Preliminary assessment of large‐scale co‐culture of sandfish (Holothuria scabra) with the Babylon snail (Babylonia areolata) in earthen ponds and in raceways

Holothuria scabra (sandfish) and Babylonia areolata were trialed in two large‐scale co‐culture experiments. Experiment 1 assessed co‐culture in 4 × 400 m² earthen ponds where Babylonia were cultured in a central pen at a density of 400 individuals/m² with sandfish occupying the remaining pond space at 1.1 individuals/m². Sandfish grew from 18.20 ± 6.67 g to 119.03 ± 17.74 g in 92 days and Babylonia (fed trash fish in both experiments) grew from 0.90 ± 0.38 g to 4.93 ± 1.44 g, but Babylonia growth was not increased in co‐culture compared to monoculture. Water and sediment quality varied between co‐culture and monoculture ponds. Neither showed clear improvement due to sandfish culture. Experiment 2 compared non‐segregated sandfish‐Babylonia co‐culture with Babylonia monoculture in 20 m² concrete raceways. Sandfish were cultured at 2 individuals/m² and Babylonia at 300 individuals/m². Sandfish grew up to 1.91 g.day^?1 with 100% survival. Babylonia weight gain was significantly greater in co‐culture raceways (3.35 ± 0.64 g over 61 days), which was double that of Babylonia in monoculture. Substrate total N was reduced by 20% in co‐culture compared with monoculture (p = .032). This provisional study of commercial scale sandfish‐Babylonia co‐culture demonstrates culture compatibility, providing a basis for further system development.     

不同工业大麻品种对田间5种重金属吸收积累特性的比较

为了分析不同工业大麻品种对不同重金属富集与转移的差异，以云南5个工业大麻主栽品种（ym1~ym5）为试验材料，修复云南矿区重金属污染严重的农田。结果表明： 5个工业大麻品种中，成熟期的根系对Pb和Cd吸收量最大的为ym1，对As、Cu和Zn吸收量最大的为ym3，而ym5对Pb、Cu、Cd和Zn吸收量皆最小；茎叶对As、Cu和Cd吸收量最大的为ym3，对Pb和Zn吸收量最大的分别为ym1和ym2；种子对Pb和Cd吸收量最大的为ym2，对As和Cu吸收量最大的为ym5，对Zn吸收量最大则为ym3，ym1种子对Pb、As和Cu吸收量皆最小，对Cd、Zn吸收最小的品种分别为ym4和ym2；5个品种表现为除Cu外，茎叶富集系数皆大于根，根系向茎叶的转运系数均大于1。研究表明，ym1可作为Pb污染修复植物，ym3可作为As、Zn、Cu和Cd污染修复的适推品种。     

重金属污染土壤几种生物修复方式比较

土壤重金属污染是全球普遍存在的问题,生物修复因其环境友好且成本效益高而得到广泛关注。但不同生物修复技术有其优势和局限性,充分了解每种修复技术的特点,才能更经济、有效地对污染土壤进行修复。本研究阐述对比了目前的土壤重金属生物修复方法,包括植物修复（植物挥发、植物固定和植物提取）、转基因植物提取、螯合辅助植物修复、微生物辅助植物修复等技术的机制、优势、局限性和适用性等方面的差异。综述提出有效的生物修复技术需要土壤化学、植物生物学、遗传学、微生物学和环境工程等多学科的有机结合。根据污染土壤的特点,结合具有相应改良特性的转基因植物,是实现污染土壤大面积修复的有效方法。同时,农艺措施对天然超级积累植物的生物量和重金属提取能力的刺激作用还需要进一步挖掘。植物修复可以与其他几种传统修复技术有效结合,利用转基因技术建立土壤+植物+微生物的组合是未来修复技术发展的最佳途径。     

镉胁迫对尾巨桉幼苗生长和生理特性的影响

以尾巨桉(DH_32-29)幼苗为试验材料，以植株的生长指标(苗高、地径、叶面积)、生物量、根冠比、氮平衡指数(NBI)、叶绿素相对含量(SPAD 值)、丙二醛(MDA)含量和叶绿素荧光参数为指标，通过盆栽试验设置8个10~140 mg·kg^-1浓度镉(Cd)盐溶液处理，研究了不同浓度 Cd 胁迫处理下尾巨桉幼苗的形态和生理特性变化规律。结果显示：低浓度(10 mg·kg^-1)Cd 处理对尾巨桉幼苗的形态和生理特性无明显影响。当 Cd 浓度大于20 mg·kg^-1，随着 Cd浓度的逐渐增大，其对尾巨桉幼苗的伤害程度也逐渐增加，主要表现为：植株生长缓慢、生物量减小、叶绿素相对含量和叶绿素荧光参数(Fv/Fm、φPSⅡ、NP、NBI)均下降，qP 无明显变化， MDA 含量升高。Cd 浓度大于60 mg·kg^-1以上时，尾巨桉幼苗生长出现一定程度上的损伤症状和生长停滞现象。结果表明低浓度(≤20 mg·kg^-1)Cd处理下尾巨桉幼苗能正常生长，随着浓度的增大，Cd 处理对尾巨桉的形态和生理特性造成显著影响。同时结合部分桉树适生区土壤 Cd 含量调查及相关研究结果认为，尾巨桉具有一定修复 Cd 污染区土壤的潜力。     

