Assessing the utility of topographic variables in predicting structural complexity of tree stands in a reforested urban landscape

The transformation of natural landscapes into impervious built-up surfaces through urbanization is known to significantly interfere with the ecological integrity of urban landscapes and accelerate climate change and associated impacts. Although urban reforestation is widely recognised as an ideal mitigation practice against these impacts, it often has to compete with other lucrative land uses within an urban area. The often limited urban space provided for reforestation therefore necessitates the optimization of the ecological benefits, which demands spatially explicit information. The recent proliferation of tree stands structural complexity (SSC) and topographic data offer great potential for determining the ecological performance of reforested areas across an urban landscape. This study explores the potential of using topographic datasets to predict SSC in a reforested urban landscape and ranks the value of these topographic variables in determining SSC. Tree structural data from a reforested urban area was collected and fed into a tree stand structural complexity index, which was used to indicate ecological performance. Topographic variables (Topographic Wetness Index, slope, Area Solar Radiation and elevation)- were derived from a Digital Elevation Model (DEM) and used to predict SSC using the Partial Least Squares (PLS) regression technique. Results show that SSC varied significantly between the topographic variables. Results also show that the topographic variables could be used to reliably predict SSC. As expected, the Topographic Wetness Index and slope were the most important topographic determinants of SSC while elevation was the least valuable. These results provide valuable spatially explicit information about the ecological performance of the reforested areas within an urban landscape. Specifically, the study demonstrates the value of topographic data as aids to urban reforestation planning.     

Responses of soil nematode community structure to soil carbon changes due to different tillage and cover crop management practices over a nine-year period in Kanto,Japan

The response of the soil food web structure to soil quality changes during long-term anthropogenic disturbance due to farming practices has not been well studied. We evaluated the effects of three tillage systems: moldboard plow/rotary harrow (MP), rotary cultivator (RC), and no-tillage (NT), three winter cover-crop types (fallow, FL; rye, RY; and hairy vetch, HV), and two nitrogen fertilization rates (0 and 100 kg N ha⁻¹ for upland rice, and 0 and 20 kg N ha⁻¹ for soybean production) on changes in nematode community structure. Sixty-nine taxa were counted, total nematode abundance (ALL), bacterial feeders (BAC), predators (PRD), omnivores (OMN), and obligatory root feeders (ORF) were more abundant in NT than in MP and RC, but fungal feeders and facultative root feeders (FFR) were more abundant in RC than in NT and MP. Cover crop also influenced nematode community structure; rye and hairy vetch were always higher in ALL, BAC, FFR, ORF, and OMN than fallow. Seasonal changes in nematode community structure were also significant; in particular, as soil carbon increased, nematode abundance also increased. The relationship between nematode indices and soil carbon was significant only in NT, but not in MP and RC. In NT, with increasing soil carbon, enrichment index and structure index (SI) were positive and significant and channel index was negative. Bulk density was significantly negatively correlated with FFR and ORF. Seasonal difference in nematode community between summer and autumn was larger in an upland rice rotation than in a soybean rotation. Over the nine-year experiment, SI increased not only in NT but also in MP and RC, suggesting that repeated similar tillage inversions in agroecosystems may develop nematode community structures adapted to specific soil environmental conditions. Because NT showed the highest values of both SI and soil carbon, the increase of soil carbon in NT is expected to have a great impact on developing a more diverse nematode community structure.     

Nitrogen use efficiency of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) as influenced by wheat–cotton cropping systems

