Global warming potential of emissions from rice paddies in Northeastern China

In this study, paddy fields in Jilin province which are flooded parcel of arable lands used for growing rice (Oryza sativa Linn.) were selected as the object. Long-term exploitation of paddy fields led to variations of soil organic carbon (SOC) and green house gases (GHGs) emissions which might contribute to global warming. In order to calculate the amount of global warming potentials (GWPs) of emissions from ricepaddies and find the correlations among rice yield, SOC storage and GWP, DeNitrification-DeComposition (DNDC) model was used to simulate SOC densities and fluxes of main GHGs emitted from paddy fields. After verification, simulation results were used to calculate SOC storages and 100-year GWPs from 1949 to 2009. Results indicated that SOC densities in depths of 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm and 20–30 cm all kept increasing. Average methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) fluxes were 278.55 kg carbon (kgC) ha⁻¹ a⁻¹ and 2.22 kg nitrogen (kgN) ha⁻¹ a⁻¹. The SOC storage (0–30 cm) had increased from 3.96 × 10⁹kgC in 1949 to 47.85 × 10⁹kgC in 2009. In addition, GWP emission was increasing exponentially in the past 61 years, from 0.16 × 10⁶ Mg carbon dioxide equivalents (CO₂-equivalents) to 66.36 × 10⁶ Mg CO₂-equivalents. Both SOC storage and GWP presented obviously linear relation to rice yields. Overall, the research suggested that long-term rice yields could be used to estimate the SOC storage and GWP variations.     

Technical feasibility study of an onshore ballast water treatment system

To fulfill the requirements of Guidelines for approval of ballast water management system (G8), a set of onshore ballast water treatment equipment utilizing micro-pore ceramic filtration (MPCF) and UV radiation (MPCF&UV) system was designed and set up with a maximum flow rate of 80 m³·h⁻¹. Technical feasibilities of MPCF&UV system were evaluated in three areas: removal efficiencies of indicator organism and oceanic bacteria, perdurability of a ceramic filter, and application on native seawater. The results showed that no indicator organism (Dunaliella) or oceanic bacteria was detected after treatment of 20 L MPCF and UV radiation at 1.3×10⁴ μW·s·cm⁻². A 20 L ceramic filter can run continuously for 5.3 h at the flow rate of 15 m³·h⁻¹ before its pressure drop up to 0.195 MPa. The removal percentage of total plankton amounts were 91.9% at a flow rate of 70 m³·h⁻¹ by 80 L MPCF and UV radiation at 1.3×10⁴ μW·s·cm⁻².     

High-field 1H T1 and T2 NMR relaxation time measurements of H2O in homeopathic preparations of quartz, sulfur, and copper sulfate

Quantitative meta-analyses of randomized clinical trials investigating the specific therapeutic efficacy of homeopathic remedies yielded statistically significant differences compared to placebo. Since the remedies used contained mostly only very low concentrations of pharmacologically active compounds, these effects cannot be accounted for within the framework of current pharmacology. Theories to explain clinical effects of homeopathic remedies are partially based upon changes in diluent structure. To investigate the latter, we measured for the first time high-field (600/500 MHz) ¹H T₁ and T₂ nuclear magnetic resonance relaxation times of H₂O in homeopathic preparations with concurrent contamination control by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Homeopathic preparations of quartz (10c–30c, n = 21, corresponding to iterative dilutions of 100⁻¹⁰–100⁻³⁰), sulfur (13x–30x, n = 18, 10⁻¹³–10⁻³⁰), and copper sulfate (11c–30c, n = 20, 100⁻¹¹–100⁻³⁰) were compared to n = 10 independent controls each (analogously agitated dilution medium) in randomized and blinded experiments. In none of the samples, the concentration of any element analyzed by ICP-MS exceeded 10 ppb. In the first measurement series (600 MHz), there was a significant increase in T₁ for all samples as a function of time, and there were no significant differences between homeopathic potencies and controls. In the second measurement series (500 MHz) 1 year after preparation, we observed statistically significant increased T₁ relaxation times for homeopathic sulfur preparations compared to controls. Fifteen out of 18 correlations between sample triplicates were higher for controls than for homeopathic preparations. No conclusive explanation for these phenomena can be given at present. Possible hypotheses involve differential leaching from the measurement vessel walls or a change in water molecule dynamics, i.e., in rotational correlation time and/or diffusion. Homeopathic preparations thus may exhibit specific physicochemical properties that need to be determined in detail in future investigations. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Quantification of net primary production of Chinese forest ecosystems with spatial statistical approaches