Use of saline–sodic waters through phytoremediation of calcareous saline–sodic soils

Use of poor-quality groundwater has become inevitable for irrigation to compensate rapidly increasing water demands in many arid and semiarid regions. Salinity and sodicity are the principal soil and water quality concerns in such areas. Many saline–sodic and sodic soils have saline or saline–sodic subsurface drainage waters. Amelioration of these soils needs a source of calcium (Ca²⁺) that can replace the excess exchangeable sodium (Na⁺). Most of these soils, however, contain calcite (CaCO₃) of extremely low solubility. The native calcite does not supply adequate levels of Ca²⁺ for soil amelioration as do other chemical amendments. Phytoremediation may help ameliorate such soils through cultivation of certain crops tolerant to ambient soil salinity and sodicity. This amelioration strategy works through plant root action to help dissolve CaCO₃ to supply adequate Ca²⁺ without the application of an amendment. During a 3-year field experiment conducted under irrigated conditions, we evaluated phytoremediation against soil application of gypsum and farm manure, and water treatment with sulphuric acid on a calcareous saline–sodic soil (pH_s=8.0–8.4, EC_e=24–32 dS m⁻¹, SAR=57–78, CaCO₃=45–50 g kg⁻¹ for the top 0.15 m depth; Calcic Haplosalids). A saline–sodic water (EC=2.9–3.4 dS m⁻¹, SAR=12.0–19.4, RSC=4.6–10.0 mmol_c l⁻¹, SAR_adj=15.6–18.4) was used to irrigate the rice (Oryza sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) crops grown in rotation. Active desalinisation and desodication processes were observed in all the treatments. After the final wheat crop, the 1.2 m soil profile EC_e was 7±0.5 dS m⁻¹ and SAR was 15±2 with non-significant treatment differences, indicating comparable soil amelioration effect of phytoremediation with other treatments. Better crop yields were obtained from the manure-treated plots, owing to its annual addition to the soil that possibly improved soil fertility. Phytoremediation needed minimum capital input because no initial investment was made to purchase the amendments.     

环境铜污染影响及修复的研究现状综述

综述了铜污染对不同生物（包括植物、动物、土壤微生物）影响的研究现状,指出了Cu污染对高等植物毒害作用的研究目前主要集中在对植物生长指标、光合作用、细胞结构、细胞分裂、酶系统和其他营养元素的吸收上;高Cu对高等动物毒害作用的研究非常多,目前主要集中在对动物生产性能、体内重要的铜酶、代谢酶及重要组织器官结构功能的影响;Cu污染对土壤微生物影响的研究主要集中在微生物量及微生物群落结构的变化。探讨了尽量减少铜污染和进行修复的措施。     

土壤中多环芳烃的微生物降解: 降解途径及其影响影子

Adverse effects on the environment and high persistence in the microbial degradation and environmental fate of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are motivating interest. Many soil microorganisms can degrade PAHs and use various metabolic pathways to do so. However, both the physio-chemical characteristics of compounds as well as the physical, chemical, and biological properties of soils can drastically influence the degradation capacity of naturally occurring microorganisms for field bioremediation. Modern biological techniques have been widely used to promote the efficiency of microbial PAH-degradation and make the biodegradation metabolic pathways more clear. In this review microbial degradation of PAHs in soil is discussed, with emphasis placed on the main degradation pathways and the environmental factors affecting biodegradation.     

Molecular Monitoring of SRB Community Structure and Dynamics in Batch Experiments to Examine the Applicability of in situ Precipitation of Heavy Metals for Groundwater Remediation (15 pp)

