亚热带退化红壤区森林恢复类型土壤有机碳矿化对温度的响应

土壤有机质分解是陆地生态系统碳循环的重要环节,它不仅受植被类型的影响,对环境温度也十分敏感。以江西省泰和县石溪退化红壤区马尾松(Pinus massoniana)、木荷(Schima superb)和枫香(Liquidambar formosana)3种森林类型为研究对象,将其土壤分别置于4种不同温度(5、15、25℃和35℃)条件下培养,采用碱液吸收法进行为期35 d的土壤碳矿化研究。在同一温度条件下,不同林型土壤CO_2累计碳排放量大小顺序为:枫香马尾松木荷。在4种不同温度条件下枫香林地土壤CO_2累计排放量最大,其次是马尾松林、木荷林,且不同森林类型土壤CO_2累计排放量随温度升高而增加(P0.05)。在15℃、25℃和35℃条件下,不同林地土壤潜在碳排放量间无显著性差异。在15℃和25℃条件下,土壤碳排放量随土壤全碳含量呈现先增后减的变化趋势(P0.05),全碳的极值点分别约为1.83%和1.89%。不同植被类型和培养温度对土壤碳矿化量有显著影响,说明植被类型和温度能够对土壤呼吸产生重要影响,且不同温度对土壤呼吸作用更显著(P0.000),但两因素间并无显著交互效应。在25℃时,不同林型土壤碳排放量随土壤含水量先增后减,表明土壤含水量并不是影响土壤碳排放量的调控因子。采用单库模式方程C_m=C_o(1-exp~(-kt))对土壤潜在碳排放进行模拟,得出不同温度不同林型土壤最大碳排放量随温度升高而增加。不同林型不同温度条件下土壤Q_(10)值范围为1.797—1.971,变化幅度较小,且不同林型土壤Q_(10)值并未表现出显著性差异,这一结论为研究林型和温度对土壤碳矿化的影响提供参考。     

模拟氮沉降对落叶松人工林土壤呼吸的影响

在东北林业大学帽儿山实验林场26年生落叶松人工林中,连续2年(2013~2014年)施加NH_4NO_3模拟氮沉降试验((对照(CK,0 g·m~(-2)·a~(-1)N)、低氮(N1,5 g·m~(-2)·a~(-1)N)、中氮(N2,10 g·m~(-2)·a~(-1)N)、高氮(N3,15 g·m~(-2)·a~(-1)N)),研究不同氮沉降水平对土壤呼吸的影响。结果表明:(1)2013年模拟氮沉降处理均促进年平均土壤呼吸速率(P0.05);(2)2014年中氮和高氮处理抑制年平均土壤呼吸和异养呼吸速率(P0.05),低氮处理促进年均土壤呼吸速率(P0.05),对异养呼吸速率影响不显著(P0.05);(3)土壤微生物生物量碳在低氮处理下显著提高(P0.05),在中氮和高氮处理下与对照间差异不显著(P0.05);(4)土壤呼吸速率与5和10 cm土壤温度呈指数正相关关系(P0.01),相比对照,各土层土壤呼吸温度敏感系数(Q_(10))均在低氮处理下增加,在中氮和高氮处理下则降低。不同水平的模拟氮沉降改变了土壤呼吸速率及其温度敏感性,表明短期内低水平氮沉降可加快土壤碳排放过程,相对较高水平氮沉降则减缓土壤碳排放过程。     

