新的C4及CAM光合途径植物

以稳定性碳同位素比(δ¹³C)鉴别禾本科、莎草科、苋科和萝摩科共46种植物的光合作用途径,发现了36种新的C₄植物(δ¹³C-10.43到-13.66‰)和1种CAM植物(δ¹³C-15.24‰)。根据Hattersley区分C₄植物三种亚类型的不同δ¹³C值,提出在36种C₄中有8种具δ₁₃C值-10.4到-10.9‰者是NADP-ME型,6种具δ¹³C值-13‰左右的是NAD-ME型,其余种类可能是NADP-ME或PCK型。     

农牧交错区面临的问题及其解决的途径——以内蒙古多伦县为例

对农牧交错区典型地段内蒙古多伦县存在的问题及解决途径进行了研究．结果表明,产业结构不合理。要求多伦必须走压缩一产(主要指规模)提高二产和鼓励发展三产的经济发展道路,并着重提高生产效益．土地利用结构不合理,要求必须减少耕地面积,扩大林地、草地面积．在资源利用上,应着重抓好水资源的合理利用,发挥农牧区资源互补的优势,发展高效益、集约型的农牧业．     

C3和C4植物光合途径的适应性变化和进化

 高等植物大多为C₃植物, C₄植物和景天酸代谢(Crassulacean acid metabolism, CAM)植物是由C₃植物进化而来的。C₄途径的多源进化表明, 光合途径由C₃途径向C₄途径的转变相对简单。该文分析研究了植物光合途径的进化前景, 指出C₄植物是从C₃植物进化而来的高光效种类, 且地质时期以来降低的大气CO₂浓度和升高的大气温度以及干旱和盐渍化是C₄途径进化的外部动力。C₃植物的C₄途径的发现说明植物的光合途径并非是一成不变的, C₃和C₄植物的光合特征具有极大的可塑性, 某些环境的变化会引起植物光合途径在C₃和C₄途径之间转变。C₃植物具有的C₄途径是环境调控的产物, 是对逆境的适应性进化结果, 因而光合途径的转变也适用于干旱地区植被的适应性生存机理研究。该文还利用国外最新的C₄光合进化模型介绍了植物在进化C₄途径中所经历的7个重要时期(从分子基础到形态基础、结构基础, 再到物质代谢水平、光合酶活水平, 直到C3和C4途径协调运转时期, 最后达到形态与功能最优化阶段), 并结合全球气候变化的特点对国内外相关领域的研究进行了分析, 总结了植物光合途径的适应性转变和进化的研究成果, 为今后的相关工作提出建议。     

黄河干流河岸带C4植物群落特征及其对水库生态效应的指示

于2008年9月16日至10月31日对黄河干流河岸带植物群落开展了系统调查。共采集高等植物124种,分属于32科、97属,其中C4植物9科、24属、34种,占科、属、种总数的28%、25%和27%。对该区域的研究结果还表明：（1）C4植物主要分布于单子叶植物纲的禾本科和莎草科,两者共占C4植物总种数的61%。（2）从上游到下游C4植物种数递增,但中游C4/C3比、C4植物密度和生物量要明显高于上游和下游。（3）C4植物种数及C4/C3比与海拔、年均气温、年均降水量及年均流量均有相关关系,C4植物生物量仅和年均降水量显著相关。（4）水库位置的C4/C3比要明显高于其临近样区,说明C4植物对水库干扰下河岸带植被的动态变化具有一定的指示作用。     

松嫩平原农牧交错区牲畜放牧场的空间转移

研究了松嫩平原农牧交错区牲畜放牧场空间转移动态、不同放牧场对当地畜牧业的贡献率。研究结果表明 :松嫩平原农牧交错区的牲畜放牧场月际变化很大 ,草地、防护林草地和农田在不同阶段是牲畜的主要放牧场 ;牲畜放牧场具有明显的空间转移现象 ,总体趋势为农田 (1～ 3月份 )→草地 (4～ 6月份 )→防护林草地 (7～ 10月份 )→农田 (11～ 12月份 ) ;3种放牧场在不同时期对畜牧业的贡献率变化也很大 ,其变化趋势与放牧场空间转移趋势基本一致 ;草地、防护林草地和农田对松嫩平原农牧交错区畜牧业均起着重要作用 ,贡献率大小分别为农田 (38.8% ) >防护林草地 (31.8% ) >草地 (2 9.4 % )。草地在当地畜牧业中的地位明显下降 ,农田和防护林草地对当地畜牧业的贡献已相当重要。因此 ,应加强松嫩平原农牧交错区防护林草地放牧和农田放牧研究 ,在保护防护林的基础上合理利用防护林草地和杨树叶资源 ,充分利用农田杂草和农田残茬 ,增加可获得性牧草资源 ,促进地区畜牧业发展。     

