Freezing of sediments inappropriate for pore water selenium analysis

The common practice of freezing sediment cores for later chemical investigation was shown to be inappropriate for samples containing selenium. Pore waters from frozen estuarine sediment cores contained up to eighty times the selenium content of those extracted from chilled but unfrozen cores. Experiments suggested that the increase in selenium concentrations resulted from rupturing the cells of selenium-accumulating bacteria present in the samples.     

Continued post-bleaching decline and changed benthic community of a Kenyan coral reef

During the global coral bleaching event of 1997/1998 Kenyan reefs experienced between 50% and 90% coral mortality, with coral cover at Malindi being reduced from 35–45% (pre-bleaching) to 10–20%. Even before this event there was concern that these reefs were being impacted by increased sediment loads from the nearby Sabaki River. Here we report that since 1998 coral cover has declined yet further with, in 2004, means of 5.1% being recorded at North Reef (within the non-fished Malindi Marine National Park) and 2.3% on Leopard Reef (within the fished Marine Reserve). Prior to bleaching 55 coral genera were recorded from the area, currently we find only 23. Meanwhile algal cover, especially the calcareous green alga Halimeda, has increased, and on Leopard Reef is twice that on North Reef. Taken with the evidence of previous studies, these data suggest a combined impact of coral bleaching with sedimentation and fishing.     

Effects of changing land use on the microbial water quality of tidal creeks

Population growth along the southeastern United States coast has precipitated the conversion of forested watersheds to suburban and urban ones. This study sampled creeks representing forested, suburban, and urban watersheds along a longitudinal gradient for indicators of water quality, including traditional indicator bacteria (fecal coliforms and enterococci) and alternative viral indicators (male-specific and somatic coliphages). Tested microorganisms were generally distributed with highest concentrations in creek headwaters and in more developed watersheds. The headwaters also showed the strongest predictive relationship between indicator concentrations and urbanization as measured by impervious cover. A seasonal pattern was observed for indicator bacteria but not for indicator viruses. Coliphage typing indicated the likely source of contamination was nonhuman. Results suggest that headwater creeks can serve as sentinel habitat, signaling early warning of public health concerns from land-based anthropogenic activities. This study also implies the potential to eventually forecast indicator concentrations under land use change scenarios.     

20世纪90年代我国对地壳上地幔结构的人工地震探测研究

介绍了20世纪90年代我国人工地震探测在研究大震区和潜在震源区深部细结构，发震构造的深部特征、介质物性，地壳和上地幔结构与地球动力学过程，火山深部结构，油气生成的深部构造环境等方面取得的成果，以及人工地震资料解释中P波和S波的联合应用，浅层地震反射法在地壳浅层细结构、深浅构造关系研究方面取得的进展。     

法国ECORS的主要科学成果及展望

前言法国研究大陆和海洋地壳的地震反射和折射计划(ECORS)始于1982年。参加这项计划的有法国科学基金会(CNRS-INSU)、法国石油研究院(IFP)和 EIf-Aquitaine 石油公司。法国海洋开发研究所(IFREMER)参加了所有的海洋勘测。ECORS 于1983年实施以来到1988年共完成测线3200公里,其中陆地上测线为700公里(其中200公里是与意大利、西班牙联合完成的),海中测线为2500公里(与英国和西班牙合作)。法国 ECORS 计划受美国大陆反射剖面计划(COCORP)的影响较大,如     

Bioaccumulation and biomarkers in the sea star Asterias rubens (Echinodermata: Asteroidea): a North Sea field study

During two North Sea field trips in March 1995 and September 1996 sea stars, Asterias rubens, were collected at various stations along pollution gradients in order to study the relation between biochemical markers and levels of accumulated contaminants. Biomarkers measured were: cytochrome P450 level, benzo[a]pyrene hydroxylase (BPH) activity, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity and DNA integrity. Accumulation levels of heavy metals, polychlorinated biphenyls, organochlorine pesticides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the pyloric caeca of sea stars indicate different pollution gradients, influenced by rivers in The Netherlands, UK and Germany. For some contaminants, especially PAHs, relatively high levels were found in the central part of the North Sea (Dogger Bank). On the basis of multivariate statistics, stations near the mouth of the Elbe and the Rhine/Meuse were shown to have different patterns of biomarker responses. Sea stars from stations in coastal zones showed relatively high levels of cytochrome P450 and 'P418', another haemoprotein that is present in most marine invertebrates. The station nearest to the Elbe Estuary showed the lowest BPH and AChE activity. DNA integrity was lower especially in stations near the Dutch coast and in a station near the Tees/Tyne estuaries. Using these biomarkers as early warning signals of exposure and/or adverse effects, this type of monitoring can be used also in the future to study the spatial and temporal trends in the quality of coastal waters.