Using existing agricultural infrastructure for restoration practices: Factors influencing successful establishment of Populus fremontii over Tamarix ramosissima

Dryland riparian restoration often requires the use of large amounts of surface water. Retired agricultural fields located on floodplains associated with shallow water tables may minimize water requirements for restoration because irrigation could be ceased when target species become phreatophytic. Using existing agricultural infrastructure, we implemented two irrigation treatments over two years to promote native Fremont cottonwood (Populus fremontii) establishment over non-native tamarisk (Tamarix ramosissima): (1) frequent shallow irrigation; and (2) infrequent deep irrigation. We assessed how these treatments: (a) contributed to above- and below-ground growth of native and non-native species; (b) promoted native species survival; and (c) supported a competitive advantage of P. fremontii over T. ramosissima. Overall growth rates were highest one year after seeding, and average P. fremontii growth rates were higher than T. ramosissima in both years. Overall P. fremontii mortality was lower than T. ramosissima in both years. P. fremontii crown cover consistently increased and was ultimately the most abundant species in the overstory. Our results suggest that P. fremontii can out-compete T. ramosissima in these retired agricultural settings. In addition, this study suggests that irrigation frequency can be further decreased while reducing irrigation input, thus minimizing both effort and surface water required for restoration.     

Effects of salt and alkali stress on Reaumuria soongorica germination

Seed germination and early seedling growth are crucial stages for plant establishment. Two neutral (NaCl and Na₂SO₄) and two alkali (NaHCO₃ and Na₂CO₃) salts were selected to investigate their effects on germination and recovery responses in Reaumuria soongorica. Results show that both salt types significantly reduced germination and radicle elongation. The rate of germination and emergence of R. soongorica seeds continuously decreased as salinity increased, and the time to achieve maximum germination rate was delayed. The speed of seed germination dropped rapidly as salt concentration increased. Alkaline salts restricted the germination rate of R. soongorica seeds, and stresses resulting from alkaline salts and high concentrations of neutral salts resulted in many deformed seedlings. The length of the radicle and germ decreased with increasing salt concentration, but certain concentrations of salt and increased pH promoted germ growth. The results of regression analysis show that salt concentration was the dominant factor inhibiting R. soongorica seed germination rate. Salinity, buffering capacity, and pH all affected embryo growth, but salinity had the most pronounced effect. Seed viability under highly saline conditions appears to be a better indicator of adaptation to saline environments than seed germination under saline conditions.     

Soil seed bank longevity of the exotic annual grass Bromus rubens in the Mojave Desert,USA

Although arid environments are often considered among the least invaded terrestrial biomes, the impacts of exotic plant species can be severe and long lasting. Bromus rubens (red brome) is an exotic annual grass species in the Mojave Desert known to outcompete native plant species, alter habitat, and promote accumulation of fuel that contributes to increasing fire frequency and severity. We assessed longevity of the exotic B. rubens seeds in the soil by burying seeds at four depths (0, 2, 5, and 10 cm) and recovering seeds 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after burial. Seed viability was reduced with greater burial depth and greater time since burial. A relatively small proportion of seeds retained viability for two years, suggesting that while the B. rubens seed bank can be large, it is relatively short-lived. Although B. rubens apparently relies more on the annual production, dispersal, and germination of seeds than on a long-lived seed bank for its annual recruitment, the numerous seeds produced by individual plants indicate that even a small proportion of seeds remaining viable for more than a year can aid recruitment from the seed bank and is an important factor in understanding population dynamics.     

红砂种子萌发对盐胁迫及适度干旱的响应

对红砂（Reaumuria soongorica (Pall.) Maxim）种子进行室内萌发实验,采用双因素正交法,设置NaCl 10个梯度(mmol·L-1):0、25、50、75、100、125、150、175、200、250;以PEG模拟干旱胁迫两个PEG浓度（g·L-1）: 0和75,测定种子萌发的12个指标,分析红砂种子萌发对NaCl胁迫及适度干旱的响应。结果表明,盐胁迫降低红砂种子萌发的发芽率,减弱种子活力,抑制胚根和胚轴生长。然而一定程度干旱胁迫（PEG75 g·L-1）可提高种子发芽率,增大种子活力,促进干重累积。耐盐隶属函数分析显示, PEG75处理下红砂种子的耐盐性高于PEG0,由此推测红砂进化出了盐胁迫与干旱胁迫的交叉适应策略。     

沙埋对河西走廊4种旱生植物种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响

测定了驼蹄瓣(Zygophyllum fabago)、骆驼蒿(Peganum nigellastrum)、唐古特白刺(Nitraria tangutorum)和黒果枸杞(Lycium ruthenicum)等4种旱生植物种子重量、形状、萌发及活性,试验了沙埋深度(0、1、2、3、4、5 cm)对种子萌发、幼苗出土和生长的影响。结果表明:4种植物的种子扩散时为中度休眠;种子活性与重量、形状之间为显著负相关关系(p<0.05);种子初次萌发率与重量之间为不显著负相关关系;大而不规则种子有较低的活性,小种子扩散时有较高萌发率。随沙埋深度的增加,4种植物种子出苗率下降,首次出苗时间推迟,茎高、绝对株高和根长呈现先上升后下降的趋势,地下和地上生物量比值呈先上升后下降或随埋深增加而下降。幼苗出土和生长的最佳沙埋深度是:驼蹄瓣1~3 cm,骆驼蒿0~1 cm,唐古特白刺0~2 cm,黑果枸杞1~2 cm。在植被恢复过程中应考虑破除种子休眠的方法以及浅层沙埋等条件,以提高出苗率、增大幼苗定植率。     

