青藏高原雪白委陵菜(Potentilla nivea)叶片性状对海拔的响应

利用生态学常规方法、石蜡切片和显微观察技术,对青藏高原东北部的冷龙岭不同海拔(3600～4200 m)原位生长及移栽的雪白委陵菜(Potentilla nivea)叶片外部形态和解剖结构进行观察,探究其叶片性状对海拔的响应以及生态适应性。结果表明：随海拔的升高,气温呈明显的降低趋势(约为0.66℃·100 m^-1),而辐射和降水并未出现显著性差异;对于不同海拔原位生长的雪白委陵菜,总体上其叶片外部形态和解剖结构指标均存在显著差异(P<0.05),株高、叶片大小及比叶面积均随海拔升高呈减小趋势,而叶干物质含量、比叶重、叶片厚度、栅栏组织厚度、海绵组织厚度、栅栏系数和叶片紧密度则随海拔升高而增加。然而,从3800、4000和4200 m移栽到3600 m的雪白委陵菜,其叶宽、比叶面积、比叶重、叶干物质含量、角质层厚度、表皮厚度、海绵组织厚度和叶片紧密度均无显著差异。研究发现,无论是不同海拔原位生长还是移栽的雪白委陵菜,其叶片外部形态和内部解剖结构均表现出对海拔变化的敏感性,植物通过来改变自身性状以适应环境,且叶片性状之间存在协同变化。     

长白山不同海拔白桦幼苗移栽至同一生境的光合及反射光谱特性

环境是影响植物生理性状的主要因素之一,通过改变植物的生长环境来研究植物生理性状的改变是目前研究植物生理生态的热点,而高海拔地区多样的环境为研究物种适应环境变化提供了良好的实验条件。本研究通过移栽的技术手段,将分布在海拔750 m、海拔1200 m和海拔1400 m的3~5年生白桦幼苗移植到海拔750 m相同的林下环境条件下,将3种白桦移栽幼苗和野生白桦幼苗的光响应参数、光谱反射率以及光谱反射指数进行对比研究,分析移栽初期和移栽一年后植物生理性状的异同,探索白桦幼苗迁入新环境的适应性。研究结果表明:移栽初期,通过对比不同海拔来源的白桦移栽幼苗彼此之间各项生理性状以及与原海拔野生白桦幼苗的生理性状发现,包括最大净光合速率(A_(max))、气孔导度(G_s)、胞间CO_2浓度(C_i)在内的生理性状差异显著(P0.05),幼苗光谱反射指数差异性显著(P0.05)。经过一年的适应,不同海拔来源的白桦幼苗与移栽地海拔750 m野生白桦幼苗的生理性状之间差异不显著(P0.05),幼苗光谱反射指数差异性不显著(P0.05),而与原海拔野生幼苗生理性状之间差异显著(P0.05),幼苗光谱反射指数差异显著(P0.05)。在移栽初期,移栽幼苗的各项生理指标已经因环境的改变而发生变化,但仍保留原海拔野生幼苗的生理特性;移栽一年后,移栽幼苗逐渐适应环境,其相关生理性状发生改变,并趋同于移栽地野生白桦幼苗的生理性状。对比一个生长季前后白桦移栽幼苗生理性状的变化可以发现,白桦作为先锋种植物,在新迁入环境后具有良好的环境适应性,能通过调整生理性状适应新环境。研究对幼苗在林下的演替以及森林的更新具有借鉴意义。     

