Biohydrogen generation by mesophilic anaerobic fermentation of microcrystalline cellulose

Sixteen batch experiments were performed to evaluate the stability, kinetics, and metabolic paths of heat-shocked digester (HSD) sludge that transforms microcrystalline cellulose into hydrogen. Highly reproducible kinetic and metabolic data confirmed that HSD sludge could stably convert microcrystalline cellulose to hydrogen and volatile fatty acids (VFA) and induce metabolic shift to produce alcohols. We concluded that clostridia predominated the hydrogen-producing bacteria in the HSD sludge. Throughout this study the hydrogen percentage in the headspace of the digesters was greater than 50% and no methanogenesis was observed. The results emphasize that hydrogen significantly inhibited the hydrogen-producing activity of sludge when initial microcrystalline cellulose concentrations exceeded 25.0 g/L. A further 25 batch experiments performed with full factorial design incorporating multivariate analysis suggested that the ability of the sludge to convert cellulose into hydrogen was influenced mainly by the ratio of initial cellulose concentration (So) to initial sludge density (Xo), but not by interaction between the variables. The hydrogen-producing activity depended highly on interaction of So x (So/Xo). Through response surface analysis it was found that a maximum hydrogen yield of 3.2 mmol/g cellulose occurred at So = 40 g/L and So/Xo = 8 g cellulose/g VSS. A high specific rate of 18 mmol/(g VSS-d) occurred at So = 28 g/L and So/Xo = 9 g cellulose/g VSS. These experimental results suggest that high hydrogen generation from cellulose was accompanied by low So/Xo.     

基于多元回归树的公益林群落结构解析

为揭示不同生境类型下公益林群落物种多样性及优势种种间关系特征, 以临安市公益林125个固定监测样地为研究对象, 利用多元回归树(MRT)进行群落分类, 以物种多样性指数和种间联结系数为指标, 对不同群落类型的结构特征进行探索。结果表明: 临安市公益林125个典型样地可划分为5个类型; 类型I、II、III与类型V的多样性指数之间均无显著差异, 但类型III的多样性指数均最高, 类型IV的物种多样性指数均显著低于其它类型, 海拔是影响群落多样性水平的主要因子。种间联结初步分析显示, 研究区群落中稳定性最高的层片是乔木层, 且毛竹入侵极可能是影响5个类型植物群落稳定性的关键因素。研究结果可为临安市公益林分类经营管理提供理论依据, 同时为区域公益林群落数量结构研究奠定基础。     

中国昆虫区系的多元相似性聚类分析和地理区划

为了总结分析中国昆虫的分布规律, 为昆虫地理区划提出依据, 作者2008年创建了新的多元相似性聚类分析方法, 它与传统的聚类分析方法的主要不同是直接计算任意多个地区之间的相似性系数, 从而摈弃原来的合并环节。我们应用这种方法对中国823科17 018属93 662种昆虫的分布进行了定量分析。当种级水平相似性系数分别为0.19和0.14时, 全国64个基础地理单元聚类为20个小单元群和9个大单元群。根据聚类分析结果, 提出我国第一个由定量分析产生的9个昆虫区20个昆虫亚区的中国昆虫地理区划的初步方案。西北昆虫区、 东北昆虫区、 华北昆虫区、 青藏昆虫区稳定地组成中国北方昆虫大区, 江淮昆虫区、 华中昆虫区、 西南昆虫区、 华东昆虫区、 华南昆虫区稳定地组成中国南方昆虫大区。江淮昆虫区的设立是因为这里多平原和丘陵, 为重要农业区, 昆虫区系简单, 种类显著少于华东、 华中、 华南昆虫区, 而和华北昆虫区相当; 包括台湾在内的华东昆虫区是昆虫多样性最丰富地区之一, 显著高于邻近的华北、 江淮、 华南昆虫区。最后, 对昆虫地理定量分析中的重要环节进行讨论, 还对今后昆虫区系调查的薄弱地区提出建议。这项研究证明多元相似性聚类分析方法是简便、 快捷、 实用的, 能够在更广泛的范围应用, 这预示着生物地理学研究将会由定性研究进入到定量研究阶段。     

Typology of macrofaunal assemblages: a tool for the management of running waters in The Netherlands

A survey was carried out at 156 sites, situated in streams in the province of Overijssel (The Netherlands), to describe the macroinvertebrate assemblages and their environments. Fifty-six environmental variables were measured once at each sampling site. The main aim was to describe a typology of stream for this region.Different multivariate analysis techniques (clustering and ordination) were used in combination with ecological information on individual taxa to derive and describe site groups in terms of taxonomic composition and mean environmental conditions. The resulting site groups were termed cenotypes.Eleven cenotypes were distinguished. Differences between cenotypes were attributed to (combinations of) environmental key factors, namely, dimensions (width and depth), morphological (profile shape) and hydraulic stream characteristics, duration of drought and load of organic material.The typology offers a basis to be used for regional stream management and nature conservation. Efforts to improve stream ecosystems should be directed at the physical and hydraulic conditions.Typological studies are needed (especially in semi-natural landscapes) if we are to better understand, manage and conserve freshwater biota.     

