小麦、苜蓿根际土中极性、弱极性馏分特征

为深入了解农作物根系分泌物与其根际土中可溶有机物的关系,用柱色层族组成分离方法, 对小麦和苜蓿根际土中的有机物采用了气相色谱-质谱联用(GC-MS)分析测定.对分离出的极性和弱极性馏分分析结果表明:种植不同农作物的土壤中生物标志化合物分布特征差异很大.小麦根际土壤中主要分布的是C₁₀-C₃₂脂肪酸;苜蓿根际土壤中主要分布的是C₁₀-C₃₀脂肪酸;小麦根际土壤中活性物质十六烯酸、亚油酸和顺反油酸等不饱和脂肪酸在苜蓿上未检出;小麦根际土壤中有机质演化程度及降解程度均大于苜蓿根际土壤.在低演化状况下,根际土中生物标志化合物的分布特征能够很好地反映根系分泌物的特点.芳烃的甲基菲指数MPI值是判识土壤有机质演化和降解程度的良好参数.     

科尔沁沙地奈曼地区地下水水质时空变化特征

区域地下水水质是水质评价的重要内容,也是合理制定地下水开发利用及保护治理方案的基本前提。以科尔沁沙地奈曼地区地下水水质为研究对象,选取2005-2014年地下水水质监测数据,分析地下水水质时空变化特征。结果表明：近10年来奈曼地区地下水水质各指标均值均低于地下水Ⅱ类标准,pH值、NO₃^-含量、化学需氧量（COD_cr）在局部地区出现超标现象,但水质总体较好;该地区地下水矿化度（TDS）与Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺、Na⁺、HCO₃^-、SO₄²⁺浓度及COD_cr具有明显的正相关关系,即随着Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺、Na⁺、HCO₃^-、SO₄²⁺、COD_cr浓度的增加,TDS也会增加;各主要指标浓度随时间呈下降趋势,SO₄²⁺、Na⁺、HCO₃^-浓度及TDS较稳定,而Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺、Cl^-、PO₄^3-浓度及COD_cr随时间变化较为明显;Ca²⁺、Mg²⁺ 、HCO₃^-、SO₄²⁺浓度及TDS农田非灌溉井> 农田灌溉井> 沙地水位井,Na⁺、COD_cr浓度沙地水位井> 农田非灌溉井> 农田灌溉井,NO₃^-浓度沙地水位井> 农田灌溉井> 农田非灌溉井;该地区地下水水质变化主要与碳酸盐岩溶解、农药化肥的使用、工业及生活污水排放有关。     

甘肃省武威市大气降水特征及水汽来源

对2013年4月至2014年7月甘肃省武威市降水事件中常量离子进行测定,运用相关分析、富集因子分析、因子分析和HYSPLIT后向轨迹分析对常量离子的化学特征进行分析。结果表明：武威市降水pH值的变化范围为6.69～8.84,加权平均降水pH值为7.56;降水电导率的分布范围为33.9～1 011 μS·cm^-1,加权平均降水电导率为191.07 μS·cm^-1;降水中离子浓度SO₄^2- > Ca²⁺ > NO₃^- > Na⁺ > Cl^- > K⁺ > Mg²⁺ > NH₄⁺ > F^-。SO₄^2-、Ca²⁺、NO₃^-、Cl^-和Na⁺浓度占总离子浓度的92.14%;阴阳离子浓度随季节变化均表现出显著的波动,Na⁺、Ca²⁺、NH₄⁺均在春季出现最大值,K⁺、Mg²⁺、F^-、Cl^-、NO₃^-和SO₄^2-均在冬季出现最大值。人类活动产生的污染对武威市降水离子浓度有很大影响,特别是工农业生产以及人类活动排放SO₂、NO_x以及氯化物等污染物。据水汽通量、流线分布和后向轨迹将武威市的降水划分为西风源降水和混合源降水（受季风和西风共同影响）。     

