Are tropical fungal endophytes hyperdiverse?

Fungal endophytes are ubiquitous fungi that inhabit healthy plant tissues without causing disease. Endophytes have been found in every plant species examined to date and may be important, but often overlooked, components of fungal biodiversity. In two sites in a lowland, moist tropical forest of central Panama, we quantified endophyte colonization patterns, richness, host preference, and spatial variation in healthy leaves of two co-occurring, understory tree species [ Heisteria concinna (Olacaceae) and Ouratea lucens (Ochnaceae)]. From 83 leaves, all of which were colonized by endophytes, we isolated 418 endophyte morphospecies (estimated 347 genetically distinct taxa), most of which were represented by only a single isolate (59%). Among morphospecies encountered in more than one leaf (nonsingletons), we found evidence of host preference and spatial heterogeneity using both morphospecies frequencies and presence/absence records. Based on these data, we postulate that tropical endophytes themselves may be hyperdiverse and suggest that extrapolative estimates that exclude them will markedly underestimate fungal species diversity.     

鼎湖山南亚热带常绿阔叶林植物营养元素含量分配格局研究

在鼎湖山南亚热带常绿阔叶林中,植物叶片营养元素含量为Ｎ ０．９４６％－２．５３５％,Ｐ ０．０３０－０．１２７％,Ｋ ０．６１４％－１．８３３％,Ｃａ ０．４４２％－１．９９５％,Ｍｇ ０．０２４％－０．１８８％。叶片各营养养元素间相关性较差,仅Ｐ与Ｍｇ及Ｍｇ与Ｋ之间存在显著的线性相关。叶片Ｎ元素平均含量在各层中的序列为：乔木Ⅲ〉乔木Ⅱ〉乔木Ⅰ〉灌木〉藤本〉草本;其它营养元素浓度随层次分配的规律性     

Rhipsalis (Cactaceae): loss and gain of floral rewards is mirrored in range sizes and distribution patterns of species

Autogamous species are usually distinguishable from xenogamous relatives by smaller flowers, fewer or even no floral rewards and lower pollen–ovule (P/O) ratios. Many Rhipsalis spp. are small flowered, selfing and include the most widespread species in Cactaceae. However, Rhipsalis also includes a large number of narrowly endemic species and is most diverse in the Atlantic rainforests of Brazil. To investigate the evolution of floral function and the correlation between floral function and range size, we analysed display size, floral reward and P/O ratios of Rhipsalis and its closest relatives, reconstructed ancestral traits and related these patterns to the distributions and range sizes of the species. Display size and sugar amount are reduced in subgenera Goniorhipsalis and Rhipsalis and secondarily increased in Phyllarthrorhipsalis, whereas the P/O ratio is decreased in subgenera Rhipsalis and Phyllarthrorhipsalis. We interpret this pattern as a switch from a predominantly xenogamous to an autogamous reproductive system, followed by a return to a predominantly xenogamous system. None of the floral parameters shows significant correlations with range size, except for display size. Nevertheless, those species with the smallest flowers, lowest sugar amounts per flower and lowest P/O ratios occur either outside southeastern Brazil and/or have comparatively large distribution ranges. Almost all Rhipsalis spp. occurring outside the Atlantic rainforests are restricted to the clade formed by subgenera Rhipsalis and Phyllarthrorhipsalis. Thus, we believe that the evolution of an autogamous reproduction system enabled this lineage of Rhipsalis to diversify and spread in the Atlantic rainforests, in the rest of the Neotropics and even spread to the Old World, where it is the only member of the family.     

温带林的片断化对冬季兽类丰富度的影响

1997 年至1999 年间, 在韩国智异山国家公园选取生境相似, 但片断化和未片断化不同的调查地。设置8 条2 km 长截线, 调查记录了黄鼬( Mustela sibirica) 、黄喉貂(青鼬) ( Martes lavigula) 、狗獾(Meles meles) 、豹猫( Felis bengalensis) 、野猪( Sus scrofa) 、獐( Hydropotes inermis) 、狍( Capreolus) 、朝鲜兔(Lepus coreanus) 和松鼠的数量, 并对影响动物数量的相关因子进行回归分析。结果表明, 8 块样地虽属两大类不同景观且具有相似植被特征, 但在片断化和未片断化中, 枯折木, 胸高直径(dbh)6～10 cm的树及50 cm的巨树密度, 树冠盖度及灌木被度均有明显差异。3 年内在8 块样地共记录到9种兽类在雪被上留下的足迹, 其中5 种兽的密度在片断化和未片断化生境中差异明显。9 种兽的渐近多元回归中, 6 种兽的密度同景观和植被变量密切相关, 但如果不增加当地生境条件, 则足迹链丰富度同植被构成的简单相关性表现得很微弱。在片断化和未片断化的不同景观林区, 对兽类的分布及其动态还要做进一步详细研究。     

