白蚁对土壤与植物影响的过程及机制

白蚁作为一种巢居式社会性昆虫,其部分类群具有重大破坏作用,常被人们混淆为世界性“害虫”。然而,绝大多数白蚁能够通过参与生物地球化学循环来调节植被和土壤的重要生态功能和服务,被誉为“生态系统工程师”。本文综述了白蚁对巢穴土壤物理、化学、生物特性及其周边植物群落组成和多样性等的影响。白蚁可以形成独特的土壤“生物团聚体”和“资源异质性斑块”,影响微生物群落结构、胞外酶活性、土壤理化性质和温室气体排放等,进而影响植被生长发育、组成结构及生产力水平。这种效应在不同白蚁类群和功能群间存在差异,且受区域土壤环境和微气候条件等影响。白蚁巢穴可通过上述过程有效提高区域生态系统适应或抵御外界环境胁迫的能力。今后研究需重点关注以下方向:1)从微观尺度(团聚体水平)到宏观尺度(景观水平),探索以白蚁为核心的土壤生物营养级联效应过程及其对生物地球化学循环的驱动机制;2)探究将白蚁巢穴土壤开发为热带地区土壤肥力改良剂的潜力,并挖掘巢穴有益微生物功能基因用于病害防治等产品研发。

Soil Microbial Community Structure in Diverse Land Use Systems:A Comparative Study Using Biolog,DGGE,and PLFA Analyses

Biolog, 16S rRNA gene denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis （DGGE）, and phospholipid fatty acid （PLFA） analyses were used to assess soil microbial community characteristics in a chronosequence of tea garden systems （8-, 50-, and 90- year-old tea gardens）, an adjacent wasteland, and a 90-year-old forest. Biolog analysis showed that the average well color development （AWCD） of all carbon sources and the functional diversity based on the Shannon index decreased （P 〈 0.05） in the following order： wasteland 〉 forest 〉 tea garden. For the DCCE analysis, the genetic diversity based on the Shannon index was significantly lower in the tea garden soils than in the wasteland. However, compared to the 90-year-old forest, the tea garden soils showed significantly higher genetic diversity. PLFA analysis showed that the ratio of Gram positive bacteria to Cram negative bacteria was significantly higher in the tea garden soils than in the wasteland, and the highest value was found in the 90-year-old forest. Both the fungal PLFA and the ratio of fungi to bacteria were significantly higher in the three tea garden soils than in the wasteland and forest, indicating that fungal PLFA was significantly affected by land-use change. Based on cluster analysis of the soil microbial community structure, all three analytical methods showed that land-use change had a greater effect on soil microbial community structure than tea garden age.

Soil Fertility in Agroforestry System of Chinese Fir and Villous Amomum in Subtropical China

A trial of interplanting and non-interplanting villous amomum (Amomum villosum Lour.) under the canopy of Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata Hook.) at age 22 was established in Sanming, Fujian of China, and a survey on soil fertility was carried out 10 years after its establishment. Compared with the control (non-interplanting), the properties of soil humus in agroforestry system were ameliorated, with a higher level of humification and resynthesis of organic detritus. The soil microbial population and enzymatic activities were both higher under the influence of villous amomum. Both the nutrient supplying and nutrient conserving capacities of the soil were improved. This agroforestry system exhibited an advantage of improved soil fertility as well as an accelerated growth of Chinese fir, it was, therefore, a sustainable management system suited for Chinese fir in South China.

Characteristics of soil microbial community functional and structure diversity with coverage of Solidago Canadensis L

