海草形态、生长的种间差异及其相关生长关系

海草是海洋沉水高等植物,属典型的根茎克隆植物.根状茎直径和分株重分别是其个体大小的第一、二表征指标,个体大小是海草重要的种间识别特征.对海草6个形态构件指标和18个生长指标的综合分析表明:果实大小、单株叶面积、分株重具有显著的种特异性;分株发出的时间差、水平根状茎分枝率、叶年产量、分株寿命和垂直茎分枝率是海草种特异性最强的5个生长动态指标,海草生长动态的差异主要体现在克隆生长能力强弱和分株生活史长短上;大海草趋于游击型克隆构型,而小海草则趋于密集型,但小海草Cymodocea nodosa例外;大海草基株水平扩展能力较小海草差.海草个体大小与生长特征的相关生长关系表明:随个体的增大,海草在有机构件生长上表现出两相邻叶、相邻分株、相邻节发出的时间差延长,分株、叶、茎寿命延长的特点;在克隆生长水平上表现出根状茎节间长变短、延伸速率降低,分枝率和根状茎上年产分株数降低,分枝角度变小和间隔子增大的趋势;在克隆片段水平上表现为生理整合性增强;在种群层面则表现出生物量增大和种群密度降低的特点.因此,海草个体大小对其形态、生长特征、克隆构型、种群密度和生产力起到了决定作用.大小海草不同的形态、生长动态和克隆构型特征导致它们的生存策略及生态功能也不同,这一点可能对海草场修复基础理论研究具有一定的指示作用.     

台湾相思林和芒草草丛中薇甘菊枝构件的分枝格局及其生物量

外域杂草薇甘菊 (Mikaniamicrantha)具有极强的分枝能力。在枝构件水平上 ,对生长在台湾相思 (Acaciaconfusa)群落和芒草 (Miscanthussinensis)群落中的薇甘菊枝构件的分枝格局和生物量分配的比较分析得出 :1)同芒草群落相比 ,台湾相思群落中薇甘菊各级枝的分枝数、分枝密度和分枝率都低 ,而分枝长度则较长 ;2 )台湾相思群落中薇甘菊以第一级分枝为主 ,而在芒草群落中则以第二级分枝为主 ;3)台湾相思林中薇甘菊枝构件的叶面积率、比叶面积和比茎长及叶片生物量分配显著大于芒草草丛 ;4)两个群落中薇甘菊枝构件的节间长和比叶柄长没有显著差异。这些结果说明薇甘菊枝构件对环境条件变化具不同响应。     

台湾相思林和芒草草丛中薇甘菊枝构件的分枝格局及其生物量

 外域杂草薇甘菊(Mikania micrantha)具有极强的分枝能力。在枝构件水平上,对生长在台湾相思(Acacia confusa)群落和芒草(Miscanthus sinensis)群落中的薇甘菊枝构件的分枝格局和生物量分配的比较分析得出：1）同芒草群落相比,台湾相思群落中薇甘菊各级枝的分枝数、分枝密度和分枝率都低,而分枝长度则较长;2）台湾相思群落中薇甘菊以第一级分枝为主,而在芒草群落中则以第二级分枝为主;3）台湾相思林中薇甘菊枝构件的叶面积率、比叶面积和比茎长及叶片生物量分配显著大于芒草草丛;4     

木本植物的构型及其在植物生态学研究的进展

一般认为 ,木本植物的植株结构由枝系和根系两个亚系统构成[5,3 8] 。其地上部分的枝或茎的顶端分生组织和侧生分生组织通过不断重复的、持续的活动产生新的分枝 ,构成了复杂的枝系结构和多样的形态特征。传统的植物学研究中曾以树木的形态特征作为植物形态学、分类学和植被类型划分的依据。由于植物种群生态学中构件理论的提出[6,4 1] ,人们已经意识到植物体的各构件单元之间的关系和等级结构 ,认为木本植物地上部分存在着两种尺度的整合 ,即各构件单元在枝条水平上的整合以及各枝条构成的冠幅复合体[1,2 1] 。植物体不同的枝系特征以及枝…     

不同退化程度高寒草甸高山嵩草的构件变化

对不同退化程度下高山嵩草的构件变化进行了初步研究.结果表明:随着退化程度的加剧,高山嵩草无性系复合主分蘖数、单分蘖数以及构件的叶片数均明显下降,退化程度加剧不利于高山嵩草的营养生长;除极度退化草地外,其余样地各构件的生物量大小依次是:根茎>根>叶>秆,并且随退化程度的加剧,各构件生物量显著下降;重度退化草地中,莎草科植物生殖枝数占植物群落总生殖枝的比例最大,每个有效生殖枝平均产生3.4粒种子.     

