Effect of patch size on seed removal by harvester ants

The harvester ant Messor barbarus can be responsible for high weed seed losses in dry land cereals in Spain. Because weeds occur in patches, harvester ants have to be able to find and exploit patches. However, seed patches can differ in size and may, therefore, differ in the probability of being discovered and exploited. Here, 90 patches varying in size from 0.25 to 9 m² were created in three 50 × 50 m subareas in a cereal field. Oat seeds were sown as weed seed surrogates in the patches at 2000 seeds m^?2. After 24 h, those remaining were collected and the exploitation rate (the percentage of seeds removed per patch discovered by ants) was estimated. Harvester ant nests and the location of the seed patches were georeferenced and used to estimate distances between them. The patch encounter rate (the proportion of patches discovered by the ants) decreased slightly, but significantly, with decreasing patch size, though not the exploitation rate, which was lowest in the smallest patches (78–94%) and highest in the largest (99–100%). Seed patches that were not found or partially exploited were mostly located in subareas with a lower ant nest density or a longer distance away from the nearest nest than seed patches that were fully exploited. The results of this study indicate that the interaction between the spatial distribution of ant nests and the patchy distribution of seeds can create opportunities for seeds to be subjected to lower levels of predation.     

红火蚁的人工饲养方法

以石膏和沙子为主要材料,建立了红火蚁人工蚁巢。结果表明,经过1个月的人工饲养,红火蚁能够在这两种人工蚁巢中存活、发育,以及产生有翅性蚁,其死亡率为17%～19%,与自然蚁巢相比无显著差异。同时人工饲养蚁对毒死蜱的敏感性与自然蚁也无显著差异。种群数量随饲养周期的增加而不断增长,可以为红火蚁研究提供大量均一的试虫。     

Patterns of loss of biodiversity associated with invasion by Chrysanthemoides monilifera subsp. monilifera (boneseed) across a large geographic region

To investigate the impact of invasion by Chrysanthemoides monilifera ssp. monilifera (boneseed) on plant communities, sites that were invaded and uninvaded were surveyed across Tasmania, South Australia and Victoria, Australia. Above‐ground cover abundance was estimated and samples of the seed bank from invaded and uninvaded sites in each state were collected and germinated in the glasshouse. We compared species richness and composition between invaded and uninvaded sites for both above‐ground and below‐ground samples. Across this broad geographic area, C. monilifera invaded sites had 25% fewer species than uninvaded sites and twice as many exotic species. Most growth forms showed reduced richness in invaded sites. There were no differences in the composition of native species communities between invaded and uninvaded sites in most regions, except South Australia. The composition of the seed bank differed from the above‐ground vegetation, but was similar within each state. Herbs and grasses were most abundant. The species composition of the seed bank was different in invaded sites only in Victoria, suggesting that invasion may negatively influence the capacity of the seed bank to restore vegetation in some areas. However, the underlying mechanisms for the observed patterns were not tested in this study. The capacity of all sites to regenerate effectively from the seed bank was limited and, in order to ensure the conservation of biodiversity into the future, monitoring of species richness at smaller scales, particularly those where management of C. monilifera has occurred, will be needed to ensure management can facilitate the establishment of missing species. This study suggests that C. monilifera impacts a range of functional groups and different species across its distribution and is therefore non‐selective in how it influences changes in communities.     

干旱区荒漠景观植被自然更新机制初探

根据实地调查和参阅资料,依山前洪积扇、河流沿岸阶地、沙丘及丘间低地、戈壁、盐沼的景观斑块,探讨干旱区荒漠植被的自然更新机制。干旱区的高温干燥、温差强烈、风蚀沙埋已变为植物繁衍后代的动力;萌孽、劈裂、地下茎萌生等多种繁殖方式,使荒漠植物在严酷的条件下实现自然更新,形成以母株为中心的母系居群。地貌形态和种子传播动力决定了群落外形。在干旱区,繁殖植物的种子成熟期与年内的丰水期相吻合,有利于植被更新：只有在连续2a降水较大时（超过多年平均降水量）,沙丘和丘间地、戈壁植被的自然更新才有可能发生。河流沿岸植被的自然更新受地下水影响最明显。湖盆盐碱地植被带有水生植被的痕迹,自然更新相对较难。景观斑块镶嵌分布,形成微环境均一的廊道,有利于植被的自然更新。     

