皇甫川流域天然草地恢复演替进程中优势种的生态位分析

采用Levins,Shannon-Wiener生态位宽度公式和Levins生态位特定重叠指数公式对皇甫川流域天然草地恢复演替不同阶段植物群落中优势种生态位宽度和生态位重叠进行了测定,并分析各种群生态位宽度和生态位重叠的生态学意义。结果表明:演替过程中每一群落类型的优势种具有最大的生态位宽度;生态位宽度在演替序列的动态变化与种群动态有较好的对应关系;生态位重叠越大,种群间的生态相似性越大,利用资源的相似性程度越高,种间竞争可能越激烈;竞争是促使流域内各植物群落向顶级群落演替的一种动力机制。     

Carbon relations and competition between woody species in a Central European hedgerow

Summary Annual carbon and water balances of sun leaves were measured in the field for five competing woody hedgerow species of different successional stages. They were compared with carbon and water budgets of climax species from the literature. Climatic limitation of primary production, the effectiveness of leaf photosynthetic capacity in relation to actual carbon gain, costs and time of leaf formation and amortization, and net dry matter gain from the leaf were determined. Their relevance for a species' position during a natural succession from pioneer-invaded fallow land to a climax beech forest in Central Europe is discussed.     

秦岭太白山弃耕地植物群落演替的生态学研究 Ⅱ演替系列的群落α多样性特征

应用物种丰富度、Ｓｉｍｐｓｏｎ指数、Ｓｈａｎｎｏｎ－Ｗｉｅｎｅｒ指数、Ｐｉｅｌｏｕ均匀度指数、Ａｌａｔａｌｏ均匀度指数研究了太白山弃耕地植物群落次生演替过程中的群落α多样性动态特征,结果表明,群落在由一年生草本植物群落阶段向多年生草本植物群落、灌丛、混交林阶段的演替过程中,群落多样性指数逐渐上升,至混交林阶段达到最高值。若以分布在这一垂直地带的代表性森林群落锐齿栎林为演替进一步发展的方向,则由多样性指数在锐齿栎混交林、锐齿栎林阶段呈下降趋势。不同演替阶段不同生长型的多样性指数变化规律为：在演替的初期,草本层多样性指数＞灌木层＞乔木层;在混交林阶段,这３个不同生长型的多样性指数相差无几,乔木生长型稍占优势;在锐齿栎混交林和锐齿栎林阶段,灌木生长型的物种多样性最大,草本次之,乔木生长型的物种多样性则迅速降低。首次利用群落各生长型的叶层相对厚度和相对盖度作为加权参数,对群落总体的物种多样性指数进行了测度,结果表明,这种加权处理是比较合理的。     

深圳南山区天然森林群落多样性及演替现状

对南山区5个主要天然森林群落(铁榄群落、鼠刺 降真香群落、鸭脚木群落、假苹婆群落、水翁 假苹婆群落)的组成结构及物种多样性进行分析,并与相邻的香港地区地带性森林群落(黄桐群落)作比较。结果表明,依照亚热带及南亚热带森林群落演替规律,南山区天然林处于不同的演替发育阶段：铁榄群落处于演替第3阶段;鼠刺 降真香群落处于第4阶段;其它3个群落处于第5阶段,均未达到稳定的顶极群落阶段。随着铁榄群落、鼠刺 降真香群落、鸭脚木群落、假苹婆群落、水翁 假苹婆群落这个演替序列,物种丰富度的变化规律是：先逐渐上升,到达一个峰值,再缓慢下降。Shannon-Wiener指数和Pielous均匀度指数的变化规律与物种丰富度相同,Simpson指数变化曲线与这些指数相反。但这些指数反映的结果是一致的。综合多个指数分析,鸭脚木群落物种多样性最大,即当群落中阳生性树种与中生性树种优势度相差不大时。群落具有最大的物种多样性。多样性比较结果显示,南山森林群落物种多样性大大低于香港黄桐群落。5个群落的Shannon—Wiener指数在2．04～2．953之间,明显低于黄桐群落,其Shannon—Wiener指数为4．74;Simpson指数0．1～0．268,黄桐群落为0．05;Pielous均匀度指数64．2％～74％,黄桐群落为79％。南山森林群落物种多样性水平低下的状况与长期的人类干扰有关,必须尽快采取“封山育林”等相应措施来促进群落的保护和恢复。     