3种耐盐植物的根际微环境比较

研究了兰州市永登县秦王川灌区中型狼尾草（Pennisetum longissimum var. intermedium）、新疆大叶苜蓿（Medicago sativa）和皮燕麦（Avena sativa）对盐渍土的适应特点及其改盐效应。通过对3种植物不同生育期（播后90 d、120 d、150 d）根际土壤pH值、导电率（EC）、盐分离子及有机质含量的测定,探讨盐渍化土壤影响下耐盐植物根际微环境的变化。结果显示：在盐渍化逆境下,3种植物对于根际土壤微环境均有一定调节作用,生育期内土壤pH值、EC值、Na⁺、SO₄^2-、Cl^-和Ca²⁺含量逐渐降低,土壤有机质含量逐渐增加。新疆大叶苜蓿根际土壤pH值变化较为突出,其次是中型狼尾草和皮燕麦,播后150 d较播前降幅分别为2.18%、2.06%、1.21%;中型狼尾草根际土壤EC值降幅最大,其次为新疆大叶苜蓿和皮燕麦,播后150 d较播前降幅分别为42.69%、33.29%、28.33%;在3个取样期,中型狼尾草根际土壤Na⁺、SO₄^2-、Cl^-含量变化幅度最大,新疆大叶苜蓿对Ca²⁺的吸收能力强于中型狼尾草和皮燕麦;中型狼尾草在生长期内根际土壤有机质含量持续增加,新疆大叶苜蓿在生长前期有机质增量较显著,生长中后期增量减缓,根际微环境变化趋于稳定。综合而言,中型狼尾草对盐渍土的适应及改良效应较突出,其次是新疆大叶苜蓿,再次是皮燕麦。     

武威市降水pH值和电导率对沙尘天气的指示意义

对武威市2013年7月至2014年6月收集的降水样品pH值、电导率和主要阴阳离子浓度进行测定和分析。结果表明：（1）降水样品的pH值6.69～8.84,平均值7.52。降水样品电导率33.9～766 μS·cm^-1,平均182.07 μS·cm^-1。（2）电导率冬季 >春季 >夏季 >秋季,pH值春季 >夏季 >秋季 >冬季。pH值与电导率呈显著的负相关,与风速呈正相关;电导率与降水量呈显著的负相关,与风速呈显著的负相关。（3）pH值和电导率都会随着沙尘事件的发生表现出增加的趋势。当沙尘事件发生的情况下,Na⁺、K⁺、Mg²⁺、Ca²⁺、SO₄^2-、Cl^-和NO₃⁺的离子浓度都呈现增加的趋势,但从各离子浓度变化幅度对沙尘事件的响应来看,Na⁺、K⁺和NO₃^-对沙尘天气比较敏感,反应强烈。     

甘肃石油河流域地下水补给来源与演化特征分析

针对石油河流域所包含的赤金盆地与花海盆地,综合利用地下水水化学指标与稳定同位素技术系统地研究了地下水的补给来源与演化规律。其中赤金盆地地下水化学演化受控于溶滤作用,方解石、白云石、石膏等不断地溶解进入低矿化度的地下水中导致Mg²⁺+Ca²⁺与HCO₃^-+SO₄^2-沿1∶1等量线分布;而花海盆地高矿化度地下水中的Na⁺与SO₄^2-、Na⁺与Cl^-均有较好线性关系且多数矿物饱和指数>1,表明芒硝溶解控制了地下水中主要离子成分且地下水演化过程转由蒸发浓缩作用主导。赤金、花海盆地地下水氢氧同位素沿祁连山大气降水线分布或于右下方,二者特征相似,但后者更为富集重同位素,反映研究区地下水主要补给来源为祁连山大气降水或石油河河水;此外,两盆地间水力联系紧密,前者补给后者,因此在水资源开发利用时应将两盆地作为整体进行统筹管理,避免不合理开采造成环境地质问题。     

