Effects of different molecular weight fractions of dissolved organic matter on the growth of bacteria,algae and protozoa from a highly humic lake

Effects of different molecular size fractions (< 1000 MW, < 10 000 MW, < 100 000 MW and <0.1 μm) of dissolved organic matter (DOM) on the growth of bacteria, algae and protozoa from a highly humic lake were investigated. DOM from catchment drainage water as well as from the lake consisted mostly (59–63%) of high molecular weight (HMW) compounds (> 10 000 MW). With excess inorganic nutrients, the growth rate and yield of bacteria were almost identical in all size fractions. However, in < 1000 MW fractions and with glucose added, a longer lag phase occurred. Without added nutrients both the growth rates and biomasses of bacteria decreased towards the smaller size fractions and the percentage of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) used during the experiment and the growth efficiency of bacteria were lower than with excess nutrients. The growth efficiency of bacteria was estimated to vary between 3–66% in different MW fractions, largely depending on the nutrient concentrations, but the highest growth efficiencies were observed in HMW fractions and with glucose. The growth of algae was clearly lowest in the < 1000 MW fraction. In dim light no net growth of algae could be found. In contrast, added nutrients substantially enhanced algal growth and in deionized water with glucose, algae achieved almost the same growth rate and biomass as in higher MW fractions of DOM. The results suggested that bacteria and some algae were favoured by DOM, but protozoans seemed to benefit only indirectly, through bacterial grazing. The utilization of DOM by bacteria and algae was strongly affected by the availability of phosphorus and nitrogen.     

Stratification of alkaline phosphatase in sediments of two urban lakes and its effect on phosphorus cycle

Phosphorus loadings in sediments play an important role in lake eutrophication and the progress of its recovery. The phosphorus release is controlled by physical, chemical and biological mechanisms. Alkaline phosphatase catalyzes remineralization of organic phosphorus and then it may be an important factor accelerating phosphorus cycling in sediments. In this paper, distributions, properties and function of alkaline phosphatase with depths in sediments of two urban lakes were discussed. Alkaline phosphatase activity (APA) in the sediments of Lake Yuehu decreased with the sediment depth. APA in sediments of Lake Yuehu was, mostly, inhibited by Phe and L-Cys; and inhibiting ability of Phe could be stronger than L-Cys. APA in deeper layer (20–30 cm) of sediments was more sensitive to the inhibitors than other layers, but range of variation in APA was most wide in the subsurface layer (10–20 cm). All the facts implied that alkaline phosphatase occurred in various forms (isoenzymes). APA in the sediments with different depths of Lake Donghu responded Phe differently. Reacted with Phe and incubated for 1 day, the amounts of SRP released by these sediments varied correspondingly. SRP on the overlying water in deeper layers (5–10 cm and 15–20 cm) of Site T1 was higher than that in surface layer (0–5 cm) of the same site, 1 day after incubation. Hence, the SRP release resulted, at least partially, from the hydrolysis of some liable organic phosphorus mediated by APA. Alkaline phosphatase in lake sediments plays an important role in the release of internal phosphorus loadings and eutrophication. A possible explanation for the sensitivity at deeper layers could be another active region of hydrolysis by alkaline phosphatase from organic phosphorus, which added a new dimension in phosphorus cycling mediated by some biochemical mechanisms.     

Plant community complexity in the arid valley of Minjiang River, southwestern China

Biocomplexity theory is becoming increasingly important in understanding natural vegetation dynamics and interrelation among all components of the ecosystem. In this study, based on the field investigation of plant species and environmental factors (altitude, microtopography, soil water content, and soil nutrients) in an arid valley of the upper reaches of Minjiang River, Sichuan Province, southwestern China, plant community complexity and its relationship with environmental factors, community diversity, species evenness and richness were studied. Both total and structural complexities of the communities showed a “high- low-high” tendency with the increase in altitude of the area, which meant that the complexity of communities was the highest at the sites of low and high altitude, whereas it was the lowest at the sites of intermediate altitude. It was found that the total community complexity had significant quadratic correlations with soil organic matter (SOM) content, total nitrogen (N), hydrolyzable N, soil water content, and available potassium (K), whereas it had no significant correlations with soil total K, total phosphorus (P), available P, and pH value. The total community complexity positively correlated with community diversity, species evenness and species richness, whereas the structural complexity negatively correlated with the community evenness. Of the two components of the total community complexity, namely, the structural complexity and the structural diversity, the structural complexity was more sensitive than the structural diversity to the changes of species in the community, which was not only related to the community evenness but also to the community richness. The relative contribution of both the structural complexity and the structural diversity to the total complexity would be different for different study areas or ecosystems.     

