天津独流减河河口不同植物群落的生态化学计量学特征

以独流减河河口及其潮上带区域的互花米草(Spartina alterniflora Loisel.)、芦苇[Phragmites australis (Cav.)Trin. ex Steud.]和盐地碱蓬[Suaeda salsa (Linn.) Pall.]群落为研究对象,探究该区域不同植物群落碳(C)、氮(N)、磷(P)、硫(S)化学计量学特征及其驱动因素.结果显示,互花米草和芦苇地上部分C含量显著高于盐地碱蓬,而根系中的C含量则反之,显示了植物不同的C分配策略. N、P主要分布在植物地上部分光合器官,N含量与全国湿地植物和全球植物的含量水平相当,但P含量显著高于全国湿地植物和全球植物的含量. S在芦苇和盐地碱蓬体内主要分布在地上部分,而互花米草的S则主要分布在根系中,这有利于互花米草拓展地下空间,从而加速其入侵.互花米草的C/P和芦苇的C/N均显著高于其他植物,说明前者具有较高的P利用效率,而后者的N利用效率较高.河口潮上带芦苇和盐地碱蓬叶片N/P分别为7.32和8.90,而潮间带互花米草叶片N/P为14.45,根据生长速率假说,认为生长速率并不是互花米草与芦苇和盐地碱蓬竞争的有效手段,而高的P利用效率为互花米草种群的扩张创造了条件.相关性分析表明,在独流减河河口地区土壤P和盐度是植物体内元素平衡和生态化学计量变化的重要影响因子.综上,天津独流减河河口湿地正经历着由N限制向P限制的转变,P元素在该区域植物生长和演替方面起着重要作用.(图5表2参36)     

盐城海滨湿地不同盐沼土壤呼吸特征及温度响应

测定了盐城海滨湿地芦苇(Phragmites australis)盐沼、互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)盐沼和碱蓬(Suaeda salsa)盐沼土壤呼吸速率,结合盐沼土壤室内培养实验,比较3种盐沼土壤呼吸特征及温度响应。结果表明:(1)实验期内3种盐沼土壤呼吸均为CO_2排放状态,芦苇盐沼、互花米草盐沼和碱蓬盐沼土壤呼吸速率平均值分别为323.67、499.51和150.41 mg·m~(-2)·a~(-1)。3种盐沼土壤呼吸均呈现明显的季节性差异,由高到低依次为夏季、春季和秋季。(2)野外实验中,3种盐沼土壤呼吸出现峰值时的土壤温度由高到低依次为芦苇盐沼(28℃)、互花米草盐沼(22℃)和碱蓬盐沼(20℃)。室内培养条件下,土壤呼吸速率与土壤温度呈显著正相关(P0.05),对温度变化的敏感性由大到小依次为芦苇盐沼(2.19)、碱蓬盐沼(2.15)和互花米草盐沼(1.58)。(3)实验期内3种盐沼土壤呼吸累积排放量由大到小依次为互花米草盐沼(3 400 g·m-2·a-1)、芦苇盐沼(2 330 g·m~(-2)·a~(-1))和碱蓬盐沼(1 082 g·m~(-2)·a~(-1)),不同季节累积排放量由大到小依次均为夏季、春季和秋季。     

高程对盐沼湿地互花米草生长与扩散的影响

外来物种互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)入侵中国后,对潮间带滨海湿地的生态环境危害巨大,对河口湿地生态、景观、经济等方面均有不同程度影响,研究其入侵机制对有效防治互花米草是不可或缺的。黄河三角洲是中国北方受互花米草侵害最严重的地区之一。该研究在黄河三角洲潮间带开展互花米草移栽试验,2019年6月,在由海向陆方向上,把互花米草实生苗(种子萌发苗)与克隆苗(根茎萌发苗)移栽至高程范围为65.5—114.7 cm的不同地点,定期调查移栽点互花米草生长状况,同时进行潮汐与土壤性质监测,揭示潮间带不同高程对互花米草幼苗生长与扩散的影响,确定互花米草存活的高程阈值。结果表明:(1)随着高程升高,黄河三角洲潮间带的潮汐淹水时长和淹水深度有显著差异;(2)在黄河三角洲,影响互花米草生长与繁殖的主要环境因素为高程和潮汐共同作用的平均淹水时间、平均淹水深度和土壤盐度;(3)总体而言,互花米草实生苗与克隆苗的生长状况随高程升高而变差,实生苗可在盐地碱蓬分布区存活,克隆苗可在高程更高的芦苇和柽柳分布区存活;(4)在由海向陆方向上,短期内互花米草可快速扩散至盐地碱蓬分布区,经过长期适应后,互花米草可能扩散至芦苇分布区甚至柽柳分布区。因此,中国北方互花米草防控刻不容缓,首先应有效控制互花米草种子的有性繁殖,限制或阻止其通过种子进行远距离扩散,其次,应加快互花米草控制步伐,否则,经过长期适应之后,互花米草很可能继续向陆地方向扩张,与本土植被芦苇和柽柳产生直接竞争,扩大其对潮间带生态系统的威胁。     

