The relative contributions of sagittal,frontal, and transverse joint works to self-paced incline and decline slope walking

Positive and negative work are generated at the lower limb joints in order to locomote over various terrains. Joint work quantifies the changes in energy that are necessary to adapt gait to environmental demands. The aim of this study was to quantify 3D joint work at the hip, knee, and ankle during slope walking. Work was calculated for ten males (23.9 ± 1.1 years) walking at a self-selected speed on inclines and declines (−20, −12, −6, 0, 6, 12, 20 degrees). Sagittal positive work significantly increased at the hip, knee, and ankle for incline walking (for example, hip positive work increased 153%, 280%, and 453% for 6, 12, and 20 degrees, respectively; knee and ankle positive work also increased) (p ≤ 0.05), in order to raise and propel the body forward. Sagittal negative work increased significantly at the hip, knee and ankle for decline walking (for example, knee negative work increased 193%, 355%, and 496% for −6, −12, and −20 degrees, respectively; hip and ankle negative work also increased) (p ≤ 0.05), in order to control body descent. These substantial changes in work will be especially challenging for people with compromised strength due to age and disease. Furthermore, changes in work were not limited to the sagittal plane: 46% of the total hip joint work occurred in the frontal and transverse planes for six degree decline walking. Thus, decline walking placed greater demands on the hip ab/adductors and rotators, and this may be related to the greater risk of falls observed for descent versus ascent.     

不同农作方式下红壤坡耕地土壤磷素流失特征

研究了6种农作方式红壤坡耕地土壤P素流失特征。结果表明,红壤坡耕地土壤P素的坡面流失主要通过径流和推移质2种方式,顺坡农作处理径流流失P素的比例占土壤全P流失量的55．26％,通过推移质流失的P素和径流流失的P素基本相当,其它处理土壤P素的流失主要以径流方式流失。流失量占土壤全P流失量的67．59％～88．11％。在流失的土壤P素中,泥砂结合态占多数,其比例为57．79％～77．59％,其中有效P的流失基本上通过径流方式,与传统的顺坡耕作的坡耕地利用方式相比。其它5种不同农作措施均有控制和防治土壤P素流失的作用。能减少P流失总量40．73％～84．70％。水平土埂、等高农作措施、休闲措施效果优于水平革带、水平沟农作措施。土壤P素流失时间主要集中在5～8月,占全年土壤P素流失量的89．15％～100％。     

南岭国家级自然保护区林下植物分布的地形相关性

以南岭国家级自然保护区山地森林群落林下植物为研究对象,探讨地形因子对林下植物分布的影响。该区3个海拔高度下的山地常绿阔叶林林下植物组成丰富,但个体多度在样方中的分布存在很大的空间异质性。在9000m^2的样地中设置的450个4m^2小样方,共记录到林下维管植物255种,隶属于95科、181属,总的物种个体多度为18203株。多响应置换过程（MRPP）分析表明,坡向和海拔（p〈0．0001）及坡度（p〈0．05）这3个地形因子对林下植被分布有显著的影响,其影响程度大小排序为：海拔〉坡向〉坡度。指示种分析（ISA）进一步确定了不同地形条件下具有显著指示值（IV≥50）的指示种。本项研究表明林下植物的空间分布会同时受到多个地形因子的影响,因此需综合各因子间的相互作用全面考虑;同时,MRPP结合ISA对于揭示群落植物分布的空间异质性及其与环境因子作用的相互关系、生物多样性保育、森林恢复以及造林引种等方面均有着重要的理论意义和实践价值。     

Photosynthetic and morphological characters of Caragana microphylla in different slope aspects and positions

