基于同步辐射显微CT研究冻融循环对黑土团聚体结构特征的影响

在我国东北地区,土壤不同程度的受到季节性冻融的影响。冻融作用会改变土壤微观结构,团聚体作为土壤结构的基本单元,其结构特征的改变反映了冻融作用对土壤微观结构的影响。同步辐射显微CT可以无损获取高分辨率、强对比度的内部结构图像,是研究土壤团聚体三维微结构的有效手段。采集了室内冻融循环试验下不同冻融循环次数的土壤团聚体样品,应用同步辐射显微CT扫描获取了3.25μm分辨率的团聚体内部结构图像,然后应用CT图像处理方法和Image J软件观察并定量分析了团聚体微结构特征。结果表明:随着冻融循环次数的增加,土壤孔隙度不断增大,瘦长型孔隙度占比与100μm的非毛管孔隙度不断增大;当冻融循环次数达到7次以上,团聚体孔隙连通度随冻融循环次数的增加而变大。冻融循环对黑土团聚体孔隙度、孔隙形状、孔隙分级、连通性等结构特征影响显著。该研究为春季解冻期土壤侵蚀机理的研究及水土流失的防治提供理论依据。     

典型黑土耕作区土壤结构对季节性冻融的响应

以东北典型黑土耕作区土壤为研究对象,通过对一季冻融交替后土壤团聚体、土壤楔入阻力、容重、孔隙度、饱和度、广义土壤结构指数等指标的测定和分析,对比研究了季节性冻融对黑土耕作土壤结构特征的影响.结果表明:季节性冻融加剧了黑土耕作区土壤风干团聚体的分散,但显著降低了水稳性团聚体的破坏率(P0.05),表现出促进其团聚的作用;季节性冻融后黑土土壤楔入阻力降低了15.45%;容重趋于一致,在1.10～1.11g.cm-3之间;固相比例持续增加,总孔隙度与毛管孔隙度均不同程度降低;土壤饱和度总体增加了13.06%,削弱了土壤潜在贮水能力.季节性冻融改善了耕作区的土壤结构,使之更适于耕作.虽然季节性冻融增强了土壤团聚体的抗蚀性,却削弱了土壤的抗冲性,增加了黑土水蚀发生的风险.     

季节性冻融对典型黑土区土壤团聚体特征的影响

以东北典型黑土区耕地土壤为研究对象,通过对不同水分补充条件下、不同频度和程度的冻融交替处理后土壤干筛团聚体和水稳性团聚体组成、破坏率（PAD_0.25、PAD_1.0）、平均质量直径（D_mm）、平均质量比表面积（SA_mm）和分形维数（D）等特征指标的测定与分析,研究季节性冻融对典型黑土区表层土壤团聚体特征的影响.结果表明：无水无冻融及无水冻融显著增加了＞5 mm干筛团聚体和＞0.25 mm水稳性团聚体的含量,干筛和水稳性团聚体的D_mm分别较冻融前增加了7.98%～29.41%和36.11%～44.44%,SA_mm、D的变化规律也表现为促进大团聚体的团聚作用.少水冻融和季节冻融则显著增加了＜2 mm干筛团聚体和0.25～1 mm水稳性团聚体的含量,D_mm、SA_mm、D均表现出加剧风干团聚体拆分的趋势,水稳性团聚体的SA_mm和D分别降低了10.88%～25.52%和1.02%～3.40%（P<0.05）,团聚作用有所增强.季节性冻融后PAD_0.25降低了33.45%（P<0.05）,PAD_1.0无明显变化,典型黑土区季节性冻融增强了土壤团聚体的水稳定性.     

