Long-term changes of Copepoda community (1957-1996) in a subtropical Chinese lake stocked densely with planktivorous filter-feeding silver and bighead carp

In contrast to the relatively well documented impact of particulate-feeding fish on zooplankton communities, little attention has been devoted to the impact of filter-feeding fish. Filter-feeding silver and bighead carp are the most intensively cultured fish species in Asia and comprise much of the production of Chinese aquaculture. However, little information is known about the impact of either fish on the zooplankton community. Long-term changes in the Copepoda community (1957-1996) were studied at two sampling stations of a subtropical Chinese lake (Lake Donghu) dominated by silver and bighead carp. For both calanoids and cyclopoids, the littoral station (I) was much more resource profitable than the pelagic station (II). There has been a tremendous increase in the annual fish catch over the past 30 years due to the increased stocking with fingerlings of the two carp species. There was a notably higher fish density at Station I than at Station II. Cyclopoid abundance was notably higher at Station I than at Station II during the 1950s to the 1980s, while the reverse became true in the 1990s. This is probably because when fish abundance increased to an extremely high level, the impact of fish predation on the cyclopoids became more important than that of food resources at the littoral station. At both stations, cyclopoid abundance was relatively low in spite of the presence of abundant prey. Similarly, calanoid density did not differ significantly between the two stations in the 1950s and 1960s, but was significantly lower at Station I than at Station II during the 1980s and 1990s. Such changes are attributed to the gradient of fish predation between the stations and an increasing predation pressure by the fish. The increased fish predation also correlated with a shift in summer-dominant calanoids from larger species to smaller ones. In conclusion, the predaceous cyclopoids are affected by fish predation to a much lesser extent than the herbivorous calanoids, and therefore increased predation by filter-feeding fish results in a definite increase in the cyclopoid/calanoid ratio. Predation by filter-feeding fish has been a driving force in shaping the copepod community structure of Lake Donghu during the past decades.

The spatial pattern of the small fish community in the Biandantang Lake - a small shallow lake along the middle reach of the Yangtze River, China

The spatial pattern of the small fish community was studied seasonally in 1996 in the Biandantang Lake. Based on plant cover, the lake was divided into five habitats, arranged in the order by plant structure complexity from complex to simple: Vallisneria spiralis habitat (V habitat), Vallisneria spiralis-Myriophyllum spicatum habitat (V-M habitat), Myriophyllum spicatum habitat (M habitat), Nelunbo nucefera habitat (N habitat), and no vegetation habitat (NV habitat). A modified popnet was used for quantitative sampling of small fishes. A total of 16 fish species were collected; Hypseleotris swinhonis, Ctenogobius giurinus, Pseudorasbora parva, Carassius auratus and Paracheilognathus imberis were the five numerically dominant species. In both summer and autumn, the total density of small fishes was about 10 ind m(-2). Generally, Ctenogobius giurinus, a sedatory, benthic fish, was distributed more or less evenly among the five habitats, while the other four species had lower densities in the N habitat and NV habitat, which had the simplest structures. The distribution of the small fish species showed seasonal variations. In winter, most species concentrated in the V habitat, which had the most complex structure. In spring, the fish had low densities in the N and NV habitat, and were more or less evenly distributed in the other habitats. In summer, the fish had a low density in the NV habitat, and were evenly distributed in the other habitats. In autumn, the fish had higher densities in the V-M and M habitats than in the others. Generally, spatial overlaps between the dominant species were higher in winter than in the other seasons. It was suggested that the variations in the importance of predation risk and resource competition in habitat choice determined the seasonal changes of spatial patterns in the small fishes in the Biandantang Lake.

