Chemical recovery of acidified Bohemian lakes between 1984 and 2012: the role of acid deposition and bark beetle induced forest disturbance

Assessment of temporal trends and rates of change in hydrochemical parameters and forest cover has been conducted to elucidate key drivers of surface water acidification in glacial lakes in the Czech Republic. Since 1984, the key driver in acidification reversal was sulphate (SO₄) concentration (median decrease of ?3.58 μeq L^?1 yr^?1) which fell in line with reductions in sulphur (S) deposition. Reduction of nitrogen (N) deposition was followed by proportional reduction in nitrate (NO₃) leaching although decline in NO₃ concentrations was more pronounced at two sites, the ?ertovo Lake (CT) and Prá?ilské Lake (PR) until 2006; only ??árské pond showed effective catchment N immobilization. Coherent decline of chloride concentration was detected across all sites. The decrease of strong mineral acids was partly compensated by decrease of inorganic aluminium (Al_in), especially at sites most acidified in the beginning of observations (ANC_1984–1986 between ?160 and ?90 μeq L^?1 at CT, ?erné Lake—CN and Ple?né lake—PL) and by reductions of base cations and increases of pH. All lakes (CN, CT, PL, PR and LK) moved to the ANC range between ?29 and 30 μeq L^?1 (2010–2012) where sensitivity of pH to further reductions in acid anions may be expected. Concurrently, charge of weak organic acids (OAs) increased and partly balanced the strong mineral acid decrease as a consequence of (i) significant DOC (dissolved organic carbon) increase (median change of 0.13 mgC L^?1 yr^?1 since 1993) and (ii) deprotonation of weak OAs caused by pH rise. Since 2000s, bark beetle induced forest decline accelerated NO₃ leaching at most of the catchments (by 200 % at LK, PL and PR). However, elevated N leaching was effectively neutralized by base cations (K, Mg, Ca) originating from decaying fresh litter, thus acidification recovery was not reversed, but slowed down. After cessation of NO₃ leaching we hypothesise that collapsed tree canopy across catchments (from 12 to 87 % compared to 1984) will cause lower total acid input in precipitation (S + N) and regrowth of vegetation may stimulate higher N immobilization (in biomass and soil); processes which could lead to further increase of ANC and pH, key indicators for biological recovery.     

Dust mediated transfer of phosphorus to alpine lake ecosystems of the Wind River Range,Wyoming, USA

Alpine lakes receive a large fraction of their nutrients from atmospheric sources and are consequently sensitive to variations in both the amount and chemistry of atmospheric deposition. In this study we explored the spatial changes in lake water chemistry and biology along a gradient of dust deposition in the Wind River Range, Wyoming. Regional differences were explored using the variation in bulk deposition, lake water, sediment, and bedrock geochemistry and catchment characteristics. Dust deposition rates in the Southwestern region averaged 3.34 g m^?2 year^?1, approximately three times higher than deposition rates in the Northwestern region (average 1.06 g m^?2 year^?1). Dust-P deposition rates ranged from 87 µg P m² day^?1 in the Northwestern region to 276 µg P m² day^?1 in the Southwestern region. Subalpine and alpine lakes in the Southwestern region had greater total phosphorus (TP) concentrations (5–13 µg L^?1) and greater sediment phosphorus (SP) concentrations (2–5 mg g^?1) than similar lakes elsewhere in the region (1–8 µg L^?1 TP, 0.5–2 mg g^?1 SP). Lake phosphorus concentrations were related to dissolved organic carbon (DOC) across vegetation gradients, but related to the percent of bare rock, catchment area to lake area, and catchment steepness across dust deposition gradients. Modern phytoplankton and zooplankton biomasses were two orders of magnitude greater in the Southwest than in the Northwest, and alpine lakes in the Southwest had a unique diatom species assemblage with relatively higher concentrations of Asterionella formosa, Pseudostaurosira pseudoconstruens, and Pseudostaurosira brevistriata. These results suggests that catchment controls on P export to lakes (i.e. DOC) are overridden in dominantly bare rock basins where poor soils cannot effectively retain dust deposited P.     

