nutrients, especially nitrogen cycling in alpine wetlands, and thus imperative for the maintenance of healthy alpine wetland ecosystems. We applied amplicon sequencing of the nirS gene to analyze the response of denitrifying bacterial community to alpine wetland desertification in Zoige, China. Raw reads were processed for quality, translated with frameshift correction, and a total of 95,316 nirS gene sequences were used for rarefaction analysis, and 1011 OTUs were detected and used in downstream analysis. Compared to the pristine swamp soil, edaphic parameters including water content, organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorous, available nitrogen, available phosphorous and potential denitrification rate were significantly decreased in the moderately degraded meadow soil and in severely degraded sandy soil. Diversity of the soil nirS-type denitrifying bacteria communities increased along the Zoige wetland desertification, and Proteobacteria and Chloroflexi were the dominant denitrifying bacterial species. Genus Cupriavidus(formerly Wautersia), Azoarcus, Azospira, Thiothrix, and Rhizobiales were significantly(P0.05) depleted along the wetland desertification succession. Soil available phosphorous was the key determinant of the composition of the nirS gene containing denitrifying bacterial communities. The proportion of depleted taxa increased along the desertification of the Zoige wetland, suggesting that wetland desertification created specific physicochemical conditions that decreased the microhabitats for bacterial denitrifiers and the denitrification related genetic diversity.     

Analysis and prediction of influence imposed on Jiaozhou Bay tidal currents and tidal energy of M2 tidal system by Jiaozhou Bay reclamation

The 3-D ECOMSED ocean model was applied to establish a time-dependent boundary model for Jiaozhou Bay (JZB), in which the operator-splitting technique was used and the ‘dry and wet’ method was introduced. The influence caused by JZB reclamation on the surface level, residual currents, tidal system and tidal energy of M₂ tidal system were predicted and analyzed. The results show that JZB reclamation has slight impact on the M₂ tidal system, in which the variation of amplitude and phase is less than 1%.The changes of the currents and residual currents in Qian Bay and near the reclamation areas are greater, but in other areas the changes are smaller, in which the currents have a change of around 1%, while the residual currents change ranges from 1.82%–9.61%. After reclamation, the tidal energy fluxes increase by 2.62%–5.24% inside and outside the JZB mouth, but decrease by 20.21%–87.23% near Qian Bay and the reclamation area.     

Nitrogen budget in the Changjiang River drainage area

We established a budget model of nitrogen (N) inputs and outputs between watersheds and waterbodies to determine the sources of riverine N in the Changjiang (Yangtze) River drainage area. Nitrogen inputs in the budget included N from synthetic fertilizer, biological fixation by leguminous and other crops, wet/dry atmospheric deposition, excreta from humans and animals, and crop residues. The total N input was estimated to be 17.6 Tg, of which 20% or 3.5 Tg N was transported into waterbodies. Of the total N transported into waterbodies, the largest proportion was N from animal waste (26%), followed by N from atmospheric wet/dry deposition (25%), synthetic fertilizer N (17%), N in sewage wastes (17%), N in human waste from rural areas (6%) and industrial wastewater N (9%). We studied the spatial patterns of N inputs and outputs by dividing the Changjiang River drainage area into four sub-basins, from upstream to downstream: the Tongtian River drainage area (TTD, the headwater drainage area, 138 000 km 2 , less disturbed by human activities); the Jinsha River drainage area (JSD, 347 000 km 2 , less disturbed by human activities, approx. 3 500 km upstream of the Changjiang estuary); the Pingshan-Yichang drainage area (PYD, 520 500 km 2 , large-scale human disturbance, about 2 000 km upstream of the Changjiang estuary); and the Yichang-Datong drainage area (YDD, 699 900 km 2 , large-scale human disturbance, approx. 620 km upstream of the Changjiang estuary). The average N input into waterbodies was 2.3, 7.3, 24.1, and 28.2 kg N/ha in the TTD, JSD, PYD, and YDD sub-basins, respectively, suggesting an increase of N-components of more than 10 times from upstream to downstream areas.     

