Phyllosphere eukaryotic microalgal communities in rainforests:Drivers and diversityOA

Phyllosphere algae are common in tropical rainforests,forming visible biofilms or spots on plant leaf surfaces.However,knowledge of phyllosphere algal diversity and the environmental factors that drive that diversity is limited.The aim of this study is to identify the environmental factors that drive phyllosphere algal community composition and diversity in rainforests.For this purpose,we used single molecule real-time sequencing of full-length 18S rDNA to characterize the composition of phyllos...     

Insights into cryptic speciation of quillworts in ChinaOA

Cryptic species are commonly misidentified because of high morphological similarities to other species.One group of plants that may harbor large numbers of cryptic species is the quillworts(Iso?tes spp.),an ancient aquatic plant lineage.Although over 350 species of Iso?tes have been reported globally,only ten species have been recorded in China.The aim of this study is to better understand Iso?tes species diversity in China.For this purpose,we systematically explored the phylogeny and evolution ...     

Altitudinal Pattern of Plant Species Diversity in Shennongjia Mountains, Central China

One hundred and sixty plots, approximately every 100 m above sea level （a.s.1.） along an altitudinal gradient from 470 to 3 080 m a.s.1, at the southern and northern watershed of Mt. Shennongjia, China, were examined to determine the altitudinal pattern of plant species diversity. Mt. Shennongjia was found to have high plant species diversity, with 3 479 higher plants recorded. Partial correlation analysis and detrended canonical correspondence analysis （DCCA） based on plant species diversity revealed that altitude was the main factor affecting the spatial pattern of plant species diversity on Mt. Shennongjia and that canopy coverage of the arbor layer also had a considerable effect on plant species diversity. The DCCA based on species data of importance value further revealed that altitude gradient was the primary factor shaping the spatial pattern of plant species. In addition, the rule of the “mid-altitude bulge” was supported on Mt. Shennongjia. Plant species diversity was closely related to vegetation type and the transition zone usually had a higher diversity. Higher plant species diversity appeared in the mixed evergreen and deciduous broadleaved forest zone （900-1500 m a.s.1.） and its transition down to evergreen broadleaved forest zone or up to deciduous broadleaved forest zone. The largest plant species diversity in whole communities on Mt. Shennongjia lay at approximately 1 200 m a.s.1. Greatest tree diversity, shrub diversity, and grass diversity was found at approximately 1 500, 1 100, and 1 200 m a.s.l., respectively. The southern watershed showed higher plant species diversity than the northern watershed, with maximum plant species diversity at a higher altitude in the southern watershed than the northern watershed. These results indicate that Mt. Shennongjia shows characteristics of a transition region. The relationship between the altitudinal pattern of plant species diversity and the vegetation type in eastern China are also discussed and a hypothesis about the altitudinal pattern of plant species diversity in eastern China is proposed.     

Global Warming： Can Existing Reserves Really Preserve Current Levels of Biological Diversity？

Peleoecologlcel evidence end peleoclimatlc records indicate that there wee e plant polewerd migration in latitude and an upward shift In elevation with increased temperatures after the last glaciation. Recent studies have shown that global warming over the past 100 years has been having a noticeable effect on living systems. Current global warming Is causing a poleward and upward shift In the range of many plants and animals. Climate change, In connection with other global changes, is threatening the survival of a wide range of plant and animal species. This raises the question： can existing reserves really preserve current levels of biological diversity In the long term given the present rapid pace of climate change？ The present paper deals with this question In the context of the responses of plants and animals to global climate change, based on a literature review. Consequently, we recommend expanding reserves towards the poles and/or towards higher altitudes, to permit species to shift their ranges to keep pace with global warming.     

中国丛枝菌根真菌两新纪录种

A survey of arbuscular mycorrhizal （AM） fungal diversity in Dujiangyan, southwest China has been carried out, and a total of 44 AM fungi including six new records were reported （Zhang et al., 2003 a, b）. Another two new records of AM fungi, i.e. Acaulospora koskei J. Blaszkowski and Glomus luteum L.J. Kenn., J.C. Stutz ＆ J.B. Morton, were isolated in the same region and were described in this paper.     

