Restoration of a Restinga Sandy Coastal Plain in Brazil: Survival and Growth of Planted Woody Species

In this article we report the results of an experiment introducing 17 native shrub and tree species into a Brazilian restinga (i.e., coastal sandy plain vegetation). Restingas have been affected by human impact for about 8,000 years, and human occupation for housing, tourism, and land speculation has recently increased in such a way that there is a need for conservation of remnant patches and restoration of degraded areas throughout the coast to protect biodiversity. Our study site is a remnant located in Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city in the country, and has been subjected in the past to deforestation, man‐made fire, and sand extraction. Although trees and shrubs predominantly compose natural restinga vegetation, local vegetation after impact was replaced by an exotic grass cover, which meant a drastic reduction in species richness. Thus, in this experiment we removed the grass cover, introduced shrub and tree species, and monitored survival and growth of 20 plants per species for 2 years. Despite the adversities imposed by the nutrient‐poor sandy soil, 70% of the species showed high survival percentage and considerable growth. This report on restoration initiatives in the restingas points out the viability of shrub and tree plantation following exotic grass removal as a strategy to restore Brazilian coastal vegetation.     

Effects of climate on the growth of exotic and indigenous trees in central Zambia

Aim Climate change has far‐reaching effects on species and ecosystems. The aims of this study were to determine how climate factors affect the growth pattern of indigenous and exotic trees in Zambia and to predict tree growth responses to a warmer climate with the use of mathematical models. Location Two savanna sites in central Zambia. Methods Diameter at breast height (1.3 m above ground, d.b.h.) of 91 permanently marked trees belonging to three indigenous and four exotic species was measured fortnightly for periods of 1–2 years from 1998 to 2003. Correlation and regression analysis was used to determine the effect of climate factors (minimum, maximum and average temperature and rainfall) on monthly daily d.b.h. increment of each species. Regression models were used to predict the growth behaviour of trees under a 0.5 °C warmer climate. Results Interactions between temperature and rainfall explained 60–98% of the variation in d.b.h. increment in all the tree species, except the exotic Eucalyptus grandis. For deciduous species, stem expansion was delayed by 2–12 weeks following leaf‐flush and d.b.h. increment peaked during the rainy season. Evergreen and deciduous species could not be separated on the basis of annual d.b.h. increment because the higher growth rates of deciduous species compensated for the shorter growing period. Mathematical models predicted slight changes in d.b.h. growth pattern under a 0.5 °C warmer climate in five of the seven species. Significant changes in d.b.h. growth patterns were predicted in the indigenous Bridelia micrantha and exotic Gmelina arborea under a warmer climate. However, models failed to adequately represent potential soil water stress that might result from changes in tree growth patterns and a warmer climate. Main conclusions Climate factors explained a large proportion of the variation in diameter growth of both indigenous and exotic trees, rendering it possible to model tree growth patterns from climate data. Tree growth models suggest that a rise in temperature of 0.5 °C is unlikely to induce significant changes in the growth behaviour of the majority of the studied species. However, because the growth behaviour of some species may be substantially affected by climate change, it is recommended that strategies for the future production of such climate‐sensitive trees should incorporate aspects of climate change.     

桂西峰丛岩溶区的环境特点及农业生态系统优化设计

桂西岩溶峰丛山区生态系统功能脆弱、抗干扰能力低 ,面临严重的生态危机 ,急需修复和重建。以生态学的原理与方法为指导 ,进行土地利用的优化设计 ,调整农村产业结构 ,通过全面封育与先锋群落的构建 ,实行乔灌藤草优化配置、生态防护林体系与特色农林产品基地建设结合 ,恢复良好的森林植被 ,涵养表层岩溶水 ,改善生存环境 ,进行不同地貌部位和岩溶地质背景下适生植物合理布局 ,是峰丛岩溶区生态恢复重建的基本步骤。     