Changes in the plankton community following introduction of filter-feeding planktivorous fish

1. We conducted enclosure experiments in a shallow eutrophic lake, in which a biomass gradient of the filter-feeding planktivore, silver carp, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix Valenciennes, was created, and subsequent community changes in both zooplankton and phytoplankton were examined. 2. During a summer experiment, a bloom of Anabaena flos-aquae developed (approximate to 8000 cells mL(-1)) solely in an enclosure without silver carp. Concurrent with, or slightly preceding the Anabaena bloom, the number of rotifer species and their abundance increased from seven to twelve species (1700-14 400 organisms L-1) after the bloom in this fish-free enclosure. Protozoans and bacteria were generally insensitive to the gradient of silver carp biomass. 3. During an autumn experiment, on the other hand, large herbivorous crustaceans were more efficient than silver carp in suppressing the algae, partly because the lower water temperature (approximate to 24 degrees C) inhibited active feeding of this warm-water fish and also formation of algal colonies. Heterotrophic nanoflagellate and bacterial densities were also influenced negatively by the crustaceans. 4. Correspondence analysis (CA) was applied to the weekly community data of zooplankton and phytoplankton. A major effect detected in the zooplankton community was the presence/absence of silver carp rather than the biomass of silver carp, whereas that in the phytoplankton community was the fish biomass before the Anabaena bloom, but shifted to the presence/absence of the fish after the bloom.

Changes in the structure of a zooplankton community during a Ceratium (dinoflagellate) bloom in a eutrophic fishless pond

The community structure of zooplankton was studied in a eutrophic, fishless Japanese pond. The ecosystem was dominated by a dinoflagellate, Ceratium hirundinella, two filter-feeding cladocerans, Daphnia rosea and Ceriodaphnia reticulata, and an invertebrate predator, the dipteran Chaoborus flavicans. The midsummer zooplankton community showed a large change in species composition (the Daphnia population crashed) when a heavy Ceratium bloom occurred. It is shown that (i) the rapid density decline of D.rosea in mid-May was mainly caused by a shortage of edible phytoplankton, which was facilitated by the rapid increase in C.hirundinella abundance; (ii) the low density of D.rosea in June-July was considered to be mainly caused by the blooming of Ceratium hirundinella (which may inhibit the feeding process of D.rosea), while predation by C.flavicans larvae, the changing temperature, the interspecific competition and the scarcity of edible algae were not judged to be important; (iii) the high summer biomass of the planktonic C.flavicans larvae was maintained by the bloom of C.hirundinella, because >90% of the crop contents of C.flavicans larvae were C.hirundinella during this period. The present study indicates that the large-sized cells or colonies of phytoplankton are not only inedible by most cladocerans, but the selective effect of the blooming of these algae can also influence the composition and dominance of the zooplankton community, especially for the filter-feeding Cladocera, in a similar way as the selective predation by planktivorous fish. The large-sized phytoplankton can also be an important alternative food for ominivorous invertebrate predators such as Chaoborus larvae, and thus may affect the interactions between these predators and their zooplanktonic prey. In this way, such phytoplankton may play a very important role in regulating the dynamics of the aquatic food web, and become a driving force in shaping the community structure of zooplankton.