Net primary production (NPP) of terrestrial ecosystems provides food, fiber, construction materials, and energy to humans. Its demand is likely to increase substantially in this century due to rising population and biofuel uses. Assessing national forest NPP is of importance to best use forest resources in China. To date, most estimates of NPP are based on process-based ecosystem modeling, forestry inventory, and satellite observations. There are little efforts in using spatial statistical approaches while large datasets of in-situ observed NPP are available for Chinese forest ecosystems. Here we use the surveyed forest NPP and ecological data at 1,266 sites, the data of satellite forest coverage, and the information of climate and topography to estimate Chinese forest NPP and their associated uncertainties with two geospatial statistical approaches. We estimate that the Chinese forest and woodland ecosystems have total NPP of 1,325 ± 102 and 1,258 ± 186 Tg C year⁻¹ in 1.57 million km² forests with a regression method and a kriging method, respectively. These estimates are higher than the satellite-based estimate of 1,034 Tg C year⁻¹ and almost double the estimate of 778 Tg C year⁻¹ using a process-based terrestrial ecosystem model. Cross-validation suggests that the estimates with the kriging method are more accurate. Our developed geospatial statistical models could be alternative tools to provide national-level NPP estimates to better use Chinese forest resources.     

Carbon sequestration of paddy fields in Western Jilin of China during 1989–2004

The study area of this article, Western Jilin province of China, was a typical area responding to global changing in middle latitude areas. In this paper, by interpreting the thematic mapper (TM) images of the study area in the years of 1989, 1996, 2000 and 2004, the land use/cover change (LUCC) data were achieved, which included the area of paddy fields and its spatial distributions. 113 soil samples were collected to obtain soil organic carbon (SOC) data of different land use types. After that, the organic matter contents of these samples were measured by using the potassium dichromate oxidation-outer heating method. Based on the data above, the amount of SOC sequestrated by the surface soil (0~30 cm) of paddy fields was calculated. The result showed that: the area of paddy fields was increasing continuously in western Jilin, from 11.28 × 10⁴ hm² in 1989 to 22.77 × 10⁴ hm² in 2004. Paddy fields transferred from wetlands, grasslands and water areas accounted for the main part of the paddy fields in 2004, the areas were 3.09 × 10⁴ hm², 2.98 × 10⁴ hm² and 2.8 × 10⁴ hm², respectively. And paddy fields with a total area of 0.83 × 10⁴ hm² degraded into saline-alkali lands. The amount of organic carbon sequestration in the surface layer (0–30 cm) of paddy fields was 658.86 × 10⁴ t. The primary SOC sinks located around the joint of Baicheng City and Zhenlai County, while the major SOC source located at Songyuan City and northern Qianguo County.     

Nitrifying population dynamics in a redox stratified membrane biofilm reactor (RSMBR) for treating ammonium-rich wastewater

Nitrogen removal performance and nitrifying population dynamics were investigated in a redox stratified membrane biofilm reactor (RSMBR) under oxygen limited condition to treat ammonium-rich wastewater. When the NHt₄⁺-N loading rate increased from 11.1±1.0 to 37:2 ± 3:2 gNHt₄⁺-N·m⁻²·d⁻¹, the nitrogen removal in the RSMBR system increased from 18.0±9.6 mgN·d⁻¹ to 128.9±61.7 mgN·d⁻¹. Shortcut nitrogen removal was achieved with nitrite accumulation of about 22:3 ± 5:3 mgNO₂⁻-N·L⁻¹. Confocal micrographs showed the stratified distributions of nitrifiers and denitrifiers in the membrane aerated biofilms (MABs) at day 120, i.e., ammonia and nitrite oxidizing bacteria (AOB and NOB) were dominant in the region adjacent to the membrane, while heterotrophic bacteria propagated at the top of the biofilm. Real-time qPCR results showed that the abundance of amoA gene was two orders of magnitude higher than the abundance of nxrA gene in the MABs. However, the nxrA gene was always detected during the operation time, which indicates the difficulty of complete washout of NOB in MABs. The growth of heterotrophic bacteria compromised the dominance of nitrifiers in biofilm communities, but it enhanced the denitrification performance of the RSMBR system. Applying a high ammonia loading together with oxygen limitation was found to be an effective way to start nitrite accumulation in MABs, but other approaches were needed to sustain or improve the extent of nitritation in nitrogen conversion in MABs.     

