坡向因子对黄土高原草地群落功能多样性的影响

研究群落水平上的植物功能性状特征及功能多样性随坡向的变化规律,对认识不同坡向上的植物群落形成过程具有重要意义。以黄土高原不同坡向上的自然草地群落为研究对象,比较研究了植物功能性状(株高和比叶面积)和功能多样性测度指标(功能丰富度、功能均匀度和功能离散度)随坡向的变化规律。研究结果显示:(1)阴坡的株高和比叶面积显著高于其他坡向;(2)一元性状的功能丰富度在不同坡向间均无显著差异;阴坡和半阴坡的多元性状功能丰富度显著高于阳坡;(3)阴坡的株高功能均匀度显著高于半阳坡,而比叶面积功能均匀度在各坡向的差异并不显著;多元性状功能均匀度在不同坡向差异显著,阴坡最高,半阳坡最低;(4)阴坡和半阴坡的株高功能离散度显著高于阳坡和半阳坡,而半阴坡的比叶面积功能离散度显著高于阳坡;半阴坡的多元性状功能离散度Rao指数显著高于阳坡。研究结果暗示了,在阴坡和半阴坡上,植物对群落内的生态位空间和资源利用更充分,种间竞争强度较低,不同物种之间生态位高度分化;而在阳坡和半阳坡上,由于水分等条件的限制植物可占据的生态位空间有限,导致其对占据的生态位空间使用不足,物种间资源竞争较强烈。在群落水平上,研究地区的植物功能性状及功能多样性随坡向的规律性变化,反映了黄土高原植被群落构建过程中坡向因子对功能性状的筛选效应。该研究结果对该区的植被恢复重建的物种选择及植被布局规划具有重要实践意义。     

干旱和坡向互作对栓皮栎和侧柏生长的影响

用年轮学方法测定了不同坡向的栓皮栎和侧柏的年轮宽度及相应的年树干面积增长量,同时测定了旱季碳稳定同位素比值(δ13C)及不同坡向之间的微气象指标差异,分析了不同坡向两种树木径向生长与旱季降雨量的关系,目的是探索在华北石质山区季节性干旱条件下坡向对栓皮栎和侧柏生长的影响。结果显示阴坡栓皮栎和侧柏年轮和年增加的截面积显著大于阳坡,两个树种都表现出阳坡δ13C值显著(P<0.05)大于阴坡,阳坡栓皮栎δ13C值比阴坡高1.17,而阳坡侧柏的δ13C值比阴坡高0.56。白天,阳坡气温高于阴坡、相对湿度低于阴坡、饱和蒸汽压匮缺高于阴坡。分析显示旱季降雨量和栓皮栎的树干截面积年增长量显著(P<0.05)相关,而旱季的降雨量和侧柏的截面积年生长没有显著关系。结果表明:相对于侧柏,干旱条件更严重的影响到栓皮栎生长和叶片水分利用效率,反映出这两种树木耐旱能力的差异,以及应对干旱策略的不同。华北石质山区的土壤储水能力低,阳坡较大的蒸散加剧了干旱对树木生长的不利影响。     

甘南高寒草甸植物功能性状和土壤因子对坡向的响应

研究甘南高寒草甸不同坡向植物功能性状和土壤因子及二者的关系.结果表明:禾草是阳坡的优势功能群,杂草和灌木是阴坡的优势功能群.阴坡植物群落生物量显著大于阳坡,但叶片氮磷比显著小于阳坡.不同坡向上,除叶片氮含量变化不显著外,叶片磷含量、比叶面积和物种平均高度大小均为阴坡＞偏阴坡＞阳坡.植被的生存策略在阴阳坡发生了很大变化,这种变化可以从不同坡向植物叶性状的差异和优势功能群的改变反映出来.土壤温度大小为阳坡＞偏阴坡＞阴坡;土壤含水量大小为阴坡＞偏阴坡＞阳坡;除了全磷含量自阳坡到阴坡出现递增趋势外,土壤全氮、有机质和速效氮的大小均为阴坡＞阳坡＞偏阴坡.比叶面积、物种平均高度与土壤全磷、有机质和土壤含水量均呈显著正相关,与土壤pH呈显著负相关.土壤水分和土壤pH共同影响着高寒草甸不同坡向植物功能性状和土壤养分的分布.     

