The effects of wildfire on Spheciformes wasp community structure: the importance of local habitat conditions

Changes of the structure of a community of Spheciformes wasps (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) along a 15 year recovery gradient after wildfires in a Mediterranean agroecosystem are reported and analysed. The species that contribute to determining the structure, change in dominance amongst the most abundant species, and variation in guild structure of the community with the passage of time since fire, as well as the environmental variables contributing to the structure of the community are also analyzed. Mediterranean Spheciformes communities are highly resistant to fire. The sampling year, representative of different climate conditions, and the time since the fire, were the main variables which affected community variation local conditions of the habitat was more important than time since fire in determining community. Local conditions; presence of trophic resources, nesting sites, and presence of prey for feeding the larvae, depended on climatological conditions and the time since fire. Variations were detected in the dominance values of the most abundant species, together with displacements among species within the same genus, as a function of the local conditions, the existing resources, and the time since the wildfire. Therefore, change in community structure cannot be attributed solely to the effect of the fire, as both climatic and environmental conditions contribute to community structure.     

On the use of Apiformes and Spheciformes (Insecta: Hymenoptera) populations as a management tool

The creation of Protected Areas was one of the first measures taken for the protection of biodiversity and it is still the most widely used. The establishment of systems to evaluate the effectiveness of the management of these areas are crucial to validate their importance for conservation and guide the managers towards their conservation goals. Aculeate Hymenoptera, specifically Apiformes and Spheciformes, gather exceptional characteristics as bioindicators and are essential to ecosystem sustainability by including key pollinators (Apiformes), contribute for the maintenance of the equilibrium between arthropod populations (Spheciformes), and also reflect the patterns of other taxa. Apiformes and Spheciformes communities were sampled with Malaise traps in eight different habitats initially identified by habitat type (mainly vegetation). These communities were evaluated to determine if the habitats could be differentiated based on their Apiformes and Spheciformes generic communities. Apiformes and Spheciformes diversity provided limited differentiation between habitats but was able to differentiate the most disturbed habitat from the most pristine. In general, Apiformes and Spheciformes communities were different among the eight habitats. It was also possible to establish a relation between some genera and a specific habitat type. Several genera of Apiformes and Spheciformes showed a preference for the riparian galery (RLR) and a mixed woodland (COZ), providing a general idea of the ideal conditions for the development of these groups. These results suggest that Apiformes and Spheciformes communities are a suitable management tool for habitat evaluation.     

群落结构特性的分析方法探讨-以高寒草甸和高寒灌丛为例

 从种—多度关系和物种多样性对高寒草甸和高寒灌丛在不同放牧强度下群落结构特性的分析表明,种在群落中的相对重要性发生了变化,种相对多度的分布模式符合对数正态分布,并随放牧强度的变化显示出有规律的改变;同时,表示群落结构特性的指数(Simpson多样性指数λ、Shannon信息多样性指数H′、McIntosh多样性指数Dmc、均匀性指数E和物种丰富度指数R)值在各放牧强度群落间却未表现出统计学上的显著差异(P>0.05)。这表明在有些情况下单纯对物种多样性等指数值的比较并不一定能准确地反映出群落结构上的变化,同时也证实了West关于多样性指数值保持不变或近似但群落结构可能发生变化的推断。     

