Assessment of genetic diversity of native species in Izu Islands for a discriminate choice of source populations: Implications for revegetation of volcanically devastated sites

In using native species for revegetation, it is necessary choose source populations carefully to reduce the risk of planting suboptimal germplasm. To make preliminary recommendations for native species to use in the revegetation of a volcanically devastated area on Miyake Is., Japan, we investigated the genetic variation of Alnus sieboldiana, Miscanthus sinensis ssp. condensatus, and Polygonum cuspidatum var. terminalis in the Izu Islands and on the Izu Peninsula based on chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) sequence variations and amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs). The amount and pattern of differentiation differ between organelle and nuclear markers, suggesting the necessity of evaluation based on both types of markers. Within-population diversity did not vary among populations, suggesting that it does not need to be considered in the choice of a source population. The pattern and degree of differentiation varied among species, and geographical proximity did not necessarily accord with genetic similarity, suggesting that the site of an appropriate source population varies among species and should be determined empirically rather than by assuming that close proximity predicts genetic similarity. The Izu Peninsula populations deviated from the island populations in all species. Comparison of cpDNA sequences with those of related species indicates the possibility of hybridization with related species on the Izu Peninsula, suggesting that seeds collected from populations where related species live sympatrically should not be used for revegetation. These findings indicate the need to assess the genetic diversity empirically by using organelle and nuclear markers to avoid unintended consequences of genetic mixing associated with revegetation.     

Long-term drought stress alters nitrogenase activity and carbon translocation in split-root cultured Alnus incana

Split-root cultured grey alder, Alnus incana (L.) Moench., was grown in sand in cuvettes with a continuous supply of nutrient solution. During the drought treatment for up to 9 days the supply of solution was withheld from one of the split-root halves. After 2–3 days of treatment, soil water became depleted and the unwatered root halves were at a constant drought stress, water potential (Ψ_nodules) = -1.1 to -1.6 MPa. Nitrogenase activity in the dry half decreased to about 70% of the initial value during the first 2–3 days and then stayed at this level. The water supply to the shoot from the wet root half was high and only a temporary slight decrease in photosynthesis and stomatal conductance was found in drought-stressed split-root plants. Labelling studies showed a reduced translocation of photoassimilates to the dry nodules. The fixation of CO₂ in the nodules seemed to be more tolerant to drought than nitrogenase activity. During the drought treatment there was an osmotic adjustment from -0.9 to -1.7 MPa, but no change in the storage of starch in the nodules. In alders where parts of the root system is kept dry these roots acclimate and continue a persistent nitrogenase activity.     

沼泽交错带白桦——长白落叶松优势种群的年龄结构及其动态

采用径级结构替代年龄结构与建立种群年龄结构模型相结合的方法,研究沼泽交错带白桦—长白落叶松优势种群的年龄结构特征。结果表明:白桦、长白落叶松和辽东桤木种群的年龄结构呈纺锤型,龄级—个体数间的关系可用Lognormal函数表征;种群动态量化指数V'_(pi)为辽东桤木(9.57%)白桦(4.02%)长白落叶松(1.83%),均趋近于0,说明种群处于稳定型向衰退型过渡阶段;白桦、长白落叶松及辽东桤木种群幼龄个体严重不足,白桦和辽东桤木种群的存活曲线趋于Odum-B3型,而长白落叶松种群趋于Deevey-I型。白桦、长白落叶松及辽东桤木种群具有前期增长、中后期衰退的特征;白桦、长白落叶松和辽东桤木种群数量受基波影响显著,种群整个生活史阶段未显现小周期波动,种群发展较稳定;随着时间的推移,在未来2、4和6个龄级后,白桦、长白落叶松和辽东桤木种群老龄个体数均有增加,但由于更新幼苗个体稀少,未来必然呈衰退趋势。森林—沼泽交错带的白桦、长白落叶松及辽东桤木种群对外界环境变化有强烈的敏感性和脆弱性,人类活动扰动会影响其发育与演变,从而提高了森林—沼泽交错带地区沼泽化的风险。因此,应减少人类活动对森林—沼泽交错带的干扰,加强对这一地区植被群落的保护与管理。     

台湾桤木引种气候生态适生区分析

选择了年平均温度、最冷月平均温度等9个影响台湾桤木(Alnusformosana)分布和生长的关键气候因子,运用模糊相似优先比法,探讨台湾桤木在我国的适生范围。结果表明,台湾桤木气候生态适生区主要分布在长江流域及其以南的部分中亚热带、南亚热带和热带地区,适宜区表现出明显的热带南亚热带性质,次适宜区以中亚热带性质为主。适生区的气候特点是:年均温度在15℃以上,极端最低温在-10℃以上,年降水量在1 000 mm以上,一年中降水量<50 mm的月份不超过5个月。适生区气象因子的主成分分析表明,第一主成分温度因子(年均温、≥10℃积温、最冷月平均温和极端最低温)影响台湾桤木的成活和分布,第二主成分和第三主成分(温度和降水)的综合作用影响台湾桤木的生长。四川和福建的引种实践表明,本预测具有一定的实用价值。     

An Analysis of Vegetation Restoration on Opencast Oil Shale Mines in Estonia

We compared four types of 30‐year‐old forest stands growing on spoil of opencast oil shale mines in Estonia. The stand types were: (1) natural stands formed by spontaneous succession, and plantations of (2) Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine), (3) Betula pendula (silver birch), and (4) Alnus glutinosa (European black alder). In all stands we measured properties of the tree layer (species richness, stand density, and volume of growing stock), understory (density and species richness of shrubs and tree saplings), and ground vegetation (aboveground biomass, species richness, and species diversity). The tree layer was most diverse though sparse in the natural stands. Understory species richness per 100‐m² plot was highest in the natural stand, but total stand richness was equal in the natural and alder stands, which were higher than the birch and pine stands. The understory sapling density was lower than 50 saplings/100 m² in the plantations, while it varied between 50 and 180 saplings/100 m² in the natural stands. Growing stock volume was the least in natural stands and greatest in birch stands. The aboveground biomass of ground vegetation was highest in alder stands and lowest in the pine stands. We can conclude that spontaneous succession promotes establishment of diverse vegetation. In plantations the establishment of diverse ground vegetation depends on planted tree species.     

