武夷山黄山松群落物种多样性与种群空问格局的研究

对武夷山黄山松群落物种多样性和种群空间格局的研究结果表明 ,低海拔地区由于受人为干扰影响较大而物种多样性与种群空间分布格局未表现出明显规律性 ,高海拔地区群落物种多样性指数、丰富度和均匀度均有不同程度下降 ,黄山松种群空间格局均呈集群分布 ,且随海拔高度升高而黄山松种群生长受到一定抑制     

海拔对表居土壤动物不同取食功能群多度分布的影响

物种多度分布格局是群落生态学研究的前沿领域之一。海拔梯度下开展土壤动物多度分布研究有利于认识分解者群落的构建过程如何响应环境变化。选用5种常见的生态位分配模型(断棍模型、生态位优先占领模型、生态位重叠模型、随机分配模型和优势优先模型),分别采用个体数量与生物量作为多度表征指标,对分布于北京东灵山辽东栎林下不同海拔范围的表居土壤动物群落整体与不同取食功能群(杂食者、植食者、捕食者、腐食者)的相对多度分布进行研究。结果表明,拟合表居土壤动物群落整体的最优生态位分配模型不受海拔影响,均为断棍模型。但表居土壤动物各功能群多度分布受海拔影响,杂食者随海拔升高,最优模型由断棍模型转变为生态位优先占领模型,而植食者与之相反。多度表征指标选择影响拟合表居土壤动物不同功能群(捕食者和腐食者)多度分布的最优模型。总体而言,海拔和多度指标选择并未影响表居土壤动物整体的多度分布,但对表居土壤动物中不同取食功能群的多度分布有影响。     

天目山银杏根区土壤固氮微生物群落沿海拔梯度的分布特征

土壤微生物多样性的海拔分布规律已被广泛研究，然而单一木本植物根区土壤固氮微生物的海拔分布特征尚不清楚。本研究采集了浙江省天目山308米至1236米海拔范围内的161棵野生银杏树的根区土壤，利用Illumina高通量测序研究了土壤固氮微生物的多样性、群落组成及其空间分布。结果表明：固氮微生物多样性（Shannon与Richness指数）随海拔高度增加而降低，群落异质性随海拔差值增大而增加。慢生根瘤菌属、根瘤菌属、疣微菌属等优势属的相对丰度与海拔显著正相关，而地杆菌属、固氮菌属、伯克霍尔德菌属等优势属的相对丰度与海拔显著负相关。进一步分析发现，固氮微生物多样性和群落组成与土壤N:P均呈最显著相关，上述优势属的相对丰度同样与土壤N:P有着极强的相关性。结构方程模型显示海拔可以直接或通过影响土壤N:P间接作用于固氮微生物多样性和群落组成。通过随机森林模型分别鉴定出与海拔、N:P紧密相关的物种，发现这两类物种具有较大比例（45%）的重合。综上，土壤N:P是天目山银杏根区土壤固氮微生物群落沿海拔分布的关键驱动因子，N:P的变化直接影响银杏固氮微生物群落。我们的发现从土壤微生物学角度为天目山野生银杏的保护提供了科学依据。     