The relationship between Solidago canadensis L. invasion and soil microbial community diversity including functional and structure diversities was studied across the invasive gradients varying from 0 to 40%, 80%, and 100% coverage of Solidago canadensis L. using sole carbon source utilization profiles analyses, principle component analysis （PCA） and phospholipid fatty acids （PLFA） profiles analyses. The results show the characteristics of soil microbial community functional and structure diversity in invaded soils strongly changed by Solidago canadensis L. invasion. Solidago canadensis L. invasion tended to result in higher substrate richness, and functional diversity. As compared to the native and ecotones, average utilization of specific substrate guilds of soil microbe was the highest in Solidago canadensis L. monoculture. Soil microbial functional diversity in Solidago canadensis L. monoculture was distinctly separated from the native area and the ecotones. Aerobic bacteria, fungi and actinomycetes population significantly increased but anaerobic bacteria decreased in the soil with Solidago canadensis L. monoculture. The ratio of cyl9：0 to 18：1 co7 gradually declined but mono/sat and fung/bact PLFAs increased when Solidago canadensis L. became more dominant. The microbial community composition clearly separated the native soil from the invaded soils by PCA analysis, especially 18： lco7c, 16： lco7t, 16： lco5c and 18：2co6, 9 were present in higher concentrations for exotic soil. In conclusion, Solidago canadensis L. invasion could create better soil conditions by improving soil microbial community structure and functional diversity, which in turn was more conducive to the growth ofSolidago canadensis L.

Microbial Community Structure of Casing Soil During Mushroom Growth

The culturable bacterial population and phospholipid fatty acid （PLFA） profile of casing soil were investigated at different mushroom （Agaricus bisporus） cropping stages. The change in soil bacterial PLFAs was always accompanied by a change in the soil eulturable bacterial population in the first flush. Comparatively higher culturable bacterial population and bacterial PLFAs were found in the casing soil at the primordia formation stage of the first flush. There was a significant increase in the ratio of fungal to bacterial PLFAs during mushroom growth. Multivariate analysis of PLFA data demonstrated that the mushroom cropping stage could considerably affect the microbial community structure of the casing soil. The bacterial population increased significantly from casing soil application to the primordia formation stage of the first flush. Casing soil application resulted in an increase in the ratio of gram-negative bacterial PLFAs to gram-positive bacterial PLFAs, suggesting that some gram-negative bacteria might play an important role in mushroom sporophore initiation.

Contribution of Root Respiration to Total Soil Respiration in a Betula ermanii-Dark Coniferous Forest Ecotone of the Changbai Mountains, China

Total and root-severed soil respiration rates for five plots set up 50 m apart in a Betula ermanii Cham.-dark coniferous forest ecotone on a north-facing slope of the Changbai Mountains, China, were measured to evaluate the seasonal variations of soil respiration, to assess the effect of soil temperature and water content on soil respiration, and to estimate the relative contributions of root respiration to the total soil respiration. PVC cylinders in each of 5 forest types of a B. ermanii-dark coniferous forest ecotone were used to measure soil respirations both inside and outside of the cylinders. The contribution of roots to the total soil respiration rates ranged from 12.5% to 54.6%. The mean contribution of roots for the different plots varied with the season, increasing from 32.5% on June 26 to 36.6% on August 3 and to 41.8% on October 14. In addition, there existed a significant (P < 0.01) logarithmic relationship between total soil respiration rate and soil temperature at 5 cm soil depth. Also, a similar trend was observed for the soil respiration and soil water content at the surface (0-5 cm) during the same period of time.

Soil microbial activities and community diversity during the rhizoremediation of a pyrene contaminated soil

A greenhouse pot experiment was conducted to evaluate pyrene degradation, microbial biomass, basal soil respiration, metabolic quotient （qCO2）, soil enzyme activities, and the FAME patterns of rhizospheric soil and nonrhizospheric soil. The results showed that the pyrene concentrations in soil decreased with time extending and were very significant less in rhizospheric soil grown with maize plants （p〈0.01）. At the end of the 45-day experiment, the ratios of pyrene degradation were 61.25% and 35.58% in rhizospheric and nonrhizospheric soil, respectively. Maize enhanced the decrease of pyrene concentration and increased the degradation rate of pyrene in soil. During the experimental period, a relatively large amount of microbial biomass biomass （Craig）, basal soil respiration, the Cmic/Corg ratio, enzyme （urease, dehydrogenase, polyphenol oxidase, and catalase） activities were detected in rbizospheric soil. Metabolic quotient was lower in rhizospheric soil than in nonrhizospheric soil at the whole experimental period. Soil microbial communities in rhizospheric soil and nonrhizospheric soil were characterized using fatty acid methyl ester （FAME） analysis. Fatty acid profiles demonstrated that soil microbial community structure was significantly altered in pyrene contaminated soil with maize. Fatty acid indicators for fungi and the ratio of fungi to bacteria significant increased, and fatty acid indicators for bacteria and Gram-negative bacteria significantly decreased. The effect gradually increased and got very significant （p〈0.01） with the time extending. The differences of fatty acid indicators for arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi （AMF）, Gram-positive bacteria and actinomycetes gradually increased, and the differences reached significant level （p〈0.05） at the end of the experiment （45 d）.

