Plant–plant interactions as a mechanism structuring plant diversity in a Mediterranean semi‐arid ecosystem

Plant–plant interactions are among the fundamental processes that shape structure and functioning of arid and semi‐arid plant communities. Despite the large amount of studies that have assessed the relationship between plant–plant interactions (i.e., facilitation and competition) and diversity, often researchers forget a third kind of interaction, known as allelopathy. We examined the effect of plant–plant interactions of three dominant species: the perennial grass Lygeum spartum, the allelopathic dwarf shrub Artemisia herba‐alba, and the nurse shrub Salsola vermiculata, on plant diversity and species composition in a semi‐arid ecosystem in NE Spain. Specifically, we quantified the interaction outcome (IO) based on species co‐occurrence, we analyzed diversity by calculation of the individual species–area relationship (ISAR), and compositional changes by calculation of the Chao‐Jaccard similarity index. We found that S. vermiculata had more positive IO values than L. spartum, and A. herba‐alba had values between them. Lygeum spartum and A. herba‐alba acted as diversity repellers, whereas S. vermiculata acted as a diversity accumulator. As aridity increased, A. herba‐alba transitioned from diversity repeller to neutral and S. vermiculata transitioned from neutral to diversity accumulator, while L. spartum remained as diversity repeller. Artemisia herba‐alba had more perennial grass species in its local neighborhood than expected by the null model, suggesting some tolerance of this group to its “chemical neighbor”. Consequently, species that coexist with A. herba‐alba were very similar among different A. herba‐alba individuals. Our findings highlight the role of the nurse shrub S. vermiculata as ecosystem engineer, creating and maintaining patches of diversity, as well as the complex mechanism that an allelopathic plant may have on diversity and species assemblage. Further research is needed to determine the relative importance of allelopathy and competition in the overall interference of allelopathic plants.     

An assessment of below-ground ectomycorrhizal diversity of Abies alba miller in central Italy

ABSTRACT

In the framework of an ongoing study on the mycorrhizal associations of silver fir (Abies alba Mill., Pinaceae), we investigated the below-ground diversity of ectomycorrhizal communities in ten field sites located in five distinct natural A. alba woods, situated in the central part of the Apennine chain (Abruzzo region, Italy). Based on macro- and microscopic features, a total of 48 morphologically distinct ectomycorrhizal types have been classified on mature trees of A. alba, 37 of which are reported here for the first time. Ectomycorrhizal morphotypes were partially characterized, and their main features described; in many cases, the relevant fungal symbiont was identified at the level of species or genus. The number of distinguishable morphotypes per site was, with few exceptions, rather homogeneous, ranging from (5) 8 to 13 (20). Comparison of morphotype occurrence revealed that only few types were encountered in five or more sampled sites, whereas the vast majority of types was less frequent. The present study revealed a considerably high species diversity of the ectomycorrhizal symbionts of A. alba in a quite restricted area, thus raising interesting questions as to the ectomycorrhizal potential of this host tree over its entire, large natural range.     

Shrews and moles are less often captured by European Barn Owls Tyto alba nowadays than 150 years ago

Capsule: The analysis of 815 papers about the diet of the European Barn Owl Tyto alba showed that the consumption of small mammals that are insectivorous (shrews and moles) declined between 1860 and 2014. This suggests that the impoverished invertebrate communities due to global changes affected a large range of animals up to top predators.     

Assessing ectomycorrhizal fungal spore banks of truffle producing soils with pecan seedling trap-plants

Background and Aims

Recently, the truffle species Tuber lyonii Butters was found to be dominant in ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungal communities of cultivated pecan (Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) K. Koch). Many truffle fungi exhibit the trait of effectively colonizing plant roots via spores. We hypothesized that T. lyonii would be well represented in the spore bank of pecan orchard soils where it is found.

Methods

We used axenically-grown pecan seedlings as trap-plants to bait for EcM associates in soils collected beneath truffle-producing pecan trees. EcM fungi on seedlings were characterized through rDNA sequencing and were compared to EcM communities of adult trees in these orchards.

Results

Tuber lyonii mycorrhizas were well formed on seedlings inoculated with truffle spores, but were limited to just a few of the trap-plants grown in field soils. We compared EcM communities of adult pecan orchard trees to those on trap-plants and found distinct communities on each, with a high degree of similarity at the ordinal but not species level.

Conclusions

Although species of Pezizales are abundant in pecan EcM communities and as propagules in their soil spore banks, only a low level of T. lyonii was detected in soil spore banks beneath orchard trees naturally colonized by T. lyonii. Other factors including land-use history or orchard management may better explain this truffle species presence and abundance in pecan EcM communities.