新疆野生樱桃李天然林土壤种子库特征

采取野外调查、网筛分选和温室萌发相结合的方法,对新疆霍城县大西沟山区野生樱桃李天然林的土壤种子库物种组成、密度和生活史型、垂直空间分布、物种多样性及其与地上植被间关系进行了研究。结果表明：① 试验鉴定出的幼苗共有48种,隶属于19科,且一年生植物多达20种（41.7%）,地下芽植物为15种（31.3%）;② 种子库中种子的数量自上而下呈先增加后减少的特征,有超过90%的种子分布在距地表5 cm以上的表层土壤及枯枝落叶层中,近90%的樱桃李种子分布在距地表2 cm以上的表层土壤及枯落层中;③ 土壤种子库中草本层物种的Margalef指数、Shannon-Wiener指数均为最高,其次为乔木层和灌木层,种子库物种多样性主要受草本层丰富度的影响;④ 野生樱桃李天然林土壤种子库与地上植被的相似性系数为0.315,表明地上植被对土壤种子库的贡献较大。但是,由于过度放牧,使得种子库的物种多样性在垂直空间上的分布规律受到干扰。     

A survey of Lolium rigidum populations in citrus orchards: Factors explaining infestation levels

The presence of herbicide‐resistant Lolium rigidum in Mediterranean (Spanish) citrus orchards was reported in 2005 and it poses a serious threat to crop management. The main objective of this research was to investigate which components could be responsible for the persistence of annual ryegrass populations in Mediterranean mandarin and orange orchards. This is the first study regarding L. rigidum populations in Mediterranean citrus orchards. Surveys were conducted in 55 commercial citrus orchards in eastern Spain in 2013 by interviewing technicians who were working in cooperatives about crop management. The level of infestation by L. rigidum and the presence of harvester ants (Messor barbarus) then were estimated in the same orchards. The variables were subjected to a two‐dimensional analysis and both univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were fitted for each of the three L. rigidum density levels that had been established. The multivariate models showed the significant factors that were associated with various L. rigidum densities: (i) at a low density, the herbicides that were applied, the number of applications in 2013 and the type of irrigation (flood or drip); (ii) at a medium density, the presence of harvester ants; and (iii) at a high density, the herbicides that were applied in 2013. The results indicated that drip irrigation and one application of glyphosate mixed with other herbicides (or herbicides other than glyphosate) were associated with a lower L. rigidum density. The alternative management options that are presented here should help farmers to reduce weed problems in Mediterranean citrus orchards. Future research is required to better understand the presence of herbicide‐resistant populations, as well as the possible beneficial presence of granivorous ant species.     

塔里木河下游植被退化区土壤种子库特征

本文在塔里木河下游选择了四个典型荒漠植被退化区,通过土壤种子库萌发实验,对土壤种子库的基本特征以及与地上植被的关系进行了对比研究。结果表明:1)四个植被退化区土壤种子库总共含有10个物种(属),平均密度1633.33粒/m2。2)四个植被退化区种子库密度总和来看,0-5cm层>5-10cm>层10-30cm层,但在各个研究区中种子库密度的垂直分布异质性差异很大,没有一致的规律。3)各个研究区土壤种子库种子的生活型组成,草本物种密度均明显高于灌木。4)土壤种子库与地上植被的相似性系数在四个研究区均很低;随着退化程度的加重,种子库的密度和物种数均呈现明显的下降趋势,但土壤种子库物种组成的稳定性要高于地上植被。     

