珍稀植物濒危机制及保育策略中的营养条件

首先简要论述了珍稀植物濒危的原因、濒危机制的各种理论和研究方法，包括就地保护和迁地保护两个方面的保育策略的制定与实践。然后着重从营养条件的角度对这些理论和现状进行了分析。认为濒危物种在其历史演化过程中存在的脆弱环节以及活植物迁地保护的评价标准均与营养条件密切相关，营养条件可能是某些物种濒危机制中的一个重要组成部分；营养条件方面的研究可以为保护区设立的大小提出指导性意见；珍稀植物迁地保护过程中应密切关注营养条件的影响；营养条件在一定程度上决定了对某些物种保育策略的制定；将分子生物学与植物营养学的研究方法相结合，将能成为珍稀植物濒危机制及保育策略研究中的一种有效手段。     

干旱区生态系统耦合关系的特征分析

干旱区生态系统耦合关系的特征差异表现在水热状况、景观带谱、小气候效应以及人为活动等方面。在特定的区域上，经度、纬度、海拔以及下垫面的特征是决定系统耦合特征最为基本的要素；而自然地理要素的变化，则是区分和判定耦合关系及其类型的重要因素。依据自然地理学与景观生态学等学科的理论与方法，结合相关原则，对具有典型意义的MODS耦合关系——昆仑山一和田绿洲一塔克拉玛干沙漠系统，以及天山一阜康绿洲一古尔班通古特沙漠系统的耦合关系的特征进行了比较，并分析了MODS耦合关系的一般规律。     

广东省农业生态环境问题与对策

随着社会经济和城市化的快速发展，以及人口的剧增，广东省的农业发展正面临一系列严重的生态环境问题。这些问题包括耕地资源日益缺乏，农业环境污染日益严重，土壤肥力退化和水土流失仍未遏止，地区性的洪旱灾害频繁，森林生态系统简单而脆弱，外来物种入侵猖獗，等等。文章对这些问题进行了讨论，并提出了若干治理对策。认为要使广东省农业可持续发展，必须合理开发利用农业自然资源，严格控制非农业用地与人口增长，加强农业环境污染的防治，加强土壤肥力退化和水土流失的综合治理，发展节水农业，改善林分结构和生态服务功能。此外，认为还应加强外来物种的安全防范工作和科学研究，防止外来物种对农业生态系统的组成、结构和功能的破坏。     

牡蛎和贻贝中二噁英及多氯联苯同类物的分布

利用同位素稀释、高分辨气相色谱-高分辨质谱联用仪，首次测定了大连湾牡蛎和贻贝等海洋生物体内痕量的二噁英和多氯联苯，并比较了二噁英及多氯联苯的同类物在牡蛎和贻贝中的含量分布。结果表明，所采集的牡蛎和贻贝样品中均含有二噁英和多氯联苯，且多氯联苯的含量明显高于二噁英，反映出环境中多氯联苯背景值大于二噁英的背景值。其中，牡蛎和贻贝中二噁英总质量分数平均值分别为47．8pg／g和216pg／g(以干物质计)，毒性当量平均值分别为O．89pg／g和0．87pg／g；12种有毒性的共平面多氯联苯的总质量分数平均值分别为585．5pg／g和818．6pg／g，总毒性当量平均值分别为0．47pg／g和1．18pg／g。牡蛎和贻贝样品中的二噁英及多氯联苯的同类物含量分布基本类似，表明二者摄取的二噁英及多氯联苯可能有相似的来源。可以把牡蛎和贻贝作为生物标志物，以监测海洋环境中二噁英和多氯联苯的污染状况。     

施用中量微量元素对小白菜产量和硝酸盐含量的影响

为研究降低蔬菜硝酸含量的施肥技术，在不同质地的土壤上设置田间试验，对小白菜施用不同的中量和微量元素。结果表明，小白菜对施用的各种中量、微量元素在不同质地的土壤上有不同的响应；在合理施氮、磷、钾肥的基础上，有选择性地适量施用中量、微量元素，不仅可提高蔬菜的产量，而且可降低其体内硝酸盐的含量。     

