Where temperate meets tropical: multi-factorial effects of elevated CO2, nitrogen enrichment, and competition on a mangrove-salt marsh community

Our understanding of how elevated CO₂ and interactions with other factors will affect coastal plant communities is limited. Such information is particularly needed for transitional communities where major vegetation types converge. Tropical mangroves (Avicennia germinans) intergrade with temperate salt marshes (Spartina alterniflora) in the northern Gulf of Mexico, and this transitional community represents an important experimental system to test hypotheses about global change impacts on critical ecosystems. We examined the responses of A. germinans (C₃) and S. alterniflora (C₄), grown in monoculture and mixture in mesocosms for 18 months, to interactive effects of atmospheric CO₂ and pore water nitrogen (N) concentrations typical of these marshes. A. germinans, grown without competition from S. alterniflora, increased final biomass (35%) under elevated CO₂ treatment and higher N availability. Growth of A. germinans was severely curtailed, however, when grown in mixture with S. alterniflora, and enrichment with CO₂ and N could not reverse this growth suppression. A field experiment using mangrove seedlings produced by CO₂‐ and N‐enriched trees confirmed that competition from S. alterniflora suppressed growth under natural conditions and further showed that herbivory greatly reduced survival of all seedlings. Thus, mangroves will not supplant marsh vegetation due to elevated CO₂ alone, but instead will require changes in climate, environmental stress, or disturbance to alter the competitive balance between these species. However, where competition and herbivory are low, elevated CO₂ may accelerate mangrove transition from the seedling to sapling stage and also increase above‐ and belowground production of existing mangrove stands, particularly in combination with higher soil N.     

Monitoring rangeland biodiversity: Plants as indicators

Abstract As well as being important components of biodiversity in their own right, plants reflect the physical environment, are the primary target of many of the pressures acting on rangelands, and are relatively amenable to measurement. Hence, measurements based on plants have considerable potential to be efficient indicators of the response of rangeland biodiversity to land use. A recent report commissioned by the National Land and Water Resources Audit recommended a core set of 11 indicators, six of which relied on measurements of plants. These were trends in (i) the extent of clearing; (ii) the cover of native perennial ground‐layer vegetation; (iii) the distribution and abundance of exotic plant species; (iv) the distribution and abundance of fire‐sensitive species; (v) the distribution and abundance of grazing‐sensitive species; and (vi) the distribution and abundance of listed threatened entities. Most indicated responses of plants to pressures acting on them. Only two (clearing and exotic plants) related to pressures. We recommend that the set be expanded to include two additional pressure indicators, one for grazing and another for fire, in recognition of their extent and potential influence on rangeland biodiversity. We also recommend that benchmark sites be included in all ground‐based monitoring programmes to provide reference standards for those biotic indicators about which little is known. Assessments of the current state of knowledge about these indicators for two case‐study regions, the Gascoyne–Murchison strategy area and Cape York Peninsula, have shown that it would be possible to monitor most of them directly at regional scales, but that current monitoring programmes fall short of achieving this.     

The Effect of Drying Rate on the Survival of Three Desiccation-tolerant Angiosperm Species

The effect of drying rate on the survival of three angiospermresurrection plants, Craterostigma wilmsii (homoiochlorophyllous),Xerophyta humilis (poikilochlorophyllous) and Myrothamnus flabellifolius(homoiochlorophyllous) was examined. All species survived slowdrying, but only C. wilmsii was able to survive rapid drying.C. wilmsii was rapidly able to induce protection mechanismssuch as folding of cell walls to prevent mechanical stress andcurling of leaves to minimize light stress, and thus survivedfast drying. Rapid drying of X. humilis andM. flabellifoliusappeared to allow insufficient time for complete induction ofprotection mechanisms. In X. humilis, there was incomplete replacementof water in vacuoles, the photosynthetic apparatus was not dismantled,plasma membrane disruption occurred and quantum efficiency ofphotosystem II (F_V/F_M) did not recover on rehydration. Rapidlydried leaves of M. flabellifolius did not fold tightly againstthe stem and F_V/F_Mdid not recover. Ultrastructural studies showedthat subcellular damage incurred during drying was exacerbatedon rehydration. The three species co-occur in environments inwhich they experience high desiccation pressures. C. wilmsiihas few features to retard water loss and thus the ability forrapid induction of subcellular protection is vital to survival.X. humilis and M. flabellifolius are able to retard water lossand protection is acquired relatively slowly. Copyright 1999Annals of Botany Company Chlorophyll fluorescence, Craterostigma wilmsii, drying rate, Myrothamnus flabellifolius, resurrection plant, ultrastructure, Xerophyta humilis.     

