Self-organization of circadian rhythms in groups of honeybees (Apis mellifera L.)

Workers in social groups of honeybees (Apis mellifera L.) synchronize their individual free-running circadian rhythms to an overall group rhythm. By monitoring the activity of bees by recording the oxygen consumption and intragroup temperature, it is shown that the rhythm coordination is in part achieved by temperature fluctuations as an intragroup Zeitgeber. Trophallaxis was shown to have only a minor (if any) effect on circadian rhythm synchronization. A model incorporating a feed back loop between temperature and activity can plausibly explain the observed synchronization of individual rhythms in social groups as a self-organization phenomenon. Correspondence to: R.F.A. Moritz     

The geographical distribution of plant latex

Summary Latex is a widespread defence in plants against natural enemies and a literature-based summary of latex-producing angiosperms shows records in 40 families, and more than 20,000 species are estimated to bear laticiferous structures of some kind. This is considerably higher than the usually quoted figure of 12,500 species. There are more tropical than temperate latex-bearing families, both in absolute numbers and proportionally. Proportions of latex-bearing families are similar both in tropical and in more widespread or cosmopolitan families. Significantly more latex-bearing species belong to tropical than either to temperate or to widespread taxa, both in absolute and in relative terms. These differences may be related to the higher diversity of natural enemy species and to higher rates of herbivory in the tropics.     

广州城郊环境梯度下马尾松针叶元素质量分数变化特征

城市化、工业化迅速发展及人类活动的加剧给城市及其周边地区森林生态系统带来前所未有的干扰和压力。植物冠层是植物与大气直接进行气体交换的界面,冠层叶组织化学分析已成为评价环境污染对森林树木健康的影响,指示环境污染的有效手段。文章以广州黄埔工业区(丹水坑风景区)、城郊接壤区(华南植物园)和近郊(帽峰山森林公园)这一环境梯度为对象,在各研究点上选定自然生长的、成熟健康的马尾松(Pinus massonianaL.)5株,分别采集树冠中部向阳枝条上的当年生(Current,C)和一年生(Current 1,C 1)针叶,然后将每组针叶区分为带叶鞘针叶、去叶鞘针叶和叶鞘3个组分进行样本制备,测定N、Al、Cu、Cd、Pb、Zn、Cr、Ni元素质量分数,旨在探讨利用马尾松针叶不同组分的元素质量分数用于指示城郊梯度环境质量变化的适宜性和可靠性。研究结果表明:①当年生带叶鞘针叶中Al质量分数显著高于当年生去叶鞘针叶(p<0.05),其余元素在当年生和一年生的去叶鞘针叶与带叶鞘的完整针叶间均无显著差异;②Ni在当年生针叶及其叶鞘间没有显著差异(p<0.05),其它被测定的金属元素无论在当年生还是一年生针叶中,均表现为叶鞘中的元素质量分数均显著高于去叶鞘针叶(p<0.05),体现了针叶与叶鞘在形态结构上的差异引起重金属积累的差异;而非金属元素N质量分数则针叶显著高于叶鞘;③一年生针叶中Ni质量分数显著低于当年生针叶,但Al、Pb、Zn质量分数显著高于当年生针叶,一年生叶鞘中所有金属元素的质量分数都显著高于当年生叶鞘,表现出随暴露时间和针叶寿命的延长而持续累积的特征;而营养元素N质量分数在当年生针叶和一年生针叶以及当年生叶鞘和一年生叶鞘间无显著差异;④城乡环境梯度下生长的马尾松为研究环境质量演变提供了一个天然的实验室,受人类活动干扰大的城区马尾松一年生针叶的Cd和N质量分数及其叶鞘中的Cu、Cr、Ni质量分数显著高于受人为干扰较少的郊区,表明植物组织中元素化学特征反映了城市发展过程中人类活动的足迹。在城市环境尤其是重金属污染的监测中,成熟的一年生叶鞘更具指示意义,效果更显著。     

