大兴安岭森林草原过渡带典型植物群落动态变化特征

大兴安岭森林草原过渡带是大兴安岭森林与呼伦贝尔草原接壤的关键区域。由于过渡带本身的脆弱性,气候变化和过度放牧等人为因素的干扰导致区域内植物群落结构和功能发生剧烈变化。然而,气候变化和放牧双重作用对森林草原过渡带草地植物群落动态影响的研究还鲜有报道。以内蒙古陈巴尔虎旗森林草原过渡带为研究对象,分别于2008、2009、2010和2019年沿着草甸草原-森林草原过渡区域-林间草地-森林的梯度进行野外调查,对比分析11年间受气候变化和过度放牧的双重干扰下,该区域植物物种丰富度、Raunkiear生活型功能群、牧草饲用价值以及群落生物量随时间的变化动态。结果表明：从总体上看,与2008-2010年均值相比,2019年植物物种数量明显下降,其中禾本科牧草减少10余种;植物Raunkiear生活型功能群组成发生显著变化,其中一、二年生植物物种数增加4%,地面芽植物降低8%;牧草饲用价值中优等牧草所占比例下降5%,劣等牧草比例增加7%;总地上生物量显著下降35%。在过渡带各区段中,草甸草原群落结构和功能受气候和过度放牧影响更加明显。与2008-2010年均值相比,2019年草甸草原群落物种丰富度降低12%,优等牧草比例降低4%,劣等牧草比例增加7%,植物地上生物量更是显著降低62%。对区域气候和放牧因素分析可得,年降水量和年均温与过渡带地上生物量均显著相关,其中降水是导致过渡带整体上生产力下降的主要因素;而过度放牧是导致草甸草原群落生产力下降的主要因素。     

几种冰草属披碱草属牧草种群地上生物量形成规律的研究

本文从种群生态的层次,研究了在宁夏盐池干草原向荒漠草原过渡地带冰草属、披碱草属6种牧草种群地上生物量的形成规律。结果表明,供试牧草种群高度生长有明显季节性。与其它5种牧草相比,俄罗斯野麦草生长发育早而快,其种群地上生物量及有效营养物量生长季内的变化曲线均呈单峰式,在乳熟期最大值分别为141.3和86.0g/m²。此外,本文还指出了牧草的最佳利用时期,并在牧草生产上提出一些建议。     

内蒙古草原大针茅群落地上生物量与降水量的关系

根据中国科学院内蒙古草原生态系统定位研究站在大针茅样地(面积500m×500m,地理坐标43°32′20″～43°32′40″N116°33′00″～116°33′30″E)的地上生物量与气候观测资料,利用SPSS分别进行大针茅群落地上生物量与年降水量、月降水量关键时期(4～6月份与6～8月份)降水量以及1～7月份总降水量的相关分析;对年降水量接近的1982、1983和1989年(分别为283.2mm,289.9mm,287.2mm)的地上生物量进行方差分析;运用积分回归模型模拟了降水的季节分配对群落生物量的影响。结果表明:(1)群落生物量的年际变化与年降水、月降水、关键时期降水(4～6月份和6～8月份)以及1～7月份降水量的变化没有显著的相关性(p>0.1);(2)在年降水量接近的年份,群落的地上生物量之间存在显著差异。降水量季节分配的变化对地上生物量的影响还有待于进一步研究。     