Wheat–cotton rotations largely increase crop yield and improve resources use efficiency, such as the radiation use efficiency. However, little information is available on the nitrogen (N) utilization and requirement of cotton under wheat–cotton rotations. This study was to determine the N uptake and use efficiency by evaluating the cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) N use and the soil N balances, which will help to improve N resource management in wheat–cotton rotations. Field experiments were conducted during 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 growing seasons in the Yangtze River region in China. Two cotton cultivars (Siza 3, mid-late maturity with 130 days growth duration; CCRI 50, early maturity with 110 days growth duration) were planted under four cropping systems including monoculture cotton (MC), wheat/intercropped cotton (W/IC), wheat/transplanted cotton (W/TC) and wheat/direct-seeded cotton (W/DC). The N uptake and use efficiency of cotton were quantified under different cropping systems. The results showed that wheat–cotton rotations decreased the cotton N uptake through reducing the N accumulation rate and shortening the duration of fast N accumulation phase as compared to the monoculture cotton. Compared with MC, the N uptake of IC, TC and DC were decreased by 12.0%, 20.5% and 23.4% for Siza 3, respectively, and 7.3%, 10.7% and 17.6% for CCRI 50, respectively. Wheat–cotton rotations had a lower N harvest index as a consequence of the weaker sink capacity in the cotton plant caused by the delayed fruiting and boll formation. Wheat–cotton rotations used N inefficiently relative to the monoculture cotton, showing consistently lower level of the N agronomic use efficiency (NAE), N apparent recovery efficiency (NRE), N physiological efficiency (NPE) and N partial factor productivity (NPFP), particularly for DC. Relative to the mid–late maturity cultivar of Siza 3, the early maturity cultivar of CCRI 50 had higher N use efficiency in wheat–cotton rotations. An analysis of the crop N balance suggested that the high N excess in preceding wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) in wheat–cotton rotations led to significantly higher N surpluses than the monoculture cotton. The N management for the cotton in wheat–cotton rotations should be improved by means of reducing the base fertilizer input and increasing the bloom application.     

物种或种群生态位宽度与生态位重叠的计测模型

提出生态位宽度和生态位重叠的新定义及其若干测度模型.对不同学者提出的许多测度生态位宽度和生态位重叠的模型进行分析和评述.迄今为止,在国内限于单一生态资源轴上的生态位参数计测研究很多,随着多维生态位计测方法的不断发展,物种或种群在多维生态空间内的生态位宽度和生态位重叠计测,将备受关注.     

Surface mulching and a sandy soil interlayer suppress upward enrichment of salt ions in salt-contaminated field

Purpose

The suppression effect of a sandy soil interlayer on topsoil enrichment of salt ions was investigated. However, whether this suppression effect was enhanced by surface mulching was little documented. The objectives of this study were to compare the suppression effects under different materials mulching, and to investigate an innovative method to suppress the soil salt ions down-to-top enrichment.

Materials and methods

In this study, the sandy soil layer was pre-positioned at 60–100 cm depth in a salt-contaminated site in advance, achieving the suppression effect on surface enrichment of salt components as expected. Three treatments were herein designed as bare field (CK), plastic film mulching (PM), and maize straw mulching (SM) to examine the dynamics of water and salt movement across soil profiles during the summer with strong evaporation.

Results and discussions

Results showed that total salt content was increased by 21.3 and 8.0% in CK and SM respectively, while decreased by 24.9% in PM at the end of strong evaporation period, comparing with the beginning. Thus, surface mulching further strengthened this suppression effect, but PM displayed better performance than SM did. The data also demonstrated that vertical transport of soil water was much restrained in PM and SM, accordingly inhibiting upward transfer of salt ions. Particularly, sodium adsorption ratio (SAR) ranged from 14.3–265.7, 17.9–147.1, 38.4–147.2 mmol^1/2 kg^?1/2 at a shallow soil layer (0–60 cm) in CK, PM, and SM, respectively.

Conclusions

The results suggested that sandy soil interlayer settings with plastic mulching are a critical technical strategy for salt-contaminated land reutilization and management.

     

云南省陆生野生动物疫源疫病监测体系建设研究

云南省因其所处特殊的地理位置和拥有丰富的野生动物资源,成为全国陆生野生动物疫源疫病风险最高的地区之一.对云南省野生动物疫源疫病监测体系现状和空缺分析的结果表明,目前存在着监测网络建设不完善,科研力量有待进一步整合和提高等问题.提出尽快从监测网络体系、科技支撑和宣教体系以及监测信息管理系统3个方面加以健全和完善.     

