Extreme temperatures,foundation species,and abrupt ecosystem change: an example from an iconic seagrass ecosystem

Extreme climatic events can trigger abrupt and often lasting change in ecosystems via the reduction or elimination of foundation (i.e., habitat‐forming) species. However, while the frequency/intensity of extreme events is predicted to increase under climate change, the impact of these events on many foundation species and the ecosystems they support remains poorly understood. Here, we use the iconic seagrass meadows of Shark Bay, Western Australia – a relatively pristine subtropical embayment whose dominant, canopy‐forming seagrass, Amphibolis antarctica, is a temperate species growing near its low‐latitude range limit – as a model system to investigate the impacts of extreme temperatures on ecosystems supported by thermally sensitive foundation species in a changing climate. Following an unprecedented marine heat wave in late summer 2010/11, A. antarctica experienced catastrophic (>90%) dieback in several regions of Shark Bay. Animal‐borne video footage taken from the perspective of resident, seagrass‐associated megafauna (sea turtles) revealed severe habitat degradation after the event compared with a decade earlier. This reduction in habitat quality corresponded with a decline in the health status of largely herbivorous green turtles (Chelonia mydas) in the 2 years following the heat wave, providing evidence of long‐term, community‐level impacts of the event. Based on these findings, and similar examples from diverse ecosystems, we argue that a generalized framework for assessing the vulnerability of ecosystems to abrupt change associated with the loss of foundation species is needed to accurately predict ecosystem trajectories in a changing climate. This includes seagrass meadows, which have received relatively little attention in this context. Novel research and monitoring methods, such as the analysis of habitat and environmental data from animal‐borne video and data‐logging systems, can make an important contribution to this framework.     

A comparison of two commercially available ELISA methods for the quantification of human plasma heat shock protein 70 during rest and exercise stress

This study compared resting and exercise heat/hypoxic stress-induced levels of plasma extracellular heat shock protein 70 (eHSP70) in humans using two commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELIS)A kits. EDTA plasma samples were collected from 21 males during two separate investigations. Participants in part A completed a 60-min treadmill run in the heat (HOT70; 33.0 ± 0.1 °C, 28.7 ± 0.8 %, n = 6) at 70 % V̇O_2max. Participants in part B completed 60 min of cycling exercise at 50 % V̇O_2max in either hot (HOT50; 40.5 °C, 25.4 relative humidity (RH)%, n = 7) or hypoxic (HYP50; fraction of inspired oxygen (F_IO₂) = 0.14, 21 °C, 35 % RH, n = 8) conditions. Samples were collected prior to and immediately upon termination of exercise and analysed for eHSP70 using EKS-715 high-sensitivity HSP70 ELISA and new ENZ-KIT-101 Amp’d™ HSP70 high-sensitivity ELISA. ENZ-KIT was superior in detecting resting eHSP70 (1.54 ± 3.27 ng·mL⁻¹; range 0.08 to 14.01 ng·mL⁻¹), with concentrations obtained from 100 % of samples compared to 19 % with EKS-715 assay. The ENZ-KIT requires optimisation prior to running samples in order to ensure participants fall within the standard curve, a step not required with EKS-715. Using ENZ-KIT, a 1:4 dilution allowed for quantification of resting HSP70 in 26/32 samples, with a 1:8 (n = 3) and 1:16 (n = 3) dilution required to determine the remaining samples. After exercise, eHSP70 was detected in 6/21 and 21/21 samples using EKS-715 and ENZ-KIT, respectively. eHSP70 was increased from rest after HOT70 (p < 0.05), but not HOT50 (p > 0.05) or HYP50 (p > 0.05) when analysed using ENZ-KIT. It is recommended that future studies requiring the precise determination of resting plasma eHSP70 use the ENZ-KIT (i.e. HSP70 Amp’d® ELISA) instead of the EKS-715 assay, despite additional assay development time and cost required.     

基于树干液流及涡动相关技术的葡萄冠层蒸腾及蒸散发特征研究

针对西北干旱区绿洲经济作物葡萄树冠层蒸腾及蒸散发特征的相关问题,在甘肃省敦煌市南湖绿洲开展无核白葡萄树液流速率及蒸散发观测试验,采用基于热平衡原理的包裹式茎流计,详细分析了典型生长季7—9月份葡萄树蒸腾耗水规律,使用"单位叶面积上的平均液流速率SF×叶面积指数LAI"的方法,实现了从单株到林分冠层蒸腾的尺度扩展,并通过与涡动相关技术所测蒸散发数据对比,详细研究了葡萄地冠层蒸腾及蒸散发规律。结果表明:典型生长季中葡萄树液流速率日变化为单峰型曲线,日均耗水量从2.76 kg到10 kg不等,胸径越大的葡萄树日均耗水量越大;冠层蒸腾及蒸散发日变化曲线亦为单峰型,白天8:00—12:00与17:00—20:00期间,葡萄冠层蒸腾与蒸散发曲线均比较吻合,该时间段葡萄地蒸散发绝大部分来源于葡萄冠层蒸腾,而12:00—17:00之间由于午后太阳辐射强烈土壤蒸发量增加,葡萄蒸散发大于冠层蒸腾;典型生长季3个月中,葡萄冠层蒸腾量的变化范围在1.88—8.12 mm/d之间,日均冠层蒸腾量为6.12 mm/d,蒸散发在1.74 mm/d至10.78 mm/d之间,日均蒸散发量为7.13 mm/d;日均土壤蒸发量约为1.01 mm/d,只占总蒸散发量的14.2%,日均冠层蒸腾占日均蒸散发的比重达到85.8%,说明该生长阶段冠层蒸散发以作物蒸腾为主。     

