神农架林区不同类型植物的叶片特征与光合性能研究

以神农架林区木鱼镇茶山上生长的8种不同类型植物为试验材料,于晴天选择其植株上东南朝向的顶部成长叶,采用LI—COR6400便携式光合测定系统、调制叶绿素荧光成像系统（IMAGING-PAMM-Series）及双通道PAM—100测量系统（Dual-PAM-100）和常规方法研究了其叶片特征、光合性能及相互间的关系,将有助于了解神农架植物的光合生产力及其植被管理。结果表明,不同类型植物叶片的叶片特征和光合性能存在明显的物种差异。比叶重（SLW）为乔木〉灌木〉草本;气孔参数以气孔导度（Cond）差异最大;草本植物的光合能力明显高于灌木和乔木,而灌木和乔木间的差异不大;叶绿素含量（Chl）及其组分的差异较小,类胡萝卜素（Car）和花青素含量（Ant）及其与Chl的比值差异极大。不同类型植物叶片特征和光合性能指标的变异系数在7．3％～73．0％间,Chla／Chlb最小,Car／Ant最大;Chla／Chlb、基于叶温的蒸汽压亏缺（VpdL）和胞间C02浓度（Ci）dx于15％,Cond、单位鲜重Car、PSII实际量子产量和PsI非光化学能量耗散的量子产量为40％～50％,单位干重Car、Ant、Chl／Ant和Car／Ant则大于60％,其他指标在20％-40％。相关分析显示,Jpn受Cond、叶片含水量和单位干重Chl的正向调控,Ant和Car对两无决定性作用;PSII和PSI的实际量子产量依赖于ci和Chl,Car过高导致其降低;PSI的光保护受SLW的负调控及单位鲜重Chl和单位干重Car的正调控;光合机构的光损伤受Ci的负调控和Chl／Car的正调控。     

模拟氮沉降对常绿阔叶林6种植物氮同化的影响

中国已成为世界第三大氮沉降区,其氮沉降水平会随着工业以及农业的发展继续增加。氮沉降直接影响森林植物氮元素的代谢,进而影响森林生态系统的稳定,但相关研究在热带和亚热带地区较少开展。本研究依托林冠模拟氮沉降野外实验平台,以常绿阔叶林小乔木/灌木粗叶木(Lasianthus chinensis)、柏拉木(Blastus cochinchinensis)、罗伞(Ardisia quinquegona)和大乔木锥栗(Castanea henryi)、荷木(Schima superba)、鸭脚木(Schefflera octophflla)为研究对象,测定其叶片硝态氮和铵态氮含量以及氮同化相关酶活性,分析2种模拟氮沉降方式(林冠喷施和林下喷施)对其产生的影响。结果显示,氮添加处理显著影响植物的氮同化过程,其中CN50(林冠喷氮N 50 kg·hm~(-2)·a~(-1))、UN50(林下喷氮N kg·hm~(-2)·a~(-1))处理影响相对较大。在CN50、UN50处理下,罗伞叶片硝态氮含量显著降低,粗叶木叶内铵态氮含量显著升高。锥栗叶片的硝态氮含量在CN50、UN50处理下积累大于CN25(林冠喷氮N 25 kg·hm~(-2)·a~(-1))、UN25(林下喷氮N 25 kg·hm~(-2)·a~(-1))处理,硝酸还原酶(NR)活性也显著升高。在CN50下,粗叶木、柏拉木和罗伞的NR活性也显著降低。研究发现,氮添加处理导致植物氮同化水平受到一定程度的干扰,但这6种植物具有一定的抗氮能力,超出一定范围则会影响植物生长,对群落结构产生潜在影响。     

外来入侵植物簕仔树若干形态和生理生态特性

簕仔树Mimosa bimucronata在广东为外来入侵种,对其种子形态及生理、叶片生理生态特性进行测定,并与原产地（南美洲）和3种本地（中国广东）植物的相关指标对比,以了解其生态适应性。结果表明：种子长4.29mm,宽3.30mm,大小、含水量（6.23%～8.23%）与原产地的无显著差异;可溶性糖、氨基酸和蛋白质含量分别为32.00、8131.06和2487.04μg·g-1（以干质量计）。活种子比例98.89%～100.00%,萌发率仅32.80%;相对电导率5.35%～11.66%。叶片绿色度29.39,但叶绿素b含量高;对比本地植物,在低光照高湿度下,簕仔树净光合速率（以CO2计）1.339μmol·m-2·s-1低,呼吸速率（以CO2计）1.828μmol·m-2·s-1高,在测定时间内未检测出其蒸腾速率;生理生态指标的表现与阳性植物木荷Schima superba类似,而明显与耐荫植物阴香Cinnamomum burmannii幼苗和九节Psychotria rubra不同。利用其阳性植物特征,可进行遮蔽以减轻潜在的生态危害。     

