Soil–vegetation relationships in a coastal desert plain of southern Sinai, Egypt

The present study provides an analysis of soil, vegetation types as well as structure and species distribution in 19 sites in El-Qaa plain along the Gulf of Suez (south Sinai, Egypt), and focuses on the environmental factors that control the species distribution. A total of 203 species belonging to 39 families of the vascular plants are recorded. Asteraceae, Fabaceae, Chenopodiaceae and Poaceae are the largest families. Grasses constitute only 9% of the recorded species, while the woody perennials (shrubs and sub-shrubs) are highly dominated (46%). Therophytes and chamaephytes are the most frequent, denoting a typical desert life-form spectrum. Floristic composition in the different geomorphologic landscape units showed differences in species richness. The highest mean species richness of 19.7±1.7 is recorded in the wadi channels. The lowest species richness values are recorded in the coastal shore and playas (6.0±1.4) and in the alluvial fans (mean of 8.4±1.6 species). Chorological analysis revealed that 46% of the studied species are uniregional, being native to the Saharo-Arabian region. On the other hand, about 50% of the recorded species are biregional and pluriregional, extending their distribution all over the Saharo-Arabian, Sudano-Zambezian, Irano-Turanian and Mediterranean regions. Classification of the vegetation is analysed using two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) techniques resulted in the recognition of five vegetation groups, each of definite vegetation and soil characters, and could be linked to a specific geomorphologic unit. Capparis spinosa var. spinosa occupied the terraces, Cornulaca monacantha, Convolvulus lanatus and Deverra tortuosa inhabited the alluvial plains, Launaea nudicaulis and Artemisia judaica characterized the wadi channels, Acacia tortilis subsp. raddiana and Leptadenia pyrotechnica characterized the alluvial fans and Tamarix nilotica, Zygophyllum album and Nitraria retusa on the playas and the coastal shore. Ordination techniques as detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) are used to examine the relationship between the vegetation and studied soil parameters. Nine soil variables are included: electrical conductivity, pH, calcium carbonate, gypsum, organic matter, gravel, fine soil fractions and soil saturation percentage. Analysis with DCA gave results similar to CCA, suggesting that there is a relatively high correspondence between vegetation and soil factors. DCA axis 1 showed significant positive correlation with CaCO₃, pH, soil saturation and organic matter, and interpreted as a calcium carbonate—soil saturation gradient. DCA axis 2 showed significant correlation with pH, gypsum and electric conductivity, and interpreted as an electric conductivity—gypsum gradient. Application of CCA indicated that soil surface sediment, CaCO₃, soil saturation, pH and organic matter are the main operating edaphic gradients in the area. These gradients are related closely to the first three canonical axes, and accounted for 67% of the species–environment relationship among the sites.     

Long-distance transport of terrestrial plant material by convection resulting from forest fires

Paleoecologists widely accept macroscopic plant remains preserved in lake sediment as good indicators of the vegetation communities growing within and adjacent to the margin of a lake or mire. However, the study of ash fallout from a small to moderate size forest fire in a low elevation Pseudotsuga menziesii/Pinus contorta/Abies lasiocarpa stand near Bozeman, Montana suggests that certain macroscopic plant remains can be transported long distances through the atmosphere. Conifer needles, pollen cones, cone scales, bracts and wood fragments were transported via the atmosphere and subsequently deposited at least 20 km from the forest fire. The majority of the plant remains that were identified were A. lasiocarpa needles. Pseudotsuga menziesii and P. contorta needles were also identified, but both were less abundant than A. lasiocarpa. The plant material that was recovered exhibited varying degrees of charring suggesting that it may be difficult to distinguish plant material that has been transported long-distances by forest fires from that which has been derived locally. Severe convection and vortices associated with intense forest fires are believed to be the primary mechanisms responsible for transporting plant material via the atmosphere.     

新疆巴音布鲁克高寒沼泽湿地植物群落空间分布与环境解释

为探明巴音布鲁克高寒沼泽湿地植物群落与环境因子的关系,采用样线与样方结合的方法,于2014-2015年在天鹅湖沼泽湿地进行植物群落调查与环境因子测定.结果显示,巴音布鲁克天鹅湖沼泽湿地植物共有35种,隶属于19科27属.方差分析表明,地表积水条件显著影响植物群落物种多样性,随着地表积水减少,物种丰富度和ShannonWiener指数呈现上升趋势,Pielou指数呈现下降趋势,说明随着地表积水的减少,植物群落的物种多样性逐渐增加.冗余分析与偏冗余分析表明,所有环境因子共解释了植物群落物种组成变异的67.9%.水位与土壤全氮含量对物种组成的总效应达到显著水平,土壤全氮含量的净效应达到极显著水平,但全磷含量和有机碳含量的总效应与净效应均未达到显著水平.研究表明,积水条件和土壤氮含量是巴音布鲁克天鹅湖沼泽湿地植物群落物种组成和分布的主要环境驱动因子.     

