Functional ecology of shrub seedlings after a natural recruitment event at the Nevada Desert FACE Facility

Seedling recruitment is an important determinant of community structure in desert ecosystems. Positive photosynthetic growth and water balance responses to increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations ([CO₂]) are predicted to be substantial in desert plants, suggesting that recruitment could be stimulated. However, to date no studies have addressed the response of perennial plant recruitment in natural populations of desert shrubs exposed to elevated [CO₂]. In April 1997, we employed Free‐Air Carbon Dioxide Enrichment (FACE) in order to increase atmospheric [CO₂] in an undisturbed Mojave Desert ecosystem from ambient (～～ 370 µmol mol^?1) to elevated CO₂ (～～ 550 µmol mol^?1). From 1997 to 2001 we seasonally examined survival, growth, gas exchange and water potential responses of Larrea tridentata and Ambrosia dumosa seedlings that germinated in Fall, 1997. Recruitment densities were not influenced by [CO₂] in either species, although a two‐fold higher adult Ambrosia density under elevated [CO₂] resulted in two‐fold higher seedling density (0.87 vs 0.40 seedlings m^?2). Mortality was greatest for both species during the first summer (1998), despite above‐average rainfall during the previous Winter–Spring. A significant [CO₂] × time interaction revealed that early survival was greater under elevated CO₂, whereas a significant species time interaction revealed that overall survival was greater for Ambrosia (28%) than for Larrea (15%), regardless of [CO₂]. Microsite (understorey or interspace) alone had no significant influence on survival. Significant species, microsite and species × microsite effects on growth (seedling height, stem diameter and canopy size) were found, but elevated CO₂ had minimal impact on these parameters. Photosynthetic rates (A_sat) for both species were higher at elevated [CO₂] during certain seasons, but not consistently so. These results suggest that increased atmospheric [CO₂] may enhance carbon (C) assimilation and survival of aridland perennial shrubs during favourable growing conditions, but that it may not counteract the effects of prolonged drought on mortality.     

Calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy and paleoecology of the Cretaceous–Tertiary transition in the central eastern desert of Egypt

The Gebel Qreiya and nearby Wadi Hamama sections of the central Eastern Desert are among the most complete K/T boundary sequences known from Egypt. The two sections were analyzed spanning an interval from l.83 Myr below to about 3 Myr above the K/T boundary. A 1-cm-thick red clay layer at the K/T boundary at Gebel Qreiya contains an Ir anomaly of 5.4 ppb. The high-resolution study and well-preserved nannoflora provide good age control and the first quantitative records of calcareous nannofossil assemblages for paleoecological interpretations across the K/T transition in Egypt. Four zones (Micula murus, Micula prinsii, NP1, and NP2) were distinguished and correlated with other nannofossil and planktonic foraminiferal zonations that are broadly applicable for the eastern Tethys region. Latest Maastrichtian assemblages are abundant and diverse, though Cretaceous species richness progressively decreased across the K/T boundary. Dominant species include Arkhangelskiella cymbiformis, Micula decussata and Watznaueria barnesae, with high abundance of dissolution-resistant M. decussata reflecting periods of high environmental stress. Thoracosphaera blooms mark the K/T boundary and are followed by an acme of the opportunistic survivor Braarudosphaera bigelowii, the first appearance of the new Tertiary species Cruciplacolithus primus, and an acme of Coccolithus cavus/pelagicus. These successive abundance peaks provide the basis for subdivision of the Early Danian Zones NP1 and NP2 into five subzones. Correlation of selected nannofossil taxa from the Egyptian sections with those from various onshore marine and deep-sea sections provides insights into their paleoenvironmental and paleoecological affinities.     

Environmental heterogeneity and habitat use of the red viscacha rat in drylands of west-central Argentina

Environmental heterogeneity shapes the traits of natural populations, including space use and burrowing behavior. We studied the red viscacha rat (Tympanoctomys barrerae), a semifossorial rodent with patchy distribution in drylands of west-central Argentina, to provide ecological data on habitat and burrow features of this specialist species. We collected data on 165 burrows and 55 individuals from 2017–2018 and observed correlations between different vegetation types, vegetation diversity, and physical attributes (e.g., soil hardness). A high number of individual red viscacha rats was negatively associated with herbs. The number of burrow entrances was positively associated with harder soils and negatively associated with vegetation cover. Our results suggest that the species' patchy distribution is strongly associated with environmental heterogeneity of these arid environments, and consequently provide an essential step towards conserving their populations across their geographic range.     

塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘3种果树幼苗光合及抗逆性研究

于2010年7~8月份,以塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘绿洲-荒漠过渡带人工种植的桑树(Morus albaL.)、沙枣(Elaeagnus angustifoliaL.)和杏树(Prunus armeniacaL.)幼苗为材料,研究了它们在相同生境条件下光合响应特征、水势、脯氨酸和可溶性糖含量等生理指标的变化,并用隶属函数值法对3种果树幼苗的抗旱性进行综合评价。结果表明:(1)3种果树幼苗光响应曲线具有相同的变化规律,当光合有效辐射(PAR)在0~200μmol.m-2.s-1之间变化时,净光合速率(A)随着PAR的增大呈直线增大,当PAR>200μmol.m-2.s-1时,A随PAR的变化呈二次曲线变化;(2)3种果树幼苗的光响应参数最大光合速率(Amax)、曲角(K)、表观量子效率(φ)、暗呼吸速率(Rday)、光饱和点(LSP)、光补偿点(LCP)以及光合色素的变化趋势并不完全一致,其中桑树具有最大的Amax、φ、Rday和叶绿素含量,而杏树的LSP最高,LCP最低,因此桑树具有最大的光能利用效率,而杏树能更有效地利用强光进行光合作用;(3)3种果树幼苗脯氨酸(Pro)、可溶性糖以及丙二醛(MDA)含量,除沙枣和杏树之间可溶性糖含量差异不显著外,其他指标含量差异在3种果树之间均达到显著水平(P<0.05);(4)在本研究期间3种果树的抗逆性表现为沙枣>桑树>杏树。研究发现,塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘绿洲-荒漠过渡带的3种果树幼苗光响应曲线变化趋势基本一致,体现了植物对环境条件适应的一致性,但是各个生理指标的变化趋势并不完全一致,这可能是由于植物种对环境条件的适应差异所导致。     

