Priority effects and competition by a native species inhibit an invasive species and may assist restoration

Selecting native species for restoration is often done without proper ecological background, particularly with regard to how native and invasive species interact. Here, we provide insights suggesting that such information may greatly enhance restoration success. The performance of the native vine, Pueraria lobata, and that of the invasive bitter vine, Mikania micrantha, were investigated in South China to test how priority effects (timing and rate of germination and seedling growth) and competition (phytochemical effects and competitive ability) impact invasive plant performance. We found that, in the absence of competition, the germination rate of M. micrantha, but not of P. lobata, was significantly affected by light availability. P. lobata seedlings also performed better than those of M. micrantha during early growth phases. Under competition, negative phytochemical effects of P. lobata on M. micrantha were strong and we found M. micrantha to have lower performance when grown with P. lobata compared to when grown by itself. Relative interaction indexes indicated that, under interspecific competition, P. lobata negatively affected (i.e., inhibited) M. micrantha, whereas M. micrantha positively affected (i.e., facilitated) P. lobata. Higher photosynthetic efficiency and soil nutrient utilization put P. lobata at a further advantage over M. micrantha. Field trails corroborated these experimental findings, showing little recruitment of M. micrantha in previously invaded and cleared field plots that were sown with P. lobata. Thus, P. lobata is a promising candidate for ecological restoration and for reducing impacts of M. micrantha in China. This research illustrates that careful species selection may improve restoration outcomes, a finding that may also apply to other invaded ecosystems and species.     

Inconsistent detection of extinction debts using different methods

The extinction debt, delayed species extinctions following landscape degradation, is a widely discussed concept. But a consensus about the prevalence of extinctions debts is hindered by a multiplicity of methods and a lack of comparisons among habitats. We applied three contrasting species–area relationship methods to test for plant community extinction debts in three habitats which had different degradation histories over the last century: calcareous grassland, heathland and woodland. These methods differ in their data requirements, with the first two using information on past and current habitat area alongside current species richness, whilst the last method also requires data on past species richness. The most data‐intensive, and hence arguably most reliable method, identified extinction debts across all habitats for specialist species, whilst the other methods did not. All methods detected an extinction debt in calcareous grassland, which had undergone the most severe degradation. We conclude that some methods failed to detect an extinction debt, particularly in habitats that have undergone moderate degradation. Data on past species numbers are required for the most reliable method; as such data are rare, extinction debts may be under‐reported.     

基于MaxEnt模型的延河流域草本植物适生分布与功能性状分析

明确延河流域常见草本植物的潜在适生区分布,是植被恢复工作持续推进的基础。本研究收集了延河流域8种常见草本植物的地理分布信息和13个环境变量,采用MaxEnt和ArcGIS模拟了延河流域常见草本植物在当前气候下的潜在适生性分布,进而研究这8种不同草本植物适生性分布与功能性状变异特征之间的相关关系。研究结果显示：根据物种-性状排序图的分布格局判断,本研究选择的七个功能性状在植物所属科之间发生了明显趋异分化现象,在PC1右侧为禾本科植物,PC1左侧为菊科、豆科和唇形科植物。对物种适生性分布模拟结果表明,达乌里胡枝子在研究区内的适生性最高,百里香的适生性最低,表明达乌里胡枝子比其他常见草本物种更适合被选择为该流域的植被恢复的先锋物种。在功能性状变异特征相关性分析中,物种适生区大小与比叶面积变异系数呈显著正相关,与其他植物功能性状变异特征不显著。因此,比叶面积的变异系数更适合作为指示延河流域草本植物适生区大小的性状。     

黄土区不同恢复年限草地群落生物量及根冠比对氮添加的响应

大气氮沉降增加作为全球变化的主要环境问题之一,已引发人们的广泛关注,持续的氮沉降对草地生态系统的组成、结构和功能产生重要影响。为深入了解草地恢复进程中群落生物量和根冠比对氮沉降的响应,以黄土区3个不同恢复年限（初期12a、中期28a和后期37a）的天然草地为研究对象,通过设置6个氮添加水平,CK （0）、N1（2.34g m^-2a^-1）、N2（4.67g m^-2a^-1）、N3（9.34g m^-2a^-1）、N4（18.68g m^-2a^-1）、N5（37.35g m^-2a^-1）来测定草地群落地上生物量、地下生物量和总生物量,并计算根冠比和氮响应效率（NRE）。结果表明：（1）地上生物量在恢复中期最大,随氮添加梯度增加,地上生物量在恢复初期和恢复后期呈不显著上升趋势,对氮添加表现为非线性的正响应（ΔNRE>0）,在恢复中期呈不显著下降趋势,对氮添加表现为非线性的负响应（ΔNRE<0）。（2）群落地下生物量对氮添加无显著响应,总生物量只有在恢复后期的N4添加水平下,与对照存在显著差异。（3）根冠比在恢复初期时,N3添加水平下显著高于对照和其他氮添加水平,其余恢复年限对氮添加无显著响应。综上所述,通过分析比较黄土区不同恢复年限草地群落的地上、地下及总生物量和根冠比对氮添加的响应。建议对该区域开展试点实验,实行适应性草地管理,如进行两年一次刈割或轻度放牧（2只羊/hm²）,来探寻更科学有效的管理措施,使草地实现系统性恢复,进而满足生态系统容量和社会需求的变化。     

