外源水杨酸对黑麦草幼苗盐胁迫的缓解效应研究

系统分析了黑麦草幼苗在0.2、0.4、0.6和0.8 mmol L-1水杨酸分别与150 mmol L-1 Na Cl盐胁迫复合作用下的生长指标与生理生化指标特征,探究了外源水杨酸对黑麦草幼苗盐胁迫的缓解效应。结果表明:施加不同浓度的外源水杨酸均能够显著缓解盐分对黑麦草幼苗的胁迫效应,盐胁迫下施加外源水杨酸,可使得黑麦草幼苗株高,地上、地下部分鲜重和干重均相对增加;加强了植物体内抗氧化酶系统,表现为超氧化物岐化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)的活性显著提高;减弱了细胞膜脂过氧化作用并降低了质膜破坏程度,表现为细胞质膜透性和丙二醛含量均显著降低。0.6 mmol L-1是所设置的浓度梯度中最佳的水杨酸施用浓度;与单独150 mmol L-1 Na Cl盐胁迫相比,黑麦草幼苗株高增加43.38%,地上部分鲜、干重分别增加37.92%和31.36%,地下部分鲜、干重分别增加25.46%和15.32%;胁迫处理第3天,SOD活性增加17.20%,第9天,丙二醛(MDA)含量降低27.60%。     

常压室温等离子体对NaCl胁迫下胡麻种子萌发及幼苗生理特性的影响

为探究常压室温等离子体(ARTP)照射处理对胡麻耐盐性的影响,以2个胡麻品种天亚10号和陇亚13号为材料,利用ARTP对胡麻种子进行不同时长(0、10、20、30 min)照射,测定不同Na Cl浓度(0、85、170 mmol·L-1)胁迫下胡麻的发芽指标、幼苗生长指标、叶绿素(Chl)和类胡萝卜素含量、叶片质膜相对透性、叶片丙二醛(MDA)含量、可溶性蛋白含量及超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性,分析ARTP处理对Na Cl胁迫下胡麻种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响。结果表明,ARTP处理对2个胡麻品种的影响存在差异,ARTP处理可以促进天亚10号在Na Cl胁迫下种子萌发和幼苗生长,降低质膜相对透性、叶绿素含量、类胡萝卜素含量、MDA含量,提高POD活性及可溶性蛋白含量;在170 mmol·L-1Na Cl胁迫下ARTP处理10 min,天亚10号发芽率可以提高90.27%;但抑制了陇亚13号在Na Cl胁迫下种子萌发和幼苗生长,增加了质膜相对透性、叶绿素含量、类胡萝卜素含量、MDA含量,降低了POD活性及可溶性蛋白含量,在170 mmol·L-1Na Cl胁迫下ARTP处理30 min,陇亚13号的发芽率下降了17.60%。本研究结果为胡麻育种及盐碱地人工栽培提供了一定的理论参考。     

外源NO对Ca(NO_3)_2胁迫下番茄叶片活性氧损伤的缓解效应

为探讨外源一氧化氮(NO)对次生盐渍胁迫下植物抗氧化系统的调节作用,以番茄品种‘秦丰保冠’为试材,在营养液栽培条件下研究叶面喷施外源NO供体硝普钠(SNP)对80mmol·L~(-1)Ca(NO_3)_2胁迫下番茄幼苗生长、叶片光合、活性氧物质、抗氧化酶活性和抗坏血酸-谷胱甘肽(AsA-GSH)循环的影响。结果表明,Ca(NO_3)_2胁迫下喷施SNP处理的番茄幼苗叶片超氧阴离子(O_2~(·-))的产生速率以及过氧化氢(H_2O_2)、丙二醛(MDA)、脱氢抗坏血酸(DHA)、氧化型谷胱甘肽(GSSG)的含量和电解质渗漏率显著降低,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)、脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(DHAR)和单脱氢抗坏血酸还原酶(MDHAR)的活性显著升高或得以维持,同时叶片抗坏血酸(AsA)、谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量及其还原力(AsA/DHA、GSH/GSSG值)显著升高,叶片活性氧损伤得到有效缓解,叶绿素降解和光合速率的下降得到有效抑制,进而促进了植株的生长发育,提高了番茄幼苗的耐盐能力。     

