Lipid biomarkers in suspended particles from a subtropical estuary: assessment of seasonal changes in sources and transport of organic matter

Temporal and spatial variations in the composition of particulate organic matter (POM) from Florida Bay, USA were examined. The predominance of short-chain homologues for n-alkanes, n-alcohols and n-fatty acids as well as relatively high abundance of C(27) and C(28) sterols suggested that an autochthonous/marine source of OM was dominant bay-wide. Several biomarker proxies such as P(aq) [(C(23)+C(25))/(C(23)+C(25)+C(29)+C(31)) n-alkanes], short/long chain n-alkanes, (C(29)+C(31)) n-alkanes and taraxerol indicated a spatial shift in OM sources, where terrestrial OM rapidly decreased while seagrass and microbial OM markedly increased along a northeastern to southwestern transect. Regarding seasonal variations, POM collected during the dry season was enriched in terrestrial constituents relative to the wet season, likely as a result of reduced primary productivity of planktonic species and seagrasses during the dry season. Principal component analysis (PCA) classified the sample set into sub-groups based on PC1 which seemed to be spatially controlled by OM origin (terrestrial-mangrove vs. marine-planktonic/seagrass). The PC2 seemed to be more seasonally controlled suggesting that hydrological fluctuations and seasonal primary productivity are the drivers controlling the POM composition in Florida Bay.     

Esterase activities and lipid peroxidation levels in offshore commercial species of the NW Mediterranean Sea

There is a lack of information on monitoring neurotoxicity in offshore commercial species. To help fill this gap, we sampled hake (Merluccius merluccius) and Norway lobster (Nephrops norvegicus) in fishing grounds off the coast of l’Ametlla de Mar (NW Mediterranean) in June 2005 at a depth of 100 m and 400 m. Additionally, at 400 m depth, two other fish species, Micromesistius poutassou and Phycis blennoides were included. Neurotoxicity markers such as Colinesterases (ChEs), namely acethyl- (AChE), butyryl- (BChE), propionyl- (PrChE) and carboxilesterase (CbE) were measured in muscle. Lipid peroxidation (LP), a marker of oxidative damage, was also included. The results are discussed in relation to the animal’s sex, size and fishing depth. A comparison of esterases and LP levels between muscle and liver of hake and between muscle and hepatopancreas of Norway Lobster was made.

AChE was dominant in muscle and CbE in hepatopancreas. No differences between fish species were seen for AChE. However, N. norvegicus, presented lower levels of ChEs and LP. A size-dependence in ChEs was seen for M. merluccius, with larger animals showing significantly lower activities (p < 0.05). Sex-dependence was seen in N. norvegicus for most esterases, except AChE, with males displaying higher activities (p < 0.05). A sampling-depth effect was also seen in the crustacea, with animals from 100 m generally presenting lower esterase activities and higher LP levels.     

越冬前后海马齿脂肪酸和挥发性有机物组成和变化特征

海马齿是一种热带和亚热带盐生植物, 既是传统野生菜蔬, 也在海岸带生态修复中发挥重要作用。北移种植海马齿进行生态修复时, 越冬低温的影响是成功与否的首要关注问题, 其机制尚待解明。脂肪酸在生物耐受低温中发挥作用, 挥发性有机物与脂肪酸代谢关系密切。本研究利用海湾环境中生态修复浮床上的海马齿样品, 重点解析北移种植环境下, 海马齿植株不同部位受越冬影响前后的脂肪酸和挥发性有机物的组成、差异及变化特征。结果显示, 海马齿的花、叶、茎和根样本中, 共检出14种脂肪酸, 根中的脂肪酸种类数相对最多; 多不饱和脂肪酸在花和叶中的含量(平均分别为56.46%和60.23%)总体大于茎和根(平均分别为41.56%和44.45%)。茎、叶中共检出86种挥发性有机物, 蘑菇醇为优势种类。越冬后脂肪酸和挥发性有机物种类数量显著降低, 多不饱和脂肪酸比例在冻伤植株中显著升高; 就植株脂质营养指数而言, 耐受越冬低温的植株其脂质营养品质提高。越冬造成海马齿两类化合物发生显著变化, 其中C18脂肪酸代谢响应有重要贡献, C18: 3(n-3)和蘑菇醇分别是脂肪酸与挥发性物质中最为重要的两个代谢产物, 可能与抗冻应激有密切关系。本研究为推广海马齿种植以构建可持续近海生态修复体系提供了参考。     

