Journal of Vegetation Science最新文献

Different Measurement Protocols Impact Specific Leaf Area (SLA) Estimation in Simple Versus Compound Leaves 不同测量方案对单叶和复叶比叶面积估算的影响

IF 2.7 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Journal of Vegetation Science

Pub Date : 2026-02-18 DOI: 10.1111/jvs.70121

Miguel Blázquez, Manuel J. Macía, Juliana Cruz Montilla, Celina Ben Saadi, Julia G. de Aledo, Guillermo Bañares-de-Dios, Rubén Milla, Luis Cayuela

Aims

Specific leaf area (SLA), the ratio of leaf surface area to dry mass, is a key functional trait widely used to characterize resource allocation to light interception in plants. However, inconsistencies in SLA measurement—particularly whether petiolar tissues (such as petioles and rachises) are included—could lead to discrepancies in SLA estimates, especially in woody plants with compound leaves. This study investigates how two SLA measurement protocols (including vs. excluding the petiolar component) affect SLA estimates in both simple and compound leaves, with the goal of clarifying their implications for ecological studies.

Location

Tropical forests of the Peruvian Amazon.

Methods

Leaf area and dry mass were measured in 2758 individuals representing 1054 woody plant species from three sampling areas. We evaluated differences in the relationship between leaf area and dry mass across leaf types and measurement protocols while controlling for species-level variation and phylogenetic structure. Additionally, a literature review was conducted to evaluate prevailing SLA measurement practices.

Results

Compound leaves exhibited consistently higher SLA than simple leaves of similar size, regardless of the protocol, with differences increasing with leaf size. Excluding the petiolar component amplified the disparity between leaf types, while SLA estimates for simple leaves remained relatively consistent across protocols. SLA declined with increasing leaf area in all cases. The literature review revealed that 46.8% of studies did not specify SLA measurement protocols, and among those that did, 76.2% included the petiolar component.

Conclusions

SLA measurement protocol substantially influences trait estimates, particularly for compound leaves. While the protocol choice should be guided by the specific goals of each study, we argue that a default approach incorporating both laminar and petiolar components is optimal, as it is cost-effective and easy to implement. Clear methodological reporting is essential for ensuring comparability across studies and advancing the use of SLA in plant ecological research.

目的比叶面积（SLA），即叶片表面积与干质量之比，是表征植物资源对光截获分配的关键功能性状。然而，SLA测量的不一致——特别是是否包括叶柄组织（如叶柄和轴）——可能导致SLA估计值的差异，特别是在具有复叶的木本植物中。本研究探讨了两种SLA测量方案（包括与不包括端部成分）如何影响单叶和复叶的SLA估计，目的是澄清它们对生态学研究的影响。地理位置：秘鲁亚马逊热带森林。方法对3个采样区1054种木本植物2758株进行叶面积和干质量测定。在控制物种水平变异和系统发育结构的情况下，我们评估了不同叶片类型和测量方案的叶面积和干质量关系的差异。此外，还进行了文献综述，以评估流行的SLA测量实践。结果在不同的处理方案下，复叶的SLA均高于同等大小的单叶，且差异随叶片大小的增加而增加。排除叶端组分扩大了叶片类型之间的差异，而简单叶片的SLA估计在不同协议下保持相对一致。随着叶面积的增加，树密度呈下降趋势。文献综述显示，46.8%的研究未明确SLA测量方案，其中76.2%的研究包含端部成分。结论SLA测量方案对性状估计有很大影响，特别是对复叶。虽然方案的选择应以每个研究的具体目标为指导，但我们认为，结合层流和端极性成分的默认方法是最佳的，因为它具有成本效益且易于实施。明确的方法报告对于确保研究之间的可比性和推进SLA在植物生态学研究中的应用至关重要。

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引用次数: 0

Acclimation and De-Acclimation of Photosystem Heat Tolerance of Alpine Plants in Response to Multiday Heat Exposure in the Field 高寒植物对田间多日热暴露光系统耐热性的驯化与脱驯化

IF 2.7 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Journal of Vegetation Science

Pub Date : 2026-02-17 DOI: 10.1111/jvs.70109

Thomas C. Hanley, Pieter A. Arnold, Zachary A. Brown, Andrea Leigh, Virginia G. Williamson, Susanna E. Venn, Adrienne B. Nicotra

Aims and Questions

Climate change is exposing plants in alpine regions to increasing heat, which has been associated with changes in vegetation communities. Our study aims to investigate whether photosystem heat tolerance of alpine plants of different growth forms acclimates to and recovers from exposure to multiday heat stress applied directly in a field manipulation experiment.

Location

Mt. Hotham, Victoria, Australia (36°58′37″ S, 147°08′06″ E; 1840 m asl).

