Rhizospheric and heterotrophic respiration of a warm-temperate oak chronosequence in China

Plot trenching and root decomposition experiments were conducted in a warm-temperate oak chronosequence (40-year-old, 48-year-old, 80-year-old, and 143-year-old) in China. We partitioned total soil surface CO₂ efflux (R_S) into heterotrophic (R_H) and rhizospheric (R_R) components across the growing season of 2009. We found that the temporal variation of R_R and R_H can be well explained by soil temperature (T₅) at 5 cm depth using exponential equations for all forests. However, R_R of 40-year-old and 48-year-old forests peaked in September, while their T₅ peaks occurred in August. R_R of 80-year-old and 143-year-old forests showed a similar pattern to T₅. The contribution of R_R to R_S (RC) of 40-year-old and 48-year-old forests presented a second peak in September. Seasonal variation of R_R may be accounted for by the different successional stages. Cumulative R_H and R_R during the growing season varied with forest age. The estimated R_H values for 40-year-old, 48-year-old, 80-year-old and 143-year-old forests averaged 431.72, 452.02, 484.62 and 678.93 g C m⁻², respectively, while the corresponding values of R_R averaged 191.94, 206.51, 321.13 and 153.03 g C m⁻². The estimated RC increased from 30.78% in the 40-year-old forest to 39.85% in the 80-year-old forest and then declined to 18.39% in the 143-year-old forest. We found soil organic carbon (SOC), especially the light fraction organic carbon (LFOC), stock at 0-10 cm soil depth correlated well with R_H. There was no significant relationship between R_R and fine root biomass regardless of stand age. Measured apparent temperature sensitivity (Q₁₀) of R_H (3.93 ± 0.27) was significantly higher than that of R_R (2.78 ± 0.73). Capillary porosity decreased as stand age increased and it was negatively correlated to cumulative R_S. Our results emphasize the importance of partitioning soil respiration in evaluating the stand age effect on soil respiration and its significance to future model construction.     

基于数据挖掘的贝叶斯算法应用研究

在众多的数据挖掘算法中,贝叶斯算法因为准确性高,运算性能强而得到广泛应用。利用日常生活中的例子深入浅出的阐述了贝叶斯算法的基本原理,并应用SQL Server 2005数据挖掘工具,对2009年收集的农安地力评价的数据进行了分析,同时应用贝叶斯算法对地力等级进行了预测。     

Gram-Schmidt算法与GRNN融合的加工番茄早疫病高光谱预测

加工番茄早疫病的准确预测,有助于及时采取防治措施,降低产量损失.测定加工番茄早疫病冠层光谱,对380～760 nm进行连续统去除变换,提取波段深度、波段位置、波段宽度、斜率、面积等特征参数,并对原始光谱提取红谷、绿峰、红边及相应波段位置等特征参数.利用Gram-Schmidt算法对特征参数进行成分提取,作为广义回归神经网络(GRNN)的输入变量,对加工番茄早疫病病情严重度进行预测.研究结果表明,与多元线性回归和偏最小二乘法预测模型比较,Gram-Schmidt算法与GRNN融合模型的预测精度相对较高,R2为0.843,RMSE为0.136,该方法能够对加工番茄早疫病病情严重度进行快速、准确的预测.     

Long-term organic phosphorus mineralization in Spodosols under forests and its relation to carbon and nitrogen mineralization

In forest soils where a large fraction of total phosphorus (P) is in organic forms, soil micro-organisms play a major role in the P cycle and plant availability since they mediate organic P transformations. However, the correct assessment of organic P mineralization is usually a challenging task because mineralized P is rapidly sorbed and most mineralization fluxes are very weak. The objectives of the present work were to quantify in five forest Spodosols at soil depths of 0-15 cm net mineralization of total organic P and the resulting increase in plant available inorganic P and to verify whether net or gross P mineralization could be estimated using the C or N mineralization rates. Net mineralization of total organic P was derived from the net changes in microbial P and gross mineralization of P in dead soil organic matter. We studied very low P-sorbing soils enabling us to use lower extractants to assess the change in total inorganic P as a result of gross mineralization of P in dead soil organic matter. In addition, to enable detection of gross mineralization of P in dead soil organic matter, a long-term incubation (517 days) experiment was carried out. At the beginning of the experiment, total P contents of the soils were very low (19-51 μg g⁻¹) and were essentially present as organic P (17-44 μg g⁻¹, 85-91%) or microbial P (6-14 μg g⁻¹; 24-39%). Conversely, the initial contents of inorganic P were low (2-7 μg g⁻¹; 9-15%). The net changes in the pool size of microbial P during the 517 days of incubation (4-8 μg g⁻¹) and the amounts of P resulting from gross mineralization of dead soil organic matter (0.001-0.018 μg g⁻¹ day⁻¹; 0.4-9.5 μg g⁻¹ for the entire incubation period) were considerable compared to the initial amounts of organic P and also when compared to the initial diffusive iP fraction (<0.3 μg g⁻¹). Diffusive iP corresponds to the phosphate ions that can be transferred from the solid constituents to the soil solution under a gradient of concentration. Net mineralization of organic P induced an important increase in iP in soil solution (0.6-10 μg g⁻¹; 600-5000% increase) and lower increases in diffusive iP fractions (0.3-5 μg g⁻¹; 300-2000% increase), soil solid constituents having an extremely low reactivity relative to iP. Therefore, soil micro-organisms and organic P transformations play a major role in the bioavailability of P in these forest soils. In our study, the dead soil organic matter was defined as a recalcitrant organic fraction. Probably because gross mineralization of P from this recalcitrant organic fraction was mainly driven by the micro-organisms’ needs for energy, the rates of gross mineralization of C, N and P in the recalcitrant organic fraction were similar. Indirect estimation of gross mineralization of P in dead soil organic matter using the gross C mineralization rate seems thus an alternative method for the studied soils. However, additional studies are needed to verify this alternative method in other soils. No relationships were found between microbial P release and microbial C and N releases.     

