Experimental analysis of patch dynamics in tallgrass prairie plant communities

Abstract. Previous research has indicated that patch structure at small spatial scales (<100m²) in tallgrass prairies was defined by a diverse array of infrequent species because dominant species occurred in all samples at this scale. Also, patch structure was not significantly different from that derived from random species associations. Based on these results, we hypothesized that remo val of a dominant species would have no effect on patch structure in these prairies. We tested this hypothesis by removing a dominant grass, Schizachyrium scoparium (Poaceae), from half of each of four 10 m × 10 m study blocks, and comparing differences in patch structure between control and removal halves before and after removal. The minimum resolution in our study was 1 m². Patches of similar species composition were defined by cluster analysis of presence/absence data and cover data. Patch sizes ranged from 1 to 34 m². Following the removal of S. scoparium there was an overall increase in the number of species in the removal half of each block compared to pre-treatment levels. However, the number of patch types and number of spatially mapped groups, based on presence/absence or cover data, did not change between control and removal plots after the removal of S. scoparium. This supports the hypothesis that removal of a large, dominant species would have no effect on patch structure at this scale of resolution in these prairies. Thus, patch structure, as defined here, is an emergent property in these grasslands that is not predictable from changes in species composition. This property of stochastic patch structure results from interactions of processes operating at scales both larger and smaller than our scale of resolution. Stochastic models may provide a reasonable approach to modelling small-scale patch dynamics in tallgrass prairie communities.     

Evaluating plant-soil feedback together with competition in a serpentine grassland

Plants can alter biotic and abiotic soil characteristics in ways that feedback to change the performance of that same plant species relative to co-occurring plants. Most evidence for this plant-soil feedback comes from greenhouse studies of potted plants, and consequently, little is known about the importance of feedback in relation to other biological processes known to structure plant communities, such as plant-plant competition. In a field experiment with three C4 grasses, negative feedback was expressed through reduced survival and shoot biomass when seedlings were planted within existing clumps of conspecifics compared with clumps of heterospecifics. However, the combined effects of feedback and competition were species-specific. Only Andropogon gerardii exhibited feedback when competition with the clumps was allowed. For Sorghastrum nutans, strong interspecific competition eliminated the feedback expressed in the absence of competition, and Schizachyrium scoparium showed no feedback at all. That arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi may play a role in the feedback was indicated by higher AM root colonization with conspecific plant neighbours. We suggest that feedback and competition should not be viewed as entirely separate processes and that their importance in structuring plant communities cannot be judged in isolation from each other.     

西北荒漠带花棒根际丛枝菌根真菌生态地理分布

2015年7月, 沿荒漠植物花棒(Hedysarum scoparium)天然分布带, 在内蒙古、宁夏、甘肃选取7个典型样地, 采集花棒根际0-30 cm土层样品, 研究丛枝菌根(AM)真菌群落结构变化和土壤因子的生态功能。试验基于形态特征对分离的AM真菌孢子进行分类鉴定, 共分离鉴定AM真菌6属42种。群落结构分析表明不同样地的AM真菌群落结构差异显著, 土壤因子对AM真菌群落有重要影响。由东到西随干旱程度加剧, AM真菌种丰度、孢子密度、Shannon-Wiener指数逐渐降低。共有种孢子密度由东向西逐渐降低, 但在群落中所占比例逐渐增加。同一样地不同AM真菌种属、不同样地同一种属的AM真菌孢子密度不同。相关性分析结果显示土壤有机碳、pH值、氨态氮和有效磷对AM真菌影响显著, 土壤湿度对AM真菌影响极显著。结果表明花棒根际AM真菌群落结构和物种多样性具有明显的空间异质性, 并与土壤因子关系密切, 其中土壤湿度对AM真菌生态分布的影响最明显。     

Dimeric Acylphloroglucinol Derivatives with New Skeletons from Leptospermum scoparium

Leptosparones A–F ( 1 – 6 ), six new dimeric acylphloroglucinol derivatives with unprecedented skeletons, were isolated from Leptospermum scoparium. Compounds 1–3 and 5–6 are phenylpropanoyl-phloroglucinol dimers, while 4 is a phenylpropanoylphloroglucinol-isovalerylphloroglucinol hybrid. Structurally, these compounds represent the first examples of dimeric phloroglucinols with unprecedented C(7′)−C(8) linkage between the phloroglucinol core and the acyl side chain. Their structures were elucidated by comprehensive analyses of spectroscopic data, single crystal X-ray diffraction and chemical calculations. In addition, all compounds showed inhibitory effects against α-glucosidase with IC₅₀ values ranging from 39.5 to 186.8 μM.     

Eco-geographical distribution of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi associated with Hedysarum scoparium in the desert zone of northwestern China

Aims To understand the ecological significance of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi associated with Hedysarum scoparium in semi-arid and arid lands, species diversity and ecological distribution of AM fungi associated with Hedysarum scoparium were elucidated in a desert ecosystem of northwestern China.     

Nitrogen-15 partitioning within a three generation tiller sequence of the bunchgrass Schizachyrium scoparium: response to selective defoliation

Summary Nitrogen partitioning among three generations of tillers within the bunchgrass Schizachyrium scoparium var. frequens was investigated in a controlled environment as a potential mechanism of herbivory tolerance. Nitrogen-15 was transported from the labelled primary tiller generation to both shoots and roots of nondefoliated secondary and tertiary tiller generations within 24 h. Partial defoliation increased shoot nitrogen concentration of secondary and tertiary generation tillers by 110 and 120%, respectively, 24 h following defoliation. Shoot nitrogen concentration was preferentially increased by partial defoliation of tertiary generation tillers throughout the 120 h experimental period, but diminished to concentrations comparable to nondefoliated tillers within shoots of the secondary generation at 72 h. In contrast to nitrogen concentration, the total amount of nitrogen imported by secondary and tertiary generation tillers decreased 62 and 73%, respectively, 24 h following partial defoliation and did not attain values comparable to respective nondefoliated tillers. Consequently, preferential nitrogen concentration occurred in response to partial tiller defoliation without an increase in total nitrogen import based on the reduction in the total nitrogen requirement per tiller generation associated with defoliation. Estimates of both the total amount of nitrogen import and nitrogen concentration are necessary to accurately interpret the dynamics of intertiller nitrogen allocation.     

