Photosynthetic responses of plant communities to sand burial on the machair dune systems of the outer hebrides, Scotland

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The effects of both short-term (2 weeks) and long-term (6 weeks) burial on the photosynthetic efficiency of four typical plant sub-communities of the machair sand dunes of the Outer Hebrides are described. Previous studies have examined the photosynthetic responses on individual species rather than the response at the community level. METHODS: Three replicate turves from four different sub-community types (foredune grassland, dune slack, three-year fallow and unploughed grassland) were subjected to short- and long-term burial treatments after acclimatisation in an unheated greenhouse for approximately 10 weeks. Three replicate control turves from each sub-community were left unburied. After treatment, photosynthetic rate was measured at 16-20 h and 40-44 h after re-exposure, using an infra-red gas analyser, with standardization by total leaf area for each turf. Effects of sub-community type, burial duration and time since re-exposure were analysed by 3-factor split-plot analysis of variance (ANOVA) with repeated measures for time since re-exposure in the subplots. KEY RESULTS: Buried turves were characterized by a low dark respiration rate, which may represent a maintenance response to burial. After removal of sand, each machair sub-community showed some capacity for an elastic photosynthetic response. There were no differences between the effects of short- and long-term burial on the photosynthetic efficiency of machair vegetation, although turves buried for 6 weeks generally attained photosynthetic rates approaching those of control rates sooner than turves buried for 2 weeks. Photosynthetic responses to burial varied between sub-communities, with the slack turves exhibiting the poorest capacity for recovery within the investigated 44-h period. CONCLUSIONS: In the machair environment, the ability to maintain photosynthetic equipment whilst buried, and the ability to bring about a relatively rapid reinstatement of photosynthetic mechanisms on emergence or exposure, is an important adaptation for survival. Survival is closely related to the ability of a plant to replenish carbohydrate reserves before the next burial event.     

Tree species composition and diversity in Miombo woodlands between co‐managed and government‐managed regimes,Malawi

Comparative information on the composition and diversity in tree species associations in Miombo woodland is limited. This study assessed how tree species associations across forest reserves of Miombo woodland in Malawi varied in composition and diversity concerning site factors and resource use disturbances under co‐management versus government management. Eighty nested circular plots, randomly selected in ArcGIS, were sampled to record stem diameter at breast height (DBH) of tree species: 0.04 ha for stems 5–29.9 cm DBH and 0.16 ha for stems ≥30 cm DBH. The recorded 109 tree species grouped into communities and 14 sub‐communities, using stem counts by species in TWINSPAN analysis. Sub‐divisions to level 5 showed eigenvalues ≥0.3, symbolising the stability of sub‐divisions. North/South sub‐divisions related to site factors; historical/current resource use influenced differences at levels 3–5. Species importance differed, indicating few important species in each sub‐community. Brachystegia and Julbernardia species showed importance across sub‐communities while Uapaca sansibarica in government management. Disturbances stimulated high species diversity. Recommendations include the need for a policy review towards group‐felling mature stands to stimulate regeneration and selective thinning of suppressed stems in stand development stages to maintain species diversity, productive recovery, diverse resource use value, and monitoring of harvesting impacts.     

Responses of dune mosses to experimental burial by sand under natural and greenhouse conditions

