Characteristics of heat-treated Turkish pine and fir wood after ThermoWood processing

The Finnish wood heat treatment technology ThermoWood, was recently introduced to Turkey. Data about the mechanical and physical properties of Turkish wood species are important for industry and academia. In this study two industrially important Turkish wood species, pine (Pinus nigraArnold.) and fir (Abies bornmülleriana Matf.) were heat-treated using the ThermoWood process. Pine and fir samples were thermally modified for 2 hr at 212 and 190 degrees C, respectively. The modulus of rupture (MOR), modulus of elasticity in bending (MOE), impact bending strength (IBS), and compression strength (CS), in addition to swelling (Sw) and shrinkage (Sh) of thermally-modified wood were examined. The results indicate that the heat treatment method clearly decreased the MOR, MOE and lBS of pine and fir. However, a small increase was observed for CS values of heat treated wood species. The most affected mechanical properties were MOR and lBS for both pine and fir. The reduction in MOE was smaller than that in MOR and lBS. Volumetric shrinkage and swelling of these species were also improved by approximately half. In Addition, the changes in the mechanical and physical properties studied in pine were larger than that of fir.     

Growth variation of Paulownia Sieb. and Zucc. species and origins at the nursery stage in Kastamonu-Turkey

The present study was carried out on Paulownia tomentosa (6), Paulownia elongate (4), Paulownia fortunei (5) and Paulownia fortunei x tomentosa (1) origins at Kastamonu Forest Nursery. The seedling height growth (SH), root collar diameter (RCD), dry root percentage (DRP) and seedling percentage (SP) of one-year old seedlings of the origins were studied for comparing growth performance of the species and origins and discussing for guidance to field stage based on nursery stage. As a result, P. tomentosa x fortunei hybrid has the highest SH (72.62 cm) among the used species. Significant difference was determined among the origins as to the SH and DRP. The maximum SH were determined for P. tomentosa Beijing-Daxin (81.32 cm) and P. elongata Beijing-Daxin (80.76 cm) origins. The maximum DRP were determined for P. tomentosa Anhui-Tongling (77%) origin. There were no significant differences based on RCD and SP among the species and the origins. Among the parents, there were important diversities for SH and RCD. As a final remark, observations and evaluations of the Paulownia studies should be included with the clonal variation for further studies because of the observed growth variations within the population.     

Gas exchange in Paulownia species growing under different soil moisture conditions in the field

In order to evaluate their responses to drought, we determined the photosynthetic activity water potential, stomatal conductance, transpiration, water use efficiency photosynthetic photon flux density and leaf temperature of Paulownia imperialis, P. fortunei and P. elongata in three different soil moisture conditions in the field. Our results showed that P. imperialis had greater photosynthesis (8.86 micromol CO2 m(-2) s(-1)) and instantaneous water use efficiency (0.79 micromol CO2 mmol H2O(-1)) than either P. elongata (8.20 micromol CO2 m(-2) s(-1) and 0.71 micromol CO2 mmol H2O(-1)) or P. fortunei (3.26 micromol CO2 m(-2) s(-1) and 0.07 micromol CO2 mmol H2O(-1)). The rapid growth of Paulownia did not appear to be correlated with photosynthetic rates. Paulownia fortunei showed more transpiration (48.78 mmol H2O m(-2) s(-1)) and stomatal conductance (840 mmol m(-2) s(-1)) than P. imperialis (20 mmol H2O m(-2) s(-1) and 540 mmol m(-2) s(-1)) and P. elongata (20 mmol H2O m(-2) s(-1) and 410 mmol m(-2) s(-1)), which allowed these two Paulownia species to increase their tolerance to low soil moisture, and maintain higher water use efficiency under these conditions. According to our physiological gas exchange field tests, Paulownia imperialis does appear to be capable of successful growth in semiarid zones.     

