Stoichiometry has long been addressed in the studies of ecosystem ecology, but it was almost ignored for a long time. Until recently, ecologists have become aware that stoichiometry could provide a new tool to study e...Stoichiometry has long been addressed in the studies of ecosystem ecology, but it was almost ignored for a long time. Until recently, ecologists have become aware that stoichiometry could provide a new tool to study ecology from genes to the biosphere. Among this trend, N:P stoichiometry is used actively in ecological interactions since nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are the two most important elements in most ecosystems. This article reviews the application of N:P stoichiometry to the studies of ecological problems at different levels, including ecosystem, community and species. Meanwhile, we also provide the cellular basis of N:P stoichiometry, identify the shortages in the use of N:P stoichiometry theory, and put forward some perspectives for future research to be conducted.展开更多
Anammox （ANaerobic AMMonia OXidation） is a newly discovered pathway in the nitrogen cycle. This discovery has increased our knowledge of the global nitrogen cycle and triggered intense interest for anammox-based app...Anammox （ANaerobic AMMonia OXidation） is a newly discovered pathway in the nitrogen cycle. This discovery has increased our knowledge of the global nitrogen cycle and triggered intense interest for anammox-based applications. Anammox bacteria are almost ubiquitous in the suboxic zones of almost all types of natural ecosystems and contribute significant to the global total nitrogen loss. In this paper, their ecological distributions and contributions to the nitrogen loss in marine, wetland, terrestrial ecosystems, and even extreme environments were reviewed. The unique metabolic mechanism of anammox bacteria was well described, including the particular cellular structures and genome compositions, which indicate the special evolutionary status of anammox bacteria. Finally, the ecological interactions among anammox bacteria and other organisms were discussed based on substrate availability and spatial organizations. This review attempts to summarize the fundamental understanding of anammox, provide an up-to-date summary of the knowledge of the overall anammox status, and propose future prospects for anammox. Based on novel findings, the metagenome has become a powerful tool for the genomic analysis of communities containing anammox bacteria; the metabolic diversity and biogeochemistry in the global nitrogen budget require more comprehensive studies.展开更多
Recently,Chen and colleagues from Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology of Chinese Academy of Sciences,in collaboration with scientists from Nanjing Agricultural University and from the US,have identified...Recently,Chen and colleagues from Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology of Chinese Academy of Sciences,in collaboration with scientists from Nanjing Agricultural University and from the US,have identified a homeodomain（HOX）-containing transcription factor that plays a central role in controlling cotton fiber elongation.展开更多
文摘Stoichiometry has long been addressed in the studies of ecosystem ecology, but it was almost ignored for a long time. Until recently, ecologists have become aware that stoichiometry could provide a new tool to study ecology from genes to the biosphere. Among this trend, N:P stoichiometry is used actively in ecological interactions since nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) are the two most important elements in most ecosystems. This article reviews the application of N:P stoichiometry to the studies of ecological problems at different levels, including ecosystem, community and species. Meanwhile, we also provide the cellular basis of N:P stoichiometry, identify the shortages in the use of N:P stoichiometry theory, and put forward some perspectives for future research to be conducted.
文摘Anammox （ANaerobic AMMonia OXidation） is a newly discovered pathway in the nitrogen cycle. This discovery has increased our knowledge of the global nitrogen cycle and triggered intense interest for anammox-based applications. Anammox bacteria are almost ubiquitous in the suboxic zones of almost all types of natural ecosystems and contribute significant to the global total nitrogen loss. In this paper, their ecological distributions and contributions to the nitrogen loss in marine, wetland, terrestrial ecosystems, and even extreme environments were reviewed. The unique metabolic mechanism of anammox bacteria was well described, including the particular cellular structures and genome compositions, which indicate the special evolutionary status of anammox bacteria. Finally, the ecological interactions among anammox bacteria and other organisms were discussed based on substrate availability and spatial organizations. This review attempts to summarize the fundamental understanding of anammox, provide an up-to-date summary of the knowledge of the overall anammox status, and propose future prospects for anammox. Based on novel findings, the metagenome has become a powerful tool for the genomic analysis of communities containing anammox bacteria; the metabolic diversity and biogeochemistry in the global nitrogen budget require more comprehensive studies.
文摘Recently,Chen and colleagues from Shanghai Institute of Plant Physiology and Ecology of Chinese Academy of Sciences,in collaboration with scientists from Nanjing Agricultural University and from the US,have identified a homeodomain（HOX）-containing transcription factor that plays a central role in controlling cotton fiber elongation.