西双版纳热带山地雨林的植物多样性研究

 根据6块样地的调查资料,分析了西双版纳热带山地雨林植物多样性特征。结果表明：在2 500 m2的样地上,西双版纳热带山地雨林群落共有植物物种99～181种。其中乔木层的物种丰富度（S）为54～113,Shannon-Wiener指数（H′）为1.648 7～4.049 1,Simpson指数（λ）为0.503 5～0.969 5,Pielou 均匀度指数（Jsw）为0.413 3～0.854 9。灌木层的S为35～89,H′为2.413 2～3.716 2,λ为0.762 7～0.958 2,Jsw为0.678 8～0.859 3。草本层的各指数值：S为31～65,H′ 为2.792 1～3.499 2,λ为0.902 0～0.938 2,Jsw为0.729 3～0.838 2。低海拔带上的山地雨林（Ⅰ号、Ⅱ号样地）的各指数值（H′、λ、Jsw）在群落不同层次中均表现为草本层 > 灌木层 > 乔木层,而物种丰富度在不同层次中无一定变化规律;高海拔带上山地雨林（Ⅲ号、Ⅳ号、Ⅴ号、Ⅵ号样地）的物种丰富度和多样性指数（H′、λ）表现为乔木层 > 灌木层 > 草本层,而均匀度指数（Jsw）在不同层次中则无一定变化趋势。高海拔带上的山地雨林乔木层和灌木层的物种丰富度、多样性和均匀度指数均明显高于低海拔带上的山地雨林,这是由于前者所处生境较为优越。沿着海拔梯度,群落乔木层的物种丰富度、多样性和均匀度指数均在中等海拔高度地带（约1 200～1 220 m）达到最高值,这是由于中等海拔高度的山地雨林位于生境条件最为优越的沟谷地带,而且与低地季节雨林毗邻,热带雨林植物成分丰富。     

四川蜂桶寨国家自然保护区地表甲虫物种多样性

在四川雅安蜂桶寨国家自然保护区（102°48′～103°18′ E,30°42′～30°54′ N）及其周边地区,就森林片段化和生态恢复程度的不同,选择4个代表地点,即位于保护区核心地带、以阔叶混交林为主的蜂桶寨天然林区（海拔1680～2080 m）,受到经济开发干扰但植被类型丰富的锅巴岩天然林区（海拔2 280～3 340 m）、以人工针叶林进行生态恢复的蚂蝗沟人工林区（海拔2430～2525 m）,以及森林高度片段化的双石镇农耕区（海拔870～1 165 m）,共设26块样地,以巴氏罐诱法为主研究地表甲虫的群落组成和多样性变化。本研究共采集甲虫标本 2.338 号,隐翅虫数量最多,占39.6%;步甲次之,占29.3%,拟步甲、象甲和叶甲的数量也各在5% 以上,它们共同构成该地区地表甲虫的优势类群。锅巴岩物种的个体数量和丰富度（S）以及多样性指数（H′）较高;蚂蝗沟均匀度指数（J）较高,丰富度较低;蜂桶寨天然林区个体数量较少;双石镇农耕区的多样性和均匀度指数较低。锅巴岩、蜂桶寨和蚂蝗沟间物种分布都有一定程度的相似性,但后两者相似性程度更高,双石镇物种分布与其他3个地点差异较大,这反映了不同地点间的生境异质性和森林植被片段化程度的差异。整个鞘翅目、隐翅虫科和步甲科的个体数量分布在针叶林内较多,在阔叶林内较少;拟步甲科的数量分布在高山灌丛内较多;叶甲科的数量分布在针叶林较多;象甲科除了竹林外,在其他植被内的数量均较多。在总体趋势上,随着海拔的升高,在蜂桶寨和锅巴岩两个邻近的天然林地点,整个鞘翅目以及优势甲虫类群的种类和个体数量也逐渐增多。比较蜂桶寨林区内的个体数量、丰富度和多样性指数,北坡均大于南坡。以上结果表明,物种多样性与海拔、坡向以及生境类型密切相关,森林片段化和生态恢复对物种多样性有显著的影响。因此,在改善森林片段化进行生态恢复时,采取合理措施,增加生境异质性,有助于提高该地区地表甲虫物种多样性。     

秦巴山区蝗虫群落多样性研究

作者于1995～1997年对秦巴山区蝗虫资源进行了调查。采用Shannon-Wiener提出的多样性指数(H')公式、Pielou提出的均匀度(E)公式及Simpson提出的优势度(C)公式,计算群落的多样性、均匀度和优势度。结果表明,不同地区、不同生境、不同海拔高度及不同月份,秦巴山区蝗虫群落的物种数目、多样性指数值、均匀度及优势度指数值均有明显差异。这主要与蝗虫的生物学特性直接有关,另外也受到环境因素的影响。     

