Upper Permian Main Dolomite microbial carbonates as potential source rocks for hydrocarbons (W Poland)

Various microbialite lithofacies were common in the shallow-water environments which flourished under highly saline and arid climate conditions in the Polish part of the Zechstein (Upper Permian) Main Dolomite (Ca2) carbonates. Data came from detailed analysis of 78 cores from wells located at the southern and northern margins of the Main Dolomite basin in west Poland. Microbialite lithofacies are represented by columnar, planar and domal stromatolites, clotted thrombolites and biolaminites developed in high-to-low energy environments within the upper slope, lower parts of oolitic barrier/shoal, restricted lagoon, and tidal flat and tidal channel zones. In barrier environments ooids were predominant whereas in lagoonal settings microbial oncoids and peloids were common. In basinal settings laminated dolomudstones formed which are regarded as hemipelagic and are partly pelagic microbial in origin. Microbial communities coexisted with algae and developed mainly within shallow marine environments. Microbialites are built of cyanobacterial filaments and organo-mineral coccoidal forms possibly of bacterial origin. Organic geochemistry data confirm that organic matter was transformed by cyanobacteria and bacteria which may have played a main role in hydrocarbon generation. This is confirmed by C₂₉ to C₃₅ hopanes, Pr/Ph ratio below 1.0, and the presence of gammacerane as typical for Ca2 profiles. The role and occurrence of algae, as confirmed by C₂₉-steranes, in hydrocarbon generation was possibly minor. Thus it is concluded that the Main Dolomite microbialites could be the likely source rocks for hydrocarbons, with calculated original TOC values from 0.8 to ca 2.0 wt. %. These units also form the reservoir rocks, with porosities reaching 20%.     

Effects of methyl testosterone exposure on sexual differentiation in medaka, Oryzias latipes.

Studies were conducted to characterize effects of a known androgen on sexual differentiation and development of medaka, Oryzias latipes (d-rR strain), at two life stages. Embryos were injected with graded doses of methyl testosterone (MT) prior to epiboly. The occurrence of sex-reversal, and the gonadosomatic index (GSI) were evaluated in adults. Primary germ cells were counted and gonad volumes calculated for larvae to determine if sex-reversal could be detected at an early life stage. Sex-reversal of genetic females to phenotypic males was observed at both life stages. The GSI for phenotypic females was greater than for phenotypic males, while the GSI in XX males was similar to XY males. MT appeared to reduce the GSI of XX females exposed to MT but not sex-reversed. Our results indicate that embryonic exposure to androgens influences sexual development in medaka. Utilizing the d-rR strain of medaka allows detection of an effect as early as 2 weeks after chemical exposure making this a useful tool to screen chemicals for effects on sexual differentiation.     

海洋浮游微食物网结构及其影响因素

微食物环是海洋生态系统中重要的物质和能量过程,是传统食物链的有效补充。微食物环研究是当前海洋生态学研究的热点之一,但对其结构的系统研究较少,海洋微食物网结构在2000年才被Garrison提出。尽管微食物网各个类群的丰度在不同海洋环境中有相对变化,但是这些变化都处于一定的范围之内,其丰度结构约为纤毛虫10 cell ml-1、鞭毛虫103 cell ml-1、微微型真核浮游生物104 cell ml-1、蓝细菌104-5 cell ml-1、异养细菌106 cell ml-1、病毒107 particle ml-1。海洋浮游食物链中捕食者和饵料生物粒径的最佳比值为10:1,实际研究中该比值会略低,例如纤毛虫与其饵料的粒径比值为8:1,鞭毛虫为3:1。Pico和Nano浮游植物的丰度比（Pico:Nano）是研究微食物网结构的指数之一,该指数具有不受研究尺度影响的优点,可用于研究区域性和全球性微食物网结构。近年来,学者们从多角度对海洋微食物网的结构开展了研究,不同海区微食物网各类群丰度、生物量的时间和空间变化研究有很多报道,微食物网的结构可受空间、季节、摄食、营养盐等多种因素影响。在对不同空间微食物网的研究中,学者往往研究不同物理性质的水团中各类群生物丰度的不同,以此来表征微食物网结构的不同;同一海区微食物网结构的季节变化也是使用各个类群丰度和生物量的变化来表示,该变化主要受水文环境因素影响。摄食者对微食物网各类生物的影响通过三种途径：1. 中型浮游动物摄食;2. 中型浮游动物摄食微型浮游动物,通过营养级级联效应影响低营养级生物;3. 中型浮游动物通过释放溶解有机物、营养盐影响细菌和低营养级生物。浮游植物通过产生化感物质和溶解有机物影响微食物网结构,而营养盐的浓度及变化则可以对微食物网产生直接或间接影响。     

