CONCHOSTRACAN ASSEMBLAGE FROM BOTTOM OF ERMAYIN FORMATION, SHAANXI

This paper deals with characteristics of the conchostracan assemblage and describes some new species of fossil conchostracan collected from the bottom of the Ermayin Formation near Changjiayan of Wupu County, Shaanxi in 1983.After studying and comparing this conchostracan assemblage, the writer here suggests that (1) this assemblage is characterized by leading members of Protomonocarina and Euestheria, rare but very important members of Xiangxiella and many members of Palaeolimnadiopsis and Diaplexa; (2) this fossil fauna has a close relation to that of the Heshanggou Formation, but itis more different from that of the Tongchuan Formation.It is of great significance to compare the regional stratigraphical sequence, because the strata containing this conchostracan fauna are more stable in North China.This fossil fauna may be called the Protomonocarina-Euesteria fauna, representing the conchostracan fauna of early Middle Triassic in North China and resembling the Xiangxiella fauna in South China.     

Male spike strobiles with Gnetum affinity from the Early Cretaceous in western Liaoning,Northeast China

A fossil with Gnetum affinity was found in the Jianshangou Member （Barremian Age） of the Yixian Formation （Lower Cretaceous Epoch） of the Jehol Group in western Liaoning, northeastern China. The single fossil specimen is represented by both elongate-cylindrical male spike strobiles which borne within a nodal bract of cauliflorous branch. The spike strobiles have apparent nodes, invisible internodes, and numerous verticillate involucral collars. The microsporangiate units within involucral collars are not seen. The male spike strobiles with verticillate involucral collars occur exclusively in Gnetum; hence, the fossil strobiles are attributed to a new taxon, Khitania columnispicata gen. ＆ sp. nov., being closely related to Gnetum. The general isotopic dating suggests an age of Barremian, ca. 125-122 million years （Myr） ago for the Jianshangou Member. The palaeoecological and palaeoclimatic inference based on the compositions of flora and fauna, and lithological characters of the fossil locality suggests that the fossil plants grew in a subtropical mesophytic forest and under a warmer climate. The remains of male spike strobiles are the first record of gnetalean macrofossil. It documents the evolution of the distinct gnetoid morphology and indicates a wider range of distribution of Gnetaceae in the Early Cretaceous than present day.     

PONTIAN MAMMALS OF WENQUAN,SINKIANG

Some mammalian fossils collected by the authors in Autumn of 1963 from thewestern part of Zungarica Basin in Sinkiang are described in the present notes.Thelocality lies in the extreme west of Zungarica Basin at Ta-ku-sze-tai valley of Wenquandistrict on the southern side of the Altao Mountains,and it is the first Tertiary localityin Sinkiang represented by a mammalian assemblage,the stratigraphic occurrence ofwhich is known.The fossils are rather well preserved and occur in a clay“pocket”intercalated as a lens in a series of sandstones,marls and conglomerates.The age ofthe fossil bearing Tertiary beds at Ta-ku-sze-tai is Early Pliocene as characterized bythe presence of Gazella dorcadoides,Indarctos sinensis and?Lycyaena dubia,which arethe common elements of Hipparion fauna in North China.     

Projects Funded by the Division of Botany （NSFC） in 2005： Retrospect and Prospect

The present paper briefly introduces information about proposals received and funded, statistics and analysis of evaluation of peer review, and supporting strategies and reforms in program reviewing and administration in the Division of Botany at the Natural Science Foundation of China （NSFC） in 2005. A list of general programs and the abstract of key programs funded by this Division in 2005 are also provided.     

A MAMMALIAN LOWER JAW FROM THE JURASSIC OF LINGYUAN, LIAONING

<正> In 1976, a right mandible of a Mesozoic mammal was collected by Messrs. Cheng Zhengwu and Yue Zhao of Institute of Geology, the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, from the Middle Jurassic in Lingyuan County, Liaoning Province, Northeast China (fig. 1), When they were studying the Mesozoic stratigraphy of that area. This fossil site is most probably from the same locality as that of Yabeinosaurus tenuis reported by C.C. Young in 1958. Both fossils are derived from the same horizon.     

