Table of Content

10 March 2025, Volume 44 Issue 3

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Niche characteristics and interspecific associations of main species in Glyptostrobus pensilis-Alnus trabeculosa community in Youxi County, Fujian Province.

TAO Lei, HUANG Yongrong, CAI Dedan, LUO Suzhen, XIAO Xiangxi, ZHANG Lanqi, HUANG Yunpeng

2025, 44(3):  705-712.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.027

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We explored the niche characteristics and interspecific associations of main species in Glyptostrobus pensilis-Alnus trabeculosa community in Dongshan Village, Youxi County, Fujian Province. The abundance of plant species was investigated by adjacent lattice survey method. The results showed that the importance value (61.03%) and niche breadth (7.28) of A. trabeculosa were the largest in the tree layer, followed by G. pensilis (33.18%, 4.87). In the shrub layer, the importance value (41.16%) and niche breadth (10.31) of A. trabeculosa were the highest, followed by Hydrangea paniculata (25.51%, 6.24). Osmundastrum cinnamomeum and Mosla cavaleriei were dominant species in herb layer. In the tree layer, the niche overlap value of A. trabeculosa and G. pensilis was greater than 0.5, demonstrating a competitive relationship. In the shrub and herb layers, species pairs with niche overlap values greater than 0.5 accounted for 19.70% and 16.34% respectively, indicating interspecific competition. The overall association of tree layer (0.62) and shrub layer (0.68) showed a non-significant negative association. The herb layer (0.46) showed a significant positive association. The community was in an unstable succession stage. There was a significant negative correlation (-0.95) and strong competition between A. trabeculosa and G. pensilis. There was no seedling regeneration of G. pensilis in the shrub layer. The expansion of A. trabeculosa affected the growth of G. pensilis. Our results can provide a reference for the protection of G. pensilis and the maintenance of community stability.





Effect of low-altitude transplantation on functional traits of saplings of six Rhododendron species.

ZHANG Yongqiang, LI Mingxi, ZENG Wenxi, WANG Fei, YU Haiqing, ZHANG Chao, SHAO Huimin, MA Wenbao, DONG Tingfa

2025, 44(3):  713-719.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.022

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Leaf functional traits have been widely used to characterize plant responses and adaptations to environmental changes. Rhododendron spp. are important horticultural and ecologically valuable species, the heat sensitivity of which limits their survival in low-altitude areas. However, few studies have examined the response of Rhododendron to climate warming based on functional traits. In this study, we compared the differences in leaf morphology \[leaf mass (LM), leaf area (LA), leaf thickness (LT), specific leaf area (SLA)\], leaf dry matter content (LDMC), nutrients \[leaf nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), nitrogen-phosphorus ratio (N/P)\] and net photosynthetic rate (P_n) of saplings of six Rhododendron species at two altitudes in Dujiangyan area of Sichuan Province. The results showed that: (1) There were significant differences in leaf morphology (except SLA), nutrient concentrations (except leaf P), and P_n among the six Rhododendron species at high altitude (1800 m), but no significant difference in LMDC and P_n between species after transplantation at low altitude (550 m). (2) In general, low-altitude transplantation significantly increased SLA, P_n, N and P, and decreased LM, LA, LT and LDMC. The response magnitudes of these traits were different among different species. (3) For the trait correlations, P_n was significantly positively correlated with SLA, N content and N/P in high-altitude habitats, but not significantly after low-altitude transplantation. These results implied inconsistent sensitivity of different Rhododendron species to temperature increases. Our results can provide a scientific basis for understanding the responses and adaptation of Rhododendron species in the context of global warming.





Response of female and male mulberry seedlings to neighbors with different genders.

HUANG Junhan, LIU Yibo, WANG Yaman, HUANG Pingping, DONG Tingfa

2025, 44(3):  720-727.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.052

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Recent studies have shown that plant responses to neighboring plants are correlated with the “identity” of neighbors. Dioecious plants play crucial role in maintaining ecosystem functions. Few studies have focused on how dioecious plants respond to neighbors with different genders. In this study, we compared the direction and intensity of neighbor effects on biomass and root morphology of female/male seedlings grown with sex-associated neighbors in the important economic and ecological tree species, Morus alba. The results showed that: (1) stem biomass and total biomass of both male and female mulberry trees were significantly reduced under intra-sex neighbors, compared with the condition without neighbors. Under intersex neighbors, root biomass of females was significantly increased, and stem biomass and total biomass of males were significantly reduced. (2) In terms of neighbor effects, intra-sex neighbors had significant negative effects on root biomass, leaf biomass, leaf weight ratio, total root volume and total root surface area of female plants, and showed significant positive effects on male plants. Inter-sex neighbors had significant negative effects on stem biomass, total biomass, and stem weight ratio of both male and female mulberry trees, and had significant positive effects on root weight ratio, root shoot ratio and total root volume. (3) Total root surface area and total root volume of female plants were significantly smaller than those of male plants under intra-sex neighboring plants, while those of female plants were significantly larger than those of male plants under inter-sex co-planting. These results demonstrated that the response of mulberry to neighboring plants was related to the sex of neighboring plants, and this response was sex-specific. By exploring plant neighbor effect from the perspective of plant sex, our results may provide new research content investigating plant-plant interactions and offer novel insights for the establishment of high-yielding mulberry plantations.





Regional variation in nutritional and flavor quality of bamboo shoots (Pleioblastus amarus) and its environmental drivers.

ZHANG Jingrun, ZUO Keyi, FAN Lili, GUO Ziwu, LIN Hua, HU Ruicai, CHEN Shuanglin

2025, 44(3):  728-735.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.040

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We aimed to reveal the geographic differentiation of the nutritional and flavor quality of Pleioblastus amarus shoots and clarify the main environmental drivers of bamboo shoot quality variation, and to provide a theoretical basis for the cultivation of high-quality bamboo shoots. Pearson correlation analysis, least significant difference analysis, and structural equation modeling were used to analyze the nutritional and flavor quality of bamboo shoots and their interrelationships with environmental factors in three different regions (Qianshan County, Anhui Province; Longyou County, Zhejiang Province; and Shaxian District, Fujian Province). The results showed that the nutritional quality indices of P. amarus shoots generally increased firstly and then decreased with increasing latitude. The contents of starch, protein, fat, cellulose, and lignin in P. amarus shoots were significantly higher from Longyou and Shaxian than that from Qianshan, while the content of vitamin C was significantly higher in P. amarus shoot form Longyou than that from Qianshan. The contents of tannin, oxalic acid, total acid and alkaloid in bamboo shoots increased gradually, while the content of soluble sugar and the sugar-acid ratio for bamboo shoots decreased with increasing latitude. Furthermore, the contents of tannin, oxalic acid, and total acid in bamboo shoots were significantly lower from Shaxian and Longyou than that from Qianshan, while the soluble sugar content and sugar-acid ratio of bamboo shoots displayed an opposite trend. The alkaloid content was significantly lower in bamboo shoots from Shaxian than that form Longyou and Qianshan. Total flavonoids, calcium, and magnesium contents in bamboo shoots did not differ significantly among the three regions. The fresh and sweet amino acid contents were significantly higher in bamboo shoots from Shaxian than that from Longyou and Qianshan. The bitter amino acid content was the highest in bamboo shoots from Longyou and the lowest in bamboo shoots from Qianshan. The differences were significant among the three regions. The essential and total amino acid contents in Shaxian and Longyou was significantly higher than that in Qianshan. Pearson correlation analysis and structural equation modeling showed that soil factors were significantly positively correlated with the nutritional and flavor quality of bamboo shoots, while climatic factors were significantly negatively correlated with the flavor quality of bamboo shoots and had minor effects on the nutritional quality of bamboo shoots. Moreover, soil hydrolyzable nitrogen and total phosphorus contents were the main driving factors for the variation of nutritional quality. The average annual temperature, the maximum annual temperature, and the soil hydrolyzable nitrogen and total phosphorus contents were the main driving factors for the variation of flavor quality. Nutritional and flavor qualities of bamboo shoots of P. amarus varied significantly in different regions, and the variations in nutritional quality of bamboo shoots were mainly driven by soil factors, while the variation in flavor quality was driven by both soil and climate factors.





Effects of planting ages on understory plants and their interspecific associations in eucalyptus plantations.

