Sample treatment with focused ultrasound and bath sonication as a powerful tool for the evaluation of cadmium pollution in estuarine waters

A new sample treatment was developed for the determination of dissolved cadmium in Tagus estuarine waters, based on focused ultrasound in conjunction with small volumes in the extraction steps for Cd pre-concentration. Cadmium was first pre-concentrated using a classical approach (APDC as the complexing agent and MIBK as the organic phase) and then back-extracted into HNO₃ with the aid of focused ultrasound, which reduced the acid concentration by more than one order of magnitude (from 4 to 0.1 mol L^− 3). This sample treatment was accomplished in less than 5 min, using low sample volume (20 mL), and low-volume, low-concentration reagents. The pre-concentration factor used in this work was 25, but different sample/organic volume ratios may be used in order to increase that value. The limit of detection and the limit of quantification in Tagus water samples were 0.03 nmol L^− 1 and 0.1 nmol L^− 3, respectively. Recoveries from spiked Tagus water were higher than 90%. The procedure was validated using the reference estuarine water NRC-SLEW-3. In the solubilization of Cd particulate, bath ultrasonication was used in conjunction with HNO₃ + HCl, followed by H₂O₂, which took about 2 instead of the usual 12 h (cooling included) when high-pressure microwave digestion is used.     

Enteromorpha and the cycling of nitrogen in a small estuary

The nitrogen relations of Enteromorpha spp. growing on intertidal mud flats have been examined over a twelve-month period. Nitrogen assimilation rates using ¹⁵N have been used to calculate the production of the alga and were between 0·046 and 0·217 mg $\text{NH}{}_4{}^{\mathrm{+}}\text{N}$ (g dry wt alga)^?1 h^?1 A considerable quantity of the alga was buried beneath the sediment over the growth season and was calculated to be equivalent to an input of up to 9·52 g N m^?2 per month and 32 g N m^?2 over one complete growth season. Based on carbon, this latter value represented an input of approximately 320 g C m^?2 annually. Low rates of nitrogenase activity (acetylene reduction) were found to be associated with the Enteromorpha. The organisms responsible for the nitrogenase activity were probably heterotrophic bacteria but they did not contribute significant quantities of nitrogen to the alga.     

Atmospheric Reactive Nitrogen Cycle and Stable Nitrogen Isotope Processes: Progresses and Perspectives

Oxidized reactive nitrogen in the atmosphere mainly consists of nitrogen oxides (NO _X =NO+NO₂, NO₃) and nitric acid. The atmospheric cycling of NO _X influences the formation of ozone and hydroxyl radicals that are important for atmospheric oxidation capacity. Nitric acid, the final product of NO _X oxidation, not only is an important component of particulate pollutants, but also has a direct impact on the ecosystem through dry and wet deposition. The stable nitrogen isotope (δ¹⁵N) shows the potential to study reactive nitrogen cycle, and to trace the emission, transport and deposition of reactive nitrogen from local to global scales. Here, we reviewed previous studies using δ¹⁵N to investigate NO _X emission and atmospheric reactive nitrogen cycle, and discuss the uncertainties of δ¹⁵N signatures of different NO _X sources from two aspects: NO _X generation mechanism and NO _X collection methods. We also discussed the nitrogen isotope fractionation and the consequences during the conversions of NO _y molecules. We ended up with discussions on the possibility of using δ¹⁵N to trace NO _X emissions. Although there are still large uncertainties in quantifying and tracing NO _X emissions using nitrogen stable isotopes, such isotope tool is efficient enough to trace reactive nitrogen cycles in the atmosphere. On the basis of this, we proposed that we can combine atmospheric chemistry transmission models with isotope tracers to improve our understanding of regional and global atmospheric reactive nitrogen cycle regarding the fluxes of different emission sources, their atmospheric transformation, etc.     

华南热带水库丰水期浮游植物群落对氮、磷、铁加富的响应——以广东大沙河水库为例

富营养化是水生态系统主要的环境问题,自然条件下多种营养盐以组合形式进入水体,明确浮游植物群落对多种营养盐加富的响应对富营养化防治有重要意义。本研究以一座华南热带水库(大沙河水库)为例,分析了2021年枯水期(1—3月)和丰水期前期(4—6月)氮(N)、磷(P)、铁(Fe)和叶绿素a(Chl.a)浓度的变化趋势,并通过原位添加实验,解析浮游植物丰度和多样性对N、P、Fe加富的响应。结果表明:与1—3月相比,4—6月期间水体总磷浓度(TP)明显升高,总铁浓度(TFe)呈增加趋势但月度间波动较大,总氮浓度(TN)在4月最低,之后缓慢增加,期间Chl.a浓度从3月的5 μg/L快速增加到5月的29 μg/L。原位实验结果表明:浮游植物群落以蓝藻、绿藻和硅藻为主要组成,所有营养盐添加组浮游植物丰度均有增加,但只有NP同时添加时(NP和FeNP两组)生物量(以Chl.a表征)有显著升高;营养盐添加组细胞丰度的响应在门类和种类间差异明显,实验组组间群落结构和优势种类差异显著,所有处理组的群落多样性均明显高于对照组。N和P添加及其与Fe的联合添加(N、P、NP、FeN、FeP和FeNP)均导致蓝藻丰度升高,绿藻仅在NP添加组(FeNP组和NP组)显著升高且两组没有显著差异,硅藻仅在N和P单独添加组(N和P)显著升高。上述结果说明浮游植物生物量受N、P营养盐的共同影响而非单因子作用,N、P和Fe添加均影响群落结构和多样性,对水库富营养化的管理尤其是蓝藻水华防治应综合考虑3种营养盐的共同作用。     

