海北高寒草甸植物群落的数量分类和排序

本文采用数学分析的方法,对海北高寒草甸生态系统开放实验站地区的植物群落进行了数量分类和排序。结果表明：当相关系数R=0.85时,64个样地群落可以划分为23个群落类型,各群落类型的层次结构、种类组成、生态条件以及地理分布上均有明显特点。排序结果证明：群落类型的排序坐标分别与海拔、土壤温度和土壤湿度之间有密切的关系。     

天山中段山地植被的生态梯度分析及环境解释

 本文通过对天山中段植物群落的DCA排序和TWINSPAN等级制分类及其与3个土壤变量的CCA典范对应分析,定量地研究了该区域植被分布与环境之间的相互关系。结果表明：天山山脉中段植物群落沿着温度和湿度两个梯度方向呈现以天山中段内部湿润植被为中心向北坡干冷荒漠植被和南坡干热砾石荒漠植被两个极点方向发展的分布格局。进一步研究发现,天山山脉中段南北坡植物群落,从大的宏观尺度上看,其类型与分布主要由降水量和温度所决定,而在中小尺度范围上,植物群落的分布与类型却与土壤湿度和土壤养分密切相关。该结果较好地解释了天山山脉中段内部,在地形地貌基本一致的情况下,植物群落类型分异很大的原因。建立了天山山脉中段植物群落梯度环境解释的数学模型和植物群落地理分布的数学模型。     

Landscape assessment of tree communities in the northern karst region of Puerto Rico

The northern karst of Puerto Rico is a unique formation that contains one of the island’s largest remaining forested tracts. The region is under ever-increasing human pressure, but large portions of it are being considered for conservation. Forest classification of the region is at a coarse scale, such that it is considered one vegetation type. We asked whether there were distinct tree assemblages which would necessitate targeted conservation strategies to ensure their protection. We examined tree species and communities across the region at three different major topographic positions along mogotes, or haystack-shaped hills. We found distinct tree communities on hilltops and valleys, with significantly more non-native species in valleys and significantly more endemic species on hilltops and hillsides. At a landscape level, we identified at least four different communities within each topographic position. Two mogote top communities were separated geographically (west and south) within the region, while two others co-occurred in the east-central part of the region. Mogote side and valley communities were less distinct geographically. Temperature, elevation, and precipitation were important variables in separating some communities, suggesting that abiotic stress may play an important role in the distribution of some species. In contrast, the lack of geographic separations of other communities suggested that variables such as soil conditions, land use and biotic interactions such as dispersal limitation may also be important. Conservation planning strategies should target the south, west, and east-central areas that harbor distinct mogote top plant communities to ensure protection of the widest range of tree species and communities in the karst region.     

Species richness,alien species and plant traits in Central Argentine mountain grasslands

Abstract. Pattern of native vegetation, distribution of alien species and variation of environmental parameters were studied in mountain grasslands in a lithologically homogeneous Córdoba mountain range in Central Argentina. CCA showed that altitude was the most important factor determining the compositional variation of the vegetation, with soil nutrient status and stoniness as additional factors. Short‐grass communities, associated with the driest habitats on plateaus, showed higher small‐scale native species richness than wet‐turf communities in valleys and tall‐grass communities on slopes. Species richness was negatively correlated with soil parameters that indicate nutrient status and water availability. Also, there was a negative correlation between soil Ca‐ and Mg‐ content and richness. High native species richness coincided with high alien species richness. When smaller units – community types – were considered, it became evident that within short‐grass vegetation, the three most species‐rich community types contained significant numbers of alien species, while the other two did not. Even within one community type, the same quadrats that contained the highest number of native species, were also characterized by the highest numbers of alien species. Evidently, the same mechanism was responsible for high richness of both native and alien species. Alien species were distinguished by a greater proportion of annuals and prostrate stoloniferous plants, by lower palatability and by smaller proportion of zoochory. DCA ordination of quadrats on the basis of plant traits as attributes resulted in a clear distinction of three main vegetation types. Short‐grass vegetation was distinguished by a predomination of late flowering species, tall‐grass vegetation by the presence of high herbaceous plants and bushes, and wet‐turf vegetation by the presence of plants with storage organs, the lack of hairy leaves, and by a high proportion of cryptophytes. Quadrats with and without alien species were distinguished as well, indicating that the occurrence of aliens may be dependent on plant traits in a particular patch of a community.     

