桂林岩溶石山阴香群落土壤种子库

采用萌发法对桂林岩溶石山阴香群落土壤种子库的物种组成、垂直分布和多样性等进行了研究。结果表明:阴香群落土壤种子库中共有种子植物54种,隶属45属34科,其中乔木15种,灌木14种,草本13种,攀援植物12种;种子库的平均密度为152粒.m-2;在0～15cm土层内,种子库密度垂直分布呈现上层(0～5cm)>中层(5～10cm)>下层(10～15cm),层间储量的差异明显;土壤种子库的Margalef丰富度指数、Shannon-Wie-ner多样性指数和Pielou均匀度指数分别为4.55、3.76和1.19。     

温州裂叶月见草入侵群落和土壤种子库种类组成的季节动态

通过野外调查和萌发实验,研究了浙江温州地区裂叶月见草(Oenothera laciniata)入侵群落和土壤种子库种类组成的季节动态,结果表明:裂叶月见草土壤种子库中共有种子植物46种,种子库各层储昔与物种数量不同,呈现为上层(0～2 cm)>中层(2～5 cm)>下层(5～10 cm),层间差异较明显;裂叶月见草入侵群落地上植被与土壤种子库群落组成相似性系数为0.632,表明该群落裂叶月见草入侵时间不长,处在演替的初期阶段;裂叶月见草种子具有休眠特性,并在萌发的过程中阶段性破除休眠;裂叶月见草的重要值与群落的物种多样性存在着正相关性,但未达显著水平(P>0.05);在每年的11月至次年4月裂叶月见草营养生长期铲除是控制裂叶月见草传播和扩散的有利时机.     

生境片段化对千岛湖马尾松林内土壤种子库的影响

土壤种子库是森林群落更新的主要来源之一,对森林的演替和恢复等具有重要意义。生境片段化现象正日益严重地影响着森林群落,并可影响森林土壤种子库。研究了千岛湖地区的大陆及岛屿次生马尾松林内土壤种子库的组成及其影响因素(e.g.,岛屿面积,形状指数,隔离度和距岛屿边缘距离等)。根据大陆和岛屿的面积及边缘梯度,采用大数量小样方法,分别在土壤种子库最大化(初冬,2015年12月)和最小化(晚春,2016年4月)时期对马尾松林内土壤进行了机械取样。对土壤样品进行萌发实验,检测了两个时期的土壤种子库上层(0—2 cm)和下层(2—5 cm)种子组成,并通过广义线性混合效应模型等手段分析其影响因素。结果显示:(1)所有316个土壤样本中,萌发出幼苗1422株,隶属于29科、40属、41种。其中,木本植物幼苗占13种1024株,草本占28种398株。(2)Jaccard指数和相关性分析均显示初冬、晚春时期的土壤种子库组成具有很高的相似性;土壤种子库上、下层组成的相似性也很高。(3)广义线性混合效应模型分析显示,在大陆和岛屿上,土壤种子库下层种子含量低于上层;而大陆样地土壤种子库中的木本植物种子数较岛屿样地高。岛屿上,土壤种子库中的种子数随土层的加深而降低;随边缘梯度升高也下降,尤其是草本植物的种子。对于岛屿上的木本植物,不耐阴种的种子数量远大于耐阴种,尤其是土壤下层。表明千岛湖地区马尾松林内土壤种子库组成受到生境片段化的影响,进而可能作用于该类型森林群落的演替。     

西双版纳热带森林土壤种子库的季节变化

通过萌发实验法对西双版纳地区的一类热带季节雨林 (番龙眼、千果榄仁 )和 2类次生林(白背桐林、中平树林 )的土壤种子库的季节变化进行了探讨。结果表明 :该地区的土壤种子库动态具有明显的季节性。季节雨林的土壤种子库储量相对稳定 ,土壤上层 ( 0～ 2 cm )的种子储量在雨季末期较大。2类次生林土壤种子库的变化则相反 ,土壤种子库中的种子种类在旱季末期较雨季末期多 ,土壤上层的种子储量在旱季末期较大。各样地均有一些种类只出现在旱季末期或雨季末期。种子在土壤种子库的动态与植物的繁殖物候和所处的环境紧密相关 ,不同种类植物的土壤种子库由于植物本身的生物学特性、传播方式和所处环境的影响而表现出不同的动态模式     

