Macrofaunal density and biomass in the Campeche Canyon, Southwestern Gulf of Mexico

The composition, density and community structure of the benthic macrofauna were investigated in sediments of the Campeche Canyon in the SW Gulf of Mexico. Total macrofaunal density ranged from 9466±2736 ind m⁻² at the continental shelf station to 1550±195 ind m⁻² in the canyon. Density values significantly diminished with distance from the coast and depth; only a few stations in the center of the canyon displayed larger density values (E-37 with 4666±1530 ind m⁻², E-36 with 5791±642 ind m⁻² and E-26 with 6925±2258 ind m⁻²). Densities were positively correlated to organic nitrogen in the sediment (r=0.82) and coarse silt (r=0.43), and negatively with depth (r=−0.74) and distance from the coast (r=−0.68). At all stations, the polychaete worms contributed most to the multi-species community structure. The nematodes and Foraminifera displayed their highest densities in the center of the canyon. The biomass values declined significantly with depth. We conclude that the macrofauna density and biomass changed in response to organic matter contents in the sediment, both with distance from the coast and with depth.     

象山港氮、磷营养盐环流和分布规律的研究

采用定点监测分析方法,研究了象山港狭湾内设置的六个固定站位1992-2007年时间段内的硝酸氮(NO3-N)、亚硝酸氮(NO2-N)、铵氮(NH4-N)和磷酸盐(PO4-P)浓度的监测数据,探讨了象山港狭湾内(122°00'E以西)氮、磷营养盐的环流和分布规律.结果表明,(1)除个别年份外,16年内硝酸氮、亚硝酸氮、铵氮和磷酸盐浓度的空间分布,从港顶1号站向港口6号站呈降低趋势,其中以PO4-P、NO2-N的降低趋势最为明显,而NH4-N的降低趋势相对较弱.(2)NO3-N的空间变化规律较为复杂,并且3号站的浓度往往达到最大值.(3)无论是平水期(4月)还是丰水期(7月),表层盐度均低于底层,而表层温度高于底层;盐度从港顶1号站向港口6号站递增,而温度递减.这种分布规律基本上可用余环流模式进行解释,但余环流输运并不是促使营养盐入海的唯一原因,潮振荡的垂向剪切造成的纵向弥散和潮混合亦对营养盐输运有重大贡献.(4)与1992年相比,2007年各站的NO3-N浓度几乎都增加了一倍,PO4-P浓度增幅更大,说明象山港的氮、磷污染与日俱增.     

Dissolved organic nitrogen dynamics in the North Sea: A time series analysis (1995–2005)

Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) dynamics in the North Sea was explored by means of long-term time series of nitrogen parameters from the Dutch national monitoring program. Generally, the data quality was good with little missing data points. Different imputation methods were used to verify the robustness of the patterns against these missing data. No long-term trends in DON concentrations were found over the sampling period (1995–2005). Inter-annual variability in the different time series showed both common and station-specific behavior. The stations could be divided into two regions, based on absolute concentrations and the dominant times scales of variability. Average DON concentrations were 11 μmol l⁻¹ in the coastal region and 5 μmol l⁻¹ in the open sea. Organic fractions of total dissolved nitrogen (TDN) averaged 38 and 71% in the coastal zone and open sea, respectively, but increased over time due to decreasing dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) concentrations. In both regions intra-annual variability dominated over inter-annual variability, but DON variation in the open sea was markedly shifted towards shorter time scales relative to coastal stations. In the coastal zone a consistent seasonal DON cycle existed with high values in spring–summer and low values in autumn–winter. In the open sea seasonality was weak. A marked shift in the seasonality was found at the Dogger Bank, with DON accumulation towards summer and low values in winter prior to 1999, and accumulation in spring and decline throughout summer after 1999. This study clearly shows that DON is a dynamic actor in the North Sea and should be monitored systematically to enable us to understand fully the functioning of this ecosystem.     

