Arctic versus temperate comparison of risk assessment metrics for 2-methyl-naphthalene

Reliable risk assessment approaches for Arctic environments are requested to manage potential impacts associated with increased activities in Arctic regions. We performed toxicity tests on Arctic and temperate species exposed to the narcotic acting oil component, 2-methyl naphthalene. The experimental results were used to quantify concentration causing lethality to 50% of exposed individuals and no-effect concentration (individual level). For estimates at community level, the hazardous concentrations affecting 5% and 50% of the species were calculated from sensitivity distribution curves. These survival metrics were then used to elucidate whether temperate toxicity data used in risk assessment are sufficiently representative for the Arctic. Taking data uncertainty into consideration, we found no regional difference in tolerances to 2-methyl naphthalene either at the species level or at the community level. Hence these data support a conclusion that values of survival metrics for temperate regions are transferrable to the Arctic for the chemical 2-methyl naphthalene, as long as extrapolation techniques are properly applied and uncertainties are taken into consideration.     

Can starvation influence cellular and biochemical parameters in the crab Carcinus aestuarii?

Crustacea experience periods of starvation during moulting or when limited food availability occurs. The effects of starvation on Crustacea physiological responses have been demonstrated, whereas the effects of starvation on Crustacea immune parameters remain to be more fully studied. In the present study the effects of starvation on immune parameters and antioxidant enzyme activities of the crab Carcinus aestuarii were evaluated for the first time. Treated crabs were starved for 7 days, whereas control crabs were fed daily with mussels. Total haemocyte count (THC), haemocyte diameter and volume, haemocyte proliferation, cell-free haemolymph (CFH) glucose and total protein levels, and phenoloxidase (PO) activity in both haemocyte lysate (HL) and CFH were measured in crabs. In addition, superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities were evaluated in both gills and digestive gland from crabs, in order to evaluate whether starvation induced oxidative stress in C. aestuarii. THC increased significantly in starved crabs, with respect to controls, whereas no significant variations were observed in haemocyte diameter, volume and proliferation. In CFH of starved animals glucose concentration significantly increased, whereas total protein concentration significantly reduced. A significantly higher PO activity was recorded in HL from starved crabs, than in control crabs. Conversely, PO activity did not vary significantly in CFH. Starvation did not cause significant alterations in antioxidant enzyme activities in both gills and digestive gland. Results obtained demonstrated that starvation influenced crab immune parameters, but did not induce oxidative stress. Results also indicated that C. aestuarii can modulate its cellular and biochemical parameters in order to cope with starvation.     

Exposure of the clam Tapes philippinarum to 4-nonylphenol: changes in anti-oxidant enzyme activities and re-burrowing capability

The effects of 4-nonylphenol on anti-oxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase and catalase) activity in both gills and digestive gland and re-burrowing capability of the clam Tapes philippinarum were investigated after 7 days' exposure to various sublethal concentrations of nonylphenol (NP). NP caused a significant decrease in superoxide dismutase activity in both tissues from the lowest concentration tested, whereas no significant alteration with respect to controls was observed in catalase activity. NP effects on re-burrowing of clams were evaluated in two experiments. In the first, clams exposed to the highest NP concentrations showed a marked delay in re-burrowing 48 h after the end of exposure. Modifications in normal burrowing behaviour were also observed, suggesting that NP acts via narcosis and/or neurotoxic mechanisms. In the second experiment, the elapsed time for 50% of the exposed clams to re-burrow into the sediment (RT(50)) was also calculated in a 24-h re-burrowing response test. At the highest NP concentrations, it was not possible to estimate RT(50) values, as the percentage of clams showing complete burial was less than 50%. The present study demonstrates that NP causes oxidative stress by inhibiting superoxide dismutase activity and greatly affects the re-burrowing capability of T. philippinarum, even at environmentally realistic concentrations.     

The dilution and dispersion of ballast water discharged into Goderich Harbor

Observations are presented on dilution and dispersion rates of ballast water discharged under normal operational conditions at the semi-enclosed port of Goderich, Ontario. The ballast water was tagged with Rhodamine-WT dye and microscopic magnetically-attractive tracer particles. Maximum concentrations of dye immediately after discharge were diluted to 1-5% of initial ballast tank concentrations, and within 3 days had decreased to less than 0.1% of initial concentrations. Inside the harbor, there was 10-20% of the ballast water still present after 2 days, consistent with a flushing rate of 0.8-1.15 day⁻¹. Magnetic particles were collected up to 7.5 km outside the harbor after one day, consistent with a dilution factor of order 10⁵ outside the harbor. The results of this study are discussed in the context of ballast water discharge standards proposed by the International Maritime Organization to minimize the introduction of aquatic nonindigenous species through ships’ ballast water and sediments.     

巨大地震活动特征及其动力学机制探讨

在天然地震研究中,巨大地震(本文指8级以上地震)占有特别重要的位置,这首先是因为巨大地震具有极大的破坏性,是地震预测的首要对象。2004年以来全球特大地震活动频繁,地震及其次生灾害造成了巨大的人员伤亡和财产损失,因此,开展全球地震活动,特别是巨大地震的预测研究已成为全球地球科学领域关注的焦点。从科学意义上看,巨大地震的孕育、发生需要特殊的构造环境和条件,包括地质构造环     

全球巨大地震活动性分析

通过分析全球巨大地震活动周期、活跃时段和活动空间分布特征,探讨未来全球发生巨大地震的活跃时段和主体区域.结果表明:① 全球地震活动存在着置信度远超过95%的50年左右显著活动周期,此外还存在80——100年左右显著性不强的活动周期;② 通过对全球地震MSge;8.3时间序列图和MSge;8.0应变能时间序列图分析,得到活跃期10——14年,平静期39——41年,2004年后又进入了巨大地震的强活跃期,可能会一直持续到2018年;③ 强活跃时段内发生的MSge;8.5巨大地震存在着一定的相关性,太平洋板块北边界（美国阿拉斯加附近区域——阿留申群岛——千岛群岛）是发生8.5级以上地震最关注的地区,其次是太平洋板块的南美洲边界(尤其是秘鲁及其周边区域),应对这两个地区进行重点关注和监测．本文从地震活动性角度研究巨大地震的强活跃期问题,并推测全球发生8.5级以上地震的活跃时段和主体地区,而对于其机理问题值得进一步深入研究．