Effect of an increase in environmental temperature on testicular androgenesis and spermatogenesis in toad (Bufo melanostictus) during hibernating season

Activities of key testicular androgenic enzymes [Δ(5), 3β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (Δ(5), 3β-HSD) and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (17β-HSD)], plasma levels of testosterone, and testicular gametogenic activities were studied in heat-exposed adult male toads during hibernating season for two consecutive years. Exposure of toads to an elevated environmental temperature for 14 and 21 days resulted in significant elevation of testicular Δ(5), 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD activities, along with plasma levels of testosterone. Testicular gametogenic activity, by means of quantity of all stages of spermatogenic cycle, were elevated significantly at the same experimental schedule, but 7 days of heat exposure resulted in significant elevation only in stage IV. The results indicated that environmental temperature is an important modulator of breeding activities of male toads. It also demonstrated that testicular activities in seasonally breeding toads are probably not linked to hibernating cycle.     

Expression of polysialic acid, alpha- and beta-cantenins in adult toad testis in hibernation stage and after gonadotrophin--releasing hormone (GnRH) treatment

The Polysialic Acid (PSA), glycosydic moiety of the Neural Cell Adhesion Molecule (N-CAM), and alpha- and beta-Catenins, which mediate interaction between Cadherins and cytoskeletal proteins, participate in cell adhesion phenomena in numerous organs and tissues. We have performed an immunohistochemical analysis, in hibernating toad testis and in GnRH-reactivated hibernating animals. In hibernating toads we could demonstrate PSA-immunoreactivity (PSA-IR) within the seminiferous tubules, in clusters of primary spermatocytes, spermatids and spermatozoa, in follicular and Sertoli cells. PSA-IR was seen in peritubular, Leydig and efferent duct cells. In GnRH-treated toads PSA-IR persists in primary spermatocyte groups. alpha-Catenin is localized in the basal laminae of seminiferous tubules and in Leydig cells of hibernating toads. This did not change after hormonal treatment. In hibernating toads, beta-Catenin was detected only in Leydig cells and within seminiferous tubules on basal spermatocystes and limiting spermatozoa clusters. In GnRH-treated toads, the beta-Catenin-IR was less intense in Leydig cells and vanished within seminiferous tubules.     

External and internal control of patterns of feeding, growth and gonadal function in a temperate zone anuran, the toad Bufo bufo

Young toads were brought into the laboratory before hibernation in the autumn and exposed to alternating periods of low temperature and high temperature and feeding, thus simulating climatic cycles. In newly metamorphosed, non-hibernating toads, food intake was initially low and growth was stagnant, but subsequently food intake and lean growth increased strongly. Presumably, growth was initiated independently of feeding. In one-year-old, non-hibernating toads, food intake and growth declined with time, but high rates of feeding and growth were restored in the toads exposed to simulated hibernation. In both metamorphosed toads and one-year-old, hibernating toads, a period of predominant fat deposition succeeded predominant lean growth before food intake again declined to low levels. Initiation of sexual maturation in the female toads coincided with suspended growth, whereas sexual maturation in males was not correlated with changes in growth rate. In the female, but not the male toads, sexual maturation was greatly advanced under the experimental conditions, resulting in adult female sizes far below those typical of the wild population.     

Behavioural thermoregulation of the Andean toad (Bufo spinulosus) at high altitudes

