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Table of Content

    20 February 2010, Volume 21 Issue 2
    Articles
    Decomposition of Schima superba leaf litter and dynamics change of soil meso-micro arthro-pods community structure in evergreen broad-leaved forest fragments.
    2010, 21(2):  265-271. 
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    Taking four evergreen broad-leaved forest fragments within the adjacent mountainous region of Zhejiang, Fujian, and Jiangxi provinces as study objects, and the continuous forest in Gu-tianshan National Natural Reserve as the control, an investigation was made by litter bag method from June 2004 to April 2006, aimed to understand the community structure and its dynamics change of soil meso-micro arthropods during the decomposition of Schima superba leaf litter. A total of 1050 soil meso-micro arthropods belonging to 8 classes and 23 orders were collected, among which, Lepidoptera, Hymenoptera, Collembola and Diptera were the dominant taxa. The impact of habitat fragmentation on the community composition of soil arthropods was mainly manifested in the differences of rare taxa, and the dominance of different taxa at different decomposition stages of S. superba leaf litter varied with the functions of the taxa in litter decomposition. After two-year decomposition, the mass loss of S. superba leaf litter was 60%-70%, and the species diversity indices of soil arthropods showed certain changes, being different between forest fragments and continuous forest.
    Point pattern analysis of different age-class Taxus chinensis var. mairei individuals in moun-tainous area of southern Anhui Province.
    2010, 21(2):  272-278. 
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    By using O-ring statistics in point pattern analysis and Programita software, this paper studied the spatial distribution patterns and associations of different age-class individuals of Taxus chinensis var. mairei populations at Xianyu and Xiaxiang in the mountainous area of southern Anhui Province. The Xianyu population had a random spatial distribution at the scales from 2 m to 25 m but a clumped distribution at the scales <2 m, while the Xiaxiang population distributed randomly at all the scales. As for Xianyu population, its individuals of age-class I had a clumped distribution at the scales <5 m, while the individuals of elder age-classes tended to be non-randomly distributed at more scales than <5 m, which might be related to the features of population regeneration. With increasingly enlarged age-class differences, the spatial association between younger and elder age-classes individuals turned to be negative, but less spatial association was observed between adjacent age-classes individuals. Such a spatial relationship between different age-classes individuals of T. chinensis was beneficial to the effective use of resources. With the grow th of the individuals, T. chinensis population had a transition from clumped to random distribution.
    Effects of different patterns surface mulching on soil properties and fruit trees growth and yield in an apple orchard.
    ZHANG Yi;XIE Yong-sheng;HAO Ming-de;SHE Xiao-yan
    2010, 21(2):  279-286. 
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    Taking a nine-year-old Fuji apple orchard in Loess Plateau as test object, this paper studied the effects of different patterns surface mulching (clean tillage, grass cover, plastic film mulch, straw mulch, and gravel mulch) on the soil properties and fruit trees growth and yield in this orchard. Grass cover induced the lowest differentiation of soil moisture profile, while gravel mulch induced the highest one. In treatment gravel mulch, the soil moisture content in apple trees root zone was the highest, which meant that there was more water available to apple trees. Surface mulching had significant effects on soil temperature, and generally resulted in a decrease in the maximum soil temperature. The exception was treatment plastic film mulch, in which, the soil temperature in summer exceeded the maximum allowable temperature for continuous root growth and physiological function. With the exception of treatment plastic film mulch, surface mulching increased the soil CO2 flux, which was the highest in treatment grass cover. Surface mulching also affected the proportion of various branch types and fruit yield. The proportion of medium-sized branches and fruit yield were the highest in treatment gravel mulch, while the fruit yield was the lowest in treatment grass cover. Factor analysis indicated that among the test surface mulching patterns, gravel mulch was most suitable for the apple orchards in gully region of Loess Plateau.
    Effects of forest cutting on greenhouse gas emissions from Larix gmelini-Sphagnum swamps in Lesser Xing’an Mountains of Heilongjiang, China. 
    MU Chang-cheng,WU Yun-xia,LI Wan-su,XU Rui
    2010, 21(2):  287-293. 
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    By using static chamber and gas chromatography methods, this paper studied the effects of clear cutting and selective cutting on the CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions from Larix gmelini-Sphagnum swamp in Lesser Xing’an Mountains. Dramatic changes in the seasonal dynamics of CH4 and N2O emissions were detected in different treatment sites. Control site absorbed CH4 in summer and emitted CH4 in autumn, and absorbed N2O in both summer and autumn; selective cutting site emitted CH4 and N2O mainly in summer; and clear cutting site emitted CH4 in summer and autumn, and absorbed N2O in summer but emitted it in autumn. Cutting pattern had less effects on the seasonal dynamics of CO2 emission. Both on the clear cutting site and on the selective cutting site, the CO2 emission was in order of summer>spring>autumn. Forest cutting altered the source and sink functions of the sites. Control site functioned as a source of CO2 and a weak sink of CH4 or N2O, while forest cutting sites had a decrease of CO2 emission by 25%, and became a weak source of N2O and a weak or strong source of CH4. Compared with that of control site, the Global Warming Potential (GWP) of selective cutting site and clear cutting site was reduced by 24.5% and increased by 3.2%, respectively.
    Turbulent characteristics in forest canopy under atmospheric neutral condition.
    DIAO Yi-wei|GUAN De-xin|JIN Chang-jie|WANG An-zhi|PEI Tie-fan
    2010, 21(2):  294-299. 
