Impacts of Saltwater Incursion on Plant Communities,Anaerobic Microbial Metabolism,and Resulting Relationships in a Restored Freshwater Wetland

Saltwater incursion carries high concentrations of sea salts, including sulfate, which can alter anaerobic microbial processes and plant community composition of coastal freshwater marshes. We studied these phenomena in a recently restored wetland on the coastal plain of North Carolina. We measured water inundation patterns, porewater chemistry, microbial process rates, plant tissue chemistry and iron plaque on plant roots, and quantified plant community composition across a hydrologic and salinity gradient to understand the potential interactions between saltwater incursion and changes in microbial processes and plant communities. Plant communities showed no obvious response to incursion, but were structured by inundation patterns and plant growth form (for example, graminoid versus forb). Saltwater incursion increased chloride and sulfate concentrations in surface and porewater, and drove resulting spatial patterns in anaerobic microbial metabolism rates. Plots experiencing saltwater incursion had higher sulfate reduction rates and were dominated by graminoid plant species (for example, sedges, rushes, and grasses). Graminoid plant species’ roots had greater iron plaque formation than forb and submerged species, indicative that graminoid plant species are supplying more oxygen to the rhizosphere, potentially influencing microbial metabolism. Future studies should focus on how plant and microbial communities may respond to saltwater incursion at different time scales, and on parsing out the influence that plants and microbes have on each other as freshwater wetlands experience sea level rise.     

Predicting Carbon and Nutrient Transformations in Tidal Freshwater Wetlands of the Hudson River

The exchange of water between the main channel of the tidal freshwater Hudson River and its tidal wetlands is a large proportion of the whole-river water volume and causes large changes in concentrations of some dissolved and suspended constituents. Ten representative wetlands were assessed for their ability to alter quantities of inorganic nutrients, suspended particles, dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and dissolved oxygen during tidal exchange. The majority of sites acted as sinks for oxygen and nitrate and as sources of DOC. For other variables such as phosphate and pigments, individual wetlands varied broadly in both the direction and magnitude of change. For some variables (oxygen, DOC) we found mechanistically plausible predictors for the magnitude of alteration. The proportional coverage of submerged vegetation or intertidal marsh graminoid vegetation was related to the degree of change in oxygen and DOC. For most cases, however, we did not find strong predictors and we attribute this to the spatial positioning of “hot spots” or redundancy in the processes actually responsible for the transformation. Our ability to predict ecosystem performance from whole-ecosystem attributes may be impeded by lack of consideration of within-system spatial contingencies or lack of knowledge of which process is actually responsible for the observed alteration in material flux.     

Niche-Partitioning of Edaphic Microbial Communities in the Namib Desert Gravel Plain Fairy Circles

Endemic to the Namib Desert, Fairy Circles (FCs) are vegetation-free circular patterns surrounded and delineated by grass species. Since first reported the 1970''s, many theories have been proposed to explain their appearance, but none provide a fully satisfactory explanation of their origin(s) and/or causative agent(s). In this study, we have evaluated an early hypothesis stating that edaphic microorganisms could be involved in their formation and/or maintenance. Surface soils (0–5cm) from three different zones (FC center, FC margin and external, grass-covered soils) of five independent FCs were collected in April 2013 in the Namib Desert gravel plains. T-RFLP fingerprinting of the bacterial (16S rRNA gene) and fungal (ITS region) communities, in parallel with two-way crossed ANOSIM, showed that FC communities were significantly different to those of external control vegetated soil and that each FC was also characterized by significantly different communities. Intra-FC communities (margin and centre) presented higher variability than the controls. Together, these results provide clear evidence that edaphic microorganisms are involved in the Namib Desert FC phenomenon. However, we are, as yet, unable to confirm whether bacteria and/or fungi communities are responsible for the appearance and development of FCs or are a general consequence of the presence of the grass-free circles.     