模拟氮沉降增加对中国陆地生态系统土壤呼吸Q_(10)的影响

研究模拟氮沉降增加对土壤呼吸温度敏感性的影响可以降低全球变化条件下土壤碳收支评估的不确定性。本研究用meta分析方法探讨了模拟氮沉降增加对中国陆地生态系统土壤呼吸温度敏感性(Q_(10))的影响。结果发现:模拟氮沉降增加整体上对Q_(10)影响不显著(0.49%),但显著降低了高原气候带生态系统Q_(10)(16.32%),显著增加了沼泽Q_(10)(38.19%)。效应大小与试验模拟的氮沉降量有一定关系,模拟氮沉降量小于50 kg·hm~(-2)·a~(-1)时Q_(10)增加2.59%,模拟氮沉降量为50～150和大于150 kg·hm~(-2)·a~(-1)时Q_(10)分别降低4.33%和1.61%。使用只含硝态氮的氮肥显著增加了Q_(10)(34.33%),而施加尿素的生态系统Q_(10)则显著降低(8.11%)。模拟氮沉降的时间超过15个月显著降低Q_(10)(19.24%)。模拟氮沉降影响土壤呼吸温度敏感性可能是由于氮通过影响土壤养分而影响了根系和土壤微生物的新陈代谢,进而影响土壤呼吸,使土壤呼吸对温度的敏感性不同。     

氮添加对高寒草甸土壤微生物呼吸及其温度敏感性的影响

土壤氮素的可利用性是控制土壤微生物呼吸的重要因素之一,大量研究已经表明增加土壤活性氮的含量可以降低微生物呼吸,但是土壤氮输入对土壤微生物呼吸温度敏感性的影响还不清楚。以青藏高原高寒草甸为研究对象,通过野外施氮试验和室内控制试验相结合的方式,在5℃、15℃和25℃条件下对3种施氮水平的土壤(对照,0g N m~(-2)a~(-1);低氮,5g N m~(-2)a~(-1);高氮,15g N m~(-2)a~(-1))进行培养,探讨土壤微生物呼吸及其温度敏感性对不同氮添加水平的响应情况。结果表明:(1)3个温度培养下的土壤微生物呼吸速率和累积碳释放量均随施氮量的增加而显著降低(P0.05);(2)氮添加对5℃和15℃培养条件下的微生物呼吸温度敏感性没有显著影响,但显著地增加了15℃和25℃培养条件下的微生物呼吸温度敏感性(P0.05);(3)线性相关分析表明,土壤累积碳释放量与土壤有机碳的难降解性显著负相关(P0.05),而15℃和25℃培养条件下的微生物呼吸温度敏感性与土壤有机碳的难降解性显著正相关(P0.05)。结果表明,在全球气候变暖的背景下,土壤氮输入将增加预测青藏高原高寒草甸地区土壤碳排放的不确定性。     

氮添加对多伦草原土壤微生物呼吸及其温度敏感性的影响

人类活动导致氮和磷输入到草原生态系统,对土壤有机碳循环产生影响,但是土壤微生物呼吸(Soil microbial respiration,Rs)及其温度敏感性(Q_(10))对于氮沉降和磷有效性增加的响应还存在争议。因此,依托多伦草原氮添加样地(0、50 kg N hm~(-2) a~(-1)和100 kg N hm~(-2) a~(-1)),并添加磷进行室内恒温培养(10℃和15℃),研究氮添加和磷有效性增加对Rs及其Q_(10)的影响。结果发现:氮添加显著降低胞壁酸含量和显著增加真菌丰富度(Fungal richness, F-richness)。与N0处理相比,N50和N100处理使累积呼吸量显著降低了61.2%和67.1%,但Q_(10)显著升高了32.7%和50.8%;磷有效性增加没有对累积呼吸量及其Q_(10)产生显著影响。逐步回归结果表明,F-richness和pH值分别是累积呼吸量及其Q_(10)最重要的影响因子。研究表明氮添加抑制Rs,减少土壤有机碳损失,但增加气候变暖对多伦草原土壤有机碳分解的影响,在全球变暖背景下增加土壤有机碳排放的不确定性。     