原生滩涂植被演替带土壤Cd形态分布及其生态风险评价

为了解原生滨海滩涂不同植被演替带土壤镉(Cd)的含量特征、赋存形态及生态风险,以盐城地区原生滨海滩涂为研究对象,利用BCR 3步提取法分析了不同植被演替带土壤Cd的含量及赋存形态,并采用平均沉积物质量基准系数法(SQG-Q)和风险评价准则(RAC)对Cd的潜在生态风险进行了初步评价。结果表明,原生滩涂土壤中总Cd(CdT)含量在2.21~3.61 mg·kg~(-1)之间,远高于江苏沿海土壤Cd背景值和国家土壤环境质量三级标准;不同植被演替带间,CdT含量表现为互花米草滩碱蓬滩芦苇滩光滩;SQG-Q系数显示该地区土壤CdT处于中等风险,互花米草滩风险相对较高;总体上原生滩涂土壤中可还原态Cd比例较低(12.8%),而酸溶态、可氧化态、残渣态三者差异不大(分别为28.2%、29.8%,29.2%);互花米草滩和芦苇滩酸溶态Cd比例(30.5%、37.0%)显著高于碱蓬滩和光滩(28.2%、20.6%),而残渣态Cd(21.5%、20.9%)则显著低于碱蓬滩和光滩(41.5%、45.6%);RAC评价结果显示,滩涂土壤Cd总体上呈现中等风险,而互花米草滩和芦苇滩达到高风险。以上结果显示,原生滨海滩涂土壤Cd已存在一定的生态风险,其中互花米草滩风险相对较高,随着互花米草的扩张及围垦面积的扩大,其重金属风险值得关注。     

黄河口湿地典型盐碱植被群落土壤氮素的季节动态及根际效应

于5、8和10月对黄河口湿地典型断面盐碱植被群落进行3个航次的野外生态调查,研究了不同植被覆盖的湿地土壤氮素的时空分布特征及典型盐碱植物碱蓬和芦苇群落土壤氮素的根际效应,并基于线性模型的冗余分析(RDA)探讨土壤理化参数对氮素分布特征的影响.结果表明,黄河口湿地5月和10月土壤氮素含量高于8月,土壤氮素以有机氮为主,无机氮以铵态氮为主;总体上,表层土壤氮素含量芦苇碱蓬光滩,光滩土壤氮素含量低于碱蓬和芦苇群落土壤的30%—50%;光滩、碱蓬和芦苇群落剖面土壤总氮、有机氮和铵态氮在0—10 cm表层含量最高,随土壤深度其含量下降,硝态氮在土壤中呈现显著淋溶作用,其峰值出现在地下土壤层30 cm左右;碱蓬和芦苇群落根际土壤氮素含量均高于非根际土壤,且碱蓬根际土壤氮素含量显著高于芦苇根际土壤(P0.05).RDA分析结果表明,影响土壤氮素分布特征的主要理化参数是土壤有机碳含量和pH.植被种类影响黄河口湿地土壤氮素的累积,一般情况下土壤氮素的累积量呈现芦苇碱蓬光滩的特征,并具有明显的季节差异,相对芦苇群落,碱蓬在生长季节8月份根际土壤中积累更多的氮素.     

