Plant science research productivity in Chile during the past 20 years

The purpose of this study was to carry out a bibliometric analysis of the articles published in Chile during 1987-2006 that were categorized into the Plant Science discipline by ISI. The data was extracted from the Web of Science datábase, obtaining a total of 911 articles for analysis. Almost half of the articles were the outcome of an international collaboration, the United States being the country with more collaborative links with Chile within this discipline. A list was made with the 10 most-cited articles and 10 most frequently used journals. The analysis showed that almost 50% of the articles were concentrated in 10 different journals. The number of articles produced each year revealed a steady growth in scientific production since 1987. This is probably related to the progressive interaction between industry and public-research institutions.     

Production characteristics of phytoplankton in early years of the existence of Yumaguzin Reservoir

The data on phytoplankton formation and dynamics of its production characteristics during the early years of the Yumaguzin Reservoir, created in a mountainous part of the Belaya River, are presented. The trophic state of the reservoir has been estimated.     

近40a甘肃省气候生产潜力时空变化特征

根据甘肃省69个气象站1971-2007年温度和降水资料,采用Miami模型、Thornthwaite Memorial模型计算了全省温度生产潜力、降水生产潜力和气候生产潜力,分析了影响气候生产潜力的气候驱动力,用经验正交函数(EOF)分析其时空变化特征。结果表明:温度生产潜力显著增加,降水生产潜力略有减少,平均气候生产潜力为733.86 kg · hm^-2 · a^-1,呈逐渐减少趋势。区域差异性明显,呈东南-西北递减,陇南山区＞陇东高原＞陇中高原＞甘南草原＞河西走廊,气候生产潜力以1997年为转型年。增湿和增温均有利于气候生产潜力的增加,但增湿增益更为显著,另气候的暖干化趋势是研究区气候生产潜力减少的重要原因。     

Recent phytoplankton productivity of the northern Bering Sea during early summer in 2007

Although the northern Bering Sea is one of the most productive regions in the northern North Pacific Ocean and currently considered a declining productivity region, no recent primary productivity measurements have been collected in this region. Phytoplankton productivity was measured in the northern Bering Sea in 2007 using a dual ¹³C–¹⁵N isotope tracer technique to quantify present rates of primary productivity and to assess changes under recent environmental conditions in this area. We found that large diatoms (mostly Fragilaria sp.) dominated the phytoplankton during the initial part of the cruise, whereas unidentified nano + pico phytoplankton largely dominated at the surface about 2 weeks later (at “revisited stations”). At the 1% light depth, diatoms and Phaeocystis sp. were the dominant species, whereas diatoms and unidentified nano + pico cells were dominant at the revisited sites. Based on nitrate and ammonium uptake rates, the estimated f-ratios (the ratio of nitrate uptake rate/nitrate + ammonium uptake rates of phytoplankton) were high (0.65–0.74), indicating that nitrate was an important nitrogen source supporting primary production in the northern Bering Sea during the cruise in 2007. Compared with previous studies performed several decades ago, we found significantly lower chlorophyll-a concentrations and carbon uptake rates of phytoplankton in the northern Bering Sea in 2007. This is consistent with recent studies that have shown lower rates of production in the Chukchi Sea and declines in benthic biomass and sediment oxygen uptake in the northern Bering Sea.     

