海三棱藨草及互花米草对模拟盐胁迫的响应及其耐盐阈值

盐度作为滨海湿地的关键环境因子之一,影响盐沼植物的存活、生长及分布。未来海平面上升引起的盐水入侵,将导致滨海湿地的盐沼植物面临高盐胁迫的挑战,进而影响滨海湿地生态系统的结构和功能。本研究选择长江口中低潮滩的主要先锋植物海三棱藨草(Scirpus mariqueter)和互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)为对象,通过人工控制实验,比较不同盐度处理下两种盐沼植物存活、营养生长及繁殖的响应,并确定两种盐沼植物存活的耐盐阈值,从而比较未来盐水入侵背景下,本地物种海三棱藨草及外来物种互花米草对盐胁迫的响应和适应性。结果表明:(1)海三棱藨草和互花米草的存活率随着盐度的增加均呈下降趋势,相同盐度处理下互花米草的存活率显著高于海三棱藨草的存活率(P0.05);(2)盐胁迫明显影响了海三棱藨草和互花米草的生长,随着盐度的增加,海三棱藨草株高、地上生物量及地下生物量均呈逐渐下降的趋势,而互花米草株高、地上生物量及地下生物量呈先增加后下降的趋势,均在盐度为10‰时最高;(3)海三棱藨草和互花米草的分蘖数及结穗率均随着盐度增加呈下降趋势,盐胁迫在一定程度上抑制了两种植物的繁殖能力;(4)互花米草存活的耐盐阈值为43‰,高于海三棱藨草存活的耐盐阈值(21‰);(5)外来物种互花米草比本地物种海三棱藨草具有更强的耐盐性,未来海平面上升引起的盐水入侵将对本地物种海三棱藨草产生更加严重的影响。     

密度、物种比例对盐沼植物种子萌发阶段种内、种间相互作用的影响

种间相互作用是影响湿地植物群落构建的关键因子,其形式、强度和机制可能随着生长发育的过程而发生改变。种子萌发是植物生命周期的关键环节,一定程度上决定了植物种群分布和群落结构。野外种子萌发过程受到邻近同种或异种种子间相互作用的影响,但对于种子萌发过程中种内、种间相互作用强度及其影响因素的了解仍十分有限。该研究通过培养皿萌发实验探讨了种子密度(每皿80粒、每皿160粒)及比例(单种、3:1混种、2:2混种、1:3混种)对互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)、海三棱藨草(Scirpus×mariqueter)、芦苇(Phragmites australis)种子萌发率、平均萌发时间的影响,并采用相对邻株效应(RNE)评估了这3个物种的种内、种间相互作用强度。结果表明,密度对互花米草、海三棱藨草、芦苇种子的萌发率均有一定的促进作用。与互花米草混种时,芦苇种子在占比最低(25%)处理下的平均萌发时间显著长于单种及其他混种比例处理。3种植物种子的竞争能力没有明确的等级关系,存在非传递性竞争,萌发时海三棱藨草相对互花米草具有一定的竞争优势,互花米草相对芦苇具有一定优势,而芦苇的竞争能...     

互花米草与海三棱藨草的生长特征和相对竞争能力

外来物种互花米草(Spartinaalterniflora)已对我国特有种海三棱藨草 (Scirpusmariqueter)发生了竞争取代。作者通过在长江口崇明东滩湿地取样和盆栽竞争实验,比较了二者的主要生长特征和种间相对竞争能力。结果表明:无论是先锋种群还是成熟种群,互花米草的高度、盖度、地上生物量、地下生物量和平均每花序种子数都显著大于海三棱藨草;海三棱藨草的密度和单位面积结实枝条数显著大于互花米草。两种植物成熟种群的单位面积种子产量和种子的萌发率没有显著差异。种内竞争和种间竞争显著降低了两种植物的平均每株产生的无性小株数、结实株数、地上生物量和地下球茎数(海三棱藨草产生球茎),互花米草的种间竞争能力 (相对邻里效应指数 )显著大于海三棱藨草。互花米草在生长上的优势可能导致其在种间竞争上的优势,从而使互花米草能够在海三棱藨草群落中成功入侵。     

