土壤微生物削弱了水生-陆地系统补贴对植物生长的正向影响

土壤微生物削弱了水生-陆地系统补贴对植物生长的正向影响 水生-陆地系统补贴形成的联结作用在构建群落和调节生态系统功能方面发挥重要作用。在营养贫瘠的生态系统中(例如密歇根湖周围的淡水沙丘),水生-陆生系统补贴显得尤为重要。春季成年蠓在密歇根湖涌出,成群交配,然后死亡。蠓尸体在植物的基部形成土丘状,通过输入营养提高植物的生产力。然而,水生-陆地系统补贴对植物生产力的影响可能取决于其他生物的交互作用,特别是土壤微生物可能通过促进养分转化为植物可利用的形式或与植物竞争养分而发挥关键作用。在温室实验中,我们检验了湖生蠓(Chironomidae)的尸体和土壤微生物如何独立和相互影响一种常见沙丘草(沙拂子茅,Calamovilfa longifolia)的生长表现。为确定蠓是否影响土壤非生物特性,我们检验了添加蠓如何影响土壤养分和土壤湿度。研究结果显示,蠓极大地增加了植物生物量,但其效应的大小受土壤微生物的影响。在没有土壤微生物的情况下,添加蠓的植物生物量比没有添加的高7倍,而在有土壤微生物的情况下,植物生物量提高了3倍。蠓对植物生长的促进作用可能由于它们向土壤中输入养分所导致,因为与沙丘土壤相比,蠓的氮、磷、钾含量分别高100倍、10倍和150倍。我们的研究结果表明,土壤微生物可能与植物竞争这些养分。总之,我们发现蠓是重要的水生-陆地系统补贴,对密歇根湖沿岸植物生产力产生强烈和正向的影响,但水生-陆地系统补贴作用必须在生态群落内发生的复杂相互作用的背景下考虑。     

蚯蚓对土壤微生物及生物肥力的影响研究进展

蚯蚓被称为“生态系统工程师”,可以通过改善微生境(排粪、作穴、搅动)、提高有机物的表面积、直接取食、携带传播微生物等方式影响土壤微生物结构、组成和功能.蚯蚓活动形成的大孔隙(洞穴)、中、微空隙(排泄物)可以增加土壤孔隙度和通气性,有助于改善微生物微环境,促进其生长和繁殖.蚯蚓还通过取食、粉碎、混合等活动使复杂有机质转变为微生物可利用的形式,增加土壤微生物与有机质的接触面积,促进微生物对有机质的矿化作用,对土壤中碳、氮、磷养分循环等关键过程产生影响,最终促进土壤养分循环和周转速率,提高土壤生物肥力.     

放牧牲畜粪便降解及其对草地土壤养分动态的影响研究进展

放牧牲畜粪便沉积是影响草地土壤养分动态的重要途径之一,粪便降解过程调控着其养分返还效率,从而可能对草地土壤养分平衡和植被生长的养分供应等产生重要影响。针对放牧牲畜排粪行为特性、牲畜粪便的物质组成及其降解过程、以及粪便养分归还对土壤养分动态的影响等进行了系统论述,阐明了牲畜粪便降解与其养分迁移转化的关系,以及粪便养分输入对放牧草地生态系统养分生物地球化学循环的影响效应和可能的作用机制,以期为加深对牲畜粪便降解的养分动态变化过程的认知和厘清粪便-植物-土壤体系养分迁移和转化的影响机制积累理论基础,进而为优化牲畜粪便管理模式、维持土壤养分平衡和促进草地生态系统的健康协调和可持续发展提供科学依据。     

