造纸废水灌溉黄河三角洲重度退化滨海盐碱湿地对土壤化学性质的影响

造纸废水含有大量有机营养物质,可以用来恢复退化湿地。研究了处理后的造纸废水灌溉重度退化滨海盐碱湿地对土壤pH值、水溶性总盐、Na+、Cl-以及营养成分的影响。结果表明:灌溉后土壤pH值略有升高,没有加重土壤碱化;土壤水溶性总盐、Na+、Cl-分别比对照降低9.61%37.05%、3.16%21.66%、5.38%28.44%,且上层土壤降低率高于中下层土壤;土壤有机质、碱解氮、速效磷含量显著提高,增加率分别比对照高13.68%31.45%、30.01%101.2%、1.08%18.28%;速效钾含量没有显著提高。和正常芦苇湿地比较可知:灌溉后重度退化滨海盐碱湿地土壤化学性质得到改善,达到芦苇生长条件,可以进行芦苇湿地的恢复与重建。     

水文连通强度对芦苇、碱蓬生态化学计量的影响

【摘要】黄河三角洲以芦苇(Phragmites australis)和盐地碱蓬(Suaeda salsa)等植物建立的湿地生态系统对维持区域生态安全有着十分重要的作用。近年来由于受到人类活动和气候变化的双重影响, 该区域湿地出现了不同程度的退化。目前黄河三角洲自然保护区正在探索引入水文连通理论指导退化湿地的恢复和重建工作。本研究以实验室模拟结合生态化学计量方法, 探究不同水文连通强度的补水修复措施对建群种芦苇和碱蓬的生长及化学计量的影响。研究结果表明较弱的水文连通强度有利于碱蓬生长, 而水文连通强度对芦苇生长影响不显著; 碱蓬体内氮磷元素含量随水文连通减弱而增加, 芦苇体内氮磷元素含量则不受水文连通强度影响。此外, 植物体内氮磷比主要取决于土壤内的氮磷元素含量, 水文连通对植物体内氮磷比的影响并不显著。     

大凌河口湿地水盐梯度下翅碱蓬的生态阈值

基于大凌河口湿地翅碱蓬生物量、密度、株高、株重等生物指标之间极显著的相关性,选取生物量为指标,研究不同土壤理化因子条件下,翅碱蓬种群分布的变化规律。结果表明:翅碱蓬生物量自然对数分别与土壤盐分、水分含量之间具有极显著的一元二次曲线拟合关系,表明翅碱蓬群落分布受土壤水分、盐分的影响;用高斯模型求解出大凌河口湿地翅碱蓬随土壤水盐变化的生态阈值,翅碱蓬的最适土壤盐分为12.14 g·kg-1,生态阈值区间为5.02~19.26 g·kg-1,最适生态阈值区间为8.58~15.70 g·kg-1;翅碱蓬最适土壤水分为59.82%,生态阈值区间为22.02%~97.62%,最适生态阈值区间为40.92%~78.72%。上述研究结论为河口湿地翅碱莲生境保护与植被修复提供了科学依据。     

NaCl胁迫对2种表型盐地碱蓬种子萌发的渗透效应和离子效应研究

采用高低2个浓度的NaCl、LiCl及等渗甘露醇溶液处理紫红色表型(紫色型)和绿色表型(绿色型)盐地碱蓬种子,通过测定它们的种子萌发率、吸胀速率和胚内离子含量,研究NaCl胁迫对2种表型种子萌发的离子效应和渗透效应.结果表明:(1)2种表型盐地碱蓬种子萌发率在高浓度(300 mmol/L)和低浓度(100 mmol/L)NaCl处理下均显著降低,紫色型种子萌发率在低浓度下显著低于绿色型,而在高浓度下却显著高于绿色型;绿色型种子萌发率在高浓度(30 mmol/L)和低浓度(10 mmol/L)LiCl处理下均未受到显著影响,但紫色型种子萌发率却均极显著降低;2种表型盐地碱蓬种子萌发率在低浓度等渗甘露醇处理下均极显著低于低浓度NaCl处理,而高浓度等渗甘露醇处理却均与高浓度NaCl处理无显著差异.(2)2表型种盐地碱蓬种子的吸胀速率在低浓度NaCl处理下没有受到显著影响,但高浓度NaCl处理及与之等渗的高浓度甘露醇处理下都显著降低,而且紫色型种子的吸胀速率在等渗甘露醇处理时显著高于绿色型.(3)2种表型盐地碱蓬种子胚中的Na 含量和Na /K 在对照和低浓度NaCl处理下无显著差异,但紫色型种子胚中的Na 、K 含量在高浓度NaCl处理时都显著高于对照,且K 含量增加的幅度远大于Na 含量,导致紫色型种子胚中的Na /K 显著低于绿色型.研究发现,盐地碱蓬种子萌发在低浓度NaCl胁迫下主要受离子效应抑制,而高浓度NaCl胁迫下则主要受渗透效应抑制,紫色型种子萌发率在高浓度NaCl胁迫下高于绿色型的原因之一是前者能维持更低的Na /K 比.     