施氮对青藏高原东缘窄叶鲜卑花灌丛土壤呼吸的影响

开展土壤呼吸对大气氮沉降增加的响应研究对预测陆地生态系统碳循环具有重要意义。采用外施氮肥模拟氮沉降,结合壕沟法分离土壤呼吸组分,研究青藏高原东缘主要的灌丛类型——窄叶鲜卑花(Sibiraea angustata)灌丛土壤呼吸对不同施氮水平(N0(对照)、N2、N5和N10分别相当于0、2、5和10 g N m-2a-1浓度的氮沉降)的短期响应。结果表明:试验期间(2012年5—10月份),(1)土壤呼吸呈现明显的季节变化,施氮对生长季土壤总呼吸、异养呼吸无显著影响,而对自养呼吸有显著的抑制作用(P0.05)。(2)土壤呼吸也存在显著的日变化,施氮对一天中土壤总呼吸及其组分均有显著影响(P0.001)。总体上,施氮促进了土壤总呼吸、异养呼吸,而抑制了自养呼吸。(3)施氮对土壤总呼吸、异养呼吸平均每月排放CO2通量无显著影响,而对自养呼吸平均每月排放CO2通量有显著的抑制作用(P0.05),并在不同月份对土壤呼吸及其组分的影响不同。(4)土壤总呼吸、异养呼吸与地下5 cm土壤温度之间具有较好的指数关系(P0.001),而与土壤含水量相关性较弱。关于土壤呼吸各组分对大气氮沉降响应差异的机理有待进一步研究。     

氮添加对亚热带山地杜鹃灌丛土壤呼吸的影响

为探究灌丛生态系统对大气氮沉降的响应,2013年1月至2014年9月,对湖南大围山杜鹃(Rhododendron simsii)灌丛群落进行了短期模拟氮沉降试验,施氮浓度分别为0(CK)、2(LN)、5(MN)和10(HN)g·m~(–2)·a~(–1)。利用LI-8100土壤碳通量测量系统测定土壤呼吸速率,并测定不同氮处理下根系生物量增量和凋落物量。结果表明:该地区土壤呼吸呈现明显的季节动态,夏季土壤呼吸最强,冬季最弱。CK、LN、MN和HN处理样地每年通过土壤呼吸释放的CO_2量分别为2.37、2.79、2.26和2.30 kgCO_2·m~(–2)。CK、LN、MN和HN处理下,年平均土壤呼吸速率分别为1.71、2.01、1.63和1.66μmol CO_2·m~(–2)·s~(–1),LN处理样地的年均土壤呼吸速率与对照样地相比增加了17.25%,MN和HN处理则比对照样地稍低。施氮增加了根系生物量增量和凋落物量,但没有达到显著水平。土壤呼吸速率与5 cm土壤温度呈显著指数相关关系,与5 cm土壤的含水量呈显著线性相关关系。CK、LN、MN和HN处理下,土壤呼吸的温度敏感性(Q_(10))值分别为3.96、3.60、3.71和3.51,表明施氮降低了温度敏感性。氮添加导致的根系生物量增加是引起该区域土壤呼吸速率变化的一个重要原因。     

重庆缙云山两种林分土壤呼吸对模拟氮沉降的季节响应差异性

氮沉降对土壤呼吸的影响仍然存在着争论,需要进一步研究。选择重庆缙云山的马尾松林和柑橘林开展了氮添加实验,分别设置3个氮添加水平(低氮T_5:20 g N m~(-2)a~(-1),中氮T_(10):40 g N m~(-2)a~(-1)和高氮T_(15):60 g N m~(-2)a~(-1))和对照(T_0:0 g N m~(-2)a~(-1))共4个水平的处理,各林分每个处理各9次重复,每个处理量分4次,在每个季度开始各施1次。采用ACE(Automated Soil CO_2 Exchange Station,UK)自动土壤呼吸监测系统测定两林分土壤表层(0—10 cm)的呼吸、温度和湿度,分别在当年的7月、9月、11月、第2年的1月、2月、3月、5月、6月各连续测定4d,每天(8:00—18:00)4次,以揭示两种林分土壤呼吸对模拟氮沉降的季节动态响应及其差异性。结果表明:(1)柑橘林与马尾松林林下土壤表层呼吸表现出一致的季节变化动态趋势:夏季春季秋季冬季,但柑橘林土壤呼吸显著高于马尾松林(P0.05)。(2)总体上氮沉降抑制了2种林分土壤表层呼吸,而N沉降量大抑制程度越高。只在冬季土壤湿度低的马尾松林下氮沉降促进了土壤呼吸。(3)土壤温度与土壤呼吸有极显著的正相关指数关系(P0.01),而土壤水分与土壤呼吸有显著的二次模型拟合关系,但均受到氮沉降量处理的影响。综合分析表明,在亚热带山区2类森林下的典型案例结果支持氮沉降抑制土壤呼吸的认识。     

