Scale dependence of landscape metrics and their indicatory value for nutrient and organic matter losses from catchments

We investigated scale dependence of landscape metrics and the relationship between land use parameters and FRAGSTATS-based landscape metrics (edge density (ED), patch density (PD), mean shape index (SHAPE_MN), mean euclidean nearest neighbor index (ENN_MN), contagion (CONTAG), patch richness density (PRD), and Shannon's diversity index (SHDI)) and nutrient/organic-matter-based water quality indicators (BOD₇ and COD_KMnO4 values, total-N and total-P concentrations in water) in 24 catchments with various land use patterns in Estonia. We used the Basic Map of Estonia (1:10,000), the Base Map of Estonia (1:50,000) and the CORINE Land Cover Map (1:100,000). In scale analysis, we calculated landscape metrics on artificial and real landscapes. Scale analysis showed that responses of landscape metrics to changing grain size vary among landscapes and metrics. Analysis of artificial landscapes showed that mean euclidean nearest neighbor distance and contagion are directly dependent on grain size and should therefore be used carefully. When finding relationships between landscape metrics and water quality indicators, significant differences between the relationships derived from the Base Map and the CORINE Land Cover Map were found. In the case of the Base Map, landscape metrics correlated strongly with land use and showed no expected relationships with water quality data. This underlines the importance of land use classification in such kind of analysis. Correlation between the landscape metrics calculated on the basis of the CORINE Land Cover Map and water quality data was stronger than in the case of the Base Map. The COD_KMnO4 value significantly correlated with all land use types. For instance, the COD_KMnO4 values are higher when fens and natural areas form a higher proportion of the catchments’ land use. Except for the BOD₇ value, all the water quality indicators showed significant correlation with urban land use proportions. Strong relationship between the patch density and the COD_KMnO4 value is most likely caused by the fact that both parameters were significantly correlated with the proportion of natural areas. As the landscape metrics depend on pixel size, topographic scale, and land use classification, and as the effect of land use on water quality in catchments is the most significant of the factors, it was impossible to separate the influence of land use pattern from the influence of FRAGSTATS-based landscape metrics.     

Macroalgal blooms on southeast Florida coral reefs: I. Nutrient stoichiometry of the invasive green alga Codium isthmocladum in the wider Caribbean indicates nutrient enrichment

Invasive blooms of the siphonaceous green algae Codium spp. have been considered a symptom of coastal eutrophication but, to date, only limited biochemical evidence supports a linkage to land-based nutrient pollution. Beginning in the summer of 1990, spectacular blooms of unattached Codium isthmocladum developed on deep coral reef habitats in southern Palm Beach County and northern Broward County, and in subsequent years, attached populations formed on reefs in northern Palm Beach County.To better understand the nutrition of these HABs, we collected C. isthmocladum and other reef macroalgae from various locations in southeast Florida as well as the wider Caribbean region for tissue C:N:P analysis in order to gauge variability in the type and degree of N- and/or P-limited growth. Widespread nutrient enrichment in floridian C. isthmocladum populations was evidenced by significantly higher tissue P (0.06% versus 0.04% of dry weight) and lower C:N (12 versus 19), C:P (425 versus 980), and N:P (35 versus 50) ratios compared to more nutrient-depleted Caribbean populations. To determine nutrient availability on southeast Florida's reefs, we sampled near-bottom waters at a variety of locations for DIN (NH₄⁺ + NO₃⁻ + NO₂⁻) and SRP analysis. In general, concentrations of NH₄⁺, NO₃⁻and SRP were all high on southeast Florida's reefs compared to values reported for Caribbean coral reefs. Although summertime upwelling provides episodic NO₃⁻ and SRP enrichment to reefs in southeast Florida, these transient nutrient pulses have not historically supported C. isthmocladum blooms.We suggest that the widespread P enrichment of C. isthmocladum tissue and water column DIN:SRP ratios <16:1 in southeast Florida drive this system toward N limitation where low level NH₄⁺ enrichment becomes of paramount importance. Hence, the recent C. isthmocladum blooms appear to be supported by increasing land-based nutrient pollution, particularly, sewage that is enriched in NH₄⁺ and SRP at a low N:P ratio (<10:1) critical to sustaining balanced growth during bloom formation.     

