Evaluation of toxicity in tributaries of the Mersey estuary using the isopod Asellus aquaticus (L.)

Increasing numbers of industrial, agricultural and natural chemicals are present in sewage effluent and are known to elicit toxic effects in laboratory exposures, but little is known of their combined sub-lethal effect in the field. In this study, a combination of esterase activity and ventilation rate assays was performed to determine the neurological and physiological function of the freshwater crustacean Asellus aquaticus (L.) at sites above and below a sewage treatment works (STW). Cholinesterase and carboxylesterase activities were significantly inhibited (n=8, P<0.05) and ventilation rates increased (n=8, P=0.0001) in A. aquaticus at STW sites compared to those from reference sites, indicating a decrease in neurological and physiological function. The ecological relevance of these findings for the population dynamics of the organisms in the field is discussed.     

Oxygen consumption and apnoea in the shortfin eel,Anguilla australis schmidtii

Patterns of ventilation, oxygen consumption (VO₂), blood gas tensions (PaO₂ and PaCO₂) and pH were determined in shortfin eels (Anguilla australis schmidtii (Phillips)). At rest, shortfin eels (average weight 646.5 ± 64.5 g) had a VO₂ of 20.4 ± 1.2 ml. kg^‐1.h^‐1 (n = 13) at 17.5 ± 0.2°c, with smaller fish having the highest metabolic rates. The frequency of ventilation was inversely proportional to body weight in both A. australis schmidtii and A. dieffenbachii. In air‐saturated water 10 eels exhibited periodic apnoea (mean duration 3.59 min); periods of ventilation were more variable in duration (mean 4.92 min). After 2.62 min of apnoea, the PaO₂ of dorsal aortic blood had fallen from 9.12 to 1.91 kPa. Thus, although the blood has a high affinity for oxygen and the haemoglobins are 30% oxygen‐saturated at this low PaO₂, the eel allows its blood to be significantly depleted in oxygen during apnoeic pauses at rest. When ventilating its gills at rest, PaO₂ does not approach the PO₂ of the inspired water. It is suggested that these features of respiration in eels result in a saving of metabolic costs involved in ventilation. The results are discussed in terms of the eel's ability to withstand hypoxic conditions.     

The distribution and population dynamics of O-group plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L.) on nursery grounds in the Firth of Forth

Midsummer (1 August) population estimates of about 2 million O-group plaice (Pleuronectes platessa L.) were derived for sandy bays around the Firth of Forth in 1979–1980. This is an order of magnitude less than similar estimates made for the Clyde Sea Area in 1973–1974. Autumn population estimates of 0·4–1·0 million fish were comparable to estimates by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food for the area between the Scottish border and Flamborough Head (2·3 million for 1970 and 1973) which represented 4·8% (1973) to 5·3% (1970) of the total number of O-group fish on the English east coast.Largo Bay was the most important nursery area holding 25% of the total population. It is particularly well situated to receive newly metamorphosed plaice carried in water currents along the north side of the Forth from the spawning ground off Fife Ness. Plaice in the Forth are mainly distributed on fine to medium sandy beaches (186–480 μm), the mean number per haul in midsummer (D) being correlated with the median diameter (m.d. in μm) of the low water sediments by the equation: D=−45·7666+0·2327 m.d. (n=11,r=0·68,P<0·02 but>0·01).The shallow inshore water in sandy bays in the outer Firth was well mixed and more marine than estuarine (27·7–35·0‰). The correlation coefficient between fish density and water temperature was low, while that with salinity (S‰) was: D=6·1618+0·2238S (n=23,r=0·62,P<0·005).Regression analysis demonstrated that the relationship between the instantaneous mortality rate (Z) and the initial population density (D_p) was: Z×100=0·7480+0·0546d_p (n=12,r=0·87,P<0·001).The mean mortality rate for the O-group plaice in the Forth nursery areas was 53% month⁻¹.     

