生长调节剂对春玉米氮素积累、转运及籽粒蛋白质含量的影响

为探讨生长调节剂对玉米的影响,文章通过不同生长调节剂(主要成分为羧甲基壳聚糖)处理玉米,研究了生长调节剂对春玉米功能叶片、茎杆、籽粒中氮素含量的变化。结果表明,不同配方的生长调节剂能够促进春玉米功能叶中全氮、蛋白氮的转运;提高春玉米茎秆中氮素的转运量以及玉米的产量;加速籽粒中蛋白质的积累,从而提高玉米的品质。并以施生长调节剂配方2 吐温80(PGR2)的配方效果最好。实验中应用的生长调节剂是一种有效的促进玉米氮白质积累的生长调节剂。     

近地层臭氧浓度升高对大豆叶片氮代谢及产量的影响

为了探究臭氧胁迫对大豆(Glycine max)器官的氮代谢相关指标和产量的影响,在开顶式气室(OTCs)中,以栽培大豆"铁丰29号"为试验材料,采用盆栽试验方法,设置3个O_3熏蒸浓度梯度处理大豆[CK:对照,5 nL·L~(-1) O_3;T_1:(80±10)n L·L~(-1) O_3;T_2:(120±10) nL·L~(-1) O_3]。结果表明,(1)随着O_3浓度的增加,大豆叶片氮代谢相关指标与CK处理相比均显著下降。硝酸还原酶活性、亚硝态氮含量和游离氨基酸含量在分枝期、T_2条件下,降低幅度最显著,分别达到68.17%、91.68%和56.87%。谷氨酰胺合成酶在开花期、T_2条件下,降低幅度最显著,达到53.69%。谷氨酸合酶活性、硝态氮含量和可溶性蛋白含量在结荚期、T_2条件下,降低幅度最显著,分别达到54.60%、82.08%和79.55%。(2)O_3熏蒸对大豆的产量也具有一定的影响,与CK相比,T_1和T_2条件下,大豆的单株荚数、单株粒数、单株粒质量和百粒质量均显著下降。(3)Pearson相关性分析表明,大豆叶片硝酸还原酶与亚硝态氮之间高度正相关,相关系数为0.784,同时,二者均与谷氨酰胺合成酶、谷氨酸合酶和游离氨基酸正相关;游离氨基酸还与可溶性蛋白负相关,相关系数为-0.550,与谷氨酰胺合成酶高度正相关,相关系数为0.970,可溶性蛋白还与硝态氮高度正相关,与谷氨酰胺合成酶低度负相关,相关系数分别为0.869和-0.452;谷氨酸合酶还与谷氨酰胺合成酶和硝态氮正相关,相关系数分别为0.994和0.787。高浓度臭氧抑制了大豆叶片的氮代谢功能,进而降低大豆产量,氮代谢各个指标均与产量有高度的相关关系。试验表明,近地层臭氧浓度升高对大豆叶片氮代谢具有显著的抑制作用,导致大豆氮素供应不足,大豆产量降低。     

锰污染土壤对酸模叶蓼氮素代谢的影响

探讨超富集植物高浓度金属富集量对其生理机制的影响,对于了解超富集植物强大的解毒机制与其生理机制的相关性有重要意义。采用室内原矿土栽培的方法,研究了贺州某锰矿区未开采区(T2)、探矿区(T3)、恢复区(T4)、开采区(T5)、尾矿库(T6)土壤及桂林未受污染的菜园土(T1)对锰超富集植物酸模叶蓼(Polygonum lapathifolium L.)生长,锰吸收,叶片铵态氮、硝态氮、游离脯氨酸、可溶性蛋白质含量及氮素代谢关键酶(硝酸还原酶NR)、谷氨酰胺合成酶GS、谷氨酸合酶GOGAT和谷氨酸脱氢酶GDH)活性的影响。结果表明,随着Mn处理浓度的提高,酸模叶蓼根、茎、叶中Mn含量显著增加(P0.05),叶绿素a、叶绿素b和总叶绿素在T3处理时含量最高,此时分别为对照的1.15、1.23和1.17倍,但所有锰处理下酸模叶蓼生物量无显著性差异(P0.05)。Mn处理一定程度上提高了叶片中可溶性蛋白质含量,引起了酸模叶蓼氮素代谢关键酶活性的变化及硝态氮、铵态氮和脯氨酸含量的显著增加(P0.05)。T6处理硝态氮、铵态氮和脯氨酸含量最高,分别比对照提高了17.6%、43.8%和206.2%。NR、GS和GOGAT活性呈先增加后降低的变化趋势,NR、GS和GOGAT活性分别在T2、T3、T4处理时最高,此时分别比对照提高了6.4%、28.8%和66.4%。GDH活性则随着Mn处理浓度的增加而增加,在T6处理时活性最高,比对照提高了1.74倍。以上表明,GDH在解毒Mn毒害过程中具有重要作用。     

