A new mechanism of invader success： Exotic plant inhibits natural vegetation restoration by changing soil microbe community

Since the 1950s of the last century, the exotic plant, Eupatorium adenophorum, has spread rapidly across southwest China, damaging native ecosystems and causing great economic losses. We examined the pH, N, P, K, and organic matter concentrations, and the bacterial community character (by Biolog EcoPlateTM) in soils from sites heavily and lightly invaded by this exotic species. Also, soil from the lightly invaded site was treated with a water extract of E.adenophorum roots to examine the effect of the plant on soil properties. We grew three plant species, one native and two exotic, in pot experiment using soil from heavily invaded site to examine the effects of the soil on these plants growth. The soil analysis demonstrated that the pH, organic matter, total N, total P and total K in soils from the heavily invaded site were only slightly different from those of the lightly invaded site, but concentrations of NH4^ , NO3^- and available P and K in the heavily invaded site were greater than those in the lightly invaded site. The catabolic activity of soil bacterial community in the heavily invaded site was different from that in the lightly invaded site. The catabolic activity of bacterial community in soils treated by the water extract of E.adenophorum roots changed and became similar to that in soils from the heavily invaded site. The pot experiment showed that the exotic plants growth in heavily invaded soil were not different from in lightly invaded soil; however, the native plant biomass decreased dramatically when grown in soil from the heavily invaded site as compared to soil from the lightly invaded site; and the same phenomenon was found when any potential allelopathic effects by E. adenophorum were eliminated by added activated carbon to those soils. Difference in soil nutrient availability and allelopathy could not explain this phenomenon of the native plant in the soils from the heavily and lightly invaded sites. Changes observed in the soil bacterial community were obviously related to native plant growth in those tow soils. Those results suggest that changing soil microbial community may be an important part of E. adenophorum invasion process. Since the soil microbial community serves as bridge in connection of exotic and natural plants, the exotic plant could inhibit the natural plant growth and reproduction by changing the soil microbial community in invaded site.     

Changes in soil microbial community and enzyme activity along an exotic plant Eupatorium adenophorum invasion in a Chinese secondary forest

The exotic plant,Eupatorium adenophorum,has invaded rapidly across southwest China,damaging native ecosystems and causing great economic losses.Soil microbes,as an important component of belowground community,can drive nutrient cycling and regulate plant competition in terrestrial ecosystems.Therefore,knowledge of the soil microbial community and function will enhance our understanding of the mechanism of exotic plant invasive process in natural ecosystems.In this study,we examined the soil microbial community,soil enzyme activity,soil property and plant community along an invasive gradient of E.adenophorum in a southwest Chinese secondary forest.The soil analysis demonstrated that heavy invasion significantly increased the total P and NO3–-N contents,whereas it significantly decreased the total N and soil organic matter contents.The available P content was significantly decreased by moderate invasion.The E.adenophorum invasion significantly decreased the biomass of total soil microbes,as well as Gram-negative bacteria,actinomycetes,arbuscular mycorrhizal(AM)fungi and non-AM fungi.However,E.adenophorum invasion significantly increased the activities of soil urease,acid phosphatase,polyphenol oxidase and peroxidase.Non-metric multidimensional scaling showed that soil microbial composition and soil enzyme composition were significantly different in the three E.adenophorum invaded sites.Partial Mantel tests indicated that plant composition was the most important factor for structuring soil microbial and enzyme compositions.The results suggest that changes in soil microbial community structure and enzyme activity may play an important role in the process of E.adenophorum invasion in a Chinese secondary forest ecosystem.     

