海拔对高山栎光合气体交换和叶性状的影响

理解影响植物分布的式样及过程是生态学研究的中心内容之一,但对许多物种而言,限制其分布的原因还不清楚。为了认识高山栎分布与生理生态特性的关系,我们在不同海拔的4个观测点研究了帽斗栎的光合气体交换、叶氮含量、叶绿素含量和比叶重。由于高的水气压亏缺和气温,帽斗栎的光合作用和蒸腾作用在午间表现出明显的降低现象。帽斗栎的饱和光合速率、水分利用效率、最大羧化速率、最大电子传递速率和氮利用效率在海拔中部比低海拔或高海拔处的为高。不同海拔的叶氮含量在5月份有差异,8月份则没有明显不同。叶片厚度随海拔增加,但叶绿素含量及光合最适温度随海拔升高而降低。帽斗栎光合作用的海拔变化与叶片的生化效率和氮含量有关,而与比叶重无关。研究结果说明,温度的海拔变化对高山栎的光合作用和叶性状有明显影响,最适宜帽斗栎光合碳获取及生长的海拔范围是3180～3610m。     

遮阴对绣球光合特性和叶绿素荧光参数的影响北大核心CSCD

为了从光合作用机制及叶片吸收光能分配的角度解释绣球(Hydrangea macrophylla)对不同光环境的适应机制,探讨绣球对光环境变化的生理响应和适应性,该文以盆栽的绣球品种‘无尽夏新娘’为材料,设置遮阴(遮光率为50%、75%)两种处理,并以全光照为对照,经过60天的处理,测定其光合-光响应曲线、气体交换参数、叶绿素荧光参数。结果表明:遮阴60天后,绣球的暗呼吸速率、光补偿点和光饱和点均有所下降,而表观量子效率(AQY)上升,说明绣球能够通过这些途径提高对弱光的利用能力并降低呼吸消耗,以维持植株正常生长,从而表现出了极强的适应能力;在50%的遮阴处理下,绣球叶片的净光合速率、胞间CO2浓度、蒸腾速率和水分利用效率均与其全光照和75%遮阴处理下差异显著;遮阴导致光系统II(PSII)最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)增加,3种光照处理下呈显著差异,全光照下Fv/Fm低于50%遮阴处理,初始荧光水平高于50%遮阴处理,推断此条件下的绣球叶片发生了光抑制;而随着光照的减弱,非光化学淬灭系数在降低,说明遮阴降低了绣球叶片PSII天线色素吸收光能以热的形式耗散的比例,绣球叶片吸收的能量约70%用于热耗散,约20%用于非光化学反应,仅有4%的能量用于光化学反应,说明绣球处于饱和光环境下时,主要通过提高叶片吸收光能向热耗散等PSII调节性能量耗散途径的分配,削弱反应中心过量激发能的积累。     

不同海拔天山云杉叶功能性状及其与土壤因子的关系

植物功能性状反映了植物对生长环境的响应和适应,将环境、植物个体和生态系统结构、过程与功能联系在一起。为阐明天山北坡1420-2300m天山云杉(Picea schrenkiana var.tianschanica)的叶片功能性状对环境的适应性变化,研究了天山云杉10种叶片功能性状的变化规律以及与土壤因子的关系。结果表明叶长宽比(LL/LW)、叶面积(LA)、气孔密度(SD)、单位干重的叶磷(LPC)和叶钾(LKC)含量沿海拔梯度呈上升趋势。单位干重的叶氮(LNC)含量、叶绿素含量(Chla+b)、叶片饱和含水量(LWC)、叶片干物质含量(LDMC)和比叶重(LMA)随海拔的升高呈现非线性变化,前3项在海拔约2100m处达到最大值,分别为(15.42±0.38)mg/g、(2.44±0.37)mg/g和(55.01±0.48)%,后两项在海拔约2100m处达到最小值,分别为(451.80±6.28)mg/g、(252.33±3.60)g/m2。逐步回归分析结果显示,海拔梯度上影响LPC的主要土壤因子是土壤pH值和SWC,影响LNC、LKC、Chla+b、LDMC、LMA和LWC的主要土壤因子是TN,影响LA、SD和LL/LW的主要土壤因子是SWC,可见SWC和TN是天山云杉叶片功能特征沿海拔梯度变化的主要驱动因子。在优越的环境中植物叶片虽然具有较高的光合能力和较高的相对生长速率,但是对资源的利用能力往往较低,在2100m附近LNC、Chla+b、LA最大,LMA、LDMC最小,因此判断此海拔附近为天山云杉最适宜的生长范围。     

