Multiple gradients in mire vegetation: a comparison of a Swedish and an Italian bog

The major environmental gradients underlying plant species distribution were outlined in two climatically and bio-geographically contrasting mires: a Swedish bog in the boreo-nemoral zone, and an Italian bog in the south-eastern Alps. Data on mire morphology, surface hydrology, floristic composition, peat chemistry and pore-water chemistry were collected along transects from the mire margin (i.e., the outer portion of the mire in contact with the surrounding mineral soil) towards the mire expanse (i.e., the inner portion of the mire). The delimitation and the extent of the minerotrophic mire margin were related to the steepness of the lateral mire slope which, in turns, controls the direction of surface water flow. The mineral soil water limit was mirrored in geochemical variables such as pH, alkalinity, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Al³⁺, Mn²⁺, and SiO₂ concentrations in pore-water, as well as Ca, Al, Fe, N and P contents in surface peat. Depending on regional requirements of plant species, different species were useful as fen limit indicators at the two sites. The main environmental factors affecting distribution of habitat types and plant species in the two mires were the acidity-alkalinity gradient, and the gradient in depth to the water table. The mire margin – mire expanse gradient corresponds to a complex gradient mainly reflected in a differentiation of vegetation structure in relation to the aeration of the peat substrate.     

Peatland distibution along a north-south transect in the Mackenzie River Basin in relation to climatic and environmental gradients

Climate is a major factor affecting the development and form of peatlands, as well as the distribution of individual bryophyte species. This paper examines the climatic and ecological gradients affecting the distribution of peatland types along a north-south gradient in the Mackenzie River Basin. Based on a TWINSPAN analysis of bryophyte abundance from 82 peatlands in the Mackenzie River Basin, seven peatland types, two with southerly geographical distributions are recognized. In the Mackenzie River Basin, such local factors as surface water chemistry, pH, and solute concentration as well as height above the water table play a significant role in determinining bryophyte species distributions. Climate is secondary. Amongst the climatic variables, precipitation, length of the growing season, and annual temperature are the most signifcant. The seven peatland groups are: widespread poor fens; peat plateaus with thermokarst pools, low-Boreal bogs; bogs and peat plateus without thermokarst pools; low-Boreal dry poor fens; wet moderate-rich fens; and wet extreme-rich fens.     

South Patagonian ombrotrophic bog vegetation reflects biogeochemical gradients at the landscape level

Question: Which environmental variables affect the floristic composition of south Patagonian bog vegetation along a gradient of climate and biogeochemical changes with increasing distance from the Pacific ocean? Location: Trans‐Andean transect (53° S), southern Patagonia Material and Methods: Floristic composition, peat characteristics (water level, decomposition, pH, total nitrogen, total carbon, ash content and plant available P, K, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Zn, and Al) and climatic constraints of ombrotrophic peat‐lands were measured at 82 plots along a gradient of increasing distance from the Pacific Ocean. Results: Climatic constraints and biogeochemical peat characteristics significantly change with increasing distance from the Pacific. Peatland vegetation shifted from hyperoceanic blanket bogs dominated by cushion forming vascular plants to the west to Sphagnum bogs to the east. Climatic and biogeochemical variables explained a large proportion of the floristic variation along the first DCA axis. The second axis represented a water level gradient. When ‘distance to the Pacific’ was defined as a covariable in partial CCA, the proportion of variance explained declined for most other variables, especially in the case of annual precipitation and exchangeable base cations and related traits. The differences in biogeochemical characteristics related to peat were mainly attributed to the input of sea‐borne cations. Conclusions: While variation in vegetation composition along a longitudinal gradient crossing the southern Andes was attributed to climatic constraints as expected, vegetation composition was also strongly affected by the biogeochemical characteristics of peat. Sea spray was of high ecological importance to peat chemistry and, consequently, to floristic composition. Presumably, south Patagonian peat bogs represent a glimpse of pre‐industrial environments, so that these peat bogs may act as reference systems with respect to atmospheric inputs in mire ecology research.     

