The role of ecosystem transpiration in creating alternate moisture regimes by influencing atmospheric moisture convergence

The terrestrial water cycle links the soil and atmosphere moisture reservoirs through four fluxes: precipitation, evaporation, runoff, and atmospheric moisture convergence (net import of water vapor to balance runoff). Each of these processes is essential for sustaining human and ecosystem well-being. Predicting how the water cycle responds to changes in vegetation cover remains a challenge. Recently, changes in plant transpiration across the Amazon basin were shown to be associated disproportionately with changes in rainfall, suggesting that even small declines in transpiration (e.g., from deforestation) would lead to much larger declines in rainfall. Here, constraining these findings by the law of mass conservation, we show that in a sufficiently wet atmosphere, forest transpiration can control atmospheric moisture convergence such that increased transpiration enhances atmospheric moisture import and results in water yield. Conversely, in a sufficiently dry atmosphere increased transpiration reduces atmospheric moisture convergence and water yield. This previously unrecognized dichotomy can explain the otherwise mixed observations of how water yield responds to re-greening, as we illustrate with examples from China's Loess Plateau. Our analysis indicates that any additional precipitation recycling due to additional vegetation increases precipitation but decreases local water yield and steady-state runoff. Therefore, in the drier regions/periods and early stages of ecological restoration, the role of vegetation can be confined to precipitation recycling, while once a wetter stage is achieved, additional vegetation enhances atmospheric moisture convergence and water yield. Recent analyses indicate that the latter regime dominates the global response of the terrestrial water cycle to re-greening. Evaluating the transition between regimes, and recognizing the potential of vegetation for enhancing moisture convergence, are crucial for characterizing the consequences of deforestation as well as for motivating and guiding ecological restoration.     

了哥王叶功能性状特征及其对土壤因子的响应

为探究了哥王Wikstroemiaindica的叶功能性状特征及其影响因素,在海岛植被调查的基础上对了哥王叶片进行取样并测定其功能性状指标,利用变异系数法和Pearson相关性分析探讨叶功能性状之间的差异与联系,运用冗余分析研究了哥王叶功能性状对土壤因子的响应。结果表明,了哥王的叶功能性状变异系数介于9.76%～23.73%,其中叶体积变异幅度最大(23.73%),叶干物质含量变异幅度最小(9.76%),整体上了哥王叶功能性状保持相对稳定。了哥王各项叶功能性状之间具有一定的相关性,联系较密切。了哥王叶功能性状主要受土壤中有机质、全氮、碱解氮的影响,土壤中有机质、全氮、碱解氮的含量与比叶面积呈正比,与叶厚度、叶体积成反比。了哥王的叶片可以通过一定的性状变异和组合来适应外部环境的变化,以较好地适应海岛恶劣的环境。该研究结果可为了哥王野生种质资源的保护、利用以及人工栽培提供参考。     

Hydrology shapes microbial communities and microbiome-mediated growth of an Everglades tree island species

Plant-associated microbiomes can improve plant fitness by ameliorating environmental stress, providing a promising avenue for improving outplantings during restoration. However, the effects of water management on these microbial communities and their cascading effects on primary producers are unresolved for many imperiled ecosystems. One such habitat, Everglades tree islands, has declined by 54% in some areas, releasing excess nutrients into surrounding wetlands and exacerbating nutrient pollution. We conducted a factorial experiment, manipulating the soil microbiome and hydrological regime experienced by a tree island native, Ficus aurea, to determine how microbiomes impact growth under two hydrological management plans. All plants were watered to simulate natural precipitation, but plants in the “unconstrained” management treatment were allowed to accumulate water above the soil surface, while the “constrained” treatment had a reduced stage to avoid soil submersion. We found significant effects of the microbiomes on overall plant performance and aboveground versus belowground investment; however, these effects depended on hydrological treatment. For instance, microbiomes increased investment in roots relative to aboveground tissues, but these effects were 142% stronger in the constrained compared to unconstrained water regime. Changes in hydrology also resulted in changes in the prokaryotic community composition, including a >20 log₂fold increase in the relative abundance of Rhizobiaceae, and hydrology-shifted microbial composition was linked to changes in plant performance. Our results suggest that differences in hydrological management can have important effects on microbial communities, including taxa often involved in nitrogen cycling, which can in turn impact plant performance.     

