Abundance and community of snow bacteria from three glaciers in the Tibetan Plateau

Bacterial abundance and diversity in snow of East Rongbuk,Laohugou and Hailuogou glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau were investigated through epifluorescence microscope and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis.Cell abundance ranged from 4.0 × 10 3 to 290.2 × 10 3 cells/mL.The phylogenetic trees placed the 16S rRNA sequences in four major groups:Proteobacteria,Firmicutes,Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes.Brevundimonas,Flavobacterium,Hymenobacter,Bacillus,Polaromonas,Rhodoferax and Streptomyces were widely distributed bacteria in glaciers from different cold regions.The remaining five genera of Hylemonella,Delftia,Zoogloea,Blastococcus and Rhodococcus were endemism,only recovered from our investigated glaciers.It is proposed that the three glaciers on the Tibetan Plateau provide a specific ecological niche for prolonging survival of diverse microbial lineages.     

Effect of elevated tropospheric ozone on methane and nitrous oxide emission from rice soil in north India

Physiological changes in crop plants in response to the elevated tropospheric ozone (O₃) may alter N and C cycles in soil. This may also affect the atmosphere-biosphere exchange of radiatively important greenhouse gases (GHGs), e.g. methane (CH₄) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) from soil. A study was carried out during July to November of 2007 and 2008 in the experimental farm of Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi to assess the effects of elevated tropospheric ozone on methane and nitrous oxide emissions from rice (Oryza sativa L.) soil. Rice crop was grown in open top chambers (OTC) under elevated ozone (EO), non-filtered air (NF), charcoal filtered air (CF) and ambient air (AA). Seasonal mean concentrations of O₃ were 4.3 ± 0.9, 26.2 ± 1.9, 59.1 ± 4.2 and 27.5 ± 2.3 ppb during year 2007 and 5.9 ± 1.1, 37.2 ± 2.5, 69.7 ± 3.9 and 39.2 ± 1.8 ppb during year 2008 for treatments CF, NF, EO and AA, respectively. Cumulative seasonal CH₄ emission reduced by 29.7% and 40.4% under the elevated ozone (EO) compared to the non-filtered air (NF), whereas the emission increased by 21.5% and 16.7% in the charcoal filtered air (CF) in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Cumulative seasonal emission of N₂O ranged from 47.8 mg m⁻² in elevated ozone to 54.6 mg m⁻² in charcoal filtered air in 2007 and from 46.4 to 62.1 mg m⁻² in 2008. Elevated ozone reduced grain yield by 11.3% and 12.4% in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Global warming potential (GWP) per unit of rice yield was the least under elevated ozone levels. Dissolved organic C content of soil was lowest under the elevated ozone treatment. Decrease in availability of substrate i.e., dissolved organic C under elevated ozone resulted in a decline in GHG emissions. Filtration of ozone from ambient air increased grain yield and growth parameters of rice and emission of GHGs.     

Distribution and characteristic of PAHs in snow of Fildes Peninsula

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) investigation in different matrices has been reported largely, whereas reports on snow samples were limited. Snow, as the main matrix in the polar region, has an important study meaning. PAHs in snow samples were analyzed to investigate the distribution and contamination status of them in the Antarctic, as well as to provide some references for global migration of PAHs. Snow samples collected in Fildes Peninsula were enriched and separated by solid-phase membrane disks and eluted by methylene dichloride, then quantified by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. All types of PAHs were detected except for Benzo(a)pyrene. Principal component analysis method was applied to characterize them. Three factors (Naphthalene, Fluorene and Phenanthrene) accounted for 60.57%, 21.61% and 9.80%, respectively. The results showed that the major PAHs sources maybe the atmospheric transportation, and the combustion of fuel in Fildes Peninsula. The comparison of concentration and types of PAHs between accumulated snow and fresh snow showed that the main compound concentrations in accumulated snow samples were higher than those in fresh ones. The risk assessment indicated that the amount of PAHs in the snow samples would not lead to ecological risk.     

