Influence of litter removal and mineral soil disturbance on the spread of an invasive grass in a Central Hardwood forest

Soil and litter disturbances within Central Hardwood forests may facilitate exotic plant species invasion of interior forest areas. Microstegium vimineum is an annual exotic grass that has become common throughout the Southeastern United States. Three replicates of three different mineral soil and litter disturbance treatments, plus a control with no disturbance, were established on the leading edge of M. vimineum patches prior to seed fall. All patches were located in areas with similar forest canopy structure and slope in three Central Hardwood forest stands prior to seed fall. At the beginning of the following growing season, each individual M. vimineum seedling was mapped within the treatment plots. The mean number of M. vimineum individuals that established within each treatment did not differ significantly from the control. The distance at which 90% of the individuals had spread, and the overall mean distance spread were significantly farther for the litter removal treatment than the control. The farthest individual seedling from the boundary of existing patches in both the litter removal and the mineral soil disturbance and litter removal treatments were significantly farther than the control. The individuals that spread the farthest are of most concern due to the large number of viable seed that a single M. vimineum plant can produce. These results suggest that disturbance of the litter layer may increase the spread rate of M. vimineum and facilitate its invasion of new habitats, and that leaving litter layers intact may slow the spread of M. vimineum.     

Growth trajectories and size-dependent reproduction in the highly invasive grass <Emphasis Type="Italic">Microstegium vimineum</Emphasis>

To better understand the ecological and evolutionary processes that underlie the ability of invasive plants to colonize and spread in a region, basic data on quantitative genetic variation in growth and reproduction of plants from contrasting microsites are desirable. The annual grass Microstegium vimineum is an invasive colonizer of the herbaceous layer in forests of the eastern United States. This greenhouse study utilized seeds collected from maternal plants in a shady forest or sunny edge microsite in central New Jersey, USA, to examine variation in growth trajectories and size-dependent reproduction. Questions addressed were (1) do growth trajectories vary significantly among families and between microsites? and (2) does reproductive mass scale with vegetative size? The trajectory for shoot dry mass over time was significantly related to microsite, due apparently to greater growth over the final 8 weeks of plants from the interior compared to those from the edge. It is suggested that a growth increase late in the season enables plants to maximize reproduction when light conditions improve following canopy leaf senescence. Number of tillers exhibited significant variation among families within microsites, but growth trajectories did not. Positive phenotypic and genetic correlations were detected between reproductive and vegetative mass per tiller; thus selection may favor large tillers to increase seed output, a critical life history trait for an invasive weed.     

Interactions between two co-dominant, invasive plants in the understory of a temperate deciduous forest

Negative interactions between non-indigenous and native species has been an important research topic of invasion biology. However, interactions between two or more invasive species may be as important in understanding biological invasions, but they have rarely been studied. In this paper, we describe three field experiments that investigated interactions between two non-indigenous plant species invasive in the eastern United States, Lonicera japonica (a perennial vine) and Microstegium vimineum (an annual grass). A press removal experiment conducted within a deciduous forest understory community indicated that M. vimineum was a superior competitor to L. japonica. We tested the hypothesis that the competitive success of M. vimineum was because it overgrew, and reduced light available to, L. japonica, by conducting a separate light gradient experiment within the same community. Shade cloth that simulated the M. vimineum canopy reduced the performance of L. japonica. In a third complementary experiment, we added experimental support hosts to test the hypothesis that the competitive ability of L. japonica is limited by support hosts, onto which L. japonica climbs to access light. We found that the abundance of climbing branches increased with the number of support hosts. Results of this experiment indicate that these two invasive species compete asymmetrically for resources, particularly light.     

Compensation and Plasticity in an Invasive Plant Species

Plant plasticity under varying resources is one character that contributes to competitiveness and invasibility. The plasticity of plant modules of the invasive Japanese stilt grass (Microstegium vimineum) was examined under different light and nutrient levels using a balanced field and greenhouse study. Ample light and nutrients resulted in the greatest biomass accumulation in all plant modules. However, M. vimineum showed extreme plasticity, producing stolons and flowers (reproductive structures) under a wide range of environmental conditions except infertile, low light. The addition of nutrients under various shading regimes compensated for lower light levels, rendering little change in the allocation of carbon to reproductive structures. Data from the field study corroborate the greenhouse results, but also suggest plasticity in response to competition.     

