Comparison of Enterococcus density estimates in marine beach and bay samples by real-time polymerase chain reaction, membrane filtration and defined substrate testing

Currently, densities of Enterococcus in marine bathing beach samples are performed using conventional methods which require 24 h to obtain results. Real-time PCR methods are available which can measure results in as little as 3 h. The purpose of this study was to evaluate a more rapid test method for the determination of bacterial contamination in marine bathing beaches to better protect human health. The geometric mean of Enterococcus densities using Enterolert® defined substrate testing and membrane filtration ranged from 5.2 to 150 MPN or CFU/100 mL and corresponding qPCR results ranged from 6.6 to 1785 CCE/100 mL. The regression analysis of these results showed a positive correlation between qPCR and conventional tests with an overall correlation (r) of 0.71. qPCR was found to provide accurate and sensitive estimate of Enterococcus densities and has the potential to be used as a rapid test method for the quantification of Enterococcus in marine waters.     

Reduction of bend scour with an air-bubble screen-morphology and flow patterns

The interplay between streamwise flow,curvature-induced secondary flow,sediment transport and bed morphology leads to the formation of a typical bar-pool bed morphology in open-channel bends.The associated scour at the outer bank and deposition at the inner bank may endanger the outer bank’s stability or reduce the navigable width of the channel.Previous preliminary laboratory experiments in a sharply curved flume with a fixed horizontal bed have shown that a bubble screen located near the outer bank can generate an additional secondary flow located between the outer bank and the curvature-induced secondary flow and with a sense of rotation opposite to the latter.This bubble-induced secondary flow redistributes velocities and bed shear stresses.The reported study investigates the implications of a bubble screen on the flow and the morphology in configurations with mobile bed.Velocity measurements show that the bubble-induced secondary flow shifts the curvature-induced secondary flow in inwards direction and reduces its strength.The bubble screen considerably reduces morphological gradients.Maximum bend scour is reduced by about 50%and occurs further away from the outer bank where it does not endanger the bank stability anymore.The location of maximum scour coincides with the junction of the curvature-induced and bubble-induced secondary flows.At this same location,the maximum streamwise velocities and maximum vertical velocities impinging on the bed also occur,which indicates their importance with respect to the formation of bend scour.The bubble screen also substantially reduced deposition at the inner bank.These preliminary experiments show the potential of a bubble screen to influence and modify the bed morphology.     

Identification of genes expressed in juvenile Haliotis rufescens in response to different copper concentrations in the north of Chile under controlled conditions

This study reports molecular markers potentially associated with resistance or sensitivity to the impact of copper in juvenile red abalone, Haliotis rufescens, in the north of Chile under experimental conditions. Genomic analysis was made applying subtractive hybridization libraries (SSH) to identify genes up-and down regulated during cooper exposure in abalone over periods of 12 and 168 h exposed to 2.5 and 10 μg/L of Cu⁺². Results obtained from the SSH library revealed 368 different sequences regulated by copper, that correspond to eight major physiological functions. The validation of these sequences obtained by SSH as well as their expression kinetics were made by PCR in real time on 14 potential genes regulated by metal stress. This study provides information for the characterization of potential genomic markers that may be used in future environmental monitoring and to investigate new mechanisms of stress to copper in this commercially important marine species.     

Regime shifts in the marine environment: the scientific basis and political context

Regime shifts in the marine environment have recently received much attention. To date, however, few large-scale meta-analyses have been carried out due to insufficient data coverage and integration between sustained observational datasets because of diverse methodologies used in data collection, recording and archival. Here we review the available data on regime shifts globally, followed by a review of current and planned policies with relevance to regime shifts.We then focus on the North and Baltic Seas, providing examples of existing efforts for data integration in the MarBEF Network of Excellence. Existing gaps in data coverage are identified, and the added value from meta-analyses of multiple datasets demonstrated using examples from the MarBEF integrated data project LargeNet. We discuss whether these efforts are addressing current policy needs and close with recommendations for future integrated data networks to increase our ability to understand, identify and predict recent and future regime shifts.     

Organic and inorganic matter in Louisiana coastal waters: Vermilion, Atchafalaya, Terrebonne, Barataria, and Mississippi regions

Chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) spectral absorption, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration, and the particulate fraction of inorganic (PIM) and organic matter (POM) were measured in Louisiana coastal waters at Vermilion, Atchafalaya, Terrebonne, Barataria, and Mississippi River locations, in 2007-2008. The range of CDOM was 0.092 m⁻¹ at Barataria in June 2008 to 11.225 m⁻¹ at Mississippi in February 2008. An indicator of organic matter quality was predicted by the spectral slope of absorption coefficients from 350 to 412 nm which was between 0.0087 m⁻¹ at Mississippi in May 2008 and 0.0261 m⁻¹ at Barataria in June 2008. CDOM was the dominant component of light attenuation at Terrebonne and Barataria. Detritus and CDOM were the primary components of light attenuation at Vermilion, Atchafalaya, and Mississippi. DOC ranged between 65 and 1235 μM. PIM ranged between 1.1 and 426.3 mg L⁻¹ and POM was between 0.3 and 49.6 mg L⁻¹.     

Anthropogenic organic contaminants in water, sediments and benthic organisms of the mangrove-fringed Segara Anakan Lagoon, Java, Indonesia

Segara Anakan, a mangrove-fringed coastal lagoon in Indonesia, has a high diversity of macrobenthic invertebrates and is increasingly affected by human activities. We found >50 organic contaminants in water, sediment and macrobenthic invertebrates from the lagoon most of which were polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs). Composition of PACs pointed to petrogenic contamination in the eastern lagoon. PACs mainly consisted of alkylated PAHs, which are more abundant in crude oil than parent PAHs. Highest total PAC concentration in sediment was above reported toxicity thresholds for aquatic invertebrates. Other identified compounds derived from municipal sewage and also included novel contaminants like triphenylphosphine oxide. Numbers of stored contaminants varied between species which is probably related to differences in microhabitat and feeding mode. Most contaminants were detected in Telescopium telescopium and Polymesoda erosa. Our findings suggest that more attention should be paid to the risk potential of alkylated PAHs, which has hardly been addressed previously.     

利用变形河流阶地限定帕米尔北缘木什背斜的缩短、隆升和侧向扩展

位于帕米尔前缘逆冲推覆体(Pamir Front Thrust,PFT)东端的木什滑脱背斜,是帕米尔弧形推覆构造带最前缘和最新的变形带。对地形横剖面、纵剖面和水系发育特征的分析表明,木什背斜总体上具有由西向东扩展生长的特征。在背斜核部及北翼发育数级开阔平坦的沿轴向展布的河流阶地,阶地可划分为4期。利用阶地堆积细颗粒石英光释光测年获得阶地面T2a、T3和T4的形成年龄分别为(15.8±2.40)ka、(55.1±10.3)ka、(131.4±23.9)ka。伴随背斜的生长扩展,河流阶地面发生了横向和纵向掀斜,并形成断层陡坎和褶皱陡坎。木什背斜晚第四纪的缩短和隆升主要是通过褶皱翼旋转机制进行的,估算其最小缩短速率为(1.6±0.3)mm/a,最小隆升速率为(1.9±0.3)mm/a。与此同时,沿轴向背斜发生了向东的侧向迁移和旋转。根据背斜垂直隆升与侧向扩展之间的关系,估算背斜在131～16ka期间向东的侧向迁移扩展速率较快,为 (14.6±3.6)mm/a; 自16ka至今,侧向迁移扩展速率迅速减小至(1.7±0.3)mm/a,背斜向东的迁移扩展可能已基本停止,而以侧向旋转为主。