Does river regulation increase the dominance of invasive woody species in riparian landscapes?

Aim A regional analysis was used to explore the influence of river regulation on the dominance of non‐native, invasive shrubs and trees. We addressed the following questions: (1) How do large dams affect hydrological parameters that influence riparian vegetation? (2) How do flow regimes affect the dominance of non‐native woody species? (3) How do changes in flow regimes affect the dominance of non‐native woody species? Location South‐western USA. Methods We sampled the canopy cover of woody species on 179 point bars along seven non‐dammed and thirteen dammed river segments. Wilcoxon rank sum tests were used to determine differences between flow parameters in dammed and non‐dammed rivers. We used correlation analyses and generalized linear model comparisons to examine associations of flow parameters and canopy cover of native (Populus and Salix) and non‐native (Tamarix and Elaeagnus) taxa. An index of flow alteration that was created using principal components analysis was regressed with vegetation cover. Results Tamarix cover was positively related to drainage area, flow constancy, August and May median flow and flow recession rate, but Elaeagnus cover was unrelated to flow variables. River segments with peak flows in late summer or high constancy had the highest Tamarix cover. Populus cover was positively influenced by low maximum temperatures and frequent high pulses. Flow alteration was negatively related to Populus cover and positively related to Tamarix cover. Total non‐native, Elaeagnus and Salix covers were not correlated with flow alteration. Main conclusions Rivers with a large drainage area and low flow variability are inherently more vulnerable to invasions. River regulation does not necessarily increase the cover of non‐native, invasive species. Instead, changes in flow allow proliferation of species that have life‐history traits suited to modified flow regimes. River restoration projects that aim to reinstate natural flow regimes should be designed with knowledge of native and non‐native species' life history strategies.     

沙枣(Elaeagnus angustifolia L.)研究现状与展望

沙枣(Elaeagnus angustifolia L.)是胡颓子科胡颓子属的一种小乔木,是一种集生态效益与经济效益于一体的资源植物,是西北地区具有开发利用前景的重要资源.对我国上世纪60年代至今对沙枣的研究文献作一综述,包括沙枣果实、花、叶、果核及树液的成分、木材的理化性质、沙枣的生理生态学特性、引种实验、繁殖方法、品种划分等方面的工作.最后提出了沙枣利用中存在的问题及建议.     

中国胡颓子属（胡颓子科）六个植物名称后选模式指定

根据保存于中国科学院华南植物园植物标本馆（IBSC）、中国科学院植物研究所植物标本馆（PE）和四川大学生命科学学院植物标本馆（SZ）复份标本的研究,对中国胡颓子科(Elaeagnaceae)胡颓子属(Elaeagnus)的6个植物名称作出后选模式指定。     

Molecular cloning of a cDNA encoding glutamine synthetase from root nodules ofElaeagnus umbellate

We analyzed a cDNA clone encoding cytosolic glutamine synthetase,EuNOD-GS1, isolated from a root nodule cDNA library ofElaeagnus umbellata. This clone has an insert size of 1359 bp and encodes a protein for 355 amino-acid residues, with a molecular weight of 39.2 kDa. Its expression is slightly higher in the root nodules than in the leaves or uninfected roots. Analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences and phytogeny revealed thatEuNOD-GS1 is clustered with cytosolic GS-α isoenzymes. Therefore, based on this and previous results, we propose that the main physiological role ofEuNOD-GS1 is the assimilation of ammonia from secondary and, in part, primary sources.     

Altitude-related shift of relative abundance from insect to sunbird pollination in Elaeagnus umbellata (Elaeagnaceae)

The evolution of floral traits has been thought to be influenced by local, effective pollinators. However, little attention has been paid to the possibility that altitudinal variation in floral traits could be mediated by local pollinator functional groups, particularly a shift from bees to birds. Plant size, floral traits, pollinators and their pollination roles were investigated in the spring-flowering shrub Elaeagnus umbellata (Elaeagnaceae) at three altitudes (1160, 1676, and 2050 m) in Minshan, Sichuan Province, on the northern rim of the Hengduan Mountains, southwest China. Compared to lower altitudes, higher-altitude plants were smaller but the floral tubes were longer, with a larger volume of nectar of lower sugar concentration but with a greater proportion of sucrose. The visitation frequency of bees decreased with altitude, whereas the sunbirds did the opposite. Birds and bees foraged for nectar but not pollen, and birds deposited more pollen grains per visit relative to bees and least were syrphid flies. Excluding birds decreased seed set at high but not at mid- or low altitude. Our study of E. umbellata revealed an association between altitudinal variation in floral traits and a change in the relative abundance of the major pollinators with altitude from majority bees to majority sunbirds. Although abiotic factors also tend to vary with altitude and can affect floral traits, nectar properties of “pro-bird” pollination were observed at high altitude.     

Effects of physical disturbance and granivory on establishment of native and alien riparian trees in Colorado, U.S.A.

