Spring versus autumn leaf colours: Evidence for different selective agents and evolution in various species and floras

Red colouration is common in young and old leaves of broadleaf woody species. Assuming that leaf colours are adaptive, we examined, by comparing the colouration in young versus old leaves, the possibility that different selection agents may have operated on spring versus autumn leaf colouration. We observed spring versus autumn colouration in three very different woody floras (Finland, Japan and Israel) in order to allow for a broad ecological and evolutionary spectrum. The null hypothesis was that if the same selective agents operated in spring and autumn, it is expected that when spring leaves are red, they should always be red in autumn, and when spring leaves are green, they should be green or yellow in autumn. We found that green spring leaves are almost exclusively associated with yellow leaf colour at senescence in autumn. Species with red autumn leaves almost always have at least some red colouration in their spring leaves. However, about half of the species with red spring leaves have yellow autumn leaves. Brown autumn leaves were not common in the species we studied. As about half of the species with red spring leaves have yellow autumn leaves but not vice versa, we conclude that there are many cases in which the selecting agents for spring versus autumn leaf colour were not the same.     

A Study on the Chemical constituents of the Volatile Oils from the Fresh Leaves of Camellia sinensis Kuntze

The fresh leaves of Camellia sienesis (L.) Kuntze were distilled under low temperature and reduced pressure, the distillate thereof was extracted with ether, which gave rise to the volatile oil. From the volatile oil, by applying the GC, TLC, and IR, 51 components have been analyzed and identified. In addition, the variation law of the aroma of the fresh tea leaves in spring, summer and autumn has also been studied and determined. The main aroma of the fresh leaves of Camellia sienesis (L.) Kuntze are: cis-3- hexen-l-ol (spring, 2.15%; summer, 3.13%; autumn, 15%), benzyl alcohol (spring, 1.23%; summer, 1.60%; autumn, 1.01%), trans-linalooloxide (furanoid) (spring, 4.23%; summer, 4.11%; autumn, 3.18%), linalool (spring, 19.84%; summer, 8.20%; autumn, 11.91%), trans-linalooloxide (pyranoid) (spring, 1.73%; summer, 1.28%; autumn, 0.91%), geraniol (spring, 25.46%; summer, 3.93%; autumn, 3.16%), trans-2-hexenal (spring, 3.52%; summer, 25.48%; autumn, 1.13%), β-ionone (spring, 0.31%; autumn, 0.02%), cis-jasmone (spring, 0.20%; summer, 0.17%; autumn, 0.05%).     

Different strategies for photoprotection during autumn senescence in maple and oak

During autumn senescence, plants must disassemble the photosynthetic apparatus as nutrients are remobilized from the leaves. The goal of this study was to examine changes in relative abundance of photosynthetic proteins and pigments throughout autumn senescence in order to understand the mechanisms of photoprotection used during this process. We sampled leaves from two deciduous tree species [sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) and swamp white oak (Quercus bicolor Willd.)] throughout autumn during 2010 and 2013. Chlorophyll fluorescence was measured, thylakoids were isolated for western blotting with antibodies to individual proteins and pigment content was assessed. Both species retained high photochemical efficiency until late autumn and showed earlier onset of degradation of photosystem I relative to photosystem II. The species differed in the timing and pattern of degradation of individual photosynthetic proteins and pigments. In maple, there were increases in anthocyanins, more rapid degradation of light‐harvesting proteins and enrichment of xanthophyll cycle pigments in late autumn. In oak, light‐harvesting proteins were retained in higher abundance throughout autumn, PsbS levels increased during early autumn and lutein was enriched in late autumn samples. The results suggest that the species differ in strategies for photoprotection during autumn senescence.     

基于视觉特性的川西亚高山秋季景观林色彩量化及景观美学质量评价

景观美学质量评价是森林资源管理体系中的重要环节,色彩是秋季景观林的重要组成部分,色彩的定量分析及科学地进行景观美学质量评价对秋季景观林的经营管理具有重要意义。本研究通过美景度评判法评估川西亚高山秋季景观林整体的美学质量,根据人眼视觉特性从色彩组成和色彩空间格局两方面定量分析色彩特征对秋季景观林观赏价值的影响。结果表明: 根据美景度值将川西亚高山秋季景观林景观美学质量从高到低划分为5个等级(Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ),71.5%的景观属于Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ等级,说明川西亚高山秋季景观林具有较高的观赏价值;按美景度值大小排序,阔叶混交林的景观美学质量大于针阔混交林和纯林;在色彩要素综合指标评价体系中,按指标权重大小排序,色彩斑块异质性因子>秋季主色调因子>色彩饱和度与明度因子>色彩多样性与均匀度因子;通过聚类分析将川西亚高山秋季景观分为3类,其中,观赏价值较高的秋季景观林具有斑块破碎化和异质性程度大、秋季彩色占比大、绿色占比小、高明度和高饱和度、高色彩多样性指数和高均匀度指数的色彩特征;群落中植物或彩叶植物越丰富,多样性和均匀度指数越高,美景度值越大。在秋季景观林的打造中,应注重色彩的多样性和破碎化处理,通过种植和培育叶色多样且色泽鲜亮的树种来提高秋季景观林的美学质量。     

Autumn tree colours as a handicap signal.

