四种绿化树种土壤酶活性对不同浓度多环芳烃的响应

多环芳烃(PAHs)是一类广泛存在于环境中的有机污染物, 由于其致癌性和致突变性而受到广泛关注.采用盆栽实验,在3种多环芳烃污染水平(重度L3 )、(中度L2)、(轻度L1)下,研究了樟树(Cinnamomum camphora)、广玉兰(Magnolia grandiflora)、栾树(Koelreuteria bipinnata)、马褂木(Liriodendron chinense)南方4种绿化树种的土壤酶活性在6个月后的响应差异.结果表明:在不同PAHs污染水平下,磷酸酶活性表现为L2＞L3＞ L1;多酚氧化酶和过氧化氢酶的趋势一致,表现为L3＞L1＞ L2.土壤酶活性在4个树种间有明显差异,在L1污染水平下,各土壤酶活性表现为马褂木＞广玉兰＞樟树＞栾树;在L2污染水平下,各土壤酶活性表现为栾树＞马褂木＞樟树＞广玉兰;而在L3污染水平下,表现为马褂木＞樟树＞广玉兰＞栾树.不同PAHs水平下的多酚氧化酶活性呈极显著差异(P＜0.01),过氧化氢酶活性呈显著差异(P＜0.05),而磷酸酶活性变化率受污染物浓度影响不显著.此外,土壤酶活性与微生物相关性不显著.土壤过氧化氢酶和多酚氧化酶可以作为土壤污染程度的评价指标.     

PAHs污染土壤植物修复对酶活性的影响

PAHs作为一类持久性有机污染物对土壤环境质量产生深刻的影响。选用了中国亚热带城市普遍采用的4个树种(樟树、栾树、广玉兰、马褂木),利用盆栽试验,研究了PAHs污染土壤植物修复对酶活性影响。结果表明,多酚氧化酶活性定量抑制率为-94.98%—16.29%,过氧化氢酶为-76.71%—13.19%,磷酸酶为-49.62%—56.38%。土壤酶活性对PAHs污染的响应受到不同树种的影响。方差分析表明,过氧化氢酶活性在不同污染水平间差异显著,3种酶活性在不同时间下差异性显著,3种酶活性在不同树种×污染水平、不同时间×污染水平二因素作用下差异都不显著。主成分分析表明,PAHs污染对土壤酶活性的影响大于树种的影响,多酚氧化酶和磷酸酶对土壤反映敏感。     

高通量测序解析多环芳烃污染盐碱土壤翅碱蓬根际微生物群落多样性

【目的】以多环芳烃(PAHs)污染盐碱土壤为对象,分析比较翅碱蓬根际与非根际土壤细菌群落多样性,为植物-微生物联合修复PAHs污染盐碱土壤提供依据。【方法】在胜利油田油井附近采集翅碱蓬根际土壤和无翅碱蓬生长区域的裸地表层土壤,基于高通量测序技术分析样品中微生物群落结构,并进一步运用Real-time PCR解析土壤中PAHs双加氧酶基因丰度。【结果】翅碱蓬根际土壤盐含量为22.51 g/kg,明显低于裸地土壤的40.03 g/kg,土壤pH值差别不大,分别为8.20和8.22;根际土壤有机质和总氮含量分别为24.41 g/kg和1.59 g/kg,C/N值为15,裸地土壤有机质和总氮含量分别为18.80 g/kg和0.71 g/kg,C/N值为26;高通量测序得到根际和裸地土壤样品优质序列分别为53 854条和30 312条,在97%相似水平下,根际土壤样品所得OTU数、Chao 1指数和ACE指数分别为5 934、11 461和15 555,分别高于裸地土壤对应指数的值(4 262、8 262、11 186),序列分析结果显示,根际土壤包含细菌32门758属,多于裸地土样28门676属,翅碱蓬根际土壤群落结构多样性均高于裸地土壤;PAHs污染盐碱土壤中存在丰富的微生物资源,有Thioalkalispira、Halothiobacillus、Thiohalophilus等多种嗜盐碱或耐盐碱微生物,并在根际土壤中检测到了PAHs双加氧酶基因(PAH-RHDα)。【结论】Thioalkalispira、Halothiobacillus、Thiohalophilus等嗜盐碱或耐盐碱微生物是胜利油田PAHs污染盐碱土壤中的优势菌属;翅碱蓬能有效降低根际土壤盐含量并改善C/N值,增加微生物群落结构多样性,提高PAHs关键功能基因的丰度,有助于促进嗜盐碱PAHs降解微生物在PAHs污染盐碱土壤的生物修复中发挥作用。     

