玉米叶夹角和叶向值的QTL定位

叶夹角和叶向值是评价玉米株型的重要指标。本研究以甜玉米自交系组合T14×T4的F2为作图群体,构建了包含192个SSR标记位点的遗传连锁图谱,覆盖玉米基因组1260cM,平均图距6.56cM。通过测定F2、F2:3家系的叶夹角和叶向值,应用复合区间作图法在两个世代中共检测到26个QTL,其中14个与叶夹角相关的QTL,分别位于第2、5、6、7和8染色体上,单个QTL可解释的表型变异为3.3%～26.2%;12个与叶向值相关的QTL,分布于第1、2、3、7和10染色体上,单个QTL可解释的表型变异为3.1%～20.7%。在第2、3、5染色体上分别检测到1、1、2个同时在F2、F2:3家系都稳定表达的QTL,分别落在区间bnlg1329～bnlg1613、umc1148～umc2275和umc1097～umc1692,可作为相关数量性状基因的候选基因。发现1个同时控制叶夹角和叶向值性状的QTL,位于第2染色体上的bnlg1017-umc2129区间,对两性状的表型贡献率分别为10.8%和10.6%。本研究的结果有望为玉米耐密型育种及分子辅助选择育种提供一定的理论依据。     

玉米穗上叶夹角和叶间距的QTL定位

玉米(Zea mays L.)的叶夹角和叶间距是玉米株型的两个重要性状,不同株型通过影响群体冠层内的光分布状况和群体的光能利用而影响产量。为了解玉米叶夹角和叶间距的遗传机制,利用紧凑型玉米自交系CY5和平展型玉米自交系YL106组配构建的F2世代为作图群体,构建具有212个SSR标记的遗传连锁图谱,图谱总长度为1 153.39 cM,标记平均间距5.44 cM。利用144个F2∶3家系在3个环境下的表型值,结合已构建的遗传连锁图谱,采用完备区间作图法,对穗上叶夹角和穗上叶间距进行基因定位。结果表明,在单环境分析中,共检测出22个QTL,叶夹角和叶间距分别检测到10和12个QTL,其中西南大学玉米研究所歇马试验基地(简称XM)检测到9个,北碚试验基地(简称BB)检测到8个,合川试验基地(简称HC)检测到5个;在多环境联合分析中,共检测出11个QTL,分别位于1、3、5和7号染色体上,其中叶夹角检测到5个,位于1、3和5号染色体上,叶间距检测到6个,位于1和7号染色体上;在单环境和多环境中同时检测到的一致性QTL有3个,分别是穗上二叶夹角(qSecLA1a)、穗上三叶夹角(qThiLA1a)和穗上三叶间距(qThiLS7),其中在单环境中qSecLA1a位于1号染色体bnlg1803～bnlg1007,分别解释表型变异率26.99%和18.51%,qThiLA1a位于1号染色体bnlg1803～bnlg1007,分别解释表型变异率24.14%和22.00%,qThiLS7位于7号染色体bnlg1305～umc1787,分别解释表型变异率13.77%和9.96%;以上3个QTL在多环境联合分析中的贡献率分别为29.10%、31.86%和11.20%。因此,qSecLA1a、qThiLA1a和qThiLS7 3个位点在不同环境中可稳定表达。本研究结果可为玉米叶夹角和叶间距的遗传改良和分子标记辅助育种提供参考资料。     

水稻赖氨酸和总黄酮含量的QTL定位及环境互作分析

为挖掘多环境下稳定存在的水稻赖氨酸和总黄酮含量相关QTL,以粳稻东农425和长白10号及其衍生的180个株系的F_(6:7)重组自交系(RIL)作为供试群体,采用完备区间作图法(ICIM)和基于混合线性模型的复合区间作图法(MCIM),对2014年和2015年水稻的赖氨酸含量和总黄酮含量进行加性QTL定位及环境互作分析。结果检测到10个影响赖氨酸含量的加性效应QTL和12个影响黄酮含量的加性效应QTL,分布在除第9、第10和第12染色体以外的9条染色体上,其中在第5染色体的RM538~RM1271标记区间内连续2年检测到总黄酮含量QTL。检测到6个存在环境互作效应的赖氨酸含量QTL、4个存在环境互作效应的总黄酮含量QTL,互作贡献率为0.15%~6.73%;一对影响总黄酮含量的上位互作效应的QTL,贡献率为0.99%。本研究结果为水稻赖氨酸和总黄酮含量QTL分子标记辅助育种提供了一定的理论依据。     

