Long-term changes in forest floor processes in southern Appalachian forests

Soil nutrient concentrations decreased in an aggrading southern Appalachian forest over a 20-year period. Construction of nutrient budgets showed significant nutrient sequestration aboveground including increased forest floor mass. We hypothesized that the changes in forest floor mass resulted from decreased litter decomposition rates because of decreased litter quality. In 1992 and 1993, we repeated a litter decomposition experiment conducted in 1969 and 1970 to test this hypothesis. In addition, we examined microarthropod populations and functional groups as litter decomposed. For four of the five species tested, first-year decomposition rates were about the same in both experiments. Initial litter nutrient concentrations of P were lower in all tree species in the most recent sampling. N, Ca, and Mg concentrations also declined in some species. These declines often resulted in decreased nutrient release rates during decomposition. Microarthropod populations differed significantly among litter species, as well as between years (probably resulting from differences in growing-season rainfall). For some litter species we found significant relationships between microarthropod populations and nutrient concentration (primarily C and N); however, most r²-values were low. Data suggest that changes in forest floor mass probably resulted from decreased litter quality and that those changes may have an effect on microarthropod populations.     

N tracing models with a Monte Carlo optimization procedure provide new insights on gross N transformations in soils

¹⁵N tracing studies in combination with analyses via process-based models are the current “state-of-the-art” technique to quantify gross nitrogen (N) transformation rates in soils. A crucial component of this technique is the optimization algorithm which primarily decides how many model parameters can simultaneously be estimated. Recently, we published a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) method which has the potential to simultaneously estimate large number of parameters in ¹⁵N tracing models [Müller et al., 2007. Estimation of parameters in complex ¹⁵N tracing models by Monte Carlo sampling. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 39, 715-726].Here, we present the results of a reanalysis of datasets by Kirkham and Bartholomew [1954. Equations for following nutrient transformations in soil, utilizing tracer data. Soil Science Society of America Proceedings 18, 33-34], Myrold and Tiedje [1986. Simultaneous estimation of several nitrogen cycle rates using ¹⁵N: theory and application. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 18, 559-568] and Watson et al. [2000. Overestimation of gross N transformation rates in grassland soils due to non-uniform exploitation of applied and native pools. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 32, 2019-2030] using the MCMC technique. Analytical solutions such as the ones derived by Kirkham and Bartholomew [1954. Equations for following nutrient transformations in soil, utilizing tracer data. Soil Science Society of America Proceedings 18, 33-34] result in gross rates without uncertainties. We show that the analysis of the same data sets with the MCMC method provides standard deviations for gross N transformations. The standard deviations are further reduced if realistic data uncertainties are considered. Reanalyzing data by Myrold and Tiedje [1986. Simultaneous estimation of several nitrogen cycle rates using ¹⁵N: theory and application. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 18, 559-568] (Capac soil) resulted in a model fit similar to the one of the original analysis but with more precise estimates of gross N transformations. In addition, our analysis showed that small N transformations such as heterotrophic nitrification, which was neglected in the original analysis, could be quantified for this soil. Watson et al. [2000. Overestimation of gross N transformation rates in grassland soils due to non-uniform exploitation of applied and native pools. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 32, 2019-2030] provided evidence of a non-uniform exploitation of applied and native N that led to an overestimation of gross N transformations. Reanalyzing the data (CENIT soil, low N application) with the Müller et al. [2007. Estimation of parameters in complex ¹⁵N tracing models by Monte Carlo sampling. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 39, 715-726] model where oxidation was set to Michaelis-Menten kinetics resulted in a satisfactory fit between modeled and observed data, indicating that the observed artifact by Watson et al. [2000. Overestimation of gross N transformation rates in grassland soils due to non-uniform exploitation of applied and native pools. Soil Biology & Biochemistry 32, 2019-2030] was mainly due to inappropriate kinetic settings. Our study shows that the combination of a MCMC method with ¹⁵N tracing models is able to consider more complex and possibly more realistic models and kinetic settings to estimate gross N transformation rates and thus overcomes restriction of previous ¹⁵N tracing techniques.     

巍巍华山之巅 拳拳移动之志——陕西移动渭南分公司生产调度楼工程设计方案回顾

介绍了渭南移动分公司生产调度楼的方案构思与立意、总体布局、建筑功能设计、建筑智能化与节能。     

Dissolved nutrient release from solid wastes of southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii, Castelnau) aquaculture