环境因素对干旱-半干旱区城市银杏叶片碳同位素组成的影响

影响植物碳同位素组成的环境因素较多,在环境参数越复杂的地区控制因素则越多。城市环境相对于自然环境来说,不仅气象因素对植物同位素组成有较大的影响,而且,城市环境中人为因素如大气污染物、城市建筑等均可以影响植物的碳同位素组成。根据对兰州市校园中银杏（Ginkgo biloba）各向叶片生长期（四月至十月）的碳同位素组成分析,了解影响叶片同位素组成的环境参数特征,通过CANOCO统计分析确定各参数之间的相关性。分析表明,城市中大气污染物质量浓度的变化对植物同位素组成的影响较大（两者的相关性为r=0.550）,降水、光照、温度等也是影响植物碳同位素组成的重要因素。由于受到各个环境因素的综合影响,除有效湿度（两者的相关性为r=0.761）外,其它各种因素与叶片碳同位素组成之间的相关性并不强。而环境参数对植物叶片碳同位素组成影响主要由叶片气孔的开闭进行。     

不同生境下报春苣苔的光合作用日变化特性

国家一级濒危植物报春苣苔Primulina tabacum Hance是苦苣苔科多年生草本植物。研究不同生境下报春苣苔在干湿季的光合作用日变化动态及其对环境因子响应,结果表明：旷地午间时段,光合有效辐射（PAR）增加伴随着空气湿度（RH）的显著下降,此时报春苣苔的净光合速率（Pn）因受光抑制和气孔限制的影响而下降。岩洞生境下报春苣苔的Pn没有受到抑制,但其Pn和光合碳水化合物（CH2O）生成速率较低,洞内光照缺乏是限制其光合碳同化的原因之一。3个样地检测的Pn、CH2O产生速率、气孔导度（Gs）、蒸腾速率（Tr）以及Rubisco的Vo/Vc比率等在湿季均优于干季。主成分分析表明叶片Narea与Chl含量、比叶重（LMA）以及气孔密度对光合作用具有显著影响。Pearson相关分析表明不同生境下影响报春苣苔Pn的关键生态因子有所不同,旷地强光环境下过高的叶片水蒸气压亏缺（VPD）和气温（ta）直接限制净光合速率的水平,而在岩洞弱光高湿环境中,PAR则成为Pn的限制因子。同一环境因子在不同生境下对报春苣苔Pn的影响也有所不同：在旷地强光生境下,空气湿度（RH）的适度增加有利于降低过高的VPD,促进气孔开放而提高Pn。而在岩洞低光条件下,过高RH则会使降低VPD而不利于叶片的气体交换,使光合作用受影响。这个结果启示,在进行报春苣苔野外回归栽培时,应该注意PAR和RH等环境因子的控制。     

北京路边9种植物叶片表面微结构及其滞尘潜力研究

以栾树(Koelreuteria paniculata)等9种常见于北京市区主干道旁的园林植物的叶片为研究对象,采用环境扫描电镜(Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope,ESEM)对这些植物叶片的气孔、表皮毛等微形态特征及其对颗粒物的滞留作用进行观察和描述,并对在叶片上滞留的颗粒物进行能谱分析。结果表明,植物叶片是滞留大气颗粒物的主要器官之一,叶片上下表皮的微结构差异影响其对颗粒物的滞留潜力。叶片上的细纹结构、细胞之间的间隔、气孔等部位镶嵌着不同粒径的颗粒物。叶片表皮的细纹结构越密集、细胞之间的间隔越小、气孔密度越大,对颗粒物的阻滞作用越明显。另外,叶片表皮毛能够对颗粒物起到一定的滞留作用。植物分泌的液态状物质能够粘滞颗粒物。除刺槐(Robinia pseudoacacia)外,其他8种植物叶片表面滞留的粒径介于0.1~0.5 mm之间的颗粒物最多,介于0.5~1 mm之间的次之,粒径1 mm以上的颗粒物数量最少。通过能谱分析发现,C和O在植物叶片滞留的颗粒物中广泛存在;Si、Fe、Mn等在大多数植物叶片上也有发现。以北京西三环这一市区主干道为例,根据不同元素在植物叶片上的积累,基本可以判断,植物借助叶表皮微形态学结构特征,在富集颗粒物的同时,对以燃油型、燃煤型和工业生产排放的颗粒为主的大气污染物具有净化作用。     

