Growth response of Ficus benjamina to limited soil volume and soil dilution in a skeletal soil container study

The interactive effects of rooting volume and nutrient availability in a skeletal soil medium designed to meet street tree and pavement needs were observed in a containerized experiment. Benjamin fig (Ficus benjamina L.) was grown in a stone-soil blended skeletal soil material (CU-Soil™) and compared to a loam soil. The same topsoil used as the soil component in the skeletal soil material was used as the sole component in the comparison soil-only treatment.Plants grown in the skeletal soil material had reduced leaf tissue N content and depressed growth compared with plants grown in non-diluted soil. No other mineral deficiencies were found. Leaf number, chlorophyll concentration, shoot weight, and root characteristics were all affected.Reduced growth from soil dilution could be offset by the provision of an enlarged rooting volume for root development. Large containers of skeletal soil were observed to have smaller root systems compared to equivalent net volumes of loam soil at the first two harvest dates of the study. By the end of the study, the large containers of skeletal soil were observed to have developed larger root systems compared to equivalent net volumes of loam soil; resulting in comparable leaf N levels and total plant dry matter. Plants in skeletal soil had lower shoot: root ratios at the end of the study. Investing resources to further root growth in times of nutrient shortages is a probable plant reaction as evidenced by differences in specific root length between treatments. The study allowed a method for directly partitioning the containerization effect by having equivalent amounts of soil over two volumes.     

Carbon storage by urban tree cultivars, in roots and above-ground

Urban trees can favorably affect factors underlying global warming by storing carbon and by reducing energy needs for cooling and heating buildings. To estimate carbon stored in roots and above-ground portions of trees, data was collected consisting of whole tree sampling of Amelanchier, Malus, Pyrus, and Syringa cultivars. Roots were excavated using an Air-Spade^™. Regression analysis resulted in two equations for predicting total carbon storage based on height and diameter of trees up to 20 cm dbh: Y = 0.05836 (dbh²) for root carbon storage, and Y = 0.0305 (dbh² × h)^0.9499 for above-ground carbon storage, explaining 97% and 96% of the variation, respectively. Average carbon stored in roots of various cultivars ranged from 0.3 to 1.0 kg for smaller trees, those 3.8 to 6.4 cm dbh, to more than 10.4 kg for trees 14.0 cm to 19.7 cm dbh. Average total carbon stored by cultivars ranged from 1.7 to 3.6 kg for trees less than 6.4 cm dbh to 54.5 kg for trees larger than 14.0 cm. The data from these equations apply mainly to trees in nurseries and recently transplanted trees. Comparisons showed that above-ground estimates from previous studies using a sampling technique overestimated values obtained from actual above-ground weights.     

西北干旱区生态环境建设支撑体系的构建

西北干旱区的自然环境脆弱性叠加不合理的水土资源开发等人类活动干扰是导致区域生态环境日趋恶化的根本原因,已严重制约社会经济的可持续发展。针对当前生态环境建设实际,提出应在实现水资源可持续利用、建立完善的管理体制及法律体系、调整产业结构、积极推进城镇化进程、大力发展科技教育等方面采取有力措施。以此为重要支撑,恢复与重建受损生态系统,改善区域生态环境,实现环境与经济社会协调发展。     

菌根与植被恢复

菌根不仅可促进植物的营养吸收、生长发育、抗病、抗逆,而且在保持良好的土壤结构、控制水土流失方面具有直接的作用。在我国西北许多地区,菌根菌与植物间的共生关系已被中断,要恢复该地区的植被,治本的方法应是重建植物与菌根菌的共生关系,形成健康的生态系统。文中还提出了菌根技术在植被恢复中的应用策略。     

乌鲁木齐区域水资源利用中的生态经济问题及其调控对策

本文在考察乌鲁木齐区域水资源利用现状的基础上 ,从生态经济学的角度总结和分析了该区域水资源利用中存在的问题 ;针对问题 ,提出了相应的调控对策。     

Quick detection of sex determining region protein gene in mouse fetuses

AIM: To detect quickly the Y-chromosome specific sex determining region protein (Sry) gene in mouse fetuses on embryonic day 14.5 with a PCR method. METHODS: We designed specific primers with the OLIGO 5. 0 software. Templates were prepared in 30 minutes by the following way. About 1 mg embryonic tissue but not fetal liver was suspended, and treated with 200μL of lysis buffer, consisting of PCR buffer containing 20 mg/L proteinase K, 0. 5% NP-40, and 0.05% Tween 40, at 60°C for 15 minutes, heated for 5 minutes at 100 °C, 10μL was used as template. The PCR react ion was performed in 50μL, using two sets of primers specific for Sry gene (chromosome Y) and IL-3 gene (chromosome 11) . PCR conditions and cycle numbers were optimized. The assessment of the results was done by electrophoresis in 3% agarose run at high voltage. The specificity of the method was conf irmed by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) using a specific male probe on embryonic tissue cells. RESULTS: Electrophoresis showed that PCR product of male control DNA consisted of a 649 bp product representing the IL-3 gene and a 444 bp product representing the Y-specific Sry gene, female control DNA only one 649 bp product. Fetuses with two bands matching those as seen inmale control DNA are the presumpt ive male fetuses. Fetuses, only the IL-3-associated 649 bp band, are the presumptive female fetuses. These were confirmed by FISH. The ent ire procedure took <3. 5 h. CONCLUSION: The established PCR assay offers a quick, simple, accurate, and sensitive detection of sex determining region protein gene in mouse fetuses. This method allowed the preparation and culture of pure male and female hematopoietic stem cells from fetal tissue.     

