Book Reviews

Books Reviewed:
Flowers of Crete by John Fielding & Nicholas Turland, edited by Brian Mathew.
Flower paintings from the Apothecaries' Garden Contemporary Botanical Illustrations from Chelsea Physic Garden, by Andrew Brown.
The Gardener's Peony Herbaceous and tree peonies, by Martin Page.
Dogwoods by Paul Cappiello and Don Shadow.
Witch Hazels by Chris Lane.     

Persistence of coral assemblages at East and West Flower Garden Banks,Gulf of Mexico

Since 1989 a federally supported long-term coral reef monitoring program has focused on two study sites atop East and West Flower Garden Banks in the northwestern Gulf of Mexico. We examined 25 yr of benthic cover data to provide a multi-decadal baseline and trend analysis of the community structure for this coral reef system. Despite global coral reef decline in recent decades, mean coral cover at East and West Flower Garden Banks was above 50% for the combined 25 yr of continuous monitoring, and represented a stable coral community. However, mean macroalgal cover increased significantly between 1998 and 1999, rising from approximately 3 to 20%, and reaching a maximum above 30% in 2012. In contrast to many other shallow water reefs in the Caribbean region, increases in mean macroalgal cover have not been concomitant with coral cover decline at the Flower Garden Banks.     

QTL molecular marker location of powdery mildew resistance in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.)

The cucumber lines, S94 (Northern China open-field type, powdery mildew (PM) susceptible) and S06 (European greenhouse type, PM resistant), and their F6:7 populations were used to investigate PM re-sistance under seedling spray inoculation in 2005/Autumn and 2006/Spring. QTL analysis was under-taken based on a constructed molecular linkage map of the corresponding F6 population using com-posite interval mapping. A total of four QTLs (pm1.1, pm2.1, pm4.1 and pm6.1) for PM resistance were identified and located on LG 1, 2, 4 and 6, respectively, explaining 5.2%-21.0% of the phenotypic variation. Three consistent QTLs (pm1.1, pm2.1 and pm4.1) were detected under the two test conditions. The QTL pm6.1 was only identified in 2005/Autumn. The total phenotypic variation explained by the QTLs was 52.0% and 42.0% in 2005/Autumn and 2006/Spring, respectively. Anchor markers tightly linked to those loci (<5 cM) could lay a basis for both molecular marker-assisted breeding and map-based gene cloning of the PM-resistance gene in cucumber.     

长江口邻近海域营养盐分布特征及其控制过程的初步研究

利用1997年秋季和1998年春季对长江口邻近海域两个航次的调查结果,对该海域营养盐分布、结构特征以及其主要控制过程进行了探讨．结果表明,该海域的营养盐分布及结构具有明显的季节变化,秋季海水中NO3--N、SiO3^2-．SiSiO3^2-,Si及PO4^3--P,DOP、PP均高于春季,平均含量分别为4．97、11．6、0．44、0．26、0．82μmol·L-1,而春季则是NO2--N、NH4+-N、DON、PN含量高,平均含量分别为0．70、2．26、9．88、7．88μmol·L-·PP(54％)和PO4^3--P(51％)分别为秋季和春季磷的主要形态,两个季节氮结构基本一致,均以DON和PN为主．除春季PO4^3--P外,营养盐受长江冲淡水等陆源输入的影响而呈现近岸含量较高,溶解无机氮秋季以NO3^- -N为主而春季则以NH4^+-N为主,秋季PO4^3- -P同时来源于长江冲淡水和台湾暖流．而春季则主要来源于台湾暖流．显示出春季台湾暖流对调查海区的影响程度大于秋季．     

Localized hypoxia may have caused coral reef mortality at the Flower Garden Banks

Coral Reefs - On July 25, 2016, turbid water and dead corals, sponges and other invertebrates were discovered at the East Bank (EB) of the Flower Garden Banks (FGB) National Marine Sanctuary....     