Evidence for rapid evolution of phenology in an invasive grass

Evolutionary dynamics of integrative traits such as phenology are predicted to be critically important to range expansion and invasion success, yet there are few empirical examples of such phenomena. In this study, we used multiple common gardens to examine the evolutionary significance of latitudinal variation in phenology of a widespread invasive species, the Asian short‐day flowering annual grass Microstegium vimineum. In environmentally controlled growth chambers, we grew plants from seeds collected from multiple latitudes across the species' invasive range. Flowering time and biomass were both strongly correlated with the latitude of population origin such that populations collected from more northern latitudes flowered significantly earlier and at lower biomass than populations from southern locations. We suggest that this pattern may be the result of rapid adaptive evolution of phenology over a period of less than one hundred years and that such changes have likely promoted the northward range expansion of this species. We note that possible barriers to gene flow, including bottlenecks and inbreeding, have apparently not forestalled evolutionary processes for this plant. Furthermore, we hypothesize that evolution of phenology may be a widespread and potentially essential process during range expansion for many invasive plant species.     

入侵性杂草皱匕果芥在中国的适生区预测及分析

[目的]对入侵性杂草皱匕果芥在我国的适生区进行预测,为入侵风险评估和损失预测提供数据支撑,同时为控制预案制定提供科学依据。[方法]先用ENMTools和SPSS分别对分布数据和环境变量进行筛选,再调用R程序包Kuenm校准MaxEnt模型确定最优参数设置,然后使用MaxEnt和ArcMap对皱匕果芥在中国的适生区进行预测,并将已公布的进境粮食指定监管场地、进口粮食加工企业地理位置与皱匕果芥在中国的适生区进行匹配分析。[结果]最冷月份最低温度、温度季节变化标准差和最冷季度降水量是对MaxEnt模型拟合重要性排名前3位的环境变量,最冷月份最低温度可能是影响皱匕果芥发生分布的最重要的自然因素;皱匕果芥在中国的中度适生区占中国陆地总面积的15.13%,主要集中在秦岭-淮河以南、龙门山-大凉山以东的亚热带季风气候区域;高度适生区占中国陆地总面积的1.67%,主要形成川渝、湖北-湖南和长三角3个中心。在皱匕果芥的中、高度适生区分布有901个进口粮食加工企业和57个进境粮食指定监管场地。[结论]皱匕果芥的中、高度适生区内存在我国粮棉等作物的重要产区,一旦该杂草大面积发生,将给我国粮棉等作物种植造成非常不利的影响。进口粮食的国际贸易是皱匕果芥入侵中国的主要途径,应当加强对进口粮食接卸、运输、加工等高风险区域和环节的监管力度,并积极实施外来入侵杂草的监测和调查,确保做到早发现、早防除,防止进一步扩散和危害。     

北美刺龙葵在中国的适生区预测

【背景】北美刺龙葵是一种全球广泛分布的恶性杂草,已被列入我国进境检疫性有害生物名单。近年来北美刺龙葵不断随进口货物传入我国,明确其传入途径和适生区对控制其入侵具有重要意义。【方法】采用GIS、空间统计学、Maxent生态位模型等方法分析了北美刺龙葵的传入途径与潜在分布区,并通过ROC分析法对模型进行检验。【结果】跨区域农产品贸易是北美刺龙葵全球扩散的驱动力与传入我国的主要途径。生态模型预测结果表明,北美刺龙葵在我国具有广阔的适生区,除黑龙江、吉林、内蒙古、青海、甘肃、西藏、四川西北部以外的区域都是其在我国的适生区,其中高风险区主要集中在东部和南部沿海、西南边境和新疆的部分地区。AUC值为0.789,表明本研究建立的Maxent模型的预测能力较强,能够很好地拟合物种已知分布的环境生态位。【结论与意义】北美刺龙葵在我国的传入风险极高。基于北美刺龙葵在我国的主要传入途径与潜在扩散媒介的时空分布,划定了重点监测的区域,建议对适生区内极易传入的高风险区如港口、机场、物流中转站、加工厂等开展早期监测预警,以预防其再次入侵与进一步扩散蔓延。     

