Evolution of the carbon and nitrogen contents in incubated litters

Summary Although many strains of fungi and bacteria isolated from beech litters, can grow very well in nitrogen-free medium, no apparent nitrogen fixation occurs in incubated litters.Comité national belge du Programme biologique international. Project Mirwart. Contribution number 12.     

模拟氮沉降对温带典型森林土壤有效氮形态和含量的影响

通过室内模拟氮沉降试验,研究了氮沉降对温带典型森林土壤有效氮的影响.结果表明：试验期间,与对照相比,经过氮沉降处理的土壤铵态氮、硝态氮和有效氮均呈增长的趋势,增加的程度取决于森林类型、土层、氮处理类型和氮处理的持续时间.氮沉降对不同林型土壤有效氮形态和含量的影响不同,氮沉降对混交林的影响弱于阔叶林,强于针叶人工纯林;土壤A层对氮沉降的敏感程度大于土壤B层;铵态氮形态沉降对土壤铵态氮含量的影响比对土壤硝态氮含量的影响大,而硝态氮形态沉降对土壤硝态氮含量的影响比对土壤铵态氮含量的影响大,混合形态的氮沉降对二者均有促进作用,且增加幅度更高;氮沉降对土壤有效氮的影响存在累加效应.     

北京油葫芦卵子发生中DNA及RNA动态变化研究

用孚尔根及甲基绿 -派洛宁组织化学染色法了解北京油葫芦Teleogryllusmitratus(Burmeister)卵子发生各时期阶段中卵内DNA及RNA动态变化规律。在卵子发生的最初阶段 ,核中DNA的合成和复制最活跃 ,以后便慢慢减弱 ;而RNA则在第 2阶段合成最旺盛。在卵子发生各个阶段 ,滤泡细胞中DNA ,RNA均为阳性反应 ,并在卵细胞的卵黄形成期活动旺盛 ,为卵母细胞卵黄蛋白形成提供物质基础。卵子发生第 4～ 6阶段 ,滤泡细胞开放时期 ,血淋巴内一些物质可能直接或间接通过滤泡细胞间隙进入卵母细胞内 ,参与卵母细胞的发育和构建。研究表明卵子发生初期卵母细胞的发育和物质构建主要以内源性合成积累为主 ,中后期则有外源性物质的参与。     

Some gaseous pollutants in the industrial area at east of Naples.

Nitrogen oxides, ozone, sulphur dioxide and hydrogen sulphide were determined in the industrial area at east of Naples. Emission from vehicular traffic are added to those from fixed sources, but the breeze effect avoids pollution accumulation. Obtained values are low enough if compared with those of other towns.     

东北5种温带人工林表层土壤碳氮含量的分异

造林是固碳(C)的有效方法之一,也深刻地影响土壤氮(N)动态,然而不同造林树种对土壤C和N收支的影响及其机制尚不明确.本研究采用同质园试验方法,测定了东北温带水曲柳、胡桃楸、白桦、落叶松和樟子松5个主要造林树种造林后第3年和第11年表层(0～10 cm)土壤有机C(C_soil)、全N含量(N_soil)的变化,以及植被特性和土壤微生物等相关因子,探究了不同树种造林对土壤C、N的影响及驱动因子.结果表明: 试验期间,5个树种纯林的C_soil、N_soil均显著降低,C_soil与N_soil变化量呈显著正相关,并且C_soil减少速率(2.6%·a^-1～4.8%·a^-1)显著高于N_soil减少速率(0.8%·a^-1～2.8%·a^-1).阔叶树种纯林C_soil、N_soil减少量显著小于针叶树种纯林.树种特征、微生物特性共同解释了C_soil变化率的68.5%、N_soil变化率的90.9%,C_soil、N_soil变化率随凋落叶C/N及微生物生物量C/N的增大而减小,但随着细根生物量、微生物生物量C及微生物获取C酶与获取N酶之比的增加而增大;N_soil变化率还随凋落叶产量及微生物代谢熵的增大而减小.这些温带人工林在造林11年后表层土壤C、N含量显著减少,而树种间的不同变化强度主要是由树种特征和土壤微生物特性的差异引起的.     

Variation in nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations of wetland plants

