Morphological plasticity of submerged macrophyte Potamogeton wrightii Morong under different photoperiods and nutrient conditions

The morphological plasticity of the submerged macrophyte Potamogeton wrightii under different nutrient conditions and photoperiods was measured in a laboratory controlled experiment for 70 days in Japan. Six treatments were used in this experiment (3 × 2 factorial design with three replications) which consisted of three photoperiods and two nutrient conditions. Both photoperiod and nutrient condition had a pronounced effect on shoot and leaf morphology in P. wrightii. New shoot recruitment, and the length of main and new shoots gradually decreased with shortening photoperiod under both nutrient treatments. Plants under an 8 h photoperiod and high nutrient levels generated significantly more dead leaves (7.42 leaf·shoot^?1) and decomposed shoots (1.3 shoots·pot^?1) than plants under other treatments. Under short photoperiods (12 and 8 h) plants failed to produce flowering spikes in both nutrient conditions. In high nutrient conditions, P. wrightii produced shorter shoots, fewer leaves with shorter and narrower laminas, and smaller petioles compared with plants in the low nutrient condition. This may be adaptive under high nutrient conditions because it lowers foliar uptake and, thus, nutrient toxicity.     

High recovery of culturable bacteria from the surfaces of marine algae

The culturability of heterotrophic marine bacteria obtained from the surfaces of two species of marine algae (Lobophora variegata andHalimeda copiosa) was assessed by comparing total DAPI-stained cell counts to colony-forming bacterial counts on two agar media. The colony-forming bacterial counts on a low-nutrient medium (LN) consisting of seawater and agar were significantly greater for both algal species than counts obtained on a high-nutrient medium (HN) similar in composition to that typically used for the isolation of heterotrophic marine bacteria. On average, 14 and 58%, respectively, of the total bacteria fromL. variegata andH. copiosa were culturable on LN. These recovery rates far exceed those typically reported for marine bacteria. Of 119 LN strains obtained in pure culture, 55% failed to grow on HN. The yeast extract component of HN (1.5 gl^-1) was responsible for the majority of the observed inhibition, suggesting that this nutrient can be highly toxic to marine bacteria. Eighty-nine percent of the strains inhibited by HN were capable of growth when the nutrients in this medium were diluted by a factor of 100 with seawater. Of 66 epiphytic strains, 30 (45%) initially inhibited by HN showed the ability to adapt to this medium after a period of laboratory handling. The initial inability of low-nutrient-adapted bacteria to grow on high-nutrient media may be due to nutrient shock. The results presented here indicate that the culturability of specific populations of marine bacteria can be dramatically improved by the use of low-nutrient media. Further, the importance of developing new medium formulations that eliminate traditional nutrients, some of which are clearly toxic to bacteria, is demonstrated.     

施氮与凋落物去除影响下中亚热带阔叶林土壤氮素矿化潜势和硝化潜势研究

氮沉降影响土壤氮循环,而凋落物是土壤有机氮的主要来源,因此,为了探讨氮沉降和凋落物是否去除作用下,亚热带森林土壤潜在的氮素矿化与硝化作用,选择已进行8年模拟氮沉降试验的亚热带罗浮栲(Castanopsis fabri)常绿阔叶林土壤为研究对象,野外样地氮添加设置3个水平:对照(CK,0 kg·hm?2·a?1)、低氮(...     

Biomass, diversity and production of rocky shore macroalgae at two nutrient enrichment and wave action levels

The littoral zone of temperate rocky shores is normally dominated by perennial macroalgae (e.g. Fucus, Ascophyllum, Laminaria), but nutrient enrichment and/or permanently decreased wave action may lead to structural community changes from dominance of perennials to increased amounts of annual opportunistic species (mainly green algae). Macroalgal biomass, diversity and production as well as relationships between the two latter were studied using Solbergstrand’s rocky shore mesocosms in SE Norway in connection with a long-term experimental manipulation of nutrient addition and wave action (high and low levels of both factors applied in a crossed way to eight outdoor basins). After more than 2 years of experimental treatment, the total standing stock of macroalgae was larger in low nutrient than in high nutrient treatments as well as in high wave compared to low wave treatments (in autumn only). For macroalgal functional groups, bushy and filamentous brown and filamentous red algae were generally favoured by low nutrient concentrations, while annual filamentous and sheet-like green algae were stimulated by the nutrient enrichment. There was only one significant interaction between nutrient enrichment and wave action (for brown filamentous algae in autumn) and also only one significant main effect of the wave treatment (for bushy brown algae in autumn). Surprisingly, the high nutrient treatments supported a higher diversity of macroalgae, whereas the low nutrient treatments generally showed higher production rates. Moreover, significantly negative correlations were found between macroalgal diversity and primary productivity in both summer and autumn. This study shows that it is the biological components of the communities subjected to external forcing (nutrient addition or decreased wave action) that regulate production and this contradicts the common misperception that resource production in natural systems simply can be fast-forwarded by fertilization. The negative relationships between diversity and productivity, although a consequence of unexpected results for diversity and production, are also novel and hint towards species identities having more important functional consequences than general species dominance patterns and the amount of species per se. These results also emphasise the context dependency of findings within the field of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning.     

