Plant diversity as a good indicator of vegetation stability in a typical plateau wetland

Biotic indicators have been widely used to monitor wetland health. However, few studies have explicitly evaluated if plant diversity could serve as a useful community-level indicator of wetland stability, especially when wetlands are confronted with anthropogenic perturbations. Based on three-year record of wetland plant species abundance in Napahai plateau wetland, Shangri-la under the influence of varying anthropogenic perturbation types, our study tests the impact of such perturbations on plant richness and the relationship between ecosystem temporal stability and plant richness, and further assesses the effectiveness of using plant diversity indicator to probe ecosystem temporal stability of Napahai plateau wetland and the potential mechanisms. The results showed that anthropogenic perturbations could have contributed significantly to realistic variation in plant diversity, and further demonstrated that ecosystem temporal stability was positively related to realistic variation in plant diversity. In particular, communities with high levels of diversity might have better capacity to dampen perturbation impacts than communities with low levels of diversity, and statistical averaging could have played an important role in causing greater stability in more diverse communities. Also, asynchrony might have a stabilizing effect on community stability, and diversity could have stabilized communities through both species asynchrony and population stability propagation. Therefore, our results suggest that plant diversity could be used as a useful indicator of the stability conditions of plateau wetland ecosystems confronted with anthropogenic perturbations, and the preservation of plant communities at sufficient abundance and diversity is necessary for maintaining healthy plateau wetlands and for sustaining their essential ecosystem functions and services.     

农作物主要病虫害对甘肃气候暖干化的响应及应对技术的研究进展

通过选取甘肃省80个气象站点1961—2010年的气象要素值计算和分析,结果表明,暖干化是甘肃现代气候变化的基本特征。甘肃年平均气温气候倾向率均为正值,年平均气温每10年增温0.29℃;年降水量自1961年以来呈持续下降趋势,降水距平百分率以每10年1.7%的速率递减。揭示了气候变化对马铃薯晩疫病、麦蚜虫、小麦条锈病、玉米棉铃虫、红蜘蛛等5种主要农作物病虫害的影响。总结气候暖干化对主要农作物病虫害的主要危害特征：病虫种类增多、地域范围扩大;越冬界线北移、时间提早发生、受害程度加重;害虫生长季节延长、繁殖代数增加、种群增长加快;病毒病增多,易发大流行;寄主、害虫、天敌种群的生态系统发生了变化,使害虫得到迅速繁殖。提出完善农作物病虫害监测评估预警体系建设,提高精准优质预报服务;建立防治农作物病虫害管理生产新模式和配套技术适应气候变化;根据未来气候预测和针对不同气候类型以及不同气候年型调整作物种植结构和比例;制定精细化农作物病虫害综合农业自然资源区划,确定精准的高危病区范围重点防治等4个方面的措施和技术应对气候暖干化。     

Quantitative reconstruction of climate variability during the Eemian (Merkinė) and Weichselian (Nemunas) in Lithuania

Little is known concerning climate changes in the Eastern Baltic region during the last interglacial–glacial cycle and in particular, climate changes during the Weichselian. In this study, a quantitative reconstruction of the mean January and July temperature for the Medininkai-117 site in Lithuania is presented. The reconstruction is based on pollen and plant macrofossils from this site, which reveal that the vegetation was characteristic of many northern Europe sites during the Eemian and Early Weichselian. Gradual evolution of the vegetation suggests that relatively uniform climate conditions existed during the Eemian. Our reconstructions support the view of a relatively stable Eemian, with short cooling phases of low amplitude. A strong increase in temperature was apparent during the beginning of the interglacial and decrease during the transition to the Weichselian. Reconstructed July temperatures of the Eemian interglacial were approximately 2 °C higher than today (18.5 °C; today: 16.2 °C) and were similar to today for January (− 5.2 °C; today: − 5.1 °C). July temperatures during the Early Weichselian were only ~ 2°C lower than during the Eemian, whereas the January temperatures gradually decreased. Winter temperatures were relatively high (above − 10 °C) during the Early Weichselian.     

Characteristics of selenium migration in soil–plant system of East Meshchera and Transbaikalia

Herein some results of comparative researches to determine the parameters of selenium migration in meadow biogeocenoses of East Meshchera and East Transbaikalia are presented. The parameters of selenium mobility in soils (i.e., the element total content, plant-accumulation coefficient (Kb) and/or mobile form ratio) in Urov biogeochemical provinces of the East Transbaikalia are quite comparable to the element migration parameters found in selenium-deficient landscapes of the same area. Selenium mobility indices and ecological status are significantly higher for meadow biogeocenoses of the East Meshchera (Moscow Region) and also for limestone soils.     

