The Placopsis trachyderma – Raoulia – community, a special type of biological soil crusts in the braided rivers of southern New Zealand

The braided rivers with their ever-changing water channels are recognized as one of New Zealand's most distinctive and important ecosystem. We made a survey of the vegetation on the shingle plains in the upper reaches of the braided rivers of South Island. A well-defined colonizing vegetation type was recognized. It consists of lichens, mosses, low herbs, low cushion plants and tufted grasses, and mat-forming plants. Because of the close mechanical connection between the thalli of the lichens of the genus Placopsis (Agyraceae: Ascomycota) with moss cushions and spreading mats of vascular plants, we see this Placopsis trachyderma – Raoulia – community as a special type of biological soil crusts.     

Climate-induced changes in high elevation stream nitrate dynamics

Mountain terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems are responsive to external drivers of change, especially climate change and atmospheric deposition of nitrogen (N). We explored the consequences of a temperature-warming trend on stream nitrate in an alpine and subalpine watershed in the Colorado Front Range that has long been the recipient of elevated atmospheric N deposition. Mean annual stream nitrate concentrations since 2000 are higher by 50% than an earlier monitoring period of 1991–1999. Mean annual N export increased by 28% from 2.03 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ before 2000 to 2.84 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ in Loch Vale watershed since 2000. The substantial increase in N export comes as a surprise, since mean wet atmospheric N deposition from 1991 to 2006 (3.06 kg N ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) did not increase. There has been a period of below average precipitation from 2000 to 2006 and a steady increase in summer and fall temperatures of 0.12 °C yr⁻¹ in both seasons since 1991. Nitrate concentrations, as well as the weathering products calcium and sulfate, were higher for the period 2000–2006 in rock glacier meltwater at the top of the watershed above the influence of alpine and subalpine vegetation and soils. We conclude the observed recent N increases in Loch Vale are the result of warmer summer and fall mean temperatures that are melting ice in glaciers and rock glaciers. This, in turn, has exposed sediments from which N produced by nitrification can be flushed. We suggest a water quality threshold may have been crossed around 2000. The phenomenon observed in Loch Vale may be indicative of N release from ice features such as rock glaciers worldwide as mountain glaciers retreat.     

灌丛移除对荒漠齿肋赤藓越冬过程中生理生化特性的影响

灌丛和生物土壤结皮镶嵌分布是古尔班通古特沙漠一种重要的地表覆被类型, 灌丛的存在不仅为小型动物提供了庇护场所, 也为隐花植物及部分草本植物创造了良好的生存条件。然而在初冬时期移除灌丛是否会影响这些隐花植物的越冬及生长还不得而知。该研究通过模拟放牧及鼠害, 移除50%双穗麻黄(Ephedra distachya)灌丛、移除全部双穗麻黄灌丛及自然对照, 测定齿肋赤藓(Syntrichia caninervis)植株脯氨酸、可溶性糖和可溶性蛋白含量, 以及丙二醛(MDA)含量和超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT) 3种抗氧化酶活性, 并测定原位光化学效率, 探讨初冬灌丛丧失对荒漠藓类植物越冬的影响。结果表明, 在积雪期3种处理下齿肋赤藓的游离脯氨酸和可溶性糖含量之间差异并不显著, 但去灌丛后其MDA含量、POD、SOD和CAT 3种抗氧化酶活性均显著高于自然灌丛下齿肋赤藓的相关生理指标。即使是在融雪期, 去灌丛下齿肋赤藓的可溶性糖含量及POD和CAT活性仍显著高于自然灌丛, 而可溶性蛋白明显较低, 这可能是由于灌丛的丧失造成的温度波动加剧了冬季低温对藓类植物的伤害。灌丛的部分移除(50%)对齿肋赤藓的生理生化特性影响不显著, 就积雪融化期叶绿素荧光活性持续时间而言, 与自然灌丛和移除50%灌丛相比, 完全移除灌丛的齿肋赤藓植株叶绿素荧光活性持续时间显著缩短。这可能是由于灌丛移除导致其UV-B辐射增加及“湿岛效应”消失所致, UV-B辐射的增加加剧了对植物的伤害, 而春季融雪期保水能力的下降也是其叶绿素荧光活性时间缩短的重要原因。     

