Facilitative plant interactions and climate simultaneously drive alpine plant diversity

Interactions among species determine local‐scale diversity, but local interactions are thought to have minor effects at larger scales. However, quantitative comparisons of the importance of biotic interactions relative to other drivers are rarely made at larger scales. Using a data set spanning 78 sites and five continents, we assessed the relative importance of biotic interactions and climate in determining plant diversity in alpine ecosystems dominated by nurse‐plant cushion species. Climate variables related with water balance showed the highest correlation with richness at the global scale. Strikingly, although the effect of cushion species on diversity was lower than that of climate, its contribution was still substantial. In particular, cushion species enhanced species richness more in systems with inherently impoverished local diversity. Nurse species appear to act as a ‘safety net’ sustaining diversity under harsh conditions, demonstrating that climate and species interactions should be integrated when predicting future biodiversity effects of climate change.     

Resource quantity, not resource heterogeneity, maintains plant diversity

Resource heterogeneity has often been proposed to explain the maintenance of plant species diversity and patterns of species diversity along productivity gradients. Resource heterogeneity should maintain biodiversity by preventing competitive exclusion because different species are superior competitors in different parts of a heterogeneous environment. In natural systems, however, resource heterogeneity covaries with average resource supply rate, making the effect of heterogeneity difficult to isolate. Using a novel experimental approach, we tested the independent effects of resource heterogeneity and average supply rate on plant species diversity. We show that the average supply rate of the most limiting resource controlled species diversity, whereas heterogeneity of this resource had virtually no effect. These findings also suggest that biodiversity declines with increasing productivity because at high enough levels of productivity one resource may always be driven to sufficiently short supply to exclude many species.     

Are plant communities on the Canary Islands resistant to plant invasion?

Oceanic islands are renowned for their unique flora and high levels of endemism. Native island plants, however, are imperilled by non-native species that can become invasive by outcompeting natives. The threat of native island assemblages generally increases with isolation and the number of endemics featured, but also with human-associated disturbance and land use. Based on this, the Canary Island native plant systems should be highly threatened by invasives, similar to other oceanic islands globally. However, Canarian native plant systems are only weakly infiltrated and are rarely directly threatened by invasive plants. Further, highly disturbed areas, usually among the first colonized by invasives on islands, are recolonized here by natives. Based on this, we postulate four hypotheses (climatic filter, well-preservation status, human legacy and permanent colonization) for explaining this unusual behaviour of plant systems on the Canary Islands, providing an opportunity to understand the drivers and processes behind invasion into plant communities on islands.     

Seed arrival, ecological filters, and plant species richness: a meta-analysis

Theoretical models predict that effects of dispersal on local biodiversity are influenced by the size and composition of the species pool, as well as ecological filters that limit local species membership. We tested these predictions by conducting a meta-analysis of 28 studies encompassing 62 experiments examining effects of propagule supply (seed arrival) on plant species richness under contrasting intensities of ecological filters (owing to disturbance and resource availability). Seed arrival increased local species richness in a wide range of communities (forest, grassland, montane, savanna, wetland), resulting in a positive mean effect size across experiments. Mean effect size was 70% higher in disturbed relative to undisturbed communities, suggesting that disturbance increases recruitment opportunities for immigrating species. In contrast, effect size was not significantly influenced by nutrient or water availability. Among seed-addition experiments, effect size was positively correlated with species and functional diversity within the pool of added seeds (species evenness and seed-size diversity), primarily in disturbed communities. Our analysis provides experimental support for the general hypothesis that species pools and local environmental heterogeneity interactively structure plant communities. We highlight empirical gaps that can be addressed by future experiments and discuss implications for community assembly, species coexistence, and the maintenance of biodiversity.     

广东湛江火山沟植物与保育

由于火山岩特殊的自然地理条件,其植被的组成与分布也具有特殊性。野外调查表明,湛江火山沟共有维管束植物238种,含种类较多的科为菊科、大戟科、禾本科、蝶形花科、桑科和芸香科。较重要的物种有大果榕、对叶榕、樟树、幌伞枫、假苹婆、桃金娘、野牡丹、鸭脚木、厚皮树等,它们在植被的组成与演替中起着举足轻重的作用。值得注意的是,外来入侵种在本区占有较大比例,这与本区的地理位置和日益增长的外贸、旅游交流等密切相关。该文对植被的组成、外来入侵种的危害作了分析与探讨,并提出了相应的保育措施。     