Sand movement is a predominant feature of mobile coastal and lake-shoreline sand dunes. Plants growing in these environments are able to withstand and survive periods of burial by sand. Although mosses are important dune stabilizers in temperate dunes, there are few studies focused on their response to burial by sand. In this study we examined the effects of burial by sand on 11 moss species that grow naturally on Lake Huron sand dunes and occur in a gradient of habitats from the foredunes along the shore to forested areas. Artificial burial treatments (sand depth of 0, 1, 3, 5 and 7 cm) were imposed under greenhouse and field conditions. We measured final plant cover and calculated the speed of emergence and an interpretive index (tolerance index) to compare burial responses among species by calculating a burial ratio which standardized the initial size of each species. In the greenhouse, Ceratodon purpureus and Ditrichum flexicaule recorded the highest mean speeds of emergence and Dicranum scoparium, Plagiothecium laetum, Dicranum flagellare and Brachythecium sp. 1 the lowest. In the field the trends were similar although the speed of emergence was much slower. Three types of response to burial were evident in plant cover: neutral, inhibition and stimulation. Although all eleven studied species were able to emerge from the different depths of burial, we observed that species colonizing areas with high sand mobility and deposition (C. purpureus and D. flexicaule) were the most tolerant and emerged from depths of up to 35 times their height. Species growing inland, at the base of trees (Dicranum scoparium, Brachythecium sp. 2, Plagiomnium cuspidatum and Dicranum flagellare) showed the least tolerance of burial.     

风蚀和沙埋对塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘骆驼刺水分和光合作用的影响

塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘风沙活动十分频繁, 风蚀和沙埋是该地区自然植被生长发育的重要影响因子。该文以塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘策勒绿洲-沙漠过渡带为研究区, 以该区域主要建群种植物骆驼刺(Alhagi sparsifolia)为研究对象, 对一次强沙尘天气过后沙丘表面5种不同风蚀沙埋状况的骆驼刺植物进行标定(包括10 cm风蚀、5 cm风蚀、不蚀不积、10 cm沙埋、30 cm沙埋), 天晴后测定其叶水势、叶片含水量、光合参数和叶绿素荧光等参数, 分析研究自然环境条件下风蚀和沙埋对骆驼刺水分和光合作用的影响。结果表明: (1)风蚀显著降低了骆驼刺叶水势和叶片含水量, 进而导致植物气孔导度降低, 并引起植物光合速率和蒸腾速率的下降。风蚀的植物水分利用效率低于沙埋, 特别是在10 cm风蚀深度明显降低。 (2)沙埋增加了骆驼刺的叶水势、叶片含水量和气孔导度, 并引起植物光合速率和蒸腾速率的上升, 水分利用效率也得到提升。(3)风蚀条件下骆驼刺所受胁迫增加, 但可以通过增加活性反应中心的数量和光化学效率来抵消胁迫造成的不利影响。沙埋条件下骆驼刺受胁迫减轻, 反应中心吸收的光能和用于光化学反应的能量随着沙埋程度增加而减小, 这是骆驼刺适应风沙环境的一种生存策略。(4)与5 cm风蚀以及10 cm沙埋相比, 10 cm风蚀显著抑制骆驼刺的生长, 30 cm沙埋则会显著促进骆驼刺的生长。     

Effects of wind erosion and sand burial on water relations and photosynthesis in Alhagi sparsifolia in the southern edge of the Taklimakan Desert

塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘风沙活动十分频繁, 风蚀和沙埋是该地区自然植被生长发育的重要影响因子。该文以塔克拉玛干沙漠南缘策勒绿洲-沙漠过渡带为研究区, 以该区域主要建群种植物骆驼刺(Alhagi sparsifolia)为研究对象, 对一次强沙尘天气过后沙丘表面5种不同风蚀沙埋状况的骆驼刺植物进行标定(包括10 cm风蚀、5 cm风蚀、不蚀不积、10 cm沙埋、30 cm沙埋), 天晴后测定其叶水势、叶片含水量、光合参数和叶绿素荧光等参数, 分析研究自然环境条件下风蚀和沙埋对骆驼刺水分和光合作用的影响。结果表明: (1)风蚀显著降低了骆驼刺叶水势和叶片含水量, 进而导致植物气孔导度降低, 并引起植物光合速率和蒸腾速率的下降。风蚀的植物水分利用效率低于沙埋, 特别是在10 cm风蚀深度明显降低。 (2)沙埋增加了骆驼刺的叶水势、叶片含水量和气孔导度, 并引起植物光合速率和蒸腾速率的上升, 水分利用效率也得到提升。(3)风蚀条件下骆驼刺所受胁迫增加, 但可以通过增加活性反应中心的数量和光化学效率来抵消胁迫造成的不利影响。沙埋条件下骆驼刺受胁迫减轻, 反应中心吸收的光能和用于光化学反应的能量随着沙埋程度增加而减小, 这是骆驼刺适应风沙环境的一种生存策略。(4)与5 cm风蚀以及10 cm沙埋相比, 10 cm风蚀显著抑制骆驼刺的生长, 30 cm沙埋则会显著促进骆驼刺的生长。     

