Factors Influencing Bug Diversity (Insecta: Heteroptera) in Semi-Natural Habitats

We investigated the abundance and species richness of heteropteran bugs and explored environmental factors which influence bug diversity in three types of semi-natural habitats (wildflower areas, extensively used meadows, extensively grazed pastures). To cover this topic, it is essential to know how much the relatively young wildflower areas contribute to biodiversity compared with well-established extensive meadows and pastures. Total bug species richness and phytophagous bug species richness were significantly higher in wildflower areas and meadows than in pastures. In wildflower areas, we found the highest number of zoophagous bug species and species overwintering in the egg-stage. Species overwintering as adults were most abundant in meadows. Total number of bug species as well as species richness in either trophic groups and overwintering strategies were significantly positively correlated with vegetation structure. Except for overwintering strategies, the same was true to bug abundance. The bug community based on the number of individuals per species was significantly explained by flower abundance and vegetation structure, accounting for 18.4 and 16.8% of the variance, respectively. Our results indicate that vegetation structure and flower abundance are key factors for bug species richness, abundance and bug species composition. Since wildflower areas and meadows clearly increased bug species richness and contained several specialised bug species that did not occur in pastures, we recommend the promotion of wildflower areas and extensively used meadows in order to restore both high heteropteran diversity and overall insect biodiversity in agricultural landscapes.     

南水北调中线干渠两个水工构筑物对着生藻类群落的影响

在南水北调中线干渠两个水工构筑物沙河渡槽与穿黄工程渠段分别设置沙河渡槽上游明渠、沙河渡槽入口、沙河渡槽出口、穿黄工程入口、穿黄工程出口、穿黄工程下游明渠和穿黄工程下游沁河倒虹吸7个监测位点,对着生藻类群落与水质指标进行了原位同步监测。结果表明:监测位点的蓝藻优势种有鞘丝藻(Leptolyngbya sp.)、聚球藻(Synechococcus sp.)、眉藻(Calothrix sp.)、席藻(Phormidium sp.)、集胞藻(Synechocystis sp.)和拟色球藻(Chroococcidiopsis sp.)等;真核藻类优势种有链带藻(Desmodesmus sp.)、土佐牧野藻(Makinoella sp.)、芒球藻(Radiococcus sp.)、盘星藻(Monactinus sp.)、卵囊藻(Oocystella sp.)、菱形藻(Nitzschia sp.)、针杆藻(Synedra sp.)和肘形藻(Ulnaria sp.)等。经过渡槽后藻类生物量下降50%,藻类种类数下降16%;经过穿黄工程后藻类生物量下降80%,藻类种类数下降18%。经过沙河渡槽后,真核藻...     

Algae-associated marine molluscs in the Azores

The raolluscan fauna of a special habitat, the high intertidal algal turf, was studied at four stations on the island of Sao Miguel, Azores. The number of species found ranged from 13 to 23. However, a small group of only six species (the bivalve Lasaea adansoni and the gastropods Pisinna punctulum, Omalogyra atomus, Fossarus ambiguus, Skeneopsis planorbis and Alvania postrema) accounted for more than 80% of all the specimens collected. Mollusc density reached values of 20000 specimens per 100 g algal dry weight. The abundance and number of species of molluscs was comparable with those reported for algal zones lower on the Azorean shores.
Wave exposure and seasonality effects were found to be small, presumably because of the relatively mild abiotic conditions and the protective role of the turf. The algal substrata influenced the phytal molluscan community in two ways. First, the abundance of molluscs was significantly correlated with algal dry weight. Secondly, molluscan abundance and diversity were influenced by the algal composition of the turf. A rich algal composition, with several species of branched fleshy and coralline algae, was associated with a rich molluscan fauna. The dominance of coralline algae resulted in a abundant but species-poor fauna, while an almost monospecific turf of Gigartina was poor in both species and number of molluscan fauna.     

