The effect of nitrogen nutrition on growth and biomass partitioning of annual plants originating from habitats of different nitrogen availability

Summary The hypothesis was tested that faster growth of nitrophilic plants at high nitrogen (N) nutrition is counterbalanced by faster growth of non-nitrophilic plants at low N-nutrition. Ten annual plant species were used which originated from habitats of different N-availability. The species' preference for N was quantified by the N-number of Ellenberg (1979), a relative measure of nitrophily. The plants were cultivated in a growth cabinet at five levels of ammonium-nitrate supply. At low N-supply, the relative growth rate (RGR) was independent of nitrophily. At high N-supply, RGR tended to be higher in nitrophilic than in non-nitrophilic species. However, the response of RGR to N-supply was strongly and positively correlated with the nitrophily of species. Increasing N-supply enhanced partitioning to leaf weight per total biomass (LWR) and increased plant leaf area per total biomass (LAR). Specific leaf weight (SLW) and LWR were both higher in non-nitrophilic than in nitrophilic species at all levels of N-nutrition. NAR (growth per leaf area or net assimilation rate) increased with nitrophily only under conditions of high N-supply. RGR correlated positively with LAR, irrespective of N-nutrition. Under conditions of high N-supply RGR correlated with SLW negatively and with NAR positively.     

Carbon and nitrogen partitioning in the biennial monocarp Arctium tomentosum Mill

Summary Growth and nitrogen partitioning were investigated in the biennial monocarp Arctium tomentosum in the field, in plants growing at natural light conditions, in plants in which approximately half the leaf area was removed and in plants growing under 20% of incident irradiation. Growth quantities were derived from splined cubic polynomial exponential functions fitted to dry matter, leaf area and nitrogen data.Main emphasis was made to understanding of the significance of carbohydrate and nitrogen storage of a large tuber during a 2-years' life cycle, especially the effect of storage on biomass and seed yield in the second season. Biomass partitioning favours growth of leaves in the first year rosette stage. Roots store carbohydrates at a constant rate and increase storage of carbohydrates and nitrogen when the leaves decay at the end of the first season. In the second season the reallocation of carbohydrates from storage is relatively small, but reallocation of nitrogen is very large. Carbohydrate storage just primes the growth of the first leaves in the early growing season, nitrogen storage contributes 20% to the total nitrogen requirement during the 2nd season. The efficiency of carbohydrate storage for conversion into new biomass is about 40%. Nitrogen is reallocated 3 times in the second year, namely from the tuber to rosette leaves and further to flower stem leaves and eventually into seeds. The harvest index for nitrogen is 0.73, whereas for biomass it is only 0.19.     

达赉湖自然保护区冬春季鸟类生物多样性与生境的关系

2004年4月-5月,利用样带法对达赉湖自然保护区5种主要生境类型中冬春季鸟类生物多样性进行了调查,利用Shannon-Wiener指数和Smith相关性系数分析了这5种生境类型中冬春季鸟类的生物多样性、区系、鸟类的群落组成、群落间的相似性和均匀度。结果表明,古北界鸟类是组成达赉湖鸟类群落的主体(约占冬春季鸟类的86%);芦苇湿地的鸟类多样性接近于芦苇甸的2倍:芦苇湿地鸟类群落的物种多样性最高(Shannon-Wiener指数为1.3001),而芦苇甸中鸟类群落的物种多样性最低(Shannon-Wiener指数为0.6629);芦苇湿地和芦苇甸两鸟类群落组成的相关性指数仅为0.038;从具有共同物种的多少考虑,典型草原和芨芨草原鸟类群落之间的关联较大。     

Effects of simulated herbivory and resource availability on the invasive plant, Alternanthera philoxeroides in different habitats

