增加水分对古尔班通古特沙漠4种短命植物生物量及氮素形态吸收的影响

为明确土壤水分含量对荒漠生态系统短命植物生长及氮素吸收偏好性的影响,该研究以古尔班通古特沙漠4种优势短命植物东方旱麦草(Eremopyrum orientale)、尖喙牻牛儿苗(Erodium oxyrhinchum)、琉苞菊(Centaurea pulchella)和卵果鹤虱(Lappula patula)为研究对象,通过盆栽控水实验,设定3个水分梯度分别为：干旱处理(W₁,土壤含水量2％)、正常水分处理(W₂,土壤含水量8％)和湿润处理(W₃,土壤含水量14％),利用¹⁵N同位素示踪法研究水分对4种植物生物量及不同形态氮素的吸收策略的影响。结果表明：(1)随着土壤含水量的增加,4种短命植物的地上、地下、总生物量呈递增趋势,在正常水分处理时增速最快,且同一生活型不同物种之间的生物量累积速率不同;而4种短命植物的根冠比随土壤水分含量的增加呈显著下降趋势。(2)在不同水分处理下,4种短命植物对不同形态的¹⁵N吸收速率表现为：硝态氮＞铵态氮＞甘氨酸,对3种形态氮素以及总氮的吸收速率均随着水分梯度的增加呈增大趋势。(3)在干旱处理时,硝态氮是4种短命植物最偏好吸收的氮形态,随着土壤含水量的增加东方旱麦草、琉苞菊的氮素形态偏好性不会改变,而在水分持续增大至湿润处理时,铵态氮对尖喙牻牛儿苗和卵果鹤虱的氮素吸收的贡献率超过硝态氮,成为这2种植物最偏好吸收的氮形态。     

生物土壤结皮对准噶尔盆地5种荒漠植物幼苗生长与元素吸收的影响

生物土壤结皮广泛分布于许多干旱和半干旱地区, 它影响土壤物理过程、水文、侵蚀和养分循环过程, 从而影响植物种子萌发与生长发育。该文以新疆准噶尔盆地腹地的古尔班通古特沙漠的生物土壤结皮为研究对象, 分析了生物土壤结皮对准噶尔盆地5种荒漠植物(白梭梭(Haloxylon persicum)、蛇麻黄(Ephedra distachya)、角果藜(Ceratocarpus arenaarius)、涩芥(Malcolmia africana)和狭果鹤虱(Lappula semiglabra))的生长及其对元素吸收的影响。结果表明: 1)相对于裸沙而言, 生物土壤结皮显著促进了荒漠植物的生长速率, 并增加了草本植物地上和地下的生物量, 但对灌木的生物量无显著影响; 2)生物土壤结皮使部分一年生草本植物的开花和结实期提前, 这可能有利于荒漠植物在有限的环境资源下快速完成生活史, 并繁衍后代; 3)生物土壤结皮能够影响荒漠植物对土壤中营养元素的吸收, 具体表现在生物土壤结皮显著促进了5种植物对N的吸收, 增加了荒漠植物在N贫乏的荒漠生态系统的适应能力, 而对P和K的吸收均没有影响。生物土壤结皮对荒漠植物对元素吸收的影响因种而异, 对不同的植物有不同的影响。荒漠植物对Mg、Mn和Cu的吸收受生物土壤结皮的影响最小。     