外来树种对本地林业虫害的诱发作用

白蜡窄吉丁、萧氏松茎象、光肩星天牛、黄斑星天牛、云斑天牛和桑天牛等林业害虫均为我国本地林业生态系统中的昆虫种类,在北美白蜡树、北美松树和北美黑杨派杨树等外来树种引入和大量栽培之前,一直没有形成严重的危害,以至于白蜡窄吉丁和萧氏松茎象都没有引起人们的关注。这些重要林业害虫在我国的发生都是伴随着敏感外来树种的引进和大量不合理的种植而逐渐严重起来的。本文对外来树种的引进与本地林业虫害的发生之间的关系进行了分析,提出了外来树种的不合理引进可能诱发本地林业新虫害的观点,并对其发生机理以及相应的研究和治理对策进行了讨论。     

Novel technique shows different hydrophobic chemical signatures of exotic and indigenous plant soils with similar effects of extracts on indigenous species seedling growth

Changes to ecosystem abiotic parameters are regarded as possible mechanisms facilitating plant invasion and community composition shifts. This study compared the hydrophobic chemical signatures of soil from exotic bitou bush (Chrysanthemoides monilifera spp. rotundata) invaded, indigenous acacia (Acacia longifolia var. sophorae) dominated and bare sand (unvegetated) habitats using a novel, rapid, capturing technique which utilised Amberlite® XAD4 resin filled bags that were placed in situ. The hydrophobic chemical signature of the bitou bush soil extract was significantly different to the acacia soil and bare sand extracts. High concentrations of 18 sesquiterpenes dominated the hydrophobic signature of the bitou bush extract. Low concentrations of all three extracts did not significantly affect the seedling growth of three indigenous test species under laboratory conditions, however, at higher concentrations, the extracts from soil inhabited by plants, whether exotic or indigenous, similarly inhibited the seedling growth of two species, while seedling growth of the third species was inhibited by extracts from all three soil types. These results do not support the hypothesis that exotic invasive species are more likely to exhibit allelopathic effects than indigenous plant species.     

Canopy manipulations of exotic Bitter Willow (Salix elaeagnos) forest for indigenous seedling recruitment: A pilot study

The invasive exotic tree species Bitter Willow (Salix elaeagnos; Salicaceae) has colonised areas of rank exotic grassland and has been found to contain indigenous seed, dispersed by frugivorous birds into the monospecific stands. This small pilot study examined whether indigenous seedlings that have germinated in the understorey of exotic Bitter Willow stands could be stimulated to establish through the creation of small‐scale canopy gaps. In Bitter Willow forest, four single Bitter Willow trees were poisoned to create canopy gaps. Light transmission and seedling regeneration of tree and shrub species were assessed beneath both the four manipulated and three comparable intact Bitter Willow canopies. Over 3 years, seedling height and density increased more beneath opened compared to intact Bitter Willow canopies. These results suggest that Bitter Willow can fill the roles of both a facilitative nurse and a perch tree. Larger‐scale canopy manipulation experiments of both Bitter Willow and other Salix species are needed to determine the full potential of canopy manipulations for forest restoration.     

古尔班通古特沙漠半固定沙丘植物群落物种组成和种群结构

通过野外调查,研究古尔班通古特沙漠半固定沙丘植物群落的物种组成,采用株高、冠幅、体积大小级代替年龄结构,分析了典型灌木种群的生长状态及发展趋势.结果表明:在古尔班通古特沙漠半固定沙丘共调查到23种植物,出现最多的是藜科,6属8种,其次是菊科,5属6种,该沙漠植被组成数目少,群落结构简单.白梭梭主要分布在丘顶,为稳定增长型种群,而梭梭数量少.油蒿是当地工程建设后进行植被恢复而引入的物种,主要分布在迎风坡和丘顶,为增长型年龄结构,有很大的增长潜力,已经影响到原有的物种组成.白皮沙拐枣和蛇麻黄幼苗缺失,幼龄个体少,形成衰退型年龄结构,且白皮沙拐枣的空间分布区域与油蒿重合,未来可能被油蒿替代.     

