江苏省沿海地区土地利用变化及其生态效应

[目的]分析江苏沿海地区的土地利用类型和空间变化,探讨江苏沿海地区土地利用变化产生的生态效应,为土地利用规划提供理论支持。[方法]以江苏沿海地区1990,2000和2010年3期土地利用类型数据为基础,借助GIS技术和Costanza等的生态服务价值计算模型,求取土地利用动态度、综合程度指数、质心变化和生态服务价值量等,并进行剖析。[结果]1990—2010年,研究区内耕地、林地和草地的面积减少,水域、城乡建设用地和未利用地的面积增加。城乡建设用地的扩张占用了耕地,对耕地的补充主要是草地,草地、未利用地和城乡建设用地在空间位置上变化较大。耕地、林地和草地面积的减少使得研究区生态服务价值降低,而水域的面积的增加带来的生态效益弥补了因上述用地类型面积减少造成的损失。[结论]1990—2010年研究区生态服务价值增加了24.34亿元,但从空间上来看,生态增值区分布范围小,主要集中在盐城的东部沿海,而生态减值区分布范围较广且有扩大的趋势,有待通过规划等措施强化土地利用变化的综合调控。     

东南沿海土地利用转型的生态服务价值研究——以甬江流域为例

[目的]通过分析流域的土地利用变化对流域内各个自然过程生态服务价值的影响,为流域土地资源的合理利用和流域生态安全保护提供科学依据。[方法]基于土地利用转型变化,分析1980—2015年人类活动影响下的甬江流域土地利用变化及其生态服务价值变化。[结果]①甬江流域土地利用变化以耕地的减少与建设用地的增加为主要特点,且土地利用程度不断上升。土地利用类型之间发生复杂的相互转化,转移面积最大的是耕地转向建设用地。②35 a间,甬江流域土地综合利用动态度为0.42%。建设用地土地利用单一动态度最大,耕地面积减小幅度最大。③甬江流域生态服务在时间层面上,总价值先增大后减小,在1995年之前不断增加,但在之后不断减少。④在空间层面上总体呈现出由西南向东北逐渐变低的趋势。[结论]甬江流域土地利用转型剧烈,土地利用的快速变化加剧了生态系统功能退化。     

西藏尼洋河流域土地利用变化对生态敏感性的影响

[目的]以西藏尼洋河流域作为高原生态脆弱区的典型代表,对流域1995—2020年土地利用变化影响下的生态敏感性进行探索分析,为该流域土地利用规划和生态环境保护提供理论依据。[方法]通过计算流域土地利用强度指数和生态系统服务价值,构建土地利用变化下的生态敏感性指数,基于土地利用强度指数和生态系统服务价值在各子流域内的时空变化,利用GIS空间分析技术获得尼洋河流域生态敏感性空间分布状况。[结果] 1995—2020年尼洋河流域林地和建筑用地面积呈增加的趋势,而未利用地和水域面积呈下降趋势;土地利用强度指数由1.725 5上升到1.725 9,土地利用生态系统服务价值减少了约3 000万元。土地利用强度指数上升的区域分布在下游流域;流域生态敏感性指数由0.3增加到9.4,流域中、高敏感区主要分布在中下游流域,且高敏感区面积呈扩增趋势。[结论]流域内区域生态敏感性变化由土地利用类型间的转移流动的方向所决定。总体而言,近25 a来流域生态敏感性对生态系统中土地利用变化的响应较为明显,中下游区域生态敏感性呈恶化的趋势。     