近308年来大兴安岭北部森林植被气候生产潜力及其对气候变化的响应

揭示大兴安岭北部气候变化敏感区的气候生产潜力演变及其影响机理,对于维持东北地区生态系统平衡具有重要意义。基于标准树轮年表反演气象资料与研究区13个气象站观测数据组成的1707—2014年气象资料序列,利用Miami模型和小波分析等方法,分析了大兴安岭北部气候生产潜力演变及其对气候变化的响应。结果显示:1707年以来,气温、降水、蒸散和标准气候生产潜力变化均表现极显著增加趋势,标准气候生产潜力(W)变化率为1.79 kg hm~(-2)a~(-1),20世纪气候倾向率最大为10.14kg hm~(-2)a~(-1),温度气候生产潜力(WT)与降水气候生产潜力(WR)的比值21世纪最大,水热配比状态最好;4种气候生产潜力存在不同时间尺度的周期变化,但变化一致性较好,主周期均为215—219a;大兴安岭北部W呈现一致的正变化趋势,高值、次高值、低值中心分别在根河、塔河、鄂伦春偏南地区,振幅由西北向东南逐渐递减;W与年气温、降水量、蒸散量正相关显著,年平均气温每升高1℃、年降水量和蒸散量均增加10 mm,W变化率依次为453.71、74.40、219.01 kg/hm~2,且气温是影响W的主要因子;未来"暖湿型"气候对森林植被生长有利,而"冷干型"气候对森林植被生长不利,气候生产潜力增加(减少)幅度均为10.9%—21.7%。研究结果不仅可为区域尺度内研究森林植被气候生产潜力提供基础方法,而且对进一步估算森林碳汇、即将实施的碳交易及中国北部边疆生态安全研究和生态功能规划制定等具有重要参考价值。     

Threats to Fish and Fisheries of Kangsabati Reservoir,West Bengal,India

Fishes belonging to the Orders Beloniformes, Cypriniformes, Perciformes, Siluriformes and Synbranchiformes are usually found in the Kangsabati reservoir of West Bengal, India. In recent years among the trapped fishes fishermen failed to get certain fish species which were available to them in the last decade. This prompted us to conduct a survey of ichthyofauna of the said reservoir in respect to the water parameters, keeping in view the anthropogenic activity-induced pollution scenario. It is revealed that the fishes belonging to the species Xenentodon cancila, Nemacheilus savona, Sillaginopsis panijus, Pangasius sutchi, Colisa sota, Mystus cavasius, Mystus seenghala and Mastacembelus armatus are completely absent in the survey area. It is most likely that the eutrophication-induced causes especially, variations in composition and density of plankton as well as the undesirable changes in physical and chemical properties of the water have forced these fishes to migrate elsewhere.     

Morphometry,Primary productivity and Energy flow in a Tropical Pond

Monthly changes in the morphometric features of pond Idumban reveal that total and littoral areas progressively decreased from 62.4 and 15.4 ha in October-November-December to 6.8 and 2.6 ha in September. The dominant macrophytic producers in the littoral area of the pond were Chara fragilis, Hydrilla verticillata and Ceratophyllum demersum, which flourished from October for a period of 8 to 10 months, exhibiting a typical exponential or J-shaped population growth curve. Biomass of Ch. fragilis increased to the maximum of about 420 g dry weight/m² in April, H. verticillata to 260 g/m² in June–July and that of Ce. demersum to 140 g/m² in April–May. In terms of unit weight, H. verticillata proved to be the most efficient, producing 156 mg dry substance/g plant/day; however, the mean values obtained for 1973-74 were 93, 54 and 53 mg/g/day for H. verticillata, Ch. fragilis and Ce. demersum; the corresponding NPP values 50, 29 and 30 mg/g/day. The GPP and NPP values, expressed in g dry weight/m²/day, were 7 and 4 for H. verticillata, 8 and 4 for Ch. fragilis, 3 and 2 for Ce. demersum. These values, expressed in mg C/m²/day, averaged to 8.2 and 4.6 for all the macrophytes and suggest that the macrophytes were photosynthetically faster and more efficient than phytoplankton. Total gross productivity for Idumban pond amounts to 1773 and 1449 ton (dry weight) for 1973 and 74, respectively: the corresponding values for the NPP were 953 and 825 ton. In other words, 44% of the GPP is lost on plant respiration. Plants equivalent to 56 ton (6% of NPP) are exposed to death in the periphery of the littoral area. The population of Pila globosa proved to be the dominant consumer of these macrophytes. Mean predation amounted to 64 ton/annum for Pila and 200 ton/ annum for other consumer animals. Solar energy known to enter the pond is 1,956,000 Kcal/m²/year. Of this, 24,682 Kcal/m²/year was fixed by the macrophytes, i.e. the photosynthetic efficiency is 1.3%. Of the total GPP, NPP amounted to 13,696 Kcal/m²/year; the net primary production efficiency is 56%. Consumption of the macrophytes by Pila population amounted to 2,943 Kcal/m year and the exploitation efficiency is only 21%.     

