三江平原农田地表和地下土壤螨类丰富度与环境因子的空间关联性

地表和地下土壤动物群落空间格局及其与环境因子的空间作用关系,是揭示地表-地下生态系统格局与过程及生物多样性维持机制的重要基础。于2011年在三江平原农田生态系统,在50m×50m的空间尺度内,基于地统计空间分析方法,揭示地表和地下土壤螨群落及不同螨类物种丰富度的空间格局,并分析这种空间格局与土壤含水量、土壤p H值及大豆株高空间格局的空间关联性。半方差函数和普通克里格插值表明,8月份地表、地下和10月份地下螨群落及这些群落内大部分螨类物种在特定空间尺度内形成集群,表现为空间异质性特征,且这种空间分异多由结构性因素或结构性因素和随机性因素共同调控。交叉方差函数表明,土壤螨群落和不同螨类物种的空间格局与环境因子的空间格局在多种尺度上表现出复杂的空间关联性(正的或负的)。但简单Mantel检验仅发现8月份地表中气门亚目未定种1(Mesostigmata unidentified sp.1)和大豆株高存在明显的正的空间关联性。研究结果表明地下螨群落和生长季节的地表螨群落具有明显的空间异质性结构,地表和地下螨群落及大多数螨类物种丰富度与土壤含水量、土壤p H值及大豆株高的空间关联性并不显著。促进地表-地下生态系统土壤动物群落空间格局研究,为地表-地下格局与过程研究奠定基础。     

环境筛选和扩散限制对长江流域湖北段湿地植物群落构建的共同影响

湿地植物群落构建机制的研究可为湿地生态系统管理和受损湿地生态恢复与重建提供重要理论依据。地处长江流域的湖北省是我国湿地资源最为丰富的地区之一,通过野外调查研究了长江流域湖北段内不同类型湿地中的主要湿地植物群落类型,分析了研究区内湿地植物群落物种β多样性格局;利用相关性检验(Mantel test)方法和基于相似或相异度矩阵的多元回归模型(MRM)分析了环境差异和地理距离与湿地植物群落的物种相异性的相关性,及其对该区域湿地植物群落构建的相对贡献率。结果表明长江流域湖北段8个不同类型湿地内的湿地植物群落物种相异性指数差异显著,群落间物种相异性指数与地理距离和环境距离均呈显著正相关关系;MRM分析表明环境筛选和扩散限制共同解释了研究区内群落物种变异指数的54.72%;其中,环境距离独立解释率为22.03%,地理距离独立解释率为9.98%,二者联合解释率为22.71%。结果表明环境筛选和扩散限制共同影响了长江流域湖北段湿地植物群落构建过程,且环境筛选贡献更大。建议除了考虑空间尺度、环境因子、植被类型外,未来需进一步研究时间尺度及人类干扰等因子对该区域湿地植物群落构建的影响。     

黄土高原腹地人工林下草本层群落构建机制

群落构建机制是生态学研究的核心论题。生态位理论和中性理论是阐明群落构建的两种主要理论, 但这两种理论分别强调的环境过滤和扩散限制对群落构建的影响尚存争议。该研究以黄土高原人工林下草本层群落为研究对象, 将群落物种组成数据与地理空间、气候、地形以及生物因子相结合, 运用随机森林模型(RF)和基于距离矩阵的多元回归方法(MRM), 探究了各个因子的重要性, 并通过邻体主坐标矩阵(PCNM)和基于距离的冗余分析(db-RDA)分别筛选显著的空间结构和环境因子, 最后结合筛选出的PCNM特征值和环境变量进行变差分解。研究结果显示: 1)林下草本层群落组成相似性随地理距离和生境差异的增加而减小。2)地理距离与生境差异共同解释了群落组成相似性变化的47.8%。其中, 空间因子和环境因子的独立解释率分别为14.1%和9.8%, 两者的联合解释率为23.9%。3)地理距离和年降水量是引起研究区内物种组成变化的关键因子, 且地理距离的重要性大于年降水量。在黄土高原腹地, 扩散限制与环境过滤共同主导了人工林下草本层群落的构建过程。     

