Towards a generalized biogeography of the Southern Ocean benthos

Aim To investigate whether the biogeographical regions proposed by J. W. Hedgpeth and widely adopted by other authors hold true, are an oversimplification or with further data might show a unified Antarctic province. Location Southern Hemisphere. Methods The distributions of 1318 species of bivalves, 4656 species of gastropods, 1465 species of cheilostome and 167 species of cyclostome bryozoans were analysed for 29 regions in the Southern Hemisphere, including South American, South African, Tasmanian, New Zealand, sub‐Antarctic and Antarctic regions. We present data on species richness, rates of endemism, patterns of radiation, faunal similarities and multivariate biogeographical analyses. Results The most striking pattern to emerge from our data set of species counts per region was a strong east–west hemispheric asymmetry, with high species numbers in New Zealand, Tasmania and South Africa and low numbers in South America. In contrast, no difference was found in richness between the east and west parts of the Southern Ocean. We compared findings in our model taxa with published data on ascidians, cephalopods and pycnogonids. Further evidence of strong faunal links between the Antarctic and South America is reported in this study, although we found little evidence for a biogeographical relationship between the Antarctic or South America and New Zealand/Tasmania. Strong evidence exists for a long‐term influence of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current upon the distribution of Southern Ocean benthos. This is demonstrated by the reduced prevalence of South American species in the Antarctic and sub‐Antarctic with increasing distance from South America in the direction of the current. Three of our four study taxa (bivalves, cheilostomes and cyclostomes) show the Southern Ocean as a ‘single functional unit’ with no evidence for a biogeographical split between east and west. Main conclusions Unlike the biogeographical schemes previously proposed, we show that biogeographical regions in the Southern Ocean differ depending upon the class of animals being considered. Despite this we suggest that some general rules are viable, including species endemism rates of around 50%, a single Antarctic province and a definite distinction between the sub‐Antarctic islands influenced by South America and those of New Zealand.     

Root Morphology and Anchorage of Six Native Tree Species from a Tropical Montane Forest and an Elfin Forest in Ecuador

Root architecture of tree species was investigated at two different altitudes in tropical forests in Ecuador. Increasing altitude was accompanied by higher wind speeds and more shallow soils, while slope angles of both sites were comparable (20–50°). Three tree species typical for the montane forest at 1900 m (Graffenrieda emarginata (Ruiz & Pav.) Triana (Melastomataceae), Clethra revoluta (Ruiz & Pav.) Spreng. (Clethraceae), Vismia tomentosa Ruiz & Pav. (Clusiaceae)) and for the elfin forest at 3000 m (Weinmannia loxensis Harling (Cunoniaceae), Clusia spec. (Clusiacaea) Styrax foveolaria Perkins (Styraceae)) were examined. At 1900 m, 92% of the trees grew upright, in comparison to 52% at 3000 m. At 3000 m, 48% of the trees were inclined, lying or even partly uprooted. At this altitude, all trees with tap roots or with shoots connected by coarse rhizomes, 83% of the trees with stilt roots, and 50% of the trees in which stems or roots were supported by other trees grew upright, suggesting that these characteristics were relevant for tree stability. Root system morphology differed markedly between altitudes. In contrast to 1900 m, where 20% of structural roots originated in the deeper mineral soil, root origin at 3000 m was restricted to the forest floor. The mean ratio of root cross sectional area to tree height decreased significantly from 6.1 × 10⁻³ m² m⁻¹ at 1900 m to 3.2 × 10⁻³ m² m⁻¹ at 3000 m. The extent of root asymmetry increased significantly from 0.29 at 1900 m to 0.62 at 3000 m. This was accompanied by a significantly lower number of dominant roots at 3000 m (2.3 compared to 3.8 at 1900 m). In conclusion, native tree species growing in tropical montane and elfin forests show a variety of root traits that improve tree stability. Root system asymmetry is less important for tree stability where anchorage is provided by a deep and solid root–soil plate. When deep rooting is impeded, root traits improving the horizontal extension of the root–soil plate are more pronounced or occur more frequently. Furthermore, mutual mechanical support of roots and stems of neighboring trees seems to be an appropriate mechanism to provide anchorage in soils with low bulk density and in environments with high wind speeds.     

