Artificial asymmetric warming reduces nectar yield in a Tibetan alpine species of Asteraceae

Background and Aims Asymmetric warming is one of the distinguishing features of global climate change, in which winter and night-time temperatures are predicted to increase more than summer and diurnal temperatures. Winter warming weakens vernalization and hence decreases the potential to flower for some perennial herbs, and night warming can reduce carbohydrate concentrations in storage organs. This study therefore hypothesized that asymmetric warming should act to reduce flower number and nectar production per flower in a perennial herb, Saussurea nigrescens, a key nectar plant for pollinators in Tibetan alpine meadows.Methods A long-term (6 years) warming experiment was conducted using open-top chambers placed in a natural meadow and manipulated to achieve asymmetric increases in temperature, as follows: a mean annual increase of 0·7 and 2·7 °C during the growing and non-growing seasons, respectively, combined with an increase of 1·6 and 2·8 °C in the daytime and night-time, respectively, from June to August. Measurements were taken of nectar volume and concentration (sucrose content), and also of leaf non-structural carbohydrate content and plant morphology.Key Results Six years of experimental warming resulted in reductions in nectar volume per floret (64·7 % of control), floret number per capitulum (8·7 %) and capitulum number per plant (32·5 %), whereas nectar concentration remained unchanged. Depletion of leaf non-structural carbohydrates was significantly higher in the warmed than in the ambient condition. Overall plant density was also reduced by warming, which, when combined with reductions in flower development and nectar volumes, led to a reduction of ∼90 % in nectar production per unit area.Conclusions The negative effect of asymmetric warming on nectar yields in S. nigrescens may be explained by a concomitant depletion of leaf non-structural carbohydrates. The results thus highlight a novel aspect of how climate change might affect plant–pollinator interactions and plant reproduction via induction of allocation shifts for plants growing in communities subject to asymmetric warming.     

Climate warming could increase recruitment success in glacier foreland plants

Background and Aims Glacier foreland plants are highly threatened by global warming. Regeneration from seeds on deglaciated terrain will be crucial for successful migration and survival of these species, and hence a better understanding of the impacts of climate change on seedling recruitment is urgently needed to predict future plant persistence in these environments. This study presents the first field evidence of the impact of climate change on recruitment success of glacier foreland plants.Methods Seeds of eight foreland species were sown on a foreland site at 2500 m a.s.l., and at a site 400 m lower in altitude to simulate a 2·7 °C increase in mean annual temperature. Soil from the site of origin was used to reproduce the natural germination substrate. Recruitment success, temperature and water potential were monitored for 2 years. The response of seed germination to warming was further investigated in the laboratory.Key Results At the glacier foreland site, seedling emergence was low (0 to approx. 40 %) and occurred in summer in all species after seeds had experienced autumn and winter seasons. However, at the warmer site there was a shift from summer to autumn emergence in two species and a significant increase of summer emergence (13–35 % higher) in all species except two. Survival and establishment was possible for 60–75 % of autumn-emerged seedlings and was generally greater under warmer conditions. Early snowmelt in spring caused the main ecological factors enhancing the recruitment success.Conclusions The results suggest that warming will influence the recruitment of glacier foreland species primarily via the extension of the snow-free period in spring, which increases seedling establishment and results in a greater resistance to summer drought and winter extremes. The changes in recruitment success observed here imply that range shifts or changes in abundance are possible in a future warmer climate, but overall success may be dependent on interactions with shifts in other components of the plant community.     

Intrinsic and extrinsic factors acting on the reproductive process in alpine‐snowbed plants: roles of phenology,biological interaction,and breeding system

Pollinator activity and competition for pollinators lead to quantitative and qualitative pollen limitations on seed production and affect the reproductive success of plant species, depending on their breeding system (e.g., self‐compatibility and heterospecific compatibility) and genetic load (e.g., inbreeding depression and hybrid inviability). In alpine ecosystems, snowmelt regimes determine the distribution and phenology of plant communities. Plant species growing widely along a snowmelt gradient often grow with different species among local populations. Their pollinators also vary in their abundance, activity, and behavior during the season. These variations may modify plant–pollinator and plant–plant interactions. We integrated a series of our studies on the alpine dwarf shrub, Phyllodoce aleutica (Ericaceae), to elucidate the full set of intrinsic (species‐specific breeding system) and extrinsic factors (snow condition, pollinator activity, and interspecific competition) acting on their reproductive process. Seasonality of pollinator activity led to quantitative pollen limitation in the early‐blooming populations, whereas in the late‐blooming populations, high pollinator activity ensured pollination service, but interspecific competition for pollinators led to qualitative and quantitative pollen limitation in less competitive species. However, negative effects of illegitimate pollen receipt on seed‐set success might be reduced when cryptic incompatibility systems (i.e., outcross pollen grains took priority over self‐ and heterospecific pollen grains) could effectively prevent ovule and seed discounting. Our studies highlight the importance of species‐specific responses of plant reproduction to changing pollinator availability along environmental gradients to understand the general features of pollination networks in alpine ecosystems.     

