Environmental gradients,plant distribution,and species richness in arctic salt marsh near Prudhoe Bay,Alaska

Spatial patterns of plant cover and species composition in arctic salt marsh and salt affected tundra near Prudhoe Bay, Alaska reflect gradients in elevation, soil conductivity, and soil concentrations of the ions prevalent in seawater. Soil conductivity and soil concentrations of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, SO₄ ⁼ and Cl^– were significantly related to site elevation, decreasing as elevation increased. Vascular plant species richness increased significantly as soil conductivity and soil ion concentrations decreased, and site elevation increased. Puccinellia phryganodes was the only species present in low elevation sites with low plant cover, high soil conductivity and high soil concentrations of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺, SO₄ ⁼ and Cl^–. Mid-gradient sites were dominated by Carex subspathaceae. Plant cover at these sites was greater than at lower elevation sites, but bare ground was still present. Higher elevation sites had the lowest concentrations of soil ions and the lowest soil conductivities. These sites had little bare ground, contained as many as 16 species, and were dominated by Dupontia fischeri and Eriophorum angustifolium. Ordinations indicated that a complex topographic gradient related most closely to elevation and site distance from the coast best explains variation in the vegetation cover. Irregular deposition along the coastline partially or completely buried three sites in peat or sand up to 20 cm deep. Such rapid changes in plant cover and species composition contributes to the community patch mosaic typical of these marshes. Results suggest an individualistic response of plant species to the environmental gradients in salt marsh and salt affected tundra and are indicative of successional models developed in other marginal arctic environments.     

The faunal role in the degradation of the common intertidal salt marsh plant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Scirpus maritimus</Emphasis>

The aim of this work was to evaluate the role of different environmental conditions (oxic and anoxic), and the presence of macrofauna and/or meiofauna during the different steps of Scirpus maritimus L. decomposition/mineralization under controlled laboratory conditions. The results showed no significant differences between the anaerobic and the aerobic degradation of plant material, under the presence of bacteria or meiofauna. Nevertheless, under anoxic conditions sediment mineralization was enhanced, with an increase concentration of phosphorus and ammonium in the water phase. Concerning the presence of fauna, results show that, although bacterial activity was responsible for 70% of the S. maritimus leaves degradation, the presence of macrofauna together with meiofauna enhanced the leaves mineralization up to 90%. Moreover, the presence of macrofauna together with meiofauna significantly affected the decomposition of phosphorus and of nitrogen, as well as the leaves lesser labile structural parts, by increasing the mineralization of plant carbon, and raised the nutrient turnover within the system.The present study reinforces the functional link between fauna levels on the nutrient dynamics in salt marshes ecosystems, namely at the vegetation detritus/water column interface. Handling editor: S. M. Thomaz     

Effects of growing conditions on the growth of and interactions between salt marsh plants: implications for invasibility of habitats

A common but often less tested explanation for the successful invasion of alien species is that invasive alien species outcompete their co-occurring natives, which may not always be the case. In this study, we established artificial environmental gradients in a series of pot experiments with controlled environments to investigate the effects of salinity, sediment type and waterlogging on the performance of and interactions between Phragmites australis (native) and Spartina alterniflora (alien), which generally co-exist in the saline intertidal zones of Chinese and American coasts. Significant effects of salinity and waterlogging were detected on biomass production and morphological characteristics of S. alterniflora and P. australis, and the competitive interactions between the two species were found to vary with all three environmental factors in our experiments. Relative Neighbor Effect (RNE) analyses indicate that competitive dominance of S. alterniflora occurred under the conditions of high salinity, sandy sediment and full immersion, whereas P. australis showed competitive dominance under the conditions of low salinity and non-immersion. Our results suggest that S. alterniflora might outcompete P. australis under conditions present in early salt marsh succession, which support the viewpoint that the outcomes of competition between co-occurring native and invasive alien plants depend on the growing conditions. The implication of this study is that in response to the environmental changes expected from seawater intrusion and sea-level rise, the range of S. alterniflora is expected to expand further in the Yangtze River estuary in the future.     