大兴安岭不同演替阶段天然林物种多度格局模拟

为实现大兴安岭地区落叶松天然林的全周期可持续经营,以新林林业局翠岗林场3块100m×100m不同演替阶段(白桦林、落叶松-白桦混交林和落叶松林)的天然林固定调查样地数据为基础,采用统计模型(对数正态模型)、生态位模型(断棍模型、生态位优先占领模型、Zipf模型、Zipf-Mandelbrot模型)和中性模型(群落零和多项式模型、Volkov模型)对不同演替阶段天然林的乔木层、幼苗层和由乔木层划分的不同林层的物种多度格局进行拟合,并用χ² 检验和Kolmogorov-Smirnov检验选择最佳模型。结果表明:(1) 在大兴安岭地区不同演替阶段的落叶松天然林群落中,Zipf-Mandelbrot模型的拟合效果均最好。(2) 对数正态模型对于稳定的演替阶段白桦林和落叶松林的群落相较于过渡阶段群落落叶松-白桦混交林的物种多度分布的拟合效果更好。(3) 在大兴安岭地区落叶松天然林中,生境过滤主导群落构建,随着群落不断演替生境过滤和中性过程减弱。(4) 天然林群落乔木层的群落构建过程与乔木层内不同生长阶段林层的构建过程不同,生境过滤过程在落叶松林乔木层中逐渐减弱,而在落叶松林不同生长阶段的林层和更新层中增强。     

入侵害虫悬铃木方翅网蝽越冬后期在豫北寄主树干上的分布研究

【目的】入侵害虫悬铃木方翅网蝽近年来严重威胁我国城市行道树二球悬铃木的健康,受害严重时造成树木死亡。在越冬后期对悬铃木树干上的悬铃木方翅网蝽成虫的越冬习性开展研究,能为冬季防治积累生物学研究基础。【方法】早春随机调查河南省新乡市行道树二球悬铃木树干栓皮层外层下方隐藏的悬铃木方翅网蝽成虫,比较阳侧和阴侧虫口密度。同时记载悬铃木树干0.00~0.50 m、0.51~1.00 m、1.01~1.50 m、1.51~2.00 m 4个不同高度区段范围和树干皮层外层皲裂程度在5%以下、5%~25%、25%~50%、50%~75%、75%~95%、95%以上6个等级条件下害虫的虫口密度。【结果】栖息在悬铃木树干树皮下方的悬铃木方翅网蝽在阴面更多,阴面和阳面的虫口密度差异达极其显著水平[(F=6.63)(F0.01(1,19)=1.0132),P=0.00]。对寄主树干4个不同高度区段的虫口密度比较后,发现在树干1.0~1.5 m区段间的虫口密度最大,平均11.5头;且虫口密度在悬铃木不同高度区段间存在极显著差异[(F=26.91)(F0.01(3,56)=4.1519),P=0.00]。悬铃木树皮的不同皲裂程度对悬铃木方翅网蝽虫口密度的影响达极其显著水平[(F=31.02)(F0.01(3,56)=4.1519),P=0.00],在树皮外皮50%~75%皲裂程度条件下的虫口密度最大,平均9.8头。利用双因素方差分析方法分析树干不同高度和树皮不同皲裂等级的互作对虫口密度的分布影响达显著水平[(F=2.46)(F0.05(9,56)=2.0519),P=0.0195]。【结论】华北地区害虫秋冬防治时,在寄主悬铃木树干的最好涂白时机是在害虫全部下树后的12月上中旬进行,涂白高度以树干1.0~2.0 m范围为宜。本研究对悬铃木方翅网蝽在越冬期的预防和治理有较为重要的参考价值。     

Spatial variation in diurnal surface temperatures and the distribution and abundance of an alpine grasshopper

We studied the influence of spatial differences in diurnal surface temperatures due to topography on an alpine grasshopper (Aeropedellus clavatus). Temperature measurements on east-and west-facing alpine dry meadow slopes on Niwot Ridge in Colorado demonstrated a significant difference in diurnal surface temperatures between the two slopes throughout the growing season. A. clavatus body temperature was found to be highly correlated with nearby shaded surface temperature, and individual grasshoppers enclosed on the two slopes had significantly higher relative growth rates on the warmer east slope. Temperature effects were manifest at the population level as well. A. clavatus was significantly more abundant on the east-facing than on the west-facing slope, despite similar vegetation in both areas. This study contributes to our understanding of the myriad of factors governing insect distribution and abundance by attempting to integrate the physiological and ecological, abiotic and biotic, influences on both individuals and populations.     

