Secondary metabolism — evolution and function: Products or processes?

Summary The distinguishing characteristics of secondary metabolism and its associated metabolites are outlined. Current theories relating to the function of secondary metabolism in plants and micro-organisms are enumerated and the view that consideration of the processes rather than the products may best explain the origins of secondary metabolism is discussed.     

An architectural model of spring wheat: Evaluation of the effects of population density and shading on model parameterization and performance

ADELwheat is an architectural model that describes development of wheat in 3D. This paper analyzes the robustness of the parameterization of ADELwheat for spring wheat cultivars in relation to plant population density and shading. The model was evaluated using data from two spring wheat experiments with three plant population densities and two light regimes. Model validation was done at two levels of aggregation: (a) by comparing parameterization functions used as well as parameter values to the data (leaf and tiller appearance, leaf number, blade dimensions, sheath length, internode length) and (b) by comparing ground cover (GC) and leaf area index (LAI) of simulated virtual wheat plots with GC and LAI calculated from data. A sensitivity analysis was performed by modulating parameters defining leaf blade dimensions and leaf or tiller appearance rate.In contrast to population density, shading generally increased phyllochron and delayed tiller appearance. Both at the level of the organ and at the level of the canopy the model performed satisfactorily. Parameterization functions in the model that had been established previously applied to independent data for different conditions; GC and LAI were simulated adequately at three population densities. Sensitivity analysis revealed that calibration of phyllochron and blade area needs to be accurate to prevent disproportional deviations in output.The robustness of the model parameterization and the simulation performance confirmed that the model is a complete architectural model for aboveground development of spring wheat. It can be used in studies that require simulation of spring wheat structure, such as studies on plant–insect interaction, remote sensing, and light interception.     

Adaptive behaviour of chironomid larvae (Chironomus riparius) in response to chemical stimuli from predators and resource density

Chemical-mediated effects of predatory fish on chironomid larvae behaviour have been ignored so far. Sediment-dwelling chironomid larvae inhabit protective burrows from which they extend their bodies only to feed on deposited detritus and microalgae from the surrounding sediment. Here, we performed factorial laboratory experiments to study whether fish-borne chemical cues (kairomones) are responsible for behavioural trait changes of chironomid larvae, and whether chironomid larvae are able to assess the densities of fish predators and food resources and the trade-off between them. We exposed naïve Chironomus riparius larvae to the chemical presence of zero, one, and ten predator fish (Rutilus rutilus) and offered two resource levels (low food, high food) for each treatment. Kairomones induced significant inherent behavioural trait changes in chironomid larvae. During the first 120 min after exposing chironomids to fish-conditioned water, we found a significant increase in digging activity with increasing predator density. After 3 days of exposure, the deepest chironomid burrows were found in treatments with the highest predator density. Chironomid larvae were significantly able to adjust their foraging behaviour to different predator densities and food concentrations and trade off between them; that is, when fish predators were more abundant or when more food resources were available, the foraging activities of larvae were significantly reduced. Our data suggest that chemically mediated trait changes (burrowing and foraging behaviour) may cascade through the littoral food web.     

长江上游沿江产业带产业结构演进研究

长江上游沿江产业带是一个资源富集,开发潜力巨大的区域,既是长江产业带的重要组成部分,也是西南地区经济发展的重心地带。区域经济的快速发展有赖于区域产业结构的有序演进。本文在分析长江上游沿江产业带产业结构演进背景－产业基础,经济基础,资源基础和宏观环境的基础上,根据国外产业结构演进手一般经验,对本区产业结构演进的历史进程和目前所处阶段进行了分析和判定。     

Effects of uncontrolled particulate matter release on precipitation under warfare conditions

This study has shown theoretical, observed and experimental evidence of pollutants released, transported and deposited during the Kosovo conflict in 1999 and their effects on precipitation in Serbia. The greatest bombardment of the chemical industry, oil refineries and fuel storage in Serbia which occurred during April, resulted in releases of many hazardous, toxic and cancerogenic substances. The number of April's days with precipitation greater or equal to 0.1 mm in 1999 are compared to those in the period from 1961 to 1990 registered at thirty meteorological stations in Serbia and especially at the Belgrade-Observatory station in the period from 1888 to 1995. The maximums of days with precipitation greater or equal to 0.1 mm were at the wider Belgrade area and at the central and southwestern parts of Serbia during April 1999. This is confirmed by using the Eta trajectory analysis.     