     

Effects of seed dispersal, adult tree and seedling density on the spatial genetic structure of regeneration at fine temporal and spatial scales

Several demographic factors can produce family structured patches within natural plant populations, particularly limited seed and pollen dispersal and small effective density. In this paper, we used computer simulations to examine how seed dispersal, density, and spatial distribution of adult trees and seedlings can explain the spatial genetic structure (SGS) of natural regeneration after a single reproductive event in a small population. We then illustrated the results of our simulations using genetic (isozymes and chloroplast microsatellites) and demographic experimental data from an Abies alba (silver fir) intensive study plot located in the Southern French Alps (Mont Ventoux). Simulations showed that the structuring effect of limited dispersal on seedling SGS can largely be counterbalanced by high effective density or a clumped spatial distribution of adult trees. In addition, the clumping of natural regeneration far from adult trees, which is common in temperate forest communities where gap dynamics are predominant, further decreases SGS intensity. Contrary to our simulation results, low adult tree density, aggregated spatial distribution of seedlings, and limited seed dispersal did not generate a significant SGS in our A. alba experimental plot. Although some level of long distance pollen and seed flow could explain this lack of SGS, our experimental data confirm the role of spatial aggregation (both in adult trees and in seedlings far from adult trees) in reducing SGS in natural populations.     

Vegetation,microclimate and soils associated with the latest-lying snowpatches in Australia

Background : The Snowy Mountains contain Australia's longest-lasting snowpatches. Because of climate change, their longevity has declined, with the loss of some specialist vegetation in the underlying snowbeds.

Aims: To characterise the current status of the vegetation associated with the longest-lasting snowpatches in Australia and its association with abiotic factors.

Methods: We assessed plant composition, soil depth, moisture and nutrients and subsurface temperatures in five zones of increasing vegetation height and cover in snowbeds.

Results: The zone beneath the middle of snowpatches was characterised by little vegetation cover and lower species richness, later emergence from snow, skeletal soils, and lower mean soil temperatures than zones further downslope where soils increased in depth and nutrient levels. Vegetation beneath these snowpatches no longer occurs in distinct communities. Plants have not simply migrated upslope, instead, areas that have deep soil that used to have snowpatch specialist species are being colonised upslope by grasses and downslope by tall alpine herbfield species that prefer bare ground.

Conclusions: Reduced longevity of Australia's longest-lasting snowpatches has led to the loss of distinct snowpatch plant communities. With limited soils beneath the centre of current snowpatches, and a lack of other suitable sites there is no location for these plant communities to migrate to.     

Flavonoid glycosides in Malabar spinach Basella alba inhibit the growth of Spodoptera litura larvae

Basella alba is a perennial plant of the Basellaceae and is known by various common names including Malabar spinach. There are few insects that cause damage to B. alba. In this study, we examined the effect of B. alba leaves on the growth of Spodoptera litura larvae. B. alba leaves and a methanolic extract of the leaves inhibited the growth of S. litura larvae. Half of the larvae reared on the leaves died within 1 week. We found that two flavonoids, vitexin, and vitexin-2″-O-arabinofuranoside, were abundant in the methanol extract of leaves. When larvae were reared on purified vitexin or vitexin-2″-O-arabinofuranoside, their growth was significantly impaired compared with larvae reared on control spinach leaves. These results suggested that the flavonoid glycosides in B. alba leaves act as deterrents to S. litura larvae.     

Patterns of phylogenetic community structure of sand dune plant communities in the Yucatan Peninsula: the role of deterministic and stochastic processes in community assembly

ABSTRACT

Background: Tropical sand dunes are ideal systems for understanding drivers of community assembly as dunes are subject to both deterministic and stochastic processes. However, studies that evaluate the factors that mediate plant community assembly in these ecosystems are few.

Aims: We evaluated phylogenetic community structure to elucidate the role of deterministic and stochastic processes in mediating the assembly of plant communities along the north of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico.

Methods: We used plastid genetic markers to evaluate phylogenetic relationships in 16 sand-dune communities. To evaluate the role of climate in shaping plant community structure we carried out linear regressions between climatic variables and mean phylogenetic distance. We estimated the Net Relatedness Index and Nearest Taxon Index to identify ecological processes mediating community assembly.

Results: Observed phylogenetic structure was not different from random, suggesting that stochastic processes are the major determinants of community assembly. Climate was slightly correlated with phylogenetic diversity suggesting that abiotic environment plays a minimal role in community assembly.

