Spatio-temporal variation in soil seed banks under contrasting grazing regimes following low and high seasonal rainfall in arid Namibia

In arid rangelands, soil seed bank characteristics vary with rainfall patterns, livestock pressure and habitat heterogeneity. We investigated this issue by assessing spatio-temporal patterns in soil seed bank density and richness in a degraded (heavy grazing) and non-degraded (light grazing) Nama Karoo ecosystem. To account for variation in seed distribution, different microsites were compared, and the effect of diaspore size on the patterning analyzed. Long-term heavy grazing increased seed densities and species richness of the soil seed bank by favoring small-seeded and tiny-seeded annual species. The spatial patterning of the soil seed bank was, however, similar to that found under sustainable grazing. The overall seed distribution was dictated by the small-scale environmental heterogeneity, which interacted with diaspore size. Our results suggest that the degraded environment is still efficient in controlling secondary dispersal and retaining seeds. This is through low stature barriers like surface rocks, which replace the function of grazing-sensitive perennial grasses in trapping and storing small diaspores. Soil seed banks were persistent and accumulated readily-germinable seeds over time. Observed temporal pattern across the study sites indicates that both condition and sequence of preceding rainfall seasons are likely to have a profound effect on soil seed banks of subsequent years.     

Post-fire plant recovery in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts of western North America

Increasing wildfire activity is one of the most pressing management concerns in arid lands of the American West. To examine post-fire recovery of perennial vegetation in the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts, I analyzed data systematically synthesized from the literature. Post-fire sprouting by desert perennials is generally limited but varies among species. For example, only 3–37% of Larrea tridentata sprouted compared to 64–86% of Yucca schidigera. Four of five studies measuring recovery of perennial cover reported close relationships (r² = 0.67–0.99) between time since fire (TSF) and cover. In fact, three studies measuring the longest TSF (≥37 years) found that cover had returned to within 10% cover of unburned areas within approximately 40 years. Conversely, post-fire species composition exhibited little convergence with unburned composition in five of six studies even 47 years after fire. Sphaeralcea ambigua, Gutierrezia spp., Achnatherum speciosum, Encelia spp., Hymenoclea salsola, and Baileya multiradiata had the highest burned:unburned abundance ratios, although overall post-fire community composition differed between the Mojave and Sonoran Deserts. Analyzing the literature as a whole suggested some generalities (e.g., that perennial cover reestablishes faster than composition), but more work is required for improving specific knowledge about plant recovery among fires, sites, species, and climates.     

Living where others dare not: Microhabitat distribution in Chorizanthe rigida,a serotinous desert annual

We studied the small scale distribution pattern of Chorizanthe rigida, a serotinous desert annual, in a shrub-mound-to-desert-pavement gradient. Two sites were established in the Mojave Desert and two sites where established in the Sonoran Desert. We placed transects along a soil surface gradient from shrub mounds to desert pavements, and measured land surface properties, soil characteristics, and C. rigida's small scale distribution. A Principal Components Analysis was done on the resulting site × soil variables matrix. C. rigida established preferentially in desert pavements outside shrub canopies. Pavements showed finer soil textures and higher electrical conductivities, while shrub mounds had sandy textures, low surface rockiness, higher nitrogen, and higher cover of annuals. We discuss a probable relationship between seed retention and the establishment on desert pavements: timing seed release allows this species to avoid wind- or animal-induced seed dispersal into shrub mounds and establish outside the nurse mounds, where most annual plants concentrate. The seeds encased in the serotinous involucres, released after rains, are dispersed by run-off into the desert pavements and transition zones where, once developed, the dead seed-retaining structures of adult C. rigida plants persist for years releasing seeds to subsequent rain events.     