Desiccation limits recruitment in the pleometrotic desert seed‐harvester ant Veromessor pergandei

The desert harvester ant Veromessor pergandei displays geographic variation in colony founding with queens initiating nests singly (haplometrosis) or in groups (pleometrosis). The transition from haplo‐ to pleometrotic founding is associated with lower rainfall. Numerous hypotheses have been proposed to explain the evolution of cooperative founding in this species, but the ultimate explanation remains unanswered. In laboratory experiments, water level was positively associated with survival, condition, and brood production by single queens. Queen survival also was positively influenced by water level and queen number in a two‐factor experiment. Water level also was a significant effect for three measures of queen condition, but queen number was not significant for any measure. Foundress queens excavated after two weeks of desiccating conditions were dehydrated compared to alate queens captured from their natal colony, indicating that desiccation can be a source of queen mortality. Long‐term monitoring in central Arizona, USA, documented that recruitment only occurred in four of 20 years. A discriminant analysis using rainfall as a predictor of recruitment correctly predicted recruitment in 17 of 20 years for total rainfall from January to June (the period for mating flights and establishment) and in 19 of 20 years for early plus late rainfall (January–March and April–June, respectively), often with a posterior probability > 0.90. Moreover, recruitment occurred only in years in which both early and late rainfall exceeded the long‐term mean. This result also was supported by the discriminant analysis predicting no recruitment when long‐term mean early and late rainfall were included as ungrouped periods. These data suggest that pleometrosis in V. pergandei evolved to enhance colony survival in areas with harsh abiotic (desiccating) conditions, facilitating colonization of habitats in which solitary queens could not establish even in wet years. This favorable‐year hypothesis supports enhanced worker production as the primary advantage of pleometrosis.     

Diversity of culturable actinomycetes in hyper-arid soils of the Atacama Desert,Chile

The Atacama Desert presents one of the most extreme environments on Earth and we report here the first extensive isolations of actinomycetes from soils at various locations within the Desert. The use of selective isolation procedures enabled actinomycetes to be recovered from arid, hyper-arid and even extreme hyper-arid environments in significant numbers and diversity. In some cases actinomycetes were the only culturable bacteria to be isolated under the conditions of this study. Phylogenetic analysis and some phenotypic characterisation revealed that the majority of isolates belonged to members of the genera Amycolatopsis, Lechevalieria and Streptomyces, a high proportion of which represent novel centres of taxonomic variation. The results of this study support the view that arid desert soils constitute a largely unexplored repository of novel bacteria, while the high incidence of non-ribosomal peptide synthase genes in our isolates recommend them as promising material in screening for new bioactive natural products.     

西北干旱荒漠区种子植物科的区系分析

西北干旱荒漠区分布有种子植物82科、484属、1704种,优势现象明显,优势科11个,它们是菊科、豆科、禾本科、藜科,十字花科、蓼科,莎草科、毛莨科、蔷薇科、唇形科和百合科;表征科8个,它们是香蒲科,麻黄科,柽柳科、蒺藜科,胡颓子科、藜科、眼子菜科和蓼科。地理成分多样,其中以世界广布成分为主,共37科,占总科数的45.12%,其次为温带成分（包括热带至温带,亚热带至温带,温带,温带至寒带）,共有31科,占总科数的37.80%,热带成分,热带致亚热带成分较少,共14科,占总科数的17.07%。这些反映出植物的分布与本地区气候相适应的特点。     

Plant communities of a Central Namib inselberg landscape

Abstract. Three granite inselbergs and six dolerite dykes and their surroundings were investigated in the Central Namib, at the interface between the Namib Desert and Nama Karoo biomes. The main objectives of this study included a phytoso‐ciological interpretation of the described plant communities, explanation of the correlation of the communities with environmental variables and quantification of the relative contribution of different types of variables to structuring plant communities. Nine grassland and shrubland plant communities were recognized, largely organized according to general habitat, elevation, size of inselberg and geology. Soil properties, often thought to play an important role in arid environments, showed no clear patterns in the level of analyses used in this study. Other environmental parameters of importance in arid mountain habitats, such as slope aspect and angle, also played a minor role. The main implications of the study are: 1. Central Namib inselbergs, particularly granite domes, harbour diverse plant communities, often with species from neighbouring higher rainfall areas, and are thus of high conservation value. 2. The poor contribution of environmental variables in this study, which are conventionally used in field studies of plant community – environment relationships, may demand a critical review of additional parameters to be included when analysing plant community – environment relations in arid environments. In particular between‐season variation, phytogeographic aspects and the heterogeneity of microhabitats, often contained within a plant community, need to be taken into account.