Strong relationships between vegetation and two perpendicular climate gradients high on a tropical mountain in Hawai‘i

Aim We compared vegetation patterns at high elevation on a tropical mountain with edaphic properties and position along climate gradients to examine this landscape’s potential sensitivity to climate change. Location Our study covers the cloud forest, the ecotone at the cloud forest’s upper limit, and the alpine grassland, on the north‐east corner of windward Haleakalā, Hawai‘i. The study area brackets the mean trade wind inversion (TWI), encompasses a perpendicular, east–west precipitation gradient and includes multiple edaphic contexts. Methods We collected vegetation structure and composition data in 134 plots from 1900 to 2400 m elevation, stratified east to west. We used classification trees to compare species assemblage groups with spatial (elevation, easting, aspect) and edaphic (substrate age, texture, degree slope) variables derived from a 10‐m digital elevation model and a digital geological map. Results The forest line was physiognomically sharp, and a Shipley–Keddy test showed that species distributional limits were aggregated there. Forest line elevation was not consistent, but dropped nearly 200 m from east to west. Indicator taxa for positions above or below the forest line varied from east to west. Hierarchical clustering identified species assemblage groups with significantly different composition that were distributed across the TWI and/or along east–west climate gradients. Classification trees showed that edaphic properties were not well associated with species assemblage groups, but position along two perpendicular climate gradients was. Compositional turnover was detected along both elevational and east–west gradients. Turnover of the cloud forest’s epiphytic community was particularly pronounced across east–west gradients. Lichen abundance was significantly higher at the drier end of the east–west moisture gradient, and bryophyte abundance was higher at the wetter end. Main conclusions Modern spatial patterns suggest that this landscape will respond to changes in moisture balance through changes in species assemblage and structure, especially at the ecotone. Furthermore, ecotone response to climate change may vary from east to west because of differences in species‐specific constraints or climatic context.     

Local extent of old-growth woodland modifies epiphyte response to climate change

Aim To quantify the interaction between climate and woodland continuity in determining the bioclimatic response of lichen epiphytes. Location Northern Britain (Scotland). Methods Indicator‐species analysis was used to pre‐select lichen epiphytes along parallel gradients in climate and the extent of old‐growth woodland. Nonparametric multiplicative regression was used to describe in a predictive model the individualistic response of selected species, which were projected based on climate‐change scenarios and contrasting patterns of simulated woodland loss or gain. Species with a similar response were grouped using a novel application of cluster analysis to summarize the potentially huge number of projected outcomes. Projected patterns of occurrence under climate‐change scenarios were examined for different levels of old‐growth woodland extent. Results Forty‐two lichen species were statistically significant indicator species in oceanic woodlands, and old‐growth indicators under suboptimal climatic conditions. Responses to climate‐change scenarios were contrasting, with one group comprising species projected to increase in extent in response to climate warming, and other response groups projected to decrease in occurrence, possibly in response to shifting rainfall patterns. The occurrence of all response groups had a positive relationship with old‐growth woodland extent. Main conclusions An ‘oceanic’ biogeographical group of epiphytes identified using the baseline climatic and present‐day woodland setting comprised species with a cyanobacterial photobiont or tropical phytogeographical affinities. However, within this group the individual species responses to climate‐change scenarios were contrasting. Additionally, group responses may be poorly matched with simple ecological traits. However, the studied interaction between climate and habitat continuity suggests that the impact of climate change might be offset for certain lichen epiphytes by appropriate management of woodland resources, for example, expansion of native woodland around remnant old‐growth stands.     

