林龄对刺槐人工林土壤团聚体、有机碳和细菌群落的影响

探究刺槐人工林土壤团聚体、有机碳及细菌群落的变化特征,可为提升土壤质量与功能提供理论依据。以黄土高原沟壑区不同林龄刺槐人工林(8年生、18年生和30年生)和刚撂荒的农耕地(CK)为研究对象,利用最适湿度筛分法获得不同粒径团聚体,测定其有机碳含量和细菌群落结构特征。结果表明:(1)各林龄土壤团聚体均以>0.25 mm粒径为主,含量为92.74%-95.78%。土壤团聚体稳定性随着林龄的增加显著提高,以30年生林地最高,团聚体平均重量直径(MWD)、几何平均直径(GMD)分别较CK显著增加48.19%和91.38%(P<0.05)。(2)各林龄均以<0.25 mm粒径有机碳含量最高。土壤有机碳含量和>2 mm粒径团聚体有机碳含量均随着林龄的增长而显著增加。(3)团聚体细菌群落主要由变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)和酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)组成。随着林龄的增加,各粒径团聚体中放线菌门相对丰度先降低后增加,18年生林地最低。酸杆菌门变化趋势与放线菌门相反。变形菌门无明显变化。土壤有机碳、pH、全氮和全磷是影响团聚体细菌群落的主要因素。(4)>2 mm和2-0.25 mm粒径团聚体中,己科河菌门(Rokubacteria)对团聚体稳定性影响最大,既对团聚体稳定性产生直接正效应,又通过增加有机碳的含量间接提高团聚体稳定性。在<0.25 mm粒径团聚体中,有机碳含量对其稳定性的影响最大,有机碳含量越高,团聚体稳定性越强。综上,营造刺槐人工林有利于提高土壤团聚体稳定性,促进土壤有机碳的积累,可作为该区域生态恢复的有效措施。在生长发育过程中,人工林可通过改变土壤团聚体细菌群落和有机碳含量从而影响团聚体的稳定性。     

宁夏河东沙区刺槐和丝绵木水分利用策略

刺槐和丝绵木混交林是宁夏河东沙区防护林建设的主要模式,了解刺槐和丝绵木的水分利用策略,能为区域植被恢复和防护林林分结构调整提供科学依据。以宁夏河东沙区刺槐(Robinia pseudoacacia)和丝绵木(Euonymus bungeanus)混交林为研究对象,通过监测微气象、树干液流和土壤质量含水量,结合大气降水、土壤水、植物木质部水同位素组成,采用Granier及其校正公式,运用贝叶斯混合模型(MixSIAR)和相似性比例指数(PS)研究2个树种的蒸腾耗水、水分来源和水分利用关系。结果表明：刺槐和丝绵木的蒸腾耗水量在生长季中期较高,前期和后期较小,刺槐的蒸腾耗水量是丝绵木的1.55倍;影响刺槐蒸腾耗水的主要环境因子为饱和水汽压差、太阳辐射、0—40 cm土壤质量含水量和40—120 cm土壤质量含水量;影响丝绵木蒸腾耗水的主要环境因子为饱和水汽压差、太阳辐射、平均气温、0—40 cm土壤质量含水量和40—120 cm土壤质量含水量;蒸腾耗水较高时,刺槐主要吸收利用中层土壤水,丝绵木主要吸收利用浅层土壤水,蒸腾耗水较低时,刺槐主要吸收利用浅层土壤水,丝绵木主要吸收利用中层土壤水;在...     

Influence of soil salt,at levels characteristic of some roadside environments,on the germination of certain tree seeds

Summary Tree seeds were germinated in a greenhouse soil mix amended with varying amounts of sodium chloride. The salt was added in amounts approximating certain roadside soil environments.Betula alleghaniensis, Catalpha bignonioides, Quercus coccinea andQ. cerris seed exhibited reduced germination percentage at the highest salt concentrations. Germination ofRobinia pseudoacacia seed was delayed as salt concentration was increased. Except for slight germination percentage reduction, seed ofAilanthus altissima, Pinus rigida andGleditsia triacanthos were uninfluenced by the salt treatments.     

