The potential for interspecific competition between two abundant defoliators on oak: leaf damage and habitat quality

Abstract. 1. The pedunculate oak, Quercus robur L., suffers high annual levels of spring defoliation in Wytham Woods, Oxon. The two major defoliators, Tortrix viridana L. and Operophtera brumata L., sometimes reach high enough densities to completely defoliate trees.
2. Experiments with larvae of both species enclosed on oak trees in Wytham Woods suggest considerable potential for intra- and interspecific competition between T. viridana and O. brumata.
3. T. viridana and O. brumata consume equivalent amounts of leaf tissue per unit caterpillar density. Despite this, O. brumata is the superior competitor, measured by mortality during the larval feeding period.
4. Evidence is presented that T. viridana larvae depend upon the protected microclimate of leaf rolls to maintain water balance, and that leaf damage may disrupt the construction of, and microclimate within, leaf rolls. O. brumata may therefore be competitively superior because it indirectly interferes with the water balance of T. viridana.
5. The importance of interspecific competition in the dynamics of T. viridana and O. brumata populations is discussed. Stochastic mortality factors acting on first instar larvae of both species probably make intense competition a rare event.     

Host-specific variation in Ieaf miner population dynamics: effects on density, natural enemies and behaviour of Stilbosis quadricustatella (Lepidoptera: Cosmopterigidae)

Abstract. 1. We compared high and low density populations of a leaf miner ( Stilbosis quadricustatella (Cham.)) on two host oaks to ascertain mechanisms influencing abundance. High density miner populations occurred on sand live oak, Quercus geminata (Fagaceae), found in homogeneous stands at inland and coastal sites. Quercus nigra , water oak, a patchily distributed inland species, supported a low density leaf miner population.
2. Average foliar nitrogen of Q.geminata was significantly lower than that of Q.nigra , and lad mining period on Q.geminata was correspondingly longer than on Q.nigra .
3. The average leaf area of Q.nigra was significantly greater than that of Q.geminata .
4. Parasitism was significantly greater in Q.geminata miner populations and predation was significantly higher in Q.nigra populations. However, parasitism and predation rates were roughly reciprocal so that overall larval mortality did not differ significantly between hosts.
5. In a laboratory experiment, pupal overwintering survivorship did not differ significantly between moist and dry treatments of the sand and loam soil types that typify Qgeminata and Q.nipra habitats, respectively.
6. Within-leaf miner density on Q.geminata significantly affected larval survivorship, parasitism and predation. Leaf area and within-leaf miner density were positively correlated.
7. We detected no host-patch area or isolation effect on miner densities on coastal Qgeminata and there was no significant gradient of local coastal conditions affecting larval survivorship or natural enemies.
8. Coastal leaf miner densities were significantly higher on oak patch edges than in interiors.     

Factors underlying the late seasonal appearance of the lepidopterous leaf-mining guild on oak

Abstract. 1. Most lepidopterous leaf mining species found on the oak Quercus robur in Britain develop in summer. At this time of year, externally feeding caterpillars remove little leaf area since most of these free living folivores are predominantly spring feeders.
2. I forced Phyllonorycter harrisella (L.) miners to oviposit in spring, then exposed developing larvae to a wide range of leaf damage levels.
3. Leaf miner survivorship and mean female pupal weight were significantly greater in the experimental spring generation on undamaged oak leaves, this being when oak foliage is of the highest nutritional quality.
4. Leaf miner survivorship in all generations is correlated with natural leaf damage levels. Experimental leaf damage also reduces miner survivorship.
5. Leaf damage reduces miner survivorship by increasing the probability of larval death due to wound induced responses.
6. The role of asymmetrical competitive interactions between caterpillars and leaf-miners in determining the late seasonal appearance of miners is discussed. It is suggested that wound induced responses may play an important part in the structuring of phytophagous insect communities.     