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    Based on the micrometeorological data of broad-leaved Korean pine forest in Changbai Mountain in 2003, a second-order closure model was employed to calculate and analyze the turbulent characteristics within and above the canopy of the forest. The calculated mean wind profile was coincident with the measured one. The Reynolds stress within the forest was significantly attenuated. The turbulent strength, velocity flux, and skew were the largest at forest-atmosphere interface, as well the wind shear. With the increase of velocity skew, the turbulent intermittence became more significant, and the downward turbulent eddy within the canopy was limited. Most of the turbulent deeply within the forest canopy was produced by the non-local contributions above the canopy.
    Effects of irradiance transition on leaf photochemical efficiency of mulberry under different light conditions.
    HU Yan-bo|ZHENG Gui-ying|WANG Jing-ying|AO Hong|SUN Guang-yu
    2010, 21(2):  300-305. 
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    Taking the seedlings of mulberry (Morus alba) variety Menggusang as test materials, and by using chlorophyll fluorescence technique, this paper
     studied the effects of irradiance transition on the leaf active photochemical efficiency (ΦPSⅡ), apparent electron transport rate (ETR), and non-photochemical quenching (NPQ) under different light conditions, and analyzed the changes of three components of NPQ. When the irradiance was transferred from dark or weak light to sunlight, the photosynthetic quantum efficiency of full-light leaves was higher than that of weak-light leaves, the inducible time responses of full-light leaves’ ΦPSⅡand ETR were faster to reach steady state as compared to those of week-light leaves’, and the induction of full-light leaves’ NPQ had a trend of rapid increase in the first two minutes and slow decrease subsequently. The state transitional quenching component (qT) of full-light leaves under high light condition made up 18% of the total non-photochemical quenching (NPQ), whereas the qT of weak-light leaves only amounted to 7% of NPQ, which meant that the mulberry leaves under full-light condition could adapt to the changes of light intensity by means of higher efficiency of photosynthetic quantum and greater contribution to the adjustment of light energy between photosystem Ⅰ (PSⅠ) and photosystem Ⅱ (PSⅡ), compared to the leaves under weak-light condition.
    Composition of phenolic allelochemicals in Eupatorium adenophorum root zone soils and its effects on soil-borne pathogens.
    XIE Ming-hui,REN Qin,ZHANG Qing-wen,LIU Xiao-xia
    2010, 21(2):  306-311. 
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    The allelochemicals released by Eupatorium adenophorum roots is an important factor inducing the changes of the weed soil environment, which provides favorable conditions for the successful invasion of the weed. By using GC/MS technique, the components and their relative contents of phenolic allelochemicals in aphid-infested and non-infested E. adenophorum root zone soils were analyzed, with unplanted soil as the control. Less difference was observed in the components of phenolic allelochemicals among the test soils, but their relative contents differed significantly. The relative contents of benzoic acid and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid in aphid-infested E. adenophorum root zone soil were significantly higher than the control; whereas that of 4-hydroxylcinnamic acid was in reverse. In the test three soils, the proportions of benzoic acid, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, and 4-hydroxylcinnamic acid were different. The bacteriostatic test with the three acids and their combinations based on their proportions in test soils showed that at lower concentrations (50-150 mg·L-1), the three acids had significant inhibitory effects on five kinds of soil-borne pathogens, but their combinations had different inhibitory effects on the five pathogens, with the effects being significantly higher for the combinations with the proportions in non-infested E. adenophorum root zone soil and the control.
    Seasonal variations of soil organic carbon and microbial biomass carbon in degraded desert steppes of Inner Mongolia.
    WU Yong-sheng;MA Wan-li;LI Hao;Lü Gui-fen;LU Ping
    2010, 21(2):  312-316. 
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    Sampling sites were installed in Damao Banner, Siziwang Banner, and Sunite Right Banner of Inner Mongolia, which represented lightly, moderately, and heavily degraded desert steppes, respectively, and surface (0-20 cm) soil samples were collected to analyze the quantitative characteristics and seasonal dynamics of soil organic carbon (SOC) and microbial biomass carbon (MBC) in these steppes. The SOC and MBC contents decreased with the increasing degradation degree of desert steppe. The total amount of soil culturable microbes in lightly and moderately degraded desert steppes was higher than that in heavily degraded desert steppe, except in summer 2006, and the MBC content and the quantity of soil culturable microbes were higher in summer and autumn than in spring and winter. Correlation analysis showed that there was a significant positive correlation between SOC and MBC (P<0.01), suggesting that both SOC and MBC could be used as the sensitive indicators to evaluate the degradation degree of desert steppe.
    Soil microbial diversity in typical Karst peak-cluster depression under effects of different defarming patterns.
    HE Xun-yang,SU Yi-rong,LIANG Yue-ming,YANG Shan,WANG Ke-lin
    2010, 21(2):  317-324. 
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    By using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) and Biolog_Eco micro-plate technique, this paper studied the soil microbial genetic taxonomic and bacterial metabolic functional diversities under four de-farming patterns, i.e., natural restoration (NT, dominant plant species Neyraudia reynaudiana and Miscanthus floridulus), economic plantation (CM, Cajanus cajan and Castanea mollissima), zero-tillage (PI, Pennisetum purpureum and Zenia insign), and conventional tillage (MB, maize-soybean intercropping), in a typical Karst peak-cluster depression. All test de-farming patterns had significant effects on the soil microbial community structure and bacterial metabolic pattern. The community structure of soil fungi was more affected by the de-farming patterns than that of soil bacteria, while the later was more affected by seasonal variation. After 6-7 years of de-farming, soil bacterial taxonomic Shannon diversity indices had no significant differences under the four de-farming patterns, while soil fungal taxonomic Shannon diversity indices were significantly higher under CM and PI than under NT and MB. The soil bacterial metabolic functional diversity under PI was obviously lower than those under other de-farming patterns. Therefore, soil fungal genetic and bacterial metabolic diversities were more sensitive to de-farming patterns than soil bacterial genetic diversity did. Among the four defarming patterns, economic plantation had the superiority in maintaining soil microbial genetic and bacterial metabolic functional diversities, being a better de-farming pattern.