Response of vegetation and soil carbon accumulation rate for China's mature forest on climate change北大核心CSCD

Aims This study aims to evaluate the impacts of future climate change on vegetation and soil carbon accumulation rate in China's forests. Methods The vegetation and soil carbon storage were predicted by the atmosphere-vegetation interaction model (AVIM2) based on B2 climate change scenario during the period of 1981 2040. This study focused on mature forests in China and the forested area maintained constant over the study period. The carbon accumulation rate in year t is defined as the carbon storage of year t minus that of year t 1. Important findings Under B2 climate change scenario, mean air temperature in China's forested area was projected to rise from 7.8 °C in 1981 to 9.0 °C in 2040. The total vegetation carbon storage was then estimated to increase from 8.56 Pg C in 1981 to 9.79 Pg C in 2040, meanwhile total vegetation carbon accumulation rate was estimated to fluctuate between 0.054 0.076 Pg C•a1, with the average of 0.022 Pg C•a1. The total soil carbon storage was estimated to increase from 30.2 Pg C in 1981 to 30.72 Pg C in 2040, and total soil carbon accumulation rate was estimated to vary in the range of 0.035 0.072 Pg C•a1, with the mean of 0.010 Pg C•a1. The response of vegetation and soil carbon accumulation rate to climate change had significant spatial difference in China although the two time series did not show significant trend over the study period. Our results also showed warming was not in favor of forest carbon accumulation, so in the northeastern and southeastern forested area, especially in the Changbai Mountain, with highest temperature increase in the future, the vegetation and soil carbon accumulation rate were estimated to decrease greatly. However, in the southern of southwestern forested area and other forested area, with relatively less temperature increase, the vegetation and soil carbon accumulation rate was estimated to increase in the future.     

Temporal changes in phytoplankton structure and composition at the Turkwel Gorge Reservoir,Kenya

Temporal changes in phytoplankton chlorophyll a, composition, diversity, biomass (density and fresh weight) and primary production were investigated at the Turkwel Gorge Reservoir (Kenya) over a two year period (1994 and 1995). The phytoplankton properties investigated revealed a seasonal pattern that was very distinct in 1994 and muted in 1995. The wet season was characterized by higher levels of chlorophyll a, biomass and primary production and a lower diversity. A prominent seasonality in 1994 was found to be the result of a higher river inflow volume as compared to 1995. Chlorophyll a changes showed some positive correlation to changes in total nitrogen and total phosphorus. Diversity changes were inversely correlated to changes in total counts (R = −0.84 and −0.96 for 1994 and 1995 respectively). Individual species density changes varied from a distinct seasonal pattern to a nearly uniform density. While the diatom Achnanthes dominated the wet season in 1994, coccoid blue green algae were dominant during most of 1995. Throughout the study period, most biomass was due to the diatoms but with a lower percentage of total biomass in 1995 (40%) as compared to 1994 (88%). The wet season biomass in each year was dominated by the diatoms. Dominance of the intervening period changed irregularly between diatoms, dinoflagellates, green algae and blue green algae. The range of variation in chlorophyll a, total biomass and primary production were; 4.9 to 36.8 μg l^-1, 440.14 to 11172.70 mg m^-3 and 1.85 to 9.67 g O₂ m^-2 d^-1 in 1994 and 4.9 to 11.5 μg l^-1, 486.46 to 1351.39 mg l^-1 and 3.08 to 5.41 g O₂ m^-2 d^-1 in 1995 in the same order. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Population responses of Lake Michigan phytoplankton to nitrogen and phosphorus enrichment

