Aqueous Litter Extracts of Native Grass Species Suppress Exotic Plant Species Under Allelopathic Conditions

Journal of Plant Growth Regulation - Previous pasture residues can inhibit the establishment of exotic introduced plant species by exerting allelopathic effects. Concerning this issue, present...     

Are Introduced Species Better Dispersers Than Native Species? A Global Comparative Study of Seed Dispersal Distance

We provide the first global test of the idea that introduced species have greater seed dispersal distances than do native species, using data for 51 introduced and 360 native species from the global literature. Counter to our expectations, there was no significant difference in mean or maximum dispersal distance between introduced and native species. Next, we asked whether differences in dispersal distance might have been obscured by differences in seed mass, plant height and dispersal syndrome, all traits that affect dispersal distance and which can differ between native and introduced species. When we included all three variables in the model, there was no clear difference in dispersal distance between introduced and native species. These results remained consistent when we performed analyses including a random effect for site. Analyses also showed that the lack of a significant difference in dispersal distance was not due to differences in biome, taxonomic composition, growth form, nitrogen fixation, our inclusion of non-invasive introduced species, or our exclusion of species with human-assisted dispersal. Thus, if introduced species do have higher spread rates, it seems likely that these are driven by differences in post-dispersal processes such as germination, seedling survival, and survival to reproduction.     

Detection of Horizontal Gene Transfer by Natural Transformation in Native and Introduced Species of Bacteria in Marine and Synthetic Sediments

Both naturally occurring marine sediments and artificial sediments were used as supports for natural transformation of marine bacteria. While transformation of Pseudomonas stutzeri ZoBell suspended in artificial seawater was not detected when recipient cells and rifampin resistance DNA were loaded onto sterile sediment columns, transformation could be detected at frequencies 4 to 20 times that of spontaneous resistance when recipient cells and rifampin resistance DNA were loaded onto sterile sediment columns. Treatment of these columns with DNase I reduced transformation frequencies to levels comparable to those of spontaneous-resistance frequencies. Sediments with higher organic contents supported higher frequencies of transformation than did those with lower amounts of organic matter. Transformation was also detected when recipient cells and DNA were loaded on columns prepared from nonsterile sediments, although the frequencies of transformation were lower than when sterile sediments were used. Finally, nonsterilized sediments that were not supplemented with laboratory strains did not support detectable levels of transformation in sediment columns, but when these same sediments were transferred to filters and placed on complex media, transformation was detected at a frequency three times that for spontaneous resistance. This transformation frequency was partially reduced to levels near that for spontaneous resistance by the addition of DNase I to sediment filters. These results indicate that marine sediments facilitate the uptake and expression of exogenous DNA by transformable marine bacteria and that sediments are a more likely niche for natural transformation than the water column in the marine environment.     

Differential Activity of Autochthonous Bacteria in Controlling Drought Stress in Native Lavandula and Salvia Plants Species Under Drought Conditions in Natural Arid Soil

The effectiveness of autochthonous plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria was studied in Lavandula dentata and Salvia officinalis growing in a natural arid Mediterranean soil under drought conditions. These bacteria identified as Bacillus megaterium (Bm), Enterobacter sp. (E), Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), and Bacillus sp. (Bsp). Each bacteria has different potential to meliorate water limitation and alleviating drought stress in these two plant species. B. thuringiensis promoted growth and drought avoidance in Lavandula by increasing K content, by depressing stomatal conductance, and it controlled shoot proline accumulation. This bacterial effect on increasing drought tolerance was related to the decrease of glutathione reductase (GR) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) that resulted sensitive indexes of lower cellular oxidative damage involved in the adaptative drought response in B. thuringiensis-inoculated Lavandula plants. In contrast, in Salvia, having intrinsic lower shoot/root ratio, higher stomatal conductance and lower APX and GR activities than Lavandula, the bacterial effects on nutritional, physiological and antioxidant enzymatic systems were lower. The benefit of bacteria depended on intrinsic stress tolerance of plant involved. Lavadula demonstrated a greater benefit than Salvia to control drought stress when inoculated with B. thuringiensis. The bacterial drought tolerance assessed as survival, proline, and indolacetic acid production showed the potential of this bacteria to help plants to grow under drought conditions. B. thuringiensis may be used for Lavandula plant establishment in arid environments. Particular characteristic of the plant species as low shoot/root ratio and high stomatal conductance are important factors controlling the bacterial effectiveness improving nutritional, physiological, and metabolic plant activities.     

