Compartmentalization of the soil animal food web as indicated by dual analysis of stable isotope ratios (N/N and C/C)

The soil animal food web has become a focus of recent ecological research but trophic relationships still remain enigmatic for many taxa. Analysis of stable isotope ratios of N and C provides a powerful tool for disentangling food web structure. In this study, animals, roots, soil and litter material from a temperate deciduous forest were analysed. The combined measurement of δ¹⁵N and δ¹³C provided insights into the compartmentalization of the soil animal food web. Leaf litter feeders were separated from animals relying mainly on recent belowground carbon resources and from animals feeding on older carbon. The trophic pathway of leaf litter-feeding species appears to be a dead end, presumably because leaf litter feeders (mainly diplopods and oribatid mites) are unavailable to predators due to large size and/or strong sclerotization. Endogeic earthworms that rely on older carbon also appear to exist in predator-free space. The data suggest that the largest trophic compartment constitutes of ectomycorrhizal feeders and their predators. Additionally, there is a smaller trophic compartment consisting of predators likely feeding on enchytraeids and potentially nematodes.     

N<Subscript>2</Subscript> fixation by faba bean (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vicia faba</Emphasis> L.) in a gypsum-amended sodic soil

The response of faba bean to the application of four rates of gypsum (0, 2.5, 5.0, 10.0 t ha⁻¹) to a non-saline, alkaline sodic soil was measured in terms of grain yield, dry matter (DM) production, N accumulation and the proportional dependence of the legume on symbiotic N₂ fixation (P _atm). A yield-independent, time-integrated ¹⁵N-dilution model was used to estimate symbiotic dependence. A significant decrease in the exchangeable sodium percentage and significant increases in exchangeable Ca⁺⁺ and the Ca⁺⁺:Mg⁺⁺ ratio in the 0–10-cm soil layer were measured 30 months after application of 10 t ha⁻¹ gypsum. Despite low and erratic rainfall during crop growth, faba bean DM and N uptake responded positively to gypsum application. The symbiotic dependence of the legume at physiological maturity was little affected by sodicity (P _atm = 0.74 at zero gypsum and 0.81–0.82 at 2.5–10 t ha⁻¹ gypsum). The increase in fixed N due to gypsum application was mainly due to increases in legume DM and total N uptake. At 10 t ha⁻¹ of gypsum, faba bean fixed more than 200 kg N ha⁻¹ in above-ground biomass.     

Effect of nitrogen fertilization on nitrogen dynamics in oilseed rape using 15N‐labeling field experiment

In order to optimize nitrogen (N) fertilization and to reduce the environmental impact of oilseed rape without decreasing yield, a clearer understanding of N dynamics inside the plant is crucial. The present investigation therefore aimed to study the effects of different N‐application rates on the dynamics of N uptake, partitioning, and remobilization. The experiment was conducted on winter oilseed rape (Brassica napus L. cv. Capitol) under three levels of N input (0, 100, and 200 kg N ha^–1) from stem elongation to maturity using ¹⁵N‐labeling technique to distinguish between N uptake and N retranslocation in the plant. Nitrogen fertilization affected the time‐course of N uptake and also the allocation of N taken up from flowering to maturity. Most pod N came from N remobilization, and leaves accounted for the largest source of remobilized N regardless the N‐application rate. However, the contribution of leaves to the remobilized N pool increased with the N dose whereas the one of taproot decreased. Stems were the main sink for remobilized N from stem elongation to flowering. Leaves remained longer on N200 than on N0 and N100 plants, and N concentration in fallen leaves increased with the N treatment and in N100 plants along an axial gradient from the basal to the upper leaves. Overall, these results show that the timing of N supply is more crucial than the N amount to attain a high N efficiency.     

Detecting changes in habitat-scale bee foraging in a tropical fragmented landscape using stable isotopes

As the body of research on the ecosystem service of pollination grows, our ability to tackle a range of agricultural, conservation, and land management issues is limited by our understanding of pollinator foraging patterns and requirements. In particular, better knowledge of which habitats bees utilize for foraging over their lifetime would inform a range of applied and theoretical questions. Traditional methods of studying foraging are either impractical for insects (e.g. radio tracking) or else are limited spatially or temporally (e.g. observations by researchers). Here we describe a method for using stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen from bee tissues to gain an integrated signal of which habitats a bee has foraged in over its lifetime, using three species of social stingless bee (Apidae: Meliponini) in a fragmented tropical forest landscape in southern Costa Rica as a test case.     

