Diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in the rhizosphere of Asteriscus maritimus (L.) Less., a representative plant species in arid and saline Mediterranean ecosystems

Native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) from saline areas could be a critical issue for success in recovering areas affected by salinity, either in natural environments or in agricultural lands. Despite its important role, there is little information on the distribution and abundance of the different mycorrhizal associations in saline environments in European Mediterranean areas. In the present study the community of AMF is investigated in the rhizosphere of a representative plant species adapted to saline Mediterranean areas, Asteriscus maritimus. Samples of the rhizosphere of twenty plants were taken from the most arid region in Europe, Cabo de Gata Natural Park, in two different areas: a dune and a salt marsh. A total of 30 AMF species belonging to three classes, five orders, nine families and 13 genera within the phylum Glomeromycota were found from both sites. In the rhizosphere of the salt marsh spore densities were six times higher than in the dunes, although the diversity was similar in both systems. One new AMF species has been described in the dune and four species could not be unequivocally identified, suggesting possible new species.     

Biogeographical patterns of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi diversity in China's grasslands

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF) are universally mutualistic symbionts that colonize the fine roots of most vascular plants. However, the biogeographical patterns and driving factors of AMF diversity of plant roots in grasslands are not well investigated. In this study, we used high-throughput sequencing techniques and bioinformatics to evaluate the AMF richness of 333 individual plant roots in 21 natural grassland ecosystems in northern China, including the Loess Plateau(LP), the Mongolian Plateau(MP), and the Tibetan Plateau(TP). The AMF richness showed a significant parabolic trend with increasing longitude. In regional situations, the AMF richness in the grasslands of the MP(60.4 ± 1.47) was significantly higher than those of the LP(46.4 ± 1.43) and TP(44.3 ± 1.64). Plant traits(including plant families, genera, and functional groups) explained the most variation in the AMF richness across China's grasslands, followed by energy and water; soil properties had the least effects. The results showed the biogeographical patterns of the AMF richness and the underlying dominant factors, providing synthetic data compilation and analyses in the AMF diversity in China's grasslands.     

丛枝菌根真菌在荒漠化防治中的作用及应用潜力

丛枝菌根真菌是重要的微生物资源,能与绝大部分植物根系形成共生关系,其共生体系在生态环境建设和荒漠化防治中具有较高的应用价值.丛枝菌根真菌能够增加植物对营养元素的吸收,促进植物生长,增强植物的抗旱、耐盐碱、抗病以及重金属耐性,提高植物对胁迫环境的适应性.从丛枝菌根真菌的植物生理学作用、对荒漠化地区植物群落的影响、在荒漠化...     

Interaction dynamics of avian frugivores and plants in a Chilean Mediterranean shrubland

Studies of plant-frugivore interactions are important for identifying the roles that biotic seed vectors play in seed dispersal, and ultimately plant recruitment. In a subandean shrubland of central Chile, 50% of total flora (14 species) has fleshy fruits dispersed by birds. We examined two aspects of frugivore-plant interaction in this system: the structure of the seed-dispersal network, to predict the effect of hypothetical frugivore species loss for seed dispersal and disperser effectiveness, by analyzing whether birds contribute equally to the removal of seeds from different shrub species. We show that the seed-dispersal network is highly and significantly nested, resulting in a core of interactions among generalist vertebrates and plant species. A reduction in the populations of the three main avian generalists, Turdus falcklandii, Mimus thenca and Elaenia albiceps, would disrupt seed dispersal and natural regeneration for most woody species. Monte Carlo simulations showed that the network was robust to the random loss of frugivorous species but highly sensitive to the loss of generalist species first. Mist-net sampling of birds corroborated that most fruit removal was effected by E. albiceps and T. falcklandii, highlighting the importance of frugivore species identity on seed dispersal for the maintenance of Mediterranean shrublands.     

Effects of intermittent stream flow on macroinvertebrate community composition and biological traits in a naturally saline Mediterranean stream

As saline streams are geographically widespread in arid and semiarid regions, flow intermittence frequently occurs as another stressor factor apart from salinity. Rambla Salada is a temporary naturally saline stream with an intermittent reach upstream. This stream is an ideal scenario to study the effects of intermittent stream flow on macroinvertebrate community composition and biological traits in a naturally saline Mediterranean stream. This study analysed three sites with different hydrological regimes (one intermittent and two perennials). Flow intermittence exerted low pressure on the macroinvertebrate composition and biological traits which led to the loss of drought-intolerant species and taxa rather than acting as a selective force to promote desiccation-resistant taxa. Macroinvertebrate community at the intermittent site was a subset of the community found in perennial sites, and the presence of flier taxa at this site helped avoid flow cessation. These minor changes have consequences to assess the ecological quality of these saline temporary streams in the context of the Water Framework Directive, given the major differences revealed by some indices between the intermittent and perennial sites as the former obtained lower values due to the presence of few desiccation-intolerant species, which significantly increased the value of those biological indices.     

