不同海拔高度短穗兔耳草克隆生长及克隆繁殖特征

研究了青藏铁路和青藏公路沿线 5个不同海拔高度样地中短穗兔耳草克隆生长和克隆繁殖的特征.结果表明,不同海拔高度短穗兔耳草匍匐茎数量、匍匐茎长度、基株干重、匍匐茎干重和无性系分株干重等均存在极显著差异(P<0. 01);匍匐茎数量与海拔高度之间存在明显的负线性相关性(P=0. 046 4);匍匐茎长度、基株干重、匍匐茎干重、单位长度上匍匐茎干重、无性系分株干重和匍匐茎分株总干重 /基株干重比值均与海拔高度之间存在极显著的二次多项式相关性(P<0. 01),但匍匐茎长度、匍匐茎分株总干重 /基株干重随海拔高度的变化趋势与基株干重、匍匐茎干重、单位长度上匍匐茎干重、无性系分株干重随海拔高度的变化趋势相反.在短穗兔耳草分布的海拔范围内,其克隆繁殖和克隆生长有一个“最佳”海拔高度,远离这一高度,其克隆繁殖和克隆生长会受到一定限制. 图 6表 2参 18     

Preparation and activation: determinants of age at reproductive maturity in male baboons

Age at maturity is a particularly important life history trait, but maturational data are rare for males in natural populations of mammals. Here we provide information on three maturational milestones and their social and demographic correlates among 43 wild male baboons, Papio cynocephalus, in a natural population in Amboseli National Park, Kenya. We examined (1) age at testicular enlargement, which signals puberty and the onset of subadulthood, (2) age at attainment of adult dominance rank, which we consider to be the beginning of adulthood, and (3) age at first sexual consortship, which is the best measure available for age at first reproduction in male baboons. Testicular enlargement (median age = 5.69 years) occurred earlier among sons of high ranking mothers, and was not influenced by rainfall or seasonality. Attainment of adult dominance rank (median age = 7.41 years) was also accelerated among sons of high-ranking mothers, and among males whose mothers had died while the males were juveniles. First sexual consortship (median age = 7.92 years) was not influenced directly by maternal characteristics, but attainment of adult dominance rank always preceded first consortship. The lag time between attainment of adult rank and first consortship (median = 2.5 months; range = 5–526 days), was predicted by the number of sexually cycling females in the group when the male attained rank, and by how high ranking the male became in his first months as an adult. We suggest that the age at which a male baboon is ready to begin reproducing is influenced by a relatively stable maternal characteristic that exerts its influence early in development, but the timing with which this potential is realized depends on activation by more proximate, often stochastic triggers such as female availability. This two-level organization of influences is likely to contribute to the variance both in age at first reproduction and in lifetime fitness. Differences in the relative magnitude of the two levels will lead to both intra- and interspecific variability in the opportunity for maternal selection and sexual selection.     

Study of the dynamics of estuarine and coastal waters using remote sensing: the Tinto-Odiel estuary, SW Spain

This paper deals with the application of satellite images to characterize some aspects of the circulation dynamics of the Tinto-Odiel estuary using turbidity patterns as ‘natural tracers’. 15 images (Landsat TM and Spot HRV) were processed to provide synoptic, instantaneous views of the circulation patterns under different environmental conditions. In addition, a comparison was made between results of oceanographic field work, using biplanes and fluorescent tracers, and satellite image turbidity patterns used as ‘ground truth’ data for specific hydroclimatic situations. This approach allowed (1) the identification and mapping of dynamic processes of interest during a theoretical tidal cycle, (2) the elaboration of additional information on the ‘flow schemes’ at the mouth of the estuary with improved spatial and temporal resolution, and (3) the supply of basic data to improve the knowledge of exchange processes between estuarine and coastal waters. The results of this study are considered to be useful for the management of the estuarine system.     

