Acknowledging the spatial heterogeneity in modelling/reconstructing carbon dioxide exchange in a northern aapa mire

Chamber method is commonly used to measure the CO₂ exchange from plant communities. Due to low time resolution, actual measurements reflect only momentary CO₂ exchange rates. Therefore, a common way to derive seasonal or annual estimates is to establish models describing the response of CO₂ exchange to environmental variables, and then to reconstruct the CO₂ exchange over the desired time period. There are several alternative ways to obtain the CO₂ balance for the entire mire: models can be parameterized by individual sample plots, plant communities or the entire site. Similarly, the CO₂ balance can be reconstructed by plots, plant communities or the entire site. We tested how the choice of the modelling and reconstruction approach influences the CO₂ exchange estimates for the entire mire and for individual sample plots and plant communities. We measured the CO₂ exchange in a spatially heterogeneous sedge-dominated northern aapa mire for two growing seasons. We observed high spatial variation in CO₂ balance between the plant communities. We noticed that when the CO₂ balances of individual sample plots or plant communities are of interest, using a model appropriate for the entire site may result in biased estimates. In worst case the different modelling approaches may turn the CO₂ balance of an individual sample plot from positive to negative. Further, while using the whole ecosystem approach in modelling, the superior ability of chamber method in acknowledging spatial variation is lost. While the modelled growing season CO₂ balance of the mire ranged from 232 to 625 g CO₂ m⁻² depending on the chosen modelling and reconstruction approach, the average estimates still remained within the uncertainty range of one another. Acknowledgement of the spatial variation in plant community level makes the areal estimate more robust to varying weather conditions. Further, the reliability of estimates is improved by explicit formulation of the choices behind the modelling and reconstruction units reflecting the study objectives.     

低温条件下生物陶粒反应器运行特性研究

针对官厅水库下游三家店水库水源进行生物陶粒预处理的现场试验,研究低温条件下生物陶粒反应器的运行效果及其特性.结果表明:当水温从10℃下降到0.5℃时,生物陶粒反应器对COD_Mn的去除率从20%左右下降到6%左右,氨氮的去除率从90%下降到65%.随温度降低生物陶粒反应器去除污染物的效果下降主要是由于微生物活性随温度的降低而下降造成的,陶粒表面的微生物量随温度的降低而减少,但是受影响的程度比活性小得多.陶粒表面的微生物活性与微生物量沿水流方向呈明显的下降趋势.     

Reduction of wastewater toxicity and change of microbial community in a hydrolysis acidification reactor pre-treating trimethylolpropane wastewater

Trimethylolpropane (TMP) wastewater is one of the most toxic petrochemical wastewater. Toxicants with high concentrations in TMP wastewater often inhibit the activity of microorganisms associated with biological treatment processes. The hydrolysis acidification process (HAP) is widely used to pretreat petrochemical wastewater. However, the effects of HAP on the reduction of wastewater toxicity and the relevant underlying mechanisms have rarely been reported. In this study, an HAP reactor was operated for 240 days, fed with actual TMP wastewater diluted by tap water in varying ratios. The toxicity of TMP wastewater was assessed with the inhibition ratio of oxygen uptake rate. When the organic loading rates were lower than 7.5 kg COD/m³/d, the toxicity of TMP wastewater was completely eliminated. When the actual TMP wastewater was directly fed into the reactor, the toxicity of TMP wastewater decreased from 100% to 34.9%. According to the results of gas chromatographymass spectrometry analysis, four main toxicants contained in TMP wastewater, namely, formaldehyde, 2-ethylacrolein, TMP and 2-ethylhexanol, were all significantly removed, with removal efficiencies of 93.42%, 95.42%, 72.85% and 98.94%, respectively. Compared with the removal efficiency of CODCr, the reduction rate of toxicity is markedly higher by HAP. In addition, the change of microbial community in the HAP reactor, along the operation period, was studied. The results revealed that, compared with the seed sludge, Firmicutes became the dominant phylum (abundance increased from 0.51% to 57.08%), followed by Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes (abundance increased from 59.75% to 25.99% and from 4.70% to 8.39%, respectively).

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7个柳树无性系在Cu/Zn污染土壤中的生长及对Cu/Zn的吸收

通过盆栽试验来评价7个柳树无性系(旱柳?杞柳和金丝柳)修复Cu/Zn污染土壤或矿砂的潜力.研究了7个无性系在2种污染介质中的生长,叶绿素含量?根系形态及其对Cu、Zn的吸收转移.结果表明,150d后,7个柳树无性系在污染介质中都能生长,其中旱柳和金丝柳生长较好,其他无性系生长受到明显抑制.各无性系叶片出现黄化现象,叶绿素相对含量降低.根系发育受到一定程度的抑制.各无性系对Cu的积累主要在地下部,而对Zn的积累主要在地上部,特别是在叶片中.7个无性系在铜土中更容易积累重金属.各无性系生物富集系数(BCF)Cu.Cu的转移系数(TF)值均<1,Zn的TF值在1.36~2.49之间.旱10?旱34和金丝柳对Cu和Zn有较强的耐性和一定积累能力,适合在尾矿区造林和修复.     

