The variation and correlation of leaf economics and vein traits are crucial for predicting plant ecological strategies under different environmental changes.However,correlations between these two suites of traits and ...The variation and correlation of leaf economics and vein traits are crucial for predicting plant ecological strategies under different environmental changes.However,correlations between these two suites of traits and abiotic factors such as soil water and nitrogen content remain ambiguous.We measured leaf economics and vein traits as well as soil water and nitrogen content for two different shade-tolerant species(Betula platyphylla and Acer mono)in four mixed broadleaved-Korean pine(Pinus koraiensis)forests along a latitudinal gradient in Northeast China.We found that leaf economics traits and vein traits were decoupled in shade-intolerant species,Betula platphylla,but significantly coupled in a shadetolerant species,A.mono.We found stronger correlations among leaf traits in the shade tolerant species than in the shade intolerant species.Furthermore,leaf economic traits were positively correlated with the soil water gradient for both species,whereas vein traits were positively correlated with soil water gradient for the shade intolerant species but negatively correlated in the shade tolerant species.Although economic traits were positively correlated with soil nitrogen gradient in shade intolerant species but not correlated in shade tolerant species,vein traits were negatively correlated with soil nitrogen gradient in shade tolerant species but not correlated in shade intolerant species.Our study provides evidence for distinct correlations between leaf economics and vein traits and local abiotic factors of species differing in light demands.We recommend that the ecological significance of shade tolerance be considered for species when evaluating ecosystem functions and predicting plant responses to environmental changes.展开更多
Tropical montane forests (alternatively called tropical montane cloud forests or simply cloud forests) represent some of the most threatened ecosystems globally. Tropical montane forests (TMF) are characterized and de...Tropical montane forests (alternatively called tropical montane cloud forests or simply cloud forests) represent some of the most threatened ecosystems globally. Tropical montane forests (TMF) are characterized and defined by the presence of persistent cloud cover. A significant amount of moisture may be captured through the condensation of cloud-borne moisture on vegetation distinguishing TMF from other forest types. This review examines the structural, functional and distributional aspects of the tropical montane forests of peninsular India, locally known as shola, and the associated grasslands. Our review reveals that small fragments may be dominated by edge effect and lack an “interior” or “core”, making them susceptible to complete collapse. In addition to their critical role in hydrology and biogeochemistry, the shola-grassland ecosystem harbor many faunal species of conservation concern. Along with intense anthropogenic pressure, climate change is also expected to alter the dynamic equilibrium between the forest and grassland, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of these ecosystems.展开更多
Mapping the spatial distribution of soil nitrate-nitrogen （NO3=N） is important to guide nitrogen application as well as to assess environmental risk of NO3-N leaching into the groundwater. We employed univariate and...Mapping the spatial distribution of soil nitrate-nitrogen （NO3=N） is important to guide nitrogen application as well as to assess environmental risk of NO3-N leaching into the groundwater. We employed univariate and hybrid geostatistical methods to map the spatial distribution of soil NO3-N across a landscape in northeast Florida. Soil samples were collected from four depth increments （0-30, 30-60, 60-120 and 120-180 cm） from 147 sampling locations identified using a stratified random and nested sampling design based on soil, land use and elevation strata. Soil NO3-N distributions in the top two layers were spatially autocorrelated and mapped using lognormal kriging. Environmental correlation models for NO3-N prediction were derived using linear and non-linear regression methods, and employed to develop NO3-N trend maps. Land use and its related variables derived from satellite imagery were identified as important variables to predict NO3-N using environmental correlation models. While lognormal kriging produced smoothly varying maps, trend maps derived from environmental correlation models generated spatially heterogeneous maps. Trend maps were combined with ordinary kriging predictions of trend model residuals to develop regression kriging prediction maps, which gave the best NO3-N predictions. As land use and remotely sensed data are readily available and have much finer spatial resolution compared to field sampled soils, our findings suggested the efficacy of environmental correlation models based on land use and remotely sensed data for landscape scale mapping of soil NO3-N. The methodologies implemented are transferable for mapping of soil NO3-N in other landscapes.展开更多
Carbon sequestration in forests is of great interest due to concerns about global climate change.Carbon storage rates depend on ecosystem fluxes（photosynthesis and ecosystem respiration）,typically quantified as net ...Carbon sequestration in forests is of great interest due to concerns about global climate change.Carbon storage rates depend on ecosystem fluxes（photosynthesis and ecosystem respiration）,typically quantified as net ecosystem exchange（NEE）.Methods to estimate forest NEE without intensive site sampling are needed to accurately assess rates of carbon sequestration at stand-level and larger scales.We produced spatially-explicit estimates of NEE for 9 770 ha of slash pine（Pinus elliottii） plantations in North-Central Florida for a single year by coupling remote sensing-based estimates of leaf area index（LAI） with a process-based growth simulation model.LAI estimates produced from a neural-network modeling of ground plot and Landsat TM satellite data had a mean of 1.06（range 0-3.93,including forest edges）.Using the neural network LAI values as inputs,the slash pine simulation model（SPM2） estimates of NEE ranged from-5.52 to 11.06 Mg·ha^-1·a^-1with a mean of 3.47 Mg·ha^-1·a^-1Total carbon storage for the year was 33920 t,or about 3.5 tons per hectare.Both estimated LAI and NEE were highly sensitive to fertilization.展开更多