Stratigraphic framework of gas accumulations in the Ría de Pontevedra (NW Spain)

Knowledge of marine geological environments in which shallow gas is accumulating is becoming increasingly important in global studies of climate change because a measurable proportion of the total methane source comes from continental margins. Previous studies have revealed that coastal environments represent important geological environments where microbial methane is being generated, is accumulating, and is being released. In the Ría de Pontevedra, at least 4.5 km² of seafloor in the innermost part of the ría is underlain by sediments containing natural gas. Seismic interpretation contributes new findings for the definition of periods and geological environments in which the gas could have been generated, and is accumulating and released in the Ría de Pontevedra. Groundtruthing the seismic data (facies, environments) makes it possible to identify favourable geological environments for gas generation in the sedimentary infill of the Ría de Pontevedra. Sequence stratigraphy based on high-resolution seismic profiles and post-Last Glacial Maximum sea-level records makes it possible to establish the stratigraphic architecture of the ría and to define the periods in which gas could have been generated. The results of this study show that the sedimentary infill is composed of a fifth-order sequence developed since the Last Glacial Maximum. Within this sequence, gas appears to have accumulated in the Holocene deposits associated with the latest transgressive and highstand system tracts. Seismic analysis shows that gas could have been generated in different geological environments in the Ría de Pontevedra. If coastal environments at times of lower sea level were similar to those of the present, organic-rich mud deposits (deposited mainly in lakes, estuaries and floodplains) could have survived transgression and remained buried as potential gas sources in the inner part of the ría.     

东海三疣梭子蟹第一次卵巢发育规律的研究

2004年7月至2005年4月在舟山海区定点连续采样,系统研究了东海三疣梭子蟹卵巢发育期间的卵巢指数(GSI)、肝胰腺指数(HSI)、卵巢外部特征、卵巢发育分期及其组织学的变化.结果表明:东海三疣梭子蟹生殖蜕壳和交配主要发生在9~10月,产卵主要在3~4月,卵巢发育早期不同个体间的GSI差异较大,后期则趋于同步;三疣梭子蟹卵巢发育期间,GSI显著增加,HSI呈现先上升后下降的趋势,GSI和HSI呈负相关性;根据GSI、卵巢形态特征和组织学变化等,三疣梭子蟹卵巢发育可以分为6期,Ⅰ期卵巢呈透明细带状,雌体尚未生殖蜕壳,卵巢中主要为卵原细胞(OG)和卵黄合成前的卵母细胞(PR);Ⅱ期卵巢呈乳白色,主要为卵黄合成前的卵母细胞(PR)和内源性卵黄合成期的卵母细胞(EN);Ⅲ期卵巢为淡黄色或橘黄色,主要为外源性卵黄合成期的卵母细胞(EX);Ⅳ期卵巢呈橘红色,主要为近成熟的卵母细胞(NO),卵径为200~300μm;Ⅴ期卵巢发育成熟,主要为成熟期的卵母细胞(MO);Ⅵ期卵巢呈淡橘红色,已排卵,卵巢中主要为排卵后剩余的基膜和滤泡核.     

三份南海岛礁珊瑚砂样品中可培养细菌多样性

岛礁珊瑚砂环境中存在着大量未被培养和利用的微生物资源, 微生物多样性研究是了解微生物生态功能、开发和利用微生物资源的基础。文章采用多种寡营养培养基选择性分离南海岛礁珊瑚砂中的可培养细菌, 共获得纯培养细菌菌株349株, 通过16S rRNA基因序列分析, 发现它们隶属于4门(Actinobacteria、Proteobacteria、Firmicutes和Bacteroidetes)、6纲、26目、43科、73属、134种, 可培养细菌的优势类群为放线菌门, 占所有分离菌株数量的60%; 而且还发现18个16S rRNA 基因序列相似性低于97%的潜在新种。本研究使用改良优化的寡营养培养基进行分离, 较好地显示出样品中微生物的群落组成, 且获得了大量潜在的稀有新物种资源。研究结果表明, 岛礁珊瑚砂样品的可培养细菌资源十分丰富、细菌群落所涉及的生态功能完整、潜在新种比例较高, 为后期岛礁微生物资源挖掘打下了良好的基础, 也为后期开发应用积累了丰富且稀有的菌种资源。     

