Ocean acidification bends the mermaid's wineglass

Ocean acidification lowers the saturation state of calcium carbonate, decreasing net calcification and compromising the skeletons of organisms such as corals, molluscs and algae. These calcified structures can protect organisms from predation and improve access to light, nutrients and dispersive currents. While some species (such as urchins, corals and mussels) survive with decreased calcification, they can suffer from inferior mechanical performance. Here, we used cantilever beam theory to test the hypothesis that decreased calcification would impair the mechanical performance of the green alga Acetabularia acetabulum along a CO₂ gradient created by volcanic seeps off Vulcano, Italy. Calcification and mechanical properties declined as calcium carbonate saturation fell; algae at 2283 µatm CO₂ were 32% less calcified, 40% less stiff and 40% droopier. Moreover, calcification was not a linear proxy for mechanical performance; stem stiffness decreased exponentially with reduced calcification. Although calcifying organisms can tolerate high CO₂ conditions, even subtle changes in calcification can cause dramatic changes in skeletal performance, which may in turn affect key biotic and abiotic interactions.     

稻田温室气体减排措施对稻米氨基酸含量的影响

为探索稻田中温室气体减排措施对稻米氨基酸含量的影响,用10个不同方法对双季稻田进行处理,并使用高效液相色谱分别测定了各处理稻田中所产稻米中的16种氨基酸的含量,其中色谱柱为Agilent Zorbax AAA分析柱,柱前衍生使用邻苯二甲醛(OPA)和9-芴甲基氯甲酸酯(FMOC-CL)为衍生试剂。结果发现:1)10个处理中的稻米16种氨基酸种类齐全,施氮肥+添加生物质炭48 t/hm2+间歇灌溉(NPK+HBC+IF)处理中所得氨基酸总量为6520.7 mg/100g,效果最佳;对照组处理(不施加氮肥+无稻草还田+间歇灌溉)所得氨基酸含量4338.0 mg/100g为最低。以对照组处理所得必需氨基酸百分含量36.8%为最高值;无稻草还田+长期淹水(NPK+CF)处理方法所得必需氨基酸百分含量33.1%为最低值。10个处理中16种氨基酸中含量较高的氨基酸均为天冬氨酸、谷氨酸和精氨酸,含量最低的均为甲硫氨酸;2)施氮肥量相同时,长期淹水与间歇灌溉相比,氨基酸总量增加185.1 mg/100g,非必需氨基酸百分含量增加3%,谷氨酸、组氨酸和丝氨酸含量明显升高,但亮氨酸含量显著降低;3)施用氮肥能提高稻米中的氨基酸含量,且随着氮肥使用量的增加,氨基酸含量也随之增加,组氨酸含量增加显著;4)供氮量相同时,添加猪粪使氨基酸总含量升高了286.0 mg/100g,此结果表明,在供氮量相同的情况下,施用猪粪更有利于稻米氨基酸含量的提高;5)灌溉模式相同时,稻草还田配施氮肥对必需氨基酸和氨基酸总量均有提高,天冬氨酸、谷氨酸和组氨酸的含量增加较多,甲硫氨酸含量略有下降;随着稻草还田量的增加,对非必需氨基酸影响较为明显;当稻草半量还田(还田量为3 t/hm2)时,稻米中氨基酸总量增加最多;稻草全量还田+长期淹水(NPK+HRS+CF)与稻草半量还田+间歇灌溉(NPK+LRS+IF)处理中的氨基酸含量基本接近,但必需氨基酸含量前者略高于后者,说明稻草还田与水肥管理对氨基酸含量影响可能存在交互作用;6)添加生物质炭配施氮肥提高了稻米必需氨基酸与非必需氨基酸含量,且随着生物质炭添加量的增加而增加;与稻草还田、添加猪粪处理相比,生物质炭的添加对氨基酸总含量提升的效果最为显著,对稻田实际生产具有指导意义且具有一定的环境效益。     

