Water geochemistry and sedimentary pigments in northern Victoria Land lakes,Antarctica

Total concentrations of algal pigments, organic C, C, N, P and S were determined in surface sediments from the littoral zone of 21 lakes in ice-free areas of northern Victoria Land (Antarctica) with different climatic and environmental conditions. Concentrations of major ions and nutrients were also determined in water samples from the same lakes. The latter samples had extremely variable chemical compositions; however, all the lakes resulted oligotrophic. Pigment concentrations in surface sediments were comparable to those reported for other Antarctic lakes and lower than those in oligotrophic lakes at lower latitudes. Cyanophyta, Chlorophyta and Bacillariophyta were the main taxa identified. These taxa correspond to those reported in previous microscopy-based studies on Antarctic phytoplankton and phytobenthos. Discriminant Function Analysis and Canonical Correspondence Analysis of data indicate that the distribution of pigments in these Victoria Land lakes depends mainly on their geographical location (particularly the distance from the sea) and nutrient status.     

Background Values,Distribution and Contamination of Metals in the Sediments of the Pontevedra Ria (NW Spain)

Thirty-seven surface sediment samples were taken in the Pontevedra Ria (NW Iberian Peninsula), and metal concentrations (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb, and Zn) and organic/inorganic parameters were determined in order to obtain a mapping of their distribution, background values and the status of contamination. Background values were obtained from Metal/Fe ratios obtained by regression lines using “clean” stations. Contamination was assessed by the use of normalized enrichment factors (NEF). The middle and outer parts of the ria, mostly influenced by oceanic water and scarce anthropogenic activities, showed a low/null contamination (NEF ～ 1) for all the metals studied. However, the inner part of the ria, where most of the anthropogenic (urban and industrial) activities are located, showed a significant enrichment for Zn, Cu, and Pb, with NEF up to 5.2, 18, and 3.4, respectively. The rest of the metals were not significantly affected. Due to the hydrographic characteristics of the rias coastal systems, contamination sources are generally located well inland but in the high salinity region. Therefore rapid flocculation and accumulation of metal contaminants in sediments is favored close to their emission sources. Cadmium also showed a significant enrichment, strongly influenced by the presence of organic-rich sediments rather than contamination from point-sources. In the estuarine part of the ria, a significant enrichment was found for Cd, Cu, and Zn. However, it is unclear whether this is due to contamination by these two metals in the area or simply due to a difference in the lithogenic composition of the riverine sediments compared to the ria sediments.     

How did bonobos come to range south of the congo river? Reconsideration of the divergence of Pan paniscus from other Pan populations

While investigating the genetic structure in wild bonobos,¹ we realized that the widely accepted scenario positing that the Pleistocene appearance of the Congo River separated the common ancestor of chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and bonobos (P. paniscus) into two species is not supported by recent geographical knowledge about the formation of the Congo River. We explored the origin of bonobos using a broader biogeographical perspective by examining local faunas in the central African region. The submarine Congo River sediments and paleotopography of central Africa show that the Congo River has functioned as a geographical barrier for the last 34 million years. This evidence allows us to hypothesize that when the river was first formed, the ancestor of bonobos did not inhabit the current range of the species on the left bank of the Congo River but that, during rare times when the Congo River discharge decreased during the Pleistocene, one or more founder populations of ancestral Pan paniscus crossed the river to its left bank. The proposed scenario for formation of the Congo River and the corridor hypothesis for an ancestral bonobo population is key to understanding the distribution of great apes and their evolution.     