色季拉山急尖长苞冷杉叶片及细根性状随海拔的变异特征

叶片和细根是植物对环境变化响应的主要功能器官,在气候变化趋势下,研究其随环境梯度的变化,对理解植物对环境的适应策略具有重要意义。本文是在色季拉山急尖长苞冷杉分布区,按海拔梯度(3800、3900、4000、4100、4200、4300、4400m)选择7个典型样地,在样地内对其叶片基本特征、叶绿素含量、比叶重和细根特征(0—60cm)等参数进行了测量。结果表明:(1)随海拔梯度升高,急尖长苞冷杉叶片叶面积减小、叶片厚度增加、叶绿素含量逐渐降低、比叶重显著增大。3900m处急尖长苞冷杉的叶片形态特征表现最好,叶片长度、宽度和面积均显著优于其他海拔,海拔4200m叶片厚度达到最大值,叶片面积、叶绿素含量随海拔升高呈下降趋势,但在4200m处出现第二峰值。(2)随海拔梯度增加,细根各性状与海拔表现出非线性关系,其中细根生物量和细根体积在3900m和4200m处出现两次峰值,3900m处细根生物量达到最大值,4200m处细根体积达到最大值,4400m处细根生物量和细根体积均显著少于其他海拔。细根根长密度在海拔3900、4200、4300m较高,三者之间差异不显著,但显著高于其余海拔,4400m海拔细根根长密度最小。细根表面积在3900m海拔处达到最大值,显著高于其他海拔,4200和4300m次之,3800、4000和4400m海拔下细根表面积相对较小。4400m处细根比根长达到最大值。各海拔上细根均主要分布在0—20cm土层。随土层厚度增加,各海拔细根生物量和根系体积在0—60cm土层范围内均逐渐减小;细根根长密度、表面积在20—40cm和40—60cm显著提高;同一海拔细根比根长随土层深度增加呈明显的增加趋势。各海拔40—60cm土层细根比根长显著高于20—40和0—20cm土层。(3)综合叶片及细根特征,海拔3900m为急尖长苞冷杉的最适宜生长区域;随海拔升高,环境因子逐渐恶劣,环境胁迫加剧,急尖长苞冷杉最终形成在4400m处为其分布上限的海拔梯度格局。     

岩白菜（虎耳草科）不同海拔居群的繁殖分配

资源分配策略是植物生活史研究的重要内容之一,植物用于繁殖的相对资源比例（即繁殖分配）与植株的生活史特征、个体大小及植株的生境密切相关。本文研究了藏东南色季拉山一个阴坡上海拔4200m～4640m范围内6个不同居群的虎耳草科多年生草本植物岩白菜（Bergenia purpurascens）的繁殖分配特征,结果发现：（1）繁殖器官生物量、营养器官生物量、地上部分总生物量、花数目、花序轴长度均随海拔的升高而显著降低,而叶数目随海拔变化不大,繁殖分配值则先降低后升高,转折点在林线过渡带（海拔4400m）处;（2）各居群（海拔4300m居群除外）营养器官生物量与繁殖器官生物量均显著正相关,而营养器官生物量与繁殖分配则负相关,但各居群的显著性不同;（3）各居群繁殖器官生物量与植株个体大小（营养器官生物量）呈不同程度的异速增长,而繁殖分配则与植株个体大小负相关;（4）各居群植株都存在一个繁殖所需的个体大小阈值,而且这一阈值在林线以下区域随海拔的升高而显著增大,在林线以上区域变化不显著。研究结果表明,海拔并不是影响岩白菜繁殖分配策略的唯一生态因子,不同居群的生境状况和植株个体大小都与其资源分配策略密切相关,高山地区林线的存在对植物资源的权衡方式会产生巨大影响。     

模拟增温改变青藏高原植物繁殖物候及植株高度

气候变化显著影响了高寒植物物候期及生长模式, 从而改变了高寒生态系统功能。而高寒植物物候期和生长状况对气候变化的响应程度, 与其自身资源分配策略有关。为了更好地探究气候变化下高寒植物繁殖物候及生长的规律, 该研究以青藏高原高寒草甸为研究对象, 按生物量从高到低选取15种常见植物, 其生物量之和占样地总生物量80%以上, 采用红外辐射器模拟增温的方法, 利用同质园实验, 观测无种间竞争条件下, 增温2年间植物返青、现蕾、开花以及结实物候, 并监测了植株高度。研究结果表明: (1)在功能群水平上, 增温使豆科类植物的返青、现蕾和开花时间分别显著提前了(8.21 ± 1.81)、(9.14 ± 2.41)和(10.14 ± 2.05) d, 使其开花持续时间显著延长了(6.14 ± 1.52) d, 而增温对其他功能群物候事件无显著影响。增温对高寒植物物候的影响存在种间及年际间差异, 但总体上增温使大多数高寒植物繁殖物候提前并且开花持续时间延长, 将更多的资源更多地分配到繁殖生长上。(2)增温显著降低了杂类草植物的植株高度(平均降低(3.58 ± 0.96) cm), 但对豆科类、禾草类及莎草类功能群植株高度没有显著影响。 增温对高寒植物植株高度的影响存在显著的种间差异以及年际差异。综上所述, 未来气候变暖背景下, 青藏高原高寒植物群落可能更早进入繁殖阶段, 从而降低在营养生长上的资源分配。另外, 由于各物种繁殖能力和营养生长对温度变化响应的差异, 气候变暖将导致高寒植物群落中各物种盖度的变化, 进而改变群落物种组成, 从而影响高寒生态系统的功能。     