Effects of glaciers on nutrient concentrations and phytoplankton in lakes within the Northern Cascades Mountains (USA)

We compared nitrate concentrations, phytoplankton biomass, and phytoplankton community structure in lakes fed by glacier melt and snowmelt (GSF lakes) and by snowmelt only (SF lakes) within North Cascades National Park (NOCA) in Washington State, USA. In the U.S. Rocky Mountains, glacier melting has greatly increased nitrate concentrations in GSF lakes (52–236 µg NO₃–N L^?1) relative to SF lakes (1–14 µg NO₃–N L^?1) and thereby stimulated phytoplankton changes in GSF lakes. Considering NOCA contains approximately one-third of the glaciers in the continental U.S., and many mountain lakes that receive glacier meltwater inputs, we hypothesized that NOCA GSF lakes would have greater nitrate concentrations, greater phytoplankton biomass, and greater abundance of nitrogen-sensitive diatom species than NOCA SF lakes. However, at NOCA nitrate concentrations were much lower and differences between lake types were small compared to the Rockies. At NOCA, nitrate concentrations averaged 13 and 5 µg NO₃–N L^?1 in GSF and SF lakes, respectively, and a nitrate difference was not detectable in several individual years. There also was no difference in phytoplankton biomass or abundance of nitrogen-sensitive diatoms between lake types at NOCA. In contrast to the Rockies, there also was not a significant positive relationship between watershed percent glacier area and lake nitrate at NOCA. Results demonstrate that biogeochemical responses to global change in Western U.S. mountain lake watersheds may vary regionally. Regional differences may be affected by differing nitrogen deposition, climate, geology, or microbial processes within glacier environments, and merit further investigation.     

Chemical composition of the Tatra Mountain lakes: Recovery from acidification

Ninety-one lakes distributed along the Tatra Mountains (most of lakes > 1 ha and 65% of lakes > 0.01 ha) were sampled and analysed for ionic and nutrient composition in September 2004 (15 years after reduction in acid deposition). Eighty-one lakes were in alpine zone and ten lakes in Norway spruce forest. The results were compared to similar lake surveys from 1994 (the beginning of water recovery from acidification) and 1984 (maximum acidification). Atmospheric deposition of SO ₄ ^2? and inorganic N decreased 57% and 35%, respectively, in this region from the late 1980s to 2000. Lake water concentrations of SO ₄ ^2? and NO ₃ ^? have decreased both by ～50% on average (to 23 and 19 μmol L^?1, respectively, in 2004) since 1984. While the decrease in SO ₄ ^2? concentrations was stable throughout 1984–2004, most of the NO ₃ ^? decrease occurred from 1994 to 2004. The declines in SO ₄ ^2? and NO ₃ ^? concentrations depended on catchment coverage with vegetation, being most rapid for SO ₄ ^2? in forest lakes and for NO ₃ ^? in rocky lakes. Concentrations of the sum of base cations (dominated by Ca²⁺) significantly decreased between 1984 and 2004, with the highest change in rocky lakes. Most of this decline occurred between 1994 and 2004. Acid neutralising capacity (ANC) did not change in the 1984–1994 period, but increased on average by 29 μmol L^?1 between 1994 and 2004, with the highest change in rocky lakes. Over the last decade, the proportion of lakes with ANC > 150 μmol L^?1 increased from 15% to 21% and that of ANC < 20 μmol L^?1 decreased from 37% to 20%. The highest decline in H⁺ and Al concentrations occurred in the most acid lakes. On a regional basis, no significant change was observed for total phosphorus, total organic nitrogen, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in the 1994–2004 period. However, these parameters increased in forest lakes, which exhibited an increasing trend in DOC concentrations, inversely related (P < 0.001) to their decreasing ionic strength (30% on average in 1994–2004).     