崇明东滩南部盐沼植被空间分布及影响因素分析

崇明东滩南部滩面高程、土壤盐度在空间上呈明显的梯度变化规律。高程整体西高东低、北高南低, 盐度东北高、西南低, 两者共同限制着盐沼植物在空间上的分布。该文围绕崇明东滩南部主要植被类群及其空间分布, 探讨了土壤盐度、潮滩高程两大环境因子与植物种群分布的对应关系。基于2013年夏、秋季植被空间网格采样和空间插值, 分析了东滩南部植物的空间分布现状, 发现不同植物类群在高程和土壤盐度上存在极显著的差异(p < 0.01)。高程差异: 莎草科类群主要分布于高程区间2.93-4.07 m的低潮滩, 禾本科主要集中分布在高程3.13-4.31 m的中、高潮滩; 盐度差异: 海三棱藨草(Scirpus mariqueter)和互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)优势种群植被覆盖区表层30 cm的平均土壤盐度为(3.2 ± 0.6) g·kg^-1, 显著高于其他类群植物分布区的平均土壤盐度(2.0 ± 0.3) g·kg^-1 (p < 0.01)。崇明东滩湿地生态系统的关键种兼先锋种——海三棱藨草, 分布高程介于2.53-3.97 m, 而互花米草能适应海三棱藨草80%的高程区间, 两者在高程上存在竞争关系。统计数据显示, 研究区域中近90%的海三棱藨草分布在研究区东北部, 土壤盐度范围为1.6-4.5 g·kg^-1, 海三棱藨草、互花米草能较好地适应该空间内的盐度胁迫, 两种植物在此交替出现。但是在高程和土壤盐度的综合作用下, 互花米草的生长状况更好, 因此该区的海三棱藨草很可能会被互花米草逐步取代。对各类群植被分布和优势面积的研究发现, 海三棱藨草总分布面积为294 hm², 优势群落面积120 hm², 海三棱藨草仅占莎草科植物总优势面积的15.7%, 占研究区总面积的6.9%, 在6种主要植物(芦苇(Phragmites australis)、白茅(Imperata cylindrica)、互花米草、糙叶薹草(Carex scabrifolia)、藨草(Scirpus triqueter)、海三棱藨草)中比重最小, 这给保护区内海三棱藨草种群的恢复和保护带来极大的挑战。     

潮间带盐沼植物种子及实生苗漂浮起动临界剪切应力研究

盐沼是分布在海陆过渡区域,以大型草本植物为优势种的潮间带生态系统。在潮间带生态系统中,盐沼植物的种子和实生苗在潮流作用下的漂浮起动是盐沼植物自然扩散的重要前提,决定了盐沼植物能否实现有效扩散和长距离传播。然而,目前缺乏有关盐沼植物繁殖体在复杂潮滩环境下漂浮起动扩散过程的定量研究。以长江口典型盐沼先锋物种海三棱藨草(Scirpus mariqueter)为研究对象,应用U-GEMS微观侵蚀系统,测定了在不同沉积物底质条件下,海三棱藨草种子及不同萌发阶段实生苗漂浮起动时的临界剪切应力,定量分析不同萌发阶段和沉积物底质对海三棱藨草种子和实生苗漂浮起动的影响。研究结果表明：(1)不同种子萌发阶段和沉积物底质对海三棱藨草种子和实生苗漂浮起动的临界剪切应力均有极显著影响(P<0.01);(2)随着萌发阶段的进展,海三棱藨草实生苗漂浮起动所需的临界剪切应力逐渐减小,因而随潮流漂浮起动进而扩散的机会也相应增大;(3)相比于淤泥质潮滩底质,海三棱藨草种子和实生苗在粉砂质潮滩更易于漂浮起动。研究结果丰富了盐沼植物在潮间带自然扩散过程和机理的研究,也为今后长江口及其他区域开展高效、低成本、以种子为修复...     

