Microorganisms of the Upper Atmosphere: IV. Microorganisms of a Land Air Mass as It Traverses an Ocean

The viable micropopulation at three altitudes (152, 1,066, and 1,981 meters) of a land air mass as it traversed an ocean was determined. At the low altitude, a consistent pattern of decrease in numbers of land-originating microorganisms with increasing distance from shore was observed. At the higher altitudes, the observed pattern was one of irregularity. At the lower altitude the percentages of bacteria and fungi were approximately equal near the coast, but as distance from the coast increased, fungi predominated over the bacteria at all sampling locations. The greatest number of different genera of both bacteria and fungi were obtained at or near the coast. Fungi of the genera Alternaria, Hormodendron, Penicillium, and Aspergillus, and bacteria of the genera Micrococcus and Bacterium predominated at all altitudes and locations.     

Microorganisms of the Upper Atmosphere: III. Relationship between Altitude and Micropopulation

Simultaneous sampling for microorganisms was accomplished at altitudes of 690, 1,600, and 3,127 meters. The location of temperature inversions in relation to the collection altitude determined, to a great extent, the micropopulation. High micropopulations were found when an inversion was above the sampling altitude, and low populations when the inversion was below the sampling altitude. Diurnal periodicity which could be generally correlated with periods of minimal and maximal convective activity was observed. Evidence is presented showing that the micropopulation is more stable at higher altitudes than at lower altitudes.     

Microorganisms of the Upper Atmosphere: V. Relationship between Frontal Activity and the Micropopulation at Altitude

The relationship between frontal activity and the micropopulation of the atmosphere at altitude is described. It is shown that certain of the meteorological events associated with frontal activity quantitatively modify the micropopulation of the atmosphere. Precipitation associated with frontal passage reduces the micropopulation at altitude, whereas frontal activity with high levels of associated surface and atmospheric turbulence results in great increases in micropopulations of the upper atmosphere-particularly in those situations where surface conditions are conductive to the development of dust.     

The leaf size-twig size spectrum of temperate woody species along an altitudinal gradient: an invariant allometric scaling relationship

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The leaf size-twig size spectrum is one of the leading dimensions of plant ecological variation, and now it is under development. The purpose of this study was to test whether the relationship between leaf size and twig size is isometric or allometric, and to examine the relationship between plant allometric growth and life history strategies in the spectrum. METHODS: Leaf and stem characters-including leaf and stem mass, total leaf area, individual leaf area, stem cross-sectional area, leaf number and stem length-at the twig level for 59 woody species were investigated along an altitudinal gradient on Changbaishan Mountain in the temperate zone of China. The environmental gradient ranges from temperate broad-leaved mixed forest at low altitude, to conifer forest at middle altitude, and to sub-alpine birch forest at high altitude. The scaling relationships between stem cross-sectional area and stem mass, stem mass and leaf mass, and leaf mass and leaf area at the twig level were simultaneously determined. KEY RESULTS: Twig cross-sectional area was found to have invariant allometric scaling relationships with the stem mass, leaf mass, total leaf area and individual leaf area, all with common slopes being significantly larger than 1, for three altitudinal-zoned vegetation types under investigation. However, leaf mass was found to be isometrically related to stem mass and leaf area along the environmental gradient. Based on the predictions of previous models, the exponent value of the relationship between twig cross-sectional area and total leaf area can be inferred to be 1.5, which falls between the confidence intervals of the relationship at each altitude, and between the confidence intervals of the common slope value (1.17-1.56) of this study. This invariant scaling relationship is assumed to result from the fractural network and/or developmental constraints of plants. The allometric constants (y-intercepts) of the relationships between the stem cross-sectional area and leaf area (both total leaf area and individual leaf area) were found to decrease significantly along the altitudinal gradient. This suggests that the species would support less leaf area at a given twig cross-sectional area with increasing environmental stress. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that plants respond to the environmental gradient by changing the y-intercepts of the relationship between leaf size-twig size, while keeping the exponent value of the allometric relationship as an invariant constant. The allometric growth in the twig size-leaf size spectrum is related to many other components of plant life history strategy, including the well established life history trade-off between efficiency and safety in the hydraulic transport of water.     

