长江河口九段沙下沙湿地植物N、P、K的分布特征与季节动态

2005年4—12月逐月对长江河口九段沙下沙湿地生态系统主要湿地植物群落进行样方调查与样品采集,通过对海三棱藨草(Scirpus mariqueter)、互花米草(Spartina alterni-flora)和芦苇(Phragmites australis)3种植物样品中N、P、K元素含量分析与生物量测定,揭示了下沙主要类型湿地的植物N、P、K元素的含量、分布、贮量与动态变化特征。结果表明:3种湿地植物N、P、K元素含量、分布、贮量与动态特征均各具特点。不同植物以及同一植物不同构件营养元素含量与分布均存在较明显的差异。营养元素在不同植物与同一植物不同器官含量排序的差异明显。N、P、K贮量分布特征因湿地植物种类、构件以及生物量不同而异。植物中营养元素含量与贮量的分布特征存在差异,其原因在于,与营养元素含量相比,生物量是制约植物营养元素贮量的主要因子。下沙湿地3种湿地植物及其构件的营养元素含量与贮量一般都低于上沙湿地。3种湿地植物营养元素均表现出明显的季节动态,一般生长初期营养元素含量高,生长停滞期含量低。3种湿地植物N、P、K含量的动态特征存在差异,总趋势为N、P、K含量随生长过程的进行而下降,相对下降速度排序为:KNP。受局地环境条件影响,上沙与下沙湿地的植物N、P、K元素的含量、分布、贮量与动态变化特征存在差异。     

长江河口九段沙海三棱藨草湿地生态系统N、P、K的循环特征

研究了九段沙海三棱蔗草湿地生态系统的营养元素(N、P、K)的含量特征、分布规律与循环特点.结果表明:随下沙-中沙-上沙海拔高程依次缓慢上升,土壤全剖面中P、K含量逐渐下降,N含量不受海拔高程影响.土壤剖面全量养分TN平均含量排序为:中沙>下沙>上沙;TP与TK排序均为:下沙>中沙>上沙.速效性养分AN含量排序为:中沙>下沙>上沙,AP与AK排序均为:下沙>中沙>上沙.土壤全量与速效性养分排序分别为:TK>TP>TN、AK>AN>AP.随土壤剖面深度增加,营养元素含量呈减少趋势.土壤剖面营养元素分布显示N、K的表聚性比P明显.上沙、中沙与下沙海三棱蔗草湿地植物K和N的吸收量均大于P.海三棱蔗草对土壤营养元素的吸收量排序上沙和下沙均为:K>N>P;中沙为:N>K>P.上沙海三棱蔗草吸收营养元素总量最多,中沙其次,下沙最少.各沙洲海三棱蕨草湿地生态系统的营养元素吸收系数排序为:N>P>K;循环系数排序为:K>N>P.上沙海三棱蔗草湿地生态系统N的利用系数最大,中沙和下沙湿地生态系统K的利用系数最大.     

长江河口九段沙互花米草湿地生态系统N、P、K的循环特征

研究了九段沙外来入侵种互花米草（Spartina alterniflora）湿地生态系统的营养元素含量、分布规律与循环特征。结果表明,九段沙的上沙、中沙和下沙互花米草湿地土壤全量养分含量差异相对较小,而速效性养分含量差异相对较大。土壤剖面中TK含量大大高于TN和TP含量,排序为:TK＞TN＞TP。各沙洲速效性养分含量排序为：速效K＞速效N＞速效P。土壤速效性养分与全量养分的空间分布规律并不一致,土壤剖面营养元素的垂直分布差异比较明显,速效性养分土壤剖面垂直分异比全量养分显著。各深度土壤营养元素含量均存在差异,不同沙洲同一深度土壤营养元素含量也存在差异。各沙洲不同深度土壤TN含量的差异明显大于TP和TK含量差异。植物中3种营养元素含量以K最高,N其次,P最低。湿地生态系统营养元素归还量远大于存留量。吸收系数排序为：N＞P＞K。不同沙洲营养元素的利用系数和循环系数存在明显差异,上沙P元素、中沙与下沙K元素利用系数最大,上沙K元素、中沙P元素与下沙N元素循环系数最大。     

