海峡西岸经济区景观格局特征研究

运用景观生态学的空间格局指数法,结合遥感和GIS技术,研究了海峡西岸经济区(海西区)2008年生态系统组成、景观格局特征以及与环境因子的关系。研究结果表明:(1)海西区主要由森林、草地、农田、水域、城镇和荒地构成,各景观类型高程分布差异显著。(2)森林是海西区的优势景观类型,呈规模化集中分布,草地和农田是海西区重要景观类型,斑块数量最多,分布零散;城镇和荒地的结构特征最差,表明其稳定性差,受人为干扰强烈。(3)水域的景观特征处于中间水平,斑块类型差异显著,但景观整体稳定性较强。(4)降水量、气温等自然因素是影响海西区景观格局的主要因素,人口密度和GDP等人为因素影响相对较弱。     

干旱区内陆河流域景观格局及其与环境因子的关系研究——以石羊河流域为例

基于GIS技术,利用移动窗口法,首先分析了1987年、2000年、2010年石羊河流域整体景观格局及其时空分异特征;然后根据2000年流域本身自然地理梯度特点,分别沿河流流向梯度(Tr1)和垂直于河流流向梯度(Tr2)设置了两条样带,采样间隔为lkm,获得了景观沿两个样带方向的梯度格局特征;最后,以高程、降水、气温、人口和GDP为环境因子,以景观格局指数为目标物种,利用RDA方法研究了景观梯度格局与环境因子的关系.结果表明:①石羊河流域内景观基质为未利用地;②流域景观格局指数值分布呈现明显的自南向北的梯度差异,③景观格局指数在Tr1和Tr2样带上均有明显变化.Tr1样带2010年的景观格局指数值明显低于1987年,Tr2样带景观格局指数值时间变化不明显;④RDA分析表明:景观梯度格局与环境因子关系密切,Tr1样带景观梯度格局与高程、降水、温度相关性较好,Tr2样带景观梯度格局与温度、人口、GDP相关性相对较强.     

大兴安岭东部林区森林水土保持功能初步评价

 为确定合理的生态效益补偿机制及确定各生态单元保护的优先度提供参考,选择以森林为主要资源的大兴安岭东部林区为研究对象,以地理信息系统为平台,采用通用土壤流失方程式,对该区域森林采伐前后的水土流失情况进行估算。结果表明:整个研究区未采伐时,年土壤侵蚀总量为485万8658.55t,采伐后为1亿4109万9989.4t,高达采伐前的29倍,采伐前所有林业局的土壤侵蚀模数,均小于200t/(km2·a)的允许土壤流失量,采伐后所有林业局的土壤侵蚀模数均大于允许土壤流失量。其中,呼中林业局最高为3849.57t/(km2 ·a),属于强度侵蚀。这充分表明,该区域森林的水土保持功能十分明显,采伐前后土壤侵蚀模数分布格局基本一致,西部区明显高于东部区,与该区域的坡度变化格局相似,说明在该区植被覆盖是土壤侵蚀最主要的影响因子,而坡度则是造成土壤侵蚀空间差异的主要因子。     

湖南森林景观格局演变及影响因子分析——以湖南金童山国家级自然保护区金童山片区为例

为森林景观格局影响因子的探索和研究提供新视角,以湖南金童山国家级自然保护区金童山片区为研究区域,以ENVI,ArcGIS为软件平台,运用地理探测器计算森林景观格局影响因子权重,对2005—2015年森林景观格局演变进行了分析。结果表明:(1)研究区以常绿阔叶林、落叶阔叶林为景观基质; 2005—2009年景观类型动态变化较为频繁,景观类型转移面积总量为4 116.95 hm²,而转移随着一系列政策措施的开展,2009—2015年动态变化强度减缓;(2)从影响因素上看,自然地理因素中的高程因子是影响区域整体景观格局形成的主要因素,面积最大的常绿阔叶林和落叶阔叶林受高程影响最大,人为因素中村民生活干扰和林区干道因子对耕地的分布影响明显;(3)从景观演替方式来看,常绿阔叶林、落叶阔叶林面积转移以自然演替为主; 常绿落叶阔叶林因人为影响与其他景观类型发生相互转换; 竹林因其生长特点强势侵入其他景观类型; 自然演替与人为影响的双重作用导致灌木林地与牧草地、耕地间发生景观类型转变。因此,森林景观格局的形成和演变是各影响因子对各景观类型综合作用的结果,影响因子类型和权重大小与景观类型转移的方向和数量明显相关。     