Relationships between vegetation and climate on the Loess Plateau in China

The Loess Plateau is one of the most environmentally sensitive regions in China. This study addresses the relationships between vegetation and climate of this area quantitatively at a large-scale, in order to determine the factors that control vegetation distribution. The Loess Plateau, located at 101°01′–155°10′ E and 34°02′–40°40′ N, covers an area of 52 million hectares. Vegetation data were collected from the vegetation map (1:500,000) and the Landsat Thematic Mapper scenes of the Loess Plateau. The Loess Plateau was divided into small districts of 30′ latitude by 30′ longitude on the vegetation map. In each district, areas with different vegetation were measured and used as vegetation data. The climatic data were average values of county meteorological records in each district in the past 25 years. GIS, TWINSPAN and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) were employed for analysis. 257 small districts were clustered into 7 groups using TWINSPAN, representing 7 vegetation regions or subregions. The first three CCA axes had significant correlations with climate. The first CCA axis represented the variation of vegetation and climate along the latitude gradient, while the second CCA axis the variation along the longitude gradient. The distribution pattern of 171 vegetation formations on the CCA plot is identical to that of vegetation regions (districts). The spatial distribution of vegetation is closely related to climate variables on the Loess Plateau. Water variables and temperature are important in both latitude and longitude gradients, while the sunshine hours, accumulated temperature and wind speed are more important than water variables and temperature in longitude gradients.     

Are nutrient availability and acidity‐alkalinity gradients related in Sphagnum‐dominated peatlands?

Abstract. Gradients in acidity‐alkalinity and nutrient availability were studied in 2 Sphagnum‐dominated peatlands on the southeastern Italian Alps. Decreasing concentrations of most mineral elements (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Mn²⁺, Al³⁺ and Si⁴⁺) in pore water indicated a progressively lower influx of mineral‐soil water from the slightly minerotrophic conditions in the peatland margins to ombrogenous conditions in the central part of the peatlands. This was paralleled by decreasing concentrations of ash, bulk density, Ca, Fe and, partly, Mn in the peat. The nutrient gradient, as defined by pore water concentrations of N and P, was largely independent of the acidity‐ alkalinity gradient: NO^3‐ and PO₄^3‐ had similar concentrations throughout the gradient, whereas NH₄⁺ concentrations increased with increasing pore‐water pH. In contrast, the peat nutrient gradient coincided with the acidity‐alkalinity gradient, with total concentrations of N and P decreasing from the margin to the centre. Bryophytes and vascular plants had different responses along the acidity‐alkalinity gradient and the nutrient gradient. Bryophyte distribution reflected the acidity‐alkalinity gradient both in pore water and in peat. Vascular plant distribution was mainly influenced by variations in nutrient availability.     

Patterns and gradients of diversity in South Patagonian ombrotrophic peat bogs

Many north‐hemispherical mires seemingly untouched by drainage and cultivation are influenced by a diffuse sum of man‐made environmental changes, such as atmospherical nitrogen deposition that mask general patterns in species richness and functional group responses along resource gradients. To obtain insights into natural diversity‐environment relationships, we studied the vegetation and the peat chemistry of pristine bog ecosystems in southern Patagonia along a west–east transect across the Andes. The studied bog ecosystems covered a floristic gradient from hyperoceanic blanket bogs dominated by cushion building vascular plants via a transitional mixed type to Sphagnum‐dominated raised bogs east of the mountain range. To test the influence of resource availability on diversity patterns, species richness and functional groups were related to environmental variables by calculating general regression models and generalized additive models. Species richness showed strong linear correlations to peat chemical features and the general regression model resulted in three major environmental variables (water level, total nitrogen, NH₄Cl soluble calcium), altogether explaining 76% of variance. Functional group response illustrated a clear separation along environmental gradients. Mosses dominated at the low end of a nitrogen gradient, whereas cushion plants had their optimum at intermediate levels, and graminoids dominated at high nitrogen contents. Further shifts were related to NH₄Cl soluble calcium and water level. The models documented partly non‐linear relationships between functional group response and trophical peat properties. Within the three bog types, the calculated models differed remarkably illustrating the scale‐dependency of the explanatory factors. Our findings confirmed several general patterns of species richness and functional shifts along resource gradients in a surprisingly clear way and underpin the significance of undisturbed peatlands as reference systems for testing of ecological theory and for conservation and ecological restoration in landscapes with strong human impact.     