秦岭西部森林群落相似性递减格局及其影响因素

群落间物种组成的相似性递减格局与生境过滤、空间过程密切相关,探索其成因涉及到群落构建机制等生态学核心问题。本研究以秦岭西部森林群落为研究对象,运用Mantel检验和基于距离矩阵的多元回归方法,探究了不同生态因子对群落相似性变异的贡献,并通过置换检验比较不同生活型之间相似性的空间递减率差异。结果显示:(1)3种生活型物种组成相似性与地理距离、海拔距离、局地生境异质性差异均呈显著递减趋势;(2)地理距离与生境差异作为主导因子,分别共同解释乔木、灌木和草本群落相似性变异的41.1%、59.0%和47.4%,且地理距离的单独解释率均大于生境过滤的单独解释率;(3)不同生活型相似性在空间上的递减率大小关系为:乔木灌木草本,表明物种因扩散能力的不同而对空间阻隔效应的响应存在差异。本研究初步确定扩散限制与生境过滤共同主导了秦岭西部森林群落的构建过程,且扩散限制所起作用更为显著。     

莱州湾东岸潮下带大型底栖动物群落beta多样性格局及其驱动因素

群落β多样性格局的形成与维持机制一直是群落生态学研究的热点与核心。然而, 与陆生生态系统相比, 海洋生态系统尤其是海洋底栖生态系统中生物群落β多样性的研究明显滞后。本研究从分类(即物种组成)和功能(即性状组成)两个方面出发, 应用Mantel分析和基于矩阵的多元回归(multiple regression on distance matrices, MRM)分析, 探究了莱州湾东岸潮下带大型底栖动物群落β多样性及其周转(turnover)和嵌套(nestedness)组分与环境因子和空间距离的关系, 揭示了环境过滤和扩散限制两种生态学过程对其群落构建机制的影响。结果显示: (1)莱州湾东岸潮下带大型底栖动物群落的分类与功能性状β多样性均维持在较高水平且均以周转组分占主导, 表明研究区域大型底栖动物群落在物种和功能性状组成上差异较大, 而这种差异大部分来自物种或功能性状在空间或群落间的更替; (2)空间地理距离对大型底栖动物群落分类与功能性状β多样性及其组分无显著影响(Mantel检验, P > 0.05), 表明扩散限制对莱州湾东岸潮下带大型底栖动物群落的影响有限; (3) MRM分析表明, 沉积物总有机质(total organic matter, TOM)和粉砂含量显著影响大型底栖动物群落分类β多样性, 而TOM则显著影响功能性状β多样性。上述结果表明, 环境过滤是驱动莱州湾东岸潮下带大型底栖动物群落构建机制的首要因素。本研究阐明了莱州湾东岸潮下带大型底栖动物群落构建机制, 同时也为理解我国其他海域大型底栖动物群落的形成与维持机制提供了参考。     

百山祖自然保护区植物群落beta多样性

本文采用植物群落学的典型样方法,研究了百山祖自然保护区森林植物群落beta多样性格局及其维持机制。通过对45个20m?20m标准样地的调查数据进行分析,运用Chao’s群落距离指数衡量该植物群落beta多样性格局,并通过Mantel检验、基于距离矩阵的偏RDA分析和方差分解等方法初步检验和衡量了各环境因子差异（包括群落郁闭度、海拔、坡度、坡向和坡位）和群落空间距离对该区域beta多样性格局的影响。结果显示,该区域内植物群落beta多样性随着群落间综合环境差异或群落空间距离的增加而增大, 但环境差异和群落空间距离只能解释36%左右的beta多样性格局。检验的5个环境因子中,只有群落郁闭度和海拔对百山祖自然保护区植物群落beta多样性有显著影响,并且群落郁闭度对beta多样性的解释度（20.0%）略高于海拔对beta多样性的解释度（18.0%）。群落空间距离对百山祖自然保护区beta多样性的解释度最小（9.0%）。本文展现了百山祖自然保护区内植物群落beta多样性格局及其与群落环境和空间距离的关系,所获得的结果支持生境异质性和扩散限制联合对植物群落beta多样性起作用的假说。     