Taxonomic revision of shrews of the genus Crociduras from the Sunda Shelf and Sulawesi with description of two new species (Mammalia: Soricidae)

The skulls of 387 shrews of the genus Crocidura sampled in peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra, Borneo, Java and Sulawesi were submitted to principal component and stepwise discriminant analyses. These analyses helped to delineate morphological taxa in this species-rich genus of mammals. Most morphologic groups could be attributed to described species, except one taxon from Sumatra and one from Sulawesi, which are described and named as new. Most of the 21 species recognized in this paper are endemic to one major island. Although Sulawesi has never been connected to the mainland, it supports at least six species, followed by Sumatra (5–6 species), Java and the Malay Peninsula (4 spp) and Borneo (3 spp). C. monticola is apparently the only widespread species whose distribution range covers the entire Malay Archipelago except the Philippines and Sulawesi. In contrast, the continental C. fuliginosa enters only marginally into the Sunda Shelf: its southernmost record is on the Malay Peninsula. This interpretation is completely different from the classical view that C. fuliginosa is a cosmopolitan species occupying the whole of Southeast Asia. Identification keys, tables of measurements and discriminant functions provided in this work may aid in identification of the various species and subspecies of Crocidura living in the Malaya Archipelago.     

Ecotoxicological threshold levels of a mixture of herbicides (atrazine, diuron and metolachlor) in freshwater microcosms

Twelve indoor, plankton-dominated, freshwater microcosms (600 l) were used to study the effect of a mixture of herbicides on structural and functional aspects of these ecosystems. The EC50, 72 h values of the most susceptible standard test alga Selenastrum capricornutum (EC50, atrazine=54 μg l−1, EC50, diuron=15 μg l−1, EC50, metolachlor=56 μg l−1) were used as a starting point for the dosage applied in the microcosms (dosages: 0, 0.01, 0.03, 0.1, 0.3, 1× EC50). The microcosms were exposed to chronic levels for 28 days and subsequently monitored for 4 more weeks. The following effects were observed: (1) direct effects became apparent from an initial drop in photosynthesis efficiency, pH and oxygen concentration and a decrease in the abundance of several phytoplankton taxa at the 0.3 × EC50 treatment level and higher. (2) Fourteen days post application an increase in the abundance of several phytoplankton taxa (Chlamydomonas sp. and Stephanodiscus/Cyclotella) was observed; oxygen concentrations recovered while alkalinity, conductivity and total inorganic nitrogen were elevated. (3) Effects on fauna were minor. Daphnia galeata showed a decreasing trend and the cyclopoid copepods an increasing trend at the end of the experiment. Multivariate statistical analyses demonstrated no effects of any treatment level on the zooplankton community. Effects were reported for the phytoplankton community at dose levels of 0.3 × EC50 and higher. On species level the most sensitive taxon was Chlorophyceae coccales. For this taxon a NOEC at the dose level of 0.01 × EC50 was calculated. This effect however was relatively small in magnitude and merely based on an increase in numbers in the control and lowest treated microcosms rather than a decrease in numbers in all other treatments. The standards based on algal toxicity data, as adopted by the Uniform Principles, consist of a safety factors of 0.1 to be multiplied with the EC50. The NOEC of coccales was lower than 0.1 × EC50. All other observed variables in this aquatic ecosystem were sufficiently protected against the mixture of herbicides by the safety factor as proposed in the Uniform Principles. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

UK intertidal foraminiferal distributions: implications for sea-level studies

Foraminiferal assemblages have been collected from ten intertidal study areas situated on the east, south and west coasts of the UK. The assemblages display a vertical zonation which indicates that the distribution of foraminifera in these intertidal environments is usually the direct function of altitude with the duration and frequency of intertidal exposure the most important factors. Multivariate analyses separate foraminiferal assemblages into two faunal zones: a high- and middle marsh zone consisting of differing abundances of Jadammina macrescens, Trochammina inflata and Miliammina fusca; and a low-marsh and tidal flat zone dominated by calcareous foraminiferal species, notably Elphidium williamsoni, Haynesina germanica and Quinqueloculina spp. These faunal zones are similar to those in other mid-latitude, cool temperate intertidal environments although there are spatial and temporal variations between areas. The altitudinal ranges of the faunal zones are employed to identify the vertical relationship of the local environment in which the assemblage accumulated to a reference tide level.     

