Dynamics of a Tasmanian bolster heath string fen

The string fen at Newdegate Pass, Mt. Field, Tasmania consists of dams composed of bolster heath and peat derived from bolster heath, and flark ponds with concave sides and usually rocky floors. The bolster heath has a smooth surface which consists of a complex mosaic dominated byDonatia novae-zelandiae, Carpha rodwayi andDracophyllum minimum. The floors of the ponds usually support no macrophytes. The ponds situated on strong flow lines have shallower dams which are more often breached than those where flow is more diffuse. The ponds ultimately drain by tunnelling through the humified peat below the live roots of the bolster heath, and the exposed floors are colonized by bolster heath species. The underlying block stream has a topography partly independent from that of the string and flark features, which shift in both time and space.Species nomenclature follows Curtis (1963, 1967) and Curtis & Morris (1975) for gymnosperms and dicotyledons and Willis (1970) for monocotyledons except where authorities are given. Structural nomenclature follows Kirkpatrick (1983).     

Phytosociological amplitudes of some Dutch coastal species and their ecological interpretation

A 4-axis Reciprocal Averaging ordination of phytosociological tables of Dutch plant communities revealed environmentally interpretable gradients: (1) overall moisture, (2) salinity, (3) soil fertility, and (4) structural complexity of vegetation. The quantitative occurrence of all species along these gradients has been computed. Some examples of the distribution of species from coastal communities are given, to show how these data may help to summarize and visualize existing knowledge and how they can form a basis for further study.Nomenclature of species follows Heukels-van Ooststroom (1975), that of syntaxonomical units Westhoff & den Held (1969).     

无人机近景摄影技术在崖壁植物多样性研究中的应用

崖壁植物具有不可及或不易及的特点,有关崖壁植物的调查一直面临着高成本、高风险和难鉴定的难题。本研究创新性地提出一种采用无人机近景摄影技术对崖壁植物拍照及专家鉴定的调查方法,通过分析崖壁植物群落的Margalef、Simpson与Pielou这3种多样性指数的变化,探究海拔、光照、立地条件与水汽条件这4种因子对崖壁植物多样性的影响。研究结果表明：本次调查共发现崖壁植物267种,分属于58科、140属;崖壁植物物种数目与海拔高度变化服从正态分布,物种数量在中海拔700-800m达到峰值,Simpson指数与Pielou指数在低海拔时达到最高,随海拔的升高而下降,但不表现出明显的变化规律;崖壁植物在不同的立地条件下,植物群落的物种组成、优势种类与出现频率均有所不同;崖壁植物的相关性分析显示,在光照条件出现差异或立地条件不同时,崖壁植物各指数之间存在着不同的显著性关系;近水崖壁植物与对照组的分析结果对比显示,崖壁植物的数量与物种组成受崖壁间水汽条件的影响,崖壁水汽条件越高的地区有着更丰富的植物种类。本研究表明崖壁植物的分布特征是受海拔、光照、立地条件以及水汽条件等多因素的综合作用而成。     

Quantitative analysis of endangered Acanthopanax senticosus communities in Dongling Mountain of Beijing

Based on the survey of community plots, a quantitative analysis of endangered Acanthopanax senticosus communities in Dongling Mountain was performed with two way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN), detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). The communities of A. senticosus were classified into 9 types by TWINSPAN and the results were validated by DCA. On the DCA graph, the first axis reflected the gradient of altitude and the second axis reflected the aspect and slope. Most of A. senticosus were distributed in the thick forests at a high altitude with little light. With the exception of being a dominant species of shrub layers in a few communities, A. senticosus has a relatively scarce distribution. In accordance with DCA, the results of CCA also show the trend that the distribution of A. senticosus communities varied along with the gradient change of environmental factors. Altitude and light are the main factors affecting A. senticosus growth. __________ Translated from Chinese Journal of Ecology, 2007, 26(3): 314–318 [译自: 生态学杂志]     