施氮水平影响蚯蚓介导的番茄生长及抗虫性

过量施用氮肥不仅导致严重的生态环境问题, 还会限制土壤生物驱动的生态系统服务功能。蚯蚓的取食和掘穴等活动可以促进土壤肥力和植物生长, 进而影响植物与病虫害的关系。了解氮肥与害虫作用下蚯蚓对植物抗虫性的影响, 有助于揭示土壤动物的生态功能调控机制。采用蚯蚓(威廉腔环蚓Metaphire guillelmi)、西花蓟马(Frankliniella occidentalis)和氮肥用量的三因子完全交互设计, 利用番茄(Lycopersicon esculentum)盆栽实验探索了不同氮水平下蚯蚓对番茄生长及对植食者抗性的影响。结果表明, 在低氮条件下蚯蚓显著降低了番茄茎叶干生物量、根系干生物量及茎叶可溶性糖含量, 而茎叶的茉莉酸和水杨酸含量分别是无蚯蚓对照的6倍和3倍, 且伴随着西花蓟马数量下降了58%。在高氮水平时, 蚯蚓未影响番茄茎叶茉莉酸、茎叶水杨酸含量及西花蓟马数量。蚯蚓介导的番茄营养物质(茎叶可溶性糖和茎叶全氮)和防御信号物质(茎叶茉莉酸和茎叶水杨酸)含量分别与西花蓟马数量呈显著的正相关和负相关。总之, 氮肥施用改变的土壤氮有效性通过改变植物资源和防御物质含量转变了蚯蚓介导的植物抗虫性响应; 全面了解土壤生物对植物生长的影响需要综合考虑土壤管理-土壤动物-植物病原物三者之间的关系。     

植物与土壤微生物在调控生态系统养分循环中的作用

陆地生态系统的地上、地下是相互联系的。植物与土壤微生物作为陆地生态系统中的重要组成部分, 它们之间的相互作用是生态系统地上、地下结合的重要纽带。该文首先介绍了植物在养分循环中对营养元素的吸收、积累和归还等作用, 阐述了土壤微生物对养分有效性及土壤质量具有重要的作用。其次, 重点综述了植物与土壤微生物之间相互依存、相互竞争的关系。植物通过其凋落物与分泌物为土壤微生物提供营养, 土壤微生物作为分解者提供植物可吸收的营养元素, 比如共生体菌根真菌即可使植物根与土壤真菌达到互惠。然而, 植物的养分吸收与微生物的养分固持同时存在, 因而两者之间存在对养分的竞争。通过植物多样性对土壤微生物多样性的影响分析, 以及土壤微生物直接或间接作用于植物多样性和生产力的分析, 探讨了植物物种多样性与土壤微生物多样性之间的内在联系。针对当前植物与土壤微生物对养分循环的调控机制的争论, 提出植物凋落物是调节植物与土壤微生物养分循环的良好媒介, 植物与土壤微生物的共同作用对维持整个生态系统的稳定性具有重要意义。也指出了目前在陆地生态系统地上、地下研究中存在的不足和亟待解决的问题。     

紫茎泽兰(Ageratina adenophora)入侵对土壤微生物群落和理化性质的影响

外来入侵植物与入侵地土壤微生物群落的互作关系是影响外来植物入侵力和生态系统可入侵性的一个重要领域。因此,研究外来植物入侵对入侵地土壤微生物群落及其理化性质的影响不仅可以全面地评估入侵植物对生态系统的影响,而且对于探索外来植物入侵的土壤微生物学机制尤为重要。采用磷脂脂肪酸(PLFAs)和传统培养相结合的方法研究了外来入侵植物紫茎泽兰对入侵地土壤微生物群落结构的影响;同时研究了紫茎泽兰入侵对11种土壤理化因子的影响。结果表明紫茎泽兰入侵改变了土壤微生物群落结构,提高了土壤自生固氮菌、氨氧化细菌和真菌的数量;同时,显著地提高了土壤的有效磷、速效钾、硝态氮、氨态氮和土壤有机碳含量,降低了土壤总钾含量和pH值。土壤微生物不同生理类群的变化与土壤中植物可直接吸收利用养分的变化显著相关。紫茎泽兰在入侵地成功定殖后,可能通过改变土壤微生物群落结构,特别是增加了与土壤养分循环相关的微生物功能类群数量,进而提高了土壤可利用的养分水平,创造对自身生长有利的土壤环境。紫茎泽兰改变土壤微生物群落是其入侵的一部分,这种改变进而加速了土壤养分循环,可能增强了紫茎泽兰的养分吸收,进而促进其生长、竞争和扩张。     

