樟子松人工林分枝结构的分析

基于对6块樟子松(Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica)人工林固定标准地中的30株样木枝解析调查数据,通过分析不同林分、不同大小林木1级枝和2级枝的分枝概率、分枝格局和分枝角度,揭示了樟子松人工林树冠的分枝结构特点。研究结果表明：樟子松人工林1级枝和2级枝的平均分枝数量分别为3.84个和2.80个,两者分枝概率均呈正态分布;1级和2级枝条在光照条件好的几个区间（方位角46°～225°）分布较多,1级枝条的水平分布遵从均匀分布,而2级枝条则不遵从均匀分布;树冠上层枝条的分枝角度略小于树冠中、下层,上层平均分枝角度为45.6°,而中下层平均分枝角度都为49.4°。不同大小林木的1级枝分枝结构规律表明：Ⅰ级木和Ⅴ级木的每轮平均分枝数非常接近,分别为3.89和3.94个,比Ⅲ级木每轮分枝数大0.5个左右;1级枝水平分布在各区间内(45°间隔)相差在0.24%～2.81%之间,方差分析结果表明枝条水平分布与林木大小无关;不同大小林木的分枝角度有所差别,Ⅰ级木、Ⅲ级木和Ⅴ级木的平均分枝角度分别为48.5°、42.2°和50.7°。     

太白红杉顶芽与分枝格局的适应性分析

野外调查发现太白红杉 (L arix chinensis)枝条顶芽死亡比例较高 ,顶芽死亡对分枝格局产生较大影响 ,可形成 3种分枝类型 : 型、 型和 型。对 3种分枝类型枝条的芽数量、计盒维数以及植冠不同部位的分枝类型比例、顶芽死亡比例、主侧枝平均枝长和主侧枝总数量分别进行了统计分析。结果显示 ,芽数量 : 型 (115 .3) < 型 (15 4 .8) < 型 (2 0 9.9) ;计盒维数 : 型(1.30 5 ) < 型 (1.4 0 0 ) < 型 (1.5 37) ;顶芽死亡比例由树冠上层至下层逐渐提高 ,而冠层东南西北 4个方向的顶芽死亡比例无显著差异 ;主侧枝平均枝长由树冠上层至下层逐渐增加 ,而主侧枝总数量则逐渐降低 ;由于风、光照、坡度和坡向的影响 ,冠层4个方向间的主侧枝平均枝长和总数量均存在显著差异 ; 型分枝使植冠半径扩大 , 型分枝快速扩展植冠的横向空间 , 型分枝在扩展空间的基础上并实现对空间的有效占据。研究表明太白红杉枝条中一定比例的顶芽死亡增加了分枝形态的多样性 ,表现出顶芽和分枝格局的环境适应性 ,有利于提高树冠的空间占据能力     

银杏枝、花、种子在树冠上的分布格局及其相互关系研究

采用分层调查的方法研究了１４年生银杏嫁接植株树冠上枝、花、种子的分布格局及其相互关系。结果表明,长枝、短枝、短果枝和花主要分布在树冠中部,且分布比较均匀,树冠上从上到下,长枝平均年龄逐渐增大,分枝角度逐渐升高,种子主要集中分布在距地面１８０－３２０ｃｍ的体积冠层中,这一冠层中的种子数占植株种子总数的５１．３％,不同冠层中枝、花、种子数量之间密切相关     

