Dynamics of growth and seed production in the Siberian stone pine: The level and pattern of variation in characters

A statistical analysis of interannual variation in a set of vegetative and generative characters over 13 years has been performed to characterize the growth and seed production dynamics of the Siberian stone pine (Pinus sibirica Du Tour) in the southeast of the forest zone in western Siberia. The results have shown that the range of fluctuations in most of vegetative characters is ordinary and their distribution is close to normal. The range of fluctuations in many generative characters is enormous (from 0 to +∞), and the distribution of their values is usually skewed, with low values being recorded several times more frequently than high values. Most variable are the proportion of abortive cones and other characters that are determined mainly in the spring of the pollination year. These characters account for a very high level of variation in the total seed production.     

Hunting Increases Dispersal Limitation in the Tree Carapa procera, a Nontimber Forest Product

Abstract:  The sustainability of seed extraction from natural populations has been questioned recently. Increased recruitment failure under intense seed harvesting suggests that seed extraction intensifies source limitation. Nevertheless, areas where more seeds are collected tend to also have more intense hunting of seed-dispersing animals. We studied whether such hunting, by limiting disperser activity, could cause quantitative dispersal limitation, especially for large crops and for crops in years of high seed abundance. In each of four Carapa procera (Meliaceae) populations in French Guiana and Surinam, two with hunting and two without, we compared seed fate for individual trees varying in crop size in years of high and low population-level seed abundance. Carapa seeds are a nontimber forest product and depend on dispersal by scatter-hoarding rodents for survival and seedling establishment. Hunting negatively affected the proportion of seeds dispersed and caused greater numbers of seeds to germinate or be infested by moths below parent trees, where they would likely die. Hunting of seed-dispersing animals disproportionally affected large seed crops, but we found no additional effect of population-level seed abundance on dispersal rates. Consistently lower rates of seed dispersal, especially for large seed crops, may translate to lower levels of seedling recruitment under hunting. Our results therefore suggest that the subsistence hunting that usually accompanies seed collection is at the cost of seed dispersal and may contribute to recruitment failure of these nontimber forest products. Seed extraction from natural populations may affect seedling recruitment less if accompanied by measures adequately incorporating and protecting seed dispersers.     

Seed yeast cultivation for salad oil manufacturing wastewater treatment

The mixture of five yeast strains obtained from soil could remove about 85% TOC of oil-rich wastewater in batch test.While the highest MLSS was obtained at an N:C of 1:5,the oil removal decreased with the increase of N:C during yeast sludge cultivation.Ammonium chloride was the best nitrogen source for yeast cultivation from the viewpoint of yeast growth and oil utilizxation.An ammonia concentration of over 1300 mg/L led to mass death of yeast at a pH of 5.The ammonia concentration should be controlled at a level of 1000 mg/L or lower.     

Intra-specific variations of two Leymus chinensis divergence populations in Songnen Plain, northeast China

Population demography, seed production, biomassallocation, net photosynthesis and transpiration of two Leymus chinensis divergence populations and between two years in Songnenplain, northeast China were compared. Strong differences betweenthe dry 1997 and moist 1998 occurred in vegetative shoot and sexualshoot densities, sexual differentiation and tiller densities, aswell as in the lengths of inflorescence, seed numbers perinflorescence, seed weights and biomass allocation in eachpopulation respectively (P<0.01). While strong differences betweenthe two populations occurred in vegetative shoot densities, sexualshoot densities, sexual differentiation and seed weights in eachyear (P<0.01). The differences between the two populations intiller densities and in biomass allocation to sexual shoots were significant (P<0.05). But there were no significant differences between the two populations in the lengths of inflorescence, seed numbers per inflorescence and biomass allocation to rhizomes and vegetative shoots (P>0.05). Excepting the transpiration rate in the early June, the differences between the two populations in net photosynthesis and transpiration rate of vegetative shoots and sexual shoots were strongly significant in the early June and July respectively (P<0.01). Relative stable variations in population demography and physiological traits between the two populations indicated that they are divergently in the Songnen Plain.     

浙产白术市售种子质量的鉴定

根据试验,浙江产白术种子的净度可分为3个等级：一级净度为95％以上,二级净度90％～95％,三级净度90％以下.其发芽率为45％～59％,与种子批次的千粒重密切相关.种子在室外阳光下晒干.含水量可控制在8％～10％,而在室内阴干则与环境的相对湿度密切相关.其千位重的差异与该种子批次内大.中、小粒种子的比例有关,一般种子千粒重为25.60～37.50g.     