巴音布鲁克天鹅湖保护区湿地植物群落研究

巴音布鲁克天鹅湖湿地植被类型在分类上属典型高寒沼泽草甸,可分为5个型。植被以湿生和水生植物为主构成,由5个层片结构组成。水沼泽植物群落的均匀度和优势度指数均高于丘状沼泽。植物群落物种重要性的大小依次为:黑穗苔草(Carex melanantha)>细刺苔草(Carex microglochn)>嵩草(Kobresia filifola)>囊状苔草(Carexvesicula)>马先蒿(Pedieularis albevti)>水麦冬(Triglochin plustre)>报春花(Primula sibirica)。在巴音布鲁克高寒沼泽草地植物群落中,水沼泽草地的鲜草产量高于丘状沼泽,分别为646.2g·m^-2和496.7g·m^-2,平均鲜草量571.5g·m^-2。群落的地下生物量较大,为13608.8 g·m^-2,0cm¹⁰cm土层中的地下生物量约占69.89%,10cm²⁰cm的地下生物量约占15.9%,20cm³⁰cm的地下生物量约占7.27%,30cm⁵⁰cm的地下生物量仅占6.94%。植物种类以莎草科植物较多(占总生物量的78.7%),大部分属于下繁性草类。物种组成简单,平方米植物种为13种,一般8种~11种。     

Succession of terrestrial macrofungi along a deglaciation gradient at Glacier Blåisen, South Norway

A survey of terrestrial macrofungi along a deglaciation gradient from the glacier forefront to the established vegetation has been performed. The study was accomplished along a transect from Lake Finsevann to Glacier Blåisen, South Norway. Fortysix 6 m × 6 m plots divided into 9 subplots were positioned along this transect. The frequency of fruit bodies of each species in each plot was given on a 0–9 scale reflecting their occurrence in the subplots. Biotic and abiotic environmental variables for the plots were also recorded. The numerical methods used include principal component analysis (PCA), detrended correspondence analysis (DCA), and canonical correspondence analysis (CCA). Totally 99 species of macrofungi were recorded; 80.8 % of the species belonged to the Basidiomycota and 19.2 % to the Ascomycota. About one third of the species was only found once. In general, the species richness was highest on the glacier forefront, lowest in the most established vegetation. The proportion of species of Ascomycota was highest close to the glacier front. The main gradient in the data set was shown related to the primary ecological succession following the retreat of glaciers. The second gradient was possibly related to fine scale variation due to local moisture, microtopography, and secondary distribution. Of the variation in composition of species, 3 % can be ascribed to abiotic variance, 10 % to vascular plant variance, and 16 % to the combination of the abiotic and vascular plant component of variation. The results are discussed in the light of the time since deglaciation and the influence of certain biotic and abiotic environmental factors.     

Assessment of vegetation cover by lichen-indication methods (by the example of the north of Central Siberia)

The vegetation cover in the north of Central Siberia has been assessed from lichenological data. The approaches and methods of lichen-based indication of the state of vegetation cover have been developed with the application of the data on diversity of lichens and lichen synusias, their projective cover and morphological deviations. The species of lichens and synusias that can be used for indication purposes have been defined. The changes in the characteristics of the lichen component in vegetation cover under the increasing chemical air pollution caused by industrial plants have been examined. The early deviations are indicated by morphological changes of lichen thalli, species depletion, and diversity of lichen synusias. Practical recommendations on lichen indication of the vegetation cover in the north of Siberia have been given.     