Summary The body temperature of free-ranging Andean toadsBufo spinulosus was measured either directly or radiotelemetrically during two 15-day periods at 3200 m elevation in the Mantaro Valley, Central Perú. All toads attempted to maintain their diurnal sum of body temperature within a narrow range. Consequently thermoregulatory behaviour differed according to cloud cover and precipitation. If the sky was clear, toads emerged from their hiding place and exposed themselves to solar radiation during 3–5 h in the morning. Core temperature increased up to 15° C above the air temperature in shade and reached maximum values of about 32° C. At air temperatures (in sun) exceeding 29° C, toads maintained body temperatures below 32° C by evaporative cooling. Following heliothermic heating during the moring toads retreated to the shade, thereby decreasing body temperature below air temperature. Under overcast sky toads remained exposed during the whole day displaying body temperatures at or slightly above ambient levels. Quantitative models to predict the core temperature of toads under the different weather conditions demonstrated that the substrate temperature was the main energy source accounting for 64.6–77.9% of total variance whereas air temperature was of minor importance (1.5–4.4%). The unexplained variance was probably due to evaporative cooling. The volume of urine stored into the urinary bladder of toads varied diurnally; during basking in the morning hours most bladders contained large volumes of urine, whereas during the afternoon the bladders were mostly empty. The bladder contents probably serve as water reserves during basking when evaporative water loss was high. Toads preferred sites that provided shady hiding places as well as sun-exposed bare soil within a radius of 5 m. However, they frequently changed their centers of activity and moved to other sites in 20–70 m distance after periods of 2–5 days. The helio-and thigmothermic behaviour of the Andean toad permits the maintenance of high core temperature during morning which probably increases the digestion rate and accelerate growth. Evaporative cooling and preference of shady sites were employed to regulate body temperature below the morning levels in response to the constraints of water balance. Periodic changes between thigmothermic behaviour and locomotory activity during the night maintains body temperature above air temperature and prolongs the period of food uptake.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. H. Schneider on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday     

稻麦秸秆集中沟埋还田对麦田土壤物理性状的影响

通过5.5a的大田定位试验,将上季秸秆全量沟埋还田,设置秸秆沟埋还田深度为20、40 cm以及免耕秸秆不还田(对照)3个处理。研究秸秆沟埋还田对麦田土壤水势、温度的影响以及长期秸秆沟埋还田方式下,沟埋还田20 cm处理各埋草沟土壤容重、总孔隙度的变化。结果表明:秸秆沟埋还田具有降低土壤容重,增加土壤总孔隙度的作用,随着还田时间的增加,这种作用逐渐降低。当降雨量较大(26.6 mm)时,沟埋还田各处理水势值在短时间内上升的较快,而对照则相对较慢;当降雨量较小(10 mm)时,沟埋还田40 cm处理水势值上升速度大于沟埋还田20 cm,对照处理最慢;降雨过后的12d内,沟埋还田各处理水势值下降速度较对照更快;连续40d各处理土壤水势日均值大小为对照沟埋还田40 cm沟埋还田20 cm。土壤0—15 cm温度日较差大小为沟埋还田20 cm对照沟埋还田40 cm,土壤20 cm处日较差对照最大;沟埋还田20 cm处理0—15 cm以及沟埋还田40 cm处理0—20 cm土壤日均温高于对照,沟埋还田20 cm处理20 cm处土壤日均温与对照较为接近。在沿江稻麦轮作地区,秸秆集中沟埋还田具有较好的改善土壤物理性质的作用。     

灌溉对孕穗期冬小麦农田温度的影响

灌溉是抵御和减轻冬小麦晚霜冻危害的有效措施之一。针对黄淮地区2010年4月的一次强降温过程,通过郑州农业气象观测站的灌溉防霜试验,对比分析了冬小麦孕穗期田间空气温度和土壤温度特征。结果表明:在外界环境温度下降时,灌溉可以提高田间最低气温0.1～0.6℃,增温效应主要集中在地上5cm处,灌溉可减少气温≤0℃的持续时间1～2h;对土壤温度的影响随着深度而存在差异,0cm土壤温度以增加为主,5～20cm土壤以降温效应为主;灌溉减小了气温和0～5cm土壤温度的变异系数和平均相对变率,而增大了10～20cm土壤温度的变异系数和相对变率;灌溉引起的温度差异只在15和20cm土壤处比较显著,其余各层温度差异并不明显。     