In biological control programs, the insect natural enemy’s ability to suppress the plant invader may be affected by abiotic factors, such as resource availability, that can influence plant growth and reproduction. Understanding plant tolerance to herbivory under different environmental conditions will help to improve biocontrol efficacy. The invasive alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) has been successfully controlled by natural enemies in many aquatic habitats but not in terrestrial environments worldwide. This study examined the effects of different levels of simulated leaf herbivory on the growth of alligator weed at two levels of fertilization and three levels of soil moisture (aquatic, semi-aquatic, and terrestrial habitats). Increasing levels of simulated (manual) defoliation generally caused decreases in total biomass in all habitats. However, the plant appeared to respond differently to high levels of herbivory in the three habitats. Terrestrial plants showed the highest below–above ground mass ratio (R/S), indicating the plant is more tolerant to herbivory in terrestrial habitats than in aquatic habitats. The unfertilized treatment exhibited greater tolerance than the fertilized treatment in the terrestrial habitat at the first stage of this experiment (day 15), but fertilizer appears not to have influenced tolerance at the middle and last stages of the experiment. No such difference was found in semi-aquatic and aquatic habitats. These findings suggest that plant tolerance is affected by habitats and soil nutrients and this relationship could influence the biological control outcome. Plant compensatory response to herbivory under different environmental conditions should, therefore, be carefully considered when planning to use biological control in management programs against invasive plants.     

不同产地‘金圆’猕猴桃低温贮藏下的生理指标及贮藏性变化

以中华猕猴桃(Actinidia chinensis Planch.)黄肉新品种‘金圆’果实为材料,通过低温贮藏实验(1℃±0.5℃,相对湿度90%~95%),系统研究武汉和六盘水所产‘金圆’果实的生理指标及贮藏性。结果显示,两地‘金圆’果实硬度和色彩角(h值)随贮藏时间延长而逐渐下降,硬度在前20 d下降幅度大。果实可溶性固形物(SSC)含量和干物质在贮藏期间变化规律基本一致,六盘水产果实的SSC和干物质含量高于武汉。武汉产果实VC、可溶性总糖、可滴定酸含量仅在80 d时高于六盘水,其他时间均低于六盘水。两地果实的固酸比和糖酸比变化一致,六盘水产果实固酸比(SSC/TA)和糖酸比(SS/TA)在80 d时均达到峰值,而武汉产果实只有糖酸比达到峰值。随贮藏时间延长,两地果实的失重率均缓慢上升,160 d时武汉和六盘水果实的失重率分别为2.82%和2.55%;在贮藏前60 d两地果实腐烂率较低,之后上升较快,160 d时六盘水产果实腐烂率是武汉的1.77倍。本研究结果表明六盘水产‘金圆’果实的风味品质优于武汉,而武汉产果实贮藏性更好些。     

兴隆山国家级自然保护区不同生境的蝴蝶群落结构与种-多度分布

为明确甘肃兴隆山国家级自然保护区内的蝴蝶种类, 以及不同生境的蝴蝶群落结构与种-多度分布的变化情况, 在全部5个林场选取6条样线, 于2015-2018年连续4年采用样线法对保护区的蝴蝶进行调查和采集, 并分析了其多样性指数及种-多度分布。4年共采集蝴蝶标本5,719号, 经鉴定隶属8科69属120种。眼蝶科(3,093号)是保护区的优势类群, 喙蝶科仅采集到1号标本(朴喙蝶, Libythea lepita), 为保护区的稀有种类。其中, 各样线的种数、个体数、多样性指数以及物种丰富度表现为: 样线I最高, 样线IV次之, 说明其生境结构稳定, 环境良好, 适合蝶类生存; 样线III蜜源植物丰富, 各项指数较高; 样线V海拔较高, 各项指数较低; 样线II植物群落结构单一, 各项指数最低。相似性系数分析结果表明: 样线I和VI、III和IV、III和VI均为中等相似; 其余各样线间为中等不相似。区系分析结果表明: 古北种有63种, 占总种数的52.5%; 东洋种2种, 占总种数的1.7%; 广布种55种, 占总种数的45.8%。说明古北种占绝对优势, 且明显高于东洋种, 具有很强的地区代表性。种-多度分布分析结果表明: 样线I和IV呈现出对数正态分布, 模型拟合效果较好; 样线II和VI为非典型的对数级数模型, 符合生态位优先占领假说。说明不同生境以及人为干扰因素与蝶类多样性关系密切, 表现出单一生态系统蝴蝶群落的多样性指数较低, 复杂生态系统其多样性指数较高的特点。     

