Pastoralism, plant conservation, and conflicts on proliferation of Himalayan knotweed in high altitude protected areas of the Western Himalaya, India

The conservation policy of banning pastoral grazing, and subsequently emerging conflicts between conservationists and pastoral communities regarding the proliferation of Himalayan knotweed (Polygonum polystachyum), was studied in the Valley of Flowers National Park, a high altitude protected area of the Western Himalaya, India. A total of 10 habitat types identified in the study area were sampled using quadrats along an altitudinal gradient between 3000 and 4500 m. Plant species richness decreases with altitude and also varies across habitat types. The highest density of P. polystachyum and its associated species, Impatiens sulcata, was found between 3300 and 3500 m in the disturbed habitat types, viz., bouldery areas, fragmented treeline zone, avalanche-prone areas and eroded slopes. Eradication of P. polystachyum from the national park by managers is not going to serve any meaningful purpose to the long-term conservation; rather it initiates soil erosion and instability, hindering the establishment of natural plant communities.     

Co-ordination between xylem anatomy,plant architecture and leaf functional traits in response to abiotic and biotic drivers in a nurse cushion plant

Background and AimsPlants in dry Mediterranean mountains experience a double climatic stress: at low elevations, high temperatures coincide with water shortage during summer, while at high elevations temperature decreases and water availability increases. Cushion plants often act as nurses by improving the microclimate underneath their canopies, hosting beneficiary species that may reciprocally modify their benefactors’ microenvironment. We assess how the nurse cushion plant Arenaria tetraquetra subsp. amabilis adjusts its hydraulic system to face these complex abiotic and biotic constraints.MethodsWe evaluated intra-specific variation and co-ordination of stem xylem anatomy, leaf functional traits and plant architecture in response to elevation, aspect and the presence of beneficiary species in four A. tetraquetra subsp. amabilis populations in the Sierra Nevada mountains, southern Spain.Key ResultsXylem anatomical and plant architectural traits were the most responsive to environmental conditions, showing the highest mutual co-ordination. Cushions were more compact and had smaller, more isolated conductive vessels in the southern than in the northern aspect, which allow minimization of the negative impacts of more intense drought. Only vessel size, leaf mass per area and terminal branch length varied with elevation. Nurse cushions co-ordinated plant architecture and xylem traits, having higher canopy compactness, fewer leaves per branch and fewer, more isolated vessels than non-nurse cushions, which reflects the negative effects of beneficiary plants on nurse water status. In non-nurse cushions, plant architecture co-ordinated with leaf traits instead. The interacting effects of aspect and elevation on xylem traits showed that stress due to frost at high elevation constrained xylem anatomy in the north, whereas stress due to drought had a parallel effect in the south.ConclusionsTrait co-ordination was weaker under more demanding environmental conditions, which agrees with the hypothesis that trait independence allows plants to better optimize different functions, probably entailing higher adjustment potential against future environmental changes.     

太白红杉（Larix chinensis）叶的形态解剖学特征与环境因子的关系

根据生态气候学方法推断出不同海拔高度气候指标,应用多元统计方法,对分布于秦岭太白山地区海拔3000－3400m的太白红杉（Larix chinensis)叶特征进行了生态解剖学研究,分析了影响其变化的主导生态因子。观察指标包括叶形态指标（叶片总厚度、每束叶中的叶数和叶长宽比）、叶解剖学特征（叶表皮角质膜厚度、上、下表皮厚度,近上、下表皮叶肉厚度,内皮层厚度,管胞直径,叶传输组织和维管束厚度及其与叶片总厚度之比）。结果表明：（1）水热综合因子是影响太白叶长宽比和叶表皮角质膜厚度的主导因子,随着水热综合因子的增大,叶长宽比呈增加趋势,而角质膜厚度则逐渐变薄。（2）年降水量是影响其它形态解剖学指标的主导因子,随着年降水量的增加,每束叶中的叶数、叶厚度、管胞直径、叶传输组织和维管束厚度、内皮层厚度、传输组织和维管束厚度及其与叶总厚度之比呈减少和变薄的趋势,而上、下表皮厚度则逐渐增加。（3）近上、下表皮叶肉厚度与环境因子无明显相关,可能属于比较保守的性状。     

