Distribution of microaerophilic bacteria through the oxic-anoxic transition zone of lagoon sediments

In marine sediments, where soluble gases diffuse only very slightly, many organisms struggle for molecular oxygen. Microaerophilic bacteria, able to grow at reduced pO₂ between 0.2 and 12%, have an advantage. Distribution of aerobes, microaerophiles and anaerobes was compared with the oxygen gradient in seawater and sediment samples collected in a northern Mediterranean lagoon. In the near bottom seawater and in the 0–10 mm upperlayer of sediment, the microaerophilic counts were less than 1% of aerobe densities. In the 10–15 mm zone, these two groups were equivalent in density (1 × 10⁵ cells ml^–1). As expected, the microaerophiles took advantage of their low oxygen tension requirements in the subsurface sediments, between the well aerated zone (0–5 mm depth) and the low redox potential zone. Then, beyond a depth of 20 mm, the anaerobes prevailed in this sandy clay.     

Assessment of Fluoride in Three Selected Polluted Environments along the Egyptian Mediterranean Sea: Effects on Local Populations

Fluoride ion (F^?) is a relevant component of concern due to its potential toxicity for humankind. This study clarifies the status of F^? for human health in three polluted regions along the Egyptian Mediterranean Sea coast, and determining its contents in seawater and different fish tissues (muscle, skin, brain, and bone). Fluoride ion concentrations in different fish tissues had a descending trend of brain > skin > muscle > bone with averages of 26.8 ± 26.0, 24.8 ± 6.5, 12.7 ± 2.3, and 9.0 ± 1.6 μg F^?/g wet wt, respectively. The bioconcentration factor for fluoride ion in different fish tissues was determined and multivariate analyses were conducted. The human health hazard assessment from fish consumption and seawater contact using hazard quotient (HQ) and ingestion and dermal absorption dose of whole body for different ages of females and males as well as the specified body parts (legs, arms, and hands) were calculated. Although the calculated daily intake values for ingestion of fish in the present study were lower than some established tolerable daily intake values, their hazard quotients were within 1 ≥ HQ < 10 and may reflect a possible fluoride adverse effect on human health from the consumption of the gathered fish species.     

An ecological survey of the heavy metal contamination of the edible clam Paphia sp. on the iron-ore tailings of Tolo Harbour,Hong Kong

Summary Iron-ore tailings have been deposited along the coast of Tolo Harbour from Ma On Shan Iron-ore Mine since its operation in 1906. In order to search for any harmful effects caused by the tailings, the edible clam, Paphia sp. together with sediments and seawater samples were collected from different sites of the iron-ore tailings of Ma On Shan Iron Mine, its nearby seashores and an unaffected site, Cheung Chau. The analysis of metal contents in the tissue and shell of the clams, seawater and sediments was carried out. It was discovered that the clams collected from the tailings had accumulated higher metal contents, e.g. Mn, Fe and Ca while those collected from the nearby seashores were also affected to a less extent.Clams are collected from the seashores within Tolo harbour for consumption by the villagers, but no accident caused by toxic effects of heavy metals has been reported. However, the present investigation further confirmed the potential hazard of the heavy metal contamination within Tolo Harbour reported recently (Wong & Chan, 1976; Wong & Tam, 1977).     

东海区大型水母数量分布特征及其与温盐度的关系

以 2 0 0 4年 4月和 6月东海区中北部海域大型水母的监测调查结果为依据 ,分析了东海区大型水母的主要种类组成、数量分布及其与温度、盐度环境的关系、以及主要种类间的个体生长差异。结果表明 :4月大型水母的优势种类多管水母约占 75 %、霞水母约占 15 %和沙水母约占 5 % ;6月大型水母的优势种类沙海蜇约占 6 0 %、多管水母约占 2 0 %和霞水母约占 10 %。其中沙海蜇和霞水母为往年东海区大量暴发的种类。沙海蜇为低温高盐种 ,适温范围为 12～ 17℃ ,主要分布于黄海冷水团伸向东海舌锋的锋面以北海域 ,密集分布区最高网产为 10 0 0 0 kg/ h左右 ;霞水母为暖水高盐种 ,适温范围为 2 0～ 2 5℃ ,主要密集分布于东海北部的暖水控制海域。黄海冷水团势力强弱可作为判别沙海蜇暴发程度的一个重要参考因子。东海区大型水母主要优势种的生长速度以沙海蜇最快 ,其次为霞水母 ,而多管水母相对较慢 ,且个体偏小     