A study of altitudinal zonation in the montane forest belt of Mt. Elgon,Kenya/Uganda

Altitudinal changes in the vegetation of the Montane Forest Belt of Mt. Elgon, East Africa, were investigated by analysis of aerial photographs and by sample plots along two transects, one on a relatively wet, and the other on a relatively dry aspect.Classifications for both tree and herb/shrub plots show that the forests along the two transects become increasingly similar floristically with altitude. The total number of tree species recorded is greater for the transect on the moister aspect. The mean altitudinal range for tree species increases on both transects with altitude, while that for herb/shrub species remains constant. It is suggested that the upper altitudinal limits of many species are determined principally by temperature-related factors, while the degree to which species extend their ranges downwards is much influenced by competition.Structural heterogeneity is particularly well marked at altitudes corresponding to the bamboo zone on the wetter slopes and, even in the absence of bamboo, tree density here is much reduced. it is suggested that thicket-forming species, including bamboo, have enhanced competitive ability in intermediate altitude montane forests.Previously advanced classificatory schemes for montane forest vegetation in eastern Africa are examined in the light of the findings.Nomenclature follows Agnew (1974) and Dale & Greenway (1961) with minor modifications after Chapman & White (1970), Mabberley (1973) and Pennington & Styles (1975).The work was funded by a grant from the Natural Environment Research Council (U.K.). We are grateful to the Government of Kenya and to the Forest Department, Kenya, for permission to work on Mt. Elgon. Dr. A. D. Q. Agnew and Miss C. Kabuye very kindly identified some of the plant specimens. The illustrations were drawn by Mr. J. Shaw and the manuseript was critically read by Dr. D. Riley.     

太白红杉群落物种多样性与环境因子的关系

定量研究了太白红杉群落物种多样性与环境因子的关系,结果表明:(1)海拔与物种丰富度和种间相遇机率呈极显著的负相关;与Shannon指数、Simpson指数和Pielou指数表现为"中间高度膨胀"的规律,即中等海拔高度上多样性高而低海拔和高海拔多样性较低。(2)岩石裸露度与物种丰富度呈显著的负相关。(3)土壤含水量与物种丰富度呈极显著的正相关;与种间相遇机率呈先降后升的趋势。(4)环境因子与物种多样性逐步回归结果是:海拔和岩石裸露度与物种丰富度关系密切,其回归方程为:S=90.62-0.02E-14.14B(r=0.769,P<0.05)。     

The impact of grazing on plant communities,plant populations and soil conditions on salt marshes

Grazing an abandoned salt marsh causes retrogressive succession, since mid salt-marsh communities change into lower salt-marsh communities. Grazing and mowing are compared in detail. Both management practices enhance species diversity in an abandoned salt marsh. This can be attributed to the removal of litter. The finding that lower salt-marsh species appear more with grazing than with mowing or abandoning is not related to a higher soil salinity as compared to mowing or abandoning, but probably to locally baring of the soil by grazing animals. Only species of pioneer or unstable environments seem to have a persistent seed bank, for other species seed dispersal seems to be a limiting factor for their establishment.Nomenclature follows Heukels & van Ooststroom (1977) for species; Westhoff & den Held (1969) for syntaxa.Mrs R. Rusthoven analyzed the soil samples, Mr E. Leeuwinga drawed the figures, and Mrs J. O'Brien corrected the English text.     

Quantitative analysis of endangered Acanthopanax senticosus communities in Dongling Mountain of Beijing

Based on the survey of community plots, a quantitative analysis of endangered Acanthopanax senti-cosus communities in Dongling Mountain was performed with two way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN), detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). The communities of A. senticosus were classified into 9 types by TWINSPAN and the results were validated by DCA. On the DCA graph, the first axis reflected the gradient of altitude and the second axis reflected the aspect and slope. Most of A. senticosus were distributed in the thick forests at a high altitude with little light. With the exception of being a dominant species of shrub layers in a few communities, A. senticosus has a relatively scarce distribution. In accordance with DCA, the results of CCA also show the trend that the distribution of A. senticosus communities varied along with the gradient change of environmental factors. Altitude and light are the main factors affecting A. senticosus growth.     

