A century of increasing pine density and associated shifts in understory plant strategies

We analyzed one of the longest-term ecological data sets to evaluate how forest overstory structure is related to herbaceous understory plant strategies in a ponderosa pine forest. Eighty-two permanent 1-m2 chart quadrats that were established as early as 1912 were remeasured in 2007. We reconstructed historical forest structure using dendrochronological techniques. Ponderosa pine basal area increased from an average of 4 m2/ha in the early 1900s to 29 m2/ha in 2007. Understory plant foliar cover declined by 21%, species richness declined by two species per square meter, and functional diversity also declined. The relative cover of C4 graminoids decreased by 18% and C3 graminoids increased by 19%. Herbaceous plant species with low leaf and fine root nitrogen concentrations, low specific leaf area, high leaf dry matter content, large seed mass, low specific root length, short maximum height, and early flowering date increased in relative abundance in sites where pine basal area increased the most. Overall, we observed a long-term shift in composition toward more conservative shade- and stress-tolerant herbaceous species. Our analysis of temporal changes in plant strategies provides a general framework for evaluating compositional and functional changes in terrestrial plant communities.     

The phosphorus footprint of China's food chain: implications for food security, natural resource management, and environmental quality

Efficient use of phosphorus (P) for producing food, preventing water pollution, and managing a dwindling rock P reserve are major challenges for China. We analyzed P stocks and flows in the Chinese food chain to identify where P use efficiency can be improved, where P leaks to the environment, and the research, technologies, and policies needed to improve P use. We found a high degree of inefficiency; of 6652 Gg P entering the food chain, only 1102 Gg P (18%) exit as food for humans. The greatest inefficiencies were a large build-up of soil P (3670 Gg P yr; 52% of P inputs) and high P losses to the environment from animal production (1582 Gg P yr; 60% of excreted P). Improving P use in China must focus on national-scale nutrient management strategies, better animal nutrition, and adoption of technologies and policies to reduce P discharges from the animal sector and recycle P as manures in agriculture.     

Fuzzy risk assessment of oil and gas offshore wells

Risk evaluation of offshore wells is a challenging task, given that much of the available data is highly uncertain and vague, and many of the mechanisms are complex and difficult to understand. Consequently, a systematic approach is required to handle both quantitative and qualitative data as well as means to update existing information when new knowledge and data become available. Each Basic Risk Item (BRI) in a hierarchical framework is expressed as a fuzzy number, which is a combination of the likelihood of a failure event and the associated failure consequence. Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) is used to estimate weights required for grouping non-commensurate risk sources. Evidential Reasoning (ER) is employed to incorporate new data for updating existing risk estimates. It is envisaged that the proposed approach could serve as a basis for benchmarking acceptable risks in offshore wells.     

Post-ejection nest-desertion of common cuckoo hosts: a second defense mechanism or avoiding reduced reproductive success?

Hosts of the common cuckoo (Cuculus canorus), an avian brood parasite, develop antiparasite defense mechanisms to increase their reproductive success. Ejection of the parasite egg and desertion of the parasitized nest are the most typical adaptations in response to brood parasitism, but nest desertion may also occur in response to partial clutch reduction, independently from parasitism. Some great reed warblers (Acrocephalus arundinaceus) showed both mechanisms in the same incidence of cuckoo parasitism: in 18% of successful ejections of the parasite eggs, they deserted their nests. We studied if such cases of post-ejection nest-desertion are caused by brood parasitism or reduced clutch value. We experimentally parasitized clutches consisting of five or three host eggs with two painted conspecific eggs to mimic parasitic eggs, as multiple parasitism is frequent in the area. Although hosts ejected these parasitic eggs in both clutch categories (100% and 67% for the larger and smaller inital clutch sizes, respectively), we found that after manipulation, post-ejection nest-desertion frequently occurred at small (3-egg) clutches (40%), but rarely at large (5-egg) clutches (17%). The same phenomenon also occurred when unparasitized 3-egg clutches were reduced by two eggs, but not when 5-egg clutches were reduced in the same way. A logistic regression model revealed that only initial clutch size affected nest desertion of parasitized nests in our experiments. Therefore, we conclude that post-ejection nest-desertion is not a second antiparasite mechanism, which might serve as a redundant antiparasite defense, but a reaction to typically small and further decreased clutch size.     

