Plant hydraulics and photosynthesis of 34 woody species from different successional stages of subtropical forests

It is important to understand the ecophysiological characters of plants when exploring mechanisms underlying species substitution in the process of plant succession. In the present study, we selected 34 woody species from different stages of secondary succession in subtropical forests of southern China, and measured their hydraulic conductivity, gas exchange rates, leaf nutrients and drought‐tolerance traits such as xylem resistance to cavitation, turgor loss point and carbon isotope ratio. Principal component analysis revealed that early‐, mid‐ and late‐successional species were significantly separated along axis 1, which was strongly associated with hydraulic‐photosynthetic coordination. In contrast to species distributed in late‐successional forest, early‐successional species had the highest hydraulic conductivity, net photosynthetic rates, photosynthetic nitrogen and phosphorus use efficiencies, but had the lowest photosynthetic water‐use efficiency. However, changes of the measured drought‐tolerance traits of the 34 species along the succession did not demonstrate a clear trend – no significant correlations between these traits and plant successional stages were found. Moreover, the trade‐off between hydraulic efficiency and safety was not identified. Taken together, our results suggested that hydraulic efficiency and photosynthetic function, rather than drought tolerance, play an important role in species distributions along plant succession in subtropical forests.     

Nutrient Addition Dramatically Accelerates Microbial Community Succession

The ecological mechanisms driving community succession are widely debated, particularly for microorganisms. While successional soil microbial communities are known to undergo predictable changes in structure concomitant with shifts in a variety of edaphic properties, the causal mechanisms underlying these patterns are poorly understood. Thus, to specifically isolate how nutrients – important drivers of plant succession – affect soil microbial succession, we established a full factorial nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) fertilization plot experiment in recently deglaciated (∼3 years since exposure), unvegetated soils of the Puca Glacier forefield in Southeastern Peru. We evaluated soil properties and examined bacterial community composition in plots before and one year after fertilization. Fertilized soils were then compared to samples from three reference successional transects representing advancing stages of soil development ranging from 5 years to 85 years since exposure. We found that a single application of +NP fertilizer caused the soil bacterial community structure of the three-year old soils to most resemble the 85-year old soils after one year. Despite differences in a variety of soil edaphic properties between fertilizer plots and late successional soils, bacterial community composition of +NP plots converged with late successional communities. Thus, our work suggests a mechanism for microbial succession whereby changes in resource availability drive shifts in community composition, supporting a role for nutrient colimitation in primary succession. These results suggest that nutrients alone, independent of other edaphic factors that change with succession, act as an important control over soil microbial community development, greatly accelerating the rate of succession.     

Models,mechanisms and pathways of succession

The study of succession has been hampered by the lack of a general theory. This is illustrated by confusion over basic concepts and inadequacy of certain models. This review clarifies the basic ideas of pathway, mechanism, and model in succession. Second, in order to prevent inappropriate narrowness in successional studies, we analyze the mechanistic adequacy of the most widely cited models of succession, those of Connell and Slatyer. This analysis shows that models involving a single pathway or a dominant mechanism cannot be treated as alternative, testable hypotheses. Our review shows much more mechanistic richness than allowed by these widely cited models of succession. Classification of the mechanisms of specific replacement, called for by existing models, is problematic and less valuable than the search for the actual mechanisms of particular seres. For example, the “tolerance” mechanism of succession has at least two contrasting meanings and is unlikely to be disentangled from the “inhibition” mechanism in field experiments. However, the understanding of particular species replacements through experiment and knowledge of the conditions of a particular sere and species life histories is a reasonable and desirable goal. Finally, we suggest the need for a broad mechanistic concept of succession. Thus, based on classical causes of succession that have survived recent scrutiny, we erect a framework of successional mechanisms. This framework aims at comprehensiveness, and specific mechanisms are nested within more general causes. As a result of its breadth and hierarchical structure, the framework performs two important functions: First, it provides a context for studies at specific sites and, second, is a scheme for formulating general and testable hypotheses. The review of specific successional mechanisms and the general mechanistic framework can together guide future work on succession, and may foment the development of a broad theory.     