In order to find out how small scale topographical factors affect growth and physiological characters of Caragana microphylla, which is a widely distributed shrub species and has an important role in restoring degraded grassland in natural ecosystem, a natural population of C. microphylla was chosen in a typical steppe community in June, 2009. The population was 34 km to the southeast of Xilinhot City, China, and a total of 54 shrubs were selected from different slope aspects and positions. We investigated the photosynthetic and morphological characters of these shrubs and analyzed the relationship between plant traits of C. microphylla and soil nitrogen and phosphorus availability. Moreover, the relationship between plant traits of C. microphylla and herbaceous aboveground biomass was studied. (1) The maximum net photosynthetic rate (Pn_max) was significantly lower on shady slopes than that on sunny slopes and higher on upper slopes than that on lower slopes. Stomatal conductance (Gs), net photosynthetic rate/intercellular CO₂ concentration (Pn/Ci) and intercellular CO₂ concentration (Ci) under saturated irradiance showed similar trends with slope aspect and position. Likewise, the maximum photochemical efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm), PSII potential activity (Fv/Fo) and the first-year shoot morphological characters of C. microphylla were also correlated with slope aspect and position. (2) Soil nitrogen availability showed no significant effect on photosynthetic or morphological traits of C. microphylla, however, there were several significant relationships between soil phosphorus availability and plant traits. Dry weight, shoot length, compound leaf size, and leaflet length of first-year shoots of C. microphylla were significantly negatively correlated with soil C:P ratio. Though not significant, photosynthetic parameters under saturated light and other morphological characters of first-year shoots were negatively correlated with soil C:P ratio, i.e., these traits increased with increasing soil phosphorus availability. These suggested that the difference of soil phosphorus availability played an important role in making C. microphylla having different photosynthetic and morphological characters on different slope aspects and positions. The individuals grown in relatively P-rich site had longer shoots and larger leaves and grew better. Low phosphorus content was thought to limit photosynthetic activity through several different mechanisms, including both stomatal and non-stomatal limitations, the latter being more likely in the present study. (3) Photosynthetic and morphological characters of C. microphylla were all negatively correlated with herbaceous aboveground biomass, though only Pn/Ci and length of first-year shoot were significantly correlated with it. This indicated that the difference in plant community was a factor making C. microphylla have different growth and physiological characters on different aspects and positions of slope. A number of studies showed that grazing of the herbaceous layer promoted the establishment and proliferation of woody species, and then led to grassland deterioration; but in arid and semi-arid ecosystems, some widely distributed shrub species like C. microphylla created resource islands and provide favorable microhabitat for grass species. In the present study, we found negative correlations between traits of C. microphylla and herbaceous aboveground biomass. We suggested that the removal of livestock grazing result in the decrease of the distribution C. microphylla and increase of grass coverage, and lead to the restoration of the typical steppe.     

Simulation of direct shear tests on rooted and non-rooted soil using finite element analysis

The finite element (FE) method has been used in recent years to simulate overturning processes in trees and to better comprehend plant anchorage mechanics. We aimed at understanding the fundamental mechanisms of root-soil reinforcement by simulating direct shear of rooted and non-rooted soil. Two- (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) FE simulations of direct shear box tests were carried out using readily available software for routine strength assessment of the root-soil composite. Both rooted and non-rooted blocks of soil were modelled using a simplified model of root distribution and root material properties representative of real roots. Linear elastic behaviour was assumed for roots and the soil was modelled as an ideally plastic medium. FE analysis showed that direct shear tests were dependent on the material properties specified for both the soil and roots. 2D and 3D simulations of direct shear of non-rooted soil produced similar results and any differences between 2D and 3D simulations could be explained with regard to the spatial complexity of roots used in the root distribution model. The application of FE methods was verified through direct shear tests on soil with analogue roots and the results compared to in situ tests on rooted soil in field conditions.     