基于地形梯度的土壤侵蚀强度分布特征研究——以钦江流域为例

地形因素是影响土壤侵蚀空间分布格局的重要因素之一,以钦州流域为例,应用DEM数据,在ArcGIS 10.1空间统计分析模块下,采用高程梯度、坡度梯度和地形位梯度三种方法对比研究,通过分析不同土壤侵蚀强度在三种地形梯度上的分布指数,揭示研究区域的土壤侵蚀强度分布的模式及其与地形因素之间的对应关系。结果表明:(1)在高程和坡度梯度上,中度、强烈、极强烈和剧烈主要分布在1~2地形梯度上;在地形位梯度上,微度侵蚀在1级区域上占据了优势地位,分布面积最大,这与在高程和坡度梯度上的分布恰恰相反。(2)对三种方法的比较表明,地形位综合了高程和坡度的信息,可以反映土壤侵蚀强度随地形变化的分布趋势以及土壤侵蚀强度的分布特征。(3)研究可为区域土壤侵蚀强度空间分布格局和水土保持规划的研究提供一种可行的定量分析方法。     

基于地形梯度的河北省怀来县山地生态系统空间分布及变化特征分析

[目的]从地形梯度角度,对区域生态系统空间分布及变化特征进行分析,提出基于地形梯度的区域生态系统保护对策建议,为制定山区生态规划及实现山区生态系统的持续、健康发展提供参考。[方法]以遥感解译获得的1993,2003,2013年生态系统类型空间分布数据为基础,选取高程级别、地形起伏度和坡度变率为地形梯度表征指标,采用分布指数,对区域农田、水域与湿地、森林、草地、聚落和荒漠6类生态系统的地形梯度差异分布情况及优势位进行分析,并结合1993—2013年各生态系统的服务价值变化特征,探讨区域生态系统的保护对策。[结果]农田、水域与湿地、聚落、草地生态系统集中于低地形梯度区;森林集中于高地形梯度区;荒漠生态系统分布特征随地形梯度差异不明显;在低地形梯度区,农田、水域与湿地的生态系统服务价值降低,草地、聚落生态系统服务价值有明显的增加趋势;在高地形梯度区,虽然森林生态系统服务价值变化较为剧烈,但总体呈现出持续增加的趋势。[结论]在制定针对山地的区域生态规划时,应考虑对位于优势位上的生态系统实行特殊保护,禁止被侵占为生态系统服务功能较弱的生态系统服务类型,以保证生态系统能够持续、健康地提供生态服务。     

基于因子空间分异的巴彦县土地利用格局变化研究

[目的]探究黑龙江省巴彦县土地利用格局变化特征,为优化土地利用格局奠定基础。[方法]运用AutoLogistic回归模型和空间统计分析方法。[结果](1)引入空间自相关因子,构建AutoLogistic回归模型,在分析区域土地利用格局变化特征时比传统Logistic模型更为适用和可靠。(2)研究区黑龙江省巴彦县土地利用格局变化是基于特定的自然因素和人文因素共同作用而发生的,高程、地貌类型、pH值、土壤有机质、距城镇中心距离、距水域距离、距道路距离、区位指数、集中化程度、土地利用多样性和土地利用强度是土地利用格局变化的主要影响因子。(3)不同土地利用类型的分布受影响因子的限制性存在明显的空间分异特征,水田、水域和草地主要分布在高程1级区域;旱地、水田、园地、建设用地主要分布在土壤有机质2,3级区域;旱地、园地、建设用地主要分布在距城镇中心距离1级区域和土地利用强度4,5级区域。[结论]研究区土地利用格局在各影响因子的共同作用下,呈现出明显的空间分异特征。     

