黄河三角洲不同湿地群落氮磷化学计量特征及其生境适应策略

选取黄河三角洲滨海湿地盐地碱蓬(Suaeda salsa)、芦苇(Phragmites australis)和柽柳(Tamarix chinensis)3种典型植物群落为研究对象,研究了土壤-植物N、P元素的空间分布格局及N/P化学计量学特征。结果表明:盐地碱蓬地上部分N含量,地下部分N、P含量均小于芦苇和柽柳群落,柽柳地上部分P含量、N/P值均大于芦苇和盐地碱蓬群落。3种典型湿地群落N含量均呈现出地上部分大于地下部分的规律,说明植物会将有限的氮资源优先分配给地上部分光合器官;盐地碱蓬与柽柳地上和地下部分磷含量变化趋势相反,这种差异说明处在不同群落演替阶段的植物生活史策略不同。与木本植物柽柳不同,草本植物芦苇和盐地碱蓬N/P均表现出地上部分大于地下部分的特征,这与草本植物地上部分相对生长速率较大有关。土壤中N含量、N/P垂直变化趋势一致,均随着土层深度的增加而显著降低,但土壤磷的垂直变化特征不明显。相关分析显示,土壤(源)-植物(库)之间N、P相关性较弱,说明除了土壤条件,滨海湿地氮磷化学计量格局还与植物自身的生理调节有关。     

青海湖鸟岛盐碱地植被演替的初步研究

利用聚类分析和演替度分析方法,研究青海湖鸟岛地区湖水退缩形成的盐碱地植物群落类型及其演替过程。结果表明,青海湖鸟岛湖水退缩形成的盐碱地植被有四大主要群落类型为碱蓬单优群落,碱蓬 西伯利亚蓼群落,西伯利亚蓼 碱茅 碱蓬群落和碱茅 西伯利亚蓼 碱蓬群落;青海湖鸟岛盐碱地植被有两条演替线路,为盐碱沙地群落演替线路(碱蓬单优群落经碱蓬 西伯利亚蓼群落,向西伯利亚蓼 碱茅 碱蓬群落演替)和盐碱草地演替线路(碱蓬单—优势种群落,经碱蓬 西伯利亚蓼群落,向碱茅 西伯利亚蓼 碱蓬群落演替);随着植物群落的演替,物种多样性增加,均匀度提高,而丰富度在不同的演替线路表现不同的规律。     

黄河三角洲植物群落与环境因子的典范分析和主分量分析

黄河三角洲自然植物群落的主要类型是盐生灌丛和草甸。植物群落的类型分布主要决定于环境中的土壤水分含量及土壤盐分含量。植物群落与其环境因子的典范相关系数为０．９９７（第一对典范变量）。在土壤水分含量由高低的梯度上,依次分布着芦苇群落、香蒲群落、芦苇－荻群落、獐茅群落、盐地碱蓬群落、柽柳群落、白茅－茵陈蒿群落、獐茅－菌陈蒿群落、白茅群落、茵陈蒿群落;在土壤盐分含量由高到低的梯度上,依次分布着盐地碱蓬群落     

黄河三角洲自然保护区典型植物群落物种组成及多样性梯度变化

以黄河三角洲自然保护区典型湿地群落为研究对象,探讨其物种组成及物种多样性的梯度变化规律。结果表明,从芦苇－香蒲群落到翅碱蓬群落梯度上：（1）群落物种丰富度呈波动性变化,旱柳－芦苇－白茅群落的物种丰富度最高,其次是芦苇－柽柳－翅碱蓬群落、芦苇－香蒲群落、柽柳－翅碱蓬群落,翅碱蓬群落的物种丰富最低;（2）群落的α多样性的变化格局与丰富度的变化格局不太一致,其中Shannon-Winner多样性指数与Pelou均匀度指数表现为波动性的下降趋势,而Simpson优势度指数则表现为波动性的上升趋势;（3）群落的β多样性变化格局也不完全相同,其中相异性系数呈波动性降低趋势,Copy指数则表现为先升高再降低的变化趋势。黄河三角洲典型湿地植物群落组成和物种多样性的梯度变化主要与生境变化有关。     