基于不同尺度的干旱区城市景观生态研究--以陕西榆林市为例

从区域与城市两个尺度水平 ,对毛乌素沙漠南缘的榆林市城市景观进行研究认为 :在大尺度水平上 ,区域景观生态特征对城市景观特征具有一定的控制作用 ,而城市景观强大的功能流对区域景观产生干扰作用。城市景观的空间扩展与演化 ,既受区域景观特征的影响 ,也是区域景观演化的一个有机构成部分 ;在小尺度空间上 ,景观功能区、景观斑块与廊道的格局与功能 ,对城市景观格局动态以及维持城市景观多样的生态功能具有重要意义。在不同的利益追求下形成的景观文化 ,将深刻地影响到区域与城市景观演化的方向与过程。     

晚稻稻瘟病BP神经网络分区预报

应用相关分析方法分析了浙江省19个县1988～1999年晚稻稻瘟病发病与有关环境因子的关系,筛选了8个气象因子用于晚稻稻瘟病发生程度长期预报。根据各预报因子与稻瘟病发病程度相关性,采用邻接二维图论聚类分析法,将19个点(县)划分为4个生态区。每个生态区内运用BP神经网络技术建立模型,并进行拟合和试报。1997～1999年试报验证,在划分稻瘟病生态区的基础上,应用BP神经网络模型对稻瘟病进行长期预测预报是可行的,3年试报成功率分别是78.95％、84.21％和78.95％。文中还对该方法与过去常用的预报方法的试报结果作了比较。     

高寒地区燕麦根际联合固氮菌研究 Ι固氮菌分离及鉴定

结合气相色谱仪,利用乙炔还原等方法对高寒地区重要饲用植物——燕麦(Avenasativa)根际联合固氮菌进行了分离和鉴定。结果表明,该地区燕麦根际联合固氮菌株较少(8株),菌株分布以根系表面(RP)最多,根表土壤(RS)次之,距根系较远的土壤(NRS)和根内(HP)最少,即:RP>RS>NRS≥HP;菌株固氮酶活性相差较大(C2H4112.5～1147.9nmol/mL·h),具有较高固氮酶活性的菌株较少(C2H4大于500nmol/mL·h只有2株);菌株均为革兰氏阴性菌,经鉴定分属Azotobacter(3株)、Pseudomonas(3株)和Azospirillus(2株)3个属。相对于其它生境和植物,高寒地区燕麦根际联合固氮菌种类较为单一。     

The re-emergence of indigenous forest in an urban environment, Christchurch, New Zealand

Christchurch, the second largest city in New Zealand is a planned city on a coastal plain on the east coast of the South Island. The birth of the city and the subsequent century of development was characterised by colonial values and tree and garden planting with familiar European species along with those from Australia, North America, and eventually all other continents. The image of an “English garden city” with classical parks of oaks and willow-lined rivers became the accepted norm and the way in which the city has been promoted to potential tourists. Gardening is one of the top two recreational activities and exotic species greatly outnumber native species in the flora and in gardens. This has had serious consequences for the highly fragmented and degraded indigenous vegetation and its co-adapted wildlife. A few hardy indigenous species continued to regenerate through this period, but since the 1970s, there has been a progressive change of attitude and interest in reclaiming the natural heritage of the city, manifest in widespread private and public planting of indigenous species and active habitat restoration. In this article we examine the indigenous and exotic shrub and tree components of the Christchurch flora as planted street trees, in domestic gardens, and in parks. We also present data on shrub and tree regeneration in parks and domestic gardens in the city. Indications are that the more sensitive, less intrusive management of urban environments, combined with the greater density of indigenous seed sources, has allowed regeneration of a wide range of indigenous species across a broad spectrum of habitats – from neglected gardens to pavement cracks to exotic plantations. This is despite the competition from the prodigious seed banks and density of exotic trees, shrubs, and ground covers and albeit minimal impacts of introduced browsing and seed eating mammals. If the present trends continue through appropriate management and facilitation, these tentative signs of native forest regeneration should eventually proliferate into a sustainable mixed origin urban forest that resurrects and preserves the natural character of the region.