Nutrient resorption responses to water and nitrogen amendment in semi-arid grassland of Inner Mongolia, China

Litterfall and fine root production is a major pathway for carbon and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems. We investigated leaf litterfall, fine-root mass, production and turnover rate in the upper soil (0–30 cm) under four major tree species (Leucaena leucocephala, Acacia nilotica, Azadirachta indica, Prosopis juliflora) of the semi-arid region of India. All the four tree species showed an unimodal peak of leaf litterfall with distinct seasonality. Leucaena leucocephala and Acacia nilotica had maximum leaf litterfall between September and December while Azadirachta indica and Prosopis juliflora shed most of their leaves between February and May. Annual leaf litterfall of the four species ranged from 3.3 Mg ha^?1 (Leucaena leucocephala) to 8.1 Mg ha^?1 (Prosopis juliflora). Marked seasonal variations in amount of fine root biomass were observed in all the four tree species. Fine root production was maximum in Prosopis juliflora (171 g m^?2 y^?1) followed by Azadirachta indica (169 g m^?2 y^?1), Acacia nilotica (106 g m^?2 y^?1) and Leucaena leucocephala (79 g m^?2 y^?1). Fine root biomass showed a seasonal peak after the rainy season but fell to its lowest value during the winter and dry summer season. Fine root turnover rate ranged from 0.56 to 0.97 y^?1 and followed the order Azadirachta indica > Leucaena leucocephala > Prosopis juliflora > Acacia nilotica. The results of this study demonstrated that Prosopis juliflora and Azadirachta indica had greater capability for maintaining site productivity as evidenced from greater leaf litterfall and fine root production.     

土壤碳库积累与分配对热带森林恢复的响应

为探明土壤有机碳沉积对热带森林恢复的响应过程与机理,选取西双版纳处于不同恢复阶段的热带森林类型(前期的白背桐群落、中期的崖豆藤群落、后期的高檐蒲桃群落)为研究对象,探讨土壤有机碳库各组分积累与分配(微生物量碳储量/总有机碳储量、易氧化有机碳储量/总有机碳储量、惰性有机碳储量/总有机碳储量)的时空变化规律,分析乔木与林下物种的丰富度和多样性、土壤温湿度、容重、pH及氮库(全氮、水解氮、铵氮、硝氮)对土壤有机碳库组分积累与分配的影响。结果表明:(1)热带森林恢复显著促进土壤碳库各组分的蓄积(P<0.05),相较于恢复前期,恢复中后期土壤总有机碳、微生物量碳、易氧化有机碳、惰性有机碳储量增幅达9.25%-50.84%;恢复促进了土壤微生物量碳和易氧化有机碳的分配(8.98%-25.36%)(P<0.05),但对惰性有机碳分配无显著影响;(2)不同恢复阶段热带森林土壤碳组分积累与分配的时空变化存在一定的差异。其中上述4种碳组分积累最大值均出现在6月、垂直变化均沿土层递减;土壤易氧化有机碳和微生物量碳分配最大值出现在6月、惰性有机碳分配则在12月最大,易氧化有机碳和微生物量碳分配沿土层递减、惰性有机碳分配无显著垂直变化;(3)土壤微生物量碳、易氧化有机碳、惰性有机碳的储量在土壤碳库储量的分配占比分别维持在2.40%-5.00%、18.22%-39.34%、18.50%-26.55%,土壤有机碳组分对总有机碳储量变化的解释率表现为:微生物量碳(83.71%)>惰性有机碳(82.17%)>易氧化有机碳(78.54%);(4)相较于恢复初期,恢复后期乔木与林下物种丰富度和Shannon多样性提升了42.78%-490.82%,氮库(全氮、水解氮、铵氮、硝氮)含量仅提升了12.73%-25.51%;(5)冗余分析表明,林下物种丰富度、温湿度、水解氮是影响土壤有机碳组分积累的主要驱动因子,而乔木香农多样性、湿度、容重则是影响土壤有机碳库组分分配的主控因子。因此,西双版纳热带森林恢复进程显著促进了土壤有机碳库组分积累与分配,影响程度取决于样地林下物种丰富度、乔木香农多样性、土壤温湿度、容重与水解氮的状况。     