干旱胁迫下外源硒对小麦幼苗抗旱性的影响

通过对小麦幼苗进行叶面喷施亚硒酸钠,研究不同浓度外源硒对模拟干旱胁迫(PEG-6000)下小麦幼苗形态和生理特性的影响,为探究外源硒对小麦幼苗抗旱性的影响提供理论依据。试验以舜麦1718、晋太102、京冬17、S1204(品系)4个小麦品种(系)为材料,设置4个供硒水平,包括蒸馏水对照(CK)、20(Se20)、40(Se40)、60 mg/L(Se60)Na2SeO3处理。待小麦幼苗第二片真叶展开时,对其进行叶面喷硒后继续培养2 d。随后进行20%PEG-6000模拟干旱处理,继续培养7d后测定其形态指标和生理指标。结果表明:外源硒处理可以显著提高不同品种(系)小麦幼苗的株高、根长、根数、鲜重、干重(P0.05);外源硒处理可以降低小麦幼苗超氧阴离子(2O?-)和丙二醛(MDA)的含量。随外源硒浓度的提高,除晋太102的MDA含量外,其余品种(系)小麦幼苗的2O?-和MDA含量均显著低于CK(P0.05);同时,外源硒处理可以显著提高小麦幼苗超氧化物岐化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)的活性。随外源硒浓度的提高,除京冬17的SOD活性和S1204的POD活性外,其余小麦品种(系)的SOD和POD活性均显著高于CK(P0.05)。隶属函数法综合分析可得:舜麦1718、晋太102、京冬17、S1204对应的适宜处理分别为Se40、Se60、Se20、Se60,对硒的敏感性排序为:京冬17舜麦1718S1204晋太102。因此,4个小麦品种(系)对硒的敏感性存在差异,适宜浓度外源硒叶面处理有效增加小麦幼苗POD、SOD等保护酶活性,降低体内活性氧积累,缓解膜脂过氧化损伤,增强小麦幼苗的抗旱能力,促进干旱胁迫下小麦幼苗的生长和发育。外源硒叶面处理可作为一种缓解小麦幼苗干旱胁迫的有效措施。     

外源一氧化氮对NaCl胁迫下番茄幼苗光合作用和离子含量的影响

在100.mmol/L.NaCl胁迫下,研究了外源一氧化氮供体硝普钠(SNP)处理对番茄幼苗光合作用和离子含量的影响。结果表明,外源一氧化氮能使在NaCl胁迫下的番茄幼苗叶片叶绿素含量、净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)、叶绿素荧光参数Fv/Fo和Fv/Fm显著提高,胞间CO2浓度(Ci)明显下降;番茄幼苗根系、叶片中K+、Ca2+和Mg2+含量均显著提高,Na+含量明显降低。表明外源一氧化氮可以减轻盐胁迫对番茄幼苗叶片光合功能的不利影响,缓解NaCl胁迫对番茄幼苗的抑制作用。     

外源24-表油菜素内酯对逆境胁迫下玉米种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

为探讨不同胁迫对玉米种子生物化学特性的影响,采用不同浓度的24-表油菜素内酯(EBR)处理玉米种子,研究Na Cl和低温(15℃)胁迫下,外源EBR对玉米幼苗电解质外渗率(REC)、丙二醛(MDA)、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、脯氨酸、可溶性糖和各生长指标的影响。结果表明,在180 mmol·L~(-1)Na Cl胁迫下,0.050 mg·L~(-1)EBR可以显著缓解Na Cl的胁迫伤害,使玉米种子发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、活力指数显著提高,盐害指数降低;幼苗株高、根长、植株鲜重、相对含水量、根冠比也显著提高;抗氧化酶(SOD、POD、CAT和APX)活性相应增加,脯氨酸和可溶性糖含量也相应提高,MDA含量和相对电导率降低。低温(15℃)胁迫下,与正常温度(25℃)相比,0.001~1.000 mg·L~(-1)范围内,EBR对提高玉米株高、根长、单株干鲜重、发芽率均有促进作用,0.100 mg·L~(-1)作用效果最好,对提高发芽势有一定促进作用,但无明显的规律性。由此可知,一定浓度的EBR浸种能缓解盐和低温对玉米的胁迫损伤,其作用机制可能是EBR可以激活细胞合成自由基清除酶的能力,且酶类物质通过相互协调作用减轻胁迫伤害。本研究为玉米的抗逆性研究提供一定的理论依据。     