黄土高原植被不同演替阶段优势种的光合生理特性

在黄土高原子午岭林区,按照植被的演咎序列,分别选择植被次生演替不同阶段的优势种-白羊草、铁杆蒿、沙棘、狼牙刺、山杨和辽东栎,对其土壤与叶片氮素含量、叶片气体交换参数、叶绿素含量及叶绿素荧光参数进行了观测．结果表明：随着植被演替,0—20cm土壤全氮含量呈增大趋势,植被优势种叶片氮含量先升高后降低,叶绿素含量变化与优势种叶片氮含量相似．灌木群落优势种（沙棘、狼牙刺）叶片氮含量明显高于其它群落优势种（P〈0．05）,草本群落优势种（白羊草、铁杆蒿）和灌木群落优势种的光合速率（Pn）高于早期森林群落优势种（山杨）和顶级群落优势种（辽东栎）,叶片气孔导度（ga）与Pn变化规律相似．草本群落和灌木群落优势种叶片蒸腾速率（Tr）较高,随着演替的进行t逐步下降,顶级群落优势种辽东栎Tr较低．PSⅡ最大光化学量子效率（Fv／Fm）值呈缓慢增长趋势,辽东栎〉山杨〉沙棘〉狼牙刺〉铁杆蒿〉白羊草,而PSⅡ量子效率（ΦPSⅡ）值呈先增加后降低趋势;光化学淬灭系数（qp）在演替过程中呈整体增加趋势,而非光化学淬灭系数（qNP）呈先增加后降低趋势．这说明植被不同演替阶段优势种的光合生理特征以及对微生境的适应性存在明显差异．     

基于植被指数的海南岛霸王岭热带森林地上生物量空间分布模拟

热带森林在全球碳循环方面扮演着重要的角色, 预测其生物量分布可以加深对碳循环过程的理解。然而目前基于植被指数模拟技术进行热带森林生物量分布的研究报道较少。该文以海南岛霸王岭林区热带森林为研究对象, 在基于遥感影像和135个公里网格样地调查的基础上, 分别选取归一化差异植被指数(NDVI)、短红外湿度植被指数(MVI5)、中红外湿度植被指数(MVI7)和比值植被指数(RVI)与总物种生物量、顶极种生物量和先锋种生物量做相关分析, 并利用逐步线性回归分析分别构建了基于植被指数的生物量回归模型; 利用残差图对模型的有效性进行检验。结果表明, MVI7和MVI5与总物种和顶极种生物量关系显著, 而NDVI和RVI对先锋种生物量具有较好的指示作用; 总物种、顶极种和先锋种生物量预测精度较高的区域分别占总面积的69.24%、73.98%和88.08%, 表明3个生物量模型均具有较好的拟合精度; 模拟结果表明总物种和顶极种生物量主要集中于研究区中部、北部和西南部区域, 而先锋种生物量无明显的分布规律, 是不均衡地散布于整个研究区域, 反映了群落组成结构、干扰历史、地形及气候因素等的影响。     

广西大青山南亚热带次生林演替过程的种群动态

该文研究了广西大青山南亚热带次生林群落经过26年的自然演替其间的种群结构变化规律。通过对主要种群类型、重要值、生态位宽度和分布格局的测定,分析了演替过程中各种群内部的消长与分布变化趋势,研究发现阳生性优势种由高集群分布变为随机分布,其生态位宽度减小,中生及阴生性树种则由随机分布逐渐变为高集群分布,生态位宽度增大。树种由32种增加到65种,35种中生及阴生树种为后期侵入种,物种多样性比较丰富;通过对现存种群的种间联结与生态位重叠进行分析,揭示了天然次生演替过程中种间关系的相互适应变化规律。原来阳生性的优势树种,如大叶栎(Castannopsis fleuryi)、大叶山楝(Aphanamixis grandifolia)等,与其它种群的生态位重叠值普遍下降,中生性种群生态位重叠值稍有增加,如柃木(Eurya nitida)、血胶树(Eberhardtia aurata)、广西拟肉豆蔻(Knema guangxiensis)等,中生偏阴生性种群生态位重叠值明显增大,其中一些种,如厚叶琼楠(Beilschmiedia percoriacea)、杨桐(Adinandra millettii)、毛黄肉楠(Actinodaphne pilosa)等,成为群落的建群种和优势种。次生群落种群之间的联结程度加强,一些种从零联结变为高度正联结或负联结,正、负联结性均变得更加紧密,高度正联结的种对占较大比例。种间联结与生态位分析结果基本一致,高度正联结的种群之间生态位重叠值较大,也反映出这些种对生境要求的一致性。次生群落由前期阳生性大叶栎群落演替为中后期中生性厚叶琼楠群落,群落接近较稳定的中生性气候顶极阶段。     

