Seasonality and dynamics in coral reef macroalgae: variation in condition and susceptibility to herbivory

Seasonal variation in coral reef macroalgal size and condition is well documented, yet seasonal variability of herbivory on macroalgae by coral reef fishes is unknown. Herbivore feeding intensity was quantified monthly on an inner-shelf reef on the Great Barrier Reef, using Sargassum bioassays. Removal rates of transplants displayed high levels of variation with significantly higher rates of removal during the summer months. Differences in Sargassum plant size and condition suggest that the variability in herbivore feeding intensity is attributed primarily to the variation in the condition of the macroalgae, especially epiphyte loads. The dramatic changes in macroalgal removal reveal a considerable decrease in herbivore activity in the winter. This highlights the clear distinction between ‘summer’ and ‘winter’ months in terms of reef processes, emphasizing the high seasonal variation in macroalgal removal rates at different time of the year.     

Above- and belowground responses of Arctic tundra ecosystems to altered soil nutrients and mammalian herbivory

Theory and observation indicate that changes in the rate of primary production can alter the balance between the bottom-up influences of plants and resources and the top-down regulation of herbivores and predators on ecosystem structure and function. The exploitation ecosystem hypothesis (EEH) posited that as aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) increases, the additional biomass should support higher trophic levels. We developed an extension of EEH to include the impacts of increases in ANPP on belowground consumers in a similar manner as aboveground, but indirectly through changes in the allocation of photosynthate to roots. We tested our predictions for plants aboveground and for phytophagous nematodes and their predators belowground in two common arctic tundra plant communities subjected to 11 years of increased soil nutrient availability and/or exclusion of mammalian herbivores. The less productive dry heath (DH) community met the predictions of EEH aboveground, with the greatest ANPP and plant biomass in the fertilized plots protected from herbivory. A palatable grass increased in fertilized plots while dwarf evergreen shrubs and lichens declined. Belowground, phytophagous nematodes also responded as predicted, achieving greater biomass in the higher ANPP plots, whereas predator biomass tended to be lower in those same plots (although not significantly). In the higher productivity moist acidic tussock (MAT) community, aboveground responses were quite different. Herbivores stimulated ANPP and biomass in both ambient and enriched soil nutrient plots; maximum ANPP occurred in fertilized plots exposed to herbivory. Fertilized plots became dominated by dwarf birch (a deciduous shrub) and cloudberry (a perennial forb); under ambient conditions these two species coexist with sedges, evergreen dwarf shrubs, and Sphagnum mosses. Phytophagous nematodes did not respond significantly to changes in ANPP, although predator biomass was greatest in control plots. The contrasting results of these two arctic tundra plant communities suggest that the predictions of EEH may hold for very low ANPP communities, but that other factors, including competition and shifts in vegetation composition toward less palatable species, may confound predicted responses to changes in productivity in higher ANPP communities such as the MAT studied here.     

Attraction of entomopathogenic nematodes to sugarcane root volatiles under herbivory by a sap-sucking insect

Few systems have been described in which herbivore-induced root volatiles mediate attraction of entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), and they only concern root damage inflicted by chewing insects. EPNs, especially Heterorhabditis indica and Steinernema carpocapsae, are potential biological control agents of sugarcane spittlebug (Mahanarva fimbriolata) populations. Here, we investigated the response of these two species of EPNs to sugarcane root volatiles damaged by M. fimbriolata nymphs in a belowground six-arm olfactometer. We also examined changes on root volatile profile in response to herbivory of sugarcane spittlebug nymphs. Results showed that both EPN species did not discriminate between odors of undamaged sugarcane and moistened sand (blank). However, when EPNs were exposed to odors of spittlebug-damaged and undamaged sugarcane roots, both species significantly preferred odors of spittlebug-damaged roots. Headspace collection followed by GC–MS analyses showed no qualitative difference (total of 11 compounds) between volatile profiles of spittlebug-damaged and undamaged sugarcane roots. In contrast to the previous studies involving feeding by root chewing insects, our root volatile analysis did not reveal any up-regulation resulting from sugarcane spittlebug damage, but the down-regulation of the terpenes dihydromyrcenol and β-isomethyl ionone when compared with the profile of undamaged sugarcane roots. Here, we propose alternative explanations for the EPN attraction to spittlebug-damaged roots as it is unlikely that reduced concentrations of the volatiles play a role in this interaction. Further studies are necessary to determine the key compounds of the root volatile emission to enhance biological control efficacy with EPNs against M. fimbriolata in sugarcane.     