京津唐城市群土地利用变化的区域增温效应模拟

土地利用变化与大气相互作用,影响区域气候,而城市及其周边地区受人类活动影响很大,成为土地利用变化最为强烈的区域。利用耦合了城市冠层模型的中尺度大气模式(WRF/UCM),在2008年的初始大气条件和边界条件下,用20世纪70年代后期和2008年两期京津唐地区土地利用资料替换WRF/UCM模式推荐的地表覆盖数据,模拟分析不同土地利用类型及其变化对应的气候差异情况。在此过程中,利用插值方法(ANUSPLIN)得到京津唐及其周边26个气象站点观测气温的插值数据,并以此在时空尺度上对比验证了模式的模拟结果。结果表明:WRF/UCM较好地模拟出了近地表2 m的气温,无论在空间上还是在时间上都表现良好;由城市扩展主导的土地利用变化导致研究区大部分区域的增温幅度大于0.05℃,且最大的增温区域出现在城市扩展区,可达1.31℃。此外本研究初步探讨了土地利用变化的增温贡献率,结果显示研究区土地利用变化导致增温0.08℃,整体贡献率为9.88%,城市扩展区增温0.29℃,表示出了城市扩展导致的增温贡献率达到32.75%。     

温带针阔混交林土壤碳氮气体通量的主控因子与耦合关系

中高纬度森林地区由于气候条件变化剧烈,土壤温室气体排放量的估算存在很大的不确定性,并且不同碳氮气体通量的主控因子与耦合关系尚不明确。以长白山温带针阔混交林为研究对象,采用静态箱-气相色谱法连续4a(2005—2009年)测定土壤二氧化碳(CO2)、甲烷(CH4)和氧化亚氮(N2O)净交换通量以及温度、水分等相关环境因子。研究结果表明:温带针阔混交林土壤整体上表现为CO2和N2O的排放源和CH4的吸收汇。土壤CH4、CO2和N2O通量的年均值分别为-1.3 kg CH4hm-2a-1、15102.2 kg CO2hm-2a-1和6.13 kg N2O hm-2a-1。土壤CO2通量呈现明显的季节性规律,主要受土壤温度的影响,水分次之;土壤CH4通量的季节变化不明显,与土壤水分显著正相关;土壤N2O通量季节变化与土壤CO2通量相似,与土壤水分、温度显著正相关。土壤CO2通量和CH4通量不存在任何类型的耦合关系,与N2O通量也不存在耦合关系;土壤CH4和N2O通量之间表现为消长型耦合关系。这项研究显示温带针阔混交林土壤碳氮气体通量主要受环境因子驱动,不同气体通量产生与消耗之间存在复杂的耦合关系,下一步研究需要深入探讨环境变化对其耦合关系的影响以及内在的生物驱动机制。     

亚热带天然阔叶林转换为杉木人工林对土壤呼吸的影响

采用静态箱-气相色谱法对浙江省临安市玲珑山风景区天然阔叶林和由天然阔叶林改造的杉木人工林的土壤呼吸进行1年的定位监测.结果表明：天然阔叶林和杉木人工林土壤CO₂排放速率均呈现一致的季节性变化规律即夏秋季高、冬春季低;天然阔叶林和杉木人工林土壤CO₂排放速率分别为20.0～111.3和4.1～118.6 mg C·m^-2·h^-1;天然阔叶林土壤CO₂年累积排放通量（16.46 t CO₂·hm^-2·a^-1）显著高于杉木人工林（11.99 t CO₂·hm^-2·a^-1）.天然阔叶林和杉木人工林土壤CO₂排放速率与土壤含水量均没有显著相关性,而与5 cm处土壤温度呈显著指数相关,Q₁₀值分别为1.44和2.97;天然阔叶林土壤CO₂排放速率与土壤水溶性碳（WSOC）含量无显著相关性,杉木人工林土壤CO₂排放速率与WSOC含量呈显著相关.天然阔叶林转换为杉木人工林显著降低了土壤CO₂排放,提高了土壤呼吸对环境因子的敏感性.
     

