To study the response of terrestrial plants in hydro-fluctuation belt to the first time habitat flooding-drying cycle in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area, Yangtze River, we investigated community characteristics, such as plants composition, number of individuals, species coverage, when this place was flooded in winter and then exposed in summer in the elevation from 156 to 172 meters. We calculated species’ important value as well as the proportion of all plant life forms in the community. The result showed that there were 147 vascular plants species belonging to 55 families before the fluctuation cycle. However, there were only 32 species belonging to 17 families after the fluctuation cycle and the proportion of families and species were reduced by 69.1% and 78.2%, respectively. Meanwhile, the plots newly emerged 49 plant species which accounted for 60.5% in the total species. The composition of plant life forms changed, that is, trees and shrub species declined while the herbaceous increased. Different plants reacted differently to environmental changes. Cyperaceae, Gramineae, and Compositae herbs showed a strong adaptation capacity to the change. The representative species were Cyperus rotundus, Setaria viridis, Bidens tripartite, Digitaria sanguinalis, Gynura crepidioides, Artemisia apiacea, etc. One-year-old seedlings of shrub species of Vitex negundo, Rhus chinensis, Discocleidion rufescens, Coriaria nepalensis , Myrsine africana, and tree species of Sapium sebiferum, Koelreuteria bipinnata, Broussonetia papyrifera all showed strong adaptability.

Based on remote sensing and ground meteorological observation data, this article analyzes the temporal and spatial variation pattern of the net primary productivity (NPP) in the karst area of eight provinces in the southern China from 2000 to 2011 under the background of the climate change, and the NPP variation in different land use types. The results showed that under the climate change background, the region NPP showed an ascendant trend during 2000-2005, and there was a turning point in 2005; During 2006-2011, the region NPP showed declined; The change amplitude of NPP in the karst region was significantly greater than other landforms; Farmland, low density shrubbery, mixed land and other land use types were sensitive to rocky desertification. This study would provide a thought in risk evaluation of the karst rocky desertification, and provide a scientific basis for the ecosystem environment risk management.

Using the monitoring data from 517 public service forest plots in the central area of Zhejiang Province in 2010-2011, the carbon storage and carbon density of the public service forest were evaluated based on the calculated biomass of different communities. The results showed that the average biomass of the public service forest was 99.30 t·hm^-2, the present total biomass was 16 430.40× 10⁴ t, the average carbon density was 49.59 t C·hm^-2, and the total carbon storage was 8 205.59×10⁴ t C in central Zhejiang. The analysis also demonstrated that the carbon density was significantly affected by stand age and density. Finally, this study established a model, C b = aA + bD + c ,which was composed by stand age and density to estimate the carbon density of the public service forest in central Zhejiang for improving the public welfare forest carbon sequestration ability.

We measured monthly soil respiration (R_s) in a 15 year-old replanted Chinese fir plantation which was located in subtropical China and subjected to five harvest residue management treatments. The treatments included: whole tree harvest plus forest floor removal, whole tree harvest,stem only harvest, double the residue, and burning the residue. Repeated measures ANOVA showed that harvest residue management had little effects on R_s rate, soil temperature and soil moisture in the whole year or four different seasons. Soil respiration displayed obvious seasonal dynamics, with the maximum happening in June 2012 (3.09 μmol CO₂·m^-2s^-1, averaged from five treatments) and the minimum happing in February 2012 (0.69 μmol CO₂·m^-2s^-1). Soil temperature was found to be the most important factor controlling the temporal pattern of soil respiration, accounting for 55.8%-72.6% of variations in R_s rate. There were no significant differences in temperature sensitivity of R_s (Q₁₀) and annual soil CO₂ emission among treatments, and the mean values of five treatments were 2.14 and 701.17 gC·m^-2, for Q₁₀ and annual soil CO₂ emission. Harvest residue treatment had no significant effects on dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations (0-10 cm depth) extracted by water, hot water or 2 mol·L^-1 KCl. DOC concentrations extracted by water and 2 mol·L^-1 KCl were correlated positively with annual R_s rate and the R_s rate in the given month when soil samples were collected, respectively.

