Habitat structure and complexity as determinants of biodiversity in blue mussel beds on sublittoral rocky shores

Habitat-forming, ecosystem engineer species are common in most marine systems. Still, much uncertainty exists about how individual and population-level traits of these species contribute to ecosystem processes and how engineering species jointly affect biodiversity. In this manipulative field experiment, we examined how biodiversity in marginal blue mussel beds is affected by blue mussel (1) body size, density and patch context and (2) presence of fucoid and algal structures. In the study area, bladder-wrack (Fucus vesiculosus), filamentous algae and blue mussels (Mytilus edulis) coexist at shallow depths in a variety of patch configurations and offer complex habitats with a high variability of resources. We hypothesized that complexity in terms of mussel bed structure and algal presence determines species composition and abundance. Results from the experiment were compared with macrofaunal communities found in natural populations of both engineering species. Results show that the physical structure and blue mussel patch context are important determinants for species composition and abundance. Results further show that the presence of algal structures positively affects diversity in blue mussel habitats due to increased surface availability and complexity that these algae offer. This study shows that blue mussel beds at the very margin of their distribution have an indisputable function for promoting and maintaining biodiversity and suggest that facilitative effects of habitat-modifying species are important on Baltic Sea rocky shores with fundamental importance to community structure.     

Density-dependent biodiversity effects on physical habitat modification by freshwater bivalves

Several decades of research have shown that biodiversity affects ecosystem processes associated with resource capture and the production of biomass within trophic levels. Although there are good reasons to expect that biodiversity influences non-trophic ecosystem processes, such as the physical creation or modification of habitat, studies investigating the role of biodiversity on physical processes are scarce. Here we report the results of a study using artificial streams to test the influence of freshwater mussel biodiversity on gravel erosion during high flows while manipulating mussel abundance. Mussel species vary in traits that should influence their effects on erosion, such as size, shell morphology, and burrowing behavior. We found that mussel species richness was associated with an increase in erosion at both low and high densities. Planned contrasts showed that the erosion observed in species mixtures was purely additive at low density, indicating that erosion in a species polyculture could routinely be predicted by the performance of monocultures. However, at high density certain combinations of species showed nonadditive effects on erosion, suggesting that organism abundance can fundamentally alter biodiversity effects. Although this may have been a result of altered species interactions at high density, our study design cannot confirm this.     

Is habitat amount important for biodiversity in rocky shore systems? A study of South African mussel assemblages

Habitat-forming species on rocky shores are often subject to high levels of exploitation, but the effects of subsequent habitat loss and fragmentation on associated species and the ecosystem as a whole are poorly understood. In this study, the effects of habitat amount on the fauna associated with mussel beds were investigated, testing for the existence of threshold effects at small landscape scales. Specifically, the relationships between mussel or algal habitat amount and: associated biodiversity, associated macrofaunal abundance and density of mussel recruits were studied at three sites (Kidd’s Beach, Kayser’s Beach and Kini Bay) on the southern and south-eastern coasts of South Africa. Samples, including mussel-associated macrofauna, of 10 × 10 cm were taken from areas with 100 % mussel cover (Perna perna or a combination of P. perna and Mytilus galloprovincialis) at each site. The amount of habitat provided by mussels and algae surrounding the sampled areas was thereafter determined at the 4.0 m² scale. A number of significant positive relationships were found between the amount of surrounding mussel habitat and the abundances of several taxa (Anthozoa, Malacostraca and Nemertea). Likewise, there were positive relationships between the amount of surrounding algal habitat and total animal abundance as well as abundance of mussel recruits at one site, Kini Bay. In contrast, abundance of mussel recruits showed a significant negative relationship with the amount of mussel habitat at Kayser’s Beach. Significant negative relationships were also detected between the amount of mussel habitat and species richness and total abundance at Kidd’s Beach, and between amount of mussel habitat and the abundance of many taxa (Bivalvia, Gastropoda, Maxillopoda, Ophiuroidea, Polychaeta and Pycnogonida) at all three sites. No threshold effects were found, nor were significant relationships consistent across the investigated sites. The results indicate that the surrounding landscape is important in shaping the structure of communities associated with these mussel beds, with significant effects of the amount of surrounding habitat per se. The strength and the direction of habitat effects vary, however, between shores and probably with the scale of observation as well as with the studied dependent variables (e.g. diversity, abundance, mussel recruitment, species identity), indicating the complexity of the processes structuring macrofaunal communities on these shores.     

