Interactions between chilean matorral shrubs and phytophagous insects

Summary Lithraea caustica (Mol.) H. et Arn. and Colliguaya odorifera Mol. are two sclerophyllous shrubs of the scrub vegetation in Central Chile. These two species commonly grow in close association on equator-facing slopes. Leaves of L. caustica are severely predated upon by phytophagous insects while those of C. odorifera are rarely attacked. Leaf growth dynamics, leaf loss, and leaf predation by insects were correlated through the year with leaf phenolic compounds. Leaf structural properties (cuticle thickness, density, sclerenchymatic fibers, leaf thickness) were similar between the two species, while leaf phenol content differed significantly. The higher phenol content in C. odorifera may influence leaf palatability, and thus account for the observed lower leaf area loss in that species due to insect damage.     

Root studies in the Chilean matorral

Summary The roots of matorral shrubs were excavated from an 18 m² site of a mixed matorral stand located on a 27° NE facing slope at 1000 m elevation 40 km NNW from Santiago de Chile. The climate in this area is similar to that of the Southern Californian chaparral. The main species present were Lithraea caustica, Cryptocarya alba, Colliguaya odorifera, Mutisia retusa, and Satureja gilliesii. After harvesting the above ground biomass, the soil was washed out in 20 cm layers down to a depth of 60 cm. The roots were harvested according to their position in the site, separated into species and root size classes. Soil analysis indicated a fertile and deep reaching, clayish soil. L. caustica was a deep rooting species with many thick roots growing deeper than 60 cm. This species had a massive burl of 67 kg dry weight in the excavation site. Cryptocarya was less deep rooting, and C. odorifera had a shallow root system. It is thought that the root: shoot biomass ratios of 4.9 and 1.4 for L. caustica and C. alba respectively are indicative of the forest character of this site in the past. This forest would have been destroyed by continuous charcoal manufacture. The bulk of the fine roots was found in the 20–40 cm soil layer. The average distance between fine roots was calculated as 1.9 cm. The results were compared with an earlier excavation in the Californian chaparral.     

Nitrogen in litterfall and precipitation and its release during litter decomposition in the Chilean piedmont matorral

Parts of the nitrogen cycle involving two dominants (Lithraea caustica andQuillaja saponaria) in the Chilean piedmont matorral have been studied over a 15-month period. Analyses showed that 8.2 kg N ha^?1 yr^?1 entered the system in rainfall and dry deposition, though impaction of N-containing compounds on vegetation (not measured) may elevate this value.L. caustica, by virtue of its greater percent cover, contributed more leaf litter than didQ. saponaria to the system (1089,vs 737 kg dry matter ha^?1 yr^?1, respectively), although on an individual basisQ. saponaria produced more litter (640,vs 350 g dry leaf litter m^?2 yr^?1 rL. caustica). This plus the greater nitrogen release ofL. caustica leaf litter during decomposition (2.61,vs 0.60 g N kg dry litter^?1 yr^?1 forQ. saponaria) andQ. saponaria's higher N-content of dropped leaves (0.54,vs 0.37% N forL. caustica) may indicate a more external cycling of nitrogen inQ. saponaria relative to that inL. caustica. These two species may therefore represent two different strategies of individual nitrogen cycling, external and internal.     

Temperature effect on autochory inColliguaya odorifera (Euphorbiaceae)

Colliguaya odorifera Mol. is the only species of the Chilean matorral which shows an active dispersion of its seeds (autochory). This mechanism is dependent on daily variation of temperatures. Other climatic variables (air humidity of vapor pressure deficit) appear as not having direct influences on seed dispersal.     