The Influence of Tropical Plant Diversity and Composition on Soil Microbial Communities

There is growing interest in understanding the linkages between above- and belowground communities, and very little is known about these linkages in tropical systems. Using an experimental site at La Selva Biological Station, Costa Rica, we examined whether plant diversity, plant community composition, and season influenced microbial communities. We also determined whether soil characteristics were related to differences in microbial communities. Phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) composition revealed that microbial community composition differed across a plant diversity gradient (plots contained 1, 3, 5, or over 25 species). Plant species identity also was a factor influencing microbial community composition; PLFA composition significantly varied among monocultures, and among three-species combinations that differed in plant species composition. Differences among treatments within each of these comparisons were apparent in all four sampling dates of the study. There was no consistent shift in microbial community composition between wet and dry seasons, although we did see significant changes over time. Of all measured soil characteristics, soil C/N was most often associated with changes in microbial community composition across treatment groups. Our findings provide evidence for human alteration of soil microbial communities via the alteration of plant community composition and diversity and that such changes are mediated in part by changes in soil carbon quality.     

Relationships between Spatial Metrics and Plant Diversity in Constructed Freshwater Wetlands

The diversity of plant species and their distribution in space are both thought to have important effects on the function of wetland ecosystems. However, knowledge of the relationships between plant species and spatial diversity remains incomplete. In this study, we investigated relationships between spatial pattern and plant species diversity over a five year period following the initial restoration of experimental wetland ecosystems. In 2003, six identical and hydrologically-isolated 0.18 ha wetland “cells” were constructed in former farmland in northeast Ohio. The systems were subjected to planting treatments that resulted in different levels of vascular plant species diversity among cells. Plant species diversity was assessed through annual inventories. Plant spatial pattern was assessed by digitizing low-altitude aerial photographs taken at the same time as the inventories. Diversity metrics derived from the inventories were significantly related to certain spatial metrics derived from the photographs, including cover type diversity and contagion. We found that wetlands with high cover type diversity harbor higher plant species diversity than wetlands with fewer types of patches. We also found significant relationships between plant species diversity and spatial patterning of patch types, but the direction of the effect differed depending on the diversity metric used. Links between diversity and spatial pattern observed in this study suggest that high-resolution aerial imagery may provide wetland scientists with a useful tool for assessing plant diversity.     

Saltwater Intrusion Modifies Microbial Community Structure and Decreases Denitrification in Tidal Freshwater Marshes

Ecosystems - Environmental changes can alter the interactions between biotic and abiotic ecosystem components in tidal wetlands and therefore impact important ecosystem functions. The objective of...     

Species Composition and Inter-annual Dynamics of a Freshwater Tidal Plant Community Following Removal of the Invasive Grass, Phragmites australis

We document the regeneration of native freshwater wetland plant assemblages following removal of the common reed, Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steudel from two sites at Chapman Pond, East Haddam, Connecticut, USA. We gathered field data on composition of the vegetation 1 year before and for each of the 3 years after the removal in fall 1995/spring 1996 of Phragmites by two slightly different methods (hand-removal and herbiciding in one area, mowing/mulching and herbiciding in another). An area where Phragmites was left intact was similarly monitored. Our goals for this monitoring were: (1) to document plant species composition and richness before and after Phragmites removal and (2) to examine temporal and spatial variability in patterns of plant recruitment. Phragmites declined in both density and extent in both plots where removal treatments were applied. Richness, evenness, and density of non-Phragmites species increased steadily from 1996 to 1997 in all removal and intact plots. However, the species composition of the removal plots was richer than that of the intact plot, and more closely resembled that of comparable, uninvaded freshwater tidal wetlands. Rates of recovery of species richness in the removal plots declined from 1997 to 1998, potentially reflecting saturation of available colonization space, or the return of Phragmites. Phragmites has expanded its range in both of the removal plots since 1997. A model of its colonization indicates that Phragmites occupies space through localized proliferation of dense rhizomes rather than diffusely foraging with long tillers. Vigilance in monitoring is needed to document the spread of invasives, to evaluate the multi-faceted ecological effects of eradication efforts on both the invader and the regenerating community, and develop strategies for preventing re-invasion.     

