四种不同生活型植物幼苗对喀斯特生境干旱的生理生态适应性

喀斯特石漠化是我国西南喀斯特地区最严重的生态环境问题, 生境干旱是限制该地区植物生长的主要因素之一, 掌握喀斯特植被不同演替阶段不同生活型植物对干旱胁迫的适应策略有助于提高植被恢复的成功率。通过人工模拟4种干旱强度, 测定叶片水势、气体交换、叶绿素荧光、光合色素含量、渗透调节物质浓度、抗氧化酶活性以及生物量, 研究了喀斯特地区4种不同生活型植物幼苗对干旱胁迫的适应策略。这4种植物为常绿灌木火棘(Pyracantha fortuneana)、落叶灌木小果蔷薇(Rosa cymosa)、常绿乔木猴樟(Cinnamomum bodinieri)和落叶乔木圆果化香树(Platycarya longipes)。结果表明: 随着干旱程度的加深, 4种植物幼苗的叶片水势、光合能力、叶绿素含量、生物量增长、叶重比(LMR)、叶面积比(LAR)和比叶面积(SLA)逐渐下降, 而热耗散(NPQ)、类胡萝卜素与叶绿素含量比值、丙二醛含量和根重比(RMR)逐渐上升; 圆果化香树和猴樟的水分利用效率(A_n/g_s)、渗透调节物质浓度和抗氧化酶活性呈先升高后降低的趋势, 而火棘和小果蔷薇的A_n/g_s、脯氨酸含量和超氧化物歧化酶活性呈上升趋势。严重干旱下, 火棘和小果蔷薇幼苗的叶片水势和叶绿素含量下降较少, 具有较高的光合能力和生物量增长, 这主要是由于它们具有较低的SLA和LAR、较高的NPQ和A_n/g_s以及较高的渗透调节能力和抗氧化保护能力。中度干旱下, 猴樟幼苗叶片水势下降很少, LMR和LAR也较高, 脯氨酸含量和抗氧化酶活性非常高。但在严重干旱下, 其叶片水势、LMR、LAR和生物量增长大幅度下降, 最大光化学效率和光合速率也非常低, 渗透调节能力与抗氧化酶活性大幅度下降至正常水平以下。水分好的条件下, 圆果化香树幼苗具有较高的RMR以吸收充足的水分, 具有较高的LAR和叶绿素含量, 保证了生物量的大量积累。然而, 干旱胁迫致使其生物量大幅度下降, 主要是由于LMR、LAR、气体交换和叶绿素含量的大量下降以减少蒸腾面积、水分散失和对光能的吸收。研究结果表明, 火棘、小果蔷薇和猴樟幼苗主要采用耐旱策略, 其中猴樟抗严重干旱的能力较弱; 圆果化香树幼苗对干旱胁迫更为敏感, 主要采取避旱策略。     

Effect of drought on pigments, osmotic adjustment and antioxidant enzymes in six woody plant species in karst habitats of southwestern China

Drought stress is one of the most important factors limiting the survival and growth of plants in the harsh karst habitats of southwestern China. Detailed knowledge about the ecophysiological responses of native plants with different growth forms to drought stress could contribute to the success of re-vegetation programs. Two shrubs, Pyracantha fortuneana and Rosa cymosa, and four trees, Broussonetia papyrifera, Cinnamomum bodinieri, Platycarya longipes and Pteroceltis tatarinowii, were randomly assigned to four drought treatments, i.e. well-watered, mild drought stress, moderate drought stress, and severe drought stress. Midday water potential, the maximum quantum efficiency of PSII photochemistry (F_v/F_m), pigments, osmotic solutes (soluble sugars and proline), cellular damages, and antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase and peroxidase) were investigated. Drought stress significantly decreased pigments content, but increased the ratio of carotenoids to total chlorophylls in the studied species. After prolonged severe drought stress, the two shrubs exhibited higher F_v/F_m, less reductions of midday water potential, and lower increases of malondialdehyde content and ion leakage than the four trees. Prolonged severe drought stress largely decreased accumulations of osmotic solutes and activities of antioxidant enzymes in the four trees, but significantly increased proline content and superoxide dismutase activity in the two shrubs and peroxidase activity in P. fortuneana. The positive relationships were observed among activities of antioxidant enzymes, and between contents of osmotic solutes and activities of antioxidant enzymes. These findings suggested that the two shrubs had higher tolerance to severe drought stress than the four trees due to higher capacities of osmotic adjustment and antioxidant protection.     

