Body shape variation in two species of darters (Etheostoma,Percidae) and its relation to the environment

Environmental variation can shape phenotypic variation in organisms, but most evidence for trait differentiation comes from analyses of dichotomous habitat types that differ in only one or few key environmental factors. In reality, environmental variation is often more subtle, gradual and multifarious. Here, we investigated geographic variation in body shape of two darter species (Etheostoma spectabile and Etheostoma flabellare; Percidae) that occur along river gradients. This study addressed three specific questions: Is there intraspecific geographic variation in the two species across different sites in the Ozark Highlands of Oklahoma (USA)? Is phenotypic variation across sites correlated with abiotic environmental conditions? Do the two species share site‐specific (i.e. convergent) phenotypic variation in areas where they occur together? Our results indicated significant body shape variation in both species. Population differences in body shape were particularly correlated with variation in substrate composition. The combined analysis of both species indicated a small but significant effect of convergence on body shape wherever they are sympatric; shared variation, however, was not related to any environmental variables included in the analysis. While it remains unclear whether phenotypic variation in these species is due to heritable differentiation or environmentally induced plasticity, our results indicate that even subtle and gradual environmental variation can induce substantial variation in phenotypes on a relatively small spatial scale.     

福建省典型茶园土壤硒含量及其影响因素研究

采集了福建省60份典型茶园表层土壤(0~20 cm),测定了土壤全硒和有效硒含量,分析了土壤类型、植茶年限和海拔对土壤硒及有效硒含量的影响,并探讨其受土壤理化性质的影响。结果表明,福建省茶园土壤全硒含量范围为0.22~2.20 mg·kg^-1,均值为0.73 mg·kg^-1,有86.67%的茶园土壤硒含量达到富硒土壤标准(>0.4 mg·kg^-1);茶园土壤有效硒含量为5.21~448.86 μg·kg^-1,均值为62.98 μg·kg^-1;土壤硒活化率为1.10%~31.64%,均值为8.76%,硒有效程度较低。砂砾岩和凝灰岩发育的茶园土壤硒和有效硒含量较高,紫色砂岩和河流冲积物发育的茶园土壤硒含量较低;山地草甸土茶园土壤全硒和有效硒含量最高,潮砂土和水稻土硒含量较低;成龄茶园和老茶园土壤全硒和有效硒含量较高,新垦茶园硒含量较低;中高海拔地区茶园土壤全硒及有效硒含量较高,低海拔地区茶园土壤硒含量较低。相关分析表明,茶园土壤硒及有效性主要受土壤有机质和全氮的影响,pH对有机质含量较低的红壤茶园和幼龄茶园有显著影响,有效磷对成龄茶园和中高海拔茶园有显著影响。总体而言,该区域茶园富硒土壤为发展天然富硒茶提供了物源保证,但硒有效程度不高,应针对不同类型茶园采取相应栽培措施(增施有机肥、改良剂和钙镁磷肥)来提高土壤有效硒。     

Physiological but not morphological adjustments along latitudinal gradients in a human commensal species,the Eurasian tree sparrow

Human commensal species take advantage of anthropogenic conditions that are less likely to be challenged by the selective pressures of natural environments. Their morphological and physiological phenotypes can therefore dissociate from habitat characteristics. Understanding how these species adjust their morphological and physiological traits across latitudinal gradients is fundamental to uncovering the eco-physiological strategies underlying coping mechanisms. Here, we studied morphological traits in breeding Eurasian tree sparrows (ETSs; Passer montanus) among low-latitude (Yunnan and Hunan) and middle-latitude (Hebei) localities in China. We then compared body mass; lengths of bill, tarsometatarsus, wing, total body, and tail feather; and baseline and capture stress-induced levels of plasma corticosterone (CORT) and the metabolites including glucose (Glu), total triglyceride (TG), free fatty acid (FFA), total protein, and uric acid (UA). None of the measured morphological parameters varied with latitude except in the Hunan population, which demonstrated longer bills than those in other populations. Stress-induced CORT levels significantly exceeded baseline levels and decreased with increasing latitude, but total integrated CORT levels did not vary with latitude. Capture stress-induced significantly increased Glu levels and decreased TG levels, independent of site. However, the Hunan population had significantly higher baseline CORT, baseline and stress-induced FFA levels, but lower UA levels, which differed from other populations. Our results suggest that rather than morphological adjustments, physiological adjustments are mainly involved in coping mechanisms for middle-latitude adaptation in ETSs. It is worth investigating whether other avian species also exhibit such dissociation from external morphological designs while depending on physiological adjustments.     

