Morphology and Phylogeny of the Soil Ciliate Metopus yantaiensis n. sp. (Ciliophora,Metopida), with Identification of the Intracellular Bacteria

The morphology and infraciliature of a new ciliate, Metopus yantaiensis n. sp., discovered in coastal soil of northern China, were investigated. It is distinguished from its congeners by a combination of the following features: nuclear apparatus situated in the preoral dome; 18–21 somatic ciliary rows, of which three extend onto the preoral dome (dome kineties); three to five distinctly elongated caudal cilia, and 21–29 adoral polykinetids. The 18S rRNA genes of this new species and two congeners, Metopus contortus and Metopus hasei, were sequenced and phylogenetically analyzed. The new species is more closely related to M. hasei and the clevelandellids than to other congeners; both the genus Metopus and the order Metopida are not monophyletic. In addition, the digestion‐resistant bacteria in the cytoplasm of M. yantaiensis were identified, using a 16S rRNA gene clone library, sequencing, and fluorescence in situ hybridization. The detected intracellular bacteria are affiliated with Sphingomonadales, Rhizobiales, Rickettsiales (Alphaproteobacteria), Pseudomonas (Gammaproteobacteria), Rhodocyclales (Betaproteobacteria), Clostridiales (Firmicutes), and Flavobacteriales (Bacteroidetes).     

Diversity of antagonistic bacteria isolated from medicinal plant Peganum harmala L.

The antimicrobial activity of plant extract of Peganum harmala, a medicinal plant has been studied already. However, knowledge about bacterial diversity associated with different parts of host plant antagonistic to different human pathogenic bacteria is limited. In this study, bacteria were isolated from root, leaf and fruit of plant. Among 188 bacterial isolates isolated from different parts of the plant only 24 were found to be active against different pathogenic bacteria i.e. Escherichia coli, Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Enterococcus faecium, Enterococcus faecalis and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These active bacterial isolates were identified on the basis of 16S rRNA gene analysis. Total population of bacteria isolated from plant was high in root, following leaf and fruit. Antagonistic bacteria were also more abundant in root as compared to leaf and fruit. Two isolates (EA5 and EA18) exhibited antagonistic activity against most of the targeted pathogenic bacteria mentioned above. Some isolates showed strong inhibition for one targeted pathogenic bacterium while weak or no inhibition for others. Most of the antagonistic isolates were active against MRSA, following E. faecium, P. aeruginosa, E. coli and E. faecalis. Taken together, our results show that medicinal plants are good source of antagonistic bacteria having inhibitory effect against clinical bacterial pathogens.     

土壤病毒生态学研究方法

病毒是地球上最丰富的生物实体,每克土壤中可包含数以亿计的病毒,它不仅影响土壤中其它微生物的群落组成、土壤元素的生物地球化学循环,还会影响土壤微生物的物种进化,甚至影响植物、动物和人体健康。目前人们对土壤中病毒的种类及丰度、分布特征以及功能引起的生态环境效应还知之甚少。在概述病毒生态学研究方法的基础上,对土壤病毒的提取、纯化、定量及分子生态学方法等基本流程进行了比较分析,以期建立一套快速简便、高效稳定的适用于土壤病毒研究的方法,并用于研究土壤病毒的多样性及分布特征,探讨病毒在环境中的生存和传播机制,为土壤病毒的防控及开发利用提供支撑。     

松嫩平原苏打盐渍化旱田土壤表观电导率空间变异

在松嫩平原西部吉林省大安市乐胜乡,于2013年4月20日选择盐碱程度不均一的典型盐渍化旱田地块,面积为4.8 hm~2作为研究样地。利用EM38大地电导率仪测定结合田间定点采样,并通过经典统计和地统计相结合的方法研究了盐渍化旱田土壤表观电导率空间变异特征,分析了土壤表观电导率与土壤盐碱指标之间的关系。结果表明,盐渍化旱田土壤水平方向表观电导率(EC_h)经对数转换后具有强空间自相关,其变异特征主要是与地形地貌和水文状况等结构性因素有关。垂直方向表观电导率(EC_v)经对数转换后具有中等空间自相关性,其变异特征受结构性因素和随机因素共同作用。EC_h和EC_v半方差模拟的最优模型分别为球状模型和指数模型。Pearson分析表明土壤表观电导率(EC_h和EC_v)与土壤盐碱指标EC_(1∶5)、pH_(1∶5)、SAR、SC、Na~+、CO_3~(2-)、HCO_3~-呈正相关关系(P0.05),EC_h与土壤盐碱指标相关系数均大于EC_v。在实际应用中可以用EC_h来指示土壤的盐碱程度。回归分析表明土壤表观电导率(EC_h和EC_v)与土壤盐碱指标呈线性相关,且EC_h回归模型的决定系数均大于EC_v回归模型的决定系数,可用水平方向土壤表观电导率(EC_h)来计算土壤盐碱指标,进行土壤盐渍化的快速评估。     