A natural phytoplankton assemblage from Grand Traverse Bay, Lake Michigan, was treated with factorial enrichments of nitrate and phosphorus, with maintained nutrient concentrations ranging from 5 to 60 μg total soluble phosphorus liter⁻¹ and 0.225 to 1.12 mg nitrate-nitrogen liter⁻¹.One container was spiked with added vitamins, a chelator, and trace metals. The assemblage response was monitored at the species level. Significant differences in growth rates as a function of nutrient enrichment were detected at both the division and the species levels. Growth rates associated with the various levels of enrichment are reported for several diatom taxa. Many of the diatom taxa exhibited highly significant (P < 0.01) increases in growth rate after phosphorus enrichment, with the largest effects occurring between 5 and 15 μg total soluble phosphorus liter⁻¹. Significant (P < 0.05) N effects were also observed, and the nature of these effects was found to be taxon-specific. Taxa also showed significant changes in percent composition, due both to time and to nutrient enrichment, indicating a substantial heterogeneity in response at the species level. Experimentally induced population changes were qualitatively similar to those observed in regions of the Great Lakes which have undergone anthropogenic eutrophication. Contribution No. 222 of the Great Lakes Research Division, University of Michigan. Work was supported by funds from the Michigan Sea Grant Program and the Environmental Protection Agency. Contribution No. 222 of the Great Lakes Research Division, University of Michigan. Work was supported by funds from the Michigan Sea Grant Program and the Environmental Protection Agency.     

Carbon storage of the forests and its spatial pattern in Nei Mongol,China北大核心CSCD

Aims Forest carbon storage in Nei Mongol plays a significant role in national terrestrial carbon budget due to its large area in China. Our objectives were to estimate the carbon storage in the forest ecosystems in Nei Mongol and to quantify its spatial pattern. Methods Field survey and sampling were conducted at 137 sites that distributed evenly across the forest types in the study region. At each site, the ecosystem carbon density was estimated thorough sampling and measuring different pools of soil (0 100 cm) and vegetation, including biomass of tree, grass, shrub, and litter. Regional carbon storage was calculated with the estimated carbon density for each forest type. Important findings Carbon storage of vegetation layer in forests in Nei Mongol was 787.8 Tg C, with the biomass of tree, litter, herbaceous and shrub accounting for 93.5%, 3.0%, 2.7% and 0.8%, respectively. Carbon density of vegetation layer was 40.4 t•hm2, with 35.6 t•hm2 in trees, 2.9 t•hm2 in litter, 1.2 t•hm2 in herbaceous and 0.6 t•hm2 in shrubs. In comparison, carbon storage of soil layer in forests in Nei Mongol was 2 449.6 Tg C, with 79.8% distributed in the first 30 cm. Carbon density of soil layer was 144.4 t•hm2. Carbon storage of forest ecosystem in Nei Mongol was 3 237.4 Tg C, with vegetation and soil accounting for 24.3% and 75.7%, respectively. Carbon density of forest ecosystems in Nei Mongol was 184.5 t•hm2. Carbon density of soil layer was positively correlated with that of vegetation layer. Spatially, both carbon storage and carbon density were higher in the eastern area, where the climate is more humid. Forest reserves and artificial afforestations can significantly improve the capacity of regional carbon sink.     

Carbon storage and potentials of the broad-leaved forest in alpine region of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau,China北大核心CSCD

Aims Our objective was to explore the vegetation carbon storages and their variations in the broad-leaved forests in the alpine region of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau that includes Qinghai Province and Xizang Autonomous Region. Methods Based on forest resource inventory data and field sampling, this paper studied the carbon storage, its sequestration rate, and the potentials in the broad-leaved forests in the alpine region of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau. Important findings The vegetation carbon storage in the broad-leaved forest accounted for 310.70 Tg in 2011, with the highest value in the broad-leaved mixed forest and the lowest in Populus forest among the six broad-leaved forests that include Quercus, Betula, Populus, other hard broad-leaved species, other soft broad-leaved species, and the broadleaved mixed forest. The carbon density of the broad-leaved forest was 89.04 Mg•hm2, with the highest value in other hard broad-leaved species forest and the lowest in other soft broad-leaved species forest. The carbon storage and carbon density in different layers of the forests followed a sequence of overstory layer > understory layer > litter layer > grass layer > dead wood layer, which all increased with forest age. In addition, the carbon storage of broad-leaved forest increased from 304.26 Tg in 2001 to 310.70 Tg in 2011. The mean annual carbon sequestration and its rate were 0.64 Tg•a1 and 0.19 Mg•hm2•a1, respectively. The maximum and minimum of the carbon sequestration rate were respectively found in other soft broad-leaved species forest and other hard broad-leaved species forest, with the highest value in the mature forest and the lowest in the young forest. Moreover, the carbon sequestration potential in the tree layer of broad-leaved forest reached 19.09 Mg•hm2 in 2011, with the highest value found in Quercus forest and the lowest in Betula forest. The carbon storage increased gradually during three inventory periods, indicating that the broad-leaved forest was well protected to maintain a healthy growth by the forest protection project of Qinghai Province and Xizang Autonomous Region.     