中国暖温带若干灌丛群落多样性问题的研究

 暖温带灌丛的生物多样性的研究表明：1．灌丛群落的均一度指数同优势度指数的相关性较丰富度指数同变化度指数的相关性为高;在众多的多样性指数中,D4(Shannon信息度指数)和D6(Gini指数)因最大限度地包含了其它各类多样性指数的信息而被采用。2．灌丛群落的物种多样性指数值随着演替的进行,没有表现出降低的趋势。3．生物多样性较高的荆条灌丛和辽东栎萌丛的物种多度分布是对数分布,而生物多样性较低的鬼见愁灌丛和毛榛灌丛的物种多度分布是几何分布,处于中间的三桠绣线菊灌丛的物种多度分布是Broken-Stick分布;没有正态对数分布类型。     

缙云山森林群落次生演替中土壤理化性质的动态变化

选择典型、有代表性的不同演替阶段群落,进行了植被调查和土壤分析.结果表明,土壤理化性质在演替方向和土壤剖面上表现出较强的规律.土壤有机质随植被从低级向高级演进逐渐积累,分别是19.5(X₁)、37.0(X²)、50.1(X₃)和71.6 g·kg^-1(X₄);土壤全N、碱解氮和速效钾等也呈上升趋势;土壤pH和盐基饱和度降低,阳离子交换量增加.在土壤剖面上,有机质、全N等指标表现出A＞B＞C层的趋势.灰色关联度分析表明,随着演替的进行,土壤肥力提高,物种丰富度和郁闭度也相应增加.不同群落土壤理化性质在不同季节有显著差异,但这种差异并不影响植物与土壤在大时间尺度下的演变方向.土壤理化性质的动态变化与植物演替相适应.     

黑龙江省东部山区森林植物物种多样性的研究

通过对黑龙江省东部山区原始阔叶红松林和次生林物种多样性的比较研究,结合定量化的群落动态和环境梯度,分析论证了演替阶段、环境梯度、生长状况及干扰与物种多样性的相关关系。结论如下：次生林物种多样性高于原始阔叶红松林,但均匀度较原始林小;物种多样性较高的群落其森林生产力中等,森林生产力较大的群落其物种多样性小;中度干扰的群落,其物种多样性较高,而重度和轻度干扰的群落,其多样性低;物种多样性指数从演替初期到中期不断增加,到演替后期逐渐下降。     

暖温带若干落叶阔叶林群落物种多样性及其与群落动态的关系

 分析比较了暖温带中部至西南部20个落叶阔叶林群落类型的物种多样性,结果表明：1)一般情况下,乔、灌、草3个层次的物种丰富度(Sp)和多样性指数(D和H′)多为乔木层<灌木层<草本层,但均匀度指数(Ea)则多以灌木层居高;2)处于亚顶极阶段的森林群落各层次多样性指数(D和H′)特征是乔木层<草本层<灌木层;3)当群落处于顶极亚顶极阶段时,群落各层次的均匀度指数均在0.5以上;4)以群落总体重要值为测度指标来测度群落的总体物种多样性指数和均匀度指数时,发现群落总体Simpson多样性指数(D)可用于判断群落稳定性的高低,即总体多样性指数D低于或接近0.5的群落其稳定性较差或为特殊生境下的群落类型;当总体多样性指数D高于0.5时有两种情况：群落的均匀度指数Ea大于D的群落为地带性群落类型,它们有很高的稳定性,相当于顶极群落,而Ea小于或与D接近的群落具有较高的物种丰富度,在群落的演替动态方面处于顶极的前期,相当于亚顶极群落。     

