Vascular plant species richness and rarity across a minerotrophic gradient in wetlands of St. Lawrence County,New York,USA

Thirteen wetlands in St. Lawrence County, NY were sampled to examine the effect of a minerotrophic gradient on vascular plant species richness and rarity. Wetlands ranged from organic soil based poor fens (average conductivity 46.40 microsemens, average Ca 3.55 ppm) to mineral soil based rich fens (average conductivity 342.10 microsemens, Ca 23.00 ppm). Vascular plant species richness was sampled during 1990 in randomly located 1.0 m² quadrats. Specific conductivity, presence or absence of hummocks, and water depth predicted 62% of the variation in richness. Richness increased as conductivity increased until 413 microsemens at which a down trend became obvious. The negative curvilinear relation between conductivity and richness is in accordance with the hump-backed model of Grime but occurs at high rather than intermediate conductivity values. State-listed rare species were found in species-rich wetlands only and had a mean associated richness value of 14.50 species m^-2. This relationship should be taken into consideration when selecting wetlands for protection or managing wetlands for maximum plant diversity.     

Effects of soil phosphorus availability,temperature and moisture on soil respiration in Eucalyptus pauciflora forest

Rates of soil respiration (CO₂ efflux) were measured for a year in a mature Eucalyptus pauciflora forest in unfertilized and phosphorus-fertilized plots. Soil CO₂ efflux showed a distinct seasonal trend, and average daily rates ranged from 124 to 574 mg CO₂ m^–2 hr^–1. Temperature and moisture are the main variables that cause variation in soil CO₂ efflux; hence their effects were investigated over a year so as to then differentiate the treatment effect of phosphorus (P) nutrition.Soil temperature had the greatest effect on CO₂ efflux and exhibited a highly significant logarithmic relationship (r² = 0.81). Periods of low soil and litter moisture occurred during summer when temperatures were greater than 10 °C, and this resulted in depression of soil CO₂ efflux. During winter, when temperatures were less than 10 °C, soil and litter moisture were consistently high and thus their variation had little effect on soil CO₂ efflux. A multiple regression model including soil temperature, and soil and litter moisture accounted for 97% of the variance in rates of CO₂ efflux, and thus can be used to predict soil CO₂ efflux at this site with high accuracy. Total annual efflux of carbon from soil was estimated to be 7.11 t C ha^–1 yr^–1. The model was used to predict changes in this annual flux if temperature and moisture conditions were altered. The extent to which coefficients of the model differ among sites and forest types requires testing.Increased soil P availability resulted in a large increase in stem growth of trees but a reduction in the rate of soil CO₂ efflux by approximately 8%. This reduction is suggested to be due to lower root activity resulting from reduced allocation of assimilate belowground. Root activity changed when P was added to microsites within plots, and via the whole tree root system at the plot level. These relationships of belowground carbon fluxes with temperature, moisture and nutrient availability provide essential information for understanding and predicting potential changes in forest ecosystems in response to land use management or climate change.     

Nitrogen and phosphorus uptake in two Idaho (USA) headwater wilderness streams

Nitrate and phosphate solutions were released into two reaches of two central Idaho streams to determine within- and between-stream variability in uptake lengths, uptake rates, and mass transfer coefficients. Physical and biotic stream characteristics and periphyton nitrate-uptake rates in recirculating chambers were measured to determine their influence on nutrient dynamics. Phosphate uptake length did not differ among the four reaches. There were no within-stream differences in nitrate uptake lengths but they did differ between the two streams. Long nitrate uptake lengths likely were due to instream concentrations above saturation but also may have been influenced by differences in active surface area and algal abundance. Nitrate and phosphate uptake lengths were longer, and uptake rates higher, than most other published values. However, mass transfer coefficients were comparable to measurements in other streams. Mass transfer coefficients may be a better parameter for temporal and spatial comparisons of instream nutrient dynamics, and for determining the underlying causes of variability in uptake length. Received: 27 May 1998 / Accepted: 11 January 1999     

