Anoxia over the western continental shelf of India: bacterial indications of intrinsic nitrification feeding denitrification

Studies on the Arabian Sea coastal anoxia have been of immense interest, but despite its ecological significance there is sparse understanding of the microbes involved. Hence, observations were carried out off Goa (15 degrees 30'N, 72 degrees 40'E to 15 degrees 30'N, 72 degrees 59'E) to understand the processes that mediate the changes in various inorganic nitrogen species in the water column during anoxia. Water column chemistry showed a clear distinct oxic environment in the month of April and anoxic condition in October. Our study based on microbial signatures indicated that oxygen deficit appeared as a well-defined nucleus almost 40 km away from the coast during the oxic period (April) and spreads there after to the entire water column synchronizing with the water chemistry. Striking results of net changes in inorganic nitrogen species in nitrification blocked and unblocked experimental systems show that denitrification is the predominant process in the water column consuming available nitrate ( approximately 0.5 microM) to near zero levels within approximately 72 h of incubation. These observations have been supported by concomitant increase in nitrite concentration ( approximately 4 microM). Similar studies on denitrification-blocked incubations, demonstrate the potential of nitrification to feed denitrification. Nitrification could contribute almost 4.5 microM to the total nitrate pool. It was found that the relation between ammonium and total dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) pool (r=0.98, p<0.001, n=122) was significant compared to the latter with nitrite and nitrate. The occurrence of high ammonium under low phosphate conditions corroborates our observations that ammonium does not appear to be locked under low oxygen regimes. It is suggested that ammonium actively produced by detrital breakdown (ammonification) is efficiently consumed through nitrification process. The three processes in concert viz. ammonification, nitrification and denitrification appear to operate in more temporal and spatial proximity than hitherto appreciated in these systems and this gives additional cues on the absence of measurable nitrate at surface waters, which was earlier attributed only to efficient algal uptake. Hence we hypothesize that the alarming nitrous oxide input into the atmosphere could be due to high productivity driven tighter nitrification-denitrification coupling, rather than denitrification driven by extraneous nitrate.     

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.     

61～50kaBP亚洲季风百年尺度气候振荡的黔西南石笋记录

12个U/Th年龄测试结果显示,黔西南普安县雾露洞长度分别为667mm和830mm的两支石笋覆盖了61～50kaBP时段。据两支石笋999个δ18O数据建立了平均分辨率达15年的亚洲夏季风强度变化序列。雾露洞δ18O记录揭示了4个振幅达1.7‰的千年尺度季风增强事件,对应于格陵兰冰心DO17—DO14事件。在总体特征上,该记录峰谷振荡特征及振幅与贵州董歌洞、南京葫芦洞记录一致,进一步证实亚洲季风区大气降水同位素组成变化在大范围空间内具有一致性。在百年尺度上,亚洲季风区石笋δ18O清晰记录了MIS3早期6个DO亚旋回事件,而且在更短时间尺度上具有类似高纬气温振荡特征。这种低纬季风系统与北高纬气候变化的耦合关系表明,大气环流快速重组和传输可能是连接高低纬DO旋回及亚旋回气候变化的主要纽带。     

浙江6个列岛大型底栖藻类分类多样性

本文基于对七星列岛大型底栖藻类的实地调查,结合浙南3个列岛(七星列岛、南麂列岛和洞头列岛)和浙北3个列岛(渔山列岛、中街山列岛和马鞍列岛)大型底栖藻类物种组成的有关文献,构建大型底栖藻类基础数据库。采用平均分类差异指数△~+、分类差异变异指数∧~+、G-F多样性测度指数和相似性系数开展分类多样性研究。结果显示:6个列岛藻类在目级和科级的相似性很高,其值均在0.800以上;洞头列岛的△~+值最高(77.42),中街山列岛最低(72.65),这表明洞头列岛大型底栖藻类类群间的亲缘关系较远,中街山列岛藻类类群间的亲缘关系较近;七星列岛的∧~+值最高,达942.00,南麂列岛最低,仅865.12,这表明南麂列岛大型底栖藻类在不同分类阶元分布最均匀,七星列岛的藻类分布较集中;南麂列岛无论是F指数、G指数还是G-F指数的值均比其他5个列岛高,依次为18.62,4.40和0.76,这说明南麂列岛藻类的生态位分化程度较高。本研究构建了6个列岛大型底栖藻类资源与分类多样性基础数据库,为有效保护和管理大型底栖藻类提供了理论依据。     

