元谋干热河谷苏门答腊金合欢、新银合欢人工林天然更新初步研究

通过样地调查,比较了苏门答腊金合欢、新银合欢的林分结实量、种子散布格局、种子密度及幼苗、幼树数量,并对影响天然更新的因素以及树种的适应性进行了分析;同时,使用灰色关联度法对两树种天然更新状况进行了综合评价.结果表明,相同年龄新银合欢树种的单株结实量为1 199粒/株,苏门答腊金合欢为566粒/株,同一树种单株平均结实量为混交林高于纯林;天然更新的新银合欢林单株结实量介于新银合欢和苏门答腊金合欢之间.随着距母树距离的增加,林地苏门答腊金合欢种子密度减少的幅度较新银合欢小,新银合欢种子的传播距离为90 m、苏门答腊金合欢为110 m.苏门答腊金合欢人工林、新银合欢人工林及天然更新的新银合欢林关联系数分别为0.7269、0.6000和0.6000,苏门答腊金合欢天然更新效果稍好.     

毛红椿天然林种子雨、种子库与天然更新

2008-2011年,调查江西九连山国家级自然保护区毛红椿天然林的种子雨、种子库及林下幼苗数量.结果表明:在毛红椿天然林,种子雨散布时间为10月下旬至12月下旬.2010年不同样地的种子雨强度为虾公塘气象观测站(320.3±23.5粒·m-2)＞虾公塘保护站(284.7±24.2粒·m-2)＞大丘田保护站(251.6±24.7粒·m-2),分别以222.0、34.3和22.6粒·m-2完好种子供土壤萌发更新;毛红椿种子储量取决于结实量、鸟类取食和种子活力等因素,鸟类取食是其种子储量大幅下降的首要因素;由于种子不耐储藏以及大量腐烂,种子有效贮藏期不足1个月.12月天然林种子库平均萌发数≤2株·m-2,次年1月土壤种子库种子量最少,为6.7～11.8粒·m-2,平均仅萌发0.4～0.6株·m-2,与林下实生幼苗分布极少相吻合.毛红椿种子雨储备、种子库种子活力保存及幼苗建成等因素影响其天然更新.     

秦岭北坡不同生境栓皮栎种子雨和土壤种子库动态

为了阐明栓皮栎种子雨和种子库动态,以秦岭北坡林下、林窗、林缘3种生境栓皮栎天然林为对象,采用离地和地面收集种子的方法,连续定位观测了栓皮栎种子雨、种子库的数量、质量动态,以及幼苗发育过程.结果表明:栓皮栎种子雨从8月中旬开始,9月中旬到10月上旬达到高峰期,11月上旬结束;3种生境种子雨降落历程、发生时间和组成不同;林下种子雨强度最大,为(39.55±5.56)粒·m-2,林窗种子雨降落时间最早,持续时间最长,种子活力最高,而林缘成熟种子占其种子雨的比例最大,达58.7％.从种子雨降落结束到翌年8月,土壤种子库总储量均以林下最大,林缘最小;各生境的土壤种子库中成熟、未成熟、被啃食种子数量和种子活力均随时间变化呈递减趋势,而霉烂种子数量则相反.各生境的土壤种子库中的种子均主要集中在枯落物层,其次为0～2 cm土层,2～5 cm土层中只有极少量种子存在.3种生境中栓皮栎幼苗的密度差异显著,林窗幼苗最多,林缘次之,林下最少.说明林窗更适合栓皮栎种子的萌发和幼苗生长.在栓皮栎林的经营中,通过适当间伐、增加林窗数量,可以促进栓皮栎林的天然更新.     