杨树切口处不同根序细根内源激素与氮代谢关键酶对断根的响应

为探讨断根对杨树切口处不同根序细根的内源激素与氮代谢关键酶的作用效果,通过大田试验,研究了6-2(6倍胸径两侧)、8-2(8倍胸径两侧)与10-2(10倍胸径两侧)等不同断根处理对欧美I-107杨(Populus euramericana cv.‘Neva’)切口处1～5级根内源激素与氮代谢关键酶的影响。结果表明:同对照(未断根)相比,10-2处理1～5级根的吲哚乙酸(IAA)、赤霉素(GA)与玉米素(ZT)含量变化较小,6-2处理明显降低,而8-2处理则显著升高,其中8-2处理IAA含量的平均值较CK、6-2与10-2处理分别显著提高22.89%、36.04%与21.76%。随着根序等级的增加,各处理细根的IAA含量与IAA/ABA(脱落酸)比值逐渐降低,而GA、ZT、ABA含量和GA/ABA、ZT/ABA比值逐渐升高。8-2处理1～5级根的IAA/ABA、GA/ABA和ZT/ABA比值均显著高于其他处理,而ABA含量则明显低于其他处理。同时,不同处理细根的硝酸还原酶(NR)、谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)、谷氨酸合成酶(GOGAT)和谷氨酸脱氢酶(GDH)活性随根序的增加而呈递减的趋势;8-2处理1～5级根的这4种酶活性均明显高于其他处理,而1～2级根的GS/GDH比值最低,其中NR活性的平均值较CK、6-2和10-2处理分别高出16.05%、32.06%和16.72%。此外,8-2处理的材积生长率最高,并与其他处理差异达显著水平。相关分析表明,材积生长率与IAA、GA、ZT、IAA/ABA、GA/ABA、ZT/ABA存在极显著正相关关系(P0.01);与NR、GS、GOGAT和GDH有显著正相关关系(P0.05)。综上,3种不同断根强度对杨树切口处不同序级细根的内源激素与氮代谢关键酶具有明显不同的影响作用,其中8-2处理通过调节各级细根的内源激素含量与平衡,以及增强氮代谢关键酶活性来提升切口处细根的活性,进而促进林木材积的增长。     

水分胁迫对燥红土和变性土上生长的玉米叶片几种酶活性的影响

采用盆栽控制试验，研究了不同处理条件下，水分胁迫对金沙江干热河谷典型土壤(燥红土和变性土)生长的玉米(Zea mays L.)叶片中几种酶活性的影响．结果表明：(1)在一定的水分胁迫范围内，玉米叶片的过氧化物酶(POD)、过氧化氢酶(CAT)、抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(ASP)和多酚氧化酶(PPO)活性均随着土壤含水量的降低而升高，但过度胁迫时，酶活性降低；(2)随着土壤含水量降低，玉米叶片中保护酶活性的变化规律略有差异，这与二者的土壤物理性质有关；(3)施肥处理和栽培方式对玉米叶片的酶活性有影响，增施有机肥和Zn肥可提高适度水分亏缺条件下玉米叶片中POD、CAT、ASP和PPO活性．图4参35     

