Effects of temperature, photoperiod, and light intensity on the eclosion rhythm of the high-altitude Himalayan strain of Drosophila ananassae

Eclosion rhythm of the high-altitude Himalayan strain of Drosophila ananassae from Badrinath (altitude 5123 m) was temperature-dependent and at 21°C, it was entrained by cycles of 12 h light: 12 h darkness (LD 12:12) and free-ran in constant darkness, however, it was arrhythmic at 13°C or 17°C under identical experimental conditions (Khare, P. V., Barnabas, R. J., Kanojiya, M., Kulkarni, A. D., Joshi, D. S. (2002). Temperature dependent eclosion rhythmicity in the high altitude Himalayan strains of Drosophila ananassae. Chronobiol. Int. 19:1041-1052). The present studies were designed to see whether or not these strains could be entrained at 13°C, 17°C, and 21°C by two types of LD cycles in which the photoperiod at 100 lux intensity varied from 6 h to 18 h, and the light intensity of LD 14:10 cycles varied from 0.001 lux to 1000 lux. All LD cycles entrained this strain at 21°C but not at 13°C or 17°C. These results demonstrate that the entrainment of eclosion rhythm depends on the ambient temperature and not on the photoperiod or light intensity of LD cycles. Thus the temperature has taken precedence over the light in the entrainment process of eclosion rhythm of the high altitude Himalayan strain of D. ananassae. This may be the result of natural selection in response to the environmental temperature at Badrinath that resembles that of the sub-Arctic region but the photoperiod or light intensity are of the subtropical region.     

The Origin and Dynamics of Subalpine White Spruce and Balsam Fir Stands in Boreal Eastern North America

Associations among the few tree species in the North American boreal landscape are the result of complex interactions between climate, biota, and historical disturbances during the Holocene. The closed-crown boreal forest of eastern North America is subdivided into two ecological regions having distinct tree species associations; the balsam fir zone and the black spruce zone, south and north of 49°N, respectively. Subalpine old-growth stands dominated by trees species typical of the balsam fir forest flora (either balsam fir or white spruce) are found on high plateaus, some of which are isolated within the black spruce zone. Here we identified the ecological processes responsible for the distinct forest associations in the subalpine belt across the eastern boreal landscape. Extensive radiocarbon dating, species composition, and size structure analyses indicated contrasted origin and dynamics of the subalpine forests between the two ecological regions. In the black spruce zone, the subalpine belt is a mosaic of post-fire white spruce or balsam fir stands coexisting at similar elevation on the high plateaus. With increasing time without wildfire, the subalpine forests become structurally similar to the balsam fir forest of the fir zone. These results concur with the hypothesis that the subalpine forests of this area are protected remnants of an historical northern expansion of the fir zone. Its replacement by the fire-prone black spruce forest flora was caused by recurrent fires. In the subalpine belt of the fir zone, no fire was recorded for several millennia. Harsh climate at high altitude is the primary factor explaining white spruce dominance over balsam fir forming a distinct subalpine white spruce belt above the balsam fir dominated forest.     

天山北坡植物土壤生态化学计量特征的垂直地带性

生态化学计量工作专注于植物与土壤的元素比例关系及其环境解释等问题上,还需要分析在连续环境梯度上元素比例关系的变化规律以进一步加深已有的认识。受水热梯度的影响,植被与土壤在天山北坡均存在明显的垂直地带性,这为探讨植物土壤生态化学计量特征的垂直带谱提供了有利条件。在天山中段北坡海拔1000—3840m范围内,按海拔梯度对植物和土壤分别采样,测定其C、N、P含量。结果表明:(1)随海拔的升高,植物C、N、P含量及其计量比变化规律各不相同,C含量随海拔变化保持不变,仅山地针叶林显著低于亚高山灌丛草甸、高山垫状植被和山前灌木(P0.05);N含量、C∶P、N∶P随海拔先升高后降低,山地针叶林和亚高山灌丛草甸显著高于山地荒漠草原、山地草原、高山垫状植被(P0.05);P含量、C∶N则是随海拔先降低后升高,高山垫状植被显著高于其他植被类型,山地荒漠草原、山前灌木和高山草甸显著高于山地草原、针叶林和亚高山灌丛草甸(P0.05)。(2)从生活型角度,乔木、灌木和草本C、N含量、C∶N差异不显著,灌木P含量、C∶P、N∶P显著高于草本(P0.05);乔木和灌木更受P限制,草本更受N限制。(3)随海拔的升高,土壤C、N、P含量、C∶P、N∶P均先升高后降低,其中山地针叶林和亚高山灌丛草甸均显著高于山地荒漠草原和山地草原(P0.05),土壤C∶N表现为一直降低,山地荒漠草原显著高于其他植被类型(P0.05)。(4)植物C、N、P及计量比与土壤相关性分析中,仅植物C∶P与土壤C∶P相关性显著,且植物C、N、P含量与土壤相关系数小于植物C∶P、N∶P与土壤相关系数。在垂直地带性上,土壤主要通过生态化学计量比影响植物的生长。     

