Benthic community metabolism of three Austrian pre-alpine lakes of different trophic conditions and its oxygen dependency

Benthic community respiration rates of profundal sediments of Fuschlsee (37.6 mg · O₂ · m^–2 · h^–1 — eutrophic), Mondsee (40.19 mg · O₂ · m^–2 · h^–1 — eutrophic) and Attersee (11.5 mg · O₂ · m^–2 · h^–1 — oligo-mesotrophic) were measuredin situ, and in cores. By exposing the sediments to different oxygen levels in the laboratory it was found that benthic community metabolism reduced with decreasing oxygen concentrations. The slope of the regression lines, relating oxygen uptake rates to oxygen concentrations, differed significantly for the different sites investigated. These results were closely related to the trophic conditions of the lakes.     

Temporal separation of nitrogen fixation and photosynthesis in the filamentous,non-heterocystous cyanobacterium Oscillatoria sp.

When growing in laternating light-dark cycles, nitrogenase activity (acetylene reduction) in the filamentous, non-heterocystous cyanobacterium Oscillatoria sp. strain 23 (Oldenburg) is predominantly present during the dark period. Dark respiration followed the same pattern as nitrogenase. Maximum activities of nitrogenase and respiration appeared at the same time and were 3.6 mol C₂H₄ and 1.4 mg O₂ mg Chl a ^-1·h^-1, respectively. Cultures, adapted to light-dark cycles, but transferred to continuous light, retained their reciprocal rhythm of oxygenic photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation. Moreover, even in the light, oxygen uptake was observed at the same rate as in the dark. Oxygen uptake and nitrogenase activity coincided. However, nitrogenase activity in the light was 6 times as high (22 mol C₂H₄ mg Chl a ^-1·h^-1) as compared to the dark activity. Although some overlap was observed in which both oxygen evolution and nitrogenase activity occurred simultaneously, it was concluded that in Oscillatoria nitrogen fixation and photosynthesis are separated temporary. If present, light covered the energy demand of nitrogenase and respiration very probably fulfilled a protective function.     

Modulation of photosynthesis and respiration in guard and mesophyll cell protoplasts by oxygen concentration

Stomatal movement is an energetic oxygen-requiring process. In the present study, the effect of oxygen concentration on mitochondrial respiratory activity and red-light-dependent photosynthetic oxygen evolution by Vicia faba and Brassica napus guard cell protoplasts was examined. Comparative measurements were made with mesophyll cell protoplasts isolated from the same species. At air saturated levels of dissolved oxygen in the protoplast suspension media, respiration rates by mesophyll protoplasts ranged from 6 to 10μmoles O₂ mg^?1 chl h^?1, while guard cell protoplasts respired at rates of 200–300 μmoles O₂ mg chl^?1 h^?1, depending on the species. Lowering the oxygen concentration below 50–60 mmol m^?3 resulted in a decrease in guard cell respiration rates, while rates by mesophyll cell protoplasts were reduced only at much lower concentrations of dissolved oxygen. Rates of photosynthesis in mesophyll cell protoplasts isolated from both species showed only a minor reduction in activity at low oxygen concentrations. In contrast, photosynthesis by guard cell protoplasts isolated from V. faba and B. napus decreased concomitantly with respiration. Oligomycin, an inhibitor of oxidative phos-phorylation, reduced photosynthesis in mesophyll cell protoplasts by 27–46% and in guard cell protoplasts by 51–58%. The reduction in both guard cell photosynthesis and respiration following exposure to low oxygen concentrations suggest close metabolic coupling between the two activities, possibly mediated by the availability of substrate for respiration associated with photosynthetic electron transport activity and subsequent export of redox equivalents.     

