新疆阜康地区森林资源与环境的空间分析

研究了新疆阜康地区森林植被资源与环境的特征和其30年来的变化，利用Arcinfo强大的空间分析功能，对资源、DEM模型、景观指数、环境价值和新疆降水量的地统计学规律进行较全面的分析。本文分为五个部分： 1、新疆阜康地区森林资源与环境空间数据库的建立森林资源与环境空间数据库的建立是它们空问分析的基础。利用多期的遥感图象和该区的地形图，建立森林分类图形和属性库（包括森林和环境自变量集）一体化的GIS空间数据库。为了提高TM遥感图象的分类精度，利用ERDAS图象处理软件，对它进行包括主成分、降噪、去条带和自然色彩变换等增强处理，采用监督分类和人工判读相结合的方法进行分类，采用R2V、ERDAS、Arcview、Arcinfo等软件的集成，使得小班面层与某些线层的无缝联接。成功地形成一套适于西部GIS的森林资源与环境空间数据库的技术路径。此外，对新疆阜康北部地区森林资源动态进行初步分析。 2、新疆阜康地区数字高程模型(DEM)及其粗差检测分析为了提高生态建模的精度，模拟和提取该区的地面特征至关重要。在已建立的森林资源与环境空间数据库的支持下，利用Arcinfo和ERDAS，建立了新疆阜康地区的1：5万数字高程模型(DEM)。通过提取地形的海拔、坡度、坡向特征因子，分析森林植被的垂直分布。通过对DEM的粗差检测分析，分析阜康地区的数字高程模型精度。 3、新疆阜康地区景观格局变化分析在1977年、1987年、1999年森林资源与环境空间数据库的支持下，利用景观分析软件编制三个时段的新疆阜康地区植被景观类型图，并分析了近30年来新疆阜康地区景观动态与景观格局变化。结果表明：①在此期间整个研究区的斑块数减少，斑块平均面积扩大，景观中面积在不同景观要素类型之间的分配更加不均衡，景观面积向少数几种类型聚集。说明了在这期间阜康地区的景观类型有向单一化方向发展的趋势;②农耕地分布呈破碎化的趋势，斑块平均面积变小，斑块间离散程度也更高：这些变化说明人为的经济活动在阜康地区的加剧，③天然林面积减少较多，水域的面积却呈现上升的趋势，冰川及永久积雪的面积呈下降趋势， 4、新疆阜康地区森林生态效益的初步分析从广义森林生态效益定义出发，针对12种森林生态效益因变量不完全独立、且各自的自变量集不完全相同，引入具有多对多特征且整体上相容的似乎不相关广义线性模型。通过构造12种森林生态效益的“有效面积系数”和“市场逼近系数”，在森林资源与环境空间数据库的支持下，对新疆阜康地区两期的森林生态效益进行科学的计量。结果表明：新疆阜康地区的森林生态效益货币量1987年是90673.8万元，1999年是84134.4万元，总体上呈下降趋势。 5、利用新疆气象站资料研究年降雨量的空间分布规律利用ArcGIS地统计学模块，在2000年新疆气候信息空间数据库和新疆DEM模型的支持下，做出了新疆地区的年降水量空间分布图。根据新疆气候资料建立趋势而分析模型、模拟了新疆降水量空间分布的趋势值。采用3种算法（距离权重法、普通Kriging法、协同Kriging方法）计算并比较分析了研究区多年的平均降水量的时空变化。利用模拟产生的精度最优的栅格降水空间数据库，建立的多年平均降水资源信息系统，可快速计算研究区内任一地域单元中降水的总量及其空间变化，可以生成高精度的气候要素空间分布图。

