Exposure to 2,4-decadienal negatively impacts upon marine invertebrate larval fitness

Diatoms liberate volatile, biologically active unsaturated aldehydes following cell damage, which negatively impact upon invertebrate reproductive processes such as fertilization, embryogenesis and larval survival. 2,4-Decadienal is frequently identified among the aldehydes produced and is one of the more biologically active. The majority of studies which have examined the toxic effects of diatom aldehydes to invertebrate reproduction have scored egg production and/or hatching success as indicators of biological impacts. There are very few studies which have dealt specifically with the impacts of diatom-derived aldehydes on larval fitness. Larval stages of the polychaetes Arenicola marina and Nereis virens and the echinoderms Asterias rubens and Psammechinus miliaris exposed to 2,4-decadienal at sub 1 microg ml(-1) concentrations suffered reduced survival over the incubation period (day 1-8 post fertilization) with detectable differences for the polychates at a concentration of 0.005 and 0.01-0.1 microg ml(-1) for the echinoderms. Susceptibility of larval N. virens was investigated using stage specific 24 h exposures at 2,4-decadienal concentrations up to 1.5 microg ml(-1). A clear stage specific effect was found, with earlier larval stages most vulnerable. Nectochaete larvae (9-10 d) showed no reduction in survival at the concentrations assayed. Fluctuating asymmetry (FA), defined as random deviations from perfect bilateral symmetry, was used to analyse fitness of larval P. miliaris exposed to 2,4-decadienal at concentrations of 0.1, 0.5 and 1 microg ml(-1). The degree and frequency of asymmetrical development increased with increasing 2,4-decadienal concentration. Equally, as FA increased larval survival decreased. These results provide further support for the teratogenic nature of 2,4-decadienal and its negative impact on invertebrate larval fitness.     

走向21世纪的地球化学填图

通过分析国外区域地球化学填图计划,指出现代区域地球化学填图具有多目标的特征,强调测定多元素总量和有效态含量;论证了超低密度地球化学填图技术．最后,针对国土资源地质大调查,提出了裸露区、半裸露区、平原区和覆盖区的地球化学填图的内容与方法,期望对我国地球化学填图起推动作用     

Biochemical indicators for the bioavailability of organic carbon in ground water

The bioavailability of total organic carbon (TOC) was examined in ground water from two hydrologically distinct aquifers using biochemical indicators widely employed in chemical oceanography. Concentrations of total hydrolyzable neutral sugars (THNS), total hydrolyzable amino acids (THAA), and carbon-normalized percentages of TOC present as THNS and THAA (referred to as "yields") were assessed as indicators of bioavailability. A shallow coastal plain aquifer in Kings Bay, Georgia, was characterized by relatively high concentrations (425 to 1492 μM; 5.1 to 17.9 mg/L) of TOC but relatively low THNS and THAA yields (∼0.2%–1.0%). These low yields are consistent with the highly biodegraded nature of TOC mobilized from relatively ancient (Pleistocene) sediments overlying the aquifer. In contrast, a shallow fractured rock aquifer in West Trenton, New Jersey, exhibited lower TOC concentrations (47 to 325 μM; 0.6 to 3.9 mg/L) but higher THNS and THAA yields (∼1% to 4%). These higher yields were consistent with the younger, and thus more bioavailable, TOC being mobilized from modern soils overlying the aquifer. Consistent with these apparent differences in TOC bioavailability, no significant correlation between TOC and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC), a product of organic carbon mineralization, was observed at Kings Bay, whereas a strong correlation was observed at West Trenton. In contrast to TOC, THNS and THAA concentrations were observed to correlate with DIC at the Kings Bay site. These observations suggest that biochemical indicators such as THNS and THAA may provide information concerning the bioavailability of organic carbon present in ground water that is not available from TOC measurements alone.     