Bryophyte colonisation in experimental microcosms: the role of nutrients, defoliation and vascular vegetation

A three-year multi-factorial microcosm experiment simulating fertilisation, defoliation and the composition of vascular vegetation in a dry grassland succession was used to test four hypotheses concerning the establishment and survival of bryophytes in grassland vegetation. H₁: bryophyte cover may be used to predict bryophyte species richness. H₂: bryophyte richness is suppressed at high nutrient levels and promoted by defoliation of vascular plants. H₃: species richness of bryophytes is influenced by the species composition of the vascular vegetation. H₄: bryophyte species richness is negatively correlated with vascular plant biomass.
The relationship between bryophyte richness and bryophyte cover was found to follow the classical species-area richness curve. Bryophyte species richness responded positively to defoliation and negatively to fertilisation. The species composition of vascular vegetation had no significant effect on bryophyte richness. Bryophyte species richness was lower at high vascular plant biomass and vascular plant dry weight above 400 g m⁻² appeared fatal to bryophytes. At high nutrient levels, defoliation increased bryophyte richness, but defoliation did not fully compensate for the negative effect of fertilisation. The study reinforces the concern for short lived shuttle bryophytes in the agricultural landscape.     

Colonization by lichens and the development of lichen-dominated communities in the maritime Antarctic

Three long-term studies of lichen growth and colonization have been undertaken at Signy Island, South Orkney Islands, in the maritime Antarctic. Small individual thalli of several crustose species and uncolonized plots on 12 fresh rock surfaces were photographically monitored at intervals of 3–4 years over a period of up to 20 years. The development of Ochrolechia frigida colonies on a regenerating moss bank, recently uncovered by a receding glacier, was similarly monitored. The results indicate that many lichens growing in sites enriched by nitrogenous compounds derived from populations of sea birds, have relatively rapid colonization and growth rates. Mean percentage increase in thallus area can be as high as 15–32% per annum in some nitrophilous saxicolous species (e.g. Acarospora macrocyclos, Xanthoria elegans and species of Buellia and Caloplaca), but as low as 0·4–4% in nitrophobous species (Lecanora physciella, Lecidea sp., Rhizocarpon geographicum). Umbilicaria antarctica and Usnea antarctica also yielded data indicating high growth rates, with colonist plants reaching several centimetres after 20 years. Colonization by mixed assemblages of lichens of new rock surfaces can attain 40→90% cover after 20 years in nutrient-enriched sites, and even 20–25% in non-biotically influenced sites. Colonization by or increase in extant O. frigida on the regenerating moribund moss bank was also quite rapid. It is suggested that the ~exceptionally large thalli of several lichen species and the locally extensive dense lichen fellfield communities in the maritime Antarctic may be much younger than previously supposed.     

High microbial activity on glaciers: importance to the global carbon cycle

Cryoconite holes, which can cover 0.1–10% of the surface area of glaciers, are small, water-filled depressions (typically <1 m in diameter and usually <0.5 m deep) that form on the surface of glaciers when solar-heated inorganic and organic debris melts into the ice. Recent studies show that cryoconites are colonized by a diverse range of microorganisms, including viruses, bacteria and algae. Whether microbial communities on the surface of glaciers are actively influencing biogeochemical cycles or are just present in a dormant state has been a matter of debate for long time. Here, we report primary production and community respiration of cryoconite holes upon glaciers in Svalbard, Greenland and the European Alps. Microbial activity in cryoconite holes is high despite maximum temperatures seldom exceeding 0.1 °C. In situ primary production and respiration in cryoconites during the summer is often comparable with that found in soils in warmer and nutrient richer regions. Considering only glacier areas outside Antarctica and a conservative average cryoconite distribution on glacial surfaces, we found that on a global basis cryoconite holes have the potential to fix as much as 64 Gg of carbon per year (i.e. 98 Gg of photosynthesis minus 34 Gg of community respiration). Most lakes and rivers are generally considered as heterotrophic systems, but our results suggest that glaciers, which contain 75% of the freshwater of the planet, are largely autotrophic systems.     

基于无人机遥感监测滩涂湿地入侵种互花米草植被覆盖度

为了实现对沿海滩涂湿地资源与生态环境的有效管理与利用,需要对区域内的入侵种互花米草进行高精度的监测与分析.本文以福建三沙湾为试验区,以低空无人机获取的可见光和多光谱影像为数据源,对互花米草植被覆盖度进行监测与分析,通过NDVI指数模型获取了多光谱影像的植被覆盖度信息,以可见光影像为参考进行了精度检验.结果表明: 影像区互花米草植被覆盖度以40%～60%和60%～80%的中高和高等级覆盖度为主.NDVI模型估算值与真实值之间的均方根误差RMSE为0.06,决定系数R²为0.92,两者具有较好的一致性.     

