Plant species and community responses to sand burial on the machair of the Outer Hebrides,Scotland

Question: Is there a critical depth of burial by sand beyond which species and communities fail to recover, and does repeated incremental burial have a greater impact than a single large deposition? Location: The machair on the calcareous sand dunes on South Uist, in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, UK. Methods: Eight turves were collected from each of four machair sub‐community types. After acclimatization in an unheated polythene tunnel, they were buried with sterilized machair shell sand, either by one single burial to 5 cm or by five applications of 1 cm of sand at approximately seven‐week intervals. Species response was recorded on five occasions. Results: Within machair sub‐communities, burial by sand reduced the abundance (local rooted frequency) of plants more than it reduced species richness. Intermittent burial was more damaging than a single burial event. Those species with the highest pre‐burial frequencies tended to dominate recovery in the sub‐community as a whole. Species occurring across all four sub‐community types exhibited varying responses to community burial between the differing types. Samples from slack sub‐communities had distinctly different response characteristics from those of foredunes and unploughed and three‐year fallow dune grassland. Conclusions: The perennial life‐form of many machair species has been evolutionarily selected for and dominates throughout the machair habitat. Account needs to be taken of competitive interaction between species in relation to burial response. The results of the investigation show that the hypotheses of Gilbertson et al. and Kent et al. on ‘machair stratification’ require refinement in that frequency of shallow burial can be as important as overall burial depth.     

泥沙掩埋和干旱对三峡库区消落带狗牙根生长恢复的影响

三峡库区消落带植物恢复不仅面临长期淹水逆境,还面临泥沙、干旱等环境因素的胁迫。蓄水期后引种三峡库区消落带狗牙根,掩埋于不同粒径和埋深的沉降泥沙,探讨泥沙掩埋、干旱对反季节淹水后狗牙根出苗和生长恢复的影响。结果表明:在埋深≥8cm和粒径1.25 mm条件下消落带狗牙根萌发苗不能穿透覆盖层出苗。泥沙掩埋导致狗牙根出苗率显著降低,随着埋深增加狗牙根出苗率迅速下降;并且在埋深相同的条件下随着粒径减小狗牙根出苗速率呈增大趋势。随着埋深增加和粒径减小处理组株高、叶长的增长显著被抑制,处理组的株高、叶片数、叶长显著低于对照组。随着干旱、泥沙掩埋复合胁迫时间延长狗牙根分株株高、叶片数、叶长、叶宽的生长发育显著被抑制,且随着泥沙粒径减小和埋深增加其光合电子传递速率呈显著降低趋势,热耗散量显著增大。同时,干旱、泥沙掩埋复合胁迫导致处理组分株光合电子传递速率和热耗散能力显著低于对照组,光合作用能力显著降低,易受到夏季高光伤害。因此,三峡库区周年淹水导致狗牙根对泥沙掩埋以及干旱复合胁迫的耐受能力显著降低,在泥沙掩埋以及干旱复合胁迫下消落带狗牙根的生长恢复能力随粒径减小和埋深增加呈显著降低趋势,会导致库区消落带狗牙根种群衰退演替加快。     

Effects of burial in sand on the growth and reproduction of Cakile edentula

Studies were conducted to examine the effects of sand burial on the growth and reproduction of Cakile edentula under controlled greenhouse conditions Sand burial enhanced both the vegetative growth and reproduction of plants Within one week after burial, plants showed a significant increase in the length of the internode just below the current sand surface This response was not mediated by the dark conditions imposed by sand burial About two weeks after burial, adventitious roots grew upwards into the deposited sand Plants buried in washed sand did not differ in their dry weight whereas those buried in unwashed sand were significantly taller, produced greater biomass and larger number of seeds per plant than control However, the mean mass per fruit and per seed were not altered The frequency distribution of fruit and seed was only slightly modified by the burial treatments     

Seedling growth variation in response to sand burial in four <Emphasis Type="Italic">Artemisia</Emphasis> species from different habitats in the semi-arid dune field

