Anthropogenic and climatic influences over the past three centuries on characteristics of an Adirondack lake,Eastern North America

Fourth Lake is a drainage lake at 43°N, 74°W, from which a 37‐cm long mud‐water interface core was recovered. ²¹⁰Pb dating indicates the core spans ≈340 years, from the Little Ice Age through modern global warming. Diatom accumulation responds to anthropogenic watershed disturbances, declining slightly up‐core until a peak in the late‐1800s attributable to sediment and nutrient influx from logging and enlargement of the outlet dam. A dramatic decrease occurs ≈1900 as logging and lake filling ceased, and a smaller peak ≈1960 accompanies residential development. Similar changes occur in organic carbon accumulation, which ranges from 0.0038–0.024 mg cm^?2 year^?1, with generally decreasing values up‐core, punctuated by maximum values in the late‐1800s. Expressing diatoms as concentration, however, reveals a doubling up‐core that positively correlates with changes extending beyond the watershed, including Northern Hemisphere temperature, atmospheric CO₂ concentration and solar irradiance (R = 0.627, 0.675 and 0.400, respectively). A >50% increase in % organic carbon, from 3.8% to 5.9%, also positively correlates with these larger‐scale environmental conditions (R = 0.828, 0.830 and 0.832), while negative correlations with the extrabasinal records are exhibited by magnetic susceptibility (R = ?0.654, ?0.496, and ?0.660) and clay (R = ?0.770, ?0.762, and ?0.737). These changes are consistent with decreased sediment influx and reduced dilution of biogenous sedimentary components. In contrast to total diatoms, the accumulation of planktonic genus Asterionella displays a long‐term increase up‐core. Potential explanations include increasing duration of the ice‐free season or a shift in the timing of the spring bloom and a mismatch with abundance of predator(s). Asterionella also increases as a percentage of total diatoms, being positively correlated with extrabasinal conditions (R = 0.827, 0.774 and 0.674). This change occurs at the expense of many benthic genera and, over the past century, at the expense of tychoplanktonic genus, Aulacosiera. Heavily silicified, Aulacosiera requires strong mixing to remain within the epilimnion. Thus, its decline might result from increasing stratification caused by warming.     

The effects of run‐of‐river dam spill on Columbia River microplankton

Dams, increasingly common in riverine systems worldwide, are particularly prevalent on the Columbia River (CR) in the United States. Hydroelectric projects, including both storage and run‐of‐river (i.e., minimal storage) structures, on the mainstem CR highly manage water flow, often by releasing water over (rather than through) dams as “spill.” To test the effects of run‐of‐river dam spill on microplankton abundance and composition, we sampled above and below two dams in the lower CR before and during spill conditions in spring 2016 and during and after spill conditions in late summer 2007. We tested the effects of location (i.e., above vs. below dams), spill condition (i.e., before, during, and after spill), and their interaction on microplankton abundance. Generally, diatoms were most abundant during springtime, whereas cyanobacteria were most abundant in late summer. Most taxa were not significantly different in abundance above and below dams, regardless of spill status; although cyanobacteria abundance was marginally higher below dams in summer 2007 (p = .04). Abundances of all taxa were significantly different between pre‐spill and spill periods in spring 2016, whereas only diatom and flagellate abundances were significantly different between spill and post‐spill periods in summer 2007. We conclude that spill conditions may influence microplankton abundance, but are not likely to affect microplankton communities on either side of run‐of‐river dams on the CR. This is important information for dam managers concerned about ecosystem impacts of spill.     

Comparison of the desiccation effects of marine and freshwater diatomaceous earths on insects

The desiccating effects of two different types of diatomaceous earths (DEs), of freshwater and marine origin, applied by two different methods, were compared on four species of insects, Cryptolestes ferrugineus, Rhyzopertha dominica, Sitophilus oryzae and Sitophilus granarius. The purpose was to investigate the performance of DEs, including their abrasive and absorptive effects through the accumulation of silica dusts on the insect cuticle, resulting in death of the insects by desiccation. The data obtained showed that similar insects treated with the same type of diatom, but applied either by spraying or dusting, did not have the same initial mortality rate.

