Legacy effects of historical woodland changes on contemporary plant functional composition

Considering the legacy of plant functional composition can help assess ecosystem functions and ecosystem services across different spatial scales under land cover changes.Woody plants likely respond to natural and anthropogenic perturbations due to historical events(e.g.,agricultural development),thus contemporary plant functional composition may be explained by historical woodland change,a type of land cover change.We propose that historical woodland changes may have legacy effects on contemporary plant functional composition.Here,we used partial least squares regression and linear mixed model analyses to test this assumption by coupling data on community weighted means(CWM)and community weighted variance(CWV)of vegetation plots and calculating the time of woodland existence across different periods from AD 0 to 2017.We found that the legacy effects of historical land cover changes on CWM and CWV during the existence time of woodland,particularly from AD 0 to 900,were drivers of contemporary plant functional composition at large spatial scales.Furthermore,historical woodland changes can affect contemporary plant functional composition,depending on the biome type.Particularly,the CWM of plant height,seed mass,and seed length showed the strongest correlations with woodland changes from AD 1910 to 2010 in tropics with year-round rain,and the CWM of leaf traits correlated with woodland changes from AD 0 to 1700 in tropics with summer rain.Our study provides the effective evidence on the legacy of historical woodland changes and the effects on contemporary plant functional composition,which is crucial with respect to effective management of plant diversity and assessing ecosystem functions and services from local to global scales over time.

Do aeolian deposits and sand encroachment intensity shape patterns of vegetation diversity and plant functional traits in desert pavements?

The effects of sand encroachment on composition,diversity,and functional patterns of vegetation in drylands are rarely studied,and yet addressing these aspects is important to deepen our understanding of the biodiversity conservation.This study aimed to investigate the effect of sand encroachment on plant functional biodiversity of desert pavements(gravel deserts)in the Sahara Desert of Algeria.Plants were sampled and analyzed in three desert pavements with different levels of sand encroachment(LSE)and quantity of aeolian deposits(low,LLSE;medium,MLSE;and high,HLSE).Within the sample-plot area(100 m^(2)),density of every plant species was identified and total vegetation cover was determined.Plant taxonomic and functional diversity were analyzed and compared between LSE.Result showed that 19 plant species in desert pavements were classified into 18 genera and 13 families.Asteraceae and Poaceae were the most important families.The species Anabasis articulata(Forssk)Moq.characterized LLSE desert pavements with 11 species,whereas Thymelaea microphylla Coss.&Durieu ex Meisn.and Calobota saharae(C&D)Boatwr.&van Wyk were dominant species of desert pavements with MLSE(14 species)and HLSE(10 species),respectively.The highest values of species richness and biodiversity were recorded in desert pavements with MLSE,while low values of these ecological parameters were obtained in desert pavements with HLSE.Desert pavements with LLSE were characterized with the highest values of species abundances.Plant communities were dominated by chamaephytes,anemochorous,arido-active,and competitive stress-tolerant plants.The increase in LSE along the gradient from LLSE to HLSE induced significant changes in plant community variables including decreases in plant density,plant rarity,lifeform composition,morphological type,and aridity adaptation.Desert pavements with HLSE favor the degradation of vegetation and trigger biodiversity erosion.

Classification of plant functional types based on the nutrition traits： a case study on alpine meadow community in the Zoigê Plateau

