内蒙古草原中生物土壤结皮生态学研究

1. 生物土壤结皮是干旱半干旱生态系统中的重要组成部分，它可通过增加土壤肥力和稳定性、影响水分再分配和植物萌发、成活、生长和繁殖而对生态系统结构和功能产生重要影响。为阐明生物结皮在内蒙古草地中的作用，本报告对两个草地生态系统进行了为期三年的调查，对生物结皮的氮素输入、对放牧的响应及其与植物的关系进行了综合研究。 2. 利用乙炔还原法，本研究对内蒙古退化草地中的生物土壤结皮中的蓝藻、地衣和地耳的氮素输入进行了为期30个月的连续测定。研究发现：1) 生物结皮固氮活性主要集中于5-10月，呈单峰型曲线，表明生物土壤结皮的固氮作用主要受温度和降雨影响;2) 生物结皮年固氮量为12.99-129.9 kg N•ha-1，98%的氮素固定于6-9月份;3) 按固氮量排序，蓝藻 (61%) > 地衣 (33%) > 地耳 (6%)，表明物种组成和丰度对生物结皮的氮素输入具重要影响。生物结皮的固氮量和季节变化表明生物结皮可以是影响退化草地中植物生长和促进退化草地恢复的重要影响因子。 3. 本研究选择三个放牧处理（长期放牧、短期围封和近期放牧）对生物结皮固氮活性进行了为期3年的研究。结果表明，与短期围封相比，长期放牧造成生物土壤结皮固氮活性下降了99.5%。固氮活性在放牧时间不足11个月时即可下降至最低水平，因此，放牧持续时间短于4个月的轮牧可能有利于生物土壤结皮的固氮。 4. 本研究选择6个放牧梯度（对照：0.00 羊/公顷, 极轻度放牧：1.33羊/公顷，轻度放牧：2.67羊/公顷，中度放牧：4.00羊/公顷，重度放牧：5.33羊/公顷，极重度放牧：6.67羊/公顷)，研究放牧强度对于生物结皮丰度、物种组成和固氮输入的影响。不同放牧强度对生物结皮丰度、物种组成和固氮输入具有重要影响，表明长期放牧可抑制生物土壤结皮在氮素输入和土壤固定方面的作用。极轻度放牧对生物土壤结皮影响不大;轻度放牧造成氮素输入降低了50%;重度和极重度放牧造成氮素输入降低了90%，并可使移动性较强的物种成为生物土壤结皮的优势组分，从而可抑制其土壤固定作用。因此，极轻度和轻度放牧是有利于生物土壤结皮固氮和固定土壤的草地利用方式。 5. 在处于恢复早期的一个退化草地中，我们对生物结皮和植物之间的关系进行了为期2年的研究。结果表明，生物结皮的丰度和物种组成与植物地上生物量和盖度高度相关。生物结皮丰度和氮素输入随植物生物量和盖度下降。结果还表明生物结皮是退化草地的主要氮素输入来源，尤其是在草地恢复初期。植物组织δ15N 低于土壤，这种差异随植物生产力增高而减小，表明生物结皮所固定氮素首先被植物利用，而后返回土壤。生物结皮的固氮输入变化可能是这种变化模式的主要原因，在分解作用和氮素损失中的同位素分馏，以及菌根真菌对于氮素的转运可能也是这种变化模式的原因。结果还显示生物土壤结皮与植物之间可能存在负反馈关系。这种自我调节的反馈过程可能是影响退化草地生态系统生产力和氮素循环的重要调节机制。