Key Edaphic Properties Largely Explain Temporal and Geographic Variation in Soil Microbial Communities across Four Biomes

Soil microbial communities play a critical role in nutrient transformation and storage in all ecosystems. Quantifying the seasonal and long-term temporal extent of genetic and functional variation of soil microorganisms in response to biotic and abiotic changes within and across ecosystems will inform our understanding of the effect of climate change on these processes. We examined spatial and seasonal variation in microbial communities based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) composition across four biomes: a tropical broadleaf forest (Hawaii), taiga (Alaska), semiarid grassland-shrubland (Utah), and a subtropical coniferous forest (Florida). In this study, we used a team-based instructional approach leveraging the iPlant Collaborative to examine publicly available National Ecological Observatory Network (NEON) 16S gene and PLFA measurements that quantify microbial diversity, composition, and growth. Both profiling techniques revealed that microbial communities grouped strongly by ecosystem and were predominately influenced by three edaphic factors: pH, soil water content, and cation exchange capacity. Temporal variability of microbial communities differed by profiling technique; 16S-based community measurements showed significant temporal variability only in the subtropical coniferous forest communities, specifically through changes within subgroups of Acidobacteria. Conversely, PLFA-based community measurements showed seasonal shifts in taiga and tropical broadleaf forest systems. These differences may be due to the premise that 16S-based measurements are predominantly influenced by large shifts in the abiotic soil environment, while PLFA-based analyses reflect the metabolically active fraction of the microbial community, which is more sensitive to local disturbances and biotic interactions. To address the technical issue of the response of soil microbial communities to sample storage temperature, we compared 16S-based community structure in soils stored at -80°C and -20°C and found no significant differences in community composition based on storage temperature. Free, open access datasets and data sharing platforms are powerful tools for integrating research and teaching in undergraduate and graduate student classrooms. They are a valuable resource for fostering interdisciplinary collaborations, testing ecological theory, model development and validation, and generating novel hypotheses. Training in data analysis and interpretation of large datasets in university classrooms through project-based learning improves the learning experience for students and enables their use of these significant resources throughout their careers.     

退田还湖对洞庭湖湿地鸟类的影响

对洞庭湖湿地退田还湖前后湿地鸟类群落结构进行对比分析,阐述了湿地鸟类群落结构的变化趋势.洞庭湖湿地鸟类群落结构的变化表明,鸟类的数量在退田还湖后明显上升,与1992年洞庭湖湿地鸟类名录相比增加2目16科174种,尤其是雁鸭类、鹬鹆类、隼类和鸣禽的种数增加迅速.优势种退田还湖前只有32种,退田还湖后增加到74种.不同的湖区因生态环境异质性,退田还湖前后鸟类的群落结构也有差异.在记录的312种鸟类中,其中东洞庭湖分布有297种,南洞庭湖164种,西洞庭湖217种,共有鸟类138种,东洞庭湖特有鸟类较多(48种).经调查,退田还湖(垸)区鸟类群落结构变化更为明显,青山垸分布13目33科77种,西畔山洲垸分布8目20科37种,两垸共有鸟种33种,青山垸特有鸟类有41种,西畔山洲垸5种.     