高寒草甸植物群落功能多样性对不同生长期干旱的响应机制

植物对干旱胁迫的响应表现为各功能性状的差异化表达。全球气候变化下,青藏高原地区降水格局发生改变,高寒草甸群落功能性状及功能多样性在不同生长期干旱事件下的响应机制对加深高寒草甸适应气候变化认知具有重要意义。以藏北高寒草甸为研究对象,设置截雨棚模拟生长季前期（ED）、中期（MD）和非生长季时期（ND）干旱事件,通过观测群落物种功能性状,分析高寒草甸群落功能多样性对不同生长期干旱的响应机制。结果表明：（1）叶片功能性状对干旱存在差异响应,表现为叶片小而厚且寿命长,同化速率降低,并受氮元素限制加剧;（2）生长季前期干旱对高寒草甸群落功能性状的影响最强,生长季中期干旱次之,非生长季干旱的影响最弱;（3）生长季干旱处理显著改变了群落的功能多样性,ED处理下功能分散度指数（FDiv）和功能分异度指数（FDis）显著降低（P<0.05）,而Rao二次熵指数（RaoQ）显著升高（P<0.05）,MD处理下功能均匀度指数（FEve）显著降低（P<0.05）;（4）相关性分析得出,群落功能性状与功能多样性对干旱的响应之间存在着联系。本研究发现高寒草甸植物功能性状与群落功能多样性对生长季前期和中期干旱存在差异化响应,指示着高寒草甸植物群落在响应不同时期干旱时可能采取不同的生存策略,即对生长季前期干旱采用耐旱策略、对生长季中期干旱采用避旱策略。探讨了高寒草甸植物群落功能多样性对不同生长时期干旱胁迫的响应机制,为预测未来季节性干旱事件对青藏高原高寒草甸植物功能性状、群落特征和功能多样性的影响提供科学依据。     

不同海拔华北落叶松细根形态特征

山地海拔变化包含多个环境因子的梯度效应,而细根作为植物重要的功能器官,对环境因子变化较为敏感。因此,了解植物细根形态特征对海拔变化的响应对于认识气候变化下的植物地下过程具有重要意义。本研究以山西省庞泉沟国家自然保护区内分布于1800~2700 m海拔上的华北落叶松(Larix principis-rupprechtii)细根为研究对象,采用根序分级法对不同根序细根形态特征(直径、比根长、比表面积和组织密度)进行了分析,结果表明:(1)同级根序细根直径随海拔升高而增粗,组织密度随海拔升高而减小,比根长和比表面积则随海拔升高先增加后减小;(2)不同海拔处细根形态均表现随序级增加,直径和组织密度变大,而比根长和比表面积减小;(3)分析表明,海拔、根序变化均显著影响细根形态特征(P0.05),但海拔和根序的交互作用只对细根直径和组织密度变化有显著影响(P0.05);其中1~3级根直径和组织密度均与海拔变化显著相关(P0.05),而4、5级根序各形态特征与海拔之间的相关性均不显著。本研究结果可为进一步认识植物细根对未来气候变化下的响应机制提供重要参考。     

