Leaf mineral concentrations of Erica arborea, Juniperus communis and Myrtus communis growing in the proximity of a natural CO2 spring

Leaf mineral concentrations of co‐occurring Erica arborea, Juniperus communis and Myrtus communis were measured at bimonthly intervals throughout a year in a natural CO₂ spring and in a nearby control site with similar soil chemistry in a Mediterranean environment. There were different responses to the elevated [CO₂] (c. 700 μL L^?1) of the spring site plants depending on the element and the species. In the CO₂ spring site K, Ca, Mg, Mn, Al, Fe, and Ti leaf concentrations and the ratio C/N showed significant greater values in at least one or two of the three species. Leaf S concentration were greater in all three species. Leaf concentrations of N, Sr, Co, and B were lower in at least one or two species, and those of C and Ba were lower in all the three studied species near the CO₂ spring. P, Na, Zn, Si, Cu, Ni, Cr, Pb, Mo, V and Cd leaf concentrations and the specific leaf area (SLA, measured in Myrtus communis) did not show any consistent or significant pattern in response to the elevated [CO₂] of the spring site. There was a slight trend towards maximum concentrations of most of these elements during autumn–winter and minimum values during the spring season, especially in Myrtus communis. Multivariate principal component analyses based on the leaf elemental concentrations clearly differentiated the two sites and the three species. Lower concentrations at the spring site were not the result of a dilution effect by increased structural or nonstructural carbon. In contrast to most experimental studies of CO₂ enrichment, mainly conducted for short periods, several of these elements had greater concentrations in the CO₂ spring site. Nutrient acclimation and possible causes including decreased nutrient export, increased nutrient uptake capacity, photosynthetic down‐regulation, Mediterranean water stress, and higher H₂S concentration in the spring site are discussed.     

A comparison of vacuum sampling versus sweep-netting for arthropod biodiversity measurements in California coastal sage scrub

The recent growth of conservation biology has demanded that faster and more effective measures of biodiversity be utilized. Arthropods, due to high levels of diversity and their relative ease of capture, are often the subject of such surveys. The vacuum sampler, used quite often in the context of agricultural arthropod surveys, has never been adequately evaluated or compared to more traditional collection techniques in relatively complex ecosystems. The purpose of this study was to determine whether the vacuum sampler was more or less effective than a sweep-net in measuring arthropod biodiversity in California coastal sage scrub. The results show that significantly more individuals were collected by the vacuum sampler per unit effort for three out of six orders of arthropods examined. In addition, the vacuum sampler collected a significantly greater number of arthropod species than the sweep-net technique for two out of the six orders sampled. There were no significant differences in the number of species collected for the remaining four orders. We feel these findings are important for arthropod biodiversity studies utilized for conservation efforts as the vacuum sampler can attain a level of efficiency and sensitivity (with regard to species detection) that sweep-net techniques cannot. © Rapid Science Ltd. 1998     

Historical biogeography of the Southeast Asian and Malesian tribe Dissochaeteae (Melastomataceae)

The region of Tropical Southeast Asia and the Malay Archipelago is a very appealing area for research due to its outstanding biodiversity, being one of the most species-rich areas in the world with high levels of endemism, and due to its complex geological history. The high number of species in tribe Dissochaeteae (Melastomataceae) and their tendency to narrow endemism makethe tribe an ideal group for examining biogeographic patterns. We sampled 58 accessions spread over 42 accepted and two undescribed species of the Dissochaeteae. Two nuclear (ETS, ITS) and four chloroplast regions (ndhF, psbK-psbL, rbcL, rpl16) were used for divergence time estimation and ancestral area reconstruction. Results from the molecular dating analysis suggest that the diversity of Dissochaeteae in the Southeast Asian region resulted from a South American ancestor in the late Eocene. The ancestor of the Dissochaeteae might have migrated from South America to Southeast Asia via North America and then entered Eurasia over the North Atlantic land bridge during the Eocene. The origin and early diversification of the Dissochaeteae in Southeast Asia dates back to the middle Oligocene, and most of the genera originated during the Miocene. Indochina and Borneo are most likely the area of origin for the most recent common ancestor of the Dissochaeteae and for many of the early diverging clades of some genera within Southeast Asia.     

Response of Seedlings of Three Dominant Shrubs to Climate Warming in Ordos Plateau

Ordas plateau is a classical semi-dry sandland in China. The dry ecosystem responds sensitively to water-heat pattern of global change there. The distribution pattern and productivity of terrestrial ecosystem are greatly affected by global warming. Ecological adaptation strategies of seedlings of Caragana　intermedia Kuang et H. C. Fu, Hedysarum mongolicum Turcz. and Artemisia ordosica Kraschen.,three dominant shrubs in Ordas plateau, were investigated in terms of morphological plasticities, biomass effects and photosynthetic and physiological characters, to the global warming by artificially controlling two temperature levels. The results show that the effects of temperature enhancement on growth and photosynthetic and physiological characters were obviously different among these three plant species. Temperature enhancement significantly increased tree height, leaf number, leaf area, biomass, photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance of C. intermedia and H. mongolicum seedlings, indicating that elevated temperature significantly affected the growth of these seedlings positively. Elevated temperature had almost no significant effect on the growth of A. ordosica seedlings. Their leaf number, leaf size, leaf area, biomass, transpiration rate and stomatal conductance did not increase obviously, but tree height and photosynthetic rate obviously increased with increasing temperature. Interspecific growth was significantly different among C. intermedia, H. mongolicum and A. ordosica seedlings. Except leaf size, values of the other seven characters of C. intermedia seedlings were greater than those of H. mongolicum and A. ordosica seedlings.     