黄土高原马栏林区辽东栎林种内、种间竞争研究

利用Hegyi的单木竞争指数模型对黄土高原马栏林区辽东栎(Quercus liaotungensis)的种内和种间竞争强度进行了定量分析.结果显示:(1)辽东栎种内竞争强度与种间竞争强度的总和大致相等,其种内及种间竞争强度均随对象木胸径的增大而逐渐减小,其关系服从幂函数规律,竞争主要发生在胸径小于15 cm的幼树阶段.(2)各组成树种对辽东栎影响程度(竞争指数)的大小顺序为:辽东栎>油松(Pinus tabulaeformis)>白桦(Betulaplatyphylla)>山杨(Populus davidiana)>杜梨(Pyrus betulaefolia)>湖北山楂(Crataegus hupehensis)>茶条槭(Acer ginnala)>陕西鹅耳枥(Carpinus shensiensis)>葛萝槭(A.grosseri).(3)油松是该地区的次优势种,对辽东栎有较大的竞争压力,在群落发展中可能会形成以油松占优势的混交林.(4)辽东栎胸径小于15 cm时,种内种间竞争是导致大量个体死亡的主要原因;胸径超过15 cm时,人为砍伐可能是个体死亡的主要原因.研究结果认为马栏林区混交林油松的密度不宜过大,尤其是在与未成熟辽东栎种群混交时密度应合理,应对该林区的混交林进行人工抚育,及时择伐密度过大的油松,而在辽东栎胸径达到15 cm之前择伐长势较差的植株,以促使森林群落尽快趋于稳定.     

Competition between the nymphs of two regionally co-occurring species of Notonecta (Hemiptera: Notonectidae)

1. Two species of freshwater invertebrate predator, Notonecta maculata and N. obliqua , showed a negative association in a series of small, man-made ponds in the Peak National Park, Derbyshire, U.K. The present study examines the potential role of interspecific interactions among nymphs on this regional distribution pattern.
2. The survival, development and feeding efficiency of nymphs were examined in laboratory and field mesocosm experiments with intra- and interspecific competition and contrasting environmental complexity.
3. Survival to adulthood and mean lifespan varied significantly in interspecific competition treatments in both laboratory and field experiments, with N . maculata showing higher survival in the simple environment and N. obliqua higher survival in the complex environment.
4. Variations in feeding efficiency were consistent with the survival trends: N. maculata had a higher efficiency in the simple environment, whereas N. obliqua had greater efficiency in the complex environment. There was evidence of a developmental response in feeding efficiency, with differences between species increasing with age.
5. These results suggest that the relative competitive abilities of the two species are affected by habitat complexity, and that competition between species may modify the species distribution where they co-occur.     

Oviposition site preference and larval mortality in a leaf-mining moth

Abstract. 1. The univoltine leaf-mining moth, Lithocolletis quercus Ams., is endemic to Israel, where it spends its 10.5 month larval period feeding only in the leaves of Quercus calliprinos Webb.
2. We compared patterns of egg deposition and sources of larval mortality to test whether oviposition patterns and site preferences confer an enhanced likelihood of larval survival.
3. Dominant sources of larval mortality were premature leaf abscission and death from unknown causes, whereas predation, parasitism and intraspecific interference accounted for relatively little larval mortality.
4. Eggs, and thus mines, were aggregated among leaves of host trees even though premature leaf abscission was positively correlated with density of mines per leaf. Interference competition among larvae was the only other density-dependent mortality factor.
5. Oviposition patterns within leaves mitigated the probability of death from larval interference, and probably also from early leaf abscission.
6. Despite these density-dependent mortality factors, overall probability of larval survival to pupation was independent of initial density of mines on a leaf.
7. The long larval period allows synchrony between oviposition flights and times of predictable resource availability.     

