Morphological and reproductive responses of dominant plant species to local conditions in herbaceous successional stages of a calcareous hillside

Secondary succession on calcareous hillsides, initiated following the abandonment of agro-pastoral practices, is characterized by the transformation of initial short sward into tall herbaceous vegetation and finally woody formations. These structural changes are accompanied by modifications in ecological conditions but some species are able to persist and flower along the successional gradient. In this study, we compare reproductive and morphological traits of seven perennial species present in three successional stages [short grassland (SG), tall grassland (TG), and encroached grassland (EG)] to test if plant species present modifications along the successional gradient. The results show that morphological traits as height, leaf area and leaf dry mass increase for all studied species. Along the successional gradient, Teucrium chamaedrys increases ramet biomass more than twice (+145%) while Brachypodium pinnatum increases it even more (+340%). Maximum specific leaf area was observed in Brachypodium pinnatum (SLA = 20.4 mm² mg⁻¹) in SG, whereas Helianthemum nummularium and Teucrium chamaedrys have both rising SLA and falling leaf dry matter content in TG and EG. Concurrently, Helianthemum nummularium, Hippocrepis comosa and Teucrium chamaedrys show a clear decrease in sexual reproduction, with between 18 and 40% fewer flowers during the progress of succession. By contrast, Festuca lemanii, Sesleria caerulea and Brachypodium pinnatum increase their flower numbers per inflorescence (×3.6, ×3.3, and ×3.5, respectively). Festuca lemanii and Sesleria caerulea increase seed production to a maximum in TG, and Brachypodium pinnatum and Carex flacca increase seed output in TG and EG (×4.5, ×5.5, respectively). Changes in plants traits underscore the idea that species allocate resources differently probably because of increasing competition and decreasing edaphic constraints. This study also implies the potential existence of specific responses allowing plants to maintain existence within a plant community and explaining their contrasting performance during the succession.     

Functional diversity and traits assembly patterns of lichens as indicators of successional stages in a tropical rainforest

Understanding community assembly patterns with regard to functional traits, which may be common to different species, allows us to compare ecological communities in a wider range of environmental and phytogeographic conditions. Moreover, a functional approach may facilitate the comprehension of the relation between biotic changes and ecosystem functions in complex systems such as tropical forests. Considering the lack of information in relation to the influence of environmental conditions on lichen functional traits, on lichen functional patterns in tropical forests and the potential usage of this approach in bioindication studies, this paper aims at (i) determining the functional structure of the lichen communities along the forest succession gradient, (ii) assessing the relation of lichen functional traits to this gradient and (iii) verifying the potential of using lichen functional traits as indicators of successional stages in tropical rainforests. Lichens were sampled in 24 sampling units of three successional stages (6–10; 12–20; and 40–60 years of recovering). The results corroborated our main hypothesis that the functional structure of the lichen communities responds to structural changes along a forest regeneration gradient. Growth forms (foliose, fruticose and crustose) as well as some reproductive trait states (lirella, isidia and perithecia) were the most suitable lichen traits to be used as indicators of forest succession in the southern edge of the Atlantic Rainforest. Lirella, fruticose and foliose were more related to earlier successional stages; isidia was more related to intermediate stages, while perithecia and crustose were more related to older stages. These results reinforce the ability of lichens to be used as bioindicators of forest conditions.     

Resistance and resilience of stream insect communities to repeated hydrologic disturbances after a wildfire