陕北黄土区不同林地土壤干燥化效应

退耕还林还草工程虽然取得显著成效,但是加剧了区域土壤水分亏缺与土壤干燥化程度,同时制约着植被构建。选取陕西省吴起县金佛坪流域山杏、油松、刺槐、小叶杨和沙棘5种植被类型,对照荒草地。采用人工土钻法取样,分析不同植被类型0—10 m的土壤湿度特征和土壤干燥化效应。结果表明:各植被类型浅层和深层土壤水分均存在显著差异;与荒草地相比,各类林地均出现土壤水分过度消耗,其中刺槐林过耗量最大,山杏林最小;各林地均出现土壤干层,其中刺槐林、小叶杨林和山杏林土壤干层都已达到10 m以下,植被是深层土壤水分的主要影响因素。5类林地的土壤干燥化指数平均值39.26%,都远高于荒草地-9.57%。土壤干燥化强度为小叶杨(80.19%)刺槐(78.03%)沙棘(55.38%)山杏(37.94%)油松(32.34%),这是树种、林木大小和密度、林分生物量、树龄等生长指标综合作用的结果。在今后植被恢复中,应注意根据当地土壤水分条件,合理选择节水树种和合理设计林分结构,尽量避免或减轻土壤干化,维持较高的植被稳定性。     

气候变化驱动下黄土高原刺槐林气候适宜性和脆弱性

刺槐是黄土高原乡土树种,具有优良的水土保持和固碳功能。黄土高原生态恢复实践中实施了大规模的植树造林,刺槐林面积占沟壑丘陵区人工植树造林面积90%以上。由于种植时没有考虑刺槐的气候适宜性,一些地区的刺槐林出现了退化现象。采用最大熵模型,在0.5km×0.5km空间精度上分别模拟了1961—1990、1966—1995、1971—2000、1976—2005、1981—2010,以及2100年(典型浓度路径RCP4.5和RCP8.5气候情景下)黄土高原刺槐的气候适宜性和敏感性。模拟结果显示：黄土高原刺槐分布及其动态变化主要受到最冷月温度、极端低温、降水量、年辐射量等气候因子影响,低温(最冷月温度、极端低温)是影响刺槐的最关键因子。黄土高原西北和北部广大地区,自然环境条件不适合刺槐林生长;黄土高原东南部(关中平原和山西南部)比较适合刺槐生长。相对1961—1990年,1961—2010年期间刺槐林适宜区分布格局基本没有改变,RCP4.5和RCP8.5气候情景下刺槐林适宜区分布格局也没有显著改变。图层叠加分析发现,刺槐的气候适宜度(即存在概率)发生了明显改变。黄土高原西部和北部属于不适宜刺槐生...     

黄土高原南北样带刺槐林土壤碳、氮、磷生态化学计量特征

为了解黄土高原南北样带刺槐林土壤碳（C）、氮（N）、磷（P）化学计量特征,采集了黄土高原南北样带上12个典型样点的刺槐林土壤,测定了土壤有机碳（SOC）、全氮（TN）、全磷（TP）含量并分析其生态化学计量特征。结果表明：刺槐林土壤SOC、TN、TP含量均随降水量降低而降低,且土壤SOC与TN的空间变化具有一致性;土壤SOC、TN、TP及其生态化学计量比与降雨量呈显著正相关（P < 0.05）,且TN、C：P、N：P与土壤含水量也呈显著正相关（P < 0.05）。     