不同温度及盐碱环境下盐地碱蓬的萌发策略

为了研究黄河三角洲优势种盐地碱蓬在不同胁迫环境条件下的萌发策略,分别在不同温度、盐度、碱度以及海水原溶液条件下,进行了室内萌发实验,并且测量了其幼苗体内的Na+和K+含量.结果表明,盐地碱蓬种子发芽所需要的积温和最低温度分别为24.57℃·d和0.62℃,最适发芽温度为20℃～35℃,在温度5℃～40℃下均表现出较高的发芽率而且5℃～35℃下发芽速度随温度升高而显著增加.盐地碱蓬具有较高的耐盐性,当盐浓度达到500 mmol·L-1时,发芽率均高于50%,并且在100%海水溶液浓度下发芽率也能达到38%,高盐条件下未萌发的种子转移到淡水中,均表现出较高的复萌率.盐地碱蓬幼苗体内Na+含量随盐度(NaCl溶液浓度)升高而显著增加,而K+含量在该盐度下差异不显著;幼苗体内Na+、K+含量在高碱度(200和300 mmol·L-1 NaHCO3)中均显著低于其在低碱度(100mmol·L-1NaHCO3溶液)中的含量,说明碱胁迫对幼苗生长产生了显著性影响;Na+、K+含量均随着海水溶液浓度增加而显著增加.因此,盐地碱蓬种子萌发的广温性、高耐盐性、高盐环境中的种子高存活率以及幼苗的较强的耐盐能力是盐地碱蓬种群在黄河三角洲适应滨海盐碱湿地复杂环境的主要生存策略.     

贮存时间对盐地碱蓬种子萌发及生长特征的影响

研究黄河三角洲滨海湿地不同贮存年限盐地碱蓬种子的萌发及植株生长特征,以期为利用土壤种子库进行滨海湿地盐地碱蓬群落的恢复提供科学数据。种子萌发实验结果显示：随着种子贮存年限的增加,盐地碱蓬种子活力呈明显下降趋势(P<0.05),表现为种子发芽率和发芽速度的下降;在同一盐度条件下,盐地碱蓬种子发芽率、发芽速度随贮存年限增加呈线性下降趋势;同一年限的种子随盐度的增加,发芽率呈线性下降趋势。植株生长实验结果显示：贮存时间短的种子出苗率高于贮存时间久的种子;随着贮存时间的增加,盐地碱蓬植株的密度呈下降趋势,但植株高度、含水量及单株鲜重及干重无明显差异,而单位面积生物总量差异显著(P<0.05)。在未来滨海湿地盐地碱蓬群落的修复过程中,应该根据滨海湿地的退化时间制定盐地碱蓬群落的恢复方案。研究结果可为滨海湿地生态恢复提供理论支持和科学参考,以实现滨海湿地恢复过程中降低恢复成本、提高恢复效率、加快恢复进程的目标。     

不同生境盐地碱蓬出苗及幼苗抗盐性比较

研究了盐胁迫对不同生境盐地碱蓬出苗、幼苗生长、离子积累和荧光参数等的影响.盐地碱蓬种子具有二型性,即外种皮柔软而半透明的棕色种子和外种皮坚硬的黑色种子.两种生境盐地碱蓬棕色种子的出苗率均明显高于黑色种子.与黑色种子相比,潮间带生境盐地碱蓬棕色种子在高盐环境下的出苗速率和出苗率高于盐碱地生境盐地碱蓬.各处理盐分浓度下,潮间带生境盐地碱蓬叶片的最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、PSⅡ实际光化学效率(ΦPSⅡ)和地上部分生物量均低于盐碱地生境盐地碱蓬.高盐浓度下,潮间带生境盐地碱蓬叶片Na+和Cl-含量低于盐碱地生境盐地碱蓬.这些特征可能是盐地碱蓬长期适应不同生境的结果.     

