The effects of steam electric station operation on entrained phytoplankton

The effect of entrainment on estuarine phytoplankton was studied at three steam electric stations located on tributaries of Chesapeake Bay. In most cases, chlorine rather than heat was implicated as the most important factor in the reduction of the rate of carbon assimilation. The reduction of carbon assimilation in the mixture of a plant effluent and augmentation water was greater than explained as mechanical and heat effects. Thus, chlorine was judged as the primary factor under these conditions. One study that involved three consecutive days exemplified the problem of interpreting significant statistical interactions and main effects in a multivariate design when tests are conducted under natural conditions.This work was partially supported by: 1. Maryland Power Plant Siting Program 2. U.S. Army Contract No. DACW72-71-C-0003 3. University of Maryland 4. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service     

Intraspecific differences in bacterial responses to modelled reduced gravity

AIMS: Bacteria are important residents of water systems, including those of space stations which feature specific environmental conditions, such as lowered effects of gravity. The purpose of this study was to compare responses with modelled reduced gravity of space station, water system bacterial isolates with other isolates of the same species. METHODS AND RESULTS: Bacterial isolates, Stenotrophomonas paucimobilis and Acinetobacter radioresistens, originally recovered from the water supply aboard the International Space Station (ISS) were grown in nutrient broth under modelled reduced gravity. Their growth was compared with type strains S. paucimobilis ATCC 10829 and A. radioresistens ATCC 49000. Acinetobacter radioresistens ATCC 49000 and the two ISS isolates showed similar growth profiles under modelled reduced gravity compared with normal gravity, whereas S. paucimobilis ATCC 10829 was negatively affected by modelled reduced gravity. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that microgravity might have selected for bacteria that were able to thrive under this unusual condition. These responses, coupled with impacts of other features (such as radiation resistance and ability to persist under very oligotrophic conditions), may contribute to the success of these water system bacteria. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Water quality is a significant factor in many environments including the ISS. Efforts to remove microbial contaminants are likely to be complicated by the features of these bacteria which allow them to persist under the extreme conditions of the systems.     

Lake Glubokoe (Moscow region,Eastern Europe), general characteristics

There have been almost a hundred years of continuous scientific activities at The Hydrobiological Station ‘Glubokoe Ozero’. The present volume of ‘Hydrobiologia’ contains summary papers reviewing previous and recent results of the studies on the hydrochemistry, zooplankton, zoobenthos, littoral fauna, food composition of fish, and historical biocenology (based on animal remains in bottom sediments), as well as on particular animal groups, such as Cladocera with special consideration of Daphnia, rotifers, fish, and parasitofauna. The present introductory paper provides data on the general characteristics of Lake Glubokoe, the history of its investigations and the station's modern programme which is aimed at biocenology with special consideration for morphological and physiological adaptations. Research both on general and on peculiar features of Lake Glubokoe is envisaged.     

Changes in vegetation phenology are not reflected in atmospheric CO2 and 13C/12C seasonality

Northern terrestrial ecosystems have shown global warming‐induced advances in start, delays in end, and thus increased lengths of growing season and gross photosynthesis in recent decades. The tradeoffs between seasonal dynamics of two opposing fluxes, CO₂ uptake through photosynthesis and release through respiration, determine the influence of the terrestrial ecosystem on the atmospheric CO₂ and ¹³C/¹²C seasonality. Here, we use four CO₂ observation stations in the Northern Hemisphere, namely Alert, La Jolla, Point Barrow, and Mauna Loa Observatory, to determine how changes in vegetation productivity and phenology, respiration, and air temperature affect both the atmospheric CO₂ and ¹³C/¹²C seasonality. Since the 1960s, the only significant long‐term trend of CO₂ and ¹³C/¹²C seasonality was observed at the northern most station, Alert, where the spring CO₂ drawdown dates advanced by 0.65 ± 0.55 days yr^?1, contributing to a nonsignificant increase in length of the CO₂ uptake period (0.74 ± 0.67 days yr^?1). For Point Barrow station, vegetation phenology changes in well‐watered ecosystems such as the Canadian and western Siberian wetlands contributed the most to ¹³C/¹²C seasonality while the CO₂ seasonality was primarily linked to nontree vegetation. Our results indicate significant increase in the Northern Hemisphere soil respiration. This means, increased respiration of ¹³C depleted plant materials cancels out the ¹²C gain from enhanced vegetation activities during the start and end of growing season. These findings suggest therefore that parallel warming‐induced increases both in photosynthesis and respiration contribute to the long‐term stability of CO₂ and ¹³C/¹²C seasonality under changing climate and vegetation activity. The summer photosynthesis and the soil respiration in the dormant seasons have become more vigorous which lead to increased peak‐to‐through CO₂ amplitude. As the relative magnitude of the increased photosynthesis in summer months is more than the increased respiration in dormant months, we have the increased overall carbon uptake rates in the northern ecosystems.     

