Acclimation of a pleurocarpous moss Pleurozium schreberi (Britt.) Mitt. to enhanced ultraviolet radiation in situ

We investigated the responses of ultraviolet (UV)‐absorbing compounds, chlorophylls a and b, carotenoids and the growth responses of the pleurocarpous moss Pleurozium schreberi (Britt.) Mitt. to enhanced UV radiation in situ. The moss was exposed to a 52% elevation above the ambient level of erythemally weighted UV‐B radiation, simulating an approximate 20% reduction in the ozone column, in a dry pine forest in Sodankylä, Finland (67 °22′N, 26 °38′E), under arrays of lamps filtered with cellulose diacetate, which transmitted both UV‐B and UV‐A radiation. The moss was also exposed to elevated UV‐A radiation under control arrays of lamps filtered with Melinex polyester and to ambient radiation under arrays with no lamps in them. Effects of enhanced UV radiation on P. schreberi were recorded during the first 3 years of exposure. Enhanced UV‐B radiation did not affect the segment height growth of the moss. The annual dry mass after the second growing season was higher in the UV‐A control than in the other treatments, and dry mass decreased significantly during the third treatment year in both UV treatments compared with the ambient. The specific leaf area of the UV‐B‐treated mosses was significantly higher than the ambient control mosses during the first 2 years. An increase of UV‐absorbing compounds was found in the mosses under enhanced UV‐B radiation compared with the UV‐A control mosses during the first year. Even though the treatment effect on UV‐absorbing compounds was transient, the concentrations of these compounds correlated with the amount of UV‐A and UV‐B radiation received under the elevated UV‐B treatment. A correlation with the irradiation of previous days and preceding month of the sampling day was found. A seasonal reduction occurred in the amount of UV‐absorbing compounds from the beginning of the summer to late summer. The amount of photosynthetic pigments correlated with the amount of photosynthetically active radiation. The moss P. schreberi was thus found to tolerate increasing UV‐B radiation. Our data indicate that P. schreberi tolerates a 52% increase in erythemally weighted UV‐B radiation above ambient, responding during the first few years of exposure by increasing UV‐absorbing compounds and specific leaf area, and decreasing annual dry mass, and then acclimating to its altered radiation environment.     

Interactive effects of UV radiation and water availability on seedlings of six woody Mediterranean species

To assess the effects of UV radiation and its interaction with water availability on Mediterranean plants, we performed an experiment with seedlings of six Mediterranean species (three mesophytes vs three xerophytes) grown in a glasshouse from May to October under three UV conditions (without UV, with UVA and with UVA+UVB) and two irrigation levels (watered to saturation and low watered). Morphological, physiological and biochemical measures were taken. Exposure to UVA+UVB increased the overall leaf mass per area (LMA) and the leaf carotenoids/chlorophyll a + b ratio of plants in relation to plants grown without UV or with UVA, respectively. In contrast, we did not find a general effect of UV on the leaf content of phenols or UVB‐absorbing compounds of the studied species. Regarding plant growth, UV inhibited the above‐ground biomass production of well‐watered plants of Pistacia lentiscus. Conversely, under low irrigation, UVA tended to abolish the reduction in growth experienced by P. lentiscus plants growing in a UV‐free environment, in accordance with UVA‐enhanced apparent electron transport rate (ETR) values under drought in this species. UVA also induced an overall increase in root biomass when plants of the studied species were grown under a low water supply. In conclusion, while plant exposition to UVA favored root growth under water shortage, UVB addition only gave rise to photoprotective responses, such as the increase in LMA or in the leaf carotenoids/chlorophyll a + b ratio of plants. Species‐specific responses to UV were not related with the xerophytic or mesophytic character of the studied species.     

