Vegetation structure and photosynthesis respond rapidly to restoration in young coastal fens

Young coastal fens are rare ecosystems in the first stages of peatland succession. Their drainage compromises their successional development toward future carbon (C) reservoirs. We present the first study on the success of hydrological restoration of young fens. We carried out vegetation surveys at six young fens that represent undrained, drained, and restored management categories in the Finnish land uplift coast before and after restoration. We measured plant level carbon dioxide (CO₂) assimilation and chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) from 17 most common plant species present at the sites. Within 5 years of restoration, the vegetation composition of restored sites had started to move toward the undrained baseline. The cover of sedges increased the most in response to restoration, while the cover of deciduous shrubs decreased the most. The rapid response indicates high resilience and low resistance of young fen ecosystems toward changes in hydrology. Forbs had higher photosynthetic and respiration rates than sedges, deciduous shrubs, and grasses, whereas rates were lowest for evergreen shrubs and mosses. The impact of management category on CO₂ assimilation was an indirect consequence that occurred through changes in plant species composition: Increase in sedge cover following restoration also increased the potential photosynthetic capacity of the ecosystem. Synthesis and applications. Restoration of forestry drained young fens is a promising method for safeguarding them and bringing back their function as C reservoirs. However, their low resistance to water table draw down introduces a risk that regeneration may be partially hindered by the heavy drainage in the surrounding landscape. Therefore, restoration success is best safeguarded by managing the whole catchments instead of carrying out small‐scale projects.     

High and dry: post‐fire tree seedling establishment in subalpine forests decreases with post‐fire drought and large stand‐replacing burn patches

Aim Climate warming and increased wildfire activity are hypothesized to catalyse biogeographical shifts, reducing the resilience of fire‐prone forests world‐wide. Two key mechanisms underpinning hypotheses are: (1) reduced seed availability in large stand‐replacing burn patches, and (2) reduced seedling establishment/survival after post‐fire drought. We tested for regional evidence consistent with these mechanisms in an extensive fire‐prone forest biome by assessing post‐fire tree seedling establishment, a key indicator of forest resilience. Location Subalpine forests, US Rocky Mountains. Methods We analysed post‐fire tree seedling establishment from 184 field plots where stand‐replacing forest fires were followed by varying post‐fire climate conditions. Generalized linear mixed models tested how establishment rates varied with post‐fire drought severity and distance to seed source (among other relevant factors) for tree species with contrasting post‐fire regeneration adaptations. Results Total post‐fire tree seedling establishment (all species combined) declined sharply with greater post‐fire drought severity and with greater distance to seed sources (i.e. the interior of burn patches). Effects varied among key species groups. For conifers that dominate present‐day subalpine forests (Picea engelmannii, Abies lasiocarpa), post‐fire seedling establishment declined sharply with both factors. One exception was serotinous Pinus contorta, which did not vary with either factor. For montane species expected to move upslope under future climate change (Larix occidentalis, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Populus tremuloides) and upper treeline species (Pinus albicaulis), establishment was unrelated to either factor. Greater post‐fire tree seedling establishment on cooler/wetter aspects suggested local topographic refugia during post‐fire droughts. Main conclusions If future drought and wildfire patterns manifest as expected, post‐fire tree seedling establishment of species that currently characterize subalpine forests could be substantially reduced. Compensatory increases from lower montane and upper treeline species may partially offset these reductions, but our data suggest important near‐ to mid‐term shifts in the composition and structure of high‐elevation forests under continued climate warming and increased wildfire activity.     

Body-size spectra of biofilm-dwelling protozoa and their seasonal shift in coastal ecosystems

Community-based assessment of protozoa is usually performed at a taxon-dependent resolution. As an inherent ‘taxon-free’ trait, however, body-size spectrum has proved to be a highly informative indicator to summarize the functional structure of a community in both community research and monitoring programs in aquatic ecosystems. To demonstrate the relationships between the taxon-free resolution of protozoan communities and water conditions, the body-size spectra of biofilm-dwelling protozoa and their seasonal shift and environmental drivers were explored based on an annual dataset collected monthly from coastal waters of the Yellow Sea, northern China. Body sizes were calculated in equivalent spherical diameter (ESD). Among a total of 8 body-size ranks, S2 (19–27 μm), S3 (28–36 μm), S4 (37–50 μm) and S5 (53–71 μm) were the top four levels in frequency of occurrence, while rank S1 (13–17 μm), S2 and S4 were the dominant levels in abundance. These dominants showed a clear seasonal succession: S2/S4 (spring) → S2/S4 (summer) → S4 (autumn) → S2 (winter) in frequency of occurrence; S1 (spring) → S4 (summer) → S2 (autumn) → S1 (winter) in abundance. Bootstrapped average analysis showed a clear seasonal shift in body-size spectra of the protozoa during a 1-year cycle, and the best-matching analysis demonstrated that the temporal variations in frequency of occurrence and abundance were significantly correlated with water temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), alone or in combination with chemical oxygen demand (COD) and nutrients. Thus, the body-size spectra of biofilm-dwelling protozoa were seasonally shaped and might be used as a time and cost efficient bioindicator of water quality in marine ecosystems.     

