Variations of root traits in three Xizang grassland communities along a precipitation gradient

根系功能属性及其变异性能够介导物种共存及环境适应策略, 但强烈的环境约束作用能够引起不同物种间根系属性的趋同性。为了研究西藏高寒草原群落中植物根系属性变异规律, 并阐明不同物种资源获取和适应策略的多样性, 该文对西藏高寒草原不同的环境梯度进行了研究。作者自东向西沿着降水梯度在那曲、班戈和尼玛3个自然草原群落进行群落调查, 并采集了共计22种植物。测定了每种植物的一级根直径、一级侧根长度和根系分支强度3个关键根系属性。结果表明: 在西藏高寒草原群落中, 不同物种根系直径普遍较小, 且种间变异非常小(22.76%), 其中86%的物种一级根直径集中在0.073 mm到0.094 mm之间; 相较于直径较粗的物种, 直径越细的物种分支强度越高, 侧根越短。在群落尺度上, 植物主要通过增加根系直径、侧根长度, 降低分支强度的方式来适应水分的减少; 而在物种尺度上, 植物适应水分变化的策略则呈现多样性。     

不同生境下荒漠植物红砂-珍珠猪毛菜混生根系的垂直分布规律

植物种间相互作用及其对环境胁迫的响应一直是物种共存和生物多样性维持研究的一个热点, 从地下根系入手来探讨混生群落植物种间关系及其对环境胁迫响应的研究少见报道。该文以荒漠草原区(灵武)、典型荒漠区(张掖)和极端荒漠区(酒泉) 3个不同生境条件下单生与混生红砂(Reaumuria soongarica)和珍珠猪毛菜(Salsola passerina)为实验材料, 采用分层取样法对其垂直根系参数进行测定和分析, 探讨了两种植物根系分布对混生及荒漠环境梯度的响应。结果表明: 同一生境条件下, 混生红砂和珍珠猪毛菜比根长和比表面积均高于单生, 说明红砂、珍珠猪毛菜混生后其根系相互作用关系表现为互惠, 促进了植株对土壤养分和水分的吸收。不同生境条件下, 同一生长方式的红砂根系分布深度均大于珍珠猪毛菜, 且根系消弱系数也普遍高于珍珠猪毛菜, 说明二者在不同生境条件下占据不同生态位, 红砂表现为深根性, 根系位于土壤深层, 珍珠猪毛菜表现为浅根性, 根系分布于土壤浅层。随着荒漠环境胁迫增强, 单生和混生红砂与珍珠猪毛菜的比根长和比表面积均呈现出极端荒漠区>典型荒漠区>草原荒漠区的规律, 且生境越干旱, 混生群落根系分离越明显; 单生与混生红砂根系消弱系数也逐渐增大, 在极端干旱区达到最大值, 珍珠猪毛菜变化不大, 表明红砂-珍珠猪毛菜混生群落根系生态位分离随荒漠环境胁迫增强而加大, 验证了环境胁迫梯度假说。可见“地上聚生, 地下分离”的混生方式可能是红砂-珍珠猪毛菜混生群落适应干旱胁迫环境的生长策略。     

内蒙古西鄂尔多斯地区半日花荒漠群落特征及其分类

半日花(Helianthemum songaricum)为亚洲中部特有种和古地中海残遗植物, 其群落为内蒙古西鄂尔多斯地区的特有荒漠植物群落。该文以2016-2017年野外调查数据为基础, 结合相关文献资料, 对半日花荒漠群落的分布、群落特征及其分类进行了总结。结果表明: (1)半日花荒漠群落集中分布于黄河以东内蒙古西鄂尔多斯的阿尔巴斯山麓南北部、千里沟; 少量分布于黄河以西贺兰山北端内蒙古乌海市与阿拉善盟交界处及贺兰山最南端的内蒙古阿拉善盟与宁夏交界处明长城沿线的石质残丘。(2)根据样地调查, 半日花荒漠群落记录到种子植物58种, 隶属于17科39属, 其中灌木、半灌木18种, 多年生草本27种, 一年生草本植物13种; 水分生态类型中强旱生植物(15种)和旱生植物(29种)占绝对优势; 区系地理成分以中亚东部成分为主, 其次为古地中海成分和戈壁成分。(3)根据生活型和优势度, 半日花荒漠群落可分为半日花-草本荒漠群丛组、半日花-灌木-草本荒漠群丛组和半日花-半灌木荒漠群丛组, 进一步分为10个群丛。     