Environmental gradients,plant distribution,and species richness in arctic salt marsh near Prudhoe Bay,Alaska

Spatial patterns of plant cover and species composition in arctic salt marsh and salt affected tundra near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska reflect gradients in elevation, soil conductivity, and soil concentrations of the ions prevalent in seawater. Soil conductivity and soil concentrations of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, SO₄ ⁼ and Cl^– were significantly related to site elevation, decreasing as elevation increased. Vascular plant species richness increased significantly as soil conductivity and soil ion concentrations decreased, and site elevation increased. Puccinellia phryganodes was the only species present in low elevation sites with low plant cover, high soil conductivity and high soil concentrations of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, SO₄ ⁼ and Cl^–. Mid-gradient sites were dominated by Carex subspathaceae. Plant cover at these sites was greater than at lower elevation sites, but bare ground was still present. Higher elevation sites had the lowest concentrations of soil ions and the lowest soil conductivities. These sites had little bare ground, contained as many as 16 species, and were dominated by Dupontia fischeri and Eriophorum angustifolium. Ordinations indicated that a complex topographic gradient related most closely to elevation and site distance from the coast best explains variation in the vegetation cover. Irregular deposition along the coastline partially or completely buried three sites in peat or sand up to 20 cm deep. Such rapid changes in plant cover and species composition contributes to the community patch mosaic typical of these marshes. Results suggest an individualistic response of plant species to the environmental gradients in salt marsh and salt affected tundra and are indicative of successional models developed in other marginal arctic environments.     

Contrasting patterns of lichen functional diversity and species richness across an elevation gradient

Major environmental gradients co‐vary with elevation and have been a longstanding natural tool allowing ecologists to study global diversity patterns at smaller scales, and to make predictions about the consequences of climate change. These analyses have traditionally studied taxonomic diversity, but new functional diversity approaches may provide a deeper understanding of the ecological mechanisms driving species assembly. We examined lichen taxonomic and functional diversity patterns on 195 plots (200 m²) together with forest structure along an elevational gradient of 1000 m in a temperate low mountain range (Bohemian Forest, Germany). Along this elevation gradient temperature decreased and precipitation increased, two macroclimatic variables critical for lichens. Elevation was more important than forest structure in driving taxonomic and functional diversity. While species richness increased with elevation, functional diversity decreased and revealed that community patterns shift with elevation from random to clustered, reflecting selection for key shared traits. Higher elevations favored species with a complex growth form (which takes advantage of high moisture) and asexual reproductive mode (facilitating establishment under low temperature conditions). Our analysis highlights the need to examine alternative forms of diversity and opens the avenue for community predictions about climate change. For a regional scenario with increasing temperature and decreasing availability of moisture, we expect a loss of specialized species with a complex growth form and those with vegetative organs at higher elevations in low mountain ranges in Europe.     

The influence of multi‐scale environmental variables on the distribution of terricolous lichens in a fog desert

Question: How do environmental variables in a hyper‐arid fog desert influence the distribution patterns of terricolous lichens on both macro‐ and micro‐scales? Location: Namib Desert, Namibia. Methods: Sites with varying lichen species cover were sampled for environmental variables on a macro‐scale (elevation, slope degree, aspect, proximity to river channels, and fog deposition) and on a micro‐scale (soil structure and chemistry). Macro‐scale and micro‐scale variables were analysed separately for associations with lichen species cover using constrained ordination (DCCA) and unconstrained ordination (DCA). Explanatory variables that dominated the first two axes of the constrained ordinations were tested against a lichen cover gradient. Results: Elevation and proximity to river channels were the most significant drivers of lichen species cover in the macro‐scale DCCA, but results of the DCA suggest that a considerable percentage of variation in lichen species cover is unexplained by these variables. On a micro‐scale, sediment particle size explained a majority of lichen community variations, followed by soil pH. When both macro and micro‐scale variables were tested along a lichen cover gradient, soil pH was the only variable to show a significant relationship to lichen cover. Conclusion: The findings suggest that landscape variables contribute to variations in lichen species cover, but that stronger links occur between lichen growth and small‐scale variations in soil characteristics, supporting the need for multi‐scale approaches in the management of threatened biological soil crust communities and related ecosystem functions.     

