不同降水条件下内蒙古荒漠草原主要植物物候对长期增温和氮添加的响应

植物物候是生态系统对气候变化响应的重要指示器, 是植物生产力与植被动态模拟的重要参数。但是植物物候对全球变化的响应是否存在年际间变异、年内变异、物种间变异或生境间变异, 以及如何改变, 目前仍然不明确。该研究基于内蒙古荒漠草原长期增温和氮添加实验平台, 选择优势植物短花针茅(Stipa breviflora)、冷蒿(Artemisia frigida)和木地肤(Kochia prostrata)为研究对象, 使用物候打分观测方法和Richards生长曲线拟合方法, 研究了实验处理第11、12和13年(2016-2018年)期间增温和氮添加对植物物候的影响。研究结果表明: (1)短花针茅开花时间集中在第129-145天, 冷蒿开花时间集中在第230-248天, 木地肤开花时间集中在第194-222天。增温、氮添加和增温+氮添加均使短花针茅和木地肤开花时间趋于提前, 冷蒿开花时间趋于推迟。(2)短花针茅结果时间集中在第134-148天, 冷蒿结果时间集中在第241-260天, 木地肤结果时间集中在第207-231天。增温、氮添加和增温+氮添加处理均使短花针茅和木地肤结果时间趋于提前, 冷蒿结果时间趋于推迟。(3)短花针茅生殖生长持续12-25天, 冷蒿生殖生长持续48-55天, 木地肤生殖生长持续45-77天。增温、增温+氮添加缩短了短花针茅而延长了冷蒿和木地肤的生殖生长时间。     

外源氮输入和水分变化对荒漠草原凋落物分解的影响

全球气候变化背景下,大气氮沉降和降水变化日益显著,其对荒漠草原凋落物分解的影响存在很大的不确定性.采用裂区设计,设置主区为自然降雨、增雨30%和减雨30% 3个水分处理,副区为0(N₀)、30(N₃₀)、50(N₅₀)和100 kg·hm^-2·a^-1(N₁₀₀)4个氮素水平,经过21个月(2016年1月—2017年10月)水氮处理,研究水氮共同作用对荒漠草原常见物种猪毛菜、短花针茅和木地肤3种植物凋落物分解的影响.结果表明: 3种凋落物干物质残留率随时间增加而减少,用Olson负指数衰减模型拟合效果较好,凋落物分解系数(k)大小为猪毛菜>短花针茅>木地肤.增雨30%N₁₀₀处理分解系数最高,为0.028.单因素处理下,增雨30%和N₅₀的凋落物分解最快.水氮共同作用下,增雨 30%N₁₀₀处理凋落物分解最快.3种凋落物初始化学全氮含量大小为猪毛菜>短花针茅>木地肤,猪毛菜和短花针茅k值与全氮含量呈显著正相关;全碳含量、纤维素含量、木质素含量、C/N、木质素/N和纤维素/N大小为木地肤>短花针茅>猪毛菜,猪毛菜k值与各指标均呈显著负相关,短花针茅和木地肤k值与C/N、木质素/N和纤维素/N均呈显著负相关.猪毛菜分解最快,木地肤分解最慢.适量的水、氮添加有利于荒漠草原凋落物的分解,可以促进土壤养分循环,对荒漠草原可持续发展及生态平衡有积极作用.     

增温和氮素添加对内蒙古荒漠草原植物生殖物候的影响

植物物候是响应气候变化的敏感生物指示性状,在气候变暖并伴随着大气氮沉降增加的背景下,物候变化是气候变迁导致群落结构和生态系统功能变化的重要机制。本研究在以短花针茅(Stipa breviflora)为建群种的内蒙古荒漠草原设置了增温、氮素添加及其交互作用的实验平台,对短花针茅、木地肤(Kochia prostrata)、银灰旋花(Convolvulus ammannii)和细叶韭(Allium tenuissimum)4种多年生优势植物的开花、结实等物候期和生殖生长持续时间进行连续3个生长季(2008—2010年)的观察,植物物候观测采用定株标记,并对各植株上所有物候状态进行打分并以其非加权平均值作为植株整体物候分值,全年观测结束后将植株的物候分值随时间的变化利用Richards方程进行拟合,最终根据回归方程计算植物各物候期。结果表明:1)在3个生长季中,增温使4个植物种的平均开花、结实时间分别显著地提前了2.28和1.88 d·a-1;2)氮素添加对这些植物种的开花和结实时间都没有显著性影响;3)同时进行增温和氮素添加处理使植物的平均开花、结实时间分别提前1.75和1.53 d·a-1,但2种处理之间没有交互作用;4)增温使这些植物的平均生殖生长持续时间显著延长0.84 d·a-1,使短花针茅和木地肤生殖生长持续时间分别延长了1.20和3.25d·a-1。氮素添加使细叶葱的平均生殖持续时间显著缩短了1.52 d·a-1。这些结果揭示了气温升高和氮沉降影响下荒漠草原优势植物生殖物候的变化,将为分析不同种植物对各类资源需求规律的变化提供直接的实验证据,对于进一步预测全球变化背景下种间竞争格局和群落结构的演变趋势具有重要参考价值。     