We compared seedling growth of four Artemisia species dominated at different habitats to determine whether interspecific seedling growth variation of a same genus in tolerance to burial can be used to explain plant distribution in the sand dune field. Interdune lowland species, Artemisia gmelinii, stabilized dune species, A. frigida, semi-stabilized dune species, A. halodendron, and active dune species, A. wudanica were selected. Seedlings grown for 3 weeks were treated at five burial depths for three burial times in pot experiments. Species from the habitats with little burial had smaller survival rate, dry weight and stem elongation speed than those from the habitats with intensive burial when buried. Furthermore, when buried, the former tended to adjust biomass allocation between shoot and root and produce adventitious buds, while the latter tended to maintain a constant root:shoot ratio and produce adventitious roots. We conclude that (1) seedlings of species with a long evolutionary history of exposure to sand burial (from the active sand dune), show quicker stem growth when buried than do seedlings of species from the habitats with little or no sand burial; (2) seedlings of species which do not change root:shoot ratio might be more tolerant of sand burial than those do; (3) seedlings of species from the habitats with intensive sand burial is prone to produce adventitious roots and seedlings of species from the habitats with little or no sand burial tend to produce adventitious buds when buried.     

Effects of sand burial on survival, growth, gas exchange and biomass allocation of Ulmus pumila seedlings in the Hunshandak Sandland, China

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: In the last decade, the number of young plants of Ulmus pumila in the Hunshandak Sandland has decreased sharply because of severe sand burial, and their ecological protective function has been weakened. In order to develop an understanding of the tolerance of U. pumila to sand burial and to suggest reasonable measures to protect the sparse-elm-grassland ecosystem, the effects of burial on the survival, growth, photosynthesis and biomass allocation in U. pumila were studied. METHODS: Seedlings were buried at five different depths in pot experiments: no burial (control), partial burial (33 % and 67 % stem height), and complete burial (100 % and 133 % stem height). Growth analyses and measurements of photosynthesis were carried after the plants had been uncovered. KEY RESULTS: All the plants survived partial burial, but about 30 % and 80 % of the seedlings died as a result of the 100 % and 133 % sand burial treatments, respectively. The numbers of newly produced leaves and branches, and the height of the stems of the seedlings in the 33 % and 67 % burial treatments during the period of the experiment were significantly greater than those in the control. Furthermore, net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and water use efficiency were also elevated by the partial burial, but not affected by burial time. This might be attributed to the increased root length, which improved water acquisition. The biomass and biomass allocation of the seedlings were significantly changed by the burial treatments and burial times. The biomass was enhanced by partial burial but was reduced by complete burial at each burial time. However, the biomass allocation was not significantly changed by the 33 % and 67 % sand burial treatments 2 or 4 weeks following the burial. CONCLUSIONS: Ulmus pumila was shown to be tolerant to partial sand burial, but must be protected from complete burial.     

Soil pH and temperature regulate assembly processes of abundant and rare bacterial communities in agricultural ecosystems

The factors determining stochastic and deterministic processes that drive microbial community structure, specifically the balance of abundant and rare bacterial taxa, remain underexplored. Here we examined biogeographic patterns of abundant and rare bacterial taxa and explored environmental factors influencing their community assembly processes in agricultural fields across eastern China. More phylogenetic turnover correlating with spatial distance was observed in abundant than rare sub-communities. Homogeneous selection was the main assembly process for both the abundant and rare sub-communities; however, the abundant sub-community was more tightly clustered phylogenetically and was more sensitive to dispersal limitations than the rare sub-community. Rare sub-community of rice fields and abundant sub-community of maize fields were more governed by stochastic assembly processes, which showed higher operational taxonomic unit richness. We propose a conceptual paradigm wherein soil pH and mean annual temperature mediate the assembly of the abundant and rare sub-communities respectively. A higher soil pH leads to deterministic assembly of the abundant sub-community. For the rare sub-community, the dominance of stochasticity in low-temperature regions indicates weaker niche-based exclusion and the arrival of more evolutionary lineages. These findings suggest that the community assembly processes for abundant and rare bacterial taxa are dependent on distinct environmental variables in agro-ecosystems.     

