Simulating site-specific impacts of climate change on soil erosion and surface hydrology in southern Loess Plateau of China

Proper spatial and temporal treatments of climate change scenarios projected by General Circulation Models (GCMs) are critical to accurate assessment of climatic impacts on natural resources and ecosystems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the site-specific impacts of climate change on soil erosion and surface hydrology at the Changwu station of Shaanxi, China using a new spatiotemporal downscaling method. The Water Erosion Prediction Project (WEPP) model and climate change scenarios projected by the U.K. Hadley Centre's GCM (HadCM3) under the A2, B2, and GGa emissions scenarios were used in this study. The monthly precipitation and temperature projections were downloaded for the periods of 1900–1999 and 2010–2039 for the grid box containing the Changwu station. Univariate transfer functions were derived by matching probability distributions between station-measured and GCM-projected monthly precipitation and temperature for the 1950–1999 period. The derived functions were used to spatially downscale the GCM monthly projections of 2010–2039 in the grid box to the Changwu station. The downscaled monthly data were further disaggregated to daily weather series using a stochastic weather generator (CLIGEN). The HadCM3 projected that average annual precipitation during 2010–2039 would increase by 4 to 18% at Changwu and that frequency and intensity of large storms would also increase. Under the conventional tillage, simulated percent increases during 2010–2039, compared with the present climate, would be 49–112% for runoff and 31–167% for soil loss. However, simulated soil losses under the conservation tillage during 2010–2039 would be reduced by 39–51% compared with those under the conventional tillage in the present climate. The considerable reduction in soil loss in the conservation tillage indicates the importance of adopting conservation tillage in the region to control soil erosion under climate change.     

Linking habitat suitability and seed dispersal models in order to analyse the effectiveness of hydrological fen restoration strategies

The effectiveness of measures targeted at the restoration of populations of endangered species in anthropogenically dominated regions is often limited by a combination of insufficient restoration of habitat quality and dispersal failure. Therefore, the joint prediction of suitable habitat and seed dispersal in dependency of management actions is required for effective nature management. Here we demonstrate an approach, which links a habitat suitability and a seed dispersal model. The linked model describes potential species distribution as a function of current species distribution, species-specific dispersal traits, the number of successful dispersal events, dispersal infrastructure and habitat configuration. The last two variables were related to water management actions. We demonstrate the applicability of the model in a strategy analysis of hydrological restoration measures for a large fen area in which still numerous endangered plant species grow.With the aid of the linked model, we were able to optimise the spatial planning of restoration measures, taking into account both the constraints of water management practices on abiotic restoration and the effects of habitat fragmentation on dispersal. Moreover, we could demonstrate that stand-alone habitat suitability models, which assume unlimited dispersal, may considerably overestimate restoration prospects. For these reasons, we conclude that linked habitat suitability and dispersal models can provide useful insights into spatially differentiated potentials and constraints of nature restoration measures targeted at the sustainable conservation of endangered plant populations whose habitats have been deteriorated due to undesirable effects of land and water management on abiotic conditions. These insights may contribute to the design of cost-effective nature restoration and conservation measures.     

Integrated evaluation of different electromagnetic impacts on biological properties of soils in southern Russia

An integral estimation of the effect of γ radiation at doses of 1, 5, 10, and 20 kGy, microwave radiation of 800 W, and an alternating magnetic field of industrial frequency (50 Hz) on biological properties of soils in southern Russia was performed on the basis of the integral index of the biological soil status (IIBSS). By the degree of resistance to an alternating magnetic field estimated from the IIBSS value, the soils of southern Russia formed the following series: brown forest soil > chernozem ≥ soddy-calcareous soil ≥ gray sandy soil. By the resistance to microwave radiation estimated from the IIBSS value, the soils formed the following series: gray sandy soil > chernozem > chestnut soil ≥ brown forest soil.     