Phylogeography of halophytes from European coastal and inland habitats

The repeated advance and retreat of glaciers during the Pleistocene ice ages have played a major role in shaping the present patterns of genetic variation within and among plant and animal populations of the temperate zone. In Europe, the geographic ranges of many species were confined to a few, mostly southern refugia during periods of full glaciation. Distribution ranges then reexpanded, and uninhabited northern areas were recolonized during the interglacials. These contraction–expansion cycles were repeated at least four times. Paleontological and molecular phylogeographic studies during the last decade have greatly increased our knowledge of refugial areas and postglacial recolonization patterns of European trees, shrubs and Alpine plants since the last glacial maximum about 20,000 years ago. Much less is known yet about non-Alpine herbaceous plants. In the present review, we summarize recent phylogeographic work on halophytic (salt-adapted) plants from coastal and inland habitats in Europe. Major refugial areas for these plants have been identified along the Mediterranean coasts, but some species could also have survived in saline inland localities. In general, recolonization of N and NW Europe occurred in a stepwise fashion along the Atlantic coastline. For a number of species, molecular studies revealed concordant genetic discontinuities on the background of an essentially continuous geographic distribution. Such congruency could be explained by the preferential seed dispersal through sea currents. However, phylogeographic patterns of halophytes also proved to be influenced by other factors like sea-level fluctuations during the Pleistocene, secondary contact between divergent lineages, long-distance dispersal, clonal growth, and special habitat and temperature requirements.     

Root morphological plasticity and nutrient acquisition of perennial grass species from habitats of different nutrient availability

We studied the root foraging ability and its consequences for the nutrient acquisition of five grass species that differ in relative growth rate and that occur in habitats that differ widely in nutrient availability. Foraging responses were quantified, based on the performance of the plants in homogeneous and heterogeneous soil environments of the same overall nutrient availability. Although all species tended to produce a significantly higher root length density in a nutrient-rich patch, this response was significant only for the faster-growing species. The increased root length density resulted from small, though not significant, changes in root biomass and specific root length. The effectiveness of root proliferation was determined by quantifying the total amount of nutrients (N and P) accumulated by the plants over the course of the experiment. Plants acquired more N in a heterogeneous environment than in a homogeneous environment, although the total nutrient availability was the same. The ability to acquire nutrients (N or P) in the heterogeneous environment was not related to the ability of species to increase root length density in response to local nutrient enrichment. In contrast to other studies, our results suggest that the role of morphological plasticity of roots in acquiring patchily distributed resources is limited. Possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed. Received: 11 September 1997 / Accepted: 28 February 1998     

Variations in storage protein and carbohydrate levels during development of avocado zygotic embryos

Variations in carbohydrates and proteins were monitored during avocado (Persea americana Mill.) zygotic embryo development and correlated with growth parameters in order to define specific markers characterizing distinct embryogenic phases. Hexose (glucose and fructose) levels were initially high and declined as embryo development advanced reaching the lowest levels in completely mature embryos. Sucrose and starch evolution showed an opposite trend with a progressive increase during embryo growth. The beginning of the maturation phase could be identified by a switch in the carbohydrate status from high hexose/sucrose ratio to low hexose/sucrose ratio. Storage protein accumulation began at early cotyledonary stages (7–8 mm), increasing significantly in the maturation phase where they represented 83% of total proteins. Mature embryos (38–40 mm) contained albumins, globulins and glutelins, albumins being the predominant and most heterogeneous fraction. Storage protein accumulation occurred in a sequential and specific way suggesting a possible role as indicators of embryo development. The complete maturation stage could be characterized by the synthesis and accumulation of a 49 kDa albumin.     