伊犁河谷山地北坡土壤特性及植被群落多样性垂直分布格局

基于对伊犁河谷山地北坡垂直地带植被多样性和土壤生境的调查分析数据,采用Pearson相关系数法、主成分法和DCA排序法分析了物种多样性指数与环境因子之间的关系。结果表明:根据其植被带和土壤带沿不同海拔将其分为针叶林、山地草原、落叶阔叶林和荒漠草原;其总的物种丰富度和Simpson指数与海拔呈现先升高后降低,再升高的格局,不同海拔植被群落丰富度指数之间差异均显著(p0.05),Shannon-Wiener指数随海拔的增加呈先增加后降低的趋势,Pielou均匀度指数随海拔的增加呈先降低后增加,然后降低的格局。犁河谷山地北坡土壤有机质和有效氮含量随海拔的增加而增加的趋势,基本表现为针叶林山地草原落叶阔叶林荒漠草原,其中不同海拔植被群落土壤有机质含量之间差异均显著(p0.05),土壤有效磷含量没有明显的垂直变化规律,土壤有效钾含量随海拔的增加呈先增加后降低的趋势,基本表现为山地草原针叶林落叶阔叶林荒漠草原。犁河谷山地北坡土壤pH值随海拔的增加而降低的趋势,基本表现为荒漠草原山地草原落叶阔叶林针叶林,土壤电导率、全盐和总盐含量均随海拔的增加呈先增加后降低的格局,基本表现为山地草原落叶阔叶林荒漠草原针叶林。主成分的结果分析表明,第一主成分负荷值最高的分别为土壤全盐、总盐、电导率,可称为土壤盐分因子;第二主成分负荷值最高的分别为土壤有效氮、有机质和pH值,可称为保肥、供肥因子。DCA排序结果表明,沿着DCA第一轴,随着海拔逐渐降低,土壤有机质、有效氮和有效钾等土壤养分的含量逐渐下降,而pH值和电导率逐渐上升;沿着DCA第二轴,随着海拔逐渐降低,土壤总盐和全盐含量逐渐增加,而土壤有效磷含量却逐渐降低。由此可知,犁河谷山地北坡植物群落多样性的垂直分布格局是由海拔为主的多种环境因子综合作用的结果,而土壤养分和盐分随海拔的变化与植被带不尽一致,可能它们之间的同步变化存在一定的滞后期。     

人工植被重建对沙化高寒草地土壤真菌群落特征的影响

采用实时荧光定量PCR(Quantitative real-time PCR)和Illumina Miseq高通量测序技术研究了天然草地（NG）、沙化草地（DG）、草本人工草地（AG）和人工灌丛植被（AS）四种不同草地类型的表层（0～10 cm）土壤真菌群落的生物量、多样性和结构,以揭示不同人工植被恢复措施对沙化高寒草地土壤真菌群落恢复的影响及其驱动因子。结果表明：1）草地沙化显著（P<0.05）降低了真菌群落的生物量和α多样性,人工植被重建则明显促进了二者的恢复,22年后与NG无显著差异。2）草地沙化和人工植被重建均极显著（P=0.001）改变了真菌群落结构。草地沙化后,担子菌门相对丰度显著（P<0.05）下降,一些稀有真菌趋于消失,而未分类真菌门的相对丰度则显著（P<0.01）增加。经过22年的生态恢复,绝大多数真菌门的相对丰度与NG无显著差异;AG与NG的真菌群落结构比AS与NG更为相似。3）真菌群落α多样性与植被和土壤属性之间的相关关系因多样性指数的不同而异,而其群落结构与大多数植被和土壤属性极显著（P<0.01）正相关,植被和土壤属性二者结合解释了21...     

中亚热带森林土壤有机碳的海拔梯度变化

气候过渡区的山地森林土壤有机碳对气候波动的响应敏感,探讨气候过渡区森林土壤有机碳的海拔格局,是推演区域土壤碳库时空动态的关键内容。在南亚热带向中亚热带的气候过渡区江西九连山国家级自然保护区,根据不同土壤类型的海拔分布格局,沿海拔采集20个土壤剖面,分析土壤有机碳含量和土壤碳密度的海拔分布格局。结果表明：（1）不同土壤类型和深度均对土壤有机碳含量有影响,山地草甸土有机碳含量更高,有39.72 ± 19.14 g·kg-1,土壤有机碳主要集中在0 ~ 40 cm,深度分布表现出“表聚现象”;（2）不同层次土壤有机碳含量对海拔的响应方式不一,上层土壤对海拔梯度变化响应更敏感,上层0 ~ 40 cm土壤有机碳随海拔升高而增加,下层40 ~ 100 cm土壤有机碳含量随海拔升高而降低;（3）土壤碳密度为10.64 ± 0.72 kg·m-2,但不同海拔的土壤碳密度无显著差异。海拔对土壤有机碳含量分布产生影响,但随着土层深度增加,海拔对土壤有机碳含量的影响变小;而海拔对土壤有机碳密度格局无显著影响,并依此估算九连山自然国家级自然保护区森林土壤有机碳储量为1.426 ± 0.096 Pg。     

