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。     

流沙湾海草床海域浮游植物的时空分布及其影响因素

2008年2月至11月对广东省流沙湾海草床海域的浮游植物进行了周年的季节调查,结果共检出浮游植物151种:冬季57种、春季66种、夏季73种、秋季66种,其中硅藻门44属123种,占浮游植物种类数的81.4%;甲藻门11属26种,占浮游植物种类数的17.2%;绿藻门和蓝藻门各1属1种,各占浮游植物种类数的0.7%。优势种共有26种,主要为夜光藻Noctiluca scintillans、威氏角毛藻Chaetoceros weissflogii、圆海链藻Thalassiosira rotula、菱形海线藻Thalassionema nitzschioides等,都是链状群体或个体较细长或较大的种类,没有个体较短小的优势种群;各季节间共有种类数在22-43种,Jaccard种类相似性指数范围在0.211-0.448,多样性指数和均匀度平均值分别为2.12和0.35,群落结构较脆弱;细胞丰度在0.24×10⁴-5.72×10⁴ 个/L,秋季最高,夏季次之,冬季最低,属季节单峰型变化,与一般亚热带春、秋季出现丰度高峰不一致。相关性分析发现,浮游植物丰度与活性硅酸盐呈极显著的正相关,与盐度呈显著的负相关,与其他因子不存在明显的相关性;叶绿素a浓度与水温呈极显著的负相关,与浮游动物丰度呈显著的负相关。从浮游植物吸收N、P的配比分析,N为四季的营养限制因子,但从N、P的绝对值看,N和P都是全年的营养限制因子,因此其水质营养类型属于亚热带贫营养型。     

热冲击和加氯后亚热带海区浮游植物细胞数量的动态变化

 近年来, 随着电厂在河口和港湾等生态脆弱区和敏感区的急剧增多, 电厂冷却系统热冲击和加氯对浮游生物造成的伤害已成为沿海地区非常严峻的生态安全问题。为探明冷却系统升温和加氯联合作用对亚热带海区浮游植物的影响程度, 针对滨海电厂的实际运作情况, 在室内对采自浙江省乐清湾海域的四季浮游植物进行了不同水平的热冲击和加氯胁迫, 并观察了这些浮游植物细胞数量在15 d内的动态变化。结果表明, 热冲击、加氯和季节均显著影响浮游植物细胞数量的恢复(p＜0.001), 其中, 加氯的影响最大, 季节次之, 热冲击影响最小, 但热冲击增强了氯对浮游植物的毒性。自然水温越高、升温幅度越大, 细胞数量恢复越慢。春、秋、冬季自然水温较低时, 升温4～12 ℃后, 细胞数量仅需1～6 d即可恢复到对照组水平; 夏季自然水温较高, 升温4～8 ℃后, 细胞数量需4～9 d恢复到对照组水平, 但升温12 ℃后, 细胞数量在15 d内未能恢复到对照组水平。加氯浓度越高, 细胞数量恢复越慢。加氯1.0～1.8 mg•L^−1后, 浮游植物生长虽受影响, 但大多能在15 d内恢复; 而加氯5.6 mg•L^−1后, 其生长受到完全抑制, 细胞数量在15 d内未恢复到对照组水平。     

体重和盐度对中国蛤蜊耗氧率和排氨率的影响

采用室内实验生态方法研究了不同软体部干重((1.022 ±0.821)、(0.557±0.266)、(0.303±0.277) g)和盐度(13、18、23、28、33)对中国蛤蜊(Mactra chinensis Philippi)耗氧率和排氨率的影响。结果表明:盐度、个体大小对中国蛤蜊耗氧率的影响极显著(P＜0.01),二者的交互作用对中国蛤蜊耗氧率影响显著(P＜0.05);中国蛤蜊单位体重耗氧率(R₀)与软体部干重(W)负相关,符合幂函数方程R₀=aW^-b, 其中a值的取值范围是0.695-1.762,平均值为1.449,b值的取值范围是0.446-0.587,平均值为0.542。盐度、个体大小对中国蛤蜊排氨率影响也极显著(P＜0.01);随着中国蛤蜊个体的增大,其单位体重排氨率逐渐降低;排氨率与其软体部干重呈负相关,它们之间可以用幂函数R_N=a₀W^-b₀表示。单位体重耗氧率和排氨率与盐度(S)、软体部干重(W)的二元线性回归方程分别为: R_O=2.111-1.817W+0.49S (R²=0.546, F=34.294, P＜0.001);R_N=168.186-120.589W+1.734S (R²=0.561, F=36.418, P＜0.001)。     