濒危植物银杉幼树对生长光强的季节性光合响应

银杉(Cathayaargyrophylla)是我国松科中特有的单种属植物,被认为处于濒危状态。在对银杉群落多年调查研究的基础上,针对银杉幼树生长过程对光强的需求特性,我们开展了银杉幼树对光的适应性研究。试验在人工培育的银杉苗圃地,采用遮荫的方法设置不同的光环境处理(100%、45%和3%自然光强),利用气体交换技术和叶绿素荧光技术测定了3种光强下银杉叶片光合生理指标的变化,探讨了不同光环境下银杉幼树光合能力在夏季和冬季的变化及其对生长光强的响应等。结果表明:在夏季银杉生长旺盛时期,遮荫导致叶片最大光合速率(Pnmax)、羧化效率(CE)下降,但不同叶龄叶片的下降幅度不同。随生长光强的下降,银杉幼树的光补偿点(LCP)和光饱和点(LSP)有所降低,但全晴天时,低光强(3%自然光强)条件下实际的光辐射量高于当年生叶片光补偿点的累积时间约6h,而且与光饱和的区域相差极大,造成全天碳同化量低,同化物累积少,严重影响了银杉幼树的正常生长。在不同处理中全光强条件下银杉幼树长势最好,45%光强条件下幼树生长减慢。冬季银杉最大光合速率(Pnmax)、羧化效率(CE)值均低于夏季,光补偿点(LCP)和光饱和点(LSP)也较夏季降低。全光照条件下无论是当年生叶片和一年生叶片,在冬季均出现了轻微光抑制现象,适度遮荫有利于银杉抵御冬季光抑制。无论在遮荫或不遮荫条件下,冬季银杉叶片将所吸收的相对过剩光能通过非辐射途径耗散出去,表现出一种光保护策略。     

淹水深度对互叶白千层幼苗气体交换、叶绿素荧光和生长的影响

实验设置对照、浅淹(水位高出土壤表面5cm)和深淹(水位高出土壤表面20cm)3种处理,研究了淹水深度对互叶白千层幼苗的气体交换、叶绿素荧光和生长状况的影响。研究结果表明,随着淹水深度的增加,互叶白千层受到的胁迫程度有所增强。经过270d的淹水处理,浅淹组和深淹组的株高和生物量有所下降,分别为对照的90.86%、64.58%和74.52%、36.46%。浅淹组植株叶绿素含量、净光合速率、气孔传导率和蒸腾速率略有下降,分别为对照的95.39%、94.26%、90.02%和88.94%。深淹组植株在淹水后180d内上述参数显著下降,分别为对照的79.44%、73.54%、61.79%和71.46%,随后逐渐接近对照组。浅淹组PSⅡ的最大光化学量子效率(Fv/Fm)比较稳定,与对照组基本相同。深淹组在淹水后150d内Fv/Fm稍有下降,随后恢复到对照水平。浅淹组植株光化学淬灭系数(qP)稍有下降,非光化学淬灭(NPQ)略有上升,分别为对照的96.63%和105.66%。深淹组植株在淹水后120d内qP显著下降,NPQ明显上升,分别为对照的94.51%和126.66%,随后逐渐接近对照组。另外,淹水过程中,互叶白千层形成不定根和产生发达的通气组织,淹水植株的根孔隙度显著高于对照。     

温州蜜柑叶片气体交换和叶绿素荧光对低温的响应

研究了低温对温州蜜柑叶片气体交换和叶绿素荧光的影响,结果表明：（１）８℃低温处理１１８ｈ对气体交换和叶绿纱荧光影响不大。（２）２℃低温处理１５ｈ后,净光合速率（Ｐｎ）、气孔导度（Ｇｓ）,羧化效应（ＣＥ）下降,胞间ＣＯ２浓度（Ｃｉ）升高,表观量子效率（ＡＱＹ）和叶绿素荧光参数ＦＱ及Ｖｖ／Ｆｍ没有显著变化。（３）室外自然低温处理作７ｄ,Ｐｎ、Ｇｓ、ＣＥ饱和ＣＯ２光合速率、ＡＱＹ及Ｆｖ／Ｆｍ显著下降,Ｃ     

