Effects of salinity and body mass on oxygen consumption and ammonia excretion of mudskipper Boleophthalmus pectinirostris

We evaluated the effects of salinity andbody mass on the oxygen consumption rate and ammonia excretion rate of mudskipper Boleophthalmus pectinirostris under laboratory conditions.Salinity and body mass had highly significant effects on the oxygen consumption rate(R_O) and ammonia excretion rate(R_N)(P0.01).The interactive effects between salinity and body mass onR_O and R_N were insignificant(P0.05)and highly significant(P0.01),respectively.R_O and R_N of B.pectinirostris decreased significantly as the individual body mass increased.The relationship between R_O and body mass was represented by R_O=aW~b(R~2=0.956,P0.01).The relationship between R_N and the body mass of B.pectinirostris was represented by R_N=cW~d(R~2=0.966,P0.01).The R_O/R_N(O:N) ratios increased significantly as the salinity increased from 12 to 27,but decreased as salinity increased from 27 to 32.The atomic O:N ratios were significantly higher at27 than at other salinity levels.The average O:N ratio was 25.25.Lipid and carbohydrate were the primary energy sources and protein was the secondary energy source within the salinity range 12-32.R_O and R_N were significantly higher at 27 than at other salinity levels.Our results suggest that the optimum salinity level for B.pectinirostris is 27.     

Periphyton response to nitrogen and phosphorus enrichment in a eutrophic shallow aquatic ecosystem

We examined changes in biomass and species dominance of periphyton in response to nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) enrichment in 12 mesocosms representing eutrophic aquatic ecosystems. The 100-L mesocosms consisted of lake water and pond sediment, and N and P were applied weekly. Periphyton samples were taken to assess the biomass (as estimated by the concentration of chlorophyll a (chl a)) and to determine which species were dominant. The mean periphyton biomass (chl a) in the P-enriched treatment did not differ from that in the control group, but increased with N enrichment. Compared with that in the control group, the chl a concentration increased with N+P enrichment in the early stages of the experiment, but decreased in the later stages. The decline in periphyton biomass at the later stages of the experiment was due to limited light availability, which resulted from the increased phytoplankton density in the experiment. The nutrient enrichment treatments resulted in changes in the dominant algal species in the periphyton, suggesting that various algal species showed different responses to different nutrients. The results of this study have implications for nutrient management in aquatic ecosystems.     

C:N:P stoichiometry of perennial herbs' organs in the alpine steppe of the northern Tibetan Plateau

The patterns of C:N:P stoichiometry across ecosystems are important in understanding biogeochemical processes. The stoichiometry of nutrients at the leaf and root level have been reported previously, but relationships of other plant organs, such as stems and the reproductive organs, remain unclear. We collected 228 samples of leaves, roots, stems and reproductive organs from 11 common plant species at 25 sites on the Tibetan Plateau to explore the relationships of C:N:P stoichiometry both within and across plant organs. The average C concentrations in the roots, leaves, stems and reproductive organs were 427.32, 410.51, 421.11 and 416.72 mg g~(-1), respectively. The shoot tissues(leaves, stems and reproductive organs) had significantly higher N and P concentrations than the roots. The N and P concentrations had a significant positive correlation within the same organ. The nutrient concentrations(N and P) and nutrient ratios(C:N, C:P and N:P) were significantly correlated across all pairwise organ combinations. Our data suggest that alpine perennial herbs share similar evolutionary histories and have constrained patterns of covariation for C concentrations, with differential patterns for N and P stoichiometry across organs. Our data also indicate that covarying sets of nutrient traits are consistent across environments and biogeographical regions and demonstrate convergent evolution in plant nutritional characteristics in extreme alpine environments.     

Effect of nitrogen to phosphorus ratios on cell proliferation in marine micro algae

The ratio of nitrogen/phosphorus (N/P) is known to affect cell proliferation of some marine micro algae. We evaluated the effect of N/P ratios on the proliferation and succession of phytoplankton using five marine micro algae species. We used two sources of nitrogen, NH4Cl (N1) and urea (N2), and a single source of phosphorous, NaH2PO4(P). The optimal N/P ratio that differed among the five species was affected by the source of nitrogen, being as follows (N1/P, N2/P in order): Thalassiosira sp. (30/1, 20/1),...     