Trade-off relationship between root forks and branch angle of Reaumuria songarica on different aspects of slopes

Aims Root architecture is a major determinant in root spatial distribution and soil searching efficiency, may reflect plant strategies to adapt to the environments. Our objective was to examine the relationship between root forks and branch angle of Reaumuria songarica in response to slope aspects in the northwest of China.Methods The study site was located in desert grasslands on the northern slope of Qilian Mountains, Gansu Province, China. Survey and sampling were carried out along 20 belt transects. It were set up on sites of four different slope aspects at intervals of 30 m vertically from elevation 1940 m of the study area moving upward, 6 plots were set up flatly on site of each belt transect at intervals of 20 m. A handheld GPS was used to record longitude, latitude and altitude of each plot. ArcGIS was used to set up digital elevation model to extract the information of elevation, aspect, and slope for each plot. The traits of plant communities were investigated and 1 individual’s samplings of R. songarica were used to measure the root forks, root length and root branch angle in laboratory in each plot, and biomass of different organs was measured after being dried at 80 °C in an oven. The 120 plots were categorized into groups of south, west, east, and north aspects of slopes, and the linear regression analysis was then used to examine the trade-off relationship between root forks and branch angle in various groups.Important findings The results showed that with the slope aspect turned from south, west, east to north, the density, cover, height, above biomass and soil moisture content of the plant community displayed a pattern of initial increase, while the height, root-shoot ratio, root branch angle of R. songarica displayed a pattern of initial decrease, and the density, specific root length, root forks increase. The number of root forks was negatively associated with the branch angle, but the relationship varied along the aspect gradient (p < 0.05). There was a highly significant negative correlation (p < 0.01) between the root forks and branch angle on north slope and south slope, whereas less significant (p < 0.05) on the east slope and west slope. There is a trade-off relationship between the root forks and link length. In addition, when the slope aspect changed from south to west, east and north, the standardized major axis slope of regression equation in the scaling relationships between root forks and branch angle decrease (p < 0.05), indicating that the root architecture model of R. songarica by diffusion to gather. Consequently, the patterns of resource allocation between root forks and branch angle in different slope habitats reflected the mechanism of environment adaptation under conditions of multiple competitions for resources in plant populations.     

漓江河岸带植物功能性状变异与关联

研究植物功能性状随环境梯度的变异和关联格局, 对于认识不同环境梯度下群落构建和植物适应型具有重要意义。该研究以漓江河岸带不同河段植物群落为研究对象, 调查了研究区内36个样方的物种组成, 测量了样方内42种木本植物的叶面积(LA)、比叶面积(SLA)和木材密度(WD)的功能性状值, 并运用性状梯度分析法对3个功能性状进行群落内(α组分)和群落间(β组分)组分分解及相关性分析。结果表明: (1)群落平均LA表现为中游最小且和下游差异显著, 群落平均WD则表现为中上游显著高于下游, 群落平均SLA在两两河段间均差异显著。(2)不同河段的3个植物功能性状β组分差异显著且实际观测值均小于随机模拟的零模型分布, 但α组分在河岸带不同河段均差异不显著且3个功 能性状的α组分分布范围均小于β组分, 说明在河岸带不同河段的群落构建过程中环境筛选的作用要大于群落内种间的相互作用。(3)性状SLA与LA在群落间和群落内呈现出实际观测和随机模拟的相关性均较低, 暗示了LA和SLA各自代表了植物在不同生态策略上的维度; 但SLA和WD实际观测值和随机模拟值呈现出较强的负相关关系, 暗示这2个性状对于环境筛选表现出较高的整体趋同适应性, 体现了植物功能性状对群落间环境变异的依赖性大于群落内种间相互作用的依赖性。     