内蒙古草地叶片磷含量与土壤有效磷的关系

植物体内特别是叶片的P含量特征及其与环境的关系一直是植物生理生态学研究的一个热点。已有研究发现, 与全球植物数据相比, 中国植物叶片的P含量相对较低, 导致N/P高于全球平均水平, 并推测这是由于中国土壤全P含量较低引起的。该研究选取内蒙古草地来验证这一假设, 分析了36个样地57种优势植物叶片的P含量与土壤全P和有效P含量的关系。主要结果如下: 内蒙古草地叶片P含量较低而N/P较高, 与之前的研究结论一致; 在种群、样地和物种3个水平上, 叶片P含量、N/P与土壤P含量都没有显著的相关关系, 尽管土壤有效P含量的解释力高于土壤全P; 另一方面, 内蒙古草地土壤的有效P含量与全国土壤普查的结果接近, 高于美国及澳大利亚的平均值, 但低于世界土壤信息库里报道的全球土壤有效P平均值。鉴于内蒙古草地土壤的全P和有效P含量都不能准确反映叶片P含量, 且土壤的有效P含量也并不明显低于世界其他地区, 因此植物叶片P含量低、N/P高是由于土壤P含量低引起的这一假设在内蒙古草地不成立, 而且叶片P含量也与土壤P的可利用性无关。     

不同林龄刺槐叶片养分重吸收特征及其对土壤养分有效性的响应

为揭示丘陵沟壑区刺槐的养分重吸收特征及其驱动因素,研究该区不同林龄刺槐叶片全氮和全磷的浓度,以及土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷、铵态氮、硝态氮和速效磷浓度及其化学计量,分析了叶片氮磷重吸收效率与土壤养分特性之间的关系。结果表明: 植物和土壤的养分随林龄增长发生显著变化,而土壤总磷和速效磷浓度较低。氮重吸收效率随林分生长先增加后降低,范围为48.2%～54.0%,平均为48.5%;磷重吸收效率则显著增加,范围为45.2%～49.4%,平均为46.9%。氮重吸收效率与土壤氮素和氮磷比呈负向响应,而磷重吸收效率与氮磷比呈显著正相关,与土壤速效磷呈负相关。表明土壤养分有效性的变化负向驱动养分重吸收效率。由于该生境中刺槐林的固氮效应及磷限制,叶片养分重吸收策略对土壤氮磷比响应强烈。     

Long-term availability of nutients in forest soil derived from fast- and slow-release fertilizers

The availability of P, K and Mg was studied in boreal forest soil treated 10 years earlier with slow- and fast-release fertilizers. Fast release superphosphate, potassium chloride and magnesium sulphate and slow-release apatite (P) and biotite (K, Mg) were applied alone or together with urea or urea+limestone. The concentrations of total and exchangeable nutrients in the organic horizon and the concentration of exchangeable nutrients in the uppermost mineral horizon were measured. CO₂ production during aerobic laboratory incubation was used to estimate the microbial activity and substrate-induced respiration to determine the microbial biomass C in soil. Biotite caused a moderate but persistent increase in pH in the organic horizon, but this increase was smaller than with lime. The fast-release fertilizers had no effects on the nutrient status of the soil 10 years after the fertilization. However, apatite and biotite still increased the total content of Mg, K and P and the concentrations of exchangeable Mg and soluble P in soil. On the other hand, simultaneous addition of lime and biotite reduced the release of soluble P from apatite. The reduction in soil microbial activity found with urea and the fast-release salts soon after application was no longer evident 10 years later. There was no increase in nitrification in the fertilized soils, not even with the urea+lime treatment. The previous results right after the application and the results presented here do not indicate major leaching of nutrients from the slow-release fertilizers to the deeper soil profiles.     

Hydrogeomorphology,environment, and vegetation associations across a latitudinal gradient in highland wetlands of the northeastern USA

