塔里木河下游不同退化区地表植被和土壤种子库特征

对塔里木河下游不同退化程度的4个典型断面进行了植被和土壤种子库的取样调查,采用种子萌发试验研究了不同退化区植被和土壤种子库的特征,结果表明:(1)塔里木河下游地表植被表现为严重的逆行演替,具体体现为胡杨林都为过熟林,几乎没有胸径在10cm以下的幼林;植被盖度、密度和多样性指数均维持在一个较低的水平上;随退化程度不断加重,地表植被中草本植物的相对密度、相对盖度和相对频度逐渐降低,而灌木和乔木的相对密度、相对盖度和相对频度逐渐增加;(2)研究区土壤种子库的基本特征是:土壤种子库种类贫乏、密度低、多样性指数和相似性系数不高;(3) 随退化程度的加重,土壤种子库物种数不断减少、密度明显下降、优势种组成趋于单一、表层种子库比例升高、1年生草本植物占优势逐渐向多年生草本植物和灌木植物转变及土壤种子库物种组成与地上植被物种组成上差异显著.     

丹江口水库消落带土壤种子库与地上植被和环境的关系

以丹江口水库消落带为研究区域,利用层次聚类法将海拔140～145 m区域内37个样地的土壤种子库分为6个组,比较不同组间的种子库物种组成、密度及多样性指数之间的差异;利用相似性指数分析土壤种子库与地上植被的差异;运用主成分分析和多元回归分析土壤种子库密度与地上植被、环境因素的关系.结果表明: 在丹江口水库消落带同海拔区域内,土壤种子库在物种组成上呈明显的异质性,不同组间的种子库密度、多样性指数均存在显著差异;土壤种子库与地上植被的差异较大,而且土壤种子库中的物种数明显少于地上植被中的物种数;土壤种子库密度与地上植被盖度、地上物种数和土壤质地呈显著正相关,而与田间持水量和土壤孔隙度呈显著负相关.     

蔡家河湿地土壤种子库特征及其与地上植被和土壤因子的关系

为明确蔡家河湿地土壤种子库特征及其与地上植被和土壤因子的关系, 采用野外调查取样和室内萌发实验相结合的方法, 对芦苇群落, 野艾蒿群落和林下杂草群落3种不同植被类型的土壤种子库密度, 物种组成, 地上植被以及土壤理化性质进行了调查研究。结果表明: 蔡家河湿地3种植被类型的土壤种子库密度分别为(7725±1286) 粒•m-2, (2535±556) 粒•m-2和(5085±984) 粒•m-2; 物种数量分别为36种, 28种和39种。3种植被类型土壤种子库的物种丰富度以及多样性均高于地上植被, 并且3种植被类型间土壤种子库物种组成的相似性高于地上植被, 说明土壤种子库比地上植被具有更高的稳定性。芦苇群落的种子库密度, 物种多样性指数以及土壤种子库和地上植被物种组成的相似性均高于野艾蒿群落和林下杂草群落。土壤含水量与土壤有机质是影响土壤种子库物种组成的主要土壤因子, 在土壤水分以及有机质含量高的芦苇群落中含有大量湿生植物种子, 但在水分和有机质含量低的野艾蒿和林下杂草群落未发现柳叶菜(Epilobium hirsutum)、马先蒿(Pedicularis resupinata)、问荆(Equisetum arvense)等湿生植物的种子。因此, 蔡家河湿地土壤种子库已出现一定程度的退化, 芦苇群落土壤种子库可用作退化湿地植被恢复的种源, 在植被恢复时要满足种子萌发对土壤水分和有机质的需求。     