Shrub encroachment in the Alps gives rise to the convergence of sub‐alpine communities on a regional scale

Question: How does Alnus alnobetula colonization affect plant communities in sub‐alpine grasslands undergoing land abandonment on a regional scale? Location: Savoie, French Alps. Methods: Variations within and between communities were monitored in 243 plots within three types of stands representing an A. alnobetula colonization chronosequence from grassland to dense vegetation. They were tested for species richness, species strategies and species distribution through multivariate analysis. Regional variations were assessed at three sites along a rain shadow gradient. Results: We detected a convergence of the understorey communities along an A. alnobetula colonization gradient at all sites, associated with a reduction in species richness and the replacement of stress related strategists by competitor strategists. This convergence was unaffected by the rain shadow gradient although it was a key factor of plant distribution. Conclusions: The dense cover and the soil properties provided by A. alnobetula stands buffered the heterogeneity of sub‐alpine communities induced by a rain shadow gradient throughout the study region. It facilitated the development a homogeneous understorey community dominated by competitor related strategists while excluding grasslands stress adapted species through competition processes. The resulting community, although species‐poor, has an interesting conservation value. Accordingly, as a ‘native invader’, A. alnobetula does not display typical traits of biological invaders. Future experimental research on the interactions between A. alnobetula and components of the understorey would be particularly interesting in a severe environment that promotes facilitation among plants.     

Floristic patterns and plant traits of Mediterranean communities in fragmented habitats

Aim To contrast floristic spatial patterns and the importance of habitat fragmentation in two plant communities (grassland and scrubland) in the context of ecological succession. We ask whether plant assemblages are affected by habitat fragmentation and, if so, at what spatial scale? Does the relative importance of the niche differentiation and dispersal‐limitation mechanisms change throughout secondary succession? Is the dispersal‐limitation mechanism related to plant functional traits? Location A Mediterranean region, the massif of Albera (Spain). Methods Using a SPOT satellite image to describe the landscape, we tested the effect of habitat fragmentation on species composition, determining the spatial scale of the assemblage response. We then assessed the relative importance of dispersal‐related factors (habitat fragmentation and geographical distance) and environmental constraints (climate‐related variables) influencing species similarity. We tested the association between dispersal‐related factors and plant traits (dispersal mode and life form). Results In both community types, plant composition was partially affected by the surrounding vegetation. In scrublands, animal‐dispersed and woody plants were abundant in landscapes dominated by closed forests, whereas wind‐dispersed annual herbs were poorly represented in those landscapes. Scrubby assemblages were more dependent on geographical distance, habitat fragmentation and climate conditions (temperature, rainfall and solar radiation); grasslands were described only by habitat fragmentation and rainfall. Plant traits did not explain variation in spatial structuring of assemblages. Main conclusions Plant establishment in early Mediterranean communities may be driven primarily by migration from neighbouring established communities, whereas the importance of habitat specialization and community drift increases over time. Plant life forms and dispersal modes did not explain the spatial variation of species distribution, but species richness within the community with differing plant traits was affected by habitat patchiness.     