神农架北坡堵河源自然保护区植物多样性研究

为建立自然保护区,保护神农架北坡堵河源地区丰富的生物多样性资源,并为神农架地区植物起源、植被演替以及生物多样性和濒危物种状况深入、准确评价提供基础数据,2002年,采用路线调查与标准地调查相结合的方法,结合历史资料,对堵河源地区的野生植物资源进行了实地野外调查研究,分析了植物区系和植物多样性及其受威胁状况。结果表明:(1)该保护区具有丰富的植物物种多样性,有维管束植物174科730属1733种(含亚种、变种),其中,国家重点保护野生植物有23种;(2)该区植物区系成分具有复杂性、多样性,拥有中国种子植物分布区类型属级水平的全部类型,但明显偏重于温带性质。且植物区系起源古老,有中国特有分布属37个,其中,古特有属27个;(3)该区具有丰富的植被类型,包括4个植被型组,8个植被型,26个群系,具有较高的保护和科研价值。同时针对保护区植物多样性受威胁状况,提出了植被恢复、加强防火设备设施建设、生态移民、保护珍稀濒危植物及社区共管是保护植物多样性的有效措施。     

Past and present vegetation in relation to solifluction on Ben Arkle,Sutherland

Background: Forest succession in tropical pastures usually starts from woody vegetation patches. Patches may arise within the grass matrix at microsites with favourable soil conditions or through facilitation by established nurse plants.

Aims: We report the formation of woody vegetation patches in tropical pastures after investigating whether patch formation was associated with micro-scale terrain features and whether facilitation was important for patch initiation.

Methods: The study was conducted in three pasture sites in the Atlantic forest domain of Brazil. We compared soil, terrain and species abundance patterns among pairs of woody patch and open pasture plots.

Results: The effect of variation in soil physical and chemical attributes was limited. Some species were able to establish in the grass matrix and survive disturbance from grazing and fire, while other species only established in patches, under other already established trees or shrubs. Some of these species were exotics, which are commonly eliminated in restoration efforts.

Conclusions: Allowing the establishment of species capable of withstanding pasture environments, including exotics, can accelerate succession. Furthermore, the abilities to endure competition from grasses and survive fire are key features of species suitable for the initial stages of forest restoration in tropical pastures.     

Tree recruitment at the treeline across the Continental Divide in the Northern Rocky Mountains,USA: the role of spring snow and autumn climate

ABSTRACT

Background: Topoclimate can influence tree establishment within treeline ecotones. Yet much less is known about how regional topography, such as the Continental Divide, Rocky Mountains, mediates the role of climate in governing treeline dynamics.

Aims: To utilise the Continental Divide to test whether contrasts in growing-season moisture regimes to the west (summer-dry) and east (summer-wet) impact the spatio-temporal patterns of tree establishment and rates of treeline advance in the Northern Rocky Mountains.

Methods: We sampled trees at sites on north- and south-facing slopes, west and east of the Continental Divide. We used dendroecological techniques to reconstruct patterns of tree establishment. Age-structure data were quantitatively compared with climate to evaluate possible mechanistic linkages.

Results: Across all sites, 96% of trees established after 1950. There was a treeline advance (range = 39–140 m) accompanied by increases in tree density. Significantly more trees established during wet springs on both sides of the Divide.

Conclusions: Overall, snow duration in spring and autumn temperatures appear to influence patterns of tree recruitment at the treeline. Continued warming will likely amplify the role of autumn climate in regulating tree establishment throughout treeline ecotones in the Northern Rocky Mountains, particularly west of the Divide where summer-dry conditions persist.     

Endogenous cardiac activity rhythms of continental slope Nephrops norvegicus (decapoda: nephropidae)

The endogenous cardiac activity rhythm of the Norway lobster Nephrops norvegicus was studied under constant conditions of darkness by means of a computer-aided monitoring system (CAPMON). Time series recordings of the heart rate (beats min^?1) were obtained from 47 adult males freshly collected from the continental slope (400–430?m) in the western Mediterranean. Periodogram analysis revealed the occurrence of circadian periodicity (of around 24?h) in most cases. A large percentage of animals showed significant ultradian periods (of around 12 and 18?h). The analysis of the circadian time series revealed the occurrence of peaks of heart rate activity during the expected night phase of the cycle. These results are discussed in relation to the emergence and locomotor activity rhythms of the species.     