Larval nutrition affects lipid storage and growth, but not protein or carbohydrate storage in newly eclosed adults of the grasshopper Schistocerca americana

Nitrogen availability from dietary protein can have profound effects on the physiology and evolutionary ecology of insect herbivores. While many studies consider the effects of nutrition on consumption and gross body composition of protein and other important nutrients, few consider partitioning to storage for future use. I used chemically defined artificial diets to quantitatively manipulate the amount of dietary carbohydrates and proteins available to growing larvae of the grasshopper Schistocerca americana to determine how larval nutrient availability affects growth and all three classes of stored nutrients (proteins, lipids, and carbohydrates) carried over from larval feeding into adulthood. Larvae on poor diets increased consumption, but could not compensate for diet quality, eclosing small and containing no significant nutrient stores at adulthood. Individuals fed intermediate to high nutrient content diets as larvae were significantly larger and contained a significantly greater proportion of lipid stores at adult eclosion, but not protein or carbohydrate stores than individuals fed low nutrient content diets. This suggests that larvally derived lipid stores may be more important to adult fitness than carbohydrate or protein stores. This result is contrary to previous studies performed on the role of larval nutrition and allocation to protein stores, and this difference is likely due to variation in the relative availability of protein in adult diets across species.     

Growth,photosynthesis and storage of carbohydrates and nitrogen in Phaseolus lunatus in relation to resource availability

External hyphae of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizal (VAM) fungi were quantified over a growing season in a reconstructed tallgrass prairie and an ungrazed cool-season pasture. In both sites, hyphal lengths increased throughout the growing season. Peak external hyphal lengths were 111 m cm^–3 of soil in the prairie and 81 m cm^–3 of soil in the pasture. These hyphal lengths calculate to external hyphal dry weights of 457 g cm^–3 and 339 g cm^–3 of soil for prairie and pasture communities, respectively. The relationships among external hyphal length, root characteristics, soil P and soil moisture were also determined. Measures of gross root morphology [e.g., specific root length (SRL) and root mass] have a strong association with external hyphal length. Over the course of the study, both grassland communities experienced a major drought event in late spring. During this period a reduction in SRL occurred in both the pasture and prairie without a measured reduction in external hyphal length. Recovery for both the pasture and prairie occurred not by increasing SRL, but rather by increasing external hyphal length. This study suggests that growth is coordinated between VAM hyphae and root morphology, which in turn, are constrained by plant community composition and soil nutrient and moisture conditions.     

长春市不同土地利用生境土壤螨类群落结构特征

2003年7月和9月对长春市郊区天然次生林、农田、防护林和市区公园绿地等典型土地利用生境进行土壤螨类调查,Tullgren法提取土壤螨类,应用个体密度、类群数量、群落多样性、丰富度和均匀度、甲螨群落MGP分析和捕食性螨类MI等指数,研究土壤螨类的群落生态结构特征,了解土地利用差异对土壤螨类群落结构的影响。研究区共捕获土壤螨类3亚目92属8703只,其中隐气门亚目（Cryptostigmata）54属5091只,前气门亚目（Prostigmata）17属1582只,中气门亚目21属2030只。研究结果表明：长春市土地利用差异对土壤螨类群落结构特征影响明显,其中地表凋落物的移除和耕作活动是影响螨类群落结构的主要因素,地表凋落物的移除显著减少螨类群落的类群数、个体密度、群落多样性和丰富度,耕作活动促进螨类个体向土壤剖面下层移动,而地表植物群落类型对土壤螨类群落生态结构特征影响差异不显著。     

大中山自然保护区种子植物区系研究

云南省大中山自然保护区有种子植物749种,隶属于137科396属。区系成分中,世界分布33属,占全部总属数的8.33%;热带分布206属,占除世界分布属以外的56.75%(下同),温带分布148属,占40.77%,中国特有9属,占2.48%。该地区植物种类丰富,种子植物区系起源古老,地理成分复杂,具有明显的亚热带特性。从区系成分和植物类群多样性所占比例上看,是一个需要重点保护的区域。     

Production as a function of resource availability: Slopes and efficiencies are different

Abstract. A number of investigators have interpreted the slope of a linear production‐resource relationship as a measure of efficiency of resource utilization. However, this is rarely true and may lead to incorrect conclusions. Here, by means of simple mathematical equations and conceptual definitions, we point out the theoretical differences between slope and efficiency. While a slope represents the change in the dependent variable per unit change in the independent variable, efficiency expresses the amount of output produced by a unit amount of input. Practical implications of using slopes as indicators of resource‐use efficiency are less important as the resource amount increases. Slopes may be used as indicators of the sensitivity of production to changes in input, which is by itself an interesting property of biological systems. Finally, production function intercepts determine whether the efficiency will decrease, increase, or remain constant as resources increase.     

