Impacts of Industrial Polluters on Bryophytes: a Meta-analysis of Observational Studies

Identifying the factors responsible for the diversity of responses of biota to industrial pollution is crucial for predicting the fates of polluted ecosystems. A meta-analysis based on 49 field studies conducted around 47 point polluters demonstrated that the individual (growth and reproduction) and community (abundance and species richness) characteristics of bryophytes in polluted habitats are reduced to about a half of the values observed in unpolluted sites. Non-ferrous smelters cause a stronger reduction in species richness and larger changes in species composition than other types of polluters. The magnitudes of the effects of pollution on the abundances of individual bryophyte species are not linked with their taxonomic position, life form or Ellenberg indicator values for light, moisture and nitrogen. The variation in species?? responses to pollution is mostly explained by differences in their reproductive characteristics; bryophyte species that possess special forms of vegetative reproduction and those that produce abundant sporophytes are more successful in polluted habitats. Ranking of bryophyte species according to their sensitivity to pollution is independent of the type of the polluter. Changes in bryophyte cover follow changes in tree cover, but not changes in the cover of the vascular field layer in the same pollution gradients. Pollution impacts cause stronger adverse effects on bryophytes in warmer climates.     

土壤冻融作用对植物生理生态影响研究进展

土壤冻融作用是季节性冻土区和多年冻土区常见的自然现象,主要是指由于土壤温度变化而出现的反复冻结解冻过程。冻融作用不仅影响土壤的理化和生物学性质,而且还会改变植物的生理生态过程,从而可能对冻土广泛分布的高纬度和高海拔地区植被生态系统生产力产生重要影响。本文重点论述了土壤冻融对植物地上和地下部分生理生态过程的影响效应以及全球变化背景下高寒植被生态系统对不同冻融格局的响应特征,总结了不同气候环境条件及生境胁迫下植物光合作用、生物量和生产力、根系生长及其对水分和温度胁迫响应等的生理生态表现,同时对当前土壤冻融与植物生理生态领域研究存在的不足进行了阐释,提出全球变化背景下频繁的土壤冻融作用将强烈改变植被生态格局和功能,并指出这种改变在高寒生态系统中表现将更为显著。     

Effects of grassland abandonment, restoration and management on butterflies and vascular plants

When semi-natural pastures are abandoned, specialized grassland species are lost as a consequence of succession. As a counter-measure, previously abandoned grasslands may be restored by clearing shrubs and trees and re-introducing grazing livestock. In order to examine the effects of this type of habitat restoration, we compared species richness of plants and of specialized plants thought to be dependent on continuous management and species richness and abundance of butterflies and red-listed butterflies in 12 sets of matched continuously managed, abandoned and restored grassland in southern Sweden. We found no differences in species richness or abundance between the three grassland types. There were, however, some negative effects of abandonment. The number of management-dependent plants decreased with increasing cover of trees and shrubs, and in restored sites species richness of all groups decreased with increasing cover of trees and shrubs before restoration. Also the present management significantly affected both butterflies and plants. Species richness of both groups increased with increasing vegetation height and differed between sites depending on the species of grazers, with negative effects of sheep compared to cattle or horses. Our study indicates that for grassland management to be efficient, the restoration actions should mainly be directed towards sites where the post-abandonment succession has not proceeded too far.     

Local and landscape factors determine functional bird diversity in Indonesian cacao agroforestry

Large-scale intensification of smallholder cacao management is currently affecting the agroforestry landscapes of Sulawesi (Indonesia), the world’s third largest cacao producer. Little is known about how this shift from diverse plantations to full-sun cacao will affect functionally important biodiversity within the agroecosystem, and how this is related to landscape-wide patterns in land-use and natural ecosystems. We recorded birds in 43 cacao plots differing in woody and herbaceous vegetation as well as distance to forest in two valleys around the Lore Lindu National Park in Central Sulawesi. Species richness of frugivores and nectarivores decreased with increasing distance to forest, whereas granivorous birds increased in richness. Forest specialists, but not habitat generalists, responded positively to forest edge proximity. Species richness of all functional groups except seed eaters increased at higher density of tall shade trees. Greater species richness of shade trees was associated with higher species richness of frugivores and nectarivores, while herbaceous vegetation did not have a strong impact on the avifauna. The positive effect of shade trees was independent of distance to forest. In conclusion, our study shows the relative importance of local and landscape effects on bird diversity with shade trees being critical for bird conservation in cacao agroforestry landscapes.     