Aspects of tissue water relations and seasonal changes of leaf water potential components of evergreen and deciduous species coexisting in tropical dry forests

Summary This study compared the tissue water relations and seasonal changes in leaf water potential components of an evergreen tree,Morisonia americana, and two evergreen shrubs,Capparis verrucosa andC. aristiquetae, with two deciduous trees,Humboltiella arborea andLonchocarpus dipteroneurus, and the deciduous vineMansoa verrucifera. All these species coexist in a tropical dry forest in Venezuela. Leaves of the evergreen species are sclerophyllous, while those of the deciduous species are mesophytic. Leaf area to leaf weight ratios of fully mature leaves were about 75 and 170 cm² g^–1 in evergreen and deciduous species, respectively. Seasonal fluctuations of leaf water content per unit of dry weight, water potential, and turgor pressure were smaller in evergreen than in deciduous species. The analysis of tissue water relations using pressurevolume curves showed that evergreen species could develop a higher leaf turgor and lose turgor at lower leaf water potentials than deciduous species. This was related to a lower osmotic potential at full turgor in evergreen (-3.0 MPa)_than in deciduous (-2.0 MPa) species, rather than to the elastic properties of leaf tissue. The volumetric modulus of elasticity was 14 MPa in evergreen compared with 7–10 MPa in deciduous species. Thus, leaf characteristics are important in determining the drought resistance of evergreen species of this tropical dry forest.     

狭叶红景天幼苗对水分及遮阴的生长及生理生化响应

研究植物对水分和遮阴胁迫的响应及其生理机制对制定合理的栽培管理措施十分必要。以红景天属植物为研究对象,设置土壤含水量分别为田间持水量的80%(过湿水分)、70%(正常水分)、60%(轻度干旱)、40%(中度干旱)、20%(重度干旱)5个水分梯度;设置2个遮阴处理,以全光照(遮阴率为0)为对照、黑色遮阴网遮阴(遮阴率为85%),研究狭叶红景天生长及生理生化指标的变化特征。结果表明:在不同水分处理下,与对照相比,叶绿素含量、茎干重和茎重比(SMR)显著增加(P0.05),株高、总生物量、叶面积、叶干重、叶重比(LMR)、比叶面积(SLA)、叶面积比(LAR)和叶面积根干重比(LARMR)增加,根冠比和根重比(RMR)减少;随着干旱程度加剧,丙二醛(MDA)、脯氨酸(Pro)和可溶性糖(Ss)含量增加,超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性总体呈先增加后减小的趋势。在遮阴处理下,株高、SMR、SLA、LAR和LARMR显著增加(P0.05),叶绿素SPAD值和叶面积增加,总生物量、根干重、根冠比和LMR显著减少(P0.05),茎干重和叶干重减少,MDA含量显著增加,Pro含量略有下降,Ss含量减少。在水分胁迫下,狭叶红景天中度干旱时通过增加酶活性抵御伤害,重度干旱超过其阈值,SOD活性下降,植物体受到伤害,Ss可能是主要的渗透调节物质。在遮阴处理下,狭叶红景天通过增加SLA避免遮阴伤害。狭叶红景天在受到环境胁迫时会通过形态改变、调节MDA含量、抗氧化酶活性和渗透调节物质来保证自身正常的生长发育。     

Relative growth rate in phylogenetically related deciduous and evergreen woody species

Relative growth rate (RGR) and other growth parameters were studied in eight pairs of closely related deciduous and evergreen species (within the same genus or family). The main objective of this study was to test the association between leaf turnover rate and RGR, specific leaf area (SLA, leaf area/leaf dry weight) and other growth variables. Plants were grown for 6 months in a greenhouse under favourable water and nutrient conditions. Variation in RGR among the 16 woody species was due mainly to differences in morphological parameters such as leaf area ratio (LAR, whole plant area/whole plant dry weight) and SLA). However, temporal variation in RGR within species was due mainly to variation in net assimilation rate. When phylogeny was not taken into account, analyses showed that deciduous species grew faster than evergreens. In contrast, when phylogeny was taken into account, the data analysis showed that a faster RGR is not consistently associated with the deciduous habit (in five pairs it was, but in the other three it was not). The faster growth of the deciduous trees (in the five positive contrasts) could be explained by their higher LAR and higher SLA relative to evergreens. The lack of differences in RGR between deciduous and evergreens (in three pairs) was due to the higher leaf mass ratio (LMR, leaf dry biomass/total dry biomass) for the evergreens, which offset the higher SLA of the deciduous species, resulting in a similar LAR in both functional groups (LAR=LMR2SLA). Deciduous species had consistently higher SLA than evergreens. We suggest that SLA, more than RGR, could be an important parameter in determining adaptive advantages of deciduous and evergreen species.     

