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The article presents a study that determines the metabolic properties and potential functional diversity of the microbial community in a horizontal subsurface-flow constructed wetland (CW) in China. It explores the important role of microorganisms in biogeochemical processes in wetlands. It also outlines the method of the laboratory study that uses sole-carbon-source utilization profile via Biolog-ECO microplates to accurately show the metabolic activities of the upper front substrate microorganisms (UF).The study finds out that the richness, evenness, as well as diversity of upper substrate microbial communities are higher than those of lower substrate.

The article presents a study which evaluates the sediment quality of Yangtze River in China through the use of Danio rerio embryos. The study uses six sampling sites in the Yangtze River estuary where sediment samples were collected in November 2005. Several parameters including hatching rate, abnormality and survival rate of the zebrafish embryos were recorded during the 96-hour exposure to the whole sediment. The results show that the heart rate and survival rate of zebrafish embryos were reduced in the whole sediment and organic extract test, while the delayed hatching and abnormalities were induced. Furthermore, the toxic effects of sediment on zebrafish embryos were more observed in the upstream of Yangtze River estuary than in the downstream.