Interpreting the temperature-induced response of ammonia oxidizing microorganisms in soil using nitrogen isotope fractionation

Purpose  

Although nitrification plays a key role in the fate of soil nitrogen (N) under global warming, little information is available for the nitrifiers’ response to changing temperatures. Nitrogen isotope fractionation associated with nitrification can be a proxy of nitrifiers’ sensitivity to changing temperature. We hypothesized that the temperature-induced balance between the transport of substrate NH₄⁺ into the microbial cell (supply) and the intracellular NH₄⁺ oxidation (consumption) governs the intracellular NH₄⁺ concentration and then affects nitrification rates and associated isotope fractionations. This study was conducted to understand the microbial response of NH₄⁺ oxidation to changing temperatures by examining the effect of changing temperature on nitrification rate and apparent isotope fractionation.     

Differential resistance of switchgrass <Emphasis Type="Italic">Panicum virgatum</Emphasis> L. lines to fall armyworms <Emphasis Type="Italic">Spodoptera frugiperda</Emphasis> (J. E. Smith)

Six cultivars of switchgrass Panicum virgatum L., a plant native to North America that has potential as a bioenergy source, were evaluated for resistance to feeding by the fall armyworm Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith). Although no mortality was noted, seedlings of the cultivar ‘Trailblazer’ and older plants of the cultivar ‘Blackwell’ were among the most resistant to feeding by S. frugiperda. Some field-collected samples from natural habitat were fed upon by S. frugiperda as readily as were the cultivars, while others caused high mortality after 2 days. Enzyme assays indicated relative differences in expression of two peroxidases thought to be involved in insect resistance in maize, but not in two chitinolytic enzymes. Genomic searches based on maize-sequence templates for the aforementioned genes identified homologs in switchgrass. Sequencing of cDNA coding for these genes identified some differences, especially in the cationic peroxidase, which could influence relative activity. These results indicate switchgrass germplasm has varying resistance to fall armyworms which could be a function of gene sequence diversity, as well as of variation in gene expression due to differences in ploidy levels or other factors.     

塔里木河干流耕地动态变化及其景观格局

基于3S(RS、GIS、GPS)技术,并结合数理统计和景观格局数量分析方法,运用2000年CBERS、2005年CBERS和2010年TM遥感影像对塔里木河干流10年耕地面积的时空变化、景观格局及其生态影响进行了定量研究.结果表明:(1)在过去10年中,塔河干流耕地面积明显增加.具体地,2000年耕地面积为1.61×105 hm2,所占研究区总面积比例为3.89％,至2010年增加至3.27×l05 hm2,比例为7.88％,年增长率为1.66×104 hm2 a-1;(2)塔里木河干流耕地空间变化的区域差异明显.A、B、C、D断面耕地分布宽幅分别为2l～23 km、ll～16 km、6～17 km、4～9 km,塔河北岸C、D断面和南岸D、E断面耕地的增速最快;(3)2000-2010年耕地的斑块数不断增加,面积加权形状指数增大,形状趋于不规则.景观聚集度适中,景观内斑块大小分布均匀性降低,景观多样性下降,各个景观类型所占比例趋于不协调.     

Soil pH controls nitrification and carbon substrate utilization more than urea or charcoal in some highly acidic soils

Understanding the mechanism and key controlling factors of nitrification in highly acidic soils is important from both ecological and environmental perspectives. Many acid soils are also characterized by vegetation that produces polyphenolic and terpene compounds that inhibit microbial activity. We investigated the potentially ameliorative effects of lime, charcoal, and urea additions on soil nitrification and carbon substrate utilization (using the MicroResp method). Four soils were studied from widely different environments but with similar pH and inputs of phytochemicals to determine the relative effects of these potentially controlling factors. The addition of charcoal had no significant effect on net nitrification, but charcoal significantly increased soil basal respiration and altered C substrate utilization in the two Scottish soils. Urea greatly increased nitrification in both the Chinese soils, but there was no effect of urea on nitrification in the two Scottish soils. Lime application increased nitrification in all the soils except for the Chinese mixed forest soil. Multivariate analysis of the C source utilization data revealed that lime altered C substrate utilization more than urea or charcoal in these highly acidic soils. Our results suggest that acid-tolerant nitrifiers do exist in these soils and have potential for high activity, and pH (lime addition) and N-substrate (urea) most often increased nitrification. However, no single factor controlled nitrification in every soil, suggesting an interaction between abiotic and nitrifier community composition as a result of land use and soil type interactions.     

