Effects of initial decomposing leaf litter of Cinnamomum camphora on the growth and physiology of Impatiens balsamina北大核心CSCD

A pot experiment was conducted to study the allelopathic effects of initial decomposing leaf litter of Cinnamomum camphora on growth and physiology of Impatiens balsamina. Three leaf litter treatments included 20, 40 and 80 g of C. camphora leaf litter mixed with 8 kg of soil, namely T1, T2, and T3, respectively. In order to test the effect of leaf litter addition on the permeability and ventilation of soil simultaneously, a parallel trial with steamed leaf litter was conducted with the three treatments of the leaf litter. The leaf litter was steamed for 2 d to remove the secondary metabolites as much as possible, dried, and then mixed with 8 kg of soil, namely Z1, Z2, and Z3, respectively. No leaf litter was added in control (CK). The growth parameters of I. balsamina were determined at the 20 d, 60 d, 100 d and 120 d after sowing and the main physiology indicators were determined at the 60 d. The results indicated that: (1) The ground surface diameter and height of I. balsamina were inhibited significantly at 60 d (P < 0.05). Photosynthetic pigments and gas exchange parameters of I. balsamina were inhibited significantly at 60 d, and the inhibition effect was stronger with increased amount of leaf litter addition. The chlorophyll content, Pn and Ls decreased significantly with increased amount of leaf litter (P < 0.05). The activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) in leaves of I. balsamina decreased with the increase of leaf litter addition. The content of MDA in treatments T1, T2 and T3 were all higher than that in CK, which indicated that I. balsamina suffered oxidative damage in a certain degree. The content of free proline (Pro) and soluble sugar (SS) in leaves of I. balsamina decreased significantly with the increase of the leaf litter (P < 0.05), while the content of soluble protein (SP) increased. (2) In the parallel trial, 60 d after sowing, no obvious difference was observed between CK and any steamed leaf litter treatment in terms of the morphological and physiological features stated above (P > 0.05). It indicated that the soil physical properties were not greatly influenced by leaf litter addition in the dose interval designed, or that the release of secondary metabolites from decomposing leaf litter was probably a better reason to explain the inhibition of leaf litter treatment to I. balsamina growth. (3)The compound effect (CE) of leaf litter decomposition on I. balsamina was enhanced with increase of the leaf litter, to 0.169, 0.354, and 0.497, respectively, in treatments of T1, T2 and T3. The study indicated that initial decomposition of C. camphora leaf litter in soil reduces the content of photosynthetic pigments, inhibits photosynthetic capacity and resistance physiology of I. balsamina, weakens its adaptability to the environment, and restrains growth of the plant. © 2015, Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Life from an orderly cosmos

Recent astrophysical studies suggest a high degree of order in the inanimate universe, stemming from cosmic beginnings. This state is consistent with the nonrandomness observed experimentally in the thermal polymers of amino acids that figure as an early inanimate stage in organic evolution. The various stages in inanimate matter, protocells, and evolved cells and the degree of order that they represent comport with the second law of thermodynamics on a cosmic scale.     

The efficacy of a limestone doser to mitigate stream acidification in a Maryland coastal plain stream: Implications for migratory fish species

The objective of this two-year study was to determine the efficacy of an automated limestone slurry doser to neutralize acidic pulses and improve water quality conditions for enhancing survival of early life stages of migratory fish species in a Maryland coastal plain stream. Implications for survival of early life stages of migratory fish species such as yellow perch (Perca flavescens), white perch (Morone americana), blueback herring (Alosa aestivalis) and alewife (Alosa pseudoharengus) are discussed based on the improved chemical conditions in the dosed area of the stream. Despite problems with overdosing in 1991 and failure of the stage transducer to work properly in 1992, the doser was generally effective in neutralizing acidic pulses (pH depressions) in the stream during three major rain events in both years. Chemical conditions (pH and inorganic monomeric aluminum) reported in the non-dosed area during major rainfall events were potentially stressful to both alewife and blueback herring although neither species was reported spawning in the stream during either year. Mitigating the potential impact of acidic conditions on early life stages of important migratory fish species was not sufficient to ensure spawning. It is therefore recommended that habitat improvement measures and well designed fish stocking programs be implemented concurrently with doser operations if the goal is to create optimum spawning conditions for migratory species.     

Ambient air concentrations of PCDDs,PCDFs, coplanar PCBs,and PAHs at the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge,Jackson County,Mississippi

Our objective was to determine the levels of selected airborne contaminants in ambient air at the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge, Mississippi, that might be affecting the health of endangered cranes living there. Two high-volume air samplers were operated at separate locations on the Refuge during May–September 1991. The sampling media were micro-quartz filters in combination with polyurethane foam plugs. Composite bimonthly samples from each station were analyzed for polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), dibenzofurans (PCDFs), coplanar polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Overall, residue concentrations were low. The toxic PCDD isomer 2,3,7,8-tetra-CDD was not detected, nor was penta-CDD. There was no difference (P>0.05) in residue concentrations between stations or over time and meteorological parameters were not correlated with residue concentrations. Because contaminant levels and patterns may differ seasonally, we recommend that air samples collected during winter months also be analyzed for these same chemical groups.     

Behavioral frequency: Relationship between conditioning and extinction

Operant conditioning data pertaining to bar pressing in rats show that (1) different schedules of reinforcement during training lead to differential behavior during extinction as measured by number of responses, but not as measured by number of response units and (2) animals show a response frequency/unit of time which is directly proportional to the response frequency/unit of time acquired during training.