Assessing the economic impact of invasive species: the case of yellow starthistle (Centaurea solsitialis L.) in the rangelands of Idaho, USA

Yellow starthistle (Centaurea solsitialis L.) is an invasive weed that creates problems for the management of Idaho's rangelands. A bioeconomic approach combined with an input-output economic model is used to estimate direct and secondary economic costs of the weed in relation to its interference with agricultural and non-agricultural benefits that rangelands provide. Direct economic costs of the infestations were estimated to be of 8.2 million '05 dollars per year, and secondary costs of 4.5 million '05 dollars per year, for a total of 12.7 million '05 dollars; agricultural related economic impacts accounted for 79% of this total cost, and non-agricultural for 21%.     

Genotypic Differences in Effects of Cadmium Exposure on Plant Growth and Contents of Cadmium and Elements in 14 Cultivars of Bai Cai

Abstract

Fourteen cultivars of bai cai (Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis var. communis) were grown in the nutrient solutions containing 0–0.5 μg mL^?1 of cadmium (Cd) to investigate genotypic differences in the effects of Cd exposure on the plant growth and uptake and distribution of Cd in bai cai plants. The Cd exposure significantly reduced the dry and fresh weights of roots and shoots, the dry weight ratio of shoot/root (S/R), total biomass, and chlorophyll content (SPAD value). Cd concentrations in bai cai ranged from 13.3 to 74.9 μg g^?1 DW in shoots and from 163.1 to 574.7 μg g^?1 DW in roots under Cd exposure, respectively. The considerable genotypic differences of Cd concentrations and accumulations in both shoots and roots were observed among 14 bai cai cultivars. Moreover, Cd mainly accumulated in the roots. Cd also caused the changes of uptake and distribution of nutrients in bai cai and under the influence of cadmium, the concentration of potassium (K) decreased in shoot and increased in root. However, the concentrations of magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), manganese (Mn), boron (B), and iron (Fe) increased in shoots and decreased in roots. In addition, Cd exposure resulted in an increase in calcium (Ca), sulphur (S), and zinc (Zn) concentrations in both shoots and roots but had no significant effects on the whole uptake of the examined mineral nutrients except for S.     

EDTA reduces lead accumulation in Symphytum officinale L. (comfrey) roots

The addition of EDTA in phytoextraction studies has been reported to increase heavy metal accumulation in above-ground parts or to have no negative impact on the overall (root/shoot) accumulation levels in terrestrial plants. At a purely quantitative level, this study assessed the phytoextraction potential of a previously untested high-biomass terrestrial plant, Symphytum officinale L. (comfrey), in the presence of Pb and EDTA. In this hydroponic-based study, we report a small increase in shoot accumulation of Pb with EDTA but, conversely, the presence of EDTA in the nutrient medium markedly reduced the overall quantity of Pb in the plant root by at least 80%. The loss does not appear to be explained by EDTA acting alone, increased transport of Pb to the shoots, or anionic charge repulsion of the [PbEDTA]^2? complex. The elusive action and negative effect of EDTA on Pb accumulation in S. officinale provides additional reasons towards a growing trend away from the use of EDTA as a chelating agent in phytoextraction.     

Remediation of copper-contaminated topsoils from a wood treatment facility using in situ stabilisation

Five organic matters, three phosphate compounds, zerovalent iron grit (ZVIG, 2% by soil weight), two alkaline compounds, and two commercial formulations were incorporated, singly and some combined with ZVIG, into a highly Cu-contaminated topsoil (Soil P7, 2600 mg Cu kg⁻¹) from a wood treatment facility. Formulations and two composts were also singly incorporated into a slightly Cu-contaminated topsoil (Soil P10, 118 mg Cu kg⁻¹) from the facility surrounding. This aimed to reduce the labile pool of Cu and its accumulation in beans cultivated on potted soils in a climatic chamber. Lowest Cu concentration in soil solution occurred in P7 soils amended with activated carbon (5%) and ZVIG, singly and combined. Basic slag (3.9%) and compost of sewage sludge (5%) combined with ZVIG promoted shoot production and limited foliar Cu accumulation. For amended P10 soils, no changes occurred in soil solution and foliar Cu concentrations, but one compost increased shoot production.     

