绿豆幼苗生长状态对环境羟基自由基水平的影响

为了解植物生长状态对环境羟基自由基水平的影响,研究了相同培养条件下不同生长状态的绿豆(Vigna radiata)幼苗对空气中的羟基自由基水平的影响。结果表明,正常生长的绿豆幼苗周围环境羟基自由基水平显著高于没有植物生长的环境,失活幼苗对周围环境羟基自由水平没有显著影响;渗透胁迫的绿豆幼苗对环境羟基自由基水平影响极显著,渗透胁迫程度不同其影响程度也有所不同;绿豆幼苗对环境羟基自由基水平的影响与其呼吸速率密切相关。这证明绿豆幼苗生长对环境羟基自由基水平有影响,且这种影响依赖于其生理代谢过程及生长状态。     

深圳7种园林植物叶绿素荧光特性及其对大气SO2浓度的响应

叶绿素荧光信号能快速灵敏地反映植物生理状态及其与环境的关系,是一种理想光系统探针。测定了深圳市7种园林植物叶片的叶绿素荧光参数和叶绿素含量,并对这些生理参数与大气污染物SO₂的相关性进行了分析。结果表明,7种植物叶片的叶绿素含量具有明显的种间差别,生境的差别远小于种间差别。所测定的7种园林植物的F_v/F_m相差不大,平均为0.78,低于理想条件下的最大值,说明存在一定的生长胁迫。叶绿素荧光的光化学淬灭qP的种间差别不明显。非光化学猝灭系数qN的种类差别较大,白兰Michelia alba和短穗鱼尾葵Caryota mitis具有较高的非光化学淬灭能力,说明这两个种具有一定的光保护能力。7种植物中,白兰的ΦpsⅡ要明显地较低于其它植物。深圳大气污染对城区植物的生理生化特性尚未构成不良影响,在深圳市区的环境中,短穗鱼尾葵、勒杜鹃Bougainvillea spectabilis和阴香Cinnamomum burmanii的叶绿素荧光参数可以作为大气污染物的指示指标;大红花Hibiscus rosa-sinensis、九里香Murraga paniculata、白兰和黄叶假连翘Duranta cv Golden Leaves具有相对较高抗污染物的能力。植物的叶绿素荧光参数也在一定程度上受到叶绿素的影响,阴香、短穗鱼尾葵、大红花和九里香的部分叶绿素荧光参数与植物叶片叶绿素含量呈正相关。     

屋顶绿化植物佛甲草对温度梯度的生理生态适应

以屋顶生长的佛甲草为材料,通过光照培养箱进行不同温度条件处理,分别测量了叶片的CO2交换、叶绿素含量、叶绿素荧光参数以及植株不同部位的碳同位素比率变化(δ13C)。结果表明:持续高温/低温、较大的昼夜温差和叶表面风力的条件下,佛甲草为适应环境变化,光合会由C3代谢途径转变成景天酸代谢途径(CAM),是兼性CAM植物。短期降温会使叶片光系统Ⅱ(PSⅡ)发生不可逆失活,光合能力下降;复水后有助于PSⅡ的恢复和重建,而干旱天气会减缓恢复过程;在不利温度环境中生长的佛甲草老叶掉落较多,剩余叶片的叶绿素含量和Fv/Fm值增高,光合能力提高。δ13C测定结果显示,高温使嫩叶气孔导度降低,对成熟叶片气孔导度影响小,佛甲草茎杆虽然含有叶绿素,但没有明显的光合作用。     

Ecophysiological adaptation of green roof plant Sedum lineare to temperature variation

以屋顶生长的佛甲草为材料,通过光照培养箱进行不同温度条件处理,分别测量了叶片的CO2交换、叶绿素含量、叶绿素荧光参数以及植株不同部位的碳同位素比率变化(δ13 C).结果表明:持续高温/低温、较大的昼夜温差和叶表面风力的条件下,佛甲草为适应环境变化,光合会由C3代谢途径转变成景天酸代谢途径(CAM),是兼性CAM植物.短期降温会使叶片光系统Ⅱ(PSⅡ)发生不可逆失活,光合能力下降;复水后有助于PSⅡ的恢复和重建,而干旱天气会减缓恢复过程;在不利温度环境中生长的佛甲草老叶掉落较多,剩余叶片的叶绿素含量和Fv/Fm值增高,光合能力提高.δ13C测定结果显示,高温使嫩叶气孔导度降低,对成熟叶片气孔导度影响小,佛甲草茎杆虽然含有叶绿素,但没有明显的光合作用.     