羊草与大针茅根系构型对水分梯度响应的比较研究

羊草(Leymus chinensis)与大针茅(Stipa grandis)是内蒙古锡林郭勒典型草原的两大建群种,也是内蒙古草原的重要优良牧草。选取锡林郭勒草原以大针茅和羊草为优势种的围封草场为研究样地,通过原状土柱移栽,进行了两年的水分梯度控制实验(150、300、450、600 mm),分别模拟当地年降雨量由干旱年到是湿润年的变化情况,分析比较羊草种群和大针茅种群地上高度和根系构型对水分梯度的响应情况。结果表明:相比大针茅种群,羊草种群对水分梯度的响应更敏感,随着水分梯度的增加,羊草地上高度和根系直径显著增加,根系长度和根系深度显著减少;而大针茅的地上高度和根系特征各项指标均没有显出与水分梯度的相关性,显然大针茅比羊草更能适应干旱生境。在干旱条件(模拟年降雨量150 mm处理)下,大针茅种群地上高度达到峰值,生长状况良好;羊草种群则采用地上个体小型化,地下主根变细,分叉,向土壤深层扩展的生长策略。因此,在气候变化背景下,干旱化的气候将导致大针茅种群在群落中的优势地位逐渐增加,反之羊草种群则会随着气候湿润化而占据更大的优势。     

Possible interactions between environmental factors in determining species optima

Questions: 1. Indicator values, such as those of Ellenberg, for different environmental factors are seen as independent. We tested for the presence of interactions between environmental factors (soil moisture and reaction) to see if this assumption is simplistic. 2. How close are Ellenberg indicator values (IV s) related to the observed optima of species response curves in an area peripheral to those where they have been previously employed and 3. Can the inclusion of bryophytes add to the utility of IVs? Location: South Uist, Outer Hebrides, Scotland, UK. Methods: Two grids (ca. 2000 m × 2000 m) were sampled at 50‐m intervals across the transition from machair to upland communities covering an orthogonal gradient of both soil pH (reaction) and soil moisture content. Percentage cover data for vascular plants, bryophytes and lichens were recorded, along with pH and moisture content of the underlying sand/soil/ peat. Reaction optima, derived from species response curves calculated using HOF models, were compared between wet and dry sites, and moisture optima between acidic and basic samples. Optima for the whole data set were compared to Ellenberg IVs to assess their performance in this area, with and without the inclusion of bryophytes. Results: A number of species showed substantially different pH optima at high and low soil moisture contents (18% of those tested) and different soil moisture optima at high and low pH (49%). For a number of species the IVs were poor predictors of their actual distribution across the sampled area. Bryophytes were poor at explaining local variation in the environmental factors and also their inclusion with vascular plants negatively affected the strength of relationships. Conclusions: A substantial number of species showed an interaction between soil moisture and reaction in determining their optima on the two respective gradients. It should be borne in mind that IVs such as Ellenberg's may not be independent of one another.     

Development of floating rafts after the rewetting of cut-over bogs: the importance of peat quality

The usual method of restoring cut-over bogs is to rewet the peat surface, but this often leads to the remaining peat layers being deeply inundated. For Sphagnum-dominated vegetation to develop at deeply inundated locations, it is important for floating rafts of buoyant residual peat to develop. In this study, the chemical and physical characteristics of buoyant and inundated peat collected from rewetted cut-over bog were compared. In general, buoyant peat was poorly humified; high methane (CH₄) production rates (2 µmol g ^–1 DW day ^–1) were important to ensure buoyancy. Although the peat water CH₄ concentrations increased with depth, the CH₄ production rates were higher in the uppermost peat layers. High CH₄ production rates were related positively with P concentrations and negatively with lignin concentrations. The pH to bulk density ratio (0.05) also appeared to be a good indicator of CH₄ production rates, providing an easy and cheap way to measure the variable for restoration practitioners. Our results indicated that analysing certain simple characteristics of the residual peat can greatly improve the success of the rewetting measures taken in cut-over bogs. If the analysis reveals that the residual peat is unsuitable for floating raft formation, deep inundation is inappropriate unless suitable peat from other locations can be introduced.     