Gaurishankar Conservation Area(GCA)is a recently established natural-based protected area in Nepal,which has witnessed an increase in international visitors.To optimize visitor experience,it is essential to examine mo...Gaurishankar Conservation Area(GCA)is a recently established natural-based protected area in Nepal,which has witnessed an increase in international visitors.To optimize visitor experience,it is essential to examine motivations to visit along with visitors’characteristics and behavioral dispositions.The purpose of this study was to examine international tourists via a motive-based segmentation approach for GCA.In addition,the study also intended to identify visitor segments’profile characteristics such as socio-demographic,travel behaviors,satisfaction,loyalty intention,and their willingness to pay for higher entrance fees.Data(N=121)were collected among international tourists visiting GCA either as a primary destination or as a transit point.Results identified three distinct segments of visitors–‘local art and culture enthusiast’,‘escapist’,and‘nature adventurer.’Each cluster was different with regards to their sociodemographics,travelbehavior,satisfaction,willingness to revisit and recommend,and willingness to pay to support the environment and cultural resources,and local economy.The insights gained from motive-based segmentation can be beneficial to GCA to develop specific products and promotions and incorporate visitor monitoring&management programs.展开更多
A stratified random sampling approach was employed to quantify total biomass across prevalent non-commercial forest understory species found in six counties of northwest Florida, USA. The moisture content （wet basis...A stratified random sampling approach was employed to quantify total biomass across prevalent non-commercial forest understory species found in six counties of northwest Florida, USA. The moisture content （wet basis） and calorific values of these species were also measured. Total green biomass from forest understory species was estimated to be around 12 million metric tons, mostly comprised of Cliftonia monophylla （titi, buckwheat tree） and Cyrilla racemiflora （white titi, swamp titi）. This understory forest biomass would be sufficient to generate about 28.8 million GJ of electricity or 1589.25 million liters of ethanol. A need was identified to determine the inventory of forest understory biomass at the state level and assess the overall sustainability of utilizing forest understory biomass for bioenergy.展开更多
Accurate and efficient estimation of forest growth and live biomass is a critical element in assessing potential responses to forest management and environmental change. The objective of this study was to develop mode...Accurate and efficient estimation of forest growth and live biomass is a critical element in assessing potential responses to forest management and environmental change. The objective of this study was to develop models to predict longleaf pine tree diameter at breast height （dbh） and merchantable stem volume （V） using data obtained from field measurements. We used longleaf pine tree data from 3,376 planted trees on 127 permanent plots located in the U.S. Gulf Coastal Plain region to fit equations to predict dbh and V as functions of tree height （H） and crown area （CA）. Prediction of dbh as a function of H improved when CA was added as an additional independent variable. Similarly, predic- tions of V based on H improved when CA was included. Incorporation of additional stand variables such as age, site index, dominant height, and stand density were also evaluated but resulted in only small improvements in model performance. For model testing we used data from planted and naturally-regenerated trees located inside and outside the geographic area used for model fitting. Our results suggest that the models are a robust alternative for dbh and V estimations when H and CA are known on planted stands with potential for naturally-regenerated stands, across a wide range of ages. We discuss the importance of these models for use with metrics derived from remote sensing data.展开更多
The primary goal of genomic selection is to increase genetic gains for complex traits by predicting performance of individuals for which phenotypic data are not available.The objective of this study was to experimenta...The primary goal of genomic selection is to increase genetic gains for complex traits by predicting performance of individuals for which phenotypic data are not available.The objective of this study was to experimentally evaluate the potential of genomic selection in strawberry breeding and to define a strategy for its implementation.Four clonally replicated field trials,two in each of 2 years comprised of a total of 1628 individuals,were established in 2013–2014 and 2014–2015.Five complex yield and fruit quality traits with moderate to low heritability were assessed in each trial.High-density genotyping was performed with the Affymetrix Axiom IStraw90 single-nucleotide polymorphism array,and 17479 polymorphic markers were chosen for analysis.Several methods were compared,including Genomic BLUP,Bayes B,Bayes C,Bayesian LASSO Regression,Bayesian Ridge Regression and Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Spaces.Cross-validation within training populations resulted in higher values than for true validations across trials.For true validations,Bayes B gave the highest predictive abilities on average and also the highest selection efficiencies,particularly for yield traits that were the lowest heritability traits.Selection efficiencies using Bayes B for parent selection ranged from 74%for average fruit weight to 34%for early marketable yield.A breeding strategy is proposed in which advanced selection trials are utilized as training populations and in which genomic selection can reduce the breeding cycle from 3 to 2 years for a subset of untested parents based on their predicted genomic breeding values.展开更多