1. Wildfires are often followed by severe, sediment‐laden floods in burned catchments. In this study, we documented resistance and resilience of stream insect communities to repeated postfire flash floods in a ‘burned stream’. We employed a before‐after‐control‐impact (BACI) design, where communities in comparable reaches of a burned stream and a reference stream were sampled from 2 years before, to 6 years after, a crown wildfire in north‐central New Mexico. 2. The first 100‐year flood following the 1996 Dome wildfire reduced total insect density and taxon richness to near zero in the burned stream. Despite showing low resistance, density returned rapidly to prefire levels because of colonisation by simuliids, chironomids and the mayfly Baetis tricaudatus. In general, taxa that were generalist feeders (collectors) with strong larval dispersal dominated communities in early postfire years with repeated, moderate flash floods. 3. Taxon richness and community composition were less resilient to postfire hydrologic disturbances. Taxon richness did not recover until floods dampened 4 years after the fire. Despite hydrologic recovery, composition in the burned stream still differed from prefire and reference stream compositions after 6 years postfire. A unique assemblage, dominated by taxa with strong larval or adult dispersal, was established after flash floods abated. Specialist feeders (shredders and grazers) that were common in prefire years were reduced or absent in the postfire assemblage. 4. Community succession in the burned stream was explained by the interaction between species traits, geographic barriers to colonisation and hydrologic conditions after the fire. Comparable changes in insect density, taxon richness, community composition and trait representation were not found in the reference stream, providing strong evidence that repeated postfire flash floods shaped community responses in the burned stream.     

亚热带不同演替树种米槠和马尾松细根性状对比研究

选择福建省三明市中亚热带演替前期树种马尾松和演替后期树种米槠两种人工林为研究对象,采用土芯法研究两个树种细根(直径2mm)的生物量及其垂直分布、形态以及分支结构等细根性状特征。结果表明:(1)0—80cm土层米槠的细根生物量密度(0.21±0.06)kg/m3、根表面积密度(3.15±1.25)m2/m3和根长密度(2202.84±517.03)m/m3分别为马尾松的1.6、1.2倍和2.2倍,并且3个指标均随土层深度增加而降低,但演替前期树种马尾松细根在土层间分布更均匀,而演替后期树种米槠细根更富集于表层。(2)马尾松细根的直径(0.86±0.04)mm、比表面积(191±32)cm2/g分别是米槠的1.4倍和1.3倍;米槠细根的比根长(10.73±0.46)m/g、组织密度(0.49±0.06)g/cm3分别是马尾松的1.4倍和2.0倍,马尾松细根的较大直径和低组织密度的形态结构能够迅速生长占领土壤空间和适应干旱环境,而米槠细根的较小直径、高比根长和较高的组织密度使其具有较强养分竞争能力和应对取食压力;(3)米槠的比根尖密度(4288±63)个/g、比分叉密度(1164±155)个/g均为马尾松的2.2倍,米槠细根的高分支系统能够迅速利用富养斑块。结论表明处于不同演替阶段的树种细根性状具有明显差异,可能反映了不同的资源获取策略。     

长白山森林不同演替阶段植物与土壤氮磷的化学计量特征

以长白山森林不同演替阶段的典型群落为对象,研究了不同层次优势种茎和叶化学计量特征及其与土壤因子的关系,并对不同演替阶段群落化学计量进行了比较.结果表明: 叶氮浓度(LNC)与叶磷浓度(LPC)、茎氮浓度(SNC)呈极显著正相关,与茎磷浓度(SPC)显著正相关;LPC与SNC呈显著正相关,与叶N/P、茎N/P显著负相关;叶N/P与茎N/P呈极显著正相关;SNC与SPC呈极显著正相关;SPC与茎N/P呈极显著负相关.各演替群落间的乔木层化学计量特征均有显著差异,灌木层除了叶N/P差异显著以外,其他指标均无显著差异;随演替的进行, LNC明显增加,而LPC呈减少趋势.通过RDA约束排序分析发现,演替前期植物群落主要受氮素的影响,演替中后期主要受氮磷共同影响,以磷素的作用更为强烈.     

玉米-花生间作对作物产量和光合作用光响应的影响

研究了玉米-花生间作对玉米、花生经济产量及功能叶片光合作用光响应的影响.结果表明：间作体系总体表现出明显的产量优势,2004和2005年分别为2 896和2 894 kg·hm^-2,土地利用率提高了14%～17%;玉米-花生间作提高了玉米功能叶片的光饱和点、光补偿点和强光时的光合速率,降低了花生功能叶片的光补偿点和光饱和点,但提高了花生表观量子效率和弱光时的光合速率.表明间作提高了玉米对强光和花生对弱光的利用能力,从而使间作体系表现出明显的产量优势.     