民勤沙区植被退化与年际降水量关系的定位研究

民勤沙区荒漠植物盖度随年际降水量变化明显,植被在随年际降水量变化的波动中退化。在一般年份,白刺、梭梭、沙蒿等灌木上部发生枯梢,在降水量偏少或分布异常年份会整株枯死,所以有的年份植被盖度和灌木高度反而会降低。不同植被群落分布的地貌条件和土壤条件有较大差异:白刺以白刺沙丘的形式存在,白刺沙丘0～30cm土壤含水率在1.4%～2.0%之间;膜果麻黄仅分布在粘砾石质滩地上,0～30cm土壤含水率<0.8%;沙蒿分布在低缓的半固定沙丘、流动沙丘和覆沙滩地上,0～30cm土壤含水率在0.9%～1.7%之间。植物通过土壤水分变化对降水作出反应,土壤水分条件对降水的反应受土壤颗粒的影响,细砂粒对降水反应灵敏。优势种植物高度与7月下旬～9月下旬的降水量之间存在较大的正相关;草本植物平均盖度与7月下旬～9月下旬和5月下旬～7月下旬期间的降水量之间存在较大的正相关。全年降水量主要影响植被总盖度。5月下旬～7月下旬的降水量对植被的影响较全年降水量更为明显。     

氮水添加对放牧背景下荒漠草原生产力的影响

水分与氮素作为干旱和半干旱草原生产力的共同限制性因子在退化草原的生态快速修复过程中备受关注。以不同放牧强度背景下的短花针茅荒漠草原为研究对象,开展围封模拟放牧利用实验,同时添加氮素和水分。通过分析历史放牧强度与年份对生产力的影响,以及添加氮素和水分对不同功能群植物生物量的作用,探讨放牧强度对短花针茅草原生产力的内在作用机制,以及如何实现荒漠草原资源合理开发和可持续利用。研究结果显示,降雨量与放牧强度决定着短花针茅草原的植物群落结构。氮素和水分添加可分别提升11%-29%和12%-32%的群落地上生物量,且二者存在显著的交互作用。不同功能群植物的地上生物量对氮素与水分添加的响应存在差异,多年生丛生禾草对氮素和水分添加响应最敏感。氮素与水分添加可显著提高多年生丛生禾草的地上生物量,但与自然降水量相关。氮素添加对地上生物量的影响在正常降雨和稍旱年份作用显著,而水分添加在干旱年份作用显著。在正常降雨年份,以半灌木植物为优势种的轻度放牧背景以添加水分对提升生产力最宜,以多年生丛生禾草和半灌木为共优种的中度放牧背景和以多年生丛生禾草为优势种的重度放牧以同时添加水分和氮素对提升生产力最为宜;在干旱年份不同放牧强度背景下均以同时添加水分和氮素对提升生产力最为宜。我们的结果表明了养分与资源的改善有利于退化短花针茅草原的快速恢复和可持续生产。     

气候变化对内蒙古中部草原优势牧草生长季的影响

研究温性典型草原优势牧草生长季与气候因子变化的关系,对于监测草地环境变化及保护利用,评估区域气候变化对优势牧草生长的影响,指导畜牧业生产等具有重要的科学意义和实践价值.基于内蒙古中部草原3个牧业气象试验站1983-2009年克氏针茅和羊草的物候期、气象资料,对返青、黄枯日期、生长季与气温、降水量之间的关系进行了统计分析.结果表明:(1)27a间,该区的年、春季、夏季和秋季平均气温均呈显著升高趋势,春季升温幅度最大,气候倾向率为0.71-0.84℃/10a;各时段降水量变化除春季呈微量增加趋势外,总体呈减少态势.可见,内蒙古中部温性典型草原区暖干化趋势明显.(2)27a间,锡林浩特克氏针茅和羊草返青日期表现为推后趋势,并与4月降水量呈显著正相关;镶黄旗和察右后旗克氏针茅和羊草返青日期呈提前趋势,并与3-5月气温、降水量呈显著负相关,气温每升高1℃、降水量每增加10mm,优势牧草返青日期约提前3.0-5.1d和1.3-2.1d.(3)该区克氏针茅和羊草黄枯日期均呈提前趋势,与8-9月气温均呈显著负相关,降水量为正相关,气温每升高1℃,克氏针茅黄枯日期提前1.7-10.7 d,羊草黄枯日期提前3.5-11.3d,降水量的影响相对较弱.(4)该区克氏针茅生长季延长趋势明显,羊草生长季缩短趋势明显.克氏针茅生长季与4-10月均温正相关系数最大,羊草生长季与水热系数的正相关系数最大.     