Fractal root system of Melica przewalskyi along different aspect in degraded grassland

Aims Fractal root system is phenotypic plasticity result of plant root architecture to respond to environmental heterogeneity, may reflect the growth strategy of plants to adapt to environmental conditions. Our objective was to explore the relationship between root fractal dimension and fractal abundance of fractal root system of Melica przewalskyi population in response to aspect variation in the northwest of China. Methods The study site was located in a degraded alpine grassland on the northern slope in Qilian Mountains, Gansu Province, China. Survey and sampling were carried out at 40 plots which were set up along four slope aspects transects with 20 m distance between adjacent plots. Handheld GPS was used to determine the elevation, longitude and latitude of each plot. ArcGIS was used to set up digital elevation model (DEM). Community traits were investigated and six individuals roots of M. przewalskyi were collected randomly at each plot. The samples were cleaned and divided into different organs, then scanning the root with the Win-RHIZO for measurements of fractal dimension and fractal abundance in laboratory, and their biomass were then measured after being dried at 80 °C in an oven. Important findings With the slope aspect turned from north to east, west, and south, the density, height and soil moisture content of the plant community displayed a pattern of initial decline, the height, density, root fractal abundance of M. przewalskyi increased and the root fractal dimension decreased. The root fractal dimension was negatively associated with the fractal abundance in all aspects, but the relationship varied along the slope aspects gradient; there was a highly significant negative correlation (p < 0.01) between the root fractal dimension and fractal abundance at north slope and south slope aspect, whereas the correlation only reached a significant level (p < 0.05) at the east slope aspect and west slope aspect; indicating that there is a trade-off between the root fractal dimension and fractal abundance. In addition, when the slope aspect changed from north to east, west and south, the standardized major axis (SMA) slope of the regression equation in the scaling relationships between root fractal dimension and fractal abundance increased (p < 0.05), indicating that the roots of M. przewalskyi at the droughty southern slope have less branch and more sparse in the same soil volume of root exploitation and utilization. Consequently, the resource allocation pattern on reasonable trade-off between root fractal dimension and fractal abundance in different slope aspect of M. przewalskyi, reflects the relationship between the income and the cost of construction of plant root architecture.     

云南新平铁坚油杉森林群落结构特征

摸清珍稀濒危抗旱植物铁坚油杉(Keteleeria davidiana)的种群数量及其分布情况, 能够为珍稀濒危物种保护工作提供基础数据。该文对云南省新平县6个乡镇铁坚油杉群落进行样方调查分析, 每个乡镇设置3个样方, 样方面积为20 m × 20 m, 记录样方生境信息、统计群落物种组成及其数量特征, 对群落类型及其结构特征进行了统计和分析。主要结果: (1)在调查样地内, 共有维管束植物163种, 隶属于58科131属; (2)植物群落区系分布类型有12种, 以热带成分和中国特有种为主, 热带成分占优势; (3)群落内乔木和灌木植物最多, 占62.58%, 其次是多年生草本植物; (4)按照建群种和生活型, 可将18组植被样方数据划分为3个群系17个群落类型; (5)年龄结构不合理, 铁坚油杉种群结构呈衰退趋势, 自然居群已成为小种群。如果铁坚油杉群落没有足够的幼苗进行更新和补充, 铁坚油杉将退出当前的群落。     