绿洲―荒漠交错带土壤水分变化特征初步研究

 以甘肃省的民勤绿洲为例,选择土壤水分最为亏缺的7月,对白刺(Nitraria tangutorum)沙包不同迎风面,以及绿洲和荒漠交错地带的土壤水分进行了取样分析。结果表明,对于白刺沙包而言,其上层和深层土壤水分是迎风坡大于背风坡,中间层次（40～80 cm）则刚好相反。在绿洲与荒漠的交错带上,灌丛沙包与沙丘间低地水分变化有很大的不同,总体而言,丘间地水分含量大于灌丛沙包,但在距离绿洲406 m处,二者均出现一个土壤水分的最低值。在丘间地表层,水分变化是距离绿洲愈近,土壤含水量愈高;而深层土壤水分的变化趋     

内蒙古浑善达克沙地97种植物的光合生理特征(英文)

 报告了内蒙古浑善达克沙地不同生境下97种不同科、属植物的光合速率、蒸腾速率和水分利用效率特征。结果表明：猪毛菜（Salsola collina）、沙米（Agriophyllum pungens）、黑沙蒿（Artemisia ordosica）、狗尾草（Setaria viridis）、柠条（Caragana microphylla）等具有C4光合碳同化途径或具固氮能力的植物种具有较高的光合能力,其净光合速率大于30 μmol CO2·m-2·s-1, 而大部分具C3途径和无固氮能力的植物种的净光合速率较低,为1.29～10 μmol CO2·m-2·s-1;71%的植物种蒸腾速率集中在2～10 mmol H2O·m-2·s-1。所选出的高光效植物种在当地植被恢复与重建过程中应有很高利用价值。C4植物种占所测植物种的1/5左右,主要分布于固定沙丘上,且随着生境土壤湿度的增大其与C3植物种的光合速率差异逐渐缩小。在3种生境条件下,灌木和草本植物的光合速率和蒸腾速率顺序为：低湿地> 滩地 > 固定沙丘(p<0.01),而乔木为固定沙丘>滩地 (p<0.01) 。不同功能型植物的气体交换特征随生境的不同而异, 在固定沙丘上, 草本的蒸腾速率最高,乔木的水分利用率最高,三者光合速率相差不大。     

Impacts of a woody invader vary in different vegetation communities

The impact of an exotic species in natural systems may be dependent not only on invader attributes but also on characteristics of the invaded community. We examined impacts of the invader bitou bush, Chrysanthemoides monilifera ssp. rotundata , in fore and hind dune communities of coastal New South Wales, Australia. We compared invader impacts on vegetation structure, richness of both native and exotic growth forms and community variability in fore and hind dunes. We found that impacts of bitou invasion were context specific: in fore dune shrublands, functionally distinct graminoid, herb and climber rather than shrub growth forms had significantly reduced species richness following bitou invasion. However, in forested hind dunes, the functionally similar native shrub growth form had significantly reduced species richness following bitou invasion. Density of vegetation structure increased at the shrub level in both fore and hind dune invaded communities compared with non-invaded communities. Fore dune ground-level vegetation density declined at invaded sites compared with non-invaded sites, reflecting significant reductions in herb and graminoid species richness. Hind dune canopy-level vegetation density was reduced at invaded compared with non-invaded sites. Bitou bush invasion also affected fore dune community variability with significant increases in variability of species abundances observed in invaded compared with non-invaded sites. In contrast, variability among all hind dune sites was similar. The results suggest that effects of bitou bush invasion are mediated by the vegetation community. When bitou bush becomes abundant, community structure and functioning may be compromised.     

Stress metabolites and their role in coastal plants

The stress metabolites proline, glycine betaine and sorbitol were accumulated in the leaves of some angiosperms from sand dunes and shingle. Chloride, where it was measured, was not accumulated to high concentrations in leaves suggesting that these soils are not saline. Sand dunes and shingle soils have low water-holding capacity, so it is possible that solute accumulation was a response to drought which could be of adaptive significance. In sand dunes low water availability could be associated with increased leaf temperatures because of reduced transpiration rates and high soil temperatures. The role of stress metabolites in heat tolerance was considered. Proline, betaine, sorbitol and mannitol increased the heat stability of glutamine synthetase (GS) and glutamate: oxaloacetate aminotransferase from Ammophila arenaria. For GS the effect increased with solute concentration. The polyols were more effective at high temperatures. The heat stability of GS from the moss Tortula ruraliformis and the brown alga Fucus vesiculosus was increased by mannitol. The effect of the solutes was independent of plant species and type of enzyme. It is suggested that the accumulation of solutes may have ecological importance in protecting sand-dune plants from heat damage during periods of drought.     