科尔沁沙地围封草地种子库特征

科尔沁沙地自由放牧草地围封7a后土壤种子库中植物种类有25种,其中一、二年生植物 19种。土壤种子库密度 3314粒·m^-2,其中,黄蒿(Artemisia scoparia)、狗尾草(Setaria viridis)、三芒草(Aristida adscensinis)等一年生植物种子占总数的95.3%,而多年生植物仅占4.7%。若以单子叶和双子叶植物统计,单子叶植物种子数占14%,双子叶植物的种子数占86%,其中豆科植物仅占2.4%。土壤种子库植物的种子数与其相应植物在植被中出现频率有明显的相关性。从种子库组成分析,围封7a的草地植被维持在黄蒿-杂类草混合植被阶段。围封草地对农牧生产方式转换频繁的科尔沁沙地草地植被恢复起着"种子岛"作用,它们的存在可以缩短周围被干扰草地恢复的时间,应该加强围封草地的管理利用研究。     

Spiny plants in the archaeological record of Israel

The flora of Israel, like in other arid regions, has many spiny plants. We describe their existence in the archaeobotanical record of the last 780,000 years. Of 246 spiny/thorny species in the current flora, 19 are trees, 37 are shrubs, 50 are half-shrubs, 83 are perennial herbs and 57 are annuals. Forty-six (18.7%) spiny/thorny species were identified in the archaeobotanical record: 15 tree species (78.9%), ten shrub species (27.0%), six half-shrub species (12.0%), three perennial herb species (3.6%) and 12 annuals (21.1%). Because humans needed wood, trees were taken into their habitats. Since trees are better preserved than herbaceous plants and shrubs their remains are more common. Only a small proportion of the spiny/thorny half-shrubs and perennial herbs was found, probably because they are not a good source of firewood, construction materials, or human food. Spiny weeds, and segetal and ruderal plants entered the archaeobotanical remains either by chance, as seeds contaminating grain and fodder, growing at the sites, or through their deliberate use by ancient peoples as supplementary foods and medicine. The identified spiny/thorny species in the archaeobotanical record of Israel indicates that the flora was always spiny even before the significant human impact in the last several millennia.     

Soil disturbance by native animals along grazing gradients in an arid grassland

Domestic grazing animals that congregate around watering points in arid rangelands create clearly-defined trampling-induced grazing gradients. Grazing and trampling alter soil and vegetation condition, often leading to substantial reductions in ecological function. We measured foraging pits and mounds created by native soil foraging animals over 12 months at three watering points in a Chihuahuan Desert grassland, and hypothesized that the density and cover of their disturbances would increase with increasing distance from water. We recorded an average of 3756 disturbances ha⁻¹ and cover of 34.18 m² ha⁻¹ across the grazing gradients, which comprised mainly pits (43%) and mounds (25%) of heteromyid rodents, ants and spiders. Soil turnover was estimated at 1.43 m³ ha⁻¹. We detected no differences in density, cover, soil volume or composition of disturbances in relation to distance from water, but there were significant, though ill-defined, differences across the five sampling periods, with generally more activity in the warm–wet months. Small animal-created mounds and pits are important sources of soil and sinks for litter within grazing gradients, and may represent the only sites where plants can establish given a relaxation in grazing pressure.     

Seed bank dynamics in a Great Basin salt playa

Salt playa are common in the Great Basin area with halophytes as the dominant flora. The relationship between the seed bank flora and existing vegetation was studied. The seed bank flora showed a high degree of similarity with that of perennial and annual halophytic vegetation. Both above and below ground components of the community are dominated by halophyte species like Allenrolfea occidentalis, Holosteum umbellatum, Salicornia rubra and Salicornia utahensis. Seasonal variation in the seed bank was also studied for the 1995–1996 and 1996–1997 growing seasons. The seeds of A. occidentalis persist in the soil of the upper zone in large densities. Salicornia utahensis was much higher in the upper zone throughout the study period. Most species demonstrated the persistent nature of the seed banks with their numbers increasing after seed dispersal and decreasing in subsequent months. The variation illustrates the transient nature of the seed bank. We concluded that A. occidentalis is more dependent on a large seed bank for maintaining its population than the two annual halophytes. The significance of the seed bank and their variation due to environmental conditions for perennial and annual species of the Great Basin salt playa community is discussed.     

