大气CO2升高对土壤碳循环影响的研究进展

土壤有机碳是陆地碳库的重要组成部分,其积累和分解的变化直接影响全球的碳平衡。据估计,全球土壤（表层1m）有机碳积累总量相当于大气中碳总量的2～3倍。土壤是温室气体的源或汇,土壤碳库的变化将影响大气C02的浓度,因此,土壤碳库对人类活动的响应也是全球碳循环和全球变化研究的热点。在全球变化的大背景下,大气CO2升高导致植被生态系统碳平衡的改变进而对土壤碳循环产生影响。总结了陆地生态系统碳循环对大气C02浓度升高响应的主要生物学机制及过程,简述了大气C02浓度升高对影响土壤碳输入和输出的各因素的研究进展,并指出未来研究的主要方向。在大气C02浓度升高条件下,陆地生态系统碳循环的变化主要反映在以下几个方面：1）不同类型植物群落的净初级生产力（NPP）显著增加,但湿地植物的净初级生产力也有可能降低;2）光合产物向根系分配的数量增加,地上／地下生物量降低,根系形态发生变化,根系周转速率和根系分泌等过程的碳流量提高;3）植物含氮量降低,C／N提高,次生代谢产物增加,微生物生长受到抑制,植物残体分解速率降低;4）土壤呼吸速率显著增加,提高幅度受植物类型与土壤状况的影响;5）进入土壤的植物残体及分泌物的数量和性质影响土壤酶的活性,脱氢酶和转化酶活性增加,酚氧化酶和纤维素酶受植物类型与环境条件的影响;6）土壤中真菌的数量的增加幅度要高于细菌;7）CH4释放量增加,在植物的生长期表现更为明显。由于陆地生态系统碳循环的复杂性,研究结果仍有很大的不确定性。大气C02浓度升高与全球变化的其它表现间的交互作用将是今后研究的重点,同时由于土壤碳循环是一个由微生物介导的生物地球化学循环过程,因此,加强陆地生态系统碳循环的微生物机制研究也将为全面理解碳循环的过程提供更加准确的研究理论基础。     

菌根真菌对土壤呼吸的影响

土壤是陆地生态系统的重要组成部分,是地球最大的碳库之一。土壤呼吸是陆地生态系统向大气释放CO2的主要途径之一,其微小的变化将导致大气CO2浓度的较大波动。菌根是土壤真菌与植物根系形成的共生体,存在于绝大多数植物(90%)的根系和生境中。菌根共有7种类型,其中,在自然界中以丛枝菌根和外生菌根为主。众多研究表明,菌根对土壤呼吸有着至关重要的影响,是预测土壤CO2释放速率必须考虑,但却是难以估算的因素。文章总结了有关菌根(包括丛枝菌根和外生菌根)对土壤呼吸影响的研究进展,对目前所得到的研究结果进行了分析,表明菌根真菌侵染植物根系形成菌根后,能提高土壤呼吸的速率,其可能的途径有3条:(1)增强了根系的呼吸,(2)菌根真菌自身呼吸的组分,(3)根外菌丝促进了非根际区土体的呼吸。但是,菌根侵染对根系呼吸敏感性(Q10)影响的研究,大多数则表现为不显著。同时,菌根对土壤呼吸的影响受到各种因素的制约。通过对不同温度下菌根真菌呼吸速率的分析,表明菌根真菌对温度的升高具有适应性。从目前已发表的报道来看,目前关于菌根对土壤呼吸影响的研究还非常少,但可喜的是,近年来,越来越多的研究已经意识到了菌根在土壤呼吸中的重要作用。准确评估菌根在土壤呼吸中的贡献,将有助于预测未来在气候变化下,土壤CO2的排放量。     