干旱胁迫对香樟幼树生长及光合特性的影响

通过盆栽和持续干旱研究了干旱胁迫(以2 d为一个处理间隔,持续干旱0-16 d)对香樟(Cinnamomum camphora)幼树生长及光合特性的影响.结果显示:(1)干旱胁迫下香樟幼树的地径、树高生长量受到了抑制.轻度、中度干旱处理(干旱时间2-8 d)叶片含水量和叶片相对含水量与对照差异均不显著,重度干旱处理(干旱时间10 d)下显著低于对照(P0.01);(2)干旱胁迫影响了香樟叶片光合作用的日变化进程,妨碍了其有机物质积累;(3)干旱胁迫下香樟叶片光合色素总量先升高后降低,在干旱第8天达到最高.所有干旱处理的净光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、气孔导度(Gs)均受到不同程度的抑制.气孔因素和非气孔因素共同作用影响香樟幼树的光合作用,在干旱初期(干旱时间2-8 d)气孔因素起主导作用,干旱后期(干旱时间10 d)非气孔因素起主导作用;(4)干旱胁迫下香樟幼树叶片的表观量子效率(AQY)、RuBP羧化速率(CE)、光补偿点(LCP)、光饱和点(LSP)及CO2补偿点(CCP)均显著降低,表明干旱会降低香樟幼树对环境中光照和CO2的利用及适应能力.综上,干旱胁迫下香樟幼树的水分生理状况变差,光合能力及光合日变化进程受到影响,对环境中光照和CO2的利用及适应能力也明显降低,最终香樟幼树的形态生长受到抑制.图3表3参35     

沙芥幼苗叶片解剖结构和光合作用对干旱胁迫的响应

为了了解干旱胁迫对植物光合作用和叶片结构的影响,明确植物光合作用和结构对干旱胁迫的响应,本研究以沙生植物、中国特有种---沙芥为材料,采用Li-6400光合仪和常规石蜡切片法,研究了干旱胁迫下沙芥光合参数、叶片解剖结构的变化,结合前期对沙芥叶片内活性氧物质含量变化的研究,试图阐述沙芥叶片应对干旱胁迫的机制,揭示沙生植物—沙芥在干旱环境中的生存策略,为植物耐旱性提供理论依据。结果表明：随着土壤含水量下降,净光合速率(Pn)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、气孔导度(Gs)、叶片厚度、上表皮厚度、下表皮厚度呈下降趋势;海绵组织厚度呈先下降后上升的趋势;胞间二氧化碳浓度(Ci)呈上升的趋势;气孔限制值(Ls)、水分利用率(WUE)、栅栏组织和栅栏组织/海绵组织和叶片组织结构紧密度(CTR)呈先先上升后下降的趋势;且在土壤含水量大于39% WHC时沙芥光合和结构受影响较小,在土壤含水量低于39% WHC时,沙芥光合作用受到抑制,而叶片紧密度变大,能够较好的抵御干旱环境。结果表明干旱胁迫下沙芥幼苗叶片光合作用的下降是非气孔因素造成的,且其叶片结构的变化会影响光合作用,光合作用通过产生活性氧对结构也有影响。说明沙芥能够很好的适应中度干旱以上的环境,在重度干旱环境中沙芥通过调节叶片结构以适应环境,这可能是沙芥能够在沙漠地区生存繁殖的原因之一。     