三种整地措施下尾巨桉人工林碳储量及其分配格局

以不炼山＋人工穴垦、不炼山＋机械带垦和炼山＋机械全垦3种不同整地组合下的2.5年生尾巨桉人工林为对象,对其碳储量及其分配格局进行研究。结果表明：(1)3种整地组合下尾巨桉各器官碳含量平均值为44.37％~57.42％,大小顺序为叶>干>枝>根>皮,带垦最大(51.21％),炼山全垦最小(49.95％);不同整地组合尾巨桉人工林林下地被物层的碳含量均无显著差异(P>0.05);土壤层(0~100 cm)碳含量均随土层深度的增大而减小,各层土壤平均碳含量总体趋势表现为带垦>炼山全垦>穴垦。(2)穴垦、带垦、炼山全垦措施下乔木层总碳储量依次为18.01、30.49和23.56 t.hm-2,各器官碳储量大小顺序为干>根>叶>枝>皮;除皮外,其余器官碳储量排序均为带垦>炼山全垦>穴垦。(3)尾巨桉人工林生态系统的总碳储量表现为带垦(197.03 t.hm-2)>炼山全垦(161.16t.hm-2)>穴垦(144.77 t.hm-2);不同整地措施碳储量分配格局均为土壤层>植被层>枯落物层。土壤层和乔木层碳储量均是带垦最大,在整个生态系统碳储量中处于主导地位,占整个系统碳储量在93％以上;不同整地组合措施对枯落物层的碳储量无显著影响。因此,从提高尾巨桉林分系统碳储量方面考虑,在雷州半岛及相似立地条件地区进行尾巨桉人工林造林时宜采取不炼山＋机械带垦的整地组合方式。     

The use of a double isotope (15N and 34S) labelling technique to assess the suitability of various reference crops for estimating nitrogen fixation in Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena leucocephala

In this study, an approach involving a double isotope (¹⁵N and ³⁴S) labelling technique was used to examine which of five reference crops (Eucalyptus camaldulensis, Cassia siamea, Cassia spectabilis, Lolium perenne and Eucalyptus grandis) would be suitable for measuring N fixed by Gliricidia sepium and Leucaena leucocephala. The rationale is that the ratio of fertilizer-derived S to soil-derived S in a suitable reference crop is similar to that measured in the nitrogen fixing tree (NFT) since the N ratios in the two crop types cannot be measured directly. E. camaldulensis and E. grandis were found to be suitable reference crops because they absorbed fertilizer and soil S in the same ratio as G. sepium and L. leucocephala.     

稻田土壤氧化态有机碳组分变化及其与甲烷排放的关联性

稻田土壤有机碳是甲烷排放的关键底物之一,不同研究者由于采取的有机碳研究方法不同而得出稻田甲烷排放与土壤有机碳关系的结论不一.为明确影响稻田甲烷排放的土壤有机碳组分,设计了稻田施用不同外源有机碳(稻草还田、鸡粪和猪粪)的田间试验,对稻田甲烷排放和土壤有机碳组分的动态变化及其关联性进行监测和分析.结果表明,猪粪处理的甲烷排放与化肥处理无显著差异,而鸡粪和稻草2个处理的甲烷排放分别比化肥增加1.67倍(P＜0.05),2.69倍(P＜0.05);甲烷排放量与土壤易氧化有机碳含量显示相同顺序:稻草＞鸡粪＞猪粪＞化肥;通径分析表明,土壤易氧化有机碳组分1(被33 mmol/L KMnO4氧化的有机碳)与甲烷排放直接相关,其他有机碳组分仅通过组分1间接作用于水稻生育后期甲烷排放,且排放量较低.由此推断,易氧化有机碳组分1是甲烷排放的主要底物,通过有效措施降低肥源中易氧化态有机碳组分1是减排甲烷的关键技术之一.     

