Differences in throughfall drop size distributions in the presence and absence of foliage

ABSTRACT

Throughfall drop size distributions (DSDs) are important for plant–soil interactions. This is the first known study to quantify differences in throughfall DSDs with the presence and absence of foliage. Employing a disdrometer, three parameters solely representing throughfall drip were measured and calculated: maximum drop diameter (D_MAX), median volume diameter of drops (D₅₀D_R) and relative volume percentage of drops (pD_R). Beneath Liriodendron tulipifera L. in Maryland (USA), D_MAX, D₅₀D_R and pD_R were substantially larger when the canopy was unfoliated. In fact, the presence or absence of foliage was one of the primary factors affecting all three throughfall DSDs along with air temperature, according to the boosted regression tree analysis. Experimental results were attributed to differing physical properties of intercepted water between foliated and unfoliated periods and differential water behavior on leaves and bark. Future work should examine the effects of concentrated drip points on the development of throughfall-induced hot spots.

Editor M.C. Acreman; Associate editor F. Hattermann     

A Lagrangian stochastic model for the trajectories of particle pairs and its application to the prediction of concentration variance within plant canopies

A simple Lagrangian stochastic model for the trajectories of particle pairs in high Reynolds-number turbulent flows is presented. In this model, the velocities of particle pairs are initially correlated but subsequently each particle moves independently. The independent single-particle trajectories are simulated using Thomson's model [J. Fluid Mech. 180, 529–556, 1987]. This two-particle model exactly satisfies the well-mixed condition for Gaussian turbulence when length scales, characterizing the two-point Eulerian velocity correlation function, vanish. Temperature variances, due to heat released as a passive scalar from an elevated plane source, within a model plant canopy (Coppin et al. Boundary Layer Meteorol. 35, 167–191, 1986) are shown to be well predicted by the model. It is suggested that for strongly inhomogeneous flows, the two-point Eulerian velocity function is of secondary importance in determining the simulated trajectories of particle pairs compared to the importance of ensuring satisfaction of the two-to-one constraint (Borgas and Sawford. J. Fluid Mech. 279, 69–99, 1994); i.e ensuring that one-particle statistics obtained from the two-particle model are the same as those obtained from the corresponding one-particle model. Limitations of this modelling approach are discussed.     

A Model Atmosphere Analysis of the F6V Star π3 Ori

Model atmosphere analysis, based on Kurucz models has been applied to study the F6V star π³ Ori (=BS1543=HD30652). The following values of the effective temperature, surface gravity and microturbulence velocity were obtained: = 6270±200 K, log g = 3.80.2, ξ_t =3.5±0.5 km/s. The abundances of 10 elements were determined. The resulting element abundances for the π³ Ori were found to be about three times lower with respect to the Sun. From evolutionary calculations we derived a mass, radius and luminosity for π³ Ori of M =1.3 M_⊙, R =2.38 R_⊙, L =7.9 L_⊙. Hence this star should be classified F6IV instead of F6 V. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

渤海底栖桡足类群落结构的研究

渤海1998年9月航次的调查结果.小型底栖生物总平均丰度为(8688±5097)个/m2,底栖桡足类居第2位,平均丰度为(663±569)个/m2,占总数量的76%.根据77种底栖桡足类丰度所做的聚类和标序分析将渤海20个站位划分为4个组合.根据11种环境因子数据所做的聚类和主成分分析将研究海域划分为两个生境、4个亚区.对研究海域进行的分区与自然分区是基本一致的.支配研究海域底栖桡足类群落结构的主要环境因子是水深和沉积物粒度.     