西北干旱区旱地玉米叶面积指数与气象因子及生物量的关系

利用甘肃省西峰农业气象试验站1994-2008年玉米试验观测资料,对玉米的LAI变化规律,温度、光合有效辐射对LAI的影响,LAI对50 cm土层土壤贮水量、生物量及产量因子的影响进行了分析。结果表明,三叶期-乳熟期LAI随着出苗后的天数呈S曲线变化。缓慢增长期出现在8~28 d;快速增长期出现在28~74 d;缓慢下降期出现在74~103 d。叶片含水率以0.9%/10 d的速度线性下降。各试验年份间,降水差异较大,变异系数为31%~92%;其次为≥10℃有效积温;光合有效辐射比较稳定。从播种到乳熟期,各年份的气象要素值趋于平均值。LAI与≥10℃有效积温及光合有效辐射呈幂函数变化,有效积温500℃及光合有效辐射值250 MJ/m²是LAI累积速度变化的转折点。≥10℃有效积温500~1 000℃及光合有效辐射800~1 000 MJ/m²是LAI快速增长的阶段。随着LAI的增大,50 cm土层贮水量呈线性减少。LAI对生物量的影响可用幂函数描述,最利于生物量累积的LAI值为3.5,较为适宜的种植密度为60 000株/hm²。七叶期-拔节期阶段LAI与产量因子的相关性较差,抽雄期-乳熟期阶段LAI与产量因子的相关性显著。在一定范围内,抽雄期LAI的增大对提高玉米的经济产量有利。     

雪冰中痕量高氯酸盐的在线富集方法

利用一维离子色谱建立了高氯酸盐的在线富集方法,以期为建立定量检测南极雪冰中痕量高氯酸盐的离子色谱-串联质谱法奠定基础.选用高容量、强亲水性的IonPac AS20阴离子交换柱进行分离,以淋洗液自动发生器在线产生的KOH作为淋洗液,等梯度淋洗.考虑到南极雪冰样品量十分有限,选定5 mL为富集体积,对应的富集时间为10 min.高氯酸盐质量浓度在0.5—50μg.L-1范围内,方法具有良好的线性（相关系数为0.9995）,检出限（以S/N=3计）为0.05μg.L-1.将浓度为0.5μg.L-1的标准溶液连续11次富集进样,所得峰面积的相对标准偏差（RSD）为4.7%.以人工配制的仅含有高氯酸盐的溶液实施了加标回收实验,回收率在85%—108%之间.     

Changes in Avian and Plant Communities of Aspen Woodlands over 12 Years after Livestock Removal in the Northwestern Great Basin

Abstract: Riparian and quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides) woodlands are centers of avian abundance and diversity in the western United States, but they have been affected adversely by land use practices, particularly livestock grazing. In 1990, cattle were removed from a 112,500‐ha national wildlife refuge in southeastern Oregon. Thereafter, we monitored changes in vegetation and bird abundance in years 1–3 (phase 1) and 10–12 (phase 2) in 17 riparian and 9 snow‐pocket aspen plots. On each 1.5‐ha plot, we sampled vegetation in 6 transects. Three times during each breeding season, observers recorded all birds 50 m to each side of the plot's 150‐m centerline for 25 minutes. We analyzed data with multivariate analysis of variance and paired t tests with p values adjusted for multiple comparisons. In both periods, riparian and snow‐pocket aspen produced extensive regeneration of new shoots ( stems/ha and 7079 stems/ha, respectively). By phase 2, a 64% increase in medium‐diameter trees in riparian stands indicated successful recruitment into the overstory, but this pattern was not seen in snow‐pocket stands, where the density of trees was over 2 times greater. By phase 2 in riparian and snow‐pocket stands, native forb cover had increased by 68% and 57%, respectively, mesic shrub cover had increased by 29% and 58%, and sagebrush cover had decreased by 24% and 31%. Total avian abundance increased by 33% and 39% in riparian and snow‐pocket aspen, respectively, ground or understory nesters increased by 133% and 67% and overstory nesters increased by 34% and 33%. Similarly, ground or understory foragers increased by 25% and 32%, aerial foragers by 55% and 57%, and overstory foragers by 66% and 43%. We interpreted the substantial regeneration of aspen shoots, increased densities of riparian forbs and shrubs, and increased avian abundances as a multitrophic‐level response to the total removal of livestock and as substantial movement toward recovery of biological integrity.     

GENERAL-CIRCULATION-MODEL SIMULATIONS OF FUTURE SNOWPACK IN THE WESTERN UNITED STATES1

ABSTRACT: April 1 snowpack accumulations measured at 311 snow courses in the western United States (U.S.) are grouped using a correlation-based cluster analysis. A conceptual snow accumulation and melt model and monthly temperature and precipitation for each cluster are used to estimate cluster-average April 1 snowpack. The conceptual snow model is subsequently used to estimate future snowpack by using changes in monthly temperature and precipitation simulated by the Canadian Centre for Climate Modeling and Analysis (CCC) and the Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research (HADLEY) general circulation models (GCMs). Results for the CCC model indicate that although winter precipitation is estimated to increase in the future, increases in temperatures will result in large decreases in April 1 snowpack for the entire western U.S. Results for the HADLEY model also indicate large decreases in April 1 snowpack for most of the western US, but the decreases are not as severe as those estimated using the CCC simulations. Although snowpack conditions are estimated to decrease for most areas of the western US, both GCMs estimate a general increase in winter precipitation toward the latter half of the next century. Thus, water quantity may be increased in the western US; however, the timing of runoff will be altered because precipitation will more frequently occur as rain rather than as snow.     