Primary mesenchyme cell patterning during the early stages following ingression

Sea urchin primary mesenchyme cells (PMCs) ingress into the blastocoel during an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), migrate along the blastocoelar wall for a period of time, and then settle into a subequatorial ring to form the larval skeleton. Fluorescent-marked blastomeres alone, or in combination with blastomere recombination, were used to track the position of PMCs during the early phases of this movement. Micromeres expressing Golgi-tethered GFP (galtase-GFP) were transplanted onto TRITC-stained hosts (in place of the endogenous micromere) to observe the progeny of a single micromere. Galtase-GFP as a Golgi marker is not transferred between PMCs when the syncytium forms. Thus, the position of cells can be followed relative to beginning position for longer periods than previously reported. The PMC progeny of a single micromere do not disperse upon ingression, but instead remain in a closely associated cluster. Generally, progeny of a single micromere remain in the quadrant of origin. In total, greater than approximately 94% of labeled PMCs remain within the local region of ingression. By contrast, when a transplanted micromere is placed at the vegetal plate after removing all 4 host micromeres, the resultant PMCs ingress and migrate into all 4 quadrants. Similarly, if 1 blastomere is injected at the 2-cell stage, and later the 2 unlabeled micromeres are removed at the 16-cell stage, the remaining PMCs ingress into all 4 quadrants of the vegetal plate. We conclude that the normal restriction of PMCs to a quadrant is due to mechanical constraint from other micromere-PMCs. If a labeled micromere is placed ectopically at the macromere/mesomere boundary, the PMC progeny ingress ectopically and migrate longitudinally along the animal-vegetal axis only. Injection of galtase-GFP into one blastomere at the 4-cell stage shows a 2-step pattern of localization. At late mesenchyme blastula and early gastrula stages, greater than 90% of GFP-expressing PMCs remain in the injected quadrant, while at mid- to late-gastrula stage and beyond, more PMCs are found outside the injected quadrant. The migration that sets up the asymmetry of the larval skeleton first occurs around mid- to late-gastrula stages, when some PMCs from an aboral quadrant migrate to the adjacent oral quadrant. In all, these data combined with previous data suggest that freshly ingressed PMCs migrate along a longitudinal path toward the animal pole and back toward the vegetal pole. Beginning at mid- to late-gastrula stage, PMCs utilize oral-aboral cues from the ectoderm for the first time. At this time, some aboral PMCs migrate into the adjacent oral quadrant to assist in the formation of the ventrolateral cluster.     

Primary productivity,phytoplankton and limiting nutrient factors in labrador lakes

The primary productivity of some lakes and reservoirs in western Labrador was measured by the ¹⁴C method in order to determine the range of productivities and the effects of impoundment. No primary productivity data previously existed for this part of Canada. Both the primary productivity and standing crops of phytoplankton were found to be low in a newly impounded lake but later rose to levels greater than in surrounding natural lakes. In nutrient enrichment experiments, carbon was never found to be limiting but phosphorus stimulated primary productivity when added alone or in combination with nitrogen.     

Primary productivity and trophic status of Lakes Sorell and Crescent,Tasmania

The primary productivity of two turbid, shallow lakes on the Tasmanian Central Plateau was determined by the C¹⁴ technique from half-light day incubations in situ. Graphical integration of depth-rate curves gave estimates of areal day rates of production and of annual rates.The 2 lakes are closely adjacent and very similar physically and chemically, but have very different phytoplankton populations. Lake Crescent has ten times the standing crop biomass of Lake Sorell but its greater turbidity restricts light penetration, and production per unit of surface per day and per year is only 2.6 times that of Sorell.With day rates of 25-(44)-93 mgCm^–2 and annual production of 16.9 gCm^–2 Lake Sorell could be regarded as oligotrophic. Consideration of standing crop biomass and morphometry however indicates oligo-mesotrophy. Lake Crescent with day rates of 35-(115)-250 mgCm^–2 and annual production of 45 gCm^–2 is moderately eutrophic.Incubations in constant light demonstrated considerable variation in production rates in different parts of Lake Crescent.     

