Fatty acid signatures of stomach oil and adipose tissue of northern fulmars (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fulmarus glacialis</Emphasis>) in Alaska: implications for diet analysis of Procellariiform birds

Procellariiforms are unique among seabirds in storing dietary lipids in both adipose tissue and stomach oil. Thus, both lipid sources are potentially useful for trophic studies using fatty acid (FA) signatures. However, little is known about the relationship between FA signatures in stomach oil and adipose tissue of individuals or whether these signatures provide similar information about diet and physiology. We compared the FA composition of stomach oil and adipose tissue biopsies of individual northern fulmars (N = 101) breeding at three major colonies in Alaska. Fatty acid signatures differed significantly between the two lipid sources, reflecting differences in dietary time scales, metabolic processing, or both. However, these signatures exhibited a relatively consistent relationship between individuals, such that the two lipid sources provided a similar ability to distinguish foraging differences among individuals and colonies. Our results, including the exclusive presence of dietary wax esters in stomach oil but not adipose tissue, are consistent with the notion that stomach oil FA signatures represent lipids retained from prey consumed during recent foraging and reflect little metabolic processing, whereas adipose tissue FA signatures represent a longer-term integration of dietary intake. Our study illustrates the potential for elucidating short- versus longer-term diet information in Procellariiform birds using different lipid sources.     

石油污染对鸟类的影响及石油污染清洁修复技术的研究进展

石油污染物通过自然泄漏和各种人类活动进入生态环境,对鸟类的生存产生影响。本文综述了国内外有关石油污染物对鸟类所产生的影响、受污染鸟类及其栖息地的清洁修复技术的研究现状以及发展趋势。现有研究发现,石油的毒性和石油对羽毛结构与功能的破坏是石油污染影响鸟类的主要原因。石油污染不仅对鸟类有直接的致死作用,而且能产生许多慢性危害,包括引起鸟类溶血性贫血、使其免疫能力下降、降低羽毛的保温和防水能力等。对鸟类栖息地中的石油污染进行及时清理并开展对受污染鸟类的清洁修复工作,是减轻石油污染对鸟类影响的重要手段。我国作为石油消费大国,关于石油污染对鸟类影响的研究与国外相比滞后,亟需在石油污染对鸟类的短期和长期影响、受污染鸟类及其栖息地的清洁修复技术等方面开展更多的研究。     

The alpha-terpenyl acetate chemotype of essential oil of Thymus pulegioides L

The composition of the essential oils of Thymus pulegioides L. plants growing wild in Vilnius district (Lithuania) with "ester", lemon and carvacrol (phenol) odours were collected in one location and investigated by GC, GC/MS and IR-spectroscopy. The essential oils with lemon and carvacrol odour belong to corresponding known citral-geraniol and carvacrol chemotypes. The essential oil of plants with "ester" odour containing 50-70% of alpha-terpenyl acetate belong to alpha-terpenyl acetate chemotype, which was not noticed earlier in Thymus pulegioides L. species.     

Submersed Culture Production of Extracellular Wax Esters by the Marine Bacterium <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fundibacter jadensis</Emphasis>

Fundibacter jadensis strain T9, a marine gram-negative bacterium, was isolated from the intertidal sediment of the German North Sea coast by our group. The cells were able to produce considerable amounts of extracellular wax esters when cultivated with n-alkanes (hexadecane or tetradecane) as a carbon source. The dependence of wax ester production and the composition of the purified wax on different culture conditions (C:N:P ratio and dissolved oxygen tension) were tested. Our results show that wax ester production was not directly growth-linked. The C:N:P ratio had no significant influence on the yield of alkane-free purified wax. The dissolved oxygen tension affected the produced amount of the alkane-free purified wax and the composition of the purified wax; when lower than 2% it decreased the yield of purified wax and led to an altered wax ester composition. Tetradecane as a carbon source enhanced the spectrum of the wax ester composition.     