IMPACTS OF MESOGRAZERS ON EPIPHYTE AND ENDOPHYTE GROWTH ASSOCIATED WITH CHEMICALLY DEFENDED MACROALGE FROM THE WESTERN ANTARCTIC PENINSULA: A MESOCOSM EXPERIMENT1

It has been hypothesized that the extensive mesograzer community along the western Antarctic Peninsula regulates epiphytic algae as well as emergent filaments from endophytic species. Should grazing limit growth of fouling or potentially pathogenic microphytes, then Antarctic macrophytes may actually benefit from the remarkably high densities of mesograzer amphipods that occur in these waters. Although initially counterintuitive, the negative impacts of epi/endophyte fouling may outweigh stresses caused by limited amphipod grazing on chemically defended macrophytes by reducing stress from endo/epiphyte biomass. If so, then alleviating mesograzing stress should result in significant increases in endo/epiphytic biomass. To test this hypothesis, a mesocosm experiment was conducted. Individuals representing four common species of Antarctic macroalgae were placed in flow‐through seawater mesocosms. Amphipods were added to five mesocosms at simulated natural densities, while the other five remained herbivore free. At the end of 7 weeks, endo/epiphytic growth on individual macrophytes was quantified. Most species of macroalgae demonstrated noticeably higher instances of endophyte coverage, epiphytic diversity, and diatom colonization in consumer‐free mesocosms than in the presence of amphipods. These data suggest that macroalgae along the western Antarctic Peninsula rely on grazers to control populations of potentially harmful epiphytes. We hypothesize that the chemically defended macroalgal flora lives in mutualism with high densities of mesograzers, providing amphipods with shelter from predation while continually being cleaned of potentially harmful endo/epiphytes.     

Seasonal changes in composition and biomass of epiphytic algae on the macrophyte Ranunculus penicillatus in a chalk stream,with estimates of production,and observations on the epiphytes of Cladophora glomerata

The epiphytic algae on surfaces of the macrophyte Ranunculus penicillatus (Dumort.) Bab. var. calcareus (R. W. Butcher) C. D. K. Cook and on Cladophora glomerata (L.) Kütz growing in the River Itchen at Otterbourne near Southampton were studied between February 1984 and June 1985. The river at this site has a mean flow rate of 0.33 m s^–1, and is about 16 m wide and on average 20 cm deep, with a discharge ranging through the year between 0.34 and 2.46 m³ s^–1. The pH of the river varies little around 8.2, with a mean alkalinity of 236 mg HCO _inf3 ^sup1 l^–1, because of its origin from chalk springs. Ranunculus grows throughout the year, with peaks of biomass in spring and autumn. It forms a very large surface for attachment of epiphytes, and covers on average 40% of the stream bed. Numbers of epiphyte cells removed from Ranunculus ranged through the year between 52 × 10³ and 271 × 10³ cells mm^–2 stream floor, with maximum numbers in April, and a secondary peak in October. This pattern partly reflects fluctuations in the biomass of Ranunculus; the number of cells per unit area of plant surface showed a broader spring peak and lower fluctuations in other seasons. Diatoms formed 65 to 98% of these epiphyte cells, with chlorophytes reaching their peak (10%) in summer and cyanophytes (25%) in autumn. Estimates of biomass of these epiphytic forms, derived from measurements of chlorophyll c, indicate a range between 30 and 100 g dry weight m^–2 of weed bed. Colonisation studies showed that the algae grow and reproduce throughout the year, with a mean generation time of about 5 days, suggesting an annual production of about 3 kg dry weight m^–2 of weed bed, which makes epiphytic algae the principal primary producers in the stream. The numbers and biomass of epiphytic algae on Cladophora are considerably less.The species of epiphytic algae found on Ranunculus were generally similar to those growing on Cladophora, and to epilithic algae on pebbles of the stream bed, but different species were dominant on the different substrata. Algal cells in the water column were all derived from benthic habitats, although their relative abundance was very different.     