中国内陆干旱、半干旱区苦咸水分布特征

通过大量野外调查、水样采集和化验分析,对中国内陆干旱、半干旱区的苦咸水和高氟水分布特征进行了初步研究。采集到的地表和地下水样中,分别有51.0%和41.5%属于苦咸水;55%和59%水样氟化物含量超标,属于高氟水。研究区的苦咸水以Cl^--Na⁺和HCO₃^--Na⁺为主要离子类型,SO₄^2--Mg²⁺和SO₄^2--Ca²⁺为次要离子类型。苦咸水和高氟水主要分布在内陆河流域下游尾闾、封闭内流区低洼湖盆低地、北部准平原化干燥剥蚀低山残丘间冲积洼地、沙漠低洼湖盆和黄土高原中西部径流系数较小的河流及部分露头潜水等区域,并具有区域富集性分布特点。季节性降水、季节性河流或渠系灌溉对苦咸水的季节性或年际间变化和空间分布有较大影响。较高浓度基质含盐量、水文地质结构、气候条件和特定的水文地球化学环境是苦咸水和高氟水形成与富集分布的主要原因。     

不同种植方式下丁香酚对2种作物根系形态的影响

通过盆栽试验,研究浓度为300×10^-6 mol·kg^-1的丁香酚对小麦（Triticum aestivum）间作蚕豆（Vicia faba）、单作小麦和单作蚕豆根系形态的影响,以期探讨通过间作弱化化感抑制作用的可能性和机理,为间作群体的化感物质调控提供理论依据。结果表明：丁香酚对单作小麦和间作蚕豆单株根鲜重、干重、根长都有抑制效应,但对间作小麦和单作蚕豆的单株根鲜重、干重、单株根长有促进效应。具体表现在间作复合群体中,经丁香酚处理后,小麦的单株根鲜重、干重、体积以及根长较单作有明显的增加,同时单株蚕豆根鲜重、干重、体积以及根长较单作显著减少,说明小麦间作蚕豆能有效缓解小麦根际丁香酚的累积,同时产生它感作用,对蚕豆根系生长产生明显的抑制效应。     

祁连山西段草地土壤氮矿化及影响因子的关系研究

以祁连山西段草地土壤氮为研究对象,采用PVC管野外培养法,测定分析土壤氮及其理化指标,计算氮矿化量、矿化速率,分析引起土壤氮矿化的主要环境变量。结果表明：（1） 全氮、pH值在海拔上均差异显著（P<0.05）,有机质差异不显著（P>0.05）, NH⁺ ₄-N在2 700 m、2 800 m、2 850 m、2 900 m、3 000 m、3 050 m差异显著（P<0.05）,其他海拔差异不显著（P>0.05）,NO₃^--N在海拔上差异显著（P<0.05）。（2） 野外培养能促进土壤氮矿化,矿化速率在海拔上遵循二次多项式。（3） 土壤理化指标对土壤氮矿化速率影响大小依次为：pH值 > K > NH₄⁺-N>全氮>水分>温度>容重,土壤氮矿化速率与全氮、K、pH值、NH₄⁺-N、水分之间均有较显著的相关性（P<0.05）,与全氮、K、NH₄⁺-N、水分之间有二次多项式显著相关性,与pH值有显著的线型正相关,容重有对数正相关,土温有幂函数正相关,后两者相关性不强。（4） 通过研究发现能促进土壤氮矿化各变量因子的赋值范围为：pH值（7.2～8.4）、水分（21.8%～33.27%）、土温（4.41～8.91 ℃）。     