不同施氮水平对冬小麦生长期土壤呼吸的影响

在目前全球氮沉降不断增加的背景下, 研究农田土壤呼吸对氮沉降的响应有助于理解未来生态系统碳循环对全球变暖的潜在影响。为探讨不同施氮浓度对华东地区冬小麦(Triticum aestivum)生长期土壤呼吸的影响, 该实验设计了对照组(不施加氮肥)和3种浓度施氮处理组(低浓度施氮15 g·m^-2·a^-1, 中等浓度施氮30 g·m^-2·a^-1, 高浓度施氮45 g·m^-2·a^-1)。使用便携式土壤CO₂通量观测仪LI-8100测定不同施氮浓度处理下冬小麦生长期(2013年12月至2014年5月)的土壤呼吸速率, 并探讨土壤呼吸与土壤温度、湿度等环境因素的关系。结果表明: 低、中、高3种浓度施氮处理的土壤呼吸速率平均值分别为5.29、6.17和6.75 μmol·m^-2 ·s^-1, 与对照组(土壤呼吸速率平均值为4.90 μmol·m^-2·s^-1)相比, 分别增加了7.8%、23.6%和37.8%; 地上生物量分别增加39.9%、104.4%和200.2%, 并与冬小麦生长季的总土壤呼吸正相关。5 cm深度土壤的温度与土壤呼吸速率呈指数关系(p < 0.05), 土壤呼吸季节变化的65%-75%由土壤温度引起, 其温度敏感性为2.09-2.32。结果表明, 添加氮肥促进了植物的生长, 增加了生物量, 从而增加了冬小麦农田的土壤呼吸速率。     

四种藜科植物不同器官主要营养元素化学计量特征比较

土壤营养匮乏是盐碱地植物生物量的主要限制因子之一，藜科植物是盐碱地的优势类群。为了明晰盐环境中不同藜科植物主要营养元素计量特征及其与矿质土壤环境间的关系差异，本研究以呼伦贝尔4种典型藜科植物——碱蓬(Suaeda glauca)、尖头叶藜(Chenopodium acuminatum)、刺沙蓬(Salsola tragus)、雾冰藜(Bassia dasyphylla)为对象，比较4种藜科植物生境土壤因子和不同器官7种元素计量特征。结果显示：(1)碱蓬种群土壤Na含量和土壤电导率显著高于其他3种藜科植物种群，刺沙蓬种群土壤N含量最低，雾冰藜种群土壤P含量最低。(2)叶片C/N依次为碱蓬种群>刺沙蓬种群>尖头叶藜种群>雾冰藜种群，尖头叶藜种群根C/P显著高于其他3种植物。雾冰藜种群、碱蓬种群和刺沙蓬种群叶N/P>16,除尖头叶藜种群外，3种植物种群根N/P<14。(3)雾冰藜种群具有显著高的叶、茎和根K含量，刺沙蓬种群具有显著高的叶、根Ca含量，碱蓬种群具有显著高的叶、茎和根Na含量，雾冰藜种群具有显著高的叶、根Mg含量。(4)刺沙蓬种群各器官具有显著高的N...     

古尔班通古特沙漠中4种荒漠草本植物的生物量与化学计量特征

对于荒漠植物不同生长期生物量分配和化学计量比的研究有助于深入了解荒漠植物的功能结构,更好掌握环境对植物的生存影响。本研究选取古尔班通古特沙漠4种一年生荒漠草本植物沙蓬（Agriophyllum sqarrosum（L.）Moq.）、雾冰藜（Bassssia dasyphylla（Fisch.et Mey.）O.Kuntze）、角果藜（Ceratocarpus arenarius L.）和碱蓬（Suaeda glauca（Bge.）Bge.）对比研究了4种生物量分配与N、P化学计量学随植物生长的变化。结果显示：（1）4种荒漠植物生物量积累配过程中,根冠比随生长季的延长逐渐降低。地上、地上生物量相关生长关系表明,角果藜为等速→异速的变化过程,沙蓬从采样初期至末期的变化过程为异速→等速生长,而沙蓬和碱蓬的相关生长指数相反,分别为异速→等速→异速、等速→异速→等速的变化格局;（2）4种植物N、P含量随生长期的延长逐步降低。在整个生长季节4种植物的N与P含量的变化趋势均为相似。（3）植物N、P含量间达到正相关显著,除沙蓬和雾冰藜的N：P之外其余指标分别与植物的地上、地下生物量及总生物量间呈负相关显著,而根冠比、相关生长指数与化学计量特征间未达到显著水平,表明了二者较弱的相关性。研究表明,4种荒漠草本植物生物量与化学计量特征的相关性不大,说明化学计量比并不是影响植物生物量及生活策略的主要因素,而更多是受植物自身遗传特性的影响。同时也体现了荒漠草本植物在养分匮乏的条件下,形成了自身独特的生理生态特征,且具有相对稳定的适应特性。     

