Differences in organotin accumulation in relation to life history in the white-spotted charr Salvelinus leucomaenis

To examine the accumulation pattern of organotins (OTs) in relation to the migration of diadromous fish, tributyltin (TBT) and triphenyltin (TPT) and their derivatives were determined in the muscle tissue of both sea-run (anadromous) and freshwater-resident (nonanadromous) types of the white-spotted charr Salvelinus leucomaenis. Ontogenic changes in otolith strontium (Sr) and calcium (Ca) concentrations were examined along life history transect to discriminate migration type. Mean Sr:Ca ratio from the core to the edge of the otolith in sea-run individuals was significantly higher than those in freshwater-resident one. There were no significant correlations in S. leucomaenis between OT accumulation and various biological characteristics. It is noteworthy that TBT and TPT concentrations in sea-run type were significantly higher than those in freshwater-resident individuals, although they are both of the same species. These results suggest that sea-run S. leucomaenis have a higher ecological risk of OT exposure than freshwater-residents during their life histories.     

A Bayesian network for analyzing biological acute and long-term impacts of an oil spill in the Gulf of Finland

Knowledge of oil-induced impacts from the literature and experts were used to develop a Bayesian network to evaluate the biological consequences of an oil accident in the low-saline Gulf of Finland (GOF). Analysis was carried out for selected groups of organisms. Subnetworks were divided into subgroups according to a predicted response to oil exposure. Two scenario analyses are presented: the most probable and the worst-case accident.The impact of the most probable accident in the GOF is rather small. In most of the groups studied oil-induced long-term effects are evaluated to be minor at least from the perspective of the whole GOF. After the worst-case accident negative effects are more likely. The model predicts that the most vulnerable groups are auks and ducks. Amphipods, gulls and to a lesser extend littoral fishes and seals may show delayed recovery after an accident. Also annual plant species may be susceptible to oil-induced disturbances.     

Environmental magnetic and petroleum hydrocarbons records in sediment cores from the north east coast of Tamilnadu, Bay of Bengal, India

In this study, mineral magnetic properties and petroleum hydrocarbons were statistically analysed in four sediment cores (C1, A1, T1 and K1) from the north east coast of Tamilnadu, India to examine the feasibility of PHC concentrations assessment using magnetic susceptibility. The C1 and A1 cores reveal a clear horizon of increase in PHC above 35 and 50 cm respectively suggesting the excess anthropogenic loading occurred in the recent past. Magnetic properties which were enhanced in the upper part of the sediment cores were the result of ferrimagnetic minerals from anthropogenic sources. Factor analysis confirmed that the input of magnetic minerals and petroleum hydrocarbons in Chennai coastal sediments are derived from the same sources. The present study shows that instead of expensive and destructive PHC chemical methods, magnetic susceptibility is found to be a suitable, cheap and rapid method for detailed study of petroleum hydrocarbon contamination in marine sediments.     

Effects of chronic exposure to dispersed oil on selected reproductive processes in adult blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) and the consequences for the early life stages of their larvae

Mussels (Mytilus edulis) were continuously exposed to dispersed crude oil (0.015-0.25 mg/l) for 7 months covering the whole gamete development cycle. After 1 month exposure to 0.25 mg oil/l, the level of alkali-labile phosphates (ALP) and the volume density of atretic oocytes in female gonads were higher than those in the gonads of control females, indicating that oil affected the level of vitellogenin-like proteins and gamete development. Spawning of mussels was induced after 7 months oil exposure. Parental oil exposure did not affect subsequent fertilization success in clean seawater but this was reduced in 0.25 mg oil/l. Parental exposure to 0.25 mg oil/l caused both slow development and a higher percentage of abnormalities in D-shell larvae 2 days post-fertilization; reduced growth 7 days post-fertilization. These effects were greatly enhanced when larval stages were maintained at 0.25 mg oil/l. Similar studies are warranted for risk assessment prognosis.     

Systematic study of effects of pH and ionic strength on attachment of phage PRD1

Objectives of this work are to investigate effects of pH and ionic strength (IS) on virus transport in saturated soil and to develop a quantitative relationship for these effects. A series of 50-cm column experiments with clean quartz sand under saturated conditions and with pH values of 5, 6, 7, 8, and IS values of 1, 10, and 20 mM were conducted. Bacteriophage PRD1 was used as a model virus. Applying a one-site kinetic model, attachment, detachment, and inactivation rate coefficients were determined from fitting breakthrough curves using the software package Hydrus-1D. Attachment rate coefficients increased with decreasing pH and increasing IS, in agreement with DLVO theory. Sticking efficiencies were calculated from the attachment rate coefficients and used to develop an empirical formula for sticking efficiency as a function of pH and IS. This relationship is applicable under unfavorable conditions for virus attachment. We compared sticking efficiencies predicted by the empirical formula with those from field and column experiments. Within the calibrated range of pH and IS, the predicted and observed sticking efficiencies are in reasonable agreement for bacteriophages PRD1 and MS2. However, the formula significantly overestimates sticking efficiencies for IS higher than 100 mM. In addition, it performs less well for viruses with different surface reactivity than PRD1 and MS2. Effects of pH and IS on detachment and inactivation rate coefficients were also investigated but the experimental results do not allow constraining these parameters with sufficient certainty.     

