Fatty acids in recent sediments in the St. Lawrence estuary

Surface sediments along the Rimouski section in the St. Lawrence estuary were sampled at the surface and at 10 cm depth. Fatty acids were extracted and analysed. Saturated and unsaturated fatty acid contents at the two depths vary with the nature of the sediments. The clay sediments rich in organic matter contain more fatty acids than the corresponding sand or gravel. Unsaturated fatty acids were more abundant in the surface sediments. Some iso- and anteiso-odd carbon fatty acids were detected in the sediments; these acids could indicate a microbial activity. Correlation is made with the fatty acid contents of the water column together with the surface microlayer of the estuarine water.     

Seasonal variations in the production and consumption of amino acids by coastal microplankton

A seasonal study on coastal microplankton was conducted in surface waters near Boothbay Harbor, Maine. Phytoplankton biomass, particulate production and extracellular organic release were examined in conjunction with microheterotrophic biomass and the uptake and respiration of amino acids. In situ dissolved free amino acid (DFAA) concentrations were also determined. Several phytoplankton blooms occurred throughout the year, in mid-summer, late autumn and in mid-winter. Heterotrophic activity and biomass paralleled phytoplankton extracellular release more closely than either phytoplankton particulate production or biomass. DFAA concentrations were not wholly dependent on extracellular release. Heterotrophic uptake did not appear to be dependent on DFAA concentrations but rather on rates of production of DOC by phytoplankton.     

Carboxylic Acids: Seasonal Variation and Relation to Chemical and Meteorological Parameters

Formic and acetic acid measured as daily averages in 1993–1994show equal and highly correlated concentrations up to 3 ppb in the summer(May–August). In the winter (October–March) the formicacid/acetic acid ratio was 0.6 and the formic acid concentrations wereusually below 1 ppb. In winter the carboxylic acids correlate withO_x, NO_y, SO₂ and particulatesulphur. The main sources are suggested to be ozonolysis of anthropogenicalkenes and reactions between peroxyacetyl radicals and RO₂radicals. In spring–summer the carboxylic acids correlate withO₃, O_x, HNO₃, PAN,NO_y, SO₂, particulate sulphur and temperature.In addition to the sources of the winter a contribution from ozonolysis ofbiogenic alkenes is likely. Quite similar formic acid/acetic acid ratios forall wind directions suggest that the source(s) are atmospheric oxidationprocesses distributed over large areas. The highest concentrations occurringfor winds from east to south and the correlation with e.g., particulatesulphur indicate chemical production in polluted air masses during longrange transport.     

Importance of environment on the order of mineral weathering in olivine basalts,Hawaii

Examination of weathering rinds from lava flows on Hawaii with backscatter electron microscopy and electron micro-probe analysis reveals that olivine weathers more slowly than adjacent clinopyroxene and plagioclase in environments with a paucity of organic acids. Yet when weathering rinds are in contact with abundant organic acids secreted by lichens, olivine weathers before clinopyroxene and plagioclase weathers last. The exception to Goldich's widely accepted mineral stability series in organic-poor environments runs counter to a thermodynamics explanation for the order of mineral weathering and illustrates the importance of the biogeochemical environment.     

The removal of dissolved humic acid during estuarine mixing

A simple method for the determination of dissolved humic acid based on carbon analysis is presented. This method was used to measure the distribution of dissolved humic acids in seven coastal plain estuaries located in the middle-Atlantic United States. Results indicate that 100% of the dissolved humic acid was removed during estuarine mixing, although concurrent measurements of dissolved organic carbon showed either production or conservative behavior in regions of the estuary where humic acid removal was observed. It is apparent from these observations that removal of dissolved humic acid is a minor part of the estuarine transport of dissolved organic carbon.Laboratory experiments carried out by mixing river water with sea water demonstrated that salt-induced removal of dissolved humic acid was insignificant in two of three estuaries studied. These results suggest in situ removal of dissolved humic acid may not be universally caused by increasing estuarine salinity.     

黄河三角洲滨海湿地不同盐分质量浓度下土壤微生物死亡残体的差异

利用微生物生物标识物（氨基糖）,探讨盐分对黄河三角洲滨海湿地土壤微生物残体以及微生物残体对土壤有机碳（SOC）库贡献的影响。在滨海湿地生态系统中,随着土壤盐分增加,微生物死亡残体及其对SOC的贡献显著降低,表明高盐滨海湿地不利于土壤微生物死亡残体的积累及其对SOC的贡献。增加的盐分降低了土壤真菌死亡残体与细菌死亡残体的比值。线性回归分析指出土壤含水量、SOC、总氮（N）、交换性钙离子以及真菌死亡残体/细菌死亡残体与微生物死亡残体对SOC的贡献显著正相关。在低盐滨海湿地,良好的土壤条件（如高的水分、SOC和N）通过增加微生物死亡残体的积累和稳定性,促进了SOC的存储;而在高盐滨海湿地,低的可利用碳抑制了微生物死亡残体对SOC的贡献。另外,从低盐到高盐滨海湿地,真菌死亡残体对SOC的贡献逐渐下降,而细菌死亡残体对SOC的贡献没有变化,表明真菌死亡残体的积累对SOC的存储具有较大的影响。     