Short-term responses of winter soil respiration to snow removal in a Picea asperata forest of western Sichuan

Aims Seasonal snow cover is one of the most important factors that control winter soil respiration in the cold biomes. The warming-induced decreases in snowpack could affect winter soil respiration of subalpine forests. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of snow removal on winter soil respiration in a Picea asperata forest.Methods A snow removal experiment was conducted in a P. asperata forest stand in western Sichuan during the winter of 2015/2016. The snow removal treatment was implemented using wooden roof method. Soil temperatures, snow depth and soil respiration rate were simultaneously measured in plots of snow removal and controls during the experimental period.Important findings Compared to the control, snow removal increased the fluctuations of soil temperatures. The average daily temperature of the soil surface and that at 5 cm depth were 1.12 °C and 0.34 °C lower, respectively, and the numbers of freeze-thaw cycles of the soil surface and that at 5 cm depth were increased by 39 and 12, respectively, in plots of snow removal than in the controls. The average rate of winter soil respiration and CO₂ efflux were 0.52 μmol·m^-2·s^-1 and 88.44 g·m^-2, respectively. On average, snow removal reduced soil respiration rate by 21.02% and CO₂ efflux by 25.99%, respectively. More importantly, the snow effect mainly occurred in the early winter. The winter soil respiration rate had a significant exponential relationship with soil temperature. However, snow removal significantly reduced temperature sensitivity of the winter soil respiration. Our results suggest that seasonal snow reduction associated with climate change could inhibit winter soil respiration in the subalpine forests of western Sichuan, with significant implications for the carbon dynamics of the subalpine forests.     

川西亚高山/高山森林土壤氧化还原酶活性及其对季节性冻融的响应

川西亚高山/高山森林土壤通常具有明显的季节性冻融特征。为深入了解川西亚高山/高山森林冬季土壤生态过程,于2008年11月-2009年10月,在土壤初冻期、冻结期和融化期及生长季节,研究了不同海拔(3582 m、3292 m和3023 m)岷江冷杉林的土壤氧化还原酶活性及其对土壤冻融的响应。土壤冻结时间和冻融循环次数随海拔的增加而增加。冻融格局显著影响了土壤氧化还原酶活性,但不同土壤酶在不同海拔表现出明显差异。土壤过氧化物酶和脱氢酶活性受初冻期冻融循环和温度降低影响显著下降,而过氧化氢酶活性明显上升。3种土壤氧化还原酶活性在土壤温度相对稳定的冻结期变化不显著,但在融化期随着土壤温度急剧增加经历一个明显的活性高峰后快速降低,且冻结时间最长和冻融循环次数最多的3582 m变化更为显著。此外,海拔和土层的交互作用显著影响了过氧化物物活性,但对脱氢酶和过氧化氢酶活性不显著。脱氢酶活性与土壤温度极显著相关,但过氧化物酶和过氧化氢酶活性与土壤温度的相关性随海拔差异而不同。这些结果表明川西亚高山/高山森林冬季土壤氧化还原酶仍然具有较高的活性,但受到季节性冻融及其变化的显著影响。     

Understorey plant community structure in lower montane and subalpine forests, Grand Canyon National Park, USA

