盐城滨海湿地优势植物碳氮磷生态化学计量高光谱反演

滨海湿地是海陆交界的生态过渡带,是自然界生物多样性最丰富的生态系统之一。湿地植物作为湿地生态系统重要的组成部分,研究其碳、氮、磷生态化学计量特征是了解植物生长状况与适应策略的有效途径。以江苏盐城滨海湿地为研究区,采集互花米草(Spartina alterifora)、芦苇(Phragmites australis)、白茅(Imperata cylindrica)、柽柳(Tamarix chinensis)、盐地碱蓬(Suaeda salsa)共5种优势湿地植物样本及冠层高光谱数据,对植物的碳、氮、磷生态化学计量特征进行高光谱反演研究。结果表示白茅、柽柳与芦苇的最佳反演模型为随机森林(RF)模型,对互花米草反演效果最好的是偏最小二乘(PLSR)模型,而对盐地碱蓬反演精度最高的是BP神经网络(BPNN)模型。研究表明利用高光谱数据可以实现湿地植物碳、氮、磷生态化学计量特征的准确反演,不同模型对于不同湿地植物的反演存在差异,RF模型的反演稳定性最强,是反演湿地植物生态化学计量特征的较优模型。     

Canopy spectral characteristics of typical invasive and native plants in the coastal wetland of Yancheng City,China

Spartina alterniflora (S. alterniflora) is a dominant invasive alien species that occurs in Yancheng Wetland National Nature Reserve, the largest coastal wetland in China. It expands rapidly and exerts great threats to local ecosystem. The main native species there are Phragmites australis (P. australis) and Suaeda salsa (S. salsa), respectively. In order to monitor their dynamics, it is of great significance to analyze their spectral discrimination. Canopy spectra of these typical species were measured in July and October in order to compare species differences, as well as the seasonal variation. The Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was calculated based on canopy spectra. The significances of differences in spectral characteristic among species were tested using the one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) (P < 0.05). The results showed that the visible (VI) bands were the optimum wavelengths for species discrimination in both seasons. S. alterniflora always had the greatest green peak height and red absorption depth. S. salsa had no obvious green peak, but an obvious red reflection peak. P. australis generally had intermediate values. Spectra in the near-infrared (NIR) bands were not appropriate for delineating S. alterniflora and P. australis in summer, as they showed similar values in these wavelengths. But NIR bands could be used to distinguish S. salsa in summer, as it had significantly lower reflectance in NIR bands than the others. Meanwhile, the reflectance in short-wavelength infrared (SWIR) bands became another suitable approach for distinguishing species in autumn. S. salsa had significantly higher values than the others in SWIR regions. Significant NDVI differences between different species proved that it could improve the species discrimination. S. alterniflora always had the highest NDVI values, while S. salsa had the lowest values. The seasonal trend of canopy spectra was also revealed. With plant maturity, the reflectance values in green bands and NIR bands decreased significantly, but increased significantly around the yellow-red wavelengths. The green peak heights, red absorption depths, and NDVI values of the species decreased remarkably. Furthermore, S. alterniflora and P. australis illustrated obvious ‘blue shift’ of the red edge with senescence. These results pointed out the the potential bands and appropriate spectral parameters appropriate for species discrimination, and highlighted the influence of seasonality on spectral information. They provided an important basis for salt marshes identification and dynamic monitoring on a large scale.     

