Dynamics and management of some coastal dune woodlands near The Hague,The Netherlands

Changes are reported of Crataegus-Betula dune woodlands between 1950–1980 from Meijendel, a calcareous coastal dune system near the city of The Hague, The Netherlands, which is used as a water catchment area. It concerns both woodlands in degradation stage and, more common, woodlands on the increase. Changes were recorded with help of successive vegetation maps, air photos and permanent plot observations. Woodland increase usually occurs on places with groundwater at or near the surface, either because of natural circumstances or as a result of artificial groundwater recharge through infiltration as part of the water catchment activities. The management of both types of woodland is discussed.Nomenclature follows Heukels-van der Meijden (1983), Flora van Nederland, 20th ed. Wolters-Noordhoff, Groningen. Nomenclature of mosses follows Margadant & During (1982), Beknopte Flora van Nederlandse Blad- en Levermossen, Thieme, Zutphen.The authors have pleasure in thanking their colleagues from the Dune Water Works who supplied data on hydrology.     

Adaptations for feeding on rock surfaces and sandy sediment by the fiddler crabs (Brachyura: Ocypodidae) Uca tetragonon(Herbst, 1790) and Uca vocans(Linnaeus, 1758)

Two species of fiddler crab, Uca tetragonon(Herbst, 1790) and Uca vocans(Linnaeus, 1758), which belong to the subgenus Gelasimus, dwell on rocky shores and muddy–sandy tidal flats, respectively, in Phuket Is., Thailand. We investigated their feeding ecology in relation to the morphology of their feeding organs: minor food-handling chelipeds and maxillipeds. U. tetragononfed chiefly on rocks covered by filamentous green algae. U. vocansfed on the emerged sand and in shallow water along the shoreline and in pools. While feeding, both crabs made sand pellets beneath their mouthparts and discarded them, indicating that they divided the matter scooped up with their minor chelipeds into edible and inedible fractions by using the maxillipeds in the water passing through their buccal cavity. The morphology of maxillipeds hardly differed between the two species, which means that both species are flotation-feeders. The morphology of their minor chelipeds, however, differed: the tips of the dactyl and pollex were flat in U. tetragononand pointed in U. vocans.When the minor cheliped was closed, U. tetragononhad a hemispherical space in the distal one-fourth of the gape, which was closed by the framing keratin layers and a few setae of the dactyl and pollex. On the other hand, U. vocanshad an ellipsoidal space in the distal half of the gape. We consider these morphological characters to be adaptations to the different feeding substrates for retaining more food-laden sediment. We discuss the role of the setae on the minor chelipeds on the basis of the morphological differences between populations of U. tetragononin Phuket Is. and East Africa where the crab inhabits muddy–sandy tidal flats.     

Germination traits and seed-bank dynamics of a biennial plant,Oenothera glazioviana Micheli

A study was conducted on the germination traits and seed-bank dynamics ofOenothera glazioviana (=O. erythrosepala), which sets seed in August in sand-dune systems in Japan. More than 90% of freshly matured seeds germinated over a wide range of temperature in light, but less than 10% did so in continuous darkness. Stratification (chilling under moist conditions) was ineffective in diminishing the light-requirement for germination. When fresh seeds were imbibed for 24 h including a 12-h light period, followed by 7-day air-drying, 94% of them became germinable in the dark at 25°C, but remained dormant at less than 15°C. of seeds collected in March from capsules of dead plants, 58% germinated in the dark at 25°C. After four cycles of alternatc 1-day wetting followed by 2-day drying or 1.5-day wetting followed by 1.5-day drying under a 12-h photoperiod, the fraction of viable seeds declined from 76% to 40% and 22%, respectively, due to germination during the wet periods. Seed-bag experiments were conducted in the field, using seeds given and not given a light-stimulus. Forty percent of the light-stimulated seeds germinated in the soil, whereas the seeds without a light-stimulus remained dormant throughout the experiment. When seeds were placed on the soil surface or at a depth of 0.5-1 cm, the proportion of germinable seeds declined during late spring and autumn, but not during winter and early spring. The seed-bank size of a natural population just prior to current seed dispersal was 2–3% of the seed production in the previous year, suggesting a high turnover rate of the seed-bank.     

