Assessment of the background ecological state of water in the Chayvo Bay, northeastern Sakhalin

The results of studies of the hydrological and hydrochemical regimes carried out in 2001 in Chayvo Bay and microbiological analyses of the abundance of geterotrophic microorganisms belonging to ecological-trophic groups are given. Data on the concentrations of petroleum hydrocarbons, phenols, and metals (Fe, Pb, and Cd) in water and bottom sediments were collected. The obtained data were used to assess the water quality in the bay.     

Transformations of biogenic substances in Tatar Strait water (the Sea of Japan): Analysis of mathematical modeling results

The state of the marine environment (the temperature, light intensity, transparency, biogenic load) in Tatar Strait was assessed based on mean annual data from literary sources and with the use of GIS “Sakhalin Shelf.” The entire strait was divided into three regions (northern, southwestern, and southeastern), and water exchange between them for each month was estimated by using Bergen Oceanic Model. The information about the state of the marine environment and water exchange characteristics was used as input data for a hydroecological model, which enabled the assessment of annual variations of biogenic substance concentrations and biomasses of microorganisms (heterotrophic bacteria, three groups of phytoplankton, and two groups of zooplankton) in the strait regions chosen. The development conditions of microorganism biomasses within the year can be characterized by their activity indices (specific growth rates), the values of internal fluxes of biogenic substances, and calculated bioproductivity values. The calculated biogenic substance concentrations and phytoplankton bioproductivity values showed good agreement with the estimates for the Sea of Japan and Tatar Strait available from the literature.     

Specific features of water circulation and biogenic substance transformation and transport in Tatar Strait (Sea of Japan): Assessment based on the results of mathematical modeling

This study has no analogues in terms of methodology, as it uses three electronic instruments for studying the oceanographic regime of Tatar Strait. GIS “Sakhalin Shelf” was used to reconstruct annual variations in hydrological and hydrochemical characteristics of the marine environment at standard horizons of oceanographic stations in fixed geographic coordinates. An adapted version of the Oceanic Model created in Bergen University was used to reconstruct the spatial and temporal distribution of seawater temperature and salinity, to calculate the density and the circulation rate of water masses and water exchange parameters between the strait and nearby water areas and between regions within the strait. The hydroecological CNPSi-model was next used to assess the annual dynamics of concentrations of biogenic element compounds; the biomasses, biohydrochemical activity, and bioproductivity of microorganisms (heterotrophic bacteria, three phytoplankton and two zooplankton groups), involved in transformation of biogenic substances, as well as the internal fluxes of biogenic substances, governed by microorganism activity and the external load onto the marine ecosystem. Analysis of calculation results made it possible to reveal new features in water circulation in the strait (including those for winter) and, for the first time, to analyze the transport regime of biogenic substances through the external boundaries of Tatar Strait and through the boundaries of three regions identified within the strait.     

Bioestimation: A new method for the control of water self-purification process and its comparison with bioindication

A new line in the studies of water bodies is proposed: the assessment and correction of the process of biotic purification of water (biological treatment and self-purification). The proposed approach is based on a principally new hydrobiological method of monitoring and control of water quality formation process—bioestimation. The principal novelty of bioestimation is due to the fact that it controls not the quality of the aquatic medium, but the object that has not been controlled before—water purification process and organic matter transformations in the process of vital activity of saprotrophic bacteria. Three critical groups of factors were found to govern the activity of these bacteria: the dynamic characteristics of the aquatic environment; the load on destructors in terms of organic matter; and the impact of substances, which are atypical of natural water and most often are discharged in it with industrial wastes. A group of indicator microorganisms—bioestimators—is chosen for each group of factors. The population size of such estimators can be used to identify and next eliminate the disturbing factor. The bioestimators are not species but ecological groups of microorganisms, commonly inhabiting any waters, either salt or fresh. Bioestimation also helps to identify disturbances in water purification process even in the cases where analyses of aquatic environment quality do not signal alarm. The proposed method is described and its major distinctions from the well-known hydrobiological method (bioindication in its original, saprobiological meaning) are demonstrated.     

