Plant community structure in an oligohaline tidal marsh

An oligohaline tidal marsh on the northern shore of Lake Pontchartrain, LA was characterized with respect to the distributions and abundances of plant species over spatial and temporal gradients using Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA). In addition, the species distributions were correlated to several physical environmental factors using Detrended Canonical Correspondence Analysis (DCCA). The distributions of species were best correlated with distance from Lake Pontchartrain, and to a lesser extent with elevation and substrate organic matter. They were least correlated with mean soil salinity (referred to here as background salinity). Of the three mid-seasonal dominant species, the perennial grass, Spartina patens, is the most salt tolerant and was found closest to the lake. Further inland the dominant perennial was Sagittaria lancifolia, which has a salt tolerance less than that of Spartina patens. The perennial sedge, Cladium jamaicense, which is the least salt tolerant of the three, was dominant furthest inland. Background salinity levels were generally low (<5 ppt.) and did not explain species distributions. We hypothesize that the distribution of species is regulated by occasional storm-generated salt pulses that generate strong, short-lived salinity gradients as a function of distance from the lake. Biotic interactions likely also play a role in structuring the plant community. The distributions of several annuals depended on the size and life history of the mid-seasonal dominant perennials. Most of the annuals frequently co-occurred with Sagittaria lancifolia, which was the shortest in stature and had the least persistent canopy of the three mid-seasonal dominant perennials.Abbreviations DCA Detrended Correspondence Analysis - DCCA Detrended Canonical Correspondence Analysis     

Matter production processes ofReineckia carnea Kunth,an evergreen forest floor herb in the warm-temperate region of Japan

The growth and matter production were examined forReineckia carnea, an evergreen herb growing on the forest floor in a warm-temperate region. Seasonal change in the biomass of plants growing in the field was estimated from the harvested sample plants. Carbohydrate contents and respiration rates were measured for analysis of dry matter economy. Light intensity and temperature on the forest floor were periodically measured. In mid-spring the biomass reached a maximum which was about half again its minimum value, found in autumn. Two phases, the productive phase in cooler seasons and the developmental phase in warmer seasons, were distinguished from the annual growth pattern of this plant. In cooler seasons, positive net production was found without any morphological changes, resulting in active accumulation of reserves which were mainly soluble sugars. This high net production seems to be closely related to the favorable light conditions and low respiratory losses. In warmer seasons, though new organs were developed, net production remained low or was even negative. The morphological development of this plant in these seasons depended mostly on reserves previously accumulated. This characteristic feature of annual matter economy is considered to be common to evergreen plants on the forest floor in warm regions.     

Effects of particulate matter exposure on blood 5-hydroxymethylation: results from the Beijing truck driver air pollution study

Previous studies have reported epigenetic changes induced by environmental exposures. However, previous investigations did not distinguish 5-methylcytosine (5mC) from a similar oxidative form with opposite functions, 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC). Here, we measured blood DNA global 5mC and 5hmC by ELISA and used adjusted mixed-effects regression models to evaluate the effects of ambient PM₁₀ and personal PM_2.5 and its elemental components—black carbon (BC), aluminum (Al), calcium (Ca), potassium (K), iron (Fe), sulfur (S), silicon (Si), titanium (Ti), and zinc (Zn)—on blood global 5mC and 5hmC levels. The study was conducted in 60 truck drivers and 60 office workers in Beijing, China from The Beijing Truck Driver Air Pollution Study at 2 exams separated by one to 2 weeks. Blood 5hmC level (0.08%) was ∼83-fold lower than 5mC (6.61%). An inter-quartile range (IQR) increase in same-day PM₁₀ was associated with increases in 5hmC of 26.1% in office workers (P = 0.004), 20.2% in truck drivers (P = 0.014), and 21.9% in all participants combined (P < 0.001). PM₁₀ effects on 5hmC were increasingly stronger when averaged over 4, 7, and 14 d preceding assessment (up to 132.6% for the 14-d average in all participants, P < 0.001). PM₁₀ effects were also significant after controlling for multiple testing (family-wise error rate; FWER < 0.05). 5hmC was not correlated with personal measures of PM_2.5 and elemental components (FWER > 0.05). 5mC showed no correlations with PM₁₀, PM_2.5, and elemental components measures (FWER > 0.05). Our study suggests that exposure to ambient PM₁₀ affects 5hmC over time, but not 5mC. This finding demonstrates the need to differentiate 5hmC and 5mC in environmental studies of DNA methylation.     

