Plant distribution and dispersal mechanisms at the Hassayampa River Preserve, Arizona, USA

This study focuses on the relationships between plant dispersal syndromes and plant distributions at the community scale. Species composition and cover are reported from 29 10 × 20-m vegetation plots along five topographic cross-sections in the riparian zone of the Hassayampa River Preserve, Arizona. We find that spatial patterns of dispersal guilds vary within the flood plain of this semiarid region river. Our main results are: (1) wind-dispersed species are fairly evenly distributed at all elevations and distances from the river, whereas cover of animal-dispersed species increases with elevation above, and at greater distances from, the river; (2) wind-dispersed species are proportionally more abundant in the pioneer Populus–Salix community, whereas plants in the late-seral Prosopis community are predominantly animal-dispersed; (3) most of the species classified as obligate-wetland and facultative-wetland are wind-dispersed, whereas facultative-upland and obligate-upland species are mostly animal-dispersed; and (4) there are significantly fewer wind-dispersed species in areas of high total vegetation cover. These results may reflect successional patterns resulting from periodic flooding. Low areas close to the river flood more frequently and with greater intensity than areas farther from the river. Many pioneer species that establish in disturbed areas are wind-dispersed. Over successional time, pioneer species cede to more drought tolerant species that are predominantly animal-dispersed.     

Classification and ordination of plant communities of the Naukluft Mountains,Namibia

Abstract. To determine the relationship between vegetation and environmental parameters in a desert‐savanna ecotone, vegetation in the Naukluft Mountains of Namibia (southern Africa) was described and analysed in terms of environmental parameters determining the observed patterns. 12 plant communities, largely characterized by low shrubs, were described on the basis of a classification. Through ordination altitude, clay, potassium content of the substrate and, to a lesser extent, habitats were identified as underlying environmental factors determining the composition of these plant communities. The edaphic parameters showed some correlation with subsurface geology, but microclimatic conditions, water availability and level of disturbance appeared to override the effect of nutrient composition provided by different substrate. Communities of conservation importance, such as plant communities composed of Karoo shrubs, are prevalent on the mountain plateau, presenting an isolated outpost of Nama Karoo vegetation. The transitional status between desert and savanna, remnant patches of Nama Karoo and the high habitat diversity mark the importance of this high altitude area for biodiversity conservation.     

Unexpected side effects in biocrust after treating non‐native plants using carbon addition

Carbon addition has been proposed as an alternative to herbicide and manual removal methods to treat non‐native plants and reduce non‐target effects of treatments (e.g. impacts on native plants; surface disturbance). On Mojave Desert pavement and biocrust substrates after experimental soil disturbance and carbon addition (1,263 g C/m² as sucrose), we observed declines in lichens and moss cover in sucrose‐treated plots. To further explore this unforeseen potential side effect of using carbon addition as a non‐native plant treatment, we conducted biocrust surveys 5 and 7 years after treatments, sampled surface soils to observe if treatments additionally affected soil filamentous cyanobacteria, and conducted laboratory trials testing the effects of different levels of sucrose on cyanobacteria and desert mosses. Sucrose addition to biocrust plots reduced lichen and moss cover by 33–78% and species richness by 40–80%. Sucrose reduced biocrust cover in biocrust plots to levels similarly detected in pavement plots (<1%). While cyanobacteria in the field did not appear to be affected by sucrose, laboratory tests showed negative effects of sucrose on both cyanobacteria and mosses. Cyanobacteria declined by 41% 1 month after exposure to 5.4 g C/m² equivalent solutions. We detected injury to photosynthesis in mosses after 96 hour exposure to 79–316 g C/m² equivalent solutions. Caution is warranted when using carbon addition, at least in the form and concentration of sucrose, as a treatment for reducing non‐native plants on sites where conserving biocrust is a goal.     

基于Biolog-ECO方法的两种不同草原中5种不同植物根际土壤微生物群落特征

【背景】土壤微生物是草原生态系统的重要组成部分,在调节植物生长、促进土壤结构的形成及维持草原生态系统功能和稳定性等方面有着不可替代的作用。【目的】探究内蒙古自治区四子王旗两种不同草原中5种不同植物根际土壤微生物群落代谢功能的多样性。【方法】利用Biolog-ECO微平板法分析四子王旗荒漠草原中阿德格和格根塔拉2个样地中短花针茅、冷蒿、细叶葱、阿尔泰狗娃花和银灰旋花5种植物根际土壤微生物群落多样性特征。【结果】两种不同草原中5种不同植物根际土壤中可培养微生物数量存在显著性差异(P0.05),阿德格草原中短花针茅根际土壤中可培养微生物总数显著高于其他植物根际,格根塔拉草原中阿尔泰狗娃花根际土壤中可培养微生物总数显著高于其他植物;两样地不同植物根际土壤微生物的平均颜色变化率(average well color development,AWCD)均表现为格根塔拉样地高于阿德格样地,而且呈"S"型变化。培养96 h后格根塔拉草原5种植物的Shannon指数与Simpson指数高于阿德格草原,同时银灰旋花根际土壤微生物多样性指数在两个草原中差异极显著;两个草原不同植物根际土壤微生物对碳源的利用主要是氨基酸类和碳水化合物碳源,对于L-天门冬酰胺、r-羟基丁酸、L-丝氨酸和D-半乳糖醛酸等碳源的功能微生物显著富集,根际土壤微生物的AWCD和多样性指数与细菌、放线菌以及土壤微生物总数呈极显著正相关性(P0.01),均匀度指数与细菌、放线菌以及土壤微生物总数量呈显著负相关性(P0.05)。【结论】不同植物根际土壤微生物对碳源的利用能力和偏好出现差异,而且根际土壤微生物数量越高,微生物碳代谢能力、微生物群落多样性越丰富。     