农村室内薪柴燃烧的颗粒物和炭黑排放因子

室内薪柴燃烧是大气污染的重要来源,其排放的污染物对气候变化和人体健康都有很大影响。对该来源排放量的可靠估算是进行排放效应分析和合理控制的重要前提,而估算的可靠性主要取决于燃料消耗量和排放因子的准确性。目前,我国针对农村柴灶薪柴燃烧颗粒物排放因子的测定数据很少,变异很大,不足以支持可靠的排放清单估算。测定了9种薪柴(枫桦、兰考泡桐、黑杨、大叶风杨、楝树、枣树、柿树、桑树和桃树)在中国北方典型农村炉灶中燃烧产生的颗粒物(PM)、有机碳(OC)和元素碳(EC)的排放因子。受燃料种类、性质和燃烧条件的影响,测得的排放因子差别较大。9种薪柴各自的PM、EC和OC的排放因子变化范围分别为(0.74±0.13)～(6.23±1.47)g.kg-1,(0.10±0.06)～(0.97±0.28)g.kg-1和(0.14±0.03)～(3.81±0.92)g.kg-1(以干质量计)。全部薪柴的PM、EC和OC的排放因子均值和标准差分别为(2.58±2.15)、(0.29±0.31)和(0.98±1.24)g.kg-1。室内薪柴燃烧PM、EC和OC排放因子之间呈显著的相关性关系。各种薪柴燃烧排放的颗粒物粒径分布相似,均以细颗粒物为主,PM2.1占PM10总质量的90%以上。此外,除EC排放因子外,薪柴燃烧的PM和OC排放因子与校正燃烧效率显著负相关(P<0.05)。细颗粒物组分PM2.1与校正燃烧效率显著负相关(P<0.05),与燃料含水量显著正相关(P<0.05)。     

The trait contribution to wood decomposition rates of 15 Neotropical tree species

The decomposition of dead wood is a critical uncertainty in models of the global carbon cycle. Despite this, relatively few studies have focused on dead wood decomposition, with a strong bias to higher latitudes. Especially the effect of interspecific variation in species traits on differences in wood decomposition rates remains unknown. In order to fill these gaps, we applied a novel method to study long-term wood decomposition of 15 tree species in a Bolivian semi-evergreen tropical moist forest. We hypothesized that interspecific differences in species traits are important drivers of variation in wood decomposition rates. Wood decomposition rates (fractional mass loss) varied between 0.01 and 0.31 yr(-1). We measured 10 different chemical, anatomical, and morphological traits for all species. The species' average traits were useful predictors of wood decomposition rates, particularly the average diameter (dbh) of the tree species (R2 = 0.41). Lignin concentration further increased the proportion of explained inter-specific variation in wood decomposition (both negative relations, cumulative R2 = 0.55), although it did not significantly explain variation in wood decomposition rates if considered alone. When dbh values of the actual dead trees sampled for decomposition rate determination were used as a predictor variable, the final model (including dead tree dbh and lignin concentration) explained even more variation in wood decomposition rates (R2 = 0.71), underlining the importance of dbh in wood decomposition. Other traits, including wood density, wood anatomical traits, macronutrient concentrations, and the amount of phenolic extractives could not significantly explain the variation in wood decomposition rates. The surprising results of this multi-species study, in which for the first time a large set of traits is explicitly linked to wood decomposition rates, merits further testing in other forest ecosystems.     

优质蛋白玉米籽粒超微结构与品质性状的相关研究

以两个优质蛋白玉米（QPM）群体（T34QPMC3和陕综5号／O2C0）为试材，采用胚乳硬质度0，1，2，3，4五级分类法，对籽粒进行分析、观察．结果表时：胚乳硬质度越高，籽粒物理性状越好，蛋白质品质越差；硬质度越低，籽粒物理性状越差，蛋白质品质越好．在半硬质胚乳奥帕克-2玉米中，胚乳硬质度、籽粒密度的差异主要表现于胚乳内部组织，而胚乳边缘组织无差异．胚乳内部组织结构的疏密排布、淀粉粒形状、均匀住、角质化程度决定了籽粒物理性状的优劣；胚乳内部组织中基质蛋白形态、密度以及与淀粉粒结合紧密程度决定了优质蛋白玉米胚乳营养品质．     

