宏基因组学探究原料乳冷藏过程菌群变化规律

为探究原料乳4 ℃冷藏期间细菌群落的变化规律，使用Illumina Hiseq测序平台，对原料乳冷藏期间微生物变化及功能注释进行宏基因组学分析。随着冷藏时间的延长，原料乳中的微生物在数量和种群构成上均发生了显著改变。冷藏72 h期间，优势菌群由不动杆菌属、链球菌属、无浆体属和梭菌属向黄杆菌属、假单胞菌属和乳球菌属逐渐演替。功能注释结果显示：复制重组修复、翻译/核糖体结构与生物发生、细胞壁/膜的生物发生、脂质代谢在冷藏前期相对丰度较高。氨基酸、碳水化合物的转运与代谢在冷藏后期相对丰度较高。其中脂质代谢与不动杆菌属显著相关（P<0.001），氨基酸代谢、碳水化合物代谢与假单胞菌属显著相关（P<0.01）。表明冷藏原料乳中不动杆菌属及假单胞菌属对乳成分影响较大。通过控制冷藏原料乳有害微生物繁殖，能够维持乳成分稳定。该研究结果可为生鲜乳保藏、液态乳灭菌控制、奶酪加工等提供理论依据。     

猪肉提取净化过程中脂质含量变化及其对β-受体激动剂残留分析的影响研究

采用靶向脂质组学方法分析了猪肉提取净化过程中24种磷脂的含量变化,考察了其对β-受体激动剂残留检测基质效应的影响。结果表明,磷脂总量随着提取溶液中水比例的增大而增加,其中磷脂酰胆碱(PC)脂质的增加最为明显。净化吸附剂C_(18)和PSA的使用可以降低磷脂总量,C_(18)的除脂效果优于PSA,且对磷脂酰乙醇胺(PE)、磷脂酰肌醇(PI)和磷脂酰丝氨酸(PS)脂质的去除效果好于PC脂质。随着水的增加,基质效应处于90%～100%范围内的化合物个数有所降低,但对弱基质效应(80%～120%)的化合物个数总体影响不大,当使用50 mg PSA和50 mg C_(18)对样品进行净化时化合物个数达到最大。磷脂含量的降低一定程度上降低了基质效应,减少了对目标分析物的影响,这些结果为明确样品前处理过程中基质动态变化,从而针对性地优化建立残留分析方法提供了重要依据。     

南美白对虾空气油炸过程中脂质组学快检技术研究

为实时监测南美白对虾在空气油炸过程中脂质组学轮廓变化,本研究采用iKnife-REIMS联用技术、主成分分析(PCA)和正交偏最小二乘判别分析(OPLS-DA)探究了不同空气油炸温度(140、170、200℃,10 min)对南美白对虾肌肉组织脂质组成的影响。结果表明,经结构鉴定和相对含量测定,南美白对虾样品中共检出10种脂肪酸与31种磷脂分子,其中,亚油酸(m/z 279,21.88%)、EPA(m/z 301,16.59%)与DHA(m/z 327,15.14%)为主要脂肪酸离子;[PE 36:1-H]^-(m/z 744,20.16%)与[PE 38:5-H]^-/[PC O-36:5-H]^-(m/z 764,15.92%)为主要磷脂离子。随着油炸温度的升高,油炸南美白对虾中饱和脂肪酸与甘油磷脂酸(PA)分子的相对含量呈上升趋势,而不饱和脂肪酸、磷脂酰乙醇胺(PE)、磷脂酰胆碱(PC)与磷脂酰肌醇(PI)分子的相对含量不断减少。通过共享与特有化合物结构分析图(SUS-plot)确定了6个潜在标记物(m/z 277、m/z 770、m/z 810、m/z 818、m/z 844及m/z 836),可用于空气油炸样品的实时鉴别。经方法学验证,该iKnife-REIMS联用实时检测方法的灵敏度和精密度均可满足空气油炸过程中南美白对虾脂肪酸和磷脂的脂质组学轮廓分析测试要求。本研究结果为食品加工过程中脂质组学变化研究提供了新的检测技术手段。     