古尔班通古特沙漠不同类型生物结皮对草本植物多样性影响

选择古尔班通古特沙漠的北部(一号点)、中部(二号点)、南部(三号点)3个不同样点的裸沙和藻结皮、地衣结皮与苔藓结皮3种生物结皮类型,对比研究了草本植物多样性的差异性及其主要环境影响因素。结果表明:(1)不同生物结皮类型的土壤理化性质有明显差异,土壤有机质、全氮、全磷、全钾含量以及黏粒、粉粒和细沙的含量随生物结皮演替显著上升,而中沙和粗沙的含量呈显著下降趋势,在沙漠不同区域呈现明显的空间异质性,二号样点中裸沙和藻结皮的养分含量和pH明显低于一号点和三号点。(2)草本植物的物种丰富度和Shannon-Wiener指数随生物结皮发育呈明显上升趋势,草本植物的物种组成、群落结构在不同类型生物结皮和沙漠不同区域均具有显著差异。(3)在土壤理化特征中,有机质、速效P和全K含量,以及pH和粉粒含量是影响草本植物分布的关键因子。(4)不同类型生物结皮之间的微地形和种类组成差异、种子生物学特性以及生物结皮在不同尺度下的土壤环境异质性共同影响草本植物在生物结皮中的物种组成和丰度,最终导致草本植物群落结构在生物结皮中的演替变化。     

Response of ants to grazing disturbance at the central Monte Desert of Argentina: community descriptors and functional group scheme

Livestock ranching is one of the main productive activities in arid regions of the world.Grazing produces changes in animal as well as plant communities(e.g.richness,abundance and species dominance relationships).Ants are good biological indicators due to the environmental fidelity of some of their community parameters.We described the functional structure of the ant community in the central Monte of Mendoza,Argentina,and examined the effect of grazing using richness,diversity and the functional group scheme.We used pitfall traps to sample ants at a reserve with 30-year cattle exclusion and at an adjacent ranch.Eleven of the 27 recorded species showed significant differences in their abundance and two species were absent at the ranch.While richness and diversity did not reflect these differences,functional groups did.Hot Climate Specialists were more abundant at the ranch while Cryptic Species and Generalized Myrmicinae increased at the reserve.This study supports the utility of the functional group scheme to study the effects of grazing disturbance in ant communities of arid regions.     

浑善达克沙地南缘沙化草地围封过程中土壤种子库与地上植被的耦合关系

在浑善达克沙地南缘,以围封不同年限的沙化草地(1年、4年、9年)为试验样地,并以未围封沙化草地作对照,深入研究了沙化草地围封过程中,土壤种子库与地上植被的耦合关系。结果表明,对沙化草地实施围栏封育,可显著提高土壤种子库与地上植被的物种丰富度;不同围封年限间,二者在植被群落组成上,均表现出较高的相似性,且相临阶段相似性较高,随围封年限差异的增加,相似性逐渐减小,但这一变化前者滞后于后者,表明草地在恢复演替中,前者较后者具有滞后性;4种类型样地之间,土壤种子库密度以及地上植被密度差异均极显著,且二者之间均存在显著正相关性,其关系均可用二次曲线描述。     

Inducing competition: intensive grassland seeding to control Ambrosia artemisiifolia

The invasion of Ambrosia artemisiifolia across European countries has been favoured by its ecological amplitude and by its ability to colonise and dominate disturbed/ruderal areas that have lost competition from native species. We supposed that a strong competition for habitat resources may inhibit A. artemisiifolia growth, generating a negative feedback to its establishment. Based on this hypothesis, in this study, we undertook a 1‐year field experiment to assess the effect of mixtures of grassland species on A. artemisiifolia growth and fitness in bare soils. We applied three different treatments within an abandoned quarry area invaded by A. artemisiifolia: (i) spontaneous succession, (ii) hayseed and (iii) a commercial seed mixture. Within plots, we recorded vegetation parameters, A. artemisiifolia abundance and traits. Results obtained after one growing season showed that the commercial seed resulted in the strongest reduction of A. artemisiifolia growth rate in terms of plant height, lateral spread and leaf size. This was ascribed to higher density of plants that play a key role in reducing biomass and fitness of A. artemisiifolia. However, hayseed should be preferred, as it preserves local biodiversity. Seeding mixtures of grassland species can successfully suppress A. artemisiifolia in the first year of establishment on a vegetation‐free soil derived from quarry activities. This study indicated that inducing dominance of different native species in a newly developing plant community should enhance competition for resources, reducing the success of early coloniser non‐native species.     