Multiplex PCR allows simultaneous detection of pathogens in ships' ballast water

There is enormous potential for global transfer of microorganisms, including pathogens, in ships' ballast water. We contend that a major advancement in the study of ballast-water microorganisms in particular, and of aquatic pathogens in general, will be expedited sample analysis, such as provided by the elegant technology of DNA microarrays. In order to use DNA microarrays, however, one must establish the appropriate conditions to bind target sequences in samples to multiple probes on the microarrays. We conducted proof-of-concept experiments to optimize simultaneous detection of multiple microorganisms using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Southern hybridization. We chose three target organisms, all potentially found in ballast water: a calicivirus, the bacterium Vibrio cholerae, and the photosynthetic protist Aureococcus anophagefferens. Here, we show simultaneous detection of multiple pathogens is possible, a result supporting the promising future use of microarrays for simultaneous detection of pathogens in ballast water.     

Umwelthygienisehe Aspekte der Freisetzung gentechnisch modifizierter Mikroorganismen

The water-hygienic aspects of the possibility of a release of microorganisms modified by genetic engineering are discussed on the basis of three examples: release of large amounts of bacterial spores into a drinking water protection zone for insect control etc., biotechnological nitrate elimination under anaerobic conditions in the drinking water treatment, protection of groundwater resources when the sewage-engineering deep-shaft biology is applied. In future, the biotechnology with microorganisms modified by genetic engineering (GEMs) will be increasingly applied in industry (pharmacy, foodstuff production), agriculture (pest control, plant preservation) and environmental protection (drinking water treatment, wastewater treatment, disposal site systems). Therefore, the monitoring of air, wastewater and production with respect to their content of GEMs or recombined DNA is a component of production hygiene in the sense of an environmental monitoring.     

An ecological and hydrochemical study of three springs in NE Iran with the emphasis on diatom diversity

Springs are complex and taxa rich ecosystems. Diatom assemblages have received very little attention in spring ecosystems in Iran; hence, the diatom assemblage in three selected springs in northeast Iran, were investigated using multivariate analysis together with hydro chemical measures. For this purpose, water and diatom samples collected during four seasons of 2019. Hydrochemistry results revealed that water-rock interaction is the most important factor in changing the water chemistry of studied springs and their waters produced from carbonate reservoir rocks (mainly calcite). As a result, Ca-HCO₃ is predominate water type in all three springs. In this study, 75 diatom taxa identified, from which 55 were included in the analysis. Cluster analysis based on diatoms relative abundance, clustered samples in two major groups and third small group. Results of the indicator species analysis for groups and DCA analysis were in the absolute conformity. Results revealed that the diatom assemblage dominated by combination of early colonizer taxa, spring indicator taxa and cosmopolitan taxa; most of them also reported from different spring types. The results also showed that the spring’s diatom composition influence by size and morphology of the springs.     

Geochemical features of rare-earth elements in surface and subsurface waters in the field of the Albynskoe Gold-Bearing Placer,Amur oblast

The distribution and fractionation of rare-earth elements (REE) are studied in the surface and subsurface waters and rocks of the Albynskoe Gold-Bearing Placer. The obtained data show the rocks of the placer to be enriched with rare-earth elements and to feature the predominance of light lanthanides over heavy ones. Groundwater show an equality between the groups of light and heavy lanthanides, while in the surface waters the concentration of light REE is much higher than that of heavy ones, thus reflecting the composition of the drained ore rocks. The leaching of rare-earth elements from rocks by atmospheric water is intensified by agents produced by microorganisms in their vital activity.     