黄土丘陵沟壑区不同植被类型土壤有效水和持水能力

以黄土丘陵沟壑区坊塌流域不同植被类型为研究对象,在野外调查的基础上,利用离心机法测定不同植被类型0—10、10—20 cm土层不同吸力下的土壤含水率,并利用Van Gennuchten模型对土壤水分特征曲线进行拟合,对比分析了不同植被类型不同土层土壤水分特征曲线、土壤水分有效性和持水性。结果表明:随着植被恢复的进行,不同植被类型土壤水分特征曲线出现了明显的差异,但是其斜率基本不变且不同植被类型0—10、10—20 cm土层土壤水分特征曲线都呈近似的"S"型;不同植被类型0—10、10—20 cm土层土壤有效水范围分别为22.65%—26.80%、23.97%—28.13%,除白羊草群落和刺槐林外呈现出多年生蒿禾类群落低于灌木群落而高于一年生草本群落的变化趋势;不同植被类型土壤持水能力在0—10 cm土层没有显著性差异,在10—20 cm呈现出多年生蒿禾类群落低于灌木群落而高于一年生草本群落,其中白羊草群落最大,刺槐林最低。刺槐林有效水分和土壤持水能力都较低,建议适当采取间伐并促进其近自然化恢复来实现土壤水分的可持续利用,尽量避免在阳坡缺水地区种植刺槐。对于研究地区土壤水分的可持续利用、植被恢复和科学合理的进行植被配置具有重要意义。     

华北低丘山地不同土地利用方式下土壤团聚体及其有机碳分布特征

土地利用变化影响土壤团聚性及有机碳分布,进而改变土壤碳循环过程。对太行山南部50年刺槐人工林（R50）、17年刺槐人工林（R17）、自然恢复林（NR）和农田（CL）等不同土地利用方式下的表层土壤（0-20 cm）进行了系统研究,利用湿筛法对土壤团聚体进行分级,并计算土壤结构稳定性参数（平均重量直径MWD,团聚体比例AR）及不同粒径团聚体有机碳贡献率,进而分析弃耕后土壤团聚体分布及团聚体有机碳含量变化。结果表明,土地利用方式对土壤团聚体粒径分布及团聚体有机碳含量有显著影响,自然恢复林与刺槐林的大团聚体（>0.25 mm）含量都高于农田,且自然恢复林的大团聚体增加更显著。MWD的计算结果表明：自然恢复林 > 刺槐人工林 > 农田,说明该区域的自然恢复方式更容易促进大团聚体的形成,并显著改良土壤结构及增强土壤团聚体稳定性。弃耕后,不同土地利用方式0-10 cm土层各粒径团聚体有机碳含量均高于农田,且团聚体有机碳含量与团聚体稳定性呈正相关。这些结果说明,研究区域的自然植被恢复和人工造林都可以显著提高土壤的固碳能力,且储存的有机碳主要存于大团聚体中,而农田的有机碳大都存于粘粒+粉粒团聚体中。自然植被恢复和人工造林均提高了土壤结构稳定性,是改善团粒结构、提高土壤质量的有效方式。     

黄河三角洲刺槐白蜡混交对土壤细菌群落结构及多样性的影响

为探讨黄河三角洲刺槐白蜡混交对土壤细菌群落结构及多样性的影响,通过高通量测序技术分析比较了刺槐白蜡混交林及刺槐纯林、白蜡纯林土壤细菌群落结构及多样性。结果表明:(1)混交林与两种纯林土壤细菌群落共36门。酸杆菌门、变形菌门、放线菌门(相对丰度大于10%)为刺槐白蜡混交林与两种纯林土壤中共有的优势菌群;硝化螺旋菌门为刺槐纯林土壤中的优势菌群。不同人工林土壤中各门细菌相对丰度差异显著。(2)混交改变了土壤细菌群落结构,提高了细菌多样性。刺槐白蜡混交林土壤细菌物种数、Chao1指数、Shannon指数分别为1934.5、2629.1、9.1,显著高于两种纯林。(3)相关性分析表明,土壤含水量与放线菌门细菌呈显著正相关;pH与芽单胞菌门细菌呈极显著正相关,与酸杆菌门细菌呈显著负相关。细菌多样性与土壤含水量呈显著正相关,与速效钾、有机质含量呈显著负相关。研究表明,刺槐白蜡混交林土壤细菌群落结构与两种纯林之间有一定差异,多样性差异显著,刺槐白蜡混交改变细菌群落结构,提高细菌多样性。     

