Lunar organic analysis: Implications for chemical evolution

The lunar samples provided some material from the early period of the solar system. These samples could have preserved in them some of the stages in the evolution of carbon compounds. The analysis, so far, has not revealed with certainty a single organic compound of biological significance. However, the finding of methane, carbon monoxide, carbides, etc. could be considered in the context of cosmic evolution.     

Aromatic and heteroatom-containing organic compounds in the lunar samples

The data concerning the indigenous organic compounds in the lunar samples has been consistent. The Apollo 11 sample appeared to be moderately contaminated, and most investigators found known terrestrial artifacts in these samples. The Apollo 12 data indicated that perhaps benzene and toluene were indigenous to the Moon at concentrations below 100 parts per billion. Other, more complex organic molecules (in particular of aromatic structure) might also be present, but in concentrations below 1 ppb. In general, the structural types reported have been relatively simple; perhaps indicating that what little organic chemistry occurs on the lunar surface can best be described as reactions between individual atoms of carbon, hydrogen, oxygen and nitrogen.     

The search for indigenous lunar organic matter

Early lunar conditions are not inconsistent with the production of large quantities of prebiological organic matter now sequestered in the lunar subsurface. The absence of substantial water and organic compounds from the superficial layers of the lunar surface may not be indicative of the composition of deeper regions.     

Extralunar sources for carbon on the moon

Contrary to previous assumptions, the solar wind may not be the only source of lunar carbon, possibly contributing as little as 50 ppm carbon to the lunar surface fines. Because of uncertainties about the true composition of the solar wind, it is impossible to be definite in any calculation. Meteorites and comets, previously assumed to be negligible contributors, might account for 5–10 ppm carbon via a cycle of carbon through the lunar atmosphere. Carbon isotope ratio measurements have the potential of greatly clarifying the situation, but key data are missing.     

Terrestrial contamination in Apollo lunar samples

The Apollo lunar samples were seen to offer a unique opportunity in the search for extraterrestrial organic matter without the ambiguity surrounding meteorite analysis due to their unknown contamination histories. The recognition that only a small amount of indigenous organic material was likely to be present in lunar samples combined with the extreme sensitivity of organic analysis methods made it clear that this opportunity could be realized only by carefully controlling the collection, processing, and analysis of the samples in order that they might remain free of significant levels of contamination. The contamination control procedures adopted are described and the analytical evidence obtained throughout the program on potential contamination sources is presented. The organic contaminants actually found in the lunar samples by the various investigators are summarized. It is shown that the program succeeded in providing investigators with samples containing less than 0.1 ppm total contamination.     

In situ synthesis during organic analysis of lunar samples

In the development and application of extremely sensitive analytical techniques the need for extreme cleanliness and avoidance of contamination has been generally recognized and complied with in the organic analysis of lunar samples. Much less attention has been paid to the possibility of inadvertent synthesis of certain organic molecules from indigenous smaller organic or even inorganic constituents of the lunar material. At the part-per-billion level of detectability reactions proceeding even at very low yield can lead to detectable products. A particular area of concern should be the amino acid analysis since those substances are known to be formed by condensation of ammonia, cyanide and carbonyl compounds, all potential products of lunar material upon treatment with aqueous media.     

Distribution and isotopic abundance of biogenic elements in lunar samples

A review of the abundance of six biologically important elements (H, C, N, O. P and S) demonstrates that they are present in trace amounts only in lunar matter analysed to date. To the endogenous lunar content, elements are contributed by solar wind irradiation and meteorite impacts. However, it is not yet possible to determine the relative importance of the three sources. Enrichment of the heavy isotopes, C¹³, O¹⁸, S³⁴ suggest that these elements may be lost from the lunar surface by hydrogen stripping (from solar wind protons) as volatile gases. The general lack of water, suggests that organic synthesis could not easily be accomplished in lunar rocks. High energy irradiation of the lunar surface may result in rapid destruction of organic matter not protected by a silicate matrix. It is apparent from present data available, that the ambient lunar surface could not support metabolism of known microorganisms.Publication No. 997 Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California 90024.     

An automatically-returned Martian sample by 1985?

The success of the lunar sample analysis programs underscores the desirability of a returned Martian sample. A Mission which would bring back about 1 kg of soil is outlined. The vehicle would have a mass of about 15 tonnes on departure from Earth and would make extensive use of Viking and Mariner technology. Russian experience in the field of automatic soil sampling and automatic rendezvous would be invaluable and the Shuttle would make possible a tidier launch. Sterilisation or quarantine will be necessary to preclude back-contamination of Earth by hypothetical Martian micro-organisms. A prime quarantine facility designed to detect biogenic organic compounds and life processes could be set up at a Lunar base or in a Sky-lab. A single soil sample could be informative as to the general surface composition of Mars. Life detection would be a major task, followed closely by the chemistry of carbon and other life-related elements. However, knowledge of the detailed physics, chemistry and mineralogy of the Martian sample would be of inestimable value to planetary studies.     