川西亚高山针叶林土壤呼吸速率与不同土层温度的关系

采用密闭气室红外CO2分析法（IRGA）,在野外连续定位测定了川西亚高山冷杉原始林的土壤呼吸,并对其不同土层（0、5、10、15和20cm）的温度进行了同步测定．在此基础上,分析了土壤呼吸的日、季节动态变化,及其与不同土层温度的关系和土壤呼吸Q10值变化．结果表明：冷杉原始林土壤呼吸呈现明显的日变化和季节变化．土壤呼吸的日最高值出现在12：00-14：00,最低值出现在8：00—10：00,与土壤表面温度的日变化一致;土壤呼吸的季节变化表明：7—8月的土壤呼吸高于9-11月,与不同土层温度季节变化规律一致;土壤呼吸与不同土层温度呈显著的指数增长关系,土壤呼吸速率与土壤15cm深处温度的相关性明显高于其它土层;利用Q10模型计算0～20cm各土层的Q10值分别为2．36、4．75、4．90、6．27和5．46,表明海拔高、温度低的环境条件下,土壤呼吸的Q10值偏高．     

Linking global warming to amphibian declines through its effects on female body condition and survivorship

There is general consensus that climate change has contributed to the observed decline, and extinction, of many amphibian species throughout the world. However, the mechanisms of its effects remain unclear. A laboratory study in 1980–1981 in which temperate zone amphibians that were prevented from hibernating had decreased growth rates, matured at a smaller size and had increased mortality compared with those that hibernated suggested one possible mechanism. I used data from a field study of common toads (Bufo bufo) in the UK, between 1983 and 2005, to determine whether this also occurs in the field. The results demonstrated two pathways by which global warming may cause amphibian declines. First, there was a clear relationship between a decline in the body condition of female common toads and the occurrence of warmer than average years since 1983. This was paralleled by a decline in their annual survival rates with the relationship between these two declines being highly correlated. Second, there was a significant relationship between the occurrence of mild winters and a reduction in female body size, resulting in fewer eggs being laid annually. Climate warming can, therefore, act on wild temperate zone amphibians by deleteriously affecting their physiology, during and after hibernation, causing increased female mortality rates and decreased fecundity in survivors.     

Responses of Soil Microbial Communities to Experimental Warming in Alpine Grasslands on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau

Global surface temperature is predicted to increase by at least 1.5°C by the end of this century. However, the response of soil microbial communities to global warming is still poorly understood, especially in high-elevation grasslands. We therefore conducted an experiment on three types of alpine grasslands on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau to study the effect of experimental warming on abundance and composition of soil microbial communities at 0–10 and 10–20 cm depths. Plots were passively warmed for 3 years using open-top chambers and compared to adjacent control plots at ambient temperature. Soil microbial communities were assessed using phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) analysis. We found that 3 years of experimental warming consistently and significantly increased microbial biomass at the 0–10 cm soil depth of alpine swamp meadow (ASM) and alpine steppe (AS) grasslands, and at both the 0–10 and 10–20 cm soil depths of alpine meadow (AM) grasslands, due primarily to the changes in soil temperature, moisture, and plant coverage. Soil microbial community composition was also significantly affected by warming at the 0–10 cm soil depth of ASM and AM and at the 10–20 cm soil depth of AM. Warming significantly decreased the ratio of fungi to bacteria and thus induced a community shift towards bacteria at the 0–10 cm soil depth of ASM and AM. While the ratio of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi to saprotrophic fungi (AMF/SF) was significantly decreased by warming at the 0–10 cm soil depth of ASM, it was increased at the 0–10 cm soil depth of AM. These results indicate that warming had a strong influence on soil microbial communities in the studied high-elevation grasslands and that the effect was dependent on grassland type.     

Dependence of the Q10 values on the depth of the soil temperature measuring point

The parameter Q₁₀ is commonly used to express the relationship between soil CO₂ efflux and soil temperature. One advantage of this parameter is its application in a model expression of respiration losses of different ecosystems. Correct specification of Q₁₀ in these models is indispensable. Soil surface CO₂ efflux and soil temperature at different depths were measured in a 21-year-old Norway spruce stand and a mountain grassland site located at the Experimental Ecological Study Site Bily Kriz, Beskydy Mts. (NE Czech Republic), using automated gasometric systems. A time-delay and goodness-of-fit between soil CO₂ efflux and soil temperature at different measuring depths were determined. Wide ranges of values for the time-delay of CO₂ efflux in response to temperature, Q₁₀ and the determination coefficient (R²) between CO₂ efflux and temperature were obtained at the both sites. The values of Q₁₀ and the CO₂ time-delay increased with depth, while the R² of the CO₂-temperature relationship significantly decreased. Soil temperature records obtained close to the soil surface showed the highest values of R² and the lowest value of the time-delay at both sites. Measurement of soil temperature at very shallow soil layer, preferably at the soil surface, is highly recommended to determine useable values of Q₁₀. We present a new procedure to normalize Q₁₀ values for soil temperatures measured at different depths that would facilitate comparison of different sites.     