Effect of defoliation on leaf growth,sexual expression and reproductive success of Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (Euphorbiaceae)

Several studies on herbivory have shown that plants may have different responses to foliar damage. Most studies have been done using hermaphroditic species, here we present, using a defoliation experiment, different types of response to foliar damage by the monoecious Cnidosculus acontifolius. We evaluated four treatments: natural herbivory (control), and 25%, 50% and 100% artificial defoliation. The results suggest that this species is capable of showing the following compensatory responses: (a) undercompensation in total production of flowers and in fruit set (damage >25%); (b) full compensation in seed weight (all levels of damage); and (c) overcompensation in leaf growth and in the proportion of female flower production (damage 25%). The results show that C. aconitifolius can exhibit a very fast and plastic response depending on the intensity of damage and the time since defoliation. The increase in foliar growth suggests a long-term tolerance response to hervibory, whereas the change in the proportion of female flowers produced does not appear to have a long-term effect due to the decrease of fruit production in all levels of damage. We suggest that the response in foliar growth and the change in sexual expression by C. aconitifolius, are associated with the high resource availability conditions prevalent in the population studied.     

Differential growth and recovery rates following defoliation in related deciduous and evergreen trees

 Deciduous larches, Larix spp., and evergreen pines, Pinus spp., are sympatric Pinaceae conifers. Adjacent monocultures of 10-year-old Larix decidua Mill. and Pinus resinosa Ait. were subjected to single-season artificial defoliation by clipping from 0% to 99% of each needle. Survival, above-ground productivity, and architecture were measured for 36 months. P. resinosa and L. decidua exhibited differential relationships with defoliation intensity and recovery time. Two months after treatment, defoliation reduced larch height growth but had no effect on radial growth. By contrast, P. resinosa stem radial growth was reduced immediately, but height growth was not decreased until the following year. Pine leader growth and above-ground biomass following 66% defoliation never recovered to control values or 33% defoliated pines. Conversely, defoliated larch quickly recovered from an initial growth loss to eliminate all treatment effects on biomass. The plasticity in architectural response found in larch, but not pine, might partially account for defoliation tolerance. Both P. resinosa and L. decidua exhibited non-linear responses to defoliation. These patterns may be caused partially by the uneven distribution of nutrients within needles, rather than a simple function of leaf area lost to defoliators. Concentrations of 13 nutrients in P. resinosa were highest either in the mid- (Ca, Mg, S, Zn, B, Mn, Fe, Al and Na) or basal- (N, P, K, and Cu) section. The relatively low nutrient content in needle tips may contribute to similar biomass productivity between trees defoliated 33% and controls. Removal of needle mid-sections significantly reduced whole-plant productivity. In contrast, L. decidua nutrients are concentrated in the distal sections. Nutrient concentrations were generally highest in larch. Our results agree with an emergent prediction of the carbon/nutrient balance theory that defoliation more severely reduces growth of evergreen than deciduous species. These results are discussed within the physiological, ecological and evolutionary context of allocation theory, with implications for natural resource management and plant-insect interaction theory. Received: 6 April 1995 / Accepted: 29 August 1995     

Tristerix tetrandrus (Loranthaceae) and its host-plants in the Chilean matorral: patterns and mechanisms

Summary Interactions between a Chilean mistletoe, quintral (Tristerix tetrandrus, Loranthaceae) and its potential host plants were studied at a site with mediterranean type climate. The results show that the distribution of T. tetrandrus is related to the behavior of avian dispersers, which feed on its fruit, and evacuate the seeds at random in the field, but the distribution is also influenced bymicroenvironmental conditions, survival of seedlings is hampered at drier locations. The infection capacity of the seeds is increased after birds have eliminated the fruit coat.Survival of T. tetrandrus seeds differed depending on the species to which they were attached experimentally. Seeds germinated, and plants developed on Colliguaya odorifera and Kageneckia oblonga, previously reported as susceptible to infection. Survival was significantly higher on C. odorifera, although in the field it is infected less frequently than K. oblonga. In species on which no T. tetrandrus has been previously reported, resistance to infection might be ascribed to different mechanisms: in Quillaja saponaria, differentiation of cork layers apparently prevents penetration by haustoria; in Lithraea caustica haustoria enter the cortex and phloem, but no further development ensues. K. oblonga seldom bears more than one T. tetrandrus plant. Experimental inoculations showed that significantly more seeds developed into plants on K. oblonga individuals not previously infected with quintral, suggesting that they become resistant to infection.     