内蒙古地区短花针茅（Stipa breviflora）种群遗传多样性

短花针茅(Stipa breviflora)属亚洲中部荒漠草原种,分布范围极其广泛,为荒漠草原地带重要的牧草资源.在内蒙古地区,短花针茅群落类型复杂多样,与本氏针茅(S.bungeana)、小针茅(S.klemenzii)和克氏针茅(S.krylovii)均能共同建群,具有很广的生态幅和很强的适应能力.研究以8个不同的短花针茅地理种群为对象,随机采集健康、无锈短花针茅叶片样本,通过RAPD(Random Amplified Polymorphism DNA,RAPD)分析,研究短花针茅种群的遗传多样性,丰富人们对短花针茅生物多样性的认识,也为合理利用短花针茅草原提供依据.结果表明,(1)从102条10碱基随机引物中筛选出28条有效引物,共扩增出308条DNA带,多态性DNA带151条,占49.03%,特异性DNA带45条,占14.61%.(2)遗传多样性较为丰富,多态性位点百分率为49.03%,但低于同种方法获得的大针茅(54.75%)和克氏针茅(74.67%)的遗传多样性.(3)等级聚类、PCA分析和UPGMA聚类3种不同方法都将8个不同地理种群分为同样的两类:暖温性种群和中温性种群,热量差异是主导因素,而且,与种群的空间分布相吻合.(4)经Mantel检验发现,遗传距离与地理距离存在显著相关性(r=0.534,P＜0.05).(5)Pearson相关分析表明,特异性位点百分率与≥10℃积温、干燥度和年平均降水量之间均无显著相关性.     

氮沉降和降雨变化对荒漠草原凋落物分解的影响

以荒漠草原凋落物为研究对象,通过设置自然降雨(CK)、增雨30%(W)和减雨30%(R) 3种水分处理和0 (N0)、30(N30)、50 (N50)和100 kg hm~(-2) a~(-1)(N100)4种氮素(NH_4NO_3)水平处理,用分解袋法,研究内蒙古短花针茅荒漠草原短花针茅(Stipa breviflora)、冷蒿(Artemisia frigida)、无芒隐子草(Cleistogenes songorica)和木地肤(Kochia prostrata)凋落物分解过程,旨在阐明荒漠草原凋落物分解过程及其对氮沉降和降雨变化的响应特征,为荒漠草原生态系统物质循环过程响应气候变化研究提供基础数据。结果表明:1)经过270 d分解后,短花针茅、冷蒿、木地肤和无芒隐子草干物质残留率分别为69.95%—78.67%、68.89%—79.89%、64.68%—79.23%、66.89%—79.38%,分解速率为木地肤无芒隐子草冷蒿短花针茅。2)氮沉降和降雨对短花针茅和冷蒿凋落物分解速率产生显著影响(P0.05),其交互作用对这两种凋落物分解速率不显著(P0.05)。氮沉降和降雨以及交互作用均对无芒隐子草和木地肤凋落物分解速率产生显著影响(P0.05)。3)单一水分或氮素的添加均提高土壤微生物量碳氮含量,而水氮交互作用下更为显著。4)凋落物分解速率受生物及非生物因子的影响,相关分析表明:冷蒿、无芒隐子草、木地肤与土壤微生物量碳呈极显著正相关(P0.01);冷蒿、木地肤、短花针茅与土壤微生物量氮呈极显著正相关(P0.01);木地肤和短花针茅与土壤含水量呈极显著正相关(P0.01);冷蒿、木地肤、短花针茅与地上生物量呈极显著正相关(P0.01)。     

