Protection versus culture-driven exploitation of wild plant resources: the case on Changbai Mountain

Under Chinese culture it is believed that herbal medicine is always safe and wild food is always healthy. Generally, the rarer a plant, the higher its value. The booming economy in China has promoted tourism development in wilderness areas and wild medicinal and food plants are part of the attraction to tourists. Conflicts between wild plant exploitation and protection have emerged in many parts of China, such as Changbai Mountain. Changbai Mountain supports numerous medicinal and food plants but many have become rare and endangered. This paper numerically evaluates 30 plant species that have relatively high conservation value for each type (medicinal, ornamental and food), and briefly describes the uses of four to five top ranked species per type that need more protection on Changbai Mountain. This paper also addresses some tree species with important timber values on Changbai Mountain. Over 90% of China's medicinal, ornamental and food plant species, as well as valuable timber trees are found in the conifer–broadleaf mixed forest zone across the boundary of Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve. It is a major challenge to protect the native biodiversity of mixed forest on Changbai Mountain and more efforts need to be made to protect rare and endangered plant species with high economic value.     

大气污染指示植物的研究

自50年代以来.为寻找一种经济、实用和灵敏的方法来监测环境变化,开展了大量大气污染指示植物的研究.这些工作包括用植物叶片典型症状、树皮、草本植物、附生植物指示气体污染(O_3、PANs、NO_x、SO_2、HF、乙烯等)、粉尘以及重金属污染.进入80年代以后,有关研究集中到利用植物富集的污染物含量结合计算机等先进技术指示和监测大气环境变化及进行大气质量评价.本文对国内外开展的大气污染指示植物研究的历史及其主要方法作了简要介绍,并就利用植物指示和监测大气污染的若干问题进行了探讨.     

部分绿色植物对环境的保护作用

绿色植物对环境有着重要的保护作用．概括而言，绿色植物可以吸收CO2、二氧化硫、氟化氢及其它一些有害气体，同时绿色植物还吸收空气中的灰尘、杀灭细菌以及净化水源．本文详细探讨了绿色植物的环保作用，旨在提高人们对于绿色植物认识和保护意识．     

园林植物滞留不同粒径大气颗粒物的特征及规律

为研究常用园林植物滞留大气颗粒物的能力,本文以北京市常用园林植物为例,应用直接采样、电镜分析和统计分析的方法,对选定园林植物滞留不同粒径大气颗粒物的特征及规律进行了系统分析。结果表明：（1）园林植物滞留的颗粒物形状为不规则块体、球体和聚合体,通过对比分析得出,滞留大气颗粒物能力由高到低的微形态结构依次是蜡质结构〉绒毛〉沟槽〉条状突起,并且这些微形态结构越密集、深浅差别越大,越有利于滞留大气颗粒物。（2）以园林植物叶片滞留颗粒物的数量进行统计时,得出园林植物叶片表面大部分为PM10（Dp≤10μm）,均在98%以上,而PM2.5（Dp≤2.5μm）均在90%以上,粗颗粒物（Dp〉10μm）的数量对总体数量的贡献非常小,均在2%以下;以体积进行统计时,得出PM10的体积在总体积中的比例在50%以上,对颗粒物总体积贡献最大,滞留的PM2.5体积占总体积8.5%-17.6%,粗颗粒物（Dp〉10μm）体积占总体积20%以上。（3）对园林植物滞留颗粒物累积规律分析得出：在相同观测叶面积下,园林植物滞尘10 d的叶表面颗粒物数量较滞尘5 d的叶表面颗粒物数量均有所增加,增幅最大的是小叶黄杨（Buxus microphylla）,增幅最小的是月季（Rosa chinensis）,通过方差分析得出绦柳（Salix matsudana f.pendula）叶表面颗粒物数量显著低于除银杏（Ginkgo biloba）之外的其它7种树种,大叶黄杨（Euonymus japonicus）、小叶黄杨和国槐（ Sophora japonica）叶表面滞留颗粒物的数量较多,并且显著高于月季、银杏和绦柳叶表面滞留的颗粒物数量;滞尘10 d后园林植物叶表面滞留的颗粒物的总面积均未超过观测叶面积的25%,至于叶片持续滞留颗粒物多少天后达到饱和状态仍需进一步研究。     

Ranking Lepidopteran Use of Native Versus Introduced Plants

Abstract:  In light of the wide-scale replacement of native plants in North America with introduced, invasive species and noninvasive ornamental plants that evolved elsewhere, we compared the value of native and introduced plants in terms of their ability to serve as host plants for Lepidoptera. Insect herbivores such as Lepidoptera larvae are critically important components of terrestrial food webs and any reduction in their biomass or diversity due to the loss of acceptable host plants is predicted to reduce the production of the many insectivores in higher trophic levels. We conducted an exhaustive search of host records in the literature. We used the data we gathered to rank all 1385 plant genera that occur in the mid-Atlantic states of the United States by their ability to support Lepidoptera richness. Statistical comparisons were made with Welch's test for equality of means. Woody plants supported more species of moths and butterflies than herbaceous plants, native plants supported more species than introduced plants, and native woody plants with ornamental value supported more Lepidoptera species than introduced woody ornamentals. All these differences were highly significant. Our rankings provide a relative measure that will be useful for restoration ecologists, landscape architects and designers, land managers, and landowners who wish to raise the carrying capacity of particular areas by selecting plants with the greatest capacity for supporting biodiversity.     