Erosion-reducing cover in semi-arid shrubland

Vegetation and small features of ground cover are known to affect erosion, but the areal extent of small features is rarely studied because they are difficult to estimate for large areas. We studied the variation in components of cover, with 67 sites representing the regional variation of vegetation and topography, in northwestern México. Surface-level cover, mostly by litter and gravel, was skewed to higher values than canopy cover, and only about one third of inter-plant points had bare soil. However, litter mass was not closely related to the spatial measure of ground cover. Drip height for intercepted precipitation was always <0.5 m and most obstructions were branches, not leaves. Soil roughness increased with slope gradient, suggesting it resulted from erosion. Neither land form (elevation, exposure and slope) nor species associations were strong factors in determining cover. However, the height of the vegetation was a good predictor of surface cover, drip height and canopy cover. Applied to erosion with the RUSLE model, this ground study estimated cover was better by more than an order of magnitude compared to a remote perception index. The dynamics of cover at surface level in arid and semi-arid shrublands warrants more attention.     

阿拉善高原荒漠植被组成分布特征及其环境解释 Ⅳ.土壤种子库特征研究

阿拉善荒漠土壤种子库种子密度主要受到水、热变化梯度的影响而呈现水平地带性分布规律。土壤种子库的分布主要集中在0～5cm的土层中,深层土壤很少有种子库的存在。阿拉善土壤种子库共统计到26种植物种子,分属9科22属,以禾本科最多;生活型以一年生草本植物种子的比例最高,达到51.36%。极端干旱环境条件下不存在有效的土壤种子库。土壤种子库多样性(Simpson指数)在东阿拉善草原化荒漠区为最高,在0.546～0.917之间;西阿拉善荒漠区次之为0.417～0.915;额济纳绿洲区为0.855,说明阿拉善荒漠区从东到西,土壤种子库物种多样性指数呈现下降的趋势。土壤种子库相似性研究表明,阿拉善荒漠不同区域的土壤种子库相似性差异较大,东阿拉善荒漠化草原植被区,相似性系数范围为0.17～0.67,西阿拉善典型荒漠区为0～0.75,额济纳戈壁荒漠区和东、西阿拉善土壤种子库的相似性系数范围是0～0.4。说明阿拉善荒漠区,由于生境和植被的异质性程度高,导致土壤种子库之间的差异性显著。阿拉善荒漠的土壤种子库和地上植被组成上差异显著,地上植被的优势种以旱生、中生灌木、半灌木为主,土壤种子库中以一年生、多年生草本为主,没有统计到灌木种子的存在,表明土壤种子库对于灌木层片更新和演替的贡献非常小。这些发现对了解干旱荒漠植被自然修复特点具有重要的潜在贡献。     

Mucilaginous seed coat structure ofCarrichtera annuaandAnastatica hierochunticafrom the Negev Desert highlands of Israel, and its adhesion to the soil crust

Carrichtera annuaandAnastatica hierochunticaare two desert annuals, the seeds of which are dispersed by rain. The seed coat surface and cross-section structure of the dry seeds of these plants were examined by SEM. The seeds were wetted by placing them on natural saturated desert soil crust in Petri dishes. The Petri dishes were placed in a freeze-dryer when the upper part of the seed surface was still dry. This enabled study by SEM of the developmental stages of the mucilage, from the first stage until the full formation of the mucilage. We argue that the ecological significance of the mucilage differs in winter and summer. In winter the main effect is in water retention and soil particle contact, while in summer dew may allow damage repair and priming for the germination process.     

Seasonal variation of the soil seed bank of grasses in central Argentina as related to grazing and shrub cover

The objectives of this research were to (a) study seasonal variation of the seed bank of grasses in two areas with different grazing history, (b) analyse the effect of the presence of shrubs on the seed bank and (c) study seed viability and dormancy in buried seeds of Piptochaetium napostaense and Stipa tenuis. The seed density of grasses was in general low and showed seasonal variation. Most of the grasses showed maximum seed density in December when seed dispersal occurs. Shrub cover did not show a marked influence in seed accumulation. The relatively high number of damaged seeds suggests that predation may be an important factor in seed bank dynamics in the Caldenal. Seeds of dominant perennial forage grasses showed dormancy that could explain, at least in part, persistence of these species in spite of periodical disturbance.     