内蒙古温带典型草原土壤净氮 矿化作用

作为陆地植物生长和生态系统初级生产力的主要限制因子之一，土壤氮素矿化和可利用性对全球变化的响应决定着未来陆地生态系统的碳储量并对全球碳循环产生长远的深刻影响。众所周知，土壤中大部分氮以有机态存在，有机态氮必须经过转化成为无机态氮才能被植物吸收利用。土壤氮素矿化是将有机态氮转化为无机态氮的生物化学过程，决定着土壤中氮素的可利用性。理解氮素在草原生态系统中的转化（包括矿化，硝化作用）过程，有助于我们充分认识草地退化机理，为草地恢复和重建提供理论依据。在中国科学院内蒙古草原生态系统定位站的典型羊草草原区，选取了1979年围封（没有割草和放牧利用）、1999年围封（没有割草和放牧利用）和长期自由放牧三种不同土地利用方式的羊草草地，分别代表人为干扰强度从小到大的梯度，利用室内和野外原状土培育实验两种方法，研究了人为干扰强度和环境因子（温度和水分）对土壤无机氮转化的影响。 室内实验：设置不同的温度梯度和水分梯度，在不同的时间段内在室内对原状土柱进行培养，观察这些因子对土壤净氮矿化的影响。结果表明：（1）土壤无机氮库（NH4+-N和NO3−-N）在不同土地利用变化情况下具有显著差异。但是，经过室内培养，净氮矿化速率和硝化速率之间差异不显著，只有铵化速率表现出显著差异。（2）温度对铵化、硝化和矿化速率有显著影响。但是当培养温度低于5℃时，无论培养时间多长净氮矿化的累积和净氮矿化速率之间差异皆不显著。温度高于15℃的三个温度之间净氮矿化的累积和净氮矿化速率差异极显著。（3）土壤湿度对净硝化和净矿化速率有显著影响，但是对铵化速率没有显著影响，表明当土壤水分限制硝化细菌的活性时，硝化速率对于水分的增加显得更加敏感。（4）培养时间对铵化、硝化和矿化量的积累有极显著影响。随着培养时间的延长铵态氮积累的量较少，但是硝态氮的量随着培养时间延长积累的量很多。（5）我们的研究表明温度、湿度和培养时间之间对净氮矿化的影响存在极显著的互作效应。 野外试验：在三种不同土地利用历史的草地，利用顶盖埋管原位培育法测定土壤的无机氮库、净硝化、铵化和净氮矿化的季节动态。2004年5月开始，每隔30天一次，到11月结束。结果表明：（1）三种不同土地利用方式的草地生态系统土壤中的NO3－-N和NH4+-N含量都表现出明显的季节变化趋势，自由放牧样地与围封25年样地季节趋势基本一致，围封5年样地各月间NO3－-N和NH4+-N含量的差异都达到显著水平。（2）三种不同土地利用方式的草地无机氮的季节动态两两比较发现，NO3－-N浓度在6、7和9月差异极显著;而在8月三个样地之间差异不显著;NH4+-N浓度在5月、7月和8月三个样地之间都达到显著水平，在6月、9月和10月情况有所不同，6月自由放牧地与围封25年间差异不显著，而这两个样地与围封5年的样地差异达显著水平，9月围封25年和围封5年两个样地之间差异不显著，而与自由放牧样地之间差异显著;10月情况又有变化，是自由放牧样地与围封5年的样地之间差异不显著，与围封25年样地之间差异达显著水平;（3）土壤无机氮库和氮素的矿化/硝化速率都存在明显且比较一致的季节动态，但是在个别月份也有较大差异，总的趋势是围封25年的样地硝化速率高于围封5年和自由放牧样地。上述结果表明：在温带典型草原，土地利用方式对土壤氮素库和矿化有着重要影响;各样地之间土壤氮素库和矿化速率的差异可能是由于土壤温度、水分、无机氮库和土壤基质的改变而引起的。

内蒙古典型温带草原植物功能群去除对土壤氮矿化的影响

由于人为因素导致的全球范围内的第六次物种大灭绝已经成为不争的事实，但人类还不清楚这种现象对生态系统功能的影响。在回答生物多样性与生态系统功能关系的问题上，补偿作用是一个争论的热点。为了阐明生物多样性对生态系统功能的影响，于2005年夏开始，在内蒙古温带典型草原开展了一个研究生物多样性与生态系统功能的物种去除试验。本研究是该项目的一部分。 元素循环是生态系统的重要功能之一，而氮素是限制草地生态系统生产力的主要因素，氮矿化是氮循环的关键步骤，因此，本研究重点讨论植物功能群对土壤氮矿化作用的影响，提出3点假设：1. 不同植物功能群对土壤氮矿化速率影响不同；2. 植物功能群去除前后氮矿化速率不同；3.植物功能群之间存在补偿效应。为了证明这些假设，于2006年9月、2007年6月和2007年8月份分别进行了室内培养（温度25℃，湿度60％田间最大持水量）用于测量氮矿化速率，同时于2007年6月和2007年8月份进行野外培养用于测量野外条件下的氮矿化速率，并在去除处理2年后得到以下主要结果： 1.　植物功能群去除数与土壤氮矿化速率呈单峰曲线关系（P<0.05），去除少量植物功能群氮矿化速率上升，去除更多的植物功能群后氮矿化速率下降； 2.　植物功能群去除数与土壤硝态氮含量呈线性正相关关系（P<0.0001），植物功能群的丧失加剧了土壤NO3--N的流失； 3.　多年生非禾草（PF）比其他植物功能群显著降低了氮矿化速率（P<0.05）； 4.　短期内（去除处理1年内）在凋落物回填的情况下，去除0个植物功能群与去除全部植物功能群的氮矿化速率无显著差异（P>0.05）； 5.　内蒙古温带典型草原在近3年内（2005、2006、2007）土壤碳库、氮库变化较小。

