Starving the soil of plant inputs for 50 years reduces abundance but not diversity of soil bacterial communities

If soil communities rely on plant-derived carbon, is biodiversity lost when this primary source is removed? Soil microbial and mesofaunal communities at the Rothamsted Highfield site were compared under a mixed grass sward, arable rotation and a section maintained as a bare-fallow for the past 50 years by regular tillage. Organic matter reserves have been degraded and microbial and mesofaunal numbers and mite diversity have declined in this unique bare-fallow site, where fresh carbon inputs have been drastically reduced. However, it supports a species-rich metabolically active bacterial community of similar diversity to that in soil maintained as grass sward. Thus in contrast to soil mesofauna, bacterial diversity (but not abundance) is apparently independent of plant inputs.     

藜麦DAPB基因丰度及生物信息学分析

二氢砒啶二羧酸还原酶(DAPB)是赖氨酸合成途径中的一个重要酶,在蛋白质和细胞壁的合成中起着重要作用。本研究基于KEGG总数据库分析表明,藜麦中DAPB的基因拷贝数远高于水稻、玉米及大豆等作物。对藜麦基因组数据筛选得到4个DAPB基因成员,均属于碱性蛋白质,氨基酸序列长度约330 bp,分子量为36.623~36.880 k D,等电点(p I)为5.79~6.01,最大疏水系数为0.028~0.123,为疏水性蛋白,亚细胞定位于细胞质中,不存在跨膜区。4个DAPB基因之间的Ka/Ks值均小于0.5,表明该基因在进化过程中比较保守。系统进化分析发现,藜麦DAPB家族成员位于同一个亚家族,且与菠菜的亲缘关系较近。启动子顺式作用元件分析结果显示,DAPB家族除含有TATA-box和CAAT-box以外,还含有多个参与激素响应、光照、低温及其它应激反应相关的顺式作用元件和转录因子结合位点,暗示藜麦DAPB家族成员可能参与以上多种响应。本研究分析了藜麦DAPB基因的拷贝数并对DAPB进行了生物信息学分析,可为进一步了解DAPB基因家族的生物学功能提供参考。     

亚地块尺度秸秆信息丰度研究

不断拓展的秸秆资源应用途径丰富了亚地块尺度下秸秆信息丰度的研究,但界定和表达亚地块尺度下秸秆信息丰度尚缺乏科学规范。本文以机收小麦原茬地的秸秆信息丰度为研究对象,设计系列指标（立茬与碎秸的质量分布、碎秸堆叠层数、立茬侧影覆盖度）,分别探讨原位网格取样称草、平板匀铺图像处理、背景板图像处理、碎秸筛分、人工观察计数等手段与方法,进行原茬秸秆信息的指标化。将获取的多维秸秆信息进行归一化处理,并运用图像相似度分析法研究信息指标间的相关性。结果表明,本文提出的秸秆信息参数及测试方法增加了亚地块尺度下的秸秆信息丰度,秸秆信息图像间的相关分析也能反映出各指标间的内在联系。所得信息反映了收获机的留茬状态与碎草性能,碎秸质量集中分布在割幅中间区域。立茬质量分布受作物行间距影响,碎秸堆叠层数表达了机排草口的排草状况,立茬侧影覆盖度分布可反映收获机的留茬碾压破坏情况。秸秆信息指标间的相关分析表明,地表秸秆总质量与碎秸质量的相似度为0.89、与立茬质量相似度为0.43,碎秸质量与碎秸堆叠层数相似度为0.64,立茬质量与立茬侧影覆盖度相似度为0.48。本文界定的亚地块尺度下秸秆信息丰度及其参数化研究结果可为系统开展亚地块尺度下秸秆信息技术研发提供参考。     

Life-history variation in relation to nest site abundance in males of the freshwater goby Tridentiger brevispinis

Abstract –  Age at maturity in males of the freshwater goby Tridentiger brevispinis , a species with exclusive paternal care, was investigated in two populations in Lake Biwa, Japan, that differed markedly in nest site abundance. At Ohmi-maiko, where nest sites were scarce, most males matured at age 3, and mean body size of males guarding eggs in nests was larger than that of males sampled randomly (including both guarding and nonguarding males) in the population. Conversely, at Minamihama, where nest sites were abundant, many males matured at age 1, and there was no difference in body size between guarding males and males collected randomly. The slope of regression lines between body size of the guarding male and the number of eggs in his nest was greater in Ohmi-maiko than in Minamihama. These results suggest that the shortage of nest sites enhances reproductive success in larger males, probably through male–male competition for nest sites and female mate choice for larger males. I conclude that in nest spawners, the availability of nest sites should strongly affect life-history traits of males through sexual selection.     