黔东南州白云岩喀斯特区植物群落演化特征

该研究采用时空互代法、连续带指数法等,对贵州省黔东南州的白云岩喀斯特区60个具有代表性的典型样地的植物种组组成、以及各演替阶段植物群落高度、密度、生物量、生物多样性指数、均匀度指数、生态优势度指数等进行调查分析,以探讨白云岩喀斯特区植物群落的演化特征,为深入研究白云岩喀斯特区植物群落自然恢复规律奠定基础。结果表明:(1)各种组的优势种组成不同,种组替代规律依次为先锋种、次先锋种、过渡种,最终被顶极种替代的过程。(2)群落的高度、密度、生物量等结构特征随植物群落演替发展呈逐渐增大趋势,变化范围分别为0.58～9.54m、585～3 145株·hm-2、8.45～128.56t·hm-2。(3)植物群落的物种丰富度随演替阶段的发展呈下降趋势,从草本群落阶段到顶极群落阶段物种数由48种降低到10种。(4)随着植物群落演替阶段的发展,生物多样性指数呈先升高后降低的趋势,即由草本群落的3.48升高到草灌群落的4.73,后降到顶极群落的3.46;均匀度指数呈降低趋势,最高为草本群落阶段的0.95,最低为常绿阔叶林阶段的0.78;生态优势度指数逐渐升高,顶极群落达到最大,为0.10。     

Community succession and photosynthetic physiological characteristics of pasture plants in a sub-alpine meadow in Gannan,China

 为了解甘南亚高山草甸围封地恢复演替动态, 探究围封恢复进程中植物光合生理特征的变化规律及其影响因子, 对围封试验地内5个典型群落样地进行样方调查, 测定了各群落优势种及3个共有种的光合参数和叶性状参数, 并测定了群落表层土壤(0–20 cm)的水分含量及全氮含量。结果显示: 该围封地内形成一个以草本植物→半灌木→灌木的演替序列, 群落表层土壤含水量及全氮含量随着演替的进行逐渐增加; 在演替的时间尺度上, 各演替阶段优势种光合生理特征间存在明显差异, 随着演替的进行, 群落优势种的净光合速率(A_area)、光合水分利用效率(WUE)、相对叶绿素含量(SPAD)呈降低趋势, 其叶片氮含量(N_mass)、光合氮利用效率(PNUE)、比叶面积(SLA)随演替变化没有严格一致的规律, 而更多地表现为不同植物功能型之间的差异; 从演替前期到后期, 同种植物的A_area、SPAD值逐渐降低, 非豆科植物披碱草(Elymus dahuricus)、老鹳草(Geranium wilfordii)的PNUE、WUE随演替进行呈降低趋势, 其N_mass、SLA随演替进行却呈增加趋势, 然而豆科植物紫苜蓿(Medicago sativa)由于具有固氮能力, 受养分限制不明显, 这些光合生理特征值没有随演替发生明显的变化。这些结果表明, 在恢复演替过程中, 该围封地由一个物质获得能力强的群落向物质保持能力强的群落过渡, 土壤水分含量及全氮含量是推动这种过渡发生的主要因子。掌握围封地群落演替过程中的光合生理动态对于亚高寒退化草甸恢复具有一定的理论指导意义。     

Repression of nitrification in soils under a climax grassland vegetation

Abstract Two hypotheses on repression of nitrification in climax vegetations (i.e. nitrogen immobilization and allelopathy) were investigated. In this study the potential nitrification activities and numbers of ammonium-oxidizing bacteria were established in a nature reserve with a series of natural grasslands with vegetational different stages of succession of plants species. The pastures had not been fertilized for 3, 7, 20 and 46 years, respectively, and the gradual decrease in availability of nutrients had led to pastures dominated by different grass species. In each field soil parameters, potential nitrification activities (PNA) and numbers of ammonium-oxidizing bacteria were determined in the root zone of Holcus lanatus as well as in that of a grass species characteristic of the stage of succession. In the rhizosphere of H. lanatus decreasing PNA and numbers of ammonium-oxidizing bacteria were observed as the period of non fertilization increased. Within each field no significant differences in PNA were observed between the root zones of H. lanatus and those of the dominant grass species. From these results it is concluded that, in these fields, decreasing nitrification was related only to decreasing ammonium availability and not to species composition. No indications were obtained that allelochemicals were involved in the flow nitrification potentials of late stages of succession. The optimum pH of the ammonium-oxidizing community, measured as PNA, decreased as the period of non fertilization increased. It is suggested that impoverishment of the grassland soil with respect to nitrogen availability selects against ammonium-oxidizing bacteria with a relatively high pH optimum.     