Soil fungi of three native tree species inhibit biomass production and shift biomass allocation of invasive Mikania micrantha Kunth

Soil microbes contribute to native plant species successful resistance against invasive plant.Three native tree species,Heteropanax fragrans (HF),Cinnamomum burmanii (CB),and Macaranga tanarius (MT) were effective in controlling the notorious invasive vine Mikania micrantha (MM).Biomass production and allocation patterns (shoot/root biomass ratio (shoot/root)) are important indicators of MM climbing coverage and competitive light-capturing capacity.An investigation was conducted to test the role of soil microbes associated with the three native tree species to inhibit MM biomass production and shift MM shoot/root.Rhizosphere soils originating from preculture HF,CB,MT,and MM plots were collected separately for use as inocula.The inocula were mixed with sterilized river sand at a 1:9 (w/w) ratio to grow MM.The fungicide carbendazim (methyl benzimidazol-2-ylcarbamate) was applied to half the treatments to kill pathogenic soil fungi.Two nutrient levels were established based on the natural soil nutrient concentration from a field stand invaded by MM.MM were grown from seeds in a glasshouse,harvested 15 weeks after sowing,and separated into shoot and root portions.Results showed that under interaction of soil origin and nutrient levels,MM biomass production was unchanged,but biomass allocation patterns were significantly different.MM biomass production grown in the three native tree soils under two nutrient levels was similar or higher than MM biomass production in MM conspecific soil,indicating the absence of species-specific pathogens that inhibited MM biomass production in native tree soils.However,in both conspecific and tree soils,MM biomass production was significantly reduced in the presence of pathogenic soil fungi,i.e.MM experienced significant fungal inhibition,demonstrating the pathogenic soil fungi promoted native tree resistence to MM.MM exhibited decreased shoot biomass allocation when cultivated in native tree soil relative to MM conspecific soil under field stand nutrient level conditions.Reduced resource allocation to shoot biomass could result in diminished capacity to climb,cover,and subsequent smother to native trees,and reduced surface area exposed to available light.Following fungicide application,significant biomass allocation differences disappeared,suggesting the native tree soil fungi were responsible for decreasing MM shoot biomass.The overall results indicated tree soil fungi serve an integral role in controlling invasive MM through fungal inhibition on MM biomass production,and shifts in MM biomass allocation patterns.     

植物-土壤反馈理论及其在连作障碍管理中的应用

作为植物-土壤负反馈的典型现象,作物连作障碍严重制约了农业的可持续发展.概述了植物-土壤反馈理论的发展过程和作用原理,以连作障碍为例总结了该理论在农业生产中应用和发展现状,建议参照自然生态系统中的植物-土壤反馈作用理论,进一步解析农田植物多样性提高作物健康和产量的机制.通过构建多样性种植模式、发展强化根际微生物组功能等...     

"植物-土壤"相互反馈的关键生态学问题:格局、过程与机制

植物与土壤之间相互反馈的格局、过程与机制,不但是决定生态系统结构、功能及过程的关键科学问题,而且是陆地生态系统响应全球变化的重要组成部分。基于目前国内外研究现状,从养分循环角度剖析“植物-土壤”间的反馈效应,探明相互反馈在空间尺度(根面、根际、种类、生态系统以及区域等)与时间尺度(秒至千年)上的级联效应及其变化格局;阐明根际、植物种类、生态系统及区域地理等水平上“植物-土壤”的相互反馈机制,重点揭示根系分泌、共生、生长及代谢的根际界面过程对植物水分/养分吸收与土壤物理学修饰的调控机制,剖析“植物种类-凋落物化学-土壤生物-土壤有机质”相互作用对地上-地下养分循环过程的驱动机制,运用“上行-下行控制理论及腐屑食物网模型”揭示地上-地下生物群落交互作用的过程与机制,以及土壤地质演变(岩石风化模式、土壤形成模式及土壤养分格局的变化)与区域植被演替(优势种更替及植被分布模式、地上-地下凋落物输入格局等的变化)相互反馈的过程与机制;从“植物-土壤”相互反馈的理论视角,分析生态退化与恢复、外来物种生态入侵、大气氮沉降、二氧化碳浓度升高以及植物多样性减少等全球生态问题的特征、形成机制以及可能的应对策略,揭示生态系统“地上-地下”相互反馈的生态学过程,以及陆地生态系统对全球生态环境变化的响应特征与机理。     

