Bacterial contribution to sedimentary organic matter; a comparative study of lipid moieties in bacteria and Recent sediments

A systematic study of the lipid composition of thirteen bacterial species and three Recent sediments (methanogenic sediment, cyanobacterial mat and evaporative gypsum crust) was undertaken in an attempt to recognize bacterial organic matter in sediments. A sequential method, which distinguishes between three different modes of occurrence of lipid moieties (free, OH⁻- and H⁺-labile), was applied. The acid-labile fractions are discussed.The three main groups of bacteria, archaebacteria, gram-positive eubacteria and gram-negative eubacteria, are easily distinguished. Methanogenic and extremely halophilic archaebacteria are characterized by the presence of diphytanyl glyceryl ether and the absence of fatty acids. The gram-positive eubacteria contain primarily iso- and anteiso-branched fatty acids whereas the gram-negative bacteria and sediments are dominated by β- and α-hydroxy fatty acids. A wide variety of H⁺-labile hydroxy fatty acids was observed which included several, as yet unknown, structures.β-Hydroxy fatty acids in this H⁺-labile mode of occurrence are exclusively present in bacteria. Their distribution patterns in sediments are considered “fingerprints” of past and present bacterial populations. The specific differences in β -hydroxy fatty acid compositions observed in the different bacteria and the three sediments investigated, suggest that amide-linked β-hydroxy fatty acid patterns are useful as markers of bacterial populations and therefore of environmental conditions.     

盐湖相低熟油脂肪酸的组成与分布特征

对泌阳凹陷碱性盐湖相、舞阳凹陷盐湖相、襄城凹陷膏盐湖相、南阳凹陷淡水湖相低熟油脂肪酸组成和分布特征进行了分析与研究。结果表明这些不同盐湖相的低熟原油的脂肪酸为丰度不同的饱和正构酸、不饱和正构酸、少量异构酸、类异戊二烯酸及脂肪酸乙酯系列化合物。脂肪酸的组成和分布反映了原始有机质的来源。     

初论塔里木盆地砂岩储层中SiO2的溶蚀类型及其机理

根据显微镜观察,塔里木盆地砂岩储层中SiO₂溶蚀分为石英颗粒边缘溶蚀、次生加大边溶蚀和交代溶蚀。通过对石英颗粒和加大边溶蚀特征及其与粘土矿物组合、与碳酸盐胶结、与古油藏破坏以及现今油田水中Si离子含量等关系的综合研究,这些SiO₂溶蚀可能存在两种机理:碱性环境下的SiO₂溶蚀和有机酸(烃类微生物降解产生的有机酸以及有机质成熟产生的有机酸)引起的SiO₂溶蚀。第一种溶蚀类型较普遍,但程度微弱;第二种溶蚀类型主要发生在古油藏破坏和有机质成熟过程中,这种溶蚀较强烈但很局限。SiO₂的溶蚀作用可以为油气提供一定量的储集空间,这对于深埋的时代较老的志留-泥盆系储层具有重要意义。在古油藏中尽管烃类已经充注储层孔隙,但只要孔隙中存在有机酸或碱性孔隙水,SiO₂的溶蚀和石英次生加大的胶结等作用仍可进行。     

Evaluation ofCitrullus colocynthis, a desert plant native in Israel, as a potential source of edible oil

Citrulus colocynthis(wild gourd) is a desert plant of the Cucurbitaceae, naturally adapted to arid environments. It was known in biblical times as a source of seed oil and its fruits were used as an efficient laxative. Accessions were collected in Israel and evaluated as a potential oil seed crop adapted to arid zones. It was found that its oil composition is similar to safflower oil, with a total of 80-85% unsaturated fatty acids. A potential yield of oil of 250-400 l ha⁻¹was calculated. The best yield was obtained during the first 4 weeks of the 10-week maturation period. Yield potential should be estimated under desert conditions in order to evaluate the plant's economic future as a crop suitable for an arid environment.     

