Weathering of Monuments at Jethawanaramaya Complex in North-Central,Sri Lanka

Abstract: Sri Lanka has the richest archaeological sites in Asia. Jethawanarama Complex, one of the valuable sites in the country, is suffering from deterioration due to weathering. Monuments were built mainly from stones (granitic gneiss and marble) and clay bricks. The present study aimed to categorize weathering forms and interpret the recently-developing weathering processes. The growing of lichens on surfaces and the development of saline conditions are the major threats on the survival of monuments other than the typical weathering processes of tropical climates Morinite (NaCa2Al2[PO4)]2[F,OH]5·2H2O) is identified as a weathering product of monuments and is generated from lichens.     

Effects of coal dust on species composition of mosses and lichens in an arid environment

A wind-borne plume of coal dust has been deposited on the soil and vegetation next to a coal storage area at a power generation plant in Oregon (U.S.A.). Correlated with the deposition of coal dust were significantly increased soil temperatures, decreased pH, and increased moisture-holding properties. Some heavy metal concentrations were also higher on the plume. These differences are possibly responsible for the lower frequencies and diversity of lichen species on the plume. Moss diversity, frequency and percent cover are similar on and off the plume with the exception of Ceratodon purpureus. The increased cover of C. purpureus may be attributed to heavy metal tolerance on the plume.     

Interactive Effects of UV-B Radiation and Chemical Contamination on Physiological Parameters in the Lichen Ramalina lacera

To assess the impact of ultraviolet B (UV-B) radiation under laboratory conditions on lichens from different biomonitoring sites, thalli of the lichen Ramalina lacera were transplanted from a clean air site to nine different polluted sites in Israel. Our objective was to determine the probability of synergistic/antagonistic effects on physiological parameters by considering two stressors: chemical contamination and UV-B. Exposure to both airborne pollutants in the field and subsequent UV-B radiation in the laboratory which led to a severe disintegration of cell membranes, followed by electrolyte leakage, indicate the probability of a synergistic effect. The impairment of the potential quantum yield of electron transfer through photosystem II (PSII) of photosynthesis indicated by a significant decrease of the ratio F_v/F_m, further demonstrated the synergistic effect of both chemical contamination and UV-B radiation. Besides enlarged amounts of stress-ethylene in lichens at contaminated sites, the reduced levels of ethylene production upon UV-B radiation in the present study suggest the likelihood of an antagonistic effect of xenobiotic elements and UV-B radiation as a result of an impaired ethylene-producing system.     

我国鱼类生殖生理学研究概况

我国从50年代开始,根据渔业生产的需要,成功地进行了几种家鱼的人工繁殖试验。同时,也开展了鱼类生殖生理学的基础研究,使工作不断深入和提高。本文综述了我国40年来一系列有关鱼类生殖生理学的研究概况。     

南极乔治王岛三种地衣体元素组成及其分布的测定分析

将南极生长的南极石萝（ＵｓｎｅａａｎｔａｒｃｔｉｃａＤｕＲｉｅｔｚ）、蔟花石萝（Ｕｓｎｅａａｕｒａｎｔｉａｃｏ－ａｔｒａ（Ｊａｃｑ．）Ｂｏｒｙ．）和石蕊（Ｃｌａｄｏｎｉａｓｐ．）三种地衣分别对上部、中部和基部三部分作横切,用扫描电镜和能谱仪观察和测定各部位的表、间、中央各层的元素组成和相对含量,结果发现三种地衣体的组成元素基本相同;各部位的Ａｌ、Ｓｉ、Ｋ、Ｃａ四种元素的相对含量较高,Ｐ的相对含量相近;三种地衣体不同的部位、不同层的元素相对含量均不相同。研究结果对进一步探讨地衣体的结构和生理特点以及分析南极的地质环境均有重要意义     

民勤绿洲边缘荒漠植被滴灌恢复试验研究

应用滴灌技术对民勤绿洲边缘退化植被梭梭、白刺进行灌溉恢复试验研究。结果表明:(1)滴灌条件下,退化植被梭梭、白刺生长良好,可使梭梭新稍增长1.3~1.5倍,新梢数目增多1.1~1.2倍,新梢生物量增加1.5~1.8倍;使白刺冠幅增大1.9~2.8倍,叶片数增多1.6~2.2倍,叶生物量增大2.8~6.5倍。(2)滴灌植物梭梭、白刺光合生理作用强。相对免灌对照,梭梭在100 m³.hm^-2和150 m³.hm^-2的灌溉定额下光合速率(CO2)提高1.30 μmol.m^-2.s^-1和3.42 μmol.m^-2.s^-1,白刺在200 m³.hm^-2和300 m³.hm^-2的灌溉定额下光合速率提高0.76 μmol.m^-2.s^-1和1.35 μmol.m^-2.s^-1,滴灌植被光合速率随灌溉量的增加而增大。(3)灌溉林地土壤水分状况得到较大的改善,在0~250 cm土壤层次内,梭梭林地水分为3\^07%~3\^34％,相对对照林地提高了1.0~1.3百分点;白刺林地水分为2.76%~4.43％,相对对照提高了0.7~2.3百分点。     