Potential of a national monitoring program for forests to assess change in high-latitude ecosystems

Broad-scale monitoring in Alaska has become of increasing interest due to uncertainty about the potential impacts of changing climate on high-latitude ecosystems. The Forest Inventory and Analysis (FIA) program is a national monitoring program for all public and private forestlands in the US, but the program is not currently implemented in the boreal region of Alaska. We provide an overview of the strengths and weaknesses of the FIA system for monitoring the potential impact of climate change on Alaska’s species, communities, and ecosystems. The primary strength of the system is a scientifically rigorous design-based statistical estimation method that produces estimates of forest attributes with known sampling error and quantifiable measurement error. The weaknesses of the system include low power for small area estimates, lack of spatial context and contiguity, and difficulty in inferring causality of factors when changes in monitored attributes are detected.Climate change is expected to impact many components of boreal ecosystems, but for most indicators the direction and magnitude of change are difficult to predict because of complex interactions among system components. Status and trend information provided by FIA monitoring that could be helpful to conservation decisions includes abundance and rarity of vascular plants, invasive species, biomass and carbon content of vegetation, shifting vegetation species distribution, disturbance frequency, type, and impact, and wildlife habitat characteristics. Because of unique factors such as the low level of infrastructure, modifications to the FIA monitoring system used in the conterminous US have been proposed for Alaska. Remote sensing data would play a greater role in meeting monitoring objectives, and sampling intensity of field plots would be reduced. Coordination with other national, regional, and local monitoring efforts provides potential for increased understanding of change in boreal ecosystems at multiple scales.     

Fertilizer application during primary succession changes the structure of plant and herbivore communities

Fertilization of secondary successional communities generally increases biomass but reduces diversity; its impact on primary successional communities is less well understood. Following applications of a balanced fertilizer to naturally established vegetation on slate quarry waste, effects on tree growth, ground flora species and foliar invertebrates were monitored over two years. Fertilization increased tree growth, with stem basal area increasing by 130% over two growing seasons compared with a 50% increase in unfertilized trees. Several dominant ground flora species increased in cover as a result of fertilization. In contrast, cover of bryophytes was not increased. Fertilization favoured plant species associated with drier habitats, but disadvantaged less-competitive ruderal species. Tree foliar invertebrates were less abundant on the trees on slate waste than on trees in established woodland. Fertilization made tree leaves more palatable by increasing nitrogen and reducing soluble polyphenol concentrations, and increased the abundance of sap-sucking invertebrates, without changing foliar invertebrate diversity. Overall, fertilizing this primary successional site was beneficial for biodiversity; it increased abundance of dominant plant species and foliar invertebrate herbivores, yet few taxa were adversely affected during this period. Increases in tree biomass and invertebrate abundance are likely to favour the establishment of other taxa. Where the biodiversity conservation interest is principally in closed-canopy vegetation, applying fertilizer is a cheap, comparatively non-intrusive and effective way to increase biodiversity on denuded sites. However, plant species characteristic of open and infertile habitats (particularly bryophytes) and their obligate herbivorous invertebrates are likely to decrease in abundance.     

Do frugivorous birds assist rainforest succession in weed dominated oldfield regrowth of subtropical Australia?

