Effects of diatoms on reproduction and growth of marine copepods

Two hot spots in marine ecology, deleterious effects of diatoms and feeding selectivity of copepods, as well as new progress on these two issues achieved in the recent ten years, are reviewed. These two issues are considered correlated closely. Diatoms and their metabolites can induce deleterious effects on growth, reproduction and development of copepods, including increase of mortality and decrease of egg production, hatching and growth rates. Such negative effects, resulting from either chemical toxin or nutritional deficiency, can be conquered in natural environments by diverse feeding. It is therefore concluded that deleterious effects of diatoms observed in laboratory or during blooming period are only a special case that accommodation of feeding strategy of copepods is disabled. To understand their feeding strategy in natural environments is a prerequisite to explaining the mechanisms of deleterious effects caused by diatoms, and makes it possible to re-evaluate the energy flow in marine ecosystems.     

Environmental and biogeo-chemical process of accumula-tion of iron-phosphorus in marine sediments

This paper discusses the environmental andbiogeochemical process of accumulation of iron-phosphorusin marine sediments for the north aktian of the South ChinaSea and analyzes the relationships between the contents ofiron, phosphorus and calcium carbonate as well as their ex-istent characteristics. The results show that the variances ofphosphorus and calcium carbonate contents with depths areopposite and those of iron and calcium carbonate contentsare almost accordant. It is not only related to the biogeo-chemical process of accumulation of biogenous calcium car-bonate in sediments, which resulted from the fact that themarine primary productivity was stimulated by part of ter-rigenous phosphorus dissolved into seawater due to declineof superficial water temperature and increase of carbon di-oxide content in the glacial period, but also related to ironimpelled oxidation and accelerated deposit by the dissolvedoxygen from the atmosphere and the photosynthesis of hy-drophytes in seawater. The variance of soluble iron-phos-phorus species (Fe-P) in sediment columns can sensitivelyreflect the changes of climate and environment, which sug-gests that the accumulative characteristics and existent statesof iron-phosphorus species (Fe-P) in marine sediments havethe significance as an indicator of the changes of paleocli-mate and paleoenvironment.     

The specific carbon isotopic compositions of branched and cyclic hydrocarbons from Fushun oil shale

Various branched and cyclic hydrocarbons are isolated from the Fushun oil shale and their carbon isotopes are determined. The analytical results show that the branched and cyclic hydrocarbons are fully separated from n-alkanes by 5 A molecular-sieve adduction using long time and cold solvent. The branched and cyclic hydrocarbon fraction obtained by this method is able to satisfy the analytic requests of GC-IRMS. The carbon isotopic compositions of these branched and cyclic hydrocarbons obtained from the sample indicate that they are derived from photoautotrophic algae, chemoautotrophic bacteria (-33.4‰— -39.0‰) and methanotrophic bacteria (-38.4‰— -46.3‰). However the long-chain 2-methyl-branched alkanes indicate that their carbon isotopic compositions reflect biological origin from higher plants. The carbon isotopic composition of C30 4-methyl sterane (-22.1‰) is the heaviest in all studied steranes, showing that the carbon source or growth condition for its precursor, dinoflageilate, may be different from that of regular steranes. The variation trend of δ^13C ValUes between isomers of hopanes shows that ^13C-enriched precursors take precedence in process of their epimerization. Methanotrophic hopanes presented reveal the processes of strong transformation of organic matter and cycling of organic carbon in the water column and early diagenesis of oil shale.     

Analysis of components of conserved “backbone sequences”among genomes of Shigella spp. strains

Difference in the genomic compositions of prokaryotes is the basis of the diversity in their biological characters. However, besides their flora-or strain-specific genes,those floras with closer relationship in the evolution also have conserved “backbone sequences”, which reveal the marks of their origin and evolution, and these “backbone sequences”are just the basis of their elementary living abilities and common biological properties. Shigella is very closely related to E. coli in the origin and evolution, and may turn out to belong to the same genus. In this study, a microarray containing E. coli K-12 whole genome and Sf301 specific ORFs is used to investigate the genomic components of four Shigella strains. The results indicate that 16%-22% K-12 ORFs sequences are not detected in the genome of Shigella strains while the genome of Shigella contains at least 2800 conserved ORFs, which compose the common “backbone sequences”.Advanced analysis indicated that the “backbone sequences”are the essential components in maintaining the normal physiological activities of intestinal bacteria. Furthermore,only 20% Sf301-specific ORFs exist in other strains simultaneously, which demonstrate the great genome heterogeneity and the genetic diversity among the strains.     

