Shrub canopies influence soil temperatures but not nutrient dynamics: An experimental test of tundra snow–shrub interactions

Shrubs are the largest plant life form in tundra ecosystems; therefore, any changes in the abundance of shrubs will feedback to influence biodiversity, ecosystem function, and climate. The snow–shrub hypothesis asserts that shrub canopies trap snow and insulate soils in winter, increasing the rates of nutrient cycling to create a positive feedback to shrub expansion. However, previous work has not been able to separate the abiotic from the biotic influences of shrub canopies. We conducted a 3‐year factorial experiment to determine the influences of canopies on soil temperatures and nutrient cycling parameters by removing ~0.5 m high willow (Salix spp.) and birch (Betula glandulosa) shrubs, creating artificial shrub canopies and comparing these manipulations to nearby open tundra and shrub patches. Soil temperatures were 4–5°C warmer in January, and 2°C cooler in July under shrub cover. Natural shrub plots had 14–33 cm more snow in January than adjacent open tundra plots. Snow cover and soil temperatures were similar in the manipulated plots when compared with the respective unmanipulated treatments, indicating that shrub canopy cover was a dominant factor influencing the soil thermal regime. Conversely, we found no strong evidence of increased soil decomposition, CO₂ fluxes, or nitrate or ammonia adsorbtion under artificial shrub canopy treatments when compared with unmanipulated open tundra. Our results suggest that the abiotic influences of shrub canopy cover alone on nutrient dynamics are weaker than previously asserted.     

Restoration of Dry Afromontane Forest Using Pioneer Shrubs as Nurse-Plants for Olea europaea ssp. cuspidata

Shrubs are often considered competitive barriers for seedlings planted in reforestation programs, although they can facilitate tree recruitment, especially in ecosystems under high abiotic stress. An alternative reforestation technique using pioneer shrubs as nurse‐plants for Olea europaea ssp. cuspidata was tested in exclosures in northern Ethiopia. Seedlings were planted in three different microhabitats, and their survival was monitored. The microhabitats were bare soil patches between shrubs, patches under the dominant shrub Acacia etbaica, and patches under Euclea racemosa, an evergreen shrub, which supports the majority of naturally established Olea recruits. The ability of shrubs to offer protection against browsing goats was tested experimentally. Controlled shading was used to determine whether solar irradiation causes seedling mortality in environments without water stress. Data were analyzed using Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, Kruskal–Wallis analysis of variance (ANOVA), and one‐way ANOVA. Olea survival was significantly higher and shoot damage by goats was lower when planted under shrub cover compared to bare soil patches, particularly under Euclea canopies, although high shade levels reduced seedling performance. Reduction of solar radiation by shrub canopies and thus control of soil–water evaporation and seedling transpiration most likely controlled the observed facilitation. Planting under shrubs may increase seedling survival and assist regeneration of dry Afromontane vegetation. Preserving pioneers also reduces soil erosion and conserves biodiversity. Excluding livestock is essential for Olea woodland restoration and allows persistent but morphologically modified Olea shrubs to develop vigorous regrowth. Facilitative processes are guiding principles for assisted forest restoration, but above‐average rains may be critical to restore higher biomass levels in semiarid areas.     