Comparative study on the host susceptibility of different banana cultivars to plant parasitic nematodes in Malappuram district of Kerala,India

Six cultivars of banana grown widely in Malappuram district of Kerala were evaluated for the diversity of plant parasitic nematodes in their respective rhizosphere. The genotypes evaluated include Nendran, Poovan (Mysore), Njali poovan, Mysore poovan, Chenkadali and Ponnan. The study aims on a comparative analysis of rhizosphere of different banana varieties for the occurrence of plant parasitic nematodes, diversity, frequency of occurrence and to determine the most vulnerable type of banana variety. Cobb’s decanting and sieving method was used to isolate nematodes from soil. Thirty three samples randomly collected from different blocks of Malappuram district are subjected to analysis and a ten species of nematodes were reported. Among the six varieties analysed both Nendran and Mysore Poovan variety seems to be more susceptible to phytoparasitic nematodes. With respect to eight blocks of Malappuram district, Helicotylenchus sp. shows highest prominence value followed by Radopholus similis, reniform nematode and Meloidogyne incognita.     

塔里木河流域荒漠河岸林群落的多元分析与环境解释

应用无偏对应分析（DCA）及二歧指示种分析（TWINSPAN）对塔里木河流域荒漠河岸林33个植物群落方资料进行了多元分析－排序和数量分类,并应用植物群落的排序值与环境参数的多元回归分析给出各群落类型的定量环境解释,探讨了该区植物群落的基本类型,生态梯度及其与环境因子的定量关系,结果表明,塔里木河流域漠河岸林的群落类型及其分布主要取决于土壤湿度和盐分含量,并可通过环境参数的数字表达式定量的确定。     

高寒草原植物功能群组成对退化程度的响应

高寒草原作为青藏高原区主要的草地类型,在全球碳、氮循环、生物多样性维护、水土保持、畜牧业发展等方面发挥着重要的作用。在青海省果洛州玛多县高寒草原选取5块不同退化程度的样地,调查植物功能群组成和土壤理化性质,并采用多元排序法分析不同退化程度下植物功能群组成与土壤因子的关系,以期明确高寒草原功能群组成对草原退化的响应。结果表明:(1)禾本科功能群丰富度和重要值均随退化程度增加呈先增后降趋势,盖度表现为降低趋势;杂类草功能群的丰富度、盖度和重要值均随退化程度增加呈先增加后降低的趋势。而杂类草功能群的相对重要值随退化程度增加而增加。(2)土壤有机质含量随土层深度的增加而降低;随退化程度加剧,土壤有机质和全氮呈降低的趋势。(3)随退化程度加剧,0—30 cm各土层深度的容重均增加,土壤通气孔隙度降低。(4)各功能群重要值与土壤通气孔隙度呈正相关关系,与土壤容重呈负相关关系;通过冗余分析,草地退化首先影响土壤物理属性进而影响草地功能群组成。     

Response of plant species richness and primary productivity in shrublands along a north–south gradient in Europe to seven years of experimental warming and drought: reductions in primary productivity in the heat and drought year of 2003

