Distribution patterns of alien invasive plants and their influences on native plants of Hainan Island

 以国家农业部指定的20种恶性入侵植物为目的种, 在海南岛开展其分布特征与入侵强度的调查研究, 重点研究了陆域环境中6种广布入侵植物——飞机草(Chromolaena odorata)、假臭草(Praxelis clematidea)、含羞草(Mimosa pudica)、苏门白酒草(Conyza sumatrensis)、三裂叶蟛蜞菊(Wedelia trilobata)、马缨丹(Lantana camara)在7种生态系统(天然次生林、农田、村落、种植园、林缘、弃耕地、草地)中的入侵频率及入侵植物对本地植物的影响。结果表明: 1)海南岛有恶性入侵植物11种, 占调查目的种总数的55.0%。2)海南岛的东北、西南部分布的入侵植物种数较多, 东南部次之, 中部地区最少。3) 6种入侵植物的整体入侵强度为: 假臭草>飞机草>含羞草>三裂叶蟛蜞菊>马缨丹>苏门白酒草; 苏门白酒草、马缨丹在不同生态系统中的入侵频率无显著差异; 而假臭草在种植园及弃耕地, 含羞草在农田, 三裂叶蟛蜞菊在种植园生态系统中的入侵频率均显著高于其他生境。4)种植园、弃耕地和农田生态系统是植物入侵的主要生境类型, 而林缘和天然次生林生态系统均对植物入侵表现出抵御作用。5)植物入侵对当地植物多样性的影响存在正、负及无关联效应, 并主要影响群落中的草本植物功能群; 样地中入侵植物盖度总值与本地植物平均种数在种植园、农田和村落生态系统中无相关性, 在林缘和弃耕地生态系统中, 两者呈显著负相关关系; 而在草地生态系统中, 在一定盖度范围内, 入侵植物盖度总值与本地植物平均种数呈显著正相关关系。     

海南岛入侵植物的分布特点及其对本地植物的影响

以国家农业部指定的20种恶性入侵植物为目的种, 在海南岛开展其分布特征与入侵强度的调查研究, 重点研究了陆域环境中6种广布入侵植物——飞机草(Chromolaena odorata)、假臭草(Praxelis clematidea)、含羞草(Mimosa pudica)、苏门白酒草(Conyza sumatrensis)、三裂叶蟛蜞菊(Wedelia trilobata)、马缨丹(Lantana camara)在7种生态系统(天然次生林、农田、村落、种植园、林缘、弃耕地、草地)中的入侵频率及入侵植物对本地植物的影响。结果表明: 1)海南岛有恶性入侵植物11种, 占调查目的种总数的55.0%。2)海南岛的东北、西南部分布的入侵植物种数较多, 东南部次之, 中部地区最少。3) 6种入侵植物的整体入侵强度为: 假臭草>飞机草>含羞草>三裂叶蟛蜞菊>马缨丹>苏门白酒草; 苏门白酒草、马缨丹在不同生态系统中的入侵频率无显著差异; 而假臭草在种植园及弃耕地, 含羞草在农田, 三裂叶蟛蜞菊在种植园生态系统中的入侵频率均显著高于其他生境。4)种植园、弃耕地和农田生态系统是植物入侵的主要生境类型, 而林缘和天然次生林生态系统均对植物入侵表现出抵御作用。5)植物入侵对当地植物多样性的影响存在正、负及无关联效应, 并主要影响群落中的草本植物功能群; 样地中入侵植物盖度总值与本地植物平均种数在种植园、农田和村落生态系统中无相关性, 在林缘和弃耕地生态系统中, 两者呈显著负相关关系; 而在草地生态系统中, 在一定盖度范围内, 入侵植物盖度总值与本地植物平均种数呈显著正相关关系。     

Nitrogen addition increases intraspecific competition in the invasive wetland plant Alternanthera philoxeroides,but not in its native congener Alternanthera sessilis