Faecal indicators and pathogens in selected New Zealand waterfowl

Freshly excreted droppings from Canada geese (n=80), black swans (n=80), ducks (n=80) and gulls (n=80) were collected from sites around New Zealand. The droppings were enumerated for Escherichia coli, enterococci and Salmonella spp., and for the presence/absence of Cryptosporidium spp. Overall prevalence of E. coli and enterococci in samples was 95% and 94%, respectively. Cryptosporidium spp. was detected in 2% of the samples, whereas no Salmonella spp. were detected in the survey. Preliminary estimates of daily microbial outputs suggest that ducks will produce the highest loadings of E. coli and enterococci per bird, whereas Canada geese will produce the highest loadings of Campylobacter spp. per bird. This study provides the first set of indicator and pathogen counts for one of the largest sources of diffuse faecal contamination of natural waters in New Zealand.     

Modelling the influence of environmental and weather factors on the density of the invasive polychaete Boccardia proboscidea

The inter‐tidal zone around sewage discharges in a Southwest Atlantic shore (Mar del Plata, Argentina) is currently colonized by extensive inter‐tidal reefs of the invasive spionid Boccardia proboscidea. Understanding the links between both human and natural disturbances and the massive development of non‐indigenous species will help prevent marine bioinvasions, which are already favoured by global oceanic trade. We present herein predictive models for variations in the density of B. proboscidea around sewage discharges of Mar del Plata, using environmental (pH, turbidity, temperature, salinity and total organic matter content), weather (wind direction and storm records), spatial (sites) and temporal (season and year) variables. Density variations were modelled by generalized linear models, and model averaging (multimodel inference) was used to obtain predicted values. The highest predicted values of B. proboscidea density occurred at sites to the south of the sewage effluent in spring. These sites are more affected by urban effluent discharges and they showed increased B. proboscidea density when the north wind was predominant. In addition, B. proboscidea density values were higher in sites with 20–22 °C (seawater temperature), high total organic matter content in sediments and low salinity. The averaged model was only a good ‘predictive model’ for sites to the north of the outfall, but was useful as an ‘explanatory model’ in all sites. Such predictions may help to back up conservation and management policies and decisions.     

基于线粒体D-loop 基因探讨花鳗鲡的群体遗传多样性及其种群进化历史

通过测定花鳗鲡(Anguillia marmorata)海南群体(HN)和菲律宾群体(PH)共19尾个体的线粒体D-loop基因的核苷酸序列(约1017 bp),分析了花鳗鲡的种群遗传结构。结果表明:A、T、G、C 4种核苷酸的平均含量分别为39.8%、28.3%、12.4%、19.4%,A+T含量(68.1%)明显高于G+C含量(31.8%)。所测序列中存在73个变异位点,共有18个单倍型。其中海南群体的单倍型多样度(Hd)、核苷酸多态性(Pi)、平均核苷酸差异数(k)分别为0.982、0.21577和219.655,而菲律宾群体的单倍型多样度、核苷酸多态性、平均核苷酸差异数分别为1.000、0.26728和271.821,两个群体之间平均遗传距离(P)为0.3203。结果表明2个群体遗传变异较大,菲律宾群体的遗传多样性较海南群体更加丰富。通过构建NJ分子系统树表明2个群体的亲缘关系较近。利用中性检验Tajima’s D(海南群体D=1.35345,P>0.01;菲律宾群体D=0.79220,P>0.01)和Fs(海南群体Fs=3.759;菲律宾群体Fs=2.231)探讨其种群历史,表明花鳗鲡群体进化过程种群数量较为稳定。     