内陆盐沼芦苇根系形态及生物量分配对土壤盐分因子的响应

根系形态和生物量分配是决定根系吸收能力发挥的重要特征,其对环境限制因子的响应与适应策略一直是研究的热点。然而,有关土壤盐分对植物根系性状的影响还存在许多不确定性。选择兰州秦王川国家湿地公园芦苇群落为研究对象,垂直于沙河河岸从湿地边缘至湿地中心,依次设置3个不同土壤盐分梯度样地(样地I、样地II和样地III),采用全根挖掘法和WinRHIZO根系分析仪相结合的方法,研究了芦苇(Phragmites australis)根冠比、根总长度、比根长、根分叉数、根平均直径等形态参数的变化特征。结果表明:随着样地土壤盐分含量的增加,湿地群落的高度、盖度、密度、地上生物量逐渐下降,芦苇的根冠比、根分叉数呈逐渐减小的趋势,比根长、根总长度呈先下降后上升的趋势,而根平均直径呈相反的变化趋势;研究区土壤含盐量总体以中度盐渍化为主,表层土壤盐分呈现强变异性,随土层深度的增加含盐量呈下降趋势,而变异程度有所差异;芦苇根系性状与土壤含盐量的相关性分析可知,土壤含盐量与根总长度和比根长呈极显著相关关系(P0.01),与根冠比、根分叉数呈显著相关(P0.05),而与根平均直径相关性不显著。内陆盐沼的芦苇表现出敏感植物的特性,通过根系形态的调整和生物量分配策略的改变来适应盐分强变异的土壤环境,体现了逆境胁迫下湿地植物应对多重环境选择压力的生态适应机制。     

Effects of salinity and cutting on the development of Phragmites australis

The effects of increased salinity and cutting the above ground biomass on the growth of Phragmites australis were evaluated by investigating four experimental reed stands grown in outdoor tanks. Two stands were treated with 30 salinity and the other two stands with freshwater; one stand of each treatment was cut to 20 cm during the second growing season. Growth conditions were observed until all the plants were dead at the end of the second year. The number of shoots emerged from the freshwater-treated stand was about 70% higher than that of the saltwater-treated stand. The number of shoots emerged from cut plant stands were markedly lower than uncut stands. The average shoot height was negatively affected by salinity and shoots that emerged after cutting further decreased in height. The average number of leaves on a shoot was not significantly affected by salinity, but reduced by cutting in both treatments. Leaf length, width and the distance between leaves were decreased by both salinity and cutting. In the freshwater-treated uncut stand more than 50% of the shoots formed panicles, but this proportion was reduced to 6% by salinity, to 15% by cutting, and to 0% by the combination of salinity and cutting. This study showed again that salinity reduces the growth of aboveground components. The growth, however, was most severely retarded by cutting combined with salinity, which has many implications for better management of P. australis stands.     

密度、物种比例对盐沼植物种子萌发阶段种内、种间相互作用的影响

种间相互作用是影响湿地植物群落构建的关键因子,其形式、强度和机制可能随着生长发育的过程而发生改变。种子萌发是植物生命周期的关键环节,一定程度上决定了植物种群分布和群落结构。野外种子萌发过程受到邻近同种或异种种子间相互作用的影响,但对于种子萌发过程中种内、种间相互作用强度及其影响因素的了解仍十分有限。该研究通过培养皿萌发实验探讨了种子密度(每皿80粒、每皿160粒)及比例(单种、3:1混种、2:2混种、1:3混种)对互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)、海三棱藨草(Scirpus×mariqueter)、芦苇(Phragmites australis)种子萌发率、平均萌发时间的影响,并采用相对邻株效应(RNE)评估了这3个物种的种内、种间相互作用强度。结果表明,密度对互花米草、海三棱藨草、芦苇种子的萌发率均有一定的促进作用。与互花米草混种时,芦苇种子在占比最低(25%)处理下的平均萌发时间显著长于单种及其他混种比例处理。3种植物种子的竞争能力没有明确的等级关系,存在非传递性竞争,萌发时海三棱藨草相对互花米草具有一定的竞争优势,互花米草相对芦苇具有一定优势,而芦苇的竞争能...     

The effects of the interaction between salinity and nitrogen limitation in Agrostis stolonifera L.

