Land use,fallow period and the recovery of a Caatinga forest

Caatinga vegetation continues to be converted into mosaics of secondary forest stands, but the affect of this process on biodiversity has not yet been examined. We used 35 regenerating and old‐growth stands of Caatinga to examine the recovery of plant assemblages subsequent to slash‐and‐burn agriculture and cattle ranching/pasture in northeastern Brazil. Plant assemblages were contrasted in terms of community structure (stem density/basal area/species richness/diversity), functional (leaf habit/reproductive traits) and taxonomic composition. Soil attributes were also examined to infer potential drivers for cross‐habitat differences. As expected, plant assemblages clearly differed across a large set of community‐level attributes, including all trait categories relative to leaf habit and reproduction (pollination syndrome/floral color, size, type). Overall, old‐growth forest stands supported distinct and more diverse assemblages at the plot and habitat level; e.g., long‐lived tree species were almost exclusively found in old‐growth forest stands. For most attributes, plant assemblages subsequent to pasture exhibited intermediate values between those exhibited by old‐growth forest and those of agriculture‐related stands. Surprisingly, soils exhibited similar fertility‐related scores across habitats. Our results indicate that: (1) sprouting/resprouting represents an important mechanism of forest regeneration; (2) assemblage‐level attributes suggest recovery at distinct rates; (3) forest regeneration implies community‐level changes in both vegetative and reproductive functional attributes, including directional changes; (4) Caatinga is not able to completely recover in a period of 15‐yr following land abandonment; and (5) historical land use affects recovery rates and successional pathways/taxonomic trajectories. Seasonally dry tropical forests may intrinsically cover a wide range of patterns relative to successional model, recovery rates and successional pathways.     

Seed reproductive biology of the rare aquatic carnivorous plant Aldrovanda vesiculosa (Droseraceae)

Despite the unprecedented global decline in extant populations of Aldrovanda vesiculosa in the last century, little is known about the reproductive biology of this iconic aquatic carnivorous plant. This study aimed to investigate the role of seed‐based reproduction in the ecology of A. vesiculosa, with particular focus on the interplay between the regulation of seed dormancy by temperature cues and the efficacy of exogenous ethylene gas to act as a germination stimulant, the desiccation capacity and long‐term storage potential of seeds for conservation purposes. Sexual reproduction appears to be extremely limited in both natural and naturalized populations across three continents, with high variability in the success of flowering and seed set between sites and between seasons. Overall, flowering yielded few fertile fruit (6–19% of flowers producing fertile fruit) and seed viability was variable but generally low (29–88%). Fecundity appears to be influenced by seasonal climatic conditions and microhabitat characteristics. Aldrovanda vesiculosa possesses physiologically dormant seeds, with germination stimulated by exposure to ethylene gas (>90% germination) at 25 °C. Seeds appear sensitive to desiccation and sub‐zero temperature storage, with no germination and markedly reduced embryo growth after storage of seeds for >1 month at 15 °C and 15% relative humidity or after short‐term (24 h) storage at ?18 °C. In the absence of significant conservation and restoration initiatives, the continuing decline of dystrophic freshwater wetland habitats globally leaves A. vesiculosa facing extinction. As the successful long‐term storage of seeds appears unfeasible based on the approaches described in this study, other alternatives for germplasm conservation such as cryostorage of vegetative tissues or zygotic embryos must be considered for establishing long‐term ex situ collections of critical germplasm.     

Functional androdioecy in the rare endemic tree Tapiscia sinensis

Tapiscia sinensis, a rare endemic woody plant with both male and hermaphrodite individuals, is distributed in southern China. Whether T. sinensis is functionally androdioecious is unknown. In this study, we compare the male fitness between male and hermaphrodite individuals and perform pollination experiments in different habitats, identify the ability of actual siring of pollen from hermaphrodites and males under natural pollination, and discuss the evolution and maintenance of androdioecy in T. sinensis. Research suggests that flowers and fruits grow synchronously on hermaphrodite plants of T. sinensis from April to June. The males of T. sinensis had more than twice the genetic contribution of hermaphrodites through their male function and the fruit set from male pollination and cross‐pollination was the highest in all of the treatments, whereas that from self‐pollination was the lowest. Additionally, paternity analysis showed that the hermaphroditic pollen could result in siring success under natural pollination. The results showed that T. sinensis is a functionally androdioecious tree, that male individuals might evolve from a hermaphroditic ancestor and that the synchronous growth of flowers and fruit in hermaphrodites might facilitate the evolution and maintenance of androdioecy in T. sinensis.     

Comparing two methods for estimating floral resource availability for insect pollinators in semi-natural habitats

Pollinator and flowering plant interactions play a critical role in maintaining most terrestrial ecosystems, including agroecosystems. Although estimates of floral resource availability are essential to understand plant–pollinator relationships, no generally accepted methodology exists to date. We compared two methods for sampling floral resources in a single meadow. About every three days, we recorded species lists of insect-pollinated plants with abundance categories assigned to each species (hereafter referred to as scanning) and we counted the flowering shoots in 36 2 × 2 m quadrats (hereafter quadrat sampling). These methods were compared with respect to (i) the number of species detected, (ii) estimated floral resource abundance, and (iii) temporal changes in flowering. With scanning, we found more potential nectar-plant species and species were found earlier than with quadrat sampling. With the latter, abundant species were found with higher probability than the scarce. Flower abundances were correlated between the two methods. We predicted that a cover of 6.3 ± 3.6% should be used for an appropriate estimate of flower abundance in our study site, although the optimal cover probably varies across different habitats. Furthermore, flower abundance changed 6% per day compared to the flowering peak. Overall, scanning seems to be more appropriate for detecting presence and the timing of species, while quadrats may provide higher resolution for abundance estimates. Increased sampling coverage and frequency may enhance research accuracy and using scanning and quadrat sampling simultaneously may help to optimize research effort. We encourage further development of sampling protocols.     