松嫩平原农牧交错区牧草资源特点及畜牧业发展

以长岭县为例,对松嫩平原农牧交错区的牧草资源分布格局、牧草资源承载力和利用现状等进行分析。结果表明：放牧系统（草地-林地-农田组成）提供的牧草资源已不能满足当地畜牧业对牧草资源的需求。草地承载力仅占当前实际载畜量的16．6％,草地-林地-农田放牧系统承载力为实际载畜量的47．3％;作物秸秆转化为牧草资源的潜力巨大。经估算,作物秸秆占总牧草资源的78．3％,是当前畜牧业对牧草资源需求量的2．4倍。当前,农牧交错区牧草资源的粗蛋白含量普遍偏低,不能完全满足动物生长的需要,制约了当地畜牧业发展。根据当地畜牧业现状、牧草资源潜力,提出：应合理利用草地-林地-农田3个放牧子系统所提供的牧草资源,充分利用其它牧草资源,如作物秸秆;有汁划地建立高产优质、富含粗蛋白的人工牧草基地,增加牧草粗蛋白含量,提高牲畜对牧草资源的利用效率（吸收率）;充分有效地利用各种牧草资源,减轻草地放牧压力,实现畜牧业可持续发展与生态保护的协调统一。     

放牧对松嫩平原农牧交错区防护林下草地的影响

针对当前防护林草地已成为松嫩平原农牧交错区牲畜主要放牧场的实际情况,分析了不同放牧强度对防护林草地的影响．结果表明,未放牧防护林草地严重退化,与极度放牧防护林草地最为相似．未放牧和极度放牧均抑制了防护林草地的生长,轻度放牧和中度放牧却促进了防护林草地的生长,草地产量和质量均明显提高,并合理地利用了杨树叶资源．未放牧防护林草地质量指数仅为15．51。属严重退化草地范畴;轻度放牧草地质量指数为86．4,随着放牧强度的增加,草地质量逐渐下降．因此,应提倡轻度放牧、中度放牧,防止未放牧和极度放牧现象出现,促进防护林草地生长,并充分利用杨树叶资源增加畜牧业牧草的来源．     

中国东北样带羊草群落C3和C4植物功能群生物量及其对环境变化的响应

在全球动态植被模型的发展中, 受限于人力、物力和财力使得在物种水平上的研究变得既不可能也无必要。 植物功能群的划分是从生态学的, 而不是系统发育的角度来相互比较地对待不同地区的植物, 从而削减了植被变化研究中植物分类群的数量, 已成为研究植被变化及生物多样性对生态系统功能作用的重要单位。 植物的不同光合途径(C₃、C₄和CAM)从叶片组织结构到生理功能, 从生态适应到地理分布均表现出对不同水、热、光环境的响应, 是理想的植物功能群分类。 为此,分析了中国东北样带以羊草(Leymus chinensis)为建群种或共建种的草原群落植物光合类型功能群生物量及其与群落初级生产力和环境变化的关系。 结果表明:  (1)C₄植物生物量具有明显的变化规律, 且对环境变化的响应显著, 其变异性较高, 更能反映样地间环境变化的差异; (2)C₄与C₃植物变化具有明显的互补性, 并且多数C4植物常在逆境中起到更大作用, 如干旱化、盐碱化和放牧干扰; (3)C₄植物种类少,在所有调查样方中仅出现7种,占总出现种类的9.72%。这些特点说明C₄植物可以考虑作为评估和预测我国温带草原植被及其生态系统变化的重要植物功能群。     