Selenium levels in Lebanese environment

Very limited research has been conducted on selenium (Se) in Lebanese soils and forage crops but no work has been done on Se in water and locally produced vegetables and grains. This research was conducted in order to quantify Se levels and its availability in agricultural soils, vegetables and grains in Lebanon. Sixty-six (66) soil samples were collected from 33 selected sites in Lebanon: the Bekaa Valley, coastal and mountainous regions. Thirteen (13) different plant types (86 samples) were sampled from the same locations. Also, 13 spring water and 10 bottled water samples were collected. Soil samples were analyzed for their physical and chemical properties. Selenium was extracted from soils with: deionized–distilled water (Soluble-Se), KH₂PO₄-0.1 M (MKP-Se) and concentrated (HNO₃ + HCl) mixture (acid-Se). Plant Se was extracted by acid digestion on a hotplate. Selenium concentrations were measured by the inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrophotometer (ICP-MS). The values of Soluble-Se, MKP-Se and acid-Se ranged between 47 and 142, 147 and 400, and 1749 and 4713 μg/kg, respectively, with average values of 95, 306, and 3118 μg/kg and at a ratio of 1:3:30. Thus, Se extracted with deionized–distilled water is a good indicator for Se availability in the studied soils. The average Se concentration in plants was in the following order: radish > lettuce > cucumber > cabbage > parsley > alfalfa > onion (leaves) > broccoli > tomato > mint > chickpeas > wheat > onion (bulbs). The Se levels in water samples were in the safe range (less than 50 μg/L) and ranged between 2.14 and 17.6 μg/L. The levels of Se in the three soil extractants were positively correlated with each other and with organic matter content, salinity and phosphorus (P). Selenium levels in plant samples were positively correlated at a 0.01 significance level with clay and P content.     

褐点石斑鱼不同组织4种同工酶的研究

运用聚丙烯酰胺垂直梯度凝胶电泳法对褐点石斑鱼7种组织(眼睛、肌肉、心脏、肝脏、肾脏、尾鳍、脾脏)的4种同工酶(EST、SOD、LDH、MDH)进行了初步研究。结果表明:褐点石斑鱼的4种同工酶系统具有不同程度的组织特异性。EST由4个基因位点编码,具有多态性现象;肌肉SOD与其它组织SOD有明显差异;眼睛LDH酶谱酶带最多;MDH具有线粒体型(m-MDH)和上清液型(s-MDH)两种类型。     

利用多年冻土区湖相沉积物中埋藏植物稳定碳同位素组成重建大气CO2浓度

沉水植物碳同位素分馏同水中溶解无机碳浓度有一定的关系，因而可以通过青藏高原多年冻土区的湖相沉积物中埋藏沉水植物－－龙须眼子菜（Potamogeton pectinatus)植物屑的碳同位素组成重建该地大气CO2浓度的变化情形，研究结果表明，该地在9．17－6．77ka BP间，大气CO2浓度是整个研究时间段中最低的，其后在6．77－4．56ka BP时期大气CO2浓度增加，在4．56－2．17ka BP之间，大气CO2浓度是整个研究时间内CO2浓度最高的阶段，植物屑的碳同位素组成反映了溶解无机碳浓度的变化，从而可用以重建大气CO2浓度的变化情况。     

草本植物对浅埋隧道洞口仰坡防冲刷影响分析

随着环保型隧道洞门理念的提出,实现生态环保隧道设计,以保护隧道洞口仰坡原有生态为主导思想,充分利用植物的根系加固仰坡,然而植物根系的加固、防冲刷机理尚未清晰,有必要进行深入研究。首先调查某隧道南北洞口仰坡有无植物根系对降雨引起的冲刷量的影响,分析植物的加固与防冲刷效果; 然后采用室内试验测定土体的抗剪强度参数,运用有限元强度折减法分析草本植物的加筋护坡作用,评价植物根系对浅层滑坡的抑制作用。发现草本植物在一定程度改善浅层滑坡,降低浅层滑坡的概率,同时具有明显的防冲刷效果,有草本植物的地区,产砂量明显减小。本研究成果能很好地服务于植物护坡的设计与施工,以及仰坡的养护。     

Plant species diversity along an altitudinal gradient of Bhabha Valley in western Himalaya

The present study highlights the rich species diversity of higher plants in the Bhabha Valley of western Himalaya in India. The analysis of species diversity revealed that a total of 313 species of higher plants inhabit the valley with a characteristic of moist alpine shrub vegetation. The herbaceous life forms dominate and increase with increasing altitude. The major representations are from the families Asteraceae, Rosaceae, Lamiaceae and Poaceae, suggesting thereby the alpine meadow nature of the study area. The effect of altitude on species diversity displays a hump-shaped curve which may be attributed to increase in habitat diversity at the median ranges and relatively less habitat diversity at higher altitudes. The anthropogenic pressure at lower altitudes results in low plant diversity towards the bottom of the valley with most of the species being exotic in nature. Though the plant diversity is less at higher altitudinal ranges, the uniqueness is relatively high with high species replacement rates. More than 90 % of variability in the species diversity could be explained using appropriate quantitative and statistical analysis along the altitudinal gradient. The valley harbours 18 threatened and 41 endemic species, most of which occur at higher altitudinal gradients due to habitat specificity.     

浙江丽水太山山地常绿阔叶林的群落特征

通过样方调查,应用物种丰富度,物种多样性指数和群落均匀度等指标对分布在浙江丽水太山山地的常绿阔叶林群落类型进行了分析。结果表明,太山山地常绿阔叶林主要有3种类型(群系),即甜槠木荷林、褐叶青冈林、青冈石栎林。并对各群落类型的结构和物种组成进行了分析。在群落的垂直结构上,灌木层、乔木层、草本层的物种多样性依次降低,群落类型处于华东和华南区系的过渡带。群落生活型以中、小高位芽植物为主,群落叶的性质以单叶,革质和全缘的小叶为主。