Seedling growth variation in response to sand burial in four <Emphasis Type="Italic">Artemisia</Emphasis> species from different habitats in the semi-arid dune field

We compared seedling growth of four Artemisia species dominated at different habitats to determine whether interspecific seedling growth variation of a same genus in tolerance to burial can be used to explain plant distribution in the sand dune field. Interdune lowland species, Artemisia gmelinii, stabilized dune species, A. frigida, semi-stabilized dune species, A. halodendron, and active dune species, A. wudanica were selected. Seedlings grown for 3 weeks were treated at five burial depths for three burial times in pot experiments. Species from the habitats with little burial had smaller survival rate, dry weight and stem elongation speed than those from the habitats with intensive burial when buried. Furthermore, when buried, the former tended to adjust biomass allocation between shoot and root and produce adventitious buds, while the latter tended to maintain a constant root:shoot ratio and produce adventitious roots. We conclude that (1) seedlings of species with a long evolutionary history of exposure to sand burial (from the active sand dune), show quicker stem growth when buried than do seedlings of species from the habitats with little or no sand burial; (2) seedlings of species which do not change root:shoot ratio might be more tolerant of sand burial than those do; (3) seedlings of species from the habitats with intensive sand burial is prone to produce adventitious roots and seedlings of species from the habitats with little or no sand burial tend to produce adventitious buds when buried.     

荒漠绿洲边缘区泡泡刺种群对风沙干扰的响应

研究了位于黑河中游荒漠绿洲外缘 (荒漠与绿洲过渡带 )戈壁与沙漠两种生境下泡泡刺种群对风沙干扰的响应。结果表明 ,因风沙干扰的响应 ,泡泡刺种群以斑块状格局形式存在 ;独立灌丛沙堆的形成途径主要有 4种 :种子发育、根蘖繁殖、较大的沙堆退化 (生境破碎化 )和邻近沙堆的兼并。水分条件是泡泡刺种群生长的重要制约因素 ,长期对有限的水分资源竞争 ,使其大小和空间分布都形成了明显的特征。绿洲与戈壁交错带 (类似戈壁生境 )样地的泡泡刺种群的沙埋深度、种群高度、种群盖度、种群大小、生物量都小于绿洲与沙漠交错带 (类似沙漠生境 )样地的泡泡刺种群的相应的种群特征变量 ,而绿洲与戈壁交错带样地的泡泡刺种群密度却大于绿洲与沙漠交错带样地的相应的种群特征变量。绿洲与戈壁交错带样地的泡泡刺种群密度为33.3株 / m2 ,而绿洲与沙漠交错带样地的泡泡刺种群密度为 2 5 .4株 / m2 。两样地泡泡刺种群的沙埋深度、种群高度、盖度、密度及大小存在着显著差异 ,只有生物量无显著差异。两样地中泡泡刺的沙埋深度对泡泡刺种群特征的影响明显 ,无论戈壁还是沙漠生境 ,沙埋深度与种群高度、种群大小、种群生物量明显正相关。适度沙埋可以促进泡泡刺种群的生长 ,但当沙埋深度超过10 0 cm时 ,又会对泡泡刺种群     

Eurosiberian meadows at their southern edge: patterns and phytogeography in the NW Tien Shan