南京市14种绿化树种对空气中重金属的累积能力

分析了南京化工厂（污染区）和江苏省林科院（对照区）不同绿化树种叶片重金属元素（Pb、Cd和Cu）的含量,揭示了14种绿化树种对3种重金属污染物的累积能力。结果表明,城市绿化树种对大气重金属污染物具有一定的吸收净化能力,并依重金属和树种的不同具有明显差异;同种植物对不同重金属的累积量也有很大差别,其中对Cu的累积量最高;采样区植物叶片重金属含量明显高于对照区;对Pb累积量高的树种有：杨树、广玉兰、女贞和紫叶李; Cd累积量高的树种为杨树;Cu累积量高的树种为构树;累积3种重金属综合能力最强的树种有杨树、构树、雪松、广玉兰、悬铃木、栾树。     

桃树枝条还田对土壤自毒物质、微生物及植株生长的影响

以一年生盆栽‘春美/毛桃’(Amygdalus persica"Chunmei/Maotao")为试材,研究了桃树枝条还田对土壤酚酸类物质、苦杏仁苷、微生物、酶活性和桃幼树生长的影响,以期为桃树枝条还田可行性提供依据。试验进行了以下处理:1.5 g·kg–1枝条剪碎还田处理、22.5 g·kg–1枝条剪碎还田处理、1.5 g·kg–1枝条浸提液还田处理、22.5 g·kg–1枝条浸提液还田处理,以无枝条添加为对照。运用固相萃取、高效液相色谱、生物高通量测序测定土壤自毒物质和微生物群落结构。结果表明:加量枝条(每1 kg土壤中枝条含量为22.5 g,相当于15倍的正常修剪量)还田剪碎处理和浸提液处理土壤中酚酸类物质和苦杏仁苷含量显著增加;土壤微生物群落结构改变,伞菌纲、毛筒腔菌属(Tubeufia)和银耳亚纲Cystofilobasidiaceae增多,真菌比例升高,细菌比例降低;土壤蔗糖酶活性始终显著高于对照,过氧化氢酶和脲酶活性处理前期显著高于对照,处理后期显著低于对照,加量枝条浸提液处理前期对土壤酶活性变化的影响大于加量枝条剪碎处理;桃幼树叶绿素含量、地径(苗木距离地面5 cm处的直径)生长量和净光合速率均显著低于对照,新梢停长期提前。常规还田量枝条(1.5 g·kg–1)处理对土壤酚酸类物质和土壤酶活性变化有影响,但对桃幼树生长无显著影响。由此可见,加量枝条还田会使土壤苦杏仁苷和酚酸类物质大量积累可能对桃树根系造成直接毒害,同时还改变了土壤微生物群落结构和土壤酶活性,间接抑制桃幼树的生长。     

油田区多环芳烃污染盐碱土壤活性微生物群落结构解析

多环芳烃(Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,PAHs)是土壤中广泛存在的、美国环保总署(USEPA)优先控制的一类有毒(致癌、致突变)的持久性污染物,主要来源于人类活动。土壤微生物多样性是表征土壤质量变化的敏感指标之一。磷脂脂肪酸(PLFAs)分析方法是基于活性微生物细胞膜的PLFAs组分的生化检测技术,克服了传统培养方法只能分离出少量微生物(1%)的缺点。采用PLFAs方法,解析了土壤活性微生物对PAHs污染胁迫的反应。结果表明,土壤微生物分布情况可分为4种类型:Ⅰ型,微生物PLFAs种类最多,占该区土壤微生物PLFAs种类总数的57.7%,PAHs对变量的解释量最小;Ⅱ型,微生物PLFAs占PLFAs总数的30.8%,PAHs对变量的解释量较小;Ⅲ型,微生物PLFAs种类占总数的7.68%,PAHs对变量的解释量较大;Ⅳ型,微生物PLFAs的种类仅占总数的3.85%,PAHs对变量的解释量最大。相关性分析表明:土壤微生物PLFAs的种类、生物量和生态多样性指数与土壤中萘(Nap)、芴(Flu)、蒽(Ant)、苯并[K]荧蒽(Bkf)、苯并[a]芘(Bap)、茚并[1,2,3-cd]芘(Ind)的相对含量呈负相关关系;与苊(Ace)、菲(Phe)、荧蒽(Fla)、芘(Pyr)、苯并[a]蒽(Baa)的相对含量呈正相关关系;与PAHs的种类和浓度呈负相关关系。结果将为开展PAHs污染土壤的生态风险评价和微生物生物修复技术研究提供理论依据。     

