Prediction of the light attenuation coefficient through the Secchi disk depth: empirical modeling in two large Neotropical ecosystems

The easiest way to evaluate water transparency is from the Secchi disk depth (SD). The behavior of radiation passing through water can also be quantified by the light attenuation coefficient (k) of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), measured using quanta meters. Due to the high costs of quanta meters, k is usually predicted from SD. This prediction can be made using the index SD × k or using nonlinear models that correlate these variables. The aims of this study were to generate models predicting k through SD in two large Neotropical ecosystems (a reservoir and a floodplain) and to test whether 1.7, the index used worldwide, is adequate for predicting k in these ecosystems. The current paper also tested the effects of time (between seasons and among years) and space (between ecosystems and inside each ecosystem) upon such predictions. A standard 30-cm Secchi disk was used to measure SD. Simultaneously, PAR was measured at two depths to estimate k. A total data set of 2,136 measurements taken from 2001 to 2005 was used. The index generated, 2.26, was significantly different from 1.7 (t test, p < 0.01). This suggests that 1.7 is not adequate for Neotropical ecosystems. In general, both the index and the models generated differed across ecosystems and over time. In addition, the analysis showed that a nonlinear model (k = 2.00 × SD^−0.76, N = 2,136) was more reliable for predictions.     

Complementarity among species in horizontal versus vertical rooting space

Aims: Many experiments have shown a positive effect of species richnesson productivity in grassland plant communities. However, itis poorly understood how environmental conditions affect thisrelationship. We aimed to test whether deep soil and limitingnutrient conditions increase the complementarity effect (CE)of species richness due to enhanced potential for resource partitioning. Methods: We grew monocultures and mixtures of four common grassland speciesin pots on shallow and deep soil, factorially combined withtwo nutrient levels. Soil volume was kept constant to avoidconfounding soil depth and volume. Using an additive partitioningmethod, we separated biodiversity effects on plant productivityinto components due to species complementarity and dominance. Important findings: Net biodiversity and complementarity effects were consistentlyhigher in shallow pots, which was unexpected, and at the lownutrient level. These two results suggest that although belowgroundpartitioning of resources was important, especially under lownutrient conditions, it was not due to differences in rootingdepths. We conclude that in our experiment (i) horizontal rootsegregation might have been more important than the partitioningof rooting depths and (ii) that the positive effects of deepsoil found in other studies were due to the combination of deepersoil with larger soil volume.     

Relationships between seed banks and spatial heterogeneity of North American alvar vegetation

Abstract. This is the first quantitative study of seed bank characteristics in North American alvar habitats. We assessed seed bank density, species richness, and species composition in 75 plots distributed among five alvar sites in Bruce Peninsula National Park, Ontario, Canada, each of which displayed areas of high and low vegetation cover within the alvar and a fully forested perimeter area. Forested habitats immediately adjacent to alvar patches contained minimal seed banks for species restricted to the alvar patches. Open alvars contained less than 1% seeds from woody forest species. This suggests that forest is not invading adjacent alvar habitat via seeds and that adjacent forest does not contain a reservoir of alvar seeds. When compared to areas on the alvar with high vascular plant cover, areas with low cover contained a slightly smaller viable seed bank, but seed banks from high and low vegetation cover plots had similar species composition and species richness. High vegetation cover plots had slightly higher mean and maximum soil depths compared with low cover plots, but no differences in other physical and chemical parameters. Thus, spatial heterogeneity in plant cover is associated only weakly with heterogeneity in below‐ground factors. Despite the availability of seed and soil resources, vegetation dynamics are constrained in areas with low plant cover, and thus alvar community development seems to respond non‐linearly to resource availability.     

荒漠绿洲区芦苇种群构件生物量与地下水埋深关系

在野外调查的基础上 ,利用 Pearson关联分析法研究了河西荒漠绿洲区不同生境中芦苇种群构件生物量与地下水埋深的关系 ,结果表明 :地下水埋深对芦苇种群的影响明显 ,主要体现在 :在湿地和地下水埋深小于 0 .5 m的生境中 ,芦苇种群表现为高的种群密度、低的种群高度、低的地上生物量和高的地下生物量 ;在地下水埋深为 1 .5 m左右的生境中 ,芦苇种群地上生物量最高 ,生长最旺盛。随着地下水埋深的增加 ,垂直根茎生物量对芦苇种群地上生物量的影响加强 ,而水平根茎生物量对芦苇种群生物量的影响呈随机型 ,这可能是造成芦苇种群呈不连续、斑块状分布的主要原因。在地下水埋深 1 .5 m左右的生境中 ,芦苇的垂直根茎对种群生物量影响十分显著 ( P<0 .0 1 ) ;在地下水埋深 1 .5～ 4.0 m的生境中 ,影响显著 ( P<0 .0 5 ) ,但在地下水埋深 4m以上的生境中影响不显著 ,这表明在河西荒漠绿洲区 ,芦苇垂直根茎的最大水力提升高度 4m左右     

