The exploratory synthesis and structural characterization of twodimensional(2D)honeycomb structured Ru-based compounds are key focuses in inorganic materials research,due to the various exotic electronic states arisin...The exploratory synthesis and structural characterization of twodimensional(2D)honeycomb structured Ru-based compounds are key focuses in inorganic materials research,due to the various exotic electronic states arising from the interplay of electron correlations and spinorbit coupling.Among these compounds,α-RuCl_(3) and RuBr_(3) are considered as the most promising candidates for quantum spin liquid(QSL)materials[1–3].As a homolog,α-RuI3 has attracted significant interest,but it still remains relatively unexplored.Recently,it was synthesized by high-temperature and high-pressure solid-state reaction,but reported to be different crystal structures by independent groups.Ni et al.and Nawa et al.considerα-RuI3 to be R-3(3R)and P-31c(2H)space group,respectively[4,5].Both structures have typical 2D characteristics,in which the edge-sharing RuI6 octahedra form honeycomb layers stacked along the c-axis.The primary difference lies in that the honeycomb layers stack in ABCABC mode in the 3R phase,while in ABAB mode in the 2H phase(Fig.S1).Yang et al.discussed the stability of 3R and 2H polymorphs in terms of the total energies and dynamics,finding both structures are stable.However,the total energy of the 2H phase is slightly higher,2.58 meV than that of the 3R analog[6].When it comes to the conductivity behaviour,α-RuCl3 andα-RuBr_(3) are semiconductors as normally observed in QSL materials.In contrast,α-RuI_(3) exhibits metallic response.In 2D materials,the band structure may be drastically modified by altering the stacking order[7].Hence,determining the crystal structure ofα-RuI_(3) is urgently required,which is a key step in comprehensive and in-depth analysis of its physical properties.展开更多
The genus Lilium comprises 119 taxa,primarily native to temperate and alpine regions of the Northern Hemisphere,extending to the northern Philippines.In this study,we report the first occurrence of Lilium candidum L.i...The genus Lilium comprises 119 taxa,primarily native to temperate and alpine regions of the Northern Hemisphere,extending to the northern Philippines.In this study,we report the first occurrence of Lilium candidum L.in Morocco,specifically in the jbel Sidi Ali El Jawzi area,within the territorial commune of Asjen,Ouezzane Province(Pre-Rif region).During a botanical survey conducted in May 2022,a population of L.candidum was identified,marking its first recorded presence in the country.Morphological characteristics were analyzed and compared with existing descriptions in the literature to confirm species identification.The species was found in a humid microclimate with calcareous soils,suggesting specific ecological requirements that facilitated its establishment.This unexpected discovery raises several questions regarding its biogeographical history,potential introduction pathways,and adaptation mechanisms in the Moroccan environment.Given its limited distribution and ecological specificity,its conservation status should be carefully evaluated,as human activities,habitat disturbance,and climate change may pose significant threats.Further studies,including genetic analyses and ecological monitoring,are needed to determine its origin,assess population stability,and establish conservation strategies.The presence of L.candidum in the Pre-Rif region expands the known distribution of the species and highlights the importance of continuous botanical exploration in North Africa,particularly in understudied mountainous ecosystems.展开更多
Lunar impact glasses have been identified as crucial indicators of geochemical information regarding their source regions. Impact glasses can be categorized as either local or exotic. Those preserving geochemical sign...Lunar impact glasses have been identified as crucial indicators of geochemical information regarding their source regions. Impact glasses can be categorized as either local or exotic. Those preserving geochemical signatures matching local lithologies (e.g., mare basalts or their single minerals) or regolith bulk soil compositions are classified as “local”. Otherwise, they could be defined as “exotic”. The analysis of exotic glasses provides the opportunity to explore previously unsampled lunar areas. This study focuses on the identification of exotic glasses within the Chang’e-5 (CE-5) soil sample by analyzing the trace elements of 28 impact glasses with distinct major element compositions in comparison with the CE-5 bulk soil. However, the results indicate that 18 of the analyzed glasses exhibit trace element compositions comparable to those of the local CE-5 materials. In particular, some of them could match the local single mineral component in major and trace elements, suggesting a local origin. Therefore, it is recommended that the investigation be expanded from using major elements to including nonvolatile trace elements, with a view to enhancing our understanding on the provenance of lunar impact glasses. To achieve a more accurate identification of exotic glasses within the CE-5 soil sample, a novel classification plot of Mg# versus La is proposed. The remaining 10 glasses, which exhibit diverse trace element variations, were identified as exotic. A comparative analysis of their chemical characteristics with remote sensing data indicates that they may have originated from the Aristarchus, Mairan, Sharp, or Pythagoras craters. This study elucidates the classification and possible provenance of exotic materials within the CE-5 soil sample, thereby providing constraints for the enhanced identification of local and exotic components at the CE-5 landing site.展开更多
Exotic hadrons,beyond the conventional quark model,have been discovered over the past two decades.Investigating these states can lead to a deeper understanding of the nonperturbative dynamics of the strong interaction...Exotic hadrons,beyond the conventional quark model,have been discovered over the past two decades.Investigating these states can lead to a deeper understanding of the nonperturbative dynamics of the strong interaction.In this review,we focus on the production of exotic hadrons in pp,PP^(-),and nuclear collisions.Experimental observations of light and hypernuclei as prototypes of hadronic molecules in heavy-ion collisions are also briefly discussed.展开更多
One important issue in current condensed matter physics is the search of quantum spin liquid(QSL),an exotic magnetic state with strongly-fluctuating and highly-entangled spins down to zero temperature without static o...One important issue in current condensed matter physics is the search of quantum spin liquid(QSL),an exotic magnetic state with strongly-fluctuating and highly-entangled spins down to zero temperature without static order.However,there is no consensus on the existence of a QSL state in any real material so far,due to inevitable disorder and intricate competing exchange interactions on frustrated spin lattices.Here we report systematic heat transport measurements on a honeycomb-lattice compound BaCo_(2)(AsO_(4))_(2),which manifests magnetic order in zero field.In a narrow in-plane field range after the magnetic order is nearly suppressed,in both perpendicular and parallel to the zigzag direction,a finite residual linear term of thermal conductivity is clearly observed,which is attributed to mobile fermionic excitations.In addition,the spin-phonon scattering rate exhibits a T-linear behavior when the order disappears.These observations suggest a partial QSL state with gapless spinon excitations in BaCo_(2)(AsO_(4))_(2),that emerges when a portion of the spins remains ordered,and vanishes as the spins become progressively polarized.展开更多