Abstract.  In western North America, the alien Elaeagnus angustifolia L. invades riparian habitats usually dominated by pioneer woody species such as Populus deltoides Marshall ssp. monilifera (Aiton) Eckenwalder . We conducted manipulative field experiments to compare the importance of physical disturbance and granivory for seedling establishment of these two species. We planted seeds of both species in disturbed and undisturbed study plots, and used exclosures, seed dish trials and live-trapping to assess the role of granivory. Seedling establishment of both species was increased by physical disturbance and seeds of both species were subject to granivory. However, the relative importance of these two factors differed between species. For P. deltoides , lack of physical disturbance prevented seedling establishment in uncleared subplots, but granivory did not prevent seedling establishment outside of exclosures. For E. angustifolia , granivory prevented seedling establishment outside of exclosures, but lack of physical disturbance did not prevent establishment in uncleared subplots. The lesser dependence on disturbance may enable E. angustifolia to invade areas characterized by low levels of fluvial disturbance, such as floodplains along regulated rivers, where P. deltoides recruitment does not occur. Populations of granivorous rodents may affect the susceptibility of riparian ecosystems to invasion by E. angustifolia .     

新疆胡颓子属植物花部性状的变异及其分类学价值

新疆胡颓子属植物栽培历史久、变异丰富、种下变异类型多、分类较为困难,因此有必要进一步发掘该属落叶组植物的分类学特征,尤其是对相对保守的繁殖器官的性状进行筛选。该研究以形态较为稳定的繁殖器官为切入点,分析花部性状的变异特点,筛选稳定性状,以期为解决该属的分类难题提供依据。先采用定株采集和同花标记的方法,对比分析了柱头形态、花盘先端有毛无毛、花柱与雄蕊的长短比、花被裂片程度四个性状的稳定性。结果表明:花盘先端有毛无毛、花柱与雄蕊的长短比、花被裂片程度三个性状较稳定,可以作为分类依据;柱头形态在单花中表现稳定,但在单株中出现极大的变异,不具有分类价值;然后采取新疆南、北疆地区的胡颓子属落叶组的尖果沙枣、大果沙枣和沙枣这三种来验证花部性状的稳定性,证明了上述结论的正确性,同时也是对该属分类研究实践的应用。该结果可为胡颓子属的经典分类学和形态学研究以及植物的开发和利用等提供参考依据。     

壳聚糖絮凝沉淀纯化翅果油树叶片多糖的方法探究

采用壳聚糖絮凝沉淀法对翅果油树(Elaeagnus mollis Diels)叶片多糖进行纯化研究,分别考察了壳聚糖用量、絮凝时间、絮凝温度及溶液酸碱度(pH)对吸附色素、沉降蛋白质和多糖损失率的影响,并采用正交试验优化出壳聚糖絮凝法纯化翅果油树叶片多糖的最佳条件为:壳聚糖用量1 mg/mL、溶液pH值=5、絮凝时间50~70 min、絮凝温度20~40℃。实验结果表明,在最佳条件下,色素含量和蛋白质含量分别降低了69%左右和35%左右,多糖的纯度也得到了一定的提高。     

Biomass partitioning and water content relationships at the branch and whole-plant levels and as a function of plant size in Elaeagnus mollis populations in Shanxi, North China

Understanding of the biomass (dry weight) allocation and water relations in populations will provide useful information on the growth patterns and resource-allocation dynamics. By destructive sampling, foliage, branch and root biomass were measured in the endangered shrub Elaeagnus mollis populations growing in Shanxi province, North China. Biomass partitioning and water content relationships were compared at the branch and whole-plant levels, and as a function of basal diameter (plant size). The biomass was mainly distributed in the bigger branches at the branch level, and in the branch wood at the whole-plant level, and branch biomass (but not foliage or root biomass) increases significantly with increasing basal diameter. As a result, branch wood became the major biomass pool, even though considerable biomass was also allocated to the roots. However, the relative water content decreased from the periphery of the crown to the interior of the shrub at the branch level, and from the aboveground to the belowground at the whole-plant level though no significant variation among foliage, branches, and roots. Yet it increased significantly for the whole-plant with increasing basal diameter. The ratio of belowground to aboveground biomass was smaller than 1.0, even as a function of basal diameter. These growth responses indicated a strong adaptation to the shrub’s growing conditions. Biomass was primarily allocated above the ground and the aboveground components grew faster than the belowground one.     

In vitro propagation and nodulation byFrankia of actinorhizal Russian Olive (Elaeagnus angustifolia L.)

Summary Following the evaluation of the nutritional requirements for thein vitro propagation ofElaeagnus angustifolia, this actinorhizal species was routinely multiplied on MS, supplemented with 100 mM sucrose and 5 M kinetin. On this medium, at a 3 week-interval, a multiplication rate of 5–10 was observed. A morphological variant occurred in culture (wet type) but it was converted into the normal type (pubescent type) by a passage on 1/2 macro MS and 1.5% agar. One hundred percent rooting was achieved in liquid medium containing 1/2 MS without growth regulators. The plantlets were transferred aseptically to a nitrogen-free artificial soil substrate and inoculated with pure cultures of differentFrankia strains which had been isolated from Elaeagnus, Shepherdia and Hippophae host plants. We thus ascertained that afterin vitro propagation, the plants retained their capacity to nodulate and sustain nitrogen fixation.