土壤有效氮及其相关因素对植物细根的影响

细根(直径≤2mm)作为植物吸收水分和养分的主要器官之一,在陆地生态系统养分循环和能量流动中起重要作用。开展土壤有效氮变化对植物细根影响研究对于了解全球气候变化条件下的陆地生态系统养分循环具有重要意义。本文就相关研究进行了综述:1)土壤有效氮变化对植物细根生长、发育、寿命及呼吸的直接影响;2)土壤质地、温度、大气CO2浓度和氮沉积等相关因素对植物细根的影响。由于研究方法及物种间差异等的影响,研究结果不尽相同。今后,应在不同空间尺度上深入研究土壤有效氮对植物细根的影响,而植物细根-土壤-微生物三者间相互关系变化对土壤氮变化的潜在响应将可能成为今后研究的热点问题之一。     

不同干旱水平下蚯蚓对番茄抗旱能力的影响

土壤无脊椎动物可能会通过促进土壤持水能力和增加土壤肥力而缓解植物的干旱胁迫。本研究采用蚯蚓和干旱水平的双因子完全交互设计, 模拟了干旱胁迫条件下蚯蚓对土壤性质及番茄抗旱性的影响。结果表明, 在高干旱胁迫时, 蚯蚓通过增加番茄茎叶抗氧化能力提高了植物抗旱性, 上调番茄茎叶脱落酸和茉莉酸生物合成过程的基因表达(NCED、NSY、OPR、AOS和LOX), 促进脱落酸和茉莉酸含量分别增加43.2%和33.6%, 过氧化氢酶、过氧化物酶和超氧化物歧化酶含量分别增加12.9%、8.4%和47.3%。在低干旱胁迫时, 蚯蚓上调茉莉酸合成通路基因表达, 但降低了脱落酸含量, 对转录因子ABF4、MYC2基因表达和植物抗氧化能力无明显影响。干旱导致的土壤水分和养分条件变化影响着蚯蚓介导的植物抗旱性响应。本研究证明了土壤动物对植物抗旱的重要作用, 如蚯蚓对植物激素合成、信号传导和抗氧化能力的影响。了解土壤动物影响植物抗旱的内在机制, 有助于深挖和利用土壤动物的多样化生态功能。     

蚯蚓在生态系统中的作用

蚯蚓能够对许多决定土壤肥力的过程产生重要影响, 被称为“生态系统工程师”。它通过取食、消化、排泄和掘穴等活动在其体内外形成众多的反应圈, 从而对生态系统的生物、化学和物理过程产生影响。蚯蚓在生态系统中既是消费者、分解者, 又是调节者, 它在生态系统中的功能具体表现在: (1) 对土壤中有机质分解和养分循环等关键过程的影响; (2) 对土壤理化性质的影响; (3) 与植物、微生物及其他动物的相互作用。蚯蚓活动及其在生态系统中的功能受蚯蚓生态类群、种群大小、植被、母岩、气候、时间尺度以及土地利用历史的综合控制。蚯蚓外来种入侵与生态系统的关系以及蚯蚓对全球变化的响应和影响是两个值得关注的问题。土壤本身的复杂性, 蚯蚓自然历史和生物地理学知识的缺乏, 野外控制蚯蚓群落方法的滞后等都限制了蚯蚓生态学的发展。其他新技术如研究养分循环的碳氮同位素分析和揭示土壤微结构的图像分析等技术的应用是蚯蚓生态功能研究的迫切需要。     

水分再分配对土壤-植物系统养分循环的生态意义

水分再分配(hydraulic redistribution, HR)作为一个普遍存在的生物物理过程, 在缓解植物干旱胁迫、调节植物种间关系和群落组成、影响生态系统水碳平衡等方面具有重要的生态意义。近年来, 同位素标记示踪技术的应用促进了HR的深入研究, 该文综述了HR对土壤-植被系统养分循环的影响。HR能改善干燥土层的水分状况, 防止根系栓塞, 促进细根存活与生长, 提高微生物活性, 从而促进植物对表层土壤养分(尤其是氮)的吸收; HR还通过水分下传作用促进植物对深层土壤中磷和金属离子的吸收。HR促进土壤养分库的上下交换与流动, 调节植物与土壤的氮磷比, 因此其影响可能具有全球意义。在全球变化(如氮沉降)背景下, 有必要深入探索HR在生物地球化学循环过程中的影响和作用, 并将其纳入生态系统模型中。     

