Nitrogen isotopic studies in the suboxic Arabian Sea

Measurements of¹⁵N/¹⁴N in dissolved molecular nitrogen (N₂), nitrate (NO ₃ ⁻ ) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) and¹⁸O/¹⁶O in N₂O [expressed as δ¹⁵N and δ¹⁸O, relative to atmospheric N₂ and oxygen (O₂), respectively] have been made in water column at several locations in the Arabian Sea, a region with one of the thickest and most intense O₂ minima observed in the open ocean. Microbially-mediated reduction of NO ₃ ⁻ to N₂ (denitrification) in the oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) appears to greatly affect the natural isotopic abundances. The δ¹⁵N of NO ₃ ⁻ increases from 6‰ in deep waters (2500 m) to 15‰ within the core of the denitrifying layer (250–350 m); the δ¹⁵N of N₂ concurrently decreases from 0.6‰ to 0.20‰ Values of the isotopic fractionation factor (ε) during denitrification estimated using simple advection-reaction and diffusion-reaction models are 22‰ and 25‰, respectively. A strong decrease in δ¹⁵N of NO ₃ ⁻ is observed from ∼ 200m (> 11‰) to 80m (∼ 6‰); this is attributed to the input of isotopically light nitrogen through nitrogen fixation. Isotopic analysis of N₂O reveals extremely large enrichments of both¹⁵N and¹⁸O within the OMZ, presumably due to the preferential reduction of lighter N₂O to N₂. However, isotopically light N₂O is observed to accumulate in high concentrations above the OMZ indicating that the N₂O emitted to the atmosphere from this region cannot be very heavy. The isotope data from the intense upwelling zone off the southwest coast of India, where some of the highest concentrations of N₂O ever found at the sea surface are observed, show moderate depletion of¹⁵N, but slight enrichment of¹⁸O relative to air. These results suggest that the ocean-atmosphere exchange cannot counter inputs of heavier isotopes (particularly¹⁸O) associated with the stratospheric back flux, as proposed by previous workers. This calls for additional sources and/or sinks of N₂O in the atmosphere. Also, the N₂O isotope data cannot be explained by production through either nitrification or denitrification, suggesting a possible coupling between the two processes as an important mechanism of N₂O production.     

一株嗜碱兼性好氧反硝化菌Marinobacter sp.B3的分离鉴定及脱氮性能研究

为获得反硝化脱氮效率较好的菌株,实验从海水螺旋藻培养体系中分离获得一株嗜碱兼性好氧反硝化菌, 通过观察细菌形态以及16S rRNA基因序列的同源性分析, 鉴定该菌株为海杆菌属, 命名为Marinobacter sp. B3。为明确该海杆菌的反硝化性能及氮转化途径, 研究开展了溶解氧(DO), 碳氮摩尔比(C/N), pH和温度等不同单因素对反硝化性能影响实验和氮平衡实验。单因素影响实验结果表明, 当硝酸钾(KNO₃)作为唯一氮源, NO₃^--N的初始浓度为100 mg/L, 盐度32, 振荡速度为150 r/min (初始DO质量浓度是5.6 mg/L), C/N=10, pH=8.0±0.2, 温度为35 °C时, 可获得最大脱氮效果。氮平衡实验结果得出, 在好氧环境下, 有20.11%的NO₃^--N转化为胞内氮, 5.58 mg/L的NO₃^--N转化为其他形态(NO₂^--N、NO₄⁺-N和有机氮), 74.72%转化为N₂释放; 厌氧环境下, 有26.65%的NO₃^--N转化为胞内氮, 72.86%的NO₃^--N转化为气态产物释放。最终实验结果表明, Marinobactersp. B3在好氧和厌氧条件下, 48 h对NO₃^--N的去除率分别为99.89%和93.80%, 具有较好的反硝化脱氮能力, 且在好氧条件下NO₃^--N去除效率更高, 在海水工厂化循环水养殖尾水处理方面具有良好的应用前景。     

Natural Protection Against Groundwater Pollution by Nitrates in the Central Valley of Chile/Protection Naturelle Contre la Pollution des Eaux Souterraines par les Nitrates Dans la Vallée Centrale du Chili

Abstract

The Central Valley of Chile is a zone of intensive agricultural activity. Historically, in this zone, large amounts of fertilizers have been applied and low technological level irrigation methods have been used. Contrary to what might be expected, the existing aquifers in the Central Valley do not contain significant nitrate that could be associated with agricultural activity. This situation leads one to infer the existence of favourable conditions for the occurrence of natural attenuating processes such as denitrification. Favourable conditions may be related to the particular soil and climatic conditions, and/or the structure and dynamics of the existing aquifers.     