宁夏草地土壤有机碳空间特征及其影响因素

草地是重要的碳汇资源库,在陆地生态系统碳循环中扮演着重要角色。探明草地土壤有机碳的空间分布格局及其影响因素对于推动区域生态系统碳汇管理,实现“双碳”目标和绿色高质量发展具有重要意义。以宁夏三种主要草地类型为研究对象,基于野外样点调查,采用结构方程模型,分析了草地土壤有机碳的空间分布特征及其影响因素。结果表明：不同类型草地土壤有机碳含量表现为草甸草原高于典型草原,荒漠草原最低,垂直剖面上均随土壤深度的增加而降低。草甸草原和荒漠草原有机碳空间变异自表层向下逐渐增大,典型草原在20—40 cm土层变异系数达到最大。有机碳分布在区域上从南部六盘山山地向中部干旱风沙带逐渐降低。路矩分析发现,海拔高度、地上生物量、降水量、温度和土壤含水量可解释土壤有机碳空间变异的91.4%。海拔高度对土壤有机碳总效应最大(作用系数为0.78),海拔高度引起的降水和温度等要素区域分异间接影响土壤有机碳含量;地上生物量对土壤有机碳的直接正向效应最大(0.559);降水量对土壤有机碳效应分为直接效应和作用于生物量及土壤含水量的间接影响;温度表现为通过生物量对土壤有机碳间接产生负向效应(-0.259)。宁夏草地土壤有机碳...     

内蒙古东部草原优势牧草生长季对气象因子变化的响应

研究区域气候变化对草原牧草生长的影响,对于指导农牧业生产及应对气候变化等具有重要的实践价值.基于内蒙古东部草原34个气象站50年和3个牧业气象试验站27年的气象及牧草物候期数据,研究了气候变化对优势牧草生长季的影响.结果表明:(1)研究区域年、春季、夏季和秋季平均气温均呈显著升高趋势,降水量变化春季呈微升的态势,其余时段呈微降的趋势;气候暖干化趋势明显.(2)春季气温升高有促进优势牧草返青日期提前的效应,气温每升高1℃,鄂温克旗、额尔古纳市羊草(Leymus chinensis)和贝加尔针茅(Stipa baicalensis)返青日期提前1.7～1.9d.(3)夏、秋季气温升高均有促进优势牧草黄枯日期推后的效应,气温每升高1℃,额尔古纳市羊草和贝加尔针茅黄枯日期推迟2.0～2.3d.(4)夏、秋季气温每升高1℃,额尔古纳市贝加尔针茅生长季分别延长3.3和3.7d;在巴雅尔吐胡硕秋季气温每升高1℃,冰草(Agropyron cristatum)生长季缩短2.8d.     

荒漠草原牧草生物量的遥感估算及空间分布

应用2005年5-10月份EOS/MODIS资料,采用光能利用率算法,估算了中国西北荒漠绿洲区域NPP,并结合地上生物量观测资料,建立了基于NPP的地上生物量估算模型,同时分析了生物量和NPP时空分布特征。结果表明,2005年牧草生长期内NPP的变化基本是6、7月份最大,其它月份较小,5-6月份是牧草叶面积变化比较大的时期,也是NPP变化比较显著的时期;生物量模型估算得到的44个样本的生物量误差基本都小于20%,说明模型能够反映牧草的实际生长状况;不同荒漠牧草对光的利用能力和对CO2同化能力有很大差异,骆驼刺、红砂、黑果枸杞是荒漠牧草生物量较大的牧草类型;牧草类型、牧草盖度以及平均高度是造成不同牧草产量相差较大的重要原因。     

