Ecological benefits of integration of Calamagrostis epigejos ramets under field conditions

We established two independent experiments to estimate the ecological consequences of artificial severing on ramets of the competitively strong perennial grass Calamagrostis epigejos. We compared the responses of mature ramets of different size growing in different environments. Finally, we tested whether the response of young ramets to the severing depends on the density of surrounding vegetation.Severing decreased biomass and number of rhizomes of young ramets but did not affect their competitive tolerance. It decreased survival of mature ramets (probably due to traumata caused by cutting attached rhizomes) but did not influence total biomass of survived ramets. The response of total biomass of mature ramets to severing changed with size of the ramets. Further, biomass allocation to rhizomes changed differently after ramet severing in the two environments.The results suggest that field grown young ramets of Calamagrostis benefit from physiological integration. In contrast, mature ramets seem to be independent units according to the resource economy. Ecological benefits of integration depended on size of ramet clumps: ramets in clump had larger survival probability than control ramets. They also depended on environmental conditions: severing increased formation of new rhizomes at a sand dune subsrate, but it had a negative effect on plants in the forest experimental site. This intra-specific variation should be taken into account when trying to explain ecological patterns of integration benefits of clonal plants.     

Adsorptive removal of Pb(II) by activated carbon prepared from Spartina alterniflora: Equilibrium,kinetics and thermodynamics

Low-cost activated carbon was prepared from Spartina alterniflora by phosphoric acid activation for the removal of Pb(II) from dilute aqueous solution. The effect of experimental parameters such as pH, initial concentration, contact time and temperature on the adsorption was studied. The obtained data were fitted with the Langmuir and Freundlich equations to describe the equilibrium isotherms. The kinetic data were fitted with the Lagergren-first-order, pseudo-second-order and Elovich models. It was found that pH played a major role in the adsorption process. The maximum adsorption capacity for Pb(II) on S. alterniflora activated carbon (SAAC) calculated from Langmuir isotherm was more than 99 mg g⁻¹. The optimum pH range for the removal of Pb(II) was 4.8–5.6. The Freundlich isotherm model was found to best describe the experimental data. The kinetic rates were best fitted to the pseudo-second-order model. Thermodynamic study showed the adsorption was a spontaneous exothermic process.     

互花米草盐沼土壤有机碳库组分及结构特征

在江苏盐城互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)盐沼建立以下样地:光滩(Mudflat)、互花米草建群1a(S.alterniflora flat 2011)、5a(S.alterniflora flat 2007)、12a(S.alterniflora flat 2000)、23a(S.alterniflora flat 1989)以及碱蓬(Suaeda salsa flat 1989),采集表层土壤样品,分析土壤中的活性有机碳(可溶性有机碳、微生物量碳)特征,并利用核磁共振波谱法测定土壤总有机碳的结构图谱,研究互花米草盐沼土壤有机碳库组分及结构特征。结果表明:(1)互花米草建群后,盐沼表层土壤有机碳含量显著增加(P0.05),在0.82—7.6 g/kg之间,各样地表层土壤有机碳含量为:互花米草滩(5.57 g/kg)碱蓬滩(2.4 g/kg)光滩(1.05 g/kg);可溶性有机碳含量为:互花米草滩(36.08 mg/kg)碱蓬滩(17.43 mg/kg)光滩(6.92 mg/kg);微生物量碳含量为:互花米草滩(52.51 mg/kg)碱蓬滩(18.27 mg/kg)光滩(13.56 mg/kg)。互花米草建群后,土壤中活性碳库含量显著增加(P0.05)。(2)土壤有机碳结构以烷氧碳和芳香碳为主,其中芳香碳的平均比例(35.85%)最高,其次为烷氧碳(32.83%)和羧基碳(20.62%),烷基碳的平均比例(10.36%)最低,其中建群5a的互花米草样地(SAF2007)土壤芳香碳、烷氧碳、烷基碳含量最高,建群23a的互花米草样地(SAF1989)土壤羧基碳含量最高。(3)互花米草盐沼土壤中烷基碳/烷氧碳为:SAF2007(0.44)SSF1989(0.43)SAF2000(0.28)SAF2011(0.27)SAF1989(0.22);疏水碳/亲水碳为:SAF2007(0.97)SSF1989(0.87)SAF2000(0.85)SAF2011(0.83)SAF1989(0.81)。烷基碳/烷氧碳在建群5a后达到最高值0.44,烷基化程度最高;疏水碳/亲水碳达到最高值0.97,土壤碳库稳定性高于其它样地。     