洮河上游紫果云杉群落土壤种子库特征及其与地上植被的关系

该研究以甘肃洮河国家级自然保护区大峪沟林区(TH)、冶力关林区(YLG)、尕海 则岔国家级自然保护区则岔林区(GZ)的紫果云杉(Picea purpurea)天然林群落为研究对象,通过样地调查与萌发实验,分析洮河上游紫果云杉群落土壤种子库特征,以揭示洮河上游紫果云杉群落土壤种子库特征及与地上植被的关系,为紫果云杉群落恢复和管理提供依据。结果表明：(1)3个林区土壤种子库共萌发27科45属50种植物,种子库密度在958~1 129粒/m²之间,草本植物是构成研究区土壤种子库的主体。(2)3个林区紫果云杉群落土壤种子库垂直结构明显,物种数及种子密度随土层的加深呈减少趋势。(3)3个林区地上植被物种数大于土壤种子库物种数,相似性系数在0.15~0.23之间,表现为极不相似性;土壤种子库的多样性指数除Pielou指数高于地上植被外,Margalef指数、Shannon Wiener指数、Simpson指数均低于地上植被。研究认为,洮河上游紫果云杉群落土壤种子库以草本植物为主,乔木和灌木的储量较小,特别是建群种紫果云杉的储量较小;地上植被和土壤种子库之间相互的贡献力较低,仅依靠紫果云杉林土壤种子库进行自然恢复,远不能缓解现阶段紫果云杉林退化的问题,因此需开展人工育苗、造林等措施来促进紫果云杉的更新与发展。     

青藏高原东缘封育和退化高寒草甸种子库差异

采用幼苗萌发法研究了青藏高原东部高寒草甸封育和退化地区土壤种子库的差异.结果表明:(1)两个样地总共有10161株幼苗萌发,分属55个物种,23个科.封育样地多年生植物比例高于退化样地,禾草和单子叶植物比例在两个样地间差异不大.(2)退化样地土壤种子库种子密度((6105±1530) m-2)显著高于封育样地((3883±798) m-2),而物种丰富度差异不显著.所研究区域拥有较为丰富的种子库资源,退化地区资源更丰富,说明恢复不存在种子限制问题,土壤种子库可以成为植被恢复的潜在资源.(3)种子密度和物种丰富度在垂直分层上差异显著,且随着深度的增加而显著减小.(4)用Srensen coefficient指数计算出土壤种子库和地上植被之间的相似性在整体上较低,封育样地(45.3%)略高于退化样地(40.4%),两个样地地上植被之间的相似性为50%,而种子库之间相似性高达84.6%,说明种子库起到一个"缓冲器"的作用.(5)Shannon-Wiener多样性指数分析显示,无论在地上植被或种子库中,物种多样性都是封育样地显著高于退化样地.过度放牧不仅导致地上植被的生物多样性丧失,而且使种子库中的物种多样性降低,而封育管理可以维持地上植被和种子库中的物种多样性.     

草地沙化过程地上植被与土壤种子库变化特征

研究了草地沙漠化过程地上植被与土壤种子库的变化特征。获如下结论：(1)草地沙漠化过程地上植被与土壤种子库物种多样性的衰减模式不同,土壤种子库植物种数从潜在沙漠化阶段(固定沙地)到中度沙漠化阶段(半流动沙地)变化很小,而从中度沙漠化到严重沙漠化阶段(流动沙地)衰减速度明显加快;地上植被种数随着沙漠化程度增加而下降,其中从中度沙漠化到严重沙漠化发展阶段衰减幅度最大。(2)地上植被与土壤种子库密度随着沙漠化程度增加而下降,但下降速率因沙漠化发展阶段不同而异,从固定到半固定沙地是地上植被与土壤种子库密度下降最快的时期。(3)地上植被与土壤种子库共有种数随着沙漠化程度的增加而减少,从而导致了地上与土壤种子库群落组成的相异性增大。(4)4种退化沙地土壤种子库组成的相似性要高于地上植被,表明在沙漠化过程中土壤种子库群落组成的稳定性要高于地上植被。(5)地上植被密度与土壤种子库密度存在显著相关性,其关系可用二次曲线来描述。     