Land-use history has a stronger impact on soil microbial community composition than aboveground vegetation and soil properties

The response of soil microbial communities following changes in land-use is governed by multiple factors. The objectives of this study were to investigate (i) whether soil microbial communities track the changes in aboveground vegetation during succession; and (ii) whether microbial communities return to their native state over time. Two successional gradients with different vegetation were studied at the W. K. Kellogg Biological Station, Michigan. The first gradient comprised a conventionally tilled cropland (CT), mid-succession forest (SF) abandoned from cultivation prior to 1951, and native deciduous forest (DF). The second gradient comprised the CT cropland, early-succession grassland (ES) restored in 1989, and long-term mowed grassland (MG). With succession, the total microbial PLFAs and soil microbial biomass C consistently increased in both gradients. While bacterial rRNA gene diversity remained unchanged, the abundance and composition of many bacterial phyla changed significantly. Moreover, microbial communities in the relatively pristine DF and MG soils were very similar despite major differences in soil properties and vegetation. After >50 years of succession, and despite different vegetation, microbial communities in SF were more similar to those in mature DF than in CT. In contrast, even after 17 years of succession, microbial communities in ES were more similar to CT than endpoint MG despite very different vegetation between CT and ES. This result suggested a lasting impact of cultivation history on the soil microbial community. With conversion of deciduous to conifer forest (CF), there was a significant change in multiple soil properties that correlated with changes in microbial biomass, rRNA gene diversity and community composition. In conclusion, history of land-use was a stronger determinant of the composition of microbial communities than vegetation and soil properties. Further, microbial communities in disturbed soils apparently return to their native state with time.     

Long term impact of mineral amendment on the distribution of the mineral weathering associated bacterial communities from the beech Scleroderma citrinum ectomycorrhizosphere

Liming is a known forest management procedure used to amend nutrient-poor soils such as soils of acidic forests to rectify cation deficiencies and to restore soil pH. However, although this procedure is well known for its beneficial effect on the forest trees, its relative impact on the functional and taxonomic diversity of the soil bacterial communities has been poorly investigated. In this study, we characterized the ability of the soil bacteria to weather soil minerals and to hydrolyze chitin. A collection of 80 bacterial strains was isolated from the Scleroderma citrinum ectomycorrhizosphere and the adjacent bulk soil in two stands of mature beeches (Fagus sylvatica) developed on very acidic soil and presenting two levels of calcium (Ca) availability: a control plot as well as a plot amended with Ca in 1973. All the bacterial isolates were identified by partial 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis as members of the genera Burkholderia, Bacillus, Dyella, Kitasatospora, Micrococcus, Paenibacillus, Pseudomonas, and Rhodanobacter. Using a microplate assay for quantifying the production of protons and the quantity of iron released from biotite, we demonstrated that the bacterial strains from the amended plot harbored a significant higher mineral weathering potential that the ones isolated from the control plot. Notably, the weathering efficacy of the ectomycorrhizosphere bacterial isolates was significantly greater than that of the bulk soil isolates in the control treatment but not in the amended plot. These data reveal that forest management, here mineral amendment, can strongly affect the structure of bacterial communities even over the long term.     

番茄辣椒微型根系形态原位采集系统设计与实现

为实时获取浅根系作物的根系生长形态,设计了一种可用于多点测量的微型根系形态实时原位采集系统。系统主要由微型摄像头和光学放大元件等组成(体积1.5cm3),采集的图像通过无线模块发送至终端。采用基于区域生长的根系图像分析方法,以腐蚀图像为出发点,膨胀图像为终止点,结合相似性准则进行区域生长、区域标记和区域保留,来滤除土壤孔隙和杂质等对图像产生的干扰,从而提取根系轮廓,并通过图像形态学计算得到根长密度、根系平均直径等形态参数。以此系统采集樱桃番茄、辣椒根系形态参数,试验结果表明,根系长度测定值的绝对误差不超过1.5 mm,相对误差不超过5.3%;根系平均直径绝对误差不超过0.09 mm,相对误差不超过6.7%。与土壤采样法测定值相比,在0～10、10～20、20～30和30～40 cm 4个土壤层内2种测定方法根系平均直径决定系数R20.87(P0.01),根长密度在30 cm深度以内的土壤层决定系数R20.81(P0.01)。证明本文设计的微型根系形态实时原位采集系统具有较高的准确性,可用于浅根系作物形态的多点观测。     