黄河口盐地碱蓬湿地土壤-植物系统重金属污染评价

以黄河口盐地碱蓬湿地为例,评价了淹水和非淹水区湿地表层土壤As、Cd、Cu、Cr、Pb和Zn 6种重金属的污染程度及其在土壤-植物系统中的迁移、富集特征,分析了不同积水深度和土壤理化性质对研究区土壤重金属含量的影响.研究结果表明,与土壤或沉积物质量标准相比,黄河口盐地碱蓬湿地土壤受As和Cd污染最严重,而其它重金属污染较轻;非淹水土壤Cd、Cr和Zn含量高于淹水湿地,而As、Cu和Pb则较低;而且淹水土壤As含量随积水深度增加而呈下降趋势,但积水深度对其他重金属含量的影响不明显.相关性分析结果表明,按照受土壤关键影响因子的不同重金属(除As外)可以分为两类:第一类为Cd、Cr和Zn,这些重金属含量受土壤pH值和盐分影响较大,且相互间存在显著正相关关系,表明它们可能有相同的来源;第二类为Pb和Cu,它们受土壤pH值、盐分和有机质的影响,且Pb和Cu之间存在显著正相关关系.除Cr、Cu和Zn外,重金属在盐地碱蓬的根系内一般不发生显著富集,但绝大多数重金属都表现出地上部分的含量比根系更高的现象.     

Soil quality assessment of coastal wetlands in the Yellow River Delta of China based on the minimum data set

Little information is available to assess the dynamic changes in wetland soil quality in coastal regions, though it is essential for wetland conservation and management. Soil samples were collected in Suaeda salsa wetlands (SWs), Tamarix chinensis wetlands (TWs), Suaeda salsa–Tamarix chinensis wetlands (STWs), freshwater Phragmites australis wetlands (FPWs) and saltwater Phragmites australis wetlands (SPWs) in three sampling periods (i.e., summer and autumn of 2007 and spring of 2008). According to the flooding characteristics of these wetlands, the study area could be grouped into three sub-regions: short-term flooding region (STFR), seasonal flooding region (SFR) and tidal flooding region (TFR). Soil quality was evaluated using the soil quality index (SQI), which was calculated using the selected minimum data set (MDS) based on principal components analysis (PCA). Our results showed that soil salt content (SSC), total carbon (TC), magnesium (Mg), nitrate nitrogen (NO₃⁻-N) and total sulfur (TS) consisted of a MDS among 13 soil properties. The SQI values varied from 0.18 to 0.66 for all soil samples, of which the highest and lowest SQI values were observed in TFR. The average SQI values were significantly higher in summer (0.50 ± 0.13) than in spring (0.37 ± 0.13) and autumn (0.36 ± 0.11) in the whole study area (p < 0.05). The average SQI values followed the order STFR (0.44 ± 0.12) > TFR (0.41 ± 0.15) > SFR (0.35 ± 0.09) although no significant differences were observed among the three regions (p > 0.05). SPWs and SWs soils showed higher SQI values (0.50 ± 0.10 and 0.47 ± 0.15, respectively) than TWs (0.30 ± 0.08) soils (p < 0.05). The SSC was the dominant factor of soil quality with its proportion of 34.1% contributing to the SQI values, followed by TC (24.5%) and Mg (24.1%). Correlation analysis also showed that SQI values were significantly negatively correlated with SSC. SSC might be a characteristic indicator of wetland soil quality assessment in coastal regions. The findings of this study showed that the SQI based on MDS is a powerful tool for wetland soil quality assessment.     

Two-decade wetland cultivation and its effects on soil properties in salt marshes in the Yellow River Delta,China

Wetland cultivation and its effects on soil properties in salt marshes in the Yellow River Delta, China were examined by using a combination of the satellite imageries and field experiments. Results showed that the conversions mainly occurred between dry lands and Phragmites australis–Suaeda salsa–Tamarix chinensis marshes (PSTMs). The total area of marsh wetland was reduced by 65.09 km² during the period from 1986 to 2005, and these conversions might be attributed to a combination of farming, oil exploration and water extraction, as well as soil salinization. Significant differences were observed in bulk density, pH, salinity and NO₃⁻-N between different land-use types (P < 0.05). After the conversions from marsh wetlands to dry lands, bulk density, pH, salinity and NH₄⁺-N decreased slightly, while a significant increase in NO₃⁻-N, TN (total nitrogen), and AP (available phosphorus) (P < 0.05) was observed. The more loss of soil nutrient storage also occurred after the maximal area conversion from PSTMs to dry lands compared to other conversions during the study period. The storages of soil organic matter, NH₄⁺-N and total phosphorus decreased greatly under the conversion from three types of marshes to dry lands, while those of NO₃⁻-N, AP and TN showed an obvious increase during the whole study period.     

