Tree ring anatomy indices of Pinus tabuliformis revealed the shifted dominant climate factor influencing potential hydraulic function in western Qinling Mountains

Trees can adjust xylem anatomical structure related with potential hydraulic functions to cope with climate variability. We therefore need a better understanding of how climate variability constrains wood anatomy and tree radial growth. Pinus tabuliformis dominates natural forests and plantations over the western Qinling Mountains, which is one of the ecologically vulnerable areas in China. Here, we investigated the response of P. tabuliformis tree-ring anatomical structure to climate variability by applying wood anatomy analysis, and evaluated the influences of anatomical traits on potential hydraulic functions and the climate significance of intra-annual density fluctuations (IADFs). We found that with the increasing temperature from spring to summer, the negative effect of temperature on the formation and enlargement of earlywood and transition-wood tracheids was gradually enhanced. However, spring precipitation not only had a direct and positive influence on the formation of earlywood, but also had a delaying impact on the transition-wood cell enlargement. Besides, the smaller earlywood tracheid size of P. tabuliformis could be a substantially characteristic reflecting spring drought. The contribution of lumen diameter on conduit wall reinforcement was dominated in earlywood, while the contribution of cell wall thickness was greater than that of lumen diameter in latewood. The different contributions of anatomical traits on conduit wall reinforcement would further affect the response of potential hydraulic function to climate. IADFs of P. tabuliformis could be a potential indicator to reflect the abnormal summer precipitation events in the western Qinling Mountains. IADFs with strong and weak intensity indicated years with high and low rates of change in mid-summer precipitation, respectively. Future warmer and drier climate in the western Qinling Mountains will likely result in the production of smaller tracheids to ensure hydraulic safety, which means the stronger drought resistant of P. tabuliformis in the future. In this study, we linked the xylem anatomy and potential hydraulics functions with intra-seasonal climate variability in the context of climate warming and drying, and proposed some xylem anatomical indices reflecting potential drought events.     

Diel drift of Chironomidae larvae in a pristine Idaho mountain stream

Simultaneous hourly net collections in a meadow and canyon reach of a mountain stream determined diel and spatial abundances of drifting Chironomidae larvae. Sixty-one taxa were identified to the lowest practical level, 52 in the meadow and 41 in the canyon. Orthocladiinae was the most abundant subfamily with 32 taxa and a 24 h mean density of 294 individuals 100 m⁻³ (meadow) and 26 taxa and a mean of 648 individuals 100 m⁻³ (canyon). Chironominae was the second most abundant subfamily. Nonchironomid invertebrates at both sites and total Chironomidae larvae (meadow) were predominantly night-drifting. Parakiefferiella and Psectrocladius were day-drifting (meadow) whereas 8 other chironomid taxa (meadow) and 2 taxa (canyon) were night-drifting. All others were aperiodic or too rare to test periodicity, Stempellinella cf brevis Edwards exhibited catastrophic drift in the canyon only. The different drift patterns between sites is attributed to greater loss of streambed habitat in the canyon compared to the meadow as streamflow decreased. Consequent crowding of chironomid larvae in the canyon caused catastrophic drift or interfered with drift periodicty. This study adds to knowledge of Chironomidae drift and shows influences on drift of hydrologic and geomorphic conditions.     

Effects of water level fluctuation on the growth ofNelumbo nucifera Gaertn. in Lake Kasumigaura,Japan

Investigations were made of the growth ofNelumbo nucifera, an aquatic higher plant, in a natural stand in Lake Kasumigaura. A rise of 1.0 m in the water level after a typhoon in August 1986 caused a subsequent decrease in biomass ofN. nucifera from the maximum of 291 g d.w. m⁻² in July to a minimum of 75 g d.w. m⁻². The biomass recovered thereafter in shallower regions. The underground biomass in October tended to increase toward the shore. The total leaf area index (LAI) is the sum of LAI of floating leaves and emergent leaves. The maximum total LAI was 1.3 and 2.8 m² m⁻² in 1986 and 1987, respectively. LAI of floating leaves did not exceed 1 m² m⁻². The elongation rates of the petiole of floating and emergent leaves just after unrolling were 2.6 and 3.4 cm day⁻¹, respectively. The sudden rise in water level (25 cm day⁻¹) after the typhoon in August 1986 caused drowning and subsequent decomposition of the mature leaves. Only the young leaves were able to elongate, allowing their laminae to reach the water surface. The fluctuation in water level, characterized by the amplitude and duration of flooding and the time of flooding in the life cycle, is an important factor determining the growth and survival ofN. nucifera in Lake Kasumigaura.     