豆科植物及其在内蒙古锡林河流域放牧草原生态系统中作用的研究

内蒙古锡林河流域是我国典型温带草原分布地区，也是我国重点牧区之一。近年来，由于人口增加、过度放牧以及管理不善等原因导致草原退化加剧，草原生态系统养分输入输出失衡，草地生产力下降。 豆科植物不仅是高蛋白优质牧草，而且具有生物固氮能力，对维持草地生态系统中土壤-植物-动物之间的氮平衡有重要作用。本论文主要调查研究了内蒙古锡林河流域放牧草原生态系统中豆科植物的分布、固氮能力、微生物状况，并探讨了目前草原大量出现的豆科植物小叶锦鸡儿灌丛在养分供给上对草原生态系统的影响。 豆科植物的分布调查采用样线法在4 种草原植被类型7 个植物群落进行，包括典型草原（羊草群落、大针茅群落及小叶锦鸡儿群落和冷蒿群落2 个退化草原群落）、草甸草原（贝加尔针茅群落）、河漫滩草甸（灰脉苔草群落）及沙地（榆树疏林群落），除榆树疏林群落仅放牧处理外，其他群落均包括放牧和不放牧对照处理。结果显示，豆科植物共有12 属，16 种。放牧总体上降低了豆科植物种群在群落中的数量特征（平均高度、密度、频度）和种类组成，但在退化草原群落中有不同的变化趋势。小叶锦鸡儿在典型草原中分布广、密度大、出现频率高；尤其在小叶锦鸡儿群落放牧样地，出现频度为95%，密度近4 株•m-2。花苜蓿在4 种草原植被类型中均有分布。 典型草原4 个群落在放牧和不放牧条件下土壤微生物碳氮含量和微生物呼吸速率的测定结果显示，放牧影响了豆科植物根际土壤的微生物量和微生物呼吸速率，但各群落变化规律不一致。放牧后小叶锦鸡儿分布最为广泛的小叶锦鸡儿群落在放牧条件下微生物碳含量和微生物呼吸速率都显著增加。小叶锦鸡儿灌丛与其他草本豆科植物相比，根际土壤的微生物量和微生物呼吸速率较高。土壤水分对微生物呼吸速率以及微生物碳氮含量有重要作用，存在极显著的正相关关系。 采用15N 自然丰度法评估野外条件下小叶锦鸡儿和花苜蓿的固氮百分率，计算结果高于100%，这主要是由野外植物叶片δ15N 值低于室内无氮培养的B 值引起的。15N 自然丰度法是否适用于评估草原植物的固氮能力还有待深入研究，但从野外δ15N 测定中也得到了一些有趣的结果。优势豆科和非豆科植物之间的δ15N 差异很大。小半灌木木地肤δ15N 值最高，并在放牧后显著下降，杂类草、禾本科大针茅与之变化趋势相同；具有潜在固氮能力的豆科植物和禾本科羊草在放牧后无显著差异或显著增加；豆科植物小叶锦鸡儿、乳白花黄芪和花苜蓿的叶片δ15N 值均为偏低负值，显著低于非豆科植物。研究结果说明不同植物的氮利用方式不同，豆科植物和羊草的生物固氮可能同时为受氮限制的内蒙古草原提供氮源。 小叶锦鸡儿灌丛影响了周围土壤的有效氮含量。灌丛内部土壤硝态氮和氨态氮有高于外部土壤的趋势。土壤含水量与硝态氮浓度显著正相关。土壤有效氮含量变异系数平均高于50%，土壤资源表现出很强的空间异质性。灌丛内部植物体内全氮含量高于灌丛外，而灌丛斑块发育时间对植物化学元素没有显著影响。

适合脑内多种神经活性物质免疫组化研究的复合固定

　寻找适合脑内多种神经活性物质免疫组织化学研究的固定方案。方法　以胆碱乙酰化酶、P 物质和γ- 氨基丁酸为递质合成酶、多肽及氨基酸递质的代表,以大鼠隔O斜带O基底核此三类阳性神经元的数量、染色和形态 变化为依据,检测了一系列复合固定配方对此三类抗原免疫组化的影响。结果　经0. 2 %戊二醛、4 %多聚甲醛和 0. 2 %苦味酸灌注固定和4 %多聚甲醛后固定,并经1 %硼氢化钠处理的脑组织,能很好地显示该三类神经元。此结 果还得到猫脑免疫电镜研究的支持。结论　有可能设计一种满足脑内尽可能多种类递质及合成酶免疫组化光、电 镜研究所需的复合固定配方,以期在同一实验动物获得最大程度的化学神经解剖学信息。

Mitigation of lake eutrophication: Loosen nitrogen control and focus on phosphorus abatement