中国大陆菊科一归化药用植物——翼茎阔苞菊

报道了在广州发现的菊科阔苞菊属一归化种——翼茎阔苞菊。该种以茎上具翼而与《中国植物志》中收录的3种阔苞菊属植物具有明显区别。该种具有良好的药用价值。     

广州的外来植物

该文分析了127种广州外来植物的种类及其生长型、原产地、现状、生境和季节变化。结果表明:具有较强繁殖能力的草本、灌木和藤本植物以及一些世界广布或热带性科属的植物和原产美洲、非洲的一些植物具有较强的入侵能力;受人为干扰较强的路边、荒地、池塘、果园、菜园和人工林容易为外来植物入侵,而人为干扰较少的自然生境则不易为外来植物入侵。此外,文章对物种的入侵性和生境的入侵性问题进行了讨论,认为这实际上是一个问题的两个方面,物种的入侵性总是与被入侵的生境联系在一起并相互影响的。     

Riparian vegetation: degradation, alien plant invasions, and restoration prospects

Rivers are conduits for materials and energy; this, the frequent and intense disturbances that these systems experience, and their narrow, linear nature, create problems for conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning in the face of increasing human influence. In most parts of the world, riparian zones are highly modified. Changes caused by alien plants — or environmental changes that facilitate shifts in dominance creating novel ecosystems — are often important agents of perturbation in these systems. Many restoration projects are underway. Objective frameworks based on an understanding of biogeographical processes at different spatial scales (reach, segment, catchment), the specific relationships between invasive plants and resilience and ecosystem functioning, and realistic endpoints are needed to guide sustainable restoration initiatives. This paper examines the biogeography and the determinants of composition and structure of riparian vegetation in temperate and subtropical regions and conceptualizes the components of resilience in these systems. We consider changes to structure and functioning caused by, or associated with, alien plant invasions, in particular those that lead to breached abiotic‐ or biotic thresholds. These pose challenges when formulating restoration programmes. Pervasive and escalating human‐mediated changes to multiple factors and at a range of scales in riparian environments demand innovative and pragmatic approaches to restoration. The application of a new framework accommodating such complexity is demonstrated with reference to a hypothetical riparian ecosystem under three scenarios: (1) system unaffected by invasive plants; (2) system initially uninvaded, but with flood‐generated incursion of alien plants and escalating invasion‐driven alteration; and (3) system affected by both invasions and engineering interventions. The scheme has been used to derive a decision‐making framework for restoring riparian zones in South Africa and could guide similar initiatives in other parts of the world.     

黑、吉、辽、蒙归化植物分布格局及其影响因素

为了解黑、吉、辽、蒙归化植物分布格局及其驱动因素,本研究基于实地调查和资料收集,对黑、吉、辽、蒙4省(区)48个地级市(盟)归化植物物种组成及时空分布进行了分析。结果表明:当前四省(区)共有归化植物70科239属370种,菊科、禾本科和豆科最多,约七成为人为有意引入,欧洲是最大原产地。不同地级城市归化植物多样性差异较大,整体呈东高西低趋势,省内存在"强省会"现象。沈阳、哈尔滨、呼和浩特等省会城市及大连等沿海发达城市归化植物分布较多。通辽市、松原市和鄂尔多斯市等平原或草原地区分布较少。GDP、土地利用程度和年均气温是造成该分布格局的主要因素。Logistic拟合显示,目前黑、吉、辽、蒙归化植物种数已趋于稳定,但随着"东北振兴",四省(区)经济必将出现新局面,归化植物累积速度很可能加快,相关部门仍需保持警惕。     

Influence of settlement time, human population, park shape and age, visitation and roads on the number of alien plant species in protected areas in the USA

Abstract. I examined a data set of 77 protected areas in the USA (including national and state parks) to determine which of the following variables most strongly influence alien plant species richness: park area, climate (temperature and precipitation), native species richness, visitation rate, local human population size, total road length, park shape and duration of European settlement. Many of these predictor variables are intercorrelated, so I used multiple regression to help separate their effects. In support of previous studies, native species richness was the best single predictor of alien species richness, probably because it was a good estimator of both park area and habitat diversity available for establishment of alien species. Other significant predictors of alien species richness were years of occupation of the area by European settlers and the human population size of adjacent counties. Climate, visitation rate, road length and park shape did not influence alien species richness. The proportion of alien species (alien richness/native richness) is inversely related to park area, in agreement with a previous study. By identifying which variables are most important in determining alien species richness, such findings suggest ways to reduce alien species establishment.     