Crown Architecture and Species Coexistence in Plant Communities

The relationships between crown architecture and species coexistencewere studied using the diffusion model and the canopy photosynthesismodel for multi-species plant communities. The present paperdeals with two species having different crown shapes [conic-canopyplant (CCP) and spheroidal-canopy plant (SCP)], for variousinitial mean sizes at the establishment stage and physiologicalparameter values (photosynthetic rate, etc.). Recruitment processeswere not incorporated into the model, and thus simulations weremade for the effects on the pattern of species coexistence ofeither sapling competition starting from different sapling banksor competition in single-cohort stands with little continualestablishment of species until a stand-replacement disturbance.The following predictions were derived: (1) SCPs can establishlater/slowly in the lower canopy layer even if they are overtoppedby a CCP which established first/rapidly; (2) if SCPs establishedfirst/rapidly and occupy the upper canopy layer, a CCP can rarelyestablish later/slowly in the lower canopy layer; (3) smallest-sizedCCPs can persist well in the lowermost canopy layer overtoppedby a SCP, suggesting a waiting strategy of CCP's saplings inthe understorey of a crowded stand; (4) even if CCPs establishedfirst/rapidly and occupy the upper canopy layer, an SCP canestablish later/slowly in the lower canopy layer. Therefore,the species diversity of SCPs which established first/rapidlyand occupy the upper canopy layer limits the number of CCP specieswhich can establish later/slowly. In contrast, the species diversityof CCPs which established first/rapidly and occupy the uppercanopy layer does not affect the number of SCP species whichcan establish later/slowly. The combination of initial sizesof a CCP and an SCP at the establishment stage (i.e. establishmenttiming) affects the segregation of vertical positions in thecanopy between the two species with different crown shape, andnot only species-specific physiological traits but also crownarchitecture greatly affects the coexistence pattern betweenspecies with different crown architectures. The theoreticalpredictions obtained here can explain coexistence patterns foundin single-cohort conifer-hardwood boreal and sub-boreal forests,pointing to the significance of crown architecture for speciescoexistence. Diffusion equation model; canopy photosynthesis model; conifer-hardwood boreal/sub-boreal forest; sapling establishment; vertical foliage profile     

An Exploration of Hypotheses that Explain Herbivore and Pathogen Attack in Restored Plant Communities

Many hypotheses address the associations of plant community composition with natural enemies, including: (i) plant species diversity may reduce enemy attack, (ii) attack may increase as host abundance increases, (iii) enemy spillover may lead to increased attack on one host species due to transmission from another host species, or enemy dilution may lead to reduced attack on a host that would otherwise have more attack, (iv) physical characteristics of the plant community may influence attack, and (v) plant vigor may affect attack. Restoration experiments with replicated plant communities provide an exceptional opportunity to explore these hypotheses. To explore the relative predictive strengths of these related hypotheses and to investigate the potential effect of several restoration site preparation techniques, we surveyed arthropod herbivore and fungal pathogen attack on the six most common native plant species in a restoration experiment. Multi-model inference revealed a weak but consistent negative correlation with pathogen attack and host diversity across the plant community, and no correlation between herbivory and host diversity. Our analyses also revealed host species-specific relationships between attack and abundance of the target host species, other native plant species, introduced plant species, and physical community characteristics. We found no relationship between enemy attack and plant vigor. We found minimal differences in plant community composition among several diverse site preparation techniques, and limited effects of site preparation techniques on attack. The strongest associations of community characteristics with attack varied among plant species with no community-wide patterns, suggesting that no single hypothesis successfully predicts the dominant community-wide trends in enemy attack.     

Availability of Ferric Iron for Microbial Reduction in Bottom Sediments of the Freshwater Tidal Potomac River

