Effects of ambient UV-B radiation on the above-ground biomass of seven temperate-zone plant species

Variations in the amount of solar ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B) reaching the biosphere may alter productivity in non-agricultural plants. We examined how ambient levels of UV-B modify the biomass of seven temperate-zone species including three grass species (Echinochloa crusgalli, Setaria faberi, Elymus virginicus), three forbs (Verbascum blattaria, Lactuca biennis, Oenothera parviflora), and one tree species (Quercus rubra). Plants were grown outside in enclosures near Morgantown, WV, USA (39° N, 79° W) for one season under near-ambient or no UV-B conditions. The different levels of UV-B were achieved using filters which differentially transmit UV-B irradiance. There was a trend towards reduced above-ground biomass in L. biennis (14%) and significantly increased above-ground biomass in O. parviflora (10.2%) under ambient UV-B. The partitioning of biomass between individual plant parts was altered by ambient UV-B in O. parviflora. Leaf biomass was significantly increased (18%), and there were trends toward increased stem (6.7%) and reproductive (9%) biomass. In addition to biomass stimulations, O. parviflora grew significantly taller (5.3%) under ambient UV-B. This study provides evidence that some non-agricultural plants exhibit species-specific growth responses to variable UV-B, with short-lived forbs appearing to be the most sensitive. If the biomass and morphological alterations observed for the forbs in this study were to persist over several years, they might modify population dynamics, competitive interactions, and productivity in ecosystems as UV-B levels fluctuate in the future.     

The effects of long-term nitrogen loading on grassland insect communities

Just as long-term nitrogen loading of grasslands decreases plant species richness and increases plant biomass, we have found that nitrogen loading decreases insect species richness and increases insect abundances. We sampled 54 plots that had been maintained at various rates of nitrogen addition for 14 years. Total insect species richness and effective insect diversity, as well as herbivore and predator species richness, were significantly, negatively related to the rate of nitrogen addition. However, there was variation in trophic responses to nitrogen. Detritivore species richness increased as nitrogen addition increased, and parasitoids showed no response. Insect abundances, measured as the number of insects and insect biovolume (an estimate of biomass), were significantly, positively related to the rate of nitrogen addition, as were the abundances of herbivores and detritivores. Parasitoid abundance was negatively related to the rate of nitrogen addition. Changes in the insect community were correlated with changes in the plant community. As rates of nitrogen addition increased, plant species richness decreased, plant productivity and plant tissue nitrogen increased, and plant composition shifted from C₄ to C₃ grass species. Along this gradient, total insect species richness and effective insect diversity were most strongly, positively correlated with plant species richness. Insect biovolume was negatively correlated with plant species richness. Responses of individual herbivores varied along the nitrogen gradient, but numbers of 13 of the 18 most abundant herbivores were positively correlated with their host plant biomass. Although insect communities did not respond as strongly as plant communities, insect species richness, abundance, and composition were impacted by nitrogen addition. This study demonstrates that long-term nitrogen loading affects the entire food chain, simplifying both plant and insect communities. Received: 18 May 1999 / Accepted: 5 January 2000     

Resource manipulations in natural vegetation: a review

This paper reviews the effects that resource manipulations, especially nutrient additions, have on productivity, diversity, species interactions and succession in natural and semi-natural low-growth-form terrestrial restrial vegetation. In most studies, fertilization has resulted in an increase in productivity with a concomitant decrease in species diversity. Plant community productivity in nutrient-poor habitats (e.g. arctic tundra) however, has been relatively little affected by nutrient additions. Results from several fertilization experiments in nutrient-poor habitats indicate that competition may be an important component of community dynamics. Resource additions generally do not affect co-occurring species equally. In many cases, this results from an alteration of the relative competitive abilities of species. Several short-term fertilization studies have suggested that the rate of succession is increased by the addition of nutrients. Opposite trends however, have been reported in long-term studies. Contradictory results among some resource manipulation studies appear to stem largely from design limitations (e.g. only one resource was manipulated). Variability in habitat fertility, the type of resource added and the duration of enrichment also contribute to the difficulties involved in interpreting and comparing field experiments. A pluralistic approach combining glasshouse studies with both neighbour and resource manipulations in the field can be expected to lead to a greater depth of understanding of current controversies over the effects of habitat fertility on the intensity of competition and the relationship between competitive ability and tolerance of resource impoverishment.     

黑藻生产力的研究

黑藻是一种广泛分布于我国各地的野生沉水植物,但在南方的一些养鱼场进行了人工种植。本文报道了如下内容:黑藻生产力的测定值;水温、光强度和植株密度对黑藻生产力的影响;种黑藻养鱼池中溶氧、二氧化碳和pH的昼夜变化规律,以及黑藻断枝的无性繁殖。     

Species diversity and primary productivity inMiscanthus sinensis grasslands

In an old field grassland dominated byMiscanthus sinensis Anderss. the community structures, phytomass, dominance ofM. sinensis and species diversity were measured. Species and life form composition of the stand were characterized by higher percentages of therophytes, woody and shrubby species, liana and alien species. From May so September in 1982, all the aboveground parts were harvested from each of the four quadrats (2 m×2 m) once a month. Seasonal peak of aboveground phytomass, in September, was 1027 g d.w.m⁻² to whichM. sinensis contributed as much as 96.5%. With the progress of the growing season,M. sinensis became increasingly important both in stand phytomass and in dominance, whereas species diversity based on the dry weight contributions of constituent species decreased. Our analysis of these seasonal trends showed that the diversity was largely a function of dominance of the most important species, rather than that of stand phytomass or productivity. The simultaneous measurements of 20 quadrats in late August 1983, also supported the above conclusion.     