神舟十号飞船搭载对小麦品种济麦22的生物效应研究

探索空间环境对农作物生长的影响是充分发掘和利用航天育种技术优势的重要前提和基础。利用神舟十号飞船搭载小麦主推品种济麦22,对幼苗的生长势、苗高、鲜重和根长等主要指标进行对比分析,利用植物特异的叶绿素荧光技术研究上述指标变化的生理原因,并检测遗传物质的表观修饰状态。结果表明,飞船搭载小麦种子萌发的幼苗与地面对照相比鲜重降低,根长变短,根系数变少。叶绿素荧光参数测定发现,经过空间搭载的种子产生幼苗各种生长指标的差异是空间环境对植物产生的生理胁迫原因所致。经过空间飞行的种子萌发产生的幼苗,其基因组的甲基化修饰程度与对照相比发生了明显改变。     

NaCl胁迫加重强光胁迫下超大甜椒叶片的光系统Ⅱ和光系统Ⅰ的光抑制

快速叶绿素荧光动力学可以在无损情况下探知叶片光合机构的损伤程度,快速叶绿素荧光测定和分析技术(JIP-test)将测量值转化为多种具有生物学意义的参数,因而被广泛应用于植物光合机构对环境的响应机制研究.该文研究了超大甜椒(Capsicum annuum)幼苗在强光及不同NaCl浓度胁迫下的荧光响应情况.与单纯强光胁迫相比,NaCl胁迫引起了叶绿素荧光诱导曲线的明显改变,光系统Ⅱ(PSⅡ)光抑制加重,同时PSⅡ反应中心和受体侧受到明显影响,而且高NaCl浓度胁迫下PSⅡ供体侧受伤害明显,同时PSⅠ反应中心活性(P700+)在盐胁迫下明显降低.这些结果表明,NaCl胁迫会增强强光对超大甜椒光系统的光抑制,并且浓度越高抑制越明显,但对PSⅠ的抑制作用低于PSⅡ.高NaCl浓度胁迫易对PSⅡ供体侧造成破坏,且PSⅠ光抑制严重.     

不同氮素浓度下CO2浓度、温度对蒙古栎(Quercus mongolica)幼苗叶绿素含量的影响

叶片中叶绿素含量在光合作用中的光吸收、传递和转换过程中起到重要作用。为了预测未来大气CO2浓度升高并伴随温度上升的情况下,植物在不同的氮素营养水平下光合能力的变化,做了在3种氮素水平下(15 mmol.L-1N,7.5 mmol.L-1N和不施氮)CO2倍增和温度升高4℃对蒙古栎一年生幼苗叶片中叶绿素含量的影响的实验。结果表明:氮素水平对叶绿素含量影响显著,在CO2倍增(700μmol.mol-1)、高温( 4℃)和正常温度、大气CO2浓度条件下,高氮素水平下的叶绿素含量明显高于正常氮素水平和不施氮;CO2浓度和温度对叶绿素含量的影响受到氮素的制约:在高氮的条件下CO2浓度倍增促进叶绿素a、b的合成,而且对叶绿素b合成的促进尤为显著;而温度升高4℃能够促进叶绿素a的合成,但是对叶绿素b含量的影响不显著。在正常氮素条件下叶绿素a、叶绿素b及总量各个处理间的差异均不显著;在不施氮的条件下,CO2倍增和升高适当的温度在一定的程度上可以促进叶绿素a的合成,不能同时保证叶绿素b的合成。CO2浓度升高明显导致蒙古栎幼苗对氮素水平的需求也增加,高温条件下的蒙古栎幼苗也在一定程度上增加了对氮素的需求。     

镉胁迫对金丝垂柳幼苗生长及叶绿素荧光特性的影响

采用盆栽试验的方法,研究土壤中不同浓度的镉(0、2、20、80 mg·kg-1)胁迫条件对金丝垂柳幼苗的生长、净光合速率(Pn)、光合色素含量及叶绿素荧光参数（Fv/Fm、φPsⅡ和qP）的影响.结果表明:(1)2 mg·kg-1处理组植物的生长、净光合速率及叶绿素荧光参数随着处理时间的增加呈先下降后上升的趋势,说明2...     