Interaction between Earthworms and Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi in Plants: A Review

Different kinds of soil animals and microorganisms inhabit the plant rhizosphere, which function closely to plant roots. Of them, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and earthworms play a critical role in sustaining the soil-plant health. Earthworms and AMF belong to the soil community and are soil beneficial organisms at different trophic levels. Both of them improve soil fertility and structural development, collectively promoting plant growth and nutrient acquisition capacity. Earthworm activities redistribute mycorrhizal fungi spores and give diversified effects on root mycorrhizal fungal colonization. Dual inoculation with both earthworms and AMF strongly magnifies the response on plant growth through increased soil enzyme activities and changes in soil nutrient availability, collectively mitigating the negative effects of heavy metal pollution in plants and soils. This thus enhances phytoremediation and plant disease resistance. This review simply outlines the effects of earthworms and AMF on the soil-plant relationship. The effects of earthworms on root AMF colonization and activities are also analyzed. This paper also summarizes the interaction between earthworms and AMF on plants along with suggested future research.     

Earthworms,Collembola and residue management change wheat (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Triticum aestivum</Emphasis>) and herbivore pest performance (Aphidina: <Emphasis Type="Italic">Rhophalosiphum padi</Emphasis>)

Management practices of arable systems determine the distribution of soil organic matter thereby changing decomposer animal activity and their impact on nutrient mineralization, plant growth and plant-herbivore interactions. Decomposer-mediated changes in plant growth and insect pest performance were investigated in wheat-aphid model systems in the greenhouse. Three types of litter distribution were established: litter patch at the soil surface (simulating mulching), litter patch deeper in soil (simulating ploughing) and litter homogeneously mixed into soil (simulating disk cultivation). The litter was labelled with (15)N to follow the mineralization and uptake of nutrients by the plants. Earthworms (Aporrectodea caliginosa) and Collembola (Protaphorura armata) were included as representatives of major functional groups of decomposers. Wheat (Triticum aestivum) was planted and aphids (Rhophalosiphum padi) were introduced to leaves as one of the most important pests. Earthworms, Collembola and litter distribution affected plant growth, N acquisition and aphid development in an interactive way. Earthworms and Collembola increased biomass of seeds, shoots and roots of wheat. Increased plant growth by earthworms and Collembola was mainly due to increased transfer of N from soil (rather than litter) into plants. Despite increasing plant growth, earthworms reduced aphid reproduction. Aphid reproduction was not correlated closely with plant N concentrations, but rather with the concentration of litter N in wheat. Unexpectedly, both Collembola and earthworms predominantly affected the mobilization of N from soil organic matter, and by altering the distribution of litter earthworms reduced infestation of crops by aphids via reducing plant capture of litter N, in particular if the litter was concentrated deeper in soil. The results suggest that management practices stimulating a continuous moderate increase in nutrient mobilization from soil organic matter rather than nutrient flushes from decomposing fresh organic matter result in maximum plant growth with minimum plant pest infestation.     

Effects of soil decomposer invertebrates (protozoa and earthworms) on an above-ground phytophagous insect (cereal aphid) mediated through changes in the host plant