Structural,compositional and trait differences between the mature and the swamp meadow communities

Aims The mature meadows (MMs) and the swamp meadows (SMs) are the two most important ecosystems in the eastern Tibetan Plateau, China. Besides their substantial differences in terms of soil water conditions and thereby the soil oxygen and nutrients, however, little is known about the differences in community composition, structure, traits and productivity between these two meadows. We particularly ask whether light availability mediated by physical structure heterogeneity is a key determinant of the difference in community composition and productivity between these two meadows.Methods We examined the community structure, composition, aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP), light availability in understory and the community-weighted means (CWMs) for leaf morphological and physiological traits in 12 random plots (5 m × 5 m) for each of the studied habitats.Important findings The results showed that plant community in the MM had higher variation in both vertical and horizontal structure and thus had more light availability in the understory. The MM had higher species richness and greater ANPP than the SM. The CWMs of leaf morphological and physiological traits for species in the MM featured a fast-growing strategy (i.e. higher height, leaf area and net photosynthesis rate and lower nitrogen:phosphorus ratio), in contrast to those in the SM. We also found that there were significant correlations between the CWM of traits and the ANPP, indicating that some key traits in these habitats have linked to community productivity. Our study also suggests that the heterogeneity in the community structure, which affects light availability in the understory, may play an important role in determining the community composition and productivity. In conclusion, our study revealed significant differences in community structure, composition and traits between the MM and the SM, and the light availability that related closely to community structure is the key factor to determine the composition and productivity of the community of these two habitats.     

高寒草甸不同演替阶段植物叶片功能性状研究

以甘南高寒草甸演替过程中5个阶段的典型群落为研究对象,对围封样地内不同演替阶段群落叶片功能性状进行比较,分析了围封地内各演替阶段群落水平上主要物种叶性状与环境因子的关系。结果显示:(1)此围封地形成了一个从草本到灌木的演替过程。随着演替的进行,Margalef指数显著增加,Shannon-Wiener指数呈先增加后降低的趋势。(2)从演替前期到演替后期,土壤有机碳(SOC)、土壤全氮(STN)、土壤含水量(SWC)逐渐升高,光照度(LI)、土壤温度(ST)逐渐降低,土壤全磷(STP)呈先降低后增加趋势;叶片有机碳(LCC)、全氮(LNC)、含水量(LWC)逐渐升高;比叶面积(SLA)、磷利用效率(PUPE)、稳定碳同位素(δ13C)逐渐下降,叶片全磷(LPC)先降低后升高,而氮利用效率(PUNE)先升高后降低。(3)RDA冗余分析表明,在此围封样地内,演替前期植物群落叶性状主要受到LI和ST的限制作用。而在演替的中后期SWC[WTBZ]是主要影响因子。此研究有助于我们认识高寒草甸生态系统的退化过程所导致的生态环境问题,进而寻求更好的草地恢复和重建方法。     

