Large old trees increase growth under shifting climatic constraints: Aligning tree longevity and individual growth dynamics in primary mountain spruce forests

In a world of accelerating changes in environmental conditions driving tree growth, tradeoffs between tree growth rate and longevity could curtail the abundance of large old trees (LOTs), with potentially dire consequences for biodiversity and carbon storage. However, the influence of tree-level tradeoffs on forest structure at landscape scales will also depend on disturbances, which shape tree size and age distribution, and on whether LOTs can benefit from improved growing conditions due to climate warming. We analyzed temporal and spatial variation in radial growth patterns from ~5000 Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] H. Karst) live and dead trees from the Western Carpathian primary spruce forest stands. We applied mixed-linear modeling to quantify the importance of LOT growth histories and stand dynamics (i.e., competition and disturbance factors) on lifespan. Finally, we assessed regional synchronization in radial growth variability over the 20th century, and modeled the effects of stand dynamics and climate on LOTs recent growth trends. Tree age varied considerably among forest stands, implying an important role of disturbance as an age constraint. Slow juvenile growth and longer period of suppressed growth prolonged tree lifespan, while increasing disturbance severity and shorter time since last disturbance decreased it. The highest age was not achieved only by trees with continuous slow growth, but those with slow juvenile growth followed by subsequent growth releases. Growth trend analysis demonstrated an increase in absolute growth rates in response to climate warming, with late summer temperatures driving the recent growth trend. Contrary to our expectation that LOTs would eventually exhibit declining growth rates, the oldest LOTs (>400 years) continuously increase growth throughout their lives, indicating a high phenotypic plasticity of LOTs for increasing biomass, and a strong carbon sink role of primary spruce forests under rising temperatures, intensifying droughts, and increasing bark beetle outbreaks.     

鼎湖山自然林豆科固氮植物资源的调查研究

本文在调查鼎湖山自然林木本豆科植物结瘤固氮的基础上,参阅了国内外有关豆科植物结瘤固氮的主要文献,研究了鼎湖山自然林木本豆科植物的固氮资源。结果得出鼎湖山自然林中常见的木本豆科植物共有41种,其中乔木15种,灌木6种,木质藤本20种;有结瘤固氮特性的26种,其中乔木11种,灌木5种,木质藤本10种;经初步调查未见根瘤的6种,其中乔木2种,灌木1种,木质藤本3种;未调查的9种,其中乔木2种,木质藤本7种。本研究结果为鼎湖山木本豆科固氮植物资源的保护、管理和开发利用提供了科学论据,在理论和应用方面均有重要意义。     

Vegetation change in acidic dry grasslands in Moravia (Czech Republic) over three decades: Slow decrease in habitat quality after grazing cessation

Aims

Shallow soils on acidic bedrock in dry areas of Central Europe support dry grasslands and heathlands that were formerly used as extensive pastures. These habitats are of high conservation value, but their abandonment in the 20th century triggered slow natural succession that poses a threat to specialized plant species. We asked how this vegetation and its plant diversity have changed over the past three decades and whether protected areas have positively affected habitat quality.

Location

Southwestern and central Moravia, Czech Republic.

Methods

In 2018–2019, we resurveyed 94 vegetation plots first sampled in 1986–1991 at 47 acidic dry grassland and heathland sites. We compared the number of all vascular plant species, Red List species and alien species per plot using parametric and non-parametric tests, life-form spectra using the chi-square test, species composition using detrended correspondence analysis, and indicator values using a permutation test. We also compared these changes between sites within and outside protected areas.

Results

Vegetation changes over the past three decades have been relatively small. However, we detected a decrease in total species richness, the number of Red List species and the number of characteristic species of dry grasslands. Neophytes were infrequent, while archaeophytes increased slightly. The competitive tall grass Arrhenatherum elatius, annual species and young woody plants increased in abundance or newly established at many sites. Indicator values did not change except for a slight increase in nutrient values. These negative trends occurred both within and outside protected areas but were more pronounced outside.

Conclusions

Formerly grazed acidic dry grasslands and heathlands in Moravia are slowly losing habitat specialists, including threatened plant species, and are increasingly dominated by Arrhenatherum elatius. Conservation management, especially cutting in protected areas, slows down the negative trends of decline in plant diversity and habitat quality but is insufficient to halt these processes completely.     