兴安落叶松林生物量、地表枯落物量及土壤有机碳储量随林分生长的变化差异

有关生物量碳随林分生长变化研究较多,而相关土壤有机碳储量随林分生长变化研究较少且结论争议较大。通过对二者随林分生长变化差异的比较,旨在探讨是否可以通过简单林分生长指标来判断土壤有机碳的变化规律。对兴安落叶松人工林分布区内139个样地的生物量与土壤碳动态研究结果表明:(1)林龄是指示生物量碳累积的可靠参数。兴安落叶松个体大小(胸径、树高和单株生物量)随着林龄的增大不断增加,相关性显著(P<0.001),而林分生物量密度随林龄的增大呈线性上升(R²=0.2-0.6,P<0.001)。(2)地表凋落物量与林龄表现显著的二次曲线相关,前37a上升而后开始下降。地表凋落物量与林木大小、生物量密度均相关显著(R²=0.14-0.82,P<0.001),但与树高相关性最高,显示树高变化对于评价地表枯落物生物量可能更有效。(3)林龄、林木大小和林分生物量密度均与土壤不同层碳存在相类似的相关关系。深层土壤有机碳(>40cm)与林龄显著负相关(P<0.05),表层土壤有机碳有增加趋势 (P>0.05),这使得0-40 cm与40-80 cm土壤有机碳储量比值随林龄增加而显著增加(P<0.01);与此类似,林木平均大小也与深层土壤有机碳显著负相关(P<0.05),而表层与深层有机碳储量比值随林木大小(胸径与树高)的增大也呈显著上升趋势(P<0.05);但同时考虑林木个体大小和林分密度的林分生物量密度(地上和地下),并没有发现明显的显著相关关系。这些结果说明,评价土壤有机碳变化的指标中,林龄、树高和胸径可能更优于较为复杂的生物量密度等指标。考虑到深层土壤较表层具有更长期的稳定性,这种表层与深层土壤有机碳比值的增加,意味着土壤碳有向表层积聚而深层减少的趋势,这可能使得土壤有机碳更容易受外界环境变化(如火灾等)的影响。落叶松人工林群落碳储量随林龄增加的变化规律明显,除了占主要部分的生物量碳之外,土壤碳累积值得关注,这一发现对于以固碳增汇为目标的碳汇林建设具有指导意义。     

鄱阳湖越冬白鹤家庭行为

2012年11月至2013年3月,采用焦点取样法,对在江西鄱阳湖国家级自然保护区内越冬的白鹤(Grus leucogeranus)家庭行为进行了研究。结果表明,以家庭为活动单位的白鹤群,成年白鹤活动时间分配比例为:取食80.9%、警戒10.5%、理羽4.0%、游走3.9%、其他0.7%;越冬早期,成年白鹤游走行为的日节律呈现早、晚高,中午低,低谷在10:30~12:30时;越冬晚期,13:00~14:00时出现明显的取食低谷及警戒、游走和理羽的高峰;而越冬早期、中期的理羽高峰出现在14:00~15:00时;成年白鹤雄性与雌性的活动时间分配比例差异不显著;越冬期早、中、晚三个时期,成年白鹤的警戒(F=3.45,P=0.040)、理羽(F=6.99, P=0.001)及游走(F=7.79, P=0.001)行为比例差异显著。幼鹤活动时间分配比例与成年白鹤差异非常显著。幼鹤活动时间分配比例为:取食66.2%、乞食14.0%、警戒3.7%、理羽5.4%、游走3.6%、其他7.1%。雄性成鹤对幼鹤的喂饲频次呈递减趋势,雌性成鹤对幼鹤的喂饲频次从11月底到12月初呈上升趋势,12月中旬以后呈递减状态。整个越冬期,雄、雌成鹤喂饲幼鹤频次无显著性别差异(P=0.340),但越冬中期(P<0.001)及晚期(P=0.005)表现出极显著差异。随着幼鹤的成长,其活动时间节律发生较大变化;幼鹤取食行为比例明显增加,同时其乞食行为的比例显著减少,警戒行为比例显著增加。本次研究从行为学的角度展示了成年白鹤性别差异、幼鹤的生长过程及成鹤对幼鹤生长的重要性。     