苏北海滨湿地互花米草无性分株扩张能力

在新洋港滩涂由海向陆建立样地:光滩(mudflat)、零星互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)斑块(SAP)、稳定互花米草滩下边缘(SAFI)、2003年互花米草定居处(SAF03)1、989年互花米草定居处(SAF89)、碱蓬(Suaeda salsa)滩(SS)及禾草滩(GF),各样地原位栽培9株生长无差异的互花米草分蘖幼苗(1 m×1 m样方,3次重复),分析互花米草生长指标和繁殖成功率,研究互花米草在苏北海滨湿地的扩张能力。结果表明:(1)mudflat处互花米草分蘖幼苗存活率为7.8%,极显著低于其他样地,SAP、SAFI、SAF03、SAF89、SS和GF样地互花米草存活率分别为88.9%7、7.8%、60.0%、81.1%、0和66.6%;(2)mudflat处根状茎数量显著高于其他样地,但互花米草种子千粒重显著低于其他样地,127 d时mudflat、SAP、SAFI、SAF03、SAF89及GF处互花米草数量比原先存活的互花米草数量分别增加了24.81、9.73、0.26、.7、5.8和3.0倍;(3)SAP、SAFI及SAF89间总生物量无显著差异(P>0.05),且显著...     

互花米草入侵盐沼湿地CH4和N2O排放日变化特征研究

甲烷（CH4）和氧化亚氮（N2O）是导致全球气候变暖的2种重要温室气体,探索其源汇及地域排放特征一直是全球变化研究领域的核心内容。CH4和N2O通量的日变化研究是正确估算大时间尺度下CH4和N2O排放量的基础。利用静态箱法原位观测了江苏沿海芦苇（Phragmites australis）、盐蒿（Suada salsa）、光滩、水面以及互花米草（Spartina alterniflora）入侵湿地CH4和N2O排放的日变化特征。结果表明,1）互花米草湿地地上部生物量为1.70 kg·m^-2,土壤有机碳质量分数为13.55 g·kg^-1;分别是芦苇和盐蒿湿地的2.50-3.43和2.15-4.15倍。2）互花米草和芦苇湿地土壤10 cm处氧化还原电位（Eh）有明显日变化,最低值出现在3：00,最高值出现在12：00;光滩和盐蒿湿地没有明显的日变化。3）互花米草湿地 CH4日平均排放通量为0.52 mg·m^-2·h^-1,是其他湿地的2.12-6.40倍;N2O日平均通量为-3.24μg·m^-2·h^-1,显著低于盐蒿湿地、光滩和水面（P＜0.05）。互花米草和芦苇湿地CH4排放通量最高值（0.73 mg·m^-2·h^-1和0.30 mg·m^-2·h^-1）出现在15：00,最低值（0.37 mg·m^-2·h^-1和0.17 mg·m^-2·h^-1）出现在3：00,均与土壤孔隙水中CH4浓度呈显著负相关（P＜0.05）。互花米草湿地CH4排放通量与10 cm土温、Eh和生态系统CO2净交换量（NEE）显著正相关（P＜0.05）。互花米草和芦苇湿地N2O通量9：00-18：00为负值,21：00—6：00为正值,均与NEE呈显著负相关（P＜0.05）。盐蒿湿地、光滩和水面CH4和N2O排放通量没有明显日变化特征。互花米草入侵提高了沿海湿地CH4排放,但降低了N2O排放,植物对CH4传输作用以及向根际传输O2和易分解有机物是导致互花米草和芦苇湿地CH4和N2O排放表现出日变化特征的原因。     