Soil properties and the macrofauna community in abandoned irrigated rice fields of northeastern Argentina

This study compared soil physical, chemical, and biological characteristics between natural grassland and recently abandoned rice fields in order to identify those variables that might explain the observed increase of Camponotus punctulatus anthills in abandoned rice paddy fields from Northern Argentina. Mainly due to a reduction of macropores and mesopores, overall porosity decreased by around 6% and bulk density was about 7% greater, in the 0- to 10- and 10- to 20-cm layers of the abandoned rice fields. Carbon and nitrogen content from organic matter increased (29% and 41% respectively for the 0- to 20-cm horizon) during cultivation but decreased (38% and 24%) 2 years after the last rice harvest. Forty percent of natural grassland-organic matter and 30% of abandoned rice-organic matter mineralized in less than 2 years. There was a different community structure between the abandoned rice fields and the undisturbed natural grassland and only a 20.6% (i.e. only 19 species from a total of 92) overlap in species composition. The abundance of macrofauna was greater in abandoned rice fields (2,208 individuals m^–2) in comparison to natural grasslands (288 ind m^–2) due to higher densities of small earthworms and Camponotus punctulatus ants; however, the Shannon index showed lower values in comparison to natural grasslands. Earthworms and C. punctulatus in the abandoned rice fields showed a change in their ¹³C signature indicating a switch in diet from natural grassland organic matter (C4) to organic matter from rice (C3). Our results indicate that the effects of rice cultivation practices did not seem to produce any physical or trophic limitations to recolonization by the macrofauna. It seems that changes in overall soil conditions have favored a change in the construction behavior of C. punctulatus which, in combination with population increases, could explain the explosion in number of anthills.     

C and N natural abundance of the soil microbial biomass

Stable isotope analysis is a powerful tool in the study of soil organic matter formation. It is often observed that more decomposed soil organic matter is ¹³C, and especially ¹⁵N-enriched relative to fresh litter and recent organic matter. We investigated whether this shift in isotope composition relates to the isotope composition of the microbial biomass, an important source for soil organic matter. We developed a new approach to determine the natural abundance C and N isotope composition of the microbial biomass across a broad range of soil types, vegetation, and climates. We found consistently that the soil microbial biomass was ¹⁵N-enriched relative to the total (3.2 ‰) and extractable N pools (3.7 ‰), and ¹³C-enriched relative to the extractable C pool (2.5 ‰). The microbial biomass was also ¹³C-enriched relative to total C for soils that exhibited a C3-plant signature (1.6 ‰), but ¹³C-depleted for soils with a C4 signature (−1.1 ‰). The latter was probably associated with an increase of annual C3 forbs in C4 grasslands after an extreme drought. These findings are in agreement with the proposed contribution of microbial products to the stabilized soil organic matter and may help explain the shift in isotope composition during soil organic matter formation.     

Correlation between earthworms and plant litter decomposition in a tropical wet forest of Puerto Rico

Earthworms are recognized to play an important role in the decomposition of organic materials. To test the use of earthworms as an indicator of plant litter decomposition, we examined the abundance and biomass of earthworms in relation to plant litter decomposition in a tropical wet forest of Puerto Rico. We collected earthworms at 0–0.1 m and 0.1–0.25 m soil depths from upland and riparian sites that represent the natural variation in soils and decomposition rates within the forest. Earthworms were hand-sorted and weighed for both fresh and dry biomass. Earthworms were dominated by the exotic endogeic species Pontoscolex corethrurus Müller; they were more abundant, and had higher biomasses in the upland than in riparian sites of the forest. Plant leaf litter decomposed faster in the upland than riparian sites. We found that earthworm abundance in the upper 0.1 m of the soil profile positively correlated with decomposition rate of plant leaf litter. Ground litter removal had no effect on the abundance or biomass of endogeic earthworms. Our data suggest that earthworms can be used to predict decomposition rates of plant litter in the tropical wet forest, and that the decomposition of aboveground plant litter has little influence on the abundance and biomass of endogeic earthworms.     

