Effect of tall-grass invasion on the flowering-related functional pattern of submediterranean hay-meadows

Several studies demonstrated that abandonment changes the functional composition of grasslands; nevertheless, little is known about the effects of grassland abandonment on the flowering-related functional pattern. We hypothesized that invasion by tall grasses affects this pattern. We counted the number of flowering shoots per species at five times during the growing season, in 80 plots placed in mown and in abandoned grasslands (central Apennines), and assessed the differences in the trait composition of flowering species between the two treatments. The selected traits were linked to resource acquisition and stress tolerance strategies. Our results indicated that abiotic environmental control is prevalent in determining the phenological pattern in both conditions and in accordance with the phenological “mid-domain hypothesis”. We demonstrated that when the dominant species is a tall grass with competitive behaviour, the magnitude of this phenomenon is amplified due to the abiotic changes yielded by the tall grass invasion. Indeed, in the central and late phases of the growing season (when invasive tall grasses are growing and blooming), abandoned grasslands were marked by a set of traits devoted to stress tolerance or underlying a long reproductive cycle or linked to competition for light.     

Spatial relations and population structure of a dominant tree along a treeline ecotone in the Tropical Andes: interactions at gradient and plant-neighbourhood scales

Background: Studies in temperate mountains suggest that plant–plant interactions modulate tree establishment above the forest line. In tropical mountains worldwide this issue remains largely unexplored.

Aims: To analyse the population structure and local spatial relationships of a dominant tree at a species-rich tropical Andean forest line.

Methods: We determined changes in the population structure of Diplostephium venezuelense along an elevation gradient between continuous forest and open páramo and analysed plant community structure and superficial rock cover in the neighbourhood of saplings and adults at the upper forest line.

Results: Sapling and adult densities were highest in low-altitude páramos adjacent to the forest line and at the borders of small forest islands. Saplings showed local spatial aggregation, were positively associated with small boulders and low shrubs, and negatively associated with mosses and lichens. However, no spatial association was found between scattered adults in the páramo and saplings of other forest trees.

Conclusions: Complex species-specific local spatial interactions, suggesting both facilitative and antagonistic effects, seem to modulate the establishment of the dominant tree D. venezuelense at and above the upper forest line. Nevertheless, the establishment of other tree species above continuous forests does not appear to be facilitated by the canopy cover offered by the isolated D. venezuelense individuals established in open páramo environments.     

Plant Sources of Chinese Herbal Remedies: Effects on Pratylenchus vulnus and Meloidogyne javanica

More than 500 plant species, used alone or in combination, are documented in Chinese traditional medicine to have activity against helminth and micro-invertebrate pests of humans. We subjected 153 candidate medicines or their plant sources to multilevel screening for effectiveness against plant-parasitic nematodes. For extracts effective in preliminary screens, we determined time-course and concentration-response relationships. Seventy-three of the aqueous extracts of medicines or their plant sources killed either Meloidogyne javanica juveniles or Pratylenchus vulnus (mixed stages), or both, within a 24-hour exposure period. Of 64 remedies reported as antihelminthics, 36 were effective; of 21 classi- fied as purgatives, 13 killed the nematodes; of 29 indicated as generally effective against pests, 13 killed the nematodes. Sources of extracts effective against one or both species of plant-parasitic nematodes are either the whole plant or vegetative, storage or reproductive components of the plants. Effective plants include both annuals and perennials, range from grasses and herbs to woody trees, and represent 46 plant families.     

Influence of Nutrient Availability on the Interaction Between Spotted Knapweed and Bluebunch Wheatgrass

Centaurea maculosa (Lam.) (spotted knapweed) reduces wildlife and livestock habitat biodiversity and increases erosion. Nutrient availability to plants may be used to accelerate succession away from spotted knapweed. Early‐successional plant communities often have high nutrient availability, whereas late‐successional communities are often found on lower nutrient soils. We hypothesized that removal of nutrients would change the competitive advantage from spotted knapweed to Pseudoroegneria spicatum (bluebunch wheatgrass) (late seral). In two addition series matrices, background densities of Secale cereale (annual rye) and Elymus elimoides (bottlebrush squirreltail) (3,000 seeds/m²) were used to remove nutrients from the soil. In another set of addition series matrices, nitrogen (33 kg/ha) or phosphorus (33 kg/ha) were added to the soil. Nutrient analysis of soil and vegetation indicated that annual rye and bottlebrush squirreltail reduced nutrient availability in soils. In another matrix, neither a background density nor nutrients were added. Data were fit into Watkinson's curvilinear model to determine the competitive relationship between bluebunch wheatgrass and spotted knapweed. This allowed comparison of the equivalence ratios (C) generated from each addition series. The C parameters are the per‐plant equivalent of bluebunch wheatgrass or spotted knapweed and can be interpreted as the ratio of intra‐to‐interspecific competition. The C parameters are also the equivalence ratio of the number of spotted knapweed it takes to have equivalent effect on bluebunch wheatgrass or the number of bluebunch wheatgrass having the equivalent effect on spotted knapweed. Without nutrient manipulation, spotted knapweed was more competitive than bluebunch wheatgrass. The C for bluebunch wheatgrass was 0.17, indicating that 0.17 knapweed plants were competitively equivalent to one wheatgrass. Annual rye changed the competitive balance in favor of bluebunch wheatgrass (C = 9.9). Addition of nitrogen, phosphorus, or the mid‐seral species did not change the competitive relationship between the two species. This preliminary study suggests that succession from spotted knapweed to late‐seral bluebunch wheatgrass community may be accelerated by altering resource availability.     