济南市水域鱼类功能群结构及其季节性变化

鱼类对于维护河流生态系统的稳定具有重要作用,季节性变化在一定程度上影响鱼类的群落结构.为了解济南市水域鱼类的功能群结构及其季节性差异,于2014年春季（5月）、夏季（8月）和秋季（11月）选取济南市水域的40个采样点对鱼类群落和水环境理化因子,通过单因素方差分析、多响应置换过程以及典范对应分析等方法,分析鱼类功能群在不同季节的差异性.结果表明:①春季共鉴定出鱼类5目7科26种,夏季为5目9科32种,秋季为5目7科20种.将鱼类按栖息水层、产卵类型、对环境的耐受性以及营养结构4个方面分为4种功能类群共11亚类.春季主要以植食性、底层与敏感种功能群为主,夏季主要以肉食性、中下层、耐污种、特殊产卵与粘性卵功能群为主,秋季主要以杂食性、浮性卵、中上层、耐污种功能群为主.②典范对应结果显示,影响粘性卵功能群、肉食性功能群、底层功能群以及敏感种功能群分布的驱动因子是ρ（DO）,电导率则是影响植食性功能群的驱动因子.研究显示,鱼类功能群的季节性变化受到内源性和外源性的共同影响,即鱼类自身生活习性和水环境因子季节性变化的共同影响.      

基于农户层次的陕北黄土丘陵区农业生态经济系统耦合关系研究

农业生态经济系统耦合是一个复杂的过程,是潜变量与潜变量、潜变量与可测变量及可测变量之间相互作用的结果,结构方程模型的建立很好地描述了这一复杂关系。通过对吴起县、安塞县和宝塔区共建的中尺度生态农业建设试验示范区、米脂县等3个典型区域所代表的黄土丘陵区及其各个区域农业生态经济系统结构方程模型的建立与运算,结果表明:在"退耕还林还草工程"等外力作用下,农业生态经济系统运行模式基本揭示了农业产业与农业资源相互耦合这一本质规律,但现状耦合模式并未充分利用农业资源,系统耦合效果较低。农业产业与农业资源对系统耦合的影响系数分别为0.54和0.16,农业产业和农业资源之间的相关系数只有0.28,即农业资源没有很好地支撑产业的发展,导致农业生态经济系统耦合效果不明显,存在着局部相悖的态势,潜伏了林草资源与其相关产业链网缺失现象。为此,需要强化农业产业与农业资源的互动过程,特别要发展林草及其相关产业,促进林草资源的有效利用,促使系统耦合效果的不断提高,增加经济效益。     

空间系绳系统安全性研究综述

系绳技术在空间探测与航天技术领域相较于现有空间技术具有很大优势,随着空间系绳技术的快速发展,其安全性越来越得到关注。首先从理论研究及空间试验两方面对系绳系统安全性的研究现状进行了总结,分析了空间试验的失败原因。其次,详细描述了影响系绳系统安全性的几个因素——空间环境、系绳材料、编制结构、涂层材料及释放机构的设计。最后提出了提升系绳系统安全性的方法,并对系绳系统安全性的研究热点及发展趋势进行了预测。     

滇池河流氮入湖负荷时空变化及形态组成贡献

为给进一步实施滇池入湖污染控制及小流域污染治理提供依据,以滇池环湖28条河流入湖水量及水体中不同形态氮的质量浓度逐月调查数据为基础,研究了滇池河流不同形态氮的入湖浓度(ρ)和入湖负荷的时空变化,并探讨了不同形态氮的入湖负荷贡献. 结果表明:①滇池河流入湖ρ(TN)在2.91～94.01 mg/L之间,以ρ(DIN)(DIN为溶解性无机氮)最高,而ρ(DON)(DON为溶解性有机氮)和ρ(PN)(PN为颗粒态氮)均较低. ②滇池河流氮入湖负荷总量为6 908.47 t/a,绝大多数河流以DIN负荷为主,平均贡献为67.15%;DON和PN入湖负荷贡献相近,平均分别为17.86%和14.99%. ③不同形态氮入湖负荷贡献的季节性差异明显,DIN入湖负荷较高值出现在春夏季(3—9月),平均贡献达74.01%;DON入湖负荷较高值则出现在秋冬季(9月—翌年1月),平均贡献达33.42%;PN入湖负荷贡献月份变化差异较小,最高值出现在2月,贡献为40.19%. ④滇池河流氮入湖负荷不仅要考虑DIN的贡献,也应重视DON和PN负荷,控制滇池河流氮入湖负荷需要考虑不同河流不同形态氮负荷组成及其季节性差异,有针对性地采取相应措施.