菌根真菌对土壤呼吸的影响

土壤是陆地生态系统的重要组成部分,是地球最大的碳库之一。土壤呼吸是陆地生态系统向大气释放CO2的主要途径之一,其微小的变化将导致大气CO2浓度的较大波动。菌根是土壤真菌与植物根系形成的共生体,存在于绝大多数植物（90％）的根系和生境中。菌根共有7种类型,其中,在自然界中以丛枝菌根和外生菌根为主。众多研究表明,菌根对土壤呼吸有着至关重要的影响,是预测土壤CO2释放速率必须考虑,但却是难以估算的因素。文章总结了有关菌根（包括丛枝菌根和外生菌根）对土壤呼吸影响的研究进展,对目前所得到的研究结果进行了分析,表明菌根真菌侵染植物根系形成菌根后,能提高土壤呼吸的速率,其可能的途径有3条：（1）增强了根系的呼吸,（2）菌根真菌自身呼吸的组分,（3）根外菌丝促进了非根际区土体的呼吸。但是,菌根侵染对根系呼吸敏感性（Q10）影响的研究,大多数则表现为不显著。同时,菌根对土壤呼吸的影响受到各种因素的制约。通过对不同温度下菌根真菌呼吸速率的分析,表明菌根真菌对温度的升高具有适应性。从目前已发表的报道来看,目前关于菌根对土壤呼吸影响的研究还非常少,但可喜的是,近年来,越来越多的研究已经意识到了菌根在土壤呼吸中的重要作用。准确评估菌根在土壤呼吸中的贡献,将有助于预测未来在气候变化下,土壤cO2的排放量。     

近地层O3污染对陆地生态系统的影响

随着全球气候变化对生态环境的影响日益增加,近地层臭氧(O3)污染的环境生态效应备受人们关注.现有研究表明,陆地生态系统的温室气体NOx和CH4释放、矿质能源消耗和机动车辆尾气排放量的增加将加剧近地层O3污染.O3污染通过降低植物叶片气孔导度、光合速率和净同化作用,改变同化物的分配,进而抑制植物生长和加速植物老化,导致作物和林木减产.O3污染导致植物-土壤系统碳积累和周定降低势必影响未来全球碳动力学和碳预算,而植物和根系生长受到抑制则不利于土壤养分、水分的吸收进而影响植物-土壤系统养分循环,但目前报导极少,尚无法准确判断对全球碳和养分循环的影响,亟待深入研究.由于环境因素间具有互作效应,目前模拟研究过多集中O3与CO2增加对陆地生态系统的复合效应方面,而与其它环境因子(如O3与NO、SO2、水分、温度等)的复合效应研究偏少,不利于在全球气候变化背景下深入了解与预测O3污染对陆地生态系统的影响程度与趋势.基于研究现状,未来应加强:(1)地表O3监测网络建设和监测,结合田间试验和建模加强草地、森林和农田生态系统对O3污染的响应研究;(2)长期定位研究,侧重陆地生态系统对O3污染连合其它温室气体、温度增加等模拟未来气候情景下的环境响应研究;(3)O3污染下土壤.植物系统碳循环和固定研究;(4)O3污染条件下优势植物和农作物在不同时空条件下的土壤.植物系统养分利用研究;以期为判断和预测全球气候变化背景下陆地生态系统对近地层O3污染加剧的响应程度与趋势提供数据资料和科学依据.     