两种豆科植物及各器官对不同形态氮的吸收、分配研究

豆科植物在氮素缺乏的荒漠生态系统中大量存在，是该生态系统提供有效氮的中心，也是这一区域重要的先锋物种。该文选择古尔班通古特沙漠广泛分布的弯花黄芪(Astragalus flexus)和镰荚黄芪(Astragalus arpilobus)作为研究对象，分别在0～5、5～15 cm土层添加3种不同形态氮(¹⁵N-NH₄⁺、¹⁵N-NO₃^-、¹⁵N-glycine),研究两种植物及各器官对不同形态氮素的吸收、分配策略。结果表明：(1)在不同土层中，两种植物均偏好吸收硝态氮，并且弯花黄芪、镰荚黄芪对硝态氮的最高吸收速率均为3.26、2.59μg·g^-1·h^-1。(2)在不同土层中，植物各器官间均对不同氮源吸收及分配有显著性差异(P<0.05),弯花黄芪根的¹⁵N吸收量均大于镰荚黄芪的，3种不同形态氮主要分配于叶。(3)在不同土层中，不同氮源对两种植物的贡献率均为^...     

盐生植物角果碱蓬种子二型性对环境的适应策略

角果碱蓬(Suaeda corniculata)是藜科一年生盐生植物, 在我国分布于北方盐碱滩涂和盐碱荒漠地区。角果碱蓬具有棕色和黑色两种异型体种子(简称棕色和黑色种子)。对采自内蒙古鄂托克前旗盐渍化生境的角果碱蓬二型种子的形态、休眠和萌发特性开展对比研究, 测定了二型种子休眠和萌发行为对温度、光照和盐分(NaCl)的响应, 以揭示盐生植物异型种子对温带盐漠生境的适应对策。结果表明: (1)二型性种子在大小、种皮特性和结实比例方面有显著差异。与黑色种子相比, 棕色种子个体较大, 种皮透水性强。黑色种子与棕色种子的结实比例约为5.6 : 1。(2)新成熟的棕色种子的萌发对各温度梯度和光照条件不敏感, 萌发率较高(84%-100%); 而新成熟的黑色种子萌发率较低(8%-78%), 萌发对光照敏感。(3)黑色种子具有浅度生理休眠, 种皮划破、赤霉素处理和低温层积均可有效地提高种子的萌发率。(4)二型种子萌发对土壤盐分的胁迫具有不同的响应。与黑色种子相比, 棕色种子对盐分胁迫不敏感, 在较高的盐分浓度下仍有较高的萌发率, 低温层积处理能够降低黑色种子对盐胁迫的敏感性, 有效地提高种子的初始萌发率、萌发恢复率和最终萌发率。角果碱蓬二型种子不同的形态、休眠和萌发特性, 提高了该物种在高度异质性生境中的适合度, 对种群成功地适应温带盐漠环境具有重要的意义。     