Question: What are the community types, underlying gradients and phytogeographical affinities of montane meadows in the western Tien Shan? Location: Aksu‐Jabagly Nature Reserve, South Kazakhstan, Middle Asia. Methods: Species composition, structural and environmental variables were studied in 98 plots. Species composition was classified by cluster analysis and gradients explored using NMDS. Relationships between species richness, environmental and structural variables were investigated with regression analysis. Phytogeographic patterns were assessed by examining species distribution types. Results: Seven community types were distinguished by cluster analysis. Three axes of the NMDS explained 77% of the variation, showing different overlap of communities with environmental and structural properties. Species richness showed linear relationships with pH, altitude, heat load, soil skeletal content and structural variables. Middle Asian and Eurosiberian species constituted the majority of the species pool and cover. Conclusion: The studied communities represent a unique mixture of Middle Asian and Eurosiberian species that exhibit structural and environmental similarities to Eurosiberian meadows. The Tien Shan mountain meadows can thus be considered an endemic‐rich southern outlier of the broader Eurosiberian meadow formation. Shifts in land‐use patterns pose a potential threat that deserves more attention from conservationists.     

Surface pollen-vegetation relationships on the Atlantic seaboard: South Uist, Scotland

Studies of modern pollen rain from remote islands have raised a number of interesting issues concerning the spatial precision of present‐day pollen spectra in relation to their parent plant community types. This paper examines the relationships and degree of correlation between a sequence of contemporary vegetation types, environments and their associated surface pollen spectra from a transect across the island of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland. Paired data on both contemporary vegetation and associated surface pollen assemblages have been collected and analysed using methods of numerical classification and ordination. In general terms, the modern pollen rain on South Uist reflects the major changes in vegetation pattern and the major community types fairly closely. The major boundary between the alkaline machair sand dune communities and the various acidic upland vegetation types is particularly clear. However, both variability in the vegetation and the effects of the strong prevailing westerly and south‐westerly winds tend to blur the boundaries of the various communities within each of these larger categories. On average 86.6% of the palynomorphs come from in‐community quadrat sources, while only 1.3% are from off‐island sources. The limited present‐day tree distribution on the transect is discussed in the context of the more widespread distribution of arboreal pollen. Overall, there is a strong numerical correspondence between vegetation, pollen and environmental variables. The various problems inherent in examining surface pollen spectra are reviewed.     

Notes on Lejeuneaceae: I. Microlejeunea diversiloba (Spr.) K.M.

Abstract

Previous work on the bryophytic component of dune communities has demonstrated changes in the representation of species with the progress of succession. The ability of some to act as pioneers and the restriction of others to later stages may be associated with their reactions to recurrent burial by wind-blown sand.

Eighteen species were selected for experimental investigation of the effects of sand burial, along the following lines:

(a) Transplants. Samples of eight species were transplanted to four sites representing different stages of the dune succession. Where the sand increment over 11 months exceeded about 4 cm. none survived but species found naturally in mobile dune areas emerged from about 3 cm. Those belonging to fixed dune communities survived only in the absence of burial, although on excavation all species showed some upward growth through the covering sand.

(b) Experimental burial, Method I: samples of the same eight species, grown in pots standing in water but not watered from above, were buried in sand to depths of 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 cm. The maximum depth through which emergence took place was 4 cm., from which Ceratodon purpureus, Bryum pendulum and Brachythecium albicans reappeared. From shallower layers, however, a greater rate of emergence was shown by Tortula ruraliformis. Pseudoscleropodiun purum and Climacium dendroides did not survive depths greater than 2 cm., and 1cm. was the maximum for Hylocomium splendns and Rhytidiadelphus squarrosus.

Method II. Sample strips of fourteen species were placed in aquarium tanks and, apart from a small portion len exposed, were buried under a sand slope grading up to 7 cm. in depth. Watering was from above and the humidity was kept high by glass lids. The time taken for the appearance of shoots from increasing depths was recorded, also the periods required for reestablishment from increasing depths of 50% and 100% of the original shoot density. For species tested by both methods the results were in most cases similar. Marked powen of recolonization were also shown by Polytrichum piliferum, P. juniperinum and Pohlia annotina.