不同土地利用方式下亚热带花岗岩小流域碳汇潜力及其影响因素

了解小流域尺度上植物生长与岩石风化对CO2吸收的相对贡献对评估生态系统碳汇功能有重要意义,但过去的研究大多集中在某一单一过程且多基于特定土地利用类型。本研究以亚热带丘陵地区不同土地利用方式下的3个花岗岩小流域(F-100%森林、FA1-82%森林/18%农田和FA2-76%森林/24%农田)为研究区,自2010年3月至2012年2月定期监测了流域内的雨水、径流水,并采集了植物样品,分析其化学组成,系统研究了小流域尺度下植物生长和岩石风化的碳汇潜力及其影响因素。结果表明,F流域中不同林分(马尾松Pinus massoniana Lamb.阔叶树混交林、杉木Cunninghamia lanceolata(Lamb.)Hook.阔叶树混交林、马尾松林、杉木林、灌木林和竹Bambusoideae林)的碳密度和年均CO2吸收通量均不相同,碳汇潜力存在差异。不考虑施肥的影响,F、FA1和FA2流域植被的碳密度分别为44.5、37.3和35.0 t·hm-2,植被年均单位面积吸收CO2的量分别为10.5、11.8和12.4 t·hm-2·a-1,岩石风化消耗CO2的量分别为54.7×10-3、99.8×10-3和109.2×10-3 t·hm-2·a-1,均随农田比例的增加而增加。施肥对农田水稻(Oryza sativa)碳截留的直接贡献很小,但可通过多种途径间接影响农田的碳汇潜力。3个流域径流水中HCO3-的物质的量浓度随农田比例增加而增加,在一定程度上受到施肥的影响,扣除施肥对径流水中HCO3-的贡献外,FA1和FA2流域土壤风化吸收CO2的量分别为84.4×10-3和88.6×10-3 t·hm-2·a-1,仍高于F流域土壤风化吸收的大气CO2的量,说明农田土壤和森林土壤通过风化对CO2的固定存在差异。因此,农业活动在一定程度上影响了流域碳汇,不同土地利用方式下流域的碳汇潜力存在差异。尽管短时间尺度上植物生长对流域碳汇的贡献远高于岩石风化,但植物的收获与利用也可能加剧生态系统的碳排放,而硅酸岩风化在任何尺度上都是净碳汇,因而在地质时间尺度上硅酸盐风化对全球碳循环的影响不容忽视。     

氮沉降形态对西南岩溶区森林土壤有效磷来源的影响

森林生态系统氮和磷之间具有密切的耦合关系,阐明氮沉降形态对中国西南岩溶区森林土壤有效磷不同来源的影响,对推动全球环境变化条件下岩溶区退化森林植被恢复具有重要意义。以广西桂林岩溶区典型森林为研究对象,在野外模拟不同形态氮沉降(无氮沉降(CK)、氧化态氮沉降(Oxi)、还原态氮沉降(Red)和氧化还原态氮沉降(RO)),在模拟氮沉降1.5a后通过连续监测各季节凋落物、植物根系和雨水磷输入量,结合土壤全磷和有效磷的季节变化特征,探究氮沉降形态对中国西南岩溶区森林土壤有效磷不同来源的影响。结果表明：Oxi和Red处理显著提高了土壤有效磷含量,而RO处理对土壤有效磷含量的影响因季节不同而存在差异,所有氮沉降处理对土壤全磷含量的影响均不显著;CK处理凋落物磷年输入量为10.64kg·hm^-2,植物根系磷年输入量为12.65 kg·hm^-2,雨水磷年输入量为0.78 kg·hm^-2;所有氮沉降处理均显著增加了凋落物磷年输入量,而Oxi和Red处理均显著降低了植物根系磷年输入量,RO处理对植物根系磷年输入量没有显著影响。结构方程模型表明...     

土壤微生物对大气CO2浓度升高的响应

土壤微生物是生态系统的重要组成部分，了解它对大气CO2浓度升高的响应，是全面评价大气CO2浓度对陆地生态系统影响的关键。文章主要从土壤微生物呼吸和生物量两个方面总结了大气CO2浓度升高时土壤微生物的反应，结果发现，(1)在目前实验室进行的大多数研究中，随着CO2浓度升高，土壤微生物的呼吸速率加快了。这意味着随着CO2的增多，植物生长加快，进而又使得进入土壤的C质量分数增大；这些额外增加的底物被土壤微生物的代谢活动所利用。(2)土壤微生物生物量则存在着很大的变异性(变异系数为193％)，这可能与植物种类以及生活型的差异有关，也可能是进入土壤的底物的性质改变的结果。但是目前仍有许多问题未能解决，需要加强以下几个方面的研究：对土壤微生物活动有限制作用的植物有机底物在CO2浓度升高时输入量的变化状况，定量分析这一动态变化过程；在生态系统各个水平上土壤微生物的反应；在其他全球变化因子综合作用下，CO2浓度升高对土壤微生物的影响。     