Cerumen of Australian stingless bees (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tetragonula carbonaria</Emphasis>): gas chromatography-mass spectrometry fingerprints and potential anti-inflammatory properties

Cerumen, or propolis, is a mixture of plant resins enriched with bee secretions. In Australia, stingless bees are important pollinators that use cerumen for nest construction and possibly for colony’s health. While extensive research attests to the therapeutic properties of honeybee (Apis mellifera) propolis, the biological and medicinal properties of Australian stingless bee cerumen are largely unknown. In this study, the chemical and biological properties of polar extracts of cerumen from Tetragonula carbonaria in South East Queensland, Australia were investigated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses and in vitro 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) cell-free assays. Extracts were tested against comparative (commercial tincture of A. mellifera propolis) and positive controls (Trolox and gallic acid). Distinct GC-MS fingerprints of a mixed diterpenic profile typical of native bee cerumen were obtained with pimaric acid (6.31 ± 0.97%, w/w), isopimaric acid (12.23 ± 3.03%, w/w), and gallic acid (5.79 ± 0.81%, w/w) tentatively identified as useful chemical markers. Characteristic flavonoids and prenylated phenolics found in honeybee propolis were absent. Cerumen extracts from T. carbonaria inhibited activity of 5-LOX, an enzyme known to catalyse production of proinflammatory mediators (IC₅₀ 19.97 ± 2.67 μg/ml, mean ± SEM, n = 4). Extracts had similar potency to Trolox (IC₅₀ 12.78 ± 1.82 μg/ml), but were less potent than honeybee propolis (IC₅₀ 5.90 ± 0.62 μg/ml) or gallic acid (IC₅₀ 5.62 ± 0.35 μg/ml, P < 0.001). These findings warrant further investigation of the ecological and medicinal properties of this stingless bee cerumen, which may herald a commercial potential for the Australian beekeeping industry.     

Anatomic and acoustic sexual dimorphism in the sound emission system of Phoenicoprocta capistrata (Lepidoptera: Arctiidae)

Both sexes of Phoenicoprocta capistrata have functional tymbals. The scanning electron microscopy revealed differences in the morphology of these organs in males and females. Male tymbals have a well-developed striated band, constituted by 21 ± 2 regularly arranged striae whereas female tymbals lack a striated band. This type of sexual dimorphism is rare in Arctiidae. The recording of the sound produced by moths held by the wings revealed that while males produced trains of pulses organized in modulation cycles, females produced clicks at low repetition rate following very irregular patterns. Statistically, there are differences between sexes in terms of the duration of pulses, which were 355 ± 24 μs in the case of males and 289 ± 29 μs for females. The spectral characteristics of the pulses also show sexual dimorphism. Male pulses are more tuned (Q ₁₀ = 5.2 ± 0.5) than female pulses (Q ₁₀ = 2.7 ± 0.5) and have a higher best frequency (42 ± 1 kHz vs. 29 ± 2 kHz). To our knowledge, this is the first report on an arctiid moth showing sexual dimorphism in tymbal’s anatomy that leads to a best frequency dimorphism. Males produce sound at mating attempts. The sounds recorded during mating are modulation cycles with the same spectral characteristics as those recorded when males are held by the wings. The morphological and acoustic features of female tymbals could indicate a process of degeneration and adaptation to conditions under which the emission of complex patterns is not necessary. Frank Coro no longer works at Universidad de La Habana.     

Homing pigeons (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Columba livia</Emphasis> f. <Emphasis Type="Italic">domestica</Emphasis>) can use magnetic cues for locating food

An experimental group of homing pigeons (Columba livia f. domestica) learned to associate food with a magnetic anomaly produced by bar magnets that were fixed to the bowl in which they received their daily food ration in their home loft; the control group lacked this experience. Both groups were trained to search for two hidden food depots in a rectangular sand-filled arena without obvious visual cues; for the experimental birds, these depots were also marked with three 1.15 × 10⁶ μT bar magnets. During the tests, there were two food depots, one marked with the magnets, the other unmarked; their position within the arena was changed from test to test. The experimental birds searched within 10 cm of the magnetically marked depot in 49% of the test sessions, whereas the control birds searched there in only 11% of the sessions. Both groups searched near the control depot in 11 and 13% of the sessions, respectively. The significant preference of the magnetically marked food depot by the experimental birds shows that homing pigeons cannot only detect a magnetic anomaly but can also use it as a cue for locating hidden food in an open arena.     