长白山针阔混交林不同演替阶段群落系统发育和功能性状结构

群落构建一直是生态学研究的热点,基于系统发育和功能性状量化生境过滤、竞争排斥以及随机过程在群落构建中的作用,能够深入理解群落构建机制。本研究以长白山针阔混交林不同演替阶段的3个5.2 hm~2样地(次生杨桦林、次生针阔混交林、原始椴树红松林)为平台,基于被子植物分类系统Ⅲ(Angiosperm Classification System,APGⅢ)构建的系统发育树和7个关键功能性状(叶面积、比叶面积、叶片厚度、叶片氮含量、叶片磷含量、氮磷比、最大树高),结合环境数据,分析不同演替阶段群落系统发育和功能性状结构。研究表明:(1)各演替阶段7个植物功能性状都表现出显著的系统发育信号,表明植物功能性状受系统发育历史影响;(2)系统发育和功能性状结构在不同演替阶段和不同径级均为非随机状态。随着演替的推进群落系统发育和功能性状结构由聚集走向发散;随着径级的增加,系统发育和功能性状结构的聚集程度减小,表明随着演替阶段的进行和径级增大,竞争性排斥的作用逐渐明显;(3)各演替阶段系统发育和功能性状的周转都为非随机且不同因子对两者的解释力度存在差异。演替早期空间距离的解释力度小于环境距离,说明生境过滤在群落构建中的重要性,而在演替后期空间距离的解释力度大于环境距离,验证了扩散限制在群落构建中的重要性。     

Substitutes for grazing in semi‐natural grasslands – do mowing or mulching represent valuable alternatives to maintain vegetation structure?

Question: Which management treatments are suitable to replace historically applied grazing regimes? How and why does vegetation structure change following changes in management? Location: Semi‐natural calcareous dry grasslands in southwest Germany. Methods: We analysed changes in floristic and functional composition induced by different management treatments (grazing, mowing, mulching, succession) in long‐term experimental sites. First, floristic and functional distances between the initial conditions and the following years were determined. Second, we used RLQ analyses to include data on abiotic conditions, vegetation composition and functional traits in one common analysis. Finally, we applied cluster analyses on RLQ species scores to deduce functional groups. Results: In contrast to the historical management regime of grazing, all alternative management treatments led to changes in floristic and functional composition, depending on their intensity with respect to biomass removal. The distance analyses showed that mulching twice per year and mowing did not lead to strong changes in floristic or functional composition. However, RLQ analysis clearly provided evidence that only the grazed sites are in equilibrium, indicating that vegetation change still goes ahead. Conclusions: The current study clearly shows that RLQ is a powerful tool to elucidate ongoing processes that may remain hidden when separately analysing floristic and functional data. Alternative management treatments are not appropriate to sustain the typical disturbance dynamics of species‐rich semi‐natural grasslands. The less frequent an alternative management treatment is with respect to biomass removal, the less the floristic and functional structure can be maintained.     

沙拐枣叶功能性状对生境变化的响应

【目的】揭示民勤地区沙拐枣叶功能性状在不同生境的变异规律,探明沙拐枣对干旱荒漠环境的适应策略。【方法】以民勤绿洲-荒漠过渡带沙拐枣(Calligonum mongolicum)为对象,采用样方法采集样株东西南北4个方向中部生长良好的叶片,用土钻采集植株根系附近深度为0—60 cm的土壤样本,比较分析丘间低地与流动沙丘2种生境下沙拐枣叶功能性状特征及相关性,揭示沙拐枣叶功能性状与土壤因子的关系。【结果】(1)沙拐枣叶功能性状的变异系数介于2.39%～24.94%,比叶面积(SLA)变异系数最大(24.94%),稳定碳同位素(δ¹³C)变异系数最小(2.39%);沙拐枣叶片的全碳(LCC)、全磷(LPC)含量在样地之间存在显著差异,而SLA、LPC在2种生境间存在显著差异。(2)在丘间低地与流动沙丘2种生境下沙拐枣叶片含水量(LWC)与干物质含量(LDMC)分别呈极显著、显著负相关关系,LWC是2种生境下沙拐枣叶功能性状中综合排名前3的共同指标因子。(3)全氮(STN)、pH值和土壤含水量(SMC)是影响民勤沙拐枣叶功能性状变异的主要土壤因子。【结论】沙拐枣通过改变叶...     