The use of nutrient concentrations in plant biomass as easily measured indicators of nutrient availability and limitation has been the subject of a controversial debate. In particular, it has been questioned whether nutrient concentrations are mainly species' traits or mainly determined by nutrient availability, and whether plant species have similar or different relative nutrient requirements. This review examines how nitrogen and phosphorus concentration and the N:P ratio in wetland plants vary among species and sites, and how they are related to nutrient availability and limitation. We analyse data from field studies in European non-forested wetlands, from fertilisation experiments in these communities and from growth experiments with wetland plants. Overall, the P concentration was more variable than the N concentration, while variation in N:P ratios was intermediate. Field data showed that the N concentration varies more among species than among sites, whereas the N:P ratio varies more among sites than among species, and the P concentration varies similarly among both. Similar patterns of variation were found in fertilisation experiments and in growth experiments under controlled nutrient supply. Nutrient concentrations and N:P ratios in the vegetation were poorly correlated with various measures of nutrient availability in soil, but they clearly responded to fertilisation in the field and to nutrient supply in growth experiments. In these experiments, biomass N:P ratios ranged from 3 to 40 and primarily reflected the relative availabilities of N and P, although N:P ratios of plants grown at the same nutrient supply could vary three-fold among species. The effects of fertilisation with N or P on the biomass production of wetland vegetation were well related to the N:P ratios of the vegetation in unfertilised plots, but not to N or P concentrations, which supports the idea that N:P ratios, rather than N or P concentrations, indicate the type of nutrient limitation. However, other limiting or stressing factors may influence N:P ratios, and the responses of individual plant species to fertilisation cannot be predicted from their N:P ratios. Therefore, N:P ratios should only be used to assess which nutrient limits the biomass production at the vegetation level and only when factors other than N or P are unlikely to be limiting.     

Variation in fluxes estimated from nitrogen isotope discrimination corresponds with independent measures of nitrogen flux in Populus balsamifera L.

Acquisition of mineral nitrogen by roots from the surrounding environment is often not completely efficient, in which a variable amount of leakage (efflux) relative to gross uptake (influx) occurs. The efflux/influx ratio (E/I) is, therefore, inversely related to the efficiency of nutrient uptake at the root level. Time‐integrated estimates of E/I and other nitrogen‐use traits may be obtainable from variation in stable isotope ratios or through compartmental analysis of tracer efflux (CATE) using radioactive or stable isotopes. To compare these two methods, Populus balsamifera L. genotypes were selected, a priori, for high or low nitrogen isotope discrimination. Vegetative cuttings were grown hydroponically, and E/I was calculated using an isotope mass balance model (IMB) and compared to E/I calculated using ¹⁵N CATE. Both methods indicated that plants grown with ammonium had greater E/I than nitrate‐grown plants. Genotypes with high or low E/I using CATE also had similarly high or low estimates of E/I using IMB, respectively. Genotype‐specific means were linearly correlated (r = 0.77; P = 0.0065). Discrepancies in E/I between methods may reflect uncertainties in discrimination factors for the assimilatory enzymes, or temporal differences in uptake patterns. By utilizing genotypes with known variation in nitrogen isotope discrimination, a relationship between nitrogen isotope discrimination and bidirectional nitrogen fluxes at the root level was observed.     

Biomass production and nitrogen contents of the CAM plants Kalanchoe daigremontiana and K. tubiflora in cultures with different nitrogen and water supply

Summary Two CAM plant species (Kalanchoe daigremontiana and K. tubiflora) were cultivated in pure cultures with two different levels of nitrogen and water supply. A comparison of the plant dry weight showed that the productivity was severely reduced under low nitrogen or/and water conditions. Additionally the proportion of the different organs contributing to the total biomass, and thus the ratio of root/shoot dry weight shifted substantially. At the same time the production of leaf buds in ratio to leaf biomass was increased. Concentrations of organic nitrogen and nitrate in the shoots were drastically reduced under low nitrogen or/and water conditions, but organic nitrogen concentration in the roots remained relatively high. The leaf conductance over a day was investigated only for K. daigremontiana, and decreased with reduced water and nitrogen supply. The results indicate that CAM plants do not have the predicted high nitrogen use efficiency. Under environmental stress they change from biomass production towards provisions for life preservation.     

氮沉降对长白山森林土壤团聚体内碳、氮含量的影响

氮沉降是影响陆地生态系统碳、氮循环的最重要因素之一.为了解土壤团聚体碳、氮组分对氮沉降的响应,本研究在长白山选取次生杨桦林(YHL)与原始阔叶红松林(HSL)两种林型进行为期6年的氮添加试验,采集土壤样品并分析氮沉降对不同粒径土壤团聚体中可溶性有机碳、氮(DOC和DON)、微生物生物量碳、氮(MBC和MBN)、颗粒有机碳、氮(POC和PON)的影响.结果表明: 除POC和PON外,两林分土壤团聚体碳、氮组分含量均随团聚体粒径的减小而增加;氮添加处理显著降低了HSL土壤团聚体中POC和PON含量,降幅分别达20.7%和22.6%,显著增加了DOC含量,增幅达11.6%;氮添加处理对YHL土壤团聚体的碳、氮组分均无显著影响,其中,对DOC和MBC的影响接近于显著(0.05＜P＜0.1).皮尔森相关分析结果表明,土壤团聚体中总碳或总氮与碳、氮活性组分之间有良好的相关性,其中,HSL土壤的POC与DOC之间呈极显著负相关(r=-0.503),DOC又与MBC呈显著正相关关系(r=0.462).氮添加处理降低阔叶红松林土壤团聚体中POC和PON含量、增加DOC含量的主要原因是其促进了微生物对POM的分解,进而导致DOC的释放.阔叶红松林土壤碳、氮库对氮沉降的响应比次生杨桦林更加敏感.     

