Scaling patterns of biomass and soil properties: an empirical analysis

We argue that studies at multiple scales must necessarilychange the extent of measurements, not just the spacing, in order toeffectivelycapture information regarding processes at multiple scales. We have implementeda multi-scale sampling scheme using transects of 10 cm, 1m, 10 m, 100 m, and 1 km ateach of four sites along an elevational gradient from dry foothills forest toalpine tundra in the Front Range of Colorado; these four sites form anadditional transect of 22 km. Along each of these transects wetookten equally spaced soil cores and measured variables important in determiningboth microbial and plant community structure: soil water content, organicmattercontent, pH, and total soil biomass. With this sampling scheme we are able totreat scale as an independent variable in our analyses, and our data show thatboth particular sites and particular variables can determine whether estimatesof mean values are scale-dependent or not. A geostatistical analysis using allof our data shows common relationships between scales across ecologicallydiverse sites; biomass shows the most complex pattern of distribution acrossscales, as measured by fractal dimension. Our analyses also reveal theinadequacy of several standard geostatistical models when applied to data frommultiple scales of measurement – we recommend the use of the boundedpowerlaw model in such cases. We hypothesize that because biological communitiesmustrespond simultaneously to multiple variables with differing patterns of spatialvariation, the spatial variation of biological communities will be at least ascomplex as the most complex environmental variable at any given site.This revised version was published online in May 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

石羊河流域年径流序列的变异诊断

采用重新标度极差分析法(R/S分析方法),对石羊河流域8条河流的年径流序列进行了变异诊断,计算了变异前后序列均值和年径流随时间的变化关系。结果表明,石羊河流域8条河流的年径流序列已发生了变异,变异年份分别为:杂木河1989年,西营河1989年,金塔河1973年,黄羊河1982年,古浪河1984年,大靖河1959年,东大河1967年,西大河1960年。经回归分析表明,对这些变异年份的诊断是合理的。     

贵港地区气温日较差特征分析

[目的]分析1960～2009年贵港地区气温日较差的演变趋势。[方法]利用贵港地区1960～2009年来具有连续完整记录的3个气象台站的平均气温、日最高和最低气温等资料,对该地区气温日较差变化特征进行了分析,研究该地区气温日较差的演变趋势。[结果]年最低气温、最高气温均呈明显上升趋势,最高气温上升幅度小于最低气温,气温日较差呈减小趋势;夏秋季气温日较差大于冬春季,各月变化呈单峰单谷型;气温日较差空间变化倾向值形成以北回归线为中心向两侧逐渐减小趋势;远离北回归线的台站极端日较差减小幅度最大,显著性强;靠近北回归线的台站极端日较差减小幅度较小,甚至呈弱增加趋势,但显著性水平不高。不同因子对日较差影响不同,日照与日较差正相关显著,总云量、相对湿度和降水量与日较差负相关显著,而与平均风速相关性不显著。[结论]该研究为了解贵港地区气候变化规律提供依据。     

混合正交试验优化微波消解测定沉积物中重金属Pb

[目的]探讨土壤中重金属Pb消解的影响因素。[方法]利用二维平面吸光度等值线变化探讨区域范围内吸光度趋势变化,绘制Pb吸光度分布图,用Minitab 16软件对试验结果进行极差分析和方差分析。[结果]影响Pb消解因素主次排序为HF、HNO_3、HClO_4、燃气流量、HCl、助燃气流量、灯电流和燃烧器高度。优化试验表明,在土壤样品中加入9 mL HNO_3、5 mL HF、3 mL HClO_4经微波消解后,原子吸收分光光度计工作条件如下:Pb波长为217.0 nm,狭缝宽度为1.3 nm,燃烧器高度为4 nm,助燃气流量为2.4 L/min,灯电流为4.0 mA,燃气流量为4.0 L/min。在上述条件下,最优吸光度为0.302。[结论]研究结果可为精确测定土壤中各种重金属吸光度提供理论依据。     

Projecting the local impacts of climate change on a Central American montane avian community

Significant changes in the climates of Central America are expected over the next century. Lowland rainforests harbor high alpha diversity on local scales (<1 km²), yet montane landscapes often support higher beta diversity on 10-100 km² scales. Climate change will likely disrupt the altitudinal zonation of montane communities that produces such landscape diversity. Projections of biotic response to climate change have often used broad-scale modelling of geographical ranges, but understanding likely impacts on population viability is also necessary for anticipating local and global extinctions. We model species’ abundances and estimate range shifts for birds in the Tilarán Mountains of Costa Rica, asking whether projected changes in temperature and rainfall could be sufficient to imperil high-elevation endemics and whether these variables will likely impact communities similarly. We find that nearly half of 77 forest bird species can be expected to decline in the next century. Almost half of species projected to decline are endemic to Central America, and seven of eight species projected to become locally extinct are endemic to the highlands of Costa Rica and Panamá. Logistic-regression modelling of distributions and similarity in projections produced by temperature and rainfall models suggest that changes in both variables will be important. Although these projections are probably conservative because they do not explicitly incorporate biological or climate variable interactions, they provide a starting point for incorporating more realistic biological complexity into community-change models. Prudent conservation planning for tropical mountains should focus on regions with room for altitudinal reorganization of communities comprised of ecological specialists.     

