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The nitrogen (N) utilization strategy of plants has become a topic of interest within the field of phytoecology. However, few studies have considered N cycling on coral island ecosystems from the perspective of their evolution. The aim of this study was to test the impacts of biological transport by seabirds, on the sources and uses of N by plants, and pathways of N cycling in soil–plant ecosystems on coral islands. A series of eight coral islands were investigated, five of which were affected to a varying extent by seabirds. The total phosphorus (TP) concentration from avian sources and the δ 15 N values of total nitrogen (TN) and inorganic nitrogen (IN: NH 4 + -N, and NO 3 − -N), δ 18 O of NO 3 − -O, in soils were determined, as well as proxies in plant leaves of two dominant plant species, including TN, the carbon/nitrogen ratio (C/N), and δ 13 C and δ 15 N values. The results show that, with an increase of TP, the TN and IN content, and δ 15 N values in soils all increased. Plant C/N and δ 15 N values decreased and increased, respectively, as the soil N content increased. When the TN content of the soil was low, the δ 15 N value in plant leaves was similar to that in soil NO 3 − , but was much lower than that in soil NH 4 + . When the soil TN content was high, the δ 15 N values were similar. Both plants and soil were probably N-limited prior to seabird colonization, with the N source on the barren coral islands originating primarily from atmospheric deposition. With seabird guano input and subsequent pedogenesis, the source of N switched to guano. Under these conditions, most of the N utilized by plants originated from NH 4 + , while nitrate is dominant for non-seabirds islands. Seabird activities have played a key role in the N dynamics of soil–plant ecosystems at coral islands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ornithogenic sediments are rich in toxic As (arsenic) compounds, posing a potential threat to local ecosystems. Here we analyzed the distribution of As speciation in three ornithogenic sediment profiles (MB6, BI and CC) collected from the Ross Sea region, East Antarctica. The distributions of total As and total P (phosphorus) concentrations were highly consistent in all three profiles, indicating that guano input is a major factor controlling total As distribution in the ornithogenic sediments. The As found in MB6 and CC is principally As(V) (arsenate), in BI As(III) (arsenite) predominates, but the As in fresh guano is largely composed of DMA (dimethylarsinate). The significant difference of As species between fresh guano and ornithogenic sediment samples may be related to diagenetic processes after deposition by seabirds. Based on analysis of the sedimentary environment in the studied sediments, we found that the redox conditions have an obvious influence on the As speciation distribution. Moreover, the distributions of As(III) and chlorophyll a in the MB6 and BI profiles are highly consistent, demonstrating that aquatic algae abundance may also influence the distribution patterns of As speciation in the ornithogenic sediments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The variations in physicochemical properties of airborne particles collected during a typical transition from haze to dust were investigated using single particle analysis with transmission and scanning electron microscopes combined with online measurement of chemical compositions of airborne particles in Beijing in February 2013. The transition was divided into three phases based on the weather condition. During haze pollution (Phase 1), gaseous and particle pollutants enhanced gradually. Results from single particle analysis showed that more coatings and more anthropogenic elements (e.g., S) appeared on the surface of fine and coarse particles, which was probably caused by efficient aqueous-phase reactions under high humidity (70%) condition. Phase 2 was dust intrusion episode. PM 10 reached over 1000 μg m−3. Larger fractions of mineral particles and bare-like soot particles were observed in fine particles, while the fraction of secondary particles with coatings decreased. The proportion of black carbon in submicron particles also increased. Photochemical oxidation in gas phase likely dominated in secondary formation under high O 3 concentration. After the dust episode (Phase 3), secondary formation enhanced obviously. Soot aged quickly and had a larger mode of 0.45 μm than the other phases. The size modes of airborne fine particles during Phases 1 and 3 were 0.35 μm, which were a bit larger than that during Phase 2 (0.24 μm). These results indicate that dust plumes accompanied with strong wind brought mineral particles in both fine and coarse modes and freshly emitted particles with smaller sizes, and swept away pre-presence air pollutants. This study could provide detailed information on the physicochemical properties of airborne particles during typical severe pollution processes in a short time. Such short-term change should be taken into account in order to more accurately assess the environmental, climatic and health-related effects of airborne particles. Unlabelled Image • A typical transition from haze to dust was observed in Beijing. • Airborne particles were analyzed by single particle analysis combined with online aerosol mass spectrometry. • The dust plume brought mineral particles and freshly emitted particles and swept away secondary particles. • Photooxidation contributed secondary formation in dust episode while aqueous reaction dominated in haze episode. • The dust plume and local polluted air mixed slightly in the transition