Vegetation dynamics in impounded marshes along the Indian River Lagoon,Florida, USA

Data are presented on the vegetation dynamics of two impounded marshes along the Indian River Lagoon, in east-central Florida, USA. Vegetation in one of the marshes (IRC 12) was totally eliminated by overflooding and by hypersaline conditions (salinities over 100 ppt) that developed there in 1979 after the culvert connecting the marsh with the lagoon was closed. Over 20% recovery of the herbaceous halophytesSalicornia virginica, S. bigelovii, andBatis maritima was observed at that site after the culvert was reopened in 1982, but total cover in the marsh remains well below the original 75%. No recovery of mangroves was observed at this site. The second site (SLC 24), while remaining isolated from the lagoon during much of the study, did not suffer the complete elimination of vegetation experienced at the first site. At this location, mangroves increased in cover and frequency with a concomitant decrease in herbaceous halophytes. Considerable damage to the vegetation was evident at IRC 12 when the impoundment was closed and flooded for mosquito control in 1986. Although the damage was temporary, its occurrence emphasizes the need of planning and constant monitoring and adjustment of management details as conditions within particular marshes change. Storms and hurricanes may be important in promoting a replacement of black mangroves by red mangroves in closed impoundments because the former cannot tolerate pneumatophore submergence for long periods of time. University of Florida-IFAS Journal Series R-00521.     

Target and nontarget discrimination of herbicides applied to vegetation in a power-line corridor

We tested two cutting regimens (cut/spray and cut/delay spray) and four radiarc-applied herbicides (Garlon + Tordon, Accord, Accord + Escort, and Krenite) in an Ohio power-line corridor to determine which management combination best eliminated target species (i.e., trees) and preserved nontarget species (i.e., low shrubs, vines, perennial herbs, and grasses). When spraying was delayed after cutting, the herbicide with the least impact on nontarget species (Krenite) also was least efficient at killing target trees. Spraying soon after cutting improved tree-killing efficiency of several herbicides, but it also increased the negative impact on nontarget species. The herbicide with the most consistent tree-killing ability (Accord + Escort) had the most impact on nontarget species. Because none of the herbicide/cutting treatments performed ideally, resource managers must decide the acceptable impact on nontarget species when considering herbicide use. Future success of herbicides as part of an integrated succession management approach requires more selective application methods and formulations so that target effects can be maximized and nontarget effects can be minimized.     

Soils and vegetation of Santa Barbara Island,Channel Islands National Park,California, USA

The multifaceted development of an erosion surface on Santa Barbara Island, Channel Islands National Park, California, has led to this study of the relationship between soils and vegetation. A dry Mediterranean climate and past attempts at farming and introductions of alien species have led to vegetative degradation accompanied by both gully and surface erosion. Soil and vegetation analyses show this erosion to be in a location of transition. The soils are Typic Chromoxererts (Vertisol Order) with high clay, salinity, and sodium contents. The vegetation is ecotonal in nature, grading from a principally alien annual grassland withAvena fatua andAtriplex semibaccata to a shrub community dominated by the nativeSuaeda californica. Management toward revegetation and stabilization of this island ecosystem will be difficult with high clay, saline-sodic soils and disturbed vegetation.     

Evaluation of two herbicide techniques on electric transmission rights-of-way: Development of relatively stable shrublands

Postmanagement vegetation patterns were studied on five transmission rights-of-way subjected to over a decade of basal or stem-foliar herbicide applications designed to eliminate tall-growing trees. The basally treated lines had a mean of 100% greater shrub and 50% less herbaceous cover than stem-foliar treated lines due primarily to the lack of overspray damage to nontarget plant species with the basal technique. Persisting tree growth was also 50% less with basal treatments whenSassafras albidum, a rootsuckering problem species on all areas, was excluded. Tree seedling establishment on basally treated rights-of-way was 34% less than on stem-foliar treated lines. The creation of stable shrublands can potentially reduce the amount of future herbicide usage. These findings also lend support to the Initial Floristic Composition concept in vegetation development proposed by Egler. In southern New England, commercial basal applications can effectively control unwanted tree growth on rights-of-way while promoting the development of relatively stable shrublands which tend to inhibit the invasion of tree seedlings.     

The Effects of Irrigation on Revegetation of Semi-Arid Coastal Sage Scrub in Southern California

Artemisia californica, represented nearly 100% of the species present at the end of two growing seasons. Irrigation may speed revegetation under some conditions, but was not very effective in establishing natural vegetation structure.     