Exotic plants often form the first woody vegetation that grows on abandoned farmland. If this vegetation attracts vertebrate frugivores which disperse the seeds of native plants, then native plants may recruit to such oldfield sites. However, there is debate about the extent to which exotic vegetation assists or suppresses the regeneration of native plants, and about its effects on faunal biodiversity. These issues were investigated in subtropical eastern Australia, where rainforests were cleared for agriculture in the 19th century, and where regrowth dominated by camphor laurel (Cinnamomum camphora, an exotic, fleshy-fruited tree) has become common on former agricultural land. The study assessed the assemblages of frugivorous birds, and the recruitment of rainforest plants, at 24 patches of camphor laurel regrowth. The patches were used by nearly all frugivorous birds associated with subtropical rainforest. Many of these birds (16 of 34 species) are considered to have a medium to high potential to disperse the seeds of rainforest plants, and eight of these were abundant and widespread in regrowth patches. Of 208 recorded plant species, 181 were native to local rainforest. The ratio of native to exotic species was higher amongst tree recruits than adult trees, both for numbers of species and individuals. Among native tree recruits, 79% of 75 species, and 93% of 1928 individuals, were potentially dispersed by birds. These recruits included many late-successional species, and there were relatively more individuals of late-successional, bird-dispersed native species amongst recruits than adult trees. The species richness, but not the abundance, of both frugivorous birds and of bird-dispersed rainforest trees decreased with distance from major rainforest remnants. Camphor laurel regrowth provides habitat for rainforest birds and creates conditions suitable for the regeneration of native rainforest plants on abandoned farmland. Careful management of regrowth dominated by fleshy-fruited exotic invasive trees can provide an opportunity for broadscale reforestation in extensively-cleared landscapes.     

BIG BLUESTEM RESPONSE TO FERTILIZER AND DEFOLIATION ON THE LOUISIANA COASTAL PLAIN

Although big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) is used for forage and conservation in the Great Plains, potentially useful Louisiana ecotypes have received little attention. Cloned plants from a robust big bluestem plant collected near Rosepine, LA were assessed for responses to fertilizer and defoliation in a field evaluation of potential forage value. Annual application of nitrogen fertilizer at 50 kg ha^?1 did not increase herbage yield until the third year. Clipping twice annually decreased productivity compared to once annually after the second year. Fertilizer effects on forage nutritive value were small. Clipping improved late-season nutritive value largely due to greater stem development of previously undefoliated plants. Limited responsiveness to fertilization and detrimental effects of repeated defoliation on productivity indicate that even this robust local big bluestem ecotype provides little potential as a pasture plant. Potential is indicated for other uses including wildlife habitat and grassland ecosystems managed for conservation purposes.     

不同干扰方式对桂西北灌草植被物种多样性和生产力的影响

灌草植被在生态系统功能的维持中发挥着重要作用,不同的干扰方式可能改变退化土地灌草植被的多样性及其分布格局,甚至多样性与生产力的关系。以未受干扰的植被作为对照,研究放牧和火烧两种主要干扰对桂西北灌草植被的物种多样性和生产力的影响,并分析了两者之间的关系。结果表明:放牧和火烧处理均降低了灌木的物种丰富度和Shannon-Wiener多样性指数,但放牧处理的均匀度指数与对照相比无显著差异,火烧处理反而显著增加了其均匀度指数。对草本而言,放牧不影响物种丰富度指数,但显著降低了Shannon-Wiener多样性指数和均匀度指数;火烧显著降低了物种丰富度指数,但不影响Shannon-Wiener多样性指数和均匀度指数。与对照相比,放牧和火烧均降低了灌木的地上和地下部分生物量,但两者对草本的地上和地下生物量却产生了正面影响或无影响。此外,这两种干扰方式对灌木和草本多样性与生产力间关系的影响具有不一致性。     

低温雪灾对莽山保护区植被NPP影响的遥感评价

低温雪灾对植被的影响不仅体现在对植被外在植株的损害上,还体现在对植物内在生理活动的破坏方面。因此,低温雪灾对植被影响的评价应立足植被恢复较长一段时间的植被变化。以2008年1月的低温雪灾为背景,选择反映植被生长特性的植被净初级生产力为研究对象,以受人类活动干扰程度较小、能较好体现植被自然恢复的莽山保护区为研究区,构建了光能利用率模型（CASA模型）,对低温雨雪灾害发生前和发生两年后的植被净初级生产力进行了估算,通过其变化情况来衡量低温雨雪对植被的影响。还对不同地形条件下、不同林龄和树种的植被NPP受低温雪灾影响的差异进行分析,以期为整个莽山乃至南方受灾地区灾后评价和重建决策提供数据支持。     

Scattered trees in rural landscapes: foraging habitat for insectivorous bats in south-eastern Australia

