Salt lakes of the northern agricultural region,Western Australia

A survey of 11 sites covering three large (>10 km long, 6 sites) playa lakes and four pans (<1 km², 5 sites) of the Yarra Yarra salt lake system in the Northern Agricultural Region of Western Australia commenced in 2001. These salt lakes are shallow and ephemeral, with inundation being more regular following winter rainfall, but summer inundation also occurred in 2001. Salinity was generally higher in playas (156–368 g l⁻¹) than pans (30–284 g l⁻¹), but salinity responded noticeably to heavy rainfall events, especially in pans. pH values in the playa lakes (6.68–7.82) were less variable than in the pans (6.81–8.08). The range of dissolved oxygen concentrations was greater in pans (3.7–14.4 mg l⁻¹) than in playas (3.9–8.2 mg l⁻¹). Cationic concentrations generally followed the pattern of sea water cation dominance. Benthic microbial communities comprised either cohesive to loosely mucilaginous mats, or thin films of diatoms. Five genera of diatom and two species of filamentous cyanobacteria were recorded. Guest Editor: John M. Melack Saline Waters and their Biota     

短命植物异喙菊异形果实的两头下注策略

异喙菊(Heteracia szovitsii)是准噶尔荒漠中常见的一种具异形果实的菊科一年生早春短命植物。该文对其同一果序中3种果实的形态结构与扩散特征进行了比较研究, 并对其生态学意义进行了探讨。结果表明: 1)异喙菊3种果实的形态特征存在明显差异, 导致其扩散特性明显不同, 避免了同胞子代在生态位上的竞争。其中, 中央果具冠毛, 成熟后以果实为散布单元借风力扩散到较大范围; 外围果与过渡果均无冠毛, 分别以果序和果实为单元扩散至母株附近。2) 3种果实胚大小的差异导致其幼苗大小和竞争能力不同。外围果与过渡果的胚比中央果的大, 萌发后可产生较大和竞争力较强的幼苗。3)与中央果相比, 外围果和过渡果果皮颜色较深, 所含酚类物质较多, 厚度较大且厚壁组织较多, 对胚的保护能力强, 且种子休眠程度深。4)异形痩果在数量上的差异, 分摊了扩散和定居中的风险。数量较多的中央果增加了随机散布的机会, 可为其扩大种群开拓更大的范围, 而数量较少的外围果和过渡果可有效地减少近距离扩散所造成的同胞子代间竞争。异喙菊异形果实的产生及其生态学行为属于典型的两头下注策略: 外围果和过渡果代表了“谨慎”或“低风险”策略, 中央果则代表了“冒险”或“高风险”策略。通过这些策略, 异喙菊可将其在准噶尔荒漠极端环境中的生存风险进行有效地分摊, 以保障其繁衍成功。     

Mass accumulation of mucilage caused by dinoflagellate polysaccharide exudates in Tasman Bay, New Zealand

At about 20-year intervals, since at least the 1860s, there have been accounts of the accumulation of large quantities of mucilage in the waters off the northern coast of the South Island of New Zealand. On a few occasions these events have been associated with harmful effects, such as the mass mortality of marine fauna and the impediment of fishing activities, though previous attempts to identify the causative organism(s) or the environmental conditions which promote its development have been unsuccessful. In January 2000, there was a moderate re-occurrence of mucilage accumulation in Tasman Bay that led to the identification of the primary origin of this material as the planktonic, thecate, dinoflagellate Gonyaulax hyalina (Ostenfeld et Schmidt). Macro-aggregate accumulation was occurring in the water column when dinoflagellate cell numbers were relatively low. Experimental work on cultures of this organism showed that the dinoflagellate produced transparent exo-polymers (TEPs) composed primarily of galactose and glucose monomers (44.8 and 29.6 mol%, respectively). Analysis of natural and cultured mucilage showed this had a high inorganic content (>60% (w/w)). A substantial proportion (40% (w/w)) of this inorganic fraction was composed of calcium that apparently played an important role in stabilizing the gel. Phosphorus was also enriched in the mucilage. It is hypothesized that the high inorganic N/P ratio observed in the water column at the time of mucilage formation was an effect rather than a cause of this event, which resulted in the scavenging of particulate material from the water column and enrichment of sediments and bottom waters with organic material and phosphorus.     

白沙蒿种子萌发特性的研究 I. 粘液瘦果的结构和功能

白沙蒿(Artemisia sphaerocephala Krasch.)是中国西北部沙漠的流动及固定沙丘上广泛分布的优势种灌木。瘦果小而轻,借助显微镜和扫描电镜对瘦果的形态结构进行了观察,其种子的种皮与果皮愈合,果皮外层为很厚的粘液层,其粘液层在遇湿后迅速吸水膨胀,其重量增至原来的589倍。在自然生境中,粘液物质将沙粒粘附于瘦果的周围,使瘦果的重量发生变化。瘦果能长时间在水上漂浮,粘液物质有助于种子的萌发和苗的发育。白沙蒿产生三种不同颜色的瘦果,其种子具有不同的萌发速率但最终达到相同的萌发率。研究表明瘦果的粘液物质对白沙蒿种子的传播与萌发具有重要的生态意义。     

国产委陵菜属植物果实形态及其分类学意义

对国产委陵菜属Ｐｏｔｅｎｔｉｌｌａ３２种及变种植物的果实形态在实体解剖镜和扫描电镜下进行了研究。结果表明：在扫描电镜下,本属植物果实表面纹饰有５种不同的类型,即网纹型,疣状突起型,波纹型,帽状突起型和不规则型;果实形态特征,特别是电镜下的果皮表面纹饰对本属植物的分类具有较重要价值;根据果实形态,支持将金露梅、银露梅、小叶金露梅做为独立的种。     