干旱与半干旱区灌丛微生境中红砂枯落物分解特征及中小型节肢动物的作用

在干旱区(内蒙古乌拉特后旗)和半干旱区(宁夏盐池)荒漠草原区,选择柠条灌丛内外微生境为研究样地,以红砂枯落物为研究对象,利用2种规格网孔分解袋(30目和250目网孔),探索中小型节肢动物在红砂枯落物分解过程中的作用规律,研究灌丛微生境中红砂枯落物质量损失变化特征及节肢动物群落的贡献。结果表明：(1)在干旱与半干旱区,红砂枯落物分解常数K均表现为灌丛内外微生境间无显著差异,且有无节肢动物参与对K的影响均较小。(2)分解至12个月时,无节肢动物参与的情况下,干旱与半干旱区红砂枯落物残留率均表现为裸地显著低于灌丛;但有节肢动物参与时,枯落物残留率则表现为灌丛内外微生境间无显著差异。分解至44个月时,无节肢动物参与的情况下,仅在干旱区枯落物残留率表现为裸地显著高于灌丛;而有节肢动物参与时,干旱与半干旱区枯落物残留率均表现为灌丛内外微生境间无显著差异。(3)节肢动物对红砂枯落物质量损失的贡献率呈现单峰值现象,且在分解至24个月时达到峰值。枯落物分解至12个月时,仅半干旱区节肢动物对红砂枯落物分解的贡献率表现为裸地显著低于灌丛;分解至44个月时,仅干旱区节肢动物对红砂枯落物分解的贡献率表现为裸地显...     

亚热带常绿阔叶林6个常见树种凋落叶在不同降雨期的分解特征

地处长江上游的四川盆地亚热带常绿阔叶林具有典型雨热同季的气候特点,季节性干湿交替可能显著影响凋落物分解,但迄今缺乏相应的报道。因此,采用凋落物分解袋法,研究了常绿阔叶林区最具代表性的马尾松(Pinus massoniana)、柳杉(Cryptomeria fortunei)、杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)、香樟(Cinnamomum camphora)、红椿(Toona ciliata)、麻栎(Quercus acutissima)等6种凋落叶在第1年不同雨热季节的分解特征。结果表明,经历1a的分解,6种凋落叶质量残留率大小顺序依次为:红椿(27.90%)柳杉(41.39%)杉木(48.93%)麻栎(49.62%)马尾松(68.82%)香樟(72.23%),6种凋落叶在不同干湿季节质量损失差异显著(P0.05)。阔叶树种在旱季(MRS、SRS和WRS)的质量损失显著高于针叶树种。雨季(ERS和LRS)对6种凋落叶质量损失的贡献率(69.73%—89.68%)均明显大于旱季(10.32%—30.27%)。6种凋落叶在不同时期中质量损失速率差异显著(P0.05),且6种凋落叶在雨季的质量损失速率明显高于旱季。相关分析结果表明,凋落叶质量损失及其速率均与降雨量和温度呈极显著(P0.01)正相关关系。凋落叶质量损失与初始C、木质素含量及C/N、木质素/N极显著(P0.01)负相关,与N含量极显著(P0.01)正相关。这些结果表明亚热带地区森林凋落物分解的质量损失主要发生在雨季,雨季温湿度的改变可显著影响凋落物分解过程。     

Shrubs as ecosystem engineers in a coastal dune: influences on plant populations,communities and ecosystems

Question: How do two shrubs with contrasting life‐history characteristics influence abundance of dominant plant taxa, species richness and aboveground biomass of grasses and forbs, litter accumulation, nitrogen pools and mineralization rates? How are these shrubs – and thus their effects on populations, communities and ecosystems – distributed spatially across the landscape? Location: Coastal hind‐dune system, Bodega Head, northern California. Methods: In each of 4 years, we compared vegetation, leaf litter and soil nitrogen under canopies of two native shrubs –Ericameria ericoides and the nitrogen‐fixing Lupinus chamissonis– with those in adjacent open dunes. Results: At the population level, density and cover of the native forb Claytonia perfoliata and the exotic grass Bromus diandrus were higher under shrubs than in shrub‐free areas, whereas they were lower under shrubs for the exotic grass Vulpia bromoides. In contrast, cover of three native moss species was highest under Ericameria and equally low under Lupinus and shrub‐free areas. At community level, species richness and aboveground biomass of herbaceous dicots was lower beneath shrubs, whereas no pattern emerged for grasses. At ecosystem level, areas beneath shrubs accumulated more leaf litter and had larger pools of soil ammonium and nitrate. Rates of nitrate mineralization were higher under Lupinus, followed by Ericameria and then open dune. At landscape level, the two shrubs – and their distinctive vegetation and soils – frequently had uniform spatial distributions, and the distance separating neighbouring shrubs increased as their combined sizes increased. Conclusions: Collectively, these data suggest that both shrubs serve as ecosystem engineers in this coastal dune, having influences at multiple levels of biological organization. Our data also suggest that intraspecific competition influenced the spatial distributions of these shrubs and thus altered the distribution of their effects throughout the landscape.     

