Effects of natural gas pipeline condensate and crude oil spills, and comments on remediation, with emphasis on south Louisiana salt marshes: a review

This report reviews some of the natural ecological processes at work within a salt marsh as they relate to a spill of natural gas condensate - a mixture of aliphatic hydrocarbons, n-hexane, benzene, toluene, and xylene. It also reviews the environmental impacts of some of the components of natural gas condensate as well as related compounds (crude oil, higher molecular weight hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarons - PAHs, linear alkyl-benzenes - LABs, etc.) on salt marsh ecosystems in southern Louisiana and elsewhere in the world. The behavior and persistence of these compounds once they have entered the environment is also considered.

甜菜碱提高植物光合作用对逆境抗性机理的研究

从菠菜中克隆甜菜碱醛脱氢酶( betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase，BADH)基因并转化烟草， 研究转基因烟草光合作用对高温和盐胁迫等环境胁迫的抗性机理，利用外源甜菜碱研究在正常条件下对植物光合作用的影响以及在盐胁迫下外源甜菜碱对玉米幼曲光合作刚的保护机理。主要结果如下： 转BADH基因烟草中能合成甘氨酸甜菜碱，合成的甜菜碱主要积累于叶绿体中。转BADH 基因烟草提高了对高温胁迫的抗性，在中度高温胁迫下，转基冈烟草生长利光合作用对高温 的抗性增强。中度高温胁迫下，转基冈烟草光合作用的维持是由于甜菜碱对Rubisco活化酶的保护作用。在中度高温胁迫下甜菜碱通过维持Rubisco活化酶的活化态以及阻止Rubisco 活化酶山可溶性问质向类囊体的聚集，从而维持了Rubisco活化酶的活性，进而维持了C02 的同化。在严重高温胁迫下，烟草光系统II受到影响，转BADH基冈烟草通过提高体内抗氧化酶系统的功能，减轻了高温胁迫对光合机构造成的活性氧伤害，高温胁迫下转基因烟草体内抗氧化酶如SOD、APX、GR等酶活性明显高于野生型。在高温胁迫下，证明了甜菜碱对光系统II的保护作用主要在氧化侧，严重高温胁迫下，转基因烟草维持较高的PSII活性。 转BADH基因烟草提高了对盐胁迫的抗性，盐胁迫下转基因烟草光合作用的维持与盐胁迫下转基因烟草较高的气孔导度和抗氧化酶活性的提高有关。 外源甜菜碱在正常的非胁迫条件下对植物的生长有促进作用，而这一作用与光合速率的提高有关。通过对气孔导度、光合碳同化关键酶以及叶绿素荧光分析证明，甜菜碱对光合作用的促进与气孔导度的提高有关，同时甜菜碱提高了光系统ll的实际光化学效率。 外源甜菜碱提高了盐胁迫条件下植物的抗性，抗盐性的提高与盐胁迫下甜菜碱对气孔导度的提高以及维持较高的光系统II光化学活性有关。

Salt and water balance in the Mundel Lake: a strongly choked coastal lagoon

The Mundel Lake is an extremely shallow lagoon on the west coast of Sri Lanka. It is connected to the Puttalam Lagoon through 15 km long Dutch Canal. Salinity measurements and daily sea level data were obtained fortnightly from January 1993 to March 1994 and they were used to quantify the salt and water budget along with precipitation, evaporation and freshwater runoff. Extreme fluctuations of salinity and sea level are striking features of the system. Salinity of the Mundel Lake and Dutch Canal varied from 5-46.5 and 6 61 ppt respectively while the sea level ranged from -0.25 to +1.2 m. Tidal variations were not seen in the lagoon due to its long narrow canal system. Salt budget showed that the deposition of salt on the lagoon bottom during periods of decreasing water level. During increasing water level, salt is dissolved again. Flow of water through the Dutch Canal between the Puttalam Lagoon and Mundel Lake is driven by the changes in sea level. These changes are mainly due to seasonal changes of net freshwater supply and, to a lesser degree, to seasonal changes in sea surface height. As the flow rates are small due to the long and narrow canal, the residence time ranges between two months and several months in the Mundel Lake, except during season of high freshwater supply. As the water exchange is weak, the Mundel Lake becomes hyper saline with strong fluctuations in salinity. This implies a stress to all lagoon dwelling aquatic organisms and also to aquaculture practices in the area.