北黄海水中辐照度的分布变化特征

本文对北黄海５次现场调查中获得的水中辐照度资料，应用统计分析方法，建立辐照度随水深变化的关系模式，分析辐照度的垂直衰减特性。结果表明：辐照度随水深按指数函数规律衰减；辐照度垂直衰减系数Ｋ有明显的季节变化和区域特征；不同水层的Ｋ值各不相同，Ｋ的变化存在分层结构。     

Reproductive cycle,size at first maturation and fecundity in the golden ling,Genypterus blacodes,in Chile

Reproductive aspects of the golden ling, Genypterus blacodes, from the southern Chilean fishery are presented. Gonad samples were obtained from commercially caught fish between September 1999 and October 2000. Stage of sexual maturity, gonadosomatic index (GSI), and size of females at 50% maturation determined by logistic methods and by plotting the mean GSI by total length, are presented for both years. Batch fecundity was calculated from subsampling mature ovaries containing oocytes in advanced stages of maturity. Changes in GSI and monthly diameters of oocytes showed that ling had a spawning season which extended between August and November. The sizes at first maturity in 1999 and 2000 were 86.6 and 84.8 cm total length (TL), respectively, using the logistic model, and 84 cm for both years using the mean GSI‐size plotting method. The mean batch fecundity was 333 330 oocytes per individual for fish sized 85–120 cm TL. Fecundity increased with increasing weight and total length.     

Lipid biomarkers for anaerobic oxidation of methane and sulphate reduction in cold seep sediments of Nyegga pockmarks (Norwegian margin): discrepancies in contents and carbon isotope signatures

Distributions and carbon isotopic compositions of microbial lipid biomarkers were investigated in sediment cores from the G11 and G12 pockmarks in the Nyegga sector of the Storegga Slide on the mid-Norwegian margin to explore differences in depth zonation, type and carbon assimilation mode of anaerobic methane-oxidizing archaea (ANMEs) and associated sulphate-reducing bacteria responsible for anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) in these cold seep environments. While the G11 site is characterised by black reduced sediments colonized by gastropods and Siboglinidae tubeworms, the G12 site has black reduced sediments devoid of fauna but surrounded by a peripheral occurrence of gastropods and white filamentous microbial mats. At both sites, bulk sediments contained abundant archaeal and bacterial lipid biomarkers substantially depleted in ¹³C, consisting mainly of isoprenoidal hydrocarbons and dialkyl glycerol diethers, fatty acids and non-isoprenoidal monoalkylglycerol ethers. At the G11 site, down-core profiles revealed that lipid biomarkers were in maximum abundance from 10 cm depth to the core bottom at 16 cm depth, associated with δ¹³C values of ?57 to ?136‰. At the G12 site, by contrast, lipid biomarkers were in high abundance in the upper 5 cm sediment layer, associated with δ¹³C values of ?43 to ?133‰. This suggests that, as expected from the benthic fauna characteristics of the sites, AOM takes place mainly at depth in the G11 pockmark but just below the seafloor in the G12 pockmark. These patterns can be explained largely by variable fluid flow rates. Furthermore, at both sites, a dominance of ANME-2 archaea accompanied by their bacterial partners is inferred based on lipid biomarker distributions and carbon isotope signatures, which is in agreement with recently published DNA analyses for the G11 pockmark. However, the present data reveal high discrepancies in the contents and δ¹³C values for both archaeal and bacterial lipid profiles, implying the possible involvement of at least two distinct AOM-related microbial consortia at the inferred AOM depth zonation of G11 and G12 pockmark sediments. In both sediment cores, the δ¹³C profiles for most archaeal lipids suggest a direct assimilation of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in addition to methane by ANMEs (chemoautotrophy); constant and highly depleted δ¹³C profiles for PMI:3, an archaeal lipid biomarker presumably related to ANME-2, suggest a direct assimilation of ¹³C-depleted methane-derived carbon via AOM (methanotrophy). Evidently, the common approach of investigating lipid biomarker contents and δ¹³C signatures in cold seep sediments does not suffice to precisely discriminate between the carbon assimilation mode for each ANME archaeal group and associated bacteria. Rather, this needs to be combined with further specific labelling studies including different carbon sources (methane carbon, methane-derived organic intermediates and DIC) in order to unravel the metabolic pathways of each microbial consortium involved in AOM (ANME-1 vs. ANME-2 vs. ANME-3 archaeal group and associated bacteria).     

