Ocean acidification refugia in variable environments

Climate change refugia in the terrestrial biosphere are areas where species are protected from global environmental change and arise from natural heterogeneity in landscapes and climate. Within the marine realm, ocean acidification, or the global decline in seawater pH, remains a pervasive threat to organisms and ecosystems. Natural variability in seawater carbon dioxide (CO₂) chemistry, however, presents an opportunity to identify ocean acidification refugia (OAR) for marine species. Here, we review the literature to examine the impacts of variable CO₂ chemistry on biological responses to ocean acidification and develop a framework of definitions and criteria that connects current OAR research to management goals. Under the concept of managing vulnerability, the most likely mechanisms by which OAR can mitigate ocean acidification impacts are by reducing exposure to harmful conditions or enhancing adaptive capacity. While local management options, such as OAR, show some promise, they present unique challenges, and reducing global anthropogenic CO₂ emissions must remain a priority.     

Structural Characterization of Biomolecules through Atomistic Simulations Guided by DEER Measurements

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Looking to the future: key points for sustainable management of northern Great Plains grasslands

The grasslands of the northern Great Plains (NGP) region of North America are considered endangered ecosystems and priority conservation areas yet have great ecological and economic importance. Grasslands in the NGP are no longer self‐regulating adaptive systems. The challenges to these grasslands are widespread and serious (e.g. climate change, invasive species, fragmentation, altered disturbance regimes, and anthropogenic chemical loads). Because the challenges facing the region are dynamic, complex, and persistent, a paradigm shift in how we approach restoration and management of the grasslands in the NGP is imperative. The goal of this article is to highlight four key points for land managers and restoration practitioners to consider when planning management or restoration actions. First, we discuss the appropriateness of using historical fidelity as a restoration or management target because of changing climate, widespread pervasiveness of invasive species, the high level of fragmentation, and altered disturbance regimes. Second, we highlight ecosystem resilience and long‐term population persistence as alternative targets. Third, because the NGP is so heavily impacted with anthropogenic chemical loading, we discuss the risks of ecological traps and extinction debt. Finally, we highlight the importance of using adaptive management and having patience during restoration and management. Consideration of these four points will help management and restoration of grasslands move toward a more successful and sustainable future. Although we specifically focus on the NGP of North America, these same issues and considerations apply to grasslands and many other ecosystems globally.     

青藏高原气候变化对农牧民开垦的影响

自1980年代后期以来,青藏高原持续变暖趋势明显,且增温幅度高于我国其他地区。基于遥感数据和种植适宜性模型的一些研究表明,该地区足够的农业热量资源增加了适宜耕种土地的面积,为农牧民的开垦行为创造了有利的条件。然而,对农牧民是否开垦以及开垦原因的实证研究,以及农牧民如何平衡气候变化带来的开垦机遇、风险和人口压力,仍然缺少认识。以青藏高原的3个典型产粮区域("一江两河"地区、河湟谷地、壤塘县)为研究区,利用605户农户家庭调研数据,分析了影响农牧民开垦行为的影响因素。计量结果表明,农牧民感知冬季持续时间的整体变化趋势、家庭总人口、抚养比与农牧民开垦行为呈显著正相关关系;农牧民感知降水的整体变化趋势、人均打工年收入、户主受教育水平、是否借贷、居住地距集镇距离与农牧民开垦行为呈显著负相关关系。随着城镇化的不断加快,农牧民对非农工作的认可度越来越高,加之政府的管制,使得开垦现象并不普遍。由于农牧民的开垦对青藏高原的生态环境极有可能造成不可逆的负面影响,应该提供更多的非农就业机会,促进农业集约化,加强监管,以降低开垦的可能性。     

干旱区不同地理种群骆驼刺元素组成及表面结构特征的对比研究

碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)元素在植物各器官中的组成,及植物表面结构差异是其对外界环境适应性的重要表征。以干旱区3个地理种群骆驼刺(塔里木盆地策勒种群,吐鄯托盆地托克逊种群,准噶尔盆地阜康种群)为研究对象,通过对植株各器官C,N,P元素组成的测定及表面形貌观测,对其在不同环境中的适应特性进行了比较研究。结果表明:(1)同一种群的骆驼刺,C元素在各器官中的分配没有显著规律;N元素在叶片中含量最高,茎中最低;策勒种群和阜康种群的P含量,叶片中最高,茎与刺中差异不显著;但托克逊种群茎中P含量显著高于其他部位。(2)3个地理种群的骆驼刺叶中元素组成相比,策勒种群C,N含量均最高,托克逊种群C,N含量最低;3个种群叶片的P含量,C∶N,C∶P,N∶P值均没有显著差异。刺中元素含量相比,C含量没有显著差异;N含量阜康种群策勒种群托克逊种群。茎中元素含量相比,N含量差异不显著,但托克逊种群茎中P含量为其他两个种群的2倍,可能与托克逊土壤中高浓度的全N,速效N,速效P有关。(3)托克逊种群表皮极厚,蜡质非常致密,各器官气孔密度均高于其他两个种群;策勒种群比阜康种群叶表皮增厚,蜡质致密,但叶片气孔密度却减小;策勒种群和阜康种群茎与刺的气孔密度差异不显著。研究表明,策勒种群骆驼刺最适应当地环境条件:其叶片具有最高的C,N含量,且表面结构没有明显的干旱胁迫特征。托克逊种群表现出明显的干旱适应特征:其表皮增厚,蜡质致密,气孔密度增大,叶片C,N含量最低。虽然托克逊种群茎中P含量显著高于其他地理种群,但3个地理种群骆驼刺叶片中C∶N,C∶P,N∶P比值保持恒定,C∶N=30.6±4.3,C∶P=357.4±49.9,N∶P=12.0±2.4,说明骆驼刺能够保持较高内稳性,这也可能是其在新疆各地广泛生存的重要原因。     

工业环境下酶蛋白的催化行为与适应性改造研究进展

酶在工业上有着广泛应用和巨大潜力,但工业生产中高温、强酸/碱、高盐、有机溶剂和高底物浓度等条件仍然制约着酶的大规模应用。为使酶能更好地在工业环境下发挥催化作用,目前的主要策略是对酶进行适应性改造(如理性或半理性设计、定向进化、固定化等)。文中简要阐述了酶在工业环境下的催化行为以及近年对其适应性改造的研究进展,以期为酶的适应性改造提供参考。