Potential microbial bioinvasions via ships' ballast water, sediment, and biofilm

A prominent vector of aquatic invasive species to coastal regions is the discharge of water, sediments, and biofilm from ships' ballast-water tanks. During eight years of studying ships arriving to the lower Chesapeake Bay, we developed an understanding of the mechanisms by which invasive microorganisms might arrive to the region via ships. Within a given ship, habitats included ballast water, unpumpable water and sediment (collectively known as residuals), and biofilms formed on internal surfaces of ballast-water tanks. We sampled 69 vessels arriving from foreign and domestic ports, largely from Western Europe, the Mediterranean region, and the US East and Gulf coasts. All habitats contained bacteria and viruses. By extrapolating the measured concentration of a microbial metric to the estimated volume of ballast water, biofilm, or residual sediment and water within an average vessel, we calculated the potential total number of microorganisms contained by each habitat, thus creating a hierarchy of risk of delivery. The estimated concentration of microorganisms was greatest in ballast water>sediment and water residuals>biofilms. From these results, it is clear microorganisms may be transported within ships in a variety of ways. Using temperature tolerance as a measure of survivability and the temperature difference between ballast-water samples and the water into which the ballast water was discharged, we estimated 56% of microorganisms could survive in the lower Bay. Extrapolated delivery and survival of microorganisms to the Port of Hampton Roads in lower Chesapeake Bay shows on the order of 10(20) microorganisms (6.8 x 10(19) viruses and 3.9 x 10(18) bacteria cells) are discharged annually to the region.     

Distribution of the indigenous microorganisms and mechanisms of their orientational activation in Daqing Oilfield

The distribution of indigenous microorganisms was surveyed in Block 1 of Daqing Oilfield. Based on this survey, the indigenous microorganisms in the formation water were activated with different activator systems at the simulated stratum ecological environment. The changes of the number of bacteria of various physiological groups were determined during the process of activation. Also changes of pH value and composition of gas productions were analyzed at the end of culturing. The results showed that the selected block formation water contained a great number of saprophytic bacteria, hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria, fermentative bacteria, methane-producing bacteria and sulfate-reducing bacteria. Under the conditions that the growth of sulfate-reducing bacteria was controlled the block had the potential to enhance oil recovery by activating beneficial bacteria. The growth of sulfate-reducing bacteria can be inhibited through the activation of nitrate-reducing bacteria. The number of nitrate-reducing bacteria reached 10⁶–10⁷ cells/mL, but sulfate-reducing bacteria reached only 0–45 cells/mL in A system. Methane-producing bacteria can be activated by C, D activators. The relative content of biological methane in the light hydrocarbon gas reached 80% in C, D systems. B activator was conducive to the propagation of acid-producing bacteria, so that the pH value of the culture medium decreased from 7.5 to around 5.0. Hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria can be activated by various activator systems. There was low molecular light hydrocarbon in gas production according to the analysis of gas chromatograph. According to the content of methane and the number of methane-producing bacteria, methane only can be generated through activating methane-producing bacteria. By choosing different activator systems, various populations of indigenous microorganisms can be activated accordingly.

     

Distribution of the indigenous microorganisms and mechanisms of their orientational activation in Daqing Oilfield

The distribution of indigenous microorganisms was surveyed in Block 1 of Daqing Oilfield. Based on this survey, the indigenous microorganisms in the formation water were activated with different activator systems at the simulated stratum ecological environment. The changes of the number of bacteria of various physiological groups were determined during the process of activation. Also changes of pH value and composition of gas productions were analyzed at the end of culturing. The results showed that the selected block formation water contained a great number of saprophytic bacteria, hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria, fermentative bacteria, methane-producing bacteria and sulfate-reducing bacteria. Under the conditions that the growth of sulfate-reducing bacteria was controlled the block had the potential to enhance oil recovery by activating beneficial bacteria. The growth of sulfate-reducing bacteria can be inhibited through the activation of nitrate-reducing bacteria. The number of nitrate-reducing bacteria reached 10⁶–10⁷ cells/mL, but sulfate-reducing bacteria reached only 0–45 cells/mL in A system. Methane-producing bacteria can be activated by C, D activators. The relative content of biological methane in the light hydrocarbon gas reached 80% in C, D systems. B activator was conducive to the propagation of acid-producing bacteria, so that the pH value of the culture medium decreased from 7.5 to around 5.0. Hydrocarbon-oxidizing bacteria can be activated by various activator systems. There was low molecular light hydrocarbon in gas production according to the analysis of gas chromatograph. According to the content of methane and the number of methane-producing bacteria, methane only can be generated through activating methane-producing bacteria. By choosing different activator systems, various populations of indigenous microorganisms can be activated accordingly.     