全绿吊兰茎叶系统净化室内甲醛及其生理指标变化

为了对全绿吊兰盆栽茎叶系统净化室内空气甲醛污染的效率及其叶片各生理指标的变化特征进行全面研究,采用动态熏蒸系统在甲醛环境下对全绿吊兰进行长达7 d的熏蒸处理,分析盆栽茎叶系统在不同时间段内对空气中甲醛的去除率及熏蒸后叶片的生理变化特性.结果表明,全绿吊兰盆栽茎叶系统在φ（甲醛）为1×10-6、5×10-6及8×10-6时对空气中甲醛的平均去除率分别为54.4%、48.2%和30.7%,并且白天的去除率（71.1%±0.2%）明显高于夜间（36.2%±0.2%）,下午的去除率（60.0%±0.0%）高于上午（50.7%±0.1%）,熏蒸后期的去除率（57.0%±0.2%）高于前期（51.9%±0.3%）.对熏蒸后全绿吊兰盆栽叶片的生理指标测定结果表明,与对照组相比,除了叶片中w（叶绿素）和CAT活性下降外,其余生理指标均表现为上升,其中,电导率和H₂O₂含量的变化最大,φ（甲醛）为8×10-6时分别提高了165.8%和522.2%,而抗氧化酶总活性的增强有效地清除了积累的氧化物,维持了全绿吊兰盆栽的正常生长.另外,经过8×10-6的甲醛熏蒸后,与对照组相比,叶片表面气孔形态变得更加细小狭长甚至完全闭合,但是全绿吊兰盆栽的茎叶外观并无明显受损症状,而且叶片中MDA含量与T-AOC活性在熏蒸后15 d时基本能恢复至正常水平.研究显示,全绿吊兰盆栽对甲醛具有较高的去除能力且有较强的抗耐性及自愈能力,其叶片中各项生理指标的变化则反映了全绿吊兰盆栽与甲醛之间的相互反应机制.      

巢湖完全氨氧化细菌的丰度、群落结构及其影响因素研究

完全氨氧化过程（complete ammonia oxidation, comammox）的发现使研究者们对硝化作用和氮循环都有了新的认识.本研究选取巢湖冬夏季表层（0~10 cm）沉积物样品,运用高通量测序、实时定量PCR等分子生物学技术对comammox细菌的丰度和群落结构进行研究.结果表明：基于amoA基因的comammox细菌的丰度为（5.20±0.72）×10⁶~（4.06±1.23）×10⁷ copies·g^-1;氨氧化古菌的丰度为（5.39±1.01）×10⁵~（1.60±0.18）×10⁷ copies·g^-1;氨氧化细菌的丰度为（6.16±1.57）×10⁵~（4.30±0.19）×10⁶ copies·g^-1.comammox细菌的绝对丰度显著高于氨氧化古菌和氨氧化细菌.多样性分析表明冬季巢湖表层沉积物中的comammox细菌的物种多样性大于夏季.其中Candidatus Nitrospira nitrificans、Candidatus Nitrospira nitrosa和Candidatus Nitrospira inopinata的相对丰度最高占比分别为78.72%、49.80%和6.28%,且夏季样点中Candidatus Nitrospira inopinata的相对丰度显著高于冬季样点.主坐标分析（Principle Coordinate Analysis, PcoA）结果表明,comammox细菌的群落结构具有明显的时间异质性.理化因子中,NH₄⁺和NO₃^-与comammox细菌的丰度呈负相关关系.本研究在一定程度上揭示了comammox细菌的丰度、群落组成、多样性及其与理化因子的关系.     

