Atmospheric concentrations of nitric acid, sulfur dioxide, particulate nitrate and particulate sulfate, and estimation of their dry deposition on the urban- and mountain-facing sides of Mt. Gokurakuji, Western Japan

Atmospheric concentrations of nitric acid (HNO₃), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), particulate nitrate and particulate sulfate on the urban- and mountain-facing sides of Mt. Gokurakuji were measured from November 2002 to October 2003, in order to evaluate the effects of anthropogenic activity on air quality and dry deposited nitrate and sulfate on the surfaces of pine foliage. The results showed that HNO₃, SO₂ and concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.05) on the urban-facing side (1.54, 2.48 and 0.65 μg m⁻³, respectively) than the mountain-facing side (0.67, 1.19 and 0.37 μg m⁻³, respectively), while concentrations did not differ significantly between the two sides (urban-facing: 2.80 μg m⁻³; mountain−facing: 2.05 μg m⁻³). Indirect estimates of dry deposition rates of nitrate and sulfate to the surfaces of pine foliage based on the measured concentrations approximately agreed with the measured values determined by the foliar rinsing technique in a previous study. It was found that HNO₃ was the major source (approximately 80%) of dry deposited nitrate on pine foliage, while the contribution from was about equal to that from SO₂. In conclusion, HNO₃ and SO₂ appear to be dominant species reflecting higher dry deposition rates of nitrate and sulfate on the urban-facing side compared to the mountain-facing side of Mt. Gokurakuji.     

Effect of increased ambient temperature on the growth rate of young pine forests in the impact zone of a petroleum gas flare

The effect of increased ambient temperature on the vertical, radial, and volume increments of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees has been studied in the zone of thermal impact from a burning petroleum gas flare. Regular age-dependent changes in the pattern of increment dependence on the distance from the flare and ambient temperature have been revealed. The mechanisms of these changes are explained. It is concluded that an increase in ambient temperature by 1.0–1.5° C has a favorable effect on the dynamics of Scots pine growth.     

Photosynthesis, chloroplast pigments, and antioxidants in Pinus canariensis under free-air ozone fumigation

High O₃ levels, driving uptake and challenging defense, prevail on the Canary Islands, being associated with the hot and dry summers of the Mediterranean-type climate. Pinus canariensis is an endemic conifer species that forms forests across these islands. We investigated the effects of ozone on photosynthesis and biochemical parameters of P. canariensis seedlings exposed to free-air O₃ fumigation at Kranzberg Forest, Germany, where ambient O₃ levels were similar to those at forest sites in the Canary Islands. The twice-ambient O₃ regime (2xO₃) neither caused visible injury-like chlorotic or necrotic spots in the needles nor significantly affected violaxanthin, antheraxanthin and zeaxanthin levels and the de-epoxidation state of the xanthophyll cycle. In parallel, stomatal conductance for water vapour, net photosynthesis, intercellular CO₂ concentration, chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, as well as antioxidant levels were hardly affected. It is concluded that presently prevailing O₃ levels do not impose severe stress on P. canariensis seedlings.     

松果采摘对小兴安岭主要林型红松土壤种子库和幼苗库的影响

为了探讨人为采摘松果对小兴安岭主要林型红松(Pinus koraiensis)土壤种子库和幼苗库的影响,选择阔叶红松林以及与阔叶红松林相邻的红松人工林、落叶松(Larix gmelini)人工林、白桦(Betula platyphylla)林和云冷杉林,各设置10 m×240 m的样带,调查了红松土壤种子库和幼苗库。主要结果如下:①主要林型间红松土壤种子库数量具有明显的差异,阔叶红松林最多,落叶松人工林次之,白桦林最少;②鼠类取食过或被破坏等动物侵害的种子占81.9%～90.4%,完好种子只有在阔叶红松林和落叶松人工林中发现,分别为4.3%和4.9%;③红松种子主要分布在0～10 cm层中(71.4%～91.3%);④红松幼苗库的密度云冷杉林最高(1 613株.hm-2),红松人工林最低(167株.hm-2),其中阔叶红松林(296株.hm-2)和白桦林(854株.hm-2)的幼苗密度分别为采摘前的1/68～1/9和1/9～1/4.5;⑤从龄级分布上看,松果采摘前阔叶红松林低龄级幼苗的数量较多,随着龄级的增大明显减少,呈倒J型分布;白桦林各龄级幼苗密度相差不大。人为采摘松果后,阔叶红松林各龄级间密度相差不大;白桦林呈倒J型分布。     

北京地区松叶中有机卤素污染物的研究

利用中子活化分析(NAA)技术测定了北京市不同“功能区”松叶中可萃取有机卤素污染物(EOX)的含量,结果表明,化工工业区松叶中可萃取有机氯(EOCl)含量高达40mg/g(干重),钢铁工业区的松叶含量最低(12mg/g).松叶中EOCl、可萃取有机溴(EOBr)、碘(EOI)含量顺序为EOCl>>EOBr>EOI, EOCl在总EOX中占到了97%以上.在EOCl中,有机氯农药仅占0.2%～1.9%,松叶中绝大多数EOCl为未知的.4个城市“功能区”中EOCl含量顺序为化工工业区>交通枢纽地带>居民区>钢铁工业区.城区大气中有机氯污染物主要来自化学工业和交通污染.城区松叶中EOCl的含量远高于偏远山区的样品,但两地样品中EOBr、EOI的含量无显著差异.     