Studies on the nature of relationships between grain size,spikelet number,grain yield and spikelet filling in late duration varieties of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Summary Studies on the nature of relationship between grain size (in terms of thousand grain weight), grain number, rate of filling and yield have been worked out with late duration (140–150 days) rice varieties. Grain number per m², grains per panicle and yield showed a negative relationship with grain size. There was no compensatory balance between grain size and grain number within a range of thousand grain weight of 15 to 30 g. Based on the peaks in grain filling activity, the varieties were classified into four groups. There was no relationship between grain size and rate of grain filling thereby suggesting that grain filling is determined by inherent endogenous factors.     

Extremotrophs, extremophiles and broadband pigmentation strategies in a high arctic ice shelf ecosystem

Remnant ice shelves along the northern coast of Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada ( approximately 83 degrees N) provide a habitat for cryo-tolerant microbial mat communities. Bioassays of bacterial and primary production were undertaken to quantify the short-term physiological response of the mats to changes in key variables that characterize this cryo-ecosystem (salinity, irradiance and temperature). The heterotrophic versus autotrophic community responses to these stressors differed markedly. The heterotrophic bacteria were extremophilic and specifically adapted to ambient conditions on the ice shelf, whereas the autotrophic community had broader tolerance ranges and optima outside the ambient range. This latter, extremotrophic response may be partly due to a diverse suite of pigments including oligosaccharide mycosporine-like amino acids, scytonemins, carotenoids, phycobiliproteins and chlorophylls that absorb from the near UV-B to red wavelengths. These pigments provide a comprehensive broadband strategy for coping with the multiple stressors of high irradiance, variable salinity and low temperatures in this extreme cryo-environment.     

科尔沁地区植物种多样性对沙地草场生产力影响的研究

对科尔沁沙地草场不同物种多样性指数与草地生产力关系的研究表明 ,依据植物种多样性指数和生产力的关系可分为两类 ,其中功能多样性和组成多样性为一类 ,最高生物量变化于 2 99～ 3 3 6g·m-2 ,为简单的一元线性关系 ,相关性显著 .种丰富度和S W指数为一类 ,最高生物量变化于 42 6～ 43 3 g·m-2 ,与沙地草场生产力关系较复杂 ,曲线类型为抛物线型 ,相关性较显著 .同时 ,种丰富度、S W指数、功能多样性和组成组样性与沙地草场生产力的灰色关联分析表明 ,组成多样性指数对沙地草场生产力影响最大 ,S W指数最小 ,依据灰色关联度排序依次为组成多样性 ( 0 .74) ;功能多样性 ( 0 .72 ) ;种丰富度 ( 0 .66)和S W指数 ( 0 .14 ) .可以认为沙地草场改良应建立在种的引进 (增加种丰富度 )和引进种所产生的组成 (生活型 )多样性上 .     

杉木拟赤杨混交林林分生产力及生态效应研究

 本文从林分结构、生物量、群落特征、生产力、培肥土壤、涵养水源及林内小气候等方面对不同混交模式的杉木拟赤杨混交林及其纯林进行的研究结果表明：杉木拟赤杨是具有较高生产力和协调种间关系能力的针阔混交树种。7年生3:1带状混交林蓄积量和生物量分别比杉木纯林提高7.24％和18.22％,同时混交林还表现出比杉木纯林更好的培肥土壤、涵养水源、改善林内小气候等生态功能。应用AHP法进行不同混交模式的综合选择结果表明：3:1杉木拟赤杨带状混交模式是值得南方林区大力推广的杉阔混交模式。     

Revegetation of earthen mounds along a topographic-productivity gradient in a northern mixed prairie

Abstract. The influence of productivity gradients on plant succession, richness, and community composition is the focus of much interest. Earthen mounds and other soil disturbances are a conspicuous feature of many temperate and semi-temperate grasslands. The revegetation of artificial earthen mounds located at different positions along a topographic-productivity gradient was studied in a North American northern mixedgrass prairie over a five year period. Relative stem density increased the most on mounds in low prairie (81% of off-mound density in 1992), followed by mounds in middle (64%) and high prairie (38%). Species richness was significantly different between prairie types by the fifth year of the experiment, but there was not a strong correlation between species richness and stem density within prairie-types. Composition on mounds reflected species composition in the surrounding off-mound areas and only three species were sampled regularly in all three prairie types. Results of this experiment suggest that models and experiments attempting to relate productivity to species richness and composition should include a spatial component.