    Impact of high salt stress on Apocynum venetum growth and ionic homeostasis.
    2010, 21(2):  325-330. 
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    A pot experiment was conducted in a net room to study the growth responses and related mechanisms of Apocynum venetum treated with different concentrations (100-400 mmol·L-1) of NaCl for 30 days. The biomass accumulation, growth rate, root vigor, salt ion content and mineral ion uptake and distribution were measured. Compared with the control, treatment 100 mmol·L-1 NaCl had lesser effects on the plant dry mass, but decreased the plant fresh mass and growth rate significantly. With increasing NaCl concentration in the medium, the plant dry mass, fresh mass, and growth rate all decreased significantly. The plant root vigor was obviously higher under 100 and 200 mmol·L-1 NaCl stress, but decreased significantly under 300-400 mmol·L-1 NaCl  stress. With the increase of NaCl concentration in the medium, the Na+ content in A. venetum roots, stems and leaves increased gradually while the K+ content had a slow decrease, the Ca2+ and Mg2+contents in leaves decreased obviously, and the Ca2+ content in stems and the Mg2+ content in roots increased in different degree. Under NaCl stress, the K+/Na+, Ca2+/Na+, and Mg2+/Na+ ratios in roots, stems, and leaves decreased markedly, while the selective absorption and transportation of K+ and Ca2+ increased significantly. The stronger ability of salt exclusion and zhe higher selective absorption and transportation of K+ and Ca2+ were the key adaptive mechanisms of high salt-tolerance of A. venetum.
    Effects of nighttime temperature increase at different growth stages on double season rice grain yield.
    2010, 21(2):  331-337. 
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    Two experimental glass-houses were utilized to study the effects of nighttime temperature increase (NTI) at different growth stages on the grain yield
     of double season rice. The NTI from the stage of sowing to panicle differentiation (primary branch differentiation) improved the tillering of rice, and increased the effective panicles. An average 1 ℃ rise in the minimum nighttime temperature (MNT) at this stage increased the grain yield of early and late rice by 10.02%-13.18% and 6.52%-7.78% (P<0.01), respectively. The NTI from the stage of panicle differentiation to heading (10% panicle heading from flag leaf sheath) promoted the spikelet abortion, and reduced the number of developed spikelet. An average 1 ℃ rise in MNT at this stage decreased the grain yield of early and late rice by 3.76%-6.67% and 3.66%-6.94% (P<0.01), respectively. NTI from the stage of heading to maturity decreased the filled grain rate of early rice remarkably, but had an opposite effect on late rice. An average 1 ℃ rise in MNT at this stage induced a grain yield loss  by 2.07%-5.61% (P<0.05) and a grain yield gain by 1.63%-2.28% (P<0.05) for early and late rice, respectively. All the results illustrated that there existed obvious differences in the effects of NTI at different growth stages on the grain yield of double season rice.
    Effects of applying biogas liquid manure on the key source-sink metabolism enzymes and grain yield of summer maize.
    2010, 21(2):  338-343. 
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    15000, 22500, and 30000 kg·hm-2 of biogas liquid manure were applied to maize hybrid Zhengdan 958 to study their effects on the key source-sink metabolism enzymes and yield components of the summer maize. Compared with CK and applying nitrogen fertilizer, the application of biogas liquid manure not only increased the aboveground biomass, leaf area index (LAI) and chlorophyll content, but also enhanced the activities of nitratereductase (NR), glutamine synthetase (GS), and sucrose phosphate synthetase (SPS) in leaves and the sucrose synthetase (SS) in grains. The yieldparameters such as ear diameter, ear length, grain rows per ear, grains per row, kernels per ear,1000-kernel mass, and grain yield per unit area were also increased significantly. Of the three test application rates, 22500 kg·hm-2 (7500 kg·hm-2 applied at jointing, big trumpet, and tasseling stages, respectively) had the best effects on enhancing the above mentioned enzyme activities and grain yield, with the yield reached 14006.7 kg·hm-2 and being 40.7%higher than the control.
    Leaf redundancy of high-yielding maize (Zea may L.) and its effects on maize yield and photosynthesis.
    2010, 21(2):  344-350. 
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    According to the maize yield at plant density of 15000 ind·hm-2 in 2007, the leaf-redundant type (cultivar Chaoshi 1) and non-redundant type (cultivar Chaoshi 3) at low plant density were selected, and the changes of their above-ground dry matter accumulation and grain yield after cutting all leaves to 1/2 (T1) and 1/4 (T2) at anthesis at the optimal density and under high-yielding condition were analyzed in 2008, aimed to approach whether the leaf redundancy exists in high-yielding maize colonies. The characters of grain-filling were simulated by Richards’ model, and the photosynthetic characteristics and chlorophyll fluorescence of the leaves on ear position were determined to reveal the activities of photosynthesis after the removal of redundancy. The results showed that at optimal plant density and under high-yielding condition, both the redundant and non-redundant types had leaf redundancy. The characterization of grain-filling by Richards’ model indicated that appropriately removing redundant leaves could increase the net photosynthetic rate and solar energy use efficiency of the leaves on ear position, extend the active period of grain-filling, and enhance the grain yield.
    Effects of nitrogen fertilization on population dynamics and yield of high-yielding wheat and on alteration of soil nitrogen.
    2010, 21(2):  351-358. 