三峡库区消涨带植物群落的数量分析

运用双向指示种分析法(TWINSPAN)和除趋势对应分析法(DCA)对三峡库区消涨带植物群落进行了数量分类和排序分析。TWINSPAN将122个样方分成19类,可归为4个植被型,分类结果反映了植物群落与环境梯度间的关系,并在DCA分布图上得到较好的验证。DCA分布图的对角线基本反映了水淹时间长短和土壤湿度高低,表明水淹时间和土壤湿度是该区域植物群落组成和空间分布的主要限制性影响因子。对消涨带不同部位植物群落的物种组成和分布规律的分析为筛选耐水淹物种、进行三峡水库消涨带的植被恢复提供了物种参考。     

Plant species response to variation in soil nutrient saturation gradients in Zaraninge Forest,Tanzania

Zaraninge is a former forest reserve which is now included as part of the Saadani National Park in Bagamoyo District Coast Region. The influence of soil mineral nutrients (N, P, K, Mg and Na) on the pattern of plant species distributions was determined, and transect method was used for data collection. Plant species composition and abundance followed variation in soil nutrient gradients within Zaraninge Forest. Canonical correspondence analysis of soil and plant data showed that calcium, magnesium and phosphorus were the mineral nutrients that significantly influenced the distribution plant species (P < 0.05) while other nutrients had no significant effects. Data from this study provide evidence of the existing variation in soil nutrient saturation gradients to which plant species distribution responds within the forest. A successful conservation of Zaraninge Forest biodiversity requires protecting the soil which is the necessary habitat for the plant species.     

Variation in species composition and species richness within Phragmites australis dominated riparian zones

In riparian wetlands total standing crop often fails to account for a significant part of the observed variation in species richness and species composition within communities. In this study, we used abundance of the dominant species instead of total standing crop as the biotic predictor variable and investigated its relationships with species composition and species richness in communities dominated by Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steudel. This was done by measuring soil organic matter content, litter cover and elevation, Phragmites abundance (standing crop and stem density) and species composition in 78 relevés. In addition, we tried to identify the environmental boundaries of Phragmites communities by sampling relevés in neighbouring communities.Two gradients were related to a decline in Phragmites abundance: one gradient, perpendicular to the shoreline, was mainly related to increased elevation and the second gradient ran parallel to the shoreline and was related to increased amounts of soil organic matter. Within the relevés dominated by Phragmites, stem density of Phragmites and litter cover were the only factors significantly related to species composition in the RDA solution. Litter cover and standing crop of the dominant accounted for 64% of the variation in species richness within the Phragmites-dominated community. These results show that dead and living biomass of the dominant species may account for a substantial part of the variation in species composition and species richness within a single community.     

Main vegetation types and plant species diversity along an altitudinal gradient of Al Baha region,Saudi Arabia

Plant species composition patterns and vegetation types were investigated along Elevational Gradients in Al Baha region, Saudi Arabia. Sandy plain, wadis, drainage lines, rocky outcrops, hills and fallow lands occur over a wide geographic range encompassing variation in plant species and communities among these different ecological sites. To provide a quantitatively based classification of the vegetation we used Multi Variant Statistical Package (MVSP) software, followed by the re-arrangement of a matrix of the similar plant species in rows and similar sample sites in columns. Plant density and environmental variables were measured and recorded in each quadrat. Two-way indicator species analysis and Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) were used to analyze the relationships between vegetation and environmental variables, while Arc Map was used to analyze the pattern of plant species density. A total of 59 sample plots (25 × 25 m), stratified, randomly-placed relevés were collected in Al Baha region, along a cross section running from south-west to north-west. About 190 plant species belonging to 59 families were recognized. This study showed that these plant species formed 15 vegetation types that primarily correspond mainly to different combinations of elevation, and topography. The study concluded that this research has provided the first quantitative and systematic survey of the vegetation in Al Baha region.     