Characterization of soil properties associated with type-I fairy ring symptoms in turfgrass

Fairy ring is a frequently reported disease of turfgrasses worldwide, and necrotic or severely injured grass are observed in those turf sites exhibiting type-I fairy ring symptoms. The objective of this research was to characterize soil chemical and physical properties at two soil sampling depths (0.5 cm and 3.0 cm) at a turfgrass site exhibiting type-I fairy ring symptoms. Soil samples were obtained from a perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) golf course fairway at one sampling date in the summer when environmental conditions were most conducive to the appearance of severe type-I fairy ring symptoms. At both soil depths, soil analysis indicated that concentrations of ammonium-nitrogen, potassium, and sulfur were statistically higher in soil underlying necrotic or bare zones versus soil in healthy turfgrass zones. At both soil depths, soil electrical conductivity was statistically higher, and volumetric soil water content was statistically lower in necrotic zones versus soil under healthy turfgrass. At both soil depths, total nitrogen, magnesium, calcium, cation exchange capacity, and organic matter content were not statistically different among necrotic and healthy turfgrass zones. Soil pH was statistically higher in the necrotic zone versus soil under healthy turfgrass at only the 3.0 cm soil sampling depth. Comparing soil properties within the necrotic zone, only potassium and electrical conductivity was statistically higher at the 0.5 cm depth compared to the 3.0 cm depth. Although most soil information was considered very similar at both sampling depths, soil sampling at the 3.0 cm depth would be a more practical or easier method for turfgrass managers. At either soil sampling depth, the necrotic zones of type-I fairy ring areas in turfgrass were most likely associated with a combination of direct and indirect effects of the basidiomycete fungi on soil chemical and physical properties in the turfgrass root zone. Presented at the International Conference on Biohydrology, Prague, Czech Republic, 20–22 September 2006.     

Decomposition process for buried rat (Rattus norvegicus,Berkenhout 1769) carcasses in Riyadh city,Saudi Arabia: A preliminary study

The present report outlines the initial observations from an ongoing study examining the decomposition rate of buried rat (Rattus norvegicus, Berkenhout 1769) carcasses in Riyadh city, Saudi Arabia. Eight rat carcasses were buried in separate holes at depths of 20 and 40 cm (four holes per depth) to allow natural decomposition and examined at 10-day intervals up to 40 days. During the study period, environmental factors such as humidity, soil temperature, and air temperature were monitored at each depth on a daily basis. At the end of each burial period, one carcass from each depth was exhumed and the degree of decay and presence of insect activity were examined. The results showed that burial depth and temperature were major factors affecting the decomposition rate, whereas no insect activity was observed. The findings of this study can be used to more accurately estimate the time since burial of carcasses.     

栽培番茄的塿土和黄绵土水分和温度变化规律

用土柱试验,研究了栽培樱桃番茄(Lycopersicon esculentum var.cerasiforme Alef.)的塿土和黄绵土水分运移和温度变化规律,水分运移模型选用土壤中水分分布的动力学模型,土壤温度、空气温湿度变化选用正弦曲线模型。结果表明:塿土在各个不同深度的平均含水量均高于黄绵土,塿土的入渗速率高于黄绵土,同一深度塿土温度高于黄绵土,土壤温度随着深度的增加具有明显的滞后性;黄绵土中樱桃番茄的水分利用效率大于塿土,空气温湿度、土壤温度和土壤含水量相互影响。水分运移模型在土壤浅层处可以得到很好的拟合效果,在拟合方程的变量范围内,根据时间可以较准确的确定樱桃番茄盛果期土壤浅层含水量,对于进一步提高农业干旱防御能力、有效制定节水灌溉计划、提高水分利用效率提供了理论依据。     