Short-term impacts of enhanced UV-B radiation on photo-assimilate allocation and metabolism: a possible interpretation for time-dependent inhibition of growth

To test the hypothesis that plant source-sink relations are important in determining response to UV-B radiation, a short-term (45 d) field experiment was conducted at Abisko Scientific Research Station, Abisko, Sweden (68° N). Tillers of the grass Calamagrostis purpurea were grown outdoors at levels of UV-B radiation representing 25% ozone depletion. Growth, respiration, photo-assimilate allocation and UV-B protective compounds were subsequently measured.There were no significant effects of enhanced UV-B on total plant dry weight, leaf area, Shoot: Root ratio, leaf weight ratio, leaf area ratio, specific leaf area, tiller number per plant or blade thickness of this species. However, the amount of UV-B absorbing compounds and respiration rates were significantly increased in young and mature leaves. Increases in leaf respiration were accompanied by alterations in plant carbohydrate allocation at enhanced UV-B. The amount of soluble root carbohydrates was reduced following UV-B exposure. Enhanced UV-B also caused increases in the soluble sugar: starch ratio of young leaves, the stem and total aboveground biomass. The importance of source-sink relations and constitutive versus induced defense are discussed in relation to UV-B response.     

Leaf traits and associated ecosystem characteristics across subtropical and timberline forests in the Gongga Mountains,Eastern Tibetan Plateau

Knowledge of how leaf characteristics might be used to deduce information on ecosystem functioning and how this scaling task could be done is limited. In this study, we present field data for leaf lifespan, specific leaf area (SLA) and mass and area-based leaf nitrogen concentrations (N_mass, N_area) of dominant tree species and the associated stand foliage N-pool, leaf area index (LAI), root biomass, aboveground biomass, net primary productivity (NPP) and soil available-N content in six undisturbed forest plots along subtropical to timberline gradients on the eastern slope of the Gongga Mountains. We developed a methodology to calculate the whole-canopy mean leaf traits to include all tree species (groups) in each of the six plots through a series of weighted averages scaled up from leaf-level measurements. These defined whole-canopy mean leaf traits were equivalent to the traits of a leaf in regard to their interrelationships and altitudinal trends, but were more useful for large-scale pattern analysis of ecosystem structure and function. The whole-canopy mean leaf lifespan and leaf N_mass mainly showed significant relationships with stand foliage N-pool, NPP, LAI and root biomass. In general, as elevation increased, the whole-canopy mean leaf lifespan and leaf N_area and stand LAI and foliage N-pool increased to their maximum, whereas the whole-canopy mean SLA and leaf N_mass and stand NPP and root biomass decreased from their maximum. The whole-canopy mean leaf lifespan and stand foliage N-pool both converged towards threshold-like logistic relationships with annual mean temperature and soil available-N variables. Our results are further supported by additional literature data in the Americas and eastern China.     

Impact of changes in natural ultraviolet radiation on pigment composition, physiological and morphological characteristics of the Antarctic moss, Grimmia antarctici

The impact of ambient ultraviolet (UV)‐B radiation on the endemic bryophyte, Grimmia antarctici, was studied over 14 months in East Antarctica. Over recent decades, Antarctic plants have been exposed to the largest relative increase in UV‐B exposure as a result of ozone depletion. We investigated the effect of reduced UV and visible radiation on the pigment concentrations, surface reflectance and physiological and morphological parameters of this moss. Plexiglass screens were used to provide both reduced UV levels (77%) and a 50% decrease in total radiation. The screen combinations were used to separate UV photoprotective from visible photoprotective strategies, because these bryophytes are growing in relatively high light environments compared with many mosses. G. antarctici was affected negatively by ambient levels of UV radiation. Chlorophyll content was significantly lower in plants grown under near‐ambient UV, while the relative proportions of photoprotective carotenoids, especially β‐carotene and zeaxanthin, increased. However, no evidence for the accumulation of UV‐B‐absorbing pigments in response to UV radiation was observed. Although photosynthetic rates were not affected, there was evidence of UV effects on morphology. Plants that were shaded showed fewer treatment responses and these were similar to the natural variation observed between moss growing on exposed microtopographical ridges and in more sheltered valleys within the turf. Given that other Antarctic bryophytes possess UV‐B‐absorbing pigments which should offer better protection under ambient UV‐B radiation, these findings suggest that G. antarctici may be disadvantaged in some settings under a climate with continuing high levels of springtime UV‐B radiation.     