准噶尔盆地荒漠植物的叶片水分吸收策略

在干旱地区, 经常出现只能湿润植物地上部分和表层土壤的小量级降雨和凝结水输入, 此量级的水分输入无法通过入渗进入根区土壤而被植物根系吸收利用。最近研究发现, 叶片吸收水分是利用小量级降水和凝结水的主要方式。该研究通过鉴定和观测准噶尔盆地东南部5个自然植物群落中夏季地上部分仍存活的所有51种荒漠植物叶片的单位面积吸水量(LWUC)、叶片含水量增加率(Rw)以及其他7种植物功能性状, 探讨了这些植物功能性状与植物叶片吸收水分能力的关系。研究结果表明: (1)与Rw相比, LWUC是更加适合评价植物叶片吸收水分能力的指标; (2)植物生活型是相对合理的评价荒漠植物叶片吸收水分能力的植物性状; (3)荒漠植物地上(叶片)和地下(根系)部分吸收水分策略存在着权衡; (4)荒漠植物叶片耗水和吸水存在着权衡。总之, 叶片吸收水分策略对于荒漠植物, 特别是一年生草本植物最大限度地利用有限的水资源渡过持续的干旱并完成生活史具有重要的意义。     

模拟氮沉降和干旱对准噶尔盆地两种一年生荒漠植物生长和光合生理的影响

氮素和水分是荒漠生态系统的两个主要限制因子, 研究两者对荒漠植物的效应有助于深入了解荒漠生态系统对全球变化的响应。该文选择准噶尔盆地荒漠地区两种常见的一年生植物涩荠(Malcolmia africana)和钩刺雾冰藜(Bassia hyssopifolia), 设置0、0.18和0.72 g N·m ^-2·week ^-13个施氮浓度和湿润与干旱两个土壤水分处理, 研究模拟氮沉降增加和干旱对其生长和光合生理的影响。结果表明: (1)两种植物的根长、根重、叶片数、叶面积、总生物量和冠根比均随着施氮浓度的增加而增加, 干旱能够抑制氮对植物生长的促进作用, 但是, 氮的增加同时也能部分缓解干旱对植物生长的影响。与钩刺雾冰藜相比, 涩荠的根长、生物量和冠根比更易受氮增加和干旱的影响。(2)两种植物的最大净光合速率、叶绿素含量、可溶性蛋白含量随着氮浓度增加而增加, 但涩荠和钩刺雾冰藜对氮增加和干旱的生理响应也有所不同, 涩荠的响应更加敏感。两种植物对氮沉降和干旱胁迫响应的差异可能是其生活型等生物学特性差异所引起。通过对两种一年生植物的生长和光合生理分析表明, 在古尔班通古特沙漠, 春季丰富的降水和氮素增加将有利于涩荠和钩刺雾冰藜的生长和生产力的增加, 相对地下生长, 地上部分增加更显著。当干旱季节来临时, 氮的增加又能够在一定程度上降低干旱对这两种植物的负效应, 说明其对干旱具有一定的生态补偿作用。     

荒漠植物角果藜的地上地下结果性

对分布于准噶尔荒漠中角果藜(Ceratocarpus arenarius)果实的形态特征、空间位置、发育特性及散布特性进行了比较研究,结果表明:角果藜具有地上地下结果性,地上果实和地下果实在颜色、形状、大小、质量、数量、空间位置、成熟期和散布特性上均有显著差异。角果藜地上地下结果性是植物适应荒漠多变环境所具有的一种特殊的繁殖方式。这种独特的繁殖方式增加了物种在荒漠极端环境中成功生存的机率,保证了物种的顺利繁衍。这是首次在藜科植物中发现的地上地下结果性现象。     