Soil Algae in Brown Coal and Lignite Post-Mining Areas in Central Europe (Czech Republic and Germany)

Algal communities were investigated in two contrasting chronosequences established on reclaimed spoils in the west Bohemian brown coal mining district near Sokolov (Czech Republic) and in the Lusatian lignite mining district near Cottbus (Germany). The Sokolov chronosequence was characterized by tertiary cypric clay substrate, afforestation with Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn., and high pH of deposited spoil material, Cottbus chronosequence by tertiary carboniferous and pyritic sand of extremely low pH ameliorated by fly ash, and afforestation with Pinus sylvestris L. and P. nigra Arnold. A total of 122 species of algae was found in both areas. Although the same species number (80) was identified from Sokolov and Cottbus, both proportion of individual algal groups and species composition were different. Green algae prevailed in both areas, but in Sokolov cyanobacteria and diatoms were also quite diverse, and in younger sites they were also abundant. Total abundance of algae ranged mostly between 10⁴–10⁷ cells/g dry soil, and was one order higher in Cottbus than in Sokolov. Species number was high in young sites, decreased with increasing age, and was the lowest in control forests. In Sokolov, the highest abundance was recorded in the youngest alder plantation. In Cottbus, sludge and compost fertilization used in the youngest pine plantations resulted in rapid formation of visible algal crusts dominated by Klebsormidium crenulatum (Kütz) Lokhorst.     

The influence of multiple factors upon reef fish abundance and species richness in a tropical coral complex

The present study was conducted on Tamandaré reefs, northeast Brazil and aimed to analyse the importance of different factors (e.g. tourism activity, fishing activity, coral abundance and algal abundance) on reef fish abundance and species richness. Two distinct reef areas (A ver o mar and Caieiras) with different levels of influence were studied. A total of 8239 reef fish individuals were registered, including 59 species. Site 1 (A ver o mar) presented higher reef fish abundance and richness, with dominance of roving herbivores (29.9 %) and mobile invertebrate feeders (28.7 %). In contrast, at Site 2 (Caieiras) territorial herbivores (40.9 %) predominated, followed by mobile invertebrate feeders (24.6 %). Concerning the benthic community, at Site 1 macroalgae were recorded as the main category (49.3 %); however, Site 2 was dominated by calcareous algae (36.0 %). The most important variable explaining more than 90 % of variance on reef fish abundance and species richness was macroalgae abundance, followed by fishing activity. Phase shifts on coral reefs are evident, resulting in the replacement of coral by macroalgae and greatly influencing reef fish communities. In this context, it is important to understand the burden of the factors that affect reef fish communities and, therefore, influence the extinction vulnerability of coral reef fishes.     

Microbial Assemblages in Soil Microbial Succession After Glacial Retreat in Svalbard (High Arctic)