褐家鼠挖掘活动对上海九段沙湿地植物群落与土壤水盐的影响

上海九段沙是长江口的新生岛洲,目前处于草本植物群落演替阶段。为了探讨登岛褐家鼠的挖掘活动对九段沙湿地植物群落与土壤水盐的影响,我们调查了褐家鼠洞穴区的植物盖度、密度、高度、重要值、物种丰富度、物种均匀度、物种多样性、表层土壤含水量和电导率等与对照区的差异;同时,通过调查褐家鼠洞穴与潮沟在空间位置上的关系探讨了褐家鼠的栖息地选择策略。结果表明:在单一芦苇群落中,洞穴区芦苇的高度和盖度显著低于对照;在芦苇和海三棱藨草混合群落中,洞穴区芦苇的密度、相对密度、重要值和群落总盖度显著低于对照,而洞穴区海三棱藨草的密度、盖度、相对密度、相对高度和重要值显著高于对照;在碱菀和互花米草优势群落中,洞穴区碱菀的相对密度、相对盖度、重要值和群落的物种多样性指数显著高于对照,而互花米草的密度和盖度、芦苇的盖度、高度和相对盖度以及群落总盖度显著低于对照。距洞穴区中心区域洞口不同距离梯度的表层土壤含水量和电导率差异均显著。褐家鼠偏向于将洞穴营造在邻近潮沟处,这有利于提高褐家鼠在九段沙湿地的适应能力。褐家鼠的挖掘活动有利于增加碱菀和互花米草优势群落的物种多样性,会降低植物群落总盖度和表层土壤的水盐含量,对九段沙湿地植物群落的组成与演替具有重要影响。     

培养基质、储藏方式和盐度对三种海滨植物种子萌发的影响

研究了培养基质、储藏方式和盐度对3种海滨植物互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)、盐地碱蓬(Suaeda salsa)和芦苇(Phragmites australis)种子萌发的影响,探索在潮间带环境下海滨植物种子萌发适应策略。结果表明:3种植物的干藏种子和湿藏芦苇种子随着盐度的升高,萌发率和萌发速率均显著下降,湿藏互花米草和盐地碱蓬种子在各盐度下萌发率和萌发速率差异不显著。各盐度-土培-干藏互花米草,中、高盐度-土培-干藏盐地碱蓬,土培各处理,中、高盐度-水培-干藏,高盐度-水培-湿藏芦苇种子萌发失败。湿藏提高了各盐度处理下土培互花米草,中、高盐度-水培和土培盐地碱蓬,淡水、中盐度-水培芦苇种子的萌发率和萌发速率。干藏互花米草种子在中、高盐度和土埋条件下种子的萌发受到抑制,限制了互花米草向高潮带与潮上带的扩展;而经常受潮水浸淹保持湿润的种子能抵抗高盐和泥沙沉积,导致互花米草种群逐步向低潮带方向发展;湿藏芦苇种子在淡水中萌发率和萌发速率最高,当潮上带盐度降低时,芦苇具有很强的竞争优势,但是对盐度和土埋敏感,限制了其向海的拓展;盐地碱蓬在中、高盐度和土培条件下萌发速率最高,快速萌发的适应策略和广适应性在盐地碱蓬占据高潮带和中潮带广大区域的过程中起到了重要的作用。     

宁夏震湖滩涂湿地盐生植物群落多样性与土壤盐碱度分析

该研究以宁夏西吉震湖滩涂湿地4种典型盐生植物群落作为研究对象,通过野外调查采样,实验室分析,结合经典统计学方法,研究柽柳(Tamarix sp.)、盐角草(Salicornia europaea)、碱蓬(Suaeda glauca)、芦苇(Phragmites australis)(矮生型)等4种盐生植物群落多样性格局,分析4种盐生植物群落及湖滩裸地土壤全盐和pH特征,为湿地自然保护区湖滨湿地的保护与恢复提供依据。结果表明:(1)在4种盐生群落斑块中共发现植物26种,藜科、禾本科、菊科分别占植物总数的23.08%、19.23%和19.23%;柽柳群落为盐生灌丛,物种数繁杂;盐角草群落、碱蓬群落和芦苇群落属于盐生草甸,物种组成单调,大多是单优群落斑块;3种盐生草甸群落中优势种的重要值显著高于盐生灌丛中柽柳的重要值(P0.05)。(2)Margalef丰富度指数、Shannon-wiener指数和Simpson优势度指数均是柽柳群落最大,分别为1.105、1.706和0.552;Pielou均匀度指数为:盐角草群落芦苇群落碱蓬群落柽柳群落,分别为1.166、1.021、0.997和0.813。(3)4种盐生群落类型及湖滩裸地土壤全盐表层(0~10cm)表聚效应显著(P0.05);表层土壤全盐依次为湖滩裸地盐角草群落碱蓬群落柽柳群落芦苇群落,土壤盐度分别在0.44%~0.58%、0.49%~0.53%、0.15%~0.54%、0.27%~0.45%和0.18%~0.39%之间;柽柳群落土壤pH随土层加深依次降低,3种盐生草甸土壤pH随土层加深先迅速增大后基本不变,湖滩裸地pH随土层加深先迅速减小后基本不变。     