Aim Our objectives were to compare understorey plant community structure among forest types, and to test hypotheses relating understorey community structure within lower montane and subalpine forests to fire history, forest structure, fuel loads and topography. Location Forests on the North Rim of Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA. Methods We measured understorey (< 1.4 m) plant community structure in 0.1‐ha plots. We examined differences in univariate response variables among forest types, used permutational manova to assess compositional differences between forest types, and used indicator species analysis to identify species driving the differences between forest types. We then compiled sets of proposed models for predicting plant community structure, and used Akaike's information criterion (AIC_C) to determine the support for each model. Model averaging was used to make multi‐model inferences if no single model was supported. Results Within the lower montane zone, pine–oak forests had greater understorey plant cover, richness and diversity than pure stands of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa P. & C. Lawson var. scopulorum Engelm.). Plant cover was negatively related to time since fire and to ponderosa pine basal area, and was highest on northern slopes and where Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii Nutt.) was present. Species richness was negatively related to time since fire and to ponderosa pine basal area, and was highest on southern slopes and where Gambel oak was present. Annual forb species richness was negatively related to time since fire. Community composition was related to time since fire, pine and oak basal area, and topography. Within subalpine forests, plant cover was negatively related to subalpine fir basal area and amounts of coarse woody debris (CWD), and positively related to Engelmann spruce basal area. Species richness was negatively related to subalpine fir basal area and amounts of CWD, was positively related to Engelmann spruce basal area, and was highest on southern slopes. Community composition was related to spruce, fir and aspen basal areas, amounts of CWD, and topography. Main conclusions In montane forests, low‐intensity surface fire is an important ecological process that maintains understorey communities within the range of natural variability and appears to promote landscape heterogeneity. The presence of Gambel oak was positively associated with high floristic diversity. Therefore management that encourages lightning‐initiated wildfires and Gambel oak production may promote floristic diversity. In subalpine forests, warm southern slopes and areas with low amounts of subalpine fir and CWD were positively associated with high floristic diversity. Therefore the reduction of CWD and forest densities through managed wildfire may promote floristic diversity, although fire use in subalpine forests is inherently more difficult due to intense fire behaviour in dense spruce–fir forests.     

峨眉冷杉林森林类型的研究

峨眉冷杉林分布于东亚两大植物亚区的交壤地带,但植物种类以中国—日本成分为主,组成我国亚热带湿润常绿阔叶林区西部边缘的山地暗针叶林类型。林区气候高湿多雨,相适应的森林类型的特征特性多不同于其以西的高山峡谷区。 文中分析了此类森林的林层结构、径级结构和年龄结构,表明为多世代的异龄性的单层纯林。根据群落外貌划分为三个林型组和六个林型,论及各林型间生产力的差异,并着重于动态观察,认为演替的途径、阶段和速度与林型本身特性有关,与采伐方式也很密切,但相对稳定的林型遭破坏后任其顺行发展,均能恢复为原来的林型。鉴于此类森林成熟过熟林多,病朽严重,而林区气候优越,植被恢复迅速,在确保水源涵养和生态环境的前提下,森林资源合理利用仍属必要,关键在于提高经营水平,应根据各林型特点和演替规律合理采伐,使可更新资源能永续利用。     

不同施水量对云杉幼苗生长和生理生态特征的影响

在中国科学院成都生物研究所茂县生态站,参照云杉分布区的年降水量,设置4种水分处理梯度(分别模拟年降水量为350mm、700mm、1000mm和1350mm),研究云杉幼苗的生长和生理特征差异。经过4a的研究,结果表明,不同施水量显著影响了云杉幼苗的株高、基径、生物量积累(叶重、茎重和根重)、主根长度、第一级侧根数量、气体交换、叶绿素含量、脯氨酸以及丙二醛含量。700mm施水量的云杉幼苗的以上参数显著高于其他3个施水量(350mm、1000mm和1350mm)的幼苗。干旱胁迫下,云杉幼苗净光合速率和蒸腾速率显著降低,抑制了云杉幼苗生物量积累;过量施水则降低了云杉幼苗的根生长。云杉幼苗通过调节水分利用效率来适应不同的水分条件,当受到干旱胁迫时,通过提高水分利用效率来提供生长所需要的水分;然而当水分充足的时候,水分利用效率又降低。此外,水分不足和过量均导致针叶叶绿素含量降低,同时引起丙二醛含量的增加,表明云杉幼苗不适宜在土壤过于干旱和湿润的条件下生长。     

