大、小兴安岭植物区及交错区物种多样性比较研究

在中国东北大兴安岭植物区、小兴安岭植物区及交错区,选择典型群落,采用物种丰富度指数、Simpson指数、Shannon-Wiener指数及均匀度指数,研究了大兴安岭植物区、小兴安岭植物区及交错区物种构成和不同分布区群落的结构。分析比较了3个植物区物种多样性指数及不同生活型物种多样性指数及均匀度指数,结果表明：大、小兴安岭植物区与交错区植物种类过渡性明显,小兴安岭植物区和交错区植物群落结构以落叶松、红松、白桦针阔混交林为主,大兴安岭植物区以兴安落叶松、东北白桦、樟子松为主;大、小兴安岭植物区及交错区物种多样性指数表现为小兴安岭植物区＞交错区＞大兴安岭植物区;大、小兴安岭植物区及交错区不同生活型物种多样性指数变化为草本层＞灌木层＞乔木层,乔木层物种多样性指数差异显著,灌木层和草本层差异不显著。     

Differences in soil characteristics between field and forest may influence the distribution of an invasive earthworm

In northern North America, invasive earthworms (including the nightcrawler Lumbricus terrestris) have been dispersing from points of introduction and dramatically affecting soil structure, soil food webs, and forest floor dynamics. However, little is known about the factors influencing the local distribution of invasive earthworms south of the Wisconsinan glaciation. Earthworms were sampled at suspected sites of introduction near Mountain Lake Biological Field Station, Virginia, USA. The density of invasive earthworms decreased as distance from suspected sites of introduction increased; native earthworms displayed the opposite relationship. However, the distance that L. terrestris was found into the forest was less than expected given dispersal rates calculated from more northern invasions. We also found correlations among population densities of L. terrestris and physical–chemical properties of the soil, and differences between field and forest soils in terms of temperature, moisture, and soil chemical properties. We conducted two experiments to analyze some factors possibly responsible for the observed distribution: (1) temperature and moisture, and (2) soil type (field vs. forest) and food resources. Our results suggest that L. terrestris may not disperse as far into forested habitats of the Southern Appalachians compared to northern forests due to local physical‐chemical soil characteristics.     

Risk Assessment and Invasion Characteristics of Alien Plants in and Around the Agro-Pastoral Ecotone of Northern China

Two risk assessment protocols were adopted to assess the risks posed by alien plants that naturalized or non-naturalized in the agro-pastoral ecotone of northern China (AGENC). In this study the Risk Assessment for Central Europe method revealed that more than two-thirds of the 19 naturalized and four-fifths of the 17 non-naturalized alien plants presented high or moderate risk, and all 36 alien plants were considered to be rejected for their potential agricultural and environmental risks under the Australian Weed Risk Assessment system. On the characteristics of plant invasions, more attention should be given to disturbed habitats rather than these relative natural or closed ecosystems, and also be prudent and careful of the alien plants that are introduced as useful plants from North or South America and unintentional introduction from Europe. Moreover, annuals needed special attention: three-quarters of the alien plants were annual species, only a few were biennial (8.3%), perennial (11.1%), liana and tree plants (2.8%). Plant invasions are not extremely serious in the AGENC, but there are several alien plants that have naturalized and spread themselves in the region. However, attention should be given in the future to predicting and preventing plant invasions in this fragile region.     

Acclimation of photosynthetic temperature optima of temperate and boreal tree species in response to experimental forest warming

