Contribution to the knowledge on relic Stipa spp.-dominated ultramafic grasslands of the Central Balkans

The heterogeneity of the ultramafic vegetation of the Central Balkans is rather great. Although this vegetation has been continuously investigated, some gaps are still to be filled. For example, the lack of available data on ultramafic vegetation of the Republic of Macedonia is evident. In that light, we have investigated different relic Stipa species-dominated dry grasslands over ultramafic bedrock. Twenty relevés were made and compared to the similar vegetation types (i.e. Potentilla visianii, Centaureo kosaninii-Bromion fibrosi, “Thymion jankae”, Saturejo-Thymion and Alyssion heldreichii) by means of numerical analyses. We distinguished one new association and one informal community, providing them with diagnosis and lists of diagnostic, constant and dominant species. We also determined their syntaxonomic positions and relations to ultramafic syntaxa from the neighboring countries.     

Integrative taxonomy recognized a new cryptic species within Stipa grandis from Loess Plateau of China

Stipa shanxiensis, a cryptic species within Stipa grandis that originated from central and western China, is described based on morphological, genomic, and ecological data from field and common garden experiments. Stipa shanxiensis morphologically resembles S. grandis, although phylogenetically it is closely related to the less morphologically similar Stipa baicalensis and Stipa krylovii. Of the eight significant morphological differences between S. shanxiensis and S. grandis, the two, cauline ligules longer than 2 cm with a filiform apex, and hairs shorter than 0.2 mm on the adaxial surface of the cauline uppermost leaves can be used to distinguish the species. Results from a common garden experiment verified that the two diagnostic characteristics were relatively stable and less morphologically plastic in response to environmental variation. Furthermore, a significant ecological divergence was found between S. shanxiensis and S. grandis, such that the former preferred warmer and more humid climates, and their predicted distribution was generally separated. Taken together, our results highlight that the integrative taxonomic approach was valuable for recognizing a new cryptic species in Stipa. In particular, we find that common garden experiments involving the effects of growth stage and characteristic position helped to morphologically diagnose cryptic species. These findings may also facilitate our understandings of ecological adaption and phenotypic plasticity in response to environmental change.     

割草和放牧对大针茅根际与非根际土壤养分和微生物数量的影响

选取内蒙古典型草原大针茅为主要研究对象,研究割草和放牧干扰对其根际与非根际土壤有机碳、全氮、有效氮、全磷、有效磷含量以及微生物数量的影响.结果表明：在割草和放牧干扰下,根际土壤有机碳、全氮、有效氮含量均有不同程度的减少,根际截存效应减弱;土壤全磷由于固定性强不易向植物根部聚集,土壤全磷的根际效应不明显;土壤有效磷异质性较大,在放牧和割草干扰下有不同程度的变化,但根际和非根际间差异不显著;放牧干扰显著减少了土壤微生物的数量;土壤养分的变化与土壤微生物数量的变化关系密切,细菌和真菌的数量变化可能对土壤养分的影响更大;相对于割草,放牧干扰更易造成根际土壤养分的流失及微生物数量的减少.     

Leaf traits of two Mediterranean perennial tussock grass species in relation to soil nitrogen and phosphorus availability

Studying relationships of plant traits to ecosystem properties is an emerging approach aiming to understand plant's potential effect on ecosystem functioning. In the current study, we explored links between morphological and nutritional leaf traits of two Mediterranean perennial grass species Stipa tenacissima and Lygeum spartum, widely used to prevent desertification process by stabilizing sand dunes. We evaluated also relationships in terms of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability between leaves of the investigated species and the corresponding soil. Our results showed that leaf P was very low in comparison with leaf N for the two investigated species. In fact, chlorophyll content, photosynthesis capacity and water conservation during photosynthesis are mainly linked to leaf nitrogen content. Our findings support previous studies showing that at the species levels, morphological and nutritional leaf traits were not related. On the other hand, significant relationships were obtained between soil N and leaf N for S. tenacissima (P = 0.011) and L. spartum (P = 0.033). However, leaf P was not significantly related to soil P availability for both species. We suggest that any decrease in soil N with the predicted increasing aridity may result in reduction in leaf N and thus in worst dysfunction of some biological processes levels.     

针茅内生细菌菌株265ZY4的鉴定及其生物学功能

【目的】为高寒草地针茅(Stipa capillata L.)内生细菌的开发和利用提供理论依据,为生物菌肥的研究提供有价值的菌种资源。【方法】利用常规分离方法从针茅中分离获得菌株265ZY4,采用平板对峙法、Salkowski比色法和钼锑抗比色法对该内生菌进行拮抗能力测定、产IAA以及溶磷、固氮能力测定。根据形态学和16S r RNA序列分析对菌株265ZY4进行鉴定,确定该菌株的分类学地位。【结果】菌株265ZY4对3种马铃薯真菌病害均有较好的抑制作用,且对马铃薯炭疽病(Colletotrichum coccodes)的拮抗作用最明显,抑菌率为83.03%;该菌株能分泌IAA,在不含色氨酸的培养基中的分泌量为9.30 mg/L,且有较好的溶解无机磷的能力,无固氮能力;通过培养性状和形态特征,结合16S r RNA序列分析,将菌株265ZY4鉴定为Bacillus subtilis。【结论】菌株265ZY4鉴定为枯草芽孢杆菌B.subtilis,具有溶磷、产IAA等生物学功能,具有开发潜力。     

