Microbial Diversity in Nankai Trough Sediments at a Depth of 3,843 m

Dense populations of bivalves, primarily Calyptogena sp., were observed at cold seeps of the Nankai Trough. Bacterial input to the sediment was estimated through determination of phospholipid ester-linked fatty acid (PLFA) and DNA profiles. Results indicated a bacterial biomass of 10⁹ cells (g dry wt)^-1 while individual fatty acid profiles revealed a predominance of monounsaturated fatty acids, mainly 18:1 isomers. The presence of these fatty acids can be interpreted to reflect a response to low temperature and a predominance of psychrophilic bacteria. DNA fragments encoding bacterial ribosomal RNA small-subunit sequences (16S rDNA) were amplified by the polymerase chain reaction method using DNA extracted directly from the sediment samples. From the sequencing results, at least 19 kinds of bacterial 16S rDNAs related to mostly the Proteobacteria and a few gram-positive bacteria were identified. These results suggest that the bacterial community in the Nankai Trough sediments consists of mainly bacteria belonging to the Proteobacteria , , and subdivisions. Bacteria belonging to the and subdivisions, which are known to include epibiont and sulfate reducing bacteria, respectively, were mostly detected in the sediment obtained from inside the area of the Calyptogena community, and the -Proteobacteria may function to supply reduced sulfur to bacterial endosymbionts of Calyptogena.     

逆转座子序列插入——海湾扇贝过氧化物还原酶V 第1 内含子分析

根据海湾扇贝(Argopecten irradians)过氧化物还原酶V(AiPrxV)的cDNA序列和部分基因组DNA序列设计引物,采用基因组步移方法扩增获得其第1内含子(I1)完整序列,并通过Blast比对、DNAMAN和RepFind搜索进行序列分析。AiPrxV I1长8 565bp,占AiPrxV基因全长的68%,AT%显著高于GC%。在5 900-6 700bp的区域中包含了不完整的编码区,经分析与文昌鱼、海胆的逆转录酶有极高的相似性,其N端与多种动植物逆转座子的逆转录酶C端具有相似特征。此外,发现AiPrxV I1中包含283个重复序列,在3 500-4 000bp和6 800-7 200bp区域尤为密集。以上特点提示海湾扇贝过氧化物还原酶V第1内含子可能是由一个非长末端重复元件逆转座子(non-LTR retrotransposons)插入,逐渐演变而形成的。     

A Lagrangian particle random walk model for simulating a deep-sea hydrothermal plume with both buoyant and non-buoyant features

This paper presents a computational model of simulating a deep-sea hydrothermal plume based on a Lagrangian particle random walk algorithm. This model achieves the efficient process to calculate a numerical plume developed in a fluid-advected environment with the characteristics such as significant filament intermittency and significant plume meander due to flow variation with both time and location. Especially, this model addresses both non-buoyant and buoyant features of a deep-sea hydrothermal plume in three dimensions, which significantly challenge a strategy for tracing the deep-sea hydrothermal plume and localizing its source. This paper also systematically discusses stochastic initial and boundary conditions that are critical to generate a proper numerical plume. The developed model is a powerful tool to evaluate and optimize strategies for the tracking of a deep-sea hydrothermal plume via an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV).     

The role of mindanao dome in the variability of the Pacific North equatorial current bifurcation

