Perennial wild plant mixtures for biomass production: Impact of species composition dynamics on yield performance over a five-year cultivation period in southwest Germany

Wild plant mixtures (WPMs) are a promising perennial cultivation system for biogas production with numerous ecological benefits. However, to date, there is little information on their long-term development. To investigate this, two different WPMs (S1, Rieger-Hofmann GmbH, 2016; S2, Saaten-Zeller GmbH, 2016) of up to 27 native, mainly wild species with a combination of annual, biennial and perennial life cycles were established at three sites in southwest Germany in 2011. At Hohenheim (HOH), fertilization was varied (0, 50, 100 kg ha⁻¹ nitrogen) and a split plot design with three replications was used. At Renningen (REN) and Sankt Johann (SJO) single plots were used and fertilized with 50 kg ha⁻¹. Harvest and sample analysis were conducted each year over a five-year cultivation period. The development of dry matter yield (DMY), dry matter content (DMC) and species composition dynamics of the WPMs were investigated.The DMYs varied strongly between the mixtures, sites and years, ranging from 2.9–22.5 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹. Significant effects of mixture (P < 0.001) and site x age interactions (P < 0.05) were found. On average, S2 had about 55% higher yield than S1 over the five years (S2 accumulated DMY: 50.2–74.2 Mg ha⁻¹ s). For both mixtures, a high number (up to 19) of WPM species were recorded, but this declined over the cultivation period at all sites. The DMYs at REN and SJO increased with time, whereas at HOH the high weed pressure from the grassland pre-crop resulted in decreasing yields. Here, the nitrogen mineralization of the grassland residues was high enough to mask fertilization effects. A good substrate quality for ensilaging (DMC >28%) was achieved at all sites every year except 2011. From these findings, we can recommend the WPM concept based on the S2 mixture as a feasible cultivation system with potentially high ecological benefits, in particular for marginal sites.     

Natural abundance N in soil and litter across a nitrate-output gradient in New Hampshire

Stable isotopes of nitrogen are potentially a valuable tool for regional assessments of nitrogen saturation because they provide an integrated measure of the past nitrogen cycling history of a site. We measured δ¹⁵N of soil and litter, as well as net nitrification potential, at three sites across a nitrate-loss gradient in the White Mountains, New Hampshire to test the hypotheses: (1) that δ¹⁵N in soil and litter increase across a spatial gradient of nitrate loss; and (2) that δ¹⁵N in soil and litter is elevated when nitrification is elevated. δ¹⁵N was found not to vary significantly among the three sites. Patterns of leaf litter and forest floor δ¹⁵N, however, were strongly influenced by species composition in individual plots. Beech litter had significantly higher δ¹⁵N than yellow birch, sugar maple, and red maple. The conifer-dominated plots had significantly lower δ¹⁵N in both the organic soil horizons and in litter than did the hardwood-dominated plots. When we adjusted for spatial heterogeneity in mineral soil δ¹⁵N values by using an enrichment factor, δ¹⁵N_foliar − δ¹⁵N_Bs, in place of absolute soil δ¹⁵N values, a positive relationship was found with net nitrification for hardwoods. δ¹⁵N may also be a useful tool for evaluating species differences in nitrogen cycling and nitrogen uptake. The distinct pattern we observed of decreasing δ¹⁵N across the continuum from hardwood-dominated to conifer-dominated sites may suggest that local drivers (for example, nitrification rate) regulate the absolute value of foliar δ¹⁵N, while species-driven factors (e.g., timing and type of uptake) control the foliar δ¹⁵N value of one species relative to another in the same plot.     

贺兰山地区冬季鸟类物种多样性调查

2006年和2007年的11～12月,采用固定样线统计法连续2 a对贺兰山地区冬季鸟类组成进行了调查。共记录鸟类7目17科72种,约占全国鸟类种数(1 319种)的5.46%,占宁夏鸟类种数(320种)的22.50%。在地理区划上,古北界鸟类61种,占该地区鸟类种数的84.72%;广布种类11种,占15.28%;未观测到东洋界鸟类。其中,留鸟51种,占70.83%;冬候鸟11种,占15.28:旅鸟10种,占13.89%。具有明显集群生活方式的有41种,占56.94%。山地草原带出现的鸟类种类最多,有40种,其次是山地疏林草原带和山地针叶林带,分别有34种和35种,亚高山灌丛和草甸带最少,仅有5种。贺兰山冬季有国家Ⅰ级重点保护野生鸟类3种,有国家Ⅱ级重点保护野生鸟类14种。     

基于高校生态校园建设的植物物种研究——以闽江学院大学城校区为例

随着高等教育大众化进程的发展,建设生态校园,更好地发挥校园 “环境育人”的作用,就显得尤为重要。通过对闽江学院大学城校区园林植物进行实地调查,结果表明该校园园林物种多样性符合生态校园建设的需要,有园林植物146种,隶属于57个科,棕榈科植物最多,有14种,其次是桑科植物,有9种;乔木/灌木为64：43,地被58种,竹子5种;乡土植物49种,占树种总数的33.56 %;抗污染树种有60种,占树种总数的41.1 %。但该校园落叶乔木种类还不够,裸子植物比例不足,香花植物、竹类植物相对较少,几乎没有特色物种,校园绿化中要更加重视植物的净化作用,生态布局方面还需要进一步加强。因此今后要进一步优化校园树种结构,构筑更加合理的生态布局。     