崇明东滩湿地营养盐与重金属的分布与累积

测定了崇明东滩湿地盐沼植物和沉积物中TN、TP、重金属Cu、Zn、Pb和Cd的含量,阐明了它们在湿地中的分布与累积特征,评估3种盐沼植物对营养盐和重金属的富集能力,并讨论了互花米草入侵对长江口湿地生态系统可能造成的影响.海三棱镳草地上部分的TN、Cu、Pb和Cd的含量均显著高于芦苇和互花米草（p＜0.01）,而地上部分TP和Zn却表现为：海三棱镳草和互花米草无显著性差异（p＞0.05）,但均显著高于芦苇（p＜0.01）.东滩湿地沉积物中TN和重金属的分布与累积特征为：芦苇带＞互花米草带＞海三棱镳草带＞光滩,即随着高程的增加,沉积物中TN和重金属的含量逐步上升;但沉积物中TP含量变化不大,基本维持在0.06%左右.基于盐沼植物地上部分的生物量,估算了3种盐沼植物地上部分的营养盐和重金属库,结果表明：互花米草地上部分的养分库和重金属库均大于芦苇和海三棱镳草,表明收获互花米草对环境的净化效果最佳,特别对磷的去除效率是最高的.     

互花米草与海三棱蔗草的生长特征和相对竞争能力

外来物种互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)已对我国特有种海三棱蔗草(Scirpus mariqueter)发生了竞争取代。作者通过在长江口崇明东滩湿地取样和盆栽竞争实验,比较了二者的主要生长特征和种间相对竞争能力。结果表明：无论是先锋种群还是成熟种群,互花米草的高度、盖度、地上生物量、地下生物量和平均每花序种子数都显著大于海三棱蔗草;海三棱蔗草的密度和单位面积结实枝条数显著大于互花米草。两种植物成熟种群的单位面积种子产量和种子的萌发率没有显著差异。种内竞争和种间竞争显著降低了两种植物的平均每株产生的无性小株数、结实株数、地上生物量和地下球茎数(海三棱蔗草产生球茎),互花米草的种间竞争能力(相对邻里效应指数)显著大于海三棱蔗草。互花米草在生长上的优势可能导致其在种间竞争上的优势,从而使互花米草能够在海三棱蔗草群落中成功入侵。     

九段沙芦苇湿地生态系统N、P、K的循环特征

对九段沙(上沙、中沙、下沙)芦苇湿地土壤、植物中N、P、K含量进行了测定,研究其分布规律.结果表明:水平分布上,湿地土壤全量养分与速效性养分含量均是中沙最低,并以中沙为中心向两端递增,速效性养分的这种变化尤为显著.垂直分布上,土壤全N和全K含量的分布规律一致,为上层＞下层＞中层;全P含量分布为中层＞上层＞下层.速效N含量分布为上层＞中层＞下层;速效P含量上层土壤最高,中、下层土壤含量因湿地类型而异;速效K含量多以中层土壤最低,上、下层土壤含量变化不稳定,以不同湿地而异.不同芦苇湿地的土壤速效性养分含量差异显著大于全量养分的差异,0～60 cm深度土壤的全量养分和速效性养分含量排序均为K＞N＞P.中沙湿地植物中养分含量最低,与土壤中营养元素总体水平分布一致;多数芦苇湿地植物中营养元素含量排序为N＞K＞P,与土壤养分含量排序不一致.不同芦苇湿地的吸收系数排序均为N＞P＞K;芦苇湿地利用系数排序为P＞K＞N;循环系数排序为N＞K＞P.     