Edge to interior gradients in forest fragments can influence the species composition and community structure as a result of variations in microenvironment and edaphic variables. We investigated the response of microen...Edge to interior gradients in forest fragments can influence the species composition and community structure as a result of variations in microenvironment and edaphic variables. We investigated the response of microenvironment and edaphic variables to distance from a tropical montane forest (locally known as shola)-grassland edge using one-edge and multiple-edge models. The edpahic variables did not show any differences between the grassland and shola soils. We observed that conventional one-edge models sufficiently explained variation trends in microenvironment along the edge to interior gradient in large fragments. As with other studies on small fragments though, we observed no edge effects with the use of a conventional one-edge model. However, the inclusion of multiple edges in small fragments signifycantly improved model fit. We can conclude that small fragments dominated by edge habitat may in fact resemble larger fragments with the inclusion of multiple edges. Our models did not evaluate non-linear effects which often better explain patterns in edge-interior gradients. The incorporation of such non-linear models in the system might further improve model fit.展开更多
Insects that depend on microbial mutualists evolved a variety of organs to transport the microsymbionts while dispersing. The ontogeny and variability of such organs is rarely studied, and the microsymbiont*s effects ...Insects that depend on microbial mutualists evolved a variety of organs to transport the microsymbionts while dispersing. The ontogeny and variability of such organs is rarely studied, and the microsymbiont*s effects on the animal tissue development remain unknown in most cases. Ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae or Platypodinae) and their mutualistic fungi are an ideal system to study the animalfungus interactions. While the interspecific diversity of their fungus transport organ一 mycangia—is well-known, their developmental plasticity has been poorly described. To determine the ontogeny of the mycangium and the influence of the symbiotic fungus on the tissue development, we dissected by hand or scanned with micro-CT the mycangia in various developmental stages in five Xylosandrus ambrosia beetle species that possess a large, mesonotal mycangium: Xylosandrus amputatus. Xylosandrus compactus, Xylosandrus crassiusculus, Xylosandrus discolor, and Xylosandrus germanus. We processed 181 beetle samples from the United States and China. All five species displayed three stages of the mycangium development:(1) young teneral adults had an empty, deflated and cryptic mycangium without fungal mass;(2) in fully mature adults during dispersal, the promesonotal membrane was inflated, and most individuals developed a mycangium mostly filled with the symbiont, though size and symmetry varied;and (3) after successful establishment of their new galleries, most females discharged the bulk of the fun gal inoculum and deflated the mycangium. Experimental aposymbiotic individuals demonstrated that the pronotal membrane invaginated independently of the presence of the fungus, but the fungus was required for inflation. Mycangia are more dynamic than previously thought, and their morphological changes correspond to the phases of the symbiosis. Importantly, studies of the fungal symbionts or plant pathogen transmission in ambrosia beetles need to consider which developmental stage to sample. We provide illustrations of the different stages, including microphotography of dissections and micro-CT scans.展开更多
Understanding the attributes of traditional, location-specific land-use systems will provide insights for improvement of such systems and design of new ones for wider applicability. The integrated rice ＋ fish system ...Understanding the attributes of traditional, location-specific land-use systems will provide insights for improvement of such systems and design of new ones for wider applicability. The integrated rice ＋ fish system developed by the Apatani tribe of Ziro valley, Arunachal Pradesh, Northeastern India is such a unique system. Faced with shortages of their staple food items （rice and fish）, these subsistence farmers developed this ingenious system--in preference to the wide-spread shifting cultivation in the region--by capitalizing on the good water supply （from rainfall supplemented by natural flow from hills surrounding the valley）. Two rice crops are grown annually and fish is reared in paddy fields during the main rainy season. Crop residues and animal wastes are the sources of nutrients to crops, chemical fertilizers and insecticides are not used. Over the years, rice yield has been stable at about 3,700 kg.ha-1.year-1. Recently, UNESCO has tentatively added the valley as a ＂world heritage site＂ recognizing its ＂extremely high productivity＂ and ＂unique＂ ecological preservation. The resilience and the sustainability of the system could be attributed to efficient nutrient cycling and nutrient input through water seeping in from surrounding hills, which have not been, but deserve to be, quantified.展开更多