Compensatory growth response of the legume, Medicago sativa, to defoliation and denodulation

A laboratory study was conducted to determine the effects of defoliation and denodulation on compensatory growth of Medicago sativa (L.). Plants grown hydroponically in clear plastic growth pouches were subjected to 0 and 50% nodule pruning, and 0, 25, 50, and 75% defoliation by clipping trifoliate leaves. An additional experiment was conducted to determine if clipping leaves simulated herbivory by Hypera postica (Gyllenhal) larvae. Previously, we determined that nodule pruning accurately simulated herbivory by Sitona hispidulus (L.) larvae (Quinn & Hall, 1992). Results indicated that denodulation stimulated nodule growth and caused exact compensation in standing and total number of nodules per plant within 15 days and in standing nodule biomass within 22 days of treatment. Denodulation caused a significant reduction (13%) in final shoot biomass, but did not affect significantly final root biomass. Percentage of change in number of trifoliate leaves per plant increased with the level of defoliation. Within 22 days of treatment, total number of trifoliate leaves per plant was similar to controls. However, final standing shoot biomasses were significantly less that controls, indicating undercompensatory growth. Shoot biomasses of the 25-, 50-, and 75%-defoliated plants were 18, 20, and 36% lower than controls, respectively. Nodule biomass per plant was reduced by 24 and 32% in 50- and 75%-defoliated plants, respectively, but was not affected significantly by 25% defoliation. Root biomass was affected by all levels of defoliation. Clipping trifoliate leaves accurately simulated defoliation by H. postica larvae. Our results indicated that partial defoliation affected shoot, root, and nodule biomass of M. sativa, but that partial denodulation only affected shoot biomass.     

Artificial Defoliation Induces Trichome Production in the Tropical Shrub Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (Euphorbiaceae)1

Induction of plant defenses and their spatial variability are key subjects in the field of ecology and evolution of defensive traits in plants. Nevertheless, induction has been more commonly studied under controlled environments, ignoring other factors that might influence this process in natural settings. The main goal of this study was to determine if artificial defoliation induces trichome production in three natural populations of the tropical shrub Cnidoscolus aconitifolius. First, we performed trichome counts for each population before imposing artificial defoliation to assess differences in trichome loads between populations. Trichome densities (trichomes/cm²) were quantified for leaf blades, petioles, and flower stalks. To determine if defoliation induced trichome production, three defoliation treatments (0% leaves defoliated or controls, 50% of total leaves defoliated, and 100% defoliation) were applied once at the beginning of the reproductive season. Trichome counts were performed on each structure every ～20 d during a 3‐mo period after the application of treatments. Trichome counts showed significant differences in trichome densities between populations for all three structures. In turn, artificial defoliation increased trichome density. Significant differences among treatments were found for trichome densities on leaf blades and petioles. In both these structures, the 100 percent defoliation treatment differed significantly from control plants, presenting higher trichome densities. In addition, the treatment × population interaction was not significant for leaf blades and petioles, indicating that induction is a generalized response in this species, at least at the study sites. These results indicate that trichomes in C. aconitifolius are inducible due to defoliation.     

Partial compensation in Psychotria marginata (Rubiaceae) after simulated defoliation increases photon capture and photosynthesis

We used Y-plant, a computer-based model of plant crown architecture analysis, to simulate effects of defoliation on daily canopy carbon gain in Psychotria marginata (Rubiaceae) plants under two contrasting irradiances. Five levels of defoliation were simulated using two different types of leaf blade damage. Compensatory increases in photon-saturated photosynthetic capacity (P _max) of 25, 50, and 100 % defoliation were also simulated. In all simulations daily photon capture and CO₂ assimilation increased with defoliation. However, without a compensatory response, daily canopy carbon gain also decreased with defoliation. Under high irradiance, reduction in daily canopy carbon gain was less than what would be expected if the response was proportional to leaf area reduction. Thus, 25 and 50 % defoliation resulted in only 20 and 41 % of daily canopy carbon gain reduction, respectively. In the scenario where 25 % of the leaf area was removed, if the P _max value was increased by 25 %, the remaining leaves compensated for 94 % of the daily canopy carbon relative to an undamaged non-compensated plant. At the same defoliation level, incrementing P _max values by 50 and 100 % resulted in overcompensation. Hence, because the increment of daily photon capture and CO₂ assimilation after defoliation was more a passive consequence of the reduction in leaf area than an active response, under the conditions tested photosynthetic compensation could be only possible through an active mechanism such as the increment of P _max values.     