Conclusions: Random assembly appears to be the primary factor structuring the studied sand dune plant communities. Environmental filters may represent a secondary factor contributing to the observed phylogenetic structure. Thus, both processes may act simultaneously to mediate the assembly of sand-dune plant communities.     

Herbivory and seedling performance in a fragmented temperate forest of Chile

Forest fragmentation alters plant-animal interactions, including herbivory. Relying manipulative experiments, we test if the reduction in insect herbivory associated with forest fragmentation translates into increased seedling growth and survival of three tree common species (Aristotelia chilensis, Cryptocarya alba and Persea lingue) in forest fragments and continuous forests in coastal Maulino forest, central Chile. Furthermore, we test if after protecting seedlings from herbivorous insects, plant performance is increased regardless of forest fragmentation. Nursery grown seedlings were transplanted into four forest fragments and a continuous forest during 2002. Insects, important herbivores in this forest, were excluded from half the seedlings by repeated applications of insecticides. Compared to continuous forests, in forest fragments, herbivory was reduced in all three species, seedling growth was greater in A. chilensis and C. alba but not in P. lingue, and survivorship was unaffected by herbivory or fragmentation in all three species. Protecting seedlings from insects reduced herbivory in the continuous forest to similar levels attained in the forest fragments. No change in herbivory results from by protecting seedlings in forest fragments. These results confirm that insects are important herbivores in the Maulino forest and also support the hypothesis that fragmentation can have strong indirect effects on plant communities as mediated through trophic interactions.     

Variation in terpene composition of Artemisia alba in relation to environmental conditions

The essential oil from inflorescences of Artemisia alba Turra (Compositae) was analysed by GLC; 33 different components were detected, 21 of which were identified by GC-MS. The composition of the extract changes with environmental and climatic conditions of the sites of collection (Adriatic area-NE Italy). Artemisia alba produces mainly sesquiterpene hydrocarbons when growing in thermophytic plant communities and mostly oxygenated monoterpenes in mesophytic plant communities. The results of ordination and cluster analysis performed on chemical data allowed the identification of four chemical types of A. alba.     

接种AMF和DSE对蛋白桑提质增产效应的影响

【目的】探究丛枝菌根真菌(arbuscular mycorrhiza fungi,AMF)和深色有隔内生真菌(dark septate endophyte,DSE)对蛋白桑(Morus alba)产量及品质的影响。【方法】采用盆栽试验,以丛枝菌根真菌和深色有隔内生真菌为微生物处理菌剂,通过设置单接种DSE、单接种AMF和联合接种DSE+AMF3种不同微生物组合研究对蛋白桑生长、产量和品质等影响,探索微生物菌剂对生态饲料作物蛋白桑的经济潜力。【结果】与未接菌处理(CK)相比,3种接菌处理均能显著促进蛋白桑地上部生长,提高地上部生物量,增加幅度为156.4%-196.6%;接菌微生物提高了蛋白桑的光合速率,增加了植物叶片氮、磷、钾的累积,提高蛋白桑的产量。接种微生物会使蛋白桑叶粗蛋白含量提升,降低饲料纤维营养价值,从而综合改善蛋白桑品质。微生物处理能够显著增加蛋白桑的叶茎比,提升了蛋白桑叶片的比例,优化生长结构,不同微生物处理对蛋白桑叶片各饲用品质指标的影响较其相应茎部更为明显,可以根据桑叶和茎秆的蛋白含量进行合理搭配获得饲料不同品级,从整体水平上提升蛋白桑地上部植株的饲用品质。接种微生物...     

Germinability and fungal occurrence in seeds of Abies alba Mill. populations in southern Italy

Abstract

Germination tests were carried out on seeds from three Italian populations of Abies alba. Seed germinability was up to 38%. HgCl₂, NaClO and plant preservative mixture were used as seed‐sterilising agents. Despite chemical treatments, Papulaspora rubida and Chaetomium globosum were isolated. The possible role of these fungi in the physiology of silver fir seed germination process was discussed.     