N<Subscript>2</Subscript>-fixation along a gradient of long-term disturbance in tropical mangroves bordering the gulf of Mexico

Microbial processes are key elements in determining the productivity of mangroves, and reductions in these processes reflect the loss of microbial biodiversity and function due to fabricated disturbances. Because nitrogen is a major limiting nutrient for the productivity of these ecosystems, the goal of this study was to determine profiles of inorganic nitrogen combined with several environmental parameters, all in relation to the degree of long-term hydraulic impairment of a tropical, monospecific black mangrove (Avicennia germinans) forest that showed degradation ranging from total loss of mangrove cover to no disturbance. N₂-fixation, oxygen levels, and nitrite contents decreased significantly with the severity of the disturbance, and almost null levels were reached in the completely degraded zone, whereas salinity achieved very high values. Concomitantly, total N, ammonium, and P contents and ammonia volatilization increased significantly. Pore-water temperature and pH increased moderately. Other soil physical properties (sand, silt, clay, organic matter, and total C), which varied among the sampling sites, were not correlated with the level of disturbance. Principal component analyses, including environmental and biological parameters, suggested that the most significant finding was the considerable loss of N₂-fixation with increasing impairment, which was concomitant with significant increases in volatilization of ammonia and salinity. The results show that microbial N-cycling processes are highly sensitive to salinity and to man-made disturbances that modify the water level and flow.     

Fungal degradation of chlorpyrifos by <Emphasis Type="Italic">Acremonium</Emphasis> sp. strain (GFRC-1) isolated from a laboratory-enriched red agricultural soil

The organophosphorus insecticide, chlorpyrifos, has been widely applied in agriculture; in veterinary, against household pests; and in subterranean termite control. Due to its slow rate of degradation in soil, it can persist for extended periods in soil with a significant threat to environment and public health. The mixed and pure fungi were isolated from three soils by enrichment technique. The enriched mixed fungal cultures were capable of biodegrading chlorpyrifos (300 mg L⁻¹) when cultivated in Czapek Dox medium. The identified pure fungal strain, Acremonium sp., utilized chlorpyrifos as a source of carbon and nitrogen. The highest chlorpyrifos degradation (83.9%) by Acremonium sp. strain GFRC-1 was found when cultivated in the nutrient medium with full nutrients. Desdiethyl chlorpyrifos was detected as a major biodegradation product of chlorpyrifos. The isolated fungal strain will be used for developing bioremediation strategy for chlorpyrifos-polluted soils.     

The versatile,changing, and advancing roles of fish in sediment toxicity assessment—a review

Purpose  

Sediments serve as integral and dynamic parts of our aquatic systems. Within the last 15 to 20 years, however, the scientific community has begun noticing deterioration of sediment quality at an alarming rate worldwide. Sediments are now harboring hazardous pollutants that can directly influence water quality, thereby creating very stressful conditions for aquatic life. As a consequence, global efforts were initiated in the early 1970s, to find ways to assess sediment quality. Because of their obvious ecological and economic significance, fish have remained a major taxonomic group for appraising the general quality of aquatic systems. However, for sediment risk assessment, fish have lagged behind invertebrates due to their mobility and generally, pelagic lifestyle. To our knowledge, this is the first paper that comprehensively presents and reviews the versatile role of fish in assessing the state of health of aquatic sediments.     

盐胁迫下三角叶滨藜根系超滤特性的分析

对耐盐蔬菜三角叶滨藜(Atriplex triangularis)在盐胁迫下的蒸腾吸水量、Na+吸收和根系径向反射系数进行了测定,分析其根系超滤特性与植物耐盐性的关系。结果表明,随着盐胁迫强度的增加,三角叶滨藜的Na+吸收量逐渐增多、蒸腾吸水量和根系径向反射系数则逐渐降低;但以根外溶液盐浓度为基础的Na+相对吸收量却呈降低趋势,同时进入木质部的Na+的量也不随根的径向反射系数的减小而显著增多。说明三角叶滨藜在盐胁迫下一方面通过改变根系的超滤特性,降低根系径向反射系数来防止木质部拉力过大导致的木质部空化的危险,另一方面通过减少对盐分的吸收来避免盐分过多积累对植株的伤害。     

Distributions of soil phosphorus in China’s densely populated village landscapes

Purpose  

Village landscapes, which integrate small-scale agriculture with housing, forestry and a host of other land use practices, cover more than 2 × 10⁶ km² across China. Village lands tend to be managed at very fine spatial scales (≤30 m), with managers altering soil fertility and even terrain by terracing, irrigation, fertilizing, and other land use practices. Under these conditions, accumulation of excess phosphorous in soils has become important contributor to eutrophication of surface waters across China’s densely populated village landscapes. The aim of this study was to investigate relationships between fine-scale patterns of agricultural management and soil total phosphorus (STP) within China’s village landscapes.