植物多样性与生态系统土壤保持功能关系及其生态学意义

测定物种丰富度呈梯度变化的半湿润常绿阔叶林不同次生演替阶段小区地表径流、土壤侵蚀和总磷流失及影响这些过程的植物群落郁闭度、个体密度、胸高断面积、植物叶吸附水,分析物种多样性与生态系统土壤保持功能、稳定性及直接影响土壤保持功能的群落结构、树冠截留间的关系。结果表明,在降雨、坡度、坡向、坡位、土壤类型等水土保持影响因子相同条件下,随着各小区物种多样性的增加,地表产流次数不断下降;在3个降雨季节,物种多样性最低的小区产生地表径流77次,而物种多样性最高小区产生地表径流才9次;系列小区地表径流、土壤侵蚀和总磷流失随着物种多样性增加呈幂指数下降;物种多样性最低的小区地表径流、土壤侵蚀和总磷流失分别为960.20 m³·hm^-2·a^-1,11.4 t·hm^-2·a^-1,127.69 kg·hm^-2·a^-1,而物种多样性最高的小区为75.55 m³·hm^-2·a^-1、0.28 t·hm^-2·a^-1、4.71 kg·hm^-2·a^-1,分别相差12、50和25倍;地表径流、土壤侵蚀和总磷流失变异系数也呈幂指数下降,物种多样性最高的小区地表径流、土壤侵蚀和总磷流失的变异系数分别为57.93、187.94和 59.2,而物种多样性最低的小区变异系数高达287.6、534.21、315.47,分别相差4、3和5倍。物种多样性与影响土壤保持功能的群落郁闭度、密度和胸高断面积呈正相关关系。不同演替阶段植物叶吸附水量差异显著,吸附水量最高的演替阶段是次生半湿润常绿阔叶林,为12.28 t·hm^-2·a^-1, 最低是云南松(Pinus yunnanensis)林, 为4.15 t·hm^-2·a^-1。“植物多样性-土壤保持功能相关群落结构因子及树冠截留效应-生态系统土壤保持功能”的耦合关系表明了植物多样性通过植物群落结构削弱了降雨动能,减少了地表径流,减轻了土壤及营养元素的流失,以间接方式调控生态系统土壤保持功能,维持系统营养的持续性,在不同尺度上实现生态系统生产力。物种多样性的提高,促进了生态系统土壤保持功能的稳定性。植物多样性-生态系统土壤保持过程的研究可能是生态系统稳定性研究的好方法。用植物叶吸附水测定可评价群落树冠截留效应。由于植物多样性与生态系统土壤保持功能间存在相关关系,基于植物多样性对生态系统土壤保持功能作用模式,可增进对生命系统和地球系统界面间相互作用关系的了解。     

广东优势群落甜槠林多样性研究

采用每木调查法,对广东粤北石门台和粤中象头山地区甜槠（Castanopsis eyrie（Champ.） Tutch.）林样方内胸径≥ 1 cm的乔、灌木进行测量,记录其种名、胸径、高度和在样方中的坐标位置等指标,对群落的植物组成、区系成分、优势种及物种多样性进行分析。结果显示：石门台样地有维管植物112种,隶属36科54属;象头山样地有维管植物109种,隶属36科59属。两个群落均具有明显的热带向亚热带过渡的性质。其中,石门台样地与华东、华中地区联系紧密;象头山样地则与中国台湾、日本的岛屿联系更多。比较两个地区的群落特征发现,他们的相似性较高,物种多样性指数接近,纬度并不是决定群落植物多样性高低的因素,小环境、群落演替进程及人为因素对群落植物多样性的影响更大。     

广东优势群落甜槠林多样性研究

采用每木调查法,对广东粤北石门台和粤中象头山地区甜槠( Castanopsis eyrie (Champ.) Tutch.)林样方内胸径≥ 1 cm的乔、灌木进行测量,记录其种名、胸径、高度和在样方中的坐标位置等指标,对群落的植物组成、区系成分、优势种及物种多样性进行分析。结果显示:石门台样地有维管植物112种,隶属36科54属;象头山样地有维管植物109种,隶属36科59属。两个群落均具有明显的热带向亚热带过渡的性质。其中,石门台样地与华东、华中地区联系紧密;象头山样地则与中国台湾、日本的岛屿联系更多。比较两个地区的群落特征发现,他们的相似性较高,物种多样性指数接近,纬度并不是决定群落植物多样性高低的因素,小环境、群落演替进程及人为因素对群落植物多样性的影响更大。     

