Bacterial calcification as a possible trigger for francolite precipitation under sulfidic conditions

Francolite (carbonate-fluor-apatite) is known to form in sediments where intense organic-matter decay occurs, but under oxic-to-suboxic conditions, because the alkalinity rise accompanying bacterial sulfate reduction (anoxic conditions) increases francolite solubility, hence preventing its supersaturation and precipitation. However, lagoonal, organic matter-rich, cryptalgal carbonates of Jurassic age located in the French Jura Mountains contain francolite that formed during early diagenesis, under anoxic-sulfidic and highly alkaline conditions. To explain this paradoxical situation, we propose the following “chain of reactions”: the presence of abundant biomass in the sediment would supply the “raw material” to the reactional system, i.e., the initial P budget, released through organic decay. The development of cryptalgal, bacterial mats at the sediment–water interface would have limited exchanges between the water column and the pore space, hampering pore water renewal and favoring the early onset of sulfate-reducing reactions. The onset of sulfate reduction would increase pore water alkalinity, potentially preventing francolite precipitation. In addition, the presence of sulfide ions would induce organic matter sulfurization, resulting in a relative pH rise. Alkalinity and pH rises would trigger the development of conditions leading to carbonate supersaturation, inducing bacterial-structure calcification. The sudden fall in alkalinity induced by early calcification would allow francolite precipitation, despite sulfidic conditions.     

Paleoenvironmental reconstruction of central-western Argentina from analysis of Late-Pleistocene mammal droppings

Plant macrofossils studied in coprolites from small-sized, medium-sized and large mammals, dated by ¹⁴C to ca. 30.8–24 and 9 kybp, allowed to record changes in local vegetation and its relation with geomorphological units. Paleobotanical samples were determined using microhistological analysis. We found that plant associations and the vegetation–geomorphology relation were similar in the two periods analyzed. According to this study, the Monte plant formation would reflect certain stability during the analyzed period in arid central-western Argentina, although this does not imply the absence of variations in plant structure.     

胶州湾大肠菌群丰度变化及对环境污染的指示

采用MPN计数法对胶州湾大肠菌群丰度进行7年（84个月）连续监测,结果表明,大肠菌群丰度的周年变化明显,全年最高丰度与最低丰度相差约2.2倍。胶州湾大肠菌群丰度自2005—2009年明显下降,降幅达67%,说明胶州湾环境质量有所好转。研究还发现大肠菌群丰度变化具有明显的区域特征,河口区最高,湾内区最低,差异近11倍。大...     

Biogeochemistry of sterols in plankton, settling particles and recent sediments in a cold ocean ecosystem (Trinity Bay, Newfoundland)

In the context of a multidisciplinary study to determine current and past ecosystem health and the relative contributions of sources of organic matter (marine vs. terrestrial and natural vs. anthropogenic input), sterols were determined in plankton, settling particles and sediments from Trinity Bay, Newfoundland, a sub-polar Atlantic Ocean ecosystem. The centric diatoms Chaetoceros spp., Thalassiosira spp. and Leptocylindrus danicus were all prominent in the plankton samples, and centric diatoms predominated in the settling particles. Plankton samples contained 0.4±0.4 mg/g dw (1995) or 1.4±1.3 mg/g dw (1996) total sterols, with cholesta-5,24-dien-3β-ol (mean 26% of total sterols), cholest-5-en-3β-ol (24%) and cholesta-5,22(E)-dien-3β-ol (13%) chief among these, denoting diatom and zooplankton sources. In settling particles, the prominence of cholesta-5,24-dien-3β-ol (24%), cholest-5-en-3β-ol (24%), cholesta-5,22(E)-dien-3β-ol (13%) and 24-methylcholesta-5,22(E)-dien-3β-ol (9%) again suggested mainly marine sources. The sterol composition of plankton and settling particles from different sampling periods showed a high degree of consistency. Higher plant C₂₉ sterols (notably 24-ethylcholest-5-en-3β-ol, 9–26%) were prominent in sediments from both inshore and offshore sites. No decreasing trend in total or individual sterols was observed down the 30-cm sediment cores, suggesting good overall preservation. No 5β-stanols such as 5β-cholestan-3β-ol (coprostanol) were detected in offshore sediments, plankton or settling particles, with only low levels (5β-cholestan-3β-ol max. 4.4%, 5β-cholestan-3α-ol max. 5.1%) in certain inshore sediments. This suggests that raw sewage discharges in rural Newfoundland are being efficiently degraded or dispersed, or that inputs are highly localized. Source apportionation of organic matter in the sediment samples based on sterol composition was attempted. This highlighted the large terrestrial contribution to the sterols in marine sediments (up to 58% of sterols inshore, 24% offshore) and suggests either degradation or effective recycling of marine sterols.     