SPRING GROWTH OF SHOOTS AND ROOTS IN SHRUBS OF AN ALASKAN MUSKEG

Early spring shoot and fine-root development of four evergreen and three deciduous shrub species were analyzed in a subarctic muskeg at Fairbanks, Alaska. The overwintered foliage of the evergreen shrubs regreened earlier than new leaves developed on the deciduous species. Likewise, the evergreen shrubs produced new fine roots earlier than the deciduous species. The total nonstructural carbohydrate (TNC) concentration did not decline in the evergreen shrub Ledum palustre during the spring development. This contrasted with the deciduous shrub Betula glandulosa, where a significant TNC reduction in stem tissue coincided with bud break and fine-root growth flush.     

Water relations of stem succulent trees in north-central Baja California

Summary Water relations of several stem succulent trees were measured in north-central Baja California in comparisons to other growth forms in the same habitat. Our research concentrated on three stem succulent species (Idria collumnaris, Pachycormus discolor and Bursera microphylla) each with a different succulent stem morphology. The stem succulent trees had 1 to 4 kg H₂O/m³ of trunk while the other trees and shrubs in the same habitat had 0.6 to 0.8 kg H₂O/m³. The diurnal and seasonal variation in leaf water potential was small for the stem succulent species in comparison to deciduous and evergreen species as a consequence of the stem-water, buffering capacity. In addition, the leaf conductance of the stem succulent species was low (60 mmol m^–2 s^–1) and yet, the leaf conductance decreased through the day similar to adjacent evergreen and deciduous species. The leaves of the stem succulent trees lost turgor at low saturated water deficits (0.06 to 0.14), had comparatively high osmotic potentials, and high values of elastic modulus in comparison to adjacent evergreen and deciduous species. The stem acts as an important buffering mechanism allowing for the maintenance of leaf turgor in these stem succulent trees. The low transpiration rates of the stem succulent trees may be a mechanism to minimize leaf saturated water deficit and extend leaf longevity.     

Shoot growth phenology of co-existing evergreen and deciduous species in an oak forest

Shoot growth phenology was compared for the saplings of evergreen and deciduous woody species sharing the same microsite. Growth initiation occurred earlier in evergreens (among co-stratal species) while deciduous species completed their growth earlier. Shoot growth rate was significantly greater (P<0.01) for deciduous trees than evergreen trees. The amount of shoot elongations and shoot diameter was also significantly greater (P<0.01) for deciduous trees than evergreens. On the other hand, among shrubs the amount of shoot elongation and shoot diameter was greater for evergreens but the rate of elongation and diameter was more or less similar for both. The duration of shoot elongation and shoot diameter was significantly longer in evergreens than the deciduous species. Leaf packing (number of leaves per shoot) was significantly more dense in evergreen trees (P<0.01) than in deciduous tree species. Leaf packing was more dense in evergreen than deciduous shrubs but the difference was not significant. Leaf area (per individual leaf) at full expansion was significantly greater (P<0.01) in deciduous species. Leaf dry mass and specific leaf mass in the initial stage was significantly greater for evergreen species than for deciduous species. The number of buds/10 cm of shoot was higher in evergreens. However, the per cent mortality was also higher in them.     

