Spatial variation in vegetation and abiotic factors related to the occurrence of a ring‐forming sedge

Abstract. The clonal sedge Carex humilis forms rings of densely aggregated ramets in a dry grassland community in Central Europe. We describe the small‐scale spatial variation, both in abiotic factors and vegetation, in relation to these rings. Compared to the surrounding vegetation the cover of plants, other than C. humilis, was significantly lower both in the central area of rings and within the rings themselves. The vegetation structure was also different. The soil was more fertile in the central area and within the ring than in the surroundings, measured both directly and by the abiotic response values of the vascular plants. We conclude that neither resource depletion nor competition from other plants were likely to be responsible for the low ramet density in the central area of C. humilis rings. Instead, we suggest that the ring form is caused either by the deposition of growth inhibiting substances or by intrinsic morphological rules.     

Function of Head-Cocking in Garnett's Greater Bush Baby (Otolemur garnettii)

Head-cocking is rotation of the head about the rostrocaudal axis with a fixed direction of orientation. The behavior is a response to either visual or auditory stimuli according to species. Although head-cocking is prevalent in small primates, its functional significance is unclear. We studied head-cocking in response to a variety of novel visual and acoustic stimuli in Garnett's greater bush babies (Otolemur garnettii). We systematically varied stimulus type (animate vs. inanimate image) and mode of presentation (NON-VIDEO vs. VIDEO) to assess their effects on the head-cocking response. A higher incidence of head-cocking occurred with novel animal images and for NON-VIDEO presentations. Acoustic stimuli suppressed rather than facilitated head-cocking. Juveniles head-cocked much more than adults did. Clearly head-cocking in Otolemur garnettii is primarily involved in visual rather than auditory function. It does not serve simple sensory/perceptual functions such as depth perception or acuity. Instead, in consideration of the importance of novelty to the elicitation of the behavior, the higher incidence in younger animals, and the structure of the visual system, we propose that head-cocking is a motor strategy to encode the parameters of novel images in the process of form learning.     

Decline of the Migratory Form in Bull Charr, Salvelinus Confluentus, and Implications for Conservation

Large-bodied, migratory life history forms of bull charr, Salvelinus confluentus, were historically abundant in northwestern North America, but many remaining populations of this now-threatened species presently persist as small-bodied residents isolated in headwater streams. We examined whether the migratory form has been lost from headwater populations of bull charr and their potential for re-establishment. Upstream and downstream movement of bull charr and other salmonids from three tributary populations in the Bitterroot River drainage, Montana, was measured with weirs over a 17-month period. The migratory life history was rare or absent in two tributaries but still present at a low level in a third. In contrast, substantial numbers (n = 1745) of juvenile and adults of other salmonids (brown trout, Salmo trutta, cutthroat trout, Oncorhynchus clarki, and mountain whitefish, Prosopium williamsoni) were captured near tributary mouths, indicating a migratory life history was common in other species. Apparent decline of the migratory life history in bull charr was not directly related to damming suggesting other downstream mortality factors (predation, temperature) also are involved. Isolated, nonmigratory forms have increased risk of extinction, and restoration of the population connectivity via the re-establishment of migratory stocks is an important conservation goal for bull charr recovery. However, the factors governing migratory tendency remain unclear.     

缙云山常绿阔叶林不同演替阶段植物生活型谱比较研究

采用Raunkiner生活型分类系统,对缙云山常绿阔叶林不同演替阶段植物的生活型进行统计,编制了生活型谱,并与其他亚热带地区常绿阔叶林相比较。结果表明,缙云山植被属典型的中亚热带常绿阔叶林植被,高位芽植物占绝对优势,达80％以上,其中小高位芽植物最多,中高位芽与矮高位芽植物次之,藤本植物较丰富。缙云山不同演替阶段的植物的生活型谱不同。随着进展演替阶段的逐渐更替,高位芽植物的比例呈递增趋势,地面芽植物、地下芽植物成分有所减少。高位芽的常绿树种会逐渐代替针叶树种。     