氮素添加对内蒙古羊草草原净氮矿化的影响

　　氮素作为陆地生态系统生产力主要的限制因子，对生态系统过程的调控有着重要的意义。净氮矿化是有机氮素到无机氮素的转变过程，该过程决定了土壤氮素的可利用性。准确估计土壤的供氮能力可以为确定最佳施肥量和施肥时间提供理论依据，并将影响着土地的可持续发展和管理政策。氮矿化潜力N0被定义为在最适温度和湿度下，土壤氮素在无限时间内所能矿化的最大量。由于氮矿化潜力是土壤供氮能力很好的指示值，所以对氮矿化潜力的研究能够使我们更好地了解土壤的氮素矿化动态和其供氮潜力。 　　为更好地了解天然草原氮素矿化对全球氮沉降背景以及草原施肥管理模式的响应，我们从2000年起在内蒙古羊草草原开展了长期的氮素添加实验，分别设置对照(N0)、添加5g N•m-2(N1.75)、30g N•m-2(N10.5)和80g N•m-2(N28)四个氮肥添加梯度以及对照(control)、添加100g有机肥•m-2(O100)、添加500g有机肥•m-2(O500)、添加1000g有机肥•m-2(O1000)四个有机肥添加梯度。氮肥添加在相邻并同时进行施肥的两个生态系统类型中展开，即成熟羊草草原（A区，1979年围封）和退化的羊草草原（B区，1999年围封），有机肥添加也同时在与之相邻的C区中展开（C区的土地利用历史与B区一致）。 2002年和2006年，从A、B区中进行氮肥处理后的土壤取样；有机肥处理的土壤样品从2002年C区中获得。土样在最佳温度(25℃)和湿度(60%田间持水量（WHC）)下进行了5周室内培养，并用阶段淋溶方法来测定氮肥添加和有机肥添加对土壤氮矿化动态的影响。 　　氮肥添加显著降低了土壤的pH值，但累积氮矿化量与土壤pH值、有机碳、全氮均没有显著的相关性。在两个区内，氮素添加都显著改变了土壤的累积氮矿化量。最高氮素处理N28相对应于最低的累积氮矿化量，而低氮素处理N1.75却使得累积氮矿化量最高。同时，在N0和N1.75处理中硝态氮的含量高于铵态氮，但在N28处理中却表现出相反趋势。实验还表明大多数氮素添加强度处理在A区比B区有更高的土壤累积氮矿化量。 　　有机肥添加也显著改变了土壤5周内的累积氮矿化量，并且累积氮矿化量随有机肥添加强度的升高而显著增加。培养5周末时土壤的累积铵态氮的含量与有机肥施加强度之间并没有相关性，但是累积硝态氮的含量有随着有机肥施加强度的上升而增加的趋势。 　　基于前5周土壤培养所得到的结果，我们选择了氮肥添加的N0，N1.75， N28处理以及有机肥添加的control、O100、O1000处理继续进行了长达15周的培养。培养数据与描述土壤氮矿化动态的一级动力学模型--first-order kinetics: Nm=N0（1－exp(-kt)）拟合良好( R2=0.893～0.97)。无论是氮肥添加还是有机肥添加都显著增加了土壤的氮矿化潜力N0，并且N0随着氮肥或者机肥添加强度的增加而增加。对于氮肥处理的土壤来说， N0与氮矿化速率常数k之间反向相关，但是在有机氮处理的土壤中N0与k之间却没有相关性。总的结果显示，经有机肥添加的土壤比经氮肥添加的土样有着更大的氮矿化潜力N0值以及氮矿化速率常数k值，较大的k值暗示着土壤氮素较快的周转速率。