Epilithic chlorophyll a,photosynthesis, and respiration in control and fertilized reaches of a tundra stream

Photosynthesis and respiration by the epilithic community on cobble in an arctic tundra stream, were estimated from oxygen production and consumption in short-term (4–12 h), light and dark, chamber incubations. Chlorophyll a was estimated at the end of each incubation by quantitatively removing the epilithon from the cobble. Fertilization of the river with phosphate alone moderately increased epilithic chlorophyll a, photosynthesis, and respiration. Fertilization with ammonium sulfate and phosphate, together, greatly increased each of these variables. Generally, under both control and fertilized conditions, epilithic chlorophyll a concentrations (mg m⁻²), photosynthesis, and respiration (mg O₂ m⁻², h⁻¹) were higher in pools than in riffles. Under all conditions, the P/R ratio was consistent at ∼ 1.8 to 2.0. The vigor of epilithic algae in riffles, estimated from assimilation coefficients (mg O₂ [mg Chl a]⁻¹ h⁻¹) was greater than the vigor of epilithic algae in pools. However, due to the greater accumulation of epilithic chlorophyll a in pools, total production (and respiration) in pools exceeded that in riffles. The epilithic community removed both ammonium and nitrate from water in chambers. Epilithic material, scoured by high discharge in response to storm events and suspended in the water column, removed ammonium and may have increased nitrate concentrations in bulk river water. However, these changes were small compared to the changes exerted by attached epilithon.     

Development of dependence on aerial respiration in Polypterus senegalus (Cuvier)

The respiratory behaviour and partitioning of O₂ uptake between air and water were investigated in Polypterus genegalus using continuous-flow and two-phase respirometers and lung gas replacement techniques P. senegalus rarely resorts to aerial respiration under normal conditions. Partitioning of O₂ consumption depends on the activity and age of fish and the availability of aquatic oxygen. Immature fish (12–22 g) cannot utilize aerial O₂ but older fish exhibit age-dependent reliance on aerial respiration in hypoxic and hypercarbic waters. Pulmonary respiration accounts for 50% of the total requirement at aquatic O₂ concentrations of about 3.5 mg · l^–1 (or CO₂ of about 5%) and fish rely exclusively on aerial respiration at O₂ concentrations of less than 2.5 mg · l^–1. Branchial respiration is initially stimulated by hypercarbia (CO₂: 0.5–0.8%) but increased hypercarbia (CO₂ – 1%) greatly depresses (by over 90%) brancial respiration and initiates (CO₂: 0.5%) and sustains pulmonary respiration.     

Role of seagrass photosynthesis in root aerobic processes

The role of shoot photosynthesis as a means of supporting aerobic respiration in the roots of the seagrass Zostera marina was examined. O₂ was transported rapidly (10-15 minutes) from the shoots to the root-rhizome tissues upon shoot illumination. The highest rates of transport were in shoots possessing the greatest biomass and leaf area. The rates of O₂ transport do not support a simple gas phase diffusion mechanism. O₂ transport to the root-rhizome system supported aerobic root respiration and in many cases exceeded respiratory requirements leading to O₂ release from the subterranean tissue. Release of O₂ can support aerobic processes in reducing sediments typical of Z. marina habitats. Since the root-rhizome respiration is supported primarily under shoot photosynthetic conditions, then the daily period of photosynthesis determines the diurnal period of root aerobiosis.     

Respiration of Cytherissa lacustris (Ostracoda) at different temperatures and its tolerance towards temperature and oxygen concentration

Summary The ostracod species Cytherissa lacustris was investigated with respect to its temperature and oxygen tolerance limits. In laboratory experiments the tolerance limits were found to be much wider than expected from field data. Hatching of first instars was observed in cultures up to 20° C. The tolerance limit for oxygen concentrations was less than 1 mg O₂·l^-1 at 10° C and 20 h exposure. The distribution pattern of C. lacustris along a depth profile in lake Attersee showed a maximum density between 10 and 20 m depth coinciding with temperatures between 4 and 15°C throughout the year. The size dependence of respiration rates of well adapted C. lacustris is within the normal range of small metazoans. Its weight specific rates of oxygen uptake indicate an adaptation plateau in the range between 10 and 15°C. Possible reasons and advantages of such an adaptation for C. lacustris are discussed.     

MICROENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL OF PHOTOSYNTHESIS AND PHOTOSYNTHESIS-COUPLED RESPIRATION IN AN EPILITHIC CYANOBACTERIAL BIOFILM1

The photosynthetic performance of an epilithic cyano-bacterial biofilm was studied in relation to the in situ light field by the use of combined microsensor measurements of O₂, photosynthesis, and spectral scalar irradiance. The high density of the dominant filamentous cyanobacteria (Oscillatoria sp.) embedded in a matrix of exopolymers and bacteria resulted in a photic zone of < 0.7 mm. At the biofilm surface, the prevailing irradiance and spectral composition were significantly different from the incident light. Multiple scattering led to an intensity maximum for photic light (400–700 nm) of ca. 120% of incident quantum irradiance at the biofilm surface. At the bottom of the euphotic zone in the biofilm, light was attenuated strongly to < 5–10% of the incident surface irradiance. Strong spectral signals from chlorophyll a (440 and 675 nm) and phycobilins (phycoerythrin 540–570 nm, phycocyanin 615–625 nm) were observed as distinct maxima in the scalar irradiance attenuation spectra in the upper 0.0–0.5 mm of the biofilm. The action spectrum for photosynthesis in the cyanobacterial layer revealed peak photosynthetic activity at absorption wavelengths of phycobilins, whereas only low photosynthesis rates were induced by light absorption of carotenoids (450–550 nm). Respiration rates in light- and dark-incubated biofilms were determined using simple flux calculations on measured O₂ concentration profiles and photosynthetic rates. A significantly higher areal O₂ consumption was found in illuminated biofilms than in dark-incubated biofilms. Although photorespiration accounted for part of the increase, the enhanced areal O₂ consumption of illuminated biofilms could also be ascribed to a deeper oxygen penetration in light as well as an enhanced volumetric O₂ respiration in and below the photic zone. Gross photosynthesis was largely unaffected by increasing flow velocities, whereas the O₂ flux out of the photic zone, that is, net photosynthesis, increased with flow velocity. Consequently, the amount of produced O₂ consumed within the biofilm decreased with increasing flow velocity. Our data indicated a close coupling of photosynthesis and respiration in biofilms, where the dissolved inorganic carbon requirement of the photo-synthetic population may largely be covered by the respiration of closely associated populations of heterotrophic bacteria consuming a significant part of the photosynthetically produced oxygen and organic carbon.     

Respiration Rate of Stream Insects Measured <Emphasis Type="Italic">in situ</Emphasis> Along a Large Altitude Range

Field studies of respiration in stream insects are few in comparison with laboratory studies. To evaluate the influence of temperature and oxygen along altitudinal gradients we measured the respiration rate of fully acclimatized larval Trichoptera, Plecoptera and Ephemeroptera under similar field conditions in streams from 400 to 3800 m above sea level in tropical Ecuador. Mean active respiration rates of the animals at 3800 m were approximately half of those at 400 m. Trichoptera showed a slightly larger difference in respiration with altitude than Ephemeroptera. Comparative respiration measurements at 100 and 50% oxygen saturation indicated that highland animals reduced their oxygen uptake more than their counterparts in the lowland when oxygen availability decreased. The temperature response of respiration calculated between the insect assemblages at different altitudes showed a mean assemblage Q₁₀−value of 1.50. Trichopteran larvae had a slightly stronger temperature response (Q₁₀ of 1.68) than ephemeropterans (Q₁₀ of 1.30). These community Q₁₀-values are considerably lower than the mean value of 2.36 found in single species in the laboratory. The weak community-wide response of respiration to temperature in tropical streams is probably due to full acclimatization of the component species to stable and narrow temperature ranges. Adaptations to the low oxygen availability at high altitude probably consist of a suite of genetic physiological and behavioural features.     

