黑河中游湿地典型植物群落特征与物种多样性

运用植物学及植物地理学方法,结合野外实地调查,对黑河中游湿地植物区系组成、地理成分、生态特征和物种多样性进行了分析.结果表明:黑河中游湿地共有84种植物,隶属于32科70属,其中,菊科、禾本科的种类最多,占所有植物种类的29.8％;植物区系地理成分多样,温带分布型是主要组成部分;黑河中游湿地草本植物占数量优势,以多年生为主.双向指示种分析法(TWINSPAN)将42个湿地样方划分为10个群落,不同植物群落类型的物种多样性指数均较低,且存在较大差异;以重要值计算的Margalef丰富度指数(Rm)介于0.344 ～1.202,Simpson多样性指数(D)介于0～0.840,Shannon多样性指数(H)介于0 ～1.999,Pielou均匀度指数(J)在0.712 ～1.0,表明了黑河中游湿地植物群落的结构简单、组织水平低.     

运用植物区系质量指数快速评估湿地植被恢复成效

目前通常采用的评估湿地保护和恢复成效的指标体系较为复杂, 常涉及生物学、环境科学和社会学等多个学科, 导致监测评估成本高, 并难以实现综合的定量评估, 因此有必要提出能够在较大程度上表达生态环境状况的综合生态指标。植物区系质量指数(Floristic Quality Assessment Index, FQAI)反映了植物区系中物种的生态保守性程度, 作者将其作为主要生态指标, 来验证该指标用于湿地植被恢复成效定量评估的有效性。作者以四川盆地丘陵和平原地区湿地植物为对象, 构建了区域库塘及河滩湿地植物区系质量指数计算方法与赋值表, 以成都市重要水源地——云桥湿地的3年生态恢复成效为案例进行了检验。结果表明, 在云桥湿地3年恢复期间, 植物物种组成及其比例在恢复年限间无显著差异, Shannon-Wiener指数、Pielou指数和Simpson指数在3年中也并未发生显著变化, 但生态保守性系数平均值(CC_mean)和植物区系质量指数(FQAI)均随恢复年限显著上升, 表明FQAI可以快速、有效地实现生态系统水平湿地植被恢复成效的比较和定量评估。     

湘西北河谷特殊生境植物多样性和区系成分及其与土壤环境因子的相关性

对湘西北猛洞河和德夯河谷9类小生境(凹槽、干旱石壁、滴水岩壁、石土坡、瀑布、微土台、溪沟、岩溶洞穴和河水浸没带)的土壤环境因子(包括含水量、pH值和矿质元素含量)和植物物种组成及区系成分进行了调查,并采用RDA排序法分析了该区域植物区系成分与土壤环境因子的相关性.结果表明:该区域生境异质性较高,各类小生境土壤的含水量、pH值和矿质元素含量均有差异;其中,瀑布生境中土壤含水量最高(达51.9％),干旱石壁土壤含水量最低(仅13.0％);绝大多数生境土壤偏碱性,仅石土坡土壤偏酸性(pH 6.4);9类小生境土壤中Al、Ba、Cd、Co、Cu、K、Mg、Mn、Se和Zn含量差异明显,其中Al含量均最高.各生境中分布的植物种类数量有明显差异,其中,石土坡生境中植物种类最多(共735种)、岩溶洞穴生境中植物种类最少(仅6种);有724种植物的分布辐射范围为1个小生境,分布辐射范围达7个小生境的植物仅1种.各类小生境中植物科、属的分布型数量变化规律基本一致,即以热带分布型为主,但温带分布型属的数量略有增加.RDA排序结果显示:土壤环境因子的12个变量分别可解释科、属区系成分变异信息量的75.9％和88.9％,其中矿质元素含量及pH值与科、属区系成分呈不同程度的正相关或负相关;总体上看,土壤Cd、Se、Zn和Ba含量及pH值是影响该区域植物区系组成的主要土壤因子.研究结果显示:湘西北河谷特殊生境中植物物种分布生境较为专一,植被抗干扰能力较差,不利于物种多样性的长期维持;生境异质性在一定程度上影响植物区系成分的变化,但在科、属层次上影响程度有差异.     

