扎龙湿地保护区异质生境芦苇种群分株构件的数量特征

采用单位面积取样,计数和测量的调查与统计方法,对扎龙湿地保护区4个生境单优群落芦苇种群分株构件数量特征进行比较分析。结果表明,4个生境芦苇种群从5月10日左右返青后进入营养生长期,分株高度和分株密度均持续增加到生殖生长初期的8月份,其中6-8月份差异均达到显著水平(P0.05),8-10月份差异均未达到显著水平(P0.05),芦苇进入生殖生长期后,分株便停止高度生长,地下芽的输出也不再形成分株补充现实种群;分株生物量和种群生物量均持续增加到生殖生长旺盛期的9月份,至休眠期的10月份均有所降低,各月份间的差异均达到显著水平,芦苇种群在生长季末期,具有将生产的物质分配转移到地下储藏与营养繁殖器官的形成与生长上的特性。芦苇种群分株数量特征与返青后实际生长时间之间均较好地符合对数函数关系,R~2在0.818-0.994之间,拟合方程均达到了P0.05的显著水平。4个生境芦苇种群分株密度以湿生生境最大,依次为水生生境、旱生生境,盐碱生境最小,分株高度、分株生物量和种群生物量均以水生生境最大,依次为湿生生境、旱生生境,盐碱生境最小。因此,4个生境芦苇种群分株构件数量特征均表现出基本一致的生育期节律性,同时,芦苇种群的个体生长和种群动态存在明显的环境效应,土壤含水量、pH是影响该地区芦苇分株数量特征的主要因子。     

黑龙江扎龙湿地芦苇种群构件数量特征及其相关性

采用刈割和挖土取样,对扎龙湿地旱生、湿生、水生和盐碱生境芦苇种群分株、根茎和根茎芽进行调查。结果表明:6—10月,4个生境芦苇种群分株密度、根茎长度和根茎芽库存量、输入量、休眠量均以湿生生境最大,盐碱生境最小;根茎芽输出量均以水生生境最大,盐碱生境最小,构件间的差异及其差异序位均相对稳定,构件种群均存在明显的环境效应,构件水平上存在较大的可塑性;构件间又均表现出一定的协同进化性,其中分株密度与根茎长度、根茎芽库存量和输入量之间呈显著或极显著正相关,与根茎芽休眠量之间呈显著负相关;根茎芽库存量、输入量和输出量与根茎长度之间呈显著或极显著正相关;芦苇分株均由根茎芽萌发形成,根茎芽对分株的贡献率为100%,80%以上的根茎芽萌发形成新根茎,根茎的生长又可形成更多的根茎芽,不同构件形态结构的更替改变维持着种群的稳定和持续更新。     

扎龙湿地不同生境芦苇分株的形态特征及生物量分配的异速关系

不同环境条件下的植物个体可以表现出形态特征的分异和物质分配的权衡与调整。采用大样本抽样调查与统计分析方法,比较研究扎龙湿地不同生境芦苇(Phragmites Australis)生殖株和营养株的形态特征以及生物量分配的异速关系。结果表明:在9月末,盐碱生境、旱生生境、湿生生境和水生生境芦苇分株的生长表现出较大的生态可塑性,株高和株重均以盐碱生境最小,水生生境最大,最大值与最小值的比值分别为1.3-3.3和1.8-5.1,分株生长在种群间的变异度高于种群内,与营养株相比,生殖株的变异度较低;分株的支持分配与生产分配的比值为1.8-4.2,生产分配以盐碱生境最高,以水生生境最低,而支持分配和生殖分配表现与生产分配相反的序位;生殖株的花序长和花序重与株高间呈直线函数形式增长,株高和株重低于种群平均值的20%和35%的分株不进行有性生殖;叶重、叶鞘和茎重以及分株重与株高间呈幂函数形式的异速生长关系。植物通过改变个体的形态特征以及调整构件间生物量分配适应不同环境,而受遗传因素控制的构件间生长关系却相对稳定。     