冻融循环对温带3种林型下土壤微生物量碳、氮和氮矿化的影响

为了解冻融过程对森林土壤有机氮转化的影响,以长白山地区硬阔叶林、红松阔叶林和次生白桦林温带3种典型林型下的0—10 cm层(上层)和10—20 cm层(下层)土壤为试验材料,采用模拟冻融循环过程(-15—5℃)研究了冻融循环中3种林型下土壤微生物量和有效氮素的动态变化。结果表明:冻融培养过程中,多数情况下,3种林型上层土壤微生物量碳(SMBC,Soil Microbial Biomass Carbon)和土壤微生物量氮(SMBN,Soil Microbial Biomass Nitrogen)含量高于冻融循环前的对照处理(5℃恒温培养4 d后的土壤,记为CK)。冻融循环过程中3种林型下0—10 cm土层的SMBC和SMBN均显著高于10—20 cm土层(P0.05),表现出明显的SMBC和SMBN空间异质性特征。冻融过程对土壤NO_3~--N含量影响不明显,每种林型同层次不同冻融频次的土壤NO_3~--N含量间均无显著差异(P0.05)。3种林型0—10 cm层土壤的NH_4~+-N含量随冻融频次的增加表现相似的动态变化趋势,均在第3、4、5次冻融循环时表现出明显的NH_4~+-N释放特征。3种林型氮素矿(硝)化作用对冻融过程的响应明显,冻融温度变化、冻融频次和土壤层次对土壤净硝化率和净氮矿化率影响显著。3种林型下的土壤净硝化率波动偏大,0—10cm层在第2次冻融后出现最大峰值,其次为第7和第5次冻融循环。在3种林型0—10 cm层土壤中,土壤净硝化率与净氮矿化率均表现为:在短期冻融循环后达到峰值,而后呈现不同程度减小的趋势。     

冻融交替对黑土团聚体稳定性的影响

应用Le Bissonnais法分析冻融循环(0、1、3、5和9)对3～5 mm黑龙江省黑土团聚体稳定性的影响,采用蜡封法分析黑土孔隙度的变化.结果表明: 不同粒径团聚体含量随冻融循环次数增加均呈波动状态,团聚体含量变化系数随冻融循环次数的增加逐渐趋于稳定;快速湿润、慢速湿润、预湿润震荡3种处理土壤中>0.25 mm团聚体含量有明显差异;孔隙度随冻融循环次数的增加而增大,变化范围在32.4%～41.4%.随冻融次数的增加,不同破碎方式下团聚体含量变化程度较低,团聚体平均重量直径与孔隙度呈负相关,表明冻融条件下孔隙度是影响团聚体稳定性的重要因素.     

冻融作用对土壤理化性质及风水蚀影响研究进展

冻融侵蚀在我国分布范围广,是主要土壤侵蚀类型之一,而冻融作用与其他营力复合进行侵蚀的分布范围比单纯的冻融侵蚀更广,所造成的危害也更大.本文基于国内外已有研究成果,总结评述了冻融作用对土壤理化性质及风蚀和水蚀影响的相关研究进展.冻融条件下,土壤水分发生运移,结构被破坏,土壤孔隙度、容重、抗剪强度、团聚体稳定性和有机质等理化性质均发生变化,其变化趋势和幅度与土壤质地、冻融程度有关.冻融作用通过改变土壤理化性质,增加土壤可蚀性,从而影响土壤风蚀和水蚀发生及过程,导致侵蚀强度增大.目前,冻融研究以室内模拟为主,与野外实际冻融过程差异较大,且由于试验条件不同,得到的结论无法统一,甚至相反.因此,通过室内模拟与野外实测相结合,加强冻融条件下土壤侵蚀机理研究是下一步的重点,这对季节性冻融区解冻期侵蚀预报和防治具有重要意义.     