Advances in the reintroduction of rare and endangered wild plant species

Human disturbance and climate change have increased the risk of extinction for rare and endangered wild plant species.One effective way to conserve these rare and endangered species is through reintroduction.In this review,we summarize the advances in wild plant reintroduction from five perspectives:the establishment of reintroduction biology as an important tool for biodiversity conservation;the importance of genetic diversity in reintroduction;reintroduction under global climate change;recruitment limitation in reintroduction;and reintroduction and ecological restoration.In addition,we consider the future of plant reintroduction strategies.     

Disentangling the role of management,vegetation structure,and plant quality for Orthoptera in lowland meadows

Seminatural grasslands provide habitats for various species and are important for biodiversity conservation. The understanding of the diverse responses of species and traits to different grassland managenient methods is therefore urgently needed. We disentangled the role of grassland management (fertilization and irrigation), vegetation structure (biomass, sward height) and plant quality (protein and fiber content) for Orthoptera communities in lowland hay meadows in Germany. We found vegetation structure to be the most important environmental category in explaining community structure of Orthoptera (species richness, total individuals, fiinctional diversity and species composition). Intensively used meadows (fertilized, irrigated, high plant biomass) were characterized by assemblages with few species, low functional diversity, and low conservation value. Thereby, the relatively moderate fertilizer inputs in our study system of up to -75 kg N/ha/year reduced functional diversity of Orthoptera, while this negative effect of fertilization was not detectable when solely considering taxonomic aspects. We found strong support for a prominent role of plant quality in shaping Orthoptera communities and especially the trait composition. Our findings demonstrate the usefulness of considering both taxonomic and functional comp on ents (functio nal diversity) in biodiversity research and we suggest a stronger involvement of plant quality measures in Orthoptera studies.     

Geographic patterns of taxonomic and phylogenetic β-diversity of angiosperm genera in regional floras across the worldOA

Beta diversity(β-diversity) is the scalar between local(α) and regional(γ) diversity.Understanding geographic patterns of β-diversity is central to ecology,biogeography,and conservation biology.A full understanding of the origin and maintenance of geographic patterns of β-diversity requires exploring both taxonomic and phylogenetic β-diversity,as well as their respective turnover and nestedness components,and exploring phylogenetic p-diversity at different evolutionary depths.In this study,we ex...     

Effect of rapid urbanization on plant species diversity in municipal parks, in a new Chinese city: Shenzhen

Shenzhen was a famous typical rapid-urbanization city in China, and this study compares plant species diversity in urban parks from the start of urbanization through 2011. Results show that the plant species biodiversity increased rapidly: the rate changed from 140% to 980% and the average increasing rate was 406.90%, but only 12.59% of plants spread into the park naturally. Shrubs had the highest rate; with change increasing from 20.70% to 43.54%, they replaced trees to become the dominant type. The biodiversity of native plants also increased, but their proportion relative to all species had declined. The homogenization of plant species in the parks increased; more than half of the plant species (62.24%) are located in 5–7 parks at once now, compared with 65.52% of species located in only 2–3 parks at the start of the study. The increase of species was faster than the increase of families; many new species planted belong to a few specific families. The ratio of species to families declined from 0.40 to 0.32. Results indicate that the rapid increase of plant species diversity as well as their homogenization happened in the initial stage of urbanization, and so rapid urbanization might be the major factor in the changes in plant species diversity in municipal parks. Rapid urbanization was an important cause of change in plant species diversity.     

Human activities and nitrogen in waters

Shenzhen was a famous typical rapid-urbanization city in China, and this study compares plant species diversity in urban parks from the start of urbanization through 2011. Results show that the plant species biodiversity increased rapidly: the rate changed from 140% to 980% and the average increasing rate was 406.90%, but only 12.59% of plants spread into the park naturally. Shrubs had the highest rate; with change increasing from 20.70% to 43.54%, they replaced trees to become the dominant type. The biodiversity of native plants also increased, but their proportion relative to all species had declined. The homogenization of plant species in the parks increased; more than half of the plant species (62.24%) are located in 5–7 parks at once now, compared with 65.52% of species located in only 2–3 parks at the start of the study. The increase of species was faster than the increase of families; many new species planted belong to a few specific families. The ratio of species to families declined from 0.40 to 0.32. Results indicate that the rapid increase of plant species diversity as well as their homogenization happened in the initial stage of urbanization, and so rapid urbanization might be the major factor in the changes in plant species diversity in municipal parks. Rapid urbanization was an important cause of change in plant species diversity.     