喀斯特地区浅层地下水对植被退化的水文地球化学响应——以贵州荔波拉桥小流域为例

喀斯特地区植被退化的水文地球化学响应是喀斯特研究的重要内容之一,具有重要的科学和现实意义。选择贵州荔波拉桥小流域中四个不同植被类型的样地作为对象,按月采集浅层地下水(土壤水和表层泉水),对其进行水文地球化学各参数的分析。结果表明,土壤水中Ca2+、Mg2+、HCO3-、EC和pH值,表层泉水中Cl-、NO3-和SO24-等对植被退化响应敏感;而土壤水中NO3-和SO24-,表层泉水中Mg2+、NH4+、HCO3-和EC,以及土壤水和表层泉水中δ13 CDIC值则可能还受到其他过程的影响,需谨慎使用。由此可见,对于土壤层,阳离子和与土壤CO2气体浓度有关的HCO3-可能有较好的响应,而对于表层泉水,HCO3-以外的阴离子可能更敏感。     

Bird community responses to cattle stocking rates in a Pacific Northwest bunchgrass prairie

In 2006-2010, effects of four different cattle stocking rates (0, 14.4, 28.8, and 43.2 animal unit months) were compared, representing 0%, 20%, 32%, and 46% utilization of vegetation by domestic livestock, on vegetation structure (as indexed by visual obstruction), and songbird population and apparent nest density, community composition, and diversity in a Pacific Northwest bunchgrass prairie in northeastern Oregon, USA. Overall paddock-level visual obstruction decreased and structural heterogeneity increased with increasing stocking rates, and those effects carried over 1 year after grazing had ceased. Most species were able to locate nesting sites regardless of differences in visual obstruction, except western meadowlark and vesper sparrow, for which obstruction was lower in paddocks with higher stocking rates. Apparent nest density for grasshopper sparrows was negatively affected by higher stocking rates. Grazing effects on absolute songbird population density were restricted to negative effects of higher stocking rates on savannah sparrows, but this relationship was not observed until 1 year after grazing had ceased. Songbird community composition differed between control and heavily-grazed paddocks, driven by an increase in the proportion of horned larks and a decrease in the proportion of savannah sparrows in heavily-grazed paddocks from pre-treatment to post-treatment years. Bird diversity indices were unaffected by stocking rate. Negative effects of high stocking rates on densities of two species and the absence of any clear positive effect for the other three species suggest high stocking rates as applied in this experiment may not provide suitable habitat for all grassland songbirds. The absence of negative responses of density to low and moderate stocking rates suggests these grazing regimes generally provided suitable habitat for all species.     

南山国家森林公园人工森林植被调查及区系研究

对南山国家森林公园主要植被物种资源进行调查和区系结构研究。结果表明,南山国家森林公园森林覆盖率达73%,自然生态系统中目前已知的高等植物(藻菌、苔藓、地衣除外)共计有74科、251属、340种。构成镇江市区各类植被的优势成分共有约27种,其中东亚分布的种占55.6%,热带分布为主的植物占7.4%,连同东亚分布以及我国特有热带、亚热带分布为主的成分,一起可达88.9%。南山国家森林公园植被在区系组成上具有明显的亚热带特点,同时也反映出一定的过渡性,与江苏省森林木本植物区系分布特点基本一致。     

基于RS和GIS技术的贵州省植被生态环境监测分析

为阐明贵州省植被生态环境变化的整体状况,基于RS和GIS技术,应用美国国家航空航天局最新的全球植被指数变化研究数据（GIMMS）,通过计算月归一化植被指数（NDVI）变化率,并对研究区一元线性回归模拟,分析了贵州省1982年-2003年的地表植被覆盖。结果表明：22年来,研究区植被覆盖呈增加趋势,表明贵州省植被生态环境向好的方向发展;贵州省平均植被覆盖在春季和秋季呈上升趋势,夏季和冬季呈下降趋势,其中春季对植被覆盖总变化量的贡献最大;植被覆盖程度增减因区域不同而异,变化程度呈增加的区域主要位于贵,ki-I省的中部地区;变化程度呈减小的区域分布在贵州省的四周边缘。     

国家生态文明试验区(贵州)经济增速与植被恢复协调发展

以国家生态文明试验区(贵州)作为研究区,以植被覆盖度(FVC)作为研究对象,基于2000～2019年的NDVI数据分析了贵州省近20年FVC的时空演变特征,利用地理探测器方法识别并量化了经济持续增速下维持植被恢复的主要驱动力,结果表明:(1)近20年来贵州省FVC整体呈增加趋势,FVC分布整体水平较高,主要以中等、中高和高度覆盖为主,三者面积占比之和约为89.7%,年均增长率为0.52%,平均FVC为0.53.(2)近20年来贵州省FVC变化趋势以轻微改善、基本不变为主,两者面积占比之和为68.94%,改善区域面积占比为57.93%,西部区域得到明显改善和提升,退化区域主要集中在城镇周边,总体动态变化趋于稳定且向好改善.(3)FVC空间分布格局演变深受人类活动与自然环境因子的双重影响,且人类活动对于植被恢复的驱动作用更强,国内生产总值(GDP)和降水是经济持续增速下维持植被恢复的人类活动与自然环境因子主导驱动力.(4)积极推动产业结构优化升级、大力推进第三产业快速发展以及不断贯彻落实退耕还林还草政策等积极的人类活动为贵州省实现经济增速与植被恢复协调发展的“双赢”局面做出了巨大贡献.