Topographic controls on black carbon accumulation in Alaskan black spruce forest soils: implications for organic matter dynamics

There is still much uncertainty as to how wildfire affects the accumulation of burn residues (such as black carbon (BC)) in the soil, and the corresponding changes in soil organic carbon (SOC) composition in boreal forests. We investigated SOC and BC composition in black spruce forests on different landscape positions in Alaska, USA. Mean BC stocks in surface mineral soils (0.34 ± 0.09 kg C m^?2) were higher than in organic soils (0.17 ± 0.07 kg C m^?2), as determined at four sites by three different ¹³C Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy-based techniques. Aromatic carbon, protein, BC, and the alkyl:O-alkyl carbon ratio were higher in mineral soil than in organic soil horizons. There was no trend between mineral soil BC stocks and fire frequencies estimated from lake sediment records at four sites, and soil BC was relatively modern (<54–400 years, based on mean Δ¹⁴C ranging from 95.1 to ?54.7‰). A more extensive analysis (90 soil profiles) of mineral soil BC revealed that interactions among landscape position, organic layer depth, and bulk density explained most of the variance in soil BC across sites, with less soil BC occurring in relatively cold forests with deeper organic layers. We suggest that shallower organic layer depths and higher bulk densities found in warmer boreal forests are more favorable for BC production in wildfire, and more BC is integrated with mineral soil than organic horizons. Soil BC content likely reflected more recent burning conditions influenced by topography, and implications of this for SOC composition (e.g., aromaticity and protein content) are discussed.     

Lake Chapo: a baseline study of a deep, oligotrophic North Patagonian lake prior to its use for hydroelectricity generation: I. Physical and chemical properties

A baseline study on a temperate, oligotrophic North Patagonian lake (Lake Chapo, Southern Chile) was made prior to the installation of a hydroelectric power station. Throughout one year (September 1986–October 1987) the physical and chemical properties of the lake were investigated monthly from the surface to a depth of 40 m. Lake Chapo is a deep, transparent (Secchi depth: 17–25 m), glacial lake located at 41°?27.5′?S and 72°?30′?W. It has a maximum depth of 298 m, mean depth of 183 m, surface area of 45.3 km² and water volume of 8.296 km³. The theoretical residence time of the water was 5.5 years. The temperature regime is monomictic with the mixed temperature between 8.1–8.8?°C. Maximum temperature at the surface was 18.7?°C during thermal stratification in summer when the epilimnion had a thickness of about 20 m. The conductivity was low (20.3–23.8 μS cm^?1) as was the buffering capacity of a predominantly CO₂-carbonate system. The predominant cations were Ca⁺²¿ Na⁺¿Mg⁺²¿K⁺. The phosphorous and nitrogen contents were very low (soluble reactive ortophosphate: 0–1.5 μg P l^?1, total phosphorus: 0.3–4 μg P l^?1 and nitrate: 0–35 μg N l^?1), which is typical of North Patagonian lakes.     

Chemical character and origin of organic acids in streams and seepage lakes of central Maine

Organic acids and inorganic chemistry were examined in seventeen seepage lakes, seven streams, and one seep in central Maine. The objectives of this analysis were to determine the quantity and quality of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and to assess the relationship between organic and inorganic surface water chemistry. Lakes and streams sampled were dilute (average conductivity of 20.3 μS cm^?1) with a wide range of DOC (125–2593 μmol C L^?1). Organic acids in DOC were evaluated by:

DOC fractionation (hydrophobic acids and neutrals, and hydrophilic acids, bases, and neutrals);

DOC isolation followed by FT-IR, base titration, and chemical analyses;

adsorption on solid phase extraction columns; and charge balance studies.

All lakes and streams were dominated by hydrophobic and hydrophilic acids (60 to 92% of DOC). Lakes and streams with low DOC had low hydrophobic to hydrophilic acid ratios (ca 1.2–1.3), regardless of pH and acid neutralizing capacities (ANC), compared to lakes and streams with moderate to high DOC concentrations (ca 1.9–2.4). Based on FT-IR spectroscopy and chemical analysis, organic acids were found to be dominated by a strong carboxylic character. Titration data of isolated DOC allowed accurate prediction of organic anions, which were strongly pH dependent (organic anions ranged from 14 to 198 μeq L^?1). Exchange acidity averaged 11.3, 13.6, and 8.7 μeq mg C^?1 for lake hydrophobic acids, lake hydrophilic acids, and stream hydrophobic acids, respectively. Overall evidence suggested that DOC and organic acid characteristics were related to their carboxylic functional group content and that the nature of these constituents was similar despite the source of origin (upland soils, wetlands, or Sphagnum deposits). Also, contact of soil leachates with B horizons seemed to be a controlling factor in DOC quantity and quality in the lakes and streams studied.     

