烟草叶片中甘氨酸氧化与硝酸还原的关系

本试验用烟草（Nicotiana tabacum L.)叶圆片和由其线粒体和硝酸还原酶组成的重组系统对甘氨酸氧化与硝酸还原的关系进行了研究。结果表明,甘氨酸真空渗入叶圆片或加入重组系统中都能促进硫酸还原,甘氨酸对硝酸还原的促进作用明显受取样前预照光处理及呼吸链活性的影响,硝酸还原的进行使线粒体依赖甘氨酸的耗氧率降低。本文认为,光下C3植物叶片中的甘氨酸氧化脱羧能为硝酸还原提供还原剂。     

烟草叶片中甘氨酸氧化与硝酸还原的关系

本试验用烟草（Nicotiana tabacum L.)叶圆片和由其线粒体和硝酸还原酶组成的重组系统对甘氨酸氧化与硝酸还原的关系进行了研究。结果表明,甘氨酸真空渗入叶圆片或加入重组系统中都能促进硫酸还原,甘氨酸对硝酸还原的促进作用明显受取样前预照光处理及呼吸链活性的影响,硝酸还原的进行使线粒体依赖甘氨酸的耗氧率降低。本文认为,光下C3植物叶片中的甘氨酸氧化脱羧能为硝酸还原提供还原剂。     

环境胁迫和抗坏血酸的氧化还原状态

为了解环境胁迫对植物体中抗坏血酸含量及氧化还原状态的影响,以不同强度的冰冻和干旱两种胁迫为例,研究了它们对沈阳几种针叶树离体叶抗坏血酸、脱氢抗坏血酸含量以及抗坏血酸-谷胱甘肽循环中4种酶活性的影响.结果表明,两种胁迫达到一定强度后,都能使还原态抗坏血酸含量下降而使脱氢抗坏血酸含量上升.冰冻使抗坏血酸过氧化酶和单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶活性下降.轻度失水使这两种酶活性上升,失水加重后转而趋于下降.脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶和谷胱甘肽还原酶活性对两种胁迫反应均不如前两种酶敏感.结合以前的研究结果,认为这一H2O2清除系统在导致驯化(acclimation)的轻度胁迫作用下可以得到加强,而当胁迫强度过大时则其清除能力下降并使组织受到伤害.文中还报告了沈阳几种针叶树抗寒性和针叶中抗坏血酸含量及上述4种酶活性之间的相关关系.     

环境胁迫和抗坏血酸的氧化还原状态

为了解环境胁迫对植物体中抗坏血酸含量及氧化还原状态的影响，以不同强度的冰冻和干旱两种胁迫为例，研究了它们对沈阳几种针叶树离体叶抗坏血酸、脱氢抗坏血酸含量以及抗坏血酸-谷胱甘肽循环中4种酶活性的影响。结果表明，两种胁迫达到一定强度后，都能使还原态抗坏血酸含量下降而使脱氢抗坏血酸含量上升。冰冻使抗坏血酸过氧化酶和单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶活性下降。轻度失水使这两种酶活性上升，失水加重后转而趋于下降。脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶和谷胱甘肽还原酶活性对两种胁迫反应均不如前两种酶敏感。结合以前的研究结果，认为这一H2O2清除系统在导致驯化(acclimation)的轻度胁迫作用下可以得到加强，而当胁迫强度过大时则其清除能力下降并使组织受到伤害。文中还报告了沈阳几种针叶树抗寒性和针叶中抗坏血酸含量及上述4种酶活性之间的相关关系。     