波段比算法结合高光谱图像技术检测柑橘果锈

为克服柑橘表面不平整导致光线反射不均匀的影响,研究提出了波段比算法,使高光谱图像技术能够快速有效地检测柑橘果锈。首先根据Sheffield指数（SI）确定最佳波段（625 nm和717 nm）,经比值变换后得到第一幅比值图像;然后选取特征波长625 nm的邻近波段（621 nm）,与其比值变换后得到第二幅比值图像,提取轮廓,构建掩膜以消除第一幅比值图像的背景噪声,最后进行阈值分割和数字形态学运算,完成果锈区域的特征检测。试验结果表明,基于波段比算法的高光谱图像技术可有效检测柑橘果锈,检测率达到92%。研究表明波段比算法在高光谱图像技术快速无损地检测柑橘果锈中,能够有效地降低光照反射不均匀的影响,增强谱间差异,提高检测的精度。     

Unreliable amphibian population metrics may obfuscate more than they reveal

Welsh et al. [Welsh, H.H., Jr. Pope, K.L., Wheeler, C.A., 2008. Using multiple metrics to assess the effects of forest succession on population status: a comparative study of two terrestrial salamanders in the US Pacific Northwest. Biological Conservation 141, pp. 1149–1160] argued for the use of four metrics to monitor population status of two terrestrial amphibians, the Siskiyou Mountains (Plethodon stormi) and Del Norte (Plethodon elongatus) salamanders. We show that inherent problems exist with Welsh et al.’s application of all four of these metrics, and that their inferences about population status are likely to be uncertain as a consequence and potentially misleading to managers. Welsh et al. (2008) used data from different populations and different years to estimate detection probabilities for both P. elongatus and P. stormi, a decision which assumes that detection probabilities do not differ across sites and populations are closed. In addition, Welsh et al. (2008) present count data for both salamanders, a metric that assumes capture probability does not vary by age, gender, size, other individual characteristics, and most importantly in their application, habitat characteristics. Welsh et al. (2008) estimated survival based upon age ratios. Age ratios are known to be biased when immigration and emigration are unequal Conn et al. [Conn, P.B., Doherty, P.F., Jr. Nichols, J.D., 2005. Comparative demography of New World populations of thrushes (Turdus spp.): comment. Ecology 86, pp. 2536–2541]. In source-sink systems, immigration and emigration are expected to be unequal. Thus, the use of this estimation technique to characterize survival in source-sink systems is invalid unless it can be shown that immigration and emigration are equal, a rare occurrence in source-sink systems. The final metric used by Welsh et al. (2008) was an index of body condition, i.e., the residuals of a least squares regression of mass on the length. Several recent articles have outlined a number of potential problems with the technique and a theoretically more robust and efficient alternative has been published. Unfortunately, Welsh et al. (2008) did not provide the details (model diagnostic statistics, tests of assumptions) needed to assess whether or not their analyses of body condition may be accurate. We think that evaluation of specific hypotheses, well-designed sampling programs, and methods such as mark–recapture and ratio sampling are more likely to provide reliable inference than re-analysis of old data sets that were collected for other purposes and obsolete methods (i.e., counting individuals on single occasions) that are known to be flawed. We agree that potential forest management impacts to sensitive taxa require evaluation and monitoring, and that changes in occupancy and abundance are useful metrics for this task (while recognizing that, when feasible to collect, information about reproductive success and survival is superior). However, reliable inference about potential impacts can only be made if reliable methods are employed and if critical assumptions receive empirical evaluation. We offer several suggestions to strengthen inference about management treatments.     

Proximity to a forest leads to higher honey yield: Another reason to conserve

Although tropical forest conservation is a top priority for human and environmental health, deforestation persists, mainly because of food and economic needs. No community will totally give up economic activities for the sake of ecological integrity, unless it is given alternative economic activities from which to draw its livelihood. Beekeeping in the forest buffer zone instead of traditional destructive honey-harvesting from forest trees is one such option at Arabuko Sokoke Forest (ASF) in Kenya. ASF is a dry coastal forest which is home to endangered and threatened fauna and is a hotspot considered a priority for conservation. In order to find out whether honey quantity and quality differed with distance from the forest, we studied honey yield per harvest (kg) and obtained samples from hives placed at varying distances from ASF in two successive years. Honey yield increased with proximity to the forest. Indeed the yield almost doubled in hives placed less than 1 km from the forest compared to those placed more than 3 km from the forest. All the honey samples met internationally required quality standards, although sugar levels were at the lower limit. This study demonstrates that the conservation of tropical forest ecosystems can have real local economic benefits. The documentation of the services provided by nearby natural areas should help make conservation of these areas a priority, even for the local communities.