Distribution pattern of groundfishes hooked along a row of setline in the shallower part of the continental slope in the Bering Sea 2 bathymetric difference in relative abundance in relation to distribution pattern

1. This report demonstrates the well-defined bathymetric distribution of relative abundance of groundfishes in relation to the distribution pattern conjectured from the records of catch along a row of setline with remarkably large variation in the settled depth (from shallower than 350 m to deeper than 700 m) observed around 58⁰ 18′ N and 175⁰ 28′ W on Aug. 24, 1962.
2. The results of the analyses are depicted in Fig. 1. It is found that halibut, true cod and Sebastodes sp. (or Menuke in Japanese) show sharp or abrupt decrease in the relative abundance in accordance with depth whereas sablefish and rattail increase sharply. Arrow toothed halibut and ray do not show any clear bathymetric change in relative abundance and Pacific ocean perch shows decrease in the density in accordance with the disparity in the depth from the 500 m isobath.
3. The patterns conjectured from this example are compared with either those shown in other reports, the results of the observations on other examples or general view of our fishermen. And many proofs to the high reliability and wide universality of the conjectured pattern of the first four species are found out. But, for the last three species, the present results differ more or less from the general view of our fishermen and the observations on other examples.
4. For the distribution pattern, most of groundfishes incline to show chance distribution in the shallower part of the continental slope (350 m to 700 m deep) and only the species showing sharp decrease in density with increase in the depth are distributed contagiously on the shallower bottom (not deeper than 450 m).

     

坡度对农田土壤动物群落结构及多样性的影响

为了研究坡度对土壤动物群落的影响,于2010年3月和9月分别对川中丘陵区坡度为5°、15°、25°的3种农田土壤动物进行了调查。共采集土壤动物11657只,隶属4门11纲21目,弹尾目、蜱螨目、颤蚓目和线虫为优势类群。土壤动物群落的类群数在3月随坡度增加无显著变化(P>0.05),9月则呈波动性上升(P<0.01)。群落密度在3月随坡度增加而显著下降(P<0.01),9月的变化趋势则相反(P<0.05)。群落多样性指数在3、9两月均随坡度增加呈显著波动性变化(P<0.05)。坡度对弹尾目、蜱螨目和线虫等主要类群的密度影响显著(P<0.05),并具季节差异。主成分分析(PCA)结果表明坡度对农田土壤动物的群落结构有明显影响,Sorenson和Morisita-Horn相似性系数进一步表明坡度在3月份主要影响土壤动物群落的类群组成,在9月主要影响优势类群的密度。研究结果表明坡度对土壤动物的群落结构、多样性及主要类群的密度有显著影响,并存在季节差异。     

Nitrous oxide and methane fluxes of a pristine slope mire in the German National Park Harz Mountains

Pristine peatlands covered by Histosols (bogs and fens) with high water table and a restricted oxygen (O₂) availability are known to have low emissions of nitrous oxide (N₂O) but may be a significant source for atmospheric methane (CH₄) which are both important greenhouse gases. For the first time N₂O and CH₄ fluxes of a pristine slope mire in the German Harz Mountains have been monitored. Previously reported peatlands are characterised by anaerobic conditions due to high water table levels. Slope mires monitored here receive O₂ through slope water inflow. Gas fluxes have been monitored deploying closed chamber method on a central non-forested area and a forested area at the periphery of the slope mire. By means of groundwater piezometers water table levels, ammonium and nitrate contents as well as hydro-chemical variables like oxygen content and redox potential of the mire pore water have been concurrently measured with trace gas fluxes at both monitoring sites of the slope mire. The slope mire took up small amounts of atmospheric methane at a rate of −0.02 ± 0.01 kg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ revealing no significant difference between the forested and non-forested site. Higher uptake rates were observed during low water table level. In contrast to pristine peatlands influx of oxygen containing pore water into slope mire does limit reduction processes and resultant CH₄ emission. N₂O fluxes of the forested and non-forested sites of the slope mire did not differ and amounted to 0.25 ± 0.44 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Higher emissions were observed at low water table levels and during thawing periods. In spite of favourable conditions N₂O fluxes of the slope mire have been comparable to those of pristine peatlands.