Nouvelle méthode pour mesurerin situ l'activité nitrogénase par réduction de l'acétylène

Résumé Les auteurs décrivent un dispositif qui permet de mesurer l'activité nitrogénasein situ par réduction de l'acétylène chez les plantes fixatrices d'azote, sans perturber leur physiologie et sans les détruire. Le système racinaire est isolé de l'atmosphère extérieure par une substance mucilagineuse déposée sur le sol autour des plantes testées. Les gaz acétylène ou éthylène sont injectés ou prélevés directement dans le sol au niveau des nodosités. Avec ce nouveau dispositif les valeurs de l'activité réductrice d'acétylène obtenues surTrigonella foenum-graecum L. etMedicago sativa L. cultivés en plein champ, sont très supérieures à celles mesurées sur ces mêmes végétaux enfermés dans une enceinte en polyéthylène. Cette méthode peu onéreuse, permet de détecter des activités réductrices faibles; elle est utilisable sur des jeunes plantes et également sur des individus ramifiés à la base.

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New method forin situ measuring of nitrogenase activity by acetylene reduction

Summary A non-destructive method using a special device for measuringin situ acetylene reducting activity by nitrogen fixing plants is described. Plant roots are isolated from external atmosphere with a mucilaginous material laid on the soil around the plants. Acetylene or ethylene is directly injected into or taken from the soil around the nodules. Using this device the values of acetylene reducing activity ofTrigonella foenum graecum L. andMedicago sativa L. are much higher than those obtained with the same plants placed under polyethylene bags. This method is not expensive and allows the detection of low enzyme activities. It doesn't perturb plant physiology and can be used for young plants as well as for plants with ramified stems at their base.

     

一年生短命植物疏齿千里光果实异形性的生态学意义

疏齿千里光(Senecio subdentatus)是分布在新疆北部古尔班通古特沙漠中的一种具异形瘦果的菊科一年生短命植物。将野外观测与室内实验相结合, 对该物种异形瘦果的形态、扩散和萌发特性, 以及异形瘦果产量与植株大小的关系进行了研究, 并对其生态学意义进行了探讨。结果表明: 疏齿千里光果序中的外围果和中央果均为柱形, 但前者为淡黄色, 后者为褐色, 且二者在大小、冠毛长度及果皮微形态等方面均存在明显差异。两种瘦果均以单个果实为扩散单元, 且在静止空气中的降落速度和在1 m·s^-1与2 m·s^-1风速下的扩散距离无显著差异, 说明虽然果实大小和冠毛长度对瘦果扩散具有不同的影响, 但对其整体扩散能力无明显影响。在各温变周期(5/2、15/2、20/10、25/15和30/15 ℃)处理中, 淡黄色外围果的萌发率均高于褐色中央果的, 且不同温度间两种瘦果的萌发率均存在显著差异, 但光照条件对其无显著影响。果序中的中央瘦果数明显多于外围果的, 且植株中外围果所占比例与植株大小间呈显著负相关关系, 而中央果所占比例与植株大小间呈显著正相关关系。这些特点说明, 该物种的小植株倾向于产生较多较易萌发的外围果, 大植株倾向于产生较多不易萌发的中央果。在古尔班通古特沙漠不可预测的极端环境中, 疏齿千里光可通过异形瘦果间的萌发差异及调节其不同大小植株中异形瘦果的比例, 来减少同胞后代之间的竞争, 增加其对不同微环境条件的生态适应性。     

瘿椒树超长生殖周期中的越冬策略

瘿椒树（Tapiscia sinensis Oliv．）为我国特有的珍稀保护植物,5月开花受精以后,以裸露的子房（未发育的幼果）渡过漫长的冬季,次年9月果实成熟,其有性生殖过程持续17个月之久,并发展出一套独特的越冬策略;子房壁和花托表面形成类似周皮的次生保护组织,花托膨大并向下延伸包围果柄,与裸露的子房形成了一个“越冬复合体”。子房壁和膨大花托的基本组织中积累大量淀粉粒,有些细胞形成粘液腔,或发育成含簇晶或单宁的异细胞。瘿椒树特殊的越冬策略体现了它在长期的演化过程中对环境的适应。     

白沙蒿粘液瘦果萌发中外切糖苷酶活动特性

白沙蒿(Artemisia sphaerocephala Krasch.)是中国西北沙区分布的多年生植物.瘦果遇湿后其粘液层开始膨胀.对其种子萌发不同阶段的种胚提取物中几种可能降解果皮外层粘液物质的外切糖苷酶进行了检测.结果表明:β-吡喃半乳糖苷酶在干种子中的活性很高,但是随着种子的吸涨而逐渐降低,在已萌发的种子中无法探测到.α和β-吡喃阿拉伯糖苷酶、β-吡喃葡萄糖苷酶以及β-吡喃甘露糖苷酶在种子萌发过程的胚提取物中也显示出了一些活性,但是这些活性在种胚外却无法探测到.所有胚提取物中的外切糖苷酶都无法降解果皮粘液物质.所有的证据都表明果皮外层的粘液物质无法在种子萌发的早期被水解.因此果皮粘液物质在干旱沙质条件下的生态功能被限制在吸收水分以及延长胚吸水的时间.