南麂列岛海洋自然保护区潮间带小型生物初步研究

20 0 1年 10月对浙江省南麂列岛国家海洋自然保护区潮间带进行小型生物采样调查。大沙岙沙滩小型生物丰度较低 ,中潮带为 2 91.9ind· 10 cm-2 ,低潮带为 5 16.8ind· 10 cm-2 。线虫是最优势类群 ,线虫 /桡足类比分别为 3.2 7和 1.0 6,表明沙滩环境质量良好 ,未受到有机质污染。岩相潮间带有 4种大型底栖海藻。附植小型生物平均丰度为 36.1ind· g-1dw algae,桡足类为最优势类群。附植大型底栖动物丰度 4 4 .6ind· g-1dwt algae,大于小型生物丰度。     

Five-year bio-monitoring of aquatic ecosystems near Artigas Antarctic Scientific Base,King George Island

Fildes Peninsula, in King George Island, Antarctica, has a great concentration of international facilities, and it has clearly been affected by human activities. The objective of this 5-year study was ...     

西大明山-大瑶山隆起带金银成矿元素地球化学特征

通过对西大明山-大瑶山构造-岩浆隆起带的系统观测,获得了各区域地质体金银成矿元素的初始丰度,文章利用最近完成的区域内各1:5万区调地层剖面数据并补充实测的若干区域地化剖面数据,给出了区域基岩地球化学场及其结构的基本面貌,结合区域地质背景对金银成矿元素地球化学特征及地质意义进行分析总结.     

Acacia salicina, Pinus halepensis and Eucalyptus occidentalis improve soil surface conditions in arid southern Tunisia

Despite low growth rates, plants in arid areas have a strong ability to modify soil surface properties affecting ecosystem processes and community dynamics. But our knowledge on species effects on soil properties in these areas comes largely from observational studies, increasing the risk of confounding factors and precluding estimations of rates of change. We evaluated changes in soil surface properties underneath Acacia salicina, Pinus halepensis and Eucalyptus occidentalis in a 10-year-old common garden experiment established on a degraded Stipa tenacissima steppe in southern Tunisia. The three species tested improved soil properties compared to those of open areas. Acacia salicina ranked first as soil modifier as the soil underneath this species showed higher total organic carbon, total nitrogen, available phosphorus, soil CO₂ efflux and infiltration rate, and lower soil hydrophobicity than soil in open areas. The richness of vascular plants was higher under A. salicina than under the other types of cover. This species showed higher ability to improve microsite conditions and foster succession. Short rotations of A. salicina could thus be employed for the restoration of degraded S. tenacissima steppes provided that other aspects of its ecology are controlled. Pinus halepensis represents a good alternative when native species are a priority, albeit facilitative ability is lower.     

Influence of sea ice and sea surface temperature on the abundance of Antarctic krill in Area 48.2

In this paper we examine the relationship between Antarctic krill catch, sea ice concentration, and sea surface tempera- ture （SST）. Data on the Antarctic krill catch from 2003 to 2010 in CCAMLR Area 48.2 were combined with sea ice and SST data. Results showed that krill fishing in Area 48.2 took place from February to August each year but the catch was concentrated from March to July, with production during this period accounting for about 99.3% of the annual catch. Regression analysis showed that the catch per unit effort （CPUE） was clearly related to sea ice concentration and SST intervals. CPUE was negatively correlated with the area of sea ice among years （R2=0.64）, and the correlation was strongest （R2=0.71） when sea ice concentration was greater than 90%. Over the months the CPUE initially increased, then decreased as the area of sea ice increased. The relationship was strongest （R2=0.88） when the concentration of sea ice was 60%--70%. There was no negative correlation among years between CPUE and the ice-free area when S ST was between -2 ℃ and 3 ℃ （R2=0.21）, but there was a significant negative correlation when SST was between 1 ℃ and 2℃ （R2=0.82）. Over the months, CPUE initially increased then decreased with increasing sea ice-free area, and the relationship was strongest （R2=0.94） when SST was between 0℃and 1 ℃. This study shows that sea ice concentra- tion and SST have significant effects on the abundance of krill in Area 48.2, and the findings have practical significance for the use and conservation of Antarctic krill resources.