Many species of deciduous trees display striking colour changes in autumn. Here, we present a functional hypothesis: bright autumn coloration serves as an honest signal of defensive commitment against autumn colonizing insect pests. According to this hypothesis, individuals within a signalling species show variation in the expression of autumn coloration, with defensively committed trees producing a more intense display. Insects are expected to be averse to the brightest tree individuals and, hence, preferentially colonize the least defensive hosts. We predicted that tree species suffering greater insect damage would, on average, invest more in autumn-colour signalling than less troubled species. Here, we show that autumn coloration is stronger in species facing a high diversity of damaging specialist aphids. Aphids are likely to be an important group of signal receivers because they are choosy, damaging and use colour cues in host selection. In the light of further aspects of insect and tree biology, these results support the notion that bright autumn colours are expensive handicap signals revealing the defensive commitment of individual trees to autumn colonizing insect pests.     

不同环境条件下向日葵油及脂肪酸含量研究

试验在巴基斯坦Arid农业大学进行,于2001年春、秋两季分别调查向日葵杂交种的油和脂肪酸含量,其中5个向日葵杂交种按完全随机区组设计,春向日葵在3月播种,6月收获;秋向日葵在8月播种,11月收获。调查结果表明,油和油酸的含量,春向日葵比秋向日葵高;软脂肪酸和亚油酸含量,秋向日葵比春向日葵高。因此,依据油和油酸的含量来推断,春向日葵比秋向日葵有优势;从亚油酸角度判断,秋向日葵比春向日葵更有优势。     

Predicting Climate Change Impacts on the Amount and Duration of Autumn Colors in a New England Forest

Climate change affects the phenology of many species. As temperature and precipitation are thought to control autumn color change in temperate deciduous trees, it is possible that climate change might also affect the phenology of autumn colors. Using long-term data for eight tree species in a New England hardwood forest, we show that the timing and cumulative amount of autumn color are correlated with variation in temperature and precipitation at specific times of the year. A phenological model driven by accumulated cold degree-days and photoperiod reproduces most of the interspecific and interannual variability in the timing of autumn colors. We use this process-oriented model to predict changes in the phenology of autumn colors to 2099, showing that, while responses vary among species, climate change under standard IPCC projections will lead to an overall increase in the amount of autumn colors for most species.     

Outlier Loci Detect Intraspecific Biodiversity amongst Spring and Autumn Spawning Herring across Local Scales

Herring, Clupea harengus, is one of the ecologically and commercially most important species in European northern seas, where two distinct ecotypes have been described based on spawning time; spring and autumn. To date, it is unknown if these spring and autumn spawning herring constitute genetically distinct units. We assessed levels of genetic divergence between spring and autumn spawning herring in the Baltic Sea using two types of DNA markers, microsatellites and Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms, and compared the results with data for autumn spawning North Sea herring. Temporally replicated analyses reveal clear genetic differences between ecotypes and hence support reproductive isolation. Loci showing non-neutral behaviour, so-called outlier loci, show convergence between autumn spawning herring from demographically disjoint populations, potentially reflecting selective processes associated with autumn spawning ecotypes. The abundance and exploitation of the two ecotypes have varied strongly over space and time in the Baltic Sea, where autumn spawners have faced strong depression for decades. The results therefore have practical implications by highlighting the need for specific management of these co-occurring ecotypes to meet requirements for sustainable exploitation and ensure optimal livelihood for coastal communities.     

Functional analysis of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index curves reveals overwinter mule deer survival is driven by both spring and autumn phenology

Large herbivore populations respond strongly to remotely sensed measures of primary productivity. Whereas most studies in seasonal environments have focused on the effects of spring plant phenology on juvenile survival, recent studies demonstrated that autumn nutrition also plays a crucial role. We tested for both direct and indirect (through body mass) effects of spring and autumn phenology on winter survival of 2315 mule deer fawns across a wide range of environmental conditions in Idaho, USA. We first performed a functional analysis that identified spring and autumn as the key periods for structuring the among-population and among-year variation of primary production (approximated from 1 km Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI)) along the growing season. A path analysis showed that early winter precipitation and direct and indirect effects of spring and autumn NDVI functional components accounted for 45% of observed variation in overwinter survival. The effect size of autumn phenology on body mass was about twice that of spring phenology, while direct effects of phenology on survival were similar between spring and autumn. We demonstrate that the effects of plant phenology vary across ecosystems, and that in semi-arid systems, autumn may be more important than spring for overwinter survival.     

