ECOTYPIC DIFFERENTIATION WITHIN FOUR NORTH AMERICAN PRAIRIE GRASSES. II. BEHAVIORAL VARIATION WITHIN TRANSPLANTED COMMUNITY FRACTIONS

Ecotypic differentiation in transplanted clones of Andropogon scoparius Michx., A. gerardi Vitman, Panicum virgatum L. and Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash showed north-south correlations. In Austin, Texas, during 1959–1962, southern populations had earliest spring activity, latest flowering and latest dormancy. Northern community fractions from Massachusetts to North Dakota showed early flowering and a short span separating initial anthesis among the species-populations. Community fractions from Virginia to Nebraska had initial anthesis over a longer period than in more northern or more southern samples. Community fractions from South Carolina to eastern Texas had late flowering over a short period. Western community fractions, latitudinally and altitudinally diverse, were behaviorally uniform. The length of the growing period and its recurrent selection have sorted out ecological variants in harmony with the habitat gradients. Whether they are of the predominant physiognomic types, as in the true prairie region, or understory plants in the pine forests, the 4 grass taxa are in the climax matrix.     

新疆14种青兰属植物叶表皮微形态结构研究

应用光学显微镜和扫描电镜,对新疆14种青兰属(DracocephalumL.)植物叶片的微形态特征进行观察,结果表明:该属植物只有宽齿青兰(Dracocephalum paulsenii Briq.)叶的下表皮细胞为多边形,其余种植物叶的上、下表皮均为不规则形;垂周壁式样有深波状、波状、浅波状、平直-弓形;气孔器均为横列型;气孔形状有椭圆形、长椭圆形、宽椭圆形、近圆形;表皮毛的类型为小刺毛、短柔毛、长柔毛、头状腺毛和盾状腺毛。在不同种间甚至是同种植物叶的上、下表皮上,气孔器的大小、气孔密度、气孔指数、气孔外拱盖内缘、表皮毛、角质层纹饰等的微形态特征都存在很大的差异,可为探讨本属种间的分类、亲缘关系和演化趋势提供理论依据。     

NATURE OF THE PLANT COMMUNITY. V. VARIATION WITHIN THE TRUE PRAIRIE COMMUNITY-TYPE

Mc Millan , C. (U. Texas, Austin.) Nature of the plant community. V. Variation within the true prairie community-type. Amer. Jour. Bot. 46(6): 418–424. Illus. 1959.—Population samples of grass species were transplanted to Lincoln, Nebraska, from two grassland communities within the general distribution of the true prairie community-type. These represented extensive grassland areas near Watertown, South Dakota, and Manhattan, Kansas. True prairie relicts near Colorado Springs, Colorado and in the Black Hills of southwestern South Dakota were also studied in the transplant garden. Only in one species, Stipa spartea Trin., were the transplanted populations essentially similar in behavior. In 8 of the species, Koeleria cristata (L.) Pers., Bouteloua gracilis (H.B.K.) Lag., B. curtipendula (Michx.) Torr., Schizachyrium scoparium Nash, Andropogon gerardi Vitman, Panicum virgatum L., Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash, and Sporobolus heterolepis (A. Gray) A. Gray, the Manhattan populations were the latest flowering. In Elymus canadensis L., the Manhattan population was the earliest flowering. The abstraction of two communities into a true prairie type of community with other communities of similar species-populations is a convenient method for discussing distributional phenomena. However, extreme caution must be used in generalizing about characteristics other than distributional. If the 10 species in the present study were designated by letters, the Watertown and Manhattan communities could be compared ecologically as a b' c d e f g h i j and a b c' d' e' f' g' h' i' j'. The use of taxonomic relationship in vegetational studies is convenient for the reduction of sample size, but the vital aspect of studying variation within the species is in the determination of harmony between vegetation and its habitat. The relict communities are in adjustment with their habitats and represent the results of natural selection in favoring early-flowering variants within a number of different species. The key to distribution of the true prairie vegetation, widespread or relict, lies in the harmony between a habitat variable and a vegetation variable. Through natural selection, each stand of true prairie may be fundamentally different from any other stand.     