荒漠藓类植物死亡对表层土壤酶活性的影响

土壤胞外酶作为土壤生物化学反应的催化剂, 直接驱动了土壤物质循环和能量流动过程。全球气候变化和土地利用类型改变致使维持荒漠地表稳定的生物土壤结皮中的藓类植物出现不同程度的死亡, 然而, 藓类植物的死亡将如何影响荒漠表层土壤养分循环过程仍缺乏研究。该研究选取新疆古尔班通古特沙漠优势藓类结皮为研究对象, 测定了自然存活及自然死亡藓类结皮下不同土层(0-2、2-5、5-10、10-20 cm)碳氮磷循环相关酶活性。结果发现: 除蔗糖酶外, 藓类植物死亡显著影响了β-葡萄糖苷酶、过氧化物酶、多酚氧化酶、脲酶、硝酸还原酶、植酸酶和碱性磷酸酶活性, 并随土壤深度的增加酶活性逐渐递减。同时, 藓类植物死亡显著抑制了植酸酶活性, 促进了与碳氮磷循环相关的土壤酶活性。土壤碳氮循环相关酶活性与土壤有机碳、全氮、NO₃^--N和NH₄⁺-N含量显著正相关, 与pH显著负相关; 植酸酶、碱性磷酸酶活性与土壤全磷、速效磷含量相关性不显著。荒漠藓类植物的死亡, 在短期内显著改变了土壤酶系统, 加速了土壤养分循环。     

早春首次降雨时间及降雨量对古尔班通古特沙漠两种短命植物形态特征与叶绿素荧光的影响

早春降雨事件是影响荒漠短命植物生长的重要因子, 为了解古尔班通古特沙漠积雪完全融化后早春首次降雨时间及降雨量对短命植物光合生长的影响。该研究选取两种优势短命植物尖喙牻牛儿苗(Erodium oxyrhinchum)和琉苞菊(Centaurea pulchella)为研究对象, 设置3个首次降雨时间(积雪完全融化后第10、20和30天)和3个降雨水平(5、10和15 mm), 探究两物种的形态、生物量及光化学效率的响应差异。结果显示: 积雪完全融化后第10天进行首次降雨处理时, 随着首次降雨量的增加, 尖喙牻牛儿苗的叶面积和总生物量呈显著增加趋势, 最大光化学效率呈下降趋势。在第20和30天进行首次降雨处理时, 尖喙牻牛儿苗和琉苞菊的叶面积均呈显著增加趋势。在积雪完全融化后5 mm降雨处理时, 随着首次降雨时间的延迟, 尖喙牻牛儿苗和琉苞菊的最大光化学效率呈先下降后上升趋势; 10 mm降雨处理时, 尖喙牻牛儿苗的冠根比降低, 根长和总生物量呈先增加后下降趋势, 琉苞菊的根长呈显著增加趋势; 15 mm降雨处理时, 尖喙牻牛儿苗的叶面积、冠根比和最大光化学效率呈显著增加趋势; 琉苞菊的冠根比和最大光化学效率呈下降趋势, 总生物量呈显著增加趋势。尖喙牻牛儿苗和琉苞菊的根长分别与0-5 cm和5-10 cm土壤含水量呈显著正相关关系。这说明早春首次降雨量比首次降雨时间更能影响植株生长, 但不同物种对降雨格局变化的响应不一致, 这可能通过影响早春短命植物的形态特征, 进而影响早春荒漠生态系统的稳定性。     

灌丛移除对荒漠齿肋赤藓越冬过程中生理生化特性的影响

灌丛和生物土壤结皮镶嵌分布是古尔班通古特沙漠一种重要的地表覆被类型, 灌丛的存在不仅为小型动物提供了庇护场所, 也为隐花植物及部分草本植物创造了良好的生存条件。然而在初冬时期移除灌丛是否会影响这些隐花植物的越冬及生长还不得而知。该研究通过模拟放牧及鼠害, 移除50%双穗麻黄(Ephedra distachya)灌丛、移除全部双穗麻黄灌丛及自然对照, 测定齿肋赤藓(Syntrichia caninervis)植株脯氨酸、可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量, 以及丙二醛(MDA)含量和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT) 3种抗氧化酶活性, 并测定原位光化学效率, 探讨初冬灌丛丧失对荒漠藓类植物越冬的影响。结果表明, 在积雪期3种处理下齿肋赤藓的游离脯氨酸和可溶性糖含量之间差异并不显著, 但去灌丛后其MDA含量、POD、SOD和CAT 3种抗氧化酶活性均显著高于自然灌丛下齿肋赤藓的相关生理指标。即使是在融雪期, 去灌丛下齿肋赤藓的可溶性糖含量及POD和CAT活性仍显著高于自然灌丛, 而可溶性蛋白明显较低, 这可能是由于灌丛的丧失造成的温度波动加剧了冬季低温对藓类植物的伤害。灌丛的部分移除(50%)对齿肋赤藓的生理生化特性影响不显著, 就积雪融化期叶绿素荧光活性持续时间而言, 与自然灌丛和移除50%灌丛相比, 完全移除灌丛的齿肋赤藓植株叶绿素荧光活性持续时间显著缩短。这可能是由于灌丛移除导致其UV-B辐射增加及“湿岛效应”消失所致, UV-B辐射的增加加剧了对植物的伤害, 而春季融雪期保水能力的下降也是其叶绿素荧光活性时间缩短的重要原因。     