樟树对14CO2的吸收和积累

为了探明14CO2在环境中的行为,采用同位素示踪技术研究了樟树对14CO2的吸收和积累动态,并探讨了樟树作为监测大气14CO2污染指示植物的可能性和优越性.结果表明,通过叶片光合作用从空气中吸收的14CO2会在樟树叶片中积累,检测到的14C比活度数值较大,表明空气中的14CO2易于通过叶片的光合作用而进入樟树叶片组织中;在污染前期14CO2主要被新叶组织中吸收,后期主要积累在老叶中,反映出新叶对空气14CO2污染比较敏感,而老叶积累效应明显.樟树叶片的这一特性可用于监测大气14CO2污染.     

What enables coexistence in plant communities? Weak versus strong species traits and the role of local processes

Explaining the coexistence of species that basically depend on the same resources has been a brainteaser for generations of ecologists. Different mechanisms have been proposed to facilitate coexistence in plant communities, where space is an important resource. Using a stochastic cellular automaton simulation model we analyze - separately and in combination - the influence of different species traits and processes which alter local competition on the coexistence of plant species over a fixed time horizon. We show that different species traits operate on different time scales in competition. We therefore suggest the concept of weak versus strong traits according to short- or long-term exclusion of species differing in these traits. As a consequence, highly non-linear trade-offs between weak and strong traits can result in communities. Furthermore, we found that trade-offs based on physiological species traits such as plant lifetime, dispersal range and plant growth, did not support broad and long-term coexistence—further processes such as density-dependent mortality and light-dependent colonization were necessary. This suggests that coexistence in plant communities requires (stabilizing) local processes to support the (equalizing) trade-offs in species traits.     

沼泽红假单胞菌phbC-hupL双突变株构建及产氢测定

利用湖底淤泥分离的沼泽红假单胞菌(Rhodopseudomonas palustris)CQU01和该菌株的吸氢酶基因hupL缺失菌株CQU012作为出发菌株,分别构建聚羟基丁酸酯合成酶基因phbC单突变株及聚羟基丁酸酯合成酶基因phbC与吸氢酶基因hupL双突变株,以提高其在光照培养条件下的产氢量.以同源重组双交换方法构建含有Em抗性基因的自杀载体,通过接合转移转化R. palustris CQU01菌株,经PCR扩增以及测序验证,成功获得了沼泽红假单胞菌phbC单突变株R. palustris CQU013及phbC-hupL双突变株R. palustris CQU014.相同条件下测定突变菌株与野生菌株的生长和产氢特性,结果显示,突变菌株生长曲线与野生菌株有明显差异,两株突变菌株的产氢量分别是原始菌株的1.31和1.76倍,达到454mL/L和604mL/L.双突变菌株产氢能力较phbC基因和hupL基因单突变菌株的产氢能力有明显提高,说明phbC和hupL基因对菌株R. palustris 的产氢代谢有着显著的影响.     

A two-dimensional simulation model of phosphorus uptake including crop growth and P-response

Modelling nutrient uptake by crops implies considering and integrating the processes controlling the soil nutrient supply, the uptake by the root system and relationships between the crop growth response and the amount of nutrient absorbed. We developed a model that integrates both dynamics of maize growth and phosphorus (P) uptake. The crop part of the model was derived from Monteith's model. A complete regulation of P-uptake by the roots according to crop P-demand and soil P-supply was assumed. The soil P-supply to the roots was calculated using a diffusion equation and assuming that roots behave as zero-sinks. The actual P-uptake and crop growth were calculated at each time step by comparing phosphate and carbohydrate supply–demand ratios. Model calculations for P-uptake and crop growth were compared to field measurements on a long term P-fertilization trial. Three P-fertilization regimes (no P-fertilization, 42.8 kg P ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ and 94.3 kg P ha⁻¹ year⁻¹) have led to a range of P-supply. Our model correctly simulated both the crop development and growth for all P-treatments. P-uptake was correctly predicted for the two non-limiting P-treatments. Nevertheless, for the limiting P-treatment, P-uptake was correctly predicted during the early period of growth but it was underestimated at the last sampling date (61 day after sowing). Several arguments for under-prediction were considered. However, most of them cannot explain the observed magnitude in discrepancy. The most likely reason might be the fact that biomass allocation between shoot and root must be modelled more precisely. Despite this mismatch, the model appears to provide realistic simulations of the soil–plant dynamic of P in field conditions.     

Basic principles and ecological consequences of changing water regimes: riparian plant communities

Recent research has emphasized the importance of riparian ecosystems as centers of biodiversity and links between terrestrial and aquatic systems. Riparian ecosystems also belong among the environments that are most disturbed by humans and are in need of restoration to maintain biodiversity and ecological integrity. To facilitate the completion of this task, researchers have an important function to communicate their knowledge to policy-makers and managers. This article presents some fundamental qualities of riparian systems, articulated as three basic principles. The basic principles proposed are: (1) The flow regime determines the successional evolution of riparian plant communities and ecological processes. (2) The riparian corridor serves as a pathway for redistribution of organic and inorganic material that influences plant communities along rivers. (3) The riparian system is a transition zone between land and water ecosystems and is disproportionately plant species-rich when compared to surrounding ecosystems. Translating these principles into management directives requires more information about how much water a river needs and when and how, i.e., flow variables described by magnitude, frequency, timing, duration, and rate of change. It also requires information about how various groups of organisms are affected by habitat fragmentation, especially in terms of their dispersal. Finally, it requires information about how effects of hydrologic alterations vary between different types of riparian systems and with the location within the watershed.