五大连池老黑山火山的两次喷发活动

老黑山是五大连池火山群中最年轻的火山.通过对老黑山火山锥体结构及其形态分析指出,老黑山火山并非单锥,而是由先、后不同时期形成的两个锥体叠加组成的复合锥,表明它有两次喷发活动.通过对新发掘出的史料的分析,进一步指出,老黑山火山的第一次喷发时间为1720(不是1719年)-1721年,第二次可能为1776年.两次喷发活动的确认为研究老黑山火山喷发历史、喷发过程、喷发危险性评价和灾害预测等提供了新依据.     

Ex situ collections and their potential for the restoration of extinct plants

The alarming current and predicted species extinction rates have galvanized conservationists in their efforts to avoid future biodiversity losses, but for species extinct in the wild, few options exist. We posed the questions, can these species be restored, and, if so, what role can ex situ plant collections (i.e., botanic gardens, germplasm banks, herbaria) play in the recovery of plant genetic diversity? We reviewed the relevant literature to assess the feasibility of recovering lost plant genetic diversity with using ex situ material and the probability of survival of subsequent translocations. Thirteen attempts to recover species extinct in the wild were found, most of which used material preserved in botanic gardens (12) and seed banks (2). One case of a locally extirpated population was recovered from herbarium material. Eight (60%) of these cases were successful or partially successful translocations of the focal species or population; the other 5 failed or it was too early to determine the outcome. Limiting factors of the use of ex situ source material for the restoration of plant genetic diversity in the wild include the scarcity of source material, low viability and reduced longevity of the material, low genetic variation, lack of evolution (especially for material stored in germplasm banks and herbaria), and socioeconomic factors. However, modern collecting practices present opportunities for plant conservation, such as improved collecting protocols and improved cultivation and storage conditions. Our findings suggest that all types of ex situ collections may contribute effectively to plant species conservation if their use is informed by a thorough understanding of the aforementioned problems. We conclude that the recovery of plant species currently classified as extinct in the wild is not 100% successful, and the possibility of successful reintroduction should not be used to justify insufficient in situ conservation.     

汽车用聚合物材料火灾燃烧特性研究

为研究车用聚合物材料的燃烧特性,并对材料的火灾危险性进行全方位的评估,采用锥形量热仪,对汽车上常用的ABS,PP-PVC,PVC革-无纺毡以及无纺布-PVC聚合物材料进行分析表征,测得点燃时间、热释放速率、总热释放量、质量损失速率、烟气生成速率等参数。结果表明:ABS材料的点燃危险性相对最低,PVC革-无纺毡材料相对最高;随热辐射强度的增加,各样品的热释放速率和烟气生成速率明显加快;结合热释放速率峰值、均值和总热释放量可知,无纺布-PVC材料的热危险性相对最低;结合烟气生成速率和总烟释放量可知,ABS材料的发烟危害性相对最高,无纺布-PVC的相对最低;综合比较各样品的FGI和FPI值,安全等级由高到低依次为ABS,PP-PVC,PVC革-无纺毡,无纺布-PVC。     

黄钠铁矾渣制备透明氧化铁黄的研究

研究了以黄钠铁矾渣为原料,采用滴加法制备透明铁黄的工艺条件,讨论了亚铁浓度、温度、通气量、搅拌速度及添加剂用量等因素对铁黄制备的影响.用XRD和TEM对产品进行表征.结果表明,铁黄粒子呈针状;长轴为95～125 nm,短轴为18～25 nm;无团聚现象,单分散性好.     

钒对水稻种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响

通过室内培养的方法,研究了不同浓度钒处理对金优63、T优259两个不同品种水稻种子萌发、幼苗生长及部分生理生化指标的影响。结果表明:低浓度的钒处理能在一定程度上促进两种水稻种子的萌发及幼苗的生长,但随着钒污染浓度的增高,逐渐受到抑制,且根长受影响的程度大于芽长。从生长和生理生化各指标变化情况来看,不同浓度钒处理下,两种水稻幼苗根系脱氢酶活性与叶绿素含量均呈先升后降的变化趋势。T优259对钒污染的抗性大于金优63。