燕麦幼苗对氯化钠和氯化钾胁迫的生理响应差异

为探讨燕麦对NaCl和KCl胁迫的生理响应差异,采用水培法,研究了不同浓度NaCl和KCl胁迫对幼苗生长,活性氧代谢和渗透调节的影响。结果表明:(1)在75和150mmol/L浓度下,NaCl胁迫对燕麦幼苗的膜脂过氧化伤害和生长抑制大于KCl胁迫。NaCl胁迫下叶片中的超氧化物岐化酶(SOD),过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性及可溶性蛋白、可溶性糖和脯氨酸含量低于KCl胁迫;当浓度增大到225mmol/L时,KCl胁迫叶片中O-2.,H2O2,丙二醛(MDA),可溶性蛋白和可溶性糖含量显著大于NaCl胁迫,而SOD,抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性及谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量则相反。(2)225mmol/L KCl和NaCl处理的植株叶片水势分别为-0.867和-1.034 MPa,渗透势分别为-1.409和-1.252 MPa,说明KCl对燕麦的更强伤害不是渗透胁迫所致;经225mmol/L KCl胁迫后,燕麦叶片中Na+含量下降至对照的36.5%,而K+含量上升为对照的1.49倍,而补充20mmol/L NaCl显著提高了225mmol/L KCl胁迫下叶片Na+的含量及SOD,APX活性,降低了K+,H2O2,O-2.和MDA含量,说明离子毒害引起的活性氧积累可能是高浓度KCl胁迫对燕麦幼苗伤害大于NaCl胁迫的重要原因。     

NO对低温胁迫下玉米种子萌发及幼苗生理特性的影响

以4℃模拟低温胁迫状况,研究了外源一氧化氮（NO）供体硝普钠（SNP）对低温胁迫下玉米种子萌发、幼苗生长和生理特性的影响。结果表明,低温胁迫下,玉米种子萌发和幼苗生长受到抑制,叶片丙二醛（MDA）含量和相对电导率显著上升,叶片相对含水量、脯氨酸含量和叶绿素含量显著降低。不同浓度的SNP均能显著提高低温胁迫下玉米种子的发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数和活力指数;促进低温胁迫下玉米幼苗的生长;抑制低温胁迫下玉米幼苗叶片MDA含量的上升,降低叶片质膜相对透性,增加相对含水量、脯氨酸含量和叶绿素含量。表明外源NO可缓解低温胁迫对玉米种子萌发及幼苗生长的抑制作用,缓解低温胁迫引起的膜脂过氧化,保护细胞膜免受或减少损伤,提高植物抗低温胁迫的能力。在SNP不同的使用浓度中,以100μmol·L-1SNP对低温胁迫的缓解效果最佳,当SNP浓度过低和过高时均达不到理想的效果。     

钙对铅胁迫下玉米幼苗生长及生理特性的影响

以玉米品种"郑单958"为材料,研究不同浓度Ca~(2+)(0~25mmol/L)对一定浓度铅(100mg/L)胁迫下玉米幼苗光合及生理特性的影响。结果表明,重金属铅明显抑制玉米幼苗的生长,与对照相比,玉米幼苗叶片SOD、POD和CAT活性分别降低57.58%,54.33%和55.21%,可溶性蛋白、脯氨酸和可溶性糖含量分别降低61.15%,92.45%和74.49%;而幼苗叶片的MDA含量和细胞膜通透性明显高于对照,较对照分别增加20.89%和32.36%。一定浓度的Ca~(2+)(10mmol/L)能显著促进玉米幼苗生物量(叶干鲜重、根干鲜重)增加,与单独铅胁迫处理相比,保护酶SOD,POD和CAT活性分别增加55.43%,36.01%和87.72%,可溶性蛋白、脯氨酸和可溶性糖含量分别增加55.28%,91.68%和67.16%,MDA含量下降62.03%;外源钙还有效改善铅胁迫下玉米幼苗的光合作用,其净光合速率(Pn)、气孔导度(Gs)均较单独铅胁迫处理条件下明显增加。外源钙对玉米幼苗铅胁迫的缓解具有剂量效应,以10mmol/L Ca~(2+)的效果最好,增强了玉米幼苗对重金属铅的抗性。     

