Toxicity of organophosphorus pesticide sumithion on larval stages of stinging catfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Heteropneustes fossilis</Emphasis>

Sumithion is widely used to control brittle in paddy fields and tiger bug in fish larval rearing ponds. The objective of this study was to elucidate the toxic effects of sumithion on larval stages of stinging catfish Heteropneustes fossilis. Larvae were exposed to two concentrations (150 and 250 μg/L) of sumithion with one control in three replicates of each. Larvae samples were collected at 20- and 24-h intervals followed by observation under a digital microscope. Exposures of stinging catfish larvae to sumithion produced deformities including irregular head shape, lordosis, yolk sac edema, body arcuation, tissue ulceration, etc. The mortality rates of larvae were significantly increased in response to increase in sumithion concentrations. Furthermore, around 30% of the total adult stinging catfish reared in sumithiontreated aquaculture ponds were found to be deformed permanently. These findings highlight that exposure of stinging catfish to sumithion at the critical and sensitive stages in their life cycle may significantly reduce the number of returning adults. Therefore, the use of sumithion for crop protection needs to be considered carefully and alternatives to sumithion should to be developed for controlling aquatic insects in aqua-ponds during larval rearing.     

Deciphering heavy metal contamination zones in soils of a granitic terrain of southern India using factor analysis and GIS

Soil contamination by heavy metals has been a major concern for last few decades due to increase in urbanization and industrialization. The main objective of this research was to identify the heavy metal contaminated zones in the study area. Twenty five soil samples collected throughout the agriculture, residential and industrial areas were analysed by X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (XRF) for trace metals and major oxides. These metals can affect the quality of soil and infiltrate through the soil, thereby causing groundwater pollution. Based on the chemical analysis of major oxides (SiO_2, Al₂O_3, ?Fe₂O_3, MnO, MgO, CaO, Na₂O, K₂O, TiO₂, and P₂O₅) and their distribution; it is observed that these soils are predominantly siliceous type with slight enrichment of alumina component in the study area. Correlation matrix (CM) and factor analysis (FA) is employed to the heavy metal variables, viz., Ba, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Rb, Sr, V, Y, Zn and Zr of the soil to determine the dominant factors contributing to the soil contamination in the area. In the analysis, five factors emerged as significant contributors to the soil quality. The total contribution of these five factors is about 90%. The contribution of the first factor is about 45% and has significant positive loadings of Co, Cr, Cu, Ni and Zn. The contribution of second factor is 22% and has significant positive loadings of Rb, Sr and Y. The contribution of third, fourth and fifth factors is 10, 8 and 5% and show positive loadings for lead, molybdenum and barium respectively to the soil contamination. The spatial variation maps deciphering different zones of heavy metal concentration in the soil were generated in a GIS (geographic information system) based environment using ArcGIS 9.3.1. The results reveal that heavy metal contamination in the area is mainly due to anthropogenic activities.     

Development of a New Method of Extraction of Interstitial Water from Low‐Porosity Consolidated Sediments Recovered During Super‐Deep Drilling Projects

During the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 338, several methods were tested for the extraction of interstitial water in consolidated, low‐porosity deep‐sea sediments from Site C0002 in the Kumano Basin. On the basis of those tests, we propose a modified ground rock interstitial normative determination (GRIND) method of extraction of interstitial water. In separate runs of the new method, sediment samples were ground in a ball mill with either ultrapure water or a solution of HNO₃. The interstitial water was then extracted with a conventional squeezer. Sufficient solution was extracted by this method to analyse most major and a few minor components of interstitial water that were comparable to those previously reported for samples extracted by the conventional squeezing method. The new method requires much smaller amounts of sediment than that of the conventional method and will be useful for analysis of samples recovered during super‐deep drilling programmes.     

长链烯酮在西北大西洋重建全新世气候变化的研究进展

大量研究表明,长链烯酮不饱和度(UK37?指数)可用于重建过去的海面温度(sea surface tempera-ture,SST),然而是否存在其他因素导致实际温度与重建的SST之间存在差异,以及重建的温度是代表年均SST还是季节性温度都仍有争议.除了反映温度,在受季节性海冰影响或SST较低的区域,长链烯酮C37:4...     

