Floral morphogenesis in Euptelea (Eupteleaceae, Ranunculales)

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Based on molecular phylogenetic studies, the unigeneric family Eupteleaceae has a prominent phylogenetic position at or near the base of Ranunculales, which, in turn, appear at the base of eudicots. The aim of the present paper is to reveal developmental features of the flowers and to put the genus in a morphological context with other basal eudicots. METHODS: Flowers in all developmental stages of Euptelea pleiosperma were collected in the wild at intervals of 7-10 d in the critical stages and studied with a scanning electron microscope. KEY RESULTS: Remnants of a perianth are lacking throughout flower development. Floral symmetry changes from monosymmetric to asymmetric to disymmetric during development. Asymmetry is expressed in that the sequence of stamen initiation is from the centre to both lateral sides on the adaxial side of the flower but starting from one lateral side and proceeding to the other on the abaxial side. Despite the pronounced floral disymmetry, a dimerous pattern of floral organs was not found. The carpel primordia arise between the already large stamens and alternate with them. Stamens and carpels each form a somewhat irregular whorl. The carpels are ascidiate from the beginning. The stigma differentiates as two crests along the ventral slit of the ovary. The few lateral ovules alternate with each other. CONCLUSIONS: Although the flowers have some unusual autapomorphies (wind pollination, lack of a perianth, pronounced disymmetry of the floral base, long connective protrusion, long temporal gap between androecium and gynoecium initiation, small space for carpel initiation), they show some plesiomorphies at the level of basal eudicots (free carpels, basifixed anthers, whorled phyllotaxis), and thus fit well in Ranunculales.     

从空间分布特征认识珍稀植物领春木的种群动态

领春木(Euptelea pleiosperrnum)系第三纪孑遗植物和东亚特有种,目前已被列为国家Ⅲ级重点保护植物.基于空间定位数据以最近邻体距离统计研究了神农架地区领春木的空间分布特征,比较幼苗(DBH≤2.5cm)、幼树(2.5～7.5cm)和成树(＞7.5cm)各径级(代表各生活史阶段)形成的时间序列上的空间格局差异,进而探讨空间格局与立苗、补员、种内竞争等种群动态过程的相互关系.结果显示,在邻域尺度上,领春木的空间格局呈聚集态;幼苗(或幼树)的大小与其距离最近幼树(或成树)的远近没有相关性,幼树(或成树)周围一定距离以内出现同等大小个体的概率约等于幼苗(或幼树)出现的概率,且幼树与最近幼苗(或成树与最近幼树)的平均距离与幼树之间(或成树之间)的平均最近邻体距离没有显著差异;任意个体的大小、任意个体与相应最近邻体的大小之和与相应的最近邻体距离均为显著的正相关关系,但幼树间的最近邻体距离并不大于幼苗随机死亡产生的最近邻体距离,成树间最近邻体距离也不大于幼苗+幼树随机死亡产生的最近邻体距离.这些结果表明,领春木的聚集分布可能与种子散布、生境异质性对立苗格局的作用有关;已定植的大个体可能不限制其邻域内小个体的布局与生长,但是长期的补员过程与邻体间的相互作用不无关系;邻体间存在一定程度的竞争作用,但是竞争强度并未充分激化至发生距离依赖的死亡.     

气候变暖对领春木沿海拔分布潜在影响的实验模拟

在神农架山地不同海拔高度进行领春木(Euptelea pleiospermum)种子萌发实验和萌发后实生幼苗的存活状况研究,模拟气候变化对领春木分布的潜在影响.结果显示:(1)林窗内种子萌发率显著高于林下,林下的幼苗全部死亡;(2)在领春木的分布上限(2090 m)和以上区域种子萌发率高,且幼苗死亡率低,在领春木的分布下限(900 m)和以下区域种子萌发率低,且除620 m阳坡林下以外,幼苗均全部死亡;(3)种源对领春木种子萌发率和幼苗死亡率均无显著影响;(4)冬季播种的种子比春季播种种子萌发率低,萌发后幼苗死亡率高.研究结果表明,珍稀植物领春木具备向高海拔地区迁移的潜能,但向高海拔的迁移扩散可能会受到一定的限制;在低海拔区域,领春木幼苗更新受到威胁,但一些小生境可以缓冲气候变暖带来的威胁.     