不同坡向人工油松林生长状况与林下物种多样性分析

采用野外调查的方法,研究了绥德地区28年生不同坡向人工油松林林木个体生长、植物种类、相似系数和林下物种多样性特征,以明确坡向对人工油松林生长和群落结构的影响.结果显示,(1)阴坡油松的胸径、树高、冠高和冠幅均显著大于阳坡;(2)阴坡与阳坡林下分别有植物21和19种,共有种11种.群落相似系数为55%,说明坡向对人工油松林林下物种组成影响较大.(3)阴坡物种丰富度指数、均匀度指数和多样性指数均表现为草本层＞灌木层;而阳坡的Shannon-Wiener指数和Pielou指数(Jsw)则与阴坡相反,为灌木层＞草本层;群落总体多样性表现为丰富度指数和多样性指数均是阴坡稍大于阳坡,而均匀度指数表现为阳坡稍大于阴坡.研究表明,绥德地区人工油松林的生长状况阴坡显著优于阳坡,但与陕北南部地区人工油松林相比,该地区人工油松林林木生长各项指标还是较低,群落结构配置不合理.     

祁连山北坡霸王小枝内叶花性状的坡向差异

植物叶-花生长的资源分配模式,是植物与环境长期相互作用所形成的功能多样性的综合反映。本研究利用Arc GIS建立研究区域的数字高程模型(DEM),采用标准化主轴估计方法(SMA),研究了祁连山北坡荒漠草原不同坡向霸王(Zygophyllum xanthoxylum)种群小枝内叶片和花的生长关系。结果表明:随着坡向从北坡到东坡、西坡和南坡转变,草地群落密度、高度、地上生物量和土壤含水量呈逐渐减小趋势,霸王的小枝生物量、花大小、叶面积和叶数量呈逐渐减小趋势,繁殖分配呈增加趋势;不同坡向霸王叶数量、叶面积与花大小均呈显著的正相关关系(P0.05),标准化主轴斜率显著小于1.0(P0.01),花大小的增加速度大于叶面积和叶数量;随着坡向由北坡向东坡、西坡和南坡转变,叶面积与花大小的异速斜率逐渐减小,叶数量与花大小的异速斜率逐渐增大。坡向差异造成环境因子和植被群落的梯度性变化,影响了霸王小枝内叶花构件的生长速率,体现了荒漠区植物应对异质生境的表型可塑性和生长-繁殖的资源权衡机制。     

桂林岩溶石山灌丛植物叶功能性状和土壤因子对坡向的响应

植物功能性状反映了植物对生长环境的响应和适应,是连接植物与环境的桥梁,研究植物功能性状特征及其随坡向梯度的变化规律,对认识不同微气候生境下植物群落空间格局形成及适应机制具有重要意义。以桂林岩溶石山灌丛植物为研究对象,分析了灌木群落水平上植物叶功能性状与环境因子关系随阴坡-阳坡梯度的变化规律。结果表明:比叶面积为阴坡大于阳坡,叶干物质含量和叶片厚度为阳坡大于阴坡;土壤含水量、有机质含量、总有机碳含量和有效氮含量为阴坡大于阳坡,土壤温度和土壤全氮含量为阳坡大于阴坡;多元逐步回归分析表明,影响群落水平植物叶功能性状的主要环境因子随阴坡-阳坡梯度而发生显著的变化。在阴坡上,对比叶面积影响显著的是土壤有效氮含量,对叶干物质含量影响显著的是土壤温度和土壤总有机碳含量。而在阳坡上,对比叶面积影响显著的环境因子是土壤含水量和土壤pH值,对叶干物质含量影响显著的环境因子是土壤全氮含量,对叶片厚度影响显著的环境因子是土壤温度、土壤全氮含量和土壤全磷含量。同一叶功能性状在阴坡-阳坡梯度上受到不同环境因子的控制,同时各叶功能性状又能够对阴坡-阳坡所处特殊生境产生一定的适应性。     

