Dissolved oxygen dependent phosphorus release from profundal sediments of Lake Constance (Obersee)

Phosphorus release rates from profundal sediments of Lake Constance (Obersee) have been determined in D.O., pH regulated sediment-water systems. Above 10% O₂ saturation (> 1.2 ppm D. O.) and with pH as in situ, no net release could be found. Sedimentations of diatom sludge (Asterionella formosa) and carbonate-phosphate coprecipitate (CaCO₃.CaHPO₄) increased the release to 0.5 mg × m^–2 × d^–1 which, however, will not be relevant to the P balance in Obersee. The annual phosphorus accumulation in profundal Obersee and Ueberlingersee is, therefore, observed as due to sinking of phosphorus-bound detritus during the stagnation period.The experimental work was carried out at the Limnological Institute of the University of Freiburg/Breisgau (West Germany) and has been supported by the Industrieverband Körperpflege und Waschmittel e.V. and the Gernan Research Council (DFG)The experimental work was carried out at the Limnological Institute of the University of Freiburg/Breisgau (West Germany) and has been supported by the Industrieverband Körperpflege und Waschmittel e.V. and the Gernan Research Council (DFG)     

The impact of an industrially contaminated lake on heavy metal levels in its effluent stream

Levels of cadmium and zinc in various components of Williamson Ditch (an industrially contaminated stream flowing into Palestine Lake), Trimble Creek (a stream draining Palestine Lake) and the Tippecance River (a river receiving Trimble Creek) were determined. Water, sediment, plant, fish and clam samples were analyzed for cadmium and zinc content by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Unweighted mean metal concentrations in Trimble Creek were the following: water, 51 µg Zn/1 and 4.2 µg Cd/1; sediment, 592 µg Zn/g and 48.8,µg Cd/g; plants, 375 µm Zn/g and 7.91 µg Cd/g; fish, 145 µg Zn/g and 6.02 µg Cd/g. These concentrations were generally lower than those found in Williamson Ditch and higher than those found in the Tippecanoe River or background levels previously reported for other aquatic ecosystems.     

Changes in phosphorus concentrations in a eutrophic lake as a result of macrophyte-kill following herbicide application

Phosphorus (P) concentrations in water and sediment of a highly eutrophic lake were monitored before and after application of diquat to control the macrophyte Potamogeton crispus. Only a relatively small and short-term increase in P concentration in water occurred shortly after plant die-off resulting from herbicide application. Phosphorus concentrations in shallow water sediments decreased during the summer, and those in deep water sediments increased. Although a large increase in P concentration in the water occurred in late summer, it was not attributed to diquat. No major secondary effects of herbicide application were found during this study.     

黄土区土质与土石质塿土堆积体水力侵蚀过程差异

利用室内模拟降雨试验,研究了不同雨强及坡度条件下黄土区土质(不含砾石)与土石质(砾石质量分数30%)塿土堆积体的水动力学特征、侵蚀特征及侵蚀动力机制的差异。结果表明: 砾石存在改变了堆积体坡面的水动力学特性,与土质坡面相比,土石质坡面的流速、弗汝德数、单位径流功率和过水断面单位能分别减少1.7%～49.7%、6.7%～60.6%、2.0%～44.6%和1.0%～26.7%;曼宁糙率系数、径流剪切力分别增加6.2%～169.4%、5.7%～79.3%。2.0、2.5 mm·min^-1雨强下,土石质坡面侵蚀速率较土质坡面降低26.2%～89.9%,砾石的减沙效益显著。2种堆积体的侵蚀速率与水动力学参数间均可用线性函数拟合,与土质坡面相比,土石质坡面的可蚀性参数均降低,降幅为56.1%～73.3%;而临界水动力学参数中径流剪切力增加11.1%,径流功率、单位径流功率和过水断面单位能分别减少25.4%、64.0%和5.0%。砾石的存在一定程度上控制了工程堆积体坡面降雨侵蚀过程。     