亚高山30a人工针叶林物种多样性的定量分析

探讨了川西地区不同海拔梯度上,30a亚高山人工针叶林乔,灌,草各层物种多样性的变化规律,并运用逐步多元回归分析方法,分析了不同立地条件下土壤因子与针叶林群落乔,灌,草各层物种多样性指数之间的关系,结果显示：30a人工针叶林灌木层和草本层多样性指数明显高于乔木层;随着海拔的升高,灌木层和草木层物种的多样性指数逐渐降低,在halt2700m处多样性最丰富,乔木物种多样性则呈现为“低→高→低”的变化趋势,符合“中间高度膨胀（mid-altitude bulge)模式,土壤因子对30a人工恢复针叶林多样性的影响主要是体现在灌木层和草本层的变化,而对乔木层物种多样性的影响不明显,土层厚度,土壤容重,石砾含量,枯枝落叶的贮量,CaO含量以及有机质的C／N比值等土壤因子与灌木层和草本层物种多样性之间存在线性相关关系,分层建立了物种数,Simpson指数,ShannonWiener指数,Menhinick指数以及Brillouin指数与相关土壤因子的回归模型。     

Biomass and carbon budgeting of sustainable agroforestry systems as ecosystem service in Indian Himalayas

Adoption of agroforestry is paramount as a climate change mitigation and adaptation strategy. The assessment of plant biomass is crucial for understanding the vulnerability of biological systems to climate change. In the present study, agroforestry systems viz., agrisilviculture (AS), agrihorticulture (AH), agrihortisilviculture (AHS) and agrisilvihorticulture (ASH) were investigated for biomass production and carbon stock in vegetation as well as in soil in the Indian central Himalaya along the elevation i.e. E₁ (<1100 m), E₂ (1100–1400 m), E₃ (1400–1700 m), E₄ (1700–2000 m) and E₅ (>2000 m). Mean aboveground and belowground biomass were 73.9% and 26.1%, respectively, of total biomass (64.4 t ha^?1) in agroforestry systems. Fodder and/or timber trees accounted for 31% (in AHS) to 74% (in AS) of total biomass, while fruit trees accounted for 18% (in ASH) to 73% (in AH) of total biomass. The contribution of agriculture crops to total biomass fluctuated between 19% (in ASH) and 26% (in AH). Total vegetation biomass, soil carbon and total carbon density in agroforestry systems increased significantly along the elevation, with maximum biomass at elevation E₅ (32.0 t ha^?1, 64.7 t C ha^?1 and 96.7 t C ha^?1). Total biomass of vegetation among agroforestry systems differed significantly. Soil carbon stock was highest in AHS (59.5 t C ha^?1) and total carbon density (vegetation + soil) was highest in ASH (93.0 t C ha^?1). Thus, in Indian Himalayas, vegetation biomass, carbon stock, soil and total carbon (vegetation + soil) stock increased along the elevation.

Abbrviations: AG: aboveground; BG: belowground; WD: wood density; VOB: volume over bark; BEF: biomass expansion factor; AS: agrisilviculture; AH: agrihorticulture; ASH: agrisilvihorticulture; AHS: agrihortisilviculture; E: elevation; C: carbon; CO₂: carbon-di-oxide; IPCC: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; DBH: diameter at breast height; AGBD: aboveground biomass density; BGBD: belowground biomass density; GSVD: growing stock volume density     

高温突跃法处理城市污泥的研究

利用电弧等离子体技术产生高温突跃，处理上海市曹杨污水处理厂的脱水污泥，从中快速制得可燃气体，其主要成份是CO。产物气体可以直接点火燃烧，火焰温度达800℃左右。试验结果表明，污泥含水量在43％左右时，CO产率较高。     

A study on emission of phthalate esters from plastic materials using a passive flux sampler

Phthalate esters are used as plasticizer in many plastics, and several studies have shown their toxicity. Phthalate esters are gradually emitted over time, and so it is conceivable that they pose a significant health risk. This study aims to investigate the temperature dependence of the emissions of various phthalate esters and to estimate the health risks of these emissions at various temperatures. A passive-type sampler was developed to measure the flux of phthalate esters from the surface of plastic materials. With this sampler, we examined three widely used plastic materials: synthetic leather, wallpaper and vinyl flooring. The observed maximum emissions of diethyl phthalate, dibutyl phthalate, and diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) from these materials at 20°C were 0.89, 0.77, and 14 μg m⁻² h⁻¹, respectively. Emissions at 80°C were 2.8, 4.5×10², and 1.5×10³ μg m⁻² h⁻¹, respectively. The results showed this temperature dependence is determined primarily by the type of phthalate ester and less so by the type of material. The estimation from the results of temperature dependence indicated the concentration of DEHP in a vehicle left out in the sunshine during the day can exceed the recommended levels of Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.     