基于土地利用/覆盖的干旱绿洲区植被覆盖度变化--以新疆生产建设兵团第八师为例

为了探讨西北干旱绿洲区土地利用/覆盖类型景观格局特征,以及不同土地利用/覆盖类型植被覆盖度变化,本文以干旱典型绿洲区新疆生产建设兵团第八师为研究区,选取2000年、2005年的Landsat TM和2010年环境一号星CCD遥感影像数据,采用室内解译与野外核查相结合,运用RS和GIS技术分析了该区域的土地利用/覆盖和景观格局变化特征,并基于土地利用/覆盖类型选取3年的MODIS数据进行了植被覆盖度变化分析。结果表明:1)该研究区主要以耕地、草地和灌丛为主,占总面积的88.9%。在自然因素和人为因素的综合作用下,干旱绿洲区土地利用/覆盖类型发生明显变化,草地和灌丛呈减少趋势,面积分别由2000年的2 603.2 km2和1 166.2 km2减少至2010年的1 677.3 km2和933.8 km2;耕地和城镇逐步增加,面积分别由2000年的2 892.8 km2和209.2 km2增加至2010年的4 038.3 km2和259.1 km2;耕地主要由草地和灌丛转化而来,城镇主要由耕地转化而来,土地利用变化整体处于不平衡发展趋势。2)研究区景观特征趋于简单,土地利用变化改变了该区域景观格局,景观多样性、均匀度减少,优势度明显增大,破碎化程度降低,生物多样性也呈向单一方向转变的趋势。3)受气候等主要因素的影响,2000—2010年植被覆盖度呈先降低后逐步升高的趋势,不同土地利用/覆盖类型植被覆盖度表现为林地耕地草地灌丛荒漠,林地、灌丛、草地和耕地植被覆盖度分别增加6.7%、38.2%、15.6%和12.3%;较高和高等级植被覆盖面积增加,中、较低和低等级植被覆盖度面积减少。4)温度一定的条件下,降雨量是影响干旱绿洲区植被覆盖变化的关键因素。该研究结果可为新疆生产建设兵团生态环境保护管理以及合理规划生产模式提供科学的参考依据。     

松嫩高平原土地利用景观梯度变化特征分析

研究区域不同梯度带土地利用景观变化特征,可为维持区域生态功能、改善区域生态环境质量提供科学依据。以松嫩高平原典型地域巴彦县为研究区,利用ArcGIS手段,以地形因子（高程、坡度）作为研究区梯度分级基础,考虑地貌类型和行政区划划分梯度带,应用梯度分析和景观格局分析相结合的方法,从景观水平和景观类型水平两方面,分析研究区13 a来不同梯度带土地利用景观变化特征。结果表明:（1）1996—2009年间,梯度带Ⅲ土地利用景观破碎化程度最大,受人类活动的影响最严重;梯度带Ⅱ优势景观比较明显,土地利用景观结构稳定性最差。（2）1996—2009年,各梯度带土地利用景观基质均为旱地,水田景观所占比例均有所上升,且各梯度带林地景观所占比例差别一直较大,建设用地景观增长水平基本一致。     

快速城镇化地区土地利用变化的地形梯度特征分析——以榆次区为例

为探讨快速城镇化地区——山西省晋中市榆次区不同地形梯度上的土地利用变化特征,本研究以2000年、2008年和2016年3期影像和ASTERGDEM为数据源,分析2000—2016年间土地利用变化的时空特征,选用坡向、坡度变率、地形起伏度、地形位指数和土地利用类型分布指数对土地利用的地形梯度分布特征和变化过程进行分析。结果表明:1)2000—2016年,榆次区建设用地主要向西北方向扩张,主要分布在地形起伏度30m、坡度变率2°、阳坡和半阳坡及地形位为1～3级的地区。土地利用以建设用地、耕地和未利用地为主,其中耕地所占面积最大,2000年、2008年和2016年的平均比例为46.91%。2000—2008年建设用地面积增加43.07 km2,未利用地面积减少37.33 km2; 2008—2016年未利用地面积减少221.00 km2,而耕地面积和建设用地面积分别增加170.61 km2和37.36 km2。2)在坡度变率、地形起伏度和地形位梯度上,建设用地、耕地和水域主要分布于低梯度带,而林地和未利用地分布于中高梯度带;建设用地和耕地在平地、阳坡和半阳坡呈分布优势,林地在阴坡和半阴坡具有分布优势,而未利用地的优势分布区为阳坡和半阳坡;2000—2016年耕地的主要分布区向地形起伏度30 m、坡度变率为2°～15°、地形位为4～11级的区域扩张。榆次区土地利用变化地形梯度差异明显,地形因素、人类活动、政策因素、交通和区位为其主导因素。该研究结果为区域城镇化过程中的土地合理规划利用提供科学依据,为生态环境治理提供决策支持。     