磷对海水胁迫下芦荟幼苗离子分布的影响

研究了磷对海水胁迫下库拉索芦荟(A loe vera)幼苗干物质积累、植株含水量、在器官和组织水平上离子分布的影响。增磷显著缓解海水胁迫对芦荟生长的抑制,明显提高海水胁迫下芦荟幼苗的干物质积累和含水量。器官离子含量和X射线微区分析结果都表明,30%浓度海水胁迫下,外源磷水平的提高能显著降低芦荟幼苗根系N a 、C l-的吸收,增强K 、C a2 向地上部的运输和分配,从而维持叶片较高的K /N a 、C a2 /N a 比率,而这很可能是增磷提高芦荟对海水胁迫抗性的主要原因之一。     

A Method for Molecular Analysis of Catalase Gene Diversity in Seawater

Catalase plays an important role in the metabolism of marine bacteria and has potential impact on the marine environment. Four PCR primers were designed to amplify the catalase gene fragments in marine bacteria by applying metagenomic DNA from Yellow Sea surface water as the template. Of the four reproducible target PCR products, the longest one with 900 bp were chosen for catalase gene library construction by the T-vector and the white Escherichia coli colonies in the library was screened through restriction-digesting the reamplified insert fragments by the selected restriction endonuclease MboI, and then the bands of the resulting products were displayed in the agarose gel by electrophoresis. The unique restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) pattern was selected and the corresponding catalase gene fragments were sequenced, which verified that every unique RFLP pattern represented one type of catalase. This PCR–RFLP method above was established to investigate the bacterial catalase diversity in seawater.     

Comparison of Mineral Balances in Germfree and Conventional Mice When Sodium Phytate is Added to Purified Diet

A strain of Alcaligenes isolated from soil was a good producer of β-glucuronidase, and the enzyme was purified from the cell-free extract by sequential column chromatography on DEAE-Toyopearl, Toyopearl HW-55F, and Phenyl-Sepharose CL-4B. By these procedures, two β-glucuronidases designated as β-glucuronidases I and II were purified 240- and 508-fold, respectively. β-Glucuronidase I, with a molecular weight of 75,000, had an optimum pH at 7.5 and the enzyme II, with a molecular weight of 300,000, had maximum activity at pH 6.0. Both enzymes were strongly inhibited by saccharo-1,4-lactone, glucaro-δ-lactam, p-chloromercuribenzoate, Hg²⁺, and N-bromosuccinimide. β-Glucuronidase I was active toward estrogen-3-β-glucuronides and inert toward β-glucuronide conjugates of menthol, estrogen-17β-, estrogen-16α-, androsterone-3α-, testosterone-17β-, cortisol-17α-. β-Glucuronidase II hydrolyzed all of these substrates. β-Glucuronidase I was inhibited by phenolphthalein and its glucuronide.     

Efficacy of different antifouling treatments for seawater cooling systems

In an industrial seawater cooling system, the effects of three different antifouling treatments, viz. sodium hypochlorite (NaClO), aliphatic amines (Mexel®432) and UV radiation, on the characteristics of the fouling formed were evaluated. For this study a portable pilot plant, as a side-stream monitoring system and seawater cooling system, was employed. The pilot plant simulated a power plant steam condenser, having four titanium tubes under different treatment patterns, where fouling progression could be monitored. The nature of the fouling obtained was chiefly inorganic, showing a clear dependence on the antifouling treatment employed. After 72 days the tubes under treatment showed a reduction in the heat transfer resistance (R) of around 70% for NaClO, 48% for aliphatic amines and 55% for UV, with respect to the untreated tube. The use of a logistic model was very useful for predicting the fouling progression and the maximum asymptotic value of the increment in the heat transfer resistance (ΔR _max). The apparent thermal conductivity (λ) of the fouling layer showed a direct relationship with the percentage of organic matter in the collected fouling. The characteristics and mode of action of the different treatments used led to fouling with diverse physicochemical properties.