不同营林措施对马尾松林土壤呼吸影响

以三峡库区马尾松飞播林为研究对象,针对不同营林措施:除灌(清除所有除灌产生的枝叶)、采伐I(采伐强度15%,采伐树干,并未对枝叶进行清除)、采伐II(采伐强度70%,采伐剩余物处理同采伐I)、对照,采用LI-8100土壤CO₂通量测定系统对其土壤呼吸速率进行为期1年的连续观测,分析了不同营林措施对于土壤呼吸的影响以及不同营林措施下土壤呼吸产生差异的原因。结果显示:年土壤呼吸速率均值除灌(1.82±0.07 μmol·m^-2·s^-1)< 对照(2.18±0.05 μmol·m^-2·s^-1)< 采伐I(2.37±0.07 μmol·m^-2·s^-1)< 采伐II(2.86±0.1 μmol·m^-2·s^-1);采伐强度与土壤呼吸速率增值呈正比;不同营林措施与对照土壤呼吸速率均在夏季生长旺盛期7-8月达到最大值;高强度的采伐显著提高了土壤温度与湿度,对照、除灌、采伐I、采伐II土壤呼吸敏感性指数Q₁₀值依次为: 2.18±1.09、1.65±0.07、2.20 ±0.09,2.36±0.09。     

非生长季刺槐林土壤CH4通量的变化特征及其影响因子

[目的]探讨在非生长季不同天气条件下45年生刺槐林土壤CH₄通量的日变化和季节变化特征,并确定其主要影响因子.[方法]2014年10月-2015年4月(非生长季),在华北低山丘陵区黄河小浪底森林生态系统定位研究站,利用基于离轴积分腔输出光谱技术的土壤CH₄通量自动观测系统,对土壤CH₄通量进行连续观测,同步观测林内大气温度和相对湿度、5 cm深处土壤温度和土壤湿度、林内总辐射以及降雨量,分析各因子间的相互关系并确定影响土壤CH₄通量的主要因子.[结果]表明:(1)在非生长季,刺槐人工林土壤为大气CH₄重要的汇,变化范围为-0.15~-2.34 nmol·m^-2·s^-1 .晴天的林地土壤吸收CH₄能力 (-0.78 nmol·m^-2·s^-1) 明显高于阴天(-0.61 nmol·m^-2·s^-1)、降雨或降雪天气 (-0.58 nmol·m^-2·s^-1),而且呈"V"型日际变化特征;在2014年11月-2015年1月,土壤吸收CH₄能力逐渐下降,并维持相对较低的水平,直至2015年3月达到最大值 (-2.34 nmol·m^-2·s^-1);(2)土壤CH₄通量与大气温度、5 cm深处土壤温度呈显著负相关,与相对湿度呈正相关;在2015年1月,土壤CH₄通量与总辐射呈正相关;(3)在生长末期土壤上冻阶段和冬季土壤冻结阶段,大气温度和相对湿度为影响土壤CH₄通量的主要因子;而在生长季初期,主要的影响因子为大气温度和5 cm深处土壤温度.[结论]非生长季刺槐林土壤表现为大气CH₄的汇,在非生长季初期土壤吸收CH₄的能力最弱,主要受大气温度和相对湿度的影响,而在非生长季末期土壤吸收CH₄的能力逐渐增加,主要受大气温度和土壤温度的影响.     

