Application of Atomic Force Microscopy to Observation of Marine Bacteria

The atomic force microscopy (AFM) is a recently developed, bench-top instrument that can image the surface structures of biological specimens at high resolution with simultaneous measurement of their size. This paper describes the application of AFM to marine bacteria. Both natural and cultured bacteria were retained on a filter or placed on glass, washed, air-dried and observed by AFM. The instrumental condition, the choice of suitable filter, effect of fixation and filtration, comparison with epifluorescent microscopic (EFM) count, and the size and shape of bacterial cells were investigated. An Isopore filter was best for concentration and subsequent observation because of its surface flatness. Cross section images showed that both rod and coccoid cells were flattened, the former usually having a two-humped shape. Bacterial cells were differentiated from non-living particles based on their cross section shape and size. Bacterial counts by AFM and EFM showed good agreement. Although size measurement is easily done by the instrument, AFM tends to overestimate the size of microspheres. More work is thus needed on the size measurement of living organisms. Because AFM easily provides images of natural bacterial cells at high magnification, it can be used as a new tool to study the fine structures of marine bacteria. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

南海东北部末次冰期以来的沉积环境演变

利用南海东北部上陆坡处所取的D孔柱样进行硅藻分析,结合粒度与碎屑矿物分析结果,探讨该海域末次冰期以来沉积环境演变过程.结果表明：粒度与硅藻分析结果较为吻合,共同显示D孔柱样可分为上下两层.上表层（0～2 cm）的砂质沉积层为冰后期海进过程改造的晚更新世残留沉积层,即变余沉积;下层（2～130 cm）主要是末次冰期形成的浅海沉积.整个柱样可反映出海洋同位素MIS 4期海退至MIS 3期海进与MIS 2期海退至冰后期海进的沉积变化韵律.     

长江口枯季悬沙粒度与浓度之间的关系

2003和2004年枯季在长江口采集水样并作水文观测，对所获水样进行过滤和粒度分析，以计算悬沙浓度和悬沙粒度分布。结果表明，2003年11月小潮期间，悬沙中值粒径与悬沙浓度存在着显著的指数关系，在大潮期间没有显著关系；在2004年2月小湖期间，两者之间没有显著关系，但在大潮期间存在着显著的指数关系。枯季水体悬沙以粉砂组份为主，并且随着向口外的推移，细颗粒组份逐渐增加，但在拦门沙最大浑浊带附近，由于絮凝作用，沉积物粒度变幅较大，可产生粒径粗化的现象。小潮期间，砂含量较低，但与悬沙浓度之间有显著相关关系；大潮期间，悬沙粒径粗化，但砂含量与悬沙浓度之间的关系不显著。上述分布趋势与沉积物来源、当地的水动力条件和絮凝作用等因素有密切关系。     

用含氯化镉培养液培养塔胞藻的生物学效应

在塔胞藻培养液中加入不同浓度的CdCl2,然后分析了培养在各种处理和对照组的塔胞藻后代.结果发现,随着镉离子浓度的升高,细胞的生长繁殖量和体积在前2轮(9d为一轮)培养中均明显降低,而在第3轮培养时,细胞的繁殖和大小接近常态.随后对处理后多种细胞内含物含量进行了分析,显示出:随着培养液中镉离子浓度增高,细胞内的蛋白质、叶绿素含量均明显下降,而可溶性糖、核酸的含量与对照相比变化不大.     

青藏高原中部湖泊沉积物中Zr/Rb值及其环境意义

由于青藏高原及其周边地区构造复杂,湖泊沉积物中的粒级差别很大,单一的测量方法往往难以奏效。Rb、Zr是表生地球化学过程中的稳定元素,但它们之间也存在显著差别,Rb一般富集在细颗粒中,Zr则在粗颗粒中含量较高。研究发现,湖泊沉积物中Zr/Rb比值与粘土(<2μm)含量存在显著相关,Zr/Rb值反映了湖泊沉积物的粒度大小。Zr/Rb比值所揭示的青藏高原中部280万年来经历的3次大的环境演化过程与岩性变化、孢粉指标反映的环境特征是一致的。