Germination and seedling survival in fens undergoing succession

We studied mechanisms of vegetation change in fens subject to succession from open water to floating mats and finally herbaceous rich-fens. Earlier research showed that these systems are characterized by transient seed banks. Our main question was whether seedlings of later successional fen stages are already present in earlier stages, remaining subordinate in the vegetation until conditions become suitable for them. If, however, conditions during succession change in a way that only a limited set of species can survive as seedlings during each of the successional stages, no seedling bank will exist. The transient character of the seeds would then imply that seeds will not germinate and will subsequently die and that seeds that have germinated in the “wrong” stage will not become established. We hypothesized that: (1) germination and seedling survival of fen species are significantly better in the successional fen stage for which these species are characteristic, (2) as a consequence no seedling banks occur in these fens. In a field experiment, seeds of five characteristic fen species in the standing vegetation of three successional fen stages i.e. raft fen, quaking fen and rich fen were sown in each of these stages in a turf pond in the Tienhoven area, The Netherlands. Germination and seedling survival were measured over two growing seasons together with environmental variables. Germination was higher in the “own” stage for all species groups as was survival for quaking fen species and rich fen species. For both these stages, percentage of germination and survival of four out of five characteristic species were significantly higher in the “own” stage. Germination and survival can be considered stage-dependent and it was concluded that seedling banks do not exist in these fens. Site-specific environmental variables act as a sieve and differentiate on species presence already during early life history stages. We found clues that the environmental sieve acts at the level of nutrient availability, tolerance for high sulphide concentration and light climate. Because of the transient seed bank and absence of a seedling bank in these fen wetlands, successful establishment of species necessitates a continuous dispersal of characteristic species until the environmental conditions permit establishment. This also implies that species of the whole successional sere should be present within dispersal distance.     

Can Establishment Characteristics Explain the Poor Colonization Success of Late Successional Grassland Species on Ex‐Arable Land?

Abstract Many grassland restoration projects on former arable land face problems because early successional grassland species establish vigorously and persistently but late successional grassland species fail to establish. Differences in establishment characteristics of early and late successional species might provide an explanation for the failure of many late successional species to colonize grasslands on ex‐arable land. I examined whether early and late successional species had different establishment rates in the initial years of a grassland succession, whether a specific establishment stage (seedling emergence, mortality or growth) could be identified as the key process controlling establishment, and what management would enhance the establishment of late successional grassland species. Seeds of three early and three late successional species were sown separately in ex‐arable plots with bare soil, 1‐year‐old vegetation, and 2‐year‐old vegetation. Emergence, mortality, and seedling growth were monitored for 1 year. Early successional species established successfully in the bare soil plots but failed to establish in plots with 1‐ and 2‐year‐old vegetation. Late successional species showed either lower establishment rates in the younger succession stages or decreased establishment with succession that nevertheless resulted in significant establishment in the oldest plots. Seedling emergence proved to be the key factor determining the establishment pattern of early and late successional species. In absolute numbers, emergence of late successional species was, however, similar or higher than that of early successional species, even in the earliest succession stage. The poor establishment of late successional species on former arable land could therefore not be explained solely by differences in establishment characteristics between early and late successional grassland species. Competitive processes between early and late successional species later in the life cycle probably play an important role. The results do point out that establishment of late successional species can be promoted by creating vegetative cover from the start of the restoration effort.     

