Alterations in canopy size and reproduction of Caragana stenophylla along a climate gradient on the Inner Mongolian Plateau

In this study, we examined the alterations in canopy size and reproduction of Caragana stenophylla along the climatic drought gradient on the Inner Mongolia Plateau, China. We found that the canopy area and height of C. stenophylla increased gradually with increase of drought stress from the semi-arid zone to the strongly arid zone. The proportions of sexual reproduction decreased and the asexual reproduction increased with increase of the climatic drought stress. The majority of C. stenophylla offspring grew (separately) outside shrubs in the semi-arid (63.9%) and the arid zones (45.8%). But in the strongly arid zone, C. stenophylla offspring only grew inside shrubs. With the increase of climatic drought stress the ramet radius increased, while the spacer length decreased. In both the semi-arid and arid zones, the spacer length was more than 2 times of the ramet radius. Thus, some spaces were kept between the crowns of ramets. On the other hand, the spacer length was less than 2 times of the ramet radius in the strongly arid zone, so that the crowns were closely intertwined. Our results demonstrate that with the increase of climatic drought stress and associated desertification, the reproduction of C. stenophylla changes from more sexual reproduction to more clonal propagation; offspring establishment strategy changes from having more outside-shrub offspring to having only inside-shrub offspring; the clonal architecture changes from guerrilla type to phalanx type. Alterations in the reproduction of C. stenophylla along the climatic drought gradient result due to an increase of its canopy size from the northeast to the southwest on the Inner Mongolia Plateau.     

锦鸡儿属灌丛化对草原化荒漠区土壤线虫群落组成和代谢足迹的影响

调查了内蒙古草原化荒漠区3种锦鸡儿[垫状锦鸡儿(Caragana tibetica)、荒漠锦鸡儿(C.roborovskyi)和狭叶锦鸡儿(C.stenophylla)]灌丛内、外土壤线虫群落多样性、组成和代谢足迹,以及相关的土壤理化性质和植物群落特征,旨在探讨锦鸡儿属灌丛对土壤线虫群落的影响,并分析这种影响是否具有灌木种间差异,同时从线虫功能团水平上探究灌丛如何通过非生物因素和生物因素影响线虫群落组成。结果表明：锦鸡儿属灌丛对土壤线虫多度、丰富度和多样性无显著影响,但却显著影响土壤线虫群落组成。原因是灌丛对土壤线虫群落具有物种选择性;灌丛可能主要是通过根系分泌物、凋落物质量等因素,而不是通过土壤理化性质和林下植物影响线虫群落组成。土壤线虫组成的变化引起线虫代谢足迹发生明显变化。灌丛内土壤线虫功能代谢足迹大于灌丛外(除狭叶锦鸡儿外),说明灌丛内土壤线虫群落对碳的利用率更高。3种锦鸡儿属灌木中,狭叶锦鸡儿的结构代谢足迹最大,表明狭叶锦鸡儿对捕食杂食类线虫代谢活性的促进作用更强。土壤线虫组成的变化通过线虫代谢足迹导致土壤食物网结构发生显著性变化。狭叶锦鸡儿灌丛土壤干扰程度低,营养富集状况好...     

Spatial patterns in a two-tiered semi-arid shrubland in southeastern Spain

Abstract. Single species and bivariate distribution patterns in a semi-arid shrubland in southeastern Spain, dominated by the tall leguminous shrub Retama sphaerocarpa, were investigated by second-order spatial analysis based on Ripley's K-function. Shrubs were significantly clumped because of a strong association of dwarf shrubs, mostly Artemisia barrelieri, under the canopy of Retama. Retama shrubs were randomly distributed, but when different size-classes were analysed separately, the pattern changed from significantly clumped to random and then to regular with increasing canopy diameter, suggesting increasing intraspecific competition with shrub size. Artemisia was significantly clumped at all scales because of aggregation under the canopy of large Retama shrubs. The association between the species became stronger with increasing canopy diameter of Retama shrubs, suggesting that facilitation prevailed over interspecific competition because of niche separation in different tiers, both above and below ground. Retama shrub size thus determined both the type of pattern for its own size class and tier, and the scale and intensity of the association with its understorey shrubs.     