短时间高强度旅游活动下洞穴CO2的变化特征及对滴水水文地球化学的响应

洞穴高强度旅游活动产生的CO₂对洞穴滴水水文地球化学及洞穴沉积物沉积具有重要影响。本文于2017年9月30日-10月9日对贵州绥阳大风洞洞穴CO₂、温度、相对湿度、游客数量及洞穴滴水水化学指标等进行连续监测,运用系统分析方法对各要素进行综合分析。结果发现：① 受游客数量和洞穴通风效应等因素影响,洞穴空气CO₂分压（PCO_2（A））在时间序列上呈现明显的昼夜变化和日际变化,表现为白昼高、夜间低,游客多的天数高,游客少的天数低。在空间变化上,由于通风程度和洞腔体积不同,不同监测点PCO_2（A）存在明显差异,由洞内深处至洞口分别为3#（神泉玉露）>1#（时光隧道）>2#（夜明珠）;② 通过比较PCO_2（A）和滴水水温,前者对CO₂溶解度影响比后者更为显著,表明PCO_2（A）是洞穴沉积过程中最重要的驱动因素之一;③ 洞穴滴水水温、滴水PCO₂分压（PCO_2（W））与PCO_2（A）变化趋势大体一致,也呈现出明显的昼夜变化和日际变化。pH、SIc和HCO₃^-变化趋势大体上与PCO_2（A）相反,EC和Ca²⁺则无明显的昼夜变化,但存在一定的日际变化。随着旅游活动强度的增加,滴水水化学变化幅度逐渐增大。此外,不同滴水点所在洞腔结构、大小、封闭程度等不同,使PCO_2（A）的扩散和通风程度存在差异,进而影响洞穴滴水水化学组分和洞穴沉积物沉积状况。因此,本研究对于洞穴环境保护和管理及其岩溶洞穴碳循环的研究具有重要意义。     

Variability in biomarkers of different saline basins in China

42 samples (sediments and crude oils) from 5 different saline/hypersaline basins of China were examined using variety of geochemical techniques. A pronounced even over odd distribution ofn-alkanes is observed for the Ejinur, Jianghan samples. Abundance of isoprenoid alkanes, dominated by phytane (C₂₀ up to 20 per cent in EOM), and C₂₅ and C₃₀ components is another outstanding feature of these studied lacustrine hypersaline settings, indicating important contributuions from archaebacteria. Gammacerane is a major component of some Eocene Jiangham samples and Cretaceous Taian sediments. Absolute concentration of phytane and gammacerane appears to be linearly related to chlorine and residual (reduced) sulfur contents of sediments from Jianghan basin, suggesting sulfur incoporation might have played an important role in the enhacement of these biomarkers in the anoxic hypersaline, alkaline settings. Wide range of organic sulfur compounds in immature samples of Jianghan Basin reflects a significant pathway for sulfur incorporation under hypersaline, extremely anoxic/reducing conditions, although for some structures a direct origin from some sulfur archaebacteria can not be excluded. Brackish salt marsh sediment and oil from Lenghu depression contain abundant lupane, strong OEP inn-alkane series, and predominance of C₂₉ steranes, suggesting a markedly input from vascular higher plants. The marginal marine evaporate sediments from the hypersaline Triassic Yangtze Platform is unique for its predominant, complete series of isoprenoid alkanes up to C₃₆ (abundant) and C₄₀ (trace). These long-chain isoprenoids are probably derived from phytoplanktons in addition to archaebacteria. The marked difference in biomarker distributions from the various suites of samples support that application of these biomarkers to help effectively characterize different saline basins. The molecular variation is, however, not only due to their discrepancy in biological sources, but also the extension of sulfate reduction and the availability of metal ions during early diagenesis.     

Geochemical Characteristics of Oil from Oligocene Lower Ganchaigou Formation Oil Sand in Northern Qaidam Basin,China

