The amphipod Talitrus saltator as a bioindicator of human trampling on sandy beaches

The present paper assesses the use of the supralittoral amphipod Talitrus saltator as a bioindicator of the effects of human trampling on the supralittoral sandy band. Samplings in delimited areas were carried out at sites subjected to different human impact. The results showed a strong negative correlation between the number of swimmers and the sandhopper population density, while there was no clear relationship between sandhopper abundance and the other factors considered: granulometry, compactness and organic carbon content of the sand, and trace metal contents in the sand and sandhoppers. A field test of trampling conducted in a confined space showed its direct negative effect on sandhopper survival. However, trace metal analysis confirmed the ability of T. saltator to bioaccumulate some elements (Hg, Zn, Cu, Cd). Our study demonstrates that T. saltator is a good bioindicator of human impact in the supralittoral zone of sandy shores.     

Protein carbonyls and antioxidant defenses in corkwing wrasse (Symphodus melops) from a heavy metal polluted and a PAH polluted site

The use of fish in environmental monitoring has become increasingly important in recent years as anthropogenic substances, many of which function as prooxidants, are accumulating in aquatic environments. We have measured a battery of antioxidant defenses as a measure of oxidative status, as well as protein carbonylation as a measure of oxidative damage, in corkwing wrasse (Symphodus melops) captured near a disused copper mine, where water and sediment are contaminated with heavy metals, and an aluminum smelter, a site contaminated with PAHs. Results were compared to two different reference sites. Fish at the heavy metal site had lower glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and elevated protein carbonyls (1.8 times) compared to fish from the reference site. At the PAH site, EROD was increased 2-fold, while total glutathione and methemoglobin reductase concentration, were decreased. No differences were seen in protein carbonyl levels at the PAH site. Measures of both antioxidant defenses and oxidative damage should be used when assessing effects of xenobiotics on oxidative stress in fish species.     

Diagnosis of trace metal contamination in sediments: the example of Ensenada and El Sauzal, two harbors in Baja California, Mexico

Total metal concentrations in sediments from within Ensenada and El Sauzal Harbors are generally higher than at the mouths. Grain-size analyses suggested that this enrichment could be due to the presence of fine-grained sediments in the inner part of the harbors rather than to anthropogenic perturbations. The (Me/Al)(sample) ratios for Pb, Co, Ni and Fe were significantly higher for Ensenada Harbor relative to El Sauzal Harbor, whereas the ratios for Cd, Mn, Zn and Cu were statistically equivalent for both harbors. Calculated enrichment factors [EF(Me)=(Me/Al)(sample)/(Me/Al)(shale)] indicated that the metals showing slight enrichment were those associated with anthropogenic contamination (Pb, Zn), or probably related to primary productivity in the water column (Cd, Co). The levels of most of the metals were not greatly enriched, a consideration that is of the utmost importance when contamination issues are at stake.     

Comet assay in phytoplankton as biomarker of genotoxic effects of environmental pollution

The alkaline comet assay was tested on different microalgae: the dinoflagellates, Karenia mikimotoi and Alexandrium minutum, and the diatom, Chaetoceros gracilis. The microalgae were exposed during their exponential growth to the model direct genotoxicant, hydrogen peroxide (1h, 5 and 100muM H2O2). Following H2O2 exposure, the comet assay was validated only for K. mikimotoi for which genotoxicity was observed from the lowest tested concentration of 5 microM with a concentration-dependent effect. C. gracilis was too small in size (4 microm) to be correctly analysed. For A. minutum, our lysis buffer was not strong enough to digest the cellulosic thecal plates. For K. mikimotoi, the comet assay was thus applied for the study of the genotoxic effects of different pesticides: epoxiconazole (as Opus formulation), chlorpyriphos-ethyl (as Dursban formulation) and endosulfan at 1, 10 and 100 microg of active substance/L for 24h. Exposure to epoxiconazole in formulation resulted in an increase in the extent of DNA strand breaks at the highest tested concentration icro/L. Endosulfan exposure resulted in DNA damage for K. mikimotoi nuclei. Genotoxicity was observed from 1 microg/L of endosulfan and was not concentration dependent.     

对虾传染性肌肉坏死病研究进展

对虾传染性肌肉坏死病(infectious myonecrosis,IMN)最初于2002年8月爆发于巴西Piaui州的凡纳滨对虾(Litopenaeus vannamei)养殖场,并很快在巴西东北沿岸蔓延开来,目前已传至亚洲.2004年,经美国亚利桑那大学(University of Arizona)水产病害实验室研究,该病为一种新的对虾疾病,根据其症状,暂定名为传染性肌肉坏死病.     

不同倍性大黄鱼核仁数目银染观察

用银染法对不同倍性(单倍体、正常二倍体、正常三倍体、雌核发育二倍体、雌核发育鱼子代三倍体)大黄鱼胚胎、仔鱼或成鱼的不同组织进行细胞核仁数目观察计数。结果表明,大黄鱼各种倍性个体细胞核仁数目与染色体倍性之间有良好的对应关系,且核仁数随个体倍性的增加而增加;非诱导雌核发育的大黄鱼细胞核仁众数与染色体组数相等(二倍体为2,三倍体为3),而人工诱导雌核发育大黄鱼及其子代细胞核仁众数却比其相同倍性的非雌核发育鱼少1(雌核发育二倍体为1,雌核发育三倍体为2)。雌核发育鱼核仁数减少是一个非常有趣的现象,值得进一步研究。大黄鱼不同发育阶段(胚胎、仔鱼、成鱼)以及同一个体不同组织(鳃、肾、鳍)的细胞核仁数目(众数)相同。因此,借助核仁银染法可以快速、可靠、简便地进行染色体倍性鉴定。而雌核发育鱼核仁数减少的机理值得进一步研究。     

海洋工程项目生态建设方案研究

为完善海洋工程项目的海洋环境影响评价和促进海洋生态文明建设,文章根据相关实践经验,从原则和依据、定位、生态空间和生态景观格局、污染物排放和控制、生态修复和补偿以及监测计划和保障等方面提出生态建设方案的内容,按照项目建设前、项目规划、项目设计和项目实施的全过程设置方案的程序,并以案例项目具体说明。在此基础上,总结目前海洋工程项目生态建设亟待解决的问题,即生态建设及其相关活动需重新定义、方案实施过程和效果的检验和评估无制度和规范保障以及方案编制缺乏整体性和区域性。     

一种自然邻近关系查询的空间索引结构

自然邻近关系在空间数据库管理系统中具有十分重要的地位。为了克服Voronoi图受空间目标位置的影响,本文采用约束Delaunay三角网,针对在二维欧式空间中离散面目标的自然邻近关系查询问题。首先对离散面进行三角剖分,然后将代表相同邻近关系的三角形合并成一个union,进而建立面目标自然邻近关系表达结构-Unions Delaunay。通过与Unions Delaunay相结合建立空间索引结构-R-tree Gridfile来实现对空间目标自然邻居完备的候选集提取以及索引结构的更新。对比实验结果表明R-tree Gridfile索引结构能够有效支持空间目标的自然邻近关系查询。     

The Relationship between Model Biases in East Asian Summer Monsoon Rainfall and Land Evaporation

The East Asian Summer Monsoon(EASM) provides the majority of annual rainfall to countries in East Asia.Although state-of-the-art models broadly project increased EASM rainfall, the spread of projections is large and simulations of present-day rainfall show significant climatological biases. Systematic evapotranspiration biases occur locally over East Asia, and globally over land, in simulations both with and without a coupled ocean. This study explores the relationship between evapotranspiration...