Organic biomarkers for tracing carbon cycling in the Gulf of Papua (Papua New Guinea)

Sediment traps were deployed in the Gulf of Papua in June–July 1997, to determine fluxes of organic matter and inorganic elements from the photic zone to deeper waters at the base of the continental slope and in the northern Coral Sea. Three stations, ranging from 900 to 1500 m depth, had “shallow” traps at 300 m below the water surface and “deep” traps set 100 m above the bottom. Infiltrex II water samplers collected particulate and dissolved organic matter from the Fly, Purari and Kikori rivers, and near-surface water from the shelf of the Gulf of Papua. Samples were analysed for molecular organic biomarkers to estimate the sources of organic carbon and its cycling processes.Dry weight fluxes from the shallow traps ranged from 115 to 181 mg m⁻² day⁻¹ and particulate organic carbon (POC) fluxes ranged from 1.2 to 1.9 mM OC m⁻² d⁻¹ with molar organic carbon to particulate nitrogen ratios (C/N) ranging from 6.0 to 6.5. Fluxes in deep traps were likely influenced by both early diagenesis and entrapment of resuspended shelf sediments. Dry weight fluxes in deep traps ranged from 106 to 574 mg m⁻² day⁻¹ and POC fluxes ranged from 0.6 to 1.5 mM OC m⁻² d⁻¹, with C/N ratios ranging from 8.5 to 10.8. ¹³C/¹²C ratios were −20.2‰ to −21.7‰ in all trap samples, indicating that most of the settling POC was “marine-derived”. Shallow traps had δ¹⁵N values of 6.3‰ to 7.2‰ while the values in deep traps were 4.9–5.0‰, indicating the N-rich near-surface OC was less degraded than that in the deep traps. The biogenic lipids consisted of hydrocarbon, sterol and fatty acid biomarkers indicative of marine zooplankton, phytoplankton and bacteria. Sterol markers for diatoms and dinoflagellates were abundant in the water samples. Highly branched isoprenoid alkenes, usually attributable to diatoms, were also detected in both water and shallow traps. Traces of C₂₆–C₃₄ n-alcohols indicative of land–plant biomarkers, were found in river water samples and in the shallow sediment traps. A large unresolved complex mixture (UCM) of hydrocarbons, and a uniform distribution of n-alkanes, indicative of petroleum hydrocarbons, were also detected in the traps. Hopane and sterane biomarkers detected in the trap oil were characteristic of a marine carbonate source, and the aromatic hydrocarbon composition distinguished at least two different oil signatures.We concluded that mass and POC fluxes were similar to those reported for other continental shelves and marginal oceans in tropical and subtropical regions. There was a dramatic decrease in POC as particles sank, due to zooplankton repackaging and photochemical and bacterial decomposition. Carbon isotopic and biomarker patterns showed most of the POC in the sediment traps was marine-sourced with only traces of terrestrial input. There was a significant flux of petroleum, which may signal the existence of natural petroleum seeps in this region.     

谷氨酸铜和表面活性剂协同灭除亚历山大藻的研究

对一种新的赤潮杀灭剂谷氨酸铜及促进剂阳离子表面活性剂十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(HDT-MAB)进行了初步研究.比较了硫酸铜及谷氨酸铜对亚历山大藻的去除效果;结果表明,谷氨酸铜对亚历山大藻的灭杀效率优于硫酸铜,谷氨酸铜可明显抑制亚历山大藻细胞的生长,但抑制作用并不随谷氨酸铜浓度加大而增强,HDTAMB可明显促进谷氨酸铜对亚历山大藻的去除,且促进作用基本随着HDTMAB浓度的提高而增强.对谷氨酸铜和HDTMAB杀灭赤潮的机制进行了初步探讨;研究发现,谷氨酸铜可促使藻细胞MDA含量升高,并使巯基含量下降,且在谷氨酸铜和HDT-MAB复合作用下,膜脂过氧化水平大大高于单纯谷氨酸铜作用下的水平,细胞中巯基含量显著降低,细胞膜透性增大,这表明谷氨酸铜和HDTMAB杀灭赤潮的机制是使藻细胞膜受到损伤,进而抑制藻细胞生长.     