秦岭太白山4类森林土壤种子库的储量分布与物种多样性

种子是种子植物的繁殖体。了解种子生态学对于发展群落结构和功能的理论具有关键性作用。土壤种子库可以从另一个角度表现植被的潜在更新能力。本文通过野外植被调查和室内试验 ,从 2 4 0份土样中 ,采用物理方法挑选土壤中的种子进行分类统计 ,研究了秦岭太白山南坡的锐齿槲栎 (Quercusalienavar.acuteserrata)林、糙皮桦 (Betulautilis)林、巴山冷杉 (Abiesfargesii)林、太白红杉 (Larixpotaniniivar .chinensis)林 4类森林的土壤种子库分布状况 ,了解土壤种子库储量分布以及物种多样性特点。主要研究结果如下 :(1) 4类森林中 ,糙皮桦林的土壤种子库总储量最大 ,为 1.77× 10 4ind ./m2 ;太白红杉林的土壤种子库总储量最小 ,为 1.74 2× 10 3 ind ./m2 。种子的特性对于土壤种子库储量有较大的影响。 (2 ) 4类森林的土壤种子库储量在土层中的垂直分布为枯落物层 >腐殖质层 >心土层 ;锐齿槲栎林土壤种子库中物种种类最多 ,有 5 0种 ;阔叶林中潜在的群落优势度为多个种群分配 ,而针叶林的种子库中优势种较少 ;巴山冷杉林种子库群落均匀度大于其他 3种林地的。 (3)土壤种子库的种子储量与种子密度的变化规律基本一致 ;用种子密度来表示种子库的大小特征 ,考虑了土壤性质等对种子库的影响 ,比用种子储量来     

山西文峪河上游河岸林的土壤种子库与树种更新特征

以山西文峪河上游13种典型的河岸林为研究对象,通过土壤种子库和树种更新研究,分析群落种子库与林下更新随演替进展的变化趋势,以及该区河岸树种的繁殖对策。结果表明：13种群落的土壤种子库密度间于1290±103～3950±154粒/m2,63.5%的种子留存于0～5 cm的层次;种子库包含49种植物,以多年生草本为主,存在耐干扰种和湿地植物的种子;处于相同或相邻演替阶段的群落,种子库相似性较高;随演替进展,种子库密度、丰度、Shannon-Wiener指数及种子库与地上植被的相似性均呈降低趋势;处于演替后期的青杄Picea wilsonii林存在丰富的＂青杄幼苗库＂;先锋种白桦Betula platyphylla的种子存在于演替各阶段的群落中,储量丰富,其更新主要依赖于风媒种子,并存在少量萌蘖;青杄、白杄P.meyeri、华北落叶松Larix principis-rupprechtii、油松Pi-nus tabulaeformis和辽东栎Quercus liaotongensis的种子库损耗严重,没有或仅存少量种子,其中云杉和油松的更新幼苗幼树多,属持久幼苗库更新;华北落叶松幼苗幼树少,且仅出现于林缘或林窗等开阔地,属植被空隙中季节性更新;辽东栎主要依赖丰富的幼苗库进行更新,同时存在一定的萌蘖;青杨Populus cathayana以大量风媒种子更新结合营养扩展。     