长春地区外来植物的初步研究

本研究对长春地区外来植物进行了调查,列出长春市外来种名录,确定共有外来植物46种,隶属于20科,菊科植物占30.4%。分析了长春市外来植物的来源,得出有50%的外来植物来自美洲。这些数据和结果可为外来物种的规范管理及对外来物种的生态入侵风险分析提供科学依据。     

外来种入侵与生态安全

世界的生物多样性正受到严重威胁，其中，生物入侵已成为威胁生物多样性的重要因素之一，近年来，外来种入侵对我国生物多样性的危害日益加剧，已经危及到我国的生态安全，为此从介绍与外来种入侵有关的概念入手，分析了外来种入侵的途径，生物入侵对我国生态环境、生物多样性（包括物种多样性和遗传多样性）、经济及社会的严重影响，提出在外来种入侵的防治和管理方面，应根据我国国情和目前生物入侵的实际状况，加强国家能力、研究能力和监管能力建设，确保我国的生态安全。     

长春地区外来植物的初步研究

本研究对长春地区外来植物进行了调查,列出长春市外来种名录,确定共有外来植物46种,隶属于20科,菊科植物占30.4%.分析了长春市外来植物的来源,得出有50%的外来植物来自美洲.这些数据和结果可为外来物种的规范管理及对外来物种的生态入侵风险分析提供科学依据.     

土壤微生物多样性与植物多样性

土壤中生活着丰富的微生物类群,是一个重要的地下生物宝库.土壤微生物是土壤中的主要分解者,对环境起着天然的“过滤”和“净化”作用,在自然生态系统的功能发挥和维持能力方面极其重要.植物、土壤和微生物相互作用,构成了一个植物-土壤-微生物的有机整体.土壤微生物多样性代表着微生物群落的稳定性,指生命体在遗传、种类和生态系统层次上的变化.从遗传、分类、生态功能以及系统发育等多方面阐述了当前土壤微生物多样性的研究工作.同时探讨了植物多样性与土壤微生物多样性之间的内在联系,植被的破坏可直接导致土壤微生物多样性的丧失,而土壤微生物对植物物种多样性的维持又具有重要作用.因此,加强土壤微生物多样性研究对植物多样性保护具有重要意义.     

外来种加拿大一枝黄花与土著种芦苇根际土壤线虫群落比较

为比较外来入侵种加拿大一枝黄花(Solidago canadensis L.)与土著种芦苇(Phragmites australis)根际土壤线虫多样性和群落结构的差异,笔者分别于2009年4月(出苗期)、9月(开花期)和12月(枯萎期)对杭州下沙加拿大一枝黄花群落及相邻芦苇群落的根际土壤线虫进行调查.结果显示:两种植物根际土壤线虫群落存在差异,并且这种差异与采样时间(植物生长阶段)有关.加拿大一枝黄花根际土壤的线虫数量、属丰富度和多样性在出苗期和开花期与芦苇根际没有显著差异,而在枯萎期则显著高于芦苇.加拿大一枝黄花根际土壤线虫营养多样性在三个生长阶段均显著高于芦苇.在出苗期和开花期加拿大一枝黄花根际植食性线虫比例明显低于芦苇根际,食真菌线虫比例则明显高于后者;在枯萎期,加拿大一枝黄花根际土壤线虫的食真菌线虫比例明显高于芦苇根际土壤,而食细菌线虫比例趋于降低.非参数多变量排序(MDS)表明,加拿大一枝黄花根际土壤线虫群落结构与芦苇在其三个生长阶段均差异明显,其中枯萎期差异最大.上述结果表明外来植物入侵在一定程度上改变了土壤线虫多样性、功能多样性和营养结构,这种改变可能导致土壤生态系统中营养源流向和路径发生变化,并促进外来植物进一步入侵.     

