沙埋与水分对科尔沁沙地主要固沙植物出苗的影响

蒿属半灌木乌丹蒿(Artemisia wudanica)、白沙蒿(A. sphaerocephala)、差不嘎蒿(A. halodendron)是科尔沁沙地的主要固沙植物。其中乌丹蒿和差不嘎蒿是科尔沁沙地的本土植物,白沙蒿为来自于库布齐沙漠、毛乌素沙地的飞播植物。设置了 5个沙埋深度(0.5、1.0、1.5、2.0和3.0 cm)和 4个水分梯度(86、171、257和 342 mL,分别模拟每月25、50、75和100 mm的降雨量),以探讨3种植物幼苗出土对沙埋和水分的响应。结果表明,沙埋与水分均显著影响着3种蒿属植物的幼苗出土(P < 0.001)。3种植物最适沙埋深度在0.5-1.5 cm范围内,萌发出土时适宜水量要高于当地种子萌发期的平均降水量(50 mm/月)。两种固沙先锋植物乌丹蒿和白沙蒿的种子出苗率均显著高于差不嘎蒿,乌丹蒿较白沙蒿也明显为高,尤其在水分缺乏时,表现出两种先锋植物种子出苗对干旱有更好的适应性。协方差分析表明,乌丹蒿幼苗死亡率显著高于白沙蒿和差不嘎蒿(P < 0.05),在达到75 mm/月降水量时,3种植物的出苗较好,但不能满足乌丹蒿幼苗生长对水分的需求,而实际种子萌发期的降水量平均只有50 mm/月。因而降水的缺乏导致乌丹蒿种群更新出现问题,加之飞播植物的竞争,使得近几年科尔沁沙地较多乌丹蒿种群出现衰退。     

毛乌素沙地4种沙生植物种子萌发及出苗对沙埋及单次供水的响应

飞播固沙作为一项快速而有效的现代化治沙措施,已成为毛乌素沙地植被恢复与重建的重要手段。但此项技术仍存在一些问题,如飞播后成苗率较低等。以毛乌素沙地优势植物柠条（Caragana korshinskii）、羊柴（Hedysarum laeve）、油蒿（Artemisia ordosica）与籽蒿（Artemisia sphaerocephala）为研究对象,人工控制7个沙埋深度和9个水分梯度,研究4种植物种子萌发和幼苗出土对沙埋和单次供水的响应,阐明多大的单次降雨才能保证种子萌发与幼苗出土及出土幼苗的维持时间。结果表明,对于柠条和羊柴质量相对较大的种子而言．种子主要在供水量10．20mm,埋藏深度为0．5．2cm的条件下出苗,但在埋藏深度为5cm时这两个物种仍有少量种子能够出苗;而对于油蒿和籽蒿质量相对较小的种子而言,种子主要在供水量10．20mm,埋藏深度为0．5cm时出苗,当埋藏深度为1．5cm和2cm时不能顺利出苗。沙埋深度0．5cm条件下,4个物种具有最高的出苗率和出苗速率。在试验期内（30d）,柠条、羊柴和油蒿出土幼苗分别在单次供水量为5、7．5mm和7．5mm时全部死亡,在单次供水量高于15mm时4个种的出土幼苗死亡率大多低于50％,且随供水量的增加出土幼苗死亡率降低。结合毛乌素沙地降雨特点与本次实验结果,0．5cm的沙埋及7．5mm以上的单次降雨是上述4种植物自然条件下出苗较好的重要条件。     

沙埋对六种沙生植物种子萌发和幼苗出土的影响

研究了沙埋对科尔沁沙地6种优势植物的种子萌发和幼苗出土的影响．进行0．2、4、6、8、10和12cm等7个深度沙埋处理．结果表明,在不同沙埋处理时,沙蓬萌发差异显著。而差不嘎蒿2锄埋深与其他埋深的发芽差异显著,其他4种植物0cm埋深与其他埋深的发芽差异显著;沙埋对所有植物幼苗出土均有显著影响,埋深增加,出苗率减小;繁殖体大的物种与繁殖体小的物种相比,能从更深沙层中出苗,幼苗出土最大深度排序为苦参>东北木蓼≥沙蓬>山竹子>雾冰藜>差不嘎蒿．     