Advanced Aerogels from Wool Waste Fibers for Oil Spill Cleaning Applications

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - Oil spills causes severe degradation to marine ecosystems and poses long term health effects on many animals on the food chain, including humans. A...     

Spatial evolution and specialization division of crop planting structure in counties of Tibet,China北大核心CSCD

从农业区域系统的角度分析农作物的空间集聚和专业化,可为农业产业结构调整及优化提供决策依据.以西藏粮食作物、油料作物、蔬菜和饲草4类作物为研究对象,基于1995-2020年西藏农业统计年鉴农作物播种面积数据分析西藏农作物种植面积时序变化,基于1995-2018年统计年鉴农作物播种面积数据和74个县域空间单元,综合运用重心模型、基尼系数、区位熵及空间自相关模型,通过ArcGIS软件分析西藏作物种植空间变化及专业化格局.结果显示:(1)西藏粮食作物种植面积占比历年均占绝对优势,但呈逐年下降趋势,油料作物种植面积整体呈波动性小幅上升,蔬菜和青饲料种植面积逐年明显增长.粮食作物、经济作物(含油料作物和蔬菜)、饲料作物比例从1995年的86:12:2调整到2020年的68:17:14.(2)1995-2015年间西藏粮食和油料生产重心较为稳定,未出现较大范围的地理迁移,其他农作物重心迁移距离较大,从东南向西北迁移416.7 km.(3)西藏农作物均呈现一定程度的空间集聚和区域专业化生产格局,但在研究期内生产集聚及专业化水平呈下降趋势.(4)将西藏粮食、油料和其他农作物划分为绝对优势区、比较优势区、优势衰退区、潜力优势区、不具优势区、优势退出区、可种植区和无种植区8种类型.本研究表明西藏农作物种植结构调整明显,基于生产格局及演变趋势划定了专业化分区,可引导农作物生产布局优化,对有效保障西藏地区粮食安全具有重要意义.(图6表5参26)     

The diversity and floristic characteristics of mosses in Jiuzhaigou National Nature Reserve北大核心CSCD

苔藓是生态系统的重要组分和自然保护区的重点保护对象之一,在物种资源和生态系统功能维护中具有重要作用.通过野外标本采集和室内鉴定,对九寨沟国家级自然保护区的藓类植物的物种组成和分布特点进行研究.结果表明:(1)九寨沟共有藓类植物38科90属211种(含变种),其中优势科为青藓科(Brachytheciaceae)、丛藓科(Pottiaceae)、灰藓科(Hypnaceae)、金灰藓科(Pylaisiaceae)、提灯藓科(Mniaceae)、真藓科(Bryaceae)和羽藓科(Thuidiaceae);并且调查发现两种濒危级别的珍稀藓种.(2)九寨沟藓类植物的区系地理成分可划分为10个,优势成分为东亚分布,占34.2%,其次为北温带分布,占30.9%.(3)通过与西南地区5个自然保护区藓类植物的相似系数和区系谱主成分分析发现,九寨沟藓类植物种类与贡嘎山的共有种最多,达到94种,在区系成分上也与贡嘎山和王朗相近.本研究表明九寨沟高原喀斯特生境藓类植物物种资源丰富,虽然区系地理成分具有多样和复杂性,但主要还是以东亚分布和温带分布为主,在物种相似度和区系成分上与贡嘎山和王朗的藓类植物一致性更高.(图3表6参47)     

Effects of photoperiod on photosynthetic characteristics and quality of Tetragonia tetragonoides (Pall.) Kuntze in a plant factory北大核心CSCD