铅锌矿渣场植被自然演替与基质的交互效应

矿业废弃地生态系统自然恢复的植被演替过程与机理是生态恢复研究的重要内容之一.以空间代替时间的方法,选择立地条件基本一致的4个不同自然恢复年限铅锌矿区为对象,研究黔西北土法炼锌渣场废弃地植被自然演替与矿渣基质理化性质的交互效应.结果表明： 随着堆置时间的增加,矿渣基质的营养条件明显得到改善,全氮、全磷和全钾含量极显著增加, pH上升,电导率下降,容重降低,有效铅和镉显著降低. 同时,随着恢复时间的增长,植物群落的物种丰富度、多样性指数和均匀度也相应提高.植物群落组成以多年生草本植物为主,植物群落演替在前20年较为缓慢,30年后植被群落盖度可达到53%,超过40年盖度可达87%.矿渣理化性质与物种多样性显著相关,典型变量分别是全氮、全磷和全钾;物种多样性指数与有效铅和镉呈显著负相关.土法炼锌渣场废弃地植被自然演替过程在30年后速度加快,植被生长的限制因子是营养供给不足和重金属的有效性高.     

塔里木荒漠河岸林异质生境物种多样性比较与其测度指标筛选及评价

选择合适的物种多样性测度指标与多样性指数是进行群落多样性研究的基础工作。依据塔里木河上游荒漠河岸林样地调查资料,分别采用重要值、盖度和多度为测度指标比较了反映群落物种丰富度、多样性、均匀度和优势度12种多样性指数与异质生境群落多样性特征,并对多样性指数进行了相关分析与评价。结果表明,荒漠河岸林异质生境群落物种组成种类差异明显,轮南镇胡杨群落物种丰富度与多样性指数最高,水工三连灰胡杨群落多样性最低,土壤水盐的空间异质性是引起荒漠植被空间分布与群落多样性差异的主导因子。表征荒漠群落多样性以重要值和盖度为测度指标优于多度指标,其中以重要值为测度指标来反映群落多样性更为合理。相关与主成分分析表明,均匀度与多样性指数间的相关性高于丰富度与多样性指数,且多样性指数受均匀度、优势度指数受丰富度影响较大,反映出荒漠河岸林群落多样性主要决定于物种分布的均匀程度。12种多样性指数中Margalef丰富度指数（Ma）、Shannon-Weiner多样性指数（H）与Simpson多样性指数（D）能客观真实地反映异质生境荒漠植物群落多样性。同时,针对高度生境异质性的荒漠植物群落,还应综合考虑群落物种组成与生境特征,选择合适的多样性指数组合可更客观地反映荒漠河岸林群落多样性变化。     

不同林龄桉树人工林林下物种多样性和生物量的动态变化

采用空间代替时间法和典型抽样法,以四川省威远县桉树(Eucalyptus robusta)人工林为研究对象,综合分析其林下植被物种组成及重要值、灌木层和草本层地上、地下和全株生物量以及物种多样性指数(Shannon-Wiener多样性指数H、Simpson优势度指数H′、丰富度指数D和Pielou均匀度指数JSW),探究林下植被的物种多样性和生物量在5个不同林龄(4,5,6,7,8年生)下的动态变化及二者之间的相关性。结果表明:调查到植物共有210种,隶属79科151属,草本层物种数多于灌木层。草本层的五节芒(Miscanthus floridulus)、芒萁(Dicranop?teris pedata)和灌木层的野牡丹(Melastoma malabathricum)、戟叶悬钩子(Rubus hastifolius)在不同林龄下都占据主要优势地位。随着林龄的增大,郁闭度加大,灌木层的D、H和H′值均表现为先增后减的规律;草本层D、H和H′值均呈先增后减再增再减的双峰趋势。草本层各生物量呈先增后减再增的变化趋势;灌木层各生物量呈先增后减的变化趋势。物种多样性与生物量呈显著正相关,草本层的D、H指数是影响生物量的直接因子。桉树人工林林下植被物种分布、组成、物种多样性和生物量对林龄变化的响应不同,表现为不同的动态特征规律,相关结果为我国西南地区桉树林管理提供了数据支撑。     