松嫩平原微地形下土壤水盐与植物群落分布的关系

以微域尺度不同盐渍化程度的盐渍土复区为研究区,利用典范对应分析方法(CCA)分析了不同水文年(丰水年、枯水年)土壤盐碱化指标、地表积水、不同土壤层含水率和相对高程与植物群落之间的关系。结果表明,在枯水年由于水分的减少和盐碱化的加重,稗草向虎尾草群落演替,虎尾草向碱蓬群落演替。而芦苇和碱茅群落相对稳定,只是由湿生向旱生转化,群落间演替较慢。在植物群落演替过程中,Na⁺(991 mg/kg)、CO₃^2-(396 mg/kg)、EC(680 μs/cm),pH值(10)是稗草、芦苇向虎尾草和碱茅群落演替的驱动值。Na⁺(1570 mg/kg)、CO₃^2-(576 mg/kg)、EC(879 μs/cm)是虎尾草、碱茅向碱蓬群落演替的驱动值。地表水的积水时间和积水深度是区分稗草和芦苇、虎尾草和碱茅生长分布的重要水文特征值。研究对苏打盐渍土区植被恢复和重建具有重要的意义。     

基于MaxEnt模型的黄河三角洲滨海湿地优势植物群落潜在分布模拟

采用千米网格的方法,对黄河三角洲滨海湿地进行土壤采样和植被群落调查,利用MaxEnt模型和GIS空间分析技术,模拟该地区优势物种的潜在分布,定量分析优势物种的主导环境影响因子及其生态位参数.结果表明: 黄河三角洲滨海湿地的优势物种为柽柳、芦苇和盐地碱蓬.影响柽柳、芦苇和盐地碱蓬潜在分布的主导环境因子分别为硝态氮、盐分、坡度、镁、海拔和铵态氮,硝态氮、盐分、全磷、pH、海拔和铵态氮,硝态氮、盐分和铵态氮.黄河三角洲滨海湿地优势物种的存在概率与盐分呈正相关,与其他主导环境影响因子呈负相关.黄河三角洲滨海湿地优势物种的潜在核心适生区主要分布在滨海地区,芦苇的分布范围较柽柳和盐地碱蓬更广泛.     

崇明东滩围垦堤内植被快速次生演替特征

崇明东滩湿地98大堤内的生态示范区由于人工排水而干涸,芦苇塘成为次生裸地,土壤条件发生变化,呈明显的旱化和盐渍化,植被群落结构呈典型的次生演替,适宜旱地的耐盐植物獐茅和碱蓬等先锋植物出现.文中分别于2003年秋季、冬季和2004年春季沿植被带对塘内各种植物的生物量、高度、密度等指标进行取样分析.结果表明,堤内植被群落已形成明显的带状獐茅草-獐茅草/碱蓬-碱蓬/芦苇-芦苇旱生植被群落.碱蓬在裸地中2003年秋季平均生物量达到415.4 g·m^-2、2004年春季为391.53 g·m^-2,成为裸地的优势种,并向芦苇中扩散,生物量和高度逐渐增加,密度逐渐稳定,表现出良好的生长趋势.     