Seasonal and within-plant gradients in the intramolecular carbon isotopic composition of amino acids of Spartina alterniflora

Autotrophy and heterotrophy create different patterns of carbon flux through the central metabolic pathway. One consequence of these different fluxes is that the α-carboxyl carbon of amino acids is derived from different carbon sources and has a different isotopic composition under autotrophic and heterotrophic conditions. In Spartina alterniflora, a C4 grass and a common and ecologically important component of coastal ecosystems, the isotopic composition of bulk acid hydrolyzable carbon and total amino acid carboxyl carbon were compared over a seasonal cycle. The isotopic composition of plants varied significantly between aboveground and below ground tissues, and the δ¹³C of both hydrolyzable organic carbon and total amino acid carboxyl carbon showed significant variation among seasons. The isotopic heterogeneity within amino acids was used to infer seasonal changes in source/sink relationships for amino acid carbon among plant organs. Comparison of the intramolecular isotope data for Spartina and C3 freshwater marsh plants indicates that the patterns and processes inferred for Spartina are not unique to this taxon.     

Positive interactions of the smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora on the mud snail Heleobia australis, in South Western Atlantic salt marshes

The role of positive interactions is often crucial in communities with intense abiotic stress such as intertidal environments. Grasses acting as ecosystem engineers, for example, may ameliorate intertidal harsh physical conditions and modify the community structure. The mud snails Heleobia australis d'Orbigny frequently inhabit the SW Atlantic marshes, mainly associated to intertidal marsh plants (mainly the smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora Loisel) probably due to the plant indirect effects. The purpose of this work was to investigate the magnitude of these association and the processes that generate the pattern. Samples of the snail abundance in six SW Atlantic coastal marshes show that H. australis is associated to coastal areas of low energy and low or none freshwater input. This result is important because this species is being used as bioindicator of coastal estuarine systems during the Holocene. Thus the paleontological interpretation based on this species should be revised. Within the studied areas, snails are associated to intertidal marsh plants. However, stable isotope analysis shows that neither plant nor their epiphytes are their main food sources. Field experiments show that snails actively select areas with plants, although tethering experiments show that plants do not provide shelter from predators. However, plants do buffer physical stress factors such as temperature, which generate important mortality outside plants covered areas. These positive interactions have large effects on H. australis distributions in marsh communities; increasing the habitats available for colonization and affecting their local distribution.     

Genetic diversity and population genetic structure of saltmarsh Spartina alterniflora from four coastal Louisiana basins

Seventy-two Spartina alterniflora accessions originating from four coastal Louisiana basins (18 accessions per basin) were used to evaluate the genetic structure of this native perennial low-intertidal plant species. The objective of this study was to determine the population genetic structure and diversity of S. alterniflora accessions originating from these four basins using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers. A total of 250 unambiguous and highly repeatable AFLP markers, 186 of which (74.4%) were polymorphic, were obtained using four primer combinations. Overall, pairwise similarity estimates between accessions ranged from 0.70 to 0.93 (average = 0.80) with only a small portion of alleles (0.54–1.08%) unique to each basin. The average H_s (genetic diversity within coastal basins) was 0.20 with an H_s values of 0.19, 0.20, 0.20, and 0.21 for Mermentau, Terrebonne, Calcasieu, and Barataria-Breton basin, respectively. AMOVA analysis showed no genetic structure among basins, with the majority of genetic variation, 96.6%, residing within the basins. There was no indication of isolation by distance. Our results suggest that maintaining high levels of genetic diversity can be accomplished through the use of an adequate number of S. alterniflora samples collected within any large basin. Choosing parental lines from several Louisiana coastal basins for breeding purposes may not significantly increase genetic variability among the progeny lines.     

Clonal integration improves compensatory growth in heavily grazed ramet populations of two inland-dune grasses

Herbaceous species possess several mechanisms to compensate for tissue loss. For clonal herbaceous species, clonal integration may be an additional mechanism. This may especially hold true when tissue loss is very high, because other compensatory mechanisms may be insufficient. On inland dunes in northern China, we subjected Bromus ircutensis and Psammochloa villosa ramets within 0.5 m×0.5 m plots to three clipping treatments, i.e., no clipping, moderate (50% shoot removal) and heavy clipping (90% shoot removal), and kept rhizomes at the plot edges connected or disconnected. Moderate clipping did not reduce ramet, leaf or biomass density of either species. Under moderate clipping, rhizome connection significantly improved the performance of Psammochloa, but not that of Bromus. Heavy clipping reduced ramet, leaf and biomass density in the disconnected plots of both species, but such negative effects were negated or greatly ameliorated when the rhizomes were connected. Therefore, clonal integration contributed greatly to the compensatory growth of both species. The results suggest that clonal integration is an additional compensatory mechanism for clonal plants and may be important for their long-term persistence in the heavily grazed regions in northern China.     