利用NMR技术测定小麦胚芽中的脂质成分

为深入探究小麦胚芽中的脂质成分,该研究采用不同溶剂分别提取小麦胚芽中的磷脂和中性脂质,利用核磁共振技术 （nuclear magnetic resonance,NMR）对小麦胚芽中的脂质成分进行分析,结果表明：³¹P NMR在小麦胚芽中检测到6种磷脂和相对应的5种溶血性磷脂,以及非脂质含磷化合物甘油磷脂酰胆碱（GPC）;磷脂中含量最高的是磷脂酰胆碱(PC),其摩尔浓度为0.42 μmol/g,摩尔分数为28.50%,质量浓度为0.31 mg/g,质量分数为30.2%;¹H NMR测定小麦胚芽中的多种中性脂质组成及含量,包括甘油三酯（TG）、甘油二酯（DG）、甘油单酯（MG）和游离脂肪酸（FA）,其中含量最高的甘油酯是TG,占比为77.25%,含量最低的是2-甘油单酯（2-MG）,占比为0.03%;小麦胚芽的甘油三酯和磷脂中检测出亚油酸（L）、油酸（O）和亚麻酸（Ln）等6种不饱和脂肪酸,其中亚油酸的含量最高,在甘油三酯中占比56.26%,在磷脂中占比45.37%。溶血性磷脂和GPC是磷脂的水解产物,DG、MG和FA是甘油三酯的水解产物,这些物质可以反映样品中脂质的水解程度。研究结果表明,利用NMR不仅能够对小麦胚芽脂质的组分进行定性定量分析,而且可以监测小麦胚芽脂质水解程度的变化。NMR技术在小麦胚芽相关产品的脂质分析研究具有重要作用。     

乙醇提取冷冻结晶去杂精制磷脂酰胆碱

该文研究了在低温条件下，用乙醇作为溶剂，通过冷冻结晶去杂，从粗制大豆磷脂中精制磷脂酰胆碱的方法。通过单因素试验确定了影响磷脂酰胆碱纯度的相关因素。用响应面试验对精制条件进行了优化，结果表明冷冻时间、冷冻温度、液料比都对磷脂酰胆碱的纯度产生一定的影响。其中冷冻时间，冷冻温度的影响最为显著。经响应面分析优化得到了最佳工艺条件为:温度为-20℃、冷冻时间为23.56 h、液料比为8.73∶1(V/m)。在此条件下得到磷脂酰胆碱的预测纯度为70.73%。经过验证实验和高效液相法检测，实测在此条件下：磷脂酰胆碱的纯度为70.1%,得率为23.0%。中试结果为：磷脂酰胆碱的纯度为68.8%,得率为22.7%。表明此方法简单可行，适宜于工业化生产。     

采用UHPLC-QTOF-MS技术筛选亚麻籽油脂质分子标志物

为了探究亚麻籽油中脂质的真实属性和发掘其有价值的脂质分子,该研究基于超高效液相色谱-四级杆飞行时间质谱联用技术（Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography-Quadrupole Time-of-Flight Spectroscopy, UHPLC-QTOF-MS）表征了亚麻籽油的脂质轮廓。结果表明：在正离子模式下检测到15个脂质分子小类共668种脂质分子;在负离子模式下检测到31个脂质分子小类共404种脂质分子;共有7个脂质分子小类脂质在正、负离子下均被检测到;甜菜碱脂、甘油糖脂、神经节苷脂、鞘磷脂、神经酰胺、羟基脂肪酸的脂肪酸酯、酰基肉碱和植物固醇在亚麻籽油首次在该研究中被发现,它们都具有特殊的生物学功能。多元变量统计分析结果表明每两个品种亚麻籽油间相对定量值差异显著的脂质分子均超过200种（P<0.05）,并筛选出6种甘油磷酸肌醇、1种甘油磷酸胆碱、1种甘油磷酸乙醇胺和1种三酰基甘油作为亚麻籽A油的标志性脂质分子;6种三酰基甘油和1种半单酰基甘油磷酸酯作为亚麻籽B油的标志性脂质分子;1种神经节苷脂和1种硫代异鼠李糖甘油二酯作为亚麻籽C油的标志性脂质分子。总之,该研究在亚麻籽油中鉴定出39个脂质分子小类共1 072种脂质分子,其中有22个脂质分子小类共415种脂质分子首次在亚麻籽油中被检测到,此外不同品种亚麻籽油在脂质分子层面存在显著差异（P<0.05）,这些脂质分子作为标志物,可用于植物油的品质判别、营养评价,真伪鉴别和安全性评价等,同时该研究也为其他植物油的分析提供方法参考。     