地球物理学中的电磁场正演与反演

本文在近年来众多的地球物理研究者的研究基础上,总结了当前地电磁模型正反演已有成果,定量分析了各种主要正反演的性能测试,指出不同正反演法的优点、缺点以及应用范围局限,提出了各种方法的发展趋势以及当前计算地球物理领域的核心内容,指出了计算地球物理领域的数值模拟发展方向.     

灌河口近岸海域春季海洋环境现状调查

【目的】调查灌河口邻近海域生态环境状况。【方法】2016年5月对该海域进行水质、沉积物和生物生态现状调查。【结果与结论】水质主要超标因子为无机氮、磷酸盐;沉积物质量监测项目全部符合一类沉积物质量标准。浮游植物生物多样性指数丰富(3.11),浮游动物、游泳动物的生物多样性指数较丰富(大于2),底栖生物较贫乏(0.97)。底栖生物密度与沉积物硫化物显著正相关。浮游植物密度与叶素绿a显著正相关。小型网浮游动物密度与水温、化学需氧量显著负相关,其种类与营养盐、化学需氧量显著负相关,二者均与盐度显著正相关。     

太平洋东北部水合物脊现代甲烷渗漏区有孔虫记录甲烷的碳同位素证据

俄勒冈州外海水合物脊现代甲烷渗漏区的发现,为研究甲烷对活体有孔虫生态和地球化学方面的影响提供了机会。2002年在水合物脊南部高点获取一批岩心。样品经保存和染色后用来测定Uvigerina peregrina、Cibicidoidesmckannai和Globobuliminaauriculata3个底栖有孔虫属种的活体（经染色）和死体的碳同位素（δ13C）组成。有孔虫样经光学显微镜和扫描电镜检查,未发现有成岩作用或自生碳酸盐沉淀作用的迹象。渗漏区活底栖有孔虫单体记录的乎δ13C值在-0．4％--21．2％0之间,说明受高浓度甲烷碳同位素的影响。渗漏区底栖有孔虫护C平均值（由单体样品计算）范围在-1．28％--5．64％0之间,而背景区（没有甲烷渗漏）的介于-0．81％--0．85％之间。为了解环境因素对底栖有孔虫δ13C值的影响,对细菌席和蛤床两种截然不同的甲烷渗漏环境的底栖有孔虫进行研究。细菌席区的有孔虫单体比蛤床区的具有更负的δ13C值。我们解释这种差异是食物来源或共生细菌对底栖有孔虫δ13C值影响的结果,通过溶解无机碳（DIC）作用于底栖有孔虫,使其δ13C值负偏移。对比活体和死体底栖有孔虫的δ13C值,并未发现统计上的差异。这说明自生碳酸盐沉淀作用未在观测到的同位素组成中起主导作用。然而,少量极度亏损δ13C（〈-12％）的死体底栖有孔虫确实显示了自生碳酸盐岩沉积对有孔虫δ13C值影响的潜在证据。     

回顾30年来的油气地球化学勘探

在美国采用地球化学方法勘探油气已有30年了,已经取得了大量的成果。壤中吸附烃抽提技术以及其测量分析都已得到了发展提高。实验表明,在首次测量后数年重新采样,异常可以重现;另一方面,随着油田的开采,烃异常逐渐变弱,最后趋于消失。尽管与大型油气藏相联系的晕圈(halo)这种基本异常模式继续被发现,亦已认识到其他类型的烃分布模式。烃测量技术有助于评价穹隆构造翼部的含油性,在获得适当的资料后,可以在构造顶部布钻。如例案所述,烃测量后指出在刺穿型穹隆构造的翼部有一油气藏分布。