土壤不同镉浓度对玉米CT38生长及抗氧化酶活性的影响

玉米(Zea mays L.)被认为是镉吸收强、生物量大的经济作物。采用盆栽实验研究镉胁迫对玉米CT38植株生长及抗氧化酶活性的影响。通过向土壤中添加不同浓度的镉,设定1、5、15、50、100 mg·kg-1共5个镉浓度,研究不同镉浓度长期处理下对玉米CT38生长发育的影响。结果表明:处理90 d时玉米株高在镉处理浓度15、50、100 mg·kg-1分别比对照下降了18.2%、56.1%、59.8%,鲜质量分别比对照下降了53.3%、66.9%、77.9%。镉胁迫下玉米植株叶中抗氧化酶系统的POD、CAT和APX活性变化规律存在共同点,随镉处理浓度升高,基本呈单峰曲线变化,SOD活性变化情况较复杂。处理90 d时,镉处理浓度为1、5、15、50、100 mg·kg-1时,玉米CT38叶片POD活性分别比同期对照下降了12.1%、49.8%、60%、64.9%、75.1%;APX活性分别下降了54.4%、58.9%、65.6%、79.5%、85.3%;CAT活性分别增加了12.5%、18.8%、31.3%、65.6%、143.8%。CAT活性在玉米生长发育阶段随镉浓度升高呈现增加趋势镉使玉米叶片内酶含量上升,可溶性蛋白总量增加,为玉米对抗镉胁迫提供生理基础,对抗镉胁迫影响,提高POD活性,加速玉米植株内过氧化物清除速度。在相对低的镉浓度作用下,玉米叶片CAT活性升高,抵抗低浓度镉胁迫条件下产生的过氧化氢,从而适应逆境环境。     

镉胁迫对龙葵幼苗氮代谢及其相关酶活性的影响

采用营养液培养方法,研究了系列镉浓度处理对龙葵（Solanum nigrumL）幼苗氮代谢的影响。结果表明：龙葵根系可溶性蛋白质较叶片受Cd影响更大。龙葵植株叶片和根系NO3--N含量、硝酸还原酶（NR）、谷氨酰胺合成酶（GS）活性均随镉浓度提高而先增后降,且随处理时间的延长而逐渐下降。叶片NO3--N含量和NR活性均在25μm镉处理8d后达到峰值,而根系NO3--N则在50μm镉处理8d后最高。叶片NO3--N含量受镉处理影响较根系稍大。然而,龙葵叶片中NH4＋-N含量随镉浓度升高和时间延长逐渐升高,100μm镉处理16d后最高,表明镉胁迫下龙葵叶片铵态氮富集效应明显。龙葵叶片和根系中谷氨酸脱氢酶（GDH）活性随镉处理浓度提高和处理时间延长而逐渐升高,100μm镉处理16d后达到峰值。     

减量施氮对苦荞产量形成及氮代谢酶活性的影响

为明确减量施氮对苦荞强弱势粒及产量形成的影响,以苦荞品种晋荞2号为试验材料,研究在225 kg/hm²(N1)、135 kg/hm²(N2)、45 kg/hm²(N3)、0 kg/hm²(N4,对照)4个氮肥处理下苦荞强弱势粒的灌浆动态、根系形态生理、叶片中叶绿素含量及氮代谢相关酶活性、农艺性状和产量的差异.结果显示:减氮处理下,N2处理时晋荞2号籽粒的灌浆起始势(R0)、最大灌浆速率(Gmax)和平均灌浆速率(Gmean)最大,达最大灌浆速率的时间(Tmax.G)最小;强弱势粒间以强势粒的A值(生长终值量)、R0、Gmax和Gmean大于弱势粒,而N值(形状参数)和Tmax.G则低于弱势粒. 4个氮肥处理和强弱势粒均以灌浆中期对粒重的贡献率最大,灌浆后期次之,灌浆前期最小.随着施氮量的减少,晋荞2号的根系长度等形态指标及根系活力呈先增加后降低的趋势,以N2处理最大;随着施氮量的减少,晋荞2号叶片中的叶绿素含量及谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)、谷氨酸脱氢酶(GDH)、谷氨酰胺合酶(GOGAT)、硝酸还原酶(NR)活性呈先增加后降低的趋势,N2处理最大,强弱势粒间以强势粒的叶绿素含量较高、氮代谢酶活性较大. N2处理时的株高等农艺性状及产量形成指标均大于其余3个氮肥处理.本研究表明适当减量施氮可延缓苦荞衰老、促进苦荞强弱势粒的灌浆和氮代谢酶活性的增加,提高粒重和最终产量,进而实现节肥和高产.(表7参31)     