Genetic manipulation of cellulose biosynthesis in trees may provide novel insights into the growth and development of trees. To explore this possibility, the overexpression of an aspen secondary wall-associated cellul...Genetic manipulation of cellulose biosynthesis in trees may provide novel insights into the growth and development of trees. To explore this possibility, the overexpression of an aspen secondary wall-associated cellulose synthase （PtdCesAS） gene was attempted in transgenic aspen （Populus tremuloides L.） and unexpectedly resulted in silencing of the transgene as well as its endogenous counterparts. The main axis of the transgenic aspen plants quickly stopped growing, and weak branches adopted a weeping growth habit. Furthermore, transgenic plants initially developed smaller leaves and a less extensive root system. Secondary xylem （wood） of transgenic aspen plants contained as little as 10% cellulose normalized to dry weight compared to 41% cellulose typically found in normal aspen wood. This massive reduction in cellulose was accompanied by proportional increases in lignin （35%） and non-cellulosic polysaccharides （55%） compared to the 22% lignin and 36% non-cellulosic polysaccharides in control plants. The transgenic stems pro- duced typical collapsed or ＇irregular＇ xylem vessels that had altered secondary wall morphology and contained greatly reduced amounts of crystalline cellulose. These results demonstrate the fundamental role of secondary wall cellulose within the secondary xylem in maintaining the strength and structural integrity required to establish the vertical growth habit in trees.展开更多
Aim The ability to quantitatively measure the continuum of macroscale patterns of species invasion is a first step toward deeper understand-ing of their causal factors.We took advantage of two centuries worth of herba...Aim The ability to quantitatively measure the continuum of macroscale patterns of species invasion is a first step toward deeper understand-ing of their causal factors.We took advantage of two centuries worth of herbarium data,to evaluate a set of metrics to measure macroscale patterns,allowing cross-species comparisons of inva-sive expansion across large geographic areas.Methods We used herbarium specimens to reconstruct county-level invasion histories for two non-native plants(Alliaria petiolata and Lonicera japonica),with distinct spatiotemporal distribution patterns over the past two centuries.Using county centroids from species’ini-tial occurrences,we quantified point pattern metrics from multiple disciplines(e.g.urban crime analysis,landscape ecology etc.)that are historically used at smaller spatial scales,to evaluate their abil-ity to detect macroscale spatial diffusion and amount of directional expansion.Metrics were further assessed for their ease of use,data requirements,independence from other metrics and intuitiveness of interpretation.Important Findings We identified four suitable metrics for distinguishing differences in spatial patterns:(i)standard distance,(ii)number of patches,(iii)Euclidean nearest neighbor summary class statistic coefficient of variation and(iv)mean center that when applied to county-level presence data allowed us to determine the directions by which distributions expanded and if distributions increased via outward expansion,infilling and/or jump dispersal events.These metrics when compared during the same invasion phase are capable of quantifying macroscale variability among species in their distri-butional and dispersal patterns.Being able to quantify differences among species in these patterns is important in understanding the drivers of species dispersal patterns.These metrics therefore repre-sent a simple yet thorough toolset for achieving this goal.展开更多
Hydropower production is one of the greatest threats to fluvial ecosystems and freshwater biodiversity.Now that we have entered the Anthropocene,there is an opportunity to reflect on what might constitute a‘sustaina...Hydropower production is one of the greatest threats to fluvial ecosystems and freshwater biodiversity.Now that we have entered the Anthropocene,there is an opportunity to reflect on what might constitute a‘sustainable’Anthropocene in the context of hydropower and riverine fish populations.Considering elements of existing practices that promote favorable social-ecological outcomes(i.e.,‘bright spots’)is timely given that there are plans to expand hydropower capacity in previously undammed rivers,intensify dam development in some of the world's largest river systems,and re-license existing facilities.We approach this from a pragmatic perspective:for the foreseeable future,hydropower will likely remain an important source of renewable electricity.To offer support for moving toward a more‘sustainable’Anthropocene,we provide syntheses of best practices during the siting,design,construction,operation,and compensation phases of hydropower development to minimize impacts on inland fish.For each phase,we offer positive examples(or what might be considered‘bright spots’)pertaining to some of the approaches described within our syntheses,acknowledging that these projects may not be viewed as without ecological and(or)societal detriment by all stakeholders.Our findings underscore the importance of protecting critical habitat and free-flowing river reaches through careful site selection and basinscale planning,infrastructure designs that minimize reservoir effects and facilitate safe passage of fish,construction of hydropower plants using best practices that minimize long-term damage,operating guidelines that mimic natural flow conditions,and compensation that is lasting,effective,inclusive,and locally relevant.Learning from these‘bright spots’may require engagement of diverse stakeholders,professionals,and governments at scales that extend well beyond a given site,river,or even basin.Indeed,environmental planning that integrates hydropower development into broader discussions of conserving regional biodiversity and ecosystem services will be of utmost importance.展开更多
基金This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2022YFD2201100)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31971636)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(2572022DS13).
