Preliminary study on biodegradation of phenanthrene by bacteria isolated from mangrove sediments in Hong Kong

Elevated concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) have been found in mangrove sediments due to anthropogenic pollution, and microbial degradation has been suggested as the best way to remove PAHs from contaminated sediments. The degradation of phenanthrene, a model PAH compound by bacteria, either the enriched mixed culture or individual isolate isolated from surface mangrove sediments was examined. The effects of salinity, initial phenanthrene concentrations and the addition of glucose on biodegradation potential were also investigated. Results show that surface sediments collected from four mangrove swamps in Hong Kong had different degree of PAH contamination and had different indigenous phenanthrene-degrading bacterial consortia. The enriched bacteria could use phenanthrene as the sole carbon source for growth and degrade this PAH compound accordingly. A significant positive relationship was found between bacterial growth and percentages of phenanthrene degradation. The phenanthrene biodegradation ability of the enriched mixed bacterial culture was not related to the degree of PAH contamination in surface sediments. The growth and biodegradation percentages of the enriched mixed culture were not higher than that of the individual isolate especially at low salinity (0 and 10 ppt). High salinity (35 ppt) inhibited growth and biodegradation of phenanthrene of a bacterial isolate but less inhibitory effect was found on the mixed culture. The inhibitory effects of salinity could be reduced with the addition of glucose.     

Metal contaminants for modelling lobster (Homarus americanus) migration patterns in the Inner Bay of Fundy, Atlantic Canada

A method, which uses metal compositions in lobster digestive glands as natural environmental tags, has been developed to trace lobster movements. Lobsters were collected from three selected sites, Minas Channel, Minas Basin, and Cobequid Bay, Inner Bay of Fundy, New Brunswick, Canada, that were known to be contaminated with Cu. Five metal variables (Ag, Cd, Cu, Mn and Zn) were processed for principal component analysis (PCA). Metal concentration and burden models were investigated and PCA was able to differentiate lobsters from the respective catch sites. The method was applied to investigate the May and June lobsters collected at the three sites to determine the migration rate during this period of the fishing season. The results show a high level of mixing at Minas Basin and Cobequid Bay in June, and lobster movement inward toward the inner reaches of the bay, with very limited movement outward from the inner bay.     

Aquaculture-related trace metals in sediments and lobsters and relevance to environmental monitoring program ratings for near-field effects

The study was undertaken to assess the marine environmental effects from feed and waste associated with aquaculture activities. Metal compositions of sediment, lobster, and feed were used to evaluate the extent of detectable effects at 0 m (under the cage) and 50 m distance. Sediments that were collected under the cages and were characterised as hypoxic or anoxic, showed elevated levels of Cu, Zn, organic carbon, and % <63 microm particles, and low Mn and Fe. At 50 m there was a major reduction in waste chemical impact. Using lobster, a bioindicator species, as a tool for detecting near-field impacts, showed accumulations of high Cu associated with active aquaculture sites. Chemical compositions and metal ratios normalised with organic carbon, were used to assess the sediment conditions associated with environmental monitoring program ratings (EMP--normal, hypoxic, and anoxic). Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to explore chemical data at all sites for differentiating normal, hypoxic and anoxic sediment conditions. Selected variables (Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn, organic carbon, and particles <63 microm) were sufficient for the PCA approach with >90% explainable variance of first two components. The groupings based on PCA and cluster analysis were similar to EMP classifications with some exceptions of mis-identification by EMP. The sediment chemistry components were valid indicators for evaluating marine environmental conditions and for assessing aquaculture operating sites. The developed techniques, using chemical variables in combination with EMP and the statistical approach should be useful to predict the effects of aquaculture practices and the suitability of aquaculture operations.     

