Control of Molinia caerulea by cutting management on sub-alpine grassland

There has been a considerable expansion of Moliniacaerulea after the cessation of cutting management of Nardus stricta sub-alpine grasslands in the Giant Mts. (Krkonoše/Karkonosze/Riesengebirge, the Czech Republic) in the last 50 years. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the reestablishment of traditional management (one cut per year in late July) could reverse Molinia encroachment and help to restore the original Nardus grassland.     

Characterization of caged compounds binding to proteins by NMR spectroscopy

Photolysable caged ligands are used to investigate protein function and activity. Here, we investigate the binding properties of caged nucleotides and their photo released products to well established but evolutionary and structurally unrelated nucleotide-binding proteins, rabbit muscle creatine kinase (RMCK) and human annexin A6 (hAnxA6), using saturation transfer difference NMR spectroscopy. We detect the binding of the caged nucleotides and discuss the general implications on interpreting data collected with photolysable caged ligands using different techniques. Strategies to avoid non-specific binding of caged compound to certain proteins are also suggested.     

氮素对短葶飞蓬生长和次生代谢产物积累的影响

以不同氮素供应对短葶飞蓬(Erigeron breviscapus)进行了人工栽培试验,探讨氮素对药用植物生长和次生代谢产物含量及产量的影响作用规律.结果显示:氮素施用量与短葶飞蓬植株生物量呈极显著的正相关;而与灯盏乙素和总咖啡酸酯含量则表现出显著的负相关;对总咖啡酸酯和灯盏乙素的产量没有显著的促进作用.植株灯盏乙素和总咖啡酸酯含量与生物量呈现极显著的负相关;与植株含氮量也存在极显著的负线性关系,变化规律与"碳素/营养平衡假说"预测的一致.研究表明,植株生长与次生代谢有效成分积累间存在一定的权衡关系,过多的施用氮肥提高药材产量时将会导致黄酮等酚类次生代谢有效成分含量下降.     

Effects of simulated nitrogen deposition on growth and photosynthesis of 1-year-old Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) seedlings

To study the impact of nitrogen deposition on 1-year-old Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) seedlings in pots, the dissolved NH₄NO₃ was sprayed on the seedlings every 3 days for 1 year. The simulated elevated N depositions were equivalent to N0(0), N1(6 gN/(m² a)), N2(12 gN/(m² a)), N3(24 gN/(m² a)) and N4(48 gN/(m² a)). The results indicated that medium N treatments (N2, N3) enhanced growth significantly. The height, stem base diameter and per-seedling biomass of Chinese fir seedlings increased with N loads and decreased in the high N treatments. Compared to N0, the height and per-seedling biomass were highest in N2 treatment and increased by 10.77% and 12.35%, respectively. The stem base diameter was highest in N3 treatment and increased by 8.81% compared to N0. The net photosynthetic rate (Pn) in treatments N1, N2, N3, N4 increased by 1.20%, 9.28%, 24.23% and 4.30%, and the highest photosynthetic rate by 67.09%, 125.32%, 148.10% and 51.90%, respectively. The N1–N3 treatments, especially N2, stimulated light compensation point (LCP) of the seedlings significantly, but N4 exhibited inhibitive effect. Compared with LCP, light saturation point (LSP) showed weaker response to N loads, positive to N2, but negative to all other N treatments. Low-to-medium N treatments (N1, N2) enhanced Chl (a + b) by 2.19% and 37.15%, while medium-to-high N treatments (N3, N4) reduced Chl (a + b) by 7.95% and 15.56%, respectively. Water use efficiency (WUE) and stomatal conductance (C) decreased slightly with N loads.     

基质氮素对大球盖菇生长及亚硝酸盐含量的影响

目的探索氮源对大球盖菇生长及亚硝酸盐、硝酸盐含量的影响。方法在培养基中添加不同含氮化合物,培养菌丝,定时测定生长量,并采用重氮偶合分光光度法测定其亚硝酸盐、硝酸盐含量。结果添加亚硝酸盐的基质,菌丝生长速度比对照慢。尿素、硫酸铵、硝酸铵和硝酸钾四处理之间差异无显著性,其生长速度最快。各处理间亚硝酸盐、硝酸盐含量差异均存在非常显著性。亚硝酸钾处理,亚硝酸盐含量高达402.03 mg/kg,不宜食用。硝酸钾处理,亚硝酸盐含量为30.87 mg/kg,食用100 g,就会超出亚硝酸盐日限量;硝酸铵处理,硝酸盐含量远远超过日常蔬菜,也不宜食用。结论在栽培大球盖菇时氮源不宜使用亚硝酸盐、硝酸盐,应使用尿素或硫酸铵,有机氮源也可以。     

Nutrient limitation in species‐rich Calthion grasslands in relation to opportunities for restoration in a peat meadow landscape

Questions: Which nutrient(s) limit(s) vegetation productivity in Calthion grasslands? Is phosphorus release a bottleneck for restoration of species‐rich Calthion grasslands on rewetted dairy meadows? Location: Three species‐rich Calthion grasslands in the Western Peat District in the Netherlands. Methods: We conducted a field fertilization experiment with nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) in three existing Calthion grasslands to evaluate the potential for restoration on rewetted dairy meadows. Responses of above‐ground biomass, tissue nutrient concentrations and nutrient ratios were determined after 2 yr of fertilization. Results: Biomass increased with fertilization with N‐only and K‐only but did not react to P‐only additions. Comparisons of tissue nutrient concentrations and nutrient ratios also gave indications of N and K limitation. Conclusions: The strong P release expected after rewetting should not necessarily interfere with restoration of Calthion communities on rewetted dairy meadows. It is concluded that for successful restoration management measures should focus on reducing N and/or K availability. Potassium might be an overlooked bottleneck in the restoration of species‐rich grasslands.     