Lab tests on the biodegradation of chemically dispersed oil should consider the rapid dilution that occurs at sea

Most crude oils spread on open water to an average thickness as low as 0.1 mm. The application of dispersants enhances the transport of oil as small droplets into the water column, and when combined with the turbulence of 1 m waves will quickly entrain oil into the top 1 m of the water column, where it rapidly dilutes to concentrations less than 100 ppm. In less than 24 h, the dispersed oil is expected to mix into the top 10 m of the water column and be diluted to concentrations well below 10 ppm, with dilution continuing as time proceeds. Over the multiple weeks that biodegradation takes place, dispersed oil concentrations are expected to be below 1 ppm. Measurements from spills and wave basin studies support these calculations. Published laboratory studies focused on the quantification of contaminant biodegradation rates have used concentrations orders of magnitude greater than this, as it was necessary to ensure the concentrations of hydrocarbons and other chemicals were higher than the detection limits of chemical analysis. However, current analytical methods can quantify individual alkanes and PAHs (and their alkyl homologues) at ppb and ppm levels. To simulate marine biodegradation of dispersed oil at dilute concentrations commonly encountered in the field, laboratory studies should be conducted at similarly low hydrocarbon concentrations.     

Effect of Sludge Retention Time on Nitrifiers' Biomass and Kinetics in an Anaerobic/Oxic Process

In this study, the effect of sludge retention time on ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB) in an anaerobic/oxic (AO) process, was explored. The results indicated that the growth rate constants of AOB were 0.97, 0.88, and 0.79 d^–1, respectively, meanwhile, those of NOB were 1.22, 1.03, and 0.93 d^–1, respectively, when the sludge retention time (SRT) was 15 days, 10 days and 5 days. The relation between the growth rate constant and the SRT could be best described using a simple exponential curve and a second type hyperbolic curve. The lysis rate constants for AOB and NOB were 0.13 and 0.18 d^–1, respectively. The yield coefficients values of AOB and NOB were 0.22 and 0.21, respectively. The percentage of AOB to mixed liquid suspended solids (MLSS) was 0.64%, 0.53%, and 0.35%, respectively. Meanwhile, the percentage of NOB was 2.24%, 1.87%, and 1.11%, respectively, at SRT values of 15 days, 10 days and 5 days. When the SRT value decreased, the AOB and NOB biomass levels decreased by 12.75 and 47.01 mg L^–1, respectively. Meanwhile the removal efficiency of NH₄⁺‐N decreased from 90 to 26%, while the removal efficiency of total nitrogen (TN) decreased from 14 to 8%.     

Toxicological effects induced by the nanomaterials fullerene and nanosilver in the polychaeta Laeonereis acuta (Nereididae) and in the bacteria communities living at their surface

Fullerene (nC₆₀) and nanosilver (nAg) are nanomaterials with bactericide properties. The increments in their use raise questions about their potential environmental impacts, including estuarine ones. The polychaete Laeonereis acuta (Nereididae) secretes mucus that is colonized by bacteria communities. We analyzed the antioxidant and oxidative damage responses of anterior, middle and posterior region of L. acuta and bacteria communities after nC₆₀ or nAg exposure during 24 h. Molecular analysis showed a prevalence of Vibrio genera in the communities. Bacteria biomass was lowered in worms exposed to 1.0 mg/L of nAg. nC₆₀ reduced total antioxidant capacity of bacteria from worms exposed to 0.1 mg/L. Worms anterior region presented lower antioxidant capacity after exposure to 1.0 mg nC₆₀/L, and the same was observed in the posterior region of worms exposed to 1.0 mg nAg/L. Lipid peroxidation was reduced in the anterior region of worms exposed to nC₆₀ and the opposite was observed in the posterior region.     

Detection of multiple potentially pathogenic bacteria in Matang mangrove estuaries,Malaysia

The deltaic estuarine system of the Matang Mangrove Forest Reserve of Malaysia is a site where several human settlements and brackish water aquaculture have been established. Here, we evaluated the level of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) and the presence of potentially pathogenic bacteria in the surface water and sediments. Higher levels of FIB were detected at downstream sampling sites from the fishing village, indicating it as a possible source of anthropogenic pollution to the estuary. Enterococci levels in the estuarine sediments were higher than in the surface water, while total coliforms and E. coli in the estuarine sediments were not detected in all samples. Also, various types of potentially pathogenic bacteria, including Klebsiella pneumoniae, Serratia marcescens and Enterobacter cloacae were isolated. The results indicate that the Matang estuarine system is contaminated with various types of potential human bacterial pathogens which might pose a health risk to the public.     

高灵敏度大肠菌群测试片法与多管发酵法检测海水中粪大肠菌群的比较研究

粪大肠菌群是海水浴场水质状况的重要检测指标,传统检测方法以多管发酵法为主,其方法较为成熟,但耗时较长、操作繁琐;高灵敏度大肠菌群测试片法获国际官方认证,我国也已将其纳入标准方法。文章以厦门海水浴场的水质检测为例,开展2种方法的对比实验,结果表明:2种方法对粪大肠菌群的检测结果基本一致;高灵敏度大肠菌群测试片法具有简便、快速和省力的优点,更加适用于日常检测工作。