养殖密度对陆基工厂化循环水养殖系统中大菱鲆(Scophthalmus maximus)幼鱼生长和胁迫反应的影响研究

Stocking density is widely recognized as a critical factor in aquaculture and a potential source of long-term stress.The influence of stocking density on growth and stress response of juvenile turbot(Scophthalmus maximus, ~3–75g, initial to final weight) was examined in fish held under low(LD, ~0.21–5.31 kg/m~2, initial to final density),medium(MD, ~0.42–10.81 kg/m~2) and high stocking density(HD, ~0.63–14.27 kg/m~2) for 120 days in a recirculating aquaculture system(RAS). In this trial, the growth curve for weight of juvenile turbot in RAS, all fitted by the Schnute model. No significant difference was found in growth performance among the three densities until at the final sampling(Day 120). The final weight and body weight increase(BWI) in the HD group were significantly lower than in other groups(P0.05, weight:(75.83±2.49) g,(75.39±2.08) g,(65.72±2.86) g and BWI:(2 436.12±28.10)%,(2 421.29±4.64)%,(2 097.88±20.99)% in LD, MD and HD groups, respectively). Similarly, the specific growth rate(SGR), feed conversion ratio(FCR) and coefficient of variation for weight(CV_w) were adversely affected by high stocking density(P0.05). However, there was no difference in survival and Fulton's condition factor(K) of turbot among the different groups. Physiological analyses demonstrated a clear increase in the plasma cortisol level and an obvious decrease in growth hormone(GH) concentration in the HD group on Day120(P0.05). There was no significant effect of stocking density on plasma glucose, Cl– and protein levels. All these findings would provide a reference for selecting the optimal stocking density of juvenile turbot in RAS.     

Is feeding behaviour related to glass eel propensity to migrate?

Several studies have shown that eel diadromy is facultative and that migratory divergences may appear during glass eel estuarine migration. The origin of the differences in migratory behaviour among glass eels remains unclear but initial evidence supports the role of individual energetic and thyroidal status. Even if starvation is usually associated with glass eel migration, feeding does seem to occur in some glass eels. The aim of the present study was to investigate feeding behaviour and glass eel growth in relation to the propensity to migrate. Feeding rate and weight gain were higher in fish having a high propensity to migrate (M⁺ fish) than in fish having a low propensity to migrate (M⁻ fish) in fed glass eels, whereas no clear difference in the variation in body weight was observed among unfed fish (controls). M⁻ fish initially had lower percent dry weight than M⁺ fish, which suggests a link between appetite, propensity to migrate, and energy content. We discuss the role played by endocrine signals on these processes. In fish, thyroid hormones contribute to the control of growth and development. In addition, they play a role in flatfish and leptocephalus metamorphosis and appear to be involved in smolt and glass eel migratory behaviour. As such, they represent a good candidate which would promote the propensity to migrate as well as digestive system development. Their role in the hormonal control of food intake however remains vague.     

陆源排污对邻近海域底栖海藻群落的影响

伴随着经济的发展,我国沿海海域富营养化日趋严重。为了明确富营养化对底栖海藻群落的影响及作用机制,本文选择了与大连凌水河口(污水河)毗邻的海藻床作为野外观测点,研究底栖海藻群落对营养盐自然衰减梯度的响应规律;在实验室内,选择了在排污口附近优势分布、营r-生态策略的绿藻缘管浒苔和仅在寡营养区域分布、营k-生态策略的红藻柔质仙菜作为实验材料,开展了营养吸收动力学和生长动力学研究。通过二者在营养盐吸收、利用和繁殖策略方面的比较研究,剖析了底栖海藻群落对不同营养环境的响应机制。结果显示:随着海水中营养盐浓度的降低,底栖海藻群落呈现种类数增加、优势种覆盖度降低的趋势。根据底栖海藻在群落水平对氮源营养的响应,认为现行海水水质标准中无机氮一类水质标准的限值应该由目前的14.29 μmol/L降低为6.69 μmol/L。在富营养环境中,营养盐浓度的上升促进了r-策略海藻幼体的竞争力和种群繁殖力,使其占据了大量的生态位,形成优势种群,导致底栖海藻多样性较低;在寡营养环境中,由于得不到充足的营养盐供应,r-策略海藻幼体的竞争力和种群繁殖力都受到制约,占据的空间生态位有限,为其他种类的生存提供了条件,而那些对营养盐需求较低但利用效率高的k-策略海藻则表现出更强的竞争力,在竞争中取得优势,能快速突破早期环境筛的限制,形成成体,因此,在寡营养海域,底栖海藻的多样性比较丰富。     

Response of Yesso scallop Patinopecten yessoensis to acute temperature challenge: physiological and biochemical parameters

Water temperature is generally considered to be a major factor af fecting the physiological and biochemical activities of marine bivalves. Here, the physiological and biochemical responses of Yesso scallop, Patinopecten yessoensis, to acute water temperature changes in summer were studied. Scallops were transferred directly to a lower temperature( T dec treatment)(from 23°C to 15°C) or to a higher temperature( Ti nc treatment)(from 15°C to 23°C) for 72 h, respectively. Results showed that the oxygen consumption and ammonia-N excretion rates of P. yessoensis decreased signi?cantly in the T dec treatment but increased dramatically at 6 h in the Ti nc treatment( P <0.05). In the T dec treatment, hepatopancreas antioxidant enzyme activities, superoxide dismutase(SOD) and catalase(CAT) activities, increased substantially within 72 h( P <0.05). However, a signi?cant decrease in CAT activity was found at 12 h in the Ti nc treatment( P <0.01).A signi?cant enhancement of acid phosphatase(ACP) activity and malondialdehyde(MDA) content was detected when scallops were acutely exposed to a temperature of 15°C. The levels of Cu/Zn-SOD gene expression in their gills up-regulated signi?cantly in response to acute temperature changes( P <0.01). These data suggest that acute temperature change af fects physiological and biochemical functions, and improve our knowledge of P. yessoensis under conditions of thermal stress.