Autecology of Bradyrhizobium japonicum in soybean-rice rotations

The effect of rice culture on changes in the number of a strain of soybean root-nodule bacteria, (Bradyrhizobium japonicum CB1809), already established in the soil by growing inoculated soybean crops, was investigated in transitional red-brown earth soils at two sites in south-western New South Wales. At the first site, 5.5 years elapsed between the harvest of the last of four successive crops of soybean and the sowing of the next. In this period three crops of rice and one crop of triticale were sown and in the intervals between these crops, and after the crop of triticale, the land was fallowed. Before sowing the first rice crop, the number of Bradyrhizobium japonicum was 1.32×10⁵ g^–1 soil. The respective numbers of bradyrhizobia after the first, second and third rice crops were 4.52 ×10⁴, 1.26×10⁴ and 6.40×10² g^–1 soil. In the following two years the population remained constant. Thus sufficient bradyrhizobia survived in soil to nodulate and allow N₂-fixation by the succeeding soybean crop. At the second site, numbers of bradyrhizobia declined during a rice crop, but the decline was less than when the soil was fallowed (400-fold cf. 2200-fold). Multiplication of bradyrhizobia was rapid in the rhizosphere of soybean seedlings sown without inoculation in the rice bays. At 16 days after sowing, their numbers were not significantly different (p<0.05) from those in plots where rice had not been sown. Nodulation of soybeans was greatest in plots where rice had not been grown, but yield and grain nitrogen were not significantly different (p<0.05). Our results indicate that flooding soil has a deleterious effect on the survival of bradyrhizobia but, under the conditions of the experiments, sufficient B. japonicum strain CB 1809 survived to provide good nodulation after three crops of rice covering a total period of 5.5 years between crops of soybean.     

Compensation of rodent pests after removal: control of two rat species in an irrigated farming system in the Red River Delta, Vietnam

Rodent pests have a strong capacity to recover rapidly from imposed reductions in abundance, but it is unclear how populations compensate to removal when farmers apply rodent control. The response of two rat species to rodent control was monitored using regular live-trapping in an irrigated lowland mixed rice agroecosystem. Rice field rats, Rattus argentiventer (52% of rodent captures), and lesser rice field rats, Rattus losea (29%), were removed using trap-barrier systems (TBS) at two sites while rice crops were present. The TBS was a plastic fence that enclosed a small field planted 3 weeks prior to the surrounding fields and set with multiple-capture cage-traps to capture rats that were attracted to the early-planted crop. Demographic responses of rats were compared to two untreated sites. There was a reduction in abundance of rodents on treated sites relative to untreated sites during the summer rice crop (by 45% and 28% for R. argentiventer and R. losea, respectively) an increase in abundance during the winter season (31% and 69%), and a mixed response during the spring rice crop (39% decrease and 41% increase). There was an increase in the proportion of juveniles captured on treated sites relative to untreated sites post-treatment (148% and 158%) and the body mass was lower on treated sites post-treatment (males: 13% and 41%; females: 22% and 22%). Older, larger animals were removed by the TBS and the rodent populations were compensating through high recruitment of young and high immigration into treated sites. No clear patterns were observed in the occurrence of adult breeding females for either R. argentiventer or R. losea. Rodent management, should therefore, occur over large areas (> 100 ha) to reduce the chance of reinvasion.     