Denitrifying bacteria and hydrogeochemistry in a natural wetland adjacent to farmlands in Chiba,Japan

This study combined bacterial incubation and hydrogeochemical methods to investigate denitrification in the surface water, top soil (0–20 cm), and shallow groundwater of the Ochi wetland in Japan. Surface water was rich in nitrate (40 mg/l) and denitrifying bacteria (700 per ml). Three functional zones in the wetland were identified in the top soil and shallow groundwater. In the upstream portion of the wetland (Zone I), the counts of denitrifying bacteria in top soil increased from 5200 to 14 970 per ml and nitrate decreased from 25·4 to 1·8 mg/l. Organic carbon concentrations decreased as sulfate increased from 4·0 to 9·6 mg/l in this zone. In the middle‐stream of the wetland (Zone II), all concentrations of major anions, iron, organic carbon, and total nitrogen content in top soil were relatively constant, but the counts of denitrifying bacteria increased up to 70 200 per ml. In the downstream portion of the wetland (Zone III), complete removal of nitrate resulted in sharp reduction of counts of denitrifying bacteria. Correspondingly, dissolved oxygen (DO), organic carbon, and total nitrogen increased in this zone. Counts of denitrifying bacteria were lower in shallow groundwater than in top soil; nitrate concentrations in shallow groundwater were also very low in this zone. DO and the oxidation/reduction potential data suggest that groundwater flows to the surface along an extended flow path, thus providing nitrate for the denitrifying community. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

自组装膜进样质谱系统及其在砂质沉积物异化硝酸盐还原研究中的应用

沉积物中的异化硝酸盐还原过程对于海洋氮循环起着至关重要的作用。基于15N标记的培养技术是目前测定沉积物异化硝酸盐还原的主要手段。准确快速测定15N标记的产物(29N2、 30N2)是量化异化硝酸盐还原各个过程速率的关键。本研究自行组装膜进样质谱系统用于29N2和30N2的测定,对其测量条件进行了优化。结果表明,进样蠕动泵进样流速0.80 mL/min,进样时间3~3.5 min,恒温槽温度20~25℃,同时铜还原炉温度在300~600℃的条件下,^29N2/^28N2和^30N2/^28N2的测试精密度分别可以控制在0.1%和1%以内,比较适合29N2和30N2的测定。利用自组装的膜进样质谱系统结合15N标记的培养技术研究了青岛石老人沙滩沉积物中的异化硝酸盐还原过程。石老人沙滩沉积物不存在将硝酸盐完全还原为氮气好氧的反硝化。厌氧铵氧化、厌氧反硝化和异化硝酸盐还原为铵(Dissimilatory Nitrate Reduction to Ammonium,DNRA)的潜在速率(以湿沉积物N计)分别为(0.05±0.01) nmol/(cm^3·h),(2.32±0.21) nmol/(cm^3·h)和(1.02±0.15) nmol/(cm^3·h)。厌氧反硝化是硝酸盐异化还原主要的贡献者,其比例接近70%,其次是DNRA,比例可达30%,而厌氧铵氧化的贡献最低,仅为1%。在N2产生过程中,主要贡献者是反硝化,厌氧铵氧化的贡献仅为2%。     

Benthic metabolism and the fate of dissolved inorganic nitrogen in intertidal sediments

We determined patterns of benthic metabolism and examined the relative importance of denitrification (DNF) and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) as sinks for nitrate (NO₃⁻) in intertidal sediments in the presence and absence of benthic microalgal (BMA) activity. By influencing the activity of BMA, light regulated the metabolic status of the sediments, and, in turn, exerted strong control on sediment nitrogen dynamics and the fate of inorganic nitrogen. A pulsed addition of ¹⁵N-labeled NO₃⁻ tracked the effect and fate of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) in the system. Under illuminated conditions, BMA communities influenced benthic fluxes directly, via DIN uptake, and indirectly, by altering the oxygen penetration depth. Under dark hypoxic and anoxic conditions, the fate of water column NO₃⁻ was determined largely by three competing dissimilatory reductive processes; DNF, DNRA, and, on one occasion, anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox). Mass balance of the added ¹⁵N tracer illustrated that DNF accounted for a maximum of 48.2% of the ¹⁵NO₃⁻ reduced while DNRA (a minimum of 11.4%) and anammox (a minimum of 2.2%) accounted for much less. A slurry experiment was employed to further examine the partitioning between DNF and DNRA. High sulfide concentrations negatively impacted rates of both processes, while high DOC:NO₃⁻ ratios favored DNRA over DNF.     