The ecological concept of Plant Functional Types(PFTs), which refers to the assemblage of plants with certain functional traits, has been introduced for the study of plant responses to the environment change and human disturbance. Taking the alpine meadow community in the Zoigê Plateau as a study case, this paper classified PFTs in terms of plant nutrition traits. The sequential results are as follows.(1) The main herbages in the Zoigê Plateau included 16 species in 5 families. Among the five families, Cyperaceae vegetation accounted for 81.37%of herbage area in total, while the remaining 4families occupied less than 20%. As for the species,Kobresia setchwanensis Hand.-Maizz. was dominant,accounting for 48.74% of the total area; while the remaining 51.26% was comprised of Polygonum viviparum L., Anaphalis fiavescens Hand.-Mazz.,Stipa aliena Keng and other species.(2) By using the Principal Component Analysis(PCA), the assessment of herbages nutrition was carried out based on the comprehensive multi-index evaluation model.Polygonum viviparum L. had the highest nutritional value score(1.43), and Stipa aliena Keng had the lowest(-1.40). Nutritional value of herbage species had a significantly positive correlation with altitude(P<0.01) in the Zoigê Plateau.(3) Based on the nutritional values, herbages in the Zoigê Plateau could be grouped into 3 nutrition PFTs(high, medium and low) by using the Natural Breaks(Jenks) method.

Host plant traits play a crucial role in shaping the composition of epiphytic microbiota in the arid desert,Northwest China

Phyllosphere microorganisms are a crucial component of environmental microorganisms,highly influenced by host characteristics,and play a significant role in plant health and productivity.Nonetheless,the impact of host characteristics on shaping phyllosphere microbial communities of plants with different life forms remains ambiguous.Utilizing high-throughput sequencing technology,this study analyzed the diversity and community composition of phyllosphere epiphytic microorganisms(e.g.,bacteria and fungi)of various plant life forms in the hinterland of the Gurbantunggut Desert,Northwest China.Functional annotation of prokaryotic taxa(FAPROTAX)and fungi function guild(FUNGuild)were employed to assess the ecological functions of microorganisms and to investigate the role of stochastic and deterministic processes in shaping phyllosphere microbial communities.Result showed a diverse array of phyllosphere epiphytic microorganisms in the desert plants,with Proteobacteria,Cyanobacteria,and Actinobacteriota dominating bacterial community,while Ascomycota and Basidiomycota were prevalent in fungal community.Comparison across different plant life forms highlighted distinct microbial communities,indicating strong filtering effects by plant characteristics.FAPROTAX prediction identified intracellular parasites(accounting for 27.44%of bacterial community abundance),chemoheterotrophy(10.12%),and phototrophy(17.41%)as the main functions of epiphytic bacteria on leaves of different life form plants.FUNGuild prediction indicated that phyllosphere epiphytic fungi primarily served as Saprotrophs(81.77%),Pathotrophs(17.41%),and Symbiotrophs(0.82%).Co-occurrence network analysis demonstrated a predominance of positive correlations among different microbial taxa.Raup-Crick dissimilarity index analysis revealed that deterministic processes predominantly influenced phyllosphere bacterial and fungal community assembly.Variance partitioning analysis and random forest modeling suggested that plant leaf functional traits significantly impacted both bacterial and fungal community composition,with fungal community composition showing a closer association with leaf nutrients and physiology compared with bacterial community composition.The distinct responses of bacterial and fungal communities to plant traits were attributed to the differing properties of bacteria and fungi,such as bacteria having higher potential dispersal rates and broader ecological niches than fungi.Overall,the results indicate that phyllosphere bacterial and fungal communities undergo similar community assembly processes,with fungi being more influenced by plant characteristics than bacteria.These findings offer novel insights into the ecology of phyllosphere microbial communities of desert plants.

Trait-based representation of hydrological functional properties of plants in weather and ecosystem models