Salt-tolerant Agrostis stolonifera ecotypes commonly grow on upper salt marshes, environments regarded as having a limited nitrogen supply. The interaction between salinity and nitrate supply limitation was studied in two ecotypes of A. stolonifera, one isolated from an upper salt marsh and one from an inland habitat. The ion, amino acid, glycine betaine and sugar contents of the two ecotypes were determined over a range of external salt concentrations and levels of nitrate supply. In vivo nitrate reductase activity was also measured. Several low molecular weight nitrogenous compounds accumulated in the salt-stressed plants. Nitrogen supply limitation had a great effect on the way in which the plants responded to salt stress. In particular, the concentrations of the soluble organic nitrogenous compounds were reduced. The results are discussed with respect to the salt marsh environment, and possible models for cytoplasmic osmoregulation are presented.Acknowledgements: One of us (MJH) gratefully acknowledges the receipt of a research studentship from the Science Research Council, U.K. We would also like to thank Mrs E. E. Griffiths for skilled technical assistance, and Dr I. Ahmad for help with the amino acid analysis.     

Effects of Abscisic Acid,Salicylic Acid,Ethylene and Hydrogen Peroxide in Thermotolerance and Recovery for Creeping Bentgrass

Abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA), ethylene, and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) may be involved in the regulation of plant responses to heat stress. The objective of this study was to determine whether these signaling molecules are involved in survival at high temperatures in creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera). We investigated the effects of treatment with ABA, SA, H₂O₂, and ACC (an ethylene precursor) on physiological damage occurring in creeping bentgrass during heat stress (35 °C for 1 month). We also compared the effects of chemical application and the induction of thermotolerance using moderate heat stress (30 °C for 24 h). All of the pre-treatments (heat or chemical) resulted in increased tolerance to prolonged heat stress (1 month) compared to control plants. All treated samples showed more green leaves, decreased membrane leakage and reduced oxidative damage compared to control plants. We then measured changes in the endogenous concentration of these chemical components during heat stress (35 °C) and during recovery after a stress treatment (cooling back to 20 °C). An oxidative burst was detected 5 min after the initiation of heat treatment, with the increase in H₂O₂ being detected primarily in the apoplast of the cells in both leaf and root tissues. Free SA was detected only an hour after the initiation of heat stress, and concentration remained low subsequently. Neither ABA nor ethylene concentrations rose during heat stress, but the concentration of both increased during subsequent cooling. These results suggest that the signaling components of interest are involved in thermotolerance in creeping bentgrass, but that the different chemicals are likely to be involved in separate signaling pathways. An oxidative burst and SA may be bona fide heat stress signals, but ABA and ethylene appear to be involved in signaling pathways in response to recovery from heat stress in this species.     

Variation with depth and season in metal sulfides in salt marsh soils

Seasonal monitoring of metal sulfides was carried out in four soils ofthe Ría de Ortigueira salt marshes. Soils from the high salt marsh (withsuboxic redox conditions at the surface), had low concentrations of ironsulfides (AVS and pyrite fraction) and thus a low degree of trace metalpyritization (DTMP) in surface layers (0–10 cm), butconcentrations of metals associated with the pyrite fraction increasedconsiderably at depth (27.5 cm). In the low salt marsh soils (withanoxic conditions at the surface) maximum concentrations of metal sulfides werefound in the surface layers of soils colonized by Spartina maritima. These results are explained by the double effectexerted by roots in strongly reduced soils. On the one hand, they stimulate theactivity of sulfate-reducing bacteria and on the other, they favour the partialoxidation of the soil, thus generating polysulfides with which Fe²⁺immediately precipitates as pyrite, whereas in the deepest, permanently anoxiclayers, pyrite must be formed in a reaction in which FeS is an intermediate, asfollows: FeS + H₂S FeS₂ + H₂.Concentrations of metal sulfides also varied greatly with the season, with twopatterns being distinguished. In soils colonized by S. maritima in both high and low salt marshes, the lowestconcentrations were found in summer. At this time of the year there is a netloss of metal sulfides throughout the profile, presumably due to physiologicalactivity of plants (evapotranspiration and release of oxygen from roots). Incontrast, maximum concentrations of AVS and pyritic metals were found in thesummer in the low salt marsh soils not colonized by vascular plants (creekbottom). In this case, the higher temperatures increased the activity ofsulfur-reducing bacteria leading to synthesis and accumulation of metalsulfidesin the soil.     