New ommatids from the Late Jurassic of western Liaoning, China （Coleoptera： Archostemata）

A new genus Amblomma gen. nov. of fossil beetles is erected and can be assignedto the family Ommatidae because its two procoxal cavities are contiguous and the articulations of the abdominal ventrites are abutting. The new genus is similar to Zygadenia Handlirsch, 1906 (=Notocupes Ponomarenko, 1964), Tetraphalerus Waterhouse, 1901,Rhobdocupes Ponomarenko, 1966 and Sinocupes Lin, 1976, but can be distinguished from other genera according to the following characters: the second segment of antennae is shorterthan the third one in length; the posterior tarsi with the basal segment is obviously shorter than the three following taken together in length; the antennae reach the posterior ridge of prothroax in length, and the sides of the prothroax with serrulate margin. Four new species of the new genus are described and figured: Amblomma psilata gen. et sp. nov., Amblomma rudis gen. et sp. nov., Amblomma epicharis gen. et sp. nov., and Amblomma stabilis gen. etsp. nov. A key to species within this new genus is provided. All the specimens are collected from the Late Jurassic Yixian Formation of western Liaoning and are now housed in the College of Life Science, Capital Normal University, Beijing, China.     

印尼爪哇动物群与周口店地区及华南动物群对比

Recently the vertebrate faunal succession established by von Koenigswald in 1930s was replaced by a new one which was proposed by Sondaar (1984), which arose some problems in regional correlations, because the relationship between the two schemes are not very clear,and some of the guide fossils mentioned by von Koenigswald were not included in the new scheme. In China, we used to compare the Jetis Fauna with Gongwangling fauna, Trinil Fauna with Zhoukoudian and Yanjinggou Faunas, but at the present time, both of the faunal names were given up. The new dating works changed the old scheme of faunas, the oldest mammalian fossil record in Java is only 1.5 Ma, which had been thought to be Middle Pliocene in the past half century. The new results from the dating works are not well correlated yet with the turnover of faunal assemblages. It's sure that the Java Faunas have close relationship with that of China, but how we can correlate them precisely is still to be done in the future.
     

Two species in Hymenochaetaceae （Basidiomycota） new to China

1 INTRODUCTION Wood-inhabiting fungi from northern China were investigated extensively during last ten years, and the species in the area are relatively well known （Dai 2000; Dai et al. 2006, 2007; Wei et al. 2005; Yuan et al. 2006）. However, they are scantily reported in tropical forests of China （Dai et al. 2001, 2002, 2004）. By the support of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, two field investigations were made in Jianfengling and Bawangling Nature Reserve of Hainan Province in 2006.     

Grasshopper （Orthoptera： Acrididae） biodiversity and grassland ecosystems

Interesting results may arise by combining studies on the structure and function of ecosystems with that of biodiversity for certain species. Grasshopper biodiversity is the result of the evolution of grassland ecosystems; however, it also impacts on the structure and the function of those ecosystems. We consider there to be a close relationship between the health of grassland ecosystems and grasshopper biodiversity. The main problems involved in this relationship are likely to include： （i） grasshopper biodiversity and its spatial pattern; （ii） the effect of grasshopper biodiversity on the ecological processes of grassland ecosystems; （iii） the biodiversity threshold of grasshopper population explosions; （iv） the relationship between grasshopper biodiversity and the natural and human factors that affect grassland ecosystems; and （v） grasshopper biodiversity and the health of grassland ecosystems. The solutions to these problems may provide sound bases for controlling disasters caused by grasshoppers and managing grassland ecosystems in the west of China. In this paper, we introduced two concepts for grasshopper biodiversity, that is, ＂spatial pattern＂ and ＂biodiversity threshold＂. It is helpful to understand the action of the spatial pattern of grasshopper biodiversity on the ecological processes of grassland ecosystems and the effect of this spatial pattern on the health of those ecosystems, owing to the fact that, in the west of China, grasslands are vast and grasshoppers are widely distributed. Moreover, we inferred that the change in the level of component richness at each type of grasshopper biodiversity can make an impact on grassland ecosystems, and therefore, there is likely to be a threshold to grasshopper biodiversity for the stability and the sustainability of those ecosystems.     