内蒙古典型草原地上净初级生产力对气候变化响应的模拟

利用内蒙古锡林浩特国家气候观象台1994～2009年牧草生长季逐月实测资料,对CENTURY模型进行检验,模拟内蒙古典型草原1953～2010年间地上净初级生产力(ANPP)动态,并与26个气象因子进行相关性分析。模型检验结果显示,模拟值与观测值之间的相关系数为R2=0.66,斜率b=0.95,误差平方根值为50.51g.m-2,平均绝对百分比误差为44.19%。结果表明:(1)CENTURY模型能比较准确地模拟这类草原的季节动态和年际变化;在过去的58年中,内蒙古典型草原温度增加,降水减少,ANPP下降;ANPP变化趋势与降水量相似。(2)用实际气象观测资料模拟获得的ANPP随气温和降水的变化呈现出明显的变化规律,生长季内地上生物量对降水和温度的季节性分布也非常敏感;相关分析进一步表明,ANPP对生长季内降水量和极端高温非常敏感,而与年极端最低气温、平均地面温度、日照时数、平均风速和最大积雪深度无显著相关关系;过去58年研究区ANPP下降是降水减少、温度升高以及干旱事件频发共同作用的结果。(3)根据预测,在SRES B2情景下,未来50～100年内蒙古典型草原生长季平均最高气温和最低气温都将呈升高趋势,2080s分别升高4.01℃、4.35℃,每10年增加速率分别为0.35℃和0.38℃;降水量略呈增加,2020s、2050s和2080s研究区生长季将分别增加3.17%、5.13%和7.03%,每10年增加速率为0.09mm;ANPP呈下降趋势年际间波动较大,2020s、2050s和2080s研究区将分别下降5.76%、7.52%和11.42%,每10年下降速率为0.76g.m-2。     

Abiotic constraints on the establishment of Quercus seedlings in grassland

High evaporative demand and periodic drought characterize the growing season in midwestern grasslands relative to deciduous forests of the eastern US, and predicted climatic changes suggest that these climatic extremes may be exacerbated. Despite this less than optimal environment for tree seedling establishment, deciduous trees have expanded into adjacent tallgrass prairie within the last century leading to a dramatic land cover change. In order to determine the role of light and temperature on seedling establishment, we assessed carbon and water relations and aboveground growth of first‐year Quercus macrocarpa seedlings exposed to one of three conditions: (1) intact tallgrass prairie communities (control), (2) aboveground herbaceous biomass removed (grass removal), and (3) shade plus biomass removal to reduce light (PFD) to levels typical of the grassland‐forest ecotone (shade). In the 2000 growing season, precipitation was 35% below the long‐term average, which had a significant negative effect on oak seedling carbon gain at midseason (photosynthesis declined to 10% of maximum rates). However, net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance in the shade treatment was ca. 2.5 and 1.5 times greater, respectively, than in control treatment seedlings during this drought. During this period, leaf and air temperatures in control seedlings were similar whereas leaf temperatures in the shade treatment remained below air temperature. A late‐season recovery period, coincident with decreased air temperatures, resulted in increased net photosynthesis for all seedlings. Increased photosynthetic rates and water relations in shaded seedlings compared to seedlings in full sun suggest that, at least in dry years, high light and temperature may negatively impact oak seedling performance. However, high survival rates for all seedlings indicate that Q. macrocarpa seedlings are capable of tolerating both present‐day and future climatic extremes. Unless historic fire regimes are restored, forest expansion and land cover change are likely to continue.     