Microbial community composition (cyanobacteria and eukaryotic microalgae abundance and diversity, bacterial abundance, and soil respiration) was studied in subglacial and periglacial habitats on five glaciers near Ny-Alesund, Svalbard (79 degrees N). Soil microbial communities from nonvegetated sites (subglacial, recently deglaciated, and cryoconite sediments) and sites with plant cover (deglaciated some hundreds of years ago) were analyzed. Physicochemical analyses (pH, texture, water content, organic matter, total C and N content) were also performed on the samples. In total, 57 taxa of 23 genera of cyanobacteriaand algae were identified. Algae from the class Chlorophyceae (25 species) and cyanobacteria (23 species) were richest in biodiversity. The numbers of identified species in single habitat types were 23 in subglacial, 39 inbarren, 22 in cryoconite, and 24 in vegetated soils. The highest cyanobacterial and algal biovolume and cell numbers, respectively, were present in cryoconite (13x10(4) microm3 mg-1 soil and 508 cells per mg of soil), followed by barren (5.7x10(4) and 188), vegetated (2.6x10(4) and 120), and subglacial (0.1x10(4) and 5) soils. Cyanobacteria prevailed in all soil samples. Algae (mainly green algae) were present only as accessory organisms. The density of bacteria showed a slightly different trend to that of the cyanobacterial and algal assemblages. The highest number of bacteria was present in vegetated (mean: 13,722x10(8) cells per mg of soil dry wt.), followed by cryoconite (3802x10(8)), barren (654x10(8)), and subglacial (78x10(8)) soils. Response of cyanobacteria and algae to physical parameters showed that soil texture and water content are important for biomass development. In addition, it is shown that nitrogen and water content are the main factors affecting bacterial abundance and overall soil respiration. Redundancy analysis (RDA) with forward selection was used to create a model explaining variability in cyanobacterial, algal, and bacterial abundance. Cryoconites accounted for most of the variation in cyanobacteria and algae biovolume, followed by barren soils. Oscillatoriales, desmids, and green coccoid algae preferred cryoconites, whereas Nostocales and Chroococcales occurred mostly in barren soils. From the data obtained, it is evident that of the studied habitats cryoconite sediments are the most suitable ones for the development of microbial assemblages. Although subglacial sediments do not provide as good conditions as cryoconites, they support the survival of microbial communities. Both mentioned habitats are potential sources for the microbial recolonization of freshly deglaciated soil after the glacier retreat.     

Benthic algal spores surviving digestion by sea urchins

Present ideas on benthic algae adaptations to animal herbivory focus mainly on defensive and escape mechanisms of settled plants, and disregard the ability of algal reproductive bodies to escape from digestion by animals. To test this hypothesis, 150 individuals of the common Chilean sea urchin, Tetrapygus niger Molina were collected over a period of 7 months, covering Spring through Fall. Fifty were examined for gut contents which revealed a total of 31 algal species, 62.9% of which could be categorized as opportunists and 37.1% as late successional forms. When the contents of faecal pellets were cultured the resulting algal species that had successfully resisted digestion by means of incomplete digestion or protective spore walls showed 84.6% as opportunists and 15.4% as late successional forms. There was no significant correlation between frequency of occurrence in the gut contents and in the faecal cultures, indicating that digestion survival depended on factors other than abundance. Data from these studies provide new insights into the life histories of opportunistic species and suggest that the capacity to survive digestion may play a role in the abundance of these species in overgrazed areas.     

Phytoplankton communities response to a mine effluent rich in copper

The effects of a mine effluent containing high copper levels on the structure of the phytoplankton communities in a chain of low alkalinity and hardness oligotrophic reservoirs situated north of Portugal were studied monthly, during 1981–1982. In the reservoirs under mine influence, a shift in the dominant species have occurred. In contrast with the uncontaminated areas, more than 50% of the algal species developed lower populations. At the most polluted zone, phytoplankton density, biomass and species number were strongly reduced. The mine input stress on the algal communities was well assessed by species number and percentage similarity index.     

Biodiversity influences invasion success of a facultative epiphytic seaweed in a marine forest

The biotic resistance hypothesis predicts that more diverse communities should have greater resistance to invasions than species-poor communities. However for facultative and obligate epiphytic invaders a high native species richness, abundance and community complexity might provide more resources for the invader to thrive to. We conducted surveys across space and time to test for the influence of native algal species abundance and richness on the abundance of the invasive facultative epiphytic filamentous alga Lophocladia lallemandii in a Mediterranean Cystoseira balearica seaweed forest. By removing different functional groups of algae, we also tested whether these relationships were dependent on the complexity and abundance of the native algal community. When invasion was first detected, Lophocladia abundance was positively related to species richness, but the correlation became negative after two years of invasion. Similarly, a negative relationship was also observed across sites. The removal experiment revealed that more complex native communities were more heavily invaded, where also a positive relationship was found between native algal richness and Lophocladia, independently of the native algal abundance. Our observational and experimental data show that, at early stages of invasion, species-rich seaweed forests are not more resistant to invasion than species-poor communities. Higher richness of native algal species may increase resource availability (i.e. substrate) for invader establishment, thus facilitating invasion. After the initial invasion stage, native species richness decreases with time since invasion, suggesting negative impacts of invasive species on native biodiversity.     