长期不同施肥处理对华北潮土酶活性的影响

酶活性作为土壤肥力监测的关键生物指标,可以灵敏地指示土壤性质的变化,我们研究了长期施肥对潮土酶活性的影响,以期为潮土地力培育提供理论依据。以两个长期定位施肥试验(郑州、封丘)为基础,测定不同施肥处理下耕层土壤(0~15 cm)过氧化氢酶、蛋白酶、脲酶、碱性磷酸酶和蔗糖酶活性,探讨24~25年长期不同施肥对土壤酶活性的影响,并分析了各种酶活性以及酶活性与土壤养分间的相关关系。结果表明,(1)尽管两个试验地同为潮土,土壤酶活性的差异较大。郑州所有施肥处理对过氧化氢酶活性的影响均不显著(P0.05),而封丘施氮钾肥处理过氧化氢酶活性较对照提高了58.3%。(2)在不施磷肥的处理下,氮钾比为1∶1时,NK肥处理的蛋白酶活性较对照提高119%,当氮钾比为2∶1时,NK肥处理的蛋白酶活性较对照降低20%。(3)不同施肥处理均有助于潮土脲酶活性的提高,以有机肥处理提高幅度最大,在郑州和封丘分别较对照提高了41.1%和106.4%。(4)长期施肥处理并没有显著提高土壤碱性磷酸酶活性,秸秆还田配施氮磷钾肥可显著提高碱性磷酸酶活性,较对照提高了133.5%。(5)郑州各施肥处理土壤转化酶活性较对照有显著提高,以氮钾肥处理提高幅度最小,为95.5%,秸秆还田处理提高幅度最大,为439%,封丘氮钾处理和有机肥处理的转化酶活性较对照有明显提高,提高幅度分别为81.3%和180%。(6)潮土脲酶与碱性磷酸酶、转化酶活性之间具有正相关关系,脲酶与转化酶活性分别与土壤有机质、全氮含量存在显著的正相关关系。总体来说,与单纯的施用化肥相比,添加有机肥和秸秆还田能使土壤酶活性处于较高水平,有利于土壤肥力的稳步提高;NK肥比例对土壤酶产生显著影响。     

臭氧胁迫下外源喷施亚精胺和EDU对小麦生理指标的影响

采用开顶式气室模拟研究外源喷施亚精胺(Spd)和EDU对O3胁迫下小麦生理指标变化的影响,测定的生理指标包括丙二醛含量(MDA)、超氧化物歧化酶活性(SOD)、过氧化物酶活性(POD)、过氧化氢酶活性(CAT)、可溶性蛋白质含量、还原型谷胱甘肽含量(GSH)、谷胱甘肽还原酶活性(GR)、抗坏血酸含量(ASA)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶活性(APX)。结果表明,外源喷施Spd和EDU可不同程度地提高小麦叶片的SOD、POD、CAT、APX和GR活性,降低MDA和ASA含量,提高GSH和可溶性蛋白含量。当Spd的浓度为0.25、0.50和0.75mmol·L-1时,小麦叶片POD活性比对照处理提高90.0%～226.7%,CAT活性提高21.4%～40.6%,APX活性提高164.2%～191.0%,MDA含量降低9.7%～42.5%。喷施300mg·L-1EDU可导致小麦叶片POD、CAT和APX活性分别比对照处理提高76.8%、27.4%和128.1%,MDA和ASA含量降低,GSH含量提高25.6%。以上结果说明Spd和EDU是2种比较有效的缓解小麦O3胁迫的抗氧化剂,可用来防护O3对小麦的毒害。     