Comparing ecosystem engineering efficiency of two plant species with contrasting growth strategies

Many ecosystems are greatly affected by ecosystem engineering, such as coastal salt marshes, where macrophytes trap sediment by reducing hydrodynamic energy. Nevertheless, little is known about the costs and benefits that are imposed on engineering species by the traits that underlie their ecosystem engineering capacity. We addressed this topic by comparing ecosystem engineering efficiency defined as the benefit-cost ratio per unit of biomass investment for two species from the intertidal habitat: the stiff grass Spartina anglica and the flexible grass Puccinellia maritima. These species were selected for their ability to modify their habitat by trapping large quantities of sediment despite their contrasting growth form. On a biomass basis, dissipation of hydrodynamic energy from waves (a proxy for benefits associated with ecosystem engineering capability as it relates to the sediment trapping capability) was strikingly similar for both salt marsh species, indicating that both species are equally effective in modifying their habitat. The drag forces per unit biomass (a proxy for costs associated with ecosystem engineering ability as it relates to the requirements on tissue construction and shoot anchoring to prevent breaking and/or washing away) were slightly higher in the species with flexible shoots. As a result, stiff Spartina vegetation had slightly higher ecosystem engineering efficiency, due to lower engineering costs rather than to a higher engineering effect. Thus, Spartina is a slightly more efficient rather than a more effective ecosystem engineer. Ecosystem engineering efficiency was found to be a species-specific characteristic, independent of vegetation density and relatively constant in space. Analyzing ecosystem engineering by quantifying trade-offs offers a useful way toward developing a better understanding of different engineering strategies.     

三江源区不同建植年代人工草地群落演替与土壤养分变化

研究了了三源区不同建植期人工修复草地在不同演替阶段毒杂草[主要是甘肃马先蒿(Pedicularis kansuensis)]的入侵规律、数量特征,植物群落物种组成、生物苗和草地质最以及土壤养分、微生物活性的变化规律.结果表明,不同建植期人工修复草地植物群落的种类组成、植物功能群组成和群落数量特征存在显著差异.随着演替时间的推移,人工草地群落盖度、高度、物种数、生物最和多样性指数均表现出"V"字型变化规律,杂类草--甘肃马先蒿的数量特征变化尤为明显,在4 a的人工草地群落中开始局部入侵,在5～6 a的人工草地群落中大面积入侵,其入侵速度、入侵面积达到高峰期.土壤的含水量、容重、土壤中有机质、氮素和磷素在演替过程(7 a、9 a草地)中逐渐降低,到一定时期又逐步增加;随着演替的进行,不同建植期人工草地的土壤微牛物生物量碳和酶活性均呈"V"字型,变化.对于退化生态系统的恢复首先是植被恢复,其次是土壤肥力的恢复.土壤有机质等养分的积累、微生物活性的改善不仅能使土壤-植物复合系统的功能得以恢复,同时也能促进物种多样性的形成,有利于人工草地群落稳定性的提高.在试验区尽管植被恢复演替进行得比较缓慢,但从土壤发展的角度看,仍属进展演替.所以,在退化高寒草甸的恢复过程中,若降低和有效控制外界的干扰(如围栏封育),可为退化草地恢复提供繁殖体与土壤环境,实现人工草地逐步向恢复(正向)演替进行.图3表6参34     

Breaking Bergmann's rule: truncation of Northwest Atlantic marine fish body sizes

A strictly species-centric view of human impacts on ecological communities may conceal important trait changes key to ecosystem functioning and stability. Analyses of body size and community composition data for 326 Northwest Atlantic fish species sampled across > 900000 km2 over three decades revealed a rapid and widespread reduction of body sizes driven by declines within species and changes in relative abundances. The changes were unrelated to species richness but of sufficient magnitude to eliminate biogeographic scale gradients of increasing body size with latitude commonly characterized as Bergmann's rule. These changes have persisted despite reduced potential for intraspecific competition and favorable bottom water temperatures, both of which should lead to increased growth rates. The aggregate body sizes in these Northwest Atlantic fish communities may now represent a mismatch between the environmental variability characteristic of the Northwest Atlantic and the historical body size, life history traits, and productivity of species across this region. We discuss how these changes may jeopardize the potential for recovery of these important temperate/subarctic ecosystems.     