Effects of the Caribbean threespot damselfish,Stegastes Planifrons (Cuvier), on algal lawn composition

Algal lawn communities within territories of herbivorous threespot damselfish, Stegastes planifrons (Cuvier) were studied in a shallow back-reef environment at La Parguera, Puerto Rico. Caging exclusion experiments, monitoring of non-manipulated lawns and gut content analyses were used to determine the effect of S. planifrons on algal species composition of the lawn. An average of 40 algal species per sampling period were found in naturally occuring lawns, with a total of 53 species being recorded throughout the course of study. Examination of algal species found in damselfish guts and comparison with natural lawns indicate that damselfish feed primarily on their algal lawns and graze the algae present in proportion to abundance. Caged algal lawns showed significant decline in algal species number and abundance over time. Non-selective feeding by Stegastes planifrons within their territorial lawns appears to result in an “intermediate disturbance” which maintains a greater algal species richness than is found in their absence.     

Passive restoration of vegetation and biological soil crusts following 80 years of exclusion from grazing across the Great Basin

Restoration targets for biological soil crusts are largely unknown. We surveyed seven 80‐year‐old grazing exclosures across northern Nevada for biocrusts to quantify reference conditions at relatively undisturbed sites. Exclosures were associated with the following plant communities: Wyoming big sagebrush, black sagebrush, and areas co‐dominated by winterfat and Wyoming big sagebrush. Cover of biocrusts and shrubs were generally higher than other plant groups at these sites, regardless of being inside or outside of the exclosures, suggesting these groups make up most of the native flora across the region. Important in forming soil structure, cyanobacteria of the order Oscillatoriales were less abundant and diverse in black sagebrush communities. Grazing had a negative effect on the abundance of Oscillatoriales but not the number of algal taxa, including cyanobacteria. Abundance of light algal crusts were not influenced by plant community or grazing. Dark algal crusts were generally less abundant on grazed sites. Influences of plant community and grazing were most apparent when accounting for reproductive rates of lichens and mosses based on establishment mechanisms. Abundance of shrubs, perennial grasses, Oscillatoriales, fast reproducing biocrusts and the number of algal and cyanobacterial taxa, varied by plant community, suggesting that restoration should be plant community specific. We demonstrate the affinity of rapidly reproducing biocrusts for winterfat‐Wyoming big sagebrush co‐dominated plant communities, regardless of grazing pressure. Across sites, the effects of grazing were most evident on the abundance of Oscillatoriales and slowly reproducing biocrusts following 80 years of cessation from grazing.     

INFECTION,GROWTH, AND COMMUNITY-LEVEL CONSEQUENCES OF A DIATOM PATHOGEN IN A SONORAN DESERT STREAM1

We describe effect of a pathogen that spread through a dense, rapidly growing, benthic diatom community during two infection periods (February and mid-April 1991) in Sycamore Creek, Arizona. Infected areas appeared as gray rings within a matrix of healthy diatom growth and spread rapidly, eventually covering all benthic substrata and causing algal sloughing (within 2 wk in February and 1 wk in April). Examination of algal material with transmission electron microscopy revealed the presence of invasive bacteria within diatom cells from infected areas, suggesting a pathogenic bacterium as the most probable cause of this phenomenon. Infected area supported lower chlorophyll a concentrations and contained higher percentages of diatom cells with fragmented or reduced chloroplasts than uninfected areas. Spread of the pathogen appeared to be linked most strongly with diatom densities. The infection spread most rapidly in April, when cell densities were highest, and decimated all diatom species populations. The February infection was more species-specific in its action, affecting large motile and rosetteforming taxa more strongly than small, adnate diatoms. This latter group likely resided at the base of communities and may have been buffered from pathogen transfer by mucilage and/or dentrital particles. Consequently, relative abundance of small, adnate diatom taxa increased in algal communities as a result of the February infection. Pathogen-induced alteration of diatom species composition and abundance should influence primary production in this ecosystem and affect the dynamics of organisms that exploit algae as a resource.     