Introduced Birds and the Fate of Hawaiian Rainforests

Abstract:  The Hawaiian Islands have lost nearly all their native seed dispersers, but have gained many frugivorous birds and fleshy-fruited plants through introductions. Introduced birds may not only aid invasions of exotic plants but also may be the sole dispersers of native plants. We assessed seed dispersal at the ecotone between native- and exotic-dominated forests and quantified bird diets, seed rain from defecated seeds, and plant distributions. Introduced birds were the primary dispersers of native seeds into exotic-dominated forests, which may have enabled six native understory plant species to become reestablished. Some native plant species are now as common in exotic forest understory as they are in native forest. Introduced birds also dispersed seeds of two exotic plants into native forest, but dispersal was localized or establishment minimal. Seed rain of bird-dispersed seeds was extensive in both forests, totaling 724 seeds of 9 native species and 2 exotics with over 85% of the seeds coming from native plants. Without suitable native dispersers, most common understory plants in Hawaiian rainforests now depend on introduced birds for dispersal, and these introduced species may actually facilitate perpetuation, and perhaps in some cases restoration, of native forests. We emphasize, however, that restoration of native forests by seed dispersal from introduced birds, as seen in this study, depends on the existence of native forests to provide a source of seeds and protection from the effects of ungulates. Our results further suggest that aggressive control of patches of non-native plants within otherwise native-dominated forests may be an important and effective conservation strategy.     

Impact of Native Plants on Bird and Butterfly Biodiversity in Suburban Landscapes

Abstract:  Managed landscapes in which non-native ornamental plants are favored over native vegetation now dominate the United States, particularly east of the Mississippi River. We measured how landscaping with native plants affects the avian and lepidopteran communities on 6 pairs of suburban properties in southeastern Pennsylvania. One property in each pair was landscaped entirely with native plants and the other exhibited a more conventional suburban mixture of plants—a native canopy with non-native groundcover and shrubs. Vegetation sampling confirmed that total plant cover and plant diversity did not differ between treatments, but non-native plant cover was greater on the conventional sites and native plant cover was greater on the native sites. Several avian (abundance, species richness, biomass, and breeding-bird abundance) and larval lepidopteran (abundance and species richness) community parameters were measured from June 2006 to August 2006. Native properties supported significantly more caterpillars and caterpillar species and significantly greater bird abundance, diversity, species richness, biomass, and breeding pairs of native species. Of particular importance is that bird species of regional conservation concern were 8 times more abundant and significantly more diverse on native properties. In our study area, native landscaping positively influenced the avian and lepidopteran carrying capacity of suburbia and provided a mechanism for reducing biodiversity losses in human-dominated landscapes.     

The Horticultural Trade and Ornamental Plant Invasions in Britain

Abstract:  Ornamental horticulture has been recognized as the main pathway for plant invasions worldwide. We examined the link between propagule pressure created by the presence of ornamental plants in the market and their ability to escape from cultivation and establish in the wild. A random sample of 534 non-native ornamental species on sale in nineteenth century Britain showed that 27% of these species were recorded growing outside cultivation and 30% of those were established. Species that had escaped from cultivation were more frequently on sale both in the nineteenth century and today than nonescaping species. We used logit regression models to identify biological and socioeconomic variables that affect species' abilities to escape cultivation and become established. Frequencies in the market in the nineteenth century and today were good explanatory variables that distinguished escaping from nonescaping species, whereas for the transition from casual to established status these two socioeconomic variables were either absent or only of weak significance. Biological characteristics that increased the probability that a species would escape from cultivation were species height, a European native range, and being an annual. Climbing plants and species intolerant of low temperatures were less likely to escape. In contrast, the establishment probability was greater if the species belonged to a genus native to Britain and increased as the number of continents in a plant's native range increased. Annual plants had a reduced probability of establishment. Market presence, prices, and the date of introduction are among the socioeconomic factors that have had important effects on the observed course of invasions.     