WU Xingao, HOU Manfu, LIU Yuting, WANG Yang

2025, 44(3):  736-744.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.019

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Understory plants are an important component of biodiversity in forest plantations and play a key role in maintaining ecosystem functions. To understand the impacts of planting age on understory plants, we conducted a comparative analysis of the composition and diversity of understory plants in the first and second generation Eucalyptus plantations. The interspecific associations of understory plants were evaluated using variance ratio (VR), χ² test and Spearman rank correlation test. The results showed that: (1) The Sorenson similarity index of species in shrub layer and herb layer was high between the first and second generations. The shared species were mainly pioneer species and those with strong disturbance resistance. The dominance of species changed obviously. The ranking of importance value of species changed significantly. The dominant species in the shrub and herb layers of the first generation plantation, Litsea glutinosa and Dicranopteris pedata were replaced by Eucalyptus urophylla and Microlepia speluncae in the second generation plantation. (2) Species richness significantly decreased from the first generation to the second generation plantation, with a significant increase in the species diversity of the herb layer and no significant difference in the shrub layer. (3) The overall species association in the shrub layer shifted from a significant positive association to a non-significant negative association with increasing planting age, while that in the herb layer remained significantly positive but weakened. The proportion of positively associated species pairs decreased, and there was a tendency towards negative associations. Successively planting Eucalyptus plantation exerted a controlling impact on the composition and diversity of understory species, leading to weakened interspecific associations. However, the importance value of certain species, such as Litsea glutinosa, Pteris semipinnata, Microlepia speluncae, and the number of the positively associated species pairs either remained stable or showed a rapid increase in the second generation plantation, indicating that they are of great significance for maintaining understory biodiversity. Our results reveal understory species composition and interspecific associations in plantations, which provides a new perspective for understanding the maintenance of understory biodiversity and the enhancement of ecosystem functions of plantations.





Effects of inoculation of mycorrhizal fungi and slow-release fertilizer addition on the C∶N∶P stoichiometry of Cyclobalanopsis gilva  seedlings.

HUANG Shengyi, WU Renchao, SU Guanglang, XU Weike, WANG Xiuhua, ZHOU Zhichun, WANG Bin

2025, 44(3):  745-754.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.020

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Revealing the response of C, N and P contents and ecostoichiometric characteristics of leaves, stems and roots of Cyclobalanopsis gilva seedlings to the addition of slow-release fertilizer and inoculation of mycorrhizal fungi can provide scientific basis for improving nutrient use efficiency of Cyclobalanopsis gilva seedlings in the cultivation. In this study, 1-year-old seedlings of C. gilva were inoculated with mycorrhizal fungi (inoculation concentration of 36.28 mg·mL^-1 of Pisolithus tinctorius) under application of slow-release fertilizer (five levels of 1.50, 2.25, 3.00, 3.75, 4.50 kg·m^-3). The differences of nutrient concentration, nutrient accumulation, allocation proportions, and stoichiometric ratios in different organs of the seedlings of C. gilva under different treatments were analyzed. The results showed that the inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi primarily affected root N concentration and C∶N ratio and N∶P ratio of C. gilva seedlings. Following inoculation, root N concentration and N∶P ratio increased by 11.60% and 16.36%, respectively (P<0.01), while the C∶N ratio decreased by 10.46% (P<0.05). The addition of slow-release fertilizer mainly influenced P concentration, C∶P ratio and N∶P ratio in various organs. Fertilization had no significant effect on C and N concentration and C∶N ratio. The P concentration of all organs increased significantly with increasing fertilization level, and C∶P showed a decreasing trend. 3.00 kg·m^-3 was the most suitable level for slow-release fertilizer. The addition level higher than 3.00 kg·m^-3 of slow-release fertilizer could increase the P concentration, but would reduce the nutrient use efficiency and nutrient accumulation. Inoculation and fertilization had a positive interaction effect on stem C concentration and leaf C∶P in seedlings. Inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi reduced the difference of C concentration in stems and roots of seedlings among different fertilization levels, increased the accumulation of C, N and P in each organ, significantly increased the proportion of C and P in leaves and stems, and significantly decreased the proportion of C and P in roots. Inoculation reduced the correlation between nutrient concentrations in different organs, particularly between C and N concentration, while it increased the correlation between C, N, and P stoichiometric ratios in different organs. In conclusion, inoculation of mycorrhizal fungi can promote nutrient accumulation in seedlings, and reduce the influence of soil nutrients on seedling growth. The combination of fertilization and inoculation can alleviate the nutrient limitation of seedling growth. Our results can provide a theoretical reference for the efficient cultivation of C. gilva seedlings.





Effects of fertilization timing on belowground bud bank and its relationship with vegetation of degraded meadow steppe.

TAO Jin, TIAN Jiatai, LI Dongmei, MA Qun, ZHANG Zhiming, LIU Wei, PAN Qingmin, QIAN Jianqiang

2025, 44(3):  755-762.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.051

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Climate change and human disturbance have resulted in the continuous increase of degraded grassland area in China. Nutrient addition is considered as one of the effective measures for grassland restoration. We conducted a nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) addition experiment in a degraded grassland in the semi-arid meadow steppe of Inner Mongolia. We investigated the responses of belowground bud banks and their relationships with vegetation to nutrient additions at different times (early-spring or middle-summer). Results showed that summer nutrient addition significantly increased bud density and aboveground shoot density, while early-spring nutrient addition had no significant influences. Nutrient additions at different times significantly decreased meristem limitation index. Plant functional groups showed specific responses to nutrient addition. Nutrient addition significantly reduced shoot density of forbs. Summer nutrient addition significantly increased bud density and shoot density of bunchgrasses, meristem limitation index, of which was significantly decreased under nutrient addition at different times. Nutrient addition significantly increased both bud density and shoot density of rhizomatous grasses. Our results indicate that summer nutrient addition greatly increases vegetation regeneration potential, and different responses of plant functional groups to nutrient addition determine vegetation restoration and succession dynamics in degraded meadow steppe.





Effect of O₂ on the electron transport rate of soybean.

AN Ting, TU Haihua, KANG Huajing, YANG Xiaolong, WANG Fubiao, YE Zipiao

2025, 44(3):  763-771.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.004

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O₂ plays an important role in photosynthesis and organic matter accumulation as a byproduct of oxygen-releasing photosynthesis and as a competitor to the carboxylation reaction of ribulose 1,5-diphosphate (RuBP). We used a LI-6400-40 photosynthetic analyzer to measure the fluorescence and gas exchange of soybean (Glycine max) leaves at 2%, 11%, 21% and 31% O₂ concentrations. A mechanistic model for the photosynthesis-light response was used to fit the light-response curve of the electron transport rate. The results showed that there were significant differences in the maximum electron transfer rate (J_max) of soybean leaves under different O₂ concentrations, with greater J_max values under higher O₂ concentrations. The J_max of soybean leaves at 31% O₂ concentration was 2.15 times higher than that at 2% O₂ concentration. The mechanism model was used to elucidate the underlying reason for the substantial impact of O₂ concentration on J_max, which can be attributed to the modulation of O₂ concentration on effective light energy cross-section of chlorophyll. Furthermore, the minimum average life-time of harvesting pigment molecules (τ_min) in soybean leaves at 31% O₂ concentration was far shorter than that at 2% O₂ concentration, which may lead to a higher exciton utilization efficiency (Φ) in the former. This study provides a theoretical basis and research tools for investigating the influences of O₂ concentrations on the electron transfer rate of soybean leaves and the physical characteristics of chlorophyll molecules.





Effects of different disturbance methods on wind-proof and sand-fixing of desert plants in the southern margin of Taklimakan Desert.

DU Yi, ZHANG Yulin, ZHAO Guangxing, CONG Mengfei, DONG Xinping, GAO Yanju, ZHANG Zhihao, WAQAR Islam, ZENG Fanjiang

2025, 44(3):  772-779.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.046

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In the transitional zone between desert and oasis, addressing wind prevention and sand fixation is crucial for combating desertification. Alhagi sparsifolia, a prevalent deep-rooted species in desert, plays a vital role in this process. Unfortunately, due to improper local usage, vegetation suffered extensive damage. To examine the impact of various interference methods on the growth of A. sparsifolia and soil wind erosion, five treatments were implemented: control (CK), cutting in spring (CS), burning in spring (BS), cutting in fall (CF), and flood water irrigation (FI). Over 13 years (2010-2023), the control group exhibited significantly greater plant height and crown width compared to other disturbance methods, and the diversity index, evenness index and species richness after FI were significantly higher than those of other interference methods. There were no differences for soil pH, electrical conductivity, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, total potassium, and available phosphorus among the various disturbance modes. However, FI demonstrated a significantly lower soil available nitrogen content compared to CK, while soil organic carbon and available potassium contents were notably lower than those in CS. BS exhibited a significantly lower soil erosion height than other disturbance methods. Additionally, soil erosion height was positively correlated with plant height and crown width. These findings offer a scientific foundation for better protection and rational utilization of A. sparsifolia and other desert vegetation resources.