The role of nurse plants in the establishment of shrub seedlings in the semi-arid subtropical Andes

In the nurse plant syndrome, or nurse association, seedlings (beneficiaries) are associated with adult shrubs/trees (benefactors). This phenomenon has been documented in several regions of the planet. Abiotic stress amelioration (one mechanism of facilitation) is one of the causes of this association. Most of the studies addressing the nurse syndrome have been conducted on spatial scales of a few hectares and have focused on only one or a few species. Moreover, there is an almost complete lack of studies addressing the incidence and characteristics of the nurse phenomenon in the arid Andes of South America. We undertook a first approximation to the study of facilitation in these ecosystems. The study was conducted at local and regional scales and involved the assessment of the spatial distribution of juveniles (seedlings and saplings) of 51 populations of 16 shrub and 12 cactus species in relation to shrub cover at 20 localities of the Prepuna (subtropical Andes of Bolivia and Argentina, 20–26°S). In terms of spatial distribution, the juveniles of most of the populations of shrubs studied were distributed both under the shrubs and in open spaces, thereby showing an apparent indifference to microhabitat. Globose and opuntioid cacti were preferentially distributed below the canopies of shrubs and were usually more associated with the dominant shrub species, which stood out as better potential nurses. The pattern was consistent throughout the region, including the more mesic and arid localities. The fact that Prepuna woody species are capable of establishing in open spaces would confer this region a greater resilience. Our findings further suggest that community dynamics in arid and semi-arid environments are more variable than previously thought.     

Simultaneous,independent, and additive effects of shrub facilitation and understory competition on the survival of a native forb (Penstemon palmeri)

There is increasing recognition that both competition and facilitation are important drivers of plant community dynamics in arid and semi-arid environments. Decades of research have provided a litany of examples of the potential for shrubs as nurse plants for establishment of desirable species, especially in water-limited environments. However, interactions with the existing understory community may alter the outcome of interactions between shrubs and understory plants. A manipulative experiment was conducted to disentangle interactions between a native forb species (Penstemon palmeri A. Gray), a native shrub (Artemisia tridentata Nutt.), and a diverse understory of exotic and native forbs and grasses in a semi-arid shrubland of Northern Utah, USA. Seedlings of P. palmeri were transplanted in a factorial design: (1) beneath shrub canopies or into their interspaces and (2) with understory interactions retained or removed. Transplant survival was tracked for roughly 1 year. Shrubs appeared to facilitate P. palmeri survival while interactions with the existing understory community were equivalently negative, leading to overall neutral interactions. Further, positive shrub interactions and negative understory interactions appeared to operate independently and simultaneously. While the debate over the importance of facilitation and competition in driving plant community dynamics continues, our observations strongly suggest that both have considerable effects on plant establishment in A. tridentata communities. Furthermore, our results inform the conservation and restoration of P. palmeri populations, and suggest the utility of nurse shrubs and/or understory thinning as strategies for increasing the diversity of desirable species in the arid and semi-arid western United States shrublands.     

Regeneration dynamics in arid subtropical thicket,South Africa

In arid environments nurse-plants modify localised habitats and create regeneration opportunities for seedlings vulnerable to hostile conditions created by biotic and abiotic factors. Facilitation is thus recognised as an important process structuring plant communities in harsh environments. Here we use spatial patterns of species association and recruitment to infer species replacement patterns in arid subtropical thicket of South Africa. Although our study site was floristically impoverished, all major plant functional groups that characterise subtropical thicket were present. Portulacaria afra clumps comprised approximately 50% of the study site by area. The mean and median clump size was 16.5 and 6.9 m², respectively, indicating the prevalence of small individuals in the population. Approximately 90% of tree seedlings were recorded under P. afra clumps and 93% of P. afra seedlings were recorded under woody shrubs. P. afra seedlings were recorded more frequently than expected beneath Rhigozum obovatum compared with other woody shrub species. No clear recruitment patterns were recorded for R. obovatum. Lycium cinereum, a woody shrub, and the stem-succulent Psilocaulon absimile were distributed more frequently on nutrient rich patches than expected and both these species are replaced by grass as the nutrient rich patch ages. Mature trees were generally recorded growing to the south of the assumed founding P. afra stem indicating that tree establishment was more frequent on the shaded side of P. afra clumps. However, most trees grew towards the sunny north and east-facing aspects. Plant species replacement patterns are facilitated by nurse-plant effects in arid subtropical thicket. These recruitment patterns together with our inferred species replacement on nutrient rich patches result in a predictable sequence of species replacement that is cyclic in nature.     