不同氮浓度下三角褐指藻生长特性和化学组成

三角褐指藻是一类海洋单细胞硅藻,富含多不饱和脂肪酸,可以作为鱼、虾、贝等理想的饵料。而近年该藻曾多次在我国沿海海域发生暴发性增殖,给当地生态环境带来了一定的影响。为了探讨不同氮浓度对三角褐指藻生长特性和化学组成的影响,设置了低氮(44 μ mol.L-1)、中氮(880 μmol.L-1)和高氮(4 400 μmol.L-1)浓度三种处理,着重测定三角褐指藻的细胞密度、比生长率、生物量、可溶性糖、蛋白质含量和叶绿素含量等指标。结果表明,高氮浓度明显地促进了藻细胞的生长繁殖。高氮浓度下的藻细胞密度、比生长率和生物量分别比低氮浓度下的提高了 5.38 倍、0.81 倍和 2.86 倍。藻生长前期,高氮浓度和中氮浓度下的生长曲线相似,呈现一个"S"型的曲线。另外,高氮浓度下的藻细胞可溶性糖、蛋白质和叶绿素a含量分别是低氮浓度下的 2.5 倍、1.5 倍和 15 倍,说明高氮浓度促进了藻细胞化学组成的转化和积累。结果揭示,氮浓度可能是导致三角褐指藻近年在我国沿海海域发生暴发性增殖的重要因素。     

鼎湖山马尾松林凋落物分解对凋落物输入变化的响应

为了了解我国南方森林常见的人为干扰（凋落物收取）活动对生态系统养分循环的影响,研究了鼎湖山马尾松林3种主要树种凋落物分解及其养分释放对凋落物输入量变化的响应。这3种树种分别为马尾松（Pinus massoniana）、荷木（Schimasuperba）和锥栗（Castanopsis chinensis）。凋落物输入量变化分别为凋落物去除（L-）、加倍（L＋）和对照（L）3种处理,每种处理25个重复。经过18个月的处理试验,凋落物分解速率及其养分释放随树种、分解阶段和凋落物处理不同而异。荷木、马尾松和锥栗分解物平均残留率分别为0.46±0.01、0.42±0.01、0.40±0.02,其中,荷木与锥栗、马尾松差异性显著。不同处理间的凋落物分解速率差异显著,加倍、对照和去除处理样地凋落物的平均残留率分别为0.51±0.08、0.53±0.09和0.55±0.08。凋落物加倍处理促进了凋落物分解过程中C的释放,而去除凋落物处理则抑制了N、P的释放。以上结果表明,凋落物收取活动不仅直接带走凋落物中的大量养分,而且抑制了凋落物分解及其养分释放。     

Soil effects of six different two-species litter mixtures that include Ulmus pumila

The tree species that contribute to decomposed leaf litter can have important effects on soil properties and thus nutrient cycling and interactions between tree species. We examined ground leaf litter and soil mixtures consisting of leaves from Ulmus pumila (Up) combined individually with leaves from one of six other species: Betula platyphylla (Bp), Quercus liaotungensis (Ql), Salix matsudana (Sm), Hippophae rhamnoides (Hr), Caragana microphylla (Cm), and Amorpha fruticosa (Af). The soil–litter mixtures were incubated for 120 days to analyse the effects of their decomposition on soil properties and to determine the interactions between the different types of litter within each mixture. The decomposed litter mixtures were composed of Up combined with Sm- or Hr-improved soil fertility relative to the pure Up mixture, but the decomposed litter mixtures were composed of Up combined with Cm-, Af-, or Ql-diminished soil properties. Three leaf mixture treatments, namely Up?×?Bp, Up?×?Sm, and Up?×?Hr, exhibited synergistic effects on soil properties (i.e. soil properties exceeding the predicted values); however, three other treatments, namely Up?×?Ql, Up?×?Cm, and Up?×?Af, exhibited antagonistic effects (i.e. properties below the predicted values). Therefore, litter from Bp, Sm, or Hr should be mixed with Up to improve soil fertility and production in plantations.     