Biological connectivity and its driving mechanisms in the Liaohe Delta wetland,China

Biological connectivity plays a cricial role in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem function. However, it is poorly understood how to quantify biological connectivity and investigate its mechanisms in estuarine wetlands. In order to address this issue, this study aims to quantify biological connectivity in the Liaohe Delta wetland by utilizing three complementary approaches: the habitat quality simulation, the vegetation connectivity index, and the maximum entropy model. These approaches focused on habitat quality, vegetation, and bird species, respectively. The established criteria for assessing vegetation connectivity blockage and the jackknife method were utilized to identify the primary drivers of biological connectivity. The study found that (1) Habitat quality declined from 1976 to 2020, with a total decrease of 3.2 × 10⁶. (2) Vegetation patches have more fragmented and less connected over the last 45 years. There was also a higher vegetation probability density of Phragmites australis than Suaeda salsa. The area of unchanged P. australis was concentrated within the nature reserve, while the area of unchanged S. salsa was 0, indicating that P. australis was more affected than S. salsa. The vegetation connectivity blockage was 33.16%, with human activities having a greater impact compared to natural succession. (3) The area of suitable habitat for birds constituted 27.48% of the study area. Distance to S. salsa was the main driving factor, followed by the distance to intertidal muds, paddy fields, P. australis, and water sources. The results demonstrate that biological connectivity has generally declined over time, with human activities being a significant contributor. Our efforts to quantify biological connectivity provided clear spatial and temporal information on the trends and drivers of biological connectivity in the Liaohe Delta wetland. The results of this study can provide valuable information for conservation efforts aimed at preserving wetland biodiversity.     

黄河三角洲滨海草甸与土壤因子的关系

黄河三角洲滨海草甸群落的分布和变化与土壤因子密切相关。于2010年6月对黄河三角洲的草甸植被进行了样方调查,并对土壤进行了取样分析。在所调查的67个草本样方中,共出现52种植物。利用典范对应分析(CCA)分析了9种土壤因子与草甸群落分布的关系,结果显示,前两轴总共解释了物种-环境关系方差的46.4%,土壤含水率和电导率对群落分布的影响最大。双向指示种分析(TWINSPAN)将67个样方分为7种群落类型,将其标示在CCA排序图上后,沿第一轴分成三大类群:盐地碱蓬群落→芦苇-盐地碱蓬群落→其他草甸群落,这反映了黄河三角洲滨海草甸群落在盐分梯度上的演替规律。相关分析显示,物种多样性指数与土壤电导率、速效钾和速效磷呈极显著负相关(P<0.01),与pH值呈显著正相关(P<0.05)。解释了黄河三角洲滨海草甸群落与土壤因子的关系和变化规律,对黄河三角洲植被保护和恢复有一定的指导意义。     

In situ soil net nitrogen mineralization in coastal salt marshes (Suaeda salsa) with different flooding periods in a Chinese estuary