鄱阳湖南矶湿地优势植物群落及土壤有机质和营养元素分布特征

湿地植物和土壤是承担湿地诸多生态功能的主要基质和载体,相互之间有着强烈的影响。湿地土壤影响植物的种类、数量、生长发育、形态和分布,湿地植物又影响土壤中元素的分布与变化。鄱阳湖湿地的植物和土壤的特征及由他们带来的候鸟栖息地价值都受到他们之间的相互作用以及湖泊水位不同频率和幅度波动的影响。研究鄱阳湖湿地植物和土壤的特征及其形成原因和相互关系。为此,从2010年10月到2011年10月,对鄱阳湖湿地不同水位梯度下分布的芦苇、南荻、苔草、虉草和刚毛荸荠5个优势植物群落中57个定点样方展开了月度植被调查并且对5个不同植物群落下的135个土壤样品进行了实验室分析,研究了鄱阳湖优势植物群落及湿地土壤中有机质、全氮、全磷、全钾含量的分布特征及其相互关系。研究结果表明,鄱阳湖湿地优势植物群落分布特征受湿地土壤元素分布特征、湖面水位波动及植物生长特性和土壤沉积及土壤养分的综合影响,呈现了沿水位和海拔梯度明显的条带状或弧状分布、从湖岸到湖心依次分布为:狗牙根群落、芦苇群落、南荻群落、苔草群落、虉草群落、刚毛荸荠群落,最后是水生植物。同时植物群落的组成和分布特征也随季节性水位涨落的变化而变化;土壤有机质及其他各元素含量特征受植物群落分布、水位波动规律及湿地土壤特性等各种因素的影响,呈现出相对一致的分布规律,在0—20cm土壤层含量较高,20cm层后随土壤深度的增加含量逐渐减小,减小的速度先快后慢直至40cm层后趋于稳定;不同植物群落对土壤有机质、全氮、全磷、全钾的含量及变化具有很大的影响,不同植物群落下同种元素含量差异显著,并且各自随土壤深度和植物群落的变化呈现出层状、带状或弧状富集特征。不同植物群落对土壤养分元素含量影响程度不同,苔草群落对各元素吸收和滞留能力最强、影响最大,刚毛荸荠群落对土壤营养元素影响最弱。湿地植物群落和土壤之间彼此有着强烈的影响,其中植株的重量和土壤的SOC、TN及TP含量有非常显著的负相关关系,与土壤TK含量则有较强的正相关关系,同时,植株的重量和高度与土壤地下水埋深也有微弱的负相关关系。     

Plant diversity in a calcareous wooded meadow – The significance of management continuity

Questions: What is the contribution of management continuity during the last 30–40 years to variation in species diversity and composition of a calcareous wooded meadow plant community? Is tree cover related to species diversity and composition of the herbaceous layer? What are the effects of local soil gradients on species diversity? Location: Laelatu calcareous wooded meadow, Western Estonian coastal zone. Methods: Plant community composition was assessed in 150 1 m × 1 m plots, located at 30 sites with known management history within Laelatu meadow (7 ha). Light and soil conditions and relative altitude were measured at each plot. DCA was used to analyse variation in species composition and general linear mixed models to analyse the effects of management and environmental parameters on diversity. Results: Management continuity was the primary determinant of plant community composition, followed by light conditions and soil parameters. Species richness, diversity and evenness are positively dependent on management continuity. Spatial autocorrelation is important as well. Diversity started to decline under the tree canopy where 50% or less irradiation reached the level of the herbaceous layer. We did not find significant effects of soil conditions on small‐scale diversity. Conclusions: Management continuity, together with the cover of the tree layer, are the most important determinants of diversity. Despite grassland stands with different management history are located side by side, the regeneration of diversity and composition of plant communities after restoring regular management practices is a slow process.     