不同沙地生境下黄柳(Salix gordejevii)种群若干数量特征的比较研究

对分布于３种不同沙地生境（半固定沙丘、固定沙丘、丘间低地）黄柳灌丛的个体形态、生长和群体数量特征进行了比较研究,同时测定了灌丛下草本层植物种类组成及频率。结果显示：分布于丘间低地的黄柳灌丛当年枝平均长度增加缓慢,短枝条的比例较高,枝长频度分布（当年枝）峰值偏左,分枝也较多,叶片短而狭,长宽比大;与之相比,分布于半固定沙丘上的灌丛当年枝平均长度增加较快,长枝条比例较高,枝长频度分布趋于正态分布,分枝     

辽东栎林内不同小生境下幼树植冠构型分析

以黄土高原黄龙山林区辽东栎林内3个小生境（林下、林隙、林缘）下辽东栎天然更新幼树为研究对象,采用典型抽样法对辽东栎幼树侧枝、叶片和树冠的空间分布状况以及生物量分配状况进行调查分析,探讨微生境与幼树植冠构型特征的关系,明确辽东栎幼树对不同小生境的适应策略,为栎林经营和林分结构优化提供理论依据。结果显示：（1）3种生境下辽东栎幼树构型发生了可塑性变化,林下幼树树冠层次比较单一,林隙与林缘的幼树树冠层次更加丰富。（2）由林下至林缘,幼树的树高、枝下高呈逐渐减小的趋势,而地径变化趋势与之相反;幼树的冠幅、树冠面积、树冠率呈先增加后减小的趋势,并且林下与林隙、林缘的差异显著;幼树的总体分枝率、逐步分枝率、枝径比呈先增加后减小的趋势。（3）3种生境下,幼树的一级枝的枝长、直径与倾角随着树高的增加而呈减小的趋势,但3种生境的差异不显著;林下一级枝主要分布在冠层中上部,而林隙与林缘一级枝主要分布在冠层中下、中上部。（4）由林下至林缘幼树叶长、叶宽、单叶面积和比叶面积逐渐降低,而单株叶数、叶总面积、叶面积指数呈先增大后减小趋势;与其他2种生境相比林下叶片分布趋于冠层上部。（5）幼树地上部分生物量中林下主干生物量占83%,枝和叶生物量只占17%;而林隙与林缘虽然各部位生物量有所差异但比例基本一致,其中主干占66%左右,枝和叶生物量占34%左右。研究表明,林隙生境下幼树的构型优于林缘和林下生境,在今后栎林的经营中,可以通过适当间伐来增加林隙数量,为森林更新和结构的优化提供有利条件。     

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。     

民勤荒漠植物枝系构型的分类研究

荒漠植物的枝系构型因素包括各级分枝角度、各级分枝长度、枝径比、逐步分枝率和总体分枝率、分枝分维数和计盒维数等16个指标。采用组内欧式距离法进行聚类,把荒漠植物依构型指标分为4个类型：第一类型包括霸王（Zygophyllum xanthoxylum）、黄刺条（Caragana frutex）等14种荒漠植物;第二类型包括秦晋锦鸡儿（C．purdomii）、荒漠锦鸡儿（C．roborovskyi）等11种荒漠植物;第三类型包括网状沙拐枣（Calligonum cancellatum）、黄花草木樨（Melilotus suaveolens）等9种荒漠植物;第四类型包括扁果木蓼（Atraphaxis replicta）、洋白蜡（Frawinus amerirana）等14种荒漠植物。不同的枝系构型类型反映了不同荒漠植物对于空间资源与环境的长期适应对策。     

柳杉种植对黔西南喀斯特山区金发藓沼泽植物群落和储水功能的影响

藓类沼泽对喀斯特山区生物多样性维持和水源涵养有重要作用,需加强人工林种植对喀斯特山区藓类沼泽生态功能影响的研究。以黔西南典型金发藓沼泽为研究对象,分析了人工柳杉林对林下金发藓植物群落和金发藓沼泽储水功能的影响。主要研究结果为：1）柳杉种植对金发藓植物群落有负面影响。随柳杉密度增加,林下金发藓植物群落的盖度、平均高度和物种多样性显著下降;2）表层土壤含水量是金发藓沼泽储水量的主要贡献者。柳杉种植显著提高了干季表层土壤的含水量,但高密度柳杉林显著降低了雨季表层土壤的含水量;柳杉种植未对干季金发藓含水量造成影响,低密度柳杉林显著提高了雨季金发藓植物的含水量;3）柳杉密度对金发藓沼泽生态系统储水量的影响存在明显季节差异：在雨季呈负影响,在干季呈正影响;4）柳杉种植有利于维持金发藓沼泽储水能力的稳定性,尤其是当柳杉密度较低时这种效果更明显。表明人工柳杉林对金发藓沼泽的影响是非线性的,合适密度的柳杉种植可提升金发藓沼泽的储水能力。     

Plant washing as a pest management technique for control of aphids (Homoptera: Aphididae).