铜绿微囊藻中的紫外保护物质类菌孢素氨基酸(MAAs)与水华形成机制探讨

类菌孢素氨基酸(mycosporine-like amino acids, 间称MAAs)存在于许多生物体内,对紫外辐射(UVR)有较高的吸收能力,被认为有保护细胞、减少UVR损伤的功能. 通过对从太湖分离、室内培养的铜绿微囊藻和以微囊藻为优势种类的太湖浮游植物样品的吸收光谱和反相高效液相色谱分析,发现铜绿微囊藻和太湖浮游植物都含有shinorine和porphyra-334两种MAAs,但以shinorine为主. 本文还讨论了MAAs与铜绿微囊藻水华形成的关系.     

蓝藻对太湖底泥反硝化过程的影响和机理分析

通过模拟实验,研究了因自然或人工沉降的太湖蓝藻在厌氧条件下作为碳源对底泥微生物反硝化脱氮的促进作用.通过对底泥总氮、化合态氮素、挥发性脂肪酸(VFAs)、COD、电位和pH等指标的监测,发现藻体中大量的生物可降解碳素在厌氧消解后产生挥发性脂肪酸等一些可供反硝化菌直接利用的小分子物质,2×藻组VFAs含量可达2232.96μl/L,1×藻组可达1263.36μl/L,最高可达42.1%,为对照组(无添加蓝藻)的2.43倍,从而促进了硝态氮和亚硝态氮还原成N2和N₂O的过程,提高氮素的去除率.但底泥中沉降蓝藻需要一定的降解时间,前4天添加冷冻干蓝藻粉的处理组COD降解率较低,电位处于正值,体系中产生硝态氮,随后COD持续降低,添加2×藻组COD最大去除率为42.08%,1×藻组为32.93%,对照组仅为14.46%,表明藻细胞中的碳素已开始被利用.本研究表明沉降蓝藻细胞能够为底泥中的反硝化过程提供可利用碳源,并深入揭示了沉降蓝藻作为碳源促进底泥反硝化过程的机理和对底泥中C、N的影响,为在湖泊治理中降低氮素的内源污染提供了新的科学依据.     

Reed litter Si content affects microbial community structure and the lipid composition of an invertebrate shredder during aquatic decomposition

The decomposition of plant litter is an important mechanism in regard to energy and nutrient dynamics of ecosystems. Silicon concentration of plant tissue can affect these processes by changing litter quality, i.e. nutrient stoichiometry and cellulose and phenols content. To determine which group of microbial decomposers benefits from high Si content in plants and how this impacts on animal decomposers, a batch experiment was conducted with reed leaf litter (Phragmites australis) differing in Si content in the presence/absence of invertebrate shredders (Gammarus pulex). Lipid concentration of G. pulex, in reed litter and fine particulate matter (FPOM) were examined. High Si concentration in reed resulted in a decline of gram positive bacteria in the heterotrophic biofilm and of gram negative bacteria in FPOM. The lipid composition in the next trophic level, the decomposer G. pulex, changed too, indicating a diet shift in favor of bacteria and algae with increasing litter Si concentration. Thus, basal decomposers were affected by the Si availability in plant resources, and these effects likely persist along the food chain, as FPOM is a dominant food supply for other groups, e.g. collectors. This impact of Si content on plant substrate quality for decomposer food webs may have global relevance, due to related modifications in carbon and nutrient cycling during litter decomposition.     

太湖藻源性颗粒物分解过程中氨基酸的变化特征

在实验条件下研究了高浓度蓝藻堆积后水体中的藻源性颗粒物中氨基酸的分解速率、分解量和氨基酸态氮形态的变化情况.在自然光照组中,颗粒态氨基酸(PAA)的浓度从实验前的0.46 mmol/L降至实验后的0.30 mmol/L;而在无光分解组中PAA从0.44 mmol/L降至0.06 mmol/L.两种处理下PAA的降解速率常数分别为0.03916和0.17424 d~(-1).溶解态氨基酸(DAA)在分解过程中浓度比较低,随时间的变化表现出先增大后减小的趋势,在两种不同的处理下,最大值分别为10.94和7.94μmol/L,21 d后减小到与实验开始时持平,甚至低于初始值.实验初期,PAA所占比例高达74%~80%,但迅速被分解转化为DAA和铵态氮(NH_4~+-N),随着实验的进行NH_4~+-N又逐渐转化为硝态氮,其中无光分解组中的分解更为彻底,而自然光照组中PAA分解量小于无光分解组.实验结果表明,氨基酸作为水体中浮游植物的潜在氮源,可以被分解为水华过程中藻类所需的NH_4~+-N,对水华的维持具有一定的促进作用.