灵山湾国家森林公园刺槐林下垂序商陆种子雨时空动态

垂序商陆(Phytolacca americana)的入侵给山东省沿海防护林的生物多样性及乔木更新造成了严重的危害, 为揭示其繁殖特性和扩散机制, 在灵山湾国家森林公园刺槐(Robinia pseudoacacia)林下由林缘至林内60 m设置5个梯度, 采用机械布点法对垂序商陆的结实量、种子雨分布和扩散格局进行了调查。结果表明: 1)垂序商陆的结实量与种子雨量由林缘至林内逐渐减小, 分别为2 273-1 846和1 382-621粒·m^-2, 不同空间种子雨密度占结实密度的60.80%-33.64%, 平均为49.52%, 人为搂割及动物取食是种子雨量损失的主要原因; 2)种子雨始于9月中旬, 林缘种子雨的发生早于林内, 种子雨的平均强度由林缘至林内逐渐减小, 在10月下旬和12月中旬各有一次种子雨高峰, 最大强度分别为32-4和59-5粒·m^-2·d^-1; 3)种子雨由林缘至林内散布范围逐渐减小, 同时随距母株距离的增加而减小, 其中最大散布距离与加权平均距离分别为210-180 cm和94.32-63.03 cm, 整体加权平均距离为81.00 cm。表明垂序商陆种子雨具有明显的时空异质性, 对预测其扩散潜力及群落结构组成趋势有重要的意义。     

北京东灵山区两种生境条件下辽东栎幼苗补充与建立的比较

 北京东灵山区的人工油松（Pinus tabulaeformis）林中常常混生有萌生的辽东栎（Quercus wutaishanica）种群。局部地带辽东栎与油松形成混交林,在山脊及山坡上部一些特殊生境辽东栎甚至取代油松林成为优势种。为了探讨北京东灵山区辽东栎林的天然更新机制及辽东栎幼苗在人工油松林中的天然更新,在油松人工林的林下和林缘两种生境条件下将辽东栎种子播种于2 cm深的土中,对辽东栎幼苗的补充和建立进行了对照试验。结果显示,在辽东栎结实丰年,两种生境条件下播种后辽东栎种子丢失差异并不显著,而辽东栎幼苗补充和建立方面的差异极显著。由于森林动物特别是啮齿类动物的活动对辽东栎幼苗建立的影响具有二重性：消耗种子与促进萌发,本试验特别关注辽东栎幼苗子叶丢失现象及其丢失后果。由于辽东栎种子萌根较早,在幼苗出土前其粗大的主根长达10～20 cm,并已初步形成根系,表明已有相当比例的营养物质从子叶转移到根部。因此当幼苗出土后如果仅仅只是子叶的丢失对辽东栎幼苗的成活和生长均无明显的影响。通过研究发现辽东栎幼苗期子叶丢失有3种形式：1）仅丢失子叶,幼苗其它部位未受伤害,多发生在林缘生境中,占发芽坚果的29.69%;2）整个幼苗连根被拖出地面,多发生在林下生境,占62.43%;3）在子叶与根颈的连接处主干被咬断,林缘为50.88%,显著高于林下的8.41%。但只有后两种形式才导致幼苗死亡。导致这些现象的原因是由于林缘土壤腐殖质含量低,比较干燥,土质较坚实,以及幼苗出土前坚果主根生长得较长等缘故,当幼苗遭受动物捕食时不会轻易地被拖出地面,拖走的往往仅仅是子叶。至生长季节结束,林缘样方辽东栎幼苗的成活率接近20%,茎干平均高度7.94 cm,芽数11.24·株-1,叶片平均干重为81.14 mg·株-1,且几乎全部由丢失子叶的幼苗所构成;而林下样方辽东栎幼苗的成活率不足2%,茎干平均高度4.74 cm,芽数7.52·株-1,叶片平均干重仅为42.27 mg·株-1,以未丢失子叶的幼苗为主。试验结果表明,林缘及类似林缘的环境条件更有利于辽东栎的实生更新。     

科尔沁沙地刺榆林种子散布的空间格局

通过对林缘和孤立单株不同方向远离种子源的顺序取样与林下随机取样调查,分析了刺榆林下和林缘的种子雨空间数量特征和孤立单株及林缘的种子散布格局,以揭示科尔沁沙地刺榆林的空间扩展潜力.结果表明:3个样地中,刺榆林下的平均种子雨密度最大,为(13732.5±3106.2)粒·m-2,孤立单株东南样带最多,为(5449.4±1429.3)粒·m-2,并显著地高于其他方向,西北最少,为(650.2±631.6)粒·m-2,并显著地少于其他方向;林缘东和南样带显著地高于西和北样带.孤立单株和林缘不同方向种子密度的变异普遍较大,其变异系数为25.7%～106.3%.刺榆具有风播植物远离种子源的种子散布特性.8个样带在单位面积和累积面积上远离种子源的种子散布格局均具有多样性,包括直线、幂、指数、二次抛物线和对数函数.在科尔沁沙地,刺榆林向南、东南和东等多顺风频率方向的空间扩展潜力将大干北、西北和西等多逆风频率方向.     