基于土地利用变化的安徽省生态服务价值研究

[目的]揭示安徽省生态系统服务价值变化规律,为区域可持续发展提供依据。[方法]以安徽省3期的土地利用数据为基础,根据研究区不同土地利用类型的单位面积生态服务价值和各土地利用类型面积分别分析了研究区内2000—2010年不同时段的生态系统服务价值、不同土地利用类型生态服务价值变化的贡献率以及不同年份各单项功能生态服务价值。[结果]研究区林地和耕地是主要的土地利用类型,其次是建设用地和未利用土地;2000,2005,2010年生态服务总价值量分别为:532.31,537.59和531.35亿元;土地利用类型的贡献度从大到小依次为:林地耕地水域草地未利用地建设用地;林地和建设用地是生态系统服务价值变化贡献率最大的土地利用类型;9个单项生态服务价值从大到小依次为:维持生物多样性保持土壤气候调节气体调节原材料生产提供美学景观食物生产废物处理水文调节。[结论]研究区内的生态服务价值呈现相对稳定态势,其中林地对生态服务总价值的贡献最大,建设用地是生态服务总价值增长的主要牵制力。     

干旱区县域土地覆被变化特征及其生态环境效应——以内蒙古自治区翁牛特旗为例

[目的]研究翁牛特旗的土地利用变化特征及其生态环境效应,为该地区生态环境重建提供支持。[方法]选取2006及2015年8月Landsat卫星影像,通过ENVI 5.1提取出翁牛特旗土地利用数据,进而利用土地利用动态度、土地利用类型的空间转移矩阵,以及生物丰度指数、生态系统服务价值和敏感性指数,分别对翁牛特旗土地利用结构的时空演化特征和生态环境效应进行分析。[结果](1)翁牛特旗主要土地利用类型为耕地、林地、草地和沙地,近10a来该旗的土地利用变化呈现为耕地、草地、建设用地增加,林地、沙地和水体面积减少的态势。(2)10a间生物丰度指数从2006年的43.47下降为2015年的42.69,降低1.79%,表明区域的生物量减少,不利于生物多样性发展;生态系统服务总价值从2006年的102.31亿元下降至2015年的98.47亿元,减少了3.84亿元,下降了3.75%,生态环境基本维持着平衡,总体上呈现出微弱的退化。(3)各种土地利用类型的敏感性指数(CS)均小于1,表明研究区生态系统服务价值对于生态服务价值系数不敏感、缺乏弹性。[结论]研究区林地、水体面积的减少,建设用地面积的增加是生态系统服务总价值减少的主要原因。研究区土地利用变化引起的生态系统服务价值和生物丰度的减少,加剧了当地生态环境的脆弱性。     

2007-2015年东莞市土地利用及其生态系统服务价值的时空演变

[目的] 研究2007-2015年东莞市的土地利用和生态系统服务价值的时空变化情况，以反映土地利用变化产生的生态效应，为区域土地资源可持续利用和生态环境保护决策提供参考。[方法] 运用土地利用及生态系统服务价值相关理论与方法，利用遥感、地理信息技术，分析土地利用与生态系统服务价值的时空变化情况。[结果] ①2007-2015年间，东莞市建设用地占研究区总面积50%以上，且持续增加，增加的面积以耕地、林地的转入为主，水域和林地面积先增加后减少，耕地和草地面积不断缩小。②研究期内，生态系统服务价值整体呈现下降趋势，总价值减少1.97×10⁸元，林地、水域的生态系统服务价值系数较大，价值的损益变化大，2015年，林地和水域价值共减少1.40×10⁸元。③从空间分布看，东莞市的生态系统服务价值以中部地区为中心，向东西延伸，形成了"高-低-高"的空间分布格局，主城区是整个东莞市生态系统服务价值的低值中心。[结论] 研究时段内，东莞市土地利用变化显著，生态系统服务价值整体下降，生态系统服务价值在空间上呈现出异质性，分布不均衡。     