Variations of Water-Soluble Carbohydrate Contents in Different Age Class Modules of Leymus chinensis Populations in Sandy and Saline-Alkaline Soil on the Songnen Plains of China

Leymus chinensis （Trin.） Tzveh is a rhizomatous perennial herbage of Gramineae. Reproduction is mainly by vegetative reproduction. Tillering nodes and rhizomes of L. chinensis serve as organs for both vegetative reproduction and nutrient storage. Water-soluble carbohydrate （WSC） contents were measured in tillering nodes, nodes and Internodes of rhizomes of different age classes of L. chinensis populations at three development stages, namely the dough ripe stage, the vegetative growth stage after full ripeness, and the withering stage, in two habitats： sandy soil and saline-alkaline soil. The results showed that WSC content in tillering nodes of the three age classes of L. chinensis were all markedly decreased with increasing age in both sandy soil and saline-alkaline solh A similar trend of changes In WSC contents was observed in the nodes and internodes of rhizomes in different age classes In both habitats. The highest WSC contents were in 2-age-class nodes and internodes of rhizomes, followed by those In the 1 age class, with the lowest WSC contents found in 3-age-class nodes and internodes of rhizomes at the dough ripe and vegetative growth stages after full ripening. In turn, WSC contents decreased with Increasing age at the withering stage in both habitats. The WSC content in each age class of internode was higher than that in the node of rhizome at three development stages in both habitats.     

Bolboschoenus (Ascherson) Palla (Cyperaceae) from Pliocene of China

Tubers, culms, rhizomes, and leaves of Bolboschoenus cf. yagara (Ohwi) YC Yang et M Zhan were reported from the sediments of Zhangcun Formation, Late Pliocene in Shanxi Province, China. The fossil species possesses trigonous culms. And tubers are cordiform, spindle shaped, or round, and are covered by roots in internodes and often connected by rhizomes. This is the first convincing fossil record of Cyperaceae in China.     

Different patterns of aerenchyma formation in two hygrophytic species of Paspalum (Poaceae) as response to flooding

Paspalum modestum and P. wrightii are perennial grasses growing in permanent and seasonally flooded areas, respectively. The former produces short rhizomes and floating culms, the latter forms long rhizomes and erect culms. Variations in percentage aerenchymatous space (PAS) in different organs as a response to flooding was analysed using a clone of each species. Eighteen plantlets of each clone were cultivated during 7 months under flooded vs. unflooded conditions. After this period, roots, rhizomes, culms, and leaf sheaths were collected and prepared. PAS was measured using an image analysis device, and data were analysed using ANOVA.Production of aerenchyma took place in both species within the cortical parenchyma of roots, rhizomes and culms, and the mesophyll of leaf sheaths, both in flooded and unflooded plants. Under flooding conditions PAS increased in both species, although the individual response of organs differed: whereas in P. modestum PAS increased primarily in substratum-fixed roots, in P. wrightii all organs produced additional aerenchyma uniformly. Contrasting responses are understood as adaptations to permanent and seasonal flooding, respectively.     

Permineralized rhizomes of the Osmundaceae (Filicales): Diversity and tempo-spatial distribution pattern

The family Osmundaceae is among the most primitive ferns of the Filicales, with an extensive fossil record dating back to the Late Paleozoic. Numerous fossil osmundaceous rhizomes have been documented in the geological history. However, the diversity, variation and distribution pattern of permineralized rhizomes remain poorly known. Here we intend to analyze the fossil records with regard to the diversity and distribution pattern of the osmundaceous rhizomes based on available data. To date, about 83 species ascribed to 14 genera of fossil osmundaceous rhizomes have been described worldwide, assigned to two subfamilies, namely, Thamnopteroideae and Osmundoideae. Geologically, two groups (i.e., Thamnopteroideae and Palaeosmunda) have been reported in the Permian. All the Triassic taxa are from the southern hemisphere. Jurassic osmundaceous rhizomes are abundant and widespread throughout the world, most dominant in the southern hemisphere. During the transition of Jurassic to Cretaceous, the diversity of osmundaceous rhizomes declined rapidly. In the Cretaceous, however, the osmundaceous rhizomes from the northern hemisphere surpass those from the southern hemisphere in generic level for the first time. The Cenozoic taxa diversified in the northern hemisphere with the rise of angiosperms. Geographically, the osmundaceous fossil rhizomes have been found in both hemispheres; the major localities include Ural area of the former USSR, Tasmania of Australia, southern Argentina, Antarctica, northern India, central and western part of North America and northern China. We discuss the origin, radiation, and development of the Osmundaceae based on rhizomes, to help further understand the systematic relation and evolutionary history of the family Osmundaceae.     