断奶前后仔猪十二指肠、空肠和回肠SGLT1 mRNA表达的变化及半胱胺的影响

研究断奶前后仔猪十二指肠、空肠和回肠SGLT1mRNA表达丰度的变化,并同时观察半胱胺对其表达的影响,从分子水平探讨半胱胺对断奶仔猪葡萄糖吸收的影响与可能的机制。新生仔猪随机分为对照组和实验组,12日龄(D12)起对照组饲喂基础乳猪料,实验组在基础乳猪料中添加120mg/kg半胱胺,两组仔猪均于35日龄断奶,每组分别于断奶前1周、断奶当天、断奶后3d、1周以及断奶后10d随机选取仔猪各6头,宰杀后采集十二指肠、空肠和回肠粘膜,采用RT-PCR方法测定钠-葡萄糖共转运载体1(sodium-glucosecotransporter1,SGLT1)mRNA表达的相对丰度。结果表明,回肠SGLT1mRNA的表达量最高,空肠其次,十二指肠最低;SGLT1mRNA在不同肠段的表达呈现截然不同的发育模式,十二指肠SGLT1mRNA表达量在45d显著上升(P<0.05),而空肠则在42和45d时显著下降(P<0.01),回肠SGLT1mRNA表达在整个实验期间无显著变化;此外,日粮添加半胱胺显著提高38d十二指肠以及42和45d空肠SGLT1mRNA表达,而对回肠SGLT1mRNA表达无显著影响。小肠SGLT1mRNA表达以及日粮添加半胱胺促进SGLT1mRNA表达的作用均呈现时空特异性规律。     

观光木群落物种多度分布的Weibull模型研究

物种多度分布是生物多样性研究的重要内容，本文首次提出物种多度分布的Weibull分布模型．观光术群落乔木层、灌木层及乔木+灌木物种多度分布实例拟合结果表明，三者均符合Weibull分布，因此，Weibull分布模型应用于物种多度分布研究是理想的，从而丰富了物种多度分布的分布理论，同时也为观光木的管理及保护提供理论依据．     

内蒙古河套灌区春玉米推荐施肥指标体系研究

【目的】建立河套灌区春玉米施肥指标体系,指导科学施肥。【方法】2006—2008年在河套灌区分高、中、低肥力水平设置春玉米“3414”肥料肥效试验236个。【结果】通过对数据进行整理分析表明：河套灌区春玉米N、P2O5、K2O的农学效率平均分别为10.6 kg•kg-1、9.9 kg•kg-1、6.7 kg•kg-1,肥料增产作用依次为：氮肥＞磷肥＞钾肥,随着土壤肥力水平的降低,施肥增产率升高,但单位养分增产量下降。河套灌区春玉米的土壤养分丰缺指标为：全氮,极低（＜0.42 g•kg-1）、低（0.42—0.67 g•kg-1）、中（0.67—1.08 g•kg-1）、高（1.08—1.72 g•kg-1）、极高（＞1.72 g•kg-1）;有效磷,极低（＜3.6 mg•kg-1）、低（3.6—7.6 mg•kg-1）、中（7.6—16.0 mg•kg-1）、高（16.0—33.7 mg•kg-1）、极高（＞33.7 mg•kg-1）;速效钾,极低（＜70 mg•kg-1）、低（70—103 mg•kg-1）、中（103-151 mg•kg-1）、高（151—222 mg•kg-1）、极高（＞222 mg•kg-1）。河套灌区春玉米施肥模型为：F(N)=-78.13×lnS(N)+155.85,F(P2O5)= -54.621×lnS(P)+250.2,F(K2O) =-42.4071×lnS(K)+272.91。【结论】农学效率、施肥肥效、养分丰缺指标、施肥模型均为推荐施肥的重要依据。