Social preferences regarding the delivery of ecosystem services in a semiarid Mediterranean region

The valuation of ecosystem services has primarily been conducted within the context of the economic value of these services to society. Ecosystem services research has since advanced to identify conflicts of interest between different sectors of society while prioritizing conservation actions. This approach can be important in semiarid ecosystems, where biodiversity conservation can be hindered by a lack of community awareness. In the south-eastern Iberian Peninsula, conservation is perceived by society as a barrier to the economic development provided by agricultural or tourism activities. We use the contingent valuation method to identify community perception and economic values of different ecosystem services provided by semiarid ecosystems in the south-eastern Iberian Peninsula. This method identifies the perceptions of individuals benefiting from ecosystem services and examines their willingness to pay for the maintaining of these ecosystem services. Results showed that most respondents recognized the importance of services to human well-being and were willing to conserve these services. Preferences for maintaining water and air quality showed that respondents understood the relationship between the conservation of ecosystem services and local well-being. However, responses varied greatly across categories of beneficiaries; this finding highlights a potential conflict of interest that should be considered in any decision-making processes.     

Multivariate analysis of landscape wildfire dynamics in a Mediterranean ecosystem of Greece

This paper focuses on spatial distribution of long-term fire patterns versus physical and anthropogenic elements of the environment that determine wildfire dynamics in Greece. Logistic regression and correspondence analysis were applied in a spatial database that had been developed and managed within a Geographic Information System. Cartographic fire data were statistically correlated with basic physical and human geography factors (geomorphology, climate, land use and human activities) to estimate the degree of their influence at landscape scale. Land cover types of natural and agricultural vegetation were the most influential factors for explaining landscape wildfire dynamics in conjunction with topography and grazing.     

Mediterranean dune vegetation: conservation of a threatened ecosystem in southern Spain

This paper investigates the plant diversity and current state of the vegetation of a little-known threatened dune complex located in Estepona (southern Spain). This littoral fringe has in the past 60 years experienced a continuous process of intensive occupation derived primarily from tourism and agriculture, which has led to the degradation of the fragile and dynamic coastal systems. Its diminished size and lack of legal protection make it vulnerable to a variety of anthropogenic stresses that threaten the survival of the system. Fieldwork has been the primary methodological procedure to conduct research, given the scarcity of previous studies. The results first of all provide a biogeographical and phytosociological view that elucidates the remarkable plant diversity of the area studied and the complete zonal structure of the communities that comprise the ecosystem. Secondly, a vegetal cartography was created (detail of 1: 2500) to characterize the distribution of flora. This exploration and mapping of vegetation are effective tools in forming a conservation proposal to combat anthropogenic conflicts that destabilize the system. In this sense, harmful human activities threatening the plant phytodiversity of the various strips of vegetation forming the dunes have also been identified.     

Synergistic combination of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria modulates morpho-physiological characteristics and soil structure in Nitraria tangutorum bobr. Under saline soil conditions

Nitraria tangutorum Bobr., a typical xero-halophyte, can be used for vegetation restoration and reconstruction in arid and semiarid regions affected by salinity. However, global climate change and unreasonable human activity have exacerbated salinization in arid and semi-arid regions, which in turn has led to the growth inhibition of halophytes, including N. tangutorum. Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi(AMF) and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria(PGPR) have the potential to improve the salt toleran...     

Is the analysis of plant community structure better than common species-diversity indices for assessing the effects of livestock grazing on a Mediterranean arid ecosystem?

Grazing in arid Mediterranean ecosystems brings about changes in species diversity, but the best way to measure such changes is unclear. In this study we compared various methods in order to identify indicators that might be useful for the management and conservation of grazed arid Mediterranean ecosystems.Changes in community structure and composition were compared along a previously studied grazing gradient in Cabo de Gata-Nijar Natural Park. Plant diversity was measured by calculating diversity (Shannon information index), evenness (Pielou index) and richness (species number). Rarefaction curves were used to measure plant species richness and the results were compared with traditional richness values. Community structure was measured as the percentage of bare ground and the coverage of overall perennial grasses, Stipa tenacissima L., perennial shrubs and annual plants. Our results showed that the proportion of bare ground, the cover of perennial shrubs and the relative abundance of S. tenacissima are good indicators of grazing effects on vegetation. Overall plant community structure was more sensitive to the grazing gradient than were the diversity indices. Finally, the adequacy of standardized methods for comparing species richness (i.e. rarefaction curves) along a grazing gradient are discussed.     