Land surface models and dynamic global vegetation models typically represent vegetation through coarse plant functional type groupings based on leaf form, phenology, and bioclimatic limits. Although these groupings were both feasible and functional for early model generations, in light of the pace at which our knowledge of functional ecology, ecosystem demographics, and vegetation-climate feedbacks has advanced and the ever growing demand for enhanced model performance, these groupings have become antiquated and are identified as a key source of model uncertainty. The newest wave of model development is centered on shifting the vegetation paradigm away from plant functional types(PFTs)and towards flexible trait-based representations. These models seek to improve errors in ecosystem fluxes that result from information loss due to over-aggregation of dissimilar species into the same functional class. We advocate the importance of the inclusion of plant hydraulic trait representation within the new paradigm through a framework of the whole-plant hydraulic strategy. Plant hydraulic strategy is known to play a critical role in the regulation of stomatal conductance and thus transpiration and latent heat flux. It is typical that coexisting plants employ opposing hydraulic strategies, and therefore have disparate patterns of water acquisition and use. Hydraulic traits are deterministic of drought resilience, response to disturbance, and other demographic processes. The addition of plant hydraulic properties in models may not only improve the simulation of carbon and water fluxes but also vegetation population distributions.

Variations in the Volatile Organic Compound Emission Potential of Plant Functional Groups in the Temperate Grassland Vegetation of Inner Mongolia, China

Abstract: The biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOC) emitted by the vegetation of a terrestrial ecosystem play a key role in both regional air quality and tropospheric chemistry. To describe the general emission properties of VOC of different plant functional groups (PFG) in a typical temperate grassland in Inner Mongolia, China, we randomly selected 175 plant species and measured the quantities of isoprene and monoterpene in situ. Results showed that most plants had low VOC emission potential at the species level, especially for some dominant plants, such as Leymus chinensis Tzvel., Stipa grandis Smirn., and Agropyron cristatum Gaertn. At the PFG level, the lowest VOC emission potential was found for perennial rhizome grasses, a major PFG in a typical temperate grassland ecosystem. The effects of overgrazing and subsequent vegetation succession on the emission of VOC by different plant life form functional groups (PLFG) were also discussed.

Features on N/P ratio of plants with different functional groups between two types of steppe in semi-arid area

The differences in nitrogen/phosphorus(N/P)ratios of different functional groups in ecology are more helpful in explaining species competition and community dynamics.Based on the functional groups of plant growth type,carbon metabolism pathway,root type and phylogenetic type,we analyzed characteristics of leaf N/P ratios of 77 species in Sanggendalai(typical grassland zone)of Zhenglan Banner,Inner Mongolia,China and 91 species in the Habahu National Nature Reserve(desertified grassland zone)in Yanchi County of Ningxia,China.The results show that the N/P ratio(16.91)of C3 plants in the desertified steppe was significantly larger than that(12.72)in the typical steppe,but there was no significant difference between the N/P ratios of C4 plants in the two zones.There was no significant difference in N/P ratios between C3 plants and C4 plants in the same zone.Similarly,the N/P ratio(16.60)of dicotyledons in desertified steppe were significantly higher than that(12.98)in typical steppe,while differences in N/P ratios between monocotyledonous plants of the two zones was not significant,and there existed no significant difference in N/P ratios between dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous plants in the same zone.The N/P ratio had significant difference between gramineous and non-gramineous plants in the typical steppe but not in the desertified steppe,but there existed no significant difference in N/P ratios among different root types of perennial herbaceous plants in the same type of steppe or between two types of steppe.Thus,different features on the N/P ratios of C3 plants and dicotyledonous plants between typical steppe and desertified steppe may lead to different growth status of plants,and the N/P ratio stoichiometric of the same plant functional group may be a foundation of the changes of a plant community.

Functions, Selection and Collocation of Greening Plants in the Construction of Ecological Roads

From the perspective of ecological construction of roads, the reduction and purifying effects of greening plants on noise, raising dust and automobile exhaust, selection principles of arbors, shrubs, ground cover plants and herbaceous fl owers, and the methods of collocating arbors shrubs and grass in the construction of ecological roads were discussed in this study.