不同放牧强度下克氏针茅(Stipa krylovii)草原的根系特征

以呼伦贝尔克氏针茅草原不同放牧强度下的演替群落为对象,开展群落及其群落建群种的地下生物量和根系形态特征研究.结果表明:从轻度放牧到重度放牧,群落种类组成和根系功能群类型趋于简单化;群落地下生物量的空间分布形态呈“T”型;不同放牧强度下草原群落的建群种出现了明显替代现象,轻度放牧样地群落建群种为密丛型根系的克氏针茅,中度放牧为疏丛型根系的糙隐子草(Cleistogenes squarrosa,重度放牧为鳞茎型根系的碱韭(Allium polyrhizum);随着放牧强度的增大,群落建群种根冠比逐渐增加,分别为0.47、1.0、4.1,并且群落建群种根系数量、根系体积、根系生物量、比根长及根长密度等各指标均发生了明显变化.另外,3种放牧强度样地群落建群种根冠比、根长密度均与土壤速效氮含量呈现显著正相关(P＜0.05).     

长期不同施氮水平对草原植物群落结构的影响

为探讨施氮对贝加尔针茅草原植物群落结构的影响,该研究于内蒙古贝加尔针茅草原设置不同施氮水平0(N0)、15(N15)、30(N30)、50(N50)、100(N100)、150(N150)、200(N200)和300(N300)kg·hm-2·a-1,研究连续施氮9年后贝加尔针茅草原群落物种组成、重要值、多样性及生物量等指标对不同施氮水平的响应。结果表明:(1)长期施氮导致植物群落物种组成发生了明显的变化,在高浓度氮素添加量下群落物种数最低,但可显著提高优势种在群落中的重要值(P<0.05)。(2)长期施氮使贝加尔针茅草原植物多样性指数不同程度地降低,使优势度指数增加,其中N300添加水平效果最为明显(P<0.05)。(3)长期施氮使草原植被生产力(地上、地下生物量)整体呈先上升后下降的趋势,地上生物量在N100水平时出现峰值,地下生物量在N50水平时出现最大值(P<0.05),且根系分布具有明显的表聚特征(0~10 cm)。(4)RDA分析表明,寸草苔和狭叶柴胡地上生物量与土壤pH呈显著正相关关系(P<0.05);展枝唐松草和二裂委陵菜地上生物量与土壤有机质含量呈显著正相关关系(P<0.05)。研究认为,长期不同施氮水平均可改变贝加尔针茅草原群落物种组成,降低物种多样性,对植物群落结构有着明显的影响。     

Using consecutive prescribed fires to reduce shrub encroachment in grassland by increasing shrub mortality

Woody plant encroachment into open grasslands occurs worldwide and causes multiple ecological and management impacts. Prescribed fire could be used to conserve grassland habitat but often has limited efficacy because many woody plants resprout after fire and rapidly reestablish abundance. If fire‐induced mortality could be increased, prescribed fire would be a more effective management tool. In California's central coast, shrub encroachment, especially of Baccharis pilularis (coyote brush), is converting coastal prairie into shrub‐dominated communities, with a consequent loss of native herbaceous species and open grassland habitat. B. pilularis has not been successfully controlled with single prescribed fire events because the shrub resprouts and reestablishes cover within a few years. We investigated whether two consecutive annual burns would control B. pilularis by killing resprouting shrubs, without reducing native herbaceous species or encouraging invasive plants. As expected, resprouting did occur; however, 2 years after the second burn, B. pilularis cover on burned plots was only 41% of the cover on unburned plots. Mortality of B. pilularis more than doubled following the second burn, likely maintaining a reduction in B. pilularis cover for longer than a single burn would have. Three native coastal prairie perennial grasses did not appear to be adversely affected by the two burns, nor did the burns result in increased cover of invasive species. Managers wanting to restore coastal prairie following B. pilularis encroachment should consider two consecutive annual burns, especially if moderate fire intensity is achievable.     

甘肃马先蒿寄生对禾草内生真菌共生体光合特性的影响

[目的]甘肃马先蒿与感染内生真菌的禾草(紫花针茅和麦宾草)建立根寄生关系,有关内生真菌对根寄生危害禾草光合作用调控方面的研究较少。[方法]本研究以紫花针茅和麦宾草带菌(E+)、不带菌(E-)植株为研究对象,研究甘肃马先蒿寄生和未寄生处理对紫花针茅和麦宾草E+、E-植株不同生长阶段光合特性影响的动态变化。[结果]甘肃马先蒿寄生显著降低紫花针茅和麦宾草的净光合速率、蒸腾速率和气孔导度,而胞间二氧化碳浓度和水分利用率却显著增加,这与禾草是否感染内生真菌无关。甘肃马先蒿寄生后E+紫花针茅的净光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率高于E-植株,而麦宾草E+植株的净光合速率、气孔导度和蒸腾速率却低于E-植株;同时,根寄生条件下E+紫花针茅的胞间二氧化碳浓度和水分利用率低于E-植株;而E-麦宾草植株的胞间二氧化碳浓度和水分利用率却低于E+植株。[结论]内生真菌侵染影响甘肃马先蒿根寄生危害禾草的光合作用;甘肃马先蒿和内生真菌同时成为禾草营养消耗库时,内生真菌与禾草的共生关系处于一种互惠共生和相互拮抗的动态变化。