高等植物对甲醇的释放和利用

植物可向大气中释放一种挥发性的有机气体——甲醇,同时对这种气体可加以利用。在详细阐述甲醇的产生、释放和可能的代谢机制的基础上,通过不同浓度的甲醇溶液喷施牡丹叶片,测定其对光合作用过程及叶绿素荧光参数变化的影响。结果表明,光合作用有较大改善:光合速率明显提高,气孔导度增加,叶内CO2浓度也有一定幅度改善。叶绿素荧光参数(qN和NPQ)以及电子传递速率(ETR)发生较大改变;Fm/Fo,Fv/Fo和ΦPSII的下降可能与甲醇对牡丹叶片的双向效应(促进性和毒性)有关,这取决于喷施的浓度、次数和时间。初步的结果显示:甲醇提高光合作用速率的同时,并没有伴随光合效率和机能的改善和提高。期间的气孔导度和胞内CO2浓度的提高以及非辐射能耗散(qN和NPQ)和光呼吸的降低可能是牡丹叶片光合作用速率提高的主要原因。     

大气高CO2浓度对油菜氮素同化累积与植株生长的影响

为了指导高CO2浓度条件下甘蓝型油菜Brassica napus L.合理施氮、创建油菜高产高效以及进一步探明油菜氮代谢的调节机制提供理论依据,本研究采用微区试验,研究2个油菜品种（沪油15-33号和742-2）在2个CO2浓度水平（自然CO2摩尔分数400μmol·mol-1和高CO2摩尔分数（800±20）μmol·mol-1）和2个氮素水平（施氮与不施氮）条件下,氮素同化酶（NR和GS）活性和可溶性蛋白含量的变化,以及油菜地上部干物质量和氮素累积量的响应。试验结果表明,高CO2浓度会提高NR和GS活性;在氮素处理的影响方面,NR活性的变化与油菜的品种和生育时期不同有关：在高CO2浓度条件下,品种A在各时期的施氮处理的酶活性高于不施氮处理;品种B只在抽薹期的施氮处理低于不施氮处理,其他时期则升高;对于GS酶活性,在自然CO2浓度条件下施氮会提高GS酶活性,高CO2浓度条件下施氮则降低其活性（苗期除外）。CO2浓度升高会降低叶片中可溶性蛋白含量（盛花期除外）;在正常CO2浓度下,增施氮肥会提高叶片中可溶性蛋白含量,而在高CO2浓度下,增施氮肥会降低叶片中可溶性蛋白含量。CO2浓度升高和增施氮肥都会提高油菜地上部干物质量与氮素累积量,油菜干物质量与氮素累积量总体上与上述测定指标呈极显著相关。     

都江堰灵岩山3种人工林优势物种叶片的有机组分特征

叶片的有机组分特征不仅是植物光合产物分配策略和养分回收的重要参数,而且是衡量凋落叶分解难易程度的重要指标.为探究不同植物群落叶片间有机组分的差异,以华西雨屏区人工林的优势乔、灌、草植物作为对象,收集其成熟叶及凋落叶,研究其水溶性组分(water soluble component,WSC)、有机溶性组分(organic...     