冬小麦免耕覆盖与有机栽培对土壤微生物群落组成的影响

为揭示农业管理活动对土壤微生物群落结构及AM真菌多样性的影响,以农田土壤生态系统为研究对象,选取免耕覆盖+施有机肥（NF）、免耕覆盖+不施有机肥（NC）、传统耕作不覆盖+施有机肥（TF）和传统耕作不覆盖+不施有机肥（TC）4种处理,采用Illumina Miseq高通量测序及磷脂脂肪酸（phospholipid fatty acids,PLFAs）分析方法,研究持续冬小麦免耕覆盖有机栽培3年后,土壤微生物群落结构组成、AM真菌及其多样性与土壤环境因子间的关系。结果表明,持续免耕覆盖有机栽培能增加以PLFA表征的土壤微生物群落的生物量,传统耕作显著提高了土壤革兰氏阳性菌（G⁺）、阴性菌（G^-）的生物量（P<0.05）。且随免耕栽培管理年限增加,土壤AM真菌生物量呈显著上升趋势;以16：1ω5c中性脂（NLFA）与16：1ω5c磷脂（PLFA）表征的AM真菌生物量比值显著升高（P<0.05）。免耕覆盖措施下,有机肥的施用提高了土壤AM真菌丰富度指数（Chao1指数和ACE指数）,但降低了土壤AM真菌的多样性（香农指数、辛普森指数）。主成分分析结果显示,AM真菌孢子（16：1ω5c中性脂）的生物量与土壤有机质、土壤易提取球囊霉素含量呈正相关关系,AM真菌丰富度指数与土壤有机质含量呈正相关,AM真菌多样性指数与土壤全氮含量、脲酶活性呈正相关。受农业管理措施导致的土壤理化性状及土壤生物学差异等综合因素影响,土壤微生物生物量及AM真菌多样性和丰富度改变。免耕覆盖措施提高了土壤AM真菌多样性指数,有机肥施用显著影响了AM真菌NLFA/PLFA生物量的比例,改变了AM真菌孢子和菌丝间生物量碳的分配关系。     

黄土高原油松根际土壤酶活性及真菌群落多样性研究——以黄龙山林场为例

为了解黄土高原油松林根际土壤酶活性和真菌群落多样性,本研究分析了陕西黄龙县不同样区油松根际土壤脲酶、碱性磷酸酶、多酚氧化酶和过氧化氢酶活性,并采用巢式PCR-变性梯度凝胶电泳(PCR-DGGE)技术研究了油松根际土壤中真菌群落多样性。结果表明,该地区油松根际真菌群落相似性较高,但受坡向、海拔、土壤水分及人类扰动等诸多因素的影响,不同样区的真菌群落多样性和土壤酶活性存在差异。油松根际各土壤酶活性均表现出坡顶样地高于坡底样地,阴面样地高于阳面样地,林区路旁样地由于采样环境不同于林中样地,酶活性介于其他样地之间;丰富度(S)、Shannon-Wiener指数(H)、Simpson指数(D)、均匀度指数(EH)分析表明,该区域油松根际土壤真菌群落多样性分布特征与酶活性分布特征相一致。相关性分析表明,除过氧化氢酶外,其余酶活性之间、以及与真菌多样性均呈显著正相关(p0.05);土壤含水量与真菌多样性和土壤酶活性除多酚氧化酶外均呈显著正相关(p0.05);而土壤p H与各种酶活性之间均未达显著相关水平(p0.05)。土壤含水量是影响该地区真菌群落多样性与土壤酶活性主要因素之一。     