互花米草入侵盐沼湿地CH_4和N_2O排放日变化特征研究

甲烷(CH4)和氧化亚氮(N2O)是导致全球气候变暖的2种重要温室气体,探索其源汇及地域排放特征一直是全球变化研究领域的核心内容。CH4和N2O通量的日变化研究是正确估算大时间尺度下CH4和N2O排放量的基础。利用静态箱法原位观测了江苏沿海芦苇(Phragmites australis)、盐蒿(Suada salsa)、光滩、水面以及互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)入侵湿地CH4和N2O排放的日变化特征。结果表明,1)互花米草湿地地上部生物量为1.70 kg·m-2,土壤有机碳质量分数为13.55 g·kg-1;分别是芦苇和盐蒿湿地的2.50~3.43和2.15~4.15倍。2)互花米草和芦苇湿地土壤10 cm处氧化还原电位(Eh)有明显日变化,最低值出现在3:00,最高值出现在12:00;光滩和盐蒿湿地没有明显的日变化。3)互花米草湿地CH4日平均排放通量为0.52 mg·m-2·h-1,是其他湿地的2.12~6.40倍;N2O日平均通量为-3.24μg·m-2·h-1,显著低于盐蒿湿地、光滩和水面(P0.05)。互花米草和芦苇湿地CH4排放通量最高值(0.73 mg·m-2·h-1和0.30 mg·m-2·h-1)出现在15:00,最低值(0.37mg·m-2·h-1和0.17 mg·m-2·h-1)出现在3:00,均与土壤孔隙水中CH4浓度呈显著负相关(P0.05)。互花米草湿地CH4排放通量与10 cm土温、Eh和生态系统CO2净交换量(NEE)显著正相关(P0.05)。互花米草和芦苇湿地N2O通量9:00-18:00为负值,21:00—6:00为正值,均与NEE呈显著负相关(P0.05)。盐蒿湿地、光滩和水面CH4和N2O排放通量没有明显日变化特征。互花米草入侵提高了沿海湿地CH4排放,但降低了N2O排放,植物对CH4传输作用以及向根际传输O2和易分解有机物是导致互花米草和芦苇湿地CH4和N2O排放表现出日变化特征的原因。     

淋洗脱盐对滨海滩涂不同植被演替带土壤重金属的影响

为研究围垦对滨海滩涂土壤重金属的影响,采用土柱实验模拟淋洗脱盐过程,分析了滨海滩涂不同植被演替带(光滩、互花米草滩、碱蓬滩、芦苇滩)土壤在淋洗脱盐前后重金属(As、Hg、Cd、Cr、Pb、Cu、Zn)含量的变化,评估了围垦可能导致的滩涂重金属流失量。研究表明,淋洗脱盐后,各植被演替带土壤重金属均显著降低,相比而言,Hg、Cr更易淋洗(淋洗率分别为57.2%、49.9%),而Zn不易淋洗(淋洗率18.5%);不同植被演替带土壤重金属淋洗率表现为:光滩互花米草滩碱蓬滩芦苇滩,光滩土壤重金属更易淋洗,而芦苇滩重金属不易淋洗;根据土壤容重、含水率、淋洗率及重金属含量计算重金属流失量发现,不同植被演替带重金属流失量同样表现为:光滩互花米草滩碱蓬滩芦苇滩;除互花米草滩As流失量较高外(19.26 kg·ha-1),其他重金属流失量均表现为光滩最高,光滩围垦可能会造成更多的重金属流失;在仅考虑淋洗脱盐情况下,以江苏省2010~2020年围垦规划270万亩计,仅表层20 cm滩涂土壤,通过围垦即可能导致As、Hg、Cd、Cr、Pb、Cu、Zn流失2 102.5、7.4、421.3、8 587.9、4 376.3、2 404.3 t,由围垦导致的滩涂重金属流失风险值得关注。     

互花米草对中国海滨湿地土壤有机碳库的影响

1979年互花米草(Spartina alterniflora)被引入中国用于促淤造陆,经过30余年的引种扩张,已经在中国海滨湿地潮间带形成了优势植被,并对中国海滨湿地土壤有机碳库产生影响,相关研究包括对土壤有机碳库规模、土壤有机碳库的输入过程、输出过程、土壤有机碳组分以及土壤碳库动态的影响等方面。文章从以上几方面概述了互花米草对中国海滨湿地土壤有机碳库的影响,并对以后的研究方向提出了建议,主要结论包括:不同区域互花米草对土壤有机碳库的影响有差异。互花米草在江苏沿海的光滩及碱蓬(Suaeda salsa)生态系统的扩张增加了土壤有机碳库存量,但是远低于其原产地美国的互花米草盐沼土壤有机碳含量;在福建红树林(mangrove)生态系统、芦苇(Phragmites australias)生态系统的入侵则减少了土壤有机碳库存量。互花米草定居扩张总体上促进了盐沼CO_2、CH_4、DMS和CS_2气体排放和卤代烷烃吸收。互花米草入侵对土壤有机碳库的效应受到生物与非生物因素的影响,包括入侵生态系统结构、环境物理因子变化、竞争物种的生物学特性、互花米草入侵年限等。未来需要在以下几个方面加强研究:扩大研究尺度进行跨区域定位比较研究;土壤有机碳库积累动态积累机制研究;土壤有机碳库与植物碳库输入输出耦合关系研究;对土壤碳库能力的变化进行定量综合评估;对全球变化的响应研究。     