Nutrient compositions of cultured Skeletonema costatum,Chaetoceros curvisetus,and Thalassiosira nordenskildii

We cultured different-sized fractions of dominant phytoplankton species,Skeletonema costatum,Chaetoceros curvisetus,and Thalassiosira nordenski ldii,collected in different sea areas in various seasons,and measured and compared their C,N,P,Si contents.The N content of these species is similar,while the C,P,and Si contents of S.costatum from eutrophic Changjiang (Yangtze River) estuary are higher than those from Jiaozhou Bay (JZB),particularly the content of Si.The C,N,P,and Si contents of cultured phytoplank...     

Preliminarily study on the maximum handling size,prey size and species selectivity of growth hormone transgenic and non-transgenic common carp Cyprinus carpio when foraging on gastropods

The present study preliminarily examined the differences in maximum handling size, prey size and species selectivity of growth hormone transgenic and non-transgenic common carp Cyprinus carpio when foraging on four gastropods species( Bellamya aeruginosa, Radix auricularia, Parafossarulus sinensis and Alocinma longicornis) under laboratory conditions. In the maximum handling size trial, five fish from each age group(1-year-old and 2-year-old) and each genotype(transgenic and non-transgenic) of common carp were individually allowed to feed on B. aeruginosa with wide shell height range. The results showed that maximum handling size increased linearly with fish length, and there was no significant difference in maximum handling size between the two genotypes. In the size selection trial, three pairs of 2-year-old transgenic and non-transgenic carp were individually allowed to feed on three size groups of B. aeruginosa. The results show that the two genotypes of C. carpio favored the small-sized group over the large-sized group. In the species selection trial, three pairs of 2-year-old transgenic and non-transgenic carp were individually allowed to feed on thin-shelled B. aeruginosa and thick-shelled R. auricularia, and five pairs of 2-year-old transgenic and non-transgenic carp were individually allowed to feed on two gastropods species( P. sinensis and A. longicornis) with similar size and shell strength. The results showed that both genotypes preferred thin-shelled Radix auricularia rather than thick-shelled B. aeruginosa, but there were no significant difference in selectivity between the two genotypes when fed on P. sinensis and A. longicornis. The present study indicates that transgenic and non-transgenic C. carpio show similar selectivity of predation on the size-and species-limited gastropods. While this information may be useful for assessing the environmental risk of transgenic carp, it does not necessarily demonstrate that transgenic common carp might have lesser environmental impacts than non-transgenic carp.     

Degradation induces changes in the soil C:N:P stoichiometry of alpine steppe on the Tibetan Plateau

Due to the Tibetan Plateau's unique high altitude and low temperature climate conditions,the region's alpine steppe ecosystem is highly fragile and is suffering from severe degradation under the stress of increasing population,overgrazing,and climate change.The soil stoichiometry,a crucial part of ecological stoichiometry,provides a fundamental approach for understanding ecosystem processes by examining the relative proportions and balance of the three elements.Understanding the impact of degradation on the soil stoichiometry is vital for conservation and management in the alpine steppe on the Tibetan Plateau.This study aims to examine the response of soil stoichiometry to degradation and explore the underlying biotic and abiotic mechanisms in the alpine steppe.We conducted a field survey in a sequent degraded alpine steppe with seven levels inNorthern Tibet.The plant species,aboveground biomass,and physical and chemical soil properties such as the moisture content,temperature,pH,compactness,total carbon(C),total nitrogen(N),and total phosphorus(P)were measured and recorded.The results showed that the contents of soil C/N,C/P,and N/P consistently decreased along intensifying degradation gradients.Using regression analysis and a structural equation model(SEM),we found that the C/N,C/P,and N/P ratios were positively affected by the soil compactness,soil moisture content and species richness of graminoids but negatively affected by soil pH and the proportion of aboveground biomass of forbs.The soil temperature had a negative effect on the C/N ratio but showed positive effect on the C/P and N/P ratios.The current study shows that degradation-induced changes in abiotic and biotic conditions such as soil warming and drying,which accelerated the soil organic carbon mineralization,as well as the increase in the proportion of forbs,whichwere difficult to decompose and input less organic carbon into soil,resulted in the decreases in soil C/N,C/P,and N/P contents to a great extent.Our results provide a sound basis for sustainable conservation and management of the alpine steppe.     