施用营养型土壤改良剂对水稻产量和土壤肥力的效应

探讨了营养型土壤改良剂(简称改良剂)对水稻产量、土壤酸度、土壤养分、土壤肥力和土壤物理性能的效应。连续2年4造水稻试验结果表明,施用改良剂比对照稻谷产量增加8.6%~11.3%(平均10.3%),增产达极显著水平,并且有良好后效。施用土壤改良剂具有提高pH,降低活性Al,增加N、P、K有效养分和代换性K、Ca和Mg的效果。     

毒死蜱在土壤中的残留和淋溶动态

对土壤中毒死蜱的残留和淋溶动态进行了研究.结果显示,毒死蜱在土壤中的残留降解属于一级动力学反应,在土壤中的降解半衰期为63.0 d.通过土柱模拟淋溶试验,对毒死蜱在土壤中淋溶的影响因子进行了研究.结果表明,降水量对毒死蜱的淋溶影响较大,主要表现为降水水量增大, 毒死蜱在土层中的最大淋溶深度也随之增加, 出现浓度最高峰的土层深度也越大, 两者呈正相关关系.与降水量相比,降水强度对毒死蜱的淋溶的影响相对较小.     

耕作方式对土壤微生物和土壤肥力的影响

通过2年田间定位试验,对比研究了免耕+秸秆覆盖、旋耕+秸秆覆盖和传统耕作:三种耕作方式对土壤温度、土壤呼吸速率、土壤微生物数量和土壤肥力状况的影响.结果表明:秸秆覆盖对地温的影响存在"双重效应";土壤温度、土壤呼吸速率和土壤微生物量碳三者之间存在凸面关系;秸秆还田后耕作措施对土壤0～10和10～20 cm的微生物数量的影响不同,但均能增加土壤微生物量;土壤微生物能够加快秸秆中的有机碳向土壤有机质的转化速率;土壤微生物量碳可以作为反映土壤生产力状况的重要生物学指标之一.     

长期施肥对旱地红壤肥力和酶活性的影响

为了明确不同施肥种类对旱地红壤肥力与酶活性的影响,以30年（1981年至今）长期定位试验地为基础,研究不同施肥处理（CK,N,NP,NPK,2倍NPK,猪粪,NPK＋猪粪）旱地红壤玉米田耕层（0～20 cm）土壤酶活性与养分的变化趋势及其相关性。结果表明：1）全N含量各处理间差异不显著,单施N肥显著增加土壤速效N,施有机肥处理（NPK＋猪粪,猪粪）土壤的pH值、有机质、全P、速效P均显著增加;2）除了2倍NPK处理土壤脲酶活性最高外,施有机肥土壤的转化酶、脱氢酶、酸性磷酸酶、过氧化氢酶活性也较其他处理显著增加;3）酸性磷酸酶、过氧化氢酶、脱氢酶、脲酶与全N、有机质、速效N呈显著或极显著正相关;因此,红壤旱地通过长期施用有机肥或与无机肥配施,不仅能显著提高土壤肥力,而且能增加土壤酶活性,从而显著提高土壤持续生产力。     