九段沙湿地植被群落演替与格局变化趋势

长江口新生湿地九段沙由上沙、中沙和下沙三部分组成。2004年对湿地植被群落的演替与格局变化进行了研究。结果表明,九段沙湿地植被群落由芦苇(Phragmites austra-lis)、互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)、海三棱藨草(Scirpus mariqueter)和藨草(S.triqueter)构成。芦苇和互花米草生长于潮滩高程,海三棱藨草和藨草生长于低潮位。1998—2004年,上沙植被覆盖面积年平均约增长17%,中沙22%,下沙38%~39%,植被群落处于快速增长演替状态,这可能与沙洲发育速度有关。由于在中沙、下沙人为种植过外来物种互花米草,其增长速度最快,覆盖面积占九段沙植被总面积的比例从1998年不足1%上升到2004年的22%,地上部分总生物量的年平均增长率为79.79%,互花米草对藨草-海三棱藨草的竞争压力较大。鉴于互花米草对九段沙的影响尚无定论,本文提出了初步的植被管理措施。     

杭州湾滩涂Na元素含量对植物多样性和优势度的影响

钠元素是滩涂湿地土壤盐分的最主要成分。利用样方法调查了杭州湾滩涂湿地的植物多样性及其分布,以及土壤钠含量对植物多样性和优势度的影响,用相关回归方法对数据进行分析处理。结果表明：（1）海塘内的物种多样性要高于海塘外,有11种植物,优势植物是芦苇（Phragmites australis）和互花米草（Spartina alterniflora）,且互花米草的优势度要高于芦苇;但是在海塘外的自然滩涂,则只出现3种植物,主要优势植物是互花米草和海三棱藤草（Scirpus xmariqueter）,芦苇则较为少见。在海塘外的海三棱藤草-互花米草混合群落中,海三棱藤草的优势度要高于互花米草。（2）物种丰富度指数（Margalef指数）和物种多样性（Simpson指数）指数均与土壤钠含量呈极显著负相关关系,通过回归分析得回归方程分别为y（Margalef指数）=-0．05x＋1．608（R^2=0．732,P〈0．01,n=10）,y（Simpson指数）=-0．038x＋1．214（R^2=0．926,P〈0．01,n=10）。（3）海塘内互花米草的重要值与土壤钠含量呈极显著正相关,y=0．033x-0．007（R^2=0．802,P〈0．01,n=10）;而芦苇重要值则与其呈极显著负相关,y=-0．013x＋0．419（R^2=0．607,P〈0．01,n=10）。在海塘外的混合群落中,互花米草和海三棱藤草的重要值与土壤钠含量之间没有明显的相关关系。（4）随着（海塘）围垦时间的延长,其物种多样性呈现增大的趋势,中生植物更为丰富,而盐生植物逐渐萎缩。     

崇明东滩湿地芦苇和互花米草N、P利用策略的生态化学计量学分析

测定了崇明东滩湿地典型植物群落内芦苇和互花米草各器官及土壤中的N、P含量和N∶P,揭示了它们的季节性动态,并对其N、P利用对策进行了生态化学计量学分析.结果表明:两种植物的N、P含量差异显著且芦苇＞互花米草;不同植物以及同一植物不同器官的N、P含量随生长节律发生明显变化;N、P含量的器官分配模式对于芦苇和互花米草均是叶＞茎＞根;两种植物地上部分和地下部分N、P含量5月＞9月＞7月;芦苇N、P积累量＞互花米草;2种植物地上部分N、P含量差异显著;互花米草生境土壤各月份N含量均高于芦苇生境土壤;P含量仅在5月份高于芦苇生境土壤,其它月份均低于芦苇生境土壤.芦苇叶片N含量与生境土壤N含量相关不显著,叶片P含量与土壤P含量显著正相关;互花米草叶片N含量与土壤N含量极显著正相关,叶片P含量与土壤P含量相关不显著.芦苇和互花米草叶片N∶P与土壤N、P含量及N∶P间相关均不显著.芦苇在生长初期和生长末期的N∶P＜14,表明其生长受到N限制;处于生长旺季时,14＜N∶P＜16,表明其受到N、P共同限制.互花米草在各月份的N∶P＜14,说明其主要受到N限制.总体而言,N素是芦苇和互花米草净初级生产力的主要而经常性的限制因子.     