This paper studied four typical vegetation types, subalpine bush (Ⅰ), subalpine coniferous forest (Ⅱ), mixed coniferous and deciduous forest (Ⅲ), and the deciduous broadleaved forest(Ⅳ)in Hubei Shennongjia National Nature Reserve. We explored the relationship between plant diversity and environment factors, and revealed the change pattern of plant community species diversity in the typical vegetation. Furthermore, the main environmental factors influencing species distribution pattern were discussed. In this study, we set up 53 plant sample plots to survey the plant diversity. The investigation of forest communities was conducted by using the detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) for ordination in Hubei Shennongjia National Nature Reserve. Two-dimensional ordination diagram of CCA was presented in combination with community species matrix and environmental factors matrix. The results showed that species richness and flora differentiation degree, Shannon-Wiener diversity index and E.Pielou evenness index all exhibited "the single-peak" distribution pattern with rising altitude. The species richness and diversity were the highest in the middle altitude. The first ordination of DCA shaft analysis expressed that the distribution pattern was to a large extent influenced by the altitude gradient. CCA covariable matix corresponding analysis indicated that soil and terrain factors in general were able to explain 53.35% of plant diversity variation pattern. The first ordination of CCA had a significant positive correlation with soil temperature (the correlation level is 0.936), while it had a significant negative correlation with soil organic carbon and total nitrogen (the correlation level is －0.714 and －0.752, respectively). The second order axis was associated with soil pH (the correlation level is －0.775). The results revealed that these factors had a dominating impact on plant diversity distribution pattern.

Interconnection among the 19 dominant species, 171 species pairs in tree layer of Castanopsis community in Three Gorges Reservoir region was studied by using variance analysis, together with χ² test, percentage co-occurrence (PC) and association coefficient (AC). The results indicated that Castanopsis carlesii var. spinulosa was the constructive species of Castanopsis community in Three Gorges Reservoir region. The overall associations between dominant species in the community were not significantly negative, suggesting that the Castanopsis community was not mature and in the phase of active succession. The χ² test showed that among these 19 dominant species, 12 species pairs exhibited significantly positive association and 7 species pairs showed that significant negative association. However, most of the total 171 species pairs did not show significant interconnection, reflecting that the plant communities tended to distribute independently and still were in the unstable succession.

As the uppermost carbon pool and important renewable source, wood has dual functions in both responding to the global climate change and meeting the resource demands of human society, thereby it is essential to understand the molecular mechanism of wood formation. In this study, a 1DE-based nanoLC-MS/MS method was introduced to analyze the proteome in the secondary vascular system of Populus tomentosa, and the identified proteins included:14 proteins associated cell division; 7 proteins related to transcription factors; 22 proteins associated with cytoskeleton; 31 proteins associated with signal transduction;and 14 proteins associated with cell wall formation. The corresponding genes of these proteins participate in regulating cambial activity. The accomplishment of this proteome analysis laid a foundation for further understanding the molecular mechanism of wood formation.

In this paper, 4 Populus clones of 84K (Populus alba×P. glandulosa), I-101(Populus alba) and their hybrid progenies 02-8-21, 02-9-22 were studied. We used Cochard cavitron centrifuge to determine embolism vulnerability(P₅₀), and staining as well as silicone injection techniques to measure vessel diameter, vessel length and pit area per vessel of the four clones. The aim is to probe into the relationship between embolism vulnerability and vessel structure, and to establish xylem structure index system of poplar clones. The results showed that the sensitivity of xylem embolism to water potentials of the four clones was ranked as:02-8-21>I-101>02-9-22>84K, and hybrid progeny 02-9-22 was more resistant to embolism than 02-8-21. The order of vessel diameter size of the four clones was 02-8-21 > 02-9-22 > 84K > I-101, vessel length 02-9-22>02-8-21> I-101 > 84K, pit area per vessel 02-8-21 > 02-9-22 > I-101 > 84K. Regression analysis illustrated that with the vessel diameter and pit area per vessel increased, its embolism vulnerability also increased, indicating that there was a strong positive correlation (R²>0.7), while vessel length had weak correlation with embolism vulnerability (R²=0.019). Thus, vessel diameter size plays a decisive role on embolism vulnerability.