Algal response to a thermal effluent: study of a power station on the provo river,Utah, USA

The effect of a thermal effluent on the attached algae of the Provo River, Utah, USA, was studied from 1975 to 1977. Data for macroscopic and microscopic algae were collected and analyzed. Diatoms, Cladophora glomerata, and Hydrurus foetidus dominated the flora. The thermal effluent significantly affected the algal flora in a section of river 100 to 135 meters long immediately below the discharge point. Cladophora growth was increased and Hydrurus was absent in this area. In addition, diatom production was often higher and diversity lower than in the rest of the river. Community structure was unique from all other adjacent areas. Small temperature increases which occured as effluent and river waters mixed farther downstream were apparently not as important to the algal flora as other environmental factors.     

Why elephant have trunks and giraffe long tongues: how plants shape large herbivore mouth morphology

We investigated whether mass and morphological spatial patterns in plants possibly induced the development of enlarged soft mouth parts in especially megaherbivores. We used power functions and geometric principles to explore allometric relationships of both morphological and foraging characteristics of mammalian herbivores in the South African savannah, covering a body size range of more than three orders magnitude. Our results show that, although intradental mouth volume scaled to a power slightly less than one to body mass, actual bite volume, as measured in the field, scaled to body mass with a factor closer to 1.75. However, when including the volume added to intradental mouth volume by soft mouth parts, such as tongue and lips (or trunks in elephant), mouth volume scaled linearly with actual bite volume and in a similar fashion as actual bite volume to body size. Bite mass and bite leaf mass scaled linearly with body size. We conclude that these scaling relationships indicate that large herbivores use their enlarged soft mouth parts to not only increase bite volume and thereby bite mass, but also select soft plant parts and thereby increase the leaf mass fraction per bite.     

浮游植物群落对海南小水电建设的响应

为探讨浮游植物群落对海南省小水电建设的响应,分别在海南省主要河流的上游支流已建小水电的蓄水水域与河道、规划(未建)小水电河段采集浮游植物样品进行比较分析.共鉴定出浮游植物种类62个属178种,曲壳藻(Achnanthaceae)、异极藻(Gomphonema)、菱形藻(Nitzschia)、颗粒直链藻(Melosira granulat)、席藻(Phormidium)、颤藻(Oscillatoria)、小球藻(Chlorella vulgaris)、平裂藻(Merismopedia)、舟形藻(Navicula)为主要的优势藻类,浮游植物丰度在5.1-163.6×104个/L之间,浮游植物Shannon-Wiener多样性指数在2.73-4.53之间.研究结果表明,小水电建设对浮游植物的种类组成、优势种、丰度及多样性均有较大的影响.就浮游植物优势种而言,规划小水电河道以蓝藻及部分硅藻为主要优势种,已建小水电河道曲壳藻、异极藻、菱形藻等大型硅藻为主要优势种.在浮游植物组成及生物多样性上,未建小水电河道浮游植物Shannon-Wiener多样性指数略高,且种属分布更加均衡,而已建设水电站均趋向某一类藻占主导优势种.就浮游植物丰度而言,规划小水电河道浮游植物丰度均保持在20-30×104个/L内,已建小水电河段浮游植物保持在5-160×104个/L内且浮游植物丰度差异性较规划小水电大,小水电建设促进了浮游植物丰度的提升,但降低了浮游植物群落结构的稳定性、均衡性.虽然存在水电站阻隔,同一河流水系浮游植物种属来源仍可表现一定的趋同性,梯级水电特别是相邻水电间浮游植物群落组成存在较大的相似性.     