松嫩平原碱化草甸恢复演替系列的群落种子流分析

对松嫩平原碱化草甸恢复演替系列4个群落优势种种子源库、土壤种子库及幼苗库进行了比较,建立了种子流模型.结果表明:演替初期虎尾草群落优势种种子源库密度最大,为(446182±180455)粒.m-2,分别是演替中期星星草群落的7.2倍、演替后期星星草 羊草群落的11.4倍、演替顶极羊草群落的164.8倍.土壤种子库和幼苗库密度均以虎尾草群落最大,分别为(63650±14541)粒.m-2和(39160±15192)株.m-2,羊草群落最小,分别为(14310±7686)粒.m-2和(790±745)株.m-2,大体呈随着恢复演替进程而递减的趋势.全体演替系列群落输出的实生苗均以虎尾草为主,占79.8%～100%.在种子流中,优势种的种子源库向土壤种子库输入率在10%～35%之间,输出率差异则较大,虎尾草群落高达62.3%,但星星草群落和羊草群落均没有优势种的幼苗输出.     

长白山森林不同演替阶段采伐林隙土壤种子库特征

对长白山地区不同恢复演替阶段的杨桦次生林、次生阔叶林和阔叶红松林采伐林隙内的土壤种子库进行了研究.结果表明：次生阔叶林林隙内土壤种子库的种子密度最大,为652粒·m^-2.随着森林群落的演替,土壤种子库的多样性指数和均匀度指数逐渐增大,而优势度指数则逐渐降低;红松、臭松和色木槭等顶极种的种子密度逐渐增大,山槐、水曲柳等树种的种子密度逐步降低;种子库的物种组成同更新幼苗的相似性越来越高,相异性则越来越低.在3种林型中,非林隙林分土壤种子库的种子密度,以及同幼苗的相似性均与林隙内种子库相同.说明土壤种子库为群落的恢复演替提供了丰富的种源基础,且随着恢复演替的进行,对地表植被更新的影响越来越强.     

田野菟丝子(Cuscuta campestris)寄生对薇甘菊(Mikania micrantha)入侵群落土壤微生物 生物量和酶活性的影响

比较分析了广东省内伶仃岛薇甘菊未入侵群落、薇甘菊入侵群落、田野菟丝子刚寄生的薇甘菊入侵群落和田野菟丝子寄生3a的薇甘菊入侵群落的土壤化学特性、微生物生物量碳氮磷及土壤酶活性的变化,旨在探讨薇甘菊入侵如何改变土壤特性及田野菟丝子的寄生如何改变薇甘菊入侵地土壤特性.薇甘菊入侵群落土壤的pH值(6.046)、有机碳(35.937 g·kg-1) 、全氮(2.449 g·kg-1)、有机氮(2.383 g·kg-1)和氨态氮(0.051 g·kg-1)含量要显著地高于薇甘菊未入侵群落土壤(5.593,29.512 g·kg-1, 0.800 g·kg-1, 0.722 g·kg-1, 0.043 g·kg-1),而土壤硝态氮含量(0.015 g·kg-1)要显著地低于薇甘菊未入侵群落土壤(0.033 g·kg-1),土壤全磷和有效磷没有明显的差异;薇甘菊入侵群落土壤的微生物生物量碳、氮、磷、土壤酸性磷酸酶、脲酶和β-D-葡萄糖苷酶活性要显著地高于薇甘菊未入侵群落土壤.田野菟丝子寄生可以使薇甘菊入侵地的土壤pH值(5.634)、有机碳(27.225 g·kg-1) 、全氮(1.836 g·kg-1)、有机氮(1.793 g·kg-1)和氨态氮(0.024 g·kg-1)含量显著性下降,对于全磷、有效磷和硝态氮则无明显影响;同时田野菟丝子寄生可以使土壤微生物生物量碳、氮、磷、土壤酸性磷酸酶、脲酶及β-D-葡萄糖苷酶活性显著下降,但改变后的土壤与未入侵地之间仍具有一定的差异.田野菟丝子寄生达3a的薇甘菊入侵地的土壤总有机碳(35.719 g·kg-1)、全氮(2.356 g·kg-1)、有机氮(2.304 g·kg-1)和氨态氮(0.040 g·kg-1)含量相对于寄生早期显著增加,有机碳、全氮、有机氮等含量恢复到薇甘菊入侵地的水平,与未入侵地之间存在显著性差异;田野菟丝子寄生时间对土壤微生物生物量氮磷及土壤酸性磷酸酶和β-D-葡萄糖苷酶活性无显著性影响,但微生物生物量碳及脲酶活性显著升高,甚至超出薇甘菊入侵地.薇甘菊入侵可以改变土壤微生物生物量和酶活性,最终改变土壤化学特性,有利于其入侵;而田野菟丝子寄生可以打破土壤微生物生态系统的动态平衡,引起土壤微生物生物量和酶活性的改变,而最终又引起土壤化学特性的改变.此研究结果对于评价薇甘菊入侵的后果、田野菟丝子防治的可能机制及带来的后果具有重要的意义.     