Changes in aphid presence following plant washings were evaluated on hibiscus plants, Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L., that supported natural aphid infestations--primarily melon aphid, Aphis gossypii Clover. Type of plant module (such as stems, tight buds, open flowers, and sepal caps) and percent of module's surface covered by aphids were recorded for each branch tip on every plant. Plant washing was done with tap water, applied for 30 s three times a week for 3 wk. Aphid presence was recorded each week. Aphid presence on plant structures immediately before and after a single 30-s wash treatment was also examined. In the 3-wk study, mean percent coverage of plant parts with aphids was significantly affected by wash treatment, plant module type, and their interactions, as well as by time and the interaction of time with wash treatment. By the third week, unwashed plants had 33.1% of stems and branch tips scoring >5% coverage with aphids, and 17.9% of unwashed stems and branch tips had 20% or more of their surface area covered by aphids. Washing plants prevented aphid coverage from ever exceeding the 5% class on all module types. In the second experiment, buds and stems with high numbers of aphids before washing generally experienced notable declines with a single wash. When the prewash coverage was 10% or greater, reduction in coverage ranged from 50 to 100% of the prewash amount. In 64% of the cases, the reduction in coverage was 75% or more of the prewash amount. Plant washing can provide a viable means of management for small, soft-bodied arthropods such as aphids.     

Ramification pattern of intermetacarpal branches of the deep branch (ramus profundus) of the ulnar nerve in the human hand.

The branching pattern of the deep branch (ramus profundus) of the ulnar nerve and its relation with the target were analyzed in the human hand by an improved dissection method. After sending off branches to the hypothenar muscles, the r. profundus branched off an ulnar stem and a radial stem to the fourth, to the third and to the second intermetacarpal spaces, respectively, in this order, and an ulnar stem to the first to become terminal branches. The ulnar stems included an ulnar interosseous branch and a superficial articular branch in addition to a lumbrical branch in the third and fourth intermetacarpal spaces. The radial stems included only a radial interosseous branch. The branching pattern of the ulnar stems as well as its topographical relationship with the radial stems indicated a fundamental spatial arrangement of the branches in the intermetacarpal spaces: the lumbrical, superficial articular, ulnar interosseous and radial interosseous branches were arranged fundamentally in this order from ulnar to radial in each space; the first three branches may form a common trunk. The present observations demonstrate that individual nerves in the extremities may have a regular branching pattern, contrary to most of the previous observations.     

An empirical assessment of tree branching networks and implications for plant allometric scaling models

Several theories predict whole‐tree function on the basis of allometric scaling relationships assumed to emerge from traits of branching networks. To test this key assumption, and more generally, to explore patterns of external architecture within and across trees, we measure branch traits (radii/lengths) and calculate scaling exponents from five functionally divergent species. Consistent with leading theories, including metabolic scaling theory, branching is area preserving and statistically self‐similar within trees. However, differences among scaling exponents calculated at node‐ and whole‐tree levels challenge the assumption of an optimised, symmetrically branching tree. Furthermore, scaling exponents estimated for branch length change across branching orders, and exponents for scaling metabolic rate with plant size (or number of terminal tips) significantly differ from theoretical predictions. These findings, along with variability in the scaling of branch radii being less than for branch lengths, suggest extending current scaling theories to include asymmetrical branching and differential selective pressures in plant architectures.     

Evaluating a non-destructive method for calibrating tree biomass equations derived from tree branching architecture

Key message

Functional branch analysis (FBA) is a promising non-destructive method that can produce accurate tree biomass equations when applied to trees which exhibit fractal branching architecture.

Abstract

Functional branch analysis (FBA) is a promising non-destructive alternative to the standard destructive method of tree biomass equation development. In FBA, a theoretical model of tree branching architecture is calibrated with measurements of tree stems and branches to estimate the coefficients of the biomass equation. In this study, species-specific and mixed-species tree biomass equations were derived from destructive sampling of trees in Western Kenya and compared to tree biomass equations derived non-destructively from FBA. The results indicated that the non-destructive FBA method can produce biomass equations that are similar to, but less accurate than, those derived from standard methods. FBA biomass prediction bias was attributed to the fact that real trees diverged from fractal branching architecture due to highly variable length–diameter relationships of stems and branches and inaccurate scaling relationships for the lengths of tree crowns and trunks assumed under the FBA model.     