Changes associated with Phragmites australis invasion in plant community and soil properties: A study on three invaded communities in a wetland,Victoria, Australia

Phragmites australis invasion is altering plant communities and therefore, soil properties have been changed significantly. This study compared the diversity among three communities in a wetland to assess the impact of invasion by Phragmites and the associated impact on soil properties. Three diversity indices, species richness (S), evenness (E) and Shanon-Weiner index (H) had significantly higher values in uninvaded plots compared to invaded in all the communities. Invaded plots had the lowest diversity, with H = 0 and Simpson’s index (D) = 1, (i.e. they were monospecific). These results support the idea that a reduction in diversity can be expected in wetlands colonized by Phragmites. Phragmites invasion significantly increased soil moisture, EC, phenolics, organic carbon, dehydrogenase activity and microbial biomass (C, N, P) with reduction of pH and arbuscular mycorrhizae fungi spore density compared with uninvaded zones. In addition, the study of antifungal phytochemistry of Phragmites elucidated the decrease of the competitive abilities of native plant Melaleuca ericifolia by interfering with formation of mycorrhizal associations and biomass. Our results suggest that Phragmites invasion has caused significant ecological alterations in communities by demonstrating a combined effect to plant diversity and soil variables.     

High-resolution patterns of palaeoenvironmental changes during the Little Ice Age and the Medieval Climate Anomaly in the northwestern Iberian Peninsula

A high resolution core(9.7 yr cm~(-1)) from the Chao de Veiga Mol raised bog(NW Iberian Peninsula) was analyzed to identify plant macrofossils,estimate peat humification and calculate hydroclimatic indices based on current bog species,with the overall aim of determining the climate conditions associated with evolution of the bog during the Medieval Climate Anomaly and the Little Ice Age.These proxies,together with historical and climate data,proved to be good indicators of the changes in bog surface wetness.Analysis:of the core led to identification of 9 different periods:two corresponding to the so-called Medieval Climate Anomaly(930 to 1345 AD,1075-665 calibrated years before present [cal.yr BP]);four corresponding to the Little Ice Age(1345 to 1905 AD;665-105 cal yr BP);and three corresponding to the last century(1905 to2000 AD).The findings revealed a generally dry climate that lasted until the 14 th century,followed by a transition to a long period with a more humid,but characteristically very variable climate,which ended at the beginning of the 20 th century and was followed by a rapid transition to more humid conditions and finally,a change to drier conditions.The Medieval Climate Anomaly was indicated by the abundance of dry-adapted mosses(Leucobryum glaucum,Hypnum cupressiforme) and characterized by warm dry conditions and high levels of peat humification,with alternating wet phases.The LIA period was dated by a large abundance of Sphagnum species(an indicator of wetness) and a gradual increase in the humification index.However,four different climate phases were differentiated in this period.High-resolution reconstruction of the evolution of the CVM bog and the multiproxy approach have together enabled a more detailed identification of climatic variations in this area,which are generally consistent with the global models,as well as better definition of the elusive climatic oscillations in the last millennium and confirmation of the importance of local modulation of global models.The study provides new information and a detailed chronology of climatic events that will help to refine local modulation of the climate evolution model in the still quite unexplored region of the NW Iberian Peninsula,a key area for understanding the paleoclimatic dynamics in SW Europe.     

彩虹明樱蛤同工酶组织特异性研究

采用聚丙烯凝胶垂直电泳技术和同工酶特异性染色方法,对彩虹明樱蛤(Moerella iridescens)的斧足、肝胰腺和外套膜3种组织的酯酶(EST),苹果酸脱氢酶(MDH)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)3种同工酶进行了分析.结果表明,这3种酶在上述3种组织中均得到了表达,不同的酶既存在一定的组织特异性又有相似性的特点,EST在3种组织中分别产生7-8条酶带,分为4个带区,其中EST-3和EST-6在3种组织中均为保守存在的强带,而斧足中缺失EST-1、EST-8和EST-9,肝胰腺中缺失EST-1和EST-2,外套膜中缺失EST-2和EST-8;MDH在3种组织中有4～5条酶带,MDH-2在斧足中缺失,MDH-3在外套膜中缺失,而处于s-MDH的MDH-4和MDH-5在3种组织中保守存在.SOD在3种组织中共表现为4条酶带,酶谱无明显变化,组织间无明显差异,这一特殊性可以用其作为生化遗传标记对彩虹明樱蛤进行种质鉴定.     