UV radiation is the primary factor driving the variation in leaf phenolics across Chinese grasslands

Due to the role leaf phenolics in defending against ultraviolet B (UVB) under previously controlled conditions, we hypothesize that ultraviolet radiation (UVR) could be a primary factor driving the variation in leaf phenolics in plants over a large geographic scale. We measured leaf total phenolics, ultraviolet‐absorbing compounds (UVAC), and corresponding leaf N, P, and specific leaf area (SLA) in 151 common species. These species were from 84 sites across the Tibetan Plateau and Inner Mongolian grasslands of China with contrasting UVR (354 vs. 161 mW/cm² on average). Overall, leaf phenolics and UVAC were all significantly higher on the Tibetan Plateau than in the Inner Mongolian grasslands, independent of phylogenetic relationships between species. Regression analyses showed that the variation in leaf phenolics was strongly affected by climatic factors, particularly UVR, and soil attributes across all sites. Structural equation modeling (SEM) identified the primary role of UVR in determining leaf phenolic concentrations, after accounting for colinearities with altitude, climatic, and edaphic factors. In addition, phenolics correlated positively with UVAC and SLA, and negatively with leaf N and N: P. These relationships were steeper in the lower‐elevation Inner Mongolian than on the Tibetan Plateau grasslands. Our data support that the variation in leaf phenolics is controlled mainly by UV radiation, implying high leaf phenolics facilitates the adaptation of plants to strong irradiation via its UV‐screening and/or antioxidation functions, particularly on the Tibetan Plateau. Importantly, our results also suggest that leaf phenolics may influence on vegetation attributes and indirectly affect ecosystem processes by covarying with leaf functional traits.     

淹水胁迫对青杨雌雄幼苗生理特性和生长的影响

为揭示青杨(Populus cathayana)雌雄幼苗对淹水胁迫的适应性, 在实验地内通过土培盆栽淹水方式从植株生理生态和生长发育方面探讨淹水胁迫对青杨扦插苗的影响。试验分为对照和淹水2个处理, 处理时间为40天。结果显示: (1)淹水胁迫导致青杨幼苗叶片中的丙二醛(MDA)含量和茎部淹水区的不定根数显著升高, 植株的净光合速率(P_n)、叶绿素含量、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、株高、基径、总叶面积、比叶面积(SLA)、根生物量、叶生物量、茎生物量、总生物量干重和根冠比(R/S)显著降低。(2)与雄株相比, 淹水胁迫显著增加了雌株幼苗的MDA含量, 降低了SOD活性、P_n、类胡萝卜素(Caro)含量、叶绿素a/b、SLA、根生物量和R/S, 并导致雄株在淹水胁迫下具有比雌株更高的气孔导度(G_s)、胞间CO₂浓度(C_i)、蒸腾速率(T_r)、不定根数和株高。可见, 淹水胁迫对青杨雌雄幼苗的形态生长和生理过程均有严重的抑制作用, 但表现出显著的性别间差异。雄株可以通过维持更高的光合作用能力和增加不定根数量来维持植株的生长, 从而表现出比雌株更强的抗逆性。     

Differences in growth and physiological traits of two poplars originating from different altitudes as affected by UV‐B radiation and nutrient availability