Response by macrozoobenthos biomass to water level regulation in some Finnish lake littoral zones

The relationship of the macrozoobenthos biomass in the littoral area to the yearly fluctuation in water level and the characteristics of the area or lake are studied using data collected from sheltered bays in regulated and natural waters. Most of the lakes were clear and oligotrophic. The benthos biomass at all depths in the littoral decreased with increased water level fluctuation, provided that the transparency of the water was uniform.The macrozoobenthos biomass in the 0–3 m depth zone could be predicted fromlog macrozoobenthos biomass (mg ODW) m^-2=4.25-1.33 (log Biomass Index) in which the Biomass Index is calculated as% MathType!MTEF!2!1!+-% feaafiart1ev1aaatCvAUfeBSjuyZL2yd9gzLbvyNv2CaerbuLwBLn% hiov2DGi1BTfMBaeXatLxBI9gBaerbd9wDYLwzYbItLDharqqtubsr% 4rNCHbGeaGqiVu0Je9sqqrpepC0xbbL8F4rqqrFfpeea0xe9Lq-Jc9% vqaqpepm0xbba9pwe9Q8fs0-yqaqpepae9pg0FirpepeKkFr0xfr-x% fr-xb9adbaqaaeGaciGaaiaabeqaamaabaabaaGcbaGaaeOqaiaabM% gacaqGVbGaaeyBaiaabggacaqGZbGaae4CaiaabccacaqGjbGaaeOB% aiaabsgacaqGLbGaaeiEaiaab2dacaqGGaGaaeiiaiaabccacaqGGa% GaaeiiaiaabccacaqGGaGaaeiiaiaabccacaqGGaGaaeiiaiaabcca% caqGGaGaaeiiaiaabccacaqGGaGaaeiiaiaabccacaqGGaGaaeiiai% aabccadaWcaaabaeqabaGaae4DaiaabggacaqG0bGaaeyzaiaabkha% caqGGaGaaeiBaiaabwgacaqG2bGaaeyzaiaabYgacaqGGaGaaeOzai% aabYgacaqG1bGaae4yaiaabshacaqG1bGaaeyyaiaabshacaqGPbGa% ae4Baiaab6gacaqGGaGaaeyAaiaab6gacaqGGaGaaeiDaiaabIgaca% qGLbGaaeiiaiaabchacaqGYbGaaeyzaiaabAhacaqGPbGaae4Baiaa% bwhacaqGZbGaaeiiaiaabMhacaqGLbGaaeyyaiaabkhaaeaacaqGOa% GaaeyBaiaabUdacaqGGaGaae4yaiaabggacaqGSbGaae4yaiaabwha% caqGSbGaaeyyaiaabshacaqGLbGaaeizaiaabccacaqGMbGaaeOCai% aab+gacaqGTbGaaeiiaiaab2gacaqGVbGaaeOBaiaabshacaqGObGa% aeiBaiaabMhacaqGGaGaaeyBaiaabwgacaqGHbGaaeOBaiaabccaca% qG2bGaaeyyaiaabYgacaqG1bGaaeyzaiaabohacaqGPaaaaeaacaqG% tbGaaeyzaiaabogacaqGJbGaaeiAaiaabMgacaqGGaGaaeizaiaabM% gacaqGZbGaae4AaiaabccacaqG2bGaaeyyaiaabYgacaqG1bGaaeyz% aiaabccacaqGPbGaaeOBaiaabccacaqG0bGaaeiAaiaabwgacaqGGa% Gaae4CaiaabggacaqGTbGaaeyzaiaabccacaqGVbGaaeiCaiaabwga% caqGUbGaaeiiaiaabEhacaqGHbGaaeiDaiaabwgacaqGYbGaaeiiai% aabohacaqGLbGaaeyyaiaabohacaqGVbGaaeOBaiaabccacaqGOaGa% aeyBaiaabMcaaaaccaGae8hiaaIaaKiEaiab-bcaGiaaigdacaaIWa% GaaGimaiaac6caaaa!CBD8!\[{\text{Biomass Index = }}\frac{\begin{gathered} {\text{water level fluctuation in the previous year}} \hfill \\ {\text{(m; calculated from monthly mean values)}} \hfill \\ \end{gathered} }{{{\text{Secchi disk value in the same open water season (m)}}}} \user1{x} 100.\]The whole illuminated littoral shifts due to water level fluctuation, which disturbs the zonation of the benthos. Such an increase or decrease in benthic biomass has been observed after one year of disturbance due to water level fluctuation. It need, however, a study based on the carefully planned and collected data, in which it can be taken account by a multivariate statistical analysis also the interactions between the important factors affected the littoral benthos.     

Factors controlling the population dynamics of the clonal helophyte Ranunculus lingua

Abstract. Two marginal and two central populations of the pseudo-annual aquatic plant Ranunculus lingua were studied over four years. The main purpose was to quantify potentially influential abiotic and biotic factors and to derive predictions about life-history differences between the populations. Variation in abundance and height of R. lingua ramets at different depths were related to water-level fluctuations, to abundance of other helophyes (emergent macrophytes), and to the occurrence of invertebrate grazing and fungal pathogens. Clear differences between marginal and central populations were shown in the depth distribution of ramet numbers and ramet heights, as well as in the dynamic patterns, where marginal populations had a higher flux of ramets. These patterns and regression analyses indicated that abiotic factors have a greater influence in marginal populations, whereas biotic factors are more important in central populations. It is suggested that marginal habitats for R. lingua would favour life-histories with a high reproductive capacity, whereas a large size of ramet would be the most important life-history feature in central habitats. This was supported by the fact that ramets in marginal populations, in spite of their smaller size, produced higher number of rhizomes than ramets in central populations. Variation in regional abundance was finally related to differences in demographic processes and dispersal potential between the populations.     