Phytoplankton blooms under dim and cold conditions in freshwater lakes of East Antarctica

The seasonal variations of limnological (water temperature, light availability, turbidity, and chlorophyll a concentration) parameters were recorded continuously from January 2004 to February 2005 at two freshwater lakes: Oyako-ike and Hotoke-ike, Sôya Coast, East Antarctica. Water was in a liquid phase throughout the year, with temperatures ranging from 0 to 10°C. The maximum photosynthetically active radiation in Lake Oyako-ike was 23.16 mol m^?2 day^?1 (at 3.8 m) and Hotoke-ike was 53.01 mol m^?2 day^?1 (at 2.2 m) in summer, and chlorophyll a concentration ranged from ca. 0.5 to 2.5 μg L^?1 (Oyako-ike) and from ca. 0.1 to 0.8 μg L^?1 (Hotoke-ike) during the study period. Increase in chlorophyll a fluorescence occurred under dim-light conditions when the lakes were covered with ice in spring and autumn, but the signals were minimum in ice-free summer in both the lakes. During spring and summer, as a result of decreasing snow cover, the chlorophyll a concentration similarly decreased when PAR was relatively high, following periods of heavy winds. The autumnal and spring increase occurred under different PAR levels (ca. 20-fold and 90-fold stronger, respectively, in autumn in both the lakes). Differences in the autumn and spring increases suggest that the spring algal community is more shade-adapted than the autumn algal community. Antarctic phytoplankton appears especially adapted to low-light levels and inhibited by strong light regimes.     

THE INFLUENCE OF SUBMERGED MACROPHYTES ON SEDIMENTARY DIATOM ASSEMBLAGES1

Submerged macrophytes are a central component of lake ecosystems; however, little is known regarding their long‐term response to environmental change. We have examined the potential of diatoms as indicators of past macrophyte biomass. We first sampled periphyton to determine whether habitat was a predictor of diatom assemblage. We then sampled 41 lakes in Quebec, Canada, to evaluate whether whole‐lake submerged macrophyte biomass (BiomEpiV) influenced surface sediment diatom assemblages. A multivariate regression tree (MRT) was used to construct a semiquantitative model to reconstruct past macrophyte biomass. We determined that periphytic diatom assemblages on macrophytes were significantly different from those on wood and rocks (ANOSIM R = 0.63, P < 0.01). A redundancy analysis (RDA) of the 41‐lake data set identified BiomEpiV as a significant (P < 0.05) variable in structuring sedimentary diatom assemblages. The MRT analysis classified the lakes into three groups. These groups were (A) high‐macrophyte, nutrient‐limited lakes (BiomEpiV ≥525 μg · L^?1; total phosphorus [TP] <35 μg · L^?1; 23 lakes); (B) low‐macrophyte, nutrient‐limited lakes (BiomEpiV <525 μg · L^?1; TP <35 μg · L^?1; 12 lakes); and (C) eutrophic lakes (TP ≥35 μg · L^?1; six lakes). A semiquantitative model correctly predicted the MRT group of the lake 71% of the time (P < 0.001). These results suggest that submerged macrophytes have a significant influence on diatom community structure and that sedimentary diatom assemblages can be used to infer past macrophyte abundance.     

Limestone to Mitigate Lake acidification: macrozoobenthos response in treated and reference lakes