The effects of storage temperature and initial moisture content on lipid oxidation, lipofuscin-like pigment accumulation, phenolic content, and reducing capacity of alcohol extracts of walnut (Carya cathayensis) were investigated. The results showed that lipofuscin-like pigment accumulation increased but polyphenol content and alcohol extract reducing capacity declined during storage. Lipofuscin accumulation rate of walnut with the high initial moisture was slightly lower than that with low initial water content during storage at 40 ℃, but higher at 25 ℃. However, there existed complicated relationships between the lipid oxidation products, storage temperature and initial moisture content. The lipid oxidation products of walnut with high initial moisture were less than that with low initial moisture during storage at 40 ℃, but more at 25 ℃.With increasing initial moisture ant storage temperature, the content of polyphenol declined rapidly. Reducing capacity of alcohol extracts of walnut had a similar change pattern. Overall, lipofuscin-like pigment formation of walnut was inhibited under the low initial moisture and low storage temperature.

In this paper the adventitious root of Tripterygium wilfordii was used as experiment material to study effects of different components in NT medium on the growth, triptolide and total alkaloid contents of the adventitious roots. The components include total nitrogen, the ratio of nitrate nitrogen and ammonium nitrogen, and different concentrations of PO₄^3-, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Fe²⁺ etc. Additionally, this study was also to explore the change patterns of secondary metabolites and total alkaloid of the adventitious roots. The results showed that the optimal NT medium composition for the root growth was 1.7 strength of nitrogen, 9∶1 of NO₃^-/NH₄⁺, and 2 strengths of PO₄^3-, K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺, without change in Fe²⁺ conentration. The basic NT Mg²⁺ concentration, total nitrogen concentration and the NO₃^-/NH₄⁺ ratio, 1.7 strength of PO₄^3-, 1.3 strength of K⁺, 2/3 strength of Ca²⁺ , and 1/3 strength of Fe²⁺ were relatively favorable for the accumulation of triptolide. As for the accumulation of total alkaloids, the optimal component composition was the basic NT PO₄^3- , K⁺, Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺concentration, but completely replacing the nitrate nitrogen with ammonium nitrogen, and 1/3 strength of Fe²⁺.

Using NH₄⁺-N, NO₃^--N and CO(NH₂)₂ as nitrogen sources, the effect of nitrogen forms and the ratios on the plant size, biomass, root morphological characteristics, content and accumulation of elements in Juglans sigillata seedling was studied. The results showed that the nitrogen forms and the ratios had significant impact on seedling height, base diameter, root-shoot ratio, shoot and root biomass, root morphological trait, content and accumulation of elements in J. sigillata seedling. With the mixed supply of NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^--N at the ratio of 1∶1, the seedling height, base diameter, root-shoot ratio, biomass of the entire plant, shoot and root, root total surface area, average diameter, root tip number, content and accumulation of elements in J. sigillata seedling were all at the maximum compared with other treatments. With the only supply of CO(NH₂)₂, root total length and volume were the biggest, the biomass of the entire plant, shoot and root, the content and accumulation of elements in seedling were lower only than those with the mixed supply of NO₃^--N and NH₄⁺-N at the ratio of 1∶1. With the only supply of NO₃^--N, the seedling was short and small, the biomass of the entire plant, shoot and root, root morphological parameters were all the lowest, and the content and accumulation of elements in seedling were the least. With the only supply of NH₄⁺-N, most of the leaves in summer presented burning-shape necrosis, and the symptom was aggravated with increasing NH₄⁺-N ratio. Meanwhile the seedling was slender, the tissue was not fully developed, the fibrous root was short and most fibrous roots showed necrosis, the biomass, root-shoot ratio and root total length, surface area, volume, average diameter and root tip number were smaller, and the accumulation of elements was also lower. J. sigillata seedling had no obvious preference to NH₄⁺-N or NO₃^--N. The mixed supply of NO₃^--N and NH₄⁺-N at the ratio of 1∶1 was able to boost the growth and nutrients absorption of J. sigillata seedling. CO(NH₂)₂ was also good for growth and nutrients absorption of J. sigillata seedling.