The effect of sulfide and an increased food supply on the meiofauna and macrofauna at the East Flower Garden brine seep

A sulfurous brine seep at the East Flower Garden Bank, northwest Gulf of Mexico, produces conditions conducive to the growth of a luxuriant prokaryotic biota. Hydrodynamic cropping continually harvests this biota and distributes it to sandy-bottom and hard-bank benthic communities downstream of the seep. Consequently, both macro- and meiofaunal abundances are dramatically increased above the regional norm in parts of the seep system. When sulfide is present, the lower Bilaterian groups belonging to the meiofauna dominate the community; without sulfide, macrofaunal groups, particularly crustaceans, dominate the community. Outside the influence of the seep, meiofaunal copepods predominate. Changes in taxonomic composition and abundance indicate that the sandy-bottom benthos at 70–80 m depth at the East Flower Garden bank is foodlimited and that, under these conditions, meiofauna, particularly the higher Bilaterian groups, dominate the community numerically. Perhaps, under food-limiting conditions, meiofauna compete favorably with macrofauna for food.     

不同时间火烧后草原一些特征的变化

草原不同时间火烧后,一些特征发生了明显的不同变化。秋烧后土壤含水量比未烧和春烧低,春季不同时间火烧后的差别不大。秋烧地产量及群落组成和物种多样性都明显比未烧地和春烧地低,但一年生植物种类增多。春季不同时间火烧后产量变化差异不显着,但晚春火烧后顶芽植物种类减少。不同生活型的种类对同一次火烧的反应不同,这不仅表现在个体生长方面,也表现在种群产量方面。     

Host plant preference and the influence of different cabbage cultivars on the toxicity of abamectin and cypermethrin against Plutella xylostella Lepidoptera: Plutellidae

The toxicity of avermectin B, (abamectin) and cypermethrin was determined against fourth instar larvae of Plutella xylostella L. reared on three cabbage cultivars which differed in their suitability as host plants. Cabbage cultivars were assessed as hosts for P. xylostella on the basis of larval and pupal weight and adult fecundity. Larvae reared on the best host, the cabbage cv. Offenham Flower of Spring were significantly (P > 0.01) less sensitive to topically-applied abamectin (4.7-fold at LD₅₀) or cypermethrin (2.3-fold) when compared with larvae reared on the intermediate host, the Savoy cabbage cv. Aquarius F1. Larvae reared on Offenham Flower of Spring were also significantly (P > 0.01) less sensitive (4.5-fold) to topically-applied abamectin compared with larvae reared on the poorest host tested, the cabbage cv. Minicole Fl. In contrast, the residual/ingestion toxicity of abamectin against fourth instars was significantly (P > 0.01) greater (2.5-fold at LC₅₀) on Offenham Flower of Spring than on Minicole F1. The results are discussed in terms of larval weight and larval feeding rates on the different cabbage cultivars.     

大、小苏干湖湿地鸟类多样性季节变化

2006年分3个季节(春、夏、秋)对大苏干湖、小苏干湖及两湖间河道湿地鸟类物种多样性及数量的季节变动进行了调查,共记录到鸟类11目20科38属47种。其中留鸟5种,迁徙路过鸟10种,夏候鸟32种。春季共记录到24种鸟类,夏季32种,秋季30种。秋季在大苏干湖区活动的鸟类种数最多,多样性指数最大,为3.0891,而小苏干湖区的鸟类多样性指数在3个季节都较低。     

The seasonal daily travel in a group of Sichuan snub-nosed monkey (Pygathrix roxellana) in Shennongjia Nature Reserve,China

The seasonal daily travel of a group of snub-nosed monkey (Pygathrix roxellana) was investigated using the group’s straight-line distance method. The group was followed from dawn to dusk for 30 consecutive days during each season to encompass all aspects of daily travel patterns. The results showed that in Summer and Autumn, the mean daily travel distance (m) was significantly longer than in Winter and Spring. There was no significant difference in the mean daily travel distance between Summer and Autumn or between Winter and Autumn. The mean travel distance (m/hr) during daytime was significantly higher in Summer and Autumn than in Spring, and in Autumn than in Winter. The travel of the group in all seasons had similar patterns. Traveling showed morning and afternoon peaks, with a rest period at the noon in a day. Seasonal food availability, length of daytime, and mean travel distance (m/hr) during daytime might have contributed to the different daily travel distances in different seasons.     