不同林龄刺槐林土壤团聚体化学计量特征及其与土壤养分的关系

土壤团聚体化学计量特征分析可以为土壤养分的评价提供依据,对陕北黄土丘陵区20 a、25 a、40 a、50 a刺槐林土壤团聚体有机碳、全氮、全磷化学计量比及其与土壤有机碳、全氮、全磷化学计量比的相关性采用逐步回归分析方法进行了分析。结果表明:随着林龄的增加,刺槐林各粒径土壤团聚体有机碳、全氮含量及其有机碳、全氮、全磷化学计量比显著增加(P0.05),均表现为在0—20 cm土层高于20—40 cm土层,而刺槐林土壤团聚体全磷含量变化较小;相同林龄刺槐林在0—20 cm和20—40cm土层中0.25—2 mm粒径土壤团聚体有机碳、全氮、全磷含量及其化学计量比最高。刺槐林0.25—2 mm粒径团聚体对土壤原土有机碳、全氮含量及其有机碳、全氮、全磷化学计量比有显著影响。营造刺槐林对各粒径土壤团聚体全效养分分配及其平衡关系存在积极的影响,主要体现在0.25—2 mm粒径土壤大团聚体中,通过影响0.25—2 mm粒径团聚体提高了土壤全效养分的供应和保持能力。     

Characterization of Phages Virulent for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Robinia pseudoacacia</Emphasis> Rhizobia

Three lytic phages (ΦRP1, ΦRP2, and ΦRP3) specific for Robinia pseudoacacia rhizobia were isolated from the soil under black locust. They were characterized by their morphology, host range, and some other properties including DNA molecular weights. Studied phages have been found to belong to Siphoviridae family that comprises viruses with long, and noncontractile tails. They had broad host ranges and effectively lysed not only Robinia pseudoacacia microsymbionts but also different Mesorhizobium species. The phages were homogenous in latent periods (300 min) but heterogeneous in burst sizes (100–200 phage particles per one infected cell) and rise periods (90–120 min). They showed a distinct adsorption rate to Robinia pseudoacacia rhizobia (70.4–93.94%). The molecular weights of phage DNAs estimated from restriction enzyme digests were in the range from ca. 82 kb to ca. 105 kb.     

Insight into the evolutionary history of symbiotic genes of Robinia pseudoacacia rhizobia deriving from Poland and Japan

The phylogeny of symbiotic genes of Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust) rhizobia derived from Poland and Japan was studied by comparative sequence analysis of nodA, nodC, nodH, and nifH loci. In phylogenetic trees, black locust symbionts formed a branch of their own suggesting that the spread and maintenance of symbiotic genes within Robinia pseudoacacia rhizobia occurred through vertical transmission. There was 99–100% sequence similarity for nodA genes of Robinia pseudoacacia nodulators, 97–98% for nodC, and 97–100% for nodH and nifH loci. A considerable sequence conservation of sym genes shows that the symbiotic apparatus of Robinia pseudoacacia rhizobia might have evolved under strong host plant constraints. In the nodA and nodC gene phylograms, Robinia pseudoacacia rhizobia grouped with Phaseolus sp. symbionts, although they were not closely related to our isolates based on 16S rRNA genes, and with Mesorhizobium amorphae. nifH gene phylogeny of our isolates followed the evolutionary history of 16S rDNA and Robinia pseudoacacia rhizobia grouped with Mesorhizobium genus species. Nodulation assays revealed that Robinia pseudoacacia rhizobia effectively nodulated their native host and also Amorpha fruticosa and Amorpha californica resulting in a significant enhancement of plant growth. The black locust root nodules are shown to be of indeterminate type.     

