Development of symbiosis-specific genes as biomarkers for the early detection of cnidarian-algal symbiosis breakdown

Coral bleaching, i.e. the loss of dinoflagellate symbionts from cnidarian hosts, is occurring globally at increasing rates, scales, and severity. The significance of these bleaching events to the health of coral reef ecosystems is extreme, as bleached corals exhibit high mortality, reduced fecundity and productivity and increased susceptibility to disease. This decreased coral fitness leads to reef degradation and ultimately to the breakdown of the coral reef ecosystem. To date there has been little work describing the application of biomarkers to assess coral health. The most commonly applied biomarker is, in fact, the bleaching event itself. We are interested in developing early warning biomarkers that can detect coral stress before bleaching occurs. Recently, several genes that are likely to function in regulating interactions between cnidarians and their symbionts have been characterized, using the temperate sea anemone Anthopleura elegantissima as a model species. One "symbiosis gene" identified from the host genome, sym32, is expressed as a function of anemone symbiotic-state, where sym32 expression is higher in symbiotic cf. aposymbiotic (symbiont-free) anemones. Real-time quantitative RT-PCR suggested that the level of sym32 expression was correlated with the abundance of algae in the host. Furthermore, laboratory exposures of anemones to low levels of cadmium (0, 20, 100 microg(-1) CdCl2; 14 days), which caused no change in algal cell numbers, resulted in a down-regulation of sym32 compared to controls, indicating that sym32 expression may serve as a new sensitive early warning biomarker of cnidarian-algal symbiosis breakdown.     

Effects of acid mine drainage from an abandoned copper mine, Britannia Mines, Howe Sound, British Columbia, Canada, on transplanted blue mussels (Mytilus edulis)

Juvenile mussels (Mytilus edulis) were transplanted to Howe Sound, British Columbia, Canada, along an apparent pollution gradient of acid mine drainage (AMD) from an abandoned copper (Cu) mine. Cages containing 75 mussels each were placed at a total of 15 stations and were exposed to concentrations of dissolved Cu in surface waters ranging from 5 to 1009 micrograms/l for a period of 41 days. Mussels located at stations closer to the source of AMD at the mouth of Britannia Creek bioaccumulated higher concentrations of Cu and zinc (Zn) in their tissues. Mussel growth was adversely affected by Cu tissue concentrations above 20 micrograms/g dry wt., while declines in survival and condition index occurred in mussels that bioaccumulated greater than 40 micrograms/g dry wt. Cu. Tissue Zn concentrations (117-192 micrograms/g dry wt.) were likely not high enough to have a direct impact on mussel health. Reduced survival of transplanted mussels was supported by an absence of natural mussels in contaminated areas. Phytoplankton was also severely reduced in areas contaminated by mine waters. Based on the weight of evidence, AMD from the Britannia mine had a deleterious impact on mussel survival in a zone extending at least 2.1 km to the north and 1.7 km to the south of Britannia Creek on the east shore of Howe Sound.     

Effects of copper mine tailings disposal on littoral meiofaunal assemblages in the Atacama region of northern Chile

The effects of the disposal of copper mine tailings on the littoral meiofaunal assemblages of the Chañaral area of northern Chile were studied. Of the metals data collected, only in the case of copper was there a clear association with the tailings distribution in both the seawater and porewater samples, and it is assumed that the tailings on the beaches was the source of copper in the adjacent seawater. When compared to the reference sites, the meiofaunal assemblages at the impacted sites had significantly lower densities and taxa diversities; at the northern sites only the densities were lower. Otoplanid turbellarians were identified as characteristic of those beaches impacted by tailings. The combination of porewater copper and the amount of tailings present were identified as mostly responsible for the observed structure of the meiofaunal assemblages. It was also established that the variation in natural sediment grain size from beach to beach was not a significant factor in the observed differences in the meiofaunal assemblages. The two groups of meiofauna that proved to be most sensitive to the effects of tailings dumping were the foraminiferans and the harpacticoid copepods.     