Impacts of the removal of vascular plants on physiological and biochemical characteristics of Syntrichia caninervis during winter season in a temperate desert

Aims Patchily distributed biological soil crusts and shrubs is one of the main vegetation cover types in Gurbantünggüt desert. The existence of shrubs in desert areas serves not only as a shelter for small animals, but also a good living condition for cryptogams and some herbs. Syntrichia caninervis, a dominant moss species in Gurbantünggüt desert, is patchily distributed under shrub canopy and open spaces between vascular plants. To our knowledge, the impacts of the removal of shrub canopy on physiological and biochemical characteristics of S. caninervis during the winter is still unknown.
Methods We simulated grazing of animals on Ephedra distachya at various rates (shrubs left intact, 50% shrubs removed, and shrubs removed completely) by cutting different percent of above-ground shoots of E. distachya. The shoot water content, chlorophyll fluorescence, proline content, soluble sugar content, soluble protein content, malonyldialdehyde (MDA) content, peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were compared.
Important findings The results show that, as for proline and soluble sugar contents of tested S. caninervis, there were no significant differences among three treatments of shrub canopy. However, the MDA content, and the activities of POD, SOD, CAT were significantly higher than nature shrubs in snow cover periods. During snow-melting periods, soil moisture and temperature did not served as limiting factors on the growth of S. caninervis. The soluble sugar content, and the activities of POD, CAT with shrub removal were significantly higher than shrubs left intact. This may indicate that the decline of the function of maintaining constant soil temperature due to shrub canopy increased the damage of temperature on moss plants. In addition, as for physiological and biochemical characteristics, there were no significant differences between two treatments of 50% shrub canopy and shrub canopy left intact. In snow covered periods and snow melting periods, the MDA content, the activities of POD, SOD and CAT of S. caninervis under shrub canopy removed completely were significantly higher than that of 50% shrub canopy and shrub canopy left intact, except for soluble protein content. The duration of chlorophyll fluorescence activity of S. caninervis growing in habitats with shrubs removed completely was significantly shorter than that of S. caninervis growing in habitats of 50% shrub canopy and shrub canopy left intact. This result indicated that the removal of shrubs may increase the UV-B radiation and weaken the “moisture island effects” developed by the existence of shrub canopy.     

Early recruitment equals long-term relative abundance in an alpine saxicolous lichen guild

The relative abundance within a guild of six species of the lichen-forming fungal genus Umbilicaria was studied during primary colonization of rock surfaces in a chronosequence of ca. 245 y in an alpine glacier foreland in southern Norway. Although the density of the guild grew from zero to more than 1000 thalli/m2 and the species differ substantially in life history traits such as initial growth rate, maximal size, maturation rate and propagule types, the relative abundance among the species remained almost unchanged through those years. The relative abundance of species is correlated with their life history parameters, such as initial growth rate and size-related maturation. The pattern of relative abundance was also similar in the saxicolous communities outside the foreland, which are potentially several thousand years old. Outside the foreland however the density of the guild is only 1/10 of that in the oldest parts of the foreland, due to soil formation and vegetation growth that have covered many of the low profile rock habitats. Thus the areas affected by the disturbance of glacier expansions and retreats provide temporary opportunities for large increases in the population sizes of the members of the saxicolous community. The observations support the view that pre-emption of habitat rather than competitive exclusion is common in saxicolous lichen communities and that "succession" consists in the addition but rarely the loss of species.     