吉林省西部与内蒙古东部农牧交错区草地退化现状及管理对策

吉林西部和内蒙古东部的农牧交错区是半湿润与半干旱气候的过渡地带,草地退化严重,主要表现为盐碱化和沙化。人为因素是导致草地退化的主要因素,人口压力和不合理利用是加速草地退化的主导因素。提出了要对现有草地开展健康诊断,对健康草地实施保护,对已受损的草地实施恢复与重建,建立科学管理制度等解决对策。     

内蒙古农牧交错区草地蝗虫防治对策与技术的研究初报

报道了2005年和2006年在内蒙古农牧交错区应用生物制剂防治蝗虫的试验,并提出其控制策略。草地试验区应用蝗虫微孢子虫(Nosema locustae)3×1010个孢子.hm-2剂量防治蝗虫,25 d后虫口校正死亡率可达60%-80%,2005年微孢子虫所引起宽须蚁蝗感染率第10天为14.4%,第45天为59.6%;2006年混合种群的感染率最高为16.7%。应用绿僵菌(Metarhizium anisopliaevar.acridum)3×1012个孢子.hm-2剂量防治蝗虫,20 d后虫口校正死亡率为40%-60%;将微孢子虫1.5×1010个孢子.hm-2剂量和绿僵菌3×1012个孢子.hm-2剂量协调应用治蝗,10 d后可使防效达到80%以上。在农田周遍草地应用卡死克150 mL.hm-2剂量作为保护带来防治蝗虫,其校正死亡率在75%以上,以阻止蝗虫侵入农田危害。由此提出在农田周围草地建立化学农药保护带,防止蝗虫入侵农田危害;草地蝗虫密度不高时单独使用蝗虫微孢子虫和绿僵菌,或协调应用二者长期控制虫口密度的防治策略。     

海北高寒草甸土壤有机碳同位素组成及C3/C4碳源的变化

通过对高寒嵩草草甸土壤剖面不同深度(0～5cm,5～15cm,15～25cm,25～35cm,35～50cm,50～65cm)有机碳稳定性碳同位素的测定发现,土壤有机碳稳定性同位素(δ^13C)随土壤深度的增加而变大。表层土壤(0～5cm,定义为现代土壤)的δ^13C值最小,基本上接近现代植被的碳同位素特征。在土层5～10cm深度以下(粗略地定为古土壤),土壤有机碳稳定性同位素骤然上升,与表层土壤的同位素特征明显不同。考虑到影响土壤碳同位素的诸多因素,通过稳定性碳同位素的质量平衡模型计算,得出初步结果：来自C4(或CAM)植物的碳源随土壤深度的增加而增大。进一步推测,该地区植被可能经历由C4植物占优势的群落向C3植物占优势的群溶演化的过程。在这个过程中,大气碳同位素的变化和土壤有机质的形成过程(有机质淋溶过程)等也会引起土壤碳同位素的升高,因此质量平衡模型可能会过多地估算C4组分,而低估C3组分。     

Bienertia cycloptera Bunge ex Boiss., Chenopodiaceae, another C4 Plant without Kranz Tissues286

Abstract: Following up an earlier study on Borszczowia aralocaspica, a second C₄ leaf type without Kranz tissues is described from Bienertia cycloptera Bunge ex Boiss. The species belongs also to tribe Suaedeae and grows in similar temporarily wet saline habitats in southwestern C Asia. Like Borszczowia, the species has the ability to perform C₄ photosynthesis in single chlorenchyma cells but the cytological compartmentation differs. Evidence is cited from anatomy (cytoplasmic compartmentation, starch formation), from carbon isotope composition and from indirect sources. It is documented by micrographs and δ¹³C values (mean ‐ 14.7 %). Variations of the δ¹³C values subsequently found in newly formed leaves of the same greenhouse plants (‐ 15.5 to ‐ 21.1 %) support the hypothesis that Bienertia is a facultative C₄/C₃ species. The new described bienertioid leaf type differs from the leaves of C₃ species in Suaeda by strict separation of the mesophyll into a central aqueous tissue without chloroplasts and a peripheral 1 ‐ 3 layered chlorenchyma with elaborate cytoplasmic compartmentation. Each cell of the latter contains a peripheral cytoplasmic layer with scattered chloroplasts and a large globular cytoplasmic body located in the central vacuole which is densely packed with starch producing chloroplasts, and joined by the nucleus. Comparative studies on different leaves of the same individuals of ordinary C₄ species demonstrated a remarkable range of variation, from 1.0 % in Salsola tragus up to 2.5 % in Petrosimonia sibirica. This corresponds well with the variance in data from different individuals and populations. For explaining the larger interspecific variation from about 23 other species of Salsoloideae, the hypothesis is developed that in species or groups of taxa specific leakages of their C₄ systems do occur. By three characters unique in tribe Suaedeae and detected during the study, Bienertia is confirmed as well separated from Suaeda and as a monotypic genus.     