外来植物薇甘菊对本地植物凋落物分解的影响

 外来植物薇甘菊（Mikania micrantha HBK.）已入侵华南许多地区,并造成严重危害。探讨了外来植物薇甘菊凋落物对4种本地植物大叶榕（Ficus virens）、潺槁树（Litsea glutinosa）、樟树（Cinnamomum camphora）和台湾相思（Acacia confusa）凋落物分解的影响。凋落物分解采用网袋法,将薇甘菊凋落物分别与本地植物凋落物按3个比例混合,3个比例为,m（薇甘菊）∶m（本地植物） = M₁（1∶4）,M₂（1∶1）和M₃（4∶1）。分解60 d后,测定凋落物的分解速率与养分释放。结果表明,薇甘菊与本地植物凋落物混合比例为M₁时,凋落物分解速率变慢,但在M₃时,凋落物的分解速率变快。与单独本地凋落物养分释放相比,薇甘菊凋落物混入后C释放有所下降,而N素释放量有所提高,这种N释放量的增加可能会对薇甘菊的入侵产生正反馈作用。     

Large-scale processes and the Asian bias in species diversity of temperate plants

An important issue in the study of biodiversity is the extent to which global patterns of species richness reflect large-scale processes and historical contingencies. Ecological interactions in local assemblages may constrain the number of species that can coexist, but differences in diversity in similar habitats within different regions (diversity anomalies) suggest that this limit is not firm. Variation in rate of species production could influence regional and perhaps local diversity independently of the ecological capacity of an area to support coexisting species, thereby creating diversity anomalies. Temperate Zone genera of plants that are disjunct between similar environments in eastern Asia and eastern North America (EAS-ENA) have twice as many species in Asia as in North America. Because lineages of these genera in Asia and North America are mostly sister pairs, they share a common history of adaptation and ecological relationship before disjunction. Thus, the diversity anomaly in EAS-ENA genera is not an artefact of taxon or habitat sampling but reflects differences in the net diversification (speciation-extinction) of the lineages in each of the continents. Here we propose that the most probable cause of the EAS-ENA anomaly in diversity is the extreme physiographical heterogeneity of temperate eastern Asia, especially compared with eastern North America, which in conjunction with climate and sea-level change has provided abundant opportunities for evolutionary radiation through allopatric speciation.     

林木根际微生态过程与细根寿命调控机制研究进展

细根在森林生态系统中具有重要的生物学和生态学地位。细根寿命取决于树种本身,也受控于环境条件。根际作为植物、土壤与微生物三者交互作用的区域,其中的微生态过程对细根寿命的调控具有决定意义。笔者基于当前国内外细根寿命调控的主要因素,分别从根际碳沉积与根际微生态过程、根系对根际微生物群落构建的影响、根际微生物对细根寿命调控的可能机制3个方面对根际微生物与根系的互作效应,及其对细根寿命调控机制的相关研究进展进行综述。在此基础上,提出了:①酚酸介导的植物-微生物化学对话机制是未来根土互作研究的重要领域;②根系与微生物互作主要以光合产物碳作为枢纽,根际碳沉积促进了土壤微生物在根际的定殖,进而导致根际的微生物群落在组成和结构上与非根际土壤的呈现显著差异;③根土互作过程中由根系和根际微生物产生的信号物质可能对根系的生长发育产生显著影响;④作为细菌的主要群感信号分子,酰化高丝氨酸内脂(AHLs)可参与调控根系细胞的凋亡;真菌侵染根系后也可能导致根内活性氧(ROS)累积,进而调控根系细胞凋亡。目前未见根际微生物参与根系寿命调控的研究报道。建议进一步构建细菌群落演变-群感信号表达-细根寿命关系模型,以及真菌侵染-活性氧信号内稳态调控-细根寿命关系模型,这些对深入揭示林木细根衰老和凋亡的微生态调控机制具有重要理论意义。     