Competition as a structuring force in leaf miner communities

The role of competition in structuring communities of herbivorous insects is still debated. Despite this, few studies have simultaneously investigated the strength of various forms of competition and their effect on community composition. In this study, we examine the extent to which different types of competition will affect the presence and abundance of individual leaf miner species in local communities on oak trees Quercus robur. We first use a laboratory experiment to quantify the strength of intra‐ and interspecific competition. We then conduct a large‐scale field experiment to determine whether competition occurring in one year extends to the next. Finally, we use observational field data to examine the extent to which mechanisms of competition uncovered in the two experiments actually reflect into patterns of co‐occurrence in nature. In our experiment, we found direct competition at the leaf‐level to be stronger among conspecific than among heterospecific individuals. Indirect competition among conspecifics lowered the survival and weight of larvae of T. ekebladella, both at the branch and the tree‐level. In contrast, indirect competition among heterospecifics was only detected in one out of three species pairs examined. In the field experiment, the presence of a given moth species in one year affected the relative abundance of leaf miner species in the next year. Nevertheless, patterns of competition observed in these experiments did not translate into repulsion among free‐ranging leaf miners: conspecific larvae of four leaf‐mining species were aggregated on the same trees, shoots and leaves. In contrast, heterospecific larvae were only aggregated at the tree‐level. We propose that despite the fact that leaf miners do compete and that such effects extend through time, the incidence and strength of competition is relatively small at realistic densities. Hence, competition will likely be of minor importance in shaping the distribution of leaf miners in a natural setting.     

Resource control by territorial male cichlid fish in Lake Malawi

1. The rocky habitat communities of Lake Malawi contain a high diversity of ecologically similar, predominantly herbivorous, cichlid fish species. How so many species can coexist is still unknown.
2. Adult males of the majority of these species hold permanent territories which form dense multispecies mosaics across the shores.
3. The study examined six coexisting species of cichlids from the rocky habitat where males are known to control access to the algal food resources within their territorial space. These included four sibling species of the Pseudotropheus ( Tropheops ) species complex, which are specialized epilithic algal herbivores, and two sibling species of the trophically more generalist P . ( Maylandia ) species complex which feed upon both epilithic algae and plankton.
4. The hypotheses that both intraspecific and interspecific territoriality occur in these communities and that interspecific aggression initiated by territorial males is preferentially directed at species with the most similar diets to their own were tested.
5. It was found that males preferred to exclude conspecific intruders, while they tolerated intruders with different diets to their own. Also, male P . ( Tropheops ) preferentially excluded similar heterospecific dietary specialists, while male P. ( Maylandia ) tolerated similar heterospecific dietary generalists.
6. Based on this study, it is proposed that interspecific territoriality may be reducing competition between species with different diets and promoting their coexistence, while it may be enhancing competition between species with the same diet. Furthermore, it suggests that ecological generalism may be reducing the intensity of interspecific competition, while specializations for the same resources may be increasing competition.     

Abundance and mortality of leaf miners on artificially shaded Emory oak

ABSTRACT.

• 1 We measured solar radiation reaching ten Quercus emoryi Torr. trees and recorded densities of four leaf-mining insect species on these trees from June until September 1982.
• 2 The measurements showed that densities of two leaf miner species were negatively correlated with solar radiation.
• 3 In a field experiment, polypropylene shade fabric was suspended 1.3 m above four experimental trees to test for effects of reduced sunlight.
• 4 Leaves of experimentally-shaded trees were heavier and contained lower percentages of proteins and gallotannins than leaves of control, sun trees, while per cent foliar monomeric, polymeric, and total phenols, and water content did not differ between sun and shaded trees.
• 5 Two of four leaf miner species had greater densities on experimentally-shaded trees than sun trees. One of these two species experienced lower survivorship on sun trees owing to high levels of death from unknown causes on sun trees.
• 6 Two leaf miner species had greater densities on sun trees. One of these species had higher survivorship on shaded trees owing to high levels of parasitism on sun trees.
• 7 We conclude that even subtle differences in shading influences leaf miner density and mortality; however, the effects of shading vary from positive to negative among leaf miner species.