皖北石灰岩山地植被对地表节肢动物组成及多样性的影响

调查皖北石灰岩山地退化生态系统不同植被恢复类型地表节肢动物群落组成、类群多样性以及功能群组成,揭示退化生态系统植被恢复进程中土壤地表节肢动物群多样性变化规律及其影响因素,为石灰岩山地植被恢复成效评价提供科学依据。采用陷阱法对皖北石灰岩山地侧柏+构树混交林、酸枣+牡荆灌丛和荩草+牡荆草灌丛样地地表节肢动物群落组成、多样性以及功能群进行调查。共采节肢动物个体数11601,隶属8纲14目44科。酸枣+牡荆灌丛样地采集到节肢动物37科,占所有类群的84.1%,荩草+牡荆草灌丛和侧柏+构树混交林采集到土壤节肢动物类群为35和26科,分别占总科数的79.6%和59.1%。在目的分类单元下,直翅目、等足目和鞘翅目类群相对多度较高,而科的分类单元下,潮虫科、金龟甲科、蚁科和蟋蟀科为皖北石灰岩山地优势地表节肢动物类群。酸枣+牡荆灌丛节肢动物类群丰富度和荩草+牡荆草灌丛多样性指数最高,侧柏+构树混交林两者均最低。3个样地地表节肢动物营养功能群均以植食性为主。不同植被恢复类型间群落相似性也有变化,酸枣+牡荆灌丛和荩草+牡荆草灌丛间相似性较高,而侧柏+构树混交林与其他2种类型之间相似度均较低。研究结果表明石灰岩山地生境不同植被群落组成、数量和结构及其驱动形成的土壤理化特性、表层的凋落物数量、质量和微生境条件的变异,引起地表节肢动物群落组成、结构和多样性和营养功能群的不同。     

国土空间生态修复国际经验借鉴与广东省实施路径

开展国土空间生态修复是生态文明和美丽中国建设的要求,是关系国家生态安全和民生福祉的重大国家战略任务。梳理了近100年来以荒野、再野化、基于自然的解决方案、生态修复为核心的国际生态环境治理理念的发展语境,辨析概念之间的关系,阐明国际生态修复基本研究框架,并梳理国外生态修复的典型实践案例,总结国际经验。基于对广东省主要生态问题研判,从摸清家底、确定目标、谋划格局、布置行动、实施保障5个层面构建省域国土空间生态修复科学规划总体框架,并以实际问题和生态修复目标为导向,提出深入开展国土空间生态修复规划九项专题研究、生态修复技术研发、多元组织形式等策略。本文提出的广东省生态修复设计思路及实施路径,将为找准生态环境问题根源、实现靶向修复治理、促进生态文明建设提供决策支持。     

Western Yellow-Billed Cuckoo Nest-Site Selection and Success in Restored and Natural Riparian Forests

The western distinct population segment of yellow-billed cuckoo (Coccyzus americanus; western cuckoo) has been extirpated from most of its former breeding range in the United States because of widespread loss and degradation of riparian cottonwood (Populus spp.)-willow (Salix spp.) forests. Restoration and management of breeding habitat is important to the recovery of this federally threatened species, and identification of high-quality breeding habitat can help improve the success of recovery. In 2005, the Lower Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Program, a long-term, multi-agency effort, was initiated to maintain and create wildlife habitat within the historical floodplain of the lower Colorado River (LCR) for federally endangered and threatened species, including western cuckoos. We conducted an empirical, multi-scale field investigation from 2008–2012 to identify habitat characteristics selected by nesting western cuckoos along the LCR. Multiple logistic regression models revealed that western cuckoos selected nest sites characterized by increased densities of small, native, early successional trees measuring 8–23 cm diameter at breast height, and lower diurnal temperature compared to available habitat in restoration and natural forests. Nesting cuckoos selected sites with increased percent canopy closure, which was also important for nest success in restoration sites along the LCR. Our results show habitat components selected by nesting western cuckoos in restoration and natural riparian forests and can help guide the creation, enhancement, and management of riparian forests with habitat conditions necessary to promote nesting of western cuckoos. © 2021 The Wildlife Society.     