Coevolution and the adaptive value of autumn tree colours: colour preference and growth rates of a southern beech aphid

The evolutionary explanation for the change in leaf colour during autumn is still debated. Autumn colours could be a signal of defensive commitment towards insects (coevolution) or an adaptation against physical damage because of light at low temperatures (photoprotection). These two hypotheses have different predictions: (1) under the coevolution hypothesis, insects should not prefer red leaves in autumn and grow better in spring on trees with green autumn leaves; and (2) under the photoprotection hypothesis, insects should prefer and grow better on trees with red leaves because they provide better nutrition. Studying colour preference in autumn and growth rates in spring of a southern beech aphid species (Neuquenaphis staryi) on Nothofagus alessandrii, we found preference for green leaves in autumn but no differential performance of aphids in spring. We suggest that aphid preference for green might have evolved to exploit better their host during the autumn rather than to improve their performance in spring.     

Role of photoperiod and temperature in seasonal morph determination of the butterfly Eurema hecabe

ABSTRACT. Environmental cues affecting seasonal morph determination of the pierid butterfly Eurema hecabe L. were examined in laboratory experiments and in the field. A sexual difference exists in the photoperiodic response for seasonal morph determination: in short days at 25C the proportion of the autumn morph is higher in females than in males, and as the rearing temperature is decreased the proportion of autumn morphs increases in both sexes. A 5C drop in temperature during the final larval stadium induces 100% autumn morph production in short-day animals. This increase in autumn morph production induced by temperature decrease explains the seasonal morph change of this butterfly occurring in early autumn in the field. The role of this sex-linked photoperiodic response is discussed as a seasonal strategy of reproduction.     

A field study with geometrid moths to test the coevolution hypothesis of red autumn colours in deciduous trees

Red autumn colouration of trees is the result of newly synthesized anthocyanin pigments in senescing autumn leaves. As anthocyanin accumulation is costly and the trait is not present in all species, anthocyanins must have an adaptive significance in autumn leaves. According to the coevolution hypothesis of autumn colours, red autumn leaves warn herbivorous insects – especially aphids that migrate to reproduce in trees in the autumn – that the tree will not be a suitable host for their offspring in spring due to a high level of chemical defence or lack of nutrients. The signalling allows trees to avoid herbivores and herbivores to choose better host trees. In this study the coevolution hypothesis was tested with four deciduous tree species that have red autumn leaf colouration – European aspen (Populus tremula L.) (Salicaceae), rowan (Sorbus aucuparia L.) (Rosaceae), mountain birch [Betula pubescens ssp. czerepanovii (NI Orlova) Hämet‐Ahti], and dwarf birch (Betula nana L.) (Betulaceae), and with two generalist herbivores, the autumnal moth [Epirrita autumnata (Borkhausen)] and the winter moth [Operophtera brumata (L.)] (both Lepidoptera: Geometridae). Anthocyanin concentrations of autumn leaves were determined from leaf samples and the growth performance parameters of the moth larvae on the study trees were measured in the spring. Trees with higher anthocyanin concentration in the autumn were predicted to be low‐quality food for the herbivores. Our results clearly showed that anthocyanin concentration was not correlated with the growth performance of the moths in any of the studied tree species. Thus, our study does not support the coevolution hypothesis of autumn colours.     

Overwintering success in adults of the Japanese common grass yellow Eurema mandarina

The evolution of reproductive diapause is controversial in males as compared to females that must overwinter to leave offspring, because late‐autumn males can obtain offspring by pre‐overwintering copulation. The Japanese common grass yellow Eurema mandarina is suitable to examine the evolution of male reproductive diapause, because direct comparisons are possible between males that do and do not exhibit reproductive diapause. Approximately one‐half of males are insensitive to diapause‐inducing conditions, and emerge as non‐diapause summer‐form. Most autumn‐form females mate with summer‐form males in late autumn. Females that have overwintered re‐mate with autumn‐form males before the onset of oviposition. Because last‐male‐precedence is general in sperm competition in Lepidoptera, it is unclear why half of males emerge as summer‐form in late autumn. A potential adaptive benefit for emerging as summer‐form is increased sperm overwintering success, if autumn‐form females have a higher overwintering success than autumn‐form males. In the present study, overwintering success was estimated for both sexes of autumn‐form adults by rearing under seminatural conditions and a mark–release–recapture technique. Both approaches estimated an overwintering success of approximately 5% for both sexes. The absence of difference in overwintering success between the sexes suggests that pre‐overwintering copulation does not increase sperm overwintering success. However, a considerably low overwintering success may explain, at least partly, the presence of summer‐form males in late autumn. The degree of overwintering success might be more important than the sexual differences of overwintering success in the evolution of male reproductive diapause.     