The Mindanao Dome (MD) features prominent oceanic variability and is located geographically close to the bifurcation latitude Y _b of the Pacific North Equatorial Current. In this study, the role of the MD in the variability of Y _b is examined with 20 years of satellite altimetric sea surface height (SSH) data and a 1.5-layer linear Rossby wave model. It is shown that the seasonal variations of surface Y _b are related to not only the SSH fluctuations near the bifurcation point (bifurcation box; 125°–130°E, 12°–15°N) but also those outstanding in the MD region (MD box; 127°–132°E, 6°–9°N). The impact of the MD SSH changes is significant when the bifurcation point stays at southerly latitudes during February–September, which hinders (delays) the southward leap (northward retreat) of Y _b in April–May (July–August) and thus leads to the asymmetry of the mean Y _b seasonal cycle (with a positive skewness of γ = +0.64). Such asymmetry also shows year-to-year variations depending on yearly mean Y _b value. A southerly yearly mean Y _b involves larger contribution of the MD and thus causes larger asymmetry of Y _b seasonal cycle. At interannual and longer timescales, the MD acts to amplify the fluctuations of the bifurcation. It is responsible for about 20 % of the total low-frequency Y _b variances and plays an important role in the 0.12° year^?1 southward trend of Y _b in the past two decades. The impact of the MD on Y _b changes is becoming increasingly significant at various timescales such as the bifurcation point migrating southward in recent years.     

胶州湾海域PAHs 污染与可培养半知菌的多样性

用5种不同的培养基对胶州湾近岸污染环境可培养半知菌进行选择性分离,共得到235株半知菌,其中YM培养基、MPDA培养基对半知菌的分离效果最好,分别占分离总量的26.4%和24.7%。试验选择的3个站位：石老人潮间带、海泊河入海口、李村河入海口PAHs含量存在显著性差异(P<0.05),其中石老人最低,平均为113.8 ng/g,海泊河 PAHs 为324.9 ng/g,介于中等水平,李村河含量最高为882.1 ng/g。可培养半知菌群体随PAHs含量的增加表现出先升高后降低的趋势。对各站位的半知菌进行统计发现,污染不同的站位,可培养半知菌优势种群不同,说明PAHs的污染可对半知菌的菌落结构组成产生影响。     

笛鲷属(Lutjanus)鱼类线粒体16S rRNA基因序列比较及系统学分析

对笛鲷属9种鱼的线粒体DNA16S rRNA基因片段进行了PCR扩增,扩增产物经纯化后测序,得到了长度为561bp的分析序列。结合GenBank中的另外9种笛鲷的16S rRNA同源序列计算得出A、T、G、C的含量平均为28.5%、22.1%、23.6%和25.8%,AT含量稍高于GC含量,18种笛鲷碱基组成差异不大。利用MEGA3.1软件对所得序列进行比对后检测到72个变异位点,其中包括简约信息位点44个,在变异位点中75.61%的碱基替换是由于发生了转换,转换/颠换平均为3.1︰1。计算了种间的遗传距离,结果表明,序列差异在0.0193-0.0680之间,其中勒氏笛鲷和金焰笛鲷、勒氏笛鲷和金带笛鲷的序列差异最小,而红鳍笛鲷和金焰笛鲷、红鳍笛鲷和画眉笛鲷的序列差异最大。选用高体四长棘鲷(Argyrops spinifer)为外群,利用NJ法构建了分子系统树,结果表明:本研究中的9种南海笛鲷与其它9种笛鲷进化关系较远;并且南海9种笛鲷相互之间仍然保持着着相对较远的遗传距离,遗传多样性较好。     

Ecophysiological characteristics of invasive Spartina alterniflora and native species in salt marshes of Yangtze River estuary,China

