Resilience of ecosystem processes: a new approach shows that functional redundancy of biological control services is reduced by landscape simplification

Functional redundancy can increase the resilience of ecosystem processes by providing insurance against species loss and the effects of abundance fluctuations. However, due to the difficulty of assessing individual species’ contributions and the lack of a metric allowing for a quantification of redundancy within communities, few attempts have been made to estimate redundancy for individual ecosystem processes. We present a new method linking interaction metrics with metabolic theory that allows for a quantification of redundancy at the level of ecosystem processes. Using this approach, redundancy in the predation on aphids and other prey by natural enemies across a landscape heterogeneity gradient was estimated. Functional redundancy of predators was high in heterogeneous landscapes, low in homogeneous landscapes and scaled with predator specialisation. Our approach allows quantifying functional redundancy within communities and can be used to assess the role of functional redundancy across a wide variety of ecosystem processes and environmental factors.     

The effectiveness of flower strips and hedgerows on pest control,pollination services and crop yield: a quantitative synthesis

Floral plantings are promoted to foster ecological intensification of agriculture through provisioning of ecosystem services. However, a comprehensive assessment of the effectiveness of different floral plantings, their characteristics and consequences for crop yield is lacking. Here we quantified the impacts of flower strips and hedgerows on pest control (18 studies) and pollination services (17 studies) in adjacent crops in North America, Europe and New Zealand. Flower strips, but not hedgerows, enhanced pest control services in adjacent fields by 16% on average. However, effects on crop pollination and yield were more variable. Our synthesis identifies several important drivers of variability in effectiveness of plantings: pollination services declined exponentially with distance from plantings, and perennial and older flower strips with higher flowering plant diversity enhanced pollination more effectively. These findings provide promising pathways to optimise floral plantings to more effectively contribute to ecosystem service delivery and ecological intensification of agriculture in the future.     

Comparison of the effect of market crop wastes and chemical soil fertility amendments on insect pests, natural enemies and yield of Brassica oleracea

Field studies were conducted over three growing seasons during 2 years to assess the relative effect of market crop waste (MCW)‐derived soil fertility amendments and conventional fertiliser (NPK) on tritrophic relations as well as yield performance of white cabbage. A randomised complete block design with four treatments and a control replicated four times was used. Treatments were (a) MCW compost incorporated in the soil, (b) uncomposted MCW incorporated in the soil, (c) uncomposted MCW applied as surface mulch, (d) a conventional chemical fertiliser (NPK) incorporated in the soil and (e) the untreated control. Results indicated that relative to NPK‐amended plants, MCW‐amended cabbage performed better in plant growth parameters as well as yield, despite having sustained aphid and Plutella xylostella infestations that could be as much as double as those in the NPK treatment. Natural enemy occurrence followed the trend of host insect infestations. The average yield performance and net financial benefits from MCW‐compost‐amended plants were three‐fold as that of NPK‐amended plants. Soil analysis results indicated an advantage in soil quality accruing from the MCW amendments. This study, therefore, provides documentation for the utilisation of MCW, previously handled as garbage to be disposed of, as a key component in integrated management of insect pests and depleted soils in crop production in sub‐Saharan Africa and beyond.     

Management-induced changes in soil organic carbon and related crop yield dynamics in China's cropland

Enhancing soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration and food supply are vital for human survival when facing climate change. Site-specific best management practices (BMPs) are being promoted for adoption globally as solutions. However, how SOC and crop yield are related to each other in responding to BMPs remains unknown. Here, path analysis based on meta-analysis and machine learning was conducted to identify the effects and potential mechanisms of how the relationship between SOC and crop yield responds to site-specific BMPs in China. The results showed that BMPs could significantly enhance SOC and maintain or increase crop yield. The maximum benefits in SOC (30.6%) and crop yield (79.8%) occurred in mineral fertilizer combined with organic inputs (MOF). Specifically, the optimal SOC and crop yield would be achieved when the areas were arid, soil pH was ≥7.3, initial SOC content was ≤10 g kg⁻¹, duration was >10 years, and the nitrogen (N) input level was 100–200 kg ha⁻¹. Further analysis revealed that the original SOC level and crop yield change showed an inverted V-shaped structure. The association between the changes in SOC and crop yield might be linked to the positive role of the nutrient-mediated effect. The results generally suggested that improving the SOC can strongly support better crop performance. Limitations in increasing crop yield still exist due to low original SOC level, and in regions where the excessive N inputs, inappropriate tillage or organic input is inadequate and could be diminished by optimizing BMPs in harmony with site-specific conditions.     