干旱胁迫对香蒲生长和叶绿素荧光参数的影响

采用野外调查方法,研究了不同土壤含水量条件下香蒲植株的形态、生物量、叶绿素含量和叶绿素荧光参数的变化。结果表明：（1）土壤含水量对香蒲株高影响显著,轻度、中度和重度干旱处理香蒲株高分别下降为对照（土壤水分始终饱和）的90.90%、68.19%和63.64%。（2）香蒲茎直径、叶长、叶宽和叶绿素含量均随土壤含水量的降低而呈递减趋势,枯叶率却明显增加。（3）不同土壤含水量条件下香蒲密度和生物量差异均达显著水平（P〈0.05）。轻度、中度和重度干旱组香蒲密度分别比对照下降41.67%、53.33%和66.67%;而对照香蒲单株生物量分别为轻度、中度和重度干旱组的2.25、5.54和7.45倍。（4）香蒲叶片最大光量子产量（Fv/Fm）和最大相对电子传递速率（Re,t,max）随土壤含水量的减少而明显降低。干旱降低了香蒲叶片光系统Ⅱ（PSⅡ）的光化学效率,抑制了香蒲的生长。     

5种喀斯特生境植物叶片解剖结构特征

对我国喀斯特地区几种不同生活型植物——常绿植物桂花(Osmanthus fragrans Lour.)、竹叶椒(Zanthoxylunarmatum DC),落叶植物红背山麻杆(Alchornea trewioides Muell.),草本植物石上莲(Oreocharis benthamii Clark var.reticulata Dunn),草本植物单枝竹(Monocladus saxatilis Chia,Fung et Y.L.Yang)的叶片形态解剖特征(叶片厚度、气孔密度、气孔结构等)进行了观察和测量,发现差异较大:竹叶椒角质层较厚,红背山麻杆的叶片较厚,单枝竹叶片上下表皮均有气孔,桂花气孔密度最高,石上莲的气孔纵径最长.结果表明:1)喀斯特生境植物存在着普遍的抗旱功能性解剖结构,用以适应喀斯特地区的特殊干旱气候;2)不同生活型植物对干旱选择的策略不同.表3参20     

Conservation of Epiphyte Diversity in an Andean Landscape Transformed by Human Land Use

Abstract: Epiphytes are diverse and important elements of tropical forests, but as canopy‐dwelling organisms, they are highly vulnerable to deforestation. To assess the effect of deforestation on epiphyte diversity and the potential for epiphyte conservation in anthropogenically transformed habitats, we surveyed the epiphytic vegetation of an Ecuadorian cloud forest reserve and its surroundings. Our study was located on the western slopes of the Andes, a global center of biodiversity. We sampled vascular epiphytes of 110 study plots in a continuous primary forest; 14 primary forest fragments; isolated remnant trees in young, middle‐aged, and old pastures; and young and old secondary forests. It is the first study to include all relevant types of habitat transformation at a single study site and to compare epiphyte diversity at different temporal stages of fragmentation. Epiphyte diversity was highest in continuous primary forest, followed by forest fragments and isolated remnant trees, and lowest in young secondary forests. Spatial parameters of habitat transformation, such as fragment area, distance to the continuous primary forest, or distance to the forest edge from inside the forest, had no significant effect on epiphyte diversity. Hence, the influence of dispersal limitations appeared to be negligible or appeared to operate only over very short distances, whereas microclimatic edge effects acted only in the case of completely isolated trees, but not in larger forest fragments. Epiphyte diversity increased considerably with age of secondary forests, but species assemblages on isolated remnant trees were impoverished distinctly with time since isolation. Thus, isolated trees may serve for recolonization of secondary forests, but only for a relatively short time. We therefore suggest that the conservation of even small patches of primary forest within agricultural landscape matrices is essential for the long‐term maintenance of the high epiphyte diversity in tropical cloud forests.     

Effects of New Forestry Practices on Rare Epiphytic Macrolichens

Abstract:  The preservation of key habitats is included in modern forest-management practices as one of the main means to preserve biodiversity in northern European production forests. I examined the distribution patterns and persistence of occurrence of rare epiphytic macrolichens in a predominantly unprotected forest landscape with an area of 278 km² in southern Finland. Occurrence data of macrolichens in two key habitats, rock outcrops and mires, were compared with data from production forests. The density of populations of rare macrolichens was 50-fold higher on rock outcrops and 25-fold higher on mires than in production forests. Most rare species of epiphytic macrolichens were found only in key habitats. In modern, intensively managed forest landscapes, rock outcrops appeared to represent the main habitats for rare macrolichens as a result of the long-term continuity of old trees. Most macrolichen occurrences represented very small populations with a high extinction risk. Of the populations found in 1989–1995 in key habitats, 51% had disappeared, by 2000–2001, mainly as a result of forestry activities. The disappearance of populations significantly exceeded the rate of establishment of new populations. My results emphasize the importance of key habitats for declining forest species. There is also a need to improve and sharpen the guidelines for delimiting and managing key habitats in order to halt the continued decline of epiphytic macrolichens.     

