Modelling increased soil cohesion due to roots with EUROSEM

As organic root exudates cause soil particles to adhere firmly to root surfaces, roots significantly increase soil strength and therefore also increase the resistance of the topsoil to erosion by concentrated flow. This paper aims at contributing to a better prediction of the root effects on soil erosion rates in the EUROSEM model, as the input values accounting for roots, presented in the user manual, do not account for differences in root density or root architecture. Recent research indicates that small changes in root density or differences in root architecture considerably influence soil erosion rates during concentrated flow. The approach for incorporating the root effects into this model is based on a comparison of measured soil detachment rates for bare and for root‐permeated topsoil samples with predicted erosion rates under the same flow conditions using the erosion equation of EUROSEM. Through backwards calculation, transport capacity efficiencies and corresponding soil cohesion values can be assessed for bare and root‐permeated topsoils respectively. The results are promising and present soil cohesion values that are in accordance with reported values in the literature for the same soil type (silt loam). The results show that grass roots provide a larger increase in soil cohesion as compared with tap‐rooted species and that the increase in soil cohesion is not significantly different under wet and dry soil conditions, either for fibrous root systems or for tap root systems. Power and exponential relationships are established between measured root density values and the corresponding calculated soil cohesion values, reflecting the effects of roots on the resistance of the topsoil to concentrated flow incision. These relationships enable one to incorporate the root effect into the soil erosion model EUROSEM, through adapting the soil cohesion input value. A scenario analysis shows that the contribution of roots to soil cohesion is very important for preventing soil loss and reducing runoff volume. The increase in soil shear strength due to the binding effect of roots on soil particles is two orders of magnitude lower as compared with soil reinforcement achieved when roots mobilize their tensile strength during soil shearing and root breakage. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The relationship between the growth process of the ferromanganese crusts in the pacific seamount and Cenozoic ocean evolvement

Base on the Os isotope stratigraphy together with the empirical growth rate models using Co concentrations, the growth ages of the ferromanganese crusts MHD79 and MP3D10 distributed in the seamount of Pacific are confirmed. Through the contrast and research on the previous achievements including ODP Leg 144 and the crusts CD29-2, N5E-06 and N1–15 of the seamount of the Central Pacific, the uniform five growth and growth hiatus periods of them are found, and closely related to the Cenozoic ocean evolvement process. In the Paleocene Carbon Isotope Maximum (PCIM), the rise of the global ocean productivity promoted the growth of the seamount crust; the first growth hiatus (I) of the ferromanganese crust finished. In the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), though the vertical exchange of seawater was weakened, the strong terrestrial chemical weathering led to the input of a great amount of the terrigenous nutrients, which made the bioproductivity rise, so there were no crust hiatuses. During 52–50 Ma, the Early Eocene Optimum Climate (EECO), the two poles were warm, the latitudinal temperature gradient was small, the wind-driven sea circulation and upwelling activity were weak, the terrestrial weathering was also weakened, the open ocean bioproductivity decreased, and the ferromanganese crust had growth hiatus again (II). From early Middle Eocene-Late Eocene, Oligocene, it was a long-term gradually cooling process, the strengthening of the sea circulation and upwelling led to a rise of bioproductivity, and increase of the content of the hydrogenous element Fe, Mn and Co and the biogenous element Cu, Zn, so that was the most favorable stage for the growth of ferromanganese crust (growth periods III and IV) in the studied area. The hiatus III corresponded with the Eocene- Oligocene boundary, is inferred to relate with the global climate transformation, celestial body impact event in the Eocene-Oligocene transition. From the early to the middle Miocene, a large-scale growth hiatus (hiatus period IV) of the ferromanganese crust in the studied area is inferred to relate with temporary warm up climate and ephemeral withdrawal of Antarctic bottom water in the early Miocene. After that, the Antarctic ice sheets extended, the bottom water circumfluence strengthened, the ocean fertility increased, and the once interrupted crust continued to grow in the late Miocene (growth period V). Supported by China Ocean Mineral Resources Research and Development Association “10th Five Year” Topic (Grant No. DY105-01-04-14)     

Results from a new model of river basin evolution

This paper briefly describes a model of the erosional development of catchments and their channel networks. The model differentiates between the dominant transport processes in hillslope and channels. The development of channels and hillslopes occurs in an integrated manner as a function of physically observable mechanisms. The growth of a river basin is qualitatively described. The model concepts are used to study the basin during periods of growth (transient periods), as well as during dynamic equilibrium. This leads to hypotheses about the relationship between slopes, relief, tectonic uplift, erodability, runoff, and catchment area. It is shown that the model leads to very reasonable and desirable behaviour of hillslopes during retreat and degradation.     

贵州草海湿地不同生境周丛生物碳、氮、磷生态化学计量学

为深入了解湿地周丛生物碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)生态化学计量的变化规律及其影响因素,对贵州草海湿地4种不同生境(湖滨带、人工湿地、农田沟渠、污水处理厂)中周丛生物两个生长阶段(生长期和衰老期)的C、N、P生态化学计量学进行了研究.结果表明:水体营养指数依次为污水处理厂(51.55±4.50)＞农田沟渠(50.41±4...     