Digestive enzyme activities in mudskipper Boleophthalmus pectinirostris and Chinese black sleeper Bostrichthys sinensis

The mudskipper Boleophthalmus pectinirostris and Chinese black sleeper Bostrichthys sinensis occupy the intertidal zone. However, both species have their own unique diet. The former is an herbivore and the latter is a carnivore. In order to reveal the relationship between digestive enzyme activities and diets in the two species, the activities of protease (P), non-specific bile salt-activated lipase (BAL) and α-amylase (A) were determined in the stomach and intestine of adult mudskipper B. pectinirostris and Chinese black sleeper B. sinensis. The results showed that the activities of protease, BAL and α-amylase in the intestine of B. pectinirostris were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those in the stomach. In B. sinensis, gastric protease activity was not different from the intestinal protease (P>0.05), while BAL and α-amylase activities of the intestine were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those of the stomach. The activity of gastric protease in B. sinensis was significantly (P<0.05) higher than that in B. pectinirostris, while the activities of intestinal protease were not different between the two fish species (P>0.05). BAL activities of the stomach and intestine in B. sinensis were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those in B. pectinirostris, while α-amylase activities of the stomach and intestine in B. pectinirostris were significantly (P<0.05) higher than those in B. sinensis. The ratios of P/BAL, A/P and A/BAL of the digestive tract in B. pectinirostris were 1.5, 107.3 and 158.6, respectively; and those in B. sinensis were 0.2, 1.6 and 0.2, respectively. It can be concluded that food digestion in the adult B. pectinirostris is mainly carried out in the intestine, whereas in the adult B. sinensis it is initiated in the stomach and finishes in the intestine. The activities of BAL and α-amylase in B. pectinirostris and B. sinensis are well correlated with their diets. However, a clear-cut correlation between protease activity and diets is not found in these two species.     

Is Moss Stoichiometry Influenced by Microtopography in a Boreal Peatland of Northeast China?

To examine the effects of microtopography on the stoichiometry of carbon(C), nitrogen(N) and phosphorus(P) in mosses along the hummock-hollow gradient in boreal peatlands, we investigated species-level C?N, C?P and N?P ratios of five mosses(Sphagnum magellanicum, S. perichaetiale, S. palustre, S. girgensohnii and Aulacomnium palustre) in the hummocks, hollows and their intermediate zones, and then assessed community-level spatial patterns in a boreal ombrotrophic peatland of north of the Great Xing'an Mountain, Northeast China. The results show that at the species level, C?N, C?P and N?P ratios of the selected Sphagnum mosses remained stable in the hummock-hollow complexes due to unchanged C, N and P concentrations, whereas the non-Sphagnum moss(A. palustre) in the hummocks and intermediate zones had lower P concentrations and thus greater C?P ratios than that in the hollows. At the community level, moss N concentration and C?N ratio remained constant along the hummock-hollow gradient, whereas hummocks and intermediate zones had higher community-level moss C?P and N?P ratios than hollows because of greater C and lower P concentrations. These findings imply that the effects of microtopography on moss C?N?P stoichiometry are scale-dependent and reveal spatial heterogeneity in C and nutrient dynamics. These results provide a more comprehensive understanding of biogeochemical cycles in boreal peatlands.     

田师傅植物群的基本特征

作者把辽宁本溪田师傅盆地及凤城赛马—阳盆地的早中侏罗世植物群简称田师傅植物群。该植物群由34属77种植物组成。本文是在已确定的名单基础上,着重讨论植物群的性质.组合序列的划分,与同期植物群的比较及其所属地理区和气候带等。田师傅植物群属我国北方锥叶蕨—拟刺葵植物群范围,可划分出早、中、晚3期组合,它与北票、门头沟等植物群最为相似,同属西伯利亚区的中国北方省,反映出温热潮湿的温带或温带—亚热带气候。     

APPLICATION OF CLAYS TO REMOVAL OF RED TIDE ORGANISMS Ⅱ.COAGULATION OF DIFFERENT SPECIES OF RED TIDE ORGANISMS WITH MONTMORILLONITE AND EFFECT OF CLAY PRETREATMENT

