《花卉学》课程实践教学体系初探

实践教学是高等职业技术教育的培养目标,也是高等职业技术教育的优势.本文主要探讨《花卉学》专业课程实践教学体系的结构、实践教学基地建设和专业课程实践教学体系的实施办法.     

Counting of visitors in the Meijendel dunes, The Netherlands

Accurate and sufficiently detailed information about recreation-related use of dune areas is necessary for their management. Long-term monitoring can provide this information. This paper presents the visitor counting programme used in the Meijendel dune area since 1992. The data collected during the first ten years are used to evaluate the method. The combination of mechanical vehicle counts and additional visual counts proved to be reliable and produced an accurate data set. Costs could be reduced through eventually reducing the number of counting locations and limiting the number of visual counts.     

Starch,cellulose and plant extracts as green inhibitors of metal corrosion: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Traditional corrosion inhibitors have made great contributions to metal corrosion protection. However, environmental pollution caused by them is becoming more...     

Screening of Cucumis sativus as a new arsenic-accumulating plant and its arsenic accumulation in hydroponic culture

Phytoextraction is a remediation technology with a promising application for removing arsenic (As) from soils and waters. Several plant species were evaluated for their As accumulation capacity in hydroponic culture amended with As. Cucumis sativus (cucumber) displayed the highest tolerance against As among 4 plants tested in this study (corn, wheat, sorghum and cucumber). The germination ratio of Cucumis sativus was more than 50% at the high concentration of 5,000 mg-As/l. In Cucumis sativus grown in a solution contaminated with 25 mg-As/l, the accumulated As concentrations in the shoot and root were 675.5 ± 11.5 and 312.0 ± 163.4 mg/kg, respectively, and the corresponding values of the translocation and bioaccumulation factors for As were 1.9 ± 0.9 and 21.1 ± 8.4, respectively. These results indicate Cucumis sativus is to be a candidate plant for phytoextraction of As from soils and water.     

东方香蒲(Typha orientalis Presl)对铅的富集特征及其EDTA效应分析

通过野外调查和水培试验，研究了生长在永州铅锌铜尾矿上的优势植物东方香蒲（Typha orientalis Presl）对铅的富集特征及EDTA对其吸收和运输铅的影响。野外调查表明，东方香蒲对铅有很强的富集作用，其地上部分铅平均质量分数为619mg／kg，地下部分铅平均质量分数为1233mg／kg。营养液培养试验进一步证实了它的强富集能力，其地上和地下部分的铅质量分数都远远超过了超富集定义的参考值（1000mg／kg）。分析结果表明，东方香蒲是一种新的铅富集型植物，EDTA的加入不仅增加了植株对铅的吸收量，而且增大了铅在植株体内的转运系数。同时，铅对植株的毒害症状也得到缓解。     

Effects of experience and weather on foraging rate and pollen versus nectar collection in the bumblebee, Bombus terrestris

This study examines factors that affect foraging rate of free-flying bumblebees, Bombus terrestris, when collecting nectar, and also what factors determine whether they collect pollen or nectar. We show that nectar foraging rate (mass gathered per unit time) is positively correlated with worker size, in accordance with previous studies. It has been suggested that the greater foraging rate of large bees is due to their higher thermoregulatory capacity in cool conditions, but our data suggest that this is not so. Workers differing in size were not differentially affected by the weather. Regardless of size, naïve bees were poor foragers, often using more resources than they gathered. Foraging rate was not maximised until at least 30 trips had been made from the nest. Foraging rates were positively correlated with humidity, perhaps because nectar secretion rates were higher or evaporation of nectar lower at high humidity. Temperature, wind speed and cloud cover did not significantly influence foraging rate, within the summertime range that occurred during the study. Weather greatly influenced whether bees collected pollen or nectar. Pollen was preferably collected when it was warm, windy, and particularly when humidity was low; and preferably during the middle of the day. We suggest that bees collect pollen in dry conditions, and avoid collecting pollen when there is dew or rain-water droplets on the vegetation, which would make grooming pollen into the corbiculae difficult. Availability of sufficient dry days for pollen collection may be an important factor determining the success of bumblebee colonies.Communicated by M. Giurfa     

Metapopulation dynamics of a perennial plant, Succisa pratensis, in an agricultural landscape

Most metapopulation models neglect the local dynamics, and systems characterized by slow population turnover, time lags and non-equilibrium, are only rarely examined within a metapopulation context. In this study we used a realistic, spatially explicit, dynamic metapopulation model of a long-lived grassland plant, Succisa pratensis, to examine the relative importance of local population dynamics, and short and long-distance dispersal of seeds.     