Effects of glucosinolate and myrosinase levels in Brassica juncea on a glucosinolate-sequestering herbivore – and vice versa

Summary. Larvae of the turnip sawfly, Athalia rosae L. (Hymenoptera: Tenthredinidae), sequester glucosinolates of their host plants, namely members of the Brassicaceae family, in their haemolymph. Therefore, they need to circumvent myrosinase activities of the plant tissue which normally hydrolyse the glucosinolates after plant damage. Effects of varying levels of glucosinolates and myrosinases on the performance of A. rosae were investigated using homozygous lines of Brassica juncea (L.) with either (1) low glucosinolate (lowGS) and low myrosinase (lowMR), (2) high glucosinolate (highGS) and high myrosinase (highMR), or (3) high glucosinolate (highGS) and low myrosinase (lowMR) levels. To insure that the given quantities remained as constant as possible, newly hatched larvae were enclosed on the second-youngest leaf of a plant, and were offered a new plant of comparable physiological age (6-leaf-stage) every day. The performance of A. rosae was little affected by leaf quality. Body masses of eonymphs and adults were on average lowest on the highGS/highMR-line, but these differences were rarely significant. The pupal developmental times of females and males were longest on the highGS/lowMR-line in only one of two replicate experiments. All other performance traits (developmental times of larvae, egg numbers, adult longevity) were not significantly different. Glucosinolates, sequestered by the larvae, are carried through the pupal stage. The glucosinolate concentration measured in adult insects reflected the level of the host plant line, without showing any obvious costs for sequestration. Obviously, A. rosae is highly tolerant to variation in the glucosinolate-myrosinase system of its host. In addition, induced changes of glucosinolate concentrations and myrosinase activities caused by 24 h-feeding of groups of three small larvae were analysed in the second-youngest leaves. In contrast to the patterns most herbivores evoke on Brassicaceae, namely an increase of both glucosinolate concentration and myrosinase activity, we detected a significant decrease of both traits in all three lines where the respective trait was originally high in the plants. Although glucosinolate levels dropped in the highGS lines about 50%, these still contained higher concentrations than the lowGS line. Whereas the activity of soluble myrosinases remained highest in the highMR line, even after a decrease to almost 30% due to feeding, the levels of insoluble myrosinases converged after feeding in lowMR and highMR lines. Levels of the signalling molecule salicylic acid slightly decreased on average after feeding, whereas jasmonic acid was below the detection threshold in almost all samples. The concentration of several molecules varies strongly in plant tissue with age and can change due to induction by herbivore feeding. Therefore, if performance of an insect species is measured on plants with specific traits, the variability in these traits needs to be carefully controlled in experiments.     

Water stress alters aphid-induced glucosinolate response in Brassica oleracea var. italica differently

Glucosinolates (GS) are the main secondary metabolites in brassicaceous plants that play an important role in plant defense and plant–insect communication. GS biosynthesis in plants and their accumulation may be influenced by biotic and abiotic stressors from the environment. In the present study, GS levels in broccoli plants, Brassica oleracea var. italica Plenck, grown under different water status conditions of soil—well-watered, drought and waterlogged—were determined after two aphid species, the specialist Brevicoryne brassicae (L.) and the generalist Myzus persicae (Sulzer), had fed on them for 7 days. High-performance liquid chromatography analysis revealed that GS levels were significantly induced after B. brassicae had fed on B. italica plants grown for 2 weeks under the various water status conditions. No significant differences were determined between GS induction in the three treatments. In contrast, the induction of GS after M. persicae had fed on the plants depended greatly on water stress levels. GS content in well-watered plants increased more significantly than in plants grown under drought conditions. Feeding by M. persicae did not increase GS levels when plants were grown under waterlogged conditions. The lowest plant growth were found in M. persicae-infested plants for all three water treatments, and measurements of GS showed that the induction of GS by M. persicae decreased in line with the reduction in infested plant growth. GS induction by B. brassicae did not alter remarkably following change in plant growth under water stress. Only one of the five glucosinolates detected, the aliphatic GS 4-methylsulfinylbutyl, remained unchanged after feeding of both, M. persicae and B. brassicae, on plants under water stress. Variation in GS levels was mainly observed for the induction of indolyl GS due to aphid herbivory, but changes in indol-3-ylmethyl GS were not always consistent with the induction of other indolyl GS.     