Spatial distribution and combustibility of fuels of main forest types in Guangzhou City.

WANG Qingfei, HAO Zezhou, LI Le, GAO Bingtao, WANG Shengjie, HONG Wei, ZHUANG Xiaochun, LI Jiarui, PEI Nancai

2025, 44(3):  780-789.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.023

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The spatial distribution and combustibility of forest fuels are decisive for the occurrence and spread of forest fires. In this study, stand structure characteristics and fuel spatial distribution in 16 forest stands from Guangzhou City were obtained by terrestrial laser scanning. The surface fuel load was measured by ground measurement and standard sampling methods. Leaves of dominant tree species in different stands were collected to measure physicochemical properties. One-way ANOVA was used to compare the spatial distribution of fuels and the differences in the physicochemical properties of leaves of dominant tree species among different stands, to analyze the potential fire behaviors and fire dangers. The comprehensive scores of combustibility of different stands were calculated by principal component analysis (PCA), while the fire risk grading was classified by cluster analysis. The results showed that there were significant differences in spatial distribution of fuels and the physicochemical properties of leaves of dominant tree species among 16 forest stands. The 16 forest stands could be classified into four fire danger grades based on combustibility: (1) Pinus massoniana forest and Cunninghamia lanceolata forest had the very high fire risk; (2) pine and broadleaved mixed forest, Cunninghamia lanceolata and broadleaved mixed forest, Castanopsis chinensis forest, Eucalyptus forest, and Acacia confusa forest had high fire risk; (3) Schima superba forest had the moderate fire risk; (4) broadleaved mixed forest, Castanopsis fissa forest, Acacia auriculiformis forest, Castanea henryi forest, Elaeocarpus apiculatus forest, Machilus chinensis forest, Schefflera octophylla forest, and Liquidambar formosana forest had low fire risk. According to the combustibility and fire risk grade of different stands, the corresponding fuel management measures and forest fire prevention countermeasures were proposed, which would provide theoretical support and scientific guidance for the deployment of forest fire prevention resources and the construction of fire prevention forest belt in Guangzhou.





Decomposition of typical emergent plants in Hengshui Lake.

ZHANG Bingye, HUANG Faming, SUN Ning, XIE Pei, SUN Mingdong, QIAO Fei

2025, 44(3):  790-797.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.006

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During the decomposition of emergent plants, nutrients are released into water, which will influence water quality, ecosystem stability, and even material cycling in the wetland. It is important to study the decomposition of emergent plants for the understanding of nutrient cycling in the wetland. In this study, we examined the degradation patterns of Phragmites australis and Typha latifolia, two typical aquatic plant species in Hengshui Lake, under different nitrogen concentrations. We further analyzed the effects of nutrient release on water quality during decomposition. The results showed that there were significant differences between those two species in terms of residue rate and effect on water quality. The decomposition process of both species had obvious stages. The residue rate was higher at the beginning and lower in the later stage. The decomposition rate of both species was improved by about 20% at the beginning, but the final degradation rate was not affected. The water quality indices during the decomposition of both species showed a trend of “slow rise-rapid rise-slow decline”. The effect of Phragmites australis decomposition on water quality was significantly higher than that of Typha latifolia, but the high nitrogen condition had no obvious effect on nutrient concentration in the water.





Dew formation pattern and environmental driving mechanism of orange orchard in dry-hot valley region.

XUE Xiongwei, QIU Lucheng, ZHANG Jingying, ZHU Xuanrong, WANG Shujian, CHEN Dianyu

2025, 44(3):  798-806.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.007

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Clarifying the characteristics of dew events and the main controlling environmental factors of dew formation in orange orchards in the dry-hot valley region can provide scientific basis for assessing drought mitigation by dew resources in agriculture. Dew, soil water content and meteorological data were analyzed during July 8, 2020 to November 13, 2022 in an orange orchard of Yuanjiang dry-hot valley region. At the daily scale, dew events with an amount range of 0.2-0.4 mm·d^-1 happened most frequently. The highest occurrence chance was observed for dew events with a duration of 0-2 h and 2-4 h per day. At the seasonal scale, dew events mainly concentrated in July to November. Moreover, the coefficients of variation of dew amount across all seasons were significantly smaller than those of precipitation amount. Dew occurrence frequency reached the maximum under the following conditions: wind speed of 0-1 m·s^-1, relative humidity of more than 80%, vapor pressure deficit of 0-0.4 kPa, and temperature-dew point difference within 1-2 ℃. Furthermore, the wind direction interval of 150° to 310° was beneficial to dew formation. Relative humidity and temperature-dew point difference had the greatest influence on dew formation, being the common main controlling environmental factors in different seasons. Dew was more stable than rainfall, and was an important source of moisture for orange orchards in the dry-hot valley region. Especially in the dry season with limited rainfall, dew occurred at the highest frequency, which has a potential role in alleviating the impacts of drought in orange orchards. Additionally, the considerable amount of dew in the rainy season can provide additional water replenishment to orange orchards during the short intermittent drought periods.





Plant community diversity and soil organic carbon storage in Huangpi wetland.

CHEN Xiaorong, ZHU Zhicheng, HU Xunyu, YANG Zhongjie, XIE Hongbo, CHEN Chaohao, ZHANG Hanyu, LUO Yuanyuan, ZHANG Aiying

2025, 44(3):  807-813.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.053

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Wetland is an important carbon pool. Exploring the carbon storage of wetlands is significant to global carbon cycle and wetland conservation. Here, we investigated plant community diversity and soil organic carbon storage in Baishanzu Huangpi wetland, a subtropical subalpine marsh. The results showed that: (1) A total of 54 plant species (belonging to 26 families, 44 genera) were recorded. Most species were from the Cyperaceae family (13 species), followed by Poaceae (5 species). The remaining species were scattered in other families. (2) There was no significant difference in species richness and Shannon index among four typical communities. The Simpson index and Pielou index of the Rhynchospora faberi community were significantly lower than other three communities. The Rhynchospora faberi community had the highest carbon storage (1225.36 g·m^-2). (3) There were no significant differences in biomass and aboveground/underground biomass ratio among six dominant species, whereas carbon storage, and aboveground/underground carbon storage ratio showed significant difference. The carbon content of roots, stems and leaves of the six dominant species were higher than 40%. (4) Soil organic carbon content and density of Huangpi wetland were relatively high. The total ecosystem carbon storage was 0.018 Tg. Compared with other wetlands, Huangpi wetland had a higher carbon density and stock. Therefore, Huangpi wetland provides a good carbon sink function and has high conservation value.





Variations of dissolved inorganic carbon in small ponds in agricultural basins.

CHEN Jianing, XIAO Qitao, LIU Zhenjing, QIU Yinguo, HU Zhenghua

2025, 44(3):  814-822.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.008

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Inland water bodies are crucial to global carbon cycle and greenhouse gas budget estimations, with dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) playing a central role in aquatic carbon dynamics. We investigated the characteristics and influencing factors of DIC concentrations based on year-long field observations on three functionally different ponds (aquaculture pond, sewage pond, and natural pond) of the Tongyang River Basin, a typical agricultural basin in eastern China. The results showed that there were significant differences in DIC concentration among the ponds with functional differences. Aquaculture pond had the highest DIC, with an annual mean value of 22.04±5.44 mg·L^-1, followed by sewage pond (17.84±2.50 mg·L^-1). The lowest DIC concentrations occurred in natural pond (14.56±1.74 mg·L^-1). Seasonal fluctuations in DIC were found in these ponds. A notable feature was that natural pond showed higher concentrations in the cold season and lower in the warm mostly due to the seasonal changes in temperature and precipitation. In contrast, DIC concentrations in aquaculture and sewage ponds showed different seasonal trends, which were influenced mainly by water body nutrient loads (e.g. NH₃-N and TP). In summary, the significant spatiotemporal variations of DIC in these small ponds of agricultural watersheds were related to the inter-connected physical, chemical, and biological factors. More attention should be paid on aquatic carbon cycling in small ponds of agricultural watersheds.