东灵山濒危植物刺五加生存群落的数量分析

在样方调查的基础上,分别采用双向指示种分类法(TWINSPAN)、除趋势对应分析法(DCA)和典范对应分析(CCA)对东灵山地区濒危植物刺五加的生存群落进行数量分析。TWINSPAN分类将刺五加生存群落分为9类,分类结果在DCA二维排序图上得到了较好的验证,其中第一轴反映的是海拔梯度,第二轴反映了坡向、坡度的变化。刺五加多分布在位于海拔较高、光照较少的杂木林中,除在少数群落中成为灌木层的优势种外,相对分布较少。CCA排序结果与DCA的排序结果基本一致,反映出植物群落分布随环境因子梯度变化的趋势,揭示了海拔和光照是限制刺五加生长的主要环境因子。     

Dynamics of Nothofagus-dominated rainforest on mainland Australia and lowland Tasmania

Cool temperate rainforest in Australia is commonly dominated by Nothofagus species. In Victoria and Tasmania, Nothofagus cunninghamii dominates old rainforest on optimal sites and is able to regenerate continuously. Size structure analysis of the major lowland tree species in this forest suggest that no major changes in species composition or dominance are occurring. This contrasts with the status of Nothofagus in lowland rainforest in New Zealand and rainforest below about 1000 m a.s.l. in south-central Chile. N. cunninghamii is a relatively light-demanding species, and is maintaining its dominance by seedling regeneration in canopy gaps created by the death of old individuals. The dynamics of the cool temperate rainforest in northern New South Wales are more complex. These forests are dominated by Nothofagus moorei, and size structure analysis indicates that persistence of this species within the rainforest is dependent on vegetative regeneration. On some sites this rainforest is being actively invaded by warm temperate and sub-tropical elements from lower altitudes. In these areas N. moorei in unable to regenerate beneath the canopy.Nomenclature follows Curtis (1963, 1967), Curtis & Morris (1975) and Williams (1982).We thank Mr. A. Floyd of the N.S.W. National Parks and Wildlife Service for his assistance in identifying species from the N.S.W. rainforests, and Mr. J. Hickey of the Tasmanian Forestry Commission for suggesting study sites in north-west Tasmania. Thanks are also due to the N.S.W. National Parks and Wildlife Service for allowing us access to National Parks for the purpose of this study. J. R. is supported by a Commonwealth Forestry Post-graduate Research Award.     

长白山北坡植物群落间物种共有度的海拔梯度变化

群落同各生活植物及种所有植物种的共有度,一定程度上反映了群落间的相关性及沿环境梯度的物种替代关系。应用梯度格局法在长白山北坡海拔700－2600m之间,海拔每上升100m设置一块样地,共计20块样地,应用Jaccard指数,对各海拔植物群落间物种共有度的海拔梯度变化进行了分析,不同海拔群落间物种的共有度,无论以哪一层次的植物来表达,基本都以与其最相邻海拔的群落之间为最高;如相邻海拔的两个群落属于不同植被类型,其共有度较低。群落间物种共有度的峰值与谷点反映了群落类型随海拔具有间断性变化,乔、灌、草各生活型物种的共有度以及所有植物物的共有度,在同一海拔差群落间的数值都非常接近,并均随着海拔的增加呈明显的下降趋势,表明群落各层次物种的构成有很大的相关性以及物种之间的共存性。     

The impact of grazing pressure in clearfelled,burned and undisturbed eucalypt forest

An area of dry eucalypt forest on dolerite in southeastern Tasmania with comparable sites that were a) unlogged, b) clearfelled, c) clearfelled and slash-burned, was monitored over a 24 month period. Detailed records were made of plant species composition and cover on floristically similar fenced and unfenced permanent plots in two major vegetation types. Mammal faecal pellets were cleared from each of the unfenced plots and subsequently counted and attributed to species of origin. For the six combinations of treatment and vegetation type pellet deposition rate was highly correlated with differences in the rate of change of species cover between fenced and unfenced plots and the lifeform composition of the vegetation. The greatest changes were observed in the clearfelled, burned area, while there was relatively little change in the undisturbed forest. Grass and herb species were generally disadvantaged by mammal exclusion while shrubs and graminoids generally grew faster in the fenced plots.Nomenclature of plant species follows Curtis & Morris (1975).This project was supported financially by the Forest Ecology Research Fund, Tasmania.     