牧草植物篱对紫色土坡耕地水土流失及土壤肥力空间分布的影响

植物篱的水土保持效果已得到广泛的认可,并在世界很多地方推广.随着经济植物篱概念的提出,牧草已作为经济植物篱植物得到广泛应用.然而,到日前为止,牧草植物篱对坡耕地土壤肥力的影响规律研究却很少.利用长期定位小区试验,研究了苜蓿(Medicago saliva Linn.)和蓑草(Eulaliopsis lsinata(Retz.)C.E.Hubb.)植物篱对坡耕地土壤肥力的影响规律,旨在弄清牧草植物篱提高土壤肥力的作用与效果,不断完善植物篱技术.研究发现,坡耕地在建立牧草植物篱后,土壤粘粒在篱前富积,篱下加剧侵蚀,粘粒的富积与侵蚀沿等高线成水平带状分布;土壤有机质、N、P等主要营养元素出现与土壤颗粒相同的分布规律;对K来说,其分布不受植物篱的影响.表现出从坡上向坡下逐渐减少的分布特点.从土壤养分的绝对数量来看,P呈高度富积,而有机质和K则足高度耗竭.因此,坡耕地施肥时可以适当减少P的施用量,增加有机物和K的施用量.针对植物篱带对坡耕地肥力影响的特点,即篱前肥力升高,篱下肥力下降,在坡耕地管理上应特别加强篱下土壤带的培肥,以提高坡而整体生产能力.     

Insect herbivory and propagule pressure influence Cirsium vulgare invasiveness across the landscape

A current challenge in ecology is to better understand the magnitude, variation, and interaction in the factors that limit the invasiveness of exotic species. We conducted a factorial experiment involving herbivore manipulation (insecticide-in-water vs. water-only control) and seven densities of introduced nonnative Cirsium vulgare (bull thistle) seed. The experiment was repeated with two seed cohorts at eight grassland sites uninvaded by C. vulgare in the central Great Plains, USA. Herbivory by native insects significantly reduced thistle seedling density, causing the largest reductions in density at the highest propagule inputs. The magnitude of this herbivore effect varied widely among sites and between cohort years. The combination of herbivory and lower propagule pressure increased the rate at which new C. vulgare populations failed to establish during the initial stages of invasion. This experiment demonstrates that the interaction between biotic resistance by native insects, propagule pressure, and spatiotemporal variation in their effects were crucial to the initial invasion by this Eurasian plant in the western tallgrass prairie.     

论土壤肥力评价指标和方法

阐述了土壤肥力的概念,分析了土壤肥力评价的指标选取和方法选择,提出了科学合理的综合性评价指标体系和评价方法。     

Successional changes in plant resistance and tolerance to herbivory

Despite considerable research on plant defenses, we know very little about how temporal changes in the environment may influence resistance and tolerance levels, or the costs and benefits of these defense strategies for long-lived plant species. We hypothesized that, in successional habitats, predictable environmental changes should favor strong plasticity in defense phenotypes and that the costs, benefits, and levels of tolerance and resistance will change with environmental context. Using a widely distributed, old-field perennial, late goldenrod (Solidago altissima), we conducted a field experiment to test these predictions. We planted goldenrod genets exhibiting varying levels of resistance and tolerance into three early-successional and three late-successional fields (approximately three and 15 years in age, respectively) and experimentally measured resistance and tolerance levels and their associated costs and selection coefficients. We found a significant effect of successional stage but no effect of genotype or stage-genotype interaction on defense levels. Genets planted in early-successional fields appeared to be more resistant and less tolerant to herbivory than those same genets planted in late-successional fields. There were significant trade-offs between resistance and tolerance in early-successional fields but not in late-successional fields. Each late-successional field exhibited a significant cost or selection gradient for resistance, but there was no general pattern of resistance costs or selection gradients specific to a successional stage class. In contrast, there was evidence of stage-specific costs of tolerance; late-successional fields exhibited significant costs of tolerance whereas early-successional fields did not. There was no evidence of direct selection for or against tolerance in either stage. Our results suggest that defense phenotypes might change in qualitative ways during succession. High resistance in early stages may be attributed to associational effects of the early-successional community, reducing the probability of damage, and despite a cost of tolerance in late stages, tolerance may be beneficial in mitigating the effects of both herbivory and environmental stresses (i.e., low light availability) that limit fitness in these fields. This study provides experimental evidence that succession can strongly influence defense phenotypes and promote temporal variability in relative resistance and tolerance levels.     

