Spatial and seasonal variation in nutrient excretion by benthic invertebrates in a eutrophic reservoir

1. Nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fluxes via excretion by benthic invertebrates were quantified in a eutrophic reservoir (Acton Lake, Ohio, U.S.A.). We quantified variation in nutrient fluxes seasonally (June until November 1997), spatially (three sites) and among taxa (chironomids, tubificid oligochaetes and Chaoborus). 2. The three taxa differed in spatial distribution and contribution to nutrient fluxes. Tubificids were the most abundant taxon at two oxic sites (1.5 and 4 m depth), and were exceedingly rare at an anoxic, hypolimnetic site (8 m). Chironomids were abundant only at the shallowest oxic site. Chaoborus was the only abundant taxon at the anoxic site. Total benthic invertebrate biomass was greatest at the shallowest site and lowest at the anoxic, hypolimnetic site. 3. Mass‐specific excretion rate [μmol NH₄–N or soluble reactive P (SRP) excreted mg dry mass^–1 h^–1] varied among experiments and was influenced by temperature. Differences among taxa were not significant. Thus, nutrient flux through benthic invertebrates was affected more by total invertebrate biomass and temperature than by species composition. 4. Fluxes of N and P via benthic invertebrate excretion (μmol NH₄–N or SRP m^–2 day^–1) were greatest at the oxic sites, where fluxes were dominated by the excretion of tubificids and chironomids. The N and P fluxes at the anoxic site were much lower, and were dominated by excretion by Chaoborus. The ratio of N and P excreted by the benthic invertebrate assemblage varied seasonally and was lowest at the anoxic site. 5. Comparison with other measured inputs shows that excretion by benthic invertebrates could be an important source of nutrients, especially of P. However, the relative importance of nutrient excretion by the benthos varies greatly spatially and temporally.     

在杉木林和马尾松林中雨水的养分淋溶作用

本试验地是在杉木林和马尾松林中,主要对降雨和径流水中所含各种养分物质进行测定。结果表明:降雨的养分含量与降雨量存在着半对数函数关系。降雨输入林地的养分量显著地大于径流输出的养分量。林内雨和树干茎流淋溶的养分量占养分还原总量的48—53％。林内雨和树干淋溶的K、Mg、N养分物质量超过凋落物归还养分量。     

Nutrient transport in mycorrhizas: structure,physiology and consequences for efficiency of the symbiosis

Nutrient transport in mycorrhizas occurs across specialized interfaces which are the result of corrdinated development of the organisms. The structural modifications give rise to large areas of either inter- or intra-cellular interface in which wall synthesis is frequently modified and in which altered distribution of membrane bound ATPases is important, particularly with respect to mechanisms that may be involved in bidirectional transfer of nutrients. Except in orchid mycorrhizas, net movement of organic carbon from plant to fungus occurs, complemented by mineral nutrient movement in the opposite direction. The general consensus is that sustained transfer at rates that will maintain the growth and development of the organisms requires increases in the rates at which nutrients are lost from the organisms; possible mechanisms for this are discussed. The transfer processes are essential in determining both plant and fungal productivity and an approach to calculating the efficiency of the symbiosis in terms of the expenditure of carbon (or of phosphorus) is discussed.     

Sources of nutrients to rooted submerged macrophytes growing in a nutrient-rich stream

1. The relative contribution of roots and leaves to nutrient uptake by submerged stream macrophytes was tested in experiments where plants were grown in an outdoor flow-channel system. Water was supplied from a nutrient-rich stream with inorganic nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations typical of Danish streams.
2. Four submerged macrophyte species were tested, Elodea canadensis , Callitriche cophocarpa , Ranunculus aquatilis and Potamogeton crispus, and all species were able to satisfy their demand for mineral nutrients by leaf nutrient uptake alone. This was evident from manipulative experiments showing that removal of the roots had no negative impact on the relative growth rate of the plants. Further, the organic N and P concentrations of the plant tissue was constant with time for the de-rooted plants.
3. Enrichment of water and/or sediment had no effect on the relative growth rate of two species, E. canadensis and C. cophocarpa , indicating that in situ nutrient availability was sufficient to cover the needs for growth. Despite the lack of a response in growth rate, a reduced root/shoot biomass ratio was observed with nutrient enrichment of water and/or sediment, and an increased tissue-P concentration in response to open-water enrichment.
4. The open-water nutrient concentrations of the stream in which the experiments were performed are in the upper part of the range found for Danish farmland streams (the majority of Danish streams). Still, however, the negligible effect of nutrient enrichment on the growth of submerged macrophytes observed suggests that mineral nutrient availability might play a minor role in controlling macrophyte growth in most Danish streams.     