不同植茶年限土壤团聚体及其有机碳分布特征

作为土壤结构的基本单元和土壤肥力的重要组成部分,土壤团聚体对土壤的物理、化学和生物特性均有重要影响。试验选取了雅安市名山区中峰乡生态茶园区12—15a、20—22a、30—33a和50a的茶园,研究其土壤团聚体及其有机碳总量、储量和活性组分的分布特征,探究植茶年限对土壤团聚体及其有机碳分布的影响。结果表明:(1)研究区土壤以2 mm粒级团聚体为主,约为70%—80%,且在0—20 cm土层植茶20—22a土壤团聚体含量最高;(2)茶园土壤团聚体有机碳含量随团聚体粒级的减小而增加,最大值出现在0.25 mm粒级团聚体,且在植茶50a时达最高值,0—20 cm土层团聚体有机碳含量均高于20—40 cm,土壤团聚体水溶性有机碳和微生物生物量碳随植茶年限的延长呈先增加后降低的变化趋势,植茶30—33a时含量最高,且小粒级团聚体水溶性有机碳含量较高而微生物量碳较低;(3)土壤团聚体对有机碳的贡献率约有70%来自2 mm粒级团聚体,团聚体有机碳储量随植茶年限延长呈增加的趋势,不同植茶年限0—20 cm土层各粒级团聚体有机碳储量均高于20—40 cm土层,且以0.25 mm粒级团聚体有机碳储量最高。研究结果在一定程度上揭示了不同植茶年限土壤团聚体及其有机碳的分布特征,可为改善区域土壤质量及实施退耕还茶工程提供理论指导。     

雪被和土壤水分对典型半干旱草原土壤冻融过程中CO_2和N_2O排放的影响

土壤冻融期间的温室气体排放量会显著增加,并在全年总排放量中占有重要的份额。但目前开展的土壤冻融循环模拟实验大多是在土壤冻结之前调节土壤水分含量,而忽视了雪被在整个土壤冻融过程中的作用,因此导致室内模拟研究的结果与野外原位观测的结果差异较大。为探索开展室内模拟土壤冻融实验的优化方案,采用人工浇水和覆雪两种方式调节土壤水分含量,研究了雪被和土壤水分对内蒙古典型半干旱草原土壤冻融过程中CO2和N2O排放的影响。结果表明,浇水和覆雪两种处理对冻融循环过程中土壤CO2排放影响的差异不显著,CO2排放量在消融期都会明显增加并随着冻融循环次数的增加而逐渐减小。当土壤孔隙含水率达50%左右时,浇水处理中的N2O排放量在第1次土壤冻融循环中最高并随冻融循环次数增加而降低,但在覆雪处理中,N2O在第1次冻融循环中的排放较小,而在后两次冻融循环中的排放量更为显著。造成两种处理N2O排放规律出现显著不同的原因可能是土壤剖面水分动态变化过程和微生物性状等方面的差异。土壤冻融过程中CO2和N2O排放量随土壤含水量升高而增加,但N2O在土壤含水量较低时排放不明显,这表明可能只有当土壤含水量达到一定阈值时,冻融作用才会对N2O的排放产生显著影响。这些结果显示,雪被和土壤水分显著影响土壤冻融过程中的CO2和N2O排放,室内模拟土壤冻融实验应进一步优化。     

典型喀斯特森林土壤的抗蚀性

喀斯特地区生态脆弱,极易发生土壤侵蚀。受地表要素空间异质性的影响,目前相关研究仍无法完全反映出喀斯特地区不同植被类型土壤抗蚀性的特征。通过野外调查,了解样地植被群落类型及其组成等基本情况,并以"S形布点法"实地采样;通过酒精烘烤法、环刀法等方法,获取土壤含水量、土壤容重、土壤有机质、土壤团聚体、土壤微团聚体及土壤机械组成、土壤抗蚀指数等土壤抗蚀指标值。结果表明,除有机质外的其他抗蚀指标表现出0—10cm土层内与10—20cm土层内的变化规律均和抗蚀指数一致。在土壤深度0—10cm范围内,土壤抗蚀指数表征的土壤抗蚀能力强弱为:阔叶林灌丛针叶林;在10—20cm土层范围为:灌丛针叶林阔叶林。0—10cm土层内各指标表征土壤抗蚀能力的显著程度为:有机质含量、水稳性团聚体、结构破坏率、团聚状况和团聚度较显著,10—20cm土层内为有机质含量、干筛团聚体、团聚度较为显著,水稳性团聚体次之。通过综合两个土层的情况,可认为有机质含量、水稳性团聚体、团聚度能较好地表征喀斯特林地土壤抗蚀性强弱。在喀斯特地区如果以防治土壤侵蚀为目的,应考虑种植阔叶树种,避免针叶树种。     