Flooding periods can be one of the most important factors influencing nitrogen (N) biogeochemical processes in wetlands ecosystem. We conducted a field study using in situ incubation method to investigate the seasonal dynamics of soil net N mineralization in three coastal salt marshes (Suaeda salsa) with different flooding periods (i.e., short-term (STF), seasonal (SF), and tidal (TF) flooding wetland) in the Yellow River Delta. Selected soil inorganic N pools (ammonium, nitrate and inorganic N) and N transformation (mineralization, nitrification and ammonification) rates in the top 0–10 cm soils were repeatedly quantified from April to October. Clear seasonal patterns in inorganic N pools and transformation rates were observed in accord with the seasonal variations of temperature and moisture. Generally, higher levels of soil inorganic nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N) and nitrate nitrogen (NO₃^－-N) occurred in the early-growing season (April), and NH₄⁺-N contents got a small accumulative peak in midsummer (September). The lower rates (negative) of net mineralization (R_min), nitrification (R_nit) and ammonification (R_amm) were observed in the early-growing season (April–June) and fall (September–October), whereas higher values (positive) in midsummer (August–September). Flooding had a significant influence on inorganic N pools (except for NH₄⁺-N) and transformation rates (p < 0.05). R_min values in SF wetland were significantly higher in the August-September period than those in other incubation periods. R_nit values in TF wetland exhibited a small variation and the highest value occured in the June–August period. The results of principal component analysis showed that soil samples were clearly divided into two groups before and after flow-sediment regulation. After flooding events, the R_min and R_amm values generally increased in the three wetlands, whereas a significant decrease in R_nit values was observed in SF wetland (p < 0.05), thus the differences in NO₃^－-N among these wetlands were eliminated. These results suggested that seasonal variations in temperature and moisture are important factors influencing inorganic N pools and transformation rates.     

Determinants of annual–perennial plant zonation across a salt–fresh marsh interface: a multistage assessment

Vegetation zonation patterns in coastal marshes are hypothesized to be the result of both physical stress and competitive interactions. How these patterns may be driven by these factors at different life history stages remains poorly understood. We investigated the relative importance of species tolerance (response to physical stress) and competitive ability in determining the distributions of two dominant marsh species across a salt–fresh marsh interface in the Yellow River Estuary, China. There is a steep gradient in salinity across this interface and Suaeda salsa, an annual, dominates the saline side of the interface, while Phragmites australis, a perennial species, dominates the freshwater side. Using a series of field transplants, we examined the roles of physical stress and competition in mediating this zonation at different life history stages. Suaeda salsa performed well in its home zone, but seedling emergence, seedling survival, adult survival and adult growth were significantly suppressed by competition in the freshwater P. australis zone. Emergence, survival and growth of P. australis were inhibited in the saline S. salsa zone, regardless of neighbor treatments, but it performed well in its home zone. The magnitude of the competitive effect on the performance of S. salsa differed among the life history stages. Competition from P. australis had a much stronger effect on S. salsa seedling emergence and adult growth than on seedling survival and adult survival. Our results reveal that both physical stress and competition contributed to the observed zonation patterns in this marsh system. However, for S. salsa, the effect of competition varied with life-history stage. Insight into these ecological processes is critical to understanding how the zonation pattern in the marsh system is formed and maintained.     

Impacts of Spartina alterniflora invasion on the benthic communities of salt marshes in the Yangtze Estuary,China

As a species for ecological engineering, Spartina alterniflora was introduced to Chongming Dongtan in 1995, and over the last 10 years, this species has rapidly invaded large areas of the Chongming Dongtan nature reserve. In this study, use of a normalized biomass size-spectra (NBSS) approach was explored to evaluate the possible impacts of S. alterniflora invasion on the benthic communities along gradients of intertidal zones and the invasion history of S. alterniflora within the nature reserve. The results showed that the characteristics of macrobenthic communities and the variation in macrobenthic communities described by the first two CCA axes revealed clearly the gradients of elevation and invasion history of S. alterniflora. The differences in the macrobenthic assemblages between the Spartina alterniflara marshes and the native Phragmites australis marshes decreased with increasing of invasion history of S. alterniflara. The macrobenthic biomass showed a decreasing trend, while the meiobenthic biomass showed a reverse trend along the elevation gradient. The macrobenthic biomass of S. alterniflora marshes with longer invasion history was higher than that at recently invaded S. alterniflora marshes, while the meiobenthic biomass was lower. The slopes of NBSS for the sampling sites showed a trend of steeper slopes with decreasing of elevation and at the recently invaded S. alterniflora marshes than that at marshes with longer invasion history, while the differences between the native P. australis marshes and the S. alterniflora marshes with long invasion history tended to be diminished. The NBSS approach could thus be used more widely to detect possible impacts of S. alterniflara invasion on benthic assemblages. This study also indicated the potential for this approach to provide valuable insights into the ecosystem ecology of invasive species, which could be very important for wetland biodiversity conservation and resource management in the Yangtze River Estuary and other such impacted areas.     