The distribution of Fe(III), its availability for microbial reduction, and factors controlling Fe(III) availability were investigated in sediments from a freshwater site in the Potomac River Estuary. Fe(III) reduction in sediments incubated under anaerobic conditions and depth profiles of oxalate-extractable Fe(III) indicated that Fe(III) reduction was limited to depths of 4 cm or less, with the most intense Fe(III) reduction in the top 1 cm. In incubations of the upper 4 cm of the sediments, Fe(III) reduction was as important as methane production as a pathway for anaerobic electron flow because of the high rates of Fe(III) reduction in the 0- to 0.5-cm interval. Most of the oxalate-extractable Fe(III) in the sediments was not reduced and persisted to a depth of at least 20 cm. The incomplete reduction was not the result of a lack of suitable electron donors. The oxalate-extractable Fe(III) that was preserved in the sediments was considered to be in a form other than amorphous Fe(III) oxyhydroxide, since synthetic amorphous Fe(III) oxyhydroxide, amorphous Fe(III) oxyhydroxide adsorbed onto clay, and amorphous Fe(III) oxyhydroxide saturated with adsorbed phosphate or fulvic acids were all readily reduced. Fe₃O₄ and the mixed Fe(III)-Fe(II) compound(s) that were produced during the reduction of amorphous Fe(III) oxyhydroxide in an enrichment culture were oxalate extractable but were not reduced, suggesting that mixed Fe(III)-Fe(II) compounds might account for the persistence of oxalate-extractable Fe(III) in the sediments. The availability of microbially reducible Fe(III) in surficial sediments demonstrates that microbial Fe(III) reduction can be important to organic matter decomposition and iron geochemistry. However, the overall extent of microbial Fe(III) reduction is governed by the inability of microorganisms to reduce most of the Fe(III) in the sediment.     

Algal Assemblages in Multiple Habitats of Restored and Extant Wetlands

The functional and structural attributes of algal assemblages were studied in 25 restored and 20 extant depressional wetlands in southern central Michigan. Environmental conditions and algal assemblages were compared between restored and extant wetlands and among habitats within wetlands. Restored marshes generally had lower shading by macrophytes, nutrient concentrations, and sediment organic matter. Relative biovolume of non-diatom algae was significantly different among plankton, macrophyte and sediment habitats in restored wetlands, but did not differ between macrophytes and sediments in extant wetlands. Species composition of diatom assemblages was not significantly different between plants and sediments in both restored and extant wetlands. The observed differences in non-diatom algae could not be attributed to any measured environmental variable; however, diatom assemblage differences between habitats increased with light irradiance. Differences in sediment diatom assemblages were observed between restored and extant wetlands and were related to differences in nutrients, pH, and canopy cover. Differences were also observed between epiphytic diatom assemblages in restored and extant wetlands and they were related to light and dissolved oxygen. In summary, differences in light and nutrient availability were the main environmental factors differentiating algal communities in wetlands.     

Responses of Salt Marsh Plant Rhizosphere Diazotroph Assemblages to Changes in Marsh Elevation,Edaphic Conditions and Plant Host Species

An important source of new nitrogen in salt marsh ecosystems is microbial diazotrophy (nitrogen fixation). The diazotroph assemblages associated with the rhizospheres (sediment directly affected by the roots) of salt marsh plants are highly diverse, somewhat stable, and consist mainly of novel organisms. In Crab Haul Creek Basin, North Inlet, SC, the distribution of plant types into discrete zones is dictated by relatively minor differences in marsh elevation and it was hypothesized that the biotic and abiotic properties of the plant zones would also dictate the composition of the rhizosphere diazotroph assemblages. Over a period of 1 year, rhizosphere sediments were collected from monotypic stands of the black needlerush, Juncus roemerianus, the common pickleweed, Salicornia virginica, the short and tall growth forms of the smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora, and a mixed zone of co-occurring S. virginica and short form, S. alterniflora. DNA was extracted, purified and nifH sequences PCR amplified for denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis to determine the composition of the diazotroph assemblages. The diazotroph assemblages were strongly influenced by season, abiotic environmental parameters and plant host. Sediment chemistry and nitrogen fixation activity were also significantly influenced by seasonal changes. DGGE bands that significantly affected seasonal and zone specific clustering were identified and most of these sequences were from novel diazotrophs, unaffiliated with any previously described organisms. At least one third of the recovered nifH sequences were from a diverse assemblage of Chlorobia, and γ-, α-, β- and δ-Proteobacteria. Diazotrophs that occurred throughout the growing season and among all zones (frequently detected) were also mostly novel. These significant sequences indicated that diazotrophs driving the structure of the assemblages were diverse, versatile, and some were ubiquitous while others were seasonally responsive. Several ubiquitous sequences were closely related to sequences of actively N₂ fixing diazotrophs previously recovered from this system. These sequences from ubiquitous and versatile organisms likely indicate the diazotrophs in these rhizosphere assemblages that significantly contribute to ecosystem function.     