气候变化对落叶松人工林在中国适生区分布的影响

落叶松(Larix)是我国的主要造林树种,其适生区的分布在很大程度上受气象要素等环境因子的影响。研究落叶松人工林适生区分布在气候变化下的变迁,可为应对气候变化的林业管理策略提供技术指导和科学依据。选取华北落叶松、日本落叶松、长白落叶松和兴安落叶松为研究对象,搜集整理了它们在中国地区的308条有效分布记录和22个环境因子变量,运用最大熵(MaxEnt)模型探测了制约落叶松人工林分布的主要环境因子及其适生区范围,模拟并分析了1931-2020年落叶松人工林适生区受气候变化影响的空间分布变化。结果表明:(1)研究选取的MaxEnt模型对落叶松适生区的模拟效果都达到了"极准确"的程度,受试者工作特征曲线面积(AUC值)在0.92-0.977之间。影响落叶松人工林分布的主要环境变量为最湿月降水量、海拔、最湿季度平均温度和温度季节变化方差,累计贡献率达到了73.8%。(2)当前(1991-2020年)气候条件下落叶松人工林适生区面积为182.34×10⁴km²。其中,高适生区面积为53.57×10⁴km²,占总适生面积的29.38%。高适生区集中分布在长白山脉、大兴安岭、燕山、小陇山、太行山脉以及秦岭-大巴山等地区。(3)1931-1960年期间落叶松的高适生区面积为28.33×10⁴km²,1961-1990年期间为33.10×10⁴km²,当前气候条件下进一步增至53.57×10⁴km²。落叶松适生区的范围在过去90年间整体呈现向北移动的趋势。其中,华北落叶松分布在整体上向北大约移动了3°,且分布面积显著增加。日本落叶松位于辽宁东部的高适生区向北移动,位于秦岭-大巴山地区的高适生区则没有明显的偏移,但是分布范围却向高海拔地区集中。长白落叶松的适生区范围向北移动了5°,且分布面积先减少后增加,增加的主要区域是长白山北部。兴安落叶松的适生区范围同样是向北移动,有部分适生区移出了我国北界, 这是其适生区面积在近些年减小的主要原因。     

气候变化对雪豹全球潜在适生区分布的影响与评估

气候变化不仅是人类正在面临的挑战,也是野生动物需要应对的危机。雪豹(Panthera uncia)作为亚洲中部高原和山脉的旗舰种,它的生存和繁衍可以反映青藏高原等地区生态系统的健康状况。青藏高原等地区的气候变暖速度远快于全球平均水平,研究气候变化对雪豹的生境的影响对于高原物种的保护有重要意义。以雪豹为研究对象,采用第六次国际耦合模式比较计划(CMIP6)气候模式下四种共享社会经济路径(SSPs)对应的未来21世纪中期和21世纪末期的环境数据,并基于最大熵模型(MaxEnt),结合ENMTool、SDMTool、ArcGIS和R等工具对当前和未来全球不同发展模式引起的气候变化对雪豹适宜生境的影响进行了模拟预测和分析评估。研究发现：(1)影响雪豹分布的主要环境因素包括：两种气候变量(年平均气温和最冷月最低温度),两种地形变量(海拔和坡度)和一种水文变量(距离最近河流的距离)。(2)当前气候模式下雪豹的全球潜在适宜分布区的总面积约为1122.05万km²,其中低适生区面积为534.5万km²,中适生区面积为386.15万km²...     

气候变化情景下裸冠菊在中国的潜在适生区分布预测

外来入侵植物裸冠菊(Gymnocoronis spilanthoides)具有较强的入侵适应性能快速繁殖扩散,会对本土物种的生长繁殖及本地生态安全、景观格局等产生不良影响。基于265个有效分布点和7个环境变量,调整优化预测模型的调控倍频和特征组合参数,应用MaxEnt、ArcGIS、R软件预测当前和未来(2050s, 2070s)不同气候情景(SSP126, SSP245,SSP370, SSP585)下裸冠菊在中国的潜在地理分布,定量分析其适生区的空间变化及质心移动轨迹,最后采用受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线下面积(AUC)和测试遗漏率评估模型的精确性。未来气候模式选择中国国家气候中心开发的CMIP6中BCC-CSM2-MR。结果表明：(1)模型预测结果极准确,各组模型的AUC值均高于0.97;(2)最干季降水量(bio17)、最冷季度平均温(bio11)、温度季节性变化(bio4)和最暖季度平均降雨量(bio18)是影响裸冠菊地理分布的主导气候因子;(3)当前气候条件下,裸冠菊的总适生区面积达到191.18×10⁴km²,约占国土总面积的1...     

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.     