入侵植物五爪金龙根系深色有隔内生真菌的侵染特征

深色有隔内生真菌（DSE）广泛侵染华南地区外来入侵植物五爪金龙。显微观察发现五爪金龙根系具有大量的泡囊,其最显著的特征是大量脂质的富集和被分解成小脂质体,并通过透明或深色菌丝转移,说明了五爪金龙和DSE之间进行碳转移。富含脂质的泡囊可产生透明菌丝和自我复制,说明泡囊具有繁殖功能。富含脂质的泡囊和透明菌丝等非典型结构没有可分辨的或具透明的细胞壁,是活跃的真菌结构。透明菌丝和富含脂质的泡囊主要定殖在生理活性强的根组织中。深色有隔菌丝和微菌核是DSE的典型结构,主要定殖在相对不活跃的根组织中。DSE定殖于五爪金龙根的维管柱、皮层、表皮细胞和表面,同时延伸到土壤,在宿主植物和土壤之间形成连续的系统的真菌网络。根据DSE的多态性质、庞大的真菌网络和脂质的富集及其分布,探讨了DSE和入侵植物五爪金龙潜在的互惠共生关系。     

不同传播方式的内生真菌感染对羽茅的生理生态影响

通过田间试验, 研究了垂直传播的Neotyphodium属内生真菌和水平传播的Epichloë属内生真菌对羽茅(Achnatherum sibiricum)生理生态的影响。结果表明: Neotyphodium属内生真菌感染对羽茅的株高和叶长有显著的正效应, 而Epichloë属内生真菌感染对羽茅株高和叶长的增益作用较少。感染Neotyphodium属内生真菌的羽茅最大净光合速率显著高于感染Epichloë属内生真菌的羽茅, Neotyphodium属内生真菌显著提升了羽茅的气孔限制值和水分利用效率, 而实验测定的第一年结果显示: Epichloë属内生真菌对羽茅的各个光合指标具有明显的负效应(胞间CO₂浓度除外)。Neotyphodium属内生真菌感染使得宿主植物积累的可溶性糖含量显著高于感染Epichloë属内生真菌的羽茅和不染菌的羽茅植株。感染Epichloë属内生真菌的羽茅中氮含量显著高于感染Neotyphodium属内生真菌的羽茅。总之, 内生真菌的传播方式是影响羽茅生理生态学特性的一个因素, 并且垂直传播的内生真菌对羽茅生长和生理特性的益处高于水平传播的内生真菌。     

Spontaneous development of urban woody vegetation on differing soils

The general aim of the study was to follow the development of spontaneous woody vegetation on man-made urban habitats in Berlin, Germany. In spring 1968, the vegetation was removed completely in five groups of plots, which had been filled with five different transferred soil material in 1928. The spontaneous vegetation was monitored annually from 1968 to 2006. Especially, the development of shrubs and trees was followed. In addition the growth of the most important herbaceous species, Solidago canadensis, was investigated.

The soils varied from moderately rich sandy soils to rich sandy or loamy soils. On the two sandy soils S. canadensis developed poorly. Tree species dominated (>50% of total cover) on these plots after 14–18 years. On the soils rich in nutrients, S. canadensis developed strongly. Tree species did not dominate there before 21–25 years. The diversity of woody species increased over time and reached 33 species altogether. Indigenous Acer, Quercus and Betula species prevailed. Alien species, typical for urban ruderal sites, were rare.

The results support the idea of establishing urban woodlands by spontaneous succession as a cheap way to develop near-natural plant communities rich in species.     

玉米农田冠层光合参数的多光谱遥感反演

冠层光合参数的准确定量遥感反演是生态系统遥感模型的核心与关键。基于2011年玉米(Zea mays)整个生长发育期的冠层光谱反射率、生态系统CO₂通量、微气象因子以及玉米光合生理生态指标的观测数据, 开展了玉米农田生态系统冠层光合能力(P_max, 最大光合速率)与光合效率(ε_N, 净CO₂通量交换/吸收光合有效辐射(NEE_CO2/APAR); ε_G, 总初级生产力/吸收光合有效辐射(GPP/APAR); α, 表观量子效率)参数的多光谱遥感反演能力评估研究。结果表明, P_max和α在整个生长季呈现单峰型变化趋势, 分别于7月底、8月初达到峰值, 而光合效率参数ε_N和ε_G在玉米营养生长早期数值较高, 随着玉米生长发育迅速降低, 而后呈现单峰型的变化趋势, 峰值出现时间基本与P_max最大值发生时间一致。基于两波段任意组合的遥感植被指数NDVI (normalized difference vegetation index)、RVI (ratio vegetation index)、WDRVI (wide dynamic range vegetation index)、EVI2 (2-band enhanced vegetation index)和CI (chlorophyll index)与玉米冠层4个光合参数的统计分析表明, EVI2对冠层光合效率与光合能力参数的反演与表征效果最佳。研究表明, 多光谱遥感信息对玉米生态系统冠层光合参数的变异具有较强的敏感性, 可以用来监测玉米冠层光合作用的季节动态变化以及准确定量评估作物生产力和生态系统CO₂交换能力。     