Cuttings of Populus kangdingensis and Populus cathayana originating from altitudes of 3500 and 1500 m in southwestern China, respectively, were grown for one growing season in the field under ambient or ambient plus supplemental ultraviolet‐B (UV‐B) radiation with two levels of nutrients. In both species, enhanced UV‐B radiation significantly increased UV‐B absorbing compounds and guaiacol peroxidase (GPX) activity, while no significant effects were observed in photosynthetic pigments and proline content. On the other hand, cuttings grown with high‐nutrient availability had larger leaf area, higher total biomass and GPX activity as well as higher water use efficiency (WUE) (as measured by stable carbon isotope composition, δ¹³C) when compared with low‐nutrient conditions, while UV‐B absorbing compounds and ascorbic acid (AsA) content significantly decreased. Differences in responses to enhanced UV‐B radiation and nutrient availability were observed between the two species. Nutrient‐induced increases in chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll as well as in carotenoids were greater in P. kangdingensis than in P. cathayana. In P. cathayana, enhanced UV‐B radiation significantly decreased leaf area and total biomass, while it significantly increased WUE and ascorbate peroxidase (APX). In contrast, such changes were not observed in P. kangdingensis. In addition, the effects of enhanced UV‐B radiation on leaf area, total biomass and UV‐B absorbing compounds were closely related to the nutrient status. Our results indicated that P. kangdingensis, which originates from the altitude of 3500 m and is apparently adapted to low‐nutrient and high‐UV‐B habitats, exhibits better tolerance to enhanced UV‐B radiation and greater growth under low‐nutrient availability than does P. cathayana originating from the altitude of 1500 m.     

The effects of seasons, exposure, enhanced UV-B radiation, and water stress on leaf epicuticular and internal UV-B absorbing capacity of Cistus creticus: a Mediterranean field study

The seasonal variation in leaf epicuticular and internal (cellular)UV-B absorbing compounds was followed in field-grown shrubsof Cistus creticus L. Fully exposed and permanently shaded (undera canopy of evergreen sclerophylls) individuals were used. Nearmonthly measurements were performed for three years. In addition,a 2-year field experiment was established, in which fully exposedplants received ambient or ambient plus supplemental UV-B radiation,simulating a 15% ozone depletion over Patras (38.3 N, 29.1E). A second, six-month field experiment investigated the effectsof additional summer irrigation on UV-B absorbing compounds.It was found that: (a) exposed plants had considerably higherconcentrations of UV-B absorbing compounds (both epicuticularand internal), irrespective of season, (b) exposed and shadedplants exhibited dramatic and yearly consistent seasonal fluctuationsin epicuticular material with a c. 18-fold difference betweenthe summer maxima and winter minima. Internal UV-B absorbingcompounds showed the same seasonal trends, but with far lesspronounced differences, (c) In the 2-year field experiment withenhanced UV-B radiation, an increase in both epicuticular andinternal UV-B absorbing capacity was evident only during thesummer dry period of the first year. Later on, however, andup to the termination of the experiment, the differences wereabolished, (d) Well-watered and water-stressed plants showedthe same levels of both epicuticular and internal UV-B absorbingcompounds. Although the results indicate that concentrations of epicuticularand, to a lesser extent, internal UVB absorbing compounds fluctuateaccording to the seasonally and site-dependent environmentalstresses, no indications for an effect of water availabilitywere obtained. Therefore it may be concluded that the main determinantof the levels of UVB absorbing compounds is the intensity ofsolar radiation. The relative influence of the various spectralregions of solar radiation cannot be assessed from the presentresults. It was predicted, however, that the effects of increasedsolar UV-B radiation, resulting from the expected ozone depletionover the next decades, will be negligible and probably maskedby the much larger seasonal and site-dependent changes. Key words: Epicuticular, exposure, seasons, UVB absorbing compounds, UVB radiation     

Growing larger with domestication: a matter of physiology,morphology or allocation?

• Domestication might affect plant size. We investigated whether herbaceous crops are larger than their wild progenitors, and the traits that influence size variation.
• We grew six crop plants and their wild progenitors under common garden conditions. We measured the aboveground biomass gain by individual plants during the vegetative stage. We then tested whether photosynthesis rate, biomass allocation to leaves, leaf size and specific leaf area (SLA) accounted for variations in whole‐plant photosynthesis, and ultimately in aboveground biomass.
• Despite variations among crops, domestication generally increased the aboveground biomass (average effect +1.38, Cohen's d effect size). Domesticated plants invested less in leaves and more in stems than their wild progenitors. Photosynthesis rates remained similar after domestication. Variations in whole‐plant C gains could not be explained by changes in leaf photosynthesis. Leaves were larger after domestication, which provided the main contribution to increases in leaf area per plant and plant‐level C gain, and ultimately to larger aboveground biomass.
• In general, cultivated plants have become larger since domestication. In our six crops, this occurred despite lower investment in leaves, comparable leaf‐level photosynthesis and similar biomass costs of leaf area (i.e. SLA) than their wild progenitors. Increased leaf size was the main driver of increases in aboveground size. Thus, we suggest that large seeds, which are also typical of crops, might produce individuals with larger organs (i.e. leaves) via cascading effects throughout ontogeny. Larger leaves would then scale into larger whole plants, which might partly explain the increases in size that accompanied domestication.