Biotic soil factors affecting the growth and development of Ammophila arenaria

Summary To study the origin of replant disease of Ammophila arenaria (L.) Link the growth and development in sand originating from the rhizosphere of a natural Ammophila vegetation was compared with the growth in sand from the sea-floor. In a greenhouse experiment, the growth of Ammophila seedlings in rhizosphere sand, when compared with that in sea sand, was significantly reduced. As sterilization by means of gamma-irradiation increased the biomass production of Ammophila seedlings significantly, it was concluded that the rhizosphere sand contained biotic factors that were harmful to Ammophila. In rhizosphere sand the roots of Ammophila were brown and poorly developed, and the specific uptake rates of N, P and K were reduced. The shoot weight proportion of the total plant dry matter was hardly influenced. In an outdoor experiment with Ammophila seedlings and cuttings, using both sands, the mortality was high and the plants were feeble in rhizosphere sand whereas plants in sea sand grew vigorously. It seems plausible that the plants in rhizophere sand were dessicated because the root system was shallow and badly developed. In the greenhouse experiments, Ammophila cuttings were less sensitive to the inhibiting factors in the rhizosphere than seedlings. This was confirmed in the outdoor experiment. Calammophila baltica (Fluegge ex Schrader) Brand, however, was hardly affected by the harmful biotic factors in the greenhouse. These results are discussed with reference to the ecology of Ammophila. It is assumed that the catching of fresh windblown sand provides Ammophila with a way to escape from harmful biotic soil factors, and it was concluded that degeneration of Ammophila is caused mainly by self-intolerance due to these biotic soil factors.     

A note on the feeding ofAmphichaeta leydigii (Oligochaeta,Naididae) in lacustrine sandy shores

The analysis of gut contents ofAmphichaeta leydigii, found for the first time in Italy in sandy shores of Lake Vico (Central Italy), proved grazing of the species on diatoms (Centrales and Pennales). Detritus and organic particles, abundant in the substratum, were observed only in small amounts.     

Penetrometer resistance,root penetration resistance and root elongation rate in two sandy loam soils

Root penetration resistance and elongation of maize seedling roots were measured directly in undisturbed cores of two sandy loam soils. Root elongation rate was negatively correlated with root penetration resistance, and was reduced to about 50 to 60% of that of unimpeded controls by a resistance of between 0.26 and 0.47 MPa. Resistance to a 30° semiangle, 1 mm diameter penetrometer was between about 4.5 and 7.5 times greater than the measured root penetration resistance. However, resistance to a 5° semiangle, 1 mm diameter probe was approximately the same as the resistnace to root penetration after subtracting the frictional component of resistance. The diameter of roots grown in the undisturbed cores was greater than that of roots grown in loose soil, probably as a direct result of the larger mechanical impedance in the cores.     

A New Marine Interstitial Ciliate from the Northwest Atlantic Coast Tracheloraphis primitarum Sp. N. (Ciliophora, Kinetofragminophora, Karyorelictida, Trachelocercidae)

ABSTRACT A new species of marine interstitial ciliate, Tracheloraphis primitarum sp. n., is described from intertidal sands (160-200-μm medium grain size) along the Northwest Atlantic coast. Living specimens are not transparent under incident light, 0.4-0.9 mm in length, and are characterized by an elongated body, bulbous anterior and rounded posterior regions. Cytostome is simple without a cleft on the lip. Protargol silver impregnation shows 18-29 longitudinal kineties. The glabrous zone is very narrow, 6-7 μm wide, and corresponds to the area occupied by one kinety and two interkinetal spaces. Ten to fifteen kineties terminate against the glabrous zone. Interkinetal extrusomes are present. The nuclear apparatus is a single centrally-placed nuclear group that consists of three large irregular macronuclei and 2-3 micronuclei; these are either clustered or encapsulated.     