Undisturbed, highland wetlands in the northeastern USA are unique habitats which maintain ecological integrity in this region. These ecosystems may be threatened by a changing environment. To protect, restore, and create these wetlands, an understanding of the relationship between vegetation composition, environmental regime, and the underlying hydrogeomorphology is needed. Using a hydrogeomorphic (HGM) classification scheme, we analyzed the environmental regime and vegetation in groundwater and small-order, stream-fed wetlands in the Adirondacks and Catskills of New York, the Appalachians of Pennsylvania and of Virginia and West Virginia. The similarity of environmental regime and then species composition between wetlands across and within regions were analyzed using ordination and cluster analysis. Plant associations and distinguishing factors were determined. Within a region, wetlands with similar environmental regime or species composition were often grouped by HGM subclass. Beaver influence and groundwater sources may account for discrepancies between HGM and community composition. Similarly structured plant associations across regions included Acer/herbaceous wetlands, Acer/Fraxinus slopes, and Acer/Tsuga/herbaceous wetlands. Plant associations were primarily distinguished by soils in the Adirondacks, soils and hydrology in the Catskills, spatial location and disturbance in Pennsylvania, and spatial location in Virginia. Regional differences and non-environmental drivers of species composition will modify generalized relationships between hydrogeomorphology, environmental regime, and species composition and should be accounted for in wetland design and management activities.     

Effects of climate on soil phosphorus cycle and availability in natural terrestrial ecosystems

Climate is predicted to change over the 21st century. However, little is known about how climate change can affect soil phosphorus (P) cycle and availability in global terrestrial ecosystems, where P is a key limiting nutrient. With a global database of Hedley P fractions and key‐associated physiochemical properties of 760 (seminatural) natural soils compiled from 96 published studies, this study evaluated how climate pattern affected soil P cycle and availability in global terrestrial ecosystems. Overall, soil available P, indexed by Hedley labile inorganic P fraction, significantly decreased with increasing mean annual temperature (MAT) and precipitation (MAP). Hypothesis‐oriented path model analysis suggests that MAT negatively affected soil available P mainly by decreasing soil organic P and primary mineral P and increasing soil sand content. MAP negatively affected soil available P both directly and indirectly through decreasing soil primary mineral P; however, these negative effects were offset by the positive effects of MAP on soil organic P and fine soil particles, resulting in a relatively minor total MAP effect on soil available P. As aridity degree was mainly determined by MAP, aridity also had a relatively minor total effect on soil available P. These global patterns generally hold true irrespective of soil depth (≤10 cm or >10 cm) or site aridity index (≤1.0 or >1.0), and were also true for the low‐sand (≤50%) soils. In contrast, available P of the high‐sand (>50%) soils was positively affected by MAT and aridity and negatively affected by MAP. Our results suggest that temperature and precipitation have contrasting effects on soil P availability and can interact with soil particle size to control soil P availability.     

秸秆覆盖与施磷对四川丘陵旱地土壤磷形态及有效性的影响

为揭示秸秆覆盖配施磷肥下土壤无机磷形态变化规律及磷的有效性,本研究采用二因素裂区设计,主区为秸秆覆盖和不覆盖,副区为3个施磷量(0、75和120 kg·hm^-2),分析秸秆覆盖与施磷条件下四川丘陵旱地紫色土磷吸附-解吸特征、无机磷组分含量及其与有效磷的关系。结果表明: 2018—2020年两个试验年度秸秆覆盖处理比不覆盖处理土壤磷最大吸附量分别显著降低7.7%和7.4%,磷吸附饱和度分别显著增加35.4%和18.6%,土壤易解吸磷分别显著提高21.6%和35.2%,磷最大缓冲容量无显著差异;施磷与不施磷相比,磷最大吸附量和最大缓冲容量显著降低,吸附饱和度显著增加,易解吸磷则随施磷量的增加而增加。两个试验年度秸秆覆盖处理比不覆盖处理磷酸二钙(Ca₂-P)、磷酸八钙(Ca₈-P)和铁磷(Fe-P)含量显著增加,铝磷(Al-P)含量显著降低,闭蓄态磷(O-P)和磷灰石(Ca₁₀-P)含量有降低的趋势;与不施磷相比,施磷则提高了不同无机磷组分含量。与不覆盖处理相比,两个试验年度秸秆覆盖处理土壤有效磷含量分别显著增加23.2%和9.6%,磷活化系数分别显著提高21.3%和8.9%,且土壤有效磷含量和磷活化系数均随施磷量的增加而提高。回归分析表明,无机磷各组分对紫色土有效磷有效性的贡献为Ca₂-P>Fe-P>Al-P>Ca₈-P>Ca₁₀-P>O-P。因此,秸秆覆盖配施磷肥促进了土壤难溶性磷向中等活性或易于作物吸收的磷形态分解和转化,降低土壤对磷素的吸附,促进土壤磷素的解吸,最终提高土壤磷素有效性。综合考虑经济效益,推荐四川丘陵旱地秸秆覆盖配施75 kg·hm^-2磷肥更有利于提高土壤磷素有效性。     