Variations in composition of peppermint oil in relation to production areas

Compositional data obtained for peppermint oil fromMentha piperita L. produced in Tasmania as well as oils produced in other major production areas, were analysed by principal coordinate analysis. The 6 variates included in the analysis were the oil compounds limonene, cineole, menthone, menthofuran, menthyl acetate and menthol. In general, Tasmanian oils were characterised by low menthofuran, low limonene, low menthyl acetate and to a lesser extent high menthone, low cineole and high menthol concentrations relative to most major production areas. When the variation in composition of oil samples from within Tasmania was displayed in 3 dimensions (using the first 3 principal coordinates) it was not possible to achieve any pronounced separation of oils produced at different locations within southern Tasmania. Principal coordinates which were based mainly on cineole and menthol concentrations, respectively, did allow a degree of separation between oils produced in southern and northern Tasmania. Generally, oils produced in northern Tasmania had lower cineole and, in some cases, higher menthol than southern Tasmanian oils. Oil extracted from regrowth herb after commercial harvest was distinguished by having very high menthyl acetate, low menthone, high menthol, high menthofuran, low cineole and low limonene concentrations. The effect of some cultural and environmental factors on oil composition is also discussed.     

Biomarkers in natural fish populations indicate adverse biological effects of offshore oil production

Background

Despite the growing awareness of the necessity of a sustainable development, the global economy continues to depend largely on the consumption of non-renewable energy resources. One such energy resource is fossil oil extracted from the seabed at offshore oil platforms. This type of oil production causes continuous environmental pollution from drilling waste, discharge of large amounts of produced water, and accidental spills.

Methods and principal findings

Samples from natural populations of haddock (Melanogrammus aeglefinus) and Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) in two North Sea areas with extensive oil production were investigated. Exposure to and uptake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were demonstrated, and biomarker analyses revealed adverse biological effects, including induction of biotransformation enzymes, oxidative stress, altered fatty acid composition, and genotoxicity. Genotoxicity was reflected by a hepatic DNA adduct pattern typical for exposure to a mixture of PAHs. Control material was collected from a North Sea area without oil production and from remote Icelandic waters. The difference between the two control areas indicates significant background pollution in the North Sea.

Conclusion

It is most remarkable to obtain biomarker responses in natural fish populations in the open sea that are similar to the biomarker responses in fish from highly polluted areas close to a point source. Risk assessment of various threats to the marine fish populations in the North Sea, such as overfishing, global warming, and eutrophication, should also take into account the ecologically relevant impact of offshore oil production.     

The diet of the King Penguin Aptenodytes patagonicus at Macquarie Island

The diet of King Penguins Aptenodytes patagonicus at Macquarie Island was studied between November 1984 and November 1985 based on stomach flushed samples (obtaining 93% of the total stomach content) from ten birds each month. The mean stomach content mass of the 118 samples was 923 0 g. Percentage by number, percentage by weight and dietary coefficient analysis all showed the main prey of the penguins to be myctophid lantern fish of the species Electrona carlsbergi and Krefftichthys anderssoni. Juvenile fish of both species were eaten from December to July, and adults in August and September. Cephalopods were relatively unimportant in contrast to previous indications. The amount of food brought ashore and the composition of the diet varied over the year, with K. anderssoni the dominant food in all but the winter months when E. carlsbergi replaced it as the principal food item.     

Synthesis of oleyl oleate wax esters in Arabidopsis thaliana and Camelina sativa seed oil

Seed oil composed of wax esters with long‐chain monoenoic acyl moieties represents a high‐value commodity for industry. Such plant‐derived sperm oil‐like liquid wax esters are biodegradable and can have excellent properties for lubrication. In addition, wax ester oil may represent a superior substrate for biodiesel production. In this study, we demonstrate that the low‐input oil seed crop Camelina sativa can serve as a biotechnological platform for environmentally benign wax ester production. Two biosynthetic steps catalysed by a fatty alcohol‐forming acyl‐CoA reductase (FAR) and a wax ester synthase (WS) are sufficient to achieve wax ester accumulation from acyl‐CoA substrates. To produce plant‐derived sperm oil‐like liquid wax esters, the WS from Mus musculus (MmWS) or Simmondsia chinensis (ScWS) were expressed in combination with the FAR from Mus musculus (MmFAR1) or Marinobacter aquaeolei (MaFAR) in seeds of Arabidopsis thaliana and Camelina sativa. The three analysed enzyme combinations Oleo3:mCherry:MmFAR1?c/Oleo3:EYFP:MmWS, Oleo3:mCherry:MmFAR1?c/ScWS and MaFAR/ScWS showed differences in the wax ester molecular species profiles and overall biosynthetic performance. By expressing MaFAR/ScWS in Arabidopsis or Camelina up to 59% or 21% of the seed oil TAGs were replaced by wax esters, respectively. This combination also yielded wax ester molecular species with highest content of monounsaturated acyl moieties. Expression of the enzyme combinations in the Arabidopsis fae1 fad2 mutant background high in oleic acid resulted in wax ester accumulation enriched in oleyl oleate (18:1/18:1 > 60%), suggesting that similar values may be obtained with a Camelina high oleic acid line.     