黄浦江中上游杨树人工林生态系统碳储量研究

以上海地区黄浦江中上游杨树人工林为研究对象,构建了杨树立木及各器官(根、干、皮、枝、叶)生物量方程,并对杨树人工林林分生物量(乔木层、地表枯落物层)、碳储量和土壤碳储量进行了估测。结果表明:杨树立木及各器官的生物量方程拟合效果较好(R2=0.96～0.99,P0.001)。9年生杨树人工林生态系统碳储量为90.9 t·hm-2。其中乔木层碳储量所占比例为36.6%,乔木层各组分碳储量大小排序为树干树根树枝树皮树叶;地表枯落物层碳储量所占比例仅为1.7%。土壤碳储量(0～50 cm)所占比例最大,为61.6%。这些杨树人工幼龄林正处于快速生长阶段,对上海地区人工林碳汇经营具有重要意义。     

Carbon assimilation during larval development of the marine teleost Leiostomus xanthurus Lacépède

In larval spot, Leiostomus xanthurus Lacépède, ¹⁴C labeled food was rapidly digested and assimilated with up to 20% respired as ¹⁴CO₂ within 10 h from ingestion. Two indices of carbon assimilation, total carbon utilization (range 9.4 to 64.7%) and total carbon absorption (range 67.2 to 99.2%) were calculated from the amount of ¹⁴C ingested, retained, and defecated. Carbon utilization and absorption were not significantly (P > 0.10) related to development as measured by age (7 to 47 days from hatching), length (1.8 to 11.4 mm), or dry weight (0.022 to 4.425 mg).     

Comparative Study of Carbon Storage in Different Forest Stands in Subtropical China

Selection and development of tree species with high fixing CO₂ capacity is an increasing problem worldwide. A comparative study on carbon fixation ability of three forest stands was conducted at Linlong Mountain, Li’nan County, Zhejiang Province, China. The results showed that total carbon storage in the ecosystems of Moso bamboo, Chinese fir, and Masson pine stands were 104.83, 95.66, and 96.49 t C/ha, respectively. The spatial distribution of carbon storage in the three ecosystems decreased in the order: soil > tree story > the vegetation under the forests. Carbon storage in the soils under Moso bamboo, Chinese fir, and Masson pine stands accounted for 65.3, 61.4, and 55.6% of the total CSs, respectively. The Moso bamboo forest ecosystem fixed 1.69 and 1.63 times as much C (9.64 t C/ha/year) as the Chinese fir and Masson pine forest ecosystems, respectively.     

瓦屋山扁刺栲-中华木荷常绿阔叶次生林土壤有机碳组分特征

次生林在全球碳循环中占有重要地位,为了研究中国中亚热带次生林土壤有机碳组分特征,以四川瓦屋山中山段扁刺栲-中华木荷常绿阔叶次生林为对象,通过挖取土壤剖面分层(0—10、10—40、40—70 cm和70—100 cm)取样方式,研究土壤各有机碳组分特征。结果表明:土壤有机碳、微生物生物量碳、可浸提溶解性有机碳和易氧化碳含量均随土层深度增加而减小,0—10 cm土层有机碳含量为121.89 g/kg,高于已报道的亚热带其他常绿阔叶林和四川各类森林;0—10 cm层微生物生物量碳含量为1931.82 mg/kg,可浸提溶解性有机碳含量为697.42 mg/kg,易氧化碳含量为20.98 g/kg,高于已报道的许多相似天然林和人工林活性碳含量。土壤有机碳储量为154.87 t/hm2,在四川省各类森林中处于中等水平。研究表明瓦屋山扁刺栲-中华木荷常绿阔叶次生林活性碳含量较大,微生物活动和养分流动较为活跃,凋落物层转化为土壤碳的潜力较大,这类生态系统可能会在区域碳循环过程中扮演更为重要的角色。     