拉杰沙希大学校园药用植物菌根研究

Forty different medicinal plants were investigated for arbuscular mycorrhizal association in the Rajshahi University Campus in Bangladesh. The results indicated that 35 different plants were infected by AM (arbuscular mycorrhizal) fungi as found by trypan blue staining procedure. The percentage of root colonization by AM fungi varied from 13.3% to 100%. Mangifera indica and Morus indica have maximum percentage of colonization (100%). The intensity of root colonization were abundant in the plants belonging to the families Anacardiaceae, Asclepiadaceae, Moraceae, Leguminosae and Apocynaceae whereas the intensity of colonization of crop roots were moderate and poor belonging to Gramineae and Leguminosae. The presence of greater number of spore in soil was always associated with the incidence of abundant mycelia. In plant roots the formation of spore and mycelia was restricted by low pH. Number of mycorrhizal fungus spores ranged between 35 to100 per 100g air dried soil in different family respective soils. The frequency of mycorrhizal fungus infection showed positive correlation with soil pH, moisture, water holding capacity, texture, total nitrogen, organic carbon, phosphorus, calcium, potassium, and magnesium. Especially phosphorus and nitrogen in the soil greatly influenced the plant root infection by AM fungi.     

Plant community complexity in the arid valley of Minjiang River, southwestern China

Biocomplexity theory is becoming increasingly important in understanding natural vegetation dynamics and interrelation among all components of the ecosystem. In this study, based on the field investigation of plant species and environmental factors (altitude, microtopography, soil water content, and soil nutrients) in an arid valley of the upper reaches of Minjiang River, Sichuan Province, southwestern China, plant community complexity and its relationship with environmental factors, community diversity, species evenness and richness were studied. Both total and structural complexities of the communities showed a “high- low-high” tendency with the increase in altitude of the area, which meant that the complexity of communities was the highest at the sites of low and high altitude, whereas it was the lowest at the sites of intermediate altitude. It was found that the total community complexity had significant quadratic correlations with soil organic matter (SOM) content, total nitrogen (N), hydrolyzable N, soil water content, and available potassium (K), whereas it had no significant correlations with soil total K, total phosphorus (P), available P, and pH value. The total community complexity positively correlated with community diversity, species evenness and species richness, whereas the structural complexity negatively correlated with the community evenness. Of the two components of the total community complexity, namely, the structural complexity and the structural diversity, the structural complexity was more sensitive than the structural diversity to the changes of species in the community, which was not only related to the community evenness but also to the community richness. The relative contribution of both the structural complexity and the structural diversity to the total complexity would be different for different study areas or ecosystems.     

黄土高原沟壑区小流域坡地土壤养分分布特征

坡地土壤质量退化以及生产力下降是限制坡地植被恢复的主要因素,而坡地土壤质量和生产力在很大程度上取决于土壤养分状况。通过野外调查和室内分析相结合的方法,研究了黄土高原沟壑区坡地土壤养分分布特征,结果表明坡地土壤主要养分含量均随土壤层次的加深而降低,其中以有机碳和全氮降低最多,而硝、铵态氮和全磷降低较少;坡地不同土层土壤有机碳和全氮表现出较大的变异性,土壤铵态氮和全磷的变异较小。0．005～0．05mm土壤颗粒含量随土层加深而增加,0．05～1mm颗粒含量随土层加深而降低;〈0．005mm土壤颗粒含量在0～40cm土层变异很大,而0．005～0．05mm和0．05～1mm的土壤颗粒在所有土层变异都很小。有机碳、全氮、全磷和〈0．005mm颗粒从坡顶向下呈增加的趋势,其分布与坡度和坡长有关,其变异性随坡度和坡长的增加而增大。坡面较长时,〈0．005mm颗粒易于在坡面中、下部累积,坡度较大时则易于迁移出坡面。坡面土壤有机碳、全氮和全磷均在坡底部富集,其富集程度和位置因坡长和坡度而异,长缓坡有利于养分富集,短陡坡利于养分迁出。坡度较小时坡面不同位置土壤养分剖面分布主要由坡面土壤性质变异引起,随坡度的增加,土壤侵蚀便逐渐成为坡面养分分布的主导因子。坡上部碳、氮养分流失的深度也随坡度的增加而加深,而不同坡位全磷的剖面分布与坡度的关系较差。因此,在坡地土壤养分调控中必须综合考虑坡度和坡长因素。     

