科尔沁沙地优势固沙灌木叶片氮磷化学计量内稳性

为科学认识科尔沁沙地优势固沙灌木的生态适应性和固沙植被演变规律, 该研究对科尔沁沙地流动沙丘、半固定沙丘、固定沙丘和丘间低地的优势固沙灌木小叶锦鸡儿(Caragana microphylla)和盐蒿(Artemisia halodendron)进行野外调查, 研究了这两种固沙灌木的叶片氮(N)、磷(P)化学计量特征、灌丛土壤养分状况以及内稳性特征。结果表明: 1)与盐蒿相比, 灌木小叶锦鸡儿具有较高的叶片N含量及N:P, 而P含量仅为盐蒿的1/2; 2)两种优势固沙灌木灌丛下土壤的全N、全P含量及速效N、速效P含量高于该地区土壤的平均水平, 小叶锦鸡儿灌丛下土壤养分含量显著高于盐蒿灌丛下土壤; 3)盐蒿叶片N、P化学计量内稳性指数(H)表现为H_P > H_N:P > H_N, 说明盐蒿更易受土壤N的限制; 小叶锦鸡儿叶片N、P化学计量内稳性指数表现为H_N:P > H_N > H_P, 意味着小叶锦鸡儿更易受土壤P的限制。在N含量较低的沙化草地, H_N较高的固沙灌木小叶锦鸡儿比盐蒿更具生长优势, 对于该地区生态恢复及保护具有不可替代的作用。然而, 小叶锦鸡儿额外吸收的N, 使其生长过程可能易受P的限制, 因此在沙地恢复过程中应注意土壤P的供应。     

神农架常绿落叶阔叶混交林凋落物养分特征

凋落物是联结陆地生态系统植物与土壤养分的重要媒介,了解凋落物养分特征有助于理解陆地生态系统物质循环的机理。该研究于2015年收集了神农架地区常绿落叶阔叶混交林的新鲜凋落物及现存凋落物,测定其不同器官中大量元素(C、N、P、K、Ca、Mg)的含量,据此分析其养分含量、养分归还量、养分储量及化学计量比的特征。结果发现:该常绿落叶阔叶混交林新鲜凋落物的C、K养分含量显著高于现存凋落物,N、P、Ca、Mg养分含量显著低于现存凋落物;其凋落物大量元素的养分归还量及养分储量大小顺序均为C Ca N Mg K P,分别为1569.84、52.44、34.82、6.24、5.24、1.30 kg hm~(-2) a~(-1)及1835.29、87.87、51.17、12.12、3.90、1.95 kg hm~(-2) a~(-1);其新鲜凋落物及现存凋落物的C∶N∶P分别为1307.33∶27.73∶1及976.48∶26.77∶1,新鲜凋落物的C∶N、C∶P显著高于现存凋落物,N∶P无显著区别。研究表明,新鲜凋落物与现存凋落物养分含量之间的差异与不同元素在分解过程中的可淋溶性及生物固持等因素有关。该地区常绿落叶阔叶混交林凋落物养分归还量及养分储量相对于亚热带阔叶林平均水平较低;且显著低于喀斯特地区同类型森林,主要与其凋落物产量、降水量及植被类型有关。该森林生态系统新鲜凋落叶与中国及全球范围内阔叶树种凋落叶相比C∶N较低,C∶P、N∶P较高,这可能是由于该地区N沉降及P限制现象较为严重所致。     

亚热带苔藓结皮对土壤-微生物-胞外酶化学计量特征的影响

生物结皮的形成和发育显著影响土壤碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)循环及其化学计量特征,土壤微生物如何适应环境资源的化学计量变化仍不明确。本研究以三峡库区苔藓结皮为对象,分析结皮盖度(0、1%～20%、20%～40%、40%～60%、60%～80%和80%～100%)对土壤理化性质(0～5和5～10 cm土层)、微生物生物量和胞外酶活性[(β-1,4-葡萄糖苷酶(BG)、β-1,4-N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖苷酶(NAG)、酸性磷酸酶(AP)]的影响,探索土壤-微生物-胞外酶C∶N∶P化学计量特征间的协变性。结果表明: 生物结皮发育显著提高了土壤黏粒、水稳性团聚体和土壤C、N、P含量,显著降低了土壤容重和砂粒含量;微生物生物量C、N、P和胞外酶活性均随结皮盖度的增大而显著增加;土层深度对土壤理化性质及C∶N∶P均无显著影响,但显著影响微生物生物量、胞外酶活性及BG∶AP和NAG∶AP。相关分析显示,土壤C、N、P含量与微生物生物量和胞外酶活性呈显著正相关,与BG∶NAG呈显著负相关,与NAG∶AP呈显著正相关,但与微生物生物量C∶N∶P无显著相关性;土壤-微生物、微生物-胞外酶C∶N∶P相关性均不显著,BG∶NAG∶AP随着微生物与土壤间C∶N∶P化学计量不平衡性的增加而逐渐降低。表明微生物养分代谢同时受N和P的限制,且P的限制较强烈,微生物可以通过调整自身生物量以及胞外酶C∶N∶P适应生物结皮发育驱动的土壤化学计量变化,从而维持内稳态。     