遮荫对江南油杉幼苗生长和叶绿素荧光参数的影响北大核心CSCD

为探究有利于江南油杉(Keteleeria fortunei var.cyclolepis)幼苗生长发育的最适光照条件,该研究以1.5年生江南油杉幼苗为研究对象,对其进行为期2年不同光照强度(即全光照和遮荫率40%、60%、80%)处理,分析其形态生长、叶绿素含量、叶绿素荧光参数、生物量积累及分配等对不同光环境的适应机制。结果表明：(1)随遮荫程度的增强,江南油杉幼苗的地径生长量、叶片厚度逐渐减小,株高生长量、叶面积和比叶面积逐渐增大,叶片干质量呈先升后降的趋势;(2)遮荫造成叶片的叶绿素含量、初始荧光(Fo)、PSⅡ潜在活性(Fv/Fo)、PSⅡ最大光化学量子产量(Fv/Fm)、PSⅡ实际光化学量子产量[Y(Ⅱ)]、电子传递速率(ETR)均呈现显著增加的趋势;(3)遮荫处理下幼苗的叶、茎、根生物量和总生物量总体表现出随着光照强度的降低而减小的变化趋势,幼苗根生物量比和根冠比均减小,而叶生物量比、茎生物量比以及光合组织与非光合组织生物量比均增大。研究发现,全光照下江南油杉幼苗生长发育受到了抑制,遮荫显著影响江南油杉苗期生长及叶绿素荧光特性,适度遮荫能提高幼苗叶片的光捕获能力、光能利用效率,增强幼苗光合能力,促进生长;江南油杉幼苗在遮荫率为60%的环境下受光胁迫较小,其生长、叶片表观特征、光合能力以及生物量积累与分配等表现最优。     

大气CO2浓度倍增和施氮对冬小麦光合及叶绿素荧光特性的影响

采用开顶式气室,通过土培盆栽实验研究了不同大气CO2浓度(背景空气浓度375μmol·mol-1和倍增浓度750μmol·mol-1)和氮素水平(不施氮和施氮0.25 g/kg)下两个冬小麦品种(小偃6号和小偃22)主要生育期(拔节、孕穗、扬花、灌浆期)叶片叶绿素含量和荧光动力学参数的变化.结果显示,与背景CO2浓度相比,在不施氮条件下大气CO2浓度倍增处理的小麦叶片出现明显的光合下调现象,而施氮时变化不明显;同时,CO2浓度倍增后小麦各主要生育期叶片叶绿素含量均有不同程度地下降,荧光参数初始荧光(F0)值明显提高,最大荧光(Fm)、可变荧光(Fv)、最大光能转换效率(Fv/Fm)和PSⅡ潜在活性(Fv/F0)值均显著降低.施氮可提高冬小麦各个时期叶片叶绿素含量、Fm、Fv、和Fv/F0值,降低F0值;不施氮条件下,大气CO2浓度倍增对冬小麦各主要生育时期叶绿素含量和荧光参数的影响明显,而施氮后影响微弱.研究表明,大气CO2浓度升高对冬小麦光合速率、叶绿素含量和光系统Ⅱ(PSⅡ)的光合电子传递和潜在活性具有一定抑制作用,通过施氮可以有效地缓解其负面效应.     

Effect of Elevated Carbon Dioxide Concentration on Photosynthesis of Seedlings of Two Woody Species in a Subtropical Forest

Photosynthetic response of seedlings of two evergreen trees dorminant in a subtropical forest to long-term elevated CO2 were studied. Pot seedlings of Castanopsis fissa (Champ.) Rehd. et Wils. and Schima superba Gardn. et Champ. were grown in semi-open chambers with ambient (350 μL · L-1) CO2 concentration under natural light from June to September, 1993. Net photosynthetic rate of the plants exposed to elevated CO2 increased by 79%～95% than that of the plants in ambient CO2 atmosphere. But no significant difference was observed when measurement was done at either CO2 concentration, 350 μL · L-1 or 500 μL · L-1 The Ph-CO2 concen/ration response curves of plants growing in elevated CO2 were higher than that of plants growing in ambient (350μL · L-1 CO2). In addition, the chlorophyll and carotenoid contents dropped slightly and stomatal conductance decreased obviously under elevated atmospheric CO2, while the ratios of chlorophyll a to b and carotenoid to chlorophyll were unaltered. The results indicated that downward acclimation of phetosynthesis did not appear in both plant species when they were grown under prolonged exposure to high (500 μL · L-1) atmospheric CO2.     