Drift and settlement of stream insects in a complex hydraulic environment

1. The hydraulic and geomorphic characteristics of stream patches are often associated with distinctive assemblages or densities of stream invertebrates, and it is routinely presumed that these patterns reflect primarily species‐specific habitat requirements. An alternative hypothesis is that such patterns may be influenced by constraints on movement, such as the results of departure and settlement processes. We describe a manipulative experiment that examined how the hydraulic environments created by topographic bedforms influenced the drift behaviour and potential settlement sites for two species of mayfly (Baetis rhodani and Ecdyonurus torrentis). These species are common in the drift and often co‐occur in streams, but differ in their small‐scale distribution patterns, body shape and movement behaviour. 2. Flume experiments were carried out to determine how the hydraulic environments conditioned by a step bedform influence the behaviour of mayflies in the drift (swimming, posturing, tumbling), and the consequences of those behaviours (drift distance and time), compared to drift over a plane bed. The ramped step in the flume mimicked step bedforms that are common in coarse‐grained, high‐gradient streams. In contrast to the plane bed, a zone of recirculating flow was created downstream of the step, above which flow was faster and more turbulent. Uniform flows are used in most flume studies of drift; our approach is novel in recreating a complex hydraulic environment characteristic of stream channels. 3. Both species had some behavioural control over drift, and drift distances and times were shorter for live larvae than for dead larvae over the plane bed. The step had no impact on drift time or distance for live Baetis, but dead larvae were trapped in the flow separation eddy and drift time increased accordingly. Some Ecdyonurus also became trapped in the eddy, but live larvae drifted farther than dead larvae, and farther over the step than the plane bed. 4. Whilst in the drift, larvae altered their behaviour according to the ambient hydraulic environment, but in a species‐specific manner. Over the plane bed, Baetis had occasional swimming bursts, but primarily postured (maintained a stable body orientation), whereas Ecdyonurus spent roughly equal time posturing and swimming. In the more turbulent flows generated by the step, Baetis spent proportionately more time swimming, whereas Ecdyonurus spent more time posturing and often tumbling as body orientation became unstable. 5. In a high‐gradient stream, Baetis was more abundant close to steps than in plane bed patches with less complex flow, whereas the opposite pattern held for Ecdyonurus. Thus, the small‐scale distribution patterns of these species within streams correspond to their drift behaviours and ability to access various hydraulic patch types in our flume. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that constraints on movement and settlement may be important driver of distribution patterns within streams.     

Resprouting of saplings following a tropical rainforest fire in north‐east Queensland,Australia

Abstract In 2002, fire burnt areas of Mesophyll‐ and Notophyll Vine Forest in the Smithfield Conservation Park near Cairns, Australia. We assessed the ability of rainforest plant species to persist through fire via resprouting. Natural rates of mortality and resprouting in unburnt areas were assessed for all saplings (stems < 2 m) via 13, 2 × 50 m belt transects, and compared to estimates of mortality and resprouting in 26 transects in burnt areas. We also tested the resprouting ability per‐individual stem of each species against all other stems with which it co‐occurred. Totals of 1242 stems (138 species) were sampled in burnt transects and 503 stems (95 species) in unburnt transects (total number of unique species = 169). There was no difference in the number of stems existing prior to the fire in burnt and unburnt areas when expressed on a per‐sample area basis. Resprouting from basal shoots and root suckers was significantly greater in burnt than in unburnt areas, but rates of stem sprouting were not different. In burnt areas 72 species were tested for resprouting ability and most (65/72) resprouted at similar rates. All species analysed contained individuals that resprouted. The resprouting response of five species was significantly lower, and in two species was significantly higher. For these species especially, fire may act as a mechanism altering relative abundances. The fire coincided with an extreme El Niño event. Current predictions indicate El Niño conditions may become increasingly common, suggesting fire events within rainforest could become more frequent. Resprouting as a general phenomenon of rainforest species, and differential resprouting ability between species should therefore be an important consideration in assessing the potential path of vegetation change in rainforests after fire.     

Changes in the second stage juveniles of Globodeva rostochiensis prior to hatching in response to potato root diffusate

cAMP levels in eggs of G. rostochiensis and the diameter of the nucleolus of the nucleus within the dorsal pharyngeal gland cell of the second stage juvenile have been measured as indicators of the response of the nematode to the hatching stimulus in potato root diffusate. The nucleolus increased from 2.72 ± 0.103 μm for unhatched individuals to 3.28 ± 0.14 μm and 3.88 ± 0.15 μm after soaking eggs in potato root diffusate for 3 and 4 days respectively. Juveniles expressed from unstimulated eggs in water to potato root diffusate for 4–5 days showed a similar increase in size of the nucleolus to 3.94 ±0.15 μm but those released into water for this time had smaller nucleoli of 3.20 ± 0.98 μm. The change in diameter of the nucleolus is probably related to the accumulation of secretions in this gland cell before hatching. Preliminary results with dibutyryl analogues of CAMP and cGMP showed some inhibition of hatch in 10% potato root diffusate. Theophylline had a similar effect but NaF was dissimilar in that the effect of this inhibitor was not reversible. A standard radioimmunoassay showed that significant changes in cAMP levels occurred in the unhatched juveniles within cysts after treatment with potato root diffusate for 2.5 or 8 h compared with values for cysts kept in water. This change occurs before other known responses of the juveniles to potato root diffusate and it defines the period of interest for future work on the initial action of hatching factor.     