With the development of radioactive-ion-beam facilities,many exotic phenomena have been discovered or predicted in the nuclei far from the stability line,including cluster structure,shell structure,deformed halo,and s...With the development of radioactive-ion-beam facilities,many exotic phenomena have been discovered or predicted in the nuclei far from the stability line,including cluster structure,shell structure,deformed halo,and shape decoupling effects.The study of exotic nuclear phenomena is at the frontier of nuclear physics nowadays.The covariant density functional theory(CDFT)is one of the most successful microscopic models in describing the structure of nuclei in almost the whole nuclear chart.Within the framework of CDFT,toward a proper treatment of deformation and weak binding,the deformed relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov theory in continuum(DRHBc)has been developed.In this contribution,we review the applications and extensions of the DRHBc theory to the study of exotic nuclei.The DRHBc theory has been used to investigate the deformed halos in B,C,Ne,Na,and Mg isotopes and the theoretical descriptions are reasonably consistent with available data.A DRHBc Mass Table Collaboration has been founded,aiming at a high precision nuclear mass table with deformation and continuum effects included,which is underway.By implementing the angular momentum projection based on the DRHBc theory,the rotational excitations of deformed halos have been investigated and it is shown that the deformed halos and shape decoupling effects also exist in the low-lying rotational excitation states of deformed halo nuclei.展开更多
Prunus serotina and Robinia pseudoacacia are the most widespread invasive trees in Central Europe.In addition,according to climate models,decreased growth of many economically and ecologically important native trees w...Prunus serotina and Robinia pseudoacacia are the most widespread invasive trees in Central Europe.In addition,according to climate models,decreased growth of many economically and ecologically important native trees will likely be observed in the future.We aimed to assess the impact of these two neophytes,which differ in the biomass range and nitrogen-fixing abilities observed in Central European conditions,on the relative aboveground biomass increments of native oaks Qucrcus robur and Q.petraea and Scots pine Pinus sylvestris.We aimed to increase our understanding of the relationship between facilitation and competition between woody alien species and overstory native trees.We established 72 circular plots(0.05 ha)in two different forest habitat types and stands varying in age in western Poland.We chose plots with different abundances of the studied neophytes to determine how effects scaled along the quantitative invasion gradient.Furthermore,we collected growth cores of the studied native species,and we calculated aboveground biomass increments at the tree and stand levels.Then,we used generalized linear mixed-effects models to assess the impact of invasive species abundances on relative aboveground biomass increments of native tree species.We did not find a biologically or statistically significant impact of invasive R.pseudoacacia or P.serotina on the relative aboveground,biomass increments of native oaks and pines along the quantitative gradient of invader biomass or on the proportion of total stand biomass accounted for by invaders.The neophytes did not act as native tree growth stimulators but also did not compete with them for resources,which would escalate the negative impact of climate change on pines and oaks.The neophytes should not significantly modify the carbon sequestration capacity of the native species.Our work combines elements of the per capita effect of invasion with research on mixed forest management.展开更多
The yield ratios of neutron-proton(R(n/p))and^(3)H-^(3)He(R(^(3)H∕^(3)He))with reduced rapidity from 0 to 0.5 were simulated at 50 MeV/u even-even ^(36−56)Ca+^(40)Ca,even-even ^(48−78)Ni+^(58)Ni,and ^(100−139)Sn(ever...The yield ratios of neutron-proton(R(n/p))and^(3)H-^(3)He(R(^(3)H∕^(3)He))with reduced rapidity from 0 to 0.5 were simulated at 50 MeV/u even-even ^(36−56)Ca+^(40)Ca,even-even ^(48−78)Ni+^(58)Ni,and ^(100−139)Sn(every third isotopes)+112 Sn for full reduced impact parameters using the isospin-dependent quantum molecular dynamics(IQMD)model.The neutron and proton density distributions and root-mean-square radii of the reaction systems were obtained using the Skyrme-Hartree-Fock model,which was used for the phase space initialization of the projectile and target in IQMD.We defined the unified neutron skin thickness asΔRnp=<r^(2)>^(1∕2) n−<r^(2)>^(1∕2)p,which was negative for neutron-deficient nuclei.The unifiedΔRnp values for nuclei with the same relative neutron excess from different isotopic chains were nearly equal,except for extreme neutron-rich isotopes,which is a type of scaling behavior.The yield ratios of the three isotopic chain-induced reactions,which depended on the reduced impact parameter and unified neutron skin thickness,were studied.The results showed that both R(n/p)and R(^(3)H∕^(3)He)decreased with a reduced impact parameter for extreme neutron-deficient isotopes;however,they increased with reduced impact parameters for extreme neutron-rich isotopes,and increased with theΔRnp of the projectiles for all reduced impact parameters.In addition,a scaling phenomenon was observed betweenΔR np and the yield ratios in peripheral colli-sions from different isotopic chain projectiles(except for extreme neutron-rich isotopes).Thus,R(n/p)and R(^(3)H∕^(3)He)from peripheral collisions were suggested as experimental probes for extracting the neutron or proton skin thicknesses of non-extreme neutron-rich nuclei from different isotopic chains.展开更多
Public urban greenery greatly contributes to the residential and tourist value of cities in the Gulf Region,but due to the hyper-arid climatic conditions,the cost of irrigation and plant maintenance is very high.Exist...Public urban greenery greatly contributes to the residential and tourist value of cities in the Gulf Region,but due to the hyper-arid climatic conditions,the cost of irrigation and plant maintenance is very high.Existing strategies to reduce the monetary and ecological costs involve the cultivation of native xerophytic plantations,and/or the use of soil improvers to increase water-and nutrient-holding capacity of the sandy soils.Various soil improvers based on mineral,organic,or synthetic materials have entered the United Arab Emirates(UAE)market in recent years,but there is considerable uncertainty about how they should best be used in combination with ornamental plant stands involving xerophytic native plants.The present study investigated the effect of soil amendment and deep pipe irrigation on perennial ornamental plant stands involving native plants(Tephrosia appolinea(Gel.)Link in combination with Aerva javanica(Burm.f.)Juss.ex Schult.)and native-exotic plants(T.appolinea in combination with Ruelia simplex C.Wright)either or not topsoil and subsoil amendment with bentonite and hydrophobic sand under the irrigation water supply of less than 50%of reference evapotranspiration(ET0).After one year of cultivation,T.appolinea and A.javanica(native vs.native)produced high biomass and exhibited high water use efficiency(WUE)as compared with T.appolinea and R.simplex(native vs.exotic)combination given that no significant differences were found under the soil amendment treatments.All stands thrived under irrigation water supply far below what is usually supplied to exotic ornamental stands in public parks of the Al Ain City,the UAE.However,subsoil amendment in combination with deep pipe irrigation reduced the occurrence of weeds and increased the overall plant rooting depth.Our results suggest that subsoil amendment and irrigation up to 60-80 cm depth can potentially control ephemeral weed infestation,which is a great challenge in various plant production systems of the Gulf Region.The results of the present study suggest that the impact of soil amendment on the WUE of exotic plants is marginal and might not be economically justified.Replacing exotic with native ornamental plant species seems to have a far greater water-saving potential than the amendment of the soil,while weeds can be suppressed in the absence of topsoil moisture.展开更多