The triple helix of Plantago lanceolata: genetics and the environment interact to determine population dynamics

The theory of evolution via natural selection predicts that the genetic composition of wild populations changes over time in response to the environment. Different genotypes should exhibit different demographic patterns, but genetic variation in demography is often impossible to separate from environmental variation. Here, we asked if genetic variation is important in determining demographic patterns. We answer this question using a long-term field experiment combined with general linear modeling of deterministic population growth rates (lambda), deterministic life table response experiment (LTRE) analysis, and stochastic simulation of demography by paternal lineage in a short-lived perennial plant, Plantago lanceolata, in which we replicated genotypes across four cohorts using a standard breeding design. General linear modeling showed that growth rate varied significantly with year, spatial block, and sire. In LTRE analysis of all cohorts, the strongest influences on growth rate were from year x spatial block, and cohort x year x spatial block interactions. In analysis of genetics vs. temporal environmental variation, the strongest impacts on growth rate were from year and year x sire. Finally, stochastic simulation suggested different genetic composition among cohorts after 100 years, and different population growth rates when genetic differences were accounted for than when they were not. We argue that genetic variation, genotype x environment interactions, natural selection, and cohort effects should be better integrated into population ecological studies, as these processes should result in deviations from projected deterministic and stochastic population parameters.     

阿维菌素在棉花和土壤中的消解规律研究

在济南和合肥开展了阿维菌素在棉花和土壤中残留田间试验,采用超高效液相色谱-质谱联用分析方法,研究了阿维菌素在棉花和土壤中的消解动态和最终残留。试验结果表明：阿维菌素在添加浓度水平为2～50μg·kg-1,平均回收率为78.2%～98.0%,相对标准偏差（RSD）为2.6%～6.4%;阿维菌素在棉叶和土壤中的消解动态符合一级动力学方程,其在棉叶中的半衰期为0.7～0.8 d,在土壤中的半衰期为0.9～1.4 d;阿维菌素在棉籽和土壤中的最终残留量均为未检出。建议按照按推荐剂量16.2～24.3 g·hm-2施药,施药1次,其在棉籽中的残留是安全的。     

施用钢渣对水稻土硅素肥力的影响

施用钢渣种植水稻的盆栽试验结果表明,与对照相比,施用钢渣使土壤pH升高,土壤水溶态硅和无定形硅的含量下降,活性硅及有效硅含量上升,水稻植株含硅量增加.除水溶态硅外,上述影响均随钢渣用量增加或粒度变细而增强.     

Patterns of microzooplankton growth in dilution experiments across a trophic gradient: Implications for herbivory studies

To investigate the growth and grazing patterns of microzooplankton (MZP) in environments of differing productivity, dilution experiments measuring phytoplankton growth (μ) and grazing mortality (m) rates were performed using samples from contrasting locations along the Texas coast. Samples were collected from estuaries, coastal lagoons and offshore Gulf of Mexico locations in the spring and summer of 2001. MZP growth rates were determined in each dilution treatment. Although MZP biomass changed over time in most dilution treatments, adjusting μ and m for the actual grazer gradient (represented by geometric mean MZP biomass) did not cause a significant deviation from the nominal dilution gradient. Likewise, these adjustments did not yield significant regressions where none existed before adjustment. The dynamics of MZP taxonomic groups (ciliates, dinoflagellates) and size categories differed suggesting that in some cases internal predation may lead to trophic cascades. MZP biomass was higher in productive coastal waters and included a larger proportion of dinoflagellates than in the oligotrophic, ciliate-dominated waters of the Gulf of Mexico. The MZP biomass-to-chlorophyll a ratio was lowest in the hypereutrophic Nueces River, where MZP biomass significantly increased in all dilution treatments (net growth rates up to 2 day⁻¹) suggesting a strong top–down control. In the brown-tide dominated Upper Laguna Madre and the oligotrophic seagrass-dominated Lower Laguna Madre MZP growth was decoupled from that of phytoplankton. At these sites, MZP were likely fueled by bacterial carbon and mixotrophy, respectively. Observing the growth response of MZP in dilution experiments can provide insight into trophic structure and efficiency of the microbial food web.     

