Modification of Two-Equation Models to Account for Plant Drag

A modification of the most popular two-equation (E–φ) models, taking into account the plant drag, is proposed. Here E is the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) and φ is any of the following variables: El (product of E and the mixing length l), (dissipation rate of TKE), and ω (specific dissipation of TKE, ). The proposed modification is due to the fact that the model constants estimated experimentally for ‘free-air’ flow do not allow for adequate reconstruction of the ratio between the production and dissipation rates of TKE in the vegetation canopy and have to be adjusted. The modification is universal, i.e. of the same type for all E–φ models considered. The numerical experiments carried out for both homogeneous and heterogeneous plant canopies with E–φ models (and with the E–l model taken as a kind of reference) show that the modification performs well. They also suggest that E– and E–ω schemes are more promising than the E–El scheme for canopy flow simulation since they are not limited by the need to use a wall function.In addition, a new parameterization for enhanced dissipation within the plant canopy is derived. It minimizes the model sensitivity to C _μ, the key parameter for two-equation schemes, and whose estimates unfortunately vary considerably from experiment to experiment. The comparison of results of new modified E– and E –ω models with observations from both field and wind-tunnel experiments shows that the proposed parameterization is quite robust. However, because of uncertainties with the turbulence Prandtl and Schmidt numbers for the E– model within the canopy, the E–ω model is recommended for future implementation, with the suggested modifications.     

选煤厂无功补偿方案及其节电效果的分析

通过对国内选煤厂用电状况的调查,选煤厂用电负荷非常大,电费是选煤厂一个相当可观的支出。本文通过实践,发现合理的无功补偿方案对选煤厂提高电能质量和节电起到很大的作用。     

Heat-shock protein 70 expression in shrimp Fenneropenaeus chinensis during thermal and immune-challenged stress

Using western immunoblotting we obtained heat-shock protein 70 (HSP70) induction data and distribution in different tissues from shrimpFenneropenaeus chinensis during thermal and immune-challenged stresses. This is probably the first report of the effects of various stressors on the expression of HSP70 in shrimp. HSP70 was prominently induced in hepatopancreas and gills, but not in muscle, eyestalk and hemolymph, when the shrimp were exposed to heat shock andVibrio anguillavium-challenged stresses. Cold shock and WSSV treatment had no significant effects on the levels of HSP70 expression in all tissues examined. HSP70 induction was greatest after 2 h exposure to heat shock stress, which was elevated after acute heat shock exposure of 10°C above ambient temperature. Supported by the National Key Fundamental Research Program “Study of the Major Diseases and Resistance Mechanism of Mariculture Organisms”, NSFC, No. 30140017, and the international cooperative program “Immunaqua” by the European Commission, No. ICA4-CT-2001-10023.     

潮汐对闽江河口湿地土壤理化特征的影响分析

为阐明湿地土壤理化特征对潮汐的响应,对闽江河口外来入侵种互花米草斑块湿地和土著种短叶茳芏湿地土壤理化特征进行了测定和分析。结果表明:①互花米草斑块湿地和短叶茳芏湿地涨潮前和落潮后土壤理化特征差异不显著(p>0.05);②互花米草斑块湿地落潮后的土壤盐度、pH值和Eh与涨潮前的土壤以上指标的相关性高于与潮水以上指标的相关性(p<0.01),短叶茳芏湿地土壤Eh也表现出同样的规律,但盐度、pH值则与潮水相应指标的相关性更高(p<0.01);③互花米草斑块湿地和短叶茳芏湿地土壤盐度、pH值和Eh潮汐敏感性存在着不同的季节变化模式,在潮水盐度、pH值和Eh分别为0～3ms/cm、7.0～7.5和负值的情况下对潮汐的响应较为敏感。     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal associations in Solanum centrale (bush tomato), a perennial sub-shrub from the arid zone of Australia

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi convey well documented benefits to plant growth in domesticated species. We investigated AM in Solanum centrale, a desert shrub of central Australia and traditional food for Indigenous Australians. AM were observed in roots of S. centrale from wild and cultivated stands of different ages and management regimes. Greenhouse seedlings grown in sterilised sand were provided with no or minor additions of phosphorus, with or without AM fungi. Inoculated seedlings not fertilised with phosphorus exhibited moderate AM formation. Added phosphorus resulted in an absence of AM. Inoculation did not significantly affect dry weight, root length and plant height of seedlings fertilised with phosphorus but significantly increased the size of unfertilised seedlings. Inoculation significantly increased root phosphorus content, decreased root to shoot ratio and decreased root biomass at all phosphorus additions, despite the absence of observable AM. Thus it appears AM fungi in the root zone influenced certain plant characteristics, regardless of phosphorus nutrition. Overall, S. centrale benefited from the presence of AM through increased phosphorus uptake, but only when the seedlings were growing in soil with extremely low available phosphorus. The response was immediate in our experimental system and is likely to be important in the wild.     