Reclamation of tannery polluted soil through phytoremediation

The huge volume of sludge emanating from the tannery effluent treatment plants poses a serious environmental problem. Phytoremediation is an emerging technology in which the plants are employed to reclamate the contaminated soil strewn with heavy metals (metalloids) and toxic compounds. This work focuses the impact of application of tannery sludge on biochemical properties of 6 months old tree saplings of Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (Neem), Melia azedarach Linn. (Wild Neem) and Leucaena leucocephala (Lam) de Wit (Subabool) raised over the tannery sludge in an attempt to use these plants for phytoremediation. The plants raised over the garden soil served as the control. The porosity and water holding capacity of the tannery sludge were higher. The plant growth supporting elements such as Ca, total N₂, NO₃ and Mg were higher in the sludge. The plants raised over the sludge were found to be dark green with increased morphometric parameters. Electrophoretic profile revealed amplification of a few polypeptides (100, 105, 49 and 55 KDa). The levels of biomolecules and the CO₂ absorption increased in 6 months old plants. There was a significant uptake and transport of chromium in all the three tree species suggesting that these plants could be employed in phytoremediation of soils contaminated with heavy metals.Key words: Azadirachta indica (Neem), CO₂ uptake, Leucaena leucocephala (Subabool), Melia azedarach (Wild Neem), metalloids, Phytoremediation, Stress biomolecules, Tannery sludge     

Biogeochemistry of trimethyllead and lead in a forested ecosystem in Germany

Lead compounds, especially ionic organolead compounds (OLC), are highly toxic and mobile pollutants strongly affecting many ecosystems. Soil pools and fluxes with precipitation, litterfall and runoff of trimethyllead (TML), one of the dominant ionic OLC in the environment, and Pb_total were investigated in a forested ecosystem in NE-Bavaria, Germany. In addition, ad/desorption of TML to soils was studied in batch experiments and its degradation in soils was investigated using long term incubations. Total soil storage in the catchment was 11.56?mg Pb?ha^?1 for TML and 222?kg Pb?ha^?1 for Pb_total. More than 90% of the soil storage of TML was found in the wetland soils of the catchment representing only 30% of the area. Most Pb_total (>90%) was found in the upland soils. In upland soils, TML was only detectable in the forest floor. The annual total deposition from the atmosphere, estimated as throughfall?+?litterfall fluxes, amounted to 3.7?mg Pb?ha^?1 year^?1 for TML and 52?g Pb?ha^?1 year^?1 for Pb_total. The contribution of litterfall was 1.5 and 32%, respectively. The concentrations of TML and Pb_total in wet precipitation were: fog?>?throughfall?>?bulk precipitation. The annual fluxes with runoff from the catchment was 0.5?mg Pb?ha^?1 year^?1 for TML and 2.8?g Pb?ha^?1 year^?1 for Pb_total. TML degraded rapidly in the forest floor (Oa horizon) with a half-life (t) of 33.5 days. The degradation of TML in Fen (t?=?421 days) and in the mineral soil (Bw-C horizon, t?=?612 days) was much slower. Emission of tetramethyllead from wetland soils was not observed during the 1 year incubation. The adsorption affinity of TML to different soils was Fen?>?Oa?>?A?≥?Bw-C. The ratio of total soil storages to the present annual input were 3.6 years for TML. TML and Pb_total are still deposited in remote areas even after the use of tetraalkyllead as additives has been terminated for years. The rates of deposition are, however, much lower than in the past. Forest soils act as a sink for deposited TML and Pb_total. TML is accumulated mostly in wetland soils and seems to be stable under anoxic conditions for a long time. In upland soils, TML decomposes rapidly. Only small amounts of TML are transferred from soils into runoff.     

Distributions of carbon in calcareous soils under different land uses in western Iran

Concentrations of Natural stable and unstable carbon in ecosystems have been used extensively to help to understand a wide range of soil processes and functions. This study was conducted to explore the effects of land use changes on different carbon fractions (F₁, F₂, F₃ and F₄), permanganate oxidizable carbon (POXC), soil organic carbon (SOC) and total organic carbon (TOC) associated with soils in calcareous soils of western Iran. Four popular land uses in the selected site including natural forest, range land, dryland farming and irrigated farming systems were employed as the basis of soil sampling. The results showed a strong relationship between land use conversion and SOC stocks changes. The greatest mean values for carbon content and the least mean values of CaCO₃ in bulk topsoil (0–15 cm) in the forest land were observed. Dryland farming had the least both active and passive pools of C in comparison with the other land uses. The positive and significant correlations was observed between SOC, Total C and POXC contents and different C fractions. Taking C and POXC pools into account, a more definitive picture of the soil C is obtained than when only total C is measured. The influence of land use changes on overall soil carbon stocks could be helpful for making management decision for farmers and policy makers in the future, for enhancing the potential of C sequestration in western Iran.     