大兴安岭森林沼泽类型与火干扰对土壤微生物群落影响

[目的]研究森林沼泽演替与火干扰条件下土壤微生物结构与多样性变化,为进一步揭示土壤微生物群落在森林沼泽保护与恢复中的作用提供依据。[方法]采用磷脂脂肪酸法与BIOLOG方法,研究大兴安岭南瓮河国家自然保护区内主要森林沼泽类型(兴安落叶松-狭叶杜香-藓类沼泽、兴安落叶松-兴安杜鹃-藓类沼泽、兴安落叶松+白桦-苔草沼泽)与2006年受不同火强度干扰沼泽(重度火烧的兴安落叶松-兴安杜鹃-藓类沼泽和中度火烧的兴安落叶松+白桦-苔草沼泽)土壤微生物群落特征,探讨沼泽主要发育阶段与火干扰强度对土壤微生物群落的影响。[结果]研究区域土壤微生物群落以16:00(16.29±5.62 nmol·g^-1)、甲烷氧化菌(18:1ω8t)(9.89±8.61 nmol·g^-1)与16:1ω7c(9.79±3.24 nmol·g^-1)的微生物为优势种群。土壤微生物总PLFAs含量、革兰氏阳性菌(G⁺)中a15:0、i16:0、i17:0、革兰氏阴性菌(G^-)中的cy19:0、真菌中的18:2ω6c、甲烷氧化菌(18:1ω8t)与森林沼泽发育阶段、火干扰明显相关(p<0.05)。一般饱和直链脂肪酸/单烯饱和脂肪酸比(Sat/Mon)偏低,其比值随沼泽发育呈现增加趋势,受到火干扰后明显增加(p<0.05);真菌/细菌比(F/B)与革兰氏阳性菌/革兰氏阴性菌(G⁺/G^-)未随着沼泽发育呈现出规律性变化,其比值受火干扰后明显发生改变(p<0.05)。土壤细菌与真菌对6类碳源的利用能力明显不同(p<0.001),其中土壤细菌对α-D-Lactose与L-Threonine利用存在差异性(F_α-D-Lactose =2.87 p=0.080,F_L-Threonine=3.00 p=0.078),土壤真菌对D-Mannitol、D-glucosaminic Acid利用存在差异性(F_{Tween 80}=2.75,p=0.088, F_D-Mannitol=3.53 p=0.047, F_{D-glucosaminic Acid}=4.67 p=0.022),但沼泽类型与火干扰未对土壤微生物功能多样性产生影响(p>0.05)。[结论]土壤微生物量与沼泽发育阶段相关;沼泽发育与火干扰改变土壤微生物群落结构。土壤细菌与真菌对碳源利用方面具有选择性。     

长白山典型森林土壤黑碳含量及不同组分中的分布特征

[目的]通过实地采样对黑碳进行量化研究。[方法]利用相对密度分组方法探讨了长白山典型森林土壤黑碳含量及在不同有机碳组分中的分布特征。[结果]表明:黑碳(BC)含量在表层(A₁₁)、亚表层(A₁₂)分别为6.39~16.55 g·kg^-1、1.44~6.16 g·kg^-1,随土壤深度的增加而显著下降(p﹤0.01)。在A₁₁、A₁₂层中,轻组有机碳(LFOC)平均含量分别为66.66 g·kg^-1、6.65 g·kg^-1,轻组黑碳(LFBC)平均含量分别为5.63 g·kg^-1、1.21 g·kg^-1,同时,LFBC/LFOC在A₁₂层(10.02%~34.89%)显著高于A₁₁层(6.99%~14.45%)(p﹤0.01);A₁₁、A₁₂层重组有机碳(HFOC)平均含量分别为49.16 g·kg^-1、36.55 g·kg^-1,重组黑碳(HFBC)平均含量分别为2.69 g·kg^-1、1.44 g·kg^-1,HFBC/HFOC在A₁₁层(3.36%~8.08%)和A₁₂层(3.21%~7.58%)之间没有显著差异(p>0.05)。另外,土壤中LFBC/LFOC显著高于HFBC/HFOC(p﹤0.01),LFBC/BC显著高于HFBC/BC(p﹤0.01)。[结论]长白山典型森林土壤中黑碳的含量、比例均较高;土壤表层(A₁₁)有机碳、黑碳含量及各组分有机碳、黑碳含量均高于亚表层(A₁₂),均随着土层加深而显著降低;轻组、重组有机碳中均含有一定比例的黑碳,黑碳主要分布在轻组分中;轻组、重组有机碳与组分中黑碳均显著相关,轻组中相关系数大于重组。     