基于生态系统服务价值的生态足迹模型均衡因子及产量因子测算

均衡因子和产量因子是生态足迹模型中的关键参数,现有的测算方法多根据物质生产和消费实现,忽略生态系统提供服务的能力。本研究提出基于生态系统服务价值的均衡因子和产量因子测算方法,并以1990、2005和2015年北京市门头沟区为例,研究生态涵养发展区生态承载力,并与通用因子计算结果对比。结果表明:(1)基于生态系统服务价值获取的均衡因子:水域>林地>耕地。水域均衡因子最高,平均值达到8.37。耕地均衡因子最低,平均值仅为0.24。林地均衡因子高于耕地,均衡因子平均值为0.71。说明该方法较好的表现了不同生态系统提供生态服务能力的差异;(2)基于该研究方法获取的不同生态系统的产量因子接近:耕地>林地>水域,均值分别为0.90,0.87和0.86,且呈逐年递减趋势;(3) 1990年到2015年,门头沟区生态承载力先降低后提高,生态足迹先提高,再降低,2005年出现生态赤字,其森林、耕地和区域生态承载力与生态足迹小于通用因子生态足迹模型结果,水域生态承载力和生态足迹高于通用因子生态足迹模型结果。与通用因子相比,基于生态系统服务价值的均衡因子和产量因子更好的体现了研究区内...     

Climate drives global soil carbon sequestration and crop yield changes under conservation agriculture

Conservation agriculture has been shown to have multiple benefits for soils, crop yield and the environment, and consequently, no‐till, the central practice of conservation agriculture, has rapidly expanded. However, studies show that the potential for carbon (C) sequestration in no‐till farming sometimes is not realized, let alone the ability to maintain or improve crop yield. Here we present a global analysis of no‐till‐induced changes of soil C and crop yield based on 260 and 1,970 paired studies; respectively. We show that, relative to local conventional tillage, arid regions can benefit the most from conservation agriculture by achieving a win‐win outcome of enhanced C sequestration and increased crop yield. However, more humid regions are more likely to increase SOC only, while some colder regions have yield losses and soil C loss as likely as soil C gains. In addition to site‐specific characteristics and management, a careful assessment of the regional climate is needed to determine the potential benefits of adopting conservation agriculture.     

Developmental and behavioural effects of the endophytic Fusarium moniliforme Fe14 towards Meloidogyne graminicola in rice

The root‐knot nematode, Meloidogyne graminicola, is an important pest of rice in many rice production areas worldwide. The endophyte Fusarium moniliforme strain Fe14, isolated from a disinfected root of rice, has previously shown potential antagonistic activity against M. graminicola. This study shows the effects of Fe14 on M. graminicola behaviour, infection, development and reproduction. The endophyte Fe14 colonisation significantly reduced M. graminicola penetration into rice roots by 55% and increased the male to female ratio nine times. The endophyte also delayed juvenile development into female inside the rice root. These results suggest a suboptimal performance of the giant cell and a cumulative effect of the endophyte on the long‐term root‐knot nematode population development. In split‐root assays, the application of Fe14 at the inducer side significantly reduced nematode invasion at the responder side by 38% and 60% in two independent trials. This result suggests a systemic effect of the endophyte on rice plants. The root exudates from Fe14‐treated plants were either less attractive or had repellent effect on nematode movement. The results, when compared to what was described for other endophytic Fusarium against other nematode species, may indicate a basal response mechanism initiated in the plant by endophytic Fusarium spp. The present study may give leads for unravelling the molecular mechanisms responsible for the induced systemic defence responses in plants.     

硅的生物学功能及在草地生态系统中的应用研究进展

硅能增强农作物对干旱和重金属如铝、镉、锰等的抗性已得到大量的证实,但硅在草地生态系统中的作用及作用机理至今没有明确。将国内外有关硅对土壤质地、植物个体生长以及植物群落结构影响的最新研究进行归纳,以期为硅在草地生态系统中的应用提供理论支持。通过总结发现,硅能够提高土壤有机碳、硝态氮、铵态氮和速效磷含量;在施氮肥情况下,硅肥添加通过改善植物群落的光照条件,提高杂类草的生长高度,从而缓解因氮肥添加导致的物种丰富度降低,提高植物群落的地上生产力。因此,硅在草地生态系统中具有非常重要的作用,今后应加强硅对植物生物量碳氮和土壤有机碳积累的调控作用、硅对草地生态系统中碳、氮、磷元素的生物地球化学循环规律和生产力形成机制方面的研究工作。     

Mid‐term effects on ecosystem services of quarry restoration with Technosols under Mediterranean conditions: 10‐year impacts on soil organic carbon and vegetation development

