Changes in limiting resources determine spatio-temporal variability in tree–grass interactions

Changing biotic and abiotic stress mediate in plant–plant interactions resulting in positive to neutral or negative effects, and these effects can change with gradients of stress or through plant dynamics. Here we studied the variability in annual grass production and composition induced by gradients of intercepted light by trees in years of contrasting precipitation in Mediterranean holm oak open woodlands. Although trees reduce the light radiance received by the pasture community, the presence of trees generally had a positive effect on pasture production in average climatic years where soil fertility was low. However, the interaction changed with increasing abiotic water stress. In a dry year, the increase in fertility could not be utilized and the effect of the crown was neutral. The effect of shade turned out to be beneficial for growth, contrary to the situation in an average climatic year. Light insolation was positive for legume biomass. There was high variability in functional components over the course of the growing period and from 1 year to another. Under low levels of other biotic stresses such as livestock grazing or root competition, the limiting factor among light, soil moisture or soil nutrients may determine whether facilitation or competition occurs.     

兴安落叶松不同器官中的黄酮含量的动态变化

黄酮是植物体内一类重要的次生代谢产物,具有重要的生态作用和经济价值.但目前对兴安落叶松黄酮的研究很少.本论文研究了自然条件下兴安落叶松黄酮动态变化的特征,并对黄酮与温度和光照的相关关系进行初步探讨.对兴安落叶松不同器官黄酮含量的分析结果表明:(1)树皮,茎木质部,针叶和枝中黄酮含量的高低顺序为:树皮(7.78%) >针叶(2.79%)>枝条(1.72%)>茎木质部 (1.19%).(2)树皮,茎木质部,针叶和枝中黄酮含量具有明显的季节变化,但各器官(树皮,树叶,树枝,茎木质部)黄酮含量对温度的依赖性并不相同.就树皮而言,随着温度的升高,黄酮的含量与温度呈现较明显的正相关关系(R2=0.75).但其它器官黄酮含量对温度的依赖性不强;(3).随着季节的变化,黄酮含量的最高值出现在夏秋季节,含量是冬春季节的3-4倍.这种现象可能归因于夏季落叶松遭受的多种环境胁迫,例如紫外辐射,高温等可能促进了黄酮的积累.(4)不同高度和方向的针叶中,黄酮含量阳生叶比阴生叶多,上部叶比下部叶多,说明阳光辐射促进了黄酮的积累(R2=0.76).总而言之黄酮在落叶松抵御自然环境的胁迫中发挥了积极的作用,保护落叶松免受高温和强光的伤害,但是不同器官的黄酮可能发挥着不同的作用.     

陆地植被对紫外辐射增强的生物响应研究进展

紫外辐射（UV-B）对人类健康、水域和陆地生态系统都存在不同程度的影响。综合论述了近年来有关陆地植物对UV-B辐射响应的研究成果及进展,包括植被外部形态、光合作用和光合色素以及UV-B吸收物质等胁迫响应特征变化。另外,对植被在生态系统尺度上对UV-B辐射增强的响应以及UV-B与其它环境与生物因子间的交互效应也进行了阐述。文献分析表明,约2/3的陆地植被对UV-B辐射增强的响应表现显著,虽然存在种间和亚种间的差异,但多数的研究显示UV-B辐射增强对陆地植被生长和发展存在不利影响。最后指出如何采取措施降低UV-B辐射增强对陆地植被影响,特别是对经济作物的影响将是未来一个重要的研究课题。     

Shrubs facilitating seedling performance in ungulate-dominated systems: biotic versus abiotic mechanisms of plant facilitation

Shrubs are important microsites that facilitate seedling performance in abiotically stressed environments. However, shrub facilitation might work differently in ecosystems with high biotic stress (e.g., ungulate-dominated environments). We wonder whether ungulates through their preferences for different shrubs affect the facilitation process of seedlings, and whether this process remains consistent across different levels of abiotic stress. We study seedling performance (survival and growth) of a Mediterranean oak (Quercus pyrenaica) in three microsites (open, preferred and non-preferred shrubs by ungulates) for two contrasting climatic environments and throughout a complete growing season (increasing abiotic stress). Overall, there was a positive effect of shrubs in seedling survival. We found a microsite effect on seedling growth but this effect differed depending on the abiotic environment, with seedlings growing better in open microsites in the less stressful site. The larger abiotic context (climate) played an important role in determining which microsite is the most favorable for seedling growth but not necessarily for the eventual survival of seedlings. Wild ungulates started to damage seedlings early in the growing season, whereas abiotic stress (desiccation) affected mostly those plants that were not previously attacked by animals, showing the hierarchical effect (earlier and longer effect) of the biotic over the abiotic mortality agents. Non-preferred shrubs worked better as nurse shrubs only under high ungulate pressure. From the abiotic perspective, preferred and non-preferred shrubs did not apparently differ in the facilitation effect. Importantly, we found a greater facilitative effect of shrubs on the survival than on the growth of seedlings.     

