Modeling fish dynamics and effects of stress in a hydrologically pulsed ecosystem

Many wetlands undergo seasonal cycles in precipitation and water depth.This environmental seasonality is echoed in patterns of production of fishbiomass, which, in turn, influence the phenology of other components of thefood web, including wading birds. Human activities, such as drainage orother alterations of the hydrology, can exacerbate these natural cycles andresult in detrimental stresses on fish production and the higher trophic levels dependent on this production. In this paper we model theseasonal pattern of fish production in a freshwater marsh, with specialreference to the Everglades/Big Cypress region of southern Florida.The model illustrates the temporal pattern of production through theyear, which can result in very high densities of fish at the end of ahydroperiod (period of flooding), aswell as the importance of ponds and other deep depressions, both as refugia and sinks during dry periods. The model predicts that: (1) there is an effective threshold in the length of the hydroperiod that must beexceeded for high fish-population densities to be produced, (2) large,piscivorous fishes do not appear tohave a major impact on smaller fishes in the marsh habitat, and (3) therecovery of small-fish populations in the marsh following a major droughtmay require up to a year. The last of these results is relevant toassessing anthropogenic impacts on marsh production, as these effectsmay increase the severity and frequency of droughts.     

Quantitative characterization of protoplasts and vacuoles from suspension-cultured cells of Catharanthus roseus

A simple and efficient procedure for isolation of protoplasts and then vacuoles from cultured cells of Catharanthus roseus (L.) G. Don is presented. Protoplasts were disrupted by an osmotic shock and the vacuoles vere purified by flotation on a single-step gradient. A comparison of the content and concentration of solutes (proteins, sugars, organic acids, alkaloids, mineral ions) in protoplasts and cells showed that massive and selective losses occur for most solutes during protoplast preparation. These are attributed to the osmotic adjustment and changes of membrane permeabilities occurring during plasmolysis. Data concerning the size, yield and purity of the isolated vacuoles are discussed. By analysis of isolated vacuoles, the vacuolar concentration and localization of solutes within protoplasts have been determined. The limits of this latter approach are stressed, however. Some evidence in favour of the selection of a special class of vacuoles during isolation is reported and discussed.     

Fate of sheep urine-N applied to an upland grass sward

Summary Sheep urine was applied once in August to 1 m² plots of a N-deficientLolium perenne-dominated sward at a rate equivalent to a single urination (48 g N m^–2) at an upland site. After 17 days herbage dry matter (DM) and total N were increased 19- and 63-fold respectively compared with a control receiving water only. Soil mineral N (NH ₄ ⁺ and NO ₃ ^– ) levels in the top 20 cm were greater in urine plots until 30 days after urine application when cumulative yields of herbage DM and N were 10 and 21 times greater than those of the control. Maximum recovery of urine N by herbage was only 16% of that applied, and, although swards responded rapidly to urination there were substantial losses of N, perhaps via leaching and/or volatilisation, from the soil-plant system.     

Anemia associated with changes in iron and iron-59 utilization in copper deficient rats fed high levels of dietary ascorbic acid and iron

The influence of dietary copper, iron, and ascorbic acid on iron utilization was examined in a 2×2×2 factorial experiment. Male Sprague-Dawley weanling rats were fed copper-deficient (Cu-, 0.42 μg Cu/g) or copper-adequate (Cu+, 5.74 μg Cu/g) diets that contained one of two levels of iron (38 or 191μg Fe/g) and ascorbic acid (0 or 1% of the diet). These eight diets were fed for 20 d, and rats received an oral dose of 4 μCi iron-59 on d 15. Compared to Cu+ rats, the Cu− rats had 27% lower hemoglobin levels with 45, 59, and 65% lower cytochrome c oxidase (CCO) activities in the liver, heart, and bone marrow, respectively (p<0.0001). High dietary iron or ascorbic acid did not alter hemoglobin in Cu+ rats. However, hemoglobin was 23% lower in Cu− rats fed the highest, rather than the lowest levels of iron and ascorbic acid. Liver CCO was decreased (p<0.02) in Cu− rats fed high iron. Among Cu− rats, ascorbic acid did not influence CCO but decreased hemoglobin by 17% (p<0.001), reduced the percentage of absorbed iron-59 in the erythrocytes by 91% (p<0.05) and depressed the percentage apparent absorption of iron (p<0.05). These results suggest that the effects of elevated dietary iron and ascorbic acid on iron utilization are influenced by copper status.     

