The species richness–productivity relationship in the herb layer of European deciduous forests

Aim In contrast to non‐forest vegetation, the species richness–productivity (SR‐P) relationship in forests still remains insufficiently explored. Several studies have focused on the diversity of the tree layer, but the species richness of temperate deciduous forests is mainly determined by their species‐rich herb layer. The factors controlling herb‐layer productivity may differ from those affecting tree layers or open herbaceous vegetation, and thus the SR‐P relationship and its underlying processes may differ. However, the few relevant studies have reported controversial results. Here we explore the SR‐P relationship in the forest herb layer across different areas from oceanic to continental Europe, and put the effect of habitat productivity on species richness into context with other key factors, namely soil pH and light availability. Location North‐western Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia and southern Urals (Russia). Methods We measured herb‐layer species richness and biomass, soil pH and tree‐layer cover in 156 vegetation plots of 100 m² in deciduous forests. We analysed the SR‐P relationship and the relative importance of environmental variables using regression models for particular areas and separate forest types. Results We found a consistent monotonic increase in the herb‐layer species richness with productivity across all study areas and all forest types. Soil pH and light availability also affected species richness, but their relative importance differed among areas. Main conclusions We suggest that the monotonically increasing SR‐P relationship in the forest herb layer results from the fact that herb‐layer productivity is limited by canopy shading; competition within the herb layer is therefore not strong enough to exclude many species. This differs fundamentally from open herbaceous vegetation, which is not subject to such productivity limits and consequently exhibits a unimodal SR‐P relationship. We present a conceptual model that might explain the differences in the SR‐P relationship between the forest herb layer and open herbaceous vegetation.     

Diversity-dependent stability under mowing and nutrient addition: evidence from a 7-year grassland experiment

Anthropogenic perturbations may affect biodiversity and ecological stability as well as their relationships. However, diversity-stability patterns and associated mechanisms under human disturbances have rarely been explored. We conducted a 7-year field experiment examining the effects of mowing and nutrient addition on the diversity and temporal stability of herbaceous plant communities in a temperate steppe in northern China. Mowing increased population and community stability, whereas nutrient addition had the opposite effects. Stability exhibited positive relationships with species richness at population, functional group and community levels. Treatments did not alter these positive diversity-stability relationships, which were associated with the stabilising effect of species richness on component populations, species asynchrony and portfolio effects. Despite the difficulty of pinpointing causal mechanisms of diversity-stability patterns observed in nature, our results suggest that diversity may still be a useful predictor of the stability of ecosystems confronted with anthropogenic disturbances.     

Microclimate and production of peat moss Sphagnum palustre L. in the warm‐temperate zone

Sphagnum palustre L. is one of the few Sphagnum species distributed in the warm‐temperate zone. To elucidate the mechanisms that enable S. palustre to maintain its productivity under warm climatic conditions, we examined the temperature conditions and photosynthetic characteristics of this species in a lowland wetland in western Japan. Moss temperatures during the daytime were much lower than the air temperature, particularly during summer. The optimum temperature for the net photosynthetic rate was approximately 20°C, irrespective of the season, but summer and autumn samples maintained high rates at higher temperatures as well. The net photosynthetic rate at near light saturation was much higher during summer–autumn than during spring–winter. A model estimation in which net production was calculated from the photosynthetic characteristics and microclimatic data showed that both the low temperature of the moss colony and the seasonal shift in photosynthetic characteristics are among the mechanisms that enable this species to maintain its productivity under warm climatic conditions.     

The role of seed traits in determining the phylogenetic structure of temperate plant communities

Background and Aims

Phylogenetic clustering of species within plant communities can be expected to result from environmental filtering acting on an evolutionary-conserved plant trait. One such a candidate trait is the embryo to seed-size ratio (E:S). A high E:S may allow faster germination immediately after imbibition, and is therefore assumed to be advantageous in dry habitats. In this study the hypothesis was tested that habitat filtering driven by soil moisture conditions and acting on seed germination and seedling establishment is an important ecological mechanism in structuring temperate plant communities.

Methods

Vegetation samplings were performed in three habitats located within 200 km of each other in western Europe: Ellenberg indicator values showed that the habitats selected differed substantially in terms of soil moisture and light availability. E.S ratio and seed mass data for all genera were obtained from literature. Data were analysed using recently developed phylogenetic methods.

Key Results

Genera with a similar E:S tend to co-occur, as low and high E:S genera dominate in moist and dry habitats, respectively. A phylogenetically clustered pattern of community structure was evident, and dispersion of E:S was positively related to phylogenetic dispersion.