Effect of naturally changing zooplankton concentrations on feeding rates of two coral species in the Eastern Pacific

Zooplankton concentrations are known to vary by as much as an order of magnitude over a lunar cycle. Here, we conducted an experiment to determine the effect of ambient zooplankton concentrations over a lunar cycle on feeding rates of the corals Pavona gigantea (Verrill) (mounding coral, 3.0 mm diameter polyps) and Pocillopora damicornis (Linnaeus) (branching coral, 1.0 mm diameter polyps) in situ on a shallow reef at Isla Contadora, Gulf of Panamá (Pacific), Panamá. Coral fragments exposed to either enhanced or ambient zooplankton concentrations were allowed to feed for 1 h, collected, and their gut contents dissected. The number of zooplankton captured was counted, feeding rates calculated per cm², and the species composition of captured zooplankton assemblages determined. Although both species captured the same zooplankton assemblage, feeding rates were always significantly higher for P. gigantea than for P. damicornis. Under ambient flow and zooplankton concentrations, feeding rates were highly correlated with zooplankton concentration in the 200-400 μm size class. Under constantly enhanced zooplankton concentrations in the control fragments, feeding rates did not vary significantly over the lunar cycle. As such, coral feeding rates vary not as a result of lunar phase per se, but with changes in zooplankton abundance over the lunar cycle. Coral feeding rates are directly proportional to ambient zooplankton concentrations and may vary by as much as 50% over a lunar cycle, suggesting that corals must cope with major swings in sources of fixed carbon and nutrients over relatively short timescales.     

土壤碳库构成研究进展

土壤碳库是陆地生态系统中最大的碳库。土壤碳库的构成影响其累积和分解,并直接影响全球陆地生态系统碳平衡,同时也影响土壤质量变化。弄清土壤碳库的组分及构成,是进一步研究土壤碳库变化机制的关键。综述了土壤碳库的组分和构成,对有机碳库进行不稳定性有机碳库和稳定有机碳库归类,描述各类碳库的性质,并对各类碳库的分析测定方法进行了评述。提出在土壤碳构成中增加黑碳和煤炭(碳)以完善土壤有机碳构成框架。在未来研究中,应加强土壤无机碳及湿地土壤和新开发新复垦的重构土壤碳库构成及变化,各类碳库化学构成,交叉重叠的定量关系,碳库之间的转化及在土壤中的迁移,黑碳对土壤碳库稳定性及土壤质量的影响,煤开采扰动区煤炭(碳)对土壤质量的影响及环境效应等科学问题的研究。     

黄土高原小流域不同地形下土壤有机碳分布特征

研究了黄土高原小流域尺度塬面、坡地、沟道和梯田4种地形条件下土壤有机碳总量和活性组分的分布、储量及碳库管理指数的差异.结果表明,小流域土壤有机碳和不同活性有机碳的变异系数介于32％-70％之间,表现出中到高度的变异特征.4种地形下各组分有机碳含量和储量以塬面土壤最高,沟道土壤最低,并随土层深度的增加而降低,降低程度随有机碳活性增强而增加.以塬面土壤为对照所获得的碳库管理指数可灵敏指示有机碳对地形条件的响应特征,中活性有机碳库管理指数的指示效果最好.研究结果可部分解释黄土高原土壤有机碳地带性分布特征.     

土壤有机碳汇内涵与核算方法辨析

在"碳达峰、碳中和"战略需求下,土壤有机碳汇作为生态系统碳汇的重要组成部分,土壤碳库容量以及如何开展土壤有机碳汇核算日益成为生态碳汇的研究热点。梳理了国内外土壤有机碳汇及核算相关研究成果,解析了土壤有机碳汇的概念内涵,提出了以稳定性有机碳作为土壤有机碳汇的表征指标及获取方法。从土壤发生学角度提出了土壤碳汇阈值的概念,土壤中有机碳的含量随着分解转化最终会达到动态平衡,此时稳定有机碳含量值约是常数,这个常数就是稳定碳库的库容,在特定的成土因素下,碳库的核算值不会超过平衡时的常态值。在客观上,体现在非人类干扰状态下不同土壤类型自然状态下的稳定性有机碳含量。参照土壤有机质平衡理论,提出了土壤碳汇核算的定量化方法,为土壤碳汇的度量和核算提供了一套技术思路。下一步土壤有机碳汇的核算应在科学研究基础上多角度凝聚共识,制定碳汇核算标准,确定不同尺度下可操作、可重复以及可复制的土壤有机碳汇核算技术与方法。     