Nitrogen is often released in pulses with different frequencies, and N supply pulses may affect growth, reproduction, and biomass allocation of plants. However, few studies have examined how N supply pulses affect intraspecific competition of clonal plants and whether such an effect depends on the N supply amount. We grew one (no competition) or 12 ramets (with intraspecific competition) of both an invasive clonal plant Alternanthera philoxeroides and its native congener Alternanthera sessilis in five different N treatments: control (no N addition), low/high amount with low/high frequencies (pulses). Nitrogen addition significantly increased the growth of both species, while intraspecific competition decreased it. Nitrogen addition significantly increased intraspecific competitive intensity of A. philoxeroides as measured by the log response ratio of growth traits, but did not affect that of A. sessilis. Despite the N supply amount, N pulses had little effect on the growth and thus intraspecific competition of the two species. Therefore, increasing N deposition may change population structure and dynamics and the invasion succession of A. philoxeroides, but changes in N pulses may not.     

氮磷添加对亚热带常绿阔叶林土壤氮素矿化的影响

设计了2种处理(即氮添加,100 kg N·hm-2·a-1;氮磷添加,100 kgN·hm-2·a-1+50kgP·hm-2·a-1),研究了氮磷添加对亚热带北部常绿阔叶林土壤无机氮和氮素矿化的影响.结果表明,不同处理0 ～ 10 cm和10 ～ 20 cm土层无机氮(铵态氮+硝态氮)含量年平均值分别为:对照7.27和6.80 mg·kg-1、氮添加13.94和8.92 mg·kg-1、氮磷添加11.20和7.13 mg·kg-1,其中铵态氮分别占90.66％和91.15％、65.78％和72.85％、84.64％和85.08％.不同处理0～10 cm和10 ～20 cm土层的净氨化、净硝化和净氮矿化速率具有相似的季节性变化规律,即夏季氮素净转化速率最高,冬季氮素净转化速率最低,春季和秋季氮素净转化速率有一定差异,但不显著.研究表明,养分添加使土壤年平均净氮矿化速率下降,氮添加使土壤硝化速率下降,氨化速率上升;而氮磷添加使硝化速率上升,氨化速率下降.养分添加对森林生态系统的氮动态影响效应尚需长期定位观测.     

荒漠草原植物群落结构及其稳定性对增水和增氮的响应

通过在荒漠草原开展增水和增氮野外控制试验,研究增水和增氮对荒漠草原植物群落结构、物种多样性及群落稳定性的影响。结果表明：（1）增水和增氮处理显著影响了荒漠草原植物群落结构和地上生物量,而对植物群落稳定性影响不显著（P>0.05）。增水处理显著增加了豆科和禾本科植物地上生物量（101.3%和57.9%）（P<0.05）;增水+增氮处理显著增加了植物群落盖度（43.2%）和地上生物量（112.4%）及不同功能群（禾本科和杂类草）植物盖度（75.5%和47.3%）和地上生物量（139.3%和85.7%）（P<0.05）。与增氮处理相比,增水+增氮处理显著增加了植物群落和不同功能群（禾本科和杂类草）植物高度、盖度和地上生物量（P<0.05）。（2）增水、增氮和增水+增氮处理均显著降低了植物群落Pielou指数（11.7%、8.7%和10.2%）（P<0.05）。（3）增水和增水+增氮处理提高了荒漠草原植物群落稳定性,而增氮处理降低了荒漠草原植物群落稳定性。增水处理荒漠草原植物群落稳定性效应大于增水+增氮处理。研究表明,荒漠草原植物群落结构受到氮沉降和降水增加的共同影响。增加降水对荒漠草原植物群落稳定性的积极效应可能会抵消部分氮沉降的消极影响,荒漠草原植物群落地上生物量及群落稳定性可能有所增加。     

Nitrogen addition amplified water effects on species composition shift and productivity increase