小叶锦鸡儿幼苗对沙埋的生态适应和生理响应

以中国半干旱地区固定、半固定沙地分布最广泛的灌木种之一小叶锦鸡儿(Caragana microphylla)为对象,于2010～2011年在内蒙古科尔沁沙地测定了不同深度沙埋下其幼苗的存活率、株高、渗透调节物质含量、保护酶活性和膜透性变化,探讨小叶锦鸡儿对沙埋的生理响应特征。结果显示:(1)与对照相比,当沙埋深度为小叶锦鸡儿幼苗株高的25%～75%时,存活率差异不显著;当沙埋深度为50%～75%时其存活率增加,但株高明显下降,沙埋对其生长具有抑制作用;当沙埋达到其株高100%时幼苗全部死亡。(2)不同沙埋深度对小叶锦鸡儿幼苗叶片细胞膜透性无显著影响,对沙埋深度为其株高25%时,叶片含水量增加,MDA含量下降,POD活性增强,细胞膜未受到伤害;沙埋深度为其株高50%～75%时,叶片含水量下降,MDA含量增加,但SOD和POD对细胞膜起到了协同保护作用,细胞膜也未受到损伤;沙埋深度为株高25%～75%情况下,细胞膜未受到损伤,可溶性糖和脯氨酸含量变化不明显。研究认为:小叶锦鸡儿幼苗只能耐受部分沙埋,完全沙埋则会导致其幼苗全部死亡,沙埋胁迫下可溶性糖和脯氨酸等渗透调节物质含量反应迟缓可能是其耐沙埋能力较弱的主要生理原因之一。     

沙埋对中间锦鸡儿幼苗生长发育的影响

在沙地环境中,沙埋是影响植物幼苗存活的一个重要因素。中间锦鸡儿(C arag ana interm ed ia)是浑善达克沙地和毛乌素沙地固定和半固定沙丘上常见的一种沙生灌木。为了研究沙埋对其幼苗存活以及生长的影响,对出土后生长了1个月的中间锦鸡儿实生苗进行沙埋实验,实验处理:TC为对照,T1为沙埋幼苗地上部的1/3,T2为沙埋幼苗地上部的1/2,T3为沙埋到幼苗的近顶端。实验持续4周,每周收获1次。结果表明:TC、T1和T2没有幼苗死亡,T3有20%的幼苗死亡;沙埋对中间锦鸡儿幼苗的生物量、根冠比、根生物量比和茎生物量比有显著影响,叶片生物量比各处理没有显著差异,沙埋对幼苗的叶面积没有显著影响,在第1周T2和T3的小叶片面积显著大于TC,在其余3周,TC与T1、T2的小叶片面积没有显著差异,与全埋则有显著差异;沙埋对幼苗的相对生长速率(RGR)和净同化速率(N AR)产生显著影响,实验结束时,T3处理幼苗的RGR和N AR显著地小于其它3个处理。上述结果表明,部分沙埋(T1、T2)对沙生灌木中间锦鸡儿幼苗的生长发育没有显著的影响,而全部沙埋(T3)对其幼苗的生长发育产生显著的抑制,中间锦鸡儿是一个比较耐沙埋的物种。     