Characteristics of the Infection of Tilletia laevis Kühn (syn. Tilletia foetida (Wallr.) Liro.) in Compatible Wheat

Tilletia laevis Kühn (syn. Tilletia foetida (Wallr.) Liro.) causes wheat common bunt, which is one of the most devastating plant diseases in the world. Common bunt can result in a reduction of 80% or even a total loss of wheat production. In this study, the characteristics of T. laevis infection in compatible wheat plants were defined based on the combination of scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy and laser scanning confocal microscopy. We found T. laevis could lead to the abnormal growth of wheat tissues and cells, such as leakage of chloroplasts, deformities, disordered arrangements of mesophyll cells and also thickening of the cell wall of mesophyll cells in leaf tissue. What’s more, T. laevis teliospores were found in the roots, stems, flag leaves, and glumes of infected wheat plants instead of just in the ovaries, as previously reported. The abnormal characteristics caused by T. laevis may be used for early detection of this pathogen instead of molecular markers in addition to providing theoretical insights into T. laevis and wheat interactions for breeding of common bunt resistance.     

Impacts of the removal of vascular plants on physiological and biochemical characteristics of Syntrichia caninervis during winter season in a temperate desert

Aims Patchily distributed biological soil crusts and shrubs is one of the main vegetation cover types in Gurbantünggüt desert. The existence of shrubs in desert areas serves not only as a shelter for small animals, but also a good living condition for cryptogams and some herbs. Syntrichia caninervis, a dominant moss species in Gurbantünggüt desert, is patchily distributed under shrub canopy and open spaces between vascular plants. To our knowledge, the impacts of the removal of shrub canopy on physiological and biochemical characteristics of S. caninervis during the winter is still unknown.
Methods We simulated grazing of animals on Ephedra distachya at various rates (shrubs left intact, 50% shrubs removed, and shrubs removed completely) by cutting different percent of above-ground shoots of E. distachya. The shoot water content, chlorophyll fluorescence, proline content, soluble sugar content, soluble protein content, malonyldialdehyde (MDA) content, peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were compared.
Important findings The results show that, as for proline and soluble sugar contents of tested S. caninervis, there were no significant differences among three treatments of shrub canopy. However, the MDA content, and the activities of POD, SOD, CAT were significantly higher than nature shrubs in snow cover periods. During snow-melting periods, soil moisture and temperature did not served as limiting factors on the growth of S. caninervis. The soluble sugar content, and the activities of POD, CAT with shrub removal were significantly higher than shrubs left intact. This may indicate that the decline of the function of maintaining constant soil temperature due to shrub canopy increased the damage of temperature on moss plants. In addition, as for physiological and biochemical characteristics, there were no significant differences between two treatments of 50% shrub canopy and shrub canopy left intact. In snow covered periods and snow melting periods, the MDA content, the activities of POD, SOD and CAT of S. caninervis under shrub canopy removed completely were significantly higher than that of 50% shrub canopy and shrub canopy left intact, except for soluble protein content. The duration of chlorophyll fluorescence activity of S. caninervis growing in habitats with shrubs removed completely was significantly shorter than that of S. caninervis growing in habitats of 50% shrub canopy and shrub canopy left intact. This result indicated that the removal of shrubs may increase the UV-B radiation and weaken the “moisture island effects” developed by the existence of shrub canopy.     