发育阶段和海拔对岷江源区陇蜀杜鹃小枝功能性状及生物量分配的影响

本研究分析了岷江源区卡卡山典型高山灌丛植物陇蜀杜鹃不同发育阶段(花芽期和开花期)及不同海拔(3600 m低海拔和3800 m高海拔)下功能小枝和叶片性状的差异,以及空间异质性对花芽期和开花期小枝功能性状相关性及其权衡作用的影响。结果表明: 低海拔同一生长期陇蜀杜鹃小枝长度显著大于高海拔,高海拔开花期小枝的花数量和花质量显著高于低海拔。同一海拔花芽期的小枝质量、叶片数量、总叶质量、总叶面积和总叶柄质量均显著大于开花期,单叶质量和单叶柄质量均显著小于开花期。与花芽期相比,开花期叶生物量占比减少了13%,而小枝质量占比显著增加。小枝的生物量权衡表明,花芽期性状倾向于小枝质量,开花期倾向于总叶质量;花芽期的叶偏好分配于单叶质量,低海拔和高海拔开花期叶片分别偏好分配到单叶柄质量和单叶质量。低海拔开花期小枝质量与总叶面积、总叶质量均为异速生长,单叶柄质量和单叶面积为异速生长。海拔和发育阶段共同影响了陇蜀杜鹃功能小枝和叶片的性状。     

The Scaling Relationships between Leaf Mass and Leaf Area of Vascular Plant Species Change with Altitude

The scaling relationship between leaf dry mass and leaf surface area has important implications for understanding the ability of plants to harvest sunlight and grow. Whether and how the scaling relationships vary across environmental gradients are poorly understood. We analyzed the scaling relationships between leaf mass and leaf area of 121 vascular plant species along an altitudinal gradient in a subtropical monsoon forest. The slopes increased significantly with altitude, it varied from less than 1 at low altitude to more than 1 at high altitude. This means that plants growing at high altitude allocate proportionately more biomass to support tissues in larger leaves and less in smaller leaves, whereas the reverse is true at low altitude. This pattern can be explained by different leaf strategies in response to environmental pressure and constrains.     

Classical eyeblink conditioning during acute hypobaric hypoxia is improved in acclimatized mice and involves Fos expression in selected brain areas.

This work attempts to evaluate the cognitive aspects of the acclimatization ability of mice submitted to simulated altitude. Critical altitudes were detected by evaluating open field activity, combined or not with object recognition tasks, at different acute simulated altitudes. Results showed impaired cognitive abilities at approximately 3,733 m and above. To evaluate acclimatization capabilities, mice submitted to hypobaric hypoxia at approximately 5,000 m for 1 wk were tested for learning and memory performances with classical eyeblink conditioning at the same altitude or at land altitude. Results showed total acclimatization in mice conditioned at approximately 5,000 m but no improved performance in those conditioned at land altitudes compared with controls. Selected brain sites of conditioned animals were analyzed by immunohistochemistry to detect expression of the protein product of the protooncogene c-fos (Fos) in relation to both motor learning processes and hypobaric conditions. In the nucleus of the solitary tract, a higher expression of Fos was found in the acute hypobaric conditioned animals than in control conditioned and nonconditioned animals. Similar patterns between groups were found in the other brain areas, mainly in the piriform cortex and area 1 of the cingulate cortex and in the hippocampus. Differences between hemispheres were detected only in acute hypobaric animals. The present results show that acclimatization to high altitude prevents the impairment of classical eyeblink conditioning evoked by hypobaric hypoxic conditions but does not improve this task when acquired under land conditions, although it could diminish the activation requirements for its performance.     