Contrasting Cloud Forest Restoration Potential Between Plantations of Different Exotic Tree Species

The role of exotic tree plantations for biodiversity conservation is contested. Such plantations nevertheless offer various ecosystem service benefits, which include carbon storage and facilitation of indigenous tree species regeneration. To assess forest restoration potential in tropical exotic tree plantations, we assessed native cloud forest tree regeneration in 166 plots in ca. 50‐year‐old plantations of five timber species that are widely used in tropical plantations (Pinus patula, Eucalyptus saligna, Cupressus lusitanica, Grevillea robusta and Acacia mearnsii). Differences in species abundance, diversity and composition were compared among plantations, and between plantations and disturbed and undisturbed indigenous Afromontane cloud forest (southeast Kenya) relicts after controlling for environmental variation between plots (i.e. altitude, distance to indigenous forest, soil depth, slope, aspect) and for environmental and stand structural variation (i.e. dominant tree height and basal area). Regenerating trees were mostly early‐successional species. Indigenous tree species regeneration was significantly higher in Grevillea plantations, where the seedling community also included late‐successional tree species. Regeneration under Eucalyptus was particularly poor. Acacia had a strong invasive nature, reducing its potential role and usefulness in indigenous forest restoration. Our study underlined that exotic tree plantations have differential effects on native tree species regeneration, with high potential for Grevillea plantations and low potential for invasive exotic species.     

Biomass allocation in subantarctic island megaherbs,

The distribution of the indigenous New Zealand megascolecid earthworm Octochaetus multiporus (Beddard) in hill pastures of different fertilities in the southern North Island of New Zealand, and the population density throughout a year are described. Octochaetus multiporus was most numerous in soils of low to moderate fertility. High fertility soils had a similar population density to that of an adjacent area of native forest, indicating that the exotic pasture environment can favour Octochaetus multiporus in some circumstances. Population density of Octochaetus multiporus was best correlated with soils which were moist in summer. There was no well defined breeding season for this species, mature and recently hatched individuals being found in most months of the year. Octochaetus multiporus is a deeper burrowing indigenous earthworm species which is successful in an exotic environment. In pastures which have moist soils in summer, this species may be improving soil structure and root penetration in the absence of deep burrowing introduced lumbricid earthworms.     

Apparent competition: an impact of exotic shrub invasion on tree regeneration

Invasion of habitats by exotic shrubs is often associated with a decrease in the abundance of native species, particularly trees. This is typically interpreted as evidence for direct resource competition between the invader and native species. However, this may also reflect indirect impacts of the exotic shrubs through harboring high densities of seed predators––known as apparent competition. Here I present data from separate seed predation experiments conducted with two shrub species exotic to North America; Rosa multiflora, an invader of abandoned agricultural land, and Lonicera maackii, an invader of disturbed or secondary forest habitats. Both experiments showed significantly greater risks of seed predation for tree seeds located under shrub canopies when compared to open microhabitats within the same site. These results indicate the potential importance of indirect impacts of exotic species invasions on native biota in addition to the direct impacts that are typically the focus of research.     

Resource-use efficiencies of three indigenous tree species planted in resource islands created by shrubs: implications for reforestation of subtropical degraded shrublands