崆峒山维管植物区系及多样性研究

以崆峒山为研究区域,通过样线法和典型样地法对崆峒山植物群落进行调查,从植物区系成分和物种多样性方面对崆峒山维管植物多样性进行了分析.结果表明:崆峒山共有102科393属811种维管植物,其中有新分布植物16种,珍稀濒危植物9种;多样性指数显示阳坡植物多样性较阴坡高;区系分析表明,崆峒山植物种类组成比较丰富,地理成分复杂...     

福建永春闽楠天然林植物区系和物种多样性研究

通过对福建永春闽楠天然林群落进行系统调查,并对该群落植物区系成分、垂直结构特征和物种多样性进行分析。结果表明,该群落共有维管束植物231种,隶属于87科172属。各层次区系均以泛热带和热带亚洲成分较高。群落垂直结构复杂,物种多样性指数以灌木层最高。     

大山包黑颈鹤自然保护区亚高山植物区系

在野外调查和标本鉴定的基础上,对大山包黑颈鹤国家级自然保护区维管植物多样性进行了统计分析,结果表明:该地区植物种类丰富,有维管植物72科197属358种(亚种和变种),其中栽培植物18种、外来入侵植物3种.其植物区系性质为温带性,为东亚地区高寒山地植物区系.大山包现代植物区系缺乏裸子植物和乔木树种归因于人类长期活动的干扰,水生植物种类贫乏是自然规律.     

浙江天目山国家级自然保护区苔藓植物多样性

苔藓植物因个体普遍细小,更易在野外观察及采集中被忽略,故很难获得一个客观、详尽的地区名录,导致对其多样性的研究和保护受到极大限制。本文以浙江天目山国家级自然保护区为例,采用区系生境调查法和样方法相结合的采样策略,沿海拔梯度对不同生境类型内苔藓植物多样性进行了系统调查,并结合多次历史普查资料整理出该保护区的苔藓植物名录。本研究共获得苔藓植物56科143属394种,包括苔类植物16科30属103种,藓类植物40科113属291种,其中有5种为濒危物种。与该保护区历史数据相比,本研究苔藓植物新增科4个、属31个、种182个,包括浙江省新记录科1个、属8个、种33个。区系生境调查法和样方法分别贡献了总物种数的81%和72%,但当调查范围只限定在树附生生境时,采用样方法所获得的总物种数及新增物种数均大于区系生境调查法。虽然代表更大采样努力程度的8个样方/树的调查获得的物种数显著高于2个样方/树的调查结果,但只针对树干0.3 m和1.5 m的2个样方/树的采样结果贡献了75%的物种数。鉴于本研究采集方法获得的较高苔藓植物物种丰富度及新增物种数以及物种组成在时间梯度上的巨大差异,建议在自然保护地开展...     

藏南布丹拉山南坡种子植物区系海拔格局分析

生态群落交错区通常因物种丰富、区系成分复杂而被视为关键带.藏南布丹拉山处在半湿润向半干旱的生态环境过渡带上,因其特殊的自然地理环境而有着丰富的山地植物多样性,但这一重要生态过渡区的种子植物组成和区系成分海拔分布格局目前尚缺乏了解.为了理清布丹拉山南坡种子植物区系成分及其垂直分布变化格局,该文通过野外植物群落的样方调查、...     