西北干旱区不同海拔高度地区气温变化对春小麦生长的影响

基于1981—2006年西北干旱区高海拔地（民乐站）和低海拔地（张掖站）农业气象观测站的观测资料,对民乐站和张掖站的气温变化及其对春小麦生长发育和产量的影响进行了研究.结果表明：研究期间,民乐站、张掖站的气温均呈增加趋势,且高海拔地区的增温幅度大于低海拔地区;民乐站春小麦对气温变暖的响〖JP2〗应表现为生育期缩短、产量增加,张掖站春小麦对气温变暖的响应表现为生育期缩短、产量下降;春小麦生育期内日均气温每升高1 ℃,民乐站和张掖站春小麦生育期分别缩短8.3 d和3.8 d.民乐站春小麦生育期内最高气温低于30.4 ℃时,春小麦生育期和产量均小幅增加,当超过30.4 ℃时,春小麦生育期缩短、产量下降.     

不同海拔高度高寒草甸光能利用效率的遥感模拟

利用植被光合模型模拟了藏北高原3个海拔高度(4300,4500 m和4700 m)的高寒草甸生态系统的光能利用效率.海拔4500 m的光能利用效率均值(0.47 g C/MJ)显著高于海拔4300 m(0.38 g C/MJ)和4700 m(0.35 g C/MJ),而海拔4300 m和4700 m两者间差异不显著.相关分析和多重逐步回归分析表明,影响每个海拔光能利用效率季节变化的主要因子为空气温度,相对湿度以及地表水分指数,这3个因子共同解释了99％以上的光能利用效率的季节变化,其中空气温度的贡献最大,相对湿度的贡献次之,地表水分指数的贡献最小,这说明在3个海拔的任何一个海拔高度,温度对光能利用效率季节变化的胁迫作用大于水分对光能利用效率季节变化的胁迫作用.多重逐步线性回归分析表明,生长季节均土壤含水量是决定生长季节均光能利用效率沿海拔高度分布的主导因子.单因子线性回归分析表明,地表水分指数可以定量化高寒嵩草草甸生态系统水分状况,它同时可以反应土壤水分、近地表空气湿度以及生态系统植被含水量状态.因此,在高寒嵩草草甸生态系统,用地表水分指数反应生态系统尺度水分对光能利用效率的胁迫作用是可行的.     

Microorganisms cultured from stratospheric air samples obtained at 41 km

Samples of air removed from the stratosphere, at an altitude of 41 km, were previously found to contain viable, but non-cultureable bacteria (cocci and rods). Here, we describe experiments aimed at growing these, together with any other organisms, present in these samples. Two bacteria (Bacillus simplex and Staphylococcus pasteuri) and a single fungus, Engyodontium album (Limber) de Hoog were isolated from the samples. Although the possibility of contamination can never be ruled out when space-derived samples are studied on earth, we are confident that the organisms originated from the stratosphere. Possible mechanisms by which these organisms could have attained such a height are discussed.     

Within-twig biomass allocation in subtropical evergreen broad-leaved species along an altitudinal gradient: allometric scaling analysis

We studied the effects of twig size and altitude on biomass allocation within plant twigs (terminal branches of current-year shoots), to determine whether species with large twigs/leaves or living at low altitude allocate a higher proportion of biomass to laminas than their counterparts with small twigs/leaves or living at high altitude. Stem mass, lamina mass and area, and petiole mass were measured for terminal branches of current-year shoots in 80 subtropical evergreen broad-leaved species belonging to 38 genera from 24 families along an altitudinal gradient of Mt. Emei, Southwest China. The scaling relationships between the biomass allocations of within-twig components were determined using model type II regression method. Isometric relationships were found between leaf mass and twig mass and between lamina mass and twig mass, suggesting that the biomass allocation to either leaves or laminas was independent of twig mass. Petiole mass disproportionally increased with both lamina mass and twig mass, indicating the importance of leaf petioles to the within-twig biomass allocation. These cross-species correlations were consistent with those among evolutionary divergences. In addition, species at low altitude tended to have a greater leaf and lamina mass but a smaller stem mass at a given twig mass than at middle and high altitudes. This is possibly due to the high requirement in physical support and the low efficiency of eco-physiological transport for the species living at high altitude. In general, within-twig biomass allocation pattern was not significantly affected by twig size but was greatly modulated by altitude.     