Glycerol ether biomarkers and their carbon isotopic compositions in a cold seep carbonate chimney from the Shenhu area,northern South China Sea

At modern cold seeps,the anaerobic oxidation of methane(AOM)is the dominant pathway for methane consumption in marine sediments.AOM,which is mediated by a consortium of methane oxidizing archaea and sulfate reducing bacteria,is proposed to be responsible for authigenic carbonate formation.A methane-derived carbonate chimney was collected from the Shenhu area, northern South China Sea.The membrane lipids and their very low carbon isotopic compositions(?115‰to?104‰)in the Shenhu chimney suggest the presence of an AOM process.Three specific archaeal and bacterial biomarkers were detected,including Ar,DAGE 1f,and monocyclic MDGD.Their strongly depleted??13C values(?115‰to?104‰),which are lower than those of the normal marine lipids in sediments,reveal biogenic methane as their origin.The carbonate deposits exhibiting a chimney structure indicate that a vigorous methane-rich fluid expulsion may have occurred at the seafloor.We propose that the decomposition of gas hydrates at depth is the likely cause of seepage and cold seep carbonate formation in the Shenhu area.     

Ecological functions of ciliated protozoa in marine ecosystem： effects of ammonium on the population growth of Euplotes vannus

The effects of ammonium on the population growth of the marine ciliate, Euplotes vannus, were examined using ecotoxicological method, h is showed that ammonium exerts inhibitory effects on the growth of the ciliate populations in a concentration-dependent way. Statistical analvsis reveals that the population growth dynamics exposed to ammoniunt-N concentration over 100mg/L are significantly different from that in the control at P 〈 0.05 level. Linear regression determined that the 24h, 36h, 48h, 60h, 72h and 84h IC50 values of ammonium-N are 19.68, 201.51, 167.49, 47.86, 50.43 and 43.11 concentration over 100mg/L, respectively （ P 〈 0.05; pH 8.2; salinity 28 ppt; temperature, 25℃ ）. The results indicate that the tolerance to ammonium in E. vannus is considerably higher than that of the larvae or juveniles of some metozoa, such as cuhured prawns and oysters. Therefore, it is believed that the high tolerance to ammonium is necessary for eiliated protozoa to play positive roles in maintaining and improving water quality in marine ecosystems, especially in the intensive aquacuhure waters with high-level ammonium. In addition, the correlation between /C50 values and exposure time was discussed.     

Responses of ephemeral plant germination and growth to water and heat conditions in the southern part of Gurbantunggut Desert

Ephemeral plants in the southern part of Gurbantunggut Desert were systematically monitored from 2002 to 2004 and the meteorological data and soil moisture during the same period were analyzed. The results show that the ephemeral plants germination and growth are sensitive to the changes of water and heat condition. The time for daily temperature over 0℃ in early spring in 2003 was delayed nearly 10 d compared with that in 2002, while the soil water changed little in the same period. Observation showed that there were 28 ephemeral species germinated in 2002, their life period was about 70 d in spring, and the maximum cover of ephemeral synusia reached 46.4%. However, only 17 ephemeral species germinated in 2003, their life period was about 50 d in spring, and their maximum cover was only 20.8%. The height of ephemeral plants was significantly higher in 2002 than that in 2003. It can be seen that ephemeral plant germination and growth in spring are strongly dependent on temperature. The changes of water conditions can affect ephemerals germination and growth as well. Because no heavy precipitation occurred during summer in 2002, only a few ephemerophytes were observed in autumn after ephemerals completed their life circle in early spring. However, about 60 mm precipitation was recorded from July to August both in 2003 and in 2004. Some ephemerals such as Erodium oxyrrhynchum and Carex physodes, etc. covered the dune surface rapidly with a cover 〉10%. Therefore, the ephemerals not only germinate in autumn after the early spring, some species may germinate in summer if adequate rainfall occurs. The study on responses of ephemerals growth to water and heat conditions not only has a certain ecological significance but also contributes a better understanding to the effect of climate changes on the desert surface stability.     