Carbon emission along a eutrophication gradient in temperate riverine wetlands: effect of primary productivity and plant community composition

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Powdery mildew suppresses herbivore‐induced plant volatiles and interferes with parasitoid attraction in Brassica rapa

The co‐occurrence of different antagonists on a plant can greatly affect infochemicals with ecological consequences for higher trophic levels. Here we investigated how the presence of a plant pathogen, the powdery mildew Erysiphe cruciferarum, on Brassica rapa affects (1) plant volatiles emitted in response to damage by a specialist herbivore, Pieris brassicae; (2) the attraction of the parasitic wasp Cotesia glomerata and (3) the performance of P. brassicae and C. glomerata. Plant volatiles were significantly induced by herbivory in both healthy and mildew‐infected plants, but were quantitatively 41% lower for mildew‐infected plants compared to healthy plants. Parasitoids strongly preferred Pieris‐infested plants to dually‐infested (Pieris + mildew) plants, and preferred dually infested plants over only mildew‐infected plants. The performance of P. brassicae was unaffected by powdery mildew, but C. glomerata cocoon mass was reduced when parasitized caterpillars developed on mildew‐infected plants. Thus, avoidance of mildew‐infested plants may be adaptive for C. glomerata parasitoids, whereas P. brassicae caterpillars may suffer less parasitism on mildew‐infected plants in nature. From a pest management standpoint, the concurrent presence of multiple plant antagonists can affect the efficiency of specific natural enemies, which may in turn have a negative impact on the regulation of pest populations.     

3种丛枝菌根真菌与3种寄主植物的共生关系

【目的】利用丛枝菌根(Arbuscular mycorrhiza,AM)真菌对寄主植物的偏好性和不同寄主植物的功能互补作用,建立AM真菌的高效繁殖体系。【方法】以玉米(Zea may L.)、高粱[Sorghum bicolor(L.)Moench]和白车轴草(Trifolium repens L.)为寄主植物,采用寄主植物单作和间作的盆栽培养法,研究不同栽培模式对光壁无梗囊霉(Acaulospora laevis)、单孢球囊霉(Glomus monosporum)和根内球囊霉(G.intraradices)3种AM真菌繁殖能力的影响,通过地上部分生物量的分配分析,探索C3和C4植物对AM真菌共生关系的"功能互补"效应及机制。【结果】间作模式下,寄主植物地上部分总生物量和3种AM真菌的孢子密度均显著高于单作(P0.05);单作和间作栽培模式下,3种AM真菌对玉米地上部分生物量响应无显著差异(P0.05),但单孢球囊霉和根内球囊霉对高粱地上部分生物量产生显著影响(P0.05);两种间作栽培模式下,根内球囊霉对白车轴草地上部分生物量也产生了显著影响(P0.05)。【结论】3种AM真菌对3种寄主植物的共生偏好性不同,且C3和C4植物对AM真菌共生关系存在一定的"功能互补"效应,利用AM真菌的寄主植物偏好性和不同植物间的功能互补关系,增加AM真菌的孢子产量,有利于AM真菌高效繁殖体系的建立。     

耐低温荧光假单胞菌筛选体系建立及其植物促生作用评价

【目的】以前期研究小麦生境分离细菌为菌株库,从中筛选耐低温菌株,评价其植物促生效果。【方法】通过4°C低温培养筛选耐低温菌株。以产吲哚乙酸、1-氨基环丙烷羧酸(ACC)脱氨酶、嗜铁素以及无机、有机磷溶解能力为评价指标,测定15°C和28°C环境中耐低温菌株的植物促生作用潜力,利用赋分评估系统选定潜力菌株进行温室和田间试验验证其植物促生作用。【结果】筛选到34株耐低温菌株,从中选定的8株植物促生潜力细菌温室试验促生效果和评估分值之间的相关性在0.62以上,菌株1b YB22和3b JN2在28°C环境中对黄瓜的促生效果均在28%以上,二者在15°C环境中对青菜种子根长的促生效果分别为116.76%和46.82%,菌株1b YB22在15°C环境中对青菜的促生效果为25.11%。菌株1b YB22在田间应用对小麦生长同样具有促生作用,增产效果达0.58%。【结论】研究建立的筛选体系从小麦生境分离菌株中获得了耐低温荧光假单胞菌株1b YB22和3b JN2,两株细菌在15°C和28°C均具有植物促生作用,同时可以在田间促进小麦生长。     

Social isolation increases male aggression toward females in the field cricket Gryllus bimaculatus

Social isolation has often been reported to facilitate male aggressiveness in various animal species. If social isolation also escalates male aggressive behavior towards females, the mating success of the aggressive males will be low. This study evaluated the effect of social isolation on mating behavior in the field cricket Gryllus bimaculatus, which has traditionally been considered to be an asocial species. The results showed that social isolation from same-sex individuals enhanced male aggressiveness to females, and the mating success of aggressive males was reduced under the experimental conditions. More aggressive males exhibited a longer latency to court than less aggressive males. These results suggest that because male aggressiveness causes a delay in courtship, aggressive males may have reduced mating success. This demonstrated that social relationships are a critical factor affecting male mating success, even if the species is normally considered solitary.