Photosynthesis and respiration in a fast growing strain of Gigartina exasperata (Harvey and Bailey)

Photosynthesis and respiration rates of blades from a selected, fast growing strain of the marine red alga. Gigartina exasperata Harvey and Bailey, a carrageenan producer, were measured with an oxygen electrode and compared with rates similarly obtained from wild material of the same species. The measurements, expressed as μl O₂ · mg chl a^?1, min^?1. were made over a light intensity range from 5 to 800 μE · m^?2 · sec^?1 and a temperature range of 6 to 16°C. The photosynthesis light intensity data are best described by hyperbolic functions.     

Continuous chemotrophic growth and respiration of Chromatiaceae species at low oxygen concentrations

Endogenous and maximum respiration rates of nine purple sulfur bacterial strains were determined. Endogenous rates were below 10 nmol O₂ · (mg protein · min)^-1 for sulfur-free cells and 15–35 nmol O₂ · (mg protein · min)^-1 for cells containg intracellular sulfur globules. With sulfide as electron-donating substrate respiration rates were considerably higher than with thiosulfate. Maximum respiration rates of Thiocystis violacea 2711 and Thiorhodovibrio winogradskyi SSP1 (254.8 and 264.2 nmol O₂ · (mg protein · min)^-1, respectively) are similar to those of aerobic bacteria. Biphasic respiration curves were obtained for sulfur-free cells of Thiocystis violacea 2711 and Chromatium vinosum 2811. In Thiocystis violacea the rapid and incomplete oxidation of thiosulfate was five times faster than the oxidation of stored sulfur. A high affinity of the respiratoty system for oxygen (K _m =0.3–0.9 M O₂, V _max=260 nmol O₂ · (mg protein · min)^-1 with sulfide as substrate, K _m =0.6–2.4 M O₂, V _max=14–40 nmol O₂ · (mg protein · min)^-1 with thiosulfate as substrate), for sulfide (K _m =0.47 M, V _max=650 nmol H₂S · (mg protein × min)^-1, and for thiosulfate (K _m =5–6 M, V _max =24–72 nmol S₂O ₃ ^2- · (mg protein · min)^-1 was obtained for different strains. Respiration of Thiocystis violacea was inhibited by very low concentrations of NaCN (K _i =1.7 M) while CO concentrations of up to 300 M were not inhibitory. The capacity for chemotrophic growth of six species was studied in continuous culture at oxygen concentrations of 11 to 67 M. Thiocystis violacea 2711, Amoebobacter roseus 6611, Thiocapsa roseopersicina 6311 and Thiorhodovibrio winogradskyi SSP1 were able to grow chemotrophically with thiosulfate/acetate or sulfide/acetate. Chromatium vinosum 2811 and Amoebobacter purpureus ML1 failed to grow under these conditions. During shift from phototrophic to chemotrophic conditions intracellular sulfur and carbohydrate accumulated transiently inside the cells. During chemotrophic growth bacteriochlorophyll a was below the detection limit.     

Benthic community metabolism and trophic conditions of four South American lakes

Oxygen uptake rates of undisturbed sediment columns have been used as an integrative measure of the metabolic activities of benthic communities. Since the intensity of metabolic processes of profundal lake is dependent on the production of organic matter in the pelagic zone, oxygen uptake rates reflect the trophic condition of the whole lake. Four small lakes of central Chile, differing strongly in trophic conditions, provided a possibility to compare benthic oxygen uptake rates, under different oxygen conditions (Quiñenco, Grande, Chica and Lleulleu). Our objective was to establish the relationship between the oxygen uptake rates and bottom characteristics of lakes with different trophic conditions. At 8 mg O₂ l^-1 in the overlying water of the cores studied, the oxygen uptake rates of the sediment were: Quiñenco 51.2–56.0 mg O₂ m² h^-1 (eutrophic), Grande 41.2–46.4 mg O₂ m² h^-1 (mesotrophic), Chica 23.2–18.1 mg O₂ m² h^-1 (mesotrophic) and Lleulleu 11.7–16.0 mg O₂ m² h^-1 (oligotrophic). By exposing the sediments to different oxygen levels in the laboratory, it was found that benthic community metabolism decreased with oxygen concentrations. The slope of regression lines, relating oxygen uptake rates to oxygen concentrations, differed for the different sites investigated, closely related with the trophic conditions of the lakes. It was positively correlated with the organic matter content of the sediment of the cores (r ²= 0.78, p<0,05) and the nutrients of the bottom waters (total-P: r ²= 0.73, p<0,05; total-N: r ²= 0.73, p<0,05), and negatively with the redox potential of the sediments (r ²= 0.88, p<0,05).     