From River Management to River Basin Management: A Water Manager’s Perspective

Chironomid larvae were sampled sequentially from small experimental rice fields in southern New South Wales, Australia. Sampling was undertaken during the 1995, 1997, 1998 and 1999 crop establishment periods, starting 10 days after flooding (DAF) and continuing at 5 day intervals until 35 DAF. No agrochemical treatments were applied to the fields at any stage. Seventeen species were identified from 3429 recovered larvae. The most abundant species were Chironomus tepperi Skuse (0–91% of 35 day totals), Procladius paludicola Skuse (7–78%) and Polypedilum nubiferum (Skuse) (2–12%). No other taxon accounted for more than 8% of recovered larvae in any year. C. tepperi colonised fields more rapidly than other taxa and, when present, had only a single generation. The abundance of C. tepperi varied dramatically from year to year: from total absence in 1997 to a peak density exceeding 13 000 larvae m⁻² in 1998. Significant differences between post-flood sampling times (R = 0.407, p= 0.009) and between years (R = 0.495, p = 0.001) were found using ANOSIM2 analysis. C. tepperi had a greater impact on community variability at 10 and 15 DAF (42–58%) than any other species, with P. paludicola exerting the most influence from 20 DAF onwards. Exceptionally high densities of C. tepperi in 1998 led to high levels of turbidity, which apparently prolonged the duration of the single C. tepperi cohort by suppressing water temperatures. Comparison of plant densities in the monitored bays to those in nearby bays receiving effective chemical protection shows that rice plant loss increased in response to higher C. tepperi densities. No plant loss occurred in 1997 when C. tepperi was absent, suggesting the other chironomid species present in the fields are not routinely involved in causing significant crop damage.     

Biological control of thrips and whiteflies by a shared predator: Two pests are better than one

We studied the capacity of one species of predator to control two major pests of greenhouse crops, Western flower thrips (Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande)) and the greenhouse whitefly (Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood)). In such a one-predator–two-prey system, indirect interactions can occur between the two pest species, such as apparent competition and apparent mutualism. Whereas apparent competition is desired because it brings pest levels down, apparent mutualism is not, because it does the opposite. Because apparent competition and apparent mutualism occurs at different time scales, it is important to investigate the effects of a shared natural enemy on biological control on a time scale relevant for crop growth. We evaluated the control efficacy of the predatory mites Amblyseius swirskii (Athias-Henriot) and Euseius ovalis (Evans) in cucumber crops in greenhouse compartments with only thrips, only whiteflies or both herbivorous insects together. Each of the two predators controlled thrips, but A. swirskii reduced thrips densities the most. There was no effect of the presence of whiteflies on thrips densities. Whitefly control by each of the two predators in absence of thrips was not sufficient, yet better with E. ovalis. However, whitefly densities in presence of thrips were reduced dramatically, especially by A. swirskii. The densities of predators were up to 15 times higher in presence of both pests than in the single-pest treatments. Laboratory experiments with A. swirskii suggest that this is due to a higher juvenile survival and developmental rate on a mixed diet. Hence, better control may be achieved not only because of apparent competition, but also through a positive effect of mixed diets on predator population growth. This latter phenomenon deserves more attention in experimental and theoretical work on biological control and apparent competition.     

不同环境类型对华北落叶松分布的潜在影响

植物分布-环境因子之间的关系是生态学、生物地理学研究中一个核心问题。采用最大熵物种分布模型,选取气候、土壤和地形3类环境类型中33个因子,对气候、气候-土壤、气候-地形、气候-土壤-地形4种环境组合对华北落叶松在河北省、山西省和内蒙古自治区的分布预测进行建模和检验。利用ArcGIS空间统计,划分华北落叶松分布适宜区,并制作分布适宜性等级图。结果表明,不同环境类型组合对华北落叶松分布影响的训练集和检验集的AUC值在0.965-0.983之间,均达到极准确的精度水平。在影响华北落叶松分布的主导因子上,气候、气候-土壤两种环境类型组合均为最热月的最高温度、温度的年较差和季节性温度变异,累计贡献率均达到74%以上,而气候-地形、气候-土壤-地形两种环境类型组合中海拔和坡度的影响最大,分别为48.8%和51.8%。在影响华北落叶松适生区（中、高、极高适宜区）面积上,气候、气候-地形两种环境类型组合差异不大,分别为102583km²和100698 km²,而气候-土壤、气候-土壤-地形两种环境类型组合影响下的华北落叶松适生区面积出现显著下降分别为57134 km²和66754 km²。最大熵模型能够很好的预测华北落叶松分布,地形因子能明显改变单一气候因子对华北落叶松分布的预测结果,虽然土壤因子对落叶松分布格局的影响不大,但在适宜性、尤其是中等以上适宜区分布上,其影响作用显著。以上结论可为华北地区的生态修复和落叶松可持续经营提供依据。     

Life-history of predatory mites Neoseiulus californicus and Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) on four spider mite species as prey, with special reference to Tetranychus evansi (Acari: Tetranychidae)

