森林土壤微生物与植物碳源的磷脂脂肪酸及其单体同位素研究

森林生态系统的土壤微生物群落组成和活性,是影响生物地球化学循环、有机质代谢和土壤质量的关键因素.磷脂脂肪酸(PLFA)是一类可有效表征活体微生物群落结构的生物标志物,而其单体稳定碳同位素(δ13C)水平对土壤微生物植物碳代谢具有独特的指示作用.本次研究以土壤PLFA为对象,分析了我国位处纬度梯度带上(24°N～47°N...     

The origin and maturation of lagoonal glauconites: a case study from the Oligocene Maniyara Fort Formation,western Kutch,India

An integrated study of the sedimentology, micropalaeontology, mineralogy and geochemistry of glauconites in the Oligocene Maniyara Fort Formation (western Kutch, India), has been undertaken. Authigenic glauconites, mostly of evolved type, formed within a back‐barrier lagoonal environment. Foraminifera help constrain the biostratigraphy and along with sedimentological evidence, provide information on the depositional conditions. Glauconite in the Maniyara Fort Formation occurs either as infillings within intra‐particle pores of larger foraminifers, or as an altered form of faecal pellets. X‐ray diffraction studies reveal the less mature nature of glauconite infillings compared to the glauconite pellets. Electron microprobe investigation confirms a relative enrichment of K₂O and total Fe₂O₃ in the latter. Both varieties of glauconite formed by initial authigenic precipitation of K‐poor glauconite and subsequently matured by addition of potassium in the interlayer sites and fixation of total iron in the octahedral sites; calcium, magnesium and aluminum were released from the glauconite structure concomitantly. Alkaline conditions during the entire process of glauconite formation did not allow dissolution of foraminiferal tests. Mineralogical and chemical characteristics of the Maniyara Fort Formation glauconites are more similar to deep marine glauconites than those reported from other shallow or marginal marine settings. A low negative cerium anomaly, as well as abundant pyrite, suggests formation of glauconite in sub‐oxic micro‐environments, created by decay of organic matter associated with foraminiferal chambers and faecal pellets. Sub‐oxic condition apparently prevailed relatively longer within the Maniyara Fort Formation lagoons. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

What can we learn from genomics approaches in marine ecology? From sequences to eco‐systems biology!

The application of genomic approaches to marine biota has profoundly altered our understanding of life in the oceans, especially regarding concepts of adaptation, speciation and evolution. The avalanche of genomic data has provided an unbiased view of marine biology that has never been seen before. In particular, comparative and metagenomic approaches with microbes from different biogeochemical marine provinces provided the first insights into how they acquire and discard genes as needed, even across kingdom boundaries, in response to their environment. These data clearly reveal that marine microbes have remarkable abilities to change their genomes according to both environmental stresses and biotic interactions. Thus, it is most likely that the flux of energy and matter in the marine system is reflected by the presence or absence of genes and proteins in marine organisms, which could provide novel tools to understand biogeochemical processes of global significance. However, the challenge is to put the reductionistic knowledge gained by genomics and metagenomics into the larger contexts of cellular systems and ecosystems to identify emergent properties that could not have been predicted by breaking down the whole into its individual parts.     

Relationships of rainfall,river flow,and salinity to faecal coliform levels in a mussel fishery

Faecal coliform levels were determined for sea water and shellfish flesh from farms of the green mussel, Perna canaliculus, in Pelorus Sound, Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand. Simple linear models were developed to relate logarithmically transformed data on the faecal coliform levels to measures of fresh water entering the mussel beds. These models support guidelines to restrict harvesting following periods of heavy rain in order to comply with shellfish sanitation standards. Alternative guidelines are suggested based on the volume of river water entering the sound or salinity.     

Water quality of a lowland stream in a New Zealand dairy farming catchment

A small stream in a predominantly dairying catchment in the Waikato region of New Zealand was monitored for 2 years at three sites. Total nitrogen (TN) concentrations were up to 7.09 g m^‐3 in winter, with the bulk comprising nitrate nitrogen (NO^‐ ₃‐N). During summer NO^‐ ₃‐N was near zero and TN mostly comprised organic nitrogen. Maximum concentrations of total phosphorus (TP) and dissolved reactive phosphorus (DRP) were 1.64 and 0.555 g m^‐3, respectively, and peaks coincided with spring and autumn applications of phosphorus fertiliser. Ammoniacal nitrogen concentrations exceeded 1 g m^‐3 on several occasions and mean concentrations at the three sites were 0.165–0.272 g m^‐3. Faecal coliform and enterococci bacteria concentrations were 64–26000 and 7–23000 cfu per 100 ml, respectively. Specific yields of TN and NO^‐ ₃‐N (35.3 and 30.7 kg ha yr^‐1, respectively) were much greater than any previously reported for New Zealand pasture catchments, whereas TP and DRP yields (1.16 and 0.54 kg ha yr^‐1, respectively) were more in accord with other studies. Greater use of land treatment of liquid wastes will reduce stream inputs of faecal organisms, NH₄‐N and P.     

