Low host specificity of root‐associated fungi at an Arctic site

In High Arctic ecosystems, plant growth and reproduction are limited by low soil moisture and nutrient availability, low soil and air temperatures, and a short growing season. Mycorrhizal associations facilitate plant nutrient acquisition and water uptake and may therefore be particularly ecologically important in nutrition‐poor and dry environments, such as parts of the Arctic. Similarly, endophytic root associates are thought to play a protective role, increasing plants' stress tolerance, and likely have an important ecosystem function. Despite the importance of these root‐associated fungi, little is known about their host specificity in the Arctic. We investigated the host specificity of root‐associated fungi in the common, widely distributed arctic plant species Bistorta vivipara, Salix polaris and Dryas octopetala in the High Arctic archipelago Svalbard. High‐throughput sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) amplified from whole root systems generated no evidence of host specificity and no spatial autocorrelation within two 3 m × 3 m sample plots. The lack of spatial structure at small spatial scales indicates that Common Mycelial Networks (CMNs) are rare in marginal arctic environments. Moreover, no significant differences in fungal OTU richness were observed across the three plant species, although their root system characteristics (size, biomass) differed considerably. Reasons for lack of host specificity could be that association with generalist fungi may allow arctic plants to more rapidly and easily colonize newly available habitats, and it may be favourable to establish symbiotic relationships with fungi possessing different physiological attributes.     

Micro-Scale Restoration: A 25-Year History of a Southern Illinois Barrens

We studied vegetation change of a remnant barrens in southern Illinois over twenty‐five years. The study area was periodically burned between 1969 and 1993, but fire was excluded for a 16‐year period (1974–1989). During the study, the barrens supported a mixture of species whose preferred habitats ranged from prairie and open woodlands to closed forest communities. The herbaceous vegetation may be on a trajectory characterized by increasing dominance of woodland species and declining prairie species. Fire management temporarily reversed this trend, but it continued once fire was excluded. Reintroduction of prescribed burning in 1990–1993 altered the vegetation trajectory but not back toward a species composition comparable to that present on the site before cessation of fire management after 1973. Following interruption of prescribed burning, tree basal area more than doubled, and density showed a 67% increase between premanagement conditions in 1968 and 1988. Salix humilis (prairie willow) density had significant negative correlations with tree density and basal area. However, there was no consistency in response of shrub species on the site to the varied site conditions over time. Fire management on the site may not recover the historic barrens that occurred on the site. Nevertheless, consistent fire management will drive vegetation changes toward increasing abundance of prairie and open woodland species that would otherwise be lost without burning.     

Deer Herbivory as an Ecological Constraint to Restoration of Degraded Riparian Corridors

Ungulate herbivory can impact riparian vegetation in several ways, such as by reducing vigor or reproductive output of mature plants, and through increased mortality of seedlings and saplings. Much work has focused on the effects of livestock grazing within riparian corridors, while few studies have addressed the influence of native ungulate herbivory on riparian vegetation. This study investigated the effect of deer herbivory on riparian regeneration along three streams with degraded riparian corridors in Mendocino County, California. We utilized existing stream restoration efforts by private landowners and natural resource agencies to compare six deer exclosures with six upstream control plots. Livestock were excluded from both exclosure and control plots. Three of the deer exclosures had been in place for 15 years, one for 6 years, and two for 4 years. The abundance and size distribution of woody riparian plant species such as Salix exigua, S. laevigata, S. lasiolepis, Alnus rhombifolia, and Fraxinus latifolia were quantified for each exclosure and control plot. The mean density of saplings in deer exclosures was 0.49 ± 0.15/m², while the mean density of saplings in control plots was 0.05 ± 0.02/m². Within exclosures, 35% of saplings were less than 1 m and 65% were greater than 1 m; within control plots, 97% of saplings were less than 1 m in height. The fact that little regeneration had occurred in control plots suggests that deer herbivory can substantially reduce the rate of recovery of woody riparian species within degraded riparian corridors. Exclusionary fencing has demonstrated promising results for riparian restoration in a region with intense deer herbivory.     