Soil C and N dynamics in a Mediterranean oak woodland with shrub encroachment

Background and aims

Intensive land use has led to degradation and abandonment of Portuguese oak woodlands, and subsequent shrub encroachment may have altered the spatial heterogeneity of soil C and N pools. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of shrub invasion on soil C and N dynamics in an oak woodland in Southern Portugal.

Methods

Soil was sampled beneath and outside scattered Quercus suber L. canopies, considering non-encroached areas and areas encroached by shrubs (Cistus ladanifer L. or Cistus salviifolius L.).

Results

The spatial heterogeneity of soil C and N contents was mainly associated with tree presence. Outside tree canopies, the labile C pools were larger (mainly beneath C. ladanifer) and C cycling was faster in encroached areas than in non-encroached areas. Net and gross N mineralization and urease and protease activities were also higher in encroached than in non-encroached areas; however, the metabolic quotient and the Cmicrobial/Corganic ratio were not significantly affected. Beneath the tree canopy, significant effects of encroachment included a small increase in soil labile C and the enzymatic activity beneath C. ladanifer.

Conclusions

The results indicate the potential capacity of shrub encroachment to accumulate soil organic C in the long term. The rate of soil C and N turnover promoted by shrub encroachment may depend on the Cistus species present.     

Patterns of drought response in leaf-succulent shrubs of the coastal Atacama Desert in Northern Chile

Summary Despite the extrame aridity of the coastal Atacama Desert in northern Chile, sparse communities of leaf succulent shrubs and small cacti are regularly present. While most shrub species have small succulent leaves and accumulate high concentrations of salts in their tissues, the variable rooting patterns and mixed dominance of CAM and C₃ species indicates a significant divergence in adaptive strategies. All dominant shrubs are readily surviving extended drought, but some species are much better able than others to maintain active growth and flowering. Regular flowering may not be a prerequisite for shrub population maintenance since large piles of viable seeds are present under the canopies of many species.     

Spatial Patterns and Natural Recruitment of Native Shrubs in a Semi-arid Sandy Land

Passive restoration depending on native shrubs is an attractive approach for restoring desertified landscapes in semi-arid sandy regions. We sought to understand the relationships between spatial patterns of native shrubs and their survival ability in sandy environments. Furthermore, we applied our results to better understand whether passive restoration is feasible for desertified landscapes in semi-arid sandy regions. The study was conducted in the semi-arid Mu Us sandy land of northern China with the native shrub Artemisia ordosica. We analyzed population structures and patterns of A. ordosica at the edges and centers of land patches where sand was stabilized by A. ordosica-dominated vegetation. Saplings were more aggregated than adults, and both were more aggregated at the patch edges than at the patch centers. At the patch edges, spatial association of the saplings with the adults was mostly positive at distances 0.3–6.6 m, and turned from positive to neutral, and even negative, at other distances. At the patch centers, the saplings were spaced almost randomly around the adults, and their distances from the adults did not seem to affect their locations. A greater number of A. ordosica individuals emerged at the patch edges than at the patch centers. Such patterns may have resulted from their integrative adjustment to specific conditions of soil water supply and sand drift intensity. These findings suggest that in semi-arid sandy regions, native shrubs that are well-adapted to local environments may serve as low-cost and competent ecological engineers that can promote the passive restoration of surrounding patches of mobile sandy land.     

Effects of Sand Dune Stabilization on the Spatial Pattern of Artemisia ordosica Population in Mu Us Desert,Northwest China