青藏东缘若尔盖高寒草甸中小型土壤动物群落特征及季节变化

中小型土壤动物是生态系统的重要组成部分。为了查明高寒草甸生态系统的中小型土壤动物群落特征及其变化动态,2008至2009年间,利用定位观测方法对青藏东缘若尔盖高寒草甸的中小型土壤动物进行了5次调查。结果为:(1)捕获中小型土壤动物9318只,隶属于3门7纲88类;平均密度为39941.67 个/m²;大类群中,线虫纲(Nematoda)的个体数占总个体数的91.50%,蛛形纲(Arachnida)(主要为蜱螨目)、弹尾纲(Collembola)、寡毛纲(Oligochaeta)和昆虫纲(Insecta)分别占3.73%、2.55%、1.12%和1.07%;(2)土壤动物的群落密度、类群数、密度-类群指数、Shannon指数、Simpson指数和Pielou指数均有显著的季节差异(P<0.01或P<0.05),表明高寒草甸生态系统的中小型土壤动物群落多样性对季节变化具有高度敏感性;(3)线虫纲、蛛形纲、弹尾纲、寡毛纲和昆虫纲的密度变化趋势基本一致,并均有显著的季节差异(P<0.05);(4)各季节间的Sorensen群落相似性系数低于Morisita-Horn相似性系数,表明季节变化对群落物种组成的影响相对较强,对优势类群个体密度的影响相对较弱;(5)中小型土壤动物群落的类群数和密度,以及弹尾纲、寡毛纲和昆虫纲的密度均与温度有显著的负相关(P<0.01或P<0.05),线虫和蛛形纲的密度与温度和降水均有不显著的负相关(P>0.05)。研究结果表明若尔盖高寒草甸的中小型土壤动物群落组成和多样性具有明显的季节特征,而温度是影响其季节变化的最主要气候因素;另外,从温度、降水及其年间变化对中小型土壤动物的影响可知全球气候变暖在短期内将会对高寒草甸土壤动物群落产生不利的影响。     

敌百虫对中肋骨条藻生长的影响

研究了有机磷农药敌百虫对中肋骨条藻Skeletonema costatum生长的影响。相对于水生甲壳类和鱼类,敌百虫对中肋骨条藻毒性较低,72 h半抑制浓度(EC₅₀)为84.8 mg/L。在31 d的亚慢性暴露下,低浓度组(≤10 mg/L)藻细胞生长趋势与对照组相似;50 mg/L的敌百虫在暴露初期对骨条藻的生长具有明显抑制作用,但在暴露15 d后,该浓度组藻细胞密度仍保持增长,最大细胞密度为2.77×10⁷ cells/mL,是对照组的137.7%。100 mg/L则能完全抑制藻细胞的生长。本实验结果说明敌百虫等有机磷农药的广泛使用可能会刺激浮游植物的生长,从而增加引发赤潮的风险。     

地上竞争对林下红松生物量分配的影响

采用整株收获法研究林下红松地上、地下生物量分配特征及地上竞争对其生物量分配和生物量相对生长的影响。结果表明,(1)将整个树冠划分为等长的上、中、下三层,活枝生物量从上层到下层逐渐增加,而针叶生物量主要集中在树冠中下层且在中下层的分布无显著差异(P>0.05),随着地下生物量逐渐增加,小细根(<2 mm)、粗细根(2-5 mm)的比例逐渐减小,而粗根(>5 mm)所占比例逐渐增大;(2)地上竞争强度与胸径、树高呈显著指数相关(P<0.001),随着竞争强度增大,胸径和树高均逐渐减小,树高胸径比与竞争强度呈显著线性相关(P<0.05),而树冠比率与竞争强度之间无显著相关性(P>0.05);(3)随着竞争强度增大,树干生物量占整株生物量的相对比例逐渐减小,而细根(小细根和粗细根)生物量相对比例逐渐增大,活枝、针叶及粗根生物量相对比例与竞争强度相关性并不显著(P>0.05);(4)红松根冠比均值为0.15且根冠比并不受地上竞争的影响,茎叶比与竞争强度的相关性亦不显著(P>0.05);(5)地上竞争显著影响红松地上各器官生物量的相对生长,且竞争强度与生物量呈显著负相关(P<0.001)。     