Phytoplankton, light and nutrients along a gradient of mixing depth: a field test of producer-resource theory

1. Variation in depth of the mixed surface layer of temperate lakes should affect phytoplankton dynamics because, with increasing mixing depth, average light intensity in and specific sedimentation losses out of the mixed layer both decrease. 2. Our aim was to test a recent dynamic model which relates phytoplankton biomass and the availability of production‐limiting resources (light and dissolved mineral nutrients) to mixing depth and nutrient supply from external sources. 3. During summer stratification we sampled the mixed layers of 30 dimictic, phosphorus‐limited, oligo‐ to mesotrophic, mostly non‐humic lakes north of the Alps. 4. The results agree well qualitatively with model expectations. Algal concentration in the mixed layer was negatively related to mixing depth or its surrogate log‐transformed lake area. Light intensity at the bottom of the mixed layer decreased whereas the concentration of available, inorganic phosphorus increased with increasing mixing depth. Across all depths, higher total phosphorus content was accompanied by higher phytoplankton biomass, lower light availability, and higher inorganic phosphorus concentration. 5. Our data match the predicted shift with increasing mixing depth from predominantly nutrient limitation towards increased light limitation of algal biomass.     

Impact of site‐induced mouse caching and transport behaviour on regeneration in Castanea crenata

Abstract. Dispersal and retrieval site selection by mice, transport distance, cache depth, and emergence and survival of seedlings of Castanea crenata (Japanese chestnut) were investigated by a magnet‐locating experiment in two habitat conditions (gap vs. forest understorey). Magnets were inserted into nuts (n= 450) and the nuts placed in the edge of forest gaps. Although wood mice (Apodemus speciosus and A. argenteus) initially buried nuts singly in shallow surface caches near the nut source, by the following spring these cached nuts were retrieved and re‐cached in larger, deeper caches farther from the source, particularly in forest understories, probably to reduce the threat of pilferage. All the nuts cached in the forest understories were consumed, but 4 seedlings emerged in gaps, apparently because of lower foraging activity in the gaps by the mice. Seed size was not correlated with cache depth or cache site selection. With increasing seed size, transport distance increased, particularly in gaps, possibly due to a greater potential energy gain (relative to handling cost to the cacher), or to attempts to prevent density‐ or mass‐dependent loss of caches by other foragers. Variable seed dispersal behaviour based on variation in seed size may influence the chances of colonization and distribution of the light‐demanding Castanea trees in mosaic landscapes and may play an important role in community organization and dynamics.     

Experimental restoration of a fen plant community after peat mining

Question: Which restoration measures (introduction of donor diaspore material, application of straw mulch, alteration of residual peat depths) contribute to the establishment of a fen plant community on minerotrophic surfaces after peat mining? Location: Rivière‐du‐Loup peatland, southern Québec, Canada at 100 m a.s.1. Methods: The effectiveness of introducing fen plants with the application of donor diaspore material was tested. The donor diaspore material, containing seeds, rhizomes, moss fragments, and other plant propagules, was collected from two different types of natural fens. We tested whether the application of straw mulch would increase fen species cover and biodiversity compared to control plots without straw mulch. Terrace levels of different peat depths (15 cm, 40 cm, and 56 cm) were created to test the effects of different environmental site conditions on the success of re‐vegetation. Results: Applying donor seed bank from natural fens was found to significantly increase fen plant cover and richness after the two growing seasons. Straw mulch proved to significantly increase fen plant richness. The intermediate terrace level (40 cm) had the highest fen plant establishment. Compared to reference sites, the low terrace level (15 cm) was richer in base cations, whereas the high terrace level (56 cm) was much drier. Conclusions: The application of donor diaspore material was demonstrated as an effective technique for establishing vascular fen plants. Further re wetting measures are considered necessary at the restoration site to create a fen ecosystem rather than simply restoring some fen species.