Distinctive types of leaf tissue damage influence nutrient supply to growing tissues within seagrass shoots

Herbivory is now recognized as an important structuring agent in seagrass meadows but the attack pattern and tissue damage of consumers are highly variable. Nutritional preferences of herbivores and/or easy access to resources may cause differences in biomass loss among tissues that damage the plant in functionally distinctive ways. The two main Mediterranean herbivores, the fish Sarpa salpa (L.) and the sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus (Lmk.), remove higher amounts of intermediate and external shoot leaves, respectively. To test whether this selective feeding can have different consequences on the allocation patterns of nutrient within plants, we simulated the effect of both herbivores by clipping external and intermediate leaves (plus unclipped controls) of Posidonia oceanica (L.) and we measured plant tolerance in terms of shoot growth and leaf nutrient supply to new tissue using isotopic markers. As expected, control treatments displayed high carbon and nutrient supply from external leaves (83% of the total ¹⁵N and 84% of the total ¹³C incorporated by the shoot). When subjected to clipping, the remaining leaves enhanced carbon and nitrogen supply compared with the control by 16% of N and 36% of C—in the intermediate clipping—and by over 100% of N and 200% of C—in the external clipping—to compensate for the nutrient lost. However, only in the case of fish herbivory (intermediate clipping), enhanced supply alone was able to fully compensate for the nutrient losses. In contrast, this mechanism is not completely effective when external leaves are clipped (urchin herbivory). Yet, the consequences of this nutrient loss under sea urchin herbivory are not apparent from the nutrient content of the new tissue, suggesting that there are other sources of nitrogen income (uptake or reallocation from rhizomes). Our study does not only confirm the tolerance of P. oceanica to herbivory, but also constitutes the first evidence of leaf-specific, compensatory nutrient supply in seagrasses.     

氮输入对沼泽湿地植物生长和氮吸收的影响

氮是湿地植物生长必不可少的营养元素之一,但当外源氮输入超出植物生长需要时,氮素将抑制植物生长。不同植物对氮输入的响应不同,同一植物不同器官对氮输入的响应也不一致。为了探讨氮输入对湿地植物生长和氮吸收的影响机制,本文选取滇西北典型湖泊湿地纳帕海湖滨挺水植物茭草（Zizania caduciflora）和水葱（Scirpus validus）为对象,通过控制实验,研究了3个不同氮输入水平[0 g·m-2·a-1（对照,CK）、20 g·m-2·a-1（N20）、40 g·m-2·a-1（N40）]对茭草和水葱生物量积累、根冠比、氮吸收的影响。结果表明：培养期内,茭草地上生物量始终表现为N40〉N20〉CK,即氮输入促进茭草地上生物量积累;而水葱地上生物量随培养时间不同而发生变化,培养早期N20处理促进水葱地上生物量积累,N40处理抑制水葱地上生物量积累。茭草地下生物量表现为N40〉CK〉N20,即氮输入不足抑制茭草地下生物量积累,足够氮输入促进茭草地下生物量积累;水葱地下生物量表现为CK〉N20〉N40,即氮输入抑制水葱地下生物量积累。植物地上部分和地下部分生长对氮输入的响应也不一致,导致植物根冠比发生变化,茭草根冠比表现为N20     

Effects of water depth and litter accumulation on morpho-ecological adaptations of Eleocharis sphacelata

The morpho-ecological adaptations of Eleocharis sphacelata in response to water depth and the sequential effects of resultant differences in deep water conditions on the long term population dynamics were investigated based on the observations carried out in three stable homogeneous populations in Goulburn and Ourimbah, New South Wales, Australia from August 2003 to May 2005. The deep water populations attained a higher harvestable shoot biomass and a lower rhizome biomass with increased growth in root structure thus significantly enhancing the nutrient uptake rates leading to a higher accumulation of shoot bound macronutrients. However, the accretion of excessive amounts of autogenous shoot litter coupled with slower decomposition rates under anaerobic conditions in the two deep water populations led to higher nutrient enrichment in sediments and overlying water column causing subsequent eutrophication with signs of growth inhibition including typical stress symptoms like stunted growth and chlorotic shoots. The shallow water population that intermittently experienced alternative inundation-drawdown pattern depicted an unaffected continuation of seasonal growth affirming that strict water regime management practices coupled with timely mowing or the removal of accumulating litter are necessary to ensure long-term survival of healthy E. sphacelata stands when it is used in applications where deep water conditions prevail.     