海三棱藨草及互花米草对模拟盐胁迫的响应及其耐盐阈值

盐度作为滨海湿地的关键环境因子之一,影响盐沼植物的存活、生长及分布。未来海平面上升引起的盐水入侵,将导致滨海湿地的盐沼植物面临高盐胁迫的挑战,进而影响滨海湿地生态系统的结构和功能。本研究选择长江口中低潮滩的主要先锋植物海三棱藨草(Scirpus mariqueter)和互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)为对象,通过人工控制实验,比较不同盐度处理下两种盐沼植物存活、营养生长及繁殖的响应,并确定两种盐沼植物存活的耐盐阈值,从而比较未来盐水入侵背景下,本地物种海三棱藨草及外来物种互花米草对盐胁迫的响应和适应性。结果表明:(1)海三棱藨草和互花米草的存活率随着盐度的增加均呈下降趋势,相同盐度处理下互花米草的存活率显著高于海三棱藨草的存活率(P0.05);(2)盐胁迫明显影响了海三棱藨草和互花米草的生长,随着盐度的增加,海三棱藨草株高、地上生物量及地下生物量均呈逐渐下降的趋势,而互花米草株高、地上生物量及地下生物量呈先增加后下降的趋势,均在盐度为10‰时最高;(3)海三棱藨草和互花米草的分蘖数及结穗率均随着盐度增加呈下降趋势,盐胁迫在一定程度上抑制了两种植物的繁殖能力;(4)互花米草存活的耐盐阈值为43‰,高于海三棱藨草存活的耐盐阈值(21‰);(5)外来物种互花米草比本地物种海三棱藨草具有更强的耐盐性,未来海平面上升引起的盐水入侵将对本地物种海三棱藨草产生更加严重的影响。     

Frequency of Discrimination,Harassment, and Violence in Lesbian,Gay Men,and Bisexual in Italy

Background

This cross-sectional study assessed the frequency of discrimination, harassment, and violence and the associated factors among a random sample of 1000 lesbian, gay men, and bisexual women and men recruited from randomly selected public venues in Italy.

Methods

A face-to-face interview sought information about: socio-demographics, frequency of discrimination, verbal harassment, and physical and sexual violence because of their sexual orientation, and their fear of suffering each types of victimization.

Results

In the whole sample, 28.3% and 11.9% self-reported at least one episode of victimization because of the sexual orientation in their lifetime and in the last year. Those unmarried, compared to the others, and with a college degree or higher, compared to less educated respondents, were more likely to have experienced an episode of victimization in their lifetime. Lesbians, compared to bisexual, had almost twice the odds of experiencing an episode of victimization. The most commonly reported experiences across the lifetime were verbal harassment, discrimination, and physical or sexual violence. Among those who had experienced one episode of victimization in their lifetime, 42.1% self-reported one episode in the last year. Perceived fear of suffering violence because of their sexual orientation, measured on a 10-point Likert scale with a higher score indicative of greater fear, ranges from 5.7 for verbal harassment to 6.4 for discrimination. Participants were more likely to have fear of suffering victimization because of their sexual orientation if they were female (compared to male), lesbian and gay men (compared to bisexual women and men), unmarried (compared to the others), and if they have already suffered an episode of victimization (compared to those who have not suffered an episode).

Conclusions

The study provides important insights into the violence experiences of lesbian, gay men, and bisexual women and men and the results may serve for improving policy initiatives to reduce such episodes.     