     

刈割、施肥和浇水对矮嵩草补偿生长的影响

通过对青海海北高寒矮嵩草(Kobresia humilis)草甸进行为期3年的野外控制试验, 研究了刈割(留茬1 cm、3 cm及不刈割)、施肥(2.5 g·m^-2尿素+ 0.6 g·m^-2磷酸二胺、不施肥)和浇水(20.1 kg·m^-2、不浇水)处理对矮嵩草补偿生长(包括分株密度、株高和分株地上生物量)的影响, 及其比叶面积、叶片净光合速率和相对增长率的变化, 探讨矮嵩草补偿生长的机制。研究结果表明: 刈割后, 矮嵩草的补偿生长高度和比叶面积显著降低; 分株密度有增加的趋势, 但会随刈割强度的增加而下降; 株高和生物量的相对增长率随刈割强度的增加而呈上升趋势; 补偿地上生物量在重度刈割处理下最高。施肥能显著增加矮嵩草的补偿高度、分株密度、补偿地上生物量、株高相对增长率、生物量相对增长率、比叶面积和净光合速率; 与不浇水处理相比, 浇水处理对重度刈割处理下的分株地上生物量、密度相对增长率、比叶面积和净光合速率无影响, 而显著降低了中度刈割处理下的补偿高度和株高相对增长率, 提高了不刈割处理下的分株密度和重度刈割处理下的生物量相对增长率。刈割、施肥和浇水处理的交互作用也显示出刈割与施肥对矮嵩草补偿生长具有拮抗效应, 而刈割与浇水具有协同效应。上述结果说明, 矮嵩草在刈割后可通过增加分株密度和相对增长率等途径来提高补偿能力, 弥补在生长高度上出现的低补偿, 而施肥可显著抵消刈割的不利影响, 提高矮嵩草的补偿能力。     

Differential sensitivity of canola (Brassica napus) seedlings to ultraviolet-B radiation,water stress and abscisic acid

Responses of canola (Brassica napus L.) seedlings to three ultraviolet (UV)-B levels [0 (zero), 5 (ambient) and 10 (enhanced) kJ m^?2 d^?1], two watering regimes (well-watered and water-stressed), and two abscisic acid (ABA) levels (with and without application) were investigated. Overall, enhanced UVB and water stress negatively affected plant growth and physiology, but ABA had very little effect. Enhanced UVB decreased stem height, leaf area, plant dry matter, water use efficiency and wax content, but increased concentrations of chlorophyll a, carotenoids and flavonoids, and ethylene evolution. Water stress reduced stem height and diameter, leaf area, plant dry matter, leaf weight ratio and shoot:root weight ratio under zero and ambient UVB. Water stress also reduced chlorophyll a and carotenoids in plants exposed to enhanced UVB. ABA with watering regime had significant interactive effects only on leaf dry matter and wax content. We found that enhanced UVB and water stress adversely affected B. napus seedlings. Interaction between these two factors affected plant performance. In this interaction, ABA had little significant role. Also, optimum vegetative growth and biomass were achieved under ambient UVB.     