桂林岩溶石山植物群落植物功能性状对不同坡向环境因子的响应

该研究以桂林岩溶石山不同坡向的植物群落为对象,探讨植物功能性状(比叶面积、叶绿素含量、木材密度和环境因子随坡向的变化规律。结果表明:比叶面积和叶绿素含量为阴坡>半阴坡>阳坡,阴坡和半阴坡分别与阳坡差异性显著;木材密度为阴坡<半阴坡<阳坡,阴坡、半阴坡分别与阳坡差异性显著。土壤有机质含量表现为阴坡大于阳坡,且阴坡与阳坡差异性显著;土壤全磷、土壤有效磷均表现为阳坡含量最高,且阴坡与阳坡差异性显著;土壤有效钾、土壤全钾则分别为阴坡、半阴坡含量最高,土壤全钾含量在各坡向上差异均显著,而土壤有效钾则为阴坡、半阴坡与阳坡均差异性显著。回归分析表明群落水平比叶面积在阴坡和半阴坡上与土壤有机质含量呈显著负相关;群落水平叶绿素含量与土壤全磷含量和土壤有效钾含量在阴坡上呈显著正相关;在不同坡向梯度上群落水平木材密度与环境因子无相关性。群落水平上植物功能性状随坡向的变化规律,反映了岩溶石山植物群落构建过程中环境对功能性状的筛选效应。     

秦岭中段不同坡向锐齿栎种子雨、土壤种子库与幼苗更新

以秦岭中段不同坡向(阳坡、半阳坡、半阴坡及阴坡)锐齿栎天然林为对象,对锐齿栎种子雨、种子库的数量、质量动态以及幼苗发育过程进行研究.结果表明: 锐齿栎种子雨一般从8月中旬开始,9月中下旬到10月上旬达到高峰期,11月中上旬结束;不同坡向的种子雨降落历程、发生时间和组成不同;半阳坡种子雨强度最大,为134.13粒·m^-2,其余大小依次为阳坡、半阴坡、阴坡;阳坡种子雨降落时间最早、持续时间最长,高峰期持续时间也最长,阴坡种子雨降落时间最晚、持续时间最短,高峰期持续时间也最短;种子活力及成熟种子占其种子雨的比例大小顺序为半阳坡>阳坡>半阴坡>阴坡.从种子雨降落结束到翌年8月,各坡向土壤种子库总储量大小顺序均为半阳坡>阳坡>半阴坡>阴坡;各坡向的土壤种子库中成熟、未成熟、被啃食种子数量和种子活力均随时间变化呈递减趋势,而霉烂种子数量增加;各坡向土壤种子库中的种子均主要集中在枯落物层,其次为0~2 cm土层,而在2~5 cm土层中只有极少量种子存在.4种坡向中锐齿栎幼苗的密度差异显著,半阳坡幼苗最多,其余依次是阳坡、半阴坡和阴坡.半阳坡更适合锐齿栎种子的萌发和幼苗生长.     

桂林岩溶石山青冈群落植物功能多样性和环境因子与坡向的关联研究

研究群落水平上的植物功能多样性和环境因子与不同坡向（阴坡、阳坡）的关联,有助于理解不同坡向上植物群落的形成过程及其构建机制。本研究以桂林岩溶石山不同坡向上的青冈群落为研究对象,分析阴坡、阳坡植物功能多样性指数和环境因子的变化规律及植物功能多样性指数与环境因子的相关性。研究结果表明：（1）不同坡向上的功能丰富度、功能均匀度、功能离散度和功能分离度指数均具有显著的差异,且均表现为阴坡大于阳坡。（2）不同坡向上的土壤全磷含量、岩石裸露率和土壤有效磷含量均具有显著的差异,土壤全磷含量表现为阴坡大于阳坡,而岩石裸露率和土壤有效磷含量表现为阳坡大于阴坡。（3）多元逐步回归分析结果表明,在阴坡上功能离散度和功能分离度分别与岩石裸露率呈显著的负相关,而在阳坡上其相关性不显著;在阳坡上功能均匀度与土壤全磷含量、功能分离度与土壤有效磷含量呈显著的正相关,而在阴坡上其相关性不显著。     