Transference of resistance to black-currant gall mite, Cecidophyopsis ribis, from gooseberry to black currant

Field and insectary tests confirmed that the black-currant gall mite (Cecidophyopsis ribis) is unable to survive on gooseberry and red currant. A dominant gene Ce, controlling resistance to the gall mite, has been transferred from gooseberry to black currant. Resistant, large-fruited, self-fertile black currants of commercial potential have been obtained in the third backcross. One accession of Ribes bracteosum and three of R. americanum proved field susceptible to the gall mite, but twenty-four accessions of other Ribes species remained free from galled buds for at least 3 years in an infection plot.     

A Comparative Analysis of Scent-Marking, Social and Reproductive Behavior in 20 Species of Small Cats (Felis)

SYNOPSIS. Except for lions and cheetahs, members of family Felidaeexhibit spatially and temporally dispersed social systems. However,this solitary existence does not preclude possession of a richrepertoire of communication signals. While patterns of communicationhave been examined in a number of the larger cats (e.g., lions,cheetahs, tigers), those of the smaller cats (<20 kg) remainvirtually unstudied. The purpose of this study was to examinebehavior in the smaller members of the Family Felidae to determinethe level of behavioral uniformity within the family and toascertain whether systematic behavioral observations could beused as an effective bioassay to monitor reproduction. A comparativeexamination of the occurrence and rate of scent marking, socialbehavior (especially behaviors associated with copulation),and other reproductive parameters was made in 20 species ofcaptive, small felids. In general, small felids exhibited remarkableuniformity in their behavioral repertoire, both with respectto scent-marking and social behaviors. While the frequency ofsocial behaviors differed among species, their appearance andgeneral order of occurrence was similar. This was especiallyapparent with regard to the copulatory sequence. Detectablebehavioral changes occurred in association with reproduction,supporting the concept of using systematic behavioral observationsas a viable, non-invasive assay for monitoring reproductiveactivity. Reproductively active felids scent marked more frequentlythan reproductively inactive cats. However, no single scent-markingbehavior was a good indicator of reproductive activity. Rather,the relative change in rates of behaviors over time was a betterindicator of reproduction. As with scent-marking behaviors,a change in the relative rates of some social behaviors wasthe most reliable indicator of reproductive activity. Comparativebehavioral data also show promise for understanding the phylogeneticrelationships of three proposed lineages within the family Felidae(Panthera, ocelot, and domestic cat).     

Contemporary carbon balance and late Holocene carbon accumulation in a northern peatland

Northern peatlands contain up to 25% of the world's soil carbon (C) and have an estimated annual exchange of CO₂‐C with the atmosphere of 0.1–0.5 Pg yr⁻¹ and of CH₄‐C of 10–25 Tg yr⁻¹. Despite this overall importance to the global C cycle, there have been few, if any, complete multiyear annual C balances for these ecosystems. We report a 6‐year balance computed from continuous net ecosystem CO₂ exchange (NEE), regular instantaneous measurements of methane (CH₄) emissions, and export of dissolved organic C (DOC) from a northern ombrotrophic bog. From these observations, we have constructed complete seasonal and annual C balances, examined their seasonal and interannual variability, and compared the mean 6‐year contemporary C exchange with the apparent C accumulation for the last 3000 years obtained from C density and age‐depth profiles from two peat cores. The 6‐year mean NEE‐C and CH₄‐C exchange, and net DOC loss are −40.2±40.5 (±1 SD), 3.7±0.5, and 14.9±3.1 g m⁻² yr⁻¹, giving a 6‐year mean balance of −21.5±39.0 g m⁻² yr⁻¹ (where positive exchange is a loss of C from the ecosystem). NEE had the largest magnitude and variability of the components of the C balance, but DOC and CH₄ had similar proportional variabilities and their inclusion is essential to resolve the C balance. There are large interseasonal and interannual ranges to the exchanges due to variations in climatic conditions. We estimate from the largest and smallest seasonal exchanges, quasi‐maximum limits of the annual C balance between 50 and −105 g m⁻² yr⁻¹. The net C accumulation rate obtained from the two peatland cores for the interval 400–3000 bp (samples from the anoxic layer only) were 21.9±2.8 and 14.0±37.6 g m⁻² yr⁻¹, which are not significantly different from the 6‐year mean contemporary exchange.