Complementary Roles of Home Gardens and Exotic Tree Plantations as Alternative Habitats for Plants of the Ethiopian Montane Rainforest

Abstract:  Many tropical forests have been converted for agri- or silviculture or a combination of both (agroforestry). Conservation at a landscape scale requires an understanding of the distribution and abundance of native biodiversity in these converted natural ecosystems, of which the knowledge is especially poor for African agroecosystems. We compared species density and species composition of four plant groups (trees and shrubs, epiphytic vascular plants, mosses, and liverworts) among three arboreal land-use types in southwestern Ethiopia (montane rainforest fragments, shade-tree coffee home gardens, and exotic tree plantations). Species density was significantly higher in forests than in coffee home gardens for all plant groups and in exotic tree plantations for all groups except mosses. Home gardens had more vascular epiphytic species than plantations, whereas the reverse was true for mosses and liverworts. The species composition of the forest plots was sometimes more similar to home-garden plots than plantation plots and sometimes vice versa. Fifteen forest plots had, however, cumulatively more species than a random selection of 15 nonforest (coffee home garden and plantation) plots, even if the 2 plot types complemented each other in terms of habitats for forest plants. Tree plantations dominated by Eucalyptus had many small trees and shrubs in common with forests, whereas plantations with Cupressus were important substrates for forests mosses and liverworts. Our results illustrate the importance of undisturbed forests habitats for conservation of species at a landscape scale and that different human-made land-use types may complement each other in their capacity as additional habitats for forest species.     

Canopy Seed Banks as Time Capsules of Biodiversity in Pasture-Remnant Tree Crowns

Abstract: Tropical pastures present multiple barriers to tree regeneration and restoration. Relict trees serve as “regeneration foci” because they ameliorate the soil microclimate and serve as safe spots for dispersers. Here, we describe another mechanism by which remnant trees may facilitate pasture regeneration: the presence of seed banks in the canopy soil that accumulates from decomposing epiphytes within the crowns of mature remnant trees in tropical cloud forest pastures. We compared seed banks of canopy soils (histosols derived from fallen leaves, fruits, flower, and twigs of host trees and epiphytes, dead bryophytes, bark, detritus, dead animals, and microorganisms, and dust that accumulate on trunks and the upper surfaces of large branches) in pastures, canopy soils in primary forest trees, and soil on the forest floor in Monteverde, Costa Rica. There were 5211 epiphytic and terrestrial plant seeds in the three habitats. All habitats were dominated by seeds in a relatively small number of plant families, most of which were primarily woody, animal pollinated, and animal dispersed. The density of seeds on the forest floor was greater than seed density in either pasture‐canopy or forest‐canopy soils; the latter two did not differ. Eight species in 44 families and 61 genera from all of the habitats were tallied. There were 37 species in the pasture‐canopy soil, 33 in the forest‐canopy soil, and 57 on the forest floor. Eleven species were common to all habitats. The mean species richness in the pasture canopy was significantly higher than the forest canopy (F =83.38; p < 0.02). Nonmetric multidimensional scaling ordination revealed that the communities were distinct. Greenhouse experiments verified that many of these seeds were viable, with 29 taxa germinating (23 taxa in pruned mats [mimic of exposed conditions] and 16 taxa in control mats [intact conditions]) within 2 months of observation. Nearly half the species that germinated were characteristic of primary forests (primary forest samples, 19%; pasture samples, 29%). This supports the idea that canopy seed banks of pasture trees can function as time capsules by providing propagules that are removed in both space and time from the primary forest. Their presence may enhance the ability of pastures to regenerate more quickly, reinforcing the importance of trees in agricultural settings.     