松材线虫Bxpel2基因的克隆及RNA干扰载体构建

[目的]为了构建松材线虫(Bursaphelenchus xylophilus)果胶酶Bxpel2基因干扰载体.[方法]通过Trizol 法提取松材线虫总RNA,反转录合成cDNA,设计带T₇启动子的果胶酶Bxpel2基因引物,以cDNA为模板扩增出果胶酶Bxpel2基因片段,连接到RNA干扰载体,再以干扰载体为模板,PCR扩增出目的片段后进行测序鉴定,合成果胶酶Bxpel2基因双链RNA(dsRNA),采用RT-PCR检测松材线虫Bxpel2基因干扰后的表达情况.[结果]表明:1)提取的松材线虫总RNA完整性好,无降解;2)成功克隆出松材线虫果胶酶Bxpel2基因片段(790 bp)并将其连接至pMD19-T载体;3)以RNA干扰载体为模板合成dsRNA,浓度分别为1.313 mg·mL^-1和1.152 mg·mL^-1;4)RT-PCR结果显示,松材线虫经过dsRNA干扰后,Bxpel2基因表达基本受到抑制.[结论]成功构建松材线虫果胶酶Bxpel2基因干扰载体,为进一步研究Bxpel2基因在松材线虫致病过程中的作用和功能奠定了良好的基础.     

余甘子精粉的体外抗氧化活性分析

The antioxidant activities in vitro of refined powder of Phyllanthus emblica L. were detected by methods based on chemical measurement and cell modeling. The results of anti-peroxidation ability and iron reduction ability trials showed that the refined powder of P. emblica L. had strong ability of anti-peroxidation, and it increased with the increasing of concentration with a clear dose-response relationship. When the concentration reached 800 μg·mL^-1, the ability of anti-peroxidation was almost equal to the positive control VC with the same concentration. Meanwhile, it also had iron reduction ability that accompanied by significant dose-response relationship. By in vitro cell culture method, H₂O₂ was used to induce SH-SY5Y cells damages to establish the cell model of oxidative damage. The author detected the effect of different concentrations of powder on cell survival rate for the model cells by MTT assay. The results indicated that refined powder could show better protective effect to oxidative damaged SH-SY5Y cells in the range of 600 1 200 μg·mL^-1. When the concentration reached 1 200 μg·mL^-1, the cell survival rate was the highest and refined powder exhibited the best antioxidant activity. Both methods proved the strong antioxidant activities of refined powder of P. emblica L. in vitro.     

Photosynthetic responses to lightflecks ofFagus crenata seedlings grown in a gap and understory of a deciduous forest

Photosynthetic responses to a series of 1-min lightflecks (1,000μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) superimposed on a background with different duration (1, 5, and 10 min) and intensity (25 and 50μmol m⁻² s⁻¹) of low background photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) were measured in the leaves ofFagus crenata grown in a gap and understory of aFagus crenata forest in the Naeba Mountains. The two background PPFD intensities most frequently occurred in understory and gap sites respectively. The maximum net photosynthetic rate (P _Nmax) and maximum stomatal conductance (g _smax) were higher in the gap seedlings than in the understory seedlings. However, when the background PPFD was 25μmol m⁻²s⁻¹, the net photosynthetic rate (P ₂₅) and stomatal conductance (g _s25) were almost the same between the gap and understory. When the background PPFD duration was 1-min, the net photosynthetic rate (P _N ) at the end of each lightfleck increased progressively. When the background PPFD duration was 5- and 10-min, the increase inP _N at the end of each lightfleck was less. This indicates that background PPFD duration is important to photosynthetic responses to lightflecks. The higher ratios ofP ₂₅/P _Nmax andg _s25/g _smax in the understory seedlings indicate that the understory seedlings can maintain relatively lower levels of biochemical and stomatal limitations than the gap seedlings under low light conditions. The ratios ofP _N /P _Nmax at the end of each lightfleck (IS) and light utilization efficiency of single lightflecks (LUE _s) that showed the influence of lightflecks on carbon gain were higher in the understory seedlings than in the gap seedlings when the background PPFD was 25μmol m⁻² s⁻¹. This means that understory seedling are capable of utilizing fluctuating light more efficiently under low light conditions than the gap seedlings although the net carbon gain of single lightflecks (CG _s) in the understory seedlings was not higher than that in the gap seedlings. There were no significant differences inIS andLUE _s between understory seedlings at a background PPFD of 25μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ and gap seedlings at a background PPFD of 50μmol m⁻² s⁻¹. However,CG _s in gap seedlings was higher than in understory seedlings. These results provide more evidence thatF. crenata acclimate to a natural light environment in respect to relative induction state at low background PPFD and can capture the fluctuating light at the same efficiency in both the gap and understory seedlings under natural light environments. This study was funded by the research project, Evaluation of Total CO₂ Budget in Forest Ecosystems, coordinated by the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries of Japan.     