Exotic Spartina alterniflora invasion alters ecosystem–atmosphere exchange of CH4 and N2O and carbon sequestration in a coastal salt marsh in China

Coastal salt marshes are sensitive to global climate change and may play an important role in mitigating global warming. To evaluate the impacts of Spartina alterniflora invasion on global warming potential (GWP) in Chinese coastal areas, we measured CH₄ and N₂O fluxes and soil organic carbon sequestration rates along a transect of coastal wetlands in Jiangsu province, China, including open water; bare tidal flat; and invasive S. alterniflora, native Suaeda salsa, and Phragmites australis marshes. Annual CH₄ emissions were estimated as 2.81, 4.16, 4.88, 10.79, and 16.98 kg CH₄ ha^?1 for open water, bare tidal flat, and P. australis, S. salsa, and S. alterniflora marshes, respectively, indicating that S. alterniflora invasion increased CH₄ emissions by 57–505%. In contrast, negative N₂O fluxes were found to be significantly and negatively correlated (P < 0.001) with net ecosystem CO₂ exchange during the growing season in S. alterniflora and P. australis marshes. Annual N₂O emissions were 0.24, 0.38, and 0.56 kg N₂O ha^?1 in open water, bare tidal flat and S. salsa marsh, respectively, compared with ‐0.51 kg N₂O ha^?1 for S. alterniflora marsh and ?0.25 kg N₂O ha^?1 for P. australis marsh. The carbon sequestration rate of S. alterniflora marsh amounted to 3.16 Mg C ha^?1 yr^?1 in the top 100 cm soil profile, a value that was 2.63‐ to 8.78‐fold higher than in native plant marshes. The estimated GWP was 1.78, ?0.60, ?4.09, and ?1.14 Mg CO₂eq ha^?1 yr^?1 in open water, bare tidal flat, P. australis marsh and S. salsa marsh, respectively, but dropped to ?11.30 Mg CO₂eq ha^?1 yr^?1 in S. alterniflora marsh. Our results indicate that although S. alterniflora invasion stimulates CH₄ emissions, it can efficiently mitigate increases in atmospheric CO₂ and N₂O along the coast of China.     

Sulfur storage changed by exotic Spartina alterniflora in coastal saltmarshes of China

For the purpose of ecological engineering, Spartina alterniflora was introduced to China in 1979 and now covers about 112,000 ha of China's coastal lands. It was hypothesized that S. alterniflora could actively change the habitat environment, thus facilitating its competition over native species. In Yancheng Nature Reserve, sulfur storage of sediments and plant tissues was compared among marshes dominated by the exotic S. alterniflora and adjacent native Suaeda salsa and Phragmites australis and bare mudflat. Results showed that the S. alterniflora marsh contained the highest content of water-soluble, adsorbed, carbonate-occluded and total sulfur in the sediment. The sulfur levels were higher in the center than at the edges of the S. alterniflora marsh. Native marshes showed no significant difference in sediment sulfur levels. With greater biomass and higher tissue sulfur concentrations, plant sulfur storage of S. alterniflora vegetation was also larger than those of the native vegetations. Because higher concentrations of sulfur increase the competitive advantage of S. alterniflora over native halophytes, the results of the research showing that S. alterniflora increased marsh sulfur storage may shed light on the mechanism of expansion of monospecific vegetation in coastal China.     