海南中部山区到东部沿海区域植物区系比较研究

海南岛地形中高周低,从中部山区到东部沿海平原地区,由于自然条件及历史上人类干扰程度的不同,因此植物区系组成发生了一定程度的变化。为探讨植物区系组成的变化与保护区的次生性、面积及海拔高度等因素的关系,该研究采用样方和样线调查法,对海南岛中偏东部会山保护区进行物种调查,并结合该团队以往调查的中部五指山原自然保护区(现属热带雨林国家公园)、东部非沿海的白石岭保护区和东北部沿海的铜鼓岭自然保护区的数据,对4个保护区的植物区系组成特点进行了比较分析。结果表明:(1)五指山、会山、白石岭、铜鼓岭保护区分别分布有1 893、1 415、634、913种野生种子植物,中部的2个保护区植物种类明显高于其他2个保护区。(2)保护区之间的物种相似性与海拔差和面积差呈显著负相关(P<0.05)。(3)4个保护区均为热带成分占主导地位,在属水平上五指山热带亚洲分布最多,其他3个保护区泛热带分布最多; 在种水平上均为热带亚洲分布最多且铜鼓岭占比最大。综上认为,从中部山区到东部沿海平原地区表现出次生性越大,海拔高度越低,生境类型越少,植物物种数越少; 同时,在属和种的水平上,呈现出热带成分增加,温带成分、中国特有分布和孑遗属、种均减少的特征。     

云居山栓皮栎群落特征及多样性研究

栓皮栎群落是我国暖温带和亚热带落叶阔叶林的重要森林群落类型之一,也是赣北珍稀森林群落之一,在森林演替和植物资源利用中占有重要的地位。通过对江西云居山栓皮栎(Quercus variabilis)群落进行实地调查,采用区系分析、生活型谱分析、物种多样性和双向聚类等方法对其群落特征进行了研究,发现云居山自然保护区栓皮栎群落结构简单,层次明显,多样性程度不高。物种调查及区系研究结果显示,云居山栓皮栎群落维管束植物共计43科56属70种,植物区系主要以泛热带、东亚及北美间断、北温带分布为主,表现出从温带区系向热带区系过渡的特征;生活型谱以高位芽植物为主(占70%),其他生活型相对较少,反映出中亚热带森林以高位芽植物为主的特点。群落物种丰富度、多样性指数均为乔木层小于灌木层和草本层,均匀度指数分析表明,乔木层为聚集分布、灌木层和草本层为均匀分布。双向聚类分析表明,调查的5个样地均为栓皮栎群落,以乔木层物种多度可将5个样地分为3类,组成群落的24个主要物种可分为10类。     

Predicting habitat distribution and frequency from plant species co-occurrence data

Aim Species frequency data have been widely used in nature conservation to aid management decisions. To determine species frequencies, information on habitat occurrence is important: a species with a low frequency is not necessarily rare if it occupies all suitable habitats. Often, information on habitat distribution is available for small geographic areas only. We aim to predict grid‐based habitat occurrence from grid‐based plant species distribution data in a meso‐scale analysis. Location The study was carried out over two spatial extents: Germany and Bavaria. Methods Two simple models were set up to examine the number of characteristic plant species needed per grid cell to predict the occurrence of four selected habitats (species data from FlorKart, http://www.floraweb.de ). Both models were calibrated in Bavaria using available information on habitat distribution, validated for other federal states, and applied to Germany. First, a spatially explicit regression model (generalized linear model (GLM) with assumed binomial error distribution of response variable) was obtained. Second, a spatially independent optimization model was derived that estimated species numbers without using spatial information on habitat distribution. Finally, an additional uncalibrated model was derived that calculated the frequencies of 24 habitats. It was validated using NATURA2000 habitat maps. Results Using the Bavarian models it was possible to predict habitat distribution and frequency from the co‐occurrence of habitat‐specific species per grid cell. As the model validations for other German federal states were successful, the models were applied to all of Germany, and habitat distribution and frequencies could be retrieved for the national scale on the basis of habitat‐specific species co‐occurrences per grid cell. Using the third, uncalibrated model, which includes species distribution data only, it was possible to predict the frequencies of 24 habitats based on the co‐occurrence of 24% of formation‐specific species per grid cell. Predicted habitat frequencies deduced from this third model were strongly related to frequencies of NATURA2000 habitat maps. Main conclusions It was concluded that it is possible to deduce habitat distributions and frequencies from the co‐occurrence of habitat‐specific species. For areas partly covered by habitat mappings, calibrated models can be developed and extrapolated to larger areas. If information on habitat distribution is completely lacking, uncalibrated models can still be applied, providing coarse information on habitat frequencies. Predicted habitat distributions and frequencies can be used as a tool in nature conservation, for example as correction factors for species frequencies, as long as the species of interest is not included in the model set‐up.     