Body temperature and desiccation constrain the activity of Littoraria irrorata within the Spartina alterniflora canopy

Behavioral patterns of motile ectotherms are often constrained by their microclimate conditions. For intertidal ectotherms, thermal and desiccation stresses are primary limiting factors. In this study, we developed and tested a steady-state heat budget model to calculate the duration of time that the salt marsh snail, Littoraria irrorata (Say), would maintain active behaviors (crawling or attached on stalks of marsh grass Spartina alterniflora) before switching to an inactive state (retracted and glued with a mucus holdfast on the stalks) due to desiccation. The snails' water loss tolerance limit was found to be 43.6±16.0 mg in a laboratory experiment using 5 temperature treatments (25-45 °C in 5 °C increments) with a vapor density (VD) deficit of ∼15 g/m³ (saturated VD-air VD). We found that snails attached to S. alterniflora at lower heights in the canopy had higher body temperatures during daytime hours but lower water loss rates. Furthermore, we found that calculated activity times generally matched daily and seasonal patterns of life history behaviors reported in the literature. If tidal emersion began at night (∼20:00-4:00 h), calculated activity times were much higher than if emersion began in the daytime. The total monthly activity times for 2005-2010 were the highest in May, the lowest in July, and increased from July to September. Therefore, L. irrorata's behaviors appear to be constrained by microclimate conditions within the S. alterniflora canopy as predicted by the heat budget model. The extent to which the snails' life history traits are controlled by environmental conditions will have important implications for their population dynamics as climate change progresses, and heat budget models can help to predict future changes in behavioral responses.     

人工管理和自然驱动下盐城海滨湿地互花米草沼泽演变及空间差异

将盐城国家级自然保护区核心区划分为人工管理区和自然湿地区两种模式,根据2000年、2006年、2011年3个时相的ETM+影像,运用RS、GIS技术和景观生态学方法,分析不同驱动力下互花米草沼泽景观变化的差异.结果表明:(1)人工管理区,2000-2011年,互花米草沼泽面积由272hm2增加到781hm2;平均分维数呈下降的趋势,聚合度指数呈上升的趋势,表明互花米草沼泽在空间上趋于聚集,在形状上趋于规则;从互花米草沼泽增长速率看,2000-2011年,呈现先快后慢的特征.在景观空间演变上,互花米草沼泽的平均宽度从598.679m增加到1719.002m,表现出向海陆两个方向扩张的特征.(2)自然湿地区,2000-2011年互花米草沼泽面积由2023hm2增加到3974hm2;平均分维数和聚合度指数呈先上升后下降的趋势;米草沼泽增长稳定,年增长约160-180 hm2/a,单位长度岸线年增长面积约为15 hm2· km-1·a-1左右;比较发现,自然湿地区互花米草沼泽的增长速度高于人工管理区的增长速度.在景观空间演变上,互花米草沼泽平均宽度从1625.586m增加到3193.317m,2000-2006年表现出向海洋单方向扩张的特征,2006-2011年表现出向海陆两个方向扩张的性质.(3)在自然条件下互花米草沼泽扩张受到气候、地貌过程、水文过程、植被类型及种间竞争的影响,表现出明显的带状特征.在人工管理下,通过建设拦水堤坝等,阻止了潮汐作用下海水的扩散能力,生态过程发生改变,致使生态系统类型向淡水湿地方向演变,抑制了互花米草沼泽的扩张,表现出一定的镶嵌格局.     