加拿大一枝黄花入侵对杨树人工林土壤呼吸的影响

【目的】杨树是我国重要的人工林栽培树种,近年大量的加拿大一枝黄花(Solidago canadensis L.)入侵杨树人工林生态系统,研究加拿大一枝黄花对杨树人工林土壤呼吸的影响,有助于进一步认识陆地人工林生态系统的地下碳(C)循环对植物入侵的响应及其机制。【方法】2018年11月以江苏省东台林场内加拿大一枝黄花入侵和未入侵的8年生相同立地条件下杨树人工林群落为研究对象并建立固定样地,采用长期野外试验监测的研究方法对土壤呼吸以及土壤温度和湿度进行监测,同时钻取土芯测定样地土壤理化性质,对比加拿大一枝黄花入侵与未入侵条件下杨树人工林群落土壤呼吸的变化规律,探讨加拿大一枝黄花入侵杨树人工林后各个非生物因子变化对土壤呼吸的影响。【结果】加拿大一枝黄花的入侵显著增加了杨树人工林的土壤呼吸(P <0.001),且主导这种变化的非生物因子是入侵导致的土壤湿度的变化。加拿大一枝黄花入侵会通过改变土壤理化性质来影响土壤呼吸,显著增加杨树人工林的土壤湿度(P <0.001),同时显著增加土壤总氮含量(P <0.05),降低土壤碳氮比(P <0.05),但对于土壤总碳含量的增加并不显著(P >0.05),对土壤温度和pH的影响也不显著(P >0.05)。【结论】加拿大一枝黄花的入侵增加了杨树人工林土壤系统二氧化碳的排放量,增加了土壤系统的C损失,改变了杨树人工林土壤的C交换过程。     

Two new carnivores from an unusual late Tertiary forest biota in eastern North America

Late Cenozoic terrestrial fossil records of North America are biased by a predominance of mid-latitude deposits, mostly in the western half of the continent. Consequently, the biological history of eastern North America, including the eastern deciduous forest, remains largely hidden. Unfortunately, vertebrate fossil sites from this vast region are rare, and few pertain to the critically important late Tertiary period, during which intensified global climatic changes took place. Moreover, strong phylogenetic affinities between the flora of eastern North America and eastern Asia clearly demonstrate formerly contiguous connections, but disparity among shared genera (eastern Asia-eastern North America disjunction) implies significant periods of separation since at least the Miocene epoch. Lacustrine sediments deposited within a former sinkhole in the southern Appalachian Mountains provide a rare example of a late Miocene to early Pliocene terrestrial biota from a forested ecosystem. Here we show that the vertebrate remains contained within this deposit represent a unique combination of North American and Eurasian taxa. A new genus and species of the red (lesser) panda (Pristinailurus bristoli), the earliest and most primitive so far known, was recovered. Also among the fauna are a new species of Eurasian badger (Arctomeles dimolodontus) and the largest concentration of fossil tapirs ever recorded. Cladistical analyses of the two new carnivores strongly suggest immigration events that were earlier than and distinct from previous records, and that the close faunal affinities between eastern North America and eastern Asia in the late Tertiary period are consistent with the contemporaneous botanical record.     

Soil invertebrate fauna enhances grassland succession and diversity

One of the most important areas in ecology is to elucidate the factors that drive succession in ecosystems and thus influence the diversity of species in natural vegetation. Significant mechanisms in this process are known to be resource limitation and the effects of aboveground vertebrate herbivores. More recently, symbiotic and pathogenic soil microbes have been shown to exert a profound effect on the composition of vegetation and changes therein. However, the influence of invertebrate soil fauna on succession has so far received little attention. Here we report that invertebrate soil fauna might enhance both secondary succession and local plant species diversity. Soil fauna from a series of secondary grassland succession stages selectively suppress early successional dominant plant species, thereby enhancing the relative abundance of subordinate species and also that of species from later succession stages. Soil fauna from the mid-succession stage had the strongest effect. Our results clearly show that soil fauna strongly affects the composition of natural vegetation and we suggest that this knowledge might improve the restoration and conservation of plant species diversity.     