Carex zhejiangensis sp. nov. (Cyperaceae) from Zhejiang,eastern China

Carex zhejiangensis X. F. Jin, Y. J. Zhao, C. Z. Zheng & H. W. Zhang, a new species of Carex sect. Rhomboidales sensu Kükenthal (Cyperaceae) from Zhejiang, eastern China, is described with illustrations. This new species is morphologically similar to C. filipes and C. macroglossa. Compared to C. filipes, C. zhejiangensis has elongated rhizomes, scattered culms, rather densely flowered pistillate spikes, achenes shortly stipitate at the base, and styles erect at the base. In contrast, C. filipes has short rhizomes, caespitose culms, sparsely flowered pistillate spikes, achenes obscurely stipitate at the base, and styles curved at the base. C. zhejiangensis differs from C. macroglossa by having elongated rhizomes and scattered culms, pistillate scales awned at apex, and perigynia contracted to a narrowly infundibuliform beak at apex. Diagnostic morphological characters, which are based upon population sampling, were analyzed in Carex zhejiangensis sp. nov., C. filipes and C. macroglossa.     

Causal analysis of the invasion of broad-leaved forest by bamboo in Japan

Abstract. In southwestern Tokyo the area covered by bamboo forest has expanded by a factor of 2.7 over the last 26 years. This has mainly been due to bamboo (Phyllostachyspubescens) invading secondary broad-leaved forests, probably after these were abandoned. In the first stage, bamboo sprouts develop from rhizomes at the periphery of the broad-leaved forest and then grow very quickly into young culms. In the next phase culm density increases annually, while the existing broad-leaved trees gradually lose their vitality and die. Finally, the broad-leaved forest is completely replaced by bamboo forest. The competitive ability of bamboo, based on its morphological and growth features, is suggested as the causal factor for the invasion: (1) bamboo can invade a neighboring broad-leaved forest by its vigorous rhizomes; (2) young bamboo culms can break through the canopy of broad-leaved trees; (3) bamboo quickly forms a crown in or above the canopy of the broad-leaved forest; (4) bamboo is very tolerant of strong wind and heavy snow accumulation; (5) bamboo culms, being very pliable during strong wind mechanically damage neighbouring broad-leaved trees.     

Microscale Spatial Distribution of Phragmites australis (Common Reed) Invasion into Spartina patens (Salt Hay)-dominated Communities in Brackish Tidal Marsh

Over the last century, Phragmites australis (common reed) has been expanding rapidly from the marsh–upland boundary into Spartina patens (salt hay)-dominated high marsh communities of the eastern US coast. Whereas direct and indirect human disturbances and changes in hydrology or salinity are likely to influence rates of spread at the landscape scale, the susceptibility of specific plant communities to invasion also influence rates of Phragmites expansion at the local scale. I measured microscale (0.25 m²) spatial patterns of culms (emerging buds and mature stems) in October 1993 at both expanding and stable boundaries of Phragmites populations within a S. patens-dominant matrix. In both expanding and stable plots, Phragmites culms were observed more frequently than expected on hummocks that were created by S. patens tussock-forming root structure. Culm density within a plot was correlated with the percent hummock cover within a plot. Further, Phragmites culms, particularly mature stems, were concentrated along the perimeter of the hummocks. Because the culms were not evenly distributed between hummocks and hollows, I suggest that invasion rates of Phragmites are limited in S. patens communities by microscale differences in hummock availability. The pattern of emergence suggests that expanding rhizomes of Phragmites encounter both competition with S. patens roots on the hummocks and physiological stressors (salinity, anoxia, sulfide concentrations) in the hollows.     

Implications of missing efflux sites on convective ventilation and amino acid metabolism in Phragmites australis

Three stands of Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steudel were investigated regarding the relationship between the number of efflux culms and convective ventilation efficiency affecting the hypoxic status of roots and rhizomes. The lack of old (efflux) culms after mowing the preceding winter caused a significantly higher counterpressure within the rhizome, thereby diminishing air flushing rate, i.e. oxygen supply, of rhizomes. The levels of alanine and c-aminobutyric acid in basal culm internodes increased significantly. Both amino acids indicate the hypoxic status of the root and rhizome metabolism of P. australis . Amino acid patterns of the basal culm internodes are discussed with respect to the maintenance of aerobic root metabolism and nutrient availability.     