In this work,we have explored wormhole(WH)solutions in F(R,L_(m))gravity by assuming the Morris-Thorne WH metric and F(R,Lm)=R/2+(1+γR)L_(m),whereγis the free model parameter.We determined the WH solutions by utiliz...In this work,we have explored wormhole(WH)solutions in F(R,L_(m))gravity by assuming the Morris-Thorne WH metric and F(R,Lm)=R/2+(1+γR)L_(m),whereγis the free model parameter.We determined the WH solutions by utilizing two newly developed shape functions(SF)that satisfy all basic conditions for a WH’s physical validity.We also observe that the null energy condition(NEC)behaves negatively.Finally,for both models,we use the volume integral quantifier(VIQ)and Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff(TOV)equation to determine how much exotic matter is needed near the WH throat and the stability of the WH.The extensive detailed discussions of the matter components have been done via graphical analysis.The obtained WH geometries meet the physically acceptable conditions for a stable wormhole.展开更多
Multinucleon transfer in low-energy heavy-ion collisions is increasingly considered a promising approach for generating exotic nuclei.Understanding the complex mechanisms involved in multinucleon transfer processes pr...Multinucleon transfer in low-energy heavy-ion collisions is increasingly considered a promising approach for generating exotic nuclei.Understanding the complex mechanisms involved in multinucleon transfer processes presents significant challenges for the theoretical investigation of nuclear reactions.A Langevin equation model was developed and employed to investigate multinucleon transfer processes.The^(40)Ar+^(232)Th reaction was simulated,and the calculated Wilczyński plot was used to verify the model.Additionally,to study the dynamics of multinucleon transfer reactions,the^(136)Xe+^(238)U and^(136)Xe+^(209)Bi reactions were simulated,and the corresponding TKE-mass and angular distributions were computed to analyze the energy dissipation and scattering angles.This investigation enhances our understanding of the dynamics involved in multinucleon transfer processes.展开更多
This paper discusses the feasibility of thin-shell wormholes in spacetimes of embedding class one admitting a one-parameter group of conformal motions. It is shown that the surface energy density σis positive, while ...This paper discusses the feasibility of thin-shell wormholes in spacetimes of embedding class one admitting a one-parameter group of conformal motions. It is shown that the surface energy density σis positive, while the surface pressure is negative, resulting in , thereby signaling a violation of the null energy condition, a necessary condition for holding a wormhole open. For a Morris-Thorne wormhole, matter that violates the null energy condition is referred to as “exotic”. For the thin-shell wormholes in this paper, however, the violation has a physical explanation since it is a direct consequence of the embedding theory in conjunction with the assumption of conformal symmetry. These properties avoid the need to hypothesize the existence of the highly problematical exotic matter.展开更多
Biodiversity assessment for tree species was conducted in three forest fragments ofthe Taita Hills, southeastern Kenya to compare species diversity between and within three exotic forest plantations of pine, eucalyptu...Biodiversity assessment for tree species was conducted in three forest fragments ofthe Taita Hills, southeastern Kenya to compare species diversity between and within three exotic forest plantations of pine, eucalyptus, cypress and the indigenous forests. The study sites were： Ngangao （120 ha）, Chawia （86 ha）, and Mbololo （185 ha）. A Y-plot design was used to sample 32 plots comprising of 65 subplots. At each subplot, all juvenile trees of 5 cm and above in diameter at breast height （DBH） were enumerated and recorded by species. Tree regeneration （seedlings and saplings） was tallied by species. The Shannon-Weiner Index was used to calculate species diversity and evenness. The derived Shannon’s indices were further converted into effective numbers to show the magnitude of differences in species biodiversities. To evaluate dif-ferences in species diversities, a one way ANOVA was conducted and to separate the means, Tukey＇s HSD and Duncan’s tests were used for even and uneven number of samples respectively. Jaccard’s similarity index was used to assess species similarities. There were more than 58 species whose stem densities varied between 10 and 2 000 trees per hectare.There were significant differences in species diversities between forest types and sites; the indigenous forests showed higher diversities than the exotic forests. Similarly, Chawia sites had higher species diversity than both Ngangao and Mbololo. Chawia also had a higher number of regen-erated species than the two other sites, including species such as Xymalos monospora, Rapanea melanophloeos, and Syzygium guineense, which are associated with low levels of disturbance. These findings indicate that the indigenous forest is more diverse in species as would be expected in the tropics. The high species diversity in Chawia could be accounted for by the higher levels of disturbance it underwent, unlike the two other sites. The regeneration of species associated with low levels of disturbance found in the exotic plots of Chawia show the likelihood of presence of long-term soil seed banks. The low regeneration in the exotics plots observed in Ngangao and Mbololo are likely due to the absence of seed banks since some of the plantations were established on bare land （in Ngango）, or the inherent physiology （allelopathy） of some of species repelling the regeneration of others.展开更多
Environmental degradation and deforestation in Jari Demonstration Plot needed forestation and reforestation,and the plant species selection was a key issue in the ecological recovery.Ecological information was fully c...Environmental degradation and deforestation in Jari Demonstration Plot needed forestation and reforestation,and the plant species selection was a key issue in the ecological recovery.Ecological information was fully considered regarding each species in various agro-climatic zones,altitude ranges,specific niches in different landscapes,soil preference,drought resistance and certain other important ecological factors.The species selection model represents an idea of ecological recovery and soil erosion control in the demonstration plot.展开更多