Bioengineers and their associated fauna respond differently to the effects of biogeography and upwelling

Temperature and primary production (often linked to nutrient supply) are two of the few factors influencing species diversity and abundances across mesoscale gradients, while at smaller scales the habitat complexity offered by bioengineers is important. Previous studies have illustrated effects of upwelling and biogeography on intertidal bioengineers, but it is not known if these processes influence assemblages associated with those bioengineers in a similar way. We examined the habitat structure offered by two species of mussels and their associated fauna in five regions across 3000 km and three biogeographic provinces of the South African coast, replicating upwelling and non-upwelling areas within each region. Upwelling and region influenced the structure of mussel beds (the density and size of mussels). In contrast, upwelling did not influence mesoscale differences in composition, abundance, and numbers of species of crustaceans, mollusks, or polychaetes in mussel beds. Regardless of trophic level or mode of reproduction, mussel bed fauna were influenced only by region. Regional differences were strongly influenced by biogeography. The associated fauna was, however, also strongly correlated with the structure of the habitats created by mussels. Our results support the importance of upwelling to a critical ecosystem engineer, but show that these effects do not extend directly to the assemblages of associated fauna, which are more influenced by regional-scale effects and biogeography. We suggest that mesoscale patterns in the associated fauna of this bioengineered habitat are driven by the direct effects of biogeography, combined with the influence of biogeography and upwelling on mussel bed structure.     

根系及其主要影响因子在森林演替过程中的变化

统计分析了国内外主要森林生态系统演替过程中根系生物量及其分布的变化，并探讨了相关的影响因子及其动态。结果发现，根系生物量随林龄和演替的进行而增加，演替群落的根冠比呈减小趋势。一般来说，根系的垂直分布是较浅的，尤其是细根。根系分布范围与地下部生态位的变化能够反映其可以利用的资源范围以及它在演替过程中的作用和地位。在森林演替初期，群落根系分布较浅，可塑性强，且水平根系发达；演替中期的根系呈镶嵌分布，分布范围加深，根系密度增加；演替后期的根系分布趋于稳定，地下生态位分离程度加剧，根系结构具有相对明显的分层。在演替过程中，根系的这种分布特征受自身条件和生态因子的影响，文章论证了这些影响因子本身在演替过程中也是动态变化的，进一步说明了根系分布动态规律存在的必然性。在演替过程中，根系生物量及其分布动态的研究，可以为森林群落动态学提供新的理论基础，是未来地下生态学研究的焦点之一。最后，分析了根系研究中亟待解决的问题和今后的发展重点，提出新的展望。     

Host-plant genotypic diversity mediates the distribution of an ecosystem engineer

Ecosystem engineers affect ecological communities by physically modifying the environment. Understanding the factors determining the distribution of engineers offers a powerful predictive tool for community ecology. In this study, we examine whether the goldenrod bunch gall midge (Rhopalomyia solidaginis) functions as an ecosystem engineer in an old-field ecosystem by altering the composition of arthropod species associated with a dominant host plant, Solidago altissima. We also examine the suite of factors that could affect the distribution and abundance of this ecosystem engineer. The presence of bunch galls increased species richness and altered the structure of associated arthropod communities. The best predictors of gall abundance were host-plant genotype and plot-level genotypic diversity. We found positive, nonadditive effects of genotypic diversity on gall abundance. Our results indicate that incorporating a genetic component in studies of ecosystem engineers can help predict their distribution and abundance, and ultimately their effects on biodiversity.     

