Risk Assessment and Invasion Characteristics of Alien Plants in and Around the Agro-Pastoral Ecotone of Northern China

Two risk assessment protocols were adopted to assess the risks posed by alien plants that naturalized or non-naturalized in the agro-pastoral ecotone of northern China (AGENC). In this study the Risk Assessment for Central Europe method revealed that more than two-thirds of the 19 naturalized and four-fifths of the 17 non-naturalized alien plants presented high or moderate risk, and all 36 alien plants were considered to be rejected for their potential agricultural and environmental risks under the Australian Weed Risk Assessment system. On the characteristics of plant invasions, more attention should be given to disturbed habitats rather than these relative natural or closed ecosystems, and also be prudent and careful of the alien plants that are introduced as useful plants from North or South America and unintentional introduction from Europe. Moreover, annuals needed special attention: three-quarters of the alien plants were annual species, only a few were biennial (8.3%), perennial (11.1%), liana and tree plants (2.8%). Plant invasions are not extremely serious in the AGENC, but there are several alien plants that have naturalized and spread themselves in the region. However, attention should be given in the future to predicting and preventing plant invasions in this fragile region.     

干扰强度对群落中紫茎泽兰种子萌发、幼苗定居和生长的影响

干扰与外来植物入侵密切相关,种子萌发和幼苗定居是植物生活史中最脆弱、也是外来植物入侵最关键的阶段.为研究干扰在恶性外来入侵植物紫茎泽兰成功入侵过程中的作用,采用人工牧草群落代替自然群落,人为干扰(去除不同面积的牧草)模拟自然干扰的方式,研究了紫茎泽兰入侵初期种子萌发、幼苗定居和生长对不同干扰强度的响应与适应.结果表明:...     

Seed size and chemical composition: the allocation of minerals to seeds and their use in early seedling growth

Summary

The seed size that is characteristic of each plant species is of central importance for their regeneration because of its effect on dispersability and seedling establishment. The chemical composition of the stored nutrients is also important in the early stages of growth. The factors that influence individual seed size and nutrient allocation during development on the parent plant are examined, and allocation strategies are compared in different plants. Experiments to determine the effective supply of different elements in seeds are reviewed. The apparent imbalance in the seed nutrient allocation is discussed. Mineral use in early seedling growth is described and the exhaustion of internal nutrient reserves is considered as a means of defining the end of seedling growth phase.     

Seed longevity and fire: post‐germination responses of Rumex acetosella L. in northwest Patagonian grasslands (Argentina)

The cosmopolitan herb Rumex acetosella forms persistent soil seed banks and increases in cover after fire. We investigated how the interaction between seed age and fire affects seedling growth by exposing different‐aged seeds to heat, smoke, charcoal, and ash treatments. We measured growth of germinated seedlings that were transplanted and allowed to grow for 65 days in a greenhouse. Seedlings from seeds >8 years old did not reach an appropriate radicle length for transplantation. Seedling growth decreased with increasing temperature of the heat treatment. As seed age increased, growth decreased with smoke and charcoal, and increased with ash treatment. Height was negatively correlated with seed age. Our results suggest that fire and seed age could affect demographic responses of R. acetosella seedling populations. Post‐fire recruitment could be partially favored by the positive effect of nutrient input from ash on seedling growth. High fire intensities, however, would be detrimental to seedling vigor.     

Treefall gaps required for establishment,but not survival,of invasive Rubus phoenicolasius in deciduous forest,Maryland, USA

Although plant invasions are often associated with disturbance, localized disturbances can promote invasion either by: (i) creating sites where individuals establish; or (ii) enabling an invader to colonize the entire stand. The former is expected when both establishment and survival to reproductive age require disturbed conditions, whereas the latter should occur in systems when either establishment or survival are limited to disturbed sites. We investigated the role of localized disturbance, specifically treefalls, in the invasion of the Asian Rubus phoenicolasius in a deciduous forest in Maryland, USA. We investigated the density and demography of R. phoenicolasius in treefall gaps of various sizes, but identical age to non‐gap areas, using Classification and Regression Tree (CART) analyses to identify the most important predictors. To explore how the demography of established individuals responds to disturbed versus undisturbed conditions, we carried out a garden experiment with three different levels of shade (5, 12 and 22% full sun). We found vegetative and sexual reproduction, and seedling establishment, to be limited to large gaps in an old stand, but not in a stand in an earlier age of succession. However, in the garden experiment, established plants were able to survive and grow under all shade treatments. These findings indicate that R. phoenicolasius requires disturbances such as treefalls to establish in forests, but established plants will survive canopy closure, leading to stand‐wide invasion. Managers should be able to prevent invasion, however, by inspecting large gaps for new recruits every 3 years.     