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    Taking wheat varieties Yumai 49-198 (multi-spike phenotype) and Lankao Aizao 8 (large-spike phenotype) as test materials, field experiments were conducted at Wenxian and Lankao sites of Henan Province to study the effects of nitrogen fertilization on their population dynamics and yield and on the alteration of soil nitrogen. Five nitrogen application rates, i.e., 0, 90, 180, 270, and 360 N kg·hm-2 were installed. The population amount of the two test varieties were all increased after emergence, reached the highest at jointing stage, and decreased afterwards. As for Yumai 49-198, its population amount had no significant differences at wintering and turning-green stages among the five nitrogen application rates and two experimental sites, but differed significantly after jointing stage with the nitrogen application rates. For Lankao Aizao 8, its population amount had no significant differences among the nitrogen application rates during whole growth period. The grain yield of the two varieties increased with the increase of nitrogen fertilization rate, but excessive nitrogen fertilization decreased the grain yield. Yumai 49-198 had the highest yield at 270 N kg·hm-2, being 9523 and 9867 kg·hm-2 at Wenxian and Lanako sites, respectively, while Lankao Aizao 8 had the highest yield at 180 N kg·hm-2, being 9258 and 9832 kg·hm-2 at Wenxian and Lanako sites, respectively. With the increase of nitrogen fertilization rate, soil nitrate N concentration and apparent nitrogen loss increased. At Wenxian and Lankao sites, the apparent soil nitrogen loss for Yumai 49-198 was 32.56%-51.84% and -16.7%-42.6% of fertilized nitrogen, and that for Lankao Aizao 8 was 18.58%-52.94% and -11.5%-45.8% of fertilized nitrogen, respectively. Considering the yield and environmental effect comprehensively, the nitrate N concentration in 0-90 cm soil layer in our case should not be exceeded 120-140 kg·hm-2, and the maximal nitrogen application rate should not be exceeded 180 kg·hm-2.
    Model designing for suitable nitrogen index dynamics of rice and wheat.
    2010, 21(2):  359-364. 
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    By analyzing and extracting the quantitative relationships of suitable nitrogen index dynamics of rice and wheat to their cultivar types, cultural techniques, and eco-environments, a design model for the suitable nitrogen index dynamics of rice and wheat  was developed. The model was driven by the physiological development time-based relative growing degree days, with the relative nitrogen indices as modeling parameters, and could be used to generate the time-course indices such as the nitrogen accumulation and concentration of rice and wheat under different growth conditions. Case studies with the datasets from 3-year field experiments in Nanjing showed that the average RMSEs of the simulated to measured plant nitrogen accumulation and concentration were 0.1245 and 0.1316 for rice, and 0.1166 and 0.1301 for wheat, respectively. It was suggested that this model could reliably  guide the dynamics of major nitrogen indices of rice and wheat, which would help with the quantitative nitrogen diagnosis and precision nitrogen management of rice and wheat  under different eco-environments, cultivar types, and production conditions.
    Effects of different planting patterns on farmland soil quality in Yellow River alluvial plain of Shandong Province.
    2010, 21(2):  365-372. 
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    Taking Chiping County in the Yellow River alluvial plain of Shandong Province as study area, a systematical survey was conducted on the 20 parameters of farmland soil physical and chemical properties under wheat/corn rotation, open air vegetable planting, sunlight greenhouse vegetable planting, and plastic shed vegetable planting, aimed to evaluate the effects of different planting patterns on the farmland soil quality in the plain. Significant differences (P<0.05 or P<0.01) were observed in the soil pH, soil moisture content, and the contents of soil organic matter, N, P, K, available S and Zn, and total salt under different planting patterns. The soil available P under all tested planting patterns and the soil available S under sunlight greenhouse vegetable planting presented a comparatively higher variability. Different planting patterns had significant effects on the soil quality, with the trend of protected vegetable planting>open air vegetable planting>wheat/corn rotation. The effects were higher on soil chemical properties than on soil physical properties, and higher on soil organic matter and macronutrients than on soil secondary nutrients. Soil micronutrients were less affected. The main causes for these were the straw-returning of wheat and corn, the application of sulfur-containing and zinc fertilizers, and the long-term high rate fertilization of protected vegetable planting.
    Effects of different tillage methods and straw-returning on soil organic carbon content in a winter wheat field.
    2010, 21(2):  373-378. 
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    A two growth seasons experiment was conducted to study the effects of different tillage methods, straw-returning, and their interaction on the dynamic change of organic carbon content in 0-20 cm soil layer during the whole growth period of winter wheat. An obvious change was observed in the soil organic carbon content. Treatments with straw-returning had higher soil organic carbon content than treatments with no straw-returning, and conservation tillage induced higher soil organic carbon content than conventional tillage. In all treatments except conventional tillage, the organic carbon content in 0-10 cm soil layer was higher than that in 10-20 cm soil layer. In treatments with straw-returning, the organic carbon content in 0-10 cm soil layer decreased in  order of deep soiling (PS)>rotary tillage (PR)>no tillage (PZ)>normal ploughing (PH)>conventional tillage (PC), while that in 10-20 cm soil layer was PC>PS>PR>PH>PZ, suggesting that conservation tillage could improve the organic carbon content in 0-10 cm soil layer. Multi factor variance analysis showed that tillage method, straw-returning, and their interaction had significant effects on the organic carbon content in 0-20 cm soil layer at various growth stages of winter wheat.
    Effects of climate change on potato growth in semi-arid region of Loess Plateau, China
    2010, 21(2):  379-385. 