模拟氮沉降凋落物管理对樟树人工林土壤呼吸的影响

以湖南省植物园樟树人工林为对象,研究了模拟氮沉降下,不同凋落物处理对土壤呼吸的影响。设置4个施氮水平,分别为CK(0 kg N hm~(-2)a~(-1))、LN(50 kg N hm~(-2)a~(-1))、NM(150 kg N hm~(-2)a~(-1))以及HN(300 kg N hm~(-2)a~(-1));凋落物处理分别为去除凋落物、添加凋落物以及凋落物对照组。经过为期2年的观测研究,结果表明:(1)模拟氮沉降不同凋落物处理下,土壤温度呈现显著的季节性变化,但不存在显著差异;土壤湿度呈现显著的波动性变化,施氮及凋落物管理对土壤温度无影响。土壤湿度仅受凋落物管理的影响。在不同施氮水平下,去除凋落物的土壤湿度与加倍凋落物的土壤湿度均存在显著差异性。(2)模拟氮沉降不同凋落物处理下,土壤呼吸均呈现显著的季节性变化,最大值出现在6—8月;最小值出现在1月,且在生长季期间(4—8月),不同处理下土壤呼吸存在显著差异。(3)施氮对土壤呼吸表现为抑制作用,添加凋落物对土壤呼吸起促进作用,去除凋落物对土壤呼吸起抑制作用。(4)在凋落物对照组中,LN、MN、HN较CK相比,土壤呼吸速率年均值分别降低了35.4%、30.6%、36.8%,且各施氮水平与CK存在显著差异(P0.05);添加凋落物处理下,LN、MN、HN处理较CK相比,土壤呼吸速率年均值土壤呼吸分别降低了23.2%、15.8%、14.7%。去除凋落物处理下,LN、MN、HN较CK相比,土壤呼吸速率年均值分别降低了3.5%、0.5%、-11.6%。且添加或去除凋落物均能削弱施氮对土壤呼吸的抑制作用,且这种作用随着施氮水平的增加而增大。(5)土壤呼吸与5 cm处土壤温度存在显著相关性(P0.05),土壤温度可解释土壤呼吸变异的47.76%—72.61%;与土壤湿度呈现正相关,但未达到显著相关水平(P0.05)。     