利用PMI选择标记进行杨树转基因体系的研究

[目的]利用不同于抗生素的PMI为选择标记基因的遗传转化体系,对杨树进行双抗虫基因(Bt和CpTI)的转基因研究.建立杨树以PMI为安全标记基因的转基因体系,为安全、高效的林木转基因育种研究提供实验依据.[方法]选择已有的转CpTI抗虫基因(利用Km^r选择标记获得)的美洲黑杨杂种优良无性系南林895杨(Populus ×euramericana ‘Nanlin895’)为受体材料,对杨树叶片、叶片分化芽、茎段生根的甘露糖敏感性等筛选优化,采用农杆菌介导的方法进行双抗虫基因的研究.[结果]较为适合的杨树叶片筛选培养基为:甘露糖8 g·L^-1和蔗糖22 g·L^-1;叶片分化芽筛选培养基为:甘露糖10 g·L^-1和蔗糖20 g·L^-1;茎段生根筛选培养基:甘露糖8 g·L^-1和蔗糖22 g·L^-1.在此基础上,获得了转Bt和CpTI双抗虫基因的植株8株.[结论]初步建立了以PMI为安全标记基因的杨树转基因体系:确定了PMI筛选的最适选择压,成功构建了含PMI选择标记基因的植物抗虫表达载体,通过农杆菌介导的遗传转化最终获得了转双抗虫基因植株.     

间作绿豆对核桃苗光合特性及根系导水力的作用

[目的]为研究间作绿豆对核桃苗根系生长、根系水分运输和光合特性的影响,[方法]采用砂培方法,在温室内将1年生核桃嫁接苗和绿豆进行间作。[结果]显示:间作绿豆增加了土壤全氮含量(0.014%0.021%),不添加氮素间作绿豆,核桃苗根系总表面积、根系总长度、根系直径和根系总体积均显著增加,而正常供应氮素间作绿豆,核桃苗根系生长降低。核桃苗根系单位面积的导水率与土壤氮素含量显著相关,添加氮素与否间作绿豆后,根系单位面积导水率分别升高0.102×10^-5 mL·cm^-1·min^-1·MPa^-1和0.057 ×10^-5 mL·cm^-1·min^-1·MPa^-1;而不添加氮素间作绿豆整株根系导水率增加0.043 mL·cm^-1·min^-1·MPa^-1,正常供应氮素间作绿豆后,核桃苗整株根系导水率反而降低0.034 mL·cm^-1·min^-1·MPa^-1;核桃苗气孔导度对各处理响应和根系整株导水力有相同趋势,不添加氮素间作绿豆核桃光合能力升高至对照水平,光饱和点达1 567.17 μmol·m^-2·s^-1,最大净光合速率达12.84 μmol·m^-2·s^-1,光补偿点和暗呼吸速率降低;而正常供应氮素间作绿豆核桃苗光合能力降低。[结论]间作绿豆改善了核桃苗的生长环境,有益于增加核桃苗的根系吸收面积、水分运输以及光合代谢;但在氮素充足的土壤中,间作绿豆非但无益于核桃苗,反而降低核桃苗的水分供应,影响其气体交换和光合能力。     

