硅藻重金属污染生态学研究进展

硅藻是水生生态系统健康的指示生物之一,对环境变化极为敏感,某些典型硅藻已应用于指示水体重金属污染.本文围绕地表水重金属污染,从毒性效应、生物吸附和累积、生态适应机制及生物指示与生态修复作用等方面,综述了硅藻重金属污染生态学研究进展,阐述重金属污染下硅藻的生长趋势和硅壳形态的变化,硅藻对重金属生物吸附和生物累积的差别,硅藻对重金属的表面络合和离子交换等生态适应机制,以及硅藻对水体重金属污染的指示作用和生态修复作用,为水生生态系统的重金属污染防治与预警技术提供科学依据.     

中国海表层沉积生物硅含量与硅藻丰度空间分布规律

生物硅是海洋硅循环及古海洋学的主要研究对象,主要由硅藻、放射虫、硅鞭藻和海绵骨针等硅质生物壳体组成。由于硅藻是海洋硅质生物以及海洋浮游植物群落的优势种群,故生物硅常被用作判断硅藻生产力甚至整个海洋初级生产力的重要指标。相对于硅藻的鉴定和统计分析,生物硅含量分析有其便利快捷的明显优势,然而生物硅组成的复杂性使其在现代海洋学及古海洋学的应用中存在一定的风险,但是目前有关生物硅含量与硅藻生产力的相关性及其对现代海洋和古海洋研究的影响尚未引起足够的关注。本文通过收集整理大量已发表的我国边缘海表层沉积物生物硅与硅藻的相关研究成果,在此基础上探讨了我国边缘海沉积生物硅含量与硅藻丰度的空间分布及其耦合性,及其对海洋生产力研究的指示意义。从现有的研究数据可以看出东中国海,主要包括东海和黄海,以及南海陆架浅海区表层沉积生物硅含量与硅藻丰度均无明显的空间变化规律,而南海表层沉积生物硅含量与硅藻丰度均表现为由陆架向海盆逐渐增加的趋势,与水深呈明显正相关关系。整个中国边缘海沉积生物硅含量和硅藻丰度的空间分布格局与现代水体初级生产力的分布格局差异明显,陆源输入的稀释作用对此起到了重要影响。通过进一步的分析发现,南海表层沉积硅藻对生物硅的贡献还存在明显的区域变化,表现为在陆坡及其邻近海盆区硅藻对沉积生物硅的贡献较大,而在深海海盆区放射虫及其他硅质生物对生物硅的贡献不容忽视。为了更好地利用生物硅、硅藻及其他相关参数研究边缘海硅循环及古海洋环境演变,未来需要更多地关注除硅藻以外的硅质生物,如硅鞭藻、海绵骨针等,对生物硅的贡献及其对海洋硅的生物地球化学过程的影响。     

硅藻在河流健康评价中的应用研究进展

硅藻作为一种光合自养真核藻类,是水生态系统中重要的初级生产者,反映了水环境的平均状况.作为环境的指示生物,普通菱形藻、小舟形藻、极小异极藻均能指示水体富营养化状况,窄异极藻、结膜窗纹藻、念珠等片藻能反映出水体的贫营养状况;广缘小环藻、细纹长蓖藻、短缝藻能反映水体的酸度;肿节曲壳藻能指示水体中的Cu含量,肘状针杆藻能反映水体中的Zn浓度;其他硅藻种类亦能反映水体的受污染程度.本文综述了国内外对硅藻及硅藻指数的应用研究进展,指出了硅藻及硅藻指数在河流健康评价中所存在的问题,并提出了今后的研究方向:进一步完善硅藻的分类与鉴定;广泛开展不同地区及不同条件下硅藻水质监测与评价研究;注重筛选硅藻生物完整性指数并建立适宜的水质评价基准.     