科尔沁沙地家榆林的种子散布及幼苗更新

家榆是典型的风播植物,在科尔沁沙地可以形成单一优势种林地.通过对林缘和孤立树不同方向从树基部向外的有序取样与林下和林窗的随机取样调查,分析了家榆林下和林窗不同生境的种子沉降和幼苗分布特征、林缘和孤立树种子散布方向的差异性与规律性.结果表明,家榆种子密度在林下生境阴坡和阳坡明显大于丘顶和丘底,在林窗生境丘顶明显大于丘底.家榆向周围不同方向种子散布的距离和累积数量均有较大差异,其中林缘和孤立树均以当地多逆风频率的西南方向最近,累积数量也最少;孤立树以多顺风频率的东北方向最远,累积数量也最多.林缘和孤立树共6个方向断面从树基部向外单位面积种子数量频度均适合于韦伯分布和对数-正态分布(X2(a)＜0.500)密度函数,具有相同的种子散布格局.家榆幼苗密度在林下阴坡明显大于阳坡,林下和林窗均为丘顶明显大于丘底.林缘19 m内家榆幼苗呈连续分布.在科尔沁沙地,如果不加限制或人为扰动,家榆林不仅可以很好地进行自然更新,而且可以在适宜的沙地生境逐渐扩大其分布空间.     

黄土高原子午岭油松林的种子雨和土壤种子库动态

对黄土高原区子午岭不同林龄(18a、29a、40a、54a)油松(Pinus tabulaeformis carr.)人工林及天然林(约75a)的种子雨和土壤种子库进行了研究.结果表明,该区油松种子雨一般从每年9月初开始,一直到11月底结束,种子雨降落历程与林龄大小有关,种子雨发生时间和降落高峰期有所不同.不同林龄的油松种子雨强度不同,种子雨总量大小顺序为:40a人工林((489 9±8.64)粒· m-2)＞29a人工林((346.8±7.45)粒· m-2)＞54a人工林((327.1±8.13)粒· m-2)＞天然林((146.9±5.25)粒· m-2)＞18a人工林((78.1±2.72)粒· m-2).种子雨总量随林龄的增加而增加,约40a时达到高峰,种子雨活力也以40a时最高.不同林龄油松林土壤种子库存在显著差异,其中18a人工林种子库最小,40a人工林种子库最大.从种子雨降落到次年4月,5种林分土壤种子库总量下降了42.34%～53.59%,空粒种子增加了26.72%～48.69%;从4月到8月份种子腐烂率由10.28%～13 62%增加到57.25%～63.28%.动物的搬运、取食和种子腐烂死亡是种子库损耗的主要因素.土壤种子库中的油松种子主要集中在枯枝落叶层,其次为0～2cm层,2～10cm层种子最少.到8月中旬,土壤中98.26%的油松种子都已丧失活性.不同林分下油松幼苗的密度差异较大,40a人工林下幼苗最多,其余依次为29a人工林、54a人工林和天然林,18a人工林下的实生苗极少,幼苗死亡率极高.在一定龄级范围内,人工林结实能力和更新潜力随林龄增加而增加,40a时更新潜力最大.虽然有大量种子下落,但由于种子大量损耗和幼苗死亡,通过环境筛作用而最终可以成熟的个体数量十分有限.     

可获得种子量和种子出苗对草地裸沙斑植被恢复的相对制约

以科尔沁沙化草地的裸斑为研究对象,布设种子捕捉器监测生长季传播到裸斑的种子数量、物种组成,并人工播种监测裸斑中出苗情况,研究可获得种子数量和出苗对裸斑植被恢复的制约.结果表明:沙生植物3种,种子数为71 ～623粒·m-2,非沙生植物9种,种子数为73 ～410粒·m-2;裸斑中沙生植物的出苗数(9.3 ～22.3株·m-2)高于非沙生植物(0 ～3.4株·m-2);沙生植物在裸斑的出苗率最高为沙蓬(12.2％ ～34.1％),其次是乌丹蒿(4.5％ ～10.3％),小叶锦鸡儿(0～0.5％),非沙生植物狗尾草出苗率为0～6％,蒲公英为0 ～0.4％,其余植物种出苗率为0;沙生植物裸斑出苗数(9.3 ～22.3株·m-2)高于植被区(7.7株·m-2),而非沙生植物在裸斑的出苗数(0～3.4株·m-2)低于植被区(4.5株·m-2).可见,裸斑植被恢复中,沙生植物的可获得种子量制约高于出苗制约;非沙生植物的可获得种子量制约与出苗制约相当.     