Analysis and assessment of heavy metals pollution in soils around a Pb and Zn smelter in Baoji City,Northwest China

Soil heavy metal pollution from mining activities is potentially harmful to human health through the food chain. In this study, a total of 43 soil samples were collected from a depth of 0–20 cm from fields close to a Pb and Zn smelter. The samples were used to: 1) analyze the pollution level of heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cr, and Cu) and spatial distribution pattern; 2) evaluate the degree of accumulation and enrichment, potential ecological risk, and human health risk; and 3) perform source apportionment in Fengxiang County, Shaanxi Province of China. The results showed that the concentration ranged from 43.67 to 189.55, 131.43 to 239.53, 74.77 to 112.25, and 24.69 to 37.71 mg·kg^?1 for Pb, Zn, Cr, and Cu, respectively, and the mean concentration for Pb, Zn, Cr, and Cu was 129.46, 192.85, 91.98 and 31.67 mg·kg^?1, respectively. The concentrations were greater than the Shaanxi Province background values, while they were lower than the second-level limits of Environmental Quality Standard for Soils of China (EQSS). The spatial distribution of heavy metal contents showed a banded in soil except Cu. The spatial distribution pattern and pollution assessment indexes (I_geo, EF) indicated that the investigated metals had been accumulated in the study areas, and implied significant influences from anthropogenic activities, local meteorological situation, and soil properties. The ecological risk assessment showed that the risks were relatively low (RI<150). Compared with the exposure risk for adults, that for children was significantly greater. The ingestion of heavy metals in the soils by humans was the main exposure pathway compared with the dermal exposure. There may be a risk of noncarcinogenic adverse health effects (HQ < 1, 0.377 ≤ HI≤1.553) on children, but the adults were unlikely to experience obvious adverse health effects (HQ < 1, HI < 1). The carcinogenic risk of Cr for adults and children was at an unacceptable level. The carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks were in the order of children > adults. The correlation analysis showed that Pb, Cr, and Cu have identical anthropogenic and natural sources, while Zn has another identical source. This study could provide a basis for the sustainable management of this region by reducing metal inputs and to protect soils from long-term heavy metal accumulation.     

Bacteria may contribute to distant species recognition in ant–aphid mutualistic relationships

Mutualistic interactions between ant and aphid species have been the subject of considerable historical and contemporary investigations, the primary benefits being cleaning and protection for the aphids and carbohydrate‐rich honeydew for the ants. Questions remained, however, as to the volatile semiochemical factor influencing this relationship. A recent study highlighted the role of bacterial honeydew volatile compounds in ant attraction. Here, ant's ability to distantly discriminate 2 aphid species was investigated based on bacterial honeydew semiochemicals emissions using a two‐way olfactometer. Both the mutualistic aphid Aphis fabae L. and the nonmyrmecophilous aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris were found to be attractive for the ant Lasius niger L. The level of attraction was similar in both assays (control vs. one of the aphid species). However, when given a choice between these 2 aphid species, ants showed a significant preference for Aphis fabae. Honeydew volatiles, mostly from bacterial origins, are known to be a key element in ant attraction. Using the same olfactometry protocol, the relative attractiveness of volatiles emitted by honeydews collected from each aphid species and by bacteria isolated from each honeydew was investigated. Again, ants significantly preferred volatiles released by Aphis fabae honeydew and bacteria. This information suggests that microbial honeydew volatiles enable ants to distantly discriminate aphid species. These results strengthen the interest of studying the occurrence and potential impact of microorganisms in insect symbioses.     