湘中丘陵区毛竹林土壤易氧化态碳动态及其影响因素

研究了湘中丘陵区毛竹笋用林(Ⅰ)、笋材兼用林(Ⅱ)、材用林(Ⅲ)3种不同经营类型林分土壤易氧化态碳(ROC)含量、储量的垂直剖面分布、季节动态及其与土壤总有机碳(SOC)、土壤温度和湿度、土壤养分状况的关系。结果表明:笋用林、笋材兼用林和材用林土壤平均ROC含量分别为2.77~5.15 g·kg^-1、2.55~3.67 g·kg^-1和3.21~5.36 g·kg^-1,ROC储量分别为17.19~32.52 t·hm^-2、17.29~24.60 t·hm^-2和19.04~31.85 t·hm^-2;在垂直分布上,不同类型毛竹林ROC含量、储量随土壤深度增加而下降,0-20 cm土层是ROC的主要分布区;在季节动态上,4月ROC含量、储量均明显低于其它季节;ROC与土壤温度、湿度负相关不显著;ROC与SOC、有机质、全氮和速效钾之间具有显著正相关性。     

Effects of elevated CO2 concentrations on soil microbial respiration and root/rhizosphere respiration in forest soils

The two main components of soil respiration, i.e., root/rhizosphere and microbial respiration, respond differently to elevated atmospheric CO₂ concentrations both in mechanism and sensitivity because they have different substrates derived from plant and soil organic matter, respectively. To model the carbon cycle and predict the carbon source/sink of forest ecosystems, we must first understand the relative contributions of root/rhizosphere and microbial respiration to total soil respiration under elevated CO₂ concentrations. Root/rhizosphere and soil microbial respiration have been shown to increase, decrease and remain unchanged under elevated CO₂ concentrations. A significantly positive relationship between root biomass and root/rhizosphere respiration has been found. Fine roots respond more strongly to elevated CO₂ concentrations than coarse roots. Evidence suggests that soil microbial respiration is highly variable and uncertain under elevated CO₂ concentrations. Microbial biomass and activity are related or unrelated to rates of microbial respiration. Because substrate availability drives microbial metabolism in soils, it is likely that much of the variability in microbial respiration results from differences in the response of root growth to elevated CO₂ concentrations and subsequent changes in substrate production. Biotic and abiotic factors affecting soil respiration were found to affect both root/rhizosphere and microbial respiration. __________ Translated from Journal of Plant Ecology, 2007, 31(3): 386–393 [译自: 植物生态学报]     

Effects of long-term elevated CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> on N<Subscript>2</Subscript>-fixing,denitrifying and nitrifying enzyme activities in forest soils under <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus sylvestriformis</Emphasis> in Changbai Mountain

A study was conducted to determine the effects of elevated CO₂ on soil N process at Changbai Mountain in Jilin Province, northeastern China (42°24′N, 128°06′E, and 738 m elevation). A randomized complete block design of ambient and elevated CO₂ was established in an open-top chamber facility in the spring of 1999. Changpai Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris var. sylvestriformis seeds were sowed in May, 1999 and CO₂ fumigation treatments began after seeds germination. In each year, the exposure started at the end of April and stopped at the end of October. Soil samples were collected in June and August 2006 and in June 2007, and soil nitrifying, denitrifying and N₂-fixing enzyme activities were measured. Results show that soil nitrifying enzyme activities (NEA) in the 5–10 cm soil layer were significantly increased at elevated CO₂ by 30.3% in June 2006, by 30.9% in August 2006 and by 11.3% in June 2007. Soil denitrifying enzyme activities (DEA) were significantly decreased by elevated CO₂ treatment in June 2006 (P < 0.012) and August 2006 (P < 0.005) samplings in our study; no significant difference was detected in June 2007, and no significant changes in N₂-fixing enzyme activity were found. This study suggests that elevated CO₂ can alter soil nitrifying enzyme and denitrifying enzyme activities. Foundation project: This research was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 90411020) and Major State Basic Research Development Program of China (973 Program) (2002CB412502).     