Structure and genetic diversity in Colliguaja odorifera Mol. (Euphorbiaceae), a shrub subjected to Pleisto-Holocenic natural perturbations in a mediterranean South American region

Aim Colliguaja odorifera Mol., a Euphorbiaceous shrub of central Chile, inhabits the matorral formation, growing at low altitudes on both Andean and coastal mountain range slopes. In the recent geological past, this region was subjected to climatic changes and geological disturbances that most probably caused population shrinkages on the Andean mountain slopes. This study tested the hypothesis that under such a scenario, existing populations should show lower genetic diversity in the Andean than in the coastal areas; these coastal populations being the potential source populations for recolonization. Location The study was carried out in central Chile by comparing the genetic diversity between the Andean and coastal areas, each represented by five localities distributed from 32°30′ S to 34° S. Methods Genetic diversity was estimated by DNA analysis using 18 dominant multilocus Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) loci, characterizing 73 genetic phenotypes. Results The comparison of the two matorral areas showed that Andean populations of C. odorifera have a subset of the genetic diversity found in the coastal populations. Andean populations also show a consistently lower genetic diversity, lower genetic distances and higher genetic structure, coincident with expectations based on the Pleisto‐Holocenic perturbation regime. Main conclusions This first genetic analysis for South American mediterranean populations confirms the findings of previous floristic and palynological studies that identified refuge zones in the coastal mountain range of central Chile, a situation analogous with that occurring during periods of inter‐glacial northward migration in Southern Europe.     

PHOTOSYNTHESIS RESPONSE OF ‘CAROLINA’ CUCUMBER TO SIMULATED AND ACTUAL STRIPED CUCUMBER BEETLE (COLEOPTERA: CHRYSOMELI-DAE) DEFOLIATION*

Abstract Field studies were conducted in 1995 to compare the photosynthesis response between simulated striped cucumber beetle, Acalymma vittatum (F.), defoliation and actual A. vittatum defoliation in ‘Carolina’ cucumber. Six simulated defoliation levels (0%–100%)were used over 5 timings of defoliation (first true leaf to harvest). Plots were defoliated with scissors twice each week throughout each timing interval, and defined as continuous defoliation. In addition to continuous defoliation, one-time simulated defoliation treatments were imposed using the same timing treatments but only 4 defoliation levels (0, 25, 50, and 100%). Two cage studies, with A. vittatum adults, were used to provide estimates of actual insect defoliation injury. Beetles were placed in cages for 2 weeks at densities of 0, 1, 3, 5, and 10/plant and net photosynthetic rates were measured. No significant differences (P <0. ⁰⁵ were detected in pho-tosynthetic rates between simulated and actual insect defoliation treatments. Also, few significant differences in photosynthetic rates were detected between damaged and undamaged leaves in the simulated insect defoliation study. Results indicated that the simulated insect defoliation procedure appeared to accurately reflect the growth response of ‘Carolina’ cucumber subjected to actual A. vittatum defoliation, and that simulated defoliation results should be appropriate for developing economic injury levels for A. vittatum on cucumber.     

The effect of manual defoliation and Macaria pallidata (Geometridae) herbivory on Mimosa pigra: Implications for biological control

Trials were conducted to test the effects of artificial defoliation and defoliation by Macaria pallidata (Warren) (Geometridae) larvae on the invasive weed Mimosa pigra L. Herbivory is generally thought to be detrimental to plant fitness but it is well documented that many plants can increase growth rates or reproduction to compensate for damage. The compensatory ability of an invasive plant has implications for the potential success of defoliating biocontrol agents. Mimosa compensated for 25% manual defoliation, but at 50% and 100% defoliation levels plants suffered a significant reduction in growth rate, height, stem diameter, and biomass. Defoliation by one cohort of macaria larvae, at densities of eight larvae per plant, significantly reduced growth rates and plant height after 1 week. There were no differences between the effects of macaria larvae and manually simulated defoliation. These results suggest that defoliating biocontrol agents can have a valuable role in mimosa control programs.     

