Algal populations and characteristics of oxygen exchange of effluent samples from a facultative oxidation pond

Algal populations in a facultative oxidation pond were monitored over a 12 month period. The relationships between cell counts of individual species and characteristics of oxygen exchange, determined from changes in dissolved oxygen concentration in response to varying light flux density, were investigated by correlation analysis. These measurements were made in the laboratory at a constant temperature (15°C). Microalgae (Chlorella spp.) usually made up at least 80% of the total cell numbers, whereas Euglena acus, E. gracilis, and Ankistrodesmus falcatus var. acicularis separately made up less than 10% of the total counts. However, when cell volumes were considered, E. acus usually made the greatest contribution, and this species accounted for 86% (=r²) of the variation in total cell volume. The detectable pigment concentration in the water was closely related to the numbers of E. acus present (r=0.81, P <0.001) but not to the numbers of microalgae (r=0.00). Cell counts of E. acus were highly correlated with the light saturated rate of net oxygen production (P_{n max}) and to the rate under limiting light supply (6) because of the high detectable pigment contribution from this species. It was calculated that E. acus contributed, on average, about 44% of the total rate of net oxygen production, whereas the proportion attributed to the microalgae was 8%.     

The use of high temperature gas chromatography to study the biodegradation of high molecular weight hydrocarbons

A consequence of the biodegradation of petroleum is that lower molecular weight compounds are removed preferentially to higher molecular weight (HMW) compounds greater than triacontane (n-C₃₀). The extent to which the latter compounds are biodegraded has rarely been studied. Reasons for this include the technical difficulties associated with carrying out biodegradability tests with solid, water-insoluble substances and the limits of the analytical techniques, such as gas chromatography (GC).A quantitative high temperature GC (HTGC) method was developed to monitor the biodegradation of the aliphatic fraction of a waxy Indonesian oil by Pseudomonas fluorescens. Recoveries of over 90% were obtained for n-alkanes up to hexacontane (C₆₀) using liquid-liquid continuous extraction. After only 14 days, 80% of the aliphatic hydrocarbons had been degraded. At the end of the 136-day study, 14% of the original fraction remained. This comprised mainly C₄₀₊ compounds. No decrease in the concentrations of compounds above C₄₅ was observed. However, the use of a rapid screening biodegradation method provided tentative proof that Pseudomonas fluorescens was capable of utilising n-alkanes up to C₆₀ once the bacteria had acclimated to HMW alkanes.     

Distributions of Calanus spp. and other mesozooplankton in the Labrador Sea in relation to hydrography in spring and summer (1995-2000)

We collected mesozooplankton samples in the upper 100 m in spring or early summer each year between 1995 and 2000 along a section from Hamilton Bank (Labrador) to Cape Desolation (Greenland), and along additional sections in spring 1997 and early summer 1995. The North Atlantic waters of the central basin were characterised by the presence of the copepods Calanus finmarchicus, Euchaeta norvegica and Scolecithrocella minor and euphausiids. Calanus glacialis, Calanus hyperboreus and Pseudocalanus spp. were associated with the Arctic waters over the shelves. Amongst the other enumerated groups larvaceans were concentrated over the shelves and around the margins. Amphipods, pteropods and the copepods Oithona spp. and Oncaea spp. showed no definable relationships with water masses or bathymetry, while the diel migrant ostracods and chaetognaths were confined to deep water. Metrida longa, also a strong diel migrant, and Microcalanus spp., a mainly deep water species and possible diel migrant, were both sometimes quite abundant on the shelves as well as in the central basin, consistent with their likely Arctic origins.Analysis of community structure along the section across the Labrador Sea indicated that stations could be grouped into five different zones corresponding to: the Labrador Shelf; the Labrador Slope; the western and central Labrador Sea; the eastern Labrador Sea and Greenland Slope; and, the Greenland Shelf. The boundaries between zones varied spatially between years, but community composition was relatively consistent within a given zone and a given season (spring versus early summer). The relationship between community composition and water masses was not entirely straightforward. For example, Labrador Shelf water was generally confined to the shelf, but in spring 2000 when it also dominated the adjacent slope zone, the community in the Labrador Slope zone was similar to those found in other years. Conversely, in spring 1997, when Arctic organisms were unusually abundant in the Labrador Slope zone, there was no increased contribution of shelf water. In addition, North Atlantic organisms were often found on the shelves when no slope or central basin water was present.Although other organisms were sometimes very abundant, the mesozooplankton preserved dry weight biomass was dominated everywhere by the three species of Calanus, which together always accounted for ≥70%. One species, C. finmarchicus, comprised >60% of the total mesozooplankton biomass and >80% of the abundance of large copepods in spring and summer throughout the central Labrador Sea. In western and central regions of the central basin average C. finmarchicus biomass was ca 4 g dry weight m⁻² and average abundance, ca 17?000 m⁻² over both seasons. Highest levels (ca 7 g dry weight m⁻², >100?000 m⁻²) occurred in the northern Labrador Sea in spring and in eastern and southwest regions in early summer. C. hyperboreus contributed ca 20% of the total mesozooplankton biomass in the central basin in spring and <5% in early summer, while C. glacialis accounted for <1%. Over the shelves, C. hyperboreus contributed a maximum of 54% and 3.6 g dry weight m⁻², and C. glacialis, a maximum of 29% and 1 g dry weight m⁻², to the total mesozooplankton biomass.     