岷江源区两种优势针叶树当年生小枝性状与生物量分配随海拔的分异规律

当年生小枝具有较少的次生组织,同时是植物分支系统中最具活力的部分,木本植物当年生小枝性状与生物量分配的海拔变化是理解物种对不同生境适应策略的重要内容。通过分析青藏高原东缘岷江源区两种优势亚高山针叶乔木(紫果云杉和岷江冷杉)当年生小枝性状(茎长、茎粗、比茎长)与不同部位器官(茎、叶)的生物量随天然生境的海拔(3500-3550 m、3650-3700 m和3800-3850 m)变化,尝试揭示两物种当年生小枝在不同海拔下的生物量权衡及其生长策略。结果表明:(1)不同海拔下茎生物量种间差异大于种内差异,3650-3700 m处的茎生物量变异最大(128.4%)。(2)云杉的茎生物量、总叶生物量与海拔间存在显著的负相关关系(P<0.05),比茎长与海拔呈显著正相关(P<0.05);冷杉的总叶生物量与海拔间为显著负相关关系(P<0.05)。(3)随着海拔的升高,云杉茎生物量分配比逐渐从33.0%降低到27.0%;而冷杉的茎生物量分配比则从23.0%渐增至28.0%。(4)3500-3550 m和3650-3700 m两处的云杉茎生物量与总叶生物量、茎长与茎粗呈异速生长关系;3500-3550 m、3650-3700 m和3800-3850 m三处的冷杉茎生物量与总叶生物量、茎长与茎粗一直呈现异速生长关系。两种针叶树的茎生物量分配比及相关性状随海拔的变化差异表明冷杉更适应高海拔的胁迫环境。     

天山南坡高寒草地海拔梯度上的植物多样性变化格局

山地气候随海拔梯度变化使山地成为研究生物多样性的热点区域。在天山南坡巴音布鲁克高寒草地,对不同海拔梯度下的物种多样性进行了研究。结果表明共调查样地9个,出现植物34种,分属17科29属;物种丰富度随海拔升高呈明显的偏峰格局,在海拔3060m的天山羽衣草(Alchemilla tianschanica)草甸,物种组成最为丰富,出现植物17种,分属12科17属;Shannon-Wiener指数的变化范围为2.02~2.40,最小值出现在海拔2760m以紫花针茅(Stipa purpurea)为优势种的高寒草原,峰值则出现在3060m的天山羽衣草草甸,Shannon-Wiener指数随海拔梯度的变化趋势与物种丰富度基本相同,呈明显的偏峰格局;随海拔升高,Cody指数表现出明显的单峰格局;Shannon-Wiener指数与生长季温度存在显著负相关,而与生长季湿度和土壤含水量存在显著正相关。     

不同海拔火绒草光合特性的研究

对生长于青藏高原东北部3个不同海拔地区（2300、2700和3800m）的火绒草叶片的光合特性进行了比较研究。结果发现,随着海拔的升高,叶绿素含量有降低的趋势,而叶绿素a／b比值及类胡萝卜素相对含量呈上升趋势。与海拔2300m处的相比,生长于海拔3800m处的火绒草的净光合速率、表观量子效率和光补偿点较低,但光饱和点较高。研究表明,火绒草在光合特性上的变化是对逆境的一种适应．是青藏高原特殊生态条件长期胁迫的结果。     

Growth and morphological responses of Fargesia angustissima to altitude in the Wolong Nature Reserve, southwestern China

The strong altitudinal gradients leading to dramatic variations in environmental conditions in mountain regions provide unique and sometimes the best opportunities to study plant responses and adaptation to global climate change. We investigated the morphological characteristics, aboveground biomass and its allocation of Fargesia angustissima (Mitford) T.P. Yi along an altitudinal gradient ranging from 1200 m (the lowest distribution boundary of F. angustissima) to 1810 m a.s.l. (the uppermost distribution limit) in the Wolong Nature Reserve, southwestern China. Except for a nearly linear increase in internode number and a linear decrease in shoot biomass with increasing elevation, other parameters studied changed non-linearly with increasing elevation. These results may imply that the local-environmental conditions do not change linearly with altitude. The growth of F. angustissima, as a low-altitude species, may be impacted by precipitation rather than by temperature. Hence, this dwarf bamboo species may be more sensitive to change in the amount and pattern of precipitation caused by rapid global climate change.     

Growth and morphological responses of Fargesia angustissima to altitude in the Wolong Nature Reserve, southwestern China

The strong altitudinal gradients leading to dramatic variations in environmental conditions in mountain regions provide unique and sometimes the best opportunities to study plant responses and adaptation to global climate change. We investigated the morphological characteristics, aboveground biomass and its allocation of Fargesia angustissima (Mitford) T.P. Yi along an altitudinal gradient ranging from 1200 m (the lowest distribution boundary of F. angustissima) to 1810 m a.s.l. (the uppermost distribution limit) in the Wolong Nature Reserve, southwestern China. Except for a nearly linear increase in internode number and a linear decrease in shoot biomass with increasing elevation, other parameters studied changed non-linearly with increasing elevation. These results may imply that the local-environmental conditions do not change linearly with altitude. The growth of F. angustissima, as a low-altitude species, may be impacted by precipitation rather than by temperature. Hence, this dwarf bamboo species may be more sensitive to change in the amount and pattern of precipitation caused by rapid global climate change.     

