Promoting survival prospects of rare plants

Many hypotheses have been put forward to explain the structure and position of alpine treelines. The spatial complexity of the ecotone, ranging from sharp boundaries to networks of tree patches within a heath matrix, may explain why no consensus has been reached. In this paper, we discuss factors from abiotic disturbances to herbivory that may help understand the spatial structure of the alpine treeline ecotone in Fennoscandia. The ecotone is dominated by mountain birch (Betula pubescens ssp. tortuosa), and may show a wide range of spatial structures. We discuss the influence of topography, seed limitations, seedling establishment, growth limitations, abiotic disturbances and herbivory as structuring factors. All of these factors may operate, but their relative importance in space and time is unknown. There is a basic difference between factors that prevent the establishment of trees, and thus act on early life history stages, and factors that thin out a previously dense forest, and thus act on adult trees. Mortality caused directly or indirectly by geometrid moths may belong to the latter category. We suggest that seedling and sapling mortality is more important than seed limitation for the establishment of new individuals in the treeline ecotone. Important mortality factors may be abiotic disturbances, competition (or allelopathy) from field layer plants and herbivory. The relative role of these factors needs to be examined further.     

两种芒箕覆盖度下毛竹林土壤团聚体的稳定性及生态化学计量特征比较研究

为了解毛竹林下不同盖度芒萁种群对土壤碳含量和养分状况的影响，研究了四川长宁县芒萁(Dicranopteris dichoyoma)盖度分别为7.75%(PE)和63.25%(DD)下的毛竹(Phyllostachys edulis)林土壤团聚体稳定性和生态化学计量特征。结果表明,DD样方土壤大团聚体含量显著低于PE样方，进而导致团聚体稳定性降低。DD样方土壤总有机碳(TOC)、全氮(TN)、全磷(TP)含量显著低于PE样方，且TP降幅最大，使得土壤C:N、C:P和N:P显著增加。毛竹凋落叶和细根的TOC、TN、TP、C:N、C:P和N:P在DD和PE样方间无显著差异，但DD样方芒萁凋落叶和细根的TN和TP含量显著高于毛竹。相关分析表明PE毛竹细根的TP含量仅与大团聚体的TP含量呈显著正相关；DD毛竹和芒萁细根的TP含量与大团聚体、微团聚体和中团聚体的TP含量均呈显著正相关。毛竹林下高盖度的芒萁种群降低了土壤团聚体稳定性和土壤C、N、P含量，通过改变土壤生态化学计量特征进而增加毛竹和芒萁细根对土壤不同粒径团聚体N和P的吸收，尤其是对P的吸收。因此，在川南地区粗放经营毛竹林中应考虑调整林下...     

施氮和短时光辐射变化条件下毛竹幼苗光合限速因子分析

为了解析施氮和短时光辐射变化下毛竹幼苗的光合限速因子,该文对毛竹幼苗进行施氮处理,并在不同光照辐射条件下(高光:1200μmol·m-2·s-1,低光:200μmol·m-2·s-1)测定其光响应曲线和CO2响应曲线,并利用改进的FvCB模型研究了毛竹幼苗的光合特性.结果表明:(1)经过施氮处理的毛竹幼苗生物量显著高于...     

Multispecies interactions among a plant parasite,a pollinator and a seed predator affect the reproductive output of an invasive plant,Cytisus scoparius

Interactions between species pairs are almost always mediated by interactions with other species. The outcomes of these multispecies interactions are often difficult to predict and are rarely studied. In addition to their theoretical importance, multispecies interactions are also important for management situations. Where multiple agents are used to control invasive species, interactions between agents may either enhance or reduce the impacts on the target species, or may simply have additive effects. In this study, conducted in a Mediterranean‐type woodland in Australia, we examined how the interaction between an invasive legume, Cytisus scoparius (Leguminosae), its pollinator, Apis mellifera and a seed predator, Bruchidius villosus (Bruchidae), are modified by a native hemiparasitic vine, Cassytha pubescens (Loranthaceae). The parasite had a direct negative effect on C. scoparius, reducing flowering by 50% and consequently fruit and seed production. Despite having fewer flowers, infected plants had the same proportion of ‘tripped’ flowers, an indirect measure of pollinator visitation, as uninfected plants; although fruit formed on infected plants it was more likely to abort prematurely. Seed predation by B. villosus was lower on parasite‐infected C. scoparius plants than in uninfected plants. Although Ca. pubescens had an antagonistic effect on B. villosus, in consort, the two agents reduced overall seed production by an average of 62%. The acquired parasite Ca. pubescens was more effective in reducing reproductive output than the introduced seed predator, B. villosus, and shows potential as a biocontrol agent for C. scoparius. We documented a subadditive effect of two biological enemies on the invasive species, where the acquired parasite had a stronger effect than the introduced seed predator.     

Physical Sheltering and Liming Improve Survival and Performance of Mountain Birch Seedlings: A 5-Year Study in a Heavily Polluted Industrial Barren

Denuded landscapes adjacent to big polluters represent an extremely harsh environment for plants due to a unique combination of soil toxicity and physical stress. In a 5‐year experiment we tested whether survival and performance of seedlings of Mountain birch (Betula pubescens ssp. czerepanovii) planted in two barren sites around the nickel–copper smelter at Monchegorsk, northwestern Russia, can be enhanced by physical sheltering and how large the supposed benefits to survival and performance are in relation to liming. Seedling performance was assessed by measuring growth parameters and chlorophyll fluorescence. Physical sheltering was found to be beneficial in some conditions: when soil characteristics were not so harsh as to cause 100% mortality, sheltering increased both survival and performance of birch seedlings. Although the benefits of liming on seedling performance and survival were stronger than the benefits of sheltering, sheltering may still have its uses in restoration when large‐scale liming is not applicable, for example, when the ecological side effects of liming are to be avoided.