桂林岩溶石山檵木群落不同恢复阶段凋落物层酶对凋落物分解的影响

该文选取桂林岩溶石山檵木群落不同恢复阶段(灌木阶段、乔灌阶段和小乔林阶段)作为研究对象,探究凋落物层酶对凋落物分解速率的影响。结果表明:不同恢复阶段凋落物经1 a分解后,凋落物剩余率分别为灌木阶段(59.58%)、乔灌阶段(61.79%)和小乔林阶段(62.02%)。不同恢复阶段凋落物分解速率随演替的进行而减小。3个不同恢复阶段凋落物层多酚氧化酶、脲酶、蔗糖酶活性均在12月份最低,多酚氧化酶活性均在3月份最高,脲酶和蔗糖酶活性均在6月份最高。3个恢复阶段纤维素酶活性变化规律趋势一致,均在6月份酶活性最高,灌木阶段纤维素酶活性在3月份最低,乔灌阶段和小乔林阶段纤维素酶活性均在9月份最低。3个不同恢复阶段的凋落物层酶活性在不同时期均表现为蔗糖酶脲酶纤维素酶多酚氧化酶。不同恢复阶段凋落物层酶活性对凋落物分解速率影响不同。灌木阶段凋落物层蔗糖酶活性与分解速率呈显著正相关(P 0.05),乔灌阶段脲酶活性与分解速率呈显著正相关(P 0.05),小乔林阶段各酶活性与分解速率相关不显著。蔗糖酶、脲酶和多酚氧化酶是影响灌木阶段凋落物分解速率的重要因素,脲酶、纤维素酶和多酚氧化酶是影响乔灌和小乔林阶段分解速率的重要因素。     

Soil Coverage Reduces Photodegradation and Promotes the Development of Soil-Microbial Films on Dryland Leaf Litter

Litter decomposition is a central focus of ecosystem science because of its importance to biogeochemical pools and cycling, but predicting dryland decomposition dynamics is problematic. Some studies indicate photodegradation by ultraviolet (UV) radiation can be a significant driver of dryland decomposition, whereas others suggest soil–litter mixing controls decomposition. To test the influence of soil coverage on UV photodegradation of litter, we conducted a controlled environment experiment with shrub (Prosopis velutina) leaf litter experiencing two UV levels and three levels of coverage with dry sterile soil. Under these conditions, decomposition over 224 days was enhanced by UV, but increasing soil coverage strongly and linearly diminished these effects. In a complementary study, we placed P. glandulosa leaf litter in different habitats in the field and quantified litter surface coverage by soil films. After 180 days, nearly half of the surface area of litter placed under shrub canopies was covered by a tightly adhering film composed of soil particles and fungal hyphae; coverage was less in grassy zones between shrubs. We propose a conceptual model for the shifting importance of photodegradation and microbial decomposition over time, and conclude that (1) soil deposition can ameliorate the direct effects of UV photodegradation in drylands and (2) predictions of C losses based solely on UV effects will overestimate the importance of this process in the C cycle. An improved understanding of how development of the soil–litter matrix mediates the shift from abiotic (photodegradation) to biotic (microbial) drivers is necessary to predict how ongoing changes in land cover and climate will influence biogeochemistry in globally extensive drylands.     