低温胁迫对不同种源蒙古莸叶绿素荧光特性的影响

以4个种源(BLG、XS、LJD、JB)的蒙古莸种子培育出的实生苗为试材,对其进行不同温度的处理(3、7、11、15℃),探究不同低温胁迫条件下各种源蒙古莸在不同光强度下叶绿素荧光参数变化规律,旨在阐明其对光照环境条件变化的适应.结果表明:低温胁迫导致其PSⅡ反应中心功能下降,更易失活,对光合器官造成伤害;蒙古莸主要通...     

忍冬和华南忍冬叶表皮扫描电镜观察及其生态适应性研究

利用扫描电镜观察了忍冬(Lonicera japonica Thunb)和华南忍冬(Lonicera confus)叶表皮形态特征,观察指标包括:气孔器、表皮毛、表皮细胞等。结果表明:气孔仅分布在下表皮,气孔器呈无规则型散生;上表皮细胞的垂周壁呈沟槽状下陷;下表皮密被表皮毛(包括腺状毛和非腺毛),同时还分布有瘤状的草酸钙簇晶。为进一步证明这种瘤状结构是否为草酸钙簇晶,作者发现利用Fluo-3/AM(钙离子荧光指示剂)处理的活体叶片在激光共聚焦显微镜下能够发出强烈的荧光。此外,通过电子探针对瘤状物进行分析,发现其元素组成为C、O、Ca。上述叶表皮构造特征,有利于减少植物体水分散失,还有助于植物适应富钙的石灰土,从而适应我国西南岩溶区特殊的干旱、富钙的环境。电镜观察结果表明,在忍冬叶上表皮中脉处有呈线状分布的腺状表皮毛,而华南忍冬叶上表皮则无表皮毛分布,这一微形态特征可以作为二者种间特异性差别,从而为二者的合理区分提供一定的依据。图13表2参30。     

Morpho-histological studies in the aromatic species of Chenopodium from Argentina

A morpho-histological study of the vegetative organs (stem and leaf) of the aromatic species of Chenopodium L. from Argentina [C. ambrosioides L., C. burkartii (Aellen) Vorosch., C. carinatum R. Br., C. chilense Schrad., C. graveolens Willd. var. bangii (Murr) Aellen, C. haumanii Ulbr., C. multifidum L., C. oblanceolatum (Speg.) Giusti, C. pumilio R. Br., C. retusum (Moq.) Moq., and C. venturii (Aellen) Cabrera] was carried out. Classifications for the glandular and non-glandular trichomes are established and their presence among species is presented. A variant in both the dorsiventral and isobilateral mesophyll is reported; some data are valuable for systematic purposes and for the identification of dried and smashed material used as vegetal drug.     

Enhanced photo- and antioxidative protection,and hydrogen peroxide accumulation in drought-stressed Cistus clusii and Cistus albidus plants

Mechanisms of drought stress resistance were studied in Cistus clusii Dunal and Cistus albidus L., two native Mediterranean shrubs that can withstand severe summer drought. While water deficit, solar radiation and temperature increased from winter to summer in the field, C. clusii and C. albidus reduced leaf area, increased root mass per leaf area, and showed diurnal changes in stomatal conductance to minimize water loss. In both species, the consequent reductions in CO2 assimilation were accompanied by reduced efficiency of photosystem II photochemistry, and protection against stress was afforded by enhanced de-epoxidation of violaxanthin in the xanthophyll cycle and increases in alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene. In addition, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) accumulation was observed in mesophyll cell walls of both species during the first stages of drought, although no accumulation of H2O2 was observed in chloroplasts or other organelles during the study. Despite these common responses, C. albidus and C. clusii differed in the extent of photo- and antioxidative protection. In response to drought, C. clusii showed a higher de-epoxidation state of the xanthophyll cycle and higher alpha-tocopherol and beta-carotene concentrations than C. albidus. We conclude that several structural and biochemical mechanisms underlie stress resistance in C. clusii and C. albidus, and are indicative of the different degrees of stress resistance of these shrubs.     