Development of light-shielding hydrogel for nitrifying bacteria to prevent photoinhibition under strong light irradiation

Microalgae-nitrifying bacteria consortia have gained attention because photooxygenation of algae can supply oxygen to bacteria which eliminates the need for costly mechanical aeration. However, nitrifying bacteria are known to suffer from photoinhibition. In this study, we developed “Light-shielding hydrogel”, in which bacteria were immobilized in hydrogel and light-shielding particles (carbon black) were incorporated, and evaluated its effectiveness to mitigate photoinhibition for bacteria under strong light irradiation. For comparison, “Hydrogel”, in which bacteria were immobilized in hydrogel without carbon black, and “Dispersion” which was simply suspended bacteria were prepared. At 1600 μmol photons m⁻² s^–1, the nitrification performance markedly decreased to 15.1 and 48.0% compared to the dark condition in the Dispersion and the Hydrogel, respectively. Meanwhile, it was successfully maintained for the Light-shielding hydrogel. Our results showed that the effectiveness of light-shielding hydrogel to mitigate photoinhibition on nitrifying bacteria even under strong light irradiation.     

Health risk assessment of heavy metals in soils and maize (Zea mays L.) from Yushu,Northeast China

To investigate heavy metal accumulation in soils and evaluate health risk through maize consumption, a total of 196 soils and 55 maize samples were collected from Yushu, China, one of the most important maize production bases. The mean contents of Cd, Cr, Cu, Zn and Pb were 0.119, 56.51, 19.21, 70.58, and 34.42 mg kg^?1 for soils and were 0.014, 0.68, 1.33, 17.15 and 0.02 mg kg^?1 for maize, respectively. The contents of Cr, Cu, Zn and Pb in all soil and maize samples did not exceed safety thresholds, but the percentages of Cd content above guideline values of Chinese Environmental Quality Standards for Soil and maximum permissible limits for maize were 6.6% and 1.8%, respectively. The spatial distribution and correlation analysis suggested that Cr and Cu in soil were of lithogenic origin, while Zn and Pb were associated with coal combustion exhausts and chemical fertilizer application. The main source of Cd may be phosphate fertilizer application. The average target hazard quotients were all less than 1 and the average hazard index for adults was 0.065, indicating that there was not a potential health risk through maize.     

Tropical soils degraded by slash‐and‐burn cultivation can be recultivated when amended with ashes and compost

In many tropical regions, slash‐and‐burn agriculture is considered as a driver of deforestation; the forest is converted into agricultural land by cutting and burning the trees. However, the fields are abandoned after few years because of yield decrease and weed invasion. Consequently, new surfaces are regularly cleared from the primary forest. We propose a reclamation strategy for abandoned fields allowing and sustaining re‐cultivation. In the dry region of south‐western Madagascar, we tested, according to a split‐plot design, an alternative selective slash‐and‐burn cultivation technique coupled with compost amendment on 30–year‐old abandoned fields. Corn plants (Zea mays L.) were grown on four different types of soil amendments: no amendment (control), compost, ashes (as in traditional slash‐and‐burn cultivation), and compost + ashes additions. Furthermore, two tree cover treatments were applied: 0% tree cover (as in traditional slash‐and‐burn cultivation) and 50% tree cover (selective slash‐and‐burn). Both corn growth and soil fertility parameters were monitored during the growing season 2015 up to final harvest. The amendment compost + ashes strongly increased corn yield, which was multiplied by 4–5 in comparison with ashes or compost alone, reaching 1.5 t/ha compared to 0.25 and 0.35 t/ha for ashes and compost, respectively. On control plots, yield was negligible as expected on these degraded soils. Structural equation modeling evidenced that compost and ashes were complementary fertilizing pathways promoting soil fertility through positive effects on soil moisture, pH, organic matter, and microbial activity. Concerning the tree cover treatment, yield was reduced on shaded plots (50% tree cover) compared to sunny plots (0% tree cover) for all soil amendments, except ashes. To conclude, our results provide empirical evidence on the potential of recultivating tropical degraded soils with compost and ashes. This would help mitigating deforestation of the primary forest by increasing lifespan of agricultural lands.