Seasonal changes in abundance and development of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Calanus pacificus</Emphasis> (Crustacea: Copepoda) in the Oyashio–Kuroshio Mixed Region

Seasonal changes in abundance and development of Calanus pacificus Brodsky were investigated by analyzing samples of different depth strata (0–150 m and 0–1000 m) collected monthly in the Oyashio–Kuroshio Mixed Region. Copepodite stage 5 (C5) emerged from dormancy and matured in early summer. A new generation appeared in July and developed into C5 during summer to autumn. Some of the summer generation arrested development at C5 and persisted below 150 m depth until the following early summer. Although the remainder matured and reproduced in October, a new generation was not observed at the surface during winter. These results suggest that C. pacificus shows two different life-cycle patterns, i.e. one generation annually, with overwintering C5 in deep waters, and two generations annually, with surface development during autumn to winter. The complex life-cycle patterns may be an adaptation to the highly fluctuating surface environment in the Oyashio–Kuroshio Mixed Region.Communicated by T. Ikeda, Hakodate     

Effects of water motion on propagule release from algae with complex life histories

Reproductive marine algae with complex life histories may respond differently to water motion depending upon whether the spore-producing or gamete-producing phase is considered. Two such species, the kelp Alaria esculenta (L.) Greville (Phaeophyceae) and Ulva lactuca L. (Chlorophyta), were examined experimentally in the laboratory. The kelp was collected in April–June 2000 and U. lactuca was collected in July–August 2000, from four intertidal habitats at Schoodic Point, Maine, USA. Orbital shakers were used to generate water motion. Sporophylls of A. esculenta released more zoospores under shaken versus calm conditions, whereas fewer antheridia on the microscopic male gametophytes released sperm under shaken versus calm conditions when male and female gametophytes were placed together. However, antheridial sperm release was equivalent when male gametophytes were exposed to undiluted media from dense cultures of mature female gametophytes under shaken versus calm conditions. These data suggest that water motion inhibited sperm release by diluting the sperm-releasing pheromone produced by ripe eggs below a threshold required to cause sperm release. Water motion stimulated both gamete and zoospore release from U. lactuca. This is the first report in an alga of stimulation of gamete release by increased water motion, but it is notable that parthenogenesis occurs in Ulva spp.; thus, gametes may develop into gametophytes (1 N) or parthenosporophytes (2 N). This study demonstrates that water motion has strong effects upon algal reproduction, but that the effects may vary between species, possibly due to their different life histories.Communicated by J.P. Grassle, New Brunswick     

Classification of juvenile rockfish,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Sebastes inermis</Emphasis>, to<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Zostera</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Sargassum</Emphasis> beds,using the macrostructure and chemistry of otoliths

Young-of-the-year (YOY) Sebastes inermis use Zostera and Sargassum beds as nursery grounds, although it is not known which habitat YOY prefer. In this study, YOY S. inermis were accurately assigned to Zostera or Sargassum beds by two approaches: the width and length of the otolith nucleus and the composition of trace elements in otoliths. The otolith nucleus was initially opaque and then showed a marked shift to hyaline deposition once YOY settled in the nursery grounds. The first hyaline zone (FHZ) was deposited earlier in Zostera beds (from mid-May to early June) than in Sargassum beds (around mid-summer). Likewise, irrespective of settlement year, the FHZ was formed at both significantly younger ages and shorter back-calculated sizes (total length, TL) in the Zostera bed (overall mean: 131±3 days; 2.5±1.7 mm TL) than in the Sargassum bed (overall mean: 158±12 days; 61.3±1.00 mm TL). YOY collected in the Zostera bed were born earlier (mainly in January) than YOY from the Sargassum bed (mainly in February). In addition, a significant linear relationship was found between the age at formation of the FHZ and nucleus dimensions, suggesting that nucleus dimensions were a reliable macroscopic indicator of the time of formation of the FHZ and, consequently, also an indicator of the nursery where YOY grew. Linear discriminant function analysis (LDFA) based on the width and length of the otolith nucleus could distinguish juveniles from Zostera (88–96%) and Sargassum (96–97%) beds with a high degree of accuracy. In the other approach, six detectable trace elements (Li, Mn, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Ba) in otoliths of YOY collected in the nursery grounds were measured by high-resolution, inductively coupled mass spectrometry. LDFA based on the trace elemental composition separated YOY from three nurseries with 100% of accuracy. Findings suggest that both the trace elemental composition and nucleus dimensions of otoliths can be used as natural tags of the nursery grounds of S. inermis, offering a considerable potential for answering questions on habitat use and the contribution of nursery grounds to the adult stock.Communicated by T. Ikeda, Hakodate     