A RADAR STUDY OF THE AUTUMN MIGRATION OF WOOD PIGEONS COLUMBA PALUMBUS IN SOUTHERN SCANDINAVIA

The migration of Wood Pigeons in southern Scandinavia was studied from 21 September to 10 October 1971 and from 16 September to 15 November 1972 using radar stations supplemented with observations from an aircraft and a network of ground observers. By far the largest quantities of Wood Pigeons migrated after cold front passages with northwesterly to northeasterly tailwinds. Most birds departed on a few days, apparently as a consequence of strong preference for tailwind situations. With northwesterly winds a proportionately high migratory activity was recorded in the Kattegatt area. With northeasterly winds activity was higher in the Baltic area. This allowed the Wood Pigeons to make maximal use of the tailwind component, and their ground speed usually exceeded 80 km/h. The calculated mean air speed was 60 km/h. Their dependence on tailwind was particularly strong when the birds were engaging in long sea-crossings, such as across the Kattegatt. Different coastlines affected the geographical pattern of migration in different ways. Frequently Wood Pigeon flocks flew almost parallel to the coast but some distance off shore, until they finally departed. The deflective force of coastlines was greatest when the birds' ground speed was low, that is, under headwind conditions or in calm weather. Mean track directions measured over two areas in northern Skane, called Inland W and Inland E, situated about 60 km apart, differed by 11, those over the western area being directed more to the south than those over the eastern. No significant correlation with wind directions was found in these areas. Combining data from the whole land area, however, track directions were found to vary from day to day in significant correlation to the wind direction. Mean track directions over the Baltic agreed with those over Skane, but both differed significantly from those over the Kattegatt. Both over the Baltic and over the Kattegatt directions were significantly correlated with wind directions, and showed greater variation than track directions over land. Daily track differences over the Baltic resulted both from differences taking place over the land, and from real wind deflection (drift). Both over the land and over the sea heading directions were correlated with wind directions, suggesting compensatory efforts on the part of the birds. On three days extensive fog covered much of the study area. Wood Pigeons continued to migrate, but certain aberrations in their behaviour were noted. Over land migration was relatively heavier in the west with northwesterly winds and in the east with northeasterly winds. The correlation demonstrated between wind direction and the mean track direction was based upon the fact that populations with different inherent primary directions made up different proportions of the migrating cohorts under different wind conditions (pseudo-drift). The incomplete compensation for wind deflection over the sea is ascribed to the lack of visual orientation cues. The more accurate orientation possible over land suggests one reason for the birds' reluctance to flights across the open sea. When mean track directions of Wood Pigeons in different parts of southern Scandinavia were related to the migratory goals of these birds, it was found that they have to change their primary direction in the course of their journey from breeding to wintering areas.     

Biomonitoring of urban habitat quality by anatomical and chemical leaf characteristics

This study focused on the potential of specific leaf area, stomatal density and stomatal pore surface as easy-to-measure plant parameters in low cost biomonitoring of urban habitat quality with a high spatial resolution. The study area (81.5 km²) was the city of Gent, Belgium. In the study area 148 sampling locations were identified within 4 land use classes. Specific leaf area, stomatal density, stomatal pore surface, minimal stomatal resistance, chlorophyll a and b, C and N content, δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N in the leaf samples of a common herbaceous plant Taraxacum officinalis were measured. The stomatal pore surface and minimal stomatal resistance of T. officinalis varied significantly between land use classes. In the harbor and industry land use class and the urban land use class a 27% and 21% lower mean stomatal pore surface at the abaxial leaf surface, and a 29% and 27% lower mean stomatal pore surface at the adaxial leaf surface was observed compared to that in the pasture land use class. The minimal stomatal resistance at the abaxial leaf surface was significantly higher in the urban land use class and harbor and industry land use class by 28% and 29%, respectively compared to that in the pasture land use class. In addition, urbanized and industrial land use classes as the harbour and industry and the urban land use classes showed significantly lower δ¹³C values compared to pasture land use class. The specific leaf area, stomatal parameters and δ¹³C data were geostatistically analyzed to understand their spatial variation. The spatial distributions of stomatal pore surface and minimal stomatal resistance varied considerably across the study area, indicating a different habitat quality from the harbour area in the north, over the city centre in the middle and the industrial areas in the south, compared to off city areas. Spatial patterns of δ¹³C showed depleted δ¹³C levels in city areas indicating the diluted δ¹³C in the urban atmosphere by fuel combustion. We concluded that stomatal characteristics seem to be the most promising parameter for estimating urban habitat quality.     