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。     

资源型城市土地利用变化对生态系统服务价值的影响——以安徽省淮南市为例

[目的]以安徽省淮南市为例,探讨资源型城市土地利用变化对生态系统服务价值的影响,为该市生态、经济、生态环境保护以及今后进行城市开发建设和农业发展提供科学参考。[方法]基于土地利用变化和生态系统服务价值评估的相关理论和方法,运用GIS软件,分析淮南市2000和2010年土地利用变化,并计算淮南市生态系统服务价值,研究土地利用变化对生态系统服务价值的影响。[结果]2000—2010年淮南市土地利用变化较大,主要土地类型以耕地、居民地及工矿用地和水域为主。土地利用结构发生变化,出现耕地、林地减少,水域、居民地及工矿用地、草地增加的现象。研究区生态系统服务价值总量呈减少的趋势,从2000年的11.72亿元减少到2010年的11.33亿元,减幅达3.33%。单位面积生态系统服务价值的分布变化也与研究区土地利用变化紧密相关,居民地及工矿用地的增加是造成生态系统服务价值减少的最主要原因。生态系统服务价值对生态价值系数的敏感性指数均小于1,说明研究区内的生态系统服务价值缺乏弹性,研究结果是可信的。[结论]淮南市应高度重视土地利用变化对生态系统服务价值的影响,优化调整土地利用结构,注重增加生态用地,稳步提升区域生态系统服务价值。     

基于土地利用变化的湄洲岛生态系统服务价值时空变化分析

[目的] 以“文化型”“朝圣型”“旅游型”海岛—湄洲岛为研究对象,分析2000—2020年海岛开发建设过程生态系统服务价值(ESV)的时空变化特征,为制定湄洲岛旅游区土地利用规划和生态建设提供科学参考。 [方法] 以覆盖湄洲岛的1985—2020年全球30 m精细地表覆盖动态监测数据为数据源,采用ArcGIS技术提取研究区2000,2005,2010,2015和2020年5期土地利用数据,通过土地动态度、土地利用转移矩阵和生态贡献率分析20 a间湄洲岛土地利用变化特征,并结合当量因子法估算湄洲岛生态系统服务价值(ESV)。 [结果] ①2000—2020年,湄洲岛土地利用类型以建设用地和耕地为主,面积变化上主要表现为建设用地和湿地面积的增长,耕地和林地面积的减少;土地利用转移以林地—耕地—建设用地—水域之间的相互流转和建设用地对耕地和林地的侵占为主; ②研究期限内湄洲岛ESV大幅下降,20 a内减少了1 252.69万元,林地和耕地是湄洲岛ESV的主要贡献因子,湿地和水域面积增加是ESV增加的主要影响因素; ③ 各单项生态系统服务价值主要表现为：调节服务＞支持服务＞供给服务＞文化服务; ④ESV空间分布呈中间低、四周高的特征,高值区与域内森林覆盖率高的区域高度重叠,低值区主要分布在建设用地。[结论] 林地和耕地是湄洲岛ESV的主要贡献因子,调节服务对湄洲岛生态系统服务价值量贡献最高。因此在开发建设过程中应提高建设用地利用效率,加强对耕地和林地保护。     

黄河下游地区土地利用和生态系统服务价值的时空演变

基于黄河下游地区1990—2015年土地利用分类数据,运用土地利用变化动态度、土地利用转移矩阵,探究不同土地利用类型的变化程度及转移情况,运用当量因子法、热点分析、重心模型、地理探测器探究黄河下游地区县域尺度生态系统服务价值的时空演变及其空间分异。结果表明:1)耕地、草地、未利用地面积逐渐减少,建设用地面积增加,耕地是建设用地面积增加的主要贡献者,建设用地扩张存在侵占耕地的现象。2)从时间尺度看,地区生态系统服务价值逐年减少;从空间尺度看,县域尺度的高值区逐渐减少,低值区逐渐增加;从地均生态系统服务价值的变化率来看,大部分县区的地均生态系统服务价值呈现持续降低趋势。3)地均生态系统服务价值的高值区与低值区空间集聚程度明显,但有逐渐弱化的趋势;生态系统服务价值的重心始终分布在山东省郓城县,重心迁移与两地区之间生态系统服务价值变化差值有关。4)黄河下游地区县域尺度地均生态系统服务价值空间分异受自然因素和社会经济因素共同作用的影响,是不同驱动因子共同作用的结果,其中人为综合影响指数对区域生态系统服务空间分异的影响最大。     

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.