Changes in human jaw muscles with age and dental state

The effects of ageing and dental state on the cross-sectional area and density of two jaw muscles, the masseter and medial pterygoid, were investigated using computed tomography. The study involved 84 male and 70 female subjects between the ages of 20 and 90 years. The cross-sectional area of both muscles showed a significant reduction with age; values for female subjects being found in the lower range of the distribution. When consideration was given to the presence or absence of a natural dentition, the cross-sectional area of both muscles in edentulous subjects showed a greater decease throughout the age range studied. There was a significant decrease in the density of the muscles with increasing age. Previously, this has been interpreted to indicate a progressive increase in fat and fibrous tissue. Subject gender and the absence of teeth appeared to have little effect on this parameter. Changes in the cross-sectional area and density of these muscles would appear to be consistent with a general age related change of muscle tissue in the body as a whole and may specifically indicate a reduction in the masticatory forces which can be or are being utilised by ageing patients, many of whom have no remaining natural dentition.     

Growth and nutrition of birch seedlings in relation to potassium supply rate

Summary Growth of hydroponically cultivated birch seedlings (Betula pendula Roth.) at sub- and supra-optimum potassium supply rates was investigated. Potassium was supplied either as a relative addition rate (r _k = 5, 10, 15 and 20% increase day^-1) or as fixed concentrations (0.2, 3, 6, 12 and 15 mM) in the culture solution. After an acclimation period the growth rate of the seedlings in the suboptimum treatments reached values close to the treatment variable, the relative rate of K-addition. Deficiency symptoms, in the form of chlorosis and necroses along the leaf margins, developed initially in all suboptimum treatments, but very few new symptoms appeared once the seedlings had reached the phase of steady-state nutrition and growth. At supra-optimum K-supply levels, i.e. at 0.2–15 mM K in the culture solution, no symptoms of deficiency or toxicity developed, and the relative growth rate of the seedlings remained maximum. The relative growth rate of the seedlings was linearly related to the plant K-status for K contents ranging from 0.2 to 1.0% of dry weight (DW). At higher internal K-concentrations, 1.0–3.0% DW, no further increase in relative growth rate was achieved. A shortage of K resulted in a decrease in the net assimilation rate. This effect was counterbalanced by the absence of shift in he leaf weight ratio as well as by the production of relatively thin leaves. The fraction of dry matter allocated to roots decreased in K-limited plants, as did the leaf contents of soluble carbohydrates and starch.     

Forecasting the future suitable growth areas and constructing ecological corridors for the vulnerable species Ephedra sinica in China

Ephedra sinica is a rare and vulnerable species in China, and the habitat of Ephedra sinica is seriously threatened (by climate change and human activities). Predicting the suitable growth areas and constructing ecological corridors for Ephedra sinica in China will help to protect it scientifically. Based on 306 valid distribution records and 13 selected environmental factors, the maximum entropy (MaxEnt) model was used to simulate the potential current habitat zones and future (2050 and 2070) habitat zones of Ephedra sinica under four climate change scenarios. The minimum cumulative resistance (MCR) model was applied to extract important ecological corridors of Ephedra sinica. The results indicate that: (1) Under the current environment, the total area of the suitable habitat for Ephedra sinica in China is 42.24 × 10⁵ km², mainly distributed in Northwest China and North China. (2) Suitable area increases as the RCP rises. The center of mass of the habitat zone moved northward from Shaanxi Province to Ordos City in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. (3) Of the 13 environmental factors selected, the primary factor was elevation (20.8 %), followed by wettest month precipitation (18.2 %) and temperature seasonality (15.2 %). (4) Built 19 ecological corridors, with a total corridor length of 430.2 km, including seven long-distance passages and 12 short-distance corridors. All corridors are far from the artificial surface, mostly near high-altitude areas. The 19 ecological corridors constructed using the MCR model will also provide considerable importance for the survival of Ephedra sinica on a longer time scale in the future.     