闽江口芦苇与短叶茳芏空间扩展对湿地土壤磷赋存形态的影响

选择闽江口鳝鱼滩的芦苇湿地、短叶茳芏湿地以及芦苇与短叶茳芏空间扩展形成的交错带湿地为对象,研究了不同湿地土壤磷赋存形态的分布特征及其主要影响因素。结果表明,不同湿地土壤中各形态磷含量整体表现为HCl-Pi > NaOH-Pi > Residual-P > NaHCO₃-Pi > NaOH-Po > Sonic-Pi > Resin-Pi > NaHCO₃-Po。其中,难分解态磷占TP的比例最高（Resin-Pi、NaHCO₃-Pi、NaHCO₃-Po）,为48.3%-51.1%;中等易分解态磷次之（NaOH-Pi、NaOH-Po、Sonic-Pi、Sonic-Po）,为37.4%-38.8%;而易分解态磷最低（HCl-P、Residual-P）,为11.5%-12.9%。交错带湿地土壤中易分解态磷、中等易分解态磷和难分解态磷含量相对于纯群落湿地均发生了明显改变,其值相比芦苇湿地分别提高了10.6%、19.2%和22.6%,相比短叶茳芏湿地分别提高了1.6%、11.5%和16.6%,原因主要与二者空间扩展过程中交错带湿地土壤的理化性质特别是粒度组成、pH以及Fe、Al含量均较纯群落湿地发生明显改变有关。芦苇与短叶茳芏的空间扩展整体改变了湿地土壤的全磷（TP）含量和储量,相对于芦苇湿地和短叶茳芏湿地,交错带湿地土壤的TP含量分别增加了20.0%和7.1%,而磷储量分别增加了12.0%和18.0%。研究发现,芦苇与短叶茳芏的空间扩展不但改变了湿地土壤中磷的赋存状况,而且亦可能改变不同磷形态之间的转化。交错带湿地土壤磷赋存状况有助于缓解芦苇与短叶茳芏空间扩展过程中对磷养分的竞争压力,从而可能在一定程度上维持交错带湿地系统的相对稳定。     

外源氮输入对闽江河口芦苇湿地土壤磷形态赋存特征的影响

河口湿地是响应全球气候变化和人类活动最为敏感的生态系统之一，是外源氮的一个重要"汇"，其对于生源元素循环过程可产生深刻的影响。在当前闽江河口区氮负荷增强背景下，探讨外源氮输入对湿地土壤磷形态赋存及其关键转化过程具有重要意义。为此，选择闽江河口鳝鱼滩的芦苇湿地为研究对象，基于野外原位氮输入模拟试验，研究了不同氮输入水平（N_Nt，对照处理；N_Lt，低氮处理；N_Mt，中氮处理；N_Ht，高氮处理）对湿地土壤磷形态赋存特征的影响。结果表明，外源氮输入不但增加了湿地土壤的TP含量，而且改变了其土层分布特征。除N_Mt与N_Nt处理下的TP含量相当外，N_Lt和N_Ht处理下的全磷（TP）含量相比N_Nt处理分别增加了3.5%和4.4%。氮输入整体上增加了湿地土壤的活性磷和闭蓄态磷含量，但降低了中等活性磷含量。相比N_Nt处理，N_Mt和N_Ht处理下的活性磷含量分别增加了6.5%和12.6%，而N_Lt、N_Mt和N_Ht处理下的闭蓄态磷含量分别增加了3.3%、3.9%和7.0%。中等活性磷在N_Mt处理下的降幅尤为明显，其值相比N_Nt处理降低了6.7%。不同氮处理下湿地土壤以闭蓄态磷占比最高（51.8%-54.1%），中等活性磷次之（38.1%-41.2%），活性磷最低（7.0%-7.9%）。不同氮处理下的各形态磷占比以HCl-P_i、Residual-P、NaOH-P_o和NaOH-P_i较高，Sonic-P_o和NaHCO₃-P_i次之，而NaHCO₃-P_o、Resin-P和Sonic-P_i较低。研究发现，氮输入主要通过改变土壤养分及酸碱状况来进一步影响土壤中各形态磷的赋存。其中，N_Mt和N_Ht处理下活性磷含量的增加主要与Resin-P和NaHCO₃-P_o有关，N_Lt、N_Mt和N_Ht处理下闭蓄态磷含量的增加主要与Residual-P有关，而N_Mt处理下中等活性磷的显著降低主要与NaOH-P_i和Sonic-P_o有关。     