Dispersal of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and dark septate endophytes by Ctenomys cf. knighti (Rodentia) in the northern Monte Desert of Argentina

In arid and semi-arid environments, root-associated fungi may play a key role in plant communities (e.g., seedling establishment, nutrient acquisition, plant survival and heat tolerance). Several studies have shown the importance of small mammals as consumers and dispersal agents of mycorrhizal fungi spores in tropical and temperate ecosystems. However, little is known about the dispersal of infective propagules of endophytic fungi in arid and semi-arid ecosystems. This study analyzed the potential role of the subterranean rodent Ctenomys cf. knighti as a dispersal agent of root-associated fungi. In order to demonstrate this role, we analyzed: (1) the incidence of colonization of arbuscular mycorrhizae and dark septate endophytes on representative plant species of the Monte Desert; (2) the presence of fungal structures of arbuscular mycorrhizae and dark septate endophytes in C. cf. knighti fecal samples; and (3) the infectivity of the fungal propagules contained in the scat and their growth effects on nine native plant species. Data strongly suggest that this South American subterranean rodent may play a key role as a dispersal agent of arbuscular mycorrhizae and dark septate endophytes fungi in the arid environment of the northern Monte Desert of Argentina.     

Effects of climate change and urban development on the distribution and conservation of vegetation in a Mediterranean type ecosystem

Climate and land-use changes are projected to threaten biodiversity over this century. However, few studies have considered the spatial and temporal overlap of these threats to evaluate how ongoing land-use change could affect species ranges projected to shift outside conservation areas. We evaluated climate change and urban development effects on vegetation distribution in the Southwest ecoregion, California Floristic Province, USA. We also evaluated how well a conservation network protects suitable habitat for rare plant species under these change projections and identified primary sources of uncertainty. We used consensus-based maps from three species distribution models (SDMs) to project current and future suitable habitat for 19 species representing different functional types (defined by fire-response – obligate seeders, resprouting shrubs – and life forms – herbs, subshrubs), and range sizes (large/common, small/rare). We used one spatially explicit urban growth projection; two climate models, emission scenarios, and probability thresholds applied to SDMs; and high-resolution (90 m) environmental data. We projected that suitable habitat could disappear for 4 species and decrease for 15 by 2080. Averaged centroids of suitable habitat (all species) were projected to shift tens (up to hundreds) of kilometers. Herbs showed a small-projected response to climate change, while obligate seeders could suffer the greatest losses. Several rare species could lose suitable habitat inside conservation areas while increasing area outside. We concluded that (i) climate change is more important than urban development for vegetation habitat loss in this ecoregion through 2080 due to diminishing amounts of undeveloped private land in this region; (ii) the existing conservation plan, while extensive, may be inadequate to protect plant diversity under projected patterns of climate change and urban development, (iii) regional assessments of the dynamics of the drivers of biodiversity change based on high-resolution environmental data and consensus predictive mapping, such as this study, are necessary to identify the species expected to be the most vulnerable and to meaningfully inform regional-scale conservation.     

极端干旱区胡杨根围丛枝菌根真菌的分离与鉴

 以极端干旱区塔里木河下游处于干旱胁迫下的天然胡杨为研究对象,采用传统形态鉴定法和分子生物技术,研究了胡杨根围土壤中丛枝菌根真菌。结果表明：处于干旱胁迫下的胡杨根围土壤中丛枝菌根真菌孢子密度较低,且孢子种类单一,经形态鉴定和分子生物学鉴定,孢子为球囊霉属的摩西球囊霉〖WTBX〗Glomus mosseae[WTBZ] （T.H. Nicolson &; Gerd.）,孢子在土壤中单生、根内生或孢子果内形成;圆形,近圆形,直径150~220 μm,浅黄色至黄褐色;孢壁3层,L1和L2无色透明,L3浅黄至黄褐色。连孢菌丝单根,连点漏斗状。胡杨根系内存在丛枝菌根真菌的泡囊结构,分子检测表明摩西球囊霉[WTBX]Glomus mosseae[WTBZ]与胡杨根系形成共生关系,但是胡杨根系的菌根侵染率及根系的菌根侵染强度均不高。     

Camel grazing affects species diversity and community structure in the deserts of the UAE