Transient self-inhibition of the growth of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus in a pH-regulated fermentor

An industrial strain of Lactobacillus delbrueckii subsp. bulgaricus was grown in a synthetic medium on lactose as carbon substrate, in a pH-regulated fermentor. Growth proceeded in two distinct phases separated by a transient stationary phase. Various experimental approaches were used to identify the cause of this growth arrest. Growth experiments in L. bulgaricus culture supernatant fluids collected at different cultivation times in fermentor, and supplemented or not with various nutritional solutions, enabled us to discard the possibility of a nutritional limitation. Tube cultures of L. bulgaricus in medium supplemented with various lactic acid concentrations showed a potential inhibition by this metabolic end product but confirmed that this inhibition was not responsible for the cessation of growth. It was concluded that at least one inhibitory compound was produced during the growth phase of the strain, and this compound disappeared from the medium in the transient stationary phase, enabling the growth to start again later in the culture. Indeed, the stoichiometric analysis of the culture showed, firstly, that unidentified carbon compounds were produced from lactose during growth, which were probably converted in lactic acid during the transient stationary phase and, secondly, that part of the amino acids consumed gave catabolic end products. Finally, bacteriocin-like compounds were not considered to be responsible for this growth arrest.     

The importin-beta binding domain of snurportin1 is responsible for the Ran- and energy-independent nuclear import of spliceosomal U snRNPs in vitro

The nuclear localization signal (NLS) of spliceosomal U snRNPs is composed of the U snRNA's 2,2,7-trimethyl-guanosine (m3G)-cap and the Sm core domain. The m3G-cap is specifically bound by snurportin1, which contains an NH2-terminal importin-beta binding (IBB) domain and a COOH-terminal m3G-cap--binding region that bears no structural similarity to known import adaptors like importin-alpha (impalpha). Here, we show that recombinant snurportin1 and importin-beta (impbeta) are not only necessary, but also sufficient for U1 snRNP transport to the nuclei of digitonin-permeabilized HeLa cells. In contrast to impalpha-dependent import, single rounds of U1 snRNP import, mediated by the nuclear import receptor complex snurportin1-impbeta, did not require Ran and energy. The same Ran- and energy-independent import was even observed for U5 snRNP, which has a molecular weight of more than one million. Interestingly, in the presence of impbeta and a snurportin1 mutant containing an impalpha IBB domain (IBBimpalpha), nuclear U1 snRNP import was Ran dependent. Furthermore, beta-galactosidase (betaGal) containing a snurportin1 IBB domain, but not IBBimpalpha-betaGal, was imported into the nucleus in a Ran-independent manner. Our results suggest that the nature of the IBB domain modulates the strength and/or site of interaction of impbeta with nucleoporins of the nuclear pore complex, and thus whether or not Ran is required to dissociate these interactions.     

The role of water chemistry in the distribution of Austropotamobius pallipes (Crustacea Decapoda Astacidae) in Piedmont (Italy)

Over the last decades, the populations of Austropotamobius pallipes have decreased markedly all over Europe. If we evaluate the ecological factors that determine its presence, we will have information that could guide conservation decisions. This study aims to investigate the chemical-physical demands of A. pallipes in NW Italy. To this end, we investigated 98 sites. We performed Principal Component Analysis using chemical-physical parameters, collected in both presence and absence sites. We then used principal components with eigenvalue > 1 to run Discriminant Function Analysis and Logistic Regression. The statistics on the concentration of Ca²⁺, water hardness, pH and BOD₅ were significantly different in the presence and in the absence sites. pH and BOD₅ played the most important role in separating the presence from the absence locations. These findings are further evidence that we should reduce dissolved organic matter and fine particles in order to contribute to species management and conservation.     