模拟降雨条件下施肥方法对坡面磷素流失的影响

采用模拟降雨的方法研究了3种施肥方法对P素流失形态与流失过程的影响。结果表明,P肥在土壤中的混匀程度越高,则越容易导致生物有效P（BAP）的流失,混施条件下,径流中水溶态P（DP）与AP含量,DP／BAP与BAP／TP（总P）比值均较高;其次为穴施;实施条件下DP,BAP含量最低,DP／BAP与BAP／TP比值也相对较低,与对照间的差异不明显。施肥方法对径流中TP含量影响较小,从减少P素肥料流失的角度来讲,3种施肥方法作用大小顺序为：条施＞穴施＞混施。     

The influence of altitude on the distribution of subterranean organs and humus components in Vaccinium myrtillus carpets

Abstract. Humus profiles were sampled along an altitudinal gradient in the Macot‐La‐Plagne Forest (France, northern Alps) to investigate variation occurring under carpets of Vaccinium myrtillus present within Picea abies forests. The vertical distribution of subterranean organs of V. myrtillus was compared with (1) that of P. abies roots and other accompanying vegetation and (2) other components of humus profiles, in particular humified organic matter mainly consisting of animal faeces. It was shown that V. myrtillus roots were mostly concentrated in mineral horizons, while P. abies roots and V. myrtillus rhizomes occupied litter horizons. This was interpreted in terms of competition for nutrient capture between P. abies and V. myrtillus. The effects of altitude were (1) a change in the vegetation accompanying V. myrtillus in dense V. myrtillus carpets, bryophytes at the montane level being replaced by forbs at the sub‐alpine level and (2) a decrease in the thickness of ecto‐organic horizons. This was interpreted as a shift from a moder system characterized by recalcitrant litter (moss) processed by an active faunal community (stabilized in the form of animal faeces) to a mor system characterized by low animal abundance but with litter of better quality which is easily leached in the absence of prominent faunal activity.     

Effect of Vitamin E and Its Analogues Having Various Molecular Structures on the Growth and Lipid Composition of Pythium debaryanum

The effect of exogenously added vitamin E and its synthetic analogues (the hydrophilic form of vitamin E and chromans C₁₃and C₁) at a concentration of 9.86 × 10^–5M on the growth, lipogenic activity, and the fatty acid composition of the eicosapolyenoic acid–synthesizing oomycete Pythium debaryanumwas studied. The effect was found to depend on the molecular structure of particular compounds. For instance, vitamin E and chroman C₁₃stimulated fungal growth, whereas chroman C₁inhibited it. The hydrophilic form of vitamin E enhanced the lipogenic activity of the oomycete. The studied compounds, which possess antioxidant activity, did not exert any noticeable effect on the content of eicosapolyenoic acids and the degree of the unsaturation of fungal lipids.     

荷花“重瓣化”的花器官形态发育比较观察

荷花（Nelumbo nucifera）的花型可分5种,最原始为单瓣型,然后由单瓣演化出半重瓣、重瓣、重台和千瓣型。为了揭示荷花重瓣化的分子机理,有必要从花器官的形态发育特征探究荷花花型成因及“重瓣化”的形态发育特征。实验分别选取5种荷花花型的代表品种：‘单洒锦’（单瓣型）、‘大洒锦’（重瓣型）、‘中山红台’（重台型）、‘至尊千瓣’（全重瓣型）、‘千瓣莲’（千瓣型）为材料,进行花芽分化过程形态的石蜡切片比较观察。结果发现：花芽分化过程中5个品种的萼片原基分化期和花瓣原基分化期相似,而雄蕊和雌蕊原基发育存在明显差异：单瓣、重瓣和重台品种均有正常的雄蕊和雌蕊原基分化;全重瓣品种发育初期有雄蕊及雌蕊原基分化,但后期全部瓣化;‘千瓣莲’品种不形成雄蕊和雌蕊原基,而是直接形成2至多个“花瓣增殖中心”,并由此不断分化出细小花瓣。研究认为重瓣型荷花品种的“重瓣化”花瓣主要来源于雄蕊的向心式瓣化,其次是雌蕊瓣化,属于雌雄蕊起源。而对于‘千瓣莲’型品种,花瓣的具体来源方式、花托是否直接参与瓣化及其在重瓣化过程中的作用有待于结合分子生物学手段开展进一步研究。