A microwave digestion technique for the extraction of fossil diatoms from coastal lake and swamp sediments

This study provides an introduction to a microwave digestion technique for the extraction of fossil diatoms from sediments. The microwave technique is compared with the standard diatom extraction technique of Battarbee (Diatom analysis. In: Berglund B.E. (ed.), Handbook of Holocene Palaeoecology and Palaeohydrology. John Wiley and Sons) that uses a combination of dilute hydrochloric acid and hydrogen peroxide and the advantages and disadvantages of their use are discussed. The results suggest that the microwave technique is fast, inexpensive and most importantly produces replicable fossil diatom assemblage data. Small samples sizes are used (0.3 g) for the microwave method thus lower quantities of chemicals are required (6 ml), which significantly decreases the cost of sample processing. Our results show that the microwave digestion technique is a viable alternative that will produce similar results within a shorter period of time.     

Reconstruction of a climate record for the past 140 kyr based on diatom valve flux data from Lake Biwa, Japan

To reconstruct the pattern of past climate change in central Japan during the last 140 kyr, total planktonic diatom valve concentrations (valves g^–1) and fluxes (valves cm^–2 year^–1) of total planktonic diatoms flux (PVF) and individual species were examined using a 140-m core taken from Lake Biwa, Shiga Prefecture. Most records had a sample resolution between approximately 150 and 300 yr. Based on characteristics of past and modern diatom responses to possible climate variables, we interpreted changes in Stephanodiscus suzukii flux (SVF) to reflect changes in phosphorus levels, which reflect, in turn, summer precipitation levels; changes in Aulacoseiva nipponica flux (AVF) reflect winter vertical lake-water mixing induced by winter temperatures and snowfall levels. Thus, changes in total planktonic diatom flux reflect a combination of summer precipitation, winter temperature, and snowfall values. During the 140–101 ka interval, changes in S. suzukii productivity at a millennial timescale may correspond to changes in summer rainfall in central Japan. The disappearance of A. nipponica during the same period could indicate weaker vertical mixing, possibly caused by increased temperatures and decreased snowfall levels in winter. During the 101–70 ka interval, the AVF record shows levels near or above those observed in present times, indicating that winter water temperatures fell within the optimal range for A. nipponica to prosper. Generally low AVF values during the 70–7 ka interval indicate weak winter vertical mixing and cold winters. The many intervals with low PVF values during the same period suggest decreased summer precipitation levels. Between 7 and 0 ka, PVF, SVF, and AVF records show levels near or above those of the present, suggesting winter temperatures favorable for A. nipponica growth, and snowfall and summer precipitation levels probably similar to or above those currently recorded.     

Nine unusually large tsunami deposits from the past 4000 years at Kiritappu marsh along the southern Kuril Trench

Large earthquakes along the Kuril subduction zone in northern Japan are known to have caused damaging tsunami, although there is a little information on historical earthquakes and tsunami in this area because no documents exist before the 19th century that might refer to tsunami events. To determine the likely timing and size of future events we need information on their recurrence intervals and to do this for the prehistoric past we have investigated sediments located in the Kiritappu marsh in eastern Hokaido that we interpret as laid down by tsunami. Using reliable multiple lines of evidence from sedimentological, geomorphological, micropaleontological, and chronological results, we identify 13 tsunami sands. Two of these lie within a peat bed above a historical tephra, Ta-a (AD 1739); the upper one probably corresponds to the AD 1843 Tempo Tokachi-oki earthquake (M 8.2) tsunami, and the lower to either the AD 1952 Tokachi-oki earthquake (M 8.2) tsunami or the AD 1960 Chilean earthquake (M 9.5) tsunami. Underlying are 11 prehistoric tsunami sand beds (nine large sand beds and two smaller sand beds) deposited during the past 4000 years. Because of the wide spatial distribution of the large sand beds, and inundation distances inland of between 1200 to 3000 m, we suggest that they record unusually large tsunamis along the Kuril subduction zone. According to our analyses, these tsunami sands were derived from the coastal area and, although they do not show clear graded bedding, they commonly have gradational upper boundaries and erosional bases and include internal sedimentary structures such as plane beds, dunes, and current ripples, reflecting bedload transportation. Based on our results we calculate the recurrence interval of unusually large earthquakes (probably M 8.6) along the Kuril subduction zone as about 365–553 years and estimate the youngest large event to have occurred in the 17th century.     

松花江哈尔滨段水域硅藻植物群落及其水质的初步评价

2005-2006年5-9月、12月的两年间,在松花江哈尔滨段水域进行了硅藻植物的调查采集,经观察鉴定,共发现硅藻植物72种43变种3变型,分别隶属于2纲6目9科23属,共计118个分类单位。本文对松花江哈尔滨段水域的环境特征,硅藻植物群落组成、种类丰度的季节性变化进行了研究,利用硅藻植物与环境相关性特点对水质进行了初步评价。研究结果表明松花江段哈尔滨水域的硅藻植物群落,总体来说以普生种类(共计86个分类单位)为每年的常见种类,还有一些嗜碱种类和冷水种类出现;硅藻种类的丰度随季节变化明显,从夏季到秋季逐渐增多。硅藻的群落结构变化主要受pH,温度,TN,BOD_5,氨氮的影响,从优势种的组成来看,β-中污以上的污水指示种类数量最多,一些富营养化种类和耐污种类也有出现,说明2005-2006年松花江流域水质污染呈中度至重度污染。     

近50年来环境变化对巢湖硅藻组合演替的影响

湖泊生态系统往往受营养、水文和气候等诸多环境因子的影响.区分不同环境因子的影响是揭示湖泊生态环境演化机制的关键.本文基于巢湖岩芯210Pb和137Cs测年、硅藻、地球化学指标和粒度分析结果以及流域水文、气候、人口和农业资料,利用冗余分析,定量区分1950年来营养、水文和气侯对硅藻组合演替的影响.1978年前硅藻组合中A...     