中国硅藻1新记录种——喙状比利牛斯山微小曲壳藻

利用光学和扫描电子显微镜对采自武陵山区澧水的1种中国新记录硅藻——喙状比利牛斯山微小曲壳藻进行了形态研究。该种的鉴定特征为壳面线形披针形,具有喙状的末端,有壳缝壳面末端线纹呈略微会聚状或近平行排列,孔纹膜为筛状。该研究结果扩展了对喙状比利牛斯山微小曲壳藻形态结构和地理分布的认识。     

植物的硅素营养研究综述

本文阐述了硅在植物中的形态、分布、吸收、积累、生理作用及其与其它元素的关系。研究表明：1．硅主要以二氧化硅胶(SiO2.nH2O)的无机物形态存在于植物表皮细胞和细胞壁。植物体内硅的含量在不同物种间差异很大。根据硅的含量,可将一般栽培植物分为三种类群;同时根据植物硅钙摩尔比值可将植物分为喜硅植物和非喜硅植物。硅在植物各部分分布不均匀,并且随着植株的生长发育,植株中的硅含量不断变化。植物中硅的积累受环境中多种因素的影响。2．植物主要以单硅酸形态吸收硅,不同植物吸收硅的能力不同。水稻具有主动吸硅能力,其吸收过程受体内代谢活动影响<请合法使用软件>其它大多数植物主要以被动方式吸收硅,但不排除具有选择性吸收硅的可能性。3．硅对植物的生长发育产生影响。硅是一些植物(如禾本科植物、甜菜、木贼属植物及某些硅藻)的必需元素。硅对其它很多植物具有有益作用。硅对植物的作用主要表现在对形态结构、生理过程和抗逆能力三方面的影响 上。在去硅条件下,多种植物表现出缺硅症状。4．硅对植物吸收利用对其它营养元素产生影响。硅对不同元素的影响方式和程度不同,同时随着植物的生长发育,对某种元素的作用常发生变化。     

海南岛淡水单壳缝类硅藻的分类学研究

对采自海南岛的淡水硅藻进行了分类学研究,共观察到曲壳类硅藻40个分类单位。其中11个分类单位为中国新记录,分别为岛曲壳藻Achnanthes islandica、阿奇长曲壳藻Achnanthidium archibaldianum、高尔夫长曲壳藻Achnanthidium caledonicum、弯曲长曲壳藻Achnanthidium deflexum、河流长曲壳藻Achnanthidium rivulare、极常见平面藻Planothidium frequentissimum、皮亚夫平面藻Planothidium piaficum、短肋片状藻Platessa brevicostata、胡斯特片状藻Platessa hustedtii、山地片状藻热带变种Platessa montana var.tropica、扁圆卵形藻尖细变种Cocconeis placentula var.acuta。文章对这11个分类单位的形态特征及生境分布特点进行了描述,讨论了同相近种类的区别特征。对片状藻属Platessa的分类特征进行了中文描述。     

植物的硅素营养研究综述

本文阐述了硅在植物中的形态、分布、吸收、积累、生理作用及其与其它元素的关系。研究表明：１硅主要以二氧化硅胶（ＳｉＯ２．ｎＨ２Ｏ）的无机物形态存在于植物表皮细胞和细胞壁。植物体内硅的含量在不同物种间差异很大。根据硅的含量,可将一般栽培植物分为三种类群;同时根据植物硅钙摩尔比值可将植物分为喜硅植物和非喜硅植物。硅在植物各部分分布不均匀,并且随着植株的生长发育,植株中的硅含量不断变化。植物中硅的积累受环境中多种因素的影响。２植物主要以单硅酸形态吸收硅,不同植物吸收硅的能力不同。水稻具有主动吸硅能力,其吸收过程受体内代谢活动影响＜请合法使用软件＞其它大多数植物主要以被动方式吸收硅,但不排除具有选择性吸收硅的可能性。３硅对植物的生长发育产生影响。硅是一些植物（如禾本科植物、甜菜、木贼属植物及某些硅藻）的必需元素。硅对其它很多植物具有有益作用。硅对植物的作用主要表现在对形态结构、生理过程和抗逆能力三方面的影响上。在去硅条件下,多种植物表现出缺硅症状。４硅对植物吸收利用对其它营养元素产生影响。硅对不同元素的影响方式和程度不同,同时随着植物的生长发育,对某种元素的作用常发生变化。     