The use of Technosols for the restoration of limestone quarries overcomes the usual “in situ” scarcity of soil and/or its poor quality. The use of mine spoils, improved with mineral and/or organic amendments, could be an efficient and environmentally friendly option. Properly treated sewage sludge from urban wastewater treatment plants could be a suitable organic amendment and fertilizer (rich in N and P) whenever its pollutant burden is low (heavy metals and/or organic pollutants). Its appropriate use could improve essential soil physical and chemical properties and, therefore, promote key ecosystem services of restored areas, such as biomass production and carbon sequestration, as well as biodiversity and landscape recovery. However, the mid‐term impacts of these restoration practices on soil functioning and their services have rarely been reported in the available literature. In this study we assess the mid‐term effects (10 years) of the use of sewage sludge as a Technosol amendment on soil organic carbon (SOC), nutrient status, and plant development in several restored quarries. Soils restored using sewage sludge showed a threefold increase in SOC compared to the corresponding unamended ones, despite the moderate sludge dosage applied (below 50 tonnes/ha). Plant cover was also higher in amended soils, and recruitment was not affected by sludge amendment at these doses. This study demonstrates that, used at an appropriate rate, sewage sludge is a good alternative for the valorization of mine spoils in quarry restoration, improving some important regulatory ecosystem services such as carbon sequestration, without compromising woody plant encroachment.     

开垦对绿洲农田碳氮累积及其与作物产量关系的影响

以新疆策勒绿洲近百年来不同开垦年限农田为研究对象,采用空间序列换算时间序列的方法,研究绿洲农田开垦过程中土壤有机碳和全氮密度、碳氮比(C/N)及速效氮含量的垂直变化特征,并探讨了农田土壤碳氮变化与作物产量的关系。结果表明:荒漠土壤开垦后,显著增加了表层土壤(0-20 cm)有机碳和全氮密度,随开垦年限延长对深层土壤(40-200 cm)有机碳密度也有一定的影响,如在开垦30 a左右时下降了36.4%,但在100 a左右时则增加了52.0%。耕层土壤C/N随开垦年限延长而明显增加,深层土壤除100 a农田外其它均有不同程度下降;不同土层C/N与速效氮含量呈负相关关系,仅在开垦初期(0-10 a)达到显著水平。不同年限农田的玉米产量存在显著差异,且和有机碳及全氮密度(0-200 cm)均呈显著正相关;棉花除100和10 a农田产量差异较小外,在其它农田间均达显著水平,但和有机碳及全氮密度无明显相关性。由此可见,在现有投入条件下,提高土壤碳氮累积量对增加玉米产量仍有十分重要作用,但对棉花产量的影响不明显。     

Above- and below-ground assessment of carabid community responses to crop type and tillage

1. Carabid beetles are major predators in agro-ecosystems. The composition of their communities within crop environments governs the pest control services they provide. An understudied aspect is the distribution of predacious carabid larvae in the soil.
2. We used novel subterranean trapping with standard pitfall trapping, within a multi-crop rotation experiment, to assess the responses of above- and below-ground carabid communities to management practices.
3. Crop and trap type significantly affected pooled carabid abundance with an interaction of the two, the highest numbers of carabids were caught in subterranean traps in barley under sown with grass.
4. Trap type accounted for the most variance observed in carabid community composition, followed by crop.
5. Tillage responses were only apparent at the species level for three of the eight species modelled.
6. Responses to crop type varied by species. Most species had higher abundance in under-sown barley, than grass, wheat and barley. Crop differences were greater in the subterranean trap data. For predaceous larvae, standard pitfalls showed lowest abundances in under-sown barley, yet subterranean traps revealed abundances to be highest in this crop.
7. Comprehensive estimation of ecosystem services should incorporate both above- and below-ground community appraisal, to inform appropriate management.

     

稻麦轮作体系下有机肥施用对作物产量和土壤性质影响的整合分析

为明确稻麦轮作系统有机肥施用对作物产量和土壤性质的影响,本研究搜集已公开发表的文献数据,利用meta分析法定量分析了有机肥类型(普通有机肥、生物质炭、秸秆)、施用策略(单施有机肥、有机肥配施部分化肥、有机肥配施全量化肥)、施用年限(短期、中期、长期)对稻麦产量和土壤性质的影响及其对不同土壤条件(酸性、中性、碱性)的响应...     

