南岭国家级自然保护区林下植物分布的地形相关性

以南岭国家级自然保护区山地森林群落林下植物为研究对象,探讨地形因子对林下植物分布的影响。该区3个海拔高度下的山地常绿阔叶林林下植物组成丰富,但个体多度在样方中的分布存在很大的空间异质性。在9000m^2的样地中设置的450个4m^2小样方,共记录到林下维管植物255种,隶属于95科、181属,总的物种个体多度为18203株。多响应置换过程（MRPP）分析表明,坡向和海拔（p〈0．0001）及坡度（p〈0．05）这3个地形因子对林下植被分布有显著的影响,其影响程度大小排序为：海拔〉坡向〉坡度。指示种分析（ISA）进一步确定了不同地形条件下具有显著指示值（IV≥50）的指示种。本项研究表明林下植物的空间分布会同时受到多个地形因子的影响,因此需综合各因子间的相互作用全面考虑;同时,MRPP结合ISA对于揭示群落植物分布的空间异质性及其与环境因子作用的相互关系、生物多样性保育、森林恢复以及造林引种等方面均有着重要的理论意义和实践价值。     

Spatial distribution of benthic algae in the Gangqu River,Shangrila, China

This study consisted of sampling benthic algae at 32 sites in the Gangqu River, an important upstream tributary of the Yangtze River. Our aims were to characterize the benthic algae communities and relationships with environmental variables. Among the 162 taxa observed, Achnanthes linearis and Achnanthes lanceolata var. elliptica were the dominant species (17.10% and 14.30% of the total relative abundance, respectively). Major gradients and principal patterns of variation within the environmental variables were detected by principal component analysis (PCA). Then non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMS) divided all the sites into three groups, which were validated by multi-response permutation procedures (MRPP). Canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) indicated that three environmental variables (TN, TDS, and TP) significantly affected the distribution of benthic algae. Weighted averaging regression and cross-calibration produced strong models for predicting TN and TDS concentration, which enabled selection of algae taxa as potentially sensitive indicators of certain TN and TDS levels: for TN, Achnanthes lanceolata, Achnanthes lanceolata var. elliptica, and Cymbella ventricosa var. semicircularis; for TDS, Cocconeis placentula, Cymbella alpina var. minuta, and Fragilaria virescens. The present study represents an early step in establishing baseline conditions. Further monitoring is suggested to gain a better understanding of this region.     

Vegetative and edaphic characteristics on relic charcoal hearths in the Appalachian mountains

Relic charcoal hearths are prevalent throughout the Appalachian Mountains as reminders of the wood charcoal era and are evident today by the characteristics of forest stand structure, composition and understory vegetation. The importance of the soil resource to the stability and recovery of these anomalies in the plant community is not well understood. This study was conducted to compare forest floor and soil chemical properties, and vegetative characteristics on relic charcoal hearths to adjacent, non-hearth areas. Overstory tree cover and density was significantly lower on hearths than for adjacent areas. Overstory richness and diversity were consistently, but not significantly, lower on hearths, as were density and species richness of understory and ground vegetation. Little difference between hearth and adjacent forest floor properties was observed; however, soil calcium concentrations, pH. and percent carbon were higher on hearths, and phosphorus concentrations were generally lower. We discuss the effects of releasing large amounts of base-forming cations through repeated use of the hearths and the subsequent long-term effects on soil fertility and vegetative development.     

车八岭山地常绿阔叶林群落结构特征与微地形条件的关系

以车八岭国家级自然保护区南亚热带常绿阔叶林2hm2样地调查数据为基础,根据样方排列、海拔梯度变化及水分梯度理论潜在值从低到高的趋势将样地划分为5条样带,在由山脊至山谷的微地形变化范围内对群落结构进行全面分析,探讨群落内部结构变化规律及其影响因子。研究结果表明,海拔、坡位、坡向、坡度等山地微地形条件对群落结构及物种分布影响显著。从山脊至谷底变化过程中,各样带平均树高、平均胸径以及较大高度级和胸径级的物种个体比例减少,物种多样性呈现增加趋势。多响应置换过程(MRPP)分析表明各样带之间物种组成存在极显著差异(P0.0001),且样带主要物种及密度发生明显变化。通过物种与地形因子的典范对应分析(CCA)知,在同一区域内,物种随地形因子表现出不同的分布趋势,米锥(Castanopsiscarlesii)、甜锥(Castanopsis eyrei)、石栎(Lithocarpus glaber)等喜光的阳性树种在上坡位分布较多,枫香(Liquidambar formosana)、樟叶槭(Acer cinnamomifolium)等喜温暖湿润气候的物种则在下坡位样带为优势物种。揭示了山地常绿阔叶林群落特征对微地形变化的响应,对于区域生物多样性保护和植被恢复具有重要的理论和实践意义。     