Finfish pens are point sources of dissolved nutrients released from fish metabolism or degradation of solid wastes. Nutrients leaching from uneaten feed and faeces are not usually quantified in mass budgets for these systems, leading to an overestimation of fish retention or deposition to the seabed. In this study, we investigated nutrient leaching from pellets and baitfish feed as well as faeces of southern bluefin tuna (Thunnus maccoyii) into seawater. Faeces were nitrogen depleted (51–54 mg N g⁻¹ dw) and phosphorus enriched (62–72 mg P g⁻¹ dw) compared with feeds (83–111 mg N g⁻¹ dw and 17–21 mg P g⁻¹ dw). Less phosphorus was available for leaching from pellets and faeces of pellet‐fed tuna (5–6%) than from baitfish and faeces of baitfish‐fed tuna (17–21%). The proportion of soluble nitrogen in pellets (15%) was also lower than in baitfish and faeces (35–43%). Leaching loads for a feed conversion ratio of 5 were estimated as 22 and 26 kg N tonne⁻¹ growth when baitfish or pellets were used as feed respectively. Phosphorus loads were estimated as 15 and 4 kg P tonne⁻¹ growth respectively. More than 90% of nitrogen loads, and approximately 50% of phosphorus, are likely to be released into seawater before solid wastes reach the seafloor.     

绵羊冷冻精液研究进展

随着肉羊产业化、工厂化的发展,冷冻精液人工授精技术亟待应用于生产中.绵羊精液冷冻保存技术虽然得到了快速发展,但目前仍处在试验研究或小范围的应用阶段.因此,绵羊精液冷冻技术还需要深入、系统的研究.文章从绵羊精液冷冻保存稀释液中的添加剂、冷冻速率、冷冻-解冻对绵羊冷冻精液品质的影响,精液输精对受胎率的影响等方面进行了综述,为精液冷冻保存研究提供一定参考.     

Growth of young cuttlefish, Sepia officinalis (Linnaeus 1758) at the upper end of the biological distribution temperature range

Individual growth rates, feeding rates (%BWd^?1) and food conversions for cuttlefish (S. officinalis) hatchlings and juveniles were determined during this study. A flow‐through system was used. Water temperature reached 30 °C during the hottest part of the day, gradually decreasing to 25 °C during the night; salinity varied between 37 ± 3 ppt and lights were kept on for 14 h day^?1. Hatchlings were placed in separate compartments with a water volume of 1.2 L. Juvenile cuttlefish (from 0.5 to 25 g) were placed in bigger baskets, with a water volume of 5.2 L. Water flow was 120 L h^?1. The biggest cuttlefish used in these experiments (> 25 g) were gathered in groups of five and placed in circular tanks (water volume of 250–300 L). Thus, results obtained in this case are means and not individual data. During the first 10, 20, 30 and 40 days, mean growth rates (of all individuals sampled by age group) decreased consistently (11.8 ± 4.1, 9.8 ± 1.8, 8.1 ± 2.2 and 7.3 ± 0.7%BW^?1 respectively); in similar fashion, mean feeding rates decreased with age group (33.7 ± 13.5, 22.0 ± 7.9, 17.3 ± 3.9 and 16.7%BWd^?1 respectively). Mean food conversions varied between 3.6 and 2.5 between the age groups. When grouping results by weight class, similar patterns occur, as growth and feeding rates decrease consistently as cuttlefish grow bigger. Highest mean growth and feeding rates are obtained by hatchlings (< 0.1 g) with 12.4 ± 4.5 and 35.3 ± 15.1%BWd^?1, respectively, while the lowest growth and feeding rates were recorded for the largest animals, between 15 and 25 g (3.4 ± 1.1 and 10.8 ± 4.1%BWd^?1 respectively). For these weight classes, mean food conversions varied between 2.7 ± 0.9 and 3.8 ± 2.8.     

Evaluation of coral bleaching condition <Emphasis Type="Italic">in situ</Emphasis> using an underwater pulse amplitude modulated fluorometer

ABSTRACT:   Photosynthetic activities of hermatypic corals (28 genera, c . 68 species and c. 92 specimen) were measured in November 2000 at Sekisei lagoon, Okinawa, Japan, using an underwater pulse amplitude modulated fluorometer. Maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm) ranged from 0.61 to 0.70 and had an average value of 0.664 (standard deviation [SD], 0.0289). Following the measurement of Fv/Fm, quantum yield (Fm'-F)/Fm' at eight-leveled actinic-light intensities were obtained from all specimens. Values of electronic transport rates (ETR) were nearly the same under low photosynthetic active radiation (PAR; µmol quanta/m² per s) condition and varied with increasing PAR. The value of ETR at 100 µmol quanta/m² per s ranged from 21.3 to 30.0 and had an average of 27.8 (SD, 2.09). In August 2001, a coral bleaching event was observed in Sekisei Lagoon. During the event, photosynthetic activities of 21 specimens of eight species (seven genera) were measured. By applying two indicators, Fv/Fm and ETR at 100 µmol quanta/m² per s obtained in August 2000, 18 of 21 specimens were suggested under the bleaching process. In case of Porites lutea , seven colonies were visually evaluated for their condition of bleaching and were found to have two 'normal', three 'slightly bleached' and two 'heavily bleached'. From the density of zooxanthellae, colonies evaluated 'normal' or 'slightly bleached' did not show an apparent difference. However, they were clearly identified by Fm/Fv and ETR at 100 µmol quanta/m² per s.