Evaluating the relationship between floristic quality and measures of plant biodiversity along stream bank habitats

Measures used to describe the floristic structure of a habitat can vary in their ability to express trends in plant composition along anthropogenic disturbance gradients. This study was based on a survey of vascular plant biodiversity performed along stream bank habitats within an agricultural landscape in southeastern Ontario, Canada. The accuracy of several measures of plant biodiversity – including those related to a regional floristic quality assessment system – was examined to compare their ability to recognize a gradient of anthropogenic disturbance and associated floristic quality along the stream bank habitats. The floristic quality assessment system is a scheme in which all vascular plants of a region have been assigned a score corresponding to a qualitative conservation value based on habitat fidelity and tolerance of disturbance (native species), and on invasiveness (non-native species). Data were collected from a priori designated disturbed, moderate, and pristine zones along 27 stream sections exhibiting a length-wise disturbance gradient. A detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) was used to isolate the plant compositional gradient present along the stream sections. The measures of plant biodiversity recorded in the different study sites were then ranked by the degree to which they were linearly correlated with the identified compositional gradient of the DCA. The “% non-native plant species” measure was most effective at expressing the gradient, though it incorporated nothing about the fidelity and sensitivity of native plant species present in individual zones. Several measures associated with the floristic quality assessment system – including the mean coefficient of “conservatism” (mCC) – were also effective in identifying the gradient, and had the additional benefit of considering the contribution of each native species in a plot. The simple measure of “total plant species richness” proved to be a poor linear indicator due to a quadratic trend across the whole of the compositional gradient. The floristic quality assessment system proved to be a valuable tool for assessing conservation values of the selected sites. It should be extended to include further regions in Canada and North America in general. Our results further suggest that stream banks associated with open non-crop agricultural property are highly susceptible to colonization by non-native upland plants and species of low conservation interest, and that the presence of wooded areas surrounding these same streams is associated with higher numbers of native and disturbance sensitive plant species present in the bank habitats.     

Is floristic quality assessment reliable in human-managed ecosystems?

The Floristic Quality Analysis (FQA) is a method to assess the quality of a flora based on the assignment of scores to plant species and subsequent calculation of indices. This method is widely applied, but inadequate investigation has been devoted to test its potential problems due to human factors. This work is aimed to specifically test how the human factor can affect the calculation of the FQA indices, by addressing three questions: (i) Are the scores given to plant species consistent among different experts?; (ii) Are the floristic quality indices calculated by different experts consistent in ordering individual sites?; and (iii) Does the use of an appropriate statistics change the ordering of individual sites? To answer these questions, a list of species obtained in 136 plots in central Italy was submitted to nine experts, who scored each species. The FQA indices were then calculated from the scores of each of the experts. The results showed that: (i) the scores given to the species by the experts were not consistent and the derived floristic quality indices were statistically different; (ii) the floristic quality indices calculated for each plot were significantly different among experts, but the ranking of these plots based on their floristic quality was rather consistent; and (iii) the use of ordinal statistics, which is more adequate for this type of data, did not change the results. This study demonstrated that the Floristic Quality Analysis does not provide reliable and objective tools to assess the quality of the flora in a human-managed ecosystem. The application of these indices should be preceded with resolution of the methodological problems associated with the use of inappropriate statistics, and by procedures to reduce the degree of subjectivity in assigning the CC scores.     

Mosses in Ohio wetlands respond to indices of disturbance and vascular plant integrity