The use of branch piles to assist in the restoration of degraded semiarid steppes

Desertification is a major environmental problem in arid and semiarid regions. Tree plantation has been commonly employed to foster the recovery of degraded areas. However, this technique is costly, and their outcomes are often uncertain. Therefore, we evaluated an alternative method for the restoration of degraded semiarid steppes that involved the construction of branch piles to attract frugivores as potential seed‐dispersing birds, promoting seed rain, and fostering the formation of woody patches. We measured the success of branch piles in terms of the number of bird visits and seed input compared to naturally occurring shrub patches. Generally, frugivorous birds visited branch piles less frequently than shrub patches. Yet, branch piles accumulated seeds of patch‐forming shrub species. Seed rain was higher under patches of the dominant shrub Rhamnus lycioides than under branch piles. In contrast, woody patches and branch piles did not differ in seed input of the less abundant Pistacia lentiscus shrub. Our study demonstrates that branch piles are used by frugivorous birds and accumulate seeds of patch‐forming shrubs. Branch piles may be a suitable method to promote the expansion of bird‐dispersed plant species and restore semiarid wooded steppes. However, their efficiency largely depends on pile persistence and economic cost.     

Do canopy herbivores mechanically facilitate subsequent litter decomposition in soil? A pilot study from a Neotropical cloud forest

There is increasing evidence that the above- and belowground components of ecosystems influence one another, thereby controlling key processes such as organic matter decomposition. The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that leaf herbivory in forest canopies could facilitate subsequent leaf litter decomposition in soils, through changes in leaf quality (i.e., litter palatability) or geometric form (i.e., increased availability of leaf edges made by herbivore damages). In a 9-month field experiment in an Ecuadorian tropical cloud forest, we compared the decomposition rates of entire leaves (EL) and 15?%-damaged leaves (DL) of Ficus cuatrecasana showing similar initial leaf chemistry. We found that DL decomposed significantly faster than EL in early stages of decomposition (i.e., between 0 and 38?days). A parallel experiment using cellulose discs on which we simulated different degrees of damages revealed, however, that geometry per se (i.e., increased edge availability) did not influence decomposition rates. We discuss these contrasting results and propose that higher edge availability in damaged leaves may promote the access of microbes and/or macro-detritivores to leaf tissues thereby enhancing the initial stages of leaf decomposition.     

Do soil organisms affect aboveground litter decomposition in the semiarid Patagonian steppe, Argentina?

Surface litter decomposition in arid and semiarid ecosystems is often faster than predicted by climatic parameters such as annual precipitation or evapotranspiration, or based on standard indices of litter quality such as lignin or nitrogen concentrations. Abiotic photodegradation has been demonstrated to be an important factor controlling aboveground litter decomposition in aridland ecosystems, but soil fauna, particularly macrofauna such as termites and ants, have also been identified as key players affecting litter mass loss in warm deserts. Our objective was to quantify the importance of soil organisms on surface litter decomposition in the Patagonian steppe in the absence of photodegradative effects, to establish the relative importance of soil organisms on rates of mass loss and nitrogen release. We estimated the relative contribution of soil fauna and microbes to litter decomposition of a dominant grass using litterboxes with variable mesh sizes that excluded groups of soil fauna based on size class (10, 2, and 0.01 mm), which were placed beneath shrub canopies. We also employed chemical repellents (naphthalene and fungicide). The exclusion of macro- and mesofauna had no effect on litter mass loss over 3 years (P = 0.36), as litter decomposition was similar in all soil fauna exclusions and naphthalene-treated litter. In contrast, reduction of fungal activity significantly inhibited litter decomposition (P < 0.001). Although soil fauna have been mentioned as a key control of litter decomposition in warm deserts, biogeographic legacies and temperature limitation may constrain the importance of these organisms in temperate aridlands, particularly in the southern hemisphere.     