Diapause and biological cycle of Cydalima perspectalis (Walker) in the eastern Pyrenees

Boxwood is a very important component of the natural forests of the eastern Pyrenees. In the low altitudes of these forests, the invasive species Cydalima perspectalis (Walker) causes considerable damage, and there is concern that it will migrate towards the natural forests at higher altitudes. To determine the biological parameters of the local pest population, a semiartificial diet with lyophilized powdered Buxus sempervirens L. leaves was developed. The results obtained indicate that the studied population of C. perspectalis is very similar to the native Japanese population in terms of the number of larval instars to complete development, the development rate and the critical photoperiod for the induction of diapause. It has also been demonstrated that long photoperiods can shorten the duration of larval development. The diapause induction response was classified as type I, and diapause termination was classified as type III. At the two studied temperatures, 25º and 15ºC, the larvae seemed to require a similar number of days in diapause, approximately 3 months, to spontaneously resume development; temperatures can also prompt larvae to resume development. The critical photoperiod in the study area occurs during the second half of August, varying somewhat according to temperature. The greatest defoliation is caused by the offspring of the first generation, while the majority of the larval offspring of the second generation will enter diapause. The survival of natural boxwood in this area will depend on its ability to regrow one or two years after extensive defoliation and on the adaptation of several indigenous natural enemies in the region to feed on C. perspectalis.     

Interactive effects of defoliation and an AM fungus on plants and soil organisms in experimental legume–grass communities

We established a 13‐week greenhouse experiment based on replicated microcosms to test whether the effects of defoliation on grassland plants and soil organisms depend on plant species composition and the presence of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The experiment constituted of three treatment factors – plant species composition, inoculation of an AM fungus and defoliation – in a fully factorial design. Plant species composition had three levels: (1) Trifolium repens monoculture (T), (2) Phleum pratense monoculture (P) and (3) mixture of T. repens and P. pratense (T+P), while the AM inoculation and the defoliation treatment had two levels: (1) no inoculation of AM fungi and (2) inoculation of the AM fungus Glomus claroideum BEG31, and (1) no trimming, and (2) trimming of all plant material to 6 cm above the soil surface three times during the experiment, respectively. At the final harvest, AM colonization rate of plant roots differed between the plant species compositions, being on average 45% in T, 33% in T+P and 4% in P. Defoliation did not affect the colonization rate in T but raised the rate from 1% to 7% in P and from 20% to 45% in T+P. Shoot production and standing shoot and root biomass were 48%, 85% and 68% lower, respectively, in defoliated than in non‐defoliated systems, while the AM fungus did not affect shoot production and root mass but reduced harvested shoot mass by 8% in non‐defoliated systems. Of the plant quality attributes, defoliation enhanced the N concentration of harvested shoot biomass by 129% and 96% in P and T+P, respectively, but had no effect in T, while the C concentration of shoot biomass was on average 2.7% lower in defoliated than in non‐defoliated systems. Moreover, defoliation reduced shoot C yield (the combined C content of defoliated and harvested shoot biomass) on average by 47% across all plant species compositions and shoot N yield by 37% in T only. In contrast to defoliation, the AM fungus did not affect shoot N and C concentrations or shoot N yield, but induced 10% lower C yield in non‐defoliated systems and 17% higher C yield in defoliated T. In roots, defoliation led to 56% and 21% higher N concentration in P and T+P, respectively, and 28% higher C concentration in P, while the mycorrhizal fungus lowered root N concentration by 9.7% in defoliated systems and had no effect on root C concentrations. In the soil, the nematode community was dominated by bacterivores and the other trophic groups were found in a few microcosms only. Bacterivores were 45% more abundant in defoliated than in non‐defoliated systems, but were not affected by plant species composition or the AM fungus. Soil inorganic N concentration was significantly increased by defoliation in T+P, while the mycorrhizal fungus reduced NH₄–N concentration by 40% in T. The results show that defoliation had widespread effects in our experimental systems, and while the effects on plant growth were invariably negative and those on bacterivorous nematodes invariably positive, most effects on plant C and N content and soil inorganic N concentration varied depending on the plant species present. In contrast, the effects of defoliation did not depend on the presence of the AM fungus, which suggests that while the relative abundance of legumes and grasses is likely to have a significant role in the response of legume–grass communities to defoliation, the role of AM fungi may be less important. In line with this, the AM fungus had only a few significant effects on plant and soil attributes in our systems and each of them was modified by defoliation and/or plant species composition. This suggests that the effects of AM fungi in legume–grass communities may largely depend on the plant species present and whether the plants are grazed or not.     