长期灌溉含多环芳烃污水对稻田土壤酶活性与微生物种群数量的影响

以沈抚污水灌区为例,研究了长期灌溉含多环芳烃(PAHs)污水对稻田土壤酶活性、微生物种群数量的影响。结果表明,灌区稻田土壤PAHs含量在319.5～6362.8μg.kg-1。长期污水灌溉导致稻田土壤PAHs含量严重超过环境标准。随清水连续灌溉年限的增加,土壤PAHs总量不同程度降低直至低于土壤PAHs环境质量标准。相关性分析表明,在目前污染程度下,灌区稻田3大土壤微生物类群和主要功能群的种群数量主要受土壤理化性质的影响,受PAHs含量影响不明显。土壤全氮含量与细菌数量呈极显著正相关(P<0.01)。土壤酶活性受到土壤养分和PAHs污染的双重影响,土壤有机碳和全磷含量分别与脱氢酶、多酚氧化酶和脲酶活性呈极显著正相关(P<0.01),PAHs含量分别与脱氢酶和脲酶活性呈极显著正相关(P<0.01),与多酚氧化酶活性呈显著正相关(P<0.05)。     

四种农药对小菜蛾体温的影响

【目的】本研究旨在为阐明小菜蛾Plutellaxylostella体温在其防治中的应用价值提供资料。【方法】在不同人工气候箱内温度(环境温度)下,测定小菜蛾2, 3和4龄幼虫的体温,建立各龄幼虫体温(y)与环境温度(x)的关系方程;同时测定了不同环境温度下不同浓度阿维菌素、毒死蜱、氟虫腈和高效氯氰菊酯分别处理后小菜蛾3龄幼虫在不同处理时间的体温。【结果】小菜蛾2, 3和 4龄幼虫体温(y)与环境温度(x)关系方程分别为y＝0.95x+1.19(r=0.9463), y＝0.95x+1.18(r=0.9988),以及y＝0.93x+1.45(r=0.9989),等温点分别为22.16℃,21.40℃和21.41℃。在气候箱温度设定为15℃或40℃时,4种农药都对小菜蛾3龄幼虫体温无影响;而其他温度条件下,农药处理都可能改变小菜蛾3龄幼虫体温。对于阿维菌素,25℃下 2, 4和8 mg/L处理12 h,2和4 mg/L处理24 h, 0.5, 2, 4和8 mg/L处理36 h以及0.5, 1, 2和8 mg/L处理48 h时3龄幼虫体温均显著高于对照, 8 mg/L阿维菌素处理24 h时3龄幼虫体温显著低于对照;30℃下0.5 mg/L处理24 h及1 mg/L处理36 h 3龄幼虫体温显著低于对照,1 mg/L处理48 h和各浓度处理60 h时3龄幼虫体温均显著高于对照;35℃下只有1和8 mg/L处理48 h时3龄幼虫体温显著低于对照。对于毒死蜱,20℃下50, 200和800 mg/L处理24 h, 100, 400和800 mg/L处理36 h时3龄幼虫体温都显著低于对照;25℃下100和200 mg/L处理12h, 800 mg/L处理24 h, 100, 200和800 mg/L处理60 h时3龄幼虫体温均显著低于对照,而50, 100, 200和400 mg/L处理24 h, 100和200 mg/L处理36 h及100和400 mg/L处理48 h时3龄幼虫体温均显著高于对照;30℃下只有800 mg/L处理24 h时3龄幼虫体温显著低于对照,50, 100, 200和800 mg/L处理60 h时3龄幼虫体温显著高于对照。对于氟虫腈,20℃下只有0.5 mg/L处理36 h时3龄幼虫体温显著低于对照;25℃下 4 mg/L处理12 h和各浓度处理60 h时3龄幼虫体温显著低于对照,0.5 mg/L处理24 h以及0.25, 1和2mg/L处理48 h时3龄幼虫体温均显著高于对照;30℃下 0.25和0.5 mg/L处理12 h, 0.25和2 mg/L处理24h, 4 mg/L处理48 h以及2 mg/L处理60 h时3龄幼虫体温显著低于对照;35℃下只有0.25和0.5 mg/L处理60 h时3龄幼虫体温显著高于对照。对于高效氯氰菊酯,20℃下2和8 g/L处理36 h, 4和8 g/L处理48 h时3龄幼虫体温显著高于对照;25℃下 2, 4和8 g/L处理12 h时3龄幼虫体温均显著低于对照, 0.5, 4和8g/L处理24 h, 1, 4和 8 g/L处理36 h以及1, 2和4 g/L处理60 h时3龄幼虫体温均显著高于对照;30℃下 0.5和1 g/L浓度处理12 h, 0.5, 1, 4和8 g/L处理24 h以及1, 2和8 g/L处理60 h时3龄幼虫体温都显著低于对照。【结论】小菜蛾幼虫自律性体温调节能力低;阿维菌素、毒死蜱、氟虫腈或高效氯氰菊酯处理影响小菜蛾3龄幼虫的体温,影响形式随农药种类和浓度,环境温度及处理时间不同而不同。本研究拓宽了农药毒理学及害虫防治研究内容。     

