Functions for estimating belowground and whole tree biomass of birch in Norway

Obtaining accurate estimates of national belowground and whole tree biomass is important to better understand the global carbon cycle and to quantify biomass stocks and changes. However, the availability of individual tree belowground biomass functions is generally low due to the difficulty of extracting roots. Allometric birch (Betula pubescens Ehrh. and Betula pendula Roth) biomass functions were derived from 67 trees for belowground and whole tree biomass using diameter at breast height (dbh) and height as the independent variables. The sampled trees spanned a dbh range from 4.0 to 45.5?cm and the functions provided a good fit to the data (RMSE?=?14.2?kg for BG and 40.7?kg for whole tree with dbh as predictor). Belowground, total stem, live crown, and dead branch biomass comprised 29.2%, 52.2%, 18.1%, and 0.5% of the whole tree biomass, respectively. Observed root-to-shoot ratios were between 0.21 and 0.88 with a mean of 0.42. Comparisons with existing belowground birch biomass functions from Fennoscandia indicated considerable differences in estimates between existing functions. The derived data-set for belowground birch biomass is the largest in Fennoscandia and the developed functions are likely the best available for estimating national birch biomass stock and stock change in Norway.     

Morphological development and allometric growth of yellowtail kingfish Seriola lalandi V. larvae under culture conditions

Morphological development and allometric growth patterns of Seriola lalandi larvae were assessed to characterize normal growth patterns under culture conditions. Early ontogenetic stages of yellowtail kingfish exhibited an exponential growth in terms of standard length as a function of age. Five development stages were characterized from hatching to the juvenile stage: larval stage I (0–2 days post hatch, dph) with endogenous feeding, characterized by a small yolk sac, unpigmented eyes, primordial finfold surrounding the body and a closed mouth; larval stage II (2–15 dph) characterized by mouth opening, complete pigmentation of eyes and the beginning of the exogenous feeding; subsequently, in the larval stage III (15–25 dph) the posterior tip of notochord of the larvae bended upward and the first rays appeared in fins, concomitant with a change in swimming behaviour; thereafter, larval stage IV (post‐flexion stage; 25–30 dph) began when larvae resembled in morphology to a juvenile organism; however, caudal and dorsal fins were not completely development. Lastly, the juvenile stage was reached 30 dph characterized by a morphology and fin structures similar to those of the adults. Growth and development of structures and organs associated with vital functions such as feeding, sensorial and breathing systems seemed to be more critical previous to 23 dph, which was reflected with a positive allometric growth of head and eyes during this period. The results from this study can be used as a tool‐guide to assess normal development in larval research with S. lalandi to improve existing rearing protocols in hatchery production.     

Foliar Application of Glycinebetaine and Salicylic Acid Improves Growth,Yield and Water Productivity of Hybrid Sunflower Planted by Different Sowing Methods

Improved planting methods and foliar application of glycinebetaine (GB) and salicylic acid (SA) can improve the water productivity in field crops under limited water supply conditions. A 2‐year field study was conducted to evaluate the possible role of different planting methods and foliar applications of GB and SA in improving the yield, quality and water productivity of hybrid sunflower (Helianthus annuus L.). The crop was planted by flat sowing (75 cm spaced rows) and ridge sowing (75 cm spaced ridges), with GB and SA applied exogenously at 100 and 0.724 mm , respectively, at both budding and flowering stages, while control plots received distilled water. Ridge sowing, rather than flat sowing, improved the biological yield, oil yield, leaf area index (LAI), crop growth rate (CGR), plant height, water‐use efficiency and final achene yield during both the years. Foliar applications of GB and SA at both the stages improved the achene yield, although foliar application of GB at flowering was the most effective. Neither the planting methods nor the foliar application of GB and SA altered the achene oil contents during both the years. Foliar application of GB and SA increased the free proline content of the leaf and GB contents at flowering but reduced the achene protein contents, whereas planting method had no effect on these attributes across the years. Of the foliar applied chemicals, GB was more effective in improving sunflower growth and yield and water productivity than SA. To conclude, ridge sowing coupled with foliar application of GB at flowering stage could be beneficial for achieving maximum yields of hybrid sunflower under relatively water limited conditions in the field.     