Biological invasions of Southern Ocean islands: the Collembola of Marion Island as a test of generalities

It has been suggested previously that the presence and abundance of indigenous species have a marked influence on the likelihood of invasion of a community. It has also been suggested that such biotic resistance has a negligible influence on the outcome of an invasion, but that the abiotic characteristics of the environment being invaded are more important. The latter has been claimed to be especially important on the islands of the Southern Ocean. In order to test these competing hypotheses we examined the distribution and abundance of indigenous and introduced springtails across 13 habitats, which differ considerably in the properties of their soils, and soil temperature, on the eastern quarter of sub‐Antarctic Marion Island. There was no evidence of negative abundance covariation or species associations within habitats, nor were there significant relationships between species richness or abundance of the indigenous as opposed to the introduced collembolans across habitats. Interspecific interactions thus seem to have played no readily identifiable role in the outcome of invasions by Collembola on Marion island. In contrast, the indigenous and introduced species responded very differently to abiotic variables. The indigenous Collembola prefer drier, more mineral soils with a low organic carbon content, and species richness tends to be highest in cold, fellfield areas. On the other hand, the introduced springtails prefer moist, warm sites, with organically enriched soils, introduced species richness was negligible in cold, fellfield areas. Disturbance also appeared to influence positively the species richness and abundance of introduced species at a site. These results provide independent support for the idea that abiotic factors, especially temperature, significantly influence the likelihood of biological invasions on Southern Ocean islands. They also suggest that predicting the outcome of climate change on community structure in this region is likely to be problematic, especially in the case of the Collembola.     

Specific features of algal communities in forest litter of forest biogeocenoses of the steppe zone

We have studied the specific features of the composition of algal groups in forest litters of natural and manmade forest biogeocenoses in the steppe zone. The strongest resemblance is seen between algal groups formed in forest litters with identical compositions of plant debris (leaf or needle). The dominants and the structure of algal groups vary with respect to the season and subhorizon of forest litter, which points to the specificity of the latter as algal habitat. It is characterized by high variability of the thickness and physicochemical properties as a result of biotic and abiotic destruction of plant remains. The needle litter is predominated by Chlorophyta and Xanthophyta (with respect to the species number and abundance) upon the considerable participation of Cyanoprokaryota. When the needle litter is enriched with leaf debris, the species diversity of Cyanoprokaryota increases. The biological diversity of algae in the forest litter is high, and they may play a significant role in the formation of algal communities in soil horizons.     

Interactions between macro-algal mats and invertebrates in the Ythan estuary, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Blooms of opportunistic green macro-algae are a common feature of coastal areas and their effects on mudflat invertebrates can be dramatic. On the Ythan estuary, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, we have carried out a number of manipulative field experiments designed to evaluate the effects on invertebrates of different species of macro-algae with contrasting ecologies, and the effects of invertebrates on the development of the blooms. Macro-algal mats were found to have dramatic nega- tive effects on the density of the amphipod Corophium volutator, with higher algal biomasses having greater impact. The mechanism for this interaction seems to be interference by the algal filaments with the feeding behaviour of the amphipod. In contrast, the polychaete Capitella spp. increases in abundance under macro-algal mats due to enrichment of the sediment with organic material. These two interactions are seen at all scales, in areas of less than 1 m² to the scale of the entire estuary, irrespective of the species composition of the macro- algal mats. Bioturbation by Corophium and grazing by the snail Hydrobia ulvae had little effect on macro-algal biomass, but there were less algae when the polychaete Nereis diversicolor was present. The most significant interaction in this system is the pronounced negative impact of algal mats on the abundance of Corophium, probably the most important invertebrate species in the diets of the estuary’s shorebirds, fish and epibenthic crustaceans. Received: 14 December 1998 / Received in revised form: 26 May 1999 / Accepted: 28 May 1999     