高温强光下Ca2+对西葫芦幼苗膜质过氧化、抗氧化酶系统及热耗散的影响

为探明不同浓度外源Ca2+对高温强光胁迫下西葫芦植株幼苗的影响,本试验选用西葫芦(Cucurbitapepo L.)品种"阿兰一代"为试验材料,通过外源喷施不同浓度CaCl2溶液,研究了Ca2+对高温强光胁迫下西葫芦幼苗叶绿素荧光特性、膜质过氧化及抗氧化酶系统的影响。结果表明,较低浓度Ca2+处理(5~20 mmol.L 1)可有效提高高温强光下西葫芦幼苗超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)、谷胱甘肽还原酶(GR)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性,降低丙二醛(MDA)、过氧化氢(H2O2)、超氧阴离子自由基(O2&)含量和膜透性,还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)含量升高;同时西葫芦叶片PSII的最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、PSⅡ实际光化学效率(ΦPSⅡ)和光化学猝灭系数(qP)较高,而非光化学猝灭系数(NPQ)较低。说明5~20 mmol.L 1Ca2+处理对高温强光胁迫具有明显的缓解作用,同时其热耗散较小。当Ca2+处理浓度超过40 mmol.L 1时对高温强光胁迫缓解效应不明显。     

低氮和干旱胁迫对富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的影响

【目的】以富士（Fuji）、 秦冠（Qinguan）嫁接在平邑甜茶（Malus hupehensis Rehd.）上的当年生盆栽苗为试验材料,采用砂培方法,研究了缺氮胁迫和干旱对富士和秦冠生长情况、 光合参数、 植株各部位氮磷钾含量及氮素利用效率的影响,分析比较了低氮干旱条件下富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的差异,以期为果树生产高效肥水利用提供理论指导。【方法】试验共设四个处理: 正常氮正常水（ZZ）、 低氮正常水（DZ）、 正常氮干旱（ZG）、 低氮干旱（DG）。氮素和水分均设置两个水平,分别为正常氮（6 mmol/L NO-3-N）、 低氮（0.3 mmol/LNO-3-N）、 正常供水（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的80%~85%）、 干旱处理（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的60%~65%）。【结果】富士和秦冠的生物量（茎和叶）、 株高茎粗等生长指标以及光合速率、 气孔导度、 蒸腾速率均为正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）,并且相对应处理下秦冠的以上指标均高于富士;正常供水下,缺氮处理使富士、 秦冠的根冠比比正常氮处理均有所增加,富士提高了2.05%,秦冠提高了22.40%。富士和秦冠的氮、 磷、 钾含量均表现出正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）; 氮、 钾元素含量在植株各部位的分布顺序依次是叶＞根＞茎,磷元素则是根＞叶＞茎;光合氮素利用效率（PNUE）和氮素利用效率表现为秦冠处理之间差异极显著,富士处理之间差异不显著;秦冠的PNUE和NUE明显高于富士,在低氮正常水（DZ）处理下,秦冠氮肥利用率比富士高42.07%,在低氮干旱（DG）处理下高64.14%;低氮胁迫下富士和秦冠的NUE显著提高,并且秦冠提高的幅度高于富士。【结论】施用氮肥能够显著提高富士与秦冠的干物质量,同等水肥条件下,秦冠生长优于富士;水分亏缺会减少叶片对氮的吸收,干旱条件下适度增施氮肥,可提高果树的抗旱能力;低氮干旱胁迫下秦冠的生长指标、 光合指标及氮素利用效率指标均优于富士,表现出较强的抗低氮干旱胁迫的能力。     