Differences in the Sensitivity to UVB Radiation of Two Cultivars of Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

The effects of UVB radiation on the growth of two cultivarsof Japanese lowland rice (Oryza sativa L.), Sasanishiki andNorin 1, were examined in a phytotron. Supplementation of visibleradiation with UVB radiation reduced plant length, tiller number,the fresh and dry weights of the aboveground parts of plants,and the amounts of total leaf nitrogen, chlorophyll, solubleprotein and ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase(Rubisco) in the eighth leaf, the youngest fully expanded leaf.By contrast, UVB radiation significantly increased the accumulationof UV-absorbing compounds. There was a difference between thetwo cultivars in the resistance to the effects of UVB radiation.The reduction in the amounts of Rubisco was smaller in Sasanishiki,while the increase in the accumulation of UV-absorbing compoundswas greater in Sasanishiki. Parameters of plant growth, withthe exception of the amount of Rubisco, decreased in directproportion to decreases in total leaf nitrogen in plants grownunder lower or higher doses of UVB radiation. However, the decreasein the Rubisco content of Norin 1 grown under a high dose ofUVB radiation was exceptionally marked, and was not observedsimilarly in Sasanishiki. These results suggest that the remarkablereduction in Rubisco content in Norin 1 might have been dueto the specific effects of UVB radiation. It is also suggestedthat the difference between cultivars in the resistance to UVBradiation might be due to the differences in the levels of Rubiscoand in UV-absorbing compounds that are induced by UVB radiation. (Received January 29, 1996; Accepted May 31, 1996)     

祁连山中部优势灌木物种叶功能性状参数变化特征

植物叶功能性状是连接植物与外界环境的重要桥梁,是探索植物适应环境、进行全球气候变化研究的指标,也是生态水文模型重要的输入参数。通过高时间分辨率样品的采集结合图像处理技术,对祁连山中部优势物种金露梅(Dasiphora fruticosa)和鬼箭锦鸡儿(Caragana jubata)叶功能性状变化特征进行研究,结果表明：叶面积(LA)从生长初期到生长末期发生明显变化,且2020年6—7月初灌木叶面积变化最为明显;比叶面积(SLA)分别在76—157 cm²/g之间和120—217 cm²/g之间,金露梅SLA平均值(123 cm²/g)<鬼箭锦锦鸡儿SLA平均值(176 cm²/g);在生长初期金露梅的叶面积指数(LAI)明显大于鬼箭锦鸡儿,金露梅和鬼箭锦鸡儿的叶面积指数随时间的变化都符合三次函数;生物量与基径和高度的乘积呈显著性相关,最优回归模型均为幂函数;地上生物量与叶功能性状参数在不同阶段的模拟方程均不同,地上总生物量与叶生物量在生长期的最优选择模型分别呈S型函数和幂函数,金露梅的单株地...     

Ultraviolet-B radiation effects on the Mediterranean ruderal Dittrichia viscosa

Young seedlings of Dittrichia viscosa L. (syn. Inula viscosa (L.) Aiton) (Asteraceae) were extensively treated with artificial rain in order to remove the water soluble component of their epicuticular UV-B absorbing compounds. As a result, 75% of the epicuticular absorbing capacity at 300 nm was lost. The seedlings were subsequently grown in a naturaly lit glasshouse for 80 days under 0.06, 6.41 and 10.14 kJ m^-2 day ^-1 biologicaly effective UV-B radiation doses. The initial, pre-rain values of the water soluble, epicuticular UV-B absorbing potential was restored in about three weeks. During this transient period the plants were exposed to the enhanced UV-B radiation doses with part of their UV-B radiation screen removed. Although a trend for increased accumulation of epicuticular UV-B absorbing capacity was observed with increasing UV-B radiation doses, the allelopathic potential of the epicuticular material remained unchanged. Internal (cellular) UV-B absorbing compounds and chlorophylls were unaffected, but total carotenoids were increased, indicating a possible protective role against UV-B radiation damage. Leaf, stem and root dry mass were the same under all treatments but UV-B radiation caused a reduction in the dry mass invested per unit leaf area with a concomitant increase in leaf area. The importance of this UV-B radiation induced selective allocation of photosynthate to the production of assimilative surfaces is discussed.     