The commercially available strains of Phytoseiulus persimilis Athias-Henriot, the biological control agent of Tetranychus urticae Koch, perform poorly in the Western Mediterranean, probably because they are not well adapted to local climatic conditions. For that reason, efforts are being focused on the development of a biological control programme using native phytoseiid mites. Four species of red spider mites can be found in vegetable crops in eastern Spain: T. urticae, Tetranychus turkestani Ugarov and Nikolski, Tetranychus ludeni Zacher and the recently introduced Tetranychus evansi Baker and Pritchard. To evaluate their potential role as biological control agents, the present study evaluates the life-history of local populations of Neoseiulus californicus (McGregor) and P. persimilis when fed on T. urticae, T. turkestani, T. evansi, and T. ludeni in the laboratory. Results indicate that N. californicus and P. persimilis are able to feed and complete their development on the four tested red spider mite species. The predators may exhibit a particularly high capacity for population increase when fed on T. urticae, T. turkestani, and T. ludeni, thus may be able to provide effective control of these species in the field. When fed T. evansi, however, predator performance was poor; significant increase in development and preoviposition times, and a reduction in oviposition period and fecundity were recorded. The resultant low capacity for population growth suggests poor ability of the two tested predators to suppress T. evansi populations on commercial crops. It is unlikely therefore that P. persimilis and N. californicus, now being widely used to control T. urticae in greenhouse crops in Central Europe, will be able to halt any spread of T. evansi to greenhouse crops in temperate areas.     

Functional validation of a novel isoform of Na+/H+ antiporter from Pennisetum glaucum for enhancing salinity tolerance in rice

Salt stress is an environmental factor that severely impairs plant growth and productivity. We have cloned a novel isoform of a vacuolar Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter from Pennisetum glaucum (PgNHX1) that contains 5 transmembrane domains in contrast to AtNHX1 and OsNHX1 which have 9 transmembrane domains. Recently we have shown that PgNHX1 could confer high level of salinity tolerance when overexpressed in Brassica juncea. Here, we report the functional validation of this antiporter in crop plant rice. Overexpression of PgNHX1 conferred high level of salinity tolerance in rice. Transgenic rice plants overexpressing PgNHX1 developed more extensive root system and completed their life cycle by setting flowers and seeds in the presence of 150 mM NaCl. Our data demonstrate the potential of PgNHX1 for imparting enhanced salt tolerance capabilities to salt-sensitive crop plants for growing in high saline areas.     

Field observations on nitrogen catch crops. III. Transfer of nitrogen to the succeeding main crop

In temperate climates with a precipitation surplus during autumn and winter, nitrogen (N) catch crops can help to reduce nitrogen losses from cropping systems by absorbing nitrogen from the soil and transfer it to a following main crop. In two field experiments the catch crop species winter rye (Secale cereale) and forage rape (Brassica napus ssp. oleifera (Metzg.) Sinsk) or oil radish (Raphanus sativus spp. oleiferus (DC.) Metzg.) were planted end of August and 3 weeks later with a non-limiting supply of N and zero-N controls. In the next spring catch crops were incorporated into the soil. In Expt 1, N transfer was measured as (i) the N uptake of a potato test crop, grown with zero and 12.5 g m^–2 N applied, and (ii) the increase in soil mineral N (0–30 cm) in uncropped soil covered with polythene film. In Expt 2, N transfer was measured as the increase in soil mineral N in covered cylinders placed in uncropped soil (in situ incubation). Subsidiary laboratory incubations were performed in Expt 2. In Expt 1, the apparent recovery in potato of fertilizer N (R _f) was 0.56. The recovery in potato of N mineralized from 'native' N pools other than catch crop material (R _n) ranged from 0.43 to 0.51, depending on the value assumed for the depth of N extraction by potato roots. The average recovery in potato of incorporated catch crop N (R _c) was 0.34. Expressed as `fertilizer N replacement factor' (F _r) the latter was 0.61 (i.e. 1 kg of N in catch crop material counts for 0.61 kg fertilizer N). Under the film in Expt 1 the fraction net mineralization of incorporated catch crop N (M _n) was 0.36 on August 11 and 0.43 on October 18. In Expt 2, the average value of M _n was 0.31, which was lower than in Expt 1 and probably associated with the drier soil in Expt 2. In the laboratory incubations (20°C) M _n showed values up to 0.54 after 84 days with the largest rates of change in mineralization occuring early after the start of the incubation. In conjunction with literature data it is concluded that cultivation of nitrogen catch crops shows promise as a means to reduce N input and N losses in temperate climates with wet winters.     