黄土高原典型植被恢复过程土壤与叶片生态化学计量特征

为揭示黄土高原典型人工植被恢复过程中植物叶片与土壤碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)元素变化特征及其交互作用,以延安庙咀沟流域恢复20—40a的刺槐(Robinia pseudoacacia)、柠条(Caragana korshinskii)、草地和坡耕地(对照)为研究对象,分析了各样地植物叶片和土壤C、N、P化学计量的变化特征及相互关系。结果表明:从20a到40a的恢复过程中,3种植被叶片C含量均显著增加,草地叶片P含量显著升高,而刺槐、柠条叶片N和P含量则显著降低。刺槐、柠条及草地土壤C、N、P含量随着恢复年限的延长而增加,比耕地分别增加了70%—349%、27%—202%、13%—62%(P0.05),其中刺槐的增幅最大。从增速来看,刺槐和柠条林土壤表层C、N增速表现为前期(0—20a)大于后期(20—40a),而草地则相反。在20—40a的恢复过程中,刺槐、柠条叶片C∶N、C∶P均显著增加,草地叶片C∶P、N∶P则显著降低。恢复过程中,土壤C∶P在刺槐和草地中显著增加,而土壤N∶P仅在草地中显著增加,土壤C∶N则没有显著变化。相关性分析显示叶片C和土壤C、N、P显著正相关,叶片N、P和土壤N显著正相关,叶片和土壤N∶P显著正相关,叶片P、C∶P与土壤C、N增速显著相关,表明叶片P可以指示土壤C、N增速的变化,而N∶P可以将植物和土壤联系起来。植被恢复过程中,叶片和土壤C、N、P含量及增速均发生显著变化,且存在密切的联系,这种变化的趋势在刺槐、柠条和草地中有所不同。     

The seed lectins of black locust (robinia pseudoacacia) are encoded by two genes which differ from the bark lectin genes

Two lectins were isolated from Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust) seeds using affinity chromatography on fetuin-agarose, and ion exchange chromatography on a Neobar CS column. The first lectin, R. pseudoacacia seed agglutinin I, referred to as RPsAI, is a homotetramer of four 34 kDa subunits whereas the second lectin, referred to as RPsAII, is composed of four 29 kDa polypeptides. cDNA clones encoding the polypeptides of RPsAI and RPsAII were isolated and their sequences were determined. Both polypeptides are translated from mRNAs of ca. 1.2 kb encoding a precursor carrying a signal peptide. Alignment of the deduced amino acid sequences of the different clones indicates that the 34 and 29 kDa seed lectin polypeptides show 95% sequence identity. In spite of this striking homology, the 29 kDa polypeptide has only one putative glycosylation site whereas the 34 kDa subunit has four of these sites. Carbohydrate analysis revealed that the 34 kDa possesses three carbohydrate chains whereas the 29 kDa polypeptide is only partially glycosylated at one site. A comparison of the deduced amino acid sequences of the two seed and three bark lectin polypeptides demonstrated unambiguously that they are encoded by different genes. This implies that five different genes are involved in the control of the expression of the lectins in black locust.Abbreviations LECRPAs cDNA clone encoding Robinia pseudoacacia seed lectin - LoLI Lathyrus ochrus isolectin I - PsA Pisum sativum agglutinin - RPbAI Robinia pseudoacacia bark agglutinin I - RPbAII Robinia pseudoacacia bark agglutinin II - RPsAI Robinia pseudoacacia seed agglutinin I - RPsAII Robinia pseudoacacia seed agglutinin II     