果肉和埋土深度对新疆野杏种子萌发与幼苗生长的影响

为探明新疆野杏（Armeniaca vulgaris）种子萌发与幼苗生长对果肉和埋土深度的响应,以期为新疆野杏的天然更新与实生苗培育提供理论参考。通过2种果皮结构（有果肉和无果肉）的种子在不同埋土深度（地表至18.0 cm的14个梯度）对新疆野杏种子萌发和幼苗生长进行研究,旨在揭示果皮结构和埋土深度对新疆野杏种子萌发与成苗能力的影响。结果表明：果肉和埋土深度显著影响野杏种子的萌发、幼苗生长与质量（P<0.05）。埋土深度<3.0 cm不利于成苗,埋土深度>6.0 cm时,萌发能力与幼苗生长量随埋土深度的增加而降低,3.0～6.0cm为适宜埋土深度。无果肉种子萌发优于有果肉种子,萌发率、萌发指数、成苗率、活力指数分别增长了37.18%、3.88%、37.18%、26.59%,幼苗高、基径、叶片数量、根冠比、幼苗质量指数分别增长了36.99%、7.48%、68.69%、20.61%、14.29%,其萌发能力与幼苗生长量显著高于有果肉种子（P<0.05）。有无果肉种子的萌发和幼苗生长指标与埋土深度呈显著负相关（P<0.05）。研究结果表明,无果肉处理对新疆野杏种...     

Effects of physical disturbance and granivory on establishment of native and alien riparian trees in Colorado, U.S.A.

Abstract.  In western North America, the alien Elaeagnus angustifolia L. invades riparian habitats usually dominated by pioneer woody species such as Populus deltoides Marshall ssp. monilifera (Aiton) Eckenwalder . We conducted manipulative field experiments to compare the importance of physical disturbance and granivory for seedling establishment of these two species. We planted seeds of both species in disturbed and undisturbed study plots, and used exclosures, seed dish trials and live-trapping to assess the role of granivory. Seedling establishment of both species was increased by physical disturbance and seeds of both species were subject to granivory. However, the relative importance of these two factors differed between species. For P. deltoides , lack of physical disturbance prevented seedling establishment in uncleared subplots, but granivory did not prevent seedling establishment outside of exclosures. For E. angustifolia , granivory prevented seedling establishment outside of exclosures, but lack of physical disturbance did not prevent establishment in uncleared subplots. The lesser dependence on disturbance may enable E. angustifolia to invade areas characterized by low levels of fluvial disturbance, such as floodplains along regulated rivers, where P. deltoides recruitment does not occur. Populations of granivorous rodents may affect the susceptibility of riparian ecosystems to invasion by E. angustifolia .     

兰坪铅锌矿区植被恢复初期土壤种子库与地上植被关系的研究

尾矿废弃地是一种极端的生态系统,其植被恢复的研究将丰富传统的生态学理论。该研究通过野外植被调查与室内萌发实验相结合的方法,探讨了兰坪铅锌矿区植被恢复初期不同群落类型地上植被、土壤种子库及其相互关系。结果显示:（1）与对照群落（云南松林、高山栎灌丛）相比,尾矿区恢复期各群落（早熟禾人工草地、魁蒿群落、马桑灌丛）地上植被及土壤种子库的物种数、物种多样性均较低。（2）植被恢复时间较短的2个群落（魁蒿群落、人工草地）土壤种子库较地上植被物种多样性高。（3）尾矿区恢复期各群落地上植被及土壤种子库的优势种均主要由风播、种子繁殖的植物组成,菊科、禾本科占较大比例,这些植物在尾矿区植被恢复初期起重要作用。（4）尾矿区恢复期各群落土壤种子库与地上植被的物种相似性较高,各群落之间地上植被及土壤种子库的相似性则较低。研究表明,尾矿区恢复初期土壤种子库与地上植被紧密联系,群落改造方式、恢复时间对土壤种子库具有重要影响。     