黄河三角洲3种生境下的芦苇形态差异及生理生态特征研究

为阐明3种自然生境下的芦苇适应环境策略,通过设置样地,研究水生、湿生、旱生生境下芦苇的形态性状及生理生态特征,结果表明：（1）芦苇的最高高度、平均高度、最高冠幅、平均冠幅和盖度以水生生境最大,湿生生境次之,旱生生境最小;多度值以旱生和水生生境条件下较大;在水生条件下,芦苇往往形成单优势种群。（2）3种生境中的芦苇横走茎主茎长度不同,随地下水位下降,各分支无性系分株数量、分株高度和叶片数增多,分株距离、分株直径和叶面积减小;随着水分限制的加强,芦苇的节数和根数量增多,节长和根长变短。（3）在旱生生境下,根部和叶部SOD、POD活性和根部CAT活性显著高于水生和湿生,叶部CAT活性旱生显著低于水生。3种生境叶部MDA含量表现为旱生 > 湿生 > 水生,湿生和旱生生境下,根部MDA含量明显高于水生。这些形态性状的差异及生理生态特征可以看作芦苇对3种生境的适应性表现。     

扎龙湿地不同生境芦苇种群根茎数量特征及动态

采用单位土体取样,计测长度和生物量的调查与统计方法,对扎龙湿地保护区4个生境芦苇种群根茎数量特征进行比较分析。结果表明,芦苇5月10日左右返青后进入营养生长期,根茎长度6—8月份缓慢增加,8—10月份显著增加,后期是前期的3.5—10.3倍,生长季中后期是种群新根茎补充和生长的主要时期,不仅实现了种群空间扩展,并为营养繁殖储备更多繁殖芽;根茎生物量和干物质贮量6—8月份逐渐减少,8—10月份又逐渐增加,均以生长季末期的10月份最大,并均显著地(P0.05)高于其他月份,种群根茎养分的消耗主要供给根茎芽的萌发和幼株生长,根茎养分的储藏又为翌年种群的更新及扩展提供物质保障,种群对地下根茎存在明显的养分"超补偿性"贮藏现象。种群根茎长度和生物量均以湿生生境最大,依次为旱生生境、水生生境,盐碱生境最小,根茎干物质贮量以旱生生境最大,依次为湿生生境、水生生境,盐碱生境最小。种群根茎长度与返青后实际生长时间之间均较好地符合直线函数关系,种群根茎生物量和干物质贮量与生长时间之间较好地符合二次曲线函数关系,R2在0.804—0.997之间,拟合方程均达到了显著或极显著(P0.01)水平。4个生境芦苇种群在根茎长度、生物量、干物质贮量等数量特征均表现出由遗传因素控制的比较稳定的季节动态规律,在生境间的差异及其差异序位又均基本稳定,均表现出明显的土壤因子环境效应,其中土壤含水量、有机质、速效氮为正向驱动,p H、速效磷为负向驱动,土壤含水量、p H对根茎数量特征的驱动作用更突出。     

扎龙湿地异质生境芦苇种群根茎动态及年龄结构

无性系植物根茎不仅具有营养繁殖和扩展种群的功能,也是无性系家族中芽和分株生理整合的通道。采用单位土体挖掘取样,对扎龙湿地单优种群落芦苇种群根茎进行调查,比较了湿生生境和水生生境根茎长度、生物量和干物质贮量的季节变化。结果表明:芦苇种群根茎长度、生物量和干物质贮量均以湿生生境显著大于水生生境;8月前,根茎长度缓慢增加,8月后,根茎长度迅速增加,以3龄最长,6龄最短;根茎生物量、干物质贮量先下降后上升,8月最低,至10月休眠期均已超过营养生长初期,生物量以3龄最大,1龄最小,干物质贮量以5龄最高,1龄最低;不同龄级根茎长度及年龄谱与月份间呈线性相关(R~20.81,P0.05),不同龄级根茎生物量与月份间呈二次曲线关系(R~20.98,P0.05),生物量年龄谱与月份间呈线性相关(R~20.80,P0.05),5个生育期根茎干物质贮量与龄级之间呈二次曲线关系(R~20.86,P0.05)。芦苇种群根茎长度、生物量、干物质贮量有着相同的季节变化规律,不同龄级根茎的寿命与养分的输出消耗和养分的再输入补偿密切相关。整个生育期内,生境异质性对芦苇种群根茎动态及年龄结构的影响均存在,且引起的差异也相对较稳定。     

