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1

Humped Relationship between Herbaceous Species Richness and Biomass Reveals a Potential for Increasing Productivity in a Temperate Desert in Central Asia

Tao Ye, Zhou Xiao-Bing, Zhang Jing, Yin Ben-Feng, Wu Nan, Zhang Yuan-Ming

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2020

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Vol. 68, nr 1

67--83

EN

Species richness-biomass relationship has become a primary focus in plant community ecology. The most commonly reported pattern of species richness and biomass is the humped relationship with a peak in richness at moderate biomass, although negative, positive, or no relationships exited in some cases. However, the richness-biomass relationship in the temperate deserts of Central Asia, where herbaceous species with different life forms are abundant, remains unclear. In this study, 21-214 plots with herbaceous richness and aboveground biomass for each of four plot sizes (0.25, 25, 100, and 400 m2) were surveyed in early summer and early autumn in the Gurbantunggut Desert, China. Linear and quadratic regressions were employed to examine the richness-biomass relationship and the location of the richness peak. Significantly unimodal species richness-biomass relationships were observed in all plot sizes and seasons (except for 0.25 m2 plot in summer). In most cases (9/11), the biomass at the richness peak was higher than half of the biomass range. Meanwhile, the percent of sampling plots where the biomass was less than the peak was considerably greater than 50% (72.7 to 100%) in all cases, and nine of them were more than 95%, indicating strong interspecific coexistence and weak interspecific competition. In conclusion, under the background of increasing precipitation and nitrogen deposition, the humped richness-biomass relationship and the high percent of sampling plots with low biomass jointly revealed a huge potential for increasing productivity, which is crucial for the carbon fixation and ecosystem stability in deserts of Central Asia.

2

The Influence of Vegetation Structure on the Composition of the Seed Rain and Seedling Pool in Abandoned Molinion caeruleae Meadows

Kostrakiewicz-Gierałt K.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2017

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Vol. 65, nr 2

269--284

EN

The investigations of the effect of different habitat conditions on the composition of the seed rain and seedling pool were conducted in the years 2014 and 2015 in abandoned patches of Molinion caeruleae dominated by small-stature meadow taxa (patch I), tall-growing grasses (patch II), as well as shrubs and trees (patch III). Observations showed that along the successional gradient the seed rain and seedling pool diminishes. The prevalence of perennials and native taxa in the seed rain and seedling pool occurred in all the study sites. Moreover, in the propagule and seedling pools of all the patches hemicryptophytes and meadow taxa prevailed but their number decreased in successional sites. Also, the abundance of ruderal and grassland taxa decreased gradually, at expense of number of forest species. Zoochorous species prevailed in the seed rain and seedling pool of all patches. Number of hydrohorous species decreased in successional patches, while the abundance of species with other dispersal modes were similar. Irrespective of patch character, the species producing propagules with medium size dominated in the seed rain and seedling pools, whereas a significant decrease of number of small-seeded species was noticed only in the seedling pool. Despite the diminishing of the seed rain and seedling pool along the successional gradient, the gap creation might be a very effective way of active protection of Molinion caeruleae meadows. However, the gap colonisation requires permanent monitoring to avoid further spreading of undesired taxa.

3

Altitude Patterns of Leaf Carbon Isotope Composition in a Subtropical Monsoon Forest

Pan S., Zhang W., Zhao M., Li Y., Xu S., Wang G.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2016

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Vol. 64, nr 2

178--188

EN

Leaf carbon isotope composition (δ13C) of both vascular and non-vascular plants were investigated in order to assess their variability along an altitude gradient (414, 620, 850, 1086,1286 and 1462 m) from a subtropical monsoon forest located at Mt. Tianmu Reserve, eastern China. Leaf δ13C values of all plant species ranged from -34.4 to -26.6‰, with an average of -29.8‰. There is no significant difference in leaf δ13C between vascular plants and mosses, however, trees had significantly higher δ13C values than herbs. For pooled data, leaf δ13C was positively correlated with altitude. Leaf δ13C was significantly and negatively correlated with annual mean temperature and atmospheric pressure, while it was significantly and positively correlated with soil water content. Furthermore, there was no relationship between leaf δ13C and soil nitrogen content or soil phosphorus content. The altitudinal trend in leaf δ13C is the consequence of the interaction between temperature, atmospheric pressure and soil water content.