Unit 1 of Ling’ao Nuclear Power Plant phase II underwent hot functional test successfully

On February 25, the Unit 1 of Ling’ao Nuclear Power Plant phase II underwent a 41-day-long hot functional test successfully with its major systems satisfying the requirements for

Biological Function of REE in Plants & Microbes

Rare earth elements （REE） and their compounds years. The bioinorganic chemical research of REE during the are widely applied in agronomic and medical fields for many past few years indicates that REE play important roles in the promotion of photosynthetic rate as well as root absorption, regulation of hormone and nitrogen metabolism, and suppression of microbes, etc. The metallic or non-metallic targets of key biomolecule in various physiological processes can be chosen by REE for the chelation or replacement, which enables REE to regulate the biological functions or behaviors of those biomolecule and consequently leads to significant embodiment of biological function of REE in plants and microbes. Overdose of REE, however, shows an inhibitory effect on living organisms. Therefore, this paper proposes two suggestions that will be available in the extension of full use of REE＇s biological function. One is to obey the dose law of REE and control REE concentrations within a safe range. The other is to further test the bioaccumulation and long-period influence of REE on organisms.

基于植物功能群的生态系统服务形成与维持机制研究

生态系统可以从“结构-功能-服务”3个层次来理解,其中服务是人类的主观感受或效用。维持高质量的生态系统服务还需从生态系统的自然属性入手。结构和功能是生态系统服务形成和维持的内在机制,而植物是生态系统结构和功能的核心驱动力。植物功能群具有特定功能的植物组合,其中优势植物功能群控制着生态系统的结构和功能。生态系统服务的概念、分类与植物功能群密切相关,植物功能群是生态系统与生态系统服务间更直接的桥梁。建立生态系统服务与植物功能群间的联系,使相关研究有更明确的指向,在深化理论研究的同时使研究成果更容易落地。生态系统服务的形成、维持机制与植物功能群的内在联系主要体现在4个主要方面:(1)植物功能群的内在适应性特征和外在效应是生态系统服务形成的基础;(2)植物功能群的多功能特性为生态系统服务协同提供了可能;(3)植物功能群间替代和互补效应可以提升生态系统服务质量和稳定性;(4)植物功能群能够提供基于自然的生态系统服务修复问题解决方案。

The unimodal latitudinal pattern of K,Ca and Mg concentration and its potential drivers in forest foliage in eastern China

Potassium(K),calcium(Ca),and magnesium(Mg)are essential elements with important physiological functions in plants.Previous studies showed that leaf K,Ca,and Mg concentrations generally increase with increasing latitudes.However,recent meta-analyses suggested the possibility of a unimodal pattern in the concentrations of these elements along latitudinal gradients.The authenticity of this unimodal latitudinal pattern,however,requires validation through large-scale field experimental data,and exploration of the underlying mechanisms if the pattern is confirmed.Here,we collected leaves of common species of woody plants from 19 montane forests in the north-south transect of eastern China,including 322 species from 160 genera,67 families;and then determined leaf K,Ca,and Mg concentrations to explore their latitudinal patterns and driving mechanisms.Our results support unimodal latitudinal patterns for all three elements in woody plants across eastern China,with peak values at latitude 36.5±1.0°N.The shift of plant-functional-type compositions from evergreen broadleaves to deciduous broadleaves and to conifers along this latitudinal span was the key factor contributing to these patterns.Climatic factors,mainly temperature,and to a lesser extent solar radiation and precipitation,were the main environmental drivers.These factors,by altering the composition of plant communities and regulating plant physiological activities,influence the latitudinal patterns of plant nutrient concentrations.Our findings also suggest that high leaf K,Ca,and Mg concentrations may represent an adaptive strategy for plants to withstand water stress,which might be used to predict plant nutrient responses to climate changes at large scales,and broaden the understanding of biogeochemical cycling of K,Ca,and Mg.