中国东北地区流动沙丘生态系统丘间低地地下芽库的时空变化

中国东北地区流动沙丘生态系统丘间低地地下芽库的时空变化 地下芽库在半干旱区沙丘生态系统植被恢复中起着重要作用。然而,目前针对流动沙丘丘间低地地下芽库时空变化的研究却很少。本研究通过调查一个生长季内5个不同面积流动沙丘丘间低地地下芽库的大小和组成,确定流动沙丘丘间低地地下芽库的时空变化。研究结果显示,中等面积丘间低地的总芽库密度与分蘖芽密度最高,茎基部芽密度呈相反趋势,而根茎芽密度不随丘间低地的面积变化而变化。地下芽库大小具有明显的季节变化特征。总芽密度在8月份达到高峰,10月份最低,根茎芽密度变化趋势与总芽密度相似,而茎基芽密度变化趋势与总芽密度相反,分蘖芽密度的变化不明显。以上结果表明,地下芽库密度随丘间低地的面积和季节变化而变化。这一结果有助于认识流动沙丘生态系统中植物生长的适应策略,并可为半干旱区沙丘植被恢复和保护提供理论指导。     

Understorey plant community assemblage of Australian Eucalyptus woodlands under elevated CO2 is modulated by water and phosphorus availability

水分和磷调控的澳大利亚桉树林林下植物群落组合对二氧化碳浓度升高的响应 鉴于林下植物群落具有的关键性功能作用和全球范围内巨大的森林覆盖面积,研究林下群落对 CO₂浓度升高(eCO₂)的响应以及土壤资源在这些响应中的作用,对于了解CO₂浓度升高对森林生态系统造成的影响非常重要。本研究评估了在澳大利亚东部磷有限的桉树林林下群落中,两种限制性的资源(即水分和磷)在发芽、物候、覆盖率、群落组成和叶片性状等方面对eCO₂响应的作用。我们收集了含有当地土壤种子库的土壤,在温室条件下种植实验性的林下植物群落。研究结果表明,添加磷提高了植物的总体覆盖率,特别是在生长期的最初4 周以及水分含量高的条件下,而且该响应是由植物群落中的类禾本科植物所驱动。然而,随着实验的进行,不同处理方法之间的差异逐渐减小,所有处理在大约11周后均达到了80%左右的植物覆盖率。相反,植物覆盖率并未受到eCO₂ 的影响。多元分析结果反映出植物群落组成随时间的变化,盆栽从以裸土为主变为以高覆盖率的多样化群落为主。但是在实验过程中,磷的添加以及水分可利用性和CO₂之间的相互作用都对植物群落随时间的变化轨迹有所影响。CO₂浓度的升高也增加了群落水平的比叶面积,这表明植物群落对eCO₂的功能适应可能发生在成分响应开始之前。鉴于我们用种子库培育的林下群落对eCO₂ 的响应随着时间的推移而有 所变化,并且受到与磷和水分可利用性的相互作用的调节。我们的结果表明,在水分含量有限的系统中, 特别是在土壤养分可利用性低所导致的生产力响应受限的情况下,CO₂浓度的升高在塑造植物群落方面作用有限。     

A comprehensive landscape genomics approach for seed sourcing strategies in landscapes under varying degrees of habitat disturbance

As most ecosystems around the world are threatened by anthropogenic degradation and climate change, there is an increasing urgency to implement restoration strategies aiming at ensuring ecosystem self‐sustainability and resilience. An initial step towards that goal relies on selecting the most suitable seed sources for a successful revegetation, which can be extremely challenging in highly degraded landscapes. The most common seed sourcing strategy is to select local seeds because it is assumed that plants experience strong adaptations to their natal sites. An alternative strategy is the selection of climate‐adapted genotypes to future conditions. While considering future climatic projections is important to account for spatial shifts in climate to inform assisted gene flow and translocations, to restore highly degraded landscapes we need a comprehensive approach that first accounts for species adaptations to current at‐site environmental conditions. In this issue of Molecular Ecology Resources, Carvalho et al. present a novel landscape genomics framework to identify the most appropriate seed sourcing strategy for moderately and highly degraded sites by integrating genotype, phenotype and environmental data in a spatially explicit context for two native plant species with potential to help restore iron‐rich Amazonian savannas. This framework is amenable to be applicable and adapted to a broad range of restoration initiatives, as the dichotomy between focusing on the current or future climatic conditions should depend on the goals and environmental circumstances of each restoration site.