Interactions between vegetation dynamic and edaphic factors in the Great Salt Desert of central Iran

Investigating the relationships between vegetation dynamic and edaphic factors provide management insights into factors affecting the growth and establishment of plant species and vegetation communities in saline areas.The aim of this study was to assess the spatial variability of various vegetation communities in relation to edaphic factors in the Great Salt Desert,central Iran.Fifteen vegetation communities were identified using the physiognomy-floristic method.Coverage and density of vegetation communities were determined using the transect plot method.Forty soil samples were collected from major horizons of fifteen profiles in vegetation communities,and analyzed in terms of following soil physical and chemical characteristics:soil texture,soluble Na+concentration,sodium adsorption ratio(SAR),electrical conductivity(EC),pH,organic matter content,soluble Mg2+and Ca2+concentrations,carbonate and gypsum contents,and spontaneously-and mechanically-dispersible clay contents.Redundancy analysis was used to investigate the relationships between vegetation dynamic and edaphic factors.The generalized linear method(GLM)was used to find the plant species response curves against edaphic factors.Results showed that plant species responded differently to edaphic factors,in which soluble sodium concentration,EC,SAR,gypsum content and soil texture were identified as the most discriminative edaphic factors.The studied plant species were also found to have different ecological requirements and tolerance to edaphic factors,in which Tamarix aphylla and Halocnemum strobilaceum were identified as the most salt-resistant species in the region.Furthermore,the presence of Artemisia sieberi was highly related to soil sand and gypsum contents.The results implied that exploring the plant species response curves against edaphic factors can assist managers to lay out more appropriate restoration plans in similar arid areas.     

The role of glacial gravel in community development of vascular plants on the glacier forelands of the Third Pole

On a deglaciated terrain, glacial gravel is the primary component of the natural habitat for vascular plant colonization and succession. Knowledge regarding the role of glacial gravel in vascular plant growth, however, remains limited. In this study, an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) was used to investigate plant family composition, species richness, fractional vegetation cover (FVC), and gravel cover (GC) along elevational gradients on the three glacier forelands (Kekesayi, Jiangmanjiaer, and Koxkar Baxi) of the Third Pole (including the eastern Pamir Plateau and western Tianshan Mountains) in China. We then analyzed the spatial characteristics of vascular plants followed by exploring the effect of glacial gravel on vascular plants. Findings indicated that FVC on these glacier forelands generally decreased as the elevation increased or distance from the current glacier terminus decreased. The shady slope (Kekesayi) was more vegetated in comparison to the sunny slope (Jiangmanjiaer) at the glacier basin scale, and the warm and humid deglaciated terrain (Koxkar Baxi) had the highest FVC at the regional scale. Plant family composition and species richness on the glacier forelands decreased with rising elevation, with the exception of those on the Jiangmanjiaer glacier foreland. The relationships between FVC and GC presented negative correlations; particularly, they exhibited variations in power functions on the Kekesayi and Jiangmanjiaer glacier forelands of the eastern Pamir Plateau and a linear function on the Koxkar Baxi glacier foreland of the western Tianshan Mountains. Glacial gravel was found to be conducive to vegetation colonization and development in the early succession stage up until vascular plants adapted to the cold and arid climatic condition, whereas it is unfavorable to the expansion of vascular plants in the later succession stage. These findings suggested that the spatial difference of plant characteristics had close connections with regional climatic and topographic conditions, as well as glacial gravel distribution. In addition, we concluded that aerial photographs can be an asset for studying the functions of micro-environment in vegetation colonization as well as succession on the glacier forelands.     