海岸梯度上黑松针叶化学计量特征的变化规律

风对树木形态、生理和生长的影响一直是生态学研究的热点和难点问题,目前主要采用模拟风速或机械刺激的方式来研究树木对风胁迫的响应与适应变化,无法准确反映出树木在风环境下的长期适应机制。揭示自然环境下树木对风胁迫的长期适应机制,测定了海岸梯度上迎风面和背风面60年生黑松林(Pinus thunbergii)针叶有机碳、氮、磷、钾、钙、钠、镁元素含量,并分析元素含量及其化学计量特征的变化规律。结果表明:黑松林迎风面针叶有机碳含量随离海岸距离的减小显著降低(P0.05);而氮、磷、钾、钙、钠、镁含量则显著增加(P0.05);氮磷比保持相对稳定。黑松林背风面针叶除钙和钠含量随离海岸距离的减小逐渐增加外,其他元素含量变化规律均不明显;距海岸500 m内黑松针叶化学计量特征差异显著(P0.05),其后趋于相对稳定。黑松林迎风面针叶化学计量特征普遍存在相关关系,背风面仅针叶氮和磷、钙和钠间存在相关关系,且与迎风面存在共同的SMA斜率和截距。研究表明,海岸梯度上风胁迫会显著改变黑松针叶化学元素含量,但其比值相对稳定;随海岸距离减少,风胁迫增加,针叶碳同化能力受到明显影响,黑松通过针叶氮、磷、钾、钙、钠、镁含量的增加来提高耐风胁迫的能力,这可能是自然环境下黑松对长期风胁迫的一种适应策略。     

薰衣草枝叶性状关系的个体大小依赖

植物枝叶性状的个体大小差异,是植物适应异质性环境所形成的冠层构建策略,对于理解枝叶构建机制及光合生理代谢具有重要意义。于2017年7月下旬,在金水湖湿地公园选择一块薰衣草样地,根据体积将薰衣草(Lavandula angustifolia)分为3个大小等级[I级:植株体积的立方根(d)≤60 cm、II级(60 cmd≤90 cm)和III级(d90 cm)],采用一元线性回归方法,研究了薰衣草种群枝叶性状的个体大小依赖。结果表明:随着薰衣草植株大小等级增大,薰衣草的叶面积、枝长度、枝数量和枝横截面积逐渐增大,而叶数量、叶厚度和分枝角度逐渐减小。薰衣草叶面积、枝长度和枝数量与个体大小呈极显著的正相关(P0.01),枝横截面积与个体大小呈显著的正相关(P0.05),叶数量和叶厚度与个体大小呈极显著的负相关(P0.01),分枝角度与个体大小呈显著的负相关(P0.01)。为提高资源利用效率,大个体薰衣草选择生长少量大而薄的叶片以及分配更多的生物量用于小枝的生长;而小个体薰衣草选择生长多数小而厚的叶片以及短而细的枝条,体现了不同大小等级薰衣草枝叶表型可塑性。     

海岸梯度上黑松针叶形态与解剖结构性状的变化规律

风对树木形态、生理和生长的影响一直是生态学研究的热点和难点问题,目前主要采用模拟风速或机械刺激的方式来研究树木对风胁迫的响应与适应变化,无法准确反映出树木在风环境下的长期适应机制。本文以海岸60年生黑松林（Pinus thunbergii）为对象,分析了海岸距离梯度上黑松迎风面和背风面针叶长度、宽度、面积、比叶面积、角质层厚度、表皮厚度等形态和解剖结构特征的变化规律。结果表明：黑松迎风面针叶长度、宽度、周长、面积、厚度和比叶面积随着离海岸距离的减小逐渐减小（P<0.05）;而表皮厚度、角质层厚度和导管孔径则随着离海岸距离的减小逐渐增加（P<0.05）;背风面各指标均无明显变化规律。黑松迎风面与背风面针叶性状（比叶面积除外）主要在海岸500 m内存在显著差异（P<0.05）。可以看出,随着海风胁迫的增加,黑松通过降低针叶长、宽等形态指标,有效减少了风胁迫下黑松的受力面积,是一种躲避策略;而增加针叶表皮、角质层厚度和导管孔径等解剖结构指标,则增强了针叶坚韧性和保证针叶的水分供应,是一种忍受策略,这些策略有利于该树种在大风环境中得以更好的生存。     