NATURE OF THE PLANT COMMUNITY. VI. TEXAS GRASSLAND COMMUNITIES UNDER TRANSPLANTED CONDITIONS

Mc Millan , Calvin . (U. Texas, Austin.) Nature of the plant community. VI. Texas grassland communities under transplanted conditions. Amer. Jour. Bot. 48(9): 778–785. Illus. 1961.—Clones of 7 grass taxa, Bouteloua gracilis (H. B. K.) Lag., B. eriopoda (Torr.) Torr., B. curtipendula (Michx.) Torr., Panicum virgatum L., the Andropogon scoparius Michx. complex, the Andropogon gerardi Vitman-hallii Hack. complex, and Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash, were transplanted from throughout their distribution in Texas and studied in an experimental garden at Austin. Restricted to western Texas and Panhandle areas, Bouteloua gracilis and B. eriopoda contained similar early-flowering clones throughout their distribution. Less restricted to western sites, B. curtipendula contained later-flowering types from eastern and central areas. In the 4 remaining, widespread taxa, early-flowering potential characterized clones from western sites. These 4 widespread taxa contain the latest-flowering clones from the coast of southern Texas. Clones of Stipa leucotricha Trin. and Rupr. from a broad area in Texas lacked a flowering gradient. Grassland communities of western Texas and the Panhandle, attuned to short growing seasons and low rainfall, were composed of opportunists, the Bouteloua species, and early-flowering variants within the widespread species. Communities of central Texas in habitats of highly unpredictable moisture pattern and a relatively long growing season contained later-flowering variants. Coastal communities attuned to a long growing season contained the latest-flowering variants.     

SURVIVAL PATTERNS IN FOUR PRAIRIE GRASSES TRANSPLANTED TO CENTRAL TEXAS

Transplanted clones of four widespread prairie grasses, Andropogon scoparius, A. gerardii, Panicum virgatum, and Sorghastrum nutans, that had survived in cultivation 1958-1962 in central Texas were studied without cultivation 1963-67 to determine survival patterns. In all four species, clones from northern and eastern sites in the United States were eliminated. Survival of A. scoparius was restricted to plants originating in central and southern Texas and in northern Mexico. Surviving clones of A. gerardii, P. virgatum, and S. nutans were chiefly of Texas origin but included other clones mostly from the south central United States. Population samples of the four species from a central Texas grassland community showed greatest survival in a multi-ramet comparison of clones originating from North Dakota to Mexico City and in a multi-clone comparison from six sites in Texas and one in New Mexico. While the superior adaptation to the local habitat by the local populations might have been expected, this study documented the survival potential of organisms in the local ecosystem.     

Hedyotis austrosinica sp. nov. (Rubiaceae) from southern China: A new heterostylous species similar to H. pulcherrima

Hedyotis austrosinica L. Wu & L.H. Yang is described as a new species from southern China. It is similar to H. pulcherrima, but can be separated by its herbaceous weak to ascending habit with dense pubescence on the surface of most organs, 4‐angled to subterete stems, longer petioles, and longer stipules with 5–9 apical linear lobes. The new species is distributed in Guangdong and Guangxi in southern China.     

Pubescence,floral temperature and fecundity in species of Puya (Bromeliaceae) in the Ecuadorian Andes

Summary The effects of inflorescence pubescence on floral temperatures and fecundity were examined in four species of Puya in the Ecuadorian Andes. These species span an elevational range from 1,980–4,000 m and comparisons among these species showed that pubescence production increases significantly with elevation. Flower temperatures of glabrous or slightly pubescent species of Puya from lower elevations closely tracked air temperature, while those of the pubescent páramo species did not. Pubescence removal experiments on Puya hamata, a páramo species, demonstrated that pubescence is an effective insulator, maintaining elevated flower temperatures. In Puya clava-herculis (also a páramo species) elevated flower temperatures were associated with higher seed set. Thus, the greater production of inflorescence pubescence in páramo species of Puya may be an important factor contributing to reproductive success in these higher elevation species.     

The community-wide and guild-specific effects of pubescence on the folivorous insects of manzanitas Arctostaphylos spp.