Biodiversity and ecogeography of wild Lactuca spp. in some European countries

Staff members of the Department of Botany of Palacký University in Olomouc and Gene Bank Department – Workplace Olomouc, Research Institute of Crop Production in Prague, Czech Republic, conducted an expedition in seven European countries (Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland) in August/September 1999 to collect wild Lactuca spp. germplasm and study its geographic distribution, ecology and biodiversity. During the mission, more than 600 locations were visited resulting in the collection of 602 seed samples (accessions) of wild Lactuca species and 13 seed samples of related genera (Chondrilla and Mycelis). Lactuca serriola f. serriola, L. serriola f. integrifolia, L. saligna and L. viminea subsp. chondrilliflora were prevalent in southern Europe (Italy, France), however, only L. serriola was common in central and western Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland). The greatest diversity of Lactuca species was found in France, where also the most seed samples (165) were collected. The most characteristic habitats with a high density of Lactuca spp. populations were observed along roads and highways, grassy ditches, ruderal communities, and dust-heaps. Natural infections by powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) and downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) on some wild Lactuca spp. were observed. Recent observations concerning the geographic distribution, population structure, habitats, and natural occurrence of diseases of Lactuca spp. are discussed. This assemblage of genetic resources of Lactuca spp. can serve as the basis of future studies of species diversification, spatial population structure, plant microevolution, domestication processes, and genetic variability of host-parasite interactions.     

Pasture Vegetation Elemental Analysis by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a new technique for the analysis of plant material. This study investigates the application of LIBS to pasture-based plant samples. The LIBS measurements were obtained from pelletized pasture samples (100 samples) that had been also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) following microwave digestion for calibration and comparison purposes. Comparisons for elements sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) showed that LIBS could be used for almost all the standard profile total elements with concentrations down to low mg/kg levels (observed error of Na: 0.024 percent, K: 0.18 percent, Mg: 0.016 percent, Ca: 0.073 percent, P: 0.017 percent, Mn: 31 mg/kg, Fe: 150 mg/kg, Zn: 6.6 mg/kg, and B: 1.1 mg/kg). Elemental analysis at less than mg/kg levels was not possible using LIBS. The elements S and Cu were particularly difficult to analyze with reliability using LIBS at the concentration levels found in the plant samples. Replacing microwave digestion and subsequent ICP analysis with a direct analysis of dried plant samples using LIBS has the potential to improve the productivity and reduce the cost of testing.     

Properties of anaerobically digested and composted municipal solid waste assessed by linking soil mesofauna dynamics and nitrogen modelling

We have studied the effect of anaerobically digested (ADMSW) and composted municipal solid waste (CMSW) on mineralization and foodweb dynamics to verify the hypothesis that ADMSW would immobilize N right after addition to soil in contrast to addition with CMSW. Another hypothesis was that the mesofauna (enchytraeids and microarthropods) would stimulate N release from the decomposer community. We measured excretion of -N and urea-N from the mesofauna and hypothesized that enchytraeids would release urea. ADMSW and CMSW were amended to pots with sandy loam and barley. The pots were divided into treatments with or without mesofauna. Mesofauna, plant N and biomass, soil N and ergosterol (fungal biomass) were measured over a 113-day period of four equidistant samplings. Soil respiration, N mineralization and N release by the mesofauna were modelled from concurrent studies. ADMSW- and CMSW-treated soils initially (<20 days) immobilized N. The amendments did not increase plant growth substantially, and this was probably due to N-limitation in the early stages of plant growth. Enchytraeid abundance was about three times higher in ADMSW- than CMSW-treated soils, indicating that ADMSW contained more labile compounds, bacteria, and microfauna. The mesofauna did not affect N-content, but the cumulated -N excreted by the mesofauna was estimated to be substantial and about one-fifth of total plant N in ADMSW. An explanation for this discrepancy might be that in the absence of the mesofauna, other members of the detrivore and microbivore community performed the mesofauna’s function. Neither enchytraeids nor microarthropods excreted urea.     