The ecology of energy and nutrient fluxes in hemlock forests invaded by hemlock woolly adelgid

The hemlock woolly adelgid (HWA, Adelges tsugae Annand) is currently causing a severe decline in vitality and survival of eastern hemlock in North American forests. We analyzed the effects of light HWA infestation on vertical energy and nutrient fluxes from the canopy to the forest floor. Canopy throughfall, litter lysimeters, and laboratory litter microcosms were used to examine the effects of HWA-affected and unaffected throughfall on litter type, leachate, and litter chemistry. Early in the season adelgid infestation caused higher dissolved organic carbon (DOC; +24.6%), dissolved organic nitrogen (DON; +28.5%), and K (+39.3%) fluxes and lower inorganic nitrogen fluxes (-39.8%) in throughfall and in adjacent litter solutions collected beneath infested compared to uninfested trees. Needle litter collected beneath uninfested hemlock had significantly lower N concentrations compared to needles collected beneath infested trees, while no difference in N concentrations was found in birch litter. Bacteria were significantly more abundant on hemlock and birch litter beneath infested trees, while yeasts and filamentous fungi showed no consistent response to HWA throughfall. Litter microcosms showed that less DOC was leaching from birch than from hemlock needles when exposed to HWA throughfall. Overall, NH4-N and DON leachate concentrations were higher from birch than from hemlock litter. Thus, HWA-affected throughfall leads to qualitative and quantitative differences in nitrogen export from the litter layer. The N concentration of hemlock litter did not change with time, but the N concentration in birch litter increased significantly during the course of the experiment, especially when HWA-affected throughfall was applied. We suggest a nonlinear conceptual model for the temporal and vertical transition of energy and nutrient fluxes relative to progressing HWA infestation from a pure hemlock to a birch/maple-dominated forest. Progressive needle loss and changes in needle chemistry are likely to produce a humped-shaped DOC curve, while N fluxes initially decrease as infestation continues but rise eventually with hemlock decline and immigration of hardwood species. These findings suggest that it is necessary to understand the biology and specific physiological/trophic effects of exotic pests on their hosts and associated ecosystem processes in order to decipher the temporal dynamics, direction of change, and functional consequences.     

Feeding ecology of the mangrove crab <Emphasis Type="Italic">Ucides cordatus</Emphasis> (Ocypodidae): food choice,food quality and assimilation efficiency

Food preferences, consumption rates and dietary assimilation related to food quality were investigated for the large semi-terrestrial and litter-consuming mangrove crab Ucides cordatus cordatus (Ocypodidae, L. 1763) in northern Brazil. Stomach contents were composed of mangrove leaves (61.2%), unidentified plant material and detritus (28.0%), roots (4.9%), sediment (3.3%), bark (2.5%), and animal material (0.1%). U. cordatus prefers Rhizophora mangle over Avicennia germinans leaves despite a higher nitrogen content, lower carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio and lower tannin content of the latter. Also, assimilation rates for senescent R. mangle leaves (C: 79.3%, N: 45.4%) were higher than for A. germinans leaves (C: 40.6%, N: 9.1%). Faeces composition indicates that A. germinans leaves were more difficult to masticate and digest mechanically. The leaf-ageing hypothesis, according to which crabs let leaves age in burrows to gain a more palatable and nutritive food, was rejected for U. cordatus since N content, C/N ratio and the abundance of microorganisms did not differ significantly between senescent leaves and leaves taken from burrows. The low microbial biomass on leaf surfaces and in the sediment indicates its minor importance for the nutrition of U. cordatus. It is concluded that high ingestion and assimilation rates of a R. mangle diet together with the consumption of algae allow for a high intake of C, N, and energy. The data suggest that the digestibility of mangrove leaves by U. cordatus is not hampered by tannins. This may have provided a competitive advantage over other leaf-consuming invertebrates unable to digest mangrove litter with high tannin concentrations. Due to the large stock biomass of U. cordatus in the study area, a great amount of finely fragmented faeces is produced (about 7.1 ton dry matter ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ in a R. mangle forest) which is enriched in C, N and bacterial biomass compared to the sediment. The decomposition of mangrove litter, and thus nutrient and energy transfer into the sediment, is greatly enhanced due to litter processing by U. cordatus.     