Microbial Biomass and PLFA Profile Changes in Rhizosphere of Pakchoi(Brassica chinensis L.) as Affected by External Cadmium Loading

The effects of root activity on microbial response to cadmium(Cd) loading in the rhizosphere are not well understood.A pot experiment in greenhouse was conducted to investigate the effects of low Cd loading and root activity on microbial biomass and community structure in the rhizosphere of pakchoi(Brassica chinensis L.) on silty clay loam and silt loamy soil.Cd was added into soil as Cd(NO_3)_2 to reach concentrations ranging from 0.00 to 7.00 mg kg^(-1).The microbial biomass carbon(MBC) and community structure were affected by Cd concentration,root activity,and soil type.Lower Cd loading rates(<1.00 mg kg^(-1)) stimulated the growth of pakchoi and microorganisms,but higher Cd concentrations inhibited the growth of microorganisms.The content of phospholipid fatty acids(PLFAs) was sensitive to increased Cd levels.MBC was linearly correlated with the total PLFAs.The content of general PLFAs in the fungi was positively correlated with the available Cd in the soil,whereas those in the bacteria and actinomycetes were negatively correlated with the available Cd in the soil.These results indicated that fungi were more resistant to Cd stress than bacteria or actinomycetes,and the latter was the most sensitive to Cd stress.Microbial biomass was more abundant in the rhizosphere than in the bulk soil.Root activity enhanced the growth of microorganisms and stabilized the microbial community structure in the rhizosphere.PLFA analysis was proven to be sensitive in detecting changes in the soil microbial community in response to Cd stress and root activity.

Effects of mosaic biological soil crusts on vascular plant establishment in a coastal saline land of the Yellow River Delta, China

Aims The effects of biocrusts on vascular plants are rarely evaluated in coastal saline lands.Our aim was to examine whether and how a mosaic of biocrusts affect seed germination of two typical herbaceous plants in a coastal saline land of the Yellow River Delta,to enhance our understanding by which substrate heterogeneity influences plant community dynamics.Methods We conducted growth chamber experiments to investigate the effects of biocrusts and uncrusted soil from bare patch-,Phragmites australis-,Suaeda glauca-and Tamarix chinensis-dominated habitats on seed germination percentage and mean germination time of two herbaceous plants:the perennial P.australis and the annual S.glauca.We also explored the mechanisms underlying the effects of substrate on seed germination.Important Findings Compared with uncrusted soil,biocrusts increased water content,nutrient accumulation and concentration of most salt ions,but they reduced soil pH value.Biocrusts with mosses directly decreased soil pH value and concentration of Mg2+,resulting in an indirect increase in seed germination percentage of S.glaucas.The low soil pH value also resulted in an indirect decrease in seed germination speed of P.australis in their own habitats.Bare patch directly increased accumulation of Cl?,resulting in an indirect decrease in seed germination speed of P.australis.These results suggest that biocrusts with mosses in P.australis habitats offer a window of opportunity for germination of S.glaucas.Biocrusts combined with habitat type have the potential to influence plant community structure through an effect on seed germination and establishment.