Rising temperatures caused by climate change could negatively alter plant ecosystems if temperatures exceed optimal temperatures for carbon gain. Such changes may threaten temperature‐sensitive species, causing local extinctions and range migrations. This study examined the optimal temperature of net photosynthesis (T_opt) of two boreal and four temperate deciduous tree species grown in the field in northern Minnesota, United States under two contrasting temperature regimes. We hypothesized that T_opt would be higher in temperate than co‐occurring boreal species, with temperate species exhibiting greater plasticity in T_opt, resulting in better acclimation to elevated temperatures. The chamberless experiment, located at two sites in both open and understory conditions, continuously warmed plants and soils during three growing seasons. Results show a modest, but significant shift in T_opt of 1.1 ± 0.21 °C on average for plants subjected to a mean 2.9 ± 0.01 °C warming during midday hours in summer, and shifts with warming were unrelated to species native ranges. The 1.1 °C shift in T_opt with 2.9 °C warming might be interpreted as suggesting limited capacity to shift temperature response functions to better match changes in temperature. However, T_opt of warmed plants was as well‐matched with prior midday temperatures as T_opt of plants in the ambient treatment, and T_opt in both treatments was at a level where realized photosynthesis was within 90–95% of maximum. These results suggest that seedlings of all species were close to optimizing photosynthetic temperature responses, and equally so in both temperature treatments. Our study suggests that temperate and boreal species have considerable capacity to match their photosynthetic temperature response functions to prevailing growing season temperatures that occur today and to those that will likely occur in the coming decades under climate change.     

耕作方式对中小型土壤动物多样性影响

为探讨耕作方式对中小型土壤动物群落结构及多样性的影响,选取中国科学院海伦农田生态系统国家野外科学观测研究站定位试验的5种耕作方式免耕、少耕、平翻耕作、组合耕作和旋耕为对象,采用改良干漏斗( Modified Tullgren)法分离0～15 cm土层中的中小型土壤动物,分析比较了不同耕作方式下中小型土壤动物的群落结构及分布特征.结果表明:不同耕作方式下中小型土壤动物群落结构及分布特征存在差异;高壳甲螨科和小甲螨科为5种耕作方式中共有的优势类群,传统耕作的旋耕和平翻耕作之间,保护性耕作的免耕和少耕之间中小型土壤动物群落结构相似度高;组合耕作很好地保持了中小型土壤动物垂直分布的表聚特征,少耕下中小型土壤动物群落结构具有较高的Shannon指数、均匀度和优势度;耕作方式可影响中小型土壤动物群落结构,少耕和组合耕作等保护性耕作措施有利于中小型土壤动物群落结构的稳定,且保持了中小型土壤动物垂直分布的表聚特征.     

When invaders meet locally adapted types: rapid moulding of hybrid zones between sculpins (Cottus, Pisces) in the Rhine system

Hybrid zones are commonly studied to dissect the processes that drive divergence among lineages, which have incomplete barriers of reproduction. Most hybrid zones have existed for an extended time making inferences on the initial mode of formation difficult. It is a priori unclear how fast a nascent hybrid zone would form as a response to endogenous and exogenous factors. We have studied several hybrid zones between two lineages of sculpins (Cottus spp.), which emerged due to a recent range expansion of one of the lineages along the river Rhine in the early 1990s. Applying a dense sampling across two contact areas and using a highly informative set of 45 microsatellite markers we found pronounced genetic structure. Steep genetic clines suggest that strong selective forces have shaped the respective hybrid zones from the beginning. We find that the zones are coupled to ecological transitions from small streams to larger rivers. The width of these zones is much smaller than estimates of annual individual dispersal distances, as estimated outside of the hybrid zones. The pattern is apparently not strongly affected by pre- or postzygotic reproductive isolation because numerous backcross hybrids occur within the zones. This suggests that strong natural selection acts against immigrant genotypes. The study exemplifies how local adaptation can play a key role in preventing admixture in dependence of the ecological context.     

长三角新建居住区景观绿化植物组成的相似性

自然植被受城市化影响出现了不同程度的均质化,受人为影响更大的人工植物是否存在同样的问题值得关注.本研究以长三角10城市的45个居住区的景观绿化为对象,运用Jaccard指数,从居住区、城市、省份3个尺度水平上探讨了物种组成的相似性.结果表明:随着尺度水平增加,物种相似性显著增加,在城市和省份水平上Jaccard指数达0.45和0.50;随着城市间距离的增加,物种相似性逐渐减小;因数量少,乡土物种并未有效地降低城市间相似性,反而增加了省份间的相似性.表明目前长三角的居住区景观绿化物种单一,乡土物种尤为突出,呈现均质化倾向.     