高原鼠兔鼠丘覆压对鼠丘上植被重建的影响研究

本研究以青海省河南县高山嵩草高寒草甸高原鼠兔鼠丘为研究对象,进行鼠丘覆压植被模拟试验,探究萌出植物群落的物种组成、物种多样性、植被覆盖度以及原生植被对鼠丘植物群落重建的贡献率,为鼠丘植被恢复演替提供依据。结果显示：随着鼠丘形成时间的推移,萌出植物主要为多年生杂类草;鼠丘覆压1-2年后萌出植物群落的辛普森指数、香农威纳指数、丰富度指数与均匀度指数整体表现为先快速上升后趋于缓和;被覆压的原生植被对鼠丘植物群落重建的贡献在物种组成上达到47.1%~64.7%。随着鼠丘形成时间的延长,鼠丘向有植被定居的恢复演替方向发展,植被覆盖度逐渐增加。     

辽西北地区植被分布组成与土地沙化关系的调查

在辽西北部地区土地沙化调查中,进行的植被调查结果表明,草本植被平均盖度为71.9%。由于草地面积减少与连年干旱的影响,湿生植物、中生植物分布缩小,而旱生植物分布扩大。出现频度最高的植物共20种,其中1年生田间杂草和沙生植物的总出现次数与数量高于多年生禾草和其他多年生植物,为其1.8倍和2.7倍。因此,该区植被退化与土地沙化发展比较强烈。这20种植物中过度放牧和极度放牧沙化植物的出现次数和数量高于适度放牧(包括不放牧)和重度放牧,可知过度放牧和极度放牧,是植被退化与土地沙化的主要因素。蒺藜草的分布频度达25.0%,多度达23.7%,已经成为当地草原的主要害草。     

Patterns of amphibian diversity in Brazilian Amazonia: conservation implications

A literature survey was conducted to determine the amphibian diversity and distribution in Brazilian Amazonia. Patterns of endemisms and similarity of fauna between localities were also addressed. Twenty-eight inventories were found for the region, the majority localized in areas with easier access by road or river. A minimum of 163 amphibian species was recorded for Brazilian Amazonia. Although many species are endemic to the Amazonian lowlands as an entity, the patterns of species uniqueness among sites suggested low endemic distribution within the lowlands of the Amazon Basin. The mean similarity between localities varied from low to intermediate (mean=0.40), indicating that the Brazilian Amazonia is characterized by distinctive assemblages of amphibians throughout its extension. Localities further apart had lower similarity. No threatened species were recorded. These results contribute to determine priority areas for new inventories and establishment of conservation units. We suggest that areas next to the Amazon deforestation frontier should be prioritized for new studies due to the high rate of alteration and potential loss of species. Additionally, studies on amphibian population dynamics are few in Brazilian Amazonia and more of them should be emphasized to help to draw a better picture of the status of amphibians in this region.     

Soil fauna across Central European sandstone ravines with temperature inversion: From cool and shady to dry and hot places

Sandstone massifs with their deep ravines or gorges offer the instructive opportunity to study the response of organisms to steep environmental gradients. In 2008–2010, many groups of soil fauna were studied along transects across three ravines in the Bohemian Switzerland National Park (north-western Czech Republic), a part of the Elbe Sandstone Massif. Each transect included five sampling positions: two opposite edges, two opposite mid-slope positions, and the ravine bottom. The ravines had a specific microclimate characterized by temperature inversion. In general, the cooler and more humid ravine bottoms had also less acid soil with lower carbon content but enriched by litter of deciduous trees and herbs. The other transect positions were characterized by spruce (mid-slopes) and pine (edges) stands with mor humus, exposed to drought in the upper parts. The soil animal communities (identified to species level) differed substantially in dependence on their position along the transects. Ravine bottoms hosted a diverse soil fauna, including a rich macrofauna. The thick duff layer of acid soils on the slopes and edges hosted a poorer fauna but supported high densities of important decomposers such as enchytraeids, oribatid mites and microbivorous nematodes. In general, these were higher on the slopes, presumably due to the drought exposure of the edges. Vertical position in the ravine and soil pH were the most important factors explaining community composition. This confirmed that the area's high geomorphological diversity, leading to steep microclimatic gradients and heterogenous soil conditions, is a major cause of its high biodiversity. A shift in community structure in the lower parts of the ravines, observed after the first half of the study period, was possibly caused by summer flash floods. An increased frequency and severity of dry spells and flash floods due to heavy rains, predicted by relevant climate warming scenarios, will probably have an detrimental effect on the ravines'soil fauna.     

Results of molecular analysis of an archaeological hemp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cannabis sativa</Emphasis> L.) DNA sample from North West China

Hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) cultivation and utilization is an ancient practice to human civilization. There are some controversies on the origin and subsequent spread of this species. Ancient plant DNA has proven to be a powerful tool to solve phylogenetic problems. In this study, ancient DNA was extracted from an archaeological specimen of Cannabis sativa associated with archaeological human remains from China. Ribosomal and Cannabis specific chloroplast DNA regions were PCR amplified. Sequencing of a species-specific region and subsequent comparison with published sequences were performed. Successful amplification, sequencing and sequence comparison with published data suggested the presence of hemp specific DNA in the archeological specimen. The role of Humulus japonicus Sieb. et Zucc. in the evolution of Cannabis is also indicated. The identification of ancient DNA of 2500 years old C. sativa sample showed that C. sativa races might have been introduced into China from the European–Siberian center of diversity.     

武夷山黄山松群落物种多样性与种群空问格局的研究

对武夷山黄山松群落物种多样性和种群空间格局的研究结果表明 ,低海拔地区由于受人为干扰影响较大而物种多样性与种群空间分布格局未表现出明显规律性 ,高海拔地区群落物种多样性指数、丰富度和均匀度均有不同程度下降 ,黄山松种群空间格局均呈集群分布 ,且随海拔高度升高而黄山松种群生长受到一定抑制