Spacial distribution of photosynthetic capacity and performance in a mountain spruce forest of Northern Germany

Summary Biomass distribution and diurnal CO₂ uptake under natural conditions were investigated on Picea abies in a mountainous climate (Solling, Northwest Germany). Spruce has a remarkable variability in leaf characteristics. Even on a single branch in the lower sun crown, needle dry weight and surface area change considerably from the branch base to the tip and accoring to exposure. Only about 18% of the total biomass of the tree was current year's growth, about 40% of the needles were 4 years and older reaching a maximal age of 12 years. The main growing zone was at the border of upper shade and lower sun crown and the main accumulation of dry weight was at a greater tree height than was observed for maximal growth of needle numbers or surface area. The annual, new growth shifted toward the upper sun crown. Maximal daily CO₂ uptake was highest in the lower sun crown on days with variable cloud cover when temperatures were moderate and water vapor pressure deficits were low. Also the annual CO₂ uptake was highest in the lower sun crown, where 4-year-old and older needles contributed about 35% to the annual CO₂ uptake of the tree. Current year growth contributed about 15% of the total CO₂ gain. The upper and lower sun crowns produce about 70% of the total carbon gain. The carbon balance of spruce and the distribution of the production process in relation to needle age and crown level are discussed.     

马尾松(Pinus massoniana)人工林林窗对土壤不同形态活性有机碳的影响

研究了四川盆地低山丘陵区马尾松人工林不同大小林窗对表层土壤活性有机碳(水溶性有机碳、微生物量碳、易氧化碳)含量、分配比例及碳库管理指数的影响。结果表明:(1)林窗下土壤微生物量碳含量与分配比例较林下土壤有所升高,而水溶性有机碳与易氧化碳含量及水溶性有机碳分配比例有所降低。(2)林窗大小显著影响林窗中心土壤活性有机碳含量与分配比例。随林窗面积增大,水溶性有机碳、微生物量碳与易氧化碳含量呈现较为一致的升高趋势;水溶性有机碳和微生物量碳分配比例也升高,易氧化碳分配比例先下降后升高,稳定态碳先升高后降低;总体表现为较大林窗(900—1225m2)微生物活性强,活性有机碳含量高,且有机碳库稳定性较好。(3)土壤碳库管理指数随林窗面积增大无显著变化,但与各形态活性有机碳含量及总有机碳含量显著相关,说明土壤碳库管理指数能够相对全面地反映林窗大小对土壤碳库的影响。     

Carbon fluxes to the soil in a mature temperate forest assessed by <Superscript>13</Superscript>C isotope tracing

Photosynthetic carbon uptake and respiratory C release from soil are major components of the global carbon balance. The use of ¹³C depleted CO₂ (¹³C = –30) in a free air CO₂ enrichment experiment in a mature deciduous forest permitted us to trace the carbon transfer from tree crowns to the rhizosphere of 100–120 years old trees. During the first season of CO₂ enrichment the CO₂ released from soil originated substantially from concurrent assimilation. The small contribution of recent carbon in fine roots suggests a much slower fine root turnover than is often assumed.¹³C abundance in soil air correlated best with temperature data taken from 4 to 10 days before air sampling time and is thus rapidly available for root and rhizosphere respiration. The spatial variability of ¹³C in soil air showed relationships to above ground tree types such as conifers versus broad-leaved trees. Considering the complexity and strong overlap of roots from different individuals in a forest, this finding opens an exciting new possibility of associating respiration with different species. What might be seen as signal noise does in fact contain valuable information on the spatial heterogeneity of tree-soil interaction.     