岩石破裂以及破裂前信号的演变

地震是大量的岩石破裂事件.很多大地震之前都存在瞬态信号:电磁信号、磁场变化、电离层扰动、土壤导电率的变化以及其他震前信号.令监测人员奇怪的是,在震前短时间内一些震前信号会衰弱甚至消失不见.岩石中应力活化电流的发现提供了一个可能的解释,应力能够激活岩石中的移动电荷载体,即电子空位缺陷(electron vacancy d...     

高密度地震观测揭示的2004年新潟县中部地震的凹凸体和障碍体

使用由极密集的临时地震台台网观测的余震到时,阐明了2004年新潟县中部地震主震断层的高分辨率速度结构。评估了速度结构与滑动、应力变化及余震分布的空间关系。根据运动学滑动模型,结合三维地壳结构,计算了断层上静态应力降的分布。具有低余震活动性的高速体十分接近主震的震源,并扩展到了断层的东北侧。该高速体大致与凹凸体重合,其同震滑动量和静态应力降高于周边地区。相比之下,在该高速体的浅外围观测到了负应力降区,沉积厚度向西南方向急剧增加且该区余震活动频繁。我们认为断层破坏区周围围岩的结构非均匀性具有控制主震断层动态破裂过程的显著潜势。     

日本南海弧前西端之下俯冲的九州—帕劳海岭的地震构造意义

作为菲律宾海板块残余岛弧的九州—帕劳海岭正沿着日本南海海槽的最西端俯冲于欧亚板块之下。沿走向布设的地震反射剖面显示出沿弧前增生楔前缘俯冲的九州—帕劳海岭70km宽的构造影像。地磁异常特征、海底地形特征、广角折射数据和陆地地貌证据等使得我们能够将俯冲海岭在弧前的延伸段一直追踪至九州岛的东部。正在俯冲的九州—帕劳海岭携带有大量冗余物质,可能具有相对较大浮力,因此在深部俯冲时与上覆板块的碰撞具有较大的抗性。有鉴于此,我们推测在俯冲海岭和上覆板块基底的接触区之间存在局部大应力构造。此局部大应力区人们已标出有历史冲断层型中等级别地震(6~7级)。当九州—帕劳海岭俯冲至深部时,漂浮的俯冲海岭其两侧的翼部更容易被撕裂而形成板块破裂。我们认为,俯冲的九州—帕劳海岭在深部不仅起到地震凹凸体的作用,而且产生板块破裂作为地震障碍体抑制邻近的日向段巨大逆冲地震的破裂传播。     

2011年日本东北近海地震震源上方的位移

2011年3月11日,一次大的板间地震(MW9.0)发生在日本东北宫城县附近的板块交界处。根据余震分布推测的震源区为约500km长、200km宽的近海区(Japan Meteo-rological Agency,2011)。     

Remote sensing and GIS application in the detection of environmental degradation indicators

The main aim of this research is to highlight the environment change indicators during the last 20 years in a representa-tive area of the southern part of Iraq(Basrah Province was taken as a case) to understand the main causes which led to widespread environment degradation phenomena using a 1:250000 mapping scale.Remote sensing and GIS’s software were used to classify Landsat TM in 1990 and Landsat ETM+ in 2003 imagery into five land use and land cover(LULC) classes:vegetation land,sand land,urban area,unused land,and water bodies.Supervised classification and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index(NDVI),Normalized Difference Build-up Index(NDBI),Normalized Difference Water Index(NDWI),Normalized Difference Salinity In-dex(NDSI),and Topsoil Grain Size Index(GSI) were adopted in this research and used respectively to retrieve its class boundary.The results showed a clear deterioration in vegetative cover(514.9 km2) and an increase of sand dune accumulations(438.6 km2),accounting for 10.1,and 10.6 percent,respectively,of the total study area.In addition,a decrease in the water bodies’ area was de-tected(228.9 km2).Sand area accumulations had increased in the total study area,with an annual increasing expansion rate of(33.7 km2·yr·1) during the thirteen years covered by the study.It is therefore imperative that Iraqi government undertake a series of pru-dent actions now that will enable to be in the best possible position when the current environmental crisis ultimately passes.