Differential expression of genes encoding cell wall proteins in vascular tissues from vertical and bent loblolly pine trees

Differential expression of cell wall proteins during plant development and in response to biotic or abiotic stress suggests that these proteins may contribute in different ways to plant cell wall architecture. Because the wood of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) is highly specialized in the formation of secondary cell walls, it is an ideal tissue for studying these proteins. The cDNAs coding for six novel cell wall associated proteins, as well as a homologue for a phytocyanin, were identified and characterized from differentiating xylem of loblolly pine. Three of these cDNAs encoded new putative loblolly pine arabinogalactan proteins, based on their structural similarity to classical arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs). In addition, one clone was related to the proline-rich protein group and the other two to the glycine-rich protein group and the mussel adhesive protein. Relative expression of these genes was examined in different tissues and organs from normal trees (needles, phloem and vertical wood), the underside of bent trees (compression wood) and the lateral sides of the bent stems (side wood). All clones, except one, were highly expressed in vascular tissues with noticeable differences among the three types of wood. Their relationships and diversity provide the first insights into concerted expression and related function for this important group of proteins in cell wall formation of wood.     

Montanoa tomentosa glandular trichomes containing kaurenoic acids chemical profile and distribution

Montanoa tomentosa has been used in traditional medicine in Mexico to treat diverse female health disorders; it is particularly useful in inducing childbirth. Microscopic analysis of leaf surfaces of M. tomentosa revealed the presence of glandular trichomes. The chemical profile and distribution of glandular trichomes from different developmental stages of M. tomentosa leaves were investigated. Two diterpenic acids, kaurenoic and grandiflorenic were detected in glandular trichomes through the glandular microsampling technique and GC/MS analysis. In the glandular trichomes of the leaves also up to twenty-six volatile terpenes were identified, where beta-eudesmol and valencene were the most abundant terpenes.     

Can forest trees compensate for stress-generated growth losses by induced production of volatile compounds?

Plants produce a variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Under abiotic and biotic stresses, the number and amount of produced compounds can increase. Due to their long life span and large size, trees can produce biogenic VOCs (BVOCs) in much higher amounts than many other plants. It has been suggested that at cellular and tree physiological levels, induced production of VOCs is aimed at improving plant resistance to damage by reactive oxygen species generated by multiple abiotic stresses. In the few reported cases when biosynthesis of plant volatiles is inhibited or enhanced, the observed response to stress can be attributed to plant volatiles. Reported increase, e.g., in photosynthesis has mostly ranged between 5 and 50%. A comprehensive model to explain similar induction of VOCs under multiple biotic stresses is not yet available. As a result of pathogen or herbivore attack on forest trees, the induced production of VOCs is localized to the damage site but systemic induction of emissions has also been detected. These volatiles can affect fungal pathogens and the arrival rate of herbivorous insects on damaged trees, but also act as signalling compounds to maintain the trophic cascades that may improve tree fitness by improved efficiency of herbivore natural enemies. On the forest scale, biotic induction of VOC synthesis and release leads to an amplified flow of BVOCs in atmospheric reactions, which in atmospheres rich in oxides of nitrogen (NOx) results in ozone formation, and in low NOx atmospheres results in oxidation of VOCs, removal in ozone from the troposphere and the resulting formation of biogenic secondary organic aerosol (SOA) particles. I will summarize recent advances in the understanding of stress-induced VOC emissions from trees, with special focus on Populus spp. Particular importance is given to the ecological and atmospheric feedback systems based on BVOCs and biogenic SOA formation.     

Effect of abiotic factors on understory community structures in moist deciduous forests of northern India

Understory vegetation controls, in a significant way, the regeneration of overstory trees, carbon sequestration and nutrient retention in tropical forests. Development and organization of understory vegetation depend 3n climate, edaphic and biotic factors which are not well correlated with plant community structures. This study aimed to ~xplore the relationships between understory vegetation and abiotic factors in natural and planted forest ecosystems. A non-metric multidimensional scaling （NMS） ordination technique was applied to represent forest understory vegetation among five forest communities, i.e., a dry miscellaneous forest （DMF）, a sal mixed forest （SMF）, a teak plantation （TP）, a low-land miscellaneous forest （LMF） and a savanna area （SAV） of the Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary, located in northern India. Microclimatic variables, such as photosynthetically active radiation （PAR）, air temperature （AT）, soil Lemperature （ST）, ambient atmospheric CO2 concentration, absolute air humidity （AH）, physical and chemical soil ~roperties as well as biological properties were measured. Understory species were assessed via 100 random quadrats （5 m x 5 m） in each of the five forests in which a total of 75 species were recorded encompassing 67 genera from 37 families, consisting of 32 shrubs and 43 plant saplings. DMF was the most dense forest with 34,068 understory individuals per ha of different species, whereas the lowest understory population （13,900 per ha） was observed in the savanna. Ordination and correlation revealed that microclimate factors are most important in their effect compared to ~daphic factors, on the development of understory vegetation in the various forest communities in the north of India.     