Reservoirs are important artificial ecosystems that modify the hydrological and ecological characteristics of a river. Knowledge of the basic characteristics of fish assemblages in reservoirs is a first step toward th...Reservoirs are important artificial ecosystems that modify the hydrological and ecological characteristics of a river. Knowledge of the basic characteristics of fish assemblages in reservoirs is a first step toward the development of effective conservation policies. We used the information collected over a 10-year period (2006-2015) to assess the structure of the fish assemblages in the Three Gorge Reservoir (TGR) in a river-dam gradient. Three fish zones were detected in TGR. Species richness was the highest in the upper zone and lowest in the lower zone. The riverine zones were dominated by rheophilic species Coreius guichenoti and Pelteobagrus vachelli. The transitional zones were dominated by Coreius heterodon and Rhinogobio cylindricus. The lacustrine zones were dominated by eurytopic species Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Aristichthys nobilis, Hemiculter bleekeri and Cyprinus carpio. For the functional characteristics, fish assemblages in riverine and transitional zones were dominated by insectivorous species, equilibrium strategists and rheophilic species (e.g., Coreius heterodon and Coreius guichenoti). In lacustrine zones, the fish assemblage was dominated by habitat generalists common to lakes and reservoirs (e.g., Hemiculter bleekeri, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Aristichthys nobilis). Moreover, 18 exotic species (e.g., Protosalanx hyalocranius, Ictalurus punctatus, Megalobrama amblycephala, Tilapia) were collected in TGR, most of which only existed in the lacustrine zone. The results highlight the importance of freely flowing riverine reaches for conserving native fish in the upper Changjiang River and adaptive management strategies for fisheries in TGR.展开更多
The reaction dynamics of exotic nuclei near the drip line is one of the main research topics of current interest.Elastic scattering is a useful probe for investigating the size and surface diffuseness of exotic nuclei...The reaction dynamics of exotic nuclei near the drip line is one of the main research topics of current interest.Elastic scattering is a useful probe for investigating the size and surface diffuseness of exotic nuclei.The development of rare isotope accelerators offers opportunities for such studies.To date,many relevant measurements have been performed at accelerators using the projectile fragmentation technique,while the measurements at accelerators using isotope separator on-line(ISOL)systems are still quite scarce.In this work,we present the first proof-of-principle experiment with a post-accelerated ISOL beam at the Beijing Radioactive Ion Beam Facility(BRIF)by measuring the angular distribution of elastic scattering for the stable nucleus^(23)Na from the doubly magic nucleus^(40)Ca at energies above the Coulomb barrier.The angular distribution measured by a silicon strip detector array in a scattering chamber using the ISOL beam at BRIF is in good agreement with that measured by the high-precision Q3 D magnetic spectrograph using the nonISOL beam at nearly the same energy.This work provides useful background for making BRIF a powerful tool for the investigation of the reaction dynamics of exotic nuclei.展开更多
Erhai Lake is the second largest freshwater lake on the Yunnan Plateau, Southwest China. In recent decades, a number of exotic fish species have been introduced into the lake and the fish community has changed conside...Erhai Lake is the second largest freshwater lake on the Yunnan Plateau, Southwest China. In recent decades, a number of exotic fish species have been introduced into the lake and the fish community has changed considerably. We evaluated the status of the fish community based on surveys with multimesh gillnet, trap net, and benthic fyke-net between May 2009 and April 2012. In addition, we evaluated the change in the community using historical data （1952-2010） describing the fish community and fishery harvest. The current fish community is dominated by small-sized fishes, including Pseudorasbora parva, Rhinogobius giurinus, Micropercops swinhonis, Hemiculter leucisculus, and Rhinogobius cliffordpopei. These accounted for 87.7% of the 22 546 total specimens collected. Omnivorous and carnivorous species dominated the community. A canonical correspondence analysis （CCA） plot revealed that the distribution of fishes in the lake is influenced by aquatic plants, water temperature, pH, and season. The abundance of indigenous species has declined sharply, and a majority of endemic species have been extirpated from the lake （a decrease from seven to two species）. In contrast, the number of exotic species has increased since the 1960s to a total of 22 at present. The fishery harvest decreased initially following the 1960s, but has since increased due to the introduction of non-native fish and stocking of native fish. The fishery harvest was significantly correlated with total nitrogen, not total phosphorus, during the past 20 years. Based on our results, we discuss recommendations for the restoration and conservation of the fish resources in Erhai Lake.展开更多
During the last few decades,rare isotope beam facilities have provided unique data for studying the properties of nuclides located far from the beta-stability line.Such nuclei are often accompanied by exotic structure...During the last few decades,rare isotope beam facilities have provided unique data for studying the properties of nuclides located far from the beta-stability line.Such nuclei are often accompanied by exotic structures and radioactive modes,which represent the forefront of nuclear research.Among them,two-proton(2p)radioactivity is a rare decay mode found in a few highly proton-rich isotopes.The 2p decay lifetimes and properties of emitted protons hold invaluable information regarding the nuclear structures in the presence of a low-lying proton continuum;as such,they have attracted considerable research attention.In this review,we present some of the recent experimental and theoretical progress regarding the 2p decay,including technical innovations for measuring nucleon-nucleon correlations and developments in the models that connect their structural aspects with their decay properties.This impressive progress should play a significant role in elucidating the mechanism of these exotic decays,probing the corresponding components inside nuclei,and providing deep insights into the open quantum nature of dripline systems.展开更多
Artificially introduced cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora, rapidly colonized the intertidal flats of the Jiangsu coast, eastern China. The epibenthos on an intertidal flat invaded by S. alterniflorawere studied, to ide...Artificially introduced cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora, rapidly colonized the intertidal flats of the Jiangsu coast, eastern China. The epibenthos on an intertidal flat invaded by S. alterniflorawere studied, to identify how local epibenthos species react to an altered environment. Epibenthic samples and surficial sediment samples were collected along a shore-normal profile in 50 quadrats at ten stations across the Spartina salt marsh; and five control quadrats for a station located on the barren sandy-mud flat. The grain size param- eters of the surficial sediments show that S. alterniflora altered the grain size gradient along the profile of the intertidal zone by trapping fine-grained sediments. Spartina alterniflora could inhabit lower elevation- s than indigenous salt marsh vegetation, thus creating larger areas of finer surficial sediments, which was suitable for not only native epibenthic species but also species which do not exist on the barren sandy-mud flat. Correlation analyses show that the epibenthos were sensitive to sediment grain size and type, on the invaded S. alterniflora salt marsh. Further, there was an interspecific relationship affecting the distribution of epibenthos. The results show that epibenthos preferred ecological niches, within the Spartina salt marsh, even in the same sampling station.展开更多
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.22090041)the Program for Guangdong Introducing Innovative and Entrepreneurial Teams(No.2017ZT07C069)+1 种基金the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(No.2022B1515120014)the Natural Science Foundation of Zhejiang Province(No.LQ21A040010).
