枫杨种子和幼苗对地下水位及埋藏深度的响应

通过室内试验研究不同地下水位(0、-2、-4、-6、-8和-10cm)和不同埋藏深度(0、1、2、3、4、5和6cm)条件下枫杨(Pterocarya stenoptera)种子的萌发特性以及幼苗的建成状况.结果表明,种子萌发的最适水位为0～-4 cm;幼苗定植与生长的最适水位为-6cm.随埋藏深度增加,枫杨出苗率下降,出苗时间推迟,幼苗的生物量根冠比增大.试验第11周,各埋藏深度条件下幼苗的地上株高无显著差异,埋藏深度对幼苗的生长也无显著影响.枫杨种子萌发及萌发后幼苗生长的最适埋藏深度为1～3cm.     

不同生境薇甘菊土壤种子库与幼苗库的特征

通过野外定点取样与萌发试验相结合的方法,研究云南德宏州陇川县不同生境薇甘菊入侵地区的土壤种子库与幼苗库的特征.结果表明,根据土壤种子库萌发后的植物鉴定结果,橡胶林、林地、灌丛、草地和河岸边这5种生境共统计到40种植物,隶属18科.不同生境薇甘菊入侵群落的物种组成、种子萌发特性与空间分布及其幼苗库存在明显差异,橡胶林、林地、灌丛、草地和河岸边的薇甘菊种子密度分别为75、109、165、124和53粒·m-2,且各生境间差异显著(P＜0.05).室内萌发试验表明,薇甘菊土壤种子库萌发时间持续8周,其中第3～5周的萌发速度最快;土壤垂直方向上,0～2、＞2～5、＞5～10 cm深度土层薇甘菊种子分别占0～10 cm土层种子总数的81％、17％和2％.野外薇甘菊土壤幼苗库萌发时间持续6个月(5-10月),其中6-8月萌发速度较快.     

石油污染胁迫下碱蓬(Suaeda glauca)和翅碱蓬(Suaeda salsa)萌发生长的响应特征

为了解石油污染对黄河三角洲滨海湿地翅碱蓬和碱蓬萌发生长的影响,通过盆栽控制实验,研究5个浓度梯度(0、2 500、5 000、7 500、10 000 mg/kg)石油污染下2种碱蓬萌发和幼苗生长的响应特征.结果显示:(1)不同浓度石油污染对2种碱蓬种子萌发率、萌发势的影响不显著(P 0.05),但均显著缩短了2种碱蓬的种子平均萌发时间,提高了种子的萌发指数(翅碱蓬P 0.05;碱蓬P 0.01);(2)在石油浓度为10 000 mg/kg条件下2种碱蓬的发芽势差异极显著(P 0.01),而其他浓度梯度条件下各项萌发指标的种间差异不显著(P 0.05);(3)石油污染胁迫对2种碱蓬的株高、叶片数和子叶长皆有显著抑制作用,石油浓度梯度越高、植物生长时间越长,这种抑制作用越明显,且石油污染胁迫对翅碱蓬的抑制程度高于碱蓬.本研究表明10 000 mg/kg浓度梯度下的石油污染可促进2种碱蓬种子的萌发,显著抑制2种碱蓬幼苗的生长;结果可为滨海盐碱地油田石油污染土壤的植物修复提供参考依据.(图7表2参47)     