崇明东滩盐沼植被成带性对土壤因子的响应

对东滩湿地不同植被带与土壤环境因子的关系进行了探讨,分析植被成带性分布与土壤含水量、土壤盐度、土壤温度之间的关系,研究表明:(1)光滩(TF)、海三棱藨草(Sm)、互花米草带(Sa)土壤含水量差异显著(P0.05),随着土壤含水量的显著变化,海三棱藨草和互花米草种群分布呈现明显带状分布,土壤含水量对植被带的分布起到一定的平衡作用,在土壤经常性淹水下,互花米草种群的海向性拓殖受到一定抑制。(2)光滩带、海三棱藨草带、互花米草带之间的土壤盐分(NaCl)差异极显著(P0.001),从海向陆依次为:NaCl光滩带NaCl海三棱带NaCl互花米草带,NaCl含量增加土壤含水量相对减小,土壤盐度和含水量的差异极大影响了海三棱藨草和互花米草植被带的分布模式,从而进一步制约了其演替进程。不同植被带间温度差异显著,总体趋势为互花米草带最高而潮滩带最低,并且互花米草带土壤温度显著高于其它各带,小尺度空间上植被对环境因子的响应明显。(3)相对于7月份而言,5月份各带内土壤含水量显著较高,但植被带间没有显著性变化。光滩最高,依次为海三棱带和互花米草带。然而,7月份土壤盐度和温度显著大于5月份,互花米草带最高,依次为海三棱和光滩带。     

崇明东滩湿地营养盐与重金属的分布与累积

测定了崇明东滩湿地盐沼植物和沉积物中TN、TP、重金属Cu、Zn、Pb和Cd的含量,阐明了它们在湿地中的分布与累积特征,评估3种盐沼植物对营养盐和重金属的富集能力,并讨论了互花米草入侵对长江口湿地生态系统可能造成的影响.海三棱镳草地上部分的TN、Cu、Pb和Cd的含量均显著高于芦苇和互花米草（p＜0.01）,而地上部分TP和Zn却表现为：海三棱镳草和互花米草无显著性差异（p＞0.05）,但均显著高于芦苇（p＜0.01）.东滩湿地沉积物中TN和重金属的分布与累积特征为：芦苇带＞互花米草带＞海三棱镳草带＞光滩,即随着高程的增加,沉积物中TN和重金属的含量逐步上升;但沉积物中TP含量变化不大,基本维持在0.06%左右.基于盐沼植物地上部分的生物量,估算了3种盐沼植物地上部分的营养盐和重金属库,结果表明：互花米草地上部分的养分库和重金属库均大于芦苇和海三棱镳草,表明收获互花米草对环境的净化效果最佳,特别对磷的去除效率是最高的.     

盐度和淹水对长江口潮滩盐沼植物碳储量的影响

盐生植物是盐沼有机碳储存的"临时库",也是土壤有机碳累积的主要来源,其碳储量大小对盐沼生态系统"碳汇"功能的发挥十分重要。以长江口潮滩本地种芦苇(Phragmites australis)和海三棱藨草(Scirpus mariqueter),及入侵种互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)为研究对象,采用单因素盆栽实验,模拟分析淹水盐度(0、5、10、15、25和35)、淹水深度(0、10、20、40、60cm和80cm)和淹水频率(每天、每3天、每7天、每10天和每15天)变化对各盐生植物地上、地下和总体碳储量大小的影响。研究结果表明,随着淹水盐度增加,芦苇、互花米草和海三棱藨草地上部分与总体碳储量均显著降低。土壤盐度可分别解释其地上部分碳储量变异的47.2%、66.5%和72.7%,与总体碳储量变异的34.7%、45.0%和62.0%。随着淹水深度增加,芦苇地上部分、总体碳储量和海三棱藨草地上部分碳储量均显著降低,其变异的68.6%、28.5%和71.1%可由淹水深度变化(10—80cm)解释。互花米草在80cm淹水深度下仍有较高的地上部分碳储量和总体碳储量。3种盐生植物碳储量对淹水频率变化的响应差异均不显著,所有处理地下部分碳储量差异也未达到显著水平。总体而言,互花米草对水盐胁迫的耐受性要强于本地种芦苇和海三棱藨草。尽管互花米草和芦苇具有相对较高的碳储量,但水盐胁迫对其碳储量的显著抑制作用不容忽视。海三棱藨草碳储量本就不高,输入土壤的有机碳量较为有限,海平面上升及盐水入侵等逆境胁迫会使其对盐沼"碳汇"贡献更加微弱。     