Fire enhances litter decomposition and reduces vegetation cover influences on decomposition in a dry woodland

Dry woodlands frequently experience fire, and the heterogeneous spatial patterning of vegetation cover and fire behavior in these systems can lead to interspersed burned and unburned patches of different vegetation cover types. Biogeochemical processes may differ due to fire and vegetation cover influences on biotic and abiotic conditions, but these persistent influences of fire in the months or years following fire are not as well understood as the immediate impacts of fire. In particular, leaf litter decomposition, a process controlling nutrient availability and soil organic matter accumulation, is poorly understood in drylands but may be sensitive to vegetation cover and fire history. Decomposition is responsive to changes in abiotic drivers or interactions between abiotic conditions and biotic drivers, suggesting that decomposition rates may differ with vegetation cover and fire. The objective of this study was to assess the role of vegetation cover and fire on leaf litter decomposition in a semi-arid pinyon-juniper woodland in southern New Mexico, USA, where prescribed fire is used to combat increasing woody cover. A spatially heterogeneous prescribed burn led to closely co-located but discrete burned and unburned patches of all three dominant vegetation cover types (grass, shrub, tree). Decomposition rates of leaf litter from two species were measured in mesh litterbags deployed in factorial combination of the three vegetation cover types and two fire treatments (burned and unburned patches). For both litter types, decomposition was lower for unburned trees than for unburned grass or shrubs, perhaps due to greater soil–litter mixing and solar radiation away from tree canopies. Fire enhanced litter mass loss under trees, making decomposition rates similarly rapid in burned patches of all three vegetation cover types. Understanding decomposition dynamics in spatially heterogeneous vegetation cover of dry woodlands is critical for understanding biogeochemical process responses to fire in these systems.     

Spatial patterns of P fractions and chemical properties in soils of two native shrub communities in Senegal

Two shrub species (Piliostigma reticulatum (D.C.) Hochst (Caesalpinioideae) and Guiera senegalensis J.F. Gmel (Combretaceae) are commonly found in farmers’ fields at varying densities in semi-arid Senegal and throughout the Sahel where soils have chronically low phosphorus (P) availability. It seems plausible that shrub litter and the rhizospheres could influence P fractions and other chemical soil properties that affect crop productivity. Thus, a study was done at two sites, on the distribution of inorganic and organic soil P pools, organic C levels, and pH in soil beneath and outside the canopies of P. reticulatum and G. senegalensis (0-30 cm depth). Both sites had low total P ranging from 64 mg P kg^?1 to 135 mg P kg^-1, and low extractable PO₄ (resin Pi) (1–6 mg P kg^?1) with P fractions dominated by NaOH-P. Organic P (Po) made up about 50% of total P, and most of the organic P (>60%) was found in the NaOH-P fractions. The labile P, particularly bicarb-Po was higher in soil beneath shrub canopies (8.4 mg P kg ^?1), than outside the canopy (6.2 mg P kg ^?1). Similarly, C, N and P to a lesser extent, were more concentrated beneath shrub canopies. P. reticulatum soil was dominated by the NaOH-Po fraction, whereas G. senegalensis had higher bicarb-Po at one of the study sites. An index of biologically available organic P (Bicarb-Po) / (Bicarb-Po?+?Bicar-Pi?+?Resin Pi) was ?>?60% and indicates that biological processes represent an important part of P cycling in these shrub ecosystems. The differential ability of shrubs in modifying soil chemical properties under their canopies has major implications for biogeochemical cycling of nutrients and C in sandy soils of semi arid Sahelian ecosystems.     