Ratios of expected values (REX), a method for impact evaluation of thermal discharges on the fish community in the Pickering littoral waters of Lake Ontario

Discharge effects on the fish community are assessed for the Pickering power station and a creek in the neighbourhood, located in littoral waters of the northern shore of Lake Ontario. Since the ambience is cold in spring and fall, when the main spawning migration takes place, any positive thermal variation is selected with preference by the onshore migrants. Our goal is to identify these effects when significant or, alternatively, the community richness reduction, and even the biological damage to fish. Ratio to Expected Values (REX) involves a comparison of the diversity indexes from locations under impact versus ambient samples, in order to identify the effect magnitude. To clear the background records of local effects, they were checked for outliers, which have been replaced based on missing-value techniques. Applying the method, the slight thermal increase of the creek discharge was found to produce a higher richness compared to station discharges, hence offering more attraction for onshore migrants. Despite the high attraction of station thermal plumes, the general result is negative, due to a process described here as ambiguous attraction. It is preliminarily identified as a fish attraction, due to favourable thermal conditions at the plume edges, followed by repulsion and fish exhaustion, due to low oxygen level and absence of spawning conditions for the attracted fish, further in the plume. The paper also introduces a new statistical approach of effect evaluation for significance, based on pair comparison of records in the suspected area versus background records.     

黄河三角洲自然保护区黑脸琵鹭野外调查及其生境分析

黑脸琵鹭是世界涉危鸟类.受到国际社会广泛关注.在黄河三角洲连续多年进行野外调查,掌握了黑脸琵鹭在此区域的数量、分布、迁徙规律及其生境分析、保护,为丰富黑脸琵鹭迁徙路线研究、物种资源保护提供依据.     

在背景干扰条件下大棕蝠对静止及移动目标的探测

采用“双选”的心理物理学方法 ,研究了训练后的大棕蝠 (Eptesicusfuscus)在背景干扰的条件下探测半圆形目标的能力。半圆形目标系以静止、旋转、摆动或不同组合的旋转与摆动呈现于蝙蝠。在测试室 ,蝙蝠-目标间距从 3 0cm开始 ,依次递增 10cm直至 110cm为止。当蝙蝠 -目标间距小于 80cm时 ,目标回声的强度总是大于背景干扰声。由旋转目标反射的回声强度则依正弦波调制。结果发现 :蝙蝠对目标的正确探测率随蝙蝠 -目标间距的增加而降低 ;在每一特定间距 ,对移动目标的正确探测率均高于对静止目标的正确探测率     

Fungal flora on board the Mir-Space Station, identification by morphological features and ribosomal DNA sequences

This report is on the morphological and molecular biological identification, using 18S- and ITS1-rDNA sequences, of the "space fungi" isolated on board the Russian Mir-Space Station as the major constituents of the fungal flora. The six fungal strains were isolated from air by using an air sampler or from condensation. Strains were identified as Penicillium chrysogenum, Aspergillus versicolor, or Penicillium sp. by both methods. The species of space fungi were common saprophytic fungi in our living environment, potential pathogens, and allergens. This study concluded that the environment on board the space station Mir allows the growth of potentially pathogenic fungi as true in residential areas on the earth. Therefore, to prevent infection or other health disorders caused by these fungi, easy and reliable methods should be established to survey the fungal flora in a space station.     