Ocean urea fertilization for carbon credits poses high ecological risks

The proposed plan for enrichment of the Sulu Sea, Philippines, a region of rich marine biodiversity, with thousands of tonnes of urea in order to stimulate algal blooms and sequester carbon is flawed for multiple reasons. Urea is preferentially used as a nitrogen source by some cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates, many of which are neutrally or positively buoyant. Biological pumps to the deep sea are classically leaky, and the inefficient burial of new biomass makes the estimation of a net loss of carbon from the atmosphere questionable at best. The potential for growth of toxic dinoflagellates is also high, as many grow well on urea and some even increase their toxicity when grown on urea. Many toxic dinoflagellates form cysts which can settle to the sediment and germinate in subsequent years, forming new blooms even without further fertilization. If large-scale blooms do occur, it is likely that they will contribute to hypoxia in the bottom waters upon decomposition. Lastly, urea production requires fossil fuel usage, further limiting the potential for net carbon sequestration. The environmental and economic impacts are potentially great and need to be rigorously assessed.     

Towards a more ecologically relevant assessment of the impact of heavy metals on the photosynthesis of the seagrass,Zostera capricorni

This in situ study used photosynthetic activity (measured as chlorophyll a fluorescence) and photosynthetic pigment concentrations to assess the effect of copper, cadmium, lead and zinc on the seagrass Zostera capricorni. Custom-made portable in situ exposure (PIE) chambers were developed so seagrasses could be dosed within the meadow. Z. capricorni was exposed to 0.1 and 1 mg l⁻¹ of metal solutions for 10 h. During this time and for the subsequent four-day recovery period, the effective quantum yield of photosystem II (PS II) (ΔF/Fm^′) was measured. While the results were variable, copper and zinc exposed samples had a depressed ΔF/Fm^′ during the exposure period. Samples exposed to zinc recovered to pre-exposure levels but those exposed to copper did not. Cadmium and lead did not impact on the chlorophyll a fluorescence and the chlorophyll pigment data supported these findings. This study presents an innovative new application of chlorophyll a fluorescence stress assessment.     

金属矿地震勘查方法评述

经过几十年的发展,金属矿地震勘查方法形成了以2D、3D、VSP方法为主的地震反射系列,提出了地震散射法,并取得了一定的试验效果.金属矿地震找矿的应用范围得到了扩展,不再局限于矿体本身,控矿构造、蚀变晕、重要岩性层等大型深部构造单元成为了地震间接找矿的目标体.目前,金属矿地震勘查方法,尤其是3D、VSP方法,面临着成本高、技术难度较大等问题,应进一步加强基础理论和解释方法研究,建立金属矿地震技术示范区,为推广和应用金属矿地震方法开拓思路、积累经验.     

经验勘查与理论勘查的发展趋势

经验勘查与理论勘查相互依存，互为补充，二者都会促进实际观测和资料收集，促进矿产勘查。建立模型是这2种勘查战略固有的工作，是指导资料收集和资料解释的手段，而不是目的，或者说建模是勘查工作中深化资料收集和认识的运行过程，而不是终结。理论勘查与经验勘查的交叉与融合，是通向矿产勘查的成功之路。成矿理论研究正步入第三个里程碑阶段，形成了以地球动力学为核心的众多生长点，如岩石圈构造不连续面、流体作用、超大陆旋回、地幔柱与成矿作用等，它们都处于快速发展时期，不断产生新的成矿理论和认识。新方法和新技术的不断出现和发展为经验勘查注入了活力，极大地促进了找矿工程学的发展。     

浙江省诸暨地区元素地球化学分布与标度律

以浙江省诸暨地区为例, 从3个不同尺度上(从区域到局部) 研究了元素的地球化学分布模式, 提出元素服从多重分形分布的观点, 并将这种分布模式解释为地球化学背景与异常之间的关系.在矿床上方通常存在多重分形嵌套的地球化学模式.最后, 指出了标度不变性原理在地球化学研究中的应用前景.      

赵向21世纪的地球化学填图

通过分析国外区域地球化学填图计划,指出现代区域地球化学填图具有多目标的特征。强调测定多元素总量和有效态量;论证了超低密度地球填图技术。最遑,针对国土资源地质大调查,提出了裸露区,半裸露区,平原区和覆盖区的地球化学填图的内容与方法,期望对我国地球化学填图起推动作用。