In P. annotina, Ceratodon purpureus and Dicramum scoparium re-establishment by means of vertically extending rhizoids producing protonemata at the surface is described.

The maximum depth from which the various species can emerge, the depths from which effective recolonization of the surface is achieved within a fairly short time, the ability to produce rhizoids in the overlying sand and the growth-form of the shoots on emergence are regarded as the most significant aspects of reaction to burial, in relation to the role of the species in their natural habitats.     

Cedar Infestation Impacts Avian Communities along the Niobrara River Valley,Nebraska

Habitat modification has the potential to cause changes in structure and composition of bird communities. Our goal was to determine the response of Songbird community composition to eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana) removal in The Nature Conservancy's Niobrara Valley Preserve, Nebraska. We used point counts to survey birds in the riparian matrix of grassland and forest habitats. More than 60 species were recorded on surveys during 2004–2005. We also use the program PRESENCE to determine the response of five species to various habitat components, including cedar density: House Wren (Troglodytes aedon), Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculates), Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapillus), Red‐eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus), and Indigo Bunting (Passerina cyanea). Species richness estimates were highest in open and mixed habitat patches. Local populations of Ovenbirds and Red‐eyed Vireos responded positively to cedar density, whereas House Wren numbers declined as cedar density increased. Cedar abundance explained the most variation in bird community similarity between survey points; species richness increased as cedar density decreased. Habitat structure and composition drove variation in community composition and population abundance at fine, local scales within the Preserve. Fine‐scale management to remove cedar from local areas should increase diversity of avian species by maintaining a matrix of habitat types. Cedar removal at any scale will affect the composition of bird communities, and we encourage a structured approach to management decisions.     

Ciliate communities in shallow groundwater: seasonal and spatial characteristics

1. Ciliated protozoans (Phylum Ciliophora) were collected from five sites in a shallow groundwater system in southern Ontario, Canada over a 13‐month period: one at the spring source, two along the channel banks, and two in the stream channel. Ciliates and environmental data were collected from surface water and at five depths into the sediment, located at 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 cm. 2. Species richness was high (170 ciliate species belonging to 89 genera were identified) and variable, both spatially and temporally. Highest species richness (86) occurred between 20 and 60 cm, and typically decreased below 60 cm. 3. Ciliate densities were also seasonally and spatially variable. Densities peaked in March between 40 cm (as high as 69 900 cells L⁻¹) and 60 cm, and again in May and June at 80 and 100 cm. Densities were lowest in winter. The surface‐water ciliate community had a different species composition and lower population densities. 4. At all depths, small (<50 μm) bacterivorous ciliates typically dominated, but omnivorous and predatory species were also present (combined, up to 30% of the average density). 5. Several ciliate genera, traditionally considered planktonic, occurred at low densities from 40 cm down to 100 cm. 6. Ordination analysis indicated that the main factors influencing the shallow groundwater ciliate communities were depth and temperature. 7. Dissolved oxygen also appeared to influence these communities in that they typically comprised genera that preferred either low‐oxygen or anaerobic conditions.     

Plant community development following reclamation of oil sands mines using four cover soil types in northern Alberta

Understanding the effects of reclamation treatments on plant community development is an important step in setting realistic indicators and targets for reclamation of upland oil sands sites to forest ecosystems. We examine trends in cover, richness, evenness, and community composition for four cover soil types (clay over overburden, clay over tailings sand, peat‐mineral mix over overburden, and peat‐mineral mix over tailings sand) and natural boreal forests over a 20 year period in the mineable oil sands region of northern Alberta, Canada. Tree, shrub, and nonvascular plant species cover showed similar increases over time for all reclamation treatments, with corresponding declines in forb and graminoid cover with time. These trends resemble those in the natural boreal forests of the region and the trajectory of community development for the reclamation treatments appears to follow typical early successional trends for boreal forests. Species richness and diversity of natural forest differed significantly from reclamation treatments. Nonmetric multidimensional scaling ordination and multi‐response permutation procedure revealed that species composition was not affected by reclamation treatment but clearly differed from natural forest. Analysis of species co‐occurrence indicated random plant community assembly following reclamation, in contrast to a higher proportion of nonrandom plant community assembly in natural forests. Thus, reclaimed plant communities appear to be unstructured through year 20 and assembly is still in progress on these reclaimed sites.     