Methods

We established field plots and selected eight species (graminoids, herbs and shrubs) to compare unheated plots to heated plots in an Australian alpine grassy herbfield. We actively heated chambers with convective heaters to target day/night temperatures of 32°C/22°C. Leaves for photosystem heat tolerance assays were sampled daily for 6 days during heat treatments and 6 days post-heating. We used chlorophyll fluorescence imaging to derive the critical temperature for photosystem II disruption to function (T_crit) by heating leaves up to 70°C.

Results

T_crit was inherently high (~47°C before heating) in all species, but was higher among graminoids than other growth forms. Overall, T_crit increased significantly (i.e., acclimated) with cumulative days of heating and increasing heat load, but subsequent recovery to pre-treatment values was slow. We found strong species-specific responses, but not growth form differences, in T_crit acclimation to and recovery from, heat exposure. The effects of heat priming may facilitate understanding plant and community responses to warming in alpine regions.

Conclusions

While some variation in T_crit was explained by growth form, strong species-specific acclimation effects were stronger drivers of variation in heat tolerance and its acclimation. The magnitude and duration of heat exposure may contribute to apparent differences in the acclimation of photosystem heat tolerance observed among species and studies. The effects of heatwaves on the composition of alpine vegetation communities will likely depend on highly species-specific responses and may be complex to predict.

气候变化使高山地区的植物暴露在越来越高的热量下，这与植被群落的变化有关。本研究旨在通过田间操作试验研究不同生长形式的高山植物的光系统耐热性是否适应并从直接暴露于多日热胁迫中恢复。位置：澳大利亚维多利亚州霍特姆山（36°58 ' 37″S, 147°08 ' 06″E; 1840 m asl）。方法在澳大利亚某高寒草地上建立样地，选择禾本科、草本和灌木等8种植物，对加热样地与未加热样地进行比较。我们用对流加热器主动加热房间，以达到昼夜温度32°C/22°C的目标。在热处理期间和加热后6天，每天取样叶片进行光系统耐热性试验。我们使用叶绿素荧光成像，通过将叶片加热到70°C，得出光系统II破坏功能的临界温度（Tcrit）。结果所有植物的高温固有较高（加热前温度为~47℃），但禾本科植物的高温高于其他生长形式。总的来说，Tcrit随着加热天数的增加和热负荷的增加而显著增加（即适应），但随后恢复到预处理值的速度很慢。在热暴露的适应和恢复中，我们发现了很强的物种特异性反应，但没有生长形式差异。热启动效应有助于了解高寒地区植物和群落对气候变暖的响应。结论虽然Tcrit的变化可以通过生长形式来解释，但强烈的种特异性驯化效应是耐热性及其驯化变化的更强驱动因素。热暴露的大小和持续时间可能导致不同物种和研究中观察到的光系统耐热驯化的明显差异。热浪对高山植被群落组成的影响可能取决于高度物种特异性的反应，并且可能难以预测。

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引用次数: 0

How to Mitigate the Effect of Observer Error When Unraveling Species-Environment Associations? A Case Study With Tropical Tree Communities From Western Central Africa 如何在揭示物种-环境关联时减轻观察者误差的影响？中非西部热带树木群落的案例研究

IF 2.7 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Journal of Vegetation Science

Pub Date : 2026-02-17 DOI: 10.1111/jvs.70106

Jan Lukas Klein, Tariq Stévart, Nicolas Texier, Archange Boupoya, Eric Akouangou, Rayana Kaire Darar, Gilles Dauby, Davy Ulrich Ikabanga, L'hée Christ Moussavou Bikoukou, Diosdado Nguema, Thomas Drouet

Aims

Unraveling species–environment associations proves challenging in species-rich tropical rainforests due to erroneous species identifications (observer error, OE), which negatively affect multivariate analyses. OE occurs more frequently at species level—confusing one species with another—than at broader taxonomic depth (genus or family) and disproportionately affects rare species. Therefore, many studies broaden the taxonomic resolution (using genus or family as surrogates for species) or remove rare species prior to analysis. However, it remains unclear which approach best mitigates the effect of OE.

Location

Gabon.

Methods

We used a dataset comprising 19,287 trees in 99 forest plots across Gabon and introduced increasing proportions of OE at species, genus and family depth. We used redundancy analysis to quantify the overall strength of species–environment associations as adjusted R² and quantified the relative importance of predictors as ratios between partial R² for soil, climate, human activity and spatial predictors, at species, morphospecies, genus and family resolution. We modelled R² decline through exponential decay functions and tested for differences across depth and resolution using two-way ANOVA. We compared R² decay after independently introducing OE among rare and common species.