Oil from the Oligocene oil sands of the Lower Ganchaigou Formation in the Northern Qaidam Basin and the related asphaltenes was analyzed using bulk and organic geochemical methods to assess the organic matter source input, thermal maturity, paleo-environmental conditions, kerogen type, hydrocarbon quality, and the correlation between this oil and its potential source rock in the basin. The extracted oil samples are characterized by very high contents of saturated hydrocarbons (average 62.76%), low contents of aromatic hydrocarbons (average 16.11%), and moderate amounts of nitrogen–sulfur–oxygen or resin compounds (average 21.57%), suggesting that the fluid petroleum extracted from the Oligocene oil sands is of high quality. However, a variety of biomarker parameters obtained from the hydrocarbon fractions (saturated and aromatic) indicate that the extracted oil was generated from source rocks with a wide range of thermal maturity conditions, ranging from the early to peak oil window stages, which are generally consistent with the biomarker maturity parameters, vitrinite reflectance (approximately 0.6%), and T_max values of the Middle Jurassic carbonaceous mudstones and organic-rich mudstone source rocks of the Dameigou Formation, as reported in the literature. These findings suggest that the studied oil is derived from Dameigou Formation source rocks. Furthermore, the source- and environment-related biomarker parameters of the studied oil are characterized by relatively high pristane/phytane ratios, the presence of tricyclic terpanes, low abundances of C₂₇ regular steranes, low C₂₇/C₂₉ regular sterane ratios, and very low sterane/hopane ratios. These data suggest that the oil was generated from source rocks containing plankton/land plant matter that was mainly deposited in a lacustrine environment and preserved under sub-oxic to oxic conditions, and the data also indicate a potential relationship between the studied oil and the associated potential source rocks. The distribution of pristane, phytane, tricyclic terpanes, regular steranes and hopane shows an affinity with the studied Oligocene Lower Ganchaigou Formation oil to previously published Dameigou Formation source rocks. In support of this finding, the pyrolysis–gas chromatography results of the analyzed oil asphaltene indicate that the oil was primarily derived from type II organic matter, which is also consistent with the organic matter of the Middle Jurassic source rocks. Thus, the Middle Jurassic carbonaceous mudstones and organic rock mudstones of the Dameigou Formation could be significantly contributing source rocks to the Oligocene Lower Ganchaigou Formation oil sand and other oil reservoirs in the Northern Qaidam Basin.

     

Biomarker evidence of macrophyte and plankton community changes in Zeekoevlei,a shallow lake in South Africa

Zeekoevlei is the largest freshwater lake in South Africa and has a century-long history of anthropogenic impact that caused hyper-eutrophic conditions. We used biomarkers (alkanes and pigments), stable isotopes (δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N), rates of primary palaeoproduction and total inorganic carbon (TIC) accumulation rates in the lake sediments to investigate changes in plankton and macrophyte communities in response to anthropogenic activities in this shallow lake. Specific alkanes (ΣC_15,17,19, pristane, phytane and n-C₂₉/n-C₁₇ ratio) and pigment (chlorophyll a, β,β-carotene, echinenone, fucoxanthin and zeaxanthin) concentrations in lake waters indicated the present-day hyper-eutrophic condition and seasonal fluctuations of cyanobacteria, zooplankton and diatom populations. Eutrophic conditions were initiated in the lake with the start of recreational activities and construction of a sewage treatment plant in the early 1920s. The lake transformed from a eutrophic to a hyper-eutrophic waterbody following damming, pondweed eradication and accelerated catchment-derived nutrient input. The change in lake trophic state was recorded by a sharp decline in the terrestrial to aquatic ratio (TAR) of specific n-alkanes, low carbon preference index (CPI) and increased δ¹³C values in the sediment core. In addition, the aquatic macrophyte n-alkane proxy (P_aq) values (~1) indicated a slow takeover by floating macrophytes after the eradication of submerged pondweeds in 1951. Elevated n-alkane (ΣC_15,17,19), total alkane and pigment (chlorophyll a, β,β-carotene, zeaxanthin and zeaxanthin to β,β-carotene ratio) concentrations, low δ¹⁵N values and low TIC accumulation rates in the upper middle section of the core indicated the beginning of intense cyanobacterial blooms after the dredging in 1983. Although the cyanobacterial population has decreased in recent years, hyper-eutrophic conditions are reflected by low CPI <0.04 and TAR <1 values at the top of the sediment core.     