外来入侵植物腺龙葵在我国的适生区预测

【目的】全球恶性杂草腺龙葵最早于20世纪80年代入侵我国辽宁,90年代以后在河南被发现,近年来在新疆和北京都有入侵记录。明确其潜在的适生区对制定防控措施具有重要意义。【方法】通过查找全球生物多样性信息数据库、标本记录、文献信息以及实地调查等途径获得了腺龙葵在全球的分布点,利用Maxent生态位模型模拟了其适应的气候生态位,并投影到中国预测了其潜在适生区。【结果】适生区预测结果显示,腺龙葵在我国存在广阔的适生区,除海南、广东、黑龙江、吉林外的27省区都存在其适生区。【结论】腺龙葵在我国进一步扩散蔓延的风险极高。建议对新入侵地采取早期监测预警和根除措施,并加大对适生区内进口货物接受区的监测力度,以预防其再次入侵。     

亚热带六种常见榕属植物日间呼吸特征

植物呼吸作用是生态系统碳循环的一个关键过程。陆地植被每年通过光合作用固定的碳有一半被呼吸作用释放,而释放的这部分又有大约一半来自叶片呼吸。植物不仅在夜晚进行呼吸作用(R_d, Dark respiration),白天也在呼吸,即日间呼吸(R_L, Light respiration)。有研究表明光照条件下植物叶片呼吸低于黑暗环境下叶片呼吸速率,通常受到的光照抑制程度为30%—40%左右。但在实际研究中,经常忽视植物叶片日间呼吸的光抑制,进而大幅高估生态系统呼吸,从而使得生态系统总初级生产力(Gross primary productivity, GPP)被高估,因此有必要对植物的日间呼吸特性进行研究。以中国南方亚热带六种常见榕属植物(垂叶榕、高山榕、黄金榕、菩提树、细叶榕、小叶榕)为研究对象,测量其叶片的日间呼吸速率(R_L, Kok方法)、暗呼吸速率(R_d)、比叶重(LMA)、叶片氮含量(N)、磷含量(P)、最大光合速率(A)、1800及80μmol m^-2 s^-1     

不同林分白蜡树云斑白条天牛种群空间格局地统计学分析

云斑白条天牛是我国重要林业害虫,在黄河三角洲地区对白蜡树造成严重危害。利用地统计学方法,通过调查城市行道绿化林、庭院绿化林、公路林和片林4种不同林分类型的白蜡树林地,以产卵刻槽、排粪孔和羽化孔为调查指标,对危害白蜡云斑白条天牛种群卵、幼虫、成虫(蛹)的空间格局进行了研究。结果表明:除片林样点成虫(蛹)的半变异函数模型为指数模型外,危害白蜡云斑白条天牛种群卵、幼虫、成虫(蛹)在不同林分类型下的半变异函数模型均为球形模型,其指明空间分布均为聚集分布,种群的聚集分布习性与林分类型相关性不强。但不同林分类型云斑白条天牛种群的空间相关性地统计学参数存在差异,片林调查样点的卵、幼虫和成虫(蛹)的变程a、块金值C0和基台值C0+C均小于其他3种林分类型的统计值,片林样点成虫(蛹)的半变异函数模型不同于其他林分类型为指数模型。     

Vegetation structure and diversity of an ancient temperate deciduous forest in SW Denmark

