Measuring natural phytoplankton fluorescence and biomass: a case study of algal bloom in the Pearl River estuary

A moored optical buoy was deployed in the Pearl River estuarine waters for a 15-day period. A four-day algal bloom event occurred during this study period. Both chlorophyll a concentration and algal cell density (a proxy for biomass) changed dramatically before and after the event. The chlorophyll concentration at a 2.3 m depth rose from 5.15 mg/m⁻³ at 15:00 h on August 19 to 23.62 mg/m⁻³ at 9:00 h on August 21, and then decreased to 3.24 mg/m⁻³ at 15:00 h on August 24. The corresponding cell density ranged from 1.57 × 10⁵ to 1.76 × 10⁶ cells/L. We used normalized fluorescence line height (NFLH) and normalized fluorescence intensity (NFI) in order to determine fluorescence activity. Combined with the in situ sampling dataset, we were able to correlate natural fluorescence (NFLH and NFI) with chlorophyll a concentrations, and found correlation coefficients of 0.72 and 0.75, respectively. We also found correlations between natural fluorescence and cell density, with correlation coefficients of 0.71 and 0.65, respectively. These results indicate that applying continuous time series of natural fluorescence can reflect changes in biomass. This technique will prove extremely useful for in situ and real-time observations using an optical buoy. Although there are still problems to solve in the real-time observation of natural fluorescence in algal bloom events, we discuss the primary factors affecting fluorescence signals and suggest possible methods for mitigating these issues.     

Hg, Zn and Cu levels in the muscle and liver of tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) from the coast of Ishigaki Island, Japan: relationship between metal concentrations and body length

We analyzed Hg, Zn and Cu concentrations in the liver and muscle of tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) from the coast of Ishigaki Island, Japan. The Hg concentration in the muscle increased proportionally with body length in the tiger sharks, whereas that in the liver increased rapidly after maturity (defined by a length of over 2.7 m). Muscle Hg levels were higher than liver concentrations in immature sharks, with the inverse trend observed in mature sharks. Notably, the Zn and Cu concentrations in the liver tended to decrease with increasing body length. This rapid increase in hepatic Hg concentration concurrent with the onset of maturity in sharks may result from the continuous intake of Hg via food and the slower growth of mature sharks. The high concentrations of the essential metals Zn and Cu in immature sharks may be explained by the physiological demands related to rapid growth.     

Benthic ecosystem development in an artificial tidal flat constructed from dredged spoil

Dredged spoil (DS) was used as a silt and clay additive in the construction of artificial tidal flats from mountain sand (MS). As the ratio of DS in the sediment media increased, the number of emerging macrobenthos increased. The composition of the macrobenthic community was also affected by the addition of DS, and the changes might be dependent on the ratio of DS to MS. In addition, the macrobenthos in the artificial tidal flats was more abundant than that in the control tidal flat, which was constructed with natural tidal flat sediment. With a silt and clay content of 25%, polychaetes Ceratonereis erythraeensis and Capitella sp. and the gastropod Batillaria cumingii were dominant, whereas no bivalves were present. With less silt and clay (5% and 10%), the bivalves Ruditapes philippinarum and Musculista senhousia were observed in the artificial flats, while their numbers in the control tidal flat were lower.     

Metal tissue levels in Steller sea lion (Eumetopias jubatus) pups

The endangered Western population of the Steller sea lion declined for three decades for uncertain reasons. We present baseline data of metal concentrations in pups as a first step towards investigating the potential threat of developmental exposures to contaminants. Seven metals were investigated: arsenic, cadmium, silver, aluminum, mercury, lead and vanadium. Vanadium was detected in only a single blubber sample. Mercury appears to be the most toxicologically significant metal with concentrations in the liver well above the current action level for mercury in fish. The concentrations of aluminum, arsenic, silver, cadmium and lead were present in one-fourth to two-thirds of all samples and were at either comparable or below concentrations previously reported. Neither gender nor region had a significant effect on metal burdens. Future work should consider metal concentrations in juveniles and adults and toxicological studies need to be performed to begin to assess the toxicity of these metals.     

PAH-degrading microbial consortium and its pyrene-degrading plasmids from mangrove sediment samples in Huian, China

PAH-degrading microbial consortium and its pyrene-degrading plasmids were enriched from the sediment samples of Huian mangroves. The consortium YL showed degrading abilities of 92.1%, 87.6%, 92.3%, and 95.8% for pyrene, fluoranthene, phenanthrene, and fluoene at 50 mg l(-1) after 21 days incubation, respectively. The dynamics of pH changes in the cultures was consistent with that of PAH concentration change. Bacillus cereus Py5 and Bacillus megaterium Py6 were isolated from the consortium and observed consuming 65.8% and 33.7% of pyrene (50 mg l(-1)) within three weeks, respectively. The enriched Escherichia coli DH5alpha cells containing the plasmids of YL were demonstrated to degrade 85.7% of the original pyrene concentration at the 21st day.     