马尾松人工林林窗对土壤团聚体及有机碳分布的影响

以四川宜宾39年生马尾松人工林人工采伐形成的不同大小林窗为对象,研究林窗对土壤团聚体的组成、有机碳及活性有机碳含量和储量的影响.结果表明： 土壤团聚体组成以>2 mm团聚体为主,其含量占团聚体总量的51.7%～78.7%.>5 mm土壤团聚体有机碳和活性有机碳含量与土壤总有机碳和总活性有机碳含量相关性最高,且有机碳及活性有机碳含量和储量均较高,是该地区土壤有机碳固定的特征团聚体.马尾松林窗形成后,土壤总有机碳及各团聚体有机碳含量普遍降低,但1225 m²林窗有机碳储量略高于林下;总活性有机碳含量仅225和400 m²林窗较马尾松林下高,总活性有机碳储量225、400、900和1225 m²林窗较马尾松林下高,其余面积林窗低于林下.这表明合适的林窗面积可以增加土壤有机碳及活性有机碳积累.林窗大小显著影响到团聚体的组成、有机碳及活性有机碳含量和储量.其中,1225 m²林窗土壤有机碳含量和储量均最高,活性有机碳储量也较高,且团聚体组成较好,是比较适宜的林窗面积.     

马尾松(Pinus massoniana)人工林林窗对土壤不同形态活性有机碳的影响

研究了四川盆地低山丘陵区马尾松人工林不同大小林窗对表层土壤活性有机碳(水溶性有机碳、微生物量碳、易氧化碳)含量、分配比例及碳库管理指数的影响。结果表明:(1)林窗下土壤微生物量碳含量与分配比例较林下土壤有所升高,而水溶性有机碳与易氧化碳含量及水溶性有机碳分配比例有所降低。(2)林窗大小显著影响林窗中心土壤活性有机碳含量与分配比例。随林窗面积增大,水溶性有机碳、微生物量碳与易氧化碳含量呈现较为一致的升高趋势;水溶性有机碳和微生物量碳分配比例也升高,易氧化碳分配比例先下降后升高,稳定态碳先升高后降低;总体表现为较大林窗(900—1225m2)微生物活性强,活性有机碳含量高,且有机碳库稳定性较好。(3)土壤碳库管理指数随林窗面积增大无显著变化,但与各形态活性有机碳含量及总有机碳含量显著相关,说明土壤碳库管理指数能够相对全面地反映林窗大小对土壤碳库的影响。     

喀斯特山区土地利用对土壤团聚体有机碳和活性有机碳特征的影响

通过选取喀斯特山区火龙果园、草丛、花椒林、乔木林和灌草丛为研究对象,对其土壤团聚有机碳和团聚体活性有机碳分布与积累特征进行研究,结果表明:各土地利用方式下的团聚体组成均以＞0.5 mm团聚体为主,其含量可占团聚体总量的82.57％-94.79％;各粒级团聚体中有机碳和活性有机碳的含量均以乔木林最高,花椒林和火龙果园相对居中,而以草丛和灌草丛较低,随土壤团聚体粒径降低,有机碳和活性有机碳的峰值基本出现在＜0.25 mm粒级团聚体,但该粒径对土壤有机碳和活性有机碳的贡献率却不足6％和4％;土壤有机碳和活性有机碳的累积均受5-1 mm团聚体中有机碳和活性有机碳含量增加的影响,该粒级团聚体对有机碳和活性有机碳的贡献率也分别达28.70％-49.47％和34.13％-47.47％,可将5-1 mm粒径团聚体作为喀斯特山区的土壤有机碳固定的特征团聚体;土壤团聚体活性有机碳含量与土壤团聚体总有机碳含量呈极显著正相关关系(r=O.8768),表明团聚体活性有机碳可以作为衡量喀斯特山区土壤团聚体有机碳动态的一个敏感性指标.     

子午岭林区生态系统转换对土壤有机碳特征的影响

生态系统转换影响土壤有机碳的动态、循环及环境质量.本研究分析了子午岭林区农田、草地、灌丛和森林不同生态系统土壤总有机碳、活性有机碳和稳定性有机碳含量.结果显示:各生态系统中,表层(0~10 cm)土壤总有机碳含量显著高于深层土壤(40~70 cm).与农田生态系统表层土壤相比,草地、灌丛、森林生态系统土壤总有机碳含量分别增加82.07%、121.67%和183.16%,深层土壤有机碳含量也有类似的趋势;从增加的绝对值来看,表层土壤活性有机碳含量分别增加2.24、4.13和5.43 g/kg,土壤稳定性有机碳含量分别增加4.76、6.23和10.18g/kg.表明农田生态系统转换为林、草生态系统,有利于土壤有机碳的积累.而且,土壤作为碳“汇”的功能增强,更有利于CO2固定和生态环境改善.     