Finishing season and feeding resources influence the quality of products from extensive-system Gascon pigs. Part 1: Carcass traits and quality of fresh loin

Consumers perceive pork products from local breeds reared in extensive systems positively because of their specific quality properties and regional identity. The sensory, nutritional and technological qualities of these products depend, among other things, on pig production, especially its climatic conditions and the availability of feed resources, which can influence traits of muscle and fat tissue. The present study (part 1) was part of a larger project that assessed the influence of the finishing season and feeding resources on carcass and tissue traits and the quality of meat and dry-cured ham from Gascon pigs in an extensive system. Following the specifications of the Protected Designation of Origin “Noir de Bigorre”, castrated Gascon males were reared on rangelands (grassland and forest areas) and received a supplementary diet from 5 to 6 months of age until slaughter at a minimum of 12 months of age and ca. 170 kg live weight. Three finishing seasons were considered as follows: Winter (n = 18), Spring (n = 22) and Autumn (n = 23). To estimate specific effects of season on productive and quality traits and avoid bias due to effects of genes known to influence these traits, polymorphisms in the RYR1, PRKAG3, MC4R and LEPR genes were included in the analysis models. The finishing season did not influence growth rate. Compared to Winter pigs, Spring and Autumn pigs had slightly lower carcass fatness (P < 0.05), higher ultimate pH and redder and darker color of the Longissimus muscle (LM) (P < 0.01). Loin drip loss was low overall, but was higher for Spring pigs, whereas cooking loss and shear force were similar among seasons. Spring pigs tended to have the lowest LM lipid content, whereas LM myoglobin content remained unaffected. Autumn pigs had lower potential of lipid oxidation in LM than Winter and Spring pigs (P < 0.01), but muscle metabolic traits assessed via glycolytic and oxidative enzyme activities did not differ among seasons. The finishing season modified the backfat fatty acid (FA) profile, with a lower polyunsaturated FA percentage in Autumn pigs than Winter or Spring pigs (P < 0.001), even though the saturated and monounsaturated FA percentages did not differ. In particular, Spring pigs had the lowest n-6:n-3 and C18:2:C18:3 ratios (P < 0.001), as a result of grazing. Overall, Spring and Autumn finishing seasons seem more favorable to technological and sensory pork attributes, with an additional positive effect of Spring finishing on pork nutritional value.     

WEIGHTS OF SOME PALAEARCTIC MIGRANTS IN SOUTHERN UGANDA

Between March 1966 and May 1968 Palaearctic passerines were mist-netted in thick bush and lightly wooded savannah habitats near Kampala, on the northern shore of Lake Victoria. This paper reports weights of the seven principal species involved. Most migrants appeared to be in a lean condition during the winter months, when weights were relatively low and varied little in each species. Birds were not particularly light on arrival. In fact, autumn Garden Warblers Sylvia borin and Willow Warblers Phylloscopus trochilus were sometimes markedly heavy, and for the former species there was some evidence that the individuals concerned were passage migrants. Autumn weights of Swallows Hirundo rustica, Reed Warblers Acrocephalus scirpaceus and Yellow Wagtails Motacilla flava were similar to those recorded in winter. The mean weight of all species rose during late March or early April. Although most Garden Warblers and Willow Warblers trapped at the time of spring migration were within the normal winter weight range, many Acrocephalus warblers and the majority of Sand Martins Riparia riparia and Yellow Wagtails were rather heavy. Spring weights 40% or more above mean winter weight were not uncommon in the Sedge Warbler Acrocephalus schoenobaenus, but were recorded only occasionally in other species. Although most passerine migrants evidently left Kampala with substantial fat reserves, it was concluded that a considerable number of warblers departed at rather low weight. High spring weights were mainly confined to a period of two or three weeks in each of the warbler species. Locally wintering Acrocephalus warblers must have attained full premigratory weights within three weeks, and a number of spring retraps showed substantial gains at minimum mean rates of between 0–1 and 0–35 g per day. Most heavy Garden Warblers were probably on passage. Significant correlations between weight and wing-length were obtained for all species investigated, regressions of weight on wing-length being in the range 011-0-25 g/mm. Spring weights are briefly compared with data from Nigeria, and the northward migration of passerines from Lake Victoria is discussed.     

THE LIFE AND WORK OF JOHN BRADBY BLAKE

John Bradby Blake (1745–1773) first visited Canton as a supercargo for the British East India Company in 1767/68. He returned as a resident supercargo in July 1769. Between then and his untimely death in 1773, in collaboration with one or more Chinese artists, he produced over 150 paintings of Chinese plants, many of which are illustrated in exquisite botanical detail. These paintings and the associated archives in the Oak Spring Garden Library at the Oak Spring Garden Foundation (OSGF) provide a detailed glimpse into an interesting life and a previously little known dimension of the social and scientific interactions between the British and Chinese in the late 18th century.     