沙埋和种子大小对柠条锦鸡儿种子萌发、出苗和幼苗生长的影响

研究了沙埋深度和种子大小对内蒙古毛乌素沙地植被群落中占优势的柠条锦鸡儿(Caragana korshinskii Kom.)种子萌发、出苗、幼苗存活和生长的影响.结果表明,沙埋深度显著影响柠条锦鸡儿的种子萌发率、休眠率、出苗率、幼苗存活率及生物量.在0.5-2cm的浅层沙埋下,种子萌发率、出苗率、幼苗存活率及生物量最高,休眠率最低;沙埋深度≥4 cm时,柠条锦鸡儿的种子萌发率、出苗率、幼苗存活率及生物量随着沙埋深度增加显著降低,而休眠率却显著升高;沙埋深度≥12 cm时,柠条锦鸡儿种子不能够出苗,幼苗也不能够存活.种子大小对柠条锦鸡儿种子萌发率没有显著影响,但对出苗率、幼苗存活率及生物量影响显著.在各个沙埋深度下,不同大小的柠条锦鸡儿种子间的萌发率没有显著差异.当沙埋深度≤6 cm时,不同大小的柠条锦鸡儿种子在同一沙埋深度下的出苗率间没有显著差异;但当沙埋深度≥8 cm时,在同一沙埋深度下,大种子的出苗率显著高于中种子和小种子的出苗率,而中种子和小种子出苗率间没有显著差异.0.5-10 cm的沙埋深度中,除6 cm和8 cm深度下中种子和小种子萌发幼苗的生物量间没有显著差异外,其余深度下,大种子萌发的幼苗的存活率及生物量显著高于同一沙埋深度下中种子萌发的幼苗的存活率及生物量,后者又显著高于小种子萌发的幼苗的存活率及生物量.可能正是种子萌发对沙埋环境的忍耐或响应能力以及种子的多态性提高了柠条锦鸡儿在毛乌素沙地的适合度,为其在流动或半流动沙丘环境中成功定居并形成优势群落奠定了基础.     

沙埋和种子大小对固沙禾草沙鞭的种子萌发与幼苗出土的影响

该文研究了野外条件下不同深度的沙埋对沙鞭(Psammochloa villosa)种子萌发和幼苗出土的影响,以及温室条件下种子大小对不同深度沙埋后的种子萌发和幼苗出土的影响。结果表明,沙埋深度显著影响沙鞭的种子萌发率、幼苗出土率和种子休眠率。沙子表面的种子不能萌发。2 cm的浅层沙埋时的种子萌发率和幼苗出土率最高,1 cm 沙埋的种子萌发率和幼苗出土率次之。沙埋深度超过2 cm之后,沙鞭的种子萌发率和幼苗出土率与沙埋深度呈负相关。2 cm的种子休眠率最低。从2 ~12 cm,种子休眠率随着沙埋深度的增加而增加。在幼苗能够出土的深度(1~6 cm),幼苗首次出土所需的时间随着沙埋深度的增加而延长。种子大小对沙鞭的种子萌发率没有显著影响。但是在深层沙埋(6 cm)时,与小种子相比,大种子产生的幼苗的出土率较高。从2~6 cm,大种子形成的幼苗的茎长度都较长。     

沙埋对醉马草种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

为探讨醉马草(Achnatherum inebrians)种群繁殖和扩散机理,并为其防控和开发利用提供理论基础,研究了不同沙埋深度(0、1、2、3、4和5cm)对醉马草种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响。结果表明:埋深对醉马草幼苗出土率、首次出苗时间、幼苗生长高度以及生物量的分配均有极显著影响(P<0.001);种子萌发和幼苗出土率在2cm沙埋下达到最高(92%),在5cm沙埋下最低(58.7%);幼苗最大高度(10.8cm)出现在3cm的沙埋,最小高度(6.3和7.1cm)出现在0和5cm的埋深;埋深为2cm时,地上和地下生物量最大,埋深5cm时地上和地下生物量均最小;最大根长(约5cm)和最小根长(1cm)分别出现在2～3cm和5cm的埋深。2～3cm的埋深是醉马草种子萌发和幼苗生长的最佳深度。     

沙埋对花棒种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

为探讨花棒(Hedysarum scopariium)种子萌发和幼苗生长对沙埋的响应,并为固沙造林、水土保持提供理论基础,研究了6种沙埋深度(0、1、2、3、4和5cm)对花棒种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响.结果表明,埋深对花棒幼苗出土率、首次出苗时间、单株叶片数、幼苗生长高度以及生物量的分配均有极显著影响(P<0.001).种子出苗率在2 cm沙埋下达到最高(95.6%),在5cm沙埋下最低(43.4%);幼苗最大高度(11.6cm)、绝对株高(13.9cm)和最大地上生物量(26.7mg)均出现在2cm的埋深,幼苗最小高度(3.3cm)、最小根长(4.3cm)和最小地上生物量(5.3mg)出现在5cm的埋深;生物量分配随沙埋深度增大而更多地分配给地下部分.2cm的沙埋是花棒种子萌发和幼苗生长的最佳深度.     