Increased plant size in exotic populations: a common-garden test with 14 invasive species

The "evolution of increased competitive ability" (EICA) hypothesis predicts that exotic species will adapt to reduced herbivore pressure by losing costly defenses in favor of competitive ability. Previous studies often support the prediction that plants from exotic populations will be less well defended than plants from native populations. However, results are mixed with respect to the question of whether plants from exotic populations have become more competitive. In a common-garden experiment involving plants from two native and two exotic populations of 14 different invasive species, we tested whether exotic plants generally grow larger than conspecific native plants, and whether patterns of relative growth depend on the intensity of competition. We found a quite consistent pattern of larger exotic than native plants, but only in the absence of competition. These results suggest that invasive species may often evolve increased growth, and that increased growth may facilitate adaptation to noncompetitive environments.     

滨海不同生境下盐地碱蓬生物量分配特征研究

盐地碱蓬是黄河三角洲重要的先锋植物,抗盐能力强,分布范围广,对维持该地区生态系统稳定和演替发挥着重要作用。通过野外取样测定,研究了潮间带和潮上带盐地碱蓬种群的形态及生物量分配特征。在个体大小上,潮间带盐地碱蓬在株高和地径上显著低于潮上带盐地碱蓬;潮上带盐地碱蓬密集分布的株高高于散生分布,而生物量低于散生分布。在生物量分配特征上,潮间带盐地碱蓬Ⅰ以发展花、叶为主,潮上带盐地碱蓬Ⅱ的密集分布以优先发展茎为主,潮上带盐地碱蓬Ⅲ的散生分布以发展枝为主,属于种群发展的稳定阶段。因此,盐地碱蓬通过形态特征及生物量分配特征的调节,以适应潮间带和潮上带的不同生境特征,从而达到种群维持和土壤改良的目的。     

Interactions between mangroves and exotic Spartina in an anthropogenically disturbed estuary in southern China

Cordgrass (Spartina alterniflora) was introduced to China in 1979 from the United States for reducing coastal erosion. It grows vigorously in China and has spread over much of the Chinese coast, from Leizhou Peninsula to Liaoning, a range of more than 19 degrees of latitude. On the southern coast of China, S. alterniflora has invaded mangrove-dominated habitats during the last two decades, but little is known about interactions between native mangroves and invasive S. alterniflora. We studied the distribution and competitive interactions between native mangroves and S. alterniflora in the Zhangjiang Estuary at four tidal sites along a salinity gradient: oligohaline upstream, mesohaline, polyhaline, and euhaline downstream. S. alterniflora occurred at all four sites, and several mangrove species occurred at all but the downstream euhaline site. S. alterniflora has invaded the estuary widely and has spread to the lower tidal margins of mangroves. It has not invaded mangrove areas with a closed canopy but has established in the mangrove zone where the canopy was opened by human disturbance. Ramets of S. alterniflora transplanted into the understory of mangrove stands with closed canopies died within 10 weeks, but 37.5% survived and grew well on open mud flats. S. alterniflora had virtually no competitive effect on mangrove seedlings planted at the upstream oligohaline site. However, S. alterniflora competitively reduced biomass of mangrove seedlings to 33% over a period of 14 weeks at the mesohaline and polyhaline sites where human disturbance has opened the mangrove canopy. In contrast, S. alterniflora marginally facilitated growth and survival of experimental seedlings at the downstream euhaline site. In China, mangroves occur along the coastline south of Whenzhou, but they have been severely disturbed and removed widely, mainly by mariculture activities. Natural vegetation patterns and our experimental results suggest that, without intervention, S. alterniflora could gradually replace these mangroves in mid-salinity regions of Chinese estuaries.     