海南中部山区到东部沿海区域植物区系比较研究

海南岛地形中高周低,从中部山区到东部沿海平原地区,由于自然条件及历史上人类干扰程度的不同,因此植物区系组成发生了一定程度的变化。为探讨植物区系组成的变化与保护区的次生性、面积及海拔高度等因素的关系,该研究采用样方和样线调查法,对海南岛中偏东部会山保护区进行物种调查,并结合该团队以往调查的中部五指山原自然保护区(现属热带雨林国家公园)、东部非沿海的白石岭保护区和东北部沿海的铜鼓岭自然保护区的数据,对4个保护区的植物区系组成特点进行了比较分析。结果表明:(1)五指山、会山、白石岭、铜鼓岭保护区分别分布有1 893、1 415、634、913种野生种子植物,中部的2个保护区植物种类明显高于其他2个保护区。(2)保护区之间的物种相似性与海拔差和面积差呈显著负相关(P<0.05)。(3)4个保护区均为热带成分占主导地位,在属水平上五指山热带亚洲分布最多,其他3个保护区泛热带分布最多; 在种水平上均为热带亚洲分布最多且铜鼓岭占比最大。综上认为,从中部山区到东部沿海平原地区表现出次生性越大,海拔高度越低,生境类型越少,植物物种数越少; 同时,在属和种的水平上,呈现出热带成分增加,温带成分、中国特有分布和孑遗属、种均减少的特征。     

蒋家沟流域不同海拔灌草层群落特征与土壤关系的研究

为了解干热河谷区不同海拔梯度植物群落灌草层物种多样性与土壤养分、水分之间的关系,该文选择干热河谷典型流域——蒋家沟流域作为研究区域,在流域内海拔1 400～3 000 m范围设置样带,对样带内8个海拔梯度的植物群落进行样方调查,统计不同海拔梯度灌草层的物种组成,测定土壤养分、土壤含水量和持水量,并将土壤指标与植被多样性指数进行主成分分析和皮尔逊相关性分析。结果表明:流域内样地共发现灌草层植物32科77属80种,且灌草层植物群落组成、土壤有机碳(SOC)含量、全磷(TP)含量、土壤含水量和持水量均受海拔梯度的影响显著(P<0.05)。其中,土壤含水量、持水量、植物群落的丰富度指数和多样性指数均随着海拔升高不断增加,且高海拔区域SOC含量显著高于中低海拔区域(P<0.05)。土壤TP含量与Pielou指数、土壤含水量与Margalef指数、Shannon-Wiener指数和物种数均呈显著正相关(P<0.05),说明除海拔梯度外,土壤养分、水分含量是影响植物群落灌草层组成和多样性的关键因子。     

Aquatic insect faunas and communities of a mountain stream in Sapa Highland,northern Vietnam