文摘The variation and correlation of leaf economics and vein traits are crucial for predicting plant ecological strategies under different environmental changes.However,correlations between these two suites of traits and abiotic factors such as soil water and nitrogen content remain ambiguous.We measured leaf economics and vein traits as well as soil water and nitrogen content for two different shade-tolerant species(Betula platyphylla and Acer mono)in four mixed broadleaved-Korean pine(Pinus koraiensis)forests along a latitudinal gradient in Northeast China.We found that leaf economics traits and vein traits were decoupled in shade-intolerant species,Betula platphylla,but significantly coupled in a shadetolerant species,A.mono.We found stronger correlations among leaf traits in the shade tolerant species than in the shade intolerant species.Furthermore,leaf economic traits were positively correlated with the soil water gradient for both species,whereas vein traits were positively correlated with soil water gradient for the shade intolerant species but negatively correlated in the shade tolerant species.Although economic traits were positively correlated with soil nitrogen gradient in shade intolerant species but not correlated in shade tolerant species,vein traits were negatively correlated with soil nitrogen gradient in shade tolerant species but not correlated in shade intolerant species.Our study provides evidence for distinct correlations between leaf economics and vein traits and local abiotic factors of species differing in light demands.We recommend that the ecological significance of shade tolerance be considered for species when evaluating ecosystem functions and predicting plant responses to environmental changes.
文摘Tropical montane forests (alternatively called tropical montane cloud forests or simply cloud forests) represent some of the most threatened ecosystems globally. Tropical montane forests (TMF) are characterized and defined by the presence of persistent cloud cover. A significant amount of moisture may be captured through the condensation of cloud-borne moisture on vegetation distinguishing TMF from other forest types. This review examines the structural, functional and distributional aspects of the tropical montane forests of peninsular India, locally known as shola, and the associated grasslands. Our review reveals that small fragments may be dominated by edge effect and lack an “interior” or “core”, making them susceptible to complete collapse. In addition to their critical role in hydrology and biogeochemistry, the shola-grassland ecosystem harbor many faunal species of conservation concern. Along with intense anthropogenic pressure, climate change is also expected to alter the dynamic equilibrium between the forest and grassland, raising concerns about the long-term sustainability of these ecosystems.
基金Project supported by the United States Department of Agriculture through the "Nutrient Science for Improved Watershed Management" program (No.2002-00501)
文摘Mapping the spatial distribution of soil nitrate-nitrogen （NO3=N） is important to guide nitrogen application as well as to assess environmental risk of NO3-N leaching into the groundwater. We employed univariate and hybrid geostatistical methods to map the spatial distribution of soil NO3-N across a landscape in northeast Florida. Soil samples were collected from four depth increments （0-30, 30-60, 60-120 and 120-180 cm） from 147 sampling locations identified using a stratified random and nested sampling design based on soil, land use and elevation strata. Soil NO3-N distributions in the top two layers were spatially autocorrelated and mapped using lognormal kriging. Environmental correlation models for NO3-N prediction were derived using linear and non-linear regression methods, and employed to develop NO3-N trend maps. Land use and its related variables derived from satellite imagery were identified as important variables to predict NO3-N using environmental correlation models. While lognormal kriging produced smoothly varying maps, trend maps derived from environmental correlation models generated spatially heterogeneous maps. Trend maps were combined with ordinary kriging predictions of trend model residuals to develop regression kriging prediction maps, which gave the best NO3-N predictions. As land use and remotely sensed data are readily available and have much finer spatial resolution compared to field sampled soils, our findings suggested the efficacy of environmental correlation models based on land use and remotely sensed data for landscape scale mapping of soil NO3-N. The methodologies implemented are transferable for mapping of soil NO3-N in other landscapes.