Bolderslev Skov (113 ha) is the largest contiguous ancient forest remnant in Denmark. The forest has been preserved since 1998 as a strict non-intervention forest reserve. We studied vegetation structure, floristic gradients, and diversity of the forest in 50 plots of 100 m² placed according to a restricted random sampling design. Dominant tree species were Fagus sylvatica, Fraxinus excelsior, Tilia cordata and Quercus robur, which in most parts of the forest form a mixed canopy. Most stands appeared to be of moderate age, 55-80 years old, and large old trees were rare. pH in association with light and thickness of the litter layer were the most important factors in explaining floristic gradients in the forest. Soil moisture (dry to mesic) was not strongly correlated with DCA axes for neither tree nor field layer, but had a significant effect on the distribution of a number of herb species. Forest structure was not important in explaining species distributions. Field layer species richness showed a positive relationship with the pH-gradient. At the scale of 1m² plots we also found a highly significant negative relationship between field layer species richness and the plot-wise Ellenberg indicator value for nitrogen availability. Structure of the tree layer had little effect on field layer species richness. The mixed composition, long continuity, and presence of a high proportion of the regional species pool assigns a high conservation value to Bolderslev Skov and makes it an important site for future studies of the dynamic properties, niche preferences, and inter-specific competition of temperate deciduous forest species. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Light limitation and litter of an invasive clonal plant,Wedelia trilobata,inhibit its seedling recruitment

Background and Aims

Invasive clonal plants have two reproduction patterns, namely sexual and vegetative propagation. However, seedling recruitment of invasive clonal plants can decline as the invasion process proceeds. For example, although the invasive clonal Wedelia trilobata (Asteraceae) produces numerous seeds, few seedlings emerge under its dense population canopy in the field. In this study it is hypothesized that light limitation and the presence of a thick layer of its own litter may be the primary factors causing the failure of seedling recruitment for this invasive weed in the field.

Methods

A field survey was conducted to determine the allocation of resources to sexual reproduction and seedling recruitment in W. trilobata. Seed germination was also determined in the field. Effects of light and W. trilobata leaf extracts on seed germination and seedling growth were tested in the laboratory.

Key Results

Wedelia trilobata blooms profusely and produces copious viable seeds in the field. However, seedlings of W. trilobata were not detected under mother ramets and few emerged seedlings were found in the bare ground near to populations. In laboratory experiments, low light significantly inhibited seed germination. Leaf extracts also decreased seed germination and inhibited seedling growth, and significant interactions were found between low light and leaf extracts on seed germination. However, seeds were found to germinate in an invaded field after removal of the W. trilobata plant canopy.

Conclusions

The results indicate that lack of light and the presence of its own litter might be two major factors responsible for the low numbers of W. trilobata seedlings found in the field. New populations will establish from seeds once the limiting factors are eliminated, and seeds can be the agents of long-distance dispersal; therefore, prevention of seed production remains an important component in controlling the spread of this invasive clonal plant.     

基于MaxEnt模型的入侵植物白花鬼针草的分布预测及适生性分析

【背景】白花鬼针草为农区恶性杂草,原产于美洲,现已广泛分布于世界热带及亚热带地区,但其在全球和中国的适生区域及适生等级还不明确。【方法】利用MaxEnt生态位模型对白花鬼针草在全球以及中国的潜在适生区进行预测。【结果】白花鬼针草在全球的分布更多受到温度因素的影响。白花鬼针草的适生区主要集中在北半球和南半球15°~30°之间的热带和亚热带地区。其中,北美南部、南美中南部、非洲南部、东南亚北部以及大洋洲中南部沿海地区为白花鬼针草中、高度适生区。白花鬼针草在中国的适生区主要位于广东、广西、海南、云南、福建、台湾。到2070年,白花鬼针草在全球的适生区面积与当前相似,但在中国的适生区有所增大。【结论】白花鬼针草在我国有进一步扩张的风险。     

Plant community changes after the reduction of an invasive rangeland weed, diffuse knapweed, Centaurea diffusa

The expected outcome of weed control in natural systems is that the decline of a dominant weed will result in an increase in diversity of the plant community but this has seldom been tested. Here we evaluate the response of the plant community following the decline of diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa) in six different pastures at White Lake, BC, Canada over five years. This period followed the establishment, spread and high levels of attack by the introduced European weevil, Larinus minutus, as part of a biological control program. Knapweed declined immediately before and during the study period, but, contrary to expectations, the species richness and diversity of the rangeland plant community did not increase. The absolute cover of native and introduced forbs and grasses increased following knapweed decline, but only the introduced grasses showed a consistent increase in cover relative to the other life-forms. However, unlike in other studies, the native plants dominated the study site. We conclude that the changes in plant communities following successful biological control are variable among programs and that the impact of replacement species must be evaluated in assessing the success of ecological restoration programs that use biological control to manage an undesirable weed.     

