Combining archive territory mapping data and aerial photography to investigate bird–habitat relationships: a case study from the Lincolnshire coast

Capsule Habitat associations of breeding birds in a complex coastal environment are clear, interpretable and mostly consistent between years.

Aims To match archive territory mapping data with historical aerial photographs and develop data handling and analytical techniques for the study of bird–habitat relationships.

Methods Bird registrations were digitized from archive British Trust for Ornithology Common Birds Census maps and habitat characteristics from contemporaneous aerial photographs. The resulting maps were overlaid and ranks of habitat preference for 15 species calculated using compositional analysis. Similarity analysis identified species with consistent habitat profiles across years. Cluster analysis identified groups of species with similar patterns of habitat use.

Results A total of 5400 registrations of 15 species in 14 habitats were analysed. Of these, 13 species showed stable patterns of habitat association across survey years. Clear differences and similarities in habitat preferences among the species were identified. The results may be used to inform conservation and management programmes in this and similar environments.

Conclusions Extensive archives of bird survey data can be used to study bird–habitat relationships and to measure the effects of natural and anthropogenic environmental change if contemporaneous aerial photographs can be sourced.     

Uptake Kinetics of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetate by Delftia acidovorans MC1 and Derivative Strains: Complex Characteristics in Response to pH and Growth Substrate

The present investigation showed that active processes were involved in the uptake of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetate (2,4-D) by Delftia acidovorans MC1. With 2,4-D-grown cells, uptake at pH 6.8 was highly affine and showed a complex pattern-forming intermediary plateau at 20–100 μM 2,4-D. The kinetics became increasingly sigmoidal with raising of the pH to 7.5 and 8.5, and complexity disappeared. The apparent maximum was obtained at around 400 μM 2,4-D at either pH, and amounted to 15–20 nmol/min*mg protein. Higher substrate concentrations resulted in significant inhibition. With cells grown on (RS)-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)propionate, 2,4-D uptake increased significantly and reached 45 nmol/min*mg, hinting at induction of a specific carrier(s). The kinetic characteristics made it apparent that several proteins contribute to 2,4-D uptake in MC1. An open reading frame was detected which has similarity to genes encoding major facilitator superfamily (MFS) transporters. Mutant strains that lacked this gene showed altered kinetics with decreased affinity to 2,4-D at pH 6.8. A mutant with complete deficiency in phenoxyalkanoate utilization showed an almost linear uptake pattern hinting at sole diffusion. Cloning of tfdK encoding a specific transporter for 2,4-D resulted in an increased uptake rate and, above all, higher affinity at slightly alkaline conditions due to hyperbolic kinetics. The presence of carbonylcyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone led to the subsequent strong inhibition of 2,4-D uptake, suggesting proton symport as the likely active mechanism.     

Antitumor Lipopolysaccharide from Heptoseless Mutant of Proteus mirabilis

Studies on lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from the cells of Proteus mirabilis RMS-203 were focused upon reduction of lethal toxicity and of pyrogenicity by biological and chemical modification. A heptoseless mutant, strain N-434, was isolated by the use of phage resistancy as a tool. LPS from that heptoseless mutant was completely deficient in neutral sugars and mainly composed of 2-keto-deoxy-octonic acid (KDO), glucosamine and fatty acids. It revealed almost the same antitumor activity as LPS of the wild type but it was less toxic and less pyrogenic.

Hydroxylaminolysis and reduction with LiAlH₄ resulted in removal of fatty acids from LPS accompanied with decrease in lethal toxicity and antitumor acitivity but not in pyrogenicity.

Lipid A fractions showed almost the same antitumor activity as intact LPS but less lethality and less pyrogenicity.     