Using population dynamics analysis by DGGE to design the bacterial consortium isolated from mangrove sediments for biodegradation of PAHs

There are many PAH-degrading bacteria in mangrove sediments and in order to explore their degradation potential, surface sediment samples were collected from a mangrove area in Fugong, Longhai, Fujian Province of China. A total of 53 strains of PAH-degrading bacteria were isolated from the mangrove sediments, consisting of 14 strains of phenanthrene (Phe), 13 strains of pyrene (Pyr), 13 strains of benzo[a]pyrene (Bap) and 13 strains of mixed PAH (Phe + Pyr + Bap)-degrading bacteria. All of the individual colonies were identified by 16S rDNA sequencing. Based on the information of bacterial PCR-DGGE profiles obtained during enrichment batch culture, Phe, Pyr, Bap and mixed PAH-degrading consortia consisted of F1, F2, F3, F4 and F15 strains, B1, B3, B6, B7 and B13 strains, P1, P2, P3, P5 and P7 strains, M1, M2, M4, M12 and M13 strains, respectively. In addition, the degradation ability of these consortia was also determined. The results showed that both Phe and mixed PAH-degrading consortia had the highest ability to degrade the Phe in a liquid medium, with more than 91% being degraded in 3 days. But the biodegradation percentages of Pyr by Pyr-degrading consortium and Bap by Bap-degrading consortium were relatively lower than that of the Phe-degrading consortium. These results suggested that a higher degradation of PAHs depended on both the bacterial consortium present and the type of PAH compound. Moreover, using the bacterial community structure analysis method, where the consortia consist of different PAH-degrading bacteria, the information from the PCR-DGGE profiles could be used in the bioremediation of PAHs in the future.     

The First Results of an Investigation into the Phylogenetic Diversity of Microorganisms in Southern Baikal Sediments in the Region of Subsurface Discharge of Methane Hydrates

Phylogenetic analysis of the bacterial communities in Lake Baikal bottom sediments in the region of subsurface methane hydrate discharge has been carried out using data on 16S rRNA sequences. The composition of these microbial communities is shown to be different in different horizons. Methanotrophic bacteria are found in the surface layer (0–5 cm), and uncultured bacteria constitute a great portion of this population. In deeper sediment layers (92–96 cm), a change in the microbial community occurs; specifically, a decreased homology with the known sequences is observed. The new sequences form separate clusters on a phylogenetic tree, indicating the possibly endemic nature of the bacteria revealed. Organisms related to the genus Pseudomonas constitute the main portion of the population. An archaea-related sequence was found in a horizon containing gas hydrate crystals (100–128 cm). Uncultured bacteria remain predominant.__________Translated from Mikrobiologiya, Vol. 74, No. 3, 2005, pp. 370–377.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Shubenkova, Zemskaya, Chernitsyna, Khlystov, Triboi.     

Recent evolution of sedimentary heavy metals in a coastal lagoon contaminated by industrial wastewaters (Pialassa Baiona,Ravenna, Italy)

From 2000 to 2002, sediment contamination by Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb and Zn was analysed in the Pialassa Baiona salt marsh, which receives petrochemical wastewaters from the industrial district of Ravenna (Italy). The recent contamination levels were compared with data of previous studies carried out in 1982, in order to assess whether environmental policies and remedial measures reduced sediment pollution. Sedimentary profiles of Cu and Pb were homogeneous along the uppermost 0–10 cm horizon, which corresponded to the sedimentation in the last 30 years. Concentrations of Zn attained a peak (up to 800 mg kg⁻¹ dry weight) in the 0–4 cm sediment horizon, which was assumed to correspond to the last 10–15 years. A wide-spread contamination by Hg was detected in the salt marsh as well as in the main channel with peaks up to 20–40 mg kg⁻¹ dry weight. Nonetheless, recent sediments resulted less contaminated, since Hg discharge from industrial plants ceased about 20 years ago. Contamination levels by Hg values were two orders of magnitude higher than the international sediment quality standards. Cadmium, which was analysed for the first time in 2000–2002, attained a peak in the surface layers (1–2.5 mg kg⁻¹ d.w.), with a progressive decline along the sediment column. Through comparison with pre-industrial values detected in the deeper sediment horizons (before 1920), Hg showed the highest enrichment factor, up to 300 times. Cd and Zn concentrations in recent sediments were from 2 to 10 times higher than background values. In terms of possible adverse effects, Hg posed the highest risk, and Cd and Zn were frequently above the recommended thresholds.     