气候变化情景下裸冠菊在中国的潜在适生区分布预测

外来入侵植物裸冠菊(Gymnocoronis spilanthoides)具有较强的入侵适应性能快速繁殖扩散,会对本土物种的生长繁殖及本地生态安全、景观格局等产生不良影响。基于265个有效分布点和7个环境变量,调整优化预测模型的调控倍频和特征组合参数,应用MaxEnt、ArcGIS、R软件预测当前和未来(2050s, 2070s)不同气候情景(SSP126, SSP245,SSP370, SSP585)下裸冠菊在中国的潜在地理分布,定量分析其适生区的空间变化及质心移动轨迹,最后采用受试者工作特征(ROC)曲线下面积(AUC)和测试遗漏率评估模型的精确性。未来气候模式选择中国国家气候中心开发的CMIP6中BCC-CSM2-MR。结果表明：(1)模型预测结果极准确,各组模型的AUC值均高于0.97;(2)最干季降水量(bio17)、最冷季度平均温(bio11)、温度季节性变化(bio4)和最暖季度平均降雨量(bio18)是影响裸冠菊地理分布的主导气候因子;(3)当前气候条件下,裸冠菊的总适生区面积达到191.18×10⁴km²,约占国土总面积的1...     

Experimental evidence for an alkali ecotype of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lolium multiflorum</Emphasis>, an exotic invasive annual grass in the Central Valley,CA, USA

One of the characteristics of highly invaded ecosystems is that exotic species are often poor invaders of edaphically severe sites, which become refuges for native flora. To investigate the invasive potential of Lolium multiflorum (Per.) into alkali sites in California, an ex-situ reciprocal transfer experiment was carried out using seeds from populations of L. multiflorum taken from three sites differing in alkalinity (and inundation), including alkali sink soils (pH 8.5) and sink matrix soils (pH 7.4) located within meters of each other, and non-sink soils (pH 5.0) located several km away. Survivorship, plant height, leaf number and seed production were assessed. In addition, a native composite, Hemizonia pungens (Hick.), commonly found on alkali sinks was also sampled at the sink and sink matrix microsites. Lolium multiflorum plants grown from alkali sink and sink matrix seeds produced fewer leaves and seeds but were taller than plants grown from non-alkali seeds, the latter perhaps an adaptation to frequently inundated soils. Non-alkali genotypes fared poorly in sink soils for all traits, both in comparison to their growth on non-sink soils, and in comparison to the sink and sink edge genotypes. This suggests the existence of L. multiflorum ecotypes adapted to inundated alkali sinks, a genotypic difference that occurs on a broad spatial scale (kilometers), but not so obviously on the micro-site scale (meters) between sink and sink matrix populations. These data suggest that the absence of exotic invasives from alkali sites may be temporary if they are evolving tolerance for these severe sites, and this may threaten the future of the native alkali specialists that currently find refuge in these sites.     

Colonization and predation of thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) by Orius spp. (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) in sweet pepper greenhouses in Northwest Italy

Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) and Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) are major pests of sweet pepper for direct damage and tospovirus transmission. To control their infestations, Orius laevigatus (Fieber) (Heteroptera: Anthocoridae) is produced by many commercial insectaries and widely used on IPM vegetable crops of Europe. This predator is naturally widespread along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts, and not in more continental areas, where other Orius spp. are more common. Research was conducted in a continental area of Northwest Italy in 2002–2003 to assess the natural presence of anthocorids on pepper, and to compare their colonization and predatory ability with those of the species artificially introduced. Experiments were conducted in 12 sweet pepper greenhouses, in six of which O. laevigatus release was made. From late May to early October, thrips and anthocorids were sampled on pepper by collecting flowers; Orius spp. were also collected on neighboring wild flora. Independently of the releases, Orius specimens were found in all surveyed greenhouses, but O. niger Wolff, also captured on various wild plants, was the most abundant species. It naturally colonized crops from late June and proved to be the most efficient predator on sweet pepper in the surveyed area, if not disturbed by pesticide application. Contrarily, O. laevigatus was rarely found and only in the greenhouses in which it had been released. However its introduction resulted in thrips control before natural colonization by the native species occurred.