互花米草入侵九段沙河口湿地对当地昆虫多样性的影响

为认识因互花米草(Spartinaalterniflora)入侵而给九段沙河口湿地昆虫多样性带来的影响,我们于2004年5月到2005年10月间用网捕和收割植株两种方法对3个典型植物群落中昆虫多样性作了连续调查。研究期间,共采集到昆虫11,300头。经鉴定为97个种,隶属于12目69科。互花米草群落中昆虫的物种数、个体数量以及Shannon-Wiener多样性指数均显著低于土著植物芦苇(Phragmitesaustralis)群落和海三棱藨草(Scirpusmariqueter)群落中的;而Simpson优势度指数较土著植物群落中高。聚类分析结果表明:芦苇与海三棱藨草群落中昆虫群落结构更为相似。互花米草的入侵将可能导致九段沙湿地昆虫多样性的降低和群落结构的改变。     

互花米草与海三棱蔗草的生长特征和相对竞争能力

外来物种互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)已对我国特有种海三棱蔗草(Scirpus mariqueter)发生了竞争取代。作者通过在长江口崇明东滩湿地取样和盆栽竞争实验,比较了二者的主要生长特征和种间相对竞争能力。结果表明：无论是先锋种群还是成熟种群,互花米草的高度、盖度、地上生物量、地下生物量和平均每花序种子数都显著大于海三棱蔗草;海三棱蔗草的密度和单位面积结实枝条数显著大于互花米草。两种植物成熟种群的单位面积种子产量和种子的萌发率没有显著差异。种内竞争和种间竞争显著降低了两种植物的平均每株产生的无性小株数、结实株数、地上生物量和地下球茎数(海三棱蔗草产生球茎),互花米草的种间竞争能力(相对邻里效应指数)显著大于海三棱蔗草。互花米草在生长上的优势可能导致其在种间竞争上的优势,从而使互花米草能够在海三棱蔗草群落中成功入侵。     

Determinants of seed bank dynamics of two dominant helophytes in a tidal salt marsh

We investigated dynamics and spatial distribution of Scirpus mariqueter and Spartina alterniflora seed banks at Chongming Dongtan in the Yangtze River estuary, China. Five sites along an elevational gradient were chosen, one in each of the main zones (mudflat, Scirpus monoculture, Scirpus–Spartina mixture, Spartina monoculture and Spartina–Phragmites mixture). Three surveys were performed just after seed rain, before germination and after germination, respectively. During the period of November 2005 to May 2006, soil seed density of Scirpus mariqueter declined by 36%, and that of Spartina alterniflora by 58%. The spatial distributions of their seed banks were also different. Soil seed density of Scirpus mariqueter was not determined directly by seed production, but positively correlated with total aboveground biomass of the whole plant community. On the contrary, soil seed density of Spartina alterniflora just after seed rain (November) was significantly correlated with seed production, but had a poor relationship with the community's aboveground biomass. Our results indicated that other factors such as tidal movement might have had great influence on dispersal of Scirpus mariqueter, which would also affect its population dynamics. The understanding of this process can help us improve the conservation and restoration efforts.     

Effect of mercury and cadmium on germination of Spartina alterniflora Loisel seeds at various salinities

Spartina alterniflora seeds were germinated in solutions containing mercury or cadmium at various salinity levels for 30 days under controlled conditions. Daily counts of epicotyl emergence were used to calculate an intial rate of germination (first 5 days), time for seeds treated with metal and salt to yield 50% of untreated seeds (distilled water treatment) and total germination at the end of the experiment (30 days). Seeds remaining ungerminated after 30 days were put through a series of washings and treatments to remove metal and salinity stresses. This was done in such a way so that osmotic and toxic effects could be identified. Results indicated both mercury and cadmium reduce the germination rate, total performance and long-term viability after an initial stimulation of germination. Increases in the detrimental effect were directly correlated with increases in salinity level and metal concentration. Findings also indicate some salt (possibly chloride ion) toxicity to S. alterniflora seeds.     