Camellia oleifera is an endemic woody oily tree species in China. It is one of economic forest tree species with the largest cultivation area and widest distribution. In May 2011, leaves of 12-year-old C. oleifera were trimmed with different area to simulate leaf loss caused by disease and insect pests, when the height of the trees was 1.5-2.1 m, and the stand density was 1 500 trees per hm². The effect of partial leaf area reduction on the yield and quality of C. oleifera was evaluated. Results showed that the leaf trimming had impact on fruit abscission ratio, average fruit weight, fresh kernel ratio, kernel yield ratio and oil yield ratio of dry kernel. The fruit abscission ratio were 61.2%, 83.8% and 84.1% respectively, when the leaf trimming were 25%, 50% and 75%, which was 1.54, 2.11, and 2.12 times higher than the control. There was no significant difference in fruit abscission ratio between 12.5% leaf trimming and the control. When the leaf trimming was over 25%, fresh kernel ratio was less than 41%, kernel yield ratio less than 14% and oil yield ratio less than 37%, in compared with the control (44.6%, 14.7% and 42.2%, respectively). All the parameters had a decline trend with the trimming. But the shriveled kernel ratio showed a contrary trend, which was increased with increasing the trimmed leaf area. The leaf trimming also had effect on the contents of palmitic acid and oleic acid of the tea oil. Leaf trimming by 75% significantly increased the content of palmitic acid (saturated fatty acid) and decreased the content of oleic acid (unsaturated fatty acid). When the leaf area was trimmed by 50% and 75%, the vigor of C. oleifera trees weakened, sprout was abnormal, new leaves became less, and the average number of fruits was only 2.2 and 0 per tree, respectively which was significantly lower than other treatments. When the leaf area was trimmed by 12.5%, C. oleifera trees had normal growth in the next year and the number of fruits had no difference with the control. The results showed that when defoliation was over 25%, the yield and vigor of the trees in the second year would be affected, and when defoliation above 12.5%, the quality of tea oil would be affected.

With the support of remote sensing(RS)and geographical information system(GIS)techniques, we present an integrated approach of remote sensing classification, connectivity metrics analysis and least-cost path simulation to develop urban potential green corridors in urban greenspace system planning. Firstly, this paper used the OIF(optimal index factor)and decision tree algorithms (QUEST)to extract urban greenspace patches, and analyzed the connectivity of each patch. Then, Spearman rank correlation coefficient was derived to determine the connectivity metrics sensitivity due to distance changes. Based on this, the most robust connectivity index was determined to divide patches importance rank, the patches with higher importance values were defined as greenspace ‘sources’ and ‘target’. Ultimately, the potential green corridors were simulated by using the least-cost model based on FR(frequency ratio)cost-surface under different research scales, followed by a quantitative evaluation of different scenarios simulation results. The preliminary results were as follows: 1)The total classification accuracy reached 90.35% by using OIF and QUEST, with a Kappa coefficient of 0.86; greenspace mainly distributed in the east of Gehu Lake and in the north of Taihu Lake, and accounted for 22.88% of the total area. 2)Integral index of connectivity(IIC)had higher robust with lower difference value of r_s(0.21)between 200 and 2 400 m distance threshold; under the 600 m threshold distance, the Zhushan patch and other seven patches were identified as ‘sources’ and ‘target’ by comparing important values(dIIC above 1%). 3)The spatial patterns of potential green corridors were hardly affected by research scales changes, with stable deformation coefficient(1.28). Finally, we discussed the feasibility of the optimized method system, and provided scientific and reasonable references for the planning and construction of city green system.

Estimation of forest above-ground biomass is great significant for evaluation of the role of forests in decelerating climate change and adaptive management. Based on bureau-level permanent plot data of forest inventory in Jincang Forest Farm, Wangqing Forest Bureau, Jilin Province, using both ordinary kriging and cokriging estimate forest above-ground biomass in the study area (above-ground biomass as a main variable and basal area as a covariate in cokriging). Meanwhile, compared these two interpolation methods, the results show that ordinary kriging is not a suitable method to estimate biomass in this study area; but contrasted to ordinary kriging, cokriging can significantly improve the prediction accuracy, generating the root mean square error (RMSE) and the average standard error (ASE) decrease by 49.0% and 39.4% respectively, and the correlation coefficient between predicted values and measured values increases by 68.4%. The spatial distribution pattern map of forest above-ground biomass in the forest farm can be obtained by cokriging interpolation approach. Spatially, the forest above-ground biomass varies obviously in this region from 21.48 to 261.60 t·hm^-2, and the average above-ground biomass is 111.9 t·hm^-2. Total above-ground biomass of this region is up to 3.578 Tg. In addition, biomass significantly varies with forest types and age groups. The results provide a method and reference for the region-scale biomass estimation based on the permanent plot and geostatistics.

