Vertical zonation and aggregated distribution of the Manila clam on subtidal sand flats in a coastal brackish lagoon along the Sea of Japan

The Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum, has maintained small‐sized populations in a semi‐enclosed brackish lake along the Sea of Japan, the Honjo area of Lake Nakaumi, although the environment and biota of this area have changed dramatically due to a large‐scale reclamation project. There should be underlying processes that enable the restoration of this species from small‐sized populations, such as the existence of source (i.e. reproductive) populations in other areas and depth zones of the lake. However, there has been no robust, properly designed evaluation of the distribution of the Manila clam in the subtidal sand flats. In order to elucidate the possible mechanisms that allow for the persistence of populations of the Manila clam, we examined the spatiotemporal and vertical variation in distributions of 0‐age clams in the subtidal zone of sand flats. Seasonal effects on population variations showed erratic changes among depth zones without a decreasing trend along the depth gradient. Further, many local populations became extinct even in the shallower zones due to seasonal (summer) hypoxia at deeper zones and hypoxia by the accumulation of key benthic species (Asian mussel and decaying macroalgae) in mats at shallower zones. A few surviving local populations were stable with a spatial‐fragmental (patchy) distribution, associated with fragmented accumulations of Asian mussels and macroalgae. Efforts to maintain stable populations and to restore this species in the subtidal area may depend on these small, restricted, patchy local populations. These findings suggest that high fertility and productivity of the Manila clam as well as patchy distribution of small populations may contribute to the maintenance of the population and the avoidance of extinction (by spatially diffusing the risk of extinction) in harsh environments resulting from the reclamation project.     

Mussel Periostracum from Deep-Sea Redox Communities as a Microbial Habitat: 3. Secondary Inhabitants

Abstract. Vacated microborings in periostracum of live mussels of the Florida Escarpment redox community (depth of 3266 m) become a habitat for a prolific secondary microbiota consisting of a variety of prokaryotic and a few eukaryotic organisms. Periostracum surface is also colonized by diverse microorganisms, dominated by presumed chemolithotrophic bacteria with stacks of intracellular lamellae. Unlike sheltered microflora within borings, the surface community is heavily grazed upon by numerous archaeogastropods and ciliates.     

峰丛洼地的基岩物质组成与土地退化差异分析

根据可溶岩层组中非可溶夹层的出露情况对我国西南岩溶山区峰丛洼地进行了划分,并对不同基岩物质组成的峰丛洼地的土壤、土地类型及植被、坡面形态和地表径流特征及其差异进行了论述。在此基础上对不同基岩物质组成的峰丛洼地土地退化的过程及其差异进行了分析,进而论证了各地貌部位合理的土地利用布局。      

珠江口滨海湿地退化现状、原因及保护对策

2007年和2008年秋季对珠江口滨海湿地进行了环境现状综合调查,结果表明,珠江口滨海湿地退化主要表现在4个方面:天然湿地面积减少、湿地生产力不断下降、湿地环境状况持续恶化和湿地景观破碎化。珠江口滨海湿地退化的原因主要为滩涂开发与围填海、污染物排放、养殖污染、海平面上升、过度捕捞、海砂开采和港口码头建设以及水土资源开发等因素。滨海湿地保护与利用对策主要有:制定有关滨海湿地保护的法律法规和湿地保护与利用规划;加强人才队伍建设和滨海湿地有关技术研究;建立滨海湿地动态监测体系;加大滨海湿地保护区建设的力度;加强宣传和教育。     

Relationship between structures of substituted indolic compounds and their degradation by marine anaerobic microorganisms

Degradation of selected indolic compounds including indole, 1-methylindole, 2-methylindole, and 3-methylindole was assessed under methanogenic and sulfate-reducing conditions using the serum-bottle anaerobic technique and marine sediment from Victoria Harbour, Hong Kong as an inoculum. Our results showed that indole degradation was achieved in 28 days by a methanogenic consortium and 35 days by a sulfate-reducing consortium. During degradation under both conditions, two intermediates were isolated, purified and identified as oxindole and isatin (indole-2,3-dione) suggesting that both methanogenic and sulfate-reducing bacteria use an identical degradation pathway. Degradation processes followed two steps of oxidation accomplished by hydroxylation and then dehydrogenation at 2- and then 3-position sequentially prior to the cleavage of the pyrrole ring between 2- and 3-positions. However, none of 1-methylindole or 2-methylindole was degraded under any conditions. 3-Methylindole (3-methyl-1H-indole, skatole) was transformed under methanogenic conditions and mineralized only under sulfate-reducing conditions. It is clear that methyl substitution on 1- or 2-position inhibits the initial attack by hydroxylation enzymes making them more persistent in the environment and posing longer toxic impact.     