A method to extract morphological traits of plant organs from 3D point clouds as a database for an architectural plant model

Combining process-based and three-dimensional (3D) structural models for specific crops to functional–structural plant models (FSPMs) enable ecophysiologists to investigate the interaction of single plants or plant stands with their biotic and abiotic environment in a unique way. The present study was part of a collaborative research program on the development of a FSPM for the sample plant (Hordeum vulgare L.). The emphasis of this paper is put on two main aspects. First, improved generic and flexible functions are formulated for modeling the shape of leaves and stems of graminaceous plants as organ-related triangulated surfaces, where the parameters may be directly interpreted in terms of morphological traits. The proposed functions constitute the structural model, which is amplified by topological information to a so-called architectural model. Second, we suggest a new approach to parameterize these functions based on 3D point cloud data obtained by digitization of entire plants. Since no automated technique is available to process 3D point clouds in a way appropriate for parameterization of the architectural model, the required algorithms are developed and implemented in Matlab^®. Our approach comprises the following steps. First, the measured set of points is partitioned into subsets representing each organ. Each subset is then divided further to represent organ segments. Next, the centroid of each partial point cloud representing an organ segment is computed. The sequence of these centroid points describes the organ axis. By means of the architectural model for leaves and stems, triangulated surfaces are assembled from the computed organ axis points and from user-defined initial values for the various parameters in the model (e.g. maximum leaf width). Finally, the parameters in the functions describing leaf and stem surfaces are estimated by fitting computed triangulated surfaces into the related point cloud using least squares optimization. Hence, the proposed method allows the use of 3D point clouds obtained with modern 3D digitizing techniques for the parameterization of an organ-based architectural model.     

Variation in herbivore-mediated indirect effects of an invasive plant on a native plant

Theory predicts that damage by a shared herbivore to a secondary host plant species may either be higher or lower in the vicinity of a preferred host plant species. To evaluate the importance of ecological factors, such as host plant proximity and density, in determining the direction and strength of such herbivore-mediated indirect effects, we quantified oviposition by the exotic weevil Rhinocyllus conicus on the native wavyleaf thistle Cirsium undulatum in midgrass prairie on loam soils in the upper Great Plains, USA. Over three years (2001-2003), the number of eggs laid by R. conicus on C. undulatum always decreased significantly with distance (0-220 m) from a musk thistle (Carduus nutans L.) patch. Neither the level of R. conicus oviposition on C. undulatum nor the strength of the distance effect was predicted by local musk thistle patch density or by local C. undulatum density (<5 m). The results suggest that high R. conicus egg loads on C. undulatum near musk thistle resulted from the native thistle's co-occurrence with the coevolved preferred exotic host plant and not from the weevil's response to local host plant density. Mean egg loads on C. undulatum also were greater at sites with higher R. conicus densities. We conclude that both preferred-plant proximity and shared herbivore density strongly affected the herbivore-mediated indirect interaction, suggesting that such interactions are important pathways by which invasive exotic weeds can indirectly impact native plants.     

Studies on mercuric sulfide,a component of cinnabar,a Chinese herbal medicine,on celluar functions in mouse lung and fibroblasts