松嫩平原西部盐碱沼泽生境干扰后的芦苇种群生长响应

松嫩平原西部盐碱沼泽位于半干旱半湿润区。由于自然因素和人类活动干扰, 盐碱沼泽大面积退化, 芦苇种群生境发生改变。为此在松嫩平原西部盐碱沼泽区选择四种不同干扰形成的芦苇生境(湿地、退耕、干旱、稻田退水), 并通过调查营养生长期和有性生殖期的芦苇种群高度、盖度、密度、生物量、叶面积等生长指标, 分析不同干扰生境下的芦苇种群的响应特征。研究结果表明,承接稻田退水水位为30—60 cm的芦苇种群生物量最大(2660 g·m-2), 水位为20—40 cm的湿地芦苇种群最高(2.5 m), 干旱芦苇的密度最大(681株·m-2)。芦苇通过减小叶面积、增加密度和减少有性生殖投入, 来适应干旱条件; 通过调节株高、茎粗以及生殖分配来积极响应水淹条件; 从种群特征来看, 补水足以恢复芦苇种群的高度和生物量, 但稻田退水含有的营养会显著提升芦苇生产力。     

克隆植物芦苇叶片功能性状对异质环境的响应

芦苇叶片功能性状的空间变化反映克隆植物的资源分配格局,而其与土壤环境因子的耦合关系体现了克隆植物对异质环境的生态适应策略。本研究以中国西北内陆湿地克隆植物芦苇为对象,分析了湿生生境、盐沼生境、荒漠生境条件下芦苇叶片功能性状及其对土壤环境因子的响应。结果表明: 从湿生生境到荒漠生境,芦苇叶片C、N、P含量分别下降7.2%、40.0%、64.1%,N、P利用效率增加,芦苇叶长、叶宽、叶面积、叶干重、比叶面积和叶厚度均表现出减小趋势。芦苇叶片功能性状间存在协同变化的特征,比叶面积与叶片营养元素表现出显著相关关系。土壤容重、盐分和水分分别是驱动湿生生境、盐沼生境和荒漠生境芦苇叶片功能性状变异的最重要的环境因子。     

松嫩平原不同生境芦苇种群分株的生物量分配与生长分析

在松嫩平原8月中旬,4个旱地生境芦苇种群分株的生长和生产力以季节性临时积水的低洼地为最高,以碱斑地为最低,两个生境之间分株高度相差2.8倍,分株生物量相差4.4倍,其它2个生境沙地和草甸混生 少也达到了显著或极显著水平,不同生境芦苇种群分株生物量分配的差异,蕴涵着重要的生长调节和物质分配策略。在分株株较小而又有充分生长空间的沙地生境和三斑生境,以及具有种间竞争的草句生境,分株将50％以上的物质分配给叶的建造上,以保证充分的物质生产;在环境条件相对较好的低洼地生境,分株将近40％的物质分配给茎的伸长生长,以提高个体对空间和光资源的竞争力。4个生境芦苇种群在分株增高与增重,以及茎、叶与分株的相对增重均具有相同的幂函数异速生长规律。     

不同光照条件下聚花过路黄的克隆构型和分株种群特征

以都江堰灵岩山常绿阔叶林林下、林缘和林缘旷地3种不同光照环境中匍匐茎草本聚花过路黄(Lysimachla congestiflora)为对象,对其匍匐茎节间长、分枝强度、分枝角度、分株种群密度、分株种群生物量等指标进行了测定和分析．结果表明,聚花过路黄的匍匐茎节间长、分枝强度、分株种群密度和分株种群生物量在3种生境间差异显著．Kruskal Wallis检验表明,匍匐茎节间长度和分枝角度的频次分布在3种生境间差异显著．3种生境中匍匐茎节间长度分布偏斜度(skewness)的大小分别为：林缘旷地>林缘>林下．林缘旷地与林缘和林下生境在分枝角度、分株种群高度和分株种群根冠比差异显著,而且林缘旷地生境中分枝角度分布偏斜度最小．林缘和林下生境在分枝角度、分株种群高度和分株种群根冠比差异不显著．从林缘旷地、林缘到林下,聚花过路黄的克隆构型和分株种群特征发生了相应改变．结合克隆植物对资源的利用对策,讨论了不同生境中聚花过路黄克隆构型和分株种群特征可塑性的生态适应意义．     

Effects of the loss of clonal integration on four sedges that differ in ramet aggregation