A hierarchical consideration of causes and mechanisms of succession

Questions of successional pattern and causality have been central concerns in vegetation ecology. In this paper we address the limits of the overextended models of Connell and Slatyer by discussing problems encountered in field tests. To help prevent such problems, we define the essential concepts needed to understand succession: pathway, cause, mechanism, and model. We then suggest a more complete enumeration of successional causes, and place them in a three-level hierarchy. The highest level in the hierarchy defines the general and universal conditions under which succession occurs: (1) availability of open sites, (2) differential availability of species, and (3) differential performance of species at the site. To provide a more detailed under-standing of succession, each of these causes is decomposed into ecological processes. A further decomposition results in the third level of the hierarchy, which is required to elucidate the mechanisms of succession at particular sites and to make detailed predictions. The hierarchy allows the appropriate causes to be chosen to answer questions about succession at the desired level of generality or level of organization. Recognizing the appropriate level(s) in the hierarchy is critical for the successful explanation of succession, design of experiments, statement of predictions, construction of models and development of general theory.We thank Prof. Joseph Connell for comments and helpful discussion and Prof. F. A. Bazzaz, Dr. P. S. White, Dr. L. R. Walker and the members of the Plant Strategy and Vegetation Dynamics Lab. at Rutgers for criticism. Preparation of this paper was supported by the Mary Flagler Charitable Trust through the Institute of Ecosystem Studies.     

浙江天童常绿阔叶林不同演替阶段地表凋落物的C:N:P化学计量特征

地表凋落物在森林物质循环中起着重要作用, 但是目前缺乏对其不同分解层次中碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)演替动态的研究。该文以浙江天童常绿阔叶林为研究对象, 用空间代替时间序列的方法, 通过测定5个演替阶段地表凋落物不同分解层次的凋落物量、有机碳库和氮磷养分库的储量及C:N:P化学计量特征, 探讨地表凋落物特征的演替动态。结果表明: 1)随着演替的进行, 地表凋落物量和有机碳储量呈现下降的趋势。2)在各演替阶段, 有机碳含量在各分解层表现出未分解层(L) > 半分解层(F) > 已分解层(Y)的趋势; 有机碳储量均表现为Y < F。3)演替前期群落氮含量和储量显著低于演替中后期群落; 不同分解层的氮含量在各演替阶段皆表现为: Y > F > L, 且各层氮含量随着演替的进行均趋于升高。4)磷含量在演替中期群落最低, 各演替阶段不同分解层的磷含量皆表现为Y > F > L。磷储量的演替趋势不明显。L层磷储量随着演替进行趋于降低。5)随着演替进行, 凋落物C:N、C:P和N:P皆趋于下降(p < 0.05)。在各分解层之间, C:N和C:P皆表现为Y < F < L, N:P差异不显著。总之, 随着演替进行, 天童常绿阔叶林地表凋落物量降低, 有机碳库及氮磷养分库的含量趋于升高, 储量趋向降低, C:N:P趋于下降, 体现了生态系统碳和养分循环随着演替进行在不断优化。     

中亚热带常绿阔叶林不同演替阶段土壤活性有机碳含量及季节动态

为探明不同演替阶段土壤碳吸存潜力,选取演替时间为15a(演替初期)、47a(演替中期)、110a(演替后期)3个中亚热带常绿阔叶林,分析了各演替阶段的土壤有机碳(SOC)含量以及土壤微生物量碳(MBC)、可溶性碳(DOC)和微生物熵(SMQ)的季节变化。结果表明:演替中、后期不同土层的土壤SOC、MBC、DOC含量和SMQ均显著高于演替初期(P<0.05);与演替中期相比,演替后期土壤MBC、DOC含量有所降低,SOC含量和SMQ无显著差异。土壤SOC、MBC和DOC含量随土层加深而显著性降低(演替初、中期DOC除外),并随演替进行逐渐向腐殖质层富集。不同演替阶段MBC、DOC和SMQ均有显著季节变化,最低值出现在秋季,最高值随演替进程由冬季逐步转向夏季。相关分析表明,不同演替阶段土壤活性有机碳含量与土壤有机碳含量极显著相关(P<0.01),且土壤活性有机碳(MBC、DOC)和SMQ对土壤碳库变化更为敏感。     