w Traditionally, nitrogen control is generally considered an important component of reducing lake eutrophication and cyanobacteria blooms. However, this viewpoint is refuted recently by researchers in China and North America. In the present paper, the traditional viewpoint of nitrogen control is pointed out to lack a scientific basis: the N/P hypothesis is just a subjective assumption; bottle bioassay experiments fail to simulate the natural process of nitrogen fixation. Our multi-year comparative research in more than 40 Yangtze lakes indicates that phosphorus is the key factor determining phytoplankton growth regardless of nitrogen concentrations and that total phytoplankton biomass is determined by total phosphorus and not by total nitrogen concentrations. These results imply that, in the field, nitrogen control will not decrease phytoplankton biomass. This finding is supported by a long-term whole-lake experiment from North America. These outcomes can be generalized in terms that a reduction in nitrogen loading may not decrease the biomass of total phytoplankton as it can stimulate blooms of nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria. To mitigate eutrophication, it is not nitrogen but phosphorus that should be reduced, unless nitrogen concentrations are too high to induce direct toxic impacts on human beings or other organisms. Finally, details are provided on how to reduce controls on nitrogen and how to mitigate eutrophication. (C) 2009 National Natural Science Foundation of China and Chinese Academy of Sciences. Published by Elsevier Limited and Science in China Press. All rights reserved.

Analysis of genetic diversity in Glyptosternum maculatum (Sisoridae, Siluriformes) populations with AFLP markers

We determined the genetic diversity of geographic populations from three spawning grounds (Nyang River, Lhasa River, Shetongmon Reach of Yarlung Zangbo River) of Glyptosternum maculatum with amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. Five primer combinations detected 332 products, 51 of them (15.4%) were polymorphic in at least one population. The Shetongmon population was found to be the richest in genetic diversity as was indicated by the percentage of polymorphic loci and heterozygosity, followed by the Nyang population and the Lhasa population. The pair-wise genetic distance between populations were all very close, ranging from 0.0015 to 0.0042 with an average of 0.0024. The genetic distance was not proportional to the geographic distance. The analysis of molecular variance demonstrated that all variation occurred within populations. The average estimated fixation index (F (st)) of three populations across all polymorphic loci was -0.0184, indicating the absence of genetic differences among the three sampled populations. The differentiation among populations was not significant, and population structure was weak. Our observations will help identify the genetic relationship among populations as the first approach to understand the genetic diversity of Glyptosternum maculatum.

Light histories influence the impacts of solar ultraviolet radiation on photosynthesis and growth in a marine diatom, Skeletonema costatum

Phytoplanktonic species acclimated to high light are known to show less photoinhibition. However, little has been documented on how cells grown under indoor conditions for decades without exposure to UV radiation (UVR, 280-400 nm) would respond differently to solar UVR compared to those in situ grown under natural solar radiation. Here, we have shown the comparative photosynthetic and growth responses to solar UVR in an indoor-(IS) and a naturally grown (WS) Skeletonema costatum type. In short-term experiment (<1 day), phi(PSII) and photosynthetic carbon fixation rate were more inhibited by UVR in the IS than in the WS cells. The rate of UVR-induced damages of PSII was faster and their repair was significantly slower in IS than in WS. Even under changing solar radiation simulated for vertical mixing, solar UVR-induced higher inhibition of photosynthetic rate in IS than in WS cells. During long-term (10 days) exposures to solar radiation, the specific growth rate was much lower in IS than WS at the beginning, then increased 3 days later to reach an equivalent level as that of WS. UVR-induced inhibition of photosynthetic carbon fixation in the IS was identical with that of WS at the end of the long-term exposure. The photosynthetic acclimation was not accompanied with increased contents of UV-absorbing compounds, indicating that repair processes for UVR-induced damages must have been accelerated or upgraded. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Stable carbon isotope variations in surface bloom scum and subsurface seston among shallow eutrophic lakes

Carbon stable isotope analysis of surface bloom scum and subsurface seston samples was conducted in shallow eutrophic lakes in China during warm seasons from 2003 to 2004. delta C-13 values of bloom scum were always higher (averaged 5 parts per thousand) than those of seston in this study, and the possible reasons were attributed to (i) direct use of atmospheric CO2 at the air-water interface, (ii) decrease in C-13 fractionation due to higher carbon fixation, (iii) active CO2 transport, and/or (iv) HCO3 accumulation. Negative correlation between delta C-13(scum) - delta C-13(seston) and pH in the test lakes indicated that phytoplankton at the subsurface water column increased isotopic enrichment under the-carbon limitation along with the increase of pH, which might in turn decreased the differences in 313 C between the subsurface seston and the surface scums. Significant positive correlations of seston 8 13C with total concentrations of nitrogen and phosphorus in water column suggested that the increase in delta C-13 of seston with trophic state was depending on nutrient (N or P, or both) supply. Our study showed that delta C-13 of phytoplankton was indicative of carbon utilization, primary productivity, and nutrient supply among the eutrophic lakes. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.