青藏高原东缘川西云杉林皆伐后灌木生长、繁殖与更新的研究

植物群落及其环境在干扰后的演替格局和过程的研究，是群落和生态系统动态研究的一个热点。选取青藏高原东缘山原区川西云杉林皆伐后，从草地过渡到灌丛的关键阶段的4 个皆伐迹地（恢复时间为8 a、10 a、16 a 和21 a），研究皆伐及自然恢复过程对林下典型灌木银露梅（Potentilla glabra）和唐古特忍冬（Lonicera tangutica）的生长与繁殖能力的影响以及灌木植物在迹地上的更新情况，分析灌木在不同生境中的适应对策和适应能力的差异,为揭示青藏高原东缘山原区迹地植被从草甸到灌丛演替的过程和特点及促进迹地演替与植被恢复进程提供理论依据和技术支撑。研究主要结论如下：1）皆伐后银露梅生长和繁殖能力显著提高，但对唐古特忍冬的影响不明显。皆伐后银露梅丛基径、高度和各部分生物量都显著增加（P < 0.05），但唐古特忍冬只有叶生物量和地下生物量增加，总生物量和其余构件生物量无显著变化。皆伐后，银露梅的结实数量、结实株数、不结实株数和结实株/不结实株比例显著增加（P < 0.05）。自然恢复过程中，银露梅和唐古特忍冬生长能力以及银露梅的结实量都表现出降低的趋势。随着迹地自然恢复时间的增加，银露梅和唐古特忍冬的基径、高度、丛叶片数和各部分生物量有减少的趋势。银露梅的结实株数增加, 但结实数量减少。2）皆伐对银露梅和唐古特忍冬生物量分配模式影响不一致。原始林和迹地中（除CT85）银露梅的生物量大小关系皆为：地下>茎>侧枝>叶。唐古特忍冬在原始林中的生物量大小关系为：茎＞地下部分＞侧枝＞叶,而皆伐后生物量的分配情况改变，生物量大小关系变为：地下部分＞茎＞侧枝＞叶。随着自然恢复时间的增加，银露梅减少了地下生物量的分配，而唐古特忍冬增加了地下生物量的分配。3）皆伐和恢复时间的增加改变了迹地物种组成，促使阳性乔、灌木在迹地上定居。4 个迹地上共出现了灌木15 种，乔木3 种，没有出现天然云杉和冷杉幼苗。随着恢复时间的增加，迹地上的灌木物种由原始林下的耐阴物种逐步发展为以针刺悬钩子（Rubus pungens）为主的阳性灌木。4）影响灌木幼苗密度和幼树密度的因子不一致。灌木幼苗密度与灌木层盖度显著负相关，与苔藓层盖度显著正相关。幼树密度与草本层盖度正相关，与苔藓层盖度、灌木层盖度和高度负相关。5）研究发现在青藏高原东缘山原区皆伐15～20 a 后，迹地仍以草本植物为主，推测皆伐后至少20 a 以上迹地才可能向灌丛阶段过渡，比高山峡谷地区的演替进程至少推迟了20 a。银露梅和唐古特忍冬在皆伐后自然恢复过程中表现出不同的生长与繁殖策略是由两个物种的生物学特性的差异引起的。银露梅比唐古特忍冬更适应迹地退化环境。促进青藏高原东缘山原林区迹地森林恢复一方面是尽量减少人为活动的破坏，另一方面，可以通过在迹地中播种适当的乡土乔、灌木种子（如白桦、银露梅）等人工措施，以加快演替进程。The succession pattern and process of plant community and their environments is a hot spotin community and ecosystem dynamic study. Four clearcuts were chosen in Rangtang(recovery time of 8 a、10 a、16 a and 21 a), which represented the key stage of thecommunity evolved from grass stage to shrub stage in the eastern margin of theQinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The growth and reproduction of the Potentilla glabra andLonicera tangutica and the natural regeneration of shrub plants in the primary Piceabalfouriana forest and 4 clearcuts were studied to explore how clear cutting andnatural recovery process affected the understory shrub species during the 21 years inthe eastern margin of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. The main results were below.1) The growth and reproduction of P. glabra significantly increased after forestclear cutting.. But it was not so significant as to the L. tangutica. The organismbiomass and total biomass of P. glabra were increased obviously after clear cutting（P< 0.05）. But only leaves and underground biomass of L. tangutica increasedsignificantly after clear cutting（P < 0.05）. The number of fruit and growth of P. glabraincreased significantly after clear cutting too（P < 0.05）. The ramet height, basaldiameter , organism biomass and friut number of P. glabra and L. tangutica reducedas the increase of recovery time.2) The biomass allocation patterns varied between P. glabra and L. tangutica inthe primary forest and clearcuts. The biomass allocation of P. glabra both in primary forest and clearcuts was followed as: underground part > stem > branch > leaves.However, the biomass allocation of L. tangutica had changed after the clear cutting.The biomass allocation of L. tangutica in the primary forest was followed as: stem >underground part > branch > leaves and it was underground part > stem > branch >leave in clearcuts. The biomass allocation of P. glabra and L. tangutica varied amongclearcuts. Aboveground biomass was increased while underground biomass decreasedfor P. glabra with the increase of recovery period. However, the L. tangutica showedthe reverse changing pattern.3) Clear cutting and recovery time had changed the species composition of theclearcuts. There were 15.shruby species and 3 tree species in the four clearcuts. Nospruce and fir seedlings were found. In the early stage after clear cutting, there wereonly understory shrub species from the primary Picea balfouriana forest. The sunnyspecies, especieally Rubus pungens invaded intensly as the increase of recovery time.4) There was a significant negative relationship between density of seedlingswith shrub layer coverage and positive correlation with moss coverage. The saplingshad significantly positive correlation with herb layer coverage and negativecorrelation with moss coverage, shrub layer coverage and height.5）Comparing to studies in Miyalou, a nearby high mountain and canyon area,the secondary sucession in this subalpine plateau areas lagged at least 20 years.P. glabra and L. tangutica showed different growth and reproduction strategies toclear cutting and natural recovery , which may associated with the difference of theirbiological characters. P. glabra was more adaptive to the clear cutting than the L.tangutica. Two suggestions were probably recommended to promote the recoveryprogress in the subalpine plateau areas based on the results of this study. Limitanthropogenic disturbance, and meanwhile sow native tree and shrub seeds inclearcuts.