渭河陕西段沉积物重金属空间分布及来源解析

为了了解渭河陕西段河道沉积物重金属空间分布特征,本研究对渭河陕西段干流及其支流17个采样点沉积物中的10种重金属元素(Cd、Sb、As、Co、Cu、Pb、Ni、Cr、Zn、Mn)含量进行测定及来源辨析。结果表明: 重金属元素Cd、Sb、As、Co、Cu、Pb、Ni、Cr、Zn、Mn的平均含量分别为0.10、1.24、11.73、11.95、24.90、24.91、29.31、54.18、72.74、626.85 mg·kg^-1, 除Cd的变异系数大于1以外,其他元素的变异系数均低于0.5。其中,Cd、Pb、Cr含量于灞河入渭处达到峰值,Co和Mn在黑河入渭处达到峰值,Cu和Zn在清姜河入渭处达到峰值, Sb、As和Ni分别于沙王渡、咸阳铁桥和林家村处达到峰值。相关性分析、主成分分析和聚类分析表明,Cd、Co、Cu、Pb、Ni、Cr、Zn、Mn主要来源于以工业源和生活源为主的污染源;Sb、As主要来源于农业和地球化学污染源。     

Bioaccumulation of Key Metals and Other Contaminants by Seaweeds from the Egyptian Mediterranean Sea Coast in Relation to Human Health Risk

This study examined the bioaccumulation of key metals and other contaminants (SO₄, F, Na, K, Ca, Mg, P, Si, Fe, Mn, Zn, Ni, Co, Cu, and Cd) by seaweeds from the Egyptian Mediterranean Sea coast and their risk to human health. Bioaccumulation factor calculations indicated that S, F, Na, K, Zn, Cu, and Cd had high seaweed uptake and this referred to the potential pollution of the coastal area. Multivariate analysis of the studied contaminants confirmed the bioaccumulation factor results as well as the physiological processes in seaweeds. Human health risk assessment of F, Mn, Zn, Ni, Cu, and Cd was conducted using hazard quotient (HQ) and incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) analyses. The carcinogenic assessment of sediments and ingestion of seaweeds using ILCR calculations revealed that Mn, Ni, and Cd in sediments and F and Zn in seaweeds require remedial action in order to reduce their human health risks. Additionally, HQ calculations for the contaminants in seaweeds and reference to toxicological references values from different agencies revealed that F and Co present high human health risk effects. Consequently, the potential public health risks from dietary exposure to hazardous contaminants in seaweeds must be continually subjected to research, regulation, and debate.     

Assessment on Pollution by Heavy Metals and Arsenic Based on Surficial and Core Sediments in the Cam River Mouth,Haiphong Province,Vietnam

The Cam River mouth (Haiphong Province) is one of the main river mouths of the Red River System, which is one of the most important water resources in Northern Vietnam. Over the past 50 years, the strong socio-economic development in the area has caused a considerable contamination with heavy metals (Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn) and arsenic. In this study, the vertical and horizontal distributions of heavy metals and arsenic in sediments from the Cam River mouth were investigated. In addition, the history, origin, and degree of contamination were assessed. Normalized (with respect to Al) heavy metal and arsenic concentrations in sediment cores and absolute dates obtained from the ¹³⁷Cs analysis were used to reconstruct the pollution history of the river mouth. As, Cu, Mn, Pb, and Zn concentrations increase rapidly by approximately two times or more from 1954 to 1975, and then remain nearly unchanged from 1975 until 2008, whereas Co, Cr, and Ni concentrations slightly increase from 1954 until 2008. In addition, background values for heavy metals and arsenic have also been determined with regard to the period before 1954. In the study area, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Mn, and Zn are evaluated as minorly enriched, whereas As and Pb are classified as moderately enriched. Generally, the anthropogenic activities in the Haiphong harbor and industrial zone locally contribute to the contamination by heavy metals and arsenic in the Cam River mouth.     