Growth,ionic balance,proton excretion,and nitrate reductase activity in Alnus and Hippophaë supplied with different sources of nitrogen

Summary Pre-cultivated, nodulated and non-nodulated plants of black alder (Alnus glutinosa) and sea buckthorn (Hippophaë rhamnoides ssp.rhamnoides) were grown on different N sources, with and without acidity control. Dry matter yields were lowest when plants were supplied with only NO ₃ ^– and were much greater when NH ₄ ⁺ was supplied either alone or in combination with NO ₃ ^– as long as the external pH was controlled; the final yields of the N₂-fixing plants were relatively low, especially withH. rhamnoides. Without acidity control, yields were greatly reduced in the presence of NH ₄ ⁺ .Proton or hydroxyl-ion effluxes, calculated on the basis of plant analyses, agreed well with measured excretion values. Without pH adjustment, the total proton efflux into the external solution was greater inA. glutinosa than inH. rhamnoides.Both species, but particularlyA. glutinosa, displayed the highest nitrate reductase activity in the roots.     

Day-to-day variation in nitrogenase activity of Alnus incana explained by weather variables: a multivariate time series analysis

A modelling system is described that indicates the extent to which day-to-day variations in nitrogenase activity in young Alnus incana (L.) Moench, grown in defined conditions in the field, may be affected by weather conditions both during and prior to the day of measurement. Nitrogenase activity (acetylene reduction activity, ARA) was measured weekly on intact field-grown grey alder (A. incana) plants, 0.15–0.42 m tall at planting, nodulated with Frankia. The measurements were done at noon on two groups of plants in 1987 and on two other groups in 1988. Each group was made up of five or six plants. Seven weather variables: daily sunshine hours, daily mean, maximum and minimum air temperature, daily mean and 1300 h relative humidity, and daily rainfall were used. The relation between log(ARA/leaf area) and the weather variables were analysed using a PLS model (partial least squares projection to latent structures). The advantage of PLS is that it can handle x-variables that are correlated. Data from 1987 were chosen as a training set. Multivariate PLS time series analysis was made by adding, in a stepwise manner, the weather data up to 5 d before the day of measurement. This procedure gave six models with n * 7 x-variables (n= 1–6). With the models from the time series analysis of 1987 data, true predictions of ARA per leaf area were made from weather data 1988 (test set 1) and from ‘early-season’ weather data from 1987 and 1988 (test set 2). The variation in ARA/leaf area could be predicted from the weather conditions. The predictions of the two test sets improved when the weather conditions one and two days before the day of measurements were added to the model. The further addition of weather data from 3 to 5 d before the day of measurement did not improve the model. The good predictions of ARA/leaf area show that the alders responded to the variable weather conditions in the same way in 1988 as in 1987, despite the ten-fold difference in size (leaf area) at the end of the growing season. Among the weather variables, air temperature and the daily sunshine hours were positively correlated to ARA, while relative air humidity and rainfall were negatively correlated to ARA. The daily minimum temperature and rainfall appeared to have least impact on ARA. By use of PLS, we could extract information out of a data set containing highly correlated x-variables, information that is non-accessible with conventional statistical tools such as multiple regression. When making measurements of nitrogenase activities under field conditions, we propose that attention should be paid to the weather conditions on the days preceding the day of measurement. The day-to-day variation in nitrogenase activity is discussed with reference to known effects of stress factors under controlled conditions.     

Estimation of carbon storage, carbon inputs, and soil CO2 efflux of alder plantations on granite soil in central Korea: comparison with Japanese larch plantation

Alder is a typical species used for forest rehabilitation after disturbances because of its N₂-fixing activities through microbes. To investigate forest dynamics of the carbon budget, we determined the aboveground and soil carbon content, carbon input by litterfall to belowground, and soil CO₂ efflux over 2 years in 38-year-old alder plantations in central Korea. The estimated aboveground carbon storage and increment were 47.39 Mg C ha⁻¹ and 2.17 Mg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. Carbon storage in the organic layer and in mineral soil in the topsoil to 30 cm depth were, respectively, 3.21 and 66.85 Mg C ha⁻¹. Annual carbon input by leaves and total litter in the study stand were, respectively, 1.78 and 2.68 Mg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. The aboveground carbon increment at this stand was similar to the annual carbon inputs by total litterfall. The diurnal pattern of soil CO₂ efflux was significantly different in May, August, and October, typically varying approximately twofold throughout the course of a day. In the seasonally observed pattern, soil CO₂ efflux varied strongly with soil temperature; increasing trends were evident during the early growing season, with sustained high rates from mid May through late October. Soil CO₂ efflux was related exponentially to soil temperature (R ² = 0.85, P < 0.0001), but not to soil water content. The Q ₁₀ value for this plantation was 3.8, and annual soil respiration was estimated at 10.2 Mg C ha⁻¹ year⁻¹. An erratum to this article can be found at