气候、植被及土壤因素交互作用对宁夏土壤有机碳的影响机制

基于宁夏全区121个土壤剖面样点,研究不同深度(0—30、30—80、80—120cm)土壤有机碳的空间分布特征,通过相关性、方差分解和构建结构方程模型,分析气候、植被和土壤因素对宁夏不同深度土壤有机碳的影响及其作用途径。结果表明：(1)宁夏不同深度土壤有机碳含量均呈现中间低南北高的空间分布趋势,0—120cm剖面土壤有机碳含量随着土壤深度的增加而降低,土壤有机碳含量均值为5.49g/kg,变异系数达90.71%,含量偏低且空间异质性强。(2)各土层土壤有机碳与年均气温、干燥度、碳酸钙、pH均呈现极显著的负相关性(P<0.01),与年均降水量、相对湿度、植被净初级生产力、全氮、全磷、全钾、钙离子、阳离子交换量、粘粒含量均呈现极显著的正相关性(P<0.01)。(3)各因素对不同土层土壤有机碳的作用方式和影响程度有差异。土壤全氮、全磷、碳酸钙、阳离子交换量均能直接影响土壤有机碳,年均气温和植被净初级生产力对土壤有机碳的直接影响效应不显著,主要通过土壤属性间接影响土壤有机碳含量。随着土层深度的增加,气候和植被因素作用明显减弱,土壤因素作用增强并成为主要影响因素。该结果有助于宁夏土...     

太湖沉积物微生物生物量及其与碳、氮、磷的相关性

对太湖沉积物中微生物生物量碳(MBc)、氮(MBN)、磷(MBp),以及沉积物总有机碳(TOC)、总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)进行测定并进行相关性分析,揭示太湖沉积物微生物对太湖沉积物营养盐的响应及反馈特征.结果表明:沉积物微生物生物量(MB)在湖体沿岸地区大于湖心区,平均值为184.66 mg·kg-1,MBc在西部沿岸区以及竺山湾和梅梁湾区域较高,平均值为127.57 mg·kg-1;MBN在梅梁湾、贡湖部分区域以及靠近梅梁湾和贡湖的湖心区域和东部沿岸区较高,平均值为19.25 mg·kg-1;MBp在东部沿岸区及其附近的湖心区最高,平均值为19.09 mg·kg-1;沉积物TOC高值区(≥2.30 g· kg-1)主要集中在竺山湾、西部沿岸区、梅梁湾、贡湖地区,平均值为1.59 g·kg-1;沉积物TN高值区(≥0.30g· kg-1)主要集中在贡湖、梅梁湾、竺山湾部分地区以及西部沿岸区,平均值为0.21 g·kg-1;沉积物TP高值区(≥1.20g·kg-1)主要集中在东部沿岸区以及湖心部分区域,平均值为0.55 g·kg-1;太湖沉积物TOC/TN在7～19,平均值为8.97,表明太湖沉积物中的有机质具有明显的双重来源,其中陆源有机质主要集中在西部沿岸区;太湖沉积物MB与沉积物TOC和TN呈显著正相关,与沉积物TP相关性不显著;沉积物MBc/MBN与沉积物TOC/TN显著相关.太湖沉积物微生物主要受沉积物TOC、TN影响,且沉积物TOC/TN的变化显著影响微生物群落结构.     