Levels of iron, zinc, and copper in aqueous humor, lens, and serum in nondiabetic and diabetic patients

The purpose of this study was to investigate iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), and copper (Cu) levels of aqueous humor, lens, and serum in nondiabetics and diabetics and to determine the effects of diabetes on Fe, Zn, and Cu contents in the lens. Fe, Zn, and Cu contents of aqueous humor, lens, and serum samples of 19 patients (9 nondiabetic patients with a mean age of 62.3±5.4 yr, and 10 diabetic patients with a mean age of 59.5±5.9 yr) were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry using a prospective study design. The lens levels of Cu in diabetic patients were significantly higher compared with nondiabetic patients (p=0.02); however; there was no difference in the other elements (Zn, Fe; p=0.28, p=0.74, respectively). The levels of Fe, Zn, and Cu in the aqueous humor and serum of diabetic patients were not found to be statistically significant when compared to nondiabetics (p=0.46, p=0.11, p=0.18, and p=0.22, p=0.43, p=0.72, respectively). These results demonstrate that increased Cu content of the lens presumably has a greater association with the development of lens opacification in diabetics than Zn and Fe content.     

Sequence variation in ITS spacers and 5.8S rDNA and relationship of E, St, P, Ns, Xm, and H genomes in the genera of Agropyron, Elytrigia, Leymus, Pascopyrum, Psathyrostachys, and Hordeum

Understanding species evolution and improvement requires information of their genome origin and differentiation. Among the species in the family Gramineae, genome identities of Agropyron-Elytrigia-Leymus group are still ambiguous. In order to delineate the genome relationship, nucleotide sequence analysis in the rDNA ITS regions was carried out among the species in the genera Elytrigia, Agropyron, Psathyrostachys, Leymus, and Psacopyrum containing E, St, P, Ns, and Xm genomes. The ITS-1 and ITS-2 showed a narrow range of variation in length except for the presence of a pentanucleotide, TGGGG, in/del in some haplotypes, whereas higher numbers of nucleotide substitutions were observed in most genera. There were 187 variable sites in the ITS-1, 5.8S, and ITS-2 regions, in which a few genome specific mutations were observed. While the level of variation was similar between ITS-1 and ITS-2, the rate of transition mutation versus transversion mutations was different among the ITS-1, 5.8S, and ITS-2 segments. GC contents of the ITS regions ranged between 55–65% between genomes and the haplotypes of P and H genomes were slightly higher than others. In phylogenetic analysis, the ITS haplotypes were classified into two groups; one containing H, Ns, NsXm genomes, and another containing P, St, and E genomes, which are congruous to the genome affinities from other studies. Among the four genomes in Pascopyrum smithii (2n=8x=56, StStNsNsHHXmXm), the haplotypes of H and St genomes were identified with the reference diploid species, but the haplotypes having Ns and Xm genomes were not found in the present analysis.     

Isolation,assay, biosynthesis,metabolism, uptake and translocation,and function of proline in plant cells and tissues