Ecological risk assessment of road impacts on wetland landscapes in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

ZHANG Dongshui, LI Yongxing, HAN Yongshun, LI Tongsheng, LI Xiuquan, WEI Jianchao, ZHONG Pin, LI Yuefeng

2025, 44(3):  823-833.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.025

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The expansion of road networks has resulted in the fragmentation of wetland landscapes, decreased connectivity and increased ecological risks, presenting a big challenge to wetland conservation and sustainable development in the ecologically fragile regions of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Quantitative assessment of the impacts of roads on landscape patterns and ecological risks, as well as their spatial heterogeneity, is crucial to comprehending the effects of roads on wetlands. We investigated the quantitative relationships between the impacts of roads on the structure of different wetland landscapes and the associated ecological risks, along with their spatial-temporal variations from 1990 to 2020 in the Yangtze River Source Area within the Sanjiangyuan National Park on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Data were analyzed with scenario analysis, spatial association, and geographically weighted regression. The results showed that: (1) Road expansion enlarged the differences of landscape structure of different wetland types. The most significant effects were observed in the patch density and landscape shape index of riparian wetlands, and the connectivity of salt marshes, while the impact on lakes was minimal. (2) Over the past three decades, road network density increased more rapidly in the southeast, mainly characterized by low-density growth centered around villages. The areas of wetland landscapes at high, relatively high, and moderate ecological risk levels showed a stepwise declining trend, with high-risk zones being concentrated in salt marshes, glacial wetlands, and the confluence of riverine and marshy wetlands. (3) Throughout the study period, the area primarily witnessed an increase in clusters of high road density and low ecological risk. These clusters were concentrated in areas with lower-grade roads, indicating that the addition of lower-grade roads did not significantly affect the ecological risk to wetland landscapes. Conversely, areas with high ecological risk and high road density were predominantly concentrated along the G109 highway. Wetland landscapes adjacent to higher-grade roads faced higher ecological risk. Moreover, in the central salt marsh and riparian wetland zones, road density exhibited a positive correlation with wetland landscape ecological risk, suggesting that the construction of higher-grade roads would enhance ecological risk to wetland landscapes. Our findings provide a scientific foundation to guide wetland conservation and road construction in the ecologically fragile regions of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.





Factors driving differentiation in ecosystem service supply-demand in karst regions at the optimal scale.

CHEN Tiantian, WEN Wanqin, WANG Qiang

2025, 44(3):  834-847.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.033

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Exploring the spatiotemporal variations, scale effects, and underlying drivers of the supply-demand relationship of ecosystem services in karstic, ecologically fragile regions is essential for improving regional ecosystem services, balancing relationships, and formulating diverse regulatory plans. In this study, we focused on four types of ecosystem services: soil conservation, water yield, carbon sequestration, and food supply. We analyzed the spatiotemporal variation in the supply, supply-demand relationships, and the scale effect of the spatial differentiation of ecosystem service supply-demand relationships in Guizhou Province. Furthermore, we elucidated the spatial differentiation mechanism of ecosystem service supply-demand relationships at the optimal scale according to the exploratory spatial analysis and the optimal parameters-based Geographical Detectors Model. The results showed that: (1) the supply and demand of the four ecosystem services increased from 2000 to 2020. All ecosystem services except water yield were in surplus, and the surplus status decreased over time. (2) The supply-demand relationships of ecosystem services showed spatial variations. The regions with a high value of soil conservation supply and demand were mainly distributed on the edge of the study area with high vegetation coverage, while those with a low value of soil conservation supply demand were mainly located in the hinterland. The regions with a high value of supply and demand of water production, carbon sequestration, and food supply were scattered in the central towns/cities, whereas those with low values were distributed throughout the region. The supplydemand surplus in the eastern regions with low elevation and high vegetation coverage was more pronounced than that in the eastern regions. (3) The comparative analysis of the scale for the four ecosystem service types, which included eight levels, indicated that the township was the most suitable scale for analyzing the spatial differentiation of ecosystem service supply-demand relationship. This scale reflected more diverse supply and demand characteristics of ecosystem services. (4) At the township scale, population density, normalized difference vegetation index, and gross domestic product were the main forces causing spatial differentiation of ecosystem service supply-demand relationships. The interaction between different forces was higher than that of single force, with slope and population density being the most prominent. This study quantitatively identified the optimal scale for ecosystem service supply and demand divergence and the underlying drivers for this scale through multi-scale analysis, providing a scientific basis for the accurate implementation of ecological restoration projects in karst regions.





Influence of afforestation on soil bacterial community structure in karst canyon rocky desertification area.

WANG Shasha, LAN Jiacheng, QI Xue, WANG Junxian, LONG Qixia, HUANG Mingzhi, LIU Lei, YUE Kunqian

2025, 44(3):  848-856.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.047

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Soil microorganisms are important indicator for evaluating the effectiveness of vegetation restoration in karst ecosystems. However, the response of soil microbial communities to vegetation restoration remains uncertain due to the influence of biotic and abiotic factors. Whether soil physicochemical properties, as one of the main factors affecting the habitat of bacteria, can be directly used to infer variations in soil bacterial communities associated with land use changes in karst ecosystems remains unclear. Here we collected soil samples of surface layer (0-10 cm depth) from Zanthoxylum bungeanum forest and secondary forest in the rocky desertification area of Huajiang Karst Canyon, Guizhou, as well as cropland as a control. By using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing technology, we examined the effects of afforestation on soil properties, soil bacterial community composition, and diversity in karst rocky desertification area, as well as the main factors affecting soil bacterial community after afforestation. The results showed that the main dominant phyla of soil bacteria in all samples were Acidobacteriota, Actinobacteriota, Proteobacteria, and Chloroflexi. Afforestation significantly altered the abundance but not alpha diversity of soil bacteria. After cropland was converted to Zanthoxylum bungeanum forest and secondary forest, the relative abundance of Acidobacteriota and Actinobacteriota significantly increased, while that of Proteobacteria significantly decreased. Chloroflexi had the highest abundance in Zanthoxylum bungeanum forest. Afforestation reduced the abundance of significantly enriched bacteria and changed the type of enriched bacteria. Redundancy analysis showed that soil pH, exchangeable calcium, organic carbon, water content, bulk density, and soil silt content jointly affected bacterial community structure, with exchangeable calcium having the highest degree of influence. These results indicated that the potential interaction between soil physicochemical properties and bacterial communities may jointly affect soil bacterial community structure after afforestation in karst canyon areas.





The relationship between the genetic diversity of carbon metabolism genes in the microbial community of mossy biocrusts and soil nutrients in Baijitan, Ningxia, China.

LI Jiajia, DUAN Xiaomin, SHI Zhongran, HUI Xinrui, DING Yifan, LIU Bingru, LI Jingyu

2025, 44(3):  857-868.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.045

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Biological soil crusts (BSCs) are widely recognized as ecosystem engineers. To understand the role of BSCs in carbon cycling, we utilized metagenomic sequencing to analyze the microbial community and gene diversity in the soil attached to mosses (CRS) and the soil shaken off from mosses (BS) in the moss crust of Baijitan. The results showed that Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Chloroflexi, and Bacteroidota were the dominant phyla in the mossy crusts of Baijitan. Notably, there was no significant difference in these phyla between CRS and BS. We identified ACAT/atoB encoding acetyl-CoA C-acetyltransferase as the most abundant gene associated with carbon fixation, and ACSS1_2/acs, which encodes acetyl-CoA synthetase and is involved in methane synthesis, as the most abundant gene related to methane metabolism. Furthermore, the abundance of genes in the microbial communities of mossy crusts did not correlate with their ecological importance. This study will contribute to enhancing the understanding of the metabolic pathway of microorganisms in moss crusts and the mechanism of soil microorganisms facilitating soil nutrient accumulation at the genetic level.





Effects of forest types on nitrogen-fixing gene abundance in soil aggregates from a subtropical forest.

HAN Fengyi, DENG Milin, WAN Song, XU Chao, YE Guiping, HE Jizheng, LIN Yongxin

2025, 44(3):  869-874.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.028

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With the increasing demands for wood resources under the social development, large areas of natural forests in China have been transformed into secondary forests or plantations. Different forest types can have profound effects on ecosystem structure and function. We examined the responses of the abundance of nifH genes in soils and aggregates to forest types, including Cunninghamia lanceolata plantation and Pinus massoniana plantation formed by reforestation after clearcutting of natural Castanopsis carlesii forest, as well as secondary C. carlesii forest formed after selective logging. Results showed that soil available phosphorus (AP) and soil moisture contents in both plantations were higher than those in the secondary forest. P. massoniana plantation had significantly higher AP content than the secondary forest and C. lanceolata plantation. The abundance of nifH genes (4.26×10⁹ copies·g^-1) in P massoniana plantation was significantly higher than that in secondary forest (2.16×10⁹ copies·g^-1) and C. lanceolata plantation (3.07×10⁹ copies·g^-1). The abundance of nifH genes was significantly and positively correlated with AP and moisture contents in bulk soils. Moreover, aggregate sizes had a significant effect on the abundance of the nifH genes, with the lowest abundance in silt-clay particles and the highest in small macroaggregates in all forest types. The abundance of nifH genes in different sizes of aggregates from the P. massoniana plantation was generally higher than that from the secondary forest and C. lanceolata plantation. Overall, both forest types and soil aggregate sizes significantly influenced the abundance of nifH genes in subtropical forests, with AP and moisture contents as the critical driving factors.