树叶凋落物在受酸性矿山废水污染溪流中的分解

为了解华南地区酸性矿山废水对溪流中树叶分解的影响,在广东省大宝山矿区附近的1条受酸性矿山废水污染（pH值为2．7—3．4且富含多种重金属元素）的3级溪流中,利用2种孔径（5ram的网袋和0．1ram的布袋）的分解网袋对2种树叶（人面子和蒲桃）进行了为期101d的树叶分解研究。结果表明,人面子树叶网袋和布袋中的树叶干重剩余率分别为39％和48％,而蒲桃树叶网袋和布袋中的干重剩余率仍保持较高的水平,分别为61％和70％。根据指数衰减模型计算出树叶分解的半衰期,人面子树叶在网袋和布袋中的分解半衰期分别为57d和69d,而蒲桃树叶则分别为14-4d和217d。蒲桃树叶的分解速率明显比人面子树叶慢。在网袋中定殖的底栖动物主要是集食者,其中优势类群为摇蚊幼虫,占底栖动物个体总数的99％。摇蚊种群在网袋中的数量波动对2种树叶分解速率的影响并不明显。结果表明,受酸性矿山废水的影响,底栖动物群落的多样性大为减少。同时由于各种金属氧化物在树叶表面的不断沉淀,使树叶处于缺氧状态,抑制了微生物的活动,导致树叶分解速率大为降低。     

杉木与楠木叶凋落物混合分解及其养分动态

采用网袋法研究了杉木和楠木叶凋落物以不同比例的混合分解及其养分动态,结果表明：杉木与楠木叶凋落物混合处理的分解速率和K释放率基本上均大于单独的纯杉木和纯楠木,而N和P释放率则介于单独的纯杉木和纯楠木之间;杉楠混合分解可加快了混合中杉木叶凋落物的分解速率和N、K两元素的释放率,并且随楠木叶比例的增加,促进作用越明显;混合分解对混合处理的分解速率和K元素释放有明显的促进作用,而对N、P元素的释放影响不明显。     

Glycated albumin and diabetes mellitus

Background

Diabetes is a growing worldwide problem that is strongly associated with atherosclerosis. Screening and intervention for diabetes in the earliest stages are advocated for the prevention of diabetic complications and cardiovascular disease.

Scope of review

This review gives a background of and discusses the potential clinical utility of glycated albumin (GA) in diabetes.

Major conclusions

GA is a ketoamine formed via a non-enzymatic glycation reaction of serum albumin and it reflects mean glycemia over two to three weeks. GA can be used for patients with anemia or hemoglobinopathies for whom the clinically measured hemoglobin A1c level may be inaccurate. Because both serum and plasma samples can be used, GA can be analyzed from the same samples as common biological markers. GA is a useful marker for the screening of diabetes in a medical evaluation. It can be also used to determine the effectiveness of treatment before initiating or changing medications for diabetic patients. GA is potentially an atherogenic protein in the development of diabetic atherosclerosis.

General significance

GA measurement is useful as part of a routine examination to screen for both diabetes and atherosclerosis. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled Serum Albumin.     

褐飞虱、白背飞虱种间、种内密度制约效应研究

以高感品种TN1为材料．研究了褐飞虱、白背飞虱成、若虫密度对种群的制约效应。实验表明,单虫种一龄善虫密度15头／株和30头／株相比．褐飞虱成虫的羽化率、短翘率、体长和若虫历期均无明显差异,但成虫雌性比率前高;白背飞虱成虫羽化率前比后高21．22％．短翘率高15.25％。在两种飞虱一龄若虫密度30、45、60头／株等虫量混合组配下,褐飞虱成虫羽化率60头／株比30头／株下降28％,白背飞虱若虫历期以30头／株最长。在总虫量为30头／株时,种内(30头／株)和种间(15：15头／株)比．白背飞虱种内处理成虫羽化率高36．83％．昔虫历期短;褐飞虱以种内处理成虫短翘率高。从产卵位点来看．褐飞虱喜产在稻株叶鞘中下部厚肉组织上,白背飞虱以叶脉基部产卵为主．成虫密度2、4、8对／株3处理,其叶鞘、叶脉上的平均卵块变小;10天内的平均卵量亦减步。同密度下,种间组合比种内组合的产卵量多。从各指标对密度反应来看,褐飞虱比白背飞虱更耐拥挤。     