Vegetation patterns are strongly influenced by sand mobility in desert ecosystems. However, little is known about the spatial patterns of Artemisia ordosica, a dominant shrub in the Mu Us desert of Northwest China, in relation to sand fixation. The aim of this study was to investigate and contrast the effects of sand dune stabilization on the population and spatial distribution of this desert shrub. Spatial autocorrelation, semi-variance analysis, and point-pattern analysis were used jointly in this study to investigate the spatial patterns of A. ordosica populations on dunes in Yanchi County of Ningxia, China. The results showed that the spatial autocorrelation and spatial heterogeneity declined gradually, and the distance between the clustered individuals shortened following sand dune fixation. Seedlings were more aggregated than adults in all stage of dune stabilization, and both were more aggregated on shifting sand dunes separately. Spatial associations of the seedlings with the adults were mostly positive at distances of 0–5 m in shifting sand dunes, and the spatial association changed from positive to neutral in semi-fixed sand dunes. The seedlings were spaced in an almost random pattern around the adults, and their distances from the adults did not seem to affect their locations in semi-fixed sand dunes. Furthermore, spatial associations of the seedlings with the adults were negative in the fixed sand dune. These findings demonstrate that sand stabilization is an important factor affecting the spatial patterns of A. ordosica populations in the Mu Us desert. These findings suggest that, strong association between individuals may be the mechanism to explain the spatial pattern formation at preliminary stage of dune fixation. Sand dune stabilization can change the spatial pattern of shrub population by weakening the spatial association between native shrub individuals, which may affect the development direction of desert shrubs.     

Spatial Heterogeneity of Soil Nutrients after the Establishment of Caragana intermedia Plantation on Sand Dunes in Alpine Sandy Land of the Tibet Plateau

The Gonghe Basin region of the Tibet Plateau is severely affected by desertification. Compared with other desertified land, the main features of this region is windy, cold and short growing season, resulting in relatively difficult for vegetation restoration. In this harsh environment, identification the spatial distribution of soil nutrients and analysis its impact factors after vegetation establishment will be helpful for understanding the ecological relationship between soil and environment. Therefore, in this study, the 12-year-old C. intermedia plantation on sand dunes was selected as the experimental site. Soil samples were collected under and between shrubs on the windward slopes, dune tops and leeward slopes with different soil depth. Then analyzed soil organic matter (SOM), total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), total potassium (TK), available nitrogen (AN), available phosphorus (AP) and available potassium (AK). The results showed that the spatial heterogeneity of soil nutrients was existed in C. intermedia plantation on sand dunes. (1) Depth was the most important impact factor, soil nutrients were decreased with greater soil depth. One of the possible reasons is that windblown fine materials and litters were accumulated on surface soil, when they were decomposed, more nutrients were aggregated on surface soil. (2) Topography also affected the distribution of soil nutrients, more soil nutrients distributed on windward slopes. The herbaceous coverage were higher and C. intermedia ground diameter were larger on windward slopes, both of them probably related to the high soil nutrients level for windward slopes. (3) Soil “fertile islands” were formed, and the “fertile islands” were more marked on lower soil nutrients level topography positions, while it decreased towards higher soil nutrients level topography positions. The enrichment ratio (E) for TN and AN were higher than other nutrients, most likely because C. intermedia is a leguminous shrub.     

The small scale spatial pattern of C3 and C4 grasses depends on shrub distribution

At micro‐site scale, the spatial pattern of a plant species depends on several factors including interactions with neighbours. It has been seen that unfavourable effects generate a negative association between plants, while beneficial effects generate a positive association. In grasslands, the presence of shrubby species promotes a particular microenvironment beneath their canopy that could affect differently the spatial distribution of plants with different tolerance to abiotic conditions. We measured photosynthetic active radiation, air temperature and wind speed under shrub canopies and in adjacent open sites and analysed the spatial distribution of four grass species (two C₃ and two C₄) in relation to shrub canopy in a grazed sub‐humid natural grassland in southern Uruguay. Radiation, air temperature and wind speed were lower under shrubs than in adjacent open sites. The spatial distribution of grasses relative to the shrub canopy varied depending on the photosynthetic metabolism of grasses. C₄ grasses showed a negative association or no correlation with the shrubs, whereas C₃ grasses showed a positive association. Our results highlight the importance of the photosynthetic metabolism of the grasses in the final outcome of interactions between grasses and shrubs. Micro‐environmental conditions generated underneath shrubs create a more suitable site for the establishment of C₃ than for C₄ grasses. These results show that facilitation could be more important than previously thought in sub‐humid grasslands.     