流溪河水库丰水年与枯水年营养盐动态的比较分析

流溪河水库是一座位于北回归线上的大型山谷型水库,典型的热带-亚热带过渡区水体。为了解该水库的营养盐动态特征,于2008-2009年对水库的营养盐状况和环境因子进行了逐月监测,分析了其丰水年(2008)和枯水年(2009)营养盐动态的动态特征和影响因素。两年的降雨量分别为2660mm和1583mm,降雨主要集中在季风期(4-9月)。丰水期初期(4-5月)是全年营养盐浓度最高的时期,该时期丰水年与枯水年的营养盐空间分布相似:营养盐浓度沿入库河流至水库大坝方向递减,地表径流带来的外源输入是这个期间营养盐变化的主要因素。河流区的营养盐主要受地表径流带来的外源输入的影响,湖泊区营养盐主要受水位变化导致的内源输入的影响。较大的降雨量差异导致两年不同的营养盐季节动态,丰水年有着更高的营养盐水平,更小的DIN/TN与DIP/TP值。河流区较高的营养盐水平会带来湖泊区较高的TN浓度,但不会导致湖泊区更高的TP浓度。     

Primary productivity of the River Ely,South Wales,U.K.

The present study was carried out on the non-tidal reaches of the River Ely, South Wales, from October 1979 to October 1980. The seasonal variations of the chlorophyll-a content of the phytoplankton was unimodal with one maximum in May and a minimum in December. The chlorophyll-a content varied from 0.277 to 41.259 mg m^?3. The primary productivity showed a bimodal seasonal distribution with two maxima in May and September and lower values throughout the remainder of the year, particularly in winter. The value for the primary productivity varied from 0.269 to 24.302 mg C m^?3 h^?1. A positive correlation was obtained between chlorophyll-a content and primary productivity. The seasonal distribution of the dominant algal species and the saprobity of the River Ely were also studied. The diatom species almost showed a similar seasonal periodicity. Their concentrations were low during the winter months and high during most of the spring and summer months. Many of the dominant diatom species found in the phytoplankton populations were either considered by the other authors as saprobic (Nitzchia palea) or as inhabitants of eutrophic waters (Gomphonema parvulum, Navicula cryptocephala and Synedra ulna). Chlamydomonas spp. were the most abundant green algae followed by Chlorella vulgaris. The effect of sewage effluent disposal and cattle excreta at three of the sampling sites might partly explain the presence of high Chlamydomonas spp. populations at those sites. Physical factors (low flow rates, high transparency and water temperature) and organic pollution at some sampling sites seemed to play an important role in increasing the number of algal species during spring and summer. The non-tidal reaches of the River Ely were found to be β-mesosaprobic above and below Station 5 and α-mesosaprobic at the latter station and therefore, the river can be considered as polluted at Station 5 and mildly polluted at the others.     

Primary productivity of the North Branch of the Raritan River,New Jersey

Summary Primary production of the North Branch of the Raritan River was measured at three sites by the diurnal oxygen curve method. An effluent of treated domestic sewage entered the river between the uppermost station (I) and the intermediate station (II). Mean gross productivity at Station I from May to September 1962 was 4.7 g O₂ m^–2 day^–1 (n = 8). In contrast, mean productivity from October 1961 1961 to September 1962 at Station II was 9.9 (n = 15), and at Station III it was 11.6 (n = 11). Efficiency of gross production based on estimated energy actually available to the community was from 1–7%.The daily maximum pH of river water was highly correlated with gross production, 24-hr community respiration and net daytime production at Stations II and III. Subject to further testing and refinement this may prove to be a simple but effective estimate of productivity in similar habitats.Chlorophyll a extract of periphyton growing on glass slides and small cement blocks were found to be statistically the same. Enumeration of these algal associations correlated significantly with the chlorophyll a extract at Stations II and III. However, these estimates of standing crop were not statistically correlated with primary production as determined from diurnal oxygen curves.Diatoms were the dominant organisms in most samples. During late summer the net plankton contained many planktonic blue-green algae. The periphytonwas characterized briefly during the spring by Ulothrix.Contribution No. 409 Natural Resources Institute University of Maryland.     