Inoculation with native soil improves seedling survival and reduces non-native reinvasion in a grassland restoration

Losses of grasslands have been largely attributed to widespread land-use changes, such as conversion to row-crop agriculture. The remaining tallgrass prairie faces further losses due to biological invasions by non-native plant species, often with resultant ecosystem degradation. Of critical concern for conservation, restoration of native grasslands has been met with little success following eradication of non-native plants. In addition to the direct and indirect effects of non-native invasive plants on beneficial soil microbes, management practices targeting invasive species may also negatively affect subsequent restoration efforts. To assess mechanisms limiting germination and survival of native species and to improve native species establishment, we established six replicate plots of each of the following four treatments: (1) inoculated with freshly collected prairie soil with native seeds; (2) inoculated with steam-pasteurized soil with native seeds; (3) noninoculated with native seeds; or (4) noninoculated/nonseeded control. Inoculation with whole soil did not improve seed germination; however, addition of whole soil significantly improved native species survival, compared to pasteurized soil or noninoculated treatments. Inoculation with whole soil significantly decreased reestablishment of non-native invasive Bothriochloa bladhii (Caucasian bluestem); at the end of the growing season, plots receiving whole soil consisted of approximately 30% B. bladhii cover, compared to approximately 80% in plots receiving no soil inoculum. Our results suggest invasion and eradication efforts negatively affect arbuscular mycorrhizal hyphal and spore abundances and soil aggregate stability, and inoculation with locally adapted soil microbial communities can improve metrics of restoration success, including plant species richness and diversity, while decreasing reinvasion by non-native species.     

Soil legacy effects of plants and drought on aboveground insects in native and range-expanding plant communities

Soils contain biotic and abiotic legacies of previous conditions that may influence plant community biomass and associated aboveground biodiversity. However, little is known about the relative strengths and interactions of the various belowground legacies on aboveground plant–insect interactions. We used an outdoor mesocosm experiment to investigate the belowground legacy effects of range-expanding versus native plants, extreme drought and their interactions on plants, aphids and pollinators. We show that plant biomass was influenced more strongly by the previous plant community than by the previous summer drought. Plant communities consisted of four congeneric pairs of natives and range expanders, and their responses were not unanimous. Legacy effects affected the abundance of aphids more strongly than pollinators. We conclude that legacies can be contained as soil ‘memories’ that influence aboveground plant community interactions in the next growing season. These soil-borne ‘memories’ can be altered by climate warming-induced plant range shifts and extreme drought.     

生物有机肥对菠萝心腐病及根际土壤细菌群落的影响

【目的】探明施用生物有机肥对菠萝心腐病的防控效果及对根际土壤微生物的影响。【方法】本研究采用高通量测序技术,综合分析不同施肥措施根际土壤微生物细菌群落多样性及群落特征。【结果】相比常规施肥处理(CK)和普通有机肥处理(YJ),生物有机肥处理KN (羊粪有机肥+泥炭土+枯草芽孢杆菌)和生物有机肥处理KY (羊粪有机肥+椰糠+枯草芽孢杆菌)均能显著降低菠萝心腐病的发病率,且KN处理的防控效果最佳。生物有机肥(KN、KY)施入后土壤细菌α多样性指数高于CK和YJ处理,并形成了明显不同的细菌群落结构。与CK相比,生物有机肥KN处理显著提高了拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)和厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)的丰度,KY处理中的酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)、绿弯菌门(Chloroflexi)、芽单胞菌门(Gemmatimonadetes)、硝化螺旋菌门(Nitrospirae)丰度显著增加;属水平上,生物有机肥中的蔗糖伯克霍尔德菌属(Paraburkholderia)和黄杆菌属(Flavobacterium)丰度均显著提升。方差分区分析(variance partitioning analysis, VPA)表明,土壤化学性质(36.29%)对细菌群落影响最大,其中土壤速效钾和有机质是影响土壤细菌群落的关键因子,此外发病率(22.53%)和肥料偏生产力(16.42%)也是影响土壤细菌群落的重要因子。【结论】施用生物有机肥(KN、KY)能改变根际土壤细菌群落结构,降低发病率,对菠萝根际土壤生态系统稳定与健康具有重要意义。     

The 141-year period for Dr. Beal's seed viability experiment: A hybrid surprise

Premise

In 1879, Dr. William Beal buried 20 glass bottles filled with seeds and sand at a single site at Michigan State University. The goal of the experiment was to understand seed longevity in the soil, a topic of general importance in ecology, restoration, conservation, and agriculture, by periodically assaying germinability of these seeds over 100 years. The interval between germination assays has been extended and the experiment will now end after 221 years, in 2100.

Methods

We dug up the 16th bottle in April 2021 and attempted to germinate the 141-year-old seeds it contained. We grew germinants to maturity and identified these to species by vegetative and reproductive phenotypes. For the first time in the history of this experiment, genomic DNA was sequenced to confirm species identities.

Results

Twenty seeds germinated over the 244-day assay. Eight germinated in the first 11 days. All 20 belonged to the Verbascum genus: Nineteen were V. blattaria according to phenotype and ITS2 genotype; and one had a hybrid V. blattaria × V. thapsus phenotype and ITS2 genotype. In total, 20/50 (40%) of the original Verbascum seeds in the bottle germinated in year 141.

Conclusions

While most species in the Beal experiment lost all seed viability in the first 60 years, a high percentage of Verbascum seeds can still germinate after 141 years in the soil. Long-term experiments such as this one are rare and invaluable for studying seed viability in natural soil conditions.     