The Extreme Compact Starburst in Markarian 273

Images of neutral hydrogen 21 cm absorption and radio continuum emission at 1.4 GHz from Mrk 273 were made using the Very Long Baseline Array and Very Large Array. These images reveal a gas disk associated with the northern nuclear region with a diameter 0&farcs;5 (370 pc) at an inclination angle of 53 degrees. The radio continuum emission is composed of a diffuse component plus a number of compact sources. This morphology resembles those of nearby, lower luminosity starburst galaxies. These images provide strong support for the hypothesis that the luminosity of the northern source is dominated by an extreme compact starburst. The H i 21 cm absorption shows an east-west gradient in velocity of 450 km s-1 across 0&farcs;3 (220 pc), which implies an enclosed mass of 2x109 M middle dot in circle, comparable to the molecular gas mass. The brightest of the compact sources may indicate radio emission from an active nucleus, but this source contributes only 3.8% to the total flux density of the northern nuclear regions. The H i 21 cm absorption toward the southeast radio nucleus suggests infall at 200 km s-1 on scales 相似文献   

华北晚古生代煤变质演化及煤质预测

华北晚古生代煤具有中部和南部变质程度较高而南部边缘和北部低的特点。这是华北晚古生代经历了3个阶段变质演化的结果。华北地台稳定阶段除个别地区外,深成变质作用使绝大多数晚古生代煤只演化到低变质阶段;地台活化早期叠加的区域岩浆热变质作用造成部分低煤级媒提高到中、高变质阶段;地台活化晚期紫荆关断裂的右旋移动奠定了华北晚古生代煤变质分布的格局。根据岩浆性质、侵入规模等特点将区域岩浆热变质作用划分为3个亚型。区域岩浆热变质煤的分布受燕山期岩浆沿一定方向断续侵入的控制。从成因上阐述区域岩浆热变质作用的主要特点。基于地质因素分析和煤变质作用类型预测华北晚古生代煤级分布,新的预测增加了炼焦煤的储量,且部分已被钻探证实。     

湘中南龙潭煤系不同演化程度煤的煤岩学特征及有机地球化学特征

摘 要　 通过对湘中南龙潭煤系不同煤级煤样的煤岩学和有机地球化学研究‚概括了湘中南 龙潭煤系煤的有机显微组成和主要有机地球化学特征‚指出其中的气煤、肥煤和焦煤是具有 较高生烃潜力的烃源岩‚壳质组和基质镜质体是这一阶段煤中的主要生烃组分。     

Artificial recharge through a thick, heterogeneous unsaturated zone

Thick, heterogeneous unsaturated zones away from large streams in desert areas have not previously been considered suitable for artificial recharge from ponds. To test the potential for recharge in these settings, 1.3 x 10(6) m(3) of water was infiltrated through a 0.36-ha pond along Oro Grande Wash near Victorville, California, between October 2002 and January 2006. The pond overlies a regional pumping depression 117 m below land surface and is located where thickness and permeability of unsaturated deposits allowed infiltration and saturated alluvial deposits were sufficiently permeable to allow recovery of water. Because large changes in water levels caused by nearby pumping would obscure arrival of water at the water table, downward movement of water was measured using sensors in the unsaturated zone. The downward rate of water movement was initially as high as 6 m/d and decreased with depth to 0.07 m/d; the initial time to reach the water table was 3 years. After the unsaturated zone was wetted, water reached the water table in 1 year. Soluble salts and nitrate moved readily with the infiltrated water, whereas arsenic and chromium were less mobile. Numerical simulations done using the computer program TOUGH2 duplicated the downward rate of water movement, accumulation of water on perched zones, and its arrival at the water table. Assuming 10 x 10(6) m(3) of recharge annually for 20 years, a regional ground water flow model predicted water level rises of 30 m beneath the ponds, and rises exceeding 3 m in most wells serving the nearby urban area.     

Ship board testing of a deoxygenation ballast water treatment

A ship board trial of a deoxygenation method for treating ballast water was carried out during a voyage from Southampton (United Kingdom) to Manzanillo (Panama). A nutrient solution added to two ballast tanks encouraged bacterial growth, resulting in a gradual change to an anoxic environment. Samples were taken from two treated tanks and two untreated tanks to assess changes in the abundance and viability of zooplankton, phytoplankton and bacteria. The work was carried out before the International Maritime Organization (IMO) standard was agreed so only a broad indication of whether the results achieved the standard was given. For the zooplankton, the standard would have been achieved within 5 or 7 days but the phytoplankton results were inconclusive. The biological efficacy was the result of the combination of several factors, including the treatment, pump damage and an increase in the water temperature during the voyage.