Effect of salinity,alkalinity and iron sources on availability of iron

The availability of iron from added iron sources was studied in normal and salt affected soils in the laboratory. All forms of iron decreased with increase in salinity and alkalinity, the lowest amount being recorded in 8 E.Ce+40 ESP soil. All the forms of iron in all the soils decreased gradually with increase in incubation period. Addition of iron in organic and inorganic forms increased all the forms of iron in all the soils. In general, iron Ke-Min and Rayplex were better in keeping higher iron availability for longer time.     

Effect of high nonexchangeable aluminium on nitrogen and phosphorus availability in a humus-rich acid forest soil

The effect of high nonexchangeable aluminum on availability of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) was studied in a Cryptopodzolic soil (Cademario) derived from mica schist in southern Switzerland. The research involved a greenhouse pot experiment comparing growth of barley on soil samples of three soil layers (10- to 25-, 40- to 60- and 70- to 90 cm) of the Cademario profile, representing a range of Al and organic matter properties, with the 10- to 40 cm layer of a profile of an acidic brown earth (Haplumbrept), derived from cherty limestone. The experiment, which included four nutrient treatments [check, N₀ (PKS), P₀ (NKS) and full (NPKS)], lime and no lime treatments and four replicates, was supplemented by soil chemical analysis. Results showed that liming alone produced greater yield responses in the Cademario soil than N or P added singly or together. On unlimed soils, barley yield for check, N₀, and P₀ treatments showed a positive linear relation with exchangeable Ca of soils and a negative linear relation with organically-complexed Al. Failure of liming to influence P_av, especially when combined with P fertilization, suggests that P was quickly absorbed on highly active surfaces formed from initially exchangeable Al.This research is a cooperative effort of the Arizona Agricultural Experiment Stations, Journal Article No. 7100 and the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape; it was supported by the National Science Foundation, USA, Grant No. INT-8304490, and the Swiss National Science Foundation, Grant No. 2.919-803.This research is a cooperative effort of the Arizona Agricultural Experiment Stations, Journal Article No. 7100 and the Swiss Federal Institute for Forest, Snow and Landscape; it was supported by the National Science Foundation, USA, Grant No. INT-8304490, and the Swiss National Science Foundation, Grant No. 2.919-803.     

不同退耕年限下菜子湖湿地土壤磷素组分特征变化

选取菜子湖区不同退耕年限(2、5、8、10a和20a)湿地为研究对象,以仍耕作油菜地和原始湿地为参照,分析了土壤全磷(TP)、有效磷(AP)、有机磷(OP)和无机磷(IP)各形态含量,探讨退耕还湖后湿地土壤磷素组分特征变化规律。结果表明:研究区土壤无机磷各形态含量大小顺序为:铁磷(Fe-P:73.55—391.76 mg/kg)钙磷(Ca-P:21.64—108.04 mg/kg)闭蓄态磷(O-P:17.15—29.57 mg/kg)铝磷(Al-P:5.84—25.97 mg/kg),其中Fe-P占了土壤无机磷总量的54.20%—74.13%;退耕还湖2—8a期间,湿地土壤Al-P、Fe-P和O-P含量有逐渐降低趋势,而退耕8—20a后逐渐上升,以Fe-P为主的这3形态磷左右着退耕后土壤无机磷的变化;Ca-P随退耕年限增加整体呈上升趋势,对土壤无机磷的贡献逐渐增加;无机磷占土壤全磷的比例为35.90%—67.27%,主导着退耕后湿地土壤全磷变化;有机磷占土壤全磷的17.82%—50.51%,在退耕2a后下降,随后开始逐渐上升,对退耕后湿地土壤磷库恢复的贡献逐渐增加;其中Fe-P、O-P和Al-P控制着退耕后土壤磷素有效性变化。退耕后水文条件、植被生长和土壤黏粒含量变化不仅影响退耕后湿地土壤磷素组分特征,也影响着退耕后湿地土壤磷素有效性。     

