Leaf traits indicate survival strategies among 42 dominant plant species in a dry, sandy habitat, China

The objective of this paper was to assess the congruency of leaf traits and soil characteristics and to analyze the survival strategies of different plant functional types in response to drought and nutrient-poor environ-ments in the southeastern Ke'erqin Sandy Lands in China. Six leaf traits-leaf thickness (TH), density (DN), specific leaf area (SLA), leaf dry weight to fresh weight ratio (DW/ FW), leaf N concentration (Nmass), and N resorption efficiency (NREmass)-of 42 plant species were investi-gated at four sites. The correlations between leaf traits and soil characteristics-organic C (OC), total N (TN), total P (TP), and soil moisture (SM)-were examined. We found that the six leaf traits across all the 42 species showed large variations and that DW/FW was negatively correlated with OC, TN, TP, and SM (P<0.05), while other leaf traits showed no significant correlations with soil characteristics. To find the dissimilarity to accommodate environment, a hierarchical agglomerative clustering analysis was made of all the species. All the species clustered into three groups except the Scutellaria baicalensis. Species of group Ⅲ might be most tolerant of an arid environment, and species of group Ⅱ might avoid nutrient stress in the nutrient-poor environment, while group Ⅰ was somewhat intermediate. Therefore, species from the different groups may be selected for use in vegetation restoration of different sites based on soil moisture and nutrient conditions.     

浙江天童常绿植物当年生与往年生叶片性状的变异与关联

植物叶片性状随叶龄的变化是植物生活史策略的体现, 反映了植物叶片的物质投资和分配方式。该研究通过在个体和物种2个水平, 比较浙江天童1 hm ²样地内常绿阔叶树种的平均叶面积(MLA)、比叶面积(SLA)和叶片干物质含量(LDMC)在当年生和往年生叶片间的差异和关联, 探究叶片物质分配策略在异龄叶间的变化, 并分析叶龄对植物叶片性状, 特别是叶片面积建成消耗的影响。结果显示: 1)在个体和物种水平上, MLA变异系数最大(个体: 79.5%; 物种: 66.5%), SLA次之(个体: 28.1%; 物种: 24.7%), LDMC较低(个体: 17.0%, 物种: 14.1%); 当年生叶片MLA、LDMC和SLA的变异系数均高于往年生叶片; 2)往年生叶MLA显著大于当年生叶(t = -38.53, p < 0.001), 往年生叶SLA显著小于当年生叶(t = 45.30, p < 0.001), 往年生叶LDMC显著大于当年生叶(t = -9.71, p < 0.001); 3)在个体水平, 当年生叶片MLA、SLA和LDMC值分别解释了往年生叶片MLA、SLA和LDMC变异的86%、48%和41%; 在物种水平, 当年生叶片MLA、SLA和LDMC值分别解释了往年生叶片MLA、SLA和LDMC变异的97%、83%和85%; 4) SLA在异龄叶间的变化表明, 与往年生叶片相比, 投资相同干物质, 当年生叶片可形成较大的叶面积, 其叶片面积建成消耗较小。研究认为, 植物叶性状在异龄叶间具有较大的变异性和关联性, 叶面积形成过程中生物量建成与消耗的协调可能影响植物叶片的发育。     

Relationships between sclerophylly,leaf biomechanical properties and leaf anatomy in some Australian heath and forest species