Restoration of indigenous dominance in exotic grassland by the establishment of juvenile Microlaena stipoides plants

Two experiments were conducted to determine the establishment success of reintroducing Microlaena stipoides (pātītī, weeping rice grass) into existing high‐fertility grassland on the volcanic cones of the Auckland Isthmus. The first experiment monitored the survival and development of juveniles planted in a factorial design including two planting densities, two slope classes and two aspects across three cones. Plant survival during establishment was consistently over 90%. Maximum M. stipoides cover after 2 years (>80%) was achieved on north‐facing steep slopes (>25°) at the greater planting density (40 plants/m²). However, results were particularly idiosyncratic to specific cone/topographical combinations. The second experiment, on a flat site on one cone, monitored the survival and development of juveniles planted across four post‐planting treatments designed to suppress resident vegetation recovery. Plant survival after 6 months was relatively low (50%), and none of the treatments achieved greater than 5% cover of M. stipoides after 1 year. The chosen post‐planting treatments were unable to suppress vigorous recovery of competitive exotic grasses on a moist fertile site. Overall, juvenile planting was shown to be a potentially successful method of Microlaena establishment and could restore indigenous dominance to exotic grassland in this environment, but individual site factors and the high cost of establishment must be considered.     

黄土丘陵沟壑区不同植被区土壤生态化学计量特征

以黄土丘陵沟壑区3个植被区(森林区、森林草原区、草原区)不同坡向土壤作为研究对象,对土壤有机C、全N、全P、全K含量及其化学计量特征进行了研究.结果表明,不同植被区、坡向和土层土壤养分含量及其化学计量特征均有明显不同.土壤有机C、全N变异性较大,全P、全K变异性较小.表层土壤养分含量显著高于底层土壤;同一土层之间有机C、全N含量变异性较大,全P、全K含量变异性较小.不同坡向之间养分含量不同,阴坡最大,阳坡最小.土壤养分含量受植被类型及植被盖度的影响,森林区＞草原区＞森林草原区.土壤C/N、C/P、C/K、N/P、N/K比都较稳定,C/N比的变化范围为5.65-12.57,平均值为9.44; C/P比的变化范围为3.62-17.32,平均值为8.15;C/K比的变化范围为0.10-0.55,平均值为0.26;N/P比的变化范围为0.43-1.38,平均值为0.86; N/K比的变化范围为0.01-0.05,平均值为0.03;P/K比值较稳定,为0.03.土壤有机C和全N极显著正相关,全N和全P极显著正相关.     

重度火烧迹地微地形对土壤微生物特性的影响——以坡度和坡向为例

通过对大兴安岭重度火烧迹地不同坡度和坡向的土壤微生物群落进行调查研究,旨在揭示重度火烧迹地过火6a后森林恢复过程土壤微生物群落的变化规律与影响因素.研究结果表明:平地土壤微生物生物量碳含量(MBC)和土壤微生物生物量碳氮比(MBC/MBN)均高于坡地,其中MBC/MBN达到差异极显著水平.平地土壤微生物的代谢活性AWCD值、对31种4类碳源(糖类、脂类、氨基酸、代谢物)的利用能力和Shannon-Winner多样性指数(H')均极显著低于坡地.西坡土壤微生物AWCD值和H'高于南坡,但AWCD和H'与土壤养分、pH值、EC无显著相关关系,说明坡向可能与土壤微生物代谢活性和多样性的关系并不密切,反映了两坡向土壤微生物群落结构的相似性.坡度由于影响了土壤养分和水分条件,进而影响了土壤微生物的生物量、群落结构、物种多样性和碳源利用能力.火烧迹地恢复初期平地土壤微生物量碳高于坡地,西坡高于南坡;恢复6a后,土壤微生物量碳的差异己不显著,但土壤微生物群落结构、物种多样性以及代谢特性仍具有显著差异,这可能与地形坡度仍然显著影响土壤水分含量的因素有关.     

137Cs和210Pbex示踪黑土区坡耕地土壤侵蚀对有机碳的影响

通过在野外28.5 hm2的坡耕地上采集土壤样品,定量评价了利用137Cs和210Pbex研究土壤有机碳(SOC)动态的潜力,以探讨东北黑土区土壤侵蚀对土壤有机碳的影响.结果表明:农耕地土壤137Cs、210Pbex和SOC在平面和垂直深度上均具有相似的分布特征.在平面上,尽管受土壤侵蚀沉积的影响,137Cs、210Pbex面积活度及SOC储量变异很大,但它们具有相同的变化趋势.在垂直断面上,侵蚀区137Cs、210Pbex和SOC在0～25 cm耕层内分布均匀,25 cm以下放射性活度减小,SOC含量也相应下降;沉积区0～100 cm深度上137Cs和210Pbex呈现先增加后减小的分布规律,SOC也具有类似的变化特征.农耕地SOC与137Cs、210Pbex呈显著线性相关,表明它们在黑土区农耕地上具有相似的物理运移特征,137Cs和210Pbex可直接用来定量评价黑土侵蚀下SOC的时空分布特点.