A stoichiometric model of early plant primary succession

The relative importance of plant facilitation and competition during primary succession depends on the development of ecosystem nutrient pools, yet the interaction of these processes remains poorly understood. To explore how these mechanisms interact to drive successional dynamics, we devised a stoichiometric ecosystem-level model that considers the role of nitrogen and phosphorus limitation in plant primary succession. We applied this model to the primary plant community on Mount St. Helens, Washington State, to check the validity of the proposed mechanisms. Our results show that the plant community is colimited by nitrogen and phosphorus, and they confirm previous suggestions that the presence of a nitrogen-fixing legume, Lupinus lepidus, can enhance community biomass. In addition, the observed nutrient supply rates may promote alternative successional trajectories that depend on the initial plant abundances, which may explain the observed heterogeneity in community development. The model further indicates the importance of mineralization rates and other ecosystem parameters to successional rates. We conclude that a model framework based on ecological stoichiometry allows integration of key biotic processes that interact nonlinearly with biogeochemical aspects of succession. Extension of this approach will improve the understanding of the process of primary succession and its application to ecosystem rehabilitation.     

C:N:P stoichiometry in forest floor litter of evergreen broad-leaved forests at different successional stages in Tiantong,Zhejiang, eastern China

地表凋落物在森林物质循环中起着重要作用, 但是目前缺乏对其不同分解层次中碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)演替动态的研究。该文以浙江天童常绿阔叶林为研究对象, 用空间代替时间序列的方法, 通过测定5个演替阶段地表凋落物不同分解层次的凋落物量、有机碳库和氮磷养分库的储量及C:N:P化学计量特征, 探讨地表凋落物特征的演替动态。结果表明: 1)随着演替的进行, 地表凋落物量和有机碳储量呈现下降的趋势。2)在各演替阶段, 有机碳含量在各分解层表现出未分解层(L) > 半分解层(F) > 已分解层(Y)的趋势; 有机碳储量均表现为Y < F。3)演替前期群落氮含量和储量显著低于演替中后期群落; 不同分解层的氮含量在各演替阶段皆表现为: Y > F > L, 且各层氮含量随着演替的进行均趋于升高。4)磷含量在演替中期群落最低, 各演替阶段不同分解层的磷含量皆表现为Y > F > L。磷储量的演替趋势不明显。L层磷储量随着演替进行趋于降低。5)随着演替进行, 凋落物C:N、C:P和N:P皆趋于下降(p < 0.05)。在各分解层之间, C:N和C:P皆表现为Y < F < L, N:P差异不显著。总之, 随着演替进行, 天童常绿阔叶林地表凋落物量降低, 有机碳库及氮磷养分库的含量趋于升高, 储量趋向降低, C:N:P趋于下降, 体现了生态系统碳和养分循环随着演替进行在不断优化。     

Deterministic processes have limited impacts on foliar fungal endophyte communities along a savanna-forest successional gradient

Patterns and drivers of succession provide insight into the mechanisms that govern community assembly, but remain poorly understood for microbial communities. We assess whether successional trends of trees are mirrored by foliar endophyte communities of three tree species across a deterministic woody successional gradient. Additionally, we test the relative contribution of abiotic predictors, biotic factors, and spatial distance between sites in predicting composition and richness of endophyte communities. Unlike the tree community, endophyte communities showed no consistent evidence of deterministic succession. Host identity was the most important factor structuring endophyte community composition; within hosts, spatial distance from the indigenous forest and between samples was important, while environmental predictors had small and inconsistent effects. Much variation in endophyte composition remained unexplained. In contrast, endophyte richness was well-explained by predictor variables. Host identity was most important in predicting endophyte richness, while the effect of other predictors on richness differed between host species. We conclude that deterministic succession in trees did not result in deterministic succession in endophyte communities; instead community assembly was most strongly influenced by host identity; while within hosts, neutral processes may be more important for endophyte assembly than deterministic factors.     