Effects of plant harvesting and nutrient enrichment on phytoplankton community structure in a shallow urban lake

The utility of shallow water bodies in urban environments is frequently compromised either by dense beds of submerged plants or cyanobacterial blooms associated with nutrient enrichment. Although submerged plants are often harvested to facilitate recreational uses, this activity may alter the phytoplankton community, which in turn, also may restrict the use of the lake. We tested whether (i) plant harvesting reduced the abundance of flagellate algae and increased the abundance of cyanobacteria, and (ii) whether increasing levels of nutrient enrichment caused shifts in the dominance of heterocytous cyanobacteria, non-heterocytous cyanobacteria and Chlorophyta, in a shallow urban lake in Southern Australia as has been observed for shallow Danish lakes in previous studies. These predictions were tested with large (3000 l), replicated mesocosms in a warm, highly productive, shallow lake densely colonised by the submerged angiosperm, Vallisnaria americana Michaux. The heterokont algae, Chlorophyta, Cyanobacteria and Cryptophyta were the most numerous algal divisions in the lake. The Euglenophyta, although uncommon in early summer, became more abundant towards the end of summer. The Dinophyta and Charophyta were rare. The abundance of the heterokont algae and Euglenophyta was significantly reduced by plant harvesting even after plants had partially re-established 18 weeks after initial harvesting. The decline in the Euglenophyta in response to plant harvesting is consistent with earlier findings, that the relative abundance of flagellate algae tends to be greater in the presence of submerged plants. Contrary to our prediction, we found that the Cyanobacteria did not increase in response to plant harvesting, however the response may be altered under higher nutrient levels. Algal responses to nutrient enrichment in the presence of dense V. americana plants generally followed the patterns observed in shallow Danish lakes despite the large differences in climatic conditions. Both studies found that the abundance of heterocytous cyanobacteria declined at higher levels of nutrient enrichment, whereas non-heterocytous cyanobacteria and chlorophytes increased.     

厦门海域浮游植物夏季赤潮期间分布变异的多元分析

根据2000年6月至7月夏季藻华期在11个监测站10个航次获取的表层浮游植物和现场测定的理化参数数据,采用多元分析方法揭示浮游植物聚群在污染胁迫下的动态特征。结果表明：（1）该区调查期间浮游植物群落的物种多样性时空变异显著,各站多样性指数值（H′）变动在0．45—4．23之间;（2）聚类分析和多维排序（MDS）结果显示,浮游植物聚群可分为3个与浮游植物阶段性演替以及各水域间不同的理化特征相关联的群落。群落Ⅰ系2000年6月赤潮暴发时主要出现于西海域的低盐港湾群落,由微型（nano一）浮游植物组成,包括硅藻门的角毛藻、骨条藻等属种类以及金藻门的单鞭金藻属种类等,如中肋骨条藻（Skeletonema costatum）、聚生角毛藻（Chaetoceros socialis）等和一种单鞭金藻（Chromulina sp．）（未鉴定到种,藻径3～5μm）,它们是赤潮原因种。群落Ⅱ和群落Ⅲ都以小型（micro-）浮游植物占优势。群落Ⅱ为赤潮前后广泛出现于调查区各水域的亚热带近岸广布群落,代表种有具槽帕拉藻（Paralia sulcata）、翼鼻状藻（Proboscia alata）、菱形海线藻（Thalassionema nitzschioides）和冰河拟星杆藻（Asterionellopsis glacialis）．群落Ⅲ主要分布于本海区东一东北部,由我国东南沿海常见的近海广布性种类组成,包括旋链角毛藻（Chaetoceros curvisetus）、地中海细柱藻（Leptocylindrus mediterraneus）、尖刺伪菱形藻（Pseudonitzschia pungens）、优美施罗藻（Schroederella delicatula）和斯氏几内亚藻（Guinardia striata）等;（3）丰度-生物量曲线（ABC）分析结果显示,当微藻赤潮出现时,数值丰度的K-优势曲线位于生物量K-优势曲线上方,而无赤潮时2条曲线大体上重叠。其模式可指示厦门海区西部海域污染严重以及东-东北部中度污染的状况;（4）根据各航次全部调查数据所作的PCA分析得到的前3个最主要成分,包括浮游植物丰度和溶解氧,铵氮和磷酸盐,盐度和温度等,大约解析本调查总差异的78．5％。