红壤稻田弃耕后植被和土壤有机碳对积水与火烧的早期响应

为了探明积水和冬季火烧对弃耕红壤稻田地表植被和土壤有机碳的影响, 该实验设置了对照(无人为干扰)、积水、冬季火烧和积水-冬季火烧4个不同处理, 采用样方法对样地植物的高度、密度、盖度及物种组成进行了调查。地上部分生物量采用收获法进行测定, 根系采用土柱法获取, 弃耕前后土壤有机碳含量的测定采用K₂Cr₂O₇外加热法。结果表明: 1)积水和冬季火烧对红壤稻田弃耕早期物种组成、丰富度、均匀度及多样性具有重要的影响。双穗雀稗(Paspalum paspaloides)和水竹叶(Murdannia triquetra)是积水条件下的优势种, 而柔枝莠竹(Microstegium vimineum)是冬季火烧条件下的优势种, 大狼杷草(Bidens frondosa)是积水和冬季火烧条件下的共优种。2)分布在0-5 cm表层土壤中的根系占0-20 cm深度土壤中根系的66.50%-80.34%。样地在积水条件下, 2011-2013年0-20 cm深度的土壤根系生物量分别高出对照样地的49.84%、73.34%和28.94%。3)冬季火烧可以提高样地的物种多样性和增加地上部分生物量, 2011-2013年冬季火烧样地分别高出对照样地的25.74%、64.30%和50.24%。4)与稻田弃耕前土壤有机碳含量逐渐上升趋势相反, 稻田弃耕6年后, 对照、积水、冬季火烧和积水-冬季火烧样地中土壤有机碳含量分别降低11.16%、18.99%、9.17%和19.12%, 并且在积水条件下土壤有机碳含量降低更明显(p < 0.05)。研究结果表明, 红壤稻田弃耕后地表植被物种组成、地上和地下生物量、土壤有机碳含量与积水和冬季火烧关系密切(p < 0.05)。     

Early responses of vegetation and soil organic carbon to waterlogging and winter wildfire on abandoned red paddy soils

为了探明积水和冬季火烧对弃耕红壤稻田地表植被和土壤有机碳的影响, 该实验设置了对照(无人为干扰)、积水、冬季火烧和积水-冬季火烧4个不同处理, 采用样方法对样地植物的高度、密度、盖度及物种组成进行了调查。地上部分生物量采用收获法进行测定, 根系采用土柱法获取, 弃耕前后土壤有机碳含量的测定采用K₂Cr₂O₇外加热法。结果表明: 1)积水和冬季火烧对红壤稻田弃耕早期物种组成、丰富度、均匀度及多样性具有重要的影响。双穗雀稗(Paspalum paspaloides)和水竹叶(Murdannia triquetra)是积水条件下的优势种, 而柔枝莠竹(Microstegium vimineum)是冬季火烧条件下的优势种, 大狼杷草(Bidens frondosa)是积水和冬季火烧条件下的共优种。2)分布在0-5 cm表层土壤中的根系占0-20 cm深度土壤中根系的66.50%-80.34%。样地在积水条件下, 2011-2013年0-20 cm深度的土壤根系生物量分别高出对照样地的49.84%、73.34%和28.94%。3)冬季火烧可以提高样地的物种多样性和增加地上部分生物量, 2011-2013年冬季火烧样地分别高出对照样地的25.74%、64.30%和50.24%。4)与稻田弃耕前土壤有机碳含量逐渐上升趋势相反, 稻田弃耕6年后, 对照、积水、冬季火烧和积水-冬季火烧样地中土壤有机碳含量分别降低11.16%、18.99%、9.17%和19.12%, 并且在积水条件下土壤有机碳含量降低更明显(p < 0.05)。研究结果表明, 红壤稻田弃耕后地表植被物种组成、地上和地下生物量、土壤有机碳含量与积水和冬季火烧关系密切(p < 0.05)。     