Biochemical analysis of four species ofCassia L. pollen

The present paper describes the comparative biochemical studies in terms of quantitative analyses of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, free amino acids, nucleic acids, minerals, ash and moisture as well as the identification of free amino acids of pollen of four species ofCassia L. (C. alata L,C. fistula L,C. occidentalis L andC. siamea Lam.). A significant variation in the chemical constituents was observed among the four species.C. occidentalis showed the highest levels of carbohydrate (15.15%) and protein (22.45%), andC. siamea had the lowest levels of carbohydrate (7.15%), lipid (6.2%) and protein (13.85%).C. alata andC. fistula showed intermediate results. However,C. alata showed the highest amount of free amino acids (3.8%) and the least of 1.42% was found inC. fistula. Thin layer chromatography (TLC) of free amino acids of the four species showed some homology in their amino acid content, of which proline, glutamic acid, methionine and phenyl-alanine were the most dominant. The level of nucleic acids and minerals was found to be comparatively low.C. siamea andC. alata showed an exceptionally high level of ash content (8.6 and 8.8%, respectively) while moisture content varied from 8 to 11%.     

施氮及不同根系分隔模式对尾叶桉和降香黄檀幼苗生长及叶片生理特性的影响

豆科与非豆科树种混交作为一种人工林培育可持续发展模式,在保证木材产量和维持氮素平衡中发挥了重要作用。该研究通过大棚盆栽试验,设计3个施氮水平(0、3、6g·株-1)及3种根系分隔方式(不隔、网隔、膜隔),分析了不同氮素水平及根系分隔模式对尾叶桉(Eucalyptus urophylla)与降香黄檀(Dalbergia odorifera)植株幼苗生长、叶片生理特性、根系形态及生物量的影响。结果表明:(1)随施氮量的增加,尾叶桉与降香黄檀的苗高、地径均呈递增趋势;不同根系分隔模式下,尾叶桉苗高、地径均在不隔模式下生长最好,降香黄檀则在膜隔模式下生长最好。(2)与不施氮处理相比,施氮3、6g·株-1水平下尾叶桉与降香黄檀叶片的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、过氧化物酶(POD)活性及可溶性蛋白含量均显著升高,而丙二醛(MDA)含量则呈降低趋势。(3)尾叶桉与降香黄檀根系的总长度、总表面积、总体积、平均直径、根尖数和比根长均随氮素水平的增加而增加,且各氮素水平间的差异显著;同一氮素水平下,尾叶桉的根系生长总体表现为不隔网隔膜隔,而降香黄檀根系生长则表现为膜隔不隔网隔,且两树种不同分隔模式间差异显著。(4)尾叶桉与降香黄檀各器官生物量及总生物量均随施氮量的增加而增加,并在6g·株-1施氮水平下生物量最大;各器官生物量分配中,尾叶桉各器官生物量所占比例大小依次为:茎(40.59%)叶(32.37%)根(27.04%),降香黄檀各器官生物量所占比例大小依次为:根(47.67%)茎(40.08%)叶(12.25%)。研究表明,尾叶桉与降香黄檀混交一定程度上扩展了根系横向和纵向水平的养分生态位,扩大了根系吸收土壤养分的空间,同时根系互作提高了降香黄檀的固氮能力,对土壤有效氮的产生有较大影响。     