陕西渭北柿子园种植白三叶草对土壤养分和生物学性质的影响

种植豆科绿肥可以有效增加氮肥来源,提高水土保持能力,改善生态环境与土壤质量,是促进农业生产可持续发展的重要措施之一.本试验研究了柿子园种植白三叶草对土壤养分和生物学性质的影响,以探明果园种植豆科绿肥在土壤肥力改良与经济效益提升方面的潜力.设柿子园清耕、种植白三叶草2个处理,于2017年9月14日分别采集0～10、10～20、20～30和30～40 cm土层样品,以分析两个处理对土壤有机质、速效氮、微生物生物量碳、氮和酶活性的影响.结果表明: 与清耕相比,生草后的整个被测土层的有机质、速效氮、微生物生物量碳、氮及脲酶、蔗糖酶、过氧化氢酶、碱性磷酸酶活性均增加,其中,0～10 cm土层生草处理的有机质、微生物生物量碳增加效果显著,10～20 cm土层速效氮含量增加效果显著,0～20 cm土层中脲酶活性显著增加,而过氧化氢酶活性、蔗糖酶及土壤酶活性的几何平均值(GME)则在整个被测土层都显著增加.表明果园生草能改善土壤肥力状况,在一定程度上可减少化肥氮投入量,提高果园经济效益,是一种优良的果园栽培模式.     

Temporal and spatial patterns of organic carbon are linked to egg deposition by beach spawning horseshoe crabs (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Limulus polyphemus</Emphasis>)

The spring spawning by the American horseshoe crab (Limulus polyphemus L.) results in temporally and spatially discrete inputs of eggs onto sandy beaches in Delaware Bay, USA. We tested the hypothesis that seasonal patterns of sediment organic carbon on Delaware Bay beaches is linked to this pulsed input of horseshoe crab eggs. At a location with minimal horseshoe crab spawning activity (Higbee Beach), there was little seasonal variation in sediment organic carbon, no distinction between organic carbon levels as a function of shoreline position or sediment depth, and no significant correlation between the abundance of crab eggs and percent organic carbon. Conversely, at a prime horseshoe crab spawning habitat (North Beach), organic carbon levels were seasonally pulsed and were correlated with egg abundance. Moreover, the strongest evidence of seasonality was seen at the middle foreshore location at the 15–20 cm depth, consistent with the highest input of horseshoe crab eggs. Although some of the organic carbon contributed by horseshoe crab eggs in May–June leaves the beach in the form of hatched larvae later in the year, there is a net input of organic carbon to the system in the form of unfertilized and/or dead eggs, egg membranes, and embryonic molts. We suggest that the inputs of eggs from horseshoe crabs and other beach spawning animals, such as grunion and capelin, make significant contributions to the energy budget of sandy beaches.     

冬虫夏草生境选择主导因子

采用样方法对冬虫夏草生境的海拔、坡度、植被和土壤等环境因子进行了探索研究。结果表明:(1)冬虫夏草主要分布在海拔4000～4500m、坡度为15°～30°的上坡位高山草甸中。(2)PCA分析表明:植被和地形是影响冬虫夏草分布的主导因子。(3)不同深度土壤养分含量统计分析表明:在不同深度层次的土壤中,水分、pH值、全氮和全磷的差异不显著,有机质、有机碳、水解氮和有效磷的差异极显著。(4)对土壤养分含量判别分析表明:5cm土壤中,吸湿水、有机碳、有机质和水解氮显著影响冬虫夏草种群分布;15cm土壤中,全氮显著影响冬虫夏草种群分布;25cm土壤中,吸湿水、有机碳和有机质显著影响冬虫夏草种群分布;而自由水、pH值、全磷和有效磷对冬虫夏草种群分布的影响不显著。(5)植物盖度、植物数量和坡度直接影响冬虫夏草种群分布,而土壤则通过影响植物和土壤温湿度来间接影响冬虫夏草种群分布。     

Nitrogen and carbon isotope fractionation by two species of marine amphipods: Laboratory and field studies

The fractionation of the stable nitrogen and carbon isotopes between two species of marine amphipods and their food sources was investigated in both field and laboratory studies. The nitrogen isotope ratios showed a strong species effect. Amphithoe valida Smith grown in the laboratory averaged ?0.3‰ relative to several food sources. Parhyale hawaiensis (Dana) was +2.3‰ relative to its diets. Animals from the field showed similar differences from the macrophytic algae on which they were found. The carbon isotope composition of both species averaged ?0.7‰ relative to their diets. Laboratory animals fed fresh algae were slightly more negative than field animals or animals fed detrital algae.     