三江平原湿地典型植物群落物种多样性研究

以三江平原分布最广的毛果苔草(Carex lasiocarpa)群落和小叶章(Calamagrostis angustifolia)群落为研究对象,研究2个群落的植物物种及其组成特征。结果表明,毛果苔草群落以毛果苔草为优势种,以漂筏苔草(C.pseudocuraica)为亚优势种,二者的重要值之和为56.4%;小叶章群落以小叶章为优势种,其重要值为50.8%。物种多样性分析表明,毛果苔草群落和小叶章群落的Simpson指数(D)、Shannon-Wiener指数(H)和Pielou均匀度指数(J)均有较大波动,且H与J呈显著正相关,与D呈显著负相关,与S无显著相关关系;毛果苔草群落的H、D、J和S均高于小叶章群落,但差异不显著;2群落的相似性指数为46.5%,表明二者间存在一定的联系。     

山西五鹿山森林群落木本植物功能多样性

通过选取群落中木本植物种子的扩散方式、传粉方式、植株高度和盖度等13个功能性状,计算出群落的6个功能多样性指数:功能性状距离、功能性状平均距离、功能体积、功能均匀度、功能分散指数和Rao二次熵指数,结合群落物种丰富度指数、Shannon-Wiener指数和物种均匀度指数对山西五鹿山森林群落木本植物功能多样性进行研究。结果表明:(1)功能性状距离、功能性状平均距离、功能体积与物种丰富度、Shannon-Wiener指数显著正相关;功能均匀度与Shannon-Wiener指数、物种均匀度指数显著正相关;功能分散指数、Rao二次熵指数与物种均匀度指数、Shannon-Wiener指数显著正相关;(2)功能多样性的差异很大程度上是由于物种差异所引起的;(3)6个功能多样性指数可分为三类:功能性状距离、功能性状平均距离、功能体积为功能丰富度指数;功能均匀度为功能均匀度指数;功能分散指数和Rao二次熵指数为功能离散度指数。该分类结果符合指数的计算方法和生态学意义,以及相互独立的标准。     

红火蚁对新入侵龙眼园和荒草地蚂蚁类群多样性的影响

于2007年7月至2008年2月期间在增城龙眼园及周边的荒草地人工移殖1蚁巢及10蚁巢红火蚁,并采用陷阱法和诱饵诱集法调查研究红火蚁对新入侵龙眼园区和荒草地区蚂蚁类群多样性的影响。结果表明,在荫蔽、少干扰的龙眼园和杂草茂密、少干扰的未割草区,红火蚁难以成功定殖,对这两种生境蚂蚁类群的多样性几乎没有影响;在红火蚁成功定殖的1蚁巢割草区和10蚁巢割草区,红火蚁以这两种密度入侵对蚂蚁类群多样性的影响程度不同。在1蚁巢割草区,红火蚁入侵后5个月期间,由于其数量占蚂蚁个体总数的比例很少,对蚂蚁类群多样性的影响很小;在红火蚁成功定殖5个月后,第6—7个月其工蚁所占比例增加,蚂蚁类群个体数和优势度下降,多样性和均匀度增加;第8—9个月其工蚁所占比例继续增加,而蚂蚁个体数、多样性和均匀度下降,优势度增加。在10蚁巢割草区,红火蚁入侵后,蚂蚁类群个体数、多样性和均匀度下降,优势度增加。红火蚁入侵对1蚁巢割草区和10蚁巢割草区蚂蚁物种数的影响较小。     

王朗自然保护区地栖脊椎动物群落结构和生境类型的关系

2006年8—11月,采用围栏陷阱法对四川省王朗自然保护区地栖脊椎动物的群落结构进行了研究,结合森林砍伐、旅游和植被恢复方式等干扰因子所推动的动物栖息生境变化,探讨了动物群落结构和生境类型的关系。监测历时75 d,8个样地共捕获3纲6目17科21种778只地栖脊椎动物,物种组成包括3种两栖类、1种鸟类和17种哺乳类。每百陷阱日的捕获率为32.4%;以普通鼩鼱、高山姬鼠、纹背鼩鼱、高原林蛙等4种为优势种,占全部捕获数的76.9%;其余17种的个体数均较少,物种多度和其分布区域呈显著线性相关(P0.001)。动物群落多样性指数,以干扰相对弱的原生针叶林物种多样性指数和均匀度指数为最高,而优势度指数最低;其次为旅游干扰的原生林灌丛和自然更新的次生林灌丛;人工种植的次生针叶林多样性指数和均匀度指数最低,而优势度指数最高。以动物群落相似性指数进行系统聚类,8个样地的动物群落聚为3类:即干扰相对弱的原生针叶林动物群落、严重干扰的人工针叶林动物群落、部分干扰的原生林灌丛和次生林灌丛动物群落。     