Traditional forest growth and yield models have been criticized for their inability to provide precise spatial information for forest and ecosystem management. In this study the spatial patterns of trees within 50 spruce-fir plots in the Northeast, USA were modeled by a Gibbs point process model with three pair potential functions. In general, 82%-84% of these 50 plots were modeled well by the Gibbs model. However, the complete spatial random (CSR) and regular spatial patterns were modeled better than the clustered plots. Further, empirical regression models were developed to predict the two parameters of the Gibbs model using the available stand variables as predictors such as stand density, basal area, mean tree diameter, mean tree height, mean crown length, and mean crown width. The simulation results showed that 81% of the 50 plots were satisfactorily predicted by the empirical regression models. Among them, 100% of the CSR plots, 71% of the regular plots, and 56% of the clustered plots were predicted well by the empirical regression models. Three example plots were selected to illustrate the similarity between simulated tree locations and observed ones.

We established a protoplasts transformation system mediated by polyethylene glycol (PEG), in which poplar anthracnose fungus Colletotrichum gloeosporioides strain C1-5-2 was used as the recipient, and obtained the transgenic transformants expressing a green fluorescence protein (GFP). Protoplasts were mixed with the plasmid gGFP containing the hygromycin phosphotransferase (hph) gene and GFP gene with PEG treatment. Fresh hyphae of recipient strain C1-5-2 were hydrolyzed in 20 mL enzyme solution containing 1% Lysing enzyme for 210 min, by which approximate 10⁸ protoplasts·mL^-1 were obtained. Transformation frequencies of 41 transformants per μg DNA were achieved after being screened on PDA medium containing hygromycin B concentration of 300 μg·mL^-1. The verification with gDNA PCR amplifications indicated that the hph gene and GFP gene were indeed integrated into the genome of the C1-5-2 strain. Fluorescence observation showed clear and strong expression of the green fluorescent protein in fungal structures, and the GFP-tagged transformants were of genetic stability.

Proventriculus morphology of 16 bark beetle species (Curculionidae: Scolytinae) from the host tree—Chinese white pine (Pinus armandii) was studied by using a light microscopy and a scanning electron microscopy. Obvious differences were observed in the sclerotization degree, the shape of the anterior plate and type of sclerotized appendices among the different bark beetle groups. Three types of proventriculi were identified according to the basic morphological comparison of the chitinous plates, and their morphology may supply auxiliary characters for taxonomy of these bark beetle species. The spatial distribution of proventricular types was consistent with the occurrence of spatial sequence for 16 species of bark beetles in Chinese white pine trees.Obvious morphological variation and the sclerotization degree of proventriculus may reflect an adaptation to variations in diet.

In this paper traditional bacterial isolation and culture techniques, combined with 16S rDNA sequence analysis, were used to investigate diversity of community structure and seasonal dynamics of endophytic bacteria in cortex tissues of Populus tomentosa and P. ×euramericana cv. Robusta 94. A total of 532 isolates were obtained from the two poplars and their 16S rDNAs were sequenced and analyzed. Results showed that the isolates were classified into 26 genera and 47 species. There was difference in the isolate composition between two poplars. The number of bacteria genera and species isolated from P. tomentosa and P. × euramericana cv. Robusta 94 was much different. There were 18 genera and 30 species isolated from P. tomentosa, and Rhizobium and Bacillus were the most predominant, while there were 16 genera and 22 species from P. × euramericana cv. Robusta 94, Rhizobium and Microbacterium were the most widely distributed and predominant. The results indicated that the community structure of plant endophytic bacteria was diverse in the poplars. The seasonal variation in the number of bacterial isolates from the two poplars exhibited that endophytic bacteria isolated in summer and autumn were more than in winter and spring. The dominant species of the bacterial communities changed significantly with the seasonal fluctuation.

This study was conducted at forest communities of giant panda habitats in Foping National Nature Reserve, Longcaoping Nature Reserve and Pingheliang Nature Reserve. The data of altitude, slope, aspect, canopy density, shrub coverage, bamboo density and bamboo biomass were collected to conduct cluster analysis and factor analysis. The results showed that the forest communities of the winter habitat of the giant panda were mainly constituted by Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata forests. The slopes were relatively plain with an average degree of 11.7°and the slope aspects were mainly Southeast; The canopy density, shrub coverage, bamboo density, bamboo biomass were 0.59, 74%, 92 800 plants·hm^-2 and 15.78 t·hm^-2, respectively. The forest communities of the summer habitat of the giant panda habitat were mainly constituted by Abies fargesii forests. The slopes were relatively gentle with an average degree of 17.2°and the slope aspects were mainly Southeast and Northeast. The canopy density, shrub coverage, bamboo density, bamboo biomass were 0.6, 71%, 465 600 plants·hm^-2and 8.76 t·hm^-2, respectively. According to the results of factor analysis, the bamboo biomass and shrub coverage were the main factors regulating the habitat selection of giant pandas, which may be closely related to ample food resources for giant pandas in those habitats.