重庆金佛山岩溶区不同植被条件下土壤-植被系统CO2浓度日变化

对重庆金佛山典型岩溶区林地、裸地表层岩溶生态系统CO2浓度进行短时间尺度变化的野外观测结果表明,林地与裸地不同深处土温变化幅度由地表向土壤深部逐步降低,裸地地表温度和不同深度土温波动幅度均较林地大.林地与裸地各层次土壤CO2浓度变化与土温呈较好的相关关系.林地各层土壤CO2浓度波动微弱,变幅小于裸地.林地与裸地土层中CO2浓度随土层深度增加而增高.植被各层的温度和温度变化幅度从大到小依次为林层、灌层和草层.林层温度最大值滞后于气温约3 h.     

金水河流域矿物元素生物地球化学交换模式

通过对金水河流域矿物元素生物地球化学交换模式的研究,得到以下结论：（1）在不同空间位置的矿物元素对河水的水质贡献率不相同。河水成分贡献主要来源于硅酸盐风化,在金水河流域生态系统不同空间位置矿物元素对河水水质贡献率方程为：YRiverwater=0.242＋0.203 XRain＋0172 XLitter＋0.471 XSoilwater（r2=0.55）。（2）固-液相界面（土壤-土壤水溶液）离子交换过程拟合表明：离子交换过程符合二、三次曲线模型。（3）区域内碳酸盐岩含较少的Na＋和K＋,且受酸雨等影响。Na＋在土壤-土壤溶液之间的分配行为可能加重土壤盐碱化的趋势。土壤和枯枝落叶层HCO3-和TDS值均处于稳定的范围内。（4）输入性污染分析表明,流域内土壤基本表现出物理性质改善;但却表现出贫养化和生物地球化学性质恶化的极化趋势。人为活动输入污染物影响显著,在全球变化背景下,酸雨和干旱加剧了水溶液组成的变化。     

植物多样性对土壤微生物的影响

生物多样性强烈地影响生态系统的过程.生态系统过程的变化可导致生物多样性衰减并因此导致生态系统功能衰退.植物种丰度和植物功能多样性对土壤细菌群落的代谢活性和代谢多样性有成正比的影响.土壤细菌的代谢活性和代谢多样性随植物种数量的对数和植物功能组的数量而直线上升.其原因可能是由植被流入土壤的物质和能量的多样性和数量的增加,也可能是由土壤动物区系起作用的土壤微生境的多样性的增加造成的.由于植物多样性的丧失所引起的植物生物量的减少对分解者群落有强烈的影响微生物生物量将可能减少,因为在大多数陆地生态系统中,有机碳源限制着土壤微生物的活性.     

Carbonic anhydrase in deep-sea chemoautotrophic symbioses

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) facilitates the rapid interconversion of carbon dioxide and bicarbonate. It is ubiquitous among organisms, and participates in numerous cellular processes. In several photoautotrophic marine organisms, CA facilitates uptake of inorganic carbon by catalyzing the reversible dehydration of bicarbonate to carbon dioxide, which diffuses more rapidly across cell membranes. In algal/invertebrate symbioses, this mechanism is correlated with significantly elevated CA activity in tissues where zooxanthellae are housed. Here, we determine whether elevated CA activity is also characteristic of tissues involved in inorganic carbon uptake by chemosynthetic invertebrates. Measurements of CA activity in several chemosynthetic clam and vestimentiferan species indicate that CA facilitates inorganic carbon uptake, with high activities present in clam gill tissue, and vestimentiferan plume and trophosome tissues. However levels of CA activity among species varied widely, from very low in mytilids to extraordinarily high in some vesicomyids and vestimentiferans. High CA activity is generally correlated with other adaptations for control of internal chemical environments where symbionts are housed, such as the presence of serum-borne sulfide-binding moieties. These findings suggest that a CA-based mechanism of carbon uptake may be one of a suite of adaptations to provide symbionts with essential metabolites.     