The allelopathic potential ofCoridothymus capitatus L. (Labiatae). Preliminary studies on the roles of the shrub in the inhibition of annuals germination and/or to promote allelopathically active actinomycetes

Summary Suppression of annuals at various intensities was observed around some shrubs ofCoridothymus capitatus growing on kurkar formation in the coastal hills of Israel. The phenomenon was clearly observed as annuals-free belts of 15–20 cm around ‘aggressive’ shrubs. Quantitatively, density of annuals decreased by 16 fold in the annual-free belts as compared to a distance of 60–80 cm from the canopies of the shrubs. Their dry matter was decreased by 5.4 fold around the shrubs. Suppression rate of emergence of planted seeds of annuals (Plantago psyllium andErucaria hispanica) early in the season was 45% higher around ‘aggressive’C. capitatus than that around ‘non-aggressive’ ones. In the laboratory, seed germination of the annuals was strongly suppressed by diffusates and volatiles from shoots, as well as from their water extracts and their essential oils. Incubation of fresh shoots ofC. capitatus in soil collected from around ‘non-aggressive’ shrubs, for 7 days, increased population levels of actinomycetes by 9.6 fold and by 36.7 fold when soil was collected from around ‘aggressive’ shrubs. Isolates of some soil-borne actinomycetes inhibited germination of the test plantsLactuca sativa andAnastatica hierochuntica on agar plates (4–98%). The preliminary results indicate a possible synergistic inhibitory effect induced by essential oils of the aromatic shrub and the phytototic activity of actinomycetes.     

Short-term responses of phenology, shoot growth and leaf traits of four alpine shrubs in a timberline ecotone to simulated global warming, Eastern Tibetan Plateau, China

The short-term effects of artificial warming on phenology, growth and leaf traits were investigated in four alpine shrubs using the open-top chamber (OTC) method in a timberline ecotone (3240 m a.s.l.) on the Eastern Tibetan Plateau. The OTC enhanced the mean air temperature by 2.9°C throughout the growing season. In contrast, only a slight difference (0.4°C) in the mean soil temperature was observed in the OTC compared with the control plots (CP). Spiraea mongolica , Potentilla fruticosa , Conicera hispida (deciduous shrubs) and Daphne retusa (evergreen shrub) showed earlier bud break, flowering and fruit coloring as well as longer flower longevity in the OTC than in the CP. All deciduous shrubs in the OTC had a longer leaf lifespan. Daphne retusa had higher leaf survival rates in the OTC. No significant differences in the total number of flowers and fruits were noticed for most species between the two treatments. Warming stimulated the shoot and leaf growth for most species. The specific leaf area tended to increase for many species in the OTC. However, the leaf nitrogen concentration tended to decrease in P. fruticosa and S. mongolica. The results obtained in the present study indicate that warming conditions can have strong impacts on alpine shrubs in a timberline ecotone.     

Monosoonal precipitation responses of shrubs in a cold desert community on the Colorado Plateau

South-eastern Utah forms a northern border for the region currently influenced by the Arizona monosoonal system, which feeds moisture and summer precipitation into western North America. One major consequence predicted by global climate change scenarios is an intensification of monosoonal (summer) precipitation in the aridland areas of the western United States. We examined the capacity of dominant perennial shrubs in a Colorado Plateau cold desert ecosystem of southern Utah, United States, to use summer moisture inputs. We simulated increases of 25 and 50 mm summer rain events on Atriplex canescens, Artemisia filifolia, Chrysothamnus nauseosus, Coleogyne ramosissima, and Vanclevea stylosa, in July and September with an isotopically enriched water (enriched in deuterium but not ¹⁸O). The uptake of this artificial water source was estimated by analyzing hydrogen and oxygen isotope ratios of stem water. The predawn and midday xylem water potentials and foliar carbon isotope discrimination were measured to estimate changes in water status and water-use efficiency. At. canescens and Ch. nauseosus showed little if any uptake of summer rains in either July or September. The predawn and midday xylem water potentials for control and treatment plants of these two species were not significantly different from each other. For A. filifolia and V. stylosa, up to 50% of xylem water was from the simulated summer rain, but the predawn and midday xylem water potentials were not significantly affected by the additional summer moisture input. In contrast, C. ramosissima showed significant uptake of the simulated summer rain (>50% of xylem water was from the artificial summer rain) and an increase in both predawn and midday water potentials. The percent uptake of simulated summer rain was greater when those rains were applied in September than in July, implying that high soil temperature in midsummer may in some way inhibit water uptake. Foliar carbon isotope discrimination increased significantly in the three shrubs taking up simulated summer rain, but pre-treatment differences in the absolute discrimination values were maintained among species. The ecological implications of our results are discussed in terms of the dynamics of this desert community in response to changes in the frequency and dependability of summer rains that might be associated with a northward shift in the Arizona monsoon boundary.     

