Population dynamics ofGlaux maritima (L.) along a distributional cline

Population fluctuations ofGlaux maritima, along a transect on a Baltle sea shore meadow, were recorded between 1979 and 1983. A bimodal distribution in numbers along the transect reflects the variation in factors regulating numbers: The two maintenance systems of the species, vegetative propagation and sexual reproduction play different roles. Vegetative propagation is fast and responds quickly to variations in the environment. The seeds germinate in strongly fluctuating temperatures which are triggered by disturbances such as flooding, damaging the vegetation.     

Competitive and facilitative relationships among three shrub species,and the role of browsing intensity and rooting depth in the Succulent Karoo,South Africa

Abstract. The nearest‐neighbour technique is used to infer competition and facilitation between the three most abundant species in a semi‐arid region of western South Africa. Relationships among the shrubs Leipoldtia schultzei and Ruschia robusta, which are leaf‐succulent members of the Mesembryanthemaceae (‘mesembs’) and Hirpicium alienatum a non‐succulent Asteraceae, were compared on two adjacent sites with different histories of browsing intensity. Competition was more prevalent and more important than facilitation. The only evidence for facilitation was found at the heavily‐browsed site where the palatable Hirpicium was larger under the unpalatable Leipoldtia. Generally the prevalence and importance of competition was reduced at the heavily‐browsed site. Strong evidence was obtained for intraspecific competition in each of the three species; also, competition was evident between the two mesembs, where Leipoldtia was competitively dominant over Ruschia, although neither species inhibited Hirpicium. Minimal competition between the mesembs and the asteraceous shrub was interpreted in terms of differentiation in rooting depth, and competition within the mesembs, in terms of overlap in rooting depth. The mesembs had the bulk of their roots in the top 5 cm of soil, while the asteraceous shrub had the bulk of its roots, and all its fine roots, at greater depths. The shallow‐rooted morphology of the mesembs is well adapted to utilize small rainfall events, which occur frequently in the Succulent Karoo, and do not penetrate the soil deeply. Modifications of existing methods are applied for analysing nearest‐neighbour interactions.     

A unique anther-mucilage in the pollination biology of Tylosema esculentum

Summary Tylosema esculentum, a perennial geophyte bearing yellow distylous flowers in racemes, maintains a high degree of outbreeding through reciprocal herkogamy. In addition, a viscous liquid, the anther-mucilage, is produced by the anther connective tissue and released concurrently with the pollen. The polysaccharide- and lipid-rich mucilage, which is functional in the shedding and transfer of pollen, is available for more than 1 day due to the gradual solidification of the mucilage. The assimilation of the pollen with the liquid substance significantly affects the pollination biology of T. esculentum. This is the first report on the unique phenomenon of wet pollen in the Caesalpiniaceae.     

天祝高寒珠芽蓼草甸群落的热值和营养成分的初步研究

 本文报告了甘肃天祝高寒珠芽蓼(Polygonum viviparum)草甸群落地上及地下四部分生物量的热值和营养成分动态,并对其放牧利用的价值进行了总的评价。 6—9月现存量的热值平均为18330焦／克干物质,或20279焦／克去灰分物质,较立枯物+凋落物、活根、死根的平均值为大;死根略大于活根。在珠芽蓼及其他大多数植物种子成熟期的8月下旬,现存量的热值最大,其他三部分的热值变化也有其各自的特点。现存量6—9月的平均营养成分以绝对干重计为：粗蛋白13.52%,粗脂肪2.25,粗纤维22.99,无氮浸出物51.88,粗灰分9.61(其中钙1.627,磷0.164);在时间变化上四部分各有其特点。根据地形、植物组成、产量、易食性、适口性、热值和营养成分等综合条件,认为珠芽蓼草甸是良好的放牧地。     

新疆呼图壁盐化草甸群落的DCA, CCA及DCCA分析

 本文应用DCA、CCA及DCCA排序技术对新疆呼图壁盐化草甸群落进行了分析。分析中选取了地下水位、粘土层出现深度、粘土层厚度、地下水pH值及地下水矿化度5个环境因子;同时为了分析空间格局对植被分异影响的大小,建立了样地空间坐标矩阵。结果表明：地下水位和地下水的pH值是引起植被分异的两个主要因素,空间格局对植被分异的影响大于环境因子对植被分异的影响。     