The effects of adding ammonium polyphosphate (APP),guanylurea phosphate (GUP) and the mixtures of them on fire retardancy, thermal degradation behavior and mechanical properties of wood flour/high density polyethylene (WF/HDPE) composite were studied using cone calorimetry (CONE), limited oxygen index (LOI), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and mechanical test. The results of CONE showed that APP significantly reduced the heat release of WF/HDPE composite, while made the smoke emission increased. When compounding GUP with APP by an appropriate ratio, the composite displayed both low heat release and low smoke release, which indicated a good synergistic effect in fire inhibition and smoke suppression. The results of TGA showed that compounding GUP with APP made the initial thermal decomposition temperature of WF/HDPE composite decreased and improved the char residue. In addition, compounding GUP with APP not only increased the limited oxygen index but also had less negative effects on mechanical properties of the composite.

The Phyllostachys edulis bamboo fibrous veneers were heat-treated at high temperatures, and then made for BFC (bamboo-based fiber composites). The chemical properties of bamboo fibrous veneers were measured, and surface color, dimensional stability, mechanical properties of BFC were studied. The results pointed-out that chemical degradation occurred, the contents of holocellulose and α-cellulose decreased significantly, mainly in relation to hemicelluloses contents. pH value decreased after thermal treatment, whereas, alkali buffering capacity increased compared with control samples and acid buffering capacity decreased. Thermal treatment can significantly change the surface color of BFC, and the board surface was darkened. The dimensional stability of BFC was significantly improved by reducing thickness swelling and wideness swelling. The mechanical properties were affected with the reduction in MOR (modulus of rupture) and HS (horizontal shear strength) which decreased with increased steam pressure and treatment duration, but MOE (modulus of elasticity) was affected slightly.

With GIS and RS techniques, the Landsat TM data of three time-series (in 1987, 2000 and 2010), combined with the thematic maps and the ground survey data in 2011, were hierarchically extracted to identity mangrove forests and other land use and cover patterns around Qinglangang Bay. Together with the local expert knowledge, totally 7 land use categories, such as forestland, farmland, construction area, water area, unused area, aquiculture pond and mangrove forests, were extracted. The trajectory of mangrove forest change and the transfer matrix of the land use were analyzed to retrieve the temporal and spatial features of the forest change and the driving force. The results showed that area of mangrove forests decreased by 37% during 1987—2010, and the decreased area was mainly distributed along the mouth of the river. The annual rate of reduction during 1987—2000 and 2000—2010 was 39.4 and 17.6 hm²·a^-1, respectively, and the corresponding annual rate of change was-2.5% and-1.4%. Development of aquiculture in the previous mangrove forests during 1987—2000 was the main reason for mangrove deforestation. The forest regeneration was found mostly within of the mangrove forests except for the entrance of Wenchang River where the mangrove forest developed toward the sea, probably due to insufficient power of colonization to seaside. The LUCC analysis indicated that forests, construction land and aquiculture pond in the surrounding of the mangrove forests increased markedly, the farmland decreased continually, and the water area including river and pond was stable during 1987—2000. The urbanization and the development of tourism drove expansion of construction area, and the policy of restoring forests from previous farm land promoted an increase in forest cover since 2000.

To study the genetic diversity of Eucommia ulmoides without information of the whole genome, the SSR primers were designed based on the transcriptome sequencing data (unpublished) from leaves and fruits of E. ulmoides. The SSR loci were analyzed using microsatellite locus scan tool SSRIT to analyze 49 610 sequences, and we screened out 1 442 SSR loci which distributed in 1 334 sequences, accounting for 2.9% of the transcriptome sequences. The dinucleotide repeat is the most abundant repeat type, accounting for 69.90% of the total number of SSRs. We observed 150 kinds of repeating units and found that the highest frequency is AG/TC, accounting for 32.73% of the total number of SSRs. Additionally, we found a small amount of CG repeats. A total 85 pairs of primers were designed and synthesized, and the primers were verified by using 8 different excellent clones and among them 50 pairs of primers were able to amplify products, of which 20 pairs of primers were polymorphic. This study had an important application value to analyze genetic diversity of E. ulmoides by using SSR molecular markers.

