The Diatom Nitzschia sicula (Castr.) Hust. and Naupliar Faecal Minipellets in the Adriatic sea

Abstract. Nitzschia sicula (C astr .) H ust ., a planktonic pennate diatom, dominated the microphytoplankton (10⁴-5 times 10⁴ cells. 1^-1) in the central, oligotrophic Southern Adriatic Pit waters (20-50m layer) in May 1990. Nauplii dominated the microzooplankton (3 indiv. 1^-1in the 0-50m layer, 130 μm mean body length) and produced a considerable amount of faecal (mini)pellets (1900. 1^-1 at 50m, mean diameter 47μm), which were compactly filled with N. sicula frustules. The subsurface accumulation of diatoms and nauplii was probably the result of both productive activity under specific hydrographic conditions and the convergence in a relatively strong southern Adriatic cyclonic gyre; the advective transport of populations along the shear zone, at the boundary between water masses of different thermo-haline characteristics may also have played a role. The amount of minipellets was high if compared with the data available from other seas. This was probably due to high production of minipellets, their slow sinking rate, and/or an absence of manipulation of the faecal material by zooplankton.     

Sterols as markers of sewage contamination in a tropical urban estuary (Guanabara Bay, Brazil): space–time variations

Guanabara Bay, located adjacent to Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, is highly contaminated by substances derived from domestic and industrial effluents as well as from agricultural runoff. In the present work, sedimentary coprostanol and other faecal sterols were used to investigate historical trends in sewage contamination. Sediment cores were collected from eight different (and characterized) locations in the bay and were sectioned into dated segments. Organic carbon was determined by dry combustion and sterols were separated and quantified by GC/MS. The space-distribution of organic carbon and faecal sterol concentrations generally coincided with the presence of known pollution sources. Concentrations of coprostanol as high as 40 μg g⁻¹ were found, indicating areas of severe sewage contamination. Faecal sterol ratios, commonly used as tools to investigate contamination in temperate environments, however, were found to have limited applicability to this tropical estuarine system, probably due to the influence of intensive primary production and microbial processes.     

以大洋钻探开展冲绳海槽热液活动研究的建议

关于沟弧盆构造体系下的海底热液活动,因涉及的问题繁多,一直是海洋地质学界十分注目的重要研究课题。相比之下,西太平洋沟弧盆体系的马里亚纳海槽和西南太平洋的汤加－斐济海盆中的劳海盆都有ＤＳＤＰ／ＯＤＰ的支撑,有关海底热液活动及其构造属性、地壳类型、形成时代等已有了十分明确的结论,唯冲绳海槽至今尚未有此机会。为了迎接１９９８年大洋钻探船来西太平洋海域,特建议在冲绳海槽设站钻探,可在地理座标２７°１５′～２７°３５′Ｎ,１２６°５６′～１２７°１０′Ｅ的范围、水深１３００～１５５０ｍ水域内海底热液活动活跃区选站,连续钻探４～５孔,其目的拟解决以下４个问题：１．冲绳海槽现代海底热液活动通道在岩层中的最大透过深度及其岩石学性质;２．冲绳海槽的热液类型和成岩成矿作用;３．热液活动与地壳性质;４．热液活动在沟弧盆体系演化中的意义。     

冰冻圈微生物学：回顾与展望

冰冻圈是地球上的负温圈层。冰冻圈各个要素中生存的微生物是地球上生命多样性的重要组分,对这些生命体及其生长繁殖和起源演化规律的揭示,不仅极大地丰富着生命科学和冰冻圈科学,还为深入了解全球变化和地外生命提供重要线索。冰冻圈微生物学的发展也将造福于人类。在回顾冰冻圈微生物研究的基础上,提出冰冻圈微生物学的概念,为冰冻圈科学和微生物学发展提供新视角。     

珠江广州河段微表层与次表层水环境质量比较(英文)