Biological invasions represent one of the significant components of global change. A comparative study of invaders and co-occurring natives is a useful approach to gaining insights into the invasiveness of exotic plants. Spartina alterniflora, a C₄ grass, is a widespread invader in the coastal wetlands in China and other regions of the world. We conducted a comparative study of S. alterniflora and native C₃ species, Phragmites australis and Scirpus mariqueter, in terms of their gas exchange and efficiencies in resource utilization. We tested the hypothesis that S. alterniflora has growth-related ecophysiological advantages over the natives in its non-native range, which result in its rapid growth and enhance its invasiveness. Photosynthesis, leaf area index (LAI), specific leaf area (SLA), and the efficiency of resource use (light, water, and nitrogen) were examined monthly for eight months in 2004. Overall, S. alterniflora had greater LAI, higher maximal net photosynthetic rate (A_max), and longer growing season than those of the native species. On average, the efficiencies of S. alterniflora in light, water, and nitrogen utilization were respectively 10.1%, 26.1%, and 33.1% higher than those of P. australis, and respectively 70.3%, 53.5%, 28.3% higher than those of S. mariqueter. However, SLA of S. alterniflora was significantly lower than those of P. australis and S. mariqueter. Although there was no general pattern in the relationship between invasiveness and plant photosynthetic types, in this study, most of the ecophysiological characteristics that gave S. alterniflora a competitive advantage in the Yangtze River estuary were associated with photosynthetic pathways. Our results offer a greater understanding of the relationship between invasiveness and plant photosynthetic type. Our results also indicate that LAI and the length of the photosynthetic season, which vary with habitats, are also important in invasion success.     

Distribution and sources of organochlorine pesticides in water and sediments from Daliao River estuary of Liaodong Bay,Bohai Sea (China)

The levels of 19 kinds of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the aqueous phase, suspended particulate matter (SPM), pore water and sediments from Daliao River estuary of Liaodong Bay (Bohai Sea) in northeast China were investigated to evaluate their potential pollution risks. The total OCPs concentrations in the aqueous phase, SPM, pore water and sediments were 3.7–30.1 ng l⁻¹, 4.6–52.6 ng l⁻¹, 157–830 ng l⁻¹ and 2.1–21.3 ng g⁻¹ dry weight, respectively. The concentrations of OCPs, in the Daliao River estuary, are in the mid-range, as compared to those reported in other estuaries worldwide. The distribution of HCHs and DDTs were different indicating different contamination sources. Lindane is the main type of HCH and continuing use in northeast China of ‘pure’ HCH (lindane) rather than technical HCH accounts for the source. The ratios of (DDE + DDD)/DDT in the samples indicate no recent inputs of these chemicals to the estuary.     

The complex variable reproducing kernel particle method for two-dimensional elastodynamics

On the basis of the reproducing kernel particle method (RKPM), a new meshless method, which is called the complex variable reproducing kernel particle method (CVRKPM), for two-dimensional elastodynamics is presented in this paper. The advantages of the CVRKPM are that the correction function of a two-dimensional problem is formed with one-dimensional basis function when the shape function is obtained. The Galerkin weak form is employed to obtain the discretised system equations, and implicit time integration method, which is the Newmark method, is used for time history analysis. And the penalty method is employed to apply the essential boundary conditions. Then the corresponding formulae of the CVRKPM for two-dimensional elastodynamics are obtained. Three numerical examples of two-dimensional elastodynamics are presented, and the CVRKPM results are compared with the ones of the RKPM and analytical solutions. It is evident that the numerical results of the CVRKPM are in excellent agreement with the analytical solution, and that the CVRKPM has greater precision than the RKPM.     

Improving performances of ITO/GaP contact on AlGaInP light-emitting diodes

In this paper AlGaInP light emitting diodes with different types of electrodes: Au/Zn/Au-ITO Au/Ti-ITO Au/Ge/Ni-ITO and Au-ITO are fabricated. The photoelectricity properties of those LEDs are studied. The results show that the Au/Zn/Au electrode greatly improves the performance of LEDs compared with the other electrodes. Because the Au/Zn/Au electrode not only forms a good Ohmic contact with indium tin oxide (ITO), but also reduces the specific contact resistances between ITO and GaP, which are 1.273×10^-6 Ω · cm² and 1.743×10^-3 Ω ·cm² between Au/Zn/Au-ITO and ITO-GaP respectively. Furthermore, the textured Zn/Au-ITO/Zn electrode is designed to improve the performances of LEDs, reduce the forward-voltage of the LED from 1.93 to 1.88 V, and increase the luminous intensity of the LEDs from 126 to 134 mcd when driven at 20 mA.