Markov chain analysis of succession in a rocky subtidal community

We present a Markov chain model of succession in a rocky subtidal community based on a long-term (1986-1994) study of subtidal invertebrates (14 species) at Ammen Rock Pinnacle in the Gulf of Maine. The model describes successional processes (disturbance, colonization, species persistence, and replacement), the equilibrium (stationary) community, and the rate of convergence. We described successional dynamics by species turnover rates, recurrence times, and the entropy of the transition matrix. We used perturbation analysis to quantify the response of diversity to successional rates and species removals. The equilibrium community was dominated by an encrusting sponge (Hymedesmia) and a bryozoan (Crisia eburnea). The equilibrium structure explained 98% of the variance in observed species frequencies. Dominant species have low probabilities of disturbance and high rates of colonization and persistence. On average, species turn over every 3.4 years. Recurrence times varied among species (7-268 years); rare species had the longest recurrence times. The community converged to equilibrium quickly (9.5 years), as measured by Dobrushin's coefficient of ergodicity. The largest changes in evenness would result from removal of the dominant sponge Hymedesmia. Subdominant species appear to increase evenness by slowing the dominance of Hymedesmia. Comparison of the subtidal community with intertidal and coral reef communities revealed that disturbance rates are an order of magnitude higher in coral reef than in rocky intertidal and subtidal communities. Colonization rates and turnover times, however, are lowest and longest in coral reefs, highest and shortest in intertidal communities, and intermediate in subtidal communities.     

黑龙江省的水生维管束植物

在黑龙江流域附属水体中共采集到80种植物,隶属于26科。芦、荇菜、(艹杂)等为优势种;线叶水马齿、小慈姑、芡实等为偶见种。利用多度、频度指数、优势度及生态类型等项指标对哈尔滨近郊10个泡沼中的水生维管束植物进行了分析。松花江及附属水体中主要为菰群落;乌裕尔河内流区主要为芦群落;在通肯河与阿伦河主要为蒙古香蒲群落与菖蒲群落。全省由南向北,植物群落由泥沼群落过渡到急流群落,群落结构也由复杂渐变为简单。对哈尔滨市水产所三个草塘进行了定量分析,按林德曼定律与陈洪达公式,推算了鱼产力。最后阐述了植物的营养价值及与其它一些生物的关系．     

辽河口湿地植物多样性及物种功能型空间分布格局

辽河口湿地是我国典型的滨海湿地, 在过去几十年受人为过度干扰, 植被变化明显。本研究拟通过野外实地调查揭示辽河口湿地植物多样性及功能型的空间格局。结果表明, 潮上带的物种丰富度和Shannon-Wiener指数均高于潮间带。与潮上带相比, 潮间带的盐生植物与湿生植物比例较高, 而中性植物、甜土植物、中生植物与旱生植物的比例较低。物种丰富度、Shannon-Wiener指数以及中性植物、甜土植物、中生植物、旱生植物的比例均随着与海岸线距离的增加而增加, 盐生植物、湿生植物比例则与之相反。对所调查样地与植物物种的主成分分析(PCA)表明, 潮上带主要为芦苇(Phragmites australis)、刺儿菜(Cirsium setosum)、山莴苣(Lagedium sibiricum)等中性和甜土植物, 潮间带为盐地碱蓬(Suaeda salsa)、扁秆藨草(Scirpus planiculmis)、水烛(Typha angustifolia)等盐生植物。可见, 盐度与水位是决定辽河口湿地植物多样性及物种功能型的关键生态因子。     

Molecular Techniques Revealed Highly Diverse Microbial Communities in Natural Marine Biofilms on Polystyrene Dishes for Invertebrate Larval Settlement

Biofilm microbial communities play an important role in the larval settlement response of marine invertebrates. However, the underlying mechanism has yet to be resolved, mainly because of the uncertainties in characterizing members in the communities using traditional 16S rRNA gene-based molecular methods and in identifying the chemical signals involved. In this study, pyrosequencing was used to characterize the bacterial communities in intertidal and subtidal marine biofilms developed during two seasons. We revealed highly diverse biofilm bacterial communities that varied with season and tidal level. Over 3,000 operational taxonomic units with estimates of up to 8,000 species were recovered in a biofilm sample, which is by far the highest number recorded in subtropical marine biofilms. Nineteen phyla were found, of which Cyanobacteria and Proteobacteria were the most dominant one in the intertidal and subtidal biofilms, respectively. Apart from these, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, and Planctomycetes were the major groups recovered in both intertidal and subtidal biofilms, although their relative abundance varied among samples. Full-length 16S rRNA gene clone libraries were constructed for the four biofilm samples and showed similar bacterial compositions at the phylum level to those revealed by pyrosequencing. Laboratory assays confirmed that cyrids of the barnacle Balanus amphitrite preferred to settle on the intertidal rather than subtidal biofilms. This preference was independent of the biofilm bacterial density or biomass but was probably related to the biofilm community structure, particularly, the Proteobacterial and Cyanobacterial groups.     