Characteristics of soil bacterial community in rhizosphere of dominant plant species in Zhangze Lake National Urban Wetland Park.

YAN Shujie, PEI Penggang, TIE Jun

2025, 44(3):  875-883.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.010

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Soil microorganisms play an important role in the ecosystem functioning of wetlands. The study of wetland soil microbial diversity is crucial for understanding the structure and function of wetland ecosystems. In this study, we employed 16S rRNA amplicon high-throughput sequencing technology to analyze the diversity and structure of soil bacterial communities in rhizospher of 12 species across three life forms (trees, shrubs, and herbs) in Zhangze Lake National Urban Wetland Park. We aimed to explore the relationships between soil physicochemical properties and bacterial communities in rhizosphere soils of different life-form plants. The results showed that: (1) both Chao1 index and Shannon index of rhizosphere soil bacterial communities of trees were significantly higher than those of shrubs and herbs. Among the three plant life forms, the rhizosphere soil bacterial communities of tree species showed the highest variations. (2) Proteobacteria was the dominant phylum across all the three life forms (tree, shrub, and herb), with average relative abundance of 30.4%, 32.3%, and 30.5%, respectively. Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Gemmatimonadetes, and Actinobacteria together accounted for over 70% of total relative abundance. (3) The predominant genera associated with trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants were Vicinamibacter, Sphingomonas, and MND1, exhibiting average relative abundance of 6.1%, 4.9%, and 4.7%, respectively. (4) The α diversity of soil bacterial community was positively correlated with soil total nitrogen and organic matter contents, and negatively correlated with soil pH and total potassium content. In summary, plant life forms and soil physicochemical properties were the key factors driving the difference of soil bacterial community structure in the wetland park.





Effects of enclosure on soil organic carbon content of degraded grassland in northwest Liaoning Province.

SANG Siyue, YANG Yijie, ZHAO Jingdong, WU Yunna1, Lü Linyou, SONG Yantao

2025, 44(3):  884-891.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.041

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We examined the variation characteristics of soil organic carbon content, storage, and soil carbon sequestration capacity with the enclosure durations in a degraded grassland in the agro-pastoral ecotone of northwest Liaoning Province. The results showed that soil organic carbon storage in the 0-20 cm soil layer increased significantly by 18.6% after six years of enclosure. With increasing enclosure years, soil organic carbon content and storage showed a “W” pattern of decreasing-rising-decreasing-rising. Soil carbon sequestration potential was higher after three and six years of enclosure. The results of correlation analysis showed that soil organic carbon storage at 0-10 cm layer was significantly negatively correlated with soil pH (P<0.05) and positively correlated with litter quantity and aboveground biomass (P<0.05). Soil organic carbon storage at 10-20 cm layer was positively correlated with litter quantity and negatively correlated with plant dominance index (P<0.05). Short-term enclosure (six years) promoted soil organic carbon accumulation by increasing aboveground biomass, while slowing down organic carbon decomposition by decreasing soil pH, thereby increasing soil organic carbon content and carbon sequestration potential. This study provides technical support for the ecological restoration of degraded grasslands in northwest Liaoning Province.





Soil organic carbon fractions and chemical structure in tea gardens at different altitudes.

XU Hongda, WANG Chun, GE Maoquan, YANG Fajun, WU Ziwei, LIN Shaoying, WANG Weiqi

2025, 44(3):  892-902.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.002

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Soil organic carbon content and chemical structure affect carbon sequestration of terrestrial ecosystems and global carbon balance. We collected soil samples from typical tea plantations at different altitudes in Fuding City, Fujian Province. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and soil parameter analysis were used to analyze the content of soil carbon fractions, chemical structure and soil carbon pool management index (CPMI). The results showed that soil microbial biomass carbon (MBC) was significantly higher at high altitude than that at middle and low altitude (P<0.05). The content of soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was the highest at middle altitude (P<0.05). The content of soil easily oxidized organic carbon (EOC) and soil organic carbon (SOC) in the upper soil layers were the lowest at low altitude. The relative strength of soil alkoxy carbon was the highest. The relative strength of upper soil alkoxy carbon decreased significantly with increasing altitudes (P<0.05), while the relative strength of soil alkyl carbon and aromatic carbon showed no significant differences among altitudes (P>0.05). The relative strength of soil fat carbon was generally low, and it increased first and then decreased with increasing altitudes (P<0.05). With the increases of altitudes, the ratio of aromatic carbon/alkoxy carbon (ARC/ALC) in upper soil increased. The CPMI of upper soil was higher at middle and high altitudes than that at low altitudes. Soil SOC and its fractions were positively correlated with soil TN content and water content, and negatively correlated with bulk density. Soil alkoxy carbon was negatively correlated with soil TN content and carbon pool stability. Soil water content and TN were the key factors affecting the composition and chemical structure of soil organic carbon in tea plantations at different altitudes. The stability of upper soil organic carbon increased with increasing altitudes. In the future management practice of tea plantations, carbon sink function of upper soil at low altitude should be further strengthened.





Effects of different tillage and straw returning on soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities in sierozem, and maize yield.

WEN Meijuan, YANG Sicun, WANG Chengbao, HUO Lin

2025, 44(3):  903-911.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.003

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A field experiment with four treatments was conducted in sierozem of the Gansu Yellow River irrigation area in 2017-2021, including conventional rotary tillage (RT), rotary tillage with maize straw returning (RTS), subsoil tillage (ST), subsoil tillage with maize straw returning (STS). After harvesting maize in 2017-2021, topsoil (0-20 cm) and subsoil (20-40 cm) samples were collected. Soil physicochemical properties, soil microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen, soil extracellular enzyme activities involved in soil carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycling, and maize yield were measured. The results showed that compared with RT and RTS, ST and STS significantly increased maize yields, with the highest yields in STS. ST and STS significantly reduced soil bulk density and soil compaction of 20-40 cm soil layer, pH and EC of 0-40 cm soil layer, with the lowest in STS. Compared with RT, STS significantly increased SWC, SOC, TN, AHN, and AP in 0-40 cm soil layer. RTS, ST and STS significantly increased MBC and MBN in 0-20 cm soil layer, with the highest in STS. STS and RTS significantly increased MBC/SOC. In 20-40 cm soil layer, STS significantly increased MBC and MBN, and RTS significantly increased MBN. In 0-20 cm soil layer, ST, RTS and STS significantly increased the activity of BG and CBH, and STS significantly increased the activity of BXYL, NAG and AKP, while RTS significantly increased the activity of NAG. In 20-40 cm soil layer, STS increased the activity of BG, BXYL, CBH, NAG and AKP, RTS increased the activity of BG, and ST increased the activity of BXYL. Correlation analysis showed that, in 0-40 cm soil layer, MBC, MBN, SOC, TN, AHN, AP, SWC, BD, and EC showed significant or extremely significant correlation with the activities of various extracellular enzymes. Redundancy analysis showed that MBC and SOC were the main factors affecting soil enzyme activities, followed by MBN and pH. In conclusion, subsoil tillage with straw returning is the best tillage mode to improve soil physical properties, increase soil fertility, soil microbial biomass and enzyme activity, and thus enhance corn yield.





The forms of selenium and zinc in the soil of typical wheat-growing areas in Shanxi Province.

WANG Haoying, YANG Lifan, CHEN Ting, LIU Yang, SHI Xinye, LI Li, LI Tingliang

2025, 44(3):  912-919.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.034

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Clarifying the differences in soil selenium and zinc forms of wheat growing areas can provide theoretical basis for improving wheat quality and production efficiency and facilitate functional agriculture development. In this study, soil samples with high, medium and low levels of selenium and zinc were collected from typical wheat planting areas in Shanxi Province. The contents of soil selenium and zinc, soil organic matter (SOM), cation exchange capacity (CEC) and soil mineral composition were measured, and the differences of selenium and zinc forms in different levels and the influencing factors were further analyzed. The results showed that the sequence of different selenium forms was organically bound state (39.1%-53.8%) > residue state (33.5%-48.9%) > exchange + carbonate bound state (5.2%-5.9%) > Fe-Mn oxide-bound state (3.4%-4.5%) > water soluble state (1.0%-3.1%). The zinc content of different forms in all samples was residue state (81.0%-86.3%) > organically bound state (6.5%-8.1%) > Fe-Mn oxide-bound state (6.2%-7.5%) > carbonate-bound state (0.7%-1.9%) >exchange state (0.3%-1.5%). Organically bound selenium and residual selenium caused the difference of soil total selenium content, with contribution rate of 55.2% and 32.2%, respectively. Residual zinc was the main form causing the difference of soil total zinc, with a contribution rate of 77.4%. With the increases of total selenium content, the proportion of residual selenium decreased obviously, and the proportion of organically bound selenium increased obviously. With the increases of total zinc content, the proportion of residual zinc decreased, and the other forms of zinc increased slightly. Except for residual selenium, SOM was positively correlated with different forms of selenium and zinc (r=0.74-0.93), while CEC was not correlated with different selenium and zinc levels. The correlation between all selenium and zinc forms and corresponding total selenium and zinc was the highest (r> 0.95). The mineral composition analysis showed that the contents of pyrite, hornblende, talc and clay minerals in soil with high selenium level were significantly higher than those in soil with medium or low selenium level. The content of dolomite, pyrite and hornblende in soil with high zinc level was significantly higher than that in soil with medium or low zinc level. In general, the differences in the contents of different forms of selenium and zinc in the soil under different selenium and zinc levels were determined by the differences in total content of selenium and zinc in wheat growing area of Shanxi Province. Soil mineral composition was the material basis of the differences in selenium and zinc contents, while organic matter was the driving force for the changes in soil selenium and zinc forms.