西太平洋挑战者深渊海底浅表层的硅藻软泥

对我国首次在西太平洋挑战者深渊采集的硅藻软泥沉积物开展硅藻分析,结果表明硅藻软泥由数量巨大的大筛盘藻[Ethmodiscus rex(Rattray)Hendey]碎片组成,并伴生有少量热带远洋浮游种类硅藻。硅藻软泥属于大筛盘藻软泥类型,推测可能形成于更新世中后期,代表着大规模E.rex勃发事件发生。其形成机制与冰期时段南极深层水入侵西北太平洋增加水体硅含量、减弱硅藻溶蚀作用,并补充次表层水体硅含量而激发E.rex竞争优势密切相关。本文为理解低纬度海沟区硅藻微体生物随全球气候和区域海洋环境变迁而发生显著变化提供了基础材料。     

几种硅藻土及其中硅藻壳体的电镜研究

该文用扫描电镜(SEM)和透射电镜(TEM)观察了浙江、云南、吉林和广东等地四种硅藻土中硅藻壳体的形态构造、壳壁内部的细微结构和粘土杂质的形状。研究了上述四种硅藻土经不同浓度盐酸酸洗后或经高温焙烧后其结构的变化;X射线衍射表明.硅藻壳体经1150℃高温焙烧后,无定形二氧化硅转化为α-方石英。     

植物在硅生物地球化学循环过程中的作用

硅是地球上重要的矿质元素,在许多生物地球化学过程中起着重要作用。传统认为硅的循环主要受岩石风化、矿物溶解和水体沉积的影响。实际上,植物在硅的生物地球化学循环中起着重要作用。植物体本身就是一个相当大的硅库,它们能以无定型硅(SiO2.nH2O)的形式积累硅,称作生物硅(BSi)、植硅石或蛋白石。陆地植物每年以BSi的形式固定约1.68×109～5.60×109t的硅,通过枯枝落叶返回到土壤中的BSi有92.5%被植物再吸收,7.5%进入土壤库。陆地植物从土壤BSi库吸收的硅量远超过从岩石风化释放吸收的硅量,植物-土壤内循环的有效性强烈地影响着陆地生态系统中的硅向河流和海洋的输送。在海洋中,硅藻通过吸收、溶解和沉积在很大程度上影响着海洋里的硅循环,硅藻每年固定的硅约为5.60×109～7.84×109t,同样,在向海底沉积的过程中,97%的BSi重新被硅藻吸收,每年只有1.43×108～2.55×108t(约3%)沉积到海底。可见,植物在陆地生态系统和水生生态系统硅的循环中均起着非常重要的作用,研究硅的全球生物地球化学循环时必须考虑到植物的作用。     

Beyond micromachining: the potential of diatoms.

Diatoms are microscopic, single-celled algae that possess rigid cell walls (frustules) composed of amorphous silica. Depending on the species of diatom and the growth conditions, these frustules can display a wide range of different morphologies. It is possible to design and produce specific frustule morphologies that have potential applications in nanotechnology.     

Micro‐photoluminescence of single living diatom cells

Diatoms are single‐celled microalgae that possess a nanostructured, porous biosilica shell called a frustule. This study characterized the micro‐photoluminescence (μ‐PL) emission of single living cells of the photosynthetic marine diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana in response to UV laser irradiation at 325 nm using a confocal Raman microscope. The photoluminescence (PL) spectrum had two primary peaks, one centered at 500–510 nm, which was attributed to the frustule biosilica, and a second peak at 680 nm, which was attributed to auto‐fluorescence of photosynthetic pigments. The portion of the μ‐PL emission spectrum associated with biosilica frustule in the single living diatom cell was similar to that from single biosilica frustules isolated from these diatom cells. The PL emission by the biosilica frustule in the living cell emerged only after cells were cultivated to silicon depletion. The discovery of the discovery of PL emission by the frustule biosilica within a single living diatom itself, not just its isolated frustule, opens up future possibilities for living biosensor applications, where the interaction of diatom cells with other molecules can be probed by μ‐PL spectroscopy. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The fascinating diatom frustule—can it play a role for attenuation of UV radiation?