基于生态系统的上海崇明东滩海岸带生态系统退化诊断

海岸带是资源与环境条件最为优越的区域,也是与人类发展关系最为密切的区域之一。本文选择上海崇明东滩海岸带生态系统为研究示范区,在对崇明东滩海岸带生态系统结构分析的基础上,基于"压力-状态-响应"模型构建海岸带生态系统退化诊断指标体系,定量评估了崇明东滩海岸带生态系统退化状况。结果表明,从2000年至2008年,崇明东滩海岸带生态系统整体上表现为健康,局部区域表现为轻微退化,轻微退化的面积分别为25.71km2(2000)、16.66km2(2003)、18.16km2(2005)和40.46km2(2008)。自然湿地生态系统是崇明东滩海岸带中一个重要的生态系统类型,2000年至2008年,崇明东滩自然湿地生态系统大部分面积保持在健康的状态,大规模的围垦工程和外来物种互花米草入侵是造成自然湿地生态系统退化的主要原因。2000年至2008年,崇明东滩农业生态系统整体上表现为健康状态,产业结构不合理和由于化肥、农药使用造成的环境恶化等问题,是造成崇明东滩海岸带农业生态系统局部区域发生退化的主要原因。人口增长和经济发展引起的现有资源的过度使用和环境恶化等问题,使得城镇生态系统健康面临巨大挑战,在2005年表现为轻微退化。本文的研究方法可为我国其它地区海岸带生态系统管理和建设提供理论依据和示范案例。     

Researches on the Internal Molecular Weight Uniformity of Chitosan Biomaterials

Uniform molecular weight(Mw)chitosan(CS)is highly demanded in medical biomaterial industry.This present article described heterogeneous degradation of CS in aqueous HCl/ethanol solution,in which progress uniform Mw CS was successfully prepared.The Mw distribution of CS was measured by gel permeation chromatography(GPC)analysis.Moreover,the structure and properties of degraded CS were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR),nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy(^1H NMR),X-ray diffraction(XRD)and thermogravimetric(TG)analysis.In addition,the biocompatibility of degraded CS was also assessed by hemolysis rate(HR)measurement.The Mw of CS dramatically decreased from 246 KDa to 76 k Da at the initial 30 min,and stabilized at 18 kDa after 24 h.GPC analysis results showed that the degraded CS molecular become homogenization.FT-IR and 1 H NMR analysis confirmed the basic structure of CS molecular backbone was not destroyed during this progress.Besides,the water solubility of CS was not significantly influenced by this reaction.Moreover,the XRD analysis revealed that crystallinity of degraded CS increased from 70.32% to 99.25%with time.The TG analysis showed improved thermal stability of degraded CS.HR measurement demonstrated the degraded CS possessed excellent biocompatibility.This simple and efficient heterogeneous degradation would open up a new route to produce uniform Mw CS.     

用于养殖环境调控的微生物制剂评价方法的研究

为尝试建立对不同微生物制剂产品的客观评价方法体系,选择5种商品化复合微生物制剂,进行了菌数和主要组成种类等测定,并利用天然或人工模拟的养殖污水进行了不同微生物制剂对氨氮、亚硝酸态氮、COD等降解效果的比较,以及微生物制剂活化增效后的效果比较等.结果表明,不同的商业化复合微生物制剂在有益菌含量和水质污染降解效果方面存在较大差异.另外,微生物制剂在海水和淡水中以及是否经过活化,效果也存在较大差异.     

A GLE-based model for seismic displacement analysis of slopes including strength degradation and geometry rearrangement

Seismic performance of natural slopes, earth structures and solid-waste landfills can be evaluated through displacement-based methods in which permanent displacements induced by earthquake loading are assumed to progressively develop along the critical sliding surface as a result of transient activation of plastic mechanisms within the soil mass. For sliding mechanisms of general shape the earthquake-induced displacements should be computed using a model that provides a closer approximation of sliding surface. When large permanent displacement are induced by seismic actions, due to substantial shear strength reduction, and significant changes in ground surface occur, an improved estimate of permanent displacement can be obtained using a model which accounts for shear strength reduction and mass transfer between adjacent portions of the slope resulting from geometry changes of ground surface during the seismic event.In this paper, a GLE-based model is proposed for seismic displacement analysis of slopes that accounts for shear strength degradation and for geometry rearrangement. Model accuracy is validated against experimental results obtained from shaking table tests carried out on small scale model slopes. Comparison of computed and experimental results demonstrates the capability of the proposed approach in capturing the main features of the observed seismic response of the model slopes.