撕裂蜡孔菌HG2011对光叶紫花苕结瘤固氮的影响及其潜在机制

【目的】 在我国南方尤其是西南地区,光叶紫花苕(Vicia villosa Roth.)作为重要的青饲和绿肥两用豆科作物被广泛种植,有助于提高土壤氮素和后茬作物的产量品质。接种有益微生物是促进豆科作物生物固氮和生长的重要措施之一。为此,本文研究了一株自主分离获得的白腐真菌¾¾撕裂蜡孔菌(Careporia lacerata HG2011)对光叶紫花苕结瘤固氮和生长的影响,并揭示其潜在机制。【方法】 采用微生物培养、植物培养和田间试验,研究C. lacerata磷铁活化能力、代谢产物构成、与根瘤菌Rhizobium sophorae S3的相互作用,及其对光叶紫花苕结瘤、生长、产量、品质和土壤有效磷铁的影响。【结果】 C. lacerata和根瘤菌之间无拮抗作用。液相色谱-质谱(liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, LC-MS)分析发现,C. lacerata发酵液含有氨基酸、有机酸和类黄酮等化感物质,能增强根瘤菌的趋化性并促进生物膜形成。此外,C. lacerata还能释放生长素、赤霉素、水杨酸和铁载体,活化难溶性有机和无机磷。在植物培养试验中,单独接种C. lacerata或根瘤菌均能促进光叶紫花苕生长,但以共接种处理效果最佳。C. lacerata定殖于光叶紫花苕根际,导致根长、根系表面积和结瘤数显著增加。田间试验发现,接种C. lacerata显著提高了光叶紫花苕单株根瘤数、根瘤质量和固氮酶活性,以及土壤有效磷铁含量和磷酸酶活性,产量比常规施肥处理增加12.15%且品质无显著变化。【结论】 C. lacerata能够在光叶紫花苕根际定殖,通过分泌化感物质、生长素和活化土壤磷铁等机制促进结瘤固氮和生长发育。C. lacerata易于培养,菌剂制备成本低廉,施用简便,对提高豆科作物产量品质具有一定应用价值。     

Enzyme immunoassay determination of atrazine degradation in soil: Moisture,sterilization, and storage effects

Enzyme immunoassay (EIA) microtiter plate analysis was used to quantify atrazine (2‐chloro‐4‐ethylamino‐6‐isopropylamino‐1,3,5 triazine), fortified at 0, 50, and 500 or 549 ng/g, to Baxter and Maury silt loam soil sampled in 1965 and 1991. In the first experiment, aged soils (sampled in 1965 and stored air‐dried) were fortified with atrazine and then incubated in the dark at 0, 75, 150, 225 and 300 g/kg moisture for 15, 80, 154, and 289 d. In a second experiment, fresh soils were fortified with atrazine and incubated in the dark at 0, 150, and 300 g/kg moisture for 9, 15, 35, 55, 83, and 145 d. One half of the treatments in the second experiment were sterilized with 497 ng/g HgCl₂. Twenty milliliters of acetonitrile: water (9: 1) was used to extract 4 or 5 g of soil by vortex mixing at each sampling date. The soil extract was diluted, 80 μl incubated with antibody‐coated wells, and color development read using a microtiter plate reader. Recovery of atrazine from soil was 98% 5 d after fortification. Pesticide recoveries and first‐order degradation rates were dependent on the freshness and moisture content of the soil sample. Pesticide degradation was slower and recoveries higher in soil that had been air dried and stored since 1965, prior to fortification. More atrazine was extracted from soil maintained at 0 g/kg moisture than from soil maintained at 300 g/kg moisture over time.     

Recombinant and wild-type Pseudomonas aureofaciens strains in soil: survival, respiratory activity and effects on nodulation of whitebean Phaseolus vulgaris L. by Rhizobiutn species

Survival and respiratory activity of a genetically engineered Pseudomonas aureofaciens Ps3732RNL11 were compared to the parental wild-type P. aureofaciens Ps3732RN in loam and sandy loam soils over 17- and 28-day periods. Survival and respiratory activity of P. aureofaciens Ps3732RNL11 was not statistically significantly different from that of P. aureofaciens Ps3732RN. Soil texture had an effect on respiratory activity; carbon dioxide evolution was significantly higher in the sandy loam soil. This effect was observed on days 2, 10 and 18 but not on day 24. The presence of P. aureofaciens Ps3732RNL11 and Ps3732RN did not significantly affect growth of whitebean ( Phaseolus vulgaris L.) in vermiculite, loam, or sandy loam soils. There was no significant difference (95% level) in numbers of nodules produced in the presence of P. aureofaciens Ps3732RNL11 and Ps3732RN as a result of the symbiotic relationship between Rhizobium phaseoli and the whitebean roots in vermiculite. Enumeration of nodules on whitebean roots in loam and sandy loam soils was not conducted due to difficulties in removing intact roots from the soils.