油田再生水对不同植物种子萌发的毒性评价

为探讨油田再生水对不同植物种子萌发的影响及评估其毒性,本研究采用种子萌发试验,以黑麦草(Lolium perenne)、高羊茅(Festuca elata)、苏丹草(Sorghum sudanense)、旱麦草(Eremopyrum triticeum)、盐地碱蓬(Suaeda salsa)和沙蓬(Agriophyllum squarrosum)为研究对象,研究油田再生水占溶液总体积比例为0%、10%、20%、30%、50%、100%浓度时对不同植物种子萌发的影响。结果表明：黑麦草、高羊茅、苏丹草、旱麦草和盐地碱蓬种子发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数、芽长和根长等指标随油田再生水浓度增加呈先上升后下降趋势,10%再生水浓度处理对黑麦草、高羊茅和苏丹草种子萌发和幼苗生长有显著促进作用(P<0.05),20%再生水浓度处理对旱麦草和盐地碱蓬种子萌发和幼苗生长有显著促进效果,50%以上油田再生水处理对6种植物种子萌发和生长均有显著抑制作用。通过植物种子根长建立剂量-效应曲得出,油田再生水对黑麦草、高羊茅、苏丹草、旱麦草和盐地碱蓬种子根生长的无观察效应浓度(NOEC)均为10%,半最大效应浓度(...     

川中丘陵区柏木（Cupressus funebris）土壤浸提液对3种农作物种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

某些植物和土壤浸提液的化感作用会影响种子萌发和幼苗生长.关于川中丘陵区的柏木(Cupressus funebris)土壤浸提液对作物种子萌发和幼苗生长是否有影响以及如何影响,推测柏木的土壤浸提液可能抑制作物的种子萌发和幼苗生长.采用室内种子萌发实验,研究土壤浸提液(0.00 g/mL、0.01 g/mL、0.02 g/mL、0.05 g/mL和0.10 g/mL)对番茄(Lycopersicon esculentum)、辣椒(Capsicum annuum)和茄子(Solanum melongena)种子萌发和幼苗生长的化感作用.结果表明,不同浓度土壤浸提液对作物种子萌发和幼苗生长有一定的影响,但与物种有关. 0.01 g/mL的土壤浸提液显著提高番茄的活力指数、降低根鲜重,0.05 g/mL的土壤浸提液显著增加番茄的根长,而0.10 g/mL的土壤浸提液显著降低番茄的发芽率. 4种浓度的土壤浸提液均显著降低辣椒的发芽势和苗鲜重,而辣椒的根长和根鲜重主要在0.01g/mL、0.02 g/mL和0.05 g/mL的土壤浸提液下降显著.对茄子而言,4种浓度的土壤浸提液均显著提高其活力指数、降低鲜根重.综合化感效应指数表明,柏木土壤浸提对番茄和茄子表现为抑制和促进作用,而辣椒仅表现为抑制作用,且3种作物的化感敏感性为辣椒茄子番茄.综上,柏木土壤浸提液能影响作物种子萌发和幼苗生长,且在川中丘陵区,辣椒可能不适合种植在以柏木为坡地防护林的坡耕地中.(图2表3参33)     

飞机草的繁殖能力与种子的萌发特性

飞机草（Chromolaena odorata）是一种入侵性极强的外来杂草,现正在我国南部地区迅速传播,其繁殖特性与种子萌发对环境条件的适应能力是成功入侵扩散的前提。采用野外调查与室内试验相结合的方法,研究了飞机草的繁殖能力与种子的萌发特性。结果表明,飞机草能够进行无性繁殖,但其有性生殖能力更强,成熟植株的种子生产量高,种子质量轻,并且具有冠毛等附属结构。环境因子能够影响飞机草种子的萌发,其萌发的最适温度约为28℃,萌发过程中不需要特别的养分供应,并且能够忍耐一定程度的干旱胁迫。酸性环境能够促进飞机草种子的萌发,但当pH降至2.0时,其发芽率显著降低。掩埋处理能够抑制飞机草种子的萌发,当埋藏深度达3.0 cm时,所有的种子均不能正常萌发与出苗。     