We examined the relationships between an index of wetland habitat quality and disturbance (ORAM score) and an index of vascular plant integrity (VIBI-FQ score) with moss species richness and a moss quality assessment index (MQAI) in 45 wetlands in three vegetation types in Ohio, USA. Species richness of mosses and MQAI were positively associated with ORAM and VIBI-FQ scores. VIBI-FQ score was a better predictor of both moss species richness and MQAI than was either ORAM score or vegetation type. This result was consistent with the strict microhabitat requirements for many moss species, which may be better assessed by VIBI-FQ than ORAM. Probability curves as a function of VIBI-FQ score were then generated for presence of groups of moss species having the same degree of fidelity to substrate and plant communities relative to other species in the moss flora (coefficients of conservatism, CCs). Species having an intermediate- or high degree of fidelity to substrate and plant communities (i.e., species with CC ≥ 5) had a 50% probability of presence (P₅₀) and 90% probability of presence (P₉₀) in wetlands with intermediate- and high VIBI-FQ scores, respectively. Although moss species richness, probability of presence of species based on CC, and MQAI may reflect wetland habitat quality, the 95% confidence intervals around P₅₀ and P₉₀ values may be too wide for regulatory use. Moss species richness, MQAI, and presence of groups of mosses may be more useful for evaluating moss habitat quality in wetlands than a set of “indicator species.”     

Functional Group Density as an index for assessing habitat quality in tallgrass prairie

We propose that patterns of plant functional group occurrences could be a reliable indicator of prairie vegetation quality. A method for assessing tallgrass prairie quality based on density and composition of plant functional groups was developed and tested by comparison with qualitative indices calculated from species data at 17 prairies in Illinois. Species sample data were recorded from quadrats while functional group data were recorded from segments of belt transects overlying the species sample transects. Prairies selected include remnants and restorations and represent a wide range of habitat quality including recognized natural areas, degraded remnants, and prairie plantings of varying age and success. For agglomerative clustering of prairie quality classes, a matrix of habitat indices and metrics was used based on species sample data from all sites. Three groups were identified in cluster analysis that were characteristic of high, medium, and low-quality prairies. Mean Functional Group Density (Mean FGD), an index developed based on the mean products of frequency and density among plant functional groups recorded from belt transects at each site, had the highest correlations to habitat quality indices among two other functional group indices tested. Mean FGD was highly correlated with the mean coefficient of conservatism and floristic quality index, indices calculated from species sample data that have been shown to be reliable indicators of habitat quality. In means comparison tests among prairie quality classes, Mean FGD differentiated high-quality from medium and low-quality prairies, but did not distinguish medium from low-quality sites (only two low-quality sites were identified), although rank order of Mean FGD was as predicted. There is a tradeoff in efficiency and precision between species-level and functional group sample data. Species-level data more precisely discriminate differences in low and medium-quality sites; however, functional group sampling is much more rapid requiring only 20-to-25% of the time required for collecting species-level data. Results from functional group sampling highlight differences in functional group composition among prairie quality classes. High-quality prairies are characterized by greater abundance of sedges and hemi-parasites while lower-quality prairies were affiliated more with non-native perennial forbs and annual/biennial species.     

The niche of higher plants: evidence for phylogenetic conservatism.

A species' ecological niche depends on the species' adaptations to its present habitat, but also on the legacy from its ancestors. Most authors argue that such a phylogenetic niche conservatism is of minor importance, although no quantitative analyses across a major taxon is available. Higher plants from central Europe offer a unique opportunity for such an exercise, as the niche positions along various environmental gradients are available for most species. We quantified niche conservatism by two approaches. First, we used a phylogenetic tree and quantified the degree of retention of niches across the tree. Depending on the gradient, the values ranged from 0.43 to 0.22. This was significantly greater than the null expectation. Second, we used a taxonomy and quantified the amount of variance among species that could be explained at higher taxonomic levels. The values ranged from 25 to 72%. Again, this was significantly higher than the null expectation. Thus, both approaches indicated a clear niche conservatism. The distribution of conservatism across taxonomic levels differed considerably among environmental gradients. The differences among environmental gradients could be correlated with the palaeoenvironmental conditions during the radiation of the phylogenetic lineages. Thus, niche conservatism among extant plant species may reflect the opportunities of their ancestors during their diversification.     