不同林龄刺槐林土壤团聚体化学计量特征及其与土壤养分的关系

土壤团聚体化学计量特征分析可以为土壤养分的评价提供依据,对陕北黄土丘陵区20 a、25 a、40 a、50 a刺槐林土壤团聚体有机碳、全氮、全磷化学计量比及其与土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷化学计量比的相关性采用逐步回归分析方法进行了分析。结果表明:随着林龄的增加,刺槐林各粒径土壤团聚体有机碳、全氮含量及其有机碳、全氮、全磷化学计量比显著增加(P0.05),均表现为在0—20 cm土层高于20—40 cm土层,而刺槐林土壤团聚体全磷含量变化较小;相同林龄刺槐林在0—20 cm和20—40cm土层中0.25—2 mm粒径土壤团聚体有机碳、全氮、全磷含量及其化学计量比最高。刺槐林0.25—2 mm粒径团聚体对土壤原土有机碳、全氮含量及其有机碳、全氮、全磷化学计量比有显著影响。营造刺槐林对各粒径土壤团聚体全效养分分配及其平衡关系存在积极的影响,主要体现在0.25—2 mm粒径土壤大团聚体中,通过影响0.25—2 mm粒径团聚体提高了土壤全效养分的供应和保持能力。     

Root hydraulic conductivity and vessel structure modification with increasing soil depth of two oak species: Quercus pubescens and Quercus robur

There are numerous studies on water transport characteristics of trees from the base to tops, but only few deal with the variation in xylem conduit diameters from shallow to deep roots. This study compares variation in root conduit properties as a function of increasing soil depths for two oak species (Quercus pubescens Willd and Quercus robur L.) growing on two different plots. We measured root vessel characteristics at three soil depths including 0, 50 and 100 cm, and calculated the associated root-specific hydraulic conductivities. Vessel diameter and specific hydraulic conductivity increased with increasing soil depth from 0 to 50 cm, but did not change in the deeper soil layer in both species. We conclude that freeze–thaw events in upper soil layer limit vessel diameters and thus hydraulic conductivity of roots.     

Impact of snowpack decrease on net nitrogen mineralization and nitrification in forest soil of northern Japan

Winter climate change is an important environmental driver that alters the biogeochemical processes of forest soils. The decrease in snowpack amplifies soil freeze–thaw cycles and decreases the snowmelt water supply to soil. This study examined how snow decrease affects nitrogen (N) mineralization and nitrification in forest soil in northern Japan by conducting an in situ experimental snowpack manipulation experiment and a laboratory incubation of soil with different moisture, temperature and freeze–thaw magnitudes. For the incubation studies, surface mineral soil (0–10 cm) was collected from a cool-temperate natural mixed forest and incubated using the resin core method during the winter. In the field, there were two treatments: 50 and 100 % snow removal and control plots. The increase in the soil freeze–thaw cycle increased net N mineralization and marginally decreased the net nitrification in soil. The dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and DOC/DON ratio in soil increased with the decrease in snowpack especially during the snow melt period. These results suggested that the change in substrate quality by the increase in freeze–thaw cycles caused the significant enhancement of microbial ammonium production in soil. The lower soil moisture and higher gross immobilization of inorganic N by soil microbes may be maintaining the slow net nitrification and low nitrate leaching in freeze–thaw cycles with less snowpack. The results indicate that winter climate change would strongly impact N biogeochemistry through the increase in ammonium availability in soil for plants and microbes, whereas it would be unlikely that nitrate loss from surface soil would be enhanced.     