Climate change is predicted to alter the current pest status of Globodera pallida and G. rostochiensis in the United Kingdom

The potato cyst nematodes Globodera pallida and G. rostochiensis are economically important plant pathogens causing losses to UK potato harvests estimated at £50 m/ year. Implications of climate change on their future pest status have not been fully considered. Here, we report growth of female G. pallida and G. rostochiensis over the range 15 to 25°C. Females per plant and their fecundity declined progressively with temperatures above 17.5°C for G. pallida, whilst females per plant were optimal between 17.5 and 22.5°C for G. rostochiensis. Relative reproductive success with temperature was confirmed on two potato cultivars infected with either species at 15, 22.5 and 25°C. The reduced reproductive success of G. pallida at 22.5°C relative to 15°C was also recorded for a further seven host cultivars studied. The differences in optimal temperatures for reproductive success may relate to known differences in the altitude of their regions of origin in the Andes. Exposure of G. pallida to a diurnal temperature stress for one week during female growth significantly suppressed subsequent growth for one week at 17.5°C but had no effect on G. rostochiensis. However, after two weeks of recovery, female size was not significantly different from that for the control treatment. Future soil temperatures were simulated for medium‐ and high‐emission scenarios and combined with nematode growth data to project future implications of climate change for the two species. Increased soil temperatures associated with climate change may reduce the pest status of G. pallida but benefit G. rostochiensis especially in the southern United Kingdom. We conclude that plant breeders may be able to exploit the thermal limits of G. pallida by developing potato cultivars able to grow under future warm summer conditions. Existing widely deployed resistance to G. rostochiensis is an important characteristic to retain for new potato cultivars.     

青藏高原及周边高山地区的植物繁殖生态学研究进展

青藏高原及周边高山地区孕育了极为丰富的植物多样性资源, 研究该地区植物如何顺利完成繁殖过程有助于我们理解植物对典型高山环境的进化和适应机制。该文综述了青藏高原地区高山植物在资源分配、繁殖方式、花部特征演化等方面的研究进展, 包括全球气候变化对植物繁殖特征的影响, 以及一些新技术和新方法在本研究领域的应用。在高山地区限制性环境中, 随海拔升高, 繁殖分配通常表现出增大的趋势, 其中投入到雄性资源的比例上升, 但具体的资源分配模式还要取决于植株的交配系统、个体大小、生活史特征、遗传特性以及环境中的资源有效性等。面对资源和传粉的双重限制, 植物在不同繁殖方式之间存在权衡, 当传粉者稀少时, 克隆繁殖和自交有利于繁殖保障; 而有性繁殖和异交能够提高种子的质量和后代的遗传多样性, 从而在复杂多变的气候条件下有利于种群的维持。因此, 不同繁殖方式的结合以及泛化的传粉互作网络可能是应对高山限制性环境的最优选择。花部特征的演化主要受到当地传粉者的选择压力, 但是外来传粉者、植食者、盗蜜者以及非生物环境(如温度、雨水和紫外辐射等)对花部性状的影响越来越受到重视。近年来, 青藏高原因其脆弱性和对气候变化的高度敏感性而在全球气候变化研究中备受关注, 以全球变暖和氮沉降增加为显著特征的全球气候变化正在直接或间接地影响着该地区高山植物的繁殖特征。气候变化影响植物和传粉者的物候并引起物种的迁移, 最终将导致植物与传粉者的时空不匹配。植物通过改变花部特征(花展示、花冠结构、花报酬的数量和质量)来响应气候变化, 这可能会改变其传粉者的类型、数量和访花行为, 从而最终影响植物的繁殖成功。3D打印和高通量测序等新技术和新方法的应用有助于促进植物繁殖生态学研究的进一步发展。3D打印的花能够精确控制其形态构造, 可以用于研究精细的花部特征变化对于传粉者行为的影响, 在此基础上与人工饲养的传粉者结合使用, 有助于进一步研究传粉者介导的花部特征演化。随着高通量测序技术的发展, 植物繁殖生态学领域, 尤其是花部特征演化的许多重要问题的潜在机制得以深入研究。该文最后提出了目前研究中需要注意的问题以及值得深入研究的发展方向。     