烟草叶绿体NAD(P)H脱氢酶在抵御高温胁迫中的作用

经42℃高温处理48 h以上, 烟草(Nicotiana tabacum L.)ndhC-ndhK-ndhJ基因缺失突变体(ΔndhCKJ)植株较其野生型(WT)先出现茎部褐变、叶片萎蔫等氧化伤害症状. 作用光关闭后的叶绿素荧光动力学表明, WT植株中NAD(P)H脱氢酶(NDH)介导的PSI循环电子传递和叶绿体呼吸在高温胁迫时被促进了. 用甲基紫精(MV)处理叶圆片的结果显示, ΔndhCKJ光合机构更易受到光氧化伤害, 甚至首先发生叶绿素漂白. P700氧化还原分析表明, NDH介导的循环电子传递途径可能通过与MV竞争电子而减少活性氧(ROS)的积累. 将叶圆片于42℃处理6 h后, ΔndhCKJ光化学反应活性的下降比WT更显著, 与此一致, 可溶性Rubisco活化酶含量显著低于WT, 且电子传递链还原程度和非光化学能量耗散水平均显著高于WT. 叶绿素毫秒延迟发光慢相的测定结果显示NDH介导的循环电子传递有助于跨膜质子梯度(ΔpH)的形成, 但其耗用在DndhCKJ中受到严重抑制. 根据以上结果推测, NDH介导的循环电子传递在高温胁迫下运转加快, 并将过剩的电子分流至叶绿体呼吸途径, 此外, NDH途径提供的DpH可能在一定程度上有利于维持CO₂同化的进行, 从而能够减轻光氧化胁迫的伤害.     

Nitrogen addition affects plant biomass allocation but not allometric relationships among different organs across the globe

全球尺度上氮添加影响植物生物量分配但不影响不同器官间的异速生长关系 生物量在不同器官间的分配是植物对环境变化响应的一个关键生态生理学过程。然而,在全球尺度上有关不同陆地生态系统植物生物量分配对氮沉降响应的认识还比较欠缺。本文通过整合分析333篇已发表文章的5474个观测值,基于“最优分配假说”和“异速分配假说”,评估了全球尺度上氮添加对植物生物量及其在不同器官间分配的影响。结果表明：(1)氮添加显著增加了整株植物或不同器官的生物量,降低了根冠比和根质量分数,但对叶质量分数和茎质量分数无显著影响;(2)氮添加对不同器官质量分数的影响受实验条件、植物功能性状、纬度、氮添加率等因子单独或交互作用的调控;(3)氮添加对生物量在不同器官间的异速分配率无显著影响,表明氮添加导致的根冠比和根质量分数减少是在异速分配模式下由整株植物生物量增加而致。虽然氮添加改变了地上和地下部分的质量分数,但不同器官生物量间异速分配模式的稳定性表明“异速分配假说”能更好地描述植物生物量分配对氮添加的响应规律。该研究结果将有助于深入认识氮沉降环境下植物生物量的分配规律,同时表明将生物量分配纳入有关氮沉降对陆地生态系统影响的预测模型中的重要性。     

高温胁迫对烟草叶绿体NADPH脱氢酶复合体活性的促进

为探讨叶绿体NAD(P)H脱氢酶复合体(NDH)在植物抵御热胁迫中的生理意义,比较了烟草ndhJK基因缺失突变体(ΔndhJK)和野生型对50℃高温胁迫的响应.高温下,野生型中一条NBT-NADPH氧化还原酶活性带有所增加,免疫印迹分析确定了此活性染色带是NDH亚复合体,该活性带中的NDH-K表达量也在热胁迫条件下明显地增加.与ΔndhJK相比,在高温胁迫下,野生型中远红光诱导的P700 氧化速率明显地变慢,而远红光关闭后的P700暗还原速率则显著地变快,表明高温促进NDH介导的围绕光系统I的循环电子传递.根据这些结果推测,在热胁迫条件下野生型中对NADPH底物专一的NDH活性的增加可能有利于减少NADPH的积累,减轻叶绿体间质的过度还原.     

植物谷胱甘肽代谢与环境胁迫

谷胱甘肽是植物体内普遍存在的小分子抗氧化物质,它在还原态硫的储存和转运、蛋白质和核酸的合成、酶活性的调节、组织抗氧化特性的维持以及对氧化还原敏感的信号传导的调节中起着重要作用。谷胱甘肽库的大小及其氧化还原状态也与植物对多种生物异源物质及生物与非生物环境胁迫的忍耐密切相关。本文简要综述了近年来人们在植物谷胱甘肽生物合成与代谢、转运、信号传导以及胁迫响应中所取得的研究进展。     