Patterning parameters associated with the branching of the ureteric bud regulated by epithelial-mesenchymal interactions

The mechanisms by which the branching of epithelial tissue occurs and is regulated to generate different organ structures are not well understood. In this work, image analyses of the organ rudiments demonstrate specific epithelial branching patterns for the early lung and kidney; the lung type typically generating several side branches, whereas kidney branching was mainly dichotomous. Parameters such as the number of epithelial tips, the angle of the first branch, the position index of the first branch (PIFB) in a module, and the percentage of epithelial module type (PMT) were analysed. The branching patterns in the cultured lung and kidney, and in homotypic tissue recombinants recapitulated their early in vivo branching patterns. The parameters were applied to heterotypic tissue recombinants between lung mesenchyme and ureteric bud, and tip number, PIFB and PMT values qualified the change in ureter morphogenesis and the reprogramming of the ureteric bud with lung mesenchyme. All the values for the heterotypic recombinant between ureteric bud and lung mesenchyme were significantly different from those for kidney samples but similar to those of the lung samples. Hence, lung mesenchyme can instruct the ureteric bud to undergo aspects of early lung-type epithelial morphogenesis. Different areas of the lung mesenchyme, except the tracheal region, were sufficient to promote ureteric bud growth and branching. In conclusion, our findings provide morphogenetic parameters for monitoring epithelial development in early embryonic lung and kidney and demonstrate the use of heterotypic tissue recombinants as a model for studying tissue-specific epithelial branching during organogenesis.     

Sucrose promotes stem branching through cytokinin

Shoot branching is an important aspect of plant architecture because it substantially affects plant biology and agricultural performance. Sugars play an important role in the induction of shoot branching in several species, including potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). However, the mechanism by which sugars affect shoot branching remains mostly unknown. In the present study, we addressed this question using sugar-mediated induction of bud outgrowth in potato stems under etiolated conditions. Our results indicate that sucrose feeding to detached stems promotes the accumulation of cytokinin (CK), as well as the expression of vacuolar invertase (VInv), an enzyme that contributes to sugar sink strength. These effects of sucrose were suppressed by CK synthesis and perception inhibitors, while CK supplied to detached stems induced bud outgrowth and VInv activity in the absence of sucrose. CK-induced bud outgrowth was suppressed in vinv mutants, which we generated by genome editing. Altogether, our results identify a branching-promoting module, and suggest that sugar-induced lateral bud outgrowth is in part promoted by the induction of CK-mediated VInv activity.

Sugar-induced lateral bud outgrowth is promoted by the induction of cytokinin and vacuolar invertase activity.     

Branching responses of a plagiotropic clonal herb to localised incidence of light simulating that reflected from vegetation

Plants sense the presence of neighbouring vegetation through phytochrome photoreceptors perceiving a lowered red to far-red ratio (R:FR) of light reflected from such vegetation. We hypothesised that it would be advantageous for the grassland clonal herb, Trifolium repens, to have an inhibitory branching response to perception by leaves of light reflected from neighbouring vegetation (i.e. light with lowered R:FR ratio) but have no response to interception of such light by the plagiotropic stem. We tested whether photoreception of reflected light by plagiotropic stems resulted in a different branching response to photoreception by leaves and whether leaf ontogeny influenced the response. To simulate light reflected from vegetation, FR light-emitting-diodes were used to supplement controlled environment room light so that the R:FR ratio, but not the photosynthetic photon fluence rate, of light incident at the stem or leaf of a phytomer of T. repens was lowered from 1.20 to 0.25. The plagiotropic stems were unresponsive to light simulating that reflected from vegetation. This response differs from that of stems of orthotropic species, indicating that plagiotropic stems have evolved an organ-specific photobiology. Treatment of the mature leaf with light of lowered FR ratio reduced phytomer production only of the branch in the axil of the treated leaf. Similar treatment of the immature leaf retarded, in addition, branching at basal phytomers on the same side of the primary stem axis. Thus the response to light simulating that reflected from neighbouring vegetation depended upon whether the light was incident at the stem or the leaf and on the stage of leaf development. We argue that such responses improve the performance and fitness of T. repens within grassland habitats by allowing axillary buds on plagiotropic stems to branch freely when stems are in receipt of light reflected from vegetation while leaves are in full light.     

基于白刺个体大小的生态化学计量模型

生态化学计量的提出为认识C、N、P耦合循环特征、驱动力及机制等提供了新方法,但植物在生长过程中的生态化学计量变化尚缺乏相关报道。本研究以唐古特白刺为对象,通过对白刺分株2017年当年生枝、2年生枝、大于2年生枝、叶、根和压条生物量及营养元素的测定,拟合了基于构件大小的元素总量,并推导了白刺各构件及整株依赖于个体大小的生态化学计量模型。结果表明: 推导模型能够反映植物在生长过程中的生态化学计量动态,老枝和压条均具有较高的N∶P与C∶P,叶、当年生枝和根均具有较低的N∶P与C∶P,白刺整株3种元素含量在生长过程中的累积速率为P>N>C。本研究结果符合现有的生长速率假说和异速生长理论,同时也可从侧面印证养分重吸收现象,该方法可作为分析植物生长过程中元素计量动态特征的一种有效途径。