Verification of the resistance of a LEA gene from Tamarix expression in Saccharomyces cerevisiae to abiotic stresses

The role of late embryogenesis abundant （LEA） proteins in stress tolerance was examined by using a yeast expression system. LEA protein tolerance to the abotic stresses in plants involved in salt, drought and freezing stresses and additional tolerance to heat, NaHCO3 （salt-alkali） and ultraviolet radiation was also investigated. The transgenic yeast harboring the Tamarix LEA gene （DQ663481） was generated under the control of inducible GAL promoter （pYES2 vector）, yeast cells transformed with pYES2 empty vector were also generated as a control. Stress tolerance tests showed that LEA yeast transformants exhibited a higher survival rates than the control transformants under high temperature, NaHCO3, ultraviolet radiation, salt （NaCl）, drought and freezing, indicating that the LEA gene is tolerant to these abiotic stresses. These results suggest that the LEA gene is resistant to a wider repertoire of stresses and may play a common role in plant acclimation to the examined stress conditions.     

Rückgang der Tanne (Abies alba Mill.) in Polen

Decline of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) in Poland. On the basis of his own observations and of data from the literature, the author gives a review of silver fir diseases, pests and damage by other biotic and abiotic factors in Poland and on conjectural causes of the decline of this tree species.     

Variations in the secondary metabolite camptothecin in relation to tissue age and season in Camptotheca acuminata

We investigated variation in concentration of the secondary metabolite, camptothecin (CPT), in relation to leaf, branch and tree age, season, and leaf drying method in Camptotheca acuminata Decaisne saplings. Younger leaves contained higher CPT concentrations than older leaves. Within a branch, there was a linear decline in CPT concentration from leaves at the apex of the branch down to Leaf 7. Comparing leaves of similar age, those from younger trees had higher CPT concentrations than those from older trees. Over the course of the growing season, there was a steady decline of 11% per month in leaf CPT concentration. Branches showed a similar seasonal decline in CPT concentration to leaves; however, the rate of decline was threefold greater in leaves than in branches. Freeze-dried tissues had a 27% higher CPT concentration than oven- or air-dried tissues, suggesting that oven- and air-drying caused degradation of CPT. The decline in CPT concentration with tissue aging may reflect a genetically determined mechanism whereby, in young trees, chemicals serve as a first line of defense against attacks by herbivores and pathogenic microorganisms until other mechanisms are developed and deployed. We hypothesize that chemical defense mechanisms are programmed for early ontogenic stages, whereas they are induced by biotic and abiotic factors during later ontogenic stages.     

森林凋落物分解过程中酶活性研究进展

凋落物的分解是生态系统养分循环的重要过程.森林凋落物和土壤中的酶在森林凋落物分解过程中起着重要的作用.本文对森林凋落物分解过程中酶活性的测定方法及影响因素进行了综述,结论为:提取技术的不断提高使得对森林凋落物分解过程中的酶进行定量测定及精确测定其活性成为可能;森林凋落物分解过程中的酶活性受生物因素、非生物因素及凋落物自身化学组成的影响;微生物群落是影响酶活性的主要生物因素,土壤有机质、温度和湿度等是影响酶活性的重要非生物因素;对凋落物分解与酶系统相互作用机制的研究将成为凋落物分解过程中酶活性研究的一个发展趋势.     

Cold acclimation induced accumulation of phenolic compounds and freezing tolerance in Ammopiptanthus mongolicus

Ammopiptanthus mongolicus, the only freezing tolerant evergreen broad-leaved shrub, local species of the Alashan desert, northwest sand area of China, can survive -30°C or even lower temperature in winter. In the present study, the secondary products phenolics in A. mongolicus cotyledons were determined to study the effects of phenolics on cold tolerance. Cytochemical localization of phenolics in cotyledon cells was observed by electron microscopy and the content of phenolic compounds was assayed by spec-trophotometric measurement. The results showed that the freezing tolerance of A. mongolicus seedlings increased after acclimation at 2-6°C for 14 days, which accompanied the increase of the content of phenolic compounds in cotyledons. Cytochemical observation showed that phenolic deposits were mainly localized in vacuoles and in close proximity to tonoplast, and also in the cytoplasm. The amount and the size of phenolics droplets increased obviously in cytoplasm and vacuoles after cold acclimation, predominantly ag-gregated along membranes of vacuoles and tonoplast. No phenolic deposits were found in cell walls. As hydrogen-or elec-tron-donating agents, phenolics may protect plant cells against reactive oxygen species formed during chilling or freezing stress and improve the freezing tolerance of cold-acclimated A. mongolicus seedlings.     