On phylogenetic inertia: a case of Lixinae weevils

Summary. Among host plants of Lixinae weevils, plant life-form ratio (sensu Raunkiaer) is similar to the plant spectrum of Mediterranean deserts. A possible explanation is that this group of insects formed in desert zones and settled in the steppe rather later. For the first time Raunkiaer’s life-form ratio is compared with a spectrum of food plants of herbivores. This approach may be useful for reconstruction of the genesis of taxa and communities.     

Microbial hitchhikers on intercontinental dust: catching a lift in Chad

Ancient mariners knew that dust whipped up from deserts by strong winds travelled long distances, including over oceans. Satellite remote sensing revealed major dust sources across the Sahara. Indeed, the Bodélé Depression in the Republic of Chad has been called the dustiest place on earth. We analysed desert sand from various locations in Chad and dust that had blown to the Cape Verde Islands. High throughput sequencing techniques combined with classical microbiological methods showed that the samples contained a large variety of microbes well adapted to the harsh desert conditions. The most abundant bacterial groupings in four different phyla included: (a) Firmicutes—Bacillaceae, (b) Actinobacteria—Geodermatophilaceae, Nocardiodaceae and Solirubrobacteraceae, (c) Proteobacteria—Oxalobacteraceae, Rhizobiales and Sphingomonadaceae, and (d) Bacteroidetes—Cytophagaceae. Ascomycota was the overwhelmingly dominant fungal group followed by Basidiomycota and traces of Chytridiomycota, Microsporidia and Glomeromycota. Two freshwater algae (Trebouxiophyceae) were isolated. Most predominant taxa are widely distributed land inhabitants that are common in soil and on the surfaces of plants. Examples include Bradyrhizobium spp. that nodulate and fix nitrogen in Acacia species, the predominant trees of the Sahara as well as Herbaspirillum (Oxalobacteraceae), a group of chemoorganotrophic free-living soil inhabitants that fix nitrogen in association with Gramineae roots. Few pathogenic strains were found, suggesting that African dust is not a large threat to public health.     

Relationships between food quality and fitness in the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria, and its distribution over habitats on the Red Sea coastal plain of Sudan

The effect of millet, Pennisetum typhoideum Rich. (Poaceae), leaf nitrogen content on fitness parameters of the desert locust, Schistocerca gregaria Forsk. (Orthoptera: Acrididae), was studied under laboratory conditions. Locusts reared on high‐nitrogen leaves were larger, developed faster, had higher survival, reproduced more and earlier, and showed greater synchronization than those fed on low‐nitrogen leaves. Active and passive cannibalism contributed to mortality when locusts were reared on low‐nitrogen leaves, but not when reared on high‐nitrogen leaves. Elevated leaf nitrogen content of host plants increased net reproduction and intrinsic rate of increase, and lowered generation time. The findings show that nitrogen content of host plants affects the potential for population increase in the desert locust. Leaf samples of common plant species were collected in the Heliotropium arbainense (Fresen.) (Boraginaceae) and Panicum turgidum (Forssk.) (Poaceae) plant communities on the Red Sea coastal plain of Sudan during the winters of 1999 and 2000. The levels of leaf nitrogen in host plants were comparable to those in the laboratory studies and consistently higher in plant samples from the Heliotropium community than in samples from the Panicum community. Both in 1999 and 2000, locust densities were much higher in the Heliotropium than in the Panicum plant community. It should be assessed whether the desert locust would be attracted to sites where host plants have high leaf nitrogen content, as this would not only increase their fitness, but also the likelihood of gregarization and outbreaks.