Calcium and iron as key drivers of brown moss composition through differential effects on phosphorus availability

Brown moss-dominated rich fens are characterized by minerotrophic conditions, in which calcium (Ca) and iron (Fe) concentrations show large variations. We examined the relative importance of Ca and Fe in relation to the occurrence of three typical brown moss species: Scorpidium scorpioides, Scorpidium cossonii, and Hamatocaulis vernicosus. Peat chemistry was examined in 24 stands of brown moss-dominated rich fens: 12 in the Netherlands and 12 in central Sweden. Ca and Fe turned out to be important drivers of brown moss composition. Fens dominated by Scorpidium scorpioides or Scorpidium cossonii were characterized by high pore water Ca-concentrations and total soil Ca-contents, but low P-availability. In these Ca-rich, but Fe-poor fens, foliar N:P ratios of vascular vegetation exceeded 20?g?g^?1, indicating phosphorus (P)-limitation due to Ca-P precipitation or low P-sorption capacity due to low Fe-levels. In contrast, fens dominated by Hamatocaulis vernicosus were characterized by high pore water Fe-concentrations and total soil Fe-contents, but also relatively high P-availability. N:P ratios in these fens were below 13.5?g?g^?1, indicating potential nitrogen (N)-limitation. We conclude that the relative roles of Ca and Fe, as related to the geohydrological conditions present, strongly determine the brown moss composition in rich fens through their differential effects on plant P-availability.     

蚯蚓活动对红壤磷素有效性的影响及其活化机理研究

通过盆钵生物试验研究了秉氏环毛蚓(Pheretima pingi.)在红壤基质中对稻草、花生秸、油菜秸3种有机物料分解速率的影响,研究了蚯蚓活动对红壤全磷含量和有效磷含量、对土壤碳水化合物含量、土壤磷酸酶活性的影响。并着重探讨了人工接种蚯蚓提高红壤有效磷的效果及其活化机理。研究结果揭示：①蚯蚓活动促进了有机物料的分解,加速了磷素的生物归还作用;②方差分析示明,在培养期间所有处理的土壤有效磷含量均得到显著或极显著提高;其中有机物料接种蚯蚓的3种处理分别与其不接种蚯蚓的处理的土壤有效磷含量之间差异均达显著水平;③蚯蚓活动有改善红壤酸度状况的趋势,同试验前比较(原土的土壤pH(H2O)=4．34),在培养试验后期,3种物料接种蚯蚓的土壤pH(H2O)值分别提高了0．17单位(稻草接种蚯蚓处理)、0．35单位(油菜秸接种蚯蚓处理)和0．44单位(花生秸接种蚯蚓处理);方差分析显示,花生秸组两处理间和油菜秸组两处理间的土壤pH值的差异达到显著水平。在150d的培养期内,3种有机物料接种蚯蚓的处理与其不接种蚯蚓的处理比较时,土壤pH值的差异亦达到显著水平;④蚯蚓活动增加了土壤碳水化合物含量。方差分析结果显示：3种有机物料接种蚯蚓的处理与不接种蚯蚓处理的土壤碳水化合物含量之间的差异均达到显著水平;⑤蚯蚓活动增强了土壤微生物活性和土壤磷酸酶活性。蚯蚓的吞食、排粪等生理过程改变了土壤微生物种群类型及其数量;蚯蚓活动提高了土壤磷酸酶活性,增加了土壤中有机磷含量,从而提高了土壤有效磷含量。蚯蚓活动及其特殊的生理过程所产生的综合作用使土壤有效磷含量和磷素有效性明显提高。     

Symbiont nitrogenase,alder growth,and soil nitrate response to phosphorus addition in alder (Alnus incana ssp. rugosa) wetlands of the Adirondack Mountains,New York State,USA