光质对香果树种子萌发及幼苗生长影响的研究

研究了光质对香果树种子萌发及幼苗生长的影响。设置940 nm（远红光）、850 nm（远红光）、730 nm（远红光）、630 nm（红光）、610 nm（橙光）、590 nm（黄光）、525 nm（绿光）、460 nm（蓝光）8个光质处理及自然光对照,研究其种子萌发对光质的响应,设置730、630、610、590、525和460 nm六个光质处理,研究其幼苗生长对光质的响应。结果表明,940及850 nm下无种子萌发,730 nm处理下萌发率仅为1.33%。525 nm下香果树种子萌发率显著高于其他处理及自然光对照,自然光下与630、590 nm下香果树种子最终萌发率无显著差异。可见光中,460及610 nm下香果树种子最终萌发率显著低于其他处理;实验120 d时香果树幼苗干重为590 nm > 630 nm > 610 nm > 730 nm > 525 nm > 460 nm。120 d时,590 nm下香果树幼苗干重显著高于其他光质处理。香果树幼苗的相对质量增长速率,在30~90 d间630 nm显著高于其他处理,在90~120 d间590 nm下显著高于其他处理,在120~150及150~180 d间460 nm下显著高于其他处理。实验30 d时,根重比在0.17~0.25,处理间无显著差异,150 d时,460 nm下根重比显著高于其他处理。实验30 d时,730 nm下茎重比显著高于其他处理。实验30 d时,各处理香果树叶重比在0.53~0.68,处理间无显著差异。     

The Restoration of Degraded Mountain Woodlands: Effects of Seed Provenance and Microsite Characteristics on Polylepis australis Seedling Survival and Growth in Central Argentina

South American high‐mountain ecosystems are greatly influenced by human disturbance. In the mountains of Córdoba, Argentina, Polylepis australis (Rosaceae) woodlands are currently highly fragmented and subject to extensive burning and livestock grazing, resulting in severe changes of habitat characteristics, which hamper natural regeneration. In order to find out how to achieve successful reforestation, we compared P. australis seedling survival and growth and the development of a shrubby habit for two seed provenances and different planting microsites. Survival of planted seedlings after 5 years was 70%, with most deaths (19%) in the first year and declining mortality with ongoing establishment. Survival did not show any relationship with seed provenance or microsite characteristics. Height growth averaged 34.6 ± 1.2 cm in 5 years. Seedlings produced from seeds collected in a well‐preserved woodland grew taller and showed a higher tendency for development of shrubby habit than those produced from seeds collected in a degraded woodland. Seedlings planted in more degraded microsites with exposed soil or rock due to past grazing pressure grew less and developed a more shrubby habit than those planted in better preserved microsites. Our results show that restoration of degraded areas with P. australis is possible and that there is potential to improve restoration success with a careful selection of seed provenance and planting microsites.     

Restoration of Araucaria Forest: The Role of Perches, Pioneer Vegetation, and Soil Fertility

The Araucaria forest is Brazil's highly threatened subtropical forest ecosystem that has been disappearing in recent decades. Restoration programs involving this forest type are scarce, and there is a lack of scientific information on how ecological processes such as competition, facilitation, and seed dispersal influence natural forest restoration. This work aims to investigate how use of perches to attract seed dispersers and the influence of pioneer vegetation and soil fertilization could affect the colonization of woody species in a degraded area. An experiment was conducted in an abandoned field where the natural establishment of seeds and seedlings of woody species was monitored under factorial combinations of the following treatments: (1) pioneer vegetation (presence and absence); (2) soil fertility (addition of NPK and control); and (3) perches (presence and absence). Seed and seedling abundance, seed and seedling species richness, and seedling mortality were recorded monthly during 12 months. Seed abundance and species richness were significantly greater in places with perches than in control plots. These results were consistent over the year and more pronounced when the surrounding forest produced a higher amount of fruit. Species richness and abundance of seedlings were significantly greater in places with perches than in control plots, and in places with vegetation than without. Soil fertility did not influence seedling establishment. Facilitation and seed dispersal are important factors affecting the colonization of woody species in this subtropical area. Nutrient availability neither regulates the facilitation process nor influences species replacement during the early stages of Araucaria forest succession.     