Effects of salinity and clonal integration on growth and sexual reproduction of the invasive grass Spartina alterniflora

The purpose of this study was to explore clonal integration of Spartina alterniflora under gradually changing substrate salinity conditions. We hypothesized that there might be a trade-off between growth and sexual reproduction influenced by soil salinity and, that clonal integration would change this trade-off. The experiment consisted of three levels of substrate salinity (5‰, 20‰ and 35‰), two clonal integration treatments (rhizomes severed or not), and three growth stages of daughter ramets (21, 40 and 60 cm tall). Both growth and sexual reproduction of S. alterniflora greatly decreased with increasing salinity. Clonal integration enhanced the survival, growth and sexual reproduction of daughter ramets experiencing salt stress, especially for young ramets, whereas the performance of mother ramets was reduced by clonal integration. Therefore, clonal integration did not affect performance of the whole clones. Contrary to expectations, there was no evidence for a trade-off between growth and sexual reproduction associated with salinity. In addition, clonal integration did not change the effect of salinity on the growth and sexual reproduction of mother and daughter ramets nor of the whole clones.     

崇明东滩湿地不同潮汐带入侵植物互花米草根际细菌的多样性

为了调查崇明东滩湿地入侵植物互花米草(Spartina Alterniflora)在不同潮汐带和季节根际细菌的多样性与丰富度,以本地植物芦苇、海三棱藨草(P. australis和 S.mariqueter)和光滩为对照实验研究,在崇明东滩湿地10样点采集根际土壤和光滩土壤,通过PCR-DGGE分子生物学等技术并结合传统培养方法对土壤细菌进行分析研究。研究表明:东滩湿地不同潮汐带的植物根际细菌群落丰富度和多样性不同,在夏季中潮带的根际细菌丰富度(P=0.021<0.05)较高,各个潮带的植物根际细菌在夏秋季有高多样性,其中中潮带的植物根际细菌平均多样性指数最高(H=4.20)。在中潮带入侵物种互花米草根际细菌的丰富度和多样性要显著高于本地植物芦苇和海三棱藨草,其中海三棱藨草的根际细菌在夏季略高。崇明东滩湿地入侵植物互花米草根际细菌与本地植物相比较具有较高的多样性,而且外来种互花米草对湿地土壤微生物群落结构有着较强影响;入侵种互花米草根际细菌的高丰富度和多样性可能是其成功入侵东滩湿地的一个重要因素。     

Spartina alterniflora invasions and effects on crab communities in a western Pacific estuary

We investigated Spartina alterniflora invasions, their relationship with shoreline dynamics and effects on crab communities in the Yellow River estuary, China, where shoreline dynamics have been accelerated due to human-mediated estuarine sediment deposition and sea-level rise. We determined the distribution of Spartina with extensive ground surveys, and quantified shoreline dynamics between 2001 and 2009 by interpreting satellite images. We used pitfall traps to sample crab populations in Spartina-invaded habitats and non-invaded mudflats in 2009 and 2010. Large areas (>0.5 km²) of Spartina plants were found at three locations in the estuary. The seaward limit of Spartina at each location generally coincided with the present shoreline, regardless of historical shoreline advance or retreat. Crab communities in Spartina-invaded habitats significantly differed from those in non-invaded habitats. The total number and biomass of crabs caught per trap were much higher in Spartina-invaded habitats than in non-invaded habitats, however, species richness and Shannon diversity were much lower. These results suggest that Spartina invasions are likely to keep pace with shoreline dynamics accelerated by global change and have significant ecological consequences for crab communities. These issues should be taken into account to improve the use and management of Spartina, especially in rapidly accreting estuaries with large-area mudflats that are important habitats but prone to Spartina invasions.     

Interactive effects of salt and alkali stresses on seed germination,germination recovery,and seedling growth of a halophyte Spartina alterniflora (Poaceae)

Soil salinization and alkalinization frequently co-occur in nature, but there is little information on the interactive effects of salt and alkali stresses on plants. Seed germination and early seedling growth are crucial stages for plant establishment. We investigated the interactive effects of salt and alkali stresses on seed germination, germination recovery and seedling growth of a halophyte Spartina alterniflora. Seed germination percentage was not significantly reduced at low salinity (≤ 200 mM) at pH 6.63–9.95, but decreased with increased salinity and pH. Ungerminated seeds germinated well after transfer to distilled water from treatment solutions, indicating that seeds can remain viable in high salt–alkaline habits. Shoot growth was stimulated at low salinity and pH, but decreased with increased salinity and pH. Radicle elongation decreased sharply with increased salinity and pH, and was significantly inhibited when pH ≥ 9.0, indicating that the radicles are very sensitive to salt–alkaline stress. The deleterious effects of salinity or high pH alone were less than when combined. A reciprocal enhancement of salt and alkali stresses is a characteristic feature for salt–alkaline stress. Stepwise regression analysis indicates that salinity is the dominant factor, while pH and buffer capacity are secondary for salt–alkaline mixed stress.     