华北地区针叶林下凋落物层化学性质的研究

森林凋落物中贮积了大量的有机、无机养分物质,它是森林土壤自然肥力的重要来源之一。在森林生态系统中,养分物质的内部循环主要是通过凋落物来实现的。在分解、转化过     

改变碳输入对亚热带人工林土壤微生物生物量和群落组成的影响

通过在亚热带杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)和米老排(Mytilaria laosensis)人工林中设置互换凋落物、去除凋落物、去除凋落物+去除根系和对照处理来分析改变地上、地下碳输入对人工林土壤微生物生物量和群落组成的影响。结果显示,改变地上、地下碳输入对土壤微生物生物量碳、氮的影响因树种而异。在米老排林中,土壤微生物生物量不受碳源的限制。而在杉木林中,加入米老排凋落物、去除凋落物和去除凋落物+去除根系3种处理中土壤微生物生物量碳、氮具有明显增加的趋势。磷脂脂肪酸分析结果显示,杉木林中,添加高质量的米老排凋落物后,革兰氏阳性细菌、阴性细菌、丛枝菌根真菌、放线菌和真菌群落生物量分别显著增加了24%、24%、53%、25%、28%,革兰氏阴性细菌和丛枝菌根真菌的相对丰度均有显著增加。与对照相比,杉木林中去除凋落物后革兰氏阳性细菌、阴性细菌、丛枝菌根真菌、放线菌和真菌群落生物量分别显著增加了22%、29%、44%、25%、52%,真菌与细菌比值显著增加了21%。但是,去除凋落物+去除根系处理对两个树种人工林土壤微生物群落组成均无显著影响。米老排和杉木林土壤微生物生物量碳、氮的季节变化格局不同,土壤养分有效性可能是驱动土壤微生物生物量季节变化的主要因子。未来研究需要关注凋落物和根系在不同树种人工林中对土壤微生物群落的相对贡献。     

Woody overstorey effects on soil carbon and nitrogen pools in South African savanna

Abstract Woody plant encroachment in savannas may alter carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) pools over the long‐term, which could have regional or global biogeochemical implications given the widespread encroachment observed in the vast savanna biome. Soil and litter %C and %N were surveyed across four soil types in two encroached, semi‐arid savanna landscapes in northern South Africa. Litter at sampling points with a woody component had a higher %N and lower C : N ratio than litter at solely herbaceous points. Severely encroached areas had lower C : N ratios throughout the soil profile than less encroached areas. Soil %C and %N were highly influenced by soil texture but were also influenced by the presence of a woody overstorey, which increased surface soil %C on three soil types but decreased it on the most heavily encroached soil type. Soil C sequestration may initially increase with bush encroachment but then decline if bush densities become so high as to inhibit understorey grass growth.     

Response of Litter Decomposition to Simulated N Deposition in Disturbed, Rehabilitated and Mature Forests in Subtropical China

The response of decomposition of litter for the dominant tree species in disturbed (pine), rehabilitated (pine and broadleaf mixed) and mature (monsoon evergreen broadleaf) forests in subtropical China to simulated N deposition was studied to address the following hypothesis: (1) litter decomposition is faster in mature forest (high soil N availability) than in rehabilitated/disturbed forests (low soil N availability); (2) litter decomposition is stimulated by N addition in rehabilitated and disturbed forests due to their low soil N availability; (3) N addition has little effect on litter decomposition in mature forest due to its high soil N availability. The litterbag method (a total of 2880 litterbags) and N treatments: Control-no N addition, Low-N: −5 g N m⁻² y⁻¹, Medium-N: −10 g N m⁻² y⁻¹, and High-N: −15 g N m⁻² y⁻¹, were employed to evaluate decomposition_. Results indicated that mature forest, which has likely been N saturated due to both long-term high N deposition in the region and the age of the ecosystem, had the highest litter decomposition rate, and exhibited no significant positive and even some negative response to nitrogen additions. However, both disturbed and rehabilitated forests, which are still N limited due to previous land use history, exhibited slower litter decomposition rates with significant positive effects from nitrogen additions. These results suggest that litter decomposition and its responses to N addition in subtropical forests of China vary depending on the nitrogen status of the ecosystem.