华北区域大气中羰基化合物体积分数水平及化学反应活性

为了解华北区域光化学污染特征,于2018年5月至2019年4月在石家庄和兴隆地区利用2,4-二硝基苯肼（DNPH）对空气中的羰基化合物进行采样,并利用高效液相色谱对采集样品进行分析,以了解该区域羰基化合物的组成、体积分数、来源、·OH损耗速率和臭氧生成潜势.本研究共测定了13种含羰基的挥发性有机物,其中体积分数最高的3种物质为丙酮、甲醛和乙醛[石家庄地区：（6.46±5.25）×10^-9、（3.76±2.29）×10^-9和（2.65±1.74）×10^-9;兴隆地区：（1.85±1.27）×10^-9、（1.29±1.02）×10^-9和（0.72±0.48）×10^-9];C1/C2和C2/C3值表明石家庄地区工业化水平较高,受机动车尾气和化石燃料燃烧等人为排放影响较明显;兴隆地区采样点处于背景区域,受自然源影响较大;石家庄地区对L_·OH贡献最大的3种物质分别为乙醛（1.77 s^-1）、甲醛（1.57 s^-1）和丁醛（0.42 s^-1）;兴隆地区对L_·OH贡献最大的3种物质为分别为甲醛（0.53 s^-1）、乙醛（0.47 s^-1）和丁醛（0.12 s^-1）;对O₃生成贡献最大的羰基化合物物种为甲醛和乙醛[石家庄地区：34.61×10^-9（以O₃计,下同）和16.73×10^-9;兴隆地区：11.77×10^-9和4.47×10^-9],且甲醛的最大臭氧生成潜势估算（OFP）远高于乙醛.     

南京北郊BTESX特征及健康风险评估

采用AMA GC5000BTX监测2014年1月~2016年12月南京北郊大气中苯、甲苯、乙苯、间/对-二甲苯、邻-二甲苯和苯乙烯（BTESX）的体积分数,分析了BTESX体积分数的变化特征以及气象要素对其的影响,并使用特征比值法（T/B）对BTESX的来源进行了定性分析,最后利用EPA的人体暴露分析评价方法对BTESX健康风险进行评估.结果表明,在观测期间,φ（BTESX）平均值为（7.28±6.63）×10^-9,其中φ（苯）最高,为（2.45±3.91）×10^-9,其他物种体积分数由大到小为：甲苯>乙苯>间/对-二甲苯>邻-二甲苯>苯乙烯,分别为：（2.41±2.61）×10^-9、（1.37±1.28）×10^-9、（0.51±0.48）×10^-9、（0.30±0.36）×10^-9和（0.22±0.42）×10^-9.由于存在稳定的芳烃源,BTESX体积分数的月变化和季节变化均不如其他物种（NO_x、CO、SO₂和PM_2.5等）明显.同时,BTESX及其他污染物的"周末效应"不显著.BTESX体积分数很大程度受到来自东北方向化工等企业以及交通主干道的污染物短距离输送的影响,导致BTESX体积分数在东北方向上较大.BTESX体积分数受到相对湿度和温度的共同影响,其高值区主要位于30%~70%相对湿度范围内,在该相对湿度范围内,温度越高,BTESX体积分数高值区域范围也越大.BTESX在不同季节的HI （危害指数）处于EPA认定的安全范围内,而R（苯致癌风险）值则高于EPA规定的安全阈值,同时HI和R值在夏季较高,因此需要高度重视.     

Biosorption of Cr(III) from aqueous solution by freeze-dried activated sludge: Equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic studies

Batch biosorption experiments were conducted to remove Cr(III) from aqueous solutions using activated sludge from a sewage treatment plant. An investigation was conducted on the effects of the initial pH, contact time, temperature, and initial Cr(III) concentration in the biosorption process. The results revealed that the activated sludge exhibited the highest Cr(III) uptake capacity (120 mg·g⁻¹) at 45°C, initial pH of 4, and initial Cr(III) concentration of 100 mg·L⁻¹. The biosorption results obtained at various temperatures showed that the biosorption pattern accurately followed the Langmuir model. The calculated thermodynamic parameters, ΔGo° ( − 0.8–4.58 kJ·mol⁻¹), ΔH° (15.6–44.4 kJ·mol⁻¹), and ΔS° (0.06–0.15 kJ·mol⁻¹·K⁻¹) clearly indicated that the biosorption process was feasible, spontaneous, endothermic, and physical. The pseudo first-order and second-order kinetic models were adopted to describe the experimental data, which revealed that the Cr(III) biosorption process conformed to the second-order rate expression and the biosorption rate constants decreased with increasing Cr (III) concentration. The analysis of the values of biosorption activation energy (E _a = −7 kJ·mol⁻¹) and the intraparticle diffusion model demonstrated that Cr(III) biosorption was film-diffusion-controlled.     