Dissolved Organic Matter Concentration and Quality Influences upon Structure and Function of Freshwater Microbial Communities

Past studies have suggested that the concentration and quality of dissolved organic matter (DOM) may influence microbial community structure. In this study, we cross-inoculated the bacterial communities from two streams and a dystrophic lake that varied in DOM concentration and chemistry, to yield nine fully crossed treatments. We measured dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration and heterotrophic microbial community productivity throughout a 72-h incubation period, characterized DOM quality by molecular weight, and determined microbial community structure at the initial and final time points. Our results indicate that all bacterial inoculate sources had similar effects upon DOC concentration and DOM quality, regardless of the DOM source. These effects included an overall decrease in DOM M _W and an initial period of DOC concentration variability between 0-24h. In contrast, microbial communities and their metabolic rates converged to profiles that reflected the DOM source upon which they were growing, regardless of the initial bacterial inoculation. The one exception was that the bacterial community from the low-concentration and low-molecular-weight DOM source exhibited a greater denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) band richness when grown in its own DOM source than when grown in the highest concentration and molecular weight DOM source. This treatment also exhibited a higher rate of productivity. In general, our data suggest that microbial communities are selected by the DOM sources to which they are exposed. A microbial community will utilize the low-molecular-weight (or labile) DOM sources as well as parts of the high-molecular-weight (refractory) DOM, until a community develops that can efficiently metabolize the more abundant high-molecular-weight source. This experiment examines some of the complex interactions between microbial community selection and the combined factors of DOM quality and concentration. Our data suggest that the roles of aerobic aquatic heterotrophic bacteria in carbon cycling, as well as the importance of high-molecular-weight DOM as a carbon source, may be more complex than is conventionally recognized.     

Phylogenetic Analysis and Metabolic Potential of Microbial Communities in an Industrial Bagasse Collection Site

Industrial bagasse collection sites at sugar mills are an important resource for biomass-based industries and represent a unique ecological niche in lignocellulose degradation. In this study, microbial community structures at regions with varying microenvironmental conditions contained within a bagasse collection site were explored using tagged 16S rRNA gene pyrosequencing. Overall, remarkable differences in microbial community structures were found in aerobic surface and oxygen-limited interior regions of the pile. A variety of Alphaproteobacteria and Gammaproteobacteria represented the majority of bacteria in the aerobic upper-pile regions with the predominance of acetic acid bacteria towards the outer surface. Diverse Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Acidobacteria represented the predominant phyla at the exterior soil-contact pile base with an increasing abundance of anaerobic Spirochaetes with the increasing depth, where it shared similar community structures to that in the open-field soil from decomposed bagasse. Using complementary shotgun pyrosequencing, a variety of genes encoding various glycosyl hydrolases targeting cellulose and hemicellulose degradation were identified in the oxygen-limited interior pile base. Most were relevant to orders Clostridiales, Bacteroidales, Sphingobacteriales, and Cytophagales, suggesting their role in lignocellulose degradation in this region, as evidenced by the decrease in cellulose and respective increase in lignin fractions of the biomass. Partial carbon flux in the anoxic region was metabolized through mixed methanogenesis pathways as suggested by the annotated functional genes in methane synthesis. This study gives insights into native microbial community structures and functions in this unique lignocellulose degrading environment and provides the basis for controlling microbial processes important for utilization of bagasse in bio-industries.     