重金属污染对鸟类的影响

鸟类属于高等脊椎动物,是食物链中的高级消费者,由于生物富集作用,鸟类容易受到环境中污染物质的影响。鸟类羽毛和卵壳中的重金属浓度可以反映其所处环境中重金属的污染状况,因此可以用鸟类作为指示生物来监测环境中的重金属污染。对重金属污染的来源和特征进行了介绍,阐述了重金属污染对环境安全构成威胁的原因,分析了汞、铅、镉、砷、铜等几种重金属元素在鸟体内富集的特点及其对鸟类的危害。重金属污染物在不同生物体内的浓度存在差异,反映出它们通过食物链的生物富集和放大,对环境和鸟类的毒害作用有所增加。建议选择野生鹭类、麻雀和喜鹊等鸟类作为指示生物监测环境中的重金属污染。     

石油烃污染对海洋浮游植物群落的短期毒性效应

海上溢油和船舶含油废水排放等石油污染给海洋生态环境带来严峻考验。为了解石油污染对海洋浮游植物的短期群落效应, 于实验室对采自浙江省乐清湾海域的四季浮游植物进行了14天的微宇宙实验研究。通过测定不同浓度原油水溶性成分(water accommodated fraction, WAF)胁迫下浮游植物群落各种类的细胞密度, 发现原油WAF对浮游植物群落的种类数、多样性、均匀度和优势种组成及优势度均有极显著影响。原油污染组的种类数均低于对照组, 多样性指数也总体上低于对照组, 但均匀度指数无明显规律。WAF对各季节浮游植物群落优势种的影响存在季节、浓度梯度和种类差异: 1)在高浓度WAF (≥2.28 mg·L^-1)胁迫下, 各季节浮游植物群落中中肋骨条藻(Skeletonema costatum)的优势度均呈升高趋势, 除秋季外, 长菱形藻(Nitzschia longissima)在其余季节的优势度均显著下降, 另外秋季实验中微小原甲藻(Prorocentrum minimum)的优势度呈先升高后下降的趋势, 秋冬季斜纹藻(Pleurosigma sp.)和念珠直链藻(Melosira moniliformis)的优势度呈下降趋势; 2)在低浓度WAF (≤1.16 mg·L^-1)胁迫下, 除秋季中肋骨条藻仍为绝对优势种外, 其余季节该种微藻的优势度均呈下降趋势, 春、夏季长菱形藻的优势度逐渐升高, 而冬季则是念珠直链藻的优势度不断增加。原油WAF影响下, 可能r策略种将逐渐取代k策略种, 导致浮游植物群落趋于小型化。     

Laurie oil resources

Lauric oils and their derivatives have many applications both in the food and chemical industries. The major sources and some alternative raw materials for this multi-billon dollar business are discussed in the light of their ability to supply future market needs. There should be ample supply of lauric oils—except when drought and possibly disease affect large areas of coconut plantations—because of the rapid increase in palm kernel oil production expected from the African oil palm during the next decade. Most other sources are unlikely to be important in the short term because of the generally adequate supply of lauric oils and the considerable amount of research still needed to convert the best options into viable crops. However, a dramatic effect on supply can be expected if it becomes possible to manipulate the appropriate genes from lauric oil producing species of Cuphea into a conventional oil crop like rape. Future demand for lauric oils will be affected by the relative price of other vegetable oils and petroleum feedstocks that can be used to replace them in the manufacture of an increasing number of end products in both the food and chemical industries.     