Study on the coagulation of four species of red tide organisms(Nitzschia pungens,Skeletonema costatum,Prorocentrum minimum and Noctiluca scintillans)with montmorillonite,and the effect ofmontmorillonite pretreatment on the coagulation shows that the capability for montmorillonite to coagu-late with them is in the order:N.pungens>S.costatum>P.minimum>N.scintillans.Thecoagulation is discussed from the aspects of the structure,shape,size,movement,habit,etc.of differ-ent species and the results are explained theoretically.The experimental results also indicate that the treat-ment of montmorillonite with acid can enhance its coagulating capability.This is due to the fact that Al(OH_2)_6~(+3),exchanged from the clay lattice by hydrogen ion H~+,forms hydroxy-aluminum polymers on thesurface of the montmorillonite.The hydroxy-aluminum polymers positively charge and increase the positivecharacteristic of the clay surface,and also serves as a bridge between adjacent surfaces of particles.Thesetwo functions enhance     

Effects of a Potential Autochthonous Probiotic Bacillus subtilis 2-1 on the Growth and Intestinal Microbiota of Juvenile Sea Cucumber,Apostichopus japonicus Selenka

The effects of Bacillus subtilis 2-1 from the intestine of healthy sea cucumber on the growth, digestive enzyme activities and intestinal microbiota of juvenile sea cucumber(Apostichopus japonicus) were determined in the present study. Sea cucumber was fed with Sargassum thunbergii powder supplemented with B. subtilis 2-1 at different concentrations varying among 0(control), 10~5, 10~7, and 10~9 CFU g~(-1) for 8 weeks. Results showed that the growth performance and intestinal amylase and trypsin activities were significantly increased by dietary B. subtilis 2-1 at 10~9 CFU g~(-1)(P 0.05). However, dietary B. subtilis 2-1 had no significant influence on the lipase activity in sea cucumber(P 0.05). The polymerase chain reaction denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis indicated that dietary B. subtilis 2-1 at 105 and 107 CFU g~(-1) inhibited most of the Proteobacteria including those in genus Vibrio. Dietary B. subtilis 2-1 at 10~9 CFU g~(-1) not only decreased the abundance and species of genus Vibrio, but also increased the intensity of genera Psychrobacter and Bacillus. A specific dosage of dietary B. subtilis 2-1 could increase the growth and modulate the intestinal microbiota of sea cucumber; thus it might be a novel probiotic for keeping the health of sea cucumber.     

Molecular identification of Prorocentrum （Dinophyceae） species

A fragment of a large sub-unit ribosomal DNA (LrDNA) of 12 strains of Prorocentrum species was amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The PCR products were digested by 3 restriction endonucleases (Cfo Ⅰ, Hae Ⅲ, and RSA Ⅰ) and then resolved in agarose gels. Results show that different species had different RFLP patterns, except for P arcuatum (ME 131), which had the same pattern to P. micans (ME 160 and 04).The same fragment of 19 strains of the genus was also amplified and subjected to denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). 11 different patterns were resolved. Different cultures of a same species had the same pattern. The results of RFLP and DGGE analyses showed that eight newly isolated epibenthic Prorocentrum species were different from each other, and also from other cultured ones examined in this study. P arcuatum(MEI32) could not be differentiated from P. micans (MEI60 and 04), it was probably mis-identified, since they are quite different morphologically. P. redfieldii (MEI38) could also not be distinguished form P. triestinium(MEI32), it should be regarded as a synonym ofP. triestinium. Unexpectedly, a restriction site was found in P.micans, compared with previous sequence data.     

Can short-term and small-scale experiments reflect nutrient limitation on phytoplankton in natural lakes?

Whether it is necessary to reduce nitrogen(N) and/or phosphorus(P) input to mitigate lake eutrophication is controversial. The controversy stems mainly from differences in time and space in previous studies that support the contrasting ideas. To test the response of phytoplankton to various combinations of nutrient control strategies in mesocosms and the possibility of reflecting the conditions in natural ecosystems with short-term experiments, a 9-month experiment was carried out in eight 800-L tanks with four nutrient level combinations(+N+P,-N+P, +N-P, and-N-P), with an 18-month whole-ecosystem experiment in eight ~800-m~2 ponds as the reference. Phytoplankton abundance was determined by P not N, regardless of the initial TN/TP level, which was in contrast to the nutrient limitation predicted by the N/P theory. Net natural N inputs were calculated to be 4.9, 6.8, 1.5, and 3.0 g in treatments +N+P,-N+P, +N-P, and-N-P, respectively, suggesting that N deficiency and P addition may promote natural N inputs to support phytoplankton development. However, the compensation process was slow, as suggested by an observed increase in TN after 3 weeks in-N+P and 2 months in-N-P in the tank experiment, and after 3 months in-N?+P and ~3 months in-N-P in our pond experiment. Obviously, such a slow process cannot be simulated in short-term experiments. The natural N inputs cannot be explained by planktonic N-fixation because N-fixing cyanobacteria were scarce, which was probably because there was a limited pool of species in the tanks. Therefore, based on our results we argue that extrapolating short-term, small-scale experiments to large natural ecosystems does not give reliable, accurate results.     

Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus on the growth of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Levanderina fissa</Emphasis>: How it blooms in Pearl River Estuary

Effects of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from different sources and at different concentrations on the growth of Levanderina fissa (= Gyrodinium instriatum) were studied in laboratory conditions. The findings might explain the recurrent blooms of this species in Pearl River Estuary, China. Results showed that nutrient limitation significantly inhibited the growth of L. fissa. The values of specific growth rate (μ _max) and half-saturation nutrient concentration (K _S) were 0.37 divisions/d and 8.49 μmol L^?1 for N, and 0.39 divisions/d and 1.99 μmol L^?1 for P, respectively. Based on K _S values, dissolved inorganic N level in PRE was sufficient to support the high proliferation of L. fissa, while dissolved inorganic P concentration was far lower than the minimum requirement for its effective growth. L. fissa was not able to utilize dissolved organic N (DON) compounds such as urea, amino acids, and uric acid. However, it grew well by using a wide variety of dissolved organic P (DOP) sources like nucleotides, glycerophosphate, and 4-nitrophenylphosphate. The results from this study suggested that the ability in DOP utilization of L. fissa offers this species a competitive advantage in phytoplankton communities. The high level and continuous supply of DIN, enrichment of DOP, together with warm climate and low salinity in the Pearl River Estuary provided a suitable nutrient niche for the growth of L. fissa, and resulted in the recurrent blooms in the estuary.     

Responses of Dodonaea viscosa growth and soil biological properties to nitrogen and phosphorus additions in Yuanmou dry-hot valley

Nitrogen(N) and phosphorus(P) are limited nutrients in terrestrial ecosystems, and their limitation patterns are being changed by the increase in N deposition. However, little information concerns the plant growth and the soil biological responses to N and P additions among different soils simultaneously, and these responses may contribute to understand plant-soil interaction and predict plant performance under global change. Thus, this study aimed to explore how N and P limitation changes in different soil types, and reveal the relationship between plant and soil biological responses to nutrient additions. We planted Dodonaea viscosa, a globally distributed species in three soil types(Lixisols, Regosols and Luvisols) in Yuanmou dry-hot valley in Southwest China and fertilized them factorially with N and P. The growth and biomass characters of D. viscosa, soil organic matter, available N, P contents and soil carbon(C), N, P-related enzyme activities were quantified. N addition promoted the growth and leaf N concentration of D. viscosa in Lixisols; N limitation in Lixisols was demonstrated by lower soil available N with higher urease activity. P addition promoted the growth and leaf P concentration of D. viscosa in Luvisols; severe P limitation in Luvisols was demonstrated by a higher soil available N: P ratio with higher phosphatase activity. Urease activity was negatively correlated with soil available N in Nlimited Lixisols, and phosphatase activity was negatively correlated with soil available P in P-limited Luvisols. Besides, the aboveground biomass and leaf N concentration of D. viscosa were positively correlated with soil available N in Lixisols, but the aboveground biomass was negatively correlated with soil available P. Our results show similar nutrient limitation patterns between plant and soil microorganism in the condition of enough C, and the nutrient limitations differ across soil types. With the continued N deposition, N limitation of the Lixisols in dry hot valleys is expected to be alleviated, while P limitation of the Luvisols in the mountaintop may be worse in the future, which should be considered when restoring vegetation.     

