Forest vegetation of Xishuangbanna, south China

1 Introduction The tropical area of southern China is climatically and biogeographically located at the northern edge of tropical Asia, including southeastern Xizang (Tibet, lower valleys of the southern Himalayas), southern Yunnan, southwestern Guangxi, southern Taiwan and Hainan Island. The largest tropical area still covered by forests is in southern Yunnan. Tropical forests of southern Yunnan were little known until the late 1950s because of poor access except for some brief descrip-…     

Anatomical variations in wood among four native species of Leguminosae grown in arid areas of China

Morphological features and anatomical variations are described and illustrated in detail for four native species of Legumi-nosae grown in arid sandy regions in China, which are Hedysarum scoparium Fisch.et Mey., Caragana korshiskii Kom., Lespedeza bicolor Turcz. and Ammopiptanthus mongolicus (Maxim. ex Kom.) Cheng f. All species showed similar morphological features: distinct growth ring boundaries, ring to semi-ring-porosity, simple perforation plates, alternate intervessel pitting, nonseptate fibers, para...     

Growth change of young Picea sitchensis in response to deer browsing

Taking advantage of the introduction of the black-tailed deer to the Queen Charlotte Islands (British Columbia, Canada), we used dendrochronological analyses to understand the consequences of deer browsing on Sitka spruce growth. We compared shape, radial growth, height growth and age of young spruce in three sites. We identified two types of trees growing side by side: (1) stunted and heavily browsed spruce, smaller than the browsing limit and (2) escaped spruce that were taller than the browsing limit but still browsed in their lower part. The compact and heavily ramified shape in stunted spruce was the result of repeated and intense browsing. In escaped spruce this was also the case below the browsing limit (1.16 m±0.07 m), in sharp contrast with the normal shape that escaped spruce resumed above the browsing limit. We show that the release of browsing pressure, once the tree reaches the browsing limit, is characterised by an abrupt increase in radial growth. Before release, trees show a growth stagnation characterized by narrow rings (0.5 mm per year) and small annual height increments (<5 cm per year). After release, trees show a growth stabilisation characterised by wider rings (3 mm per year) and larger annual height increments (20 cm per year). We use this pattern to estimate frequency and age at release and their possible variation over time. Age differences between stunted and escaped spruce are highly significant and indicate that, despite of browsing, most if not all trees will ultimately reach the browsing limit and escape. Heavy deer pressure (30 deer per km²) delays spruce sapling recruitment by about 8 years. This delay varies in relation to site quality and seems to have increased over time, suggesting an increase in browsing pressure.     

Cardamom, mandarin and nitrogen-fixing trees in agroforestry systems in India's Himalayan region. II. Soil nutrient dynamics

A study on seasonal soil nutrient dynamics was made in large cardamom (Amonum subulatum) and mandarin (Citrus reticulata) agroforestry systems in the Sikkim Himalaya, India. Alnus nepalensis was the N₂-fixing associate in the large cardamom system, and Albizia stipulata in the mandarin agroforestry system. Sites without N₂-fixing species in both agroforestry types comprised native non-symbiotic mixed tree species. Soil was acidic in the cardamom agroforestry and slightly acidic to neutral in the mandarin agroforestry system. Total-N in soils was the highest in the forest-cardamom stand and the lowest in the mandarin-based agroforestry systems. Soil ammonium-N and nitrate-N concentrations were highly seasonal, and the ratio of seasonal maximum and minimum varied up to six times. The C/N ratio was higher in cardamom agroforestry indicating lower N availability than in the mandarin agroforestry. Cardamom stand with Alnus showed a relatively narrower C/N ratio. N₂-fixing species help in maintenance of soil organic matter levels with higher N-mineralization rate as land use change from natural-forest system to agroforestry systems with sparse tree populations. Ratios of inorganic-P/total-P were lower in cardamom agroforestry than the mandarin agroforestry. Seasonal fluctuation in Ca-PO₄, Al-PO₄ and Fe-PO₄ contents regulated the availability of phosphates to some extent for plant uptake.     

Reproductive traits of the Ryukyu long-furred rat (Diplothrix legata) on Okinawa-jima Island

The Ryukyu long-furred rat, Diplothrix legata, is a large rodent distributed only on Amami-ohshima Island, Tokuno-shima Island and Okinawa-jima Island, Japan. This animal is endangered as a result of deforestation, predation by introduced carnivores and mortality caused by vehicles. We performed theriogenological examinations of 32 male and 25 female Ryukyu long-furred rats carcasses collected from wild populations on northern Okinawa-jima Island from December 2005 to September 2013. Adult males had remarkably large preputial glands. Seminiferous diameter of adult was significantly small (136 ± 28 µm, n=8) from April to August. Numerous spermatozoa were observed from September through February, and seminiferous diameter was significantly large (216 ± 27 µm, n=12) during this time in adults; testes length changed in a similar pattern. These findings indicate that the mating season may occur from September through February. Size (body length) at sexual maturity was estimated to be >560 mm in both sexes. From observation of corpora lutea and placental scars, litter size was estimated to range from 2 to 12 (average=6, n=4). These results provide fundamental knowledge that will be beneficial for in situ and ex situ conservation of this rare species.     

大鹏澳网箱养殖区底质硫化物分布、变化和污染分析

为进一步了解粤东海水网箱渔场硫化物污染特征,研究了大鹏澳网箱养殖海域底质硫化物的空间分布、季节变化和污染状况。结果表明,底质硫化物含量(mg·kg~(-1),干重)在网箱区内(为344～949,平均624)远高于网箱区外(为142～278,平均212),春夏季(平均694)显著高于秋冬季(平均554)(P<0.02)。研究海域底质硫化物含量与有机质含量正相关(r+0.704,P<0.05),其中夏季相关最显著(r=0.818,P<0.02)。硫化物平均污染指数1.57,老化风险级别为4级,说明沉积环境已达到重污染,已面临很大的老化风险。     

东南沿海不同相思树种叶绿素荧光特性的季相变化

以东南沿海防护林6种相思树种为研究对象,通过跟踪测定其不同季节叶绿素荧光参数,进一步评价各树种对沿海沙地气候环境的适应能力。结果显示：卷荚相思夏季和冬季PSⅡ最大光能转化率和潜在活性均低于春季和秋季,表明夏季高温干旱和冬季低温均会制约其生长;大叶、厚荚及马占相思冬季PSⅡ最大光能转化率和潜在活性较小,生长状况较差;肯氏相思和纹荚相思的Fv／Fm及Fv／Fo值冬季相对较高,其中季节更替对肯氏相思Fv／Fm及Fv／Fo,值变化影响最小,整体生长状况较好。结合林分生长情况可知,大叶、厚荚及马占相思对东南沿海沙地环境适应能力较差;肯氏相思和纹荚相思能够适应沿海防护林的复杂环境,具有较高的推广种植潜力。     

同安湾浮游动物数量的平面分布和季节变动

本文主要研究2000年同安湾浮游动物的种类组成和数量分布，并就其与环境因子的关系进行了初步探讨。结果表明，在同安湾共记录到浮游动物69种及12种浮游幼虫，以近岸低盐种类为主。浮游动物数量季节分布呈现春季高，冬、夏季居中，秋季最低的特点。种类数的季节分布与水温的季节变化一致。浮游动物数量与养殖贝类、浮游植物细胞数密切相关，并与浮游植物数量呈显著的正相关关系。同安湾浮游动物的数量与邻近养殖水域西海域的相当，比马銮湾的低。与历史资料比较，同安湾浮游动物的次级生产力水平比1995年的有所上升，但恢复得较慢。