Organic manure additions and the leaf water potential and yield of barley

The effect of adding organic manure to three soils with differing textures on changes in leaf water potential (LWP) and yield of barley (cv. Loyola) was investigated under controlled growth-chamber conditions. Cattle manure was applied to the soils in pots at rates equivalent to 0, 15, 25, 50 and 100 t ha^-1. Plants were subjected to water stress by withholding water at three different stages of grwoth.The results show that the addition of cattle manure significantly increased (p<-0.05) the organic carbon (OC) content of all the soils. LWP remained consistently high during the entire growing period in the control plants. As stress progressed, LWP in the stressed plants decreased. However, treatments with high OC contents had significantly higher LWP compared to those which had less. The former plants experienced less water stress than the latter.Yields were higher in the control than stressed plants. Within the stressed plants however, treatments with high OC content had significantly higher yields. An effect of soil texture was also noted. Generally, the influence of manure application on LWP and yields were more pronounced in sand and loam than clay soils.     

Comparison of pollinators and natural enemies: a meta‐analysis of landscape and local effects on abundance and richness in crops

To manage agroecosystems for multiple ecosystem services, we need to know whether the management of one service has positive, negative, or no effects on other services. We do not yet have data on the interactions between pollination and pest‐control services. However, we do have data on the distributions of pollinators and natural enemies in agroecosystems. Therefore, we compared these two groups of ecosystem service providers, to see if the management of farms and agricultural landscapes might have similar effects on the abundance and richness of both. In a meta‐analysis, we compared 46 studies that sampled bees, predatory beetles, parasitic wasps, and spiders in fields, orchards, or vineyards of food crops. These studies used the proximity or proportion of non‐crop or natural habitats in the landscapes surrounding these crops (a measure of landscape complexity), or the proximity or diversity of non‐crop plants in the margins of these crops (a measure of local complexity), to explain the abundance or richness of these beneficial arthropods. Compositional complexity at both landscape and local scales had positive effects on both pollinators and natural enemies, but different effects on different taxa. Effects on bees and spiders were significantly positive, but effects on parasitoids and predatory beetles (mostly Carabidae and Staphylinidae) were inconclusive. Landscape complexity had significantly stronger effects on bees than it did on predatory beetles and significantly stronger effects in non‐woody rather than in woody crops. Effects on richness were significantly stronger than effects on abundance, but possibly only for spiders. This abundance‐richness difference might be caused by differences between generalists and specialists, or between arthropods that depend on non‐crop habitats (ecotone species and dispersers) and those that do not (cultural species). We call this the ‘specialist‐generalist’ or ‘cultural difference’ mechanism. If complexity has stronger effects on richness than abundance, it might have stronger effects on the stability than the magnitude of these arthropod‐mediated ecosystem services. We conclude that some pollinators and natural enemies seem to have compatible responses to complexity, and it might be possible to manage agroecosystems for the benefit of both. However, too few studies have compared the two, and so we cannot yet conclude that there are no negative interactions between pollinators and natural enemies, and no trade‐offs between pollination and pest‐control services. Therefore, we suggest a framework for future research to bridge these gaps in our knowledge.     

A cross-scale analysis to understand and quantify the effects of photosynthetic enhancement on crop growth and yield across environments

Photosynthetic manipulation provides new opportunities for enhancing crop yield. However, understanding and quantifying the importance of individual and multiple manipulations on the seasonal biomass growth and yield performance of target crops across variable production environments is limited. Using a state-of-the-art cross-scale model in the APSIM platform we predicted the impact of altering photosynthesis on the enzyme-limited (A_c) and electron transport-limited (A_j) rates, seasonal dynamics in canopy photosynthesis, biomass growth, and yield formation via large multiyear-by-location crop growth simulations. A broad list of promising strategies to improve photosynthesis for C₃ wheat and C₄ sorghum were simulated. In the top decile of seasonal outcomes, yield gains were predicted to be modest, ranging between 0% and 8%, depending on the manipulation and crop type. We report how photosynthetic enhancement can affect the timing and severity of water and nitrogen stress on the growing crop, resulting in nonintuitive seasonal crop dynamics and yield outcomes. We predicted that strategies enhancing A_c alone generate more consistent but smaller yield gains across all water and nitrogen environments, A_j enhancement alone generates larger gains but is undesirable in more marginal environments. Large increases in both A_c and A_j generate the highest gains across all environments. Yield outcomes of the tested manipulation strategies were predicted and compared for realistic Australian wheat and sorghum production. This study uniquely unpacks complex cross-scale interactions between photosynthesis and seasonal crop dynamics and improves understanding and quantification of the potential impact of photosynthesis traits (or lack of it) for crop improvement research.     