The effects of thinning and gypsy moth defoliation on wood volume growth in oaks

Stem dissection and dendroecological methods were used to examine the effects of thinning and defoliation by gypsy moth (Lymantria dispar L.) on wood volume increment in oaks (Quercus rubra L., Q. alba L., Q. prinus L.). A model was developed to evaluate radial volume increment growth at three time periods: before defoliation, during defoliation and after defoliation, as a function of species, defoliation intensity and crown position. Volume increment during these same time periods was also compared at different stem locations. Trees were defoliated for two consecutive years and results indicated that volume loss was greater during the second year of defoliation with complete recovery taking 2–3 years after defoliation. Oaks in thinned stands had similar reductions in annual volume increment during defoliation as those in the unthinned stand. Annual volume increment demonstrated a decreasing trend from stump to base of the live crown and volume increment of the lowest log (from stump height to 1.37 m), was always higher than upper log sections, even during defoliation. Both earlywood and latewood increments were reduced during defoliation; however, latewood reductions were distributed along entire stems while earlywood reductions were greater on upper stem sections within the crown.     

引种降香黄檀和顶果木对石漠化山区土壤磷素转化及其有效性的影响

我国西南岩溶区石漠化严重,植被覆盖率低,土壤贫瘠。植被恢复作为一项重要的生态治理措施,在提高土壤养分有效性,增加生物多样性和改善生态环境等方面发挥着极其重要的作用。以广西马山县经过8年植被恢复的4种样地类型(降香黄檀纯林;顶果木纯林;降香黄檀/顶果木混交林;相邻的天然灌草丛作为对照组)为研究对象,探讨了引进固氮树种(降香黄檀和顶果木)及其种植模式对石漠化山区土壤磷素转化及其有效性的影响。研究结果表明：(1)降香黄檀/顶果木混交林土壤的有机质(SOM)、硝态氮(NO~-₃-N)、有效磷(AP)、微生物生物量碳(MBC)、微生物生物量氮(MBN)和微生物生物量磷(MBP)含量均显著高于对照(P<0.05);降香黄檀/顶果木混交林、顶果木纯林和降香黄檀纯林的全磷(TP)相比于对照组更易转化为AP,其中以降香黄檀/顶果木混交林的效果最佳。(2)相关分析结果表明,土壤NH~+₄-N、NO~-₃-N和MBN与AP分别呈显著线性正相关(P<0.05),MBN与MBP呈极显著线性正相关(P<0.01)。(3)引种降香黄...     

Branch growth and leaf numbers of red maple (Acer rubrum L.) and red oak (Quercus rubra L.): response to defoliation

Summary Branch growth and leaf formation from terminal and from lateral buds of red maple (Acer rubrum L.) and red oak (Quercus rubra L.) were measured in response to simulated insect defoliation. A single large branch representative of the crown of each tree was used for enumeration of growth and of bud numbers throughout three successive years of 0, 50, 75, and 100% leaf removal for the entire tree. Leaf number per tree for both species after the last year of defoliation was reduced in direct proportion to the severity of defoliation, in comparison to the predefoliation status of the trees. Bud number per tree for red maple, but not for red oak, was also reduced in proportion to severity of defoliation.Averaged over all defoliation treatments, defoliation reduced branch growth more than leaf production. Furthermore, the reduction in branch growth and leaf production was greater in red oak than in red maple. Three years of successive defoliation reduced the mean lateral plus terminal branch growth by 40% in red oak and by 23% in red maple, while leaf number was reduced 22% in red oak and remained unchanged in red maple. In red maple, 100% defoliation caused greater branch death than the 50 or 75% defoliation treatments, and the amount of death was greater after each successive year of defoliation. In contrast to red maple, undefoliated red oak incurred a substantial amount of branch death throughout the study which was little affected by defoliation treatment.