不同密度旱柳的树冠构型与光截获

植物可以通过调整树冠构型和光截获来增强自身的光合效率和竞争力。在甘肃省张掖市黑河干流边缘的洪泛平原湿地选取I(25–36 Ind.·plot–1)、II(37–48 Ind.·plot–1)和III(49–60 Ind.·plot–1)3个密度梯度,研究了不同密度旱柳(Salix matsudana)的冠层厚度、冠层面积和冠层光截获,以及它们的相互关系。结果表明:随旱柳种群密度增加,土壤水分逐渐增加、土壤电导率和水分利用率逐渐减小,旱柳枝长度与冠层厚度呈逐渐增大的趋势,光合有效辐射、分枝数、分枝角度与冠层面积呈逐渐减小的趋势,叶面积指数和光截获、净光合速率和蒸腾速率在中密度样地最大;旱柳的光截获与冠层厚度和冠层面积在低密度样地分别呈极显著正相关和负相关关系,在高密度样地呈显著正相关和负相关关系(p0.05),在中密度样地均呈极显著正相关关系(p0.01)。旱柳在低密度选择减小光截获与冠层厚度而增大冠层面积的水平空间拓展模式,在高密度倾向于垂直空间拓展模式,反映了植物树冠构型在不同生境中的表型可塑性变化。     

天然和人工种植胡杨植冠的构型分析

研究准噶尔盆地南缘荒漠植物天然胡杨和人工种植胡杨的枝系构型特征,可为荒漠植物的生态适生性和进化机制及防风林的配置提供理论上的依据。本文研究了天然胡杨和人工种植胡杨的枝系构型特征值(分枝长度、分枝角度、枝径比和分枝率等),并对比研究了它们的构型差异,探究了荒漠植物形态-功能特性及其对生境的反应与适应机制。结果表明:植冠构型不同层次格局中,天然胡杨各级分枝长度和分枝角度从冠层顶部到基部均表现为逐渐变大的趋势,而人工种植胡杨各级分枝长度则表现为先增加再减小的趋势,且分枝角度表现为逐渐增大的趋势;各级分枝长度为人工种植胡杨天然胡杨(P0.05),从当年生到3级分枝长度为天然胡杨人工种植胡杨,且它们枝条的伸展能力从第3级到当年生分枝呈现相对减弱的趋势;各分枝角为天然胡杨人工种植胡,从当年生到第3级枝条分枝角呈现逐渐增加的趋势;各级枝径比为人工种植胡杨天然胡杨(P0.05),即人工种植胡杨枝条的承载能力显著高于天然胡杨;人工种植胡杨分枝率大于天然胡杨(P0.05);人工种植胡杨的整体构型呈现为"半椭球"型,而天然胡杨的整体构型呈现为"金字塔"型。     

太白红杉分枝格局的可塑性研究

研究了不同竞争类型和地形因子对太白红杉分枝格局的影响。结果发现：(1)处于不同竞争地位的太白红杉分枝格局有较大差异,主要是分枝率、枝长和枝间距变化明显;(2)太白红杉南、北方向的分枝格局有明显差异,主要是分枝率、枝长和末级枝的分枝角度的差异;而东、西方向上无明显差异;(3)由于受到地形的影响,太白红杉个体中存在明显的侧枝上转现象。研究结果表明：处于不同竞争地位的太白红杉植株在分枝格局上表现出明显的差异,太白红杉不同方位的分枝也具有较大的差异,说明太白红杉植冠构型具有较强的形态可塑性和适应性。     

不同光环境下桂花幼苗的构型差异

通过对不同光照条件下桂花幼苗的冠形、分枝率、叶片在树冠中的空间分布等特征进行研究,结果表明桂花幼苗构型发生了明显的可塑性适应:其树冠对光照条件的变化有显著的可塑性响应。在林隙中的幼苗受光的间歇性影响,总体分枝率明显小于全光、林冠下的幼苗分枝率。全光的幼苗叶片集中于二级枝,叶片长度和叶片面积相对较小,对光照利用充分;而林隙中的幼苗叶片集中于一级枝,避免处于植冠内侧受到遮蔽,表现出较大的叶片长度和叶面积;林冠下的叶片较均匀分布在一、二级枝上,叶片总数量较少,枝条高生长较全光下明显。幼苗在总体分枝格局中表现出独自的特点,即强光环境下产生短枝和高分枝率,在适度庇荫条件下产生长枝及低分枝率,在强度庇荫条件下以较长枝和较高分枝率来同时满足高生长和横向生长的需求。     

