Tree formations in relation with soil and grasses in a dry savanna in Mali, West Africa

The relationship between trees, grass and soil in a dry savanna in Mali was investigated, to identify variables that are most relevant to assess vegetation units. A 65 ha plateau was inventoried using a systematic square grid sampling pattern. Thirteen soil or topography variables, and tree and grass characteristics were measured at each sampling point. Multivariate analysis was used to separately analyse soil, tree and grass data, and to characterize tree–grass and tree–soil relationships. Four units of soils, four units of tree formations, and four units of grass formations were identified. There was a correspondence between these groups, indicative of four vegetation units: thicket, bare land, shrub savanna and tree savanna. Soil depth and soil texture were the soil variables that best related to tree vegetation. A negative correlation was found between tree basal area and grass dry biomass. Finally, vegetation units, as identified from tree species composition, had contrasted diameter structures and densities.     

树种及多样性组配对南亚热带人工林早期树木生长的影响

为科学筛选提升南亚热带人工林生产力的树种配置模式,选择南亚热带8个乡土树种,采用随机区组的试验设计,建立了树种多样性梯度(1、2、4、6个树种)人工新造林试验平台,研究树种多样性及不同功能特性树种混交对人工林早期树木生长的影响。结果表明: 在树木生长第5年,树木生长并没有随树种多样性增加而增加;速生树种马尾松和米老排纯林生长量是珍贵树种红椎和格木纯林的2.5～4.5倍;2个树种混交和4个树种混交情况下,针阔树种混交、速生树种与固氮树种混交显著提高树木生长量51.5%～132.8%,而当6个树种混交时,不同树种组配对生长量没有显著影响。不同树种配置模式下土壤氮、磷养分是影响树木早期生长的主要因素。针阔树种混交、速生和固氮树种混交能显著提高南亚热带人工林树木的早期生长。     

浙江天台山甜槠种内与种间竞争研究

采用Hegyi的单木竞争指数模型对天台山的甜槠种内、种间的竞争强度进行定量分析。结果表明 ,甜槠种内竞争强度随着林木径级的增大而逐渐减小 ,种内竞争较之与其伴生树种间的竞争剧烈。甜槠种内、种间竞争强度的顺序为 :甜楮 >木荷 >马尾松 >尾叶冬青 >虎皮楠 >短柄木包 >珍珠栗。竞争木对对象木的竞争强度与对象木的个体大小服从幂函数关系 ,竞争强度和对象木个体的大小呈极显著的负相关关系。当甜槠胸径达到 30cm后 ,竞争强度变化不明显 ,说明此时该生态系统已基本达到稳定状态。     

中国树鼩实验动物化研究进展和展望

该文回顾了我国树鼩驯养繁殖和研究的发展历史,介绍了树鼩实验动物化研究的最新进展,并结合我国目前的状况,提出了今后的工作建议:加强实验树鼩标准化(包括地方和国家标准)的研究、近交系动物的研制、达到商业化树鼩的基础分子与细胞生物学研究工具的研制、人类重大疾病树鼩动物模型研究和建设国家实验树鼩种源基地等。     

Linking water use and nutrient accumulation in tree island upland hammock plant communities in the Everglades National Park, USA

The tree island hammock communities in the Florida Everglades provide one of many examples of self-organized wetland landscape. However, little is understood about why these elevated tree island communities have higher nutrient concentration than the surrounding freshwater marshes. Here we used stable isotopes and elemental analysis to compare dry season water limitation and soil and foliar nutrient status in upland hammock communities of 18 different tree islands located in the Shark River Slough and adjacent prairie landscapes. We observed that prairie tree islands, having a shorter hydroperiod, suffer greater water deficits during the dry season than slough tree islands by examining shifts in foliar ??¹³C values. We also found that prairie tree islands have lower soil total phosphorus concentration and higher foliar N/P ratio than slough tree islands. Foliar ??¹⁵N values, which often increase with greater P availability, was also found to be lower in prairie tree islands than in slough tree islands. Both the elemental N and P and foliar ??¹⁵N results indicate that the upland hammock plant communities in slough tree islands have higher amount of P available than those in prairie tree islands. Our findings are consistent with the transpiration driven nutrient harvesting chemohydrodynamic model. The water limited prairie tree islands hypothetically transpire less and harvest less P from the surrounding marshes than slough tree islands during the dry season. These findings suggest that hydroperiod is important to nutrient accumulation of tree island habitats.     