土壤中多环芳烃的微生物降解及土壤细菌种群多样性

利用室内模拟方法,研究中、低浓度多环芳烃(PAHs)污染土壤的微生物修复效果,阐明土壤微生物（接种和土著）与PAHs降解的关系.结果表明:投加PAHs高效降解菌可以促进土壤中PAHs的降解,2周内效果显著;典型PAHs降解的难易程度依据为：菲<蒽<芘<苯并(a)芘和屈;细菌种群丰度和多样性均与PAHs降解呈负相关关系,同一处理细菌种群结构随时间变化不大.对于中、低浓度PAHs原位污染土壤,增强土著菌的活性是提高土壤PAHs降解率的有效途径之一.     

腐殖酸对镰刀菌ZH-H2降解老化污染土壤4环芳烃效果的影响

以典型煤矿区老化污染土壤为修复对象,研究不同剂量腐殖酸对镰刀菌Fusarium sp. ZH-H2降解土壤4环多环芳烃（polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons,PAHs）总量及各单体的降解效果,并进一步分析腐殖酸强化ZH-H2降解4环PAHs的动力学特征。结果表明:添加不同剂量腐殖酸后,ZH-H2对4环PAHs总量及各单体的去除率均显著提高,高低顺次为HF3（2.5g/kg）>HF1（0.5g/kg）≈HF2（0.1g/kg）>H。当腐殖酸添加量为2.5g/kg时,PAHs总量及各单体的去除率分别高达32.44%和35.06%,单体芘（pyrene,Pyr）降解最突出。在添加与不添加腐殖酸处理下,ZH-H2降解速率均在0-4d表现最快,总量降解速率高达43.70µg/(kg·d),随后降解速率呈现减弱趋势。与不添加腐殖酸处理相比,腐殖酸强化ZH-H2对Pyr的降解速率（提高了57.05%）。PAHs总量及其各单体降解速率均符合一级动力学方程,添加腐殖酸处理的相关系数和反应速率常数绝对值均显著高于不添加腐殖酸处理。与不添加腐殖酸处理相比,腐殖酸强化后的PAHs半衰期（55-69.3d）比自然衰减（96.3-177.7d）缩短了0.76-1.77倍,大幅提升了降解速率,缩短了降解时间。综上,添加2.5g/kg腐殖酸强化ZH-H2对4环PAHs的降解起到了良好的效果,降解时间也较快,为污染老化土壤原位修复提供了重要依据。     