黄龙山林区不同演替时期典型树种光诱导的气孔动力学研究

光诱导的气孔动力学响应快慢是影响植物叶水分利用效率的重要因素,为探索黄土高原不同演替阶段树种水分利用效率差异的生理机制,该研究以黄龙山林区典型树种(演替早期种山杨和白桦、演替后期种辽东栎)的幼龄实生苗为材料,采用盆栽试验,研究了叶片光诱导的气孔导度动力学参数差异及其与气孔特征、叶长期水分利用效率的关系。结果表明：(1)山杨和白桦气孔开放过程中气孔导度(g_s)增加的时间常数(K_i)小于辽东栎,但气孔关闭过程中气孔导度降低的时间常数(K_d)则大于辽东栎,表明山杨和白桦气孔开放更快,而辽东栎的气孔关闭更快。同时,气孔开放过程中山杨和白桦的g_s响应幅度均大于辽东栎,气孔关闭过程中山杨的g_s响应幅度亦大于辽东栎。(2)3种树种中,辽东栎的气孔密度最大,气孔最小,气孔指数最大,辽东栎气孔特征无法解释其慢速的气孔开放过程。 (3)山杨和白桦具有高的光合速率、最大羧化效率和最大电子传递速率,3种树种碳同位素比率(δ¹³C)表征的长期水分利用效率表现为山杨>白桦>辽东栎。研究认为,演替早期种山杨和白桦的高水分利用效率与其快速的气孔开放有关,而演替后期种辽东栎快速的气孔关闭并未增加其水分利用效率,且长期水分利用效率低于山杨和白桦,可能与辽东栎慢速的气孔开放限制了其光合速率有关。     

Report of the Annual Conference of the Cryptogamic Section, 1948

Background: Trait-based assembly rules are a powerful tool in community ecology, used to explore the pattern and process of community structure (richness and composition).

Aims: A preliminary test for the utility of trait-based assembly rules in explaining cryptogamic epiphyte communities (lichens and bryophytes).

Methods: We sampled epiphytes from three different tree species (aspen, birch and pine), and from trees of contrasting age. The community composition of epiphyte species (taxon analysis) and functional groups (trait analysis) was summarised using multivariate ordination (nonmetric multidimensional scaling, NMDS).

Results: Ordination documented a widely observed pattern in which different tree species have taxonomically different epiphyte communities. However, NMDS sample scores were correlated to tree age in the trait-based analysis, but not in the taxon analysis.

Conclusions: Our results point to the existence of a common pattern in community traits during succession (on trees of different age) when measured for epiphyte communities with contrasting taxonomic composition. This pattern is evidenced by consistent trends in lichen growth form and reproductive strategy (sexual vs. asexual).     

喀斯特森林不同演替阶段植物群落物种多样性、功能性状、化学计量及其关联

探讨森林植物群落物种多样性、功能性状与化学计量特征及其内在关联,有助于构建结构-性状-功能的研究脉络,深入理解生态系统的过程与功能,为群落结构优化配置和调控提供科学依据。以贵州喀斯特高原峡谷区森林草灌、灌木、灌乔和乔木4个演替阶段的植物群落为对象,通过群落学调查和植物功能性状、生态化学计量测度,研究其物种多样性、功能性状和化学计量特征及其互作关系。结果表明:(1)乔木阶段的Shannon-Wiener指数与Pielou均匀度指数均为最高,依次达8.62、2.41,表明伴随着群落演替,物种分布的均匀程度增加。(2)植物群落物种多样性指数之间仅Margalef丰富度指数与Simpson优势度指数未呈显著相关(-0.644),其余均为显著或极显著相关关系,表明物种多样性指数之间存在较强的促进或抑制作用。(3)叶片厚度与其余指标,以及群落物种多样性指数与功能性状、化学计量之间均未呈显著相关,比叶面积(SLA)仅与土壤N∶P呈显著正相关(0.742),表明群落物种多样性、功能性状和生态化学计量特征之间的相关性较弱。(4)SLA为灌木阶段的272.13 cm2/g为最大,δ13C值在演替后期略高,草灌、灌木阶段倾向于受N、P共同限制,说明随演替进展,植物的适应策略和资源利用对策等均发生了一定的调整,表明植物和环境之间存在较强的协变关系。(5)该区森林培育时,应构建完整的乔木、灌木和草本层片,提高生态系统对养分矿化、转化和循环等的自调控能力。     

