Comparative Physiological and Molecular Analyses of Intraspecific Differences of Stipa purpurea (Poaceae) Response to Drought

Stipa purpurea Griseb, the dominant species of alpine steppe, is widely distributed across the large precipitation gradient on the Tibetan Plateau. It is possible that because of local adaptation, Spurpurea populations from different habitats along this precipitation gradient respond differently to drought, which may affect their responses to climate change. To explore the problem, in the present study, we investigated the physiological and molecular response of Spurpurea seedlings from two different populations (Pulan & Cuoqin) to 14 d drought stress and subsequent recovery. The results showed that the relative water content, chlorophyll fluorescence, content of osmoticant proline and malondialdehyde (indicator of oxidative stress), accumulation of reactive oxygen species, antioxidant enzyme activities and the expression of drought related genes all changed under drought treatment and went back to the control levels in the subsequent recovery in plants from Pulan. However, these patterns were quite different in plants from Cuoqin, in which these traits changed by inconsistent degrees and did not return to pretreatment levels after rewatering. The results demonstrated that the plants from Pulan had greater resistance to drought stress compared with those from Cuoqin, which had a larger mortality rate ultimately. Combating the differences of offspring in response to drought and the habitat distribution of parents, we considered that genetic basis has been obtained in response to precipitation difference among Spurpurea populations. The results help to understand the adaptation and evolution of Spurpurea to the special environment and the effect of climate change to this botanical system.     

荒漠草原建群种短花针茅功能性状对长期放牧的可塑性响应

植物功能性状反映了植物对生长环境的响应和适应,将环境、植物个体和生态系统结构、过程与功能联系起来,而放牧是草原生态系统的主要土地利用方式,对草原生态系统的群落结构和生态系统功能的改变起着重要作用。该研究测定了内蒙古四子王旗长期不同放牧强度下草原建群种短花针茅(Stipa breviflora)的功能性状,探讨放牧对草原群落结构的影响。研究发现:(1)随放牧强度增加,叶片各性状指标、个体生物量、植株高度、冠(丛)幅均有显著变小、变矮的趋势。(2)通过排序构建的短花针茅性状可塑性变化谱显示,各功能性状指标的可塑性指数均在重牧区最高,轻牧区最低;茎质量、叶质量、全株地上生物量对放牧响应敏感,而茎基部直径、冠(丛)幅和比叶质量响应不敏感。(3)短花针茅对长期放牧的变异系数(CV)与其响应程度(PI)之间符合指数方程y=0.08+0.18e~(1.61 x)(R~2=0.53,P0.05),植物功能性状的变异性与性状对放牧的响应强度呈正相关关系。(4)影响地上生物量的因子中,表型功能性状中的冠(丛)幅、平均叶长、叶片数量和总叶面积的贡献率之和达到72.93%。研究认为,随着放牧强度增强,短花针茅的变异性增大、可塑性增强,这可能是短花针茅能够成为建群种的生态响应机制。     

Linking population density and habitat structure to ecophysiological responses in semiarid Spanish steppes

We have studied the underlying factors responsible for the heterogeneous ecophysiological status of a semiarid Stipa tenacissima L. steppe in a subcatchment of SE Spain by assessing population composition and habitat structure of S. tenacissima stands. To do this, we measured and estimated 18 variables (11 biotic and seven abiotic) in 15 plots randomly distributed in the subcatchment, and then zoned this area by plot affinity using PCA. This analysis produced three sectors determined mainly by S. tenacissima cover and soil depth variables. The linear relationship fitted between S. tenacissima tussock biomass and tussock density in monospecific stands (both logarithmic) indicated a curve close to −1, suggesting that the system is close to the maximum constant yield state. Ecophysiological measurements (gas exchange, fluorescence and individual leaf area index) were taken in two periods with different water availability in a representative plot in each sector. The intraspecific competition (inferred from the density dependence of green biomass) and rock outcrops were the main factors influencing the ecophysiological status in the study area. While, in the wet season, intraspecific competition regulated water consumption in zones where S. tenacissima tussocks (monospecific stands) are dominant, during the dry season, stands in zones with extensive rock outcrops and stone cover (tussocks in “soil pockets”) had no access to non-rainfall water gains because of the adjacent bare soil, and so in these stands, gas exchange was lower and photoinhibition higher. This article stresses the importance of considering the connection between tussocks and bare-ground interspace in the functional and structural analysis of semiarid steppes.     