不同放牧强度对短花针茅草原植物种群种间关系的影响

为了解不同放牧强度对荒漠草原植物种群关联对的影响, 以不同放牧强度下短花针茅荒漠草原植物种群为研究对象, 在苏尼特右旗附近的荒漠草原试验示范基地, 设置 3 个放牧强度试验处理(SA1、 SA2、 CK), 于 2013 年 8 月对不同试验处理区种群存在状况和出现频率进行调查和统计, 旨在探讨不同放牧强度下短花针茅荒漠草原植物种群关联关系。结果表明, 3 个植物种群出现频率受放牧强度影响的敏感程度表现为碱韭<无芒隐子草<短花针茅。重度放牧导致显著正相关种对数减少, 物种关联链简单, 关联物种对较少。在研究的放牧强度范围内, 随着放牧强度的增加,植物群落总体关联性呈正联结的变化趋势。短花针茅和无芒隐子草主要表现为无关联性, 短花针茅与碱韭主要表现为负关联性, 无芒隐子草和碱韭受放牧强度影响, 其种间的竞争与亲和作用可以转化。     

Linking plant spatial aggregation with reproductive traits and near-source seed dispersal: ecological adaptation to heavy grazing

植物的生态适应策略一直备受生态学者的关注,然而很少有研究能够整体地、系统地揭示植物适应草食动物的生态过程。本研究以内蒙古荒漠草原建群种短花针茅为研究对象,分析了重度放牧和不放牧处理下短花针茅的繁殖个体性状、种子性状以及土壤种子库和种群空间格局。研究结果表明,生殖个体性状方面,生殖枝数量对营养枝数量有正向影响;土壤种子库方面,短花针茅生殖个体基部的土壤种子库中短花针茅密度显著高于旁边裸地土壤种子库中短花针茅的密度,且与种子性状和裸地土壤种子库显著负相关;在种群空间格局方面,重度放牧下短花针茅种群空间聚集分布。我们的结果认为在重度放牧处理下,生殖活动在短花针茅的资源分配中处于主导地位;短花针茅植物种群通过调控种子形态特征,采用就近扩散的生态策略,促进了幼年种群与成年种群在较小的尺度上空间正关联,从而形成“安全岛”。     

放牧对短花针茅荒漠草原建群种与优势种空间分布关系的影响

采用多种分析方法探讨放牧对短花针茅荒漠草原建群种与优势种无芒隐子草、碱韭的种群空间分布关系的影响.结果表明: 短花针茅+无芒隐子草+碱韭群落的景观特征主要由草原的土壤理化性质和种群的固有属性决定.自由放牧导致的空间分布的变异程度为碱韭>无芒隐子草>短花针茅.自由放牧对短花针茅和碱韭密度的影响显著,但对无芒隐子草影响不大.随着无芒隐子草密度的增加,自由放牧区短花针茅密度呈现增大趋势,而围封区短花针茅种群密度呈现先增大后减小的趋势;自由放牧区和围封区内短花针茅密度均随碱韭密度的增加而减小.表明植物种群种间关系存在密度效应,在受到外界干扰的情况下,密度效应可能消失;因植物种对或干扰条件不同,植物种间关系可以有多种表现形式.     

不同尺度下荒漠草原建群种短花针茅的空间分布对载畜率的响应

为探讨不同尺度下短花针茅种群密度空间分布对载畜率的响应特点及差异,本研究以内蒙古四子王旗短花针茅荒漠草原建群物种短花针茅为对象,分析了不同尺度(1 m×1 m小尺度和5 m×10 m中尺度)下对照、轻度放牧、中度放牧和重度放牧4种处理短花针茅种群的空间异质性。结果表明: 与小尺度相比,中尺度的对照与轻度放牧下短花针茅种群密度显著降低。在2种尺度下,与对照相比,放牧使得短花针茅种群密度显著增加。通过半方差函数进行模型拟合, 小尺度下,对照、轻度放牧、中度放牧及重度放牧样地短花针茅种群分布分别符合线性、指数、指数和指数模型,中尺度下分别为高斯、指数、高斯和指数模型。不同尺度和放牧强度下短花针茅种群空间结构发生改变,小尺度下,对照样地短花针茅分布格局较简单、空间结构较好;而重度放牧样地短花针茅分布格局较复杂、空间结构较差;中尺度下,重度放牧样地短花针茅分布格局较简单、空间结构较好,而中度放牧样地短花针茅分布格局较复杂、空间结构较差。中、小尺度下,中度和重度放牧使得短花针茅种群空间异质性降低且分布更为均匀;此外,对照、中度和重度放牧下中、小尺度短花针茅种群空间分布趋势基本一致,而轻度放牧则有所不同。     