不同光质下中华盒形藻蛋白质合成的SDS-PAGE初步分析

初步分析光质对海洋硅藻中华盒形藻蛋白质合成的影响,发现在红光、蓝光和白光下蛋白质合成的量和种类有所不同。并对硅藻ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ样品制备法作了改进,即增加１次甲醇冲洗步骤,通过加热／冷冻循环破碎硅藻细胞。     

Quantitative relationship between surface sedimentary diatoms and water depth in North-Central Bohai Bay,China

To study the quantitative relationship between surface sedimentary diatoms and water depth, 67 surface samples were collected for diatom analysis on eight profiles with water depth variation from the muddy intertidal zone to the shallow sea area in North-Central Bohai Bay, China. The results showed that the distribution of diatoms changed significantly in response to the change in water depth. Furthermore, the quantitative relationship between the distribution of dominant diatom species, their a...     

近百年来我国西南地区酸沉降背景下湖泊环境变化——来自四面山龙潭湖沉积硅藻证据

大气酸沉降会导致地表水体酸化和富营养化,同时气候变暖也会影响湖泊水体环境,湖泊生态系统如何响应二者相互作用是全球变化研究的热点之一.我国西南地区是全球酸沉降负荷最高的地区之一,然而目前对酸沉降影响下地表水环境变化规律知之甚少.本文以重庆四面山龙潭湖为研究对象,通过沉积岩芯的²¹⁰Pb测年和硅藻分析,并结合流域历史资料数据,揭示龙潭湖过去近百年来水环境变化及其主要驱动因子.结果表明,1926-1968年,龙潭湖以Achnanthidium minutissimum和Encyonema silesiacum占优势;随后,Lindavia bodanica快速增加至峰值后逐渐减少,伴随Aulacoseira alpigena和Aulacoseira ambigua含量上升.硅藻组合中以适应中性和弱碱性水体的属种为主,嗜酸性属种含量很少,表明目前水体总体维持弱碱性,这得益于当地紫色砂页岩和森林土壤对于酸沉降的缓冲作用.尽管目前龙潭湖仍维持弱碱性,1980s以来硅藻推导水体酸碱度下降、中富营养种增加,表明酸沉降降低水体碱度并提高营养水平.气候变暖加剧水体热力分层和营养富集,导致适应扰动、贫营养环境的L.bodanica减少.2010年以来,中富营养属种略有减少反映湖泊富营养化有所减缓.     

洱海硅藻群落结构的时空分布及其与环境因子间的关系

于2004-2005年间对洱海水体的硅藻群落进行逐月监测及研究,共发现71个种,分属于18个属.硅藻群落结构的季节变化显著,主要优势种为耐营养的属种.不同季节的硅藻优势种类有明显区别,冬季的主要优势种为Fragilaria crotonensis,春季Aulacoseira ambigua与F.crotonensis的组合占优势地位,夏季以Cyclotella ocellata为主,秋季则A.ambigua与Cyclostephanos dubius组合为优势种.空间上除1#点外,硅藻分布虽然在相对丰度上存在一定的南北差异,但优势属种在全湖具有较好的一致性.说明洱海全湖的水质都已处于中富营养状态.对除1#点外的11个采样点的硅藻及水化学数据进行平均,得到逐月数据,通过数理统计分析的手段,探讨硅藻群落变化与环境因子之间的关系,结果表明影响季节尺度硅藻群落发生变化的最主要因子是气象条件,其次是营养盐.     

巢湖近代沉积硅藻种群变化与富营养化过程重建

根据巢湖西部湖心40cm长的沉积柱放射性核素定年和化石硅藻分析,结合长江中下游湖泊硅藻-总磷转换函数模型,重建了其过去200年来硅藻组合演替与湖水总磷浓度变化的历史.研究结果表明,巢湖硅藻经历了从Aulacoseira granulata优势组合(1826-1978年)向耐营养种Cyclostephanos dubius优势组合(1978年以来)变化的两个重要阶段.1978年前,水体总磷浓度在60-75μg/L之间;此后迅速增高(80-100μg/L),为明显的营养富集时期;至2000年以来总磷浓度进一步上升(110μg/L),硅藻组合以Cyclostephanos dubius占绝对优势.硅藻数据的最大变率与总磷浓度的关系反映硅藻生态主要响应于营养富集的变化,但历史时期水动力条件对硅藻种群也有一定影响.20世纪70年代以来,工农业以及生活污水排放是硅藻种群转变和富营养化发生的主要根源,而巢湖闸的建立引起的水文条件的改变也是水体营养富集的诱因.21世纪开始富营养化进一步加重可能与生活污水排放、营养内负荷释放以及增温有关.