Although the cytotoxic effects of mercuric chloride (HgCl₂) and methylmercury chloride (MeHg) have been extensively studied, the insoluble mercuric sulfide (HgS) has been the subject of fewer studies. Since the traditional Chinese mineral drug, cinnabar (containing >95% HgS) continues to be used as an ingredient for infant sedation, the pharmacological and toxicological effects of HgS need to be clarified. In previous experiments, HgS and cinnabar were shown to be absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and distributed in various tissues including the lungs. Thus, a preliminarily examination of whether HgS might exert any oxidative stress on a mouse lung was undertaken. HgS reduced GSH content and increased lipid peroxidation in the lung. Further studies on the cytotoxic effects and the possible mechanisms of action of HgS were compared with HgCl₂ and MeHg in cultured lung fibroblast V₇₉ cells. The results showed that HgS produced cytotoxicity at a concentration (400–1200 µM)in a dependent manner with IC₅₀ of 795.6 µM, as compared to HgCl₂ and MeHg, 8.1 µM and 5.9 µM, respectively. In addition, the HgS induced the phenomena of DNA fragmentation, increasing reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreasing mitochondrial membrane potential, accompanied by decreased levels of intracellular ATP and GSH and higher lipid peroxidation levels, similar to HgCl₂ and MeHg, but with different toxicokinetic properties. These findings provide evidence for understanding the mechanisms underlying the toxic effects of HgS.     

Response of ultraviolet-B induced antioxidant defense system in a medicinal plant, Acorus calamus

Ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation generates an oxidative stress in plant cells due to excessive generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS can denature enzymes and damage important cellular components. In the present study, an important medicinal plant Acorus calamus (Sweet flag) was subjected to two doses of supplemental UV-B radiation (sUV-B): sUV1 (+ 1.8 kJ m(-2) d(-1)) and sUV2 (+3.6 kJ m(-2) d(-1)) to evaluate the relative response of antioxidant defense potential. Stimulation of activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and glutathione reductase (GR) was observed at initial growth period while the activities of CAT and SOD decreased at later age of sampling. sUV-B induced lipid peroxidation (LPO) was observed showing alteration of membrane properties. No definite trend of change was observed for ascorbic acid (AsA), while increments in thiol, proline, phenol and protein contents were observed due to sUV-B. Results suggested that sUV-B radiation may stimulate the enzymatic and non-enzymatic defense system of Acorus plants, showing its better adaptation at lower dose of sUV-B.     

Spread of metals through an invertebrate food chain as influenced by a plant that hyperaccumulates nickel

Summary. Hyperaccumulation of metals in the shoot system of plants is uncommon, yet taxonomically and geographically widespread. It may have a variety of functions, including defense against herbivores. This study investigated the effects of hyperaccumulation on metal concentrations across trophic levels. We collected plant material, soil, and invertebrates from Portuguese serpentine outcrops whose vegetation is dominated by the nickel hyperaccumulator Alyssum pintodasilvae. Samples were analyzed for nickel, chromium, and cobalt. Grasshoppers, spiders, and other invertebrates collected from sites where A. pintodasilvae was common had significantly elevated concentrations of nickel, compared to nearby sites where this hyperaccumulator was not found. Chromium and cobalt, occurring in high concentrations in the serpentine soil but not accumulated by A. pintodasilvae, were not elevated in the invertebrates. Therefore, it appears likely that a flux of nickel to herbivore and carnivore trophic levels is specifically facilitated by the presence of plants that hyperaccumulate this metal. The results may be relevant to the development of phytoremediation and phytomining technologies, which use plants to extract metals from the soil. Reveived 22 August 2002; accepted 2 April 2003. R1D=" Correspondence to: A. J. Pollard, e-mail:joe.pollard@furman.edu     

广西特有植物瑶山苣苔的濒危原因及保护对策

瑶山苣苔(Dayaoshania cotinifolia W.T.Wang)是苦苣苔科多年生草本植物,为国家Ⅰ级重点保护野生植物.在2004-2006年对瑶山苣苔资源现状、生物学和生态学特性调查的基础上,探讨了瑶山苣苔的濒危原因及解濒措施.结果表明,人为原因是导致瑶山苣苔濒危的最主要原因;其次是昆虫对瑶山苣果实的捕食显著减少了种子数量;第三,瑶山苣苔同有的生物学特性限制其种群数量增加.为更好的保护瑶山苣苔,作者建议采用就地保护策略,即建立金秀老山自然保护区独木桥和青年工区两个瑶山苣苔保护点,有效地保护该种群及其分布生境;同时加强瑶山苣苔的科学研究,实施迁地保护.     