不同水分条件下水稻苗期根系性状的QTL分析

以超级杂交稻协优9308(协青早B/中恢9308)衍生的234个重组自交系(RIL)为材料,在正常水分和20%聚乙二醇(PEG-6000)模拟水分胁迫处理下对水稻苗期最长根长、总根长、根表面积、根体积、根平均直径、根尖数、根鲜重和根冠比进行QTL定位分析。采用复合区间作图法,共检测到影响8个根部性状的21个QTL,单个QTL可解释的表型变异介于4.80%～11.35%。其中,正常水分条件下检测到7个QTL,分布在第2、3、9、10、11染色体上;水分胁迫条件下检测到14个QTL,分布在第2、3、5、6、9染色体上。不同水分条件下检测到的QTL位点差异很大,表明不同水分条件下的遗传机制不同。在第3和第6染色体上各检测到1个根部性状的QTL簇,尤其在第3染色体RM6283-RM7370区间发现苗期根系性状与抗旱性及产量相关性状之间存在连锁关系,利用这些QTL紧密连锁的分子标记进行辅助选择,可望同时对多个相关性状进行遗传改良。     

盐胁迫下水稻部分生化性状的QTL定位

应用247个株系组成的珍汕97B/密阳46重组自交系群体及其相应的含250个分子标记的高密度分子遗传图谱,对0.7%NaCl盐处理后的水稻苗期相关生化性状进行QTL定位。在第1染色体的RM237-RM246区间检测到1个控制蛋白质含量的QTL,贡献率为13.14%;在第12染色体的RG81-S13126和RM309-RG543区间分别检测到1个控制脯氨酸含量和抗坏血酸含量的QTL,贡献率为9.09%和7.97%。并将所定位区间与已报道的水稻盐胁迫反应基因/QTL的位置进行了比较。     

高低氮条件下玉米SSSL群体生物量、氮浓度及氮累积量的QTL定位

  【目的】  玉米生物量、氮浓度以及氮累积量与籽粒的产量和品质密切相关，本研究利用单片段代换系群体，对高氮和低氮条件下玉米成熟期的生物量、氮浓度和氮累积量进行了QTL定位，旨在为氮高效相关基因的精细定位以及克隆氮高效相关的主效QTL奠定基础。  【方法】  以氮效率具有显著差异的‘许178’和‘综3’为亲本构建的玉米单片段代换系 (SSSL) 群体作为研究材料，设置高氮 (0.15 g/kg) 和低氮 (0.05 g/kg) 两种处理进行盆栽试验。在成熟期取样，测定植株的生物量、氮浓度以及氮累积量。根据代换系与亲本‘许178’表型值的T-test结果, 利用该群体SSR遗传连锁图谱，在P < 0.05条件下定位所测定性状的QTL。  【结果】  在高氮和低氮条件下，共定位到133个QTL (贡献率为 –40.75% ～12.69%)。其中包括49个生物量QTL，在高氮条件下检测到26个、低氮条件下检测到23个；24个氮浓度QTL，其中17个茎秆氮浓度QTL (包括8个高氮条件下检测到的QTL和9个低氮条件下检测到的QTL)，7个叶片氮浓度QTL (5个高氮条件下检测到的QTL和2个低氮条件下检测到的QTL)；60个氮累积量QTL，包括33个茎秆氮累积量QTL (27个高氮条件下检测到的QTL和6个低氮条件下检测到的QTL)，27个叶片氮累积量QTL (11个高氮条件下检测到的QTL和16个低氮条件下检测到的QTL)。上述QTL在玉米的10条染色体上均有分布，其中以第4条染色体上检测到的数量最多 (19个)，第5条染色体上检测到的数量最少 (6个)。  【结论】  本研究定位到的生物量和叶片、茎秆氮累积量高氮特异QTL片段有umc1077 ～umc2350 (bin 10.04)、umc2350 ～bnlg1028 (bin 10.04) ，低氮特异QTL片段有umc2377 ～bnlg1647 (bin 3.01)、end ～phi072 (bin 4.00)、bnlg1444 ～umc2041 (bin 4.08)、bnlg1863 ～bnlg2046 (bin 8.03)。这些染色体片段中极可能包含控制玉米氮效率相关的关键基因，在后期的试验中我们将逐步对这些QTL进行精细定位。     

波兰小麦×普通小麦品系中13重组自交系(RIL)群体穗部性状的QTL分析

小麦穗部性状是与籽粒产量关系密切的重要农艺性状。本研究以一个由99个株系组成的来源于波兰小麦(Triticum polonicum L.)和普通小麦(Triticum aestivum L.)品系中13杂交后代的F8重组自交系(recombinant inbred lines,RIL)群体为实验材料,利用微卫星(simple sequence repeat,SSR)标记对穗长、穗粒数和有效小穗数进行数量性状基因座(quantitative trait locus,QTL)定位分析。所构建的A染色体组和B染色体组共14个连锁群的遗传连锁图谱由115个SSR标记位点组成,图谱全长822.9cM,标记间的平均遗传距离为7.16cM。采用复合区间作图法在两年的环境中检测到分布在2A、3A、3B、5B和7B染色体上的6个穗长QTL,5个穗粒数QTL和2个有效小穗数QTL,表型变异贡献率分别为9.21%～22.94%,9.18%～19.71%和11.48%～13.01%。两年中都在3A染色体上的Xbarc12～Xbarc310区间内检测到控制穗粒数的主效QTL,说明该QTL较少受环境条件的影响,是一个稳定可靠的穗粒数QTL。该QTL与最近标记的遗传距离为0.01cM,可用于小麦产量性状的分子标记辅助育种。     