辽河口盐地碱蓬湿地景观破碎化及驱动机制

湿地景观破碎化的加剧严重影响了湿地生物多样性保护和湿地生态系统服务功能的维持,本研究以辽河口盐地碱蓬(Suaeda salsa)湿地为研究对象,基于GIS平台构建1985—2019年间湿地景观数据库,定量分析湿地景观破碎化特征及其驱动因素。结果表明:1985—2019年间,辽河口盐地碱蓬湿地呈退化趋势,具体表现为湿地面积萎缩,湿地景观破碎化加剧。盐地碱蓬湿地面积在1988年达到最大值4158.81 hm~2,景观聚集度较高,此后,湿地景观破碎度出现先增大后减小再增大的波动变化,2003年和2019年盐地碱蓬湿地景观破碎化最为严重,破碎度分别达到5.90和7.89;影响辽河口盐地碱蓬湿地景观破碎化主要驱动因素为人为开发活动和水文过程;景观破碎化的整体上升趋势与道路修建、农田开发、水产养殖、径流量和输沙量有较好的空间对应关系,道路修建、农田开发和水产养殖面积的增加以及年径流量的减少是导致盐地碱蓬湿地景观破碎化的主导因素。     

盐旱互作对不同生境盐地碱蓬种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

研究了盐旱互作对潮间带和盐碱地生境盐地碱蓬棕色种子萌发、地上部生长和离子积累的影响。不同盐浓度预处理后,未萌发的种子风干后复水,其萌发率与对照相比没有降低,说明两种生境盐地碱蓬种子萌发期间都耐干湿交替。400mmol/LNaCl溶液浇灌的潮间带生境盐地碱蓬幼苗在第3次干旱处理后萎蔫幼苗的百分比高于盐碱地生境的,而复水后正常幼苗的百分比却相反。400mmol/LNaCl溶液处理下,第3次干旱处理复水后,盐碱地生境盐地碱蓬幼苗地上部离子含量(主要是Na+和Cl-)高于潮间带生境的。表明在干旱情况下,盐碱地生境盐地碱蓬幼苗能积累更多的无机离子,降低渗透势,提高根系吸收水分的能力。上述结果说明,盐碱地生境盐地碱蓬幼苗较潮间带生境盐地碱蓬幼苗更耐盐与干旱的交互作用。     

盐地碱蓬盐沼与相邻泥质滩涂湿地迁徙期鸻鹬类的群落组成及行为差异

盐地碱蓬(Suaeda salsa)盐沼湿地是黄渤海地区河口区域的重要湿地类型, 是水鸟迁徙停歇期的重要栖息地。本研究以辽河口国家级自然保护区为研究地点, 通过对盐地碱蓬盐沼湿地和相邻泥质滩涂两个固定样区连续三年的水鸟组成调查和行为观察, 分析盐地碱蓬盐沼湿地在鸻鹬类多样性维持和栖息地利用中的作用。共记录到鸻鹬类水鸟28种6,348只次, 其中盐地碱蓬湿地记录到4科13种, 泥质滩涂记录到4科27种, 泥质滩涂的物种多样性显著高于盐地碱蓬盐沼湿地。此外, 盐地碱蓬盐沼湿地与相邻的泥质滩涂的鸻鹬类鸟类群落组成存在较大差异, 盐地碱蓬盐沼湿地的鸟类群落组成以体型较大的大杓鹬(Numenius madagascariensis)、白腰杓鹬(N. arquata)、灰鸻(Pluvialis squatarola)等为主, 而泥质滩涂以环颈鸻(Charadrius alexandrinus)、黑腹滨鹬(Calidris alpina)等小型鸻鹬类为主, 这说明两种生境在鸟类多样性维持中具有不同的功能。行为分析发现, 泥质滩涂中栖息鸟类的主要行为为取食(58.71%-93.26%), 而盐地碱蓬盐沼湿地鸟类的行为既包括较大比例的取食, 也包括休息, 特别是在春季迁徙期。这进一步说明, 两种生境在水鸟的栖息地利用中具有一定的生态功能差异。尽管盐地碱蓬盐沼湿地记录到的鸟类物种数和数量均低于泥质滩涂, 但是, 两种生境中存在较大比例的共同分布物种, 这说明其生态功能具有较强的生态互补性, 二者作为一种独特的湿地景观组合, 在鸻鹬类迁徙停歇期的栖息地利用和物种多样性维持中发挥着不可替代的作用。     