The amino acid L-proline has been the subject of intensive research during the past ten to fifteen years. This stems from the observations that it incorporates into peptide linkage thereby serving as a precursor to peptidyl-bound L-hydroxyproline, a constituent of “extensin,” and that it accumulates when some plants are exposed to diverse biological and environmental stresses. The contents of selected papers which have been published during the last quarter of a century regarding the isolation, assay, biosynthesis, metabolism, transport and function of L-proline within various plant tissues and their cells are both interpreted and summarized in this review. Occasionally, relevant information from animal and bacterial systems concerning these topics is included. Hydroxyproline-containing proteins are not considered. L-proline was reported to be a constituent of leaves as early as the 1950’s. Since then, it and its analogues have been extracted from the organs of a variety of plants. The analogues include: methyl-hydroxylproline; 4-methylene-DL-proline; L-azetidine-2-carboxylic acid; 2,3,cis-3,4-trans-dihydroxy-L-proline; L-pipecolic acid and 4-trans-hydroxypro-line. L-proline can be both detected and quantified by colorimetric, combined fluorometric-amino acid analyzer and gas Chromatographic procedures. L-proline may be synthesized from L-glutamic acid via the following biosynthetic pathway: L-glutamic acid \(\underrightarrow {\gamma - glutamic acid kinase}\) γ-glutamyl phosphate \(\underrightarrow {\gamma - glutamyl phosphate reductase}\) γ-glutamyl semialdehyde \(\underrightarrow {spontaneous cyclization}\) Δ′-pyrroline-5-Carboxylate (P5C) \(\underrightarrow {P5C reductase}\) L-proline. Proline can also originate from L-arginine and L-ornithine. Biosynthesis from the latter compound proceeds either through the γ-glutamyl semialdehyde and pyrroline-5-carboxylate pathway or alternatively a α-keto-δ-aminovaleric and pyrroline-2-carboxylate pathway. The metabolism of L-proline most likely involves the reverse of the biosynthetic pathway with an initial prolyl dehydrogenaseor prolyl oxidasemediated conversion of L-proline to Δ′-pyrroline-5-carboxylate. The metabolism of L-proline has been demonstrated to occur in excised tissues and cell free extracts, cell suspension cultures and reproductive structures. Little is known about the mechanism by which L-proline is taken up by cultured plant cells and excised tissues. Once within the plant Lproline can be translocated through the phloem at velocities similar to those for carbon dioxide assimilates. In addition to serving as a substrate for peptidyl-bound hydroxyproline, L-proline may function as an adaptation to diverse biological and environmental stresses, a cryoprotectant, a nitrogen pool, a precursor for chlorophyll synthesis upon relief of stress, a regulator together with L-histidine of fertility and sterility and/or a substrate for respiration.     

Dispensable,Redundant, Complementary,and Cooperative Roles of Dopamine,Octopamine, and Serotonin in Drosophila melanogaster

To investigate the regulation of Drosophila melanogaster behavior by biogenic amines, we have exploited the broad requirement of the vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT) for the vesicular storage and exocytotic release of all monoamine neurotransmitters. We used the Drosophila VMAT (dVMAT) null mutant to globally ablate exocytotic amine release and then restored DVMAT activity in either individual or multiple aminergic systems, using transgenic rescue techniques. We find that larval survival, larval locomotion, and female fertility rely predominantly on octopaminergic circuits with little apparent input from the vesicular release of serotonin or dopamine. In contrast, male courtship and fertility can be rescued by expressing DVMAT in octopaminergic or dopaminergic neurons, suggesting potentially redundant circuits. Rescue of major aspects of adult locomotion and startle behavior required octopamine, but a complementary role was observed for serotonin. Interestingly, adult circadian behavior could not be rescued by expression of DVMAT in a single subtype of aminergic neurons, but required at least two systems, suggesting the possibility of unexpected cooperative interactions. Further experiments using this model will help determine how multiple aminergic systems may contribute to the regulation of other behaviors. Our data also highlight potential differences between behaviors regulated by standard exocytotic release and those regulated by other mechanisms.     

Occurrence of heavy metals,sodium, calcium,and potassium in human hair,teeth, and nails

Heavy metals in biological samples: nails, teeth, and hair were examined during 1991–1993. Investigations of biological samples (hairn=249 samples, teethn=145, nailsn=80 samples) were provided for inhabitants of selected towns in Beskid Śląski. The towns are small mountain towns in southern Poland: Wista, Szczyrk, Istebna, Koniaków, and Jaworzynka. The analysis of ANOVA and MANOVA variances were used for biological samples in the context of age, sex, and type of samples for 12 elements (Pb, Cd, Cr, Zn, Fe, Cu, Mn, Ni, Co, Ca, Na, and K). The matrix correlation and cluster analysis were applied to explain the behavior of metals in human hair, teeth, and nails.