Effects of different endogenous fungi on the mass loss and nutrient content of leaf litter of Cunninghamia lanceolata北大核心CSCD

To explore the role of endophytic fungi in the decomposition of litter, the endophytic fungi Penicillium sp. strain CG2 (A), Fusarium flavum strain AY13 (B), and Talaromyces strain AJ14 (C) of Cunninghamia lanceolata were added to experimental pots in different forms (mycelium, sterilized fermentation broth, single fungus, and mixed fungi), and a control treatment (CK) was set up (no fungi added). At 10, 30, 60, 90, and 120 days after litter decomposition, a study on the decomposition dynamics of C. lanceolata litter under different treatments was performed. The results showed that the rate of leaf mass loss was the highest in the sterilized fermentation broth treatment A after 120 days, and that there was a significant difference (P < 0.05) between the mycelium treatment AC and the control treatment after 60 days (23.97% higher than the control group). On day 60, the litter carbon content from the mycelium treatment A was significantly different from that of the control (P < 0.05), showing a 16.74% lower value, whereas the litter carbon content of the mycelium treatment B was 21.13% lower than that of the control after 90 days. The nitrogen content of the litters of most mycelium and sterilized fermentation broth treatments was increased compared to that of the control group; there was significant difference (P < 0.05) between the sterilized fermentation broth treatment A and the control (P < 0.05), with a 17.05% higher value than that of the control. Similar to nitrogen, the litter phosphorus content also increased; there was a statistically significant difference between the mycelium treatment A and the control group, with treatment A showing a 46.67% higher value than the control group. The potassium content was 28% lower than that of the control group under the sterilized fermentation broth treatment C, a result that was significantly different from that of the control group (P < 0.05). After treatment for 90 days, the ratio of carbon to nitrogen was the lowest under the treatments with the mycelium A and the mycelium B, with values 25.54% and 25.11% lower than that of the control group, respectively, and a statistically significant difference from that of the control group (P < 0.05). The ratio of carbon to phosphorus was the lowest under the treatment with mycelium A after 60 days, and the result was significantly different from that of the control (P < 0.05), with a 43.05% lower value than the control. Thus, the three endophytic fungi had different effects on the mass loss rate and nutrient content of the litter. The Penicillium sp. strain CG2 (A) had statistically significant effects on the mass loss and nutrient content of leaf litter, which was within the range of fungi fertilizer reference values for the breeding of C. lanceolata. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Do plant density, nutrient availability, and herbivore grazing interact to affect phlorotannin plasticity in the brown seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum

Plants have different strategies to cope with herbivory, including induction of chemical defences and compensatory growth. The most favourable strategy for an individual plant may depend on the density at which the plants are growing and on the availability of nutrients, but this has not been tested previously for marine plant–herbivore interactions. We investigated the separate and interactive effects of plant density, nutrient availability, and herbivore grazing on the phlorotannin (polyphenolic) production in the brown seaweed Ascophyllum nodosum. Seaweed plants grown at low or high densities were exposed either to nutrient enrichment, herbivorous littorinid gastropods (Littorina obtusata), or a combination of nutrients and herbivores in an outdoor mesocosm experiment for 2 weeks. Seaweeds grown at a low density tended to have higher tissue nitrogen content compared to plants grown at a high density when exposed to elevated nutrient levels, indicating that there was a density dependent competition for nitrogen. Herbivore grazing induced a higher phlorotannin content in plants grown under ambient, but not enriched, nutrient levels, indicting either that phlorotannin plasticity is more costly when nutrients are abundant or that plants responded to herbivory by compensatory growth. However, there were no significant interactive or main effects of plant density on the seaweed phlorotannin content. The results indicate that plants in both high and low densities induce chemical defence, and that eutrophication may have indirect effects on marine plant–herbivore interactions through alterations of plant chemical defence allocation.     

