Sedimentary characterization of Tagus estuarine beaches (Portugal)

Background, Aim and Scope  The distribution of sediments in estuarine beaches is controlled by the interactions between sediment supply, hydrodynamic processes and human intervention. The main purpose of this study is to characterize the sediments of Tagus estuarine beaches in order to understand their origin and to contribute to a better knowledge of the Tagus estuary sediment budget. Methods  Surface sediment samples were collected across beach profiles and sand grain size analysis was performed by dry sieving. Grain size statistics for the median (d₅₀) and standard deviation (SDM) were obtained using the Moment method. This study was complemented by a qualitative evaluation of the sediment composition. Cross-shore topographic surveys were conducted for selected sampling sites. Results  Tagus estuarine beach sediments are mainly composed of quartz sand particles which are fine-grained and well sorted near the mouth of the estuary and medium to coarse-grained and moderately sorted in the inner domain. Compositional results show evidence of active anthropogenic sediment sources, especially in the coarser fractions. Discussion  The analysis of the textural and compositional characteristics of beach sediments in the inner estuarine domain is compatible with local sedimentary sources, while a marine signature is present at the mouth and inlet channel sediments. In the inner domain, differences in the sedimentary processes are represented by the textural characteristics of the sediments, such as the sorting degree and the gravel content. Sediment characteristics also reflect human intervention in the system, with the introduction of anthropogenic and allochthonous particles and the mixture of sediments from different sources. Conclusions  The sediments of the inner Tagus estuarine beaches are derived from local Plio-Pleistocene outcrops while inlet and outer estuary beaches reveal a dominant marine source. Beach textural variability observed in the inner domain is not related to wave forcing gradients, but mainly to variations in the sedimentary processes along the estuarine margins and to human intervention. Results show that the Tagus estuarine beaches depended, almost exclusively, on sediment input from local sources until the last century. With increasing human occupation, sediment transfers became dominated by anthropogenically related activities mainly connected with the occupation of estuarine margins and dredging. Recommendations and Perspectives  Further studies should extend the present level of knowledge in what concerns sand transport patterns through additional compositional and geochemical analysis, and the development of new techniques in order to allow the quantitative evaluation of the impact of human activities on the sediment budget.     

Soil compaction and forest floor removal reduced microbial biomass and enzyme activities in a boreal aspen forest soil

Soil enzymes are linked to microbial functions and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems and are considered sensitive to soil disturbances. We investigated the effects of severe soil compaction and whole-tree harvesting plus forest floor removal (referred to as FFR below, compared with stem-only harvesting) on available N, microbial biomass C (MBC), microbial biomass N (MBN), and microbial biomass P (MBP), and dehydrogenase, protease, and phosphatase activities in the forest floor and 0–10 cm mineral soil in a boreal aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) forest soil near Dawson Creek, British Columbia, Canada. In the forest floor, no soil compaction effects were observed for any of the soil microbial or enzyme activity parameters measured. In the mineral soil, compaction reduced available N, MBP, and acid phosphatase by 53, 47, and 48%, respectively, when forest floor was intact, and protease and alkaline phosphatase activities by 28 and 27%, respectively, regardless of FFR. Forest floor removal reduced available P, MBC, MBN, and protease and alkaline phosphatase activities by 38, 46, 49, 25, and 45%, respectively, regardless of soil compaction, and available N, MBP, and acid phosphatase activity by 52, 50, and 39%, respectively, in the noncompacted soil. Neither soil compaction nor FFR affected dehydrogenase activities. Reductions in microbial biomass and protease and phosphatase activities after compaction and FFR likely led to the reduced N and P availabilities in the soil. Our results indicate that microbial biomass and enzyme activities were sensitive to soil compaction and FFR and that such disturbances had negative consequences for forest soil N and P cycling and fertility.     

Genetic characterization of a collection of chayote, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sechium edule</Emphasis> (Jacq.) Swartz,in Costa Rica by using isozyme markers

We established protocols for the analysis of genetic diversity in chayote (Sechium edule) by using isozyme markers, thereby determining the level of genetic diversity present in 42 accessions of chayote from Costa Rica. We obtained clear and reproducible zymograms for eight enzyme staining systems: PGM, 6-PGD, PGI, IDH, MDH, SOD, SKD, and EST, and were able to score 14 putative loci. Eight of the 14 loci examined were polymorphic. We found 35 distinct multilocus genotypes among these accessions. Five of these multilocus genotypes were homozygous for all loci. In addition, our data also revealed that most of the multilocus genotypes (24) were heterozygous for only one of the eight loci, and the rest were heterozygous for two or three loci (9 and 4 accessions, respectively). Seven multilocus genotypes were found in two different accessions. Dice similarity coefficient was used to study the relationship between accessions. This analysis, based on the presence and absence of alleles, revealed that accessions collected in the same location seldom shared the same multilocus genotype. The value of isozyme polymorphisms as tools to continue studies on the characterization of chayote is discussed.     