Humic Ion-Binding Model VI: An Improved Description of the Interactions of Protons and Metal Ions with Humic Substances

Humic Ion-Binding Model VI, a discrete site/electrostatic model of the interactions of protons and metals with fulvic and humic acids, is applied to 19 sets of published data for proton binding, and 110 sets for metal binding. Proton binding is described with a site density, two median intrinsic equilibrium constants, two parameters defining the spread of equilibrium constants around the medians, and an electrostatic constant. Intrinsic equilibrium constants for metal binding are defined by two median constants, log K_MA and log K_MB, which refer to carboxyl and weaker-acid sites respectively, together with a parameter, LK₁, defining the spreads of values around the medians. A further parameter, LK₂, takes account of small numbers of strong binding sites. By considering results from many data sets, a universal average value of LK₁ is obtained, and a correlation established between log K_MB and log K_MA. In addition, a relation between LK₂ and the equilibrium constant for metal-NH₃ complexation is tentatively suggested. As a result, metal-binding data can be fitted by the adjustment of a single parameter, log K_MA. Values of log K_MA are derived for 22 metal species. Model VI accounts for competition and ionic strength effects, and for proton-metal exchange.     

Thymol as a Biocide in Japanese Rainwater

Rainwater samples (wet-only; event samples) collected in Niigata in late autumn 1996 and springtime 1997 were used to assess the effectiveness of thymol as a biocide in Japanese rainwater. Upon collection each rainwater sample was divided into sub-samples, with thymol added to one sub-sample. Sub-samples with and without thymol were shipped to CSIRO, Australia, for chemical analysis. Comparison of analytical results for each pair of sub-samples proved the effectiveness of thymol in preventing biological action in this region where effects of rainwater microflaura and fauna on rainwater composition have not before been studied. Sub-samples without thymol exhibited lowered electrical conductivity, loss of the cations H⁺ and NH ₄ ^- , and loss of the anions HCOO^-, CH₃COO^-, C₂O ₄ ^2- , CH₃SO ₃ ^- and PO ₄ ^3- . Nitrate showed no change in all but one of the samples, indicating that ammonia was the preferred source of nitrogen for the biological processes that consumed the rainwater organic acids and phosphate. These results suggest that thymol is a suitable rainwater biocide for use under Japanese conditions.     

秋季东海溶解态和颗粒态氨基酸的分布与组成*

本文对2012年秋季中国东海31个站位的海水样品中溶解态氨基酸（THAA）和颗粒态氨基酸（PAA）的分布与组成进行了研究。结果表明：表层海水中溶解游离氨基酸(DFAA)的平均浓度为0.12±0.04 μmol/L (0.06~0.19 μmol/L),溶解结合氨基酸(DCAA)的平均浓度为0.61±0.51 μmol/L (0.15~1.79 μmol/L),PAA的平均浓度为0.11±0.06 μmol/L (0.02~0.27 μmol/L)。THAA的水平分布特点大致为近岸高、远岸低;PAA的水平分布特点是近岸海域向远海海域分布呈现逐渐减小的趋势。THAA的垂直分布特点是由表层向底层逐渐降低。DCAA、PAA与Chl-a有很好的相关性,而DFAA与Chl-a的相关性不明显。东海表层海水中THAA的主要组分是天门冬氨酸、谷氨酸、丝氨酸、甘氨酸、苏氨酸及丙氨酸,PAA的主要组分是天门冬氨酸、谷氨酸、丝氨酸、甘氨酸、丙氨酸及亮氨酸。在表层海水中氨基酸是作为一个整体而对海洋生物地球化学过程产生影响的。     

Dominant amphipods of Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows display considerable trophic diversity

Gut content examination and trophic markers (fatty acids, stable isotopes of C and N) were combined to delineate the diet of the dominant species of amphipods from Mediterranean Posidonia oceanica seagrass meadows and to highlight trophic diversity among this community. Our results indicate that, although all dominant species heavily relied on macroalgal epiphytes, considerable interspecific dietary differences existed. Carbon stable isotope ratios notably showed that some of the amphipod species favored grazing on epiphytes from leaves or litter fragments (Apherusa chiereghinii, Aora spinicornis, Gammarus aequicauda), while others such as Dexamine spiniventris preferred epiphytes from rhizomes. The remaining amphipods (Caprella acanthifera, Ampithoe helleri and Gammarella fucicola) readily consumed both groups. In addition, SIAR modeling suggested that most species had a mixed diet, and relied on several food items. Fatty acid analysis and gut contents revealed that contributions of microepiphytic diatoms and of benthic and suspended particulate organic matter to the diet of amphipods were anecdotal. None of the examined species seemed to graze on their seagrass host [low 18:2(n‐6) and 18:3(n‐3) fatty acids contents], but Gammarus aequicauda partly relied on seagrass leaf detritus, as demonstrated by the lesser ¹³C‐depletion of their tissues. Overall, our findings suggest that amphipods, because of their importance in the transfer of organic matter from primary producers and detritus to higher rank consumers, are key items in P. oceanica‐associated food webs.