Global greenhouse gas implications of land conversion to biofuel crop cultivation in arid and semi-arid lands – Lessons learned from Jatropha

Biofuels are considered as a climate-friendly energy alternative. However, their environmental sustainability is increasingly debated because of land competition with food production, negative carbon balances and impacts on biodiversity. Arid and semi-arid lands have been proposed as a more sustainable alternative without such impacts. In that context this paper evaluates the carbon balance of potential land conversion to Jatropha cultivation, biofuel production and use in arid and semi-arid areas. This evaluation includes the calculation of carbon debt created by these land conversions and calculation of the minimum Jatropha yield necessary to repay the respective carbon debts within 15 or 30 years.The carbon debts caused by conversion of arid and semi-arid lands to Jatropha vary largely as a function of the biomass carbon stocks of the land use types in these regions. Based on global ecosystem carbon mapping, cultivated lands and marginal areas (sparse shrubs, herbaceous and bare areas) show to have similar biomass carbon stocks (on average 4–8 t C ha⁻¹) and together cover a total of 1.79 billion ha. Conversion of these lands might not cause a carbon debt, but still might have a negative impact on other sustainability dimensions (e.g. biodiversity or socio-economics). Jatropha establishment in shrubland (0.75 billion ha) would cause a carbon debt of 24–28 t C ha⁻¹ on average (repayable within 30 year with yield of 3.5–3.9 t seed ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹). Land use change in the 1.15 billion ha of forested area under arid and semi-arid climates could cause a carbon debt between 70 and 118 t C ha⁻¹. This debt requires 8.6–13.9 t seed production ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ for repayment within 30 years. If repayment is required within 15 years, the necessary minimum yields almost double. Considering that 5 t seed ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹ is the current maximum Jatropha yield, conversion of forests cannot be repaid within one human generation. Repayment of carbon debt from shrubland conversions in 30 years is challenging, but feasible. Repayment in 15 year is currently not attainable.Based on this analysis the paper discusses the carbon mitigation potential of biofuels in arid and semi-arid environments.     

科尔沁沙地草地植被对围封和放牧的响应

研究了科尔沁沙地疏林草地、针茅草原和草甸植被盖度、地上和地下生物量、物种多样性对围封和放牧的响应。结果表明：（1）围封与放牧草地的优势植物不同,围封草地植物群落优势植物为多年生禾本科植物,放牧草地中一年生植物和小半灌木优势明显。（2）围封和放牧草地的植物盖度、凋落物量、地上生物量和物种丰富度存在明显差异（P<0.05）;围封显著提高了植被盖度和地上生物量,由疏林草地、针茅草原到草甸,植物盖度和地上生物量逐渐增加,而3种草地植被凋落物量大小顺序为针茅草原> 疏林草地> 草甸;放牧条件下植物盖度、凋落物量和物种丰富度差异不显著（P>0.05）。（3）3种草地之间的地下生物量无显著差异（P>0.05）,但围封与放牧之间、不同土壤层次之间地下生物量存在明显差异（P<0.05）;围封显著提高草地的地下生物量（P<0.05）;草地地下生物量随着土壤深度表现出下降趋势（P<0.05）。长期放牧增加了草地一年生植物和小半灌木植物的优势,消除了不同草地之间植被盖度和物种丰富度的差异;而围封能提高草地多年生禾本科植物的优势、增加其物种丰富度,对于草地质量和植物多样性的恢复和保育具有积极作用。     

科尔沁沙地30种植物叶凋落物CO2释放量及释放速率的研究

 采用可以有效控制环境因子的室内土壤培养试验，初步研究了科尔沁沙地30种植物叶凋落物的CO₂释放量及释放速率。结果表明：①在28 d培养期内，不同植物叶凋落物释放的CO₂量差异很大，其中，多年生植物叶凋落物CO₂释放量平均值大于一年生植物，但二者之间的差异不显著；禾本科植物叶凋落物CO₂释放量平均值明显小于其他植物，二者之间呈显著差异。②在28 d培养期内，不同植物叶凋落物每四天CO₂释放速率差异很大。一年生与多年生植物叶凋落物28 d内每四天释放CO₂的速率无显著差异；禾本科与其他植物叶凋落物每四天释放CO₂的速率在培养的前16 d差异呈显著，而后差异消失。③植物叶凋落物的全碳含量，氮含量，C／N，灰分/N及灰分含量不同造成CO₂释放量及释放速率的差异。叶凋落物28 d释放CO₂的量与叶凋落物初始碳含量及灰分含量均无相关关系，与叶凋落物初始氮含量呈显著正相关，与叶凋落物C／N及灰分／N呈显著负相关。叶凋落物培养期内每四天释放CO₂的速率与叶凋落物初始碳含量无相关关系；叶凋落物0\_20天释放CO₂的速率与叶凋落物初始氮含量呈显著正相关，与叶凋落物C／N呈显著负相关；叶凋落物9\_28天CO₂释放速率与灰分／N呈显著负相关；培养后期（17\_28天）的CO₂释放速率与灰分含量呈显著负相关。     