Species composition and distribution of algae on the fringing coral reef of Sesoko Island (Ryukyu Archipelago) before and after the natural catastrophe of 1998

The species composition and distribution of marine plants on the fringing reef of Secoko Island were studied before and after the mass coral mortality in 1998. The study showed that changes in the bottom communities that occurred after bleaching of corals were caused by the presumed development of marine plants substituting reef-building corals on the bottom. The number of algal species grew from 211 to 345. The projective cover (PC) of hard substrate with macroalgae increased: in 1998, it was 1–10% in the subtidal zone and 20–50% in the intertidal zone, while in 2002 through 2005, the PC reached 71% in the subtidal and 40–85% in the intertidal zone. It is assumed that the phase of the “plant reef” on Sesoko Island is a temporary event, and that the coral reef can recover within several decades, unless a natural catastrophe occurs again.     

Trade-off between leaf chlorophyll and betacyanins in Suaeda salsa in the Liaohe estuary wetland in northeast China

Aims Pigment composition is an important functional trait that can be affected by environmental factors. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of soil salinity on pigment composition in Suaeda salsa by comparing chlorophyll and betacyanin content in the Liaohe estuary wetland, a typical coastal wetland in northeast China.Methods We investigated the plant biomass, percentage of red leaves and pigment content (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and betacyanins) in S. salsa in intertidal and supratidal zones of the upper, middle and lower reaches of the Liaohe estuary wetlands. The Na + content of both the soil and plant was also measured. Full analysis of variance and multivariate analysis were used to compare differences in pigment content and Na + content between the supratidal and intertidal zones.Important findings Pigment composition was significantly affected by soil salinity. With increasing soil salinity, the percentage of red leaves was higher in the intertidal zone than in the supratidal zone. In all three reaches, plants had lower chlorophyll a content and higher betacyanin content in the intertidal zone than in the supratidal zone. Compared to chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b was less sensitive to soil salinity. There were no differences in chlorophyll b content between the intertidal and supratidal zones in the upper and lower reaches. Furthermore, pigment composition was associated with both the plant tissue and soil Na + content. Compared to the supratidal zone, the intertidal zone had a higher Na + content in plants. There was a negative relationship between plant chlorophyll content and soil Na + content, but a positive relationship between betacyanin content and soil Na + content. Overall, the results indicated that there might be a trade-off between leaf chlorophyll and betacyanin content in S. salsa to maintain its growth and survival in high salinity environments.     

Subtidal and intertidal mussel beds (Mytilus edulis L.) in the Wadden Sea: diversity differences of associated epifauna

In 1997 and 1998, surveys were performed to compare species composition, abundance and diversity of non-attached epifauna (>1 mm) in low intertidal and adjacent shallow subtidal zones of three mussel beds (Mytilus edulis L.) near the island of Sylt in the North Sea. The community structure was similar when compared within tidal zones: no significant differences in species numbers and abundances were recorded between locations and between years. A comparison between tidal zones, however, revealed higher diversity, species densities and total species numbers in the subtidal (per 1,000 cm²: H ′=2.0±0.16; 12 ±1 species density; 22 species) than the intertidal zone (per 1,000 cm²: H ′=0.7±0.27; 6±2 species density; 19 species). Abundances significantly dropped with increasing submergence from 2,052 (±468) m^–2 to 1,184 (±475) m^–2. This was mainly due to significantly higher densities of both juvenile periwinkles, Littorina littorea, and crabs, Carcinus maenas, in intertidal mussel beds. However, many less dominant species were significantly more abundant in subtidal mussel beds. This study revealed that in the non-attached epifaunal community of mussel beds the tidal level effect within metres was strong, whilst the spatial variability in a much wider (kilometre) range but the same tidal level was negligible. The high epifaunal diversity in the subtidal zone suggests that the protective measures for mussel beds against the effects of mussel fishery should be extended from the intertidal to the subtidal zone, if the integrity of the mussel bed community in the Wadden Sea National Park is to be maintained. Electronic Publication     

Relationship between Enterococcal Levels and Sediment Biofilms at Recreational Beaches in South Florida