光合微生态菌剂对种子萌芽及幼苗生长的影响

种子萌芽及幼苗生长试验结果表明,光合微生态菌剂可提高种子萌芽率,促进幼苗根系发育和生长,对苗期病害具有较好的防治效果,稀释50倍的菌剂可有效控制蔬菜苗期立枯病和恶苗病的发病率,防治效果达到70%以上。     

Seed size and seedling growth: differential response of Australian and British Fabaceae to nutrient limitation

Seed size is widely held to exert an important influence over plant establishment, but while large seeds are often assumed to be at an advantage in nutrient-limited conditions, there is in fact, little consistent evidence to support this hypothesis. Here, we examined the interspecific relationship between seedling growth and seed size for Australian and British Fabaceae species in nutrient solutions deficient in nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium or all nutrients combined (distilled water). The British species showed no consistent link between mean seed mass and seedling growth in nutrient-limited conditions. By contrast, all four nutrient-deficient treatments yielded a significant relationship for the Australian species. Linear regression showed that growth under balanced nutrient conditions was positively associated with growth without nutrients, although in fewer cases for the British species. We suggest that habitat-specific differences in regeneration conditions and/or evolutionary history may influence the role that seed size plays in dictating how seedlings of different species respond to nutrient shortage. We recommend caution in attempts to link traits like seed size to wider patterns of plant community ecology.     

磁化水对小麦种子萌发、幼苗生长和生理特性的生物学效应

为研究磁化水对作物的生物学效应,本文详细分析了磁化水处理对小麦种子萌发、幼苗生长和生理特性的影响。研究结果显示：磁化水处理小麦的种子发芽参数与对照相比无显著差异;磁化水处理对小麦的株高、根长、地上部和根部鲜重等生长参数也无显著影响;同样,磁化水处理在叶片色素含量、可溶性糖、可溶性蛋白质含量、含水量、细胞汁液渗透势等重要生理特征参数方面也未显示出显著差异。此外,磁化水并未显著影响小麦叶片的光合作用。综上所述,磁化水处理对小麦种子萌发和幼苗生长无明显的生物学效应。     

Restoring Populations of the Endangered Plant Scorzonera humilis: Influence of Site Conditions,Seed Source,and Plant Stage

Changes in land‐use have resulted in the decline of many formerly common plants of nutrient‐poor grasslands in Europe. Recently, extensification schemes have been applied at sites in order to restore former habitat conditions. However, the establishment of rare and endangered plants is often severely limited by the lack of propagules both in the seed bank and in the surrounding landscape. For such species deliberate introductions may be necessary to overcome these limitations. In a 7‐year study, we assessed the importance of gaps created by sod cutting, of plant stage, and of plant origin for the restoration of populations of Scorzonera humilis, a threatened long‐lived plant of nutrient‐poor, wet grasslands. The effect of gaps on seedling emergence and survival varied strongly among the 12 sites. Gaps increased survival at nutrient‐rich, but reduced it at nutrient‐poor sites. Remarkably, young plants grown for only 5 weeks in the laboratory and transplanted into the same sites had much higher survival than seedlings from seeds sown and there were no differences in survival between nutrient‐rich and nutrient‐poor sites. The field performance of the plants from the various populations of origin varied depending on the site into which they were transplanted, indicating genotype by environment interactions and genetic differentiation among populations, but there was no home‐site advantage. While sowing only succeeded in producing adult plants in five sites, transplanting succeeded at 10 sites. Our results suggest that transplanting young plants could be a much more effective and faster way to establish new populations than sowing seeds.     

Effects of Double‐Crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus Less.) on Island Vegetation,Seedbank, and Soil Chemistry: Evaluating Island Restoration Potential

The unique plant community on Middle Island, Lake Erie, Canada, has been greatly modified by double‐crested cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus Less.) whose population has increased enormously in the last two decades. The aims of this study were to assess the impact of cormorants on island tree canopy, understorey vegetation, soil seedbank, and soil chemistry. The ultimate objective was to assess the resilience of the vegetation community for recovery should cormorant nest densities decrease significantly. Forty‐three point stations were established in a grid system covering the entire island. The herbaceous and woody vegetation was surveyed over 2 years and tree crown damage was assessed at each point station. In 2008, soil samples were collected for both chemical analysis and a seedbank inventory. Vegetation and seedbank species richness were impoverished compared to the vegetation surveyed prior to cormorant colonization. Cormorants affected not only the tree canopy where they nested but also the understorey vegetation. Exotic plant species were very common in the standing vegetation and constituted the bulk of the abundance in the seedbank. However, there was little relationship between aboveground vegetation and seedbank composition. Cormorants appeared to have little influence on seedbank richness, abundance, and composition. Notably, several species of conservation interest were found in the aboveground vegetation and in the seedbank providing a positive sign for future efforts to restore island plant communities.     