Gastrointestinal pH and development of the acid digestion in larvae and early juveniles of<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Sparus aurata</Emphasis> (Pisces: Teleostei)

Changes in digestive pH and protease activity have been determined throughout the transition from larvae to the juvenile stage in Sparus aurata in rearing conditions (from 0.04 to 100 g wet weight). Measurements of pH have been taken in the stomach and different segments along the length of the intestine using a pH microelectrode. In starved fish, the gastric pH ranged between 6.0 and 8.0 approximately, except in juveniles of intermediate size (between 1.0 and 7.0 g wet weight), which exhibited a wider pH range of 2.0–8.0. Fed fish with digestive content showed, in general, lower pH values in the stomach. A progressive decrease was observed from a pH range of 5.5–8.0 in the youngest animals (0.04 g) to a pH range of 2.0–6.2 when juveniles were approaching 1.0 g wet weight. Above this weight, the gastric pH remained constant (between 2.0 and 6.0 approximately). The pH values in the intestine ranged between 6.7 and 8.4. They were similar in the different segments and weight classes examined, and there were no significant differences between fed and starved animals. Specific acid protease activity (units per milligram soluble protein) in fed animals increased from small (0.04–1.0 g) to intermediate juveniles (1.0 and 7.0 g), but then remained similar in larger juveniles. On the contrary, specific alkaline protease activity in fed animals decreased from small to intermediate juveniles, and then remained at a similar level in larger juveniles. The results reflect a progressive transition during several months from alkaline digestion in larvae with undeveloped stomachs to the acid digestion in juveniles with fully developed stomachs. Full gastric capacity is developed in seabream juveniles of 1 g wet weight, which represents approximately 100 days post-hatching in cultured populations. Nevertheless, in the following 2.5 months, during which the intestine reaches the appropriate length, juveniles still show a transitional period in the regulatory mechanism of digestion, probably linked to the adaptation to a different feeding habit.Communicated by S.A. Poulet, RoscoffThis revised version was published in December 2003 with corrections to the legend of Fig. 3.     

Proclivity and effectiveness in gall defence by soldiers in five species of gall-inducing thrips: benefits of morphological caste dimorphism in two species (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Kladothrips intermedius</Emphasis> and<Emphasis Type="Italic"> K. habrus</Emphasis>)

The essence of eusociality is a trade-off between producing ones own offspring and helping collateral kin via such activities as defence, foraging and brood rearing. This trade-off often involves morphological differences between helper and reproductive castes, but the advantages, correlates and phylogenetic context of morphological caste differentiation have seldom been analysed. Six species of Australian gall-inducing thrips on Acacia show morphological polymorphism. One morph, referred to as a soldier, has reduced wings and antennae but greatly enlarged fore-femora, which are thought to be adaptations for gall defence. The other, dispersing morph, has fully developed wings and relatively slight fore-femora. Here, we quantify the defensive behaviour of soldier morphs, and compare soldier and foundresses, using behavioural assays designed to measure proclivity to attack kleptoparasites (specialised invaders in the genus Koptothrips) and effectiveness in killing them. In all five species investigated, soldiers were able to kill Koptothrips. Moreover, the effectiveness of soldiers was relatively high in the more-derived species in the phylogeny of the clade, Kladothrips intermedius, K. habrus and K. waterhousei. Soldiers of K. intermedius and K. habrus also killed kleptoparasites more effectively than did foundresses, and K. habrus soldiers exhibited higher proclivity to attack than did foundresses. Data from naturally invaded galls demonstrate that soldiers in the field do kill Koptothrips, and vice versa. These results show that soldiers of Australian gall thrips are motivated and effective for gall defence.Communicated by D. Gwynne