模拟酸雨对鼎湖山季风常绿阔叶林土壤呼吸的初期影响

通过在鼎湖山季风常绿阔叶林(季风林)进行野外模拟酸雨试验,对不同酸雨强度处理下的林地土壤呼吸速率进行原位测定,探讨酸雨对南亚热带森林土壤呼吸的初期影响。结果表明:在两年的测定周期内,4个酸雨水平:CK(pH值4.5左右的天然湖水)、T1(pH值4.0)、T2(pH值3.5)和T3(pH值3.0)处理下的年平均土壤呼吸速率分别为(3.07±0.08)、(3.06±0.17)、(2.78±0.29)和(2.56±0.08)μmol·m~(-2)·s~(-1),其中T3处理显著低于CK和T1处理(P0.05),说明模拟酸雨抑制了季风林土壤呼吸。这种抑制作用大体上随处理时间的延长而逐渐显著,处理间的差异只在测定周期的第二年达到显著水平,且抑制作用的差异显著性只出现在湿季(P0.05)。模拟酸雨对土壤呼吸的抑制作用可能与其胁迫下土壤酸化而导致土壤微生物异养呼吸及凋落物CO_2释放量下降有关。表现为模拟酸雨导致土壤pH值降低,使得土壤酸化加剧;降低了土壤微生物量碳、氮含量,抑制了微生物活性;提高了凋落物质量残留率,抑制了凋落物分解。还与土壤呼吸结果相对应,上述指标对模拟酸雨的响应也大体上随处理时间的延长而逐渐显著。另外,土壤呼吸温度敏感系数Q_(10)值随处理pH值降低有下降的趋势,表明酸雨处理在一定程度上降低了土壤呼吸的温度敏感性。     

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.     

Vermicomposting in the management of pig-waste in Hong Kong

The treatment and disposal of pig-waste in Hong Kong has received much attention in recent years but, following any of the presently used treatment processes, solids remain to be further stabilized. Vermicomposting is a waste stabilization technique which converts waste into potentially recyclable materials such as worm protein and worm casts. The earthworm, Pheretima asiatica, can stabilize most of the solids arising from the treatment of pig-waste, including raw pig manure, suggesting that vermicomposting has a high potential as a unit process in the management of pig-waste in Hong Kong.S.H. Wong is with the Environmental Protection Department, Hong Kong; and D.A. Griffiths is with the Department of Botany, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong.     

Patterns in the distribution of myctophid fish in the northern Scotia Sea ecosystem

The mesopelagic fish community of the northern Scotia Sea was investigated during the austral autumn using multi-frequency acoustics, opening and closing nets and pelagic trawls fished from the surface to 1,000 m. The Family Myctophidae (15 species in 5 genera) dominated the ichthyofauna, with larval notothenids caught over the South Georgia shelf and bathylagids and stomiids abundant in deeper hauls. The biomass of myctophids was estimated to be 2.93 g wet weight 1,000 m⁻³, with Electrona carlsbergi, E. antarctica, Protomyctophum bolini, P. choriodon, Gymnoscopelus braueri, G. fraseri, G. nicholsi and Krefftichthys anderssoni, being the most abundant species. Analysis of community structure indicated a high level of depth stratification within the myctophids, with evidence of diurnal vertical migration in some, but not all, species. Length-frequencies of G. braueri, G. nicholsi, E. antarctica and K. anderssoni were multimodal, suggesting that all life stages may be present in the northern Scotia Sea. In contrast, P. choriodon, P. bolini, G. fraseri and E. carlsbergi had unimodal distributions despite having multi-year lifecycles, indicating that they probably migrate into the region from warmer areas to the north.     

Research on streptococci in the UK

Pleurotus florida produced high amounts of laccase (4.60 U/ml) in malt extract broth after 12 days' growth under stationary conditions. The production of laccase was semi-constitutive. Hyperlaccase mutants ofP. florida were obtained through mutagenesis of mycelial protoplasts usingN-methyl-N-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (50 g/ml) for 2 min. Three hyperlaccase mutants were selected showing growth and enzyme production responses similar to the parent.     

Cytotaxonomy of the genusPolystichum in the Western Himalayas

Cytotaxonomical investigations on 11 species from the Western Himalayas show that 8 are diploid and the remaining tetraploid. The numbers for three species are new.P. prescottianum (2x) andP. thomsoni (4x), andP. stimulans (2x) andP. acanthophyllum (4x) are closely related but distinct species pairs.     