Diatoms are ubiquitous organisms in aquatic environments and are estimated to be responsible for 20–25 % of the total global primary production. A unique feature of diatoms is the silica wall, called the frustule. The frustule is characterized by species-specific intricate nanopatterning in the same size range as wavelengths of visible and ultraviolet (UV) light. This has prompted research into the possible role of the frustule in mediating light for the diatoms’ photosynthesis as well as into possible photonic applications of the diatom frustule. One of the possible biological roles, as well as area of potential application, is UV protection. In this review, we explore the possible adaptive value of the silica frustule with focus on research on the effect of UV radiation on diatoms. We also explore the possible effect of the frustules on UV radiation, from a theoretical, biological, and applied perspective, including recent experimental data on UV transmission of diatom frustules.     

Diatom Cells Grown and Baked on a Functionalized Mica Surface

We demonstrate the cultivation of diatom cells on a functionalized mica surface and the preparation of frustules on a mica surface by baking. Diatom cells were successfully grown on a mica surface treated with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane. After baking at 400?C for 2 h, frustule structures without the organic components of the diatom cells were successfully observed by scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy. Furthermore, the frustules deformed and became slender when a sample was baked at 800?C for 2 h. Our method is effective for the direct characterization of frustule structures and physical properties without changing the configuration of the diatom cells grown on the mica surface.     

Production and particle characterization of the frustules of Cyclotella cryptica in comparison with siliceous earth

Diatoms are photoautotrophic micro-organisms that use inorganic carbon sources and light in photosynthesis. Diatom frustules were characterized in terms of particle techniques and compared with siliceous earth, i.e. depositions of diatoms that have wide technical applications. To obtain enough biomass for frustule characterization Cyclotella cryptica has been cultivated in a 15 l photobioreactor under controlled conditions. Native diatom frustules are characterized by a 1.5-fold lower density and 80-fold higher specific surface than siliceous earth. Therefore, native diatom frustules provides a material with novel properties which might be interesting for special technical application.     

Photoluminescence shift in frustules of two pennate diatoms and nanostructural changes to their pores

The diatom silicified cell wall (frustule) contains pore arrays at the micro‐ to nanometer scale that display efficient luminescence within the visible spectrum. Morphometric analysis of the size and arrangement of pores was conducted to observe whether any correlation exists with the photoluminescence (PL) of two diatom species of different ages. UV‐excited PL displays four clearly defined peaks within the blue‐region spectrum, on top of the broad PL characteristic of synthetic porous silicon dioxide, recorded for reference and where discrete lines are absent. A set of shifted emission lines was observed when diatom cultures reached adulthood. These discrete line shifts correlate with structural changes observed in adult frustules: reduction in pore diameter; appearance of pores within pores, 10 nm in size; an increase in the gap distance between stria; and the deposition of several girdle bands with a concomitant increase in the diatom waist length, as well as the appearance of pores on such bands. Destruction of the pores results in the disappearance of all discrete emission lines. The PL shifts are correlated with a substantial increment of Si–OH groups adsorbed on the frustule surface, as revealed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