闽江口芦苇与短叶茳芏湿地土壤无机硫形态分布特征及其影响因素

选择闽江口鳝鱼滩的芦苇湿地、短叶茳芏湿地以及二者交错带湿地为对象,研究了不同类型湿地土壤无机硫赋存形态的分布特征及其主要影响因素。结果表明,芦苇与短叶茳芏在空间扩展过程中形成的交错带湿地土壤的水溶性硫(H_2O-S)、吸附性硫(Adsorbed-S)和盐酸可溶性硫(HCl-Soluble-S)含量在0—40 cm土层上整体要高于芦苇湿地和短叶茳芏湿地,而盐酸挥发性硫(HCl-Volatile-S)含量则与之相反。在垂直方向上,不同类型湿地土壤的H_2O-S、Adsorbed-S和HCl-Soluble-S含量整体均自表层向下呈先降低而后增加的变化,而盐酸挥发性硫(HCl-Volatile-S)含量则与之相反。3种类型湿地土壤中不同形态无机硫平均含量整体均表现为HCl-Soluble-S H_2O-S Adsorbed-S HCl-Volatile-S,且其总无机硫(TIS)平均含量分别占全硫(TS)含量的22.29%—39.99%(芦苇湿地)、32.39%—33.33%(交错带湿地)和30.20%—30.86%(短叶茳芏湿地)。与芦苇湿地和短叶茳芏湿地相比,交错带湿地土壤的H_2O-S、Adsorbed-S、HCl-Soluble-S和TIS平均含量整体均呈增加趋势,增幅分别为36.94%和54.31%、34.84%和13.03%、73.25%和67.59%以及45.72%和45.28%;与之不同,HCl-Volatile-S平均含量则呈降低趋势,降幅分别为2.78%和22.24%。不同类型湿地土壤中H_2O-S、Adsorbed-S和TIS含量的变化主要受有机质含量和细颗粒组成的控制,而HCl-Soluble-S和HCl-Volatile-S含量主要受土壤氧化还原环境和金属元素分布的影响。研究发现,芦苇与短叶茳芏的空间扩展明显增加了交错带湿地土壤的H_2O-S、Adsorbed-S、HCl-Soluble-S和TIS含量,但降低了HCl-Volatile-S含量,说明二者的空间扩展在整体提高交错带湿地土壤有效硫供给能力的同时,亦降低了挥发性硫化物可能对二者生长产生的不利影响,这对于保持二者在交错带湿地中的竞争力具有重要生态意义。     

Impact of different sheep grazing intensities on salt marsh vegetation in northern Germany

Abstract. Mainland salt marshes in Schleswig-Holstein (northern Germany) have been grazed intensively by sheep for several decades. In 1988 experimental sites were established in the lower and middle salt marsh of Sönke-Nissen-Koog and subjected to different grazing intensities. From 1989 to 1993 the impact of sheep grazing on the composition and structure of the salt marsh vegetation was studied through the yearly analysis of permanent plots, vegetation mapping and measurements of the vegetation height. The intensively grazed site (10 sheep/ha) is covered by a short monotonous Puccinellia maritima sward with Salicornia europaea and Suaeda maritima. Halimione portulacoides and Aster tripolium, especially flowering plants, are rare. On the sites with 1.5 and 3 sheep/ha Puccinellia maritima remained dominant. The population density of Salicornia europaea decreases after reduction of the grazing intensity, whereas Suaeda maritima finds optimal growing conditions. Stands of Halimione portulacoides and flowering Aster tripolium plants are rare near the sea dike but their cover and size increases further away from the dike. In the plot with 1.5 sheep/ha the height of the vegetation increases along the gradient from the dike towards the tidal flats, due to local differences in actual grazing intensity. When grazing is stopped, Puccinellia maritima is successively replaced by Festuca rubra, Halimione portulacoides and Aster tripolium. High variability of vegetation height indicates structural diversity. Patches of higher and lower vegetation correspond with the distribution pattern of different plant species. In terms of nature conservation cessation of grazing is recommended.     