文摘The exploratory synthesis and structural characterization of twodimensional(2D)honeycomb structured Ru-based compounds are key focuses in inorganic materials research,due to the various exotic electronic states arising from the interplay of electron correlations and spinorbit coupling.Among these compounds,α-RuCl_(3) and RuBr_(3) are considered as the most promising candidates for quantum spin liquid(QSL)materials[1–3].As a homolog,α-RuI3 has attracted significant interest,but it still remains relatively unexplored.Recently,it was synthesized by high-temperature and high-pressure solid-state reaction,but reported to be different crystal structures by independent groups.Ni et al.and Nawa et al.considerα-RuI3 to be R-3(3R)and P-31c(2H)space group,respectively[4,5].Both structures have typical 2D characteristics,in which the edge-sharing RuI6 octahedra form honeycomb layers stacked along the c-axis.The primary difference lies in that the honeycomb layers stack in ABCABC mode in the 3R phase,while in ABAB mode in the 2H phase(Fig.S1).Yang et al.discussed the stability of 3R and 2H polymorphs in terms of the total energies and dynamics,finding both structures are stable.However,the total energy of the 2H phase is slightly higher,2.58 meV than that of the 3R analog[6].When it comes to the conductivity behaviour,α-RuCl3 andα-RuBr_(3) are semiconductors as normally observed in QSL materials.In contrast,α-RuI_(3) exhibits metallic response.In 2D materials,the band structure may be drastically modified by altering the stacking order[7].Hence,determining the crystal structure ofα-RuI_(3) is urgently required,which is a key step in comprehensive and in-depth analysis of its physical properties.
文摘The genus Lilium comprises 119 taxa,primarily native to temperate and alpine regions of the Northern Hemisphere,extending to the northern Philippines.In this study,we report the first occurrence of Lilium candidum L.in Morocco,specifically in the jbel Sidi Ali El Jawzi area,within the territorial commune of Asjen,Ouezzane Province(Pre-Rif region).During a botanical survey conducted in May 2022,a population of L.candidum was identified,marking its first recorded presence in the country.Morphological characteristics were analyzed and compared with existing descriptions in the literature to confirm species identification.The species was found in a humid microclimate with calcareous soils,suggesting specific ecological requirements that facilitated its establishment.This unexpected discovery raises several questions regarding its biogeographical history,potential introduction pathways,and adaptation mechanisms in the Moroccan environment.Given its limited distribution and ecological specificity,its conservation status should be carefully evaluated,as human activities,habitat disturbance,and climate change may pose significant threats.Further studies,including genetic analyses and ecological monitoring,are needed to determine its origin,assess population stability,and establish conservation strategies.The presence of L.candidum in the Pre-Rif region expands the known distribution of the species and highlights the importance of continuous botanical exploration in North Africa,particularly in understudied mountainous ecosystems.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 42241103 and 62227901)the Key Research Program of the Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences (Grant Nos. IGGCAS-202101 and IGGCAS-202401)
文摘Lunar impact glasses have been identified as crucial indicators of geochemical information regarding their source regions. Impact glasses can be categorized as either local or exotic. Those preserving geochemical signatures matching local lithologies (e.g., mare basalts or their single minerals) or regolith bulk soil compositions are classified as “local”. Otherwise, they could be defined as “exotic”. The analysis of exotic glasses provides the opportunity to explore previously unsampled lunar areas. This study focuses on the identification of exotic glasses within the Chang’e-5 (CE-5) soil sample by analyzing the trace elements of 28 impact glasses with distinct major element compositions in comparison with the CE-5 bulk soil. However, the results indicate that 18 of the analyzed glasses exhibit trace element compositions comparable to those of the local CE-5 materials. In particular, some of them could match the local single mineral component in major and trace elements, suggesting a local origin. Therefore, it is recommended that the investigation be expanded from using major elements to including nonvolatile trace elements, with a view to enhancing our understanding on the provenance of lunar impact glasses. To achieve a more accurate identification of exotic glasses within the CE-5 soil sample, a novel classification plot of Mg# versus La is proposed. The remaining 10 glasses, which exhibit diverse trace element variations, were identified as exotic. A comparative analysis of their chemical characteristics with remote sensing data indicates that they may have originated from the Aristarchus, Mairan, Sharp, or Pythagoras craters. This study elucidates the classification and possible provenance of exotic materials within the CE-5 soil sample, thereby providing constraints for the enhanced identification of local and exotic components at the CE-5 landing site.
基金supported in part by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Nos.2022YFA1604900,2023YFA1606703,2024YFA1610503)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.12025501,12147101,12375073,12125507,12361141819,12047503,12175239,12221005)the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Nos.XDB34000000 and YSBR-101)。
文摘Exotic hadrons,beyond the conventional quark model,have been discovered over the past two decades.Investigating these states can lead to a deeper understanding of the nonperturbative dynamics of the strong interaction.In this review,we focus on the production of exotic hadrons in pp,PP^(-),and nuclear collisions.Experimental observations of light and hypernuclei as prototypes of hadronic molecules in heavy-ion collisions are also briefly discussed.
基金funded by the National Natural Science Foundations of China(Grant Nos.12034004 and 12174064)the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project(Grant No.2019SHZDZX01)+2 种基金the Innovation Program for Quantum Science and Technology(Grant No.2024ZD0300104)supported by U.S.DOE BES DE-SC0012311the Robert A.Welch Foundation under Grant No.C-1839,respectively(P.D.)。
文摘One important issue in current condensed matter physics is the search of quantum spin liquid(QSL),an exotic magnetic state with strongly-fluctuating and highly-entangled spins down to zero temperature without static order.However,there is no consensus on the existence of a QSL state in any real material so far,due to inevitable disorder and intricate competing exchange interactions on frustrated spin lattices.Here we report systematic heat transport measurements on a honeycomb-lattice compound BaCo_(2)(AsO_(4))_(2),which manifests magnetic order in zero field.In a narrow in-plane field range after the magnetic order is nearly suppressed,in both perpendicular and parallel to the zigzag direction,a finite residual linear term of thermal conductivity is clearly observed,which is attributed to mobile fermionic excitations.In addition,the spin-phonon scattering rate exhibits a T-linear behavior when the order disappears.These observations suggest a partial QSL state with gapless spinon excitations in BaCo_(2)(AsO_(4))_(2),that emerges when a portion of the spins remains ordered,and vanishes as the spins become progressively polarized.