The littoral macrozoobenthos (MZB) of two low acid neutralizing capacity (ANC = 50.0 µeq l^–1) northeastern Pennsylvania lakes (treatment and reference) were sampled each ice free season, 1984 through 1988, to evaluate response to limestone addition. Following addition of 100 tons agricultural limestone (CaCO₃) to the treatment lake in February 1985, mean annual ANC rose from 20 µeq l^–1 to 668 µeq l^–1 then decreased. In October 1987, ANC in the treatment lake was decreasing, so 15 additional tons of limestone were added. Pre- limestoning there were few significant (p<0.05) differences between MZB assemblages in the two lakes, but 4 years post treatment the following differences (p<0.05) were detected in the treatment lake: more Chironomidae, Ephemeroptera, Odonata, Hyalella azteca, total MZB numbers and higher Mollusca wet weight than in the reference lake. From 1984 to 1988 in the treatment lake the annual means of the following community characteristics increased (p<0.05): totals of Chironomidae, Ephemeroptera (including Caenis spp.), Odonata, Trichoptera, Sphaeriidae, collectors and MZB numbers; Chironomidae and Ephemeroptera taxa richness and total taxa richness; total and Mollusca wet weight. However, the treatment lake ecosystem is neither self-sustaining nor stable because limestone must be added every 2 to 3 years to maintain ANC above 50 µeq l^–1 In the reference lake annual means of ANC, specific conductance, calcium and magnesium decreased (p<0.05) while Secchi depth increased (p<0.05), suggesting continuing acidification.     

Tobermolite effects on methane removal activity and microbial community of a lab-scale soil biocover

Three identical lab-scale biocovers were packed with an engineered soil (BC 1), tobermolite only (BC 2), and a mixture of the soil and tobermolite (BC 3), and were operated at an inlet load of 338–400 g-CH₄ m^?2 d^?1 and a space velocity of 0.12 h^?1. The methane removal capacity was 293 ± 47 g-CH₄ m^?2 d^?1 in steady state in the BC 3, which was significantly higher than those in the BC 1 and BC 2 (106 ± 24 and 114 ± 48 g-CH₄ m^?2 d^?1, respectively). Quantitative PCR indicated that bacterial and methanotrophic densities (6.62–6.78 × 10⁷ 16S rDNA gene copy number g-dry sample^?1 and 1.37–2.23 × 10⁷ pmoA gene copy number g-dry sample^?1 in the BC 1 and BC 3, respectively) were significantly higher than those in the BC 2. Ribosomal tag pyrosequencing showed that methanotrophs comprised approximately 60 % of the bacterial community in the BC 2 and BC 3, while they only comprised 43 % in the BC 1. The engineered soil favored the growth of total bacteria including methanotrophs, while the presence of tobermolite enhanced the relative abundance of methanotrophs, resulting in an improved habitat for methanotrophs as well as greater methane mitigation performance in the mixture. Moreover, a batch experiment indicated that the soil and tobermolite mixture could display a stable methane oxidation level over wide temperature (20–40 °C, at least 38 μmol g-dry sample^?1 h^?1) and pH (5–8, at least 61 μmol g-dry sample^?1 h^?1) ranges. In conclusion, the soil and tobermolite mixture is promising for methane mitigation.     

A comparison of zooplankton communities in saline lakewater with variable anion composition

Although salinity and aquatic biodiversity are inversely related in lake water, the relationship between types of salts and zooplankton communities is poorly understood. In this study, zooplankton species were related to environmental variables from 12 lakes: three saline lakes with water where the dominant anions were SO₄ and CO₃, four saline lakes with Cl-dominated water, and five dilute, subsaline (0.5–3 gl^?1 total dissolved solids) lakes of variable anion composition. Although this study comprised only 12 lakes, distinct differences in zooplankton communities were observed among the two groups of chemically defined saline lakes. Canonical correspondence analysis identified total alkalinity, sulphate, chloride, calcium, sodium, potassium, and total phosphorus as all contributing to the first two ordination axes (λ₁ = 0.97 and λ₂ = 0.62, P<0.05). The rotifer Brachionus plicatilis and the harpactacoid copepod Cletocamptus sp. prevailed lakes with Cl-dominated water. In contrast, the calanoid copepods Leptodiaptomus sicilis and Diaptomus nevadensis were dominant in the SO₄/CO₃-dominated lake water with elevated potassium (79–128 mg l^?1) and total phosphorus concentrations (1322-2915 μg l^?1). The contrasting zooplankton species distribution among these two saline lake types is likely explained by variable selective pressure on zooplankton and their predators from differing physiological tolerances to salt stress and specific ions. While inland saline lakes with Cl as the dominant anion are relatively rare in Canada and SO₄/CO₃ are the common features, our study provided an opportunity to compare zooplankton communities across the two groups of lakes.     