POLYCLONAL ANTIBODIES TO LIGHT-HARVESTING CHL-PROTEIN OF PSII (LHC II) IN MARINE GREEN ALGAE BRYOPSIS CORTICULANS

Polyc . lonal antibodies raised against LHC II isolated from SDS-solubilized Bryopsis corticulans thylakiod membranes by SDS-PAGE, were characterised by double immunodifiusion, Rocket immunoelectrophoresis and antigen-antibody crossed immunoelectro - phoresis assays showed the antibodies had strong cross-reaction with all B , corticulans LHC II components (even with those which were incubated in boiling water)and showed immunological cross-reactivity with LHC II polypeptides of spinach and the marine green alga Codium fragile. The results suggested that LHC II of different species had similar antigenic determinants and also conservation of amino acid sequences of the polypeptides during evolution, and that the antibodies could cross react with apoproteins of D2 proteins (which contain P680) from B. corticulans, spinach and C. fragile, but not with apoproteins of P 700 Chl-proteins. Our results indicated some similarities in primary structure between LHC II of different species, and between LHC II and D2     

Life history, secondary production and trophic basis of two dominant mayflies in a subtropical stream of China

Mayflies constitute a major part of macroinvertebrate biomass and production in Iotic ecosystems, and play an important role in material cycle and energy flow. There are more than 250 species of mayflies in rivers and streams of China. In order to learn their ecological functions, an investigation on life cycle, production and trophic basis of dominant species of mayflies in a second-order branch of Hanjiang River basin, Hubei, China was carried out during June 2003 to June 2004. The results showed that the dominant mayfly species Epeorus sp. and Caenis sp. developed two generations per year; in term of Epeorus sp., pupation mainly occurred in spring and then from late summer to early autumn, while Caenis sp. pupated in spring and autumn. The abundance and biomass of the Epeorus sp. population peaked twice （1 226 ind/m^2, 3.142 5g/m^2） in April and June. Caenis sp. also had two peaks （307ind/m^2, 1.590 g/m^2）, but in February and June. Cohort production and cohort P/B ratio of Epeorus sp. were 161.009 g/m2 wet weight and 7.7, respectively, and annual production and P/B ratio were 267.46g/m^2.a wet weight and 15.4, respectively; cohort production and P/B ratio of Caenis sp. were 26.7995g/m^2 wet weight and 4.7, its annual production and P/B ratio were 53.60 g/m2.a wet weight and 9.4, respectively. For Epeorus sp., the proportions contributing to secondary production of the main food types were： amorphous detritus, 33.46%; fungi, 10.83%; vascular plant detritus, 1.80%; diatoms, 53.90%; for Caenis sp., the proportions were 70.79%, 6.90%, 3.52% and 18.77%, respectively.     

Nutrient compositions of cultured Skeletonema costatum, Chaetoceros curvisetus, and Thalassiosira nordenskiöldii

We cultured different-sized fractions of dominant phytoplankton species, Skeletonema costatum, Chaetoceros curvisetus, and Thalassiosira nordenskiöldii, collected in different sea areas in various seasons, and measured and compared their C, N, P, Si contents. The N content of these species is similar, while the C, P, and Si contents of S. costatum from eutrophic Changjiang (Yangtze River) estuary are higher than those from Jiaozhou Bay (JZB), particularly the content of Si. The C, N, P, and Si contents of cultured phytoplankton in JZB increase with size fraction augmentation, and the percentages of C, N, and P follow the same trend, while the percentage of Si remain constant. Moreover, S. costatum from small-sized fraction assimilated Si more easily than C. curvisetus and T. nordenskiöldii, which is explained by the dominance of S. costatum under the conditions of low SiO₃-Si concentration in JZB. The C, N, P, and Si contents of cultured S. costatum collected during summer and winter are higher, which is consistent with the phytoplankton blooming seasons in JZB. The SiO₃-Si concentration of seawater during spring restrain the growth of phytoplankton, supported by the fact that the N, P, and Si contents and their ratios in cells of cultured S. costatum are low in spring season.     

Dynamics of above- and below-ground biomass and C, N, P accumulation in the alpine steppe of Northern Tibet

The temporal dynamics of the biomass, as well as the carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) concentrations and accumulation contents, in aboveand below-ground vegetation components were determined in the alpine steppe vegetation of Northern Tibet during the growing season of 2010. The highest levels of total biomass (311.68 g m⁻²), total C (115.95 g m⁻²), total N (2.60 g m⁻²), and total P (0.90 g m⁻²) accumulation contents were obtained in August in 2010. Further, biomass and nutrient stocks in the below-ground components were higher than those of the above-ground components. The dominant species viz., Stipa purpurea and Carex moorcrofti had lower biomass and C, N, P accumulations than the companion species which including Oxytropis. spp., Artemisia capillaris Thunb., Aster tataricus L., and so on.