Ultraviolet B screening potential is higher in two cosmopolitan moss species than in a co-occurring Antarctic endemic moss: implications of continuing ozone depletion

Concentrations of UVB (ultraviolet B) absorbing pigments and anthocyanins were measured in three moss species, over a summer growing season in Antarctica. Pigment concentrations were compared with a range of climatic variables to determine if there was evidence that pigments were induced by UVB radiation, or other environmental parameters, and secondly if there were differences between species in their pigment responses. Significant seasonal differences in the potential UVB screening pigments were found, with the two cosmopolitan species Bryum pseudotriquetrum and Ceratodon purpureus appearing better protected from the potentially damaging effects of ozone depletion than the Antarctic endemic Schistidium antarctici. B. pseudotriquetrum accumulated the highest concentration of UVB screening pigments and showed positive associations between UVB radiation and both UVB absorbing and anthocyanin pigments. The negative associations between water availability measures and UVB absorbing and anthocyanin pigments also suggest that B. pseudotriquetrum is well protected in the desiccated state. This could offer B. pseudotriquetrum an advantage over the other species when high UVB radiation coincides with low temperatures and low water availability, thus limiting physiological activity and consequently, active photoprotective and repair mechanisms. As these pigments could act as either direct UVB screens or antioxidants, the results suggest that B. pseudotriquetrum is best equipped to deal with the negative effects of increased exposure to UVB radiation due to ozone depletion. The most exposed species, C. purpureus, has intermediate and stable concentrations of UVB absorbing pigments suggesting it may rely on constitutive UVB screens. Anthocyanin pigments were more responsive in this species and could offer increased antioxidant protection during periods of high UVB radiation. S. antarctici appears poorly protected and showed no evidence of any UV photoprotective response, providing additional evidence that this endemic is more vulnerable to climate change.     

The influence of present-day levels of ultraviolet-B radiation on seedlings of two Southern Hemisphere temperate tree species

Seedlings of two Southern Hemisphere temperate trees species (mountain beech: Nothofagus solandri var. cliffortioides (Hook. f.) Poole and broadleaf: Griselinia littoralis Raoul) were grown in the field to determine the effects of present-day levels of ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B) on growth, biomass, UV-B absorbing compounds, leaf optical properties and photoinhibition. Plants were covered with either UV-B transmitting or UV-B absorbing filters. After 125 days of typical summer weather, total biomass of both species was not affected by the UV-B treatments. Without UV-B, height increased (23%) and the number of leaves produced decreased (–21%) in beech, but broadleaf was unaffected. The effect of UV-B on beech height and leaf number was manifest during a second flush of leaves suggesting differences in response to UV-B of leaves initiated in different seasons and UV-B radiation regimes. Leaves of both species were essentially opaque to the transmission of UV-B. In the absence of UV-B the transmission of photosynthetically active radiation through leaves of both species increased, foliar nitrogen concentrations increased and levels of UV-B absorbing compounds decreased. In the youngest leaves of beech but not of broadleaf, removal of UV-B reduced midday photoinhibition, and did not alter the complete recovery of the fluorescence ratio F_V/F_M in the evening to predawn levels. As leaves of both species aged, midday photoinhibition decreased, with the result that UV-B had no effect on photoinhibition in mature leaves. Results of this experiment show that even under present-day UV-B levels, UV-B radiation modifies the physiology, optical properties and secondary compounds of leaves of both beech and broadleaf seedlings.     

Relationships among the Stem, Aboveground and Total Biomass across Chinese Forests

Forest biomass plays a key role in the global carbon cycle. In the present study, a general allometric model was derived to predict the relationships among the stem biomass Ms, aboveground biomass MA and total biomass MT, based on previously developed scaling relationships for leaf, stem and root standing biomass. The model predicted complex scaling exponents for MT and/or MA with respect to Ms. Because annual biomass accumulation in the stem, root and branch far exceeded the annual increase in standing leaf biomass, we can predict that MT ∝MA ∝ Ms as a simple result of the model. Although slight variations existed in different phyletic affiliations （i.e. conifers versus angiosperms）, empirical results using Model Type Ⅱ （reduced major axis） regression supported the model＇s predictions. The predictive formulas among stem, aboveground and total biomass were obtained using Model Type I （ordinary least squares） regression to estimate forest biomass. Given the low mean percentage prediction errors for aboveground （and total biomass） based on the stem biomass, the results provided a reasonable method to estimate the biomass of forests at the individual level, which was insensitive to the variation in local environmental conditions （e.g. precipitation, temperature, etc.）.     