晋西黄土区人工林细根与土壤水碳的耦合关系

以晋西黄土区山西离石典型人工林刺槐、侧柏、核桃为研究对象,研究其深剖面（0-500 cm）细根参数、土壤水分和有机碳的分布特征,并以农地为对照,评价各人工林土壤水分亏缺和有机碳积累效应,在此基础上探讨三者的耦合关系。结果表明：（1）3种人工林土壤浅层（0-70 cm）细根累计生物量占整个土层的56%-71%,具有明显表聚性。（2）3种人工林土壤深层（70-500 cm）土壤水分亏缺效应均显著高于浅层（P < 0.05）,与农地相比,其亏缺值表现为：侧柏 > 核桃 > 刺槐。（3）3种人工林深层土壤有机碳密度占整个土层的77%-86%;与农地相比,侧柏和核桃土壤有机碳积累效应总体为正向积累作用,刺槐则相反。（4）在土壤浅层,细根参数与土壤水分和有机碳密度均有显著相关性,而在深层,细根主要与有机碳密度显著相关,与土壤水分的相关性仅在刺槐样地显著。晋西黄土区不同人工林深层细根分布有很大差异,且已对其深层土壤水分和有机碳的分布产生影响。综合来看,刺槐的细根分布已造成深层土壤水分亏缺,同时也不利于深层有机碳的积累。     

黄土高原水土保持林对土壤水分的影响

黄土高原植被恢复的限制因素主要是土壤水分,植被与土壤水分关系的研究对黄土高原植被恢复具有重要意义.2008年7月1日至2009年10月31日间采用EnviroSMART土壤水分定位监测系统以每30min监测1次的频度,对晋西黄土区刺槐人工林地、油松人工林地、次生林地的土壤水分变化进行了研究.研究得出:次生林地0-150 cm土层中平均蓄水量为331.95mm,刺槐人工林地为233.85 mm,有整地措施的油松人工林地为314.85mm,刺槐人工林比次生林多消耗的98.10mm土壤水分主要来源于80 cm以下土层.次生林主要消耗0-80 cm土层的水分,而人工林不但对0-80 cm土层水分的消耗量大于次生林,对深层土壤的消耗也较次生林大,这将有可能导致人工林地深层土壤的“干化”.在土壤水分减少期(11-1月)刺槐人工林土壤水分的日均损耗量为0.86mm、油松人工林为0.82 mm、次生林为0.84 mm.土壤水分缓慢恢复期(2-5月)刺槐人工林地土壤水分的恢复速度0.90mm/d,油松人工林地为0.53 mm/d、次生林地为0.79 mm/d.土壤水分剧烈变化期(5-10月)刺槐人工林地土壤水分含量的极差为95.71mm,油松人工林地为179.1mm,次生林地为72.03mm.在干旱少雨的黄土高原进行植被恢复时,应多采取封山育林等方式,依靠自然力量形成能够与当地土壤水资源相协调的次生林,是防止人工植被过度耗水形成“干化层”、保障水土保持植被持续发挥生态服务功能的关键.     

子午岭典型植被凋落叶-土壤养分与酶活性特征

对黄土高原子午岭任家台林区内刺槐、油松、侧柏等3种人工林以及桦树、辽东栎等两种天然次生林的凋落叶C、N、P含量、林下土壤基本理化性质和碱性磷酸酶、脲酶、蔗糖酶3种酶的活性进行分析,并研究凋落叶C、N、P含量与土壤C、N、P含量之间的相关关系,以及土壤基本理化性质与酶活性之间的相关关系,为该区植被恢复效果评价提供科学依据与参考。结果发现:刺槐、辽东栎凋落叶碳氮比值显著低于其他植被,凋落叶分解速率相对较快;辽东栎土壤有机碳、全氮含量最高,分别为19.18、1.60g/kg,刺槐土壤全磷含量最高(0.61g/kg);土壤酶活性主要受土壤有机碳、全氮、容重及p H影响,与土壤全磷相关性不显著;人工林中,侧柏土壤中3种酶活性均高于其他植被,且侧柏凋落叶碳氮比值相对较低,分解速率较快,相比于刺槐作为造林树种更占优势。     

Distribution and characteristics of the soil seed bank of the black locust (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Robinia pseudoacacia</Emphasis>) in a headwater basin in northern Japan