半叶马尾藻对N、P吸收速率的初步研究

在实验室条件下研究半叶马尾藻对不同浓度N、P以及不同化合态N的吸收速率。结果显示:不同浓度N、P下,半叶马尾藻对N、P的吸收速率差异有统计学意义(P0.05);半叶马尾藻对N、P的吸收速率随N、P浓度的升高而增加,最大吸收速率出现在N为200μmol/L、P为20μmol/L时,分别为2.397和0.229μmol·g-1·h-1;不同氮磷比条件下,半叶马尾藻对N、P的最大吸收速率出现在氮磷比为10时,在氮磷比为1~30范围内,氮磷比对半叶马尾藻吸收N、P速率的影响有统计学意义(P0.05);不同化合态N对半叶马尾藻吸收N、P速率的影响有统计学意义(P0.05),当NH4+-N和NO3--N共存时,半叶马尾藻对这2种化合态氮可同时吸收利用,各处理组间,对总无机N的吸收速率差异有统计学意义(P0.05),在c(NO3--N)/c(NH4+-N)为2∶1和1∶2处有两个峰值,分别为2.036、1.862μmol·g-1·h-1,对P的最大吸收速率均出现在c(NO3--N)/c(NH4+-N)值为2∶1时,为0.206μmol·g-1·h-1。因此,在粤西沿海半叶马尾藻在消除养殖水域营养盐、防治海水富营养化方面有很大优势。     

Simultaneous quantification of greenhouse gas and nitric oxide emissions from subtropical conventional vegetable systems: a 2-site field case study in Sichuan Basin

Quantification of greenhouse gases[nitrous oxide(N₂O)and methane(CH₄)]and nitric oxide(NO)emissions from subtropical conventional vegetable systems through multi-site field measurements are needed to obtain accurate regional and global estimates.N2 O,NO and CH4 emissions from subtropical conventional vegetable systems were simultaneously measured at two different sites with hilly topography in the Sichuan basin,southwest China by using the static chamber gas chromatography technique.Results showed that annual soil N₂O and NO fluxes for the treatment receiving N fertilizer ranged from 6.34-7.71 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1 and 0.69-0.85 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1,respectively,while decreased soil CH4 uptakes by 26.4%as compared with no N fertilizer addition across our two sites of experiment.Overall,the average direct N2 O and NO emission factor(EFd)were 0.71%and 0.12%,respectively,which were both lower than the available EFd for subtropical conventional vegetable systems.This finding indicates that current regional and global estimates of N₂O and NO emissions from vegetable fields are likely overestimated.Background N₂O emissions(3.42-3.62 kg N ha^-1 yr^-1)from the subtropical conventional vegetable systems were relatively high as compared with available field measurements worldwide,suggesting that background N₂O emissions cannot be ignored for regional estimate of N₂O emissions in subtropical region.Nevertheless,the significantly intra-and inter-annual variations in N₂O,CH₄ and NO emissions were also observed in the present study,which could be explained by temporal variations of environmental variables(i.e.soil temperature and moisture).The differences in N₂O and NO EFd and CH₄emissions between various vegetable systems in particular under subtropical conditions should be taken into account when compiling regional or global inventories and proposing mitigation practices.     

Records of bulk organic matter and plant pigments in sediment of the “red-tide zone” adjacent to the Changjiang River estuary

Cultural eutrophication caused by nutrient over-enrichment in coastal waters will lead to a cascading set of ecosystem changes and deleterious ecological consequences,such as harmful algal blooms(HABs) and hypoxia.During the past two decades since the late 1990s,recurrent large-scale HABs(red tides)and an extensive hypoxic zone have been reported in the coastal waters adjacent to the Changjiang River estuary.To retrieve the history of eutrophication and its associated ecosystem changes,a sediment core was collected from the "red-tide zone" adjacent to the Changjiang River estuary.The core was dated using the~(210)Pb radioisotope and examined for multiple proxies,including organic carbon(OC),total nitrogen(TN),stable isotopes of C and N,and plant pigments.An apparent up-core increase of OC content was observed after the 1970s,accompanied by a rapid increase of TN.The concurrent enrichment of δ~(13)C and increase of the C/N ratio suggested the accumulation of organic matter derived from marine primary production during this stage.The accumulation of OC after the 1970 s well reflected the significant increase of primary production in the red-tide zone and probably the intensification of hypoxia as well.Plant pigments,including chlorophyll a,p-carotene,and diatoxanthin,showed similar patterns of variation to OC throughout the core,which further confirmed the important contribution of microalgae,particularly diatoms,to the deposited organic matter.Based on the variant profiles of the pigments representative of different microalgal groups,the potential changes of the phytoplankton community since the 1970s were discussed.     