植被格局对侵蚀产沙影响的研究评述

土壤侵蚀是人类可持续发展的重要挑战,植被重建则是防控侵蚀产沙的有效手段。在当前水土资源日益稀缺的新形势下,优化植被布局将成为黄土高原等生态脆弱地区未来阻蚀减沙、改善环境的重要途径,有关植被格局对侵蚀产沙影响的科技需求更加急迫、意义更加重要。为此,从坡面与流域两个尺度,总结评述了侵蚀产沙研究中的植被格局表征、侵蚀产沙对植被格局的变化响应两个议题的研究进展。分析认为,目前主要存在缺乏反映侵蚀产沙过程的植被格局表征指数、较少考虑植被与地形叠置格局对侵蚀产沙的耦合影响、尚未建立侵蚀产沙对植被格局的直观响应关系等问题。为促进有关研究,今后在格局指数和耦合关系的构建中应重视植被和地形对侵蚀产沙过程的耦合影响,并选用具有良好应用精度的分布式物理成因模型,以获得反映植被格局影响的流域侵蚀产沙结果。同时,可通过采用GIS空间分析技术,设计获得更多的典型植被格局及对应情景的侵蚀产沙,以丰富基础资料,减少信息干扰。     

外来植物入侵对陆地生态系统地下碳循环及碳库的影响

生物入侵是当今全球性重大环境问题之一, 是全球变化的主要研究内容.评价外来植物入侵对于生态系统影响的研究多集中在地上部分,对于生态系统地下部分影响的研究相对较少.陆地生态系统地下部分对于生态系统过程的重要性之一体现在它处于生态系统碳分配过程的核心环节.入侵种通过影响群落凋落物的输入数量、质量以及输入时间,影响到对于土壤的碳输入,而入侵种与土著种根系的差异以及入侵种对微生物群落的影响是造成土壤呼吸强度发生变化的主要因素,前者土壤呼吸强度一般比后者高.多数研究表明外来植物入侵对生态系统地下碳循环和碳库产生影响,但由于入侵植物种类较多以及研究地点环境条件的不同,关于外来植物入侵对于土壤碳库和土壤有机碳矿化影响的研究结论并不统一.最后,提出了今后该研究领域应加强的一些建议和方向.     

秸秆全量还田对稻田土壤溶解有机碳含量和水稻产量的影响

以南粳44为供试材料,在粘土和砂土土壤中,设置麦秸秆不还田和全量还田(6000 kg·hm^-2)及3种施氮量(0、225、300 kg·hm^-2)试验,研究了麦秸秆全量还田的腐解率和有机碳释放量动态变化,及其对稻田0～45 cm土壤溶解有机碳(DOC)含量和水稻产量的影响.结果表明： 麦秸秆还田的前期(0～30 d)其腐解率和有机碳释放量最高,腐解率为35.0%(粘土)和31.7%(砂土),有机碳释放率为34.1%(粘土)和33.1%(砂土);30 d后两者均减小.施用氮肥可显著促进秸秆腐解和有机碳释放量,粘土中麦秸秆腐解率和有机碳释放量明显大于砂土.麦秸秆还田后土壤DOC含量逐渐增加,至25 d达最大值,粘土和砂土分别为60.18和56.62 mg·L^-1,此后逐渐减小并趋于稳定.麦秸秆还田处理15 cm处土壤DOC含量显著高于未还田处理,但两者在30和45 cm处土壤DOC含量差异不显著,说明秸秆还田主要增加了稻田0～15 cm土层DOC含量.与不施氮处理相比,施氮处理土壤DOC含量降低,2种施氮处理间差异不显著.秸秆还田减少了水稻前期分蘖发生量,显著降低了有效穗数,增加了穗粒数、结实率和千粒重,显著提高了水稻产量.     

Complementary ecosystem services provided by pest predators and pollinators increase quantity and quality of coffee yields

Wild animals substantially support crop production by providing ecosystem services, such as pollination and natural pest control. However, the strengths of synergies between ecosystem services and their dependencies on land-use management are largely unknown. Here, we took an experimental approach to test the impact of land-use intensification on both individual and combined pollination and pest control services in coffee production systems at Mount Kilimanjaro. We established a full-factorial pollinator and vertebrate exclosure experiment along a land-use gradient from traditional homegardens (agroforestry systems), shaded coffee plantations to sun coffee plantations (total sample size = 180 coffee bushes). The exclusion of vertebrates led to a reduction in fruit set of ca 9%. Pollinators did not affect fruit set, but significantly increased fruit weight of coffee by an average of 7.4%. We found no significant decline of these ecosystem services along the land-use gradient. Pest control and pollination service were thus complementary, contributing to coffee production by affecting the quantity and quality of a major tropical cash crop across different coffee production systems at Mount Kilimanjaro.