荒漠草原区4种植物群落土壤种子库特征及其土壤理化性质

土壤种子库作为地上植被更新的潜在种源,在植被自然恢复和演替过程以及生态系统建设中起着重要作用。以宁夏盐池县荒漠草原区4种植物群落为研究对象,通过对封育16年后植物群落土壤理化性质的变化与其土壤种子库的特征之间的关系的探讨,揭示荒漠草原植物群落的土壤种子库分布特征和演替趋势,以及土壤质量的改变如何影响土壤种子库特征。研究结果表明：（1）不同植物群落土壤种子库物种组成及种子密度不同,同一物种在不同植物群落土壤种子库中出现时种子密度也存在差异;禾本科、菊科、藜科植物种在4种植物群落土壤种子库中出现比例均较高,分别占到26.19%、21.43%和19.05%,占总物种数的66.7%;灰绿藜、冰草、碱蓬在4种植物群落土壤种子库中均有出现。（2）4种植物群落土壤种子库中多年生植物和一年生植物种子居多,灌木、半灌木植物种较少。（3）4种植物群落土壤种子库中物种数和种子密度均表现为：芨芨草群落 > 苦豆子群落 > 油蒿群落 > 盐爪爪群落;且随着土层的加深,4种植物群落土壤种子库中物种数和种子密度均呈递减趋势。（4）4种植物群落土壤种子库中Shannon-Wiener指数、Simpsin指数、Pielou指数和Patrick指数均表现为芨芨草群落 > 苦豆子群落 > 油蒿群落 > 盐爪爪群落。此外,芨芨草群落土壤种子库与油蒿群落土壤种子库相似性最高,油蒿群落与盐爪爪群落的最低。（5）土壤种子库物种多样性特征指数与土壤pH、含水量、碱解氮呈正相关,与土壤电导率呈负相关,其中土壤pH和电导率对种子库物种多样性的影响较大。荒漠草原封育以后,土壤种子库中植物种数、种子密度和物种多样性均呈增加趋势,且以多年生植物和一年生植物种子居多;禾本科和豆科植物的物种数和种子密度大于菊科和藜科,这表明围封后牧草品质改善,植物群落正向演替。     

桂西南峰丛洼地退化植被土壤种子库的初步研究

采用野外取样和盆栽试验观察相结合的方法,对桂西南不同演替阶段退化植被的土壤种子库进行初步研究。通过统计分析,其结果:(1)厚度为20cm的表层土壤的种子库密度,其值变动于0~1125粒·m-2;(2)在物种丰富度和数量上占优势的种类均是草本植物,其中又以禾亚科、菊科的植物为主,灌木种类和数量较少,无乔木种类出现;(3)种子多集中在上层或接近上层,并且自上而下递减明显;(4)11月份采样的各演替阶段的种子库的物种丰富度和密度普遍比5月份相应演替阶段的高;(5)任两演替阶段的土壤种子库相似性较低,但出现在相邻的两个演替阶段相似性系数比相邻较远的两个演替阶段的相似性系数要高;(6)地上植被与土壤种子库的相关性不管在早期阶段还是中后期阶段都不紧密,而且从草丛阶段向乔灌林阶段演替,两者之间的相关性有降低的趋势。结果表明:对桂西南峰丛洼地退化植被,有必要开展人工诱导促进封山育林区植被恢复,从而构筑具有较高生态效益的生态防护林体系。     

