Field validation of antioxidant enzyme biomarkers in mussels (Perna viridis) and clams (Ruditapes philippinarum) transplanted in Hong Kong coastal waters

Green-lipped mussels, Perna viridis, and Manila clams, Ruditapes philippinarum were sourced from “clean” sites in the Hong Kong region, depurated in a laboratory using uncontaminated filtered seawater for 8 days, and transplanted to a suspected gradient of chemically polluted sites in Hong Kong. After 14- and 28-days of field exposure, several antioxidant parameters including glutathione S transferase (GST), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and glutathione (GSH) were quantified in gill and hepatopancreas tissues. Whole body tissue concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), petroleum hydrocarbons (PHCs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides (OCs) were determined in pooled site samples. Chemical analyses indicated that: (a) clams had higher levels of PAHs, PHCs, DDTs and PCBs, whereas mussels had higher hexachlorocyclohexane (HCHs) and there was no difference between species for dieldrin and remaining OCs; (b) Kat O should not be continued as a “clean” reference site for Hong Kong, because of the levels of contaminants measured and (c) PAH concentrations in the current survey were similar to those previously measured. Toxicological conclusions were: (a) antioxidant responses were different between species; (b) CAT and GST have highest utility in clams for field use in Hong Kong, whereas CAT in both gill and hepatopancreas tissue showed most potential in mussels; (c) significant induction of antioxidant responses over day 0 (excluding GPx in both tissues, and GST in mussel hepatic tissue); (d) groups of contaminants do not consistently induce antioxidant responses and (e) organochlorines and PCBs correlated significantly with CAT and GST in clam hepatopancreas and with CAT in mussel gill and hepatic tissue. Multivariate statistical techniques indicated little relationship between the site patterns for antioxidant responses and the contaminant gradients identified in body burden analysis.     

Shallow-level differentiation of phonolitic lavas from Sumaco Volcano,Ecuador

Sumaco Volcano is located in the rear-arc of Ecuador and produces phonolitic alkaline lavas hosting a unique assemblage of minerals including haüyne and titanaugite. The most mafic lavas are picrobasalts that contain titanaugite as the primary mineral phase; the most evolved tephri-phonolite lavas contain titanaugite?+?anorthoclase?+?haüyne. Titanaugite forms at middle to deep crustal pressures, whereas haüyne is only stable at shallow depths in highly oxidizing conditions. The Sumaco mineral assemblages and geochemistry indicate that fractionation of the titanaugite- and haüyne-bearing assemblage took place over a range of pressures from 5 to 25 kbar (14–75 km), with at least 50% of differentiation taking place at shallow crustal levels. Minerals record multiple cycles of recharge and mixing accompanied by an increase in fO₂ and sulfur concentration during differentiation. Mantle-like Sr and Nd isotope values (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.70406–0.70423; ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd = 0.512880–0.512913) indicate minimal crustal assimilation. Sumaco’s unique geochemical composition is not observed in the nearby volcanoes Antisana, Pan de Azucar or El Reventador suggesting that its unique magma source is confined to this volcano. The high temperature and sulfate-saturated conditions at shallow depths suggest that magma ascends rapidly to a shallow reservoir where the majority of crystallization and recharge takes place prior to eruption. An important conclusion of this research is that Sumaco does not represent typical rear-arc subduction processes, and caution should be used when using Sumaco as an end-member to evaluate across-arc processes in the Northern Volcanic Zone.     

Monitoring Controversial Environmental/Natural Resource Issues: Differential Effects of Telephone and Mail Surveys

Monitoring public opinion, especially about controversial environmental/natural resource issues, through various survey modes remains an important social science tool used by scholars, advocates, newspaper reporters, and policymakers alike. However, with this use there has been a concomitant decline in response rates. To address this problem, increased use of mixed modes of surveys has occurred. The degree to which results of different modes can be combined remains a basic question. Can findings be compared to assess changes in public views across time or differences among various regions when different modes of data collection are used? We addressed this question by assessing how two comparable samples of residents' responses to the same questions differed depending upon survey mode (telephone or mail) while controlling for sampling procedures and survey content.     

Water contents of clinopyroxenes from sub‐arc mantle peridotites

One poorly constrained reservoir of the Earth's water budget is that of clinopyroxene in metasomatised, mantle peridotites. This study presents reconnaissance Sensitive High‐Resolution, Ion Microprobe–Stable Isotope (SHRIMP–SI) determinations of the H₂O contents of (dominantly) clinopyroxenes in rare mantle xenoliths from four different subduction zones, i.e. Mexico, Kamchatka, Philippines, and New Britain (Tabar‐Feni island chain) as well as one intra‐plate setting (western Victoria). All of the sub‐arc xenoliths have been metasomatised and carry strong arc trace element signatures. Average measured H₂O contents of the pyroxenes range from 70 ppm to 510 ppm whereas calculated bulk H₂O contents range from 88 ppm to 3 737 ppm if the variable presence of amphibole is taken into account. In contrast, the intra‐plate, continental mantle xenolith from western Victoria has higher water contents (3 447 ppm) but was metasomatised by alkali and/or carbonatitic melts and does not carry a subduction‐related signature. Material similar to the sub‐arc peridotites can either be accreted to the base of the lithosphere or potentially be transported by convection deeper into the mantle where it will lose water due to amphibole breakdown.     

深圳湾海域多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)生物累积及其高分辨沉积记录

深圳湾，毗邻香港，是深圳经济特区的重要经济发展和生态调节区域。为了更好地了解该湾多溴联苯醚（PBDEs）的生物累积规律及其污染历史，作者采集该海域19个鱼、2个虾、2个蟹和柱状沉积物样品，分析其中PBDE的组分与含量，以及生物体的δ^15N同位素、总脂含量和柱状沉积物的沉积年龄（^210pb）、总有机碳（TOC）。结果表明，深圳湾海域鱼类∑15 PBDEs组分的残余量为21—167ng／g lw（或0．17—4．16ng／g fw），平均为（67±42）ng／g lw或（2．00±1．14）ng／g fw，其含量与生物体的δ^15N同位素和脂含量正相关，BDE-47、BDE-100为生物体中PBDE最优势组分且在所有生物样品中均检出，分别占46．5％、13．5％，肉食性的鱼类较植食性的鱼类PBDEs的生物累积总体上较高。柱状沉积物中∑22 PBDEs含量（0．07—4．85ng／g dw）近二十几年来有明显的上升趋势，平均沉积通量为0．25ng／（cm^2·a），丰度最高的PBDE组分为BDE-47、BDE-49、BDE-99、BDE-183（不包括BDE-209）；PBDEs在生物体和柱状沉积物中的含量位于全球PBDEs含量的中低端范围；鱼类等生物体中PBDE的生物-沉积物累积比值（BSAF）比值（〈0．8）较小，与相应的PBDE的log Kow（辛醇／水分配比）存在一定的正相关性。