根系渗透胁迫时杨树光合作用光抑制与活性氧的关系

为更多地了解自然条件下活体叶片的光抑制,研究了渗透胁迫时杨树无性系幼苗叶片的光抑制与活性氧代谢的关系．结果表明,随胁迫时间的延长和胁迫强度的增大,杨树叶片O2^-生成加快,H2O2和丙二醛(MDA)含量增多,超氧物歧化酶(SOD)活性升高,过氧化氢酶(CAT)和抗坏血酸过氧化物酶(APX)活性降低,活性氧代谢失衡,光合作用的光抑制加剧．用二乙基二硫代氨基甲酸铜盐抑制SOD活性,或用甲基紫精加速O2^-的生成,亦可使杨树叶片发生光抑制．渗透胁迫时杨树无性系幼苗清除H2O2能力降低,限制了叶片通过Mehler反应耗散过剩光能,防御光破坏作用的发挥;光抑制的发生与活性氧的积累有关．     

水培条件下不同pH值对香根草幼苗形态和生理特性的影响

在pH2.0-pH11.0的1/2Hoagland培养液水培条件下,对培养20d后香根草也Vetiveriazizanioides（Linn.）Nash页幼苗形态、叶片和根系部分生理指标的变化进行了研究。结果表明：在强碱性（pH11.0和pH10.0）及强酸性（pH2.0和pH3.0）条件下,香根草幼苗的部分叶片枯黄,茎干枯,须根数量明显减少且长度趋短;而在弱碱性（pH9.0和pH8.0）及弱酸性（pH5.0和pH4.0）条件下,仅可见部分叶尖出现轻度失绿现象,根系形态无明显变化仅颜色有差异。随培养液pH值的增大（碱性增加）或减小（酸性增加）,叶片含水量和叶绿素含量均逐渐降低且均小于对照（pH6.5）,而相对电解质外渗率和MDA含量均逐渐增加并高于对照;各指标在强碱性（pH11.0和pH10.0）及强酸性（pH2.0和pH3.0）条件下总体上与对照差异显著（P〈0.05）,而在弱碱性（pH9.0和pH8.0）及弱酸性（pH5.0和pH4.0）条件下总体上与对照差异不显著（P〉0.05）。随培养液pH值的增大（碱性增加）或减小（酸性增加）,幼苗的最大根长和根系活力均逐渐降低;在弱碱性（pH8.0）和弱酸性（pH5.0）条件下,最大根长略小于对照、根系活力略大于对照,但差异均不显著;而在pH9.0-pH11.0及pH4.0-pH2.0条件下最大根长及根系活力均显著小于对照,其中,在pH11.0条件下根系最短、根系活力最小,分别仅为对照的60.50%和9.52%。研究结果揭示：香根草对环境酸碱性的适应范围较广,可适应pH4.0-pH9.0的土壤生境。     

Density-dependent responses of Picea purpurea seedlings for plant growth and resource allocation under elevated temperature

This study was conducted to determine whether plants in the presence or absence of competition differ in their responses to warming, and whether density modifies the effect of warming. Picea purourea seedlings were grown under ambient and warming (ambient +2.2 °C) conditions in climate control chambers with two different planting densities. After 4 years, seedlings were harvested and measured for height, stem diameter, leaf area, structural biomass, carbon, nitrogen, chlorophyll and carbohydrate levels of needles, branches, stem and roots. At low density, warming increased height, stem diameter, total leaf area biomass production and carbohydrate concentration per seedling, while it decreased C/N ratio for all plant parts, but did not affect chlorophyll content. By contrast, at high density, although warming increased biomass and total leaf area, it did not affect plant height and stem diameter. At the same time, it had different effects on chlorophyll content, C/N ratio and carbohydrate levels among plant parts. On the other hand, high density limited plant growth and altered resource allocation pattern. Our study demonstrates that planting densities decreased the temperature-induced growth enhancement of P. purpurea seedlings and the effects of warming on resource allocation not only showed density-dependence, but also vary with tissue age classes and root diameter; the responses of plants to elevated temperature, acquired from plants growing as individuals, may not be applicable to plants grown under intraspecific competition as typically found in the field.     