Spatial patterns of genetic diversity in Posidonia oceanica, an endemic Mediterranean seagrass

Posidonia oceanica is an endemic seagrass species in the Mediterranean Sea. In order to assess levels of genetic structure in this species, the microsatellite polymorphism was analysed from meadows collected in several localities, along the coasts of the Tyrrhenian Sea (Mediterranean Sea). The existence of single population units and the recruitment of seedlings collected in some localities were investigated. Moreover, genetic structure at different spatial scales and biogeographic relationships among populations were also assessed. Our analysis showed the existence of clear patterns of genetic structure in P. oceanica in the area considered in the analysis. P. oceanica, in fact, is present in separate meadows that represent discrete populations, characterized by low genetic diversity. Comparable levels of genetic variability between mature meadows and seedlings were found. Patterns of genetic relatedness among populations seem to be in accord with direction of dominant current flux in the whole area, separating South Tyrrhenian from North Tyrrhenian populations. Moderate levels of gene flow between populations and genetic substructure within populations, together with the finding of the limited role of sexual reproduction in increasing genetic variability, should be a cause for concern for the persistence of this essential resource in the Mediterranean basin.     

Influence of aspect and stand age on ground flora of southeastern Ohio forest ecosystems

The species composition and diversity of the ground flora (vascular plants less than one meter in height excluding tree seedlings) were compared between sixteen mesic northeast-facing and sixteen dry southwest-facing middle slopes in southeastern Ohio. On each aspect, eight of the plots were located in second-growth forest stands (70 to 90 years in age) and eight of the plots were located in old-growth forest stands (greater than 150 years in age) in order to determine how the ground flora on opposing slopes varies with time since major disturbance. Physiographic and A horizon characteristics were measured to select comparable plots. Multi-response permutation procedures (MRPP) detected significant differences in the ground-flora species composition of second-growth and old-growth plots on both northeast-facing and southwest-facing slopes. In addition, the ground-flora species composition of northeast-facing plots differed significantly from that of southwest-facing plots. Northeast-facing plots were significantly higher in species richness and Hill's diversity (N1) than southwest-facing plots. Northeast-facing second-growth plots were also significantly higher in species richness and Hill's diversity than northeast-facing old-growth plots. No significant differences in these measures were found between southwest-facing second-growth and old-growth forests plots. Twenty-one species were identified as potential indicators of age, based on their distribution across the plots. Certain species with similar ecological characteristics were found to have similar patterns of occurrence. Further research is needed to determine the extent to which differences in the ground flora of second-growth old-growth reflect the sensitivity of individual species to past disturbance.     

东莞地表植被对表层土壤化学特性的指示作用

为探讨由草本、灌木和蕨类植物等组成的地表植被对表土化学性质的响应,研究基于200 m×200 m的UTM网格在东莞大岭山及同沙设置样地,进行地表植被调查并采集土壤样品.在38个网格样地单元的中心分别设置一个20 m×20 m的样方调查地表维管植物并采集1个土壤混合样品,以分析地表植被与表土化学性质的关系.调查记录到地表维管植物122种,共计18 426株,其中,蕨类植物12种、草本植物52种、藤本植物13种、灌木45种.多响应置换过程(Multi-response Permutation Procedures)分析结果表明,土壤pH 值、阳离子交换量(CEC)、土壤全氮(TN)、速效磷(AvP)和速效钾(AvK)均影响着地表维管植物的种类组成.典范对应分析(CCA)进一步证实了土壤CEC、全磷(TP)以及AvK对该地区地表维管植物种类组成及群落分布有着重要的影响.在一些土壤pH值较低或AvK、CEC、TN含量比较丰富的地段,地表维管植物的多度也相对较高.相关分析表明,土壤因子中的TN与Shannon-Wiener多样性指数间呈显著负相关,与生态优势度间呈显著正相关;土壤CEC和AvK均与Shannon-Wiener多样性指数间呈显著正相关,但AvK与生态优势度之间为显著负相关关系.指示种分析表明,有23种地表维管植物对特定土壤因子的指示值≥35,具有显著的指示作用.这些种类对于监测和评价东莞的土壤环境有着广阔的应用前景.