杉木观光木混交林和杉木纯林群落细根生产力、分布及养分归还

研究了福建三明27a生杉机光木混交林和杉木群落细根（d＜2mm）的生产力、分布、和养分归还。结果表明，混交林细根生物量、N、P养分现存量分别为5．381thm^2、48．085kghm^-2和4．174kghm^-2，分别比杉木纯林增加17．4％、27．2％和20．0％，混交林林细根的年净生产力达4．124thm^-2a^-1，比纯林高出16．9％，混交林杉木和观光木细根均在表层土壤富集，而在较深层土壤再会得分布具镶嵌性；与混交林杉林相比，纯林杉木土吉表层细根量较少，最大分布层次下移，混交林中观光木细根的周转速率咪1．16，杉木为0．96和0．95；而林下植被层细根周转速率（1．46－1．52）均同于相应的乔木层，混交林细根的年死亡量、N和P养分年归还量分别达2．119thm^-2、18．559kghm^-21．565kgkhm^-2，分别是纯林的1．21倍、1．23倍和1．14 倍，其中林下植被细根占有较为重要位置，对细根分布与土壤性质的相关分析表明，细根的垂直分布与土壤全N的相关性最强（0．87－0．89）。     

Silicon carbide waste as a source of mixture materials for cement mortar

This paper presents an investigation of the feasibility of recycling silicon carbide waste (SCW) as a source of mixture materials in the production of cement mortar. Mortars with SCW were prepared by replacing different amounts of cement with SCW, and the properties of the resulting mortars, such as the fluidity, strength and shrinkage, were studied in this work. Thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry and scanning electron microscopy were employed to understand the reasons for the property changes of the mortars. The results indicate that SCW decreases the initial and 1-h fluidity of fresh mortar but improves the loss of fluidity. The mortar with SCWexhibits a lower strength at 3 d and 7 d but a higher strength at 28 d and 56 d compared to the control. The shrinkage rate of cement mortar with SCW shows an obvious decrease as the replacement ratio increases. In addition, the content of calcium hydroxide in hardened paste also shows that SCW has some impact on the hydration of the cement-SCW system. The microstructures of the hardened paste also show evidence for a later strength change of mortar containing SCW. This work provides a strategic reference for possibly applying SCW as a mixture material in the production of cement mortar.

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作物地上部氨排放及对大气氮沉降的吸收

为研究作物地上部分氨排放以及对大气氮沉淀的吸收情况,以水稻(Oryza saliva L.)品种武运粳7号和小麦(Triticumaestivum L.)品种扬麦15为例.在盆栽条件下,利用~15N同位素示踪技术,采用探索性的研究方法,初步分析了水稻成熟期植株NH_3排放和小麦植株直接吸收的大气沉降氮.结果表明,土培的水稻品种武运粳7号地上部植株成熟期排放氨氮(NH_3-N)量约占当季总施氮(N)量的(0.50±0.21)%;收获后水稻植株不同部位~(15)N丰度值以根部最高,茎叶次之,籽粒最低,这与植株体内养分的运移顺序变化一致;贫化~(15)N小麦砂培试验测定的包括植株直接吸收在内的大气氮沉降数量为N(14.8±4.3)kg·hm~(-2),低于国外类似方法以其它作物作为研究对象的测定结果.     

Selenium speciation in wheat grain varies in the presence of nitrogen and sulphur fertilisers

This study investigated whether selenium species in wheat grains could be altered by exposure to different combinations of nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) fertilisers in an agronomic biofortification experiment. Four Australian wheat cultivars (Mace, Janz, Emu Rock and Magenta) were grown in a glasshouse experiment and exposed to 3 mg Se kg^?1 soil as selenate (Se^VI). Plants were also exposed to 60 mg N kg^?1 soil as urea and 20 mg S kg^?1 soil as gypsum in a factorial design (N + S + Se; N + Se; S + Se; Se only). Plants were grown to maturity with grain analysed for total Se concentrations via ICP-MS and Se species determined via HPLC-ICP-MS. Grain Se concentrations ranged from 22 to 70 µg Se g^?1 grain (dry mass). Selenomethionine (SeMet), Se-methylselenocystine (MeSeCys), selenohomolanthionine (SeHLan), plus a large concentration of uncharacterised Se species were found in the extracts from grains. SeMet was the major Se species identified accounting for between 9 and 24 µg Se g^?1 grain. Exposure to different N and S fertiliser combinations altered the SeMet content of Mace, Janz and Emu Rock grain, but not that of Magenta. MeSeCys and SeHLan were found in far lower concentrations (<4 µg Se g^?1 grain). A large component of the total grain Se was uncharacterisable (>30 % of total grain Se) in all samples. When N fertiliser was applied (with or without S), the proportion of uncharacterisable Se increased between 60 and 70 % of the total grain Se. The data presented here indicate that it is possible to alter the content of individual Se species in wheat grains via biofortification combined with manipulation of N and S fertiliser regimes. This has potential significance in alleviating or combating both Se deficiency and Se toxicity effects in humans.     

