Microclimate, freezing tolerance, and cold acclimation along an elevation gradient for seedlings of the Great Basin Desert shrub, Artemisia tridentata

Vegetation, microclimate, seedling frequency, freezing tolerance, and cold acclimation were compared for seedlings of Artemisia tridentata collected from 1775, 2175, and 2575 m elevation in the eastern Sierra Nevada, California. Data were used to test the hypothesis that ecotypic differences in stress physiology are important for seedling survival along gradients from desert to montane ecosystems. The vegetation canopy cover and A. tridentata seedling frequency were greatest at 2575 m, compared to 1775 and 2175 m. Snow cover ameliorated temperatures near the soil surface for part of the winter and depth varied across elevations. Freezing tolerance was compared for seedlings maintained in growth chambers at day/night air temperatures of 25°C/15°C. The temperature at which electrolyte leakage and Photosystem II function (F_V/F_M) from leaves were half-maximum was approximately −13·5°C for leaves of seedlings from all three elevations. Shifting day/night air temperatures from 25°C/15°C to 15°C/5°C initiated about 1·5° of acclimation by plants from all three altitudes, with seedlings from the highest elevation exhibiting the greatest acclimation change. Measurements of ambient air and canopy temperatures at the three elevations indicated that wintertime average low temperatures were consistent with the measured degree of freezing tolerance. At small spatial scales used in this study, pollen and seed dispersal between study sites may have precluded resolution of ecotypic differences. Patterns of freezing tolerance and cold acclimation may depend on a combination of mesoclimate and microclimate temperatures, canopy cover, snow depth, and snow melt patterns.     

Salt tolerance of Microcoleus vaginatus Gom., a cyanobacterium isolated from desert algal crust, was enhanced by exogenous carbohydrates

Microcoleus vaginatus isolated from a desert algal crust of Shapotou was cultured in BG-11 medium containing 0.2 mol l⁻¹ NaCl or 0.2 mol l⁻¹ NaCl plus 100 mg l⁻¹ sucrose, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) or hot water-soluble polysaccharides (HWP), respectively. Photosynthetic oxygen evolution rates, photosystem II activity (Fv/Fm) and dark respiration of NaCl-stressed cells were enhanced significantly by the added sucrose or EPS under salt stress conditions (0.2 mol l⁻¹ NaCl). Compared with cells treated with salt alone, sodium contents in cells reduced significantly; the content of cellular total carbohydrate did not change, and intracellular sucrose, water-soluble sugar increased significantly following the addition of exogenous carbohydrates. Sucrose synthase (SS) activity of NaCl-stressed cells increased following the addition of sucrose, and sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) activity of NaCl-stressed cells increased following the addition of exogenous sucrose, EPS or HWP compared with cells stressed with NaCl only. The results suggested that the extruded EPS might be re-absorbed by cells of M. vaginatus as carbon source, they could increase salt tolerance of M. vaginatus through the changes of carbohydrate metabolism and the selective uptake of sodium ions.     

叶蜡石传压介质资源初步研究

分析国内叶蜡石传压介质材料供需状况，指出北京赵家台叶蜡石传压介质材料资源枯竭，虽然国内叶蜡石矿石资源丰富，但适宜作叶蜡石传压介质材料资源却极少，急需从资源和材料特性着手，加大研究力度，寻找新的接替资源。     

我国传压介质材料--叶蜡石矿物的基本特征

通过赵家台叶蜡石各种特征的研究，发现我国使用的传压介质材料不是纯的叶蜡石矿物，化学成分具有SiO2低、Al2O3高的特点；叶蜡石矿物与杂质矿物热膨胀系数绝缘程度应相近，并呈交织结构。     

湘西北慈利大庸地区上震旦统—下寒武统沉积特征及层序地层划分

通过对各类层序界面的识别，以沉积特征、副层序和体系域与结构转换面等层序分析，进行露头层序地层学研究，将湘西北慈利—大庸地区台缘斜坡相区上震旦统—下寒武统划分为11个Ⅲ级层序，其中上震旦统7个、下寒武统4个，主要是Ⅱ型层序。在区域层序地层对比、分析的基础上初步讨论了露头层序地层分析中存在的问题。     

扁铲侧胀试验判别液化的研究和实践

通过对扁铲侧胀试验判别液化的研究和实践，提出了在上海地区采用扁铲侧胀试验判别液化的公式，扁铲侧胀试验判别液化与标准贯入和静力触探试验判别液化的方法对比，具有相对较好的结果，是一种有前途的液化判别方法。