宁波沿海陆源排污口弓形杆菌属(Arobacter sp.)和梭菌属(Clostridium sp.)的分布特点

弓形杆菌属(Arobacter sp.)和梭菌属(Clostridium sp.)广泛存在于水体和寄生在动物体内,极易造成水体污染和人畜共患病。采用高通量454焦磷酸测序方法对宁波沿海2个重点排污口、8个一般排污口的20个站位水样进行分析,得到1年中的3月、5月、8月和10月份各排污口弓形杆菌属和梭菌属生物的分布情况。研究结果表明:弓形杆菌属检测出两个种,分别是嗜低温弓形杆菌(Arcobacter cryaerophilus)、布氏弓形杆菌(Arcobacter butzleri)。梭菌属共检测出12个种,其中产气荚膜梭菌(Clostridium perfringens)检出次数最高,丁酸梭菌(Clostridium butyricum)次之;排污口的类型是影响弓形杆菌属检出量的重要因素。弓形杆菌属主要分布在氮,磷含量较高的工业排污口和市政排污口,而梭菌属只在3月份的S7宁海西店崔家综合排污口呈现出相对较高的比例(7.5%),其它排污口检出量均在2%以下;弓形杆菌属和梭菌属在10个排污口20个站位4个月份的检出次数呈现正相关性;由季节性的变化引起的气温差异也是影响弓形杆菌属生长的重要因素,弓形杆菌属在5月份的时候检出次数最大,梭菌属适宜生长温度范围较广10—65°C,受温度影响较小。     

宁波沿海陆源排污口放线菌(Actinomycetales sp.)的分布特点

利用454高通量测序技术对宁波沿海10个陆源排污口20个站位的放线菌的时空分布及5个工业排污口的放线菌的种类作了整体分析。成功鉴定出了83个属,84个种。研究结果显示:放线菌在陆源排污口的分布呈现季节性分布,从3月份到10月份,放线菌数量呈现先升高后下降的变化,5月份和8月份数量居高,在3月份和10月份偏低;在综合排污口(S4,S6,S8和S9)检测频次较高,在工业排污口(S1,S3,S5,S7和S10)检测频次居中,在市政排污口(S2)检出频次最低。不同类型的排污口,氨氮浓度的排出量不同,放线菌的种类和数量也不同。在5个工业排污口中,S7和S10检出的共同菌最多;在S7独自检出短双歧杆菌(Bifidobacterium breve)、长双歧杆菌(B.longum)和两岐双岐杆菌(B.bifidum),表明存在粪源污染物;在S5检出皱孢链霉菌(Streptomyces scabrisporus)和硫藤黄链霉菌(S.thioluteus),显示有石油降解物和重金属的污染。总体上看,放线菌数量在距排污口外50m处略高于排污口处。排放指标越相似,菌的种类越接近。     

Effects of urban wastewater on crab and mollusc assemblages in equatorial and subtropical mangroves of East Africa

Mangrove forests are known to accomplish crucial ecosystem functions and services. They are nursery areas for fish, prawns and crabs, which provide coastal communities with a variety of food, timber and chemicals, and protect coasts from catastrophic events, such as tsunamis. Recently, a novel ecological service has been proposed for mangrove systems, namely natural wastewater treatment wetlands. This hypothesis was based on experimental data collected mainly in Chinese mangrove systems, which proved that mangrove soils were efficient in absorbing nutrients. Moreover, sewage loading seemed harmless to both plants and benthic communities in these systems. However, before promoting the use of natural mangroves as pollution buffers, or constructed mangrove wetlands as sewage treatment facilities, more data are needed on their overall tolerance to organic loading. Differences in macrobenthos patterns were thus investigated between peri-urban mangroves and sites not affected by sewage disposal in East Africa. We assessed differences in epifaunal assemblages, comprising crabs and molluscs, employing multivariate ACI unbalanced analyses to compare peri-urban mangrove swamps with those characteristic of non-urban mangroves with similar ecological traits. The sampling design was spatially nested, replicates being assessed at equatorial (southern Kenya) and subtropical (southern Mozambique) sites. The results manifested a consistent increase in crab biomass at the peri-urban sites in both Kenya and Mozambique. Moreover, the peri-urban systems were richer than the non-urban mangroves, both in terms of fiddler crabs (Uca spp.) which feed on benthic microalgae and bacteria, and sesarmids, such as Perisesarma guttatum and Neosarmatium meinerti, which feed on both substratum and leaf litter. The abundance of gastropods, in contrast, decreased significantly, especially in Kenya, mainly due to the disappearance of the mud whelk Terebralia palustris. The results thus indicate that, in East African mangrove systems, domestic wastewater has detectable effects on crabs and molluscs, suggesting their usefulness as bioindicators of its effects in mangroves. Transformed benthic patterns at the peri-urban sites indicated the need for further study of the actual potential of natural mangrove forests to absorb pollution in sewage treatment.     