Alteration of gene expression profiles in the brain of Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) exposed to KC-400 or PCB126

Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are known as neurotoxic chemicals and possibly alter animal behavior. We previously reported that PCB-exposure induced abnormal schooling behavior in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes). This abnormal behavior might be caused by the functional alteration of central or terminal nervous system. To understand the mechanism(s) of behavioral change by PCB-exposure, we analyzed the gene expression profiles in the brain of medaka exposed to 3,3',4,4',5-pentachlorobiphenyl (PCB126) or a PCB mixture (Kanechlor-400: KC-400) using a cDNA microarray that we constructed. Twelve FLF-II strain medaka (six individuals per treatment) were dietary exposed to PCB126 (0.01 microg/g b.w./day) or KC-400 (1 microg/g b.w./day) for three weeks. For the control, six fish were fed a control diet. After the exposure period, fish were dissected, and the brain samples were collected. The samples from control fish were pooled and used as a common reference in the microarray experiment. Microarray data were normalized by the LOWESS method, and we screened the genes whose expression levels were altered more than 1.5-fold. Gene expression profiling showed 97 down-regulated and 379 up-regulated genes in the brain of medaka exposed to PCB126. KC-400 exposure suppressed 15 genes and induced 266 genes in medaka brain. Among these genes, the expression levels of 7 and 188 genes were commonly down- or up-regulated, respectively in both treatment groups. On the other hand, 31 gene expressions were significantly different between PCB126 and KC-400 treatment groups, and three out of 31 genes were received opposite effects. In addition, the microarray data showed that thyroid hormone-responsive genes were up-regulated by PCB-exposure, which may imply that PCBs or their metabolites mimic thyroid hormone effects in the brain of PCB-exposed medaka.     

青藏高原那曲地区冰雹天气系统中的大气电场

利用1998年4～9月间进行的GAME-TIBET青藏高原云和降水的多普勒雷达及大气平均电场加强期观测实验资料, 对青藏高原那曲地区的冰雹天气系统中的大气电场作了定量观测和研究.结果表明: 在降雹过程中大气电场强度基本上均为负值, 其峰值也均强于-22 kVm-1; 在降雹过程中随着降雹时间的临近, 大气电场强度不断增强, 但降雹开始时大气电场强度并未达到其峰值, 峰值出现的时刻比开始降雹的时刻略有滞后; 在各降雹日中, 较强的大气电场强度基本上对应着各冰雹谱分布段较多的冰雹数目, 而这种较好的相关在各谱分布段上都表现出来; 随着降雹时间的临近, 每5 min闪电频数不断增强.在开始降雹时每5 min闪电频数平均达到43, 峰值的出现时刻略滞后于开始降雹的时刻, 这一滞后时间一般平均在3 min左右; 在降雹过程中, 单位面积中的冰雹数目与对应时段内总闪电数有着较好的对数关系, 相关系数R为0.954 0.在降雹过程的时间序列上, 冰雹云成熟期过后, 总闪电次数与冰雹降雹率成反相关.     

Groundwater dynamics of Fongafale Islet, Funafuti Atoll, Tuvalu

Geoelectric and hydrologic surveys during spring tides revealed the spatiotemporal distribution of groundwater quality produced by tidal forcing in Fongafale Islet, Funafuti Atoll, Tuvalu. The observed low resistivity showed that saline water largely immersed the surficial Holocene aquifer, indicating that there is no thick freshwater lens in Fongafale Islet, unlike in other atoll islands of comparable size. Half of the islet was constructed by reclaiming the original swamp with porous, highly permeable coral blocks; this reclaimed area should not be considered as part of the islet width for calculation of the expected thickness of the freshwater lens. The degree of aquifer salinization depends on the topographic characteristics and the hydrologic controls on the inland propagation of the tidal forcing. Large changes in bulk resistivity and the electrical conductivity of groundwater from wells indicate that periodic salinization in phase with the semidiurnal tides was occurring widely, especially in areas at lower elevation than the high-tide level and in reclaimed areas with high permeability. Thin sheets of nearly fresh and brackish water were observed in the surficial aquifer in areas above the high-tide level and in taro swamps, respectively. The thinness of the brackish and freshwater sheets suggests that the taro swamps and the fresh groundwater resources of the islet are highly vulnerable to salinization from anticipated sea-level rise. An understanding of the inherent geologic and topographic features of an atoll is necessary to evaluate the groundwater resources of the atoll and assess the vulnerability of its water resources to climate change.     

Comprehensive assessment of heavy metal contamination in sediment of the Pearl River Estuary and adjacent shelf

Total metal concentrations (Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb), acid volatile sulfide and simultaneously extracted metals (AVS-SEM), and heavy metal fractionation were used to assess the heavy metals contamination status and ecological risk in the sediments of the Pearl River Estuary (PRE) and adjacent shelf. Elevated concentrations at estuarine sites and lower concentrations at adjacent shelf sites are observed, especially for Cu and Zn. Within the PRE, the concentration of heavy metals in the western shore was mostly higher than that in the middle shore. The metals from anthropogenic sources mainly occur in the labile fraction and may be taken up by organisms as the environmental parameters change. A combination of total metal concentrations, metal contamination index and sequential extraction analysis is necessary to get the comprehensive information on the baseline, anthropogenic discharge and bioavailability of heavy metals.