O2和H2O对脉冲电晕分解NO的影响

在脉冲电晕放电条件下，探讨了O2和H=O对NO分解反应过程的影响，并对复杂组分中NO的分解特性进行了实验研究。研究结果表明，脉冲电晕放电对NO分解反应具有一定的促进作用，可有效地分解模拟烟气中的NO，脱除效率随脉冲电压的增加而缓慢增加；受O2和H2O影响，NO分解转化率较N2氛围略有降低。     

Is Moss Stoichiometry Influenced by Microtopography in a Boreal Peatland of Northeast China?

To examine the effects of microtopography on the stoichiometry of carbon(C), nitrogen(N) and phosphorus(P) in mosses along the hummock-hollow gradient in boreal peatlands, we investigated species-level C?N, C?P and N?P ratios of five mosses(Sphagnum magellanicum, S. perichaetiale, S. palustre, S. girgensohnii and Aulacomnium palustre) in the hummocks, hollows and their intermediate zones, and then assessed community-level spatial patterns in a boreal ombrotrophic peatland of north of the Great Xing'an Mountain, Northeast China. The results show that at the species level, C?N, C?P and N?P ratios of the selected Sphagnum mosses remained stable in the hummock-hollow complexes due to unchanged C, N and P concentrations, whereas the non-Sphagnum moss(A. palustre) in the hummocks and intermediate zones had lower P concentrations and thus greater C?P ratios than that in the hollows. At the community level, moss N concentration and C?N ratio remained constant along the hummock-hollow gradient, whereas hummocks and intermediate zones had higher community-level moss C?P and N?P ratios than hollows because of greater C and lower P concentrations. These findings imply that the effects of microtopography on moss C?N?P stoichiometry are scale-dependent and reveal spatial heterogeneity in C and nutrient dynamics. These results provide a more comprehensive understanding of biogeochemical cycles in boreal peatlands.     

Distribution and accumulation of soil carbon in temperate wetland,northeast China

Estimating carbon sequestration and nutrient accumulation rates in Northeast China are important to assess wetlands function as carbon sink buffering greenhouse gas increasing in North Asia. The objectives of this study were to estimate accreting rates of carbon and nutrients in typical temperate wetlands. Results indicated that average soil organic carbon(SOC), total nitrogen(TN) and total phosphorus(TP) contents were 37.81%, 1.59% and 0.08% in peatlands, 5.33%, 0.25% and 0.05% in marshes, 2.92%, 0.27% and 0.10% in marshy meadows, respectively. Chronologies reconstructed by 210 Pb in the present work were acceptable and reliable, and the average time to yield 0–40 cm depth sediment cores was 150 years. Average carbon sequestration rate(Carbonsq), nitrogen and phosphorus accumulation rates were 219.4 g C/(m~2·yr), 9.16 g N/(m~2·yr) and 0.46 g P/(m~2·yr) for peatland; 57.13 g C/(m~2·yr), 5.42 g N/(m~2·yr) and 2.16 g P/(m~2·yr) for marshy meadow; 78.35 g C/(m~2·yr), 8.70 g N/(m~2·yr) and 0.71 g P/(m2·yr) for marshy; respectively. Positive relations existed between Carbonsq with nitrogen and precipitations, indicating that Carbonsq might be strengthened in future climate scenarios.     

Distribution of dissolved inorganic nitrogen over the continental slope of the Yellow Sea and East China Sea

Based on survey data from April to May 2009, distribution and its influential factors of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) over the continental slopes of the Yellow Sea (YS) and East China Sea (ECS) are discussed. Influenced by the Changjiang (Yangtze) River water, alongshore currents, and the Kuroshio current off the coast, DIN concentrations were higher in the Changjiang River estuary, but lower (<1 μmol/L) in the northern and eastern YS and outer continental shelf area of the ECS. In the YS, the thermocline formed in spring, and a cold-water mass with higher DIN concentration (about 11 μmol/L) formed in benthonic water around 123.2°E. In Changjiang estuary (around 123°E, 32°N), DIN concentration was higher in the 10 m layer; however, the bottom DIN concentration was lower, possibly influenced by mixing of the Taiwan Warm Current and offshore currents.     