Biomarker-based paleo-record of environmental change for an eutrophic,tropical freshwater lake,Lake Valencia,Venezuela

The lipids in a sediment core from Lake Valencia, a hypereutrophic freshwater lake in Venezuela, are examined to understand environmental changes over the last ∼13,000 years. From the latest Pleistocene to the earliest Holocene, total organic carbon (TOC) substantially increased from 2.2 to 10%, while total organic carbon over total nitrogen (TOC/TN) decreased from as high as 34 to as low as 10. Correspondingly, the concentration of terrestrially derived triterpenoids markedly decreased, and the dominant n-alkane shifted from C₃₁ to C₂₃ or C₂₅. During the same period, algal biomarkers such as botryococcenes, dinosterol, isoarborinol, C₂₀ HBIs and 1,15C₃₂ keto-ol markedly increased in abundance. These changes suggested a greater contribution of algal organic matter at the onset of the Holocene, which was concurrent with increasing rainfall and the formation of a permanent lake (Lake Valencia) in the Aragua Valley, Venezuela. The age profile of Paq, a n-alkane based proxy, showed large oscillations (0.20–0.81), reflecting historical variations in source strength of submerged/floating vs. terrestrial/emergent OM inputs. An abrupt increase in tetrahymanol abundance at ∼7,260 cal years BP suggests the establishment of an oxic–anoxic boundary in the lake’s water column. After reaching its maximum abundance at ∼2,100 cal year BP, botryococcenes, a biomarker of Botryococcus braunii, gradually decreased to below the detection limit in the uppermost sediments, while different algal/microbial biomarkers such as diploptene, dinosterol and isoarborinol substantially increased. These different historical profiles of algal/microbial biomarkers reflect different responses of source organisms to environmental changes throughout this period. The δ¹³C determinations presented exceptionally enriched values for botryococcene isomers (−7.7 to −15.1‰), indicating the utilization of bicarbonate as carbon sources in an extremely productive ecosystem.     

Biomarker and compound-specific δ<Superscript>13</Superscript>C evidence for changing environmental conditions and carbon limitation at Lake Koucha,eastern Tibetan Plateau

A sediment core from Lake Koucha (eastern Tibetan Plateau) was investigated using organic biomarkers and their stable carbon isotope signatures. The correlation between TOC content, total amount of aquatic macrophyte-derived n-alkanes (e.g. nC₂₃) and δ¹³C values of TOC and nC₂₃ indicates that Lake Koucha was macrophyte-dominated before 8 cal ka BP. Shortly after the lake turned from a saline to a freshwater system at 7.2 cal ka BP, a variety of algal and bacterial markers such as hopanoids and isoprenoids emerged, of which phytane, pentamethylicosene (PMI), moretene and diploptene are particularly abundant. Phytane and PMI show different isotopic signals (≈−18 and ≈−28‰, respectively), which indicates that they originated from different sources. Phytane may have been derived from cyanobacteria, while methanogenic archaea may be the source of PMI. The isotopic depletion of diploptene and moretene (≈−60‰) indicates the presence of methanotrophs. After 6.1 cal ka BP, the saturated C₂₀ highly branched isoprenoid (HBI) became the dominant constituent of the aliphatic hydrocarbon fraction. Such dominance has rarely been reported in lacustrine environments, and indicates a strong presence of algae (most likely diatoms) or cyanobacteria. At 4.7 cal ka BP, the appearance of an unsaturated C₂₅ HBI, which is a specific biomarker for diatoms, was noted. Furthermore, the level of nC₁₇-alkane was observed to increase in abundance in the uppermost two samples. These results suggest that the lake was phytoplankton-dominated during the last 6.1 ka. Relatively low biomarker concentrations and δ¹³C values at 6.0, 3.1 and 1.8 cal ka BP indicate the occurrence of cool periods, which is in agreement with inferences from other locations on the Tibetan Plateau. The δ¹³C values of nC₂₃ range from −23.5 to −12.6‰, with high values at the peak of macrophyte abundance at ca. 11 cal ka BP and at the phytoplankton maximum between ca 6.1 and 2.8 cal ka BP. Thus, aquatic macrophyte-derived mid-chain n-alkanes have been found to be excellent indicators of carbon-limiting conditions, which lead to the assimilation of isotopically-enriched carbon species. The limitation of carbon sources could be a localized phenomenon occurring in dense plant stands (as in the older section of the core), or it may be induced by high primary productivity (as in the younger section). Since the δ¹³C value of the inorganic carbon source may vary, the offset between the δ¹³C values of nC₂₃ and TIC could serve as a more precise proxy for carbon-limiting conditions in lacustrine environments, which could in turn be interpreted with respect to lacustrine paleo-productivity.     