西藏紫花针茅叶功能性状沿降水梯度的变化

植物叶功能性状与环境因子的关系是近10年来植物生态学的研究热点。该文以广泛分布于青藏高原干旱、半干旱草地的优势植物种紫花针茅(Stipa purpurea)为研究对象, 沿降水梯度(69-479 mm)系统测定了日土、改则、珠峰、当雄和纳木错5个调查地点紫花针茅比叶面积(SLA)、单位重量和单位面积叶氮含量(N_mass, N_area)、叶密度和厚度等叶功能性状以及土壤全氮含量等因子, 试图验证干旱胁迫地区同一物种内SLA-N_mass关系沿降水梯度的策略位移现象是否具有普遍性, 并对是否出现策略位移现象提出可能的解释。研究结果表明: 1) SLA和N_mass与生长季温度和降水以及土壤全氮含量均没有显著关系, SLA与N_mass的关系在干旱半干旱区(年降水/蒸发比< 0.11)与半湿润区(年降水/蒸发比> 0.11)之间并没有出现典型的位移现象; 2)叶密度是决定半湿润区SLA变化的主导因子, 而叶厚度则是干旱半干旱区SLA变化的控制因子, 两者与SLA均呈负相关, 随着温度增加或降水减少, 叶厚度增加而叶密度降低, 导致SLA随温度和降水变化不明显; 3)半湿润区的叶密度增加引起N_area增加, 而干旱半干旱区的叶厚度增加并没有造成N_area的显著变化, 导致N_area沿降水梯度没有显著变化; 4)紫花针茅地上生物量与N_area具有显著正相关关系, 表明N_area的增加有助于提高植被生产力。结果表明, 在干旱胁迫下, 植物通过增加叶厚度来维持不变的N_area可能有助于保持与较湿润地区相似的光合生产和水分利用效率。叶厚度和叶密度对比叶面积的相对影响在干旱半干旱区与半湿润区之间发生转变, 这为进一步检测高寒草地植被的水分限制阈值提供了新思路。     

Estimation of stand-level leaf area for boreal bryophytes

Bryophytes dominate the carbon and nitrogen cycling of many poorly drained terrestrial ecosystems and are important in the vegetation-atmosphere exchange of carbon and water, yet few studies have estimated their leaf area at the stand scale. This study quantified the bryophyte-specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf area index (LAI) in a group of different-aged boreal forest stands in well and poorly drained soils. Species-specific SLA (for three feather mosses, four Sphagnum spp. and Aulacomnium palustre mixed with Tomentypnum nitens) was assessed by determining the projected area using a flatbed scanner and cross-sectional geometry using a dissecting microscope. The hemisurface leaf area was computed as the product of SLA and live biomass and was scaled by coverage data collected at all stands. Pleurozium schreberi dominated the spatial coverage, biomass and leaf area in the well-drained stands, particularly the oldest, while S. fuscum and A. palustre were important in the poorly drained stands. Live moss biomass ranged from 47 to 230 g m⁻² in the well-drained stands dominated by feather mosses and from 102 to 228 g m⁻² in the poorly drained stands. Bryophyte SLA varied between 135 and 473 cm² g⁻¹, for A. palustre and S. capillifolium, respectively. SLA was strongly and significantly affected by bryophyte species, but did not vary between stands; in general, there was no significant difference between the SLA of non-Sphagnum mosses. Bryophyte LAI increased with stand age, peaking at 3.1 and 3.7 in the well and poorly drained stands, respectively; this represented approximately 40% of the overstory LAI in the well-drained stands and 100–1,000% in the poorly drained stands, underscoring the important role bryophytes play in the water and carbon budgets of these boreal forests.