洞庭湖青山垸退耕地不同水位土壤种子库特征

研究退耕地土壤种子库的组成特点和分布规律是评价受损湿地生态恢复效应的重要组成部分.本文以洞庭湖典型退田还湖区——青山垸为对象,研究了不同水位及湿地土壤(0～2、2～5和5～10 cm)种子库的大小、物种组成多样性及其与地上植被的关系.结果表明: 青山垸土壤种子库密度、丰富度指数以及地上植被与土壤种子库的相似性系数沿低-中-高水位梯度呈“V”型变化.常淹区种子库密度最高,为(36943±5207)粒·m^-2,偶淹区最低,为(18618±6977)粒·m^-2,洪淹区居中,为(30572±5329)粒·m^-2;地上植被与土壤种子库的相似性系数(Sorensen系数)为常淹区(0.76)>洪淹区(0.53)>偶淹区(0.41).种子库密度、物种多样性指数和物种丰富度指数沿土壤剖面呈递减趋势,但不同水位的递减幅度存在差异.种子库密度、物种丰富度以及地上植被与湿地种子库的相似性系数沿水位梯度呈规律性变化,与其所处的地理位置水文波动和植被的物种生活型组成等密切相关.     

高寒干旱草原披针叶黄华植物群落土壤种子库与地上植被的关系

以祁连山高寒干旱退化草地披针叶黄华(Thermopsis lanceolate)群落为研究对象,采取野外调查取样和室内分析相结合的方法,对群落土壤种子库与地上植被的关系进行了对比研究。结果表明:地上植被物种共调查出15种,土壤种子库检测出植物18种,地上植被阿尔泰针茅(S.krylovii)、赖草(A.dasystachys)和扁穗冰草等可食草以及不食草披针叶黄华和阿尔泰狗哇花(H.altaicus)优势度明显,其它物种不明显;土壤种子库与地上植被物种组成的相似性程度较低;土壤种子库与地上植被中可食草的物种数多于不食草,土壤种子库的物种数均不小于地上植被中的物种数,地上植被中存在而未在土壤种子库中检测到的可食草物种有阿尔泰针茅和赖草,土壤种子库中存在而地上植被中未被发现的物种有早熟禾(P.annua)、灰绿藜(C.glaucum)、碱韭(A.polyrhizum)、酸模(R.patientia)、独行菜(L.apetalum)和秦艽(G.macrophylla);原生禾草物种在可食草功能群中生物量所占比例较低,毒杂草物种生物量所占比例增加显著,而土壤种子库的数量百分含量较低;可食草与不食草的生物量在植被梯度下的变化呈显著负相关(r=-0.940,P=0.018),而土壤种子库密度变化无相关性;可食草生物量变化与其土壤种子库密度变化不相关,不食草生物量变化与其土壤种子库密度的增加呈显著正相关(r=0.902,P=0.036)。     

金沙江干热河谷山地植被恢复区土壤种子库和地上植被研究

土壤种子库在植物种群动态中起着重要作用。土壤种子库可缓解种群的灭绝过程,保存群落中植物种的表现特征,是植被天然更新的物质基础。通过对金沙江干热河谷山地植被恢复区（包括水平阶、自然坡面、沟底）和未恢复区（包括放牧地）的土壤种子库和地上植被的组成、大小及多样性进行比较研究表明,植被恢复区土壤种子库和地上植被的密度、丰富度、多样性及均匀度均大于未恢复区。恢复区地上生物量要远大于未恢复区。水平阶和各类型间的土壤种子库密度与地上植被密度差异显著。土壤种子库中草本植物占很大比例。孔颖草和扭黄茅是土壤种子库和地上植被的两大优势种,两者的个体数量、重要值及生物量最大。土壤种子库和地上植被有较高的相似性,且随着恢复程度的加深,相似性有增高的趋势;土壤种子库密度和地上植被密度之间关系可以用二次和三次曲线拟合。     