短花针茅荒漠草原土壤种子库对不同放牧强度的响应

在内蒙古短花针茅荒漠草原,采用野外随机定点取样与室内萌发相结合的方法,对不同放牧强度下围封草地土壤种子库的密度、垂直结构、多样性、丰富度、均匀度、以及种子库与地上植被的相似性进行了研究。结果表明,在各试验区土壤种子库主要分布在0～20cm土层,占种子库总密度的87%～96%;随着放牧强度的增加,土壤种子库总密度减少,同时地上植被与土壤种子库的相似物种数减少,种子库组成的相异性增加;轻度放牧对土壤种子库中一二年生草本所占比例影响较小,而中度和重度放牧使土壤种子库中一二年生草本所占比例增加;土壤种子库的物种丰富度、多样性、均匀度均随放牧强度的增加而减小。     

黄土丘陵沟壑区植被自然恢复过程中土壤种子库特征

采用野外调查取样和室内实验相结合的方法,研究了黄土丘陵沟壑区植被自然恢复过程中土壤种子库的物种组成、密度、物种多样性以及相似性特征.结果表明:阴、阳坡10个样地中,共萌发了55种2203株幼苗,隶属于23科48属;总密度达到5 505±625.537粒/m2,且0～5 cm土层远远大于5～10 cm土层的土壤种子库密度,约是其4.6倍;丰富度、多样性、均匀度指数均未与恢复年限达到显著相关水平,但生态优势度随恢复年限的增加呈上升趋势,且阳坡上升的趋势比阴坡明显;组成成分相似性系数变化范围为0.0952～0.7143,恢复年限相距越大,其相似性越小,说明植被恢复演替的过程也是土壤种子库空间异质性加大的过程.     

民勤荒漠植被的形成与演替过程及其发展趋势

甘肃省民勤县是我国的典型荒漠化地区,自西汉以来生态环境逐渐退化,植被经历了一个从沼泽植被到盐生草甸植被再到荒漠植被的退化过程。水资源的变化是决定当地植被退化的主导因子,在大面积湖泊、河流背景上是沼泽植被,在干涸湖泊、河床背景上的是盐生草甸植被,在沙质荒漠背景上的是荒漠植被。目前,荒漠植被正处于进一步退化过程中。退化演替的同一阶段存在多种演替过程,现阶段存在着荒漠植被退化演替和盐生草甸植被向荒漠植被演替2种退化过程。20世纪中叶,在当地是从盐生草甸植被向荒漠植被演替的过渡时期,20世纪50年代以来,荒漠植被逐渐占据了优势。目前的天然种子植物共有22个科,72个属,127个种,其中以典型荒漠为主,共有3个植被型,7个群系组,17个群系。植物种类少,群落结构简单,群落随生境的分异性较大。目前的植被正处在进一步退化过程中,植物种类和面积减少,大面积枯梢、死亡,优势种的优势度增大。现阶段决定荒漠植被生长状况的主要是大气降水,植被盖度和密度随年际降水量变化较大,尤其是一年生草本植物。目前影响植被退化的人为因素主要是上游来水量减少,地下水严重超采、草场严重超载和造林密度过大等。在干旱内陆盆地,一旦水资源供给减少,湖盆、河道干涸,泥沙出露,形成沙漠和沙漠化则是必然结果。     

Characteristics of soil seed banks at different geomorphic positions within the longitudinal sand dunes of the Gurbantunggut Desert,China

Understanding the characteristics of soil seed banks in sand dunes is crucial to stabilize the dune systems and maintain the plant populations in deserts. In this study, we conducted a survey investigation in the field and a seed germination experiment in the laboratory to explore the characteristics of soil seed banks at various geomorphic positions of longitudinal sand dunes in the Gurbantunggut Desert, China. Totally, 17 plant species belonging to 17 genera and 9 families were identified in soil seed banks, and 35 plant species belonging to 34 genera and 17 families were identified in aboveground vegetation. Plant species richness in soil seed banks decreased with increasing soil depth. The highest species richness was presented in the upper slope of the windward slope and the lowest species richness was presented in the base of the windward slope. There was no significant difference in seed density of soil seed banks among the examined seven geomorphic positions. The highest seed density occurred in the lower slope of the leeward slope while the lowest occurred in the crest. Moreover, seed density decreased with increasing soil depth, being the highest in the upper soil layer(0–2 cm). For both soil seed banks and aboveground vegetation, there was no significant difference in Simpson's diversity index among the seven geomorphic positions; however, Shannon-Wiener diversity index and Pielou's evenness index showed significant differences among the seven geomorphic positions. Those results showed that although there was no significant difference in seed density of soil seed banks among the seven geomorphic positions, the geomorphic positions significantly affected the species richness, diversity and distribution of soil seed banks. Therefore, understanding the characteristics of soil seed banks at different geomorphic positions of sand dunes is essential to vegetation restoration or reestablishment. Furthermore, the Jaccard's similarity coefficients of plant species between soil seed banks and aboveground vegetation at the seven geomorphic positions were low, suggesting that vegetation restoration or reestablishment processes should be promoted through adding seeds to surface layers.     