Long‐term effects of cutting frequency and liming on soil chemical properties,biomass production and plant species composition of Lolio‐Cynosuretum grassland after the cessation of fertilizer application

Question: Is there any effect of cutting frequency and liming on P and K availability in the soil, biomass production and plant species composition after cessation of fertilizer application? Location: Eifel Mountains, SW Germany. Methods: The long‐term Grassland Extensification and Nutrient Depletion Experiment was established on a fertilized and mown pasture (Lolio‐Cynosuretum) in 1993. Treatments were: (1) two cuts per year without liming, (2) two cuts with liming, (3) four cuts without liming, (4) four cuts with liming and (5) continued intensive mowing as the control. Results: From 1993 to 2006, the plant available P concentration in the soil decreased substantially, whereas K concentration decreased only slightly. Biomass production decreased from 7 to 5 t DM ha^?1. These trends were affected by cessation of NPK fertilizer application but not by cutting frequency or liming. In 2007, substantial differences in species composition between the control and the two‐cut and four‐cut treatments were recorded, whereas liming had no effect. Higher species richness was recorded in cut treatments compared to the control, but no effects of cutting frequency or liming were observed. Ellenberg indicator values indicated that soil nutrients influenced changes in species composition only marginally. Conclusions: The decrease in productivity and available soil P and K in favor of species richness was not achieved to any greater extent by four cuts than by two cuts, or by lime application. Although species richness slightly increased, we conclude that the restoration of low productive grasslands cannot be achieved by cutting management.     

Expanded view of the local–regional richness relationship by incorporating functional richness and time: a large‐scale perspective

Aim We investigate the relationship between local and regional richness in marine fouling assemblages using an expanded and globally replicated approach by incorporating two dimensions of diversity (taxonomic and functional) and different successional stages. Location Global. Methods In eight different biogeographic regions (Australia, Brazil, Chile, England, Italy, Japan, Portugal and Sweden) 68 polyvinylchloride (PVC) panels (15 × 15 × 0.3 cm) were deployed for colonization. Communities colonizing panels were analysed by measuring percentage cover at each of four different successional ages: 2, 4, 6 and 8 months. Local richness was assessed as the average number of species and functional groups (FGs) per panel and regional richness was evaluated as the estimated (Jack2) asymptote of the sample‐accumulation curves for species and FG on experimental panels. Results We found that the shape of the relationship between local and regional richness depended on successional stage and the type of richness considered, i.e. taxonomic or functional richness. Hardly any relationship was detectable between local taxonomic richness and regional taxonomic richness at any successional stage. In contrast, the relation between local functional and regional functional richness shows a unimodal pattern of change during succession, passing through the stages ‘independent’, ‘unsaturated rising’, ‘saturated rising’ and once again ‘independent’. Main conclusions The relationship between local and regional richness, whether taxonomic or functional, frequently displays independence of the two scales, particularly in early and late phases of the successional process.     

中华倒刺鲤幼鱼的快速启动与逃逸行为

在水温25.0℃条件下,采用高速摄像机记录电刺激后体长(6.9+0.1)cm 相近的23尾中华倒刺(鱼巴)幼鱼的快速启动过程并通过对鱼体质心运动的分析考查3个阶段的相关运动参数.结果显示:实验鱼均表现为"C型"快速启动模式,逃逸方向不确定,但不同逃逸方向的相关参数间无显著差异(P＞0.05);快速启动后鱼体质心的移动距离(d)和线速度(V)均显著递增(P＜0.05),其中线速度在第2阶段末(36 ms)达到最大值,随后相对稳定,线加速度(a)在第2阶段末出现最大值(P＜0.05);而角速度(ω)初始启动即出现最大值,随后显著下降(P＜0.05),进入第3阶段后稳定在较低水平;第1阶段的线速度(V)与相对旋转半径(RTr)之间相关性不显著.研究结果表明:中华倒刺(鱼巴)幼鱼在快速启动过程中更倾向于采取提高运动速度的逃逸策略,这可能与其流线形体型和水流湍急的生境有关.     

入侵植物银胶菊对不同氮、磷水平的繁殖适应性

通过模拟野外生境,研究了入侵植物银胶菊（Parthenium hysterophorus L.）在不同氮、磷养分水平下的繁殖特征,探讨其对土壤养分增加的繁殖适应性及繁殖能力。结果表明：在一定范围内,随氮水平的增加,银胶菊分枝数、头状花序数、繁殖器官的生物量及其比例、结实率等显著增加;对于磷养分来说,仅株高和种子千粒重明显增加,其余参数未见明显增加。银胶菊主要通过提高种子产量适应氮养分丰富的生境,而通过提高种子质量才能适应磷养分丰富的生境。土壤氮、磷养分的增加,提高了其繁殖能力,使其具有根据环境养分调节繁殖特性的能力,实现对不同养分资源生境的入侵。