A structural equation model to integrate changes in functional strategies during old-field succession

From a functional perspective, changes in abundance, and ultimately species replacement, during succession are a consequence of integrated suites of traits conferring different relative ecological advantages as the environment changes over time. Here we use structural equations to model the interspecific relationships between these integrated functional traits using 34 herbaceous species from a Mediterranean old-field succession and thus quantify the notion of a plant strategy. We measured plant traits related to plant vegetative and reproductive size, leaf functioning, reproductive phenology, seed mass, and production on 15 individuals per species monitored during one growing season. The resulting structural equation model successfully accounts for the pattern of trait covariation during the first 45 years post-abandonment using just two forcing variables: time since site abandonment and seed mass; no association between time since field abandonment and seed mass was observed over these herbaceous stages of secondary succession. All other predicted traits values are determined by these two variables and the cause-effect linkage between them. Adding pre-reproductive vegetative mass as a third forcing variable noticeably increased the predictive power of the model. Increasing the time after abandonment favors species with increasing life span and pre-reproductive biomass and decreasing specific leaf area. Allometric coefficients relating vegetative and reproductive components of plant size were in accordance with allometry theory. The model confirmed the trade-off between seed mass and seed number. Maximum plant height and seed mass were major determinants of reproductive phenology. Our results show that beyond verbal conceptualization, plant ecological strategies can be quantified and modeled.     

Plant genotype and nitrogen loading influence seagrass productivity, biochemistry, and plant-herbivore interactions

Genetic variation within and among key species can have significant ecological consequences at the population, community, and ecosystem levels. In order to understand ecological properties of systems based on habitat-forming clonal plants, it is crucial to clarify which traits vary among plant genotypes and how they influence ecological processes, and to assess their relative contribution to ecosystem functioning in comparison to other factors. Here we used a mesocosm experiment to examine the relative influence of genotypic identity and extreme levels of nitrogen loading on traits that affect ecological processes (at the population, community, and ecosystem levels) for Zostera marina, a widespread marine angiosperm that forms monospecific meadows throughout coastal areas in the Northern Hemisphere. We found effects of both genotype and nitrogen addition on many plant characteristics (e.g., aboveground and belowground biomass), and these were generally strong and similar in magnitude, whereas interactive effects were rare. Genotypes also strongly differed in susceptibility to herbivorous isopods, with isopod preference among genotypes generally matching their performance in terms of growth and survival. Chemical rather than structural differences among genotypes drove these differences in seagrass palatability. Nitrogen addition uniformly decreased plant palatability but did not greatly alter the relative preferences of herbivores among genotypes, indicating that genotype effects are strong. Our results highlight that differences in key traits among genotypes of habitat-forming species can have important consequences for the communities and ecosystems that depend on them and that such effects are not overwhelmed by known environmental stressors.     

Underappreciated species in ecology: "ugly fish" in the northwest Atlantic Ocean.

Species shifts and replacements are common in ecological studies. Observations thereof serve as the impetus for many ecological endeavors. Many of the species now known to dominate ecosystem functioning were largely ignored until studies of those underappreciated species elucidated their critical roles. Recognizing the potential importance of underappreciated species has implications for functional redundancies in ecosystems and should alter our approach to long-term monitoring. One example of an applied ecological system containing species shifts, underappreciated species, and potential changes in functional redundancies is the topic of fisheries. The demersal component of many fish communities usually consists of high-profile and commercially valuable species that are targets of fisheries, plus a diverse group of lesser known species that have minimal commercial value and focus. Yet ecologically these traditionally nontargeted species are often a major biomass sink in marine ecosystems and can also be critical in the functioning of bentho-demersal food webs. I examined the biomass trajectories of several species of skates, cottids, lophiids, anarhichadids, zooarcids, and similar species in the northeast U.S. Atlantic ecosystem to determine whether their relative abundance has changed across the past four decades. Distribution and stomach contents of these species were also evaluated over time to further elucidate the relative importance of these species. Landings of these underappreciated bentho-demersal fish were also examined in comparison to those species that historically have been commercially targeted. Of particular emphasis was the evaluation of evidence for sequential stock depletion and the ramifications for functional redundancy for this ecosystem. Results indicate that some of these fish species are now the dominant piscivores, benthivores, and scavengers in this ecosystem. These formerly under-studied species generally have either maintained a consistent population size or have increased in abundance (and expanded in distribution) over the past several decades. Nontraditionally targeted fish species are an often overlooked but important component of bentho-demersal fish communities. Implications for the energy flow and resilience specifically for future fisheries and generally for harvesting biological resources are significant, remaining critical issues for the world's ecosystems.     