Abstract.  1. Insect communities on 26 species of manzanita Arctostaphylos spp. (Ericaceae) were sampled in order to examine the effects of variation in foliar pubescence traits on a community of folivorous insects. Manzanitas vary widely in pubescence density, length, and glandularity both within and between species.
2. Linear models were fitted and evaluated to determine whether pubescence traits are associated with the species richness and abundance of folivorous insects after accounting for the effects of other relevant habitat and host-plant related characteristics.
3. Pubescence traits were clearly associated with both community-wide and guild-specific variation in the structure of the folivorous insect community of manzanitas, however the effects of pubescence were manifested primarily as effects on the abundance of folivores not on species richness. The species richness of folivorous insects on manzanitas was not associated with pubescence density or length but was associated positively with glandularity.
4. The abundance of all guilds except leaf-mining insects was lower on manzanitas having longer pubescence. In contrast, the abundance of external-chewing insects was higher on plants having denser pubescence and on plants having glandular pubescence.
5. Overall, the results suggest that both longer pubescence and the amount of contact between an insect and pubescence act quantitatively to decrease the abundance of external-feeding guilds of folivorous insects. The abundance of species in internal-feeding guilds that oviposit directly on leaves is unrelated to foliar pubescence traits in the host plant.     

GRASSLAND COMMUNITY FRACTIONS FROM CENTRAL NORTH AMERICA UNDER SIMULATED CLIMATES

For a broad latitudinal comparison, 6 growth chambers with temperature and light-period controls were programmed to simulate 20 weeks of the growing periods for Devils Lake, North Dakota; Lincoln, Nebraska; Austin, Texas; Corpus Christi, Texas; Mexico City, D.F.; and Flagstaff, Arizona. Clonal populations of Panicum virgatum L., the Andropogon gerardi Vitman–halli Hack. complex, A. scoparius Michx., Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash, Bouteloua gracilis (H.B.K.) Lag., and B. curtipendula (Michx.) Torr. composed the experimental community fractions. The short growing periods of the northern and high-altitudinal climates accommodated flowering within 5 populations of the North Dakota and Arizona community fractions. In the other climates, the growing periods, variously incomplete during the 20-week programming, also accommodated flowering of many of the early-maturing populations. Annual endogenous rhythms within the geographic variants were suggested by the different response patterning. The northern clones responded rapidly and showed sensitivity to diverse environmental conditions. Many southern clones, requiring more than 20 weeks for flowering, showed developmental homeostasis under the different climates.     

The geographic distribution of pubescence in the sea daisy, Borrichia aborescens, on Bahamian Islands

Borrichia aborescens (L.) DC. is a salt‐tolerant perennial herb that is common on small islands in the central Bahamas. Two morphotypes are present: one with densely pubescent leaves and one with glabrous leaves. I conducted surveys in three archipelagos to document the geographical distribution of pubescence in this species and to infer the underlying mechanisms. B. aborescens was also grown from seed in a greenhouse. The pubescent form of B. aborescens was relatively more abundant on small islands than on nearby large ‘mainland’ islands. In two of the three archipelagoes, pubescence increased with distance on small islands. The pubescent form was relatively more abundant on small islands exposed to the open ocean compared to small islands that were protected by mainland islands or reefs on all sides. On a large mainland island, the pubescent form decreased in relative abundance inland from the coast. B. aborescens cultivated in a greenhouse revealed the effect of a genetic factor on the expression of pubescence. The observed patterns of variation are consistent with a physiological explanation for the adaptive benefit of pubescence. Trichomes may prevent physical blockage of the stomata by accumulation of salt in areas near breaking waves and salt spray.     

SALT TOLERANCE WITHIN A TYPHA POPULATION

Mc Millan , Calvin . (U. Texas, Austin.) Salt tolerance within a Typha population. Amer. Jour. Bot. 46(7): 521–526. Illus. 1959.—Typha in a disturbed salt flat near Lincoln, Nebraska, provided material for an examination of population dynamics. Within the population, clones of T. angustifolia L. tended to occupy the drier sites and those of T. latifolia L. occupied the sites of greater moisture probability. Clones of intermediate morphological characteristics were distributed with both T. angustifolia and T. latifolia. Rhizomes taken from the clones were grown in various NaCl solutions in the greenhouse. Results indicated greatest salt tolerance by T. angustifolia and least salt tolerance by T. latifolia. The intermediate, probably hybrid, clones were intermediate in salt tolerance. Seeds of the 3 clone-types germinated over the same range of salt concentration. The seeds of all 3 types withstood 4 months submergence in a 2% salt solution and germinated upon being returned to tap water. In the salt flat habitat, the clones of T. latifolia were not vigorous during the years 1956–1957 and many died or were reduced considerably in area of occupancy. The clones of T. angustifolia remained vigorous and flowered over the same period. The intermediate clones were vigorous and increased their coverage, primarily in areas that were occupied prior to 1956 by T. latifolia. The spatial adjustments within the population probably resulted from the selective action of increased salt concentration accompanying the drier conditions of 1956 and 1957.     