Speckled alder (Alnus incana ssp. rugosa) is a characteristic species of scrub-shrub 1-type wetlands, the second most common wetland type in major watersheds of the Adirondack Mountains in New York State. Speckled alder is an actinorhizal nitrogen fixer that relies heavily on N₂ over soil N and fixes substantial amounts of nitrogen in wetlands, resulting in little vegetation processing of anthropogenic N between alder-shrub wetlands and streams. Phosphorus (P) is an element that limits nitrogen fixation and plant growth. However, studies testing this hypothesis in the field, especially for actinorhizal plants, are very few. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the potential limitation of N fixation and growth in speckled alder by P, and to determine interactions between P fertilization and nitrate levels in riparian alder stands in a region that receives elevated N in atmospheric deposition. P fertilization significantly increased specific nitrogenase activity during the seasonal peak in early August. Nitrate concentrations were greater in reference plots compared to treatment plots, and phosphate concentrations were lower in reference plots compared to treatment plots over a period of 6 weeks in the growing season. There was a significant twig and foliar biomass response to P fertilization in the second year after fertilization, but no significant change in individual biomass or relative numbers of different sized nodules. Response of nitrogen fixation to P appears limited to a brief but significant increase in specific activity of nitrogenase late in the growing season, but P stimulated growth of above ground tissues 1 year following fertilizer application, and decreased resin-captured nitrate beneath riparian speckled alder. These results suggest that growth of alder and growth or activity of soil microbes, rather than nitrogen fixation, is P limited in riparian wetlands dominated by speckled alder, and that P controls nitrate leaching in these near-stream systems.     

氮沉降对草地土壤及团聚体元素有效性的影响

深入理解土壤及团聚体元素有效性对氮沉降的响应机制,是研究全球变化背景下土壤养分供应及生态系统结构和功能的关键.本研究综合评述了草地生态系统土壤表土及团聚体内元素分布及其对氮沉降的响应机制.总体而言,草地表土内碳、氮、磷、硫有效性研究较多,且研究结果因氮添加形态、添加时间及生态系统类型而异.氮沉降通过改变碳、氮、磷、硫等生源要素的转化过程及其在土壤团聚体内的再分配,而影响这些元素的生物有效性.然而,氮沉降影响草地土壤交换性盐基及有效态微量元素的研究较少.氮沉降促进土壤酸化,导致各团聚体内钙、镁差异性流失,其中大粒径团聚体内盐基元素更易流失;酸化还有助于提高团聚体内铁、锰、铜、锌有效性.土壤小粒径团聚体内的养分对外界环境变化响应不敏感.当前研究的不足之处在于,较少关注氮沉降对土壤团聚作用及团聚体元素有效性的影响.今后应加强团聚体元素有效性与土壤酶活性耦合变化关系的研究,并分析氮沉降背景下土壤物理结构和化学组成的变化对植物群落的反馈作用.     

Soil aeration in relation to soil physical properties, nitrogen availability, and root characteristics within an arctic watershed

The seasonal change in soil oxygen availability was determined in several habitats along a topographic moisture gradient in an arctic watershed. The effect of changes in soil aeration on soil chemical and plant properties was examined by comparison of the driest (tussocks) and wettest (wet sedge tundra) sites along this gradient. Spatial variability and seasonal change in soil oxygen availability was closely linked to the hydrologic regime and the thickness of the organic soil horizon. The greatest extension of the aerobic soil layer was found beneath well-drained tussocks, while less than 10% of the unfrozen soil layer is aerated in flooded wet sedge tundra. Intertussock areas and watertracks (channels of water drainage) have intermediate levels of aeration. In tussock tundra, soil oxygen diffusion is restricted in the mineral soil layer below the organic horizon due to reduced pore space. Organic matter constituents and their change with depth were similar beneath tussocks and in wet sedge tundra, indicating that factors other than soil aeration (e.g. low soil temperatures, short growing season) are the primary controls on decomposition in these two arctic tundra systems. NH₄ ⁺, the dominant form of inorganic N, was more available in wet sedge tundra than in tussock tundra. At both sites, extractable and soil solution NO₃ ^- concentrations increased 4 to 8 fold in the second part of the growing season, indicating increased nitrifier activity with improved soil oxygen availability. Although soils thawed as deep as 60 cm, approx. 90% of the root biomass was concentrated within 20 cm of the surface. Despite the anaerobic soil environment in wet sedge tundra, the dominant species there, Eriophorum angustifolium, reached slightly greater rooting depths than E. vaginatum, whose roots grow in the elevated, aerobic portion of tussocks. E. angustifolium had a root porosity of 31%, within the range found for wetland species, while roots of E. vaginatum had a porosity close to 12%. Rhizome porosity were low in both species (11%).     