互花米草入侵对鸟类的生态影响

生物入侵威胁本地物种生存,破坏生态系统的结构和功能,是导致全球生物多样性丧失的重要原因之一。外来植物是入侵生物中的重要一类,可以显著改变本地植被群落,并影响其他生物类群。鸟类作为生态系统中的较高营养级,对由入侵植物引起的栖息地变化十分敏感。互花米草自引入中国沿海以来,其分布区域不断扩散,多数研究认为互花米草入侵造成本地生物多样性降低和生态系统退化。系统梳理了互花米草入侵对鸟类栖息地、食物资源、繁殖、群落等方面的生态影响。主要负面影响有:(1)植被群落结构不利于鸟类栖息、筑巢、觅食;(2)鸟类食物资源丰度和多样性下降;(3)本地鸟类种群数量和物种多样性显著下降。在我国东部沿海湿地,互花米草入侵已经显著改变了植被与鸟类分布格局。但随着入侵历史的增长,少数小型雀形目鸟类却可以逐渐适应互花米草生境。互花米草入侵为某些非本地鸟类提供了空白生态位,在一定程度上丰富了本地物种多样性,对互花米草的快速清除反而可能不利于已适应并依赖互花米草生境的鸟类。综上,认为互花米草入侵对鸟类群落甚至整个生态系统的影响可能需要更多研究进行综合评价,应开展长期、大尺度、多因子的监测研究和多物种比较研究,建立生态评价模型并制定科学有效的互花米草管理对策。     

Response of physiological integration in Trifolium repens to heterogeneity of UV-B radiation

Physiological integration has been documented in many clonal plants growing under resource heterogeneity. Little is still known about the response of physiological integration to heterogeneous ultraviolet-B radiation. In this paper, the changes in intensity of physiological integration and of physiological parameters under homogeneous and heterogeneous ultraviolet-B radiation (280-315 nm) were measured in order to test the hypothesis that in addition to resource integration a defensive integration in Trifolium repens might exist as well. For this purpose, homogeneous and heterogeneous ultraviolet-B radiation was applied to pairs of connected and severed ramets of the stoloniferous herb Trifolium repens. Changes in intensity of water and nutrient integration were followed with acid fuchsin dye and ¹⁵N-isotope labeling of the xylem water transport. In order to assess the patterns of physiological integration contents of chlorophyll, ultraviolet-B absorbing compounds, soluble sugar and protein were determined and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) measured. When ramets were connected and exposed to heterogeneous UV-B radiation, the velocity of water transportation from the UV-B treated ramet to its connected sister ramet was markedly lower and the percentage of ¹⁵N left in labelled ramets that suffered from enhanced UV-B radiation was higher and their transfer to unlabelled ramets lower. In comparison with clones under homogeneous ultraviolet-B radiation, the content of chlorophyll, ultraviolet-B absorbing compounds, soluble sugar and activities of SOD and POD increased notably if ultraviolet-B stressed ramets were connected to untreated ramets. Chlorophyll and UV-B absorbing compounds were shared between connected ramets under heterogeneous UV-B radiation. This indicated that physiological connection improved the performance of whole clonal plants under heterogeneous ultraviolet-B radiation. The intensity of physiological integration of T. repens for resources decreased under heterogeneous ultraviolet-B radiation in favor of the stressed ramets. Ultraviolet-B stressed ramets benefited from unstressed ramets by physiological integration, supporting the hypothesis that clonal plants are able to optimize the efficiency of their resistance maintaining their presence also in less favorable sites. The results could be helpful for further understanding of the function of heterogeneous UV-B radiation on growth regulation and microevolution in clonal plants.     

互花米草幼苗对重金属镉胁迫的生理响应

以互花米草为实验材料,通过模拟海水河沙培养实验,研究不同浓度镉胁迫对互花米草生理生化的影响。结果表明:随着镉浓度的增大,互花米草叶、根生物量逐渐降低,膜透性、丙二醛、SOD、POD酶活性随着镉浓度的增加而增加,其酶抗性也发挥到最大的程度。随着镉浓度的增加互花米草的光合特性发生较大变化,净光合速率、胞间CO₂和气孔导度都下降和减少。     