种植盐地碱蓬修复滨海盐渍土效果的研究

利用盐生植物——盐地碱蓬进行天津河口滨海盐碱地的生物修复。通过比较种植盐地碱蓬土壤和对照土壤的电导率、有机质和微生物数量的差异等研究了其修复效果。结果表明，种植区碱蓬根际土壤的电导率与对照土壤相比下降了13％；有机质和总氮与对照土壤相比分别增加43％和18％；根际土壤的微生物数量明显增加，放线菌和真菌分别比对照增加了5倍和16倍。根际微生物优势种群的盐耐受性结果显示，部分根际土壤的优势种群的盐耐受性明显下降，耐盐性较低的微生物种群已成为优势种群。以上结果表明，种植盐地碱蓬对改善滨海盐碱地的生态有明显的效果。     

Effects of commercial dragging on sedimentary organic matter

The effect of commercial dragging on sedimentary organic matter was examined in two field experiments using different types of gear. A heavy scallop dredge caused two types of organic matter translocation—some of the surficial organic matter was exported from the drag site and the remaining material was mixed into subsurface sediments. Phospholipid analysis indicated decreases in various classes of microbial, with relative increases in the contribution of anaerobic bacteria to the microbial community. An other trawl that largely remained above the sediment-water interface caused little change in organic matter profiles, although ⁷Be profiles suggest an export of the surficial horizon. Sediment mixing by some types of gear will likely result in burial of labile organic matter and hence may shift sediment metabolism toward microbial and anaerobic food chains.     

Microbial activity in natural and organically enriched intertidal sediments near Nelson,New Zealand

Two measures of microbial activity were used to characterise a variety of sediment habitats in three intertidal inlets in the Nelson region, South Island, New Zealand. Rates of microbial mineralisation potential and epibenthic microalgal production were compared with sediment textures, concentrations of photosynthetic pigments, ATP concentrations, and organic and inorganic nutrients. Baseline ranges for these parameters were established for relatively undisturbed estuarine sites for assessing future environmental deterioration and for comparison with sites affected by organic enrichment. Sediment mineralisation rates were increased more than 1000‐fold by enrichment from a fruit processing plant and microalgal production was enhanced by more than 50‐fold at a site exposed to slaughterhouse wastes. The remaining variables, although often strongly correlated with activity measurements, were not as sensitive as measures of enrichment. Sediment microbial activity measurements are proposed as a means of detecting changes in nutrient status of estuarine environments.     

Adsorption of extracellular proteases in seawater onto filters during size fractionation

In aquatic environments extracellular enzymes are bound to microbial cells or exist in a free and adsorbed state. Various filters have been used to fractionate these enzymatic activities, but enzymes may be readily adsorbed onto some materials, and such adsorption can induce errors in the estimation of enzymatic activity. In this study we examined three filters to determine the most suitable filter for fractionation when estimating proteolytic enzyme activity in seawater. We found that the polycarbonate Nuclepore membrane, widely used for size fractionation because of its pore-size accuracy, was the most favorable for this purpose, even though it adsorbed slightly more enzymes than the low-protein-binding polyethersulfone membrane. We also found that trypsin-and chymotrypsin-type enzymes were more easily adsorbed than aminopeptidases.     

Comparison of community structures between particle-associated and free-living prokaryotes in tropical and subtropical Pacific Ocean surface waters

The subtropical and tropical regions of the Pacific Ocean are less productive than other oceanic regions. Although particle association should be an important strategy for heterotrophic prokaryotes to survive in such environments, we have little information on particle-associated (PA) prokaryotes in these regions. The specific aim of this study was to determine bacterial and archaeal community structures in the PA assemblage in comparison to the free-living (FL) assemblage in the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, the South Pacific Subtropical Gyre, and an eastern equatorial region of the Pacific Ocean. Community profiles and phylogenetic identities were obtained by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, 454-pyrosequencing, and cloning followed by Sanger sequencing of 16Sr RNA gene amplicons. The distribution patterns of some abundant groups in three regions and two lifestyles (PA and FL) are shown in this study. Also, the PA community structures of bacteria differed from the FL ones and exhibited higher diversity than the FL ones, while the archaeal community structures did not show significant differences between PA and FL assemblages. We found that specific phylotypes of Gammaproteobacteria and Flavobacteria were abundant in PA bacterial assemblages, suggesting that they prefer to attach and consume particulate organic matter. In summary, the surface seawater PA assemblages represent very different bacterial and archaeal community structures between three different oceanic regions, each of which had distinct PA and FL community structures. These results imply that environmental factors determine microbial community structures.     