科尔沁沙地中南部34种植物叶功能性状及其相互关系

以科尔沁沙地中南部34种主要植物为研究对象,分别测定叶片鲜重(FW)、干重(DW)、干物质含量(LDMC)、面积(LA)和比叶面积(SLA),比较不同生活型(一二年生草本、多年生草本、灌木)和功能型(C₃、C₄植物)的叶片性状的差异性,探讨沙地植物叶片性状相互之间的内在联系及其对环境的适应性。结果表明:一二年生草本的LDMC(0.23 g·g^-1)显著小于多年生草本(0.31 g·g^-1)和灌木(0.32 g·g^-1);而一二年生草本的SLA(22.14 m²·kg^-1)显著大于多年生草本(17.18 m²·kg^-1)和灌木(13.41 m²·kg^-1)。一二年生和多年生C₄植物的LDMC显著大于C₃植物;多年生C₄植物SLA显著大于C₃植物;C₃植物的LDMC表现为一二年生草本<多年生<灌木。沙地植物的叶鲜重、叶干重和叶面积三者间极显著正相关,植物叶干重与SLA显著负相关;C₄植物和多年生植物叶干重与SLA显著负相关。沙地不同生活型、功能型植物叶片的功能性状差异明显,沙地灌木和多年生植物能够较强的适应干旱环境,一二年生草本则具有较强的保持体内营养和获取土壤资源的能力。     

石羊河上游干旱草原星毛委陵菜群落土壤种子库

星毛委陵菜(Potentilla aclaulis)被认为是阻止草原进一步退化的一道"绿色屏障",其群落土壤种子库的退化机制能够为草地生态恢复提供依据.通过大面积调查,研究了石羊河上游干旱草原退化演替过程中星毛委陵菜群落的土壤种子库,结果表明,土壤种子库共有19个物种,分属14个科;随着星毛委陵菜种群分盖度的增加,种子库种类及密度呈递减趋势,禾本科的密度减少,不食草种类减少,但是密度增大;在垂直方向上,种子库的种类逐层减少,密度出现0～5 cm>10～15 cm>5～10 cm的变化趋势;星毛委陵菜种子库很小,只占2.93%,其再生途径倾向于无性繁殖;种子库和地上植被的相似性指数平均为0.392,土壤种子库中没有发现原生地带性植被优势种群的种子,反映了草地群落退化的不可逆转性.     

Effects of fire and environmental variables on plant structure and composition in grazed salt desert shrublands of the Great Basin (USA)

Fire in shrub-dominated portions of the Great Basin, largely fueled by non-native annuals such as Bromus tectorum, has become an important structuring force altering vegetation composition and soil characteristics. The extent to which fire affects native species in drier portions of the Great Basin, termed salt desert, is poorly documented. We conducted a survey of grazed salt desert habitat in northwestern Nevada 5 years after wildfires burned 650,000 ha, with the goal of investigating community response to fire and factors correlating with post-fire recovery. We found that recruitment of a dominant shrub, Artemisia spinescens, is severely restricted following fire: it occurred in only 2 of the 24 burned sites. The co-dominant shrub, Atriplex confertifolia, occurred in most burned sites although on average its percent cover was one-third lower than adjacent unburned sites. Biotic soil crust cover was four times lower, and non-native species cover 5 times higher, in burned sites compared to unburned. Ordination analyses confirmed differences among plant communities in burned versus unburned sites, with environmental variables soil conductivity, plant litter, soil potassium (K⁺) and pH explaining 38% of the variance in community composition. However, we found no environmental predictors of recovery for native species in burned sites. Future recruitment is likely to be further limited, as fire frequency in the salt desert is expected to increase with invasion by non-native annual grasses and with global climate change.     