Changes in traits of shrub canopies across an aridity gradient in northern Patagonia, Argentina

Low and highly variable precipitation pulses exert a strong selective pressure on plant traits and this might provide axes of ecological differentiation among plant species in arid ecosystems. We asked whether aridity contributes to maintain high diversity of species and morphotypes in shrub canopies. We selected eleven study sites evenly distributed across a 400-km transect in northern Patagonia, Argentina. Precipitation is low and highly variable within and between years but almost homogeneous across the transect (125–150 mm). Mean annual temperature varied, however, ranging from 8 °C (west) to 13.5 °C (east) creating a west–east gradient of aridity (aridity index from 3.7 to 7.3, respectively). Sheep grazing commenced in the early 1900s at a similar intensity across the transect. We recorded the richness and cover of shrubs by species and by morphotypes (drought deciduous tall shrubs, evergreen tall shrubs, medium shrubs, and dwarf shrubs), and further calculated the species and morphotype Shannon diversity index at each site. We assessed the presence of spiny leaves, leaf pubescence, thorny stems, and photosynthetic stems in shrub species of all morphotypes and collected green leaves of the dominant shrub species (more than 80% of the total shrub cover) to assess the leaf area, leaf mass per unit area, N-, lignin- and soluble phenolic-concentrations per species at each site. Richness and diversity of shrub species and morphotypes were positively associated with aridity. The richness and diversity of shrub species with pubescent leaves and thorny stems, and nitrogen concentration in green leaves of dominant shrubs increased with increasing aridity. We conclude that our findings on increased diversification in life history traits, species and morhotypes in shrub canopies with increasing aridity support the hypothesis that variability in aridity provides axes of ecological differentiation among shrub species facilitating their coexistence.     

Remnant shrubs in Mediterranean semi-arid steppes: effects of shrub size, abiotic factors and species identity on understorey richness and occurrence

Isolated shrub patches are a key element for community structure and dynamics in semi-arid ecosystems, and may act as “hot spots” of understorey species diversity. Despite its importance, the relationships between shrub patch characteristics and understorey species richness, and the relative importance of these characteristics against other factors driving understorey species richness, are still poorly understood. We studied perennial species richness under the canopy of late-successional shrubs in semi-arid Stipa tenacissima steppes of SE Spain. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between shrub size and understorey richness, and to test if this relationship is modified by species identity. We also aimed to know the relative importance of shrub patch characteristics and abiotic factors as predictors of the distribution of understorey species under shrub canopies. Altitude and geographical co-ordinates were able to significantly explain the patterns of shrub occurrence and abundance in the study area. Understorey species richness was significantly related to the size of individual shrubs according to a simple power relationship for all evaluated species. Slope values of linear regressions with log-transformed data, ranging between 0.22 and 0.37, did not differ between species. Site characteristics, patch characteristics and patch species identity significantly explained the occurrence of species on patches. However, the relative importance of site characteristics was higher than that of patch characteristics and species identity in explaining these patterns. Our results agree with the general expectations of the theory of island biogeography and complement previous studies that emphasise the importance of late-successional shrubs in semi-arid Stipa steppes. Environmental management activities within these steppes should promote the conservation of remnant shrubs, as well as its introduction with restoration activities.     

Intraspecific facilitation: a missing process along increasing stress gradients – insights from simulated shrub populations

In recent years many field studies have been conducted to assess the relative importance of facilitation and competition in structuring vegetation communities in different environments. Herein, we present a simulation model which systematically explores the relative importance of intra‐specific facilitation and competition between adult shrubs and seedlings for spatial pattern formation. A grid‐based simulation model was constructed and calibrated using data collected in the field from Sarcopoterium spinosum populations in Israel to simulate population dynamics along a rainfall gradient. A series of simulation experiments was conducted in which manipulations of seedling survival probabilities were carried out to assess the relative importance of these processes in generating spatial patterns. Increased survival probabilities of first‐year shrubs in open areas were used to simulate competition effects, while increased survival probabilities in the vicinity of shrubs were used to simulate facilitation effects. Simulation results were then compared to shrub spatial patterns observed in the field. The results indicate that facilitation is not an important process in generating intra‐specific spatial patterns. Rather, in mesic environments with high precipitation, competition is the dominant process generating spatial patterns, resulting in regular spacing of shrubs, similarly to the patterns observed in the field (L(h) values<0). In arid sites, where precipitation values are lower, and stress conditions are higher, the dominant process generating spatial patterns was random mortality due to drought conditions. The resulting spatial patterns in this case are random (L(h)～0), whereas observed field populations exhibited clumped patterns (L(h)>0). We conclude that as stress conditions increase, the importance of intraspecific neighborhood interactions decrease whereas the importance of environmental factors increase in dictating intra‐specific spatial pattern formation. Consequently in mesic environments intra‐specific competition among adults determines the emerging patterns, while intraspecific facilitation is a negligible process.     