Climatic implications of δ13C and δ18O ratios from C3 and C4 plants growing in a tropical montane habitat in southern India

The stable carbon and oxygen isotope ratios in cellulose of C3 and C4 plants growing on the surface of a montane peat bog in the Nilgiri hills, southern India, were measured. The mean monthly δ¹³C values in cellulose of both C3 and C4 plants are found to be significantly related to rainfall, while the δ¹⁸O values are sensitive to changes in maximum temperature and relative humidity of the region. Further, higher δ¹⁸O values were observed in C4 plants compared to C3 plants, suggesting that C4 plants are probably less sensitive to relative humidity as compared to C3 plants and are able to photosynthesize even during drier conditions. The plant isotope-climate correlations thus established can be used for reconstructing the past temperature and rainfall conditions of the tropics from the isotopic ratios of peat deposits, derived from a mixture of C3 and C4 plants in the region.     

X-ray crystal structure of the C4d fragment of human complement component C4

C4 fulfills a vital role in the propagation of the classical and lectin pathways of the complement system. Although there are no reports to date of a C4 functional activity that is mediated solely by the C4d region, evidence clearly points to it having a vital role in a number of the properties of native C4 and its major activation fragment, C4b. Contained within the C4d region are the thioester-forming residues, the four isotype-specific residues controlling the C4A/C4B transacylation preferences, a binding site for nascent C3b important in assembling the classical pathway C5 convertase and determinants for the Chido/Rodgers (Ch/Rg) blood group antigens. In view of its functional importance, we undertook to determine the three-dimensional structure of C4d by X-ray crystallography. Here we report the 2.3A resolution structure of C4Ad, the C4d fragment derived from the human C4A isotype. Although the approximately 30% sequence identity between C4Ad and the corresponding fragment of C3 might be expected to establish a general fold similarity between the two molecules, C4Ad in fact displays a fold that is essentially superimposable on the structure of C3d. By contrast, the electrostatic characteristics of the various faces of the C4Ad molecule show marked differences from the corresponding faces of C3d, likely reflecting the differences in function between C3 and C4. Residues previously predicted to form the major Ch/Rg epitopes were proximately located and accessible on the concave surface of C4Ad. In addition to providing further insights on the current models for the covalent binding reaction, the C4Ad structure allows one to rationalize why C4d is not a ligand for complement receptor 2. Finally the structure allows for the visualization of the face of the molecule containing the binding site for C3b utilized in the assembly of classical pathway C5 convertase.     

Insects and fungi on a C3 sedge and a C4 grass exposed to elevated atmospheric CO2 concentrations in open-top chambers in the field

The effects of elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentration on plant-fungi and plant-insect interactions were studied in an emergent marsh in the Chesapeake Bay. Stands of the C₃ sedge Scirpus olneyi Grey, and the C₄ grass Spartina patens (Ait.) Muhl. have been exposed to elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations during each growing season since 1987. In August 1991 the severities of fungal infections and insect infestations were quantified. Shoot nitrogen concentration ([N]) and water content (WC) were determined. In elevated concentrations of atmospheric CO₂, 32% fewer S. olneyi plants were infested by insects, and there was a 37% reduction in the severity of a pathogenic fungal infection, compared with plants grown in ambient CO₂ concentrations. S. olneyi also had reduced [N], which correlated positively with the severities of fungal infections and insect infestations. Conversely, S. patens had increased WC but unchanged [N] in elevated concentrations of atmospheric CO₂ and the severity of fungal infection increased. Elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentration increased or decreased the severity of fungal infection depending on at least two interacting factors, [N] and WC; but it did not change the number of plants that were infected with fungi. In contrast, the major results for insects were that the number of plants infected with insects decreased, and that the amount of tissue that each insect ate also decreased.