文摘With the development of radioactive-ion-beam facilities,many exotic phenomena have been discovered or predicted in the nuclei far from the stability line,including cluster structure,shell structure,deformed halo,and shape decoupling effects.The study of exotic nuclear phenomena is at the frontier of nuclear physics nowadays.The covariant density functional theory(CDFT)is one of the most successful microscopic models in describing the structure of nuclei in almost the whole nuclear chart.Within the framework of CDFT,toward a proper treatment of deformation and weak binding,the deformed relativistic Hartree-Bogoliubov theory in continuum(DRHBc)has been developed.In this contribution,we review the applications and extensions of the DRHBc theory to the study of exotic nuclei.The DRHBc theory has been used to investigate the deformed halos in B,C,Ne,Na,and Mg isotopes and the theoretical descriptions are reasonably consistent with available data.A DRHBc Mass Table Collaboration has been founded,aiming at a high precision nuclear mass table with deformation and continuum effects included,which is underway.By implementing the angular momentum projection based on the DRHBc theory,the rotational excitations of deformed halos have been investigated and it is shown that the deformed halos and shape decoupling effects also exist in the low-lying rotational excitation states of deformed halo nuclei.
基金financed by the National Science Centre,Poland,under project No.2019/35/B/NZ8/01381 entitled"Impact of invasive tree species on ecosystem services:plant biodiversity,carbon and nitrogen cycling and climate regulation"by the Institute of Dendrology,Polish Academy of Sciences。
文摘Prunus serotina and Robinia pseudoacacia are the most widespread invasive trees in Central Europe.In addition,according to climate models,decreased growth of many economically and ecologically important native trees will likely be observed in the future.We aimed to assess the impact of these two neophytes,which differ in the biomass range and nitrogen-fixing abilities observed in Central European conditions,on the relative aboveground biomass increments of native oaks Qucrcus robur and Q.petraea and Scots pine Pinus sylvestris.We aimed to increase our understanding of the relationship between facilitation and competition between woody alien species and overstory native trees.We established 72 circular plots(0.05 ha)in two different forest habitat types and stands varying in age in western Poland.We chose plots with different abundances of the studied neophytes to determine how effects scaled along the quantitative invasion gradient.Furthermore,we collected growth cores of the studied native species,and we calculated aboveground biomass increments at the tree and stand levels.Then,we used generalized linear mixed-effects models to assess the impact of invasive species abundances on relative aboveground biomass increments of native tree species.We did not find a biologically or statistically significant impact of invasive R.pseudoacacia or P.serotina on the relative aboveground,biomass increments of native oaks and pines along the quantitative gradient of invader biomass or on the proportion of total stand biomass accounted for by invaders.The neophytes did not act as native tree growth stimulators but also did not compete with them for resources,which would escalate the negative impact of climate change on pines and oaks.The neophytes should not significantly modify the carbon sequestration capacity of the native species.Our work combines elements of the per capita effect of invasion with research on mixed forest management.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.11405025).
文摘The yield ratios of neutron-proton(R(n/p))and^(3)H-^(3)He(R(^(3)H∕^(3)He))with reduced rapidity from 0 to 0.5 were simulated at 50 MeV/u even-even ^(36−56)Ca+^(40)Ca,even-even ^(48−78)Ni+^(58)Ni,and ^(100−139)Sn(every third isotopes)+112 Sn for full reduced impact parameters using the isospin-dependent quantum molecular dynamics(IQMD)model.The neutron and proton density distributions and root-mean-square radii of the reaction systems were obtained using the Skyrme-Hartree-Fock model,which was used for the phase space initialization of the projectile and target in IQMD.We defined the unified neutron skin thickness asΔRnp=<r^(2)>^(1∕2) n−<r^(2)>^(1∕2)p,which was negative for neutron-deficient nuclei.The unifiedΔRnp values for nuclei with the same relative neutron excess from different isotopic chains were nearly equal,except for extreme neutron-rich isotopes,which is a type of scaling behavior.The yield ratios of the three isotopic chain-induced reactions,which depended on the reduced impact parameter and unified neutron skin thickness,were studied.The results showed that both R(n/p)and R(^(3)H∕^(3)He)decreased with a reduced impact parameter for extreme neutron-deficient isotopes;however,they increased with reduced impact parameters for extreme neutron-rich isotopes,and increased with theΔRnp of the projectiles for all reduced impact parameters.In addition,a scaling phenomenon was observed betweenΔR np and the yield ratios in peripheral colli-sions from different isotopic chain projectiles(except for extreme neutron-rich isotopes).Thus,R(n/p)and R(^(3)H∕^(3)He)from peripheral collisions were suggested as experimental probes for extracting the neutron or proton skin thicknesses of non-extreme neutron-rich nuclei from different isotopic chains.
基金partly funded by the Al Ain MunicipalityNational Water and Energy Center, United Arab Emirates University。
文摘Public urban greenery greatly contributes to the residential and tourist value of cities in the Gulf Region,but due to the hyper-arid climatic conditions,the cost of irrigation and plant maintenance is very high.Existing strategies to reduce the monetary and ecological costs involve the cultivation of native xerophytic plantations,and/or the use of soil improvers to increase water-and nutrient-holding capacity of the sandy soils.Various soil improvers based on mineral,organic,or synthetic materials have entered the United Arab Emirates(UAE)market in recent years,but there is considerable uncertainty about how they should best be used in combination with ornamental plant stands involving xerophytic native plants.The present study investigated the effect of soil amendment and deep pipe irrigation on perennial ornamental plant stands involving native plants(Tephrosia appolinea(Gel.)Link in combination with Aerva javanica(Burm.f.)Juss.ex Schult.)and native-exotic plants(T.appolinea in combination with Ruelia simplex C.Wright)either or not topsoil and subsoil amendment with bentonite and hydrophobic sand under the irrigation water supply of less than 50%of reference evapotranspiration(ET0).After one year of cultivation,T.appolinea and A.javanica(native vs.native)produced high biomass and exhibited high water use efficiency(WUE)as compared with T.appolinea and R.simplex(native vs.exotic)combination given that no significant differences were found under the soil amendment treatments.All stands thrived under irrigation water supply far below what is usually supplied to exotic ornamental stands in public parks of the Al Ain City,the UAE.However,subsoil amendment in combination with deep pipe irrigation reduced the occurrence of weeds and increased the overall plant rooting depth.Our results suggest that subsoil amendment and irrigation up to 60-80 cm depth can potentially control ephemeral weed infestation,which is a great challenge in various plant production systems of the Gulf Region.The results of the present study suggest that the impact of soil amendment on the WUE of exotic plants is marginal and might not be economically justified.Replacing exotic with native ornamental plant species seems to have a far greater water-saving potential than the amendment of the soil,while weeds can be suppressed in the absence of topsoil moisture.