Results

R² declined consistently under OE. Models remained significant to 30%–60% error rate, depending on depth or taxonomic resolution. Relative predictor importance was altered only when error proportions exceeded 75%. Analysis at genus or family resolution caused R² decay to steepen. When introduced among rare species, R² decay was less pronounced. Paradoxically, rare species contributed little to R² despite having stronger associations with the environment.

Conclusion

Moderate to high instances of observer error jeopardise our ability to detect significant species–environment associations. Broadening taxonomic resolution and removing rare species inflates R² due to dimensionality reduction. To mitigate the effect of OE, we recommend analysing floristic datasets at fine taxonomic resolutions (species or morphospecies) and retaining rare species.

在物种丰富的热带雨林中，由于错误的物种识别（观察者误差，OE），揭示物种与环境的关联被证明是具有挑战性的，这对多变量分析产生了负面影响。OE更频繁地发生在物种层面——混淆一个物种与另一个物种——而不是更广泛的分类深度（属或科），并且不成比例地影响稀有物种。因此，许多研究扩大了分类分辨率（用属或科代替种）或在分析前去除稀有物种。然而，目前尚不清楚哪种方法能最好地减轻OE的影响。位置加蓬。方法利用加蓬99个森林样地19287棵树的数据集，在种、属和科深度引入OE的增加比例。我们使用冗余分析将物种-环境关联的总体强度量化为调整后的R2，并将预测因子的相对重要性量化为土壤、气候、人类活动和空间预测因子在物种、形态种、属和科分辨率上的偏R2之比。我们通过指数衰减函数模拟R2下降，并使用双向方差分析测试深度和分辨率的差异。我们比较了稀有和常见物种独立引入OE后的R2衰减。结果OE下R2持续下降。模型的错误率在30%-60%之间，这取决于深度或分类分辨率。只有当误差比例超过75%时，相对预测因子的重要性才会改变。在属或科分辨率下分析导致R2衰减变陡。当在稀有物种中引入时，R2衰减不那么明显。矛盾的是，稀有物种对R2的贡献很小，尽管它们与环境有更强的联系。结论：中度到高度的观察者误差会危及我们检测物种-环境关系的能力。分类分辨率的扩大和稀有物种的移除使R2因维数的降低而膨胀。为了减轻OE的影响，我们建议在精细分类学分辨率（种或形态种）下分析植物区系数据集，并保留稀有物种。

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引用次数: 0

Synthesizing the Impacts of Natural Disturbances and Climate on Patagonian Semiarid Grasslands: Insights From an 18-Year Long-Term Monitoring Study 自然干扰和气候对巴塔哥尼亚半干旱草原的综合影响：来自18年长期监测研究的见解

IF 2.7 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Journal of Vegetation Science

Pub Date : 2026-02-15 DOI: 10.1111/jvs.70113

Luciana Ghermandi, Sofía Gonzalez, Jorgelina Franzese, Facundo Oddi

Question

How does the vegetation of northwestern Patagonia grasslands respond to climate fluctuations and disturbances?

Location

Northwestern Patagonia, Argentina.

Methods

Our study was carried out in livestock- grazed grasslands affected by drought (1998), wildfire (1999), and volcanic ash deposition (2011). We analyzed annual precipitation trends, rainfall-use efficiency, and the relationship between ENSO events and seasonal climate. Before a severe drought, we monitored vegetation at three sites over 18 years (1999–2017). Only the North and South sites were affected by fire, while the unburned Control site was impacted by grazing and volcanic ash deposition. We used linear mixed-effects models to assess the relationships between vegetation cover and species richness with precipitation, temperature, and disturbances. We calculated species turnover, diversity, evenness, and similarity, and constructed a native reference community.

Results

Precipitation showed a negative trend from 1991 to 2018. Rainfall-use efficiency was low in 2006 and high in 2016. ENSO signals were stronger in spring than in winter. Spring precipitation and temperature enhanced both cover and richness. Annual species responded positively to annual and spring precipitation. In the Control site, plant cover recovered faster post-drought than post-eruption, whereas species richness showed the opposite pattern. Grassland recovers fast after fire compared to other disturbances. Species turnover was lowest 8 years post-drought and 6 years post-eruption. Diversity and evenness increased over time, and were higher in burned sites compared to the Control. The community most similar to the native reference community was the recently burned grassland.

Conclusions

Our long-term study shows that seasonal climate and disturbances shape grassland dynamics, which can be interpreted within the framework of Mediterranean-climate grassland ecology. Grassland managers in northwestern Patagonia could benefit from our findings by adapting livestock management practices to enhance grassland post-disturbance recovery and reduce the invasion of opportunistic species.