新疆西天山峡谷不同坡向野核桃幼苗种群动态及生长分析

在非破坏性判定幼苗年龄及大样方逐苗调查的基础上,编制了新疆西天山峡谷不同坡向野核桃幼苗种群静态生命表,分析了幼苗株高的数量特征和生长规律。结果表明:不同坡向野核桃幼苗的期望寿命均以1龄最大,阳坡为2.018,阴坡为1.766,1~6龄普遍为阳坡大于阴坡。不同坡向幼苗种群均以1龄个体数量所占比率最大,阳坡为39.7%,阴坡为44.2%;3龄幼苗死亡率均最高,阳坡为82.0%,阴坡为78.3%;均为增长型年龄结构;存活曲线均趋于Deevey-Ⅱ型。1龄幼苗在阳坡和阴坡分别仅有3.3%和1.1%可以存活到7龄。不同坡向幼苗株高随着年龄的增加均为指数函数异速生长,其模型的生长速度(b值)也大体相同。     

小兴安岭不同耐荫性树种枝叶性状变异及权衡

随着植株生长,不同耐荫性树种枝叶性状对资源的响应策略存在差异。探究不同耐荫性树种在不同径级间枝叶性状变异及其相关关系,对理解植物功能性状种内和种间变异以及植物对资源的响应策略具有重要意义。以黑龙江凉水国家级自然保护区阔叶红松（Pinus koraiensis）林中不同径级（小树、中等树和大树）的喜光树种（白桦Betula platyphylla、枫桦Betula costata）和耐荫树种（春榆Ulmus japonica、紫椴Tilia amurensis、色木槭Acer mono）为研究对象,测定其出叶强度、枝横截面积、枝干重、单叶面积、总叶面积、总叶干重共6个枝叶性状。利用单因素方差（LSD）分析检验不同耐荫性树种在不同径级间其枝、叶性状是否存在显著差异;以标准化主轴估计（SMA）对不同耐荫性树种枝叶性状间相关关系进行分析。结果表明：除枝干重外,耐荫树种枝叶性状均大于喜光树种;不同耐荫性树种大树枝横截面积均最大,中等树叶面积均最小;喜光树种不同径级间枝干重、总叶干重和出叶强度无显著差异,而耐荫树种均存在显著差异。随径级增大,不同耐荫性树种枝横截面积与叶面积均呈正异速生长关系,且除耐荫树种枝横截面积与单叶面积外,均存在共同斜率;不同耐荫性树种出叶强度与单叶面积存在共同斜率为-0.51和0.47,小树和中等树枝横截面积与总叶面积和总叶干重的异速生长指数均与1存在显著差异,而大树与1无显著差异。结果表明：不同耐荫性树种在不同径级间对资源的获取策略存在差异,不同耐荫性树种小树阶段均表现出资源获取策略,大树阶段则表现出资源保守型策略。与耐荫树种相比,喜光树种表现为快速生长策略,而随着径级增大不同耐荫性树种这种差异逐渐消失,本研究结果为森林演替过程中种内和种间的相互作用提供了一个新的视角。     

Adaptive plasticity in response to light and nutrient availability in the clonal plant Duchesnea indica

克隆植物蛇莓对光照强度和养分条件的适应性可塑性 表型可塑性可帮助植物缓冲环境压力并使其表型与当地环境相匹配,但目前仅少数性状的可塑性被广泛认为是适应性的。为充分理解可塑性的适应性意义,仍需进一步研究更多的植物功能性状及其环境因子。本研究将匍匐茎克隆植物蛇莓(Duchesnea indica)的21个基因型种植于不同的光照和养分条件下,并利用选择梯度分析检测了形态和生理可塑性对光照强度和养分有效性变化的适应性值。在遮荫条件下,蛇莓适合度(果实数、分株数和生物量)降低,节间缩短变细,成熟叶叶绿素含量降低,但叶柄长度、比叶面积、老叶叶绿素含量均增加。在低养分条件下,植株叶柄缩短,叶面积缩小变厚,叶绿素含量降低,但果实数量和根冠比增加。选择梯度分析表明,叶柄长度和老叶叶绿素含量对光照变化的可塑性是适应性的,老叶和成熟叶叶绿素含量对养分变化的可塑性也是适应性的。因此,不同性状的可塑性适应值取决于特定的生态背景。该研究的发现有助于理解克隆植物表型可塑性响应环境变化的适应性意义。     