Selenium and Mercury in Native and Introduced Fish Species of Patagonian Lakes,Argentina

A survey of mercury (Hg) and selenium (Se) contents was performed in fish collected from lakes located in two National Parks of the northern patagonian Andean range. Two native species, catfish (Diplomystes viedmensis) and creole perch (Percichthys trucha), and three introduced species, brown trout (Salmo trutta), rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss), and brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis), were caught from lakes Nahuel Huapi, Moreno, Traful, Espejo Chico, and Guillelmo belonging to Nahuel Huapi National Park and from lakes Futalaufquen and Rivadavia, Los Alerces National Park. In lake Moreno, fish diet items were analyzed and rainbow trout grown in a farm. Hg and Se were measured in muscle and liver tissues by instrumental neutron activation analysis. The average concentrations in muscle of Hg for all species, ages, and lakes are between 0.4 to 1.0 μg g⁻¹ dry weight (DW) with a few fish, mainly native, exceeding the United States Environmental Protection Agency health advisory for freshwater fish limited consumption, and from 0.8 to 1.5 μg g⁻¹ DW for Se. Average concentrations in liver of Hg in all species range from 0.4 to 0.9 μg g⁻¹ DW. Brown trout, the top predator in these lakes, showed the lowest average Hg burden in both tissues. Se concentrations in the liver of brown and rainbow trout, up to 279 μg g⁻¹ DW, are higher than those expected for nearly pristine lakes, exceeding 20 μg g⁻¹ DW, the threshold concentration associated with Se toxicity. These species show lower Hg contents in muscle, suggesting a possible detoxification of Hg by a Se-rich diet. Creole perch and velvet catfish livers have lower Se concentrations, with a narrower span of values (2.3 to 8.5 μg g⁻¹ and 3.3 to 5.5 μg g⁻¹ DW respectively).     

本地种西番莲与外引种西番莲的花外蜜腺-蚂蚁-植食昆虫相互作用系统的比较

外引植物如何和当地生物建立相互关系是入侵生物学和进化生物学关注的关键科学问题.本实验以西双版纳当地自然分布的长叶西番莲(Passiflora siamica)和近年从南美新引种的红花两番莲(P.coccinea)为材料,探讨两种西番莲植物-蚂蚁-植食昆虫间相互关系系统对变化响应的差异.结果表明,共有24种蚂蚁取食花外蜜液,利用两种西番莲的蚂蚁数量没有显著差异(t=1.30,P=0.20),但在种类组成上存在显著差异(χ~2=14.76,df=4,P<0.01).植食昆虫多为蜗牛、螽斯、鳞翅目幼虫等广适性昆虫.去除蚂蚁处理均未对两种西番莲植物的平均叶面积损失造成显著影响.该研究表明两种两番莲的花外蜜腺-蚂蚁-广适性昆虫的相互作用系统对变化的响应没有显著差异,而与专食性昆虫相互作用系统对变化的响应的差异则有待进一步研究.     

Spatial Patterns and Natural Recruitment of Native Shrubs in a Semi-arid Sandy Land

Passive restoration depending on native shrubs is an attractive approach for restoring desertified landscapes in semi-arid sandy regions. We sought to understand the relationships between spatial patterns of native shrubs and their survival ability in sandy environments. Furthermore, we applied our results to better understand whether passive restoration is feasible for desertified landscapes in semi-arid sandy regions. The study was conducted in the semi-arid Mu Us sandy land of northern China with the native shrub Artemisia ordosica. We analyzed population structures and patterns of A. ordosica at the edges and centers of land patches where sand was stabilized by A. ordosica-dominated vegetation. Saplings were more aggregated than adults, and both were more aggregated at the patch edges than at the patch centers. At the patch edges, spatial association of the saplings with the adults was mostly positive at distances 0.3–6.6 m, and turned from positive to neutral, and even negative, at other distances. At the patch centers, the saplings were spaced almost randomly around the adults, and their distances from the adults did not seem to affect their locations. A greater number of A. ordosica individuals emerged at the patch edges than at the patch centers. Such patterns may have resulted from their integrative adjustment to specific conditions of soil water supply and sand drift intensity. These findings suggest that in semi-arid sandy regions, native shrubs that are well-adapted to local environments may serve as low-cost and competent ecological engineers that can promote the passive restoration of surrounding patches of mobile sandy land.     