浙江遂昌马尾松林物种和谱系β多样性驱动因子分析

生境过滤和扩散限制是影响森林群落间物种组成差异(β多样性)的主要生态过程。为了探究生境过滤和扩散限制对亚热带马尾松(Pinus massoniana)群落物种和谱系β多样性的相对贡献,该文以浙江省遂昌县37个马尾松林样地为研究对象,结合物种和谱系β多样性分析,探讨了影响群落间物种组成差异主要生态机制; 通过计算群落内物种β多样性指数(Bray-Curtis指数)和谱系β多样性指数(Dnn指数和Dpw指数),分析土壤、地形等生境因子和地理距离与物种和谱系β多样性之间的相关性,并通过方差分解分析生境因子和地理距离对物种和谱系β多样性的相对作用大小; 此外,还进行了不同径级和生长型的上述相关性分析和方差分解。结果表明:(1)Bray-Curtis指数与土壤、地形因子和地理距离均显著正相关,Dnn指数仅与地理距离显著正相关,Dpw指数与土壤因子和地理距离均显著正相关。(2)环境因子对Bray-Curtis指数和Dpw指数的解释度均高于地理距离的解释度。(3)从物种多样性角度来说,生境因子对不同生长阶段Bray-Curtis指数的解释度均高于地理距离的解释度; 从谱系多样性角度来说,地理距离对幼树阶段的Dnn指数和Dpw指数的解释度更高,生境因子则对成树阶段的Dpw指数的解释度更高。由此可以推论,生境过滤是驱动该地区马尾松林物种和谱系β多样性的主要生态机制,扩散限制仅在幼树阶段对马尾松林谱系β多样性起主导作用。     

地理距离和环境因子对阿拉善戈壁植物群落β多样性的影响

内蒙古阿拉善地区分布着超过20万km²的典型戈壁生态系统, 且这些戈壁生态系统正遭受着持续性气候变暖与极端天气的影响。然而, 土壤、气候、空间变量等因子对阿拉善戈壁大尺度植物β多样性及其关键组分的相对影响还没有得到系统研究。本文通过对阿拉善典型戈壁生境的276个样方进行植物群落组成调查, 并结合气候、土壤等数据, 探讨了地理距离和环境因子对阿拉善戈壁区植物群落β多样性及其组分的影响。研究表明: (1)在阿拉善戈壁区, 随着地理距离的增加, 植物群落β多样性及物种周转组分显著增加, 而且β多样性主要源于物种周转组分, 物种嵌套组分的贡献非常有限; (2)偏Mantel分析显示环境因子和地理距离对β多样性及其物种周转组分均有显著的单独作用; 方差分解结果进一步表明, 环境因子和地理距离共同解释了植物β多样性及其物种周转组分10.84%-17.67% (Bray-Curtis)和15.47%-24.81% (Sørensen)的变异, 但环境因子可以单独解释更多的变异(6.62%-9.97% (Bray-Curtis)和8.98%-14.51% (Sørensen))。在众多环境因子中, 气温日较差、土壤含水量和地表砾石盖度对植物群落β多样性和物种周转组分的贡献更大。以上结果表明, 环境过滤、扩散限制以及其他未知过程可能共同影响阿拉善戈壁区植物群落β多样性格局, 其中环境过滤可能具有更大的影响。     

