Microbial indicators for sawdust and bark compost stability and humification processes

To what extent some microbial index ratios are suitable for use as early criteria for the level of compost stability during aerobic composting of coniferous sawdust and bark at mesophilic conditions was studied. Evolution of the specific respiration activity (CO₂-C/biomass C) and the ratios between some groups of microorganisms were followed as a function of composting time. The specific respiration activity was found to be an early and most reliable indicator of compost stability. The peroxidase and polyphenoloxidase enzyme activity during composting, as well as the composition of newly-formed humus substances were studied. The duration of composting increased the quality of newly-formed humus substances (C_h.a.:C_f.a ratio; Ca-complexed humic acid and resistance of organo-mineral complexes). The quality of humus substances could be used to assess compost stability. However, the results can be applied only under defined conditions.     

池鹭繁殖种群数量、活动规律和生物生产量的研究

本文报道池鹭种群数量变动,种群活动,雏鸟生长和生物生产量。种群活动可划分为适到期,运情期,繁殖期,同鸟活动期,集群活动和迁离期。１９９０,１９９１二年繁殖前种群密度分别为１３００只／ｈｍ＾２和１４０１只／ｈｍ＾２,繁殖后增加密度为２０８７只／ｈｍ＾２和２２４８只／ｈｍ＾２。雏鸟体重增长曲线议程为：Ｗ＝２８６／１＋ｅ＾－０．４０９（ｔ－１２．６）１９９０,１９９１年繁殖种群的生物生产量分别为１９７．     

The first decade of oligotrophication in Lake Constance

Phytoplankton biomass and species composition were measured with a relatively high temporal resolution (once or twice a week during the growing season) from 1979 to 1989 in Lake Constance/Überlingersee. Over this period soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) concentrations during winter mixing were reduced by ca. 50% from 104 to 47 g 1^–1, which caused a prolongation and amplification of the epilimnetic P depletion during the growth period. Seasonal dynamics of phytoplankton reacted to the decrease of SRP in the following ways: (1) Algal biomass decreased at least proportionally to the winter SRP concentrations in summer, but not in spring and autumn when biomass fluctuated irregularly. (2) The peak of biomass concentration changed from summer to spring. (3) The earlier onset of epilimnetic P depletion during the season in recent years promoted a stronger growth of some pennate diatoms in spring. It caused an amplification of the silicon depletion in summer, which may cause still greater reduction of diatoms and total algal biomass in summer. (4) Reduction of algal biomass during the clear-water phase proper became shorter and less pronounced. (5) The temporal variability of algal biomass decreased in summer and autumn but not in spring. (6) Average cell sizes remained unchanged in summer and autumn but increased in spring during the beginning of oligotrophication. These results are largely in agreement with other studies on lake restoration and expectations derived from the PEG (Plankton Ecology Group) model (Sommer et al. 1986). They show that a 50% reduction of SRP concentrations during homothermy may have pronounced effects on seasonal dynamics of algal biomass in a large and deep lake. The algal response to the external change of SRP concentrations can be described by the Le Chatelier principle, implying that the internal structure of the system (e.g. species composition) changes in order to minimize the effect of the external pressure (e.g. reduction of total biomass). Suggestions are made as to how this system behaviour may emerge from local interactions.     

Effects of below- and aboveground competition from the vines Lonicera japonica and Parthenocissus quinquefolia on the growth of the tree host Liquidambar styraciflua

Detrimental effects of vines on tree growth in successional environments have been frequently reported. Little is known, however, about the relative importance of below and aboveground competition from vines on tree growth. The objective of this study was to quantify and compare the growth responses of Liquidambar styraciflua saplings to below and/or aboveground competition with the exotic evergreen vine, Lonicera japonica (Japanese honeysuckle), and the native deciduous vine, Parthenocissus quinquefolia (Virginia creeper). Soil trenching and/or vine-trellising were used to control the type of vine competition experienced by trees. Comparisons among untrenched treatments tested for effects of belowground competition. Comparisons among trenched treatments tested for effects of aboveground competition. After two growing seasons, Lonicera japonica had a greater effect on the growth of L. styraciflua than did P. quinquefolia. This effect was largely due to root competition, as canopy competition only had a negative effect on tree growth when it occurred in combination with root competition. Leaf expansion was consistently and similarly affected by all treatments which involved belowground competition.     

Factors toxic to beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) seedlings in acid soils

The effects of highly and moderately acid soils on total biomass, biomass partitioning, fine root characteristics and nutritional status of beech seedlings (Fagus sylvatica L.) were studied in a growth chamber experiment. In Haplic Arenosols seedlings grew slowly but equally well without damage symptoms in a highly acid and a moderately acid soil horizon. The moderately acid A_h+B_w-horizon of a Eutric Cambisol was favourable to seedling growth. The fine root development was reduced in the highly acid A+B_w-horizon of a Dystric Cambisol and in the A_h+E-horizon of a Haplic Podzol, the latter of which also caused increased mortality. Seedling growth in the B₂-horizon of the Haplic Podzol was vigorous, in spite of a higher level of extractable Al and lower base saturation as compared with the A_h+E-horizon. These results are interpreted in relation to soil acidity, soil Al and nutritional status of the seedlings. We conclude that neither Al-toxicity nor nutrient deficiency cause the damage symptoms observed in the A_h+E-horizon of a Haplic Podzol and the fine root reduction in the A+B_w-horizon of a Dystric Cambisol. The damage symptoms of the PZh_A treatment seems to be more the result of H-toxicity or H-related factors other than nutrient shortage or Al-toxicity. Other pH-related toxic factors are discussed.     