黄河三角洲滨海草甸与土壤因子的关系

黄河三角洲滨海草甸群落的分布和变化与土壤因子密切相关。于2010年6月对黄河三角洲的草甸植被进行了样方调查,并对土壤进行了取样分析。在所调查的67个草本样方中,共出现52种植物。利用典范对应分析(CCA)分析了9种土壤因子与草甸群落分布的关系,结果显示,前两轴总共解释了物种-环境关系方差的46.4%,土壤含水率和电导率对群落分布的影响最大。双向指示种分析(TWINSPAN)将67个样方分为7种群落类型,将其标示在CCA排序图上后,沿第一轴分成三大类群:盐地碱蓬群落→芦苇-盐地碱蓬群落→其他草甸群落,这反映了黄河三角洲滨海草甸群落在盐分梯度上的演替规律。相关分析显示,物种多样性指数与土壤电导率、速效钾和速效磷呈极显著负相关(P<0.01),与pH值呈显著正相关(P<0.05)。解释了黄河三角洲滨海草甸群落与土壤因子的关系和变化规律,对黄河三角洲植被保护和恢复有一定的指导意义。     

盐胁迫下3种滨海盐生植物的根系生长和分布

我国广大滨海地区的盐土上发育着大量的盐生植物,这些植物的根系对维持土壤稳定性,减小风蚀和水蚀具有重要作用。在水培条件下,针对碱蓬、盐角草和盐地碱蓬3种滨海盐生植物,研究它们在不同盐浓度条件下根系分布的差异。结果表明:一定浓度的盐分可以促进3种盐生植物生长,但较高浓度的盐抑制其生长,特别是对根系生长的抑制作用更大。在同样盐浓度下,盐地碱蓬的生长最快,生物量也最大。在盐分浓度较低时,3种盐生植物的主根长和总根长都有所增加,与对照相比,盐角草增加的幅度较大,但高浓度的盐会抑制根系总长度的增加,其中盐角草较碱蓬和盐地碱蓬抑制的程度轻。盐分对3种植物的根系平均直径没有显著的影响,但有减小的趋势。在水培条件下,碱蓬和盐角草的根系上、中、下部分布的较均匀,而盐地碱蓬的根系中部比上部和下部有显著的增加,盐分对每种植物的根系的分布没有显著的影响。从根系的分布特征可以推断:盐角草比碱蓬和盐地碱蓬具有较强的抗盐性和耐瘠薄能力;碱蓬的耐盐能力较其它两种植物差,盐角草的耐盐性最强。根据3种滨海盐生植物的根系生长和分布特征,证明这3种植物的根系分属于2种功能型,碱蓬是浅根系功能型,盐角草和盐地碱蓬是深根系功能型。根系分布的参数表明3种滨海盐生植物中盐地碱蓬是用来加强土壤稳定性最好的植物。     

Effect of salinity on growth, ion accumulation and the roles of ions in osmotic adjustment of two populations of Suaeda salsa

The effect of salinity on growth, ion accumulation and the roles of ions in osmotic adjustment of two populations of Suaeda salsa were investigated. Seeds were collected from an intertidal zone or a saline inland zone in the Yellow River Delta in Shandong province, China. Seedlings were exposed to 10, 100, 200, 400 or 600 mM NaCl for 18 days in a greenhouse. NO₃ ^? concentration in the soil where S. salsa grows in an intertidal zone was much lower than that for the second population, but leaf NO₃ ^? concentration was the same in the two populations under field conditions. When plants were cultured in a greenhouse under natural light conditions, S. salsa from the intertidal zone showed fewer main stem branches and lower relative shoot growth compared to S. salsa from saline inland. Leaf Cl^? concentration of saline inland S. salsa was significantly higher than that of S. salsa from the intertidal zone, while the opposite was true for the concentration of NO₃ ^? in leaves of plants. For S. salsa from the intertidal zone NO₃ ^? contributed more than Cl^? to the osmotic potential, whereas S. salsa from the saline inland exhibited a reverse relationship under saline conditions, indicating that NO₃ ^? plays an important osmotic role in S. salsa from the intertidal zone in high salinity. In conclusion, S. salsa from the intertidal zone may employ superior control of ion uptake and content than S. salsa from the saline inland zone. The two populations of Suaeda salsa presented different ability in chloride exclusion and nitrate accumulation. These characteristics may affect the distributions of S. salsa in natural highly saline environments.     