Presence of shrubs influences the spatial pattern of soil seed banks in desert herbaceous vegetation

Question: Do shrubs influence the spatial pattern of soil seed banks in herbaceous vegetation and are these effects influenced by wind direction, sampling position (windward vs leeward sides of the shrub) and distance from the shrub? Location: Horqin desert in eastern Inner Mongolia, China. Methods: A pioneer shrub, Artemisia halodendron, occurring in a mobile sandy habitat was used as a case study. Species composition and abundance of the seed bank and established herbaceous vegetation around six target shrubs were sampled along transects aligned to the four main wind directions and at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4.5 and 6 m from the shrub base on both windward and leeward sides of a transect. Results: The presence of shrubs significantly modified the spatial pattern of seed deposition, but effects varied with wind direction, sampling position and distance from the shrub. More seeds were deposited on the leeward side than on the windward sides in all four transects, especially on transects with the most prevailing wind directions. Shrubs also caused a marked variation in seed deposition across sampling locations; this effect was more pronounced on the leeward side of transects with the most prevailing wind directions, suggesting the mean range of the shrub's influence is within ca. 2 m. Conclusions: The study shows clear evidence of shrubs as a source of spatial heterogeneity in seed availability in the herbaceous layer. Shrub presence effects were strongly influenced by complex interactions between wind direction, sampling position, and distance from the shrub.     

桂花植冠的枝系构型分析

采用Strahler法对福建省石峰寨风景区内的不同生长发育阶段桂花(Osmanthus fragrans)的枝系构型进行了统计分析。结果表明:桂花的分枝格局参数,除总体分枝率和逐步分枝率SBR1:2无显著变化外,其余参数因发育阶段的不同,均发生不同程度的变化。枝系构型的比较分析表明:成树阶段高生长不明显,以拓展上层空间为主,幼苗阶段表现出高生长,幼树阶段则表现出从高生长向横向生长过渡的趋势。通过分析叶片配置发现:在不同枝系上,叶片均集中于植冠内一级枝和二级枝上;叶片的大小从幼苗、幼树到成树阶段逐渐增大。这些说明桂花在不同生长发育阶段,枝系构型表现出一定的可塑性,反映了不同的适应对策。     

四川大头茶的分枝率和顶芽动态

以四川大头茶植株的枝和顶芽为基本构件单元,对不同年龄级成熟植株的分枝率和枯芽数动态进行了研究。结果表明：四川大头茶成株任一种分枝率在种群内不同龄级植析间以及在同一植株内不同发育位置的主枝间无显著变化;而同一主枝内各类型分枝率并非按相同的几何及数增减,即枝内各类分枝率间具显著的差异。     

模拟长期大风对木本猪毛菜表观特征的影响

风是一个重要的生态因子,对植物地上部分的生长和构型有重要影响。植物表观特征对植物获取光能、抵抗外界机械压力有着重要作用。木本猪毛菜(Salsola arbuscula Pall.)是新疆达坂城大风区植被的共建种,也是该区植被恢复潜在的先锋植物。为了研究木本猪毛菜在长期大风环境中形成的独特适应机制,以盆栽实验为手段,设置3个风速(小风:3 m/s,中风:7 m/s,大风:12 m/s),持续吹风105d,定量分析长期大风作用下木本猪毛菜地上部分的生长和空间构型的变化。结果表明:(1)风胁迫减小了木本猪毛菜的株高,增大了其顺风向的基径;大风减小了木本猪毛菜的叶片长度,中风和小风对其叶片长度没有影响;大风和中风增加了木本猪毛菜的叶片数,小风对叶片数没有影响。(2)木本猪毛菜植冠的空间构型在迎风面和背风面出现明显的不对称性;风胁迫减小了木本猪毛菜的主茎弯曲角度、叶倾角;大风和小风减小了木本猪毛菜的冠幅,中风没有影响;大风和中风减小了木本猪毛菜的枝倾角,小风没有影响;木本猪毛菜在大风和中风作用下出现了二级分枝,在小风作用下没有出现二级分枝。木本猪毛菜主要通过减小自身的扩大生长,增加空间构型的不对称性,减小枝与叶的受力面积等方式来降低风的阻力,以适应长期大风。     

