Evaluation of three herbaceous index plant species for bioavailability of soil cadmium, chromium, nickel and vanadium

Uncultivated plants growing on disturbed sites may be useful for assessing the bioavailability of some metals in soils, and thus the potential for metal mobilization up the terrestrial food chain, an important element in ecological risk assessment. A planted chicory cultivar (Cichorium intybus L. var. foliosum Hegi.) and the uncultivated plants horseweed (Canada fleabane) (Erigeron canadensis L.) and dogfennel (Eupatorium capillifolium (Lam.) Small) were evaluated for their ability to act as index plant species for soil Cd, Cr, Ni, and V at two field sites where these metals had been applied five yr previously to two highly weathered sandy Ultisols. Soil Cd was available to all analyzed plant tissues of all three plant species at both sites, particularly on the sandier Blanton soil. Chicory was an effective index plant for Cd on the finer textured Orangeburg soil but functioned as an indicator plant (toxicity symptoms were observed) on the sandier Blanton soil. Horseweed and dogfennel were effective index plants for Cd in both contaminated soils. Soil Cr, Ni, and V were less bioavailable than soil Cd and plant metal uptake was more sensitive to residual soil Cr, Ni, and V than was soil extraction with double acid. Horseweed and chicory may have potential as index plants for soil Cr. Chicory may have potential as a Ni index plant. Chicory and dogfennel may have potential as V index plants.     

Leaf litterfall,leaf area index,and radiation transmittance in cypress wetlands and slash pine plantations in north-central Florida

The seasonal dynamics of leaf litterfall and leaf area index (LAI, all-sided basis), light penetration and the vertical distribution of surface area index, and the feasibility of estimating LAI from radiation transmittance were studied from April 1993 to March 1994 in the canopies of three cypress (Taxodium ascendens) wetlands and their surrounding slash pine (Pinus elliottii) uplands in Florida flatwoods. Annual leaf litterfall ranged from 324 to 359 g m^–2 in the wetlands, which was very close to the average for 11 sites throughout Florida of 340±26 g m^–2. The seasonal pattern of the normalized LAI obtained for the dominant tree species in the ecosystems could be used to construct the seasonal dynamics of LAI at the ecosystem scale. The vertical distribution of surface area index in the wetlands was significantly different from that in the surrounding pine uplands. The maximum LAI of cypress wetlands in this area was about 8 m² m^–2, which was higher than the maximum of slash pine plantations of 6 m² m^–2. Cypress leaves were strongly erectophile in space. Results showed that the LAI-2000 canopy analyzer could generally be used to estimate forest LAI, whether the forest canopy was closed or not, if an overall clumping index of 2.00 was applied. However, as LAI decreased, the relative error contained in the radiation-based LAI estimates increased. This indicated that foliage clumping at the stand scale was more important than that at the tree or branch scale.     

畜禽保种－选择指数原理

根据系统保种理论有关保种和选择可以相互结合的观点,本文提出了保种－选择指数的概念、导出了适于各种资料条件和各种保种与选择目的的通用保种－选择指数公式、并探讨了该公式在几种特殊情况下的形式,为国内大量地方品种保种选育提供了必要的理论和方法。     

Successional status of trees in gallery forest along the river Rhine

Abstract. 20 alluvial forest stands of different ages along the river Rhine in central Alsace, France, are described. A natural complex landscape occurs which is formed by erosion activity of the river. Recent human impact (canal construction, cutting) has affected river hydrology: flooding is eliminated over large areas and the underground water levels are stabilized. The forest vegetation varies in species diversity and structure, from young pioneer to older, mid-successional forests. The forests were classified into four associations: Salici-Populetum nigrae, Ligustro-Populetum nigrae, Fraxino-Populetum albae and Querco-Ulmetum minoris. The first three communities are ‘softwood’ because of the dominance of Salix and Populus, the fourth, dominated by Quercus robur, Fraxinus excelsior and Ulmus minor, is ‘hardwood’. Differences in structure, species composition and diversity in 10 widely varying stands in 30-yr and 150-yr old forests are quantified and interpreted in relation to the processes and gradients (moisture and texture) involved. A model of forest succession is developed as follows:

• 1 Whatever the topographic level, Salix and Populus species are the most competitive in colonizing bare sediments.
• 2 Under natural conditions, pioneer softwoods are generally replaced by hardwoods in less than 100 yr.
• 3 Old Querco-Ulmetum is basically the terminal stage of the alluvial succession.
• 4 Old softwood forests result from an interruption of the natural course of succession. Softwoods may be an intermediate or late-successional phase depending on the interruption.
• 5 Successional processes change according to hydrological and edaphic gradients.
• 6 Allogenic processes of flooding are fundamental in the space-time species pattern.
• 7 Allogenic processes are responsible for the high species and community diversity.