Growth and yield traits of sorghum grown on acid soil at varied aluminum saturations

Genetic manipulation of crops to tolerate mineral stresses is a practical approach to improve productivity of tropical acid soils. Both acid soil tolerant (AS-T) and susceptible (AS-S) sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] genotypes were grown in the field on an acid ultisol at Quilichao, Colombia, South America at 60% (60-Al) and 40% (40-Al) Al saturation to evaluate plants for growth and yield traits. Except for days to flowering and root mass scores, AS-T genotypes showed no differences in growth (plant height, head length and width, second internode length and diameter, and acid soil toxicity rating) and yield (total and stover dry matter yields, grain yield, head yield, seeds per head, and 100-seed weight) traits when plants were grown at 60-Al or 40-Al. Plants grown at 60-Al were delayed in flowering and had lower root mass scores. The AS-S genotypes showed improvement for the growth and yield traits when grown at 40-Al compared to 60-Al. The growth and yield traits of the AS-S genotypes were usually less favorable for plants grown at 40-Al than the same traits were for the AS-T genotypes grown at 60-Al. Harvest indices (ratio of grain to total plant yield) were no different for the genotypes grown at 40-Al, and only slightly higher for the AS-T genotypes grown at 60-Al. Sorghum genotypes more tolerant to acid soil conditions showed favorable growth and yield traits when grown under relatively severe acid soil (60-Al, pH 4.1) conditions. Certain sorghum genotypes were able to adapt and effectively produce grain when grown on acid soils with few inputs to reduce acid soil toxicity problems. Published as Paper No. 6690, Journal Series, Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station. Funding received in part from the International Sorghum/Millet Collaborative Research Support Program (INTSORMIL CRSP) through US Agency for International Development (USAID) grant AID/DAN-1254-G-SS-5065-00 and project Nos. MS-111 (MSU) and NE-114 (UNL).     

A comparison of mineral uptake and translocation by above-ground and below-ground root systems ofSalix syringiana

Nutrient uptake and translocation by above-ground adventitious roots and below-ground roots of woodySalix syringiana saplings were studied with gamma spectrometry. Each of four radionuclides (⁷⁵Se,¹³⁸Cs,⁵⁴Mn, and⁶⁵Zn) administered to adventitious and belowground roots were detected in stems and leaves within one month. Nuclides tended to be immobilized in the leaves and branches closest to the adventitious roots that absorbed them, while nuclides absorbed from below-ground sources were distributed more evenly throughout the plant. The capacity of adventitious roots to acquire nutrients from above-ground sources suggests they function as a potential auxiliary pathway of nutrient uptake and might enhance plant nutrient status where below-ground root uptake it hindered by adverse soil conditions.     

不同干预疗法对去卵巢骨质疏松大鼠肱骨骨矿物质含量影响

目的:对比观察不同干预疗法对去卵巢骨质疏松大鼠肱骨骨矿物质含量的影响。方法:按体重将80只成年雌性SD大鼠分层后随机分为假手术组和去卵巢组。手术11周时,将去卵巢组大鼠按体重分层后又随机分为去卵巢组、跑台运动组、振动组、金雀异黄酮组、氯化锂组和雌激素组。跑台运动组每周进行4次45 min、速度18 m/min、跑道倾角5°的跑台训练;振动组每天进行2次15 min、频率90 HZ/min、7次/周的振动治疗;金雀异黄酮组每天按体重灌胃1次金雀异黄酮,剂量为1 mg/kg体重;氯化锂组每周按体重腹腔注射氯化锂3次,剂量为15 mg/kg;雌激素组每周按体重颈部皮下注射3次17β-雌二醇,剂量为25μg/kg。持续处理8周时,于末次处理结束36-48小时内,按解剖位置截取双肱骨,称量肱骨湿重、去脂肪干重以及煅烧后的灰重。结果:与假手术组比较,去卵巢组肱骨湿重/体重、去脂肪干重/体重和灰重/体重均显著下降;与去卵巢组比较,跑台运动组、振动组、金雀异黄酮组和雌激素组肱骨湿重/体重、去脂肪干重/体重、灰重/体重均显著增加,而氯化锂组虽有所升高,但差异无显著性。结论:除氯化锂处理外,其他几种处理均能减缓去卵巢骨质疏松大鼠肱骨骨量的丢失,对防治去卵巢骨质疏松大鼠的骨质疏松有一定的作用。     