Background, Aims and Scope   Sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) are known for their capacity to reduce and precipitate heavy metals (HM) as metal sulfides, offering the opportunity to create an in situ reactive zone for the treatment of heavy metal-contaminated groundwater, a process called in situ metal precipitation (ISMP). The applicability of the ISMP technology first has to be investigated at a laboratory scale before going into an on site application. The evaluation and optimization of the ISMP process is facilitated when physical/chemical analysis techniques are combined with molecular tools that specifically monitor the abundance, diversity and dynamics of the indigenous sulfate reducing microbial community. In this study, batch experiments were conducted in order to investigate the feasibility of ISMP as a groundwater remediation strategy for an industrial site contaminated with elevated levels of Zn, Cd, Co and Ni. Methods   The potential of different types of carbon source/ electron donor (lactate, acetate, methanol, ethanol, Hydrogen Release Compound?, molasses) to stimulate the sulfate reduction and metal precipitation activity of the naturally present (or indigenous) SRB community was explored. In addition, the effect of amending vitamin B12 and yeast extract was evaluated. The ISMP process was monitored by combining analytical analyzes of process parameters (SO42-concentration, heavy metal concentrations, pH, Eh) with molecular tools such as SRB subgroup and genus specific PCR, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), and phylogenetic analysis of clone sequences, based on either the 16S rRNA or the dsr (dissimilatory sulfite reductase) gene. Results and Discussion   The efficiency of different carbon-sources to stimulate the ISMP process followed the order HRC 〉 molasses 〉 methanol 〉 lactate 〉 ethanol 〉 acetate. Within 10 weeks, the highest sulfate and metal removal efficiencies ranged from 85% to 99%. Addition of yeast extract boosted the ISMP process, whereas vitamin B12 negligibly affected SRB activity. Analysis of the sulfate reducing population by SRB subgroup and genus specific PCR demonstrated that members of the genus Desulfosporosinus dominated in all batch tests, while 16S rDNA DGGE profiles additionally revealed the presence in the microbial communities of non-sulfate reducing bacteria within the family Clostridium and the -proteobacteria. The dsrB-based DGGE profiles allowed us to assess the diversity and dynamics of the sulfate reducing community and added to a better understanding of the effects of different batch conditions on the ISMP process. Remarkably, all dsrB sequences affiliated with the dsrB gene sequence cluster found in Desulfotomaculum, which received their xenologous dsrB gene from the -proteobacteria. Conclusions   The batch experiments, which aimed at stimulating the activities of the indigenous SRB communities, demonstrated that these communities were present and that their activities could be used to obtain efficient in situ precipitation of the contaminating heavy metals. This opens the possibility to test this concept in the future as an on site demonstration as part of the groundwater strategy for the heavy metal contaminated site. Although batch setups are suitable for preliminary feasibility studies for ISMP, they do not reflect the in situ situation where sulfate and heavy metal and metalloid polluted groundwater are supplied continuously. A sulfate reducing strain JG32A was isolated from whose 16S rRNA gene affiliated with the genus Desulfosporosinus, while its dsrB gene sequence clustered with Desulfotomaculum dsrB gene sequences, which received their xenologous dsr genes from -proteobacteria. Therefore we hypothesize that the batch experiments enrich members of the Desulfosporosinus genus that possess a non-orthologous dsrB gene. Recommendation and Perspective   The next step towards an on site pilot test for ISMP will be the setup of a series of column experiments, with process conditions that are selected based on the above mentioned results. This will allow to define optimal ISMP process conditions and to test its long-term efficacy and sustainability before going into an on site bioremediation application. By applying the described molecular tools together with physical-chemical analyzes, it can be investigated whether the same SRB community is enriched and which type of C-source is most effective in promoting and sustaining its growth and sulfate-reduction activity.     

Proton release by N2‐fixing plant roots: A possible contribution to phytoremediation of calcareous sodic soils

With a world‐wide occurrence on about 560 million hectares, sodic soils are characterized by the occurrence of excess sodium (Na⁺) to levels that can adversely affect crop growth and yield. Amelioration of such soils needs a source of calcium (Ca²⁺) to replace excess Na⁺ from the cation exchange sites. In addition, adequate levels of Ca²⁺ in ameliorated soils play a vital role in improving the structural and functional integrity of plant cell walls and membranes. As a low‐cost and environmentally feasible strategy, phytoremediation of sodic soils — a plant‐based amelioration — has gained increasing interest among scientists and farmers in recent years. Enhanced CO₂ partial pressure (P_CO2) in the root zone is considered as the principal mechanism contributing to phytoremediation of sodic soils. Aqueous CO₂ produces protons (H⁺) and bicarbonate (HCO₃^‐). In a subsequent reaction, H⁺ reacts with native soil calcite (CaCO₃) to provide Ca²⁺ for Na⁺ Ca²⁺ exchange at the cation exchange sites. Another source of H⁺ may occur in such soils if cropped with N₂‐fixing plant species because plants capable of fixing N₂ release H⁺ in the root zone. In a lysimeter experiment on a calcareous sodic soil (pH_s = 7.4, electrical conductivity of soil saturated paste extract (EC_e) = 3.1 dS m^‐1, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) = 28.4, exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) = 27.6, CaCO₃ = 50 g kg^‐1), we investigated the phytoremediation ability of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.). There were two cropped treatments: Alfalfa relying on N₂ fixation and alfalfa receiving NH₄NO₃ as mineral N source, respectively. Other treatments were non‐cropped, including a control (without an amendment or crop), and soil application of gypsum or sulfuric acid. After two months of cropping, all lysimeters were leached by maintaining a water content at 130% waterholding capacity of the soil after every 24±1 h. The treatment efficiency for Na⁺ removal in drainage water was in the order: sulfuric acid > gypsum = N₂‐fixing alfalfa > NH4NO3‐fed alfalfa > control. Both the alfalfa treatments produced statistically similar root and shoot biomass. We attribute better Na+ removal by the N₂‐fixing alfalfa treatment to an additional source of H⁺ in the rhizosphere, which helped to dissolve additional CaCO₃ and soil sodicity amelioration.