巴塔哥尼亚西北部草原的植被是如何应对气候波动和干扰的？位置：阿根廷巴塔哥尼亚西北部。方法以受干旱（1998年）、野火（1999年）和火山灰沉积（2011年）影响的放牧草地为研究对象。分析了年降水趋势、降雨利用效率以及ENSO事件与季节气候的关系。在严重干旱之前，我们对三个地点的植被进行了18年（1999-2017）的监测。只有南北两个地点受到火灾的影响，而未燃烧的对照地点受到放牧和火山灰沉积的影响。我们使用线性混合效应模型来评估植被覆盖和物种丰富度与降水、温度和干扰之间的关系。计算物种更替、多样性、均匀度和相似度，构建本地参考群落。结果1991 ~ 2018年降水量呈负变化趋势。降雨利用效率2006年较低，2016年较高。ENSO信号在春季强于冬季。春季降水和温度均增加了植被盖度和丰富度。一年生物种对一年生和春季降水有积极的响应。对照区干旱后植被覆盖恢复速度快于火山爆发后，而物种丰富度则相反。与其他干扰相比，火灾后草地恢复得很快。物种更替在干旱后8年和喷发后6年最低。多样性和均匀性随着时间的推移而增加，与对照组相比，烧伤部位的多样性和均匀性更高。与本地参考群落最相似的群落是最近被烧毁的草地。长期研究表明，季节性气候和干扰影响了草地的动态，这可以在地中海气候草地生态的框架内解释。巴塔哥尼亚西北部的草原管理者可以通过调整牲畜管理措施来加强草地干扰后的恢复，减少机会主义物种的入侵。

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引用次数: 0

Topography and Canopy Structure Interactively Shape Understory Functional Diversity 地形和冠层结构相互作用影响林下植被功能多样性

IF 2.7 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Journal of Vegetation Science

Pub Date : 2026-02-14 DOI: 10.1111/jvs.70118

Joshua Erkelenz, Zdeňka Lososová, Aakriti Joshi, Corrado Marcenò, Nicolas A. Schrader, Pavel Novák, Roberto Venanzoni, Josep Padullés Cubino

Aims

Topography and canopy structure are key environmental filters for the trait-mediated assembly of understories, especially in mountain areas. Although changes in functional diversity (FD) along elevational gradients have been described in the past, the importance of slope aspect or the coincidental change of the canopy structure is generally unaccounted for. In this study, we aim to assess (i) whether the relationship between understory FD and elevation varies between north- and south-facing slopes and (ii) whether the canopy structure acts as a mediator between local topography and FD.

Location

Central Apennines, Italy.

Methods

We conducted a transect-based field sampling in forests on opposing slopes in the central Apennines, stretching from the valley bottom to the climatic treeline at ~2000 m. By linking the species distribution and abundance data with plant functional traits from publicly available databases, we modeled the change of single- and multi-trait FD along the elevational gradient. To test for the importance of slope aspect and the mediatory effect of canopy structure on understory FD, we used regression analysis and comparisons between two competing multiple linear models (topography vs. canopy structure).

Results

We found that FD generally decreased along south-facing slopes, with no clear pattern on north-facing slopes, which indicates that different filtering regimes act on the understory in temperate forests depending on the slope aspect. Secondly, we found that for multi-trait FD, elevation and aspect influence the understory both directly and indirectly through differences in the canopy structure, which changes from mixed broadleaf forest to monodominant stands of Fagus sylvatica. For the diversity of single-trait FD, topography itself explained a higher amount of variation.

Conclusion

Our results underline the need to account for slope aspect in the study of understory FD and the role that the canopy layer plays in mediating between elevation, aspect, and the understory.

目的地形和冠层结构是林下植被性状聚集的关键环境过滤器，特别是在山区。虽然过去已经描述了功能多样性（FD）沿海拔梯度的变化，但坡向或冠层结构的同步变化的重要性通常没有得到解释。在本研究中，我们旨在评估(i)林下植被FD与高程之间的关系是否在南北坡之间有所不同；（ii）冠层结构是否在局部地形和FD之间起中介作用。地理位置：意大利亚平宁山脉中部。方法在亚平宁山脉中部相对斜坡的森林中进行了基于样带的野外采样，从谷底一直延伸到海拔约2000 m的气候树线。通过将物种分布和丰度数据与公开数据库中的植物功能性状相关联，模拟了单性状和多性状FD在海拔梯度上的变化。为了检验坡向对林下植被FD的重要性和冠层结构对林下植被FD的调节作用，我们使用回归分析和比较了两个相互竞争的多元线性模型（地形与冠层结构）。结果南向坡面FD总体呈下降趋势，北向坡面FD变化规律不明显，说明不同的过滤机制对温带林下植被的影响取决于坡向。其次，在多性状FD中，海拔和坡向通过林冠结构的差异直接或间接地影响林下植被，林冠结构由混交林向单优势林分转变。对于单性状FD的多样性，地形本身解释了较大的变异量。结论林下植被覆盖度研究需要考虑坡向，以及林下植被层在海拔、坡向和林下植被之间的中介作用。