Long-term protection effects of national reserve to forest vegetation in 4 decades: biodiversity change analysis of major forest types in Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve, China

The Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve (CNR) was established in 1960 to protect the virgin Korean pine mixed hardwood forest, a typical temperate forest of northeast China. We conducted systematic stud- ies of vascular diversity patterns on the north slope of the CNR mountainside forests (800-1700 m a.s.l.) in 1963 and 2006 respectively. The aim of this comparison is to assess the long-term effects of the protection on plant biodiversity of CNR during the interval 43 years. The research was carried out in three types of forests: mixed coniferous and broad-leaved forest (MCBF), mixed coniferous forest (MCF), and sub-alpine coniferous forest (SCF), characterized by different dominant species. The alpha diversity indicted by species richness and the Shannon-Wiener index were found different in the same elevations and forest types during the 43-year interval. The floral composition and the diversity of vascular species were generally similar along altitudinal gradients before and after the 43-year interval, but some substantial changes were evident with the altitude gradient. In the tree layers, the dominant species in 2006 were similar to those of 1963, though diversity declined with altitude. The indices in the three forest types did not differ significantly between 1963 and 2006, and these values even increased in the MCBF and MCF from 1963 to 2006. However, originally dominant species, P. koraiensis for ex- ample, tended to decline, while the proportion of broad-leaved trees increased, and the species turn- over in the succession layers trended to shift to higher altitudes. The diversity pattern of the under canopy fluctuated along the altitudinal gradient due to micro-environmental variations. Comparison of the alpha diversity in the three forests shows that the diversity of the shrub and herb layer decreased with time. During the process of survey, we also found some rare and medicinal species disappeared. Analysis indicates that the changes of the diversity pattern in this region are caused by both nature and human factors. Meteorological records revealed that climate has changed significantly in the past 43 years. We also found the most severe human disturbance to the CNR forests in the process of another field survey that is the exploitation of herb medicines and Korean pine nuts. We hope this research would give some guidance to the future reserve management in Changbai Mountain area.     

Elevational changes in vascular plants richness,diversity, and distribution pattern in Abune Yosef mountain range,Northern Ethiopia

The aim of this research is to investigate the patterns of vascular plant species richness,diversity,and distribution along an elevation gradient in the Abune Yosef mountain range,Ethiopia.Preferential systematic sampling was employed to collect vegetation and environmental data along the elevation gradient.We found that plant species richness declines monotonically from low to high elevations.Specifically,vascular plant species richness and diversity were lower in the Afroalpine grassland(high elevation)than in the Dry evergreen Afromontane forest and Ericaceous forest(low elevations).In contrast,endemic vascular plant richness was significantly higher in the Afroalpine grassland than in the Dry evergreen Afromontane forest and Ericaceous forest.Elevation showed a significant impact on the richness,diversity,and endemism of vascular plants.According to Sorensen's coefficient,the similarity between Dry evergreen Afromontane forest and Ericaceous forest vegetation types is higher(32%)than the similarity between Ericaceous forest and Afroalpine grassland(18%).Only 5%similarity was recorded between the Dry evergreen Afromontane forest and Afroalpine grassland.Growth forms showed different elevationai richness patterns.Trees and liana increased monotonically up to 3300 m.Shrub and herb richness patterns followed a hump-shaped and inverted hump-shaped pattern along the elevation gradient.The elevation patterns of vascular plant species richness,diversity,and growth form in the present study may be attributed to differences in management intensity,spatial heterogeneity,microclimatic variations,and anthropogenic disturbances.     