Aquatic insect communities were investigated from the Muonghoa Stream in the Sapa Highland (highest peak 3,143 m), a subtropical mountain stream in northern Vietnam. Field investigations for quantitative (Surber net 50 cm × 50 cm, mesh size 0.2 mm, riffle and pool/run) and qualitative (hand net, mesh size 1 mm) sampling were conducted at nine sites along the watercourse between 27 November and 2 December 2005. As a result, a total of 216 species (the majority of them undescribed) belonging to 139 genera, 61 families, and nine orders were recognized: 53 Ephemeroptera species (24.5%), nine Odonata species (4.2%), 15 Plecoptera species (6.9%), seven Hemiptera species (3.2%), 35 Coleoptera species (16.2%), one Megaloptera species (0.5%), 29 Diptera species (13.4%), 66 Trichoptera species (30.6%), and one Lepidoptera species (0.5%). Trichoptera, Ephemeroptera, and Coleoptera represented the major aquatic insect groups with regard to taxonomic and individual richness, whereas Hemiptera and Odonata were relatively less diverse and abundant than in studies of other tropical Southeast Asian streams. The dominance, richness, and diversity indices (H′) fell within the following ranges [mean ± standard deviation (SD)]: 0.18–0.76 (0.42 ± 0.19), 4.13–9.19 (7.06 ± 1.45), and 1.61–3.22 (2.67 ± 0.55), respectively. Riffle habitats generally yielded numbers of aquatic insect species and individuals approximately twice that sampled in pool/run habitats. Shredders were relatively larger in proportion within the headwater reach, whereas scrapers and collector-gatherers were more abundant in the middle and lower stream reaches. This functional feeding group composition is characteristic of temperate streams in East Asia. The results of detrended correspondence analysis and Bray–Curtis cluster analysis indicated that aquatic insect compositions at the sampling sites were very reflective of the reach characteristics, which evidence gradual changes with altitude and stream order along the stream watercourse. This is the first comprehensive investigation of aquatic insects in highland Southeast Asian regions.     

九寨沟水生植物群落β多样性特征研究

通过典型样地调查,运用β多样性的Wilson-Shmida指数(βT)和Bray-Curtis指数(CN)分别对九寨沟水生植物群落进行测度。结果显示,九寨沟水生维管植物种类共有75种,主要群落类型有11种,以挺水植物群落类型为主,兼有少量的沉水植物群落。β多样性测度表明,样地间种类组成随海拔梯度及其他因子的变化差异比较明显,CN1、CN2和CNN3的数量数据测度结果有差异,以重要值为基础的CN3指数具有较强的综合性和稳定性。海拔梯度和空间聚类分析表明,海拔梯度是影响水生植物群落β多样性变化的主要因子,随着海拔升高和落差的增大,β多样性变化明显,种类组成变化愈显著。同时,β多样性数量数据可以划分成四种类型,Ⅲ型的非海拔梯度因子作用结果说明流域特征和群落类型会对多样性的变化产生一定影响。       

Ordination of epiphytic bryophyte communities in a wet-temperate coniferous forest,South-Coastal British Columbia

Three coniferous tree species (Pseudotsuga menziesii, Tsuga heterophylla, and Thuja plicata) at Capilano Canyon, British Columbia, were studied for their epiphytic communities. Quantitative data were obtained for fourteen bryophyte species by sampling at heights of 0.5 m, 1 m and 2 m above ground level. Scapania bolanderi is an abundant and widely distributed species; Dicranum fuscescens, Bazzania denudata, Lepidozia reptans and Hypnum circinale are also common. An environmentally uniform study area was chosen to minimize the effects of factors other than bark and elevation on the distribution of epiphytes. In general, tree species are similar in terms of their epiphytic assemblages, but ordination methods using quantitative data exposed compositional variation that may be explained by differences in microclimate and bark-type. In this respect, the results point the way to further studies to examine epiphyte associations in closer detail, and to relate these associations to specific factors in the microenvironment.Nomenclature for vascular plants follows Hitchcock & Cronquist (1973); bryophyte nomenclature follows Schofield (1976) for mosses and Stotler & Crandall-Stotler (1977) for hepatics.We thank Dr. W. B. Schofield for aiding in bryophyte identification.     