基金supported by the United States Forest Service and the Forest Biology Research Cooperative at the University of Florida
文摘Carbon sequestration in forests is of great interest due to concerns about global climate change.Carbon storage rates depend on ecosystem fluxes（photosynthesis and ecosystem respiration）,typically quantified as net ecosystem exchange（NEE）.Methods to estimate forest NEE without intensive site sampling are needed to accurately assess rates of carbon sequestration at stand-level and larger scales.We produced spatially-explicit estimates of NEE for 9 770 ha of slash pine（Pinus elliottii） plantations in North-Central Florida for a single year by coupling remote sensing-based estimates of leaf area index（LAI） with a process-based growth simulation model.LAI estimates produced from a neural-network modeling of ground plot and Landsat TM satellite data had a mean of 1.06（range 0-3.93,including forest edges）.Using the neural network LAI values as inputs,the slash pine simulation model（SPM2） estimates of NEE ranged from-5.52 to 11.06 Mg·ha^-1·a^-1with a mean of 3.47 Mg·ha^-1·a^-1Total carbon storage for the year was 33920 t,or about 3.5 tons per hectare.Both estimated LAI and NEE were highly sensitive to fertilization.
基金National Trust for Nature Conservation,Nepal for support with partial funding to accomplish this research。
文摘Gaurishankar Conservation Area(GCA)is a recently established natural-based protected area in Nepal,which has witnessed an increase in international visitors.To optimize visitor experience,it is essential to examine motivations to visit along with visitors’characteristics and behavioral dispositions.The purpose of this study was to examine international tourists via a motive-based segmentation approach for GCA.In addition,the study also intended to identify visitor segments’profile characteristics such as socio-demographic,travel behaviors,satisfaction,loyalty intention,and their willingness to pay for higher entrance fees.Data(N=121)were collected among international tourists visiting GCA either as a primary destination or as a transit point.Results identified three distinct segments of visitors–‘local art and culture enthusiast’,‘escapist’,and‘nature adventurer.’Each cluster was different with regards to their sociodemographics,travelbehavior,satisfaction,willingness to revisit and recommend,and willingness to pay to support the environment and cultural resources,and local economy.The insights gained from motive-based segmentation can be beneficial to GCA to develop specific products and promotions and incorporate visitor monitoring&management programs.
文摘A stratified random sampling approach was employed to quantify total biomass across prevalent non-commercial forest understory species found in six counties of northwest Florida, USA. The moisture content （wet basis） and calorific values of these species were also measured. Total green biomass from forest understory species was estimated to be around 12 million metric tons, mostly comprised of Cliftonia monophylla （titi, buckwheat tree） and Cyrilla racemiflora （white titi, swamp titi）. This understory forest biomass would be sufficient to generate about 28.8 million GJ of electricity or 1589.25 million liters of ethanol. A need was identified to determine the inventory of forest understory biomass at the state level and assess the overall sustainability of utilizing forest understory biomass for bioenergy.
基金supported by the U.S.Department of Defense,through the Strategic Environmental Research and Development Program(SERDP)
文摘Accurate and efficient estimation of forest growth and live biomass is a critical element in assessing potential responses to forest management and environmental change. The objective of this study was to develop models to predict longleaf pine tree diameter at breast height （dbh） and merchantable stem volume （V） using data obtained from field measurements. We used longleaf pine tree data from 3,376 planted trees on 127 permanent plots located in the U.S. Gulf Coastal Plain region to fit equations to predict dbh and V as functions of tree height （H） and crown area （CA）. Prediction of dbh as a function of H improved when CA was added as an additional independent variable. Similarly, predic- tions of V based on H improved when CA was included. Incorporation of additional stand variables such as age, site index, dominant height, and stand density were also evaluated but resulted in only small improvements in model performance. For model testing we used data from planted and naturally-regenerated trees located inside and outside the geographic area used for model fitting. Our results suggest that the models are a robust alternative for dbh and V estimations when H and CA are known on planted stands with potential for naturally-regenerated stands, across a wide range of ages. We discuss the importance of these models for use with metrics derived from remote sensing data.
基金Financial support for this project was provided through the Florida Agricultural Experiment Station,the Florida Strawberry Growers Association,and the USDA/NIFA Specialty Crop Research Initiative project‘RosBREED:Combining disease resistance with horticultural quality in new rosaceous cultivars’under award number 2014-51181-22378.