利用氮氧同位素研究桂林寨底地下河硝酸盐来源

工农业生产的迅速发展使地下水硝酸盐氮(NO3-—N)污染成为世界性的环境问题。地下水中硝酸盐的来源研究在水文地质结构特殊的西南岩溶地区就显得尤为重要。稳定氮同位素和氧同位素在地下水硝酸盐的来源示踪研究中有着广泛的应用。本研究选取岩溶地区典型地下河——广西桂林寨底地下河为研究对象,通过氮氧同位素数据,判断寨底地下河硝酸盐来源是以动物粪便为主的农家肥,为该区地下水的保护和利用提供科学依据。     

底部边界层颗粒态物质迁移特征的放射性核素分析方法

利用颗粒态放射性核素携带的颗粒物历经过程信息,我们提出用泥沙扩散方程和颗粒态放射性核素扩散方程联解底部边界层颗粒态物质迁移参数的方法。分析实例的样品取自荷兰Waden Sea南部Balgzand潮滩(砂坪)和Mok湾潮滩(泥坪)的两个站位(BG1和Mok2)。示踪核素为~(234)Th,~(210)Pb和~(137)Cs,其放射性比度由r能谱测出。     

Palynofacies classification of submarine fan depositional environments: Outcrop examples from the Marnoso-Arenacea Formation,Italy

Basin floor fans contain some of the largest deep-water hydrocarbon accumulations discovered, however they also demonstrate extremely complex stratigraphic architecture, understanding of which is crucial for maximum recovery. Here we develop a new method, based upon palynofacies analysis, for the distinction of the different depositional environments that are commonly associated with basin floor fans. Previous studies and our sedimentological analysis allow good confidence in the discrimination of the different depositional environments of the outcropping Marnoso-Arenacea Formation fan system. One hundred and thirty-five samples were collected from mudstones in conjunction with sedimentary logging of 871 m of outcrops. Six lithofacies associations are described and interpreted to represent lobe axis, lobe fringe, fan fringe, contained interlobe, basin plain, and starved high depositional sub-environments. Palynofacies of these elements demonstrate turbidites to be rich in terrestrial organic matter, with sixteen categories of matter recognised. The abundances and proportions of particles varies between sub-environments, with lobe axis deposits containing the largest, densest particles, with a transition to ever smaller and lighter particles moving toward the basin plain. Fuzzy C-means statistical analysis was used to explore this trend. Distribution of organic matter is not random, but is dominated by hydrodynamic sorting and sequential fall-out of particles as turbidity currents passed across the basin. This allows a palynofacies classification scheme to be constructed to assist the identification of depositional environments of submarine fans, which may be combined with subsurface data to assist reservoir characterisation.     

δ15N variation in Ulva lactuca as a proxy for anthropogenic nitrogen inputs in coastal areas of Gulf of Gaeta (Mediterranean Sea)

We tested the capacity of Ulva lactuca to mark N sources across large marine areas by measuring variation in its δ¹⁵N at several sites in the Gulf of Gaeta. Comparisons were made with the macroalga Cystoseira amentacea. Variation of δ¹⁵N values was assessed also in the coastal waters off the Circeo Natural Park, where U. lactuca and C. amentacea were harvested, as these waters are barely influenced by human activities and were used as reference site. A small fragment from each frond was preserved before deployment in order to characterize the initial isotopic values. After 48 h of submersion, U. lactuca was more responsive than C. amentacea to environmental variation and δ¹⁵N enrichment in the Gulf of Gaeta was observed. The spatial distribution of δ¹⁵N enrichment indicated that different macro-areas in the Gulf were affected by N inputs from different origins. Comparison of the δ¹⁵N values of fragments taken from the same transplanted frond avoided bias arising from natural isotopic variability.     

Notes on laboratory rearing of juvenile spiny lobsters,jasus edwardsii (hutton) (crustacea: Decapoda: Palinuridae)

Post‐puerulus specimens of Jasus edwardsii (Hutton) have been successfully reared in the laboratory from the puerulus stage for periods of up to 12 months. The spiny lobsters were reared in concrete‐asbestos tanks measuring 2.4m × 37cm × 23cm. The tanks were supplied with a continuous flow of sea water and provided with constant aeration. Empty shells of paua (Haliotis iris Martyn) and rocks from the intertidal zone provided cover within the tanks.

Fresh mussel (Mytilus sp.) was preferred to all other foods tried in feeding experiments. The animals were fed every second day on opened mussels, and occasionally on fresh fish. The juveniles “grazed” actively on the calcareous algae (Corallina officinalis L.) present on the rocks.

The animals were extremely sensitive to pollution. To reduce pollution risks all sediments were removed from each tank, as the interstices between them were found to harbour uneaten food particles. Any uneaten foods were siphoned out every second day and each tank was thoroughly cleaned every six to eight weeks.

From a total of over 3,300 animals collected since November 1965, over 800 are presently being reared in the laboratory and various aspects of their ecology studied. The first step in raising larger adult sizes from juvenile stages in the laboratory is clearly possible.