Relative growth rate and biomass allocation in ten woody species with different leaf longevity using phylogenetic independent contrasts (PICs)

In this study, we compare the relative growth rate (RGR) and biomass allocation of 10 woody species (5 deciduous and 5 evergreen) from the Mediterranean region using phylogenetic independent contrasts (PICs) to test if these two functional groups differ in these traits. In general, the results were similar when using PICs or without taking into account phylogenetic relations. Deciduous species had a higher RGR than evergreen species, due to the higher net assimilation rate (NAR). Deciduous species had a higher specific leaf area (SLA) but a lower leaf mass ratio (LMR), resulting in a similar LAR for deciduous and evergreen species (LAR = SLA x LMR). In some cases, the use of PICs revealed patterns that would not have appeared if phylogeny had been overlooked. For example, there was no significant correlation between RGR and final dry mass (after 4 months of growth) but PICs revealed that there was a positive relation between these two variables in all deciduous-evergreen pairs. In general, RGR decreased with time and this temporal variation was due primarily to NAR variations (r = 0.79, p < 0.01), and also to variations in LAR (r = 0.69, p < 0.05). Considering the phylogeny, the only variable constantly different for all deciduous-evergreen pairs was SLA. This result, and the fact that SLA was the best correlated variable with RGR (r = 0.81, p < 0.01), reinforce the value of SLA as a variable closely associated to growth and to the functional groups (deciduous vs. evergreen).     

亚热带常绿阔叶林和暖温带落叶阔叶林叶片热值比较研究

植物干重热值(GCV)是衡量植物生命活动及组成成分的重要指标之一,反映了植物光合作用中固定太阳辐射的能力。利用氧弹量热仪测定了亚热带和暖温带两个典型森林生态系统常见的276种常见植物叶片的干重热值,探讨了亚热带和暖温带植物热值分布特征,以及不同生活型、乔木类型间植物热值的变化规律。实验结果发现:亚热带常绿阔叶林和暖温带落叶阔叶林叶片热值的平均值分别为17.83 k J/g(n=191)和17.21k J/g(n=85),整体表现为亚热带植物暖温带植物。不同地带性植被的植物叶片热值在不同生活型间表现出相似的规律,其中亚热带常绿阔叶林表现为:乔木(19.09 k J/g)灌木(17.87 k J/g)草本(16.65 k J/g);暖温带落叶阔叶林表现为:乔木(18.41 k J/g)灌木(17.94 k J/g)草本(16.53 k J/g);不同乔木类型间均呈现常绿乔木落叶乔木、针叶乔木阔叶乔木的趋势。落叶阔叶乔木表现为亚热带暖温带,而常绿针叶乔木则呈现亚热带暖温带的趋势。此外,我们对于两个分布区域内的4种针叶树种叶片热值进行了比较,发现华北落叶松(19.32 k J/g,暖温带)杉木(19.40 k J/g,亚热带)马尾松(19.82 k J/g,亚热带)油松(20.95 k J/g,暖温带)。亚热带常绿阔叶林和暖温带落叶阔叶林植物热值的特征及其变化规律,为森林生态系统的能量流动提供了理论基础。     

藏东南色季拉山林线过渡带7种灌木植物的叶氮回收潜力

在湿润的青藏高原东南部, 为什么常绿灌木广泛占据高海拔的林线过渡带及以上的高山带, 而落叶灌木只能零星分布?未来气候变暖对该区不同功能群物种的影响是否相同?通过测定西藏东南部色季拉山林线过渡带7种灌木凋落叶的氮含量, 比较了极端高海拔地区灌木不同表达单位的叶氮回收潜力在不同功能群间的差异, 以及不同海拔、不同坡向间的差异, 试图从养分限制的角度为解答上述科学问题提供基础数据。研究结果表明: 1)从基于单位质量叶氮含量(N_mass)的叶氮回收潜力来看, 常绿灌木裂毛雪山杜鹃(薄毛海绵杜鹃) (Rhododendron aganniphum var. schizopeplum)显著高于其他6种落叶灌木, 但由于受比叶重的影响, 基于单位面积叶氮含量(N_area)的叶氮回收潜力则表现为落叶灌木总体较高; 2)落叶灌木山生柳(Salix oritrepha)和拉萨小檗(Berberis hemsleyana)的叶氮回收潜力在不同海拔或不同坡向间均无显著差异, 但裂毛雪山杜鹃基于N_mass的叶氮回收潜力在高海拔地段明显偏高。在极端高海拔的林线过渡带, 通过降低凋落叶中的氮含量(增加叶氮回收潜力)以达到高效的养分利用可能是常绿灌木裂毛雪山杜鹃适应高寒胁迫环境的重要策略。与落叶灌木相比, 常绿灌木裂毛雪山杜鹃叶氮回收潜力对未来气候变暖可能更敏感。     