The effectiveness of different planting frameworks for recruitment of tropical rainforest species on ex‐rainforest land

A long‐term rainforest restoration experiment was established on abandoned pasture in northeastern Queensland in 1993 to examine the effectiveness of five different restoration planting methods: (T1) control (no plantings); (T2) pioneer monoculture (planting seedlings of one pioneer species, Homalanthus novoguineensis, Euphorbiaceae); (T3) Homalanthus group framework method (H. novoguineensis and eight other pioneer species); (T4) Alphitonia group framework method (Alphitonia petriei, Rhamnaceae, with eight other pioneer species); and (T5) maximum diversity method (planting pioneers, middle‐phase species, and mature‐phase species). We investigated temporal patterns in the (1) fate of seedlings originally planted in 1993; (2) natural recruitment of native plant species; and (3) current habitat structure (canopy cover and ground cover of grasses and invasive plants) within each restoration treatment. A total of 97% of seedlings planted in T2 died within the first 13 years and all had died by 2014. A total of 72% of seedlings planted in T3, 55.5% of seedlings planted in T4, and 55% of seedlings planted in T5 also died by 2014. By 2014, 42 species from 21 families had recruited across the experimental site, and the abundance of recruits was almost twice that recorded in 2001 and 2006. Overall, T3, T4, and T5 had the greatest diversity and abundance of recruits. By 2014, canopy cover was greatest in T3, T4, and T5 but grass cover was least in T5. It is concluded that some restoration success measures increase with planting diversity, but overall the rate of recovery is similar in framework species and maximum diversity method.     

Natural climate solutions versus bioenergy: Can carbon benefits of natural succession compete with bioenergy from short rotation coppice?

Short rotation plantations are often considered as holding vast potentials for future global bioenergy supply. In contrast to raising biomass harvests in forests, purpose‐grown biomass does not interfere with forest carbon (C) stocks. Provided that agricultural land can be diverted from food and feed production without impairing food security, energy plantations on current agricultural land appear as a beneficial option in terms of renewable, climate‐friendly energy supply. However, instead of supporting energy plantations, land could also be devoted to natural succession. It then acts as a long‐term C sink which also results in C benefits. We here compare the sink strength of natural succession on arable land with the C saving effects of bioenergy from plantations. Using geographically explicit data on global cropland distribution among climate and ecological zones, regionally specific C accumulation rates are calculated with IPCC default methods and values. C savings from bioenergy are given for a range of displacement factors (DFs), acknowledging the varying efficiency of bioenergy routes and technologies in fossil fuel displacement. A uniform spatial pattern is assumed for succession and bioenergy plantations, and the considered timeframes range from 20 to 100 years. For many parameter settings—in particular, longer timeframes and high DFs—bioenergy yields higher cumulative C savings than natural succession. Still, if woody biomass displaces liquid transport fuels or natural gas‐based electricity generation, natural succession is competitive or even superior for timeframes of 20–50 years. This finding has strong implications with climate and environmental policies: Freeing land for natural succession is a worthwhile low‐cost natural climate solution that has many co‐benefits for biodiversity and other ecosystem services. A considerable risk, however, is C stock losses (i.e., emissions) due to disturbances or land conversion at a later time.     

海岛植物不同演替阶段植物功能性状与环境因子的变化规律

植物功能性状与环境之间的关系是功能性状研究的重点,环境因子驱使植物功能性状发生变化,进而推动群落发生演替。以平潭岛4个不同演替阶段的森林植被(灌草丛、针叶林、针阔混交林、常绿阔叶林)为研究对象,结合不同群落演替阶段的物种特征和群落结构,分析海岛不同演替阶段茎、叶功能性状的变化规律,以及功能性状与环境因子的关系。结果表明:(1)随着演替的进行,土壤养分和水分逐渐增加,土壤pH逐渐下降。比叶面积(SLA)、叶片氮含量(LNC)、叶片磷含量(LPC)、茎氮含量(SNC)、茎磷含量(SPC)下降后上升,叶厚度(LT)、叶片碳含量(LCC)、茎碳含量(SCC)与之相反,叶干物质含量(LDMC)、茎组织密度(STD)逐渐上升。(2)冗余分析表明,演替早期植物主要分布在土壤pH、容重高的贫瘠环境,拥有较高SLA、SNC、SPC、LPC的性状组合;演替后期植物主要分布在土壤养分和水分高的肥沃环境,拥有较高的STD、LDMC、LCC、LNC的性状组合。其中,土壤有机质和全氮含量是影响海岛植物演替过程中功能性状变化的关键环境因子。研究海岛植物功能性状与环境之间的关系随演替的变化规律,探讨各演替阶段功能性状和环境特征,以及功能性状如何响应环境变化。旨在为今后选择合适的树种进行海岛植被修复和重建提供依据。     