SEED GERMINATION RESPONSE AND EVIDENCE FOR HEIGHT ECOPHENES IN SPARTINA ALTERNIFLORA FROM NORTH CAROLINA

A study was conducted to determine germination response to temperature and salinity and seedling response to salinity by three height forms of the salt marsh grass Spartina alterniflora Loisel. Germination tests showed that seeds cannot withstand drying at moderate temperature, as viability was lost within 40 days in seeds stored dry at 72 F. Cold storage at 43 F is adequate to prevent desiccation up to 40 days, but after 8 months viability is lost. Viability is retained at least 8 months when seeds are stored in sea water at 43 F. Germination response was good in a 65–95 F alternating diurnal thermoperiod but was poor in a 72 F constant thermoperiod. Germination response to salinity was an inverse curvilinear relationship with germination inhibition at high salinities apparently due to osmotic effects. The maximum tolerance limit for germination lies between 6 and 8 % NaCl. Seeds from short, medium, and tall plants responded similarly in storage and temperature studies. However, in salinity studies, seeds of the Ocracoke Island short form and the Oak Island tall form performed best. A logarithmic curve best described seedling growth response to various NaCl levels. Growth response as measured by seedling dry weight was best in 0.5 % NaCl solution. Seedlings grew taller in both 0.5 and 1.0 % NaCl than in 0 % NaCl. No significant difference in seedling growth response due to height form of the parent plant was detected. Thus, on the basis of germination and seedling responses, the height forms of S. alterniflora in North Carolina salt marshes are best described as ecophenes.     

Effect of oxygen availability and salinity on EARLY LIFE HISTORY STAGES OF SALT MARSH PLANTS. I. Different germination strategies of Spartina alterniflora and Phragmites australis (Poaceae)

Gradients in oxygen availability and salinity are among the most important environmental parameters influencing zonation in salt marsh communities. The combined effects of oxygen and salinity on the germination of two salt marsh grasses, Spartina alterniflora and Phragmites australis, were studied in growth chamber experiments. Germination of both species was initiated by emergence of the shoot and completed by root emergence. Percentage S. alterniflora germination was reduced at high salinity (40 g NaCl/L) and in decreased oxygen (5 and 2.5%). In 0% oxygen shoots emerged, but roots did not. P. australis germination was reduced at a lower salinity (25 g NaCl/L) than S. alterniflora, and inhibited at 40 g NaCl/L and in anoxia. However, a combination of hypoxia (10 and 5% O2) and moderate salinity (5 and 10 g NaCl/L) increased P. australis germination. When bare areas in the salt marsh are colonized, the different germination responses of these two species to combinations of oxygen and salt concentrations are important in establishing their initial zonation. In high salinity wetlands S. alterniflora populates the lower marsh and P. australis occupies the high marsh at the upland boundary.     

Seed flotation and germination of salt marsh plants: The effects of stratification, salinity, and/or inundation regime

We examined the effects of cold stratification and salinity on seed flotation of eight salt marsh species. Four of the eight species were tested for germination success under different stratification, salinity, and flooding conditions. Species were separated into two groups, four species received wet stratification and four dry stratification and fresh seeds of all species were tested for flotation and germination. Fresh seeds of seven out of eight species had flotation times independent of salinity, six of which had average flotation times of at least 50 d. Seeds of Spartina alterniflora and Spartina patens had the shortest flotation times, averaging 24 and 26 d, respectively. Following wet stratification, the flotation time of S. alterniflora seeds in higher salinity water (15 and 36 ppt) was reduced by over 75% and germination declined by more than 90%. Wet stratification reduced the flotation time of Distichlis spicata seeds in fresh water but increased seed germination from 2 to 16% in a fluctuating inundation regime. Fresh seeds of Iva frutescens and S. alternflora were capable of germination and therefore are non-dormant during dispersal. Fresh seeds of I. frutescens had similar germination to dry stratified seeds ranging 25-30%. Salinity reduced seed germination for all species except for S. alterniflora. A fluctuating inundation regime was important for seed germination of the low marsh species and for germination following cold stratification. The conditions that resulted in seeds sinking faster were similar to the conditions that resulted in higher germination for two of four species.     