Effect of nitrogen supply on photosynthesis and carbonic anhydrase activity in the green seaweed Ulva rigida (Chlorophyta)

Photosynthesis rate and carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity have been studied in the green seaweed Ulva rigida C. Agardh (Chlorophyta) grown in seawater (SW) and SW supplemented with 40 M NH₄Cl (N-SW). Higher growth and maximal O₂ evolution rates were observed in N-SW- than in SW-grown sea-weeds. Western blot analysis of the total homogenates probed with antibodies raised against small subunits of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (RuBisCO) showed crossreaction with a 15 kdalton polypeptide in both SW- and N-SW-grown plants, although the band was more intense in N-SW-grown plants. Carbonic anhydrase activities in the total homogenate and in the soluble protein fraction were higher in N-SW-grown plants. Although the pellets from both plants showed a considerable CA activity, the activity of CA in the thylakoid membranes was undetectable. The low nitrogen concentration is a major environmental factor that affects the level of RuBisCO and CA, and therefore CO₂ assimilation in U. rigida.     

A “CO2 supply” mechanism in zooxanthellate cnidarians: role of carbonic anhydrase

Carbonic anhydrase (CA, EC 4.2.1.1) activity was detected in 22 species of tropical cnidarians which contain endosymbiotic dinoflagellates (=zooxanthellae). CA activity was 2 to 3 times higher in animal tissue than in algae and ca. 29 times higher in zooxanthellate than azooxanthellate species. It was also higher in the zooxanthellate tentacle tissue than in the azooxanthellate column tissue of the anemone Condylactis gigantea. CA was therefore significantly related to the presence of endosymbiotic algae. Further results indicated that CA functions in the photosynthetic carbon metabolism of zooxanthellate cnidarians as evidenced by (1) low CA activity in shade-adapted and deep water colonies compared to the more productive shallow water, light-adapted colonies of the coral Stylophora pistillata, and (2) the 56 to 85% reduction in photosynthetic carbon assimilation by zooxanthellae in situ in the presence of Diamox, an inhibitor of CA. Although CA has been proposed to function in calcification, its association with zooxanthellae and photosynthetic activity in both calcifying and non-calcifying associations suggests a role in photosynthetic metabolism of algal/cnidarian symbioses. It is proposed that CA acts as a CO₂ supply mechanism by releasing CO₂ from bicarbonate, and enabling zooxanthellae to maintain high rates of photosynthesis in their intracellular environment.     

Biochemical characterization of purified carbonic anhydrase from the octocoral Leptogorgia virgulata

Carbonic anhydrase (CA) has been isolated and purified from the octocoral Leptogorgia virgulata (Lamarck) in an effort to investigate its role in the mineralization and demineralization of spicules and other calcified hard tissues. Affinity-chromatography using Prontosil-derivatized carboxymethylcellulose (CM) Bio-Gel A provided a one-step purification for 30 kdalton polypeptides with carbonic anhydrase activity. Four distinct polypeptides (designated , , , and ) are separated from one another at this molecular weight by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis. The specific activity of the L. virgulata CA is on average 57.5±1.5 U g^-1, is inhibitable by 10^-6 M acetazolamide, and is unaffected by 5mM dithiotheitol. The amino acid composition of these polypeptides is similar to that of mammal, bird, reptile, fish and arthropod species. Antiserum made against the L. virgulata CA reacts specifically with the 30 kdalton polypeptides in western blots, and crossreacts with human CA I and II. Antiserum against avian CA II crossreacts with the L. virgulata 30 kdalton polypeptides. This is the first report of the characterization of a purified CA from an octocoral, and production of a CA antiserum to a species in the phylum Cnidaria.     