荒漠植物红砂(Reaumuria soongorica)的保育效应及其对群落物种多样性的影响

红砂(Reaumuria soongorica)是我国北方温带荒漠的主要先锋植物,也是一种潜力巨大的水土保持和荒山绿化物种,但是该乡土物种是否具有保育植物的特征,目前尚未有这方面的研究。文中通过研究生长于半干旱区的荒漠植物红砂群落不同分布格局和群落特征,分析红砂盖度变化对群落多样性的影响,探究保育效应的发生条件及其对群落物种多样性影响机理。研究结果表明:群落的植物物种多样性随着红砂植被盖度和地上生物量增大而逐渐增大,然而,当红砂总盖度超过48.73%(地上生物量为35.62g/m2)时,虽植被盖度和地上生物量继续增大,目标物种碱蓬(Suaeda glauca),蓍状亚菊(Ajania achilleoides)多度明显增加,但植物物种多样性并没有显著的变化。这些说明在干旱区,当红砂的盖度增加到一定程度之后,才能通过冠层遮阴产生保育效应。因此,在植被稀疏、物种多样性较低的干旱地区,可以充分利用红砂物种的保育效应,促进和加快植被自然恢复进程,调控物种多样性和群落结构。     

Influence of edaphic factors on plant distribution and diversity in the arid area of Xinjiang,Northwest China

The influence of edaphic factors on plant distribution is essential to community ecology and important for vegetation restoration and management in arid ecosystems. In this study, desert plant distribution and diversity as well as soil water, salinity, and nutrients were measured in the Ebinur Lake Wetland Nature Reserve (ELWNR) in arid Northwest China. We determined relationships between plant distribution and soil factors along a transect with increasing distance from the river and created optimal models using soil factors to explain variations in plant diversity. In general, soil factors decreased with increasing distance from the river. Soil volumetric water content (SVWC), electrical conductivity (EC), pH, nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and sulfur (S) were closely related to plant distribution. According to canonical correspondence analysis, plants along the transect were divided into three groups: saline–alkaline tolerant, drought tolerant, and high P-demanding. SVWC, pH, soil organic carbon (C), N, P, and S account for 93.8% of the variations in plant diversity in the ELWNR. Compared with other soil factors, S explained the largest percentage of variations in diversity when single soil variables were considered in generalized additive models (R²?=?38.9%). Our results suggest increases in soil pH, P, N, and S would improve plant diversity significantly. We found differences among species groups in preference for habitat, and N and S content had a significant positive effect of on plant diversity, providing a scientific reference for plant restoration and saline soil remediation in desert ecosystems.     

我国北方土地荒漠化成因与草业发展研究

土地荒漠化是当今世界重要的生态环境问题 ,也是脆弱生态系统失去平衡而急需治理的国土整治问题。笔者认为 ,土地荒漠化的发生虽然是自然因素和人类活动共同作用的结果 ,但非可持续性的人类活动是加剧土地荒漠化的主导因素。从分析荒漠化发生的社会经济原因入手 ,阐述发展草业在保护生态与环境、发展西部经济中的重要地位。以此为突破口 ,提出完善软环境体系、创新草业发展机制、加强管理和强化目标责任制对策措施。