黔中地区不同林龄马尾松群落细根功能性状及其异速生长关系

细根作为植物吸收养分和水分的主要器官,其功能性状对森林生态系统功能具有重要影响。以黔中龙里县林场的马尾松林为对象,测定3个林龄马尾松林(25、37、52 a)群落中马尾松与优势灌木的12个根功能性状,分析随林龄变化根性状的异速生长关系。结果表明,随马尾松林龄增长,马尾松细根性状指标存在显著性变化;其中马尾松根长密度和根表面积密度随林龄增长表现为52 a＞25 a＞37 a的马尾松林;马尾松根生物量密度、根体积密度和根直径随林龄增长呈显著增加趋势,而比根长、比表面积和根组织密度随着林龄增长则呈现下降的变化趋势。不同林龄马尾松林下优势灌木组成结构存在显著差异,同种灌木的根长密度、比根长和比表面积随马尾松林龄变化存在显著性差异变化。马尾松的根生物量密度、根体积密度、比根长、比表面积和根直径随林龄增长存在显著的异速生长关系,这表明马尾松细根随林龄变化对资源获取利用的策略发生着改变;马尾松倾向于以更长的细根长度而不是更大的根表面积获取资源,相较于高林龄林分,低林龄林分马尾松林的马尾松根系有更高的比根长,表现出低投资高收益的生态策略。     

12月龄刺参养殖群体生长特性的研究

【目的】研究养殖条件下12月龄刺参的生长特性,探寻其早期异速生长方式以及形态性状与体质量的相关关系,为刺参育种和健康养殖提供参考。【方法】模拟自然水温变化条件选育刺参苗种养殖12个月,对其体长、体宽和体质量等生长参数进行测定,同时用复合形态指标SLW(square root of the length width)和理论体长Le(estimated length)表征刺参体长生长,拟合实测体长和Le与体质量的相关关系,并进行统计学分析。【结果】在2.0~30.8 ℃条件下,经过12个月的养殖,刺参体质量为0.03~85.35 g/头,平均体质量为(9.8±9.4) g/头,变异系数高达96.1%。刺参体质量频数分布曲线呈现单峰状,右偏,为不对称分布。其中以大规格和中规格刺参个体占优势,尤以中规格个体最多,有78.8%的苗种体质量在1~17 g;其次是体质量在17~50 g的大规格个体,占比为15.4%,有0.6%的个体可生长并达到体质量70 g以上的商品参规格,表现出明显的生长优势;刺参体长与体质量的关系符合幂函数方程,相较于实测体长L,理论体长Le与体质量的拟合度更好,12月龄刺参的生长为负异速生长模式,体长生长优势明显快于体质量。【结论】在12月龄刺参苗种阶段,刺参形态性状表现出优于体质量的生长趋势。在刺参苗种培育和养殖过程中,应为其生长发育创造适宜的生活环境及营养条件,以达到最佳的养殖效果。     

Skull size and shape variation in Psammomys spp. (Rodentia,Gerbillinae) from Tunisia,with emphasis on the impact of allometric variation on species recognition

In Tunisia both Psammomys obesus and P. vexillaris are found. These taxa have been the subject of taxonomic controversy for some time, due to variability in the classical morphological characters used for taxonomic recognition. In this study we investigated skull size and shape variation in the genus Psammomys by using geometric morphometrics to evaluate the extent of intra- and interspecific shape variation and explicitly tested for the impact of allometric shape variation on species discrimination. Eleven populations of the two species from 10 localities in Tunisia were studied. Statistical analyses of size and shape showed large size variation within P. obesus, but no shape differences were revealed among populations of this species. Interspecific analysis revealed that P. vexillaris had the smallest skull. Principal component analysis and Procrustes distances showed good discrimination between the two species after removal of the allometric component of shape variation. The results obtained show that allometric-related shape variation could mask discrimination between the two Psammomys species. This finding might explain the uncertainty in classification of these species in the past. The interspecific allometric-free phenotypic differences observed may be associated with adaptive processes linked to the different environmental and trophic preferences of the two species.     