环境变化对内蒙古草原小叶锦鸡儿和羊草土壤氮素转化的影响

氮素是影响内蒙古温带典型草原植物生长和初级生产力的主要因素之一，土壤氮素的可利用性及其对全球环境变化的响应对于预测生态系统碳氮平衡显得尤为重要。空气中的游离氮和土壤中的有机氮必须通过固氮作用和矿化作用，转化为无机氮才能被绝大多数高等植物直接利用，氮素转化决定土壤氮素有效性。因此，研究环境变化对草原灌丛豆科固氮植物小叶锦鸡儿和草原优势植物种羊草土壤氮素转化重要生物过程的影响，对于进一步了解草原氮库变化及其对环境变化的可能响应有重要意义。 在中国科学院内蒙古草原生态系统定位站，利用开顶式生长室（Open-top chamber，OTC）控制实验模拟环境变化，经过三年的实验处理，研究氮素、水分和CO2浓度变化对小叶锦鸡儿根瘤生长和共生固氮、小叶锦鸡儿和羊草土壤净氮矿化速率的影响。观察小叶锦鸡儿根瘤形态和数量、测定根瘤长度和生物量以及固氮酶活性、测定土壤净氮矿化速率和土壤酶活性，探讨小叶锦鸡儿和羊草土壤氮素转化对环境变化响应机理。 结果表明，三年生桶培小叶锦鸡儿根瘤多着生于侧根，以浅黄色的小型球状根瘤为主，其次是棕褐色的棒状和纺锤状根瘤，较大型的褐色Y状根瘤相对较少。添加氮素极显著地抑制根瘤生长发育及其固氮酶活性，这种抑制效应随着水分增加和CO2浓度升高有所减缓。随着水分的增加，根瘤形态多样，根瘤着生部位由主根渐向侧根再向须根发展，根瘤数量和重量也显著增加。水分和CO2浓度升高，固氮酶活性增加但是未达到显著水平。小叶锦鸡儿根瘤生长及其固氮酶活性在加水条件下最好，水分可能是限制内蒙古半干旱草原小叶锦鸡儿固氮能力的关键因素。 环境变化影响小叶锦鸡儿土壤无机氮库。添加氮素处理，土壤无机氮库显著增加。添加氮素后，土壤脲酶活性显著降低，铵态氮和无机氮都出现明显的氮固持，但硝化速率增加，可能是由于添加氮素后土壤化学性质改变更利于硝化细菌进行硝化活动。随着水分和CO2浓度的升高，由于植物生长需求更多氮素的供应，土壤无机氮库显著降低。水分和CO2浓度处理对小叶锦鸡儿土壤脲酶活性和净氮矿化速率没有显著影响，但是能一定程度上减缓了氮素的负效应，促使无机氮的转化，使土壤微生物对铵态氮和无机氮的固持减少。但是蛋白酶活性和硝酸还原酶活性对三种环境因子响应均不敏感，脲酶对环境因子的变化最为敏感。小叶锦鸡儿土壤氮素转化与土壤理化性质密切相关，环境因子通过影响土壤脲酶活性以及土壤酸碱度等影响土壤矿化速率，进而影响土壤无机氮浓度和植物可利用氮。 羊草土壤无机氮库与小叶锦鸡儿土壤无机氮库对环境变化的响应较为一致，添加氮素羊草土壤无机氮含量显著增加，水分增加土壤无机氮含量显著降低。添加氮素使硝化速率显著增大，氨化速率和净氮矿化速率降低，但是未达到显著水平，铵态氮和无机氮出现固持现象。水分的增加降低土壤无机氮库，刺激脲酶活性，微生物对铵态氮的矿化作用增加，但是硝态氮的矿化作用受抑制，对净氮矿化没有影响。CO2浓度升高对羊草土壤无机氮库和土壤氮素矿化都没有显著地影响，但是CO2浓度升高在适宜水分下通过刺激土壤微生物活性，促进脲酶活性和无机氮的转化。羊草土壤酶活性对氮素和CO2浓度的响应与小叶锦鸡儿土壤酶活性的响应一致。 综上，不同环境因子对氮素转化过程影响不同，氮素添加抑制小叶锦鸡儿根瘤及其固氮酶活性，降低小叶锦鸡儿和羊草土壤净氮矿化速率。水分和CO2浓度升高一定程度上缓解了氮素对固氮酶活性以及土壤净氮素矿化速率的抑制作用，有利于土壤氮素转化。