沙埋对两种沙生植物幼苗生长的影响及其生理响应差异

为了解沙埋对沙生植物生长的影响及其生理响应特征, 比较不同沙生植物耐沙埋能力及其机制, 2010年在内蒙古科尔沁沙地研究了不同深度沙埋下沙蓬(Agriophyllum squarrosum)和盐蒿(Artemisia halodendron)幼苗的存活率、株高等生长特性及其渗透调节物质含量, 保护酶活性和膜透性的变化, 得到以下结果: 沙蓬和盐蒿幼苗均具有较强的耐沙埋能力, 其中沙蓬幼苗最大耐沙埋深度超过幼苗10 cm, 盐蒿幼苗最大耐沙埋深度超过其株高8 cm; 随着沙埋深度增加, 沙蓬和盐蒿幼苗的存活率和株高均显著下降, 沙蓬的下降幅度显著小于盐蒿; 沙埋处理下两种植物均未表现出受水分胁迫, 沙埋导致其光合面积下降, 幼苗顶土困难, 是影响其存活和高生长的主要生态机制; 随着沙埋深度增加, 沙蓬幼苗丙二醛(MDA)含量显著增加, 盐蒿幼苗MDA含量下降, 虽然二者膜透性均呈增加趋势, 但沙蓬膜透性增加幅度显著低于盐蒿, 说明细胞膜受损是导致二者幼苗存活率下降和生长受到抑制的主要生理机制, 沙蓬膜透性受损程度较低是其耐沙埋能力较强的主要生理机制; 沙埋胁迫下, 虽然两种植物都通过提高过氧化物酶活性和脯氨酸含量减轻细胞膜受损程度, 但沙蓬体内超氧化物歧化酶也表现出重要协调作用, 使之酶促系统在保护细胞膜免受胁迫损伤过程中的作用更有效。     

Seedling Growth in Elymus farctus after Episodes of Burial with Sand

Episodes of burial by wind-blown sand are a frequent hazardfor Elymus farctus in the strandline and foredunes. We haveinvestigated the ability of seedlings to withstand and recoverfrom experimental burial. The burial treatments were appliedat the two-leaf stage, either for one or two weeks, and thegrowth in them was compared with that in unburied controls.The method of B-splines, with knots defined at the beginningand end of the burial period, proved to be appropriate for fittingrelationships between In dry mass and time for growth analysis.The relative growth rates derived from these relationships werepartitioned into component relative growth rates for individualplant organs, to reveal the responses to burial in terms ofdry matter allocation. No plants survived two weeks of burial but all those buriedfor one week recovered. There was respiratory loss of dry massduring burial, although fitted relative growth rates were notsignificantly different from zero. On re-exposure, relativegrowth rates increased to equal the maximum values in unburiedplants. Dry mass losses were from the root and stem fractions.Leaf 1 was unaffected, whereas the development of leaf 2 wascurtailed. Apart from their delayed appearance, leaves 3–5behaved similarly to their non-buried counterparts. The maintenanceof leaves at the expense of other organs during burial may becrucial to the survival of E. farctus seedlings. Sand burial, survival, recovery, growth analysis, splined cubic regression, Elymus farctus, sand couch grass     

沙埋对沙米幼苗生长、存活及光合蒸腾特性的影响

沙米(Agriophyllum squarrosum)是藜科沙蓬属1年生沙生植物,广泛分布于我国各主要沙漠和沙地中。为了解沙埋对沙米生长、存活和光合蒸腾特性影响,2010-2011年在科尔沁沙地研究了不同沙埋深度下沙米幼苗高度、存活率、光合速率、蒸腾速率、气孔导度和水分利用效率的变化,结果表明:沙米具有极强的耐沙埋能力。埋深为株高25%时,沙米幼苗存活率和株高显著增加,埋深为株高50%-100%时,其株高和存活率虽有下降,但与非沙埋对照差异不显著。当沙埋深度超过株高后,其株高和存活率急剧下降,但沙埋达到株高266%时仍然有部分幼苗存活。沙埋第5天,随着沙埋深度的增加,沙米幼苗的光合速率缓慢下降,蒸腾速率、气孔导度和水分利用效率均呈波动式变化。随着沙埋时间的延长,和对照相比,沙米幼苗的光合速率、蒸腾速率和气孔导度均随沙埋深度增加而大幅度下降,但水分利用效率仍呈波动式变化。沙埋第15天时其光合速率、蒸腾速率、气孔导度和水分利用效率分别较非沙埋对照下降了86.7%、89.0%、90.0%和4.2%。相关分析表明,沙米幼苗的存活率和高生长与其光合速率、蒸腾速率、气孔导度变化呈显著正相关,而其光合速率、蒸腾速率、气孔导度之间也呈显著正相关,但与水分利用效率的相关性未达到显著水平。沙埋胁迫下沙米幼苗存活率下降和生长抑制不仅源于沙埋造成幼苗顶土困难和光合面积减少,光合速率、蒸腾速率和气孔导度下降也是重要原因。     