Mutualism as reciprocal exploitation: African plant-ants defend foliar but not reproductive structures

The foundation of many plant-ant mutualisms is ant protection of plants from herbivores in exchange for food and/or shelter. While the role of symbiotic ants in protecting plants from stem- and leaf-feeding herbivores has been intensively studied, the relationship between ant defense and measures of plant fitness has seldom been quantified. We studied ant aggression, damage by herbivores and seed predators, and fruit production among Acacia drepanolobium trees occupied by four different acacia-ant species in an East African savanna. Levels of ant aggression in response to experimental disturbance differed strongly among the four species. All four ant species recruited more strongly to new leaf growth on host plants following disturbance, while recruitment to developing fruits was on average an order of magnitude lower. Host plants occupied by more aggressive ant species suffered significantly less vegetative damage from leaf-feeding insects, stem-boring beetles, and vertebrate browsers than host plants occupied by less aggressive ant species. However, there were no differences among fruiting host plants occupied by different ant species in levels of seed predation by bruchid seed predators. Fruit production on host trees was significantly correlated with tree stem diameter but not with the identity of resident ants. Our results demonstrate that defense of host plants may differ substantially among ant species and between vegetative and reproductive structures and that fruit production is not necessarily correlated with high levels of aggression by resident ants.     

Background levels of heavy metals in plants of different taxonomic groups from a montane rain forest in Sri Lanka

An undisturbed natural reserve area iocated in a tropical montane rain forest at about 1800 m altitude in Sri Lanka served as a study site to investigate and assess the natural background concentration levels of As, Cd, Co, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn in plants representing different taxonomic groups (divisions) in the plant kingdom. The plants selected were: the lichen,Usnea barbata (old man's beard);Pogonatum sp. (a moss);Lycopodium selago (epiphytic lycopod);Polypodium lanceolatum (epiphytic fern);Bulbophyllum elliae (epiphytic orchid) andActinodaphne ambigua (dicotyledonous large tree). Degree of homogeneity with respect to Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn in homogenised materials of all samples were within acceptable limits, whereasPogonatum sp. showed the highest degree of homogeneity for Pb. In addition to confirming extremely low levels of heavy metals in all plant species, the survey also found that generally the primitive plants,Usnea andPogonatum appear to have a greater tendency to accumulate As, Cd, Co and Pb; in particular,U. barbata appears to be an efficient accumulator for those heavy metals, suggesting its potential use in environmental studies.Actinodaphne ambigua was found to have a specific accumulating ability for nickel. Surface cleaning of theA. ambigua leaves resulted in a substantial decrease in the foliar contents of Cd, Ni, Pb and Zn. Variations in heavy metal contents observed in different plant genera are discussed in terms of their habits and place of growth in the forest. It is anticipated that the background levels presented in this paper from a remote, unpolluted tropical ecosystem will provide useful reference data for comparative environmental studies.     

Host plant quality and local adaptation determine the distribution of a gall-forming herbivore

Herein we report results of transplant experiments that link variation in host plant quality to herbivore fitness at the local scale (among adjacent plants) with the process of local (demic) adaptation at the landscape scale to explain the observed distribution of the specialist gall former Belonocnema treatae (Hymenoptera: Cynipidae) within populations of its host plant, Quercus fusiformis. Field surveys show that leaf gall densities vary by orders of magnitude among adjacent trees and that high-gall-density trees are both rare (< 5%) and patchily distributed. B. treatae from each of five high-gall-density trees were reared on (1) the four nearest low-gall-density trees, (2) the four alternative high-gall-density trees, and (3) their natal trees (control). Each treatment (source X rearing site) was replicated three times. Nine components of performance that sequentially contribute to fitness were evaluated with over 21000 galls censused across the 25 experimental trees. When reared on their natal trees and compared with low-gall-density neighbors, transplanted gall formers had higher gall initiation success (P < 0.05), produced more (P < 0.001) and larger galls (P < 0.001), and produced a higher proportion of galls that exceeded the threshold size for natural enemy avoidance (P < 0.05). Comparison of gall-former performance on natal vs. alternative high-gall-density trees demonstrated significant (P < 0.001) differences in six performance measures with five differing in the direction predicted by the hypothesis of local adaptation. Overall, these linked experiments document direct and indirect effects of host plant variation on gall-former performance and demonstrate convincingly that (1) high-gall-density trees equate to high-quality trees that are surrounded by trees of relatively lower quality to the herbivore and (2) gall-former populations have become locally adapted to individual trees.     

