The influence of sediment resuspension on the degradation of phenanthrene in flow-through microcosms

The effect of sediment resuspension on the mineralization of phenanthrene was examined in microcosms and sediment slurries. In computer-controlled, flow-through microcosms, 14C-phenanthrene-amended sediments were resuspended into overlying oxic water at frequencies of 12, 4, 1, 0.25 and 0 d(-1). In slurry bottle experiments 14C-phenanthrene-amended sediments were continuously resuspended under oxic (excess air headspace) and anoxic (N2 headspace) conditions and mineralization was measured at periods from 2 h to 7 days. Our main findings were: (1) mineralization rate constants from the microcosms ranged from 0.001 to 0.01 d(-1) and increased with frequency of resuspension, (2) these rates fell between those measured in oxic and anoxic slurries and were predicted within a factor of 2.5 by a model in which mineralization depended on the degree of oxygen exposure, and (3) the phenanthrene-degrading bacterial community was more active in resuspended sediments incubated in the microcosms than in sediments which were not resuspended, or which were stored under refrigeration. We conclude from these experiments that the effects of sediment resuspension on phenanthrene degradation are consistent with a primary role of average oxygen exposure, and also an alteration in the PAH-degrading activity of microbial populations.     

Interpolations of groundwater table elevation in dissected uplands

The variable elevation of the groundwater table in the St. Louis area was estimated using multiple linear regression (MLR), ordinary kriging, and cokriging as part of a regional program seeking to assess liquefaction potential. Surface water features were used to determine the minimum water table for MLR and supplement the principal variables for ordinary kriging and cokriging. By evaluating the known depth to the water and the minimum water table elevation, the MLR analysis approximates the groundwater elevation for a contiguous hydrologic system. Ordinary kriging and cokriging estimate values in unsampled areas by calculating the spatial relationships between the unsampled and sampled locations. In this study, ordinary kriging did not incorporate topographic variations as an independent variable, while cokriging included topography as a supporting covariable. Cross validation suggests that cokriging provides a more reliable estimate at known data points with less uncertainty than the other methods. Profiles extending through the dissected uplands terrain suggest that: (1) the groundwater table generated by MLR mimics the ground surface and elicits a exaggerated interpolation of groundwater elevation; (2) the groundwater table estimated by ordinary kriging tends to ignore local topography and exhibits oversmoothing of the actual undulations in the water table; and (3) cokriging appears to give the realistic water surface, which rises and falls in proportion to the overlying topography. The authors concluded that cokriging provided the most realistic estimate of the groundwater surface, which is the key variable in assessing soil liquefaction potential in unconsolidated sediments.     

Uptake and distribution of N, P and heavy metals in three dominant salt marsh macrophytes from Yangtze River estuary, China

We examined the variation in aboveground biomass accumulation and tissue concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) in Phragmites australis (common reed), Spartina alterniflora (salt cordgrass), and Scirpus mariqueter throughout the growing season (April-October 2005), in order to determine the differences in net element accumulation and distribution between the three salt marsh macrophytes in the Yangtze River estuary, China. The aboveground biomass was significantly greater in the plots of S. alterniflora than in the plots of P. australis and S. mariqueter throughout the growing season (P<0.05). In August, the peak aboveground biomass was 1246+/-89 gDW/m(2), 2759+/-250 gDW/m(2) and 548+/-54 gDW/m(2) for P. australis, S. alterniflora and S. mariqueter, respectively. The concentrations of nutrients and heavy metals in plant tissues showed similar seasonal patterns. There was a steady decline in element concentrations of the aboveground tissues from April to October. Relative element concentrations in aboveground tissues were at a peak during the spring sampling intervals with minimum levels during the fall. But the concentrations of total nitrogen and total phosphorus in the belowground tissues were relatively constant throughout growing season. Generally, trace metal concentrations in the aboveground tissues of S. mariqueter was the highest throughout the growing season, and the metal concentrations of S. alterniflora tissues (aboveground and belowground) were greater than those of P. australis. Furthermore, the aboveground pools of nutrients and metals were consistently greater for S. alterniflora than for P. australis and S. mariqueter, which suggested that the rapid replacement of native P. australis and S. mariqueter with invasive S. alterniflora would significantly improve the magnitude of nutrient cycling and bioavailability of trace metals in the salt marsh and maybe transport more toxic metals into the water column and the detrital food web in the estuary.     

Pore water transport of enterococci out of beach sediments

Enterococci are used to evaluate the safety of beach waters and studies have identified beach sands as a source of these bacteria. In order to study and quantify the release of microbes from beach sediments, flow column systems were built to evaluate flow of pore water out of beach sediments. Results show a peak in enterococci (average of 10% of the total microbes in core) released from the sand core within one pore water volume followed by a marked decline to below detection. These results indicate that few enterococci are easily removed and that factors other than simple pore water flow control the release of the majority of enterococci within beach sediments. A significantly larger quantity and release of enterococci were observed in cores collected after a significant rain event suggesting the influx of fresh water can alter the release pattern as compared to cores with no antecedent rainfall.     

曹庄群中几种少见岩石及其地质意义

太古代曹庄群中少见的铬云母石英岩、堇青石石英岩、钡冰长石片麻岩、方柱石角闪岩等为中国太古代早期地壳的性质提供了信息和证据。这些岩石的存在表明早在曹庄群原岩沉积之前华北准地台就存在原始的硅铝壳;早太古代冀东地区曾出现蒸发岩岔地。堇青石石英岩中的堇青石-夕线石组合为曹庄群低压麻粒岩相变质作用提供了矿物学证据。     

Perturbation of gene expression and steroidogenesis with in vitro exposure of fathead minnow ovaries to ketoconazole

Ketoconazole is a fungicidal drug that inhibits function of cytochrome P450s in the synthesis of steroids. To examine if inhibition of P450 function affects gene expression in a dynamic manner, we conducted in vitro exposures of ovary tissue from fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) to 0.5 microM ketoconazole to investigate effects on steroid production and gene expression over time. Expression of four key steroidogenesis genes was examined at 1, 6, and 12h of exposure. 11 beta- and 20 beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenases were down regulated at 1h and Cytochrome P450 17 was down-regulated at 12h, consistent with the absence of steroid production. In contrast, cytochrome P450 19A was up-regulated at 6h, indicating feedback regulation. Microarray analysis of 12h exposures indicated enrichment of biological processes involved in neurotransmitter secretion, lymphocyte cell activation, sodium ion transport, and embryonic development. These data suggest that, with the exception of cytochrome P450 19A, these steroid metabolic genes are regulated in a feed forward manner and that the effects of ketoconazole may be broader than anticipated based on the mechanism of action alone.