Optimizing nutrient management for farm systems

Increasing the inputs of nutrients has played a major role in increasing the supply of food to a continually growing world population. However, focusing attention on the most important nutrients, such as nitrogen (N), has in some cases led to nutrient imbalances, some excess applications especially of N, inefficient use and large losses to the environment with impacts on air and water quality, biodiversity and human health. In contrast, food exports from the developing to the developed world are depleting soils of nutrients in some countries. Better management of all essential nutrients is required that delivers sustainable agriculture and maintains the necessary increases in food production while minimizing waste, economic loss and environmental impacts. More extensive production systems typified by 'organic farming' may prove to be sustainable. However, for most of the developed world, and in the developing world where an ever-growing population demands more food, it will be essential to increase the efficiency of nutrient use in conventional systems. Nutrient management on farms is under the control of the land manger, the most effective of whom will already use various decision supports for calculating rates of application to achieve various production targets. Increasingly, land managers will need to conform to good practice to achieve production targets and to conform to environmental targets as well.     

Nutrient cycling in an excessively rainfed subtropical grassland at Cherrapunji

Cycling of six mineral elements (N, P, K, Na, Ca and Mg) was studied in a humid subtropical grassland at Cherrapunji, north-eastern India during 1988-1989. Elemental concentrations in the shoot of four dominant grass species,viz., Arundinella khaseana, Chrysopogon gryllus, Eragrostiella leioptera andEulalia trispicata were very low, and none of the species appears suitable for fodder use. Among different vegetation compartments, live root was the largest reservoir of all the nutrients (except Ca) followed by live shoot, dead shoot, litter and dead root. For Ca, live shoot was the major storage compartment. The total annual uptake (kg ha^-1) was 137.3, 10.4, 51.1, 5.5, 8.7 and 18.2 for N, P, K, Na, Ca and Mg, respectively. In an annual cycle 98% N, 77% P, 49% K, 109% Na, 87% Ca and 65% Mg returned to the soil through litter and belowground detritus. A major portion of N, P and Na was recycled through the belowground system, whereas nearly half of K, Ca and Mg was recycled through the shoot system. Precipitation acts as the source of N and P input, but at the same time causes loss of cations.     

不同施肥模式下潮棕壤稻田的速效养分状况和水稻的养分分配

研究了不同施肥模式下下辽河平原潮棕壤稻田土壤速效养分的供应能力及水稻的养分分配.结果表明:各处理0～20 cm速效养分供应能力均高于20～40 cm,其变异也大于20～40 cm(速效氮除外);有机、无机肥相结合有利于提高土壤速效养分的供应能力;水稻氮和磷的分配主要集中在籽实中,钾的分配则主要集中在秸秆中.采用秸秆还田措施有利于缓解钾肥资源的不足,保持钾素的循环再利用,维持土壤钾库,减少钾肥投入,降低农业生产成本,减轻环境污染.     

Constructing nutrient budgets

We present a formalised, yet flexible, scheme for classifying and symbolising the components of nutrient budgets. The scheme distinguishes hierarchically both among components of the ingesta and among the various sinks to which they are allocated. The primary terms in the budget are distinguished according to either methodological criteria (whether in a given time period they are retained by the animal or dissociated from the body) or functional criteria (whether they contribute to fitness). In both methodological and functional classifications, the primary terms of the budget may be progressively expanded to represent with increasing resolution nutrient allocation. The interplay between the various components of the ingesta and their subsequent allocation may be considered simultaneously using a two-dimensional nutritional matrix.     