铜、锌污染梯度对自然林地和农田土壤线虫群落的影响

为从污染程度的角度探索土壤线虫多样性与群落稳定性的关系,本研究以重金属铜和锌为扰动因子,设置不同程度的胁迫水平,通过恒温培养试验对比了高生物多样性的自然林地和低生物多样性的农田土壤线虫群落对重金属胁迫的响应。结果表明：自然林地土壤线虫数量随Cu和Zn的添加浓度升高而降低;而农田土壤线虫总数呈现低浓度扰动条件下降低,中、高浓度又反弹的现象。占绝对优势的食细菌线虫数量变化规律与线虫总数相近;自然林地中捕食杂食性线虫仅在添加高浓度Zn处理有所减少,而在农田土壤中,中、高浓度Cu,以及低浓度Zn处理均呈现出显著的抑制效应。重金属梯度对自然林地线虫多样性无显著影响,但是降低了农田线虫的香农指数,提高了优势度。总体上,Cu和Zn扰动对自然林地线虫影响主要表现在数量上,而对农田线虫的影响更多体现在群落结构、多样性和生态指数上。从污染程度以及生物群落结构的角度来看,高多样性的自然林地线虫群落对Cu和Zn污染的抵抗力更强。     

攀枝花干热河谷区不同海拔高度农田土壤nirS型反硝化细菌的群落结构分析

  目的  探明攀枝花干热河谷地区不同海拔高度农田土壤的反硝化细菌群落结构和丰度特征。  方法  以攀枝花干热河谷地区1600 m、1800 m和2000 m三个海拔高度的农田土壤为研究材料,通过末端限制性片段长度多态性（T-RFLP）技术分析不同海拔高度农田土壤的nirS型反硝化细菌群落结构和丰度。  结果  不同海拔梯度农田土壤pH均小于7,土壤有机碳、全氮、速效钾和铵态氮的含量随海拔升高而降低,碱解氮、有效磷和硝态氮含量随海拔升高先增加后降低;群落结构丰富度随海拔增加呈上升趋势,而香侬指数和均匀度呈现出先上升后下降的趋势;T-RFLP分析结果显示,35 bp的T-RFs相对丰度最大,随海拔增加而减少,其次是40 bp的T-RFs,随海拔增加而增加;系统发育分析显示,β-变形菌门为该区域优势反硝化细菌;冗余分析结果显示,土壤硝态氮和有效磷是驱动该区域土壤nirS型反硝化细菌群落组成的主要因子。  结论  攀枝花干热河谷区不同海拔高度农田土壤中的nirS型反硝化细菌群落结构变化明显 (P < 0.05),且受土壤硝态氮和有效磷显著影响(P < 0.05)。研究结果可为深入认识干热河谷地区农田土壤反硝化细菌对海拔高度的响应机制提供理论依据。     

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。     

Biodiversity and ecogeography of wild Lactuca spp. in some European countries

Staff members of the Department of Botany of Palacký University in Olomouc and Gene Bank Department – Workplace Olomouc, Research Institute of Crop Production in Prague, Czech Republic, conducted an expedition in seven European countries (Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland) in August/September 1999 to collect wild Lactuca spp. germplasm and study its geographic distribution, ecology and biodiversity. During the mission, more than 600 locations were visited resulting in the collection of 602 seed samples (accessions) of wild Lactuca species and 13 seed samples of related genera (Chondrilla and Mycelis). Lactuca serriola f. serriola, L. serriola f. integrifolia, L. saligna and L. viminea subsp. chondrilliflora were prevalent in southern Europe (Italy, France), however, only L. serriola was common in central and western Europe (Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands, Switzerland). The greatest diversity of Lactuca species was found in France, where also the most seed samples (165) were collected. The most characteristic habitats with a high density of Lactuca spp. populations were observed along roads and highways, grassy ditches, ruderal communities, and dust-heaps. Natural infections by powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum) and downy mildew (Bremia lactucae) on some wild Lactuca spp. were observed. Recent observations concerning the geographic distribution, population structure, habitats, and natural occurrence of diseases of Lactuca spp. are discussed. This assemblage of genetic resources of Lactuca spp. can serve as the basis of future studies of species diversification, spatial population structure, plant microevolution, domestication processes, and genetic variability of host-parasite interactions.     

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.     