Organic matter production of American lobsters (Homarus americanus) during impoundment in Maine,United States

Lobster impoundments are dammed coastal embayments utilised to hold American lobsters (Homarus americanus) before shipping to market. The impacts of lobster impoundments on the environment have not been previously studied. Here, the digestive functioning of American lobsters was examined to assess the quantity and quality (TVS, total volatile solids) of lobster faeces produced under the temperatures and feeding regimens these animals were subjected to during the impoundment period. Overall it was determined that quantity and quality of faeces did not differ among the experimental temperatures (5, 10, and 15°C), and that animals fed every 1–2 days produced greater quantity and quality of faeces than those fed every 3–18 days, or those animals fed less than every 18 days. As a first estimate of organic matter production in active lobster impoundments, it was calculated that a typical lobster impoundment produced 0.79 ± 0.35 (average ± 1 SD) g TVS m^‐2 day^‐1 during the impoundment period, equivalent to 3.11 ± 0.60% of the total weight of lobsters stocked into the impoundment. This level of organic matter production is below the level produced by other aquaculture operations, and that at which benthic impacts might be expected.     

Riparian protection and on‐farm best management practices for restoration of a lowland stream in an intensive dairy farming catchment: A case study

Abstract

Poor water quality (high concentrations of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), suspended solids (SS), and faecal bacteria) in Waiokura Stream, southern Taranaki, New Zealand, is attributed to diffuse and point source (PS) inputs from dairy farming. Trend analysis of concentration time‐series data (2001–2008) and annual yields (i.e., stream load divided by catchment area) showed that significant improvements occurring since 2001 may be attributed to changes in farming practices and riparian management. Yields of filterable reactive P, total P and SS declined by 25–40% as a result of increased riparian protection, a reduction in dairy shed effluent (DSE) pond discharges from 8 to 6 with conversion to land irrigation, and a 25% reduction in the average application rate of P fertiliser. Median annual Escherichia coli concentrations declined at a rate of 116 per 100 ml per year, as a result of fewer PS discharges and improved riparian management. Thus, improvements in stream water quality were attributed to adoption of on‐farm best management practices, fewer DSE discharges and riparian management involving permanent livestock exclusion from stream banks and riparian planting to mitigate runoff from pasture. During 2001–06, N fertiliser use increased by 30% and, with a 130% increase in supplementary cattle feed during 2003–08, led to an increase in average milk solids production 1021 to 1262 kg ha^?1 during 2001–06 with the increased production likely associated with increased N leaching losses. Total N and nitrate‐N concentrations and yields increased during 2001–07 as a result of the intensification in land use and increased N cycling. Stream invertebrate surveys using the macroinvertebrate community index (MCI) metric showed little improvement in MCI during 2002–07, probably because of the relatively short timeframe of this study and because water temperatures were not a limiting factor for invertebrate communities. The absence of native forest streams in the proximity of Waiokura Stream that might act as sources of sensitive species to recolonise the restored stream should also be considered as a constraint to improvements in biological community structure.     

Faecal microbial contamination of watercress (Nasturtium officinale) gathered by a Maori protocol in New Zealand streams

A study was carried out to determine the food safety status of watercress (Nasturtium officinale) harvested from rural streams under Maori protocol. Sixty‐five sample bunches (c. 500 g) were collected from four streams in the Waikato region of New Zealand each summer from 2005 to 2007. Two streams, Southern Enclosure and Te Waihou, were within reserves and the other two, Mangapiko and Piopio, flowed through pastoral farms. To assess faecal contamination status, Escherichia coli and thermotolerant Campylobacter were measured on watercress as collected and E. coli counts assessed against the New Zealand guideline for ready‐to‐eat foods (satisfactory: <3 E. coli per g). To determine whether washing would ensure the watercress met food safety standards, an additional 6 bunches were collected and washed in running tap water (household regime). A further 15 bunches were washed by a simulated commercial triple washing regime. At harvest, 16 of 17 watercress samples collected from the Southern Enclosure and 11 of 22 from Te Waihou met the satisfactory criterion for ready‐to‐eat food, but only 1 of 17 from Mangapiko and none of 9 from Piopio were satisfactory. No Campylobacter was recovered from any sample of watercress collected from the four sites. After washing in running tap water, E. coli numbers still exceeded the satisfactory criterion. Commercial triple washing was more effective in ensuring satisfactory watercress, but of the 15 samples subjected to this regime, only 6 met the satisfactory criterion. Escherichia coli remained firmly attached to watercress leaves after both washing regimes (presumably in biofilms). Overall, these findings suggest that it is not advisable to use watercress harvested from rural streams as a raw salad vegetable, particularly from those affected by pastoral farming.