Solute movement in an intact soil core under different ponding heights

Contaminant transport to groundwater systems through the unsaturated zone follows, in most cases, preferential pathways. The understanding and assessment of this preferential flow mechanism is important to the prevention and solution of resulting problems. A column study was carried out where a NaCl-tracer solution (33 to 37 mmohs/cm of conductivity) was passed through an intact soil core under saturated conditions and three different ponding heights ranging from 5 to 30 mm. Outflow rates varied from 13 to 103 ml/min during the three tests performed. A subsequent dye tracing and slicing of the soil column was performed. Electrical conductivity measurements assessed indirectly the chloride content of the water outflow. Breakthrough curves (BTCs) showed short threshold times (less than 20% pore volume time) and asymmetry with respect to the point defined by C/Co = 0.5 and pore volume time. The BTCs successfully represent the flow measurements through the soil column, this fact is supported by the subsequent horizontal slicing (5 cm thick) of the intact core.     

耕作方式对Brookston粘壤土团聚体中有机碳分布及矿化的影响

以加拿大安大略省西南部的Brookston粘壤土为研究对象,测定免耕(NT)、秋翻(MP)和牧草连作(BG)管理下特定团聚体(0.25～0.5 mm,1～2 mm)中土壤有机碳(SOC)的分布与动态变化.探索耕作方式对团聚体中SOC数量与稳定性的影响.结果表明:与MP和NT土壤相比,BG土壤团聚体SOC含量较高,且较为活跃;与MP相比,NT方式下团聚体的SOC含量较高,且随着团聚体粒径增大SOC含量增加; NT方式下团聚体中的SOC更加活跃;两种团聚体中SOC的稳定性随耕作方式变化而不同,长期NT下没有显著差别,长期MP下1～2mm团聚体较0.25～0.5 mm团聚体稳定.     

Using composted wheat residue as a growth medium in culture of tomato

A greenhouse experiment was carried out to investigate the effects of different growing media on some properties of tomato (Lycopersicom esculentum L. cv. Falcato). Four growing media including wheat residue, composted wheat residue, coco peat + perlite, and coco peat + soil were applied in pot experiment with completely randomized design with three replications. The results showed that fruit yield, chlorophyll, and vitamin C contents of tomatoes grown in the composted wheat residue and coco peat + perlite treatments were significantly greater than the other growth media. Fresh weight of root and inflorescence were higher in the tomatoes cultivated in the composted wheat residue pots than the other media. Higher internode length and nutrient concentrations in leaf and fruit at the coco peat + perlite treatment were obtained as compared to the other growth media treatments. According to the results, it can be concluded that the coco peat + perlite can be substituted for by composted wheat residue for the cultivation of tomato.     

Magnetospheric dayside cusp: a topside view of its 6300-angstrom atomic oxygen emission

An interference filter photometer on the ISIS-1l spacecraft generates global maps of the atomic oxygen emission at 6300 angstroms from the ionosphere. The most prominent feature observed is a band of permanent red aurora on the dayside of the earth, centered on magnetic noon at about 78 degrees magnetic (invariant) latitude, brighter than the quiet-time nightside aurora.     

Drag reduction by formation movement in spiny lobsters

Movements of spiny lobsters (Panulirus argus) in formation reduce drag during locomotion; such movement is of particular significance during mass migration. Queues (single-file lines) of spiny lobsters sustain less drag per individual than do individual lobsters moving at the same speed. It is proposed that queuing behavior conserves energy and is a consequence of the evolutionary role of migration in this particular species.     

Developmental neuroethology: changes in escape and defensive behavior during growth of the lobster

The changes in relative efficacy of two incompatible behaviors was investigated during growth of the lobster, Homarus americanus. In larval and early juvenile stages, physiological and morphological factors favor use of the escape response over defensive behavior. In large animals, defensive behavior is preferred almost exclusively to escape behavior unless the claws are lost. The interaction of escape and defensive behavior is modified by neural and morphological factors, which are dependent on the stage in the life cycle of the organism.     

Ellipsosomes: organelles containing a cytochrome-like pigment in the retinal cones of certain fishes

Ellipsosomes are dense spherical bodies containing a very large concentration of a heme pigment spectroscopically resembling pure cytochrome c. They are located at the outer ends of the inner segments of the cones of certain fishes. Although, superficially, they resemble the similarly located oil droplets in the cones of birds and reptiles, their ultrastructure and staining properties resemble those of the neighboring mitochondria. However, like the oil droplets, they may serve as intracellular color filters.