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引用次数: 0

Intraspecific Trait Variation Drives Functional Shifts in Grass Communities Under Grazing in the Scottish Uplands 种内性状变异驱动放牧条件下苏格兰高地草地群落功能转变

IF 2.7 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Journal of Vegetation Science

Pub Date : 2026-02-14 DOI: 10.1111/jvs.70117

Susan E. Eshelman, Frazer H. Sinclair, Debbie Fielding, Robin J. Pakeman, Graham N. Stone, Caroline E. R. Lehmann

Questions

Shifting grazing regimes across Europe are altering temperate grasslands, affecting biodiversity and ecosystem services. While grazing influences the structure of these grasslands, and thus the distribution of functional traits, the relative role of species turnover versus intraspecific variation (ITV) in governing trait variation of temperate grasslands is poorly understood. We investigated the impacts of grazing on grass community composition and structure within a 20-year landscape-level grazing experiment in the Scottish uplands to determine if differences in grass community functional composition are driven by ITV.

Location

Glen Finglas, Scotland, UK.

Methods

We exploited the design of the experiment to contrast three levels of sheep grazing across three plot locations and two drainage positions (upslope and downslope). Grass composition and seven grass functional traits representative of grazing adaptations were measured. Multivariate abundance models assessed the effect of grazing treatment, location and plot drainage position on grass community composition, while phylogenetic linear mixed models (PLMMs) tested for trait differences between plots. Grass community trait variation was then decomposed to quantify the relative contributions of species turnover and ITV in trait responses to grazing and environmental variables.

Results

Compositional differences between plots were largely driven by plot location, with a marginal effect of grazing treatment. Increased grazing shifted grasses towards combinations of avoidance (e.g., thick leaves), resistance (e.g., small stature) and tolerance traits (e.g., high SLA). ITV accounted for most trait variation in response to grazing, indicating that community-level functional trait changes occur primarily through within-species trait adjustments rather than species turnover.

Conclusions

The high ITV observed in our results suggests that these grasslands exhibit community resilience to grazing disturbances. Recognising the role of ITV in grass community responses will improve predictions of how changes in grazing management impact Scottish grassy ecosystems, informing grassland management and conservation strategies.

整个欧洲放牧制度的转变正在改变温带草原，影响生物多样性和生态系统服务。虽然放牧影响了这些草原的结构，从而影响了功能性状的分布，但物种更替与种内变异（ITV）在温带草原性状变化中的相对作用尚不清楚。我们在苏格兰高地进行了20年的景观水平放牧实验，研究放牧对草地群落组成和结构的影响，以确定草地群落功能组成的差异是否由ITV驱动。地点：格兰芬格拉斯，苏格兰，英国。方法利用试验设计，在3个样地和2个排水位置（上坡和下坡）对比3种放牧水平。测定了牧草组成和具有代表性的7种牧草功能性状。多变量丰度模型评估放牧处理、地点和样地排水位置对草地群落组成的影响，系统发育线性混合模型（plmm）测试样地间性状差异。然后对草地群落性状变异进行分解，量化物种更替和独立度在性状对放牧和环境变量响应中的相对贡献。结果样地组成差异主要受样地位置的影响，放牧处理的影响较小。增加放牧使草转向了回避（如厚叶）、抵抗（如矮小）和耐受性状（如高SLA）的组合。ITV占了对放牧响应的大部分性状变化，表明群落水平的功能性状变化主要是通过种内性状调整而不是物种更替发生的。结论高独立系数表明这些草原对放牧干扰具有群落恢复力。认识到ITV在草地群落反应中的作用将改善放牧管理变化如何影响苏格兰草地生态系统的预测，为草地管理和保护策略提供信息。

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引用次数: 0

Functional Guilds Mediate the Effects of Woody Encroachment on the Ground Layer in the Brazilian Cerrado 功能行会调节巴西塞拉多地区林地侵蚀对地面层的影响

IF 2.7 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Journal of Vegetation Science

Pub Date : 2026-02-13 DOI: 10.1111/jvs.70120

Andra Carolina Dalbeto, Bruna Helena Campos, Natashi Pilon, Geissianny Bessão de Assis, Giselda Durigan

Aims

Woody encroachment is happening in open ecosystems around the world, with a general trend for biodiversity loss. Little attention has been paid, however, to the dynamics of ground-layer vegetation as trees increase. We explored temporal changes in the ground-layer community of tropical savannas along after fire suppresion and undergoing woody encroachment, to check for plant-diversity loss and to understand whether functional guilds might be driving the community dynamics.