科尔沁沙地刺榆局域成林机制

刺榆(Hemiptelea davidii)林是科尔沁沙地独特的森林类型,以往尚无文献记载.通过对林缘和林下种子散布及幼苗分布特征的样线断面取样、果实形态及脱落特性的调查,分析了刺榆林地更新与扩展的生物学和生态学机理.结果表明,刺榆林的种子多数沉降在林下和林缘附近,林缘3 m以外显著减少.在郁闭度较大的林分内,刺榆种群主要以根蘖苗补充更新.实生苗不受地形的限制,林地主要是以实生苗扩展空间.提出果实形态及脱落特性是刺榆在科尔沁沙地局域能形成优势种林,而在其他地理分布区仅为伴生种的生物学根源.     

Patterns of wing size variation in seeds of the lily Cardiocrinum cordatum (Liliaceae)

We examined the patterns of variation in wing-loading and its related characteristics in Cardiocrinum cordatum to clarify the factors that determine the variation in seed dispersal ability in this species. The square root of wing-loading of a seed of a plant was not significantly correlated with basal stem diameter of a plant, indicating that large plants did not necessarily produce seeds with high dispersal ability. This result was inconsistent with the hypothesis that large plants produce seeds with high dispersal ability to avoid high mortality of seeds and seedlings in the vicinity of the parents. On the other hand, the square root of wing-loading of a seed of a fruit was negatively dependent on seed number of a fruit. Thus, many-seeded fruits produced seeds with high dispersal ability. This was because the projected surface area per seed was large in large fruits and large fruits contained large numbers of seeds. The cost per seed of producing fruit structures was small for many-seeded fruits. Thus, high dispersal ability of seeds in many-seeded fruits may be a result of an effective resource allocation pattern in which a high proportion of resources are allocated to those many-seeded fruits, enabling seeds to develop large wings and thus reducing the structural cost of fruits per seed.     

花楸树种子散布、萌发与种群天然更新的关系

花楸树是我国东北林区重要的非木质资源树种,其实生天然更新不良.本文通过研究花楸树种子散布、土壤种子库及种子萌发出土过程,分析花楸树实生天然更新的影响因素.结果表明：自然散落的花楸树果实96.1%分布于母株2 m范围内,凋落物层和土壤表层（0～2 cm）的种子数占土壤种子库总数的97.0%;不同季节花楸树土壤种子库种子数量差别很大,当年11月上旬种子数量最多,达(257.7±69.2)粒·m^-2;翌年7月下旬种子数量最少,仅为(2.9±2.9)粒·m^-2;温度不是花楸树种子萌发出土过程的限制因子,0 ℃～5 ℃时幼苗出苗率达(67.5±6.6)%,但对其出苗速率影响显著.土壤含水量为50%时,花楸树出苗率最高,达(74.7±4.2)%;含水量为60%时,幼苗死亡率最低,为(32.6±0.6)%.花楸树种子的散布格局和土壤种子库的时空分布格局影响种子的萌发出土过程,进而影响其种群的天然更新.     

Patterns of pollen and seed dispersal in a small, fragmented population of the wind-pollinated tree Araucaria angustifolia in southern Brazil