花棒液流变化规律及其对环境因子的响应

在西北干旱沙区,采用茎流热平衡技术对花棒主茎、一级分枝和二级分枝液流进行研究.结果表明,在整个生长季内液流速率日变化曲线峰型表现各异,但在短时间段内其液流速率日变化有较强的规律性.主茎和一级分枝液流速率的曲线在生长季中期出现了剧烈动荡,在生长季末期到达最大值后同一数值维持较长时间;二级分枝的液流量在生长季初期出现了“昼低夜高”、生长季中期的液流量低于6、9月份液流量;主茎和一级分枝单日液流量的最大值出现在7月份,分别为5 781.6 g和3 180 g,二级分枝的最大值出现在9月份(480 g).日液流量大小依次为主茎>一级分枝>二级分枝,而液流通量在整个生长期内表现比较复杂.通过对同时观测的气象因子的分析,表明在整个生长季影响花棒液流速率的主导因子是土壤含水率,而在一个较短的时间段内,光照强度、气温和水汽压亏缺则是影响花棒液流速率的主导因子.     

西北荒漠带细枝岩黄耆AM真菌与DSE真菌时空分布研究

为探明细枝岩黄耆Hedysarum scoparium根系丛枝菌根真菌（arbuscular mycorrhizae,AM）和深色有隔内生真菌（dark septate endophytes,DSE）定殖特征及其生态地理分布,充分理解菌根共生体在植物生长和植被恢复中的功能,本研究连续3年采集我国西北荒漠带不同样地细枝岩黄耆0-30cm土层土壤样品和根样,不同样地细枝岩黄耆均能被AM和DSE侵染,形成AM典型结构菌丝、泡囊和丛枝,DSE典型结构深色有隔菌丝和微菌核。细枝岩黄耆根系AM真菌定殖高于DSE定殖,但极端干旱条件下DSE定殖优于AM真菌定殖。AM真菌定殖率不同年际间表现为2016年最高,同一年份不同样地,除乌海、沙坡头样地,菌丝定殖率自东向西呈降低趋势。DSE真菌定殖率,在同一样地不同年份：乌海样地2016年定殖率显著高于2015年和2017年,在同一年份不同样地：2015年沙坡头样地DSE菌丝定殖率、总定殖率显著高于其他样地,而2016、2017年鄂尔多斯样地最高。NMDS分析结果显示,AM和DSE真菌定殖不同年际间差异显著。相关性分析表明,AM真菌定殖率与DSE定殖率显著正相关;土壤温度与AM定殖显著负相关;有机碳、速效磷、磷酸酶、湿度与AM定殖显著正相关;DSE菌丝定殖率、定殖强度仅与酸性磷酸酶正相关。本研究比较分析西北荒漠带不同样地AM和DSE定殖与土壤因子的相关性,有助于充分理解菌根共生体在植物生长和植被恢复中的功能和意义。     

干旱胁迫下沙生灌木花棒的抗氧化保护响应研究

采用盆栽试验,测定了在不同土壤水分胁迫程度和胁迫时间下花棒苗抗氧化保护酶(SOD、CAT、POD、APX)活性和抗氧化物(AsA、GSH、Car)含量,并用隶属函数值法综合评价了试验条件下花棒苗的抗氧化能力。结果显示:(1)与同期适宜水分处理相比,花棒苗的抗氧化保护酶活性在中度和重度干旱胁迫30d时均显著增加;胁迫60d时,POD活性均显著降低,而其余酶活性仍增加(重度胁迫)或显著增加(中度胁迫);胁迫90d时,中度胁迫处理除APX活性持平外,其余酶活性仍显著升高,而重度胁迫处理的SOD活性持平、POD活性显著增加、CAT和APX活性均显著降低。(2)相对于同期适宜水分处理,干旱胁迫30d时,中度胁迫处理的花棒苗AsA、Car、GSH含量分别显著增加、稍有增加和显著降低,而重度胁迫的AsA显著增加,Car和GSH含量均显著降低;胁迫60d时,中度胁迫处理的AsA、Car、GSH含量分别显著增加、稍有降低和稍有提高,而重度胁迫的AsA、Car、GSH含量分别显著增加、稍有增加和显著降低;胁迫90d时,中度胁迫处理的AsA含量显著增加,Car和GSH含量均稍有提高,而重度胁迫的AsA含量稍有下降,Car和GSH含量则持平。(3)花棒苗的MDA含量在干旱胁迫过程中均比适宜水分处理增加,且中后期达到显著水平。(4)花棒苗抗氧化能力在干旱胁迫30d表现为重度干旱>中度干旱>适宜水分,胁迫60d为中度干旱>重度干旱>适宜水分,胁迫90d时为中度干旱>适宜水分>重度干旱。研究表明,花棒苗在中度干旱胁迫下能调动自身抗氧化保护酶类与抗氧化物质并提高其抗氧化能力,消除或减轻干旱诱导的活性氧毒害;重度干旱胁迫下的花棒苗在胁迫前中期亦能增强自身的抗氧化能力,但在胁迫后期因部分活性氧清除机制受到破坏而使抗氧化能力降低。