空间数据转换标准子标准的开发

设计空间数据转换标准（ＳＤＴＳ）或联邦信息处理标准（ＦＩＰＳ）１７３是为了支持各种类型的空间数据的。同时实施该标准的所有选择方案是不现实的。所以,ＳＤＴＳ的实施要通过子标准的使用来完成,子标准为具有明确定义,是供数据的具体类型或模型使用而建立的ＳＤＴＳ的有限子集,且设计的标准要具备尽可能少的选择余地,当提议使用某一子标准时,就要对在ＳＤＴＳ中没有予以说明,留有选择余地或许多选择方案的编码可能性做出     

美国1986和1987年的中尺度对流复合体

本文应用美国GOES卫星红外云图研究了美国1986和1987年的中尺度对流复合体(MCC).1986年出现了58个MCC,接近打破记录,1987年出现了44个.虽然这两年出现的MCC数量都超过了1985年以前7年的平均数,但它们的季节分布是不正常的.特别是,在晚春和初夏,即MCC平均季节分布的峰值期,却存在着一个无MCC的持续时段(约3周).通过对这两年"无MCC时段"和"MCC活跃时段"的平均大尺度地面和高空环境场的比较,研究了这一特殊情况.结果证明,低层强热力强迫以及对流层中、低环境场的恰到好处的配置对MCC的形成最重要.     

Simulation of fluid, heat transport to estimate desert stream infiltration

In semiarid regions, the contribution of infiltration from intermittent streamflow to ground water recharge may be quantified by comparing simulations of fluid and heat transport beneath stream channels to observed ground temperatures. In addition to quantifying natural recharge, streamflow infiltration estimates provide a means to characterize the physical properties of stream channel sediments and to identify suitable locations for artificial recharge sites. Rates of winter streamflow infiltration along stream channels are estimated based on the cooling effect of infiltrated water on streambed sediments, combined with the simulation of two-dimensional fluid and heat transport using the computer program VS2DH. The cooling effect of ground water is determined by measuring ground temperatures at regular intervals beneath stream channels and nearby channel banks in order to calculate temperature-depth profiles. Additional data inputs included the physical, hydraulic, and thermal properties of unsaturated alluvium, and monthly ground temperatures measurements over an annual cycle. Observed temperatures and simulation results can provide estimates of the minimum threshold for deep infiltration, the variability of infiltration along stream channels, and also the frequency of infiltration events.     

Copper bioavailability in a coastal environment of Northern Chile: comparison of bioassay and analytical speciation approaches

An integrated approach including chemical speciation analyses and microalgal bioassays was used to assess the impact of copper from copper mining on a coastal area in Northern Chile. Dissolved copper ranged from <1 microg l(-1) at reference sites to 48 microgl(-1) at sites close to the mine discharge. Dissolved copper at sites closest to the discharge always exceeded seawater complexing capacities determined by anodic stripping voltammetry (ASV), and consequently labile copper was always detected (1-37 microg l(-1)). Agreement between ASV-labile copper and copper retained by cation exchange (ALSA) columns was excellent. Measured labile copper also accurately predicted bioavailable copper determined by growth inhibition of Nitzschia closterium and enzyme inhibition in Dunaliella tertiolecta. Seawater from Caleta La Lancha had the highest dissolved and labile copper and was the most toxic to micro-algal growth and enzyme activity. Previous studies at this site confirmed it had the lowest level of biodiversity, suggesting that copper may have both direct and indirect effects on these communities.     

Biodiversity of rocky intertidal benthic communities associated with copper mine tailing discharges in northern Chile

Copper mine tailings have been discharged around the city of Chanaral, in northern Chile, for more than 60 years. This report summarizes a 17-month long monitoring study of species richness and biodiversity at five intertidal sites around the point of the tailing discharge. Total dissolved copper in sites close to the point of discharge varied between 8.72 microg/l and 34.15 microg/l, showing that there has not been a significant reduction since 1994. However, species richness has increased, suggesting a possible recovery of the system. While diversity of sessile organisms correlates negatively with dissolved copper, diversity of mobile invertebrates did not correlate with the metal concentration. To explain the observed results we discuss the role of algal turf interference on the distribution of mobile invertebrates at reference sites, a top-down effect caused by the absence of carnivores at impacted sites, and an avoidance strategy by some species to reduce their contact with contaminated seawater.