Role of carbonic anhydrase in the supply of inorganic carbon to the giant clam—zooxanthellate symbiosis

The mechanism whereby inorganic carbon (C_i) is acquired by the symbiotic association between the giant clam (Tridacna derasa) and zooxanthellae (Symbiodinium sp.) has been investigated. C_i in the haemolymph of the clam is in equilibrium with the surrounding sea water. The photosynthesis rate exhibited by the intact clam varies as a function of the C_i concentration in the clam haemolymph. The gill tissue contains high carbonic anhydrase activity which may be important in adjusting the C_i equilibrium between haemolymph and sea water. Zooxanthellae (Symbiodinium sp.) isolated from the clam mantle prefer CO₂ to HCO ₃ ^- as a source of inorganic carbon. The zooxanthellae have low levels of carbonic anhydrase on the external surface of the cell; however, mantle extracts display high carbonic anhydrase activity. Carbonic anhydrase is absent from the mantle of aposymbiotic clams (T. gigas), indicating that this enzyme may be essential to the symbiosis. The enzyme is probably associated with the zooxanthellae tubes in the mantle. The results indicate that carbonic anhydrase plays an important role in the supply of carbon dioxide within the clam symbiosis.     

External and internal carbonic anhydrases in Dunaliella species

Four species of Dunaliella and a carbonic anhydrase deficient mutant of Dunaliella tertiolecta (Butcher), HL 25/8, developed a process for concentrating dissolved inorganic carbon when adapted on air or low CO₂ for 24 h in the light. However, the external carbonic anhydrase activities in Dunaliella species were nil or low compared with those in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii (Danegard) or some Chlorella species. D. tertiolecta had low and about equal levels of external and internal carbonic anhydrase. D. parva (Lerche) and the D. tertiolecta mutant had negligible external carbonic anhydrase. D. viridis (Teodoresco) and D. salina (Teodoresco), high salt tolerant species, had high activities of intenal carbonic anhydrase but low levels of external carbonic anhydrase. Antiserum prepared against the 37 kDa peptide of extracellular carbonic anhydrase from Chlamydomonas reinhardtii was immunoreactive with a polypeptide of 30 kDa in D. tertiolecta and its salt sensitive external carbonic anhydrase (CA) mutant HL 25/8. External CA activity from D. tertiolecta was stimulated about three-fold, by including 0.5 M NaCl in the assay medium, while internal CA was not significantly affected by NaCl. External CA activities in the other species were insensitive to NaCl, while their internal activities were 90% inhibited by 0.5 M NaCl. Sorbitol only partly replaced NaCl in stimulating the external CA from D. tertiolecta. These experiments were performed with Dunaliella spp. grown in controlled laboratory cultures during September through November 1989.     

Response of hydrothermal vent vestimentiferan <Emphasis Type="Italic">Riftia pachyptila</Emphasis> to differences in habitat chemistry

Vestimentiferan tubeworms, which rely on intracellular sulfide-oxidizing autotrophic bacteria for organic carbon, flourish at deep-sea hydrothermal vents despite the erratic nature of their habitat. To assess the degree to which differences in habitat chemistry (sulfide, pH/CO₂) might impact host and symbiont metabolic activity, Riftia pachyptila tubeworms were collected from habitats with low (H₂S < 0.0001 mM) and high (up to 0.7 mM) sulfide concentrations. The elemental sulfur content of the symbiont-containing trophosome organ was lower in specimens collected from the low-sulfide site. Symbiont abundance, RubisCO activity, and trophosome carbon fixation rates were not significantly different for individuals collected from low- versus high-sulfide habitats. Carbonic anhydrase activities were higher in the anterior gas exchange organs of R. pachyptila from the low-sulfide habitat. Despite large differences in habitat chemistry, symbiont abundance and autotrophic potential were consistent, while the host appears to tailor carbonic anhydrase activity to environmental CO₂ availability.     