Geochemical significance of the relative enrichment of pristane and the negative excursion of δ^13CPr across the Permian-Triassic Boundary at Meishan, China

Changes in the distribution of isoprenoid hydrocarbons and in δ^13Ckero or δ^13Cpr across the section from the Changxing Formation to the lower Yinkeng Formation at Meishan （the GSSP of PTB） are studied, in which a relative enrichment of pristane and a sharp shift in both δ^13Ckero and δ^13Cmole near the boundary are revealed. A possible mechanism for the abnormal accumulation of pristane near PTB is suggested： Lipids in some marine animals and their metabolites, rich in pristane, can be preserved and accumulate in some suitable depositing facies under certain special conditions, such as the catastrophic death of animals and/or developing of an anoxic water column, and thus the pristane enrichment occurs in the sediment. The occurrences of isoprenoid enrichment and high Pr/Ph ratios have been found in other typical marine anoxic sediments accompanied by mass extinction in various extent during the most important geological periods, such as Late Ordovician, end of Devonian, Early Jurassic and Late Cretaceous. These occurrences support to a certain extent the above mechanism that interprets the genesis of a high Pr/Ph ratio in some typical marine anoxic sediments. The synchronous sharp negative shifts in δ^13Cmole, δ^13Ckero and δ^13Ccarb from Beds 24 to 26 of the Meishan profile indicate that a sudden and strong variation of carbon source in the atmosphere-ocean system occurred during the quick but equable evolution from the end-Permian to Early Triassic, and the coupling between the pristane enrichment and negative shift in δ^13Ckero and δ^13CPr may well indicate the importance of the release of methane hydrates and marine anoxia in the end-Permian mass extinction.     

Population dynamics of Pygoscelis penguins(1980–2012) and penguin dropping records(1916–2001) on Ardley Island of West Antarctica,in response to ENSO

El Nio-Southern Oscillation(ENSO)has affected penguins and their habitats in the western Antarctic Peninsula.We used both historical penguin population dynamics data(1980–2012)and sedimentary lipids in penguin droppings(1916–2001)on Ardley Island to examine the responses of the Antarctic ecosystem to ENSO(El Nin o/La Nin a)events.The results showed that during the last 30 years,climate,marine food chain changes,and human activity have significantly affected penguin population sizes on Ardley Island.The Chinstrap(Pygoscelis antarctica)and Ade′lie(P.adeliae)penguin populations showed a good correlation with ENSO events.The Chinstrap penguin population decreased significantly because it was more sensitive to increasing human disturbance(e.g.,scientific activity and tourism)than Ade′lie and Gentoo(P.papua),particularly during the breeding season.Compositional features of n-alkanes in penguin dropping sediments revealed that organic matter came from lower terrestrial plants,bacteria and algae.C23was the main nalkane heavy hydrocarbon indicating mosses and lichens in the penguin’s diet.Variation in the ratio of nC23/nC17was closely correlated with ENSO events.The bacteria intrusion index(ratio of(iC15:0?aC15:0)/nC15:0for fatty acids)reflected significant increases in microorganism activity during several periods in this area.Meanwhile,the CPIA value for fatty acids decreased because micro-organisms contributed light hydrocarbon fatty acids to penguin droppings.Our results showed that the fine structure and molecular indices of fatty acids and n-alkanes in penguin dropping sediments can be used to explain climate-driven microbial processes,and to reveal the important role that microbes and bacteria play in the relatively simple Antarctic ecosystem.     

Discussion of gas enrichment mechanism and natural gas origin in marine sedimentary basin,China

There are abundant natural gas resources in Chinese marine sedimentary basin. The exploration hot shots of natural gas are the Palaeozoic marine strata here in recent years, and several large scale gas fields have been discovered. Chinese Palaeozoic high-post matured and coal measure hydrocarbon source rocks are mainly prone to gas generation in the present. This research considered that gas source rocks and TSR are the key cause of gas enrichment of marine strata. High-quality argillaceous and coal measure hydrocarbon rocks are distributed widely in the Palaeozoic marine strata, which have been in highly matured phase in the present. The argillaceous source rock generally contains various sulfates that could accelerate crude oil cracking to gas for TSR occurrence, and coal measure source rock mainly generates gas, so Chinese marine basin gives priority to accumulating gas. Marine strata have not founded oil reservoirs in the Sichuan Basin and Ordos Basin, and they consist mainly of dry gas. Marine natural gases are the mixed gases of oil cracking gas and coal-formed gas in a general way, oil cracking gases contain usually some H2S and CO2. Hydrocarbon carbon isotopes are very complicated, and methane and ethane isotopic values bear apparent reversal caused by thermal evolution and mixing among different genetic types of natural gas. Coal-formed gases are the main component of Chinese marine natural gas. The Upper Permian of the Sichuan Basin and the Carboniferous-Permian of the Ordos Basin coal measure hydrocarbon source rock present large hydrocarbon generation potential, which are the prospecting highlight of marine natural gas hereafter. Oil cracking gas exploration will be paid much attention to in the Tarim Basin because of the lack of coal measure hydrocarbon source rock.     