     

Modulation of gap junction-mediated intercellular communication in embryonic chick mesenchyme during tissue remodeling in vitro

Gap junction-mediated intercellular communication was analyzed in a model system in which tissue necrosis and remodeling could be modulated. This in vitro system, previously used for analysis of epithelial-mesenchymal tissue interaction, was modified to permit analysis of the presence and extent of intercellular communition by monitoring intercellular transfer of the micro-injected fluorescent dye, Lucifer Yellow. Light and transmission electronmicroscopy were employed to correlate the presence and degree of gap junctional communication (coupling) with tissue morphology. Digital image analysis was used to determine cell density and mitotic indices within the outgrowths of explants. Our results indicated that cell communication in outgrowths adjacent to necrotic foci within an explant was minimal or absent. Cell-coupling in outgrowths adjacent to a compartment of viable mesenchyme was significantly higher-equivalent to unseparated control cultures. A time-course study demonstrated correlation of increased levels of cell-coupling in outgrowths with the level of tissue remodeling within an explant. Our conclusions from these studies are that embryonic mesenchymal cell populations may be selectively uncoupled as a result of alterations in the microenvironment produced by a proximate impaired cell population. It is proposed that endogenous factors in the microenvironment (wound signals), emanating from impaired cell populations, regulate gap junction-mediated intercellular communication in adjacent viable tissue. Normal, unimpaired populations of cells surrounding an area of injury are thereby isolated from the effects of a potentially toxic environment. This could serve as a protective function in development and may represent, in a more general sense, part of the repertoire of events associated with tissue repair and remodeling.     

ACTIVE GROWTH OF THE OCEANIC DINOFLAGELLATE CERATIUM TERES IN THE CARIBBEAN AND SARGASSO SEAS ESTIMATED BY CELL CYCLE ANALYSIS1

The growth rate of an oceanic dinoflagellate, Ceratium teres Kofoid, was investigated in the Sargasso and Caribbean Seas from September 1989 to July 1990 using the cell cycle analysis method. Estimated growth rates ranged from 0.29 to 0.58 day^?1 and were 1.5–7.2 times higher than generally accepted rates for oceanic dinoflagellates. The higher rates in this report were mainly due to an improvement in techniques that determine the duration of a terminal cell cycle phase in situ. The day-to-day variation in growth rates was surprisingly small, but, from long-term measurements, a weak correlation was found among temperature, daily irradiance, and seasonal growth rate. The calculated species-specific primary production ranged from 0.5 to 1.8 mg C·m^?2·day^?1, about 1% of the estimated total production. Ceratium teres may be an important carbon source at the base of the grazing food chain.     

Gravitropic response growth angle and vertical distribution of roots of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

Recent work on root distribution, growth angles and gravitropic responses in Japanese cultivars of winter wheat are reviewed. Vertical distribution of roots, which influences the environmental stress tolerance of plants, was observed in the 12 Japanese cultivars in the field. The root depth index (RDI: the depth at which 50% of the root length has been reached) differed among the cultivars at the stem elongation stage. Since the RDI was closely related to the growth angle of seminal roots obtained in a pot experiment, it was assumed that growth angle is useful for predicting vertical root distribution among wheat genotypes. Gravitropic responses of the primary seminal root of 133 Japanese wheat cultivars assessed by measuring the growth angle in agar medium, were larger in the northern Japanese cultivars and smaller in the southern ones. It was also found that the geographical variation resulted from the wheat breeding process, i.e. genotypes with limited gravitropic responses of roots had been selected in the southern part of Japan where excessive soil moisture is one of the most serious problems.     