文摘The primary goal of genomic selection is to increase genetic gains for complex traits by predicting performance of individuals for which phenotypic data are not available.The objective of this study was to experimentally evaluate the potential of genomic selection in strawberry breeding and to define a strategy for its implementation.Four clonally replicated field trials,two in each of 2 years comprised of a total of 1628 individuals,were established in 2013–2014 and 2014–2015.Five complex yield and fruit quality traits with moderate to low heritability were assessed in each trial.High-density genotyping was performed with the Affymetrix Axiom IStraw90 single-nucleotide polymorphism array,and 17479 polymorphic markers were chosen for analysis.Several methods were compared,including Genomic BLUP,Bayes B,Bayes C,Bayesian LASSO Regression,Bayesian Ridge Regression and Reproducing Kernel Hilbert Spaces.Cross-validation within training populations resulted in higher values than for true validations across trials.For true validations,Bayes B gave the highest predictive abilities on average and also the highest selection efficiencies,particularly for yield traits that were the lowest heritability traits.Selection efficiencies using Bayes B for parent selection ranged from 74%for average fruit weight to 34%for early marketable yield.A breeding strategy is proposed in which advanced selection trials are utilized as training populations and in which genomic selection can reduce the breeding cycle from 3 to 2 years for a subset of untested parents based on their predicted genomic breeding values.
文摘Edge to interior gradients in forest fragments can influence the species composition and community structure as a result of variations in microenvironment and edaphic variables. We investigated the response of microenvironment and edaphic variables to distance from a tropical montane forest (locally known as shola)-grassland edge using one-edge and multiple-edge models. The edpahic variables did not show any differences between the grassland and shola soils. We observed that conventional one-edge models sufficiently explained variation trends in microenvironment along the edge to interior gradient in large fragments. As with other studies on small fragments though, we observed no edge effects with the use of a conventional one-edge model. However, the inclusion of multiple edges in small fragments signifycantly improved model fit. We can conclude that small fragments dominated by edge habitat may in fact resemble larger fragments with the inclusion of multiple edges. Our models did not evaluate non-linear effects which often better explain patterns in edge-interior gradients. The incorporation of such non-linear models in the system might further improve model fit.
基金YL, JS and JH were funded by the United States Department of Agriculture, the USDA Forest Service, and the National Science Foundation.
文摘Insects that depend on microbial mutualists evolved a variety of organs to transport the microsymbionts while dispersing. The ontogeny and variability of such organs is rarely studied, and the microsymbiont*s effects on the animal tissue development remain unknown in most cases. Ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae or Platypodinae) and their mutualistic fungi are an ideal system to study the animalfungus interactions. While the interspecific diversity of their fungus transport organ一 mycangia—is well-known, their developmental plasticity has been poorly described. To determine the ontogeny of the mycangium and the influence of the symbiotic fungus on the tissue development, we dissected by hand or scanned with micro-CT the mycangia in various developmental stages in five Xylosandrus ambrosia beetle species that possess a large, mesonotal mycangium: Xylosandrus amputatus. Xylosandrus compactus, Xylosandrus crassiusculus, Xylosandrus discolor, and Xylosandrus germanus. We processed 181 beetle samples from the United States and China. All five species displayed three stages of the mycangium development:(1) young teneral adults had an empty, deflated and cryptic mycangium without fungal mass;(2) in fully mature adults during dispersal, the promesonotal membrane was inflated, and most individuals developed a mycangium mostly filled with the symbiont, though size and symmetry varied;and (3) after successful establishment of their new galleries, most females discharged the bulk of the fun gal inoculum and deflated the mycangium. Experimental aposymbiotic individuals demonstrated that the pronotal membrane invaginated independently of the presence of the fungus, but the fungus was required for inflation. Mycangia are more dynamic than previously thought, and their morphological changes correspond to the phases of the symbiosis. Importantly, studies of the fungal symbionts or plant pathogen transmission in ambrosia beetles need to consider which developmental stage to sample. We provide illustrations of the different stages, including microphotography of dissections and micro-CT scans.
文摘Understanding the attributes of traditional, location-specific land-use systems will provide insights for improvement of such systems and design of new ones for wider applicability. The integrated rice ＋ fish system developed by the Apatani tribe of Ziro valley, Arunachal Pradesh, Northeastern India is such a unique system. Faced with shortages of their staple food items （rice and fish）, these subsistence farmers developed this ingenious system--in preference to the wide-spread shifting cultivation in the region--by capitalizing on the good water supply （from rainfall supplemented by natural flow from hills surrounding the valley）. Two rice crops are grown annually and fish is reared in paddy fields during the main rainy season. Crop residues and animal wastes are the sources of nutrients to crops, chemical fertilizers and insecticides are not used. Over the years, rice yield has been stable at about 3,700 kg.ha-1.year-1. Recently, UNESCO has tentatively added the valley as a ＂world heritage site＂ recognizing its ＂extremely high productivity＂ and ＂unique＂ ecological preservation. The resilience and the sustainability of the system could be attributed to efficient nutrient cycling and nutrient input through water seeping in from surrounding hills, which have not been, but deserve to be, quantified.