黄土丘陵区人工林刺槐和油松凋落叶在不同降雨时期的分解特征

凋落物分解是维持生态系统养分循环和能量流动的关键过程,但在雨热同期的黄土丘陵区,不同降雨时期凋落物基质质量动态对该区不同树种凋落物分解速率的影响还不清楚。采用凋落物分解袋法,基于野外原位分解实验分析黄土丘陵区主要人工林刺槐（Robinia pseudoacacia Linn.）和油松（Pinus tabulaeformis Carr.）凋落叶在不同降雨时期的分解特征和分解过程中凋落叶基质质量的变化与分解速率之间的关系。研究结果发现：（1）经过391 d的分解,刺槐凋落叶的平均质量损失速率为（51.0±8.44）mg/d,显著地高于油松凋落叶（36.7±4.83）mg/d;雨季期间两树种凋落叶的质量损失速率均显著地高于旱季,其中夏季多雨期间凋落叶的质量损失速率最高,冬季微量降雨期间质量损失速率最低。（2）在整个分解过程中两树种凋落叶C和N含量都表现为净释放且主要发生在雨季,P含量表现为释放与富集交替进行;刺槐凋落叶C/N比、C/P比和N/P比呈波动的趋势,油松凋落叶C/N比则显著地增加且在夏季多雨期出现峰值,C/P比呈波动的状态,N/P比变化较小。（3）不同降雨时期刺槐凋落叶的质量损失速率与凋落叶P含量动态显著正相关,与C含量、C/P比和N/P比动态显著负相关。油松凋落叶质量损失速率与C/N比动态显著正相关,与C、N含量动态显著负相关,与N/P比动态呈负二次函数的关系。这些结果说明黄土丘陵区刺槐和油松凋落叶在不同降雨时期分解速率之间的差异显著且两树种凋落叶的分解都集中在雨季期间;此外凋落叶分解主要受到凋落叶N含量和N/P比动态变化的制约,与刺槐凋落叶相比,N含量与N/P比对油松凋落叶的限制作用更强。     

Patch size of forest openings and arthropod populations

Summary Five sizes of canopy openings (0.016 ha to 10 ha) were established in the Southern Appalachian Mountains in early 1982 to examine the initial patterns of plant and arthropod establishment across a size range of forest disturbances. Vegetation standing crop after the first growing season was considerably higher in large than small openings in apparent response to greater resource release (e.g., sunlight) in larger openings. Woody stump and root sprouts were the dominant mode of revegetation in each patch size. Forest dominants such as Quercus rubra, Q. prinus and Carya spp. were less important as sprouters in openings than several minor forest components (e.g., Robinia pseudo-acacia, Acer rubrum, Halesia carolina and Cornus florida). Arthropod abundance and community composition varied across the size range of forest openings. Arthropods from the surrounding forest readily utilized the smallest canopy openings (0.016 ha). All feeding guilds were well represented in these small openings and herbivore biomass and load (mg of herbivores/g of foliage) were much higher than in larger patches. In contrast, arthropod abundance and species richness were significantly lower in mid-size than smaller patches. The relatively sparse cover and high sunlight in mid-size openings may have promoted surface heat buildups or soil surface/litter moisture deficits which restricted arthropod entry from the surrounding forest. Arthropod abundance and species richness were higher in large than mid-size patches. The greater vegetation cover in larger openings may have minimized the deleterious effects on arthropod populations. However, the absence of population increases among these arthropod species maintained herbivore loads at very low levels in large patches. Our results suggest that arthropod abundance and diversity in sprout-dominated forest openings are highly dependent on the extent of environmental differences between patch and surrounding forest.     

Disappearance of overstorey and understorey litter in an open eucalypt forest

Litter accumulation dynamics and first year rates of disappearance were investigated for leaves of overstorey and understorey species in the mixed eucalypt forest in the Griffith University study area, Queensland, Australia. The average biomass of the litter layer, was 10.2 t/ha. The wood and overstorey leaf litter formed 62.7% of the accumulated litter biomass, and were spread continuously across the ground. The distribution of shrub litter was discontinuous, being concentrated in localized patches beneath individual plants. The litter bag and tethered leaf techniques were used to measure the rate of disappearance of overstorey and shrub leaves. The ‘pairedquadrat’ technique was used to measure the weight loss of the grasses. The small leaves of the dominant shrub, Pultenaea villosa Willd. disappeared most rapidly, followed by the overstorey leaves, grasses and Acacia leaves. Fragmentation by physical factors and litter fauna appeared to be the major factors responsible for the disappearance of the overstorey leaves during the first year of exposure. The data suggest that removal of leaf constituents by leaching and microbial decomposition were more important for the shrub litter than the overstorey leaves. Fractional disappearance rates (loss constants) obtained from the short term weight loss measurements, and calculated using the steady-state model of litter accumulation (k=L/X), overestimated the rate of litter disappearance and litter decomposition. For the overstorey leaves in particular, the loss constants also overestimated the rate of loss of material from the litter layer since the fragmented and consumed tissues accumulated in the fraction of comminuted fragments before moving into the humus/soil subsystem. A compartment model of the components of the litter layer in the mixed eucalypt forest is presented. It incorporates overstorey and understorey litter accession, accumulation and disappearance data. The adoption of a two dimensional decomposition/accumulation matrix is suggested as an appropriate framework within which to simulate the dynamics of the litter subsystem in mixed eucalypt forest ecosystems.     