四种沙埋深度对羊草种子出苗和幼苗生长的影响

模拟羊草种子自然埋藏深度状况,设计了0、1、2和3cm共4种沙埋深度实验,研究了其出苗率及幼苗生长对沙埋深度的响应。结果表明,羊草种子出苗率随埋深的增加呈下降趋势,0cm时出苗率最高为89.3%,1和2cm时分别为81.5%和78.5%,3cm时最低(73.5%),与前三者具有显著差异。埋深对地上株高生长动态的影响主要表现在,播种后25d,0～2cm处理的羊草幼苗地上株高均高于3cm处理;播种后36d,4种处理的地上株高没有显著差异。此外,随着埋深的增加,羊草幼苗的根长、根数、根冠比呈先上升后下降趋势,叶片数呈下降趋势,绝对株高则呈上升趋势。表明1～2cm沙埋深度更适宜于羊草种子出苗及幼苗生长,而0或3cm埋深不利于其出苗和幼苗生长。     

沙埋对西鄂尔多斯珍稀植物种子萌发和幼苗出土的影响

采用不同沙埋深度(0、1、2、3、5、7、10 cm埋深)处理,对内蒙古西鄂尔多斯4种珍稀植物霸王(Zygophyllum xanthoxylum)、沙冬青(Ammopiptanthus mongolica)、蒙古扁桃(Prunus mongolica)和长叶红砂(Reaumuria trigyna)种子萌发及幼苗出土情况进行研究,以揭示其种子萌发特性.结果表明:表层沙土(0 cm埋深)的种子几乎不萌发;除霸王外,其他3种植物在不同沙埋深度处理下的种子萌发率差异显著(P＜0.05);沙埋对4种珍稀植物的幼苗出土均有显著影响,出苗率随着沙埋深度的增加而降低,且遵循指数方程.霸王在2 cm沙埋深度的出苗率最高,其他物种在1 cm沙埋深度的出苗率最高.沙埋深度对幼苗生物量的影响不显著.     

沙埋与供水对毛乌素沙地两种重要沙生植物幼苗生长的影响

沙埋与水分是影响毛乌素沙地植物存活、生长的关键因子。通过沙埋与供水的野外控制实验,研究了毛乌素沙地重要物种柠条(Caragana korshinskii)与羊柴(Hedysarum laeve)幼苗存活及生长对沙埋和供水的反应。结果表明:适量的沙埋(0.25H-0.50H沙埋,H为苗高)与供水(柠条50mm/月,羊柴75mm/月)可以促进幼苗生长,过量的沙埋与供水则会抑制生长甚至导致幼苗死亡。柠条幼苗在50mm/月供水,0.25H、0.50H沙埋,羊柴幼苗在75mm/月供水,0.25H、0.50H沙埋下具有较高的相对生长速率和净同化速率;幼苗在1.0H和1.25H沙埋下全部死亡。供水量较小、沙埋较浅时,两种植物根冠比均较高;当供水量最大时,柠条幼苗根冠比在沙埋最深和没有沙埋时较大,而羊柴幼苗根冠比仍在没有沙埋时最高。     

Effects of sand burial depth and seed mass on seedling emergence and growth of Nitraria sphaerocarpa

A greenhouse experiment was conducted to test the effects of sand burial depth and seed mass on seedling emergence and growth of Nitraria sphaerocarpa. Seeds of Nitraria sphaerocarpa were sorted into three size-classes (large, medium, small) and artificially buried at 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 cm depths in plastic pots filled with unsterilized sand. In the seven treatments, the percent emergence, seedling mass and seedling height, significantly affected by both burial depth and seed size, were highest at the optimal burial depth of 2 cm burial depth, and decreased with increasing burial depth in each seed size-class. Although seedling mass was usually greatest for large seeds and least for small seeds at each burial depth, little difference was observed in seedling height at shallow burial depths of 0–3 cm. In each seed size-class, with increasing burial depth, both root-mass ratio and aboveground stem-mass ratio decreased, while belowground stem-mass ratio increased. In each burial depth, with decreasing seed size, belowground stem-mass ratio increased, while root-mass ratio decreased.     