广东省雾霾天气能见度的时空特征分析Ⅰ:季节变化

雾霾已经成为一种新的气象及环境灾害性现象,分析雾霾天气下低能见度的时空分布特征,对掌握雾霾的发生规律和减灾预报具有重要意义。文章利用1980—2003年广东省沿海地区26个地面气象观测站23年的气象观测资料,分析了广东省雾霾天气下能见度的时空分布特征。分析结果发现,1980—2003年广东地区雾霾天气下能见度的季节变化规律与雾天气时能见度的季节变化规律大体一致,即广东地区低能见度天气主要受雾天气的影响;另一方面,雾、霾天气时能见度的季节变化规律有很大不同,雾天气时能见度观测值在冬、春两季相对较高,最低值出现在3月份,最高值出现在9月份,其年变化表现为峰—谷型、稳定型和不规则波动型三种变化;霾天气时能见度的值在秋、冬两季相对较高,最低值出现在6月份,而且在5、6、7三个月中能见度值都很低;受广东沿海地形特征影响,雾天能见度的空间分布从西到东呈低—高—低—高的波列状分布,而霾天气时能见度的空间分布则没有明显的区域差异。     

川西亚高山白桦林小气候的时空动态特征

对川西亚高山白桦林(海拔2 540 m)内太阳辐射、空气温湿度以及土壤5 cm和15 cm层温度等进行了连续的定位观测.结果表明:1)林冠下的太阳辐射日进程与林冠上的不同,但辐射强度随着太阳高度角的变化而变化;林冠下太阳辐射日总量不仅受林冠上辐射日总量的影响,也受森林群落生长季节的影响;春、夏和秋季,林冠下平均辐射日总量分别占林冠上平均辐射日总量的53.1%、39.4%和55.8%.2)夏季,白天空气温度高于土壤温度,而夜间则相反;空气温度和土壤温度的日极端温度出现的时间不同步,空气温度对太阳辐射强度的敏感性比土壤温度的敏感性高.3)春季,土壤表层>4℃的积温高于空气和土壤底层>4℃的积温;夏季,>4℃的积温由高到低的次序为:林冠下空气>土壤5 cm层>土壤15 cm层,而秋季的比较结果与之相反;空气日平均温度与土壤日平均温度有显著的线性关系(P<0.001).4)林冠下的空气相对湿度(RH)比林冠上的高,林冠下的空气RH日变幅和季节性变幅比林冠上的小.图7表1参19     

Dynamics of soil organic matter in primary and secondary forest succession on sandy soils in The Netherlands: An application of the ROMUL model

We applied the simulation model ROMUL of soil organic matter dynamics in order to analyse and predict forest soil organic matter (SOM) changes following stand growth and also to identify gaps of data and modelling problems. SOM build-up was analysed (a) from bare sand to forest soil during a primary succession in Scots pine forest and (b) on mature forest soil under Douglas fir plantations as an example of secondary succession in The Netherlands. As some of the experimental data were unreliable we compiled a set of various scenarios with different soil moisture regime, initial SOM pools and amount and quality of above and below ground litter input. This allowed us to find the scenarios that reflect the SOM dynamics more realistically. In the Scots pine forest, total litter input was estimated as 0.50 kg m⁻² year⁻¹. Two scenarios were defined for the test runs: (a) forest floor moisture regimes—‘dry, mesic and hydric’ and (b) augmenting a root litter pool with three ratios of needles and branches to roots: 1:1, 1:1.5 and 1:2.0. The scenario finally compiled had the following characteristics: (a) climate for dry site with summer drought and high winter moisture of forest floor; (b) a litter input of 0.25 kg m⁻² year⁻¹ above ground and 0.50 kg m⁻² year⁻¹ below ground; (c) a low nitrogen and ash content in all litter fall fractions. The test runs for the estimation of the initial SOM pools and the amount and proportion of above and below ground litter fall were also performed in the Douglas fir plantation. The inputs of above ground litter tested in various combinations were 0.30 and 0.60 kg m⁻² year⁻¹, and below ground litter 0.30, 0.60 and 0.90 kg m⁻² year⁻¹. The scenario that fitted the experimental data had an SOM pool of 20–25 kg m⁻², an aboveground litter input of 0.6 kg m⁻² year⁻¹and a below ground litter input of 0.9 kg m⁻² year⁻¹. The long-term simulation corresponded well with the observed patterns of soil organic matter accumulation associated with the forest soil development in primary and secondary succession. During primary succession in Scots pine forest on dry sand there is a consistent accumulation of a raw humus forest floor. The soil dynamics in the Douglas fir plantation also coincide with the observed patterns of SOM changes during the secondary succession, with SOM decreasing significantly under young forest, and SOM being restored in the older stands.     