Effects of leaf beetle damage on stem wood production in coppicing willow

1 The effect of defoliation by larvae of the leaf beetle Phratora vulgatissima on current‐year stem wood production of resprouting Salix viminalis was investigated for two years. Adjacent subplots with varying levels of defoliation within one large willow plantation in south Sweden were studied in the two years. 2 High defoliation levels reduced stem wood production by an average of 32 and 39% in the two years, respectively. 3 Medium defoliation levels reduced stem wood production by 16% in one year. In the other year, the stem wood production of medium‐defoliated stools did not differ significantly from stools exposed to low defoliation, i.e. there was full compensatory growth. 4 The main difference between the year with compensatory growth and the one without was that overall productivity was higher in the year with compensation. This finding forms the basis for a mechanistic model by which compensation could be accomplished. We propose that the major contribution to full compensation comes from an increased growth among intermediate‐sized shoots of medium‐defoliated stools relative to the corresponding shoots in stools exposed to low defoliation.     

水淹生境下秋华柳对Cd污染土壤微生物数量及酶活性的影响

三峡库区消落带面临水淹及Cd污染双重胁迫,为探究秋华柳(Salix variegata Franch.)在水淹条件下对Cd污染土壤的修复能力,以秋华柳扦插苗为试验材料,设置正常供水(CK)和水淹组(FL)两个水分处理方式,4个Cd浓度梯度:对照组(0mg/kg)、低浓度(0.5mg/kg)、中浓度(2mg/kg)及高浓度(10mg/kg),分别对处理60 d和120 d的土壤微生物数量及酶活性变化特征进行研究。试验结果表明:(1)Cd浓度处理均未显著影响土壤微生物数量(P0.05),水淹显著降低处理60 d土壤细菌数、真菌数及处理120 d的土壤放线菌数及真菌数(P0.05)。(2)种植秋华柳显著提高处理60 d土壤细菌数量(P0.05),对土壤放线菌、真菌数量也有一定提升。(3)Cd浓度处理显著影响处理60 d土壤磷酸酶活性及处理120 d脲酶活性(P0.05),水淹显著降低处理60 d土壤磷酸酶活性及处理120 d脲酶、蔗糖酶和磷酸酶活性(P0.05)。(4)正常供水及水淹条件下,种植秋华柳对土壤酶活均有一定改善作用。种植秋华柳显著提高了处理60 d土壤磷酸酶活性以及处理120 d脲酶和蔗糖酶活性(P0.05)。研究结果表明:水淹生境中,秋华柳对Cd污染土壤微生物数量及酶活性具有改善作用,在Cd污染土壤修复方面有一定应用前景。     

水淹生境下秋华柳对镉污染土壤研究修复能力

以耐水淹和耐重金属的秋华柳（Salix variegata）作为试验材料,从土壤角度出发,探究秋华柳在水淹条件下对镉污染土壤的修复能力。设置无植物和种植秋华柳两个处理组,分别对两组设置两个水分处理组：正常供水组（CK）及土壤水淹组（FL）,4个镉浓度处理组：对照组（0 mg/kg）、低浓度（0.5 mg/kg）、中浓度（2 mg/kg）及高浓度（10 mg/kg）。分别于处理后的第30天和第60天对各处理组的土壤和水淹组水样进行取样。试验结果表明：（1）镉处理浓度越高,土壤中镉活性态浓度越高,生物毒性越强。（2）水淹显著降低土壤活性态Cd浓度（P < 0.05）,增大土壤修复难度。（3）种植秋华柳对30d土壤Cd全量及各形态镉浓度均无显著影响（P > 0.05）;对第60天正常供水和水淹组土壤中交换态、碳酸盐结合态的镉浓度以及60d水淹组土壤Cd全量均有显著影响（P < 0.05）。（4）秋华柳种植显著降低土壤Cd迁移系数,30d正常供水组、水淹组以及60d正常供水组和水淹组平均降幅分别为2.0%、4.12%、9.71%、9.32%。处理时间过短和试验用苗生物量小可能是秋华柳对土壤全量Cd影响不大的主要原因,但秋华柳均显著降低正常供水和水淹组土壤迁移系数且二组降幅差异不大。研究表明：水淹生境下,秋华柳对Cd污染的土壤仍有较好的修复能力。     