Phylogenetic and functional dissimilarity does not increase during temporal heathland succession

Succession has been a focal point of ecological research for over a century, but thus far has been poorly explored through the lens of modern phylogenetic and trait-based approaches to community assembly. The vast majority of studies conducted to date have comprised static analyses where communities are observed at a single snapshot in time. Long-term datasets present a vantage point to compare established and emerging theoretical predictions on the phylogenetic and functional trajectory of communities through succession. We investigated within, and between, community measures of phylogenetic and functional diversity in a fire-prone heathland along a 21 year time series. Contrary to widely held expectations that increased competition through succession should inhibit the coexistence of species with high niche overlap, plots became more phylogenetically and functionally clustered with time since fire. There were significant directional shifts in individual traits through time indicating deterministic successional processes associated with changing abiotic and/or biotic conditions. However, relative to the observed temporal rate of taxonomic turnover, both phylogenetic and functional turnover were comparatively low, suggesting a degree of functional redundancy among close relatives. These results contribute to an emerging body of evidence indicating that limits to the similarity of coexisting species are rarely observed at fine spatial scales.     

午潮山常绿次生阔叶林主要木本植物功能群及其演替特征

为了理解午潮山次生林群落结构和演替特征,分析了不同演替阶段功能群物种的生态位和种间关系。对研究区70个20×20 m森林样地内胸径≥1 cm的木本植物进行分析调查,并按照11个功能性状（叶片氮含量、叶片磷含量、叶片钾含量、比叶面积、木材密度、叶片干物质含量、叶片叶绿素含量、生长型、寿命、喜光性和最大潜在树高）将主要的45个物种划分为4个功能群：早期先锋树种（PFG1）、中期中性树种（PFG2）、中后期树种（PFG3）和后期耐阴树种（PFG4）。结果表明种间正负联结比接近1,但显著正联结多于显著负联结,群落整体稳定,而演替中后期功能群（PFG2、PGF3和PFG4）的种间生态位重叠和种间联结强度较高,种间竞争激烈。午潮山森林群落正向演替后期发展,可伐除部分与演替中后期树种相互竞争的早期树种加速演替,并且补植有价值的喜阳先锋种减少开放地,为修复森林生态系统和加速群落演替提供策略。     

茂兰喀斯特森林不同演替阶段植物叶片功能性状与土壤因子的关系

植物如何改变功能性状来适应环境一直是生态学的研究征点。为探究茂兰喀斯特森林不同演替阶段植物叶片的适应策略，该文以茂兰自然保护区5个不同演替阶段(草本、灌木、灌乔、乔木和顶极群落阶段)优势种为研究对象，测定不同演替阶段的优势植物叶片功能性状与土壤理化性质。结果表明：(1)随着植被正向演替的进行，土壤全氮(STN)含量、土壤有机质(SOM)含量、土壤含水量(SWC)逐渐增加，土壤全磷(STP)含量和土壤全钾(STK)含量先增加后减少，土壤pH值整体呈减小的趋势。(2)随着植被演替的进行，叶面积(LA)、叶干物质含量(LDMC)、叶厚度(LT)和叶片碳含量(LCC)逐渐上升，比叶面积(SLA)与叶片钾含量(LKC)则与之相反，叶片氮含量(LNC)呈先升后降的趋势，叶片磷含量(LPC)呈先降后升的趋势。(3)冗余分析表明，演替初期植物主要分布在土壤pH值高而STK、STP、SWC、SOM、STN相对低的环境中，群落内植物叶片采取高SLA、LNC、LPC,低LA、LDMC、LT、LWC的性状组合，演替晚期植物主要分布在土壤水分和养分含量较高的环境，LDMC、LT、LA、LWC与演替初期相比呈上升...