The productivity of pine plantations in relation to previous land use

Summary Differences in the productivity of establishedP. radiata plantations on pasture and forest soils were found to be reproducible withP. radiata seedlings in a glasshouse environment. The growth of seedlings on pasture soil exceeded that of seedlings on native forest soil (the ‘primary pasture effect’). After a history of pine on both native and pasture soils a residual effect of pasture on seedling growth was evident (the ‘secondary pasture effect’). However, the effect of a history of pine plantation (the ‘pine effect’) was to decrease the productivity of both native and pasture soil as assessed by seedling growth. These effects were not related to changes due to land management in mycorrhizal infection or in soil structure. The analysis of seedling growth leads to the conclusion that soil fertility, particularly the availability of nitrogen and phosphorus, has changed.     

A comparison of the accuracy and precision of several open-water oxygen productivity techniques

Several methods for the estimation of the reaeration coefficient were compared by determining the ability of the methods to recover the correct K value from a computer-simulated stream oxygen record affected by a variety of non-ideal conditions. Noisy data and long observation intervals were not a serious problem for most methods. Saturating photosynthesis, fluctuating light intensity, afternoon depression and temperature variation caused failures by some methods but were well handled by others. Serious impairment of all methods occurred with low productivity or high K. In general, the best-performing methods were the modified hysteresis, nighttime regression, daytime regression, Odum and Hornberger-Kelly daytime methods.     

Sulfide oxidation at halo-alkaline conditions in a fed-batch bioreactor

A biotechnological process is described to remove hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) from high-pressure natural gas and sour gases produced in the petrochemical industry. The process operates at halo-alkaline conditions and combines an aerobic sulfide-oxidizing reactor with an anaerobic sulfate (SO(4) (2-)) and thiosulfate (S(2)O(3) (2-)) reducing reactor. The feasibility of biological H(2)S oxidation at pH around 10 and total sodium concentration of 2 mol L(-1) was studied in gas-lift bioreactors, using halo-alkaliphilic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (HA-SOB). Reactor operation at different oxygen to sulfide (O(2):H(2)S) supply ratios resulted in a stable low redox potential that was directly related with the polysulfide (S(x) (2-)) and total sulfide concentration in the bioreactor. Selectivity for SO(4) (2-) formation decreased with increasing S(x) (2-) and total sulfide concentrations. At total sulfide concentrations above 0.25 mmol L(-1), selectivity for SO(4) (2-) formation approached zero and the end products of H(2)S oxidation were elemental sulfur (S(0)) and S(2)O(3) (2-). Maximum selectivity for S(0) formation (83.3+/-0.7%) during stable reactor operation was obtained at a molar O(2):H(2)S supply ratio of 0.65. Under these conditions, intermediary S(x) (2-) plays a major role in the process. Instead of dissolved sulfide (HS(-)), S(x) (2-) seemed to be the most important electron donor for HA-SOB under S(0) producing conditions. In addition, abiotic oxidation of S(x) (2-) was the main cause of undesirable formation of S(2)O(3) (2-). The observed biomass growth yield under SO(4) (2-) producing conditions was 0.86 g N mol(-1) H(2)S. When selectivity for SO(4) (2-) formation was below 5%, almost no biomass growth was observed.     

晋西黄土区果农间作的种间主要竞争关系及土地生产力

以晋西黄土区核桃×花生、核桃×大豆、苹果×花生和苹果×大豆4种典型果农间作模式为研究对象,分析果农间作模式中作物光合有效辐射（PAR）、净光合速率（P_n）、土壤水分和产量情况.结果表明：与农作物单作相比,间作模式中作物的PAR和P_n均出现不同程度的降低,并且离树体越近,PAR和P_n越小;P_n与作物产量呈显著正相关,说明光照是影响作物产量的重要因素之一;从整体趋势来看,核桃间作农作物0～100 cm土壤水分与相应单作模式间无明显差异,而苹果间作农作物0～100 cm土壤水分与相应单作模式间差异显著,说明苹果对作物土壤水分的竞争比核桃剧烈.研究区果农间作的土地利用效率平均提高70%,经济效益平均提高14%,且核桃间作模式优于苹果间作模式.为了提高间作作物产量,应加强水肥管理、增加树体与作物的间作距离或设置根障、定期适当修剪果树并种植耐荫作物.     

Herbivore intake/habitat productivity correlations can help ascertain re-introduction potential for the Barbary macaque

Re-introductions are increasingly used conservation tools. Often, criteria for re-introducing species are based on policies or politics and little attention paid, albeit theoretical, to understanding what ecological possibilities habitats may have in sustaining introduced animals. Assessing potential carrying capacities is complex but easier for grazers, since biomass of these herbivores is empirically correlated with habitat primary productivity.The case is made here that the Barbary macaque, Macaca sylvanus, a vulnerable North African primate with a large surplus captive stock, can be viewed as a grazer. Because of this attribute, and unlike congenerics, it is possible to estimate potential densities in extant habitats in a fashion similar to predicting stocking levels for domestic herbivores. Thus, from values of consumable primary productivity for domestic stock in Mediterranean countries and the monkey's energy requirements, attainable macaque populations in studied habitats could be much higher than actual. Though these numbers may be unreachable in nature, this study shows that present macaque populations could increase after restorative management of habitats in which re-stocking with captive-born animals may play a part. However, since only 10% of potential monkey habitat in Morocco and Algeria is occupied by the species, finding areas for releasing captive-born macaques is more advisable.     

