Flowering phenology of a herbaceous species (Poa annua) is regulated by soil Collembola

The role of soil organisms as possible driver of flowering has never been investigated. We hypothesized that Collembola (microarthropods) will change plant allocation to reproductive modes by changing soil nutrient availability. Individual seedlings of Poa annua were planted in microcosms, in the presence or absence of Collembola. Collembola affected biotic (fungal biomass) and abiotic ($\text{N}-{{\text{NO}}_3}^{-}$, P₂O₅) soil properties and some morphological (number of leaves, root biomass) and chemical (C:N, K, Mg, N) traits of P. annua. As a result, flowering of P. annua was promoted by the presence of Collembola. This provides experimental evidence that soil microarthropods can affect the reproduction strategy and phenology of a plant.     

浙江仙居括苍山省级自然保护区天蛾科昆虫资源调查

于2014-2019年每年的4-10月、2020年4-8月,对浙江仙居括苍山省级自然保护区的天蛾科Sphingidae昆虫进行了调查,共采集标本128号,经鉴定分别隶属于3亚科、20属、32种(含亚种).依据我国动物地理区系,浙江仙居括苍山省级自然保护区的天蛾科昆虫与华中区、华南区、西南区、青藏区、华北区共有种较多,属...     

Ecological and Industrial Implications of Dynamic Seaweed-Associated Microbiota Interactions

Seaweeds are broadly distributed and represent an important source of secondary metabolites (e.g., halogenated compounds, polyphenols) eliciting various pharmacological activities and playing a relevant ecological role in the anti-epibiosis. Importantly, host (as known as basibiont such as algae)–microbe (as known as epibiont such as bacteria) interaction (as known as halobiont) is a driving force for coevolution in the marine environment. Nevertheless, halobionts may be fundamental (harmless) or detrimental (harmful) to the functioning of the host. In addition to biotic factors, abiotic factors (e.g., pH, salinity, temperature, nutrients) regulate halobionts. Spatiotemporal and functional exploration of such dynamic interactions appear crucial. Indeed, environmental stress in a constantly changing ocean may disturb complex mutualistic relations, through mechanisms involving host chemical defense strategies (e.g., secretion of secondary metabolites and antifouling chemicals by quorum sensing). It is worth mentioning that many of bioactive compounds, such as terpenoids, previously attributed to macroalgae are in fact produced or metabolized by their associated microorganisms (e.g., bacteria, fungi, viruses, parasites). Eventually, recent metagenomics analyses suggest that microbes may have acquired seaweed associated genes because of increased seaweed in diets. This article retrospectively reviews pertinent studies on the spatiotemporal and functional seaweed-associated microbiota interactions which can lead to the production of bioactive compounds with high antifouling, theranostic, and biotechnological potential.     

Efficacy of Netminder® silicone release coating for biofouling reduction in bay scallop grow‐out and comparative effects on scallop survival,growth and reproduction

Netminder^®, a water‐based silicone barrier release coating, was highly effective in reducing biofouling of lantern nets during grow‐out/overwintering of bay scallops, Argopecten irradians irradians, in a large‐scale restoration programme in New York, USA. Compared with untreated nets, scallops held in Netminder^®‐coated nets experienced reduced survival after 8 months, probably due to higher loads of epibionts on their shells. However, this was countered by higher reproductive and overall condition of scallops in treated vs. untreated nets; there were no consistent differences in shell growth in different net treatments. Although further testing is recommended under a wider range of conditions, we conclude that for the purposes of our scallop restoration work, coating nets with Netminder^® would eliminate the need for a gear change in spring, thus reducing labour costs; the coating process should be refined so that Velcro closures of nets do not become sealed shut.     

浙江六横岛泥滩潮间带大型底栖动物的群落特征

本文分析了浙江六横岛泥滩潮间带大型底栖动物的种类组成、数量分布和多样性指数等群落特征。3个泥滩潮间带断面调查采获的大型底栖动物共有19种,其中软体动物10种,节肢动物6种,脊索动物2种,环节动物1种。3个泥滩潮间带断面总平均生物量为470.77±314.32 g/m2, 总平均栖息密度为480±248 ind./m2。在各类群底栖动物中,平均生物量及密度都以软体动物居首位。六横岛潮间带大型底栖动物的Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、Margalef丰富度指数和Pielou均匀度指数的分布范围分别在1.97-2.14、1.45-1.67和0.83-0.95,平均值分别为2.06±0.08、1.53±0.12和0.90±0.06。六横潮间带大型底栖动物ABC曲线分析表明底栖动物群落已受到一定程度的污染扰动。     

Influence of storage and drying methods on invertebrate elemental and isotopic measurements

Optimised pre-analytical methods for measuring the chemical properties of soil macro-organisms are needed. We tested the effects of ethanol immersion, freezer storage, and drying method on the reliability of estimates of key stoichiometric elements (carbon [C], nitrogen [N], phosphorus [P]) and abundances of ¹³C and ¹⁵N in samples of crickets (Acheta domestica), cockroaches (Nauphoeta cinerea) and mealworms (larval Tenebrio molitor). Ethanol immersion tended to increase A. domestica C and N, and reduced A. domestica P, relative to the reference treatment (deep freezing and oven drying). For N and P these effects were only present after 28-day ethanol immersion. Nauphoeta cinerea and T. molitor samples were generally unaffected by storage treatments, while δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N were not affected by any storage treatment for any species. Thus, five days of ethanol immersion may be acceptable prior to elemental and stoichiometric analyses of hard-bodied soil invertebrates in comparative studies.     

Do rates of litter decomposition tell us anything we really need to know?

Results of several long-term studies of non-woody litter decomposition in forests indicate that we need to rethink why and how we measure rates of litter decomposition. Effects on litter decomposition rates were postulated to explain some of the nutritional effects of factors such as tree species, forest harvesting and fertilization. However, the accumulated experimental evidence indicates that litter decomposition rates do not mediate these responses. Many studies have reported litter mass loss becoming extremely slow at values considerably below 100%, indicating that early decay rates may not accurately foreshadow the entire decay process. Exclusion of soil faunal activities from current measurements of decomposition rates seriously reduces the likelihood that we are properly modeling decomposition. Finally, the use of regression and correlation analyses to determine which climate or initial litter quality factors control decay rate has led to many unwarranted and potentially misleading conclusions. These concerns are illustrated with examples from a suite of litter decomposition studies in British Columbia, Canada. Insights into nutrient cycling and carbon storage in ecosystems are more likely to arise from measuring the mass and nutrient content of annual litter input and determining the maximum decomposition limit and nutrient content at that stage, than by measuring early rates of decay. Improved predictions of relative decay rates of plant litters are likely to arise from a holistic approach based on plant life attributes rather than correlations based on individual initial litter chemistry parameters. Finally, a better understanding of the fate of faecal material of soil fauna is necessary before we can accurately predict and model litter decomposition.     

黄河干流禹门口至三门峡段鱼类物种多样性及保护对策

为了解黄河干流禹门口至三门峡河段渔业资源现状,于2012年5～9月对此河段的鱼类资源进行了调查。结果表明,该河段鱼类种群数量较小,鱼类资源下降严重,渔获物组成趋于小型化。鱼类区系组成简单,物种多样性较低,分布不均匀;通过分析该河段鱼类资源量衰退的原因,提出了针对该河段鱼类资源保护和渔业资源可持续利用的对策。