古尔班通古特沙漠半固定沙丘植物群落物种组成和种群结构

通过野外调查,研究古尔班通古特沙漠半固定沙丘植物群落的物种组成,采用株高、冠幅、体积大小级代替年龄结构,分析了典型灌木种群的生长状态及发展趋势.结果表明:在古尔班通古特沙漠半固定沙丘共调查到23种植物,出现最多的是藜科,6属8种,其次是菊科,5属6种,该沙漠植被组成数目少,群落结构简单.白梭梭主要分布在丘顶,为稳定增长型种群,而梭梭数量少.油蒿是当地工程建设后进行植被恢复而引入的物种,主要分布在迎风坡和丘顶,为增长型年龄结构,有很大的增长潜力,已经影响到原有的物种组成.白皮沙拐枣和蛇麻黄幼苗缺失,幼龄个体少,形成衰退型年龄结构,且白皮沙拐枣的空间分布区域与油蒿重合,未来可能被油蒿替代.     

北京东灵山森林植物多样性的网络结构特征

一个群落可以看作是由物种相互连接的复杂系统,刻画其网络结构有助于深入揭示系统性质以及结构与功能之间的关系。在生态学中,复杂网络理论已被成功应用于食物网与互利网络的结构研究,但尚未检验其刻画生物多样性格局的能力。采用复杂网络理论研究了北京东灵山森林乔木层、灌木层、草本层植物关联关系的网络结构特征及其差异。结果表明,植物物种的共同出现是非随机的,并表现出一定的小世界模式;乔木层、灌木层、草本层植物共同出现的网络在结构特征上存在明显差异,草本层网络比乔木层和灌木层网络更松散且平均路径更长,灌木层和草本层网络的聚类系数高于乔木层且存在度的幂律分布。皆表明复杂网络理论具备反映不同层植物多样性格局差异的能力。     

Post-Hypsithermal plant disjunctions in western Alberta, Canada

Aim Evaluate the hypothesis that nine disjunct vascular plant species along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains and in the Peace River District of west‐central Alberta represent remnants of more southerly vegetation that occupied these areas during the Holocene Hypsithermal (9000–6000 yr bp ). Alternatively, these plants represent populations that became established because of independent chance dispersal events. Location This study focuses on the area east of the Rocky Mountain Continental Divide in the Province of Alberta and the State of Montana in western Canada and USA, respectively. Methods Disjunct species were identified and their distributions mapped based on a review of occurrence maps and records, botanical floras and checklists, herbaria specimens, ecological and botanical studies, and field surveys of selected species. A disjunct species was defined as a plant population separated from its next nearest occurrence by a distance of > 300 km. Evaluation of the hypothesis was based on a review of published and unpublished pollen stratigraphy and palaeoecological studies. The potential geographical distribution of Hypsithermal vegetation was based on modern regional‐based ecosystem mapping and associated monthly temperature summaries as well as future climatic warming models. Results The hypothesis was compatible with Holocene pollen stratigraphy, Hypsithermal permafrost and fen occurrence, and palaeosol phytolith analyses; and future global climatic warming models. Modelled regional Hypsithermal vegetation based on a 1 °C increase in July temperatures relative to current conditions, indicated that much of the boreal forest zone in Alberta could have been grassland, which would explain the occurrence of Prairie species in the Peace River District. This amount of latitudinal vegetation shift (6.5°) was similar to an earlier Hypsithermal permafrost zone location study. An equivalent shift in vegetation along the eastern Cordillera would have placed south‐western Montana‐like vegetation and species such as Boykinia heucheriformis (Rydb.) Rosend. and Saxifraga odontoloma Piper within the northern half of the Rocky Mountains and foothills in Alberta, which represents the location of modern‐day disjunct populations of these species. Main conclusions Warmer and drier climatic conditions during the Holocene Hypsithermal resulted in the northward displacement of vegetation zones relative to their current distribution patterns. Most of Alberta was probably dominated by grasslands during this period, except the Rocky Mountains and northern highlands. Modern‐day species disjunctions within the Rocky Mountains and Peace River District as well as more northerly areas such as the Yukon Territory occurred when the vegetation receded southward in response to climatic cooling after the Hypsithermal. Wind dispersal was considered an unlikely possibility to explain the occurrence of the disjunct species, as most of the plants lack morphological adaptations for long distance transport and the prevailing winds were from west to east rather than south to north. However, consumption and transport of seeds by northward migrating birds could not be excluded as a possibility.     

Vegetation structure,species life span,and exotic status elucidate plant succession in a limestone quarry reclamation

An understanding of the processes involved in plant succession is pivotal in achieving an effective site restoration. In a former limestone quarry (northeastern Italy), we explored the effects of a technical reclamation on the plant community using changes in cover of vegetation layers and two sensitive plant traits (i.e. exotic status and life span), with a chronosequence approach. Four reclaimed areas of different ages (from 8 to 35 years old) and natural vegetation in the surroundings were investigated with seven permanent plots each, for a total of 35. Changes in vegetation layers and species richness of both exotic status and life span were analyzed by generalized linear (mixed) models. Relations with plant community assembly were also considered, using a multivariate approach. Both vegetation layers and plant traits were affected by the age of reclaimed areas, evidencing the main changes in plant succession. Annual and exotic species decreased toward the mature stages of reclamation and target vegetation, whereas overall plant diversity (species richness) was stable. Our findings show that both vegetation layer changes and plant traits can be used to assess the degree to which reclamation efforts produce results that approach the restoration of a natural vegetation reference. Implementation of management practices aimed at favoring native perennial species (e.g. appropriate seed mixtures, mowing, tree, and shrub planting) could limit weed‐control efforts, representing a reasonable trade‐off between biodiversity promotion and invasive plant control.     