Essential oil chemotypes in Hyptis suaveolens from Brazilian Cerrado

The composition of nine samples of essential oil of individual plants in fruiting stage of Hyptis suaveolens from Brazilian Cerrado was investigated by GC–MS. Spathulenol, 1,8-cineole and (E)-caryophyllene were the principal constituents. The results were submitted to Principal Component and Chemometric Cluster Analysis which allowed three groups of essential oils to be distinguished with respect to the content of 1,8-cineole/sabinene, β-bourbonene and α-bulnesene. Latitude seems to be the most important environmental factor influencing the oil contents. Pattern of geographic-variation in essential oil composition indicated that sesquiterpenes are mainly produced in the samples grown at lower latitudes and altitudes.     

生物入侵对鸟类的生态影响

生物入侵是全球生物多样性面临的最主要威胁之一, 入侵种在改变入侵地环境的同时也使当地的生物受到极大影响。鸟类在生态系统中处于较高的营养级, 生态系统中任何一个环节的变化都可能对鸟类造成一定的影响。本文回顾了哺乳动物、鸟类、无脊椎动物和植物等不同生物类群的入侵对本地鸟类生态影响方面的研究进展。外来生物对鸟类的影响主要表现在以下几方面: (1)外来哺乳动物对成鸟、幼鸟或鸟卵的捕食作用; (2)外来鸟类与本地鸟类竞争栖息地和食物资源, 与当地的近缘种杂交而造成基因流失; (3)外来无脊椎动物改变本地鸟类的栖息环境和食物状况, 甚至直接捕食本地鸟类; (4)外来植物入侵改变入侵地的植物群落组成和结构, 造成本地鸟类的栖息地丧失或破碎化, 并通过改变入侵地生态系统的食物链结构而对高营养级的鸟类产生影响。最后, 作者还提出了该领域有待解决的问题和今后可能的研究方向。     

Evolution of feeding structure plasticity in marine invertebrate larvae: a possible trade-off between arm length and stomach size

The ability of an organism to alter its morphology in response to environmental conditions (phenotypic plasticity) occurs in several species of marine invertebrates. Examples are sea urchin and sand dollar larvae (plutei). When food is scarce, plutei produce longer food-gathering structures (larval arms and a ciliary band) and smaller stomachs than when food is abundant. However, it is unclear whether stomach size is actually induced through changes in morphogenesis or simply by food distending the stomach. Distinguishing between these two hypotheses is possible because plutei morphologically respond to food concentrations and change the length of their food-gathering structures before they are capable of feeding. More importantly, these two hypotheses provide insights to whether a trade-off exists between the response in food-gathering structures and the response in stomach size—a possible explanation for the evolution of feeding-structure plasticity in marine invertebrate larvae. In this study, I investigated whether sea urchin larvae (Strongylocentrotus purpuratus and S. franciscanus) reared in different amounts of food produced stomachs of different sizes before they were capable of feeding. Prior to having the ability to ingest food, larvae produced larger stomachs and shorter arms when food was abundant than when food was scarce, consistent with the hypothesis that food induced changes in morphogenesis. In addition, there was a strong negative correlation between the magnitude of plasticity in larval arm length and the magnitude of plasticity in stomach size. These results are consistent with the idea that a trade-off exists between the response in arm length and the response in stomach size, and at least in part, explains the evolution of feeding structure plasticity in plutei. This may also explain why feeding-structure plasticity has evolved in larvae of other taxa (e.g. other echinoderms and gastropods).     

Geographic variation in the essential oil monoterpenes of Liriodendron tulipifera L

The monoterpene component of Liriodendron tulipifera L. (Magnoliaceae) essential oils was quantitatively analysed in branch samples collected from an Ohio provenance test of 11 geographic seed sources representing the natural range of the species. Mean monoterpene composition of the essential oil is described and significant differences in the monoterpene composition among geographic sources are discussed.     