ABSTRACT

A previous study of 19 south-east Australian heath and forest species with a range of leaf textures showed that they varied considerably in leaf biomechanical properties. By using an index of sclerophylly derived from botanists' rankings (botanists' sclerophylly index, BSI) we determined that leaves considered by botanists to be sclerophyllous generally had both high strength and work to fracture (particularly in punching and tearing tests), both at the level of leaf and per unit leaf thickness. In the current study we have shown that leaves from the same species also varied considerably in leaf specific mass (46–251 g m^-2), neutral detergent fibre concentration (20–59% on a dry weight basis) and in leaf anatomy. Multiple regression indicated a very strong correlation between BSI and the first two components of a principal components analysis (PCA) of leaf anatomy (R ² = 0.91). In addition, there was strong correlation between the first component of a PCA of the mechanical properties (correlated with BSI) and the two axes derived from anatomical characteristics (R ² = 0.66). The anatomical properties contributing most to the significant component axes were thickness of palisade mesophyll and upper cuticle (axis 1) and percentage fibre (neutral detergent fibre) and lower epidermis thickness (axis 2). However, whether these relationships are causal, or reflect correlations with characteristics not measured in this study, such as vascularization and sclerification, is not clear. At a finer scale, however, there is evidence that there are various ways to be sclerophyllous, both in terms of anatomical and mechanical properties. This is illustrated by comparison of two of the sclerophyllous species, Eucalyptus baxteri and Banksia marginata.     

西藏紫花针茅叶功能性状沿降水梯度的变化

植物叶功能性状与环境因子的关系是近10年来植物生态学的研究热点。该文以广泛分布于青藏高原干旱、半干旱草地的优势植物种紫花针茅(Stipa purpurea)为研究对象, 沿降水梯度(69-479 mm)系统测定了日土、改则、珠峰、当雄和纳木错5个调查地点紫花针茅比叶面积(SLA)、单位重量和单位面积叶氮含量(N_mass, N_area)、叶密度和厚度等叶功能性状以及土壤全氮含量等因子, 试图验证干旱胁迫地区同一物种内SLA-N_mass关系沿降水梯度的策略位移现象是否具有普遍性, 并对是否出现策略位移现象提出可能的解释。研究结果表明: 1) SLA和N_mass与生长季温度和降水以及土壤全氮含量均没有显著关系, SLA与N_mass的关系在干旱半干旱区(年降水/蒸发比< 0.11)与半湿润区(年降水/蒸发比> 0.11)之间并没有出现典型的位移现象; 2)叶密度是决定半湿润区SLA变化的主导因子, 而叶厚度则是干旱半干旱区SLA变化的控制因子, 两者与SLA均呈负相关, 随着温度增加或降水减少, 叶厚度增加而叶密度降低, 导致SLA随温度和降水变化不明显; 3)半湿润区的叶密度增加引起N_area增加, 而干旱半干旱区的叶厚度增加并没有造成N_area的显著变化, 导致N_area沿降水梯度没有显著变化; 4)紫花针茅地上生物量与N_area具有显著正相关关系, 表明N_area的增加有助于提高植被生产力。结果表明, 在干旱胁迫下, 植物通过增加叶厚度来维持不变的N_area可能有助于保持与较湿润地区相似的光合生产和水分利用效率。叶厚度和叶密度对比叶面积的相对影响在干旱半干旱区与半湿润区之间发生转变, 这为进一步检测高寒草地植被的水分限制阈值提供了新思路。     

植物叶片形态的生态功能、地理分布与成因

叶片是植物与环境进行水气交换的重要场所, 形态多变。叶片形态可直接影响植物的生理生化过程, 反映植物的资源获取策略。该文以叶片大小、叶形、叶缘特征(有无叶齿)和叶型(单、复叶)等形态性状为例, 总结了当前叶片形态的研究进展, 分析了叶形态性状的生态功能, 综述叶片形态的地理分布, 探讨叶片形态性状变化的驱动因素及其对生态系统功能的影响。现有研究主要聚焦于局域尺度的特定类群, 关注叶大小、叶缘具齿性以及叶型的地理分布与生态成因, 发现叶片的形态发育受基因调控, 叶形态性状与其他性状相互权衡, 其空间变异受气温和降水量共同驱动。以叶大小为代表的叶片形态性状影响水分和养分循环, 能够反映气候变化下的群落响应, 也可用于预测生态系统初级生产力。今后应结合新方法获得覆盖度高且区域无偏的数据, 探索叶形态在长时间尺度上的适应性进化, 研究叶形态特征及其对生态系统功能影响的尺度推绎。该文有助于从叶片的角度认识植物对环境变化的响应, 以性状为桥梁将个体适合度、群落动态与生态系统功能联系起来, 能够加深对植物群落生态学和功能生物地理学等相关领域研究进展的了解。     

