Fate of Azolla spp. and urea nitrogen applied to wetland rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Summary Using ¹⁵N, the fate of N applied to wetland rice either as Azolla or urea was studied in a field at the International Rice Research Institute (IRRI). In bigger plots nearby, yield response and N uptake were also determined with unlabelled N sources. Azolla microphylla was labelled by repeated application of labelled ammonium sulfate. Labelled and unlabelled N were used alternately in applications of Azolla or urea 0 and 42 days after transplanting, in order to determine the effect of the time of application on the availability of Azolla N. The quantities of Azolla N incorporated were 23% more than those of urea N (30 kg N ha^–1) in the isotope plots or 7% less in the yield response plots. Grain yield and total N uptake by the rice plants in the yield-response plots were higher in the urea-treated plots than in the Azolla-treated plots, but the physiological effect of Azolla N (grain yield response/increase in N uptake) was higher than that of rea. The labelled N balance was studied after the first and second crops of rice. Losses of labelled N after the first crop were higher from urea (30%–32%) than from Azolla (0%–11 %). Losses in N applied as a side dressing 42 days after transplanting were less than those of N applied basally. No further losses of ¹⁵N occurred after the first crop. The recovery of Azolla ¹⁵N in the first crop of rice was 39% from the basal application and 63% from the side dressing. The recovery of urea ¹⁵N was 27% from the basal application and 48% from the side dressing. Recoveries of residual N from both Azolla and urea during the second rice crop were similar. Laboratory incubation of the Azolla used and the changes in labelled exchangeable N in the soil showed that at least 65% of Azolla N (4.7% N content) was mineralized within 10 days.     

Ammonium oxidation coupled to dissimilatory reduction of iron under anaerobic conditions in wetland soils

In exploring the dynamics of iron and nitrogen cycling in sediments from riparian forests we have observed a redox reaction that has not been previously described. During incubations of soil slurries under strictly anaerobic conditions, we repeatedly measured an unexpected production of both nitrite () and ferrous iron [Fe(II)]. Using this indirect evidence we hypothesize that, under anaerobic conditions, there is a biological process that uses ferric iron [Fe(III)] as an electron acceptor while oxidizing ammonium () to for energy production. This oxidation under iron reducing anaerobic conditions is thermodynamically feasible and is potentially a critical component of the N cycle in saturated sediments.     

湿地保护立法中管理机制的创新实践——以《四川省湿地保护条例》为例

湿地不仅是生物资源生存和发展的重要栖息地之一,而且对维护生物多样性,保持生态平衡,实现人与自然和谐、社会经济的可持续发展具有重要意义。鉴于湿地资源对四川省经济社会发展的重要意义,为切实加强湿地保护,在国家尚无湿地保护单行法律法规的情况下,四川省经过反复立法调研,并借鉴其他省份的经验,出台了这一地方性法规,将湿地保护管理正式纳入法制化轨道。     

基于TM遥感影像的鄱阳湖湿地分类研究

对覆盖鄱阳湖湿地的LandsatTM遥感影像进行了计算机自动分类技术方法的实验研究,采用了先对遥感影像数据进行非监督分类,在非监督分类的基础上进行人工解译,确定其类别属性,然后将人工解译后的非监督分类的分类属性表经过光谱聚类处理转化成适用于监督分类的分类模板文件,再执行监督分类的方法,有效地提高了湿地遥感影像分类的精度。     

基于地统计学和15N技术的湿地土壤氮素 空间运移理论探讨

地统计学是探讨自然环境要素空间异质性的有效工具,它适合于定量研究区域化变量的空间结构变异特征。湿地土壤氮素是时空连续的变异体,不论尺度大小均具有高度的空间异质性,而其变量又属于区域化变量,同时具有随机性和结构性特征。因15N示踪技术能够示踪氮素物质的踪迹,而用15N标记的示踪体在湿地土壤中运移时所产生的丰度变化又具有空间异质性,故可考虑将二者结合起来来定量探讨湿地土壤氮素的空间运移。在此,就试对这一问题进行了较为系统和完整的理论探讨。     