Regional analysis of litter quality in the central grassland region of North America

Abstract. The central grassland region of North America is characterized by large gradients of temperature and precipitation. These climatic variables are important determinants of the distribution of plant species, and strongly influence plant morphology and tissue chemistry. We analysed regional patterns of plant litter quality as they vary with climate in grassland ecosystems throughout central North America including tall‐grass prairie, mixed grass prairie, shortgrass steppe, and hot desert grasslands. An extensive database from the International Biological Program and the Long‐Term Ecological Research Program allowed us to isolate the effects of climate from those of plant functional types on litter quality. Our analysis of grass species confirms a previously recognized positive correlation between C/N ratios and precipitation. Precipitation exhibited a similar positive relationship with lignin/N and percent lignin. Although there was no significant correlation between temperature and C/N, there was a significant positive relationship between temperature and both percent lignin and lignin/N. Among functional types, C₃ grasses had a slightly lower C/N ratio than C₄ grasses. Tall grass species exhibited higher C/N, lignin/N, and percent lignin than short grass species. This understanding of the regional patterns of litter quality and the factors controlling them provides us with a greater knowledge of the effect that global change and the accompanying feedbacks may have on ecosystem processes.     

Functional group and fertilization affect the composition and bioenergy yields of prairie plants

Prairies used for bioenergy production have potential to generate marketable products while enhancing environmental quality, but little is known about how prairie species composition and nutrient management affect the suitability of prairie biomass for bioenergy production. We determined how functional‐group identity and nitrogen fertilization affected feedstock characteristics and estimated bioenergy yields of prairie plants, and compared those prairie characteristics to that of corn stover. We tested our objectives with a field experiment that was set up as a 5 × 2 incomplete factorial design with C₃ grasses, C₄ grasses, legumes, and multi‐functional‐group mixtures grown with and without nitrogen fertilizer; a fertilized corn treatment was also included. We determined cell wall, hemicellulose, cellulose, and ash concentrations; ethanol conversion ratios; gross caloric ratios; aboveground biomass production; ethanol yields; and energy yields for all treatments. Prairie functional‐group identity affected the biomass feedstock characteristics, whereas nitrogen fertilization did not. Functional group and fertilization had a strong effect on aboveground biomass production, which was the major predictor of ethanol and energy yields. C₄ grasses, especially when fertilized, had among the most favorable bioenergy characteristics with high estimated ethanol conversion ratios and nongrain biomass production, relatively high gross caloric ratios, and low ash concentrations. The bioenergy characteristics of corn stover, from an annual C₄ grass, were similar to those of the biomass of perennial C₄ grasses. Both functional‐group composition and nitrogen fertility management were found to be important in optimizing bioenergy production from prairies.     

内蒙古东部线叶菊草地生物量与净第一性生产力的初步研究

 线叶菊草地总地上生物量的增长规律符合Logistic增长,最大值出现在8月中旬,为198.15g／m2。返青后,线叶菊较同群落内的禾草和杂类草提前达到其生物量最大值。线叶菊、禾草和杂类草的地上生物量的增长与降水量和≥5℃积温呈显著或极显著正相关。地下生物量的季节变化曲线大致为“U”字形,最低值出现在8月中旬,而在早春和秋末时期地下生物量基本相等。地下生物量最大值出现在10月中旬,为1608.5g／m2(干物质)。该草地地上部分净第一性生产力为256.74gm2·a,地下部分为599.51g／m2·a(干物重计)。将生长季内以凋落物形式损失的生物量计算在内,得到的地上净第一性生产力比用极大现存量法估测的结果高出29.57%。     

Effects of mycorrhizae on plant growth and dynamics in experimental tall grass prairie microcosms