遮阴对堇叶紫金牛光合特性和叶绿素荧光参数的影响

堇叶紫金牛是一种特产于浙江和台湾的珍稀濒危植物.为了解堇叶紫金牛对光的需求及适应规律,本文研究了不同光照强度(遮阴率90%、60%、25%及全光照)对其光合特性和叶绿素荧光参数的影响.结果表明： 全光照条件下堇叶紫金牛净光合速率(P_n)、气孔导度(g_s)日变化曲线均呈“双峰型”,出现光合“午休现象”,而遮阴处理下均呈“单峰型”.随遮阴率的增加,堇叶紫金牛叶片P_n和表观量子效率(AQY)均呈先升高后降低的趋势,光饱和点(LSP)和光补偿点(LCP)均呈降低趋势,g_s、蒸腾速率(T_r)、原初光能转换率(F_v/F_m)和PSⅡ潜在活性(F_v/F_o)均呈升高趋势.遮阴造成叶绿素总量、类胡萝卜素(Car)含量的增加和Chl a/b的降低.遮阴率25%条件下,堇叶紫金牛根冠比(R/T)和比叶重(LMA)均达到最大值.堇叶紫金牛对不同光环境表现出较强的适应性和可塑性,表明光照不足不是其野外种群致濒的主要原因.     

麻栎和闽楠幼苗叶功能性状及生物量对光照和施肥的响应

光照和养分条件是影响植物生长的重要环境因子,不同生活型植物对环境异质性的响应机制不同。以落叶阔叶树种麻栎和常绿阔叶树种闽楠幼苗为研究对象,设置2个光照梯度（全光照和45%全光照）和4个施肥梯度（不施肥、氮磷供应比为5、15和45）共8种处理,研究光照和施肥及其交互作用对麻栎和闽楠生物量和叶形态、生理及化学性状的影响,并探讨了叶功能性状和生物量的关系。结果表明：（1）光照、施肥及其交互作用对光合气体交换参数（除水分利用效率外）、叶绿素荧光参数、叶形态指标（除比叶面积外）、单位质量叶氮含量和根冠比影响显著（P<0.05）。此外,光照和施肥对地上生物量和总生物量影响显著（P<0.05）。（2）全光照显著增加了麻栎和闽楠单株总叶面积和地上、地下生物量及总生物量（P<0.05）,而遮荫降低了非光化学猝灭系数、光合氮利用率和根冠比,增加了单位质量叶氮含量。（3）在全光照处理中,施肥显著增加了麻栎和闽楠水分利用效率（P<0.05）;在遮荫处理中,氮磷供应比45显著增加了麻栎和闽楠净光合速率和水分利用效率（P<0.05）。（4）麻栎和闽楠在全光照中倾向于资源获取策略,在遮荫中偏向于资源保守策略。在光照和施肥处理中,麻栎和闽楠单株总叶面积与地上生物量均显著正相关（P<0.05）。总之,单株总叶面积是预测麻栎和闽楠幼苗地上生物量变化的稳定指标,施肥有助于增加低光环境下麻栎和闽楠幼苗的生态适应能力。     

温州蜜柑叶片气体交换和叶绿素荧光对低温的响应

研究了低温对温州蜜柑叶片气体交换和叶绿素荧光的影响 ,结果表明 :(1) 8℃低温处理 18h对气体交换和叶绿素荧光影响不大。 (2 ) 2℃低温处理 15h后 ,净光合速率 (Pn)、气孔导度 (Gs)、羧化效率 (CE)下降 ,胞间CO2 浓度 (Ci)升高 ,表观量子效率 (AQY)和叶绿素荧光参数F0 及Fv/Fm没有显著变化。 (3)室外自然低温处理 2和 7d ,Pn、Gs、CE、饱和CO2 光合速率、AQY及Fv/Fm显著下降 ,Ci及F0 显著升高 ;在 2 0℃室内 ,Fv/Fm、F0 和AQY比CE和Pn恢复快。 (4 )低温胁迫使Jf(依据叶绿素荧光参数计算所得的电子传递速率 )和Jc(依据CO2 同化测定所得的电子传递速率 )下降 ,Jf/Jc 值升高。 (5 )低温处理降低了Pn和光呼吸速率 (Pr) ,但Pr下降的速率小于Pn下降的速率     