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    Based on the 1988-2008 located observation and 2007-2008 encrypted observation of potato growth and the 1957-2008 meteorological observation in semi-arid region of Loess Plateau, this paper studied the effects of climate change on the potato growth in this region. In 1957-2008, the annual precipitation in this region had a descending trend, with a linear fitting rate of the annual precipitation change curves being -13.359 mm·(10 a)-1, while the annual mean temperature displayed an ascending trend, with a linear fitting rate of the annual mean temperature change curves being 0.239 ℃·(10 a)-1. During potato growth period, the aridity index displayed a marked ascending trend, and the linear fitting rate of the aridity index change curves was 0.102·(10 a)-1. The growth rate of potato tuber became faster from the 96th day after sowing, reached the maximum on the 110th day, and turned slower from the 124th day. The interval from sowing to seedling emergence was shortened by 1-2 d·(10 a)-1, and that from inflorescence formation to reaping and of whole growth period was lengthened by 9-10 d·(10 a)-1. In the study region, climate warming shortened the vegetative growth stage, but lengthened the reproductive growth stage and whole growth period of potato.
    Effects of planting transgenic cotton on functional diversity of rhizosphere soil microbial community.
    2010, 21(2):  386-390. 
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    By the method of Biolog, a comparative study was made on the utilization level of single carbon source by the microbes in the rhizosphere soils of two
    transgenic cottons and their parents, aimed to approach the effects of planting transgenic cotton on the functional diversity of rhizosphere soil microbial community. Compared with planting non-transgenic cotton, planting transgenic cotton had less effects on the carbon sourceng utilization ability, Shannon functional diversity index, and evenness index of rhizosphere soil microbes at seedling, squaring, boll-opening, and senescence stages, but decreased the carbon source utilization ability and functional diversity index at flowering and boll-forming stage significantly. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that there existed greater differentiation in the carbon source utilization by the microbes in rhizosphere soils of non-transgenic and transgenic cottons at flowering and boll-forming stage, suggesting the significant difference in the carbon source utilization pattern of the microbes at this stage.
    Health assessment of Qi’ao Island mangrove wetland ecosystem in Pearl River Estuary.
    2010, 21(2):  391-398. 
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    Based on the theories of wetland ecosystem health and by using “Pressure-State-Response” model, a health assessment indicator system for Qi’ao Island mangrove wetland ecosystem in Pearl River Estuary was built, and the assessment indices, assessment criteria, indices weighted values, assessment grades, and assessment methods were established to assess the health state of this ecosystem. In 2008, the overall health index of this ecosystem was 0.6580, health level was of grade Ⅱ (healthy), and the pressure, state, and response indices were 0.3469, 0.8718, and 0.7754, respectively, suggesting that this ecosystem was good in state and response, but still had definite pressure. As a provincial nature reserve, this ecosystem was to be further improved in its health level. However, the research on the health assessment of mangrove wetland ecosystem was still young. Further studies should be made on the selection of assessment indices, long-term oriented monitoring of these indices, and quantification of the relations between ecosystem health level and ecosystem services.
    Dynamics of ecosystem services value in Aksu River watershed in 1960-2008.
    2010, 21(2):  399-408. 
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    By using GIS-RS techniques and the table ‘Equivalent weight of China terrestrial ecosystems services value’, in combining with the local grain yield and grain purchasing price, this paper analyzed the changes of  osystem services value in Aksu River watershed in 1960-2008, and explored the responses of ecosystem services value change in arid trans-boundary river watershed to land use/cover change. Overall, the ecosystem services value in Aksu River watershed in 1960-2008 changed slightly, with the total value increased after an initial decrease. The main cause of the initial decrease was the area decrease of wetland, woodland, and grassland. The area increase of cropland and water body partly offset the loss of the total value, but the loss was still larger than the gain. The contribution of each ecosystem service value to the total ecosystem services value had less change, and the service value from soil formation and protection together with waste treatment contributed most. There was a significant spatial heterogeneity in the magnitude and the variation of cosystem services value, with the downstream of the watershed changed significantly. Sensitivity analysis indicated that the estimated total ecosystem services value in the study area was inelastic to the services value coefficients, and the results shown in this paper were robust.
    Evaluation of ecosystem provisioning service and its economic value.
    2010, 21(2):  409-414. 
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    Aiming at the fact that the current approaches of evaluating the efficacy of ecosystem provisioning service were lack of spatial information and did not take the accessibility of products into account, this paper established an evaluation model to simulate the spatial distribution of ecosystem provisioning service and its economic value, based on ArcGIS 9.2 and taking the supply and demand factors of ecosystem products into account. The provision of timber product in Laojunshan in 2000 was analyzed with the model. In 2000, the total physical quantity of the timber’s provisioning service in Laojunshan was 11.12×104 m3·a-1, occupying 3.2% of the total increment of timber stock volume. The total provisioning service value of timber was 6669.27×104 yuan, among which, coniferous forest contributed most (90.41%). Due to the denser distribution of populations and roads in the eastern area of Laojunshan, some parts of the area being located outside of conservancy district, and forests being in scattered distribution, the spatial distribution pattern of the physical quantity of timber’s provisioning service was higher in the eastern than in the western area.
    Urban ecological land in Changsha City: Its quantitative analysis and optimization.
    2010, 21(2):  415-421. 
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    In this paper, a hierarchy index system suitable for catastrophe progression method was constructed to comprehensively analyze and evaluate the status of ecological land construction in Changsha City in 2007. Based on the evaluation results, the irrationalities of the distribution pattern of Changsha urban ecological land were discussed. With the support of geographic information system (GIS), the ecological corridors of the urban ecological land were constructed by using the ‘least-cost’ modeling, and, in combining with conflict analysis, the optimum project of the urban ecological land was put forward, forming an integrated evaluation system. The results indicated that the ecological efficiency of urban ecological land in Changsha in 2007 was at medium level, with an evaluation value being 0.9416, and the quantitative index being relatively high but the coordination index being relatively low. The analysis and verification with software Fragstats showed that the ecological efficiency of the urban ecological land after optimization was higher, with the evaluation value being 0.9618, and the SHDI, CONTAG, and other indices also enhanced.