Experimental microcosms (40 X 52 X 32 cm) containing an assemblage of eight tallgrass prairie grass and forb species in native prairie soil were maintained under mycorrhizal (untreated control) or mycorrhizal-suppressed (fungicide-treated) conditions to examine plant growth, demographic, and community responses to mycorrhizal symbiosis. The fungicide benomyl successfully reduced mycorrhizal root colonization in the fungicide-treated microcosms to only 6.4% (an 83% reduction relative to mycorrhizal controls). Suppression of mycorrhizas resulted in a 31% reduction in total net aboveground plant production and changes in the relative production of C4 and C3 plants. The C4 tallgrasses Andropogon gerardi and Sorghastrum nutans produced less plant biomass in the fungicide-treated microcosms, and had a greater ratio of reproductive to vegetative biomass. Cool-season C3 grasses, Koeleria pyramidata and Poa pratensis accumulated more biomass and were a significantly greater proportion of total community biomass in mycorrhizal-suppressed microcosms. Forbs showed variable responses to mycorrhizal suppression. The two legumes Amorpha canescens and Dalea purpurea had significantly lower survivorship in the fungicide-treated microcosms, relative to the controls. The results confirm the high mycorrhizal dependency and growth responsiveness of dominant prairie grasses, and indicate that differential growth and demographic responses to mycorrhizal colonization among species may significantly affect plant productivity and species relative abundances in tallgrass prairie.     

Belowground bud banks and meristem limitation in tallgrass prairieplant populations

Rhizome meristem populations were sampled in tallgrass prairie to quantify the size, grass?:?forb composition, and temporal and spatial variability of the soil bud bank and to compare fire effects on bud bank and seed bank composition. Soil cores (10.5 cm diameter, 15 cm deep) were collected from replicate annually and infrequently burned tallgrass prairie sites, and intact rhizomes and rhizome buds were censused. Bud bank densities ranged from approximately 600 to 1800 meristems/m(2) among sites and had high spatial and seasonal variability. In annually burned prairie, the total bud bank density was two-fold greater and the grass?:?forb meristem ratio was more than 30-fold greater than that of infrequently burned prairie. These patterns are opposite those observed in soil seed banks at this site. The rhizome population in annually burned prairie was 34% larger than the established aboveground tiller population. By contrast, the bud bank density in unburned prairie was significantly lower than aboveground stem densities, indicating possible belowground meristem limitation of stem density and net primary production on infrequently burned prairie. The patterns observed in this study suggest that the densities and dynamics of tallgrass prairie plant populations, as well as their response to disturbance (e.g., fire and grazing) and climatic variability, may be mediated principally through effects on the demography of belowground bud populations. Patterns of seed reproduction and seed bank populations have little influence on short-term aboveground population dynamics of tallgrass prairie perennials.     

Genetic diversity of a dominant C4 grass is altered with increased precipitation variability

Climate change has the potential to alter the genetic diversity of plant populations with consequences for community dynamics and ecosystem processes. Recent research focused on changes in climatic means has found evidence of decreased precipitation amounts reducing genetic diversity. However, increased variability in climatic regimes is also predicted with climate change, but the effects of this aspect of climate change on genetic diversity have yet to be investigated. After 10 years of experimentally increased intra-annual variability in growing season precipitation regimes, we report that the number of genotypes of the dominant C₄ grass, Andropogon gerardii Vitman, has been significantly reduced in native tallgrass prairie compared with unmanipulated prairie. However, individuals showed a different pattern of genomic similarity with increased precipitation variability resulting in greater genome dissimilarity among individuals when compared to unmanipulated prairie. Further, we found that genomic dissimilarity was positively correlated with aboveground productivity in this system. The increased genomic dissimilarity among individuals in the altered treatment alongside evidence for a positive correlation of genomic dissimilarity with phenotypic variation suggests ecological sorting of genotypes may be occurring via niche differentiation. Overall, we found effects of more variable precipitation regimes on population-level genetic diversity were complex, emphasizing the need to look beyond genotype numbers for understanding the impacts of climate change on genetic diversity. Recognition that future climate change may alter aspects of genetic diversity in different ways suggests possible mechanisms by which plant populations may be able to retain a diversity of traits in the face of declining biodiversity.     