基金S Chaudhary expresses his gratitude to the Central University of Haryana for providing a University Research Fellowship (URF) under the Reg. No. 222019the Department of Mathematics, Central University of Haryanathe University Grant Commission (UGC), New Delhi, India under the NTA Ref. No. 211610000030 for providing financial support
文摘In this work,we have explored wormhole(WH)solutions in F(R,L_(m))gravity by assuming the Morris-Thorne WH metric and F(R,Lm)=R/2+(1+γR)L_(m),whereγis the free model parameter.We determined the WH solutions by utilizing two newly developed shape functions(SF)that satisfy all basic conditions for a WH’s physical validity.We also observe that the null energy condition(NEC)behaves negatively.Finally,for both models,we use the volume integral quantifier(VIQ)and Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff(TOV)equation to determine how much exotic matter is needed near the WH throat and the stability of the WH.The extensive detailed discussions of the matter components have been done via graphical analysis.The obtained WH geometries meet the physically acceptable conditions for a stable wormhole.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2023YFA1606401)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.12135004,11635003 and 11961141004)。
文摘Multinucleon transfer in low-energy heavy-ion collisions is increasingly considered a promising approach for generating exotic nuclei.Understanding the complex mechanisms involved in multinucleon transfer processes presents significant challenges for the theoretical investigation of nuclear reactions.A Langevin equation model was developed and employed to investigate multinucleon transfer processes.The^(40)Ar+^(232)Th reaction was simulated,and the calculated Wilczyński plot was used to verify the model.Additionally,to study the dynamics of multinucleon transfer reactions,the^(136)Xe+^(238)U and^(136)Xe+^(209)Bi reactions were simulated,and the corresponding TKE-mass and angular distributions were computed to analyze the energy dissipation and scattering angles.This investigation enhances our understanding of the dynamics involved in multinucleon transfer processes.
文摘This paper discusses the feasibility of thin-shell wormholes in spacetimes of embedding class one admitting a one-parameter group of conformal motions. It is shown that the surface energy density σis positive, while the surface pressure is negative, resulting in , thereby signaling a violation of the null energy condition, a necessary condition for holding a wormhole open. For a Morris-Thorne wormhole, matter that violates the null energy condition is referred to as “exotic”. For the thin-shell wormholes in this paper, however, the violation has a physical explanation since it is a direct consequence of the embedding theory in conjunction with the assumption of conformal symmetry. These properties avoid the need to hypothesize the existence of the highly problematical exotic matter.
基金supported by the Academy of Finland for the funding of the TAITATOO project
文摘Biodiversity assessment for tree species was conducted in three forest fragments ofthe Taita Hills, southeastern Kenya to compare species diversity between and within three exotic forest plantations of pine, eucalyptus, cypress and the indigenous forests. The study sites were： Ngangao （120 ha）, Chawia （86 ha）, and Mbololo （185 ha）. A Y-plot design was used to sample 32 plots comprising of 65 subplots. At each subplot, all juvenile trees of 5 cm and above in diameter at breast height （DBH） were enumerated and recorded by species. Tree regeneration （seedlings and saplings） was tallied by species. The Shannon-Weiner Index was used to calculate species diversity and evenness. The derived Shannon’s indices were further converted into effective numbers to show the magnitude of differences in species biodiversities. To evaluate dif-ferences in species diversities, a one way ANOVA was conducted and to separate the means, Tukey＇s HSD and Duncan’s tests were used for even and uneven number of samples respectively. Jaccard’s similarity index was used to assess species similarities. There were more than 58 species whose stem densities varied between 10 and 2 000 trees per hectare.There were significant differences in species diversities between forest types and sites; the indigenous forests showed higher diversities than the exotic forests. Similarly, Chawia sites had higher species diversity than both Ngangao and Mbololo. Chawia also had a higher number of regen-erated species than the two other sites, including species such as Xymalos monospora, Rapanea melanophloeos, and Syzygium guineense, which are associated with low levels of disturbance. These findings indicate that the indigenous forest is more diverse in species as would be expected in the tropics. The high species diversity in Chawia could be accounted for by the higher levels of disturbance it underwent, unlike the two other sites. The regeneration of species associated with low levels of disturbance found in the exotic plots of Chawia show the likelihood of presence of long-term soil seed banks. The low regeneration in the exotics plots observed in Ngangao and Mbololo are likely due to the absence of seed banks since some of the plantations were established on bare land （in Ngango）, or the inherent physiology （allelopathy） of some of species repelling the regeneration of others.
基金Sponsored by FAO of the United Nations under South-south Cooperation Program in Ethiopia(SSC/SPFS-FAO-ETHIOPIA-CHINA)~~
文摘Environmental degradation and deforestation in Jari Demonstration Plot needed forestation and reforestation,and the plant species selection was a key issue in the ecological recovery.Ecological information was fully considered regarding each species in various agro-climatic zones,altitude ranges,specific niches in different landscapes,soil preference,drought resistance and certain other important ecological factors.The species selection model represents an idea of ecological recovery and soil erosion control in the demonstration plot.