降水量对川西北高寒草甸牦牛粪分解速率的影响

青藏高原高寒草甸的降水年际变化很大,而且在未来全球气候变化的背景下可能进一步增大.为了研究降水量变化对川西北高寒草甸牦牛粪分解的潜在影响,通过塑料膜覆盖(去除降水)、模拟额外增水(增水量为实际降水量的50％)和对照(野外无干扰情形)形成3种不同的水分处理.测定了牛粪的含水量、干重及氮磷含量,并统计了主要分解者(手捡法获取粪食性甲虫及其幼虫)的种类和数量.结果发现:覆盖处理显著地降低了牛粪含水量、牛粪中的粪食性甲虫数量与牛粪分解量,但增水处理并没有显著影响牛粪的分解进程,可能与实验期间降水量较高有关.在牛粪分解前期,粪食性甲虫数量与牛粪含水量之间正相关,而牛粪分解量与粪食性甲虫数量之间正相关,说明牛粪含水量的高低影响了粪食性甲虫数量,进而决定了牛粪分解量.但是,降水量的人为增加或减少均没有显著地改变牛粪中的全氮和全磷含量.总体上看,在高寒草甸的放牧生态系统中,降水量的减少将会降低牛粪的分解速率、延长牛粪分解过程,从而可能会降低生态系统的生产力水平.     

环境因子和干扰强度对高寒草甸植物多样性空间分异的影响

采用样带与样地结合的方法在三江源自然保护区的核心区沿海拔梯度在阴坡、阳坡分别进行草本植被调查,通过因子分析和偏相关分析研究丰富度指数、多样性指数与环境梯度（包括海拔梯度、裸斑面积、坡度、土壤总碳、总氮含量、土壤pH值、土壤总可溶性盐含量）和干扰强度（鼠类干扰强度、放牧强度）之间的关系。研究结果表明：杂类草丰富度指数（DMa杂）与总物种丰富度指数（DMa总）极显著相关（P<0.01）;阳坡DMa杂和DMa总均呈现“中海拔膨胀”现象,阴坡DMa杂和DMa总与海拔梯度呈正相关,莎草科和禾本科的丰富度指数（DMa莎和DMa禾）随海拔升高并无明显规律;通过主成分分析,及偏相关分析,第一主成分（裸斑面积、鼠类干扰和放牧强度）与除莎草科Margalef丰富度指数、禾本科Simpson指数和禾本科Pielou均匀度指数外的其他草地多样性指数均显著相关,是影响阳坡草地植物多样性的主要因子,土壤总碳、总氮含量对阳坡禾本科类群的多样性指数和均匀度指数有极显著影响,土壤pH值、TDS含量和坡度对阳坡莎草科类群的丰富度有显著影响;海拔梯度、土壤总碳、总氮以及pH值对阴坡草本植物群落的多样性影响较大。研究结论认为,植物群落生物多样性的空间分异特征是地理环境、土壤环境以及干扰强度等因素综合作用的结果。无干扰或干扰较弱时,物种多样性主要受土壤环境状况所影响;而在强干扰存在条件下,干扰强度对物种丰富度和多样性的影响比环境因子更显著;遏制高寒草甸植物多样性降低应首先控制放牧及鼠类等强干扰活动。     

高寒矮嵩草草甸冬季CO2释放特征

冬季碳排放在高寒草地年内碳平衡中占有重要位置。为探讨高寒草地冬季碳排放特征及温度敏感性,于2003-2005年在中国科学院海北高寒草甸生态系统研究站,利用密闭箱-气相色谱法连续观测了高寒矮嵩草草甸2个冬季的生态系统、土壤呼吸通量特征。结果表明:1)高寒矮嵩草草甸冬季生态系统呼吸、土壤呼吸均具有明显的日变化和季节变化规律,温度是其主要的控制因子,能够解释44%以上的呼吸速率变异。2)冬季生态系统呼吸与土壤呼吸速率在统计上没有显著差异,土壤呼吸占生态系统呼吸的比例高达85%以上。3)2003-2004年冬季生态系统呼吸、土壤呼吸的Q₁₀值分别为1.53,1.38;2004-2005年冬季生态系统呼吸与土壤呼吸的Q₁₀值为1.86,1.68,2个冬季生态系统呼吸的Q₁₀值均高于土壤呼吸。4)未发现高寒矮嵩草草甸冷冬年份的Q₁₀值高于暖冬年份以及冬季的Q₁₀值高于生长季。     

Tree dynamics and co‐existence in the montane–sub‐alpine ecotone: the role of different light‐induced strategies

