Characterization of Nitrate-Reducing and Amino Acid–Using Bacteria Prominent in Nitrotoxin-Enriched Equine Cecal Populations

Horses can be at risk for nitropoisoning by consuming plants containing 3-nitro-1-propionic acid or 3-nitro-1-propanol and to a lesser extent by plants containing nitrate. Populations of equine cecal microbes enriched for enhanced rates of 3-nitro-1-propionic acid (NPA) or nitrate metabolism were cultured for NPA- or nitrate-metabolizing bacteria on basal enrichment medium or tryptose soy agar supplemented with either 5-mM NPA or nitrate and under H₂:CO₂ (20:80) as the energy source. After 72 hours, separated colonies picked from plates, or roll tubes were cultured in fresh broth medium for 72 hours and then identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Isolates from the NPA-enriched populations were identified as Streptococcus lutetiensis (five strains), Escherichia coli (two strains), and Sporanaerobacter acetigens (one strain). Strains isolated from nitrate-enriched populations were identified as Escherichia coli (one strain) and Wolinella succinogenes (three strains). None of these strains degraded NPA. Enriched populations of equine cecal microbes, the isolated pure strains and the type strain of Denitrobacterium detoxificans, a competent NPA-metabolizing microbe, were examined using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The DGGE analysis indicated that none of the strains in the enriched population of equine cecal microbes were similar to D. detoxificans. However, we report for the first time the isolation of the anaerobic amino acid–using Sporanaerobacter acetigenes from the equine cecum.     

Response of organic carbon fractions and microbial community composition of soil aggregates to long-term fertilizations in an intensive greenhouse system

Journal of Soils and Sediments - Soil organic carbon (SOC) content and stability, which are regulated by microbial communities, vary depending on aggregate size. The objectives of this study were...     

丘陵旱地农—桐生态工程模式的生态效应分析

对“泡桐—玉米—小麦—棉花”组合的鄂中丘陵旱地“农—桐”生态工程模式的生态效益进行分析,结果表明,与传统的“小麦—芝麻”模式相比,该模式对丘陵旱地农田的风速和土壤水分状况均有显著地改善,能够使风速降低27.70%~45.60%、使土壤中的水分含量在严重干旱的季节平均提高2.10%。另外,该模式对年生长季节的利用增加了132%~141%;对年活动积温(≥10℃)的利用率增加了139.80%~148.90%,这为我国广大丘陵干旱区生态环境的改善提供了一种有效的生态工程技术模式。     

人工湿地基质堵塞问题及防治新技术研究

基质堵塞是人工湿地污水处理系统中的常见问题,会缩短人工湿地使用寿命并降低湿地对污染物的去除效率。总结了人工湿地堵塞的成因和基本过程、人工湿地堵塞的物理、化学和生物机制以及投加蚯蚓、安装复氧通气管、施用药剂等防治基质堵塞的新技术,建议从人工湿地设计、运行、维护等方面解决人工湿地堵塞问题,为人工湿地工程实践提供理论参考。     

Phenol metabolism of two cultivars of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) as affected by ozone and flooding stress

To compare the phenolic responses under oxidative stressors, plants of two Italian cultivars of durum wheat (Claudio and Mongibello) were (a) exposed to ozone (O₃) (80 ppb, 5 hr/day for 70 consecutive days), with the aim to investigate the changes of phenolic compound contents in their leaves, or (b) flooded (seven consecutive days). Plants showed O₃-induced visible injury, but their photosynthetic performance was not affected by the pollutant. Specifically, Claudio showed a higher O₃ tolerance than Mongibello. The major value of the present study is undoubtedly the pioneering investigation of phenolic metabolism of durum wheat under O₃. We identified 12 foliar phenolic compounds in all leaf samples (i.e. controls, exposed to O₃ and flooded): ten phenolic acids, a flavanol (catechin hydrate) and a phenolic aldehyde (syringaldehyde). Overall, O₃ exposure resulted in accumulations of phenolic compounds, especially in Claudio. These responses can be likely considered a fine-regulated repair process that equipped Claudio stressed plants with an antioxidant system capable of scavenging oxidative stress. Different phenolic variations were found in flooded plants, suggesting that phenolic response to environmental constraints is stress specific. Our study confirms that investigations and characterization of specific phenolic profiles of crop cultivars under oxidative stress may be helpful in breeding programmes.     

天山北坡山地草原围栏封育效果研究

连续3年对天山北坡草甸草原和干草原进行围栏封育,并对围栏内外不同利用强度下草地植被的植物量、高度、盖度、密度、频度和土壤容重等方面进行了调查,对草地群落结构和立地条件进行了观测。结果显示,围栏封育3年天然草地植物群落的组成基本稳定,围栏内的草地植物量明显高于围栏外草地（P〈0．05）。随着利用强度的增加,草地植物种类组成,重要值和土壤含水量明显降低。表明围栏封育可以有效遏止草地退化,对草地恢复效果明显。     

崇明东滩不同演替阶段湿地土壤有机碳汇聚能力的差异性及其微生物机制

旨在阐明崇明东滩不同演替阶段湿地土壤有机碳汇聚能力的差异性及其机制,以期为优化湿地的管理与保育措施,进而保持和提升湿地的碳汇功能提供理论指导和决策依据。研究结果表明,4个不同演替阶段湿地土壤有机碳含量和微生物呼吸强度有显著差异(P<0.05),中高潮滩处的土壤有机碳汇聚能力最高,这是由于其具有较高的有机碳输入(植物枯落物)和相对较低的碳输出(土壤呼吸)。PCR-DGGE分析和系统进化树结果表明,4个不同演替阶段土壤的微生物群落结构存在差异,一些特异性优势菌的存在可能是影响土壤微生物呼吸强度,并最终影响土壤有机碳汇聚能力的重要原因。出现在高潮滩的噬纤维菌和假单胞属菌具有较高降解纤维素等有机质的能力,它们的存在可能强化了高潮滩的土壤呼吸作用,从而降低了高潮滩土壤的有机碳汇聚能力。