崂山次生林群落β多样性格局及其组分的驱动因素

为探究崂山次生林群落β多样性及其组成成分的环境驱动因子,为崂山地区的生物多样性保护和恢复提供理论依据,本研究根据调查样地的地理坐标和环境因子数据,利用广义相异性模型(GDM)探讨了不同生活型植物(乔木、灌木和草本)β多样性格局与环境因子的关系,并利用Mantel检验确定β多样性不同成分(周转和嵌套)与环境因子的关系。GDM分析结果表明:分别有10、11、12个环境变量对乔木、灌木、草本植物β多样性有影响,可解释比例分别为18.16%、28.38%、43.61%;其中,乔木和灌木β多样性的主要限制因素是地理距离、海拔和土壤铵态氮含量,而草本β多样性的主要影响因子是地理距离、土壤p H值和速效钾含量;崂山森林群落乔木、灌木和草本植物的β多样性均以周转成分为主。Mantel检验结果表明:地理距离对灌木和草本植物的周转影响非常显著,对乔木的周转影响不显著;海拔、土壤铵态氮含量对乔木和灌木的周转影响非常显著,而对草本的影响不显著;土壤pH值、有机质含量和速效钾含量仅对草本植物的周转影响显著。本研究表明,生境过滤和扩散限制共同影响着崂山森林群落的β多样性格局,生境过滤作用的影响更大。在生态修复的过程中,要注意海拔、土壤铵态氮含量对木本植物分布的影响以及土壤p H值、有机质含量和速效钾含量对草本植物分布的影响。由于群落β多样性主要由周转成分组成,所以对于崂山次生群落物种多样性的保护工作不能厚此薄彼,应该全面展开。     

新疆天山森林公园土壤螨类群落多样性与环境因子的相关性

为探讨西北干旱区森林土壤螨类群落和环境因子的相互关系,于2014年对新疆天山森林公园七种不同生境进行土壤螨类群落调查与环境因子测定,并采用除趋势对应分析法(DCA)和冗余分析法(RDA)对土壤螨类群落结构和多样性特征及其与环境因子之间的关系进行相关分析。结果表明,共捕获土壤螨类成体标本24399只,隶属4目56科108属(包括9个中国新记录属),其中小甲螨属Oribatella为优势类群。方差分析表明,在7种不同生境之间土壤螨类群落多样性指标均存在显著差异(P<0.05),Shannon-Wiener多样性指数(H)依次为针叶林>苗圃林>阔叶林>灌木林>针阔混交林>草甸草原>林中草地。RDA分析结果表明,第一主轴和第二主轴分别解释了土壤螨类主要群落总变量的34.8%和27.3%,所有环境因子共解释了土壤螨类群落物种组成变异的82.1%。蒙特卡罗置换检验显示,十种环境因子与全部排序轴(F=7.355,P=0.002)均存在极显著的相关性。研究表明,海拔、土壤含水量和有机质含量对螨类群落结构和多样性的影响显著。     

Below-ground spatial pattern of rhizomes in a grassland community and its relevance to above-ground spatial pattern

Studies of spatial patterns in grassland plant communities have focused on above-ground patterns, ignoring the fact that in clonal plant communities, such as those found in grasslands, above-ground spatial structure must reflect below-ground horizontal growth. The present study examines, at both a fine and a coarse spatial scale, relationships between rhizome and ramet distribution. At the coarse scale, the dominance of species differed between above- and below-ground; some species dominated only above- or below-ground, and others dominated in both layers. At the fine scale, a single species' ramet aggregation above-ground significantly differed from its rhizome aggregation below-ground, for many species. Even for a given species, quantitative relationships between above- and below-ground dominance varied among localities. The variation in spatial pattern among species can be explained by attributes of clonal growth form, including rhizome size, rhizome origin and pattern of above-ground ramet aggregation. Using these parameters of clonal growth, four major space occupation patterns were described for mountain grassland species. For species with a high abundance of evenly distributed rhizomes, ramets either i) reflect rhizome distribution, or ii) do not fully reflect rhizome distribution, but rather are spatially aggregated, and rhizomes are typically developed below-ground. For species with a low abundance of rhizomes, ramets either iii) reflect rhizome distribution and rhizomes are typically of above-ground origin, or iv) do not reflect rhizome distribution and are aggregated only at the growing tips of rhizomes. Spatial correlation above-ground among species was the same as below-ground for some pairs of species but was significantly different for other pairs. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Pattern and process in above-ground and below-ground components of grassland ecosystems