重庆酸雨区马尾松纯林改造对土壤酸化特征及团聚体稳定性的影响

马尾松对酸沉降危害极其敏感,生产实践中往往通过林分改造来应对酸沉降危害。为掌握酸雨区马尾松纯林改造对土壤酸化环境的影响及科学指导经营管理,采用空间代替时间的方法,对重庆铁山坪林场的马尾松纯林及其阔叶化改造后的香樟林、木荷林、马尾松×香樟混交林和马尾松×木荷混交林土壤养分、酸化特征及团聚体稳定性进行研究。结果表明：（1）除木荷混交林的腐殖质层土壤有机碳和全氮含量显著增加外,其他森林类型总体均减少（P<0.05）;香樟林及其混交林的各层土壤全磷和全钾含量均增加,但木荷林及其混交林均减少（P<0.05）。（2）改造为香樟林及其混交林能显著提高土壤pH值、交换性盐基离子含量和盐基饱和度,降低交换性Al³⁺含量,但改造为木荷林及其混交林则总体对土壤酸化特征影响不明显（P>0.05）。（3）木荷林及其混交林淀积层的水稳性大团聚体含量增加,香樟林及其混交林则是微团聚体含量增加（P<0.05）。（4）改造对各森林类型腐殖质层和木荷林淋溶层及淀积层的土壤团聚体稳定性均无显著影响,但能增强马尾松混交林和香樟林淋溶层或淀积层的土壤团聚体稳定性（P<0.05）。综合来看,改造能改变土壤酸化环境,但各森林类型的影响不同,改造为香樟林或其混交林的改善效果总体好于木荷林或其混交林。因而对酸雨区马尾松纯林改造,还应根据改造树种特性及林分特征,科学确定相应的改造方法,尤其应注重改造林分的全过程抚育经营,以营造良好的林下环境。     

Long-term effect of re-vegetation on the microbial community of a severely eroded soil in sub-tropical China

The long-term (18 years) effects of re-vegetating eroded soil on soil microbial biomass, community structure and diversity were investigated in a forest soil derived from Quaternary clay in the Red Soil Ecological Experimental Station of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Large areas of land in this region of China have been subjected to severe soil erosion, characterised by the removal of the fertile surface soil and even the exposure of parental rock in some areas due to a combination of deforestation and heavy rainfall. The effects of planting eroded or uneroded soil with Pinus massoniana, Cinnamomum camphora or Lespedeza bicolor on the soil microbial community and chemical properties were assessed. Total soil microbial community DNA was extracted and bacterial 16 S rRNA gene fragments were amplified by PCR and analysed by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP). Microbial biomass carbon (C_mic) was measured by chloroform fumigation-extraction. Following the restoration there were significant increases in both C_mic and bacterial diversity (Shannon index), and significant changes in bacterial community structure. Erosion factors were significant only in minor dimensions suggesting that the restoration had been largely successful in terms of bacterial community structure. Compared with uneroded soil, C_mic recovered in L. bicolor and P. massoniana restored eroded plots and was significantly greater under these tree species than C. camphora, although soils in C. camphora restored plots displayed the highest bacterial diversity. The recovery of microbial biomass and diversity in the eroded plots was, to large extent, accompanied by the development of the same bacterial community structure as in the uneroded plots with erosion having relatively little effect on bacterial community structure.     

Soil microbial communities buffer physiological responses to drought stress in three hardwood species

Trees possess myriad adaptations for coping with drought stress, but the extent to which their drought responses are influenced by interactions with soil microbes is poorly understood. To explore the role of microbes in mediating tree responses to drought stress, we exposed saplings of three species (Acer saccharum, Liriodendron tulipifera, and Quercus alba) to a four week experimental drought in mesocosms. Half of the pots were inoculated with a live soil slurry (i.e., a microbial inoculum derived from soils beneath the canopies of mature A. saccharum, L. tulipifera or Q. alba stands), while the other half of the pots received a sterile soil slurry. Soil microbes ameliorated drought stress in L. tulipifera by minimizing reductions in leaf water potential and by reducing photosynthetic declines. In A. saccharum, soil microbes reduced drought stress by lessening declines in leaf water potential, though these changes did not buffer the trees from declining photosynthetic rates. In Q. alba, soil microbes had no effects on leaf physiological parameters during drought stress. In all species, microbes had no significant effects on dynamic C allocation during drought stress, suggesting that microbial effects on plant physiology were unrelated to source–sink dynamics. Collectively, our results suggest that soil microbes have the potential to alter key parameters that are used to diagnose drought sensitivity (i.e., isohydry or anisohydry). To the extent that our results reflect dynamics occurring in forests, a revised perspective on plant hydraulic strategies that considers root-microbe interactions may lead to improved predictions of forest vulnerability to drought.     