增加氮素放大了水分对物种组成变化和生产力提高的影响 水分和氮素是旱地生态系统中的重要资源,二者对群落结构和生态系统功能的影响存在着复杂的交互作用。未来降水(降雨与降雪)变化将如何影响地上净初级生产力(ANPP)尚未研究清楚,尤其是当降水变化与氮沉降引起的氮有效性增加相互结合时。在本研究中,我们探讨了半干旱温带典型草原对增加降水(降雨与降雪)和氮素的响应,包括群落生产力、两种主要植物功能群、多年生根茎禾草(PR)和多年生丛生禾草(PB)的多度和地上生物量的变化。研究结果发现,夏季增雨略微增加了群落的ANPP,显著增加了PR的多度和地上生物量,而对PB的多度和地上生物量没有影响。夏季增雨提高了PR生物量在ANPP中的占比,降低了PB生物量的占比。春季增雪对上述两个植物功能群地上生物量均无显著影响,尽管它对群落ANPP有一定的提高。在夏季增雨条件下,氮素添加显著增加了群落ANPP,主要是由于增加了PR的生物量,说明氮和水分添加对群落ANPP存在较强的交互作用,并在很大程度上通过提高PR生物量来实现。我们发现随着降水量的增加,施氮对生产力的正效应呈非线性增加。上述结果表明,在未来大气氮沉降增加的情景下,降水增加对草地生产力的影响将得到进一步放大。     

氮磷添加对内蒙古温带草地地上生物量的影响

干旱半干旱地区植物生长不仅受到水分的限制,同时也受到养分的限制.为进一步明确养分在多大程度上能促进半干旱区植物的生长,本研究在内蒙古温带草原开展了连续2年的养分添加控制试验,设置10和40 g·m^-2·a^-1的N添加水平以及10 g·m^-2·a^-1的P添加水平.结果表明： N添加能够显著促进植物生长,10和40 g N·m^-2·a^-1处理地上生物量在2012年分别较对照增加50.8%和65.9%,2013年增加71.6%和93.3%,2个N添加处理之间地上生物量无显著差异.与单独10和40 g·m^-2·a^-1的N添加处理相比,P添加后地上生物量在2012年分别提高98.4%和186.8%,2013年分别提高111.7%和141.4%.N添加普遍提高了3种植物功能群(禾本科、菊科和其他科)的地上生物量,但较对照差异不显著,而N、P同时添加显著提高了菊科植物的地上生物量.养分添加使植被盖度升高,从而改善了表层土壤的水分条件,这可能是N、P添加促进植物生长和提高降水利用效率的重要机制之一.     

A review on the effects of invasive plants on mycorrhizal fungi of native plants and their underlying mechanisms

菌根真菌共生是植物吸收养分的一个重要策略。外来植物可以干扰本地植物与菌根真菌的共生关系从而抑制本地植物生长, 这是近年来被发现的一种重要入侵机制, 在研究中得到日益广泛的关注。该文从以下几个方面着重综述这种入侵机制: 1)外来植物对本地植物菌根真菌的影响, 包括菌根真菌侵染率、菌根内部结构、根外菌丝的量、菌根真菌的群落组成、非菌根真菌的影响及网络结构; 2)外来植物对本地植物菌根真菌上述影响的机制, 包括资源竞争、化感作用和土壤肥力等生态机制以及相关的分子机制; 3)上述两个方面随入侵时间的变化格局。尽管干扰本地植物菌根真菌是一种重要的入侵机制, 但相对其他的入侵机制(例如天敌逃逸、新武器假说等)来说, 这类机制的研究目前仍很匮乏。鉴于此, 该文提出了未来需要重点关注的几个方面: 1)全球变化背景下, 入侵植物对本地植物菌根真菌的影响如何变化; 2)包括这种菌根机制在内的多种入侵机制之间的关系; 3)深入探究入侵的这种菌根机制在大的时空尺度上的变化规律。     

外来入侵植物对本地植物菌根真菌的影响及其机制

菌根真菌共生是植物吸收养分的一个重要策略。外来植物可以干扰本地植物与菌根真菌的共生关系从而抑制本地植物生长, 这是近年来被发现的一种重要入侵机制, 在研究中得到日益广泛的关注。该文从以下几个方面着重综述这种入侵机制: 1)外来植物对本地植物菌根真菌的影响, 包括菌根真菌侵染率、菌根内部结构、根外菌丝的量、菌根真菌的群落组成、非菌根真菌的影响及网络结构; 2)外来植物对本地植物菌根真菌上述影响的机制, 包括资源竞争、化感作用和土壤肥力等生态机制以及相关的分子机制; 3)上述两个方面随入侵时间的变化格局。尽管干扰本地植物菌根真菌是一种重要的入侵机制, 但相对其他的入侵机制(例如天敌逃逸、新武器假说等)来说, 这类机制的研究目前仍很匮乏。鉴于此, 该文提出了未来需要重点关注的几个方面: 1)全球变化背景下, 入侵植物对本地植物菌根真菌的影响如何变化; 2)包括这种菌根机制在内的多种入侵机制之间的关系; 3)深入探究入侵的这种菌根机制在大的时空尺度上的变化规律。     