Congeneric Serpentine and Nonserpentine Shrubs Differ More in Leaf Ca:Mg than in Tolerance of Low N, Low P, or Heavy Metals

Serpentine soils limit plant growth by NPK deficiencies, low Ca availability, excess Mg, and high heavy metal levels. In this study, three congeneric serpentine and nonserpentine evergreen shrub species pairs were grown in metalliferous serpentine soil with or without NPKCa fertilizer to test which soil factors most limit biomass production and mineral nutrition responses. Fertilization increased biomass production and allocation to leaves while decreasing allocation to roots in both serpentine and nonserpentine species. Simultaneous increases in biomass and leaf N:P ratios in fertilized plants of all six species suggest that N is more limiting than P in this serpentine soil. Neither N nor P concentrations, however, nor root to shoot translocation of these nutrients, differed significantly between serpentine and nonserpentine congeners. All six species growing in unfertilized serpentine soil translocated proportionately more P to leaves compared to fertilized plants, thus maintaining foliar P. Leaf Ca:Mg molar ratios of the nonserpentine species were generally equal to that of the soil. The serpentine species, however, maintained significantly higher leaf Ca:Mg than both their nonserpentine counterparts and the soil. Elevated leaf Ca:Mg in the serpentine species was achieved by selective Ca transport and/or Mg exclusion operating at the root-to-shoot translocation level, as root Ca and Mg concentrations did not differ between serpentine and nonserpentine congeners. All six species avoided shoot toxicity of heavy metals by root sequestration. The comparative data on nutrient deficiencies, leaf Ca:Mg, and heavy metal sequestration suggest that the ability to maintain high leaf Ca:Mg is a key evolutionary change needed for survival on serpentine soil and represents the physiological feature distinguishing the serpentine shrub species from their nonserpentine congeners. The results also suggest that high leaf Ca:Mg is achieved in these serpentine species by selective translocation of Ca and/or inhibited transport of Mg from roots, rather than by uptake/exclusion at root surfaces.     

春季-冻融交替时期9种落叶及半常绿小灌木抗寒性综合评价

在春季—冻融交替时期,以北京地区迎春、金叶女贞、小花溲疏等9种落叶及半常绿小灌木一年生枝条为试材,通过人工模拟降温,测定其在4 ~ -20℃低温胁迫下的6个生理响应指标,并对各指标进行相关性分析。结果表明,相对电导率、半致死温度、游离-脯氨酸含量和相对含水量这4个生理指标可作为9种小灌木抗寒性的评价指标。利用主成分分析、隶属函数法进行抗寒性综合评价,发现9种小灌木的抗寒性强弱顺序为：小花溲疏＞ 紫叶小檗＞ 太平花＞ 红王子锦带＞ 迎春＞ 连翘＞ 金叶女贞＞ 棣棠＞ 金山绣线菊。通过聚类分析可将9种小灌木分为3类,小花溲疏和紫叶小檗归为一类,其抗寒性相对较好;太平花、红王子锦带、迎春和连翘聚成一组,抗寒性一般;金叶女贞、棣棠和金山绣线菊聚在一起,抗寒性相对较差。     

火干扰对小兴安岭草丛、灌丛沼泽温室气体短期排放的影响

利用静态箱-气相色谱法,研究了火烧干扰对小兴安岭草丛、灌丛沼泽生长季CH4、CO2、N2O排放的季节变化及影响因子结果表明:火干扰使草丛、灌丛沼泽生长季的平均气温和各层土壤温度提高0.1—2.0℃,水位平均下降2.7 cm。火干扰使草丛、灌丛沼泽样地CH4排放通量提高了56%、524.9%,CO2排放通量分别下降了57.3%、14.5%,N2O排放通量分别下降27.1%,64.9%。火烧前后草丛沼泽CH4、N2O与灌丛沼泽CO2排放通量季节性规律未发生变化。火干扰改变了草丛沼泽生长季CO2、灌丛沼泽N2O排放通量的季节性变化规律。草丛沼泽对照样地CH4排放通量与5 cm土壤温度存在显著相关性,草丛沼泽CH4排放通量与水位相关性不显著。灌丛沼泽CH4排放通量与各层土壤温度及水位均无显著相关性。草丛、灌丛沼泽对照样地土壤CO2排放通量与0—15 cm土壤温度呈显著或极显著正相关,火烧样地与0—30 cm土壤温度呈显著或极显著正相关。草丛、灌丛沼泽对照、火烧样地土壤CO2排放通量与水位极显著负相关。火干扰使草丛、灌丛沼泽CH4排放源的强度增强,CO2、N2O的排放消弱,全球温室潜势下降约为23.3%。火干扰能够减少草丛、灌丛沼泽温室气体排放。