Oxygen and nutrient dynamics of the upside down jellyfish (Cassiopea sp.) and its influence on benthic nutrient exchanges and primary production

The oxygen and nutrient dynamics of the zooxanthellate, upside down jellyfish (Cassiopea sp.), were determined both in situ and during laboratory incubations under controlled light conditions. In the laboratory, Cassiopea exhibited a typical Photosynthesis–Irradiance (P–I) curve with photosynthesis increasing linearly with irradiance, until saturation was reached at an irradiance of ~400 μE m⁻² s⁻¹, with photosynthetic compensation (photosynthesis = respiration) being achieved at an irradiance of ~50 μE m⁻² s⁻¹. Under saturating irradiation, gross photosynthesis attained a rate of almost 3.5 mmol O₂ kg WW⁻¹ h⁻¹, whereas the dark respiration rate averaged 0.6 mmol O₂ kg WW⁻¹ h⁻¹. Based upon a period of saturating irradiance of 9 h, the ratio of daily gross photosynthesis to daily respiration was 2.04. Thus, photosynthetic carbon fixation was not only sufficient to meet the carbon demand of respiration, but also to potentially support a growth rate of ~3% per day. During dark incubations Cassiopea was a relatively minor source of inorganic N and P, with the high proportion of NO _X (nitrate + nitrite) produced indicating that the jellyfish were colonised by nitrifying bacteria. Whereas, under saturating irradiance the jellyfish assimilated ammonium, NO _X and phosphate from the bathing water. However, the quantities of inorganic nitrogen assimilated were small by comparison to carbon fixation rates and the jellyfish would need to exploit other sources of nitrogen, such as ingested zooplankton, in order to maintain balanced growth. During in situ incubations the presence of Cassiopea had major effects on benthic oxygen and nutrient dynamics, with jellyfish occupied patches of sediment having 3.6-fold higher oxygen consumption and 4.5-fold higher ammonium regeneration rates than adjacent patches of bare sediment under dark conditions. In contrast at saturating irradiance, jellyfish enhanced benthic photosynthetic oxygen production almost 100-fold compared to the sediment alone and created a small sink for inorganic nutrients, whereas unoccupied sediment patches were sources of inorganic nutrients to the water column. Overall, Cassiopea greatly enhanced the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of benthic fluxes and processes by creating “hotspots” of high activities which switched between being sources or sinks for oxygen and nutrients over diurnal irradiance cycles, as the metabolism of the jellyfish swapped between heterotrophy and net autotrophy.     

The contribution of crassulacean acid metabolism to the annual productivity of two aquatic vascular plants

Summary Net annual productivity and annual carbon budgets were determined for populations of Littorella uniflora var. americana and Isoetes macrospora in a mesotrophic and oligotrophic lake in northern Wisconsin, to assess the contribution of Crassulacean Acid Metabolism (CAM) to annual productivity of the species in their natural environment. Nocturnal carbon accumulation (CAM), daytime uptake of external CO₂ via the C₃ mechanism, and refixation of endogenously generated CO₂ from daytime respiration were the sources of carbon income. CAM activity as diurnal acid rhythms reached maxima of 89 to 182 eq·g^-1 leaf fresh weight for the various populations.Maximum rates of daytime ¹⁴C uptake ranged from 0.56 to 1.46 mg C·g^-1 leaf dry wt.·h^-1 for the study populations. Refixation of daytime respired CO₂ averaged 37% for the four populations. Carbon loss was due largely to dark respiration, during the day and night. Nocturnal carbon accumulation, daytime CO₂ uptake and 24-h dark respiration were of similar magnitude, indicating dark respiration was equivalent to 50% of gross photosynthesis.Net annual production was measured for each population by following leaf turnover. Turnover rates for the Littorella populations were 1.56 and 1.72·yr^-1, and for the Isoetes populations, 0.85 and 1.00·yr^-1. Measured net annual productivity and calculated net annual productivity (based on carbon exchange) agreed within an average of 12% for the four populations. While CAM activity was greater for the more productive population of each species, the results suggest that the contribution of CAM to annual productivity is greater for the less productive population of each species. CAM contributed 45 to 55% of the annual carbon gain for the study populations.     