贺兰山低山区土壤种子库空间分布特征北大核心CSCD

土壤种子库作为地上植被更新的潜在种源,在植被自然恢复和演替过程以及生态系统建设中起着重要作用。该研究对贺兰山低山区不同海拔高度植物群落土壤理化性质变化与其土壤种子库特征之间的关系进行分析,以揭示贺兰山低山区植物群落的土壤种子库空间分布特征和自然恢复潜力。研究结果表明:(1)海拔1200 m处种子主要来源于一年生草本,海拔1600 m土壤种子库主要来源于多年生草本,海拔2000 m土壤种子库主要来源于灌木和小灌木;随着海拔升高,隶属于禾本科的物种数呈下降趋势,菊科和藜科呈增加趋势,蒺藜科、大戟科、豆科和玄参科消失。(2)5个海拔高度土壤种子库物种数均显著低于地上植被;在物种生活型组成上,土壤种子库中物种数占比最大为一年生草本,地上植被为多年生草本。(3)土壤理化性质对种子库物种多样性影响中,土壤pH、电导率最为显著。贺兰山低山区5个海拔高度土壤种子库种子密度和物种多样性均较低,无法满足植被自然恢复需求,可通过飞播等生态恢复措施来弥补表层土壤种子的不足,从而满足地上植被恢复所需种源量。     

Taxonomic status of the species of the green algal genusNeochloris

Komárek has recently reviewed the various species assigned to the green algal genusNeochloris Starr (Chlorococcales, Chlorococcaceae) and removed those with uninucleate vegetative cells to a new genus,Ettlia. Watanabe & Floyd, unaware ofKomárek's work, also reviewed the species ofNeochloris and distributed them among three genera—Neochloris, Chlorococcopsis gen. nov., andParietochloris gen. nov.—on the basis of details of the covering of the zoospore and the arrangement of the basal bodies of the flagellar apparatus. This paper reconciles these two treatments and makes additional recommendations at the ranks of genus, family, order, and class.     

Hectorella: A member of the betalain-suborderChenopodiineae of the orderCentrospermae

Roots ofHectorella caespitosa Hook. f. were induced to produce a red pigment which was shown to be a betalain and not an anthocyanin. These data indicate thatHectorella belongs to theChenopodiineae, the betalain suborder of theCentrospermae, and excludes alignment with the anthocyanin family theCaryophyllaceae.     

Succession in the southern part of the Canadian boreal forest

Forest succession following fire in a forest mosaic of northwestern Quebec has been studied in order to: (1) describe the successional pathways using communities of different ages and (2) evaluate convergence of successional pathways and possible effect of fire suppression on the establishment of steady-state communities. As a first step, ordination and classification techniques were used in order to remove changes in forest composition which are related to abiotic conditions. Then, ordinations based on tree diameter distributions were used to study shifts in species composition in relation to time since the last fire.Even under similar abiotic conditions, successional pathways are numerous. However, regardless of forest composition after fire, most stands show convergence toward dominance of Thuja occidentalis and Picea mariana on xeric sites and dominance of Abies balsamea and Thuja occidentalis on more mesic sites. Stable communities of >300 yr occur on xeric sites while on mesic sites directional succession still occurs after 224 yr. Nearly all species involved in succession are present in the first 50 yr following fire. Only Abies balsamea and Thuja occidentalis increase significantly in frequency during succession. Following initial establishment, successional processes can generally be explained by species longevity and shade tolerance. Early successional species may be abundant in the canopy for more than 200 yr while the rapid decrease of Picea glauca, a late successional species could be related to spruce budworm outbreaks. Considering the short fire rotation observed (about 150 yr), a steady-state forest is unlikely to occur under natural conditions, though it may be possible if fire is controlled.     