Direct and indirect effects of environmental factors,spatial constraints,and functional traits on shaping the plant diversity of montane forests

Understanding the relative importance of the factors driving the patterns of biodiversity is a key research topic in community ecology and biogeography. However, the main drivers of plant species diversity in montane forests are still not clear. In addition, most existing studies make no distinction between direct and indirect effects of environmental factors and spatial constraints on plant biodiversity. Using data from 107 montane forest plots in Sichuan Giant Panda habitat, China, we quantified the direct and indirect effects of abiotic environmental factors, spatial constraints, and plant functional traits on plant community diversity. Our results showed significant correlations between abiotic environmental factors and trees (r = .10, p value = .001), shrubs (r = .19, p value = .001), or overall plant diversity (r = .18, p value = .001) in montane forests. Spatial constraints also showed significant correlations with trees and shrubs. However, no significant correlations were found between functional traits and plant community diversity. Moreover, the diversity (richness and abundance) of shrubs, trees, and plant communities was directly affected by precipitation, latitude, and altitude. Mean annual temperature (MAT) had no direct effect on the richness of tree and plant communities. Further, MAT and precipitation indirectly affected plant communities via the tree canopy. The results revealed a stronger direct effect on montane plant diversity than indirect effect, suggesting that single‐species models may be adequate for forecasting the impacts of climate factors in these communities. The shifting of tree canopy coverage might be a potential indicator for trends of plant diversity under climate change.     

天山中段南坡巴伦台地区不同海拔植物群落物种多样性与土壤因子的关系

为探讨天山中段南坡巴伦台植物群落物种多样性随海拔梯度的分布特征及其与土壤环境因子的关系,该研究采用野外调查的方法,在和静县巴伦台地区海拔范围内设置34个样地进行了植物多样性和土壤因子的调查及室内指标的统计分析。结果表明:(1)研究区共调查到30科75属134种植物,草本层为主要优势层。不同海拔高度上土壤理化指标具有异质性,土壤含水量、全盐、有机质、全氮、全钾、有效氮和有效钾差异性显著(P<0.05),其中除全钾以外,其他土壤因子的含量均表现为中海拔大于低、高海拔区域。随海拔的升高,植物群落在低、高海拔段Pielou均匀度指数较高; 灌木层物种Patrick丰富度指数较低; 草本层物种Shannon-Wiener指数、Simpson指数随海拔升高先增加后减小。(2)RDA分析表明,影响植物群落物种多样性的主要环境因子是海拔、土壤含水量、全盐、有机质、全氮和有效氮。海拔作为主导因子,与草本层各物种多样性指数呈正相关,与灌木层各物种多样性指数呈负相关关系; 全盐是抑制植物群落总体物种Simpson指数的主要土壤因子; 氮元素一定程度上限制灌木、半灌木物种的生长。该研究结果表明土壤因子对不同生活型物种多样性的形成具有一定的筛选作用及不同物种对环境变化的适应策略不同。     

Influence of plant developmental stage on microbial community structure and activity in the rhizosphere of three field crops

Seasonal shifts in rhizosphere microbial populations were investigated to follow the influence of plant developmental stage. A field study of indigenous microbial rhizosphere communities was undertaken on pea (Pisum satvium var. quincy), wheat (Triticum aestivum var. pena wawa) and sugar beet (Beta vulgaris var. amythyst). Rhizosphere community diversity and substrate utilization patterns were followed throughout a growing season, by culturing, rRNA gene density gradient gel electrophoresis and BIOLOG. Culturable bacterial and fungal rhizosphere community densities were stable in pea and wheat rhizospheres, with dynamic shifts observed in the sugar beet rhizosphere. Successional shifts in bacterial and fungal diversity as plants mature demonstrated that different plants select and define their own functional rhizosphere communities. Assessment of metabolic activity and resource utilization by bacterial community-level physiological profiling demonstrated greater similarities between different plant species rhizosphere communities at the same than at different developmental stages. Marked temporal shifts in diversity and relative activity were observed in rhizosphere bacterial communities with developmental stage for all plant species studied. Shifts in the diversity of fungal and bacterial communities were more pronounced in maturing pea and sugar beet plants. This detailed study demonstrates that plant species select for specialized microbial communities that change in response to plant growth and plant inputs.