15N natural abundance of vascular rainforest epiphytes: implications for nitrogen source and acquisition

The foliar natural abundance of ¹⁵N was analysed to compare the potential nitrogen sources of vascular rainforest epiphytes and associated soil-rooted trees. Leaves of epiphytes collected from six rainforest communities in Brazil, Australia and the Solomon Islands were depleted in ¹⁵N relative to the trees at each site. Epiphyte δ¹⁵N was as low as -6.4%_o, while trees were generally enriched in ¹⁵N (0.7 to 3.5%_o). These results indicate either that epiphytes use nitrogen sources depleted in ¹⁵N or that discrimination against ¹⁵N is an intrinsic function of epiphyte physiology. At three sites, epiphytes could be grouped into those having both low δ¹⁵N and low leaf-nitrogen content and those possessing both high δ¹⁵N and high leaf-nitrogen content. The second group had δ¹⁵N values in the range sometimes attributable to N₂ fixation (-2 to 0%o). There was no correlation between growth form and δ¹⁵N. It is concluded that epiphytes may utilize ¹⁵N-depleted nitrogen from atmospheric deposition and N₂ fixation.     

Epiphytic diatoms of the inshore marine area near Davis Station

Collections of macrophytic algae from the subtidal and lower intertidal regions were processed to observe the diatom epiphytes both by light and scanning electron microscopy. For the purpose of comparison some samples of the sub-ice assemblage were also collected and processed similarly. The standing crop of epiphytes was high throughout the winter as well as the summer but the community composition varied depending upon the collection site and the morphology of the host macrophyte. The genus Cocconeis was ubiquitous achieving densities approaching 10⁵ cells cm⁻² and surpassed only by Nitzchiawith a density of twice that amount on one sample.     

附生蕨类植物的克隆性研究进展

石松类及蕨类植物在高等植物中处于比较特殊的进化与系统发育地位, 同时具有孢子植物(孢子)与种子植物(维管束)的双重特征。附生蕨类植物是蕨类植物中占据独特生境的一个大类群, 其生活史策略及进化历史与其附生生长的森林生态系统紧密相关。大部分附生蕨类植物的克隆生长习性及克隆生活史性状在其生态适应中具有重要作用, 但这方面未引起广泛关注。本文主要综述了中国山地森林中附生蕨类植物的根状茎克隆生长、克隆性与生态适应性、不同克隆生长方式与进化等方面, 并展望了蕨类植物克隆性在森林生态系统过程与功能中的作用, 以及今后如何将蕨类植物生态学研究与气候变化、植被恢复、土地利用变化等全球变化的主流方向进行结合。     

哀牢山湿性常绿阔叶林地生、树干及树枝 附生苔藓生活型组成及其水分特性

为探讨林内不同垂直高度生境下及不同生活型苔藓植物水分特征的差异,该文对哀牢山湿性常绿阔叶林内地生苔藓、林下树干附生和林冠层树枝附生苔藓优势或常见种的生活型组成、持水力、失水特征和水分利用效率进行了研究。结果表明:地生、树干附生和树枝附生苔藓植物类群分别以交织型、扇型、悬垂型苔藓植物占据优势;地生、树干附生、枝条附生苔藓植物的饱和持水率分别为476%DW、210.98%DW、238.95%DW;地生苔藓植物的持水率和失水速率均高于附生苔藓,树干附生苔藓植物持水率低于树枝附生苔藓,而失水速率高于树枝附生苔藓。在不同生活型苔藓的水分特性上,交织型苔藓具有较高的持水率和失水速率,保水性能较弱,其次为悬垂型苔藓,扇型苔藓的持水率最小,失水速率也较快;地生和树干附生苔藓的水分利用效率均显著高于树干附生苔藓,交织型和扇型苔藓的水分利用效率显著高于悬垂型苔藓。在三种生境下,地生苔藓持水力高,水分利用效率较高而保水能力低;枝条附生苔藓持水力低,水分利用效率低而保水能力较高;树干附生苔藓水分利用效率较高而持水力和保水能力均较差。因此,不同生境下苔藓植物生活型组成及其水分变化特性在一定程度上反映了它们对不同生境的适应策略。