秦川牛腿骨油的脂质组成分析

为了实现畜禽骨副产物的有效利用,本研究采用超声波辅助溶剂浸出法提取秦川牛腿骨油,应用高效液相色谱(HPLC)、气相色谱-质谱联用(GC-MS)法和基于多维质谱“鸟枪法”脂质组学技术(MDMS-SL)综合分析牛腿骨油的脂质组成,并对牛腿骨油的氧化稳定性、酸价和过氧化值等理化性质以及酚类化合物进行测定。结果表明,秦川牛腿骨油中含有丰富的甘油酯,其中甘油三酯(TAG)含量为93.85%,同时含有少量的甘油二酯(DAG)。在秦川牛腿骨油中共检测出24种脂肪酸,单不饱和脂肪酸和多不饱和脂肪酸含量分别为62.85%和2.18%;24种酰基肉碱,总含量为1.18 nmol·g^-1;17种鞘磷脂,总含量为35.36 nmol·g^-1;38种磷脂酰胆碱,总含量为22.16 nmol·g^-1。样品具有较强的氧化稳定性,酸价和过氧化值分别为16.43 mg KOH·g^-1和5.22 mmol·kg^-1,含有α-生育酚、α-三烯酚及γ-三烯酚3种酚类化合物。丰富的TAG、不饱和脂肪酸及鞘磷脂含量使秦川牛腿骨油在促进营养吸收、降血糖血脂及抗炎等方面具有较大的利用潜力。本研究为秦川牛腿骨油相关高附加值产品的开发提供了理论基础。     

扰流风机降温对奶牛泌乳性能和免疫功能的影响

为研究奶牛舍采用扰流风机降温对奶牛泌乳性能和免疫功能的影响,该研究选择结构和饲养管理相同的两栋泌乳牛舍,检测安装风机（风机舍）和不安装风机（对照舍）对不同时期奶牛泌乳性能、淋巴细胞凋亡率、血液理化指标及免疫相关基因mRNA表达的影响,并分析奶牛泌乳性能、免疫性能指标与等温指数（equivalent temperature index for cattle,ETIC）之间的相关性。结果表明：1）安装风机改善了舍内温热环境,整个试验期风机舍的平均ETIC较对照舍降低了3.52 ℃,有效缓解了奶牛的热应激。2）风机舍的产奶量和4%标准乳在试验中、后期均显著高于对照舍（P<0.05）,且风机舍的乳脂率较对照舍也表现出显著性提高（P<0.05）。3）安装风机改善了热应激条件下奶牛的免疫功能。与对照舍相比,风机舍奶牛血液中淋巴细胞数量在试验中、后期显著增加（P<0.05）,并降低了淋巴细胞的早期凋亡率（P<0.05）,淋巴细胞中促凋亡因子Bax的mRNA表达量及其血清浓度在试验后期均表现出显著性降低（P<0.05）,抗凋亡因子Bcl-xl的mRNA表达量（P<0.01）及其血清浓度（P<0.10）在试验中、后期表现出增加趋势。此外,风机舍的血清白细胞介素-12（Interleukin-12, IL-12）和免疫球蛋白G（Immunoglobulin G, IgG）浓度较对照舍也表现出显著性增加（P<0.05）。4）从各项指标之间的相关分析得出,乳蛋白率、淋巴细胞数量与ETIC均呈显著负相关关系（P<0.05）,淋巴细胞BAK mRNA表达、血清IL-6浓度与ETIC呈显著正相关关系（P<0.05）。 可见,安装扰流风机可改善舍内温热环境,有效缓解夏季奶牛的热应激,提高奶牛生产性能和免疫功能。     