太白红杉种内和种间竞争研究

采用逐步扩大范围的方法确定影响对象木 (Objectivetree) 的最佳竞争范围, 利用单木竞争指数的改进模型对太白红杉 (Larixchinensis) 种内和种间竞争强度进行了定量分析, 并讨论了不同竞争强度下太白红杉的形态变化。结果表明 :随对象木胸径的增大, 由于太白红杉种群自然稀疏过程中密度调节作用, 植株距离增加, 种内竞争强度降低 ;太白红杉主要分布于亚高山地段, 群落内其它物种较少, 个体普遍较小, 结果种间竞争相对较弱, 种内与种间竞争关系顺序为 :太白红杉 太白红杉 >巴山冷杉 (Abiesfargesii) 太白红杉 >牛皮桦 (Betulaplatyphylla) 太白红杉 >其它树种 太白红杉 ;竞争强度和对象木胸径的关系服从幂函数关系 (CI =AD-B), 当太白红杉胸径达到 35cm以上时, 竞争强度几乎没有变化, 所得的预测模型能很好地预测太白红杉种内和种间的竞争强度 ;不同竞争强度下, 太白红杉主茎各层的分枝角度、总分枝数、当年生枝条长、平均枝长和活枝数均表现出显著的差异。表明采用逐步扩大范围的方法能有效地确定竞争木范围, 较好地反应太白红杉种内和种间的竞争关系。同时, 太白红杉通过自身形态变化, 提高了对光的截获能力和对不同竞争强度的适应能力。     

The need for a canopy perspective to understand the importance of phenotypic plasticity for promoting species coexistence and light-use complementarity in forest ecosystems

Because of their overwhelming size over other organisms, trees define the structural and energetic properties of forest ecosystems. From grasslands to forests, leaf area index, which determines the amount of light energy intercepted for photosynthesis, increases with increasing canopy height across the various terrestrial ecosystems of the world. In vertically well-developed forests, niche differentiation along the vertical gradient of light availability may promote species coexistence. In addition, spatial and temporal differentiation of photosynthetic traits among the coexisting tree species (functional diversity) may promote complementary use of light energy, resulting in higher biomass and productivity in multi-species forests. Trees have evolved retaining high phenotypic plasticity because the spatial/temporal distribution of resources in forest ecosystems is highly heterogeneous and trees modify their own environment as they increase nearly 1,000 times in size through ontogeny. High phenotypic plasticity may enable coexistence of tree species through divergence in resource-rich environments, as well as through convergence in resource-limited environments. We propose that the breadth of individual-level phenotypic plasticity, expressed at the metamer level (leaves and shoots), is an important factor that promotes species coexistence and resource-use complementarity in forest ecosystems. A cross-biome comparison of the link between plasticity of photosynthesis-related traits and stand productivity will provide a functional explanation for the relationship between species assemblages and productivity of forest ecosystems.     

Limited capacity to cope with excessive light in the open and with seasonal drought in the shade in Mediterranean Ilex aquifolium populations