Dynamic preservation of the coastline in the Netherlands

In 1990, the Government and Parliament of the Netherlands decided on a new national policy for coastal defence. To ensure the enduring safety of the low-lying polders as well as the sustainable preservation of the coastal dunes, it was decided to maintain the coastline in its 1990 position. The main method for coastline preservation in the Netherlands is beach nourishment. Since 1991, approximately 7 million m³ of sand is added to the Dutch beaches annually. From an evaluation study of sand nourishment projects it is concluded that nourishment is an effective and efficient method to preserve the coastline. The evaluation study also proves that nourishment projects should be ‘tailor-made’, taking the local morphological and hydraulic conditions into account. The first results of an experimental shoreface nourishment are discussed. The choice for nourishment as the principal method to combat erosion is well in line with the intention to restore the natural dynamics of the dune-coast in the Netherlands. The key probably is a less strict policy with regard to the maintenance of the foredunes. Plans for the development of typical coastal features such as slufters^*, wash-overs, blow-outs and mobile dunes are currently under discussion. A slufter is a breakthrough in the first dune-ridge whereby the sea invades former dune slacks or beach plains situated behind the duneridge. In this way a tidal marsh is formed within the dune zone.     

Concentration Evolution of Gas Species within a Collapsing Bubble in a Liquid Medium

In this study numerical methods are used to investigate the relationship between chemical concentration of gas species within a cavitating bubble, equilibrium radius of the gas bubble and pressure variations in the ambient liquid. For this purpose, governing equations are developed to describe the dynamic equilibrium of a bubble in a flowing fluid and mass transfer between gas and liquid phases, where it was assumed that gases undergo isothermal compression, obey the ideal gas law, Henry law. It is further assumed that the concentration of each phase within the bubble is uniform. The resulting nonlinear equations are solved using implicit Trapezoidal method with Newton iteration. Four gas species are modeled under various initial and ambient pressure variation conditions. These conditions maybe considered to represent typical cavitation events. The numerical results obtained are presented in terms of dimensionless numbers. These results indicate that chemical damage maybe an important component of cavitation surface damage, since high concentration profiles may develop within a collapsing bubble. Proposed formulation and numerical solutions are simple and cost effective to implement. The results presented in this study maybe used to benchmark experimental investigations or other more complex solutions, which are outside the scope of this study.     

Social cohesion and foraging decrease with group size in fallow deer (Dama dama)

We studied the impact of group size on foraging behaviour and level of movement synchronisation among female herdmates of a fallow deer population in Central Italy. Both proportion of foraging events and movement synchronisation decreased with increasing group size. The proportion of foraging events was higher for animals on the edge of the group than for deer in the centre of the group; hence, there appears to be a trade-off between protection against predators and foraging interference, both of which decrease from the centre to the periphery of the group. This is the first time this type of behaviour has been recorded for wild ungulates. As expected, we also found that the movement of peripheral animals was less synchronised than that of central animals. Consequently, peripheral animals may lose contact with their herdmates and split off the group. We conclude that social inequalities may lead to conflicting requirements among group members and instability of large groups. Movement synchronisation (as a function of group size) appears to interact with habitat openness to produce variations of group size (which appear to be adaptive for individuals) as an emergent property of these aggregations.