罗氏海盘车性腺脂质的微波提取及其成分分析

为优化罗氏海盘车性腺脂质的微波提取工艺并分析其脂质成分和脂肪酸组成,该研究采用微波辅助提取技术对罗氏海盘车性腺脂质的提取工艺进行优化,同时通过核磁共振和气相色谱-质谱分别对其脂质成分和脂肪酸组成进行分析。试验结果表明,罗氏海盘车性腺脂质的最佳提取工艺条件:以乙酸乙酯为提取溶剂、液料比7 mL/g、提取时间12 min、提取温度60℃,在此优化条件下,罗氏海盘车性腺脂质的提取率为33.82%。罗氏海盘车性腺脂质的主要成分为甘油三酯和磷脂,胆固醇和游离脂肪酸含量较低;脂肪酸以C14:0、C16:0、C18:1n-7、C20:1n-11、C20:5n-3(eicosapentaenoic acid,EPA)和C22:6n-3(docosahexaenoic acid,DHA)为主,C20:5n-3和C22:6n-3总质量分数为21.56%,且n-3型与n-6型多不饱和脂肪酸的比值高达8.72;同时罗氏海盘车性腺脂质的脂肪酸致动脉粥样硬化指数(atherogenic index,AI)和血栓形成指数(thrombogenic index,TI)分别为0.81和0.29,表明罗氏海盘车性腺脂质能有效预防动脉粥样硬化和血栓形成,具有很高营养价值和脂质开发潜力,可作为C20:5n-3和C22:6n-3等功能性脂肪酸的重要膳食来源。该研究为罗氏海盘车性腺脂质的微波提取、成分分析和综合开发利用提供了一定的理论依据。     

环绕式LED光质对蛋白核小球藻生长代谢影响

微藻是一类生长速度快、环境适应能力强的单细胞自养生物，利用其生产的碳水化合物、蛋白质、油脂等已在食品、水产养殖、医疗保健等领域广泛应用，然而，高养殖成本始终是限制其产业化发展的难点之一。光源是微藻培养的重要环境因子，现有研究多报道波段及光照周期对微藻生长代谢的影响，其所用光源几乎均采用单侧排布，光在藻液中分布的均匀性和稳定性易受藻液光径、藻密度等影响。该研究以商业化较成熟的微藻——蛋白核小球藻（Chlorella pyrenoidosa）为对象，将环绕式LED人工光源应用于微藻培养中，采用光强为100 μmol/(m²·s)的白、红、黄、绿、蓝、紫6种光质分别培养蛋白核小球藻21 d，每日监测藻液中生物量和光合色素含量变化，测定培养末期（D21）藻体中的蛋白质、油脂和碳水化合物含量及脂肪酸组成和丰度，分析不同波段光质对蛋白核小球藻生长代谢的影响。结果显示，相较于对照组（白光），绿光和蓝光分别培养蛋白核小球藻7 d和9 d后其生物量显著提高（P<0.05），培养末期（D21）绿光组和蓝光组的生物量分别提高了24.4%和8.0%（P<0.05）；藻液中叶绿素a的变化趋势与生物量变化类似，但绿光组藻体中总光合色素质量分数却显著低于紫光组（P<0.05），可能与微藻对紫光的吸收利用率低有关（需要合成更多光合色素来获取光能）；红光组中碳水化合物质量分数增加11.5%而油脂质量分数显著下降23.8%（P<0.05）；蓝光最利于油脂累积，显著提升26.2%（P<0.05）；紫光使蛋白核小球藻的碳分配从碳水化合物向蛋白质合成方向分流；脂肪酸分析表明，绿光和紫光最利于总脂肪酸累积，较对照组（39.5‰）分别提升20.1%和18.2%（P<0.05）；绿光和蓝光更有利于多不饱和脂肪酸的合成。研究结果可为蛋白核小球藻胞内碳分配的优化调控提供有效的光源配置方案，为蛋白核小球藻的高效优质生产提供理论参考。     

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,     

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.     

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.