Questions: Is light availability the main factor driving forest dynamics in Pyrenean sub‐alpine forests? Do pines and firs differ in growth, mortality and morphological response to low light availability? Can differences in shade tolerance affect predictions of future biome changes in Pyrenean sub‐alpine forests in the absence of thermal limitation? Location: Montane–sub‐alpine ecotones of the Eastern Pyrenees (NE Spain). Methods: We evaluated morphological plasticity, survival and growth response of saplings of Scots pine, mountain pine and silver fir to light availability in a mixed forest ecotone. For each species, we selected 100 living and 50 dead saplings and measured size, crown morphology and light availability. A wood disk at root collar was then removed for every sapling, and models relating growth and mortality to light were obtained. Results: Fir had the lowest mortality rate (<0.1) for any given light condition. Pines had comparable responses to light availability, although in deep shade Scots pine risked higher mortality (0.35) than mountain pine (0.19). Pines and fir developed opposing strategies to light deprivation: fir employed a conservative strategy based on sacrificing height growth, whereas pines enhanced height growth to escape from shade, but at the expense of higher mortality risk. Scots pine showed higher plasticity than mountain pine for all architectural and morphological traits analysed, having higher adaptive capacity to a changing environment. Conclusions: Our results support the prediction of future biome changes in Pyrenean sub‐alpine forests as silver fir and Scots pine may find appropriate conditions for colonizing mountain pine‐dominated stands due to land‐use change‐related forest densification and climate warming‐related temperature increases, respectively.     

Molecular data and species distribution models reveal the Pleistocene history of the mayfly Ameletus inopinatus (Ephemeroptera: Siphlonuridae)1

1. We investigated the Pleistocene and Holocene history of the rare mayfly Ameletus inopinatus EATON 1887 (Ephemeroptera: Siphlonuridae) in Europe. We used A. inopinatus as a model species to explore the phylogeography of montane, cold‐tolerant aquatic insects with arctic–alpine distributions. 2. Using species distribution models, we developed hypotheses about the species demographic history in Central Europe and the recolonisation history of Fennoscandia. We tested these hypotheses using mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I (mtCOI) sequence data and compared our genetic results with previously generated microsatellite data to explore genetic diversity distributions of A. inopinatus. 3. We observed old lineages, deep splits and almost complete lineage sorting of mtCOI sequences among mountain ranges. These results support a periglacial survival, i.e. persistence at the periphery of Pleistocene glaciers in Central Europe. 4. There was strong differentiation between the Fennoscandian and all other populations, indicating that Fennoscandia was recolonised from a refugium not accounted for in our sampling. High degrees of population genetic structure within the northern samples suggest that Fennoscandia was recolonised by more than one lineage. However, this structure was not apparent in previously published microsatellite data, consistent with secondary contact without sexual incompatibility or with sex‐biased dispersal. 5. Our demographic analyses indicate that (i) the separation of northern and Central European lineages occurred during the early Pleistocene; (ii) Central European populations have persisted independently throughout the Pleistocene and (iii) the species extended its range about 150 000 years ago.     

天山冻土产低温脂肪酶菌株的筛选及其多样性分析

【目的】通过天山冻土细菌的分离和产低温脂肪酶菌株的筛选,了解天山冻土微生物的物种多样性和产脂肪酶菌株的系统发育多样性,为高效低温脂肪酶生物技术奠定基础。【方法】采用稀浓度的R2A、TSB平板涂布分离天山冻土中可培养细菌,通过选择性培养基筛选产低温脂肪酶的菌株。采用细菌常规生理生化实验、最适生长温度、耐盐性、产酶性能对分离菌株的生理学进行研究,通过16S rRNA基因序列分析确定产脂肪酶菌种的系统进化地位,通过BOX-PCR指纹技术对16S rRNA基因高度同源性的菌株进一步区分。【结果】分离筛选到78株可培养低温菌,选择培养基显示有17株可产低温脂肪酶,其中8株在两种选择培养基中均可产脂肪酶和酯酶。17株产酶菌分别隶属于5个系统发育类群、6个属,其中假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)占大多数(58.9%)。【结论】天山冻土中产低温脂肪酶的细菌具有较丰富的系统发育多样性,依据生长温度,均属于耐冷菌。     

短期增温和降水减少对半干旱沙质草地群落特征的影响

【目的】为探究短期增温和降水减少对沙质草地植物群落物种多样性、功能性状及生产力的影响,进一步揭示沙质草地植物群落特征对气候变化的响应。【方法】以科尔沁沙质草地植物群落为研究对象,利用开顶式生长室(OTC)模拟增温,研究降水减少0%、20%、40%和60%与增温的交互作用对沙质草地群落组成、物种多样性和功能性状的影响及群落特征与环境因子关系。【结果】结果显示:（1）短期增温和降水减少使沙质草地植物群落组成和物种优势度发生变化,其中优势物种猪毛蒿和达乌里胡枝子在短期增温和降水减少处理下均明显降低,短期增温和降水减少均显著降低了植物群落盖度和地上生物量。（2）短期增温显著降低了Margalef丰富度指数、Simpson指数、Shannon多样性指数和Pielou均匀度指数,短期降水减少对沙质草地供试4种物种多样性指标均无显著影响。（3）短期增温显著提高了植物群落高度和叶干物质含量,显著降低叶厚度,短期降水减少显著提高了叶干物质含量和叶厚度,显著降低了植株高度和比叶面积。（4）短期增温是影响沙质草地物种多样性和功能性状的主要环境因素。【结论】综上可知,短期增温和降水减少改变了沙质草地群落特征,温度是影响沙质草地群落特征的主要环境因子。