雪冰中持久性有机污染物的研究进展

雪冰是温带和极地生态系统中最重要的环境组份,它们不仅影响了能量平衡和水循环,而且也能直接影响当地、区域以及全球环境范围内的化学行为。降雪能很有效地从大气中清除颗粒和气相的POPs。本文简要介绍了雪冰环境中持久性有机污染物研究的科学意义,着重综述了POPs在极地和高海拔地区雪冰中的环境化学行为和雪冰中POPs的历史环境记录,并讨论了雪冰中POPs浓度的不确定性。持久性有机污染物从大气到冰川的过程并不容易理解,半挥发性有机化合物在沉积后的浓度存在不确定性。有机物沉积在积雪中后,随着积雪的老化和变形,它们能够随着融水迁移或者又挥发到大气中。全文最后对未来雪冰中POPs的研究需要进行了展望,并提出四点今后需加强研究的内容。由于青藏高原位于人类居住的低纬度高海拔地区,可能在POPs全球输送过程中起到重要的作用,今后需加强青藏高原地区雪冰中持久性有机污染物的研究;有机污染物在雪冰中主要是通过光化学反应进行转化,雪冰中有机污染物的光化学反应机理研究必须引起重视;随着雪冰样品前处理和分析测试技术的提高,将会推动雪冰中痕量POPs的环境变化记录研究的发展;通过建立模型模拟预算和评价POPs在积雪中的物理化学行为,也可以利用模型模拟POPs在老雪中的命运,确定其在融水中成比例蒸发和渗浸的速率。     

Trends in Raindrop Kinetic Energy with Modeled Climate Warming in the Lake Tahoe Basin

Two means by which climate change may increase surface soil erosion in mountainous terrain are: (1) increasing the frequency of extreme rainfall events and (2) decreasing the duration of snow cover on bare soil. We used output from four general circulation models (GCMs) and two greenhouse gas trajectories to produce a suite of hydrologic variables at a daily time‐step for historic and projected 21st Century conditions. We statistically disaggregated the daily rainfall to hourly, using hourly rainfall from a network of nine weather stations in the Tahoe Basin, and filtered out rain falling on a snowpack. We applied published equations to convert hourly intensity to raindrop kinetic energy (KE) for each day and grid cell in the Basin, averaged across grid cells, and created time series of total annual and maximum annual hourly kinetic energy (TKE and MKE) on snow‐free ground. Using the Generalized Extreme Value distribution, we calculated the significance of long‐term trends in KE on snow‐free ground, and estimated energy levels for return periods of 2, 20, and 100 years. We then detrended the snowpack data and compared the resulting trends in KE with the trends resulting from changes in both rainfall energy and snowpack under two GCMs. Principal findings include (1) upward trends in MKE, (2) stronger upward trends in TKE; and (3) an effect of increasing rainfall intensities on KE in some cases, and a strong effect of reduced snowpack in all cases examined.     

A spatially explicit empirical model of structural development processes in natural forests based on climate and topography

Stand structure develops with stand age. Old-growth forests with well-developed stand structure support many species. However, development rates of stand structure likely vary with climate and topography. We modeled structural development of 4 key stand variables and a composite old-growth index as functions of climatic and topographic covariates. We used a hierarchical Bayesian method for analysis of extensive snap-shot National Forest Inventory (NFI) data in Japan (n = 9244) to account for differences in stand age. Development rates of structural variables and the old-growth index exhibited curvilinear responses to environmental covariates. Flat sites were characterized by high rates of structural development. Approximately 150 years were generally required to attain high values (approximately 0.8) of the old-growth index. However, the predicted age to achieve specific values varied depending on environmental conditions. Spatial predictions highlighted regional variation in potential structural development rates. For example, sometimes there were differences of >100 years among sites, even in the same catchment, in attainment of a medium index value (0.5) after timber harvesting. The NFI data suggested that natural forests, especially old natural forests (>150 years), remain generally on unproductive ridges, steep slopes, or areas with low temperature and deep snow, where many structural variables show slow development rates. We suggest that maintenance and restoration of old natural forests on flat sites should be prioritized for conservation due to the likely rapid development of stand structure, although remaining natural forests on low-productivity sites are still important and should be protected.