森林生态系统DOM的来源、特性及流动

可溶性有机物质（Dissolved Organic Matter)是森林生态系统主要的可移动碳库及重要的养分库。系统综述了森林生态系统DOM的来源,组成,性质,季节动态;DOM释放与存留机制及影响因素,森林生态系统DOM的流动及干扰对DOM动态影响等,已有研究表明DOM的森林生态系统C、N、P循环,成土作用,污染物迁移等方面起着重要作用。今后森林生态系统DOM的研究应集中于以几方面：（1）确定森林生态系统中DOM源和汇;（2）评价森林水文条件对DOM释放与存留的调节作用;（3）探讨全球气候变化对森林生态系统DOM的影响;（4）可溶性有机氮（Dissolved Organic Nitrogen),可溶性有机磷（Dissolved Organic Phosphorus)动态与可溶性有碳（Dissolved Organic Carbon）动态的差别。     

长白山阔叶红松林生态价位分级与生态系统经营对策

引入生态价位概念,以长白山阔叶红松林为对象,采用层次分析法进行了生态价位划分．长白山阔叶红松林的生态系统价值评价综合指数由物理环境因素、群落结构组成、干扰状况3方面8个指标构成,包括坡度、土层厚度、土壤母质稳定性、结构盖度指数、物种多样性指数、更新力指数、优势种寿命和干扰度．采用层次分析法取得相应指标的系数;根据综合评价指数分布范围划分了3个生态价位类型,即低生态价位,综合指数1～1．874;中生态价位,综合指数1．874～2．749;高生态价位,综合指数2．749～3．623;对典型样地进行了生态价位分级,分析了各个生态价位类型森林的主要特征,据此提出了相应的生态系统管理对策,即高生态价位阔叶红松林采用封禁保护型自然经营,中生态价位阔叶红松林采用生态修复型半自然经营,低生态价位阔叶红松林采用近自然生态重建型经营。     

Intraspecific variation in the status of ant symbiosis on a myrmecophyte,<Emphasis Type="Italic"> Macaranga bancana,</Emphasis> between primary and secondary forests in Borneo

A tree species, Macaranga bancana , distributed in South East Asian tropics has a mutualistic relationship with specific symbiotic ant species, which defend the plant from herbivores. To examine the intraspecific variation in the status of the ant-plant symbiosis among microhabitats of different light conditions, we investigated the species composition of nesting ants and the herbivory damage on M. bancana saplings by field observations and sampling in primary and secondary forests in Sarawak. In addition, the effectiveness of non-ant (physical and chemical) defenses were estimated by feeding the larvae of a polyphagous lepidopteran with M. bancana leaves from saplings in the two types of forests. All saplings in the primary forest were colonized by two Crematogaster ant species that had been known to be the obligate symbionts of M. bancana, while in the secondary forest, about half of the saplings were occupied by several ant species that were not obligate symbionts. There was little herbivory damage on saplings colonized by the two Crematogaster symbiont ants in both forest types, while the saplings colonized by the other ant species suffered a 10–60% loss of leaf area. Larval mortality of the polyphagous lepidopteran Spodoptera litura was significantly higher when larvae fed on leaves of M. bancana saplings in the secondary forest than when fed on leaves of M. bancana saplings in the primary forest. These results suggest that the symbiosis between ants and M. bancana is looser and the non-ant-defenses are stronger in secondary forests, where light is more intense, than in primary forests.     

Spatial patterns of trees and juveniles in a laurel forest of Tenerife, Canary Islands

Spatial patterns are important characteristics of the forest and theycan reveal such things as successional status and ecological characteristics ofthe species. We tested the hypothesis that spatial distribution will bedifferent, depending on whether the species is intolerant or tolerant to shade.We assessed the spatial distribution of trees (> 4 cm dbh) andjuveniles in eight laurel forest plots. A univariate spatial analysis(performed with Ripley's K₁) showed that all tree species havesignificantaggregation at short distances (2 m). Nevertheless, two groups ofspecies could be differentiated: Erica scoparia,Myrica faya and Ilex canariensisshowed a tendency for aggregation at large distances (larger than 6m)while L. azorica and Prunuslusitanicashowed aggregation only at shorter distances. Ripley's BivariateK_1,2 analyses showed no significant differences in the spatialdistribution ofanalyzed species pairs from a null model. Only Laurusazoricahad a sufficient sample size for analysis of juvenile distribution. Aunivariateanalysis revealed thatL. azorica seedlings (stems < 50 cm high)were clumped in some plots up to 5 m, but this was not consistent.Saplings (stems > 50 cm high and < 4 cm dbh)didnot show strong clumping even at short distances. L.azoricasaplings had no significant aggregation with, nor repulsionfrom, adults of the same or different species. Spatial patterns of the speciesshould be considered in the development of restoration plans of the laurelforest 90%of which has disappeared or been intensively disturbed on Tenerife Island.