DCA Ordination,Quantitative Classification and Environmental Interpretation of Plant Communities in Dongling Mountain

Basing on the detrended corespendenee analysis (DCA) , twb-way indicative species analysis (TWINSPAN) and environmental interpretation mathematical models and warm temperate deciduous-broad leaf forest community samples collected from Dongling mountain in Beijing, primary vegetation types and ecological gradients, and their quantitative relations with environmental factors of the region were studied. The data from 26 climate stations in this region were used to get the multivarient regression for estimating the climate information of various warm temperate deciduous-broad leaf forest according to longitude, latitude and altitude of each sample plot. It is shown that the vegetation types of warm temperate deciduous-broad leaf forest and their distribution are mainly determined by the thermal and moisture ( include soil fertility) gradients. In moisture gradients, in mid-montane from drier to moisture there are Spiraea trilobata shrubland-Vitex negundo shrubland-Prunus sibirica shrubland -manmade Pinus tabulaeformis forest-Quercus liaotungensis forest -mixed deciduous-broad leaf forest- Betula dahurica forest; In subalpine from drier to moisture there are meadow-Caragana jubata shrubland-Betula costata forest. In thermal gradients, from warm to cold there are manmade Pinus tabulaeformis forest-Virex negundo shrubland–Quercus liaotungensis forest -Betula dahurica forest-mixed deciduous-broad leaf forest -Spiraea trilobata shrubland -Prunus siberica shrubland -manmade Larix princips forest-Betula platyphylla forest - B. costata forest-subalpine meadow -Caragana jubata shrubiand . Vegetation of Dongling mountain exists 4 polars anal 2 centers, 4 polars are subalpine Caragana jubata shrubland ( drier and cold habitat), mid-low montane Virex negundo shrubland (drier and warm habitat), subalpine B. costata forest (moisture and cold habitat) and mid-montane B. dahurica forest (moisture and warm). Two centers are Quercus liaotungensis forest and mixed deciduous-broad leaf forest (actuality) , and subalpine coniferous forest (the spruce and larch forest, is the potential center). The dominant and indicative plant species are Aconitum sinomontanurn (cold and moisture), Poa botryoides , Dendrantherna zavadskii, Aconiturn kusnezoffii and Carex rigescencs (cold and drier), Maianthemurn bi foliurn and Corylus rnandshurica (warm and moisture) Spiraea trilobata and Prunus siberica (warm and drier). And these species could be indication species for succession, its would indicate the state of pioneer communities. The Plant-geographic mathematical model of DCA axles (1 and 2) and environment factors (climate and soil) have been set up.     

Predicting tree biomass growth in the temperate–boreal ecotone: Is tree size,age, competition,or climate response most important?

As global temperatures rise, variation in annual climate is also changing, with unknown consequences for forest biomes. Growing forests have the ability to capture atmospheric CO₂ and thereby slow rising CO₂ concentrations. Forests’ ongoing ability to sequester C depends on how tree communities respond to changes in climate variation. Much of what we know about tree and forest response to climate variation comes from tree‐ring records. Yet typical tree‐ring datasets and models do not capture the diversity of climate responses that exist within and among trees and species. We address this issue using a model that estimates individual tree response to climate variables while accounting for variation in individuals’ size, age, competitive status, and spatially structured latent covariates. Our model allows for inference about variance within and among species. We quantify how variables influence aboveground biomass growth of individual trees from a representative sample of 15 northern or southern tree species growing in a transition zone between boreal and temperate biomes. Individual trees varied in their growth response to fluctuating mean annual temperature and summer moisture stress. The variation among individuals within a species was wider than mean differences among species. The effects of mean temperature and summer moisture stress interacted, such that warm years produced positive responses to summer moisture availability and cool years produced negative responses. As climate models project significant increases in annual temperatures, growth of species like Acer saccharum, Quercus rubra, and Picea glauca will vary more in response to summer moisture stress than in the past. The magnitude of biomass growth variation in response to annual climate was 92–95% smaller than responses to tree size and age. This means that measuring or predicting the physical structure of current and future forests could tell us more about future C dynamics than growth responses related to climate change alone.     