兰坪铅锌矿区植被恢复初期土壤种子库与地上植被关系的研究

尾矿废弃地是一种极端的生态系统,其植被恢复的研究将丰富传统的生态学理论。该研究通过野外植被调查与室内萌发实验相结合的方法,探讨了兰坪铅锌矿区植被恢复初期不同群落类型地上植被、土壤种子库及其相互关系。结果显示:（1）与对照群落（云南松林、高山栎灌丛）相比,尾矿区恢复期各群落（早熟禾人工草地、魁蒿群落、马桑灌丛）地上植被及土壤种子库的物种数、物种多样性均较低。（2）植被恢复时间较短的2个群落（魁蒿群落、人工草地）土壤种子库较地上植被物种多样性高。（3）尾矿区恢复期各群落地上植被及土壤种子库的优势种均主要由风播、种子繁殖的植物组成,菊科、禾本科占较大比例,这些植物在尾矿区植被恢复初期起重要作用。（4）尾矿区恢复期各群落土壤种子库与地上植被的物种相似性较高,各群落之间地上植被及土壤种子库的相似性则较低。研究表明,尾矿区恢复初期土壤种子库与地上植被紧密联系,群落改造方式、恢复时间对土壤种子库具有重要影响。     

Soil animal communities at five succession stages in the litter of the evergreen broad-leaved forest in Tiantong,China

Soil animals are abundant in forest litter layer,but little attention has been Paid to the vertical distribution of community structure of soil animals in the layers at different plant community succession stages.The forest litter layer can be divided into fresh litter layer(L),fermentation layer(F)and humus layer(H),which may represent different litter decomposition stages.The aim of the study is to ascertain the vertical distribution features of soil animal communities among the three litter layers and the change in the succession process of the Evergreen Broad-Leaved Forest(EBLF)in Tiantong,Zhejiang Province,China.Soil animal communities in the five plant communities at different succession stages were investigated during the 2003 winter.Soil animals,which were collected by using Tullgren funnels,amounted to a total of 13381 individuals falling into 2 phyla,8 classes and 20 orders.The dominant groups were Acarina and Collembola,accounting for 94.24% of the total individuals,with the number of Acarina individuals 7.66 times than that of Collembola.The common group was Diptera.The results indicated that there was a distinctive vertical distribution of the soil animal communities in the forest litter laver,but it differed from that in soil below the litter layer.In contrast to those in the soil,the soil animals in the litter layer generally tended to increase in both group abundance and density from the top fresh litter layer to the bottom humus layer.Altogether 19 groups and 59.03% of total individuals were found in the bottom layer,while only 8 groups and 5.35% of the total individuals in the top.Moreover,there were some variations in the distribution of the soil animals at different plant succession stages.85.19% of Homoptera and 100% of Symphyla were found in the litter layer at the climax succession stage.while 75.61% of Thysanoptera at the intermediate succession stage.Therefore,these groups might be seen as indicative groups.The total numbers of soil animal groups and individuals in the litter layers greatly changed in the succession process of the EBLF.They both were greatest at the climax,moderate at the intermediate and smallest at the primary succession stage.However,the main soil animal groups in the litter at the different succession stages were essentially the same.They were Acarina,Collembola,Diptera and Lepidoptera.Although similarity analysis revealed that the soil animal communities in the litter at the intermediate succession stage were most similar to those at the climax succession stage,they differed greatly from each other in the Shannon-Wiener diversity index.The Shannon-Wiener index was highest at the climax succession stage and lowest at the intermediate succession stage.Finally,the paper discusses the following three questions:the role of soil animals as indicators for plant community succession;the role of different soil animal groups in the litter decomposition at different stages;and the major factors affecting the composition and distribution of soil animals in the litter.This paper provides a new perspective for the research on the succession mechanism of plant communities and the decomposition functions of soil animals.     