安徽宿州大方寺林区植物种类及其资源的初步调查

大方寺位于淮北平原萄丘陵地带,天然次生林属于暖温带叶阔叶林。由于自然条件复杂,植物种类丰富,木本植物130余种,草本植物100余种;植被类型多种多样,主要群落为：青檀（Pterooeltis tatarinowii）、牡荆（Witex negundo）、华隐子草（Cleistogenes chinensis）群落,栓皮栎（Quercus wvriabilis）、五角枫（Acer mono）、牡荆（Vitex negundo）裂稃草（Schizachyrium brevifolium）群落和黄连木（Pistacia chinensis）、五角枫（Acer mono）、扁担杆（Creuia biloba）、沿阶草（Ophiopogon bodinievi）群落等三种。大方寺植物资源丰富,具有用材经济植物的约60余种,药用植物200余种,香料及密源植物10余种,纤维植物30余种,庭园观赏植物40余种。     

Monitoring endemic plant extinction in Veracruz, Mexico

We present species extinction information based directly on field work on six endemic vascular plants of Veracruz. Amongst 22 species that have been reported to consist of very few individuals for the State, seven of them are endemic to Veracruz. We looked for six of these species in previously recorded sites to determine if they are totally extinct. We determined the status of the extant species and their actual habitat and populations. The species studied included: Antirhea aromatica, Diospyros riojae, Eugenia mozomboensis, Impatiens mexicana, Hyperbaena jalcomulcensis and Zamia inermis. We located these in fragments of tropical and dry forests. Juvenile plants of the Zamia and Eugenia were not seen in the field.     

甘南高寒草甸群落的物种-多度关系沿坡向的变化

物种-多度格局研究是揭示群落组织结构和物种区域分布规律的重要手段。该研究以青藏高原东北部的甘南高寒草甸为研究对象, 基于野外调查和室内分析, 研究了不同坡向的环境因子、植物群落分布, 并利用RAD软件程序包对其进行了拟合分析。结果显示: 在南坡-北坡上, 土壤含水量从南坡(0.18 g·g ^-1)到北坡(0.31 g·g ^-1)呈现递增的趋势, 土壤温度从南坡(22.33 ℃)到北坡(18.13 ℃)以及光照强度从南坡(744.15 lx)到北坡(681.93 lx)均呈逐渐减小的趋势。物种-多度分布曲线的斜率从南坡向北坡依次减小。随着坡向由南向北转变, 物种-多度和物种多样性都呈递增的趋势。通过6个模型对坡向梯度的物种-多度分布进行拟合发现, 甘南高寒草甸区的物种-多度分布主要是以生态位模型为主, 其次是随机分布模型。青藏高原高寒草甸微生境梯度上的物种在总体上的资源分配模式是以固定分配模式为主, 稀有种的资源分配模式是以随机性模型为主, 常见种的资源分配模式则是以确定性模型为主。     

不受欢迎的生物多样性：香港的外来植物物种

香港早在19世纪中叶开始就有外来植物入侵的记录,迄今为止,已发现多达238种已归化的外来或怀疑为外来的植物,其中又以薇甘菊（Mikania micrantha)、五爪金龙（Ipomoea cairica)、假臭草（Eupatorium catarium)、大黍（Panicum maximum)等最常见,外来植物最常见于受人为干扰的生境,例如荒废农田及路旁等,而较少在天然林地生境及贫瘠的灌草丛中发现,外来植物的对本地生态系统的影响主要局限于低地生境,它们常形成单优种群,减少了生境及贫瘠的灌草丛中发现,外来植物对本地生态系统的影响主要局限于低地生境,它们常形成单优种群,减少少了生境及动植物的多样性,外来动物对香港原生植物影响最大的是于20世纪70年代入侵的松树线虫（Bur-saphelenchus xylophilus)。外来的脊椎动物也有可能对香港的植物被演替产生影响,目前香港的外来植物当中,有些在大陆较少分布或没有记录,作为华南最大的港口,香港对外来物种的引入扮演着重要的角色,因此制定控制外来种在香港及华南地区的引入及传播的政策及措施非常重要。