活性氧介导的植物蛋白质氧化修饰研究进展

蛋白质翻译后修饰是机体蛋白发挥各种功能的重要先行步骤。逆境胁迫下活性氧可对氧化还原敏感的蛋白质进行可逆和不可逆的氧化修饰。可逆氧化修饰对逆境下植物生物功能的正常发挥乃至适应都至关重要,目前对活性氧调节植物蛋白质的可逆氧化修饰研究取得了相应进展。综述了植物蛋白质氧化修饰的方式位点及参与蛋白的调节机理,旨在阐明蛋白质可逆氧化修饰对植物抵御逆境造成的氧化胁迫的重大意义,同时概括对蛋白质可逆氧化修饰研究的有效方法。当前可以通过特定位点的突变实验和蛋白质组学的方法确定有无可逆氧化修饰并测定氧化修饰程度;未来以期通过综合实验控制参与反应的蛋白质来解析其还原及再生机理。     

叶绿体中活性氧的产生和清除机制

正常情况下植物细胞内活性氧（reactive oxygen species ROS）的产生和清除是平衡的,但是,一旦植物遭受环境胁迫,ROS的积累超过抗氧化剂防护系统清除能力,就会产生氧胁迫损伤细胞。由于叶绿体作为光合作用的场所与其他细胞器相比更易遭受氧化胁迫的伤害。因此,叶绿体进化了更强的防御机制调控电子传递链的氧化还原平衡及叶绿体基质中的氧化还原状态。活性氧具有双重效应．高浓度的活性氧对植物细胞有很强的毒害作用,低浓度时可充当信号分子参与植物的某些防卫反应过程,本文就叶绿体中活性氧的产生（三线态叶绿素、PSI和PSI I电子传递链）、网络清除（抗氧化剂,SOD,As—Glu循环系统,硫氧还蛋白）机制以及功能作用进行了综述。     

Rhododendron catawbiense plasma membrane intrinsic proteins are aquaporins, and their over-expression compromises constitutive freezing tolerance and cold acclimation ability of transgenic Arabidopsis plants

Extracellular freezing results in cellular dehydration caused by water efflux, which is likely regulated by aquaporins (AQPs). In a seasonal cold acclimation (CA) study of Rhododendron catawbiense , two AQP cDNAs, RcPIP2;1 and RcPIP2;2 , were down-regulated as the leaf freezing tolerance (FT) increased from −7 to ∼−50 °C. We hypothesized this down-regulation to be an adaptive component of CA process allowing cells to resist freeze-induced dehydration. Here, we characterize full-length cDNAs of the two Rhododendron PIP s, and demonstrate that RcPIP2s have water channel activity. Moreover, RcPIP2 s were over-expressed in Arabidopsis , and FT of transgenic plants was compared with that of wild-type (WT) controls. Data indicated a significantly lower constitutive FT and CA ability of RcPIP2 -OXP plants (compared with WT) due, presumably, to their lower ability to resist freeze desiccation. A relatively higher dehydration rate of RcPIP2 -OXP leaves (than WT) supports this notion. Phenotypic and microscopic observations revealed bigger leaf size and mesophyll cells of RcPIP2 -OXP plants than WT. It is proposed that lower FT of transgenic plants may be associated with their leaf cells' propensity to greater mechanical stress, that is, volume strain per unit surface, during freeze–thaw-induced contraction or expansion. Additionally, greater freeze injury in RcPIP2 -OXP plants could also be attributed to their susceptibility to potentially faster rehydration (than WT) during a thaw.     

Levels of antioxidant defenses are decreased in bovine spermatozoa after a cycle of freezing and thawing

Growing evidence suggests that the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and their detoxification by antioxidants plays a very important role in fertility. However, the relationship between the level of antioxidants in spermatozoa and the decreased fecundity following a freeze/thaw cycle remains poorly understood. We assessed the activities of antioxidant enzymes such as catalase, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and levels of reduced/oxidized glutathione (GSH/GSSG) in bovine semen. Sperm cells were isolated using a Percoll gradient to avoid contamination from seminal plasma, cellular debris, and other cell types. We found that bovine spermatozoa are poorly adapted to metabolize the toxic hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)). Indeed, very low levels of GPx and an absence of catalase were observed. We also studied the effect of freezing and thawing bovine spermatozoa in a egg yolk-Tris-glycerol extender (EYTG). Cryopreservation significantly reduced sperm GSH levels by 78% and SOD activity by 50%. We also investigated whether the decrease in GSH level could be linked to oxidative metabolism and found that a greater reduction in intracellular GSH level occurred when fresh sperm cells were incubated in EYTG for 6 hr at 38.5 degrees C under aerobic conditions than when incubated under restricted oxygen availability. Our results strongly suggest the involvement of an oxidative stress during a freeze/thaw cycle and are consistent with the hypothesis that ROS generated during such a cycle are detrimental to sperm function.     