Direct and indirect effects of exotic annual grasses on species composition of a South Australian grassland

Abstract Invasion by Mediterranean annual grasses, such as Avena L. spp. and Bronms L. spp, is one of the major threats to temperate perennial grassland. This study investigated the effects of annual grasses and their litter on the species composition of a grassland near Burra, South Australia. The placement of annual grass litter on soil samples in the glasshouse decreased the establishment or growth of several exotic annual dicots. In the field the addition of annual grass litter slightly decreased the frequency of Danthonia Lam. & DC. tussocks. Furthermore, litter strongly reduced the species richness from 13 species in plots with no litter to nine species in plots with the highest litter level, mainly by decreasing the frequency of common exotic dicots. Native dicot frequency similarly appeared to be decreased by litter addition. In addition to the negative effects of their litter, annual grasses also directly competed with perennial grasses. The magnitude of the competitive effect varied systematically along a slope, suggesting that other factors such as soil properties may control competitive inter actions. The biomass of annual grasses also tended to increase with the addition of their own litter. This combination of positive and negative feedback mechanisms suggests that brief periods favourable for annual grasses, either through management changes or environmental conditions, can lead to persistent changes in the species composition of the system.     

不同草原类型针茅根部内生真菌群落结构

为了解我国北方不同草原类型中针茅根部内生真菌的群落结构及多样性变化,从新疆、甘肃、内蒙古3省(区)选择了6种不同草原类型(亚高山草甸、高山草甸、戈壁、荒漠草原、典型草原和草甸草原),进行针茅根部组织内生真菌的研究.共分离得到针茅根部内生真菌213株,根据序列的相似性(以97%为阈值),共获得51个真菌分类操作单元(OTUs),覆盖了4门7纲23科27属.在门的水平上子囊菌门真菌为绝对优势菌群,占分离真菌总数的93.4%,在各草原类型中均有分布;6种草原类型中针茅根部内生真菌的优势属差别较大,仅子囊菌门的镰孢菌属为各草原类型共有优势属,占分离真菌总数的41.3%,亚高山草甸的微结节霉属、高山草甸的Saccharicola和短梗霉属、戈壁的弯孢属和根霉属以及草甸草原的木霉属,为各草原类型中针茅根部内生真菌的优势属.高山草甸针茅根部内生真菌群落覆盖的门和属最多,Margalef丰富度指数和香农多样性指数最高,均匀度指数仅次于荒漠草原;而荒漠草原的Margalef丰富度指数最低,典型草原的多样性指数和均匀度指数最低.高山草甸和荒漠草原的内生真菌群落结构与其他草原类型之间的相似性系数都较低,分别为0.12～0.25和0.13～0.22,其他几种草原类型之间相似性相对较高,尤其是典型草原和草甸草原之间相似性系数为0.60.冗余分析(RDA)表明,海拔和纬度是影响6种草原类型中针茅根部内生真菌群落结构变化的主要环境因子.     

放牧对短花针茅荒漠草原建群种与优势种空间分布关系的影响

采用多种分析方法探讨放牧对短花针茅荒漠草原建群种与优势种无芒隐子草、碱韭的种群空间分布关系的影响.结果表明: 短花针茅+无芒隐子草+碱韭群落的景观特征主要由草原的土壤理化性质和种群的固有属性决定.自由放牧导致的空间分布的变异程度为碱韭>无芒隐子草>短花针茅.自由放牧对短花针茅和碱韭密度的影响显著,但对无芒隐子草影响不大.随着无芒隐子草密度的增加,自由放牧区短花针茅密度呈现增大趋势,而围封区短花针茅种群密度呈现先增大后减小的趋势;自由放牧区和围封区内短花针茅密度均随碱韭密度的增加而减小.表明植物种群种间关系存在密度效应,在受到外界干扰的情况下,密度效应可能消失;因植物种对或干扰条件不同,植物种间关系可以有多种表现形式.     