缺苞箭竹密度对养分元素贮量、积累与分配动态的影响

研究了缺苞箭竹(Fargesiadenudate)-紫果云杉(Piceapurpurea)原始林下不同密度缺苞箭竹群落的养分元素贮量与分配动态以及养分元素在一个生长季节内的积累量。结果表明:地上、地下部分的N、P、K、Ca、Mg贮量均随着箭竹密度的增加而增大,养分元素贮量排序为:K>N>Ca>P>Mg。密度较大的箭竹群落(D1和D2)中,地上部分的N、P和K贮量大于地下部分,而密度较小的箭竹群落(D3)中P和K贮存于地下部分的比例较大,3个群落中的地下部分Ca和Mg贮量均大于地上部分,且地下部分的养分元素贮量的比例随着箭竹密度的增加而减少。养分元素的总积累量排序为:K>N>Ca>P>Mg,且地上部分和群落的总积累量随着箭竹密度的增加而增加,总积累率以D1群落最大,3个群落的养分元素积累率大小顺序为:Mg>Ca>P>N>K。地下部分(根系和鞭)养分元素贮量比例随着箭竹密度的增加而下降,而地上部分(叶、枝和竹杆)养分元素贮量比例随着箭竹密度增加而上升。密度对缺苞箭竹养分贮量、积累和分配动态有深刻影响。     

神农架常绿落叶阔叶混交林凋落物养分特征

凋落物是联结陆地生态系统植物与土壤养分的重要媒介,了解凋落物养分特征有助于理解陆地生态系统物质循环的机理。该研究于2015年收集了神农架地区常绿落叶阔叶混交林的新鲜凋落物及现存凋落物,测定其不同器官中大量元素(C、N、P、K、Ca、Mg)的含量,据此分析其养分含量、养分归还量、养分储量及化学计量比的特征。结果发现:该常绿落叶阔叶混交林新鲜凋落物的C、K养分含量显著高于现存凋落物,N、P、Ca、Mg养分含量显著低于现存凋落物;其凋落物大量元素的养分归还量及养分储量大小顺序均为C Ca N Mg K P,分别为1569.84、52.44、34.82、6.24、5.24、1.30 kg hm~(-2) a~(-1)及1835.29、87.87、51.17、12.12、3.90、1.95 kg hm~(-2) a~(-1);其新鲜凋落物及现存凋落物的C∶N∶P分别为1307.33∶27.73∶1及976.48∶26.77∶1,新鲜凋落物的C∶N、C∶P显著高于现存凋落物,N∶P无显著区别。研究表明,新鲜凋落物与现存凋落物养分含量之间的差异与不同元素在分解过程中的可淋溶性及生物固持等因素有关。该地区常绿落叶阔叶混交林凋落物养分归还量及养分储量相对于亚热带阔叶林平均水平较低;且显著低于喀斯特地区同类型森林,主要与其凋落物产量、降水量及植被类型有关。该森林生态系统新鲜凋落叶与中国及全球范围内阔叶树种凋落叶相比C∶N较低,C∶P、N∶P较高,这可能是由于该地区N沉降及P限制现象较为严重所致。     

不同林龄刺槐叶片养分重吸收特征及其对土壤养分有效性的响应

为揭示丘陵沟壑区刺槐的养分重吸收特征及其驱动因素,研究该区不同林龄刺槐叶片全氮和全磷的浓度,以及土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷、铵态氮、硝态氮和速效磷浓度及其化学计量,分析了叶片氮磷重吸收效率与土壤养分特性之间的关系。结果表明: 植物和土壤的养分随林龄增长发生显著变化,而土壤总磷和速效磷浓度较低。氮重吸收效率随林分生长先增加后降低,范围为48.2%～54.0%,平均为48.5%;磷重吸收效率则显著增加,范围为45.2%～49.4%,平均为46.9%。氮重吸收效率与土壤氮素和氮磷比呈负向响应,而磷重吸收效率与氮磷比呈显著正相关,与土壤速效磷呈负相关。表明土壤养分有效性的变化负向驱动养分重吸收效率。由于该生境中刺槐林的固氮效应及磷限制,叶片养分重吸收策略对土壤氮磷比响应强烈。     