Hotspots of Epiphytic Lichen Diversity in Two Young Managed Forests

Understanding within-stand variation in diversity of epiphytes will provide an improved basis for producing timber while conserving biological diversity. Two 80-ha, 50–year–old managed stands of conifers were surveyed to locate 0.4 ha putative "diversity" plots, the areas appearing most diverse in lichen epiphytes. These plots were generally located in areas made heterogeneous by canopy gaps, wolf trees (trees with large-diameter lower branches), and old-growth remnant trees. "Matrix" plots, in contrast, were chosen at random from the remaining, more homogenous forest. Diversity plots hosted from 25% to 40% more epiphytic lichen species than matrix plots in both stands. The strongest within-stand gradients in species composition were correlated with percentage of plot occupied by gaps and wolf trees. Percentage of the plot in gaps was correlated with species richness (r = 0.79). In the more structurally diverse stand, diversity and abundance of nitrogen-fixing "cyanolichens" were correlated with percentage of the plot occupied by gaps (0.5 < r < 0.9), and alectorioid lichens were correlated with percentage of the plot occupied by old-growth remnant trees (0.5 < r < 0.6). In the stand with more homogenous structure, percentage of the plot under gaps was correlated with regionally common species that were otherwise absent or sparse in the matrix. Protecting gaps, hardwoods, wolf trees, and old-growth remnant trees during thinning or other partial cutting is likely to promote the majority of epiphytic macrolichens in young conifer forests. Because these features are easily recognized on aerial photos and on the ground by land managers, it is practical to manage for forest structures that would promote lichen diversity.     

The patchiness of epifoliar fungi in tropical forests: host range, host abundance, and environment

Fungal symbioses affect the diversity, dynamics, and spatial patterns of trees in tropical forests. Their ecological importance is partly driven by their inherent patchiness. We used epifoliar fungi, a guild of common, benign, obligate, fungal symbionts of plants, as a model system to evaluate the relative importance of host phylogeny, host relative abundance, and microclimate on the three-dimensional distribution of plant-fungus symbioses. In parallel studies in rainforests in Panama and Australia, most epifoliar fungi were able to colonize several plant lineages but showed significant host preferences within the local plant community. More closely related plant species were not more likely to share fungal symbionts. Instead, fungal species were more likely to be shared by more abundant hosts, which supported a greater number and diversity of fungi. Environmental conditions strongly affected spatial distributions, with sites in the dark understory 2.5- to fourfold more likely to have epifoliar fungi than in the exposed forest canopy. In the understory, fungal incidence increased with canopy openness. Canopy trees supported only a subset of the fungal symbionts found in the understory, suggesting that adult trees are not reservoirs of these fungal symbionts for understory juveniles.     

Demographic Effects of Harvesting Epiphytic Bromeliads and an Alternative Approach to Collection

Abstract: Hundreds of epiphytic bromeliads species are harvested from the wild for trade and for cultural uses, but little is known about the effects of this harvest. We assessed the potential demographic effects of harvesting from the wild on 2 epiphytic bromeliads: Tillandsia macdougallii, an atmospheric bromeliad (adsorbs water and nutrients directly from the atmosphere), and T. violaceae, a tank bromeliad (accumulates water and organic material between its leaves). We also examined an alternative to harvesting bromeliads from trees—the collection of fallen bromeliads from the forest floor. We censused populations of T. macdougallii each year from 2005 to 2010 and of T. violaceae from 2005 to 2008, in Oaxaca, Mexico. We also measured monthly fall rates of bromeliads over 1 year and monitored the survival of fallen bromeliads on the forest floor. The tank bromeliad had significantly higher rates of survival, reproduction, and stochastic population growth rates (λ_s) than the atmospheric bromeliad, but λ_s for both species were <1, which suggests that the populations will decline even without harvest. Elasticity patterns differed between species, but in both, survival of large individuals had high elasticity values. No fallen bromeliads survived more than 1.5 years on the forest floor and the rate of bromeliad fall was comparable to current harvest rates. Low rates of population growth recorded for the species we studied and other epiphytic bromeliads and high elasticity values for the vital rates that were most affected by harvest suggest that commercial harvesting in the wild of these species is not sustainable. We propose the collection of fallen bromeliads as an ecologically and, potentially, economically viable alternative.