外来入侵杂草银胶菊种子萌发特性及无性繁殖能力研究

银胶菊Parthenium hysterophorus L.是一种危害性很强的外来入侵杂草,在我国南方多省均有分布,在山东省莒南县也大面积分布,目前已对发生地生态环境造成巨大影响。文章于2011年采用人工气候箱培养皿法和温室土壤盆栽相结合的方法,研究银胶菊的种子在不同pH、盐浓度、湿度、营养条件、不同埋藏深度等条件下种子萌发特性及其无性繁殖能力,以期为明确其入侵机制和适生环境提供依据。结果表明,银胶菊种子适宜的萌发环境为酸性,pH=6.0时发芽率最好,到pH=8.0时,种子不能萌发;盐对银胶菊种子的萌发影响很大,随着盐浓度的提高,发芽率下降明显,当盐浓度达到0.12 mol·Lˉ1时,种子不再萌发;但不同的营养条件和不同P水平对种子的萌发无显著影响;干旱或水涝均能降低种子发芽率;种子埋藏土层越深,其发芽率越低,土层深度达3.0 cm以上,银胶菊种子几乎无发芽率。银胶菊有较强的无性繁殖能力,根部、基部茎和上部茎等不同部位埋入土壤后均能发芽,基部茎的发芽率最高(为66.7%-88.9%),根部和上部茎发芽率较低(为22.2%-44.4%)。另外,从发芽后的生长来看,茎部(包括基部茎和上部茎)发芽后均能正常生长,但根部发出新芽后逐渐黄化死亡。由此可以看出,银胶菊种子适应力、耐贫瘠能力强,一般的农田、荒地环境均能萌发生长,但盐碱地的环境下不能萌发生长;散落在土壤表层的银胶菊种子萌发率最高,因此,没有人类扰动的荒地、沟渠更适宜其萌发和生长;由于其很强的无性繁殖能力,人工砍伐的防除措施不能将其彻底防除。这些都是银胶菊入侵后,能够在短时间内暴发成灾,且不易彻底防除的原因。     

几种菊科入侵植物和非入侵植物的化感作用比较

以萝卜为受体,采用培养皿法比较研究了几种菊科入侵种和非入侵种的化感潜力。结果表明：入侵种和非入侵种都具有化感作用,且入侵种在高浓度下的化感抑制作用强度不一定都大于非入侵种。在0.2 g.mL-1浓度时,艾蒿和黄鹌菜的综合化感作用强度分别是小飞蓬的2.5和3.1倍;而紫茎泽兰和银胶菊则是小飞蓬的3.8和3.5倍。而不同植物浸提液对萝卜的不同检测指标影响不同。其中,紫茎泽兰对萝卜种子发芽和幼苗生长的影响主要表现为化感抑制作用。银胶菊和除0.025 g.mL-1外的黄鹌菜各浸提液都使萝卜种子萌发受较强的抑制,且抑制强度随浸提液浓度的升高而增大,而对幼苗生长则表现为＂低促高抑＂的规律。小飞蓬和苦荬菜对萝卜种子萌发和幼苗根长为抑制作用,但对其苗高和鲜质量为促进作用。除0.025 g.mL-1外,艾蒿对萝卜种子萌发和幼苗根长有较强的抵制,对其苗高和鲜质量则呈＂低促高抑＂的规律。     

紫茎泽兰对木棉种子萌发和幼苗光合特性的影响

木棉树(Bombax ceiba L.)是干热河谷稀树灌丛和稀树草坡的建群树种,对该区域水土保持和生态恢复有着重要作用.木棉开花结实良好,种子萌发正常,树下却没有天然更新的木棉幼苗及幼树,为揭示这种情况与木棉树下严重入侵的紫茎泽兰的相关性,采用紫茎泽兰根系土壤、叶片和根浸提液及其粉末,结合室内和田间试验,用培养皿滤纸法和盆栽法,综合评价紫茎泽兰对木棉种子萌发和幼苗光合特性的影响.结果表明:(1)紫茎泽兰叶片和根浸提液均显著降低了木棉的种子萌发率和幼苗光合效率,这种抑制程度和抑制发生的时间随浓度升高而加强或提早,无论在低浓度还是高浓度,抑制作用均随着处理时间延长而加剧;(2)在高浓度下,紫茎泽兰叶片对木棉的种子萌发率和幼苗光合效率的抑制作用显著高于根浸提液的,而低浓度下,这种差异不显著;(3)紫茎泽兰根际土壤也显著了降低木棉种子的萌发率和幼苗存活率,一个月后的存活率仅为4.75%,与对照相比下降了90.95%;(4)用紫茎泽兰叶片和根粉末伴土模拟叶片和根分解或半分解物质对抑制木棉种子萌发的影响,当叶片和根粉末与土壤比例按20 g:1 kg处理时,木棉种子萌发率和一个月后的存活率显著降低.由此可见,紫茎泽兰叶片和根系的分解或半分解产物对木棉种子萌发、幼苗光合效率和幼苗的存活能产生抑制作用,是影响干热河谷地区木棉天然更新的重要因素.图5表3参27     