Variation in the diversity of ducks along a gradient of environmental variability

Tramer (1969) proposed that communities regulated by competition in benign, predictable environments were characterized by (i) damped variation in evenness relative to variation in richness over time, and (ii) high evenness relative to communities regulated by variation in the abundance and diversity of resources in rigorous, unpredictable environments. To test whether patterns of variation in diversity could reflect the mechanisms proposed to regulate community structure, temporal and spatial changes in the diversity, richness and evenness of breeding duck communities were examined along a gradient of variability in wetland conditions using thirty-three years of duck census and climate data from the Canadian prairie and boreal forest regions. Temporal variation in evenness was independent of wetland habitat variability. Changes in richness were more parsimoniously explained by the appearance of ducks displaced (by drought) from rigorous, variable, wetland habitats into relatively benign ones, than by competition in benign areas. Evenness was not significantly higher for duck guilds in more constant wetland habitats, as predicted. Variation in richness, evenness and diversity, predicted by Tramer, do not provide a basis for distinguishing the factors that regulate duck community structure.     

三峡水库运行后洞庭湖洲滩 小型兽类群落状况

为了探究三峡工程建成运行后洞庭湖区洲滩生境中小型兽类的群落状况,对洞庭湖区洲滩生境的小型兽类进行调查。调查采用铗日法,于2010至2018年,对洞庭湖区洲滩小型兽类群落的多样性进行了调查,并计算优势度、群落多样性指数、均匀性指数。对多样性指数采用t值法进行比较,各年份、生境的捕获率及鼠种组成差异则采用卡方检验。2010至2018年,共布放34 116铗日,捕获可以分辨种类的样本2 129只,主要有啮齿目(Rodentia)和鼩形目(Soricomorpha)2类,共7种,分别是啮齿目的东方田鼠(Microtus fortis)、黑线姬鼠(Apodemus agrarius)、褐家鼠(Rattus norvegicus)、巢鼠(Micromys minutes)、社鼠(Niviventer confucianus)、黄毛鼠(R. losea)和鼩形目的臭鼩(Suncus murinus)。总捕获率为6.36%,东方田鼠、黑线姬鼠捕获率较高,分别为1.83%、3.94%。从小型兽类组成看,黑线姬鼠和东方田鼠在群落中组成的比例较高,分别为63.18%和29.26%。在调查的5类生境中,植被组成以苔草(Carex sp.)、南荻(Miscanthus sp.)和美洲黑杨(Populus deltoides)为主的生境小型兽类群落多样性指数(1.0772)和均匀度指数(0.6662)均最大,其次是以苔草为主的生境(多样性指数和均匀度指数分别为0.9275、0.5723)、以南荻为主的生境(多样性指数和均匀度指数分别为0.8856、0.550 2)和以苔草加南荻为主的生境(多样性指数和均匀度指数分别为0.775 6、0.481 9),以美洲黑杨为主的生境多样性指数(0.323 6)和均匀度指数(0.180 6)最低,但其优势度最高,为0.881 2。结果表明,随着三峡工程的运行,洞庭湖区植被演替发生了变化,从而引起小型兽类群落动态的变化。在洞庭湖洲滩上,生境越复杂,小型兽类物种多样性越高。单一生境下,人类活动干扰程度越大,小型兽类物种多样性越低。目前,黑线姬鼠已经成为洞庭湖洲滩生境的第一优势鼠种。     