Salinity, growth and root respiration in the grey mangrove, Avicennia marina

Relationships between growth parameters and root respiration under various conditions of salinity were investigated in seedlings of the grey mangrove Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh. Growth, root/shoot ratios, leaf succulence and osmotic potential of leaves were measured for seedlings grown for 6–8 weeks in 100, 50, 25 and 0% seawater. Oxygen uptake of root segments, from distal to proximal ends of roots, was measured for all treatments. Total growth was maximal in 25% seawater, highest leaf succulence was obtained in 50% seawater, and highest leaf osmotic potential in 100% seawater. Oxygen uptake in distal root segments, as measured both by Clark oxygen electrode and Warburg manometry, showed a stimulation in the presence of salt that closely paralleled growth stimulation. The rates of respiration were highest in 25% seawater. The oxygen uptake was not stimulated by salt per se, since concentrations higher than 25% were associated with a decline in rate of oxygen uptake from the maximum. Values for the respiratory quotient approximated to one in all treatments. Avicennia marina has been reported to exclude from its roots about 90% of the salt in the surrounding medium. It might have been expected that increased concentrations of salt in the growth medium would be associated with a standard salt respiration response in the roots; however, this was not obtained.     

Leaf traits and their interrelationship of 23 plant species in southeast of Keerqin Sandy Lands,China

Six leaf traits,i.e.,fresh mass (FM),dry mass (DM),leaf dry matter content (DMC),area (AR),specific leaf area (SLA) and thickness (TH) from 23 plant species in the southeastern Keerqin Sandy Lands,China were measured.The results show that leaf traits of herbs were more diversified than those of shrubs and trees and aver-age SLA tended towards a decreasing trend from herbs to shrubs to trees.On the contrary,DMC and DM show an upward trend from herbs to shrubs to trees.No apparent difference was found in TH.Except for DM and TH,there were significant variations in SLA and DMC among three different growth forms.Moreover,a significant correla-tion was found between SLA and DMC.It is concluded that SLA and DMC could be used to predict species posi-tion along a resource use gradient.     

Leaf traits and their interrelationship of 23 plant species in southeast of Keerqin Sandy Lands, China

Six leaf traits, i.e., fresh mass (FM), dry mass (DM), leaf dry matter content (DMC), area (AR), specific leaf area (SLA) and thickness (TH) from 23 plant species in the southeastern Keerqin Sandy Lands, China were measured. The results show that leaf traits of herbs were more diversified than those of shrubs and trees and average SLA tended towards a decreasing trend from herbs to shrubs to trees. On the contrary, DMC and DM show an upward trend from herbs to shrubs to trees. No apparent difference was found in TH. Except forDMand TH, there were significant variations in SLA and DMC among three different growth forms. Moreover, a significant correlation was found between SLA and DMC. It is concluded that SLA and DMC could be used to predict species position along a resource use gradient. __________ Translated from Chinese Journal of Ecology, 2006, 25: 921–925 [译自: 生态学杂志]     

Biological activity of tree marigold, Tithonia diversifolia, on cowpea seed bruchid, Callosobruchus maculatus (Coleoptera: Bruchidae)