东太湖3种沉水植物群落区底泥种子库与幼苗库

底泥种子库在沉水植物恢复中具有重要作用.研究了东太湖3种优势沉水植物苦草(Vallisneria natanus L.)、马来眼子菜(Potamogeton malaianus Miq)和微齿眼子菜(Potamogeton maackianus)群落区的广义种子库和种子库采样区的幼苗库.2005年1月,在3种植物的优势群落区各随机采取泥样样方9个,25 ℃的培养箱内,光照周期L∶D＝12∶12条件下,采用种子萌发法鉴定土壤种子库.研究结果显示,实验室内种子库在5个月内全部萌发完毕.3种沉水植物群落区的广义种子库大小分别为1003.33粒·m-2,1446.67粒·m-2和910粒·m-2,优势种植物的种子占相应区域种子库总量的97%以上.从种子库结构上看,苦草主要以无性繁殖为主,微齿眼子菜以有性繁殖为主,马来眼子菜则无性繁殖和有性繁殖同等重要.对比研究采样点区域植物群落当年植物幼苗的萌发情况,结果表明,幼苗库在数量上要远小于其相应的种子库的规模,幼苗库植物种类要多于相应的种子库,生物多样性也较种子库高,幼苗库与种子库的相似系数在0.330.67.     

凋落物覆盖及掩埋对不同质量的藜蒴种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

以南亚热带常见的先锋乡土树种藜蒴(Castanopsis fissa)为研究对象.通过室内萌发试验,分析了种子质量、凋落物覆盖和掩埋对种子萌发及幼苗早期生长的影响.结果表明,藜蒴种子能否成功萌发并形成幼苗的决定性因素是种子的掩埋深度.掩埋显著抑制了藜蒴种子萌发及形成幼苗的过程,随掩埋深度的增大,这种抑制作用越明显.掩埋对幼苗的存活和生物量没有显著影响,但可提高幼苗根部生物量的分配.深度掩埋时,质量大的种子在幼苗形成过程中具明显优势;而置于土壤表层或浅埋的种子成苗率与种子质量的相关性较低.大质量种子形成的幼苗更易于存活,在生物量的积累方面也表现H{一定的优势.凋落物覆盖未抑制幼苗的出土,且对幼苗的存活和生长具有明显的促进作用,表现在可提高幼苗的相对生长率以及生物量的积累.另外,凋落物的覆盖明显提高了幼苗生物量在其冠部的分配.因而,若利用直接播撒藜蒴种子的方式改造南亚热带退化草坡.理论上应尽可能选用大质量的种子直接播种于地表,并覆以原有的地表凋落物,以促进藜蒴幼苗成功建立.     