Kin recognition in Setaria italica under the condition of root segregation

Aims Kin recognition may play an important part in the performance and productivity of crop plants. However, so far, little is known about whether crop plants can recognize their kin neighbors. The aim of this study was to explore kin recognition in Setaria italica, and its responses to changes in environmental and biological conditions.Methods A field experiment was conducted in the suburb of Shanghai. Setaria italica grew with different neighbors (kin, non-kin and strangers), under the condition of root segregation and different plant densities (high and low) and soil nutrient levels (high and low), respectively. We investigated how neighbor identity and its interactions with plant density and soil nutrient level affected the morphology and biomass allocation of S. italica.Important findings Under the condition of root segregation, 1) Leaf biomass allocation and stem diameter of plants in the kin groups significantly decreased and increased, respectively, suggesting that plants of S. italica in the kin groups reduced inter-individual competition, and adapted to the local windy climate. 2) Compared with the non-kin groups, plants in the stranger groups significantly increased the biomass allocation to seeds, while plant height decreased significantly, suggesting that the plants of S. italica in the stranger groups may reduce the growth of their neighbors due to asymmetric competition (S. italica significantly increased height compared with the neighboring plants, Panicum miliaceum). Therefore, the S. italic plants in the stranger groups allocated more biomass to reproduction and increased fitness than those in non-kin groups. 3) Under the condition of high plant density, no significant differences were found in stem biomass and leaf biomass allocation of plants among different neighbor identity treatments. While under the condition of low plant density, compared with the non-kin groups, biomass allocation to stem and leaf in the kin groups significantly increased and decreased, respectively. As the plant density decreased, plants in the kin groups decreased leaf biomass allocation significantly, while plants in the non-kin and stranger groups did not show such a response. 4) Under the condition of low soil nutrient level, no significant difference was found in leaf biomass allocation between the kin and non-kin groups, while the ear length of plants in the kin groups decreased significantly. Under the condition of high soil nutrient level, the biomass allocated to leaves in the kin groups decreased significantly, while ear length increased significantly compared with the non-kin groups. Therefore, under the condition of root segregation, plants of S. italica showed the ability to recognize their kin neighbors, and the aboveground competitive cues may play important roles in the course of kin recognition in S. italica. Lower plant density and higher soil nutrient level may facilitate the ability of kin recognition in S. italica.     

Fine root production of Pinus massoniana plantation and Castanopsis carlesii plantation at different successional stages in subtropical China

AimsOur objectives were to determine differences in fine root production, its relationships with environmental factors, and its diameter- and depth-related distribution patterns between plantations of two subtropical tree species differing in successional stages. MethodsPlantation forests of an early-successional species, Pinus massoniana, and a late-successional species, Castanopsis carlesii, in Sanming, Fujian Province, were selected. Fine root production was monitored for two years using minirhizotrons methods. At the same time, environmental factors including monthly air temperature, monthly precipitation, soil temperature, and soil water content were determined.Important findings 1) During the two years, there was significant difference in annual fine root length production between these two forests, with annual production of P. massoniana plantation nearly four times that of C. carlesii plantation. Fine root length production under both forests showed significant monthly dynamics and maximized in summer, a season when most of fine roots were born. 2) Roots of 0-0.3 mm in diameter accounted for the largest proportion of total fine root length production. Fine roots were concentrated mostly at the 0-10 cm soil depth in P. massoniana plantation, but happened mostly at the 30-40 cm soil depth in the C. carlesii plantation. 3) Partial correlation analysis suggested that, monthly fine root production of both forests was significantly correlated with both air temperature and soil temperature, while it had no significant correlation with either rainfall or soil water content. Linear regression analysis illustrated that monthly fine root production was more correlated with air temperature and soil temperature in the P. massoniana plantation than in the C. carlesii plantation. It was concluded that fine root production in the early-successional P. massoniana plantation was not only much higher in amount, but also more sensitive to temperature, than that in the late-successional C. carlesii plantation.     

泥炭地特征性环境因子促进泥炭藓持久孢子库的形成

研究泥炭地特征性环境因子——淹水、少氧和化感物质对泥炭藓孢子持久性的影响, 可深入理解泥炭地泥炭藓持久孢子库的形成机制, 为退化泥炭地泥炭藓地被恢复研究提供参考。该研究以藓丘种和丘间种两种泥炭藓的孢子为试验材料, 通过室内模拟控制实验的方法, 研究泥炭藓孢子在空气、超纯水、泥炭地地表水和泥炭藓沥出液中, 及3种速率充气下, 孢子萌发力持久性的变化。经充气处理后, 泥炭藓孢子持久性显著低于不充气处理。不充气时, 泥炭藓孢子在含有化感物质的泥炭地地表水和泥炭藓沥出液中保存, 持久性显著高于在超纯水中保存。通径分析结果显示, 溶解氧是影响泥炭地泥炭藓孢子持久性的主要因子和限制因子, 养分元素氮(TN)和磷(TP)的浓度为孢子持久性的负作用因子。研究结果表明, 泥炭藓孢子散布于苔藓地被基质或淹水的丘间生境中, 比暴露于空气或在无化感物质的水中, 能更好地维持萌发力。泥炭地中, 泥炭藓孢子和其他植物的繁殖体的超长寿命可能归因于少氧、养分贫乏和丰富的化感物质等泥炭地特征性环境因子。     