Gross caloric values, ash contents, ash-free caloric values, cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin and benzene-alcohol extract contents were studied at different growth stages and in various organs of Robinia pseudoacacia Cl.‘Hennansis 8’. Results showed that: the leaf had the highest average gross caloric values and ash-free caloric values, and these values were relatively higher at the initial growth stage of the next year among the sampling period of time; the leaf had the highest average ash contents, and the contents were higher at the late stage of the next year. The orders of cellulose and hemicellulose contents were all trunk > branch> bark> leaf. The leaf had the most lignin, benzene-alcohol extract contents. Benzene-alcohol extract contents were appeared to be an inverted V distribution with the growth stages. Gross caloric values were not significantly negatively correlated with ash contents, cellulose and hemicellulose contents, and they were significantly correlated with lignin but not significantly with benzene-alcohol extract contents; Ash-free caloric values were significantly negatively correlated with cellulose and hemicellulose contents, and were significantly correlated with lignin and benzene-alcohol extract contents. In terms of the variation of caloric values, the best cutting period for energy forests was the initial growth stage of the next year among the five growth stages of ‘Hennansis 8’.

In order to provide a theoretical basis for the configuration of the modern urban greening plants, an open-field test was conducted as a reference to investigate the influence of oriental arborvitae foliage volatiles on the behavior of mice spontaneously. Effects of the foliage volatiles derived from 4 conifer species on the behavior of mice were analyzed and compared. The results were as follows: 1)The excitability of the mice was increased, their inquiry and cognitive ability was enhanced by the various volatiles' treatment. The mice were relatively relaxed and their appetite was not affected. There was a significant positive correlation between the spontaneous behavior indicators and leaf volatiles concentration. However, mice had some bearing threshold to the volatile odor released by Pinus bungeana, and the exicitability, exploration and cognitive ability of mice were inhibited when the volatile concentration exceeded the threshold. 2) The volatiles' efficiency varied among the 4 tree species and also concentration-dependent: The influence order at the high concentrations of leaf volatiles on mouse total moving distance was Platycladus orientalis > Sabina chinensis cv. Kaizuka > Cedrus deodara >untreated control> P. bungeana. The influence order at the low concentrations of leaf volatiles on mouse total moving distance was Pl. orientalis > P. bungeana > S. chinensis cv. Kaizuka > C. deodara > untreated control. The influence order at the high concentrations of leaf volatiles on mouse central grid distance was Pl. orientalis > S. chinensis cv. Kaizuka > C. deodara >untreated control> P. bungeana. The influence order at the low concentrations of leaf volatiles on mouse central grid distance was Pl. orientalis > S. chinensis cv. Kaizuka > C. deodara > P. bungeana > untreated control. The four coniferous tree species had no effect on mice's appetite no matter the volatile concentration was high or low.

The sharp-snouted pit viper (Deinagkistrodon acutus) is at a high risk of extinction because of high demand for medicinal and food purposes. Therefore, there is an urgent need to evaluate the utility of captive rearing protocols to supplement natural production. We evaluated the effect of conditions during captive rearing on the juvenile growth. We raised two captive populations of snakelets, one at the local in Yongzhou, Hunan Province, a tropical city, and the other, allopatric population in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region,a tropical city. We compared growth (change in body weight) between the two populations by using a paired sample t-test. The growth rate was significantly higher in the allopatric population than in the local population. After one year of artificially feeding, the maximum body weight was 350 g in Nanning. Contrary to earlier reports, D. acutus snakelets readily consumed the juveniles of many frog species, and were not limited to feeding on Fejervarya limnocharis. In addition, survival rates differed between the two populations (88% in Yongzhou and 78% in Nanning). We did not observe any incidences of aggression, despite the relatively high rearing density.The snakelets’ rapid growth rate was likely due to the ready availability of high-energy food sources. Our results suggest that captive rearing allopatrically in tropical areas can be used to increase growth rates in D. acutus snakelets. Additional research is needed to evaluate the feasibility of this approach.