互花米草生物量变化对盐沼沉积物有机碳的影响

以江苏王港典型互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)盐沼湿地为研究对象,分析光滩及互花米草滩沉积物中有机碳的水平和垂向分布特征,了解互花米草生物量的季节动态变化,探讨二者之间的相互关系,在此基础上研究互花米草生物量分布和季节变化对沉积物中有机碳(TOC)含量的影响。结果表明,互花米草枯落物中的有机碳数量在两个月内衰减了40%,而表层沉积物中TOC含量及其中互花米草来源TOC所占比例的变化,均与互花米草地表枯落物量的季节变化存在两个月的"相位差",这与枯落物快速分解时间大致吻合,说明枯落物是表层沉积物中TOC的重要来源。高达60%的互花米草地下生物量分布在0—20cm深度内,该深度范围内沉积物中TOC含量较高,且TOC主要来源于互花米草。此外,不同深度TOC含量与地下生物量之间存在良好的正相关关系,说明地下生物量是影响沉积物TOC含量的重要因子。研究区互花米草年固碳能力为2274g m-2a-1,盐沼沉积物中TOC埋藏速率达到了470 g m-2a-1,是地表一个重要的碳汇;同时研究区每年向近岸水域输出大量的TOC,是近岸海域生态系统的一个重要碳源。     

Clonal integration increases performance of ramets of the fern Diplopterygium glaucum in an evergreen forest in southeastern China

Physiological integration is a major ecological advantage of clonal growth in angiosperms. Clonal growth is also common in pteridophytes, but almost no study has tested whether clonal integration increases performance in ramets of pteridophytes in natural populations. To test this hypothesis and also whether the positive effect of integration is greater on smaller ramets, we severed the connecting rhizomes of individual ramets of the common, understory fern Diplopterygium glaucum in an evergreen, broadleaf forest in southeastern China. In another experiment, we severed rhizomes around the edges of small plots each containing several ramets. After 19.5 weeks, survival was 100% in intact individual ramets but only 27% in severed ones. Among surviving ramets, final dry mass and lamina mass were also less in severed than in intact ramets, though stalk, rhizome, and root mass and maximum quantum yield of PSII (F_v/F_m) were not reduced. Individual ramets with fewer stalk nodes had lower dry mass but were not more affected by severing than ramets with more stalk nodes. Severance around the edge of plots did not significantly affect the combined final mass of the ramets within a plot. We conclude that clonal integration can have significant positive effects on both survival and growth of individual ramets of ferns in natural populations.     

Clonal spread of invasive Ludwigia hexapetala and L. grandiflora in freshwater wetlands of California

Ludwigia hexapetala and L. grandiflora are recent, aggressive invaders of freshwater wetlands in California. To assess the relative role of sexual versus clonal reproduction in invasive spread, we used AFLP markers to genotype 794 ramets of L. hexapetala sampled from 27 populations in three watersheds of California, and 150 ramets of L. grandiflora from five populations in a fourth watershed. We then used two analytical methods, similarity thresholds and character incompatibilities, to distinguish genotypic variation within genets (clones) from variation between genets. Our analyses revealed extremely limited genotypic and genet variation in invasive L. hexapetala and L. grandiflora within California. Within L. hexapetala, 95% of the ramets analyzed represented a single genet. The genet was the only one detected in 20 populations. The remaining seven populations contained two to nine genets. Within L. grandiflora, all ramets were of only one genotype. Thus, invasive spread within and between populations, and across watersheds, appears to be almost exclusively clonal and brought about by the dispersal of vegetative propagules. The extremely low seedling recruitment indicates that management should target vegetative dispersal and growth.     

互花米草入侵对大型底栖动物群落垂直结构的影响

2012年8月,在浙江省玉环县漩门湾国家湿地公园,利用自制分层采样器,以5 cm为单位对0—25 cm泥层进行分层取样,研究潮间带互花米草滩涂和自然滩涂两种生境中大型底栖动物的垂直分布情况,以及互花米草入侵对大型底栖动物垂直结构的影响。两种生境中共获得大型底栖动物40种,其中软体动物18种,甲壳动物13种,环节动物4种,其他类群5种。在自然滩涂生境中获得的物种数为30种,互花米草生境为31种,两种生境的共有种有21种。互花米草和自然滩涂生境平均栖息密度分别为222.6株/m2和1052.8株/m2。研究结果表明:(1)大型底栖动物主要栖息在0—10 cm泥层深度;(2)大型底栖动物群落沿泥层深度存在分层分布现象;(3)互花米草入侵缩短了底栖动物的垂直分布距离,但对其主要栖息深度影响不大;(4)互花米草入侵改变了原来生境特征,导致大型底栖动物的群落结构发生变化。