Defining phytoclimatic units in Galicia,Spain, by means of multivariate methods

Abstract. Floristic and climate data from 150 plots in 25 sites in Galicia, Spain, were analysed to test the hypothesis that climate is the major factor governing the distribution of woody plant species. TWINSPAN classification, Detrended Correspondence Analysis and Canonical Correspondence Analysis were applied in successive stages of the data analysis to describe vegetational variation in relation to climatic gradients. Six groups of species were defined, two clearly oceanic (Maritime and Cool Maritime), one mediterranean maritime, and three mediterranean (Cold Mediterranean, Cool Mediterranean and Temperate Mediterranean). An aridity gradient was revealed as the primary factor regulating the distribution of the species considered. This main gradient reflects the transition between the Eurosiberian and Mediterranean bio-geographic regions. The gradient can be characterized by means of the Vernet bioclimatic index. A value ≥ 4 for this index can be taken to define the mediterranean zone in our study area. The mean minimum temperature in the coldest month was the second most influential climatic variable. Partial ordination analysis revealed that the residual variation was insignificant and that the observed variation in vegetation can be fully accounted for by climatic variables.     

遮阴和干旱对荩草生理代谢及抗性系统影响的协同作用

引进草种在亚热带边坡草坪上常遭遇遮阴和干旱,造成草坪退化甚至死亡。以具有边坡草坪开发价值的本土植物野生荩草为材料,设置5种遮阴度和4种干旱度交互形成20种协同处理,研究遮阴和干旱对荩草生理代谢及抗性系统影响的协同作用。结果表明,荩草具有极强的耐阴和抗旱潜力,可通过光合策略、代谢策略、抗性策略使植株逐步适应或应对生境胁迫,在重度遮阴或干旱下仍可存活。遮阴或干旱对荩草光合作用、物质代谢、抗氧化酶系统和细胞膜完整性有极显著影响。遮阴和干旱对荩草光合指标、代谢指标、抗性指标和受伤害指标有显著协同作用。Pn主要受遮阴影响,Gs主要受干旱影响,适度遮阴和干旱协同处理可提高荩草光合能力。干旱对荩草物质代谢的影响大于遮阴,氮代谢比糖代谢和呼吸作用受干旱或遮阴的影响更大,适度遮阴和干旱协同作用可改变荩草代谢水平。遮阴、干旱对抗氧化酶活性的影响不同,遮阴和干旱对POD有显著协同作用,对SOD和CAT有极显著协同影响,适度遮阴和干旱协同作用可提高荩草抗氧化酶活性。遮阴、干旱对细胞膜伤害性物质的含量影响不同,遮阴和干旱对SP含量无协同作用,对Pro、H_2O_2和MDA含量有显著协同作用,协同作用增加了荩草细胞膜受伤害的风险。遮阴和干旱对生理代谢及抗性系统影响的协同作用,提高了荩草的抗逆潜力和生态适应能力。     

小五台亚高山草甸与生境关系分析

该文结合野外植被调查,在获取更为详细的景观尺度生境数据基础上,探讨了小五台亚高山草甸植物群落与直接环境因子之间的定量关系。典范对应分析(CCA)的结果表明:1) 在小五台的亚高山草甸分布地段,热量、养分和水分条件构成了其生境特征差异的基本格局;2) 用效应温度和太阳直接辐射量所表征的热量因子,指示出研究区植物群落最基本的分化,说明热量条件是制约研究区草甸群落分布的最重要的因子;3) 养分状况的差异,除了说明生境条件本身的差异外,也在一定程度上指示了放牧干扰对群落分布的影响;4) 由地形等因素控制的土壤表层水分状况,则反映了草甸植物群落分布所受到的水分条件影响。     

