Placental transfer of arsenic to fetus of Dall's porpoises (Phocoenoides dalli)

Concentrations of total arsenic and individual arsenic compounds were determined in liver, muscle, kidney and blubber of mother and fetus of Dall’s porpoises collected from off Sanriku, Japan, in the year 2000 to characterize the placental transfer of arsenic to fetus in cetaceans. Arsenic was detected in all the tissues of Dall’s porpoises. Total arsenic concentrations in liver, kidney, muscle and blubber were 0.76, 0.69, 0.35 and 0.55 μg/g wet wt, respectively, for mother and 0.28, 0.23, 0.26 and 0.07 μg/g wet wt, respectively, for fetus. In all the tissues, concentrations of total arsenic in mother Dall’s porpoise were higher than in fetus. Arsenic speciation revealed that arsenobetaine was the major arsenic compound in liver, kidney and muscle of both mother and fetus. The percentage of arsenobetaine to total arsenic ranged from 76.0 to 91.0% in the tissues. Dimethylarsinic acid, arsenocholine, methylarsonic acid and an unidentified arsenic compound were also detected in tissues of both mother and fetus as minor constituents, whereas tetramethylarsonium ion was not detected in tissues of the fetus. These results suggest that arsenobetaine, dimethylarsinic acid, arsenocholine and methylarsonic acid are transferable from mother to fetus in Dall’s porpoises. To our knowledge, this is the first report on placental transfer of arsenic compounds to fetus in marine mammals.     

Trace elements in skin of Dall's porpoises (Phocoenoides dalli) from the northern waters of Japan: an evaluation for utilization as non-lethal tracers

Concentrations of Fe, Zn, Cu, Se, Mn, Mo, Hg, Cd, Cr, Ag, Pb, Sr and V were determined in skins of Dall's porpoises (Phocoenoides dalli) of the Pacific coast truei-type population (PT population) (N=45), and the Sea of Japan-Okhotsk dalli-type population (JD population) (N=31) from the northern waters of Japan. Cutaneous Hg concentrations in both PT and JD populations were significantly correlated with age, indicating a possible alternative method of age estimation. A significant correlation was also noted between Hg concentrations in skin and liver, suggesting that biopsy samples of skin can provide a non-lethal surrogate for monitoring Hg contamination in this species. Trace element accumulation patterns differed strongly between PT and JD populations, when analyzed by principal component analysis, suggesting these patterns could be utilized as non-lethal tracers of population identification.     

Organohalogen contaminants in finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) from Korean coastal waters: Contamination status, maternal transfer and ecotoxicological implications

Information on the occurrence of organochlorine compounds (OCs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in marine mammals from Korea is scarce. In this study, OCs and PBDEs were determined in the blubber of 52 finless porpoises (Neophocaena phocaenoides) from Korean coastal waters. The highest contamination was found for DDTs, followed by PCBs, PBDEs, HCHs, CHLs and HCB. Concentrations of OCs in finless porpoises were lower than those reported worldwide, but PBDE contamination was comparable to other studies, due to ongoing use of PBDE products in Korea. Significant gender-specific differences were found for concentrations and accumulation profiles of OCs and PBDEs, due to maternal transfer and lactation of mature females. The BDEs 49 and 66 comprised 4-16% of total PBDEs in finless porpoises, which seems to be associated with debromination of higher BDEs. The DDT levels in Korean finless porpoises have almost reached the levels associated with immunosuppression in marine mammals.     

PCBs and organochlorine pesticides in Hector’s (Cephalorhynchus hectori hectori) and Maui’s (Cephalorhynchus hectori maui) dolphins

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine (OC) pesticide levels were determined in blubber samples collected from stranded and incidentally by-caught Hector’s (Cephalorhynchus hectori hectori) and Maui’s (Cephalorhynchus hectori maui) dolphins from New Zealand waters between 1997 and 2009. PCBs (45 congeners) and a range of OC pesticides including dieldrin, hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) and dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), along with its metabolites DDE and DDD were determined. OC pesticides dieldrin, p,p′-DDE, p,p′-DDD and p,p′-DDT were present at the highest concentrations. Sum DDT concentrations ranged from 93.7 to 8210 (Mean = 1358, S.D = 1974) and 252.4 to 57,390 (Mean = 12,389, S.D = 18,161) μg/kg wet weight in females and males, respectively. Similarly, Σ45CB concentrations ranged from 45.5 to 981.3 (Mean = 333.2, S.D = 265.8) and 60.5 to 5574 (Mean = 1833, S.D = 1659) μg/kg wet weight in females and males, respectively. The transfer of ΣDDTs and summed PCBs (both as ΣICES7CBs and Σ45CBs) between a pregnant female and her unborn fetus was calculated at 5.7% and 4.3%, respectively. As the fetus was close to term, this likely represents the degree of placental transfer. Concentrations of OC pesticides determined in the present study are higher than those previously reported for Hector’s dolphins. Sum DDT and DDE/ΣDDT levels calculated reveal New Zealand’s legacy of DDT usage, particularly off the east coast of the South Island.     