Exchange between interstitial and surface water: Implications for stream metabolism and nutrient cycling

Metabolism of a Sonoran Desert stream was investigated by both enclosure and whole system oxygen techniques. We used recirculating chambers to estimate surface sediment metabolism and measured deep sediment respiration in isolated sediment cores. Metabolism of the stream ecosystem was determined for a 30-m reach as dark and light oxygen change with and without black plastic sheeting that darkened the stream and prevented diffusion. Average ecosystem respiration for two dates in August (440 mg O₂ m^-2 h^-1) exceeded respiration of either the surface sediment community (155 Mg O₂ m^-2 h^-1) or the hyporheic community (170 mg O₂ m^-2 h^-1) alone. Deep sediments show substantial oxygen and nitrate uptake when isolated. In the stream, this low nitrate interstitial water is exchanged with surface water. Metabolism of the isolated surface community suggests a highly productive and autotrophic system, yet gross production is balanced or exceeded by community respiration when ecosystem boundaries include the hyporheic zone. Thus, despite high rates of gross primary production (600–1200 mg O₂ m^-2 h^-1), desert streams may be heterotrophic (P_G < R) during summer.     

16O2/18O2 analysis of oxygen exchange in Dunaliella tertiolecta. Evidence for the inhibition of mitochondrial respiration in the light

A mass spectrometric ¹⁶O₂/¹⁸O₂-isotope technique was used to analyse the rates of gross O₂ evolution, net O₂ evolution and gross O₂ uptake in relation to photon fluence rate by Dunaliella tertiolecta adapted to 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5 M NaCl at 25°C and pH 7.0.At concentrations of dissolved inorganic carbon saturating for photosynthesis (200 M) gross O₂ evolution and net O₂ evolution increased with increasing salinity as well as with photon fluence rate. Light compensation was also enhanced with increased salinities. Light saturation of net O₂ evolution was reached at about 1000 mol m^-2s^-1 for all salt concentrations tested. Gross O₂ uptake in the light was increased in relation to the NaCl concentration but it was decreased with increasing photon fluence rate for almost all salinities, although an enhanced flow of light generated electrons was simultaneously observed. In addition, a comparison between gross O₂ uptake at 1000 mol photons m^-2s^-1, dark respiration before illumination and immediately after darkening of each experiment showed that gross O₂ uptake in the light paralleled but was lower than mitochondrial O₂ consumption in the dark.From these results it is suggested that O₂ uptake by Dunaliella tertiolecta in the light is mainly influenced by mitochondrial O₂ uptake. Therefore, it appears that the light dependent inhibition of gross O₂ uptake is caused by a reduction in mitochondrial O₂ consumption by light.Abbreviations DCMU 3-(3, 4-dichlorophenyl)-1, 1-dimethylurea - DHAP dihydroxy-acetonephosphate - DIC dissolved inorganic carbon - DR_a rate of dark respiration immediately after illumination - DR_b rate of dark respiration before illumination - E₀ rate of gross oxygen evolution in the light - NET rate of net oxygen evolution in the light - PFR photon fluence rate - RubP rubulose-1,5-bisphosphate - SHAM salicyl hydroxamic acid - U₀ rate of gross oxygen uptake in the light     