Changes in plant species diversity along a chronosequence of vegetation restoration in the humid evergreen broad-leaved forest in the Rainy Zone of West China

Plant species diversity has been recognized as one of the vital attributes for assessing vegetation restoration. Changes in the diversity may be related to different stages of succession. In this study, 54 sites of humid, evergreen, broad-leaved forest were selected in the Rainy Zone of West China. A chronosequence of the sites was used to study the successive patterns of the diversity in the forest that had undergone natural regeneration for 5 to 350 years and to test the hypothesis that the diversity is maximized in mid-succession. Data were collected simultaneously at different stages of succession, and four α-diversity indices (species richness, Margalef index, Shannon-Wiener index, Pielou Evenness index) and two β-diversity indices (Whittaker index, Sørensen’s index) were calculated for each stratum in each plot. A total of 394 vascular plant species were recorded. From the β-diversity indices, the forest succession may be divided into the early-successional stage (before 50 years), mid-successional stage (from 50 to 300 years), and late-successional stage (after 300 years). In this community, the species diversity and richness were found to be the greatest at the mid-successional stage, followed by the late- and early-successional stages. The results of regression analysis indicated that the richness and Margalef index peaked around the 175th and 165th year, respectively. Shannon-Wiener index values also appeared to follow an approximately humped pattern of succession and were maximal around the 100th year. However, the species evenness did not show any significant relationship with successional age. Our results demonstrate (1) forest restoration is a long-term process and the formation of climax forest requires at least 300 years and (2) the forest has a strong capacity for restoration. Our results also suggest Lindera limprichitii and Machilus pingii as ideal tree species for afforestation because of their wide niche.     

三种类型草地植物种间关联的测定与比较

植物种间关联的研究,对于进一步确定植物种间关系、揭示群落演替过程中植物种间替代关系的机制、草场退化和人工草地产量下降的原因都有重要意义。本文之所以选取三种类型的草地进行研究主要是考虑到由于一个群落从初期阶段到顶极阶段的演替需要十几年甚至几十年的时间,这样对于演替不同阶段植物种间关联的观测是困难的。故在本文中我们采用     

天童常绿阔叶林五个演替阶段凋落物中的土壤动物群落

为探讨森林凋落物中土壤动物群落的结构特征以及土壤动物群落随植被演替而发生的变化 ,于 2 0 0 3年冬季 ,对浙江天童常绿阔叶林 5个演替阶段凋落物中的土壤动物群落 ,按代表不同分解阶段的新鲜凋落物层、腐叶层和腐殖土层进行了调查研究。共获得土壤动物 13381只 ,分别隶属于 2门 8纲 2 0目。优势类群为蜱螨目 (Arcarina)和弹尾目 (Collem bola) ,二者共占总数的 94 .2 4 % ,A/ C为 7.6 6 ;常见类群为双翅目 (Diptera)。研究结果表明 :(1)凋落物中的土壤动物群落存在明显的有别于真土层的垂直分布 ,类群数和个体数总体表现为向下递增的趋势。共有 19类、5 9.0 3%的土壤动物分布在底部腐殖土层 ,仅 8类、5 .35 %的土壤动物分布在新鲜凋落物层 ,其余共 8类分布在中间腐叶层。而且 ,不同类群在各演替阶段的分布表现出一定的差异 ;(2 )凋落物中土壤动物群落随植物群落的演替而发生明显的变化 :个体总数和类群总数在演替顶极阶段最高 ,其次为中期阶段 ,演替初期最低。但是 ,在目这一分类等级上 ,各演替阶段凋落物中土壤动物群落的主要类群基本一致 ,均为蜱螨目、弹尾目、双翅目和鳞翅目 (L epidoptera) ;(3)相似性分析表明 ,演替中期凋落物中土壤动物群落与顶极阶段最为相似 ;但它们的Shannon- Wiener多样性     

Soil animal communities at five succession stages in the litter of the evergreen broad-leaved forest in Tiantong,China