洞庭湖主要河口区表层沉积物与河蚬中砷的污染特征及风险评价

水体砷污染及其健康危害已成为一个备受关注的环境问题.本研究通过测定洞庭湖主要河口区表层沉积物砷含量、河蚬砷及砷形态（亚砷酸盐As（Ⅲ）、砷酸盐As（Ⅴ）、甲基砷酸MMA、二甲基砷酸DMA和砷甜菜碱AsB）含量,对表层沉积物砷的潜在生态风险和河蚬食用健康风险进行评价.结果表明,洞庭湖主要河口区表层沉积物砷含量在11.47~61.20 mg/kg之间,其水平分布规律表现为：南洞庭湖>东洞庭湖>西洞庭湖.河蚬砷含量范围为6.36~11.15 mg/kg,各砷形态含量排序为：AsB > As（Ⅴ） > DMA > As（Ⅲ） > MMA,各样地间不存在显著性差异.应用潜在生态风险指数法对表层沉积物中砷的潜在生态风险进行评价,各样地的潜在生态风险指数均值为23.09,潜在生态风险程度属于轻微级别.同时,利用致癌风险指数（CR）和危熵系数（HQ）评价经河蚬摄入无机砷给人体带来的潜在健康风险.洞庭湖主要河口区河蚬中无机砷的致癌风险CR_iAs值达到了1.36×10^-3~3.43×10^-3（平均值为2.24×10^-3）,均显著超过USEPA推荐的可接受风险水平上限值（1×10^-4）,其危熵系数HQ_iAs值达到3.01~7.61（平均值为4.98,约为标准值的5倍）,说明长期食用当地河蚬具有较高的致癌和非致癌健康风险.本研究结果对于了解洞庭湖沉积物和底栖动物的砷污染现状和风险水平具有重要意义,为该流域的砷污染控制及治理提供科学依据.     

Determination of arsenic(III) for the investigation of the microbial oxidation of arsenic(III) to arsenic(V)

Recent evaluations of acute and chronical toxicity of arsenic resulted in a reduction of the standard value for total arsenic from 40 μg/L to 10 μg/L in drinking water which will be valid in Germany after a transition period as from January 1996. Arsenic is well known as substance of deep groundwaters, mainly of geogenic origin and normally found as As(III) or As(V). As(V) is well removable by flocculation and filtration after adding iron salts. As(III), however, has to be oxidized first to As(V). Therefore, it is important for treatment techniques to be able to distinguish between As(III) and As(V). A modified determination of As(III) using flow injection analysis was installed and optimized in order to investigate whether As(III) may be oxidized to As(V) by bacteria in natural waters. The results showed that at 4°C, no As(III)-oxidation was observed within 14 days. At room temperature, however, in the bacteria-containing samples, an As(III)-oxidation was found starting after 3 to 7 days. After 14 days, no As(III) was left over. In contrast, in the sterile samples, no As(III)-oxidation could be observed within 14 days. These results demonstrated that microbial processes influence the oxidation of As(III) to As(V) in natural waters.     

Chloropigments a in the Gulf of Gdańsk (Baltic Sea) as markers of the state of this environment