Factors influencing benthic bacterial abundance, biomass, and activity on the northern continental margin and deep basin of the Gulf of Mexico

As part of a larger project on the deep benthos of the Gulf of Mexico, an extensive data set on benthic bacterial abundance (n>750), supplemented with cell-size and rate measurements, was acquired from 51 sites across a depth range of 212–3732 m on the northern continental slope and deep basin during the years 2000, 2001, and 2002. Bacterial abundance, determined by epifluorescence microscopy, was examined region-wide as a function of spatial and temporal variables, while subsets of the data were examined for sediment-based chemical or mineralogical correlates according to the availability of collaborative data sets. In the latter case, depth of oxygen penetration helped to explain bacterial depth profiles into the sediment, but only porewater DOC correlated significantly (inversely) with bacterial abundance (p<0.05, n=24). Other (positive) correlations were detected with TOC, C/N ratios, and % sand when the analysis was restricted to data from the easternmost stations (p<0.05, n=9–12). Region-wide, neither surface bacterial abundance (3.30–16.8×10⁸ bacteria cm⁻³ in 0–1 cm and 4–5 cm strata) nor depth-integrated abundance (4.84–17.5×10¹³ bacteria m⁻², 0–15 cm) could be explained by water depth, station location, sampling year, or vertical POC flux. In contrast, depth-integrated bacterial biomass, derived from measured cell sizes of 0.027–0.072 μm³, declined significantly with station depth (p<0.001, n=56). Steeper declines in biomass were observed for the cross-slope transects (when unusual topographic sites and abyssal stations were excluded). The importance of resource changes with depth was supported by the positive relationship observed between bacterial biomass and vertical POC flux, derived from measures of overlying productivity, a relationship that remained significant when depth was held constant (partial correlation analysis, p<0.05, df=50). Whole-sediment incubation experiments under simulated in situ conditions, using ³H-thymidine or ¹⁴C-amino acids, yielded low production rates (5–75 μg C m⁻² d⁻¹) and higher respiration rates (76–242 μg C m⁻² d⁻¹), with kinetics suggestive of resource limitation at abyssal depths. Compared to similarly examined deep regions of the open ocean, the semi-enclosed Gulf of Mexico (like the Arabian Sea) harbors in its abyssal sediments a greater biomass of bacteria per unit of vertically delivered POC, likely reflecting the greater input of laterally advected, often unreactive, material from its margins.     

Organic carbon and iron modulate nitrification rates in mangrove swamps of Goa, south west coast of India