Assessing the importance of disturbance, site conditions, and the biotic barrier for dandelion invasion in an Alpine habitat

Several factors have been identified as relevant in determining the abundance of non-native invasive species. Nevertheless, the relative importance of these factors will vary depending on the invaded habitat and the characteristics of the invasive species. Due to their harsh environmental conditions and remoteness, high-alpine habitats are often considered to be at low risk of plant invasion. However, an increasing number of reports have shown the presence and spread of non-native plant species in alpine habitats; thus, it is important to study which factors control the invasion process in these harsh habitats. In this study, we assessed the role of disturbance, soil characteristics, biotic resistance and seed rain in the establishment and abundance of the non-native invasive species Taraxacum officinale (dandelion) in the Andes of central Chile. By focusing on human-disturbed patches, naturally disturbed patches, and undisturbed patches, we did not find that disturbance per se, or its origin, affected the establishment and abundance of T. officinale. The abundance of this non-native invasive species was not negatively related to the diversity of native species at local scales, indicating no biotic resistance to invasion; instead, some positive relationships were found. Our results indicate that propagule pressure (assessed by the seed rain) and the abiotic soil characteristics are the main factors related to the abundance of this non-native invasive species. Hence, in contrast to what has been found for more benign habitats, disturbance and biotic resistance have little influence on the invasibility of T. officinale in this high-alpine habitat.     

毛乌素沙地固碳功能菌群落随生物结皮发育阶段的演变特征

生物结皮是干旱区生态系统光合固碳的重要贡献者,固碳功能菌是生物结皮碳固定过程中的关键功能群,而毛乌素沙地生物结皮有关固碳功能菌群落多样性的研究未见详细报道。通过qPCR和高通量测序,研究了毛乌素沙地固碳功能菌基因丰度、群落多样性在生物结皮发育过程中的演变规律及其关键环境因子。结果表明,form IAB、IC和ID的基因丰度均随生物结皮发育呈升高趋势,在地衣结皮最高,在藓结皮又明显降低;form IAB的Chao1和form IC的Shannon指数随生物结皮演替呈显著上升趋势,而 form IC和ID的Chao1则在藻结皮达到峰值。物种组成上,IAB型固碳功能菌以蓝藻门的颤藻目占优势,其相对丰度在藻结皮最高,随生物结皮演替逐渐降低;IC型固碳功能菌在裸沙中以土壤红杆菌目为主, 而在三种生物结皮中以生丝微菌目、亚硝化单胞菌目和红螺菌目占优势; ID型固碳菌则以硅藻门的舟形藻目占优势,其丰度在裸沙中最高。IAB和IC型固碳功能菌群落结构在藻结皮和地衣结皮类似,而与裸沙和藓结皮差异显著,裸沙与藓结皮亦具显著差异。生物结皮演替过程中生物类群和土壤理化特征的改变为固碳功能菌提供了不同的生态位,土壤总有机碳、全氮、铵态氮、全磷、速效磷和pH对固碳功能菌群落进行综合调控,通过对固碳功能菌的筛选作用,最终改变固碳功能菌群落组成和结构。为深入理解荒漠生态系统生物结皮的光合固碳功能的微生物学机制提供了理论支撑。     