鼎湖山主要森林类型植物胸径生长对氮沉降增加的初期响应

在林地分别喷加0、50、100和150kgNhm^-2a^-1,研究鼎湖山马尾松林、马尾松荷木混交林和季风常绿阔叶林乔木层植物胸径生长(年增长率)对增施氮的响应。结果表明,不喷加N,马尾松林、混交林和阔叶林胸径年增长率分别为4.84％、4．09％和2．99％;外加氮对植物胸径生长的影响因森林类型和植物种而异。马尾松林和混交林,低氮处理(喷加50kgNhm^-2a^-1)没有对胸径生长产生明显影响,中氮处理(喷加100kgNhm^-2a^-1)则分别增加了77、8％和105．6％。外加氮处理均使阔叶林胸径年增长率下降,低氮、中氮和高氮处理(喷加150kgNhm^-2a^-1)分别比对照(不喷N)低36．8％、28．5％和41．0％。这表明外加氮处理促进马尾松生长,但抑制大多数阔叶树种生长。     

Leaf productivity along a precipitation gradient in lowland Panama: patterns from leaf to ecosystem

Moisture availability has the potential to affect tropical forest productivity at scales ranging from leaf to ecosystem. We compared data for leaf photosynthetic, chemical and structural traits of canopy trees, litterfall production and seasonal availability of soil water at four sites across a precipitation gradient (1,800–3,500 mm year^–1) in lowland Panamanian forest to determine how productivity at leaf and ecosystem scales may be related. We found stronger seasonality in soil water potential at drier sites. Values were close to zero at all sites during the wet season and varied between a minimum of –2.5 MPa and –0.3 MPa at the driest and wettest sites, respectively, during the dry season. Leaf photosynthesis and nitrogen concentration decreased with increasing precipitation, whereas leaf thickness increased with increasing precipitation. Leaf toughness and fiber/N ratios increased with increasing precipitation indicating reduced nutritional content and palatability with precipitation. Seasonality of litter production and quality decreased with increasing precipitation, but the amount of litterfall produced was not substantially different among sites. It appears that in Neotropical forest, moisture availability is associated with leaf photosynthetic and defensive traits that influence litterfall timing and quality. Therefore, variation in leaf physiological traits has the potential to influence decomposition and nutrient cycling through effects on litter quality.     

米瓦罐的光合特性研究

采用美国LI-COR生产的LI-6400便携式光合系统研究了米瓦罐的光合特性。结果表明,米瓦罐光 合速率的日变化呈单峰曲线,上午10:00时光合速率达到最大值;在大气CO2浓度下,米瓦罐的光饱和点为 1 800μmol·m-2·s-1,光补偿点为30μmol·m-2·s-1;在光饱和点的光强下,米瓦罐的CO2饱和点为1 200 μmolCO2·mol-1,CO2补偿点为40μmolCO2·mol-1。     

固氮红细菌(Rhodobacter azotoformans) YLK20去除无机氮的影响因素

【背景】不产氧光合细菌(Anoxygenicphototrophicbacteria,APB)作为一类重要的微生物资源,在水产养殖水体氮污染的修复方面已有广泛研究与应用。养殖水体环境复杂,含多种有机物,尤其是有机氮显著影响菌体除氮功效。【目的】在高浓度无机三态氮(氨氮、硝氮和亚硝氮)共存体系中,阐明小分子有机碳、有机氮和盐度对固氮红细菌(Rhodobacter azotoformans) YLK20去除无机三态氮的影响规律及机制,挖掘针对性强和适应性广的高效除氮菌株。【方法】采用RAST和KEGG方法分析YLK20基因组碳氮代谢途径及耐盐机制;采用次溴酸钠氧化法、紫外和N-(1-萘基)-乙二胺分光光度法分别测定氨氮、硝氮和亚硝氮含量。【结果】基因组显示,YLK20拥有EMP、HMP、TCA、固氮、氨化、氨同化和反硝化碳氮代谢途径,含有soh B、nha C、bet B和gbs A等多种耐盐基因。丙酮酸钠、乙酸钠、柠檬酸钠、乙醇和甘露醇是YLK20生长和去除无机三态氮的良好有机碳,葡萄糖和果糖的存在降低了无机三态氮去除能力,蔗糖体系中硝氮和亚硝氮能被良好去除,但氨氮去除能力较低。在高浓度蛋白胨(3.21 g/L)和尿素(1.43 g/L)体系中,YLK20仍能高效去除无机三态氮。YLK20能在3%盐度内生长良好,低盐度时该菌株能良好去除无机三态氮,高盐度时亚硝氮去除能力受到严重抑制。YLK20对海水和淡水实际养殖水体中的无机三态氮有良好去除效果。【结论】YLK20主要通过氨同化和反硝化途径去除无机三态氮,尤其在高浓度有机氮环境中也能高效去除;该菌株适应盐度范围广,兼可适用于淡水和海水养殖水体;该菌株生长和无机三态氮去除影响因素、规律及除氮机制的阐明,可为APB微生物制剂的合理应用提供指导。     

