Phreatophytic Vegetation and Groundwater Fluctuations: A Review of Current Research and Application of Ecosystem Response Modeling with an Emphasis on Great Basin Vegetation

Although changes in depth to groundwater occur naturally, anthropogenic alterations may exacerbate these fluctuations and, thus, affect vegetation reliant on groundwater. These effects include changes in physiology, structure, and community dynamics, particularly in arid regions where groundwater can be an important water source for many plants. To properly manage ecosystems subject to changes in depth to groundwater, plant responses to both rising and falling groundwater tables must be understood. However, most research has focused exclusively on riparian ecosystems, ignoring regions where groundwater is available to a wider range of species. Here, we review responses of riparian and other species to changes in groundwater levels in arid environments. Although decreasing water tables often result in plant water stress and reduced live biomass, the converse is not necessarily true for rising water tables. Initially, rising water tables kill flooded roots because most species cannot tolerate the associated low oxygen levels. Thus, flooded plants can also experience water stress. Ultimately, individual species responses to either scenario depend on drought and flooding tolerance and the change in root system size and water uptake capacity. However, additional environmental and biological factors can play important roles in the severity of vegetation response to altered groundwater tables. Using the reviewed information, we created two conceptual models to highlight vegetation dynamics in areas with groundwater fluctuations. These models use flow charts to identify key vegetation and ecosystem properties and their responses to changes in groundwater tables to predict community responses. We then incorporated key concepts from these models into EDYS, a comprehensive ecosystem model, to highlight the potential complexity of predicting community change under different fluctuating groundwater scenarios. Such models provide a valuable tool for managing vegetation and groundwater use in areas where groundwater is important to both plants and humans, particularly in the context of climate change.     

Radionuclide transfer to fruit in the IAEA TRS 364 Revision

Information on the transfer of radionuclides to fruits was almost absent in the former TRS 364 “Handbook of parameter values for the prediction of radionuclide transfer in temperate environments”. The revision of the Handbook, carried out under the IAEA Programme on Environmental Modelling for RAdiation Safety (EMRAS), takes into account the information generated in the years following the Chernobyl accident and the knowledge produced under the IAEA BIOMASS (Biosphere Modelling and Assessment) Programme in the years 1997–2000. This paper describes the most important processes concerning the behaviour of radionuclides in fruits reported in the IAEA TRS 364 Revision and provides recommendations for research and modelling.     

Comprehensive alarm information processing technology with application in petrochemical plant

During the abnormal plant conditions, too much information is produced due to momentary plant excursions above alarm limits. This flood of information impedes correct interpretation and correction of plant conditions by the operator. Existing techniques for the design of alarm systems mostly have weak ability to handle complex hazard scenarios and increase the probability of larger safety issues. In this paper, a comprehensive alarm information processing (AIP) technology is introduced, called multi-round alarm management system (MRAMS), including several processing strategies: AIP based on single sensor, AIP based on sensor group, root cause diagnosis based on Bayesian network, sensor fault judgment method and false alarm inhibition method. In case studies, both simulation experiment and pilot application on a real petrochemical plant are presented. Results indicate the MRAMS is helpful in improving the accuracy of correctly diagnosing the root causes and hence avoiding false and redundant alarms. By adopting this new technology, the safe and reliable operation of the plant can be achieved, and the economic loss brought by improper alarms can be reduced.     

Green synthesis, characterization and antimicrobial activity of silver nanoparticles using methanolic root extracts of Diospyros sylvatica

The current research study focuses to formulate the biosynthesized silver nanoparticles for the first time from silver acetate using methanolic root extracts of Diospyros sylvatica, a member of family Ebenaceae. TEM analysis revealed the average diameter of Ag NPs around 8 nm which is in good agreement with the average crystallite size (10 nm) calculated from X-ray Diffraction (XRD) analysis. Further the study has been extended to the antimicrobial activity against test pathogenic Gram (+) ve, Gram (−) ve bacterial and fungal strains. The bioinspired Ag-NP showed promising activity against all the tested bacterial strains and the activity was enhanced with increased dosage levels.     

5种喀斯特生境植物叶片解剖结构特征

对我国喀斯特地区几种不同生活型植物——常绿植物桂花(Osmanthus fragrans Lour.)、竹叶椒(Zanthoxylunarmatum DC),落叶植物红背山麻杆(Alchornea trewioides Muell.),草本植物石上莲(Oreocharis benthamii Clark var.reticulata Dunn),草本植物单枝竹(Monocladus saxatilis Chia,Fung et Y.L.Yang)的叶片形态解剖特征(叶片厚度、气孔密度、气孔结构等)进行了观察和测量,发现差异较大:竹叶椒角质层较厚,红背山麻杆的叶片较厚,单枝竹叶片上下表皮均有气孔,桂花气孔密度最高,石上莲的气孔纵径最长.结果表明:1)喀斯特生境植物存在着普遍的抗旱功能性解剖结构,用以适应喀斯特地区的特殊干旱气候;2)不同生活型植物对干旱选择的策略不同.表3参20     

Anatomical Structure of Ectomycorrhiza in Abies sibirica Ledeb. and Picea obovata Ledeb. under Conditions of Forest Ecosystems Polluted with Emissions from Copper-Smelting Works

Changes in the anatomical characters of ectomycorrhiza in Siberian fir and Siberian spruce were studied in natural forests polluted with heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Cd, Pb, As, and Fe) and sulfur dioxide. As technogenic load increased, the total radius of mycorhiza terminals and plant roots included in them increased in the organic horizon and decreased in the mineral part of the soil. The absolute thickness of fungal mycorhiza caps and their relative contribution to the total volume of consuming organs increased under pollution. The observed responses were regarded as adaptive, aimed at compensating the adverse effects caused by technogenic pollution.     