Impacts of methanol fuel on vehicular emissions: A review

● Methanol effectively reduces CO, HC, CO₂, PM, and PN emissions of gasoline vehicles. ● Elemental composition of methanol directly affects the reduction of emissions. ● Several physicochemical properties of methanol help reduce vehicle emissions. The transport sector is a significant energy consumer and a major contributor to urban air pollution. At present, the substitution of cleaner fuel is one feasible way to deal with the growing energy demand and environmental pollution. Methanol has been recognized as a good alternative to gasoline due to its good combustion performance. In the past decades, many studies have investigated exhaust emissions using methanol-gasoline blends. However, the conclusions derived from different studies vary significantly, and the explanations for the effects of methanol blending on exhaust emissions are also inconsistent. This review summarizes the characteristics of CO, HC, NO_x, CO₂, and particulate emissions from methanol-gasoline blended fuels and pure methanol fuel. CO, HC, CO₂, particle mass (PM), and particle number (PN) emissions decrease when methanol-blended fuel is used in place of gasoline fuel. NO_x emission either decreases or increases depending on the test conditions, i.e., methanol content. Furthermore, this review synthesizes the mechanisms by which methanol-blended fuel influences pollutant emissions. This review provides insight into the pollutant emissions from methanol-blended fuel, which will aid policymakers in making energy strategy decisions that take urban air pollution, climate change, and energy security into account.     

酸雨对外来植物入侵的影响

酸雨和外来种入侵都是全球关注的问题。结合外来入侵植物的生态适应特性以及酸雨的危害特征,系统分析了酸雨对外来植物入侵产生的影响。酸雨对外来植物入侵的影响是复杂多样的。酸雨导致群落冠层稀疏,群落透光率增加,加之氮沉降后土壤、水体氮素的增加,有利于生长力强的外来喜阳植物入侵;酸雨加速土壤酸化,促使基本离子淋失以及A1毒等危害植物的生长发育,植物的内源激素以及化感作用发生改变,适应力和耐受力强的外来植物在与本地植物竞争中处于相对优势而成为入侵种;酸雨以及外来植物入侵改变了土壤微生物群落结构,影响本地植物的生长而促使外来植物的入侵。     

水生维管束植物在水污染中的应用

随着水污染的加剧，高效低耗的水污染处理技术逐渐受到人们的重视，水生维管束植物以其特有的组织和生态功能及易于人工操纵等原因而在净化水体污染、防治富营养化方面发挥了重要的作用。文章对水生维管束植物在水质净化中的作用、影响因素、水生植物的综合利用及其在水污染监测中的作用等方面进行了系统分析，提出多种植物组合比单种植物能更好地实现对水体的净化，通过温度、水深的调控措施可以加强水生维管束植物对水质的净化效果，温度、水深、水质状况以及水生植物的经济价值等是水生植物选择的重要因素。指出了当前水生维管束植物研究中存在的一些问题，认为在人为操纵下，对于水生植物的长效管理是其在水污染应用中的一个重要内容。     

Study of metal accumulation in wild plants using principal component analysis and ionic impulsions

The objective of this work is to apply principal component analysis (PCA) and ionic impulsions to the study of the accumulation and uptake of metals in wild plants. Soil samples were taken in three locations and the following plant species were selected: Poa, Pteridium aquilinum, Diplotaxis, Plantago lanceolata and Trifolium repens. After determining contents of Na, K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Pb, Co, Ni, Cu, Cr, Zn, Cd and Fe in the plant samples and in the soils, principal component analysis was carried out for plant data treatment. Sample position maps revealed that there was no substantial differences among samples when plant species or sampling locations were used as a criteria. As the factors obtained by PCA only correlated with one or two variables, the study of accumulation patterns of metals was carried out by using ionic impulsions. The presence of large amounts of pollutants (like Cd, Cr) in plants is related to a greater assimilation of essential micronutrients in order to counteract the influence of the pollutants.     

镉和铁及其交互作用对植物生长的影响

镉是植物的非必需元素，而铁是植物生长发育过程中必不可少的元素。虽然这两种元素对植物的作用是截然相反的，但是它们在植物体内存在着交互作用关系，相互影响着对方功能的发挥。供给植物足够的铁可极大地缓解植物的镉污染毒害，利于植物合成更多的叶绿素，促进光合作用进行，降低镉对氨基酸、蛋白质合成以及酶活性的影响。相反，镉污染将诱导植物的铁营养缺乏。渍水植物根表形成的铁氧化物胶膜可促进植物对镉的吸收。     

国产八角药用植物资源

根据14个国家94个标本馆所收藏的近万份八角科标本的分类学研究,本文确认中国现有八角科植物24种,分布于黄河流域以南的19个省区,其中15种有药用功能,它们于18个省区的467个县。本文给出了国产八角科植物分种检索表,记录了各个药用种类的分布和各自的主要医药用途,还就资源开发利用、综合药用功能、中毒解毒等方面作了讨论或报道。     