Colonization of freshwater habitats by an introduced crayfish, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Procambarus clarkii</Emphasis>, in Southwest Iberian Peninsula

The introduction of some crustacean species has produced alterations of freshwater environments and declines of native species worldwide. The red swamp crayfish, Procambarus clarkii Girard, was introduced in the Southwest Iberian Peninsula in the 1970’s, producing severe impacts on rice agriculture and on native biota such as macrophytes, gastropods, native crayfish and amphibians. We studied the distribution of P. clarkii in two areas of SW Iberian Peninsula: the Sado River basin (SW Portugal), an area colonized by this species around 1990, and the Parque Natural del Entorno de Doñana (SW Spain), colonized soon after its introduction in the Iberian Peninsula, in the 1970’s. Our main goal was to determine which factors limit crayfish distribution, which could help to identify the most effective management practices to contain its spread. Procambarus clarkii was found in most types of water bodies, including small and shallow ones. Distance to a crayfish source was the single predictor variable explaining crayfish occurrence in most types of habitats and in both areas. The only exception was for the Sado permanent stream points, where crayfish presence was negatively affected by an interaction between elevation and flow velocity. Other habitat characteristics have apparently little or no importance for its successful colonization. Moreover, this study indicated that overland dispersal is apparently a frequent phenomenon in this species. Our findings can be used to determine which habitats are most likely to be colonized by the crayfish and to develop practical measures which may limit its spread and minimize its impacts.     

Spatial and temporal habitat use patterns for salt marsh nekton: implications for ecological functions

We synthesized information on temporal and spatial patterns of salt marsh habitat use by nekton in order to infer the importance of five main types of marsh function: reproduction, foraging, refuge from predation, refuge from stressful environmental conditions and environmental enhancement of physiology. We then extended the concept that intertidal gradients regulate habitat use patterns of nekton to a more universal concept that applies to all salt marsh habitats. We contend that all marsh habitats are linked to each other and to adjacent estuarine habitats along a depth gradient that mediates gradients in abiotic and biotic conditions. Tidal, diel and seasonal shifts in the magnitude and direction of these gradients result in gradients in tidal, diel and seasonal variation in biotic and abiotic conditions within the salt marsh. Collectively these gradients form the `marsh gradient'. We propose that patterns of marsh use and ecological function for nekton result primarily from physiological and behavioral responses to this marsh gradient. A comparison of habitat use patterns in the context of the marsh gradient is an important – and underutilized – method to study marsh function and essential fish habitat. We note that our limited insight into the function of the marsh habitat results from a significant lack of information on the occurrence and causes of tidal, diel and ontogenetic marsh use patterns by nekton; this is particularly relevant with respect to data on the variation in environmental conditions along marsh gradients over tidal, diel and seasonal cycles and on how environmental variation on these scales influences nekton behavior, growth and survival.     

模拟地表火行为对燃烧剩余物水溶性碳氮的影响

燃烧剩余物是火烧迹地土壤表面必然存在的残留物,可以通过降水过程以及地表径流释放其所含有的矿物质和有机质至土壤生态系统,从而在一定时间内持续地对火后生态系统恢复过程造成影响。但不同火行为下,相同的可燃物所产生的燃烧剩余物可能具有不同的生态学功能,为了认知火行为对燃烧剩余物的影响,进一步了解二者对火烧迹地生态恢复过程中养分循环和能量流动的潜在影响,探究了火行为对燃烧剩余物水溶性碳氮化学计量特征的影响。以红松人工林地表可燃物为实验材料,通过设置不同坡度和含水率为火行为的驱动因子,进行了森林可燃物床层地表上坡火和下坡火的室内模拟燃烧实验。用独立样本T检验、单因素方差分析、多因素方差分析探究了火环境对燃烧剩余物水溶性碳氮和火行为的影响,用基于距离的冗余分析(db-RDA)探究了火行为对燃烧剩余物水溶性碳氮化学计量特征的影响。上坡火实验组的燃烧剩余物水溶性碳氮含量明显高于下坡火实验组(P<0.01);5°实验组中,燃烧剩余物的水溶性碳含量随着可燃物预设含水率的升高而升高(P<0.05)。进一步的数据分析发现火行为与燃烧剩余物水溶性碳氮化学计量特征关系密切,火焰宽度是影响燃烧剩余物水溶性...     

武夷山五种竹子叶、枝、秆碳氮磷化学计量对生长阶段和海拔的响应

探究竹子化学计量特征对生长阶段和海拔的响应对于了解其生理生态特征及生长适应策略至关重要。对武夷山沿海拔分布的五种典型竹子叶、枝、秆的碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)含量及化学计量内稳态指数(H)进行两个生长阶段的测定。结果显示不论生长阶段的变化,各器官N、P含量的变异系数均显著大于C含量,且秆的N、P含量变异系数要显著大于叶片和竹枝,但不同生长阶段并未改变秆的N∶P (12∶1)。毛竹4月份枝和8月份叶的N、P含量均随海拔增加而降低,而箬竹叶的N、P含量均随海拔增加而增加。海拔和生长阶段的交互作用显著提高了竹秆N含量对生长阶段变化的响应。竹叶N和秆的N、P含量在不同生长阶段具有明显的内稳性调控机制,但竹枝N、P的内稳性特征表现不明显。总而言之,这些结果一方面反映了武夷山五种竹子偏向于选择维持叶N含量的内稳态机制,另一方面调节秆N、P含量的协变来应对海拔和生长阶段变化中养分的利用策略。