低氮和干旱胁迫对富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的影响

【目的】以富士（Fuji）、 秦冠（Qinguan）嫁接在平邑甜茶（Malus hupehensis Rehd.）上的当年生盆栽苗为试验材料,采用砂培方法,研究了缺氮胁迫和干旱对富士和秦冠生长情况、 光合参数、 植株各部位氮磷钾含量及氮素利用效率的影响,分析比较了低氮干旱条件下富士和秦冠生长及氮素利用的差异,以期为果树生产高效肥水利用提供理论指导。【方法】试验共设四个处理: 正常氮正常水（ZZ）、 低氮正常水（DZ）、 正常氮干旱（ZG）、 低氮干旱（DG）。氮素和水分均设置两个水平,分别为正常氮（6 mmol/L NO-3-N）、 低氮（0.3 mmol/LNO-3-N）、 正常供水（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的80%~85%）、 干旱处理（保持盆中砂子相对含水量为饱和含水量的60%~65%）。【结果】富士和秦冠的生物量（茎和叶）、 株高茎粗等生长指标以及光合速率、 气孔导度、 蒸腾速率均为正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）,并且相对应处理下秦冠的以上指标均高于富士;正常供水下,缺氮处理使富士、 秦冠的根冠比比正常氮处理均有所增加,富士提高了2.05%,秦冠提高了22.40%。富士和秦冠的氮、 磷、 钾含量均表现出正常氮正常水（ZZ）＞低氮正常水（DZ）＞正常氮干旱（ZG）＞低氮干旱（DG）; 氮、 钾元素含量在植株各部位的分布顺序依次是叶＞根＞茎,磷元素则是根＞叶＞茎;光合氮素利用效率（PNUE）和氮素利用效率表现为秦冠处理之间差异极显著,富士处理之间差异不显著;秦冠的PNUE和NUE明显高于富士,在低氮正常水（DZ）处理下,秦冠氮肥利用率比富士高42.07%,在低氮干旱（DG）处理下高64.14%;低氮胁迫下富士和秦冠的NUE显著提高,并且秦冠提高的幅度高于富士。【结论】施用氮肥能够显著提高富士与秦冠的干物质量,同等水肥条件下,秦冠生长优于富士;水分亏缺会减少叶片对氮的吸收,干旱条件下适度增施氮肥,可提高果树的抗旱能力;低氮干旱胁迫下秦冠的生长指标、 光合指标及氮素利用效率指标均优于富士,表现出较强的抗低氮干旱胁迫的能力。     

Pasture Vegetation Elemental Analysis by Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy

Laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) is a new technique for the analysis of plant material. This study investigates the application of LIBS to pasture-based plant samples. The LIBS measurements were obtained from pelletized pasture samples (100 samples) that had been also analyzed by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) following microwave digestion for calibration and comparison purposes. Comparisons for elements sodium (Na), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), calcium (Ca), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), boron (B), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) showed that LIBS could be used for almost all the standard profile total elements with concentrations down to low mg/kg levels (observed error of Na: 0.024 percent, K: 0.18 percent, Mg: 0.016 percent, Ca: 0.073 percent, P: 0.017 percent, Mn: 31 mg/kg, Fe: 150 mg/kg, Zn: 6.6 mg/kg, and B: 1.1 mg/kg). Elemental analysis at less than mg/kg levels was not possible using LIBS. The elements S and Cu were particularly difficult to analyze with reliability using LIBS at the concentration levels found in the plant samples. Replacing microwave digestion and subsequent ICP analysis with a direct analysis of dried plant samples using LIBS has the potential to improve the productivity and reduce the cost of testing.     

Faculty positions:Center for Agricultural Resources Research,Chinese Academy of Sciences

正The Center for Agricultural Resources Research(CARR),the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology(IGDB),Chinese Academy of Sciences,invites applicants for several research group leader positions.CARR is one of the research organizations in Chinese Academy of Sciences(CAS).We seek nominations and applications from individuals who have expertise and a record of accomplishment in research areas related to ecology,agro-hydrology,     

Macroinvertebrates in North American tallgrass prairie soils: effects of fire, mowing, and fertilization on density and biomass