Expansion of Rosa rugosa and Hippophaë rhamnoides in coastal grey dunes: Effects at different spatial scales

The study analysed the effects of shrub expansion on vegetation composition and plant species diversity in coastal grey dunes on the North Sea island Spiekeroog, comparing Rosa rugosa and Hippophaë rhamnoides. Species composition was recorded in plots of two spatial scales, 1 and 16 m², considering the full range of shrub cover from less than 10 to almost 100%. Although R. rugosa and H. rhamnoides established and spread in the same grey dune environment, the vegetation of the two shrubland types was much different. While the H. rhamnoides plots were relatively species-rich, characterised by remnant grey dune vegetation with many small, often annual, light-demanding species except in the densest shrubs, the R. rugosa plots were clearly species-poorer due to the loss of many typical grey dune species, including only few shade-tolerant taxa. The total number of species, the number of herbaceous species and of species typical for grasslands decreased with increasing cover of H. rhamnoides and R. rugosa at both spatial scales. For the number of shrubs and shrubland species, hardly any significant effects of shrub cover were observed in R. rugosa, while there were positive effects in H. rhamnoides. Both the Shannon index and evenness decreased with increasing cover of the two shrub species at both spatial scales. Here, the decline in species diversity was more improved in R. rugosa than in H. rhamnoides.     

Effects of rock climbing on plant communities on exposed limestone cliffs in the Swiss Jura mountains

Abstract. Exposed cliffs of the Swiss Jura mountains harbour a highly diverse flora with many rare and endangered plant species. Many cliffs are frequently visited by rock climbers. We examined the impact of rock climbing on vascular plants in the lower part of four cliffs of the Gerstelflue (NW Switzerland) by comparing the vegetation of climbed and unclimbed areas. In climbed areas plant cover and species density were reduced. Similarly, the density of forbs and shrubs decreased, whereas the density of ferns tended to increase. In addition, rock climbing caused a significant shift in plant species composition and altered the proportions of different plant life forms. Rock climbing can be a threat to sensitive plants of the limestone cliff community.     

The influence of scale and species pool on the relationship between vascular plant species richness and cover in an alpine area in Norway

Recent studies emphasise the potential importance of scale and species pool on the humped-back or unimodal relationship between species richness and productivity. We use a classic phytosociological data-set from Rondane, central south Norway, to evaluate the relative importance of these factors in an alpine area. The effect of species pool is assessed using plot scores from a Correspondence Analysis (CA) of the data. Generalised Additive Models (GAM) are used to relate vascular plant species richness to cover of vascular plants, CA plot scores, and plot area in different combinations. Species richness of vascular plants is unimodally related to total vascular plant cover. Plot scores of the first three CA axes (representing the effect of species pool) have a complex relationship with species richness, but explain a large fraction of the total deviance in richness. A humped relationship between richness and cover remains after accounting for CA plot scores in the model, i.e. the relationship is independent of species pool. The results suggest that the relationship between richness and cover changes from one vegetation type to another, as evaluated statistically through the importance of the interaction between cover and CA scores in explaining variation in richness. Plot area also influences the relationship. A unimodal relationship is only evident when small plot sizes are used, whereas a monotonically increasing relationship is found at large plot sizes. Plot area has the strongest effect on the unimodal relationship between richness and cover, whereas vegetation type has only a minor effect on this relationship. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.