Viability of invertebrate diapausing eggs exposed to saltwater: implications for Great Lakes’ ship ballast management

International shipping has been the dominant vector of nonindigenous species introductions to the Laurentian Great Lakes over the past century. Apparent ballast-mediated invasions have been recorded in recent years, despite the implementation of voluntary ballast water exchange regulations in 1989. Since unregulated no-ballast-on-board vessels currently dominate inbound traffic to the Great Lakes, it has been proposed that live or dormant organisms contained in residual ballast of these vessels may be partially responsible for recent invasions. Alternatively, euryhaline species may pose a significant invasion threat because they can potentially survive ballast exchange. In this study, we explored whether exposure to open-ocean water (32) reduced the viability of invertebrate diapausing eggs in ballast sediments. Sediments collected from three transoceanic ships and from three freshwater habitats were exposed to open-ocean seawater. Egg viability, assessed as the abundance of taxa hatched between exposed and unexposed sediments, was not affected by saltwater exposure in any experiment. Species richness of hatched diapausing eggs was reduced by saltwater exposure in only one of seven trials. Our results indicate that oligostenohaline zooplankton may pose an invasion risk because their diapausing eggs are largely resistant to exposure to open-ocean saltwater.     

渤海莱州湾表层沉积物中底栖有孔虫分布特征及其环境意义

对渤海莱州湾海域240个站位表层沉积物中底栖有孔虫群落进行了分析,共鉴定常见的底栖有孔虫42种。结果表明,莱州湾表层沉积物中底栖有孔虫主要以玻璃质壳为主(平均丰度达70.9%),瓷质壳含量次之,胶结壳含量最低;玻璃质壳占有孔虫全群的百分含量,随水深的增加而增加;从黄河口向外海方向,有孔虫分异度和丰度都逐渐增大。该海域底栖有孔虫平面分布的主要控制因素为盐度和底质沉积物类型,大体可分为两个组合分区,I区为Ammonia beccarii-Quinqueloculina spp.组合,代表盐度较低的近岸海陆过渡浅水环境;II区为Cribrononionsub-incertum-Protelphidium tuberculatum组合,代表盐度较高的远岸内陆架环境。     

湘西河流表层沉积物重金属污染特征及其潜在生态毒性风险

花垣河和峒河是湘西地区受到锰矿和铅锌矿生产影响严重的两条河流。通过表层沉积物采样分析了Cd、Pb、Cu、Ni、Cr、Zn和Mn的总量,根据BCR连续提取程序分析沉积物样品中重金属的地球化学赋存形态,采用内梅罗指数法和地积累指数法评价了沉积物重金属污染特征,根据重金属的富集程度探讨了重金属污染来源,采用淡水生态系统沉积物质量基准(SQGs,TEL/PEL)和毒性单位评价了花垣河和峒河沉积物中重金属元素的生态毒性风险。结果表明,花垣河和峒河绝大多数位点的表层沉积物中Cd、Pb、Cu、Ni、Cr、Zn和Mn的总量高于参照点,形成严重的复合污染,花垣河沉积物中重金属的污染水平明显高于峒河,但沿程变化规律不明显,而峒河沉积物中重金属的沿程变化较有规律,即上游含量低,中下游含量较高。两条河流表层沉积物中富集程度居前列的均为Cd、Pb、Zn和Mn。花垣河和峒河沉积物重金属污染主要来源于矿业生产所产生废渣和废水的点排放。在花垣河和峒河的大多数位点,Cd、Pb和Mn的形态具有共同特征,其生物可利用态均较大程度地超过生物不可利用态,而且Mn和Cd的生物可直接利用态所占比例远高于其它重金属,而Cu和Cr的生物可直接利用态所占比例很低。花垣河沉积物中Cd、Pb和Zn在所有位点极大地超过PEL,在峒河中下游,Cd、Pb、Ni和Zn超过PEL,具有较大的潜在生物毒性。除上游S1位点外,花垣河的其余各位点都具有明显的急性毒性,峒河中下游各位点具有明显的急性毒性,这些河段需要重点治理。