Achieving environmentally relevant organochlorine pesticide concentrations in eggs through maternal exposure in Alligator mississippiensis

Alligator mississippiensis eggs from organochlorine pesticide (OCP) contaminated sites in Florida exhibit high rates of embryonic mortality compared to reference sites (P < 0.05). The objective of the present study was to use captive adult alligators to test the hypotheses that maternal exposure to OCPs results in increased OCP concentrations in eggs, and that increased exposure is associated with increased embryonic mortality. A total of 24 adult alligators (8 males and 16 females) were housed in eight pens. Eight females in four pens were dosed with a mixture of p,p'-DDE, toxaphene, dieldrin, and chlordane at a rate of 0.2+/-0.01 mg/kg/day for 274+/-8 days. Treated females produced eggs containing higher OCP concentrations (12,814+/-813 ng/g yolk) than controls (38+/-4 ng/g yolk). Eggs of treated females exhibited decreased viability (13+/-22%) as compared to controls (45+/-20%). Results indicated that 0.6% of administered OCPs were maternally transferred to the eggs of American alligators, and that maternal exposure is associated with decreased egg/embryo viability in this species.     

缅甸孟帕亚7.2级地震及其对云南强震活动趋势的意义

20世纪云南地区6.7级以上地震具有时空丛集分布特点。在1996年丽江7.0级地震结束云南地区20世纪第Ⅳ强震活跃期后,21世纪强震活跃期首发大震研究成为地震形势跟踪的重点。2011年3月24日,滇、缅交界缅甸境内发生孟帕亚7.2级地震,震中距中缅边界仅80km。该地震的动力及地震带、区归属对云南地区6.7级以上地震活动统计特征及其大震形势研判有重要影响。根据地表破裂及余震的空间展布等证据判断,发震断裂为穿越中缅两国的NE向孟帕亚-勐腊断裂(国外称之为Nam Ma断裂)。事实上,北起云南腾冲、龙陵一带,南至泰、缅、老交界地区,近等间距平行展布一系列包括孟帕亚-勐腊断裂在内的NE向断裂,其中绝大多数在历史上都发生过7级地震,而这些7级地震在空间上又构成了一条非常清晰的NNW向地震密集条带,它同样穿越了滇、缅、泰、老多地。区域大地构造演化、现今地壳运动状态及地震活动特征的综合分析表明,孟帕亚7.2级地震与传统划定的云南地区西南部的地震活动动力同源,构造相连,应归属滇西南地震带上的地震;进而应纳入云南地区6.7级以上地震活动特征的统计研究中。由此认为,缅甸孟帕亚7.2级地震拉开了云南地区21世纪首轮强震活跃期的序幕。     

On North Pacific circulation and associated marine debris concentration

Marine debris in the oceanic realm is an ecological concern, and many forms of marine debris negatively affect marine life. Previous observations and modeling results suggest that marine debris occurs in greater concentrations within specific regions in the North Pacific Ocean, such as the Subtropical Convergence Zone and eastern and western "Garbage Patches". Here we review the major circulation patterns and oceanographic convergence zones in the North Pacific, and discuss logical mechanisms for regional marine debris concentration, transport, and retention. We also present examples of meso- and large-scale spatial variability in the North Pacific, and discuss their relationship to marine debris concentration. These include mesoscale features such as eddy fields in the Subtropical Frontal Zone and the Kuroshio Extension Recirculation Gyre, and interannual to decadal climate events such as El Ni?o and the Pacific Decadal Oscillation/North Pacific Gyre Oscillation.     

越南红河断裂活动性研究

通过中越两国对越南红河断裂带开展的联合野外考察,获取了地震、地质、地貌和年代学等反映该断裂最新活动的相关证据。综合研究表明,越南红河断裂带第四纪以来的右旋走滑活动延续和保持了在中国境内自北向南逐渐减弱的总体趋势。其第四纪主要活动时代为中更新世中晚期,且总体活动水平明显低于中国云南境内部分,特别是自晚更新世以来越南红河断裂带的活动已表现得十分微弱。结合断裂现今地震活动和区域GPS大地形变特征分析认为,自晚第四纪以来,来自青藏高原的"侧向挤出"动力作用对红河断裂右旋走滑活动在时间、空间和强度等方面的影响可能非常有限。文中还探讨了造成这一有限影响可能的大地构造和深部构造原因     

Spatial variability of in situ microbial activity: biotracer tests

Biotracer tests have been proposed as a means by which to characterize the in situ biodegradation potential for field-scale systems. In this study, field experiments were conducted at two sites to evaluate the utility of the biotracer method for characterizing the spatial variability of microbial activity. The first site is a mixed waste-contaminated surficial aquifer in Utah, and the second site is a chlorinated solvent-contaminated regional aquifer in Tucson, Arizona. Mass recovery of the biotracer decreased approximately linearly with increasing residence time for the Tucson site. Similar behavior was observed at the Utah site, except in the region adjacent to the injection zone, where percent recoveries were much lower than those predicted using a correlation determined using data collected downgradient of the injection zone. First-order biodegradation rate coefficients obtained from model calibration of the tracer data varied between 0.2 and 0.5/day for the Tucson site. For the Utah site, the values varied between 0.1 and 0.6/day downgradient of the injection wells, and between 0.7 and 2.6/day near the injection wells. Considering the large range over which biodegradation rate coefficients can vary, the rate coefficient exhibited relatively minimal spatial variability (factor of 2.5) for the Tucson site. Conversely, the spatial variability of the rate coefficient was an order of magnitude greater for the Utah site. These differences in variability are consistent with conditions associated with the respective sites. For example, the greater microbial activity observed in the vicinity of the injection wells for the Utah site is consistent with the biomass distribution determined from analysis of core samples, which shows larger bacterial cell densities for the region near the injection wells. These results illustrate the utility of biotracer tests for in situ characterization of microbial activity (e.g., biodegradation potential), including evaluation of potential spatial variability.     

Present state and historical changes of trace metal pollution in Kaoping coastal sediments, southwestern Taiwan

Surface and gravity-cored sediments were collected from the Kaoping coastal area off southwestern Taiwan to determine particle size, organic carbon, trace metal concentration and enrichment factor (EF), 210Pb dating, and 206Pb/207Pb ratio for determining present and historical metal pollution. Surface distributions of trace metals ranged from 0.02 to 0.13 mg/kg for Cd (EF: 0.16-1.65), from 35 to 189 mg/kg for Cr (EF: 0.85-2.92), from 25 to 64 mg/kg for Ni (EF: 0.53-2.38), from 10 to 32 mg/kg for Pb (EF: 1.20-4.94), and from 29 to 129 mg/kg for Zn (EF: 1.18-3.50). Trace metal concentrations correlate closely with distributions of mud (<63 microm) and organic carbon which accumulate largely around river mouths and within the Kaoping Canyon. With the exception of Cd, Cr and Ni in certain areas with rather coarse sediments, metals were generally elevated above the baseline levels over the studied area. Metals were also relatively enriched in areas with high contents of mud and organic carbon. Sedimentation rates derived from the excess 210Pb data in core sediments sampled from the canyon illustrate metal pollution beginning around 1970 that is corresponding to the booming time of economic growth in Taiwan. Meanwhile, the status of Pb pollution in core sediments is verified by an inversed correlation between 206Pb/207Pb ratios and Pb concentrations. Anthropogenic Pb and other metals in the studied area were apparently derived primarily from the Kaoping River and accumulated around the river mouth and within the Kaoping Canyon. The Kaoping Canyon appears to act as a major sink for river borne trace metals.