Succession patterns of phytoplankton blooms: directionality and influence of algal cell size

Using four replicate microcosms in the laboratory, we induced a phytoplankton bloom by enclosing a natural community sampled from Masnou Harbor (N.E. Spain) in November 1987, and examined the pattern of algal succession during the bloom. Good replicability of the temporal patterns of the community biomass and the abundance of most species demonstrated that succession was a directional, non-random process. The successional pathway observed (small flagellates » small centric diatoms » small flagellates) resembled that observed by other authors studying phytoplankton blooms. This pattern differed from previous models of algal succession in that dinoflagellates never comprised a substantial fraction of the community biomass, and in that algal cell size did not tend to increase along the successional sequence. Algal cell size, however, was an important determinant of phytoplankton community structure, since it constrained the density, but not the biomass, achievable by the different species. We suggest that there is not a single, general pattern of phytoplankton succession, but that distinction should be made, at least between seasonal and bloom patterns of phytoplankton succession.     

Intraspecific variation in a predator affects community structure and cascading trophic interactions

Intraspecific phenotypic variation in ecologically important traits is widespread and important for evolutionary processes, but its effects on community and ecosystem processes are poorly understood. We use life history differences among populations of alewives, Alosa pseudoharengus, to test the effects of intraspecific phenotypic variation in a predator on pelagic zooplankton community structure and the strength of cascading trophic interactions. We focus on the effects of differences in (1) the duration of residence in fresh water (either seasonal or year-round) and (2) differences in foraging morphology, both of which may strongly influence interactions between alewives and their prey. We measured zooplankton community structure, algal biomass, and spring total phosphorus in lakes that contained landlocked, anadromous, or no alewives. Both the duration of residence and the intraspecific variation in foraging morphology strongly influenced zooplankton community structure. Lakes with landlocked alewives had small-bodied zooplankton year-round, and lakes with no alewives had large-bodied zooplankton year-round. In contrast, zooplankton communities in lakes with anadromous alewives cycled between large-bodied zooplankton in the winter and spring and small-bodied zooplankton in the summer. In summer, differences in feeding morphology of alewives caused zooplankton biomass to be lower and body size to be smaller in lakes with anadromous alewives than in lakes with landlocked alewives. Furthermore, intraspecific variation altered the strength of the trophic cascade caused by alewives. Our results demonstrate that intraspecific phenotypic variation of predators can regulate community structure and ecosystem processes by modifying the form and strength of complex trophic interactions.     

Long-term trends in the trophic structure of the North Sea fish community: evidence from stable-isotope analysis, size-spectra and community metrics

Fishing has wide-ranging impacts on marine ecosystems. One of the most pervasive signs of intensive fishing is "fishing down the food web", with landings increasingly dominated by smaller species from lower trophic levels. Decreases in the trophic level of landings are assumed to reflect those in fish communities, because size-selective mortality causes decreases in the relative abundance of larger species and in mean body size within species. However, existing analyses of fishing impacts on the trophic level of fish communities have focused on the role of changes in species composition rather than size composition. This will provide a biased assessment of the magnitude of fishing impacts, because fishes feed at different trophic levels as they grow. Here, we combine body size versus trophic level relationships for North Sea fishes (trophic level assessed using nitrogen stable-isotope analysis) with species-size-abundance data from two time-series of trawl-survey data (whole North Sea 1982-2000, central and northern North Sea 1925-1996) to predict long-term trends in the trophic structure of the North Sea fish community. Analyses of the 1982-2000 time-series showed that there was a slow but progressive decline in the trophic level of the demersal community, while there was no trend in the trophic level of the combined pelagic and demersal community. Analyses of the longer time-series suggested that there was no trend in the trophic level of the demersal community. We related temporal changes in trophic level to temporal changes in the slopes of normalised biomass size-spectra (which theoretically represent the trophic structure of the community), mean log₂ body mass and mean log₂ maximum body mass. While the size-based metrics of community structure showed long-term trends that were consistent with the effects of increased fishery exploitation, these trends were only correlated with trophic level for the demersal community. Our analysis suggests that the effects of fishing on the trophic structure of fish communities can be much more complex than previously assumed. This is a consequence of sampled communities not reflecting all the pathways of energy transfer in a marine ecosystem and of the absence of historical data on temporal and spatial changes in the trophic level of individuals. For the North Sea fish community, changes in size structure due to the differential effects of fishing on species and populations with different life histories are a stronger and more universal indicator of fishing effects than changes in mean trophic level.     