五台山林区典型人工林群落物种多样性研究

对山西五台山林区4种典型人工林群落物种多样性特征进行了定量研究,结果表明: 1 4种人工林群落灌木层和草本层的Simpson指数 D 和Shannon-Wienner指数 H′ 差异不显著,物种丰富度指数和均匀度指数 Jsw 差异显著,均匀度指数 Ea 差异极显著,草本层发育明显好于灌木层; 2 各人工群落尚处于演替初期阶段,林下植被发育常以禾本科阳生性植物为主; 3 对4种人工林群落灌草层物种多样性显著性检验结果显示,在灌草层物种多样性特征上,油松林与桦木林、山杨林多样性差异显著 P<0.05 ,其它群落差异不显著.山杨林物种多样性程度较高,油松林最差; 4 不同人工林群落物种总体多样性特征分析表明,桦木和山杨人工林群落总体α多样性与油松林差异显著,且多样性较大,阔叶林更有利于林下植被的发育和更新; 5 对人工生态系统物种多样性研究是退耕还林、天然林保护等生态环境工程的延伸,对于植被恢复后的生物学效果评价有重要意义.     

Effects of functional diversity and functional dominance on complementary light use depend on evenness

Questions

Does functional diversity play a more important role than species richness in complementary resource use? Is the effect of functional diversity on complementarity greater when species evenness is higher? Does functional dominance play an important role in resource use when species evenness is low?

Location

An arable field in Linhai City, Zhejiang Province, China.

Methods

We assembled experimental plant communities with different species richness (one, two, four, eight and 12 species) and evenness (low and high). In each community, we quantified light interception efficiency (LIE ) and light complementarity index (LC ) to reflect light use. We measured four functional traits related to light capture to quantify functional diversity and functional dominance. We then tested effects of observed species richness, functional diversity and functional dominance on LIE , LC and above‐ground biomass in the low and high evenness communities.

Results

Functional diversity was positively related to LIE , LC and above‐ground biomass in the high evenness communities, but not in the low evenness communities. In contrast, functional dominance was positively related to LIE and negatively related to LC in the low evenness communities, but not in the high evenness communities. Moreover, functional dominance had a larger promotion to above‐ground biomass in the low evenness communities. Observed species richness and evenness had a significant interactive effect on LIE and LC . LIE of a species mixture of the low evenness communities was positively correlated with LIE of the monoculture consisting of the species with the highest initial abundance in the species mixture, while LC of a species mixture of the low evenness communities was negatively correlated with it.

Conclusions

Functional diversity and functional dominance play a crucial role in light complementary use of plant communities, and their effects on light complementarity are mediated by species evenness. Thus, interactions of functional traits and evenness may greatly affect ecosystem functioning.

     

Species richness and evenness respond in a different manner to propagule density in developing prairie microcosm communities

Diversity has two basic components: richness, or number of species in a given area, and evenness, or how relative abundance or biomass is distributed among species. Previously, we found that richness and evenness can be negatively related across plant communities and that evenness can account for more variation in Shannon’s diversity index (H′) than richness, which suggests that relationships among diversity components can be complex. Non-positive relationships between evenness and richness could arise due to the effects of migration rate or local species interactions, and relationships could vary depending on how these two processes structure local communities. Here we test whether diversity components are equally or differentially affected over time by changes in seed density (and associated effects on established plant density and competition) in greenhouse communities during the very early stages of community establishment. In our greenhouse experiment, we seeded prairie microcosms filled with bare field soil at three densities with draws from a mix of 22 grass and forb species to test if increased competition intensity or seedling density would affect the relationships among diversity components during early community establishment. Increased seed density treatments caused diversity components to respond in a different manner and to have different relationships with time. Richness increased linearly with seed density early in the experiment when seedling emergence was high, but was unrelated to density later in the experiment. Evenness decreased log-linearly with seed densities on all sampling dates due to a greater dominance by Rudbeckia hirta with higher densities. Early in the experiment, diversity indices weakly reflected differences in richness, but later, after the competitive effects of Rudbeckia hirta became more intense, diversity indices more strongly reflected differences in evenness. This suggests that species evenness and diversity indices do not always positively covary with richness. Based on these results, we suggest that evenness and richness can be influenced by different processes, with richness being more influenced by the number of emerging seedlings and evenness more by species interactions like competition. These results suggest that both diversity components should be measured in plant diversity studies whenever it is possible.