Conclusions

The phenotypically and phylogenetically clustered pattern indicates that E:S-mediated habitat filtering is an important assembly process structuring the plant community of the temperate climate habitats studied.     

The cost of defense in social insects: insights from the honey bee

Defense is one of the most important factors affecting life history. The relationship of defense to life history traits as well as its possible costs has been reviewed extensively for many groups, including plants. However, defense in social insects, such as honey bees, has never been examined from a trade‐off perspective, although defense in honey bees, Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera: Apidae), has been widely studied. In this review, we discuss the life history traits of honey bees, particularly traits related to defense. We then examine trade‐offs in the context of resource availability. Lastly, we offer suggestions for future research on trade‐offs in honey bees and other social insects.     

Patterns of plant sexual systems in subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests in Ailao Mountains,SW China

Aims Sexual systems influence many components of the ecology and evolution of plant populations and have rarely been documented in subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forests (SEBLF). Here we report frequency distribution and ecological correlates of plant sexual systems in SEBLF at Ailao Mountains, and compare our results with that of tropical and cool temperate forests.Methods We examine the sexual systems of 703 species of woody angiosperms belonging to 103 families and 296 genera based on a comprehensive survey of SEBLF at Ailao Mountains Natural Reserve. Information of plant sexual systems and ecological traits were mainly based on published literatures and specimens as well as our field observations. The associations between plant sexual system and ecological traits were assessed with chi-square tests.Important findings Among these species, 60.2% were hermaphroditic, 15.8% were monoecious and 24.0% were dioecious. The percentage of dioecious sexual system among tree species (22.2%) in SEBLF was comparable to those of tropical tree floras, but much higher than those of temperate forests at North America. The percentage of monoecious sexual system among tree species (30.1%) in SEBLF was higher than that of tropical tree floras, but much lower than those of temperate forests at North America. Monoecy was significantly associated with the tree growth form and was relatively common in temperate genera. Dioecy was significantly associated with fleshy fruits and monoecy was significantly associated with dry fruit type in SEBLF. The high percentage of diclinous sexual systems (monoecy and dioecy) in SEBLF may be associated with the origin of the flora and the prevalence of relatively small inconspicuous flowers of the forests in the Oriental Region.     

张广才岭温带次生针阔混交林物种组成和群落结构特征

为了研究温带次生针阔混交林的树种组成和群落结构特征,于2010年在吉林省蛟河林业实验区管理局建立了面积为21.84 hm2(420 m×520 m)的固定样地。从物种组成、种-面积曲线、植物区系特征、径级分布结构和空间分布格局等方面分析了该地区针阔混交林物种组成和群落结构特征。研究结果表明该样地共有DBH≥1.0 cm的木本植物活立木个体25,908株,隶属于18科27属45种,植株密度为1186株/hm2。植物区系以北温带分布属为主体,共有37属,占总数的82.22%,属长白山植物区系。样地内稀有种18种,偶见种14种。通过对该样地物种多样性计算得出,该样地Margalef多样性指数R、ShannonWienner指数H'、Simpson多样性指数D和物种均匀度Pielou指数Jsw分别为4.31、2.48、0.89和0.65。样地中所有个体的径级分布(以2cm等级排列)呈偏倒"J"形,整体更新良好,表现出群落稳定与生长状况良好的趋势。群落中重要值3的9个物种的径级结构表现出一定的差异:胡桃楸、水曲柳呈近似正态分布,表现为中径木个体数量多,而小径木和大径木个体数量少的特点;春榆、大果榆、色木槭、白牛槭、裂叶榆等物种呈倒"J"型或偏倒"J"型,更新良好;而红松由于受到了严重的人为干扰,天然更新不良,径级结构呈现不规律型。通过g(r)双变量函数分析9个优势树种空间分布格局可知,9个优势树种均表现出聚集分布,聚集强度随着尺度的增大而降低。在r20 m的小尺度上物种聚集强度随尺度增大急剧降低,当尺度超过20 m后聚集强度趋于稳定。     