Proteomic changes associated with freeze‐thaw injury and post‐thaw recovery in onion (Allium cepa L.) scales

The ability of plants to recover from freeze‐thaw injury is a critical component of freeze‐thaw stress tolerance. To investigate the molecular basis of freeze‐thaw recovery, here we compared the proteomes of onion scales from unfrozen control (UFC), freeze‐thaw injured (INJ), and post‐thaw recovered (REC) treatments. Injury‐related proteins (IRPs) and recovery‐related proteins (RRPs) were differentiated according to their accumulation patterns. Many IRPs decreased right after thaw without any significant re‐accumulation during post‐thaw recovery, while others were exclusively induced in INJ tissues. Most IRPs are antioxidants, stress proteins, molecular chaperones, those induced by physical injury or proteins involved in energy metabolism. Taken together, these observations suggest that while freeze‐thaw compromises the constitutive stress protection and energy supply in onion scales, it might also recruit ‘first‐responders’ (IRPs that were induced) to mitigate such injury. RRPs, on the other hand, are involved in the injury‐repair program during post‐thaw environment conducive for recovery. Some RRPs were restored in REC tissues after their first reduction right after thaw, while others exhibit higher abundance than their ‘constitutive’ levels. RRPs might facilitate new cellular homeostasis, potentially by re‐establishing ion homeostasis and proteostasis, cell‐wall remodelling, reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging, defence against possible post‐thaw infection, and regulating the energy budget to sustain these processes.     

Freeze/thaw stress in<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Ceanothus</Emphasis> of southern California chaparral

Freeze/thaw stress was examined in chaparral shrubs of the genus Ceanothus to determine the interactive effects of freezing and drought and to consider which is the more vulnerable component, the living leaves (symplast) or the non-living water transport system (apoplast). We hypothesized that where Ceanothus species co-occurred, the more inland species C. crassifolius would be more tolerant of low temperatures than the coastal species C. spinosus, both in terms of leaf survival (LT(50), or the temperature at which there is 50% loss of function or viability) and in terms of resistance to freezing-induced embolism (measurements of percent loss hydraulic conductivity due to embolism following freeze/thaw). Cooling experiments on 2 m long winter-acclimated shoots resulted in LT(50) values of about -10 degrees C for C. spinosus versus -18 degrees C for C. crassifolius. Freeze-thaw cycles resulted in no change in embolism when the plants were well hydrated (-0.7 to -2.0 MPa). However, when plants were dehydrated to -5.0 MPa, C. spinosus became 96% embolized with freeze/thaw, versus only 61% embolism for C. crassifolius. Stems of C. crassifolius became 90% and 97% embolized at -6.6 and -8.0 MPa, respectively, meaning that even in this species, stems could be more vulnerable than leaves under conditions of extreme water stress combined with freeze/thaw events. The dominance of C. crassifolius at colder sites and the restriction of C. spinosus to warmer sites are consistent with both the relative tolerance of their symplasts to low temperatures and the relative tolerance of their apoplasts to freeze events in combination with drought stress.     

Frost fatigue response to simulated frost drought using a centrifuge in Acer mono Maxim

In the coldest part of winter, water uptake is blocked by the frozen soil and frozen stems known as ‘frost drought’ causing severe embolisms in woody plants. Frost drought in stems was simulated in a centrifuge by a synergy between freeze–thaw cycles and the different tensions induced by changing the rotation speed. Frost fatigue was defined as a reduction of embolism resistance after a freeze–thaw cycle and determined from ‘vulnerability curves’, which showed percent losses of conductivity vs tension (positive value) or xylem pressure (negative value). Different tensions combined with a controlled freeze–thaw cycle were induced to investigate the effects on frost resistance over the course of year. During the growing season, Acer mono Maxim. developed significant frost fatigue, and a significant positive correlation was found between frost fatigue response and exogenous tension. During the dormant season, A. mono showed very high embolism resistance to frost drought, even under a tension of 2 MPa. When the exogenous tension was increased to 3 MPa while the stem was frozen, significant frost fatigue occurred. Longer freezing times had more serious effects on frost fatigue in A. mono. A hypothesis was raised that at the same low temperature, the severer the drought (higher tension) when stems were frozen, the higher frost fatigue response would be induced.     