腾格里荒漠红砂-珍珠群落CO2收支变化及其不同观测方法间的比较

由于荒漠生态系统植被覆盖度低、生产力低下,其在全球碳循环中的作用被长期忽视。为探讨荒漠生态系统碳收支各组分的变化规律,以腾格里荒漠红砂(Reaumuria soongorica Maxim.)-珍珠(Salsola passerina Beg.)群落为研究对象,采用静态箱式法研究了该群落的净生态系统CO2交换量(NEE)、生态系统呼吸、土壤呼吸的日变化规律,同时将该方法所获得的NEE结果与涡动相关法观测的结果进行了比较。结果表明:(1)红砂-珍珠群落NEE的日变化表现为,在6:00—9:00左右出现一个CO2吸收的高峰值,随后在12:00—15:00左右出现一个CO2释放高峰值。红砂种群、珍珠种群和整个群落NEE的平均值分别为0.018、0.020和0.028 mg CO2m-2s-1;(2)红砂种群、珍珠种群、土壤及整个群落生态系统呼吸速率的日变化规律一致,均表现为明显的单峰变化趋势,在12:00—15:00左右出现一个CO2释放的高峰值。红砂种群、珍珠种群、土壤和整个群落的生态系统呼吸的平均值分别为:0.121、0.062、0.029和0.040 mg CO2m-2s-1。以盖度为加权因子计算得到红砂种群、珍珠种群和土壤呼吸占生态系统呼吸的比例分别为:9%、21%和70%,由此可见,生态系统呼吸主要来源于土壤呼吸。(3)将箱式法和涡动相关法观测的NEE进行比较,结果表明两种方法观测的NEE变化规律基本一致,相关系数达到0.7。采用箱式法观测的NEE高于涡动相关法观测的结果,平均值分别0.028 mg CO2m-2s-1(箱式法)和0.015 mg CO2m-2s-1(涡动相关法),涡动相关法的观测结果与箱式法观测结果的比值为0.54。综上可得,荒漠生态系统土壤呼吸的变化速率决定了生态系统呼吸的变化规律,采用箱式法可能高估了荒漠生态系统CO2的释放量。     

Seasonal Growth and Photosynthetic Performance of the Antarctic Macroalga Desmarestia menziesii (Phaeophyceae) Cultivated under Fluctuating Antarctic Daylengths

Growth, photosynthesis, dark respiration and pigment contents were monitored in adult sporophytes of the Antarctic brown alga Desmarestia menziesii J. Agardh grown under fluctuating Antarctic daylength conditions. Growth rates were closely coupled to daylength variations with values varying from 0.05% d^?1 in winter condition (July-August) to 0.5% d^?1 in early summer (December). Photosynthetic pigments had maximum values of 1.8 mg g^?1 FW (chlorophyll a), 0.4 mg g^?1 FW (chlorophyll c) and 0.9 mg g^?1 FW (fucoxanthin) in summer. These changes were also closely related to individual size and biomass of the plants. Net photosynthesis (P_max), on a fresh weight basis, showed a clear seasonal pattern with highest rates of 25μmol O₂ g^?1 FW h^?1 in October and minima close to 9μmol O₂ g^?1 FW h^?1 in April. Dark respiration was high in spring (13μmol O₂ g^?1 FW h^?1) approximately coinciding with growth peaks. Likewise, photosynthetic efficiency (α) and the initial saturating light point of photosynthesis (l_k) increased significantly in spring [1.3 μimol O₂ g^?1 FW h^?1 (μmol m^?2 s^?1)^?1 and 26μmol photons m^?2 s^?1, respectively]. In the case of α, no significant differences between fresh weight and Chl a based rates were found. The results of the present study are the first that demonstrate seasonality of physiological parameters in D. menziesii sporophytes and confirm also that phenology and physiology of macroalgae can be simulated in the laboratory. On the other hand this study adds new elements to the explanation of the life strategy of D. menziesii, in particular that algal growth and photosynthesis occur under a programmed seasonal pattern.     