The effects of burial by sand on survival and growth of Pitcher’s thistle (Cirsium pitcheri) along lake huron

Greenhouse experiments were conducted to determine the effects of sand burial on survival and growth of seedlings ofCirsium pitcheri. In 1992–1993, seedlings were buried to depths of 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of their height while in 1993–1994, the seedlings were buried to depths of 0, 4 cm (single burial), 4 cm (repeated burial of 1 cm every 8 days), 8 cm (single burial) and 8 cm (repeated burial of 2 cm every 8 days). Several physiological traits, net photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll a∶b ratio, leaf area, number and length of leaves, number of internodes, amount of tillering, and biomass, were measured. The results showed that all seedlings died in the complete (100%) burial, 20% died in the 75% burial and none died in the 0, 25 and 50% burial treatments. Burial of seedlings to a depth of 25% stimulated their growth but 75% burial significantly decreased the total dry weight. Repeated burial treatments exhibited significantly greater stimulation of growth than single burial. Surviving seedlings grew through the sand deposit by elongating the stem and leaf petioles, increasing the number of nodes and the length of internodes. This elongation occurred at the expense of development of the root system indicating that available energy was re-allocated to above-ground parts.     

Recruitment limitation constrains local species richness and productivity in dry grassland

Species coexistence and local-scale species richness are limited by the availability of seeds and microsites for germination and establishment. We conducted a seed addition experiment in seminatural grassland at three sites in southern Switzerland and repeated the experiment in two successive years to evaluate various circumstances under which seed limitation and establishment success affect community functioning. A collection of 144,000 seeds of 22 meadow species including grasses and forbs of local provenance was gathered, and seeds were individually sown in a density that resembled natural seed rain. The three communities were seed limited. Three years after sowing, single species varied in emergence (0-50%), survival (0-69%), and establishment rates (0-27%). One annual and 13 perennial species reached reproductive stage. Low establishment at one site and reduced growth at another site indicated stronger microsite limitation compared to the third site. Recruitment was influenced by differences in abiotic environmental conditions between sites (water availability, soil minerals) and by within-site differences in biotic interaction (competition). At the least water-limited site, sowing resulted in an increase in phytomass due to establishment of short-lived perennials in the second and third years after sowing. This increase persisted over the following two years due to establishment of longer-lived perennials. After sowing in a wetter year with higher phytomass, however, productivity did not increase, because higher intensity of competition in an early phase of establishment resulted in less vigorous plants later on. Due to the generally favorable weather conditions during this study, sowing year had a small effect on numbers of established individuals over all species. Recruitment limitation can thus constrain local-scale species richness and productivity, either by a lack of seeds or by reduced seedling growth, likely due to competition from the established vegetation.     

On the relative contributions of wind vs. animals to seed dispersal of four Sierra Nevada pines

Selective pressures that influence the form of seed dispersal syndromes are poorly understood. Morphology of plant propagules is often used to infer the means of dispersal, but morphology can be misleading. Several species of pines, for example, have winged seeds adapted for wind dispersal but owe much of their establishment to scatter-hoarding animals. Here the relative importance of wind vs. animal dispersal is assessed for four species of pines of the eastern Sierra Nevada that have winged seeds but differed in seed size: lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta murrayana, 8 mg); ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa ponderosa, 56 mg); Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi, 160 mg); and sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana, 231 mg). Pre-dispersal seed mortality eliminated much of the ponderosa pine seed crop (66%), but had much less effect on Jeffrey pine (32% of seeds destroyed), lodgepole pine (29%), and sugar pine (7%). When cones opened most filled seeds were dispersed by wind. Animals removed > 99% of wind-dispersed Jeffrey and sugar pine seeds from the ground within 60 days, but animals gathered only 93% of lodgepole pine seeds and 38% of ponderosa pine seeds during the same period. Animals gathered and scatter hoarded radioactively labeled ponderosa, Jeffrey, and sugar pine seeds, making a total of 2103 caches over three years of study. Only three lodgepole pine caches were found. Caches typically contained 1-4 seeds buried 5-20 mm deep, depths suitable for seedling emergence. Although Jeffrey and sugar pine seeds are initially wind dispersed, nearly all seedlings arise from animal caches. Lodgepole pine is almost exclusively wind dispersed, with animals acting as seed predators. Animals treated ponderosa pine in an intermediate fashion. Two-phased dispersal of large, winged pine seeds appears adaptive; initial wind dispersal helps to minimize pre-dispersal seed mortality whereas scatter hoarding by animals places seeds in sites with a higher probability of seedling establishment.     