异质性光照下匍匐茎草本狗牙根克隆整合的耗益

在一盆栽实验中,将匍匐茎草本植物狗牙根克隆分株对进行异质性光照处理,对远端分株(幼年)分别进行不同程度的遮荫,并对分株对之间的匍匐茎进行保持连接或是切断处理。结果显示:在中度遮荫时,切断匍匐茎连接显著降低了远端分株的生物量和净光合速率(Pn);在重度遮荫时,切断匍匐茎连接显著降低了远端分株的分株数、叶片数、生物量、净光合速率(Pn)、最大光量子产量(Fv/Fm)和实际光量子产量(ФPSⅡ),克隆整合缓解了遮荫胁迫对远端分株生长的影响。在中度遮荫时,保持匍匐茎连接显著提高了近端分株的净光合速率(Pn);在重度遮荫时,保持匍匐茎连接显著提高了近端分株的最大光量子产量(Fv/Fm)、实际光量子产量(ФPSⅡ)和净光合速率(Pn),克隆整合使得相连未受胁迫近端分株的光合效率表现出补偿性增加。相比于匍匐茎切断处理,当远端分株遭受重度遮荫胁迫时,克隆整合引起近端未受胁迫分株生物量显著降低,而整个克隆片段生物量没有显著变化。因此,当远端分株遭受重度遮荫胁迫时,匍匐茎草本狗牙根可能采取一种风险分摊策略以降低基株死亡风险,这样一种策略对于维持克隆植物在异质性生境中基株适合度具有重要意义。     

Petroleum biodegradation in marine environments

Petroleum-based products are the major source of energy for industry and daily life. Petroleum is also the raw material for many chemical products such as plastics, paints, and cosmetics. The transport of petroleum across the world is frequent, and the amounts of petroleum stocks in developed countries are enormous. Consequently, the potential for oil spills is significant, and research on the fate of petroleum in a marine environment is important to evaluate the environmental threat of oil spills, and to develop biotechnology to cope with them. Crude oil is constituted from thousands of components which are separated into saturates, aromatics, resins and asphaltenes. Upon discharge into the sea, crude oil is subjected to weathering, the process caused by the combined effects of physical, chemical and biological modification. Saturates, especially those of smaller molecular weight, are readily biodegraded in marine environments. Aromatics with one, two or three aromatic rings are also efficiently biodegraded; however, those with four or more aromatic ring are quite resistant to biodegradation. The asphaltene and resin fractions contain higher molecular weight compounds whose chemical structures have not yet been resolved. The biodegradability of these compounds is not yet known. It is known that the concentrations of available nitrogen and phosphorus in seawater limit the growth and activities of hydrocarbon-degrading microorganisms in a marine environment. In other words, the addition of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers to an oil-contaminated marine environment can stimulate the biodegradation of spilled oil. This notion was confirmed in the large-scale operation for bioremediation after the oil spill from the Exxon Valdez in Alaska. Many microorganisms capable of degrading petroleum components have been isolated. However, few of them seem to be important for petroleum biodegradation in natural environments. One group of bacteria belonging to the genus Alcanivorax does become predominant in an oil-contaminated marine environment, especially when nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers are added to stimulate the growth of endogenous microorganisms.     

溢油事故中渔业资源损失的数值模拟评估模式

海洋溢油污染不仅关系到天然渔业资源、海鸟等生物、海域环境、海岸线生态的破坏,而且对渔业、捕捞业、旅游业都会造成巨大损失,甚至会直接或间接地危害人类的健康。短期来看,一方面石油、燃料油等进入海洋后,对海洋生物资源造成影响;另一方面会危害附近海区的海洋环境,侵害海洋生物以及海鸟赖以生存和栖息的环境。长期来看,持续的海洋污染会导致的生态环境失衡,海洋的生产力也随之下降。溢油事故中的渔业资源损失评估作为追究污染事故责任,尽快恢复海域资源与环境的重要一环需要不断改进创新。为了定量确定海洋溢油事故发生后渔业资源的损失程度,将传统的评估模式与现代科学技术相结合,通过海洋动力学、流体力学、海洋生物学、环境化学等多个学科交叉融合,将流场风场模型、溢油模型、海域调查监测、卫星遥感技术、毒性效应和渔业资源的损失评估方法相结合,形成一种渔业资源损失评估的数值模拟评估模式,以完善溢油事故中渔业资源损失评估体系。在溢油事故现场监测数据的基础上,运用数学计算理论选择相对应的溢油模型,结合具体溢油事故案例的潮流数据和风场数据,模拟海上溢油污染的时空分布情况。采用卫星遥感技术根据不同油品在海水中不同的亮度表现,处理得到溢油油膜信息,与模拟得到的油膜信息进行比对验证,并对模型进行修正,通过模拟得出污染海域油浓度分布与溢油污染范围信息,结合溢油污染对不同海洋生物的毒性效应,得到渔业资源的损失程度,为溢油事故的渔业资源损失评估提供一种思路,为溢油事故发生后的损失评估和事故处理起到一定的参考辅助作用。     

The Potential Marine Pollution Threat from Oil and Gas Development Activities in the Disputed South China Sea/Spratly Area: A Role that Taiwan Can Play

This article examines the potential threat of marine pollution caused by offshore oil and gas development activities in the disputed areas of the South China Sea (SCS) and the Spratly Islands. After addressing the potential threat of marine pollution, it discusses the legal obligations and political commitment of the SCS littoral states regarding the protection of the marine environment in the area. The role that Taiwan can play in these matters is also examined.     