Protective effect of flavonoids from Astragalus complanatus on radiation induced damages in mice

This study aimed to evaluate the radioprotective effect of flavonoids extracted from the seeds of Astragalus complanatus R.Br. (FAC) and their protective mechanism against radiation damage. FAC increased the survival rate of mice and made the damaged organ injured by ⁶⁰Co γ-irradiation recovered to normal appearance with the mechanism of enhancing immune function and blood-producing function in vivo. The molecule mechanism of FAC against radiation is involved in the reduction of DNA injury and mutation in vitro. Eleven monomers of the FAC were analyzed by HPLC. These results seem to support the use of FAC in relieving radiation damage.     

Abiotic and biotic drivers of species diversity in understory layers of cold temperate coniferous forests in North China

Understory plants are important components of forest ecosystems and play a crucial role in regulating community structures, function realization, and community succession. However, little is known about how abiotic and biotic drivers affect the diversity of understory species in cold temperate coniferous forests in the semiarid climate region of North China. We hypothesized that(1) topographic factors are important environmental factors affecting the distribution and variation of understory strata,and(2) different understory strata respond differently to environmental factors; shrubs may be significantly affected by the overstory stratum, and herbs may be more affected by surface soil conditions. To test these hypotheses, we used the boosted regression tree method to analyze abiotic and biotic environmental factors that influence understory species diversity, using data from 280 subplots across 56 sites in cold temperate coniferous forests of North China.Elevation and slope aspect were the dominant and indirect abiotic drivers affecting understory species diversity, and individual tree size inequality(DBH variation) was the dominant biotic driver of understory species diversity; soil water content was the main edaphic factors affecting herb layers. Elevation, slope aspect, and DBH variation accounted for 36.4, 14.5, and 12.1%, respectively, of shrub stratum diversity. Shrub diversity decreased with elevation within the range of altitude of this study, but increased with DBH variation; shrub diversity was highest on north-oriented slopes. The strongest factor affecting herb stratum species diversity was slope aspect, accounting for 25.9% of the diversity, followed by elevation(15.7%), slope(12.2%), and soil water content(10.3%). The highest herb diversity was found on southeast-oriented slopes and the lowest on northeast-oriented slopes; herb diversity decreased with elevation and soil water content, but increased with slope. The results of the study provide a reference for scientific management and biodiversity protection in cold temperate coniferous forests of North China.     

Tree morphology responds to neighbourhood competition and slope in species-rich forests of subtropical China

Trees are able to respond to their local biotic and abiotic environment with morphological adjustments which improve resource acquisition and, thus, growth. In forests, light is broadly recognised as one of the major factors determining growth, and morphological responses comprise changes in crown architecture and stem stature. On sloping terrain, the interplay of phototropism and gravitropism may further affect morphological growth characteristics. However, different tree species are expected to show species-specific responses. In this study, we analysed three growth characteristics of tree individuals belonging to four species of two functional groups (evergreen: Schima superba, Castanopsis eyrei, deciduous: Quercus serrata var. brevipetiolata, Castanea henryi) in a species-rich Chinese subtropical forest. Crown projection area, relative crown displacement and stem inclination were related to biotic (local species richness, functional richness, competition, stand age) and abiotic (slope aspect and inclination, soil depth) variables in the local neighbourhood of the tree individuals. We hypothesised that (i) there are species-specific differences in the morphological response of crown architecture and stem stature and (ii) that crown size and asymmetry as well as stem inclination are influenced by both, biotic and abiotic factors. In contrast to our expectations we were unable to reveal any species-specific differences in any of the three growth characteristics. The results of mixed effects models showed that crown area was mainly affected by the target tree's dbh and biotic variables related to neighbours (competition, functional diversity), whereas stem inclination was mainly influenced by slope. Relative crown displacement was influenced by both, biotic and abiotic variables. We conclude that growth responses resulting in crown displacement and stem inclination seem to be an important mechanism to ameliorate foraging for light in our study area, but that these responses appear to be species-independent. The interplay of stem inclination and crown displacement allows for a plastic response of tree individuals in biotically and abiotically heterogeneous environments. Our results indicate that forest management in this region should focus on functionally diverse stands which are promoting crown area positively resulting in increased growth rates of individual trees.