Diversity of phenolic compounds and plant traits in coexisting Patagonian desert shrub species of Argentina

Desert shrubs often accumulate different types of phenolic compounds but what determines the amount and diversity of these compounds is an issue scarcely explored. The aim of this study was to assess differences in the amount and diversity of phenolic compounds in leaves among coexisting shrub species differing in rooting depth and leaf turnover. We hypothesized that the diversity and amount of phenolic compounds in leaves of desert shrubs are related to access to soil water through rooting depth, and to leaf turnover. The study was carried out in the Patagonian Monte of Argentina. We collected green leaves of six species representing the dominant shrub morphotypes (tall evergreen, tall deciduous, and medium evergreen shrubs) and assessed lignin concentration and groups of soluble phenols obtained by sequential extraction with ethyl ether, ethyl acetate, and amyl alcohol. We also assessed nitrogen concentration in leaves and leaf mass per unit area (LMA) as traits related to leaf lifespan. The diversity of phenolic compounds was higher in green leaves of tall shrubs with deep rooting depth than in those of medium evergreen shrubs with shallow rooting depth. Diversity of phenolic compounds in green leaves was negatively related to lignin concentration. Evergreen shrubs had higher amount of phenolic compounds in green leaves than deciduous ones and the total amount of phenolic compounds in green leaves was positively related to LMA. We concluded that access to soil water sources and leaf turnover were related to the amount and diversity of phenolic compounds in green leaves of desert shrub species and these results are consistent with those predicted by the resource availability theory for plants from resource-rich and resource-poor habitats.     

Energy content,storage substances,and construction and maintenance costs of Mediterranean deciduous leaves

Summary At monthly intervals water content, crude fibre, total and protein nitrogen, sugars, starch, total lipids, ash content and calorific total energy were measured throughout the lifespan of the leaves of the deciduous mediterranean shrubs Pistacia terebinthus L. and Cotinus coggygria Scop. From these data the construction costs and maintenance costs, as well as the construction costs of non-storage compounds and energy expenditure values were calculated. The latter values were also calculated for the evergreen stemmed shrub Ephedra distachya for reasons of comparison with an evergreen mediterranean species. The water status in the deciduous leaves is stable for a long time during the drought period until the beginning of senescence in August/September. In Cotinus an early and considerable increase of storage compounds is found, whilst in Pistacia terebinthus the accumulation is more uniform until August. The N-content is rather low compared with other deciduous leaves, the calorific energy is in the lower range of the values reported for similar species. The construction costs of the leaves of both deciduous species are significantly lower than those calculated by Williams et al. (1987) for two drought deciduous chaparral species but are in agreement with the data reported by other authors on deciduous leaves. Contrary to the findings of Williams et al. they are lower than those of evergreen species; this is also true when the construction cost of the non-storage compounds alone is considered. The values found for Ephedra are similar to the maintenance costs do not show a significant variation in the deciduous leaves. They are higher than those known for evergreen leaves but somewhat lower than the values calculated for deciduous chaparral leaves.     

Effect of Soil Moisture on the Gas Exchange of Changium smyrnioides and Anthriscus sylvestris

The effect of soil moisture on gas exchange and growth of an endangered species, Changium smyrnioides, was compared with a non-endangered species, Anthriscus sylvestris. The two species belong to the same family Umbellaceae. With the decrease of soil moisture, the net photosynthetic rate (P_N) and transpiration rate (E) decreased, while water use efficiency (WUE) increased, P_N and WUE of C. smyrnioides were lower than those of A. sylvestris, whereas E was higher than that of A. sylvestris. The biomass, leaf mass ratio (LMR) and leaf area ratio (LAR) of C. smyrnioides were lower than those of A. sylvestris. Under drought, biomass. LMR and LAR of C. smyrnioides decreased more steeply than those of A. sylvestris, whereas specific root length (SRL) of C. smyrnioides was higher, compared to that of A. sylvestris. The present study indicated that C. smyrnioides accumulated less biomass, and directed more biomass to roots than A. sylvestris.     