Winter survival of transgenic alfalfa overexpressing superoxide dismutase

To test the hypothesis that enhanced tolerance of oxidative stress would improve winter survival, two clones of alfalfa (Medicago sativa) were transformed with a Mn-superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) targeted to the mitochondria or to the chloroplast. Although Mn-SOD activity increased in most primary transgenic plants, both cytosolic and chloroplastic forms of Cu/Zn-SOD had lower activity in the chloroplast SOD transgenic plants than in the nontransgenic plants. In a field trial at Elora, Ontario, Canada, the survival and yield of 33 primary transgenic and control plants were compared. After one winter most transgenic plants had higher survival rates than control plants, with some at 100%. Similarly, some independent transgenic plants had twice the herbage yield of the control plants. Prescreening the transgenic plants for SOD activity, vigor, or freezing tolerance in the greenhouse was not effective in identifying individual transgenic plants with improved field performance. Freezing injury to leaf blades and fibrous roots, measured by electrolyte leakage from greenhouse-grown acclimated plants, indicated that the most tolerant were only 1°C more freezing-tolerant than alfalfa clone N4. There were no differences among transgenic and control plants for tetrazolium staining of field-grown plants at any freezing temperature. Therefore, although many of the transgenic plants had higher winter survival rates and herbage yield, there was no apparent difference in primary freezing injury, and therefore, the trait is not associated with a change in the primary site of freezing injury.     

The relationship between xylem conduit diameter and cavitation caused by freezing

The centrifuge method for measuring the resistance of xylem to cavitation by water stress was modified to also account for any additional cavitation that might occur from a freeze-thaw cycle. A strong correlation was found between cavitation by freezing and mean conduit diameter. On the one extreme, a tracheid-bearing conifer and diffuse-porous angiosperms with small-diameter vessels (mean diameter <30 μm) showed no freezing-induced cavitation under modest water stress (xylem pressure = −0.5 MPa), whereas species with larger diameter vessels (mean >40 μm) were nearly completely cavitated under the same conditions. Species with intermediate mean diameters (30–40 μm) showed partial cavitation by freezing. These results are consistent with a critical diameter of 44 μm at or above which cavitation would occur by a freeze–thaw cycle at −0.5 MPa. As expected, vulnerability to cavitation by freezing was correlated with the hydraulic conductivity per stem transverse area. The results confirm and extend previous reports that small-diameter conduits are relatively resistant to cavitation by freezing. It appears that the centrifuge method, modified to include freeze–thaw cycles, may be useful in separating the interactive effects of xylem pressure and freezing on cavitation.     

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as a method for determination of freezing injury in strawberry crowns

In an experiment with controlled freezing, strawberry plants were exposed to 0, ?8, ?12, ?16 and ?20°C at a freeze and thaw rate of 2 °C/hour in March/April 1996. Crowns from the cultivar ‘Korona’ were examined using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), showing a gradual increase of signal intensity from the centre of the crowns, as a result of the temperature drop, which might be caused by lipids. The increase in signal intensity was in accordance with the tissue browning of crowns, which increased substantially when the temperature dropped below ?12 °C. A similar reaction was shown in a field experiment comparing wintercovered and not wintercovered strawberry plants. The plants which had been exposed to temperatures between ?10 and ?16 °C were severely injured. This demonstrates that MRI has a potential as an objective method to determine freeze injury in the field, by «calibrating» the MRI instrument to freezing profiles in controlled experiments.     