中国市政污泥中磷的含量与形态分布

于2016年采集了全国46个城市的市政污泥样品,运用SMT法测定了污泥中不同形态磷的含量.结果表明,我国市政污泥中总磷（TP）、无机磷（IP）、非磷灰石态无机磷（NAIP）、磷灰石态无机磷（AP）、有机磷（OP）和生物有效磷（NAIP+OP）的平均含量分别为（17.32±5.13）、（11.71±4.01）、（9.18±3.44）、（3.03±2.74）、（4.54±4.23）和（13.72±4.36）g·kg^-1.其中IP是污泥中磷的主要存在形态,占TP含量的60%以上;NAIP是主要的无机磷形态,占IP含量的66%以上.污泥中生物有效磷占TP含量的比例介于66.8%~96.1%之间,二者呈现极显著正相关关系（r=0.942,P<0.01）.市政污泥磷含量和排放量总体上呈现东高西低的空间分布规律.2016年随污泥处置排放入环境的磷达到了1.04×10⁵ t,其中1.95×10⁴ t随污泥农用进入土壤,4.69×10⁴ t进入填埋场,1.47×10⁴ t进入建筑材料中,2.34×10⁴ t经垃圾焚烧进入焚烧灰,4.50t被直接倾倒丢弃.与历史数据对比发现,我国市政污泥中总磷的含量呈现先升高、后降低的变化趋势.     

Heat and carbon dioxide generated by honeybees jointly act to kill hornets

We have found that giant hornets (Vespa mandarinia japonica) are killed in less than 10 min when they are trapped in a bee ball created by the Japanese honeybees Apis cerana japonica, but their death cannot be solely accounted for by the elevated temperature in the bee ball. In controlled experiments, hornets can survive for 10 min at the temperature up to 47°C, whereas the temperature inside the bee balls does not rise higher than 45.9°C. We have found here that the CO₂ concentration inside the bee ball also reaches a maximum (3.6 ± 0.2%) in the initial 0–5 min phase after bee ball formation. The lethal temperature of the hornet (45–46°C) under conditions of CO₂ concentration (3.7 ± 0.44%) produced using human expiratory air is almost the same as that in the bee ball. The lethal temperature of the honeybee is 50–51°C under the same air conditions. We concluded that CO₂ produced inside the bee ball by honeybees is a major factor together with the temperature involved in defense against giant hornets.     

Optimizing carbon sequestration in commercial forests by integrating carbon management objectives in wood supply modeling

This paper provides a methodology for generating forest management plans, which explicitly maximize carbon (C) sequestration at the forest-landscape level. This paper takes advantage of concepts first presented in a paper by Meng et al. (2003; Mitigation Adaptation Strategies Global Change 8:371–403) by integrating C-sequestration objective functions in existing wood supply models. Carbon-stock calculations performed in Woodstock^TM (RemSoft Inc.) are based on C yields generated from volume table data obtained from local Forest Development Survey plots and a series of wood volume-to-C content conversion factors specified in von Mirbach (2000). The approach is used to investigate the impact of three demonstration forest-management scenarios on the C budget in a 110,000 ha forest in south-central New Brunswick, Canada. Explicit demonstration scenarios addressed include (1) maximizing timber extraction either by clearcut or selection harvesting for greatest revenue generation, (2) maximizing total C storage in the forest landscape and in wood products generated from harvesting, and (3) maximizing C storage together with revenue generation. The level of clearcut harvesting was greatest for scenario 1 (≥15 × 10⁴ m³ of wood and ≥943 ha of land per harvesting period), and least for scenario 2 (=0 m³ per harvesting period) where selection harvesting dominated. Because softwood saw logs were worth more than pulpwood ($60 m⁻³ vs. $40 m⁻³) and were strategic to the long-term storage of C, the production of softwood saw logs exceeded the production of pulpwood in all scenarios. Selection harvesting was generally the preferred harvesting method across scenarios. Only in scenario 1 did levels of clearcut harvesting occasionally exceed those of selection harvesting, mainly in the removal of old, dilapidated stands early in the simulation (i.e., during periods 1 through 3). Scenario 2 provided the greatest total C-storage increase over 80 years (i.e., 14 × 10⁶ Mg C, or roughly 264 Mg ha⁻¹) at a cost of $111 per Mg C due to lost revenues. Scenarios 3 and 1 produced reduced storage rates of roughly 9 × 10⁶ Mg C and 3 × 10⁶ Mg C, respectively; about 64% and 22% of the total, 80-year C storage calculated in scenario 2. The bulk of the C in scenario 2 was stored in the forest, amounting to about 76% of the total C sequestered.     