New and old problems in the taxonomy of the Gelidiales (Rhodophyta)

The order Gelidiales includes over 140 agar-producing taxa. Many species are taxonomically confused; the boundaries of one family and all but four genera recently have been contested, and the controversy over ordinal status has lasted for over 25 years. This study reviews recent developments in the taxonomy of the group and suggests future areas for studies. The order cannot be defined by a few exclusive characters, as intended in the past, but it shows a unique combination of characters. Additional studies on Gelidiella and Acanthopeltis seem advisable to clarify family limits. The segregation of Onikusa and Pterocladiastrum is doubtful. Only three of six characters discriminate Gelidium from Pterocladia. None allows complete generic segregation and all need variability studies. Analysis of nomenclatural types in the light of morphological variation would permit an understanding of species limits in Gelidium and Pterocladia. Similar studies are needed in Gelidiella and Ptilophora.     

Intralineage variation in the pattern ofrbcL nucleotide substitution

Variation in chloroplastrbcL sequences was studied in representative species of four different lineages: the tribeRubieae (Rubiaceae), and the generaDrosera (Droseraceae),Nothofagus (Nothofagaceae) andIlex (Aquifoliaceae). Each lineage has its particular non-overlapping set ofrbcL polymorphic sites, indicating that common unconstrainedrbcL sites are not shared. Large differences in the rate and pattern of nucleotide substitution are observed among the four lineages. The genusIlex has the lowest rate of substitution, the lowest transition/transversion ratio, the lowest synonymous/replacement ratio and the lowest number of substitutions at the third codon position. An apparent relationship of these measures to the age of the lineages is observed. The A + T content and codon use among the four lineages are very similar and, apparently, cannot account for the observed differences in patterns of nucleotide substitution. However, the A + T content of the two bases immediately flanking the polymorphic sites is higher inIlex than in the other lineages. This could be correlated with the transversion/transition bias observed inIlex. The particularly low synonymous/replacement ratio found inIlex could also be explained by the small population sizes of species in this genus.     

Determination of the role of polyphosphate in transport-coupled phosphorylation in the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The role of polyphosphate in 2-deoxy-D-glucose transport was studied in yeast cells, pulse-labeled with [³²P]orthophosphate, by comparing the concentrations and specific activities of polyphosphate, orthophosphate and 2-dGlc-phosphate. When 2-dGlc transport was measured under aerobic conditions, it appeared that polyphosphate replenished the orthophosphate pool, indicating that polyphosphate has, at least mainly, an indirect role in sugar phosphorylation. Also in cells with a reduced respiratory capacity, due to a treatment with antimycin A, no direct role for polyphosphate in 2-dGlc transport could be detected. Under these conditions, only a very limited breakdown of polyphosphate occurred, probably because of the small decrease in the orthophosphate concentration.Abbreviations 2-dGlc 2-deoxy-D-glucose - P_i orthophosphate - P_n polyphosphate - SP sugar phosphate     

Structure and function of the genes involved in the biosynthesis of carotenoids in the mucorales

Carotenoids are widely distributed natural pigments which are in an increasing demand by the market, due to their applications in the human food, animal feed, cosmetics, and pharmaceutical industries. Although more than 600 carotenoids have been identified in nature, only a few are industrially important (β-carotene, astaxanthin, lutein or lycopene). To date chemical processes manufacture most of the carotenoid production, but the interest for carotenoids of biological origin is growing since there is an increased public concern over the safety of artificial food colorants. Although much interest and effort has been devoted to the use of biological sources for industrially important carotenoids, only the production of biological β-carotene and astaxanthin has been reported. Among fungi, several Mucorales strains, particularlyBlakeslea trispora, have been used to develop fermentation process for the production of β-carotene on almost competitive cost-price levels. Similarly, the basidiomycetous yeastXanthophyllomyces dendrorhous (the perfect state ofPhaffia rhodozyma), has been proposed as a promising source of astaxanthin. This paper focuses on recent findings on the fungal pathways for carotenoid production, especially the structure and function of the genes involved in the biosynthesis of carotenoids in the Mucorales. An outlook of the possibilities of an increased industrial production of carotenoids, based on metabolic engineering of fungi for carotenoid content and composition, is also discussed.