Shrub resource islands are characterized by resources accumulated shrubby areas surrounded by relative barren soils. This research aims to determine resource-use efficiency of native trees species planted on shrub resource islands, and to determine how the planted trees may influence the resource islands in degraded shrublands in South China. Shrub (Rhodomyrtus tomentosa) resource islands were left unplanted or were planted with 0.5-year-old indigenous tree species Schima superba, Castanopsis fissa, and Michelia macclurei. The results indicate that, after 2.5?years, the tree seedlings did not modify the physical traits (light, air temperature, and soil water) but tended to increase soil nutrients (soil organic carbon and soil nitrogen) and soil microbial biomass of the resource islands. Relative to S. superba and M. macclurei, C. fissa had greater effects on soil nutrients and microbial biomass but showed lower plant growth, survival, and resource-use efficiencies (for water, light, energy, and nitrogen). These results rejected our initial assumption that shrub resource islands would effectively promote the growth and resource utility of all the indigenous tree species and shorten the reforestation course in subtropical degraded shrubland. C. fissa performed poorly when growing on shrub resource islands, but its role in soil nutrient accumulation might have long-term impacts on the restoration of degraded shrubland. In contrast, S. superba and M. macclurei could make better use of the shrub resource islands therefore accelerating the construction of native plantations.     

Effects of Sand Dune Stabilization on the Spatial Pattern of Artemisia ordosica Population in Mu Us Desert,Northwest China

Vegetation patterns are strongly influenced by sand mobility in desert ecosystems. However, little is known about the spatial patterns of Artemisia ordosica, a dominant shrub in the Mu Us desert of Northwest China, in relation to sand fixation. The aim of this study was to investigate and contrast the effects of sand dune stabilization on the population and spatial distribution of this desert shrub. Spatial autocorrelation, semi-variance analysis, and point-pattern analysis were used jointly in this study to investigate the spatial patterns of A. ordosica populations on dunes in Yanchi County of Ningxia, China. The results showed that the spatial autocorrelation and spatial heterogeneity declined gradually, and the distance between the clustered individuals shortened following sand dune fixation. Seedlings were more aggregated than adults in all stage of dune stabilization, and both were more aggregated on shifting sand dunes separately. Spatial associations of the seedlings with the adults were mostly positive at distances of 0–5 m in shifting sand dunes, and the spatial association changed from positive to neutral in semi-fixed sand dunes. The seedlings were spaced in an almost random pattern around the adults, and their distances from the adults did not seem to affect their locations in semi-fixed sand dunes. Furthermore, spatial associations of the seedlings with the adults were negative in the fixed sand dune. These findings demonstrate that sand stabilization is an important factor affecting the spatial patterns of A. ordosica populations in the Mu Us desert. These findings suggest that, strong association between individuals may be the mechanism to explain the spatial pattern formation at preliminary stage of dune fixation. Sand dune stabilization can change the spatial pattern of shrub population by weakening the spatial association between native shrub individuals, which may affect the development direction of desert shrubs.     

Abiotic conditions shape the relationship between indigenous and exotic species richness in a montane biodiversity hotspot

Montane ecosystems are more prone to invasions by exotic plant species than previously thought. Besides abiotic factors, such as climate and soil properties, plant-plant interactions within communities are likely to affect the performance of potential invaders in their exotic range. The biotic resistance hypothesis predicts that high indigenous species richness hampers plant invasions. The biotic acceptance hypothesis, on the other hand, predicts a positive relationship between indigenous and exotic species richness. We tested these two hypotheses using observational data along an elevational gradient in a southern African biodiversity hotspot. Species composition data of indigenous and exotic plants were recorded in 20 road verge plots along a gradient of 1775–2775 m a.s.l. in the Drakensberg, South Africa. Plots were 2?×?50 m in size and positioned at 50 m elevational intervals. We found a negative correlation between indigenous and exotic richness for locations with poorly developed mineral soils, suggesting biotic resistance through competitive interactions. A strong positive correlation for plots with very shallow soils at high elevations indicated a lack of biotic resistance and the possibility of facilitating interactions in harsher environments. These results suggest that biotic resistance is restricted to the lower and mid elevations while biotic acceptance prevails in presence of severe abiotic stress, potentially increasing the risk of plant invasions into montane biodiversity hotspots.