基于TM/ETM~+数据的沈阳市各区城市热岛特征

应用2001年8月和2010年8月Landsat TM/ETM+数据,计算沈阳市区及三环内各区的地表热岛强度(SUHI),根据土地利用数据和热岛源汇特征提取源汇信息,分析SUHI与土地利用类型、热岛源汇面积及边界长度、归一化植被指数(NDVI)、归一化建筑指数(NDBI)、改进的归一化差异水体指数(MNDWI)的关系。结果表明:2001年沈阳市区的中等热岛强度以上区域主要集中在三环内和苏家屯区,强热岛地区主要出现在铁西区和皇姑区;2010年中等以上热岛强度地区,与城区发展相一致,主要向西南,南面扩展,弱热岛、中等强度和强热岛地区有较大幅度的增加;城市热岛强度与NDVI存在显著的负相关,与NDBI存在显著的正相关;热岛源在区域内的面积比重与中等强度以上热岛存在较显著的相关关系,源汇边界长度与弱热岛和中等热岛存在较显著的相关关系。     

黄土高原农牧交错带稀疏自然植被生态系统的地表能量特征

基于2011-2012年黄土高原农牧交错带稀疏自然植被生态系统的地表能量通量以及气象数据,对该地区能量平衡各分量(净辐射、感热、潜热和土壤热通量)以及波文比进行日、季节动态的特征分析,研究了潜热通量和感热通量对不同强度降雨事件响应程度的差异,并分析了潜热通量和感热通量的主控因子.结果表明:该地区净辐射、感热、潜热和土壤热通量的日、季节动态曲线均为单峰型曲线,净辐射、感热通量、潜热通量和土壤热通量的年平均值分别为78.19、33.32、24.91和2.65 W·m-2.在全年能量收支平衡中,感热通量占净辐射的43％,潜热通量占32％,土壤热通量占3％,表明对于黄土高原农牧交错带自然稀疏灌木生态系统,全年能量主要以感热的形式交换.生长季感热和潜热占净辐射的比例相同(36％);而在非生长季,感热占主导,占净辐射的比例高达54％.潜热通量在强、弱降雨事件发生后明显升高,感热通量则明显下降.潜热通量与净辐射、水汽压差及植被参数均显著相关,感热通量与净辐射及空气温度梯度显著相关.     

A new method to measure and calculate light intensity and light quality simultaneously by using portable spectrometer

The influence of light intensity and light quality on plants is highly concerned in the field of plant physiology and ecology. However, the calibrated quantum meter for measurement of light intensity cannot measure light quality, and vice versa. Here we developed an empirical formula to convert light energy to photon flux density, based on the measurement conditions of spectrometer. Under the guide of the formula, a portable spectrometer (AvaSpec-ULS2048×64) was calibrated by using four narrowband light emitting diode (LEDs) in combination with a calibrated quantum meter (LI-190SB). After calibration of the spectrometer, we can calculate photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD or PAR) and measure spectrum of radiation flux simultaneously. Under natural light conditions, the errors between measured and calculated PPFDs are in the range from -2% to 5%, indicating the reliability of the method. With this new approach, the application of portable spectrometer can be greatly broadened: 1) the light intensity and quality of light source and plant growth light environment can be obtained simultaneously, 2) PPFD can be obtained within any specified wavelength range, and 3) there is no need to use standard light source to obtain the absolute light/radiation flux of a spectrum measured by spectrometer. In conclusion, this method has potential applications for the study of plant physiology and ecology.     

The role of plasma membrane H+‐ATPase in jasmonate‐induced ion fluxes and stomatal closure in Arabidopsis thaliana

Methyl jasmonate (MeJA) elicits stomatal closure in many plant species. Stomatal closure is accompanied by large ion fluxes across the plasma membrane (PM). Here, we recorded the transmembrane ion fluxes of H⁺, Ca²⁺ and K⁺ in guard cells of wild‐type (Col‐0) Arabidopsis, the CORONATINE INSENSITIVE1 (COI1) mutant coi1‐1 and the PM H⁺‐ATPase mutants aha1‐6 and aha1‐7, using a non‐invasive micro‐test technique. We showed that MeJA induced transmembrane H⁺ efflux, Ca²⁺ influx and K⁺ efflux across the PM of Col‐0 guard cells. However, this ion transport was abolished in coi1‐1 guard cells, suggesting that MeJA‐induced transmembrane ion flux requires COI1. Furthermore, the H⁺ efflux and Ca²⁺ influx in Col‐0 guard cells was impaired by vanadate pre‐treatment or PM H⁺‐ATPase mutation, suggesting that the rapid H⁺ efflux mediated by PM H⁺‐ATPases could function upstream of the Ca²⁺ flux. After the rapid H⁺ efflux, the Col‐0 guard cells had a longer oscillation period than before MeJA treatment, indicating that the activity of the PM H⁺‐ATPase was reduced. Finally, the elevation of cytosolic Ca²⁺ concentration and the depolarized PM drive the efflux of K⁺ from the cell, resulting in loss of turgor and closure of the stomata.