Development of a CO2 gas analyzer for monitoring soil CO2 concentrations

Measurement of soil CO₂ concentrations is important for investigating the dynamics and diffusion of CO₂ in soil. In this study, we developed a small CO₂ analyzer for measuring in situ-soil CO₂ concentrations. The CO₂ analyzer consists of a module containing an infrared CO₂ gas sensor, a temperature sensor, and a relative humidity sensor. These sensors are installed in a protective box with an air vent, which is suitable for burying in the soil. The output response time of the CO₂ analyzer was 349 s, as evaluated from the phase lag after input of known CO₂ concentrations. This response time is short enough to measure soil CO₂ concentrations, because variations in concentration are slower than the response time of the analyzer. In a field test, we used the CO₂ analyzer to measure soil CO₂ concentrations at five depths (0–50 cm) over 2.5 months. While the CO₂ concentration generally increased with depth, the amplitude of the variation in CO₂ concentration decreased with depth. The phase lag of the variations in soil CO₂ concentration also increased with depth, as did soil temperature. The tests confirm that the CO₂ analyzer is applicable to continuous monitoring of soil CO₂ concentrations.     

Effects of [CO2] and nitrogen on morphological and biomass traits of white birch (Betula papyrifera) seedlings

To investigate the interactive effects of CO₂ concentration ([CO₂]) and nitrogen supply on the growth and biomass of boreal trees, white birch seedlings (Betula papyrifera) were grown under ambient (360 μmol mol⁻¹) and elevated [CO₂] (720 μmol mol⁻¹) with five nitrogen supply regimes (10, 80, 150, 220, and 290 μmol mol⁻¹) in greenhouses. After 90 days of treatment, seedling height, root-collar diameter, biomass of different organs, leaf N concentration, and specific leaf area (SLA) were measured. Significant interactive effects of [CO₂] and N supply were found on height, root-collar diameter, leaf biomass, stem biomass and total biomass, stem mass ratio (SMR), and root mass ratio (RMR), but not on root mass, leaf mass ratio (LMR), leaf to root ratio (LRR), or leaf N concentration. The CO₂ elevation generally increased all the growth and biomass parameters and the increases were generally greater at higher levels of N supply or higher leaf N concentration. However, the CO₂ elevation significantly reduced SLA (13.4%) and mass-based leaf N concentration but did not affect area-based leaf N concentration. Increases in N supply generally increased the growth and biomass parameters, but the relationships were generally curvilinear. Based on a second order polynomial model, the optimal leaf N concentration was 1.33 g m⁻² for height growth under ambient [CO₂] and 1.52 g m⁻² under doubled [CO₂]; 1.48 g m⁻² for diameter under ambient [CO₂] and 1.64 g m⁻² under doubled [CO₂]; 1.29 g m⁻² for stem biomass under ambient [CO₂] and 1.43 g m⁻² under doubled [CO₂]. The general trend is that the optimal leaf N was higher at doubled than ambient [CO₂]. However, [CO₂] did not affect the optimal leaf N for leaf and total biomass. The CO₂ elevation significantly increased RMR and SMR but decreased LMR and LRR. LMR increased and RMR decreased with the increasing N supply. SMR increased with increase N supply up to 80 μmol mol⁻¹ and then leveled off (under elevated [CO₂]) or stated to decline (under ambient [CO₂]) with further increases in N supply. The results suggest that the CO₂ elevation increased biomass accumulation, particularly stem biomass and at higher N supply. The results also suggest that while modest N fertilization will increase seedling growth and biomass accumulation, excessive application of N may not stimulate further growth or even result in growth decline.     