水分对番茄不同叶龄叶片光合作用的影响

以番茄品种"金棚1号"为材料,采用盆栽方式,按照蒸腾蒸发量(ET)的50%、75%、100%和125%作为补充灌溉量研究了不同水分下番茄结果期叶片气体交换特性和光响应特征参数随叶龄的变化。结果表明:番茄叶片随着叶龄的增加,净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、蒸腾速率(Tr)逐渐降低,水分利用效率(WUE)呈先上升后下降趋势;叶龄为18 d和29 d的叶片最大净光合速率(Pmax)随灌溉量的增加均先增加后降低,分别在75%ET和100%ET处理达到最大值。叶龄为38 d和47 d的叶片Pmax均以125%ET处理最大。表观量子效率(α)随叶龄的增大也先升高后下降,在叶龄为38 d时最大;番茄叶片的光饱和点(LSP)随叶龄的加大而减小。不同水分处理下不同叶龄叶片的光响应特征参数为:叶片在叶龄为18 d时,Pmax为20.64—26.73μmol.m-.2s-1,α为0.0518—0.0556;叶龄为29 d时,Pmax为11.00—24.24μmol.m-.2s-1,α为0.0522—0.0594;叶龄为38 d时,Pmax为11.77—18.18μmol.m-.2s-1,α为0.0619—0.0693;叶龄为47 d时,Pmax为9.09—18.17μmol.m-.2s-1,α为0.0538—0.0606。随叶龄加大,增加补充灌溉量有利于延缓叶片光合能力的降低。气孔限制是水分影响番茄叶片光合作用的主要因素,气孔限制与非气孔限制因素是番茄叶片Pn随叶龄变化的原因。     

不同生境与花部特征对巫山淫羊藿结实特性的影响

对不同生境中巫山淫羊藿结实特性进行比较研究。结果表明:(1)三个种群在繁殖时期中不同花部特征的植株繁殖投资差异不大,如每株分枝数、每株花序数和每株开花数差异均不显著;(2)三个种群中每株结实数、每株结实率、每花序结实数在不同花部特征中差异显著,PLS和SAA要显著大于PESS;(3)三种花部特征在不同生境中单株分枝数和单株花序数均无显著差异。在不同花部特征中种群1开花数量相较少,因而在结实方面均值均要小于种群2和种群3;(4)不同花部特征的果实饱满种子数、败育数和败育率均具有显著差异,而种子数差异不大,但在种群间均无显著的差异。说明种子的多少更多地受到花部特征的影响。总之,巫山淫羊藿的结实特性受到生境和花部特征的双重影响,其中花型比生境对巫山淫羊藿结实特性的影响更为明显。     

光照强度对濒危植物毛瓣金花茶光合生理特性的影响

以盆栽3年生毛瓣金花茶实生苗为材料,采用人工遮荫方法研究不同光照强度(10％、25％、50％和100％自然光强)对其光合生理特性的影响,为其迁地保护和种群恢复提供科学依据.结果显示:(1)随着光照强度的升高,毛瓣金花茶叶片最大净光合速率(Pmmax)、表观量子效率(AQY)和光饱和点(LSP)降低,光补偿点(LCP)升高,其中P…和AQY在10％和25％光强下显著高于50％和100％光强处理.(2)叶片叶绿素总量(Chl)、叶绿素a(Chla)、叶绿素b(Chl b)、类胡萝卜素(Car)含量均随光强的升高而降低,Car/Chl含量随光强的升高而升高.(3)叶绿素荧光参数FmFv、Fv/Fm、Fv/F0均随光强的升高而降低,其中Fm、Fv、Fv/Fm在100％光强下显著低于其他3个遮荫处理,3个遮荫处理间则无显著差异.(4)叶片丙二醛(MDA)和脯氨酸(Pro)含量均随光强的升高而升高,在100％光强下,MDA和Pro含量显著高于其他3个遮荫处理,50％光强下的MDA含量显著高于10％和25％光强处理.(5)在25％光强下,毛瓣金花茶未发生明显光抑制,在50％光强下,其光抑制主要是由PSⅡ的可逆失活引起的,光合机构未遭到明显破坏,在100％光强下,其PSⅡ反应中心受到严重伤害,发生了光氧化.研究表明,毛瓣金花茶虽为阴生植物,却能忍受一定程度的强光(50％光强),在种群恢复过程中,可适当间伐上层乔木,增加林下透光率,提高毛瓣金花茶种群的开花结实率,促进其自然更新,在迁地保护时可选择相对开敞的遮荫环境.     