Scattered trees and small patches of vegetation among farmland are typical of rural landscapes throughout the world, often comprising a significant proportion of remaining habitats for native fauna. Insectivorous bats can use such isolated resources owing to the high mobility of most species, but little is known of the relationship between bats and tree density, or of the impact of incremental loss of trees in the landscape. Bats were surveyed at 30 sites in south-eastern Australia, in five habitat categories representing a range of tree densities from remnant woodland blocks (>35 trees/ha) to sparsely scattered trees (<1 tree/ha), and open paddocks devoid of trees. Sampling was undertaken by using harp traps and ultrasonic bat detectors. The abundance of potential arthropod prey was assessed by using light traps. Eleven species of insectivorous bats were recorded and bats were widespread in all habitat categories; all species were recorded around scattered trees. Overall activity, as revealed by detectors, did not differ significantly between the four treed categories, but in open paddocks there was a lower level of activity and a different community composition. However, a regression model revealed a significant quadratic relationship between activity of bats and tree density, with highest activity at 20-30 trees/ha. All species were recorded in open paddocks, but for eight of the ten species this represented <7% of their total activity recorded across all habitat categories. For six species, significant positive correlations were found between activity levels and the abundance of potential arthropod prey. In contrast to bat detectors, trapping results showed a significant difference in overall abundance of bats between wooded habitats, with decreased abundance as tree density declined. This study highlights the value of scattered trees as foraging habitat for bats, and emphasizes that, in rural land mosaics, such small and isolated habitat components have value for the conservation of biodiversity, and require greater recognition and protection.     

Species groups occupying different trophic levels respond differently to the invasion of semi-natural vegetation by Solidago canadensis

We studied the impact of the invasive plant species Solidago canadensis on the species richness of vascular plants and the abundance, species richness and diversity of butterflies, hoverflies and carabid beetles in herbaceous semi-natural habitats near Ljubljana, Slovenia. The species groups were sampled in sites dominated by S. canadensis and paired nearby sites covered by semi-natural vegetation. Plant species richness and species richness, abundance and diversity of butterfly species were lower in plots dominated by S. canadensis. Hoverfly abundance, diversity and species richness were negatively affected only in July just before the onset of flowering of S. canadensis, but tended to be positively affected in August during the height of flowering of S. canadensis. Only the abundance of carabid beetles was reduced in plots dominated by S. canadensis. The responses of the insect groups seem largely driven by the effects of Solidago on the availability of essential resources like food or larval host plants. Our results suggest that insect species that are closely related to plant species composition are more vulnerable to the effects of invasive plant species than those that are loosely or only indirectly related to plant species composition.     

Tree invasion in naturally treeless environments: Impacts of quinine (Cinchona pubescens) trees on native vegetation in Galápagos

Impacts of plant invasions are largely scale-dependent and responses to the same exotic species may vary among communities. Since impacts caused by individual trees could anticipate consequences of a closed canopy of an invader, we studied the response of Galápagos native plants to quinine (Cinchona pubescens) trees in two vegetation zones. Quinine has invaded >11,000 ha of Santa Cruz Island, including the Miconia- and Fern-Sedge-Zones. We analysed species composition and abundance along transects radiating from the trunks of individual quinine trees. Species richness and percentage cover decreased significantly with proximity to individual trees, and these effects were more pronounced in the Fern-Sedge Zone than in the Miconia Zone. Cover of endemic and native herb species and grass species significantly declined by 57–88% in the Fern-Sedge Zone. This was not the case in the Miconia Zone, but here the dominant endemic Miconia robinsoniana decreased by 41%. Quinine is a major driver of plant community change in both vegetation zones. The greater susceptibility of species in the Fern-Sedge Zone was ascribed to the presence of a new growth form: quinine trees in a formerly treeless environment. Species of the Miconia Zone appeared to be better pre-adapted to higher shade levels created by the Miconia shrubs. Our results emphasize the need for future control of quinine to preserve the diversity of the native Galápagos flora.     