Ecological thresholds of Suaeda salsa to the environmental gradients of water table depth and soil salinity

The responses of Suaeda salsa to the environmental gradients of water table depth and soil salinity in the Yellow River Delta, China were analyzed from the aspect of ecological thresholds which were developed from the Gaussian model. Based on the correlation analysis of population biomass, density, height, coverage and abundance of Suaeda salsa, population biomass was selected as the population index for further analysis. The results indicated that the optimum water table depth for the growth of Suaeda salsa was about −0.42 m, the ecological thresholds were from −0.92 m to 0.08 m, and the optimum ecological thresholds were from −0.67 m to −0.17 m. To the soil salinity gradient, the optimum was about 12.71 g/kg, the ecological thresholds were from 5.17 g/kg to 20.25 g/kg, and the optimum ecological thresholds were from 8.94 g/kg to 16.48 g/kg. However, the effect of water-salinity interaction seemed to be important to the growth of Suaeda salsa, which was discussed through analyzing the water table depth-soil salinity relationship and their interactions. By using Ward cluster analysis and Gamma distances, 69 sampling sites were classified into 7 kinds of Suaeda salsa communities. It was found that there was a remarkable response of the community structure of Suaeda salsa to the water table depth and soil salinity gradients, which can be a switchover from xeromorphic and saline-alkali plants to limnophytes, and vice versa.     

Effects of Salinity on Metabolic Profiles, Gene Expressions, and Antioxidant Enzymes in Halophyte Suaeda salsa

Halophyte Suaeda salsa is native to the saline soil in the Yellow River Delta. Soil salinity can reduce plant productivity and therefore is the most important factor for the degradation of wetlands in the Yellow River Delta. In this work we characterized the salinity-induced effects in S. salsa in terms of metabolic profiling, antioxidant enzyme activities, and gene expression quantification. Our results showed that salinity inhibited plant growth of S. salsa and upregulated gene expression levels of myo-inositol-1-phosphate synthase (INPS), choline monooxygenase (CMO), betaine aldehyde dehydrogenase (BADH), and catalase (CAT), and elevated the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), CAT, and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). The significant metabolic responses included the depleted amino acids malate, fumarate, choline, phosphocholine, and elevated betaine and allantoin in the aboveground part of S. salsa seedlings as well as depleted glucose and fructose and elevated proline, citrate, and sucrose in root tissues. Based on these significant biological markers, salinity treatments induced clear osmotic stress (for example, INPS, CMO, BADH, betaine, proline) and oxidative stress (for example, SOD, POD, CAT, GPx activities), disturbed protein biosynthesis/degradation (amino acids and total protein) and energy metabolism (for example, glucose, sucrose, citrate) in S. salsa.     

Seasonal Dynamics of Trace Elements in Tidal Salt Marsh Soils as Affected by the Flow-Sediment Regulation Regime

Soil profiles were collected in three salt marshes with different plant species (i.e. Phragmites australis, Tamarix chinensis and Suaeda salsa) in the Yellow River Delta (YRD) of China during three seasons (summer and fall of 2007 and the following spring of 2008) after the flow-sediment regulation regime. Total elemental contents of As, Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn were determined using inductively coupled plasma atomic absorption spectrometry to investigate temporal variations in trace elements in soil profiles of the three salt marshes, assess the enrichment levels and ecological risks of these trace elements in three sampling seasons and identify their influencing factors. Trace elements did not change significantly along soil profiles at each site in each sampling season. The highest value for each sampling site was observed in summer and the lowest one in fall. Soils in both P. australis and S. salsa wetlands tended to have higher trace element levels than those in T. chinensis wetland. Compared to other elements, both Cd and As had higher enrichment factors exceeding moderate enrichment levels. However, the toxic unit (TU) values of these trace elements did not exceed probable effect levels. Correlation analysis showed that these trace elements were closely linked to soil properties such as moisture, sulfur, salinity, soil organic matter, soil texture and pH values. Principal component analysis showed that the sampling season affected by the flow-sediment regulation regime was the dominant factor influencing the distribution patterns of these trace elements in soils, and plant community type was another important factor. The findings of this study could contribute to wetland conservation and management in coastal regions affected by the hydrological engineering.     