The impact of subcanopy light environment on the hydraulic vulnerability of Rhododendron maximum to freeze-thaw cycles and drought

The vulnerability of xylem to embolism development in Rhododendron maximum L., an evergreen diffuse-porous shrub, was investigated in relation to the frequency of winter freeze–thaw cycles in high and low light sites of the Eastern US. Though the frequency of freeze–thaw cycles during the winter was lower in North Carolina than in Virginia, the hydraulic conductivity of 3-year-old branches was reduced by up to 60% by winter embolism development in North Carolina compared to less than 30% in Virginia. Generally, small vessel diameters and volumes were associated with a significant resistance to embolism formation resulting from repeated freeze–thaws of xylem sap. In stems grown in high light sites (gaps), larger vessel volumes, and greater diameter growth of stems were associated with a significantly higher degree of freeze–thaw embolism development than in those grown in the low light sites. Thus, the growth patterns of R. maximum stems, under conditions of higher light availability, rendered them more susceptible to freeze–thaw-induced embolisms. Vulnerability to drought-induced embolism in stems was not affected by light environment. Rhododendron maximum was relatively sensitive to drought-induced embolism because 50% loss of hydraulic conductivity occurred at a water potential of -2.2 MPa. The distribution and gas exchange of R. maximum are constrained by the dual effects of freeze-thaw cycles and drought on vascular function.     

季节性冻融期间土壤动物对高山草甸两种凋落叶失重的贡献

季节性冻融期间高山草甸凋落叶的分解可为生长季节植物生长提供必要的养分,对于维持生态系统物质循环和养分平衡具有重要作用。然而,土壤动物对凋落叶分解是否具有明显的贡献仍然缺乏一致认识。因此,以高山草甸代表性植物黄花亚菊(Ajania nubigena)和黑褐苔草(Carex atrofusca)凋落叶为研究对象,采用不同孔径凋落叶袋排除土壤动物的方法,研究冬季不同冻融时期(冻结前期、冻结期和融化期)土壤动物对凋落叶失重的贡献。整个季节性冻融期间土壤动物对黄花亚菊和黑褐苔草两种凋落叶失重率的作用分别为12.07%和4.03%,总贡献率分别为46.39%和24.14%。土壤动物对两种凋落叶失重率的作用均在融化期最大,而土壤动物对黄花亚菊凋落叶失重率的作用在冻结初期最小,土壤动物对黑褐苔草凋落叶失重率的作用在冻结期最小。整个季节性冻融期,土壤动物对凋落叶失重率的作用和贡献率与正积温和凋落叶初始C、N浓度和C/N比均呈显著的正相关关系。因此,季节性冻融期间土壤动物对高山草甸凋落叶分解具有明显的贡献,但这些过程受冻融格局和凋落叶初始质量的调控。     

The relationship between xylem conduit diameter and cavitation caused by freezing

The centrifuge method for measuring the resistance of xylem to cavitation by water stress was modified to also account for any additional cavitation that might occur from a freeze-thaw cycle. A strong correlation was found between cavitation by freezing and mean conduit diameter. On the one extreme, a tracheid-bearing conifer and diffuse-porous angiosperms with small-diameter vessels (mean diameter <30 μm) showed no freezing-induced cavitation under modest water stress (xylem pressure = −0.5 MPa), whereas species with larger diameter vessels (mean >40 μm) were nearly completely cavitated under the same conditions. Species with intermediate mean diameters (30–40 μm) showed partial cavitation by freezing. These results are consistent with a critical diameter of 44 μm at or above which cavitation would occur by a freeze–thaw cycle at −0.5 MPa. As expected, vulnerability to cavitation by freezing was correlated with the hydraulic conductivity per stem transverse area. The results confirm and extend previous reports that small-diameter conduits are relatively resistant to cavitation by freezing. It appears that the centrifuge method, modified to include freeze–thaw cycles, may be useful in separating the interactive effects of xylem pressure and freezing on cavitation.     

