RESUMEN

The temporal trend of aboveground net primary production (ANPP) is frequently used to estimate the effect of humans on ecosystems. In water-limited ecosystems, like most grazing areas in the world, the effect of humans act upon ANPP in combination with environmental variations. Our main objective was to quantify long-term (1981-2012) changes of ANPP and discriminate the causes of these changes between environmental and human at a subcontinental scale, across vast areas of Patagonia. We estimated ANPP through a radiative model based on remote sensing data. Then, we evaluated the relation between ANPP and environmental interannual variations of two hierarchically related factors: El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) through the Southern Oscillation Index (SOI), and precipitation. We described the effect of humans through the shape of the temporal trends of the residuals (RESTREND) of the environmental model and quantified human relative impact through the RESTREND: ANPP trend ratio. ANPP interannual variation was significantly explained by ENSO (through SOI) and precipitation in 65% of the study area. The SOI had a positive association with annual precipitation. The association between ANPP and annual precipitation was positive. RESTREND analysis was statistically significant in 92% of the area where the tested environmental model worked, representing 60% of the study area, and it was mostly negative. However, its magnitude, revealed through the RESTREND: ANPP trend ratio, was relatively mild. Our analysis revealed that most of ANPP trends were associated with climate and that even when human density is low, its incidence seems to be mainly negative.

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RESUMEN

Grazing intensity elicits changes in the composition of plant functional groups in both shortgrass steppe (SGS) and northern mixed-grass prairie (NMP) in North America. How these grazing intensity-induced changes control aboveground net primary production (ANPP) responses to precipitation remains a central open question, especially in light of predicted climate changes. Here, we evaluated effects of four levels (none, light, moderate, and heavy) of long-term (>30 yr) grazing intensity in SGS and NMP on: (1) ANPP; (2) precipitation-use efficiency (PUE, ANPP : precipitation); and (3) precipitation marginal response (PMR; slope of a linear regression model between ANPP and precipitation). We advance prior work by examining: (1) the consequences of a range of grazing intensities (more grazed vs. ungrazed); and (2) how grazing-induced changes in ANPP and PUE are related both to shifts in functional group composition and physiological responses within each functional group. Spring (April-June) precipitation, the primary determinant of ANPP, was only 12% higher in NMP than in SGS, yet ANPP and PUE were 25% higher. Doubling grazing intensity in SGS and nearly doubling it in NMP reduced ANPP and PUE by only 24% and 33%, respectively. Increased grazing intensity reduced C3 graminoid biomass and increased C4 grass biomass in both grasslands. Functional group shifts affected PUE through biomass reductions, as PUE was positively associated with the relative abundance of C3 species and negatively with C4 species across both grasslands. At the community level, PMR was similar between grasslands and unaffected by grazing intensity. However, PMR of C3 graminoids in SGS was eightfold higher in the ungrazed treatment than under any grazed level. In NMP, PMR of C3 graminoids was only reduced under heavy grazing intensity. Knowing the ecological consequences of grazing intensity provides valuable information for mitigation and adaptation strategies in response to predicted climate change. For example, moderate grazing (the recommended rate) in SGS would sequester the same amount of aboveground carbon as light grazing because ANPP was nearly the same. In contrast, reductions in grazing intensity in NMP from moderate to light intensity would increase the amount of aboveground carbon sequestrated by 25% because of increased ANPP.

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En el presente trabajo se estudiaron los cambios que provocó el lavado de cinco suelos afectados por sales sobre la actividad biológica (número de bacterias g-1y producción de CO2) y enzimática (catalasa, deshidrogenasa, ureasa y fosfotriesterasa) de los mismos. El lavado disminuyó la conductividad eléctrica (CE) y modificó el tipo de sales dominantes en los suelos. La producción de CO2 y la actividad de la fosfotriesterasa fue significativamente mayor (p<0,05) en un suelo lavado (Torrifluventes Típicos Centenario); el incremento fue del 88% y 71%, respectivamente. Los resultados demostraron que la disminución de la salinidad por lavado no ocasionó comportamientos significativamente diferentes, en la mayoría de los parámetros bióticos estudiados, bajo las condiciones en que se realizó este estudio.

Changes in the biological activity (number of bacteria g-1and CO2 production) and in the enzymatic activity (catalase, deshidrogenase, urease and phosphotriesterase) caused by the leaching of five soils affected by salts have been studied. The leaching decreased the electric conductivity (CE) and modified the type of dominant salts in the soils. Production of CO2and the activity of the phosphotriesterase was significantly higher (p<0,05) in a leached soil (Torrifluventes Typical Centennial); the increment were 88% and 71%, respectively. The results showed that the decrease of the salinity by leaching did not produce significantly different results in most of the biotic parameters analised.