The purification of the three trimannosyl-N-acetylchitobiose pentasaccharides from the urine of swainsonine-intoxicated sheep

A simple method for the preparative resolution of three Man₃GlcNAc₂ isomers called Ia, Ib and II has been designed. It consists mainly of the use of concanavalin A-Sepharose which allowed the total purification of Man₃GlcNAc₂-Ia, and then of anion-exchange resin in borate buffer-gradient to separate the Ib and II isomers. The purity of each oligosaccharide was checked by two HPLC methods. The use of these oligosaccharides for different analytical and biosynthetic purposes is discussed, and the unexpected resistance of one of the Man₃GlcNAc₂ alditols to the action of endo--N-acetylglucosaminidase H is noted.     

Evaluation of the Pro-Lab ID ring system for the identification of medically important yeasts

We evaluated 151 coded isolates of medically important yeast species belonging to the genera Candida, Cryptococcus, Geotrichum, Rhodoturula, Saccharomyces and Torulopsis using the newly developed rapid Pro-Lab Identification Ring, PL 960 system (PLID-Ring). All isolates were concurrently identified by the API 20C and conventional procedures comprising macro- and micromorphology, assimilation and fermentation of various carbon and nitrogen compounds. The PLID-Ring system identified isolates of Candida albicans, C. kefyr, C. krusei, C. lusitaniae, C. parapsilosis, Rhodotorula rubra, and Torulopsis glabrata with 100% accuracy in 24 h. This system identified C guilliermondii and S. cerevisiae isolates with an accuracy of 90% and 86%, respectively, while those belonging to Cr. neoformans, T. candida (= C. famata), C. rugosa and C. tropicalis were identified with 38.4%, 50%, 12.5% and 50% accuracy, respectively. Three isolates of Cr. laurentii were not identified by the PLID-Ring system. The overall accuracy of the PLID-Ring system was 81.45% (123 of 151 isolates). However, the system does not include species such as Cr. laurentii in its data base. When these three Cr. laurentii isolates were excluded from the evaluation, the accuracy of the PLID-Ring system increased from 81.45% to 83.1%.     

Analysis of the genes of the OEE1 and OEE3 proteins of the photosystem II complex from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

The sequences of the nuclear genes of the 33 kDa (OEE1) and the 16 kDa (OEE3) polypeptides of the oxygen evolving complex of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii have been established. Comparison between the OEE1 protein sequences of C. reinhardtii and higher plants and cyanobacteria reveals 67 and 47% homology. In contrast, C. reinhardtii and higher plants have only 28% overall homology for OEE3 which is mostly limited to the central portion of the protein. The transit peptides of the C. reinhardtii proteins consist of 52 (OEE1) and, most likely, 51 (OEE1) amino acids. They have a basic amino terminal region and, at least in the case of OEE1, a hydrophobic segment at their carboxy terminal end typical of thylakoid lumen proteins. Comparison of the genomic and cDNA clones indicates that the OEE1 and OEE3 genes contain five and four introns, respectively, some of which are located within the coding sequences of the transit peptides.     

Comparative analysis of the Kekkon molecules,related members of the LIG superfamily

Leucine-rich repeats (LRRs) and immunoglobulin (Ig) domains represent two of the most abundant sequence elements in metazoan proteomes. Despite this prevalence, comparatively few molecules containing both LRR and Ig (LIG) modules exist, and fewer still have been functionally defined. One LIG whose function has been investigated is the Drosophila protein Kekkon1 (Kek1). In vivo studies have demonstrated a role for Kek1 in Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) signaling and have suggested a role in neuronal pathfinding. Kek1 is the founding member of the Kek family, a group of six Drosophila transmembrane proteins that contain seven LRRs and a single Ig in their extracellular domains. While this arrangement of domains predicts a possible role as cell adhesion molecules (CAMs), to date little is known about the function or evolutionary relationship of these additional Kek molecules. Here we report that orthologs of Kek1, Kek2, Kek5, and Kek6 exist in the mosquito, Anopheles gambiae, and the honeybee, Apis mellifera, indicating that this family has been conserved for ~300 million years of evolutionary time. Comparative sequence analyses reveal remarkable identity among these orthologs, primarily in their extracellular regions. In contrast, the intracellular regions are more divergent, exhibiting only small pockets of conservation. In addition, we provide support for the general notion that these molecules may share common functions as CAMs, by demonstrating that Kek family members can form homotypic and heterotypic complexes.Edited by D. TautzChristina M. MacLaren, Timothy A. Evans and Diego Alvarado contributed equally to this work     

