Economic Development and Conservation of Biological and Cultural Diversity in Yunnan Province, China

Chinese and American scientists are co-operating to develop concepts, strategies, agreements, and proposals in support of an economic development and sustainable ecosystems project in Yunnan Province, People's Republic of China. Yunnan's Provincial Government has initiated a major programme to develop and further utilise its biological resources to help improve economic conditions for its citizens. They are co-operating with the US Geological Survey (USGS) on evaluation and management of biological resources so economic development will be compatible with sustainable ecological systems. Scientists from the USGS and co-operating universities will provide expertise on synthesising biological data, conducting a Gap Analysis for the Province, evaluating innovative economic opportunities, and designing an effective education, training, and outreach programme.     

完善生态影响评估 促进中国生态资源的保护

环境影响评估对减少工业和城市发展对环境的影响起到了一定的作用,但目前的环境影响评估工作比较重视发展项目对其周围水、气污染方面的评估,对自然资源影响的评估还未受到足够的重视,文章对生态影响评估的重要性及中国内地生态影响评估的现状进行了简要的讨论,并介绍了香港生态影响评估系统,以为我国同地生态影响评估工作的管理提供参考。     

Combined effects of elevated CO2 and natural climatic variation on leaf spot diseases of redbud and sweetgum trees

Atmospheric CO₂ concentrations are predicted to double within the next century and alter climate regimes, yet the extent that these changes will affect plant diseases remains unclear. In this study conducted over five years, we assessed how elevated CO₂ and interannual climatic variability affect Cercospora leaf spot diseases of two deciduous trees. Climatic data varied considerably between the five years and altered disease expression. Disease incidence and severity for both species were greater in years with above average rainfall. In years with above average temperatures, disease incidence for Liquidambar styraciflua was decreased significantly. When significant changes did occur, disease incidence and severity always increased under elevated CO₂. Chlorophyll fluorescence imaging of leaves revealed that any visible increase in disease severity induced by elevated CO₂ was mitigated by higher photosynthetic efficiency in the remaining undamaged leaf tissue and in a halo surrounding lesions.     

Heavy metal concentrations in plants and different harvestable parts: A soil-plant equilibrium model

A mathematical interaction model, validated by experimental results, was developed to modeling the metal uptake by plants and induced growth decrease, by knowing metal in soils. The model relates the dynamics of the uptake of metals from soil to plants. Also, two types of relationships are tested: total and available metal content. The model successfully fitted the experimental data and made it possible to predict the threshold values of total mortality with a satisfactory approach. Data are taken from soils treated with Cd and Ni for ryegrass (Lolium perenne, L.) and oats (Avena sativa L.), respectively. Concentrations are measured in the aboveground biomass of plants. In the latter case, the concentration of metals in different parts of the plants (tillering, shooting and earing) is also modeled. At low concentrations, the effects of metals are moderate, and the dynamics appear to be linear. However, increasing concentrations show nonlinear behaviors.     

Cs uptake by four plant species and Cs-K relations in the soil-plant system as affected by Ca(OH)2 application to an acid soil

Three rates of Ca(OH)₂ were applied to an acid soil and the ¹³⁴Cs uptake by radish, cucumber, soybean and sunflower plants was studied. The ¹³⁴Cs concentration in all plant species was reduced from 1.6-fold in the sunflower seeds to 6-fold in the soybean vegetative parts at the higher Ca(OH)₂ rate. Potassium (K) concentration in plants was also reduced, but less effectively. The significantly decreased ¹³⁴Cs-K soil to plant distribution factors (D.F.) clearly suggest a stronger effect of soil liming on ¹³⁴Cs than on K plant uptake. This observation was discussed in terms of ionic interactions in the soil matrix and within the plants. The results also indicated that the increased Ca²⁺ concentration in the exchange phase and in the soil solution along with the improved root activity, due to the soil liming, enhanced the immobilization of ¹³⁴Cs in the soil matrix and consequently lowered the ¹³⁴Cs availability for plant uptake.     

Integrating drivers influencing the detection of plant pests carried in the international cut flower trade

This paper analyses the cut flower market as an example of an invasion pathway along which species of non-indigenous plant pests can travel to reach new areas. The paper examines the probability of pest detection by assessing information on pest detection and detection effort associated with the import of cut flowers. We test the link between the probability of plant pest arrivals, as a precursor to potential invasion, and volume of traded flowers using count data regression models. The analysis is applied to the UK import of specific genera of cut flowers from Kenya between 1996 and 2004.There is a link between pest detection and the Genus of cut flower imported. Hence, pest detection efforts should focus on identifying and targeting those imported plants with a high risk of carrying pest species. For most of the plants studied, efforts allocated to inspection have a significant influence on the probability of pest detection. However, by better targeting inspection efforts, it is shown that plant inspection effort could be reduced without increasing the risk of pest entry. Similarly, for most of the plants analysed, an increase in volume traded will not necessarily lead to an increase in the number of pests entering the UK. For some species, such as Carthamus and Veronica, the volume of flowers traded has a significant and positive impact on the likelihood of pest detection. We conclude that analysis at the rank of plant Genus is important both to understand the effectiveness of plant pest detection efforts and consequently to manage the risk of introduction of non-indigenous species.     