On the laboratory procedure for processing unconsolidated sediment samples to concentrate subfossil seed and other plant macroremains

Macrofossil analysis is becoming increasingly used as an approach to vegetation history in late Quaternary palaeoenvironmental studies. Macrofossils can be recovered from many terrestrial and lacustrine settings. Although the laboratory techniques are straightforward and are described in outline in several textbooks, the practical details of the extraction procedure are not widely available. This paper provides a detailed breakdown of the steps involved in extracting macroremains from unconsolidated (non-lithified) Quaternary sediments, with reasons for the various steps and practical details of how the extraction is accomplished. It is intended as a “how-to” laboratory manual for students and researchers undertaking macrofossil analysis.     

Assessing pollutions of soil and plant by municipal waste dump

Research is few in the literature regarding the investigation and assessment of pollutions of soil and plant by municipal waste dumps. Based upon previous work in seven waste dumping sites (nonsanitary landfills) in Beijing, Shanghai and Shijiazhuang, this study expounds the investigation and assessment method and report major pollutants. Using relative background values, this study assesses soil pollution degree in the seven dumping sites. Preliminary conclusions are: (1) pollution degrees are moderate or heavy; (2) pollution distance by domestic waste that is dumped on a plane ground is 85 m; (3) the horizontal transport distance of pollutants might be up to 120 m if waste leachates are directly connected with water in saturated soils; (4) vertical transport depth is about 3 m in unsaturated silty clayey soils. Furthermore, using relative background values and hygiene standards of food and vegetable this study assesses the pollutions of different parts of reed, sorghum, watermelon and sweet-melon. It is found: (1) in comparison with the relative background values in a large distance to the waste dumping sites, domestic wastes have polluted the roots and stems of reed and sorghum, whereas fine coal ash has polluted the leaves, rattans and fruits of watermelon and sweet-melon; (2) domestic wastes and fine coal ash have heavily polluted the edible parts of sorghum, water melon and sweet-melon. As, Hg, Pb and F have far exceeded standard values, e.g., Hg has exceeded the standard value by up to 650–1,700 times and Cd by 120–275 times, and the comprehensive pollution index is up to 192.9–369.7; (3) the polluted sorghum, watermelon and sweet-melon are inedible.     

电厂管线信息管理系统构建

本文以上海外高桥电厂为例，从系统设计的原理和特点出发，构建包括基础地理数据、专业应用数据及监测数据的系统数据体系，建立包括地形图编辑管理模块、管线数据编辑管理模块、可视化三维浏览模块、管线运行监控子系统、事件分析处理模块、GPS-RTK定位子系统等功能模块的电厂管线信息管理系统。     

Palaeobotanical evidence for warm summers in the East Siberian Arctic during the last cold stage

Plant macrofossils from the “Mamontovy Khayata” permafrost sequence (71°60′N, 129°25′E) on the Bykovsky Peninsula reflect climate and plant biodiversity in west Beringia during the last cold stage. 70 AMS and 20 conventional ¹⁴C dates suggest sediment accumulation between about 60,000 and 7500 ¹⁴C yr B.P. The plant remains prove that during the last cold-stage arctic species (Minuartia arctica, Draba spp., Kobresia myosuroides) coexisted with aquatic (Potamogeton vaginatus, Callitriche hermaphroditica), littoral (Ranunculus reptans, Rumex maritimus), meadow (Hordeum brevisubulatum, Puccinellia tenuiflora) and steppe taxa (Alyssum obovatum, Silene repens, Koeleria cristata, Linum perenne). The reconstructed vegetation composition is similar to modern vegetation mosaics in central and northeast Yakutian relict steppe areas. Thus, productive meadow and steppe communities played an important role in the Siberian Arctic vegetation during the late Pleistocene and could have served as food resource for large populations of herbivores. The floristic composition reflects an extremely continental, arid climate with winters colder and summers distinctly warmer than at present. Holocene macrofossil assemblages indicate a successive paludification possibly connected with marine transgression, increased oceanic influence and atmospheric humidity. Although some steppe taxa were still present in the early Holocene, they disappeared completely before 2900 ¹⁴C yr B.P.