We used a nonintrusive field experiment carried out at six sites – Wales (UK), Denmark (DK), the Netherlands (NL), Hungary (HU), Sardinia (Italy – IT), and Catalonia (Spain – SP) – along a climatic and latitudinal gradient to examine the response of plant species richness and primary productivity to warming and drought in shrubland ecosystems. The warming treatment raised the plot daily temperature by ca. 1 °C, while the drought treatment led to a reduction in soil moisture at the peak of the growing season that ranged from 26% at the SP site to 82% in the NL site. During the 7 years the experiment lasted (1999–2005), we used the pin‐point method to measure the species composition of plant communities and plant biomass, litterfall, and shoot growth of the dominant plant species at each site. A significantly lower increase in the number of species pin‐pointed per transect was found in the drought plots at the SP site, where the plant community was still in a process of recovering from a forest fire in 1994. No changes in species richness were found at the other sites, which were at a more mature and stable state of succession and, thus less liable to recruitment of new species. The relationship between annual biomass accumulation and temperature of the growing season was positive at the coldest site and negative at the warmest site. The warming treatment tended to increase the aboveground net primary productivity (ANPP) at the northern sites. The relationship between annual biomass accumulation and soil moisture during the growing season was not significant at the wettest sites, but was positive at the driest sites. The drought treatment tended to reduce the ANPP in the NL, HU, IT, and SP sites. The responses to warming were very strongly related to the Gaussen aridity index (stronger responses the lower the aridity), whereas the responses to drought were not. Changes in the annual aboveground biomass accumulation, litterfall, and, thus, the ANPP, mirrored the interannual variation in climate conditions: the most outstanding change was a decrease in biomass accumulation and an increase in litterfall at most sites during the abnormally hot year of 2003. Species richness also tended to decrease in 2003 at all sites except the cold and wet UK site. Species‐specific responses to warming were found in shoot growth: at the SP site, Globularia alypum was not affected, while the other dominant species, Erica multiflora, grew 30% more; at the UK site, Calluna vulgaris tended to grow more in the warming plots, while Empetrum nigrum tended to grow less. Drought treatment decreased plant growth in several studied species, although there were some species such as Pinus halepensis at the SP site or C. vulgaris at the UK site that were not affected. The magnitude of responses to warming and drought thus depended greatly on the differences between sites, years, and species and these multiple plant responses may be expected to have consequences at ecosystem and community level. Decreases in biodiversity and the increase in E. multiflora growth at the SP site as a response to warming challenge the assumption that sensitivity to warming may be less well developed at more southerly latitudes; likewise, the fact that one of the studied shrublands presented negative ANPP as a response to the 2003 heat wave also challenges the hypothesis that future climate warming will lead to an enhancement of plant growth and carbon sequestration in temperate ecosystems. Extreme events may thus change the general trend of increased productivity in response to warming in the colder sites.     

Anatomy and ultrastructure of epidermal cells in the haustorium of a parasitic flowering plant,Cuscuta japonica, during attachment to the host

Changes of epidermal cells in the haustorium of the parasiticCuscuta japonica during its attachment to the host plantimpatiens balsamina were studied with light and electron microscopy. In the transverse sections of dodder stems not in contact with the host, epidermal cells had rounded outlines. However, when haustorial initials developed in the cortex of the parasite stem at the contact site, the epidermal cells had more dense cytoplasm and conspicuous nuclei than before, and their outline was flat in the longitudinal section. As meristem cells developed from those initials, the epidermal cells became more elongated. When the haustorium was fully matured, the apical tips of the elongated epidermal cells at the contact site branched like toes, producing numerous projections via cell wall invaginations. This event caused spaces to form between the projections; coincidently, the surface area of the apical ends of the epidermal cells increased. The dense cytoplasm at those projections contained prominent nuclei and abundant other organelles, suggesting a active metabolism. Osmiophilic particles, releasing into the cell walls from the cytoplasm, were though to be associated with the loosening and elongating of the epidermal cell walls. Dense and homogeneous materials were secreted within the spaces between the projections. These materials could play an important role in cementing the haustorium onto the surface of the host organ.     

不同等级石漠化地区植物群落物种多样性及优势种叶片性状对环境因子的响应

为探讨不同等级石漠化对植物群落物种多样性和优势种叶片性状的变化规律及其对环境因子的响应,该研究以无、轻度、中度和重度石漠化地区植物群落为对象,通过Shannon-Wiener多样性、Margalef丰富度、Pielou均匀度和Simpson多样性等指数以及优势种LA、LT、LDMC和δ13C等叶片性状分析了石漠化梯度上的物种多样性和叶片性状变化规律。结果表明:36个样方共有维管植物188种,隶属69科141属。随着石漠化程度加剧,各物种多样性指数总体呈现下降趋势;不同等级石漠化物种多样性差异:乔木层>灌木层>草本层。优势种LA随着石漠化程度的加剧呈现降低趋势,而LT、LDMC和δ13C呈现升高趋势,不同等级石漠化优势种叶片性状具有显著差异(P<0.05)。结合CCA分析表明,土层厚度和土壤含水量是影响石漠化地区植物空间分布最主要的影响因素;通过RDA分析显示,物种多样性指数与环境因子之间具有显著相关关系,其中速效钾、土壤含水量、碱解氮、土层厚度和有机质是影响物种多样性和优势种叶片性状的主导因素。这对西南喀斯特植被生态保护和石漠化生态系统植被恢复具有一定的理论意义和指导价值。     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Kuth</Emphasis> (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Saussurea lappa</Emphasis>) cultivation in the cold desert environment of the Lahaul valley,northwestern Himalaya,India: arising threats and need to revive socio-economic values