Caryopsis germination and seedling emergence in an inland dune dominant grass Leymus secalinus

Leymus secalinus (Georg.) Tzvel. (Poaceae) is a dominant sand dune grass inhabiting the Mu-Us Sandland, semiarid China. Freshly harvested caryopses (seeds) are in non-deep physiological dormancy (non-deep PD) because of low percentage and slow rate of germination. Experiments were conducted to examine the effects of temperature, cold stratification, caryopsis coat scarification or partial removal of endosperm and sand burial on caryopsis dormancy, germination and seedling emergence. Caryopsis germination was significantly influenced by duration of cold stratification, temperature and their interactions. After 8 weeks of cold stratification, caryopsis germination percentage at 30 °C reached to 90%, equally in light or darkness. Rate and percentages of germination were also hastened and increased by scarifying the caryopsis coat or by artificial removal of different proportions of the endosperm. However, seedling developmental characteristics were significantly influenced by the proportion of the endosperm that remained in the caryopses. Seedling emergence, caryopsis germination and enforced dormancy in sand were significantly affected by sand burial depth. As sand burial depth increased, caryopsis germination and seedling emergence decreased whereas caryopsis enforced dormancy increased. 1–2 cm was the optimal depths for caryopses germination and seedling emergence. Although there were still 30% caryopses germinated at 8 cm, the maximal burial depth for seedling emergence was only 4 cm. The partial germination strategy regulated by non-deep PD, temperature and sand burial ensures that only a few caryopses germinated each time and may reduce risks for seedling survival.     

沙冬青种子萌发及幼苗生长特性

沙冬青(Ammopiptanthus mongolicus)是亚洲中部荒漠特有种,由于其分布的环境条件特殊,现存植被天然更新困难,人工育苗、造林存在一定问题。为改善种皮透水性,获得整齐一致的发芽,分别用21.5 (室温)、40、60、80和90 ℃的温水浸种5 min。结果表明: 60 ℃温水浸种效果最好,与对照相比,显著地提高了种子发芽势,并有效地降低硬实率。对比分析了15、20、25、30、35和40 ℃环境温度下种子萌发的特性,种子发芽最适温度是30 ℃,而胚根及下胚轴伸长最快的温度为25~30 ℃。较低温度下种子发芽延续时间较长,并且种子萌发后下胚轴和胚根伸长缓慢,易形成畸形(胚根严重扭曲、缢裂)幼苗。15 ℃时畸形幼苗占发芽种子数的28.1%,而30~40 ℃时仅占5.2%~8.6%。温度过高不利于种子萌发及幼苗生长,40 ℃时,吸胀种子绝大部分丧失活力,发芽种子在35 ℃以上温度下生长2~3 d,胚根胚轴组织呈水渍状坏死。另外,催芽后的种子播种在河沙中子叶出土最快,出土率可达63%,显著高于在粘质壤土中出土率(11%)。不同粒径的种子播种后幼苗生长特性表现出一定的差异,粒径5 mm以下小粒种子播种后幼苗长势弱,苗期成活率低,生长70 d后幼苗成活率仅为35.4%,而粒径5 mm以上种子同期幼苗成活率达56.2%。据上述试验结果,结合自然分布区内环境条件的资料,分析了沙冬青濒危原因,并为植被恢复育苗措施提出建议。     

Spatial and temporal dynamics of floating and drift-line seeds at a tidal freshwater marsh on the Potomac River, USA

The dispersal of seeds through hydrochory can be an important driver of community dynamics and play an integral role in the colonization of restored wetlands. We assessed sources of seeds on the shoreline and in adjacent waters of the Potomac River to Dyke Marsh in Virginia. Drift-line samples were taken at 40 random points four times during 2005–2006, and water surface net trawling took place on the Potomac River from 2003–2005 using six, 200-m transects around the perimeter of the marsh. Seed supply through hydrochory and species richness was low at Dyke Marsh when compared to other regional tidal freshwater marshes. We discovered distinct temporal patterns, where high species richness and seed density were found in the fall for the water trawl samples but in the spring for the drift-line samples. High fall dispersal in the water trawls may exist owing to peak plant senescence and seed release, while high seed germination in the spring along shorelines may arise due to sufficient cold stratification of marsh seeds.     