Abundance and activity of microorganisms at the water-sediment interface and their effect on the carbon isotopic composition of suspended organic matter and sediments of the Kara Sea

At ten stations of the meridian profile in the eastern Kara Sea from the Yenisei estuary through the shallow shelf and further through the St. Anna trough, total microbial numbers (TMN) determined by direct counting, total activity of the microbial community determined by dark CO₂ assimilation (DCA), and the carbon isotopic composition of organic matter in suspension and upper sediment horizons (δ¹³C, ‰) were investigated. Three horizons were studied in detail: (1) the near-bottom water layer (20–30 cm above the sediment); (2) the uppermost, strongly hydrated sediment horizon, further termed fluffy layer (5–10 mm); and (3) the upper sediment horizon (1–5 cm). Due to a decrease in the amount of isotopically light carbon of terrigenous origin with increasing distance from the Yenisei estuary, the TMN and DCA values decreased, and the δ¹³C changed gradually from ?29.7 to ?23.9‰. At most stations, a noticeable decrease in TMN and DCA values with depth was observed in the water column, while the carbon isotopic composition of suspended organic matter did not change significantly. Considerable changes of all parameters were detected in the interface zone: TMN and DCA increased in the sediments compared to their values in near-bottom water, while the 13C content increased significantly, with δ¹³C of organic matter in the sediments being at some stations 3.5–4.0‰ higher than in the near-bottom water. Due to insufficient illumination in the near-bottom zone, newly formed isotopically heavy organic matter (δ¹³C ～ ?20‰) could not be formed by photosynthesis; active growth of chemoautotrophic microorganisms in this zone is suggested, which may use reduced sulfur, nitrogen, and carbon compounds diffusing from anaerobic sediments. High DCA values for the interface zone samples confirm this hypothesis. Moreover, neutrophilic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria were retrieved from the samples of this zone.     

The response of planktonic and microbenthic algal assemblages to nutrient enrichment in shallow coastal waters,southwest Sweden

Field and laboratory nutrient (nitrogen and phosphorus) enrichment experiments were performed using natural phytoplankton and microphytobenthic assemblages from the brackish water Öresund, S.W. Sweden. The response of algae from a low-nutrient area (Falsterbo Canal) was compared to that of algae from a polluted, nutrient-rich area (Lomma Bay).The biomass (measured as chlorophyll a) of both phytoplankton and microphytobenthos from the Falsterbo Canal increased after the addition of nitrogen. Phytoplankton growth was stimulated by the addition of phosphorus to the nitrogen-rich water of the polluted Lomma Bay. Sediment chlorophyll a showed no significant increase after the addition of nutrients in the Lomma Bay. In containers without sediment, phytoplankton uptake was calculated to account for ≈ 90% of the disappearance of inorganic fixed nitrogen from the water. In the sediment containers the microphytobenthos was estimated to account for ≈20% of the nitrogen uptake. The rest was presumably lost mainly through denitrification.When containers with microphytobenthos from Lomma Bay were kept in the dark, phosphorus was released at a rate of up to ≈ 180 μM · m^?2 · day^?1. We suggest that by producing oxygen microbenthic algae keep the sediment surface oxygenated thereby decreasing phosphorus transport from the sediment to the overlying water.     

The use of carbon isotope ratios to evaluate legume contribution to soil enhancement in tropical pastures

Soil carbon distribution with depth, stable carbon isotope ratios in soil organic matter and their changes as a consequence of the presence of legume were studied in three 12-year-old tropical pastures (grass alone —Brachiaria decumbens (C₄), legume alone —Pueraria phaseoloides (C₃) and grass + legume) on an Oxisol in Colombia. The objective of this study was to determine the changes that occurred in the¹³C isotope composition of soil from a grass + legume pasture that was established by cultivation of a native savanna dominated by C₄ vegetation. The¹³C natural abundance technique was used to estimate the amount of soil organic carbon originating from the legume. Up to 29% of the organic carbon in soil of the grass + legume pasture was estimated to be derived from legume residues in the top 0–2-cm soil depth, which decreased to 7% at 8–10 cm depth. Improvements in soil fertility resulting from the soil organic carbon originated from legume residues were measured as increased potential rates of nitrogen mineralization and increased yields of rice in a subsequent crop after the grass + legume pasture compared with the grass-only pasture. We conclude that the¹³C natural abundance technique may help to predict the improvements in soil quality in terms of fertility resulting from the presence of a forage legume (C₃) in a predominantly C₄ grass pasture.