新外来中药香蜂草的药性探讨

香蜂草为唇形科植物Melissa officinalis L.的叶。原产于欧洲地中海地区,欧洲、北美、亚洲各大洲均有分布,我国的中南、西南部以及台湾也有野生种分布。香蜂草在国外有长久的应用历史,被广泛应用于治疗精神和中枢神经系统疾病、心血管疾病等。也作为抗焦虑药、睡眠辅助剂以及解毒剂。目前香蜂草在我国作为香料使用,并有多种以香蜂草为原料的专利。中医药学自古就广泛吸收外来药物不断扩大我国中药资源,如藿香、丁香、木香等源自域外的“香药”至今也是我国的常用中药。将香蜂草列入中药潜在的引入对象进行研究,以其临床研究和应用文献为基础,结合中医药理论对香蜂草的中药药性进行理论分析。结果为香蜂草药性辛、凉,归心、肝经,具有宁心安神益智、疏肝解郁、缓急止痛的功效,用于治疗心神不宁,失眠,健忘,心悸;情志抑郁,烦躁多虑;腹痛、牙痛等症状。

苜蓿草田间作功能植物对苜蓿蓟马及天敌小花蝽种群的影响

本研究将苜蓿Medicago sativa与百脉根Lotus corniculatus、红豆草Onobrychis viciifolia、白三叶Trifolium repens、小冠花Coronilla varia及除虫菊Tanacetum cinerariifolium等不同功能植物以不同比例进行间作,在田间系统监测基础上,研究基于有害生物推拉策略和生物多样性保护的苜蓿蓟马生态调控技术。结果表明,苜蓿刈割前,苜蓿草田内蓟马及天敌小花蝽Orius similis的数量均显著高于对应间作的功能植物区;刈割1周后,与百脉根、红豆草、白三叶和除虫菊间作的苜蓿草田内小花蝽种群密度显著下降,对应的功能植物区内小花蝽数量显著上升,其中,百脉根、红豆草及白三叶3种功能植物区内小花蝽种群密度分别由刈割前的3.67头/10复网、3.00头/10复网、3.67头/10复网增加到了刈割1周后的11.50头/10复网、29.17头/10复网、15.00头/10复网,分别是刈割前的3.13倍、9.73倍和4.09倍,苜蓿草田内蓟马种群密度显著下降,对应不同功能植物区内蓟马种群密度不同,在红豆草和白三叶功能植物区内显著升高,而在其它区内刈割前无显著差异;刈割2周后,苜蓿再生期蓟马种群密度显著上升,各功能植物区内的小花蝽密度显著下降,与其间作的苜蓿草田内小花蝽种群数量显著增加;刈割3~4周后,随着苜蓿草田内蓟马种群密度的下降,其天敌小花蝽种群数量显著下降,不同功能植物区间小花蝽及蓟马种群密度变化不显著。苜蓿与五种功能植物以4:1比例间作对蓟马的调控效果由高到低依次为白三叶,除虫菊,红豆草,百脉根,小冠花。本研究为保护苜蓿草田生态系统天敌发挥生态效能提供可借鉴的策略与方法。

甘南高寒草甸退化对植物功能群物种多样性与物种多度分布的影响

【目的】探究甘南高寒草甸植物功能群多样性及其物种多度分布对退化的响应,分析随退化程度的加深不同植物功能群的群落构建机理及资源利用方式。【方法】研究以甘南高寒草甸为对象,采用样地调查法收集数据,使用物种多度模型对其进行拟合分析,并采用双向聚类分析对群落物种进行分类。【结果】随着退化程度的加深,植被优势种以禾本科和莎草科植物为主,逐渐变为杂类草功能群植物为主,杂类草功能群在群落多样性分布中起主导作用;全部物种多度分布随着退化程度的加深发生变化,其中,无退化草甸的最优拟合模型是VOLKOV,轻度退化草甸的最优拟合模型是GEO,中度退化草甸和重度退化草甸的最优拟合模型为BRO,资源分配模式由随机分配转向固定分配的分配模式;禾草功能群的最优拟合模型以生态位模型为主,资源分配方式由固定分配和随机分配共同主导,豆科功能群的最优拟合模型是BRO,资源分配方式以固定分配为主,杂类草功能群的最优拟合模型从中性模型向生态位模型转变,与全部物种多度分布的最优模型基本一致,且资源分配由随机分配向固定分配转变。【结论】杂类草功能群是影响群落物种多度分布的主要原因,但是禾草和豆科功能群的贡献也不可忽视。