Alkaline phosphatase and carbonic anhydrase activity associated with arm regeneration in the seastarAsterias forbesi

A sharp increase in alkaline phosphatase (AP) activity occurred 7 d after arm autotomy inAsterias forbesi. This activity remained elevated at 20 d post-autotomy, during which time active ossicle-calcification was occurring. By 60 d post-autotomy, AP activity had returned to the level of non-regenerating individuals. Conversely, carbonic anhydrase (CA) activity exhibited no initial change in response to arm autotomy. By Day 60 a 50% increase in CA activity was observed. AP is localized in the outer membranes and associated microvilli of the coelomic epithelium and is not associated directly with the tissues involved in calcification. CA activity was highest in the tissues containing the ossicles, but was also present in the non-calcifying tube feet. These data suggest that inA. forbesi AP is involved in cell division and differentiation associated with wound-healing and the initiation of the regeneration process, and that CA may facilitate the ongoing maturation process, of newly formed ossicles.     

Metabolic variation in rice cultivars of contrasting salt tolerance and its improvement by zinc in sodic soil

The severity of Zn deficiency increased with increase in soil exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP) with salt sensitive variety M1-48 scoring 6 at ESP 62 as against only score 3 by salt tolerant variety Pokkali under similar soil conditions. Strikingly, zinc contents were much higher in salt tolerant variety than in salt sensitive one. Zinc application increased zinc concentration in the roots by a factor of 2.85 to 3.87 in Pokkali whereas it rose from 2.37 to 4.35 times in M1-48 depending upon ESP but in the leaves it registered increase of 1.5 to 1.8 times only. In general, the concentrations of reducing sugar were less (about 2.2%) than that of non-reducing (about 3.8%) in both the varieties under normal soil conditions. However, the concentration of reducing sugar doubled (4.2-4.4%) at the highest ESP 62, whereas the concentration of non-reducing sugar though increased (4.1 to 5.1%) but not as vigorously as reducing one. Zinc application reduced the concentration of reducing sugar but not that of non-reducing at similar ESP values. In Pokkali, the concentrations of total sugar increased from 6% at ESP 20 to 9.34% at ESP 62, whereas it registered enhancements of 5.98 to 8.6% in M1-48 under similar conditions. The nitrate reductase (NR) activity decreased with increase in soil sodicity however, the varietal differences in NR activity were wider under Zn-stress than under conditions of applied zinc with Pokkali registering higher NR activities. Carbonic anhydrase activities were higher in salt tolerant variety. Inhibition in carbonic anhydrase activity amounted to 23 and 45% in salt-sensitive variely M1-48 whereas only 19 and 33% in salt-tolerant variety Pokkali at ESP 41 and 62, respectively. The effects of zinc application at higher soil sodicity were more obvious in salt-sensitive variety than in salt-tolerant one. The findings suggest that the tolerance to Zn stress runs parallel to salt tolerance abilities of rice varieties.     

Patterns and UV sensitivity of carbon anhydrase and nitrate reductase activities in south Pacific macroalgae

This study describes the activities of the key enzymes involved in carbon incorporation (carbonic anhydrase, CA) and inorganic nitrogen reduction (nitrate reductase, NR) in 25 intertidal macroalgae of southern Chile (39°S). UV radiation as a factor affecting the nutrient metabolism of algae was also examined. The results of the enzyme activities and the UV sensitivity were related to the position of the algae on the shore, species/taxonomic groups and morpho-functional patterns. The CA activity in the studied algae ranged from 42 to 165 REA g⁻¹ FW, and was neither related to growing depth nor to taxonomic or morpho-functional groups. The NR activities ranged from 0.1 to 8.9 μmol NO₂⁻ g⁻¹ FW min⁻¹, with the highest levels observed in red algae. In contrast to CA, the NR activities showed a decreasing tendency from supra/midlittoral to infra/sublittoral. Also, differences between morpho-functional groups were seen. The impact of artificial UV radiation on CA and NR activities was variable as in some species it provoked an increase while in other species a decrease was observed, suggesting species-specific responses and UV sensitivity. The CA activity was the most UV sensitive in the taxonomic group Chlorophyta and in the supralittoral algae. The UV sensitivity of NR activity could not be related to any patterns related to morpho-functional or taxonomic groups and habitat depth.