Precipitation of the warmest quarter and temperature of the warmest month are key to understanding the effect of climate change on plant species diversity in Southern African savannah

In this study, we test for the key bioclimatic variables that significantly explain the current distribution of plant species richness in a southern African ecosystem as a preamble to predicting plant species richness under a changed climate. We used 54,000 records of georeferenced plant species data to calculate species richness and spatially interpolated climate data to derive nineteen bioclimatic variables. Next, we determined the key bioclimatic variables explaining variation in species richness across Zimbabwe using regression analysis. Our results show that two bioclimatic variables, that is, precipitation of the warmest quarter (R² = 0.92, P < 0.001) and temperature of the warmest month (R² = 0.67, P < 0.001) significantly explain variation in plant species richness. In addition, results of bioclimatic modelling using future climate change projections show a reduction in the current bio‐climatically suitable area that supports high plant species richness. However, in high‐altitude areas, plant richness is less sensitive to climate change while low‐altitude areas show high sensitivity. Our results have important implications to biodiversity conservation in areas sensitive to climate change; for example, high‐altitude areas are likely to continue being biodiversity hotspots, as such future conservation efforts should be concentrated in these areas.     

薄毛海绵杜鹃结实和萌发特性随环境的变化

选择青藏高原东南林线地区优势植物薄毛海绵杜鹃为对象,研究薄毛海绵杜鹃结实特性和萌发特性随海拔(4183—4673 m)、坡度、坡向等环境梯度的变化规律。对比了不同环境条件下薄毛海绵杜鹃果实的长、宽、重量、单果种子数、种子千粒重等结实特性;并测试了不同环境所产种子的萌发对温度和光照的响应。结果表明:(1)在高海拔低温胁迫环境下,薄毛海绵杜鹃的生殖投入加大,果实大且质量重,种子数量多但质量轻;(2)坡向是影响单果种子数量的主要环境因子,阴坡单果种子数显著大于阳坡,生活在阴坡的薄毛海绵杜鹃的繁衍能力更强;(3)较高和较低土壤湿度都会影响薄毛海绵杜鹃的种子质量,中等土壤湿度(28.3%—32.5%)薄毛海绵杜鹃种子萌发能力最强;(4)薄毛海绵杜鹃的种子是需光性种子,在黑暗条件下几乎不萌发;(5)在光照条件下,温度对种子萌发率和萌发速率有显著影响,高温(25/5℃)有助于提高萌发率并促使萌发进程显著提前。研究揭示了不同海拔薄毛海绵杜鹃结实和萌发特性与环境之间的关系,为薄毛海绵杜鹃的种质资源保护和气候变化背景下藏东南林线动态预测提供了基础资料。     

Altitudinal patterns of maximum plant height on the Tibetan Plateau

Aims Several studies have shown that plant height changes along environmental gradients. However, altitudinal patterns of plant height across species are still unclear, especially in regions sensitive to climate change. As canopy height decreases dramatically near the tree line in alpine areas, we hypothesize that plant height across all species also decreases with increasing altitude, and distinct thresholds exist along this gradient.Methods Using a large dataset of maximum plant height and elevation range (400 to 6000 m a.s.l.) of 4295 angiosperms from the regional flora of the Tibetan Plateau, we regressed plant height for every 100 m belt against elevation to explore the relationships. To identify the approximate boundaries where dramatic changes in plant height occurs for herbaceous plants, shrubs, trees, woody plants and all angiosperms, we used piecewise linear regression. Phylogenetically independent contrast was used to test the potential evolutionary influences on altitudinal patterns at the family level.Important findings Results showed that for herbaceous plants, shrubs, trees, woody plants and all angiosperms, plant height decreases significantly as altitude increases. In addition, we found that altitude, a proxy for many environmental factors, had obvious thresholds (breakpoints) dictating patterns of plant height. The results of phylogenetically independent contrast also emphasized the importance of evolutionary history in determining the altitudinal patterns of plant height for some growth forms. Our results highlight the relative intense filtering effect of environmental factors in shaping patterns of functional traits and how this could vary for different ranges of environmental variables.     