贵州大方喀斯特区领春木群落特征研究

采用植物群落学研究方法,对典型喀斯特区大方福建柏自然保护区内领春木(Euptelea pleiospermum)群落进行了研究。结果表明:群落植物种类丰富,科属组成极为分散,区系成分复杂。科级地理成分热带性质较强(45.28%),属级地理成分以温带性质为主(39.44%)。群落外貌以中、小型叶面积、单叶、落叶草质、革质、非全缘的高位芽植物组成为特征。垂直结构复杂,成层现象明显,可分为乔木层、灌木层、草本层和地被层,并有一定层间植物伴生。乔木层、灌木层、草本层的Shannon-Wiener指数分别为2.5561、2.6954、1.9145。     

Vegetation pattern and microtopography on a landslide scar of Mt Kiyosumi,central Japan

Vegetation pattern and microtopography were examined on a mountain slope with a rotational type landslide scar on Mt Kiyosumi, central Japan. Similarities of distribution patterns among 55 woody species were calculated using Cole's species association coefficient, and based on them, seven vegetation units were classified using cluster analysis and principal coordinates analysis. The seven vegetation units coincide with seven microtopographical facets at 10¹ to 10² m² order. Furthermore, these vegetation units were grouped into three higher categories by reciprocal averaging and principal coordinates analysis. They were ridge slopes, surrounding slopes and landslide slopes. The three categories were arranged in the above-mentioned order based on similarity in floristic composition. In the ridge slopes, late-successional trees and deciduous trees had high relative basal areas. In the surrounding slopes,Euptelea polyandra and other deciduous trees had high relative basal areas. In the landslide slopes,E. polyandra and deciduous shrubs had high relative basal areas. The density and the age distributions ofE. polyandra, a typical pioneer tree which invades disturbed sites, suggested that the severity of soil surface disturbances increase in this order. The disturbance regime explains the vegetation pattern on the study site, where the rotational type landslide had occurred.     

Pattern and drivers of speciesgenetic diversity correlation in natural forest tree communities across a biodiversity hotspot

Aims Exploring species-genetic diversity correlation (SGDC) is essential for understanding spatial patterns of diversity and the underlying mechanisms. Until now, latitudinal patterns of species diversity (SD) and genetic diversity (GD) were rarely studied simultaneously. As the freezing-tolerance hypothesis predicts a decrease of SD from low to high latitudes and the central-marginal hypothesis predicts a unimodal pattern of GD along latitude, we hypothesized that SD and GD are uncorrelated. We also tested how climatic and edaphic factors affect the correlation between the two levels of biodiversity.     

气候变化对7种乔木植物分布的潜在影响

利用CART（classification and regression tree,分类和回归树）生态位模型,采用A2和B2气候情景,分析了气候变化对秦岭冷杉、祁连圆柏、楠木、麦吊云杉、马尾树、领春木和连香树分布范围及空间格局的影响。结果显示：气候变化下,这些植物目前适宜分布范围呈现缩小趋势;新适宜及总适宜分布范围,连香树、马尾树、楠木和祁连圆柏呈现减少趋势,秦岭冷杉在1991-2020年及2021-2050年时段呈现减少趋势,之后增加,其它植物呈现增加趋势。气候变化下,马尾树目前适宜分布的东南部一些区域将不再适宜,新适宜分布区将向西南、北部、西部和东北部一些区域扩展;秦岭冷杉目前适宜分布的东南部和东部一些区域将不再适宜,新适宜分布区将向西南部、西北部和西部一些区域扩展;其它植物目前适宜分布的东部、东南部、南部及东北部一些区域将不再适宜,新适宜分布区将向西部和西南部一些区域扩展。气候变化下,这些植物适宜分布范围与年均气温和降水量变化相关性并不一致,一些植物适宜分布范围与年均气温和降水量变化相关系数不显著。另外,一些植物适宜范围与年降水量和年均气温变化多元线性回归关系决定系数较小。结果说明,气候变化下,目前适宜范围缩小,新适宜范围主要向高海拔扩展,不同植物适宜分布范围与年均气温和年降水量变化的关系不同。     

