Massive sedimentation of fine sediment with organic matter and enhanced benthic-pelagic coupling by an artificial dyke in semi-enclosed Chonsu Bay, Korea

To assess the impact of an artificial dyke in Chonsu Bay (CBD) on the organic carbon (C(org)) cycle, we measured excess (210)Pb activities, C(org) and nitrogen content in sediment cores. The C(org) oxidation rates (C(ox)) on the surface sediment and benthic nutrient fluxes were also quantified with an in situ benthic chamber. The higher excess (210)Pb inventory, C(org) and nitrogen in cores near the CBD indicated lateral transport and local, massive deposition of particulate matter due to tidal circulation altered by artificial dyke construction. The C(ox) in sediment near the CBD was about twice as high as that out of the bay, suggesting the importance of benthic remineralization of organic matter. The benthic fluxes of dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphate were four to six times higher than those outside the bay, corresponding to 141% and 131% respectively, of the requirements for primary production.     

Predicting copper toxicity in estuarine and marine waters using the Biotic Ligand Model

The Biotic Ligand Model (BLM) has proven efficient in predicting the toxicity of a variety of metals to freshwater organisms. Consequently, the US EPA has proposed its use for calculating freshwater copper criteria. This study evaluates the BLM for use in estuarine and marine waters. Studies were conducted using the bivalve, Mytilus sp. and 48-h embryo-larval development chronic estimator test methods. These are the most sensitive taxa and test in the US EPA saltwater copper criteria database. Samples from five locations around the USA were tested. There is a strong relationship between measured and BLM predicted copper EC50s (log transformed data, r² = 0.76, p < 0.001, n = 44). The BLM predicted within a factor ±2 of measured EC50s in 41 of 44 cases. However, the BLM tends to predict lower EC50s when measured EC50s are approximately 10 μg Cu/L. This may be due to limitations of the metal-dissolved organic matter interaction model.     

Genomic cloning and expression of vitellogenin gene from the self-fertilizing fish Rivulus marmoratus (Cyprinodontiformes, Rivulidae)

We cloned the vitellogenin gene from the self-fertilizing fish Rivulus marmoratus, and sequenced 12,326 bp. The number of exons of R. marmoratus and rainbow trout vitellogenin genes were different, and also the splicing junctions are different throughout most of the exons and introns but the amino acid similarity of R. marmoratus vitellogenin gene to other species was rather high. In promoter region of R. marmoratus vitellogenin gene, there were several E2 binding sites and the estrogen response element (ERE). We discuss here the gene structure and expression of R. marmoratus vitellogenin gene.     

Evaluating prey capture by larval mummichogs (Fundulus heteroclitus) as a potential biomarker for contaminants

We evaluated larval prey capture as a "behavioral biomarker" of contamination by examining feeding behavior of larval mummichogs (Fundulus heteroclitus) from many different sites, including a severely contaminated "Superfund" site, moderately contaminated sites, and reference areas. Prey capture ability was related to sediment contaminant levels. The levels of contaminants at a site were highly correlated with each other, so that the impact of individual contaminants was confounded. The number of captures of brine shrimp by mummichog larvae from all sites was highly variable, but significant negative correlations of prey capture were seen with mercury, lead, zinc, cadmium, and PCBs. As observed previously with adults, polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) did not appear to impair prey capture ability. The only site in which prey capture rates of 8-day old larvae were severely affected was the most highly contaminated Superfund site, Berry's Creek, NJ. This implies that larval prey capture is not as sensitive a behavioral biomarker for contamination as adult behavior studied previously.     

The impact of oil-derived products on the behaviour and biochemistry of the eleven-armed asteroid Coscinasterias muricata (Echinodermata)