Self-fertility and associated flower head traits in the Iberian taxa ofLactuca and related genera (Asteraceae: Lactuceae)

Sexual reproduction is the main reproduction mechanism among the 14 wild Iberian taxa ofLactuca, Prenanthes, Cicerbita, andMycelis. High levels of self-fertilization occur inLactuca, as well as facultative and obligate xenogamy. Xenogamy is strongly correlated with large capitula having blue or bright yellow colouration, high P/O ratios, and long anthesis, whereas self-fertilization is correlated with smaller capitula having pale yellow colouration, small P/O ratios, and short anthesis. Large variations occur in P/O index among taxa showing similar fertilization mechanism, probably in relation to the number of florets included in flower heads. Interesting differences in reproductive systems have been detected between subspecies ofLactuca viminea.     

Pollination success in a population of dioecious rain forest trees

Pollination success in female trees was determined for a population of Neolitsea dealbata (R. Br.) Merr., a locally abundant dioecious tree pollinated by small, unspecialized insects in northern Queensland rain forest, Australia. The population consisted of a clustered group of trees with a mean male-to-female distance of 4.5 m and more isolated individuals, including females more than 90 m away from the nearest pollen source. A map of all reproductive trees was produced to determine accurate male-to-female distances. The size of the pollen source available to females was defined as a function of the distance to the nearest ten male trees and their sizes (male neighbourhood index). The rate of pollen movement to females was measured by counting pollen tubes (and the number of tubes per style) in female trees 6 days after the commencement of population flowering. The pollination rate decreased steeply to less than half when the nearest male was only 6.5 m away. Although pollen reached a female 330 m away from the nearest pollen source, only 10% of receptive flowers had been pollinated. The short flowering period (2–3 weeks) combined with the the slow rate of pollen movement means that a large proportion of flowers in isolated trees are unpollinated, confirming an earlier finding that isolated females set fewer fruits than gregarious females. The reliability of pollen transfer to females was determined by quantifying insects and their pollen loads trapped at female trees with a range of male neighbourhood indices. Quantities of insects and pollen were significantly correlated with the size of the male neighbourhood index, indicating a strong density-dependent response by vectors to flowering. Pollen was also collected from insect visitors to non-flowering trees. Females with large male neighbourhood indices received more pollen than non-flowering trees with equivalent male neighbourhood indices. However, when the male neighbourhood indices were small for both female and non-flowering trees, the changces of pollinators encountering female and non-flowering trees were similar, suggesting random movements of pollinators in sparse-flowering sub-populations. The dioecious breeding system, brief, synchronous flowering period, clustered population structure and random, opportunistic foraging behaviour of vectors interacted in a way that reduced reproduction in relatively isolated trees. These results demonstrate a mechanism for differential breeding success between trees in natural populations and emphasize the possible impact of logging regimes on pollen flow between trees. Large interconspecific distances in species-rich environments may have been a factor in the selection for synchronous flowering between trees in outcrossing tree species with generalist insect pollinators.     

Field investigations of ammonia exchange between barley plants and the atmosphere. I. Concentration profiles and flux densities of ammonia

The exchange of ammonia between the atmosphere and the canopy of spring barley crops growing at three levels of nitrogen application (medium N, high N and excessive N) was studied over two consecutive growing seasons by use of micrometeorological techniques. In most cases, ammonia was emitted from the canopy to the atmosphere. The emission started around 2 weeks before anthesis, and peaked about or shortly after anthesis. The volatilization of ammonia only took place in the daytime. During the night-time, atmospheric ammonia was frequently aborbed by the canopy. Occasionally, plants in the medium and high N treatments also absorbed ammonia from the atmosphere during the daytime. Daytime absorption of ammonia never occurred in the excessive N canopy. The loss of ammonia from the canopy amounted in both years to 0.5–1.5 kg NH₃-N ha^?1 and increased with the N status of the canopy. In agreement with the small losses of ammonia, the content of ¹⁵N-labelled nitrogen in the plants did not decline during the grain-filling period. The experimental years were characterized by very favourable conditions for grain dry matter formation, and for re-utilization of nitrogen mobilized from leaves and stems. Consequently, a very high part of the nitrogen in the mature plants was located in grain dry matter (80–84% in 1989; 74–80% in 1990). The efficient re-utilization of nitrogen may have reduced the volatilization of ammonia.