A new species of machaeranthera section psilactis (Asteraceae: Astereae) from coastal Texas

Machaeranthera heterocarpa, a new species from southern Texas, is described and illustrated. It is closely related to M. tenuis of Trans-Pecos Texas, is described Mexico from which it differs most notably in stem pubescence, fruit morphology, and chromosome number. The adaptive significance of the heteromorphic achenes of this new species is discussed.     

Derris gamblei sp. nov. (Fabaceae) from Tamil Nadu,India

Derris gamblei (Fabaceae), is described and illustrated as a new species from the Pudukkottai district of Tamil Nadu state, India. It resembles the Indian species Derris thothathrii, but differs by its short inflorescence, pseudoracemes, pubescence at dorsal apex of all petals, 2 ovules and narrow‐winged pods.     

ECOTYPIC DIFFERENTIATION WITHIN FOUR NORTH AMERICAN PRAIRIE GRASSES. III. CHROMATOGRAPHIC VARIATION

Four widespread grasses, Andropogon scoparius Michx., A. gerardi Vitman, Sorghastrum nutans (Nash) Hitchc. and Panicum virgatum L., have been studied behaviorally and morphologically. In the present comparison characteristic flavonoid patterns were shown whereby the four grass taxa can be separated at the generic and specific level. The greatest similarity was shown by the two Andropogon species. Panicum was most dissimilar. Although intrapopulational and interpopulational variation was demonstrated within each of the four taxa, both in transplanted material and in native plants of the original transplant site, there was no decisive correlation of biochemical variation with geographic origin, vegetative characteristics or maturity pattern. Early-flowering clones with short flowering culms and glabrous leaves, originating in northern and western areas, were essentially similar biochemically to later-flowering clones with tall flowering culms and extremely pubescent leaves, originating in southeastern areas. Blade samples collected in late fall, 1963, and in early spring, 1964, from the same transplanted clones were similar in flavonoid pattern. In P. virgatum. individual clonal patterns were characteristic of ramets grown under various day-length-thermoperiod conditions. Although biochemical markers for ecotypes would be useful êological tools, partially replacing their cultivation in transplant gardens, geographically correlated patterns were not revealed in this study. However, this study supports the present systematic position of the various morphologically and behaviorally diverse populations within the four taxa.     

SURVEY OF BENTHIC DIATOM COMMUNITIES FROM LOTIC SYSTEMS WITHIN THE WESTERN ALLEGHENY PLATEAU

Over the course of 3 years (1997–1999), 72 stream sites were sampled for epilithic diatom communities. The analysis of these samples has led to the identification of over 325 species of diatoms. In addition to sampling the diatom community, selected physical and chemical parameters were recorded from each stream reach. These parameters included pH, specific conductance, current velocity, SRP, nitrate, silica, and total alkalinity. Canonical Correspondence Analysis (CCA) was used to identify influential environmental parameters and to assess the response of the diatom community to prominent anthropogenic inputs in the region (i.e. coal mine drainage, eutrophication). The initial analyses indicate that pH was the most influential environmental parameter along the first CCA axis. This shift was not unexpected, as acid mine drainage (AMD) in the region leads to a wide range of pH values (2.8–7.93). The highly acidic sites were characterized by species of the genus Eunotia (specifically E. exigua and E. steineckei), Frustulia rhomboides, and Pinnularia subcapitata. Furthermore, Achnanthidium minutissimum was the most widely distributed of the diatom species encountered, being found at 94% of the sites sampled. Streams that fluctuated between acidic and circumneutral pH (termed “teeter‐totter”) had greater abundances of Brachysira vitrea than other streams in this survey. Further implications for the use of these diatom communities as biomonitoring tools and the distribution of assemblages within the Western Allegheny Plateau will be discussed.     