天童常绿阔叶林五个演替阶段凋落物中的土壤动物群落

为探讨森林凋落物中土壤动物群落的结构特征以及土壤动物群落随植被演替而发生的变化 ,于 2 0 0 3年冬季 ,对浙江天童常绿阔叶林 5个演替阶段凋落物中的土壤动物群落 ,按代表不同分解阶段的新鲜凋落物层、腐叶层和腐殖土层进行了调查研究。共获得土壤动物 13381只 ,分别隶属于 2门 8纲 2 0目。优势类群为蜱螨目 (Arcarina)和弹尾目 (Collem bola) ,二者共占总数的 94 .2 4 % ,A/ C为 7.6 6 ;常见类群为双翅目 (Diptera)。研究结果表明 :(1)凋落物中的土壤动物群落存在明显的有别于真土层的垂直分布 ,类群数和个体数总体表现为向下递增的趋势。共有 19类、5 9.0 3%的土壤动物分布在底部腐殖土层 ,仅 8类、5 .35 %的土壤动物分布在新鲜凋落物层 ,其余共 8类分布在中间腐叶层。而且 ,不同类群在各演替阶段的分布表现出一定的差异 ;(2 )凋落物中土壤动物群落随植物群落的演替而发生明显的变化 :个体总数和类群总数在演替顶极阶段最高 ,其次为中期阶段 ,演替初期最低。但是 ,在目这一分类等级上 ,各演替阶段凋落物中土壤动物群落的主要类群基本一致 ,均为蜱螨目、弹尾目、双翅目和鳞翅目 (L epidoptera) ;(3)相似性分析表明 ,演替中期凋落物中土壤动物群落与顶极阶段最为相似 ;但它们的Shannon- Wiener多样性     

土壤种子库的研究进展及若干研究热点

 土壤种子库是指存在于表层土壤（包括凋落物）中的有生命的种子。土壤种子库的研究已是植物生态学研究不可缺少的一部分,现已成为植物种群生态学中比较活跃的领域。土壤种子库时期是植物种群生活史的一个重要阶段,有人称之为潜种群阶段。土壤种子库对一年生植物来说尤其重要。土壤种子库简单地可分为瞬时土壤种子库和长久土壤种子库,即使给予理想的萌发条件如季节、温度、湿度等,土壤种子库中也仍有部分种子保持休眠状态,休眠的种子组成了土壤长久种子库的成分。时空异质性是土壤种子库的基本特性之一,不仅不同植被类型的土壤种子库具有不同的组成、大小和多样性,而且微环境也影响土壤种子库的分布格局。由于萌发、捕食和衰老等原因,土壤种子库具有季节动态,一般在旧种子萌发之后,新种子散布之前达到最低点。在高等植物占据的大多数生境中,以休眠繁殖体形式存在的个体远远超过地上植株的数量;土壤种子库、幼苗库和成年植被相互联系相互影响。由于各种原因如群落类型的差异、群落的演替阶段、取样的时间等,地上植被和土壤种子库之间关系大体上可分为两种情况,即相似性和差异性;研究土壤种子库的方法通常有萌发法和物理分离法。土壤种子库能部分反应群落的历史,对退化生态系统的恢复起着重要的作用。目前土壤种子库的主要研究热点问题可分为以下几个方面：1）土壤种子库的研究方法,2）土壤种子库的分类问题,3）土壤种子库分布的时空格局,4）地上植被和土壤种子库的关系,5）土壤种子库的动态等。     

Soil animal communities at five succession stages in the litter of the evergreen broad-leaved forest in Tiantong, China