Habitat Characteristics and Lemur Species Richness in Madagascar1

In the extant lemur communities of Madagascar the number of lemur species increases with increasing number of tree species. In forests with few tree species lemurs use patches with higher number of tree species than average. However, in forest plots with high number of tree species, lemurs stay in places with lower number of tree species than average. At low tree species diversity a minimum number of different tree species seems to be required within the animals' home range to assure year-round food availability. At high tree species diversity tree species essential for survival might be diluted by resources which are of no use for lemurs, thus increasing energetic expenses for traveling between suitable patches. According to the present analyses, structural diversity is of subordinate importance to the number of tree species as a correlate of lemur species richness. Within limits of disturbance intensity and on a small geographic scale, disturbances increase forest productivity. Lemurs reach higher species numbers and population densities in slightly disturbed areas compared with undisturbed sites. This peaked curve of the number of lemur species over disturbance, however, may not only be a consequence of “resource dilution” in undisturbed sites and higher food abundance in slightly disturbed areas, but also a consequence of selective extinction of lemur species which were unable to cope with the disturbance regime exaggerated by human interference over the last few hundred or thousand years.     

矿区绿化树木对镉和锌的吸收与分布

研究了南京某矿区11种树木的重金属吸收和分布特征.结果表明：树木对重金属的吸收和富集因树木种类、部位及重金属种类的不同而异.法国冬青对Cd的含量、富集和转运系数均高于其它树种,可以植物萃取方式修复土壤污染.Cd主要积累在树木根部,树木不同器官对Cd积累能力的总趋势为根＞叶及枝＞树皮＞树干;而Zn更多地积累在树木地上部（叶和枝）而非根部.11种树木对Cd和Zn的富集系数均<0.2.树木对Cd和Zn的转运系数差异显著,总体上是Zn>Cd.     

Size- and Age-dependent Variation in the Properties of Sap- and Heartwood in Black Locust (Robinia pseudoacaciaL.)

Dissection and mechanical bending experiments showed that the cross-sectional area and elastic moduli of sap- and heartwood varied within the trunk and branches as a function of the distance from the top of a 43-year-old black locust tree (Robinia pseudoacaciaL.). Wood in branches less than 1 m from the top of the tree consisted entirely of sapwood; the majority of the wood from more basipetal (and older) parts of the tree was heartwood. The Young's elastic moduli of sap- and heartwood increased towards the base of the trunk, and, on average, the modulus of the sapwood was 35%less than that of the heartwood. Younger, more distal tree limbs, therefore, were more flexible than older portions of the same tree. Simple bending experiments showed that the flexural rigidity of young limbs was governed by the location, physical properties, and the relative quantities of the two types of wood. The rigidity of limbs increased toward the base of the tree, and was dominated by sapwood in young limbs and by heartwood in the oldest parts of the tree. These trends predict that the younger, distal limbs of this tree can more easily deflect and bend in the wind, thereby reducing drag and the total bending moment on the tree trunk, while older limbs and the trunk are sufficiently rigid to support static self-loadings. Further study, however, is required to determine whether the trends reported here apply to all trees of this species and to trees of different species.     

Bat Diversity and Movement in an Agricultural Landscape in Matiguás, Nicaragua

Although agriculture dominates much of Central America, little is known about the bat assemblages that occur within agricultural landscapes and how bats use different types of tree cover within these landscapes. Using mist-nets and a mark-recapture protocol, we compared bat diversity and movement across six types of tree cover within an agricultural landscape in central Nicaragua. The tree cover types surveyed included secondary forests, riparian forests, forest fallows, live fences, pastures with high tree cover and pastures with low tree cover. We captured a total of 3084 bats of 39 species, including two new species records for the country ( Lonchorhina aurita and Molossops greenhalli ). Of these, 2970 bats and 27 species were in the Phyllostomidae family. There were significant differences in mean species density, abundance and evenness of phyllostomid bats across the different types of tree cover, but not in bat diversity. Riparian forests had the highest mean species density and bat abundance per plot. In contrast, mean bat abundance and species density were lowest in pastures with low tree cover. Of the 1947 phyllostomid bats marked, a total of 64 bats of eight species were recaptured. The average linear distance between extra-site recaptures was 2227 m (± 228 SE) and the maximum distance was 10.6 km. Bats were recorded moving between almost all types of tree cover, and especially to and from riparian forests. Our study suggests that agricultural landscapes retaining a heterogeneous tree cover may maintain a diverse bat assemblage, and that bats visit and use a variety of tree cover types within the agricultural matrix.     