宁夏银川平原沙化土地不同人工林土壤质量评价

沙化土地土壤贫瘠、生产力低,人工植被恢复是重要的土壤改良措施。为研究宁夏银川平原沙地不同人工林栽植对土壤的影响,以银川腹部沙地银川植物园沙化土壤恢复区的2017年3月种植的文冠果(Xanthoceras sorbifolium)和欧李(Cerasus humilis)人工林地为研究对象,以邻近的长期撂荒地为对照,对土壤质量进行了研究。2020年7—8月采集土样并测定了土壤物理、化学、生物学等20个指标作为土壤质量评价的总数据集,方差分析筛选出差异显著性的9个指标作为重要数据集指标,采用主成分分析法和Norm值建立土壤质量评价指标最小数据集(MDS),利用线性和非线性两种评分方法计算土壤质量指数(SQI)。结果表明：与长期撂荒地相比,银川平原沙化土壤恢复区人工文冠果、欧李林地的土壤理化性质较好,土壤砂粒百分比减少、粉粒和黏粒百分比有所增加,pH降低;有机质、全氮、全磷、全钾等主要养分指标提高,蔗糖酶、脲酶、纤维素酶等主要生物酶活性也高于撂荒地,筛选出的研究区土壤质量评价MDS指标为土壤粉粒百分比和全磷。2种评价方法下,文冠果和欧李人工恢复林地的SQI高于撂荒地,但提高不显著(P>0...     

宁夏河东沙区刺槐和丝绵木水分利用策略

刺槐和丝绵木混交林是宁夏河东沙区防护林建设的主要模式,了解刺槐和丝绵木的水分利用策略,能为区域植被恢复和防护林林分结构调整提供科学依据。以宁夏河东沙区刺槐(Robinia pseudoacacia)和丝绵木(Euonymus bungeanus)混交林为研究对象,通过监测微气象、树干液流和土壤质量含水量,结合大气降水、土壤水、植物木质部水同位素组成,采用Granier及其校正公式,运用贝叶斯混合模型(MixSIAR)和相似性比例指数(PS)研究2个树种的蒸腾耗水、水分来源和水分利用关系。结果表明：刺槐和丝绵木的蒸腾耗水量在生长季中期较高,前期和后期较小,刺槐的蒸腾耗水量是丝绵木的1.55倍;影响刺槐蒸腾耗水的主要环境因子为饱和水汽压差、太阳辐射、0—40 cm土壤质量含水量和40—120 cm土壤质量含水量;影响丝绵木蒸腾耗水的主要环境因子为饱和水汽压差、太阳辐射、平均气温、0—40 cm土壤质量含水量和40—120 cm土壤质量含水量;蒸腾耗水较高时,刺槐主要吸收利用中层土壤水,丝绵木主要吸收利用浅层土壤水,蒸腾耗水较低时,刺槐主要吸收利用浅层土壤水,丝绵木主要吸收利用中层土壤水;在...     

Occurrence of Diaphanosoma excisum (Sars) on a sandy beach at Balramgari (Orissa), India

The occurrence of Diaphanosoma excisum (Sars), a freshwater cladoceran, in benthic samples of an intertidal sandy beach is reported. Population density was seasonal. A relatively high density was recorded from June to September (south-west monsoon season) with a maximum (46 ind 10 cm^–2) in September at a depth of 10–15 cm of sediment. A sudden decline occurred during north-east monsoon (October to January), and in the fair season (February to May), the cladocerans disappeared. Mean density varied (P<0.001) with sediment depth and season and showed a contagious dispersion. Abundance was negatively correlated with salinity (r = –0.76) but positively with POC (r =0.79) and mean grain size of the sediment (r = 0.93). The density of D. excisum was highest in fine sand.