Benthic fluxes in a tropical Estuary and their role in the ecosystem

In-situ measurements of benthic fluxes of oxygen and nutrients were made in the subtidal region of the Mandovi estuary during premonsoon and monsoon seasons to understand the role of sediment–water exchange processes in the estuarine ecosystem. The Mandovi estuary is a shallow, highly dynamic, macrotidal estuary which experiences marine condition in the premonsoon season and nearly fresh water condition in the monsoon season. The benthic flux of nutrients exhibited strong seasonality, being higher in the premonsoon compared to the monsoon season which explains the higher ecosystem productivity in the dry season in spite of negligible riverine nutrient input. NH₄⁺ was the major form of released N comprising 70–100% of DIN flux. The benthic respiration rate varied from −98.91 to −35.13 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹, NH₄⁺ flux from 5.15 to 0.836 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹, NO₃⁻ + NO₂⁻ from 0.06 to −1.06 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹, DIP from 0.12 to 0.23 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹ and SiO₄⁴⁻ from 5.78 to 0.41 mmol m⁻² d⁻¹ between premonsoon to monsoon period. The estuarine sediment acted as a net source of DIN in the premonsoon season, but changed to a net sink in the monsoon season. Variation in salinity seemed to control NH₄⁺ flux considerably. Macrofaunal activities, especially bioturbation, enhanced the fluxes 2–25 times. The estuarine sediment was observed to be a huge reservoir of NH₄⁺, PO₄³⁻ and SiO₄⁴⁻ and acted as a net sink of combined N because of the high rate of benthic denitrification as it could remove 22% of riverine DIN influx thereby protecting the eco system from eutrophication and consequent degradation. The estuarine sediment was responsible for ∼30–50% of the total community respiration in the estuary. The benthic supply of DIN, PO₄³⁻ and SiO₄⁴⁻ can potentially meet 49%, 25% and 55% of algal N, P and Si demand, respectively, in the estuary. Based on these observations we hypothesize that it is mainly benthic NH₄⁺ efflux that sustains high estuarine productivity in the NO₃⁻ depleted dry season.     

Denitrification in a hyporheic riparian zone controlled by river regulation in the Seine river basin (France)

The purpose of this paper is to study denitrification and the conditions for its development in a hyporheic zone. The study site is the riparian zone of a former branch of the Seine River, where the river stage is kept almost constant during the year by hydraulic regulation. Hydrological and geochemical surveys were performed by monitoring four wells, ten shorter piezometers and the river over a 15‐month period. The water fluxes originating from the chalky hillsides and the river converge in a zone parallel to the river that acts as a drainage flow path through the floodplain. The riparian zone between this flow path and the river shows an important depletion of nitrate during the summer and autumn period, which cannot be explained by a simple mixing of waters coming from the river and the chalky hillsides. It can be attributed to denitrification as it occurs when oxygen concentration is below 2 mg l^?1, and goes along with a consumption of dissolved organic carbon and a decrease of redox potential. The river completely controls these hydro‐geochemical conditions. It also keeps the wetness of the riparian zone almost constant, which allowed us to isolate the high temperatures in summer and autumn as an important triggering factor for denitrification through its influence on the reaction rate and oxygen deficits. We also found a small isotopic enrichment of nitrate, suggesting that denitrification occurs after diffusion of nitrate through the sediment and riparian zone matrix, which is consistent with the hyporheic functioning of the study site. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

南海深海氮循环微生物的原位培养与多样性分析

目的：探讨中焦宣痹汤对痛风性关节炎患者血清及关节滑膜液炎性因子水平的影响。方法：将90例痛风性关节炎患者随机分为2组，每组各45例。对照组采用依托考昔片治疗，治疗组在对照组治疗基础上加中焦宣痹汤治疗。对比2组综合疗效及血清、关节滑膜液炎性因子水平。结果：总有效率治疗组为95.56%，对照组为60.00%，组间比较，差异有统计学意义（P<0.05）；2组血清及关节组织滑膜液中各项炎性因子水平治疗前后组内比较及治疗后组间比较，差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05）。结论：中焦宣痹汤治疗痛风性关节炎可有效改善患者临床症状，降低血清及关节滑膜液炎性因子水平。