基于Super-GBS技术的高粱籽粒酿造相关性状QTL定位

为探究酒用高粱籽粒酿造性状的遗传基础,本研究利用超级基因分型技术（Supper-GBS）技术对BTx623×红缨子的205个家系的重组自交系（RIL）群体开展基因分型,构建了包含1 910个单核苷酸多态性标记（SNP）,标记平均间距为0.47 cM的连锁图谱。结合两年4个环境的表型数据,利用完备区间作图法（ICIM）对籽粒总淀粉含量、支链淀粉含量、单宁含量、硬度和颜色等5个酿造性状进行了数量性状位点（QTL）定位。结果表明,在高粱的1～9号染色体上检测到9、7、11、5和3个QTL分别与总淀粉含量、支链淀粉含量、单宁含量、籽粒硬度和籽粒颜色相关,一共涉及到35个不同的QTL,其中15个QTL与前人定位结果一致。在多个性状和环境中检测到3个重要遗传区段,分别位于1号染色体（66.30～71.55 Mb）、4号染色体（54.00～62.3 Mb）以及6号染色体（54.59～57.57 Mb）,其中包括已知的Tan1和Y1基因,以及6个与淀粉和类黄酮合成途径相关的候选基因,如编码β-淀粉酶、黄烷酮3-羟化酶和bHLH转录因子等。本研究结果为酿造性状相关基因的进一步克隆奠定了基础,也为利用标记...     

玉米强优势组合7个主要穗部性状在3种环境下的QTL分析

玉米产量是遗传基础复杂的数量性状。利用玉米(Zea mays L.)单交种烟单 14 号杂交组合的 F1(Mo17×黄早四)自交后形成的 191 个 F2单株作为构图群体,构建了由扩增片段长度多态性(AFLP)和简单重复序列(SSR)两种标记组成的遗传图谱。F2继续自交衍生的 184 个相应 F2∶3家系用于玉米 7 个穗部性状表型的田间鉴定。采用以混合线性模型为理论基础的复合区间作图法和配套软件 QTLmapper/V2.0,在 3个环境下共检测到 76 个穗部性状的数量性状基因座(QTL)。其中穗粒重、穗重、出籽率、穗长、秃尖长、穗粗和轴粗的 QTL 数目分别为 8、8、11、10、9、10 和 20 个。大多 QTL 仅在单一环境下被检测到,单个 QTL解释的表型变异率很低,仅有 5 个 QTL 的加性效应贡献率大于 10%,绝大多数 QTL 显性效应贡献率小于 1%。基因作用方式 29%的 QTL 为加性,47%为部分显性,11%为显性,13%为超显性。控制玉米穗部性状的 QTL 在染色体间分布不均匀,且呈现成簇分布、毗邻分布等特征。各个 QTL 位点上起增效和减效作用的等位基因在双亲间分布不均匀,两个亲本均可以提供增效或减效等位基因。本研究结果对于玉米高产分子育种中分子标记辅助选择(MAS)和亲本选配等问题具有启发和指导作用。     

不同生长环境下水稻氮、磷、钾利用相关性状的QTL定位分析

【目的】鉴定影响水稻氮、磷、钾利用相关性状的QTL,为开展水稻养分高效利用分子标记辅助选择育种和肥高效基因的图位克隆提供依据。【方法】以云南强耐冷(2级)粳稻地方品种丽江新团黑谷与十和田杂交、回交获包含105个株系的孕穗期耐冷性近等基因系BC4F8及双亲为材料,在云南白邑(冷水胁迫)、寻甸(自然低温胁迫)和玉溪(正常生长环境)3种生长环境下进行水稻氮、磷、钾养分吸收相关性状的鉴定,并利用构建的含有180个SSR标记,全长为1820.6 c M,标记间平均距离为15.67 c M的遗传图谱,用基于完备区间作图法的QTL Ici Mapping V3.2软件对16个性状进行QTL定位分析。【结果】3种环境下共检测到56个QTL,分布在第1、2、3、4、5、6、7、9和10染色体上,单个性状QTL数为1~10个,单个QTL可解释的各自性状表型贡献率为8.88%~35.30%。其中,氮、磷、钾利用效率QTLs数分别为12个、27个和17个。而q TNA-1a、q TPA-1、q PHI-1、q PHI-6、q PHI-7b和q KHI-6共6个QTL在冷害和正常环境下均能检测到,稳定性较高,其贡献率变幅为10.63%~31.57%。在第1、3、4、5、6、7和10染色体上有13个标记区域存在QTL成族分布,单个QTL位点控制的性状数为2~5个,其中共同控制磷总吸收量、磷素干物质生产效率、磷素收获指数、每100 kg籽粒需钾量和钾素收获指数等性状的位点数最多。【结论】获得56个影响氮、磷、钾利用相关性状的QTL,且发现的13个QTL富集区可作为水稻氮、磷、钾高效利用分子育种的重要候选区域。     

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.