王588块泥浆污染深穿透酸液研究与评价

王588块钻井泥浆污染主要是固相入侵和滤液与地层水的不配伍性。通过实验,优选出了具有高效深穿透能力以及固相溶解量大的表面活性剂DS-101酸液复配体系。实验表明,该体系耐温性强,对油泥具有极强的分散和溶解作用,对泥浆污染有明显的解堵效果,岩心渗透率恢复率可达127%。     

洋山深水港区海域秋、冬季沉积物中重金属来源分析及生态风险评价(英文)

通过测定洋山深水港区海域2010~2013年6个航次秋、冬季沉积物中重金属含量,分析其时空差异,结果表明该海域沉积物重金属总体含量较低,空间分布较为均匀,Hg、Zn、Pb、Cd含量秋季明显高于冬季,As、Cu含量的季节性波动较小,用因子分析法研究该海域重金属来源,发现陆源工业、船舶航运排污以及有机质降解是研究海域Pb、Cd、Zn的主要来源;农业污染、码头货物装卸残留及建筑垃圾支配着Cu、As、Hg的来源。SQG-Q生态风险评价表明研究海域沉积物中重金属均存在中、低度的生态风险,秋季的生态风险高于冬季,Hg和Cu是主要生态风险因子;地累积指数法评价结果显示研究海域基本不受Hg、As、Zn、Pb的污染;Cd、Cu以轻度污染为主,部分站位属于偏中度污染,6种重金属污染程度依次为:CdCuPbZnHgAs。因子综合得分评价表明,重金属污染相对严重的站位依次为5号、4号及3号站位。但总体看来洋山深水港区附近海域沉积物中重金属污染状况属于轻度污染。     

不同营养条件下铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)和小球藻(Chlorella vulgaris)的生长竞争行为

蓝藻的暴发通常是藻类之间竞争的结果,了解环境中蓝藻与其它藻类的竞争特点和生存策略对揭示藻华暴发的机制及治理具有重要意义。本文以营养竞争为例,以铜绿微囊藻(Microcystis aeruginosa)和小球藻(Chlorella vulgaris)为受试对象,通过测定细胞密度、胞内C、N、P、S四种主要元素含量以及培养基中总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)的消耗,研究不同营养等级(超富营养、富营养、中营养、贫营养)以及单独N、P限制下两种藻在单独培养和共生培养条件下的生长特征和竞争行为。结果表明:(1)在超富营养、富营养、中营养、贫营养条件时,单独培养下的两种藻生物量与营养丰富程度呈正相关;(2)共培养条件下,在高营养水平时铜绿微囊藻在竞争中占优势,低营养水平时小球藻具有竞争优势;(3)胞内C、N、P、S的测定发现,随着营养水平的下降,两种藻胞内N、P的百分含量逐渐减少,而C、S并未呈现显著变化;(4)N限制时,铜绿微囊藻的半饱和常数Ks及最大比增长率μmax均大于小球藻;P限制条件下铜绿微囊藻的半饱和常数Ks小于小球藻,而最大比增长率μmax大于小球藻。综合分析,同一营养条件下,铜绿微囊藻竞争优势的先决因子是N,小球藻是P。因此,从营养竞争与生物适应力角度考虑,降低水体中富余的N或适当提高P的浓度可让小球藻获得竞争优势,对限制单一物种的形成具有平衡作用,可作为防治藻华的潜在方法。     

Grazing experiments and model simulations of the role of zooplankton in Phaeocystis food webs

A combined empirical and modelling study was conducted to further examine the potential importance of grazing by zooplankton in pelagic food webs in which Phaeocystis is a significant or dominant component. Laboratory experiments were designed to measure ingestion of Phaeocystis and other potential prey items which co-occur with Phaeocystis. Grazers included copepods and ciliates, and prey included Phaeocystis colonies and solitary cells, diatoms, ciliates, bacteria, and detritus. These data were expressed in the model currency of nitrogen units, and fit to hyperbolic tangent equations which included minimum prey thresholds. These equations and literature data were used to constrain a food web model whose purpose was to investigate trophic interactions rather than to mimic actual events. Nevertheless, the model output was similar to the general pattern and magnitude of development of Phaeocystis–diatom communities in some environments where they occur, e.g. north Norwegian waters. The model included three forms of nitrogen, three phytoplankton groups, bacteria, two zooplankton groups, and detritus, with detailed flows between compartments. An important component of the model was inclusion of variable prey preferences for zooplankton. The experiments and model simulations suggest several salient conclusions. Phaeocystis globosa colonies were eaten by a medium-sized copepod species, but ingestion appeared to be strongly dependent upon a proper size match between grazer and prey. If not, colonies were eaten little if at all. Phaeocystis solitary cells were ingested rapidly by ciliate microzooplankton, in agreement with prior literature observations. In contrast, detritus was eaten comparatively slowly by both ciliates and copepods. Both types of zooplankton exhibited apparent minimum prey thresholds below which grazing did not occur or was inconsequential. Model simulations implied that transitions between life cycle stages of Phaeocystis may potentially be important to phytoplankton–zooplankton interactions, and that relative rates of ingestion of Phaeocystis by various zooplankton may have significant impacts upon material fluxes through and out of Phaeocystis–diatom ecosystems. Indirect effects of trophic interactions appear to be equally significant as direct effects.     