Can Nonexchangeable Potassium be Differentiated from Structural Potassium in Soils？

Nonexchangeable K （NEK） is the major portion of the reserve of available K in soil and a primary factor in determining soil K fertility. The questions of how much NEK is in soils and how to quantify total NEK in soils are so far still unclear due to the complicated effects of various minerals on K fixation. In this study, the NEK in 9 soils was extracted with sodium tetraphenylboron （NaBPh4） for various time periods longer than 1 d. The results showed that the NEK extracted by NaBPh4 gradually increased with time, but showed no more increase after the duration of extraction exceeded 10 20 d. As the temperature increased from 25 to 45 ~C, the duration to obtain the maximum extraction of NEK was reduced from 20 to 10 d, and the maximum values of NEK released at both temperatures was almost the same for each soil. The maximum NEK （MNEK） of the 9 soils extracted by NaBPh4 varied from 3074 to 10081 mg kg-1, accounting for 21% 56% of the total soil K. There was no significant correlation between MNEK released by NaBPh4 and other forms of K, such as NH4OAc-extracted K, HNO3-extracted K and total K in soils, which indicates that NEK is a special form of K that has no inevitable relationship to the other forms of K in soils. The MNEK extraction by NaBPh4 in this study indicated that the total NEK in the soils could be differentiated from soil structural K and quantified with the modified NaBPh4 method. The high MNEK in soils made NEK much more important in the role of the plant-available K pool. How to fraetionate NEK into different fractions and establish the methods to quantify each NEK fraction according to their bioavailability is of great importance for future research.

Treatment of turtle aquaculture effluent by an improved multi-soil-layer system

Concentrated turtle aquaculture effluent poses an environmental threat to water bodies, and therefore needs to be treated prior to disposal. This study was conducted to assess the effect of multi-soil-layer（MSL） systems treating turtle aquaculture effluent with adding different amounts of sludge. Four MSL systems were constructed with dry weight ratios of sludge with 0%, 5%, 10%, and 20%（MSL 1, MSL 2, MSL 3, and MSL 4, respectively）. The turtle aquaculture effluent had an average chemical oxygen demand（COD）, ammonia nitrogen（NH4^＋-N） and total nitrogen（TN） concentration of 288.4, 213.4, and 252.0 mg/L, respectively. The COD/TN（C/N） ratio was 1.2. The results showed that the four MSL systems could effectively treat the COD, NH4^＋-N, and TN, and MSL 4 showed significantly improved NH4^＋-N removal efficiency, suggesting the potential of sludge addition to improve the turtle aquaculture effluent treatment. The average COD, TN, and NH4^＋-N removal efficiencies of MSL 4 were 70.3%, 66.5%, and 72.7%, respectively. To further interpret the contribution of microorganisms to the removal, the microbial community compositions and diversities of the four MSL systems were measured. Comparisons of the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis（DGGE） profiles revealed that the amount of nitrifying bacteria and diversity in MSL 4 were higher than those in the other three systems. We concluded that adding 20% of sludge improved the NH4^＋-N removal and stability of the system for nitrification, due to the enrichment of the nitrifying bacteria in MSL 4.

Microbial Community Structure and Enzyme Activities in a Sequence of Copper-Polluted Soils

The microbial community structure and enzyme activities of seven paddy soils with different Cu concentrations were investigated in the vicinity of a Cu smelter in Fuyang County, Zhejiang Province in Southeast China. The microbial community structure was analyzed using the phospholipid fatty acid （PLFA） and multiplex-terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism （M-TRFLP） techniques. There was no clear dose-response relationship between Cu pollution and soil enzyme activity except for urease. Both PLFA and M-TRFLP methods showed that Cu contamination had a large effect on the soil microbial community structure. PLFA indicators of Gram-positive bacteria （16：0i, 15：0i） and fungi （18：2w6,9） relatively decreased with increasing Cu concentration, whereas indicators of Gram-negative bacteria （19：0cy, 16：1w7） increased. The M-TRFLP results suggested that there was a dose-dependent response between Cu pollution and bacterial community or fungal community. The fungal community was more sensitive to Cu pollution than the bacterial community. Therewere no significant differences in archaeal community structure between the different Cu pollution plots and axchaea might be more tolerant to Cu pollution than both bacteria and fungi.