     

EVOLUTION OF BRASSICA RAPA L. (CRUCIFERAE) POPULATIONS IN INTRA- AND INTERSPECIFIC COMPETITION

Populations of Brassica rapa were grown for three generations in each of two environments: intraspecific competition, with four surrounding Brassica rapa neighbors per pot, and interspecific competition, with two Raphanus sativus neighbors per pot. In each environment, the largest (by flower number) 10% of the plants were outcrossed and provided seeds for the next generation. As a control, a randomly chosen 10% of the plants in each environment were outcrossed to produce seed for the next generation. Each of these four treatments, the selected lines in intra- and interspecific competition and the corresponding control lines, was maintained for three generations. After a single generation of growth in a common, no-competition environment, replicate plants from each treatment were grown with no competition and with intra- and interspecific competition for determination of growth responses. After two generations of selection, flower number in the intraspecific-selection line had increased by more than 50% over that in the control line and by more than 19% over that under interspecific selection. After a common-environment generation, plants from the intraspecific-selection line were shown to have significantly faster growth in height and flower number as seedlings. Plants in the interspecific-selection line showed similar but nonsignificant trends. No differences in seed mass, emergence time, or photosynthetic rate were found between control and selected lines in either intra- or interspecific competition. Some differences between control and selected lines were noted in biomass allocation related to differences in phenology. The results demonstrate that performance in competitive environments can evolve through changes in plant development but that rates of evolution will differ in intra- and interspecific competition.     

马尾松-木荷不同比例混交林种内和种间竞争强度

分析不同比例组成的马尾松(Pinus massoniana)-木荷(Schima superba)混交林树木间的竞争关系,可为营造种间关系协调的马尾松混交林提供参考依据.以马尾松-木荷混交林为研究对象,根据其混交比例分别类型Ⅰ(对照,10马)、类型Ⅱ(8马2木)、类型Ⅲ(7马3木)、类型Ⅳ(6马4木)4种类型设置标准地...     

Simulated effects of herb competition on planted Quercus faginea seedlings in Mediterranean abandoned cropland

Abstract. We tested simulated effects of herb competition on the performance of planted seedlings of Quercus faginea ssp. faginea in Mediterranean abandoned cropland. We produced three types of environment with respect to herb competition: absence of competition (AC), below‐ground competition (BGC), and total competition (TC). We assessed the performance of Q. faginea seedlings in each treatment in five ways: (1) seedling mortality, (2) leaf length and total plant leaf area, (3) water potential, (4) total biomass and biomass allocation, and (5) non‐structural carbohydrate storage in different plant organs. We also measured (6) soil moisture at different depths and (7) biomass production of herbs. The TC treatment reduced water availability more than the BGC treatment, in agreement with the most pronounced water stress in seedlings under TC conditions. BGC and TC treatments showed a high and similar seedling mortality, which was one order of magnitude higher than that in the AC treatment. Competition treatments affected glucose concentration in both shoots and roots, and followed the rank TC > BGC > AC. Q. faginea seedlings might compensate a lower water availability through glucose accumulation in leaves to reduce the osmotic potential. There was a maximum starch concentration in the BGC treatment that hints that a moderate resource limitation would limit tissue growth but not carbon assimilation. We conclude that the negative effects of herbs on Q. faginea seedlings are mostly a result of competition for water, and that this competition is noticeable since the earliest stages of the establishment. Complete weed removal is a technique that would strongly improve seedling survivorship.     