不同年龄毛竹林养分分布及生物循环特征

毛竹林是我国重要的森林资源类型,由于片面追求经济效益,许多竹阔混交林被改造为纯林,造成其土壤质量和立地生产力不同程度退化。因此研究毛竹林生产力和营养元素循环特征,对保持毛竹林持续生产力具有重要意义。以湖南桃江县桃花江林场毛竹林作为研究对象,将同一年龄毛竹的株数占据60%以上林地的标准划分各年龄段毛竹林,并研究不同年龄(1年,3年和5年)毛竹林生态系统营养元素含量、积累和分布格局以及生物循环特征。结果表明:竹林层营养元素平均含量均以N和K含量最高,Ca和P较低,各营养元素在毛竹不同器官的含量存在差异且随竹龄变化而变化;因毛竹林年龄不同,死地被物各层次的营养元素含量不同,并且同一年龄毛竹林亦随层次不同而异;土壤层N、P、K元素随着土层深度的增加而递减,Ca则随土层深度增加而增加。竹林层营养元素总积累量为338.31—1104.72 kg/hm²,死地被物层为37.69—46.94 kg/hm²,土壤层为56952.67—63783.22 kg/hm²。不同年龄毛竹林生态系统营养元素年吸收量为237.41—338.3 kg/h...     

Plant–herbivore interactions and ecological stoichiometry: when do herbivores determine plant nutrient limitation?

Recent studies on plant–herbivore indirect interactions via nutrient recycling have led to the hypothesis that herbivores with a low nitrogen: phosphorus ratio, feeding on plants with a higher nitrogen: phosphorus ratio, recycle relatively more nitrogen, driving plants into phosphorus limitation. We demonstrate in this paper that such a hypothesis is valid only under restricted conditions, i.e. the nitrogen: phosphorus ratio of inorganic nutrients supplied to the system must be neither too high nor too low compared with the nitrogen: phosphorus ratio of the whole plant + herbivore biomass. If plants have a greater affinity for phosphorus than for nitrogen, low herbivore nitrogen: phosphorus ratio can even promote nitrogen limitation. These results are qualitatively robust, whether grazing functions are donor-controlled or recipient-controlled. We present a graphical analysis of these conditions based on the Zero Net Growth Isocline method.     

树木细根养分内循环

养分内循环是树木减少养分损失,提高养分利用效率的重要途径。树木细根寿命短、周转快．每年大量凋落死亡,因此,近20多年来树木细根养分内循环的研究逐渐受到人们的重视。关于树木细根养分内循环目前的研究结论比较复杂。本文从细根在树木地下部分养分内循环中的重要地位、细根养分内循环对树木减少养分损失的重要性、细根中各养分元素内循环的研究现状以及细根养分内循环研究方法存在的问题等方面综合论述了国内外的进展情况,并对今后的研究趋势进行了展望。     

植物的养分利用效率(NUE)及植物对养分胁迫环境的适应策略

提高养分利用效率（ＮＵＥ）是植物适应贫瘠生境的一种重要的竞争策略。养分利用效率的概念从提出到现在,曾用多个参数描述,其间经历了一个不断完善的发展过程。通过综述近年来相关的研究结果,可以初步得出以下结论：⑴不同种,不同生活型植物,乃至同株植物不同器官的ＮＵＥ存在不同程度的差异。⑵ＮＵＥ受多种因素影响。其中,养分有效性的影响研究较多,但争议较大,综合考虑,它对ＮＵＥ的影响不甚显著;叶片脱落持续时间的影     

Water Supply Changes N and P Conservation in a Perennial Grass Leymus chinensis

Changes in precipitation can influence soil water and nutrient availability, and thus affect plant nutrient conservation strategies. Better understanding of how nutrient conservation changes with variations in water availability is crucial for predicting the potential influence of global climate change on plant nutrient-use strategy. Here, green-leaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentrations, N- and P-resorption proficiency (the terminal N and P concentration in senescent leaves, NRP and PRP, respectively), and N- and P-resorption efficiency (the proportional N and P withdrawn from senescent leaves prior to abscission, NRE and PRE, respectively) of Leymus chinensis (Trin.) Tzvel., a typical perennial grass species in northern China, were examined along a water supply gradient to explore how plant nutrient conservation responds to water change. Increasing water supply at low levels (< 9000 mL/year) increased NRP, PRP and PRE, but decreased green-leaf N concentration. It did not significantly affect green-leaf P concentration or NRE. By contrast, all N and P conservation indicators were not significantly influenced at high water supply levels (> 9000 mL/year). These results indicated that changes in water availability at low levels could affect leaf-level nutrient characteristics, especially for the species in semiarid ecosystems. Therefore, global changes in precipitation may pose effects on plant nutrient economy, and thus on nutrient cycling in the plant-soil systems.