Multispecies and monoculture rhizoremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the soil

In this study, we investigated the potential of multispecies rhizoremediation and monoculture rhizoremediation in decontaminating polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contaminated soil Plant-mediated PAH dissipation was evaluated using monoplanted soil microcosms and soil microcosms vegetated with several different grass species (Brachiaria serrata and Eleusine corocana). The dissipation of naphthalene and fluorene was higher in the "multispecies" vegetated soil compared to the monoplanted and nonplanted control soil. The concentration of naphthalene was undetectable in the multispecies vegetated treatment compared to 96% removal efficiencies in the monoplanted treatments and 63% in the nonplanted control after 10 wk of incubation. Similar removal efficiencies were obtained for fluorene. However, there was no significant difference in the dissipation of pyrene in both the mono- and multispecies vegetated treatments. There also was no significant difference between the dissipation of PAHs in the monoplanted treatments with different grass species. Principle component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis were used to evaluate functional diversity of the different treatments during phytoremediation of PAHs. Both PCA and cluster analysis revealed differences in the metabolic fingerprints of the PAH contaminated and noncontaminated soils. However, the differences in metabolic diversity between the multispecies vegetated and monoplanted treatments were not clearly revealed. The results suggest that multispecies rhizoremediation using tolerant plant species rather than monoculture rhizoremediation have the potential to enhance pollutant removal in moderately contaminated soils.     

5种常见水土保持树种的气体交换特性研究

为了了解水土保持树种的气体交换特性,对无患子(Sapindus mukorossi)、南酸枣(Choerospondias axillaris)、香樟(Cinnamomum camphora)、秃瓣杜英(Elaeocarpus glabripetalus)和毛竹(Phyllostachys edulis)等常见树种的光合蒸腾特性进行研究。结果表明,香樟、无患子、南酸枣和毛竹的净光合速率(Pn)日变化曲线呈双峰型,有明显的"光合午休"现象;秃瓣杜英的Pn日变化曲线则呈单峰型,未出现"光合午休"现象。5种树种的Pn以香樟毛竹无患子南酸枣秃瓣杜英;蒸腾速率(Tr)以香樟无患子毛竹南酸枣秃瓣杜英;水分利用效率(WUE)以秃瓣杜英毛竹南酸枣无患子香樟。单因素方差分析表明:不同树种间的Tr、气孔导度(Gs)和WUE存在显著差异,而Pn和胞间CO2浓度(Ci)的差异不显著。相关性分析表明,Pn与Tr、Gs和光合有效辐射(PAR)呈正相关关系;Tr与Gs呈正相关关系,与WUE呈负相关关系;Gs与WUE呈负相关关系;Ci与PAR和空气CO2浓度(Ta)呈负相关关系。香樟和无患子的Tr相对较大,而WUE较低,在养护过程应加强浇水及遮阴以降低其水分蒸腾的速率;秃瓣杜英、南酸枣和毛竹的Tr相对较低,而WUE相对较高,能够科学地利用土壤水分,可适应较干燥的外界环境。     

Bioremediation and phytoremediation of total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) under various conditions