Nitrification, fuelled by ammonium is the pivotal oxidative pathway to nitrogen cycling. In spite of its ecological significance, the factors regulating nitrification rates in the benthic realm remain poorly understood. The present study therefore examines some of the factors like ammonium, nitrite, nitrate, organic carbon, iron and manganese on down-core variability in benthic nitrification rates in two different mangrove ecosystems, one under the influence of ferromanganese ore mining (experiment) and the other relatively undisturbed (control). We hypothesize that besides organic carbon, iron could also influence the rate of nitrification. The study also contrasts the distributive pattern of autotrophic and heterotrophic nitrifiers in the two regions. The concentration of iron at the control site ranged from 1.1% to 15.1% while at the experimental site it ranged from 2.9% to 46%. The levels of organic carbon at control and experimental sites ranged from 0.02% to 6.9% and 0.1% to 6.5%, respectively. The nitrification rates at the control and experimental sites are comparable and ranged from 3.2 ± 1.2 to 18.4 ± 1.9 ng at-N g(sediment)⁻¹ h⁻¹ and 2.7 ± 1.5 to 18.2 ± 0.6 ng at-N g(sediment)⁻¹ h⁻¹, respectively. While the abundance of heterotrophic nitrifiers at both the sites ranged from 10^2–3 cells g⁻¹ sediment, the autotrophic nitrifiers at the experimental site was higher by an order at 10³ cells g⁻¹ sediment reflecting the relatively higher refractile nature of organic carbon at the experimental site (Straus and Lamberti, 2000). Though organic carbon and nitrification rates are similar in both the sites, the underlying mechanisms governing the processes could be different. Our studies suggest that at the control site, heterotrophic nitrifiers govern nitrification rates (r = 0.28, p < 0.05, n = 64) using organic carbon (r = 0.32, p < 0.01, n = 64). At the experimental site, nitrification was governed more by autotrophic nitrifiers (r = 0.43, p < 0.001, n = 64) at the expense of iron (r = 0.47, p < 0.001, n = 64). Therefore at the experimental site with higher load of iron, autotrophic nitrification could be more important. It is therefore inferred that both the quality of organic carbon and quantity of iron govern nitrification rates in these mangrove swamps.     

Distribution and contribution of major phytoplankton groups to carbon cycling across contrasting conditions of the subtropical northeast Atlantic Ocean

The relation between trophic regime and phytoplankton composition and function in oceanic systems is well accepted in oceanography. However, the relative dynamics and carbon cycling contributions of different phytoplankton groups across gradients of ocean richness are not fully understood. In this work we investigated phytoplankton dynamics along two transects from the NW African coastal upwelling to open-ocean waters of the north Atlantic subtropical gyre. We adopted a pigment-based approach to characterize community structure and to quantify group-specific growth and grazing rates and associated carbon fluxes. Changes in pigment cell concentration during the incubation experiments due to photoadaptation were corrected to obtain reliable rates. The oceanic region was dominated by Prochlorococcus (PRO) (45±7% of total chlorophyll a) while diatoms dominated in upwelling waters (40±37%). Phytoplankton grew faster (μ=0.78±0.26 d⁻¹) and free of nutrient limitation (μ/μ_n=0.98±0.42) in the coastal upwelling region, with all groups growing at similar rates. In oceanic waters, the growth rate of bulk phytoplankton was lower (μ=0.52±0.16 d⁻¹) and nutrient limited (μ/μ_n=0.68±0.19 d⁻¹). Diatoms (0.80±0.39 d⁻¹) and Synechococcus (SYN) (0.72±0.25 d⁻¹) grew faster than Prymnesiophyceae (PRYMN) (0.62±0.26 d⁻¹) and PRO (0.46±0.18 d⁻¹). The growth rates of PRO and SYN were moderately nutrient limited (μ/μ_n=0.81 and 0.91, respectively), while the limitation for diatoms (μ/μ_n=0.71) and PRYMN (μ/μ_n=0.37) was more severe. Microzooplankton grazing rate was higher in upwelling (0.68±0.32 d⁻¹) than in oceanic waters (0.37±0.19 d⁻¹), but represented the main loss pathway for phytoplankton in both systems (m/μ=0.90±0.32 and 0.69±0.24, respectively). Carbon flux through phytoplankton, produced and grazed, increased from offshore to coastal (∼2 to ∼200 μg C L⁻¹ d⁻¹), with diatoms dominating the flux in the upwelling region (52%) while PRYMN (40%) and PRO (30%) dominated in the open ocean.     