Photosynthesis, photoinhibition, and nitrogen use efficiency in native and invasive tree ferns in Hawaii

Photosynthetic gas exchange, chlorophyll fluorescence, nitrogen use efficiency, and related leaf traits of native Hawaiian tree ferns in the genus Cibotium were compared with those of the invasive Australian tree fern Sphaeropteris cooperi in an attempt to explain the higher growth rates of S. cooperi in Hawaii. Comparisons were made between mature sporophytes growing in the sun (gap or forest edge) and in shady understories at four sites at three different elevations. The invasive tree fern had 12-13 cm greater height increase per year and approximately 5 times larger total leaf surface area per plant compared to the native tree ferns. The maximum rates of photosynthesis of S. cooperi in the sun and shade were significantly higher than those of the native Cibotium spp (for example, 11.2 and 7.1 µmol m^-2 s^-1, and 5.8 and 3.6 µmol m^-2 s^-1 respectively for the invasive and natives at low elevation). The instantaneous photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency of the invasive tree fern was significantly higher than that of the native tree ferns, but when integrated over the life span of the frond the differences were not significant. The fronds of the invasive tree fern species had a significantly shorter life span than the native tree ferns (approximately 6 months and 12 months, respectively), and significantly higher nitrogen content per unit leaf mass. The native tree ferns growing in both sun and shade exhibited greater photoinhibition than the invasive tree fern after being experimentally subjected to high light levels. The native tree ferns recovered only 78% of their dark-acclimated quantum yield (F_v/F_m), while the invasive tree fern recovered 90% and 86% of its dark-acclimated F_v/F_m when growing in sun and shade, respectively. Overall, the invasive tree fern appears to be more efficient at capturing and utilizing light than the native Cibotium species, particularly in high-light environments such as those associated with high levels of disturbance.     

人工饲养树鼩血液学及生化指标正常值测定及分析

目的建立人工饲养健康树鼩血液学和血液生化指标的正常值参考范围,并探讨与不同物种的血液学和血液生化值的差异及相互关系。方法应用全自动血细胞仪和生化分析仪测定140只健康成年树鼩的血液学及血液生化指标。结果雌性与雄性比较,LYM％、PLT、RDW％、GLU、CREA的差异具有显著性（JP〈0．05）,11P、CHOL、TG的差异具有极显著性（P〈0．01）,其他指标的差异不具显著性,部分指标与恒河猴、大鼠及人的相应指标存在一定的差异。结论本文建立了健康树鼩的血液学及生化指标的正常值参考范围,可为应用该动物进行科学研究时提供参考。     

Changes in leaf morphology and anatomy with tree age and height in the broadleaved evergreen species, Eucalyptus regnans F. Muell

Relatively little is known about changes in leaf attributes over the lifespan of woody plants. Knowledge of such changes may be useful in interpreting physiological changes with age. This study investigated changes in leaf morphology and anatomy with tree age and height in the broadleaved evergreen species, Eucalyptus regnans. Fully expanded leaves were sampled from the upper canopy of tree ages ranging from 6 to 240 years, and tree heights ranging from about 10–80 m. There were significant changes in leaf form with increasing tree age and height. Leaf size and specific leaf area (SLA; leaf area/leaf mass) decreased, leaf thickness increased, and leaves became narrower relative to their length, with increasing tree age and height. Cuticle thickness and leaf waxiness, including wax occlusion of the stomatal antechamber, increased with increasing age and height. By comparison, there were no clear trends in stomatal frequency or stomatal length with tree age, although there were curvilinear relationships between an index of total stomatal pore area per leaf lamina and both tree age and tree height. The results support the hypothesis that leaves of E. regnans become more xeromorphic with tree age and height. The results are discussed in relation to their significance for changes in water relations in the canopy with age.     