We investigated if the activity of soil invertebrates (protozoa and earthworms) affected the performance of barley and if effects propagated higher up the above-ground food chain into herbivores (cereal aphid, Sitobion avenae ). Barley plants were grown individually in microcosms containing defaunated soil and grass residues. Plants were grown in soil containing: a) no added fauna, b) protozoa, c) earthworms, or d) protozoa and earthworms. After 7 weeks growth at 20°C three adult cereal aphids were added to each plant on separate leaves. The aphids were allowed to grow and reproduce for another 2 weeks before the experiment was destructively sampled. Amounts of mineral N in the soil and leached from the microcosms were significantly reduced by the presence of soil animals. Correspondingly plant biomass and total plant N content were increased significantly by soil animals, protozoa in particular. The different mechanisms responsible for changes in nutrient turnover in presence of protozoa and earthworms are discussed. Aphid performance was strongly influenced by the presence of protozoa, but not by earthworms. In the presence of protozoa the numbers and biomass of adult and juvenile aphids were significantly increased. These effects are likely due to an increased N content in barley plants and consequently increased nitrogen availability to aphids. The results underline that the detritivore and herbivore systems are intimately linked.     

Effects of Soil Nutrient Heterogeneity and Earthworms on Aboveground Biomass of Experimental Plant Communities

Soil nutrients are commonly heterogeneously distributed and earthworms are one of the most common soil organisms. While effects of both soil nutrient heterogeneity and earthworms have been well studied, their interactive effect on plant community productivity has rarely been tested. In a greenhouse experiment, we constructed experimental plant communities by sowing seed mixtures of four grasses, two legumes and two forbs in either a heterogeneous soil consisting of low and high nutrient soil patches or a homogeneous soil where the low and high nutrient soil patches were evenly mixed. The earthworm Eisenia fetida was either added to these soils or not. Aboveground biomass of the whole communities, grasses and legumes did not differ between the homogeneous and heterogeneous soils or between the soils with and without earthworms. However, soil nutrient heterogeneity reduced aboveground biomass of forbs, and such an effect did not interact with earthworms. In response to soil heterogeneity and earthworms, biomass ratio of the three functional groups showed similar patterns as that of their biomass. At the patch level, aboveground biomass of the whole community, grasses and legumes were greater in the high than in the low nutrient soil patches within the heterogeneous soil. A similar pattern was found for the forbs, but this was only true in the absence of earthworms. Our results suggest that soil nutrient heterogeneity and earthworms may not influence aboveground biomass of plant communities, despite the fact that they may modify the growth of certain plant functional groups within the community.     

Do endogeic earthworms change plant competition? A microcosm study

Plants compete for limited resources. Although nutrient availability for plants is affected by resource distribution and soil organisms, surprisingly few studies investigate their combined effects on plant growth and competition. Effects of endogeic earthworms (Aporrectodea jassyensis), root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne incognita) and the spatial distribution of ¹⁵N labelled grass litter on the competition between a grass (Lolium perenne), a forb (Plantago lanceolata) and a legume (Trifolium repens) were investigated in the greenhouse. Earthworms promoted N uptake and growth of L. perenne. Contrastingly, shoot biomass and N uptake of T. repens decreased in the presence of earthworms. P. lanceolata was not affected by the earthworms. We suggest that earthworms enhanced the competitive ability of L. perenne against T. repens. Nematodes increased the proportion of litter N in each of the plant species. Litter distribution (homogeneous vs. patch) did not affect the biomass of any plant species. However, P. lanceolata took up more ¹⁵N, when the litter was homogeneously mixed into the soil. The results suggest that endogeic earthworms may affect plant competition by promoting individual plant species. More studies including decomposers are necessary to understand their role in determining plant community structure.     

Colonization of Tanacetum vulgare by aphids is reduced by earthworms

Soil organisms affect plant growth and chemistry and have subsequent effects on aboveground herbivore performance. However, whether herbivores discriminate between plants exposed to different soil organisms when colonizing their host plants is largely unexplored. In a greenhouse study, Tanacetum vulgare L. (Asteraceae) growing in a ruderal plant community in the presence and absence of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and earthworms [Aporrectodea spp. (Haplotaxida: Lumbricidae)] was colonized by aphids [Myzus persicae Sulzer (Hemiptera: Aphididae)]. The aphids preferred to colonize plants without earthworms in the soil, and the numbers of aphids remained lower on the plants with earthworms, irrespective of the presence of AMF. Although the N, C, and P concentrations of the shoots were not affected by the soil organisms, AMF increased total aboveground biomass, total N, C, and P content, and photosynthetic activity (measured as electron transport rate) in the leaves under high light intensity. These results suggest that earthworms affect chemical cues that are used by aphids to judge host quality prior to feeding. Discrimination between plants with and without exposure to earthworms by aboveground herbivores is a novel aspect of plant‐mediated interactions between below‐ and aboveground organisms.     