Relationships between soil CO2 concentration and CO2 production, temperature, water content, and gas diffusivity: implications for field studies through sensitivity analyses

Soil CO₂ levels reflect CO₂ production and transport in soil and provide valuable information about soil CO₂ dynamics. However, extracting information from soil CO₂ profiles is often difficult because of the complexity of these profiles. In this study, we constructed a simple numerical model that simulated soil CO₂ dynamics and performed sensitivity analyses for CO₂ production rates, soil water content and temperature, and gas diffusivity at the soil surface to clarify the relationships among these parameters. Increased soil surface CO₂ flux did not always coincide with higher soil CO₂ concentrations; increased CO₂ production at shallow depths had little effect on soil CO₂ concentrations, while the opposite may be true for high levels of soil water content. Higher soil CO₂ concentration did not always coincide with greater soil surface CO₂ flux; under high soil water conditions, soil surface CO₂ flux sometimes decreased despite increased soil CO₂ concentration. Increases in soil water content did not always enhance both soil surface CO₂ flux and soil CO₂ concentration. Under high soil water conditions, increases in soil water content could lower soil surface CO₂ flux and increase soil CO₂ concentration. Increases in soil temperature resulted in greater soil surface CO₂ flux and higher soil CO₂ concentration in our simulation (extremely high temperatures were not assumed in this study). Gas diffusivity in very shallow layers did affect, albeit weakly, soil CO₂ concentration. The findings of this study may help direct future observations and aid in the interpretation of their results.     

Response of seedlings of different tree species to elevated C02 in Changbai Mountain

Eco-physiological responses of seedlings of eight species,Pinus koraiensis, Picea koraiensis, Larix olgensis, Populus ussuriensis, Betula platyphylla, Tilia amurensis, Traxinus mandshurica andAcer mono from broadleaved/Korean pine forest, to elevated CO₂ were studied by using open-top chambers under natural sunlight in Changbai Mountain, China in two growing seasons (1998–1999). Two concentrations of CO₂ were designed: elevated CO₂ (700 μmol·mol⁻¹) and ambient CO₂ (400 μmol·mol⁻¹). The study results showed that the height growth of the tree seedlings grown at elevated CO₂ increased by about 10%–40% compared to those grown at ambient CO₂. And the water using efficiency of seedlings also followed the same tendency. However, the responses of seedlings in transpiration and chlorophyll content to elevated CO₂ varied with tree species. The broad-leaf tree species were more sensitive to the elevated CO₂ than conifer tree species. All seedlings showed a photosynthetic acclimation to long-term elevated CO₂. Foundation item: The project was supported by National Key Basic Development of China (G1999043400) and the grant KZCX 406-4, KZCX1 SW-01 of the Chinese Academy of Sciences Biography: WANG Miao (1964-), maie, associate professor in Institute of applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, P. R. China. Responsible editor: Song Funan     

森林生态系统叶片暗呼吸时空动态及其影响因子

作为森林生态系统一个重要的呼吸通量,叶片呼吸在森林碳循环中扮演着重要的角色。开展叶片呼吸的机理及其影响因子研究,有助于构建大气和植被之间的呼吸通量模型,预测分析气候变化对森林生态系统生产力和碳源汇功能的影响。通常采用Li - 6400光合测定系统和LAI - 2000树冠分析仪测定森林生态系统叶片呼吸速率。叶片呼吸是一个复杂的生物化学过程,受到大气温度、CO₂浓度、土壤水分、叶片寿命、叶龄、比叶面积、叶片氮含量等多种因子的影响。叶片呼吸的日变化通常呈单峰曲线,与温度变化大体一致; 生长季早期和晚期的呼吸速率通常高于中期; 叶片在冠层着生位置影响其呼吸速率,冠层上部叶片的呼吸速率要高于冠层下部叶片。今后叶片呼吸研究应围绕以下4个关键问题:1) 模型构建时需要考虑叶片呼吸的温度驯化;2) 叶片呼吸在昼夜交替时内在调节机制;3) 从叶片呼吸到冠层呼吸的尺度转化;4) 加强和完善叶片呼吸影响因子研究。     