火烧、施肥、刈割及其交互作用对草原土壤净氮矿化的影响

我国北方温带草原地处干旱半干旱区，是欧亚大陆草原生物区系的重要组成部分，也是我国重要的畜牧业生产基地。土壤氮素作为陆地植物生长和生态系统初级生产力的主要限制因子之一，了解其矿化和可利用性对各种人为干扰因素的响应，有助于我们充分认识草地退化机理，维持草场生产力并进一步促进畜牧业的可持续发展，为草地恢复、重建和维护提供理论依据。本实验在中国科学院内蒙古草原生态系统定位研究站的多年围封退化样地，分别实施了火烧、施肥、刈割及其交互作用的人为干扰处理，利用原状土野外培养的方法，在两年时间中，研究不同的人为干扰因素（火烧、施肥、刈割及其交互处理）对土壤净氮矿化作用的影响。 火烧显著影响草原的氮循环过程，季节和年际的气候变化参与调节氮循环对火烧处理的响应。多年围封后的初次人工火烧处理显著降低了第一个生长季（2006 年生长季）和其后冬季的土壤净氮矿化速率，但是，火烧处理仅在冬季对土壤无机氮含量产生显著降低作用；2007 年生长季，火烧处理对土壤净氮矿化速率和土壤无机氮含量没有显著作用，但是在个别月份，不同的火烧频率对土壤净氮矿化速率和无机氮含量的影响表现出差异。2006 年生长季，未火烧样地和火烧样地净氮矿化积累量分别为3.07±0.26 g N m-2 和2.18±0.21 g N m-2；冬季，未火烧样地和火烧样地净氮矿化积累量分别为1.18±0.25 g N m-2 和0.51±0.08 g N m-2；2007 年生长季，未火烧样地（BC）、每年火烧样地（B1）和两年一烧样地（B2）净氮矿化积累量分别为1.32±0.21 g N m-2、0.54±0.30 g N m-2 和 0.77±0.24 g N m-2。较为湿润的2006 年生长季的净氮矿化积累量显著高于较为干旱的2007 年生长季，冬季也存在相当丰富的净氮矿化积累量。我们推论，长时间围封后的单次火烧处理对土壤净氮矿化作用的影响可能是短效的，但是年际间气候变化对土壤净氮矿化作用影响显著。 施肥显著提高了土壤的无机氮含量，并且与施肥梯度呈显著正相关关系。施肥对土壤无机氮含量的影响具有累加效应，第一次施肥和第二次施肥后的首次取样，+N5.25 、+N17.5 、+N28.0 三个施肥梯度的样地土壤无机氮含量比未施肥样地分别高出56%、219%、1054%和514%、891%、1811%。施肥处理在2006 年和2007 年对土壤净氮矿化作用都没有显著影响，仅在2007 年的个别月份有一定效果。以上结果说明，无机氮肥的添加可以明显提高土壤中无机氮的含量，满足植物生长的需求，但对于土壤氮转化过程的影响可能还要受其它环境和生物因子的制约。 刈割对土壤无机氮含量和净硝化速率没有显著作用，对土壤净氮矿化速率仅在个别月份表现显著效果。2007 年生长季，未刈割样地和刈割样地净氮矿化积累量分别为1.32±0.21 g N m-2 和1.08±0.35 g N m-2，不存在显著差异。我们推论，长期围封后的单次刈割处理在短期内对生长季的土壤氮动态仅有微弱影响，并且这种效果还可能受水分因素的制约。 火烧、施肥、刈割的交互处理在2007 年生长季对土壤无机氮含量产生显著作用，但是，对土壤净氮矿化速率和净硝化速率没有显著效果，然而，在不同的取样时间，火烧、施肥、刈割的交互处理对土壤无机氮含量、净氮矿化速率和净硝化速率的影响存在显著差异，说明火烧、施肥、刈割的交互处理对土壤无机氮和净氮矿化作用的影响可能受各种环境因子的制约，尤其是在水分相对缺乏的半干旱内蒙古草原，非生物因子和生物因子可能共同影响着土壤中的氮平衡。 本研究初步分析了长期围封后火烧、施肥、刈割及其交互处理对土壤净氮矿化的影响，初步探究了人为干扰和环境气候变化对土壤可利用性氮的调节作用，为科学地进行禁牧、割草、人工养份添加等草原管理提供了数据支持。