Biological nitrogen fixation associated with sugar cane and rice: Contributions and prospects for improvement

¹⁵N isotope and N balance studies performed over the last few years have shown that several Brazilian varieties of sugarcane are capable of obtaining over 60% of their nitrogen (<150 kg N ha^-1 year^-1) from biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). This may be due to the fact that this crop in Brazil has been systematically bred for high yields with low fertilizer N inputs. In the case of wetland rice, N balance experiments performed both in the field and in pots suggest that 30 to 60 N ha^-1 crop^-1 may be obtained from plant-associated BNF and that different varieties have different capacities to obtain N from this source. ¹⁵N₂ incorporation studies have proved that wetland rice can obtain at least some N from BNF and acetylene reduction (AR) assays also indicate differences in N₂-fixing ability between different rice varieties. However in situ AR field estimates suggest plant-associated BNF inputs to be less than 8 kg N ha^-1 crop^-1. The problems associated with the use of the ¹⁵N dilution technique for BNF quantification are discussed and illustrated with data from a recent study performed at EMBRAPA-CNPAB. Although many species of diazotrophs have been isolated from the rhizosphere of both sugarcane and wetland rice, the recent discovery of endophytic N₂-fixing bacteria within roots, shoots and leaves of both crops suggests, at least in the case of sugarcane, that these bacteria may be the most important contributors to the observed BNF contributions. In sugarcane both Acetobacter diazotrophicus and Herbaspirillum spp. have been found within roots and aerial tissues and these microorganisms, unlike Azospirillum spp. and other rhizospheric diazotrophs, have been shown to survive poorly in soil. Herbaspirillum spp. are found in many graminaceous crops, including rice (in roots and aerial tissue), and are able to survive and pass from crop to crop in the seeds. The physiology, ecology and infection of plants by these endophytes are fully discussed in this paper. The sugarcane/endophytic diazotroph association is the first efficient N₂-fixing system to be discovered associated with any member of the gramineae. As yet the individual roles of the different diazotrophs in this system have not been elucidated and far more work on the physiology and anatomy of this system is required. However, the understanding gained in these studies should serve as a foundation for the improvement/development of similar N₂-fixing systems in wetland rice and other cereal crops.     

基于优化的最大熵模型预测中国高山栎组植物的历史、现状与未来分布变化

气候变化影响着植物物种的地理分布,预测物种潜在适生区对认识其地理分布特征及发挥其生态价值与经济价值具有重要意义。以高山栎组植物为研究对象,运用R语言ENMeval数据包调整调控倍频（RM）和特征组合（FC）优化的最大熵（MaxEnt）模型和ArcGIS软件,基于160条高山栎组植物分布点记录和22个环境因子进行潜在适生区预测,探讨影响其地理分布的主要环境因子,同时预测其在末次间冰期（Last interglacial,LIG）、末次盛冰期（Last glacial maximum,LGM）、全新世中期（Mid Holocene,MH）、当代（Current）、2041-2060年（2050年）和2061-2080年（2070年）3种不同CO₂浓度排放路径下潜在适生区的空间分布格局及其质心变化趋势。结果表明：最优模型参数RM=2.5,FC=LQHPT时,MaxEnt模型复杂度和过拟合程度最低,模型预测准确性极高,AUC=0.960±0.15。综合刀切法贡献率、置换贡献率和单因子响应曲线可知影响其地理分布的主要环境因子是气温季节性变动系数（bio4）、高程（dem）、年降水量（bio12）和等温性（bio3）,其适宜范围分别为435-625、1792-3978m、670-1050mm和41.5-50.3,累计贡献率高达81.6%,其中温度是影响高山栎组植物最重要的环境因子。当前气候条件下,高山栎组植物总适生区面积62.37×10⁴km²,高适生区面积10.47×10⁴km²,占总适生区面积的16.79%,集中分布于川滇横断山地区、滇中高原北部、藏东南以及黔西部分地区。各个时期间高山栎组植物的适生区面积差异较大,当代潜在适生区面积最小且破碎化最严重,可能由于气候变化及人类影响所致。未来各个时期潜在分布区面积均有增大的趋势,但RCP8.5情景下面积相较于其他情景有所降低,表明全球气候变暖背景下不利于高山栎组植物的长期生长。同时,质心分析表明未来气候条件下其分布有向低海拔和低纬度迁移的趋势。     