不同复垦方式煤矿排土场植物群落与土壤因子的关系

选取6个样地,采用协同样方法采样,对内蒙古黑岱沟露天煤矿排土场与原始植被地的植物及土壤因子进行对比研究。结果表明:(1)通过TWINSPAN划分法得到8个植物群落,经DCA法分析核实,与TWINSPAN划分结果一致。(2)油松+蒙古冰草复垦模式比新疆杨+紫花苜蓿复垦模式生态适应性差,紫花苜蓿丧失优势种的地位而被拂子茅取代。(3)剔除频度小于5%,获得228×74的样方-物种原始数据矩阵,对11个环境因子测定,采取"前向选择"和"Monte Carlo检验"确定了7个代理变量,形成228×7的样方-环境因子数据矩阵,经DCCA分析群落分布、格局及组成主要受土壤有机质(第1轴)、土壤密度(第2轴)两因子影响;第1轴特征值0.895,贡献率58.7%,沿着第1轴群落依次从类型Ⅷ、Ⅶ、Ⅴ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅱ、Ⅰ土壤有机质逐渐变大;第2轴特征值0.356,贡献率17.4%,沿着第2轴,群落Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅴ、Ⅶ土壤密度依次变小。(4)排土场群落物种组成较原始群落简单,现有群落既未向复垦设计的方向发展,也未向原始植被方向演化。     

Species-rich Nardus stricta grasslands host a higher vascular plant diversity on calcareous than on siliceous bedrock

Background: Species-rich Nardus stricta grasslands are a priority habitat for conservation in Europe. They typically occur on siliceous substrates and less frequently are found on calcareous bedrock.

Aims: The present paper aimed to identify the environmental factors (i.e. bedrock type, topographic, and climatic factors) that are related with community diversity and to assess if differences in plant diversity between N. stricta communities on calcareous and siliceous bedrock occur. We hypothesised that Nardus grasslands on calcareous bedrock hosted a higher vascular plant diversity than those on siliceous bedrock.

Methods: Based on 579 vegetation surveys carried out in the south-western Alps, we assessed vascular plant diversity (species richness, Shannon diversity, and Pielou’s equitability index) of species-rich Nardus grasslands and compared it between N. stricta communities on calcareous and siliceous bedrock.

Results: Elevation was identified as the main factor related to species composition, while species diversity was mostly related to mean annual precipitation and bedrock type. Species richness, Shannon diversity, and Pielou’s equitability index were higher within the communities on calcareous rather than on siliceous bedrock and a total of 89 and 34 indicator species were detected, respectively.

Conclusions: Based on our results, we suggest to protect primarily, as a habitat of priority interest, N. stricta grasslands on calcareous substrates for the higher vascular plant diversity hosted.     

Committee for the study of the Scottish Flora

Background: Damage to alpine plant communities is likely to occur when hikers and pack animals trample vegetation. Currently, there is limited research that quantifies and compares impacts from these activities.

Aims: A manipulative experimental protocol was used to assess damage to alpine meadows by pack animals and hikers in the Aconcagua Provincial Park, Andes, Argentina.

Methods: Vegetation height, overall cover, cover of dominant species and species richness were measured immediately after, and 2 weeks after different numbers of passes (0, 25, 100 and 300) by hikers or pack animals in an experiment, using a randomised block design.

Results: Pack animals had two to three times the impact of hiking on the meadows, with greater reductions in plant height, the cover of one of the dominant sedges and declines in overall vegetation cover after 300 passes. Impacts of pack animals were also apparent at lower levels of use than for hikers. These differences occurred despite the meadow community having relatively high resistance to trampling due to the traits of one of the dominant sedges (Carex gayana).

Conclusions: Pack animals caused more damage than hikers to the alpine meadow, but the scale of the difference in short-term impacts depends on the characteristics of the plant community, the amount of use and the vegetation parameters measured. Use of the meadows by hikers and pack animals should be minimised as these meadows are scarce, and have high conservation values.     

Effects of host plant species on the interaction between the parasitic wasp Diospilus capito and pollen beetles (Meligethes spp.)

1 Field studies were conducted in central Sweden to establish whether two host plants with high and low suitability for pollen beetles (Meligethes aeneus Fabr. [Coleoptera: Nitidulidae] and Meligethes viridescens Fabr.) affected the parasitoid Diospilus capito Nees [Hymenoptera: Braconidae]. 2 Samples of larvae were taken from fields with plots of white mustard, Sinapis alba L. and spring rape, Brassica napus L. in 1997 and 1998. Levels of parasitism and the survival and size of D. capito were measured to determine any influence of the host plant species. Survival and weights of pollen beetles from S. alba and B. napus were also measured. 3 Levels of parasitism between 8% and 29% were recorded. There was a significantly higher likelihood of being parasitized by D. capito for beetle larvae developing on S. alba than on B. napus. We argue that semiochemical or morphological properties of plant species could be responsible for differential parasitism by D. capito. 4 Neither survival of D. capito nor parasitoid size differed from hosts developing on S. alba or B. napus. Pollen beetle emergence was the same for both plant species, but beetles that developed on S. alba weighed less than those from B. napus. Results suggest that the partial resistance of S. alba to the pollen beetle will have no negative effects on the parasitoid D. capito.     