《中国植被志》的植被分类系统、植被类型划分及编排体系

植被志(vegegraphy)是基于植被调查资料, 全面记叙植被的群落外貌、种类组成、结构和功能、生境条件, 以及地理分布等特征, 并对同类植被进行归纳和总结的志书。“植被志”的英文译为“vegegraphy”, 是本文的新造词, 它是由“vegetation”的词头“vege-”和英文后缀“-graphy” (记叙之意)组成的合成词。《中国植被志》的研编是一项时间紧迫、内容复杂、工作量浩繁的重大科学工程。它的完成将极大提升中国植被科学和生态学的研究水平, 并为中国植被资源的合理利用、生物多样性保护及生态环境治理等提供不可或缺的基础资料。本文首先简述了植被的基本特征(主要包括外貌特征、种类组成、群落结构以及动态变化等)和国内外植被调查的进展情况, 简要回顾了中国植被分类系统的研究历史, 并对以往的分类系统进行了若干修订。在此基础上, 着重讨论并提出了《中国植被志》卷册编排体系和用于《中国植被志》研编的植被类型划分方案。在对植被分类系统的修订方面, 主要对高级分类单位及相对应的英文名称进行了讨论和修订。按照本文修订的分类系统, 中国植被的分类单位及其对应的英文名称分别是: 植被型组(Vegetation Formation Group)、植被型(Vegetation Formation)和植被亚型(Vegetation Subformation)、群系组(Alliance Group)、群系(Alliance)和亚群系(Suballiance)、群丛组(Association Group)以及群丛(Association)。在植被型组中, 划分为9类: 森林、灌丛、草本植被、荒漠、高山冻原与稀疏植被、沼泽与水生植被、农业植被、城市植被及无植被地段。关于《中国植被志》的卷册编排和“植被类型”划分, 首先按高级分类单位——植被型划分相应的“卷”; 在此框架下, 模糊“植被亚型”、“群系组”和“群系”的概念, 确定“植被类型” (Vegetation type), 并将其作为植被志各卷中的“册”。这样处理不仅保证了研编工作的可操作性, 也保持了同一卷册中特定植被类型的完整性。《中国植被志》编排体系中的“植被类型”的划分很重要, 它是指具有相同建群种及相同优势类群(如种、属)的植被组合, 但它不是严格意义上的植被分类单位。“植被类型”的划分遵循“优势类群及生活型的同一性, 生境条件的相对重要性, 植被特征及用途的差异性, 以及突出植被志的应用性”等原则。按该编排体系, 《中国植被志》将由48卷约110册组成。     

蒙古莸叶片解剖结构的地理种源变异及其对环境变化响应的意义

长期受到生长环境影响而形成的遗传变异对植物生长发育有着显著的影响。叶片是植物对环境变化最敏感的器官, 了解叶片解剖结构在不同环境中产生的适应性变异是探索植物对环境适应的基础。同质园试验是研究遗传与环境因素对植物生长代谢等影响的一种有效方法, 该研究利用同质园试验排除了环境梯度的影响, 通过常规石蜡切片、多重比较、相关性分析、一般线性模型分析等方法, 对7个不同种源地的蒙古莸(Caryopteris mongholica)叶片解剖结构及其影响因素进行了定量比较。结果表明, 7个种源地的蒙古莸叶片均为等面叶, 无海绵组织分化, 其上表皮细胞较下表皮细胞厚, 上栅栏组织较下栅栏组织厚; 叶片各解剖结构参数间存在显著的自相关性, 不同种源叶片解剖结构存在显著差异: 随种源地年平均气温升高, 叶厚度、栅栏组织厚度呈增大趋势, 其中, 最西南部的阿左旗种源蒙古莸叶片的上下栅栏组织、叶厚度及叶片结构紧密度值均最大, 表现出明显的抗旱特征。种源地经纬度、气温、降水等对解剖结构指标有显著的影响, 其解释程度为34.09%-81.43%。同质园试验说明, 种源地气候差异驱动的遗传变异是引起不同种源叶片解剖结构差异的重要因素。     

