The mechanisms underlying nutrient-induced diversity–stability relationships have been examined extensively. However, the effects of nutrient-induced shifts of dominant species on ecosystem stability have rarely been evaluated. We compiled a dataset from a long-term nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) enrichment experiment conducted in an alpine grassland on the Tibetan Plateau to test the effects of nutrient-induced shifts of dominant species on stability. Our results show that N enrichment increased synchrony among the dominant species, which contributed to a significant increase in synchrony of the whole community. Meanwhile, N-induced shifts in dominant species composition significantly increased population variability. Increases in species synchrony and population variability resulted in a decline in ecosystem stability. Our study has important implications for progress in understanding the role of plant functional compensation in the stability of ecosystem functions, which is critical for better understanding the mechanisms driving both community assembly and ecosystem functions.

Abstract. This study considers the spatial variability of soil organic carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus storage in a drained alpine wetland and the possible relationships with soil properties. Top 0-0.30 m soil samples were collected in a typical alpine wetland in the south-eastern Qinghai-Tibet plateau using grid sampling. There was high spatial variability for soil organic carbon density (SOCD), soil total nitrogen density (STND), and soil total phosphorous density (STPD) in the drained alpine wetland. Spherical models best described the structure of the semivariograms for SOCD and STPD, and an exponential model for STND, with the range parameter of <4 m. Similar spatial distribution with lower or higher patches of C, N, and P storage were observed. SOCD, STND, and STPD were significantly negatively correlated with soil moisture (P < 0.01), and significantly positively correlated with bulk density (P < 0.01). However, no significant correlations were observed between SOCD, STND, and STPD and soil pH values. Wetland drainage might lead to higher C, N, and P densities in top 0.30 m soils due to peat compaction; thus, it is necessary to incorporate water table fluctuations or the whole depth of peat layers to estimating precisely C, N and P storage.

No abstract

Personalized immunotherapy targeting tumor-specific mutations represents a highly promising approach to cancer treatment. Here, we describe an Asian lung squamous cell carcinoma patient demonstrating frank disease progression following chemotherapy and EGFR inhibitor treatment. Based on tumor mutational profiling and HLA typing, a saline-based multi-epitope peptide vaccine was designed and administered along with topical imiquimod as an adjuvant. Weekly neo-epitope peptide vaccination was followed by a rapid and dramatic regression of multiple lung tumor nodules, while a much larger liver metastasis remained refractory to treatment. Peripheral blood immune monitoring showed that specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) were induced primarily against peptide targets encompassing the widely shared EGFR L858R mutation, particularly one restricted to HLA-A*3101. Immunological targeting of this driver mutation may be of particular benefit to Asian lung cancer patients due to its relatively high prevalence within this patient population.

Wetland stores substantial amount of carbon and may contribute greatly to global climate change debate. However, few researches have focused on the effects of global climate change on carbon mineralization in Zoigê alpine wetland, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which is one of the most important peatlands in China. Through incubation experiment, this paper studied the effects of temperature, soil moisture, soil type (marsh soil and peat soil) and their interactions on CO 2 and CH 4 emission rates in Zoigê alpine wetland. Results show that when the temperature rises from 5℃ to 35℃, CO 2 emission rates increase by 3.3-3.7 times and 2.4-2.6 times under non-inundation treatment, and by 2.2-2.3 times and 4.1-4.3 times under inundation treatment in marsh soil and peat soil, respectively. Compared with non-inundation treatment, CO 2 emission rates decrease by 6%-44%, 20%-60% in marsh soil and peat soil, respectively, under inundation treatment. CO 2 emission rate is significantly affected by the combined effects of the temperature and soil type (p < 0.001), and soil moisture and soil type (p < 0.001), and CH 4 emission rate was significantly affected by the interaction of the temperature and soil moisture (p < 0.001). Q 10 values for CO 2 emission rate are higher at the range of 5℃-25℃ than 25℃-35 , ℃ indicating that carbon mineralization is more sensitive at low temperature in Zoigê alpine wetland.Citation: Gao Junqin, Ouyang Hua, Lei Guangchun, Xu Xingliang, Zhang Mingxiang, 2011. Effects of temperature, soil moisture, soil type and their interactions on soil carbon mineralization in Zoigê alpine wetland, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.