Root/Shoot Allocation and Root Architecture in Seedlings: Variation among Forest Sites, Microhabitats, and Ecological Groups1

I analyzed patterns of variation in root mass allocation and root morphology among seedlings of woody species in relation to environmental factors in four Neotropical forests. Among forests, I explored the response of root traits to sites varying in water or nutrient availability. Within each forest, I explored the plastic response of species to different microhabitats: gaps and understory. Additionally, I explored evidence for life history correlation of root and shoot traits by comparing species differing in their successional group (light‐demanding [22 spp.] or shade tolerant [27 spp.]) and germination type (species with photosynthetic cotyledons or species with reserve cotyledons). At each forest site, young seedlings from 10 to 20 species were excavated. A total of 55 species was collected in understory conditions and 31 of them were also collected in gaps. From each seedling, six morphological ratios were determined. Allocation to roots was higher in forest sites with the lowest soil resources. Roots were finer and longer in the most infertile site, while roots were deeper in the site with the longest dry season. Seedling traits did not differ between germination types. Shade tolerant species allocated more to roots and developed thicker roots than light‐demanding species. Light‐demanding species showed stronger plastic responses to habitat than shade tolerant species, and species with photo‐synthetic cotyledons showed lower plasticity than species with reserve cotyledons. Overall, these results suggest that among Neotropical species, root allocation and root morphology of seedlings reflect plant adjustments to water or nutrient availability at geographic and microhabitat scales. In addition, life history specialization to light environments is suggested by differences among groups of species in their allocation to roots and in their root morphology.     

Integrated membrane systems for gas separation in biotechnology: potential and prospects

Integrated non-porous membrane systems were applied for microbial combustible gas separation processes. Methane/CO₂ mixtures of various concentrations from methane fermentation processes (biogas) were separated using a membrane-separation complex of permabsorber type into individual components of technical grade (more than 95% purity). In experiments with three-component mixtures, using a selective membrane valve with various liquid carriers, all the gases of interest (H₂, CH₄ and CO₂) were obtained at greater than 90% purity in one separation step. The perspectives for the further application of non-porous membrane separating devices for various gaseous mixtures from different microbial processes are discussed.V. Teplyakov and E. Sostina are with the A.V. Topchiev institute of Petrochemical Synthesis, Russian Academy of Sciences, Membrane Research Center, Moscow 117912, Russia. E. Sostina is also, and A. Netrusov is with the Microbiology Department, Moscow University, Moscow 119899, Russia. I. Beckman is with the Chemistry Department, Moscow University, Moscow 119899, Russia.     

一类具有Holling功能性反应的生态系统的定性分析

本文讨论了一类具有Holling功能性反应的生态系统得到（1）的极限环存在和唯一的充分条件．     

农药对土壤微生物的生态效应

大量有关农药对土壤微生物生态效应的研究表明,虽然有些农药对土壤微生物及其活性会产生抑制或促进作用,但这种作用一般是短暂的;按推荐浓度正常使用农药通常不会影响土壤微生物的各种生化过程和活性,对土壤的物质循环和土壤肥力也没有不利影响;但大多数土壤薰蒸剂和杀真菌剂能改变土壤微生物平衡,它们对土壤微生物的作用强于杀虫剂和除草剂;长期使用农药不致使土壤微生物数量和活性发生明显变化,这应部分归功于土壤微生物对农药的降解或转化．     

The Physiological Ecology of Planktonic Sarcodines with Applications to Paleoecology: Patterns in Space and Time1

ABSTRACT. Planktonic sarcodines, suspended in the water column, are conveniently grouped into three categories based on functional morphology: (1) gymnamoebae and their relatives, which lack major living or nonliving compartmentalizing barriers, (2) foraminifera, and testate amoebae enclosed by a test or shell with one or more major openings, but lacking extensive cytoplasmic compartmentalizing barriers, and (3) radiolaria, which exhibit distinct compartmentalization of the cytoplasm into functional zones. Differences in feeding strategies and trophic activity of members in the three groups reflect in part these differences in functional morphology. Members of all three groups form symbiotic associations with Monera and protists, including algae, thus partially offsetting interspecific trophic competition among species occupying the same water mass. Physiological and morphological adaptations supporting a symbiotic association are presented. C¹⁴-labeling studies of endosymbiotic radiolarian species show a substantial contribution of carbon to the host. Rates of calcification (planktonic foraminfera) and silica deposition (radiolaria) are reported, based on morphometric analyses and isotopic labeling studies. Major distributional patterns in space and time for each of the three groups, and some ecological principles explaining these regularities, are presented as related to population growth dynamics, niche differentiation, water-mass properties, and the role of symbionts in supporting highly diverse communities of species within the same locale in the water column.     

龟纹瓢虫对豆蚜的捕食功能反应及寻找效应研究

龟纹瓢虫雌虫和雄虫对豆蚜的功能反应符台Holling Ⅱ型模型,其模型为：Na=0．9233N／(1 0．0171N)(雌虫)和Na=0．8641N／(1 0．0164N)(雄虫),瓢虫捕食豆蚜的数量随豆蚜密度增加而增加．但寻找效应随豆蚜密度增加而降低。日最大捕食量和最佳寻找密度分别为37.42(雌)、34．11头(雄)和17．25（雌)、15．8头(雄)。龟纹瓢虫寻找效应随自身密度的增加而降低,其数学模型为：E=0．3032·P^-15634(雌)和E=0．3048·P^-1.1697(雄)。干扰反应的教学模型为：E=0．8104·P^-2.1721(雌),E=0．7125·P^-2.2660,E=0．5963·P^-2.1751(雌雄混台种群)。