Leaf expansion,net CO2 uptake,Rubisco activity,and efficiency of long-term biomass gain for the common desert subshrub Encelia farinosa

Encelia farinosa is one of the most abundant and highly studied species of the Sonoran Desert, yet characteristics of its leaf development and long-term photosynthetic capacity are relatively unknown. The net CO₂ uptake rate and the Rubisco activity per unit leaf area for E. farinosa in a glasshouse increased in parallel for about 18 days after leaf emergence (leaf area was then 5 cm²), after which both were constant, suggesting that Rubisco levels controlled net CO₂ uptake. Instantaneous net CO₂ uptake rates at noon for well-watered E. farinosa in the glasshouse at different temperatures and light levels correctly predicted differences in daily net CO₂ uptake at four seasonally diverse times for transplanted plants under irrigated conditions in the field but overpredicted the daily means by 13%. After this correction, seasonally adjusted net CO₂ uptake per unit leaf area multiplied by the estimated monthly leaf area predicted that 42% of the net carbon gain was incorporated into plant dry weight over a 17-month period. The ecological success of E. farinosa apparently reflects an inherently high daily net CO₂ uptake and retention of a substantial fraction of its leaf carbon gain.     

鄂尔多斯高原西部几种荒漠灌丛群落种间联结关系的研究

采用ＰＣ、ＰＣＣ、ＡＣ、Ｘ２和ｒ等公式对鄂尔多斯高原西部５种典型荒漠灌丛群落种间联结系数的求算,通过这些种间的相互关系,阐述了这些物种对生境要求的差异和分布特点,本文的研究结果对与建立在种群关系基础上的荒漠植被的研究具有重要的意义。     

Microhabitat differentiation in Chiuhuahuan Desert plant communities

The effects of microhabitat differentiation on small-scale plant community structure in the Chiuhuahuan Desert were studied using multivariate analysis. The results showed that microhabitats (i.e., kangaroo rat mounds, ant mounds, shrubs, half-shrubs, and open areas) played a critical role in structuring small-scale plant community structure and maintaining species diversity. Annual plants were much more sensitvive to the presence of differentiated microhabitats than perennials and winter annuals exhibited stronger microhabitat perferences than summer annuals. Species diversity was highest on ant mounds while open areas supported the lowest diversity during both winter and summer. Biomass was highest in the shrub habitats followed by kangaroo rat mounds, ant mounds, half-shrubs, and open areas. Much of the diversity of these plants could be explained by the individualistic responses of species to the biotic effect of other plants or to disturbance by animals, or individualistic responses of species to differences in microenvironments.     

Characterization of Microbial Mats from a Desert Wadi Ecosystem in the Sultanate of Oman

Desert wadis are widespread in the Arabian Peninsula and play a vital role in the ecology of the region; nevertheless, these ecosystems are among the least studied. Various types of microbial mats are predominant in wadis, but information on their bacterial diversity and spatial distribution is very scarce. We investigated bacterial diversity, pigments and lipid composition of ten mats located at the down-, mid- and upstream of a desert wadi in Oman. Direct microscopy revealed the existence of different unicellular and filamentous cyanobacteria, with the dominance of the heterocystous genera Calothrix and Scytonema. The majority of MiSeq 16S rRNA sequences (44-76%) were affiliated to Cyanobacteria and Proteobacteria. While Alphaproteobacteria was the most dominant proteobacterial class (10 to 48% of total sequences), Gamma- and Deltaproteobacteria were subdominant. Cluster analysis showed that the mats’ bacterial communities at the different locations along the wadi were different and shared less than 60% of their operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Chlorophyll a and scytonemin were the most predominant pigments in all mats. Different saturated, branched and mono- and poly-unsaturated fatty acids were detected in all mats, with C₁₆ and C₁₈ compounds as most dominant. The detected pigments and fatty acids indicate a major role of cyanobacteria in the wadi mats and the adaptation of microorganisms therein to the harsh wadi environment. Detection of diadinoxanthin and fucoxanthin confirmed the presence of diatoms. We conclude that microbial mats are important elements in wadi ecosystems and exist in a great variety of structure and community composition.     

Molecular diversity and allergenic profiles of Alternaria spp. from desert environments in Arizona

This study examined the genetic diversity of small-spored Alternaria species in the southwest desert of the USA by sampling 552 isolates from different habitats (soil and plant debris) in different locations (urban and an undisturbed desert). To estimate the genetic diversity, Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) fingerprinting analysis was performed for all isolates. Strains representative of the sampled genotypic diversity (n = 125) were further characterized according their sporulation pattern and the capability to produce allergens. Morphological characterization assigned the majority of the strains to the Alternaria alternata and Alternaria tenuissima morpho-groups with only two isolates assigned to the Alternaria arborescens morpho-group. AFLP fingerprinting differentiated the A. arborescens morpho-groups, but could not distinguish between the A. alternata and A. tenuissima morpho-groups. Western blot analysis showed that a large number of allergenic proteins were produced by strains. These proteins were not specific for any morpho-group nor source of isolation. A hierarchical analysis of molecular variance was performed on the AFLP data to quantify molecular variation and partition this variation among sampled locations and habitat. No statistically significant differentiation among locations and habitat was detected indicating a lack of population structure across environments.