入侵植物南美蟛蜞菊营养器官的形态解剖研究

南美蟛蜞菊（Wedelia trilobata（L.）Hitchc.）是华南地区常见的入侵植物之一,其环境适应性强,繁殖速度快,对入侵地生态环境的破坏而导致生物多样性丧失的危害现象已经引起关注。结构与功能的相适应是生物学的基本观点之一,对入侵植物营养器官的内部形态解剖结构的研究,是理解入侵能力与其生物特性之间关系的直接路径,同时也是其他生理机理研究的结构基础。为研究入侵植物南美蟛蜞菊营养器官内部形态结构与其入侵能力的适应性,采用常规徒手切片技术对其根、茎及成熟叶片3大营养器官进行解剖及显微观察。结果表明：南美蟛蜞菊根、茎均具有次生结构。根韧皮部外方薄壁细胞具有分泌道,次生结构横切面中央为发达的次生木质部所填充,周皮代替表皮起保护作用,根的初生生长时期长,具有次生生长可视为其入侵定居时与本地物种形成地下资源和空间竞争的结构基础;茎的初生结构分化不久即产生次生结构,次生结构中央有明显的髓,次生维管束组织产生于初生结构的维管束之间并形成一管状结构明显将皮层和髓分开,茎内部组织高度木质化可视为是其茎直立生长及竞争地上资源和空间的结构基础;叶片为异面叶,上下表皮均具有气孔器和表皮毛,叶片内部具有分泌道,维管束发达且具有束鞘延伸,能与叶片表皮细胞共同构成辅助输导系统,叶片的结构特征是构成其喜阳植物的基础。此外叶片及根分泌道的存在可能与其化感物质的分泌有关。研究结果丰富了南美蟛蜞菊入侵适应性研究的背景基础,同时也弥补其在形态结构研究中的空缺。     

Calcium protects roots of Sedum alfredii H. against cadmium-induced oxidative stress

Sedum alfredii is a well-known Cd (cadmium) hyperaccumulator native to China. The impacts of exogenous Ca on Cd-induced oxidative stress and antioxidant systems in roots of S. alfredii were investigated by using cellular and biochemical approaches. Supplementation of the medium with higher Ca levels resulted in alleviated growth inhibition and decreased Cd concentration, as well as increased Ca concentration in roots. Cadmium induced lipid peroxidation and loss of plasma membrane integrity, reactive oxygen species overproduction, as well as ultrastructural changes of root cells were largely reversed by Ca supplementation in the medium. Calcium application significantly altered the Cd effects on antioxidant enzymes and non-enzyme antioxidants (non-protein thiols), and significantly increased glutathione (GSH) biosynthesis. The results suggest that Ca is able to protect the roots of S. alfredii against Cd toxicity by restoration of Cd-displaced Ca, alleviation of the metal induced oxidative stress, as well as promotion of GSH biosynthesis.     

Molecular characterization of root exudates using Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

The release of root exudates(REs) provides an important source of soil organic carbon. This work revealed the molecular composition of REs of different plant species including alfalfa( Medicago sativa L.), bean( Phaseolus vulgaris L.), barley( Hordeum vulgare L.), maize( Zea mays), wheat( Triticum aestivum L.), ryegrass( Lolium perenne L.) and pumpkin( Cucurbita maxima) using electrospray ionization coupled with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry(ESI FT-ICR MS). The comb...     

Nitrogen mediates above-ground effects of ozone but not below-ground effects in a rhizomatous sedge

Ozone and atmospheric nitrogen are co-occurring pollutants with adverse effects on natural grassland vegetation. Plants of the rhizomatous sedge Carex arenaria were exposed to four ozone regimes representing increasing background concentrations (background-peak): 10-30, 35-55, 60-80 and 85-105 ppb ozone at two nitrogen levels: 12 and 100 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. Ozone increased the number and proportion of senesced leaves, but not overall leaf number. There was a clear nitrogen × ozone interaction with high nitrogen reducing proportional senescence in each treatment and increasing the ozone dose (AOT40) at which enhanced senescence occurred. Ozone reduced total biomass due to significant effects on root biomass. There were no interactive effects on shoot:root ratio. Rhizome tissue N content was increased by both nitrogen and ozone. Results suggest that nitrogen mediates above-ground impacts of ozone but not impacts on below-ground resource translocation. This may lead to complex interactive effects between the two pollutants on natural vegetation.