The Gulf of Gdańsk receives the waters of the Wisła (Vistula), the largest Polish river and the second largest river flowing into the Baltic Sea. Chloropigments a (chlorophyll a and its derivatives) were determined in water and sediments from the Gulf. Samples were collected during cruises of R.V. ‘Oceania’ at 19 stations located at different water depths and distances from the shore, in May (2003) and October (2004), i.e., at the beginning and at the end of the growing season, respectively. Seawater was also sampled on the beach at Sopot in June, July and August 2004, i.e., during the height of the growing season. All water samples were collected with a bathometer and passed through Whatman GF/F filters. Recent sediments (0–10 cm) were collected with a core sampler and divided into sub-samples (0–1, 1–5 and 5–10 cm). The pigments were determined using HPLC-DAD. The results were first correlated with a set of parameters measured in situ during sample collection (salinity, temperature, oxygen content of seawater) and determined in the same material (organic carbon content, granulometry), then worked up statistically. Although this investigation shows that particular chloropigments a in recent sediments are indicative of the prevailing environmental conditions in the study area and the trends in their variations, they should be treated as a relative and not an absolute measure, since this is the first such study based on a large and coherent set containing both chloropigment a and environmental data. In addition, a chlorophyll a budget is estimated for the Gulf of Gdańsk on the basis of the literature and the authors’ own data. Only c. 10% of the chlorophyll a produced annually in the Gulf of Gdańsk is transferred to sediments in the form of chloropigments a; 2.8% is in the form of undecomposed chlorophyll a and 7.2% in the form of chlorophyll a derivatives. About 90% of chlorophyll a is decomposed to colourless products.     

‘Bedload’ dynamics: Grain impacts,momentum transfer and derivation of a grain froude number

A test is proposed for Bagnold's postulate that the normal weight stress due to moving ‘bedload’ is balanced by a solid transmitted stress due to the rate of change of momentum produced by grain impacts on unit area of the stationary bed. The test involves derivation of an expression for normal momentum transfer due to saltating grains at moderate transport stages when grain-to-grain collisions and partial suspension during saltation may be ignored. A dimensionless number, Φ, (a grain Froude Number) is derived, given by ū²/g where ū is the mean grain forward velocity, g is the gravitational acceleration and L? is the length of a single saltation ‘jump’. Equilibrium demands that Φ be unity during bedload transport involving saltating grains if Bagnold's postulate is correct. Experimental data shows Φ < 1, the discrepancy between theory and experiment being due to the existence of lift forces acting upon bedload grains. Bagnold's postulate is correct for concentrated dispersions of grains, as in grain flows, when fluid lift forces may be neglected due to high particle concentration.     

Comparative embryotoxicity of phenanthrene and alkyl-phenanthrene to marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma)

Alkylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (alkyl-PAHs) are the predominant form of PAHs in oil, comprising 85–95% of total PAHs. However, little attention has been paid to these chemicals in ecological risk assessment of marine oil spill. A comparative study of the toxic effects of phenanthrene and retene (7-isopropyl-1-methylphenanthrene, an alkyl-phenanthrene) on the early life stage of marine medaka (Oryzias melastigma) was conducted. Results showed that retene was significantly more toxic than phenanthrene, and marine medaka could be more sensitive to retene than some freshwater fishes. Retene had a higher excretion rate than phenanthrene during the larvae stage. Both of compounds resulted in developmental malformation of marine medaka embryos, with phenanthrene affecting on peripheral vascular system and yolk sac, while retene affecting on cardiac tissues. The toxicity of phenanthrene might be mainly related to its anesthetic effects, and that of retene might be related to the CYP1A-mediated toxicity of its metabolites.     

微囊藻(FACHB-905)和鱼腥藻(FACHB-82)响应温度变化的功能特性权衡

微囊藻和鱼腥藻是水华蓝藻的两个主要类群,两种藻均可调节自身形态及生理特性来维持快速生长,这也是两个类群蓝藻水华维持的基础.本研究分析了微囊藻(FACHB-905)和鱼腥藻(FACHB-82)生长、形态及叶绿素荧光参数对温度变化的响应,以及生长与特性间的权衡关系.结果显示:该微囊藻细胞直径随温度升高而降低,但是比增长速率维持稳定,表明在高温条件下,其可能通过减小细胞大小的方式维持比增长速率;该鱼腥藻在不同温度下,平均细胞直径和藻丝长度呈现显著变化,高温条件下,其维持较高的比增长速率,但是细胞直径增大,藻丝长度缩短,这可能是其调节自身形态以维持较高比增长速率的方式.该微囊藻和鱼腥藻分别在细胞较大和较小时,藻细胞潜在的光化学效率更高.本研究表明这两种蓝藻可以通过权衡藻细胞形态、生理特性两者与生长速率之间的关系来适应温度的变化以达到自身最佳的生长状态,微囊藻(FACHB-905)通过调节细胞大小和光合活性来维持生长优势,而鱼腥藻(FACHB-82)则通过细胞大小、藻丝长度和光合活性的调节来维持生长优势.本研究的结果有助于提升对于水华蓝藻生长维持机制的认识.     