脱水污泥/松木锯末水蒸气共气化研究

以城市污水处理厂机械脱水后的污泥(含水率约为80％)和松木锯末的混合物为原料,进行了共气化制取富氢燃气的研究.同时,采用热重分析(TGA)研究了混合样品的热失重特性,并在固定床反应器上考察了不同掺混比对燃气成分、燃气产量和碳转化率的影响.TGA结果表明,随着锯末掺混比的增加,样品的失重量、最大失重率及挥发分析出特性指数增大.在固定床反应器中,脱水污泥中的水分在高温条件下形成蒸气气氛,与产生的半焦发生了蒸气气化反应.实验结果表明,最佳掺混比为40％ ～ 60％,此时氢气含量、燃气产量、碳转化率分别为40％、0.70 m3· kg-1、64.1％.此外,借助BET和SEM对残余半焦的比表面积及表面形貌特征进行了分析.     

重庆铁山坪马尾松林土壤汞排放特征的现场测试

为了研究大气汞浓度较高地区的森林土壤的汞排放特征,选取重庆铁山坪马尾松林为研究对象,应用动态通量箱与汞分析仪联用的方法,于2012年9月~2013年7月间对土壤-大气汞交换通量进行了4个季度的现场观测,并考察了辐射强度、空气温度、空气湿度、土壤温度和土壤湿度等环境因子与大气汞浓度对汞交换通量的影响.结果表明,土壤-大气汞交换通量存在明显的季节差异,夏季汞排放量为35.3 ng·(m2·d)-1,而其他季节很小,甚至在冬春两季土壤转为大气的汞汇.汞交换通量除了受辐射强度和大气/土壤温度的影响较大之外,还与大气汞浓度呈线性负相关,白天的平衡点为5.61 ng·m-3.重庆铁山坪马尾松林土壤的汞排放量为2.65μg·(m2·a)-1,较高的大气汞浓度是该值远低于较清洁地区同类森林的重要原因.     

不同基质对马尾松容器苗及其菌根的影响

以10种培养基质，对马尾松进行容器育苗研究．结果表明：以竹叶为基本材料配制基质，比纯黄心主基质培育的马尾松百日苗，干物质重增加对2％；与蛭石基质相比，增加43.9％；与松树皮基质相比，增加25.0％以松针为基本材料配制的基质效果近似于竹叶．两者对苗木生长的影响，与各处理相比较，均达到了极显著水平．培养基质理化性质与苗木生物量相关的矩阵分析表明，容器基质的客重和孔隙度对苗木生长影响最大;基质内有效养分含量，特别是磷含量的多少很重要．竹叶和松针作为基质，表现了良好的理化性质，促进了马尾松苗木早期菌极化，百日苗面根感染率分别比黄心土基质的百日苗提高12.9％和17.0％同时加快了苗木生长．     

Effects of landscape transformation on bird colonization and extinction patterns in a large‐scale,long‐term natural experiment

Conversion of agricultural land to forest plantations is a major driver of global change. Studies on the impact of forest plantations on biodiversity in plantations and in the surrounding native vegetation have been inconclusive. Consequently, it is not known how to best manage the extensive areas of the planet currently covered by plantations. We used a novel, long‐term (16 years) and large‐scale (30,000 ha) landscape transformation natural experiment (the Nanangroe experiment, Australia) to test the effects of land conversion on population dynamics of 64 bird species associated with woodland and forest. A unique aspect of our study is that we focused on the effects of plantations on birds in habitat patches within plantations. Our study design included 56 treatment sites (Eucalyptus patches where the surrounding matrix was converted from grazed land to pine plantations), 55 control sites (Eucalyptus patches surrounded by grazed land), and 20 matrix sites (sites within the pine plantations and grazed land). Bird populations were studied through point counts, and colonization and extinction patterns were inferred through multiple season occupancy models. Large‐scale pine plantation establishment affected the colonization or extinction patterns of 89% of studied species and thus led to a comprehensive turnover in bird communities inhabiting Eucalyptus patches embedded within the maturing plantations. Smaller bodied species appeared to respond positively to plantations (i.e., colonization increased and extirpation of these species decreased in patches surrounded by plantations) because they were able to use the newly created surrounding matrix. We found that the effects of forest plantations affected the majority of the bird community, and we believe these effects could lead to the artificial selection of one group of species at the expense of another.     

Variability of Fire Behavior, Fire Effects, and Emissions in Scotch Pine Forests of Central Siberia

As part of the Russian FIRE BEAR (Fire Effects in the Boreal Eurasia Region) Project, replicated 4-ha experimental fires were conducted on a dry Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris)/lichen (Cladonia sp.)/feathermoss (Pleurozeum schreberi) forest site in central Siberia. Observations from the initial seven surface fires (2000-2001) ignited under a range of burning conditions quantified the different fuel consumption and fire behavior characteristics (e.g., rate of spread, fireline intensity, etc.) possible in this particular forest fuel type. Experimental results and dendrochronological study of local fire history both support the dominance of local fire regimes by low to moderate-intensity surface fires. Carbon released by the experimental fires ranged from 4.8 to 15.4 t C ha^{− 1} depending on fuel conditions and fire severity. Preliminary emission data show a strong correlation between carbon dioxide (CO₂) and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions, which should facilitate accurate estimates of fire impacts on atmospheric chemistry. Carbon concentration in smoke samples was related to fire severity. The short landscape-scale fire-return interval (50 years), combined with typically low fire severity, in pine ecosystems of central Siberia is often associated with low tree mortality and relatively rapid buildup of litter and understory fuels after a fire.