Paternity analysis based on eight microsatellite loci was used to investigate pollen and seed dispersal patterns of the dioecious wind-pollinated tree, Araucaria angustifolia. The study sites were a 5.4 ha isolated forest fragment and a small tree group situated 1.7 km away, located in Paranalpha State, Brazil. In the forest fragment, 121 males, 99 females, 66 seedlings and 92 juveniles were mapped and genotyped, together with 210 seeds. In the tree group, nine male and two female adults were mapped and genotyped, together with 20 seeds. Paternity analysis within the forest fragment indicated that at least 4% of the seeds, 3% of the seedlings and 7% of the juveniles were fertilized by pollen from trees in the adjacent group, and 6% of the seeds were fertilized by pollen from trees outside these stands. The average pollination distance within the forest fragment was 83 m; when the tree group was included the pollination distance was 2006 m. The average number of effective pollen donors was estimated as 12.6. Mother-trees within the fragment could be assigned to all seedlings and juveniles, suggesting an absence of seed immigration. The distance of seedlings and juveniles from their assigned mother-trees ranged from 0.35 to 291 m (with an average of 83 m). Significant spatial genetic structure among adult trees, seedlings, and juveniles was detected up to 50 m, indicating seed dispersal over a short distance. The effective pollination neighborhood ranged from 0.4 to 3.3 ha. The results suggest that seed dispersal is restricted but that there is long-distance pollen dispersal between the forest fragment and the tree group; thus, the two stands of trees are not isolated.     

Forest Fragmentation Reduces Seed Dispersal of Duckeodendron cestroides, a Central Amazon Endemic

Fragmentation that alters mutualistic relationships between plants and frugivorous animals may reduce the seed dispersal of trees. We examined the effects of forest fragmentation on the distributions of seeds and seedlings of a Central Amazon endemic tree, Duckeodendron cestroides . In the dry seasons of 2002–2004, seeds and first-year seedlings were counted within wedge-shaped transects centered around Duckeodendron adults in fragments and nearby continuous forests at the Biological Dynamics of Forest Fragmentation Project. Analyses showed that fragmentation reduced seed dispersal quantity and quality. The percent and distance of dispersed seeds were both twice as great in continuous forest as in fragments. The distances of each tree's five furthest dispersed seeds were three times greater in continuous forest than fragments. Over the 3-yr study, 20 times more seeds were dispersed more than 10 m from parent crowns in continuous forest than fragments. A regression analysis showed more dispersed seeds at all distances in continuous forest than fragments. Dispersal differences were strong in 2002 and 2004, years of large fruit crops, but weak or absent in 2003, when fruit production was low. As distance from parent crowns increased, the number of seedlings declined more rapidly in fragments than continuous forest. Distance-dependent mortality between the seed and seedling stages appeared to be more important in continuous forest than fragments. This research provides ample, indirect evidence demonstrating that forest fragmentation can result in the breakdown of a seed dispersal mutualism, potentially jeopardizing the reproduction of a rare, tropical tree.     

WIND DISPERSAL OF FRUITS WITH VARIABLE SEED NUMBER IN A TROPICAL TREE (LONCHOCARPUS PENTAPHYLLUS: LEGUMINOSAE)

The tropical tree, Lonchocarpus pentaphyllus (Poir.) DC. (Leguminosae-Papilionoideae), matures indehiscent wind-dispersed fruits containing 0–4 seeds. Most fruits are one-seeded (82%) while less than 2% are three-seeded. An increase in seed number per fruit correlates with increases in four characteristics expected to affect dispersal distance under field conditions: fruit weight, fruit area, square root of wing-loading, and rate of descent in still air. The dry weight of a seed decreases with an increase in seed number per fruit. Under field conditions nearly 40% of the mature fruits fall within the radius of the tree crown. Fruits with more intact seeds are dispersed shorter distances; fruits with no developed seeds travel the farthest. Among one-seeded fruits dispersed beyond the crown radius, dispersal distance is inversely proportional to the square root of wing-loading. The weight of seed in these one-seeded fruits, however, is independent of dispersal distance. Fruits with more seeds have a higher proportion of underdeveloped seeds. However, a greater proportion of two- and three-seeded fruits have at least one intact mature seed than do one-seeded fruits. This comparative study illustrates that changes in fruit morphology and weight associated with different numbers of seeds per fruit affect dispersal properties as well. A decrease in seed number per fruit increases both seed weight and dispersal distance, but it decreases the probability that a given dispersal event results in movement of an intact seed.     