放牧强度对荒漠草原建群种短花针茅空间异质性的影响

为探讨不同放牧强度下短花针茅种群密度空间分布的变化特点及差异,本研究以内蒙古四子王旗短花针茅荒漠草原建群物种短花针茅为对象,分析了对照、轻度放牧、中度放牧和重度放牧4块样地短花针茅种群小尺度空间分布异质性.结果表明: 短花针茅种群密度分别为重度放牧(27.81株·m^-2)>中度放牧(22.17株·m^-2)>对照(11.31株·m^-2)>轻度放牧(10.76株·m^-2),中度与重度放牧显著增加了短花针茅种群密度;通过半方差函数进行模型拟合,对照、轻度放牧、中度放牧及重度放牧样地短花针茅种群分布分别符合指数模型、球状模型、指数模型和球状模型;通过对短花针茅种群的空间分布格局分析,各样地结构比分别为对照(99.7%)>重度放牧(94.7%)>轻度放牧(92.7%)>中度放牧(87.9%),表明4块草地空间自相关性程度均较高,主要受结构性因素影响,中度放牧草地短花针茅种群结构比最小,受随机性因素影响相对较大;通过分形维数分析,4块草地空间结构良好,空间分布简单,并随着放牧强度增大,空间分布更简单且均质化;结合2D及3D图看,轻度放牧及重度放牧均造成短花针茅种群空间分布从梯度分布变成斑块分布,并使空间异质性降低.     

Tracking down the "head blob": comparative analysis of wingless expression in the developing insect procephalon reveals progressive reduction of embryonic visual system patterning in higher insects

The evolution of larval head morphology in holometabolous insects is characterized by reduction of antennal appendages and the visual system components. Little insight has been gained into molecular developmental changes underlying this morphological diversification. Here we compare the expression of the segment polarity gene wingless (wg) in the pregnathal head of fruit fly, flour beetle and grasshopper embryos. We provide evidence that wg activity contributes to segment border formation, and, subsequently, the separation of the visual system and protocerebrum anlagen in the anterior procephalon. In directly developing insects like grasshopper, seven expression domains are formed during this process. The activation of four of these, which correspond to polar expression pairs in the optic lobe anlagen and the protocerebral ectoderm, has shifted to postembryonic stages in flour beetle and Drosophila. The remaining three domains map to the protocerebral neuroectoderm, and form by disintegration of a large precursor domain in flour beetle and grasshopper. In Drosophila, the precursor domain remains intact, constituting the previously described “head blob”. These data document major changes in the expression of an early patterning gene correlated with the dramatic evolution of embryonic visual system development in the Holometabola.     

Removal of wastewater pathogen indicators in a constructed wetland in Leon, Spain

This paper studies the seasonal presence and removal of the pathogenous micro-organisms Escherichia coli, total coliforms (TC), Clostridium perfringens (Cp), faecal streptococci (FS), Giardia cysts, Cryptosporidium oocysts and helminth eggs, in a constructed wetland treatment system. The removal efficiency of this system with respect to the indicator micro-organisms achieved maximum values in spring and autumn at 99.9% for E. coli and TC, respectively, in winter at 97.0% for FS, in summer at 100% for Clostridium and throughout the year, also at 100%, in the case of Giardia cysts, Cryptosporidium oocysts and helminth eggs. In general, very low protozoan and helminth egg counts were found, and the system demonstrated efficient reduction of the wastewater indicator pathogens.     

Molecular identification of Taenia spp. in wolves (Canis lupus), brown bears (Ursus arctos) and cervids from North Europe and Alaska

Taenia tapeworms of Finnish and Swedish wolves (Canis lupus) and Finnish brown bears (Ursus arctos), and muscle cysticerci of Svalbard reindeer (Rangifer tarandus platyrhynchus), Alaskan Grant's caribou (Rangifer tarandus granti) and Alaskan moose (Alces americanus) were identified on the basis of the nucleotide sequence of a 396 bp region of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 gene. Two species were found from wolves: Taenia hydatigena and Taenia krabbei. The cysticerci of reindeer, caribou and one moose also represented T. krabbei. Most of the cysticercal specimens from Alaskan moose, however, belonged to an unknown T. krabbei-like species, which had been reported previously from Eurasian elks (Alces alces) from Finland. Strobilate stages from two bears belonged to this species as well. The present results suggest that this novel Taenia sp. has a Holarctic distribution and uses Alces spp. as intermediate and ursids as final hosts.     

