Insect predation on pike fry

Laboratory tests evaluated the predatory impact of the macroinvertebrates Erythromma najas larvae (Odonata, Zygoptera: Coenagrionidae), Notonecta glauca (Heteroptera: Notonectidae), Ilyocoris cimicoides (Heteroptera: Naucoridae), Libellula depressa larvae (Odonata, Anisoptera: Libellulidae), Dytiscus marginalis larvae (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae) and Anax imperator larvae (Odonata, Anisoptera: Aeshnidae) on 3-, 12-, 21- and 30-day-old pike fry Esox lucius . All these insect predators captured and ate pike fry during the test, although the numbers killed varied among species. Dytiscus marginalis, Anax imperator and Notonecta glauca were the most Voracious predators.     

Differing Neurochemical and Morphological Sequelae of Global Ischemia: Comparison of Single- and Multiple-Insult Paradigms

The purpose of this investigation was to investigate pathomechanisms responsible for the deleterious effects of repeated episodes of brief forebrain ischemia. Halothane-anesthetized male Wistar rats were subjected to either (a) a single 15-min period or (b) three 5-min periods (separated by 1 h) of global forebrain ischemia by bilateral carotid artery occlusions plus hypotension (50 mm Hg), followed by various periods of recirculation. Brain temperature was normothermic throughout. In one series of rats, extracellular levels of glutamate, glycine, and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) were measured in the dorsolateral striatum (n = 6-8 per group) and lateral thalamus (n = 4-6 per group) by microdialysis and HPLC before and during ischemia and during 3-5 h of recirculation. In a parallel series of rats (n = 6 per group), ischemic cell change was quantified at 2 (dark neurons), 24, or 72 h following either single or multiple ischemic insults. A single 15-min ischemic period led to massive glutamate release (13-fold increase; p = 0.001), which returned to normal by 20-30 min of recirculation and remained normal thereafter. By contrast, in rats with three 5-min periods of ischemia, the glutamate level rise with each repeated insult (four- to 4.5-fold; p < or = 0.02) was smaller than that observed during the single 15-min insult, but a late sustained rise (five- to six-fold; p < 0.05) occurred at 2-3 h of recirculation. Brief ischemia-induced elevations of glycine and GABA levels were detected in both the single- and multiple-insult groups, with normalization during recirculation. In contrast, the excitotoxic index, a composite measure of neurotransmitter release ([glutamate] x [glycine]/[GABA]), differed markedly following single versus multiple insults (p = 0.002 by repeated-measures analysis of variance) and increased by seven- to 12-fold (p < 0.05) at 1-3 h following the third insult. The total amount of glutamate released was 3.3-fold higher in the multiple-insult than in the single-insult group (p < 0.02). At 2 h of recirculation, histopathological analysis of dorsolateral striatum showed a significantly greater frequency of dark neurons in the multiple- than in the single-insult group (p < 0.05 by analysis of variance). In the thalamus, a higher frequency of ischemic neurons was seen in the multiple-than in the single-insult group at all intervals studied. Thus, in rats with multiple ischemic insults, accelerated ischemic damage was found in the striatum, and severe ischemic injury was documented in the thalamus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

河湖生态系统生态用水优化研究——以滇池流域为例

生态需水是河流与湖泊生态系统健康的重要基础。湖泊流域的河流与湖泊生态系统之间存在密切的水量联系,目前对流域内生态用水的研究多为单一生态系统生态需水简单相加,忽略了河流和湖泊之间复杂的水量联系。基于河湖复合生态系统之间的水量联系构建了河湖生态系统生态用水优化模型,并以滇池为例分析了河湖生态系统生态用水规律。结果表明：湖泊流域中单一河流或湖泊生态需水计算结果不能满足复合生态系统的生态用水要求,需要综合考虑河流和湖泊之间的水量联系;在当前水质状况下,牛栏江每年的调水量不能满足滇池流域的生态用水要求;滇池流域水体污染对流域内生态用水影响较大,随着水体污染程度的下降,流域生态用水量和调水量呈指数下降,河流生态用水呈线性下降。     