Climate change is expected to involve more-frequent and intense summer droughts in the Mediterranean region. This represents a threat for long-term persistence of woody species, such as European holly (Ilex aquifolium), that originated under humid climates during the Tertiary period. The capacity of this species to persist under increased water stress, both in gaps and in the understory of an oak-dominated woodland, was assessed by quantifying phenotypic plasticity in response to drought and shade. Physiological responses in plant-water relations and gas exchange were used as performance indicators under the different environments. Phenotypic plasticity of drought-stressed holly trees in response to changes in the light environment was low relative to the known response of co-occurring forest trees. Differences between morphological traits (e.g. specific leaf area and leaf: sapwood ratio in twigs) of sun- and shade-grown trees were small but significant while physiological traits were largely unresponsive to light availability. This supports the hypothesis that late-successional shade-tolerant species exhibit greater morphological than physiological plasticity. Sapling acclimation capacity through physiological mechanisms such as osmotic adjustment was insufficient to protect from summer drought. Holly mainly inhabits oceanic climates where extreme temperatures and droughts are unusual. Our results suggest that the species occupies a narrowing niche in continental Mediterranean habitats, and may lack the capacity to persist under more-severe future climate scenarios because of its low phenotypic plasticity in response to light and drought stresses.     

Phenotypic plasticity in Drosophila cactophilic species: the effect of competition,density, and breeding sites

Changes in the environmental conditions experienced by naturally occurring populations are frequently accompanied by changes in adaptive traits allowing the organism to cope with environmental unpredictability. Phenotypic plasticity is a major aspect of adaptation and it has been involved in population dynamics of interacting species. In this study, phenotypic plasticity (i.e., environmental sensitivity) of morphological adaptive traits were analyzed in the cactophilic species Drosophila buzzatii and Drosophila koepferae (Diptera: Drosophilidae) considering the effect of crowding conditions (low and high density), type of competition (intraspecific and interspecific competition) and cacti hosts (Opuntia and Columnar cacti). All traits (wing length, wing width, thorax length, wing loading and wing aspect) showed significant variation for each environmental factor considered in both Drosophila species. The phenotypic plasticity pattern observed for each trait was different within and between these cactophilic Drosophila species depending on the environmental factor analyzed suggesting that body size‐related traits respond almost independently to environmental heterogeneity. The effects of ecological factors analyzed in this study are discussed in order to elucidate the causal factors investigated (type of competition, crowding conditions and alternative host) affecting the election of the breeding site and/or the range of distribution of these cactophilic species.     

Effects of Ultraviolet-B Irradiance on Intraspecific Competition and Facilitation of Plants: Self-Thinning,Size Inequality,and Phenotypic Plasticity

(1) The effects of facilitation on the structure and dynamics of plant populations have not been studied so widely as competition. The UV-B radiation, as a typical environmental factor causing stress, may result in direct stress and facilitation. (2) The effects of UV-B radiation on intraspecific competition and facilitation were investigated based on the following three predictions on self-thinning, size inequality, and phenotypic plasticity: i) Self-thinning is the reduction in density that results from the increase in the mean biomass of individuals in crowded populations, and is driven by competition. In this study, the mortality rate of the population is predicted to decrease from UV-B irradiance. ii) The size inequality of a population increases with competition intensity because larger individuals receive a disproportionate share of resources, thereby leaving limited resources for smaller individuals. The second hypothesis assumes that direct stress decreases the size inequality of the population. iii) Phenotypic plasticity is the ability to alter one’s morphology in response to environmental changes. The third hypothesis assumes that certain morphological indices can change among the trade-offs between competition, facilitation, and stress. These predictions were tested by conducting a field pot experiment using mung beans, and were supported by the following results: (3) UV-B radiation increased the survival rate of the population at the end of self-thinning. However, this result was mainly due to direct stress rather than facilitation. (4) Just as competitor, facilitation was also asymmetric. It increased the size inequality of populations during self-thinning, whereas stress decreased the size inequality. (5) Direct stress and facilitation influence plants differently on various scales. Stress inhibited plant growth, whereas facilitation showed the opposite on an individual scale. Stress increased survival rate, whereas facilitation increased individual variability on the population scale. (6) Trade-offs between competitions, facilitation, and direct stress varied in different growing stages.     