辽宁西北部主要园林绿化树种叶片生长规律

采用标准化主轴和聚类分析方法,研究辽宁西北部主要树种叶片的比叶面积和异速生长规律。结果表明：种间叶片面积与生物量的共同斜率为1.052,其中46个树种斜率小于1.0,1个树种等于1.0,8个树种大于1.0;种间叶片含水量与生物量的共同斜率为1.052,其中42个树种斜率小于1.0,13个树种大于1.0。各树种比叶面积变化范围在48.83~276.52 cm²•g^-1,当欧氏距离为15时,可将树种划分为3类。辽宁西北部主要树种叶片生物量与面积、生物量与含水量之间总体呈等速生长,而各树种的异速生长指数却明显不同。树种比叶面积相对较低是其适应贫瘠环境的自然结果。因此,在干旱半干旱地区城市绿化和造林中,应选择比叶面积较小的树种。     

一年生云南松苗期生长动态规律研究

基于1a生云南松苗高和地径的定株、定期观测数据,采用Logistic方程对其生长过程进行拟合,根据其中参数分析生长动态规律。结果表明:(1)地径生长符合"S"型曲线,呈现"慢-快-慢"节律;苗高生长符合双"S"型曲线,呈现"慢-快-慢-快-慢"节律。(2)根据生长量变化规律,苗高生长过程可分为出苗期、速生期Ⅰ、过渡期、速生期Ⅱ和生长后期;地径生长过程可分为生长前期、速生期和生长后期。(3)苗高两个速生期为23～34d和89～150d,两个速生点时间为第28天和第120天;地径速生期为141～211d,速生点时间为第176天。(4)苗高、地径的累积生长量均在速生期最大,分别占理论上限值的58.37%和57.85%。(5)苗高、地径的生长表现出异速现象,150d之前苗木主要进行高生长、150d之后则以地径生长为主。     

民猪与长白猪主要组织器官生长规律研究

选择民猪和长白猪为研究对象,利用异速生长式分析两个品种1～8月龄组织器官的早熟顺序。结果表明,民猪脂肪沉积较早,在2.5～6月龄间沉积大量的脂肪,生长发育全期腹内脂肪的沉积能力突出,而长白猪在6月龄后沉积脂肪速度加快;两个品种各脂肪组织占胴体比率在6～8月龄维持不变。民猪肉、脂、骨、皮早熟性顺序为:骨骼>肌肉>皮肤>脂肪,而长白猪为:骨骼>皮肤>肌肉>脂肪;两品种猪脂肪组织早熟性顺序均为:肠系膜脂肪>皮下脂肪>肾周脂肪>大网膜脂肪。民猪内脏器官早熟性顺序为:小肠>肾>胰>肝>脾>肺>心>胃>大肠;长白猪内脏器官早熟性顺序为:小肠>肾>肝>胰>心>脾>胃>肺>大肠。     

Simplified inference about dominance in forest stands

In a series of papers, Binkley and coauthors suggested dominance curves as a framework for understanding growth dominance and resource use efficiency in forest stands. Constructing a dominance curve requires three major supporting components: an appropriate allometric equation for biomass, sufficient data to characterize the size distribution of trees in the stand, and data on growth from a sufficient number of trees to characterize the relationship between tree size and growth across the entire size distribution. These components are not always available. Here, I propose a simplified approach to inference that can be used to diagnoze positive, neutral, and reverse dominance when the conditions for constructing a full dominance curve cannot be met. I illustrate the approach with published data from an old-growth kauri (Agathis australis) stand, which shows clear evidence of reverse dominance.