不同降水及氮添加对浙江古田山4种树木幼苗光合生理生态特征与生物量的影响

氮沉降和降水变化的不确定是目前全球变化背景下亚热带地区倍受关注的热点生态学课题,因此,探究降水变化及氮添加对亚热带森林植物生理生态特征及生长的影响可以为探讨全球变化背景下中国亚热带森林动态变化机制及保护和管理提供实验依据.在野外自然条件下,设置了3a的降水与氮添加控制实验,研究降水变化与氮添加对亚热带树木幼苗秃瓣杜英(Elaeocarpus glabripetalus)、枫香(Liquidambar formosana)、木荷(Schima superba)、青冈(Cyclobalnopsis glauca)生理生态特征及生长的影响.降水处理有3个水平:自然降水(对照,CK),增加30％降水(+H)及减少30％降水(-H);氮素处理有两个水平:自然状态(对照)及添加NH4NO3 10g·m-2·a-1(+N).由于亚热带地区土壤pH值偏低,大多数植物生长可能会受到土壤有效磷的限制而非氮限制,所以探讨在亚热带地区氮添加是否会影响树木的光合生理生态特征及生长,同时讨论降水变化与氮素的交互作用对4种树木幼苗的光合特征及生长的影响.实验结果表明:降水与氮素对树木光合生理生态特征及生长是有一定影响的.10 g·m-2·a-1 NH4N03氮添加水平可以提高4种树木幼苗叶片叶绿素含量(P＜0.05)、光系统Ⅱ最大光化学效率(Fv/ Fm)(P＜0.01)、光化学性能指数(PIABS)(P＜0.01)以及净光合速率(P＜0.05),4种树木幼苗总生物量在氮添加后显著提高了33.06％ (P＜0.01),因此古田山亚热带常绿阔叶林氮添加可以提高植物的光合性能,促进植物生长;降水变化对树种生理生态特征及总生物量的影响相对氮添加的影响较小,但是在古田山亚热带地区干季,降水对净光合速率(P＜0.05)、气孔导度和蒸腾速率(P＜0.001)的影响均达到显著水平,同时发现气孔导度对降水的变化更加敏感;降水与氮素的交互作用对树木光合生理生态特征(除PIABS)及总生物量的影响均没有达到显著水平(P＞0.05);不同树种间生理指标的差异是由树种生物学特性差异造成,不同树种间总生物量的差异受到氮添加与降水的影响,并且达到极显著水平(P＜0.01).     

CO_2浓度升高和氮沉降对南亚热带主要乡土树种及群落生物量的影响

选取荷木、海南红豆、肖蒲桃、红鳞蒲桃和红锥 5 种南亚热带乡土树种构建混交群落,通过 5 年人为提高 CO2 浓度和氮输入试验,研究碳-氮交互作用对南亚热带主要乡土树种及群落的生物量积累与分配的影响. 结果表明: CO2 浓度升高及氮沉降对植物生物量的积累和分配的影响因树种不同而有显著差异. CO2 浓度升高和氮沉降对豆科植物生物量积累相对提高了 49. 3%和 71. 0%,且促进了阳生植物生物量的积累; 氮沉降能显著提高偏阴生植物生物量积累,但在 CO2 浓度升高条件下,其生物量积累低于对照. CO2 浓度升高抑制了阳生植物地下生物量的分配,但促进偏阴生植物地下生物量的分配. CO2 浓度升高、氮沉降以及碳-氮交互作用对南亚热带植物群落生物量积累均具有促进作用; CO2 浓度升高促进群落地下生物量积累,氮沉降显著提高其地上部分生物量分配. 在全球变化背景下,南亚热带林业固碳树种适宜选用海南红豆和红锥.     