Effect of seasonal freeze–thaw cycle on net nitrogen mineralization of soil organic layer in the subalpine/alpine forests of western Sichuan,China

Nitrogen mineralization, a main way that soil organic nitrogen converts to mineral nitrogen, is one of the key processes in soil nitrogen cycle. The mineral nitrogen has an important role in plant growth in the growing season. It has been widely accepted that soil freezing in winter can kill a number of microorganisms, weakening soil nitrogen mineralization. However, more and more recent studies have documented that soil microorganisms still have high activity during the deep freezing period, and obvious nitrogen mineralization in winter. Seasonal freeze–thaw cycle is a common phenomenon in the subalpine/alpine forest region, which may have a strong effect on soil ecological processes. Furthermore, the changing pattern of seasonal freeze–thaw cycles might have a significant influence on soil nitrogen mineralization in this region in the scenarios of global warming. As yet, little attention has been given to nitrogen mineralization of soil organic layer as affected by changed seasonal freeze–thaw pattern, although the increasing studies have demonstrated that winter warming might give strong effects on the litter decomposition and microbial activity in the subalpine/alpine forest regions. Therefore, a method of intact soil core incubation in combination with natural environmental gradient was employed by transferring forest soils from 3582 m (A₁) of altitude to 3298 m (A₂) of altitude and 3023 m (A₃) of altitude in the subalpine/alpine forests of western Sichuan, respectively. The amounts and rates of net nitrogen mineralization in soil organic layer were measured. The incubation period included the growing season and the freeze–thaw season from May 24, 2010 to April 19, 2011. The results suggested that significant net nitrogen mineralization was only observed in soil organic layer at low altitude (A₃) during the whole incubation period. Forest soils at higher altitudes (A₁ and A₂) showed obvious soil nitrogen immobilization. In comparison with the growing season which showed remarkable nitrogen immobilization characteristic, the freeze–thaw season showed obvious nitrogen mineralization at lower altitudes (A₂ and A₃). In contrast, the nitrogen immobilization amounts at high altitude (A₁) in freeze–thaw period were less than those in the growing season. Besides, the maximum of net nitrogen mineralization amounts and rates at high altitude (A₁) in soil organic layer mainly occurred in the late stage of growing season and the onset of freezing, soil nitrogen mineralization at the middle altitude (A₂) mainly occurred in the onset of freezing and the deep freezing period, while the highest amount and rate of net nitrogen mineralization at low altitude (A₃) occurred in the early stage of thawing and the late stage of growing season. Furthermore, the amount and rate of soil net nitrogen mineralization during the freeze–thaw season were increasing with the decrease of altitude, which correlated with soil freeze–thaw cycle and freezing process at different altitudes. These results indicated that increasing soil temperature in the future could not only significantly enhance soil nitrogen mineralization in the freeze–thaw season, but also improve soil nitrogen mineralization by increasing freeze–thaw cycle times and shortening freeze–thaw period. However, the processes were significantly influenced by soil micro-environment of subalpine/alpine forest regions.     

Characteristics of soil animal community in the subalpine/alpine forests of western Sichuan during onset of freezing

Seasonal freeze–thaw cycle is a common phenomenon in the subalpine/alpine forest region, and may have a significant influence on the structure and function of soil animal community. To understand the characteristics and dynamics of soil animal community as well as its response to repeated freeze–thaw events in this region during onset of freezing, a field experiment was conducted to investigate the composition, abundance, and diversity of soil fauna in primary fir (Abies faxoniana) forest, fir and birch (Betula albosinensis) mixed forest and secondary fir (A. faxoniana) forest, which were three representative forests in the subalpine and alpine forest region in western Sichuan. Soil samples were collected from November 3 to November 27, 2008, which was defined as onset of freezing based on the simultaneous monitoring of soil temperature. Soil macrofauna were picked up by hand in the fields. Mesofauna were separated and collected from the soil samples by Baermann and Tullgren methods, respectively. By preliminary identification, 40,942 individuals were collected, which belonged to 7 phyla, 15 classes and 25 orders in the three sampling forests. 16,557, 14,669 and 9716 individuals were found in primary forest, mixed forest and secondary forest, respectively. In comparison with the mineral soil layer, the soil organic layer had higher density and groups of soil fauna. Furthermore, following the repeated freeze–thaw events, density and groups of soil fauna experienced a distinct decrease in both soil organic layer and mineral soil layer, and this trend in soil organic layer was more significant in the primary forest, owing to higher intense and more frequent freeze–thaw cycles in soil organic layer of the primary forest. The results revealed that soil animals were sensitive bio-indicators to environmental changes, such as repeated freeze–thaw events and dry–wet cycle. Meanwhile, the results also implied that the dynamics of the structure and function of soil animal community during the onset of freezing was of ecological significance to understand the wintertime ecological process in soils.