Shrinkage of Gobiocypris rarus, Procypris rabaudi, and Sinilabeo rendahli preserved in formalin

Length measurements of preserved fishes are necessary in many types of fish surveys because logistics often do not allow for fish measurement immediately after catch. If the fixative causes significant shrinkage, then the preserved lengths cannot be directly used to indicate accurate live lengths. The objective of this study was to determine how preservation in formalin affects standard length of Gobiocypris rarus larvae (24-day-old and newly hatched), larval Procypris rabaudi (4-day-old), and larval Sinilabeo rendahli (12-day-old). Fishes were measured (to nearest 0.01 mm) and individually fixed in the appropriate formalin solution (2.5% or 5.0% formalin), then re-measured at 0.5, 1, 3, 7, 14, 30, 45 and 75 days after preservation to follow the time course of shrinkage. Most of the shrinkage occurred within the first half day after preservation. The 5.0% formalin caused a higher relative shrinkage rate than did the 2.5% solution; however, the difference was not statistically significant. In G. rarus, initial shrinkage of newly hatched larvae was higher than that of 24-day-old larvae.

The functional divergence of two glgP homologues in Synechocystis sp PCC 6803

Glycogen phosphorylase (GlgP, EC 2.4.1.1) catalyzes the cleavage of glycogen into glucose-1-phosphate (Glc-1-P), the first step in glycogen catabolism. Two glgP homologues are found in the genome of Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803, a unicellular cyanobacterium: sll1356 and slr1367. We report on the different functions of these glgP homologues. sll1356, rather than slr1367, is essential for growth at high temperatures. On the other hand, when CO2-fixation and the supply of glucose are both limited, slr1367 is the key factor in glycogen metabolism. In cells growing autotrophically, sll1356 plays a more important role in glycogen digestion than slr1367. This functional divergence is also supported by a phylogenetic analysis of glgP homologues in cyanobacteria.

Regulation by hetC of genes required for heterocyst differentiation and cell division in Anabaena sp strain PCC 7120

Unlike those of the wild-type strain, proheterocysts of the Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 hetC strain keep dividing. ftsZ, the most critical cell division gene, is up-regulated in hetC proheterocysts. Heterocyst differentiation genes hglD, hglE, patB, nijB, and xisA are no longer expressed in the hetC mutant. hetC also regulates the expression of patA, a pattern formation gene.

Photosynthetic utilization of inorganic carbon in the economic brown alga, Hizikia Fusiforme (Sargassaceae) from the South China Sea

The mechanism of inorganic carbon (C-i) acquisition by the economic brown macroalga, Hizikia fusiforme (Harv.) Okamura (Sargassaceae), was investigated to characterize its photosynthetic physiology. Both intracellular and extracellular carbonic anhydrase (CA) were detected, with the external CA activity accounting for about 5% of the total. Hizikia fusiforme showed higher rates of photosynthetic oxygen evolution at alkaline pH than those theoretically derived from the rates of uncatalyzed CO2 production from bicarbonate and exhibited a high pH compensation point (pH 9.66). The external CA inhibitor, acetazolamide, significantly depressed the photosynthetic oxygen evolution, whereas the anion-exchanger inhibitor 4,4'-diisothiocyano-stilbene-2,2'-disulfonate had no inhibitory effect on it, implying the alga was capable of using HCO3- as a source of C-i for its photosynthesis via the mediation of the external CA. CO2 concentrations in the culture media affected its photosynthetic properties. A high level of CO2 (10,000 ppmv) resulted in a decrease in the external CA activity; however, a low CO2 level (20 ppmv) led to no changes in the external CA activity but raised the intracellular CA activity. Parallel to the reduction in the external CA activity at the high CO2 was a reduction in the photosynthetic CO2 affinity. Decreased activity of the external CA in the high CO2 grown samples led to reduced sensitiveness of photosynthesis to the addition of acetazolamide at alkaline pH. It was clearly indicated that H. fusiforme, which showed CO2-limited photosynthesis with the half-saturating concentration of C-i exceeding that of seawater, did not operate active HCO3- uptake but used it via the extracellular CA for its photosynthetic carbon fixation.