高海拔工程扰动区不同植物生态修复适应性研究

以砂生槐、白羊草、黑穗画眉草、狗尾草、白三叶草等5种先锋植物为研究对象,通过植物调查和土壤采样室内养分测定,结合主成分分析法,对不同试验区的植物群落结构和土壤肥力进行相关性分析。结果表明：与对照区相比,不同试验区Shannon Wiener指数（H）表现出显著差异,Simpson优势度指数（D）和Pielou均匀度指数（J）差异不明显,不同群落 H值依次为黑穗画眉草植物群落＞白羊草植物群落＞砂生槐植物群落＞白三叶草植物群落＞狗尾草植物群落;不同植物群落下土壤有效氮含量、含水率平均值明显高于对照区,砂生槐改良土壤肥力效果最好,白三叶草对土壤含水率影响最大。     

Community analysis of ammonia and nitrite oxidizers in start-up of aerobic granular sludge reactor

A lab-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) was setup and the aerobic granular sludge was successfully incubated by using anaerobic granular sludge as seed sludge. Nitrogen was partially removed by simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) via nitrite with free ammonia (FA) of about 10 mg/L. The denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) method was used to investigate community structure of α-Proteobacteria, β-Proteobacteria, ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB), and Nitrospira populations during start-up. The population sizes of bacteria, AOB and Nitrospira were examined using real-time PCR method. The analysis of community structure and Shannon index showed that stable structure of AOB population was obtained at the day 35, while the communities of α-Proteobacteria, β-Proteobacteria, and Nitrospira became stable after day 45. At stable stage, the average cell densities were 1.1×1012, 2.2×1010 and 1.0×1010 cells/L for bacteria, AOB and Nitrospira, respectively. The relationship between characteristics of nitrifying bacteria community and nitrogenous substrate utilization constant was discussed by calculating Pearson correlation. Certain correlation seemed to exist between population size, biodiversity, and degradation constant. And the influence of population size might be greater than that of biodiversity.     

江汉-洞庭湖平原湿地的历史变迁与可持续利用

2200aBP以前，江汉－洞庭湖平原是一个完整的湿地生态系统，在人类活动影响下，其湿地空间逐渐由平原边缘向腹心萎缩，水陆交错型湿地之生物多样性的破坏早于水体型湿地之生物多样性的破坏，耕地转化是湿地空间萎缩和湿地生物多样性损失的主因，从湿地历史变迁看，江汉一洞庭湖平原现有湿地的保护与可持续利用必须：调整传统的“国家粮仓”的区域战略定位，实施湿地生态大农业和湿地生态旅游发展战略，加强湿地效益和宣传教育，提高湿地保护与可持续利用的政府决策能力和公众参与水平；协调耕地保护与湿地保护关系，推行湿地总量动态平衡制度，优化湿地生态系统的整体功能，将退田还湖作为区域发展的一项长期战略，扩大湿地自然保护区面积，恢复和增强湿地的景观多样性，文化多样性和生物多样性，加强国际合作，借鉴国外先进的成功管理湿地的经验。     

Effect of arsenic on tolerance mechanisms of two plant growth-promoting bacteria used as biological inoculants

Bacterial ability to colonize the rhizosphere of plants in arsenic (As) contaminated soils is highly important for symbiotic and free-living plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) used as inoculants, since they can contribute to enhance plant As tolerance and limit metalloid uptake by plants. The aim of this work was to study the effect of As on growth, exopolysaccharide (EPS) production, biofilm formation and motility of two strains used as soybean inoculants, Bradyrhizobium japonicum E109 and Azospirillum brasilense Az39. The metabolism of arsenate (As(V)) and arsenite (As(III)) and their removal and/or possible accumulation were also evaluated. The behavior of both bacteria under As treatment was compared and discussed in relation to their potential for colonizing plant rhizosphere with high content of the metalloid. B. japonicum E109 growth was reduced with As(III) concentration from 10 μM while A. brasilense Az39 showed a reduction of growth with As(III) from 500 μM. EPS and biofilm production increased significantly under 25 μM As(III) for both strains. Moreover, this was more notorious for Azospirillum under 500 μM As(III), where motility was seriously affected. Both bacterial strains showed a similar ability to reduce As(V). However, Azospirillum was able to oxidize more As(III) (around 53%) than Bradyrhizobium (17%). In addition, both strains accumulated As in cell biomass. The behavior of Azospirillum under As treatments suggests that this strain would be able to colonize efficiently As contaminated soils. In this way, inoculation with A. brasilense Az39 would positively contribute to promoting growth of different plant species under As treatment.