Correction to: The biogeochemical consequences of litter transformation by insect herbivory in the Subarctic: a microcosm simulation experiment

Northern forest ecosystems are projected to experience warmer growing seasons and increased soil freeze–thaw cycles in winter over the next century. Past studies show that warmer soils in the growing season enhance nitrogen uptake by plants, while soil freezing in winter reduces plant uptake and ecosystem retention of nitrogen, yet the combined effects of these changes on plant root capacity to take up nitrogen are unknown. We conducted a 2-year (2014–2015) experiment at Hubbard Brook Experimental Forest in New Hampshire, USA to characterize the response of root damage, nitrogen uptake capacity, and soil solution nitrogen to growing season warming combined with soil freeze–thaw cycles in winter. Winter freeze–thaw cycles damaged roots, reduced nitrogen uptake capacity by 42%, and increased soil solution ammonium in the early growing season (May–June). During the peak growing season (July), root nitrogen uptake capacity was reduced 40% by warming alone and 49% by warming combined with freeze–thaw cycles. These results indicate the projected combination of colder soils in winter and warmer soils in the snow-free season will alter root function by reducing root nitrogen uptake capacity and lead to transient increases of nitrogen in soil solution during the early growing season, with the potential to alter root competition for soil nitrogen and seasonal patterns of soil nitrogen availability. We conclude that considering interactive effects of changes in climate during winter and the snow-free season is essential for accurate determination of the response of nitrogen cycling in the northern hardwood forest to climate change.     

尖峰岭热带天然林不同土层细菌群落多样性和组成的海拔变异规律

土壤微生物群落结构沿海拔梯度的变异是微生物生物地理学分异和群落空间分布的重要内容,然而,热带森林土壤微生物多样性及其群落特征的海拔模式尚不明确。研究海南省尖峰岭自然保护区0—20cm和20—40cm土壤细菌多样性和群落组成沿海拔梯度(400—1410m)的变化及其与环境因子的关系。结果表明：在0—20cm土壤微生物生物量碳、生物量氮和生物量磷随海拔升高(峰顶降低)而增加,20—40cm土壤微生物生物量碳、生物量氮和生物量磷随海拔升高呈先升高后降低趋势;整体上,变形菌门、放线菌门、酸杆菌门、拟杆菌门、厚壁菌门在0—20cm中占优势,丰度总和占该层细菌总量的88.17%;变形菌门、放线菌门、酸杆菌门、厚壁菌门、绿弯菌门在20—40cm中占优势,丰度总和占该层细菌总量的90.82%;随海拔增加,0—20cm细菌多样性线性减少,20—40cm细菌多样性变化不显著;沿海拔梯度,0—20cm细菌群落组成可分为低(409—1018m),中(1018—1357m)和高(1410m)三个海拔聚集群落,20—40cm细菌群落组成随海拔无显著性变化;两土层细菌多样性与土壤pH显著正相关,土壤细菌群落组成在0...     

Effect of seasonal freeze–thaw cycle on net nitrogen mineralization of soil organic layer in the subalpine/alpine forests of western Sichuan,China

Nitrogen mineralization, a main way that soil organic nitrogen converts to mineral nitrogen, is one of the key processes in soil nitrogen cycle. The mineral nitrogen has an important role in plant growth in the growing season. It has been widely accepted that soil freezing in winter can kill a number of microorganisms, weakening soil nitrogen mineralization. However, more and more recent studies have documented that soil microorganisms still have high activity during the deep freezing period, and obvious nitrogen mineralization in winter. Seasonal freeze–thaw cycle is a common phenomenon in the subalpine/alpine forest region, which may have a strong effect on soil ecological processes. Furthermore, the changing pattern of seasonal freeze–thaw cycles might have a significant influence on soil nitrogen mineralization in this region in the scenarios of global warming. As yet, little attention has been given to nitrogen mineralization of soil organic layer as affected by changed seasonal freeze–thaw pattern, although the increasing studies have demonstrated that winter warming might give strong effects on the litter decomposition and microbial activity in the subalpine/alpine forest regions. Therefore, a method of intact soil core incubation in combination with natural environmental gradient was employed by transferring forest soils from 3582 m (A₁) of altitude to 3298 m (A₂) of altitude and 3023 m (A₃) of altitude in the subalpine/alpine forests of western Sichuan, respectively. The amounts and rates of net nitrogen mineralization in soil organic layer were measured. The incubation period included the growing season and the freeze–thaw season from May 24, 2010 to April 19, 2011. The results suggested that significant net nitrogen mineralization was only observed in soil organic layer at low altitude (A₃) during the whole incubation period. Forest soils at higher altitudes (A₁ and A₂) showed obvious soil nitrogen immobilization. In comparison with the growing season which showed remarkable nitrogen immobilization characteristic, the freeze–thaw season showed obvious nitrogen mineralization at lower altitudes (A₂ and A₃). In contrast, the nitrogen immobilization amounts at high altitude (A₁) in freeze–thaw period were less than those in the growing season. Besides, the maximum of net nitrogen mineralization amounts and rates at high altitude (A₁) in soil organic layer mainly occurred in the late stage of growing season and the onset of freezing, soil nitrogen mineralization at the middle altitude (A₂) mainly occurred in the onset of freezing and the deep freezing period, while the highest amount and rate of net nitrogen mineralization at low altitude (A₃) occurred in the early stage of thawing and the late stage of growing season. Furthermore, the amount and rate of soil net nitrogen mineralization during the freeze–thaw season were increasing with the decrease of altitude, which correlated with soil freeze–thaw cycle and freezing process at different altitudes. These results indicated that increasing soil temperature in the future could not only significantly enhance soil nitrogen mineralization in the freeze–thaw season, but also improve soil nitrogen mineralization by increasing freeze–thaw cycle times and shortening freeze–thaw period. However, the processes were significantly influenced by soil micro-environment of subalpine/alpine forest regions.     