Role of desert annuals in nutrient flow in arid area of Northwestern China: a nutrient reservoir and provider

Previous studies have tested the “vernal dam” hypothesis of spring ephemeral herbs in hardwood forests. The desert annual is a component of the desert ecosystem that takes advantage of water resources and temperature conditions during the rainy season to rapidly complete its life cycle within several months. To understand the role desert annual/ephemeral plants play in nutrient flow, we studied vegetation cover, nitrogen content and litter production of annual plants and litter decomposition rate in plant communities dominated by four shrubs (Haloxlon ammodendron, Hedysarum scoparium, Calligonum mongolicum, and Nitraria tangutorum) and two dominant annuals (Agriophyllum squarrosum and Halogeton arachnoideus Moq) in Minqin, northwestern China. Results indicate that over half of the total vegetation cover was provided by annuals. Annuals also took up a large amount of nitrogen (0.46–3.78 g N m⁻²) along the oasis–desert ecotone. Litter production and nutrient content were higher in areas dominated by annual plants than in areas dominated by shrubs. Furthermore, the litter decomposition rate of the annuals was higher than that of the shrubs, except for the shrub H. ammodendron, although almost all of the litter’s carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) remained after 6 months of decomposition. Without the annuals, more nutrients and rainwater might be lost through leaching or dust transfer caused by the wind erosion. In addition, green twigs of the annuals are the food for some animals, we found some green twigs and litter from annuals left in front of gerbil and rabbit burrows, sometimes even blocking these burrows. Thus, desert summer annuals, like nutrient reservoirs and providers, take up nutrients during the rainy season, providing some animals and microbes with food, and finally release these nutrients after death. Bao-Ming Chen and Gen-Xuan Wang contributed equally to this work.     

Foliar production and decomposition rates in urban forests invaded by the exotic invasive shrub, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lonicera maackii</Emphasis>

Exotic invasive shrubs can form dense monocultures in forest understories, which can have cascading effects on ecosystem structure and function. Amur honeysuckle, an exotic shrub that forms dense canopies in eastern forests, has the potential to alter plant community structure and ecosystem functions, such as primary production and decomposition. The goal of this study was to examine foliar productivity and leaf litter decomposition in forests invaded by Amur honeysuckle (Lonicera maackii) and to determine the extent to which the presence of this dominant exotic species may alter ecosystem function in these forests. We found that forests invaded by Amur honeysuckle had 16 times greater honeysuckle foliar biomass and 1.5 times lower total foliar biomass than forests of equivalent tree basal area, but having few honeysuckle shrubs. This suggests that productivity of native tree and shrub species may be reduced where honeysuckle density is high. Additionally, honeysuckle litter decayed four times faster and released nitrogen more rapidly than sugar maple litter, and sugar maple litter decayed 19% faster in forests invaded by Amur honeysuckle. These findings suggest that forests invaded by Amur honeysuckle may exhibit lower rates of organic matter accrual and less nitrogen retention in the forest floor. Since honeysuckle leaves develop in early spring before those of other shrubs or trees in the area, the rapid release of nitrogen from honeysuckle litter that we measured in early spring is timed to benefit this invasive species. The temporally coincident phenologies of nitrogen release during decomposition with the foliar growth needs of this shrub indicates that a potential positive feedback loop may exist between these processes that promotes continued growth and dominance of honeysuckle shrubs in these forested systems.     