Phenotypic plasticity in response to light in the coffee tree

Phenotypic plasticity to light availability was examined at the leaf level in field-grown coffee trees (Coffea arabica). This species has been traditionally considered as shade-demanding, although it performs well without shade and even out-yields shaded coffee. Specifically, we focused our attention on the morpho-anatomical plasticity, the balance between light capture and excess light energy dissipation, as well as on physiological traits associated with carbon gain. A wide natural light gradient, i.e., a diurnal intercepted photon irradiance differing by a factor of 25 between the deepest shade leaves and the more exposed leaves in the canopy, was explored. Responses of most traits to light were non-linear, revealing the classic leaf sun vs. leaf shade dichotomy (e.g., compared with sun leaves, shade leaves had a lower stomatal density, a thinner palisade mesophyll, a higher specific leaf area, an improved light capture, a lower respiration rate, a lower light compensating point and a limited capacity for photoprotection). The light-saturated rates of net photosynthesis were higher in sunlit than in shade leaves, although sun leaves were not efficient enough to use the extra light supply. However, sun leaves showed well-developed photoprotection mechanisms in comparison to shade leaves, which proved sufficient for avoiding photoinhibition. Specifically, a higher non-photochemical quenching coefficient was found in parallel to increases in: (i) zeaxanthin pools, (ii) de-epoxidation state of the xanthophyll cycle, and (iii) activities of some antioxidant enzymes. Intracanopy plasticity depended on the suite of traits considered, and was high for some physiological traits associated with photoprotection and maintenance of a positive carbon balance under low light, but low for most morpho-anatomical features. Our data largely explain the successful cultivation of the coffee tree in both exposed and shade environments, although with a poor resource-use efficiency in high light.     

基于功能性状的水杉原生母树种群生境适应策略

植物的功能性状变异和表型可塑性是其应对异质生境的主要机制, 对植物的生长和分布有重要贡献。本文以湖北星斗山国家级自然保护区的水杉(Metasequoia glyptostroboides)原生母树为研究对象, 分析了母树种群功能性状对树木形态、地形因子及人为干扰的响应机制。结果表明: 水杉原生母树叶面积、叶干重和比叶面积的变异幅度大, 可塑性较强, 而枝和叶的干物质含量稳定性最高。人为干扰和4个地形因子均对每个功能性状变异方差有5%-20%的解释度, 冠幅对枝、叶干物质含量的变异方差有高达38%和76%的解释度。5个功能性状主要受海拔、坡位和人为干扰影响, 其中, 比叶面积对环境因子和干扰的响应规律不明显, 叶面积和叶干重在强烈人为干扰的环境中普遍增大, 枝和叶的干物质含量对坡向的变化最敏感。总之, 水杉原生母树种群通过功能性状变异对环境能产生一定的可塑性响应, 但人为干扰对母树生长影响较大, 建议人工辅助更新, 并适度减少农业和建筑对现存母树的影响。     

Individual variability in tree allometry determines light resource allocation in forest ecosystems: a hierarchical Bayesian approach

Tree species differences in crown size and shape are often highlighted as key characteristics determining light interception strategies and successional dynamics. The phenotypic plasticity of species in response to light and space availability suggests that intraspecific variability can have potential consequences on light interception and community dynamics. Species crown size varies depending on site characteristics and other factors at the individual level which differ from competition for light and space. These factors, such as individual genetic characteristics, past disturbances or environmental micro-site effects, combine with competition-related phenotypic plasticity to determine the individual variability in crown size. Site and individual variability are typically ignored when considering crown size and light interception by trees, and residual variability is relegated to a residual error term, which is then ignored when studying ecological processes. In the present study, we structured and quantified variability at the species, site, and individual levels for three frequently used tree allometric relations using fixed and random effects in a hierarchical Bayesian framework. We focused on two species: Abies alba (silver fir) and Picea abies (Norway spruce) in nine forest stands of the western Alps. We demonstrated that species had different allometric relations from site to site and that individual variability accounted for a large part of the variation in allometric relations. Using a spatially explicit radiation transmission model on real stands, we showed that individual variability in tree allometry had a substantial impact on light resource allocation in the forest. Individual variability in tree allometry modulates species’ light-intercepting ability. It generates heterogeneous light conditions under the canopy, with high light micro-habitats that may promote the regeneration of light-demanding species and slow down successional dynamics.