Contents of volume 137 1991

The halophyte, Suaeda salsa, was grown in saline soil in pots and watered with a NaCl solution containing 0.2 g L^-1 Na-ions. S. salsa accumulated Na during a 120-day growing period and caused a net reduction in the Na content of the soil. S. salsa also decreased the Na content of saline soil in a field experiment. The Na content of the soil at depth 20–30 cm was reduced by 4.5% with S. salsa at a density of 15 plants m^-2 and by 6.7% with a density of 30 plants m^-2. In contrast, the Na content was decreased by only 1% with Medicago sativa at 15 plant m^-2 and increased by 3.8% with bare soil. The results confirm that S. salsa is an effective salt absorber in saline soils.     

盐和重金属复合胁迫对翅碱蓬萌发与生长的影响及调控措施

为探究Zn、Cu与盐复合胁迫对翅碱蓬(Suaeda salsa)萌发生长的影响机理及其调控措施,以翅碱蓬为研究对象,采用水培试验方法,测定Zn、Cu和盐复合胁迫条件下翅碱蓬种子发芽率、萌发速率和幼苗渗透调节物质含量等指标,分析1.5 mg/L吲哚乙酸(IAA)、100 mg/L赤霉素(GA)和0.3%硝酸钾(KNO₃)处理对Zn、Cu与盐复合胁迫条件下翅碱蓬萌发与生长的影响。结果表明：(1) Zn、Cu与高盐复合胁迫极显著降低翅碱蓬种子的发芽率,中高浓度的Zn、Cu与盐复合胁迫极显著降低翅碱蓬种子的萌发速率,Zn、Cu和盐复合胁迫对翅碱蓬种子的萌发生长影响表现为低促高抑效应,影响因子间存在明显的协同效应;(2)Zn、Cu和盐复合胁迫条件下,随着盐浓度的升高,翅碱蓬幼苗体内过氧化氢酶(CAT)、过氧化物酶(POD)和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)3种抗氧化酶活性呈先升高后降低的变化趋势,Zn、Cu和高盐复合胁迫使翅碱蓬幼苗体内丙二醛(MDA)含量增加近2.5倍;(3)1.5 mg/L IAA溶液浸种12 h可显著提高Zn、Cu与高盐复合胁迫条件下翅碱蓬种子的发芽率和萌发速...     

Differential salt tolerance and similar responses to nitrogen availability in plants grown from dimorphic seeds of Suaeda salsa

Suaeda salsa is an annual halophyte which produces two morphologically distinct types of seeds on the same plant. The main purpose of this study was to investigate growth responses of S. salsa plants to different levels of NaCl and nitrate nitrogen, and its significance from the viewpoint of photosynthetic physiology. In a pot experiment, we sowed seeds belonging to the two morphs into a substrate with three salinity and three nutrient levels. Plants derived from brown seeds grew well at moderate salinity (300 mmol L⁻¹ NaCl). Shoot weight of plants from black seeds gradually decreased with the increase of salinity. Plants derived from both seed morphs had the same growth rates under similar nitrogen levels. Plant growth status was generally related to chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rates. Our study shows that plants grown from the two different seed morphs of S. salsa exhibit different salt tolerance, but have similar responses to nitrate nitrogen. This is the first report on different responses to salinity and nitrogen availability in plants with heteromorphic seeds.     

Physical stress, not biotic interactions, preclude an invasive grass from establishing in forb-dominated salt marshes

Background

Biological invasions have become the focus of considerable concern and ecological research, yet the relative importance of abiotic and biotic factors in controlling the invasibility of habitats to exotic species is not well understood. Spartina species are highly invasive plants in coastal wetlands; however, studies on the factors that control the success or failure of Spartina invasions across multiple habitat types are rare and inconclusive.

Methodology and Principal Findings

We examined the roles of physical stress and plant interactions in mediating the establishment of the smooth cordgrass, Spartina alterniflora, in a variety of coastal habitats in northern China. Field transplant experiments showed that cordgrass can invade mudflats and low estuarine marshes with low salinity and frequent flooding, but cannot survive in salt marshes and high estuarine marshes with hypersaline soils and infrequent flooding. The dominant native plant Suaeda salsa had neither competitive nor facilitative effects on cordgrass. A common garden experiment revealed that cordgrass performed significantly better when flooded every other day than when flooded weekly. These results suggest that physical stress rather than plant interactions limits cordgrass invasions in northern China.

Conclusions and Significance

We conclude that Spartina invasions are likely to be constrained to tidal flats and low estuarine marshes in the Yellow River Delta. Due to harsh physical conditions, salt marshes and high estuarine marshes are unlikely to be invaded. These findings have implications for understanding Spartina invasions in northern China and on other coasts with similar biotic and abiotic environments.