Conservation priorities differ at opposing species borders of a European orchid

How populations from different regions within the distribution of a species contribute to the adaptive potential and survival of that species has important implications for formulating conservation actions. We test assumptions of concepts on geographic population structure (e.g. central-marginal concept and ‘rear edge versus leading edge’ model) that could be used to inform conservation of plant species under climatic changes. We analyze a comprehensive dataset of demographic traits (e.g. population size, flowering, δ¹³C of plant leaves) of up to 32 sites of Himantoglossum hircinum (L.) Spreng. (Orchidaceae) located within six sub-regions of its European distribution range. Soil and climate parameters are employed as environmental predictors of variation in measured population traits. Climate is the main driver of demographic variability overriding central-marginal gradients that might be present. Warming of the climate at high latitudes paves the way for northward range expansion of species. Populations at the north and north-eastern range peripheries partly show exponential population growth and high genetic diversity and are likely to be the source of immigrants for colonization of newly suitable habitats as the climate continues to change. In recent times, populations at the southern range periphery have suffered from intensification of land use and decreasing rainfall, but in the case of Southern Italy are important because they contain genetically unique traits. Populations at both, ‘leading’ and ‘rear’, edges ought to be at the focus of conservation planning. Different conservation strategies are proposed at opposing species borders taking into account spatial variation in population needs on a geographic scale, projected population response to expected environmental changes and genetic characteristics.     

Physical therapy assessment tools to evaluate disease progression and phenotype variability in Golden Retriever muscular dystrophy

Dogs suffering from Golden Retriever muscular dystrophy (GRMD) present symptoms that are similar to human patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Phenotypic variability is common in both cases and correlates with disease progression and response to therapy. Physical therapy assessment tools were used to study disease progression and assess phenotypic variability in dogs with GRMD. At 5 (T0), 9 (T1), 13 (T2) and 17 (T3) months of age, the physical features, joint ranges of motion (ROM), limb and thorax circumferences, weight and creatine kinase (CK) levels were assessed in 11 dogs with GRMD. Alterations of physical features were higher at 13 months, and different disease progression rates were observed. Passive ROM decreased until 1 year old, which was followed by a decline of elbow and tarsal ROM. Limb and thorax circumferences, which were corrected for body weight, decreased significantly between T0 and T3. These measurements can be used to evaluate disease progression in dogs with GRMD and to help discover new therapies for DMD patients.     

Impact of walking surface on the range of motion of equine distal limb joints for rehabilitation purposes

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of three footing surfaces on the flexion/extension, and range of motion (ROM) of the carpus, tarsus and fetlocks in the horse. The percentage of stride spent in the stance phase of sound horses at the walk was also measured. Nine sound horses were walked on hard ground (HD), soft ground (SF) and a land treadmill (LT), and five complete gait cycles were recorded by a digital video camera. Retro-reflective markers were placed on the skin at four anatomical locations on the left fore and hind limbs, and data were analyzed using two-dimensional (2D) motion-analysis software. Maximal flexion/extension angles and range of motion were calculated for each joint, and the percentage of the stride spent in stance phase was determined for each stride.Maximal flexion of the tarsus and hind fetlock was greater on LT and SF compared to HD, while maximal flexion of the carpus was greater on LT compared to HD and SF. Maximal extension of the carpus was greater on HD compared to SF and LT, maximal extension of the tarsus was greater on HD and SF compared to LT, and maximal extension of the forelimb and hind limb fetlocks was greater on LT compared to HD and SF. The greatest overall ROM of the carpus and fetlocks was achieved on LT, while the greatest overall ROM of the tarsus was achieved on SF. The stance percentage of the stride for the hind limb was significantly different between all surfaces. In conclusion, walking surface influences flexion/extension of the carpus, tarsus and fetlocks in healthy horses, which should be considered when walking equine rehabilitation cases.     

旋转式喷头射程的理论计算模型

基于空气动力学原理,研究了喷头水滴在空气中的运动模型,分析了喷灌水滴阻力特性参数及最大水滴直径与喷嘴直径、工作压力的关系,推导了考虑风速条件下的旋转式喷头射程的解析计算公式,并以无风条件下的试验值和文献中多种喷头射程实测值对模型进行了验证.结果表明所建模型物理背景清晰,模型中的参数与喷头的型号无关,适应性强,计算值与实测值的平均相对误差仅为8%,适用于其他类型喷头的射程计算.     

全射流喷头射程与喷洒均匀性影响因素分析与试验

对影响全射流喷头射程的因素(包括喷头工作压力、仰角、过流面积、喷头转速、步进频率、导管长度、信号嘴插拔深度等)分别进行了分析,探讨了各因素对射程影响规律,其中喷头工作压力、过流面积与喷头的射程成正比关系;喷头转速、步进频率与射程成反比关系;导管长度与信号嘴插拔深度对射程影响较小,主要改变步进频率和喷洒均匀性.对喷头工作压力、仰角、过流面积、导管长度和插拔深度5个因素进行正交试验,采用综合评分法对试验结果进行分析,并得到影响全射流喷头射程与喷洒均匀性的因素主次顺序为喷头工作压力、仰角、过流面积、信号嘴插拔深度、导管长度.