气候变化对柴胡与狭叶柴胡适生分布的影响

研究气候变化下物种适生区的分布格局与变迁,对于物种的保护和资源的可持续利用具有重要的理论和实践意义。选取柴胡(Bupleurum chinense)与狭叶柴胡(Bupleurum scorzonerifolium)在中国地域内的381个有效分布点和36个环境因子,利用MaxEnt模型模拟当前以及未来(2050和2070年)两种气候情景下(RCP4.5和RCP8.5)其适生区的分布格局,并分析了制约其适生区分布的主导环境因子。结果表明：(1)影响柴胡适生区分布的主导环境因子为最湿月份降水量、最干季度平均温度以及海拔。影响狭叶柴胡适生区分布的主导环境因子为最湿月份降水量、温度季节性变化标准差以及海拔;(2)当前气候条件下,柴胡适生区总面积为1.4755×10⁶km²,约占我国国土面积的15.37%,中、高度适生区主要分布在陕西南部、山西东部、甘肃东南部、山东中部、河北中西部等地;狭叶柴胡适生区总面积为1.8034×10⁶km²,约占我国国土面积的18.78%,中、高度适生区主要分布在黑龙江西部和东部、内...     

Modeling mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) responses to Genapol OXD-080, a non-ionic surfactant, in rice fields

An ecotechnological approach to control crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) infestation in rice fields of the Lower Mondego River Valley (Central Portugal) has recently been investigated. The application of the biodegradable non-ionic surfactant Genapol OXD-080, a fatty alcohol polyglycol ether, in rice paddies at a given concentration (50 mg/l) has been considered as a non-harmful chemical method to mitigate damage caused by crayfish digging activities to rice crops. Therefore, an important requirement regarding the ecological viability of this approach is that populations of non-target species are not significantly affected. A simple mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) population model, in which the relationships with its main food prey were considered, was developed to assess the potential risk to a non-target key species of contaminating the irrigation channels following surfactant application. The model is based on data concerning mosquitofish life cycle and population dynamics, as well as mosquitofish diet and interactions with its main prey species. Quantitative information regarding the acute and sublethal effects of Genapol OXD-080 on mosquitofish and other non-target organisms was obtained from laboratory experiments. Three concentrations of Genapol OXD-080 (0.75, 1 and 2.5 mg/l) were used to simulate a small amount of contamination in irrigation channels. If contamination occurred, the mosquitofish population would tend to decline dramatically, even when submitted to a very small concentration of Genapol OXD-080 (e.g. 0.75 mg/l, 66.7 times lower than the concentration planned to be used in rice paddies). Thus, Genapol OXD-080 could potentially cause vast damage to local mosquitofish populations, and therefore should not be used without taking all precautions to avoid contaminating important biological reservoirs, such as the rice field irrigation channels.     

Herbivore responses to nutrient enrichment and landscape heterogeneity in a mangrove ecosystem

Complex gradients in forest structure across the landscape of offshore mangrove islands in Belize are associated with nutrient deficiency and flooding. While nutrient availability can affect many ecological processes, here we investigate how N and P enrichment interact with forest structure in three distinct zones (fringe, transition, dwarf) to alter patterns of herbivory as a function of folivory, loss of yield, and tissue mining. The effects of nutrient addition and zone varied by functional feeding group or specific herbivore. Folivory ranged from 0 to 0.4% leaf area damaged per month, but rates did not vary by either nutrient enrichment or zone. Leaf lifetime damage ranged from 3 to 10% of the total leaf area and was caused primarily by the omnivorous tree crab Aratus pisonii. We detected two distinct spatial scales of response by A. pisonii that were unrelated to nutrient treatment, i.e., most feeding damage occurred in the fringe zone and crabs fed primarily on the oldest leaves in the canopy. Loss of yield caused by the bud moth Ecdytolopha sp. varied by zone but not by nutrient treatment. A periderm-mining Marmara sp. responded positively to nutrient enrichment and closely mirrored the growth response by Rhizophora mangle across the tree height gradient. In contrast, a leaf-mining Marmara sp. was controlled by parasitoids and predators that killed >89% of its larvae. Thus, nutrient availability altered patterns of herbivory of some but not all mangrove herbivores. These findings support the hypothesis that landscape heterogeneity of the biotic and abiotic environment has species-specific effects on community structure and trophic interactions. Predicting how herbivores respond to nutrient over-enrichment in mangrove ecosystems also requires an assessment of habitat heterogeneity coupled with feeding strategies and species-specific behavior measured on multiple scales of response.     