Invasive expansion of Robinia pseudoacacia is a worldwide problem. A method to control existing R. pseudoacacia populations is urgently needed. In addition to plants above the ground, seed banks should be targets for the management of R. pseudoacacia. We targeted an old plantation of R. pseudoacacia and its surroundings in a headwater basin to determine the spatial characteristics of the distribution. We established 49 square plots in which the number of buried seeds and seeds dispersed by wind, and several other related environmental factors were surveyed. The relationship between the spatial extent of seeds dispersed by wind and the distribution of the seed bank was analyzed. Environmental factors that potentially influenced the density of buried seeds were also analyzed. We found that barochory and anemochory were the main factors that contributed to R. pseudoacacia forming seed banks. The greatest factor controlling the density of buried seeds was slope angle; thus, transfer of seeds by rolling is important for the formation of seed banks in headwater basins. From these results, some guidelines for the management of seed banks in headwater basin are presented. First, unnecessary soil disturbance within about a 100-m buffer area around seeding trees should be avoided. Second, plantation soil from gentle slopes should not be applied for revegetation of other locations. In situations where R. pseudoacacia populations are planted on steep slopes near streams, there is a chance that seeds will be carried away and form seed banks at lower or downstream sites.     

Facilitations between the Introduced Nitrogen-fixing Tree, Robinia pseudoacacia, and Nonnative Plant Species in the Glacial Outwash Upland Ecosystem of Cape Cod, MA

Robinia pseudoacacia, a nitrogen-fixing, clonal tree species native to the central Appalachian and Ozark Mountains, is considered to be one of the top 100 worldwide woody plant invaders. We initiated this project to determine the impact of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) on an upland coastal ecosystem and to estimate the spread of this species within Cape Cod National Seashore (CCNS). We censused 20 × 20 m plots for vegetation cover and environmental characteristics in the center of twenty randomly-selected Robinia pseudoacacia stands. Additionally, paired plots were surveyed under native overstory stands, comprised largely of pitch pine (Pinus rigida) and mixed pitch pine–oak (Quercus velutina and Quercus alba) communities. These native stands were located 20 m from the edge of the sampled locust stand and had similar land use histories. To determine the historical distribution of black locust in CCNS, we digitized and georeferenced historical and current aerial photographs of randomly-selected stands. Ordination analyses revealed striking community-level differences between locust and pine–oak stands in their immediate vicinity. Understory nonnative species richness and abundance values were significantly higher under Robinia stands than under the paired native stands. Additionally, animal-dispersed plant species tended to occur in closer stands, suggesting their spread between locust stands. Robinia stand area significantly decreased from the 1970’s to 2002, prompting us to recommend no management action of black locust and a monitoring program and possible removal of associated animal-dispersed species. The introduction of a novel functional type (nitrogen-fixing tree) into this xeric, nutrient-poor, upland forested ecosystem resulted in ‘islands of invasion’ within this resistant system.     

Effects of increased atmospheric CO2, temperature,and soil N availability on root exudation of dissolved organic carbon by a N-fixing tree (Robinia pseudoacacia L.)

Root exudation has been hypothesized as one possible mechanism that may lead to increased inputs of organic C into the soil under elevated atmospheric CO₂, which could lead to greater long-term soil C storage. In this study, we analyzed exudation of dissolved organic C from the roots of seedlings of the N-fixing tree Robinia pseudoacacia L. in a full factorial design with 2 CO₂ (35.0 and 70.0 Pa) × 2 temperature (26° and 30 °C during the day) × 2 N fertilizer (0 and 10.0 mM N concentration) levels. We also analyzed the decomposition rates of root exudate to estimate gross rates of exudation. Elevated CO₂ did not affect root exudation of organic C. A 4 °C increase in temperature and N fertilization did, however, significantly increase organic C exudation rates. Approximately 60% of the exudate decomposed relatively rapidly, with a turnover rate of less than one day, while the remaining 40% decomposed more slowly. These results suggest that warmer climates, as predicted for the next century, may accelerate root exudation of organic C, which will probably stimulate rapid C cycling and may make a minor contribution to intermediate to more long-term soil C storage. However, as these losses to root exudation did not exceed 1.2% of the net C fixed by Robinia pseudoacacia, root exudation of organic C appears to have little potential to contribute to long-term soil C sequestration. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.