Both Bacteria and Archaea might be involved in various biogeochemical processes in lacustrine sediment ecosystems. However, the factors governing the intra-lake distribution of sediment bacterial and archaeal communities in various freshwater lakes remain unclear. The present study investigated the sediment bacterial and archaeal communities in 13 freshwater lakes on the Yunnan Plateau. Quantitative PCR assay showed a large variation in bacterial and archaeal abundances. Illumina MiSeq sequencing illustrated high bacterial and archaeal diversities. Bacterial abundance was regulated by sediment total organic carbon and total nitrogen, and water depth, while nitrate nitrogen was an important determinant of bacterial diversity. Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Chlorobi, Chloroflexi, Cyanobacteria, Firmicutes, Gemmatimonadetes, Nitrospirae, Planctomycetes, and Verrucomicrobia were the major components of sediment bacterial communities. Proteobacteria was the largest phylum, but its major classes and their proportions varied greatly among different lakes, affected by sediment nitrate nitrogen. In addition, both Euryarchaeota and Crenarchaeota were important members in sediment archaeal communities, while unclassified Archaea usually showed the dominance.

Studies on the distribution and habitat charac-density estimate, MODIS teristics of the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa chinensis) indicate a general preference Introduction toward estuarine environments. However, quantitative connections between this preference Studies on the distribution and habitat characterand estuarine characteristics are seldom investi-istics of animals identify the dynamic function of gated. Distribution of the humpback dolphin in animal habitat use as it relates to the accessibility the northern Beibu Gulf, China, was evaluated of prey, social interactions, predator-prey interacthrough systematically designed surveys and tions, and inter-habitat-patch mobility (Wilson was compared to oceanographic characteristics et al., 1997; Karczmarski et al., 2000; Heithaus, from on-board measured and remotely sensed 2001; Davis et al., 2002; Braulik et al., 2012; variables. The humpback dolphins' core distri-Wang et al., 2015, 2016). Baselines for such data bution zone, measured by the 50% kernel den-provide further insights into practical habitat prosity estimate (50% KDE), was confined to the tection and management planning (International Dafengjiang River Estuary in a 50.23 km 2 area, Union for Conservation of Nature [IUCN], 2001; with a steep-edged underwater sand bar below Wilson et al., 2004; Cañadas et al., 2005; Garaffo and locally high chlorophyll-a concentration. The et al., 2011; Zhao et al., 2013; Wang et al., 2016). surface salinity distribution showed an eco-cline Relevant studies can be especially important in environment in which riverine runoff mixes with protecting key habitat for coastal cetacean species, sea water in the 50% KDE. We found significant such as the Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (Sousa relationships between distribution probability and chinensis), which frequently interact with anthrotwo oceanographic variables: (1) water depth and pogenic activities (Jefferson, 2000; Ross et al., (2) chlorophyll-a concentration. This associates 2010; Dungan et al., 2012; Würsig et al., 2016). the distribution preference of humpback dolphins The Indo-Pacific humpback dolphin (known with regional productivity and biodiversity peaks as the Chinese white dolphin in Chinese waters) that may facilitate prey aggregation. As hump-is known to specifically rely primarily on coastal back dolphins inhabit comparable environments waters shallower than 20 m deep (Jefferson, 2000; in other locations throughout their range, the Jefferson & Karczmarski, 2001; Hung, 2008; Ross oceanographic features of the 50% KDE may help et al., 2010; Jutapruet et al., 2015). The taxonomy to provide proxies to identify other key habitats of the humpback dolphins was recently revised, over a broader spatial scale.

ObjectivesThe aims of the study were to determine the prevalence of suspected developmental delay in children living in poor areas of rural China and to investigate factors influencing child developmental delay.DesignA community-based, cross-sectional survey was conducted.Eighty-three villages in Shanxi and Guizhou Provinces, China.ParticipantsA total of 2514 children aged 6–35 months and their primary caregivers.Outcome measuresSuspected child developmental delay was evaluated using the Ages & Stages Questionnaires-Chinese version. Caregivers’ education and age, wealth index, child feeding index, parent-child interaction, number of books and Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale were reported by the primary caregivers. Haemoglobin levels were measured using a calibrated, automated analyser. Birth weight was obtained from medical records.ResultsOverall, 35.7% of the surveyed children aged 6–35 months demonstrated suspected developmental delay. The prevalence of suspected developmental delay was inversely associated with age, with the prevalence among young children aged 6–11 months being almost double that of children aged 30–35 months (48.0% and 22.8%, respectively). Using a structural equation model, it was demonstrated that caregiver’s care and stimulus factors and child’s haemoglobin level were directly correlated, while caregiver’s sociodemographic factors were indirectly associated with suspected developmental delay.ConclusionsThe prevalence of suspected developmental delay is high in poor rural areas of China, and appropriate interventions to improve child development are needed.

Biofilm formation in drinking water distribution systems (DWDS) has many adverse consequences. Knowledge of microbial community structure of DWDS biofilm can aid in the design of an effective control strategy. However, biofilm bacterial community in real DWDS and the impact of drinking water purification strategy remain unclear. The present study investigated the composition and diversity of biofilm bacterial community in real DWDSs transporting waters with different purification strategies (conventional treatment and integrated treatment). High-throughput Illumina MiSeq sequencing analysis illustrated a large shift in the diversity and structure of biofilm bacterial community in real DWDS. Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteria, Nitrospirae, and Cyanobacteria were the major components of biofilm bacterial community. Proteobacteria (mainly Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, and Gammaproteobacteria) predominated in each DWDS biofilm, but the compositions of the dominant proteobacterial classes and genera and their proportions varied among biofilm samples. Drinking water purification strategy could shape DWDS biofilm bacterial community. Moreover, Pearson's correlation analysis indicated that Actinobacteria was positively correlated with the levels of total alkalinity and dissolved organic carbon in tap water, while Firmicutes had a significant positive correlation with nitrite nitrogen.