The water quality in the surface microlayer(SML) and subsurface water(SSW) in the Guangzhou segment of Pearl River, a eutrophic urban river section in China, were analyzed. The spatial and temporal dynamics of nutrient concentrations, heavy metals and bacteria were examined from two sampling sites in monthly samples throughout 2010. The mean concentrations of total nitrogen, ammonia, nitrate and nitrite were higher than 7.0 mg/L, 3.1 mg/L, 1.1 mg/L and 0.3 mg/L, while total phosphorus and orthophosphate were 0.5 mg/L and 0.1 mg/L, respectively. These results indicated that the water quality was rich in minerals and eutrophic. The mean concentrations of Mn and Fe were higher than 0.013 mg/L; and Ni, Cr and Pb were higher than 0.001 mg/L. The mean concentrations were in the order of Mn Fe Ni Pb Cr. The concentrations of heavy metals in the Guangzhou segment were lower than the limit of the surface water quality standards in China and the World Health Organization(WHO), but higher than the median values in the world's freshwater. The density of bacteria ranged from 3.30×105 to 5.23×106 cells/mL, and the amount of cultivable heterotrophic bacteria ranged from 1.30×10 3 to 1.89×10 6 cfu/mL. Fecal coliform levels were beyond the V class of China water quality standard. The SML was enriched in nutrients, heavy metals and bacteria, with the maximum enrichment factor of 3.84 for nutrients, 8.00 for heavy metals, and 3.04 for bacteria, suggesting that the water quality of the SML of the Guangzhou segment of the Pearl River was more serious than in the SSW.     

Comparison of the water quality of the surface microlayer and subsurface water in the Guangzhou segment of the Pearl River,China

The water quality in the surface microlayer (SML) and subsurface water (SSW) in the Guangzhou segment of Pearl River, a eutrophic urban river section in China, were analyzed. The spatial and temporal dynamics of nutrient concentrations, heavy metals and bacteria were examined from two sampling sites in monthly samples throughout 2010. The mean concentrations of total nitrogen, ammonia, nitrate and nitrite were higher than 7.0 mg/L, 3.1 mg/L, 1.1 mg/L and 0.3 mg/L, while total phosphorus and orthophosphate were 0.5 mg/L and 0.1 mg/L, respectively. These results indicated that the water quality was rich in minerals and eutrophic. The mean concentrations of Mn and Fe were higher than 0.013 mg/L; and Ni, Cr and Pb were higher than 0.001 mg/L. The mean concentrations were in the order of Mn >Fe > Ni > Pb > Cr. The concentrations of heavy metals in the Guangzhou segment were lower than the limit of the surface water quality standards in China and the World Health Organization (WHO), but higher than the median values in the world’s freshwater. The density of bacteria ranged from 3.30×105 to 5.23×106 cells/mL, and the amount of cultivable heterotrophic bacteria ranged from 1.30×103 to 1.89×106 cfu/mL. Fecal coliform levels were beyond the V class of China water quality standard. The SML was enriched in nutrients, heavy metals and bacteria, with the maximum enrichment factor of 3.84 for nutrients, 8.00 for heavy metals, and 3.04 for bacteria, suggesting that the water quality of the SML of the Guangzhou segment of the Pearl River was more serious than in the SSW.     

生物土壤结皮对荒漠区土壤微生物数量和活性的影响

生物土壤结皮对荒漠生态系统的维持与改良发挥着重要作用。土壤微生物可敏感地指示土壤质量,是衡量荒漠区生态健康程度的重要生物学特征,而对荒漠区生物土壤结皮与土壤微生物关系知之甚少。本研究设计了两组对比试验。一组以腾格里沙漠东南缘的1956、1964、1981、1991年的植被固沙区结皮下的沙丘土壤为对象,以流沙区和天然植被区为对照。另一组以植被固沙区人为干扰生物土壤结皮下的沙丘土壤为研究对象,以未干扰结皮下的沙丘土壤为对照。结果表明：腾格里沙漠东南缘植被固沙区的藻-地衣和藓类结皮均可显著提高土壤可培养微生物的数量和基础呼吸（P<0.05）;适度人为干扰生物土壤结皮不会显著影响土壤可培养微生物的数量和基础呼吸,而严重人为干扰结皮可显著降低土壤可培养微生物的数量和基础呼吸,指示严重人为干扰结皮可导致荒漠区土壤质量下降;土壤可培养微生物的数量和基础呼吸也因结皮演替阶段的不同而有所不同,演替晚期的藓类结皮下土壤微生物数量和基础呼吸显著高于演替早期的藻-地衣结皮（P<0.05）;土壤可培养微生物的数量和土壤基础呼吸与固沙年限均存在显著的正相关关系,随着沙丘固沙年限的增加,结皮层增厚,结皮下土壤微生物数量及基础呼吸显著增加（P<0.05）;生物土壤结皮下土壤可培养微生物数量和基础呼吸呈现显著的季节变化,表现为夏季>秋季和春季>冬季。因此,腾格里沙漠东南缘植被固沙区的生物土壤结皮提高了土壤微生物数量和活性,表明生物土壤结皮有利于荒漠区土壤及荒漠生态系统的恢复。