The present study examines the impact of exposure to oil-derived products on the behaviour and physiology of the Australian 11-armed asteroid Coscinasterias muricata. Asteroids were exposed to dilutions of water-accommodated fraction (WAF) of Bass Strait stabilised crude oil, dispersed oil or burnt oil (n = 8) for 4 days whereby, prey-localisation behaviour was examined immediately after exposure, and following 2, 7, and 14 days depuration in clean seawater. The prey-localisation behaviour of asteroids exposed to WAF and dispersed oil was significantly affected though recovery was apparent following 7 and 14 days depuration, respectively. In contrast, there was no significant change in the prey-localisation behaviour of asteroids exposed to burnt oil. Behavioural impacts were correlated with the total petroleum hydrocarbon concentrations (C6-C36) in each exposure solution, WAF (1.8 mg l(-1)), dispersed oil (3.5 mg l(-1)) and burnt oil (1.14 mg l(-1), respectively. The total microsomal cytochrome P450 content was significantly lower (P(Dunnett test) < 0.01) in asteroids exposed to dispersed oil than in any other asteroids, whilst asteroid alkaline phosphatase activity was not significantly affected (P(ANOVA) = 0.11). This study further documents the deleterious impact of dispersed oil to marine organisms and supports further research in the area of in situ burning as a less damaging oil spill response measure towards benthic macro-invertebrates.     

面向对象最优分割尺度的选择及评价

针对当前面向对象多尺度分割方法存在处理的过程会产生不确定性误差,或分割效果依赖矢量边界线与真实边界的吻合程度等不足,该文以IKONOS、QuickBird高分辨率遥感影像为例,基于Definens平台面向对象多尺度分割算法,依据"种内一致性最大、类间异质性最大"原则,利用标准差及分割斑块对象与领域均值差分绝对值构建了与领域绝对均值差分方差比指数指标来定量选择最优分割尺度,并提出依据不同波段对分割斑块的贡献值不同,赋予不同权重,构建加权对象匹配度指数指标的方法,对分割结果进行评价与验证,最后对最优分割尺度选择及评价方法的可行性进行了探讨。     

A hierarchical approach measures the aerial extent and concentration levels of PAH-contaminated shoreline sediments at historic industrial sites in Prince William Sound, Alaska

A field study was conducted in 2003 to estimate the areal distribution and concentrations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in intertidal sediments at sites of past human and industrial activity (HA sites) in Prince William Sound (PWS), Alaska, the site of the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. More than 50 HA sites, primarily in western PWS, were identified through analysis of historic records and prior field studies, and nine sites were selected for detailed surveys. The areal assessment process consisted of seven steps: (1) identify site from historic records and field surveys; (2) locate visual evidence of surface oil/tar at a site; (3) prepare a site map and lay out a sampling grid over the entire site with 10-m grid spacing; (4) excavate pits to 50 cm depth on the grid; (5) perform a field colorimetric test to estimate total PAH (TPAH) in sediments from the wall of each pit and record the results in the ranges <1 ppm; 1-10 ppm; >10 ppm TPAH; (6) expand grid size if necessary if elevated PAH levels are detected colorimetrically; (7) select 20 samples from each site for same-day shipboard PAH analysis by immunoassay (SDI RaPID PAH) and, based on these results, select sediment samples from each site for full PAH analysis in the laboratory to identify PAH sources. A total of 416 pits were dug at the nine sites. Nine acres of sediments with TPAH >2500 ppb dry wt. were mapped at the nine sites. TPAH concentrations obtained by immunochemical analysis of 181 samples from the nine sites ranged from 20 to 1,320,000 ppb (wet wt.). The contaminants are mixtures of petroleum products (2-3 ring PAH) and combustion products (4-6 ring PAH) unrelated to the 1989 Exxon Valdez oil spill. Mussels and clams collected at these sites have elevated levels of PAH that are compositionally similar to the PAH in the sediments. These findings indicate that at least a portion of the sediment PAH is bioavailable. The PAH sources at these historic industrial sites are chronic. They include relict fuel oil tanks and works located above and within the intertidal zone, with contamination at some locations extending into nearshore sub-tidal sediments. This study shows how a hierarchical approach can be used to quickly and successfully map, quantify, and subsequently, identify sources of PAH in shoreline sediments.     

意大利亚平宁挤压带南部的大规模纵向伸展作用

在晚新生代的逆冲作用期间，亚平宁南部的环第勒尼安造山带的内部经历了两期近垂直的伸展作用。早期的伸展作用伴随不断增强的逆冲带的弧形弯曲作用形成，其方向平行于构造轴，构造带的长度增加了５０％，这种纵向应变伴随着一些低角度正断层集中在构造域内，记录了达１５０－２００％的伸展量。晚期的伸展作用与造山带呈较高角度，该期的伸展伴随着上新世一更新世的上升隆起和第勒尼安海裂谷作用向东南方向的移动。