Progress on the genetics of the N2-fixing actinorhizal symbiont Frankia

The actinomycete Frankia is of fundamental and ecological interests for several reasons including its wide distribution, its ability to fix nitrogen, differentiate into sporangium and vesicle (specialized cell for nitrogen-fixation), and to nodulate plants from about 24 genera. Here, we present a review on the genetics performed so far on Frankia. At the end of July 2001, 293 kbp of Frankia DNA sequences were found in the databases. Thirty five percent of these sequences corresponded to full gene or gene cluster sequences. These genes could be divided according to their role into 6 key activities: gene translation (rrnA and tRNA ^pro gene), proteolysis (pcr genes), assimilation of ammonium (glnA and glnII), protection against superoxide ions (sodF), nitrogen fixation (nif cluster), and plasmid replication. We present a review of these genetic islands; their function, expression, localization and particular properties are discussed. A comparative analysis of Frankia nif genes from various strains and species is presented. An improved nomenclature for some of these genes is suggested to avoid conflicts. Frankia plasmids DNA sequences are also presented. The novel trends in Frankia genetics are described.     

The history of the genusHomo

The genusHomo was established by Carolus Linnaeus in 1758. During the course of the past 150 years, the addition of fossil species to the genusHomo has resulted in a genus that, according to the taxonomic interpretation, could span as much time as 2.5 Myr, and include as many as ten species. This paper reviews the fossil evidence for each of the species involved, and sets out the case for their inclusion inHomo. It suggests that while the case for the inclusion of some species in the genus (e.g.Homo erectus) is well-supported, in the case of two of the species,Homo habilis andHomo rudolfensis, the case for their inclusion is much weaker. Neither the cladistic evidence, nor evidence about adaptation suggest a particularly close relationship with laterHomo.     

Evaluation of antiprotozoal and antimycobacterial activities of the resin glycosides and the other metabolites of Scrophularia cryptophila

Resin glycosides are secondary metabolites exclusive to the convolvulaceous plants. In this study, crypthophilic acids A–C (1–3), the first resin glycosides occurring in another family (Scrophulariaceae), and the other constituents of Scrophularia cryptophila were examined for in vitro antiprotozoal and antimycobacterial potentials. Except for crypthophilic acid B (2), all tested compounds exhibited growth-inhibitory effect against Trypanosoma brucei rhodesiense, with l-tryptophan (6) and buddlejasaponin III (7) being the most potent ones (IC₅₀'s 4.1 and 9.7 μg/ml). In contrast, the activity towards Trypanosoma cruzi was poor, and only crypthophilic acid C (3), 6 and 7 were trypanocidal at concentrations above 40 μg/ml. With the exception of 2 and 6, all compounds were active against Leishmania donovani. Harpagide (4) and 3 emerged as the best leishmanicidal agents (IC₅₀'s 2.0 and 5.8 μg/ml). Only compounds 3, 6 and 7 showed antimalarial activity against Plasmodium falciparum with IC₅₀ values of 4.2, 16.6 and 22.4 μg/ml. Overall the best and broadest spectrum activity was presented by compounds 3 and 7, as they inhibited all four parasitic protozoa. None of the isolates had significant activity against Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MICs >100 μg/ml) or were toxic towards mammalian (L6) cells. This is the first report of antiprotozoal activity for natural resin glycosides, as well as for harpagide (4), acetylharpagide (5), tryptophan (6) and buddlejasaponin III (7).