Effects of sand burial on purple sandgrass (Triplasis purpurea): the significance of seed heteromorphism

The effects of sand burial on seedling emergence, growth, and reproduction of the annual dune grass Triplasis purpurea (Walt.) Chapm. were examined. This species matures heteromorphic seeds on panicles enclosed by leaf sheaths along tiller nodes in a characteristic pattern: seeds at the lower nodes are heaviest, whilst those at the upper nodes are lightest. Field excavation of seedlings revealed that seedlings can emerge from seeds buried to 4 cm.In one experiment in an incubator, seeds collected from the upper and lower tiller nodes of glasshouse-grown parental plants were buried in sand at depths of 0, 3, and 6 cm. As expected, the effects of seed depth on seedling growth were due to delayed emergence for seedlings from buried seeds. However, seedlings from the larger seeds from the lower nodes of parental plants had significantly greater dry mass than those from the lighter seeds from upper nodes. Because lower node seeds are the most likely to become buried by sand in nature, the seed heteromorphism may be adaptive in the coastal environment.A second experiment involved the burial of seedlings to 0, 50, or 100% of their height. Although most seedlings did not survive complete burial (100% height), for partially buried seedlings (50% height) there was high survival and a marked stimulation of growth and eventual reproduction compared to unburied seedlings. This stimulation could be linked to increased root growth for seedlings that had been buried. The ability to respond positively to sand accumulation may represent an adaptation to the dynamic dune environment.     

桃园捕食性节肢动物群落结构及动态研究

【目的】探讨桃园捕食性节肢动物群落特征、结构组成及动态规律,为桃园害虫防治提供依据。【方法】在西北农林科技大学实验站选择树龄5~6年的桃园为调查对象,系统调查园内节肢动物群落的种类和数量,测定群落的相对丰富度、多样性指数(H')、均匀度指数(E)及优势集中性指数(C)等指标,研究园内捕食性节肢动物群落的变化规律。【结果】桃园捕食性节肢动物群落的多样性指数和均匀度指数表现为高-低-高-低的趋势;群落优势度(B)与优势集中性指数呈现低-高-低趋势。食蚜蝇、蜘蛛、瓢虫、步甲和草蛉是桃园主要捕食性节肢动物亚群落。大灰食蚜蝇Metasyrphus corollae和黑带食蚜蝇Episyrphus balteata是食蚜蝇亚群落的优势种群,5月中旬至6月下旬是其发生高峰期;龟纹瓢虫Propylaea japonica是瓢虫亚群落的优势种群,5月中旬至7月下旬是其发生高峰期,随后数量维持在较低水平;龟纹瓢虫鼎斑变型和锚斑变型是桃园最常见的色斑变型,分别占49.6%和29%;蜘蛛亚群落主要包括皿蛛、蟹蛛和球蛛类群,5月上中旬、8月中下旬和10月中旬是其发生高峰期;步甲亚群落的发生高峰期为5月上旬至6月下旬,随后维持在较低的水平;中华草蛉Chrysoperla sinica为草蛉亚群落的优势种群,6月上旬至8月上旬是其发生高峰期。【结论】桃园捕食性节肢动物主要包括捕食性蜘蛛、食蚜蝇、捕食性瓢虫、步甲和草蛉5个亚群落,不同天敌亚群落的结构特征随着季节和气温的变化而相互演替,共同发挥控制害虫的作用。     