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities change among three stages of primary sand dune succession but do not alter plant growth

Plant interactions with soil biota could have a significant impact on plant successional trajectory by benefiting plants in a particular successional stage over others. The influence of soil mutualists such as mycorrhizal fungi is thought to be an important feedback component, yet they have shown benefits to both early and late successional plants that could either retard or accelerate succession. Here we first determine if arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi differ among three stages of primary sand dune succession and then if they alter growth of plants from particular successional stages. We isolated AM fungal inoculum from early, intermediate or late stages of a primary dune succession and compared them using cloning and sequencing. We then grew eight plant species that dominate within each of these successional stages with each AM fungal inoculum. We measured fungal growth to assess potential AM functional differences and plant growth to determine if AM fungi positively or negatively affect plants. AM fungi isolated from early succession were more phylogenetically diverse relative to intermediate and late succession while late successional fungi consistently produced more soil hyphae and arbuscules. Despite these differences, inocula from different successional stages had similar effects on the growth of all plant species. Host plant biomass was not affected by mycorrhizal inoculation relative to un‐inoculated controls. Although mycorrhizal communities differ among primary dune successional stages and formed different fungal structures, these differences did not directly affect the growth of plants from different dune successional stages in our experiment and therefore may be less likely to directly contribute to plant succession in sand dunes.     

陆地植物群落物种多样性的梯度变化特征

研究陆地植物落物种多样性随环境因子及群落演替梯度的变化特征是揭示生物多样性与生态因子相互关系的重要方面,根据近期国内外的文献,综述了这方面的研究进展。随纬度的降低,通常物咱多样性随中,随不分梯度的变化,物种多样性的变化有６种趋势;随海拔高的变化,物处多样性有５种模式;随土壤养分梯度的变化,表现出不同的规律;演替过程中物种多样生的变化趋势相似。关于植物群落物种多样性梯度格局的机制有多种假说,但仍需进     

Correspondence of seed traits with niche position in glacier foreland succession

Changes in species composition during succession are driven by biotic and abiotic factors leading to a multitude of niches occupied by distinct species. Gradient analyses of plant communities provide opportunities to approximate the niche position of species along a successional gradient. Several plant traits have been used to explain mechanisms governing successional sequences, but generalising changes in species traits during primary succession is still controversial. This study examined whether the seed mass and the optimum temperature for germination could explain the niche position of several glacier foreland species along a primary successional gradient in the Austrian Central Alps. We hypothesised that pioneer species should possess lighter seeds and a lower optimum temperature for germination than late successional species. We found significant differences in the seed mass between species, but the seed mass did not correspond with the assigned niche position on the successional gradient. Germination responses to temperature also differed significantly between species. Pioneer species performed better at lower temperatures than late successional species, suggesting that the optimum temperature for germination is a driver of niche separation. We discuss the interactions between seed traits and environmental conditions along the primary successional gradient emphasising the importance of temperature requirements for the germination. Differences in the regeneration characteristics are a major cue governing species turnover in glacier foreland succession.     

Secondary succession and summer herbivory in a subarctic grassland: community structure and diversity

A field experiment was established in a subarctic grassland in the Finnish Lapland to study the role of summer herbivory in plant community succession Perennial vegetation and moss cover were removed in an area of 324 m² The site was divided into four blocks, of which two were fenced to prevent herbivory by large mammals (reindeer, hare)
Early successional changes in the vegetation were assessed Mean species richness per 3 × 3 m plot was consistently higher in the fenced area, indicating that herbivory can suppress small-scale diversity Herbivory affected the height of several plant species However, there was no correlation between frequency and height of individual species There was a weak indication that taller species were more successful m early succession when grazed Light competition is apparently not a key process determining successional change Thus, in early stage of succession, summer herbivory has little effect on diversity by limiting light competition, and most species are equally successful in grazed and ungrazed plots There was some indirect evidence about competitive interactions in the developing community However, unlike temperate grasslands, large mammal herbivory and competition for light seem not to be important determinants of community change in this subarctic grassland (at least what concernes early successional stages) This may be explained by the harshness of local climate, and abundance of light due to the polar day     

Drought resistance in early and late secondary successional species from a tropical dry forest: the interplay between xylem resistance to embolism,sapwood water storage and leaf shedding