镉胁迫下不同改良剂对水稻种子萌发和镉吸收积累的影响

采用种子萌发试验和溶液培养试验方法,比较4种不同改良剂对Cd胁迫下水稻种子萌发和Cd吸收积累的影响。结果表明:添加硼酸、褪黑素、钼酸钠和硅酸钠均可以促进Cd胁迫下水稻种子萌发和水稻幼苗的生长发育。在浓度为5μmol·L~(-1)的Cd胁迫下,添加1 mg·L~(-1)硼酸、10μmol·L~(-1)褪黑素、0.5 mg·L~(-1)钼酸钠和1 mmol·L~(-1)硅酸钠使水稻种子发芽率比CK处理分别提高11.1%、10.0%、11.1%和10.0%,发芽势分别提高17.8%、17.8%、17.8%和22.2%;添加这4种改良剂可以不同程度地降低水稻种子萌发和水培实验中水稻植株Cd含量。5μmol·L~(-1)的Cd胁迫下,添加硼酸、褪黑素、钼酸钠和硅酸钠均显著降低种子萌发试验中水稻幼根和幼芽Cd含量,其中幼根Cd含量降低38.6%～51.3%,幼芽Cd含量降低36.9%～41.1%。水培实验中,当Cd浓度为1μmol·L~(-1)时,添加硼酸、褪黑素、钼酸钠和硅酸钠使水稻根系Cd含量比对照处理分别降低32.6%、38.3%、47.0%和72.5%(8 d)。硅酸钠降低水稻Cd含量的效果最明显,其次是钼酸钠和褪黑素,硼酸的效果稍差。     

金霉素及其异构体降解产物对斜生栅藻的毒性效应研究

为探索水体中四环素类抗生素异构体降解产物的毒性效应,选取金霉素及其异构体降解产物为目标化合物,斜生栅藻(Scenedesmus obliquus)为受试生物,结合藻类生理指标探讨金霉素及其异构体降解产物的毒性效应。研究结果表明,在斜生栅藻藻液中,金霉素主要的异构体降解产物为异金霉素及异差向金霉素。暴露72 h后,金霉素及其异构体降解产物处理组的藻细胞形态发生了明显的质壁分离,且细胞通透性均显著增大。但是,金霉素母体药物与不同异构体降解产物对斜生栅藻的毒性效应表现出了明显的差异。金霉素母体药物处理组的斜生栅藻细胞中可溶性蛋白质和叶绿素a浓度降低得更为显著,且氧化损伤更为严重。金霉素母体药物与其异构体降解产物虽然具有相似的化学结构,但取代基空间构象的不同会导致药物与藻细胞中的可溶性蛋白质的结合位点不同,因而对藻细胞产生不同的毒性效应。探究金霉素及其异构体降解产物对水生环境产生的毒性效应,有望为全面认识四环素类抗生素的生态环境风险提供新的依据。     

基于CLUE-S模型的南四湖流域土地利用及其生态效应评估

[目的]分析南四湖流域土地利用变化的生态效应并探讨其动态演变特征,为流域土地资源的合理开发利用和生态系统的保护提供参考。[方法]基于南四湖流域2000至2015年土地利用数据,利用生态系统服务价值核算模型及CLUE-S模型对南四湖流域的生态服务价值及其动态演变特征进行计算和分析。[结果]2000—2015年南四湖流域耕地、草地和未利用地面积减少,林地、水域/湿地和城乡建设用地面积增加,南四湖流域整体生态系统服务价值增加了9.10亿元,但粮食生产、气体调节和保持土壤等生态功能分别下降了0.85%,0.85%和1.29%,生态问题依旧存在,生态系统服务价值分布不均匀,生态减值区的分布范围大于生态增值区。2030年流域内生态系统服务价值略微增加,而粮食生产、气体调节和保持土壤等单项生态系统服务功能继续下降,生态价值极低区以城市为中心向四周扩张,生态增值区范围缩小。[结论]虽然研究区内生态系统服务价值呈上升趋势,但生态价值分布不平衡,生态服务功能有升有降,因此有必要制定相应的措施,来控制土地利用类型的转换,平衡流域内的生态环境。