On the Evolution of the Palynoflora and Climatic Environment During Late Pleistocence in Tengger Desert,China

Palynoflora studies on the Duantouliang section, located at 39º40'N, 103º55'E in Northwestern Tengger Desert, China showed that, based on the spore-pollen assemblages, the major vegetation and climatic environment between 42 000 to 23 000 a BP could be divided into the following different periods: Ⅰ. From 42 000 to 38 000 a BP, the spore-pollen assemblages displayed that the mixed conifer/deciduous broad-leaved forests developed on the mountain and its foothill regions where the bare Gobi-desert are at present; At that time, Populus and Salix forests and grassland surrounded the Paleaolake, the climate condition was much warmer and humid than today; Ⅱ. From 38 000 to 37 000 a BP, the climate was warm and moist, it was the most suitable period for the plant growth, the studied area was dominated by the temperate and warm-temperate mixed broad-leaf deciduous and needleleaf forest, there was meadow spreaded on the river sides and lake beaches; Ⅲ. From 31 000 to 30000 a BP, the needleleaf forests and cold-temperate Salix oritrepha shrubs were flourishing, and the climate at that time was relatively cold;Ⅳ. From 30000 to 28000 a BP, the temperatures began increasing, the high lake levels was formed during this time, and the vegetations were meadows and swamps; V. From 28 000 to 23 000 a BP, temperate Cupressaceae and Betula mixed conifer/deciduous forests grew on mountain and foothill region, grassland developed on plain areas, Salix was on lake and river sides. This indicates a warm and moist climate condition but it was drier than the earliest period.     

Determination of the maximum and minimum lethal temperatures (LT50) for Loxosceles intermedia Mello-Leitão, 1934 and L. laeta (Nicolet, 1849) (Araneae, Sicariidae)

In this study, the maximum and minimum lethal temperatures (LT₅₀) of L. intermedia and L. laeta were determined in two treatments: gradual heating (25–50°C) and cooling (25°C to −5°C), and 1 h at a constant temperature. In gradual temperatures change, L. intermedia mortality started at 40°C and the LT₅₀ was 42°C; for L. laeta, mortality began at 35°C and the LT₅₀ was 40°C. At low temperatures, mortality was registered only at −5°C for both species. In the constant temperature L. intermedia showed a maximum LT₅₀ at 35°C and L. laeta at 32°C; the minimum LT for both species was −7°C.     

Staining of fresh, Undecalcified, thin Bone Sections

Fresh, undecalcified bone sections can be reproducibly and reliably stained by any of the following procedures: (A) Basic fuchsin, 1% in 30% alcohol, 48 hr, 22°C. (B) AgNO₃, 0.033 M, 48 hr, 22°C; washing 48 hr in a large volume of distilled water; exposure to light to develop the color. (C) Metallic sulfides (Co⁺⁺, Pb⁺⁺, Hg⁺⁺, Cu⁺⁺): the nitrate of the metal, 0.033 M, 48 hr, 22°C; then Na₂S, 0.033 M, 48 hr, 22° C. (D) Alizarin Red S, 0.1% solution in distilled water, 48 hr, 22°C; differentiated 48 hr at 22°C in weakly alkaline water, pH about 8. (E) KMnO₄: boiling 8-10 min in a 0.1 N, solution. With the exception of D the surface stain must be ground off the section for microscopic examination of its interior. Stain concentration, time and temperature can be altered to suit specific needs.     

Temperature dependent eclosion rhythmicity in the high altitude Himalayan strains of Drosophila ananassae

The circadian pacemaker controlling the eclosion rhythm of the high altitude Himalayan strains of Drosophila ananassae captured at Badrinath (5123 m) required ambient temperature at 21°C for the entrainment and free-running processes. At this temperature, their eclosion rhythms entrained to 12h light, 12h dark (LD 12:12) cycles and free-ran when transferred from constant light (LL) to constant darkness (DD) or upon transfer to constant temperature at 21°C following entrainment to temperature cycles in DD. These strains, however, were arrhythmic at 13 or 17°C under identical experimental conditions. Eclosion medians always occurred in the thermophase of temperature cycles whether they were imposed in LL or DD; or whether the thermophase coincided with the photophase or scotophase of the concurrent LD 12:12 cycles. The temperature dependent rhythmicity in the Himalayan strains of D. ananassae is a rare phenotypic plasticity that might have been acquired through natural selection by accentuating the coupling sensing mechanism of the pacemaker to temperature, while simultaneously suppressing the effects of light on the pacemaker.     