Camel grazing plays a crucial role in the desert ecosystems of the UAE. In this study, we compare areas grazed by small antelope (Al Maha Resort – the AMR) with areas grazed by both camels and small antelope (Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve – the DDCR). A total of 126 plots were selected during the growing season 2006/07 on three soil substrates: gravel plains, sand flats and sand dunes. In each plot, several vegetation parameters were assessed: density, frequency, percent cover and diversity indices. The replacement of camels with wild antelope has significantly increased the number of species on gravel plains, vegetation density on sand dunes and diversity indices on both sand flats and sand dunes, but significantly decreased plant cover on sand flats and sand dunes. The increase in species diversity in the AMR was attributed to moderate grazing by antelope. Replacement of camels by antelope in the AMR has resulted in change in plant community composition of the three substrate types. Species recovered after protection from camel grazing are palatable, especially for camels, except Heliotropium kotschyi and Aerva javanica. The absence of most of the palatable species from the DDCR was attributed to both selective foraging and overgrazing by camels.     

The effects of the identity of shrub species on the distribution and diversity of ground arthropods in a sandy desert ecosystem of northwestern China

Shrub is an important factor on structuring ground arthropod communities in desert ecosystems. In this study, in order to determine how shrubs and their species influence ground arthropod distribution patterns in a sandy desert scrubland dominated by two different shrub species, Calligonum mongolicum and Nitraria sphaerocarpa, the ground arthropods were sampled with pitfall traps during spring, summer and autumn. At the community level, total arthropod abundance was shown to be significantly higher under shrubs than in intershrub bare areas in spring; similar patterns occurred in terms of the richness of arthropod groups in the spring and over three seasons, suggesting season-specific shrub presence effects on arthropod activity. In addition, more arthropods were found under N. sphaerocarpa shrubs than under C. rnongolicum shrubs in autumn, suggesting season-specific effects of shrub species of arthropod activity, whereas more arthropods taxa were captured under C. mongoIicum than N. sphaerocarpa. At the trophic group level, the abundances of predator and herbivore arthropods were significantly greater under shrubs than in intershrub bare habitats, whereas herbivore arthropods were more abundant under N. sphaerocarpa than C. rnongolicum, and an opposite rule was detected for predator arthropods At the family level, the mean abundances of Carabidae, Curculionidae, Gnaphosidae and Lycosidae were significantly higher in the shrub microhabitats than in the intershrub bare habitat, there was no significant difference between habitats on the mean abundances of Formicidae and Tenebrionidae. The study results suggested that shrub presence and shrub species variation are important determinants of ground arthropod assemblages in this desert ecosystem, but the responses of ar- thropods differed among trophic and taxonomic groups.     

Influence of aboveground vegetation on seed bank composition and distribution in a Great Basin Desert sagebrush community

The quantity, composition, and spatial dispersion of seed banks can greatly affect community dynamics. While seed banks of hot deserts have been studied extensively, little is known about seed banks in cold deserts, in particular the relationship between the seed bank and the aboveground vegetation. We investigated the relationship between the seed bank and aboveground vegetation and the effect of microhabitat (shrub interspace or beneath shrub) and aboveground community phase (high or low perennial bunchgrass cover) on the seed bank of a Great Basin Desert sagebrush community. The seed bank and aboveground vegetation differed in their most dominant species, resulting in moderately dissimilar species compositions as determined by Sørensen's similarity index and Bray–Curtis distance. In contrast, comparing the seed bank species composition to the aboveground vegetation structure (functional groups) using non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS) revealed a correspondence between the two communities. Shrub seed densities were higher beneath shrubs. Neither microhabitat nor community phase explained variation in total seed density or species richness. Therefore, our measures of the aboveground vegetation did not influence seed density across functional groups or species richness, and the similarity between the seed bank and aboveground vegetation varied depending on the aboveground organizational level used in comparisons.     