Changes of dung beetle communities from rainforests towards agroforestry systems and annual cultures in Sulawesi (Indonesia)

Little is known about how tropical land-use systems contribute to the conservation of functionally important insect groups, including dung beetles. In a study at the margin of Lore Lindu National Park (a biodiversity hotspot in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia) dung-beetle communities were sampled in natural forest, young secondary forest, agroforestry systems (cacao plantations with shade trees) and annual cultures (maize fields), each with four replicates (n = 16 sites). At each site we used 10 pitfall traps, baited with cattle dung, along a 100 m transect for six 3-day periods. The number of trapped specimens and species richness at the natural forest sites was higher than in all land-use systems, which did not significantly differ. Each land-use system contained, on average, 75% of the species richness of the natural forest, thereby indicating their importance for conservation. However, a two-dimensional scaling plot based on NESS indices (m = 6) indicated distinct dung beetle communities for both forest types, while agroforestry systems and annual cultures exhibited a pronounced overlap. Mean body size of dung beetles was not significantly influenced by land-use intensity. Five of the six most abundant dung beetle species were recorded in all habitats, whereas the abundance of five other species was significantly related to habitat type. Mean local abundance and number of occupied sites were closely correlated, further indicating little habitat specialisation. The low dung beetle diversity (total of 18 recorded species) may be due to the absence of larger mammals in Sulawesi during historical times, even though Sulawesi is the largest island of Wallacea. In conclusion, the dung beetle fauna of the lower montane forest zone in Central Sulawesi appears to be relatively robust to man-made habitat changes and the majority of species did not exhibit strong habitat preferences.     

Planting densities and bird and rodent absence affect size distributions of four dicots in synthetic tallgrass communities

Variability in the size distributions of populations is usually studied in monocultures or in mixed plantings of two species. Variability of size distributions of populations in more complex communities has been neglected. The effects of seeding density (35 or 350 seeds/species/m²) and presence of small vertebrates on the variability of size distributions were studied for a total of 1,920 individuals of 4 species in replicated synthetic communities of 18 species in northern Illinois. End-of season height and above-ground biomass were measured for prairie perennials Dalea purpurea (purple prairie clover), Echinacea purpurea (purple coneflower), Desmanthus illinoensis (Illinois bundleflower) and Heliopsis helianthoides (early sunflower). Variability in biomass distribution of the four target species was twice as great at low than at high densities when small vertebrates were excluded. Our results suggest that inter- and intraspecific competition may affect all individuals more under high-density conditions, thereby reducing the variability in their biomass distributions within this community. This result, a consequence of plant-plant interaction, is obscured when small birds or mammals are present, presumably because either or both add variance that overwhelms the pattern.     

Diversity and structure of shrew communities in montane forests of southeast Kenya

As a step towards setting conservation priorities for declining moist forests in southeast Kenya, we assessed for small mammal diversity and distribution. These habitats are under severe pressure due to increased demand an forests products and arable land, yet there is a dearth of information an impacts an biodiversity. Over an eight-month period, we used a combination of box and pitfall traps with drift fences to study 13 forest fragments in five geographic areas ranging between 3°28′−4°10′ S and 38°28′−39°2b′ E. We recorded 12 species including 10 soricids and two macroscelids in 31440 trap nights. Diversity estimates using rarefaction method indicate a species richness of 12, consistent with our collection. There were six unique species, each limited in distribution to one forest fragment. Our record of Crocidura cf. selina in Kyulu Hills is the first outside Mabira forest in Uganda where it is considered endemic and endangered. We also report the first record of C. fuscomurina in Kenya, white those of C. Luna and Suncus megalura are first in the southeast of the country. By providing new ranges to four species, our study is of significance to the biogeography and conservation of forest small mammals in the region.     