井冈山森林凋落物分解动态及磷、钾释放速率

应用网袋分解法对井冈山地区亚热带常绿阔叶林、针阔叶混交林和高山矮林地上和地下(10 cm)2个分解组的叶凋落物进行了连续2年的分解试验,测定了凋落物的分解速率以及P、K元素的释放动态.结果表明: 3种林分叶凋落物残留率与时间呈负指数衰减关系.各林分凋落物干质量损失前期较快,第1年末两组平均质量损失率分别为50.6%(常绿阔叶林)、41.7%(针阔叶混交林)和40.13%(高山矮林),且地上组显著高于地下组;后期较慢,至第2年末2组平均质量损失率分别达到60.95%(常绿阔叶林)、57.06%(针阔叶混交林)和56.60%(高山矮林),均以常绿阔叶林、针阔叶混交林、高山矮林为序递减,地上组与地下组的差异不显著.根据Olson指数衰减模型对质量损失率结果进行拟合,发现3种林分样地上凋落物分解95%所需的时间(t_0.95)为6.8～9.9年,其大小排序为常绿阔叶林＜针阔叶混交林＜高山矮林.P在不同林分凋落物分解过程中均存在明显的净固持效应,其强度顺序为高山矮林＞针阔叶混交林＞常绿阔叶林,凋落物初始P含量和C/P可能是导致上述情形的原因.K在各林分的多数时间均表现为净释放.以试验末期的元素释放量计算,P的释放速率在地上组和地下组之间无显著差异,而K则为地上组显著高于地下组.     

群落结构特征参数对葡萄园节肢动物群落作用的比较

利用主成分分析法,对葡萄园节肢动物群落、植食类亚群落、捕食类亚群落的特征参数进行分析.结果表明,葡萄园节肢动物群落、植食类亚群落、捕食类亚群落特征向量矩阵中第1主分量综合指标贡献率依次为66.70%、73.39%和54.17%.节肢动物群落的总个体数N、Hill多样性指数N₁、Hill多样性指数N₂和McIntosh指数D_mc的标准回归系数绝对值较大,对群落贡献大;植食类亚群落的N、N₂、N₁和物种数S的标准回归系数绝对值较大,对植食类亚群落贡献大;捕食类亚群落的N₂、N₁、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数H'和丰富度R的标准回归系数绝对值较大,对捕食类亚群落贡献大.综合分析,多样性指数N₁和N₂对3种类型群落贡献较大.     

李园节肢动物群落时间动态的聚类分析

为了了解李园节肢动物群落的结构、特征,发挥生态系统中自然因素对害虫的生态调控作用,采用系统调查方法,在分析李园节肢动物群落结构和组织水平的基础上,对李园节肢动物群落的时间动态进行聚类分析,结果表明,对不同时期的总群落、亚群落进行模糊聚类得出结果,总群落的12次调查结果可以聚为5类,D=0.2000,3、11、7和6月初各自归为一类,其余归为一类.天敌亚群落调查结果也聚为5类,D=0.2000,3、7、8月各自归为一类,9月和10月归为一类,其余归为一类.非天敌亚群落调查结果同样聚为5类,D=0.1000,4、7、6、11月各自归为一类,其余归为一类.聚类结果部分反映了群落状况的季节差异,聚类交替现象反映了群落结构复杂性.最优分割结果将总群落、各亚群落均分割为5个阶段,即4月6日为第一阶段,4月27日～6月8日为第二阶段,6月27日～8月27日为第三阶段,9月21日～10月19日为第四阶段,11月22日为第5阶段.反映了各阶段物种种类、数量等其他指标在发生时间上存在的差异.     