Use of paired plots and multivariate analysis for the determination of goat grazing preference

Abstract. Goat grazing is examined as a possible tool for grassland management. In this paper, goat grazing preferences are described. The proportion of biomass of particular species eaten by a goat was estimated on the basis of comparison of paired quadrats. The control quadrats were clipped before grazing and their biomass was compared with the biomass in grazed quadrats. Estimates of the proportion consumed were calculated for frequent species; they were significantly different among species; the most preferred species was Polygonum bistorta, a species with broad, soft, nutritious leaves. The least grazed species were Agrostis tenuis and Galium harcynicum. Various indices of food selectivity (e.g. forage ratio, electivity index) were calculated and their behaviour was compared. Canonical Correspondence Analysis and Redundancy Analysis with appropriate covariates reflecting the block design of the experiment were used to evaluate overall changes in species composition and yielded results similar to those from the direct estimation of the proportion consumed.     

Carbon distribution in grass (Festuca pratensis L.) during regrowth after cutting—utilization of stored and newly assimilated carbon

Distribution of net assimilated C in meadow fescue (Fectuca pratensi L.) was followed before and after cutting of the shoots. Plants were continuously labelled in a growth chamber with ¹⁴C-labelled CO₂ in the atmosphere from seedling to cutting and with ¹³C-labelled CO₂ in the atmosphere during regrowth after the cutting. Labelled C, both ¹⁴C and ¹³C, was determined at the end of the two growth periods in shoots, crowns, roots, soil and rhizosphere respiration. Distribution of net assimilated C followed almost the same pattern at the end of the two growth periods, i.e. at the end of the ¹⁴C- and the ¹³C-labelling periods. Shoots retained 71–73% of net assimilated C while 9% was detected in the roots and 11–14% was released from the roots, determined as labelled C in soil and as rhizosphere respiration. At the end of the 2nd growth period, after cutting and regrowth, 21% of the residual plant ¹⁴C at cutting (¹⁴C in crowns and roots) was found in the new shoot biomass. A minor part of the residual plant ¹⁴C, 12%, was lost from the plants. The decreases in ¹⁴C in crowns and roots during the regrowth period suggest that ¹⁴C in both crowns and roots was translocated to new shoot tissue. Approximately half of the total root C at the end of the regrowth period after cutting was ¹³C-labelled C and thus represents new root growth. Root death after cutting could not be determined in this experiment, since the decline in root ¹⁴C during the regrowth period may also be assigned to root respiration, root exudation and translocation to the shoots. ei]{gnH}{fnLambers} ei]{gnA C}{fnBorstlap}     

矮嵩草草甸植物群落的光合特性研究

 矮嵩草草甸植物群落的光合、暗呼吸和土壤呼吸的研究表明：光合作用的日变化在6月份接近平坦型,7、8月份呈午间降低型。矮嵩草草甸植物群落的光合作用受较低的光合面积指数及冠层叶片的受光势态的影响,存在着明显的光饱和现象,光补偿点及光饱和点相对于全日照光合有效辐射均较低,接近于单叶的光响应特性。裸露地面的土壤呼吸和植物与土壤体系的暗呼吸不仅与温度有关,而且与土壤水分状况和降雨量也有密切联系。影响草甸群落光合特性的主要因素有：高原地区强烈的太阳辐射,较低的光合面积指数和植物根系与土壤紧密结合所形成的草结皮层结构。     

科尔沁沙质草甸草场不同牧压条件植物群落分异数量分析

本文用ＴＷＩＮＳＰＡＮ分类和ＰＣＡ及ＤＣＡ排序技术分析了沙质草甸草场放牧试验引起地植物群落分异的特征,主要结论为：放牧强度是引起群落分异的主要原因,群落的分异主要表现在高度和现存生物量上。放牧引起群落变化的动力主要是放牧强度。而无牧条件下群落变化的主要动力是植物间的相互作用。当地的放牧强度处于中牧与重牧之间,属于过度放牧。这是引起草场退化及沙漠化的主要原因之一。