Habitat and Population Effects on the Germination and Early Survival of the Invasive Weed, Lythrum salicaria L. (purple loosestrife)

In this study, we examined how environmental factors and differences among populations of Lythrum salicaria L. (Lythraceae; purple loosestrife) influenced the establishment of this species into both its preferred wetland habitat and secondary upland habitat. Seeds and seedlings from five parents from each of the three populations were planted in each wetland and upland of two sites in both disturbed and undisturbed plots. More seeds germinated in wetland than in upland sites (31% as compared to 11%) and, although a disturbance resulted in greater germination (23% as compared to 17% in undisturbed plots), there was no interaction with habitats. The results of a simultaneous greenhouse germination study in which seeds were planted under saturated and drained conditions suggest that the higher germination observed in wetland sites was due to the higher moisture present at such sites (79% vs. 45% in saturated and drained conditions, respectively). Disturbance enhanced both germination and growth of L. salicaria and this was especially so for seedlings. Dry weights of seedlings from disturbed plots were five times greater than those from undisturbed plots ( =9.2 vs. 1.8g in disturbed and undisturbed conditions, respectively). In addition to environmental factors, population differences are likely to play an important role in the spread of L. salicaria as we found differences between the populations in both life stages examined. One of the populations germinated equally well in both moisture treatments. In our seedling establishment experiment, one of the populations produced both the smallest plants and the most and earliest flowers, suggesting superior reproduction.     

Effects of Planting Depth,Sediment Grain Size,and Nutrients on Ruppia maritima and Potamogeton perfoliatus Seedling Emergence and Growth

Protocols are now available for seed harvest, storage and germination of several mesohaline and polyhaline species; however, low seedling survival rates point to the need for an increased understanding of factors affecting seedling establishment. Depth of seed burial in sediments and initial seedling growth rates are shown to be limiting factors for photosynthetic competency of Ruppia maritima and Potamogeton perfoliatus. Seedling emergence is inversely proportional to planting depth on sediments ranging in grain size from coarse sands (850 μm) to silt (63 μm). Less than 6% of the seeds of either species emerged when buried to a depth of 3 cm in test sediments. Germination was greatest for seeds placed on the surface of sediments; however, these seedlings were subject to displacement because of the weak and fragile roots produced during early growth. Fine sediments may be more favorable for R. maritima seedling establishment, because seedling emergence and height decreased with increasing sediment grain size. Potamogeton perfoliatus seedlings seem to be more tolerant of a wider range of sediment grain sizes than R. maritima as indicated by the lack of an effect of sediment grain size on P. perfoliatus seed emergence, seedling height, and biomass. Increasing nutrients stimulated seedlings of both species; however, even at the highest concentrations tested, growth, as determined by shoot elongation and leaf and root formation, slowed within 7–10 days. This suggests factors other than mineral nutrients and light limit growth or that growth shifts from aboveground biomass production to belowground vegetative spread.     

The Effects of Peatland Restoration on Water‐Table Depth,Elemental Concentrations,and Vegetation: 10 Years of Changes

We studied the effects of restoration on water‐table depth (WTD), element concentrations of peat and vegetation composition of peatlands drained for forestry in southern Finland. The restoration aimed to return the trajectory of vegetation succession toward that of undisturbed systems through the blockage of ditches and the removal of trees. Permanent plots established on a bog and a fen were sampled 1 year before, and 1, 2, 3, and 10 years after the restoration. The restoration resulted in a long‐term rise of the water‐table in both peatlands. Ten years after restoration, the mineral element concentrations (Ca, K, Mg, Mn, and P) of peat corresponded to those reported from comparable pristine peatlands. In particular, the increase of K and Mn concentrations at both sites suggests the recovery of ecosystem functionality in terms of nutrient cycling between peat and plants. The restoration resulted in the succession of plant communities toward the targeted peatland vegetation of wetter condition at both sites. This was evident from the decreased abundance of species benefiting from drainage and the corresponding increase of peatland species. However, many species typical of pristine peatlands were missing 10 years after restoration. We conclude that the restoration led to a reversal of the effects of drainage in vegetation and studied habitat conditions. However, due to the slow recovery of peatland ecosystems and the possibility that certain failures in the restoration measures may become apparent only after extended time periods, long‐term monitoring is needed to determine whether the goals of restoration will be met.