Properties of anaerobically digested and composted municipal solid waste assessed by linking soil mesofauna dynamics and nitrogen modelling

We have studied the effect of anaerobically digested (ADMSW) and composted municipal solid waste (CMSW) on mineralization and foodweb dynamics to verify the hypothesis that ADMSW would immobilize N right after addition to soil in contrast to addition with CMSW. Another hypothesis was that the mesofauna (enchytraeids and microarthropods) would stimulate N release from the decomposer community. We measured excretion of -N and urea-N from the mesofauna and hypothesized that enchytraeids would release urea. ADMSW and CMSW were amended to pots with sandy loam and barley. The pots were divided into treatments with or without mesofauna. Mesofauna, plant N and biomass, soil N and ergosterol (fungal biomass) were measured over a 113-day period of four equidistant samplings. Soil respiration, N mineralization and N release by the mesofauna were modelled from concurrent studies. ADMSW- and CMSW-treated soils initially (<20 days) immobilized N. The amendments did not increase plant growth substantially, and this was probably due to N-limitation in the early stages of plant growth. Enchytraeid abundance was about three times higher in ADMSW- than CMSW-treated soils, indicating that ADMSW contained more labile compounds, bacteria, and microfauna. The mesofauna did not affect N-content, but the cumulated -N excreted by the mesofauna was estimated to be substantial and about one-fifth of total plant N in ADMSW. An explanation for this discrepancy might be that in the absence of the mesofauna, other members of the detrivore and microbivore community performed the mesofauna’s function. Neither enchytraeids nor microarthropods excreted urea.     

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,     

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,     

Assessing the effectiveness of conservation measures: Resolving the “wicked” problem of the Steller sea lion

“Wicked” problems are those that are complex and that change when solutions are applied. Many conflicts in conservation fall into this category. The study approached the problem of how to constrain the apparent wickedness of a problem in the conservation management of a species by using simple empirical indicators to carry out iterative assessment of the risk to a population and to document how this risk evolves in relation to the addition of new data and the implementation of management actions. Effects of high levels of uncertainty within data and also concerning population structure were examined through stochastic simulation and by exploration of scenarios. Historical trends in the example used, the Steller sea lion, showed rapid declines in abundance in some regions during the 1980s. The current total population is 130,000-150,000 Steller sea lions through Alaska and British Columbia and this number has been stable since about 1990 in spite of regional differences in population dynamics. Regional differences in the sequence of changes in the number of pups and non-pups, suggested that an internal re-distribution of juveniles could have happened between 1980 and 1990. Current productivity also appears close to the long-term mean. Stochastic population projection using various scenarios showed that, based upon this history, the risk of extinction for the population has declined and is below reasonable thresholds for considering the population to be endangered. The trends in risk suggest that management actions taken since 1990 have probably been effective. Consequently, the conservation management objectives for the Steller sea lion are probably being met. The approach provides a mechanism, based upon experience and scenario analysis, for exploring future policy options and may help to constrain the debate amongst stakeholders about the cost-benefit trade-offs associated with different options.     

Soil-profile distribution of primary and secondary plant-available nutrients under conventional and no tillage

Nutrient distributions under no tillage (NT) compared with conventional disk-and-bed tillage (CT) management in the warm, humid region of the southeastern USA need to be assessed so that future placement, quantity, and type of fertilizers can be altered, if necessary, to efficiently match crop demands. We determined soil-profile distributions of pH, N, P, S, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu to a depth of 0.9 m at the end of 8.5 years of continuous CT and NT management on a Weswood silty clay loam (fine, mixed, thermic Fluventic Ustochrept) in southcentral Texas. Most dramatic changes occurred within the 0–0.05 m depth, where soil under NT had lower pH, Fe, and Cu than under CT, but greater P, K, Zn, and Mn. Greater P and K under NT than under CT also occurred below the till-zone (0.15–0.3 m). At a depth of 0–0.3 m, soil under NT contained greater amounts of extractable P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu than under CT. Nitrogen fertilization had little effect on nutrient distributions, except resulting in greater extractable K at 0–0.05 m and greater nitrate at 0–0.15 m. Few changes in soil-profile distributions were observed for extractable S, Ca, Mg, and Na. Long-term continuous use of NT on this fine-textured, high-fertility (except for N) soil had no apparent adverse effects on nutrient distributions relative to CT, but enhanced conservation and availability of P, K, Zn, Fe, Mn, and Cu near the soil surface where crop roots proliferate.     

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.