Location

Cerrado (Brazilian Savanna), Southeastern Brazil.

Methods

We sampled (2016 and 2022) all plant species in the ground layer of 20 permanent plots (0.1 ha each) within a continuous Cerrado remnant. Plots represent two different encroachment stages—open and dense savanna, categorized by their tree basal area in 2016 (below or above 15 m² ha⁻¹, respectively). Species were grouped in functional guilds by habitat preference, growth form, and dispersal syndrome. We assessed changes over time in richness per guild in open and dense savanna and verified which guilds were more or less frequent than expected after 6 years among gained or lost species.

Results

Richness decreased by about 10 species per year in the whole area. Losers were small plants (graminoids, forbs, and subshrubs, mostly perennials), mostly savanna specialists and heliophytes. Winners were trees and climbers from shaded environments (generalist or forest species). Regarding dispersal agents, losers were associated with non-flying mammals or autochory, and winners with bats. Bird-dispersed species were dominant, with stable frequency, despite the high species turnover.

Conclusion

The dynamics of the ground layer in tropical savannas long after fire suppression is driven by increasing shade and seed dispersal filters, which are typical forest drivers of community assembly, not related to response to fire, evidencing the biome shift from savanna to forest. These transformed ecosystems will no longer contribute to the conservation of savanna plant diversity in the near future.

世界各地的开放生态系统都在发生着对树木的侵蚀，生物多样性的丧失是一个大趋势。然而，很少注意到随着树木的增加，地面植被的动态变化。研究了热带稀树草原地面群落在经历火灾和木材侵蚀后的时间变化，以检查植物多样性的丧失，并了解功能行会是否可能驱动群落动态。位置塞拉多（巴西稀树草原），巴西东南部。方法于2016年和2022年对塞拉多连续遗址内20个永久样地（每个样地0.1 ha）的所有植物进行取样。样地代表了两个不同的入侵阶段——开放和茂密的稀树草原，按2016年的树基面积（分别低于或高于15 m2 ha−1）进行分类。根据生境偏好、生长形态和扩散综合征将物种划分为功能行会。我们评估了开放和密集热带稀树草原上每个行会的丰富度随时间的变化，并验证了6年后在获得或失去的物种中，行会的频率比预期的高或低。结果全区丰富度以每年约10种的速度递减。失败者是小型植物（禾本科植物、草本植物和亚灌木，主要是多年生植物），主要是热带草原专科植物和向日葵。获胜者是阴凉环境中的树木和攀援植物（通才或森林物种）。在散布媒介方面，失败者与不会飞的哺乳动物或原生动物有关，而成功者与蝙蝠有关。以鸟类分散种为主，频次稳定，但物种更替率较高。结论热带稀树草原在火灾发生后很长一段时间内，地面群落的动态是由遮荫过滤器和种子传播过滤器的增加驱动的，这是典型的群落聚集的森林驱动因素，与对火灾的响应无关，证明了生态群落从稀树草原向森林的转变。在不久的将来，这些转变后的生态系统将不再有助于稀树草原植物多样性的保护。

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引用次数: 0

Neighbourhood Effects on Tree Seedlings Differ by Mycorrhizal Symbiont Type in a Mixed Dipterocarp Forest 双龙果林不同菌根共生体类型对树苗邻域效应的影响

IF 2.7 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Journal of Vegetation Science

Pub Date : 2026-02-01 DOI: 10.1111/jvs.70116

Akshay Surendra, H. A. Shashikala Madhubhani, H. K. Mahesha Lakmali, K. M. Upul Shantha, H. M. S. Chaturanga Jayathilaka, B. W. Gunasoma, Balangoda M. P. Singhakumara, Mark S. Ashton, Sisira Ediriweera, Liza S. Comita

Aims

Mycorrhizal symbiont type is an important trait that differentiates tree species' responses to their neighbours. In temperate forests, tree species associated with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi show reduced performance in conspecific relative to heterospecific neighbourhoods, while species associated with ectomycorrhizal (EcM) fungi suffer weaker negative effects from conspecific neighbours. However, our understanding of such mycorrhizae-mediated neighbourhood effects in tropical forests is limited. We address this knowledge gap through a shade house plant–soil feedback experiment and an observational field study of seedling dynamics in a mixed dipterocarp (EcM host trees of family Dipterocarpaceae) forest.

Location

Sinharaja, Sri Lanka.

Methods

In the shade house, we transplanted 478 seedlings of three EcM host and two AM host species into conspecific- and heterospecific-trained soils and monitored their total biomass and survival after ~1.5 years. In the field, we tagged, identified and measured seedlings in 576 seedling plots established within known adult neighbourhoods, and monitored growth and survival of eight EcM and 14 AM host taxa beneath conspecific and heterospecific tree crowns over three annual surveys.