高山地区甘蓝田节肢动物群落特征

对湖北省高山地区自然天敌控制害虫的甘蓝田的节肢动物群落结构进行了研究.结果表明：自然天敌控制害虫的甘蓝田内害虫优势种为小菜蛾（Plutella xylostella ）、甘蓝蚜（Brevicoryne brassicae）和甘蓝夜蛾（Mamestra brassicae）;天敌优势种为菜蚜茧蜂(Diaeretiella rapae)、菜蛾绒茧蜂（Cotesia plutella）、草间小黑蛛(Erigonidum gramiaicolum)和大灰食蚜蝇（Syrphus corollae）.害虫及天敌亚群落物种的丰富度、多样性、均匀度及集中性在时间序列上有变化;害虫亚群落优势集中性高,优势种突出,群落多样性及均匀性指数较低,天敌亚群落的多样性和均匀性指数较高,优势集中性较低,群落相对比较稳定.经聚类分析,害虫和天敌亚群落的14个时序群落分别被划分为4类和3类.     

The cryptic responses of hatchery-reared sole to a natural sand substratum

In laboratory experiments, both reared and wild sole Solea solea selected a sand substratum in preference to a hard substratum. Reared sole with no previous experience of sand buried quickly when placed on sand. Light motivated burial, and the motivation of reared sole to bury was as strong as that of wild sole. The burial efficiency (the proportion of the ocular side covered by sand after a single burial attempt) of reared sole was lower than that of wild sole, but increased to that of wild sole after a period of 12 days maintenance on sand. Motivation to bury is therefore innate, but efficiency is affected by experience. The reactive distance of reared sole to a standardized predation threat was the same as that of wild sole and was shorter when buried (6 cm) than when not buried (15 cm). Burial therefore affected the response to a predation threat, indicating that burial is a cryptic behaviour. Munsell colour charts were used to determine the time required for reared sole to match the skin colour 'tone' of wild sole after placement on sand. Adaptation of colour value (lightness) took 4–7 days, but adaptation of chroma (intensity of colour) and hue took 33 and 69 days respectively. It is therefore recommended that flatfishes reared for stock enhancement exercises are conditioned to sand prior to release due to the relatively long time required for crypsis to improve through colour adaptation and burying.     

Carbon and Nutrient Allocation in Elymus farctus Seedlings after Burial with Sand

We report physiological aspects of the response of seedlingsof the strandline grass Elymus farctus to short-term burialwith sand. Seedlings were buried at the two-leaf stage for oneweek and compared with non-buried controls - before, duringand after burial. Photosynthetic CO₂ uptake was measured byinfrared gas analysis and carbon translocation from the youngestexpanded leaf was monitored after exposure to ¹⁴CO₂. The concentrationsof water-soluble carbohydrate, and total nitrogen, phosphorusand potassium in component organs were determined. Net photosynthetic capacity was almost completely inhibitedby 5 d of burial. However, plants uncovered after 7 d of burialrecovered full photosynthetic competence within 24 h. Therewas a sharp, sustained depression in the water-soluble carbohydrateconcentration of the roots and stems after burial, whereas leaves1–3 had much higher concentrations than non-buried plantsfor up to 20 d after uncovering. Burial virtually suppressedthe translocation of ¹⁴C to stem, roots and expanding leaves,and this effect persisted even after full recovery of net photosynthesis.The proportional allocation of total N, P and K to leaves wasincreased after burial, mainly at the expense of the roots.Changes both in nutrient concentration and in the relative massesof organs contributed to this effect. The apparent reversal of the normal source-sink relationshipsfor carbohydrate between photosynthetic and non-photosyntheticorgans, and the differential allocation of inorganic nutrients,may contribute to the maintenance of photosynthetic capacityduring burial. The rapid recovery of net photosynthesis afterre-exposure suggests that these responses may be advantageousfor survival of E. farctus seedlings in the early stages ofgrowth in a physically unstable and unpredictable environment. Sand burial, photosynthesis, translocation, nutrient allocation, Elymus farctus, sand couch grass