Remediation of contaminated soils is often studied using fine-textured soils rather than low-fertility sandy soils, and few studies focus on recontamination events. This study compared aerobic and anaerobic treatments for remediation of freshly introduced used motor oil on a sandy soil previously phytoremediated and bioacclimated (microorganisms already adapted in the soil environment) with some residual total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) contamination. Vegetated and unvegetated conditions to remediate anthropogenic fill containing residual TPH that was spiked with nonaqueous phase liquids (NAPLs) were evaluated in a 90-day greenhouse pot study. Vegetated treatments used switchgrass (Panicum virgatum). The concentration of aerobic bacteria were orders of magnitude higher in vegetated treatments compared to unvegetated. Nevertheless, final TPH concentrations were low in all saturated soil treatments, and high in the presence of switchgrass. Concentrations were also low in unvegetated pots with fertilizer. Acclimated indigenous microbial communities were shown to be more effective in breaking down hydrocarbons than introducing microbes from the addition of plant treatments in sandy soils. Remediation of fresh introduced NAPLs on pre-phytoremediated and bioacclimated soil was most efficient in saturated, anaerobic environments, probably due to the already pre-established microbial associations, easily bioavailable contaminants, and optimized soil conditions for microbial establishment and survival.     

Nuclear DNA contents in four primitive angiosperms

The basic (2 C) nuclear DNA content has been determined for the first time in four primitive angiosperms by means of scanning densitometry of Feulgen-stained nuclei. The mean values obtained are the following:Liriodendron tulipifera L. (2n = 38): 1.58 pg;Magnolia soulangiana Soul-bod. (2n = 76): 11.95 pg;Cinnamomum camphora T. Nees (2n = 24): 1.18 pg;Illicium anisatum L. (2n = 28): 6.72 pg. These values do not represent extremes, but rank among low DNA amounts. All species display at least low degress of endopolyploidy.     

Potential for host shifting in Papilio palamedes following invasion of laurel wilt disease

In the southeastern US, laurel wilt disease (LWD) is causing widespread mortality of species in the Lauraceae. The principal target, Persea borbonia, is the primary larval host of Papilio palamedes, which is known to feed on other Lauraceae species. Among these potential hosts, the exotic Cinnamomum camphora is the only species that has shown resistance to LWD. We hypothesized that oviposition preference for C. camphora and P. borbonia would correspond to larval performances on these species and that the relative host suitability of C. camphora would indicate an opportunity for host-switching. We used laboratory experiments and field observations to compare performance and preference of P. palamedes between C. camphora and P. borbonia foliage. Our results indicate moderate survivorship on C. camphora compared to P. borbonia and no differences in first and fourth instar growth rates between treatments. Fourth instars consumed relatively less of C. camphora foliage compared to that of P. borbonia, but metabolic efficiency did not differ between treatments. Rearing on the foliage of P. borbonia stump sprouts from LWD-infected trees resulted in significantly higher growth rates and metabolic efficiency as first and fourth instars, respectively. In the field and laboratory, we found no oviposition preference for C. camphora. While females laid eggs on C. camphora during laboratory trials, the same number of eggs was also laid on inanimate objects. We conclude that C. camphora is suitable for larval development but host-switching to this species by P. palamedes will be primarily constrained by the ecological factors that govern oviposition behaviors.     

Effects of humic substances and soya lecithin on the aerobic bioremediation of a soil historically contaminated by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)

The high hydrophobicity of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) strongly reduces their bioavailability in aged contaminated soils, thus limiting their bioremediation. The biodegradation of PAHs in soils can be enhanced by employing surface-active agents. However, chemical surfactants are often recalcitrant and exert toxic effects in the amended soils. The effects of two biogenic materials as pollutant-mobilizing agents on the aerobic bioremediation of an aged-contaminated soil were investigated here. A soil historically contaminated by about 13 g kg(-1) of a large variety of PAHs, was amended with soya lecithin (SL) or humic substances (HS) at 1.5% w/w and incubated in aerobic solid-phase and slurry-phase reactors for 150 days. A slow and only partial biodegradation of low-molecular weight PAHs, along with a moderate depletion of the initial soil ecotoxicity, was observed in the control reactors. The overall removal of PAHs in the presence of SL or HS was faster and more extensive and accompanied by a larger soil detoxification, especially under slurry-phase conditions. The SL and HS could be metabolized by soil aerobic microorganisms and enhanced the occurrence of both soil PAHs and indigenous aerobic PAH-degrading bacteria in the reactor water phase. These results indicate that SL and HS are biodegradable and efficiently enhance PAH bioavailability in soil. These natural surfactants significantly intensified the aerobic bioremediation of a historically PAH-contaminated soil under treatment conditions similar to those commonly employed in large-scale soil bioremediation.