Analysis of the mechanism and mathematical modeling of diethylhexylphthalate degradation in aquatic environment

Degradation mechanism of diethylhexylphthalate, a pollutant of water bodies, is analyzed. A modified first-order equation with a correction for a nondegradable fraction is suggested. The succession of biochemical reactions in the process of anaerobic degradation of monoethylhexylphthalate is considered, and two stages—ester hydrolysis and phthalic acid transformation into methane and carbon dioxide—are identified as limiting the overall rate. A one-dimensional distributed model is used to describe the degradation of three phthalates with different water solubility: diethylphthalate DEP, which has a relatively high solubility; dibutyl phthalate DBP, poorly soluble; and diethylhexylphthalate DEHP, almost insoluble. The physicochemical processes of sorption/desorption play an important role in the process of their degradation. The enzymatic splitting, carried out by microorganisms, reduces the concentration of dissolved diethylhexylphthalate and can facilitate desorption processes.     

Flow cytometry and conventional enumeration of microorganisms in ships' ballast water and marine samples

Conventional methods for bacteriological testing of water quality take long periods of time to complete. This makes them inappropriate for a shipping industry that is attempting to comply with the International Maritime Organization's anticipated regulations for ballast water discharge. Flow cytometry for the analysis of marine and ship's ballast water is a comparatively fast and accurate method. Compared to a 5% standard error for flow cytometry analysis the standard methods of culturing and epifluorescence analysis have errors of 2-58% and 10-30%, respectively. Also, unlike culturing methods, flow cytometry is capable of detecting both non-viable and viable but non-culturable microorganisms which can still pose health risks. The great variability in both cell concentrations and microbial content for the samples tested is an indication of the difficulties facing microbial monitoring programmes. The concentration of microorganisms in the ballast tank was generally lower than in local seawater. The proportion of aerobic, microaerophilic, and facultative anaerobic microorganisms present appeared to be influenced by conditions in the ballast tank. The gradual creation of anaerobic conditions in a ballast tank could lead to the accumulation of facultative anaerobic microorganisms, which might represent a potential source of pathogenic species.     

南水北调中线水源区水质生态监测(2005年)

在生态调查基础上从微生物学、理化及叶绿素a指标等对南水北调中线水源区进行了生态监测．结果表明,水源区为寡污型水体,水体基本处于贫-中营养状态,水源区指标除TN为Ⅲ类水质外,其它监测指标均符合Ⅰ类水质标准．是理想的水源地．本研究为建立中线水源区长期生态研究数据信息库及库区生态环境保护政策制定提供科学依据．     

Reliability of Chemical Analyses of Water Samples — The Experience of the UMTRA Project

Ground water quality investigations require reliable chemical analyses of water samples. Unfortunately, laboratory analytical results are often unreliable. The Uranium Mill Tailings Remedial Action (UMTRA) Project's solution to this problem was to establish a two-phase quality assurance program for the analysis of water samples. In the first phase, eight laboratories analyzed three solutions of known composition. The analytical accuracy of each laboratory was ranked and three laboratories were awarded contracts. The second phase consists of on-going monitoring of the reliability of the selected laboratories.
The following conclusions are based on two years of experience with the UMTRA Project's Quality Assurance Program:
• The reliability of laboratory analyses should not be taken for granted.
• Analytical reliability may be independent of the prices charged by laboratories.
• Quality assurance programs benefit both the customer and the laboratory.     

