This study evaluated temporal and spatial variations in water quality to understand the characteristics of the Jialing River watershed in Guangyuan City, China. Data on 17 parameters obtained from seven sites from 2012 to 2015, with a total of 329 samples for each parameter, were analyzed using multivariate statistical techniques. Observation months were grouped into two periods (Period A, May–November. Period B, December–April) according to similarities in water quality characteristics through time analysis and cluster analysis (CA). Water temperature (TEMP), flow rate (Q), dissolved oxygen (DO), oils, fluoride (F) and cadmium (Cd) were the most significant parameters for discriminating between the two periods. Through a spatial analysis, the sites were classified into two groups (Groups 1 and 2). Q, total phosphorus (TP), oils, F and F. coli were the most significant parameters for discriminating between the two groups. Results suggested that TEMP, DO and Cd as functions of time, TP and F. coli as functions of space, and Q, oils and F as functions of both time and space should be monitored closely. The main sources of water pollutant were surface runoff and industrial wastewater of time and wastewater from agricultural irrigation, industrial wastewater, and municipal sewage of space.

The sources and variation trend of ambient air pollutants, the duration of pollution process and the conditions for decontamination were analyzed in this essay based on the ambient air pollutants data, PM2.5 source analysis data and meteorological factors in Nanchong City during 2014 to 2019. The results indicated that the concentrated discharge of fireworks on New Year’s Eve was the main reason for the sharp deterioration of the ambient air quality. PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations increased significantly after fireworks were set off, and the peak value appeared at about 02:00 on the Lunar New Year’s Day, but the value of PM2.5/PM10 did not change significantly. The concentration of SO2 in gaseous pollutants was slightly affected by fireworks, while NO2, CO and O3 were not affected basically. Having been affected by fireworks, the concentrations and percentages of K+, Cl- and Mg2+ of the water-solubility ions in PM2.5 significantly increased at the 0.01 level. Meanwhile, the concentrations and percentages of the metal elements, including Cu, Pb, Mg, Al, K and Ba, significantly increased at the 0.05 level. Restricted to the topography and meteorological factors, the duration of the pollution was prolonged.

The evolution and expression of floral traits are responses to selection pressure from biotic and abiotic factors. Although floral traits significantly vary among environments, the flower remains unchanged. We aimed to understand the adaptation of Epimedium chlorandrum of floral traits to a frequently nocturnally rainy and wet environment and the roles of floral traits in pollination and reproduction. We observed flowering phenology, measured floral characteristics including the number of pollen grains and ovules per flower, measured pollen viability and stigma receptivity, tested the volume and sugar concentration of nectar, and conducted flower-visit observations in this species. Different pollination treatments were performed to characterize the breeding system. The inner sepals and highly curved longer spurs of E. chlorandrum jointly formed an umbrella that shielded the anthers and stigma from rain wash and prevented nectar dilution. E. chlorandrum was visited by six species, while Bombus trifasciatus was the only effective pollinator and fed on the nectar. One flower secreted approximately 17.06 μL of nectar with a 29.19 g/100 ml sugar concentration, and the pollination efficiency of B. trifasciatus was positively associated with the nectar sugar concentration. The self- and open-pollination treatments resulted in fewer fertile seeds than the cross-pollination treatment. In contrast, the autonomous self-pollination treatment failed to yield fertile seeds. In summary, pollen limitation caused by harsh weather and pollinator shortage occurred during the pollination process of E. chlorandrum, which was partially alleviated by self-compatibility.

Premise of the study: Ficus virens (Moraceae) is distributed widely in South and Southeast Asia, Melanesia, and northern Australia, and it is also cultivated outside its original northern range limit in southwestern China. Therefore, the species is well suited to explore the mechanism of range limits of Ficus species. However, little is known about its genetic background.Methods and Results: Fifteen polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed using the biotin‐streptavidin capture method. Polymorphism was tested in 85 F. virens individuals sampled from three populations. The number of alleles ranged from three to 17. The observed and expected heterozygosity of each population varied from 0.0667 to 0.9286 and 0.0650 to 0.8890, respectively. Cross‐species amplification was also carried out in eight other Ficus species.Conclusions: These 15 markers will be valuable for studying the genetic variation and population structure of F. virens and related Ficus species.

To understand the reproductive strategies of the typically introduced plant Hibiscus mutabilis and to compare the pollination efficiency of its different pollinators, we observed, measured, and recorded the flowering dynamics, floral traits, and visiting insects of H. mutabilis. Furthermore, we compared the body size, visitation rate, and pollination efficiency of the pollination insects of H. mutabilis. The results indicated that, despite exhibiting specialized moth pollination characteristics based on similarities in flower features to other moth-pollinated species, H. mutabilis actually presented a generalized pollination system. The nectar of H. mutabilis attracted a variety of insects to provide pollination services, a total of five flower visitors, one moth species (Macroglossum pyrrhosticta), and four bee species (Xylocopa appendiculata, Xylocopa dissimilis, Bombus breviceps, and Apis mellifera), were found to provide pollination services for H. mutabilis. The pollination efficiency of these pollinators was related to the parts of their body in contact with the stamens and stigmas of flowers. Although M. pyrrhosticta was larger in size and its visitation frequency in our field observations was higher, its pollination efficiency was lower. This was due to the small part of its body (proboscis) contacting the two sexual organs of H. mutabilis while visiting flowers, resulting in a low amount of pollen being transferred and deposited. In contrast, the bee pollinators’ proboscis was significantly shorter than that of M. pyrrhosticta, and it must enter the flower to suck the nectar that is hidden deeply inside the base of the flower. Therefore, the body parts of bee pollinators in contact with the two sexual organs of H. mutabilis were larger than M. pyrrhosticta in the process of visiting flowers, and the pollination efficiencies were significantly higher than those of M. pyrrhosticta. In addition, larger bee pollinators have higher pollination efficiency. As a result, H. mutabilis suffered from pollen limitation due to the pollination efficiencies of the moth pollinators in the introduced habitats, but it compensated by attracting more species of bee pollinators.