Plant macrofossil assemblages from surface sediment represent contemporary species and growth forms of aquatic vegetation in a shallow Mediterranean lake

Macrofossils are known as a useful tool in reconstructing their original plant communities. However, most studies have been focused on comparing the composition and distribution of living plant communities and their remains in temperate lakes. Mediterranean shallow lakes have been historically far less studied and little is known about the relationships between Mediterranean macrophyte communities and their remains. The aim of our study is to assess how contemporary aquatic macrophyte communities are represented by their sedimentary remains in terms of composition, distribution and concordance between the contemporary and the subfossil assemblages in a procrustean superimposition space, and to determine which surface sediment cores, collected along a depth gradient, may represent best the whole-lake macrofossil assemblage. These analyses were carried out for both species and macrophyte growth forms (submerged hydrophytes, floating-leaved hydrophytes, helophytes and charophytes) in order to check which of the two (species and growth forms) were represented best by their macro-remains. The most abundant present-day species (Myriophyllum alterniflorum DC. and Potamogeton trichoides L.) were under-represented while Characeae and some floating-leaved hydrophytes (Polygonum amphibium L. and Ranunculus peltatus Schrank) were over-represented in sedimentary samples. Additionally, macro-remains of submerged hydrophytes and helophytes were generally found in the central areas and in close proximity to contemporary vegetation, whereas floating-leaved hydrophytes distributed close to the near-shore. Notwithstanding some disparities between contemporary vegetation and their macrofossil assemblages, we found a good agreement between present-day and sedimentary datasets for both species and macrophyte growth forms. Furthermore, our study suggests that sediment cores from deep areas are more likely to represent best the whole-lake macrofossil assemblage because of their high diversity, equitability and heterogeneity. We conclude that aquatic macrophyte subfossils from the central areas of the basin can be a very useful tool in tracking the species composition and structure of the original macrophyte communities in shallow Mediterranean lakes. Additionally, when considering the use of macro-remains to reconstruct the composition and structure of macrophyte growth forms, we recommend a multicore approach that uses transects running from the shore to the lake center.     

Wood biomass functions for Acacia abyssinica trees and shrubs and implications for provision of ecosystem services in a community managed exclosure in Tigray,Ethiopia

In the Ethiopian highlands, remarkable recovery of vegetation has been achieved using exclosures, protecting vegetation against livestock browsing and firewood harvesting. But these emerging forest resources require tools for sustainable use, implying knowledge on biomass stocks and growth. In this study we developed biomass functions estimating total, stem and branch biomass from diameter at stump height (DSH) and tree height (H) for an 11-year old exclosure in Tigray, Ethiopia. In a systematic grid of 55 plots, DSH and H of all trees and shrubs were recorded. 40 Acacia abyssinica trees were selected for destructive sampling. Allometric relationships using a natural log–log model were established between aboveground biomass, DSH and H. Models with only DSH were found best with R² between 0.95 and 0.98. The functions were 10 fold cross-validated and R²_{_}cv ranged from 0.94 to 0.97, indicating good model performance. The models were found well in range with those of other seasonal forests in East Africa. Total aboveground biomass was estimated 25.4 ton ha⁻¹ with an annual production of 2.3 ton ha⁻¹, allowing sustainable wood fuel use for 4 persons ha⁻¹. The presented predictive functions help to harmonize between ecological and societal objectives and are as such a first step towards an integrated planning tool for exclosures.     

针阔混交林次生演替过程中的群落组成及元素迁移特征

针阔混交林次生演替过程中的群落组成及元素迁移特征具有重要的生态学意义。本文以吉林省左家自然保护区处不同演替阶段的红松针阔混交林群落为研究对象,采用野外定点调查和室内分析方法,对杂类草、榛子灌丛、蒙古栎林、蒙古栎－黑桦林、杂木林的群落组成、凋落物和土壤A、B层营养元素迁移特征进行对比分析。结果表明:群落由杂类草演替为杂木林群落,生境发生了由干热向温湿方向的变化;元素迁移由有机质的表聚为主过渡为有机质、粘粒和营养元素明显下移,pH值由偏中性转为弱酸性。     

Recovery rates of microbiotic crusts within a dune ecosystem in the Negev Desert

Despite the important role played by microbiotic crusts in desert ecosystems, data concerning their recovery rates are scarce and are mainly based on estimates that fluctuate between several years to a few hundred years. In order to study the recovery rates of microbiotic crusts inhabiting sand dunes in the western Negev Desert, Israel, annual measurements of chlorophyll, protein, carbohydrates and moss counts were carried out during 1990–1995. Measurements were taken in two pairs of plots (1.5–6.3 m²) established in each north- and south-facing aspect from which the upper 10 cm surface from one plot of each pair was removed. Recovery of the crusts was fast with surface-removed plots showing a complete recovery of chlorophyll a within 6–7 years, of protein within 6–8 years and of carbohydrates within 8–9 years. Recovery of the mosses was slightly longer at 17–22 years. The data are higher than the lower estimates of recovery but much lower than the higher estimates proposed in the literature. The data also suggest that upon prohibition of goat and sheep grazing (and consequently trampling) a relatively rapid stabilization process may take place in the north-eastern Sinai dune field.