Foreign exploration for Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and associated natural enemies on avocado (Persea americana Miller)

Scirtothrips perseae Nakahara was discovered attacking avocados in California, USA, in 1996. Host plant surveys in California indicated that S. perseae has a highly restricted host range with larvae being found only on avocados, while adults were collected from 11 different plant species. As part of a management program for this pest, a “classical” biological control program was initiated and foreign exploration was conducted to delineate the home range of S. perseae, to survey for associated natural enemies and inventory other species of phytophagous thrips on avocados grown in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, and Brazil. Foreign exploration efforts indicate that S. perseae occurs on avocados grown at high altitudes (>1500 m) from Uruapan in Mexico south to areas around Guatemala City in Guatemala. In Costa Rica, S. perseae is replaced by an undescribed congener as the dominant phytophagous thrips on avocados grown at high altitudes (>1300 m). No species of Scirtothrips were found on avocados in the Dominican Republic, Trinidad, or Brazil. In total, 2136 phytophagous thrips were collected and identified, representing over 47 identified species from at least 19 genera. The significance of these species records is discussed. Of collected material 4% were potential thrips biological control agents. Natural enemies were dominated by six genera of predatory thrips (Aeolothrips, Aleurodothrips, Franklinothrips, Leptothrips, Scolothrips, and Karnyothrips). One genus each of parasitoid (Ceranisus) and predatory mite (Balaustium) were found. Based on the results of our sampling techniques, prospects for the importation of thrips natural enemies for use in a “classical” biological control program in California against S. perseae are not promising.     

Molecular phylogeny of Phebalium (Rutaceae: Boronieae) and related genera based on the nrDNA regions ITS 1+2

Parsimony analyses of the internal transcribed spacer regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS 1 & ITS 2) for 38 taxa sampled from the Phebalium group (Rutaceae: Boronieae) and two outgroups confirm that, with the exception of Phebalium sensu stricto and Rhadinothamnus, six of the currently recognised genera within the group are monophyletic. The data indicate that Phebaliums. str. is paraphyletic with respect to Microcybe, and Rhadinothamnus is paraphyletic with respect to Chorilaena. Rhadinothamnus and Chorilaena together are the sister group to Nematolepis. Drummondita, included as an outgroup taxon, clustered within the ingroup as sister to Muiriantha and related to Asterolasia.The phylogeny suggests that the evolution of major clades within a number of these genera (e.g. Phebalium) relates to vicariance events between eastern and south-western Australia. Leionema is an eastern genus, with the most basal taxon being the morphologically distinct Leionema ellipticum from northern Queensland. Leionema also includes one species from New Zealand, but this species (as with some others) proved difficult to sequence and its phylogenetic position remains unknown. Taxonomic changes at the generic level are recommended.The authors wish to thank Paul G.Wilson, PERTH, for advice and discussion, and Paul Forster, BRI, for collecting and providing material of Leionema ellipticum. The project was supported by a Melbourne University Postgraduate Award (to BM), the Australian Biological Resources Study (ABRS), Australian Systematic Botany Society and Wolf Den (Australia) Investments.     

An Evaluation of the Rust FungusGymnoconia nitensas a Potential Biological Control Agent for AlienRubusSpecies in Hawaii

The rust fungusGymnoconia nitensinfects blackberry (Rubus argutus) systemically in regions of the continental United States, producing bright yellow–orange masses of spores on newly developing floricanes during springtime. In tests to determine the suitability of this rust as a biological control agent forR. penetransin Hawaii, a species now thought to be conspecific withR. argutus,rooted cuttings of the Hawaiian plants were grown at North Carolina State University, inoculated, and observed. Other introduced weedyRubusspp. in Hawaii, includingR. ellipticus, R. rosifolius,andR. glaucus,as well as the two endemic speciesR. hawaiensisandR. macraei,also were inoculated. No species ofRubusare of commercial importance in Hawaii, but the protection of the native species, of whichR. macraeiis rare, was of utmost concern. The native Hawaiian species did not survive well in North Carolina in this study, however. Later availability of a plant pathogen containment laboratory in Hawaii enabled similar tests to be conducted at that facility. In addition to the above species,R. spectabilis(salmonberry), a species native to the Pacific Northwest with which the HawaiianRubusspp. are thought to share a common ancestor, was inoculated in Hawaii. Infection withG. nitensunder natural field conditions becomes apparent only when sporulation occurs on floricanes the second year following infection. However, experimental inoculation led to early responses of chlorotic leaf flecking and puckering, leaf and stem contortion, and stem gall formation, indicating the sensitivity ofR. penetrans(=R. argutus),R. hawaiensis,andR. macraeito this rust. Apparent systemic infection also resulted in sporulation on one plant ofR. macraei.Ability to attack the endemic species suggests thatG. nitenswould not be suitable for release in Hawaii as a biological control agent, at least on the islands with populations of the native species.