重金属污水对木榄幼苗几种保护酶及膜脂质过氧化作用的影响

用5个级别的人工复合重金属污水处理红树植物木榄Bruguiera gymnorrhiza幼苗,2个月后对其叶片和根系中的保护酶SOD、POD和CAT活性变化以及对膜脂质过氧化作用的影响进行分析。结果显示,当污染级别不大于5倍污水时,根系中SOD活性随污染程度的增加而增加,污染程度再升级其活性迅速下降但仍高于对照组水平;叶片中SOD活性在1倍污水时与对照组相比有所下降,随后的变化与在根系中的变化相似。POD活性在根系和叶片中的变化相对一致,均随污染级别的增加而升高;但在叶片中的变化幅度大于根系中的变化幅度。CAT活性在叶片中不受污染程度的影响,保持平稳,但在高程度污染下活性有下降趋势;而根系中CAT活性在10倍污水时达到最大值,污染程度再升级其活性下降。叶片中膜脂质过氧化作用随污染程度的增加而加剧,MDA的积累增加;但根系中MDA含量在5倍污水时最少,只为对照组的21.98%,其后随着污染程度的增加其MDA含量大幅度积累,膜脂质过氧化作用加剧。从整个试验结果分析认为,木榄在遭受重金属胁迫时具有优先保护根系以增强植物的抗重金属能力。     

Characterizing lipid biomarkers in methanotrophic communities of gas hydrate-bearing sediments in the Sea of Okhotsk

We studied specific lipid biomarkers of archaea and bacteria, that are associated with the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) in a cold seep environment as well as the origin of sedimentary organic matter on the continental slope off NE Sakhalin in the Sea of Okhotsk. The organic geochemical parameters demonstrated that most of the sedimentary organic matter containing hydrate layers could be derived from marine phytoplankton and bacteria, except for a station (LV39-29H) which was remarkably affected by terrestrial vascular plant. Specific methanotrophic archaea biomarkers was vertically detected in hydrate-bearing cores (LV39-40H), coinciding with the negative excursion of the δ¹³C_org at core depths of 90–100 cm below the seafloor. These results suggest that methane provided from gas hydrates are already available substrates for microbes thriving in this sediment depth. In addition, the stable isotope mass balance method revealed that approximately 2.77–3.41% of the total organic carbon (or 0.036–0.044% dry weight sediment) was generated by the activity of the AOM consortium in the corresponding depth of core LV39-40H. On the other hand, the heavier δ¹³C values of archaeol in the gas hydrate stability zone may allow ongoing methanogenesis in deeper sediment depth.     

Treating ballast water with hydroxyl radical on introduced organisms

1 INTRODUCTION The introduction of invasive marine species into new environments by ship’s ballast water, by attaching to ships’ hulls or via other vectors has been recognized as one of the four major threats to the world’s oceans by Global Environment…     

Lipids and pigments in deep-sea surface sediments and interfacial particles from the Western Crozet Basin

Deep-sea sediment samples were collected in the Western Crozet Basin (Indian sector of the Southern Ocean) through Permanently Open Ocean Zone (POOZ), Polar Frontal Zone (PFZ) and Sub-Antarctic Zone (SAZ). Lipid class and fatty acid compositions were investigated to determine the sources and fate of organic matter in the first centimeter of sediment and, above this layer, in the fluff (when present) and particles in the overlying water. The total lipid content varied from 74 to 1033 μg l⁻¹ in the overlying particles and fluffs, and from 24 to 97 μg g⁻¹ dry mass (DM) in surficial sediments. Lipid composition was always dominated by phospholipids in the first centimeter of sediment and often in the overlying particles. The amount of phospholipids (labile compounds representative of fresh material) was compared to the amount of chlorophyll a (Chl a), another compound that is susceptible to rapid degradation. A strong N–S gradient was observed in the distribution of these two compounds, which was attributed to the contrasting hydrodynamic of the study area. The high sedimentation rate in POOZ resulted in better preservation of Chl a in this zone than in other zones of the Crozet Basin (PFZ and SAZ). Phospholipid fatty acids suggested the presence of viable as well as morphologically intact organisms, and these organisms consisted essentially of bacteria with some diatom cysts in the fluff of POOZ. These spores were able to grow in the culture, indicating that they were still viable. Despite the strong hydrodynamic variability, phospholipid fatty acids analysed from the deep-sea surficial sediments were never representative of plankton. This pointed to the extremely labile nature of the phospholipids originally present in planktonic material compared with Chl a, which was always found in overlying particles and surficial sediments.