不同土地利用方式下土壤微生物数量与土壤肥力的关系

选取了6种不同土地利用方式,分别对土壤微生物数量变化及其与土壤养分的相互关系进行了研究,结果表明,不同土地利用方式下土壤微生物总量各有差异,具体表现为干鱼塘底泥>菜地>水稻田>果园>粮作旱地>荒草地;但从土壤微生物多样性指数来看,则表现为粮作旱地>菜地>果园>荒地>水稻田>鱼塘底泥。土壤中微生物总量与微生物多样性指数二者的变化趋势不一致,因此评价土壤生物多样性指数应将二者结合起来。微生物数量与土壤大多数养分含量(除有效磷和全钾之外)之间存在着一定的正相关关系,即土壤微生物数量随土壤养分含量的增加而增加。     

Constitutive and induced defenses to herbivory in above- and belowground plant tissues

A recent surge in attention devoted to the ecology of soil biota has prompted interest in quantifying similarities and differences between interactions occurring in above- and belowground communities. Furthermore, linkages that interconnect the dynamics of these two spatially distinct ecosystems are increasingly documented. We use a similar approach in the context of understanding plant defenses to herbivory, including how they are allocated between leaves and roots (constitutive defenses), and potential cross-system linkages (induced defenses). To explore these issues we utilized three different empirical approaches. First, we manipulated foliar and root herbivory on tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) and measured changes in the secondary chemistry of above- and belowground tissues. Second, we reviewed published studies that compared levels of secondary chemistry between leaves and roots to determine how plants distribute putative defense chemicals across the above- and belowground systems. Last, we used meta-analysis to quantify the impact of induced responses across plant tissue types. In the tobacco system, leaf-chewing insects strongly induced higher levels of secondary metabolites in leaves but had no impact on root chemistry. Nematode root herbivores, however, elicited changes in both leaves and roots. Virtually all secondary chemicals measured were elevated in nematode-induced galls, whereas the impact of root herbivory on foliar chemistry was highly variable and depended on where chemicals were produced within the plant. Importantly, nematodes interfered with aboveground metabolites that have biosynthetic sites located in roots (e.g., nicotine) but had the opposite effect (i.e., nematodes elevated foliar expression) on chemicals produced in shoots (e.g., phenolics and terpenoids). Results from our literature review suggest that, overall, constitutive defense levels are extremely similar when comparing leaves with roots, although certain chemical classes (e.g., alkaloids, glucosinolates) are differentially allocated between above- and belowground parts. Based on a meta-analysis of induced defense studies we conclude that: (1) foliar induction generates strong responses in leaves, but much weaker responses in roots, and (2) root induction elicits responses of equal magnitude in both leaves and roots. We discuss the importance of this asymmetry and the paradox of cross-system induction in relation to optimal defense theory and interactions between above- and belowground herbivory.     