江西省庐山地区蜻蜓多样性的研究

于2004~2005年对江西庐山地区蜻蜓资源进行调查,通过对春、夏、秋三季蜻蜓多样性的研究,共收集蜻蜓1145只,隶属于10科、35属、52种。种类个体数量均表现为夏季最多,春季次之,秋季最少;属数和科数也是以夏季最多,春季次之,秋季最少。三季多样性指数(H′)的排序为春季(2.7603)>夏季(2.6420)>秋季(2.5601)。     

不同覆盖材料对夏秋苹果根区土壤硝酸盐代谢的影响

以3年生新红星苹果树为试验材料,在春季将稻草苫、农用地毯、透明塑料膜和园艺地布覆盖地表,于夏秋季调查根区土壤硝化-反硝化作用、硝酸还原酶(NR)和亚硝酸还原酶(NiR)活性以及铵态氮、硝态氮、亚硝态氮含量和植株生长的变化.结果表明: 4种覆盖处理均降低了夏季土壤硝化强度和夏秋之交的土壤NiR活性,提高了秋季土壤铵态氮含量以及夏秋之交的土壤反硝化强度、NR活性和铵态氮含量,降低了夏秋季土壤硝化强度、反硝化强度和NR活性的变异系数;稻草苫提高了夏季和秋季土壤反硝化强度与硝态氮含量,降低了夏季土壤NR和NiR活性;在4种处理中,稻草苫覆盖的土壤硝化与反硝化强度及NR活性在整个夏秋季的变异系数最低;农用地毯降低了夏季土壤反硝化强度,提高了夏季土壤NR和NiR活性、夏秋之交土壤硝态氮含量和秋季土壤反硝化强度;透明塑料膜降低了夏季土壤硝态氮含量,提高了夏季土壤亚硝态氮含量、夏秋之交土壤硝态氮含量以及秋季土壤硝化强度和NiR活性;园艺地布提高了夏季土壤反硝化强度、夏秋之交和秋季土壤的硝化强度以及秋季土壤硝态氮含量.4种覆盖处理均促进了植株生长,其中稻草苫和园艺地布促进新梢和干径增粗的效果更显著;4种覆盖处理对夏秋季土壤硝酸盐代谢的影响不同,但对土壤硝酸盐代谢与转化都具有稳定作用,其中稻草苫的稳定效果最好.     

Seasonal patterns of food storing in the Jay Garrulus glandarius

This study investigated seasonal patterns in food consumption and food storage in six captive Jays Garrulus glandarius. In the first experiment, seasonal changes in food-storing intensity were tested by presenting acorns (oak seeds, Quercus spp.) in spring, summer and autumn. There were no significant differences between the seasons in the amount of food eaten. However, significantly more food was taken and stored in the autumn than in the spring and summer months. In the spring and summer, the acorns were stored between the doorframes, on the ledges of the aviaries and under the bark of branches. In the autumn, Jays also began to hoard underneath the plastic sheeting covering the hard-board flooring by ripping the polythene to create a hidden cache site. The length of time over which the stored food was left before retrieval increased from summer to autumn. Food storing also occurred in spring and summer but was short term. The second experiment tested whether or not there were seasonal changes in food preference by presenting birds with acorns, peanuts and mealworms in the summer and autumn. More peanuts were eaten, taken and stored in the autumn than in the summer, and, as in the first experiment, significantly more acorns were taken and stored in the autumn. In the autumn, only a few mealworms were eaten before the birds stored acorns and peanuts, whereas in the summer, birds tended to eat most of the mealworms before they began to store. As in the first experiment, items tended to be buried in the ground in the autumn and left for longer periods before retrieval. These results are discussed in relation to the demand that each food type places on the Jay's time.     