Pre-industrial-potential and Last Glacial Maximum global vegetation simulated with a coupled climate-biosphere model: diagnosis of bioclimatic relationships

The global climate–vegetation model HadSM3_TRIFFID has been used to estimate the equilibrium states of climate and vegetation with pre-industrial and last glacial boundary conditions. The present study focuses on the evaluation of the terrestrial biosphere component (TRIFFID) and its response to changes in climate and CO₂ concentration. We also show how, by means of a diagnosis of the distribution of plant functional types according to climate parameters (soil temperature, winter temperature, growing-degree days, precipitation), it is possible to get better insights into the strengths and weaknesses of the biosphere model by reference to field knowledge of ecosystems.The model exhibits profound changes between the vegetation distribution at the Last Glacial Maximum and today that are generally consistent with palaeoclimate data, such as the disappearance of the Siberian boreal forest (taiga), an increase in shrub cover in Europe and an increase of the subtropical desert area. The effective equatorial and sub-tropical tree area is reduced by 18%. There is also an increase in cover of wooded species in North-Western Africa and in Mexico. The analysis of bioclimatic relationships turns out to be an efficient method to infer the contributions of different climatic factors to vegetation changes, both at high latitudes, where the position of the boreal treeline appears in this model to be more directly constrained by the water stress than by summer temperature, and in semi-humid areas where the contributions of temperature and precipitation changes may partly compensate each other. Our study also confirms the major contribution of the decrease in CO₂ to environmental changes and carbon storage through its selective impact on gross primary productivity of C3 and C4 plants and a reduction by 25% of water-use efficiency. Specifically, the reduction in CO₂ concentration increases the amount of precipitation necessary to sustain at least 20% of grass fraction by 50 mm/year; the corresponding threshold for trees is increased by about 150 mm/year. As a consequence, a reduction in CO₂ concentration considerably widens the climatic range where grasses and shrubs dominate.     

Plant Seeds as Model Vectors for the Transfer of Life Through Space

We consider plant seeds as terrestrial models for a vectored life form that could protect biological information in space. Seeds consist of maternal tissue surrounding and protecting an embryo. Some seeds resist deleterious conditions found in space: ultra low vacuum, extreme temperatures and radiation, including intense UV light. In a receptive environment, seeds could liberate a viable embryo, viable higher cells or a viable free-living organism (an endosymbiont or endophyte). Even if viability is lost, seeds still contain functional macro and small molecules (DNA, RNA, proteins, amino acids, lipids, etc.) that could provide the chemical basis for starting or modifying life. The possible release of endophytes or endosymbionts from a seed-like space traveler suggests that multiple domains of life, defined in DNA sequence phylogenies, could be disseminated simultaneously from Earth. We consider the possibility of exospermia, the outward transfer of life, as well as introspermia, the inward transfer of life–both as a contemporary and ancient events.     

植物样品中金的分析方法研究

植物样品中金的分析方法很多。通过大量试验表明,植物样品的灰化温度和分解方式对金的分析结果影响很大。为此,在大量试验的基础上确立了植物样品在650℃灰化,王水溶解,泡沫塑料分离富集,硫脲解脱金,石墨炉原子吸收测定植物样品中金的分析方法。该方法快速、简单、准确、可靠,方法的检出限为0.29×10~(-9)。用3个含量分别为115.4×10~(-9).15.0×10~(-9),18.1×10~(-9)的植物样品做精密度试验。其相对标准偏差分別是5.26％、21.5％、7.37％。     

Soil Microbial Abundances and Enzyme Activities in Different Rhizospheres in an Integrated Vertical Flow Constructed Wetland

Rhizosphere microorganism is an important bio‐component for wastewater treatment in constructed wetlands (CWs). Microbial abundance and enzyme activities in the rhizospheres of nine plant species were investigated in an integrated vertical‐flow CW. The abundance of denitrifiers, as well as urease, acid, and alkaline phosphatase activities were positively correlated to plant root biomass. The abundance of bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, ammonifiers, denitrifiers, and phosphorus decomposers, related to nutrient removal efficiencies in CWs, greatly varied among rhizospheres of different plant species (p < 0.05). Significant differences in rhizosphere enzyme activity among plant species were also observed (p < 0.05), with the exception of catalase activity. The principal component analysis using the data of microbial abundance and enzyme activity showed that Miscanthus floridulus, Acorus calamus, and Reineckia carnea were candidates to be used in CWs to effectively remove nitrogen and phosphorus from wastewater.     

Response of a warm temperate peatland to Holocene climate change in northeastern Pennsylvania

Studying boreal-type peatlands near the edge of their southern limit can provide insight into responses of boreal and sub-arctic peatlands to warmer climates. In this study, we investigated peatland history using multi-proxy records of sediment composition, plant macrofossil, pollen, and diatom analysis from a ¹⁴C-dated sediment core at Tannersville Bog in northeastern Pennsylvania, USA. Our results indicate that peat accumulation began with lake infilling of a glacial lake at ~ 9 ka as a rich fen dominated by brown mosses. It changed to a poor fen dominated by Cyperaceae (sedges) and Sphagnum (peat mosses) at ~ 1.4 ka and to a Sphagnum-dominated poor fen at ~ 200 cal yr BP (~ AD 1750). Apparent carbon accumulation rates increased from 13.4 to 101.2 g C m^? 2 yr^? 1 during the last 8000 yr, with a time-averaged mean of 27.3 g C m^? 2 yr^? 1. This relatively high accumulation rate, compared to many northern peatlands, was likely caused by high primary production associated with a warmer and wetter temperate climate. This study implies that some northern peatlands can continue to serve as carbon sinks under a warmer and wetter climate, providing a negative feedback to climate warming.