高温和高盐对Nitrosomonas nitrosa WH-1氨氧化活性的联合影响

自养氨氧化细菌是污水处理中的重要细菌,但高温和高盐对其氨氧化活性的联合影响研究仍较为匮乏.该文以纯培养的自养氨氧化细菌Nitrosomonas nitrosa WH-1为例,采用响应面法测定了温度与盐浓度对N.nitrosa WH-1亚硝氮积累速率的联合影响,还测定了不同盐浓度条件(3～18 g·L^-1)和不同温度条件(36℃～48℃)下的最适温度、半数抑制温度和半数抑制盐度.发现高温与高盐对亚硝氮积累速率存在明显的交互作用,当温度由36℃升至42℃,半数抑制盐浓度由8.84 g·L^-1增至10.45 g·L^-1,而盐浓度为15～18 g·L^-1时的最适温度和半数抑制温度也显著高于盐浓度为3～12 g·L^-1时的情况.上述结果说明,高温可以缓解高盐所引起的抑制,且适度的高盐也可以提高自养氨氧化细菌的耐热性.     

Light stimulates growth of proteorhodopsin-containing marine Flavobacteria

Proteorhodopsins are bacterial light-dependent proton pumps. Their discovery within genomic material from uncultivated marine bacterioplankton caused considerable excitement because it indicated a potential phototrophic function within these organisms, which had previously been considered strictly chemotrophic. Subsequent studies established that sequences encoding proteorhodopsin are broadly distributed throughout the world's oceans. Nevertheless, the role of proteorhodopsins in native marine bacteria is still unknown. Here we show, from an analysis of the complete genomes of three marine Flavobacteria, that cultivated bacteria in the phylum Bacteroidetes, one of the principal components of marine bacterioplankton, contain proteorhodopsin. Moreover, growth experiments in both natural and artificial seawater (low in labile organic matter, which is typical of the world's oceans) establish that exposure to light results in a marked increase in the cell yield of one such bacterium (Dokdonia sp. strain MED134) when compared with cells grown in darkness. Thus, our results show that the phototrophy conferred by proteorhodopsin can provide critical amounts of energy, not only for respiration and maintenance but also for active growth of marine bacterioplankton in their natural environment.     

屎肠球菌JT1701对人体肠系细菌的调控作用

用屎肠球菌JT1701与人体肠系有害菌（大肠杆菌、产气荚膜梭菌、脆弱拟杆菌）和人体肠系益生菌（婴儿双歧杆菌、嗜酸乳杆菌）分别及共同培养发现,肠球球菌对这些菌均有抑制作用。它能抑制这些菌氨的产生,降低培养基的pH。其原因是,屎肠球菌与氨产生相关的尿酶、氨基酸脱氨酶的种类少,酶活性亦低,而与NH4^ 同化相关的谷氨酸脱氢酶、谷氨酸合酶、谷酰氨合成酶的活性要高得多。表明屎肠球菌对人体肠系菌群具有调控作用。     

碱性氧化铜矿产氨菌浸出特性

为了研究碱性氧化铜矿产氨菌浸出特性,分析了产氨菌浸矿过程对矿石的作用.将云南某矿的碱性氧化铜矿置于含菌培养液、去菌培养液和氨水等5种浸矿溶液中,在同一条件下进行摇瓶浸矿实验,剖析溶液中各可能的浸矿因子.研究结果表明:产氨菌产氨能力较强,尿素培养液中氨质量浓度最大达8.93 g·L-1;产氨量与细菌含量呈正相关关系,细菌含量越高,产氨量越大;产氨菌主要通过产氨间接浸矿,此外产氨菌和其代谢产物都能直接作用于矿石,浸矿能力细菌产氨>细菌>细菌代谢产物,三者比值约为12:5:4.     

一种耐热亚硝化单胞菌富集培养物的特性及其在污水中的脱氨效果

从生活污水中分离得到了一种自养氨氧化菌富集培养物,其中的唯一的自养氨氧化菌为Nitrosomonas nitrosa SN-6,其16S rDNA序列和amoA基因序列均与N. nitrosa Nm90高度相似(Identity达100%).该文研究了高温对该富集培养物在培养基和垃圾渗滤液中代谢与生长的影响,并测定了游离亚硝酸浓度和盐度对其脱氨效果的影响及该菌对污染地表水的脱氨效果.结果表明：该富集培养物的最高耐受温度不低于43 ℃,最大亚硝氮积累速率可达129 mg·L－1·d－1;在培养基中的最适生长温度为37～40 ℃(代时低至6.1 h),在垃圾渗滤液中的最适生长温度为40 ℃(代时低至5.9 h);该富集培养物脱氨活性的半数抑制盐度略高于1%,半数抑制游离亚硝酸浓度约为0.095 mg·L－1;仅需3 d即可使污染地表水中的氨氮从5～23 mg·L－1降至不超过1.5 mg·L－1.结果表明,SN－6不但适于高温高氨水体,也适于中温低氨水体脱氨,具有广泛的应用前景.     