Production of polyhydroxybutyrate by the marine photosynthetic bacterium Rhodovulum sulfidophilum P5

The effects of different NaCl concentrations, nitrogen sources, carbon sources, and carbon to nitrogen molar ratios on biomass accumulation and polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) production were studied in batch cultures of the marine photosynthetic bacterium Rhodovulum sulfidophilum P5 under aerobic-dark conditions. The results show that the accumulation of PHB in strain P5 is a growth-associated process. Strain P5 had maximum biomass and PHB accumulation at 2%-3% NaCl, suggesting that the bacterium can maintain growth and potentially produce PHB at natural seawater salinity. In the nitrogen source test, the maximum biomass accumulation (8.10±0.09 g/L) and PHB production (1.11±0.13 g/L and 14.62%±2.25% of the cell dry weight) were observed when peptone and ammonium chloride were used as the sole nitrogen source. NH 4 + -N was better for PHB production than other nitrogen sources. In the carbon source test, the maximum biomass concentration (7.65±0.05 g/L) was obtained with malic acid as the sole carbon source, whereas the maximum yield of PHB (5.03±0.18 g/L and 66.93%±1.69% of the cell dry weight) was obtained with sodium pyruvate as the sole carbon source. In the carbon to nitrogen ratios test, sodium pyruvate and ammonium chloride were selected as the carbon and nitrogen sources, respectively. The best carbon to nitrogen molar ratio for biomass accumulation (8.77±0.58 g/L) and PHB production (6.07±0.25 g/L and 69.25%±2.05% of the cell dry weight) was 25. The results provide valuable data on the production of PHB by R. sulfidophilum P5 and further studies are on-going for best cell growth and PHB yield.     

Nitrogen and phosphorus budgets of the Changjiang River estuary

Eutrophication has emerged as a key environmental problem in Chinese coastal waters, especially in the Changjiang (Yangtze) River estuary. In this area, large nutrient inputs result in frequent harmful algal blooms and serious hypoxia in bottom waters. Four cruises were made in the estuary in 2006 to assess the concentration and distribution of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and phosphorus (DIP). The concentration of DIN decreased gradually in a linear relationship with salinity from the river mouth to ...     

Vertical properties of nutrients and oxygen under tempeuature-salinity structure of the Bering Basin in July 1999

The China R/V Xuelong went on the first Arctic scientific cruise, and we obtained 271 hydro-chemical samples from 22 deep-sea stations in the Bering Basin in late July, 1999. Here we describe vertical properties of silicate [Si] , dissolved inorganic nitrogen [DIN] or [N] (nitrate plus ammonium plus nitrite) , phosphate [P] and oxygen [ O2 ] in seawater under potential temperature-salinity structure. The seasonal stratification in the summer and the water exchanges of the North Pacific Ocean over the Bering Basin resulted in that the four layers of vertical structure with two thermoclines may be found. Vertical [Si] and [N] and [P] profiles show that the nutrients are consumed mainly in ≤50 m and the order of deficient nutrients is [Si] the first, [N] the second and [P] the third. The [N] and [P] increase with depth downward to about 500 m and then both decrease, but the [Si] increases from 150 m to 2000 m or the bottom. In ≥ 150 m the [ O2 ] decreases, which is related with both [P] and [N] increasin     

黄土高原沟壑区原状土壤氮素迁移

以中国生态系统研究网络CERN长武王东沟实验站的坡耕地和塬耕地为供试土壤,研究了黄土高原沟壑塬区旱耕地原状土壤氮素迁移和时空变异。结果表明:耕作土壤NO3--N为23.1~33.8 mg/kg,NH4+-N为0.23~0.50mg/kg,DOC为9.17~13.38 mg/kg,P为0.18~0.23 mg/kg;坡耕地和塬耕地的NO3--N和NH4+-N主要集中在0~20 cm的上层土壤,中下层土壤NO3--N和NH4+-N起源于上层淋溶迁移和累积;高含量时养分淋溶溶出呈指数衰减型;NO3--N、NH4+-N、DOC向下层的迁移塬耕地慢于坡耕地。