PHYLOGENY OF THE SLOW LORISES (GENUS NYCTICEBUS) - AN APPROACH USING MITOCHONDRIAL-DNA RESTRICTION ENZYME ANALYSIS

Mitochondrial DNA polymorphisms in 15 specimens of three species of slow lorises-Nycticebus coucang, N. intermedius, and N. pygmaeus-were analyzed in order to study the evolutionary relationships among the species. Eight restriction types were observed in the samples. Phylogenetic trees constructed on the basis of genetic distances showed that the slow lorises sort into two clusters: four types of N. coucang and three types of N. intermedius plus one type of N. pygmaeus. Our results suggest that there are two valid species in the genus Nycticebus-N. coucang and N. pygmaeus-and that N. intermedius should be included within N. pygmaeus. Divergence between the two species may have begun 2.7 Ma (million years ago). Evolution of gross morphology, chromosomes, and mitochondrial DNA in the slow lorises appears to be concordant.

Lead exposure through gestation-only caused long-term learning/memory deficits in young adult offspring

Numerous observations in clinical and preclinical studies indicate that the developing brain is particular sensitive to lead (Pb)'s pernicious effects. However, the effect of gestation-only Pb exposure on cognitive functions at maturation has not been studied. We investigated the potential effects of three levels of Pb exposure (low, middle, and high Pb: 0.03%, 0.09%, and 0.27% of lead acetate-containing diets) at the gestational period on the spatial memory of young adult offspring by Morris water maze spatial learning and fixed location/visible platform tasks. Our results revealed that three levels of Pb exposure significantly impaired memory retrieval in male offspring, but only female offspring at low levels of Pb exposure showed impairment of memory retrieval. These impairments were not due to the gross disturbances in motor performance and in vision because these animals performed the fixed location/visible platform task as well as controls, indicating that the specific aspects of spatial learning/memory were impaired. These results suggest that exposure to Pb during the gestational period is sufficient to cause long-term learning/memory deficits in young adult offspring. (C) 2003 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Actinomycetes and earthy-musty odorous compounds in brackish fishponds in Tianjin, China

The presence of the odorous compounds, 2-methylisoborneol (MIB) and geosmin, as well as causative microorganisms in brackish intensive cultivation fishponds in Tianjin, China that had a severe earthy-musty odor were evaluated. The results revealed that MIB was the primary odorous compound present in the Tianjin fishponds, with a concentration ranging from 0.53-5302.7 ng.L-1. Furthermore, the concentration of MIB was found to be closely correlated with the gross biomass of actinomycetes in the water, which ranged from 10.67-1528.24 x 10(6) cfu.ml(-1). Therefore, the sequences of the 16 SrRNA and morphological characteristics of the actinomycetes in the brackish fishponds were investigated. The results revealed that the actinomycetes in the brackish fishponds included 9 species of common and dominant actinomycetes belonging to 4 genera. Of these genera, Streptomyces were the dominant species, and Streptomyces, Nocardioides and Micromonospora were the most common species in the fishponds evaluated. Next, the ability of each of the isolated Streptomyces to produce MIB was measured under laboratory culture conditions. Streptomyces Sp2 was found to have a strong ability to produce MIB, which indicates that this strain may be the primary source of the earthy-musty odor reported in brackish intensive cultivation fishponds in Tianjin, China.

Developmental toxicity and alteration of gene expression in zebrafish embryos exposed to PFOS

Perfluorooetanesulfonate (PFOS) is a persistent organic pollutant, the potential toxicity of which is causing great concern. In the present study, we employed zebrafish embryos to investigate the developmental toxicity of this compound. Four-hour post-fertilization (hpf) zebrafish embryos were exposed to 0.1, 0.5, 1, 3 and 5 mg/L PFOS. Hatching was delayed and hatching rates as well as larval survivorship, were significantly reduced after the embryos were exposed to 1, 3 and 5 mg/L PFOS until 132 hpf. The fry displayed gross developmental malformations, including epiboly deformities, hypopigmentation, yolk sac edema, tail and heart malformations and spinal curvature upon exposure to PFOS concentrations of I mg/L or greater. Growth (body length) was significantly reduced in the 3 and 5 mg/L PFOS-treated groups. To test whether developmental malformation was mediated via apoptosis, flow cytometry analysis of DNA content, acridine orange staining and TUNEL assay was used. These techniques indicated that more apoptotic cells were present in the PFOS-treated embryos than in the control embryos. Certain genes related to cell apoptosis, p53 and Bax, were both significantly up-regulated upon exposure to all the concentrations tested. In addition, we investigated the effects of PFOS on marker genes related to early thyroid development (hhex and pax8) and genes regulating the balance of androgens and estrogens (cyp19a and cyp19b). For thyroid development, the expression of hhex was significantly up-regulated at all concentrations tested, whereas pax8 expression was significantly up-regulated only upon exposure to lower concentrations of PFOS (0.1, 0.5, 1 mg/L). The expression of cyp19a and of cyp19b was significantly down-regulated at all exposure concentrations. The overall results indicated that zebrafish embryos constitute a reliable model for testing the developmental toxicity of PFOS, and the gene expression patterns in the embryos were able to reveal some potential mechanisms of developmental toxicity. (C) 2008 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Dietary phosphorus requirement of juvenile black seabream, Sparus macrocephalus