Water-use efficiency of four native trees under CO2 enrichment and N addition in subtropical model forest ecosystems

Aims We aimed to evaluate the changes in water-use efficiency (WUE) in native tree species in forests of subtropical China, and determine how coexisting species would be responding to increases in atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations and nitrogen (N) deposition.Methods We used model forest ecosystems in open-top chambers to study the effects of elevated CO₂ (ca. 700 μmol mol^-1) alone and together with N addition (NH 4 NO 3 applied at 100kg N ha^-1 year^-1) on WUE of four native tree species (Schima superba, Ormosia pinnata, Castanopsis hystrix and Acmena acuminatissima) from 2006 to 2010.Important findings Our result indicated that all species increased their WUE when they were exposed to elevated CO₂. Although higher WUE was shown in faster-growing species (S. superba and O. pinnata) than that of slower-growing species (C. hystrix and Acmena acuminatissima), the increased extent of WUE induced by elevated CO₂ was higher in the slower-growing species than that of the faster-growing species (P < 0.01). The N treatment decreased WUE of S. superba, while the effects on other species were not significant. The interactions between elevated CO₂ and N addition increased intrinsic WUE of S. superba significantly (P < 0.001), however, it did not affect WUE of the other tree species significantly. We conclude that the responses of native tree species to elevated CO₂ and N addition are different in subtropical China. The species-specific effects of elevated CO₂ and N addition on WUE would have important implications on species composition in China's subtropics in response to global change.     

Stoichiometric traits (N:P) of understory plants contribute to reductions in plant diversity following long‐term nitrogen addition in subtropical forest

Nitrogen enrichment is pervasive in forest ecosystems, but its influence on understory plant communities and their stoichiometric characteristics is poorly understood. We hypothesize that when forest is enriched with nitrogen (N), the stoichiometric characteristics of plant species explain changes in understory plant diversity. A 13‐year field experiment was conducted to explore the effects of N addition on foliar carbon (C): N: phosphorus (P) stoichiometry, understory plant species richness, and intrinsic water use efficiency (iWUE) in a subtropical Chinese fir forest. Four levels of N addition were applied: 0, 6, 12, and 24 g m⁻² year⁻¹. Individual plant species were categorized into resistant plants, intermediate resistant plants, and sensitive plants based on their response to nitrogen addition. Results showed that N addition significantly decreased the number of species, genera, and families of herbaceous plants. Foliar N:P ratios were greater in sensitive plants than resistant or intermediate resistant plants, while iWUE showed an opposite trend. However, no relationship was detected between soil available N and foliar N, and soil N:P and foliar N:P ratios. Our results indicated that long‐term N addition decreased the diversity of understory plants in a subtropical forest. Through regulating water use efficiency with N addition, sensitive plants change their N:P stoichiometry and have a higher risk of mortality, while resistant plants maintain a stable N:P stoichiometry, which contributes to their survival. These findings suggest that plant N:P stoichiometry plays an important role in understory plant performance in response to environmental change of N.     

The impacts of warming and nitrogen addition on competitive ability of native and invasive populations of Plantago virginica

全球变化因子(如增温和氮沉降)可能会影响生物入侵,但是这些因子如何影响入侵物种的表现并进一步调节入侵物种与本地竞争者之间的相互作用仍不清楚。本文通过为期五个月的温室实验,研究了增温(开顶式增温箱,+0.62°C)和氮添加(4.2 g N m⁻²)对入侵物种北美 车前(Plantago virginica)原产地和入侵地种群与本地车前草(Plantago asiatica)竞争的影响。实验结果表明,在增温及其与氮添加处理(W × N) 的相互作用下,P. virginica的入侵种群(PV-In)和原产地种群(PV-Na)在与本地竞争者P. asiatica竞争时具有不同的生物量分配策略。其中,PV-Na在与P. asiatica竞争时增加了地下生物量,而PV-In增加了地上生物量。我们还发现,P. virginica对增温和氮添加比P. asiatica的反应更强 烈。增温显著降低了P. virginica的竞争能力,这表明P. virginica比P. asiatica对增温的响应更为敏感。同样,在竞争条件下,氮添加及 其和增温交互作用减少了PV-In地下生物量,但增加了PV-Na地上和总生物量。这些发现表明,P. virginica在入侵过程中改变了生物量分配 策略,PV-In展示出更具弹性的竞争能力以适应环境变化(特别是增温)。这些发现可能有助于我们预测气候变化下的植物入侵并制定相应的 管理策略。     