虎斑乌贼(Sepia pharaonis)FMRFamide G蛋白偶联受体基因的克隆与表达定位研究

以FMRFamide为典型代表的FMRFamide相关肽,是目前已知的最大的神经肽家族。FMRFamide广泛参与多种生理过程,包括摄食、心跳、渗透平衡、变态、防御和免疫等。采用同源克隆法与RACE技术获得了虎斑乌贼FMRFamide的G蛋白偶联受体基因cDNA全长序列(命名为SpFaGPCR,OL765295),SpFaGPCR cDNA全长1514bp,包括222bp的5''-非编码区(5''-UTR)、35 bp的3''-UTR以及1257bp的开放阅读框(ORF),共编码418个氨基酸。预测相对分子量(MW)为49.8kDa,等电点(pI)为9.76,具有7个跨膜结构域、糖基化位点7个、磷酸化位点36个。同源序列比对分析表明,SpFaGPCR与曼氏无针乌贼的FaGPCR氨基酸序列相似度最高达98%。系统发育分析显示SpFaGPCR与双壳纲的FaGPCR聚为姐妹支。荧光定量结果显示SpFaGPCR在视叶、视腺、脑、缠卵腺中表达量相对较高(P<0.05)。进一步利用原位杂交技术检测到虎斑乌贼视叶的髓质区、视网膜的感光细胞和缠卵腺的瓣叶外层具有明显的阳性杂交信号。实验结果为进一步探讨FMRFamide通过FaGPCR的介导参与虎斑乌贼生理代谢功能奠定了前期基础。     

Long‐term sponge stranding along the shores of Sardinia Island (Western Mediterranean Sea)

The taxonomic richness and geographic distribution of sponges stranded along Sardinian shores were investigated in the long term by means of a revisited ancient sampling method in order to support a comprehensive species inventory. Almost all stranded species were Keratosa (n = 20), plus 6 species of other Demospongiae taxa. Dictyoceratida were dominant, with 6 genera and 19 species of the families Irciniidae, Spongiidae and Thorectidae: 9 Mediterranean endemics, 7 Atlanto‐Mediterranean and 3 widespread species. Regarding Dendroceratida, only the genus Spongionella was found. Some species (n = 8) were recorded for the first time in circum‐Sardinian seas. A high percentage (54.3%; 19 out of the 35 species) of the total Mediterranean Dictyoceratida fauna was recorded, including the most endangered Mediterranean species, that is of the genera Spongia and Hippospongia. Hippospongia communis, Ircinia variabilis, Spongia zimocca and Spongia officinalis were the most common species. Morphotraits of rare and/or poorly known species were investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Comparison among Sardinian sectors, and between Sardinian and adjacent seas, revealed a high similarity of stranded Dictyoceratida, despite the fact that the data from Tyrrhenian and Balearic–Catalan seas were collected mainly from SCUBA records. The cost‐effective sampling method used in the present study seems appropriate to the gross qualitative monitoring of coastal areas (e.g. large unexplored Northern African coasts), in order to assess the conservation status of Mediterranean Keratosa species. The wide distribution of all Mediterranean bath sponge species indicates their good conservation status in circum‐Sardinian seas, a datum that could usefully support the future management of this bioresource, particularly in protected areas.     

无鱼粉日粮条件下黄颡鱼生长性能和肝胰脏转录组差异表达的研究

本研究以黄颡鱼(Pelteobagrus fulvidraco)为试验对象,设计两种饲料:鱼粉组和无鱼粉组,在池塘网箱中投喂70 d,研究其生长性能和肝胰脏转录组表达的差异。同鱼粉组相比,无鱼粉组黄颡鱼特定生长率下降了30.25%(P0.05),饲料系数显著增加了83.94%(P0.05),全鱼脂肪含量显著下降(P0.05),血清甘油三酯含量显著下降(P0.05),血清转氨酶活力显著增加(P0.05)。肝胰脏转录组结果显示,总计有12 020个基因差异表达,其中差异表达上调的基因有5 020个、差异表达下调的基因有7 000个。同鱼粉组相比,无鱼粉组分别有1 013个基因表达显著上调、2749基因表达显著下调(P0.05)。将组间具有差异表达的基因进行GO Term、KEGG pathway分类,结果显示:无鱼粉组的肝胰脏细胞组成、细胞生物过程、细胞分子功能等绝大多数基因差异表达下调,提示肝胰脏的细胞组织结构和功能受到很大的影响;KEGG通路富集到15个显著差异代谢通路。本研究结果表明,日粮中鱼粉可能含有某些生理活性物质,这些物质以神经分泌、激素调控、代谢信号通路等为作用靶点,通过对这些代谢信号通路的调节,对鱼的整体生理代谢强度、细胞结构与功能、生理健康状态等产生明显积极促进影响。缺乏这些物质则会造成黄颡鱼生长性能下降、部分器官组织细胞(肝细胞、神经轴突)受到损伤、鱼体抗应激能力和免疫防御能力下降。     