上海辰山植物园不同生活型木本植物枝叶大小关系的比较

植物枝叶生长普遍存在显著的正相关关系，决定了植物构型塑造和生物量分配。以上海辰山植物园149种木本植物为对象，通过测定顶枝上70 cm长枝条的直径、叶面积及其生物量，比较相同生境条件下不同生活型木本植物的枝叶大小关系。结果表明，枝条截面积与总叶面积间呈异速生长关系（a=1.148 6，CI=1.000 6~1.302 3），枝条干重与叶干重间呈等速生长关系（a=1.054 2，CI=0.921 3~1.205 6），不同生活型均具有相同的斜率系数a。不同生活型的异速生长常量b（y轴截距）存在显著差异，相同枝条截面积下落叶乔木比常绿乔木和常绿灌木具有更大的叶面积，相同枝条干重下常绿乔木和落叶乔木比常绿灌木具有更大的叶干重。这可能与不同生活型木本植物水分竞争效率和叶建成成本差异有关。     

热岛效应下亚热带城市植被叶气孔权衡特征及其与叶功能性状的关系

叶片气孔不仅是植物平衡光合-蒸腾关系的重要门户,也是影响大气碳循环与水循环的关键结构。分析热岛效应下福州市乔木、灌木、草本3种生活型和常绿、落叶2种叶习性植物的气孔性状间的差异及其与其他叶功能性状间的权衡关系有助于探究不同类型植物在热环境下的适应策略。以福州市区的自然和半自然植被为研究对象,测定441个植物样本的气孔特征、化学计量特征和形态特征,结果表明：（1）3种生活型、2种叶习性植物的气孔长度（SL）、气孔密度（SD）差异显著（P<0.05）,潜在气孔导度指数（PCI）不存在显著差异（P>0.05）。草本的SL高于灌木和乔木,乔木的SD最高,灌木次之,草本最低;落叶植物的SL高于常绿植物,SD低于常绿植物。（2）SL与SD间的权衡关系稳定存在于3种生活型和2种叶习性植物中,且随着不同生活型和落叶习性植物的生态策略而呈现各异的权衡特征,即当SL一定时,乔木的SD最大,灌木的SD最小,常绿植物的SD大于落叶植物。（3）气孔性状和叶片形态、化学计量特征紧密联系,SL与比叶面积（SLA）正相关（P<0.01）,与叶面积（LA）负相关（P<0.01）;SD与叶氮含量（LNC）、叶磷含量（LPC）、SLA负相关（P<0.01）,与LA正相关（P<0.01）;PCI与LNC、SLA负相关（P<0.01）,与叶厚度（LT）正相关（P<0.05）。（4）复杂的环境是气孔性状变异的重要驱动因素,SL、PCI均与年均温（MAT）负相关（P<0.05）。     

Certain phenological characters of the shrub layer of Kumaun Himalayan forests

The phenology of 49 shrub species in five forest types occurring along an altitudinal gradient (350–2150 m) in Kumaun Himalaya has been studied. The evergreen leaf-exchanging taxa accounted for nearly half of the species, the remaining half was nearly equally divided between an evergreen continual leaf drop type and deciduous taxa. The percentage of species with lengthy leaf drop increased with elevation and finally leveled off. At each site the maximum leaf drop period coincided with the warm dry period. Percentage of species with multiple leaf flushing was low for all forests. The degree of extended leafing decreased with increasing elevation along which summer dryness also decreased. Earliest leaf initiation was observed for evergreen continual leaf drop species, followed by evergreen leaf-exchanging, and deciduous types.For each forest, two peaks of flowering activity occurred, one during the warm dry period and the other in the warm wet period. The percentage of species with multiple flowering increased with increasing elevation. Nearly half of the species bore fleshy fruits. The mature fruit retention period for different forests ranged from about 2–3 months.The proportion of deciduous species was similar in trees and shrubs; leaf drop was common during the summer season for trees, while it was common during the winter season for shrubs; the proportion of species with multiple leafings was greater and leaf initiation earlier in shrubs than trees; and generally shrubs showed two flowering peaks and trees only one.Nomenclature follows Osmaston (1926).Financial support from the Gaula Catchment Eco-development project and the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, is gratefully acknowledged. We thank Dr. Y. P. S. Pangtey for his help in plant identification.     