土壤中水溶性有机质及其对重金属化学与生物行为的影响

土壤水溶性有机质是陆地生态系统和水生生态系统中一种重要的、很活跃的化学组分,已成为环境科学、土壤学和生态学等学科的研究热点．土壤DOM对重金属化学与生物行为有重要影响。但其机理尚不清楚．文中从土壤性质、环境条件、人为因素等方面阐述了土壤DOM产生及影响因素,总结评述了DOM对重金属化学行为和生物有效性的影响,将DOM对重金属的影响机制归纳为络合机制、竞争吸附机制、酸碱缓冲机制．在此基础上,提出了DOM研究存在的问题及其展望．     

Growth performance,haematological assessment and chemical composition of Nile tilapia,Oreochromis niloticus (Linnaeus, 1758) fed different levels of Aloe vera extract as feed additives in a closed aquaculture system

A 105-day experimental trial was conducted to assess different levels of dietary Aleo vera extract supplementation on water quality parameters, proximate composition, growth performance and haematological parameters of fry Oreochromis niloticus. Four different percentages of dietary leaf extract powder of Aleo vera (ALE) with a basal feed, designated as, i.e., T0 (Control group; without ALE), T1 (1% ALE), T2 (2% ALE), and T3 (3% ALE). Fish fry was reared in concrete tanks (7.0 m, 1.6 m, 1.0: L, W, H; water volume 11.2 m3/tank), with an average initial weight 4.04 ± 0.03 g/ fry, and each treatment was triplicated. Fry was randomly distributed at a stocking rate of 450 individuals/ tanks. The water quality parameters revealed that temperature, pH, salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO) and nitrates were found in a promising range as given by FAO/WHO limits. However, the record values obtained for Electric Conductivity (EC), Total dissolved solids (TDS), and alkalinities were not found in all tanks' suitable range according to FAO/WHO limits. The results revealed a significant impact of different percentages of dietary ALE supplementation on fry's body composition and haematological parameters. Moreover, the final body weight, final body length, average daily weight gain (g), net weight gain (g) and specific growth rate (%) were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in T1 and T2 compared with T0 and T3 treatments. The poorest feed conversion ratio was recorded in the T2 group compared with other treatments. Thus, the current study provides information about the nutritional quality of Nile tilapia culturing in Pakistan.     

Dissolved load transported by rivers as an indicator of landscape sustainability

Investigation of the Stör River catchment in Germany shows very high annual matter losses (about 1050 kg total mineral salts per ha; excluding NaCl). Loss of base cations (e.g. Ca 263 kg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹), which are essential elements, was an important focus of this research. Compared to the stock of base cations to those minerals added by fertilising, topsoils are being depleted continuously. If this loss is not stopped, a complete breakdown of vegetation growth is expected. Strong impacts on the water cycle and a land management that is spatially and temporally unadapted leads to insufficient energy dissipation in both physical (evapotranspiration, condensation) and biological cyclic processes (photosynthesis, respiration). The resultant increased thermal and chemical potentials cause changes by way of feedback loops on the water cycle and cause matter losses. Some suggestions are presented to manage land sustainably — minimising matter losses with the help of managed wetlands and using much more perennial vegetation biomass.     

应用物元评判识别模型预测农业害虫种群动态

论述了物元评判识别模型的建模方法,并探讨了该模型在预测农业害虫种群动态方面的应用．结果表明,其历史拟合率高达 ９２．３１％,将 １９９５年作为独立样本进行试报,其预报结果与实际发生一致．并指出物元评判模型是预测农业害虫种群动态的一种优良模型．     

Form and environment of Gryphaea arcuata

Gryphaea arcuata is one of the most studied fossils, but its detailed palaeoecology has been largely neglected. Specimens were collected within a short stratigraphic range (three ammonite zones) in the 'Calcaire à gryphées' of Xeuilley (Lorraine, France) dated Hettangian to Lower Sinemurian. As far as possible, they were sampled from each marly bed of the section. A biometric study and an isotopic analysis are compared in regard to organic matter measurements and palynological data, the results demonstrating a clear relationship between the shape of G. arcuata and environmental parameters. Factors responsible for the various shapes are temperature, oxygen levels on the sea floor and nutrient levels. Two main morphotypes can be related to two kinds of environment. In the first, controlled by a relatively hot and humid climate and tending towards eutrophication, the growth rate of Gryphaea was low, and the shells small, wide and thin. In the second environment, cooler than the first one and closer to the optimal living conditions of G. arcuata, the shell was large, thick and narrow, and exhibited a high growth rate.