Benthic community metabolism in four temperate stream systems: An inter-biome comparison and evaluation of the river continuum concept

Benthic community metabolism was studied on four stream systems located in different biomes in the United States: the eastern deciduous forest (Pennsylvania, PA, and Michigan, MI), the high desert (Idaho, ID), and the coniferous forest (Oregon, OR). Studies were designed to test the hypothesis advanced within the River Continuum Concept that a transition in community metabolism will occur from a predominance of heterotrophy in headwaters to a predominance of autotrophy in mid-sized reaches, with a return to heterotrophy further downstream. Both gross primary productivity (GPP) and community respiration (CR₂₄) increased with downstream direction on all systems. Net daily metabolism (NDM, or GPP – CR₂₄) shifted from heterotrophy (–NDM, GPP < CR₂₄) to autotrophy (+NDM, GPP > CR₂₄) with downstream direction at all sites, supporting the hypothesis. Annual metabolism in the most upstream reach of all sites was dominated by respiration; however, the farthest downstream reach was not necessarily the most autotrophic. Site-specific factors affected manifestation of the trend. Photosynthesis predominated annual metabolism in reaches (designated 1–4 in order of increasing size) 2–4 in ID, 3 and 4 in OR, and 4 in MI. In PA annual photosynthesis was slightly greater than respiration only at Station 3. Photosynthesis was predominant most consistently in ID and respiration most often in PA. About half the reaches that were heterotrophic annually were autotrophic at one or more seasons. Annual means of benthic GPP, CR₂₄ and NDM ranged from 0.16 to 3.37, 0.36 to 2.88 and –0.73 to 0.50 g O₂ · m² · d¹, respectively. Metabolic rates were usually high in PA and MI (and sometimes ID) and almost always lowest in OR. Parameters accounting for most variance in multiple linear regression analyses of the combined metabolism data from all sites were indicators of stream size, photosynthetically active radiation, temperature, and chlorophyll a concentration.     

A rationale for the appropriate amount of inoculum in ready biodegradability tests

Several screening methods at the so-called ready biodegradability level are suitable to test poorly soluble substances. Typical for these tests is that mineralization is evaluated from monitoring oxygen uptake or carbon dioxide production. Unfortunately, they suffer from a rather low precision in the calculated percentage of mineralization caused by subtracting a too high inoculum control measurement from the response in the test system. Criteria for blank oxygen consumption, due to the metabolic activity of the inoculum, are proposed from which maximum amounts of activated sludge or secondary effluent per litre test medium can be derived to be used as an appropriate inoculum. Both for current and future standardized tests the precision of the method can be kept within acceptable margins. Inoculum material was sampled from 40 communal biological waste water treatment plants. From endogenous respiration rates it was derived that the concentration of secondary effluent in the Closed Bottle Test can be increased up to 50 mL/L but that in respirometry tests inoculated with activated sludge the appropriate concentration is 10 mg/L dry matter or below, depending of the design of the test system.List of abbreviations BOD biological oxygen demand - CBT Closed Bottle Test - C _as inoculum concentration in mg dry solids of activated sludge per litre test medium - C _ef inoculum concentration in ml secondary effluent per litre test medium - C _ss dry weight content of activated sludge (g/L) - CFU colony forming units - DO_7d dissolved oxygen concentration (mg/L) after 7 days - ISO International Organization for Standardization - NEN Dutch Organization for Standardization - O _c oxygen capacity in mg oxygen per litre vessel volume - OECD Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development - Ox _as oxygen consumption after one week in mg oxygen per mg dry weight activated sludge - Ox _ef oxygen consumption after one week in mg oxygen per mL secondary effluent - Ox _ef [n] oxygen consumption after one week in mg oxygen per n mL secondary effluent - Ox _flask oxygen uptake in mg per litre flask volume - RBT Ready Biodegradability Test - SLR sludge loading rate in kg O₂/kg dry weight·d - ThOD theoretical oxygen demand - TPCBT Two Phase Closed Bottle Test - V _a volumes of air and water per litre vessel - V _w volume, respectively - _a concentration of oxygen in air at 20° C and 101.5 kPa - _s saturation oxygen concentration in te aqueous phase