The influences of habitat and seasonal sampling regimes on the ordination and classification of macroinvertebrate assemblages in the catchment of the River Wye,Wales

Assemblages of benthic macroinvertebrates were assessed in relation to environmental variables at 45 sites in the catchment of the Welsh River Wye in 1982.Samples were collected from three habitats (margins, riffles, flats) and in two seasons (Spring and Autumn), separated and combined data sets being ordinated by DECORANA and classified by TWINSPAN. Correlations between primary ordinations were high (p < 0.001) and always strongly related to total hardness or pH; secondary ordinations were also intercorrelated and were related to stream slope.In each instance, total hardness and slope were the strongest discriminants between site groupings produced by TWINSPAN. It is concluded that relationships between faunal assemblages, stream chemistry and stream physiography would be effectively detected in the Wye catchment in either Spring or Autumn and in each of the habitats sampled. However, the most precise categorization of assemblage type required a sampling strategy which combined habitat and seasonal data.     

Phytophthora and Pythium Associated with Feeder Root Rot of Citrus in the Transvaal Province of South Africa

Mild to extensive feeder root rot was present in all 23 orchards, with trees showing symptoms of citrus decline from nine areas in the Transvaal Province of South Africa. Phytophthora nicotianae and Pythium spp. were isolated from diseased roots and rhizosphere soils in all areas sampled. Isolations from diseased feeder roots showed P. nicotianae present in 26% of orchards during Spring and 61% of orchards during Autumn, while Pythium spp. were present in 56% of orchards during Spring and 65% of orchards during Autumn. In isolations from baited rhizosphere soils, P. nicotianae was present in 56% of orchards during Spring and 52% of orchards during Autumn, while Pythium spp. were present in 69% of orchards during Spring and 82% of orchards during Autumn. In rhizosphere soils, the mean population density of Pythium spp. was higher than that of P. nicotianae throughout the season. Only P. nicotianae was consistently isolated during thesurvey. Different Pythium spp. were isolated of which two were tentatively identified as P. paroecandrum and Pythium‘Gp.G’.     

THE PHYLOGENETIC RELATIONSHIPS OF THE PHAEOTHAMNIOPHYCEAE, WITH COMMENTS ON CERTAIN CAPSOID MEMBERS OF THE CHRYSOPHYCEAE

The algal communities of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary have not been comprehensively evaluated and only a few dominant macroalgal species have been reported. This study utilizes both destructive and non-destructive sampling techniques to characterize and taxonomically identify the 'algal mat' community structure. The East and West Flower Garden Banks are located on the outer continental shelf approximately 200 km off the Texas-Louisiana coastline. The average depth of both banks is 100 m with the crest approximately 20 m from the surface. Harvest and photogrammetric samples were collected during two extended cruises to the Flower Garden Banks in October 1998 and March 1999. Forty, 0.25-m² quadrats of standing stock material were randomly collected along with one hundred sixty-one 0.25 m² photo-quadrats from an average depth of 27 m. Photo-transparencies were projected to an actual size grid with 25 random points. Four thousand twenty-five transparency points were evaluated and used to calculate percent composition of algal cover. Harvest samples were used to characterize the "algal mat" composition, species richness, abundance, and biomass. Forty-two species were identified from the samples representing 14 Orders. The "red algal mat" was the dominant algal coverage comprising 38.4% of all photogrammetric samples. This mat was primarily composed of members from the Order Ceramiales. Centroceras, Ceramium , and Polysiphonia comprised 33.4% of the mat, Anotrichium and Hypoglossum , 22.4%.     