Effects of plant interspecific interaction and warming on soil microbial community in root zone soil of two dominant tree species in the subalpine coniferous forest in southwestern China

温度与植物种类是生态系统土壤微生物群落组成与结构的重要影响因子。气候变暖背景下, 不同树种及树种互作对土壤微生物群落产生的影响仍不清楚。该文以西南亚高山针叶林主要建群种粗枝云杉(Picea asperata)和岷江冷杉(Abies faxoniana)为研究对象, 采用红外加热器模拟增温, 通过不同种植方式(云杉、冷杉单种和二者混种, 以及裸地对照), 研究不同物种及增温对土壤微生物磷脂脂肪酸(PLFAs)含量与群落结构的影响。结果表明: (1)无论增温与否, 与裸地相比, 云杉与冷杉单种均显著增加了土壤微生物群落主要类群及总PLFAs含量, 而混种仅在非增温条件下增加了微生物群落PLFAs含量; 另一方面, 增温显著促进了裸地真菌(F)和云杉根区革兰氏阴性菌(GN)的生长, 但对冷杉与冷杉-云杉混种小区微生物群落具有显著的抑制作用。(2)主成分分析(PCA)表明, 非增温条件下, 植物种植对土壤微生物群落组成的影响更为明显。非增温情况下云杉、冷杉单种和混种均对微生物群落结构有显著影响, 显著降低了土壤革兰氏阳性菌/阴性菌(GP/GN), 增加了土壤真菌细菌比(F/B)(64.29%-35.71%), 而增温时, 仅冷杉单种对GP/GN和F/B有显著影响。(3) PLFAs含量与土壤碳含量显著正相关, 微生物群落结构(F/B)则与土壤pH及无机氮含量有显著相关关系。以上结果说明, 在非增温情况下, 无论单种还是混种均有利于土壤微生物生长, 但在增温情况下混种对微生物群落PLFAs含量无显著影响, 两个物种对微生物群落结构的影响在增温条件下也有减弱的趋势。     

Effects of exotic-native species relationship on naturalization and invasion of exotic plant species

达尔文归化难题描述了外来种-本地种亲缘关系促进(预适应假说)或阻止(达尔文归化假说)外来种成功入侵的悖论。目前, 在中国仍缺少针对达尔文归化难题的研究。为系统研究外来种-本地种亲缘关系对中国外来植物入侵的影响, 该文利用线性混合效应模型从省级、市级和群落3个空间尺度以及归化、扩散和入侵3个阶段探究了外来种-本地种谱系距离和外来植物表现的关系。结果表明: 在省级和市级(区域)尺度上, 与本地种亲缘关系较近的外来植物更有可能在当地归化和扩散, 符合预适应假说的预期; 而在群落(局域)尺度上, 外来种-本地种亲缘距离与外来种是否在群落中成功定居及其入侵程度无关。该研究结果表明与本地区系亲缘较近的外来种和本地种的竞争并不强烈, 却能较好地适应本地气候环境而具有更强的归化和入侵潜力。因此, 在今后的外来植物管理和治理中需要尤其重视与本地区系亲缘关系较近的外来植物。     

Architectural characteristics of roots in typical coastal psammophytes of South China