Seasonality and facilitation drive tree establishment in a semi-arid floodplain savanna

A popular hypothesis for tree and grass coexistence in savannas is that tree seedlings are limited by competition from grasses. However, competition may be important in favourable climatic conditions when abiotic stress is low, whereas facilitation may be more important under stressful conditions. Seasonal and inter-annual fluctuations in abiotic conditions may alter the outcome of tree–grass interactions in savanna systems and contribute to coexistence. We investigated interactions between coolibah (Eucalyptus coolabah) tree seedlings and perennial C₄ grasses in semi-arid savannas in eastern Australia in contrasting seasonal conditions. In glasshouse and field experiments, we measured survival and growth of tree seedlings with different densities of C₄ grasses across seasons. In warm glasshouse conditions, where water was not limiting, competition from grasses reduced tree seedling growth but did not affect tree survival. In the field, all tree seedlings died in hot dry summer conditions irrespective of grass or shade cover, whereas in winter, facilitation from grasses significantly increased tree seedling survival by ameliorating heat stress and protecting seedlings from herbivory. We demonstrated that interactions between tree seedlings and perennial grasses vary seasonally, and timing of tree germination may determine the importance of facilitation or competition in structuring savanna vegetation because of fluctuations in abiotic stress. Our finding that trees can grow and survive in a dense C₄ grass sward contrasts with the common perception that grass competition limits woody plant recruitment in savannas.     

Formation and vertical distribution of sapwood and heartwood in Cryptomeria japonica D. Don

The formation and vertical distribution of sapwood and heartwood were studied with a 45-year-old Cryptomeria japonica D. Don. The tree was grown at a plantation with 1.5 m × 3.0 m spacing near Miao-Li, Taiwan and was felled on 27 February 1992. The thickness of sapwood and heartwood was expressed by a ring count and a linear measurement. The east-west (E-W) wood strips were collected from 0.3 m above ground upwards to the top of the tree at 2.5 m intervals. The sapwood thicknesses from the base to the 10.3 m tree level height are around 20–22 growth rings and 42±2 mm. At the top of the tree, the sapwood thickness is narrower. The heartwood, which decreases in thickness with increasing tree level heights is not found at the top of the tree. The heartwood appears as a conical shape in the tree trunk. There is no statistical difference in sapwood/heartwood thickness between E-W aspects. Tree level heights and the tree level age were found to be important parameters in determining the thickness of sapwood/heartwood.     

四川扭角羚春冬季对栖息地的利用初步研究

1998年3月至1999年2月,在四川省青川县唐家河自然保护区,对四川扭角羚（Budorcas taxicolor tibetana)春冬季对栖息地的利用进行了初步研究。结果表明,影响四川扭角羚春季栖息地利用的主要生态因子为人为干扰,植被型、乔木大小、乔木距离,乔木密度、食物丰富度,海拔,坡位、郁闭度,影响冬季栖息地利用的主要生态因子为人为干扰。植被型,乔木距离,灌木大小,灌木密度,动物干扰度,乔木大小、灌木距离,坡位,郁闭度,水源,四川扭角羚春冬季栖息地利用的分离主要表现为食物丰富度,乔木大小,乔木密度,乔木距离,植被型,水源,坡位等生存因子的分离。     

野生和人工繁育树鼩部分生理指标检测与比较

比较野生和人工繁育树鼩的部分生理指标,为人类疾病的动物模型创制提供基本参数.血液采自昆明地区54只野生树鼩(被捕获后人工饲养1-2月)和54只子一代人工繁育树鼩.该研究首次报道在两组动物中,肌酸激酶、肌钙蛋白I、总胆汁酸、果糖胺、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇等在性别间差异无显著性;这些指标在人工繁育树鼩中的中位数(四分位数间距)依次为:1449(956)U/L、5.94(7.23)μg/L、15.6(19.7)μmol/L、393.5(80.8)μmol/L和0.36(0.32)mmol/L;在野生树鼩中依次为:986(564)U/L、4.01(4.10)μg/L、20.0(20.6)μmol/L、379.0(104.0)μmol/L和0.46(0.23)mmol/L.人工繁育树鼩生理指标表现出个体间离散程度降低趋势,但个别反映肝脏功能及心肌情况的指标表现出平均值上升,个体离散程度扩大的现象.这些生理指标为人类疾病的树鼢模型创制打下了基础.     