Vegetation dynamics in succession process from Stipa bungeana to Artemisia ordosica in the Ordos Plateau北大核心CSCD

Shrub invasion has a serious effect on the structure and function of grassland ecosystems and understanding vegetation dynamics is of great significance to control shrub invasion and recover shrub invaded grassland. In the Ordos Plateau, we selected representative communities in transition process from Stipa bungeana to Artemisia ordosica. By sampling, cutting, and root-drilling methods, plant coverage, density, biomass, litter, root, and species diversity of different communities were investigated and analyzed. The results showed the following: (1) the succession process had six vegetation types, S. bungeana communities, S. bungeana + Cleistogenes squarrosa communities, S. bungeana + Artemisia ordosica communities, A. ordosica + C. squarrosa communities, A. ordosica + Lespedeza davurica communities, and A. ordosica communities. (2) The community coverage decreased initially, and then increased. Whereas, the total density decreased initially, then increased, and then decreased. The aboveground, underground, and total biomasses, and the dry weight of litter showed an increasing trend. (3) The coverage, density, and biomass of S. bungeana decreased gradually, whereas A. ordosica showed an opposite trend. (4) With the increase in soil depth, the dry weight of root showed a decreasing trend. The roots were mainly distributed in the 0-30 cm soil layer. At VI stage, the root distribution of Artemisia community initially increased, and then decreased, and the root depth reached 80-90 cm. (5) The species richness, Simpson, Shannon-Winner, and Pielou evenness indexes initially increased, and then decreased. In summary, shrub encroachment is severe in the Ordos Plateau. Although the community coverage, biomass, and biodiversity during the moderate shrub encroachment stage were high, the shrub-invaded grassland should be restored to S. bungeana grassland due to the decreased grazing value of grassland after shrub invasion. Keywords. © 2018 Science Press. All rights reserved.     

Individual- and population-level responses of a keystone predator to geographic variation in prey

Investigating how food supply regulates the behavior and population structure of predators remains a central focus of population and community ecology. These responses will determine the strength of bottom-up processes through the food web, which can potentially lead to coupled top-down regulation of local communities. However, characterizing the bottom-up effects of prey is difficult in the case of generalist predators and particularly with predators that have large dispersal scales, attributes that characterize most marine top predators. Here we use long-term data on mussel, barnacle, limpet, and other adult prey abundance and recruitment at sites spread over 970 km to investigate individual- and population-level responses of the keystone intertidal sunstar Heliaster helianthus on the coast of Chile. Our results show that this generalist predator responds to changes in the supply of an apparently preferred prey, the competitively dominant mussel Perumytilus purpuratus. Individual-level parameters (diet composition, per capita prey consumption, predator size) positively responded to increased mussel abundance and recruitment, whereas population-level parameters (density, biomass, size structure) did not respond to bottom-up prey variation among sites separated by a few kilometers. No other intertidal prey elicited positive individual predator responses in this species, even though a large number of other prey species was always included in the diet. Moreover, examining predator-prey correlations at approximately 80, 160, and 200 km did not change this pattern, suggesting that positive prey feedback could occur over even larger spatial scales or as a geographically unstructured process. Thus individual-level responses were not transferred to population changes over the range of spatial scales examined here, highlighting the need to examine community regulation processes over multiple spatial scales.     