Persistence of the effect of frugivore identity on post‐dispersal seed fate: consequences for the assessment of functional redundancy

Large frugivores play an important role as seed dispersers and their extinction may affect plant regeneration. The consequences of such extinctions depend on the likelihood of other species being functionally redundant and on how post‐dispersal events are affected. We assess the functional redundancy of two seed dispersers of the Atlantic Forest, the muriqui (Brachyteles arachnoides) and the tapir (Tapirus terrestris) through the comparison of their seed dispersal quality, taking into account post‐dispersal events. We compare tapirs and muriquis for: (1) the dung beetle community associated with their feces; (2) the seed burial probability and burial depth by dung beetles; and (3) the seed mortality due to predators or other causes according to burial depth. We determine how seed burial affects seed dispersal effectiveness (SDE) and compare the dispersal quality of four plant species dispersed by these frugivores. Muriqui feces attract 16‐fold more dung beetles per gram of fecal matter and seeds experience 10.5‐fold more burial than seeds in tapir feces. In both feces types, seed mortality due to predation decreases with burial depth but seed mortality due to other causes increases. Total seed mortality differ within plant species according to the primary disperser. Therefore, the effect of seed burial on SDE varies according to the plant species, burial depth, and primary disperser. As tapirs and muriquis differently affect the seed fate, they are not functionally redundant. Since the effect of the primary disperser persists into the post‐dispersal events, we should consider the cascading effects of these processes when assessing functional redundancy.     

Sand burial effects on seed germination, seedling emergence and establishment of Panicum virgatum

Studies in the field and in a greenhouse were conducted to examine the effects of sand burial on seed germination, seedling emergence and establishment of Panicum virgatum L. on the foredunes of Lake Erie. Under natural conditions, the seedlings emerged from sand burial depths ranging from 0 to 11 cm, with a mean ± SD of 4.73 ± 1.82 cm. The frequency distribution of the depth of emergence of seedlings in the field was significantly skewed to the right and platykurtic. In the greenhouse, some seedlings emerged from a burial depth of as much as 16 cm. Although percent germination of seeds was not affected by sand burial, the percent emergence and the rate of emergence of seedlings were significantly reduced by excessive sand burial. Seedling mortality was found only among seedlings that emerged from sand burial depths of 10 cm or more. In the field, all the seedlings established in one growing season had originally emerged from sand burial depths of less than 12 cm. Within this burial range, seedlings from shallower burial depths had lower chances of establishment than expected, whereas those from deeper burial depths had higher probabilities of establishment than expected.     

沙埋对干旱沙区真藓结皮层细菌群落结构和多样性的影响

作为干旱沙区常见干扰之一的沙埋显著影响着生物结皮的结构和功能,但其内在的生物学机理还不清楚。利用高通量测序技术,通过对0(对照)、0.5(浅层)、2和10mm(深层)沙埋处理后的腾格里沙漠东南缘沙坡头地区真藓(Bryum argenteum)结皮层细菌群落物种组成与丰度的测定,研究了沙埋对真藓结皮层细菌群落结构和多样性的影响。结果表明:(1)共检测到沙坡头地区真藓结皮层细菌38门106纲181属,以放线菌、变形菌、蓝藻、浮霉菌、拟杆菌和酸杆菌等为主(占细菌群落的78.4%—83.0%);(2)PCA分析表明沙埋导致该地区真藓结皮层细菌群落结构组成发生明显改变。无沙埋时,真藓结皮层细菌群落中相对丰度最高的是蓝藻(18.6%),随着沙埋厚度的增加,依次变为变形菌(21.5%,沙埋厚度0.5mm)、浮霉菌(21.5%,沙埋厚度2mm)和放线菌(23.3%,沙埋厚度10mm);浅层沙埋显著增加了真藓结皮层细菌群落中光合菌、固氮菌和产菌丝体细菌等关键功能菌的丰度,但深层沙埋降低了它们的丰度;(3)沙埋显著增加了真藓结皮层细菌群落多样性(P0.05)和物种丰富度(P0.05),0.5mm沙埋后的细菌群落丰富度指数最高,2mm沙埋后的结皮层细菌群落多样性指数最高。揭示了沙埋对干旱沙区真藓结皮层细菌群落结构与多样性的影响,为深入理解沙埋对沙区生物结皮结构和生态功能影响的生物学机制提供了一定的理论依据。     