不同积水生境对河南黄河湿地植物多样性的影响

湿地作为水陆交替的过渡地带,承担着重要的生态服务功能,湿地植物是生态功能作用发挥的基础。不同积水生境与湿地植物物种组成和分布关系密切。黄河流域是国家的重要生态屏障,湿地面积广阔,河南黄河湿地作为黄河湿地的重要组成部分,其积水生境对植物多样性的影响尚不清晰。为研究河南黄河湿地植物的多样性现状以及积水生境对其植物多样性的影响,采用样方和样线相结合的方法对河南省7个黄河湿地自然保护区中的湿地植物进行调查,共设置样方981个。重点分析了不同积水生境湿地植物的主要群系和物种组成,研究了各生境物种多样性和群落多样性特征（α多样性）,对比了的不同积水生境植物物种组成相似性和群落间相似程度（β多样性）,明确了各生境的植物物种排序和指示种。结果表明：（1）河南黄河湿地植物群系以草本群系为主,共发现188种湿地植物,分属56科,138属;（2）不同积水状况湿地植物物种丰富度大小依次为：季节性积水 > 永久性积水 > 间歇性积水 > 季节性水涝,主要群系总数与物种丰富度趋势表现一致;（3）不同积水生境湿地植物的物种组成存在显著差异,季节性积水和永久性积水生境中植物物种组成相似性和群落间相似程度最高,各积水生境均有明显的优势种和指示种。河南黄河湿地积水生境在不同流段差异显著,不同积水生境下植物多样性和主要植物群系有明显区别,进行湿地生态建设时,建议优先保护季节性积水生境,减少季节性水涝生境的产生,以达到维持物种多样性,发挥湿地最大生态价值的目的。     

Contrasting effects of resource availability and plant mortality on plant community invasion by Bromus tectorum L.

The positive effect of disturbance on plant community invasibility is one of the more consistent results in invasion ecology. It is generally attributed to a coincident increase in available resources (due to the disturbance) that allows non-resident plant species to establish (Davis MA, Grime JP Thompson K, J Ecol 88:528–534, 2000). However, most research addressing this issue has been in artificial or highly modified plant communities. Our goal in this study was to investigate the interactive effects of resource availability and plant mortality disturbance on the invasion of natural plant communities. We conducted a series of experiments that examined the response of Bromus tectorum L., a highly invasive annual grass, to experimentally created gradients of resource availability [nitrogen (N) and water] and resident plant species mortality. We found that B. tectorum biomass was co-limited by N and water. Biomass at the end of the growing season was a saturating function (i.e., increased to a maximum) of water, which determined maximum biomass, and N, which determined the rate at which maximum biomass was attained. Despite that fact that plant mortality increased N availability, it had a negative impact on invasion success. Plant mortality also decreased foliar cover, standing dead biomass, and soil cover by litter. In harsh environments, removing foliar and soil cover may increase germination and seedling stress by increasing soil temperatures and water loss. Across all treatments, B. tectorum success decreased with decreasing foliar cover and standing dead biomass. This, in combination with the strong limitation of B. tectorum biomass by water in this experiment, suggests that our plant mortality disturbance removed soil cover that may have otherwise aided B. tectorum invasion into this semi-arid plant community by reducing water stress.     

Responses to mineral nutrient availability and heterogeneity in physiologically integrated sedges from contrasting habitats