Multiple effects of shrubs on annual plant communities in arid lands of South Australia

Abstract The presence of shrubs in arid lands creates spatial heterogeneity that affects the distribution and performance of annual plants; several possible mechanisms have been implicated. A preliminary survey in a chenopod shrubland in South Australia showed differences in the distribution of annual plants under canopies of Atriplex vesicaria and Maireana sedifolia (the two dominant shrub species) and open spaces. A series of experiments were conducted to test the potential contribution to these patterns of nutrient enrichment under shrubs, differential seed accumulation, stress reduction by the canopy, competition by shrub roots, and protection against grazing. The germinable soil seed‐bank under A. vesicaria and M. sedifolia was different from that in open spaces, but these differences can only explain a fraction of the differences observed in the growing annual plant community in different microsites. The soil under A. vesicaria had higher total nitrogen content than soil in open spaces, whereas soil under M. sedifolia had lower available phosphorus than open spaces. Although annual plant densities under A. vesicaria were higher than in open spaces, experimental removal of shrubs increased their density, suggesting that shrub canopies inhibit annual plants in this system. Surprisingly, trenching of open areas close to shrubs (severing lateral shrub roots) decreased annual plant density. We suggest that water moves laterally through shrub roots, in a process akin to a hydraulic lift, increasing water availability for the annual plants. Exclusion of vertebrate grazers had a stronger effect on annual plant biomass in open spaces than under M. sedifolia, suggesting that this shrub provides shelter against herbivory. Overall our results show that shrubs can have simultaneously facilitative and inhibitory effects on the annual plant community through different mechanisms, but more importantly that different shrub species have different effects. This is a potential mechanism allowing for species coexistence of annual plants.     

火烧迹地柽柳灌丛资源岛特征及植被的自然恢复

干旱半干旱地区灌丛资源岛特征及形成机制多有报道,但资源岛土壤对群落稳定性与火烧迹地植被的自然恢复作用尚不明确。以酒泉盐碱地柽柳灌丛地火烧3年后,自然恢复的柽柳(Tamarix ramosissima)及其冠下草本群落为研究对象,构建柽柳枯立株体量指数(SSI, Shrub Size Index)和恢复力综合指数,探讨了资源岛特征与植被恢复、冠下草本群落多样性的关系,量化不同大小柽柳灌丛的恢复力稳定性。结果表明:(1)在不同SSI的柽柳枯立株下土壤有机质和含水率明均显高于灌丛间地,形成了明显的资源岛特征。土壤有机质最大值出现在0—10 cm土层,中灌丛的肥力积聚效果最明显。(2)土壤主要以中性盐为主,在0—40 cm土层,灌丛区域土壤可溶性盐低于冠外,呈明显的盐谷特征,中灌丛的盐谷分布最为明显。(3)随着枯立株SSI的增大,柽柳新生枝条的数量及其高度均有所增大,冠下植物的高度、盖度、密度和地上植物量也明显高于灌丛间地,且灌丛越大恢复效果越明显。(4)灌下植物Simpson指数、Shannon-Wiener指数、Margalef指数和Pielou指数随着枯立株SSI的增大均先降后升,多样性...     

Grass-Shrub Associations over a Precipitation Gradient and Their Implications for Restoration in the Great Basin,USA