大型水电站对河流底栖藻类群落的影响

2004年9月—2007年6月,对古夫河受大型水电站影响的GF04样点及高岚河的参照样点GL03进行逐月采样,研究了大型水电站对古夫河底栖藻类的影响.结果表明：研究期间,两样点主要理化指标差异均不显著（P>0.05）;两样点水动力学差异显著（P<0.05）,研究期间GL03样点基本处于缓流状态,其季节变化显著（P<0.05）,而GF04样点由于受水库放水影响,采样期间60%以上时间处于急流状态,没有明显的季节节律,说明水动力学及生境的变化是影响研究区底栖藻类群落的重要因素;群落相似性以及非着生型硅藻、直立型硅藻、有柄型硅藻的相对丰度在两样点间的差异显著,可很好地反映大型水电站不定期放水对河流生态系统的影响.     

The design and outdoor application of dye-sensitized solar cells

To upscale DSC size to commercial size, our group was involved in developing a commercial DSC panel, which could show the industrial way and prospect. The repeatable DSC module with the size of 150 mm × 200 mm and photoelectric conversion efficiency around 6% was reproduced in our laboratory. The DSC panel up to the size of 450 mm × 800 mm was fabricated. This is the high efficiency and industrial production design of a DSC panel, a primary power station with 500 W was installed on our roof for charging the battery. The study on the stability and performance of the DSC module, panel and future production are ongoing in our laboratory. In this article, we will report a systematic study in the test and the design from the single cell, the modules, to the panels, and our design of a 500 W primary DSC power station.     

国家野外试验站现状分析及网络化体系构建

为了推动筹建国家级重点野外科学观测试验站网络化管理的工作,充分发挥野外试验站所观测数据的作用.我们选取了25个野外试验站作为试点站,并于2002年8月至10月主要采用调查表、网上查询和电子邮件交流的方式进行调查,调研的主要内容涉及各野外台站的基本情况、软硬什和网络以及数据集现状,以及国外野外台站的运行状况和发展趋势.通过调查结果的分析,表明目前我国野外台站在数据监测、管理以及数据标准化与共享方面存在较多的不足之处.据此提出建立网络台站管理体系的框架,为实现我国国家级野外试验站数据标准化与信息共事的目标奠定基础.     

华南热带人工林土壤有机碳含量及其稳定性特征

研究华南热带多雨地区小良人工森林生态系统定位站不同人工林的碳固持特征,测定了林地表土有机碳含量、有机碳随土层深度的变化以及有机碳在不同粒级团聚体上的分布。结果表明：无植被覆盖的光裸地储存了极低水平的有机碳,在光裸地上种植桉树林后,如果地表枯落物长期人为取走,则土壤有机碳积累大大低于未受干扰桉林。当桉林进一步改造为阔叶混交林后,30-40a林龄混交林土壤有机碳含量均高于16.5gkg^-1,但仍只有邻近天然林土壤有机碳水平的76%,因而,这些人工混交林土壤具有进一步积累碳的潜力。光裸地在1m剖面上的含碳量均极低,并无显著的深度变化,约2-3gkg^-1,未保护的桉林含量水平在4-5gkg^-1,同样表土与心土层没有明显差别,通过地表输入的凋落物对土壤有机碳的影响主要集中在表层0.5m范围内。以豹皮樟Litsea rotundifolia,阴香Cinnamomum burmanni,潺槁木姜子Litsea glutinosa,陈氏钓樟Lindera chuni等为优势种的混交林,深层土壤含碳量显著高于其它混交林,并与村边林相似。土壤有机碳储量与土壤团聚体发育有一定的相关性,非水稳性团聚体以最小粒径（〈0.25mm）的含碳浓度最高,其它粒级的有机碳浓度相似,未成熟人工林,小团聚体的碳浓度较高,成熟林则在不同粒级中较均匀地分配有机碳,但实际碳储量于最大粒级的非水稳性团聚体中最多。成熟森林土壤水稳性团聚体含碳浓度大大高于非水稳性团聚体,水稳性团聚体在0.25-0.5mm及0.5-1.0mm两个粒级上有最大的碳积累量。结果表明,建立特定类型的混交林是增加林地碳汇功能的一个有效途径,非水稳性的大团聚体与水稳性的小团聚体的有效发育可能是成熟森林高固碳量的重要机理。     