三种织纹螺性畸变的发展过程与雄性结构效应

从2000年3月到2002年10月对中国沿海海产腹足类性畸变的大范围调查过程中．在广东省汕头港、湛江港和厦门港分别采集到西格织纹螺(Nassarius siquijorensis)、胆形织纹螺(Nassarius thersites)和节织纹螺(Nassarius hepaticus)等3个种，解剖观察发现3种织纹螺的雌性个体都发生了性畸变现象。根据织纹螺性畸变的发展过程，对目前的性畸变发展划分体系作了新的修改和补充。通过对比性畸变个体与正常雄性个体的特征．探讨了雄性个体结构特征在性畸变过程中的效应。     

柽柳灌丛热量收支特性与蒸散研究

Bowen能量平衡法是广泛用于测定各种低矮植物蒸散的常用方法。本文将改进的波文比—能量观测系统用于测定灌木柽柳群落的测定，通过6～9月对感热通量、潜热通量、土壤热通量等的测定，计算出额济纳地区柽柳灌丛(6～9月)的蒸散量为335．31mm；在8月潜热通量占能量支出量的62．85％，感热通量占32．85％，土壤热通量占4．44％。在日变化中，潜热在上午大于感热，下午感热交换大于潜热。     

转rhG-CSF基因鱼腥藻的重组基因及蛋白检测

提取质粒进行PCR和酶切鉴定人粒细胞集落刺激因子(rhG-CSF)基因成功转入鱼腥藻7120中,并用酶联免疫方法测得转基因鱼腥藻7120-G-CSF中G-CSF蛋白在第21d表达量达到最大。对转基因蓝藻的生长曲线、叶绿素a含量测定结果表明,rhG-CSF基因转化蓝藻后,对蓝藻前中期的生长影响不大,但21d后生长速度下降,同时外源蛋白表达也达到最大值,这有利于转基因藻的大规模培养。     

太湖底泥中微囊藻环境适应性的实验研究

研究太湖冬季底泥和经过处理后的底泥中活体微囊藻 (Microcystisspp .)细胞的数量 ,并将分离出来的微囊藻经过低温 (3～ 4℃ )、高温 (>38℃ )、干燥、无光等处理 ,探讨了太湖微囊藻对不良环境的适应 ,为研究太湖藻类季节性变化规律和微囊藻水华的爆发机理。结果表明 ,微囊藻能在低温、高温、干燥、低光或无光的环境中长时间生存 ,条件适宜时又能快速增殖。这些特性使得微囊藻不仅具备良好的环境适应性和耐受性 ,而且具备良好的传播和增殖能力。讨论了微囊藻对不良环境的适应与其在水华中的优势地位的相关性。