Bioaccumulation of Trace Elements in Trophic Levels of Wetland Plants and Waterfowl Birds

Present study investigates relationships between total and bioaccessibility of trace elements (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, NI, Pb, V, and Zn) concentrations in sediment and their bioaccumulation in species in Shadegan wetland in southwest of Iran. Bioavailability factor (BAF) and translocation factor (TF) were calculated in plants and trophic transfer factor (TTF) was determined in bird species. For this purpose, sampling of sediments, aquatic plants including Phragmites australis, Typha australis, Scripus maritimus and two bird species encircling Porphyrio porphyrio and globally threatened Marmaronetta angustirostris were carried out during winter 2009. Result of chemical analysis show that bioaccessibility concentrations of Mn (8.31 mg/kg), V (1.33 mg/kg), and Pb (1.03 mg/kg) are higher than other metals. The uptake trend of trace elements in plant decreases as root > stem > leaf. Accumulation levels of trace elements in different tissues of P. porphyrio and M. angustirostris are almost identical and considerable. Accumulation and toxicity of Cd in birds is more than plants. In addition, BAF of V, Pb, and Cr indicates high accumulation by plants and great pollution rate in the area of study. In S. maritimus TF for Mn, Cu, Pb, and V are high whereas in T. australis, Cu and Pb posses the highest TF. Also Cr, Co, Mn, Ni, and Zn have higher TF from stem to leaf than root to stem in P. australis. Finally, TTFs were compared in various bird species.     

Genetics,novel weapons and rhizospheric microcosmal signaling in the invasion of Phragmites australis

Chemical communication and perception strategies between plants are highly sophisticated but are only partly understood. Among the different interactions, the suppressive interaction of a class of chemicals released by one plant through root exudates against the neighbouring plants (allelopathy) have been implicated in the invasiveness of many exotic weedy species. Phragmites australis (common reed) is one of the dominant colonizers of the North American wetland marshes and exhibits invasive behavior by virtually replacing the entire native vegetation in its niche. Recently, by adopting a systematic bioassay driven approach we elucidated the role of root derived allelopathy as one of the important mechanisms by which P. australis exerts its invasive behavior. Additionally, our recent preliminary data indicates the involvement of rhizobacterial signaling in the invasive success of P. australis. A better understanding of biochemical weaponry used by P. australis will aid scientists and technologists in addressing the impact of root secretions in invasiveness of weedy species and thus promote a more informed environmental stewardship.Key words: Phragmites australis, roots, phytotoxicity, reactive oxygen species, microtubules, microcosm     

芦苇腐解土中酚酸类化感物质的水分响应特性研究

芦苇和虉草均具有较强的去污能力,常作为湿地植物配置于同一人工湿地进行污水处理。芦苇作为一种强化感植物对虉草具有较强的化感作用,在自然湿地和人工湿地中均会出现芦苇代替虉草的现象,且这一现象的发生与土壤含水量存在一定联系,此外,芦苇腐解土对虉草的化感抑制效应与腐解土中总酚酸的量密切相关。为了研究芦苇腐解土中主要酚酸类物质的水分响应特性,筛选出其中对水分响应较为明显的酚酸物质种类,该研究采用高效液相色谱法,通过芦苇枯落物腐解土的制备,对不同水分环境下芦苇腐解土中酚酸类物质进行了分离和鉴定。结果表明:芦苇腐解土中可分离出没食子酸、香豆酸、香草酸、丁香酸、对香豆酸、阿魏酸、水杨酸和苯甲酸等8种酚酸类物质,其中香豆酸、苯甲酸和阿魏酸等3种酚酸类物质含量较高。分离出的8种酚酸类物质的含量与腐解土的相对含水量均呈显著线性负相关关系,即随着腐解土相对含水量的上升,酚酸类物质的含量均呈现下降趋势,且各种酚酸类物质对水分的响应趋势均可用线性方程较好地拟合。其中,香豆酸、没食子酸和阿魏酸对芦苇腐解土的水分响应最为明显。因此,可将香豆酸、没食子酸和阿魏酸作为主要调控目标,通过调控湿地土壤中水分含量,削弱芦苇对虉草的化感抑制效应,从而维持人工湿地中虉草芦苇群落的长期稳定共存。     

Tidal Flushing Restores the Physiological Condition of Fish Residing in Degraded Salt Marshes