胡杨异形叶光合系统Ⅱ叶绿素荧光特性

以塔里木盆地胡杨3种典型异形叶(条形叶、卵形叶与锯齿阔卵形叶)为材料,利用光合与叶绿素荧光测定技术测量胡杨异形叶气体交换与叶绿素荧光动力学参数,探讨异形叶光合机构对太阳辐射光能的利用、能量分配与耗散特性及影响其光合能力的主要因素,揭示胡杨异形叶光合生理功能的差异与生理生态适应机制。结果表明:(1)晴天正午胡杨异形叶净光合速率(P_n)、PSⅡ有效光化学量子效率(F_v′/F_m′)、实际光化学量子效率(Φ_(PSⅡ))、光化学猝灭系数(qP)显著降低,而PSⅡ激发能压力(1-qP)、光合功能相对限制(L_(PFD))则显著增大,至傍晚F_v′/F_m′、Φ_(PSⅡ)、qP与光化学反应能量(P)恢复,表明荒漠强太阳辐射导致正午胡杨异形叶光合作用发生了光抑制,但并未造成PSⅡ反应中心的不可逆破坏。(2)3种异形叶采取了不同的适应方式来适应荒漠强光环境。卵形叶通过提高光能捕获与转化效率、光化学反应能量来保持叶片高光合能力以消耗多余能量、降低过剩激发能对光合机构的影响;锯齿叶通过保持高光合电子传递能力来缓解光合膜上的还原态压力并以热耗散清除过剩激发能,二者协同保护光合机构免受强光损伤从而维持较高的P_n;条形叶不耐强光,但可以通过降低光能捕获与转化效率并将吸收的光能更多用于热能和荧光辐射耗散过剩激发能来适应强光环境。(3)逐步回归分析表明,锯齿叶光合能力主要受PSⅡ反应中心光合电子传递速率和非光化学猝灭过程中的非辐射能量耗散的影响;卵形叶、条形叶分别受PSⅡ反应中心光能捕获与转化效率和非光化学猝灭过程中的过剩激发能耗散的影响。综上所述,胡杨异形叶在生长发育过程中采取了不同的生态策略来适应荒漠环境。     

中国栎属(壳斗科)基于叶表皮及叶结构特征的分支分析

以三棱栎为外类群,基于叶表皮及叶结构特征对中国栎属进行初步的分支分析,结果显示了栎属内稳定的“支”结构及其种间关系。栎亚属可划分为5个组,分别为巴东栎组,高山栎组,Jiang子栎组,麻栎组和槲栎组,Jiang子栎组是栎亚属常绿栎类与落叶栎类之间的过渡类群;高山栎组应为栎亚属常绿栎类中的特化类群,而非最原始类群,5个组中,仅巴东栎组不是单系类群,而是一个多系类群,青冈亚属较栎亚属早分支,可划分为3大类;无毛类,简单被毛类和复杂被毛类;无毛类最原始,复杂被毛类与栎亚属关系最近,因此,叶表皮及叶结构特征对解决栎亚属组间亲缘关系有重要的分类学意义。     

Morphological and molecular diversity among Italian populations of Quercus petraea (Fagaceae)

Quercus petraea (sessile oak) has a scattered distribution in southern and central Italy. The objective of this work was to evaluate the level and distribution of diversity in five Italian populations of Q. petraea by using morphological markers and hypervariable molecular markers such as microsatellites. Forty-eight morphological traits and six nuclear and three plastid loci were scored for each population. Evidence for differentiation in both sets of traits was found, but patterns of differentiation of morphological traits did not coincide with microsatellite differentiation. Morphological variation was correlated with ecological conditions at the site of origin. Analysis of molecular variance revealed significant genetic variation among populations (P < 0.001), both at the nuclear and plastid levels. There was a slight, but significant, correlation between nuclear genetic distance and geographic distance. The relatively high genetic diversity in the populations analysed indicates that the maintenance of their evolutionary potential is possible if population sizes are maintained or increased. Low levels of haplotype diversity found within the small southernmost population (Piano Costantino) indicates that genetic erosion may increase the extinction risk for this population.     

Leaf epidermis of Quercus subgen. Cyclobalanopsis (Oerst.) Schneid. (Fagaceae)