Direct application of compound-specific radiocarbon analysis of leaf waxes to establish lacustrine sediment chronology

This study demonstrates use of compound-specific radiocarbon analysis (CSRA) for dating Holocene lacustrine sediments from carbonate-hosted Ordy Pond, O‘ahu, Hawai‘i. Long-chain odd-numbered normal alkanes (n-alkanes), biomarkers characteristic of terrestrial higher plants, were ubiquitous in Ordy Pond sediments. The δ¹³C of individual n-alkanes ranged from −29.9 to −25.5‰, within the expected range for n-alkanes synthesized by land plants using the C₃ or C₄ carbon fixation pathway. The ¹⁴C ages of n-alkanes determined by CSRA showed remarkably good agreement with ¹⁴C dates of rare plant macrofossils obtained from nearby sedimentary horizons. In general, CSRA of n-alkanes successfully refined the age-control of the sediments. The sum of n-alkanes in each sample produced 70–170 μg of carbon (C), however, greater age errors were confirmed for samples containing less than 80 μg of C. The ¹⁴C age of n-alkanes from one particular sedimentary horizon was 4,155 years older than the value expected from the refined age-control, resulting in an apparent and arguable age discrepancy. Several lines of evidence suggest that this particular sample was contaminated by introduction of ¹⁴C-free C during preparative capillary gas chromatography. This study simultaneously highlighted the promising potential of CSRA for paleo-applications and the risks of contamination associated with micro-scale ¹⁴C measurement of individual organic compounds.     

A roughness-corrected index of relative bed stability for regional stream surveys

Quantitative regional assessments of streambed sedimentation and its likely causes are hampered because field investigations typically lack the requisite sample size, measurements, or precision for sound geomorphic and statistical interpretation. We adapted an index of relative bed stability (RBS) for data calculated from a national stream survey field protocol to enable general evaluation of bed stability and anthropogenic sedimentation in synoptic ecological surveys. RBS is the ratio of bed surface geometric mean particle diameter (D_gm) divided by estimated critical diameter (D_cbf) at bankfull flow, based on a modified Shield's criterion for incipient motion. Application of RBS to adequately depict bed stability in complex natural streams, however, has been limited because typical calculations of RBS do not explicitly account for reductions in bed shear stress that result from channel form roughness. We modified the index (RBS) to incorporate the reduction in bed shear stress available for sediment transport that results from the hydraulic resistance of large wood and longitudinal irregularities in channel dimensions (“form roughness”). Based on dimensional analysis, we derived an adjustment to bankfull shear stress by multiplying the bankfull hydraulic radius (R_bf) by the one-third power of the ratio of particle-derived resistance to total hydraulic resistance (C_p/C_t)^1/3, where both resistances are empirically based calculations. We computed C_p using a Keulegan equation relating resistance to relative submergence of bed particles. We then derived an empirical equation to predict reach-scale hydraulic resistance C_t from thalweg mean depth, thalweg mean residual depth, and large wood volume based on field dye transit studies, in which total hydraulic resistance C_t was measured over a wide range of natural stream channel complexity, including manipulation of large wood volumes. We tested our estimates of C_t and RBS by applying them to data from a summer low flow probability sample of 104 wadeable stream reaches in the Coastal Ecoregion of Oregon and Washington, USA. Stream discharges calculated using these C_t estimates compared favorably with velocity–area measurements of discharge during summer low flow, and with the range of 1 to 2-year recurrence floods (scaled by drainage area) at U.S.Geological Survey gauged sites in the same region. Log [RBS] ranged from − 4.2 to + 0.98 in the survey region. D_gm ranged from silt to boulders, while estimated bankfull critical diameter, D_cbf, ranged from very fine gravel to large boulders. The median value of D_cbf (adjusted for form roughness influences) averaged 40% (inter quartile range 28 to 59%) of the unadjusted estimate D_cbf. Log[RBS] was consistently negatively related to human disturbances likely to produce excess sediment inputs or hydrologic alteration. Log [RBS] ranged from − 1.9 to + 0.5 in the streams within the lower quartile of human disturbance in their basin and riparian areas and was substantially lower (− 4.2 to − 1.1) in streams within the upper quartile of human disturbance. The synoptic survey methods and designs we used appear adequate to evaluate regional patterns in bed stability and sedimentation and their general relationship to human disturbances. Although the RBS concept also shows promise for evaluating sediment and bed stability in individual streams, our approach is relatively coarse, so site-specific assessments using these rapid field methods might prudently be confined to identifying severe cases of sedimentation or channel alteration. Greater confidence to discern subtle differences in site-specific assessments could be gained by calculating RBS using more precise field measurements of channel slope, bed particle size and bankfull dimensions, and by refining our adjustments for energy loss from channel form roughness.     

