Role of biological soil crust cover in bioweathering and protection of sandstones in a semi‐arid landscape (Torrollones de Gabarda,Huesca, Spain)

Sandstone structural landscapes in the semi‐arid Torrollones de Gabarda area (Province of Huesca, NE Spain) are often covered by a well developed biological soil crust of lichens, mosses and cyanobacteria and black coatings on vertical surfaces. By using scanning electron microscopy with backscattered detector imaging, the biological soil crust studied evidenced high activity in the sandstone–crust interface. Processes such as physical disintegration, etching and dwelling as well as biomineralization by calcium oxalate and ?xation of mineral particles by extracellular polymeric substances were observed. On the horizontal sandstone surfaces these processes may cause the occurrence of gnammas and the development of a protective coating that favours intense ?aking when the crust is disturbed. On the sandstone cliffs, columnar and tafoni weathering development is clearly guided by the protective action of the biological soil crust. These qualitative observations are important to develop methodologies to address their quantitative importance in geomorphological processes in semi‐arid landscapes. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Depositional setting of the 2·1 Ga Francevillian macrobiota (Gabon): Rapid mud settling in a shallow basin swept by high‐density sand flows

The depositional setting of the 2·1 Ga fill of the Franceville Basin of Gabon is important for understanding the habitat (energy and availability of light and oxygen) and taphonomy of recently discovered early macro‐organisms buried in black shales in Unit FB . The available data bearing on the stratigraphy and sedimentology of Unit FB provide new insight into processes acting on the palaeo‐sea floor. The shales are interpreted to have formed as fluid mud deposits interstratified with structureless sands. The latter (Poubara sandstones) were emplaced during a forced regression during the terminal infill of fault‐bounded sub‐basins following a stage characterized by a ferruginous to anoxic water column. The structureless sandstones were deposited from high‐density gravity currents along with a locally strong bottom oscillation of the water column. Tuft structures preserved in cyanobacterial mats, together with the position of the macro‐organisms at the top of the sandstone beds within associated black shales, point to a water depth of less than 80 m. The relative sea‐level fall that drove deposition of the Poubara sandstones controlled the rise of a phototrophic ecosystem and also possibly favoured the supply of oxygen and nutrients via density flows.     

淡水蓝藻的高温适应

本文在有关文献的基础上综合分析了淡水蓝藻对高温的适应,并对淡水蓝藻高温适应机制提出了几种看法。生长在高温中的淡水蓝藻有这样一些特点:（1）不同种类对高温的适应机制稍有不同;（2）类囊体膜具有较高的稳定性;（3）藻体在受热时产生热休克蛋白以保护细胞内的酶免于热变性;（4）光合作用系统具有热稳定性;（5）DNA具有热稳定性;（6）蛋白质的合成系统具有热稳定性。其中DNA和光合作用系统的热稳定性起着关键的作用,热休克蛋白的产生和类囊体膜中脂肪酸的饱和程度是在基因水平上调控的。     

Induced biological soil crust controls on wind erodibility and dust (PM10) emissions

Inducing biological soil crust (biocrust) development is an appealing approach for dust mitigation in drylands due to the resistance biocrusts can provide against erosion. Using a portable device, we evaluated dust emissions from surfaces either inoculated with biocrust, amended with a plant-based soil stabilizer, or both at varying wind friction velocities. Four months after application, emissions from all treatments were either indistinguishable from or greater than controls, despite evidence of biocrust establishment. All treatments had greater surface roughness and showed more evidence of entrapment of windblown sediment than controls, factors which may have been partially responsible for elevated emissions. There was a synergistic effect of inoculation and stabilizer addition, resulting in a nearly two-fold reduction in estimated emissions compared to either treatment alone. Stepwise regression analysis indicated that variables associated with surface crust strength (aggregate stability, penetration resistance) were negatively associated with emissions and variables associated with sediment supply (sand content, loose sediment cover) were positively associated with emissions. With more time to develop, the soil-trapping activity and surface integrity of biocrust inoculum and soil stabilizer mixtures is expected to increase with the accumulation of surface biomass and enhancement of roughness through freeze–thaw cycles. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

蓝藻水华衰亡对沉积物碳库有机碳组分的影响

湖泊沉积物碳库作为湖泊生态系统的重要组成部分,对湖泊碳循环起重要作用,而蓝藻水华衰亡过程对湖泊碳库稳定性影响研究较少本研究采集太湖蓝藻、湖水、沉积物样品,建立蓝藻水沉积物室内模拟实验系统,分析蓝藻水华衰亡过程中沉积物碳库易氧化有机碳(EOC)、惰性有机碳(ROC)、微生物量碳(MBC)、轻组有机碳(LFOC)和重组有机碳(HFOC)的变化规律,探究蓝藻水华衰亡过程对湖泊碳库稳定性的影响结果表明,蓝藻水华衰亡前期(1～9天),ROC缓慢下降,EOC和LFOC快速下降,MBC有所增加;衰亡中期(10～45天),沉积物TOC和ROC含量升高;衰亡末期(46～63天),HFOC和ROC等稳定有机碳进入一个从缓慢分解逐渐趋于稳定的阶段周期性的蓝藻水华暴发、衰亡和湖泊稳定性有机碳的日渐累积,最终会对沉积物碳库有机碳组分及其稳定造成显著影响.     