After examining and comparing the data obtained, it appeared that weight loss at death of insects subjected to the action of sprayed DEs was slightly less than for insects subjected to dust application, while mortality was slightly more rapid during the observation period. The extra weight of dusted insects was ascribed to greater adherence of dust particles to the treated insects.     

海洋底栖硅藻在电气石涂层上的附着行为

为了开发新型无毒海洋防污涂料,培养了舟形海洋底栖硅藻,采用叶绿素a值测定、体视显微镜拍照和图像定量分析方法,研究了底栖硅藻在质量分数为2%、3%、5%、10%的4种电气石涂层上的附着行为。结果表明,含2%电气石涂层对底栖硅藻的附着无明显抑制作用,含3%电气石涂层对底栖硅藻附着的抑制作用最为明显,电气石含量继续增大为5%和10%,其抑制作用逐渐减小。电气石对底栖硅藻在涂层上附着的抑制机理在于,当电气石与海水接触时,使水分子电解,生成羟基负离子,同时电解海水,产生次氯酸钠、Cl2、HClO和ClO-等强氧化剂;这些强氧化剂对底栖硅藻具有毒性,从而抑制其生长活性,并阻止其在涂层表面的附着。电气石在新型无毒防污涂料的研发中具有重要的价值。     

Temporal changes in the periphytic algal communities in a drowned tropical forest reservoir in Malaysia: Lake Kenyir

Periphytic algal assemblages, comprising bacillariophytes, cyanophytes and chlorophytes of standing dead trees in Lake Kenyir, a tropical drowned forest reservoir, were studied during 1995. A total of 317 algal taxa were identified in this study. The monthly floral mean species richness and cell count data demonstrated significant temporal differences between the months, in one-way anova (P < 0.05). Both redundancy analysis and cluster analysis on monthly blue-green abundance and diatom assemblages exhibited conspicuous groupings among the months, with underpinning seasonal differences. The responses were not similar, however, between the upstream and downstream ends of the lake. The grouping or clustering of months can be generalized as: (i) November, December and January as the monsoonal months; (ii) February, March, April and May as the transitional months; and (iii) June to October as the dry months. Based on stepwise multiple regression with forward selection, alkalinity and dissolved oxygen concentration were significant environmental predictors at the downstream dam sampling site, and reactive silica, electrical conductivity, Secchi depth transparency and sunshine hours were significant predicators at the upstream riverine sampling site, based on Monte Carlo tests. Being a ploymictic, mesotrophic lake, the limnology and temporal changes for Lake Kenyir appears to be complex and driven by monsoons, as evidenced from the temporal changes in its periphytic algae communities, particularly the diatom assemblages. The downstream sampling site (site 1) at the dam, in the main basin and deeper zone of the lake, the seasonal amplitude was likely complex because of thermocline formation and stratification processes. In contrast, the upstream sampling site in the Petang River (site 2) exhibited a clearer distinction between the dry and monsoon months, based on its cyanophyte and diatom floral assemblages. These study results are pertinent for lake management, especially for developing biomonitoring programmes or lake productivity studies, as well as for climate change studies, within the context of tropical lake ecology.     

Validation of a diatom-based index of water quality confirms its utility in monitoring of the Lake Erie's nearshore area

We conducted a validation of the Planktonic Diatom Index (PDI) to demonstrate the utility of a water quality index for the monitoring of Lake Erie's nearshore pelagial zone. Using a large, independent dataset from the Western and Central Basins of Lake Erie for validation ensures realistic assessment of the performance of the index. Diatom-based biomonitoring allows for the inference of integrative information about water quality based on diatom species composition. The PDI is based on the assumption that phosphorus, an established proxy for eutrophication, is instrumental in the structuring of diatom communities. In this study, PDI scores and measured total phosphorus were significantly correlated (r²?=?0.34, r²?=?0.63 outliers removed). However, when samples were considered on a basin-wide basis, the PDI scores were not significantly predicted by measured total phosphorus in the Western Basin. We suggest that snapshot phosphorus measurements are less likely to represent the overall condition in the highly variable, eutrophic Western Basin. When multiple phosphorus measurements were averaged over time, the relationship with the integrative PDI scores was more apparent (r²?=?0.52). Through validation with an independent dataset, we show that the PDI is likely a monitoring tool that provides a robust assessment of water quality in the pelagial zone of the nearshore waters in Lake Erie.     