秦岭山地松栎混交林主要木本植物组成及更新特征

采用样方法对秦岭南坡中段松栎混交林主要木本植物组成及天然更新特征进行了研究.结果表明:(1)松栎混交林乔木层物种共计40种,油松、锐齿槲栎和华山松为优势种,重要值分别为35.19％、31.99％和8.12％,漆树、栓皮栎和楝木为亚优势种.(2)更新层木本植物共计87种,其中乔木幼苗34种,占总数的39.08％,灌木物种也有一定优势地位,优势种有锐齿槲栎、悬钩子和菝葜等,高度级较小的更新苗在群落内占有较大比例.(3)优势乔木更新特征不同,锐齿槲栎幼苗和幼树密度显著高于油松和华山松,且锐齿槲栎幼苗密度显著高于其幼树,但油松幼苗与幼树、华山松幼苗与幼树间无明显差异.(4)混交林内锐齿槲栎径级结构呈近似倒“J”形分布,种群稳定;油松和华山松种群均呈近似正态分布,大径级个体群相对稳定,但林下幼树不足.该研究结果提示,松栎混交林下油松和华山松更新不良,这将不利于其长期存留于群落中,虽然锐齿槲栎从幼苗到幼树的发育过程中存在更新障碍,但并未影响其种群整体更新,若无大规模干扰,锐齿槲栎将维持逆“J”型的更新方式并成为松栎混交林群落中的第一优势种.     

不同光环境对桤木幼苗生长和光合特性的影响

通过设置3个光照强度(100%、56.2% 和12.5%),模拟森林幼苗生长的旷地(采伐迹地)、林窗和林下光环境,研究不同光照强度对外来种台湾桤木和乡土种四川桤木幼苗的生长、光合特性以及生物量积累与分配的影响.结果表明： 低光环境限制了两种桤木幼苗形态指标的增长,适当遮荫的林窗环境比旷地更有利于幼苗的生长.台湾桤木幼苗具有较高的比叶面积和相对生长速率,较大的单叶面积、叶长、叶宽、株高和基径,较少的叶片数和较低的叶面积比、叶柄长.低光环境下,台湾桤木幼苗的最大净光合速率、光饱和点和表观光量子效率较高,光补偿点和暗呼吸速率较低.随着光照强度的降低,台湾桤木幼苗具有更高的根生物量比和更低的叶生物量比;四川桤木幼苗则相反,加剧了动物取食和机械损伤的风险.     

根际CO2浓度升高对网纹甜瓜光合特性及产量和品质的影响

采用雾培植株根际通CO₂处理方式,研究了开花结果期根际CO₂浓度升高对网纹甜瓜光合作用及产量和品质的影响.结果表明：在网纹甜瓜果实发育期间,与350 μL·L^-1（对照）处理相比,根际2500和5000 μL CO₂·L^-1处理的叶片光合色素含量、净光合速率（P_n）、气孔导度（g_s）、胞间CO₂浓度（C_i）及PSⅡ最大光化学效率（F_v/F_m）均不同程度降低,而气孔限制值（L_s）显著提高,且5000 μL CO₂·L^-1处理的变化幅度高于2500 μL CO₂·L^-1处理;单株产量、果实中维生素C和可溶性糖含量显著降低,有机酸含量显著提高.可见,网纹甜瓜果实发育期间根际CO₂浓度超过2500 μL·L^-1时,其光合作用及果实发育会受到显著抑制,从而导致产量和品质降低.
     

耕作方式对东北雨养区玉米光合与叶绿素荧光特性的影响

在东北地区设置大田试验,研究不同耕作方式下玉米全生育期耕层土壤温度、土壤含水量、叶片光合性能及叶绿素荧光参数的变化特征.结果表明:耕作方式对土壤水热性能的影响主要体现在播种-拔节阶段,2010-2011年平地播种中耕起垄(PL)和全生育期平作(PP)处理0～40 em土层土壤体积含水量在出苗期、苗期和拔节期比传统垄作(LL)处理平均提高5.6％和5.2％、4.6％和7.3％及3.9％和4.8％,苗期5 cm土壤最低温度分别比LL处理高1.4和1.3℃.由于土壤水热条件的改善,拔节期PL和PP处理的叶片净光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr)等指标显著高于LL处理,而PSⅡ潜在活性(Fv/Fo)和PSⅡ最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)无显著差异,表明气孔导度和气孔限制值等气孔因素是导致光合作用差异的主要原因;灌浆期叶片Pn和Tr则以LL和PL处理显著高于PP处理,这主要是由于PP处理在强降雨时期经历了涝渍灾害,光合作用受到抑制.可见PL处理通过改善土壤水热条件增强了玉米光合性能,进而提高了籽粒产量.