As environmental stress increases positive (facilitative) plant interactions often predominate. Plant-plant associations (or lack thereof) can indicate whether certain plant species favor particular types of microsites (e.g., shrub canopies or plant-free interspaces) and can provide valuable insights into whether “nurse plants” will contribute to seeding or planting success during ecological restoration. It can be difficult, however, to anticipate how relationships between nurse plants and plants used for restoration may change over large-ranging, regional stress gradients. We investigated associations between the shrub, Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis), and three common native grasses (Poa secunda, Elymus elymoides, and Pseudoroegneria spicata), representing short-, medium-, and deep-rooted growth forms, respectively, across an annual rainfall gradient (220–350 mm) in the Great Basin, USA. We hypothesized that positive shrub-grass relationships would become more frequent at lower rainfall levels, as indicated by greater cover of grasses in shrub canopies than vegetation-free interspaces. We sampled aerial cover, density, height, basal width, grazing status, and reproductive status of perennial grasses in canopies and interspaces of 25–33 sagebrush individuals at 32 sites along a rainfall gradient. We found that aerial cover of the shallow rooted grass, P. secunda, was higher in sagebrush canopy than interspace microsites at lower levels of rainfall. Cover and density of the medium-rooted grass, E. elymoides were higher in sagebrush canopies than interspaces at all but the highest rainfall levels. Neither annual rainfall nor sagebrush canopy microsite significantly affected P. spicata cover. E. elymoides and P. spicata plants were taller, narrower, and less likely to be grazed in shrub canopy microsites than interspaces. Our results suggest that exploring sagebrush canopy microsites for restoration of native perennial grasses might improve plant establishment, growth, or survival (or some combination thereof), particularly in drier areas. We suggest that land managers consider the nurse plant approach as a way to increase perennial grass abundance in the Great Basin. Controlled experimentation will provide further insights into the life stage-specific effectiveness and practicality of a nurse plant approach for ecological restoration in this region.     

Shrub-encroachment induced alterations in input chemistry and soil microbial community affect topsoil organic carbon in an Inner Mongolian grassland

Shrub encroachment frequently occurs in arid and semi-arid grasslands worldwide and affects the regional carbon balance. Many previous studies have revealed the effects of shrub encroachment on bulk carbon content of grasslands, but molecular evidence is surprisingly lacking. In this study, we examined the chemical composition of plant tissues and soil organic carbon (SOC), and soil microbial communities to identify the effects of shrub (Caragana microphylla) encroachment on SOC storage in the top layer (0–10 cm) along a gradient of natural shrub cover in the grasslands of Inner Mongolia. We found that SOC in the shrub patches was derived mainly from leaves, whereas SOC in the grassy matrix was composed of a mixture of fresh root- and leaf-derived compounds. Compared with pure grassland, the SOC decreased by 29% in the shrub-encroached grasslands (SEGs), and this decrease was enhanced by increasing shrub cover. We also found that free lipids and lignin-derived phenols increased while the ratios of ω-C₁₈/∑C₁₈ and suberin/cutin decreased with increasing shrub cover. In addition, the ratios of fungal to bacterial phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) and gram-negative to gram-positive bacterial PLFAs decreased with increasing shrub cover. These results indicate that the encroachment of nitrogen-rich legume shrubs can lead to carbon loss by altering the chemical composition of plant inputs as well as the soil microbial community in grassland ecosystems.     

Spatial patterns of P fractions and chemical properties in soils of two native shrub communities in Senegal

Two shrub species (Piliostigma reticulatum (D.C.) Hochst (Caesalpinioideae) and Guiera senegalensis J.F. Gmel (Combretaceae) are commonly found in farmers’ fields at varying densities in semi-arid Senegal and throughout the Sahel where soils have chronically low phosphorus (P) availability. It seems plausible that shrub litter and the rhizospheres could influence P fractions and other chemical soil properties that affect crop productivity. Thus, a study was done at two sites, on the distribution of inorganic and organic soil P pools, organic C levels, and pH in soil beneath and outside the canopies of P. reticulatum and G. senegalensis (0-30 cm depth). Both sites had low total P ranging from 64 mg P kg^?1 to 135 mg P kg^-1, and low extractable PO₄ (resin Pi) (1–6 mg P kg^?1) with P fractions dominated by NaOH-P. Organic P (Po) made up about 50% of total P, and most of the organic P (>60%) was found in the NaOH-P fractions. The labile P, particularly bicarb-Po was higher in soil beneath shrub canopies (8.4 mg P kg ^?1), than outside the canopy (6.2 mg P kg ^?1). Similarly, C, N and P to a lesser extent, were more concentrated beneath shrub canopies. P. reticulatum soil was dominated by the NaOH-Po fraction, whereas G. senegalensis had higher bicarb-Po at one of the study sites. An index of biologically available organic P (Bicarb-Po) / (Bicarb-Po?+?Bicar-Pi?+?Resin Pi) was ?>?60% and indicates that biological processes represent an important part of P cycling in these shrub ecosystems. The differential ability of shrubs in modifying soil chemical properties under their canopies has major implications for biogeochemical cycling of nutrients and C in sandy soils of semi arid Sahelian ecosystems.