选择华南海岸典型沙地, 采用全挖法, 对4种典型沙生植物木麻黄(Casuarina equisetifolia)、厚藤(Ipomoea pes-caprae)、老鼠艻(Spinifex littoreus)和狗牙根(Cynodon dactylon)的根系构型进行了研究。结果表明: 1)狗牙根和老鼠艻的根系总体分支率显著高于木麻黄, 厚藤最小, 说明大部分草本植物在生长过程中通过增加根系分支率, 提高物质传输效率, 除木麻黄外, 其他3个物种枝系均平卧伸展, 易于受到沙埋生出不定根, 进一步提高其物质传输效率; 2) 4种沙生植物根系平均连接长度最大的为木麻黄, 平均连接长度为19.25 cm, 且相对其他3个物种传导根所占的比例最大, 说明木麻黄通过增加平均连接长度以减少根系内部对土壤资源的竞争, 并提高传导根的比例, 以增加资源传输效率; 3) 4种沙生植物根系构型均倾向于叉状分支, 其中草本植物的根系构型更为接近, 说明草本植物受到的资源胁迫相对较小, 有利于在海岸沙地恢复中快速定居; 与内陆地区沙生植物相比, 海岸沙生植物在土壤资源的获取及空间拓展方面表现出显著的差异, 反映出不同生境条件下物种对生境胁迫的适应策略。因此, 海岸沙地前缘植被恢复应以草本植物为主, 尤其是具有不定根的物种, 乔木则不适合。     

Effects of endophyte fungal species and host plant genotype on the leaf shape and leaf area of endophyte-grass symbionts

Epichloë内生真菌感染能够影响宿主植物的生长发育, 但关于内生真菌感染对宿主植物叶形状和叶面积的研究很少。该研究以羽茅(Achnatherum sibiricum)为实验材料, 采用长宽系数计算和扫描测定叶面积相结合的方法探究内生真菌种类和羽茅母本基因型对羽茅-内生真菌共生体叶形状和叶面积的影响。结果表明: 内生真菌感染与否、内生真菌种类和宿主母本基因型对反映叶形状的叶校正系数、叶片长度、宽度和长宽比均无显著影响, 经计算与验证, 确定了羽茅叶片的校正系数为0.594 9。采用该校正系数及叶长宽计算的叶面积与实测叶面积无显著差异, 且二者均未受到内生真菌感染与否、内生真菌种类或宿主植物母本基因型的显著影响。     

中国东部海岛黑松群落功能多样性的纬度变异及其影响因素

黑松(Pinus thunbergii)群落在中国东海和黄海海域的海岛广泛分布, 研究其功能多样性的纬度变化特征及其影响因素, 有助于揭示是否在高度隔离的片断化景观中, 同一植物群落类型的生物多样性也具有显著的纬度地带性特征。该研究调查和测定了中国东部海域跨越13个纬度的27个海岛60个黑松群落的物种组成和植物功能性状, 分析了生物因素(黑松优势度和物种多样性)与非生物因素(年平均气温、总太阳辐射和干旱指数)与黑松群落功能多样性的关系, 并利用广义线性回归和方差分解揭示了各影响因素对黑松群落功能多样性的相对影响。主要结果: 随纬度升高, 群落的黑松优势度和物种丰富度, 以及枝干性状和枝叶性状总体的功能丰富度、功能分散度、Rao二次熵均显著降低, 但叶片功能多样性无显著变化趋势。黑松优势度、物种多样性和气候综合解释了枝叶性状总体功能丰富度、分散度和Rao二次熵变异的63%、47%和39%, 枝干性状功能丰富度、分散度和Rao二次熵变异的56%、67%和53%, 对叶片性状功能多样性的综合解释度较低(21%-30%)。物种丰富度和辛普森多样性显著增加叶功能多样性, 香农-维纳多样性显著降低叶功能丰富度。干旱度显著增加枝叶性状总体和枝干功能多样性, 年平均气温显著降低枝干功能分散度和Rao二次熵。该结果表明, 中国东部海岛黑松群落的功能多样性具有明显的纬度格局, 气候因素和物种丰富度是决定黑松群落功能多样性纬度变异的重要因素。     

Physiological responses and photo-protective mechanisms of two Rhododendron plants to natural sunlight after long term shading