Synthesis and characterization of vegetable oil derived esters: evaluation for their diesel additive properties

Trans-esterification of four vegetable oils; canola oil, greenseed canola oil from heat-damaged seeds, processed waste fryer grease and unprocessed waste fryer grease, was carried out using methanol, and KOH as catalyst. The methyl esters of the corresponding oils were separated from the crude glycerol, purified, and characterized by various methods to evaluate their densities, viscosities, iodine values, acid numbers, cloud points, pour points and gross heat of combustion, fatty acid and lipid compositions, lubricity properties, and thermal properties. The fatty acid composition suggests that 80-85% of the ester was from unsaturated acids. Substantial decrease in density and viscosity of the methyl esters compared to their corresponding oils suggested that the oils were in their mono or di glyceride form. The lubricity of the methyl esters, when blended at 1 vol% treat rate with ISOPAR M reference fuel, showed that the canola methyl ester enhanced the fuel's lubricity number. From the analyses performed, it was determined that the ester with the most potential for being an additive or a substitute for diesel fuel is the canola methyl ester, whose physical and chemical characteristics are similar to diesel fuel.     

Marine Birds as Sentinels of Environmental Pollution

Marine birds are useful as bioindicators of environmental pollution in estuarine and marine environments because they are often at the top of the food chain, ubiquitous, and many are abundant and common, making collecting possible. Seabirds have the advantage of being large, wide-ranging, conspicuous, abundant, long-lived, easily observed, and important to people. Many species are at the top of the food chain where they bioaccumulate contaminants with age. One disadvantage is that many species are migratory, making it difficult to determine where exposure occurred. This can be eliminated by using sedentary species or young birds that obtain all their food from parents. Further, noninvasive collection of feathers can be used to assess heavy metal levels, both from current collections and from historical collections in museums dating back centuries. Marine birds can be used as bioindicators in many ways, including tissue levels of contaminants, epidemiological field studies of effects, and experimental and laboratory studies of dose and effects. Examples from our research indicate some of the ways marine birds can be useful as indicators and sentinels of contamination, particularly by using young birds and feathers.     

Chemical variability in the essential oil of Hyptis suaveolens

The essential oils of Hyptis suaveolens plants collected from 11 localities of the Brazilian Cerrado region were investigated by GC-MS. Sabinene, limonene, biclyclogermacrene, beta-phellandrene and 1,8-cineole were the principal constituents. The results were submitted to principal component and chemometric cluster analysis which allowed three groups of essential oils to be distinguished with respect to the content of p-mentha-2,4(8)-diene, limonene/beta-phellandrene/gamma-terpinene and germacrene D/bicyclogermacrene. In patterns of geographic variation in essential oil composition indicated that the sesquiterpenes are mainly produced in the samples grown at lower latitudes.     

The effects of oil pollution on populations of marine and coastal birds

Summary 1. Oil pollution of the sea, especially damage of oil tankers, may cause severe effects on populations of sea and coastal birds, especially as far as bird aggregations in winter quarters or breeding places are concerned.2. Examples of oil pollution effects on birds are given and the most severely affected species of European waters quoted.

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Die Wirkungen der Ölverschmutzung auf Populationen von Meeres- und Küstenvögeln

Kurzfassung Mit zunehmender Ölverschmutzung des Meeres als Folge wachsenden Öltransportes mit Schiffen wuchsen die Gefahren für Vögel des marinen Pelagials und noch mehr des Litorals. Die durch die Verschmutzung mit Öl fast durchweg moribund gewordenen und unter verschiedenen Symptomen eingegangenen Vögel umfassen in Nord- und Ostsee über 20 Arten und können bei einer einzigen Katastrophe über 500 000 Individuen ausmachen. Da nicht selten ganze Populationen von See- und Wasservogelarten außerhalb von Brutraum und Brutzeit auf relativ kleinem Raum zusammenkommen, besteht die Gefahr einer hochgradigen Dezimierung oder gar Bestandsauslöschung.

     

The essential oil of pectis papposa

This oil, produced by a heavily scented herbaceous plant of the American Southwest and northern Mexico, is rich in cumaldehyde and carvone, and is therefore a potential commercial source of these fragrant aldehydes, now obtained from cumin, caraway and dill seed oils and used in Savoring food and beverages.