北大西洋45°N区氧同位素3期以来上层水体性质的变化

北大西洋45°N区是北大西洋冰筏碎屑（IRD）带的中心区,其海洋沉积物包含高分辨率沉积环境和气候变化信息,对45°N区沉积记录的研究有利于反演末次冰期以来古海洋环境的变化。通过对岩心Hu71-377中IRD含量的统计、浮游有孔虫组合及氧和碳同位素（δ18O和δ13C）分析,重建了北大西洋45°N上层水体水团性质演化历史。结合AMS14C数据和氧同位素地层学,在氧同位素3期（MIS3）和2期（MIS2）中识别出5个Heinrich层,其中Heinrich 1、2和4层具有明显IRD峰值、Neogloboquadrina pachyderma高丰度和轻δ18O值特征,而Heinrich 3和5层的δ18O值未明显变轻。Heinrich 3和5层与Heinrich 1、2和4层的δ18O 差异可能反映了上层水体受融水输入的影响不同。δ13CN.incompta和δ13CN.pachyderma差值也反映了Heinrich事件期间混合层和温跃层的变化,它们的δ13C差值在Heinrich 1和2期间接近零,归因于强风驱动的海水垂向混合。而δ13CN.incompta和δ13CN.pachyderma差值在Heinrich 4和5期间增大,反映了季节性温跃层变浅,推测与北大西洋暖流增强有关。浮游有孔虫组合进一步反映了海洋上层水团性质, 特别是N. pachyderma和Neogloboquadrina incompta的相对丰度反映了MIS3期以来海表温度（SST）变化。     

Application of GIS for the identification and demarcation of selective heavy metal concentrations in the urban groundwater

Groundwater is the most appropriate and widely used source of drinking water, which is increasingly threatened by pollution from industrial and agricultural activities. To check the severity of the problem, 156 groundwater samples were collected from various depths (60-110 ft) of 52 different localities in Faisalabad city, the third largest metropolis in Pakistan, and analyzed for the metals (Zn, Cu, Cd, Ni, Pb, Mn and Fe) concentration in 2009. Quantification was done by using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer technique and the results were compared with WHO standards for drinking water quality. Results showed that the levels of Cu, Mn and Fe were below the WHO standards while the concentrations of Zn, Cd, Ni and Pb were above the recommended levels of safe drinking water. Correlation analysis among the occurrence of these heavy metals revealed a highly significant and positive correlation of Mn with Zn and Fe. A significant and positive correlation of Cd was also found with Cu and groundwater depth showing that there is strong association between Cu-Cd pair and that the Cd concentration varies with depth of groundwater in the study area. Regional patterns of heavy metals occurrence were mapped using Geographical Information System (GIS) for the identification and demarcation of risk areas. The concentration maps may be used by policymakers of the city to mitigate groundwater pollution.     

Heinrich事件期间的混合层增深：多种浮游有孔虫的δ^18O研究

北大西洋晚更新世Heinrich事件（HEs）以Laurentide冰盖的冰筏碎屑（IRD）层为标志。有8个这样的事件与约65000a以来格陵兰冰心记录的部分Dansgaard-Oeschger（D／O）事件的最冷亚冰期相对应。判断一个D／O事件的开始,根据这样一个典型特征：在仅仅几十年的时间内温度突然上升了9～15℃,其后便是数千年时间的气温逐渐变冷。     

GIS技术在城市地下水重金属浓度识别与分级中的应用（英文）

Groundwater is the most appropriate and widely used source of drinking water,which is increasingly threatened by pollution from industrial and agricultural activities.To check the severity of the problem,156 groundwater samples were collected from various depths(60-110 ft) of 52 different localities in Faisalabad city,the third largest metropolis in Pakistan,and analyzed for the metals(Zn,Cu,Cd,Ni,Pb,Mn and Fe) concentration in 2009.Quantification was done by using Flame Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer technique and the results were compared with WHO standards for drinking water quality.Results showed that the levels of Cu,Mn and Fe were below the WHO standards while the concentrations of Zn,Cd,Ni and Pb were above the recommended levels of safe drinking water.Correlation analysis among the occurrence of these heavy metals revealed a highly significant and positive correlation of Mn with Zn and Fe.A significant and positive correlation of Cd was also found with Cu and groundwater depth showing that there is strong association between Cu-Cd pair and that the Cd concentration varies with depth of groundwater in the study area.Regional patterns of heavy metals occurrence were mapped using Geographical Information System(GIS) for the identification and demarcation of risk areas.The concentration maps may be used by policymakers of the city to mitigate groundwater pollution.     

Geospatial tools for assessing land degradation in Budgam district,Kashmir Himalaya,India

Land degradation reduces the ability of the land to perform many biophysical and chemical functions. The main aim of this study was to determine the status of land degradation in the Budgam area of Kashmir Himalaya using remote sensing and geographic information system. The satellite data together with other geospatial datasets were used to quantify different categories of land degradation. The results were validated in the field and an accuracy of 85% was observed. Land use/land cover of the study area was determined in order to know the effect of land use on the rate of land degradation. Normalized differential vegetation index (NDVI) and slope of the area were determined using LANDSAT-enhanced thematic mapper plus (ETM+) data, advanced space borne thermal emission and reflection radiometer, and digital elevation model along with other secondary data were analysed to create various thematic maps, viz., land use/land cover, geology, NDVI and slopes used in modelling land degradation in the Kashmir Himalayan region. The vegetation condition, elevation and land use/land cover information of the area were integrated to assess the land degradation scenario in the area using the ArcGIS ‘Spatial Analyst Module’. The results reveal that about 13.19% of the study area has undergone moderate to high degradation, whereas about 44.12% of the area has undergone slight degradation.