Plant endemism in the Nepal Himalayas and phytogeographical implications

Nepal is located in the central part of the greater Himalayan range with a unique series of mountain chains formed by recent mountain building geological events. As one of the youngest mountains in the world it contributes to diversity of plants and also provided barriers to and corridors through which plants migrated during the ice ages. The higher altitudinal variation with the high mountains, deep river valleys and lowland plains combine with the effects of the summer monsoon and dry winter result with an extraordinary diversity of ecosystems including flora and fauna in a relatively small land area. The existing checklists for Nepal record some 6000 species of flowering plants and about 530 ferns. However, the botanical experts estimate that numbers may go up to 7000 when the poorly known remote regions are fully explored. The information on plant endemism in Nepal Himalaya is not adequately known as Nepal is still struggling to complete long awaited Flora of Nepal project. Endemic species are confined to specific areas and are the first to be affected by land use and other global changes. We sought to explore the spatial distribution of endemic plant species in Nepal in relation to the consequences associated with climatic and geologic changes over time in the region with the help of published literature. It was found that the endemism showed marked spatial variation between open moist habitat and dry inner valleys, the former with higher endemism. The updated records showed 312 flowering plant species to be endemic to Nepal with higher endemism around the elevation of 3800e4200 m at sea level. The recent human population explosion, intensified deforestation, habitat fragmentation and modern day environmental changes are posing greater threats to endemic plant in Nepal. The conservation status and threats to these peculiar species are unknown. Nevertheless, environmental degradation and high poverty rates create a potent mix of threats to biodiversity in this landscape.     

青海湖鸟岛地区植物群落物种多样性与土壤环境因子的关系

The study on the relationship between plant species diversity and soil factors in the bird island of Qinghai Lake indicated that this island was a low diversity district, its Shannon-Wienner index and species richness decreased with the increasing soil available K, water soluble salt concentration and pH, and there were significant linear and quadratic correlations between them. Stepwise linear regressions showed that soil available K and water soluble salt were the key factors to estimate Shannon-Wienner index and species richness in this island, respectively, and no correlation was found between species evenness and soil factors.     

Plant Conservation in the Future:New Challenges,New Opportunities

Throughout the world,plant diversity is being reduced rapidly by the extinction of species and of local differentiated populations.In presenting possible solutions to this very serious problem I will first briefly describe the factors that have led to the development of China’s wealth of biodiversity;then examine the causes of extinction,with an emphasis on the situation in China;and conclude with recommendations on how to most effectively conserve plants in this huge and botanically diverse country.     

The influences of surface water-overflowing disturbance on the fluctuations of Tamarix ramosissima community in Western China

The main purpose of this study is to examine the fluctuation characteristics of Tamarix ramosissima community from the year of 2007–2008 in desert riparian forest under human surface water-overflowing disturbance in the lower reaches of Tarim River, China. In this paper, community structure, species diversity and dominant species were chosen as the indicators which could reflect the characteristics of community fluctuation. The representative sampling method was used to investigate and measure the fluctuation process of Comm. T. ramosissima. The main results showed that species numbers of the community increased 66.7% under the surface water-overflowing disturbance within two years comparing with it under non-disturbance. The Sorensen similarity coefficient of plant species is 0.75 in community under the disturbance and non-disturbance, indicating that species composition is very similar and main structure of the community has not changed on these two different treatments. Species diversity index of Comm. T. ramosissima changed a lot under the disturbance. Compared with it under non-disturbance, species richness and species diversity have been increasing while species evenness declined slightly under the disturbance. The numbers and kinds of dominant species also changed in community under the disturbance, of which the dominance of T. ramosissima is significantly increased. Compared with the river channel water disturbance, surface water-overflowing disturbance could enhance seed germination and plant growth through the effect of shallow soil moisture and its physic-chemical properties. And it improved the germination of plant seed in the soil and promoted the clone growth of plant reproductive body. As a result, species diversity was increased and species composition happened significantly changed in Comm. T. ramosissima influenced by the water-overflowing disturbance. In addition, community hierarchical structure was getting more complex. And then, it was concluded that water-overflowing disturbance is an effective way to positively affect the fluctuation of Comm. T. ramosissima in the lower reaches of Tarim River. Thus, it can make up for the insufficient effectiveness of river channel water disturbance to restore damaged vegetation.     