Margulis' theory on division of labour in cells revisited

Division of labour is a marked feature of multicellular organisms. Margulis proposed that the ancestors of metazoans had only one microtubule organizing center (MTOC), so they could not move and divide simultaneously. Selection for simultaneous movement and cell division had driven the division of labour between cells. However, no evidence or explanation for this assumption was provided. Why could the unicellular ancetors not have multiple MTOCs? The gain and loss of three possible strategies are discussed. It was found that the advantage of one or two MTOC per cell is environment-dependent. Unicellular organisms with only one MTOC per cell are favored only in resource-limited environments without strong predatory pressure. If division of labour occurring in a bicellular organism just makes simultaneous movement and cell division possible, the possibility of its fixation by natural selection is very low because a somatic cell performing the function of an MTOC is obviously wasting resources. Evolutionary biologists should search for other selective forces for division of labour in cells.

Nutrient dynamics and the eutrophication of shallow lakes Kasumigaura (Japan), Donghu (PR China), and Okeechobee (USA)

We compared the nutrient dynamics of three lakes that have been heavily influenced by point and non-point source pollution and other human activities. The lakes, located in Japan (Lake Kasumigaura), People's Republic of China (Lake Donghu), and the USA (Lake Okeechobee), all are relatively large(>30 km(2)), very shallow (<4 m mean depth), and eutrophic. In all three lakes we found strong interactions among the sediments, water column, and human activities. Important processes affecting nutrient dynamics included nitrogen fixation, light limitation due to resuspended sediments, and intense grazing on algae by cultured fish. As a result of these complex interactions, simple empirical models developed to predict in-lake responses of total phosphorus and algal biomass to external nutrient loads must be used with caution. While published models may provide 'good' results, in terms of model output matching actual data, this may not be due to accurate representation of lake processes in the models. The variable nutrient dynamics that we observed among the three study lakes appears to be typical for shallow lake systems. This indicates that a greater reliance on lake-specific research may be required for effective management, and a lesser role of inter-lake generalization than is possible for deeper, dimictic lake systems. Furthermore, accurate predictions of management impacts in shallow eutrophic lakes may require the use of relatively complex deterministic modeling tools. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

STUDIES ON MIXED MASS CULTIVATION OF ANABAENA SPP (NITROGEN-FIXING BLUE-GREEN-ALGAE, CYANOBACTERIA) ON A LARGE-SCALE

Studies on mixed mass cultivation of Anabaena spp. on a large scale (5170 m2) were conducted continuously for 3 years. Under the continental monsoon climate in northern subtropics (30-degrees-N, 115-degrees-E), 7-11 g dry weight m-2 day-1 of microalgal biomass on average was harvested in simple plastic greenhouses in the effective growth days during the warmer seasons. The maximum productivity was 22 g m-2 day-1 in the middle of summer. Observations on the productive properties of strains of Anabaena spp. indicated that they were different from and could compensate for each other in their productivities and adaptations to the seasonal changes. With different lining materials (PVC sheets, concrete, sand and soil) in the culture ponds, no significant variation of productivity was found, but bubbling with biogas in the middle of the day and the application of some growth regulating substances (2,4-D, NaHSO3 and extracts of oyster mushroom spawn) was able to improve the production. The cost of microalgal biomass in this way was around 0.75-1.0 US dollar(s) per kilogram.

云雾山草原区不同植被恢复阶段土壤团聚体活性有机碳分布特征

以宁夏云雾山草原自然保护区不同植被群落为研究对象,对0～20cm土层土壤团聚体活性有机碳分布特征进行分析。结果表明:(1)不同植被群落土壤团聚体活性有机碳含量顺序为退耕草地<百里香群落<铁杆蒿群落<大针茅群落<长芒草群落,与退耕草地相比,封育草地各粒径团聚体活性有机碳含量均显著提高(P<0.05),表明随着植被的恢复土壤团聚体活性有机碳含量提高并趋于稳定,土壤碳汇效应有可能增强。(2)植被恢复主要影响大团聚体(>0.25mm)中活性有机碳含量,其中0.5～0.25mm粒径团聚体中活性有机碳含量最高,微团聚体(<0.25mm)中活性有机碳含量最低。(3)植被恢复前期(退耕草地-铁杆蒿群落)0～10cm土层>0.5mm粒径团聚体中活性有机碳含量较10～20cm土层有所增加,<0.5mm粒径团聚体活性有机碳含量变化不大,恢复至后期到长芒草阶段时,0～10cm土层<0.5mm粒径团聚体中活性有机碳含量也开始提高,各粒径0～10cm土层团聚体活性有机碳含量均比10～20cm土层有所提高。(4)相关性分析表明,土壤团聚体活性有机碳含量与土壤团聚体总有机碳含量呈极显著线性正相关关系(r=0.9394),团聚体活性有机碳含量...