The mechanisms of drought resistance that allow plants to successfully establish at different stages of secondary succession in tropical dry forests are not well understood. We characterized mechanisms of drought resistance in early and late‐successional species and tested whether risk of drought differs across sites at different successional stages, and whether early and late‐successional species differ in resistance to experimentally imposed soil drought. The microenvironment in early successional sites was warmer and drier than in mature forest. Nevertheless, successional groups did not differ in resistance to soil drought. Late‐successional species resisted drought through two independent mechanisms: high resistance of xylem to embolism, or reliance on high stem water storage capacity. High sapwood water reserves delayed the effects of soil drying by transiently decoupling plant and soil water status. Resistance to soil drought resulted from the interplay between variations in xylem vulnerability to embolism, reliance on sapwood water reserves and leaf area reduction, leading to a tradeoff of avoidance against tolerance of soil drought, along which successional groups were not differentiated. Overall, our data suggest that ranking species' performance under soil drought based solely on xylem resistance to embolism may be misleading, especially for species with high sapwood water storage capacity.     

Vegetation convergence during early succession on coal wastes: a 6‐year permanent plot study

Question: Does the course of succession on a coal mine restored by hydroseeding converge with a reference community in terms of species composition and vegetation structure? What is the rate of succession on restored areas? How does the balance between local colonization and extinction rates change during succession? Which species group (native or hydroseeded) determines the successional process? Location: Large reclaimed coal mine in the north of Palencia province, northern Spain (42°50′N, 4°38′W). Methods: Between 2004 and 2009 we monitored annually vascular plant species cover in nine permanent plots (20 m² each) at a restored mine; these plots were structured to account for site aspect (north, south and flat). Three identical permanent plots were established in the surrounding reference community and monitored in 2004 and 2009. We used detrended correspondence analysis to assess successional trends and rates of succession, generalized linear mixed models to derive patterns of vegetation structural changes and turnover through time, and Huisman–Olff–Fresco modelling to illustrate response of individual species through time. Results: The three restored mine areas exhibited a successional trend towards the reference community through time, although speed of convergence differed. However, after 6 years the restored sites had diverged considerably and this was greater than the dissimilarity reduction with respect to the reference community. Richness, diversity and native species cover increased linearly through time, whereas hydroseeded species cover decreased. Success of hydroseeded species initially differed in the three areas, and this was negatively related with native species colonization rates. Response patterns through time of ten hydroseeded and 20 most common native species are described. Conclusions: Vegetation structural parameters rapidly converged with the reference community, whereas compositional convergence needed much longer. At the same time, successional composition trajectories and rates were related to site properties (here aspect).     

Successional theories

Succession is a fundamental concept in ecology because it indicates how species populations, communities, and ecosystems change over time on new substrate or after a disturbance. A mechanistic understanding of succession is needed to predict how ecosystems will respond to land-use change and to design effective ecosystem restoration strategies. Yet, despite a century of conceptual advances a comprehensive successional theory is lacking. Here we provide an overview of 19 successional theories (‘models’) and their key points, group them based on conceptual similarity, explain conceptual development in successional ideas and provide suggestions how to move forward. Four groups of models can be recognised. The first group (patch & plants) focuses on plants at the patch level and consists of three subgroups that originated in the early 20th century. One subgroup focuses on the processes (dispersal, establishment, and performance) that operate sequentially during succession. Another subgroup emphasises individualistic species responses during succession, and how this is driven by species traits. A last subgroup focuses on how vegetation structure and underlying demographic processes change during succession. A second group of models (ecosystems) provides a more holistic view of succession by considering the ecosystem, its biota, interactions, diversity, and ecosystem structure and processes. The third group (landscape) considers a larger spatial scale and includes the effect of the surrounding landscape matrix on succession as the distance to neighbouring vegetation patches determines the potential for seed dispersal, and the quality of the neighbouring patches determines the abundance and composition of seed sources and biotic dispersal vectors. A fourth group (socio-ecological systems) includes the human component by focusing on socio-ecological systems where management practices have long-lasting legacies on successional pathways and where regrowing vegetations deliver a range of ecosystem services to local and global stakeholders. The four groups of models differ in spatial scale (patch, landscape) or organisational level (plant species, ecosystem, socio-ecological system), increase in scale and scope, and reflect the increasingly broader perspective on succession over time. They coincide approximately with four periods that reflect the prevailing view of succession of that time, although all views still coexist. The four successional views are: succession of plants (from 1910 onwards) where succession was seen through the lens of species replacement; succession of communities and ecosystems (from 1965 onwards) when there was a more holistic view of succession; succession in landscapes (from 2000 onwards) when it was realised that the structure and composition of landscapes strongly impact successional pathways, and increased remote-sensing technology allowed for a better quantification of the landscape context; and succession with people (from 2015 onwards) when it was realised that people and societal drivers have strong effects on successional pathways, that ecosystem processes and services are important for human well-being, and that restoration is most successful when it is done by and for local people. Our review suggests that the hierarchical successional framework of Pickett is the best starting point to move forward as this framework already includes several factors, and because it is flexible, enabling application to different systems. The framework focuses mainly on species replacement and could be improved by focusing on succession occurring at different hierarchical scales (population, community, ecosystem, socio-ecological system), and by integrating it with more recent developments and other successional models: by considering different spatial scales (landscape, region), temporal scales (ecosystem processes occurring over centuries, and evolution), and by taking the effects of the surrounding landscape (landscape integrity and composition, the disperser community) and societal factors (previous and current land-use intensity) into account. Such a new, comprehensive framework could be tested using a combination of empirical research, experiments, process-based modelling and novel tools. Applying the framework to seres across broadscale environmental and disturbance gradients allows a better insight into what successional processes matter and under what conditions.     

