Competitive exclusion,beta diversity,and deterministic vs. stochastic drivers of community assembly

Species diversity has two components – number of species and spatial turnover in species composition (beta‐diversity). Using a field experiment focusing on a system of Mediterranean grasslands, we show that interspecific competition may influence the two components in the same direction or in opposite directions, depending on whether competitive exclusions are deterministic or stochastic. Deterministic exclusions reduce both patch‐scale richness and beta‐diversity, thereby homogenising the community. Stochastic extinctions reduce richness at the patch scale, but increase the differences in species composition among patches. These results indicate that studies of competitive effects on beta diversity may help to distinguish between deterministic and stochastic components of competitive exclusion. Such distinction is crucial for understanding the causal relationship between competition and species diversity, one of the oldest and most fundamental questions in ecology.     

Changes in species diversity and size composition in the Firth of Clyde demersal fish community (1927-2009)

Following the repeal in 1962 of a long-standing ban on trawling, yields of demersal fish from the Firth of Clyde, southwest Scotland, increased to a maximum in 1973 and then declined until the directed fishery effectively ceased in the early 2000s. Since then, the only landings of demersal fish from the Firth have been by-catch in the Norway lobster fishery. We analysed changes in biomass density, species diversity and length structure of the demersal fish community between 1927 and 2009 from scientific trawl surveys, and related these to the fishery harvesting rate. As yields collapsed, the community transformed from a state in which biomass was distributed across numerous species (high species evenness) and large maximum length taxa were common, to one in which 90 per cent of the biomass was vested in one species (whiting), and both large individuals and large maximum length species were rare. Species evenness recovered quickly once the directed fishery ceased, but 10 years later, the community was still deficient in large individuals. The changes partly reflected events at a larger regional scale but were more extreme. The lag in response with respect to fishing has implications for attempts at managing a restoration of the ecosystem.     

中亚热带地区氮沉降对杉木幼林土壤细菌群落多样性及组成的影响

大气氮沉降量持续增加已经成为当前关注的热点.土壤细菌群落作为土壤环境中大量存在的微生物,在养分循环过程中发挥着不可忽视的作用.在福建三明森林生态系统与全球变化研究站陈大观测点,我们在野外模拟大气氮沉降试验,通过16S rDNA扩增子测序,研究中亚热带地区杉木幼林土壤细菌群落多样性和组成对氮沉降的响应.结果表明:短期施氮对研究区的土壤细菌群落多样性和组成并未产生显著影响,但高氮处理显著改变敏感菌群相对丰度,如富营养型类群丰度增加、贫营养型类群丰度降低.土壤细菌群落的营养策略发生变化,这可能是受到了养分有效性的驱动.因此,了解土壤细菌群落和养分分配格局对氮沉降的响应,有助于提高我们对未来环境的预测能力.     

Fungal community composition and diversity in the rhizosphere soils of Argentina (syn. Potentilla) anserina,on the Qinghai Plateau

Fungal communities and diversity in the rhizosphere soil of Argentina (syn. Potentilla) anserina were investigated by high-throughput sequencing. Soil fungal communities changed seasonally; nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium contents in the soil were highly correlated with specific fungal groups and distributions. At the class level, the fungal community of A. anserina rhizosphere was mainly composed of Sordariomycetes, Pezizomycetes, Dothideomycetes, and Leotiomycetes. Moreover, rhizosphere soil was dominated by Ascomycota and characterized by a relatively high percentage of saprotrophic, parasitic, endophytic, and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi: Mortierella (3.95 %), Fusarium (3.11 %), Cadophora (2.19 %), Phoma (2.01 %), Preussia (1.18 %) and Glomerales (0.37 %). FUNGuild analysis revealed different fungal ecotypes in rhizosphere soil, including symbiotic, saprotrophic, and pathogenic fungi. The structure and quantity of different ecotypes of fungi showed dynamic changes and may have different functions in the agro-ecosystem. These results provide a theoretical framework for further development and utilization of microbial resources to improve sustainable management strategies.