Clonal plants from poor habitats benefit less from morphologically plastic responses to heterogeneity than plants from more productive sites. In addition, physiological integration has been suggested to either increase or decrease the foraging efficiency of clonal plants. We tested the capacity for biomass production and morphological response in two closely related, rhizomatous species from habitats that differ in resource availability, Carex arenaria (from poor sand dunes) and C. disticha (from nutrient-richer, moister habitats). We expected lower total biomass production and reduced morphological plasticity in C. arenaria, and that both species would produce more ramets in high nutrient patches, either in response to signals transported through physiological integration, or by locally determined responses to nutrient availability. To investigate mineral nutrient heterogeneity, plants were grown in boxes divided into two compartments with homogeneous or heterogeneous supply of high (H) or low (L) nutrient levels, resulting in four treatments, H-H, H-L, L-H and L-L. Both C. arenaria and C. disticha produced similar biomass in high nutrient treatments. C. disticha responded to high nutrients by increased biomass production and branching of the young parts and by altering root:shoot ratio and rhizome lengths, while C. arenaria showed localised responses to high nutrients in terms of local biomass and branch production in high nutrient patches. The results demonstrated that although it has a conservative morphology, C. arenaria responded to nutrient heterogeneity through morphological plasticity. An analysis of costs and benefits of integration on biomass production showed that young ramets of both species benefited significantly from physiological integration, but no corresponding costs were found. This suggests that plants from resource-poor but dynamic habitats like sand dunes respond morphologically to high nutrient patches. The two species responded to nutrient heterogeneity in different traits, and this is discussed in terms of local and distant signalling of plant status.     

Biomass carbon storage and net primary production in different habitats of Hunshandake Sandland, China

Terrestrial ecosystems are playing important roles in global carbon cycling. However, the information is still limited with regard to the semi-arid sandland or desert area, compared with the thorough studies on forest and grassland. We here estimated the biomass carbon storage, net primary production (NPP) and rain use efficiency (RUE) of Hunshandake Sandland, a semi-arid sandy region in Inner Mongolia covered with vegetation of Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila L.) sparse forest grassland. Five main habitats, i.e. fixed dunes, semi-fixed dunes, shifting dunes, lowland, and wetland, were compared to analyze the patterns of carbon storage and NPP distribution. The average biomass (9.19 Mg C ha^?1) and NPP (4.79 Mg C ha^?1 yr^?1) of the sparse forest grassland were respectively 82% and 54% higher than the mean level of the surrounding temperate grassland. Governed by the same climate, sparse forest grassland ecosystem had RUE almost twice that of surrounding grassland. The ratio of below to aboveground biomass was 3.5: 1 in the sandland, indicating that most of the vegetational carbon was stored in belowground pool. Although trees were functionally critical in maintaining the integrity of sparse forest grassland, they accounted for only 10.6% and 1.2% of the biomass and NPP, respectively. The sparse forest grassland in Hunshandake Sandland should be recognized as a temperate savanna ecosystem which is distinctively different from typical temperate grassland in the same region as evidenced by the higher NPP and vegetation carbon storage. Well designed management and restoration efforts can potentially sustain ecosystem services in both forage production and carbon sequestration.     

Biomass carbon storage and net primary production in different habitats of Hunshandake Sandland, China

Terrestrial ecosystems are playing important roles in global carbon cycling. However, the information is still limited with regard to the semi-arid sandland or desert area, compared with the thorough studies on forest and grassland. We here estimated the biomass carbon storage, net primary production (NPP) and rain use efficiency (RUE) of Hunshandake Sandland, a semi-arid sandy region in Inner Mongolia covered with vegetation of Siberian elm (Ulmus pumila L.) sparse forest grassland. Five main habitats, i.e. fixed dunes, semi-fixed dunes, shifting dunes, lowland, and wetland, were compared to analyze the patterns of carbon storage and NPP distribution. The average biomass (9.19 Mg C ha^?1) and NPP (4.79 Mg C ha^?1 yr^?1) of the sparse forest grassland were respectively 82% and 54% higher than the mean level of the surrounding temperate grassland. Governed by the same climate, sparse forest grassland ecosystem had RUE almost twice that of surrounding grassland. The ratio of below to aboveground biomass was 3.5: 1 in the sandland, indicating that most of the vegetational carbon was stored in belowground pool. Although trees were functionally critical in maintaining the integrity of sparse forest grassland, they accounted for only 10.6% and 1.2% of the biomass and NPP, respectively. The sparse forest grassland in Hunshandake Sandland should be recognized as a temperate savanna ecosystem which is distinctively different from typical temperate grassland in the same region as evidenced by the higher NPP and vegetation carbon storage. Well designed management and restoration efforts can potentially sustain ecosystem services in both forage production and carbon sequestration.