How do depth,duration and frequency of flooding influence the establishment of wetland plant communities?

In many temporary wetlands such as those on the Northern Tablelands of New South Wales Australia, the development of plant communities is largely the result of germination and establishment from a long-lived, dormant seed bank, and vegetative propagules that survive drought. In these wetlands the pattern of plant zonation can differ from year to year and season to season, and depth is not always a good indicator of the plant community composition in different zones. In order to determine which aspects of water regime (depth, duration or frequency of flooding) were important in the development of plant communities an experiment using seed bank material from two wetlands was undertaken over a 16 week period in late spring–early summer 1995–1996. Seed bank samples were exposed to 17 different water-level treatments with different depths, durations and frequencies of flooding. Species richness and biomass of the communities that established from the seed bank were assessed at the end of the experiment and the data were examined to determine which aspects of water regime were important in the development of the different communities. It was found that depth, duration and frequency of inundation influenced plant community composition, but depth was least important, and also that the duration of individual flooding events was important in segregating the plant communities. Species were grouped according to their ability to tolerate or respond to fluctuations in flooding and drying. The highest biomass and species richness developed in pots that were never flooded. Least biomass and species richness developed in pots that were continuously flooded. Short frequent floods promoted high species richness and biomass especially of Amphibious fluctuation-tolerator species and Amphibious fluctuation-responder species that have heterophylly. Terrestrial species were able to establish during dry phases between short floods. Depth was important in determining whether Amphibious fluctuation-tolerator or Amphibious fluctuation-responder species had greater biomass. Longer durations of flooding lowered species richness and the biomass of terrestrial species. Experiments of this kind can assist in predicting vegetation response to water-level variation in natural and modified wetlands.     

Adaptation of plant‐mycorrhizal interactions to moisture availability in prairie restoration

The strength and direction of plant response to inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AM fungi) is dependent on both abiotic and biotic contexts, often generating patterns of AM fungal mediation of plant adaptation. However, knowledge of plant‐community level effects of these interactions in grassland restoration is limited. We conducted a field inoculation experiment by inoculating five plant species native to a drier prairie and five plant species native to a moister prairie with mycorrhizal fungal communities from each prairie type. Species were paired by genus or family to account for phylogenetic effects. The inoculated plants were transplanted to study plots seeded with a restoration seed mix. Plots were manipulated to create either moister or drier conditions similar to environments of the plant species and mycorrhizal communities. In both transplanted and seeded plant species, we found that only drier prairie‐range species benefited from moisture‐regime matched AM fungal inoculum. Other seeded prairie plant species demonstrated a negative response to inoculation, likely due to the earlier successional stage of these species. Additionally, nonseeded plants benefited from inoculation in different ways: native nonseeded plants had highest cover with drier prairie inoculum in drier conditions, while nonnative plants had highest cover with moister prairie‐origin inoculum. These results suggest that use of local AM fungi may be particularly important in restorations at drier sites, even at relatively small differences in moisture availability. Further, specific knowledge of relative responsiveness of seeded plant species and nonseeded plant species to AM fungal inoculation will be useful in planning restorations.