Response of alpine plant flower production to temperature and snow cover fluctuation at the species range boundary

Surface temperatures have risen globally during the last 30 years, especially in alpine areas. It is recognized that these increases are influencing phenology, physiology and distribution of plants. However, few studies have addressed the effects of climate warming at the species range boundary, where plants are expected to be more stressed. We analysed 11-year data sets of inflorescence production of four alpine plants (Carex foetida, Leucanthemopsis alpina, Senecio incanus, Silene suecica) at the southern boundary of their distribution range in the N-Apennines (N-Italy), in relation to air temperature and snow cover persistence. Inflorescence production of all species fluctuated greatly and was significantly affected by the variation of the mean temperature of June/July. We found significant relationships also between species data series and the snow cover persistence. Moreover, species responded differently to such parameters. One species showed a significant decrease of the reproductive effort, whereas the other three showed a stable trend of inflorescence production. We have shown that some alpine species are favoured by increased temperature and reduced snow cover even at the boundary of their range, where they are thought to be particularly sensitive to warming. However, the aptitude to cope with climate change might be limited by competition against thermophilous species migrating from lower altitude and in some cases by the low altitude of mountain peaks that prevent species upward migration. The individualistic response of species to climate change found here, support the statement that the composition of plant communities might rapidly change in the future.     

Basic Types of Structural Changes in the Leaf Mesophyll during Adaptation of Eastern Pamir Plants to Mountain Conditions

Quantitative characteristics of mesophyll structure were compared in leaves of eleven alpine plant species grown under natural conditions in the Eastern Pamirs at various altitudes, from 3800 to 4750 m. Basic types of changes in mesophyll structure, associated with plant adaptation to mountain conditions, were characterized. These changes manifested themselves in different numbers of cell layers and cell sizes in the palisade tissue and, as a consequence, in changed leaf thickness and cell number per unit of leaf area. Three plant groups were identified by the changes in the leaf structural characteristics depending on the type of mesophyll structure, ecological group of plant species, and altitude of plant habitat. The first group comprised alpine xerophytes with an isopalisade structure, in which the volume of palisade cells decreased and their number per unit of leaf area increased with the altitude of plant habitat. The number of mesophyll layers and leaf thickness decreased or did not change with altitude. The second group comprised subalpine plant species with a dorsoventral structure of mesophyll; these species occur below the line of continuous night frost. In these plant species, the number of mesophyll layers, leaf thickness, and cell number per unit of leaf area increased with altitude. The third group comprised mesophyte plants with a dorsoventral and homogenous mesophyll structure, which are encountered in a wide range of habitats, including the nival belt (from 4700 to 5000 m). In this group, cell volume increased and cell number per unit of leaf area decreased with altitude. We present a general scheme of leaf structural changes, which explains the changes in the quantitative characteristics of mesophyll as a function of altitude and highland environmental conditions.     

寒温带森林白桦径向生长的海拔差异及其气候响应——以奥克里堆山为例

气候变化深刻影响森林生态系统的结构和功能。在全球升温背景下,不同环境中不同树种的生长模式及其气候响应决定着生态系统的发展和稳定。本研究基于大兴安岭地区奥克里堆山的白桦年轮宽度数据,采用树木年代学方法,分析(兴安)落叶松森林中先锋树种白桦的生长-气候响应与升温和海拔变化的关联。结果表明: 气候变暖使具有明显海拔环境差异的白桦产生生长分异。较低海拔(1050 m)区域的白桦生长显著增加,而在相对偏高海拔(1250 m)区域的生长变化不大;在具有明显快速升温变化(1980年)之前,各海拔区域白桦生长的冬季(上年10月至当年2月)低温胁迫均达到显著水平;在快速升温阶段(1981—2010年),白桦生长的冬季低温胁迫降低,生长季(5—7月)温度成为偏高海拔处白桦生长的主要限定性因子;在水热条件较为调和的低海拔区域,白桦生长加快。研究区内白桦的分布总体上随着气候的持续变暖逐渐向高海拔区域扩散。