滨海不同生境下盐地碱蓬生物量分配特征研究

盐地碱蓬是黄河三角洲重要的先锋植物,抗盐能力强,分布范围广,对维持该地区生态系统稳定和演替发挥着重要作用。通过野外取样测定,研究了潮间带和潮上带盐地碱蓬种群的形态及生物量分配特征。在个体大小上,潮间带盐地碱蓬在株高和地径上显著低于潮上带盐地碱蓬;潮上带盐地碱蓬密集分布的株高高于散生分布,而生物量低于散生分布。在生物量分配特征上,潮间带盐地碱蓬Ⅰ以发展花、叶为主,潮上带盐地碱蓬Ⅱ的密集分布以优先发展茎为主,潮上带盐地碱蓬Ⅲ的散生分布以发展枝为主,属于种群发展的稳定阶段。因此,盐地碱蓬通过形态特征及生物量分配特征的调节,以适应潮间带和潮上带的不同生境特征,从而达到种群维持和土壤改良的目的。     

Escape from competition: neighbors reduce Centaurea stoebe performance at home but not away

The greater abundance of some exotic plants in their nonnative ranges might be explained in part by biogeographic differences in the strength of competition, but these competitive effects have not been experimentally examined in the field. We compared the effects of neighbors on the growth and reproduction of spotted knapweed (Centaurea stoebe) in Europe, where it is native, and in Montana, where it is invasive. There were strong negative competitive effects of neighboring vegetation on C. stoebe growth and reproduction in Europe. In contrast, identical experiments in Montana resulted in insignificant impacts on C. stoebe. Although the mechanisms that produce this dramatic biogeographic difference in competitive outcome remain unknown, our results indicate that differences in net competitive interactions between ranges may contribute to the striking dominance of C. stoebe in parts of North America.     

黄河三角洲不同植被类型土壤酶活性的季节变化

黄河三角洲自然保护区的酶活性季节特征一定程度影响了该地植被分布类型,为研究黄河三角洲自然保护区不同植被土壤酶活性的季节特征,分别选取碱蓬(Suaeda salsa)、柽柳(Tamarix chinensis)、芦苇(Phragmites communis)、刺槐(Black Locust)和高粱(Sorghum)5种典...     

Human Influence and Classical Biogeographic Predictors of Rare Species Occurrence

Biogeographic theory predicts that rare species occur more often in larger, less‐isolated habitat patches and suggests that patch size and connectivity are positive predictors of patch quality for conservation. However, in areas substantially modified by humans, rare species may be relegated to the most isolated patches. We used data from plant surveys of 81 meadow patches in the Georgia Basin of Canada and the United States to show that presence of threatened and endangered plants was positively predicted for patches that were isolated on small islands surrounded by ocean and for patches that were isolated by surrounding forest. Neither patch size nor connectivity were positive predictors of rare species occurrence. Thus, in our study area, human influence, presumably due to disturbance or introduction of competitive non‐native species, appears to have overwhelmed classical predictors of rare species distribution, such that greater patch isolation appeared to favor presence of rare species. We suggest conservation planners consider the potential advantages of protecting geographically isolated patches in human‐modified landscapes because such patches may represent the only habitats in which rare species are likely to persist. Influencia Humana y Predictores Biogeográficos Clásicos de la Ocurrencia de Especies Raras     

Indirect Effects of Biological Control on Plant Diversity Vary across Sites in Montana Grasslands

Abstract:  Biological control with specialist, nonindigenous, herbivorous insects is an important option for controlling invasive exotic plants in wildlands and nature reserves. It is assumed that biological control agents will reduce the dominance of the target weed, thereby increasing the native diversity of the associated plant community. However, this hypothesis has rarely been tested. We introduced Aphthona nigriscutis into grassland sites infested with the invasive exotic species Euphorbia esula L. on a nature reserve in Montana (U.S.A.). Two sites with better soil had been treated previously with herbicide, whereas two other sites had not. We measured the density and biomass of Euphorbia vegetative and flowering stems and number of native and exotic shrubs, grass-like plants, and forbs in 48 microplots in Aphthona release and control macroplots at each site. After 5 years, Aphthona release was associated with a 33–39% decline in Euphorbia aboveground biomass compared with controls at all sites. Other effects of the biocontrol depended on the site. Biocontrol slowed the recovery of species diversity at the sites previously treated with herbicide but slowed the loss of diversity at sites without a history of herbicide. Biocontrol introduction was not associated with a disproportionate increase in nontarget exotic species. Release of Aphthona caused a decline in the biomass of flowering stems relative to controls at good-soil, previous-herbicide sites but was associated with a relative increase in flower stem mass at poor-soil, no-herbicide sites. Our results suggest that biocontrol reductions in weed dominance will not always be associated with increased species diversity. More emphasis should be placed on conserving desirable communities and less on simple weed control. Monitoring of community-level effects should accompany biocontrol introductions on nature reserves.