Fungal biomass and decomposition in Spartina maritima leaves in the Mondego salt marsh (Portugal)

Spartina maritima (Curtis) Fernald is a dominant species in the Mondego salt marsh on the western coast of Portugal, and it plays a significant role in estuarine productivity. In this work, leaf litter production dynamics and fungal importance for leaf decomposition processes in Spartina maritima were studied. Leaf fall was highly seasonal, being significantly higher during dry months. It ranged from 42 g m^-2 in June to less than 6 g m^-2 during the winter. Fungal biomass, measured as ergosterol content, did not differ significantly between standing-decaying leaves and naturally detached leaves. Fungal biomass increased in wet months, with a maximum of 614 g g^-1 of ergosterol in January in standing-decaying leaves, and 1077 g g^-1 in December, in naturally detached leaves, decreasing greatly in summer. Seasonal pattern of fungal colonization was similar in leaves placed in litterbags on the marsh-sediment surface. However, ergosterol concentrations associated with standing-decaying and naturally detached leaves were always much higher than in litterbagged leaves, suggesting that fungal activity was more important before leaf fall. Dry mass of litterbagged leaves declined rapidly after 1 month (about 50%), mostly due to leaching of soluble organic compounds. After 13 months, Spartina leaves had lost 88% of their original dry weight. The decomposition rate constant (k) for Spartina maritima leaves was 0.151 month^-1.     

芦苇群落水体质量与芦苇转录本的相关性

芦苇 （Phragmites australis） 是广生态幅多年生水生植物,在全球分布极广。芦苇能够适应并生长在极端环境,如盐碱地、重金属污染地等,这种巨大的环境忍耐能力使得芦苇成为研究植物环境适应性的模式物种,并逐渐成为植物学和生态学等领域的研究热点。目前,北京自然和人工湿地中大量栽植芦苇,其主要功能是净化水体、稳定水体自净能力。为深入了解水体质量对芦苇转录本的影响及二者之间的相关性,首先对北京及河北白洋淀共计32个采样点的8项水质指标进行了检测。结果表明,32个采样点的水体整体处于污染状态,主要污染物为总氮 （TN） 和生物需氧量 （BOD）,并且水质均略偏碱性,且具有高氮 （N）、高磷 （P）、高BOD和高化学需氧量 （COD） 等特征。主成分分析 （PCA） 表明8项水质指标间具有相关性,可被降至3个维度,第一维度是 BOD/COD/高锰酸盐指数 （COD_Mn）;第二维度是 TN/氨氮 （NH₃-N）/总磷 （TP）;第三维度是 pH/溶解氧 （DO）。对水质指标与芦苇叶片 RNA-seq 转录本进行皮尔森系数相关性分析,筛选出247个与水质指标相关的转录本。其中,232个基因 （93.9%） 的转录水平与水质指标呈现正相关性。经实验室单一因子或双因子验证确定了 PB.4621.1 （编码 GMP 合酶） 和 PB.12079.1 （编码 LEA14蛋白） 两个基因更适合用于监测水体中的氮和磷水平。研究为后续芦苇监测水质技术的开发与利用奠定了理论基础。     

Macrophytic primary production and nutrient concentrations in a deltaic floodplain marsh of the Lower Paraná River

Biomass changes across an annual cycle were followed at two sampling sites in the floodplain marsh of the Lower Paraná River: close to the river-shore and 800 m inside the floodplain marsh, both dominated by Scirpus californicus and Cyperus giganteus. Tidal influence determines a daily exchange of water between the river and the floodplain marsh.Estimated net primary production was higher in the river (2820 against 1770 g m^–2). Contents of nitrogen and phosphorus in plant tissue decreased from the river to the floodplain (0.62 to 0.45% N and 0.18 to 0.14% P). In spite of the important water exchange between the river and the floodplain, a decrease in nitrate, oxygen and suspended matter, and an increase in soluble reactive phosphorus in the water were observed from the river towards the floodplain marsh.A primary production gradient exists from the river to the inner floodplain marsh, where production is nitrogen-limited, sustained mainly on nutrients supplied by the river. Floodplain marshes are nitrate sinks, probably through denitrification losses and macrophyte uptake.     