The characters of leaf epidermis (mainly epidermal cells, stomata, trichomes) have been examined in 48 species of Quercus subgen. Cyclobalanopsis of the Fagaceae. The adaxial leaf epidermis was investigated under light microscope. The epidermal cells of this surface are of two types in terms of the outline of their anticlinal wall. One type is characterized by having straight wall, and this type has been observed in most of the species studied, while the other is characterized by having sinuate or sinuolate wall, and this type has been found only in eight species, such as Q. blakei and Q. hui. There exist two types of trichome-bases on this surface: in one type the bases are singlecelled, and this type has been found in most of the species studied, such as Q. oxyodon and Q. augustinii; while in the other the bases consist of a group of cells, and this type has been found only in nine species, such as Q. thorelii and Q. chungii. The abaxial leaf epidermis was investigated under light microscope and scanning electron microscope. The epidermal cells and the trichome-bases on this surface under LM are in morphology essentially similar to those on the adaxial surface. The stomata under LM include three types: cyclocytic, subcyclocytic and anomocytic. The stomatal density is of some diagnostic value to distinguish between closely related species, e.g. the stomatal density in Q. glauca is higher than that in Q. schottkyana. Under SEM the stomata are elliptical or roundish. The most noteworthy feature of the adaxial leaf epidermis is the trichomes. Eight types of trichomes have been observed under SEM: simple-uniseriate, solitary, papillae, stellate, fused-stellate, stipitate-fasciculate, multiradiate and jellyfish-like. The first type, i.e. the simple-uniseriate trichome, is glandular, other six types, i.e. the solitary, papillae, stellate, fused-stellate, stipitate-fasciculate and multiradiate trichomes, are non-glandular, and the last one, i.e. the jellyfish-like trichome, may represent an intermediate type in structure between the glandular and the non-glandular trichomes. Papillae are very common in subgen. Cyclobalanopsis although in the Fagaceae they were previously reported only in a few species of Lithocarpus. The jellyfish-like trichome, observed only in Q. sichouensis, is reported in the Fagaceae for the first time. The evolutionary trends of trichomes are discussed. The trichomes seem to evolve toward the direction of increasing complexity in structure. Papillae are considered as the pedomorphism of trichomes. From papillae the solitary trichomes and then the stellate ones have evolved. The complicated trichome types with more arms may be produced from relatively simple ones with fewer arms by means of varions fusion: several stellate trichomes are fused to form the fused-stellate ones by basal fusion, and by the same way the fused-stellate ones to form the stipitate-fasciculate ones; the multiradiate trichomes are formed by the stellate ones, in which the arms emerge in a variety of seemingly random directions from a typically rounded common base. Based on the above results, it is considered that the trichome features are of important significance for a better understanding of the infrageneric division of Quercus and the phylogenetic relationships between this genus and the other genera in the Fagaceae. The very common presence of papillae in Quercus subgen. Cyclobalanopsis and in a few species of Lithocarpus may indicate that subgen. Cyclobalanopsis is a quite natural group on the one hand, and may have close relationship with Lithocarpus on the other hand. The thin-walled, jellyfish-like trichomes found in Q. sichouensis are in structure similar to the “glandular” peltate trichomes in Trigonobalanus, a genus generally regarded as the most primitive in subfam. Quercoideae, indicating that the affinity between subgen. Cyclobalanopsis and Trigonobalanus may becloser than that between subgen. Quercus and Trigonobalanus.     

栎属青冈亚属（壳斗科）的叶表皮研究

利用光镜和扫描电镜观察了栎属青冈亚属Quercus subgen. Cyclobalanopsis 48种植物的叶表皮,尤以对叶下表皮的毛被特征观察较为仔细。共观察到8种不同类型的叶表皮毛：单列毛、单毛、乳突、星状毛、溶和星状毛、具柄束毛、多出毛和水母状毛。其中乳突在青冈亚属中较常见,而在壳斗科其他属中仅在石栎属 Lithocarpus 少数种类中有报道;水母状毛首次在壳斗科中发现。毛被可能遵循以下的演化规律：乳突→单毛→星状毛;星状毛依照从简单→复杂的演化途径,分化出各种形态各异和结构复杂的毛系。初步讨论了毛被以及叶表皮其他特征(如毛基细胞和表皮细胞的形态、气孔的类型和密度等)的分类和系统学意义。     

不同培养基对发菜细胞生长和光合活性的影响

研究测定了发菜(NostocflagelliformeBorn.etFlah.)细胞在不同培养基中的生长速率、光合作用和叶绿素荧光活性。结果显示培养11d后:Detmer培养基中叶绿素a的含量为1.08mg/L,Kratz-Myers培养基中叶绿素a的含量为1.87mg/L,水生104号培养基中叶绿素a的含量为1.21mg/L,BG11培养基中叶绿素a的含量为2.18mg/L,表明在BG11培养基中培养的细胞具有最高生长速率;与另外4种不同浓度的BG11培养基相比,上述BG11培养基培养的发菜具有最大的光合速率Pm(218.1μmolO2.mg-1chla.h-1)和最高的PSII光化学效率(Fv/Fm=0.349)。实验结果表明,BG11是适合发菜生长的培养基,对其光合作用和叶绿素荧光活性具有显著促进作用。     