Elevated CO2 lowers relative and absolute herbivore density across all species of a scrub-oak forest

The unabated increase in global atmospheric CO(2) is expected to induce physiological changes in plants, including reduced foliar nitrogen, which are likely to affect herbivore densities. This study employs a field-based CO(2 )enrichment experiment at Kennedy Space Center, Florida, to examine plant-herbivore (insect) interactions inside eight open-topped chambers with elevated CO(2) (710 ppm) and eight control chambers with ambient CO(2). In elevated CO(2) we found decreased herbivore densities per 100 leaves, especially of leaf miners, across all five plant species we examined: the oak trees Quercus myrtifolia, Q. geminata, and Q. chapmanii, the nitrogen-fixing vine Galactia elliottii and the shrub Vaccinium myrsinites. Both direct and indirect effects of lowered plant nitrogen may influence this decrease in herbivore densities. Direct effects of lowered nitrogen resulted in increased host-plant related death and an increase in compensatory feeding: per capita herbivore leaf consumption in elevated CO(2) was higher than in ambient CO(2). Indirectly, compensatory feeding may have prolonged herbivore development and increased exposure to natural enemies. For all leaf miners we examined, mortality from natural enemies increased in elevated CO(2). These increases in host-plant induced mortality and in attack rates by natural enemies decreased leaf miner survivorship, causing a reduction in leaf miner density per 100 leaves. Despite increased leaf production in elevated CO(2) from the carbon fertilization effect, absolute herbivore abundance per chamber was also reduced in elevated CO(2). Because insects cause premature leaf abscission, we also thought that leaf abscission would be decreased in elevated CO(2). However, for all plant species, leaf abscission was increased in elevated CO(2), suggesting a direct effect of CO(2) on leaf abscission that outweighs the indirect effects of reduced insect densities on leaf abscission.     

The interspecific competition presents greater nutrient facilitation compared with intraspecific competition through AM fungi interacting with litter for two host plants in karst soil

AM 真菌和枯落物互作下两种喀斯特植物种间竞争较种内竞争更能促进植物养分利用 枯落物是植物养分获取和土壤养分转化的关键载体。丛枝菌根(Arbuscular mycorrhizae, AM)对植物养分摄取的影响已被广泛认知。然而，在养分亏缺的喀斯特生境中，不同竞争方式的植物如何通过AM真菌和枯落物利用养分尚不清楚。本研究对两种喀斯特适生植物构树(Broussonetia papyrifera)和云贵鹅耳枥(Carpinus pubescens)进行种内竞争和种  间竞争种植处理，并通过幼套球 囊霉(Glomus etunicatum)接种或不接种处理，以及土壤中添加或不添加两物种叶片混合枯落物处理，测定了植物生物量以及氮、磷、钾浓度等指标，研究植物的生长和养分利用。研究结果表明，AM真菌对两种植物养分摄取影响不同，AM真菌显著提高了种内和种间竞争下构树的养分摄取量，但降低了云贵鹅耳枥的养分摄取量。种间竞争下接种AM真菌，枯落物添加促进了云贵鹅耳枥对氮的摄取，抑制了构树对氮的摄取。接种AM真菌和添加枯落物条件下，种间竞争的构树对氮、磷和钾的摄取量及云贵鹅耳枥对氮的摄取量均高于种内竞争；种间竞争下两物种养分竞争力呈现明显差异，即构树对磷和钾养分竞争力显著提高，对氮则不显著；云贵鹅耳枥仅对钾的养分竞争力显著降低，对氮和磷则无显著影响。这些结果说明，在AM真菌与枯落物相互作用下，两种喀斯特植物种间竞争较种内竞争更能促进植物养分利用。     