A growth trial was conducted to estimate the optimum requirement of dietary available phosphorus (P) for black seabream (Sparus macrocephalus) in indoor net cages (1.5x1.0x1.0 m). Triplicate groups of black seabream (11.45 +/- 0.02 g) were fed diets containing graded levels (0.18, 0.36, 0.54, 0.72, 0.89 and 1.07%) of available P to satiation for 8 weeks. The basal diet (diet 1), containing 0.18% available P, was supplemented with graded levels of monosodium phosphate (NaH2PO4 2H(2)O) to formulate five experimental diets. The fish were fed twice daily (08:00 h and 16:00 h) and reared in seawater (salinity, 26-29 g l(-1)) at a temperature of 28 +/- 1 degrees C. Dissolved oxygen during the experiment was above 5 mg l(-1). The specific growth rate (SGR), weight gain (WG), feed efficiency (FE) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were all significantly improved by dietary phosphorus up to 0.54% (P<0.05) and then leveled off beyond this level. Hepatosomatic index (HSI) was inversely correlated with dietary phosphorus levels (P< 0.05). Efficiency of P utilization stabled in fish fed diets containing 0.18%-0.54% available P and then decreased dramatically with further supplementation of dietary phosphorus. Body composition analysis showed that the whole-body lipid, ash, calcium and phosphorus contents were all significantly affected by dietary available P concentration (P<0.05), however, no significance were found in whole-body calcium/phosphorus (Ca/P) ratios among all the treatments (P>0.05). Dietary phosphorus levels also affected the mineralization of vertebrae, skin and scale (P<0.05). Ca/P ratios in vertebrae and scale were not influenced by dietary P supplementation, while skin Ca/P ratio increased statistically with dietary available P levels (quadratic effect, P<0.001). The blood chemistry analysis showed that dietary available P had distinct effects on enzyme activities of alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and plasma lysozyme (LSZ), as well as contents of triacyglycerol (TG) and total cholesterol (T-CHO) (P<0.05). Broken-line analysis showed maximum weight gain (WG) was obtained at dietary available P concentrations of 0.55%. Quadratic analysis based on P contents in whole fish, vertebrae or scale indicated that the requirements were 0.81, 0.87 and 0.88%, respectively. Signs of phosphorus deficiency were characterized by poor growth, slightly reduced mineralization and an increase in body lipid content. (C) 2008 Published by Elsevier B.V.

Responses of dark respiration in the light to desiccation and temperature in the intertidal macroalga, Ulva lactuca (Chorophyta) during emersion

Dark respiration (nonphotorespiratory mitochondrial CO2 release) in the light (R-L) of the intertidal macroalga Ulva lactuca (Chorophyta) during emersion was investigated with respect to its response to variations in temperature and desiccation. R-L was estimated by CO2 gas-exchange analysis using the Kok effect method, whereas dark respiration in darkness (R-D) was determined from CO2 release at zero light. Rates of R, were significantly and consistently lower than those of R-D in emersed U. lactuca across all the temperature and desiccation levels measured. This demonstrated that dark respiration was partially depressed in the light, with the percentage inhibition ranging from 32 to 62%. Desiccation exerted a negative effect on R-L and R-D at a high temperature, 33 degrees C, whereas it had much less effect on respiration at low and moderate temperatures, 23 and 28 degrees C. In general, R-L and R-D increased with increasing temperature in U. lactuca during all stages of emersion but responded less positively to temperature change with increasing desiccation. Additionally, the Q(10) value (i.e. the proportional increase of respiration for each 10 degrees C rise in temperature) for R-L calculated over the temperature range of 23 to 33 degrees C was significantly higher than that for R-D in U. lactuca during the initial stages of emersion. Respiratory carbon loss as a percentage of gross photosynthetic carbon gain increased with increasing temperature and/or desiccation but was significantly reduced when estimated using R-L rather than R-D. It is suggested that measurements of R-L and how it changes in a variable environment are as important as estimates of R-D and photosynthesis in determining simultaneous balance between photosynthetic carbon uptake and respiratory carbon loss and in modeling the net daily carbon gain for an intertidal macroalga.