Cadmium release caused by the die-back of the saltmarsh cord grass Spartina anglica in Poole Harbour (UK)

As in many other areas, the perennial cord grass Spartina anglica C.E. Hubbard has been extremely successful at colonising the English and Irish south coasts, but it is dying back for reasons that are not completely understood. The present study considers the relationship between die-back and metal concentrations in estuarine sediment. No obvious impact of the metal contamination on the S. anglica growth/die-back could be detected in the study zone, Poole Harbour, although the die-back did seem to have substantially influenced the metal concentrations in the sediments of the estuary. Based on core profiles, the remaining patches of S. anglica still retain elevated concentrations and the overall cadmium concentrations in the sediments have risen since 1925. However, considerable quantities of the cadmium stored in the sediment by S. anglica appear to have been washed out rapidly in the die-back zones. Should serious erosion of the saltmarsh occur, triggered for example by sea-level rise, then sudden and high levels of cadmium release may cause harmful effects to marine biota.     

Analysis of the spatial variation of heavy metals in the Guadiana Estuary sediments (SW Iberian Peninsula) based on GIS-mapping techniques

This work reveals the usefulness of the GIS (Geographic Information Systems) mapping techniques to show the distribution of pollutants along an estuarine environment, as the final stage of a thorough study. In the case of study, the environmental quality of the sediments in the Guadiana river estuary was determined by means of a complete geochemical characterization consisting on the calculation of enrichment factors for the most important metals and metalloids (compared with the local background of non-contaminated sediments). The obtained results were depicted in “enrichment distribution maps” which evidenced a distribution of the elements in two groups: Group-I, elements with natural origin (Al, Fe, Mn, Co, and Cr) distributed homogeneously along the basin, and Group-II, elements associated to anthropic origin (As, Cd, Cu, Pb, Ni and Zn) with clear punctual sources besides a high concentration all over the estuary. The enrichment factors for the elements of Group-II are indicative of the existence of a noticeable diffuse historical mining pollution associated with the acid mine drainage generated in the internal zones of the basin, which could overlap minor pollution inputs from other human activities. The obtained results lead us to a reconsideration of the traditionally thought “unpolluted” environment when it was compared to nearby estuaries.     

基于转录组测序对两种氮素营养条件下多形微眼藻氮代谢途径的解析

探究微藻的氮代谢通路对了解其对不同氮源利用的分子机制具有重要意义。本研究利用Illumina高通量测序技术对两种氮素营养条件下(硝酸氮和尿素)多形微眼藻的转录组进行分析,通过基因功能注释及数字基因表达谱分析,研究了多形微眼藻细胞内氮代谢的调控机制。结果检测出15种参与氮代谢的酶,对应76个编码基因,构建了多形微眼藻的氮代谢通路图。其中10个酶编码基因在两种不同氮素营养条件下存在差异表达,最显著的是谷氨酸合成酶、谷氨酸脱氢酶和谷氨酰胺合成酶相关基因。有机氮源(尿素)实验组中,多形微眼藻细胞内的硝酸盐还原酶、亚硝酸盐还原酶等基因的差异表达明显高于无机氮源(硝酸钠)实验组,表明当环境中的氮源为尿素时,会对多形微眼藻细胞内硝酸盐的转化和利用有一定影响。本研究初步阐述了硝酸盐、尿素的吸收转运对多形微眼藻细胞内氮代谢的影响机制,可为硅藻在不同氮素营养条件下的吸收利用机制及氮代谢响应研究提供依据。