An assessment of seaweed decomposition within a southern Strait of Georgia seaweed community

An assessment of litter and detritus decomposition and nitrogen content of decomposing litter is presented for ten important seaweeds within a southern Strait of Georgia (British Columbia, Canada) seaweed community sampled from August 1975 until October 1976. Litter decomposition rates varied among species with the time required for litter to disappear from litter bags ranging from 6 d for the lamina of Nereocystis luetkeana to about 70 d for Fucus distichus. Decomposition was characterized by an accelerating increase in the nitrogen: dry weight ratio of remnant litter as decomposition proceeded. Iridaea cordata detritus decomposed most rapidly, at 5.7% d^-1, while rates for Gigartina papillata, N. luetkeana, Laminaria saccharina and Laminaria groenlandica ranged from 1.8 to 3.6% d^-1. The remaining species decomposed more slowly. There was a tendency toward more rapid decomposition with decreasing crude fibre content and detritus particle size; however, it appears that morphology, habitat and growth rate are also correlated with relative decomposition rates. Of 43 taxa identified within quantitative litter collections, F. distichus (41%), I. cordata (26%), N. luetkeana (27%) and Laminaria spp. (4%) accounted for 98% of total deposition with mean peak accumulation occurring in August and September from a low near zero in January and February. Litter distribution was patchy, with most litter decomposing near its place of deposition. The application of litter decomposition rates to measured litter accumulation in a mathematical simulation of decomposition predicted the rate of seaweed litter decomposition to peak at about 1.1 g AFDW (ash-free dry weight) m^-2 d^-1 in early September from a mid-winter low near zero. In total, 56±4% of decomposing litter formed detritus, with the remainder being released as soluble matter. The annual contribution of seaweed litter biomass to detrital pathways from our study site was calculated to be 152 g AFDW m^-2.     

Nutrients increase epiphyte loads: broad-scale observations and an experimental assessment

There is a global trend towards elevated nutrients in coastal waters, especially on human-dominated coasts. We assessed local- to regional-scale relationships between the abundance of epiphytic algae on kelp (Ecklonia radiata) and nutrient concentrations across much of the temperate coast of Australia, thus assessing the spatial scales over which nutrients may affect benthic assemblages. We tested the hypotheses that (1) percentage cover of epiphytic algae would be greater in areas with higher water nutrient concentrations, and (2) that an experimental enhancement of nutrient concentrations on an oligotrophic coast, to match more eutrophic coasts, would cause an increase in percentage cover of epiphytic algae to match those in more nutrient rich waters. Percentage cover of epiphytes was most extensive around the coast of Sydney, the study location with the greatest concentration of coastal chlorophyll a (a proxy for water nutrient concentration). Elevation of nitrate concentrations at a South Australian location caused an increase in percentage cover of epiphytes that was comparable to percentage covers observed around Sydneys coastline. This result was achieved despite our inability to match nutrient concentrations observed around Sydney (<5% of=" sydney=" concentrations),=" suggesting=" that=" increases=" to=" nutrient=" concentrations=" may=" have=" disproportionately=" larger=" effects=" in=" oligotrophic=">     

The impacts of Robinia pseudoacacia litter cover and roots on soil erosion in the Loess Plateau,China

The impacts of vegetation on soil erosion are closely associated with the combined effects of above- and below-ground components. In this study, we explore the effects and contributions of Robinia pseudoacacia litter cover and roots on soil erosion. Experiment sites under natural conditions with vegetation cover, plant roots and bare ground plots were investigated for overland flow discharges of 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0?L?s^?1 and slope gradients of 8.7%, 17.6%, 26.8%, 36.4% and 46.6%. Results indicate that litter cover and roots have a significant impact on sediment reduction; soil loss was reduced by about 57% and plant roots had a greater impact on the reduction of soil erosion than litter cover. The combination of litter cover and plant roots had a significant effect on decreasing K_r, increasing τ_c and consequently strengthening soil resistance capacity to erosion. When plants and roots existed on the slopes, K_r decreased by 81% and 66%, and τ_c increased by 319% and 246%, respectively, in comparison with bare slopes. These results illustrate the importance of high-forest in controlling soil erosion by quantifying the specific contributions of litter cover and plant roots in erosion reduction in the Loess Plateau.     