濒危植物永瓣藤叶片功能性状对环境因子的响应

植物叶片功能性状能够响应环境条件的变化，反应了植物对环境的适应策略。当前，针对藤本植物叶片功能性状地理格局及其环境驱动力的研究较少。以国家重点保护植物永瓣藤（Monimopetalum chinense）为研究对象，对其分布区内11个种群的15个叶片功能性状进行测量，并结合气候、土壤因子来解释叶性状变异。比较叶片性状在局域和区域尺度上的种内变异程度，利用多元逐步回归分析环境因子对叶性状的影响。结果表明，在局域尺度上，永瓣藤叶功能性状变异系数介于3.0%-22.5%，其中，叶面积变异程度最大，叶片碳含量变异最小。永瓣藤叶片形状随纬度上升而变得宽且圆。叶片磷含量相对较低，永瓣藤的生长可能受到了磷限制。土壤与气候因子是叶片性状的重要驱动因素，解释了25%-97%的叶片性状变异。在温度和水分充足的情况下，永瓣藤叶片趋向于的慢速生长的保守策略。总体来说，永瓣藤叶片功能性状通过一定的种内变异和性状组合，并与气候、土壤因子相互作用，适应当前的环境条件。     

Aphid and host‐plant genotype × genotype interactions under elevated CO2

1. Elevated CO₂ can alter plant physiology and morphology, and these changes are expected to impact diet quality for insect herbivores. While the plastic responses of insect herbivores have been well studied, less is known about the propensity of insects to adapt to such changes. Genetic variation in insect responses to elevated CO₂ and genetic interactions between insects and their host plants may exist and provide the necessary raw material for adaptation. 2. We used clonal lines of Rhopalosiphum padi (L.) aphids to examine genotype‐specific responses to elevated CO₂. We used the host plant Schedonorus arundinaceus (tall fescue; Schreb), which is capable of asexual reproduction, to investigate host plant genotype‐specific effects and possible host plant‐by‐insect genotype interactions. The abundance and density of three R. padi genotypes on three tall fescue genotypes under three concentrations of CO₂ (ambient, 700, and 1000 ppm) in a controlled greenhouse environment were examined. 3. Aphid abundance decreased in the 700 ppm CO₂ concentration, but increased in the 1000 ppm concentration relative to ambient. The effect of CO₂ on aphid density was dependent on host plant genotype; the density of aphids in high CO₂ decreased for two plant genotypes but was unchanged in one. No interaction between aphid genotype and elevated CO₂ was found, nor did we find significant genotype‐by‐genotype interactions. 4. This study suggests that the density of R. padi aphids feeding on tall fescue may decrease under elevated CO₂ for some plant genotypes. The likely impact of genotype‐specific responses on future changes in the genetic structure of plant and insect populations is discussed.     

Water movement through Quercus rubra I. Leaf water potential and conductance during polycyclic growth

Two experiments examined simultaneous changes in leaf area (A_L), root length (L_r), stomatal conductance (g_s), leaf water potential (Ψ_L), transpiration and hydraulic plant conductance per unit leaf area (G) during the first three shoot cycles of northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.) grown under favourable and controlled conditions. Each shoot cycle consisted of bud swell, stem elongation, leaf expansion and rest; roots grew almost continuously. The g_s of all leaves decreased substantially while leaves of the newest flush were expanding and increased modestly when seedling leaf area remained constant. Overall, g_s decreased. The Ψ_L of mature leaves decreased during leaf expansion and increased by an equivalent amount during intervening periods. Possible explanations for the paired changes in g_s and Ψ_L are considered. Changes in G closely paralleled those of canopy g_s. These parallel changes during polycyclic seedling growth should act to keep seedling Ψ_L relatively constant as plant size increases and thereby help prevent Ψ_L from dropping to levels that would cause runaway embolism.     

Steppe-like grassland as a refuge of the wild edible and medicinal plant species in anthropogenic landscape in northeastern Croatia

Habitat fragmentation and modification have been recognized as the most serious threats to biodiversity. In Croatia, the intensive human activities resulted in the landscape transformation, reduction of grassland areas and loss of species number. Increasingly threatened are the wild edible and medicinal plants which contribute remarkably to the biodiversity of different grassland types. In northeastern Croatia, one of the last remnants of the steppe-like grassland remained preserved in a very complex anthropogenic landscape. We examined the diversity of vascular plants occurring on this small habitat patch. Among the relatively high number of plant taxa (in a total of 177) found during the two years of investigations, most could be used both for human nutrition (28 taxa), and for the treatment of a wide range of diseases (60 taxa), while some taxa have nutritional value for livestock (17 taxa). All 23 recorded taxa with edible and medicinal properties are threatened in Croatia, 21 are threatened across Europe, and two are Red Listed taxa. Our results showed that small and isolated steppe-like grassland represents an important refuge for variety of valuable plant species in intensively used landscapes. Accordingly, such small habitats should be, at least locally, effectively protected.