Networks of mineral-associated organic matter fractions in forest ecosystems.

Mineral-associated organic matter (MAOM), the largest soil carbon pool, is formed through a series of organo-mineral interaction mechanisms. However, different organo-mineral fractions relevant to specific stabilization mechanisms and their response to environmental variables are poorly understood, which hinders accurate prediction of MAOM preservation under climate change. We applied sequential chemical extraction to separate MAOM into different organo-mineral fractions.

Excessive nitrogen addition accelerates N assimilation and P utilization by enhancing organic carbon decomposition in a Tibetan alpine steppe.

High amounts of deposited nitrogen (N) dramatically influence the stability and functions of alpine ecosystems by changing soil microbial community functions, but the mechanism is still unclear. To investigate the impacts of increased N deposition on microbial community functions, a 2-year multilevel N addition (0, 10, 20, 40, 80 and 160 kg N ha year) field experiment was set up in an alpine steppe on the Tibetan Plateau. Soil microbial functional genes (GeoChip 4.

Mountain biodiversity and ecosystem functions: interplay between geology and contemporary environments.

Although biodiversity and ecosystem functions are strongly shaped by contemporary environments, such as climate and local biotic and abiotic attributes, relatively little is known about how they depend on long-term geological processes. Here, along a 3000-m elevational gradient with tectonic faults on the Tibetan Plateau (that is, Galongla Mountain in Medog County, China), we study the joint effects of geological and contemporary environments on biological communities, such as the diversity and community composition of plants and soil bacteria, and ecosystem functions. We find that these biological communities and ecosystem functions generally show consistent elevational breakpoints at 2000-2800 m, which coincide with Indus-Yalu suture zone fault and are similar to the elevational breakpoints of soil bacteria on another mountain range 1000 km away.

Increased precipitation accelerates soil organic matter turnover associated with microbial community composition in topsoil of alpine grassland on the eastern Tibetan Plateau.

Large quantities of carbon are stored in alpine grassland of the Tibetan Plateau, which is extremely sensitive to climate change. However, it remains unclear whether soil organic matter (SOM) in different layers responds to climate change analogously, and whether microbial communities play vital roles in SOM turnover of topsoil. In this study we measured and collected SOM turnover by the C method in alpine grassland to test climatic effects on SOM turnover in soil profiles.

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Trichopodus leerii (Perciformes: Osphronemidae) and phylogenetic studies of Osphronemidae.

Trichopodus leerii has been given many popular names in the ornament market, such as pearl gourami, lace gourami and mosaic gourami, which causes confusion in species identification. This species belongs in the family Osphronemidae of Perciformes. This species and its congeners are characterized by a brownish-silver body, covered in a pearl-like pattern.

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Pterophyllum scalare (Cichliformes: Cichlidae).

Pterophyllum scalare belongs in the family Cichlidae of Cichliformes. This species and its congeners are characterized by a compressed and disc-shaped body with dorsal and anal spiny rays increasing in length from anterior to posterior part of the fin. In this study, we determine and describe the complete mitogenome sequence of Pterophyllum scalare for the first time, which is 16,494 bp in length, and contains 37 genes, including 13 protein-coding genes, 2 rRNAs, 22 tRNAs, 1 origin of replication on the light-strand (OL) and a putative control region.

Bacterial community in alpine grasslands along an altitudinal gradient on the Tibetan Plateau.

The Tibetan Plateau, 'the third pole', is a region that is very sensitive to climate change. A better understanding of response of soil microorganisms to climate warming is important to predict soil organic matter preservation in future scenario. We selected a typically altitudinal gradient (4400 m-5200 m a.