Sexual dimorphism and resource allocation in male and female shrubs of Simmondsia chinensis

Summary Desert populations of the evergreen dioecious shrub Simmondsia chinensis exhibit sex-related leaf and canopy dimorphisms not present in populations from more mesic coastal environments. Leaves on female shrubs have characteristically larger sizes, greater specific weights, and greater water-holding capacity than male leaves in desert habitats. In coastal scrub environments no significant difference is present, with leaf characteristics of both sexes similar to those of desert male shrubs. Desert female shrub canopies are typically relatively open with little mutual branch shading. In male shrubs canopies are more densely branched with considerable mutual shading of branches. Female plants allocate a greater proportion of their vegetative resources to leaves than do male plants. Considering total biomass, male plants allocate 10–15% of their resources (biomass, calories, glucose-equivalents, nitrogen, phosphorus) to reproductive tissues. Female allocation is dependent on seed set. At 100% seed set females would allocate 30–40% of their resources to reproduction, while female reproductive investment would equal that of males at approximately 30% seed set. Sexual dimorphism and the associated physiological characteristics in Simmondsia act as an alternative to differential habitat selection by male and female plants. Female plants respond to limited water resources in desert areas by increasing their efficiency in allocating limited resources to reproductive structures.     

沿干旱梯度小叶锦鸡儿灌丛化对草本植物叶片矿质元素浓度及地上生物量累积的影响

草原灌丛化通过改变物种之间的相互作用深刻影响着群落的结构和功能。然而,当前有关灌木如何影响不同功能群草本植物对矿质元素吸收和累积的研究仍明显不足。在内蒙古草原沿干旱梯度选取了4个研究地点,对比分析了小叶锦鸡儿(Caragana microphylla)灌丛斑块内和斑块外群落中禾草和非禾草功能群植物叶中矿质元素浓度以及地上生物量生产的差异,旨在阐明干旱和灌木对群落草本植物叶元素累积的影响,揭示灌草间相互作用的元素利用特征及其随干旱梯度的变化。结果显示：1)随干旱加剧,灌丛斑块内的非禾草功能群植物地上生物量保持恒定,但叶中的K、Ca、Mg、Fe、Mn和Cu元素浓度显著增加(P<0.05)。该结果表明群落中的非禾草功能群植物通过提高叶中的矿质元素水平来抵御和适应干旱胁迫。2)随干旱加剧,灌丛对非禾草功能群植物地上生物量,叶中Ca、Fe、Cu和Zn,禾草功能群植物叶中的P的累积影响从负(RII<0)或中性(RII=0)转变为正效应(RII>0)。该结果与胁迫梯度假说相符,表明灌木对草本植物的促进效应随干旱胁迫加剧而增加。3)灌丛的“沃岛”效应是驱动灌木对草本植物元素累积正效应...     

Vegetation shift from deciduous to evergreen dwarf shrubs in response to selective herbivory offsets carbon losses: evidence from 19 years of warming and simulated herbivory in the subarctic tundra

Selective herbivory of palatable plant species provides a competitive advantage for unpalatable plant species, which often have slow growth rates and produce slowly decomposable litter. We hypothesized that through a shift in the vegetation community from palatable, deciduous dwarf shrubs to unpalatable, evergreen dwarf shrubs, selective herbivory may counteract the increased shrub abundance that is otherwise found in tundra ecosystems, in turn interacting with the responses of ecosystem carbon (C) stocks and CO₂ balance to climatic warming. We tested this hypothesis in a 19‐year field experiment with factorial treatments of warming and simulated herbivory on the dominant deciduous dwarf shrub Vaccinium myrtillus. Warming was associated with a significantly increased vegetation abundance, with the strongest effect on deciduous dwarf shrubs, resulting in greater rates of both gross ecosystem production (GEP) and ecosystem respiration (ER) as well as increased C stocks. Simulated herbivory increased the abundance of evergreen dwarf shrubs, most importantly Empetrum nigrum ssp. hermaphroditum, which led to a recent shift in the dominant vegetation from deciduous to evergreen dwarf shrubs. Simulated herbivory caused no effect on GEP and ER or the total ecosystem C stocks, indicating that the vegetation shift counteracted the herbivore‐induced C loss from the system. A larger proportion of the total ecosystem C stock was found aboveground, rather than belowground, in plots treated with simulated herbivory. We conclude that by providing a competitive advantage to unpalatable plant species with slow growth rates and long life spans, selective herbivory may promote aboveground C stocks in a warming tundra ecosystem and, through this mechanism, counteract C losses that result from plant biomass consumption.