Leaf photoacclimatory responses of the tropical seagrass Thalassia testudinum under mesocosm conditions: a mechanistic scaling-up study

Here, the leaf photoacclimatory plasticity and efficiency of the tropical seagrass Thalassia testudinum were examined. Mesocosms were used to compare the variability induced by three light conditions, two leaf sections and the variability observed at the collection site. The study revealed an efficient photosynthetic light use at low irradiances, but limited photoacclimatory plasticity to increase maximum photosynthetic rates (P(max)) and saturation (E(k)) and compensation (E(c)) irradiances under high light irradiance. A strong, positive and linear association between the percentage of daylight hours above saturation and the relative maximum photochemical efficiency (F(V)/F(M)) reduction observed between basal and apical leaf sections was also found. The results indicate that T. testudinum leaves have a shade-adapted physiology. However, the large amount of heterotrophic biomass that this seagrass maintains may considerably increase plant respiratory demands and their minimum quantum requirements for growth (MQR). Although the MQR still needs to be quantified, it is hypothesized that the ecological success of this climax species in the oligotrophic and highly illuminated waters of the Caribbean may rely on the ability of the canopy to regulate the optimal leaf light environment and the morphological plasticity of the whole plant to enhance total leaf area and to reduce carbon respiratory losses.     

Shape variation in protein binding pockets and their ligands

A common assumption about the shape of protein binding pockets is that they are related to the shape of the small ligand molecules that can bind there. But to what extent is that assumption true? Here we use a recently developed shape matching method to compare the shapes of protein binding pockets to the shapes of their ligands. We find that pockets binding the same ligand show greater variation in their shapes than can be accounted for by the conformational variability of the ligand. This suggests that geometrical complementarity in general is not sufficient to drive molecular recognition. Nevertheless, we show when considering only shape and size that a significant proportion of the recognition power of a binding pocket for its ligand resides in its shape. Additionally, we observe a "buffer zone" or a region of free space between the ligand and protein, which results in binding pockets being on average three times larger than the ligand that they bind.     

Zigzagging: theoretical insights on climbing strategies

Human and animal trails on steep hillsides often exhibit dramatic switchbacks and shortcuts. Helbing et al. have recently examined the emergence of human trail systems on flat terrains while Minetti and Margaria established the effect of gradients on human metabolic efficiency. In this paper we use these ideas to develop a semi-quantitative theoretical model of the behaviour of humans moving on a terrain with relief. The model determines the direction of movement by minimising metabolic cost per unit of distance in a desired direction. The structure of the theory resembles the Landau Theory of Phase Transitions, much used in theoretical physics. We find that both hairpin bends (switchbacks) and shortcuts appear as efficient strategies for downhill walkers, while uphill walkers retain switchbacks. For weakly inclined slopes, the best strategy involves walking directly uphill or downhill. For sufficiently steep slopes, however, we find that the best strategy should undergo a transition to a broken symmetry solution corresponding to the switchback trail patterns typical of rugged environments. The critical slope at which this transition takes place should be less steep for uphill and downhill walkers. The theory should be amenable to empirical investigation. Amongst other applications, this model will enable us to generalize the work of previous authors to real landscapes, eventually permitting the reconstruction of ancient patterns of movement in archaeological landscapes.     

The interrelationship between productivity,plant species richness and livestock diet: a question of scale?

Question: What relationship exists between productivity, plant species richness and livestock diet? Are the results dependent on scale? Location: A sheep‐grazed Koelerio‐Corynephoretea sandy habitat of the northern upper Rhine (Germany) as a low productivity model system. Methods: The investigation was carried out for three years at a fine scale (2 m²) and for two years at a broad scale (79 m²). Productivity was measured by means of weighed above‐ground phytomass for fine scale and colour‐infrared (CIR) aerial photographs of the same system for fine and broad scales. For both scales, total numbers of vascular plant species and numbers of endangered vascular plant species were extracted from current vegetation relevés. Additionally, we obtained data on livestock diet (grazed phytomass, crude protein content). Results: Statistical analyses show an influence of the year on all variables; relationships between variables are not significant in every year. Species richness and number of endangered species are negatively related to productivity at fine scale while crude protein content and grazed phytomass are positively related to productivity. At the broad scale the diversity‐productivity relationship shows a ‘hump’ with highest species numbers in middle pioneer stages; numbers of endangered species are highest in all pioneer stages. Conclusions: We found a strong impact of scale and year on the diversity‐productivity relationship. It is inappropriate to analyse only small plots (2 m²), and it is necessary to study different years. This vegetation complex is dependent on grazing impact; thus there is an inversely proportional relationship between nature conservation value (high diversity) and livestock nutrition.     