Supercritical fluid extraction of sapogenins from tubers of Smilax china

Supercritical CO(2) fluid extraction (SFE-CO(2)) was used to extract the sapogenins after acid hydrolysis from Smilax china tubers. The influence of extraction variables, such as modifier, pressure, temperature and extraction time, were studied. SFE-CO(2) was found to produce higher yield than conventional solvent extraction. The highest yield (0.454%) of sapogenins, mostly containing diosgenin, was obtained using 35 MPa pressure, 65 degrees C and 95% EtOH as a modifier for 180 min, higher than that obtained with conventional extraction methods (0.385%).     

Birch stands growth increase in Western Siberia

Birch (Betula pendula Roth) growth within the Western Siberia forest-steppe was analyzed based on long-term (1897–2006) inventory data (height, diameter at breast height [dbh], and stand volume). Analysis of biometry parameters showed increased growth at the beginning of twenty-first century compared to similar stands (stands age = 40–60 years) at the end of nineteenth century. Mean height, dbh, and stem volume increased from 14 to 20 m, from 16 to 22 cm, and from ～63 to ～220 m³/ha, respectively. Significant correlations were found between the stands mean height, dbh, and volume on the one hand, and vegetation period length (r_s = 0.71 to 0.74), atmospheric CO₂ concentration (r_s = 0.71 to 0.76), and drought index (Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index, r_s = ?0.33 to ?0.51) on the other hand. The results obtained have revealed apparent climate-induced impacts (e.g. increase of vegetation period length and birch habitat drying due to drought increase) on the stands growth. Along with this, a high correlation of birch biometric parameters and [CO₂] in ambient air indicated an effect of CO₂ fertilization. Meanwhile, further drought increase may switch birch stand growth into decline and greater mortality as has already been observed within the Trans-Baikal forest-steppe ecotone.     

Potential CO2 emissions mitigation through forest prescribed burning: A case study in Patagonia, Argentina

Wildland fire is a natural force that has shaped most vegetation types of the world. However, its inappropriate management during the last century has led to more frequent and catastrophic fires. Wildland fires are also recognized as one of the sources of CO₂ and other greenhouse gases (GHG) that influence global climate change. As one of the techniques used to reduce the risk of destructive wildfires, prescribed burning has the potential of mitigating carbon emissions, and effectively contributes to the efforts proposed as part of the Clean Development Mechanism within the Kyoto protocol. In order to apply this concept to a real case, a simulation study was conducted in pine afforestation in the Andean region of Patagonia, Argentina, with the objective of evaluating the potential of prescribed burning for reducing GHG emissions. The scenario was established for a ten year period, in which simulated prescribed burning was compared to the traditional management scheme, which included the probability of annual average of wildfire occurrence based on available wildfire statistics. The two contrasting scenarios were: (1) managed afforestation, affected by the annual average rate of wildfires occurred in the same type of afforestation in the region, without prescribed burning, and (2) same as (1) but with the application of simulated prescribed burning. In order to estimate carbon stocks, and CO₂ removals and emissions, we followed the guidelines given for GHG inventories on the Agriculture, Forestry and Other Land Uses (AFOLU) sector of the International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), while the terminology used was the established by IPCC (2003). Data of afforested area, thinnings, and biomass growth were taken from previous surveys in the study area. Downed dead wood and litter (forest fuel load, FFL) was estimated adjusting equations fitted to those fuels, based on field data. Results show that comparing the two scenarios, prescribed burning reduced CO₂ emissions by 44% compared to the situation without prescribed burning. The prescribed burning scenario represented about 12% of the total emissions (prescribed burning plus wildfires). Furthermore, avoided wildfires by simulated prescribed burning allowed an additional 78% GHG emissions mitigation due to extra biomass growth. Simulated prescribed burning in commercial afforestation of Patagonia appears to be an effective management practice not only to prevent wildfires, but also an efficient tool to mitigate GHG emissions. However, more studies in different scenarios would be needed to generalize these benefits to other ecosystems.