Evaluation of biochemical characteristics of a traditional salt fermented fish product of northeast India with special reference to its flavour components

'Lona ilish', is a traditional salt fermented fish product, widely consumed and very popular in north-east part of India and Bangladesh. It is prepared exclusively from a high fat fish, Hilsa (Tenualosa) ilisha. 'Lona ilish' was prepared in the laboratory following traditional process. After 150 days of fermentation, a better quality 'lona ilish' was obtained. Biochemical characteristics of market sample was estimated and compared with the laboratory prepared one. A variation in biochemical composition was observed. Sensory quality of the final product of laboratory prepared 'lona ilish' was compared with the market sample and found that the laboratory prepared product scored better than the market sample. The moisture (49.89%) and salt (15.48%) of the final product was found to be satisfactory for stability of the 'lona ilish' at ambient temperature. Analysis of volatile compounds of 'lona ilish' was done using GC-MS. It was concluded that, aldehydes, ketones and esters may possibly contribute characteristic aromas to the overall flavour of the salt fermented hilsa.

Use of crude salt in rearing of freshwater giant prawn, Macrobrachium rosenbergii (de Man) larvae

Three different types of culture media: (i) 100% brine (B 100 ), (ii) 75% brine and 25% crude salt (B 75 CS 25 ), and 50% brine and 50% crude salt (B 50 CS 50) were tested to evaluate the possible use of brackish water reconstituted from the crude salt for the production of M. rosenbergii post-larvae. The production rate of 25.26±0.20 PI/l with a corresponding survival rate of 84.20±0.66% was significantly higher (P<0.05) for the larvae reared on B100 than that of 22.10±0.57 Pl/l with a corresponding survival rate of 73.68±1.89% on B50CS50. Larvae cultured on B75CS25 did not show any significant difference (P<0.05) in production as well as in survival of post-larvae than that on B100. The result shows that, for rearing of prawn larvae, use of brine can be replaced up to 25% without any undue reduction in production of post-larvae. However, the production as well as survival rate of post-larvae with 50% replacement (B50CS50) is also appreciable. It is assumed that the mineral constituents of natural seawater might have some triggering effects on prawn larvae in closing their larval cycle.

Factor intensity and economic returns of alternate shrimp crop and shrimp-salt farming in the coastal areas of Bangladesh

The paper examines the factor intensity and economic returns of alternate shrimp-crop and shrimp-salt farming in the coastal areas of Bangladesh. Data were collected from 30 shrimp-crop and 30 shrimp-salt farmers, 30 shrimp farmers and 30 rice farmers from three selected coastal districts of Bangladesh. Cobb-Douglas production function model was used to determine the effect of various factors on alternate shrimp-crop farming. The chosen variables were stocking of juveniles, paddy seed, labour, fertilizers, feed and farm size of respective type of farming. The results indicated that the production function exhibited increasing remrns to scale for alternate shrimp-rice, alternate shrimp-salt and year round shrimp farming while it indicated decreasing returns for year round rice farming. Economic analysis of same system of farming indicated that higher amount of input use produced higher level of yield, gross return and net return for each type of production system.

Bacillus solisalsi sp nov., a halotolerant, alkaliphilic bacterium isolated from soil around a salt lake

A novel Gram-positive, motile, rod-shaped bacterium isolated from a saline soil in China was characterized by a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The strain, designated YC1(T), was halotolerant [tolerating up to 15 % (w/v) NaCl] and alkaliphilic (growing at

Preservation of Indian oil sardine (Sardinella longiceps) in iced and chilled seawater. Part 2 - Changes during storage with particular reference to salt penetration and lipid deterioration during CSW holding

Oil sardines in prime condition were chilled on board. Two lots were chilled in CSW (samples C & CI), one lot ice (sample I) and a fourth lot was left un-iced on deck (sample AI). Sample AI was iced after landing and sample CI was taken out of the chilled seawater and. iced. All the four samples were kept in a chilled room for storage studies. Sample C, chilled and stored in CSW, recorded a gradual gain in weight and an increase in salt content of the muscle. Presence of salt did not seem to cause any excessive protein denaturation. Salt extractability decreased at a gradual rate in all cases. Presence of salt seemed to wield no noticeable influence on lipid hydrolysis and subsequent peroxidation. Results of chemical and sensory evaluations highlight this. Holding sardines in CSW gave a product of excellent quality for the first four to five days of storage. Beyond the fifth day of storage quality deteriorated rapidly and there was no noticeable superiority for this sample (sample C) over the on board iced fish. This was evident in the sensory evaluation as well. However, a storage life of five days in a readily acceptable state is sufficient for the fish to be disposed in the market at a premium sale price over other landings of the same species.