Distribution of the Ibex (Capra ibex) in Tomur National Nature Reserve of Xinjiang, China

lbex （Capra ibex）, a first grade protected animal, has not been well studied in China. Surveys were conducted to investigate the distribution of the ibex in the Tomur National Nature Reserve during October--November 2004, July 2005, and October-December 2005. The results were as follows： （1） Out of five valleys, the ibex was distributed in the Qiong-Tailan, Keqik-Tailan, and Muzart Valleys： （2） Ibexes were not observed in the Tomur Valley and Kuzbayi Valley in our surveys, but interview investigations indicated that they may be found here as well. Our results indicated that the nature reserve as a whole is in the distribution range of ibex and it plays an important role in protecting ibex and the alpine biodiversity. However, the uneven distribution pattern can be due to human activities. Therefore, the management of the reserve needs to be improved in the future.

Distribution Characteristics and Accumulation Model for the Coal-formed Gas Generated from Permo-Carboniferous Coal Measures in Bohai Bay Basin, China: A Review

Coal-formed gas generated from the Permo-Carboniferous coal measures has become one of the most important targets for deep hydrocarbon exploration in the Bohai Bay Basin,offshore eastern China.However,the proven gas reserves from this source rock remain low to date,and the distribution characteristics and accumulation model for the coal-formed gas are not clear.Here we review the coal-formed gas deposits formed from the Permo-Carboniferous coal measures in the Bohai Bay Basin.The accumulations are scattered,and dominated by middle-small sized gas fields,of which the proven reserves ranging from 0.002 to 149.4×108 m3 with an average of 44.30×108 m3 and a mid-point of 8.16×108 m3.The commercially valuable gas fields are mainly found in the central and southern parts of the basin.Vertically,the coal-formed gas is accumulated at multiple stratigraphic levels from Paleogene to Archaeozoic,among which the Paleogene and PermoCarboniferous are the main reservoir strata.According to the transporting pathway,filling mechanism and the relationship between source rocks and reservoir,the coal-formed gas accumulation model can be defined into three types:"Upward migrated,fault transported gas"accumulation model,"Laterally migrated,sandbody transported gas"accumulation model,and"Downward migrated,sub-source,fracture transported gas"accumulation model.Source rock distribution,thermal evolution and hydrocarbon generation capacity are the fundamental controlling factors for the macro distribution and enrichment of the coal-formed gas.The fault activity and the configuration of fault and caprock control the vertical enrichment pattern.

Review on studies of Eupatorium adenophorum--an important invasive species in China

Eupatorium adenophorum Spreng. was introduced in Yunnan Province of China around 1940. Since then it has been spreading rapidly, particularly in the southern and southwestern parts of China and caused serious economic loss. The biological research and inte-grated control on E. adenophorum were carried out from 1980's in Yunnan Province. Together with other 15 invasive external species, the weed has been listed in the White Paper by The State Environmental Protection Administration of China. This paper briefly reviews the studies on natural distribution, biological character, ecological character, chemical component, hazard, potential application and the control of E. adenophorum. The research direction for this invasive external species in future was also discussed.

Research advances in genetics and breeding of Populus davidiana Dode in China

In this paper a general introduction is given to research advances in genetics improvement and breeding of Chinese aspen (Populus davidiana Dode) in China. This introduction includes natural distribution and collection, conservation, gene diversity, provenance trial, crossing breeding, vegetative propagation and disease resistant etc. Based on the current situation of forest tree breeding in China, some strategic suggestions concerning the future development of Chinese aspen genetics improvement in China are presented, taking into consideration the existing domestic demands of forestry production and international trends in forest tree breeding.

Genetic Diversity of Wild Rice Species in Yunnan Province of China

Yunnan Province of China is one of the important centers for origin and evolution of cultivated rice worldwide. Wild rice is the ancestor of the cultivated rice. Many elite traits of wild rice have widened the genetic basis in cultivated rice. However, many populations of wild rice species have disappeared in the past few years. Therefore, the current status of wild rice resources should be updated and the genetic diversity of wild rice species should be examined for further germplasm preservation and utilization. Our investigations showed that the number of natural wild rice populations declined sharply in Yunnan Province during the past few years due to various reasons. Fortunately, one population of Oryza rufipogon, three of O officinalis and ten of O. granulata have been newly found in different ecological sites, which were confirmed by inter-simple sequence repeat （ISSR） marker analysis in this study. ISSR analysis and investigation of some important traits of nutritional values indicated that the genetic diversity of the currently existing wild rice resources in Yunnan is still rich. The demonstration of genetic diversity of wild rice by a combined use of geographical distribution, morphological traits, nutrition contents and ISSR markers would be helpful for the conservation and exploration of these important wild rice resources.

PSI-driven cyclic electron fl ow partially alleviates the peroxidation of red alga Gelidium amansii(Gelidiaceae)caused by temporary high temperature

PSI-driven cyclic electron fl ow(CEF-I)helps higher plants avoid severe heat damage.Gelidium amansii,a red seaweed used in the production of agar,inhabits subtidal rocks but can be found in the intertidal zone.The biological role of CEF-I is still unclear in this organism.Wild G.amansii was exposed to 30℃heat stress for 12 h with continuous lighting.The results showed that treatment at 30℃gradually decreased maximal PSII photochemical effi ciency(F_(v)/F_(m)),linear electron transfer rate,and activity of photosynthetic reaction center.Both the maximal photochemical effi ciency under light(F_(v)'/F_(m)')and maximum quantum yield of light-adapted PSII(Φ_(PSII))were maintained at a relatively stable level during the initial 6 h and then signifi cantly decreased at 12 h.The up-regulated CEF-I helps to enhance proton gradient transfer across thylakoid membrane to protect oxygen-evolving complex against heat damage.Following the addition of a CEF-I inhibitor to plants,the F_(v)/F m greatly decreased,suggesting that the CEF-I alleviates degree of photoinhibition caused by strong light.The results of measurement of antioxidant enzymes,including superoxide dismutase(SOD),ascorbate peroxidase(APX)and catalase(CAT),and the contents of H_(2)O_(2)and malonaldehyde(MDA)provided additional evidence that CEF-I plays a protective role to a certain extent for G.amansii to manage stress at 30℃.Therefore,it can be concluded that CEF-I enables G.amansii to survive in intertidal zones by protecting it from the heat damage caused by high temperature stress.

Considerations of Forest Distribution and Native Tree Species for Afforestation in the High Altitudes on the Eastern Tibetan Plateau

Forests are the main components of terrestrial ecosystems and play an important role in the protection and construction of the national ecological security barrier. For a long time, China’s large-scale afforestation had been practiced in areas with rainfall higher than the 400 mm threshold, but the issue of afforestation in high altitudes on the Tibetan Plateau remains elusive in both practical experience and theoretical exploration. It is worth thinking further about what principles should be followed in the selection of tree species and suitable altitudes for afforestation in high-altitude areas, as well as what experiences and lessons of previous afforestation efforts should be applied in high-altitude areas. As per the law of vegetation zonal distribution, this paper argues that afforestation at high altitudes should comply with the principle of vegetation zonal distribution and the low temperature limitation,and points out that afforestation is feasible only within the forest distribution area and below the altitudes of climate timberlines. Furthermore, we demonstrate the potential spatial areas of afforestation, and determine the local tree species that may be used for afforestation based on the existing problems of afforestation in eastern Tibet. In summary, afforestation in high-altitude areas of the eastern Tibetan Plateau must comply with the law of zonal vegetation distribution, focus on the upper limit of altitude and the selection of suitable tree species, and adopt only suitable native tree species.