亚高山/高山森林土壤有机层氨氧化细菌和氨氧化古菌丰度特征

为了解季节性冻融作用对川西亚高山/高山地区土壤氨氧化微生物群落的影响,采用qPCR技术,以氨单加氧酶基因的α亚基(amoA)为标记,在生长阶段、冻结阶段、融化阶段中的9个关键时期调查了该地区不同森林群落：岷江冷杉(Abies faxoniana)原始林(PF)、岷江冷杉(A. faxoniana)和红桦(Betula albosinensis)混交林(MF)、岷江冷杉次生林(SF)土壤有机层的氨氧化细菌(ammonia-oxidizing bacteria, AOB)和氨氧化古菌(ammonia-oxidizing archaea, AOA)丰度的特征。结果表明,三个森林群落土壤有机层中都具有相当数量的氨氧化细菌和古菌,均表现出从生长阶段至冻结阶段显著降低,在冻结阶段最低,但冻结阶段后显著增加,在融化阶段为全年最高的趋势。土壤氨氧化微生物类群结构(AOA/AOB)受负积温影响明显。冻结后期三个森林群落土壤负积温最大时,AOA数量明显高于AOB,但其他关键时期土壤氨氧化微生物类群结构与群落类型密切相关。高海拔的PF群落土壤有机层表现为AOA>AOB(冻结初期除外),低海拔的SF群落中表现为AOB>AOA(冻结后期除外),而MF群落则仅在融冻期和生长季节末期表现为AOB>AOA。这些结果为认识亚高山/高山森林及其相似区域的生态过程提供了一定的科学依据。     

Growth of high-elevation <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptococcus</Emphasis> sp. during extreme freeze–thaw cycles

Soils above 6000 m.a.s.l. are among the most extreme environments on Earth, especially on high, dry volcanoes where soil temperatures cycle between ?10 and 30 °C on a typical summer day. Previous studies have shown that such sites are dominated by yeast in the cryophilic Cryptococcus group, but it is unclear if they can actually grow (or are just surviving) under extreme freeze–thaw conditions. We carried out a series of experiments to determine if Cryptococcus could grow during freeze–thaw cycles similar to those measured under field conditions. We found that Cryptococcus phylotypes increased in relative abundance in soils subjected to 48 days of freeze–thaw cycles, becoming the dominant organisms in the soil. In addition, pure cultures of Cryptococcus isolated from these same soils were able to grow in liquid cultures subjected to daily freeze–thaw cycles, despite the fact that the culture medium froze solid every night. Furthermore, we showed that this organism is metabolically versatile and phylogenetically almost identical to strains from Antarctic Dry Valley soils. Taken together these results indicate that this organism has unique metabolic and temperature adaptations that make it able to thrive in one of the harshest and climatically volatile places on Earth.