Unraveling the interactive effects of climate change and oil contamination on laboratory‐simulated estuarine benthic communities

There is growing concern that modifications to the global environment such as ocean acidification and increased ultraviolet radiation may interact with anthropogenic pollutants to adversely affect the future marine environment. Despite this, little is known about the nature of the potential risks posed by such interactions. Here, we performed a multifactorial microcosm experiment to assess the impact of ocean acidification, ultraviolet B (UV‐B) radiation and oil hydrocarbon contamination on sediment chemistry, the microbial community (composition and function) and biochemical marker response of selected indicator species. We found that increased ocean acidification and oil contamination in the absence of UV‐B will significantly alter bacterial composition by, among other things, greatly reducing the relative abundance of Desulfobacterales, known to be important oil hydrocarbon degraders. Along with changes in bacterial composition, we identified concomitant shifts in the composition of oil hydrocarbons in the sediment and an increase in oxidative stress effects on our indicator species. Interestingly, our study identifies UV‐B as a critical component in the interaction between these factors, as its presence alleviates harmful effects caused by the combination of reduced pH and oil pollution. The model system used here shows that the interactive effect of reduced pH and oil contamination can adversely affect the structure and functioning of sediment benthic communities, with the potential to exacerbate the toxicity of oil hydrocarbons in marine ecosystems.     

Microbial communities in oil-contaminated seawater

Although diverse bacteria capable of degrading petroleum hydrocarbons have been isolated and characterized, the vast majority of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria, including anaerobes, could remain undiscovered, as a large fraction of bacteria inhabiting marine environments are uncultivable. Using culture-independent rRNA approaches, changes in the structure of microbial communities have been analyzed in marine environments contaminated by a real oil spill and in micro- or mesocosms that mimic such environments. Alcanivorax and Cycloclasticus of the gamma-Proteobacteria were identified as two key organisms with major roles in the degradation of petroleum hydrocarbons. Alcanivorax is responsible for alkane biodegradation, whereas Cycloclasticus degrades various aromatic hydrocarbons. This information will be useful to develop in situ bioremediation strategies for the clean-up of marine oil spills.     

Marine scientific research and marine pollution in China

Abstract

In recent years coastal states everywhere in the world have paid attention to the preservation of the marine environment and the conduct of marine scientific research. The scope and nature of China's marine scientific research have been expanded and diversified since the late 1970s because of the growing importance of the ocean for the “Four Modernization “ programs. More and more programs have been designed and executed to find fishing resources, search for offshore oil and gas, promote maritime defense, help alleviate the marine pollution problems, reinforce China's territorial claim in the South China Sea, participate in Antarctic scientific research, and to better understand the whole marine environment. This article first examines China's attitude toward the legal regimes of marine pollution and marine scientific research. It depicts China's marine scientific research activities from the early 1950s. Finally it suggests that more scientific research programs will be designed in support of China's ocean development plans in the future.     

Impacts of anthropogenic stress on rocky intertidal communities

Rocky shores provide a harsh environment for marine organisms andwe briefly discuss natural sources of variation in community structure beforeconsidering anthropogenic impacts in detail. We review impacts caused by (a) acutedisturbances: oil spills, toxic algal blooms and (b) chronic disturbances: nutrient pollution,oil, heavy metals, pesticides, antifouling paints, collecting, trampling/habitatdegradation, siltation and introduced species. Community level effects are emphasisedthroughout and illustrative examples are drawn from field-based case studies. Particularattention is given to the lessons learned from oil spills and the effect of chronicpollution by tributyltin on dogwhelks, the impacts of which ranged from the biochemical tocommunity levels of organisation. Impacts are placed in a global and historicalperspective and the potential for the recovery of shores under appropriate management isdiscussed. Finally we consider the relative merits of the multivariate and univariateapproaches to studying impacted communities and suggest priorities for future research.     