施肥对内蒙古短花针茅荒漠草原土壤呼吸的影响

2012年在内蒙古短花针茅荒漠草原设置了3个N肥水平（2.5、5和10 g N·m^-2）的不同NPK配施样地,并以未施肥样地为对照(CK),采用LI 8100土壤碳通量测量系统测定了样地中土壤呼吸速率的日动态和季节变化,分析土壤呼吸速率与环境因子的关系.结果表明: 在植物生长旺盛期(8月),3个N肥水平中,10 g N·m^-2处理的土壤呼吸速率显著高于其他处理,5和2.5 g N·m^-2处理的土壤呼吸速率与CK无显著差异.在植物生长初期和中期(5—9月),施P肥有利于提高土壤呼吸速率.施肥并未改变荒漠草原土壤呼吸的日动态和季节变化特征.各处理日变化最高值和最低值分别出现在10:00—14:00和03:00—05:00;季节动态的峰值均出现在8月.土壤呼吸速率与5 cm土壤温度及0～10 cm土壤含水量显著相关,其决定系数分别在0.40～0.58和0.51～0.70,说明表层土壤含水量是制约土壤呼吸变化的主要环境因子.     

不同放牧强度下克氏针茅(Stipa krylovii)草原的根系特征

以呼伦贝尔克氏针茅草原不同放牧强度下的演替群落为对象,开展群落及其群落建群种的地下生物量和根系形态特征研究.结果表明:从轻度放牧到重度放牧,群落种类组成和根系功能群类型趋于简单化;群落地下生物量的空间分布形态呈“T”型;不同放牧强度下草原群落的建群种出现了明显替代现象,轻度放牧样地群落建群种为密丛型根系的克氏针茅,中度放牧为疏丛型根系的糙隐子草(Cleistogenes squarrosa,重度放牧为鳞茎型根系的碱韭(Allium polyrhizum);随着放牧强度的增大,群落建群种根冠比逐渐增加,分别为0.47、1.0、4.1,并且群落建群种根系数量、根系体积、根系生物量、比根长及根长密度等各指标均发生了明显变化.另外,3种放牧强度样地群落建群种根冠比、根长密度均与土壤速效氮含量呈现显著正相关(P＜0.05).     

甘肃马先蒿寄生对禾草内生真菌共生体光合特性的影响

[目的]甘肃马先蒿与感染内生真菌的禾草(紫花针茅和麦宾草)建立根寄生关系,有关内生真菌对根寄生危害禾草光合作用调控方面的研究较少。[方法]本研究以紫花针茅和麦宾草带菌(E+)、不带菌(E-)植株为研究对象,研究甘肃马先蒿寄生和未寄生处理对紫花针茅和麦宾草E+、E-植株不同生长阶段光合特性影响的动态变化。[结果]甘肃马先蒿寄生显著降低紫花针茅和麦宾草的净光合速率、蒸腾速率和气孔导度,而胞间二氧化碳浓度和水分利用率却显著增加,这与禾草是否感染内生真菌无关。甘肃马先蒿寄生后E+紫花针茅的净光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率高于E-植株,而麦宾草E+植株的净光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率却低于E-植株;同时,根寄生条件下E+紫花针茅的胞间二氧化碳浓度和水分利用率低于E-植株;而E-麦宾草植株的胞间二氧化碳浓度和水分利用率却低于E+植株。[结论]内生真菌侵染影响甘肃马先蒿根寄生危害禾草的光合作用;甘肃马先蒿和内生真菌同时成为禾草营养消耗库时,内生真菌与禾草的共生关系处于一种互惠共生和相互拮抗的动态变化。     

不同放牧率对大针茅种群结构的影响

 采用连续放牧的方式研究了不同放牧率对大针茅(Stipa grandis)种群结构的影响。研究结果表明：在一定放牧率范围内,单丛分蘖密度随着放牧率的增加而增加,超过这个范围,单丛分蘖密度下降;单位面积生殖枝数、结实数和种子重随放牧率的增加而下降,种子千粒重在轻度和中度放牧率下最大;不同年龄株丛的分蘖密度存在很大差异,老龄株丛的分蘖密度最大,其次是成年株丛,幼龄株丛最小;轻度和中度放牧率能够刺激成年和老龄株丛分蘖,增加其单丛分蘖密度;老龄株丛在种群的有性生殖中占有重要地位,其生殖枝数目高于成年株丛。