塔里木河下游退化荒漠河岸林地上植被与土壤种子库关系初探

以塔里木河下游为研究区,选择退化程度不同的4个典型断面19个样地,利用种子萌发法进行了两年的种子库土壤萌发实验,试图就生态严重退化区的土壤种子库与地上植被的关系以及退化程度的差异对种子库特征的影响开展针对性的研究。结果显示: ①塔里木河下游土壤种子库的基本特征是:种子库密度小、物种种类组成较单一、物种的多样性低和地上植被与种子库的相似性较低;②随退化程度的加剧,土壤种子库密度明显下降、表层种子库比例升高、一年生草本占优势逐渐向多年生草本和灌木转变、地上植被与土壤种子库物种组成上差异显著;③退化过程中种子库多样性的变化比地上植被变化要迟缓,但是在植被退化演替的末期,土壤种子库的物种多样性指数衰减的幅度又明显快于地上植被的衰减幅度;④受干旱环境和严重退化的双重影响塔里木河下游土壤种子库与地上植被的关系表现出退化演替末期共有物种数的减少和相似性明显递减的特点。     

Seed dispersal by domestic goats in a semiarid thornscrub of Mexico

Previous studies conducted in the semiarid thornscrub of the Biosphere Reserve of Tehuacán-Cuicatlán have reported a high consumption of cactus and legume fruits by domestic goats. To test the hypothesis that goats may effectively disperse seed, we collected domestic goat feces from different microhabitats (bare ground, under shrub or under tree). The area occupied by each microhabitat was measured in the field. We then quantified the presence of viable seeds in goat feces and their deposition in microhabitats suitable for seedling establishment. We collected 209 seeds and using a seed reference collection, we identified these as belonging to three endemic cactus species, two legumes and several unidentified species. A high proportion of the cactus seeds germinated. Although most of the feces were found in open areas, more than 30% were recorded beneath the canopies of perennial plants, a suitable microhabitat for seedling establishment and survival. Contrary to the general assumption that goats cause only degradation of vegetation, these findings show that goats can effectively disperse viable seeds of diverse species. Studies that evaluate the ecological role of goats as important elements of biotic interactions are needed in order to generate an adequate management program for livestock.     

How effective are plant macrofossils as a proxy for macrophyte presence? The case of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Najas flexilis</Emphasis> in Scotland

Preventing biodiversity loss is a key aim of modern conservation, and paleolimnology can inform conservation strategies for target species and habitats where other data are unavailable. Care must be taken to fully understand the possibilities and limits of such techniques, particularly where they concern single species. This study uses plant and seed distribution data to inform macrofossil reconstructions of the rare macrophyte Najas flexilis (Slender Naiad) in Scotland, UK. It answers three questions: (a) How does the location of N. flexilis seeds in the surface sediments relate to the distribution of N. flexilis plants? (b) How do the numbers of seeds in surface sediments correlate with % cover of N. flexilis plants across lakes with differing N. flexilis abundances? (c) What are the implications of these findings for paleolimnology? Percentage N. flexilis cover and number of N. flexilis seeds in surface sediments were recorded at ~100 sample points at each of three sites; one where the species was abundant, one where it was occasional and one where it was extinct. At all sites, N. flexilis seeds were present in surface sediments across the entire lake. No correlation between % cover N. flexilis and the number of seeds in surface sediments was found within individual sites. The distribution of seeds in these lakes appeared to be related to multiple environmental and ecological variables including latitude and longitude (proxies for water currents). This is attributed to the ability of seed-bearing N. flexilis plants to fragment and float large distances on water. Between sites, there was a significant difference in the mean seed counts, with higher mean seed counts corresponding to higher abundances of N. flexilis plants. It is concluded that N. flexilis is likely to be well represented in sediment cores taken from any location within a basin, but that care should be taken when inferring changes in N. flexilis abundance from changes in the numbers of seeds in sediment samples. This work demonstrates that the reproductive ecology (number of seeds produced and dispersal mechanisms) is an important factor to consider when attempting reconstructions of single aquatic plant populations from macrofossil records.