西安污灌区土壤重金属含量及对西红柿影响研究

通过对西安污灌土和西红柿Cu,Pb,Cd,Cr,As,Hg元素分布的研究,结果表明这些元素在污灌土中发生了明显累积,但不同元素的累积强度不同。重金属从土壤向西红柿的迁移转化中,迁移累积率在灌土中Cd＞As＞Cu＞Cr＞Hg＞Pb,而正常土中Cd＞As＞Hg＞Cu＞Cr＞Pb。西红柿不同生长阶段对土壤中重金属吸收程度不同,西红柿Cu、Cd、Hg含量与土壤中该元素含量呈明显的正相关关系。     

红壤地区大豆根系的耐酸铝生理特性

红壤地区的酸铝影响是限制植物生长的重要因素,为了研究酸铝作用下大豆根系在短时间下的生理特性变化,以大豆(Glycine max(L.)Merrill)(029-289,浙春2号)为实验材料,在水培条件下,用不同的酸铝处理(T1,0 mmol·L-1 pH 3;T2,0 mmol·L-1 pH 4;T3,0 mmol·L-1 pH 5;T4,0.5 mmol·L-1 pH 5;T5,l mmol·L-1 pH 5;T6,1 mmol·L-1 pH 3),在处理2 h、4h、6h、12 h、24 h下,测定根系生理特性相关指标.结果表明:在酸铝处理2h后,大豆根系生理特性受到影响.随着溶液pH降低.直根和侧根的生长受到抑制,对植物的生长造成阻碍;而在pH不变下,随铝浓度的变化,根系长度和根系活力先增大后减小.在T6下,对大豆根系的抑制作用在各酸铝处理下最明显,根系活力最小,质膜透性最大.比较不同时间下大豆根系生理特性值的大小,质膜透性浙春2号在6 h,029-289在4 h达到最小;与之相反,根系活力值浙春2号在4 h,029-289在6 h达到最大值.苏木精染色结果显示:T6下,2 h的酸铝胁迫就可检测到铝的存在,不同根段的铝含量大小分别是0～0.3 cm>0.6～0.9 cm>0.3～0.6 cm.因此,根长、根质最、质膜透性和根系活力均可作为植物根系受酸铝影响的鉴定指标,苏木精染色亦可有效的评价大豆的铝耐性.     

Nitrogen dynamics in an Australian semiarid grassland soil

We conducted a four-week laboratory incubation of soil from a Themeda triandra Forsskal grassland to clarify mechanisms of nitrogen (N) cycling processes in relation to carbon (C) and N availability in a hot, semiarid environment. Variation in soil C and N availability was achieved by collecting soil from either under tussocks or the bare soil between tussocks, and by amending soil with Themeda litter. We measured N cycling by monitoring: dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), ammonium (NH4+), and nitrate (NO3-) contents, gross rates of N mineralization and microbial re-mineralization, NH4+ and NO3- immobilization, and autotrophic and heterotrophic nitrification. We monitored C availability by measuring cumulative soil respiration and dissolved organic C (DOC). Litter-amended soil had cumulative respiration that was eightfold greater than non-amended soil (2000 compared with 250 microg C/g soil) and almost twice the DOC content (54 compared with 28 microg C/g soil). However, litter-amended soils had only half as much DON accumulation as non-amended soils (9 compared with 17 microg N/g soil) and lower gross N rates (1-4 compared with 13-26 microg N x [g soil](-1) x d(-1)) and NO3- accumulation (0.5 compared with 22 microg N/g soil). Unamended soil from under tussocks had almost twice the soil respiration as soil from between tussocks (300 compared with 175 microg C/g soil), and greater DOC content (33 compared with 24 microg C/g soil). However, unamended soil from under tussocks had lower gross N rates (3-20 compared with 17-31 microg N x [g soil](-1) d(-1)) and NO3- accumulation (18 compared with 25 microg N/g soil) relative to soil from between tussocks. We conclude that N cycling in this grassland is mediated by both C and N limitations that arise from the patchiness of tussocks and seasonal variability in Themeda litterfall. Heterotrophic nitrification rate explained >50% of total nitrification, but this percentage was not affected by proximity to tussocks or litter amendment. A conceptual model that considers DON as central to N cycling processes provided a useful initial framework to explain results of our study. However, to fully explain N cycling in this semiarid grassland soil, the production of NO3- from organic N sources must be included in this model.