Effects of water managements on soil stoichiometric ratios and rice yield in subtropical rice fields.

HE Jinsong, WU Xiaohong, WANG Wei, YAN Wende

2025, 44(3):  920-929.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.042

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To clarify the effects of water management on soil ecological stoichiometric ratios and rice yield, we analyzed soil nutrients, stoichiometric ratios, microbial communities, and rice yield in paddy soils under flooding-rainfed (F-RF), flooding-midseason drying-flooding (F-D-F), and continuous flooding (CF) in a subtropical region, during the early and late rice seasons. The results showed that: (1) The highest soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content and DOC/available phosphorus (AP) were observed in the F-D-F. Soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and AP contents in the CF were lower than those in the F-RF and F-D-F. (2) Soil bacterial Shannon (6.4) and Chao1 (3549.9) indices as well as rice yield (6727 kg·hm^-2) were significantly higher (P<0.05) in the F-D-F than in the FRF during the late rice season. (3) Rice yield was positively correlated with soil DOC, DOC/available nitrogen (AN) and DOC/AP (P<0.05). Soil DOC, DOC/AN, and DOC/AP were significantly correlated with bacterial alpha diversity and the relative abundances of Clostridiales and Rhizobiales. (4) Structural equation modeling indicated that increased soil bacterial alpha diversity and relative abundances of Clostridiales and Rhizobiales stimulated soil DOC accumulation, which in turn increased DOC/AN and DOC/AP and ultimately increased rice yield. In conclusion, the F-D-F treatment increased soil bacterial alpha diversity, DOC content, and DOC/AN, DOC/AP, and thus resulted in higher rice yield.





Diets and niche separation of forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) and roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) in spring in the Lyuliang Mountains, China.

PEI Chao, LI Yixin, LUO Zhengwei, HAI Luyao, LAN Xianna, HU Defu

2025, 44(3):  930-938.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.043

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Differences in resource use among ungulates with similar ecological needs affect their stable coexistence. Forest musk deer (Moschus berezovskii) and roe deer (Capreolus pygargus) have extensive overlapping distributions in North and Southwest China, which are suitable for studying niche differentiation among small and medium-sized browsers. In this study, we used noninvasive sampling and DNA metabarcoding techniques to investigate the dietary composition and habitat utilization of these two ungulates in the Lyuliang Mountains. We identified a total of 94 families, 178 genera, and 118 species from their diets. Using the Pianka index, based on the relative abundance of genus-level operational taxonomic units (OTUs), we found significant dietary differentiation between the two species (O_ik=0.31, P<0.001). This suggests that niche separation primarily occurs at the genus level of their selected dietary plants. The Shannon index, Pielou evenness index, and niche breadth index of dietary species were higher in the forest musk deer than the roe deer. In terms of spatial utilization, the two ungulates tended to use different microhabitats, particularly in slopes. In conclusion, the forest musk deer and the roe deer in the Lyuliang Mountains showed significant differences in spatial and dietary utilization patterns, which has likely contributed to their stable coexistence.





Black-throated bushtits acclimated to low temperature show higher metabolic rate and wider thermal neutral zone.

XU Mingru, SHAO Minghui, CHEN Kexin, HUANG Xingyu, JIN Hong, LIU Jinsong

2025, 44(3):  939-945.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.048

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Species distribution of animals is closely related to the metabolic thermogenesis. Basal metabolic rate (BMR) plays an important role in metabolic thermogenesis in endotherms. In this study, we examined the changes in body mass, body temperature and metabolic rate (MR) over a range of ambient temperatures (15, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38 and 40 ℃, respectively) in black-throated bushtits (Aegithalos concinnus) acclimated to cold (10 ℃) or normal (23 ℃) ambient temperature conditions for four weeks, and then calculated thermal conductance. The MR and body temperature were measured by open oxygen analyzer and a lubricated thermocouple inserted into the cloaca, respectively. Results showed that body mass and BMR of the 10 ℃ group were 6.3±0.1 g and 23.42±0.28 mL O²·h^-1, respectively, while the body mass and BMR of the 23 ℃ group were 5.9±0.1 g and 18.80±0.28 mL O²·h^-1, respectively. The thermal neutral zones (TNZ) of the 10 ℃ group and the 23 ℃ group were 26-38 ℃ and 28-34 ℃, respectively. Below the lower critical temperature, MR increased linearly with decreasing ambient temperatures (T_a), and the fitting equations of MR for the 10 ℃ group and the 23 ℃ group were MR=52.64-1.06T_a and MR=47.26-1.02T_a, respectively. Taken together, the black-throated bushtits acclimated at 10 ℃ underwent a significant increase in body mass and BMR. Furthermore, the cold-acclimated black-throated bushtits showed a lower critical temperature and a wider TNZ compared with the birds kept at 23 ℃. The plasticity of metabolism and thermogenesis benefited the birds in adapting to variations in ambient temperature to acquire a maximum fitness.





Breeding parameters and nest predation of Oriental magpie-robin (Copsychus saularis) in artificial nest boxes in Haikou, China.

XU Yuxin, FENG Yanmin, ZHENG Yuanbin, GUO Yi, MA Xuefeng, RAO Xiaodong

2025, 44(3):  946-953.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.021

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Breeding is an important component of bird life history and fitness. Nest predation is one of the important factors affecting bird life history. Therefore, accurate estimation of reproductive success rate and revealing nest predation and its influencing factors are important for understanding population dynamics of birds. In this study, the breeding ecology and nest predation of Oriental magpie-robin (Copsychus saularis) in artificial nest boxes were investigated in Haikou, Hainan Province, China in 2021 and 2022. The results showed that: (1) The earliest and latest egg-laying dates were March 19 and July 4, respectively. Mean clutch size was 4.47±0.57 (n=57), and the mean incubation period was 13.30±1.47 d (n=33). Mean egg weight was 2.28±0.65 g (n=25). Mean long diameter and short diameter of eggs were 22.21±0.84 mm and 16.38±0.37 mm (n=25), respectively. The daily incubation rate was 70.85%±5.92% (n=40). There was no significant difference in incubation time among different periods (F=0.479, df=5, P=0.820). (2) The mean brooding period was 13.32±1.18 d (n=37). There were significant differences in the number of feeding times of parent birds in different time periods (F=19.832, df=14, P<0.05). The number of feeding times between 05:00-06:00 (P=0.023) and 18:00-19:00 (P=0.043) were significantly lower than those in other periods. (3) We found a 69.49% reproductive success, 73.36% hatching rate, 73.16% fledging rate, and a fecundity rate of 2.36 per female. (4) We recorded a nest predation rate of 18.64%, with the main nest predators being Swinho’s striped squirrel (Tamiops swinhoei), Tanezumi rat (Rattus tanezumi), and ants (Formicidae spp.). In addition, we recorded incidences of non-parental male infanticides in the Oriental magpie-robin. Our results laid a foundation for further research on sexual selection of Oriental magpie-robin.





Calling rhythms of Nidirana pleuraden and acoustic characteristics during different chorus periods.