ALLOZYME VARIATION WITHIN AND BETWEEN LASTHENIA MINOR AND ITS DERIVATIVE SPECIES,L. MARITIMA (ASTERACEAE)

Enzyme electrophoresis was employed to examine genetic variation at 20 loci in 16 populations of Lasthenia minor and 18 populations of its presumed derivative species L. maritima. The purposes of the study were to ascertain levels of genetic variation in each species, to assess how the variation at enzyme-coding genes is apportioned within and among populations of each species, and to determine the level of divergence between the two species. The two species are both diploid annuals, similar morphologically, and produce fertile F₁ hybrids when crossed. Lasthenia minor is self-incompatible and restricted to mainland California, whereas L. maritima is self-compatible and probably largely autogamous; it occurs on seabird rocks from central California to British Columbia. Mean genetic identities for pair-wise comparisons of populations of the two species are similar to values for populations of the same species, indicating they have not diverged at the 20 genes coding for soluble enzymes. Despite its more extensive geographical range, L. maritima exhibits only 50% of the genetic diversity of L. minor. The latter species apportions a greater amount of its diversity within populations, whereas the former harbors more diversity among populations than within them. This is probably a reflection of the different breeding systems of the two species. Six unique alleles were detected in L. minor, whereas only one novel allele was found in a single individual of L. maritima. The electrophoretic data are concordant with the suggestion that L. maritima is relatively recently derived from L. minor. The switch from outcrossing to selfing and selection of genotypes adapted to the chemically and physically unusual substrate on the seabird rocks are considered the critical steps in the evolution of L. maritima.     

大兴安岭地区兴安落叶松林步甲群落多样性时间动态分析

兴安落叶松林是大兴安岭地区代表性的植被类型,其生物多样性具有独特性。步甲是森林生态系统环境和多样性的指示性物种,以及认识环境变化和生物多样性特征的关键物种。为研究大兴安岭地区兴安落叶松林步甲群落多样性的时间动态,分析步甲群落对时间变化的响应规律,于2019年5月下旬-8月下旬步甲活跃期,利用陷阱诱捕法在兴安落叶松林5个样地中采集步甲标本共15属34种1149头,其中大兴安岭地区地理新纪录物种7种,中国地理新纪录物种6种。研究结果表明,通缘步甲属（Pterostichus）和大步甲属（Carabus）物种丰富度最高;通缘步甲属未定种5（Pterostichus eximius）为极优势物种,对时间变化最敏感。兴安落叶松林小生境类型的多样化和步甲休眠期的选择是步甲群落个体数和物种数随时间变化呈双峰模式的主要因素,最高峰均出现在6月下旬;多样性与均匀度指数均在7月上旬达高峰期,8月下旬多样性下降而均匀度上升,各指数之间相关性较低。步甲群落在6月下旬到7月下旬对环境具有较高的适应度;群落结构在环境条件相对稳定的6月下旬到7月下旬和8月上旬到8月下旬均表现为极相似（I>0.75）。物种取食特征和生活史策略的多样化使步甲群落各指数随时间变化具有显著差异,而物种取食特征和生活史策略受环境因子的综合影响较大。稳定的森林环境条件下,步甲活跃期更长,群落结构相似度更高。该结果为步甲群落时间动态研究奠定了一定的理论基础,为大兴安岭地区地下生物多样性的保护和管理策略制定提供了一定的理论和数据依据。     