黄土高原草地土壤水分和物种多样性沿降水梯度的分布格局

研究土壤水分、生物多样性的空间变异性是认识陆地生态系统对降水变化的响应特征及适应机制的有效途径。论文利用黄土高原自东南向西北的天然降水梯度,采用样带研究方法对47个草地0~3 m土壤水分和物种多样性进行测定,系统分析了草地土壤水分和植物物种多样性在降水梯度上（250~550 mm）的空间分异及二者之间的权衡关系。结果表明：降水自东南向西北递减是控制黄土高原草地0~3 m土壤水分和物种多样性空间异质性的关键因素。随降雨减少,土壤水分呈线性递减趋势,其中浅层土壤水分（0~1 m）与年降水量相关系数最大。物种丰富度指数和物种多样性指数随降水减少呈显著的线性递减趋势,物种均匀度指数在降水梯度上没有明显变化。370 mm年均降水量是物种多样性和土壤水分权衡关系的转折点,转折点以上二者存在协同关系,即土壤水分和物种多样性沿降水梯度以相同速率变化。370 mm年均降水量以下,物种多样性和土壤水分的权衡增大,意味着维持物种多样性以消耗土壤水分为代价。     

铅锌尾矿砂污染下的岩溶土壤微生物群落碳源代谢特征

以广西阳朔思的村铅锌矿尾砂污染的水稻田、玉米地、柑橘园以及对照(旱地)土壤为研究对象,采用碳素利用法和18S rRNA变性梯度凝胶电泳技术探究岩溶区重金属污染下土壤微生物群落碳源代谢特征以及土壤真菌与土壤有机碳的交互关系.结果表明,广西阳朔思的村铅锌矿尾砂污染区土壤重金属总体含量(Pb、Zn、Cu、Cd)依次为:水稻田玉米地柑橘园对照;同时地累积综合指数显示该区重金属污染以Pb、Cd为主,其中Cd带来的环境风险最高.受Pb、Zn、Cu、Cd等重金属复合污染物影响,土壤微生物生物量碳、微生物熵和碳源代谢速率表现出随总体重金属质量分数增加而降低的变化规律,但土壤总有机碳质量分数却表现为:水稻田对照柑橘园或玉米地.DGGE结果进一步显示对照组土壤存在担子菌门多孔菌目Pycnoporus sp.ZW02.30,柑橘园和玉米地土壤存在镰刀菌属Fusarium solani和Fusarium oxysporum以及柑橘园土壤存在青霉属Penicillium decumbens.然而,上述参与淀粉、纤维素、半纤维素、木质素等糖类降解过程的真菌没有在水稻田土壤检出.加之,水稻田土壤微生物功能多样性指数和微生物熵最低而土壤有机碳质量分数最高,说明铅锌尾矿砂通过影响不同样地土壤微生物糖类代谢过程,进而调节土壤碳在微生物特别是真菌作用下的矿化速率.     

短程硝化工艺出水水质及微生物区系分析

实验采用短程硝化工艺处理高氨氮废水,并用PCR-DGGE分析了系统中的微生物区系。结果表明,进水氨氮浓度在50～400mg/L之间梯度增加时,出水氨氮浓度在10mg/L以下;随着氨氮浓度的增加,亚硝态氮积累率逐渐升高,当氨氮浓度达到300mg/L时,积累率达到90%左右。DGGE分析结果表明,随着运行时间的延长,微生物区系多样性减少;氨氮负荷为50mg/L与400mg/L相比,相似性为0.24。