柳属一新变种

发表了东北柳属一新变种     

不同秸秆填埋量对盐碱土水盐运移及垂柳反射光谱的影响

在宁夏西北盐化生态脆弱区的典型盐碱化土地,通过随机区组试验,探究在栽植穴填埋秸秆2000(T_1)、7000(T_2)、12000kg/hm~2(T_3)及17000 kg/hm~2(T_4)等作隔盐层对土壤水盐运移及垂柳(Salix babylonica)反射光谱的影响,将地下土壤水盐变化与地上植物生长及生理状况相结合,以期更准确的反映出各处理对盐碱土壤改良效果及地上植被恢复情况。研究结果表明:(1)填埋一定量的秸秆作隔盐垫层可以改变地下土壤水盐的剖面分布特征。T_2、T_3和T_4处理与对照组相比,20—80 cm土层土壤含水量都显著提高,填埋的秸秆层起到了蓄水保墒的作用;都明显降低了0—80 cm土层土壤盐分含量和盐溶质浓度;但这3种处理之间无显著差别。T_1由于填埋秸秆量过少,无显著蓄水控盐效果。(2)通过检测植物叶片反射光谱可以反映出地上植物生长及生理状况的变化。填埋一定量的秸秆作为隔盐垫层有助于改善垂柳的生理状况。T_2的垂柳叶片光合色素含量最高,光合特性及营养状况最好,其他光谱参数结果都显著提高。T_3显著提高叶绿素含量和光合特性,但效果均不如T_2,且营养状况差。T_4处理类胡萝卜素含量与叶片水分含量均处于最高水平,但叶绿素含量、营养状态以及光合特性都显著降低。T_1处理效果最差。(3)在地下填埋秸秆作隔盐层,会通过对地下土壤水盐运移及微域生态系统环境的调节,影响到地上植物生长及生理状况。综合地下水盐分布与地上植物叶片反射光谱的结果,T_2是宁夏引黄灌区盐碱地改良中最适宜的秸秆填埋量。     

Floristic variation and willow carr development within a southwest England wetland

Abstract. Woodland colonization on wetlands is considered to have a detrimental effect on their ecological value, even though detailed analysis of this process is lacking. This paper provides an evaluation of the ecological changes resulting from succession of poor fen (base‐poor mire) to willow wet woodland on Goss Moor NNR in Cornwall, UK. Different ages of willow carr were associated with eight understorey communities. During willow colonization, in the ground flora, there was a progressive decrease in poor fen species and an associated increase in woodland species, which appeared to be related to an increase in canopy cover and therefore shade. The most diverse community was found to be the most recent willow and was dominated by poor fen species. The oldest willow was the second most diverse and was associated with a reduction in poor fen species and an increase in woodland species. Architectural features were used successfully to assess the general condition and structure of willow. Tree height and DBH were identified as useful parameters to accurately assess willow age in the field. The implications of active intervention to remove willow in order to conserve the full range of communities within the hydrosere are discussed.     

镉胁迫对秋华柳根系活力及其Ca、Mg、Mn、Zn、Fe积累的影响

以秋华柳为试验材料,采用水培试验方式,设置CK(0 mg·L^-1 Cd²⁺)、T₁(2 mg·L^-1 Cd²⁺)、T₂(10 mg·L^-1Cd²⁺)、T₃(20 mg·L^-1Cd²⁺)、T₄(50 mg·L^-1Cd²⁺)5种镉处理浓度,通过对秋华柳根系活力,叶、韧皮部、木质部和根部的镉含量,以及Ca、Mg、Mn、Zn、Fe 5种常规金属元素含量的测定,研究了不同浓度镉胁迫下秋华柳根系活力及Ca、Mg、Mn、Zn、Fe 等金属元素含量的变化.结果表明:1)秋华柳根系活力随着镉处理浓度的增加而逐渐下降,当镉浓度≥10 mg·L^-1时,根系活力与对照相比显著下降.2)随着镉处理浓度的增加,秋华柳叶中Fe的积累受到显著抑制;韧皮部Mg、Mn、Fe的积累受到显著抑制;木质部Ca、Mg、Mn、Zn、Fe 等5种常规金属元素的积累无显著性差异;根部5种常规金属元素的吸收和积累受到显著抑制,表现出镉对其他金属元素积累的拮抗作用.其中,50 mg·L^-1的镉胁迫下,根部Zn的积累量降幅最大,受Cd的抑制最明显.3)各处理组Fe的转移系数与对照相比均无显著性差异;Ca、Mg、Mn、Zn的转移系数均高于对照,且在一定的镉处理水平上差异显著.4)镉胁迫下,秋华柳根部镉的积累量与Ca的积累量呈显著负相关,与其他4种常规金属元素的积累量呈极显著负相关,说明根部常规金属元素的变化可作为秋华柳受镉毒害程度的指示之一.