南京典型城市道路植物多样性与土壤因子的耦合关系

目的 植物-土壤系统的作用机制复杂,揭示城市道路绿地植物群落正向演替的限制因子,筛选配置最优的植物群落类型,为城市道路绿化景观再设计提供数据支撑,也为城市道路绿化带土壤管护提供理论指导。方法 以南京市大气污染程度排名前列的3条城市道路(江北大道、诚信大道和仙林大道)为研究对象,选取典型的植物群落进行实地勘察和土壤采样分析,根据植物的生活型划分群落类别(单层群落、双层群落、3层群落和4层群落),采用灰色关联度分析方法测算不同类型群落的物种多样性与土壤因子的耦合关系。结果 随群落层次结构的增加,城市道路绿地的植物群落物种多样性水平呈现升高趋势。4层群落的土壤含水率普遍较高;土壤有机质、土壤全氮和土壤速效钾的含量随群落层次的增加呈现增大趋势。土壤因子更易影响植物的分布,而对植物种类的影响最小;土壤全钾、土壤容重、土壤有机质、土壤全氮、土壤全磷和土壤pH是植物生长的主要限制因子,平均关联系数均大于0.90,与物种多样性的关联度极强。随群落层次结构的增加,物种多样性与土壤因子的耦合度增大。结论 结构层次丰富的植物群落,其生态系统稳定性强,因此,城市道路绿化景观建设中,在考虑环境条件和交通需求的基础之上,植物群落的构建应首先推荐结构丰富的4层群落。     

Introduced species and their missing parasites

Damage caused by introduced species results from the high population densities and large body sizes that they attain in their new location. Escape from the effects of natural enemies is a frequent explanation given for the success of introduced species. Because some parasites can reduce host density and decrease body size, an invader that leaves parasites behind and encounters few new parasites can experience a demographic release and become a pest. To test whether introduced species are less parasitized, we have compared the parasites of exotic species in their native and introduced ranges, using 26 host species of molluscs, crustaceans, fishes, birds, mammals, amphibians and reptiles. Here we report that the number of parasite species found in native populations is twice that found in exotic populations. In addition, introduced populations are less heavily parasitized (in terms of percentage infected) than are native populations. Reduced parasitization of introduced species has several causes, including reduced probability of the introduction of parasites with exotic species (or early extinction after host establishment), absence of other required hosts in the new location, and the host-specific limitations of native parasites adapting to new hosts.     

Biodiversity as a barrier to ecological invasion

Biological invasions are a pervasive and costly environmental problem that has been the focus of intense management and research activities over the past half century. Yet accurate predictions of community susceptibility to invasion remain elusive. The diversity resistance hypothesis, which argues that diverse communities are highly competitive and readily resist invasion, is supported by both theory and experimental studies conducted at small spatial scales. However, there is also convincing evidence that the relationship between the diversity of native and invading species is positive when measured at regional scales. Although this latter relationship may arise from extrinsic factors, such as resource heterogeneity, that covary with diversity of native and invading species at large scales, the mechanisms conferring greater invasion resistance to diverse communities at local scales remain unknown. Using neighbourhood analyses, a technique from plant competition studies, we show here that species diversity in small experimental grassland plots enhances invasion resistance by increasing crowding and species richness in localized plant neighbourhoods. Both the establishment (number of invaders) and success (proportion of invaders that are large) of invading plants are reduced. These results suggest that local biodiversity represents an important line of defence against the spread of invaders.     

外来植物种的入侵危害及预防对策

外来植物种通过一定的传播途径从其原产地传入本地,并能在本地自然状态下定居、繁殖和扩展,对本地生态系统产生一定的影响和危害.外来种入侵已成为当今世界最为棘手的生态环境难题,它不仅危害入侵地区生态系统的结构和功能,同时也是生物多样性下降的主要原因之一.对已入侵的外来植物种可采用机械法、化学法、生物防治法加以控制,同时要采取相应的策略,预防新的外来植物种入侵和扩展.