    Comprehensive evaluation of county-level construction land intensive utility in Guangdong Province: A case study for Zijin County.
    2010, 21(2):  422-428. 
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    Based on the weights and membership values of evaluation indices, a measurement model of construction land intensive utility in Zijin County of Guangdong Province was established, and the basic principles of the greatest compatible class were adopted to classify the intensive utility levels of the construction land based on fuzzy recognition. Additionally, the intensive utility potential of construction land in Zijin County in 2005 was calculated by comparing the per capita construction land in towns, independent industrial and mining areas, and rural residential areas with the latest national land use standards for planning of town launched in 2007. The predicted value of the model was 0.421, suggesting that the construction land utility in Zijin County was still low-effective and extensive. Theoretically, the construction land area could be decreased by 555.69-2197.69 hm2, which meant there was a great potential in the intensive utility of construction land in the county.
    Dynamic changes of the relationships between economic growth and environmental pressure in Gansu Province: A structural decomposition analysis.
    2010, 21(2):  429-433. 
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    Based on the ideology of macro environmental economics, a function of environmental pressure represented by pollutant emission was built, and the relative importance of the driving factors in the dynamic changes of the relationships between economic growth and environmental pressure in Gansu Province in 1990-2005 was analyzed by using structural decomposition analysis (SDA) model combining with ‘refined Laspeyres’ method. In the study period, the environmental pressure in the Province was mainly caused by the emission of waste gases and solids in the process of economic growth, and showed a rapid increasing trend at the late stage of the period. Population factor had less impact on the increase of this environmental pressure, while economic growth factor had obvious impact on it. Technological progress did mitigate, but could not offset the impact of economic growth factor, and the impacts of economic growth and technological factors on the environmental pressure differed with the kinds of pollutants.
    Spatiotemporal dynamics of land use and land cover changes in different reclamation zones of Yangtze Estuary.
    2010, 21(2):  434-441. 
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    Based on the TM and ETM remotely sensed images of Yangtze Estuary in 1987, 1995, 2000, and 2006, and by using RS, GIS, and mathematical statistical methods, this paper analyzed the dynamic changes of land use and land cover in different reclamation zones of the estuary. In terms of relative area occupied by each land use type, grassland showed significant spatial differences (P<0.05) among the reclamation zones, while enhouse land and paddy field showed significant temporal differences (P<0.05). After eliminating the factor reclamation time, there was no significant difference in the land use diversity index among the reclamation zones. In terms of land use change rates, no significant spatial difference was observed among the reclamation zones, while greenhouse land and built-up area showed significant temporal differences. In terms of land use intensity and ormation direction, different reclamation zones had no significant differences. The land use dynamic changes in different reclamation zones of the estuary were mainly affected by reclamation time.
    Behavior ethogram and PAE coding system of Cervus nippon sichuanicus.
    2010, 21(2):  442-451. 
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    A monthly 5-day periodic observation at 06:00-18:00 from March to November 2007 was conducted to record the behavioral processes, contents, and results, and the surrounding habitats of Sichuan sika deer (Cervus nippon sichuanicus) in Donglie, Chonger, and Reer villages of Tiebu Natural
    Reserve of Sichuan Province. The behavioral ethogram, vigilance behaviors ethogram and its PAE (posture, act, and environment) coding system of the Sichuan sika deer were established, which filled the gap of the PAE coding of ungulates vigilance behaviors. A total of 11 kinds of postures, 83 acts, and 136 behaviors were recorded and distinguished, with the relative frequency of each behavior in relation to gender, age, and season described. Compared with other ungulates, the behavioral repertoire of Sichuan sika deer was mostly similar to that of other cervid animals.
    Prokaryote diversity in water environment of land-ocean ecotone of Zhuhai City.
    2010, 21(2):  452-457. 
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    By constructing 16S rDNA clone library with PCR-RFLP, the prokaryote diversity in the seawater and groundwater of land-ocean ecotone of Zhuhai City
    was investigated, and the similarity and cluster analyses were implemented with the database of the sequences in Genbank. In the seawater, Proteobacteria was dominant, followed by Archaeon, Gemmatimonadetes, Candidate division OP3 and OP8, and Planctomycetes, etc.; while in the groundwater, Archaeon was dominant, followed by Proteobacteria, Sphingobacteria, Candidate division OP3, Actinobacterium, and Pseudomonas. The dominant taxa in the groundwater had high similarity to the unculturable groups of marine microorganisms. Large amount of bacteria capable of degrading organic matter and purifying water body existed in the groundwater, suggesting that after long-term evolution, the land-ocean ecotone of Zhuhai City had the characteristics of both land and ocean.
    Bioturbation of macrobenthos on estuarine sediment.
    2010, 21(2):  458-463. 
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    By using microcosm tracer technique, the bioturbation of macrobenthos Helice tientsinensis, Nereis diversicolor, Bullacta exarata, and Cyclina sinensis on the sediment in Beitang Estuary of Tianjin, China was quantitatively studied. The bioturbation of test macrobenthos had obvious effects on the distribution of the sediment, and the effects differed with the macrobenthos. The disturbed intensity (diffusion coefficient, 10-3 cm2·d-1) of surface sediment under the effects of the macrobenthos was in order of N. diversicolor (2.95)>H. tientsinensis (1.00)>C. sinensis (0.78)>B. exarata(0.35)>control (0.05), and that of deep sediment was H.tientsinensis (3.10)>N.diversicolor (2.33)>C. sinensis (0.28)>B.exarata (0.15)> control (0.05), which was mainly due to that the macrobenthos were belonged to different functional groups. There was a significant relationship between the bio-volume of test macrobentos and the diffusion coefficient of surface sediment (P<0.05), suggesting that the bio-volume of macrobenthos could be used as an indicator to predict their bioturbation capacity on esturaine sediment.
