Transcriptomic response to estrogen exposure in the male Zhikong scallop, Chlamys farreri.

The transcriptomes of Zhikong scallop exposed to 17ß-estradiol were determined using the Roche/454. A total of 51,997 unigenes, representing 45,030 contigs and 6967 singlets were obtained. And 14,028, 19,798 and 14,981 of these unigenes were annotated from the non-redundant nucleic acid database, non-redundant protein database and Swiss protein database, respectively. A total of 10,699 unigenes were further annotated to biological processes (9080), molecular functions (8692) and cellular components (7829) using the GO, and 8945 unigenes were mapped to biological pathways including the metabolism (2862) and genetic information processing (2263). Most importantly, 16,692 unigenes and 18,686 unigenes in testis, and 10,492 unigenes and 13,186 unigenes in digestive gland were up-regulated significantly after exposure to 50 and 500 ng E2/L; while 10,212 unigenes and 9409 unigenes in testis and 10,629 unigenes and 9463 unigenes in digestive gland were down-regulated. These valuable information provides insights into the mechanisms in invertebrate exposure to EDCs.

[Responses of forest soil carbon pool and carbon cycle to the changes of carbon input].

Litters and plant roots are the main sources of forest soil organic carbon (C). This paper summarized the effects of the changes in C input on the forest soil C pool and C cycle, and analyzed the effects of these changes on the total soil C, microbial biomass C, dissoluble organic C, and soil respiration. Different forests in different regions had inconsistent responses to C input change, and the effects of litter removal or addition and of root exclusion or not differed with tree species and regions. Current researches mainly focused on soil respiration and C pool fractions, and scarce were about the effects of C input change on the changes of soil carbon structure and stability as well as the response mechanisms of soil organisms especially soil fauna, which should be strengthened in the future.

[Dynamics of biomass- and nutrient accumulation in a Chinese-fir plantation].

Based on the over 30 years observation data in Huitong National Research Station of Forest Ecosystem under Chinese Academy of Sciences and related literatures, this paper analyzed the dynamics of the biomass- and nutrient accumulation and allocation in a Chinese-fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) plantation, and the effects of rotation length and harvest intensity on the nutrient input/output. The results showed that stand age was the main factor affecting the biomass- and nutrient accumulation and allocation, and different organs had significant differences in their biomass- and nutrient storage. Stand age and different organs explained 37.1% and 40.3% of the variations of biomass- and nutrient storage, respectively. With the increase of stand age, the proportions of biomass and nutrients allocated to stem increased, while those allocated to foliage decreased. The accumulation rates of biomass and nutrients peaked at the age of 17 and 13, respectively, indicating that the nutrients reached their maximum accumulation rate ahead of the biomass. The nutrient requirement per unit dry biomass production decreased rapidly from the stand age 3 to 20 and reached a steady state after then, suggesting that the nutrient use efficiency increased with stand age. The analysis of different harvest scenarios showed that to prolong rotation length and to lower utilization intensity could reduce nutrient output. For example, if the rotation length was prolonged from 28 years to 56 years and only stem was harvested, the harvested biomass would be decreased by 31.57%, and the output of N, P, K, Ca, and Mg would be decreased by 42.02%, 58.93%, 27.70%, 31.07%, and 45.26%, respectively.

[Soil active organic matter in broadleaved forest and Chinese fir plantation in subtropical region of China].

A comparative study was made on the soil active organic matter in a broadleaved forest and two Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata) plantations in subtropical region of China, aimed to understand the effects of forest conversion and continuous plantation on soil organic C and nutrient status. After the conversion from broadleaved forest to Chinese fir plantation, the contents of soil total organic C, humus C, humic acid, and fulvic acid decreased by 27.8%-52.1%, 32.2%-52.8%, 36.4%-59.0%, and 29.7%-50.0%, respectively. Continuous plantation also resulted in the decrease of soil organic C and humus contents. The contents of soil total organic C, humus C, humic acid, and fulvic acid in second generation of Chinese fir plantation were 9.0%-25.0%, 25.0%-38.0%, 28.6%-39.2% and 23.1%-36.4% lower than those in the first generation of Chinese fir plantation, respectively. More obvious effects were observed on the soil active organic matter. After the conversion from broadleaved forest to Chinese fir plantation, the maximum decrement of soil microbial biomass C and N and dissolved organic C and N was 61.8%, 38.2%, 43.3%, and 69.0%; while comparing with the first generation of Chinese fir plantation, the second generation of Chinese fir plantation had the maximum decrement of soil microbial biomass C and N and dissolved organic C and N being 34.7%, 29.3%, 30.4%, and 18.4%, respectively. Soil nutrient contents also decreased due to forest conversion and continuous plantation. In comparing with broadleaved forests, Chinese fir plantations had a decrease of soil N, P, and K contents being 15.7%-31.2%, 11.5%-49.3%, and 15.1%-33.8%, respectively. There were close relationships between soil nutrients and soil active organic matter fractions except cold water extractable organic N.

[Nutrient contents and resorption characteristics in needles of different age Pinus massoniana (Lamb.) before and after withering].

Taking the 10-, 23-, and 45-year-old Pinus massoniana plantations in Huitong of Hunnan Province as test objects and with the parameters nutrient content per unit needle mass, nutrient content per unit needle length, and nutrient content of single needle, the nutrient contents and resorption characteristics in the needles of different age P. massoniana before and after withering were studied. The results showed that after withering, the mass of single needle, length of single needle, and mass per unit needle length were decreased by 15.9%, 4.6% and 13.9%, respectively. The nutrient contents in the needles differed with the age of P. massoniana, and the mean resorption of N, P and K in the needles was all higher than 50%. With the increase of tree age, the nutrient resorption efficiency and proficiency increased first and declined then. According to the calculations with the parameters mentioned above, there was no significant difference in the resorption efficiency of the nutrients except N.

[Effects of Cunninghamia lanceolata-broadleaved tree species mixed leaf litters on active soil organic matter].

With incubation test, this paper studied the effects of Cunninghamia lanceolata leaf litter and its mixture with the litters of main broadleaved tree species in subtropical China, such as Alnus cremastogyne, Kalopanax septemlobus and Michelia macclurei on active soil organic matter. The results showed that adding leaf litters into soil could significantly increase soil microbial biomass C and N, respiration rate and dissolved organic C, and mixed leaf litters were more effective than C. lanceolata leaf litter in increasing soil dissolved organic C. By the end of the incubation, the increment of soil microbial biomass C and N, respiration rate, and dissolved organic C in treatments C. lanceolata leaf litter and C. lanceolata-broadleaved tree species mixed leaf litters was 49% and 63%, 35% and 75%, 65% and 100%, and 66% and 108%, respectively, compared with control. The addition of leaf litters had no significant effects on soil microbial quotient and microbial biomass C/N ratio.