Consequences of frugivore diversity for seed dispersal, seedling establishment and the spatial pattern of seedlings and trees

Many plants depend on frugivorous animals for the dispersal of their seeds. However, it is only poorly known whether regional differences in frugivore diversity have consequences for seed dispersal, seedling establishment, and the spatial distribution of seedlings and trees. This comparative study of seed dispersal investigated the consequences of regional differences in frugivore diversity for two tree species of the genus Commiphora. C. harveyi was studied in South Africa where avian frugivore diversity is high, C. guillaumini was studied in Madagascar where the avian frugivore community is depauperate. At both study sites, the percentages of handled and dispersed seeds in Commiphora trees were quantified by fruit traps, and visitation rates, seed handling rates and dispersal rates were quantified for each animal species for two consecutive years. Seedlings were mapped and the spatial distribution of trees quantified. At both study sites, fruits were mainly eaten by birds. The total percentage of dispersed seeds in South Africa was significantly higher than in Madagascar (70.8% vs. 7.9%) because there was a lack of effective dispersers that swallowed seeds in Madagascar. Seed dispersal benefit, i.e. the increase in the probability of becoming established as a seedling away from parent trees due to dispersal was much higher in Madagascar (80 times higher probability) compared to South Africa (6 times higher). Corresponding with the different dispersal percentages, seedlings in South Africa were found at relatively large distances from the nearest Commiphora tree (median distance=21.0 m), whereas in Madagascar seedlings were found mostly under and close to the nearest Commiphora tree (median distance=0.9 m). Finally, Commiphora trees in the Malagasy study site were clumped, but were more randomly distributed in the South African study site. These results suggest that regional differences in frugivore diversity and behaviour strongly affect seed dispersal of trees, seedling establishment and the spatial distribution of seedlings and trees.     

Realized gene flow within mixed stands of Quercus robur L. and Q. petraea (Matt.) L. revealed at the stage of naturally established seedling

The estimates of contemporary gene flow assessed based on naturally established seedlings provide information much needed for understanding the abilities of forest tree populations to persist under global changes through migration and/or adaptation facilitated by gene exchange among populations. Here, we investigated pollen‐ and seed‐mediated gene flow in two mixed‐oak forest stands (consisting of Quercus robur L. and Q. petraea [Matt.] Liebl.). The gene flow parameters were estimated based on microsatellite multilocus genotypes of seedlings and adults and their spatial locations within the sample plots using models that attempt to reconstruct the genealogy of the seedling cohorts. Pollen and seed dispersal were modelled using the standard seedling neighbourhood model and a modification—the 2‐component seedling neighbourhood model, with the later allowing separation of the dispersal process into local and long‐distance components. The 2‐component model fitted the data substantially better than the standard model and provided estimates of mean seed and pollen dispersal distances accounting for long‐distance propagule dispersal. The mean distance of effective pollen dispersal was found to be 298 and 463 m, depending on the stand, while the mean distance of effective seed dispersal was only 8.8 and 15.6 m, which is consistent with wind pollination and primarily seed dispersal by gravity in Quercus. Some differences observed between the two stands could be attributed to the differences in the stand structure of the adult populations and the existing understory vegetation. Such a mixture of relatively limited seed dispersal with occasional long distance gene flow seems to be an efficient strategy for colonizing new habitats with subsequent local adaptation, while maintaining genetic diversity within populations.     

Ant-mediated seed dispersal contributes to the local spatial pattern and genetic structure of Globba lancangensis (Zingiberaceae)

Globba lancangensis is a typical myrmecochorous perennial herb found in southwest China. In 2002 and 2003, seed dispersal by ants was examined. Twelve ant species were recorded and found to move seeds 0.01-3.35 m. This removal promoted seed dispersal. In 2003, ant exclusion was made in 4 of 8 study plots for 1 year to practically detect the effects of ant dispersal. As a result, nearest neighbor analyses indicated that although ant dispersal could not significantly change the mean nearest neighbor distance, it obviously reduced the clustering degree of seedlings. Spatial genetic structure (SGS) of mature plants in 2003 and sequent seedlings in 2004 were investigated with intersimple sequence repeats. The whole correlagram of all individuals from 2003 showed significant positive autocorrelations between genetic and geographical distances within 4 m, suggesting a patchy structure at such short distances in the studied population. This pattern is likely associated with limited seed dispersal. The comparative analysis of fine-scale correlograms (<4 m) for ant-excluded treatment indicated lacking ants as the primary dispersers could have a similar pattern to ant dispersal presence, which is likely due to the restriction of ant dispersal distance. In conclusion, ant-mediated dispersal contributes to reduce seedling clustering degree and plays a minor role in developing and maintaining the local SGS in G. lancangensis.