Abstract. This paper describes patterns of below-ground components in grassland ecosystems. It provides estimates of the contribution of below-ground organs to the total phytomass of the community and of different species to the below-ground phytomass; it describes the distribution of above- and below- ground organs of different species and the spatial and temporal correlation between above-ground and below-ground phyto-mass – both total standing crop and net primary production. 10 Siberian grasslands (meadows and steppes) were investigated during 15 yr. Ca. 70 % of the living phytomass is located in the soil and no less than 70 % of the net primary production is allocated in below-ground organs. Phytomass distribution in the soil layer is more homogeneous than above-ground. For some species the spatial distribution within 1-m² plots of the green and below-ground phytomass is similar, for others it is quantitatively or qualitatively different. According to the dominance-diversity curve, the above-ground size hierarchy is much stronger than the below-ground one. The active growth of above- and below-ground organs of a species may occur at different times of the season and it varies from year to year. Allocation of organic substances to rhizomes and roots occurs simultaneously and with proportional intensity.     

Genetic and Environmental Controls on the Establishment of the Invasive Grass, Phalaris arundinacea

Whether an exotic species becomes integrated into a community or aggressively takes it over depends upon many interacting factors. Using contextual analyses, we combined genetic data about an invasive plant with information about the neighboring species, the community, and the environment to determine what factors enable a genotype or species to invade. We transplanted 50 individuals of each of three clones of the invasive grass Phalaris arundinacea, reed canary grass, into 150 random locations within a Vermont pasture. For each individual, we recorded clonal identity, neighbor identity, community indices (species richness and species diversity), and an environmental variable (soil moisture). The response variables were survivorship, above-ground biomass, below-ground biomass and the ratio of above- to below-ground biomass. Clonal identity affected both survivorship and below-ground biomass. The fastest tillering clone had poor survivorship but survivors produced a large amount of below-ground biomass, making this clone more likely to successfully overwinter. Neighbor species affected above- and below-ground biomass. Reed canary grass produced more above- and below-ground biomass when Anthoxanthum odoratum, a common pasture grass species, was abundant. Community attributes also influenced growth. Although we expected diverse plots to repel the invasion, plants in the more diverse plots had higher amounts of below-ground biomass. Finally, environmental effects also influenced growth. Reed canary grass produced more above-ground biomass in wetter plots, confirming that it does well under wet conditions.     

Spatial patterns of plant diversity below-ground as revealed by DNA barcoding

Our understanding of the spatial organization of root diversity in plant communities and of the mechanisms of community assembly has been limited by our ability to identify plants based on root tissue, especially in diverse communities. Here, we test the effectiveness of the plastid gene rbcL, a core plant DNA barcoding marker, for investigating spatial patterns of root diversity, and relate observed patterns to above-ground community structure. We collected 3800 root fragments from four randomly positioned, 1-m-deep soil profiles (two vertical transects per plot), located in an old-field community in southern Ontario, Canada, and extracted and sequenced DNA from 1531 subsampled fragments. We identified species by comparing sequences with a DNA barcode reference library developed previously for the local flora. Nearly 85% of sampled root fragments were successfully sequenced and identified as belonging to 29 plant species or species groups. Root abundance and species richness varied in horizontal space and were negatively correlated with soil depth. The relative abundance of taxa below-ground was correlated with their frequency above-ground (r = 0.73, P = 0.0001), but several species detected in root tissue were not observed in above-ground quadrats. Multivariate analyses indicated that diversity was highly structured below-ground, and associated with depth, root morphology, soil chemistry and soil texture, whereas little structure was evident above-ground. Furthermore, analyses of species co-occurrence indicates strong species segregation overall but random co-occurrence among confamilials. Our results provide insights into the role of environmental filtering and competitive interactions in the organization of plant diversity below-ground, and also demonstrate the utility of barcoding for the identification of plant roots.     