High variability in iron-bound organic carbon among five boreal lake sediments

Being both stable carbon sinks and greenhouse gas sources, boreal lake sediments represent significant players in carbon (C) cycling. The release of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) into anoxic water is a widespread phenomenon in boreal lakes with impact on sediment C budgets. The association of OC with iron (Fe) is assumed to play an important role for this anoxic OC release via the dissimilatory reduction of Fe, but also to influence the stabilization of OC in sediments. To investigate the role of Fe–OC association for OC dynamics in different boreal lake sediments, we compared the content of Fe-bound OC [Fe–OC, defined as citrate bicarbonate dithionite (CBD) extractable OC] and the extent of reductive dissolution of solid-phase Fe and OC at anoxia. We found high among-lake variability in Fe–OC content, and while the amount of Fe–OC was high in three of the lakes (980–1920 µmol g^?1), the overall contribution of Fe–OC to the sediment OC pool in all study lakes was not higher than 11%. No linkages between the amount of the Fe–OC pool and lake or sediment characteristics (e.g., pH, DOC concentration, sediment OC content, C:N ratio) could be identified. The observed release of OC from anoxic sediment may be derived from dissolution of Fe–OC in the lake sediments with high Fe–OC, but in other lake sediments, OC release during anoxia exceeded the sediment Fe–OC pool, indicating low contribution of reductive Fe dissolution to OC release from these lake sediments. The range of the investigated boreal lakes reflects the high variability in the size of the sediment Fe–OC pool (0–1920 µmol g^?1) and CBD-extractable Fe (123–4050 µmol g^?1), which was not mirrored in the extent of reductive dissolution of Fe (18.9–84.6 µmol g^?1) and OC (1080–1700 µmol g^?1) during anoxia, suggesting that Fe-bound OC may play a minor role for sediment OC release in boreal lakes. However, studies of redox-related OC cycling in boreal lake sediments should consider that the amount of Fe–OC can be high in some lakes.     

Fate and Persistence of Particulate and Dissolved Microcystin-LA from Microcystis Blooms

Few studies have estimated fate and persistence of the hepatotoxic microcystins (MCs) in situ, making ecological and human health risk assessments challenging. We determined fate and persistence of MC congeners during 2 years of Microcystis blooms in a small, shallow, closed-basin lake in Ontario, Canada. In situ half-lives were compared to estimates obtained in vitro under controlled temperature and light. The blooms produced elevated microcystin-LA (MC-LA) (maximum ～4.2 mg L^?1) with minor concentrations of MC-LR, -RR, and -YR. Dissolved MC-LA declined more slowly and persisted longer than particulate MC-LA with in situ half-lives (total 1.5–8.5 days) shorter than in vitro (total 6.8–60.0 days). Half-lives in 2010 were two to eight times shorter compared to 2009, likely due to differences in bloom phenology and species/strain composition. In vitro, higher temperature (4°C → 25°C in dark), and irradiance (dark → 45 → 260 μE m^?2s^?1 at 25°C) accelerated particulate and dissolved MC-LA decline, respectively. MC-RR accumulated in surface sediments while MC-LA was near detection despite elevated surface water concentrations. MC-LA appears to persist longer in surface waters than the equally toxic MC-LR, requiring almost the entire recreational season (9.5 weeks) to reach guideline concentrations (20 μg L^?1).     

Concentration,Distribution, Source,and Risk Assessment of PAHs and Heavy Metals in Surface Water from the Three Gorges Reservoir,China

Fifteen polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heavy metals (Cr, Ni, As, Cd, Pb, and Hg) were quantified in 19 surface water sites of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China. The total concentrations of 15 PAHs and six heavy metals in the 19 sample sites ranged from 130.8 ng L^?1 to 227.5 ng L^?1 and 3.2 μg L^?1 to 6.0 μg L^?1, respectively. The mean concentration of As was the highest among the six heavy metals (2.1 ± 0.3 μg L^?1), followed by Cr (0.5 ± 0.3 μg L^?1), Ni (1.3 ± 0.1 μg L^?1), Cd (0.2 ± 0.01 μg L^?1), Pb (0.07 ± 0.08 μ g L^?1) and Hg (0.05 ± 0.08 μg L^?1). The isomer ratio results suggest that PAHs at most sites were mainly from petroleum combustion, while coal and biomass combustion was the main source at sites 1, 2, 6, 7, 9, 14, and 17. Based on principal component analysis, the main source of heavy metals was anthropogenic activities and weathering of bedrocks. Depending on characteristic of RQ_(NCs) ≥ 1 and RQ_(MPCs) < 1, BaA showed higher potential ecological risk than other PAHs, therefore, all sampling site needed to be paid much more attention, included some remedial actions. Meanwhile, after assessing human health risk of heavy metal, it was unlikely to experience adverse health effects, even exposing through more pathways and six kinds of heavy metals simultaneously.     