Genetically Programmed Regioselective Immobilization of Enzymes in Biosilica Microparticles

Diatoms are single‐celled microalgae that produce a large variety of hierarchically porous, silica‐based microparticles as cell wall material. The presence of genetically encoded silica nanopatterns endows the biosilica with favorable properties for a wide range of applications including catalysis, chemical sensing, photonics, and drug delivery. Enhancing the performance of diatom biosilica requires i) a better understanding of the structure–property relationship in this material, and ii) methods that enable the manipulation of the biosilica structure and properties in a targeted manner. Here, genetic engineering of the diatom Thalassiosira pseudonana is employed to immobilize enzymes (glucose oxidase and horseradish peroxidase) into structurally distinct regions of the biosilica, which are termed valves and girdle bands. Remarkably, glucose oxidase in girdle bands exhibits >3‐fold higher catalytic activities compared to its location in valves. It is demonstrated through enzyme accessibility studies, protein engineering, and genetic engineering of biosilica morphology that the divergent enzyme activities are caused by the differences in the inherent silica nanopatterns of valves and girdle bands. This work highlights the importance of silica nanoscale architecture for the activity of immobilized enzymes and provides unprecedented tools for the biotechnological production of silica microparticles with tailored catalytic activities and anisotropic functionalities.     

Increased Sediment Loads in Alpine Streams: An Integrated Field Study

The ecological impact of fine sediments is one of the major causes of ecological degradation affecting lotic systems. Interestingly, many studies have investigated the impact of increased sediment loads on specific compartments of the lotic system, but little or no information is available about the overall impact of sedimentation. Aim of this paper was to analyse the influence of fine sedimentation on allochthonous and autochthonous energy inputs and on the structural and functional characteristics of diatom and macroinvertebrate communities. Data were collected in two Alpine streams in NW Italy, one interested by the presence of an intense mining area and the other pristine, used as a control. The two rivers greatly differed in terms of suspended solids and bed load characteristics. From 10 stations, we analysed main physico‐chemical characteristics, fine sediment indicators (using 60 sediment traps), coarse particulate organic matter (CPOM) and photosynthetic pigments amounts, taxonomic and functional characteristics of macroinvertebrate communities. We tested several causal models via path analysis. Functional traits seem to better reflect the integrated impact originating from quarries in the river basin than traditional community metrics like total abundance and specific richness. This outcome was enforced through the co‐inertia analysis, which took in consideration also metrics based on diatom communities. Our study yielded quantitative relations between sediment loads induced by quarrying activities and the degree of biological impairment and suggests which metrics are more suitable to assess this specific impact. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hybrid Photonic Nanostructures by In Vivo Incorporation of an Organic Fluorophore into Diatom Algae

Biotechnological processes harnessing living organisms' metabolism are low‐cost routes to nanostructured materials for applications in photonics, electronics, and nanomedicine. In the pursuit of photonic biohybrids, diatoms microalgae are attractive given the properties of the porous micro‐to‐nanoscale structures of the biosilica shells (frustules) they produce. The investigations have focused on in vivo incorporation of tailored molecular fluorophores into the frustules of Thalassiosira weissflogii diatoms, using a procedure that paves the way for easy biotechnological production of photonic nanostructures. The procedure ensures uniform staining of shells in the treated culture and permits the resulting biohybrid photonic nanostructures to be isolated with no damage to the dye and periodic biosilica network. Significantly, this approach ensures that light emission from the dye embedded in the isolated biohybrid silica is modulated by the silica's nanostructure, whereas no modulation of photoluminescence is observed upon grafting the fluorophore onto frustules by an in vitro approach based on surface chemistry. These results pave the way to the possibility of easy production of photonic nanostructures with tunable properties by simple feeding the diatoms algae with tailored photoactive molecules.