The responses of tallgrass prairie plant communities and ecosystem processes to fire and grazing are well characterized. However, responses of invertebrate consumer groups, and particularly soil-dwelling organisms, to these disturbances are not well known. At Konza Prairie Biological Station, we sampled soil macroinvertebrates in 1994 and 1999 as part of a long-term experiment designed to examine the effects and interactions of annual fire, mowing, and fertilization (N and P) on prairie soil communities and processes. For nearly all taxa, in both years, responses were characterized by significant treatment interactions, but some general patterns were evident. Introduced European earthworms (Aporrectodea spp. and Octolasion spp.) were most abundant in plots where fire was excluded, and the proportion of the total earthworm community consisting of introduced earthworms was greater in unburned, unmowed, and fertilized plots. Nymphs of two Cicada genera were collected (Cicadetta spp. and Tibicen spp.). Cicadetta nymphs were more abundant in burned plots, but mowing reduced their abundance. Tibicen nymphs were collected almost exclusively from unburned plots. Treatment effects on herbivorous beetle larvae (Scarabaeidae, Elateridae, and Curculionidae) were variable, but nutrient additions (N or P) usually resulted in greater densities, whereas mowing usually resulted in lower densities. Our results suggest that departures from historical disturbance regimes (i.e. frequent fire and grazing) may render soils more susceptible to increased numbers of European earthworms, and that interactions between fire, aboveground biomass removal, and vegetation responses affect the structure and composition of invertebrate communities in tallgrass prairie soils.     

Variation in quality parameters between and within 14 Nordic tree fruit and berry species

Abstract

A 3-year study was carried out to investigate quality parameters in 14 tree fruit and berry species grown in southern Norway. The species were blueberry, apple, aronia, sour cherry, sweet cherry, red raspberry, strawberry, blackcurrant, gooseberry, red currant and elderberry, harvested along with wild bilberry, cloudberry and lingonberry. Significant differences between species were identified for all quality parameters. The coefficient of variation between species was lowest for pH (12.5%), dry matter (18.9%) and soluble solids (25.3%), followed by titratable acids (59.3%), total phenolics (83.8%), antioxidant capacity FRAP (85.7%) and antiradical power by the DPPH-assay (97.8%), total monomeric anthocyanins (132%) and ascorbic acid (137%). Average coefficient of variation within species were lower and ranged from 4 (pH) to 62% (ascorbic acid). Only the FRAP values were significantly affected by harvesting year with lower levels in 2004 than in 2005 and 2006. There were significant interactions between species and harvesting year for dry matter, soluble solids, pH, ascorbic acid and FRAP. The results indicate generic ranges in composition within species independent upon growing location and climate, and the composition of the tree fruits and berries is not likely to deviate from these ranges. It is concluded that desirable composition of tree fruits and berries and their products should primarily be achieved by selection among species rather than searching fors broadened variation within individual species.     

Potassium Fixation and Release Characteristics in Rhizosphere and Nonrhizosphere Soils for a Rapeseed–Rice Cropping Sequence

Potassium (K) fixation and release in soil are important factors in the long-term sustainability of a cropping system. Changes in K concentration and characteristics of K fixation and release in rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils in the rapeseed (Brassica napus L.)–rice (Oryza sativa L.) rotation were investigated using a rhizobox system. The concentrations of different forms of K in both rhizosphere and nonrhizosphere soils decreased with plants compared to without plants, regardless of K fertilizer application. Potassium uptake by crops mainly came from the rhizosphere soil. In the treatment without K fertilizer (–K), the main form of K supplied by the soil to the crops was 1.0 mol L^?1 nitric acid (HNO₃) nonextractable K, followed by nonexchangeable K, and then exchangeable K. In the treatment with K fertilizer (+K), the main K forms supplied by the soil to the crops were exchangeable K and nonexchangeable K. The amount and rate of K fixation after one cycle of the rapeseed–rice rotation was greater in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The amount and rate of K fixation of soil in the +K treatment were significantly less than in the –K treatment. The cumulative amounts of K released with 1.0 mol L^?1 ammonium acetate (NH₄OAc) and 1.0 mol L^?1 HNO₃ extraction increased with the increasing numbers of extractions, but the K-releasing power of soil by successive extraction decreased gradually and finally became almost constant. The release of K was less in rhizosphere soil than in nonrhizosphere soil. The release of K in the +K treatment was similar to that in the –K treatment in rhizosphere soil, but the K release in nonrhizosphere soil was greater with the +K than the –K treatment. Overall, the information obtained in this study will be helpful in formulating more precise K fertilizer recommendations for certain soils.     