文摘Genetic manipulation of cellulose biosynthesis in trees may provide novel insights into the growth and development of trees. To explore this possibility, the overexpression of an aspen secondary wall-associated cellulose synthase （PtdCesAS） gene was attempted in transgenic aspen （Populus tremuloides L.） and unexpectedly resulted in silencing of the transgene as well as its endogenous counterparts. The main axis of the transgenic aspen plants quickly stopped growing, and weak branches adopted a weeping growth habit. Furthermore, transgenic plants initially developed smaller leaves and a less extensive root system. Secondary xylem （wood） of transgenic aspen plants contained as little as 10% cellulose normalized to dry weight compared to 41% cellulose typically found in normal aspen wood. This massive reduction in cellulose was accompanied by proportional increases in lignin （35%） and non-cellulosic polysaccharides （55%） compared to the 22% lignin and 36% non-cellulosic polysaccharides in control plants. The transgenic stems pro- duced typical collapsed or ＇irregular＇ xylem vessels that had altered secondary wall morphology and contained greatly reduced amounts of crystalline cellulose. These results demonstrate the fundamental role of secondary wall cellulose within the secondary xylem in maintaining the strength and structural integrity required to establish the vertical growth habit in trees.
基金National Science Foundation Macrosystems Biology(grant number 1241932 and 1638702)United States Department of Agriculture,National Institute of Food and Agriculture(grant number 2013-38420-20517).
文摘Aim The ability to quantitatively measure the continuum of macroscale patterns of species invasion is a first step toward deeper understand-ing of their causal factors.We took advantage of two centuries worth of herbarium data,to evaluate a set of metrics to measure macroscale patterns,allowing cross-species comparisons of inva-sive expansion across large geographic areas.Methods We used herbarium specimens to reconstruct county-level invasion histories for two non-native plants(Alliaria petiolata and Lonicera japonica),with distinct spatiotemporal distribution patterns over the past two centuries.Using county centroids from species’ini-tial occurrences,we quantified point pattern metrics from multiple disciplines(e.g.urban crime analysis,landscape ecology etc.)that are historically used at smaller spatial scales,to evaluate their abil-ity to detect macroscale spatial diffusion and amount of directional expansion.Metrics were further assessed for their ease of use,data requirements,independence from other metrics and intuitiveness of interpretation.Important Findings We identified four suitable metrics for distinguishing differences in spatial patterns:(i)standard distance,(ii)number of patches,(iii)Euclidean nearest neighbor summary class statistic coefficient of variation and(iv)mean center that when applied to county-level presence data allowed us to determine the directions by which distributions expanded and if distributions increased via outward expansion,infilling and/or jump dispersal events.These metrics when compared during the same invasion phase are capable of quantifying macroscale variability among species in their distri-butional and dispersal patterns.Being able to quantify differences among species in these patterns is important in understanding the drivers of species dispersal patterns.These metrics therefore repre-sent a simple yet thorough toolset for achieving this goal.
基金WMT was funded by an NSERC-CGS-D,The W.Garfield Weston Foundation,and Polar Knowledge CanadaPBM was supported by the Packard Fellowship.SJC was supported by NSERC and the Canada Research Chairs Program.
文摘Hydropower production is one of the greatest threats to fluvial ecosystems and freshwater biodiversity.Now that we have entered the Anthropocene,there is an opportunity to reflect on what might constitute a‘sustainable’Anthropocene in the context of hydropower and riverine fish populations.Considering elements of existing practices that promote favorable social-ecological outcomes(i.e.,‘bright spots’)is timely given that there are plans to expand hydropower capacity in previously undammed rivers,intensify dam development in some of the world's largest river systems,and re-license existing facilities.We approach this from a pragmatic perspective:for the foreseeable future,hydropower will likely remain an important source of renewable electricity.To offer support for moving toward a more‘sustainable’Anthropocene,we provide syntheses of best practices during the siting,design,construction,operation,and compensation phases of hydropower development to minimize impacts on inland fish.For each phase,we offer positive examples(or what might be considered‘bright spots’)pertaining to some of the approaches described within our syntheses,acknowledging that these projects may not be viewed as without ecological and(or)societal detriment by all stakeholders.Our findings underscore the importance of protecting critical habitat and free-flowing river reaches through careful site selection and basinscale planning,infrastructure designs that minimize reservoir effects and facilitate safe passage of fish,construction of hydropower plants using best practices that minimize long-term damage,operating guidelines that mimic natural flow conditions,and compensation that is lasting,effective,inclusive,and locally relevant.Learning from these‘bright spots’may require engagement of diverse stakeholders,professionals,and governments at scales that extend well beyond a given site,river,or even basin.Indeed,environmental planning that integrates hydropower development into broader discussions of conserving regional biodiversity and ecosystem services will be of utmost importance.