科尔沁沙地樟子松能否发生冬季“生理干旱”伤害

在内蒙古东部半干旱地区分别测定了春、秋两季栽植的樟子松苗越冬期间针叶含水量和蒸腾强度的变化,测定了针叶的致死临界含水量并在室内模拟了生理干旱伤害症状以探讨发生冬季生理干旱伤害的可能性．结果表明秋植苗针叶含水量１月份就已降到初始致死含水量以下而春植苗针叶含水量始终显著高于初始致死含水量并顺利越冬．含水量与蒸腾强度的对比表明甚至在冻土期内,针叶仍有某种水分补充来源．模拟实验中出现的针叶伤害症状和秋植苗野外伤害症状一致．结论认为该地区已正常成活的春季造林苗不大可能发生冬季生理干旱伤害．     

季节因素对过敏性结膜炎就诊及用药的影响研究

目的:探讨过敏性结膜炎(AC)与抗过敏滴眼液用量间的关系,并分析季节因素对其产生的影响。方法:采用重力沉降法于2015年全年对北京城区主要气传花粉浓度进行监测,统计2015年我院变态反应科门诊AC就诊诊次及三种主要抗过敏滴眼液处方量,并采用Spearman相关性分析AC就诊诊次与抗过敏滴眼液用量间的关系。结果:2015年全年共监测花粉76164颗,花粉分布呈现春秋两季高峰,花粉分布最高的月份为4月(34.84%),其次为3月(29.72%),5月(10.87%),9月(10.52%),8月(9.94%);花粉分布最少的月份为1月和11月(0.11%)。春季花粉高峰期(3-5月份)月平均花粉数量为19150颗,秋季花粉高峰期(8-9月份)月平均花粉数量为7792颗,秋季花粉高峰期月平均花粉数量低于春季。2015年我院变态反应科AC月平均就诊诊次为(80.42±54.28)人次,8月份AC诊次最高,占全年的18.03%,其次为9月份(16.99%)、4月份(13.99%)、3月份(12.54%)、5月份(7.98%)。抗过敏滴眼液月平均用量为(148.67±148.63)瓶,8月份抗过敏滴眼液用量最高,占全年的28.25%,其次为3月份(17.21%)、9月份(14.18%)、4月份(13.11%)、5月份(8.30%),AC就诊次数及抗过敏滴眼液处方量均呈现春秋季节高峰。Spearman相关性分析显示,每月花粉量与AC就诊诊次、抗过敏滴眼液用量呈正相关(r=0.806,0.830,P=0.000,0.000),AC就诊诊次与抗过敏滴眼液用量呈正相关(r=0.923,P=0.000)。结论:花粉分布、AC诊次及抗过敏滴眼液用量均出现春秋季节高峰。秋季花粉致敏性高于春季花粉,用药及AC就诊最高峰均出现在秋季。     

ALGAL COMMUNITY STRUCTURE OF THE EAST AND WEST FLOWER GARDEN BANKS,NORTHWESTERN GULF OF MEXICO

The algal communities of the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary have not been comprehensively evaluated and only a few dominant macroalgal species have been reported. This study utilizes both destructive and non‐destructive sampling techniques to characterize and taxonomically identify the ‘algal mat’ community structure. The East and West Flower Garden Banks are located on the outer continental shelf approximately 200 km off the Texas‐Louisiana coastline. The average depth of both banks is 100 m with the crest approximately 20 m from the surface. Harvest and photogrammetric samples were collected during two extended cruises to the Flower Garden Banks in October 1998 and March 1999. Forty, 0.25‐m² quadrats of standing stock material were randomly collected along with one hundred sixty‐one 0.25 m² photo‐quadrats from an average depth of 27 m. Photo‐transparencies were projected to an actual size grid with 25 random points. Four thousand twenty‐five transparency points were evaluated and used to calculate percent composition of algal cover. Harvest samples were used to characterize the “algal mat” composition, species richness, abundance, and biomass. Forty‐two species were identified from the samples representing 14 Orders. The “red algal mat” was the dominant algal coverage comprising 38.4% of all photogrammetric samples. This mat was primarily composed of members from the Order Ceramiales. Centroceras, Ceramium, and Polysiphonia comprised 33.4% of the mat, Anotrichium and Hypoglossum, 22.4%.     

三种林下土壤浅剖面有机碳含量研究

对大连棒棰岛丘陵山地橡树、松树和灌木林春季和秋季土壤浅剖面有机碳含量和水含量测定与分析,结果表明,不同植物过程土壤碳含量和水含量有明显差异,松树林土壤碳含量和水含量总体上高于橡树和灌木林土壤,碳含量和水含量分布规律基本一致。相同植物过程土壤碳含量和水含量层次间有显著差异,有机碳含量和水含量分布又随土壤深度加深而呈下降趋势。相同植物过程秋季土壤含碳量和含水量高于春季土壤。