Growth and carbon utilization by sprouted propagules of two species of submersed rooted aquatic plants grown in darkness

Hydrilla verticillata (L. f.) Royle tubers from monoecious plants andPotamogeton gramineus L. winter buds were sprouted and allowed to grow in the dark for 120 days. We measured plant length and counted the number of leaves at 2–3 day intervals.Hydrilla grew most rapidly during the first 16–17 days andPotamogeton grew most rapidly during the first 16–25 days. Measurement of propagule carbon content over time indicated that cessation of rapid growth coincided with depletion of tuber carbon by one-half forHydrilla. ForPotamogeton, growth was reduced after 16 to 25 days while the winter bud C half-life was 37 days. Calculations indicated thatHydrilla mobilized 49% andPotamogeton 39% of the initial propagule carbon to support growth. In a second experiment, in which plants were grown in substrate the plants grew taller and produced slightly more leaves per plant.Potamogeton removed from darkness after specified time periods, and allowed to grow for 21 days in a greenhouse recovered from 20–30 days in the dark. Similarly treatedHydrilla plants recovered from up to 80 days in the dark.Potamogeton had mobilized 79% of initial C by the time it was unable to recover from the dark treatment. Combined results for both species indicate that the majority of propagule C was utilized in the first 16 to 30 days following sprouting. In conjunction with an understanding propagule sprouting requirements, this information will be useful in the timing of application for management techniques. The U.S. Government right to retain a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence in and to any copyright is acknowledged. The U.S. Government right to retain a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence in and to any copyright is acknowledged.     

Heavy metals uptake by vegetables growing in sewage irrigated soil: relationship with heavy metal fractionation in soil

Abstract

Concentrations of the heavy metals Cd, Ni, Cr, Zn, Mn, Co and Cu in soils and vegetable samples (i.e. green chili and gourd) taken from six vegetable fields in the vicinity of Lahore, Pakistan were measured. These soils have been irrigated for a long time with untreated sewage effluents. A control site was selected that has history of fresh canal water irrigation. The sequential extraction procedure developed by Tessier was adopted to demarcate five metal fractions: exchangeable, acid soluble, reducible, oxidizable and residual. The extractants and digests were analysed by atomic absorption spectrometry. The fractionation procedure showed that all the metals were dominant (>50%) in the residual phase in control as well as in waste waster irrigated soils. The concentrations of all the metals in edible parts of the vegetables collected from wastewater irrigated soils, were above critical levels. The total metal concentrations in wastewater irrigated soils followed the order Mn> Co> Zn> Cr> Ni> Cu> Cd, while in control soils the ord er was Mn> Zn> Ni> Co> Cr> Cu> Cd. In order to understand the uptake of metals from soil to vegetables, correlation analyses were performed between metal concentrations in different fractions of soil and their concentrations in vegetables. Correlation analysis was performed at 95% and 99% confidence level. The meaningful significant negative correlation was observed between Cd_F5–Cd_chili,Cr_Total–Cr_gourd,Mn_F5–Mn_Chili,Gourd, Co_F5, _Total–Co_chili, Cu_Total–Cu_Chili which indicate the non availability of total content and residual fraction to studied vegetables. The positive correlation was observed between Cd_Fl-Cd_ChiU, Cd_Fl–Cd_gourd, Ni_{Fi, F3}–Ni_Gourd, Cr_{Fi, F3}, _F4–Cr_ChiU, Cr_F2–Cr_Gourd, Zn_{Fi, F2}–Zn_Gourd, Mn_F3–Mn_Chili, Mn_Fi–Mn_Gourd, Co_F2–Co_Chili, Cu_Fi–Cu_Chili. The positive correlation, especially for the first (exchangeable) second (acid soluble) and for the third (reducible) extraction steps, was obtained which indicate the bioavailability of these metal fractions to plant.     