八个树种叶水力性状对水分条件的响应及其驱动因素

树木叶片的水力效率和安全性会对水分条件的改变做出一定的响应, 进而影响树木的生长和分布, 然而叶导水率(K_leaf)和叶水力脆弱性(P₅₀)对不同水分条件的响应模式及其影响因素尚不清楚。该研究选取了晋西北关帝山和黑茶山两种水分条件下的8种树种, 测量其水力性状、叶片导管和形态性状, 比较两地不同树种的K_leaf和P₅₀的变化, 分析叶片水力效率和安全性之间的权衡关系, 并探讨叶片水力性状在不同树种及水分条件下的响应模式及其驱动因素。结果表明: 对同一树种而言, 湿润的关帝山叶最大导水率(K_max)和P₅₀均高于干旱的黑茶山; 对同一地区而言, 从在高水分条件下生长的树种到在易干旱环境生长的树种, K_max和P₅₀均逐渐下降。K_max、P₅₀、膨压丧失点水势(TLP)之间均存在显著相关关系。两地叶片P₅₀与导管密度、导管塌陷预测值((t/b)³)、叶片厚度、比叶质量显著正相关, 与导管直径、叶面积显著负相关, 不同树种的K_leaf和P₅₀与叶导管性状的关系大于叶形态性状。同一树种的关帝山到黑茶山P₅₀变化量(δP₅₀)与比叶质量和叶干物质含量在两地的变化量显著正相关, 同一树种δP₅₀与叶形态性状变化量的关系大于与叶导管性状的。以上结果表明: 随着水分条件变差, 叶片水力效率降低, 水力安全性提高, 不同树种叶片水力效率与安全性之间存在一定的权衡关系, 不同树种叶水力性状的差别受叶导管性状影响的程度大于受叶形态性状的影响, 同一树种叶水力安全性对水分条件变化的响应主要依靠叶形态性状的驱动, 树木在提高自身叶水力安全的同时增加了叶构建的碳投资。     

Direct observation and modelling of embolism spread between xylem conduits: a case study in Scots pine

Xylem embolism is one of the main processes involved in drought‐related plant mortality. Although its consequences for plant physiology are already well described, embolism formation and spread are poorly evaluated and modelled, especially for tracheid‐based species. The aim of this study was to assess the embolism formation and spread in Pinus sylvestris as a case study using X‐ray microtomography and hydraulics methods. We also evaluated the potential effects of cavitation fatigue on vulnerability to embolism and the micro‐morphology of the bordered pits using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to test for possible links between xylem anatomy and embolism spread. Finally, a novel model was developed to simulate the spread of embolism in a 2D anisotropic cellular structure. Results showed a large variability in the formation and spread of embolism within a ring despite no differences being observed in intertracheid pit membrane anatomical traits. Simulations from the model showed a highly anisotropic tracheid‐to‐tracheid embolism spreading pattern, which confirms the major role of tracheid‐to‐tracheid air seeding to explain how embolism spreads in Scots pine. The results also showed that prior embolism removal from the samples reduced the resistance to embolism of the xylem and could result in overestimates of vulnerability to embolism.     

澜沧江流域暴雨干旱灾害与海温异常波动规律的相关性

基于中国气象局国家气象信息中心提供的澜沧江区域1961—2011年50年气象资料,采用EMD(Empirical Mode Decomposition)分解、均生函数逐步回归模型、相关分析等方法,探讨了澜沧江流域极端天气灾害的变化特征,及其区域极端灾害变化和全球海温异常ENSO(El Nio/La Nia-Southern Oscillation)之间的联系。结果表明:(1)该区域降水和暴雨频次存在多尺度特征,降水量存在2a、7a、15a的变化周期,且主周期为准2 a。(2)降水量和暴雨频度序列的IMF1和IMF2周期在2—7 a之间,与ENSO在年际变化上的信号相吻合,NINO(El Nio)指数无论春夏秋冬或年际都与暴雨和干旱灾害频次呈现负相关,而SOI(Southern Oscillation Index)指数则呈现正相关,其中,NINO指数与干旱相关性指数在秋冬和年际接近-0.3。(3)澜沧江流域暴雨和干旱灾害与ENSO有重要联系,且随着气温升高干旱灾害频次明显增加。研究结果显示区域极端气温灾害的变化与全球气候变暖有某种关联,是全球气候变化的区域响应表现形式之一。     