山地植物群落生物多样性与生物生产力海拔梯度变化研究进展

文中从生物学谱中群落和生态系统尺度，根据国内外的野外观测文献，总结了山地植被在群落生物多样性和生物生产力2方面的海拔梯度变化特征，以及群落生物生产力与生物多样性的关系，并提出目前该领域研究的几个热点问题。     

DEM在林火行为模拟中的应用

林火行为具有时间和空间特征,利用DEM(Digital Elevation Model)对林火行为进行3维模拟是一个很有前景的研究方向。本研究利用ArcView实现DEM数据源的提取、模型转换,通过林相图和地形图的配准,将影响林火蔓延的可燃物因子与DEM结合,进行效果图显示,为林火行为的3维模拟进行了有益的实践。     

Effects of light and microsite conditions on tree size of 6-year-old Cryptomeria japonica planted in a group selection opening

We examined the extent to which direct and indirect measures of light and microsite conditions could explain variation in tree height and diameter at the base of 6-year-old Cryptomeria japonica trees planted in a group selection opening of about 0.32 ha on a steep slope at Shiiba, Miyazaki Prefecture, southern Japan. We first used the gap light index (GLI) and soil thickness (ST) as directly measured indices. For an indirect measure of light, we used a between-cohort competition index (BCI) estimated from the position and total height of residual trees. For indirect measures of microsite, we examined topographic indices (slope, plan and profile curvature, average slope gradient, and relative elevation) derived from digital elevation models (DEMs) with different resolutions ranging from 2 to 10 m. The multiple linear regression using GLI and ST explained about 45% of variation in tree size, while simple regression using only GLI explained about 35%. The contribution of ST was about half of GLI. The multiple regressions using BCI and the topographic indices did not explain any more variation than using BCI alone (R ² of about 0.26). We conclude that microsite conditions with shallower soil and steeper slope have negative effects on tree growth in group selection openings, although the relative importance is smaller than light conditions. More comprehensive studies considering several openings with more heterogeneous topography including different species are needed to generalize our growth prediction using the indirect measures, which are useful for practical forest management.     

河网平原地区雨水管道设计方法的探讨

本文结合河网平源地区的水文地理特点，提出了雨水管道设计中管径确定与管道埋设分别独立进行，水力计算采用统一的水力坡降，管道埋设采用统一的安装坡度，以及提倡管底平接等设计思想与计算方法。     

西双版纳高海拔山地小气候和橡胶宜林地

通过对多年来西双版纳高海拔山地逆温和橡胶树试种研究资料分析，论述了以坡向为主导因素的西双版纳高海拔山地小气候和精选橡胶树宜林地的问题，为制止盲目扩种橡胶树提供依据。     

Photosynthetic physio-response of Taxodium ascendens seedlings to different soil water gradients

Four different kinds of water treatments were applied to study the photosynthetic eco-physiological characteristics of Taxodium ascendens seedlings in the environment of the Three Gorges hydro-fluctuation belt. The four kinds of water treatments were: normal growth water condition (CK), light drought stress (T1), soil water saturation (T2), and soil submersion (T3). The results showed that different water treatments could effectively influence the content of the photosynthetic pigment, leaf gas exchange and apparent resources use efficiency of T. ascendens seedlings. It was also demonstrated that the T. ascendens seedlings could not only tolerate water submersion and wet conditions but also endure a certain degree of drought. To establish a protection forest system in the hydro-fluctuation belt in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, the species T. ascendens is suitable for planting in conditions of root submersion or water-saturated soil. In case it is planted in drought conditions, this tree species should be watered appropriately in order to keep its normal net photosynthetic rate. Translated from Forest Research, 2006, 19(1): 54–60 [译自: 林业科学研究]