    Effects of volatiles from chestnut on host preference of adult Conogethes punctiferalis (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae).
    2010, 21(2):  464-469. 
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    Through field survey and the tests of behavioral response, EAG response, and multiple-choice oviposition, this paper studied the effects of volatiles from Nongda No.1 chestnut (NC) and Heyuan oil chestnut (HC) on the host-selection behavior of adult Conogethes punctiferalis. The field survey in 2004-2008 showed that the moth-eaten rate of NC fruits by adult C. punctiferalis was 16.1%-25.3%, while that of HC fruits was less than 5%. The volatiles from NC fruits and leaves were more attractive to female than to male moths, and the fruit volatiles were more attractive than leaf volatiles. However, the volatiles from HC fruits and leaves were not attractive to both female and male moths. The EAG response showed that female moths had significantly higher response to NC fruit volatiles than to HC’s, but male moths had no significant difference in this response. For both NC and HC, the EAG responses of female and male moths to fruit volatiles were higher than those to leaf volatiles. The number of eggs laid by female moths was much greater on NC fruits than on NC leaves and on HC fruits and leaves, but had no significant differences on the latter three.
    Effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on photosynthetic characteristics of maize under low temperature stress.
    2010, 21(2):  470-475. 
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    A pot experiment was conducted to study the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus Glomus etunicatum on the growth, relative chlorophyll content, chlorophyll fluorescence, and photosynthesis of maize (Zea mays L.)plants under low temperature (15 ℃ and 5 ℃) stress. Low temperature decreased the AM root colonization. The shoot and root dry mass and the relative chlorophyll content of AM maize plants were higher than those of non-AM maize plants. AM maize plants had higher maximal fluorescence (Fm), variable fluorescence (Fv),maximum photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fm), and potential photochemical efficiency (Fv/Fo),and lower primary fluorescence (Fo), compared with non-AM maize plants, and the differences were significant under 5 ℃ condition. The photosynthetic rate (Pn) and transpiration rate (Tr) of maize inoculated with G. etunicatum increased markedly. Under low temperature stress, the stomatal conductance(Gs) of AM maize plants was significantly higher than that of non-AM maize plants, while the intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) of AM maize plants was notably lower than that of nonAM maize plants. It wassuggested that AM fungi could alleviate the low temperature damage on maize plants via improving their leaf chlorophyll content, photosynthesis, and chlorophyll fluorescence, and enhance the low temperature tolerance of maize plants, resulting in the promotion of host plant growth and the increase of host plant biomass.
    Lead accumulation and elimination in juvenile Acipenser sinensis tissues.
    2010, 21(2):  476-482. 
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    A semi-static test of Pb exposure (0, 0.2, 0.8, and 1.6 mg·L-1) was carried out to examine the Pb accumulation and elimination in different tissues of juvenile Chinese sturgeon (Acipenser sinensis). With increasing Pb concentration in water, the Pb concentration in juvenile A. sinensis tissues in
    creased, showing a clear dose-response relationship. The Pb  accumulation had a trend of being higher in bone (dorsalbone plate and artilaginous bone) and muscle, followed by in stomach, intestine, and skin, and relatively low in liver, gill, and notochord. A 6-week duration test after Pb exposure showed that in low dose group (0.2 mg·L-1), the Pb concentration in all tissues had no significant differences to the control group, but in medium dose group (0.8 mg·L-1), the Pb concentration in most tissues except gill stomach, cartilaginous bone, and muscle was significantly higher than the control. In high dose group (1.6 mg·L-1), the Pb concentration in the tissues other than liver, intestine and skin was significantly higher than the control. Through the comparison of accumulation and elimination, it was found that after low- and medium dose exposure, the Pb concentration in skin, gill, and liver was higher than its accumulation, presuming that  Pb was absorbed from gill, skin, and alimentary canal, and eliminated from gill and skin.
    Estimation of river nutrients thresholds based on benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages:A case study in the upper reaches of Xitiao Stream in Zhejiang, China
    2010, 21(2):  483-488. 
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    Water eutrophication is a global problem, and one of the major environmental problems in China. At present, its studies in China are mainly focused on lakes and reservoirs, whereas a few on rivers. Based on the stress-response of benthic macroinvertebrate assemblages to water nutrients, we used the nonparametric deviance reduction (change point analysis) to compute the breakpoints of nutrients concentrations,  in the upper reac hes of Xitiao Stream in Zhejiang. The results indicated that the breakpoints of total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphors (TP) were 1.409 mg·L-1 and 0.033-0.035 mg·L-1, respectively. The TN and TP concentrations at reference sites were lower, while those at urban sewage- polluted sites were higher than the thresholds. In latter case, a serious degradation of benthic macroinvertebrates assemblages could be induced. To establish water nutrients criteria with relation to aquatic organisms would make the biological monitoring play a full role in water management, and provide scientific data to estimate the total maximum daily load (TMDL) of TN and TP in water body.
    Distribution characteristics of phthalic acid esters in soils and plants at e-waste recycling sites in Taizhou of Zhejiang, China
    2010, 21(2):  489-494. 