Elasticity analyses of size-based red and white abalone matrix models: management and conservation.

Prospective elasticity analyses have been used to aid in the management of fished species and the conservation of endangered species. Elasticities were examined for deterministic size-based matrix models of red abalone, Haliotis rufescens, and white abalone, H. sorenseni, to evaluate which size classes influenced population growth (lambda) the most. In the red abalone matrix, growth transitions were determined from a tag recapture study and grouped into nine size classes. In the white abalone matrix, abalone growth was determined from a laboratory study and grouped into five size classes. Survivorship was estimated from tag recapture data for red abalone using a Jolly-Seber model with size as a covariate and used for both red and white abalone. Reproduction estimates for both models used averages of the number of mature eggs produced by female red and white abalone in each size class from four-year reproduction studies. Population growth rate (lambda) was set to 1.0, and the first-year survival (larval survival through to the first size class) was estimated by iteration. Survival elasticities were higher than fecundity elasticities in both the red and white matrix models. The sizes classes with the greatest survival elasticities, and therefore the most influence on population growth in the model, were the sublegal red abalone (150-178 mm) and the largest white abalone size class (140-175 mm). For red abalone, the existing minimum legal size (178 mm) protects the size class the model suggests is critical to population growth. Implementation of education programs for novice divers coupled with renewed enforcement may serve to minimize incidental mortality of the critical size class. For white abalone, conservation efforts directed at restoring adults may have more of an impact on population growth than efforts focusing on juveniles. Our work is an example of how prospective elasticity analyses of size-structured matrix models can be used to quantitatively evaluate research priorities, fishery management strategies, and conservation options.     

长江口柱状沉积物中有机质C/N比的研究

对长江口四个站位沉积物中有机质的C／N比在垂向上的分布进行了研究，在影响沉积物中有机质C／N比的环境因素中，上覆水体的水深、盐度、密度以及浊度对其有一定的影响．在研究沉积物中有机质C／N比的分布及其影响因素的基础上，进一步估算了陆源输入和海洋自生有机碳在这四个站位沉积物有机碳中所占的比例，结果表明，海洋自生组分占沉积物总有机碳的比例分别为：53．57％(8号站位)、20．34％(11号站位)，12．28％(17号站位)和32．73％(26号站位)．     

宁夏贺兰石赋存特征及矿物成分分析

贺兰石是宁夏的五宝之一,具有极大的经济价值和人文含义.以银川市西部的贺兰山中段为研究区,调查分析贺兰石的赋存特征和矿物成分特征,结论认为(1)贺兰石含矿岩性段赋存于青白口系黄旗口组第一岩段下部,呈狭长的条带状分布,层位稳定连续,走向大致呈南北向,顺走向延伸长度约14 km.含矿层的厚度8～23 m;(2)矿石主要成分为粘土质矿物、绢云母和绿泥石,矿石的化学成分主要为SiO2、AI2O3、Fe2O3、K2O;(3)矿石吸水率均低于1%,矿石摩氏硬度为2～4,矿石体重平均为2.89 g/cm3,矿石抗压强度为58.17 MPa,抗拉强度7.1 MPa,抗剪强度19.16 MPa;(4)研究区贺兰石开采前景广阔,具有较大的工业价值.     