城市不同植被配置类型空气负离子效应评价

通过对南宁城区、城郊绿地及农田开发区进行负离子含量的测定,找出不同植被配置类型空气负离子效应的差别。结果表明,就空气负离子而言,城郊大规模绿地的空气质量〉农田开发区〉城区;植被配置的复层结构（乔灌草）〉简单植被配置结构（乔灌、乔草、灌草）〉单一配置结构（草坪、稀乔、稀灌草）。溪流和瀑布对增加负离子浓度的作用显著。随着海拔和郁闭度的增加,空气负离子含量有上升的趋势。空气负离子含量随季节有一定的波动。     

Rapid altitudinal migration of mountain plants in Taiwan and its implications for high altitude biodiversity

Mountain systems throughout the globe are characterized by high levels of species richness and species endemism. Biodiversity, however, is not distributed evenly with altitude, but often declines from mid to high altitudes. Conversely, endemic species may be over‐represented at high altitudes. Upward elevational range shifts of mountain species have been reported in response to ongoing changes in climate, yet the reports are dominated by studies on woody species and mountains at high latitudes. We investigated spatial and temporal changes in the mountain biodiversity in the subtropical island of Taiwan, based on historical survey and resurvey data during the period 1906–2006. We found that upper altitudinal limits of mountain plant distributions have risen by ca 3.6 m yr^?1 during the last century, in parallel with rising temperatures in the region. Although species, genus, and family richness decline with altitude, ca 55% of species at the highest altitudes are endemic to the island. Given the steep decline in land area with increasing elevation, these high altitude areas are disproportionately important for plant biodiversity when richness and endemism are standardized by available land area. We argue that the distributional shift that we report, in combination with the altitudinal distribution of plant diversity, is likely to pose a major threat to high mountain species of this highly biodiverse island, a threat that is becoming increasingly evident for high mountain plants throughout the globe.     

Mutagenicity and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons analysis of airborne particulate matters from Taipei City

The mutagenic activity of dichloromethane extracts of 147 air particulate samples collected from 8 stations during December 1986-June 1987 in Taipei city was consistently higher in S. typhimurium strain TA 98 than in strain TA 100 in the presence of S9 mixture. Among the 8 stations, Nan Kang Police Station, Fu Hsing Elementary School, and Chung Hsing University which were located in the industrial district, downtown area, and heavy traffic zone, respectively, had significantly higher levels of PAHs than the other stations. In contrast, the levels of PAHs were much lower in the suburban station, near Pei Tou Elementary School. However, PAH contents of the air particulate samples collected from these stations did not show good correlation with their mutagenicity. The air particulates collected at some stations on Sunday when the traffic changed from heavy to light showed lower mutagenicity and PAH contents as compared with the other weekdays at the same stations. On the contrary, the samples collected at Pei Tou station in a suburban area where the traffic changed from light to heavy on Sunday showed higher mutagenicity and PAH contents. The monthly average of PAHs of air particulate samples collected over a 7-month period from 8 stations in Taipei city was lower than the average in 1980. Moreover, when compared with other countries, such as U.S.A., the Netherlands, West Germany, Italy, Norway, and Japan, the levels of PAHs and mutagenicity of air particulate matters in Taipei city were similar or slightly lower. The mutagenicity and contents of PAHs of air particulates collected from burnt ABS were significantly higher than those of burnt PVC. One sample PT-6-3 was collected while a nearby garbage collection area was on fire. The mutagenicity of that sample increased 3 to 16 fold and contained an 11 to 33 times higher content of the six PAHs (BaP, BeP, BbF, BaA, Chr, and DbA) as compared with the other samples collected at the same location at a different time. The higher mutagenicity and PAH contents of that sample might be due to the pollution of the air from combustion of the garbage containing products made of ABS.     