WAN Lixia, GU Chaosong, CHEN Jiani, ZHOU Feng

2025, 44(3):  954-961.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.044

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The calls of male frogs convey information such as solicitation, warning, attack, showing off, courtship, and interspecific recognition, and play an important role in their reproduction. We collected 204 clear segments of calls and 21 days of diurnal calls of Nidirana pleuraden in Chenggong district, Kunming from May to July, 2023. The daily number of calls of N. pleuraden was significantly higher (P<0.01) in June than that in May and July. The peak calling period was 19:00 until the next day 04:00. There were no significant differences in dominant frequency and syllable duration of advertisement calls in different chorus periods, but highly significant differences in fundamental frequency, syllable interval, number of syllables, pulse rate, and call duration (P<0.01). At the peak of chorus, the pulse rate of competitive calls was lower (P<0.01), the syllable interval was higher (P<0.01), and there was no difference in the remaining five parameters. At the peak of chorus, the duration of encounter calls was lower (P<0.05), and there was no difference in the remaining six parameters. N. pleuraden had a peak breeding season in June. The calling behavior had a diurnal rhythm. The advertisement, competitive and encounter calls of N. pleuraden were affected by the intensity of chorus. N. pleuraden adjusted the advertisement call parameters during the peak of chorus, and adopted the strategy of increasing the fundamental frequency, number of syllables and duration of calls and decreasing the syllable interval and pulse rate to enhance the sexual attractiveness. The probability of winning in male-male competition was enhanced by producing competitive calls with high pulse rates and short syllable intervals, and encounter calls with longer duration.





The regulating effect of millipedes on soil greenhouse gas emissions under the background of nitrogen deposition.

LI Yuanyuan, LIU Xingjie, CHEN Yueqin, ZHANG Na, REN Yuanhao, RUAN Honghua

2025, 44(3):  962-967. 

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Atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition plays an important role in soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Soil macrofauna activities of feeding, burrowing, and casting affect the biological, chemical, and physical properties of soil. However, the role of soil macrofauna on GHGs under N deposition is not well known. Here, we conducted a microcosm experiment involving two levels of N addition (N₀: without N; N⁺: N addition) and fauna (no fauna and with millipedes). We measured CO₂, N₂O, CH₄ emissions, and soil properties. Millipede and N addition interactively impacted soil CO₂ emission. N addition increased soil CO₂ emission by 19.4% without millipede, but decreased it by 7.0% with millipede. N addition increased soil N₂O emission by 206.6%, and the presence of millipede weakened this effect. Millipede significantly increased soil CH₄ emission. Soil CO₂ emission had a correlation with soil MBC, DON and NH₄⁺-N; soil N₂O emission was correlated with soil DON, soil available N and DOC; soil CH₄ emission was correlated with TDN and C/N. Our results highlight the importance of millipedes in regulating soil GHGs emission under N addition.





Effects of Galla chinensis extract and trichloroisocyanuric acid on population growth of two ciliate species.

QI Hongli, LIU Jiale, ZHANG Xinyue, LI Anqi, SUN Sihan, ZHOU Mengguang

2025, 44(3):  968-974.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.005

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We evaluated the toxicity of two commonly used aquaculture drugs, Galla chinensis extract and trichloroisocyanuric acid (TCCA), on the population dynamics of Euplotes sinica and Paramecium caudatum. Under hydrostatic conditions, acute toxicity test was conducted to investigate acute-lethal effects of both drugs, and subacute toxicity test was conducted to monitor the changes in population growth rate (r) and generation time (G) of two ciliates. The results showed that the LC₅₀ of G. chinensis extract to E. sinica and P. caudatum were 282.69 and 326.06 mg·L^-1, and 0.312 and 0.321 mg·L^-1 for TCCA, respectively. The sensitivity of both E. sinica and P. caudatum to TCCA was higher than to G. chinensis extract. The results of subacute toxicity test showed 112.58 mg·L^-1 G. chinensis extract and 0.24 mg·L^-1 TCCA had the strongest inhibition effects on population growth of E. sinica (P<0.01), with the growth rate being (0.43±0.036) d^-1, (0.39±0.004) d^-1, and generation time being (1.62±0.036) d, (1.77±0.002) d, respectively. The inhibitory effects of 135.3 mg·L^-1 G. chinensis extract and 0.25 mg·L^-1 TCCA on population growth of P. caudatum were the most significant (P<0.01), with the growth rate being (0.22±0.002) d^-1, (0.12±0.003) d^-1, generation time being (3.12±0.025) d, (5.84±0.175) d, respectively. High concentration of G. chinensis extract and TCCA could significantly inhibit population growth of the two ciliates. As an antibacterial drug, TCCA is safer than G. chinensis extract in aquaculture. Our results enriched the toxicological data of these two drugs on ciliates.





Research progress of dynamic habitat index in the field of biodiversity science.

WANG Baizhu, WANG Danyu, TU Ya, HAN Xuejiao, ZHU Yuanjun, YANG Xiaohui

2025, 44(3):  975-982.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.031

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Increased human activities are seriously disturbing the stability and balance of global ecosystems and threatening biodiversity. As global biodiversity decreases, more and more studies have used remote sensing data to assess biodiversity, environmental threats to habitats, and other issues. Dynamic habitat index (DHI), an indicator of vegetation productivity, can reflect changes in biodiversity. DHI integrates remote sensing data for one year of vegetation productivity, captures seasonal changes in energy use by species in the form of food, and characterizes spatial variation of species richness in terms of vegetation productivity. DHI consists of three indicators: cumulative annual productivity, annual minimum productivity, and seasonal variation in productivity. Cumulative annual productivity is assessed in response to the available energy hypothesis, which integrates the landscape productivity for a year and reflects the overall greenness of the landscape in terms of potential vegetation productivity. Annual minimum productivity is assessed following the environmental stress hypothesis, which mainly refers to the minimum vegetation productivity at a particular site in a year and is an important factor affecting species’ access to food and habitat. Seasonal variation in productivity is evaluated for the environmental stability hypothesis and indicates the seasonal variation in plant productivity, an indicator sensitive to extreme changes in vegetation productivity. Dynamic habitat indices are better predictors of species diversity and ecosystem diversity, provide usable information for biodiversity and natural resource monitoring and management, and have promising applications in biodiversity conservation.





Methane emissions and production mechanism in plants: A review.

LIU Xiaofan, LIU Mengran, QIU Chaoxin, SUN Yanmin, GUO Hongfu, WANG Shuli, MA Panpan, DING Huina

2025, 44(3):  983-990.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.049

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Methane is an important greenhouse gas produced by anaerobic methanogenic microbes and transported and released to the atmosphere mainly through plants. Recent studies have found that plants can produce methane under aerobic conditions, which is highly controversial. Whether plants emit methane and the mechanism of methane production requires further research. Some studies have found that pectin, lignin, cellulose, methionine, and wax layers are the main precursors for plant methane emissions. Methane emissions can be detected under normal or environmental stress conditions. External stimuli, such as high temperature, ultraviolet radiation, mechanical damage, and drought stress, can induce methane emissions from plants. The increase in methane emissions is related to the accumulation of reactive oxygen species produced within the plant. Under stress conditions, reactive oxygen produced inside the plant attacks the polysaccharide chains in the cell wall, causing them to degrade and thus increasing the number of methoxy groups in the cell, leading to an increase in methane emission. The understanding of the precursors for methane emissions within the plant body is not comprehensive enough, and the mechanism of methane emissions is not clear. Whether plants are considered an important source of methane emissions is also controversial. More research is needed to improve the understanding of the precursors and mechanisms of methane production within plants. These studies will provide scientific basis for better accounting for atmospheric methane emission sources and more accurate estimation of global methane emissions.





Bioactive components of wood vinegar and its antibacterial mechanisms: A review.

LEI Shuwan, WANG Xuemei, CHEN Quan, WU Min, PAN Bo

2025, 44(3):  991-1001.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.035

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Wood vinegar is an acidic liquid obtained from the flue gas produced during biomass pyrolysis after condensation. Acids, phenols, ketones, and furans in wood vinegar have excellent antibacterial properties, and can be used as substitutes for pesticides and fertilizers. In this paper, we reviewed the antibacterial effect and mechanism of the main antibacterial active ingredients in wood vinegar, as well as the influence of preparation methods (biomass raw materials, preparation temperature, refining method) on antibacterial components. Wood vinegar has an effective inhibition on Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Staphylococcus aureus, with poorer inhibitory effect on fungi than on bacteria. Wood vinegar can be antibacterial by destroying cell structure, reducing cell membrane stability, inhibiting protein synthesis and key gene expression. Biomass raw material, pyrolysis temperature, and refining methods can affect the antibacterial composition of wood vinegar. The higher concentrations of cellulose and hemicellulose in biomass, the higher the relative content of acid substances in wood vinegar. The higher concentration of lignin, the higher the relative content of phenolic substances. With the increases in pyrolysis temperature, the content of acid compounds in wood vinegar showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing, while the content of phenolic compounds increased and then stabilized gradually. The contents of acids and ketones were negatively correlated each other. Distillation is beneficial to collect acetic acid and other carboxylic acids in wood vinegar. Membrane filtration is beneficial to collect phenol and guaiacol, and other phenolic compounds. In the future, we should focus on the development and research of efficient and convenient wood vinegar purification and separation methods, in-depth exploration of the antibacterial effect and mechanism of each component, so as to maximize the antibacterial performance of wood vinegar against different kinds of microorganisms and realize the resource utilization of agricultural and forestry wastes.