高寒干旱草原披针叶黄华植物群落土壤种子库与地上植被的关系

以祁连山高寒干旱退化草地披针叶黄华(Thermopsis lanceolate)群落为研究对象,采取野外调查取样和室内分析相结合的方法,对群落土壤种子库与地上植被的关系进行了对比研究。结果表明:地上植被物种共调查出15种,土壤种子库检测出植物18种,地上植被阿尔泰针茅(S.krylovii)、赖草(A.dasystachys)和扁穗冰草等可食草以及不食草披针叶黄华和阿尔泰狗哇花(H.altaicus)优势度明显,其它物种不明显;土壤种子库与地上植被物种组成的相似性程度较低;土壤种子库与地上植被中可食草的物种数多于不食草,土壤种子库的物种数均不小于地上植被中的物种数,地上植被中存在而未在土壤种子库中检测到的可食草物种有阿尔泰针茅和赖草,土壤种子库中存在而地上植被中未被发现的物种有早熟禾(P.annua)、灰绿藜(C.glaucum)、碱韭(A.polyrhizum)、酸模(R.patientia)、独行菜(L.apetalum)和秦艽(G.macrophylla);原生禾草物种在可食草功能群中生物量所占比例较低,毒杂草物种生物量所占比例增加显著,而土壤种子库的数量百分含量较低;可食草与不食草的生物量在植被梯度下的变化呈显著负相关(r=-0.940,P=0.018),而土壤种子库密度变化无相关性;可食草生物量变化与其土壤种子库密度变化不相关,不食草生物量变化与其土壤种子库密度的增加呈显著正相关(r=0.902,P=0.036)。     

模拟氮沉降对温带森林土壤酶活性的影响

森林土壤酶作为土壤中最活跃组分,能影响生态系统的物质循环过程,其活性能快速反映氮沉降对土壤环境的变化。以北京地带性植被辽东栎林为研究对象,利用模拟氮沉降方法,原位设计低氮(50 kg N hm~(-2)a~(-1),N50)、高氮(150 kg N hm~(-2)a~(-1),N150)两个施氮水平,每个施氮水平设置Na NO_3、(NH_4)_2SO_4、NH4NO_33个不同的施氮类型,另设置空白对照(0 kg N hm~(-2)a~(-1),N0)。从时间格局上研究不同氮素化学形态和剂量对温带森林土壤6种酶(脲酶、酸性磷酸酶、碱性磷酸酶、β-葡萄糖苷酶、多酚氧化酶和过氧化氢酶)活性的影响。结果表明:在氮形态和水平的交互作用下,NH4NO3-N处理的脲酶活性显著高出NO~-_3-N处理的24.20%(N50),NH~+_4-N处理对酸性磷酸酶活性的影响显著高出NO~-_3-N处理的13.82%(N150);在NH~+_4-N和NH_4NO_3-N处理中,N50水平下的脲酶活性分别高出N0处理的38.90%和24.20%,差异显著。对无氮形态和水平交互作用的酶活性分析得出,不同的施氮水平,对碱性磷酸酶和多酚氧化酶的酶活性有显著促进作用,碱性磷酸酶活性在N50和N150处理下分别比N0高20.2%和11.5%,N50和N150处理对多酚氧化酶活性的促进作用分别比N0处理高64.3%和41.8%,差异显著(P0.05);NH~+_4-N处理对β-葡萄糖苷酶活性具有显著促进作用(P0.05),不同的施氮形态,对碱性磷酸酶、多酚氧化酶和过氧化氢酶的酶活性无显著影响。6种酶活性均呈现了显著的时间变化,氮添加对森林土壤酶活性的时间分异规律没有显著影响。此外,土壤微生物量碳、硝态氮和铵态氮含量与酶活性具有显著相关性(P0.05)。以上结果表明,氮添加通过改变森林土壤的环境因子,影响了土壤中的水解酶和氧化酶活性,进而改变了土壤有机碳库和养分循环。     

藏北古露高寒草地生态系统对短期围封的响应

过度放牧导致高寒草地生态系统退化,围封是生态保护和恢复的管理手段。以青藏高原那曲县古露镇过牧退化高寒草地为对象,系统分析了高寒草地生态系统的植被特征及土壤理化特性、土壤酶活性、土壤微生物生物量和群落结构对围封的响应。结果表明,短期围封后,(1)植被平均高度、盖度和地上生物量均有极显著增加(P0.01),而生物多样性指数则显著降低(P0.01);(2)土壤的水溶性有机碳含量、土壤物理结构(沙土与粉土的比例)及pH有显著变化(P0.05);(3)土壤酶活性没有明显改善;(4)土壤微生物生物量(细菌、放线菌、真菌)均呈显著增加(P0.05);(5)土壤中细菌的多样性有增加的趋势,其群落组成在门水平上也发生了变化;(6)Manteltest分析显示与土壤细菌群落结构的呈正相关性的环境因子主要为土壤有机碳含量(TOC)、总氮含量(TN)、碳磷比(C/P)与氮磷比(N/P)(P0.05)。这表明围栏封育有利于藏北草地植被、土壤理化特性的恢复,还能维持土壤微生物多样性,促进高寒草地生态系统的可持续发展。