高通量筛选污水中的硝化细菌

为了降低污水中氮元素对环境的污染,利用分离培养基从污水中分离出94株单菌,对单菌进行富集,再利用鉴定培养基、氨氮、亚硝酸盐和硝酸盐快速测定试剂盒初筛出41株硝化细菌,通过功能验证复筛出25株高效的硝化细菌.这25株硝化细菌均可将市政污水中的COD降解到40~60 mg/L,符合污水的COD一级降解标准,氨氮的降解率为70%~90%,也符合污水中氨氮的降解标准.     

水性聚氨酯防污涂料的海洋细菌附着实验

利用平板计数法、扫描电镜等实验研究了海洋细菌在三种水性聚氨酯防污涂层上的附着.结果表明,PTFE和锐钛型纳米二氧化钛均对海洋细菌的附着有抑制作用.随着PTFE和锐钛型纳米二氧化钛在涂层配方中的含量增加,涂层防止海洋细菌附着的能力增强,并且二者协同作用时效果更好.     

黄菖蒲根际低分子量有机酸对土壤吸附氨氮的影响

根际低分子量有机酸是一类活性的化感物质, 具有促进污染物迁移、转化与累积等重要的生态功能.本研究利用GC-MS技术, 解析了黄菖蒲根际代谢物的组分特征与相对含量, 通过模拟实验揭示了低分子量有机酸对土壤吸附氨氮的热-动力学的影响.结果表明:黄菖蒲根际代谢的不同种类低分子量有机酸均能促进氨氮吸附, 但作用程度存在差异; 氨氮在土壤中的吸附动力学符合Elovich方程与双常数方程, 等温吸附均符合Langmuir和Freundlich方程的特征,其键能常数K_L与有机酸解离常数pKa呈负相关; 低分子量有机酸调控土壤吸附氨氮的机理主要是有机质活化作用.     

Phylogenetic positions of two marine ciliates, Metanophrys similis and Pseudocohnilembus hargisi (Protozoa, Ciliophora,Scuticociliatia), inferred from complete small subunit rRNA gene sequences

The small subunit rRNA (SSrRNA) gene was sequenced for two marine scuticociliates Metanophrys similis and Pseudocohnilembus hargisi. The results show that this gene comprises 1763 and 1753 nucleotides in the two marine ciliates respectively. Metanophrys similis is phylogenetically closely related to the clade containing Mesanophrys carcini and Anophyroides haemophila, which branches basally to other species within the order Philasterida. Pseudocohnilembus hargisi groups with its congener, P. marinus, with strong bootstrap support. Paranophrys magna groups with the clade including Cohnilembus and Uronema, representing a sister clade to that containing the two Pseudocohnilembus species.     

An anaerobic mitochondrion that produces hydrogen

Hydrogenosomes are organelles that produce ATP and hydrogen, and are found in various unrelated eukaryotes, such as anaerobic flagellates, chytridiomycete fungi and ciliates. Although all of these organelles generate hydrogen, the hydrogenosomes from these organisms are structurally and metabolically quite different, just like mitochondria where large differences also exist. These differences have led to a continuing debate about the evolutionary origin of hydrogenosomes. Here we show that the hydrogenosomes of the anaerobic ciliate Nyctotherus ovalis, which thrives in the hindgut of cockroaches, have retained a rudimentary genome encoding components of a mitochondrial electron transport chain. Phylogenetic analyses reveal that those proteins cluster with their homologues from aerobic ciliates. In addition, several nucleus-encoded components of the mitochondrial proteome, such as pyruvate dehydrogenase and complex II, were identified. The N. ovalis hydrogenosome is sensitive to inhibitors of mitochondrial complex I and produces succinate as a major metabolic end product--biochemical traits typical of anaerobic mitochondria. The production of hydrogen, together with the presence of a genome encoding respiratory chain components, and biochemical features characteristic of anaerobic mitochondria, identify the N. ovalis organelle as a missing link between mitochondria and hydrogenosomes.