Water balance analysis of territory spatial ecological restoration: A review.

YANG Fengji, YAN Qiang, WANG Jinman, ZHOU Zhiping, LIU Biao

2025, 44(3):  1002-1009.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.032

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Water balance analysis is an important foundation for ecological restoration of territorial space. It can provide a basis for the planning of territorial spatial ecological restoration and the implementation of major ecological restoration projects. However, the sustainable coordination of water supply and demand in the ecological restoration system of territorial space is largely unknown. Here, we review the progress of water balance research, clarify the problems arising from water resource limitations, explore the concept of water balance, summarize the hydrological and ecological models for the analysis and evaluation of water balance, and analyze the application and potential of water balance. Furthermore, with the advancement of ecological restoration in territorial space, there were significant changes in territorial elements and their spatial structure. In the future, research on water balance needs to identify the limitations of water resources on regional restoration, evaluate and predict the water balance of territorial elements and spatial structure, and better support ecological restoration in territorial space.





A review on anti-predator strategies in fish.

ZHOU Keying, FU Shijian, ZHENG Shilong, FU Cheng

2025, 44(3):  1010-1020.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.001

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The anti-predator strategy is a self-defense mechanism in animals that protects them from or reduces harm inflicted by predators. Fish is the largest group of vertebrates, and the diverse anti-predator strategies of which have long been a subject of attention. When facing predatory threats, fish may exhibit anti-predator responses at morphological, behavioral, and physiological aspects. Research in this area has become a crucial aspect of ichthyology, providing essential clues for exploring the adaptive evolution of fish. We summarize and categorize the anti-predator strategies of fish, including changes in the morphology of prey fish, enhancements in physiological functions and hormone regulation, anti-predator behaviors, life history strategies, and adaptations to multiple predators. The mechanisms and correlations among these strategies are analyzed, and the ecological benefits and costs of fish anti-predator strategies are discussed. Furthermore, we suggest that the combination of different anti-predator strategies could be “redundant” or “economical”, and propose future research areas of interest.





The effect of population gaps on the outcomes of point pattern analysis under random distribution conditions.

LI Yuze, WANG Xinting, LI Haibing, FAN Jingyu, JIANG Chao, LIU Fang, LI Suying, LIANG Cunzhu

2025, 44(3):  1021-1028.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.024

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Point pattern analysis is a fundamental and widely used method in population pattern research. Population gaps constitutes a critical factor influencing the outcomes of point pattern analysis, and its effect on the outcomes is closely related to the reliability of conclusions drawn from population pattern studies. Therefore, an examination of how these gaps impact point pattern analysis is of paramount importance. Through a simulation experiment within a 5 m×5 m area, three densities (low, medium and high) were set to investigate the effect of gap area changes on the analysis outcomes of point patterns under both non-shielded and shielded conditions. The K(r) function, incorporating cumulative effects, and the pairwise correlation function g(r), without cumulative effects, were analyzed. The results showed that: (1) As gap radius increased, both K(r) and g(r) functions affected the analysis outcomes of point patterns, leading to a transition from the original random distribution of a single pattern type to the coexistence of three pattern types after the transition from two pattern types; (2) The impact of gap radius on the analysis outcomes of point patterns differed between the K(r) function and g(r) function; (3) The influence of gaps on point pattern analysis outcomes varied with different density conditions for the same analysis method; (4) Shielding gaps can mitigate their impact on point pattern analysis outcomes, with the evasion effect of the K(r) function being more pronounced than that of the g(r) function.





Remote sensing extraction of stand factors in urban forests from 3D LiDAR space-ground integration.

LEI Xue, WU Jianxun, DONG Chongtian, HONG Junyan, LIU Lei, MENG Chen, WEI Yanhao4, PENG Junxi

2025, 44(3):  1029-1037.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.029

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Accurate remote sensing measurement and batch extraction of stand factors are the development trends of forest resources survey. In this study, UAV and ground-based handheld LiDAR were used for remote sensing of Cinnamomum camphora woodland of Pujiang Country Park in Shanghai. Combined with field survey data, we explored forest stand factor extraction method and evaluated the accuracy of 3D LiDAR space-ground integration technology in urban artificial pure forest. The results showed that: (1) 3D LiDAR space-ground integration technology had high measurement accuracy and application value in remote sensing measurement of forest stand factors, and the bias of the extracted tree height was -0.13 m (-1.17%), with R² being 0.95 (P<0.001). The bias of the diameter at breast height (DBH) was -2 cm (-5.59%), with R²=0.98 (P<0.001). Effective correction of systematic errors in DBH extraction was accomplished using the formula DBH=0.9670×DBH_p-0.0057. (2) UAV and ground-based handheld LiDAR had advantages in remote sensing measurement of forest stand factors. UAV LiDAR had advantages in measuring tree height and crown width, while ground-based LiDAR was more accurate in measuring DBH and canopy volume. Therefore, LiDAR air-ground fusion technology has broad application space in forest carbon sink assessment and forest resources survey, which would provides technical support for the automation and intelligence of largescale forest resources survey.





Multidimensional data-based assessment of ecological resilience in the Bohai Sea coastal zone and its scale dependency analysis.

LI De, LIU Baiqiao, MENG Weiqing, XU Wenbin, LI Hongyuan

2025, 44(3):  1038-1045.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.050

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The aim of this study was to understand the regional differences in ecological resilience in coastal areas and their related driving factors in the Bohai Sea coastal zone. By constructing an ecological resilience assessment framework encompassing resistance, adaptability, and recovery, we evaluated the ecological resilience levels in the Bohai Sea coastal zone in 2000, 2010, and 2020. Geographic detectors were employed to assess key driving factors. Finally, the spatial scale dependency characteristics of ecological resilience assessments were explored. The results showed that: (1) The overall ecological resilience in the Bohai Sea coastal zone exhibited a declining trend from 2000 to 2020. The rate of decline was 2.2% between 2000 and 2010 and accelerated to 10.8% between 2010 and 2020, implying that rapid economic development led to a swift decrease in ecological resilience. (2) Ecological resilience in the Bohai Sea coastal zone displayed significant spatial and temporal heterogeneity. Jinzhou, Huludao, the Shandong Peninsula, and the Liaodong Peninsula exhibited a gradual increase in ecological resilience over the past 20 years, while Tianjin demonstrated a rapid and gradual decline. (3) Economic development and environmental protection measures were key drivers. Within the economic development factor, indicators such as economic density and human activity intensity exerted significant negative impacts on ecological resilience. Conversely, indicators related to the proportions of forest, grassland, and wetland areas within environmental protection measures primarily manifested positive effects. Moreover, the intensity of these driving factors varied across different regions. (4) The outcomes of assessment highly depended on spatial scales. Larger spatial scales (13 km×13 km) tended to average out the distribution of ecological resilience but might mask local details, whereas smaller scales (1 km×1 km) provided a more refined assessment, offering clearer insights into specific features. For a comprehensive understanding of overall characteristics at larger scales, a resolution of 10 km×10 km or above is recommended. For a detailed understanding of assessment targets, resolutions below 7 km×7 km are suggested.





Construction of urban green space networks in arid hilly area of Northwest China: A case study of Lanzhou.

LIU Yiping, ZHANG Ye, SHEN Fangfei, FENG Yunhao

2025, 44(3):  1048-1056.  doi:10.13292/j.1000-4890.202503.009

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The construction of urban green space networks (UGSN) should be adapted to local conditions such as climate, physiognomy, and development status. Taking the core urban area of Lanzhou as an example, we comprehensively used importance evaluation of ecological land, Morphological Spatial Pattern Analysis (MSPA), and modified Minimum Cumulative Resistance (MCR) to construct UGSN in arid hilly area of Northwest China. The results showed that the UGSN in the core urban area of Lanzhou consists of 22 key ecological sources, 1162.89 kilometers-long ecological corridors, and 71 ecological strategic points. The main parts of key ecological sources are grassland and bare land, accounting for more than 70%. The key ecological source area scattered in the built-up area is small, whose ecological value, however, is not lower than that of large natural basement around the built-up areas. The construction of UGSN through the comprehensive application of the importance evaluation of ecological land, MSPA and modified MCR model can simultaneously take into account ecological benefits and morphological attributes of ecological land as well as its significance in the whole ecological pattern, and maximize ecological value with minimum land area, which is suitable for the ecological construction of high-density cities in the arid hilly regions of Northwest China.