论辽东栎(壳斗科)的分类地位及命名

辽东栎(Quercus wutaishanica)是构成中国暖温带落叶阔叶林的主要建群种之一,对维护生态平衡、改善环境起着非常重要的作用.但长期以来,对辽东栎的分类学位置一直存在争议.综合植物形态学、地理分布、细胞和化学分类、DNA分子标记及数量分类等方面的研究证据,深入讨论了辽东栎在栎属(Quercus)中的分类地位及其命名;考虑其名称已在实际生产和科学研究中应用的广泛程度,认为保留辽东栎在栎属中的种级分类地位是比较恰当的,而彻底抹掉辽东栎在栎属中的分类位置不太妥当,辽东栎的名称宜根据《中国植物志》,采用“辽东栎Quercus wutaishanica Mayr”.     

Genetic Variation in Fragmented Forest Stands of the Andean Oak Quercus humboldtii Bonpl. (Fagaceae)1

Quercus humboldtii is a montane forest dominant species in Colombia, which has experienced significant habitat loss. Using three microsatellite loci, we compared the genetic diversity of adults and seedlings in fragments of small and large size. Results show high genetic diversity, comparable to other temperate oak species (H_o= 0.813, H_e= 0.780, and f=?0.044). However, allelic richness reduction in seedlings of the most fragmented part of the landscape, suggested restricted gene flow and risk of future genetic bottlenecks, if larger tracts of forest disappear.     

Comparison of Isoprene Emission, Intercellular Isoprene Concentration and Photosynthetic Performance in Water-Limited Oak (Quercus pubescens Willd. and Quercus robur L.) Saplings

Abstract: The influence of prolonged water limitation on leaf gas exchange, isoprene emission, isoprene synthase activities and intercellular isoprene concentrations was investigated under standard conditions (30 °C leaf temperature and 1000 μmol photons m^-2 s^-1 PPFD) in greenhouse experiments with five-year-old pubescent oak ( Quercus pubescens Willd.) and four-year-old pedunculate oak ( Quercus robur L.) saplings. Net assimilation rates proved to be highly sensitive to moderate drought in both oak species, and were virtually zero at water potentials (Ψ_pd) below - 1.3 MPa in Q. robur and below - 2.5 MPa in Q. pubescens . The response of stomatal conductance to water stress was slightly less distinct. Isoprene emission was much more resistant to drought and declined significantly only at Ψ_pd below - 2 MPa in Q. robur and below - 3.5 MPa in Q. pubescens . Even during the most severe water stress, isoprene emission of drought-stressed saplings was still approximately one-third of the control in Q. robur and one-fifth in Q. pubescens . Isoprene synthase activities were virtually unaffected by drought stress. Re-watering led to partial recovery of leaf gas exchange and isoprene emission. Intercellular isoprene concentrations were remarkably enhanced in water-limited saplings of both oak species during the first half of the respective drought periods with maximum mean values up to ca. 16 μl l^-1 isoprene for Q. pubescens and ca. 11 μl l^-1 isoprene for pedunculate oak, supporting the hypothesis that isoprene serves as a short-term thermoprotective agent in isoprene-emitting plant species.     

Effects of Prescribed Fire on Shinnery Oak ( Quercus havardii) Plant Communities in Western Oklahoma

Changes in structural and compositional attributes of shinnery oak (Quercus havardii Rydb.) plant communities have occurred in the twentieth century. These changes may in part relate to altered fire regimes. Our objective was to document effects of prescribed fire in fall (October), winter (February), and spring (April) on plant composition. Three study sites were located in western Oklahoma; each contained 12, 60 × 30‐m plots that were designated, within site, to be seasonally burned, annually burned, or left unburned. Growing season canopy cover for herbaceous and woody species was estimated in 1997–1998 (post‐treatment). At one year post‐fire, burning in any season reduced shrub cover, and spring burns reduced cover most. Winter and annual fires increased cover of rhizomatous tallgrasses, whereas burning in any season decreased little bluestem cover. Perennial forbs increased with fall and winter fire. Shrub stem density increased with fire in any season. Communities returned rapidly to pre‐burn composition with increasing time since fire. Fire effects on herbaceous vegetation appear to be manifested through increases in bare ground and reduction of overstory shrub dominance. Prescribed fire can be used as a tool in restoration efforts to increase or maintain within and between community plant diversity. Our data suggest that some plant species may require or benefit from fire in specific seasons. Additional research is needed to determine the long‐term effects of repeated fire over time.