Bacterial Succession in Glacial Forefield Soils Characterized by Community Structure,Activity and Opportunistic Growth Dynamics

The succession of bacterial communities inhabiting the forefield of the Dammaglacier (Switzerland) was investigated in soils ranging in successional age from 0 to 100 years since deglaciation. Overall activity per bacterial cell was estimated by the amount of fluorescein diacetate (FDA) hydrolyzed per DAPI-stained cell, and an index of "opportunism" was determined from the ratio of culturable to total cells (C:T ratio). Ribosomal intergenic spacer analysis (RISA) was used to estimate the richness of dominant phylotypes and to construct rank-abundance plots of the dominant populations. We observed a biphasic trend in specific cellular activity, which exhibited minima in the 0- and 100-year-old soils while a maximum activity per cell was reached in the 70-y soil. On average, the C:T ratio showed the same trend as the specific activity, although we observed some differences between the two sampling transects. RISA revealed a decrease in dominant phylotype richness as successional age increased, and rank-abundance plots indicated that the evenness of the dominant bacterial phylotypes significantly decreased with successional age. The combination of specific cellular activity and C:T ratio results suggested the presence of an r-K continuum of bacteria while RISA showed that richness and evenness of dominant phylotypes decreased with successional age. We conclude that bacterial succession in the glacier forefield was a dynamic process with adaptation to the differing stages of succession occurring on both the individual and community levels.     

Mechanisms of successional dynamics: Consumers and the rise and fall of species dominance

Insight into potential mechanisms of succession following disturbance to an ecological community can be gained by considering processes that contribute to the rise (colonization, interactions with established species) and demise (differential mortality) of specific stages within the successional sequence. Most successional theories focus on the rise to dominance, assuming demise is the result of competition, but other factors can cause differential mortality among species, including physical disturbance, senescence, and consumers. In rocky intertidal communities on the coast of Washington state, USA, gaps in mussel beds exhibit a succession from predator-susceptible to predator-resistant species following disturbance, suggesting that differential consumption by mobile species may play an important role in the demise of early succession species and the eventual dominance of the mussel Mytilus californianus. Experimental manipulation of a dominant species earlier in succession, the blue mussel Mytilus trossulus, demonstrated that this species inhibits the invasion of M. californianus in the absence of predators. Experimental manipulation of predatory snails (Nucella emarginata and Nucella canaliculata), which feed heavily on M. trossulus but not M. californianus, greatly increased the rate at which M. californianus invaded gaps. These results and those of other studies indicate that consumers frequently have important effects on the dynamics of succession in benthic marine systems, and might also play a role in other settings.