哀牢山亚热带常绿阔叶林内外地温分布特征

地温是森林气候重要的环境因素之一,与植物生长密切相关,对地温的深入研究有助于揭示森林生态系统功能和评估森林环境效益。本文利用哀牢山亚热带常绿阔叶林林内和林外旷地(气象站)地温数据,分析发现:哀牢山亚热带常绿阔叶林林内外的地温均呈单峰型日变化,与林外相比,林内地温具有明显日变化的深度较浅(仅在20cm深度以上);林内平均地温具有显著日变化的深度在春季和秋季(20cm)要大于夏季和冬季(15cm);与林外相比,林内各层地温均小于同层的林外地温,并且林内地温的日变幅和年变幅也小于同深度的林外地温。总体来看,林外地温的年变幅和日变幅大于林内。     

Behavioral responses to immune-system activation in an anuran (the cane toad, Bufo marinus): field and laboratory studies

The challenges posed by parasites and pathogens evoke behavioral as well as physiological responses. Such behavioral responses are poorly understood for most ectothermic species, including anuran amphibians. We quantified effects of simulated infection (via injection of bacterial lipopolysaccharide [LPS]) on feeding, activity, and thermoregulation of cane toads Bufo marinus within their invasive range in tropical Australia. LPS injection reduced feeding rates in laboratory trials. For toads in outdoor enclosures, LPS injection reduced activity and shifted body temperature profiles. Although previous research has attributed such thermal shifts to behavioral fever (elevated body temperatures may help fight infection), our laboratory studies suggest instead that LPS-injected toads stopped moving. In a thermal gradient, LPS-injected toads thus stayed close to whichever end of the gradient (hot or cold) they were first introduced; the introduction site (rather than behavioral thermoregulation) thus determined body temperature regimes. Shifts in thermal profiles of LPS-injected toads in outdoor enclosures also were a secondary consequence of inactivity. Thus, the primary behavioral effects of an immune response in cane toads are reduced rates of activity and feeding. Thermoregulatory modifications also occur but only as a secondary consequence of inactivity.     

Body size varies with abundance,not climate,in an amphibian population

Body size variation among animals has many possible correlates, temporal as well as geographic. Adult male body size was analysed over the course of 23 yr (1989–2011) in a population of Fowler’s toads Anaxyrus fowleri at Long Point, Ontario. We used an information theoretic approach to identify the most likely models to explain body length variation in relation to abundance, age and environmental variables, including temperature. Male toads overall averaged 53.6 ± 0.1 (SE) mm (n = 1976) but average body length from year to year varied from 50.9 ± 0.2 to 61.4 ± 1.3 mm (n = 23 yr), a difference of 18.7%. Abundance was the only variable significantly correlated with body size variation (R²= 0.713, p = < 0.001). A significant 10‐yr trend in increased body size (R²= 0.874, p = < 0.001) was coincident with a previously detected negative trend in abundance. A 0.05°C yr^?1 increase in environmental temperature over the course of our study was not significantly correlated with the toads’ body size. Body size variation in these toads is likely related to density‐dependent resource availability for growth in the terrestrial stage. Temporal changes in average body size within populations in relation to density may be a significant component of phenotypic variation.     

Responses of soil extracellular enzyme activities to carbon input alteration and warming in a subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest

土壤胞外酶来源于土壤微生物、植物和动物, 是土壤生物地球化学过程的积极参与者, 在森林生态系统的物质循环和能量流动过程中扮演着重要角色。为探明土壤胞外酶活性对碳输入变化及增温的响应, 该研究基于长期增温、去除地表凋落物(以下简称去凋)和切根处理的云南哀牢山亚热带常绿阔叶林控制实验平台, 研究了不同处理(对照、去凋、切根、切根并增温)下表层矿质土壤(0-5和5-10 cm)与碳氮磷获取相关的胞外酶活性, 包括多酚氧化酶(POX)、过氧化物酶(PER)、β-葡萄糖苷酶(BG)、β-1,4-N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖苷酶(NAG)和酸性磷酸酶(AP)。结合铵态氮(NH₄⁺-N)含量、硝态氮(NO₃^--N)含量、溶解有机碳(DOC)含量、溶解总氮(DN)含量、土壤含水量(SWC)等相关指标, 探讨凋落物碳输入、根系碳输入和温度变化对土壤胞外酶活性及其生态化学计量特征的影响。研究结果表明: 在对照样方, 除POX外其余酶活性均为0-5 cm层显著高于5-10 cm层。与对照相比, 长期的凋落物去除显著降低了0-5 cm层土壤AP和BG活性, 对NAG、PER和POX活性则无显著影响; 长期切根处理显著降低了0-5 cm层土壤BG活性, 但提高了两个土层PER活性; 长期切根并增温处理显著降低了0-5 cm层AP和BG活性, 对其余酶活性无显著影响。冗余分析结果显示SWC和NH₄⁺-N含量是驱动土壤酶活性变化的重要因子。本研究为该生态系统土壤碳氮磷生物地球化学关键过程对全球变化的响应提供了土壤酶学的依据。     

亚热带常绿阔叶林土壤胞外酶活性对碳输入变化及增温的响应

土壤胞外酶来源于土壤微生物、植物和动物, 是土壤生物地球化学过程的积极参与者, 在森林生态系统的物质循环和能量流动过程中扮演着重要角色。为探明土壤胞外酶活性对碳输入变化及增温的响应, 该研究基于长期增温、去除地表凋落物(以下简称去凋)和切根处理的云南哀牢山亚热带常绿阔叶林控制实验平台, 研究了不同处理(对照、去凋、切根、切根并增温)下表层矿质土壤(0-5和5-10 cm)与碳氮磷获取相关的胞外酶活性, 包括多酚氧化酶(POX)、过氧化物酶(PER)、β-葡萄糖苷酶(BG)、β-1,4-N-乙酰氨基葡萄糖苷酶(NAG)和酸性磷酸酶(AP)。结合铵态氮(NH₄⁺-N)含量、硝态氮(NO₃^--N)含量、溶解有机碳(DOC)含量、溶解总氮(DN)含量、土壤含水量(SWC)等相关指标, 探讨凋落物碳输入、根系碳输入和温度变化对土壤胞外酶活性及其生态化学计量特征的影响。研究结果表明: 在对照样方, 除POX外其余酶活性均为0-5 cm层显著高于5-10 cm层。与对照相比, 长期的凋落物去除显著降低了0-5 cm层土壤AP和BG活性, 对NAG、PER和POX活性则无显著影响; 长期切根处理显著降低了0-5 cm层土壤BG活性, 但提高了两个土层PER活性; 长期切根并增温处理显著降低了0-5 cm层AP和BG活性, 对其余酶活性无显著影响。冗余分析结果显示SWC和NH₄⁺-N含量是驱动土壤酶活性变化的重要因子。本研究为该生态系统土壤碳氮磷生物地球化学关键过程对全球变化的响应提供了土壤酶学的依据。     

祁连山中段林草交错带土壤水热特征及其对气象要素的响应

利用综合环境观测仪(ENVIS)的长期监测数据,分析了2002-06-01—2008-05-31期间祁连山阴坡林草交错带土壤水热特征及其与气象要素的统计关系,结果表明:1)土壤温度与空气温度年内变化格局相似,但存在滞后期,滞后时间随土壤深度增加而增加;土壤温度年际变化与气温一致,呈逐渐降低趋势。2)土壤水分表现为20—80 cm土壤水分易受外界降水过程影响,120 cm和160 cm深度土壤水分变化相对平缓;土壤水分季节性冻融过程中的主要控制因子为温度,但20—80 cm冻土的融化还受上层土壤水分融化和降雨下渗影响。3)月尺度上土壤水分和温度与气象要素的统计关系优于日尺度。利用气象要素在月尺度上建立的经验模型上对20—60 cm深度土壤温度的估算效果相对较好。