The powder and ethanol extract of Tithonia diversifolia leaves were tested for their efficacy at five different concentrations (0.0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2.0%) on bruchid mortality, oviposition and adult emergence of cowpea seed beetle Callosobruchus maculatus at ambient tropical storage conditions of temperature and relative humidity. Results showed that the leaf extract had a higher bioactivity on oviposition, adult emergence and mortality of C. maculatus. The mean number of eggs laid on seeds treated with extract was reduced from 20.7 in the solvent-treated to 4.7 at 2%Tithonia extract concentration while adult emergence reduced from a mean of 92.2 in the solvent-treated seeds to 72.2 at 2.0% extract treatment. Mortality was 100% at higher concentrations of 3%, 4% and 5% within 24 h of extract application but at lower concentrations mortality was 73.3% and 93.3% at 1% and 2%, respectively after 24 h. Fourty-eight hours after application, 100% mortality of adult C. maculatus was obtained at all concentrations. The mean number of eggs laid was reduced from 41.3 in the untreated to 17.3 at 2.0% powder concentration while adult emergence dropped from 98.5% in the control to 74.2% at the highest powder concentration. The powder was effective at higher concentrations and longer exposure time. At 3%, 4% and 5%, 63–75% mortalities occurred within 24 h of application while at 48 h, mortality was 76–98% at 3–5% powder application rates. The results of this study revealed T. diversifolia as a potential candidate for bioinsecticide preparations because of antiovipositional, ovicidal and knockdown properties of its products, which have some volatile components.     

祁连山高寒草地甘肃臭草叶性状与坡向间的关系北大核心CSCD

植物功能性状可反映植物对环境的适应。在祁连山高寒退化草地,利用Arc GIS建立研究区域的数字高程模型,提取坡向数据,采用标准化主轴估计方法(standardized major axis estimation,SMA),研究了不同坡向甘肃臭草(Melica przewalskyi)叶性状间的关系。结果表明:1)甘肃臭草叶面积和叶体积在北坡最大,东坡、西坡、南坡逐渐减小,叶干质量无显著变化;2)叶面积与叶干质量在北坡、东坡和西坡呈等速生长关系,在南坡呈异速生长关系,且叶干质量的增长速度大于叶面积的增长速度;3)叶体积与叶干质量在4个坡向上呈异速生长关系,且叶干质量的增长速度均小于叶体积的增长速度。甘肃臭草叶性状关系随坡向的变化反映了该物种在异质生境中具有较强的叶片形态可塑性,从而有利于其适应和占据高寒退化生境。     

High-Temperature Preconditioning and Thermal Shock Imposition Affects Water Relations,Gas Exchange and Root Hydraulic Conductivity in Tomato

Potted tomato plants (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. cv. Amalia) were submitted to three different treatments: control (C) plants were maintained at day/night temperature of 25/18 °C; preconditioned plants (PS) were submitted to two consecutive periods of 4 d each, of 30/23 and 35/28 °C before being exposed to a heat stress (40/33 °C lasting 4 d) and non-preconditioned (S) plants were maintained in the same conditions as the C plants and exposed to the heat stress. The inhibition of plant growth was observed only in PS plants. Heat stress decreased chlorophyll content, net photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance in both PS and S plants. However, PS plants showed good osmotic adjustment, which enabled them to maintain leaf pressure potential higher than in S plants. Furthermore, at the end of the recovery period PS plants had higher pressure potential and stomatal conductance than in S plants. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

祁连山高寒草地甘肃臭草叶性状与坡向间的关系

植物功能性状可反映植物对环境的适应。在祁连山高寒退化草地, 利用ArcGIS建立研究区域的数字高程模型, 提取坡向数据, 采用标准化主轴估计方法(standardized major axis estimation, SMA), 研究了不同坡向甘肃臭草(Melica przewalskyi)叶性状间的关系。结果表明: 1)甘肃臭草叶面积和叶体积在北坡最大, 东坡、西坡、南坡逐渐减小, 叶干质量无显著变化; 2)叶面积与叶干质量在北坡、东坡和西坡呈等速生长关系, 在南坡呈异速生长关系, 且叶干质量的增长速度大于叶面积的增长速度; 3)叶体积与叶干质量在4个坡向上呈异速生长关系, 且叶干质量的增长速度均小于叶体积的增长速度。甘肃臭草叶性状关系随坡向的变化反映了该物种在异质生境中具有较强的叶片形态可塑性, 从而有利于其适应和占据高寒退化生境。     