牛朊蛋白在CHO/dhfr-细胞中的稳定表达

从T载体上得到的目的基因和dhfr共扩增基因真核表达载体构建了pCI-PrP102。纯化后的重组质粒通过脂质体转染CHO/dhfr-细胞,经MTX加压筛选获得稳定表达的细胞株,间接免疫荧光试验检测到目的蛋白的表达。     

树木年轮在气候变化研究中的应用

树木年轮的生长和立地环境密切相关并受多种气候因子的影响.针对国内外树木年轮学的研究成果,综述了树木年轮的宽度、密度、同位素在不同领域的应用,同时系统概述了树木年轮对环境变化的响应,提出应扩宽研究区域和加强阔叶树种的树木年轮学研究、应进一步深入研究全球变化研究中在重建古气候,森林结构和功能动态、群落演替、林业管理及减灾防灾等等方面的应用、在进行树木年轮学研究时应考虑多重因子的共同作用等建议,为我国的树木年轮学研究的进一步发展提供了理论参考.     

应用氮稳定同位素技术研究辽东湾海域主要渔业生物的营养级

应用氮稳定同位素技术分析了2010年6月和8月辽东湾海域主要渔业生物的氮稳定同位素比值,研究了28种鱼类和26种无脊椎动物的营养位置。结果表明,辽东湾海域主要渔业生物的营养级处于2.98～4.84,集中在3.70～4.56;相比6月δ15N值的分析结果,8月有50%的鱼类δ15N值增加,孔鳐(Raja porosa)增幅最大,增加了1.06‰;9种鱼类δ15N值减少,鯒(Platycephalus indicus)减幅最大,减少了1.84‰,可见鱼类样品的δ15N值随季节的变化因种类而各异;8月有87.5%的无脊椎动物δ15N值减少,其中,减少幅度大于1‰的有6种,占37.5%,可见无脊椎动物的δ15N值随季节的变化较明显。通过对不同采样点同种生物δ15N值的比较发现,辽东湾近岸海域的10种无脊椎动物的δ15N值均高于远岸海域,差值范围为0.05‰～1.49‰,差异极显著(P<0.01),说明人类活动引起的陆源污水排放使近岸海洋生物的δ15N值升高。     

密集烘烤关键温度点稳温时间对烤烟理化性状的影响

针对密集烘烤存在的干物质降解不充分和香气物质不足的问题,以K326品种为材料,在湖南省浏阳市开展了密集烘烤关键温度点稳温时间对烤后烟叶物理特性和化学成分影响研究.结果表明,在烟叶变黄期和定色期适当增加稳温时间,可增大烟叶收缩形变,降低叶质重,降低单叶重,增加烟叶疏松性,降低烟叶淀粉含量,增加总糖和还原糖含量.但过度延长稳温时间,将导致烟叶内含物消耗过多,降低烟叶品质.对中部和上部烟叶,在变黄期的38℃稳温24h和42℃稳温16 h,在定色期的47℃稳温18h和54℃稳温16 h为适宜;对下部烟叶,在变黄期的38℃稳温15 h和42℃稳温16 h,在定色期的45℃稳温12 h和54℃稳温16 h为适宜.     

河北省大雾形成的气候特征及动力热力条件分析

利用常规气象观测资料及NCEP再分析资料等,对河北省大雾的气候特征及形成机理进行了深入的研究。结果表明,槽脊浅薄,低空风速小,空气湿度大,冷空气活动不明显,是大雾日偏多年的气候背景特征;大雾发生过程中高空、地面的气象环流形势均较弱,地面维持较长时间的低风速、高湿度、温度变化平稳,大气层结稳定;冷锋带来的偏北大风是大雾消散的动力因子;中低空存在的下沉气流与近地层逆温的出现有利于大雾的维持与发展。