Links between plant community composition,soil organic matter quality and microbial communities in contrasting tundra habitats

Plant communities, soil organic matter and microbial communities are predicted to be interlinked and to exhibit concordant patterns along major environmental gradients. We investigated the relationships between plant functional type composition, soil organic matter quality and decomposer community composition, and how these are related to major environmental variation in non-acid and acid soils derived from calcareous versus siliceous bedrocks, respectively. We analysed vegetation, organic matter and microbial community compositions from five non-acidic and five acidic heath sites in alpine tundra in northern Europe. Sequential organic matter fractionation was used to characterize organic matter quality and phospholipid fatty acid analysis to detect major variation in decomposer communities. Non-acidic and acidic heaths differed substantially in vegetation composition, and these disparities were associated with congruent shifts in soil organic matter and microbial communities. A high proportion of forbs in the vegetation was positively associated with low C:N and high soluble N:phenolics ratios in soil organic matter, and a high proportion of bacteria in the microbial community. On the contrary, dwarf shrub-rich vegetation was associated with high C:N and low soluble N:phenolics ratios, and a high proportion of fungi in the microbial community. Our study demonstrates a strong link between the plant community composition, soil organic matter quality, and microbial community composition, and that differences in one compartment are paralleled by changes in others. Variation in the forb-shrub gradient of vegetation may largely dictate variations in the chemical quality of organic matter and decomposer communities in tundra ecosystems. Soil pH, through its direct and indirect effects on plant and microbial communities, seems to function as an ultimate environmental driver that gives rise to and amplifies the interactions between above- and belowground systems. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

陕西子午岭生态因素对植物群落的影响

为探讨生境对植被格局分布的影响,对黄土高原马栏林区60块样地进行植被学调查的基础上,采用17个环境指标刻画植物群落的空间位置、地形和土壤特征;利用双向指示种分析(TWINSPAN)划分了该区不同演替阶段的植物群落类型;利用前向选择法(forward selection)及Monte Carlo检验对不同演替阶段植物群落物种组成影响显著(p＜0.05)的环境因子进行筛选;利用去势典范对应分析(DCCA)排序方法分析不同演替阶段植物群落分布格局与环境的关系;利用偏典范对应分析(partial CCA)定量分离环境、空间及其交互作用对植被格局总体变异的影响.结果表明:(1)马栏林区的植物群落可划分为13个类型,分别属于4个不同的演替阶段;(2)对演替初期阶段群落影响显著的环境因子是土壤含盐量和碱解氮,对演替过渡阶段群落影响显著的环境因子是海拔和腐殖质厚度,对演替亚顶级阶段群落影响显著的因子是海拔、坡向、枯落物厚度、腐殖质厚度和pH值,而对演替顶级阶段群落分异影响显著的因子是海拔、坡向、pH值和速效磷;(3)不同演替阶段群落的生态学特性和分布规律与环境空间的生态梯度格局吻合较好;(4)随着演替的进行,环境因子单独对植物群落的影响越来越大,而样地位置单独作用和样地位置与环境因子的交互作用之和越来越小.     

汶川地震滑坡迹地植物群落与环境的关系

为了加快汶川地震滑坡迹地人工恢复植被的进程,探讨地震诱发的滑坡迹地植物群落与环境的关系。在5·12地震重灾区北川境内选取29个样地进行植被调查,采用10个环境指标刻画植物群落的地形、空间位置和土壤养分特征;利用TWINSPAN、CCA、DCA和DCCA,分析植物种、植物群落和植物生活型与环境的关系。结果显示:1)研究区的植物群落可划分为9个类型。2)研究区环境变量对植物种的解释量为21.96%,第一排序轴与pH值、海拔、土壤质地相关,反映的是植物种从次生植物群落向原生植物群落变化。通过DCCA分析得出,环境变量对植物群落的排序解释了25.7%,第一排序轴与pH值、海拔、土壤质地的相关较强,反映植物群落按照耐旱、耐贫瘠→人工或先锋植物→未受损的植被变化;第二排序轴与土壤有机质、全氮含量、坡向的相关,反映的是植物群落从草本植物→乔灌草或者灌草植物变化。3)滑坡迹地的植物群落与未受损林地的植物群落物种存在较大差异。