Differential selection of growth rate-related traits in wild barley, Hordeum spontaneum, in contrasting greenhouse nutrient environments

Across-species comparisons show that inherent variation in relative growth rate (RGR) and its underlying traits are correlated with habitat productivity. In this study, we test the hypothesis that growth rate-related traits confer differential selective effects in contrasting nutrient environments. We specifically test whether high RGR is targeted by selection in nutrient-rich environments whereas low values of traits that underlie RGR [specific leaf area (SLA), leaf mass fraction and leaf area ratio (LAR)] confer a direct fitness advantage in nutrient-poor environments, resulting in selection of low RGR as a correlated response. We measured RGR, its underlying component traits, and estimated fitness in a range of wild barley (Hordeum spontaneum) accessions grown under high and low nutrient conditions. Selection on component traits differed between the two environments, while total selection of RGR was not significant. Using multiple regression and path analysis to estimate direct fitness effects, a selective advantage of high LAR and SLA was demonstrated only under nutrient-rich conditions. While supporting the view that observed associations between habitat richness and some RGR-component traits reflect adaptation to differing nutrient regimes, our data suggest that direct selection targets component traits rather than RGR itself.     

滇中喀斯特41种不同生长型植物叶性状研究

该研究以云南石林喀斯特地区41种主要植物(乔木19种、灌木10种、藤本4种、草本8种)为对象,对其叶面积(AR)、叶鲜重(FW)、叶干重(DW)、叶厚度(TH)、叶绿素含量(Chlc)等进行了测定,得到不同植物比叶面积(SLA)、叶干物质含量(DMC)等指标。结果表明:(1)在物种水平上7项植物叶性状值变化范围较大,不同生长型植物差异显著。(2) 41种植物的SLA与DMC之间呈极显著负相关(P0.01),AR与FW、DW呈极显著正相关(P0.01),TH与Chlc呈极显著正相关(P0.01),其他因子间相关性不显著。(3)该研究区植物叶性状变异范围为15.82%～139.14%,多为高变异系数(84.40%～131.01%),叶性状变异中AR与FW贡献率较高,分别为84.40%、90.28%,不同生长型植物在TH上稳定性较好。(4)石林喀斯特地区植物叶片适应特殊生境时表现出较低的TH、SLA、Chlc和较高的DMC等特征。这说明石林喀斯特地区植物通过形成不同的叶性状特征来适应特殊生境,可为喀斯特地区的植被保护与恢复提供理论指导。     

Comparative anatomy of the young stem,node, and leaf of Bonnetiaceae,including observations on a foliar endodermis

A comprehensive study of the nodal and leaf anatomy of Bonnetiaceae was completed in order to provide evidence for evaluation in relation to systematics. Nodal anatomy is trilacunar, three-trace or unilacunar, one-trace. Basic leaf anatomical features of the family include: complete or incomplete medullated vascular cylinder in petiole; paracytic mature stomata with encircling ridges; large mucilaginous cells in the adaxial surface of mesophyll; periclinal divisions in upper surface layers; and discrete patches of phloem within the vascular bundles. Especially noteworthy is the presence in some genera of foliar vascular bundles enveloped by a sheath composed of two concentric regions, i.e., an inner region consisting of multiple layers of fibers and an outer specialized endodermis composed of thin-walled cells with Casparian strips. Leaves are variable with respect to lamina and cuticle thickness, relative amount and number of palisade and spongy layers, venation of lamina, and the presence or absence of sclereids and crystals in the mesophyll. A major feature in the evolution of Bonnetiaceae is development of a highly divergent, essentially parallel, leaf venation that is superficially similar to that of some monocotyledons and apparently unique among dicotyledons. Foliar anatomy provides important characters for the recognition of subgroups within Bonnetiaceae and is consistent with the segregation of Bonnetiaceae from Theaceae.