Roads, bridges, and dikes constructed across salt marshes can restrict tidal flow, degrade habitat quality for nekton, and facilitate invasion by non-native plants including Phragmites australis. Introduced P. australis contributes to marsh accretion and eliminates marsh surface pools thereby adversely affecting fish by reducing access to intertidal habitats essential for feeding, reproduction, and refuge. Our study assessed the condition of resident fish populations (Fundulus heteroclitus) at four tidally restricted and four tidally restored marshes in New England invaded by P. australis relative to adjacent reference salt marshes. We used physiological and morphological indicators of fish condition, including proximate body composition (% lipid, % lean dry, % water), recent daily growth rate, age class distributions, parasite prevalence, female gravidity status, length-weight regressions, and a common morphological indicator (Fulton’s K) to assess impacts to fish health. We detected a significant increase in the quantity of parasites infecting fish in tidally restricted marshes but not in those where tidal flow was restored to reduce P. australis cover. Using fish length as a covariate, we found that unparasitized, non-gravid F. heteroclitus in tidally restricted marshes had significantly reduced lipid reserves and increased lean dry (structural) mass relative to fish residing in reference marshes. Fish in tidally restored marshes were equivalent across all metrics relative to those in reference marshes indicating that habitat quality was restored via increased tidal flushing. Reference marshes adjacent to tidally restored sites contained the highest abundance of young fish (ages 0–1) while tidally restricted marshes contained the lowest. Results indicate that F. heteroclitus residing in physically and hydrologically altered marshes are at a disadvantage relative to fish in reference marshes but the effects can be reversed through ecological restoration.     

Ecological thresholds of Suaeda salsa to the environmental gradients of water table depth and soil salinity

The responses of Suaeda salsa to the environmental gradients of water table depth and soil salinity in the Yellow River Delta, China were analyzed from the aspect of ecological thresholds which were developed from the Gaussian model. Based on the correlation analysis of population biomass, density, height, coverage and abundance of Suaeda salsa, population biomass was selected as the population index for further analysis. The results indicated that the optimum water table depth for the growth of Suaeda salsa was about −0.42 m, the ecological thresholds were from −0.92 m to 0.08 m, and the optimum ecological thresholds were from −0.67 m to −0.17 m. To the soil salinity gradient, the optimum was about 12.71 g/kg, the ecological thresholds were from 5.17 g/kg to 20.25 g/kg, and the optimum ecological thresholds were from 8.94 g/kg to 16.48 g/kg. However, the effect of water-salinity interaction seemed to be important to the growth of Suaeda salsa, which was discussed through analyzing the water table depth-soil salinity relationship and their interactions. By using Ward cluster analysis and Gamma distances, 69 sampling sites were classified into 7 kinds of Suaeda salsa communities. It was found that there was a remarkable response of the community structure of Suaeda salsa to the water table depth and soil salinity gradients, which can be a switchover from xeromorphic and saline-alkali plants to limnophytes, and vice versa.     

外源氮输入对黄河口新生湿地植物-土壤系统硫分布特征的影响

选择黄河口北部滨岸高潮滩的碱蓬湿地为研究对象,基于野外原位氮(N)输入模拟试验,研究了不同氮输入梯度下(N0,无氮输入;N1,低氮输入,9.0 gN m~(-2)a~(-1);N2,中氮输入,12.0 gN m~(-2)a~(-1);N3,高氮输入,18.0 gN m~(-2)a~(-1))碱蓬湿地植物-土壤系统全硫(TS)分布特征的差异。结果表明,外源N输入明显改变了湿地土壤TS含量的分布状况。随着N输入量的增加,除表层TS含量变化不明显外,其他土层均呈增加趋势。不同氮输入处理下植物各器官的TS含量整体均表现为叶茎根,叶是硫的主要累积器官。尽管氮输入处理并未改变植被的硫分配格局以及其地上与地下之间的硫养分供给关系,但其为适应不同养分环境可进行自身生长特性及养分分配的调整,且这种调整在N2处理下表现的尤为明显。随氮输入量的增加,不同氮处理下植物-土壤系统的S储量整体呈增加趋势,但土壤S储量的增幅远低于植物亚系统S储量的增幅以及N供给的增幅,说明N、S之间的养分供给存在不同步性。研究发现,未来黄河口N养分负荷增加情况下,碱蓬湿地植物-土壤系统的S生物循环速率不但可能会加速,而且N、S养分之间也可能形成一个正反馈机制,并将有利于维持新生湿地的稳定与健康。     