西双版纳热带植物园引种植物物候特征比较

迁地保护是生物多样性保护的重要手段之一, 前期的植物引种研究可为迁地保护提供必要的理论支持。通过对西双版纳热带植物园内不同来源的引种植物和本地植物的4个物候期(萌叶期、落叶期、开花期和果熟期)分布格局及其气候影响因子进行对比, 阐明引种植物对环境的适应性和对策。结果表明, 引种植物比本地植物萌叶生长盛期更长, 但对低温和干旱更加敏感的引种植物, 在旱季其落叶比例明显高于本地植物, 而3、4月由于气温的回升, 使引种植物和本地植物在雨季之前就进入了萌叶盛期。而在繁殖物候方面, 由于受气候因子影响较小, 引种植物和本地植物的开花期和果熟期格局季节性表现都不明显, 且规律性不强。总体上, 各来源地的引种植物能根据环境的改变形成相应的生长与繁殖适应对策, 可较好地适应西双版纳的环境。     

西双版纳热带植物园引种植物物候特征比较

迁地保护是生物多样性保护的重要手段之一,前期的植物引种研究呵为迁地保护提供必要的理论支持。通过对西双版纳热带植物园内不同来源的引种植物和本地植物的4个物候期（萌叶期、落叶期、开花期和果熟期）分布格局及其气候影响因子进行对比,阐明引种植物对环境的适应性和对策。结果表明,引种植物比本地植物萌叶生长盛期更长,但对低温和干旱更加敏感的引种植物,在旱季其落叶比例明显高于本地植物,而3、4月由于气温的回升,使引种植物和本地植物在雨季之前就进入了萌叶盛期。而在繁殖物候方面,由于受气候因子影响较小,引种植物和本地植物的开花期和果熟期格局季节性表现都不明显。且规律性不强。总体上,各来源地的引种植物能根据环境的改变形成相应的生长与繁殖适应对策,可较好地适应西双版纳的环境。     

The Distribution of an Introduced Mollusc and its Role in the Long-term Demise of a Native Confamilial Species

The estuarine mud snail, Batillaria attramentaria, was transported to the Pacific coast of North America with the Pacific oyster, Crassostrea gigas (C. gigas), imported from Japan in the early part of this century, and has proliferated in several bays where the oyster was introduced. Since the arrival of Batillaria there have been declines in populations of its native ecological equivalent, Cerithidea californica. This study documents the distribution of the exotic Batillaria throughout its entire introduced range, concentrating on the few bays in northern California where both snails exist sympatrically. Using dates of initial importation of C. gigas and dates of first documentation of Batillaria within a bay, I established the earliest possible date for the introduction of Batillaria in a particular area. In cases where Cerithidea also was, or had been, present within a bay, I calculated a range of time for either the continued coexistence of the two species or the time until local exclusion of the native. Density measurements of Cerithidea within these bays where the species co-occurred allowed comparison of present Cerithidea numbers to historical accounts. Results indicated that Batillaria is replacing Cerithidea in the northern marshes of California. This replacement of the northernmost Cerithidea populations is not only reducing Cerithidea's overall range, but also eliminating a race recently shown to be a genetically distinct from southern Cerithidea populations. Other studies that have demonstrated superior exploitative competitive ability by Batillaria provide a potential mechanism for this displacement pattern. Regardless, the results presented here indicate that the displacement process is slow, taking on average >50 years to complete. This study illustrates a gradual, but predictable process of exotic replacement of native species, and argues strongly against complacency toward invaders that may currently seem innocuous. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Hatch Success and Recruitment Patterns of the Bog Turtle