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RESUMEN

Changes in the biological activity (number of bacteria g(-1) and CO2 production) and in the enzymatic activity (catalase, deshydrogenase, urease and phosphotriesterase) caused by the leaching of five soils affected by salts have been studied. The leaching decreased the electric conductivity (CE) and modified the type of dominant salts in the soils. Production of CO2 and the activity of the phosphotriesterase was significantly higher (p<0.05) in a leached soil (Torrifluventes Typical Centennial); the increment were 88% and 71%, respectively. The results showed that the decrease of the salinity by leaching did not produce significantly different results in most of the biotic parameters analysed.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

Changes in the biological activity (number of bacteria g(-1) and CO2 production) and in the enzymatic activity (catalase, deshydrogenase, urease and phosphotriesterase) caused by the leaching of five soils affected by salts have been studied. The leaching decreased the electric conductivity (CE) and modified the type of dominant salts in the soils. Production of CO2 and the activity of the phosphotriesterase was significantly higher (p<0.05) in a leached soil (Torrifluventes Typical Centennial); the increment were 88

and 71

, respectively. The results showed that the decrease of the salinity by leaching did not produce significantly different results in most of the biotic parameters analysed.

RESUMEN

A survey of the changes in populations of heterotrophic bacteria, coliform microorganisms and S. meliloti was conducted in samples taken from the water irrigation channels of the Neuquén River (Argentina). Fifty-six water samples were collected during the spring-summer seasons of 1997-1999 years. Both the heterotrophic plate count bacterial and the number of coliforms oscillated between 110-5050 CFU/ml and 8-1400 CFU/100 ml, respectively, during the period this study was carried out. Fecal coliforms were detected in 91.1% of the water samples investigated. Moreover, the results showed that S. meliloti capable of nodulating alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Cuf 101 were present in 68% of the water samples and in effectiveness studies, no isolate out of 25 evaluated could be classified as superior N fixers. That is, they did not produce plants equal in weight to nitrate-grown plants (KNO3 0.05%). All the S. meliloti strains were resistant to novobiocin and bacitracin, while 72% of the microsymbionts demonstrated resistance to between seven and ten antibiotics. Results presented in this study showed that irrigation waters of the Neuquén river could act as dispersal agents of both ineffective S. meliloti strains and thermotolerant coliform bacteria.

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RESUMEN

A survey of the changes in populations of heterotrophic bacteria, coliform microorganisms and S. meliloti was conducted in samples taken from the water irrigation channels of the NeuquUn River (Argentina). Fifty-six water samples were collected during the spring-summer seasons of 1997-1999 years. Both the heterotrophic plate count bacterial and the number of coliforms oscillated between 110-5050 CFU/ml and 8-1400 CFU/100 ml, respectively, during the period this study was carried out. Fecal coliforms were detected in 91.1 of the water samples investigated. Moreover, the results showed that S. meliloti capable of nodulating alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Cuf 101 were present in 68 of the water samples and in effectiveness studies, no isolate out of 25 evaluated could be classified as superior N fixers. That is, they did not produce plants equal in weight to nitrate-grown plants (KNO3 0.05). All the S. meliloti strains were resistant to novobiocin and bacitracin, while 72 of the microsymbionts demonstrated resistance to between seven and ten antibiotics. Results presented in this study showed that irrigation waters of the NeuquUn river could act as dispersal agents of both ineffective S. meliloti strains and thermotolerant coliform bacteria.(AU)

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RESUMEN

A survey of the changes in populations of heterotrophic bacteria, coliform microorganisms and S. meliloti was conducted in samples taken from the water irrigation channels of the NeuquÚn River (Argentina). Fifty-six water samples were collected during the spring-summer seasons of 1997-1999 years. Both the heterotrophic plate count bacterial and the number of coliforms oscillated between 110-5050 CFU/ml and 8-1400 CFU/100 ml, respectively, during the period this study was carried out. Fecal coliforms were detected in 91.1 of the water samples investigated. Moreover, the results showed that S. meliloti capable of nodulating alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Cuf 101 were present in 68 of the water samples and in effectiveness studies, no isolate out of 25 evaluated could be classified as superior N fixers. That is, they did not produce plants equal in weight to nitrate-grown plants (KNO3 0.05). All the S. meliloti strains were resistant to novobiocin and bacitracin, while 72 of the microsymbionts demonstrated resistance to between seven and ten antibiotics. Results presented in this study showed that irrigation waters of the NeuquÚn river could act as dispersal agents of both ineffective S. meliloti strains and thermotolerant coliform bacteria.

Asunto(s)

RESUMEN

A survey of the changes in populations of heterotrophic bacteria, coliform microorganisms and S. meliloti was conducted in samples taken from the water irrigation channels of the Neuquén River (Argentina). Fifty-six water samples were collected during the spring-summer seasons of 1997-1999 years. Both the heterotrophic plate count bacterial and the number of coliforms oscillated between 110-5050 CFU/ml and 8-1400 CFU/100 ml, respectively, during the period this study was carried out. Fecal coliforms were detected in 91.1

of the water samples investigated. Moreover, the results showed that S. meliloti capable of nodulating alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) Cuf 101 were present in 68

of the water samples and in effectiveness studies, no isolate out of 25 evaluated could be classified as superior N fixers. That is, they did not produce plants equal in weight to nitrate-grown plants (KNO3 0.05

). All the S. meliloti strains were resistant to novobiocin and bacitracin, while 72

of the microsymbionts demonstrated resistance to between seven and ten antibiotics. Results presented in this study showed that irrigation waters of the Neuquén river could act as dispersal agents of both ineffective S. meliloti strains and thermotolerant coliform bacteria.