The influences of surface water-overflowing disturbance on the fluctuations of Tamarix ramosissima community in Western China

The main purpose of this study is to examine the fluctuation characteristics of Tamarix ramosissima community from the year of 2007–2008 in desert riparian forest under human surface water-overflowing disturbance in the lower reaches of Tarim River, China. In this paper, community structure, species diversity and dominant species were chosen as the indicators which could reflect the characteristics of community fluctuation. The representative sampling method was used to investigate and measure the fluctuation process of Comm. T. ramosissima. The main results showed that species numbers of the community increased 66.7% under the surface water-overflowing disturbance within two years comparing with it under non-disturbance. The Sorensen similarity coefficient of plant species is 0.75 in community under the disturbance and non-disturbance, indicating that species composition is very similar and main structure of the community has not changed on these two different treatments. Species diversity index of Comm. T. ramosissima changed a lot under the disturbance. Compared with it under non-disturbance, species richness and species diversity have been increasing while species evenness declined slightly under the disturbance. The numbers and kinds of dominant species also changed in community under the disturbance, of which the dominance of T. ramosissima is significantly increased. Compared with the river channel water disturbance, surface water-overflowing disturbance could enhance seed germination and plant growth through the effect of shallow soil moisture and its physic-chemical properties. And it improved the germination of plant seed in the soil and promoted the clone growth of plant reproductive body. As a result, species diversity was increased and species composition happened significantly changed in Comm. T. ramosissima influenced by the water-overflowing disturbance. In addition, community hierarchical structure was getting more complex. And then, it was concluded that water-overflowing disturbance is an effective way to positively affect the fluctuation of Comm. T. ramosissima in the lower reaches of Tarim River. Thus, it can make up for the insufficient effectiveness of river channel water disturbance to restore damaged vegetation.     

保护中国的植物遗产(英文)

China’s rich floral diversity includes more than 33 000 vascular plant species,representing approximately 10 percent of all known plant species.Over half of these species are endemic to China.However,China’s rapid economic development in the last 30 years and continuous population growth have seriously damaged plant resources in the wild and the ecological environment,resulting in a dramatic increase in the number of endangered species.There are nearly 4 000 to 5 000 higher plants that are now threatened or on the verge of extinction.To help halt the loss of Chinese plant diversity,Botanic Gardens Conservation International(BGCI) has developed a China programme and opened its first office based in Guangzhou in 2008.This office works along with Chinese partners aiming to secure Chinese plant diversity through integrated conservation approaches with reintroduction/population reinforcement,engagement of local communities in conservation activities,capacity building in horticulture and environmental education and public outreach.     

The Evolving Role of Botanical Gardens and Natural Areas:A Floristic Case Study from Royal Botanical Gardens,Canada

As leaders calling for the conservation of the world’s plants,botanical gardens protect plants within living collections.Many also study,manage and restore plants in natural habitats.Royal Botanical Gardens(Ontario,Canada) has integrated both horticultural and natural heritage in its mission for decades.Envisioned by municipal leaders in the 1920s as a combination of nature sanctuaries and civic gardens,RBG now includes forests,wetlands and other habitats,gardens and built spaces.Today RBG is Canada’s largest botanical garden on the basis of area.In the 1950s RBG began to inventory plant diversity.The checklist of spontaneous vascular plants now exceeds 1 170 species,of which 752 are native.This is 37% of Ontario’s native vascular plants and 19% of the native vascular flora of Canada.The RBG nature sanctuaries are among the richest locations in Canada for species-level diversity.We examine the history of floristic exploration within RBG and compare plant species-area relationships among protected natural areas in Ontario.This comparison supports the contention that the nature sanctuaries,and in particular Cootes Paradise,could be considered an important area for plants in Canada,and relative to the nation’s flora,a biodiversity hotspot.The fact that a candidate vascular plant hotspot for Canada lies within a major botanical garden presents opportunities for raising public awareness of the importance of plant diversity,as well as focusing attention on the scientific and conservation biology needs of communities and individual species in this area.