入侵藤本薇甘菊的耐盐能力

薇甘菊Mikania micrantha Kunth为原产中南美洲的入侵藤本植物,现已在全球热带和亚热带地区照成严重的生态问题。野外观察发现薇甘菊已在珠三角沿海植被中滋生。为揭示薇甘菊的耐盐能力及其对滨海盐生植被的潜在危害性,分别对薇甘菊种子、根系和茎干在不同盐度胁迫下的响应进行了测定。在珠三角地区采集了薇甘菊3个批次的种子,并选取珠江三角洲6种常见植物（菊科假臭草Eupatorium catarium、藿香蓟Ageratum conyzoides、野茼蒿Crassocephalum crepidioides、鬼针草Bidens pilosa、翅果菊Pterocypsela indica和旋花科小花假番薯Ipomoea triloba）作为对照,测定了它们在不同NaCl盐度（质量分数）胁迫下的萌发率和幼苗生长;为揭示薇甘菊种子是否可由海水传播,将薇甘菊和对照植物假臭草、藿香蓟和鬼针草在不同盐度条件下浸泡不同时间后解除胁迫再观测其种子萌发率;为确定薇甘菊能否在滨海盐土中无性繁殖,分别对薇甘菊的根系和茎干在盐水浸泡下的植株生长进行了测定。研究结果表明：1）总体而言,薇甘菊3个种群在≤0.6%盐度胁迫下的种子萌发率均与对照组无显著差异,个别种群的这一阈值可高达1.5%,明显高于其他对照植物;同一盐度胁迫条件下,薇甘菊幼苗根系和苗高生长受抑制程度明显低于对照植物。2）即使经高达3.0%盐度胁迫浸泡长达12 d后,薇甘菊、藿香蓟和假臭草种子的萌发率也没有受到显著影响,而鬼针草种子的萌发率有明显下降;四种植物受浸泡后萌芽的幼苗生长均正常。3）薇甘菊根系受0.5%盐度胁迫时没有植株死亡,但苗高增长仅为对照组的53.3%;根系在1.0%盐度胁迫下有95%的植株能存活至少25 d,但苗高增长仅为对照的18.9%;根系在≥1.5%盐度胁迫下薇甘菊无法存活。4）被清水浸泡的薇甘菊茎茎叶均能存活且在全部被浸泡的节上萌芽。当薇甘菊茎干受≥1.0%盐水浸泡时,受浸泡的叶片全部死亡,在1.0%、2.0%和3.0%盐度胁迫下受试茎第21天的死亡率分别为42.9%、40.9%和86.4%。以上结果表明薇甘菊对盐生生境具一定的适应能力,可能通过种子萌发或无性繁殖扩张的方式对滨海盐生植被构成威胁,应当引起重视。     

硅促进水稻种子萌发及缓解幼苗砷毒性的效应研究

通过As~(Ⅲ)胁迫下水稻种子的发芽试验和幼苗毒性试验,研究了外源硅对水稻种子发芽率、幼苗生长的影响及其缓解幼苗砷毒性的效应。外源硅的2种处理方式为种子萌发时添加外源硅(Si1)和采用硅处理液浸种(Si2)。结果表明,发芽时介质中As浓度达到10 mg·L~(-1)时显著抑制水稻种子萌发(P0.05),发芽率仅为80%,但是Si1和Si2处理下发芽率则提高到97%和100%,这说明外源硅可促进砷胁迫下水稻种子萌发;砷浓度≥5 mg·L~(-1)时,Si1和Si2处理均可提高水稻的相对幼苗高度和根耐性指数,提高幅度分别为6.00%~16.8%和57.9%~77.0%、7.10%~23.5%和54.2%~61.2%,并且降低了水稻幼苗砷含量,降低幅度分别为17.8%~21.4%和31.0%~49.1%。这说明外源硅处理可促进砷胁迫下水稻幼苗的生长;不同砷浓度处理与水稻芽长、根长及幼苗干重之间存在"S"型的剂量-效应关系,且外源硅显著提高了相应的EC50,缓解了砷对水稻幼苗生长的毒性。综上所述,砷胁迫下水稻种子萌发时添加外源硅或采用硅处理液浸种均可促进水稻种子萌发和幼苗生长,并降低了幼苗砷累积和缓解砷对水稻幼苗的毒性。     