氮磷添加对亚热带常绿阔叶林土壤微生物群落特征的影响

为了探讨氮磷添加对土壤微生物特点的影响,选择安徽省池州仙寓山常绿阔叶老龄林,设定了4个水平的氮磷添加试验,即对照(CK,0 kg N/hm~2)、低氮(LN,50 kg N/hm~2)、高氮(HN,100 kg N/hm~2)、高氮+磷(HN+P,100 kg N/hm~2+50 kg P/hm~2)。利用氯仿熏蒸法和Biolog微平板技术,分析不同水平氮磷添加对不同土层(0-10 cm、10-20 cm和20-30 cm)土壤微生物生物量C(MBC)、N(MBN)和微生物群落功能多样性的影响。结果表明:MBC、MBN随土层加深而降低,且差异性极显著,MBC与MBC/MBN比在氮磷添加后均表现出显著性差异;土壤微生物群落的代谢活性随土层加深而降低,HN与LN处理的土壤微生物活性最高;Mc Intosh、Shannon和Simpson多样性指数在不同土层和不同N、P添加水平上都存在差异,表层土壤微生物多样性指数差异性较为显著。土壤微生物对羧酸类、氨基酸类和碳水类碳源利用率最高;主成分分析显示不同土层的土壤微生物碳源利用上有明显的变化,表层土壤微生物碳源利用在不同N、P添加水平上有明显的空间变异性,其他土层分布较为集中,空间差异性主要表现在对碳水类与羧酸类碳源的利用上。土层与氮、磷添加剂量对土壤微生物生物量C、N及功能多样性都有显著影响,其中高氮处理对表层土壤微生物影响最大。     

降水变化与氮添加对晋北盐碱化草地土壤净氮矿化的影响

于2018年在晋北典型农牧交错带盐碱化草地设置增减降水和氮添加处理试验,2019年生长季(5-9月)采用原位顶盖PVC埋管法测定不同水、氮处理下土壤净氮矿化速率,研究盐碱化草地土壤净氮矿化速率对降水格局变化和氮沉降的响应.结果表明:土壤净氮矿化速率表现出明显的季节动态.单独增减降水(±50％)和氮添加(10g·m-2·...     

黄土区不同恢复年限草地群落生物量及根冠比对氮添加的响应

大气氮沉降增加作为全球变化的主要环境问题之一,已引发人们的广泛关注,持续的氮沉降对草地生态系统的组成、结构和功能产生重要影响。为深入了解草地恢复进程中群落生物量和根冠比对氮沉降的响应,以黄土区3个不同恢复年限（初期12a、中期28a和后期37a）的天然草地为研究对象,通过设置6个氮添加水平,CK （0）、N1（2.34g m^-2a^-1）、N2（4.67g m^-2a^-1）、N3（9.34g m^-2a^-1）、N4（18.68g m^-2a^-1）、N5（37.35g m^-2a^-1）来测定草地群落地上生物量、地下生物量和总生物量,并计算根冠比和氮响应效率（NRE）。结果表明：（1）地上生物量在恢复中期最大,随氮添加梯度增加,地上生物量在恢复初期和恢复后期呈不显著上升趋势,对氮添加表现为非线性的正响应（ΔNRE>0）,在恢复中期呈不显著下降趋势,对氮添加表现为非线性的负响应（ΔNRE<0）。（2）群落地下生物量对氮添加无显著响应,总生物量只有在恢复后期的N4添加水平下,与对照存在显著差异。（3）根冠比在恢复初期时,N3添加水平下显著高于对照和其他氮添加水平,其余恢复年限对氮添加无显著响应。综上所述,通过分析比较黄土区不同恢复年限草地群落的地上、地下及总生物量和根冠比对氮添加的响应。建议对该区域开展试点实验,实行适应性草地管理,如进行两年一次刈割或轻度放牧（2只羊/hm²）,来探寻更科学有效的管理措施,使草地实现系统性恢复,进而满足生态系统容量和社会需求的变化。     