Faculty positions: Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Faculty positions: Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Faculty positions:Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils: effects of fire, mowing, and fertilization on density and biomass

The responses of tallgrass prairie plant communities and ecosystem processes to fire and grazing are well characterized. However, responses of invertebrate consumer groups, and particularly soil-dwelling organisms, to these disturbances are not well known. At Konza Prairie Biological Station, we sampled soil macroinvertebrates in 1994 and 1999 as part of a long-term experiment designed to examine the effects and interactions of annual fire, mowing, and fertilization (N and P) on prairie soil communities and processes. For nearly all taxa, in both years, responses were characterized by significant treatment interactions, but some general patterns were evident. Introduced European earthworms (Aporrectodea spp. and Octolasion spp.) were most abundant in plots where fire was excluded, and the proportion of the total earthworm community consisting of introduced earthworms was greater in unburned, unmowed, and fertilized plots. Nymphs of two Cicada genera were collected (Cicadetta spp. and Tibicen spp.). Cicadetta nymphs were more abundant in burned plots, but mowing reduced their abundance. Tibicen nymphs were collected almost exclusively from unburned plots. Treatment effects on herbivorous beetle larvae (Scarabaeidae, Elateridae, and Curculionidae) were variable, but nutrient additions (N or P) usually resulted in greater densities, whereas mowing usually resulted in lower densities. Our results suggest that departures from historical disturbance regimes (i.e. frequent fire and grazing) may render soils more susceptible to increased numbers of European earthworms, and that interactions between fire, aboveground biomass removal, and vegetation responses affect the structure and composition of invertebrate communities in tallgrass prairie soils.     

Assessing the effectiveness of conservation measures: Resolving the “wicked” problem of the Steller sea lion

“Wicked” problems are those that are complex and that change when solutions are applied. Many conflicts in conservation fall into this category. The study approached the problem of how to constrain the apparent wickedness of a problem in the conservation management of a species by using simple empirical indicators to carry out iterative assessment of the risk to a population and to document how this risk evolves in relation to the addition of new data and the implementation of management actions. Effects of high levels of uncertainty within data and also concerning population structure were examined through stochastic simulation and by exploration of scenarios. Historical trends in the example used, the Steller sea lion, showed rapid declines in abundance in some regions during the 1980s. The current total population is 130,000-150,000 Steller sea lions through Alaska and British Columbia and this number has been stable since about 1990 in spite of regional differences in population dynamics. Regional differences in the sequence of changes in the number of pups and non-pups, suggested that an internal re-distribution of juveniles could have happened between 1980 and 1990. Current productivity also appears close to the long-term mean. Stochastic population projection using various scenarios showed that, based upon this history, the risk of extinction for the population has declined and is below reasonable thresholds for considering the population to be endangered. The trends in risk suggest that management actions taken since 1990 have probably been effective. Consequently, the conservation management objectives for the Steller sea lion are probably being met. The approach provides a mechanism, based upon experience and scenario analysis, for exploring future policy options and may help to constrain the debate amongst stakeholders about the cost-benefit trade-offs associated with different options.     

Soil-profile distribution of primary and secondary plant-available nutrients under conventional and no tillage

Nutrient distributions under no tillage (NT) compared with conventional disk-and-bed tillage (CT) management in the warm, humid region of the southeastern USA need to be assessed so that future placement, quantity, and type of fertilizers can be altered, if necessary, to efficiently match crop demands. We determined soil-profile distributions of pH, N, P, S, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu to a depth of 0.9 m at the end of 8.5 years of continuous CT and NT management on a Weswood silty clay loam (fine, mixed, thermic Fluventic Ustochrept) in southcentral Texas. Most dramatic changes occurred within the 0–0.05 m depth, where soil under NT had lower pH, Fe, and Cu than under CT, but greater P, K, Zn, and Mn. Greater P and K under NT than under CT also occurred below the till-zone (0.15–0.3 m). At a depth of 0–0.3 m, soil under NT contained greater amounts of extractable P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu than under CT. Nitrogen fertilization had little effect on nutrient distributions, except resulting in greater extractable K at 0–0.05 m and greater nitrate at 0–0.15 m. Few changes in soil-profile distributions were observed for extractable S, Ca, Mg, and Na. Long-term continuous use of NT on this fine-textured, high-fertility (except for N) soil had no apparent adverse effects on nutrient distributions relative to CT, but enhanced conservation and availability of P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu near the soil surface where crop roots proliferate.