Impacts of crude oil on the germination and growth of cress seeds (Lepidium sp.) after bioremediation of agricultural soil polluted with crude petroleum using "adapted" Pseudomonas putida

The impacts of crude oil on the germination, growth and morphology of cress seeds (Lepidium sp.) after bioremediation of agricultural soil polluted with crude petroleum using "adapted" Pseudomonas putida (PP) were examined for 15 days. At day 15 there was 100% germination in the untreated control samples, the mean height of the seedlings was 75.8 +/- 2.6 mm and all appeared to have grown morphologically normal. In the experimental samples treated with oil and PP inoculation, there was 98% germination and the seedlings reached a height of 63.8 +/- 6.9 mm; again, morphologically the seedlings appeared normal. However, in the control samples treated with oil but without PP inoculation, there was 31-38% germination and seedling heights of 34.2 +/- 11.4-42.3 +/- 8.5 mm with abnormal morphology. Treatment of oil-impacted agricultural soil with PP as a bioremediation agent does produce soil which is capable of growing larger and healthier plants than where bioremediation has not taken place.     

Seed trait changes in dispersers' guts and consequences for germination and seedling growth

The effectiveness of a frugivore as a disperser of a plant is greatly determined by how fruits and seeds are handled in its mouth and its digestive tract. Although a number of studies have investigated the effect of avian ingestion on germination, we still know very little about the modifications to seeds during ingestion and the specific consequences on plant fitness. Here we investigate for the first time the different mechanisms by which germination patterns of seeds are modified following ingestion by frugivores. Specifically, we examine changes in seed mass, water content, permeability, seed coat thickness, texture, and resistance in two common Mediterranean fleshy-fruited plants, Phillyrea angustifolia and Myrtus communis, after ingestion by Eurasian Blackbirds, Turdus merula. We found a number of differences between the plant species: Phillyrea seeds lost mass, mainly due to water loss, and had thinner coats after gut passage, but Myrtus seeds did not. Seeds of both species showed increased permeability, while Myrtus seeds in particular became less resistant to breakage. No quantifiable changes in seed coat texture were detected in either species, although this trait was partly associated with differences in germination rate in Phillyrea. High intraspecific plant variation was found for most seed traits measured. Seed passage through birds' guts sped up germination in both species, especially in Myrtus. Increased permeability in seeds of both species following ingestion resulted in a higher germination rate. Moreover, seeds with thick coats (and in the case of Phillyrea, harder coats) germinated at a slower rate and produced seedlings that also grew more slowly, indicating a cost of coat thickness and/or hardness for seedling emergence. Results obtained here contribute to explaining the great heterogeneity in germination responses among and within plant species and the large variety of factors, both intrinsic and extrinsic to the plants, that influence such responses.     

Vertebrate herbivory impacts seedling recruitment more than niche partitioning or density-dependent mortality