MORPHOLOGICAL FLEXIBILITY OF COCCONEIS PLACENTULA (BACILLARIOPHYCEAE) NANOSTRUCTURE TO CHANGING SALINITY LEVELS1

Diatoms possess a silica frustule decorated with unique patterns of nanosize features. Here, we show for the first time from in situ samples that the size of the nanopores present at the surface of the diatom Cocconeis placentula Ehrenb. varies with fluctuating salinity levels. The observed reduction in nanopore size with decreasing salinity agrees with previous laboratory experiments. We also uniquely combined our observations with theoretical considerations to demonstrate that the decrease in the diffusive layer thickness is compensated for by the changes in pore size, which maintain a steady diffusive flux toward the diatom’s cell at different salinities. This process allows diatoms to absorb similar amount of nutrients whatever the salinity and as such to increase their ecological competitiveness in fluctuating environments. These results further suggest that the overall ecological success of diatoms, and their ability to react to environmental changes, may be controlled by the flexibility of the morphological characteristics of their frustules.     

The diversity of relationships between Antarctic sponges and diatoms: the case of Mycale acerata Kirkpatrick, 1907 (Porifera,Demospongiae)

The diatom assemblage associated with the Antarctic sponge Mycale acerata was studied through an analysis of the diatom frustule and pigment concentrations in both the sponge ectosome and choanosome. Sponges were sampled weekly from November 2001 to February 2002 at Terra Nova Bay, Antarctica, at a depth of 25–35 m. The most abundant diatoms were Porannulus contentus, Fragilariopsis curta, Thalassiosira cf. gracilis, T. perpusilla and Plagiotropis sp. High abundances of P. contentus were found on the sponge ectosome up to the beginning of November, before the ice melted, while later frustules were incorporated inside, indicating that P. contentus lives epibiontically on M. acerata and represents a potential food source for the sponge. The presence of other diatom species was mainly related to the summer phytoplankton bloom. The sponge incorporates diatoms from the water column and utilises them as a food source, accumulating frustules inside the choanosome. The lack of planktonic diatom frustules at the beginning of the summer indicates that they are expelled or dissolved during the cold season.     

Influence of bacteria and salinity on diatom biogenic silica dissolution in estuarine systems

Dissolution of diatom biogenic silica (bSiO₂) in estuaries and its control by water salinity and bacteria were investigated using the river euryhaline species Cyclotella meneghiniana as a model. Laboratory-controlled bioassays conducted at different salinities with an estuarine bacteria inoculum showed a faster dissolution of diatom bSiO₂ at the lowest salinity where bacteria were the most abundant. However in another experiment, salinity increase clearly enhanced the dissolution of cleaned frustules (organic matter free). The presence of active bacteria might therefore predominate on the effect of salinity for freshly lysed diatoms whereas salinity might rather control dissolution of organic-matter-free frustule remains. Incubation of cultivated diatoms at different protease concentrations revealed that high proteolytic activities had little effect on bSiO₂ dissolution at a 1-month scale in spite of an efficient removal of organic matter from the frustules. Altogether it is hypothesized that bacterial colonization increases bSiO₂ dissolution by creating a microenvironment at the diatom surface with high ectoproteolytic activity but also via the release of metabolic byproducts since the presence of organic matter seems generally to facilitate diatom bSiO₂ dissolution.     

Dissection of the frustules of the diatom Synedra acus under the action of picosecond impulses of submillimeter laser irradiation

Diatom algae realize highly intriguing processes of biosynthesis of siliceous structures in living cells under moderate conditions. Investigation of diatom physiology is complicated by frustule (siliceous exoskeleton). Frustules consist of valves and girdle bands which are adhered to each other by means of organic substances. Removal of the frustule from the lipid membrane of diatom cells would open new possibilities for study of silicon metabolism in diatoms. We found that submillimeter laser irradiation produced by a free-electron laser causes splitting of diatom frustules without destruction of cell content. This finding opens the way to direct study of diatom cell membrane and to isolation of cell organelles, including silica deposition vesicles. We suppose that the dissection action of the submillimeter irradiation results from unusual ultrasonic waves produced by the short (30–100 ps) but high-power (1 MW) terahertz laser impulses at 5.6 MHz frequency.