Response to weather and light conditions of migrating Whooper Swans Cygnus cygnus and flying height profiles, observed with the Argos satellite system

Ten satellite tracks of Whooper Swans migrating between Iceland and Britain or Ireland were analysed in relation to detailed weather and astronomical data. Surface pressure, visibility, cloud cover, precipitation intensity and type, sun altitude and moon altitude were estimated separately for each of 414 location points, of which 217 were over land or offshore islands, and 197 were over the open sea. Height profiles for four northbound and four southbound flights included two swans that flew continuously for most or all of the sea crossing, one of which reached 1856 m asl, the maximum height recorded. The others flew low, and landed often on the water, sometimes for prolonged periods. Elapsed times for the sea crossing varied from 12.7 to 101 hours. Statistical analysis showed that the swans tended to move onward during the sea crossings, provided that the altitude above the horizon of either the sun or the moon was higher than -4̀, and also that the visibility was greater than 2 km; otherwise, they tended to stop on the water. This effect was seen only when the swans were crossing the open sea, not when they were flying over land or islands. It was interpreted as suggesting that they need a visible horizon to navigate when out of sight of land. If this inference is correct, it would eliminate the possibility that the swans use inertial navigation, but strengthen the case for celestial navigation.     

A geographical information system model for creating bioclimatic maps – examples from a high,mid-latitude city

This paper presents a method for creating large-scale bioclimatic maps with the aid of a geographical information system, GIS. Meteorological data are linked with geographical information about land use, elevation and distance to the coast, in order to generate spatial distributions of physiological equivalent temperature, PET. The model combines an air temperature map and a wind map in order to create different zones for which the thermal component is to be calculated. The advantage of the model presented is that it uses generally available information about land use, altitude and distance to the coast. Further, the model uses a GIS application, which makes it non-static. Compared to most other models, a wide range of observations are used as input. Few biometeorological studies have been performed in high-latitude areas. This paper presents bioclimatic maps for the G?teborg urban area, in Sweden, for the month of July. The results show large variations in PET during a clear, calm day at 1200 hours (Delta T 13.4 degrees C) and during average conditions in July (Delta T 6.8 degrees C), which gives an indication of the magnitude and the spatial variations within high, midlatitude, urban area in summer. The highest PET values were found in the central built-up areas and the lowest PET values in the coastal and green areas. The model generates valuable information for urban planners and decision makers when planning and constructing new areas for outdoor activities etc. This information is also useful in the fields of health and energy.     

珙桐(Davidia involucrata Baill.)苞片功能性状及性状间关系对海拔的响应

珙桐(Davidia involucrata Baill.)的苞片被认为是对传粉者和非生物因素等驱动力的适应,往往受到环境因子的影响。为揭示其功能性状及其性状间关系对海拔的响应,本研究采用独立样本t检验和标准化主轴分析方法对比了四川龙苍沟1400和1800 m不同海拔珙桐种群中花苞片的功能性状和性状间关系。结果显示:1)低海拔(1400 m)珙桐种群大、小苞片的长、宽和面积,以及单花苞片总面积均显著大于高海拔(1800 m)种群(P<0.05),且高、低海拔种群的大、小苞片面积及重量呈等比例生长; 2)低海拔珙桐种群大、小苞片干重及单花苞片总干重均显著高于高海拔种群(P<0.05); 3)高、低海拔种群的花序轴长与干重均无显著差异(P=0.446; P=0.791),高海拔花序轴干重与长间呈异速生长关系,而低海拔呈等速生长关系; 4)珙桐大、小苞片的长宽间、面积间以及重量间关系在高、低海拔上均表现出等速生长,单花苞片的总面积和总干重分别与花序轴干重在高、低海拔上均表现出等速生长关系,而与花序轴长表现出异速生长关系。上述结果表明,珙桐苞片的功能性状及其性状间关系在不同海拔存在...