不同FIGO分期子宫内膜癌患者外周血红细胞分布宽度、血清对氧磷酶-1表达水平差异及其诊断价值分析

摘要 目的：探讨不同国际妇产科学联合会（FIGO）分期子宫内膜癌患者外周血红细胞分布宽度（RDW）、血清对氧磷酶-1（PON-1）表达水平差异及其诊断价值。方法：选取我院2018年1月到2020年1月收治的80例子宫内膜癌患者作为研究对象,根据FIGO分期对所有患者进行分组,分为Ⅰ期组23例,Ⅱ期组22例,Ⅲ期组18例,Ⅳ期组17例。另选取同期来我院体检的30名健康志愿者作为对照组,对比所有受检者RDW、PON-1表达水平,并应用ROC曲线分析外周血红细胞分布宽度、血清对氧磷酶-1表达水平对不同FIGO分期子宫内膜癌的诊断价值。对80例子宫内膜癌患者进行2年随访,将2年内死亡的25例患者分为死亡组,将其余55例患者分为存活组,对比死亡组与存活组临床一般情况与RDW、PON-1表达水平,并应用logistic回归分析分析RDW、PON-1对子宫内膜癌的预后预测价值。结果：五组受检者RDW、PON-1水平对比差异显著,Ⅳ期组RDW水平高于Ⅲ期组、Ⅱ期组、Ⅰ期组和对照组,Ⅳ期组PON-1水平低于Ⅲ期组、Ⅱ期组、Ⅰ期组和对照组（P＜0.05）;RDW结合PON-1联合诊断的准确度、敏感度、阳性预测值高于RDW单一诊断和PON-1单一诊断（P＜0.05）。RDW诊断子宫内膜癌不同分期价值曲线下面积为89.63,最佳诊断着色界限值为75.73 %,PON-1的曲线下面积为78.89,最佳诊断着色界限值为82.53 %,两者联合的曲线下面积为84.26,最佳诊断着色界限值为87.57 %;存活组与死亡组患者性别、年龄、病理类型对比无明显差异（P＞0.05）,两组患者FIGO分期、基层浸润、组织分化程度、血清RDW与PON-1表达水平对比差异显著（P＜0.05）;logistic回归分析结果表明：基层浸润、RDW与PON-1为子宫内膜癌患者预后的独立影响因素（P＜0.05）。结论：RDW、PON-1联合对子宫内膜癌FIGO分期的诊断价值较高,且基层浸润、RDW与PON-1为子宫内膜癌患者预后的独立影响因素。临床上需针对基层浸润、RDW升高与PON-1水平降低的患者采取相关措施,改善治疗方案,降低患者死亡率情况。     

高频重复经颅磁刺激联合Brunnstrom分期训练对脑卒中恢复期患者康复效果的影响

摘要 目的：探讨高频重复经颅磁刺激（rTMS）联合Brunnstrom分期训练对脑卒中恢复期患者康复效果的影响。方法：根据随机数字表法将新疆医科大学第一附属医院2020年1月~2022年2月期间收治的脑卒中恢复期患者80例分为对照组（40例,Brunnstrom分期训练）和研究组（40例,高频rTMS联合Brunnstrom分期训练）。对比两组疗效、美国国立卫生研究院卒中量表（NIHSS）评分、功能独立性量表（FIM）评分、生活质量评分、血清神经因子指标[髓鞘碱性蛋白（MBP）、神经元特异性烯醇化酶（NSE）、神经生长因子-1（NGF-1）]。结果：研究组的临床总有效率（92.50%）明显高于对照组（70.00%）（P<0.05）。治疗4周后,研究组MBP、NSE低于对照组,NGF-1高于对照组（P<0.05）。与对照组比较,治疗4周后,研究组NIHSS评分降低,FIM评分升高（P<0.05）。治疗4周后,研究组心理/躯体/物质/社会功能评分较对照组高（P<0.05）。结论：高频rTMS联合Brunnstrom分期训练有助于提高脑卒中恢复期患者的康复效果,同时还可调节血清神经指标,提高生活质量。     

Two-phase species–time relationships in North American land birds

The species–time relationship (STR) is a macroecological pattern describing the increase in the observed species richness with the length of time censused. Understanding STRs is important for understanding the ecological processes underlying temporal turnover and species richness. However, accurate characterization of the STR has been hampered by the influence of sampling. I analysed STRs for 521 breeding bird survey communities. I used a model of sampling effects to demonstrate that the increase in richness was not due exclusively to sampling. I estimated the time scale at which ecological processes became dominant over sampling effects using a two‐phase model combining a sampling phase and either a power function or logarithmic ecological phase. These two‐phase models performed significantly better than sampling alone and better than simple power and logarithmic functions. Most community dynamics were dominated by ecological processes over scales <5 years. This technique provides an example of a rigorous, quantitative approach to separating sampling from ecological processes.