Leaf size and leaf display of thirty-eight tropical tree species

Trees forage for light through optimal leaf display. Effective leaf display is determined by metamer traits (i.e., the internode, petiole, and corresponding leaf), and thus these traits strongly co-determine carbon gain and as a result competitive advantage in a light-limited environment. We examined 11 metamer traits of sun and shade trees of 38 coexisting moist forest tree species and determined the relative strengths of intra- and interspecific variation. Species-specific metamer traits were related to two variables that represent important life history variation; the regeneration light requirements and average leaf size of the species. Metamer traits varied strongly across species and, in contrast to our expectation, showed only modest changes in response to light. Intra- and interspecific responses to light were only congruent for a third of the traits evaluated. Four traits, amongst which leaf size, specific leaf area (SLA), and leaf area ratio at the metamer level (LAR) showed even opposite intra- and interspecific responses to light. Strikingly, these are classic traits that are thought to be of paramount importance for plant performance but that have completely different consequences within and across species. Sun trees of a given species had small leaves to reduce the heat load, but light-demanding species had large leaves compared to shade-tolerants, probably to outcompete their neighbors. Shade trees of a given species had a high SLA and LAR to capture more light in a light-limited environment, whereas shade-tolerant species have well-protected leaves with a low SLA compared to light-demanding species, probably to deter herbivores and enhance leaf lifespan. There was a leaf-size-mediated trade-off between biomechanical and hydraulic safety, and the efficiency with which species can space their leaves and forage for light. Unexpectedly, metamer traits were more closely linked to leaf size than to regeneration light requirements, probably because leaf-size-related biomechanical and vascular constraints limit the trait combinations that are physically possible. This suggests that the leaf size spectrum overrules more subtle variation caused by the leaf economics spectrum, and that leaf size represents a more important strategy axis than previously thought. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Species packing and temperature dependent competition among burying beetles (Silphidae, Nicrophorus)

Abstract. 1. Burying beetles are carrion feeders that specialize on small carcasses. We investigated interactions among congeners at two sites in Michigan, U.S.A., that differ in both number and relative proportion of species.
2. Intra- and interspecific competition for carcasses is intense. The majority of carcasses are found within 24 h of their placement.
3. Competition between N.arbicollis and N.defodiens is temperature dependent. N.orbicollis can displace N.defodiens on single carcasses, but requires warm temperatures to find the carcasses. Cool weather therefore serves as a refuge for N.defadiens .
4. The southern edge of N.defodien's geographical range is probably determined by competition with N.orbicollis .
5. N.sayi and N.tomenrosus are spring and autumn breeders respectively, and rarely interact with each other or the other two species. Nevertheless, interspecific competition is the most likely evolutionary force leading to seasonal segregation.     

鹦哥岭海南五针松的种内和种间竞争

为了探讨海南五针松群落内物种间的竞争关系,该研究通过对海南鹦哥岭国家级自然保护区海南五针松群落内56株对象木及442株伴生种竞争木的调查,运用Hegyi的单木竞争模型分析其种内和种间竞争强度。结果表明:海南五针松的种内和种间竞争强度分别为31.31%和68.69%,说明竞争主要来自种间。海南五针松伴生种较多,种内与主要伴生种间的竞争关系为海南五针松线枝蒲桃海桐山矾五列木印度锥杏叶柯红鳞浦桃海南猴欢喜毛棉杜鹃浦桃木荷。竞争强度随海南五针松胸径的增大而减小,当海南五针松的胸径到达35 cm时,竞争强度变化很小,二者符合幂函数关系(CI=aD~b),所得模型能很好的预测海南五针松的种内和种间竞争强度。根据竞争模型预测,在海南五针松胸径达到35 cm之前,应对严重影响其生长的伴生种进行修枝或择伐,以保证其获得足够的生存资源,达到保护这一物种的目的。     

Potential interspecific competition and host specificity: hispine beetles on Heliconia

Abstract. 1. Adults of rolled-leaf hispine beetles (Chrysomelidae, Coleoptera) spend their lives in the scrolls formed by immature leaves of Heliconia (Heli-coniaceae, Monocotyledonae) in Tropical America. As many as eight hispine species can intermingle in the host scrolls at a single site. Scrolls of single host species are invariably occupied by adults of more than one hispine species, and as many as five species can simultaneously occupy one scroll.
2. I made virgin scrolls, which had never contained any insects, by growing leaves under the cover of plastic bags.
3. Thirty-seven combinations of single hispine and Heliconia species were experimentally created in the virgin scrolls, at two sites and in two seasons, in Costa Rica. Combinations included all abundant host species at the sites.
4. All beetles left all leaves of the twenty-eight unnatural beetle—host combinations, within 24 h. On the other hand, none of the nine natural combinations was completely abandoned within the experimental period.
5. Thus, host specificity is not broader in the absence of similar hispine species that might be competitors, and interspecies competition does not affect this obvious aspect of resource utilization for these phytophagous insects.     