Increase in auxiliary photoprotective photosynthetic pigments in wheat seedlings induced by Azospirillum brasilense

Inoculation of wheat seedlings with the plant growth-promoting bacterium Azospirillum brasilense Cd was immobilized in alginate microbeads and, without applying any stress, significantly increased the quantity of several photosynthetic pigments, such as chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and the auxiliary photoprotective pigments violaxanthin, zeaxanthin, antheroxanthin, lutein, neoxanthin, and β-carotene. This resulted in greener plants with no apparent visible stress. After monitoring the quantity of photosynthetic pigments for 4 weeks, we observed that inoculated plants had higher quantities of pigments in shoot and stem. The greatest difference in the quantity of all pigments between inoculated and noninoculated plants occurred in the first week of growth. Regardless of treatment, the quantity of pigments in stems was three to four times less than the quantity of these pigments in shoots. Application of Azospirillum, either as liquid inoculant or as alginate microbeads, did not alter the positive effect of the bacteria on pigment production or the positive response of the plants towards A. brasilense Cd inoculation.     

In-situ enrichment and analysis of atrazine-degrading microbial communities using atrazine-containing porous beads

We examined the community composition of microbes that colonized atrazine-containing beads buried in agricultural soils that differed in atrazine treatment history. Bacterial abundance was 5-40-fold greater in atrazine-fortified beads. In beads containing 20 mg atrazine kg⁻¹ buried in soil with a history of atrazine application (conditioned soil), the abundance of Actinobacteria increased approximately 80-fold whereas in control soil, Actinobacteria were enriched only 10-fold and the gamma-Proteobacteria and Planctomycetes increased by 60- and 25-fold, respectively. The gamma-Proteobacteria were enriched by 120- and 230-fold in beads containing 200 mg atrazine kg⁻¹ in conditioned and control soil, respectively. The results demonstrate that BioSep^® beads are a suitable matrix for recruiting a diverse subset of the bacterial community involved in atrazine degradation.     

Genetic similarities among Spanisch populations of Agropyron, Elymus and Thinopyrum, using PCR-based markers

Arbitrary oligonucleotides were used as primers to amplifygenomic DNA of 48 wild Spanish populations of Agropyroncristatum, Elymus hispanicus,E. caninus,E. repens,Thinopyrum curvifolium, Th.junceum and Th.intermedium. Genetic diversity was analysedusing nineteen primers. The number of amplified products ranged from8 to 18 per primer and a total of 240 markers were scored. Differentlevels of intraspecific genetic diversity were found, the allogamousspecies E. repens andTh. intermedium being themost variable. Jaccard's similarity coefficients for internalmeasure within and between populations were used to produce a clusterdiagram. The results demonstrate differences in the degree ofsimilarity between taxonomic units. Interpopulational variability andinterspecific genomic relationships of these species arediscussed.     

Mycorrhizae,biocides, and biocontrol. 4. Response of a mixed culture of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and host plant to three fungicides

The effects of three commonly used fungicides on the colonization and sporulation by a mixture of three arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi consisting of Glomus etunicatum (Becker & Gerd.), Glomus mosseae (Nicol. & Gerd.) Gerd. & Trappe, and Gigaspora rosea (Nicol. & Schenck) in symbiosis with pea plants and the resulting response of the host-plant were examined. Benomyl, PCNB, and captan were applied as soil drenches at a rate of 20 mg active ingredient kg^-1 soil 2 weeks after transplanting pea seedlings in a silty clay-loam soil containing the mixed inocula of AM fungi (AM plants). Effects of fungicides were compared to untreated plants that were inoculated with fungi (AM control). The effect of mycorrhizal inoculation on plant growth was also examined by including nonmycorrhizal, non-fungicide-treated plants (non-AM control). Fungicides or inoculation with AM fungi had only a small effect on the final shoot weights of pea plants, but had greater effects on root length and seed yield. AM control plants had higher seed yields and lower root lengths than the corresponding non-AM plants, and the fungicide-treated AM plants had intermediate yields and root lengths. Seed N and P contents were likewise highest in AM control plants, lowest in non-AM plants, and intermediate in fungicide-treated AM plants. All three fungicides depressed the proportion (%) of root length colonized by AM fungi, but these differences did not translate to reductions in the total root length that was colonized, since roots were longer in the fungicide-treated AM plants. Pea plants apparently compensated for the reduction in AM-fungal metabolism due to fungicides by increasing root growth. Fungicides affected the population of the three fungi as determined by sporulation at the final harvest. Captan significantly reduced the number, relative abundance, and relative volume of G. rosea spores in the final population relative to the controls. The relative volume of G. etunicatum spores was greater in all the fungicide-treated soils, while G. mosseae relative volumes were only greater in the captan-treated soil. These findings show that fungicides can alter the species composition of an AM-fungal community. The results also show that AM fungi can increase seed yield without enhancing the vegetative shoot growth of host plants.