Growth and energy budget of F-2 'all-fish' growth hormone gene transgenic common carp

The growth and energy budget for F-2 'all-fish' growth hormone gene transgenic common carp Cyprinus carpio of two body sizes were investigated at 29.2 degrees C for 21 days. Specific growth rate, feed intake, feed efficiency, digestibility coefficients of dry matter and protein, gross energy intake (I-E), and the proportion of I-E utilized for heat production (H-E) were significantly higher in the transgenics than in the controls. The proportion of I-E directed to waste products [faecal energy (F-E) and excretory energy loss (Z(E) + U-E) where Z(E) is through the gills and U-E through the kidney], and the proportion of metabolizable energy (M-E) for recovered energy (R-E) were significantly lower in the transgenics than in the controls. The average energy budget equation of transgenic fish was as follows: 100 I-E = 19.3 F-E + 6.0 (Z(E) + U-E) + 45.2 H-E + 29.5 R-E or 100 M-E = 60.5 H-E + 39.5 R-E. The average energy budget equation of the controls was: 100 I-E = 25.2 F-E + 7.4 (Z(E) + U-E) + 35.5 H-E + 31.9 R-E or 100 M-E = 52.7 H-E + 47.3 R-E. These findings indicate that the high growth rate of 'all-fish' transgenic common carp relative to their non-transgenic counterparts was due to their increased feed intake, reduced lose of waste productions and improved feed efficiency. The benefit of the increased energy intake by transgenic fish, however, was diminished by their increased metabolism.

Meat and bone meal replacement in diets for juvenile gibel carp (Carassius auratus gibelio): effects on growth performance, phosphorus and nitrogen loading

A 11-week growth trial was conducted in a flow-through system with juvenile gibel carp Carassius auratus gibelio to evaluate the effects of gradual replacement of fish meal (FM) by meat and bone meal (MBM) on growth performance, phosphorus (P) and nitrogen (N) loading. Six isonitrogenous (crude protein: 410 g kg(-1)) and isoenergetic (gross energy: 18 kJ g(-1)) diets were formulated. FM was used as the control protein. In the other five diets, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% FM protein was substituted with MBM20, MBM40, MBM60, MBM80, MBM100, respectively. Total P content in the diets ranged from 16.0 to 28.3 g kg(-1) and the available P was 5.0-6.6 g kg(-1). The results showed that the best growth was achieved with fish fed on the control diet and MBM20. Final body weight, weight gain, feed efficiency, protein retention efficiency and energy retention efficiency decreased with increased dietary MBM. No significant differences were found in the feeding rate and hepatosomatic index between the groups. Apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of dry matter, protein and P decreased with increase in dietary MBM, while there were no significant differences in the ADC of energy. P and N retention decreased linearly while P and N loading increased linearly with the increased dietary MBM levels. No significant differences were observed in the activity of alkaline phosphatase, aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, as well as pyruvate kinase in liver or in serum. Total superoxide dismutase activity in MBM20 was significantly higher than that of MBM100.

Degradation of 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol in aqueous solution by ozonation

This study investigates the ozonation of 17 alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2) in aqueous solution. The affecting factors on the degradation of EE2 were studied and described in details, such as initial EE2 concentration, initial pH value and ozone concentration. In addition, some parameters such as pH. electrical conductivity, mineralization efficiency and degradation products were monitored during the process. The mineralization efficiency of EE2 could reach 53.9%. During the ozonation process the rapid decrease of pH and the sharp increase of electrical conductivity indicated the fort-nation of acidic by-products, small fragments and ions which were confirmed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GUMS) analysis. Results showed that there were intermediate products of smaller molecule with higher polarity produced during the course of EE2 degradation. Then a possible reaction pathway for EE2 degradation involving all intermediates detected is proposed. During the ozonation process EE2 was first oxidized into hydroxyl-semiquinone isomers which were subsequently degraded into low molecular weight compounds such as oxalic acid, malonate, glutarate, and so on. Furthermore. these organic acids are easily oxidized by ozone into carbon dioxide (CO2). This work shows that ozonation process is promising for the removal of EE2. The results can provide some useful information for the potential treatment of EE2 by ozonation in aqueous solution. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.