Differences in leaf functional traits between exotic and native Compositae plant species

This study aims to determine the differences in leaf functional traits and phenotypic plasticity of leaf functional traits between exotic and native Compositae plant species. Leaf width of exotic plants was significantly lower than that of native species. Leaf length, specific leaf area(SLA), single-leaf wet and dry weights, leaf moisture, and leaf thickness of exotic plants were also lower than those of native species but not significantly. The leaf shape index of exotic plants was higher than that of native species but not significantly. This implies that the relatively low leaf construction cost for exotic plants may play an important role in the success of their invasions. The higher leaf shape index and lower leaf width of exotic plants can enhance the efficiency of resource capture(especially sunlight capture) via adjustments to leaf shape and size, thereby increasing the survival of exotic plants. The plasticity indices of single-leaf wet weight and leaf thickness of exotic plants were significantly lower than those of native species. The lower phenotypic plasticity of single-leaf wet weight and leaf thickness of exotic plants may be the result of a cost to plasticity. That is, if the plasticity is too high, the fitness of plant species might be reduced sharply under unfavorable environments. Thus, lower plasticity of leaf functional traits may compensate for the negative impact of adverse environments and stabilize leaf construction costs for exotic plants. Moreover, reduced phenotypic plasticity might be one of the key competitive strategies by which exotic plants successfully invade new habitats. Overall, exotic plants did not always exhibit higher values of leaf functional traits or increased phenotypic plasticity of leaf functional traits compared with native species.

我国植物油料油脂加工技术新进展

植物油料油脂加工的主要内容包括油脂及蛋白的初加工和深加工技术、综合利用技术、工程装备技术及品质控制技术等,概述了我国植物油料油脂加工技术新进展。我国已初步建立起基于营养和安全为评价标准的食用植物油精准适度加工体系;突破了零反式脂肪酸专用油脂生产技术,能满足各种食品加工场景需求;功能油脂制备技术成果渐次落地,推动产业进入蓬勃发展期,多款结构脂产品进入量产,跨国公司垄断局面得以改变;新油源开发方兴未艾;植物蛋白结构功效关系基础研究促进了植物基产品开发;油料油脂综合利用规模扩大;食用油安全防控技术、绿色储油技术研究不断深入;大型浸出器和浓缩蛋白制取装备的设计和制造水平达到国际先进水平;智能化工厂建设支撑我国油料油脂加工各项经济技术指标处于世界领先地位。

Functional Enrichment of Utopian Distribution of Plant Life-Forms

Adaptive fuzzy neural inference systems are used to illustrate the primary nodal number of plant life-forms. Categorization of two candidate areas is carried out using the water-energy dynamic (for Ecuador, South America) and Macedonia, Southern Europe), within which the life-form spectra are distributed. Genetic optimization methods are used to expand the primary nodal number to the complete number of life-form categories. The distribution of the elements exhibits a stochastic, binomial distribution and the utopia line and curve are summarized which enhance accuracy of the climatic data and of the consequent numbers of plant species occurrences. Expansion of the distribution of each life-form category is approximated within the Z utopia hyperplane with use of the functional approximation algorithm. This process gives additional structure and informative value to the Z plane, enhancing our ability to make informed policy decisions concerning species and ecosystem conservation.

植物活性成分提取技术研究进展

利用先进方法和技术提取植物中具有生物活性的化合物,并将其用于功能性食品、保健品、药品等的开发与生产中,是相关领域的研究热点之一。本文综述了植物活性成分提取技术的研究进展,为进一步开发植物资源提供了重要参考。