川西亚高山-高山土壤表层有机碳及活性组分沿海拔梯度的变化

青藏高原东缘亚高山-高山地带土壤碳被认为是我国重要的土壤碳库,作为高海拔低温生态系统,土壤碳对土壤暖化的响应可能也更加敏感。该区域亚高山森林一般分布在海拔3200 m以上,上缘接高山树线和灌丛草地,土壤有机碳含量高。海拔梯度上变化的土壤环境因子是主要土壤温度,海拔梯度上高寒土壤有机碳及活性有机碳组的分布格局,可体现海拔梯度上温度因子对土壤碳动态的影响。对沿海拔3200 m(亚高山针叶林)、3340 m(亚高山针叶林)、3540 m(亚高山针叶林)、3670 m(亚高山针叶林)、3740 m(亚高山针叶林)、3850 m(高山林线)、3940 m(高山树线)、4120 m(高山草地)的土壤表层(0-20 cm)有机碳和活性有机碳组分含量进行分析,结果表明在该海拔范围内,表层土壤总有机碳含量随着海拔的升高而增加,显示高海拔有利于土壤碳的固存;土壤活性有机碳组分中,颗粒态有机碳含量及其占总有机碳比例与海拔呈显著正相关,在海拔最高的4120 m含量和占有机碳总量比例分别达到50.81 g/kg和56.52%。在该海拔范围内海拔越高颗粒态有机碳占有机碳比例越高,显示高海拔土壤有机碳更多以土壤颗粒态碳形式贮存。微生物量碳、水溶性碳、轻组分有机碳与海拔高度没有明显的相关性,表明这些活性有机碳组分受海拔因素影响不大;易氧化有机碳含量与海拔高度显著正相关。因此,颗粒态有机碳含量及其比例可作为高海拔地带土壤活性有机碳库动态的特征指标,表征高海拔地带土壤有机碳动态与贮量受温度影响的指标。     

南方不同“冬种+双季稻”种植模式对土壤有机碳和作物产量的影响

设置了冬闲-双季稻、紫云英-双季稻、油菜-双季稻、大蒜-双季稻,马铃薯、紫云英、油菜轮作接茬双季稻5个处理,通过3年(2013—2015)大田试验,系统研究了双季稻田冬季复种对产量和土壤有机碳、活性有机碳及碳库管理指数等的影响。结果表明:冬种作物早稻产量均高于对照,晚稻产量除冬种油菜有所降低外,其他各冬作处理均高于对照。各冬种处理土壤总有机碳、活性有机碳、可溶性有机碳、微生物量碳含量和碳库指数较冬闲处理均有显著提高。土壤碳库管理指数除了冬季作物轮种处理外,其他冬种处理较冬闲处理均有显著提高。土壤总有机碳与活性有机碳和微生物量碳之间呈极显著相关,与可溶性有机碳和碳库管理指数存在显著相关,碳库活度和碳库活度指数各冬种处理也有所提高,但影响不显著。     

土壤活性有机碳的表征及其生态效应

土壤活性有机碳指在一定的时空条件下,受植物、微生物影响强烈、具有一定溶解性、在土壤中移动比较快、不稳定、易氧化、分解、易矿化,其形态,空间位置对植物、微生物来说活性比较高的那一部分土壤碳素。国外描述这一部分碳素的术语为有效碳、水溶性碳、易氧化碳、可矿...     

冻融季帽儿山森林改变有机碳输入方式对土壤活性氮含量的影响

根系与凋落物有机碳输入变化对土壤碳氮循环的影响已成为当前学界关注的热点,但冻融季不同有机碳输入方式将对土壤活性氮含量产生何种影响尚不明确。为此在春季具有明显冻融作用的温带森林设立凋落物去除、根系去除处理以代表仅根系有机碳输入方式、仅凋落物有机碳输入方式,并设置自然条件有机碳输入方式即保留根系及凋落物作为对照,多角度探究土壤微生物量氮、矿质氮动态变化。结果表明：(1)有机碳输入方式对土壤活性氮含量有重要影响：与自然条件下有机碳输入方式相比,仅根系输入处理使土壤微生物氮、总矿质氮含量升高10.5%、12.3%。(2)输入时长改变了有机碳输入方式对土壤活性氮含量的作用效果：长期单一有机碳输入使土壤微生物量氮含量下降,反应率值为0.451、0.422。(3)季节差异是影响有机碳输入方式对土壤活性氮含量作用效果的关键因素：仅根系有机碳输入在冻融季使总矿质氮含量上升,反应率值为0.404,生长季相反,呈下降趋势,其值为0.121。以上结果表明,有机碳输入方式对土壤活性氮含量有重要调控作用,且作用效果会受季节、输入时长等因素影响。