Invertebrate Metacommunity Structure and Dynamics in an Andean Glacial Stream Network Facing Climate Change

Under the ongoing climate change, understanding the mechanisms structuring the spatial distribution of aquatic species in glacial stream networks is of critical importance to predict the response of aquatic biodiversity in the face of glacier melting. In this study, we propose to use metacommunity theory as a conceptual framework to better understand how river network structure influences the spatial organization of aquatic communities in glacierized catchments. At 51 stream sites in an Andean glacierized catchment (Ecuador), we sampled benthic macroinvertebrates, measured physico-chemical and food resource conditions, and calculated geographical, altitudinal and glaciality distances among all sites. Using partial redundancy analysis, we partitioned community variation to evaluate the relative strength of environmental conditions (e.g., glaciality, food resource) vs. spatial processes (e.g., overland, watercourse, and downstream directional dispersal) in organizing the aquatic metacommunity. Results revealed that both environmental and spatial variables significantly explained community variation among sites. Among all environmental variables, the glacial influence component best explained community variation. Overland spatial variables based on geographical and altitudinal distances significantly affected community variation. Watercourse spatial variables based on glaciality distances had a unique significant effect on community variation. Within alpine catchment, glacial meltwater affects macroinvertebrate metacommunity structure in many ways. Indeed, the harsh environmental conditions characterizing glacial influence not only constitute the primary environmental filter but also, limit water-borne macroinvertebrate dispersal. Therefore, glacier runoff acts as an aquatic dispersal barrier, isolating species in headwater streams, and preventing non-adapted species to colonize throughout the entire stream network. Under a scenario of glacier runoff decrease, we expect a reduction in both environmental filtering and dispersal limitation, inducing a taxonomic homogenization of the aquatic fauna in glacierized catchments as well as the extinction of specialized species in headwater groundwater and glacier-fed streams, and consequently an irreversible reduction in regional diversity.     

Concordance between plant species,oribatid mites and soil in a Mediterranean stone pine forest

Biological interactions between above-ground and below-ground organisms are not clearly defined among communities with regard to compositional patterns. The study investigates the concordance of species assemblages between vascular plants and oribatid mites and soil chemical properties with special attention to the role of vegetation structure, i.e. tree, shrub and herbaceous cover, for biological components. Data were collected in a Mediterranean coastal Nature Reserve using sampling design based on random selection of plots with cover of stone pine (Pinus pinea L.) exceeding 15%. Agreement of distribution patterns was verified by Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient applied to pairs of matrices of plot scores by principal component analysis (plants, mites and soil) and the Mantel test. The feasible role of vegetation cover on plant and mite assemblages was tested by redundancy analysis (RDA). Significant correlations were found for biological assemblages, indicating congruent plant–mite compositional patterns. On the other hand, the hypothesis of concordance between biological communities and soil was rejected. Moreover, RDA showed that vegetation cover was a driver of both plant and oribatid mite assemblages. In particular, herbaceous cover proved to be a good proxy for the two biological communities investigated, with different taxa linked to forest clearings and to areas with denser tree cover. Our results indicate that soil features were not of primary importance for below-ground and above-ground community assemblages in the study area. In the light of our findings and ongoing threats in coastal areas, we recommend that management measures be directed at maintenance of diversified vegetation structure, which may ensure above-ground and below-ground biodiversity with diverse biological community assemblages.     