Seed distribution of four co-occurring grasses around Artemisia halodendron shrubs in a sandy habitat

In a natural population of the perennial semi-shrub Artemisia halodendron in a shifting sandy habitat in the Horqin Desert of eastern Inner Mongolia, six isolated adult A. halodendron individuals of similar canopy size were chosen as target plants. The density of seeds in the top 5 cm soil depth around shrubs was measured using transects aligned to the four main wind directions and at different distances from the shrub base on both the windward and leeward sides. The effects of shrub presence on seed distribution of four co-occurring grasses were examined by linking seed distribution to seed traits. Of the four species, Setaris viridis and Eragrostis pilosa had small but similar seed mass, while Chloris virgata and Aristida adscensionis had large but similar seed mass. The species were grouped into two cohorts: small-seeded vs. large-seeded cohorts, and shrub presence effects on seed distribution of both cohorts were examined. We found marked difference in the seed distribution pattern among species, especially between the small-seeded and large-seeded cohorts. The small-seeded cohort had significantly higher seed accumulation on the windward than the leeward sides in the most and least prevailing wind directions and much higher seed accumulation on the leeward than the windward sides in the second and third most prevailing wind directions, while opposite patterns occurred in the large-seeded cohort. Four species also showed marked variation in the seed distribution pattern among transects and between windward and leeward sides of each transect. This study provided further evidence that shrubs embedded in a matrix of herbaceous plants is a key cause of spatial heterogeneity in seed availability of herbaceous species. However, seed distribution responses to the presence of shrubs will vary with species as well as with wind direction, sampling position (windward vs. leeward sides of the shrub) and distance from the shrub.     

Branchfall as a Demographic Filter for Epiphyte Communities: Lessons from Forest Floor-Based Sampling

Local variation in the abundance and richness of vascular epiphytes is often attributed to environmental characteristics such as substrate and microclimate. Less is known, however, about the impacts of tree and branch turnover on epiphyte communities. To address this issue, we surveyed branches and epiphytes found on the forest floor in 96 transects in two forests (Atlantic rainforest in Brazil and Caribbean rainforest in Panama). In the Brazilian forest, we additionally distinguished between edge and core study sites. We quantified branch abundance, epiphyte abundance, richness and proportion of adults to investigate the trends of these variables over branch diameter. Branches <2 cm in diameter comprised >90% of all branches on the forest floor. Abundance and richness of fallen epiphytes per transect were highest in the Brazilian core transects and lowest in the Panamanian transects. The majority of epiphytes on the floor (c. 65%) were found attached to branches. At all three study sites, branch abundance and branch diameter were negatively correlated, whereas epiphyte abundance and richness per branch, as well as the proportion of adults were positively correlated with branch diameter. The relationship between branch diameter and absolute epiphyte abundance or richness differed between study sites, which might be explained by differences in forest structure and dynamics. In the Panamanian forest, epiphytes had been previously inventoried, allowing an evaluation of our surveying method by comparing canopy and forest floor samplings. Individuals found on the forest floor corresponded to 13% of all individuals on branches <10 cm in diameter (including crowns), with abundance, richness and composition trends on forest floor reflecting canopy trends. We argue that forest floor surveys provide useful floristic and, most notably, demographic information particularly on epiphytes occurring on the thinnest branches, which are least accessible. Here, branchfall acts as an important demographic filter structuring epiphyte communities.     

Crown alterations induced by decline: a study of relationships between growth rate and crown morphology in beech (Fagus sylvatica L.)