Vegetation pattern of mountains in West Greenland – a baseline for long-term surveillance of global warming impacts

Background: Steep environmental gradients, coupled with predicted high temperature rises in the Arctic make arctic mountain vegetation highly suitable for surveillance of changes related to global warming. However, guidelines and baselines for such a purpose are widely lacking since arctic mountain vegetation has been little explored.

Aims: We explore options for long-term surveillance on the basis of a detailed analysis of extant plant community patterns and their underlying environmental conditions in the mountainous inland of West Greenland.

Methods: Distribution, abundance and site conditions of vegetation types were analysed, using 664 vegetation samples and detailed vegetation maps in four altitudinal belts.

Results: Most plant communities had a restricted elevation distribution and were confined to special habitats predominantly defined by mesotopography and soil moisture.

Conclusions: Based on the strong linkage to habitat conditions, horizontal and vertical changes of species distribution and vegetation pattern are excellent indicators for inferring underlying environmental changes on three different scales. The recommendations given concerning climate sensitive species and plant communities, ecotones for setting up observation sites as well as stratification of analysis by habitats can be the basis for establishing long-term surveillance programmes on arctic mountain vegetation.     

Plant community succession in a coastal wetland after abandonment of cultivation: the example of the Rhone delta

A synchronous study was carried out of plant succession in land abandoned after cultivation in the Camargue (southern France) in relation to the main biotic and abiotic environmental factors. Correlations between environmental factors and species abundance were established using Canonical correspondence analysis. The most strongly correlated variables were those of the water regime. Abandonment of cultivation does not always imply abandonment of management, but a change in land use. Water level management (flooding in winter, or in summer, irrigation) creates and maintains communities suitable for grazing. In the absence of water level management, the soils become saline and stable plant communities similar to those present under natural conditions quickly develop. The salt generally limits the installation of woody plants; only Phillyrea angustifolia can develop and then only when the water stable is quite deep. It appears that the forest stage can only be reached in the proximity of riverine gallery forest and irrigation canals where Populus alba is dominant.     

Biochemical characterization of Silene alba α4-fucosyltransferase and Lewis a products

1,4-Fucosylation has been recently detected in Arabidopsis thaliana [Léonard et al. (2002), Glycobiology 12: 299–306], and corresponding enzymes have also been characterized in Beta vulgaris [Bakker et al. (2001), FEBS Lett, 507: 307–312], and Lycopersicum aesculentum [Wilson (2001), Glycoconjugate J., 18: 439–447]. Here we demonstrated fucosyltransferase activity (FucT) in Silene alba cells and tissues. The Fuc linkage to GlcNAc residues of the lactosamine moiety of the Type I acceptor was confirmed by mass spectrometry experiments. Le^a-glycoconjugates are found in the Golgi apparatus and plasma membrane of plant cells. In planta, the highest levels of activity were detected in seedlings, young roots and male flowers. The enzyme was stable up to 45C and the optimum pH of reaction was 8.0. The enzyme required Mg²⁺ or Mn²⁺ for activity and was inhibited by Zn²⁺ and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. Chemical modification of the enzyme with group-selective reagents revealed that selective modifications of arginine and lysine residues had no effect on enzyme activity. However the enzyme contains histidine and tryptophan residues that are essential for its activity. In contrast to human FUT3, the S. alba 4-FucT was insensitive to N-ethylmaleimide (NEM) treatment. Measurement of enzyme activity in S. alba cell fractions indicated that the enzyme is bound to microsomal membranes, furthermore a soluble isoform of the protein may be present. Published in 2005.     

Major plant communities of North America's most arid region: The San Felipe Desert,Baja California,México

Abstract

This vegetation study describes the landscape of the San Felipe Desert (Baja California, México) based on the phytosociological analysis of its major plant associations, as determined by the Braun-Blanquet method and supported by cluster analysis. Four geomorphological or phytotopographical units were identified in the landscape of the San Felipe Desert (salt marshes, playas or sandy flats, bajadas or alluvial fans, and malpaíses or badlands), each characterized by its own plant communities. Two communities and eleven associations were identified, four of which are described and typified for the first time: Atriplici linearis-Frankenietum palmeri, Parkinsonio microphyllae-Olneyetum tesotae, Errazurizio megacarpae-Ephedretum trifurcae and Pachycereo schottii-Prosopidetum torreyanae. Ecological, phytogeographical, bioclimatic, syntaxonomical and floristic data are provided for each of these new associations.