Earthworms and soil fertility

Summary Earthworms redistribute organic materials within the soil, increase soil penetrability and, und certain conditions, influence ion transport in soils. Root distribution may be modified and microbial activity increased by their burrowing and feeding activities. Earthworms influence the supply of nutrients in several ways. Not only is earthworm tissue and cast material enriched in certain nutrients, relative to the soil matrix, but ingestion of organic material increases the rate of cycling. Certain farm-management practices, such as cultuvation and the use of acidic fertilizers, reduce the ability of earthworm to improve plant growth. Where other inorganic fertilizers increase the growth of plants, an increase in earthworm numbers can be expected because of the increased food supply. Lime, in particular, and possibly drainage also increase earthworm activity. Further research is required on the physical and biological effects of earthworms on nutrient supply, so that suitable management practices can be developed to optimise the beneficial effects of earthworms on soil fertility.Introductory lecture     

疏叶骆驼刺根系对土壤异质性和种间竞争的响应

近年来, 植物根系对土壤异质性的响应和植物根系之间的相互作用一直是研究的热点。过去的研究主要是针对一年生短命植物进行的, 而且多是在人工控制的温室条件下进行的。而对于多年生植物根系对养分异质性和竞争的综合作用研究很少。该文对塔里木盆地南缘多年生植物疏叶骆驼刺(Alhagi sparsifolia)根系生长对养分异质性和竞争条件的响应途径与适应策略进行了研究, 结果表明: (1)在无竞争的条件下, 疏叶骆驼刺根系优先向空间大的地方生长, 即使另一侧有养分斑块存在, 其根系也向着空间大的一侧生长; (2)在有竞争的条件下, 疏叶骆驼刺根系生长依然是优先占领空间大的一侧, 但是竞争者的存在抑制了疏叶骆驼刺的生长, 导致其枝叶生物量和根系生物量都明显减少(p < 0.01), 而养分斑块的存在促进了疏叶骆驼刺根系的生长; (3)疏叶骆驼刺根系的生长不仅需要养分, 也需要足够的空间, 空间比养分更重要; (4)有竞争者存在的时候, 两株植物的根系都先长向靠近竞争者一侧的空间, 即先占据“共有空间”。研究结果对理解植物根系觅食行为和植物对环境的适应策略有重要意义。     

Drought stress in rice (Oryza sativa L.) is enhanced in the presence of the compacting earthworm Millsonia anomala

Earthworms increase growth of most plant species through a number of poorly investigated mechanisms. We tested the hypothesis that earthworm modifications of soil structure and the resulting changes in water availability to plants explain this positive effect. Addition of endogeic earthworms Millsonia anomala induced a 40% increase in shoot biomass production and a 13% increase in CO₂ assimilation rate of well watered rice plants grown in pots. Conversely, when plants were subjected to water deficit, presence of earthworms had no effect on shoot biomass production and a negative impact on CO₂ assimilation rate (−21%). Early stomatal closure in presence of earthworms indicated lower water availability. The hypothesis that earthworms improve plant biomass production through soil physical structure modification was thus rejected. Three hypotheses were tested to explain this decrease in water availability: (i) a decrease in soil water retention capacity, (ii) an increase in evaporation from the soil or/and (iii) an increase in plant transpiration. Results showed that earthworms significantly reduced soil water retention capacity by more than 6%, but had no effect on evaporation rate. Water losses through transpiration were greater in the presence of earthworms when the soil was maintained at field capacity, but this was not the case under drought conditions. This experiment showed that the endogeic compacting earthworm M. anomala significantly increased plant photosynthesis by an undetermined mechanism under well-watered conditions. However, photosynthesis was reduced under drought conditions due to reduced soil water retention capacity.