The action spectrum for maximal photosensitivity of germination

 Fruits of Garden Lettuce, imbibed in 0.01 M KNO₃, were depleted of maternal active phytochrome B by saturating deep-red exposure and photosensitized by chilling for 1 week at 4  °C. Twenty saturated fluence-response curves for photoinduced germination were elaborated between 300 and 800 nm, using exposure periods from 6 to 600 s at 22.5  °C; there is linear and closely parallel regression in the logarithmic probability net. The reciprocals of the half-response fluences obtained gave the apparent conversion spectrum of the controlling pigments and this was corrected for the transmittance of the seed-coat. It is a phytochrome spectrum of P _r with photoconversion cross-sections of 1.2·10⁹ and 4.5·10³ m² mol^–1 at 666 and 800 nm, respectively. This means that for half-saturated germination of sensitized seed, fewer than 1 out of 200,000 phytochrome A molecules have to be photoconverted to P _fr, and no photo-reversibility by deep-red was found. Therefore, all spectral colours of nightly moon- or skylight should stimulate the germination of sensitized weed seeds if they are exposed at the soil surface between sequential tillage operations. Received: 28 April 2000 / Accepted in revised form: 28 July 2000     

The key to winter survival: daily torpor in a small arid-zone marsupial

Mammalian hibernation, which lasts on average for about 6 months, can reduce energy expenditure by >90% in comparison to active individuals. In contrast, the widely held view is that daily torpor reduces energy expenditure usually by about 30%, is employed for a few hours every few days, and often occurs only under acute energetic stress. This interpretation is largely based on laboratory studies, whereas knowledge on daily torpor in the field is scant. We used temperature telemetry to quantify thermal biology and activity patterns of a small arid-zone marsupial, the stripe-faced dunnart Sminthopsis macroura (16.9 g), in the wild and to test the hypothesis that daily torpor is a crucial survival strategy of this species in winter. All individuals entered torpor daily with the exception of a single male that remained normothermic for a single day (torpor on 212 of 213 observation days, 99.5%). Torpor was employed at air temperatures (T _a) ranging from approximately −1°C to 36°C. Dunnarts usually entered torpor during the night and aroused at midday with the daily increase of T _a. Torpor was on average about twice as long (mean 11.0 ± 4.7 h, n = 8) than in captivity. Animals employed sun basking during rewarming, reduced foraging time significantly, and occasionally omitted activity for several days in sequence. Consequently, we estimate that daily torpor in this species can reduce daily energy expenditure by up to 90%. Our study shows that for wild stripe-faced dunnarts daily torpor is an essential mechanism for overcoming energetic challenges during winter and that torpor data obtained in the laboratory can substantially underestimate the ecological significance of daily torpor in the wild.     

Contrasting factors controlling microbial respiratory activity in the sediment of two adjacent Mediterranean wetlands

Electron transport system (ETS) activity of sediments as an indication of microbial metabolic activity was examined in two adjacent Mediterranean wetlands (southern Spain). We determined the spatio-temporal variation in ETS, and we explored the potential biological [organic matter (OM), chlorophyll a (Chl a), aerobic and anaerobic bacteria] drivers of sediment ETS activity. ETS activity was notably higher in the eutrophic Lake Nueva (34.91 μl O₂ g⁻¹ D.W. h⁻¹) than in the hypertrophic Lake Honda (24.99 μl O₂ g⁻¹ D.W. h⁻¹). Strong spatial differences were observed in ETS in both study sites. Highest ETS values were achieved at the surface sediment at the deepest sampling station in each lake and a notable reduction in ETS with sediment depth was observed. By using linear regression and multiple regression analysis, OM was identified as the best predictor of ETS in Lake Honda while Chl a was the best predictor in Lake Nueva. The strong influence of OM supply on ETS activity in sediment from Lake Honda was the consequence of the labile nature of sedimentary OM, while a more refractory OM (with a higher contribution of vascular plants) comprised most of the sedimentary OM from Lake Nueva. By contrast, a large contribution of phytobenthos (supported by a higher lake water transparency) to ETS has been recognized in sediments from Lake Nueva. In summary, the results of this study revealed that the relative importance of planktonic primary producers (phytoplankton), benthic algae and vascular plants in the study sites could explain the differences observed in the intensity of sediment ETS as well as in their drivers.