北极深海沉积物中细菌和古菌群落结构研究

在北极深海沉积物生态系统中,微生物的群落结构由有机质输入、能量的可用性及其他环境因素决定.然而,全球气候变暖及其导致的冰盖提前融化正在影响微生物的多样性.为描述北极深海沉积物中的微生物群落结构及其与环境因素的相关性,我们利用罗氏454对北极深海沉积物样品的16S rDNA扩增子进行了测序,对细菌和古菌群落的丰富度、成分、结构及其系统发育分类地位进行了描述.硫还原和化能有机营养类是细菌群落中的主要类群;而古细菌群落主要是由微生物的关系最为密切的氨氧化奇古菌门(96.66%)和产甲烷古生菌界(3.21%).这项研究描述了北极极点附近深海沉积物(> 3500米)中的微生物多样性,将为以后研究类似环境中微生物代谢过程和途径等功能分析奠定基础.     

Effect of different biological solutions on microbially induced carbonate precipitation and reinforcement of sand

Abstract

Sporosarcina pasteurii is widely used in the application of microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) for various applications, such as ground reinforcement, erosion mitigation or stabilization of sand foreshore slopes. This study focuses on the effect of thallus resuspended by the fresh medium (RF) on urea hydrolysis, MICP, and sand reinforcement compared with untreated biological solutions (US) with high microbial concentration. The principle is investigated by tests on thallus resuspended by saline solution [NaCl (0.9%)] (RS) and supernatant (SS). The results indicate that the addition of the fresh medium is insignificant for promoting MICP and even has a slightly negative effect on urea hydrolysis and sand improvement for stationary phase bacteria. The ability of US to hydrolyze urea and MICP is derived from two sources: urease existing in the cell bodies and free urease existing in solution for lysis of partial cells, with urease in cells accounting for the majority. The preferable sand reinforcement of US is primarily due to the high amount of carbonate precipitation and formation of non-biological calcium carbonate located primarily in the pores. The results indicate that the preference of US in various engineering applications with lower cost for the realizable reinforcement.     

Virioplankton distribution and activity in a tropical eutrophicated bay

The study of lysogeny in aquatic systems is an often overlooked aspect of microbial ecology, especially in tropical environments. Herein, the fraction of lysogenized cells (FLC) was detected in the surface waters of 20 coastal stations distributed from the eutrophicated shoreline to seaward waters of Hann Bay (Senegal). Concurrently, viral lytic infection rates were extrapolated from the frequency of visibly infected bacterial cells (FVIC), as determined from transmission electron microscopy observations. The experimental induction of prophage was observed in less than 3% of indigenous marine bacteria, suggesting that lysogenic stages of infection are rare in Hann Bay. Similarly, only 0.5–4.7% of bacteria showed visible signs of lytic infection. However, the positive correlation between the fraction of lysogenic and lytic cells (r = 0.67, p < 0.05, n = 20) may actually indicate that the coexistence of both lifestyles may be due to the massive and rapid induction of lysogens, potentially from the high levels of local UV radiation. Overall, we suggest that the determination of FVIC and FLC to examine the predominance of one type of cycle versus the other may be a source of misinterpretation in some particular aquatic environments.     

Types and characters of sub-bottom acoustic reflection in eastern part of Bohai Sea

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Estimation of Seasonal Representation of the Sea Water Temperature Profile Using Machine Learning and Its Effect on the Prediction of Underwater Acoustic Detection Performance

Ocean Science Journal - Seawater temperature and salinity profiles are important physical properties that represent oceanic environments and affect underwater acoustic detection prediction...     

Meiofauna in closed coastal saline lagoons in the United Kingdom: Structure and biodiversity of the nematode assemblage

Coastal saline lagoons are rare in North West Europe and tend to be closed, brackish water systems. In the United Kingdom they are small and isolated, each exhibiting extremely variable habitat conditions, both spatially and temporally. This paper represents the first species-level study of lagoonal nematode assemblages in the UK. Samples were taken from seven ponds in a saline lagoon system on the south coast of England in order to describe the nematode assemblage in relation to habitat type and to assess the possibility of lagoonal specialisation. At each site samples were also taken, or data were already available, for salinity, sediment granulometry, sediment organic carbon content, photosynthetic pigments and lagoon topography.