椒江河口滩涂贝类时空分布与环境因子的关系

在椒江口两岸共布设6条潮间带采样断面,于2007年10月和2008年1月、4月和7月进行大型底栖动物及环境因子(水温、沉积物温度、沉积物结构、盐度、滩涂宽度、总有机物和油类含量)的调查和测定;运用典范对应方法分析了贝类栖息密度和生物量与各环境因子的关系.结果表明:(1)研究区域共记录到贝类动物23种,其中腹足纲16种,双壳纲7种;(2)贝类柄息密度和生物量季节变化不显著,空间变化显著,平均值分别为610.01 ind m~(-2) 和25.40 g m~(-2);岩头断面中国绿螂的栖息密度和生物餐的季节均值分别可达2 415.28 ind m~(-2) 和110.41 g m~(-2),远高于其他物种;(3)典范对应分析结果显示,滩涂宽度、油类含量、有机质含量和沉积物粒度等环境因子与贝类的分布存在较大相关性.图5表3参28     

ANAFORE: A stand-scale process-based forest model that includes wood tissue development and labile carbon storage in trees

A stand-scale forest model has been developed that dynamically simulates, besides carbon (C) and water (H₂O) fluxes, wood tissue development from physiological principles. The forest stand is described as consisting of trees of different size cohorts (for example, dominant, co-dominant and suppressed trees), either of the same or of different species (deciduous or coniferous). Half-hourly C and H₂O fluxes are modeled at the leaf, tree and stand level. In addition to total growth and yield, the model simulates the daily evolution of tracheid or vessel biomass and radius, parenchyma and branch development. From these data early and latewood biomass, wood tissue composition and density are calculated. Simulation of the labile C stored in the living tissues allows for simulation of trans-seasonal and trans-yearly effects, and improved simulations of long-term effects of environmental stresses on growth. A sensitivity analysis was performed to indicate the main parameters influencing simulated stem growth and wood quality at the tree and stand level. Case studies were performed for a temperate pine forest to illustrate the main model functioning and, more in particular, the simulation of the wood quality. The results indicate that the ANAFORE model is a useful tool for simultaneous analyses of wood quality development and forest ecosystem functioning.     

Spatial and temporal variability modify density dependence in populations of large herbivores

A central challenge in ecology is to understand the interplay of internal and external controls on the growth of populations. We examined the effects of temporal variation in weather and spatial variation in vegetation on the strength of density dependence in populations of large herbivores. We fit three subsets of the model ln(Nt) = a + (1 + b) x ln(N(t-1)) + c x ln(N(t-2)) to five time series of estimates (Nt) of abundance of ungulates in the Rocky Mountains, USA. The strength of density dependence was estimated by the magnitude of the coefficient b. We regressed the estimates of b on indices of temporal heterogeneity in weather and spatial heterogeneity in resources. The 95% posterior intervals of the slopes of these regressions showed that temporal heterogeneity strengthened density-dependent feedbacks to population growth, whereas spatial heterogeneity weakened them. This finding offers the first empirical evidence that density dependence responds in different ways to spatial heterogeneity and temporal heterogeneity.     

桉树间种菠萝对土壤性质和林木生长的影响

本文研究了雷林1号桉(Eucalyptus leizhou No.1)林地间种菠萝(Ananas comosus)对土壤性质、林地养分积累和林木生长的影响,并对间种的经济效益作了初步分析。结果表明,间种两年半后,林地枯落物保存量比对照区提高76％;间种区枯落物和菠萝植株所积累的N、P、K、Ca、Mg分別是对照区枯落物所积累的养分量的4.3、5.5、34.6、3.6和3.5倍;间种区桉树平均树高、胸径和每木蓄积量分別比对照区增大8.9％、13.4％和34.7％,蓄积量增加14.9m~3ha~(-1)。间种的直接经济效益已达4100元ha~(-1)。     

The performance of nitrate-reducing Fe(II) oxidation processes under variable initial Fe/N ratios: The fate of nitrogen and iron species