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    In recent years, great attention has being paid on the consequences of improper electric and electronic waste (e-waste) disposal. In this paper, soil and plant samples were collected from the e-waste recycling sites in Taizhou City of Zhejiang Province, China, with five kinds of phthalic acid esters (PAEs) analyzed. In the soil samples, the total PAEs concentration was 12.566-46.669 mg·kg-1 soil, among which, di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP), di-n-butyl phthalate (DBP), and diethyl phthalate (DEP) were the major phthalates, accounting for more than 94% of the total. In the plant samples,
    the PAEs concentration was obviously higher in Vicia faba L. than in other plants. No significant correlations were observed in the PAEs concentration between soils and various plants (P>0.05). Comparing with the soil cleanup guidelines in USA, the soils at test sites were severely contaminated by PAEs.
    Bioremediation efficiency of applying Daphnia magna and submerged plants: A case study in Dishui Lake of Shanghai, China.
    2010, 21(2):  495-499. 
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    From April 2007 to January 2008, a bioremediation experiment was conducted in a diversion channel of D-port pilot area of Dishui Lake (the channel length is 950 m, and its water volume is 10000 m3). Daphnia magna was first introduced to filter the high biomass of phytoplankton and other particulate organic matter, and then, five submerged plant species Elodea canadensis, Vallisneria spiralis, Hydrilla verticillata, Potamogeton lucens, and Potamogeton crispus were transplanted. Water samples were collected monthly to monitor the water quality and to investigate the bioremediation efficiency. Ten months monitoring data showed that in the remediation area, the water body’s total nitrogen (TN), ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N), nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N), nitrite nitrogen (NO2--N), total phosphorus (TP), and reactive phosphate (PO43--P) concentrations and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were significantly lower (P<0.01), dissolved oxygen (DO) was increased by 50.4%, and the Secchi depth (SD) reached to an average of 3.4-3.7 m. Overall, the water quality was up to grades Ⅱ or Ⅲ of state water quality standards for surface water. In March 2008, the established submerged plant community was used to test its effectiveness in improving the eutrophicated water body from Dishui Lake, and the results showed that after 7-day treatment, except biological oxygen demand (BOD), the TN, TP, NO3--N, NO2--N, NH4+-N, and PO43--P concentrations and COD of the eutrophicated water were all decreased significantly, the DO was increased by 17.98%, and the SD was increased by 30 cm. The present study demonstrated the effectiveness of introducing D. magna and transplanting submerged plants in improving the water quality of Dishui Lake.
    Methane fluxes of Cyperus malaccensis tidal wetland in Minjiang River estuary.
    2010, 21(2):  500-504. 
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    By using enclosed static chamber-gas chromatograph techniques, this paper measured the methane fluxes of Cyperus malaccensis tidal wetland in Minjiang River estuary. The diurnal variation of the methane fluxes in summer and winter were in the range of 1.29-2.93 mg·m-2·h-1 and 0.06-0.22 mg·m-2·h-1, respectively. The methane fluxes before flooding, in the process of flooding and ebbing, and after ebbing were 0.11-1.52 mg·m-2·h-1,0.10-1.05 mg·m-2·h-1, and 0.05-1.70 mg·m-2·h-1, and the monthly averaged fluxes were 0.73, 0.47, and 0.72 mg·m-2·h-1, respectively. The methane fluxes peaked in September and reached the lowest in March, and were significantly lower in the process of flooding and ebbing than before flooding and after ebbing (P<0.05). The seasonal variation of the methane fluxes was in the order of summer > autumn > spring > winter. Tide was the key factor affecting the diurnal variation of the methane fluxes, while plant growth stage and temperature were the key factors determining the monthly or seasonal variation of the methane fluxes.
    Biosorption of heavy metals from solution by tea waste: A review.
    2010, 21(2):  505-513. 
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    Tea waste is an important part of agricultural solid wastes, because of its various sources and huge amount. The heavy metals removal from waste water by tea waste has been paid much attention by the researchers around the world, owing to the adsorption characteristic of tea waste. In this paper, the research advances in the heavy metals removal from aqueous phase by tea waste were summarized from the aspects of affecting factors, adsorption mechanism, pretreatment, desorption, and regeneration,  and the prospects were put forward. It was considered that for the industrialized utilization of tea waste absorbents, further researches should be focused on their adsorption mechanism, pretreatment, desorption and regeneration, technological parameters, and aftertreatment.
    Distribution and risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urban soils: A review.
    2010, 21(2):  514-522. 
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    With rapid urbanization, the contamination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) has become one of the major factors threatening urban soil quality and human health. This paper summarized the current studies on the PAHs in urban soils, with the focus on the anthropogenic and natural factors affecting the distribution of PAHs in urban soils, analytical methods on the pollution sources of PAHs, risk assessment of urban soil contamination by PAHs, and especially, applications of geo-tatistics in the spatial analysis and risk assessment of PAHs. The potential issues and research trends about the PAHs contamination of urban soils were also discussed.  
    Research progress on piosphere.
    2010, 21(2):  523-532. 
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    On the grassland of arid and semiarid regions, livestock due to its water demand often concentrated at the vicinity of water point. The intensive grazing and trampling of the livestock often result in the radial degradation of grassland ecosystem along a gradient from the water point, and the formation of piosphere. According to the impacting degree of the grazing and trampling, piosphere can be divided into three concentric zones, i.e., sacrificial” core, transitional zone, and peripheral zone, radiating outward from the water point. Accordingly, the responses of vegetation and soil within the piosphere also exhibit a radial gradient from the water point to the margin. Piosphere provides an ideal context for the studies on the impact patterns of grazing on vegetation and soil, and the countermeasures for the conservation and sustainable utilization of natural resources in a degrading area because of the existence of an impacting gradient of grazing and trampling from the core to its peripheral zone.  This paper tried to provide a full picture about the concepts, approaches, and research progress of piosphere, aimed to benefit the efficient management and sustainable utilization of natural resources of grassland in arid and semiarid regions.