云南急尖长苞冷杉林的地植物学初步研究

本文述及云南乌蒙山脉残留分布的急尖长苞冷杉林(即乌蒙冷杉林)的植物群落学特征。此类森林目前只有小面积分布于乌蒙山的海拔3100一3900米处。它是滇中高原北部山地唯一的亚高山针叶林,也是该地植被垂直带谱中的一个重要组成。群落由急尖长苞冷杉组成的单优势林,偶见云南铁杉混生。下木有花楸、榛,荚蒾、柳,树五加、绣球、冬青、杜鹃等属的种类组成。灌木层以箭竹为主,而草本层种类较多。大部分种类为中国—喜马拉雅区系成分。急尖长苞冷杉林的植物群落学特征与滇西北一带的亚高山针叶林非常近似,但乔木层缺乏云杉属和落叶松属的种类。可以认为,此类冷杉林是滇西北、川西南和藏东南这一个亚高山针叶林植被分布区的一个最为东南的边缘类型,它的分布已到了分布区的极限。它是自然历史的残留林,又在人为影响下,面积越来越小。对于此类残留森林,必须严加保护,使其得以发展以扩大自然分布区。如果这样,这对于改变乌蒙山脉的农、林、牧诸方面的面貌,将起着十分积极的作用。     

A 10,000-year temperature record from Gotland,Sweden

The sediment of Lake Tingstdäde Träsk, a shallow Chara-dominated lake onm the island of Gotland in the middle of the Baltic, was analyzed as to its ^1*O and ¹³C content. The lake carbonate (Chara lime) was precipitate due to the assimilation of CO₂ by Chara during the summer months. The isotope curves give a very detaile record of the temperature fluctuations from 10, 700 to 1000 B.P. The depth scale was converted to absolute age via numerous identified levels. The ¹⁸O curve was converted to temperature (mean summer temperature of the lake) via the relation between measured lake temperature and corresponding isotopes composition of the water. The corresponding mean air temperature was calculated. The temperature record shows: (1) a low temperature during the Younger Dryas Stadial: (2) a very rapid rise at the Pleistocene/Halocene Halocene boundary; (3) a rapid rise through the early Holocene with present-day values reached at about 9, 300 B.P.; (4) a Holocene optimum of 1.5-1.2°C higher temperature than today, ending with a 2°C temperature fall at the Subboreal/Subatlantic transition at about 2500 B.P.; and (5) a fluctuating Holocene temperature with warm and cold peaks at the same chronological levels as known eustatic and global climatic fluctuations.     

Thermal avoidance and preference in Daphnia magna

1. Water fleas (Daphnia magna) bred at 23°C were non-responsive to temperatures between 13 and 25°C.

2. At the lower (11°C) and upper limits (30°C) their klinokinetic avoidance behaviour showed a larger intraindividual than interindividual variation.

3. Thermal sensitivity for avoidance responses in D. magna was about 1.5°C.

4. For D. magna bred for one parthenogenetic generation at 14°C heat avoidance temperature was about 8°C lower, and cold avoidance temperature was about 1°C higher than in D. magna from 23°C.