Trophic Dynamics of Filter Feeding Bivalves in the Yangtze Estuarine Intertidal Marsh: Stable Isotope and Fatty Acid Analyses

Benthic bivalves are important links between primary production and consumers, and are essential intermediates in the flow of energy through estuarine systems. However, information on the diet of filter feeding bivalves in estuarine ecosystems is uncertain, as estuarine waters contain particulate matter from a range of sources and as bivalves are opportunistic feeders. We surveyed bivalves at different distances from the creek mouth at the Yangtze estuarine marsh in winter and summer, and analyzed trophic dynamics using stable isotope (SI) and fatty acid (FA) techniques. Different bivalve species had different spatial distributions in the estuary. Glauconome chinensis mainly occurred in marshes near the creek mouth, while Sinonovacula constricta preferred the creek. Differences were found in the diets of different species. S. constricta consumed more diatoms and bacteria than G. chinensis, while G. chinensis assimilated more macrophyte material. FA markers showed that plants contributed the most (38.86 ± 4.25%) to particular organic matter (POM) in summer, while diatoms contributed the most (12.68 ± 1.17%) during winter. Diatoms made the largest contribution to the diet of S. constricta in both summer (24.73 ± 0.44%) and winter (25.51 ± 0.59%), and plants contributed no more than 4%. This inconsistency indicates seasonal changes in food availability and the active feeding habits of the bivalve. Similar FA profiles for S. constricta indicated that the bivalve had a similar diet composition at different sites, while different δ¹³C results suggested the diet was derived from different carbon sources (C₄ plant Spartina alterniflora and C₃ plant Phragmites australis and Scirpus mariqueter) at different sites. Species-specific and temporal and/or spatial variability in bivalve feeding may affect their ecological functions in intertidal marshes, which should be considered in the study of food webs and material flows in estuarine ecosystems.     

Seasonal Variations of C: N: P Stoichiometry and Their Trade-Offs in Different Organs of Suaeda salsa in Coastal Wetland of Yellow River Delta,China

Variations of plant C: N: P stoichiometry could be affected by both some environmental fluctuations and plant physiological processes. However, the trade-off mechanism between them and their influencial factors were not understood completely. In this study, C, N, P contents and their stoichiometry of S. salsa’s plant organs (leaves, stems, and roots), together with their environmental factors including salinity, pH, soil N and soil P, were examined in the intertidal and supratidal habitats of coastal wetlands during the different sampling times (May, July, September, November). The results showed that both plant organ and sampling times affected C, N, and P and stoichiometry of S. salsa in the intertidal and supratidal habitats, however, their influencial conditions and mechanisms were different. In the intertidal habitat, the different slopes of C-P and N-P within interspecific organs suggested that plant P, C:P and N:P of S. salsa were modulated by P concentrations that allocated in the specific organs. However, the slopes of C-N were found to be not significant within interspecific organs, but during the sampling times. These differences of plant N and C:N were related with the physiological demand for N in the specific life history stage. In the supratidal habitat, no significant differences were found in the slopes of C-N, C-P, and N-P within interspecific organs. However, different slopes of C-N among the sampling times also indicated a self-regulation strategy for plant N and C:N of S. salsa in different ontogenetic stages. In contrast to the intertidal habitat, seasonal variations of P, C:P and N:P ratios within interspecific organs reflected the soil P characteristics in the supratidal habitat. Our results showed that the stoichiometric constraint strategy of plant S. salsa in this region was strongly correlated with the local soil nutrient conditions.