东印度洋分离的一株蓝杆藻的形态学,超显微结构以及系统发生分析

One strain of unicellular greenish algae embedded by mucilage was successfully isolated from equatorial area in the Indian Ocean. Microscopic observation, ultrastructure features and genetic identification confirmed that the strain was closely related to Cyanothece sp., which was a cyanobacteria species with great ecological significance.Cells were solitary with oval or bacilliform shapes. Diameters of this strain were relatively small, ranging from 2.5 to 6.5 μm on average. Ultrastructure of cells was simple. Thylakoids were arranged parietal and keritomized content were observed in the thylakoid region. Various electron-transparent granules with low electron-dense region as well as cyanophycin or glycogen granules-like organelle and carbonxysomes were also observed. For pigment composition, the dominant pigments were chlorophyll a, β-Carotene, Zeaxanthin and an unknown pigment, contributing 23.8%, 26.1%, 14.7% and 15.7% to total pigments respectively. The phylogenetic analysis of16 S rRNA gene and nif H gene confirmed that Strain EIO409 was closely related with Cyanothece sp..     

湖泊底泥中微囊藻DNA的分子检测

通过改进裂解温度和延长裂解时间并增加苯酚/氯仿洗脱次数的DNA提取方法获得南京玄武湖底泥中的DNA,通过PCR法来扩增微囊藻的16SrRNA基因.结果表明在所有采样点中均得到微囊藻基因组DNA,并且纯度较高,OD260/OD280均高于1.54,最高值达到1.89.PCR的扩增结果显示所有样点的DNA都得到212 bp大小的微囊藻16SrRNA基因片断,表明这种方法可以有效的从底泥中提取微囊藻的DNA,从而为研究底泥微囊藻生理生态及其越冬、上浮、形成水华的机理提供更有利的方法.     

A quantitative approach to sedimentary surface structures contoured by the interplay of microbial colonization and physical dynamics

In the tidal flats of Mellum Island (southern North Sea), biofilms and microbial mats, generated largely by cyanobacteria, colonize the sedimentary surfaces. Biostabilization effects and biomass enrichment influence erosional and depositional dynamics resulting from tidal flushing and storm surges. The overlapping of both biological and physical forces causes the development of characteristic sedimentary structures. To obtain a quantitative expression of the degree of effectiveness of microbial colonization in the formation of structures in an extended tidal area, a modification index (MOD-I) was developed based on the following values: (i) the proportion of mat-covered area related to a defined investigation area (I_A); (ii) the degree of steepness of slope angles of raised erosional remnants (I_S); and (iii) the degree of microbial levelling of a rippled sedimentary surface (I_N). The MOD-I was calculated for several defined regions within the study area, and both winter and summer situations were considered. The MOD-I values show, first, that the lower intertidal zone is characterized by index values approaching zero. This implies that microbially induced effects in this zone are negligible, even in summer. Second, the upper intertidal zone is characterized by lower index values in winter and relatively high values in summer. This implies a predominantly seasonal control on the biofilm development in this zone. Third, in the lower supratidal zone, the index values are almost identical during both winter and summer. This implies non-seasonal biological effects in this zone. Concomitant empirical studies on the composition of microbial mats and films suggest that the dominant microbial type influences the MOD-I value.     

Early period of early Permian tubular cyanobacteria reef in the eastern part of south Qinling Mountains

A typical reef occurs in the eastern part of south Qinling Mountains in Sanlixia, Xunyang, Shaanxi Province. The reef, extending in north-south direction, was built up by various kinds of calcareous tubes including Girvanella, tubular cyanobacteria and problem microbials. The bioclastic bank, built up by algal clasts, foraminiferous, and fusulinids, formed the reef basement, on which dasyclads baffle bioclasts formed the original bafflestone at a small scale on the reef basement, and then a mass of bindstone was made up by all kinds of calcareous tubes and algae. On lateral part the reef is cryptalgal mudstone. The reef that occurred in the geosynclinal area is so familiar with one of the platforms in many respects, such as in reef structure, morphology and building mold. This indicates that building organisms have amazing adaptability and identity for building capacity in the two kinds of geotectonic background mentioned above.     

The role of endolithic cyanobacteria in the formation of lithified laminae in Bahamian stromatolites

The microboring activity of endolithic cyanobacteria plays a major role in the formation of the dominant lithified laminae in modern marine stromatolites in the Exuma Cays, Bahamas. These stromatolites are composed primarily of fine-grained carbonate sand that is trapped and bound by the filamentous cyanobacteria Schizothrix sp.. Periodic introduction of coccoid endolithic cyanobacteria Solentia sp. during hiatuses in stromatolite growth associated with very low rates of sedimentation results in the formation of lithified horizons, 200–1000 μm thick. These layers consist of micritized grains that are welded together at point contacts. The micritization is caused by extensive microboring and carbonate precipitation within boreholes concurrent with endolithic activity. Grain welding occurs when boreholes cross from one grain to another at point contacts. Thus, microboring destroys original grain textures but, at the same time, plays a constructional role in stromatolite growth by forming lithified layers of welded grains. These lateral bands of fused carbonate grains help to stabilize and preserve the stromatolite deposits.