Modelling the effects of temperature and food on individual growth and reproduction of Daphnia and their consequences on the population level

Individual based simulations of population dynamics require the availability of growth models with adequate complexity. For this purpose a simple-to-use model (non-linear multiple regression approach) is presented describing somatic growth and reproduction of Daphnia as a function of time, temperature and food quantity. The model showed a good agreement with published observations of somatic growth (r² = 0.954, n = 88) and egg production (r² = 0.898, n = 35). Temperature is the main determinant of initial somatic growth and food concentration is the main determinant of maximal body length and clutch size. An individual based simulation was used to demonstrate the simultaneous effects of food and temperature on the population level. Evidently, both temperature and food supply affected the population growth rate but at food concentrations above approximately 0.4 mg Cl⁻¹ Scenedesmus acutus temperature appeared as the main determinant of population growth.

Four simulation examples are given to show the wide applicability of the model: (1) analysis of the correlation between population birth rate and somatic growth rate, (2) contribution of egg development time and delayed somatic growth to temperature-effects on population growth, (3) comparison of population birth rate in simulations with constant vs. decreasing size at maturity with declining food concentrations and (4) costs of diel vertical migration. Due to its plausible behaviour over a broad range of temperature (2–20 °C) and food conditions (0.1–4 mg Cl⁻¹) the model can be used as a module for more detailed simulations of Daphnia population dynamics under realistic environmental conditions.     

湖北牛山湖高体鳑鮍的年龄、生长与繁殖

图 3　卵粒大小的频数分布 (ａ)具成熟卵细胞 (ｂ)无成熟卵细胞Ｆｉｇ 3ＦｒｅｑｕｅｎｃｙｄｉｓｔｒｉｂｕｔｉｏｎｏｆｅｇｇｓｉｚｅｏｆＲｈｏｄｅｕｓｏｃｅｌｌａｔｕｓ(ａ)ｗｉｔｈｓｏｍｅｍａｔｕｒｅｅｇｇｓ ,(ｂ)ｗｉｔｈｏｕｔｍａｔｕｒｅｄｅｇｇｓ图 4繁殖力 (Ｆ ,ｅｇｇｓ)与体重 (Ｗ ,ｇ)及全长 (ＴＬ ,ｍｍ )的关系Ｆｉｇ 4Ｒｅｌａｔｉｏｎｓｈｉｐｂｅｔｗｅｅｎｆｅｃｕｎｄｉｔｙ (Ｆ ,ｅｇｇｓ)ａｎｄｂｏｄｙｗｅｉｇｈｔ (Ｗ ,ｇ)ｏｒｔｏｔａｌｌｅｎｇｔｈ (ＴＬ ,ｍｍ)湖北牛山湖高体鳑鮍的年龄、生长与繁殖@…     

毛乌素沙地臭柏根系分布及根量

毛乌素沙地臭柏(Sabina vulgaris)灌丛根量、根系直径和分布特征的研究结果表明,臭柏根系分布深度可达2.0 m,水平延伸幅度达灌丛边缘以外1.0 m左右处;其根量主要集中在0~60 cm的土层内,占根系总量的60%~70%,呈倒金字塔型分布。根系直径以< 3 mm的细根居多,占剖面总根量的72%左右,集中分布在0~30cm的土层中。> 7 mm的粗根数量很少,占总根数的0%~5%。臭柏根量和直径分布特征依立地条件及土层深度的不同而异。     

土壤氮、盐浓度对盐角草(Salicornia europaea)生长发育及氮素吸收的影响

以盐生植物盐角草(Salicornia europaea)为材料,以NaCl模拟不同盐度环境,盆栽试验了氮(0.3g·kg-1,N1;0.6g·kg-1,N2;1.2g·kg-1,N3;2.4g·kg-1,N4)、盐(2.5g·kg-1,S1;5.0g·kg-1,S2;7.5g·kg-1,S3)处理对其生长发育及氮素吸收利用的影响。结果表明:(1)不同盐度下施氮均可以显著促进盐角草的生长,地上部干质量均在N2处理下达到最大,而株高均在N1时达到最高,且施氮对盐角草生长的影响与盐度有关;(2)不同盐度环境下施氮所能达到的最高干物质产量及最高施氮限量不同,表现为S3S1S2,随着施氮量的增加,氮素生产力与氮素农学利用效率均表现出下降的趋势;(3)施氮显著增加了盐角草各器官含氮量及氮吸收量,同一施氮水平下盐角草各器官含氮量及氮吸收量均表现为同化枝茎根;(4)同一施氮水平下,随着盐度的增加,盐角草同化枝渗透势显著下降,同一盐度环境下,随着施氮量的增加,同化枝渗透势呈现出下降趋势,渗透调节能力增大;(5)3个盐度环境下,施氮均增加盐角草同化枝光合色素含量,从而提高光合效率,增强其对盐渍环境的适应能力。     

Land degradation: A global perspective

Land degradation has a long history and is on the increase. It has adverse consequences for people's economies, health and well-being, and for ecosystems, and it is causally linked to population growth and inappropriate land-use practices. It is an urban as well as a rural problem. Solutions require an integrated, geographical approach. Otherwise, some problems may be ignored and others created inadvertently.