Soil animals are abundant in forest litter layer,but little attention has been Paid to the vertical distribution of community structure of soil animals in the layers at different plant community succession stages.The forest litter layer can be divided into fresh litter layer(L),fermentation layer(F)and humus layer(H),which may represent different litter decomposition stages.The aim of the study is to ascertain the vertical distribution features of soil animal communities among the three litter layers and the change in the succession process of the Evergreen Broad-Leaved Forest(EBLF)in Tiantong,Zhejiang Province,China.Soil animal communities in the five plant communities at different succession stages were investigated during the 2003 winter.Soil animals,which were collected by using Tullgren funnels,amounted to a total of 13381 individuals falling into 2 phyla,8 classes and 20 orders.The dominant groups were Acarina and Collembola,accounting for 94.24% of the total individuals,with the number of Acarina individuals 7.66 times than that of Collembola.The common group was Diptera.The results indicated that there was a distinctive vertical distribution of the soil animal communities in the forest litter laver,but it differed from that in soil below the litter layer.In contrast to those in the soil,the soil animals in the litter layer generally tended to increase in both group abundance and density from the top fresh litter layer to the bottom humus layer.Altogether 19 groups and 59.03% of total individuals were found in the bottom layer,while only 8 groups and 5.35% of the total individuals in the top.Moreover,there were some variations in the distribution of the soil animals at different plant succession stages.85.19% of Homoptera and 100% of Symphyla were found in the litter layer at the climax succession stage.while 75.61% of Thysanoptera at the intermediate succession stage.Therefore,these groups might be seen as indicative groups.The total numbers of soil animal groups and individuals in the litter layers greatly changed in the succession process of the EBLF.They both were greatest at the climax,moderate at the intermediate and smallest at the primary succession stage.However,the main soil animal groups in the litter at the different succession stages were essentially the same.They were Acarina,Collembola,Diptera and Lepidoptera.Although similarity analysis revealed that the soil animal communities in the litter at the intermediate succession stage were most similar to those at the climax succession stage,they differed greatly from each other in the Shannon-Wiener diversity index.The Shannon-Wiener index was highest at the climax succession stage and lowest at the intermediate succession stage.Finally,the paper discusses the following three questions:the role of soil animals as indicators for plant community succession;the role of different soil animal groups in the litter decomposition at different stages;and the major factors affecting the composition and distribution of soil animals in the litter.This paper provides a new perspective for the research on the succession mechanism of plant communities and the decomposition functions of soil animals.     

INHIBITION OF NITRIFICATION BY CLIMAX ECOSYSTEMS. II. ADDITIONAL EVIDENCE AND POSSIBLE ROLE OF TANNINS

The same nine plots were used in this study as in our previous study on inhibition of nitrification (Rice and Pancholy, 1972). These consisted of three stands representing two stages of old field succession and the climax in each of three vegetation types in Oklahoma: tall grass prairie, post oak-blackjack oak forest, and oak-pine forest. Soil samples were analyzed three times during the growing season of 1972 for exchangeable ammonium nitrogen, nitrate, and numbers of Nitrosomonas and Nitrobacter. Results were similar to those obtained during the entire year of 1971. The amount of ammonium nitrogen was lowest in the first successional stage, intermediate in the intermediate successional stage, and highest in the climax. The amount of nitrate was highest in the first successional stage, intermediate in the intermediate successional stage, and lowest in the climax. The numbers of nitrifiers were highest in the first successional stage usually and decreased to a very low number in the climax. These data furnish additional evidence that the nitrifiers are inhibited in the climax so that ammonium nitrogen is not oxidized to nitrate as readily in the climax as in the successional stages. This would aid in the conservation of nitrogen and energy in the climax ecosystem. Some inhibition of nitrification occurred in the intermediate stage of succession also. Previous studies of tannins indicated that these are inhibitory to nitrification, so all important plant species in the intermediate successional stage and the climax were analyzed for total tannin content. A method for extracting and quantifying condensed tannins from soils was developed and the amounts of tannins were determined in each 15-cm level down to 60 cm in the same two plots in each vegetation type. Gallic and ellagic acids, which result from the digestion of hydrolyzable tannins in oak species, were also extracted and quantified in the climax oak-pine forest. All the important herbaceous species, including the grasses, were found to have considerable amounts of condensed tannins. The highest amounts of tannins occurred in the oaks and pine, however. Condensed tannins, hydrolyzable tannins, ellagic acid, gallic acid, digallic acid, and commercial tannic acid (hydrolyzable tannin), in very small concentrations, were all found to completely inhibit nitrification by Nitrosomonas in soil suspensions for 3 weeks, the duration of the tests. Slightly larger concentrations were required to inhibit nitrification by Nitrobacter under similar conditions. The concentrations of tannins, gallic acid, and ellagic acid found in the soil of the research plots were several times higher than the minimum concentrations necessary to completely inhibit nitrification. The inhibition of nitrification was always greater in the climax stand than in the intermediate successional stage in each vegetation type, and the concentration of tannins in the top 15 cm of soil was always higher in the climax stand than in the intermediate successional stage. Moreover, the amounts of tannins calculated to be added to each plot each year are much less than the amounts found in the soil, indicating that the tannins accumulate over a period of time. Thus, it appears that the tannins and tannin derivatives may play a continuous and rather prominent role in the inhibition of nitrification by vegetation.