The role of parasitoids in evolution of habitat and larval food plant preference by three Pieris butterflies

This article attempts to explain that parasitoids provide the evolutionary pressure responsible for relationships between habitat use and larval food plant use in herbivorous insects. Three species of butterflies of the genus Pieris, P. rapae, P. melete, and P. napi use different sets of cruciferous plants. They prefer different habitats composed of similar sets of cruciferous plants. In our study, P. rapae used temporary habitats with ephemeral plants, P. melete used permanent habitat with persistent plants, although they also used temporary habitats, and P. napi used only permanent habitat. The choice experiment in the field cages indicated that each of the three butterfly species avoided oviposition on plants usually unused in its own habitat, but accepted the unused plants which grew outside its own habitat. Their habitat use and plant use were not explained by intrinsic plant quality examined in terms of larval performance. Pieris larvae collected from persistent plants or more long lasting habitats were more heavily parasitized by two specialist parasitoids, the braconid wasp Cotesia glomerata and the tachinid fly Epicampocera succincta. The results suggest that Pieris habitat and larval food plant use patterns can be explained by two principles. The evolution of habitat preference may have been driven by various factors including escape from parasitism. Once habitat preference has evolved, selection favors the evolution of larval food plant preferences by discriminating against unsuitable plants, including those which are associated with high parasitism pressures. Received: December 3, 1998 / Accepted: January 20, 1999     

On the evolutionary stability of sink populations

The evolution of adaptive behaviours can influence population dynamics. Conversely, population dynamics can affect both the rate and direction of adaptive evolution. This paper examines reasons why sink populations – populations maintained by immigration, preventing local extinction – might persist in the habitat repertoire of a species over evolutionary time-scales. Two such reasons correspond to standard explanations for deviations from an ideal free habitat distribution: organisms may not be free to settle in whichever habitat has the highest potential fitness, and may be constrained by costs, perceptual limitations, or mode of dispersal in the acuity of their habitat selectivity. Here, I argue that a third general reason for persistent sink populations is provided by unstable population dynamics in source habitats. I present a simple model illustrating how use of a sink habitat may be selectively advantageous, when a source population has unstable dynamics (which necessarily reflects temporal variation in local fitnesses). Species with unstable local dynamics in high-quality habitats should be selected to utilize a broader range of habitats than species with stable local dynamics, and in particular in some circumstances should utilize sink habitats. This observation has implications for the direction of niche evolution, and the likelihood of niche conservatism.     

Absence of phylogenetic signal in the niche structure of meadow plant communities

A significant proportion of the global diversity of flowering plants has evolved in recent geological time, probably through adaptive radiation into new niches. However, rapid evolution is at odds with recent research which has suggested that plant ecological traits, including the beta- (or habitat) niche, evolve only slowly. We have quantified traits that determine within-habitat alpha diversity (alpha niches) in two communities in which species segregate on hydrological gradients. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of these data shows practically no evidence of a correlation between the ecological and evolutionary distances separating species, indicating that hydrological alpha niches are evolutionarily labile. We propose that contrasting patterns of evolutionary conservatism for alpha- and beta-niches is a general phenomenon necessitated by the hierarchical filtering of species during community assembly. This determines that species must have similar beta niches in order to occupy the same habitat, but different alpha niches in order to coexist.     

Comparing the conservatism of ecological interactions in plant–pollinator and plant–herbivore networks

Conservatism in species interaction, meaning that related species tend to interact with similar partners, is an important feature of ecological interactions. Studies at community scale highlight variations in conservatism strength depending on the characteristics of the ecological interaction studied. However, the heterogeneity of datasets and methods used prevent to compare results between mutualistic and antagonistic networks. Here we perform such a comparison by taking plant–insect communities as a study case, with data on plant–herbivore and plant–pollinator networks. Our analysis reveals that plants acting as resources for herbivores exhibit the strongest conservatism in species interaction among the four interacting groups. Conservatism levels are similar for insect pollinators, insect herbivores and plants as interacting partners of pollinators, although insect pollinators tend to have a slightly higher conservatism than the two others. Our results thus clearly support the current view that within antagonistic networks, conservatism is stronger for species as resources than for species as consumer. Although the pattern tends to be opposite for plant–pollinator networks, our results suggest that asymmetry in conservatism is much less pronounced between the pollinators and the plant they interact with. We discuss these differences in conservatism strength in relation with the processes structuring plant–insect communities.