Interaction of herbivory and seasonality on the dynamics of Caribbean macroalgae

Many Caribbean coral reefs are undergoing a phase shift from coral to macroalgal dominance. Understanding the processes driving changes in algal abundance and community structure requires clarification of the relative effects of top-down (e.g., herbivory) and bottom-up processes (e.g., light, temperature, and nutrients). To date, a number of studies have examined the relative effects of grazing versus nutrification but interactions between herbivory and natural, seasonal fluctuations in temperature and light have not been investigated. This study considered the dynamics of three Caribbean macroalgal species [Lobophora variegata (Lamouroux), Dictyota pulchella (H?rnig and Schnetter), and Halimeda opuntia (Linnaeus)] and algal turf. A field experiment was established to measure species-specific algal dynamics (changes in abundance) over 13?months in the presence and absence of herbivory. Both herbivory and seasonal changes were important processes controlling macroalgal and turf abundance. Water temperature and light had a key role on D. pulchella; this species?? abundance significantly increased in the summer, when water temperature and light were the highest, and decreased during winter. Surprisingly, herbivory did not seem to control D. pulchella directly. However, herbivory was the most important process controlling the abundance of L. variegata, H. opuntia, and turf. The abundance of both algal species was correlated with seasonal changes in the environment, but was depleted outside cages throughout the year. The abundance of H. opuntia was positively correlated with temperature and light, but there was no statistical interaction between drivers. The statistical interaction between temperature and light was significant for the abundance of L. variegata and turf, but algal abundance declined as both factors increased. Overall, macroalgal and turf cover were mainly controlled by herbivory, while community structure (which species contributed to the overall cover) was largely influenced by seasonal changes in temperature and light.     

海南岛霸王岭热带天然林景观中木本植物功能型分布的影响因素

为了探讨在热带天然林景观中不同因素对木本植物(限于乔木和灌木)功能型分布的影响,在对海南岛霸王岭的热带天然林进行样方调查的基础上,运用数量分类方法对热带天然林的木本植物进行了功能型划分,并运用冗余度分析(Redundancy analysis, RDA)分别探讨了功能型出现与否、功能型物种丰富度和功能型木本植物多度3个矩阵与环境、空间和干扰因素之间的关系。运用偏冗余度分析对影响功能型分布变化的环境、干扰、空间及其交互作用等因素进行了定量分解。结果表明:利用木材密度和潜在最大高度两个指标划分出的9个功能型,能较好的区分功能型间对生境的适应响应差异;因子分解表明,纯环境、纯人为干扰和混合的环境-人为干扰是影响3个功能型矩阵分布变化的主要因素,纯空间和与空间位置相耦合的因素相对较低;在诸多因子中,干扰类型、地形因子、土壤类型、砂砾含量、土层厚度以及经纬度坐标是影响功能型分布变化的主导因子;RDA排序分析表明,一般来讲,硬木功能型多在生境条件好和远离人为干扰的立地高发生。软木功能型则更多地出现于生境条件恶劣和人为干扰频繁的立地。而中等硬度功能型则生态幅度较宽。但除了软木灌木功能型外,其它功能型物种丰富度和木本植物多度多在土层深厚和生境条件较好的立地较高。     

Soil chemical factors and grassland species density in Emas National Park (central Brazil)

Studies of grasslands on specific soil types suggest that different nutrients can limit biomass production and, hence, species composition and number. The Brazilian cerrado is the major savanna region in America and once covered about 2 million km(2), mainly in the Brazilian Central Plateau, under seasonal climate, with wet summer and dry winter. In view of the importance of soil chemical factors in the distribution of the vegetation forms within the Cerrado domain and which may influence the number of species, we analyzed some soil characteristics in three herbaceous vegetation forms -- hyperseasonal cerrado, seasonal cerrado, and wet grassland -- in Emas National Park, a core cerrado site, to investigate the relationship between number of species and soil characteristics. We collected vegetation and soil samples in these three vegetation forms and submitted the obtained data to multiple linear regression. We found out that aluminum and pH were the best predictors of species density, the former positively related to species density and the latter negatively related. Since the predictable variation in species density is important in determining areas of conservation, we can postulate that these two soil factors are indicators of high species density areas in tropical grasslands, which could be used in selecting priority sites for conservation.