AimsResponses of plants to increased irradiance are governed by two strategies: an increase in the utilization of absorbed light and photo-protective mechanisms. Varied physiological responses to increased irradiance were observed in plant species with differing adaptabilities to light regimes. This research aims to explore the physiological responses and photo-protective mechanisms of two Rhododendron plants to changes in light regimes. MethodsChlorophyll fluorescence parameters and rapid light curves were measured for leaves of R. hybrida (a shade-tolerant species) and R. simsii (a light-loving and shade-tolerant species) following exposure to sunlight for five days after growing in the shade for one year.Important findings Natural sunlight decreased the efficiency of photochemical reaction by reducing the fraction of incident light in photochemical energy utilization and decreased thermal dissipation through regulating energy dissipation in photosystem II (PSII) in the leaves of R. hybrida. As a result, natural sunlight induced the accumulation of excess excitation energy in PSII, and caused photo-inhibition and even photodamage in the leaves of R. hybrida, which was suddenly transferred from long-term shading to sun exposures. The acclimation capacity to changes of growth light regimes was stronger in R. simsii than in R. hybrida, due to a higher capability for photochemical reaction, thermal dissipation and cyclic electron flows around photosystem I in the leaves of R. simsii. Rhododendron simsii could utilize a high fraction of incident light in photochemistry and regulate energy dissipation in PSII to protect the photosynthetic apparatus under both shading and natural sunlight condition. Therefore, high light intensity under natural sunlight did not cause photo-inhibition in R. simsii.     

Growth-form regulates the altitudinal variation of interspecific seed mass of woody plants in Mt. Dalaoling,the Three Gorges Region,China

Aims Seed size is one of the most important characteristics of plant seeds, and has significant implications in plant ecological functions. Exploring the altitudinal pattern of seed size would help to detect environmental constraints on species distribution and understand the linkage between plant ecological function traits Methods The present study measured the quantitative features of seed size, including weight of 1 000 grain seeds, lengths of longer and shorter axes, and analyzed the relationships between seed size and altitude, as well as the influence of growth form. Seed samples were all collected from 201 locally common woody plants (belonging to 59 families and 87 genera) in the Dalaoling Natural Reserve in Yichang City, Hubei Province.Important findings Measured values of the seed mass, the longer axis, and the shorter axis of the 201 woody plant species all follow the lognormal distribution. Measurements of seed mass vary across five orders of magnitude. Significant correlation was found between seed mass, seed length of the longer and shorter axes (R² = 0.755; 0.819; 0.630, p < 0.01). Moreover, seed mass of trees and small trees are significantly heavier than those of shrubs and woody vines. Seed mass values of evergreen broad leaved species are significantly heavier than those of deciduous broad leaved species and needle leaved species. Seed mass of all 201 species shows a slightly but statistically significant decreasing trend with the increase of altitude. In addition, altitudinal patterns of seed mass varied between species with different growth form. Our results indicated the variation of altitudinal trends of seed mass for different structural components of plant communities, implying the local community structure as a critical aspect of variation in macro-ecological patterns.     

末次盛冰期以来观光木的潜在地理分布变迁

观光木(Tsoongiodendron odorum)是木兰科的古老残遗物种, 目前正面临严峻的生存威胁, 属于极小种群濒危植物。通过生态位模型(ENM)能够重建观光木地理分布格局的历史变迁, 探究气候变化对该物种分布的影响, 并了解其地理分布与气候需求间的关系, 从而为全球变暖背景下观光木的保护提供理论基础。该文基于96条现代分布记录和8个环境变量, 采用最大熵(MaxEnt)模型模拟观光木在末次盛冰期、全新世中期、现代和未来(2061-2080年, RCP 8.5)的潜在分布区, 利用SDM toolbox分析观光木的地理空间变化, 并综合贡献率、置换重要值和Jackknife检验来评估气候因子的重要性。研究结果表明: (1)观光木的高度适生区在南岭地区, 末次盛冰期时没有大尺度向南退缩, 很可能在山区避难所原地存活; (2)在全新世中期和未来两个增温的气候情境下, 观光木的分布区均表现为缩减, 其中未来分布的减幅更大, 表明气候变暖对观光木的生长有一定的负面影响; (3)总体上看, 观光木各个时期的地理分布范围相对稳定, 说明观光木对气候变化有一定的适应能力, 人为活动或自身繁育问题可能是致濒的重要原因, 并建议对广东和广西群体进行优先保护。