基于Meta分析的土壤呼吸对凋落物输入的响应

凋落物输入是影响土壤呼吸的一个重要因素,然而从国内外目前研究结果来看,土壤呼吸响应凋落物输入的影响因素尚不清楚。利用国内外已发表的30篇研究论文共1393对有效数据,通过Meta分析,从凋落物管理措施、气候、植被、地形、土壤理化性质等因素揭示凋落物输入对土壤呼吸的影响程度。研究发现:与清除凋落物处理相比较而言,(1)凋落物输入后显著增加了土壤呼吸,且土壤呼吸的增加程度呈现出倍增凋落物处理是自然凋落物处理的1.33倍;(2)不同气候条件下的土壤呼吸增加程度呈现出强降雨(>1000 mm)是微弱降雨(<1000 mm)的1.34倍,以及高温气候(>20℃)是低温气候(<20℃)的1.7倍;(3)土壤呼吸的增加程度在不同植被带下呈现出针叶林带(34.1%)>阔叶林带(28%)>混交林带(22%)>草地(17.3%)的趋势;(4)不同海拔梯度条件下土壤呼吸的增加程度呈现出高海拔(59.6%)>中海拔(34.2%)>低海拔(26.7%)的趋势;(5)不同土壤理化性质条件下的土壤呼吸增量呈现出低容重(77.5%)分别是中容重(26.9%)和高容重(18.0%)的2.9倍和4.3倍,同时中性土壤(79.6%)的呼吸增量远远大于酸性(28.2%)和碱性(24.1%)土壤的呼吸增量,以及高土壤碳氮比(81.2%)的土壤呼吸增量远远大于低土壤碳氮比(19.4%)和中土壤碳氮比(29.6%)的土壤呼吸增量。由此可见,凋落物输入后会导致土壤呼吸的显著增加,但是不同气候、不同植被、不同地形、不同土壤理化性质等条件下其土壤呼吸增加的幅度不同。     

Photosynthetic and growth responses of Japanese sasabamo (Potamogeton wrightii Morong) under different photoperiods and nutrient conditions

Controlled laboratory experiments were conducted to examine how photosynthesis and growth occur in Potamogeton wrightii Morong under different photoperiods and nutrient conditions. The experiment was based on a 3×2 factorial design with three photoperiods (16, 12 and 8 h) of 200 μE · m^?2·s^?1 irradiance and two nutrient conditions, high (90 μmol N · L^?1·d^?1 and 9 μmol P · L^?1·d^?1) and low (30 μmol N L^?1·d^?1 and 3 μmol P · L^?1·d^?1). After 14, 28, 56 and 70 days of growth, plants were harvested to determine net photosynthesis rate and various growth parameters. Above- and below-ground biomass were investigated on days 56 and 70 only. Plants under low nutrient conditions had greater leaf area, more chlorophyll a, a higher rate of net photosynthesis and accumulated more above- and below-ground biomass than plants in the high nutrient condition. Plants with an 8 h photoperiod in the low nutrient condition had a significantly higher rate of net photosynthesis, whereas 8 h photoperiod plants in the high nutrient condition had a lower rate of net photosynthesis and their photosynthetic capacity collapsed on day 70. We conclude that P. wrightii has the photosynthetic plasticity to overcome the effects of a shorter photoperiod under a tolerable nutrient state.     

Above- and belowground biomass and nutrient pools of Spartina alterniflora (smooth cordgrass) in a South American salt marsh

In order to examine the role of position in the tidal range on biomass production and nutrient pools in Spartina alterniflora in an Argentinian estuary, we estimated productivity, the concentration of C, N and P in tissues and pools (concentration×biomass) of these elements in low (LM) and high (HM) zones. Aboveground biomass of S. alterniflora was higher in HM than in LM. Aboveground primary productivity was 106 and 439 g dry wt m^?2 year^?1 in LM and HM, respectively. Belowground biomass was similar in LM and HM. Belowground primary productivity was 526 and 744 g dry wt m^?2 year^?1 for LM and HM, respectively. Nutrient pools were higher in HM than in LM. Biomass and productivity values were low, which makes nutrient pools low. The lower values of the parameters analysed in LM than in HM indicate that position in the tidal range is an important factor in this system, possibly due to the effect of flooding. Moreover, this pattern is opposite to the general one observed in the northern hemisphere, meaning that studying marshes from different environments is worth doing. Because pools were higher in HM, this zone would be more important for nutrient input to the estuary.