Leaf pubescence mediates intraguild predation between predatory mites

Plant morphological traits such as leaf pubescence may affect herbivores and their natural enemies at the individual, population and community levels. Leaf pubescence has been repeatedly shown to mediate predator‐herbivore interactions whereas the influence of leaf pubescence on predator–predator interactions such as intraguild predation (IGP) has seldom been investigated. Using a three‐pronged approach we assessed the influence of leaf pubescence on the predatory mites Kampimodromus aberrans and Euseius finlandicus. Both predators occur on broad‐leaved trees in Europe. Euseius finlandicus is mostly found on trees with glabrous leaves whereas K. aberrans mainly occurs on trees with pubescent leaves. We hypothesized that leaf pubescence mediates IGP between K. aberrans and E. finlandicus and thereby determines their dominance and proportional abundance. A field survey on apple revealed that the abundance of K. aberrans and E. finlandicus is negatively correlated, with the former predominating on cultivars with strongly pubescent leaves and the latter predominating on cultivars with little pubescent or glabrous leaves. Microhabitat choice tests showed that K. aberrans preferentially resides on pubescent leaves whereas E. finlandicus preferentially resides on glabrous leaves. The effects of leaf pubescence on survival and development of immature IG predators and IG prey were reversed for K. aberrans and E. finlandicus. In the presence of the IG predator E. finlandicus, immature K. aberrans had higher survival probabilities on pubescent leaves than on glabrous ones. In contrast, the survival chances of immature E. finlandicus were higher on glabrous leaves than on pubescent ones when the IG predator K. aberrans was present. Artificial leaf pubescence enhanced IG prey capture by immature K. aberrans and prolonged their longevity but impaired IG prey capture by immature E. finlandicus and shortened their longevity. We conclude that leaf pubescence mediates IGP strength and symmetry and discuss the implications to natural and biological control.     

Genetic affinity of the rare eastern Texas endemic Hibiscus dasycalyx (Malvaceae)

Hibiscus dasycalyx is a rare eastern Texas endemic that shares key morphologic traits with two widespread sympatric congeners, H. laevis and H. moscheutos. Working with an initial hypothesis that these taxa were possible ancestors of the endemic through diploid hybridization speciation, a ten-enzyme electrophoretic screening was conducted to determine whether H. dasycalyx exhibits a hybrid genetic profile. The three taxa share predominant alleles for all enzyme systems except ADH, GPI, and PGM, for which H. dasycalyx and H. laevis display generally identical banding patterns that differ from those of H. moscheutos. An analysis of diagnostic leaf shape and calyx pubescence features of eastern Texas H. laevis revealed substantial variation among populations, including forms intermediate between typical H. laevis and H. dasycalyx. In greenhouse hand-pollinations, H. dasycalyx plants serving as ovule parents were freely compatible with H. laevis. Due to the possession of identical isozymes, the occurrence of morphologically intermediate populations where the species cooccur and exhibit an apparent lack of reproductive isolation, the endemic H. dasycalyx may be best regarded as a subspecies or variety of H. laevis, the taxon it most resembles morphologically. Conservation efforts should consider the potential effects of contaminating gene flow with typical H. laevis.     

Plantago lanceolata L. and Rumex acetosella L. differ in their utilisation of soil phosphorus fractions

To establish relationships between soil phosphorus (P) fractions and leaf P, a mycorrhizal species (Plantago lanceolata L.) was compared with a typically non-mycorrhizal species (Rumex acetosella L.) in a glasshouse experiment. The plants were grown in 40 soils from non-fertilised, abandoned pastures or abandoned arable fields and leaf P concentration were found to be related to various soil P fractions after six weeks of growth. The differences in the P fractions in soil can account for a large share of the variation in leaf P concentration in both species, but the two species differed in their utilisation of P fractions. Leaf P concentration of R. acetosella was more related to extractable soil P than that of P. lanceolata. Rumex acetosella showed a higher maximum P concentration. The P fractions accounting for the largest share of the variation in leaf P concentration was the Bray 1 extractable and the weak oxalate (1 mM) extractable P, and for P. lanceolata also the Na₂SO₄+NaF extractable P fraction. P extracted with these methods accounted for up to 80% of the variation in P concentration in leaves of R. acetosella and 65% of the variation in leaves of P. lanceolata. More P extractable with weak oxalate, Na₂SO₄+NaF and strong oxalate (50 mM) was released from the soil than was taken up by the plants during the experimental period. The Bray 1 extractable P fraction, however, decreased in both unplanted and planted soils. Phosphatase release was not induced in any of the plants during the experimental period, indicating that they were not mobilising soil organic P. However, some of the methods extracted a large share of the organic P and still explained much of the variation in leaf P concentration. Mycorrhizal colonisation of P. lanceolata was inversely related to the extractable soil P. The consistently fast P uptake of R. acetosella indicates that this species have a high demand for P. The differences in P utilisation between R. acetosella and P. lanceolata could be caused by their different mycorrhizal status.