Enterococci, recommended at the U.S. federal level for monitoring water quality at marine recreational beaches, have been found to reside and grow within beach sands. However, the environmental and ecological factors affecting enterococcal persistence remain poorly understood, making it difficult to determine levels of fecal pollution and assess human health risks. Here we document the presence of enterococci associated with beach sediment biofilms at eight south Florida recreational beaches. Enterococcal levels were highest in supratidal sands, where they displayed a nonlinear, unimodal relationship with extracellular polymeric secretions (EPS), the primary component of biofilms. Enterococcal levels peaked at intermediate levels of EPS, suggesting that biofilms may promote the survival of enterococci but also inhibit enterococci as the biofilm develops within beach sands. Analysis of bacterial community profiles determined by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphisms showed the bacterial communities of supratidal sediments to be significantly different from intertidal and subtidal communities; however, no differences were observed in bacterial community compositions associated with different EPS concentrations. Our results suggest that supratidal sands are a microbiologically unique environment favorable for the incorporation and persistence of enterococci within beach sediment biofilms.     

Stromatolite biostromes and associated facies in the late precambrian porsanger dolomite formation of Finnmark,Arctic Norway

The Late Precambrian Porsanger Dolomite Formation, occurring beneath the Varanger tillite in Arctic Norway, consists of various dolomitic lithofacies of subtidal, intertidal and supratidal environments. The lithofacies belong to three facies associations, A, B and C, which are repeated several times in the sequence. Facies association A comprises cryptalgal laminites, dolomicrites and thin-bedded grainstones and flakestones. The environment represented by this facies is broadly intertidal (locally supratidal) flat, with the interbedded carbonate sands representing storm deposits. Facies association B, of shallow subtidal to low intertidal origin, comprises cross-bedded carbonate sands (flakestones, grainstones and oolites) forming units up to 10 m thick. Small stromatolite bioherms (5 m wide, 2 m high) are locally developed within these “high-energy” deposits. Facies association C formed in a subtidal environment consists of laterally extensive (over 20 km) uniformly developed stromatolite biostromes, up to 16 m thick. The biostromes, locally divided by channels filled with grainstones and intraformational conglomerates, are composed of cylindrical and turbinate columnar (SH-V and SH-C) and digitate stromatolites (Gymnosolen, Inseria and Tungussia) in their lower parts. Larger, bulbous (SH-C and LLH-C) and conical (Conophyton) stromatolites occur in the upper parts, as well as the branching conophyte, Jacutophyton.All of the biostromes are always developed above cross-bedded carbonate sands (facies association B). A broadly symmetrical cyclic pattern, A B C B A, of tidal flat deposits (facies association A) passing up into carbonate sands (B), into biostrome (C), overlain by carbonate sands (B) and then tidal flat deposits (A), is repeated four times in the Porsanger Dolomite sequence. The pattern is interpreted in terms of two controls on sedimentation: (1) a slow transgressive phase followed by (2) depositional regression. The former (1) took place either through eustatic sea-level rise or more likely through accelerated subsidence because of tectonic instability and compaction of underlying sediments. This resulted in the sequence: tidal flat sediments, low intertidal/shallow subtidal carbonate sands, subtidal biostrome (A, B, C). Depositional regression through prograding tidal flats, generated the shoaling upward part of the cycle: biostrome, carbonate sands, tidal flat sediments (C, B, A).     

Analysis of the community structure of yeasts associated with the decaying stems of cactus. I.Stenocereus gummosus

Yeast communities of decayingStenocereus gummosus were analyzed for spatial, temporal, and physiological characteristics. Analysis of random samples within plants, between plants, and between localities shows that the species proportions of the yeast community are relatively constant within plants and between localities, but that there is significant variability between rotting plants. It is suggested that the increased variability between plants represents sampling of different stages of succession. The physiological abilities of the yeast community also show a relatively constant pattern within plants and between localities yet more variability between plants.The variablity profiles of species proportions and community physiological characters are demonstrated to be correlated within and between plants. This observation is an extension of the Kluge-Kerfoot phenomenon to the level of the community. The correlation of within and between plant variability profiles is suggested to be a result of the temporal and spatial availability of resources during the stages of rotting plant succession. The community structure is thus postulated to result from a set of possible future resource states of the habitat.