生态环境损害鉴定评估业务化技术研究

随着社会经济的不断发展和人类需求的不断提高,我国生态环境损害事件屡有发生,由于人类活动导致的典型生态系统结构和功能退化、生态系统服务降低等生态环境损害严重威胁到我国的生态安全。系统研究典型生态系统生态环境损害基线、因果关系及损害程度的判定技术方法对保障国家生态安全和实现可持续发展具有重要的理论和实践意义。根据国家"十三五"《典型脆弱生态修复与保护研究专项指南》的要求,中国科学院大学牵头组织6家课题牵头单位联合申报了"生态环境损害鉴定评估业务化技术研究"项目,通过了专业机构组织的评审,获准立项。本文对该项目的研究背景、总体目标、主要内容及预期产出进行了介绍。该项目的开展将对典型生态环境损害评估提供决策支持,为国家在政策层面解决环境损害追责、环境执法与管理提供科学技术和平台支撑。     

基于GIS的浙北近海海域生态系统健康评价

在浙江省北部地区经济高速发展,科学高效利用海洋资源的同时,也不可避免的对浙北近海海域的生态系统造成一定的威胁。为了降低涉海工程对海洋生态环境可能造成的不利影响,通过分析浙江省北部海域高浊度、复杂水体等特点,利用层次分析法从水环境、沉积环境和海洋生物多样性构建了浙北近海海域生态系统评价指标体系,采用熵权法确定了相关因子的权重。在此基础上,综合GIS空间分析方法、数学模型,对2009年至2012年浙江省北部海域进行了实证研究。结果表明:(1)浙江省北部近海海域生态系统整体上处于不健康状态。含量较高的无机氮和磷酸盐及较低的海洋初级生产力是影响其环境质量的主要因素。(2)浙北近海海域生态系统主要薄弱区域与人类活动格局基本一致,由此推断,人类活动是影响浙北海域生态系统健康状态的主要因素。总体上,从2009至2012年浙北近海海域生态系统健康呈现逐年恶化的趋势。     

Assessment of risk of GHG emissions from Tehri hydropower reservoir,India

The hydropower reservoirs, considered as a green source of energy, are now found to emit significant quantities of greenhouse gas (GHG) to the atmosphere. This article attempts to predict the vulnerability of Tehri reservoir, India to GHG emissions using the GHG risk assessment tool (GRAT). The GRAT is verified with experimental GHG fluxes. The annual mean CO₂ fluxes from diffusion, bubbling, and degassing were 425.93 ± 122.50, 4.81 ± 1.33, and 7.01 ± 2.77 mg m^?2d^?1, whereas CH₄ fluxes were 23.11 ± 7.08, 4.79 ± 1.08, and 7.41 ± 4.50 mg m^?2d^?1, respectively, during 2011–12. The model found that Tehri reservoir emitted higher CO₂ and CH₄ (i.e., 790 mg m^?2d^?1 and 64 mg m^?2d^?1, respectively) in 2011, which came within vulnerability range causing more climate change impact. By the year 2015, it would scale down to medium risks necessitating no further assessment of GHG. Significant difference between predicted and experimental GHG emission are assessed, which may be due to insufficient data, spatial and temporal variations, decomposition of flooded biomass, limitation of GRAT model, and inadequate methodology. The study reveals that GHG emission from Tehri reservoir is less than predicted by the GRAT.     

Common trade‐offs between xylem resistance to cavitation and other physiological traits do not hold among unrelated Populus deltoides ×Populus nigra hybrids

We examined the relationships between xylem resistance to cavitation and 16 structural and functional traits across eight unrelated Populus deltoides×Populus nigra genotypes grown under two contrasting water regimes. The xylem water potential inducing 50% loss of hydraulic conductance (Ψ₅₀) varied from ?1.60 to ?2.40 MPa. Drought‐acclimated trees displayed a safer xylem, although the extent of the response was largely genotype dependant, with Ψ₅₀ being decreased by as far as 0.60 MPa. At the tissue level, there was no clear relationship between xylem safety and either xylem water transport efficiency or xylem biomechanics; the only structural trait to be strongly associated with Ψ₅₀ was the double vessel wall thickness, genotypes exhibiting a thicker double wall being more resistant. At the leaf level, increased cavitation resistance was associated with decreased stomatal conductance, while no relationship could be identified with traits associated with carbon uptake or bulk leaf carbon isotope discrimination, a surrogate of intrinsic water‐use efficiency. At the whole‐plant level, increased safety was associated with higher shoot growth potential under well‐irrigated regime only. We conclude that common trade‐offs between xylem resistance to cavitation and other physiological traits that are observed across species may not necessarily hold true at narrower scales.