城市复杂环境中碳通量日变化规律及其影响因素

城市是人类居住和活动最集中地区,其CO₂排放量占世界总排放量的71%,城市碳排放规律研究对全球碳减排工作具有重要意义。利用涡动相关技术观测了北京市某街区2015年至2016年的CO₂通量,重点研究了不同时间尺度和气象条件下的CO₂通量的日变化规律,分析了影响城市CO₂通量的社会及自然因素。结果表明,CO₂通量日变化特征具有（1）明显的早晚"双峰型"特征,早晚高峰分别出现在早上7：30-9：30和晚上17：30-20：30;（2）周末特征：周末早高峰时间延迟,晚于工作日约1.5h,且峰值低了约10.8%,但晚高峰时间提前,且峰值高于工作日约10.6%;（3）季节特征：冬季CO₂通量均值和早高峰值明显高于其他季节,夏季中午具有明显低峰区;（4）风向特征：在不同来风方向上,CO₂通量的日变化峰值差异很大;（5）天气特征：阴天双峰特征比晴天明显。研究表明CO₂通量日变化主要与交通流量动态变化关系最为密切,其次要受到植被的影响。因此,交通减排和植被增汇对于控制城市碳排放具有重要意义。     

In situ estimation of net CO2 assimilation, photosynthetic electron flow and photorespiration in Turkey oak (Q. cerris L.) leaves: diurnal cycles under different levels of water supply

Diurnal time courses of net CO₂ assimilation rates, stomatal conductance and light-driven electron fluxes were measured in situ on attached leaves of 30-year-old Turkey oak trees (Quercus cerris L.) under natural summer conditions in central Italy. Combined measurements of gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence under low O₂ concentrations allowed the demonstration of a linear relationship between the photochemical efficiency of PSII (fluorescence measurements) and the apparent quantum yield of gross photosynthesis (gas exchange). This relationship was used under normal O₂ to compute total light-driven electron fluxes, and to partition them into fractions used for RuBP carboxylation or RuBP oxygenation. This procedure also yielded an indirect estimate of the rate of photorespiration in vivo. The time courses of light-driven electron flow, net CO₂ assimilation and photorespiration paralleled that of photosynthetic photon flux density, with important afternoon deviations as soon as a severe drought stress occurred, whereas photochemical efficiency and maximal fluorescence underwent large but reversible diurnal decreases. The latter observation indicated the occurrence of a large non-photochemical energy dissipation at PSII. We estimated that less than 60% of the total photosynthetic electron flow was used for carbon assimilation at midday, while about 40% was devoted to photorespiration. The rate of carbon loss by photorespiration (R₁) reached mean levels of 56% of net assimilation rates. The potential application of this technique to analysis of the relative contributions of thermal de-excitation at PSII and photorespiratory carbon recycling in the protection of photosynthesis against stress effects is discussed.     

Intensity of pre‐dispersal seed predation in the invasive legume Leucaena leucocephala is limited by the duration of pod retention

Abstract The intensity of seed predation the invasive tropical legume Leucaena leucocephala by the bruchid Acanthoscelides macropthalmus was investigated in south‐eastern Queensland, Australia. The number of seeds damaged by A. macropthalmus as a proportion of total seeds available was found to increase the longer the pods remained on the tree. Seed predation ranged from a mean of 10.75% of seeds on pods that remained on the plant for 1 month and increased to 53.54% for pods that remained of the plant for 4 months. The low bruchid populations at high pod densities results in ‘predator satiation’. However, pods dehisce over time and the proportion of pods available over time to the bruchid correspondingly declines. By the time bruchid densities build up, most pods have dehisced and the seeds consequently escape predation. As a result the number of seeds lost to bruchid damage increases only marginally over time. Despite the levels of seed predation observed over the course of the study, the number of seeds in the soil seedbank almost doubled over time increasing from 8.5 seeds m^?3 to 15.5 seeds m^?3 over a 4‐month period. Levels of seed predation and addition of seeds to the soil seedbank were not correlated. The taxonomic (subspecies) status and apparency of host plants as measured by plant and patch traits (average plant height, density of podding plants and patch size) did not influence levels of seed predation. Pre‐dispersal seed predation studies need to take into account the pod/seed retention behaviour of the plant. The ability of the bruchid to regulate the invasiveness of Leucaena through influencing its demography is likely to be diminished if the insect populations cannot increase rapidly enough to use the seeds before pod dehiscence.