Variation in mineral nitrogen under grazed grassland swards

The effects of fertilizer N input to grazed grass swards on the extent and forms of mineral N in soil profiles were examined at five sites in England, each with a wide range of fertilizer N treatments. Changes in total mineral N (TN=NH ₄ ⁺ + NO ₃ ^- ) and in the ratio of the contents of NH ₄ ⁺ and NO ₃ ^- (NR) were examined in relation to soil type, treatment, soil depth and sampling time.Measured losses of NO ₃ ^- during the drainage period increased with increasing soil NO ₃ ^- levels in the soil profile at three of the sites. When the data were expressed on a ratio (NR) basis, in order to provide some indication of nitrification rate, there was also a good relationship with leaching losses. Thus as NR increased, so leaching decreased. There were distinct changes in mineral N, especially in NR in the top 10 cm of the soil profile, with treatment. At all sites, the values for this ratio decreased with increasing rates of fertilizer addition even when there was little or no difference between the treatments in TN. Furthermore, when the treatments finished at two of the sites and a common application rate was applied, differences in the ratio related to the previous treatment remained. It was suggested that this effect resulted from differences in nitrification rates stimulated by the different N fertilizer treatments.     

Production of nitrogen oxide and dinitrogen oxide by autotrophic nitrifiers

Autotrophic nitrifiers have been shown to produce nitrogen oxide and dinitrogen oxide under oxic conditions. Dinitrogen oxide is produced mainly during nitrite reduction (i.e. aerobic denitrification) whereas nitrogen oxide is produced during both aerobic denitrification and as a result of chemodenitrification. Oxygen is the single most influential environmental factor affecting the production of nitrogen and dinitrogen oxides; a decrease in oxygen can result in a several-fold increase in nitrogen oxide and dinitrogen oxide production. Emission of nitrogen oxide and dinitrogen oxide from wastewater treatment plants and fertilized soils is well documented; however, only recently have the contributions from such environments to the global nitrogen and dinitrogen oxide budget been considered.     

Effects of nitric oxide and nitrogen dioxide on bacterial growth.

The effects of low concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) on actively dividing cultures of Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Micrococcus roseus, Serratia marcescens, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus circulans, Bacillus megaterium, and Bacillus cereus were studied. Fresh cultures of each organism were incubated for 24 h at 25 degrees C on both nutrient agar and mineral salts glucose agar plates under atmospheres containing various low concentrations of NO in air (0 to 1.9 ppm [0 to 2.0 micrograms/g of air]), NO2 in air (0 to 5.5 ppm [0 to 8.8 micrograms/g of air]), or NO and NO2 in air. Bacteria grown under air only were used as controls. After incubation, the colonies that developed on the plates were counted. None of the bacteria tested was affected by NO or NO2 at the indicated concentrations while growing on nutrient agar. Serratia marcescens, B. circulans, B. subtilis, B. megaterium, and B. cereus grown on mineral salts glucose agar were not significantly affected by NO or NO2. Low concentrations (0 to 1.9 ppm) of NO were bacteriostatic to log-phase cultures of M. roseus, M. luteus, and Staphylococcus aureus grown on mineral salts glucose agar. Bacteriostatic activity over a 24-h interval was maximal at an initial NO concentration of 1 ppm. Appreciable amounts of NO2 were produced in 24 h at initial NO concentrations greater than 1 ppm. These results suggest that NO2 may reduce the bacteriostatic activity of NO. Low concentrations (0 to 5.5 ppm) of NO2 in air did not affect any of the bacteria tested. At these low concentrations, NO affected bacterial growth, although NO2, NO2-, and NO3- did not. In addition, it was determined that the bacteriostatic activity observed in this study was not due to an increase in the acidity of the medium.     

Variation in rates of nitrogen fixation in termites: response to dietary nitrogen in the field and laboratory

Abstract. Termites contribute nitrogen to their habitat through the nitrogenase activity of their bacterial symbionts. Previous studies indicate that high levels of dietary nitrogen suppress nitrogen fixation in termites. We examined the effects of dietary nitrogen on fixation rates in termites in both field and laboratory experiments. Ten field cplonies of Reticulitermes were collected and assayed for nitrogenase activity in July 1993, October 1993, January 1994, and April 1994. The nitrogen content of the wood collected with each colony was determined. There was no correlation between termite nitrogen fixation rates and the amount of nitrogen in their food for any of the four collection periods. In laboratory experiments, nitrogen fixation rates decreased when termites were fed filter paper treated with 2% and 5% ammonium nitrate or a 5% mixture of the amino acids proline, tryptophan and leucine, compared to water-treated controls. By contrast, the nitrogenase activity of termites fed filter paper treated with 2% and 5% ammonium phosphate, a mixture of the amino acids histidine, serine and aspartic acid, or 2% and 5% urea did not differ from the controls. However, nitrogenase activity increased when termites were fed with 2% uric acid. No clear association exists between termite nitrogen fixation and the nitrogen content of their food.