Community structure in Florida Escarpment seep and Snake Pit (Mid-Atlantic Ridge) vent mussel beds

Comparisons between invertebrate communities hosted by similar foundation species under different environmental conditions permit identification of patterns of species distributions that might be characteristic of the different ecosystems. Similarities and differences in community structure between two major types of chemosynthetic ecosystems were assessed by analyzing samples of invertebrates associated with Bathymodiolus heckerae Gustafson et al. mussel beds at the Florida Escarpment seep (Gulf of Mexico, 26°01.8N; 84°54.9W; October 2000) and B. puteoserpentis von Cosel et al. mussel beds at the Snake Pit vent (Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 23°22.1N; 44°56.9W; July 2001). Macrofaunal species richness was nearly twice as high in the seep mussel bed compared to the vent mussel bed, and only a single morphospecies, the ophiuroid Ophioctenella acies Tyler et al., was shared between the sites. Similarities between the two faunas at higher taxonomic levels (genus and family) were evident for only a small percentage of the total number of taxa, suggesting that evolutionary histories of many of these seep and vent macrofaunal taxa are not shared. The taxonomic distinctiveness of the seep and vent mussel-bed macrofaunal communities supports the hypothesis that environmental and oceanographic barriers prevent most taxa from occupying both types of habitats. Macrofaunal community heterogeneity among samples was similar in seep and vent mussel beds, indicating that spatial scales of processes regulating community variability may be similar in the two types of ecosystems. Suspension feeders were not represented in the macrofauna of seep or vent mussel beds. Primary consumers (deposit feeders and grazers) contributed more to the total abundance of macrofauna of seep mussel beds than vent mussel beds; secondary consumers (polychaetes and shrimp) were more abundant in the vent mussel beds.Electronic Supplementary Material Supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00227-004-1304-z.Communicated by J.P. Grassle, New Brunswick     

塔里木荒漠河岸林植物群落演替下的土壤理化性质研究

选择塔里木荒漠河岸林内典型、有代表性的不同演替阶段的群落,对其土壤理化性质进行研究。结果表明：土壤理化性质在演替方向和土壤剖面上表现出较强的规律性。演替后、中期表层土壤（0～20 cm）粘粒质量分数比初期分别减少了1.28%、64.29%、土壤砂粒质量分数分别增加了3.08%、17.23%,土壤明显变粗沙化。群落演替能明显增大土壤容重与非毛管孔隙度,降低土壤总孔隙度、毛管孔隙度、孔隙比、土壤水分质量分数、最大持水量、毛管持水量和最小持水量。演替后、中期表层土壤非毛管孔隙度比初期分别增大了33.78%、36.087%,土壤水分质量分数分别降低了85.57%、97.77%,演替后期最大持水量、毛管持水量分别比初期降低了40.28%、9.27%,导致土壤固相率减小,气相率增大,土壤持水供水能力与抗风蚀性能减弱。土壤有机质、全氮与碱解氮、全磷与速效磷、全钾与速效钾、盐分质量分数随群落演替呈降低趋势。演替后期表层土壤有机质、碱解氮、全磷与速效钾质量分数分别比初期降低了38.68%、60.71%、23.58%、66.93%,其土壤理化性质退化最显著。地下水位下降是引起荒漠河岸林植物群落逆向演替的驱动力。当前随人类干扰强度增强（水土资源开发）,塔里木荒漠河岸林土壤结构与土壤生态功能随之受到破坏与衰退,而保持合理的生态水位则是维持荒漠河岸林生态系统稳定的有效途径。     

Context-dependent species identity effects within a functional group of filter-feeding bivalves

We asked whether species richness or species identity contributed more to ecosystem function in a trait-based functional group, burrowing, filter-feeding bivalves (freshwater mussels: Unionidae), and whether their importance changed with environmental context and species composition. We conducted a manipulative experiment in a small river examining the effects of mussel assemblages varying from one to eight species on benthic algal standing crop across two sets of environmental conditions: extremely low discharge and high water temperature (summer); and moderate discharge and water temperature (fall). We found strong species identity effects within this guild, with one species (Actinonaias ligamentina) influencing accrual of benthic algae more than other species, but only under summer conditions. We suspect that this effect is due to a combination of the greater biomass of this species and its higher metabolic and excretion rates at warm summer temperatures, resulting in increased nitrogen subsidies to benthic algae. We also found that Actinonaias influenced the condition of other mussel species, likely through higher consumption, interference, or both. This study demonstrates that species within trait-based functional groups do not necessarily have the same effects on ecosystem properties, particularly under different environmental conditions.