Researchers suggest that several bog turtle (Glyptemys muhlenbergii) populations in North Carolina, USA, are in decline and have few remaining individuals and low annual survival probability. Most populations are dominated by older adults with few juveniles encountered; however, the proportion of juveniles encountered in 2 populations is higher. It is unknown why the juvenile:adult ratio varies among populations. We conducted a nest monitoring study in 2016 and 2017 to test the hypothesis that sites with fewer juvenile encounters would be where nest predation was highest. We documented the fate of 272 eggs from 83 nests encountered across 7 sites in North Carolina. On average 28% of eggs hatched across all sites over both years, but we observed large variation in hatch success among sites. Predation by mesopredators and small mammals was the primary cause of nest failure. The probability of nest predation decreased with greater emergent vegetation density and increased with greater distance to the edge of the wetland. Cooler temperatures, which prolonged incubation and thus increased predation risk, may also hinder recruitment at higher elevation sites. Our observations are consistent with the hypothesis that nest predation would be highest at sites with fewer juvenile encounters. Managers concerned about low bog turtle recruitment rates should consider the role of nest predation and the potential benefits of management that increases hatch rates. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.     

自然条件下平榛丰产栽培技术的研究

通过调查研究：明确平榛自花不结实,必须有大量雄花进行授粉才能增产;明确平榛林,每3～4m间伐1．0m宽通风带,以后每年向同一方向依次间伐,3～4年为一个循环周期;明确根蘖苗上山定植,为确保成活上冻前（10月末至11月上旬）进行。     

Native Parasites Adopt Introduced Bivalves of the North Sea

Introduced species may have a competitive advantage over native species due to a lack of predators or pathogens. In the North Sea region, it has been assumed that no metazoan parasites are to be found in marine introduced species. In an attempt to test this assumption, we found native parasites in the introduced bivalves Crassostrea gigas and Ensis americanus with a prevalence of 35% and 80%, respectively, dominated by the trematode Renicola roscovita. When comparing these introduced species with native bivalves from the same localities, Mytilus edulis and Cerastoderma edule, trematode intensity was always lower in the introduced species. These findings have three major implications: (1) introduced bivalves are not free of detrimental parasites which raises the question whether introduced species have an advantage over native species after invasion, (2) introduced bivalves may divert parasite burdens providing a relief for native species and (3) they may affect parasite populations by influencing the fate of infectious stages, ending either in dead end hosts, not being consumed by potential final hosts or by adding new hosts. Future studies should consider these implications to arrive at a better understanding of the interplay between native parasites and introduced hosts.     

Jack-and-Master Trait Responses to Elevated CO2 and N: A Comparison of Native and Introduced Phragmites australis

Global change is predicted to promote plant invasions world-wide, reducing biodiversity and ecosystem function. Phenotypic plasticity may influence the ability of introduced plant species to invade and dominate extant communities. However, interpreting differences in plasticity can be confounded by phylogenetic differences in morphology and physiology. Here we present a novel case investigating the role of fitness trait values and phenotypic plasticity to global change factors between conspecific lineages of Phragmites australis. We hypothesized that due to observed differences in the competitive success of North American-native and Eurasian-introduced P. australis genotypes, Eurasian-introduced P. australis would exhibit greater fitness in response to global change factors. Plasticity and plant performance to ambient and predicted levels of carbon dioxide and nitrogen pollution were investigated to understand how invasion pressure may change in North America under a realistic global change scenario. We found that the introduced Eurasian genotype expressed greater mean trait values in nearly every ecophysiological trait measured – aboveground and belowground – to elevated CO₂ and nitrogen, outperforming the native North American conspecific by a factor of two to three under every global change scenario. This response is consistent with “jack and master” phenotypic plasticity. We suggest that differences in plant nitrogen productivity, specific leaf area, belowground biomass allocation, and inherently higher relative growth rate are the plant traits that may enhance invasion of Eurasian Phragmites in North America. Given the high degree of genotypic variability within this species, and our limited number of genotypes, our results must be interpreted cautiously. Our study is the first to demonstrate the potential importance of jack-and-master phenotypic plasticity in plant invasions when facing imminent global change conditions. We suggest that jack-and-master invasive genotypes and/or species similar to introduced P. australis will have an increased ecological fitness, facilitating their invasion in both stressful and resource rich environments.     