计划烧除攀枝花苏铁林区地面覆盖物对苏铁生长和土壤理化性质的影响

选择攀枝花苏铁林下计划烧除试验后苏铁及其根系周围土壤(0~15 cm)为对象,研究火烧对攀枝花苏铁植株生长、叶片生理和苏铁根系周围土壤理化性质的影响,以期为区域攀枝花苏铁种群恢复和生态环境保护提供理论依据.结果表明:计划烧除区域苏铁成年树的株数及株高没有显著变化,新生叶片数目和幼苗株数相对未烧除区域显著增加,增幅分别达201.66%和317.7%;烧除区域苏铁植株新生叶片叶绿素a、叶绿素b、叶绿素a+b,可溶性糖、蛋白质含量,硝酸还原酶(NR)、谷氨酰胺合成酶(GS)活性,叶片碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)、钾(K)含量,C/N、N/P比与对照区域新生叶片相比无显著性差异,只有类胡萝卜素含量显著降低.计划烧除改变了苏铁根围土壤(0~15 cm)的理化性质,表现在烧除后的土壤含水量、pH值及总N、P、K含量显著降低;但是,火烧显著提高了土壤有机碳(TOC)、硝态氮(NO3--N)、铵态氮(NH4+-N)含量,微生物量C、N含量也略有升高;这说明火烧有利于增加苏铁林下土壤养分(N)的有效性,为烧除后苏铁快速恢复生长提供有利条件.     

The impact of institutional factors on the performance of genuine savings

This study investigates institutional factors affecting the performance of genuine savings (GS), which are often used in assessing sustainable development, and adopts a model of autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity in mean. We pay particular attention to the contribution of institutions to decrease the volatility level of the GS path. The estimation results show that there are two ways in which institutions affect GS performance. First, high quality of institutions enhances the GS level directly. Second, high quality of institutions enhances the GS level via stabilizing the volatility of the GS path. Considering both effects in their totality, institutional improvement plays an important role in realizing a sustainable development path.     

Habitat use,urea production and spawning in the gulf toadfish <Emphasis Type="Italic">Opsanus beta</Emphasis>

Field studies were conducted in Johnson Key Basin, Florida Bay, USA from September 2002 through September 2004 to examine physiological, ecological, and behavioral characteristics of the gulf toadfish, Opsanus beta (Goode and Bean in Proc US Natl Mes 3:333–345, 1880), in relation to nitrogen metabolism, habitat usage, and spawning. Fish collected 5 cm above sediments in experimental shelters (epibenthic) were compared with those collected by throw traps which were found on or burrowing within sediments. The relationship between microhabitat ammonia and urea excretion, as determined by the enzymatic activity of glutamine synthetase (GS), was examined. The hypothesis tested was that O. beta occupying epibenthic nests were less ureotelic with lower GS activities than non-nesting individuals on/in sediments, due to a decreased environmental ammonia burden. Porewater total ammonia (T _Amm) concentrations at a sediment depth of 5 cm, i.e., the approximate depth of burrowing toadfish, ranged from 0 to 106.5 μmol N l⁻¹ while the pH ranged from 7.48 to 9.14. There was a weak but significant correlation between environmental ammonia (NH₃) concentration and hepatic GS activity for epibenthic toadfish (P < 0.001, r ² = 0.10), but not for burrowing toadfish. Mean urea-N and T _Amm concentrations within shelters occupied by toadfish (n = 281) were 9.8 ± 0.83 μmol N l⁻¹ and 13.0 ± 0.7 μmol N l⁻¹, respectively. As predicted, hepatic GS activity was significantly lower in epibenthic toadfish captured in shelters (4.40 ± 0.24 μmol min⁻¹ g⁻¹; n = 281) as compared to individuals on/in sediments (6.61 ± 0.47 μmol min⁻¹ g⁻¹; n = 128). Glutamine synthetase activity generally peaked in March (spawning season) and was lowest in July. Gender differences in hepatic and branchial GS activity were also found during the spawning season, which is attributable to the fact that males brood and guard offspring in their epibenthic nests while females often rest on or burrow into the sediments. Finally, hepatic and branchial GS appeared to have different patterns of enzymatic activity suggesting functional differences in gene expression.