Short-term responses of phenology, shoot growth and leaf traits of four alpine shrubs in a timberline ecotone to simulated global warming, Eastern Tibetan Plateau, China

The short-term effects of artificial warming on phenology, growth and leaf traits were investigated in four alpine shrubs using the open-top chamber (OTC) method in a timberline ecotone (3240 m a.s.l.) on the Eastern Tibetan Plateau. The OTC enhanced the mean air temperature by 2.9°C throughout the growing season. In contrast, only a slight difference (0.4°C) in the mean soil temperature was observed in the OTC compared with the control plots (CP). Spiraea mongolica , Potentilla fruticosa , Conicera hispida (deciduous shrubs) and Daphne retusa (evergreen shrub) showed earlier bud break, flowering and fruit coloring as well as longer flower longevity in the OTC than in the CP. All deciduous shrubs in the OTC had a longer leaf lifespan. Daphne retusa had higher leaf survival rates in the OTC. No significant differences in the total number of flowers and fruits were noticed for most species between the two treatments. Warming stimulated the shoot and leaf growth for most species. The specific leaf area tended to increase for many species in the OTC. However, the leaf nitrogen concentration tended to decrease in P. fruticosa and S. mongolica. The results obtained in the present study indicate that warming conditions can have strong impacts on alpine shrubs in a timberline ecotone.     

Baikal phytogeographic node as the newest center of endemism of Inner Asia

The Baikal center of phytodiversity is a consequence of complicate orographic dislocations that caused conjugated changes in the climate and geochemical processes in the lithosphere. The climatic changes led to adaptive florogenesis. Three phenomena of this kind have been recorded in the Baikal region. The most ancient (Early Tertiary) endemism is connected with the formation of forms of mountainous xerophytic elements of the Selenga Nountains (Vicia tscydenii Malyschev, Festuca dahurica (St.-Yves) V. Krecz. et Bobrov, Astragalus chorinensis Bunge). The latest endemics are found in the mountains of Northeastern Baikal region, their subspecies rank points to their young age and is more clearly exhibited in boreal genera Carex (C. pediformis ssp. kirilovii Turcz.), Festuca (F. ovina ssp. vylazaniae E. Alexeev, F. rubra ssp. baikalensis (Griseb.) Tzvelev), Draba (D. hirta ssp. bargusinensis Nikiforova), etc. An intermediate position in the temporal and florogenetic aspect is expressed in the endemism of the Sayan-Hangayn Range where speciation manifested itself both in the generic series of boreal genesis (Carex tatjanae Malyschev, Stellaria bungeana Fenzl s. str.), and in the ancient Mediterranean ones (Allium malyschevii N. Friesen, Oxytropis kuznetzovii Kryl. et Steinb., Artemisia pycnorhyza Ledeb.).     

Alternatives for Reintroducing a Rare Ecotone Species: Manually Thinned Forest Edge versus Restored Habitat Remnant

Species native to ecotones are often overlooked in restoration efforts despite the increasing rarity of ecotone habitat. In fragmented, fire-suppressed landscapes, true ecotone may no longer exist. Restoration biologists interested in reintroducing ecotone species must decide whether to plant them in historic ecotones maintained by manual thinning or whether to opt for discrete restoration areas that are easier to maintain. We investigated these two alternatives with Lantana canescens , a rare tropical shrub native to the ecotone between pine and hardwood forests of Miami-Dade County, Florida, U.S.A. Our short-term findings show that after 15 and 18 months, survival of transplants was 69% in a restored site and 65% and 84% in two historic ecotone sites. The restored site had significantly higher photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) (75%) than the historic ecotones (25–39%). Correspondingly, 267 seedlings have recruited at the restored site, whereas only 8 have emerged at both historic ecotone sites. Seedling establishment was associated with higher PAR at the restored site. We found that overall population sustainability was higher at the restored site where there is the additional benefit of less maintenance. Our work suggests that, by reducing succession, a discrete restoration area can approach the historic conditions of hardwood/pine forest ecotone more closely than degraded historic ecotones themselves. We present a viable solution for conserving rare ecotone species when their natural habitat and the processes that maintained it no longer exist.