宁波沿海陆源排污口假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)分布特点

采用高通量454焦磷酸测序方法对宁波沿海2个重点排污口、8个一般排污口的20个站位水样进行分析, 得到2011年3月、5月、8月、10月份各排污口假单胞菌属的分布情况。结果表明, 宁波沿海陆源排污口中存在较多的假单胞菌属。在检出的假单胞菌属中, 维罗纳假单胞菌(Pseudomonas veronii)和莓实假单胞菌(Pseudomonas fragi)的含量相对较多, 分别占56.72%、13.904%; 排污口中假单胞菌属的数量存在季节性差异, 3月份、5月份假单胞菌的数量相对较多, 8月份和10月份较少, 推测与季节性温度变化有关; 假单胞菌属的含量与排污口的主要污染物有关, 氨氮含量较高的排污口假单胞菌属的含量更高。     

Transport and fate of Danube Delta terrestrial organic matter in the Northwest Black Sea mixing zone

Within the framework of the European project EROS 21, a biogeochemical study of particles transported from the Danube Delta to the Northwestern Black Sea whose carbon cycle is dominated by riverine inputs was carried out in spring off the Sulina branch of the Danube Delta. The distribution of particulate organic carbon (POC), chlorophyll a (Chl a), C/N, and δ¹³C evidenced an omnipresent contribution of terrestrial organic matter throughout the study area together with a dilution of these inputs by freshwater and marine organisms. Four lipid series, n-alkanoic acids, n-alkanes, n-alkanols, and sterols were analyzed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Several signature compounds were selected to delineate dispersion of terrestrial organic carbon: (1) long-chain n-alkanoic acids in the range C₂₄–C₃₄, long-chain n-alkanes in the range C₂₅–C₃₅, long-chain n-alkanols in the range C₂₂–C₃₀, 24-ethylcholesta-5,22-dien-3β-ol (29Δ^5,22) and 24-ethylcholesterol (29Δ⁵) for vascular plant-derived material and (2) coprostanol (27Δ^0,5β) for faecal contamination associated with sewage effluents. A marked decrease was observed between the concentrations of different vascular plant markers characterizing the two end members: riverine at salinity 0.3 and marine at salinity 15.5. The decrease observed for marine/riverine end members (expressed as a function of organic carbon) varied in a large range, from 4% for n-alkanes to 18.6%, 20.4% and 24% for n-fatty acids, n-alkanols and sterols, respectively. These values reflect a combination of various processes: size-selective particle sedimentation, resuspension of different particle pools of different sizes and ages, and/or selective biological utilization. The multi-marker approach also suggested the liberation in the mixing zone of terrestrial moieties, tightly trapped in macromolecular structures of the riverine material. The greatest decrease for marine/riverine end members was observed for coprostanol (0.9%), underlining the efficiency of the mixing zone as a sink for sewage-derived carbon.     