Biological Control of Rice Blast byPseudomonas fluorescensStrainPf7–14: Evaluation of a Marker Gene and Formulations

Pseudomonas fluorescensstrainPf7–14 was evaluated for biological control of rice blast in field experiments. StrainPf7–14 was formulated in methylcellulose:talc (1:4) and applied to IR50 rice (Oryza sativa) seeds as a seed treatment and as foliar sprays in seedbed and field experiments. When applied as a seed treatment followed by three foliar applications, the strain provided a 68.5% suppression of rice blast in the seedbed experiment and a 59.6% suppression in the field experiment. The persistence and migration ofPf7–14 on the rice plant was studied with the aid oflacZYgenes inserted into the bacterium. In greenhouse experiments,Pf7–14gal was detected on rice roots at 10⁶to 10⁵cfu/g of root tissue for 110 days, the duration of the rice crop. Migration of the strain from the seeds to the leaves occurred only until the seedlings were 16 days old. WhenPf7–14 was applied to the rice plants by foliar sprays, 10⁴cfu of the bacterium per gram of leaf tissue was detected for the next 40 days. The limited migration of the bacterial biocontrol agent emphasizes the need for multiple foliar applications of the bacterium to sustain the bacterial population for effective suppression of rice blast.     

滩涂湿地入侵种互花米草植被覆盖度的高空间分辨率遥感估算

互花米草是沿海滩涂生态系统的重要入侵物种,其分布状况和覆盖度是湿地生态研究的重要参数和基础。以宁德三沙湾(三都澳)滩涂湿地为研究区,以SPOT6 6 m空间分辨率卫星影像为数据源,对互花米草分布和植被覆盖度进行研究,并与同期10 cm空间分辨率无人机影像进行比较验证。结果表明,影像覆盖区域内互花米草总面积为20.19 km~2,其中蕉城区互花米草分布较广,面积为9.63 km~2,占研究区互花米草总面积的47.70%。互花米草植被覆盖度整体上以40%-60%和60%-80%的中、高覆盖度分布为主,其分布面积分别为5.44 km~2和4.95 km~2,占互花米草总分布面积的26.92%和24.52%,而40%以下的低覆盖度和80%以上较高覆盖度分布相对较少。SPOT6遥感影像估算得到的互花米草植被覆盖度具有较好的精度,与无人机影像值之间的均方根误差RMSE为0.117,线性回归决定系数R~2为0.918,可用于滩涂湿地植被覆盖度分析。     

土壤快速强烈还原对于尖孢镰刀菌的抑制作用

香蕉枯萎病是由尖孢镰刀菌古巴专化型(Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.cubense,FOC)引起的一种世界性的土传病害,每年造成大量的经济损失,目前尚未找到有效的防治办法。实验采取土壤淹水及添加有机物料的方法,抑制土壤中FOC的数量。结果表明:土壤淹水处理在第5天显著增加了土壤的pH值,但随着处理时间的增加,淹水的处理中土壤pH值逐渐下降;土壤淹水及添加有机物料显著降低了土壤中SO2-4和NO-3的浓度;土壤中添加秸秆、猪粪和石灰的处理显著增加了土壤中NH+4的浓度。土壤淹水及添加有机物料对于土壤中可培养细菌数量无显著影响;但显著降低了土壤中可培养放线菌和真菌的数量;土壤淹水及添加秸秆、甘蔗渣和石灰的处理显著降低了土壤中FOC的数量,其中添加高量秸秆处理中FOC的数量下降最多,仅为处理前土壤中FOC数量的2.88%。添加有机物料但未加石灰的处理土壤中总微生物量较处理前相比显著增加。研究表明土壤淹水及添加有机物料是一种可以防控香蕉枯萎病的高效和环保的方法。