巫山高山移民迁出区不同弃耕年限对植物物种多样性的影响

以典型高山移民迁出区耕地(A1)、弃耕1a(A2)、弃耕5a(A3)、弃耕8a(A4)、弃耕5a生长大量白花银背藤(R1)为研究对象,采用空间序列代替时间序列的方法,比较不同弃耕年限植物重要值(P)、Margalef丰富度指数(R)、Shannon多样性指数(H′)、Pielou均匀度指数(J_w)、Simpson优势度指数(D)、Jaccard相似性指数(C_j)、Sorenson相似性指数(C_s)及多样性阈值(D_v),旨在探究不同退耕年限对植物物种多样性和群落结构的影响。结果显示,随弃耕年限增加,群落结构从草本+灌木转变为草本+灌木+乔木,群落优势物种由喜阳的一年生或多年生草本转变为耐阴的多年生草本;草本层和灌木层植物物种多样性随着演替年限的延长而增长,在演替的中后期达到最大值;A2与A3间群落的相似性指数最大;对不同弃耕年限样地植被群落多样性进行评定,都未达到"较好Ⅲ"级别,还需长期的恢复。恢复过程中注意对白花银背藤的监测,防止植物入侵。     

土壤易氧化有机碳对西双版纳热带森林群落演替的响应

土壤易氧化有机碳（Readily oxidizable carbon,ROC）作为土壤中易被氧化且活性较高的有机碳,能够敏感反映群落植被环境与土壤环境的早期变化。为探明土壤ROC时空变化对热带森林次生演替的响应,以西双版纳热带森林不同次生演替阶段（白背桐群落、野芭蕉群落与崖豆藤群落）为研究对象,采用高锰酸钾氧化法测定并分析土壤ROC时空动态特征,探究这些变化与土壤微生物量碳及理化性质之间的相互关系。结果表明：（1）不同次生演替阶段热带森林土壤ROC含量存在显著差异,其大小顺序为：野芭蕉群落（11.38 mg/g） > 崖豆藤群落（10.5 mg/g） > 白背桐群落（9.72 mg/g）;（2）不同次生演替阶段热带森林土壤ROC含量的月份变化趋势基本一致,均表现为6月显著高于12月,且各月份间差异显著;（3）不同次生演替阶段热带森林土壤ROC含量随着土层深度增加而递减,且不同土层间差异显著;（4）土壤有机碳、微生物量碳、全氮、水解氮和铵态氮显著影响土壤ROC含量的时空变化,而pH值与土壤ROC显著负相关。因此,土壤ROC对西双版纳热带森林群落演替具有敏感的响应,土壤总有机碳、微生物量碳、全氮、水解氮、铵态氮及pH是土壤ROC时空变化的主控因素。     

黔西北地区不同演替阶段植物群落结构与物种多样性特征

该文采用"空间代替时间"的方法,研究了贵州省威宁县喀斯特地区植被演替过程中的群落结构、物种组成、生活型谱和物种多样性的变化规律。结果表明:(1)该调查共记录到种子植物174种,隶属于52科117属,物种分布较多的有菊科、蔷薇科、禾本科、杜鹃花科、小檗科、唇形科、蓼科。(2)随着植被的正向演替,物种丰富度逐渐增加,群落结构趋于复杂,高位芽植物所占比例逐渐增大。(3)随着植被的恢复,群落层次分化逐渐明显,大径级植株所占比例呈现增加趋势。(4)随着植被的恢复,群落各层次的ShannonWiener多样性指数(H)、Simpson多样性指数(DS)、均匀度指数(J)和Margalef丰富度指数(DM)逐渐增加;不同演替阶段植物群落之间的Srensen相似系数呈现先上升后下降的趋势,Cody指数则表现为逐渐增加的趋势。黔西北地区不同演替阶段植物群落结构和物种多样性不同,建群种和关键种发生了明显变化,不同演替阶段植物群落结构和物种多样性的研究对喀斯特地区植被演替规律的认识和生态恢复具有重要意义。