Alkane Biodegradation Genes from Chronically Polluted Subantarctic Coastal Sediments and Their Shifts in Response to Oil Exposure

Although sediments are the natural hydrocarbon sink in the marine environment, the ecology of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria in sediments is poorly understood, especially in cold regions. We studied the diversity of alkane-degrading bacterial populations and their response to oil exposure in sediments of a chronically polluted Subantarctic coastal environment, by analyzing alkane monooxygenase (alkB) gene libraries. Sequences from the sediment clone libraries were affiliated with genes described in Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria, with 67?% amino acid identity in average to sequences from isolated microorganisms. The majority of the sequences were most closely related to uncultured microorganisms from cold marine sediments or soils from high latitude regions, highlighting the role of temperature in the structuring of this bacterial guild. The distribution of alkB sequences among samples of different sites and years, and selection after experimental oil exposure allowed us to identify ecologically relevant alkB genes in Subantarctic sediments, which could be used as biomarkers for alkane biodegradation in this environment. 16?S rRNA amplicon pyrosequencing indicated the abundance of several genera for which no alkB genes have yet been described (Oleispira, Thalassospira) or that have not been previously associated with oil biodegradation (Spongiibacter-formerly Melitea-, Maribius, Robiginitomaculum, Bizionia and Gillisia). These genera constitute candidates for future work involving identification of hydrocarbon biodegradation pathway genes.     

The stimulation of erucate metabolism in isolated rat hepatocytes by rapeseed oil and hydrogenated marine oil-containing diets.

1. The metabolism of palmitate and especially of erucate was studied in hepatocytes isolated from rats fed for 3 weeks a diet containing peanut oil (diet, 1), rapeseed oil (diet 2) and partially hydrogenated marine oil (diet 3). 2. The metabolism of palmitate was not significantly influenced by the diet. The rapeseed oil diet caused 1.4 fold and 1.3 fold increase and marine oil diet 3 fold and 2.2 fold increase in the oxidation and chain-shortening respectively of [14-14C]erucic acid in isolated hepatocytes. 3. Cyanide and antimycin A did not inhibit the chain-shortening of erucate in liver cells of rats fed rapeseed oil and peanut oil. The high capacity of the chain-shortening system in hepatocytes of marine oil-fed rats was partially inhibited. 4. Inhibition of the transfer of fatty acids into the mitochondria by lowering the intracellular carnitine concentration and/or by addition of (+)-decanoyl-carnitine resulted in a very pronounced apparent stimulation of the chain-shortening of erucic acid. It is suggested that the chain-shortening system may be virtually independent of the mitochondria, unless the availability of the extramitochondria NAD+ and/or NADP+ is rate-limiting under conditions of extremely low redox potential of the mitochondria. 5. Feeding marine oil or rapeseed oil to the rats induced a 30% increase in catalase activity, a 25--30% increase in urate oxidase activity and a 50% increase in the total CoA in the liver compared to rats fed peanut oil. 6. It is suggested that the increased metabolism of erucate in hepatocytes of marine oil and rapeseed oil-fed rats may be due to the increase in ther peroxisomal beta-oxidation.     

Protection of the antarctic ecosystem: A study in international environmental law

Abstract

The Antarctic region constitutes a fragile eco‐system closely related to the unique features of the physical environment of that continent. The Antarctic Ocean is central to the region's living systems, with krill as the ecological basis of life in the ocean and on land. So far, man's impact upon the Antarctic environment has been negligible, but there is concern that overharvesting of krill and possible marine pollution resulting from any future offshore oil exploration may undermine the krill basis of the Antarctic ecosystem. The legal status of Antarctica is largely determined by the 1959 Antarctic Treaty, and especially by the inner circle of the currently fourteen “consultative”; status signatories. These states have given high priority to ecological considerations by enacting a series of environmental and conservationist regulations, as well as two conventions, one protecting the Antarctic seals and the other marine living resources in general. Environmental regulations will form an important part of the legal regime for the exploration and exploitation of the Antarctic mineral resources, primarily oil and gas. The Antarctic Treaty framework does not legally bind nonsignatory states, but under general international law all states are bound to refrain from inflicting damage upon the planet's environment. Also, some marine pollution conventions apply to the Antarctic waters, and the 1982 U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea comprehensively covers the protection and preservation of the marine environment of all oceans and seas. The preservation of the Antarctic environment will remain a high priority irrespective of what legal regime will govern Antarctica after 1991 when the Antarctic Treaty may, and most probably will, be subject to review.