川滇强震前地下流体短临前兆综合信息特征

本文选取川滇相对均匀分布的地下流体观测台点的资料,提取其中的中高频信息,然后采用幂函数衰减的方式进行中高频信息场的空间曲面拟合,研究相同物理量的多测点的短临综合信息场.川滇地下流体短临综合信息空间扫描结果表明:在川滇强震发生前短期内孕震邻近区域的短临综合信息明显出现,且大幅度起伏变化;川滇地下流体短临综合信息时间扫描结果表明:川滇强震发生前3个月内中高频信息均表现出较大幅度的增强波动变化,从而突出了震前的多台异常综合信息.     

人工湿地废水处理系统的生物学基础研究进展

主要阐述了人工湿地废水处理系统中生物学基础的研究进展,至今,对作为湿地生产者的水生植物研究较多,水生植物除直接吸收利用废水中的营养物质,吸附和富集重金属外,还起输送氧气至根区,形成根区多种微环境和维护湿地水力传输的作用;而对作为湿地分解者的微生物的研究较少,湿地微生物的代谢活动是废水中有机物质降解的基础机制。     

Preliminary evidence for human fecal contamination in corals of the Florida Keys,USA

Corals and reef environments are under increased stress from anthropogenic activities, particularly those in the vicinity of heavily populated areas such as the Florida Keys. The potential adverse impacts of wastewater can affect both the environment and human health; however, because of the high decay rate of bacterial indicators in coral reef waters it has been difficult to document the presence of microbial contaminants and to assign risks in these environments. Here we show initial evidence that microorganisms associated with human feces are concentrated along the surface of coral heads relative to the overlying water column in the Florida Keys. Bacterial indicators (fecal coliform bacteria, enterococci or Clostridium perfringens) were detected in 66.7% of the coral surface microlayer (CSM) samples at levels between five and 1000 CFU/100 ml, but were found infrequently and at low numbers in the overlying water column ( < or = 2.5 CFU/100 ml). Similarly, enterovirus nucleic acid sequences, an indicator of human-specific waste, were detected in 93.3% of the CSM samples and only once in the water column by cell culture. Results show that coral mucus may accumulate enteric microorganisms in reef environments, and may indicate a risk to public and environmental health despite low indicator levels in the surrounding water.     

Electrochemical disinfection for ballast water management: technology development and risk assessment

Ballast water is essential in maintaining the balance and structural integrity of ships during voyage. However, it has created biological invasion threats to the ocean environment. An innovative electrochemical technology was developed in this study. The microorganisms regulated by the International Maritime Organization (D2) were used as the target organisms. It was found that the required energy to meet the D2 was below 0.006 kWh/m3. The size of disinfector (m3) was about 0.5% of treatment flow rate (m3/h). The complete disappearance of chlorine in seawater was achieved after three days. The ballast tank corrosion was not worsened due to the application of technology. The ecotoxicity studies showed no toxic effect on fish, invertebrate, and algae. Finally, the environmental risk assessment showed the treated water did not pose threats to the environment. It can therefore be concluded that the technology provides a cost-effective and environmental friendly solution to ballast water management.     

Physico‐Chemical and Bacterial Characteristics of Water Quality in Three Villages West of Lake Nasser,Egypt

The present study aims to investigate physico‐chemical and bacterial characteristics of Nasser Lake water and houses drinking water, as well as fish cultures and its wastewater, in three villages west of Lake Nasser, Egypt. Fifteen representative water samples (Nasser Lake, different drinking water, fish cultures, and wastewater sources) were collected from three villages (Garf Hussein, Bashaier, and Kalabsha) in the west of Lake Nasser. Physico‐chemical, total viable counts, and bacterial qualification of water were achieved. The obtained results indicated that the produced water, supposed to be for domestic use in the three villages, contained all the tested organisms. The investigated water samples of the lake and drinking water in the selected three villages are supposed to be chemically safe according to World Health Organization and to Egyptian standards for drinking water. Water pollution index (WPI) was used in this study and the result concluded that for irrigation canals from the lake to the agriculture site, fish cultures (both concrete and earth pond systems), and drainage canal of fish ponds need to be treated before it is discharged to the lake. It is better to reuse it after treatment for agricultural purposes or recycled it to the fish cultures.