Influence of membrane fouling reducers (MFRs) on filterability of disperse mixed liquor of jet loop bioreactors

The effects of membrane fouling reducers (MFRs) (the cationic polyelectrolyte (CPE) and FeCI₃) on membrane fouling were studied in a lab-scale jet loop submerged membrane bioreactor (JL-SMBR) system. The optimum dosages of MFRs (CPE dosage = 20 mg g⁻¹MLSS, FeCI₃ dosage = 14 mg g⁻¹MLSS) were continuously fed to JL-SMBR system. The soluble and bound EPS concentrations as well as MLSS concentration in the mixed liquor of JL-SMBR were not changed substantially by the addition of MFRs. However, significant differences were observed in particle size and relative hydrophobicity. Filtration tests were performed by using different membrane types (polycarbonate (PC) and nitrocellulose mixed ester (ME)) and various pore sizes (0.45-0.22-0.1 μm). The steady state fluxes (J_ss) of membranes increased at all membranes after MFRs addition to JL-SMBR. The filtration results showed that MFRs addition was an effective approach in terms of improvement in filtration performance for both membrane types.     

Bioremediation of HCH present in soil by the white-rot fungus Bjerkandera adusta in a slurry batch bioreactor

In the soil remediation process, the hydrophobic characteristics of pollutants and their affinity for soil matrix may be responsible for mass transfer limitations. The degradation of hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) isomers present in a spiked soil by the white-rot Bjerkandera adusta was evaluated in a slurry system. Experiments in shaken flasks were performed to evaluate the action of the endogenous microflora, the adsorption of HCH on the fungal biomass and the potential synergic or antagonic actions between the microflora and the fungal biomass. The fungus significantly degraded the HCH isomers from the soil slurry in the following order: α≈γ>δ>β-HCH. The degradation process was further scaled in a 5-l reactor, where the solid load and concentration of the pollutant in the soil were evaluated. At optimal conditions, 100 g soil l⁻¹ and 100 mg total HCH l⁻¹, maximal degradations of 94.5%, 78.5% and 66.1% were attained after 30 d for γ-, α- and δ-HCH isomers, respectively, representing between 1.7 and 3.1-fold the values obtained at small scale. These results indicate that minimising mass transfer resistances is a key factor for HCH degradation from soil.     

Effects of plant traits on ecosystem and regional processes: a conceptual framework for predicting the consequences of global change

Human activities are causing widespread changes in the species composition of natural and managed ecosystems, but the consequences of these changes are poorly understood. This paper presents a conceptual framework for predicting the ecosystem and regional consequences of changes in plant species composition. Changes in species composition have greatest ecological effects when they modify the ecological factors that directly control (and respond to) ecosystem processes. These interactive controls include: functional types of organisms present in the ecosystem; soil resources used by organisms to grow and reproduce; modulators such as microclimate that influence the activity of organisms; disturbance regime; and human activities. Plant traits related to size and growth rate are particularly important because they determine the productive capacity of vegetation and the rates of decomposition and nitrogen mineralization. Because the same plant traits affect most key processes in the cycling of carbon and nutrients, changes in plant traits tend to affect most biogeochemical cycling processes in parallel. Plant traits also have landscape and regional effects through their effects on water and energy exchange and disturbance regime.     

发根土壤杆菌在植物次生代谢物生产中的应用与进展

发根土壤杆菌 (Agrobacteriumrhizogenes)是一类极具应用前景的微生物资源 ,就发根土壤杆菌Ri质粒结构、功能、侵染和致病过程及其宿主、转化体特性进行了概述 ,并详细讨论了发根土壤杆菌在生产植物次级代谢产物方面的应用与进展及相关影响因素 ,同时还简单介绍了工业化生产的培养方法、生物反应器种类及存在的问题与困难。     

Evidence of non‐stationary relationships between climate and forest responses: Increased sensitivity to climate change in Iberian forests

Climate and forest structure are considered major drivers of forest demography and productivity. However, recent evidence suggests that the relationships between climate and tree growth are generally non‐stationary (i.e. non‐time stable), and it remains uncertain whether the relationships between climate, forest structure, demography and productivity are stationary or are being altered by recent climatic and structural changes. Here we analysed three surveys from the Spanish Forest Inventory covering c. 30 years of information and we applied mixed and structural equation models to assess temporal trends in forest structure (stand density, basal area, tree size and tree size inequality), forest demography (ingrowth, growth and mortality) and above‐ground forest productivity. We also quantified whether the interactive effects of climate and forest structure on forest demography and above‐ground forest productivity were stationary over two consecutive time periods. Since the 1980s, density, basal area and tree size increased in Iberian forests, and tree size inequality decreased. In addition, we observed reductions in ingrowth and growth, and increases in mortality. Initial forest structure and water availability mainly modulated the temporal trends in forest structure and demography. The magnitude and direction of the interactive effects of climate and forest structure on forest demography changed over the two time periods analysed indicating non‐stationary relationships between climate, forest structure and demography. Above‐ground forest productivity increased due to a positive balance between ingrowth, growth and mortality. Despite increasing productivity over time, we observed an aggravation of the negative effects of climate change and increased competition on forest demography, reducing ingrowth and growth, and increasing mortality. Interestingly, our results suggest that the negative effects of climate change on forest demography could be ameliorated through forest management, which has profound implications for forest adaptation to climate change.