Environmental and spatial influences on benthic community composition in wooded headwater streams in Zoar Valley, New York, USA

This study determined the relative influences of environmental variation versus spatial autocorrelation on benthic macroinvertebrate community composition of temperate headwater streams. We enumerated fauna in riffle zones of 23 separate (i.e., not tributaries to each other) but closely grouped from first- to third-order woodland streams surrounding Zoar Valley Canyon, western New York State, USA, during spring, summer, and fall of 2006. Watershed geomorphology (stream order, catchment area, and forest cover) and semi-quantitative habitat characteristics, the latter of which were incorporated into a Qualitative Habitat Evaluation Index (QHEI), were also recorded for each stream. Non-metric Multidimensional Scaling (NMDS) ordination was used to establish patterns of biotic similarity among these streams. Matrices of biological and environmental Euclidean distances were constructed for all between-stream pairings. Additionally, a between-stream spatial matrix was constructed based on global position system coordinates of sampling sites. Non-significant partial Mantel coefficients indicated that biological distances were uncorrelated with spatial distances both among all 23 study streams and among 12 first-order streams only. In contrast, biological distances were positively correlated with environmental distances (r _M = 0.375 and 0.289 for all streams and for first-order streams only, respectively; P values < 0.05). Environmental and spatial distances were uncorrelated (partial Mantel P values > 0.05), indicating that the measured environmental characteristics were not spatially structured. Each of the geomorphological and habitat variables was statistically associated with NMDS community composition axes (stepwise multiple regression, one-factor MANOVA). These results suggest that environmental filters and niche-based species sorting may operate here between separate streams, and that study sites appear to be effectively insular in their biota despite close physical proximity. Handling editor: Sonja Stendera     

Allocation of carbon in a mature eucalypt forest and some effects of soil phosphorus availability

Pools and annual fluxes of carbon (C) were estimated for a mature Eucalyptus pauciflora (snowgum) forest with and without phosphorus (P) fertilizer addition to determine the effect of soil P availability on allocation of C in the stand. Aboveground biomass was estimated from allometric equations relating stem and branch diameters of individual trees to their biomass. Biomass production was calculated from annual increments in tree diameters and measurements of litterfall. Maintenance and construction respiration were calculated for each component using equations given by Ryan (1991a). Total belowground C flux was estimated from measurements of annual soil CO₂ efflux less the C content of annual litterfall (assuming forest floor and soil C were at approximate steady state for the year that soil CO₂ efflux was measured). The total C content of the standing biomass of the unfertilized stand was 138 t ha^-1, with approximately 80% aboveground and 20% belowground. Forest floor C was 8.5 t ha^-1. Soil C content (0–1 m) was 369 t ha^-1 representing 70% of the total C pool in the ecosystem. Total gross annual C flux aboveground (biomass increment plus litterfall plus respiration) was 11.9 t ha^-1 and gross flux belowground (coarse root increment plus fine root production plus root respiration) was 5.1 t ha^-1. Total annual soil efflux was 7.1 t ha^-1, of which 2.5 t ha^-1 (35%) was contributed by litter decomposition.The short-term effect of changing the availability of P compared with C on allocation to aboveground versus belowground processes was estimated by comparing fertilized and unfertilized stands during the year after treatment. In the P-fertilized stand annual wood biomass increment increased by 30%, there was no evidence of change in canopy biomass, and belowground C allocation decreased by 19% relative to the unfertilized stand. Total annual C flux was 16.97 and 16.75 t ha^-1 yr^-1 and the ratio of below- to aboveground C allocation was 0.43 and 0.35 in the unfertilized and P-fertilized stands, respectively. Therefore, the major response of the forest stand to increased soil P availability appeared to be a shift in C allocation; with little change in total productivity. These results emphasise that both growth rate and allocation need to be estimated to predict changes in fluxes and storage of C in forests that may occur in response to disturbance or climate change.