Improvement of Escherichia coli microaerobic oxygen metabolism by Vitreoscilla hemoglobin: New insights from NAD(P)H fluorescence and culture redox potential

On-line NAD(P)H fluorescence and culture redox potential (CRP) measurements were utilized to investigate the role of Vitreoscilla hemoglobin (VHb) in perturbing oxygen metabolism of microaerobic Escherichia coli Batch cultures of a VHb-synthesizing E. coli strain and the iso-genic control under fully aerated conditions were subject to several high/low oxygen transitions, and the NAD(P)H fluorescence and CRP were monitored during these passages. The presence of VHb decreased the rate of net NAD(P)H generation by 2.4-fold under diminishing oxygen tension. In the absence of aeration, the strain producing VHb maintained a steady NAD(P)H level 1.8-fold less than that of the control, indicating that the presence of VHb keeps E. coli in a more oxidized state under oxygen-limited conditions. Estimated from CRP, the oxygen uptake rates near anoxia were 25% higher for cells with VHb than those without. These results suggest that VHb-expressing cells have a higher microaerobic electron transport chain turnover rate. To examine how NAD(P)H utilization of VHb-expressing cells responds to rapidly changing oxygen tension, which is common in large-scale fermentations, we pulsed air intermittently into a cell suspension and recorded the fluorescence response to the imposed dissolved oxygen (DO) fluctuation. Relative to the control, cells containing VHb had a sluggish fluorescence response to sudden changes of oxygen tension, suggesting that VHb buffers intracellular redox perturbations caused by extracellular DO fluctuations.(c) John Wiley & Sons, Inc.     

Seasonal fluctuations of the mineral concentration of alder (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn.) from the field

Summary The seasonal fluctuation of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Mo, and Co, in leaves, roots and nodules of 40–50 year oldAlnus glutinosa trees growing at four different locations along the banks of the Tormes river, in the province of Salamanca, was studied. Also, the evolution of the soil organic matter under the trees sampled was evaluated. The data obtained for the various nutrient elements in the three plant parts are statistically treated at the significance levels of 99–95 per cent, and some remarks as to the nutritional status of the European alder in respect to the nutrients and its contribution to soil nutrient-cycling are provided. A positive correlation was found between N–P, N–K, N–Mg, and N–Mo, in leaves, and between N–P, N–K, N–Fe, N–Mn, and N–Mo in root nodules. In roots only, no significance at any level was obtained between N and any of the elements analyzed.     

人工补充寄主卵对松林内卵蜂种群消长的影响

在不同生境的松林中,人工补充寄主卵都能提高寄生效果。但林地生境不同,寄生率有明显差异。在松阔混交林中补充寄主,其寄生率比对照提高5.5—16.2倍。植被稀疏的纯松林效果较差,补充的寄生率比对照提高3.0倍。 卵蜂种群消长随季节温度而变化,全年以5月中旬至6月下旬和9月中旬至10月中旬为两个寄生高峰。卵蜂种群与松毛虫种群的消长存在较明显的相依关系,卵蜂种群随着松毛虫种群的消长而消长。施药对卵蜂种群有较大影响,施药区比对照区的寄生率约降低一倍。在混交林中填充寄主卵,能促进卵蜂种群世代延续。在逐步改善林地生境的基础上,利用人工补充寄主,可以代替人工繁蜂放蜂。     

Bioengineering Considerations for a Nurturing Way to Enhance Scalable Expansion of Human Pluripotent Stem Cells

Understanding how defects in mechanotransduction affect cell‐to‐cell variability will add to the fundamental knowledge of human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) culture, and may suggest new approaches for achieving a robust, reproducible, and scalable process that result in consistent product quality and yields. Here, the current state of the understanding of the fundamental mechanisms that govern the growth kinetics of hPSCs between static and dynamic cultures is reviewed, the factors causing fluctuations are identified, and culture strategies that might eliminate or minimize the occurrence of cell‐to‐cell variability arising from these fluctuations are discussed. The existing challenges in the development of hPSC expansion methods for enabling the transition from process development to large‐scale production are addressed, a mandatory step for industrial and clinical applications of hPSCs.     

缅甸稻飞虱的发生和防控情况(英文)

稻飞虱是缅甸水稻种植区常见且分布广泛的一类害虫,可造成农作物不同程度的减产.稻飞虱的爆发与高产品种的大规模推广种植具有一致性,同时其种群变化也与天气条件有关.近年来,缅甸中部部分省份稻飞虱大量孳生,在一定程度上,这与氮肥施用水平有关.雨季稻飞虱种群增加,7月和8月为高峰期.在缅甸,主要通过培育抗虫、抗旱、抗逆等水稻品种来防控稻飞虱.同时用诱虫灯进行早期入侵的虫源的监测,必要时,采用化学杀虫剂防治.缅甸部分农场还采用了病虫害综合管理系统(IPM),以建立健康、安全、可调节的水稻生态系统及可持续的病虫害管理.