Although clonal growth is a dominant mode of plant growth in wetlands, the importance of clonal integration, resource sharing among ramets, to individual ramet generations (mother and daughter) and entire clones of coexisting species has not been well investigated. This study evaluated the significance of clonal integration in four sedge species of varying ramet aggregations, from clump-forming species (Clumpers –Carex sterilis, Eleocharis rostellata), with tightly aggregated ramets (rhizomes<1cm), to runner species (Runners –Schoenoplectus acutus, Cladium mariscoides), with loosely aggregated ramets. We manipulated clonal integration by either severing connections between target mother and daughter ramets or leaving connections intact, and then planted them in an intact neighborhood of a fen in Michigan, USA. We measured growth parameters of original and newly produced ramets over two growing seasons and conducted a final biomass harvest, to address four hypotheses. First, we expected integrated clones to accumulate more biomass than severed clones. However, final clone-level biomass and ramet production were the same for both treatments in all species although severing initially stimulated ramet production by Schoenoplectus and produced a more compact ramet aggregation in Cladium. Second, we hypothesized that mother ramets would experience a cost of integration, through reduced ramet or biomass production, while daughters would experience a benefit, through increased resource availability from mothers. Mother ramets of Cladium suffered a cost from integration, while Schoenoplectus mothers suffered a slight cost and Carex daughters saw a slight benefit. Finally, we hypothesized that integration would be more active in runner species than in clumper species. Indeed, we documented more active integration in runners than clumpers, but none of the study species were dependent upon integration for growth or survival once daughter ramets were established with their own roots and shoots. This study demonstrates that integration between established ramets may not be the most important advantage to clonal growth in this wetland field site. The loss of integration elicited varied responses among coexisting species in their natural habitat, somewhat but not completely related to their growth form, suggesting that a combination of plant life history traits contributes to the dependence upon clonal integration among established ramets of clonal species.     

High levels of inter-ramet water translocation in two rhizomatous Carex species,as quantified by deuterium labelling

We studied water trnaslocation between interconnected mother and daughter ramets in two rhizomatous Carex species, using a newly developed quantitative method based on deuterium tracing. Under homogeneous conditions, in which both ramets were subjected either to wet or dry soil, little water was exchanged between the ramets. When the ramet pair was exposed to a heterogeneous water supply, water translocation became unidirectional and strongly increased to a level at which 30–60% of the water acquired by the wet ramet was exported towards the dry ramet. The quantity of water translocated was unrelated to the difference in water potential between the ramets, but highly correlated to the difference in leaf area. In both species, the transpiration of the entire plant was similar under heterogeneous and homogeneous wet conditions. This was a direct result of an increase in water uptake by the wet ramet in response to the dry conditions experienced by the interconnected ramet. In C. hirta, the costs and benefits of integration in terms of ramet biomass paralleled the responses of water consumption. This species achieved a similar whole-plant biomass in heterogeneous and homogeneous wet treatments, and water translocation was equally effective in the acropetal and basipetal directions. In C. flacca, responses of biomass and water consumption did not match and, under some conditions, water translocation imposed costs rather than benefits to the plants of this species. It is concluded that enhanced resource acquisition by donor ramets may be of critical importance for the net benefits of physiological integration in clonal plants.     

Physiological integration helps a clonal macrophyte spread into competitive environments and coexist with other species

Physiological integration may help clonal macrophytes invade or escape from existing communities. No studies have tested the above hypothesis in aquatic plants. In an outdoor pond experiment, we subjected clonal fragments of the submerged macrophyte Vallisneria spiralis L. to heterogeneous environments in which V. spiralis spread from bare habitats towards vegetated habitats occupied by Myriophyllum spicatum L. or V. spiralis spread from vegetated habitats towards bare habitats. V. spiralis stolons between ramets in bare habitats and in vegetated habitats were either intact or severed. We investigated the habitat selection of V. spiralis by examining the allocation of biomass and ramets to heterogeneous habitats during its vegetative spread phase. Results showed that the stolon connection had different effects on the habitat selection of V. spiralis with regard to invasion and escape. When V. spiralis spread from bare to vegetated habitats, in comparison to severing the stolon, the stolon connection eventually facilitated a 49% increase in biomass and a 27% increase in number of ramets allocated to vegetated habitats. However, when V. spiralis spread from vegetated to bare habitats, biomass and ramets allocated to bare habitats were not significantly changed by the stolon connection (only a 5% increase in biomass and a 6% increase in number of ramets). These results indicate that clonal integration facilitated V. spiralis not to escape from but invade into vegetated habitats. The study provides evidence that physiological integration is important for survival and tolerance of ramets in competitively stressful environments and can help clonal macrophytes coexist with other species.     