为探究光周期对番杏[Tetragonia tetragonoides(Pall.)Kuntze]生长及品质的影响,利用植物工厂中光源高度可控的优势对番杏进行不同光照时间(8、10、12、14、16 h)处理,测定分析番杏的生长、光合特性及营养品质.结果表明:(1)番杏各农艺性状随光照时间延长而增长,在光照时间14 h与16 h处理之间未呈显著性差异(P<0.05);(2)适宜光周期有利于光合色素积累,在16 h处理下叶绿素a、总叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量最大,叶绿素b含量则在14 h光照时最大;净光合速率(P_(n))、蒸腾速率(T_(r))和气孔导度(G_(s))随光照时间延长上升,其中净光合速率在14 h与16 h光照之间变化不显著,胞间CO_(2)(C_(i))则呈先降后升的趋势;光周期变化对最大光化学效率F_(v)/F_(m)与光化学淬灭系数q_(P)未造成显著影响,非光化学淬灭系数NPQ随光照时间延长呈先降后升的趋势,14-16 h光照处理之间变化不显著,电子传递效率ETR则随光周期延长而降低;(3)不同光周期对番杏各营养成分含量的影响有所差异,可溶性蛋白变化差异较小,硝酸盐随光照时间延长而降低,14 h光照下可溶性糖含量最大.本研究表明14-16 h光照处理有利于番杏生长和营养物质积累.(图5表2参37)     

Migration behavior and in-situ bioremediation of chlorinated hydrocarbon solvent in vadose zone: a review北大核心CSCD

It is of great significance for in-situ bioremediation to clarify the migration behavior and biodegradation laws of chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents (CHS) in the vadose zone. We systematically summarized the phase distribution of CHS, the interaction between different phases, and the migration characteristics and clarified the evolution rules of CHS under different phases in the polluted vadose zone. CHS exists in the vadose zone as the NAPL, dissolved phase, adsorbed phase, gas phase, and other phases, where there are three decay evolution stages: early, middle, and late stages. Phase change and diffusion matrix size are important indicators at different stages; at the same time, gas, solid, liquid and NAPL phase CHS have a variety of interactive relationships in the vadose zone. Subsequently, the characteristics of the three main biological metabolic pathways of CHS in the vadose zone–aerobic co-metabolism, direct oxidation and anaerobic reduction, and dechlorination–and their influencing factors were summarized. Generally speaking, the anaerobic dechlorination capacity decreases with a decrease in the number of chlorine atoms, whereas the aerobic degradation capacity increases with a decrease in the number of chlorine atoms. The current status of in-situ remediation of CHS in the vadose zone was summarized using biostimulation and bioaugmentation methods, indicating that adding nutrient substances and injecting anaerobic dechlorination strains of Dehalococcoides are effective means of remediation. Simultaneously, the factors influencing the biodegradation of CHS in the vadose zone were elaborated to acquire a systematic insight into the significance of redox characteristics (oxygen) on the degradation of CHS. Finally, research on the biodegradation of CHS in the vadose zone is prospected, and it is necessary to carry out research on the interactive relationship between different phases of CHS, the data monitoring of CHS, the structure of the functional bacterial community, and research and development of active strains to provide theoretical guidance for the in-situ remediation of CHS in the vadose zone. © 2022 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Morphological and physiological response of different root orders to biochar addition in continuous cropping cotton in Xinjiang,China北大核心CSCD

为缓解新疆棉花连作障碍,充分挖掘棉花根系生物学潜力,以新疆棉花根系为研究对象,采用模块根分级的方法探究不同根序根系的形态和生理特征以及它们对添加生物炭(BC)的响应.结果表明:根序对两个时期的生理指标、形态指标和根系生物量有显著影响.随着根序级的增加,吐絮期根系的可溶性蛋白含量、可溶性糖含量、全非结构性碳水化合物含量、第二和第三模块根的平均直径和根系生物量不断增加,两个时期比根长、比表面积和吐絮期组织密度不断减小.与对照相比,添加BC增加蕾期第一、第二模块根的可溶性蛋白含量分别为30.7%和21.8%,增加第一模块根的全非结构性碳水化合物含量79.8%、可溶性糖含量151%、比根长182%和比表面积193%,增加第二模块根的组织密度124%、吐絮期第一模块根的比根长6.3%和第一、第二模块根的组织密度分别为51.2%和23.8%.综上所述,棉花不同根序根系在生理和形态上存在异质性;第一模块根对BC添加最敏感,且BC使其在形态上更细更长,生理上活性更强,这有利于棉花对养分的吸收.(图4表3参57)