Noninvasive evaluation of testicular function by measuring oxygen saturation of scrotal-testicular tissue

We conducted a single-center cross-sectional study to determine whether scrotal-testicular tissue oxygen saturation (S-T StO₂) measured by finger-mounted near-infrared spectroscopy is useful for the evaluation of testicular function. S-T StO₂ was significantly higher in patients with nonobstructive azoospermia (NOA, p< 0.05), and showed a positive correlation with luteinizing hormone levels (LH) even in participants without NOA (r = 0.34, p< 0.05), suggesting that elevated S-T StO₂ is associated with a reduction in testicular function.     

右美托咪定对低血红蛋白全麻患者脑氧饱和度及术后认知功能的影响*

目的:探讨右美托咪定对低血红蛋白全麻患者脑氧饱和度及术后认知功能的影响。方法:选取择期在全麻行开腹妇科手术、血红蛋白8～9 g/dl的患者30例,ASA分级Ⅰ～Ⅱ级,将其随机分成两组:生理盐水组(N组)和右美托咪啶组(D组),每组15例。两组麻醉诱导后,均行七氟醚复合瑞芬太尼静吸复合麻醉维持。D组在麻醉诱导前经15 min静脉输注右美托咪定0.5μg/kg,继之以0.3μg·kg~(-1)·h~(-1)的速率输注至术毕,N组给予等容量生理盐水。分别于入室时(T_0)、吸氧后3 min(T_1)、手术开始即刻(T_2)、手术开始后10 min(T_3)、20 min(T_4)、30 min (T_5)、手术结束即刻(T_6)以及患者苏醒拔管后5 min(T_7)记录平均动脉压(Mean Arterial Pressure,MAP)、心率(Heart Rate,HR)、血氧饱和度(Percutaneous Oxygen Saturation,SpO_2)、呼吸末二氧化碳分压(End-Tidal Carbon DioxidePartial Pressure,PETCO_2)、脑氧饱和度(Regional Cerebral Saturation Of Oxygenation,rSO_2)、脑电双频指数(Bispectral Index,BIS)以及腋温。并于术前1 d、术后1 d以及术后3 d,记录蒙特利尔认知评估量表(Montreal Cognitive Assessment,MoCA)数值以及术后认知功能障碍(Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction,POCD)的发生率。结果:与N组比较,D组在T_2～T_6时的rSO_2升高,HR降低(P0.05),两组各时点MAP、SpO_2、PETCO_2、BIS以及腋温比较差异无统计学意义(P0.05)。与N组比较,D组术后1天、术后3天MoCA评分均显著升高,且术后认知功能障碍的发生率明显降低(P0.05)。结论:右美托咪定能够提高低血红蛋白患者的脑氧饱和度,改善患者脑氧供需平衡,降低术后认知功能障碍的发生率。     

Nitrogen assimilation in plants: current status and future prospects

Nitrogen (N) is the driving force for crop yields; however, excessive N application in agriculture not only increases production cost, but also causes severe environmental problems. Therefore, comprehensively understanding the molecular mechanisms of N use efficiency (NUE) and breeding crops with higher NUE is essential to tackle these problems. NUE of crops is determined by N uptake, transport, assimilation, and remobilization. In the process of N assimilation, nitrate reductase (NR), nitrite reductase (NiR), glutamine synthetase (GS), and glutamine-2-oxoglutarate aminotransferase (GOGAT, also known as glutamate synthase) are the major enzymes. NR and NiR mediate the initiation of inorganic N utilization, and GS/GOGAT cycle converts inorganic N to organic N, playing a vital role in N assimilation and the final NUE of crops. Besides, asparagine synthetase (ASN), glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH), and carbamoyl phosphate synthetase (CPSase) are also involved. In this review, we summarize the function and regulation of these enzymes reported in three major crops—rice, maize, and wheat, also in the model plant Arabidopsis, and we highlight their application in improving NUE of crops via manipulating N assimilation. Anticipated challenges and prospects toward fully understanding the function of N assimilation and further exploring the potential for NUE improvement are discussed.