Uranium Biosorption by the Lichen Trapelia involuta at a Uranium Mine

Metal localisation was investigated in the lichenised ascomycete Trapelia involuta growing on a range of uraniferous minerals including metazeunerite [Cu(UO₂)₂(AsO₄)₂·8H₂O], metatorbernite [Cu(UO₂)₂(PO₄)₂·8H₂O], autunite [Ca(UO₂)₂(PO₄)₂·10H₂O] and uranium-enriched iron oxide and hydroxide minerals at the abandoned South Terras mine site, Cornwall, UK. Apothecia from samples collected from waste dumps at the mine have an unusually dark colour that decolorized with NaOCl, an observation which together with Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy of apothecial extracts, suggested the presence of melanin-like pigments. X-ray element mapping and probe traverses across the lichen-rock interface identify the highest U, Fe, and Cu concentrations in the outer parts of melanised apothecia. Accumulation of mineral particulates and complexing with lichen acids are not considered responsible for this since element ratios in the traverses do not correspond with those of likely mineral phases and lichen metabolites are localised in different tissues. Metal biosorption by melanin-like pigments are likely to be responsible for the observed metal fixation. No detectable U or Cu was observed in control samples although Fe showed a similar localisation in some specimens. The high concentrations of mucopolysaccharides and P recorded inside apothecia (within asci containing reproductive spores and hypothecium) suggests that the formation of melanised tissues may help protect vital reproductive tissues from the toxic effects of U and other metals, since the uranyl ion complexes strongly with phosphate species.     

Tree diversity change in remaining primary mixed-broadleaved Korean pine forest under climate change and human activities

Studying biodiversity change in existing typical ecosystems of the world under possible global climate change and local human activities is important for diversity conservation. An adapted forest dynamics model is used to simulate tree diversity change of the remaining primary mixed-broadleaved Korean pine forest (RPMKPF) in northeast China under global climate change and local human activities for the next 50 years. Human activities include logging, which removes all big trees (DBH > 50 cm), removing all individuals of each single species and all species of each functional type (shade tolerant, shade intolerant and medium type tree species). As results for RPMKPF, the index of tree diversity decreases under climate change, but it increases significantly under a combination of climate change and logging. Removing all individuals of each single species significantly affects the tree diversity of the ecosystem. After the removal of shade tolerant species, both and _c indices of tree diversity experience a significant change. The index decreases significantly under climate change when shade intolerant or medium type tree species are removed, but the _c index does not change significantly. The results of this study have implications for tree diversity management in RPMKPF under climate change and human activities.     

Iron and phosphate uptake in epiphytic and saxicolous lichens differing in their pH requirements

The hypothesis is tested that pH-dependent Fe and P uptake influence the preference of epiphytic and saxicolous lichens for certain ranges of ambient pH. Five species from acidic substrata (Hypogymnia physodes, Parmeliopsis ambigua, and Platismatia glauca) or covering the range from weakly acidic to alkaline substrata (Lecanora muralis and Phaeophyscia orbicularis) were exposed to solutions of FeCl₂, FeCl₃, or KH₂PO₄ at pH 3 and 8 in the laboratory. Avoidance of alkaline substrata is explainable by low Fe³⁺ uptake at pH 8 in the case of H. physodes and the inability for net P uptake and membrane damage in P. ambigua at this pH. Preference for acidic substrata in Pl. glauca, however, is neither related to Fe nor P uptake. Efficient Fe³⁺ and P uptake at pH 8 explains the tolerance of L. muralis and Ph. orbicularis to alkaline conditions. Intracellular accumulation of Fe²⁺ in probably toxic amounts at pH 3 in Ph. orbicularis is correlated with the absence of this lichen from strongly acidic substrata. Avoidance of acidic sites by L. muralis is not attributable to Fe or P uptake. In summary, the results suggest that pH-dependent Fe and P uptake characteristics are involved in the determination of pH preferences of epiphytic and saxicolous lichens, but are not the only relevant factor.