三江平原别拉洪河流域湿地农田化过程中湿地-农田景观梯度时空特征分析

湿地农田化过程是三江平原过去50年以来土地覆盖变化的主要特征,由于大面积的湿地被农田所替代,原有的自然生态环境遭到了严重破坏。本文选取三江平原别拉洪河流域作为研究对象,基于RS和GIS技术,集成地形图与遥感数据（MSS,TM,CBERS）,利用景观梯度分布分析模型,对1954-2005年期间湿地与农田景观梯度时空变化特征进行了分析。结果表明,1954年除西南部靠近松花江地区、浓江上游地区湿地景观分布较为稀疏外,其他地区都属高湿地景观梯度区。到2005年,除洪河自然保护区及靠近黑龙江和乌苏里江边缘地区外,研究区的大部分都成为耕地景观高梯度分布区。耕地景观和湿地景观梯度分布格局的变化揭示了研究区湿地农田化过程的空间规律性,即耕地逐年向东扩展的同时,湿地相应地向东北方向消退。     

Free and conjugated phytosterols in cured tobacco leaves: influence of genotype, growing region, and stalk position

Although phytosterols in tobacco leaves have specific effects on tobacco quality, there is little research on the distribution of free and conjugated phytosterols in various tobacco leaves. In this paper, we explored the content and composition of phytosterols in representative cured tobacco leaves by gas chromatography of TMS-ether derivatives. We found that phytosterol contents in tobacco leaves ranged from 1.0 to 2.5 mg/g of dried leaf tissue, depending on different types of tobacco leaves. The majority of phytosterols (75-85%) were conjugated as ester and glycosides, with only about 15-25% existing in the free form. Furthermore, the genetic variability gives rise to the significant differences among different tobacco types with phytosterol levels: the contents of phytosterols in tobacco leaves decreased in the order of flue-cured tobacco, Oriental tobacco, Burley tobacco, cigar tobacco, and Maryland tobacco. At the same time, the tobacco curing process leads to a difference in phytosterol existing-form distribution in some variation laws.     

长期不同施肥对土壤无机硫组分的影响

通过棕壤长期定位施肥试验研究了玉米-玉米-大豆轮作方式下不同施肥处理对土壤无机硫各组分含量的影响,结果表明,长期施用有机肥或有机肥与化肥配合施用,可以显著提高土壤水溶性硫的含量;单施有机肥土壤中吸附态硫含量呈现先升高后降低的趋势,但总体为上升趋势;有机肥与化肥配合施用土壤中吸附态硫的含量在1991年前增长速率较快,此后基本保持平衡,而对照处理土壤中吸附态硫含量基本保持不变;各处理中除不施肥处理呈现缓慢下降趋势外,其他土壤盐酸可溶性硫的含量均持续增加。     

电渗析技术在大豆低聚糖溶液脱盐上的应用

从甜浆中提取的大豆低聚糖粗提液中含有很多的盐类,影响糖液的纯度。该试验通过离子交换膜辅助的电渗析法对大豆低聚糖模拟溶液进行脱盐处理,确定了较好的试验操作参数。试验结果表明:电渗析法对大豆低聚糖模拟液进行脱盐是可行的,且脱盐效果较好,脱盐率达到96.07%;该试验条件下较佳的工作电压为20 V,流量为60 L/h,样品稀释倍数为15倍。通过以上条件处理后,大豆低聚糖的保留率达到83.82%。     

Influence of non-cellulose structural carbohydrate composition on plant material decomposition in soil

The C mineralisation pattern during the early stage of decomposition of plant materials is largely determined by their content of different carbohydrates. This study investigated whether detailed plant analysis could provide a better prediction of C mineralisation during decomposition than proximate analysis [neutral detergent solution (NDF)/acid detergent solution (ADF)]. The detailed analysis included sugars, fructans, starch, pectin, cellulose, lignin and organic N. To determine whether differences in decomposition rate were related to differences in hemicellulose composition, the analysis particularly emphasised the concentrations of arabinose and xylose in hemicelluloses. Carbon dioxide evolution was monitored hourly in soil amended with ten different plant materials. Principal component and regression analysis showed that C mineralisation during day 1 was closely related to free sugars, fructans and soluble organic N components (R ² = 0.83). The sum of non-cellulose structural carbohydrates (intermediate NDF/ADF fraction) was not related to C mineralisation between days 1 and 9. In contrast, a model including starch and protein in addition to the non-cellulose structural carbohydrates, with the hemicelluloses replaced by arabinose and xylose, showed a strong relationship with evolved CO₂ (R ² = 0.87). Carbon mineralisation between days 9 and 34 was better explained by xylan, cellulose and lignin (R ² = 0.72) than by lignocellulose in the ADF fraction. Our results indicated that proximate analyses were not sufficient to explain differences in decomposition. To predict C mineralisation from the range of plant materials studied, we propose a minimum set of analyses comprising total N, free sugars, starch, arabinose, xylan, cellulose and lignin.     

烤烟烟叶卷曲症状的诊断及其机理研究 Ⅲ.施用商品有机肥、磷酸盐和硫酸盐诱导缺钙症状的土培试验

2004年在我国西南地区的新垦红壤山地建立了烟草基地,该基地的地理位置是N26°28′~29′,E101°51′~53′,开发总面积约为267hm2。2005年和2006年连续两年基地的烤烟都出现了大面积的烟叶呈‘倒勺子状’翻卷的症状,初步诊断是生理缺钙所致[1~3]。已有研究[2,3]从田间考察、对土壤和有机肥的检测、病株的组织分析以及水培试验等证明该症状是由于使用了一种含有过量磷酸根、硫酸根等阴离子的商品有机肥1号(是某肥料厂专门为该基地生产的一批有机肥)所诱发的,其机理是过量的磷酸根和硫酸根与根际土壤中本来就不富裕的有效钙反应形成磷酸钙沉淀和难溶性的硫酸钙,使烟株难以吸收足够的钙而诱发缺