Spatial and environmental factors contributing to patterns in arboreal and terrestrial oribatid mite diversity across spatial scales

Recruitment is a crucial event in the plant life cycle that is very sensitive to interaction with established vegetation. Based on a large comparative experiment, we tested the hypothesis that the components of recruitment––emergence time and rate, seedling survival and biomass––differ in response to plant–plant interactions during recruitment. The consequences for the population are predicted with a simple demographic model assessing the response of seed production. In a common garden experiment, we recorded the recruitment of four target species in an individual-based survey protocol. A total of 7,680 seeds were sown within 20 neighbourhoods, consisting of 19 mono-specific herbaceous stands and a control treatment without vegetation. We measured transmitted light, temperature and moisture at soil surface to characterise the environmental conditions within neighbourhoods. The mean height of neighbours controlled temperature buffering and light interception and thus depicted the interaction gradient. Emergence rate and time increased with neighbour height in two of the four target species, while seedling survival and biomass significantly decreased with neighbour height in three and all four target species, respectively. We recorded a shift in seedling neighbour interactions under the tallest neighbours that largely favoured emergence but strongly depressed seedling survival and biomass. The components of recruitment were predicted to differ in their impact on later adult performance. Biomass strongly contributed to predicted seed production in three target species, and emergence had an equal or greater impact on a fourth species. These results confirm the fundamental role of plant–plant interactions in the recruitment of herbaceous species through a complex combination of habitat amelioration, which facilitates emergence and light competition, which in turn limits seedling survival and biomass.     

Burial of canopy-stored seeds in the annual psammophyte Agriophyllum squarrosum Moq. (Chenopodiaceae) and its ecological significance

Agriophyllum squarrosum Moq. is a dominant annual on sand dunes in the arid regions of central Asia. A high percentage of seeds is retained on dead plants which become covered by moving sand, but little is known about the ecological significance of burial of canopy-stored seeds. We investigated the size and dynamics of the buried canopy-stored seed bank and effects of burial on seed germination. In March (during the windy season), May (beginning of the germination season), and July (middle of the growing season), the number of seeds per square meter in sample plots in the dunes was 623, 223 and 22, respectively, with 54.6, 30.6 and 12.9% of the total seeds retained on buried plant canopies. In a controlled experiment, more seedlings emerged from released (dispersed) than from canopy-stored seeds when burial depth was the same. No viable ungerminated released seeds were found, but 45–80% of the ungerminated canopy-stored seeds were viable. In general, with an increase in applied water germination of released seeds buried at a depth of 1 or 2 cm and of canopy-stored seeds buried at 1 cm increased, but regardless of watering regime few or no released seeds at 4 cm or canopy-stored seeds at 2 or 4 cm germinated. Significantly more seedlings emerged from plants buried in a horizontal than in a vertical position. Seedlings originating from buried canopy-stored seeds on an active dune accounted for only 5.4% of the total seedlings emerging, and most of them emerged later than those from released seeds. Thus, seed release is more effectively postponed in buried than in exposed canopies, and burial of canopy-stored seeds is a mechanism that helps regulate seed germination and seedling emergence of A. squarrosum on active dunes.     

Fire season and intensity affect shrub recruitment in temperate sclerophyllous woodlands

The season in which a fire occurs may regulate plant seedling recruitment because of: (1) the interaction of season and intensity of fire and the temperature requirements for seed release, germination and growth; (2) post-fire rainfall and temperature patterns affecting germination; (3) the interaction of post-fire germination conditions and competition from surrounding vegetation; and (4) the interaction of post-fire germination conditions and seed predators and/or seedling herbivores. This study examined the effects of different fire intensities and fire seasons on the emergence and survival of shrubs representing a range of fire response syndromes from a summer rainfall cool climate region. Replicated experimental burns were conducted in two seasons (spring and autumn) in 2 consecutive years and fuel loads were increased to examine the effects of fire intensity (low intensity and moderate intensity). Post-fire watering treatments partitioned the effects of seasonal temperature from soil moisture. Higher intensity fires resulted in enhanced seedling emergence for hard-seeded species but rarely influenced survival. Spring fires enhanced seedling emergence across all functional groups. Reduced autumn recruitment was related to seasonal temperature inhibiting germination rather than a lack of soil moisture or competition. In Mediterranean-type climate regions, seedling emergence has been related to post-fire rainfall and exposure of seeds to seed predators. We think a similar model may operate in temperate summer rainfall regions where cold-induced dormancy over winter exposes seeds to predators for a longer time and subsequently results in recruitment failure. Our results support the theory that the effect of fire season is more predictable where there are strong seasonal patterns in climate. In this study seasonal temperature rather than rainfall appears to be more influential.