Population structure change of Salpa thompsoni from austral mid-summer to autumn

Changes in the population structure of Salpa thompsoni from austral mid-summer to autumn off the Adelie Coast, Antarctica, were examined using cluster analysis based on reproductive states. S. thompsoni was the dominant macrozooplankton species through the research periods although the abundance decreased markedly in autumn. In both summer and autumn we identified three geographically coherent subpopulations, which were considered to be either a mating swarm or physical aggregation. Many aggregate forms with an empty (dead) embryo were observed, and the ratio of newborn solitary forms decreased in autumn, indicating sexual reproduction of the salps was deactivated. The significant reduction in size of mature solitaries suggested that the capacity of asexual reproduction was also reduced in autumn. In addition to water temperature decline, the phytoplankton shortage (which was partly caused by high grazing pressure of S. thompsoni during summer) might be the factor causing decline in their own population size in autumn. Accepted: 25 May 1999     

The bionomics of the free-living larvae and the transmission of Dictyocaulus filaria between lambs in North-East England.

The bionomics of the free-living larvae of Dictyocaulus filaria on pasture, and the transmission of infection between lambs, were studied during different seasons of the year in North-East England. The rate of development of first-stage larvae to the third stage took 4-9 days in late spring and summer, 1 1/2-4 weeks in autumn and 5 1/2-7 weeks in winter. The proportion of first-stage larvae developing to the third stage ranged from 10-28% in autumn and winter, and 2-25% in spring and summer. The rate of mortality of the third-stage larvae was approximately logarithmic in nature, although the survival time was shorter in spring and summer than in autumn and winter. Third stage larvae were able to survive from autumn until the spring of the following year in sufficient numbers to perpetuate transmission but not to cause clinical disease. In a transmission study, the survival of the infective larvae on the experimental plot was poor in summer, but the larval population increased in the autumn and then declined slowly throughout the winter. Infection in the susceptible lambs was related to the level of infection on the herbage increasing in severity from early summer to late autumn. However, those lambs infected in the summer were resistant to the heavy autumn challenge of larvae on pasture.     

两种短命植物春萌秋萌个体生态生物学特征比较

短命植物是新疆北部荒漠生态系统中重要组成部分,对稳定该区沙漠生态系统、丰富物种多样性具有重要的意义。以往对短命植物的研究多集中在春季萌发的短命植物,秋季萌发的短命植物研究很少,对秋季萌发短命植物和春季萌发短命植物的生态生物学特征的异同以及它们对稳定荒漠生态系统的意义缺乏了解。选择小车前(Plantago minuta)和尖喙牻牛儿苗(Erodium oxyrrhynchum)为研究对象,采用野外定点标记观测和室内分析结合的方法,研究了两种短命植物春季萌发和秋季萌发两种表现型在冠幅、生物量、物候期、菌根侵染率等生态生物学特征方面的差异性。结果表明:秋季萌发的小车前和尖喙牻牛儿苗能够在覆雪下越冬,其单株的冠幅、叶片数量、干重等均远远大于同一时期生长的春季萌发的小车前和尖喙牻牛儿苗,尤其是单株结种数量更是比春季萌发小车前和尖喙牻牛儿苗的高13.0和4.4倍;秋季萌发的小车前和尖喙牻牛儿苗的花期分别比春季萌发小车前和尖喙牻牛儿苗早14和7 d,植株黄枯期和成熟期分别提早3和4 d;此外,秋季萌发小车前和尖喙牻牛儿苗各时期的菌根侵染率也显著高于同期春季萌发小车前和尖喙牻牛儿苗。本研究得到以下结论:秋季萌发的小车前和尖喙牻牛儿苗在稳定和扩大其后代种群繁衍能力、提高防风固沙能力、稳定荒漠生态系统等方面具有重要意义。     

Phylogenetic analysis reveals a scattered distribution of autumn colours

Background and Aims

Leaf colour in autumn is rarely considered informative for taxonomy, but there is now growing interest in the evolution of autumn colours and different hypotheses are debated. Research efforts are hindered by the lack of basic information: the phylogenetic distribution of autumn colours. It is not known when and how autumn colours evolved.

Methods

Data are reported on the autumn colours of 2368 tree species belonging to 400 genera of the temperate regions of the world, and an analysis is made of their phylogenetic relationships in order to reconstruct the evolutionary origin of red and yellow in autumn leaves.

Key Results

Red autumn colours are present in at least 290 species (70 genera), and evolved independently at least 25 times. Yellow is present independently from red in at least 378 species (97 genera) and evolved at least 28 times.

Conclusions

The phylogenetic reconstruction suggests that autumn colours have been acquired and lost many times during evolution. This scattered distribution could be explained by hypotheses involving some kind of coevolutionary interaction or by hypotheses that rely on the need for photoprotection.Key words: Autumn colour, leaf colour, comparative analysis, coevolution, photoprotection, phylogenetic analysis