公用陆面模式（Community Land Model 3.0）简介

IEECAS SKLLQG

Soil microbial community analysis using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis

The most biological diversity on this planet is probably harbored in soils. Understanding the diversity and function of the microbiological component of soil poses great challenges that are being overcome by the application of molecular biological approaches. This review covers one of many approaches being used: separation of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplicons using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Extraction of nucleic acids directly from soils allows the examination of a community without the limitation posed by cultivation. Polymerase chain reaction provides a means to increase the numbers of a target for its detection on gels. Using the rRNA genes as a target for PCR provides phylogenetic information on populations comprising communities. Fingerprints produced by this method have allowed spatial and temporal comparisons of soil communities within and between locations or among treatments. Numerous samples can be compared because of the rapid high throughput nature of this method. Scientists now have the means to begin addressing complex ecological questions about the spatial, temporal, and nutritional interactions faced by microbes in the soil environment.

Soil microbial community analysis using terminal restriction fragment length polymorphisms

Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis is a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-fingerprinting method that is commonly used for comparative microbial community analysis. The method can be used to analyze communities of bacteria, archaea, fungi, other phylogenetic groups or subgroups, as well as functional genes. The method is rapid, highly reproducible, and often yields a higher number of operational taxonomic units than other, commonly used PCR-fingerprinting methods. Sizing of terminal restriction fragments (T-RFs) can now be done using capillary sequencing technology allowing samples contained in 96- or 384-well plates to be sized in an overnight run. Many multivariate statistical approaches have been used to interpret and compare T-RFLP fingerprints derived from different communities. Detrended correspondence analysis and the additive main effects with multiplicative interaction model are particularly useful for revealing trends in T-RFLP data. Due to biases inherent in the method, linking the size of T-RFs derived from complex communities to existing sequence databases to infer their taxonomic position is not very robust. This approach has been used successfully, however, to identify and follow the dynamics of members within very simple or model communities. The T-RFLP approach has been used successfully to analyze the composition of microbial communities in soil, water, marine, and lacustrine sediments, biofilms, feces, in and on plant tissues, and in the digestive tracts of insects and mammals. The T-RFLP method is a user-friendly molecular approach to microbial community analysis that is adding significant information to studies of microbial populations in many environments.

Stable Isotope Probing:Linking Functional Activity to Specific Members of Microbial Communities

Linking organisms or groups of organisms to specific functions within natural environments is a fundamental challenge in microbial ecology. Advances in technology for manipulating and analyzing nucleic acids have made it possible to characterize the members of microbial communities without the intervention of laboratory culturing. Results from such studies have shown that the vast majority of soil organisms have never been cultured, highlighting the risks of culture-based approaches in community analysis. The development of culture-independent techniques for following the flow of substrates through microbial communities therefore represents an important advance. These techniques, collectively known as stable isotope probing (SIP), involve introducing a stable isotope-labeled substrate into a microbial community and following the fate of the substrate by extracting diagnostic molecular species such as fatty acids and nucleic acids from the community and determining which specific molecules have incorporated the isotope. The molecules in which the isotope label appears provide identifying information about the organism that incorporated the substrate. Stable isotope probing allows direct observations of substrate assimilation in minimally disturbed communities, and thus represents an exciting new tool for linking microbial identity and function. The use of lipids or nucleic acids as the diagnostic molecule brings different strengths and weaknesses to the experimental approach, and necessitates the use of significantly different instrumentation and analytical techniques. This short review provides an overview of the lipid and nucleic acid approaches, discusses their strengths and weaknesses, gives examples of applications in various settings, and looks at prospects for the future of SIP technology.