Habitat and sex specific differences in the dioecious weed Acetosella vulgaris (Polygonaceae)

Abstract Patterns of resource allocation, numbers of reproductive structures and sex ratios of flowering populations of the dioecious weed Acetosella vulgaris (Fourr.) were examined in the Kosciuszko alpine region of Australia. Specifically, the sex‐specific response of ramets was compared between a disturbed alpine habitat, in which weeds such as A. vulgaris are common (disturbed roadside/path‐edge), and a native alpine habitat in which weeds appear to have a limited capacity to germinate, grow and reproduce (undisturbed tall alpine herbfield). The disturbed habitat was generally more favourable for growth of A. vulgaris. Ramets of both sexes had greater total and vegetative biomass than ramets in native habitats. Although reproductive biomass was also greater in disturbed habitats, females had less reproductive biomass than males, which was not as predicted. Reproductive effort was not affected by habitat or gender. The disturbed habitat also favoured increased numbers of inflorescences per ramet and flowers per ramet, as expected. Whereas the gender of the ramet also influenced numbers of reproductive structures, again, this was not as predicted. Females had more flowers per ramet and more flowers per inflorescence than males. This may be because of factors associated with wind pollination. Females were taller in native habitats but there was no difference between the sexes in disturbed habitats. Sex ratios varied from all male populations to nearly all female populations among the 25 sites sampled irrespective of habitat. Factors such as time since last disturbance may have contributed to variation in the sex ratios of alpine populations of A. vulgaris in Australia.     

Morphological and Physiological Acclimation Responses to Contrasting Light and Water Regimes in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Primula sieboldii</Emphasis>

The effects of the availability of light (high, medium and low) and soil water (wet and dry) on morphological and physiological traits responsible for whole plant carbon gain and ramet biomass accumulation were examined in a splitter-type clonal herbaceous species Primula sieboldii, a spring plant inhabiting broad range of light environments including open grassland and oak forest understory. Growth experiments were conducted for three genets originated from natural microhabitats differing in light and soil water availability. Ramets of a genet from high light and wet microhabitat, which were grown in low light (relative photon flux density: R-PPFD of 5%) showed 41% less light-saturated photosynthetic rate, 50% less dark respiration rate and earlier defoliation than the ramets in high light (R-PPFD of 61%). The estimation of daily photosynthesis revealed that the light acclimation response in leaf gas exchange contributes to efficient carbon gain of whole plants, irrespective of experimental light conditions. Water stress increased root weight ratio, decreased ramet leaf area, petiole length and photosynthetic capacity. These morphological effects of water stress were larger in high and medium light regimes than in low light regime. The consequence of the above responses was recognized in the relative growth rate of the ramets. The relative growth rate of the ramets in high light with wet regime was four-fold of that in low light plus wet regime, and was 1.5-fold of that in high light plus dry regime. However, even in low light and/or dry regimes, ramets kept positive relative growth rates and produced gemma successfully. We could not detect significant variation in growth responses among genets. The high photosynthetic plasticity revealed in the present study should enable Primula sieboldii to inhabit in a broad range of light and soil water availability.     

Morphological responses to nutrient availability in four clonal herbs

This paper examines morphological plasticity of clonal plants of contrasting habitats and of contrasting architectures in response to nutrient supply. The hypotheses were tested that plants from rich habitats possess greater plasticity in response to variation in resource supply than species from poor habitats, and that rhizomatous species are less plastic in their response than stoloniferous species. Two sympodial rhizomatous herbs (Carex flacca, C. hirta) and two monopodial stoloniferous herbs (Trifolium fragiferum, T. repens) were subjected to four levels of nutrient supply in a garden experiment. One of the two species of each genus (C. hirta, T. repens) is from fertile and the other from infertile habitats. We measured 1) whole plant characters: total plant dry weight, number of modules (product of a single apical meristem) and number of ramets; 2) ramet characters: ramet leaf area and ramet height; and 3) spacer characters: branches per module, length per module and length per module internode.All measured characters in the Trifolium species significantly responded to treatment: the values for all measured characters increased with higher levels of fertilization. The differences in plant characters between fertilization levels were larger in Trifolium repens than in T. fragiferum in terms of whole plant characters, ramet characters and stolon internode length. The two Carex species did not differ in their responses to treatment in terms of most characters measured. In ramet characters and in some whole plant characters the species from fertile habitats were more plastic than those from infertile habitats. In spacer characters this pattern was not found. Foraging could not be demonstrated unequivocally.Morphological plasticity in the stoloniferous (Trifolium) species was much larger than in the rhizomatous (Carex) species. This seems in accordance with a foremost storage function of rhizomes, as against a foremost explorative function of stolons.