In tropical forests, resource-based niches and density-dependent mortality are mutually compatible mechanisms that can act simultaneously to limit seedling populations. Differences in the strengths of these mechanisms will determine their roles in maintaining species coexistence. In the first assessment of these mechanisms in a Congo Basin forest, we quantified their relative strengths and tested the extent to which density-dependent mortality is driven by the distance-dependent behavior of seed and seedling predators predicted by the Janzen-Connell hypothesis. We conducted a large-scale seed addition experiment for five randomly selected tropical tree species, caging a subset of seed addition quadrats against vertebrate predators. We then developed models to assess the mechanisms that determine seedling emergence (three months after seed addition) and survival (two years after seed addition). As predicted, both niche differentiation and density-dependent mortality limited seedling recruitment, but predation had the strongest effects on seedling emergence and survival. Seedling species responded differently to naturally occurring environmental variation among sites, including variation in light levels and soil characteristics, supporting predictions of niche-based theories of tropical tree species coexistence. The addition of higher densities of seeds into quadrats initially led to greater seedling emergence, but survival to two years decreased with seed density. Seed and seedling predation reduced recruitment below levels maintained by density-dependent mortality, an indication that predators largely determine the population size of tree seedlings. Seedling recruitment was unrelated to the distance to or density of conspecific adult trees, suggesting that recruitment patterns are generated by generalist vertebrate herbivores rather than the specialized predators predicted by the Janzen-Connell hypothesis. If the role of seed and seedling predation in limiting seedling recruitment is a general phenomenon, then the relative abundances of tree species might largely depend on species-specific adaptations to avoid, survive, and recover from damage induced by vertebrate herbivores. Likewise, population declines of herbivorous vertebrate species (many of which are large and hunted) may trigger shifts in species composition of tropical forests.     

金莲木（Ochna integerrima（Lour．）Merr．）的生态生物学特征及其播种繁殖技术

金莲小（Ochnaintegerrima（Lour．）Merr．）足金莲术科落叫淞小或小乔小,址潜在的优良Ⅲ林绿化树种．文章从其形态解削特,其光合生理生态特征及播种繁殖技术方面进行了系统的研究。结果表明：金莲小为rft性偏阳性树种,光合速率LI进秤星单峰曲线,尤午休现象;其光饱和点（LSP）和I光补偿点（LCP）分别在800μmol·m^-2.s^-1及52．2μmol·m^-2．s^-1左右、在高于光饱和点的光强下,其叶片的光合速率并未出现叫娃下降趋势,州时还维持了较i舟的蒸腾速率,、金莲小叶绿素荧光参数显水其具有较高的能精利用效率,叶绿素a／b比值（5．677：1）略高于理论价（3：1）,表明它能有效吸收比能许传到光反应叭tl山。播种前金莲小种子宵进行浸泡处理,浸泡24h处理后足发芽率高日．发芽较早,播种住泷炭土中的种f较沙土中的种子发芽要甘H荫发周期短,但往沙土中播种的种子最终的发芽率耍相对较高。、㈧此,金莲l术适合生长存水热充沛、土壤十}1对JJ巴沃的热带亚热带地区,栽培时要尽量选择十层肥沃的壤土或砂质壤土。金莲术（Ochnaintegerrima（Lout．）Merr．）是金莲术科落叶灌本或小乔木,是潜在的优良冈林绿化树种。文章从其形态解剖特征、光合生理生态特征及播种繁殖技术方面进行了系统的研究。结果表明：金莲木为中性偏阳性树种,光合速率日进程呈单峰曲线,无午休现象;其光饱和点（LSP）和光补偿点（LCP）分别在800μmol·m^-2．s^-1及52．2μmol·m^-2．s^-1左右。在高于光饱和点的光强下,其叶片的光合速率并未出现明显下降趋势,同时还维持了较高的蒸腾速率。金莲术叶绿素荧光参数显示其具有较高的能量利用效率,叶绿素a／b比值（5．677：1）略高于理论值（3：1）,表明它能有效吸收光能并传到光反应中心。播种前金莲木种子宜进行浸泡处理,浸泡24h处理后其发芽率高且发芽较早,播种在泥炭土中的种子较沙土中的种子发芽要早且萌发周期短,但在沙土中播种的种子最终的发芽率要相对较高。因此,金莲木适合生长在水热充沛、土壤相对肥沃的热带亚热带地区,栽培时要尽量选择土层肥沃的壤土或砂质壤土。