蚯蚓对赤红壤草被恢复影响的试验研究

生态修复是南方红壤丘陵区土地退化治理的有效手段之一,但现有研究较少关注土壤动物在生态修复过程中的作用。以退化的赤红壤为研究对象,基于盆栽试验,采用全因子设计方法模拟多种生态系统(裸土vs.黑麦草)×蚯蚓(不接种vs.接种蚯蚓)×水分(湿润vs.干旱),以揭示蚯蚓对干旱条件下退化土壤植被修复前后土壤理化性质和植被生产力的调控作用。结果表明：蚯蚓显著提高了湿润和干旱条件下黑麦草生物量。蚯蚓对土壤有机碳影响不显著,蚯蚓活动提高了裸土生态系统土壤总氮、硝态氮、铵态氮含量,以及黑麦草生态系统土壤速效磷含量。干旱胁迫降低黑麦草生物量,对土壤有机碳影响不显著,但显著改善蚯蚓存在土壤的pH值。黑麦草生物量与土壤总磷、硝态氮、铵态氮和速效磷显著正相关。偏最小二乘路径分析表明蚯蚓活动显著提高土壤全量和速效养分含量,湿润条件下速效养分对植被生物量具有显著正效应,干旱条件下其作用不显著。综上,蚯蚓活动改善土壤肥力状况,促进植被生长,蚯蚓活动可缓解干旱对植被生长的不利影响。研究结果对深入认识蚯蚓对生态系统作用具有重要意义,为退化土地生态修复管理提供科学依据。     

强度侵蚀山地不同治理措施对植被生长的影响及其生态效益分析

在福建省长汀河田强度侵蚀山地,采用固定标准样地定位研究和临时性调查相结合的方法,探讨了3种不同治理措施对强度侵蚀山地植被生长及生态效益方面的影响,结果表明：治理5年后,植被覆盖度明显提高,增长次序依次为草灌乔混交〉补植乔灌〉老头松改造〉对照;林木及草被生长加快,治理区植物种类呈明显增加趋势,草灌乔混交区植物种类最为丰富,达13科16属20种;土壤侵蚀率下降21．92％-32．14％,有机质含量提高3．76～4．48g／kg;治理区土壤侵蚀模数与对照区相比降幅达86％～91％;区域小气候等生态因子得到明显改善。这说明通过治理,能较好地促进强度侵蚀山地的植被生长,改善侵蚀区生态环境,而采用草灌乔混交措施的治理效果最好。     

The effects of invasive North American beavers on riparian plant communities in Cape Horn, Chile: Do exotic beavers engineer differently in sub-Antarctic ecosystems?

North American beavers (Castor canadensis) were introduced into southern South America in 1946. Since that time, their populations have greatly expanded. In their native range, beavers shape riparian ecosystems by selectively feeding on particular plant species, increasing herbaceous richness and creating a distinct plant community. To test their effects as exotic engineers on sub-Antarctic vegetation, we quantified beaver impacts on tree canopy cover and seedling abundance and composition, as well as their impacts on herbaceous species richness, abundance and composition on Navarino Island, Cape Horn County, Chile (55°S). Beavers significantly reduced forest canopy up to 30 m away from streams, essentially eliminating riparian forests. The tree seedling bank was greatly reduced and seedling species composition was changed by suppressing Nothofagus betuloides and Nothofagus pumilio, but allowing Nothofagus antarctica. Herbaceous richness and abundance almost doubled in meadows. However, unlike beaver effects on North American herbaceous plant communities, much of this richness was due to invasion by exotic plants, and beaver modifications of the meadow vegetation assemblage did not result in a significantly different community, compared to forests. Overall, 42% of plant species were shared between both habitat types. Our results indicate that, as predicted from North American studies, beaver-engineering increased local herbaceous richness. Unlike in their native range, though, they did not create a unique plant community in sub-Antarctic landscapes. Plus, the elimination of Nothofagus forests and their seedling bank and the creation of invasion pathways for exotic plants together threaten one of the world’s most pristine temperate forest ecosystems.     