Application of Semipermeable Membrane Devices (SPMDs) and Benthic Mussels to Evaluate the Bioavailability of Sediment-associated DDTs

Bioavailability of dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes (DDTs) in surface sediments was evaluated with semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) and two different sediment-dwelling benthic mussels, Bellamya aeruginosa (B. aeruginosa) and Corbicula fluminea (C. fluminea). After 28d laboratory exposure, the positive correlations of DDT concentrations between both SPMDs and benthic mussels with sediments documented that the bioavailability of DDTs was mainly affected by surrounding sediments, while the observed differences of DDT concentrations and congener proportions between B. aeruginosa and C. fluminea were due to the specific physiological characteristics of organisms and different physico-chemical properties of contaminants. Comparisons between SPMDs and benthic mussels showed higher values of biota-sediment accumulation factors (BSAF, 0.63-3.61 for B. aeruginosa and 2.19-17.08 for C. fluminea) than device accumulation factors (DAF, 1.00-1.74). This indicated that living organisms bioaccumulated much more DDTs from sediments than SPMDs due to the different exposure and uptake routes. Strong positive associations between DDTs in SPMDs and benthic mussels indicated SPMDs could mimic the bioaccumulation of DDTs, especially in C. fluminea. However, given the distinct differences observed for both concentrations and congener proportions of DDTs in SPMDs and B. aeruginosa, future study should be directed to develop reliable models with various sediment-dwelling organisms before SPMDs are routinely used in field study.     

Detrital diversity influences estuarine ecosystem performance

Global losses of seagrasses and mangroves, eutrophication‐driven increases in ephemeral algae, and macrophyte invasions have impacted estuarine detrital resources. To understand the implications of these changes on benthic ecosystem processes, we tested the hypotheses that detrital source richness, mix identity, and biomass influence benthic primary production, metabolism, and nutrient fluxes. On an estuarine muddy sandflat, we manipulated the availability of eight detrital sources, including mangrove, seagrass, and invasive and native algal species that have undergone substantial changes in distribution. Mixes of these detrital sources were randomly assigned to one of 12 treatments and dried detrital material was added to seventy‐two 0.25 m² plots (n = 6 plots). The treatments included combinations of either two or four detrital sources and high (60 g) or low (40 g) levels of enrichments. After 2 months, the dark, light, and net uptake of NH₄⁺, dissolved inorganic nitrogen, and the dark efflux of dissolved organic nitrogen were each significantly influenced by the identity of detrital mixes, rather than detrital source richness or biomass. However, gross and net primary productivity, average oxygen flux, and net NO_X and dissolved inorganic phosphorous fluxes were significantly greater in treatments with low than with high detrital source richness. These results demonstrate that changes in detrital source richness and mix identity may be important drivers of estuarine ecosystem performance. Continued impacts to estuarine macrophytes may, therefore, further alter detritus‐fueled productivity and processes in estuaries. Specific tests that address predicted future changes to detrital resources are required to determine the consequences of this significant environmental problem.     

Complete genome sequence of Desulfocapsa sulfexigens,a marine deltaproteobacterium specialized in disproportionating inorganic sulfur compounds

Desulfocapsa sulfexigens SB164P1 (DSM 10523) belongs to the deltaproteobacterial family Desulfobulbaceae and is one of two validly described members of its genus. This strain was selected for genome sequencing, because it is the first marine bacterium reported to thrive on the disproportionation of elemental sulfur, a process with a unresolved enzymatic pathway in which elemental sulfur serves both as electron donor and electron acceptor. Furthermore, in contrast to its phylogenetically closest relatives, which are dissimilatory sulfate-reducers, D. sulfexigens is unable to grow by sulfate reduction and appears metabolically specialized in growing by disproportionating elemental sulfur, sulfite or thiosulfate with CO₂ as the sole carbon source. The genome of D. sulfexigens contains the set of genes that is required for nitrogen fixation. In an acetylene assay it could be shown that the strain reduces acetylene to ethylene, which is indicative for N-fixation. The circular chromosome of D. sulfexigens SB164P1 comprises 3,986,761 bp and harbors 3,551 protein-coding genes of which 78% have a predicted function based on auto-annotation. The chromosome furthermore encodes 46 tRNA genes and 3 rRNA operons.