Introduced Plant Viruses and the Invasion of a Native Grass Flora

Weed and native grasses from the South Island of New Zealand were surveyed for virus infection. Cocksfoot mottle virus (CfMV) and Ryegrass mosaic virus (RgMV) were restricted to a few introduced species; however, Barley yellow dwarf viruses (BYDVs) have invaded native grasses in New Zealand. Virus incidence was significantly lower in the native species (2%) than in the introduced species (12%). Four different serotypes (RMV, RPV, PAV, MAV) were detected in the introduced grass flora but only two (RMV, PAV) were detected in native species. In experimental transmission tests the aphid vector Rhopalosiphum padi's survival was variable on the 20 native species tested but this was not due to the presence or absence of endophytic fungi as none were detected in the New Zealand species. Aphid numbers increased and plants were killed when R. padi fed on Agrostis muelleriana and Festuca multinodis. R. padi transmitted a PAV isolate to these and six other native species. BYDVs infected 4/5 of the subfamilies tested. Virus incidence in native Arundinoideae and Pooideae was significantly lower than in introduced Pooideae and Panicoideae. One species of Bambusoideae collected from the field was not infected but was found susceptible in glasshouse tests. Agrostis capillaris, Dactylis glomerata and Lolium perenne were identified as the most likely reservoirs of infection for the native flora. Anthoxanthum odoratum was not infected but if the SGV serotype and its vector Schizaphis graminum were ever introduced, A. odoratum could form an effective reservoir from near sea level into alpine areas. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

自然条件下珊瑚树（Viburnum odoratissimum）叶片光合作用的光抑制

利用气体交换观察、叶绿素荧光分析和ＱＢ蛋白含量的测定３种方法,研究了常绿灌木珊瑚树叶片的光合作用在上海深秋初冬自然条件下的光抑制,以便确定在除光以外不存在其它环境胁迫的自然条件下光合机构的破坏是否是引起光抑制的主要原因。经过中午３ｈ左右的强光照射以后,珊瑚树叶片的表观量子效率（ＡＱＹ）和ＰＳⅡ光化学效率（Ｆｖ／Ｆｍ）明显下降,表明珊瑚树叶在自然条件下经常发生光抑制。而且,经中午强光照射以后,叶片的初始荧光（Ｆ０）下降;非光化学荧光猝灭的慢弛豫成分（ｑＥｓｌｏｗ）上升;光饱和的光合速率略有下降;中午光照后降低了的ＡＱＹ和Ｆｖ／Ｆｍ在叶片离开强光１ｈ以后基本恢复;模拟中午光照的强光处理对叶片的ＱＢ蛋白含量没有明显的影响。这些事实都说明这种光抑制发生的主要原因是非光辐射能量耗散的增加,光合机构的破坏即使发生,也是很轻微的。     

Differential Resource Use between Native and Introduced Gray Squirrels

Differences in habitat requirements and the spatial distribution of habitat for native and introduced species can determine outcomes of biological invasions. Introduced eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) have displaced native red squirrels (S. vulgaris) in Europe and have been implicated as a contributing factor to the decline of western gray squirrels (S. griseus) in North America. Eastern and western gray squirrels are associated with oak (Quercus spp.), but little is known about how these species interact. From April 2007 to April 2012, we radio-tracked sympatric eastern and western gray squirrels in western Washington to compare habitat use and evaluate competitive interactions. We developed resource utilization functions for each species and evaluated distribution of habitat on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, USA. Both species shared affinity for closed canopy forests and oaks; however, important differences in relationships with riparian areas and shrub cover resulted in low overlap in habitat distribution, which likely limited potential competitive interactions. Eastern gray squirrels appeared restricted to areas around wetlands likely because they supported the deciduous tree species that comprise habitat for this species in its native range. Use by western gray squirrels, but not eastern gray squirrels, significantly decreased with increasing shrub cover. Forestry practices that promote mixed oak-conifer with little shrub cover in uplands can benefit western gray squirrels and minimize interactions with eastern gray squirrels. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.