Comparison of Sewage and Coal-Mine Wastes on Stream Macroinvertebrates Within an Otherwise Clean Upland Catchment, Southeastern Australia

Macroinvertebrates have been widely used in freshwater ecosystems as surrogates to assess the impacts of waste discharges and water pollution. However, often interpretations have been made on the impact of one pollutant in the presence of others that may provide an unidentified additive effective or otherwise confound the results. There have been few opportunities to study the impact of pollutants without such potentially confounding effects. We studied macroinvertebrates using a replicated kick sampling technique and identified to the family level to assess and compare the effects of zinc-rich coal-mine waste and organic pollution from treated sewage on an otherwise clean upland stream network within a world heritage area. We used multivariate analysis of macroinvertebrate assemblages from polluted and clean sites to measure and compare the effect of each waste impact to community structure. We also calculated three widely used biotic indices (Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera (EPT) family richness, family richness, and abundance) and found that the EPT index was the only one to respond to both pollution types. Macroinvertebrate abundance was an important attribute of the study, with each source of pollution having a contrasting effect on total abundance. It also helped us to measure the relative response of families to each pollutant. There was an initial significant modification of macroinvertebrate assemblages below the outflow of each of the pollutants, followed by different degrees of recovery downstream.     

Diatom Inferred Acidity History Of 32 Lakes On The Kola Peninsula,Russia

The Kola Peninsula is characterised by vast environmental contrasts. Large areas are almost in pristine condition. However, mining and associated industrial activity generate one of the largest sources of heavy metal and sulphur emissions in the world and create `technogenic wastelands' around smelters. Due to the lack of monitoring data, insufficient knowledge is available regarding the acidification history of lakes on the peninsula. In this study, palaeolimnological techniques were used to reveal the pre-industrial pH status of 32 small lakes in order to evaluate the role of human impacts on freshwater ecosystems. Diatom-inferred pH reconstructions demonstrated that for 22 (68.75%) of the lakes, the pH was below 6.5 and in eight (25%) below 6.0 during the pre-industrial period; signs of recent acidification could be detected only in seven lakes of which five are located relatively close to current pollution sources. Furthermore, no substantial changes between the pre-industrial and modern species richness and composition were observed, indicating relatively stable environmental conditions. Most of the lakes seem to have undergone long-term acidification and are mainly affected by natural acidifying factors (e.g., vegetation, bedrock, climate, sea salt). The effect of anthropogenic emissions seems to be surprisingly geographically restricted and controlled mainly by the surrounding topography and prevailing winds. However, although many lakes seem to be in relatively pristine condition, only a significant reduction in heavy metal and sulphur emissions will prevent the lakes from acidifying in the future.     

Uncertainty analysis of critical loads for terrestrial ecosystems in Russia

The goal of this study is to give a comprehensive and quantitative estimation of the uncertainty of computed in different scale nitrogen (N) and sulphur (S) critical loads (CL) values for terrestrial ecosystems of the Northern Asia, European part and the North-Western regions of Russia. The CL values are used to set goals for future deposition rates of acidifying compounds so that the environment is protected. In this research CL values for terrestrial ecosystems are determined using the expert-modelling geoinformation system (EM GIS) approach. UNCSAM software package is used as the tool for uncertainty analysis. The analysis presented here focuses on the estimation and effect of the input source uncertainties and sensitivities on the CL values in various regions under study. In spite of the region, nitrogen uptake by vegetation, nitrogen leaching from terrestrial ecosystems and the difference between deposition and uptake by plants of base cations (BC) are the most influential factors for all terrestrial ecosystems of Russia.     

Development of microbial community during primary succession in areas degraded by mining activities

Together with plants, soil microbial communities play an essential role in the development of stable ecosystems on degraded lands, such as postmining spoil heaps. Our study addressed concurrent development of the vegetation and soil fungal and bacterial communities in the course of primary succession in a brown coal mine spoil deposit area in the Czech Republic across a chronosequence spanning 54 years. During succession, the plant communities changed from sparse plants over grassland and shrubland into a forest, becoming substantially more diverse with time. Microbial biomass increased until the 21st year of ecosystem development and later decreased. Although there was a close association between fungi and vegetation, with fungi mirroring the differences in plant community assemblages, the development of the bacterial community was different. The early succession community in the barren nonvegetated soil largely differed from that in the older sites, especially in its high abundance of autotrophic and free‐living N₂‐fixing bacteria. Later in succession, bacterial community changes were minor and reflected the chemical parameters of the soil, including pH, which also showed a minor change with time. Our results show that complex forest ecosystems developed over 54 years on the originally barren soil of the temperate zone and indicate an important role of bacteria in the initial stage of soil development. Although the arrival of vegetation affects substantially fungal as well as bacterial communities, it is mainly fungi that respond to the ongoing development of vegetation.