Positive ecosystem engineering effects of the ant Atta vollenweideri on the shrub Grabowskia duplicata

Question: How does the ant Atta vollenweideri indirectly affect the shrub Grabowskia duplicata? Does environmental modification induced by nest building affect the life history and population structure of this dominant shrub? Location: Halophytic savanna of western Uruguay, South America. Methods: We compared the density of three shrub size classes, seedlings, saplings and adults, among patches created by ant nest building and in non‐modified areas. We studied key soil properties for plant growth in both live nests and non‐modified areas. We performed a greenhouse experiment to study the effects of soils (live nest versus non‐modified area) on shrub germination probability. We also assessed vegetative propagation by measuring the incidence of root suckers and clonal offshoots in live nests and non‐modified areas through a field survey. Results: Seedling‐size class was more abundant on live nests than in non‐modified areas, suggesting that environmental conditions of this type of habitat (i.e. increased sodium and moisture content of soil, and decreased soil compaction) could facilitate shrub recruitment. We did not find any effects of soil type (live nests versus non‐modified areas) on shrub germination probability. However, the vegetative propagation incidence was higher in the environment with live nests. Conclusions: We found a strong indirect relationship between the ant A. vollenweideri and the shrub G. duplicata. This relationship seems to be mediated by an allogenic engineering process, i.e. soil bioturbation caused by nest building. The environmental conditions of live nests seem to facilitate shrub recruitment, mainly by increasing vegetative propagation.     

Spatial patterns of the germinable soil seed bank of coexisting perennial-grass species in grazed shrublands of the Patagonian Monte

We compared the size and spatial pattern of the germinable soil seed bank (GSB) of the three dominant perennial-grass species in the arid Patagonian Monte of Argentina. These species differ in plant functional traits, seed morphology, and in their preference by grazers. During three consecutive years, we sampled the soil seed bank at 1 m intervals and the intercepted diameter of perennial-grass species and shrub patches along 50-m linear transects at three sites with different grazing pressure. Soil samples were incubated at field capacity during 12 weeks and emerged seedlings counted. The largest-seeded and most xerophytic Stipa speciosa did not form a GSB. The other two grass species with more mesophytic traits and smaller seeds than S. speciosa formed different GSB. Poa ligularis formed a smaller and more heterogeneous GSB than Stipa tenuis. Grazing had not effect on GSB size of P. ligularis but increased the proportion of seeds under dense shrub canopies. In contrast, grazing reduced the size and also increased the proportion of the GSB of S. tenuis under shrub canopies. We conclude that the size and the spatial pattern of the GSB of the dominant perennial-grass species in the arid Patagonian Monte were related not only to seed and plant traits but also to the spatial distribution of grass plants and their exposure to grazers.     

漓江流域岩溶区檵木群落不同恢复阶段凋落物分解初期动态

为探究漓江流域岩溶区檵木群落不同恢复阶段凋落物的分解情况,运用凋落物袋法研究其凋落物分解初期动态。结果表明:经过1a的分解,檵木群落凋落物失重大小顺序为:灌木阶段乔灌阶段乔林阶段。檵木群落灌木阶段、乔灌阶段和乔林阶段凋落物分解50%所需的时间分别为1.28a、1.38a、1.41a,分解95%所需的时间分别为5.54a、5.97a和6.09a。经过1a的分解,凋落物养分动态变化为:灌木阶段和乔灌阶段C含量总体上升,乔林阶段C含量总体下降;3个恢复阶段N和纤维素含量总体上升;灌木阶段和乔林阶段P含量总体下降,乔灌阶段P含量总体上升;灌木阶段木质素含量总体上升,而乔灌阶段和乔林阶段木质素含量总体下降。相关分析表明,灌木阶段凋落物分解速率分别与C,N,P,C/P,N/P之间呈显著或极显著相关性,乔灌阶段凋落物分解速率与N和木质素/N之间呈显著或极显著相关性,乔林阶段凋落物分解速率分别与N,纤维素、C/N和木质素/N之间呈显著或极显著相关性。