Edge effects, not connectivity, determine the incidence and development of a foliar fungal plant disease

Using a model plant-pathogen system in a large-scale habitat corridor experiment, we found that corridors do not facilitate the movement of wind-dispersed plant pathogens, that connectivity of patches does not enhance levels of foliar fungal plant disease, and that edge effects are the key drivers of plant disease dynamics. Increased spread of infectious disease is often cited as a potential negative effect of habitat corridors used in conservation, but the impacts of corridors on pathogen movement have never been tested empirically. Using sweet corn (Zea mays) and southern corn leaf blight (Cochliobolus heterostrophus) as a model plant-pathogen system, we tested the impacts of connectivity and habitat fragmentation on pathogen movement and disease development at the Savannah River Site, South Carolina, USA. Over time, less edgy patches had higher proportions of diseased plants, and distance of host plants to habitat edges was the greatest determinant of disease development. Variation in average daytime temperatures provided a possible mechanism for these disease patterns. Our results show that worries over the potentially harmful effects of conservation corridors on disease dynamics are misplaced, and that, in a conservation context, many diseases can be better managed by mitigating edge effects.     

围栏禁牧对毛乌素沙地植物群落特征的影响

围栏禁牧是一种使退化草地获得自然恢复的低投入措施。通过对毛乌素沙地3种放牧管理类型（持续放牧、围栏禁牧5 a和围栏禁牧16 a）的物种组成、盖度、丰富度、多样性、相似性进行比较研究,目的是阐明退化毛乌素沙地植被在禁牧条件下自然恢复的可能性和其恢复演替的趋势。研究发现,围栏禁牧5 a左右群落物种组成就会有较大的恢复,但是物种多度增加程度却不大,即去除放牧干扰后群落物种丰富度的恢复要比物种多度的恢复更容易;禁牧后恢复的种类主要是一些不耐牧但适口性好的物种;围栏禁牧16 a后草本盖度大大增加而半灌木盖度却减少了,且出现了半干旱草原的重要典型种——本氏针茅Stipa bungeana Trin.,这标志着以油蒿Artemisia ordosica Krasch.为主的退化灌丛沙地开始向以禾本科草为主的半干旱沙质草原方向恢复;但要实现毛乌素沙地更大尺度上物种丰富度的恢复,围栏恢复的时间还需要更长。     

农田生态系统服务功能研究进展

农田生态系统是人类社会存在和发展的基础,研究农田生态系统服务功能及其价值评估具有重要的意义.文章综述了国内外有关农田生态系统服务功能及其价值评估的研究进展;提出了农田生态系统服务功能的特点;将其服务功能类型划分为生产功能、生态功能和生活功能.分析了当前研究中存在的问题,如服务功能形成的微观机制及其参数研究欠缺;评价结果不准确;评价指标和方法有待完善等.因此,今后农田生态系统服务功能价值评估研究重点应着重于理论探索和方法完善方面,从农田生态系统微观形成机制入手,开展不同尺度和类型的农田生态系统功能价值评估研究,充分考虑影响其功能价值的因素,改进评估的手段、方法和技术,使评估结果更具可比性和实用性,为合理开发利用农业资源、管理农田生态系统,实现农业的永续发展提供理论依据和技术支持.     

Symmetric fights as a measure of escalation potential in a symbiotic,territorial snapping shrimp

Summary The shrimp Alpheus armatus territorially defends the sea anemone it occupies, using as a weapon its large, specially modified snapping claw. This behavior was studied in experimental contests which were symmetric (matched individuals) with respect to sex, size, and residency. Characteristics of these contests were compared for two size-classes of male and female shrimp.There were no significant differences between these groups of shrimp in the number of bouts required to establish dominance or in the number of snaps exchanged. Large females had shorter contests than either small or large males, and losers of contests between large females were injured more frequently and more severely.This distinctiveness of large female contests could be interpreted as evidence that (i) controlling anemones is more important for large females, (ii) injuries are less important for large females, or (iii) large females lose the ability to assess one another because their contests are less frequent.If injuries are an accurate measure of the most important costs associated with fighting, then these results indicate that short contests are not necessarily the least costly, and that females can be more aggressive than males, as measured by escalation potential, in sexually selected species.