Do credit constraints favor dirty production? Theory and plant-level evidence

This paper explores the effect of credit constraints on production-generated pollution emissions. I develop a theoretical model wherein polluting firms borrow externally to finance investment in various assets, subject to a credit constraint. The main insight of the model is that credit constraints distort the composition of assets towards over-investment in tangible assets, which can be pledged as collateral, thereby increasing the intensity of emissions. The predictions of the model are tested using a unique dataset consisting of plant-level measures of pollution emissions and creditworthiness. The empirical results indicate that credit constraints significantly increase pollution emissions (even after accounting for the scale effect), and the results withstand multiple robustness checks. Moreover, the effect of credit constraints is particularly acute in industries with greater reliance on external credit. Finally, I demonstrate that firm-level credit constraints distort the composition of assets and that the composition of assets influences pollution emissions.     

城市化影响下北京市外来入侵植物特征及其分布

通过文献资料分析和实地调查相结合的方法,对北京市外来入侵植物的种类、生活型、起源地、引入途径和分布等特征进行了分析,结果表明:该地区共有48种外来入侵植物,隶属39属19科,其中菊科、禾本科、苋科和大戟科植物为优势科,占到了所有入侵植物总数的60.4%.除火炬树外,其余47种植物均为草本植物,以起源于美洲的居多(70.8%),多为伴随种子苗木运输无意引进.入侵植物分布受城市化水平和人口密度影响显著,城市功能扩展区分布有最多的入侵植物,就入侵种分布密度而言,城市功能拓展区和城市核心区均明显高于近郊区和远郊区.目前北京入侵植物主要分布于农田、绿地、花圃等半人工生态系统,尚处于可控范围之内,但北京的自然地理条件及城市化进程使其仍存在较高的入侵风险,在将来的防治工作中应采取更加严格的检疫措施.     

圆柏属常绿木本植物δ^13C值的季节变化与抗冷冻性的关系

以祁连圆柏Sabina przewalskii和圆柏Sabina chinensis为材料,研究了圆柏属植物的抗冷冻性与针叶δ^13C值季节变化的关系。结果表明,两种圆柏属植物的δ^13C值均随温度的降低而减小并在整个冬季维持较低水平。表明圆柏属植物为了抵抗低温的伤害,加强了自身能量物质的消耗,即呼吸作用增强,导致植物体内的δ值偏向更负。在整个测定期中,祁连圆柏的δ^13C值都显著高于圆柏的δ^13C值,表明在低温胁迫过程中,圆柏为适应低温、提高其抗冷冻能力所消耗自身能量物质的量远高于祁连圆柏。这与祁连圆柏具有较强的抗冷冻适应性策略一致。此外,两种圆柏属植物碳同位素组成与月均温度表现出极显著的线性相关性,并且与脯氨酸（Pro）质量分数、针叶相对含水量（RWC）也都表现出极显著的线性相关性。因此,碳同位素组成可以作为鉴定圆柏属植物抗冷冻性的又一重要指标。     

聚氯硫酸铝铁的制备及絮凝性能研究

以粉煤灰为主要原料制备聚氯硫酸铝铁(PAFCS)新型无机高分子絮凝剂,并对该絮凝剂的X-射线衍射图和透射电镜照片进行了分析;同时比较了该絮凝剂和聚合氯化铝(PAC)絮凝剂对模拟水样的净水效果,结果表明：该絮凝剂的除浊效果和沉降效果要优于聚合氯化铝(PAC)．     

Chromium accumulation,transport and toxicity in plants∗

The predominant pathway for human exposure to chromium in non‐occupationally exposed individuals is via food with a daily intake of around 30–100 μgd^–1, with vegetables providing a major contribution. Unlike reports of chromium essentiality to man and animals, plants appear not to require chromium in spite of some early reports of a stimulatory growth effect.

Most reports on chromium in plants have been concerned with their growth on soils amended with sewage sludge, pF‐ash, tannery waste, or on ultra basic soils, which contain extreme concentrations of the element. Experimental studies with plants grown in hydroponic solution have often been undertaken at unrealistically high concentrations to examine the uptake of chromium in various forms, either as CrIII or CrVI at different pHs. In most cases, reports on chromium in plants deal with element concentrations and plant/soil relationships rather than detailed biochemical and physiological processes.

In general, chromium is largely retained in the roots of plants, although the oxidation state of chromium, pH, presence of humates and fulvates and plant species, affect plant uptake and transport. Leaves usually contain higher concentrations than grains. The uptake of CrIII is largely a passive process, whereas CrVI uptake is a metabolically mediated process via the sulphate pathway and is thus readily transported around the plant. The presence of a compound similar to trioxalate CrIII has been recorded while little chromium has been reported to be associated with cell organelles or soluble proteins.