     

An Evaluation of Habitat Rehabilitation on Coastal Dune Forests in Northern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

The rehabilitation program conducted by Richards Bay Minerals (RBM) of areas exposed to opencast surface mining of sand dunes north of Richards Bay (28°43'S, 32°12'E) on the coast of northern KwaZulu-Natal Province commenced 16 years before this study and has resulted in the development of a series of known-aged stands of vegetation. By assuming that these spatially separated stands develop along a similar pathway over time, instantaneous sampling should reveal successional or other changes usually associated with aging and should provide an opportunity to evaluate the success of rehabilitation. We compare relative densities of pioneer and secondary species, species richness, and a similarity index of the herbaceous layer, tree, beetle, millipede, bird, and small-mammal communities of rehabilitating areas of known age with those of 30-year-old unmined forests and unmined forests of unknown age adjacent to the rehabilitating area. Species richness for all but the mammalian taxa increased with increasing age of rehabilitating stands. For all taxa but the mammals and herbaceous layer, the unmined stands harbored more species than the mined rehabilitating stands. The relative densities of pioneer species of all the taxa decreased with an increase in the age of rehabilitating stands, whereas those of the secondary species increased with an increase in habitat age. Similarity between unmined stands and rehabilitating stands of different ages increased with increasing regeneration age of rehabilitating stands, suggesting that rehabilitating communities, in terms of species composition and relative densities, are developing towards the status of unmined communities. Rehabilitation based on RBM's management program of limited interference is occurring and may result in the reestablishment of a coastal dune forest ecosystem. But rehabilitation resulting from succession depends on the availability of species sources from which colonization can take place. In the Richards Bay mining operation the present mining path is laid out so that such refuges are present.     

Millipede communities in rehabilitating coastal dune forests in northern KwaZulu/Natal, South Africa

The rehabilitation, after mining, of coastal sand dunes north of Richards Bay by Richards Bay Minerals began some 18 years ago, and resulted in the simultaneous availability of a known-aged series of stands representative of coastal dune forest succession.
A survey of the millipede community in this area revealed increases in species diversity and a decrease in their density, with an increase in stand age. Development of these communities is characterized by replacement and addition of species, typical of ecological succession. Colonization of areas disturbed by mining reflects on the species reservoir present in the surrounding unmined forests with apparent pioneer species being either replaced or complemented by the relatively slow invasion of secondary species.
Comparisons of age-specific millipede community variables on rehabilitating dunes with those recorded in relatively undisturbed dunes suggest that the development of communities results from autogenic succession initiated through habitat rehabilitation. With several community parameters in rehabilitating dune forests being similar to those recorded in undisturbed forests, it is concluded that the millipede community can be restored through management options based on principles relating to ecological succession.     

小叶锦鸡儿防风固沙林稳定性研究

针对科尔沁沙地小叶锦鸡儿固沙林在持续高温干旱条件下出现稳定性波动的问题。选择2、5、15、35a人工群落和天然群落进行对比研究。探讨了人工小叶锦鸡儿防风固沙林物种多样性在35a间的变化以及对大气持续干旱的抵抗力和对外界干扰的恢复能力。流动沙丘固定后,固沙林内草本植物迅速侵入。其后则缓慢发展并处于相对稳定状态。植物种类数保持在20～23种。但在人工固沙群落中1年生植物在种类数和数量上始终处于优势地位。而天然群落则是多年生植物占优势。人工固沙群落物种多样性指数逐年提高。但明显低于天然群落。在受到大气持续高温干旱的干扰时。人工群落土壤条件极度恶化。出现了明显的干沙层。最深达140cm。叶片含水量极度降低。植物生长停止。沙地植物群落对牲畜取食均具有一定的补偿的能力。在啃食较轻时表现为超补偿现象。通过建立数学模型分析。人工群落个体的补偿点和超补偿点明显低于天然群落。采用冗余理论对植物群落稳定性机制进行了论述。认为冗余结构的变化是导致群落稳定性变化的内在原因。对现有人工小叶锦鸡儿固沙林的稳定性进行了评价。并认为15a左右人工固沙林正处于相对稳定并缓慢发展状态。对于稳定的人工固沙群落应具备以下条件：(1)适于当地环境条件;(2)对外界干扰具有一定的抵抗性和恢复性;(3)具有正常生长发育和自我更新能力;(4)有较为完善的种群结构。