Increased toxicity of benzo(a)pyrene-7,8-dihydrodiol in the presence of polychlorobiphenylols

Benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) often co-exist in contaminated environments. Polychlorobiphenylols (OH-PCBs), formed by CYP-dependent monooxygenation of PCBs, are potent inhibitors of the glucuronidation of hydroxylated BaP metabolites. We hypothesized that OH-PCBs could drive the biotransformation of (−)BaP-7,8-dihydrodiol (BaP-7, 8-D) away from detoxication and towards formation of the reactive metabolite. A mixture of five OH-PCBs with 4–6 Cl atoms was infused into isolated, perfused, biliary intact livers (n=3 fish) removed from 3-methylcholanthrene-induced channel catfish. Controls (n=3) were infused with vehicle. Subsequently, [³H]-BaP-7, 8-D was infused into each liver and bile was collected for 1 h. The livers were taken for analysis of metabolites and DNA adducts. Induction status was confirmed by EROD assay. Bile was analyzed for metabolites. It was found that preinfusion of the mixture of OH-PCBs reduced the extent of glucuronidation of BaP-7, 8-D and increased the formation of DNA adducts 5-fold over controls. GSH conjugates, tetrols and triols were increased in the OH-PCB-infused fish, providing further support for our hypothesis that if the glucuronidation were inhibited, CYP-dependent activation would increase. These studies suggest a mechanism for synergy of toxicity of PAH and PCBs.     

北黄海泥质区多环芳烃与黑碳的沉积记录

在北黄海中部泥质区采集柱状沉积物样品,对多环芳烃(PAHs)和黑碳(BC)的含量和来源进行研究。结果表明:(1)PAHs的含量变化范围为207~611ng/g;BC的含量变化范围为0.560~1.32mg/g;(2)对比低分子量(LMW)和高分子量(HMW)PAHs含量的历史变化趋势,发现1980s之前的PAHs主要来自于生物质的低温燃烧,之后主要来自于化石燃料的高温热解;(3)1920s之前,PAHs与BC含量基本保持稳定且处于较低值。1920s-1980s,PAHs含量受工业化和煤炭发展的影响较大,开始出现增长趋势。1980-1990s,由于能源消耗量的大幅度增加,导致PAHs和BC的含量迅速升高并达到最大值(1996年)。1990s初期-2000s初期,由于清洁能源的使用等原因,PAHs与BC含量都开始下降。(4)对PAHs和BC含量进行Spearman相关性分析,得出在1920年之前和1920-1980年之间,BC和PAHs含量无显著性相关(r=-0.25,P0.05,n=34;r=0.06,P0.06,n=11);而1980年之后,BC和PAHs含量呈显著性相关(r=0.90,P=0.04,n=5)。     

Seasonal and spatial variability in plankton production and respiration in the Subtropical Gyres of the Atlantic Ocean

Euphotic zone plankton production (P) and respiration (R) were determined from the in vitro flux of dissolved oxygen during six latitudinal transects of the Atlantic Ocean, as part of the Atlantic Meridional Transect (AMT) programme. The transects traversed the North and South Atlantic Subtropical Gyres (N gyre, 18–38°N; S gyre, 11–35°S) in April–June and September–November 2003–2005. The route and timing of the cruises enabled the assessment of the seasonal variability of P, R and P/R in the N and S gyres, and the comparison of the previously unsampled N gyre centre with the more frequently sampled eastern edge of the gyre. Mean euphotic zone integrated rates (±SE) were P=63±23 (n=31), R=69±22 (n=30) mmol O₂ m⁻² d⁻¹ in the N gyre; and P=58±26 (n=30), R=62±24 (n=30) mmol O₂ m⁻² d⁻¹ in the S gyre. Overall, the N gyre was heterotrophic (R>P) and it was more heterotrophic than the S gyre, but the metabolic balance of both gyres changed with season. Both gyres were net heterotrophic in autumn, and balanced in spring. This seasonal contrast was most pronounced for the S gyre, because it was more autotrophic than the N gyre during spring. This may have arisen from differences in nitrate availability, because spring sampling in the S gyre coincided with periods of deep mixing to the nitracline, more frequently than spring sampling within the N gyre. Our results indicate that the N gyre is less heterotrophic than previous estimates suggested, and that there is an apparent decrease in R from the eastern edge to the centre of the N gyre, possibly indicative of an allochthonous organic carbon source to the east of the gyre.