Carbon and water relations of juvenile Quercus species in tall‐grass prairie

Abstract. In ecosystems where environments are extreme, such as deserts, adult plant species may facilitate the establishment and growth of seedlings and juveniles. Because high temperatures and evaporative demand characterize tall‐grass prairies of the central United States (relative to forests), we predicted that the grassland‐forest ecotone, by minimizing temperature extremes and moderating water stress, may function to facilitate the expansion of Quercus species into undisturbed tall‐grass prairie. We assessed the carbon and water relations of juvenile Quercus macrocarpa and Q. muhlenbergii, the dominant tree species in gallery forests of northeast Kansas, in ecotone and prairie sites. To evaluate the potentially competitive effects of neighboring herbaceous biomass on these oaks, juveniles (< 0.5 m tall) of both species also were subjected to either: (1) removal of surrounding above‐ground herbaceous biomass, or (2) control (prairie community intact) treatments. Herbaceous biomass removal had no significant effect on gas exchange or water relations in these oak species in either the prairie or the ecotone environment. Although the ecotone did alleviate some environmental extremes, photosynthetic rates and stomatal conductance were ca. 20 % higher (p < 0.05) in both oaks in prairie sites vs. the ecotone. Moreover, although leaf temperatures on average were higher in oaks in the prairie, high leaf temperatures in the ecotone had a greater negative effect on photosynthesis. These data suggest that the grassland‐forest ecotone did not facilitate the growth of Quercus juveniles expanding into this grassland. Moreover, the carbon and water relations of juvenile oaks in the prairie appeared to be unaffected by the presence of the dominant C₄ grasses.     

Impact of Precipitation Patterns on Biomass and Species Richness of Annuals in a Dry Steppe

Annuals are an important component part of plant communities in arid and semiarid grassland ecosystems. Although it is well known that precipitation has a significant impact on productivity and species richness of community or perennials, nevertheless, due to lack of measurements, especially long-term experiment data, there is little information on how quantity and patterns of precipitation affect similar attributes of annuals. This study addresses this knowledge gap by analyzing how quantity and temporal patterns of precipitation affect aboveground biomass, interannual variation aboveground biomass, relative aboveground biomass, and species richness of annuals using a 29-year dataset from a dry steppe site at the Inner Mongolia Grassland Ecosystem Research Station. Results showed that aboveground biomass and relative aboveground biomass of annuals increased with increasing precipitation. The coefficient of variation in aboveground biomass of annuals decreased significantly with increasing annual and growing-season precipitation. Species richness of annuals increased significantly with increasing annual precipitation and growing-season precipitation. Overall, this study highlights the importance of precipitation for aboveground biomass and species richness of annuals.     

Interspecific variation in plant responses to mycorrhizal colonization in tallgrass prairie

Symbiotic associations between plants and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi are ubiquitous and ecologically important in many grasslands. Differences in species responses to mycorrhizal colonization can have a significant influence on plant community structure. The growth responses of 36 species of warm- and cool-season tallgrass prairie grasses and 59 tallgrass prairie forbs to arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal colonization were assessed in greenhouse studies to examine the extent of interspecific variation in host-plant benefit from the symbiosis and patterns of mycorrhizal dependence among host plant life history (e.g., annual, perennial) and taxonomic (e.g., grass, forb, legume, nonlegume) groups and phenological guilds. There was a strong and significant relationship between phenology of prairie grasses and mycorrhizal responsiveness, however this relationship was less apparent in forbs. Perennial warm-season C(4) grasses and forbs generally benefited significantly from the mycorrhizal symbiosis, whereas biomass production of the cool-season C(3) grasses was not affected. The root systems of the cool-season grasses were also less highly colonized by the AM fungi, as compared to the warm-season grasses or forbs. Unlike the native perennials, annuals were generally not responsive to mycorrhizal colonization and were lower in percentage root colonization than the perennial species. Plant growth responsiveness and AM root colonization were positively correlated for the nonleguminous species, with this relationship being strongest for the cool-season grasses. In contrast, root colonization of prairie legumes showed a significant, but negative, relationship to mycorrhizal growth responsiveness.