乌拉盖开发区土地资源利用现状、模式与评价

本文利用RS、GIS的高新科技手段，结合外业调查，编制土地资源利用现状图，并建立土地资源数据库，快速、准确、实时地掌握了土地利用现状。对乌拉盖开发区土地资源利用现状进行综合分析，为该研究区域今后有效开发利用土地资源，实现持续发展提供了科学依据。     

豫东黄河故道湿地两栖爬行动物资源及保护

经调查,发现豫东黄河故道湿地有两栖动物6种(隶属1目3科3属)、爬行动物9种(隶属2目5科8属)。区系特点以广布东洋界和古北界的种类与主要分布于古北界的种类占优势。近年来,两栖爬行动物的生存环境遭到了一定程度的破坏,所以提出了合理利用和保护两栖爬行动物资源的建议。     

滹沱河岗黄段湿地生态需水量研究

以滹沱河岗黄段湿地为例,按照湿地生态系统结构和功能,把生态需水量划分为植被需水量、土壤需水量、生物栖息地需水量、补给地下水需水量和河湖需水量5种类型,并分别确定了需水量的级别和相应的指标,计算了各级别的生态需水量。结果表明,滹沱河岗黄段湿地最小生态需水量为49295万m3,适宜生态需水量为88650万～160393万m3,最大需水量为389691万m3。最后提出了研究区适宜缺水量和最大缺水量分别为61350万～133093万m3和362391万m3。     

Needles in haystacks: Estimating detection probability and occupancy of rare and cryptic snakes

The species most in need of conservation or management are often also the most difficult to monitor, because of their rarity, secretive habits, or both. To combat these challenges, presence/absence (site occupancy) models can be used to track species occupancy at landscape scales. However, quantitative knowledge of detection probability (which is almost always <1) is required to reliably estimate site occupancy. Here, we present a case study that combines detection probabilities and site occupancy modeling to monitor a notoriously secretive guild of animals, North American aquatic snakes. Specifically, we use program PRESENCE to estimate detection probability (p) and probability of site occupancy (ψ) for seven snake species in relationship to site covariates, to understand the proximate and ultimate factors that influence habitat suitability. We were able to estimate p (3–46%) and ψ (12–96%) for each species and calculate the amount of unsuccessful effort necessary to declare absence of each species with statistical confidence (5–63 visits; 150–1890 trap-nights). We documented considerable interspecific variation in p and ψ; one species (Nerodia fasciata) was widespread and highly detectable, while another (Agkistrodon piscivorus) had low detectability despite its wide distribution. Five other species were secretive, or restricted to specific habitat types, or both, illustrating that complex and sometimes counterintuitive relationships exist between capture rate and occupancy. Incorporating p and ψ is essential to the success of large-scale monitoring programs for elusive species.     

Linking habitat suitability and seed dispersal models in order to analyse the effectiveness of hydrological fen restoration strategies

The effectiveness of measures targeted at the restoration of populations of endangered species in anthropogenically dominated regions is often limited by a combination of insufficient restoration of habitat quality and dispersal failure. Therefore, the joint prediction of suitable habitat and seed dispersal in dependency of management actions is required for effective nature management. Here we demonstrate an approach, which links a habitat suitability and a seed dispersal model. The linked model describes potential species distribution as a function of current species distribution, species-specific dispersal traits, the number of successful dispersal events, dispersal infrastructure and habitat configuration. The last two variables were related to water management actions. We demonstrate the applicability of the model in a strategy analysis of hydrological restoration measures for a large fen area in which still numerous endangered plant species grow.With the aid of the linked model, we were able to optimise the spatial planning of restoration measures, taking into account both the constraints of water management practices on abiotic restoration and the effects of habitat fragmentation on dispersal. Moreover, we could demonstrate that stand-alone habitat suitability models, which assume unlimited dispersal, may considerably overestimate restoration prospects. For these reasons, we conclude that linked habitat suitability and dispersal models can provide useful insights into spatially differentiated potentials and constraints of nature restoration measures targeted at the sustainable conservation of endangered plant populations whose habitats have been deteriorated due to undesirable effects of land and water management on abiotic conditions. These insights may contribute to the design of cost-effective nature restoration and conservation measures.