Crustacean metamorphosis: an omics perspective

We quantified the independent impacts of flooding salinity, flooding depth, and flooding frequency on the native species, Phragmites australis and Scirpus mariqueter, and on the invasive species Spartina alterniflora in the Yangtze River Estuary, China. Total biomass of all three species decreased significantly with increasing salinity, but S. alterniflora was less severely affected than P. australis and S. mariqueter. Elevated flooding depth significantly decreased their live aboveground biomass of P. australis and S. mariqueter, while S. alterniflora still had high live aboveground biomass and total biomass even at the highest flooding depth. These findings indicated that S. alterniflora was more tolerant to experimental conditions than the two native species, and an unavoidable suggestion is the expansion of this non-native species in relation to the native counterparts in future scenarios of increased sea-level and saltwater intrusion. Even so, environmental stresses might lead to significant decreases in total biomass and live aboveground biomass of all three species, which would potentially weaken their ability to trap sediments and accumulate organic matter. However, the relatively high belowground-to-aboveground biomass ratio indicated phenotypic plasticity in response to stressful environmental conditions, which suggest that marsh species can adapt to sea-level rise and maintain marsh elevation.     

Helophyte germination in a Mediterranean salt marsh: Gut‐passage by ducks changes seed response to salinity

Question: In seeds which are regularly consumed by waterbirds in the field, how does gut‐passage modify their response to salinity gradients? Location: Doñana National Park salt marsh, south‐west of Spain. Methods: Seeds of Scirpus litoralis and Scirpus maritimus were collected and force fed to mallards (Anas platyrhynchos). Both the ingested seeds (passage) and non‐ingested seeds (controls) were exposed, in germination chambers, to a salinity range similar to that observed in the field (0–32 dS/m). After 30 days, the total percentage germination, the duration of the dormancy period and the germination speed were computed. The response of the different germination parameters to ingestion and salinity was analyzed using generalized lineal models. Recovery tests on seeds that did not germinate in the various treatments and tests of the effect of ingestion on the intrinsic variability in seed response were also performed. Results: An increase in salinity reduced germinability and increased the length of dormancy, while gut pas sage increased the intrinsic variability of the temporal seed response in both species. In S. litoralis there was a significant interaction between the effects of salinity and passage on germination rate. Passage increased germination rate at low salinities (≤2 dS/m) but decreased it at high salinities (≥4 dS/m). Conclusion: Gut‐passage by ducks significantly changes seed response to salinity. The outcome of plant‐animal interactions can be influenced by environmental gradients. Studies of germination in response to gut passage that do not take such gradients into account may produce misleading results.     

长江口九段沙湿地海三棱藨草生物量分配特征及其影响因子

海三棱藨草(Scirpus mariqueter)为长江河口盐沼湿地先锋植物。以长江口九段沙湿地为主要研究区域,在江亚南沙、上沙、中下沙等不同区域设置固定站点,进行植被和环境因子的取样调研,分析研究了海三棱藨草的生物量分配特征及其主要影响因子,以期为海三棱藨草的培育与恢复、盐沼湿地生态系统的保护与利用提供科学依据。结果表明:(1)不同站点海三棱藨草的茎基高度、球茎生物量占比、根茎与球茎之比均不存在显著差异(P0.05),而植株密度、植株高度、根茎生物量占比、果实生物量占比、茎叶生物量占比、须根生物量占比、果实与根茎之比、果实与球茎之比在不同站点间存在显著差异(P0.05);(2)不同站点的沉积物电导率、盐度、容积密度(5—10、25—30 cm土层)、总碳含量(10—15、20—25、25—30 cm土层)、总氮含量(5—10 cm土层)存在显著差异(P0.05);(3)海三棱藨草的果实与根茎的生物量之比和沉积物5—10、25—30 cm总碳含量,0—5、5—10 cm总氮含量,0—5 cm容积密度,茎基高度6种因子的组合存在极显著相关(P0.01);而其他生物量分配指标与本文涉及到的环境因子、植物表形参数均不存在显著相关性(P0.05)。海三棱藨草生物量分配特征是其自身生长特征与环境因子综合作用的结果。在今后的研究中需拓展生境因子涵盖范围,深入分析多因子综合作用对海三棱藨草生物量分配特征的影响。