Shoot development and production studies of phragmites Australis (Cav.) Trin. Ex Steudel in Scottish Lochs

Studies were made on the development and production of Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steudel (= Phragmites communis Trin.) stands from Forfar Loch-polytrophic, Balgavies Locheutrophic and Loch of the Lowes-mesotrophic. Differences were detected in the shoot height, shoot dry weight, standing crop biomass, leaf area index, crop growth rate and net efficiency of solar energy conversion among the three lochs. Such differences were partly due to the different nutrient levels of the three locations. The percentage ratio of leaf to shoot weight, leaf area ratio, relative growth rate and net assimilation rate for the reed stands in the three lochs were also calculated and were compared with values from other study areas.     

Estimation of primary production using five different methods in a Spartina alterniflora salt marsh

The aboveground production of Spartina alterniflora in a salt marsh in Barataria Bay, Louisiana, USA was estimated using five different harvest methods: peak standing crop (PSC), Milner-Hughes, Smalley, Wiegert-Evans, and Lomnicki et al., and a non-destructive method based on measurement of stem density and longevity. Annual production estimates were 831 ± 41, 831 ± 62, 1231 ± 252, 1873 ± 147 and 1437 ± 96 g dry wt m^–2 for each method, respectively. The average longevity of individually tagged young shoots was 5.2 ± 0.2 months, equivalent to an annual turnover rate of 2.3 crops per year. Among the five methods, Wiegert-Evans and Lomnicki et al. were considered more accurate than the other three because they corrected for mortality losses between sampling times. The Lomnicki et al. method was preferred over the Wiegert-Evans method because of its greater simplicity.     

室内模拟波浪对2种典型滨海湿地挺水植物生物力学特征的影响

选取本地物种芦苇和入侵物种互花米草为研究对象,利用波浪装置对生长期的植物进行波浪处理后对其形态特征,根、茎、叶的拉力、弯曲特性进行研究,以探讨湿地植物对波浪作用的生物力学响应。结果表明,芦苇、互花米草经波浪处理后的茎直径均显著高于对照组（P=0.008,P=0.03）;互花米草总体呈现拉力或者弯曲载荷高于芦苇的现象（如茎秆）,但应力（根系）或静曲强度（茎秆）却要低于芦苇,即对应了互花米草比芦苇茎秆更粗壮的现象,但芦苇自身的强度会更强,其木质素和纤维素的结构成分显示出显著高于互花米草的现象（P<0.001,P<0.001）。总体来看,通过短时间的波浪模拟,植株在形态特征上发生了显著的变化,而植物自身的生物力学特性与形态、结构成分都息息相关。研究结果对于评价芦苇和互花米草在应对海浪影响的潜力、从植物生物力学角度探究滨海湿地的保护和修复都提供了一定的参考。     

黄河三角洲河滩与潮滩芦苇对盐胁迫的生理生态响应

研究黄河三角洲两种生境芦苇对盐胁迫的生理生态响应差异,能为退化滨海湿地生态修复中芦苇植株来源的选择提供重要的理论支持。在盐胁迫(300 mmol/L NaCl)下,比较研究了黄河三角洲河滩芦苇(低盐生境)和潮滩芦苇(高盐生境)叶片中的Na⁺含量、根部分生区Na⁺流速、叶片的光合作用参数、H₂O₂的含量、抗氧化酶的活性、丙二醛和脯氨酸的含量。结果表明:盐胁迫显著提高了河滩芦苇叶片中Na⁺含量,但对潮滩芦苇叶片Na⁺影响不显著。进一步通过非损伤微测技术研究发现,盐胁迫后,潮滩芦苇比河滩芦苇的根部分生区的Na⁺外排流速更高(潮滩芦苇:(1982.05±122.74) pmol cm^-2 s^-1vs.(87.93±12.94) pmol cm^-2 s^-1,P<0.01;河滩芦苇:(1574.16±458.90) pmol cm^-2