Understory Plant Community Composition Is Associated with Fine-Scale Above- and Below-Ground Resource Heterogeneity in Mature Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta) Forests

Understory plant communities play critical ecological roles in forest ecosystems. Both above- and below-ground ecosystem properties and processes influence these communities but relatively little is known about such effects at fine (i.e., one to several meters within-stand) scales, particularly for forests in which the canopy is dominated by a single species. An improved understanding of these effects is critical for understanding how understory biodiversity is regulated in such forests and for anticipating impacts of changing disturbance regimes. Our primary objective was to examine the patterns of fine-scale variation in understory plant communities and their relationships to above- and below-ground resource and environmental heterogeneity within mature lodgepole pine forests. We assessed composition and diversity of understory vegetation in relation to heterogeneity of both the above-ground (canopy tree density, canopy and tall shrub basal area and cover, downed wood biomass, litter cover) and below-ground (soil nutrient availability, decomposition, forest floor thickness, pH, and phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) and multiple carbon-source substrate-induced respiration (MSIR) of the forest floor microbial community) environment. There was notable variation in fine-scale plant community composition; cluster and indicator species analyses of the 24 most commonly occurring understory species distinguished four assemblages, one for which a pioneer forb species had the highest cover levels, and three others that were characterized by different bryophyte species having the highest cover. Constrained ordination (distance-based redundancy analysis) showed that two above-ground (mean tree diameter, litter cover) and eight below-ground (forest floor pH, plant available boron, microbial community composition and function as indicated by MSIR and PLFAs) properties were associated with variation in understory plant community composition. These results provide novel insights into the important ecological associations between understory plant community composition and heterogeneity in ecosystem properties and processes within forests dominated by a single canopy species.     

Contribution of above- and below-ground plant traits to the structure and function of grassland soil microbial communities

Background and Aims

Abiotic properties of soil are known to be major drivers of the microbial community within it. Our understanding of how soil microbial properties are related to the functional structure and diversity of plant communities, however, is limited and largely restricted to above-ground plant traits, with the role of below-ground traits being poorly understood. This study investigated the relative contributions of soil abiotic properties and plant traits, both above-ground and below-ground, to variations in microbial processes involved in grassland nitrogen turnover.

Methods

In mountain grasslands distributed across three European sites, a correlative approach was used to examine the role of a large range of plant functional traits and soil abiotic factors on microbial variables, including gene abundance of nitrifiers and denitrifiers and their potential activities.

Key Results

Direct effects of soil abiotic parameters were found to have the most significant influence on the microbial groups investigated. Indirect pathways via plant functional traits contributed substantially to explaining the relative abundance of fungi and bacteria and gene abundances of the investigated microbial communities, while they explained little of the variance in microbial activities. Gene abundances of nitrifiers and denitrifiers were most strongly related to below-ground plant traits, suggesting that they were the most relevant traits for explaining variation in community structure and abundances of soil microbes involved in nitrification and denitrification.

Conclusions

The results suggest that consideration of plant traits, and especially below-ground traits, increases our ability to describe variation in the abundances and the functional characteristics of microbial communities in grassland soils.     

土壤动物群落空间格局和构建机制研究进展

群落空间格局和构建机制一直是生态学研究的核心内容。在生物多样性严重丧失的背景下, 揭示群落空间格局及其构建机制, 有助于深刻理解生物多样性丧失的原因, 更有助于应对生物多样性保护等重大生态环境问题。然而, 陆地生态系统的研究多集中于地上生物群落, 对地下生态系统, 尤其是土壤动物空间格局和构建机制的研究尚不充分。事实上, 土壤动物多样性是全球生物多样性的关键组成之一, 是地下生态系统结构和功能维持的重要部分。对土壤动物空间格局和构建机制的研究, 能明确不同空间尺度条件下土壤动物多样性的维持机制。土壤动物群落常在多种空间尺度形成复杂的空间分布格局, 因此, 本文首先介绍了不同空间尺度主要土壤动物群落的空间自相关性特征, 阐述了土壤动物群落斑块和孔隙镶嵌分布的复杂空间格局。继而阐明这种空间格局主要受生物间作用、环境过滤和随机扩散的调控, 并说明这三个过程对土壤动物群落的调控能力和作用方式。作者提出, 这三个过程仍是今后土壤动物群落空间格局和构建机制研究的重点内容, 需要进一步加强以土壤动物为研究对象的群落构建理论的验证和发展。我国土壤动物群落空间格局和构建机制起步较晚, 希望本文能够促进我国土壤动物生态学相关领域的研究。