Some studies of salt-affected soils of Canning,West Bengal

Summary Six profiles from a representative area in the southern part of the deltaic region of Gangetic West Bengal, India, were examined. Of these, one can be termed as normal, another as non-saline alkali, and the remaining four as saline alkali. Of the saline alkali ones, there was one profile which had a rather low pH. The acidic condition of the soil is due to the presence of decaying organic matter in the soil giving rise to what has been termed as a degraded saline alkali soil. In designating the soils as such, the broad conditions of total soluble salts expressed as percentage of sodium chloride per hundred grams of soil and the exchangeable sodium percentage have been used as the criterion. The soils have thus been classified taking into consideration the dominant soil-forming factors active here. Remedial measures to improve these soils include the incorporation of green-manuring crops and the application of soil ameliorants like lime, gypsum and sometimes other chemical amendments. The soils must be surveyed in order to delineate the types of salt-affected soils, and during reclamation, drainage and irrigation measures should not be lost sight of either.     

Factors affecting the work productivity of Oraon agricultural laborers of Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal

In developing countries like India, where the incidence of protein-calorie malnutrition is high and mechanization is at a minimum, human labor provides much of the power for physical activity. This study presents anthropometric measurements, somatotypes, food intakes, energy expenditures, and work outputs of Oraon agricultural laborers of the Jalpaiguri district, West Bengal, in an attempt to identify the factors that predict high work productivity. Specifically, this study investigates 1) the relationship between morphological variation (anthropometric measurements and somatotype) and work productivity, 2) the nature and extent of the relationship between nutritional status and work productivity, and 3) the best predictor variables of work output. Classification of groups on the basis of median values of work output show that in the aggregate, the high productive groups are significantly younger than low-productive groups in both sexes. Before age-adjustment, the high productive groups show higher mean values of a few body dimensions, though these differ by sex, and both males and females exhibit a normal range of blood pressure and pulse rate values. Mean values of grip strength and back strength are higher in high-output men and women. Mean values of both food intake and energy expenditure are also higher among men in high-output groups, with only food intake higher in high-output women. However, after eliminating the effects of age, the differences between low-productive groups and high-productive groups in most of the variables are not significant. Productivity predictors in males consist of age, food intake and chest girth (inhalation). Females, on the other hand, show age and grip strength (left) as work output predictors.     

白令海光合浮游生物现存量和初级生产力

2003年7~9月中国第2次北极科学考察在北太平洋和白令海的BR断面和白令海峡南口门的BS断面的初夏和夏末两航段进行叶绿素-a浓度和初级生产力的现场观测。结果表明,BR断面表层叶绿素-a浓度为0·199~1·170μg/dm3,平均值为(0·723±0·283)μg/dm3;水深10~30m次表层的叶绿素-a浓度明显高于真光层下的深层水。水柱平均叶绿素-a浓度呈现明显的区域性特征,白令陆架区>白令陆坡区>阿留申海盆区>北太平洋西部海域。BS断面叶绿素-a浓度高于BR断面,夏末的平均浓度((5·311±5·656)μg/dm3)是初夏浓度((1·605±1·194)μg/dm3)的3.3倍,是BR断面平均浓度的7·5倍。观测站真光层内初级生产力在0·471~19·046mgC/(m3·h),陆架海域的初级生产力明显高于陆坡和海盆区,BS断面的平均初级生产力比BR断面高约12倍。观测站光合作用同化数在0·45~2·80mgC/(mgChla·h)。