Tree rooting patterns and soil water relations of healthy and damaged stands of mature oak (Quercus robur L. and Quercus petraea [Matt.] Liebl.)

At three sites in northwestern Germany, which represent the centres of the present oak damage, root distribution and biomass beneath healthy and damaged trees of mature pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.; Neuenburg site) and sessile oak (Q. petraea [Matt.] Liebl.; Lappwald and Sprakensehl sites) were investigated, and soil texture, bulk density, duration of waterlogging periods and the water available in the mineral soil were determined. For Neuenburg and Sprakensehl, the available soil water was related to leaf water parameters determined in a separate investigation. At the clayey and hydromorphic sites of Neuenburg and Lappwald, the measurements were performed in each one healthy and one damaged part of the site, which differed in the number of oaks with crown damage. In the damaged stand of Neuenburg, the clay content of the subsoil was higher than in the healthy stand, and the soil water availability was reduced especially in dry periods. Compared to healthy oaks of the healthy stand, the density of finest plus fine roots as well as the biomasses of finest roots were lower beneath damaged oaks of the damaged stand. With decreasing relative available soil water (actually available water in relation to water available at the saturation state), the relative leaf water content decreased in damaged, but not in healthy oaks. At Lappwald, similar differences in soil water availability between the healthy and the damaged stand were found, but had no effect on the distribution or biomass of the roots. At the sandy site (Sprakensehl), the available soil water decreased drastically during a dry period, and predawn leaf water potentials of both healthy and damaged oaks declined with decreasing relative available soil water. However, the damaged oaks were not inferior to the healthy ones with respect to root density and biomass. It is concluded that, in the damaged stand of Neuenburg, the high clay content of the subsoil, which results in prolonged periods of waterlogging, in sharp changes from waterlogging to drought and decreased water availability in dry periods, is the reason for the reduced biomass and density of roots of the pedunculate oak. Thus, in northwestern Germany, unfavourable soil water relations are considered as a factor contributing to crown damage of pedunculate oak at hydromorphic sites, but not to damage of sessile oak.     

Growth,mineral nutrition and mycorrhizal colonization of red clover and cucumber plants grown in a soil amended with composted urban wastes

The utility of an urban solid waste, either freshly composted or vermicomposted, for improvement of plant growth in a soil B horizon was investigated. Growth, mineral nutrition and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) colonization of cucumber and red clover plants were studied in an experiment carried out under controlled growing conditions, using different mixtures of soil and composts as plant substrates. Soil inoculation with the AM fungus Acaulospora sp. did not benefit growth of plants when soil was used as the only substrate, possibly due to its poor fertility. Results showed that neither mycorrhizal plant species grew when soil was mixed with composted urban waste or when compost was used as the only substrate. However, amendment of soil with 10 or 50% vermicompost significantly increased dry matter yields of red clover and cucumber plants, compared to treatments where soil was the only substrate. Addition of vermicompost also increased Olsen-P and other mineral elements in soil and shoot P, Ca, Mg, Cu, Mn and Zn concentrations, but caused a significant reduction on root length colonized by AM fungi in red clover plants. It is concluded that application of high amounts of vermicompost from composted urban wastes to soils might cause a significant reduction of activity of AM fungi, which must be taken into account when using these organic amendments in agricultural systems.