Renal, metabolic and hematological effects of trans-retinoic acid during critical developmental windows in the embryonic chicken

All-trans-retinoic acid (tRA), an active metabolite of vitamin A, directly influences the developing kidney, and is a major regulatory signal during vertebrate organogenesis. The aim of the current study was to specifically target potential critical windows in renal development, and assess altered renal function through disruptions in embryonic fluid compartments. In addition, the effect of exogenous tRA administration on embryonic growth and metabolism was determined. Embryos were exposed to 0.1 or 0.3 mg tRA on embryonic day 8. Morphological and physiological measurements were made on days 12, 14, 16 and 18. Embryo wet mass on day 18 was reduced by 23 % (0.1 mg tRA) and 44 % (0.3 mg tRA). tRA exposure elevated mass-specific oxygen consumption in embryos exposed to 0.1 mg (21.2 ± 0.3 μL^?1 g^?1 min^?1) and 0.3 mg (23.4 ± 0.4 μL^?1 g^?1 min^?1) when compared to sham (18.9 ± 0.6 μL^?1 g^?1 min^?1) on day 14, but not subsequent incubation days. Osmolality of blood plasma was transiently lowered in embryos exposed to 0.3 mg tRA between days 14 and 16. Allantoic fluid osmolality was significantly elevated by tRA to ~220 mmol L^?1 from days 16 to 18 compared to controls. Blood plasma [Na⁺] was reduced by ~17 % over the same period, while allantoic fluid [Na⁺] was elevated in tRA-treated embryos compared to control embryos. Collectively, our data indicates that exogenous administration of tRA produces significant alterations to the developmental trajectory of the developing embryonic chicken.     

Effects of manganese on the microstructures of Chenopodium ambrosioides L., A manganese tolerant plant

Chenopodium ambrosioides L. can tolerate high concentrations of manganese and has potential for its use in the revegetation of manganese mine tailings. Following a hydroponic investigation, transmission electron microscopy (TEM)-energy disperse spectroscopy (EDS) was used to study microstructure changes and the possible accumulation of Mn in leaf cells of C. ambrosioides in different Mn treatments (200, 1000, 10000 μmol·L^?1). At 200 μmol·L^?1, the ultrastructure of C. ambrosioides was clearly visible without any obvious damage. At 1000 μmol·L^?1, the root, stem and leaf cells remained intact, and the organelles were clearly visible without any obvious damage. However, when the Mn concentration exceeded 1000 μmol·L^?1 the number of mitochondria in root cells decreased and the chloroplasts in stem cells showed a decrease in grana lamellae and osmiophilic granules. Compared to controls, treatment with 1000 μmol·L^?1 or 10000 μmol·L^?1 Mn over 30 days, gave rise to black agglomerations in the cells. At 10000 μmol·L^?1, Mn was observed to form acicular structures in leaf cells and intercellular spaces, which may be a form of tolerance and accumulation of Mn in C. ambrosioides. This study has furthered the understanding of Mn tolerance mechanisms in plants, and is potential for the revegetation of Mn-polluted soils.     