•Bacterially-mediated coupled N and Fe processes examined in incubation experiments. •NO₃⁻ reduction was considerably inhibited as initial Fe/N ratio increased. •The maximum production of N₂ occurred at an initial Fe/N molar ratio of 6. •Fe minerals produced at Fe/N ratios of 1–2 were mainly easily reducible oxides. The Fe/N ratio is an important control on nitrate-reducing Fe(II) oxidation processes that occur both in the aquatic environment and in wastewater treatment systems. The response of nitrate reduction, Fe oxidation, and mineral production to different initial Fe/N molar ratios in the presence of Paracoccus denitrificans was investigated in 132 h incubation experiments. A decrease in the nitrate reduction rate at 12 h occurred as the Fe/N ratio increased. Accumulated nitrite concentration at Fe/N ratios of 2–10 peaked at 12–84 h, and then decreased continuously to less than 0.1 mmol/L at the end of incubation. N₂O emission was promoted by high Fe/N ratios. Maximum production of N₂ occurred at a Fe/N ratio of 6, in parallel with the highest mole proportion of N₂ resulting from the reduction of nitrate (81.2%). XRD analysis and sequential extraction demonstrated that the main Fe minerals obtained from Fe(II) oxidation were easily reducible oxides such as ferrihydrite (at Fe/N ratios of 1–2), and easily reducible oxides and reducible oxides (at Fe/N ratios of 3–10). The results suggest that Fe/N ratio potentially plays a critical role in regulating N₂, N₂O emissions and Fe mineral formation in nitrate-reducing Fe(II) oxidation processes.     

Aspects of the ecology and growth of an intertidal juvenile population of Concholepas concholepas (Mollusca: Gastropoda: Muricidae) at Las Cruces,Chile

The habitat, density and growth rate for an intertidal population of Concholepas concholepas (Bruguière, 1789) were studied at Las Cruces, Chile (Lat. 33°30′S; Long. 71°38′W) during 1977–1978. The growth rate (3.67 mm month^-1) was determined in a newly settled group, whose average length was 11.3 mm, and whose age was estimated at 3 months. The densities found ranged between 1.1 and 107.3 “locos” m^-2. Based on these results, the time of settlement of C. concholepas was calculated; capsule deposition, maximum maturity and recruitment reported by other authors for different localities are discussed.     

Plant diversity, CO2, and N influence inorganic and organic N leaching in grasslands

In nitrogen (N)-limited systems, the potential to sequester carbon depends on the balance between N inputs and losses as well as on how efficiently N is used, yet little is known about responses of these processes to changes in plant species richness, atmospheric CO2 concentration ([CO2]), and N deposition. We examined how plant species richness (1 or 16 species), elevated [CO2] (ambient or 560 ppm), and inorganic N addition (0 or 4 g x m(-2) x yr(-1)) affected ecosystem N losses, specifically leaching of dissolved inorganic N (DIN) and organic N (DON) in a grassland field experiment in Minnesota, USA. We observed greater DIN leaching below 60 cm soil depth in the monoculture plots (on average 1.8 and 3.1 g N x m(-2) x yr(-1) for ambient N and N-fertilized plots respectively) than in the 16-species plots (0.2 g N x m(-2) x yr(-1) for both ambient N and N-fertilized plots), particularly when inorganic N was added. Most likely, loss of complementary resource use and reduced biological N demand in the monoculture plots caused the increase in DIN leaching relative to the high-diversity plots. Elevated [CO2] reduced DIN concentrations under conditions when DIN concentrations were high (i.e., in N-fertilized and monoculture plots). Contrary to the results for DIN, DON leaching was greater in the 16-species plots than in the monoculture plots (on average 0.4 g N x m(-2) x yr(-1) in 16-species plots and 0.2 g N x m(-2) x yr(-1) in monoculture plots). In fact, DON dominated N leaching in the 16-species plots (64% of total N leaching as DON), suggesting that, even with high biological demand for N, substantial amounts of N can be lost as DON. We found no significant main effects of elevated [CO2] on DIN or DON leaching; however, elevated [CO2] reduced the positive effect of inorganic N addition on DON leaching, especially during the second year of observation. Our results suggest that plant species richness, elevated [CO2], and N deposition alter DIN loss primarily through changes in biological N demand. DON losses can be as large as DIN loss but are more sensitive to organic matter production and turnover.