土壤结构与光照水平对秋茄某些生长和生理参数的影响

在香港的３个红树森样地即黄竹湾（沙土）、西径（沙壤土）和米埔（粘壤土）进行了土壤结构对秋茄（Kandelia candel(L.)Durce)生长和生理影响的研究,并在米埔比较了林内和林外秋茄幼苗的生长和生理参数以观察光照水平的效应。在沙土和沙壤土生长的１．５年秋茄幼苗比粘壤土具有较粗的基径的较高的总生物量,说明秋茄幼苗在沙土和沙壤土中比在粘壤土中生长更好。沙土１．５ 茄幼苗的叶片厚度分别为沙壤土和粘壤土的１．７５和２．０５倍,表明沙土中的秋茄幼苗具有旱生结构以维持体内水分。然而,沙土和沙壤土４．５年秋茄幼树的叶片厚度无显著差异,沙土和沙壤土中１．５年秋茄幼苗分配于根系的生物量比例约为５０％,高于粘壤土的值（约４０％）。沙土和沙壤土中１．５年的秋茄比粘壤土具有较低的叶绿素含量、根系活力、硝酸盐还原酶活性、过氧化物酶（ＰＯＸ）活性、超氧化物歧化酶（ＳＯＤ）活性及较高的丙二醛（ＭＤＡ）含量。米埔１．５年秋茄幼苗在红树林外比林内有更好的长势,具有更大的叶面积、特殊叶面积、叶片数量及生物量。林内幼苗具有较高叶绿素含量,较低叶绿素a/b比值,较高硝酸盐还原酶活性和较强的根系活力,林外幼苗的叶片ＰＯＸ和ＳＯＤ活性比林内的值稍高,ＭＤＡ含量比林内显著要高。     

木棉叶片叶绿素荧光参数和SPAD值对干旱胁迫的响应

采用盆栽控水干旱法模拟干旱逆境,对1年生木棉(Bombax ceiba)盆栽苗进行不同程度的胁迫处理,测定干旱胁迫时其叶片叶绿素SPAD值和荧光参数动态变化。结果表明,干旱胁迫下,木棉叶片叶绿素相对含量逐渐降低;初始荧光(Fo)随着干旱程度的加剧而呈上升趋势,而最大荧光(Fm)、潜在光化学效率(Fv /Fo)、最大光化学效率(Fv /Fm)、光化学淬灭系数(qP)和表观光合电子传递速率(ETR)下降,在中度和重度干旱胁迫时差异显著(P＜0.05);非光化学淬灭系数(NPQ)变化不显著。干旱胁迫导致木棉植株出现光抑制,植株可通过降低光化学淬灭、增加热耗散的形式增强对干旱的适应能力。     

Fusaric acid accelerates the senescence of leaf in banana when infected by Fusarium

Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense (FOC) is a causal agent of vascular wilt and leaf chlorosis of banana plants. Chloroses resulting from FOC occur first in the lowest leaves of banana seedlings and gradually progress upward. To investigate the responses of different leaf positions to FOC infection, hydroponic experiments with FOC inoculation were conducted in a greenhouse. Fusarium-infected seedlings exhibited a decrease in net photosynthesis rate, stomatal conductance, and transpiration rate of all leaves. The wilting process in Fusarium-infected seedlings varied with leaf position. Measurements of the maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (F _V/F _max) and visualization with transmission electron microscopy showed a positive correlation between chloroplast impairment and severity of disease symptoms. Furthermore, results of malondialdehyde content and relative membrane conductivity measurements demonstrated that the membrane system was damaged in infected leaves. Additionally, the activities of phenylalanine ammonia-lyase, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase were increased and total soluble phenolic compounds were significantly accumulated in the leaves of infected plants. The structural and biochemical changes of infected plants was consistent with plant senescence. As the FOC was not detected in infected leaves, we proposed that the chloroplast and membrane could be damaged by fusaric acid produced by Fusarium. During the infection, fusaric acid was first accumulated in the lower leaves and water-soluble substances in the lower leaves could dramatically enhance fusaric acid production. Taken together, the senescence of infected banana plants was induced by Fusarium infection with fusaric acid production and the composition of different leaf positions largely contribute to the particular senescence process.     