海洋生物多样性损害与沿海地区经济增长关系实证研究

海洋生物多样性是海洋生态系统服务的基础,保护海洋生物多样性不仅对维持地球生态系统的功能至关重要,也与人类福祉密切相关。基于沿海11个省区生态系统亚健康程度指标和物种多样性损害指标,运用面板回归模型对中国沿海地区经济增长与海洋生物多样性损害的关系进行实证考察。研究结果表明：(1)海洋生态系统亚健康程度与沿海地区经济增长之间存在显著的线性关系,随着经济增长,典型海洋生态系统亚健康状态占比呈现出持续上升趋势。此外,实施排污费制度和建立海洋自然保护区有利于抑制海洋生态系统的恶化。(2)海洋物种多样性损害与沿海地区经济增长之间存在显著“倒U”型关系,随着经济增长,海洋物种多样性损害呈现先上升后下降的态势,转折点为人均GDP 45145元,目前海南省、广西壮族自治区、河北省未跨过转折点。此外,排污费制度有利于抑制海洋物种多样性损害,而沿海地区目前的产业结构加重了海洋物种多样性损害。根据实证分析结果,海洋生态系统健康尚未出现拐点,沿海地区经济增长如果建立在对生态环境破坏的基础上,则势必会造成生物多样性的损害。因此从规范海域利用方式,完善海岸生态保护红线划定,加强生态系统的监测与管理,保持绿色可持续的...     

屋面绿化卷材根系层土壤温度变化特征

根据3种厚度屋面绿化卷材根系层土壤温度、自然条件下的土壤温度和附近气象站大气温度观测资料,采用对比分析、线性回归等方法,对不同屋面绿化卷材根系层土壤温度的变化特征进行了研究。结果表明:屋面绿化卷材根系层土壤温度年变化规律与大气温度年变化规律基本一致;卷材具有一定的隔热保温作用,且随着薄膜厚度的增加,绿化卷材保温隔热效果越明显;不同型号卷材根系层土壤温度的日变幅随薄膜厚度的增加而减小;根系层土温日变幅与厚度关系可拟合成指数函数;不同厚度屋面卷材根系层土壤温度同大气温度之间均存在极显著的线性关系。     

遮荫对‘保佳红’桃树叶片快速叶绿素荧光诱导动力学曲线的影响

以3年生桃品种‘保佳红’为试材,于不同生育时期采用人工遮阴的方法,在叶片生长的不同时期分别设置100%(CK)、80%、60%、40%和20% 自然光照的5个光照强度处理,利用快速叶绿素荧光诱导动力学曲线分析技术,研究了不同光强对桃树叶片快速叶绿素荧光诱导动力学曲线及其参数的影响。结果表明：（1）桃树各生长时期的叶片最大荧光值均随着光照强度的减弱而依次升高。（2）在PSⅡ能量分配比率方面,遮阴下的叶片提高了用于电子传递的量子比率(φ_Eo),降低了用于热耗散的的量子比率(φ_Do)。（3）在PSⅡ反应中心活性方面,遮阴使得单位反应中心吸收的光能(ABS/RC)、捕获的光能(TRo/RC)、用于传递电子的能量(ETo/RC)和用于热耗散的能量(DIo/RC)均下降。（4）各时期不同光强处理的最大光化学效率F_v/F_m均在中午时段出现下降,且光照强度越大,降幅越大,说明桃叶在中午会出现强光抑制。研究认为：在遮阴条件下,桃叶天线色素吸收和捕获的光能减少,PSⅡ反应中心活性降低,但其可以通过增加能量在电子传递方面的分配比率来提高对光能的利用。     

采伐对红松种群结构与动态的影响

红松是我国长白山阔叶红松林的主要建群种,受森林采伐的影响,种群数量急剧下降,现已被列为国家二级保护植物。通过绘制种群静态生命表、生存函数、存活曲线和径级分布图,研究原始林,15%择伐、40%择伐和皆伐后恢复的天然次生林内,红松种群结构和动态的变化规律。结果表明:(1)采伐干扰对红松种群的波动周期影响不大,15%的择伐强度可以提高红松种群的生存期望。(2)原始林和15%择伐林内红松种群存活曲线均为DeeveyⅡ型,种群处于稳定期;40%择伐林内存活曲线介于DeeveyⅡ型和DeeveyⅢ型之间,种群由稳定期向成熟期过渡;皆伐林内存活曲线为DeeveyⅠ型,种群处在增长期。(3)原始阔叶红松林林、15%择伐林和40%择伐林内,红松种群径级结构均呈稳定的倒J型,且在幼树阶段均存在生长更新的停滞现象;与原始林相比,15%择伐林内幼树比例略有下降;40%择伐林和皆伐迹地,随采伐强度的增加,幼树比例明显增大。(4)方差分析表明,4个种群的生存过程差异较大,采伐干扰对红松种群生存过程的影响达到显著水平。