基金Supported by the Three Gorges Project Eco-Environmental Monitoring System(No.JJ[2017]-011)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.51509239)
文摘Reservoirs are important artificial ecosystems that modify the hydrological and ecological characteristics of a river. Knowledge of the basic characteristics of fish assemblages in reservoirs is a first step toward the development of effective conservation policies. We used the information collected over a 10-year period (2006-2015) to assess the structure of the fish assemblages in the Three Gorge Reservoir (TGR) in a river-dam gradient. Three fish zones were detected in TGR. Species richness was the highest in the upper zone and lowest in the lower zone. The riverine zones were dominated by rheophilic species Coreius guichenoti and Pelteobagrus vachelli. The transitional zones were dominated by Coreius heterodon and Rhinogobio cylindricus. The lacustrine zones were dominated by eurytopic species Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Aristichthys nobilis, Hemiculter bleekeri and Cyprinus carpio. For the functional characteristics, fish assemblages in riverine and transitional zones were dominated by insectivorous species, equilibrium strategists and rheophilic species (e.g., Coreius heterodon and Coreius guichenoti). In lacustrine zones, the fish assemblage was dominated by habitat generalists common to lakes and reservoirs (e.g., Hemiculter bleekeri, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Aristichthys nobilis). Moreover, 18 exotic species (e.g., Protosalanx hyalocranius, Ictalurus punctatus, Megalobrama amblycephala, Tilapia) were collected in TGR, most of which only existed in the lacustrine zone. The results highlight the importance of freely flowing riverine reaches for conserving native fish in the upper Changjiang River and adaptive management strategies for fisheries in TGR.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Nos.11490561,11635015,11961141003,11805280,11975316,12075045,12005304,U1867212,U1867214)the National Key Research and Development Project(Nos.2016YFA0400502,2018YFA0404404)+1 种基金the Continuous Basic Scientific Research Project(No.WDJC-2019-13)the Leading Innovation Project(Nos.LC192209000701,LC202309000201).
文摘The reaction dynamics of exotic nuclei near the drip line is one of the main research topics of current interest.Elastic scattering is a useful probe for investigating the size and surface diffuseness of exotic nuclei.The development of rare isotope accelerators offers opportunities for such studies.To date,many relevant measurements have been performed at accelerators using the projectile fragmentation technique,while the measurements at accelerators using isotope separator on-line(ISOL)systems are still quite scarce.In this work,we present the first proof-of-principle experiment with a post-accelerated ISOL beam at the Beijing Radioactive Ion Beam Facility(BRIF)by measuring the angular distribution of elastic scattering for the stable nucleus^(23)Na from the doubly magic nucleus^(40)Ca at energies above the Coulomb barrier.The angular distribution measured by a silicon strip detector array in a scattering chamber using the ISOL beam at BRIF is in good agreement with that measured by the high-precision Q3 D magnetic spectrograph using the nonISOL beam at nearly the same energy.This work provides useful background for making BRIF a powerful tool for the investigation of the reaction dynamics of exotic nuclei.
基金Supported by the National Special Research Fund for Non-Profit Sector(Agriculture)(No.200903048-04)the Major Science and Technology Program for Water Pollution Control and Treatment of China(No.2012ZX07105-004)the State Key Program of National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.30830025)
文摘Erhai Lake is the second largest freshwater lake on the Yunnan Plateau, Southwest China. In recent decades, a number of exotic fish species have been introduced into the lake and the fish community has changed considerably. We evaluated the status of the fish community based on surveys with multimesh gillnet, trap net, and benthic fyke-net between May 2009 and April 2012. In addition, we evaluated the change in the community using historical data （1952-2010） describing the fish community and fishery harvest. The current fish community is dominated by small-sized fishes, including Pseudorasbora parva, Rhinogobius giurinus, Micropercops swinhonis, Hemiculter leucisculus, and Rhinogobius cliffordpopei. These accounted for 87.7% of the 22 546 total specimens collected. Omnivorous and carnivorous species dominated the community. A canonical correspondence analysis （CCA） plot revealed that the distribution of fishes in the lake is influenced by aquatic plants, water temperature, pH, and season. The abundance of indigenous species has declined sharply, and a majority of endemic species have been extirpated from the lake （a decrease from seven to two species）. In contrast, the number of exotic species has increased since the 1960s to a total of 22 at present. The fishery harvest decreased initially following the 1960s, but has since increased due to the introduction of non-native fish and stocking of native fish. The fishery harvest was significantly correlated with total nitrogen, not total phosphorus, during the past 20 years. Based on our results, we discuss recommendations for the restoration and conservation of the fish resources in Erhai Lake.
基金partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 12147101, 11925502,11935001,11961141003, 11890714)the National Key R&D Program of China (No.2018YFA0404404)+1 种基金the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. XDB34030000)the Shanghai Development Foundation for Science and Technology(No. 19ZR1403100)
文摘During the last few decades,rare isotope beam facilities have provided unique data for studying the properties of nuclides located far from the beta-stability line.Such nuclei are often accompanied by exotic structures and radioactive modes,which represent the forefront of nuclear research.Among them,two-proton(2p)radioactivity is a rare decay mode found in a few highly proton-rich isotopes.The 2p decay lifetimes and properties of emitted protons hold invaluable information regarding the nuclear structures in the presence of a low-lying proton continuum;as such,they have attracted considerable research attention.In this review,we present some of the recent experimental and theoretical progress regarding the 2p decay,including technical innovations for measuring nucleon-nucleon correlations and developments in the models that connect their structural aspects with their decay properties.This impressive progress should play a significant role in elucidating the mechanism of these exotic decays,probing the corresponding components inside nuclei,and providing deep insights into the open quantum nature of dripline systems.
基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China under contract No. 40476041the State Oceanic Administration of China under contract No. 2010418006
文摘Artificially introduced cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora, rapidly colonized the intertidal flats of the Jiangsu coast, eastern China. The epibenthos on an intertidal flat invaded by S. alterniflorawere studied, to identify how local epibenthos species react to an altered environment. Epibenthic samples and surficial sediment samples were collected along a shore-normal profile in 50 quadrats at ten stations across the Spartina salt marsh; and five control quadrats for a station located on the barren sandy-mud flat. The grain size param- eters of the surficial sediments show that S. alterniflora altered the grain size gradient along the profile of the intertidal zone by trapping fine-grained sediments. Spartina alterniflora could inhabit lower elevation- s than indigenous salt marsh vegetation, thus creating larger areas of finer surficial sediments, which was suitable for not only native epibenthic species but also species which do not exist on the barren sandy-mud flat. Correlation analyses show that the epibenthos were sensitive to sediment grain size and type, on the invaded S. alterniflora salt marsh. Further, there was an interspecific relationship affecting the distribution of epibenthos. The results show that epibenthos preferred ecological niches, within the Spartina salt marsh, even in the same sampling station.