Results

We found that the response of seedling growth and survival to neighbourhood (conspecific or heterospecific) depended on mycorrhizal symbiont type (AM or EcM) in the field, but not in the shade house. AM host seedlings had lower growth and survival in conspecific versus heterospecific neighbourhoods in the field, but the opposite pattern was observed for biomass in the shade house. In contrast, growth and survival of EcM host seedlings did not vary with neighbourhood type in the field or shade house.

Conclusions

The ability of EcM host dipterocarp species to tolerate conspecific neighbours likely contributes to their dominance, whereas negative effects of conspecific neighbours may allow AM host seedlings to persist in enemy-free space beneath heterospecific adults.

目的菌根共生体类型是区分树种对其邻居反应的重要特征。在温带森林中，与丛枝菌根（AM）真菌相关的树种在同种邻居中的表现低于异种邻居，而与外生菌根（EcM）真菌相关的树种在同种邻居中的负面影响较弱。然而，我们对这种菌根介导的热带森林邻里效应的了解是有限的。我们通过遮荫室内植物-土壤反馈实验和对混合龙脑树（龙脑科EcM寄主树）森林幼苗动态的实地观察研究来解决这一知识空白。地点Sinharaja，斯里兰卡。方法将3种EcM寄主和2种AM寄主的478株幼苗移栽到同种和异种培养的土壤中，在1.5年后监测其总生物量和成活率。在野外，我们在已知的成虫小区内建立了576个苗圃，对幼苗进行了标记、鉴定和测量，并在三年的年度调查中监测了同种和异种树冠下8个EcM和14个AM寄主分类群的生长和存活。结果苗木生长和存活对邻近环境（同种或异种）的响应取决于菌根共生体类型（AM或EcM），而在遮荫室内则不是。AM寄主幼苗在田间同种小区的生长和存活率低于异种小区，而在遮荫室内的生物量则相反。相比之下，在田间或遮荫室内，EcM寄主幼苗的生长和存活没有因小区类型而变化。结论EcM寄主双翅果对同种邻居的耐受能力可能是其优势的原因之一，而同种邻居的负面影响可能使AM寄主幼苗在异种成虫下的无天敌空间中持续存在。

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引用次数: 0

Protected Areas Have Not Halted Macrophyte Biodiversity Loss and Eutrophication in Northwest German Standing Waters 保护区并没有阻止德国西北部静水域大型植物生物多样性的丧失和富营养化

IF 2.7 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Journal of Vegetation Science

Pub Date : 2026-01-29 DOI: 10.1111/jvs.70115

Friedemann von Lampe, Flavia Landucci, Erwin Bergmeier

Questions

How have species richness, functional composition and community structure of aquatic macrophytes in standing waters changed since the mid-20th century? Do these changes differ between oligotrophic and mesoeutrophic waters, and to what extent do protected areas conserve macrophyte diversity?

Location

Northwest Germany.

Methods

We analysed temporal changes in 76 macrophyte species across 119 waters. Sites were originally surveyed in the mid-20th century with resurveys in the early 21st century; 55 sites also had late 20th century records. Changes in species richness, growth forms, ecological indicator values and individual species occurrences were assessed using permutational paired t-tests and generalised linear mixed models. Shifts in community composition were evaluated with NMDS, permutational multivariate analysis of variance and temporal beta-diversity partitioning.

Results

Mean site-level richness declined by 27% with losses mostly of threatened and oligotrophic-water specialists. Generalists also declined in mesoeutrophic waters but slightly increased in historically oligotrophic waters. Within protected areas, richness was consistently higher while experiencing similar declines. Only larger systems showed any recovery and that since the late 20th century. Of the 60 species recorded in both main periods, occurrence probability across sites decreased for 24 species and increased for three. Community turnover within sites was high, predominantly driven by losses. Composition shifted towards indicators of eutrophic–hypertrophic conditions, that is, from submerged to floating-leaved forms and towards higher proportions of free-floating pleustophytes.

Conclusions

Continued eutrophication, sediment accumulation and increased turbidity have reshaped macrophyte communities, reducing their diversity even within protected sites. Small and oligotrophic waters are especially vulnerable. Conservation strategies should address not only rarity but also functional diversity. Limiting diffuse nutrient inputs, restoring wide buffer strips and promoting extensive habitat management are essential to halt declines and support recovery.