Occurrence and environmental significance of long-chain alkenones in Tibetan Zabuye Salt Lake, S.W. China

Long-chain alkenones, a group of sensitive organic molecular indicators of water temperature, have been rather extensively studied in marine environments. However they have never been systematically examined in lacustrine environments, despite reports of their occurrence in lake sediments. Here, we report on a recent study of long-chain alkenones in a sedimentary core from a high altitude (≈5400 m) salt lake, Zabuye Salt Lake (ZSL), Tibet. This is a critical location for global climate studies, especially of the atmospheric circulation of the North Hemisphere. C₃₇−C₃₉ methyl and/or ethyl alkenones, usually dominated by components with tetra- and tri-double bounds, are commonly the major components of the polar fraction of the extracted organic matter from most sections. Down-core (vertical) variation of alkenone indices, the measure of molecular unsaturation, is compared primarily with other environmental signals, including lithology, elemental and mineral compositions, and stable carbon isotopes of hydrocarbon biomarkers of this core. Down-core profiles of alkenone climatic indices (U ₃₇ ^k and U ₃₈ ^k ) suggest ZSL had two warm periods, one during ≈20–30 ka (≈Jabula Interglacial Optimum) and another at 8–5 ka (Middle Holocene Optimum), and a severe cold period from ≈18–11 ka (Last Glacial Maximum). The proposed warmer intervals are generally characterized by higher contents of carbonate, organic carbon, alkenones and heavier δ¹³C values ofn-alkanes.     

西江河口段溶解无机碳稳定同位素组成的时空变化

For researching the spatio-temporal variation of the stable isotopic composition of the riverine dissolved inorganic carbon（DIC）,we had carried out a survey throughout the hydrologic year during which theδ^13CDIC of the surface water and its physicochemical parameter were examined along the Xijiang River Inner Estuarine waterway from September 2006 to June 2007.There was a striking seasonal variation on the averageδ^13CDIC,as the averageδ^13CDIC in summer（-13.91‰）or autumn（-13.09‰）was much less than those in spring（-11.71‰）or winter（-12.26‰）.The riverineδ13C DIC was controlled by decomposed condition of the riverine organic matter linking the seasonal variation of the physicochemical parameter in the surface water according to the correlation analysis which indicated notable relations betweenδ^13CDIC and water temperature（p=0.000;r=-0.569）or betweenδ^13CDIC and oxide-reduction potential（p=0.000;r=0.646）.The striking positive correlation between δ^13CDIC and the sampling distance happened in the summer rainy season,while striking negative correlation happened in the spring dry season,indicating that river-sea interaction influenced water physicochemical parameters and controlled the riverine DIC property in the survey waterway.In view of the riverineδ^13CDIC decreasing for the decomposition of the terrestrial organic matter in the rainy season in summer and increasing for the briny invaded zone extending in the spring dry season along the waterway from the Makou gauging station to the Modaomen outlet,theδ^13CDIC spatio-temporal variation was closely related to the geographical environment of the Xijiang drainage basin.