Biomass and carbon storage of the North American deciduous forest

Field measures of tree and shrub dimensions were used with established biomass equations in a stratified, two-stage cluster sampling design to estimate above-ground ovendry woody biomass and carbon storage of the eastern deciduous forest of North America. Biomass averaged 8.1 ± 1.4 (95% C.I.) kg/m² and totaled 18.1 ± 3.1 (95% C.I.) gigatons. Carbon storage averaged 3.6 ± 0.6 (95% C.I.) kg/m² and totaled 8.1 ± 1.4 (95% C.I.) gigatons. These values are lower than previous estimates commonly used in the analysis of the global carbon budget which range from 17.1 to 23.1 kg/m² for biomass and 7.7 to 10.4 kg/m² for carbon storage. These new estimates for the deciduous forest, together with earlier work in the boreal forest begin to reveal a pattern of overestimation of global carbon storage by vegetation in analyses of the global carbon budget. We discuss reasons for the differences between the new and earlier estimates, as well as implications for our understanding of the global carbon cycle.     

Productivity of outdoor algal cultures in unstable weather conditions

In the outdoor cyclic fed batch cultures of Chlorella pyrenoidosa, some typical growth kinetics patterns in unstable weather conditions were observed. On cloudy days, the biomass output rate (R) was low, but the bioenergetic growth yield (Y) was generally high. In the cloudy morning-sunny afternoon condition, the values of Y were low, especially in the afternoon. In the sunny morning-cloudy afternoon condition, both R and Y were high. A few very high short-term Y values were measured during the cloudy the cloudy afternoon. (c) 1993 Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

On the applicability of adaptive bioprocess state estimators

This article presents an industrial case study, examining the application of a novel adaptive biomass estimator to an industrial microfungi production process. It is our intention that this contribution should focus upon the implementation issues of the algorithm, in preference to a rigorous theoretical development. The novel algorithm adopted is developed from Adaptive Inferential Estimation studies of Guilandoust and co-workers. The technique utilizes input-output process measurements obtained at different frequencies, thereby providing more frequent estimates of biomass concentration than are otherwise available from off-line laboratory analyses. The algorithm is particularly suited to the biotechnology industry, as it is capable of utilizing irregular assay measurements with varying delays.Although this article demonstrates the encouraging industrial implications of the adaptive algorithm, like all adaptive techniques currently developed, it is restricted by the inability to perform robust on-line system identification. The ultimate selection of a "suboptimal" "fixed parameter" algorithm for on-line implementation, is therefore directly attributable to these inadequacies. Aspects of data acquisition, data pretreatment, and data quality are critical for real process applications, and while some practical approaches are adopted here, many important implementation problems remain unresolved. (c) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Use of ATP to characterize biomass viability in freely suspended and immobilized cell bioreactors

This work describes investigations into the viability of cells growing on 3,4-dichloroaniline (34DCA). Two bioreactors are employed for microbial growth, a continuous stirred tank (CST) bioreactor with a 2-L working volume, and a three-phase air lift (TPAL) bioreactor with a 3-L working volume. Experiments have been performed at several dilution rates between 0.027 and 0.115 h(-1) in the CST bioreactor and between 0.111 and 0.500 h(-1) in the TPAL bioreactor. The specific ATP concentration was calculated at each dilution rate in the suspended biomass in both bioreactors as well as in the immobilized biomass in the TPAL bioreactor. The ATP was extracted from the cells using boiling tris-EDTA buffer (pH 7.75), and the quantity determined using a firefly (bioluminescence) technique. The cultures were inspected under an electron microscope to monitor compositional changes. Results from the CST bioreactor showed that the biomass-specific ATP concentration increases from 0.44 to 1.86 mg ATP g(-1) dry weight (dw) as dilution rate increases from 0.027 to 0.115 h(-1). At this upper dilution rate the cells were washed out. The specific ATP concentration reached a limiting average value of 1.73 mg ATP g(-1) dw, which is assumed to be the quantity of ATP in 100% viable biomass. In the TPAL bioreactor, the ATP level increased with dilution rate in both the immobilized and suspended biomass. The specific ATP concentration in the immobilized biomass increased from approximately 0.051 mg ATP g(-1) dw at dilution rates between 0.111 and 0.200 h(-1) to approximately 0.119 mg ATP g(-1) dw at dilution rates between 0.300 and 0.500 h(-1). This indicates that the immobilized biomass contained a viable cell fraction of around 5%. Based on these results, kinetic data for freely suspended cells should not be applied to the modeling of immobilized cell systems on the assumption that immobilized biomass is 100% viable. (c) 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Seasonal variation in the physical properties of agar and biomass of Gracilaria sp. (chorda type) from Tosa Bay,southern Japan

Plants of Gracilaria sp.(chorda type), which grow along the coast of Uranouchi Inlet in Tosa Bay, southern Japan, showed the highest biomass in the summer (26 °C to 31 °C) and spring season (15.1 °C to 24.9 °C). Maximum biomass was 6952 g m^–2 in July, but gradually decreased in the autumn (30.5 °C in September to 20 °C in November) and winter (19.5 °C in December to 14.9 °C in February). Variation in yields and gel strength of the agars, were shown to depend on the time in the season. After alkali treatment (5% NaOH, 2 h) at three different temperatures (70, 80, and 90 °C), the agars showed gel strengths essentially that of commercial grade agars, with the best gel obtained at 80 °C. Maximum gel strength (1455 g cm^–2 of 1.5% agar gel) occurred in winter when the biomass and agar yield were low. Minimum gel strength was in spring. Gel strength was inversely correlated with agar yield, but was positively correlated with apparent viscosity. Maximum viscosity was 40 cP. in December. Gelling temperatures, pH of 1.5% agar gel, and moisture content in agars showed little variation.