The use of transplanted cultured tropical oysters (Saccostrea commercialis) to monitor Cd levels in North Queensland coastal waters (Australia)

Bivalves are commonly used to detect metal pollution in the marine environment. Commercially cultured Milky oysters (Saccostrea commercialis) were transplanted in various sites along the North Queensland coast and analyzed for two metals of potentially anthropogenic origin (Cd, Zn). To provide additional information, naturally occurring Black Lip oysters (Saccostrea echinata) were also collected at the transplantation sites. The study demonstrated that the oysters species transplanted are good bioindicators of these metal concentrations in tropical waters, sensitive to variations in the environment at concentrations which are much smaller than pollution signals commonly reported for temperate waters. Three transplant experiments were carried out from May 1999 to February 2000. Milky oysters transplanted to offshore areas (Orpheus Is., Kelso Reef) accumulated Cd in the soft parts whereas oysters sampled from cages placed in Ross Creek and the Herbert River estuaries showed a decrease in Cd concentration, which resulted from an increase in dry weight. Dry weight appeared to be an important covariant affecting Cd concentration in the oysters whereas it does not unambiguously affect Zn concentrations. For the duration of the experiments, oysters sampled from the Magnetic Is. reference site showed effectively constant Cd concentrations and total Cd contents which indicates that any seasonal cycle affecting metal concentration is weak. It was found that Cd accumulation in oysters increased as ambient dissolved Cd concentration decreased, from which it was concluded that for these oysters, the predominant source of Cd was from the particulate phase rather than the dissolved phase.     

Feeding of European cisco (Coregonus albula and C. lucinensis) on the glacial relict crustacean Mysis relicta in Lake Breiter Luzin (Germany)

Lake Breiter Luzin, located in north-eastern Germany, is known for the rare occurrence of sympatric populations of European cisco, Coregonus albula and C. lucinensis. Moreover, the lake is inhabited by the glacial relict crustacean Mysis relicta, currently found in only three other lakes in Germany. In the present study, the role of M. relicta in the diet of ciscoes was investigated. Between 2001 and 2002 ciscoes, mysids and zooplankton were caught in Lake Breiter Luzin and stomach contents of ciscoes were analysed. There were seasonal changes in the food items in the stomachs, largely reflecting changes in prey availability. The main food items were copepods (45–81%) and mysids (5–26%). Cladocerans had high amounts in the diet only in summer. Seasonal changes in selectivity were also noted for most prey groups. There were also some consistent patterns of prey preference, with an overall preference for mysids. In general, the prey composition in cisco stomachs did not show significant diet changes, but there were some significant differences between day and night feeding in single prey groups, such as cladocerans. Diet composition of ciscoes varied with the different depth strata in which the fish were caught. With increasing depth, the proportion of mysids in the diet significantly increased, whereas that of copepods significantly decreased. Between C. albula and C. lucinensis, no distinct differences in feeding were evident. Mysids provided an additional and important food resource to ciscoes, and were mainly consumed when the availability of other prey organisms decreased, as in autumn and in the deeper strata of the water column. However, mysids preyed on the same food organisms as ciscoes, indicating a strong competition for food between fish and mysids.     

汶川地震前的b值变化

Gutenberg-Richter定理给出了地震频度随震级的分布特征.大量研究表明频度-震级关系的斜率（b值）在大地震孕育的过程中会出现减小.为了考察b值在汶川地震孕育过程中的时间演化特征,本文尝试基于破裂断层选取研究区域,考察了2000年1月至2008年4月间,汶川地震（M_S8.0）破裂区的地震活动性,并对该区域b值的变化进行了探讨.结果表明,在2005年中至2006年底,地震月频度及季度频度有一个较明显的下降.b值从2002年始至地震前呈现出一个长期趋势性减小;在地震前约半年,出现快速、显著的下降.b值的这一时间变化特征与其他研究者报道的日本东北M_W9.0级地震前的b值变化特征具有很高相似性,可能反映了大地震准备过程中的应力变化.以上结果有益于认识和理解大地震孕育演化过程,同时也表明b值在中长期地震灾害评估中具有潜在价值.