Long-term nutrient trends and harmful cyanobacterial bloom potential in hypertrophic Lake Taihu,China

Rapid economic development in China’s Lake Taihu basin during the past four decades has accelerated nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) loadings to the lake. This has caused a shift from mesotrophic to hypertrophic conditions, symptomized by harmful cyanobacterial blooms (CyanoHABs). The relationships between phytoplankton biomass as chlorophyll a (Chla) and nutrients as total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) were analyzed using historical data from 1992 to 2012 to link the response of CyanoHAB potential to long-term nutrient changes. Over the twenty year study period, annual mean Chla showed significantly positive correlations with both annual mean TN and TP (P < 0.001), reflecting a strong phytoplankton biomass response to changes in nutrient inputs to the lake. However, phytoplankton biomass responded slowly to annual changes in TN after 2002. There was not a well-defined or significant relationship between spring TN and summertime Chla. The loss of a significant fraction of spring N loading due to denitrification likely weakened this relationship. Bioavailability of both N and P during the summer plays a key role in sustaining cyanobacterial blooms. The frequency of occurrence of bloom level Chla (>20 μg L^?1) was compared to TN and TP to determine nutrient-bloom thresholds. A decline in bloom risk is expected if TN remains below 1.0 mg L^?1 and TP below 0.08 mg L^?1.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In vitro</Emphasis> sucrose concentration influences microtuber production and diosgenin content in white yam (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Dioscorea rotundata</Emphasis> Poir)

Dioscorea spp. is an important food crop in many countries and the source of the phytochemical diosgenin. Efficient microtuber production could provide source materials for farm-planting stock, for food markets, and for the production of high-diosgenin-producing cultivars. The first step in this study was optimizing the plant growth regulators for plantlet production, followed by a study of the effects of sucrose concentration on microtuber induction and diosgenin production. Significantly, more shoots (3.5) were produced at 4.65 μM (1 mg L^?1) kinetin (KIN), longer shoots (4.1 cm) were obtained at 2.46 μM (0.5 mg L^?1) indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), and root number (3.9) was significantly higher at 5.38 μM (1 mg L^?1) naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) than in other treatments. Increased sucrose concentrations in the optimized growth medium with 4.65 μM KIN and 5.38 μM NAA had significant effects on microtuber production (p < 0.01) and diosgenin content (p < 0.05). The most microtubers (6.2) were obtained with 100 g L^?1 sucrose, while those on 80 g L^?1 sucrose were the heaviest (0.7 g) and longest (7.4 mm). Microtubers formed in medium with 80 g L^?1 sucrose had significantly higher diosgenin content (3.64% [w/w]) than those in other sucrose treatments (< 2%) and was similar to that of field-grown parent tubers (3.79%). This result indicates an important role for sucrose in both microtuber growth and diosgenin production. Medium containing 4.65 μM KIN and 5.38 μM NAA is recommended for plantlet production, and medium containing 80 g L^?1 sucrose is recommended for microtuber and diosgenin production.     

Development of a Polygonum minus cell suspension culture system and analysis of secondary metabolites enhanced by elicitation

Polygonum minus has been reported to contain valuable metabolites and to date, there is no report on using cell culture technique for metabolite production in P. minus. Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) concentrations in the range of 2–6 mg L^?1 were used in a matrix of combinations with dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) concentrations in the range of 2–10 mg L^?1 as plant growth regulators (PGRs) to induce callus cultures. Media that were supplemented with 2 mg L^?1 2,4-D + 4 mg L^?1 NAA, 2 mg L^?1 2,4-D + 6 mg L^?1 NAA and 6 mg L^?1 2,4-D + 8 mg L^?1 NAA were effective for callus induction (93.3 % of the explants produced callus). To establish cell culture, the best growth was obtained from medium that was supplemented with 1 mg L^?1 2,4-D + 2 mg L^?1 NAA. From a 1-g inoculum size, the fresh weight increases exponentially after 5–10 days of culture, and a 26.71 g maximum fresh weight was obtained after 25 days of culture. The cell culture medium was then analyzed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Jasmonic acid (100, 50, 25 and 5 μM), salicylic acid (100, 50, 25 and 5 μM), yeast extract (500, 250 and 100 mg L^?1) and glass beads were used in this research as elicitors. The cell cultures were then incubated with the different elicitors for 1, 2, 3 and 4 days. Several compounds with high peak area percentages were detected, including 2-furancarboxaldehyde, 5-hydroxymethyl, furfural, and 2-cyclopenten-1-one, 2-hydroxy. These results show the diversity of metabolites released by P. minus cell into the culture medium under control conditions.