Diameter class structure and sprouting characteristics of a northernmost Euptelea pleiosperma population in China: Implications for conservation

Euptelea pleiosperma (Eupteleaceae) is a class III threatened tree species in China. Investigations on structure, regeneration and population dynamics is of great scientific significance to properly conserve, develop and use the resources of this species. This study targeted a small and isolated northernmost E. pleiosperma population in China, which is distributed in Meidigou of Taikuanhe Nature Reserve in Shanxi province. The study aimed at seeking the answers: (1) is the E. pleiosperma population growing or declining? (2) what is the implications of sprouting for the E. pleiosperma population? It is shown through this study that sprouting is a main trait of the population with 49.4% of main stems having sprouted stems. The population is growing rather than declining thanks to the outstanding sprouting trait of E. pleiosperma. The population occurs only in a small shady and moisture valley area most likely because a moist environment is necessary for E. pleiosperma to survive, develop and regenerate. Mainly by rapid producing abundant sprouted stems, E. pleiosperma forms itself as an edifying species and demonstrates strong competition ability with other coexistent canopy species in the limited area. The sprouting characteristics of E. pleiosperma provide a mechanism for the expansion and maintenance of its population.     

PERMANENT GENETIC RESOURCES: Development and characterization of 14 polymorphic microsatellite loci in the endangered tree Euptelea pleiospermum (Eupteleaceae)

Fourteen polymorphic microsatellite loci were developed and characterized for the endangered and tertiary relict tree, Euptelea pleiospermum. A genomic DNA enrichment protocol was used to isolate microsatellite loci and polymorphism was explored using 32 individuals from one natural population. The observed number of alleles ranged from two to nine. The ranges of observed and expected heterozygosities were 0.25-1.00 and 0.22-0.85, respectively. These microsatellite markers provide powerful tools for the ongoing conservation genetic studies of E. pleiospermum.     

神农架地区河岸带中领春木种群数量特征与空间分布格局

 东亚特有珍稀濒危植物领春木(Euptelea pleiospermum)在神农架地区集中分布于河岸带中。为初步探讨领春木在河岸带集中分布的成因和维持机制, 在神农架地区4条河流——沿渡河、香溪河、南河和堵河的河岸带, 共设置了30个样方(20 m × 30 m), 从种群的大小级结构、静态生命表、存活曲线、空间分布格局及其动态5个方面分析了神农架地区河岸带中领春木种群的数量特征与空间分布格局。结果表明: 1) 幼龄期个体缺乏, 中龄期个体相对丰富, 老龄期个体数量稀少。纺锤型的大小级结构表明种群属于衰退型, 但是以萌蘖为主要更新方式使其种群在较长一段时间内得以维持; 2)现存的Ⅰ、Ⅱ级个体数少, 导致静态生命表中Ⅰ、Ⅱ级个体死亡率出现负值, 自疏现象造成第Ⅳ级个体出现死亡率高峰, 由于接近实际寿命, 在第Ⅶ级死亡率达到最高; 3) 虽然其幼苗存活率较低, 但由于其幼树的存活率较高, 其存活曲线接近DeeveyⅠ型, 表明该地区河岸带的环境条件较适宜领春木种群的生长; 4) 空间分布格局总体为聚集分布, 这与大多数珍稀植物种群一致。人为干扰和自然环境影响其分布格局, 使种群由聚集分布向随机分布发展。因此使领春木种群在河岸带中沿海拔呈现“一带多岛”现象; 5) 从幼龄期到中龄期再到老龄期, 不同发育阶段的领春木种群的分布格局由聚集分布逐渐变为随机分布。但由于分布格局受种群本身生物学特性、自然环境因素(如坡向和海拔)和人为干扰的影响, 领春木在不同河岸带中的分布格局有所差异。