4

Altitude Patterns of Leaf Carbon Isotope Composition in a Subtropical Monsoon Forest

Pan S., Zhang W., Zhao M., Li Y., Xu S., Wang G.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2015

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Vol. 63, nr 4

512--522

EN

Leaf carbon isotope composition (δ13C) of both vascular and non-vascular plants were investigated in order to assess their variability along an altitude gradient (414, 620, 850, 1086, 1286 and 1462 m) from a subtropical monsoon forest located at Mt. Tianmu Reserve, eastern China. Leaf δ13C values of all plant species ranged from -34.4 to -26.6‰, with an average of -29.8‰. There is no significant difference in leaf δ13C between vascular plants and mosses, however, trees had significantly higher δ13C values than herbs. For pooled data, leaf δ13C was positively correlated with altitude. Leaf δ13C was significantly and negatively correlated with annual mean temperature and atmospheric pressure, while it was significantly and positively correlated with soil water content. Furthermore, there was no relationship between leaf δ13C and soil nitrogen content or soil phosphorus content. The altitudinal trend in leaf δ13C is the consequence of the interaction between temperature, atmospheric pressure and soil water content.

5

Soil seed bank and extant vegetation of a dry valley

Li Y., Bao W., Wu N.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2011

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Vol. 59, nr 3

507-522

EN

Although crucial for guiding vegetation improvement efforts, soil seed bank (SSB) and extant vegetation (EV) in dry valleys remains poorly understood. A germination method and field surveys were applied to address this problem and investigate the characteristics of SSB and corresponding EV of eight sites across the dry Minjiang River valley in Southwest China. Furthermore, the relationships between SSB and EV were compared to provide guidance for vegetation enhancement. Eight sites were classified into two groups - central and transitional sites that differ according to moisture conditions. Seed density and species richness in SSB were lower in less moist central sites compared with those in more moist transitional sites of the valley as well as the coverage of the community. Moreover, species richness and litter thickness were lower in central sites. Comparing SSB strategies of species from eight sites, transient strategy was the most frequently observed category, followed by short-term persistent and long-term persistent strategies. In terms of both SSB and EV, the most abundant life forms were hemicryptophytes, intermediate phanerophytes, and therophytes, whereas less abundant were chamaephytes and cryptophytes. Low Sorenson.s similarity indices (22.32%) and significantly negative Kendall.s correlation in species composition indicate that species composition of SSB was not closely related to corresponding EV for each of the eight sites. Low seed density, especially the lack of viable dominant shrub seeds, dominant transient SSB strategy species, and low correspondence in species composition between SSB and EV imply that the potential for vegetation enhancement in the dry valley is weak, particularly in less moist central sites. To preserve the good EV of more moist transitional sites and introduce seeds of dominant species to improve poor EV in central sites, EV is likely to be a feasible standard for improving vegetation in dry valleys.

6

Road-side herbaceous vegetation : life history groups and habitat preferences

Sera B.

Polish Journal of Ecology

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2010

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Vol. 58, nr 1

69-79

EN

The study examine s the vegetation diversity (235 herbaceous species) in variable road-site types in terms of life history components (life traits) like life form, type of pollination, seed dispersal, spreading ability, life strategy according to Grime's classification, and in terms of habitat preferences using Ellenberg's indicator value (in relation to light, temperature, moisture, nitrogen, soil pH and soil salinity). Plants registered as alien species were evaluated also according to invasive status, level of abundance, introduction mode and land use habitat. Study localities (9 sites) were situated in the Ceskomoravska highlands and the South Bohemian regions (Czech Republic). The plant species were recorded in the bands (width in range of 1.5-3.0 m) along the verge of two types of roads (motorways with median stripes) and secondary roads (II and III classes). In total - road length of about 15 km and the total area of roadside vegetation of about 8 ha were surveyed. The annual/therophyte species with a tendency to seed dispersed by wind, preferring a light and dry habitat, and having the RC (competitiveruderal) life strategy were mainly found along the motorways. It means that road verges along motorways are quite insolated and constitute the dry habitats, probably suitable for ruderal, weedy, non-native, and invasive species. On the contrary, species with a tendency to vegetative reproduction and the C (competitive) strategy occur mainly along the secondary roads. It seems that the secondary roads are alternative habitats for grassland flora. Species occurred on the verges of the secondary roads do not belong to the particular group of the life traits. The salt tolerant species Puccinellia distans (Jacq.) Parl. was found along all types of roads. Almost 24% of all recorded herbaceous species growing in road-sites were alien species.