One of the first symptoms expressed by declining trees is reduced growth in stem diameter and length increment. The possibility of a relationship between length increment and crown thinning in beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) was investigated by developing a computer model to simulate first order branching patterns of the apical 2 m of monopodially branching beech trees, 70–100 years old, for a range of length increment rates. The model was based on values for branching angle, main axis and branch length increment, number of branches produced per year and branch mortality rates for six healthy and declining trees. Shoot growth rates in the apical 2 m of the sample trees ranged from about 5 cm/year (decline class 3) to 43 cm/ year (healthy). Simulations of branching patterns in the apical 2 m of trees growing at different rates indicated that, when growth rate exceeded about 20 cm/year, total first order branch length and area explored were independent of growth rate. When growth rates fell below this value there was a reduction in total area explored and first order branch length due primarily to the formation of fewer branches. More acute branching angles contributed to a reduction in the area explored. Growth rate-related crown thinning could increase the risk of bark necrosis and secondary pathogen infection during dry and/or hot spells.     

Effect of Trail Bifurcation Asymmetry and Pheromone Presence or Absence on Trail Choice by Lasius niger Ants

During foraging, ant workers are known to make use of multiple information sources, such as private information (personal memory) and social information (trail pheromones). Environmental effects on foraging, and how these interact with other information sources, have, however, been little studied. One environmental effect is trail bifurcation asymmetry. Ants forage on branching trail networks and must often decide which branch to take at a junction (bifurcation). This is an important decision, as finding food sources relies on making the correct choices at bifurcations. Bifurcation angle may provide important information when making this choice. We used a Y‐maze with a pivoting 90° bifurcation to study trail choice of Lasius niger foragers at varying branch asymmetries (0°, [both branches 45° from straight ahead], 30° [branches at 30° and 60° from straight ahead], 45°, 60° and 90° [one branch straight ahead, the other at 90°]). The experiment was carried out either with equal amounts of trail pheromone on both branches of the bifurcation or with pheromone present on only one branch. Our results show that with equal pheromone, trail asymmetry has a significant effect on trail choice. Ants preferentially follow the branch deviating least from straight, and this effect increases as asymmetry increases (47% at 0°, 54% at 30°, 57% at 45°, 66% at 60° and 73% at 90°). However, when pheromone is only present on one branch, the graded effect of asymmetry disappears. Overall, however, there is an effect of asymmetry as the preference of ants for the pheromone‐marked branch over the unmarked branch is reduced from 65%, when it is the less deviating branch, to 53%, when it is the more deviating branch. These results demonstrate that trail asymmetry influences ant decision‐making at bifurcations and that this information interacts with trail pheromone presence in a non‐hierarchical manner.     

The ramification of Apinagia riedelii: A key to the understanding of the plant architecture of Podostemaceae,subfamily Podostemoideae

The study of the ramification pattern of Apinagia riedelii results in a new concept of the architecture of this species, with general implications to members of subfamily Podostemoideae with dithecous leaves. The presence of a subtending leaf below the floriferous shoot proves axillary branching also for species with dithecous leaves. Previous opinions of an unusual ramification mode by subfoliar or non-axillary branching or stem bifurcation in combination with dithecous leaves hitherto pleaded for Podostemoideae is refuted. Moreover, the view of the so-called dithecous leaves with one sheath (theca) at the ventral and one at the dorsal side of the leaf, previously regarded as initially connected with branching, has to be changed. The dithecous leaf arises from the branch and not from the mother shoot axis – as previously believed – and represents the addorsed hypsophyll, i.e., the first leaf (prophyll) of the floriferous branch. This finding leads to the conclusion that the lower sheath of the dithecous leaf is the ventral (not dorsal) sheath pointing to the branch and surrounding its flower bud with a ligule or an ochrea and a hood upon the bud. In this way, the branch and its flower bud become seemingly sunk in the leaf base. At the fusion of leaf basis and shoot results this enigmatic common tissue. The wings of the dorsal (upper) sheath of the dithecous leaf point to the mother shoot axis of the branch. Successive floriferous branches along the main stem disclose the shoot axis of A. riedelii as a monopodium (not sympodium) that develops an anthocladial (foliated) inflorescence in the form of a botrys or a compound botrys, respectively. Since it is generally difficult to define cymose or racemose inflorescences if subtending leaves are absent – which occur in most other species of subfamily Podostemoideae with dithecous leaves – the nature of these inflorescences is discussed anew. The findings on A. riedelii have consequences on our comprehension of the shoot architecture of Podostemoideae.