5. In group experiments the animals showed some preference for the acclimation temperature.

6. Cold induced stenothermy and warm induced eurythermy in D. magna were related to the mode of reproduction.

中国毛竹林碳氮磷生态化学计量特征

碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)生态化学计量比是生态系统过程与功能的重要特征, 开展种群生态化学计量学研究可以细化植物种群化学计量学内容, 确定限制植物生长的元素类型, 同时为大尺度模型的发展提供数据基础。为阐明我国毛竹(Phyllostachys edulis)林C、N、P化学计量学特征, 通过对毛竹主要产区文献数据的搜集整理与分析, 探索我国毛竹林“植物-土壤-凋落物”系统C、N、P及C:N、C:P、N:P生态化学计量特征, 以及不同组分生态化学计量特征与经纬度之间的关系。结果表明: 1)我国毛竹林叶片C含量为478.30 mg·g^-1, N含量为22.20 mg·g^-1, P含量为1.90 mg·g^-1, C:N为26.80, C:P为299.60, N:P为14.40; 毛竹林0-20 cm土层C含量为21.53 mg·g^-1, N含量为1.66 mg·g^-1, P含量0.41 mg·g^-1, C:N为14.20, C:P为66.74, N:P为4.28; 毛竹凋落物C含量为438.49 mg·g^-1, N含量为13.39 mg·g^-1, P含量为0.86 mg·g^-1, C:N为22.53, C:P为665.67, N:P为22.55。2)毛竹林“植物-土壤-凋落物”系统中, C:N表现为: 叶片>凋落物>土壤, C:P和N:P均表现为: 凋落物>叶片>土壤, 叶片N、P再吸收率分别为39.68%和54.74%, 我国毛竹林生长发育总体上可能受到P限制或者N和P两种元素的双重限制。3)纬度梯度: 叶片N含量、N:P随纬度增加而增加, C:N随纬度增加而降低。经度梯度: 叶片N:P随经度增加而增加, P含量、C:N随经度增加而降低; 土壤C:N随经度增加而增加, N含量随经度增加而降低; 凋落物N含量随经度增加而降低。4)叶片N含量与年平均气温和年降水量均存在明显负相关关系, 但对温度的响应比降水更敏感, 叶片N含量与纬度呈正相关关系, 支持“温度-植物生理假说”, 反映了植物对自然环境的适应。     

Stoichiometric characteristics of carbon,nitrogen and phosphorus in Phyllostachys edulis forests of China

Aims Stoichiometric ratios of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are important characteristics of the ecological processes and functions. Studies on population ecological stoichiometry can refine the content of flora chemometrics, determine the limited nutrient, and provide data for process-based modeling over large scale. Phyllostachys edulis is an important forest type, whose area accounts for 74% of total bamboo forest area in Southern China. However, little is known about the ecological stoichiometric in P. edulis. This study aimed to reveal C:N, C:P and N:P stoichiometry characteristics of the “plant-soil-litter” continuum and to provide a better understanding nutrient cycling and stability mechanisms in P. edulis forest in China. Methods The data were collected from the published literature containing C、N、P content in leaf or surface soil (0-20 cm) or littefall in P. edulis forests. Important findings 1) The leaf C, N, P content were estimated at 478.30 mg·g^-1, 22.20 mg·g^-1, 1.90 mg·g^-1 in P. edulis, and the corresponding C: N, C: P and N: P were 26.80, 299.60 and 14.40, respectively. Soil C, N, and P content in 0-20 cm were 21.53 mg·g^-1, 1.66 mg·g^-1, 0.41 mg·g^-1, with ratios of 14.20 for C:N, 66.74 for C:P and 4.28 for N:P. The C, N and P contents were 438.49 mg·g^-1, 13.39 mg·g^-1, 0.86 mg·g^-1 for litterfall, with the litter C:N, C:P and N:P being 25.53, 665.67, 22.55, respectively. 2) In the plant-soil-litter system in P. edulis forest, leaf had higher C:N, litter had higher C:P and N:P, while soil were the lowest. The N, P resorption rate was 39.68% and 54.74%, indicating that P. edulis forest growth and development was constrained by P or by both of N and P in China. 3) N content and N:P in leaf showed a tendency to increase with latitude, while the C:N of leaf declined with latitude. N:P of leaf increased with longitude, but the P content and the C:N of leaf showed a opposite trend. C: N of soil increased with longitude, whereas the N content of soil declined longitude. The N content of litter declined with longitude. 4) The leaf N content was negatively correlated with mean annual temperature and mean annual precipitation, but being more sensitive to temperature than precipitation. The positive correlations between N content and latitude support “Temperature-Plant Physiological” hypothesis, reflecting an adaptive strategy to environmental conditions.     