柳州市行道树资源调查与结构特征分析

该研究通过对柳州市区主要道路园林绿化全面踏勘,在四城区中筛选出68条道路行道树进行现场调查和综合评价。结果表明:(1)柳州市行道树共有28种,隶属于17科21属,常绿树种与落叶树种比例及乡土树种与外来树种比例合理。(2)柳州市行道树中小叶榕和黄葛榕在各城区应用频度较高,树种组成结构相对单一。(3)季相树种在各城区应用频度不均衡,部分城区春季景观营造效果显著,而夏秋冬季相景观效果不显著。(4)绿化达标率和林荫路推广率离国家生态园林城市还有较大差距,物种丰富度和多样性指数有待提高。建议加大乡土树种的应用与推广,提高各城区物种丰富度及季相树种的应用,营造城市道路特色季相景观。该研究成果提出了发展乡土树种、丰富树种多样性及季相景观营造的技术建议,对柳州市行道树树种规划和建设提供了科学依据。     

Plant functional group responses to fire frequency and tree canopy cover gradients in oak savannas and woodlands

Questions: How do fire frequency, tree canopy cover, and their interactions influence cover of grasses, forbs and understorey woody plants in oak savannas and woodlands? Location: Minnesota, USA. Methods: We measured plant functional group cover and tree canopy cover on permanent plots within a long‐term prescribed fire frequency experiment and used hierarchical linear modeling to assess plant functional group responses to fire frequency and tree canopy cover. Results: Understorey woody plant cover was highest in unburned woodlands and was negatively correlated with fire frequency. C4‐grass cover was positively correlated with fire frequency and negatively correlated with tree canopy cover. C3‐grass cover was highest at 40% tree canopy cover on unburned sites and at 60% tree canopy cover on frequently burned sites. Total forb cover was maximized at fire frequencies of 4–7 fires per decade, but was not significantly influenced by tree canopy cover. Cover of N‐fixing forbs was highest in shaded areas, particularly on frequently burned sites, while combined cover of all other forbs was negatively correlated with tree canopy cover. Conclusions: The relative influences of fire frequency and tree canopy cover on understorey plant functional group cover vary among plant functional groups, but both play a significant role in structuring savanna and woodland understorey vegetation. When restoring degraded savannas, direct manipulation of overstorey tree canopy cover should be considered to rapidly reduce shading from fire‐resistant overstorey trees. Prescribed fires can then be used to suppress understorey woody plants and promote establishment of light‐demanding grasses and forbs.     

西双版纳热带森林树洞丰富度及其分配特点

树洞是森林生态系统的重要结构,对动物多样性的维持起着重要作用。为研究热带森林树洞的数量特征及其分配特点,选取西双版纳20hm2热带森林动态监测样地为研究对象,采用地面观测法调查了样地内所有胸径≥5cm活立木上的树洞。结果表明:(1)该样地森林的树洞密度为108.4个·hm-2,具有树洞的树1725株(占树木总数的6.22%),隶属于208个种;(2)树木个体的树洞数量随径级增加而增加,并在种间变化不均匀;(3)树木出现空心的概率随胸径级的增加而显著增加,并且在树种间存在显著差异;(4)与其他纬度地区森林的树洞密度比较,本研究结果支持了Boyle等(2008)提出的低纬度森林具有较高树洞密度的推测。     

闽南丘陵山地引种栽培树木的物候期与抗寒力调查

本试验以厦门同安祥溪国有林场为试验点,进行为期30多年的引种驯化试验。对35种主要树种的物候观测表明,引种树木叶芽及幼叶的生长集中在每年3月,花期集中在2~6月,果熟期集中在7~10月。寒害调查结果表明,引种保存的117个树种中,未受寒害或受寒害轻、能在同安正常越冬的有83种,占70.9%;中度冻害的有八宝树、石笔木等16种,占13.7%;而受冻严重和地上部分冻死的有柚木、白格等18种,占15.4%。绝大部分树种均可顺利渡夏,90多种已开花结实;无病虫害或危害轻微不影响生长发育的有109种,占93.2%;病虫影响严重的有桔红、细子龙等8种,占6.8%;造林成活率大于80%的有110种,占93.8%。试验结果表明,闽南丘陵山地收集保存的树种种质资源的生态适应性是多样的,这些树种在生长发育和适应性等方面表现出较大的差异性。