Holly leaf‐miners on two continents: what makes an outbreak species?

1. Some herbivore species periodically undergo damaging, high‐density outbreak phases followed by less damaging low‐density phases. Others maintain steady, low to moderate density levels that do little damage to their hosts. 2. Two closely related holly leaf‐miner species were compared that share many ecological traits and have very similar life cycles, but only one of which exhibits outbreaks. Phytomyza ilicicola in the eastern U.S.A. varied widely in mortality and infestation levels, reaching local densities of over 10 mines per leaf. In contrast, Phytomyza ilicis in the U.K. showed low infestation and high mortality at all sites. Using data from the literature and from field studies, the factors responsible for these contrasting dynamics were sought. 3. Phytomyza ilicicola oviposits into the leaf lamina, and experiences weak larval competition only at high densities. Phytomyza ilicis oviposits into the leaf midrib, which leads to high mortality of young larvae before mine formation. Multiply mined leaves were therefore very common in P. ilicicola but rare in P. ilicis. 4. Differences in the parasitoid complexes of the two systems accounted for further differences in survival to adulthood. The main (larval) parasitoid, which was found to impose high, density‐dependent mortality on P. ilicis, is missing on P. ilicicola. It is replaced by an egg–pupal parasitoid, which varies in its impact at differe～t sites. Multiple emergence of adults from multiply mined leaves is therefore widespread in P. ilicicola but does not occur in P. ilicis. 5. The differences in oviposition behaviour and in the parasitoid complexes are likely to allow P. ilicicola to outbreak when habitat conditions are favourable, while P. ilicis is always tightly regulated.     

氮水平和竞争对互花米草与芦苇叶特征的影响

 互花米草 (Spartina alterniflora) 和芦苇 (Phragmites australis) 是滨海盐沼湿地的多年生草本植物,从世界范围来看,它们二者具有区域性的相互入侵特征,因此研究生境条件对两物种互侵机制的影响是一个十分有意义的生态学命题。该文运用随机区组实验设计方法,模拟海滩环境、构建人工种群、控制可变因子,研究了外来种互花米草与本地种芦苇分别单种和混种时,叶特征对不同氮水平、不同植株密度的响应。结果表明：随着氮水平的升高,互花米草和芦苇的叶面积无论是在单种还是混种情况下都显著增加 (p<0.05),但混种条件下芦苇的叶面积在高氮水平下增幅减少,这与高氮状况下互花米草与芦苇的竞争加剧有关;氮水平对单种中两种植物的叶数影响最显著 (p<0.01),对混种中互花米草的叶数和芦苇的叶宽影响最大 (p<0.05)。植株密度增加导致种内和种间竞争加剧,无论在单种还是混种处理下,都造成两种植物叶面积的显著减少 (p<0.05)。单种处理中, 两物种的叶数受密度的响应最显著 (p<0.05);而混种处理中芦苇对互花米草的竞争显著减小了互花米草的叶宽和叶数(p<0.05),互花米草对芦苇的竞争则显著减小了芦苇 的叶长、叶宽和叶数 (p<0.05)。两种植物的竞争结果受到氮营养的调控,低、高氮水平下互花米草的种间竞争能力大于芦苇,中氮水平下则是芦苇的种间竞争能力大于互花米草。高氮水平下互花米草通过叶面积的快速增加抑制了芦苇的叶生长,使其叶面积减少,从而在竞争中占据优势,这可能是互花米草入侵我国海滩芦苇种群的机制之一。