NaCl胁迫对马齿苋光合作用及叶绿素荧光特性的影响

以马齿苋为材料,采用温室盆栽法研究了14 d NaCl胁迫处理对其幼苗生长、光合作用和叶绿素荧光特性的影响.结果显示:(1)马齿苋幼苗的鲜重和株高在25 mmol·L-1 NaCl胁迫时与对照无显著差异,但其随着NaCl浓度的继续增加均显著降低,且其生物量受到的抑制早于株高.(2) NaCl胁迫下,马齿苋幼苗叶片净光合速率(Pn)降低,胞间二氧化碳浓度(C1)增大,且两者的变化幅度随着NaCl浓度增加而增大.(3)NaCl胁迫下,马齿苋幼苗叶片的初始荧光(F0)、最大荧光(Fm)、可变荧光(Fv)、恒态荧光(Fs)、恒态荧光与初始荧光差值(△F0)、PSⅡ潜在光化学效率(Fv/Fo)和PSⅡ最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)均降低,叶片光化学荧光猝灭系数(qP)也在NaCl胁迫下降低,而非光化学荧光猝灭系数(NPQ)则上升;在0～50 mmol·L-1NaCl胁迫下,幼苗叶片各荧光参数下降幅度小于其他高浓度NaCl胁迫.研究表明,在NaCl胁迫条件下,马齿苋幼苗叶片的光合作用受光抑制伤害,但在低浓度NaCl下能够较多地将光能用于光化学反应,光抑制程度较低,保持了较高的净光合速率,明显减轻盐胁迫对植株生长的影响,表现出一定的耐盐性.     

香蕉叶片发育过程中不同甲酯化程度果胶的变化

采用免疫荧光标记技术,利用5种识别不同甲酯化程度聚半乳糖醛酸(HGs)果胶及香蕉果胶甲酯酶(PME)的单克隆抗体,对不同株龄香蕉叶片中PME及不同甲酯化程度的HGs定位、相对含量以及PME活性的变化进行分析,为探讨HGs和PME在香蕉生长发育及抵抗逆境过程中的功能和生理机制奠定基础。结果显示:(1)PME主要在组培苗的叶肉和保卫细胞中表达,其表达量及其酶的活性均随着香蕉株龄的增长而呈现下降趋势。(2)叶肉细胞也是各类不同甲酯化程度HGs的主要分布区域,其含量随着香蕉株龄的增长有不同程度的下降,但不同HGs在叶肉细胞中的含量以及在表皮、保卫细胞及叶脉中的分布模式不尽相同,保卫细胞中HGs的甲酯化程度较高。研究表明,香蕉的叶肉细胞是PME及这5种不同甲酯化程度HGs的主要分布场所,且这些HGs在香蕉发育过程中的含量变化趋势与PME相似。     

Are nutrient availability and acidity‐alkalinity gradients related in Sphagnum‐dominated peatlands?

Abstract. Gradients in acidity‐alkalinity and nutrient availability were studied in 2 Sphagnum‐dominated peatlands on the southeastern Italian Alps. Decreasing concentrations of most mineral elements (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Al³⁺ and Si⁴⁺) in pore water indicated a progressively lower influx of mineral‐soil water from the slightly minerotrophic conditions in the peatland margins to ombrogenous conditions in the central part of the peatlands. This was paralleled by decreasing concentrations of ash, bulk density, Ca, Fe and, partly, Mn in the peat. The nutrient gradient, as defined by pore water concentrations of N and P, was largely independent of the acidity‐ alkalinity gradient: NO^3‐ and PO₄^3‐ had similar concentrations throughout the gradient, whereas NH₄⁺ concentrations increased with increasing pore‐water pH. In contrast, the peat nutrient gradient coincided with the acidity‐alkalinity gradient, with total concentrations of N and P decreasing from the margin to the centre. Bryophytes and vascular plants had different responses along the acidity‐alkalinity gradient and the nutrient gradient. Bryophyte distribution reflected the acidity‐alkalinity gradient both in pore water and in peat. Vascular plant distribution was mainly influenced by variations in nutrient availability.