Water Organic Pollution and Eutrophication Influence Soil Microbial Processes,Increasing Soil Respiration of Estuarine Wetlands: Site Study in Jiuduansha Wetland

Undisturbed natural wetlands are important carbon sinks due to their low soil respiration. When compared with inland alpine wetlands, estuarine wetlands in densely populated areas are subjected to great pressure associated with environmental pollution. However, the effects of water pollution and eutrophication on soil respiration of estuarine and their mechanism have still not been thoroughly investigated. In this study, two representative zones of a tidal wetland located in the upstream and downstream were investigated to determine the effects of water organic pollution and eutrophication on soil respiration of estuarine wetlands and its mechanism. The results showed that eutrophication, which is a result of there being an excess of nutrients including nitrogen and phosphorus, and organic pollutants in the water near Shang shoal located upstream were higher than in downstream Xia shoal. Due to the absorption and interception function of shoals, there to be more nitrogen, phosphorus and organic matter in Shang shoal soil than in Xia shoal. Abundant nitrogen, phosphorus and organic carbon input to soil of Shang shoal promoted reproduction and growth of some highly heterotrophic metabolic microorganisms such as β-Proteobacteria, γ-Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria which is not conducive to carbon sequestration. These results imply that the performance of pollutant interception and purification function of estuarine wetlands may weaken their carbon sequestration function to some extent.     

Distribution and Species Diversity of Plant Communities along Transect on the Northeastern Tibetan Plateau

The distribution and species diversity of plant communities along a 600 km transect through the northeastern Tibetan Plateau (32°42′–35°07′ N, 101°02′–97°38′ E) with altitudes from 3255 to 4460 m are described. The transect started from the Youyi Bridge of Banma through Dari, Maqin and Maduo to Zaling Lake. The data from 47 plots along the transect are summarized and analyzed. The mean annual temperature, the mean annual rainfall and the length of growing season decreases from 2.6 to −4.5 °C, from 767.2 to 240.1 mm, from 210 to 140 days, respectively, along the transect from the southeastern Banma to northwestern Zaling Lake. The number of vascular plant species recorded in 47 plots is 242 including 2 tree, 34 shrub, 206 herb species. Main vegetation types on the transect from southeast to northwest are: Sabina convallium forest, Picea likiangensis forest, Pyracantha fortuneana + Spiraea alpina shrub, Hippophae neurocarpu shrub, Sibiraea angustata + Polygonum viviparum shrub, Stellera chamaejasme herb meadow, Potentilla fruticosa + Salix obscura + Carex sp. Shrub, Kobresia capillifolia meadow, P. froticosa + Kobresia humilis shrub, Caragana jubata + S. obscura shrub, Kobresia tibetica meadow, Kobresia pygmaea meadow, K. pygmaea + Stipa purpurea steppe meadow, Stipa purpurea steppe. Plant richness and diversity index all showed a decreasing trend with increasing of elevation along transect from southeast to northwest. Detailed information on altitudinal ranges and distribution of the alpine vegetation, vascular flora and environments over the alpine zone at northeastern Tibetan Plateau provides baseline records relevant to future assessment of probable effects of global climate changes.     

Influence of Eutrophication on the Distribution of Phytobenthic Plant and Animal Communities

A short review of effects of eutrophication on the phytobenthic communities in the Baltic Sea is given. Future monitoring aspects are briefly discussed. Local changes in phytobenthic communities outside point sources (e.g. industry outlets, enclosed bays receiving effluents from land runoff etc.) are easily detected and can be due to nutrient enrichment and/or toxic substances. In recent decades, changes have been reported from apparently unaffected areas. The disappearance of Fucus vesiculosus is the most conspicuous. The cause of events is similar in those areas: increases in epiphytes give increases in grazer populations. The thallus of algae is heavily grazed upon. The epiphytes shade their host and filamentous algae compete for space, disturbing recruitment and leading to a decrease in diversity. The rapid response of opportunistic filamentous algae on nutrient enrichment and changing herbivore pressure can easily be observed. Therefore, repeated surveillance in defined areas, which integrates the environmental response in both animal and plant communities, may be a fruitful approach for detecting large scale eutrophication of the Baltic Sea.