     

香蒲、灯心草人工湿地的研究——Ⅰ.净化污水的效果

本文研究了种植香蒲Ｔｙｐｈａ ａｎｇｕｓｔｉｆｏｌｉａ或灯心草Ｊｕｎｃｕｓ ｅｆｆｕｓｕｓ的人工湿地对城镇污水和人工不污染物的净化效果,调查了香蒲,灯心草不同季节的生长差异及高浓度污水冲击负荷对其生长的影响。香蒲,灯心草人工湿地净化城镇污水,出水水质总体上达到国家Ⅱ,Ⅲ类地面水标准,灯心草湿地对人工污水中凯氏氮,总磷,化学耗氧量地去除率维持在９４％以上,氨氮的去除率为８２．７％－９９．７％;在正常     

Biomonitoring of TBT contamination and imposex incidence along 4700 km of Argentinean shoreline (SW Atlantic: From 38S to 54S)

The imposex incidence and TBT pollution were investigated along 4,700 km of Argentinean coast, including city harbors and proximal zones without marine traffic. We analyzed 1805 individuals from 12 gastropod species, including families Volutidae, Muricidae, Nassariidea, Calyptraidae, Marginellidae, and Buccinidae, and found the imposex phenomenon for the first time in six species. In high marine traffic zones, TBT pollution was registered and the percentage of imposex was high, while these occurrences were null in areas without boat traffic. The species that best reflect the degree of imposex were those inhabiting sandy/muddy or mixed bottoms. TBT determination and imposex incidence indicate that pollution was focused only in ports with high marine traffic or in areas where ship hulls are painted. This is the first report of an imposex-sediment approach to evaluate organotin contamination along the coast of a South American country.     

Effects of 4-nonylphenol exposure in mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis) and crabs (Carcinus aestuarii) with particular emphasis on vitellogenin induction

Since it is often difficult to estimate possible adverse effects due to contamination in selected ecosystems, multi-species biomonitoring may provide more information, taking into account different routes of exposure, ecological roles and metabolic capabilities of animals. In this context, we exposed for 7 days the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis and the crab Carcinus aestuarii to 4-nonylphenol (NP), a well-known xenoestrogen. In mussels (0–0.2 mg NP l⁻¹), we measured NP bioaccumulation in soft tissues and vitellogenin (Vg)-like protein levels in digestive glands from both males and females by the alkali-labile phosphate assay (ALP). As no reference data were available for crab exposure, the NP 96-h LC₅₀ value was previously determined. Then, in sublethally exposed (0–1.0 mg NP l⁻¹) male crabs, NP bioaccumulation and Vg levels were measured in hemolymph, gonads and digestive gland. Bioaccumulation of NP increased from 43 to 371 μg g⁻¹ d.w. in mussels, and from 3.6 to 37 μg g⁻¹ d.w. in crabs, depending on the NP concentration in water. Dose-dependent Vg-like protein induction was observed in both species, appearing to be related to NP bioaccumulation, although a partial decrease was recorded at the highest concentration tested. A similar trend was observed in both digestive gland and gonad of exposed crabs; Vg increased to a lesser extent, although significantly, in hemolymph. Results demonstrated that NP induces Vg synthesis both in male and female mussels, as well as in male crabs. On the basis of the responsiveness of both species investigated, a multi-species approach is indicated in biomonitoring programmes.     

洞庭湖湿地柳属木本植物与薹草属草本植物群落土壤与水环境特征

木本与草本是植物存在的两种主要生活型,生态功能差异明显,尤其在植物被周期性洪水淹没的湿地生态系统中.为此,以洞庭湖湿地二门闸、五门闸、藕池河口、白沙大桥4个研究点的原生柳属木本植被与薹草属草本植被为研究对象,通过对枯水期土壤理化性质与汛期水流速度、水环境的对比监测,揭示两者生态防护功能的差异.对土壤粒径组成而言,在二门闸与白沙大桥2个研究点,木本与草本植物群落土壤样本之间无显著差异;而在五门闸与藕池河,与草本植物相比,木本植物导致土壤上层(0~30 cm)与下层(60~90 cm)粉粒含量降低,砂粒含量增加,中层(30~60 cm)黏粒与粉粒含量增加,砂粒含量降低.对土壤化学性质而言,木本植物总体上导致土壤有机质与全氮含量升高,而对全磷与全钾含量无显著影响.与草本植物相比,木本植物能显著减缓水流速度,提高水体氧化还原电位与溶解氧浓度,而对水温与p H值无明显影响.可见,洞庭湖湿地木本与草本植物生活型的差异,是导致二者土壤与水环境特征差别的主要原因,与草本植物相比,木本植物具有更强的生态防护功能.