Modulation of hematology changes by polymorphism of glutathione S-transferase M1 and T1

Workers in the petroleum distribution trades experience relatively low-level exposures to gasoline vapors whose consequences have not been fully elucidated. The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in the hematological parameters among filling station workers who were occupationally exposed to gasoline. The target group for the study consisted of 41 workers from eight filling stations of Shiraz (south of Iran). The control group consisted of 27 healthy subjects matched for age and sex from general population. The complete blood count analysis was done in one laboratory. Using PCR-based method, the genotypes of glutathione S-transferase T1 (GSTT1) and M1 (GSTM1) were determined. Workers were divided into three exposure groups according to employment history: duration less than 1 year, 1-5 years, and more than 5 years. Comparison was performed using Kruskal-Wallis test. In the individuals with the presence of both GSTT1 and GSTM1 functional alleles, comparison between four exposure groups revealed no significant difference for studied hematological variables. There were statistically significant differences between study groups, with only one functional allele, either GSTT1 or GSTM1, for relative number of lymphocytes (chi(2)=9.147, df=3, P=0.027) and neutrophils (chi(2)=9.951, df=3, and P=0.019), and absolute number of lymphocytes (chi(2)=9.135, df=3, and P=0.028), and RBC (chi(2)=10.586, df=3, and P=0.014). These findings could indicate the possible protective effect of concurrent presence of GSTM1 and GSTT1 enzymes on the hematopoietic system of filling station workers.     

闽东一水电站输水管道阻塞原因探讨

对福建省闽东某水电站水库的水体及地下输水管道中的微生物生态和理化因子的调查分析结果表明,造成该水库电站输水管道连年阻塞的主要原因可能是由于铁细菌生长繁殖所致。该水库中的铁细菌主要为鞘细菌。水体温度及总铁含量对鞘细菌数量的消长具有显著影响。该水库中存在的鞘细菌最适生长条件为Ｔ２１～２５℃,ｐＨ６．１６～６．８７,Ｆｅ＞０．４３ｍｇ／Ｌ。该菌可在水深０．５～４０ｍ范围内生存。自然气候对Ｔ、总铁和悬浮物３项水体理化因子有影响,而ｐＨ、ＤＯ和ＣＯＤ则受微生物生命活动的影响。夏季为鞘细菌繁殖高峰期。建议电站地下输水管道的疏通工作以安排在９月份之后较妥     

Identification and characterization of bacterial isolates from the Mir space station

Twenty bacterial isolates (supplied by NASA) from the Mir space station water system were identified using Vitek GNI+ test card, API 20NE, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The identification of only one isolate agreed among the three techniques. The utility of the API 20NE and Vitek GNI+ test card approaches for identifying these isolates was Limited. Although 16S rRNA gene sequencing effectively identified many of the bacteria to the genus level, 74% of the isolates could not be identified to the species level. Isolates were also characterized based on motility and hydrophobicity. About 40% of the isolates were motile and four isolates were hydrophobic, suggesting that many of the bacteria have the potential to colonize surfaces and form biofilms. These findings demonstrate the difficulties in identifying bacteria from some environments to the species level and have implications for determining the risks of contamination in water systems of space shuttles and stations.     

A Mathematical Model for 137Cs Uptake and Release by Filamentous Algae

A mathematical model of the dynamics of radiocaesium transport in the aquatic phase—algae system is suggested in this work. Allowance is made for algae growth and for both reversible and irreversible absorption of this radionuclide by the algae. The algae biomass is divided hypothetically into two compartments with different exchange kinetics. The parameters of the model are time dependent. The model is quantified using experimental data for the concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs in Cladophora glomerata filamentous algae and in water, obtained in situ in the environment of a nuclear power station. The model fits the data reasonably well and can be applied, for example, in bioindication of radioactivity in aquatic recipients in the environment of nuclear power stations.