季节性冻结初期川西亚高山/高山森林土壤细菌多样性

高山/亚高山显著的季节性冻结过程可能对土壤细菌多样性产生重要影响。为了解季节性冻结初期土壤完全冻结前后川西亚高山/高山森林群落土壤细菌多样性变化特征,于2008年11月5日(土壤冻结前期)—11月25日(土壤完全冻结期)期间,采用PCR-DGGE技术同步研究了原始冷杉(Abies faxoniana)林(PF)、针阔混交林(MF)和次生冷杉林(SF)的土壤细菌群落多样性变化特征。土壤完全冻结后,3个森林群落仍然具有较高的土壤细菌多样性。3个森林的土壤细菌类群总数在土壤冻结前表现为MFSFPF,但在土壤完全冻结后表现为PFMFSF。土壤冻结明显降低了土壤细菌多样性,但提高了土壤细菌群落的优势度。冻结作用对土壤细菌群落的影响随着土壤深度增加而降低,随着海拔升高而降低。这些结果表明季节性冻结过程对亚高山/高山森林土壤细菌多样性有着显著的影响,这对深入认识冬季土壤生态过程具有重要意义。     

Loss of Symbiodinium from bleached soft corals Sarcophyton ehrenbergi, Sinularia sp. and Xenia sp.

The deleterious effects of temperature-induced coral bleaching, a process by which corals lose their endosymbiotic algae (zooxanthellae; genus Symbiodinium) primarily at temperatures above mean yearly maximums, has not been well described for alcyonacean soft corals (Coelenterata, Octocorallia). The study of Symbiodinium cells lost from Sarcophyton ehrenbergi, Sinularia sp., and Xenia sp., which have not been compared in bleaching studies, indicate that the soft coral S. ehrenbergi released the greatest number of symbiont cells, however, it was less susceptible to heat stress surviving temperatures of 34 °C for >39 h. Sinularia sp. showed intermediate levels of bleaching tolerance to elevated temperatures, surviving prolonged exposures at 32 °C, but dying within 24 h at 34 °C. Xenia sp., however, was the most vulnerable to high heat stress maximally releasing Symbiodinium at temperatures ≤30 °C. This evidence indicates that Xenia sp. is even more susceptible to elevated temperatures than Acropora spp., previously reported to be the most vulnerable coral species to elevated temperature-induced bleaching.

Molecular analysis showed that the more resistant soft coral species (S. ehrenbergi) had the same type of Symbiodinium (clade C) as less resistant soft corals (Xenia sp.). In comparison to scleractinian corals collected from the same region that show similar bleaching resistance to high temperatures (e.g. Porities solida—more robust; Favites complanata—moderate resistance; Acropora hyacinthus—less robust), all scleractinian corals were symbiotic with Symbiodinium from clade C. A. hyacinthus, however, was found to possess multiple symbionts (clades B and C), and this represents a first report of Clade B in any Acropora species.     

Vegetation history since the last glacial period in the Mikata lowland,the Sea of Japan area,western Japan

Local and regional vegetation since the last glacial period was reconstructed on the basis of a palynological study of sediment at Iwaya, in the Sea of Japan area, western Japan. During the interstade (before about 30 000 years BP), forests were composed predominantly ofCryptomeria japonica withTsuga sieboldii and cool-temperate deciduous broad-leaved trees. In the pre-full-glacial, the full-glacial and the early late-glacial (30 000-12 000 years BP), forests were dominated by temperate (montane) and boreal (subalpine) Pinaceae andBetula. During the early full-glacial, the pinaceous forests were mixed with cool-temperate trees such asFagus crenata. In the late full-glacial (18 000-16 000 years BP), the maximum development of pinaceous conifer forests was recognized. Cool-temperate broad-leaved forests composed mainly ofF. crenata andQuercus (Lepidobalanus) replaced the pinaceous forests at about 12 000 years BP and were maintained to the early postglacial.Cryptomeria japonica was distributed around the Mikata lowland during the last glacial.Cryptomeria japonica, which began to increase at 16 000 years BP, increased abruptly in the early postglacial and spread throughout the postglacial in the lowlands. After 6300 years BP, lucidophyllous forests composed mainly ofQuercus (Cyclobalanopsis) andCastanopsis were established in the Mikata district; this was later than in the inland and the Pacific Ocean areas in the Kinki region, western Japan. In historic times (afterca 2000 years BP), secondary forest ofPinus densiflora, which can grow as a pioneer in disturbed habitats, spread.