Distribution,density and impact of invasive plants in Lake Nakuru National Park,Kenya

Invasive plants have invaded swathes of grasslands in Lake Nakuru National Park thus necessitating the Park management to institute measures to control them. Despite this, information on the status and impact of invasive plants in these grasslands is lacking. Six grassland types were identified and assigned random numbers. Five study sites were then randomly selected from each grassland type. The Point‐Centre Quarter method was used to determine the distribution and density of seven major invasive plants, whilst their impact was assessed by comparing biomass and crude protein content of important forage grasses in invaded and noninvaded grasslands. Results show that the distribution of invasive plants did not differ among the grasslands (F_{5, 30} = 1.47, P = 0.229) but their densities differed among the plants (F_{6, 30} = 20.99, P < 0.001). The mean biomass in invaded and noninvaded grasslands (22 g m^?2 versus 37.2 g m^?2) was significantly different (t‐test, P < 0.05), while crude protein content of grasses in invaded (7.73, % DM) and noninvaded (9.3, % DM) patches was not significantly different (t‐test; P > 0.05). Our results suggest that invasive plants lower grass production and hence might reduce food availability to grazers.     

Influence of nitrogen addition on the primary production in Nei Mongol degraded grassland

Aims Irrational utilization and global climate change have caused degradation of grassland ecosystems in northern China with low soil fertility, decreased vegetation coverage and productivity. Nitrogen addition has been suggested an effective way to enhance restoration of those degraded grasslands. In this study, we selected a typical steppe with three different degrading levels, including lightly, moderately and heavily degraded communities, in East Ujimqin, Nei Mongol. Our objectives of this study are to examine if and how nitrogen (N) addition can enhance restoration of those degraded grasslands Methods Treatments with four levels of N addition (0, 5.0, 10.0 and 20.0 g N·m^-2·a^-1) were conducted to each of the three degraded communities from 2014 to 2015. Nitrogen was applied as urea in June of both years. Aboveground biomass was collected at the species level in 1 m × 1 m plot in August each year, all species biomass was summed as net primary production, and biomass of plant functional groups was calculated by perennial rhizome grasses, perennial bunchgrasses, perennial forbs, shrubs and semi-shrubs, annuals and biennials.Important findings Our results showed that the high (20.0 g N·m^-2·a^-1) and medium level N addition (10.0 g N·m^-2·a^-1) significantly increased the aboveground biomass of the slightly degraded community by 53.1% and 51.6% compared with no N addition. N addition had no significant effects on the moderately and heavily degraded communities. N addition with high and medium levels increased aboveground biomass of perennial rhizome grasses by 45.1% and 47.7%, but decreased that of perennial forbs by 37.4% and 42.1% at the slightly degraded community. Our results indicated that N addition could increase the growth of perennial rhizome grasses, and the growth of perennial forbs was suppressed consequently. Our results suggest that even the application of N fertilizers can only be helpful to restoration of those slightly degraded grasslands. Besides, N addition had no significant effects on species richness in different degraded communities indicating the fact that the study may not last long enough. For the purpose of increasing aboveground biomass of degraded grassland, we should not only consider the type and quantity of fertilization, but also the attribute of the degraded communities. In addition, the response of degraded community in biomass may strongly be impacted by degrading level of studied grassland.     

Effects of nitrogen addition on plant biomass and tissue elemental content in different degradation stages of temperate steppe in northern China

Aims Grassland degradation has become a common problem worldwide. Several studies have analyzed the effects of nitrogen (N) addition on plant growth in grasslands, but few have considered its effects on plant growth in degraded grasslands. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of N addition on plant growth in grasslands with different levels of degradation in Inner Mongolia, China.