Surveys were conducted in the cold desert environment of the Lahaul valley in the northwestern Himalaya for assessing the past and present status of Kuth (Saussurea lappa) cultivation. The findings reveal that this age-old practice now is in bottleneck. Main factors responsible for this setback to the species were the lengthy cultivation cycle, small land holdings, and even fluctuating and relatively low market prices. Owing to these constraints farmers have now started replacing cultivation of this threatened herb with pea (Pisum sativum L.), potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) and hop (Humulus lupulus L.). These crops obtained popularity due to comparatively more economic returns as well as their easy adaptability to the short growth season of the cold desert environment. Kuth cultivation in this region is among the interesting examples of domesticating wild medicinal herb by some innovative farmers during the 1920s. However, in the recent past farmers have been less interested to continue this practice due to its larger cultivation cycle, more profits with cash crops like pea and potato, and permit formalities at the time of export from the valley. In addition to being the oldest cash crop in the cold desert environment, Kuth is an endangered medicinal herb that has to be conserved on a priority basis. This study attempts to find out potential measures such as regular revision of market rates, development of existing uncultivable land under medicinal plant cultivation and strengthening the marketing network through establishment of federations of farmers at village level to revive cultivation of this important species.     

Assessing the effects of land-use change on plant traits, communities and ecosystem functioning in grasslands: a standardized methodology and lessons from an application to 11 European sites

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: A standardized methodology to assess the impacts of land-use changes on vegetation and ecosystem functioning is presented. It assumes that species traits are central to these impacts, and is designed to be applicable in different historical, climatic contexts and local settings. Preliminary results are presented to show its applicability. METHODS: Eleven sites, representative of various types of land-use changes occurring in marginal agro-ecosystems across Europe and Israel, were selected. Climatic data were obtained at the site level; soil data, disturbance and nutrition indices were described at the plot level within sites. Sixteen traits describing plant stature, leaf characteristics and reproductive phase were recorded on the most abundant species of each treatment. These data were combined with species abundance to calculate trait values weighed by the abundance of species in the communities. The ecosystem properties selected were components of above-ground net primary productivity and decomposition of litter. KEY RESULTS: The wide variety of land-use systems that characterize marginal landscapes across Europe was reflected by the different disturbance indices, and were also reflected in soil and/or nutrient availability gradients. The trait toolkit allowed us to describe adequately the functional response of vegetation to land-use changes, but we suggest that some traits (vegetative plant height, stem dry matter content) should be omitted in studies involving mainly herbaceous species. Using the example of the relationship between leaf dry matter content and above-ground dead material, we demonstrate how the data collected may be used to analyse direct effects of climate and land use on ecosystem properties vs. indirect effects via changes in plant traits. CONCLUSIONS: This work shows the applicability of a set of protocols that can be widely applied to assess the impacts of global change drivers on species, communities and ecosystems.     

Differential expression profiles of poplar MAP kinase kinases in response to abiotic stresses and plant hormones,and overexpression of PtMKK4 improves the drought tolerance of poplar

Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascades are universal signal transduction modules that play essential roles in plant growth, development and stress response. MAPK kinases (MAPKKs), which link MAPKs and MAPKK kinases (MAPKKKs), are integral in mediating various stress responses in plants. However, to date few data about the roles of poplar MAPKKs in stress signal transduction are available. In this study, we performed a systemic analysis of poplar MAPKK gene family expression profiles in response to several abiotic stresses and stress-associated hormones. Furthermore, Populus trichocarpa MAPKK4 (PtMKK4) was chosen for functional characterization. Transgenic analysis showed that overexpression of the PtMKK4 gene remarkably enhanced drought stress tolerance in the transgenic poplar plants. The PtMKK4-overexpressing plants also exhibited much lower levels of H₂O₂ and higher antioxidant enzyme activity after exposure to drought stress compared to the wide type lines. Besides, some drought marker genes including PtP5CS, PtSUS3, PtLTP3 and PtDREB8 exhibited higher expression levels in the transgenic lines than in the wide type under drought conditions. This study provided valuable information for understanding the putative functions of poplar MAPKKs involved in important signaling pathways under different stress conditions.