period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary biological particles are an important subset of atmospheric aerosols. They have significant impacts on climate change and public health. Tianjin is a coastal megacity in the North China Plain, which is affected by both anthropogenic activities and marine air masses. To study the abundance and dynamic change of bioaerosols in Tianjin, fluorescent biological aerosol particles (FBAPs) in Tianjin were investigated by a wideband integrated bioaerosol sensor (WIBS-4A) in terms of number concentrations and size distributions in summer (11th –25th August 2018). Meanwhile, total suspended particles were collected and analyzed for chemical compounds to identify potential sources of bioaerosols. WIBS data showed that fluorescent biological particles exhibited two peaks at sunrise (~7:00) and in the evening (~20:00), which were probably caused by the enhancement of fungal spores and bacteria. Three rain events occurred during the observation period. Precipitation enhanced the abundance of biological particles, which were likely released from vegetation leaves, resuspended from soil surfaces, and/or carried by raindrops from high altitudes. The abundance of biological particles showed no significant correlation with Na+ (r = −0.17), indicating the air masses from marine areas carried limited biological particles compared to those from continental areas. Unlabelled Image • Real-time fluorescent aerosol particles (FAPs) were characterized in the coastal megacity Tianjin in summer. • Abundance of FAPs increased during precipitation, while that of non-FAPs decreased. • The size distribution of FAPs was dominant in 1–3 μm while non-FAPs peaked at 1 μm during precipitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• δ15N of TN and inorganic N (NH 4 + and NO 3 −) in soil, moss and aquatic microbial mat were investigated. • δ15N values of soil far outside the penguin colonies resembled those in penguin colonies. • The moss impacted by guano was more enriched in δ15N than in guano-free areas. • Aquatic microbial mat near penguin colonies was 15N-enriched, while 15N-depleted at upland sites. Penguin colonies in Antarctica offer an ideal "natural laboratory" to investigate ecosystem function and the nitrogen (N) cycle. This study assessed the spatial distribution of penguin-derived N from guano and quantitatively assessed its impact on plant N utilization strategies in Victoria Land, Ross Sea region, Antarctica. Soil, moss, and aquatic microbial mats were collected inside and outside an active Adélie penguin (Pygoscelis adeliae) colony and analyzed for δ15N of total and inorganic nitrogen (NH 4 +-N and NO 3 −-N). The soil total nitrogen (TN), NH 4 +-N, and NO 3 −-N concentrations, as well as their δ15N values were significantly higher in guano-impacted areas than those in guano-free areas, verifying that guano is an important N source at and near penguin colonies. However, even far from the penguin colonies, soil δ15N values resembled those in penguin colonies, suggesting strong spatial impacts of penguin-derived N. The moss impacted by guano was more enriched in δ15N than in guano-free areas. The δ15N values of NH 4 +-N and NO 3 −-N in soils covered with moss revealed that the moss might prefer inorganic N in the absence of guano, while the dissolved organic N would become an important source for moss growing on ornithogenic soils. Aquatic microbial mat samples near penguin colonies were 15N-enriched, but 15N-depleted at upland sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• We investigated organic marker compounds in PM 2.5 over Mt. Emei at a molecular level. • Higher concentrations of primary organic aerosols in the daytime were influenced by the valley breezes. • The contribution of biomass burning enhanced in the daytime during the pollution episodes. Organic molecular composition of fine aerosols in the free troposphere is poorly understood. Here, PM 2.5 (particles with aerodynamic diameters ≤ 2.5 μm) samples were collected at the summit of Mt. Emei (3080 m a.s.l.) in the Southwestern China on a daytime and nighttime basis during summer 2016 (June–July). The samples were analyzed by solvent-extraction followed by derivatization and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Four classes of organic compounds, i.e. n -alkanes, fatty acids, saccharides and lignin/resin acids were measured quantitatively. Fatty acids were found to be the most abundant species with an average concentration of 401 ± 419 ng m−3 (range 25.7–1490 ng m−3) in the daytime, similar to the average concentration at night (399 ± 447 ng m−3, 19.6–1970 ng m−3). However, the concentrations of biomass burning tracers (e.g., levoglucosan), primary biological aerosol tracers (e.g., mannitol and arabitol) and low molecular weight n -alkanes derived from fossil fuel combustion in daytime samples were obviously higher than those in nighttime samples. The results suggest that valley breezes transported a large number of aerosols and their precursors from the ground surface to the summit of Mt. Emei in the daytime. Estimated with tracer-based methods, the contributions of biogenic primary sources (plant debris, fungal spore, and biomass burning) to organic carbon was in the range of 3.28–83.5% (22.0 ± 17.5%) in the daytime and 3.45–37.4% (10.9 ± 8.97%) at night. As the largest contributor, biomass burning was an important anthropogenic/natural source of aerosol particles in the free troposphere over Mt. Emei. Valley/mountain breeze is an important constraint to the temporal variations in organic aerosols over Mt. Emei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]