Plant biomass and nutrient levels of a tropical macrophyte (Cyperus papyrus L.) receiving domestic wastewater

The aboveground biomass and nutrient content ofCyperus papyrus were determined in a small tropical swamp receiving domestic wastewater. It was found that the biomass (4,955 g.m^–2 dry weight) was the highest ever reported for papyrus. The levels of both nitrogen and phosphorus in the plant organs were very high. The nitrogen concentrations of the various plant organs were 4.8% roots, 8.4% rhizomes, 4.5% scales, 4.8% culms, and 6.2% umbels on dry weight basis. As to phosphorus the concentrations were 0.09% roots, 0.11% rhizomes, 0.09% scales, 0.10% culms, and 0.13% umbels. The high biomass and nutrient contents of the plants may have been caused by the high nutrient levels in the surrounding water. Comparison of the nitrogen to phosphorus ratios in the plants to those in the surrounding water showed that the plants stored very high amounts of nitrogen.     

Cytology and ultrastructure of interactions between <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ustilago esculenta</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zizania latifolia</Emphasis>

Ustilago esculenta is a biotrophic smut fungus that parasitizes Zizania latifolia, an edible aquatic vegetable of the southern China region. Infection results in swelling of the upper parts of the Z. latifolia culm which are called jiaobai and have a unique flavor and delicacy and are popular among Chinese. The infection process of Z. latifolia by U. esculenta was investigated with light and electron microscopy. Distribution of hyphae was uneven in plants; hyphae were mainly present in the swollen upper parts (jiaobai), the nodal regions of mature culms and old rhizomes and buds or shoots. Hyphae were rare in the internodes of mature culms and were fewer in the internodes of old rhizomes. All new buds produced on the nodes of culms and rhizomes were infected by hyphae in November before and in March after overwintering. The hyphae grew into the buds from the parent nodes via intervascular tissues only or via parenchyma tissues and vascular bundles. Hyphae extended within and between the host cells and frequently formed hyphal aggregations or clusters, not only in the mature tissues but also in developing tissues. The typical interface between the fungal hyphal wall and invaginated host plasma membrane comprised a sheath. The sheath surrounding a hyphae comprised an outer electron-opaque matrix and an inner electron-dense layer. The electron-opaque matrix layers were thicker in jiaobai tissues, ranging from 0.28 to 0.85 μm. The electron-dense hyphal coatings were more conspicuous in the young buds or shoots and mature culms than in the jiaobai. The intercellular hyphae caused large cavity formation between the cells or rupture of host cell walls, for gaining entry into host cells. The broken host cell wall fused with the electron-opaque matrix of the hyphal sheath as an interactive interface. The teliospore wall and wall ornamentation development was the same in postmature jiaobai tissues with sporadic sori and in the huijiao (jiaobai tissues containing the massive sori), but a sheath enveloping the teliospore was more transparent in the process of teliospore development in the jiaobai than in the huijiao.     

Density regulation during the regeneration of two monocarpic bamboos: self-thinning or intraclonal regulation?

Abstract. The population dynamics of two monocarpic bamboos, Sasa kurilensis and S. tsuboiana, were studied for more than 10 years after establishment following mass flowering. Both species show vigorous rhizomatous vegetative reproduction after growing up to maturity, but horizontal expansion in the seedling stage was much more vigorous in S. tsuboiana than in S. kurilensis. The pattern of changes in culm density in the two species was strikingly similar: culm densities of both species increased until they reached full-density states, after which they decreased in accordance with seedling growth. However, the mode of regulation in culm density was different. S. kurilensis seedlings were composed of only a few culms and scarcely extended their rhizomes during the observation period. Such poor lateral expansion resulted in asymmetric competition as observed in many non-clonal plants, and consequently their culm density decreased as a result of the mortality of genets due to self-thinning. In S. tsuboiana seedlings, the number of culms per genet increased considerably by frequent tillering and sprouting from rhizomes. However, after reaching full density state, the Bud Utility Ratio (BUR), (the proportion of the rhizome nodes with culms to the total number of rhizome nodes), decreased drastically. In this manner, S. tsuboiana regulated culm density intraclonally as is observed in the stable states of many clonal plants. Hence it is important for the understanding of the regeneration process in clonal species to clarify when and how their seedlings extend rhizomes during their growth.