Contrasting recovery of shallow and deep water seagrass communities following climate associated losses in tropical north Queensland,Australia

Tropical seagrass decline and recovery from severe storm impacts was assessed via quarterly measurements of seagrass biomass, species composition and experimental investigations of recovery in north Queensland. Shallow and deep seagrass meadows suffered major declines. Significant recovery in the two years following loss only occurred at deeper sites. Halophila spp. in deep water areas had a high capacity for recovery through the availability of seed banks. In contrast, the shallow species did not recover quickly from experimental disturbance, had poor seed reserves and relied on asexual propagation. The potential for shallow species to recover rapidly from widespread losses was limited as seed banks were limited or non-existent. Understanding inter- and intra-specific differences in seagrass recovery and how this interacts with location is critical to predict the consequences of climate events to tropical seagrasses. This is especially important as more frequent severe storms are predicted as a consequence of climate change.     

Thin coating on ultrafine aerosol particles

This article presents the results of an experimental investigation on gas-phase coating of nanometer-sized NaCl aerosol particles with a condensing vapor of ZnCl₂. The coating process has been carried out in a commercially available Venturi aspirator, where the NaCl at ambient temperature is mixed with the supersaturated ZnCl₂ vapor. The operating conditions (ZnC1₂ vapor temperature, and ZnCl₂/NaCl flow rate ratio) at which the ZnCl₂ vapor preferentially nucleates onto the surface of the seed NaCl particles forming a coating layer on them, have been determined. Particle size growth as a function of the original seed diameter has also been determined. Smaller particles undergo a larger relative size growth ratio. It has also been shown that the presence of a coating layer does not affect the charge distribution of the original seed particles.     

Reproductive and recruitment traits as indicators of the invasive potential of Kalanchoe daigremontiana (Crassulaceae) and Stapelia gigantea (Apocynaceae) in a Neotropical arid zone

Populations of two ornamental exotic species, Kalanchoe daigremontiana and Stapelia gigantea, have been recently detected inside a protected area containing arid ecosystems in Venezuela. We indirectly tested their invasive potential by characterizing their reproductive biology and recruitment patterns and comparing our estimates against Baker's Law and reproductive profiles reported for invasive plants. K. daigremontiana is autogamous, produces >16,000 seeds per plant and also reproduces clonally. Despite low seed viability (17.9%) and germination rates (11.9%), seeds were present in the seed bank. Plantlets of asexual origin showed high survival (75–100%) compared to seedlings of sexual origin (10%). S. gigantea is self-incompatible, xenogamous and produces close to 1500 seeds per m² of plant tissue. Seed viability (77%) and germination rates (62%) were high, but this species is not represented in the seed bank. It has a vegetative growth. A combination of reproductive and recruitment attributes, which match those considered in Baker's Law and others reported for invasive plants, confer K. daigremontiana and S. gigantea the potential to invade Neotropical arid zones; the former mainly through selfing and production of numerous asexual plantlets, and the latter through an association with a locally abundant pollinator and production of wind dispersed seeds.     

不同贮藏条件和光照对5种蒺藜科植物种子萌发的影响

研究不同贮藏条件和光照对5种蒺藜科植物（骆驼蓬 Pegannum harmala、唐古特白刺Nitrari tangutorum、泡泡刺Nitraria sphaerocarpa、驼蹄瓣 Zygophyllum fabago 和多裂骆驼蓬Peganum multisectum)种子萌发的影响。结果表明,低温贮藏对这5种植物的种子萌发有显著影响,并且种子萌发对光、暗的响应随贮藏条件和贮藏时间的变化而变化。根据这5种植物在不同条件组合下的最大萌发率,拟定出了种子萌发的最佳贮藏条件和萌发条件：①湿-冷贮藏能使骆驼蓬种子具有较高的萌发率,此时对光照没有明显的要求;②多裂骆驼蓬种子经过80 d湿-冷贮藏后在光下能达到很高的萌发率,同时,其80 d干-冷贮藏后在暗条件下的萌发率接近同样的效果;③唐古特白刺种子更适合光下萌发,在湿+低温+光照处理下,种子经过三个贮藏期后均具有较高的萌发率,而干-冷贮藏种子只有冷藏80 d后才能达到较高萌发率;④泡泡刺种子适合干-冷贮藏,对光照没有要求;⑤驼蹄瓣种子在干、湿贮藏后,其萌发率无明显差异,但在暗条件下萌发率略高于光条件下,并且达到最大萌发率所需要的冷藏时间短（20 d）,而在光下则需要较长的冷藏（80 d 以上）才能达到较高萌发率。     

科尔沁沙地植物萌动期不同类型沙丘土壤微生物区系特征

通过对科尔沁沙地植物萌动期不同类型沙丘中0－50 cm土壤层微生物组成及其与生态因子的关系研究表明:微生物的活动强弱程度是:固定沙丘>半固定沙丘>半流动沙丘>流动沙丘,每种沙丘类型中不同微生物类群数量分别是:细菌>放线菌>真菌。微生物数量在垂直分布上表现为:流动沙丘表层最少,30—40 cm层活动相对强烈;半流动沙丘和半固定沙丘在垂直分布上变化相对较小;固定沙丘表层最多,表层以下变化不大。各类群微生物数量与电导率、植被盖度、凋落物量和沙丘固定程度都呈显著正相关（P≤0.01）;pH值对放线菌的影响最大,其次为细菌,而对真菌的影响较小。微生物活动与地温的相关性不高,与土壤水分含量呈负相关。影响科尔沁沙地土壤微生物的主要生态因子是植被盖度和土壤可溶性无机盐含量。