Soil animals are abundant in forest litter layer, but little attention has been paid to the vertical distribution of community structure of soil animals in the layers at different plant community succession stages. The forest litter layer can be divided into fresh litter layer (L), fermentation layer (F) and humus layer (H), which may represent different litter decomposition stages. The aim of the study is to ascertain the vertical distribution features of soil animal communities among the three litter layers and the change in the succession process of the Evergreen Broad-Leaved Forest (EBLF) in Tiantong, Zhejiang Province, China. Soil animal communities in the five plant communities at different succession stages were investigated during the 2003 winter. Soil animals, which were collected by using Tullgren funnels, amounted to a total of 13 381 individuals falling into 2 phyla, 8 classes and 20 orders. The dominant groups were Acarina and Collembola, accounting for 94.24% of the total individuals, with the number of Acarina individuals 7.66 times than that of Collembola. The common group was Diptera. The results indicated that there was a distinctive vertical distribution of the soil animal communities in the forest litter layer, but it differed from that in soil below the litter layer. In contrast to those in the soil, the soil animals in the litter layer generally tended to increase in both group abundance and density from the top fresh litter layer to the bottom humus layer. Altogether 19 groups and 59.03% of total individuals were found in the bottom layer, while only 8 groups and 5.35% of the total individuals in the top. Moreover, there were some variations in the distribution of the soil animals at different plant succession stages. 85.19% of Homoptera and 100% of Symphyla were found in the litter layer at the climax succession stage, while 75.61% of Thysanoptera at the intermediate succession stage. Therefore, these groups might be seen as indicative groups. The total numbers of soil animal groups and individuals in the litter layers greatly changed in the succession process of the EBLF. They both were greatest at the climax, moderate at the intermediate and smallest at the primary succession stage. However, the main soil animal groups in the litter at the different succession stages were essentially the same. They were Acarina, Collembola, Diptera and Lepidoptera. Although similarity analysis revealed that the soil animal communities in the litter at the intermediate succession stage were most similar to those at the climax succession stage, they differed greatly from each other in the Shannon-Wiener diversity index. The Shannon-Wiener index was highest at the climax succession stage and lowest at the intermediate succession stage. Finally, the paper discusses the following three questions: the role of soil animals as indicators for plant community succession; the role of different soil animal groups in the litter decomposition at different stages; and the major factors affecting the composition and distribution of soil animals in the litter. This paper provides a new perspective for the research on the succession mechanism of plant communities and the decomposition functions of soil animals. __________ Translated from Acta Ecologica Sinica, 2005, 25 (3) [译自: 生态学报, 2005,25(3)]     

Seasonal Dynamics of the Plant Community and Soil Seed Bank along a Successional Gradient in a Subalpine Meadow on the Tibetan Plateau

Background

Knowledge about how change the importance of soil seed bank and relationship between seed mass and abundance during vegetation succession is crucial for understanding vegetation dynamics. Many studies have been conducted, but their ecological mechanisms of community assembly are not fully understood.

Methodology

We examined the seasonal dynamics of the vegetation and soil seed bank as well as seed size distribution along a successional gradient. We also explored the potential role of the soil seed bank in plant community regeneration, the relationship between seed mass and species abundance, and the relative importance of deterministic and stochastic processes along a successional gradient.

Principal Findings

Species richness of seed bank increased (shallow layer and the total) and seed density decreased (each layer and the total) significantly with succession. Species richness and seed density differed significantly between different seasons and among soil depths. Seed mass showed a significant negative relationship with relative abundance in the earliest successional stage, but the relationships were not significant in later stages. Seed mass showed no relationship with relative abundance in the whole successional series in seed bank. Results were similar for both July 2005 and April 2006.

Conclusions

The seed mass and abundance relationship was determined by a complex interaction between small and larger seeded species and environmental factors. Both stochastic processes and deterministic processes were important determinants of the structure of the earliest stage. The importance of seed bank decreased with succession. The restoration of abandoned farmed and grazed meadows to the species-rich subalpine meadow in Tibetan Plateau can be successfully achieved from the soil seed bank. However, at least 20 years are required to fully restore an abandoned agricultural meadow to a natural mature subalpine meadow.