黄土丘陵区沙棘的蒸腾特性及影响因子

结合1998年半干旱黄土丘陵区安塞的观测资料,对沙棘（Hippophae rhamnoidesL.)的蒸腾特性及影响因子进行了分析。结果表明：（1）沙棘蒸强度具有明显的日变化和季节变化,安塞4－6龄沙棘5－9月份的月份均值为0．6346gg^-1h^-1;（2）沙棘蒸腾强度与气候因子（气温、相对湿度、光合有效辐射）间有显著的相关关系;相关系数为0．9544－0．9692,其中光合有效辐射对蒸腾强度影响最大,气温次之,相对湿度最小;沙棘蒸腾强度的季节变化与降雨量及林地土壤水分间有十分显著的相关关系。相关系数为0．9629－0．9809;（3）沙棘蒸腾强度与气孔导度间有十分显著的相关关系。气孔导度增大,沙棘蒸腾强度增大,反之则减小,相关系数为0．9791,这为分析沙棘蒸腾对环境因子的响应程度,分析沙棘最适的水分生态条件,提高沙棘抗旱造林成活率,水分利用效率提供了科学依据。图6参4参11     

L型栓子成形及模具结构

简要论述了L型栓子的成形方法、注意事项与模具结构,其方法简单可靠.     

农地土壤重金属Pb和Cd有效性测定方法的筛选与评价

作物重金属累积主要受土壤中重金属有效性的制约,由于土壤种类和污染特征的差异,目前尚无公认的有效态测定方法.为筛选建立适宜土壤铅(Pb)和镉(Cd)有效性评价的方法,本文选择重庆市4种性质差异较大的典型农地土壤:酸性紫色土、中性紫色土、石灰性黄壤和钙质紫色土,系统比较了氯化钙(CaCl2)、醋酸铵(NH4OAc)、盐酸(...     

Double-brooded great tits (<Emphasis Type=Italic>Parus major</Emphasis>) in Mediterranean oak habitats: Do first broods always perform better than second broods?

Although mistimed reproduction (i.e., time-lag between peak food supply and offspring food demand) has been attributed to habitat modifications or climate change in recent avian investigations, earlier breeding parents have higher reproductive success in many habitats. Here we compare first and second broods in great tits (Parus major L.) from two Mediterranean oak habitats differing significantly in the timing (about 5 weeks), but not the amount of caterpillar supply required to rear chicks. The study indicates that both the extent of mistimed reproduction and the breeding date per se influence breeding performance in this study system. The text was submitted by the authors in English.     

Changes of organic acid exudation and rhizosphere pH in rice plants under chromium stress.

The effect of chromium (Cr) stress on the changes of rhizosphere pH, organic acid exudation, and Cr accumulation in plants was studied using two rice genotypes differing in grain Cr accumulation. The results showed that rhizosphere pH increased with increasing level of Cr in the culture solution and with an extended time of Cr exposure. Among the six organic acids examined in this experiment, oxalic and malic acid contents were relatively higher, and had a significant positive correlation with the rhizosphere pH, indicating that they play an important role in changing rhizosphere pH. The Cr content in roots was significantly higher than that in stems and leaves. Cr accumulation in plants was significantly and positively correlated with rhizosphere pH, and the exudation of oxalic, malic and citric acids, suggesting that an increase in rhizosphere pH, and exudation of oxalic, malic and citric acid enhances Cr accumulation in rice plants.     

Potentiometric studies of mixed complexes of cobalt(II) and copper(II) with l‐Asparagine and adenine

A potentiometric titration technique has been used to determine the stability constants for the various complexes of Co(II) and Cu(II) with L‐asparagine and from DNA base, e.g. adenine. Stability constants of ternary systems have been evaluated by the method suggested by Irwing‐Rossotti. In addition, the conditional constants were calculated as a function of pH. The maximum values of the conditional formation constants were found to be in accordance with the mixed‐ligand complex formation constants in a determined pH region. Furthermore, the molar fractions of different species from mixed complexes were calculated by means of formation constants. The values of stability constants of mixed‐ligand complexes at 25°C are as follows: log K= 5.25 for Co(II)‐L‐asparagine‐adenine; log K= 9.30 for Cu(II)‐L‐asparagine‐adenine. The ionic strength was kept constant at I = 0.20 with NaClO₄.