20世纪中期以来，常水水生植物的物种丰富度、功能组成和群落结构发生了怎样的变化？这些变化在贫营养和中富营养水域之间是否有所不同？保护区在多大程度上保护了大型植物的多样性？地理位置德国西北部。方法分析119个水域76种大型植物的时空变化。这些遗址最初是在20世纪中期进行调查的，在21世纪初进行了重新调查；55个遗址也有20世纪末的记录。利用置换配对t检验和广义线性混合模型对物种丰富度、生长形式、生态指标值和个体物种发生率的变化进行了评估。采用NMDS、置换多元方差分析和时间β -多样性划分方法评价群落组成的变化。结果平均样地丰富度下降了27%，损失的主要是受威胁水和少营养水。中富营养化水域的通才也有所减少，但历史上的低营养水域的通才略有增加。在保护区内，丰富度持续上升，但也经历了类似的下降。自20世纪后期以来，只有更大的系统显示出任何恢复。在两个主要时期记录的60种中，有24种在不同地点的发生概率下降，3种在不同地点的发生概率增加。站点内的社区流动率很高，主要是由损失造成的。组成转向富营养化肥厚条件的指标，即从淹没到浮叶形式，并向更高比例的自由漂浮的多生植物转变。结论持续的富营养化、泥沙淤积和浊度增加重塑了大型植物群落，甚至在保护区内也降低了其多样性。小水域和少营养化水域尤其脆弱。保护策略不仅要关注稀有性，还要关注功能多样性。限制分散的养分投入、恢复宽阔的缓冲带和促进广泛的栖息地管理对于阻止衰退和支持恢复至关重要。

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引用次数: 0

Alpine Vegetation Under Stress: Drought Impacts on Subtropical Humid High-Mountain Plant Communities in East Asia 干旱对东亚亚热带湿润高山植物群落的影响

IF 2.7 3区环境科学与生态学 Q2 ECOLOGY

Journal of Vegetation Science

Pub Date : 2026-01-28 DOI: 10.1111/jvs.70097

Chu-Chia Kuo, Yu Su, Ho-Yih Liu, Cheng-Tao Lin

Question

Alpine regions are particularly vulnerable to climate change, with plants adapted to harsh conditions proving sensitive to shifting environmental factors. While warming can enhance productivity, the combined effects of warming and drought represent a severe threat. We investigated how concurrent warming and drought influence alpine vegetation in Taiwan, testing the hypotheses that (1) warming may increase productivity when water is sufficient, but co-occurring severe drought and extreme heat will cause disproportionate declines and (2) severe agricultural drought events would lead to declines in mesic and cold-adapted species, favoring drought-tolerant species and increasing compositional homogenization.

Location

Fifteen summit plots in five high-mountain regions of Taiwan.

Methods

We applied a multi-scale approach integrating satellite-based vegetation productivity indices, long-term climate anomalies, field-based diversity measurements, and species-level climatic optima. Climate events were classified by intensity and frequency from 1951 to 2022, and vegetation changes were assessed using field survey and remote sensing data from 2019 to 2022.

Results

During 1951–2022, the study regions experienced an average of 1.08 severe droughts and 0.56 extreme drought events per decade, with a marked increase in extreme drought events since 2016. From 2019 to 2022, negative water balance and elevated temperatures led to reduced productivity. Productivity declined moderately under single-stressor scenarios but dropped significantly when drought and warming co-occurred. This corresponded with a decline in species richness and evenness, disappearance of mesic and cold-adapted species, and increased vegetation homogenization.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that the co-occurring drought and extreme heat conditions substantially impact alpine vegetation resilience, driving species loss and community homogenization. With future climate scenarios projecting further decline, even humid alpine climatic region may face ongoing drought-related threats. Our results underscore the importance of sustained field monitoring and integrated multi-scale strategies to conserve the alpine biodiversity under climate change.

高山地区特别容易受到气候变化的影响，适应恶劣条件的植物对不断变化的环境因素非常敏感。虽然气候变暖可以提高生产力，但气候变暖和干旱的综合影响构成了严重的威胁。我们研究了气候变暖与干旱同时发生对台湾高山植被的影响，验证了以下假设：(1)当水分充足时，气候变暖可能会提高生产力，但同时发生的严重干旱和极端高温将导致不成比例的下降；(2)严重的农业干旱事件将导致中等和冷适应物种的减少。有利于耐旱品种和增加组成均质化。地理位置：台湾五个高山地区的十五个山顶地块。方法采用基于卫星的植被生产力指数、长期气候异常、野外多样性测量和物种水平的气候优化的多尺度方法。根据1951 - 2022年气候事件的强度和频率进行分类，利用2019 - 2022年野外调查和遥感数据对植被变化进行评估。结果1951—2022年，研究区平均每10年发生1.08次严重干旱和0.56次极端干旱事件，2016年以来极端干旱事件显著增加。从2019年到2022年，负水平衡和温度升高导致生产力下降。在单一压力情景下，生产力适度下降，但在干旱和变暖共同发生时，生产力显著下降。与此相对应的是物种丰富度和均匀度下降，中介和冷适应物种消失，植被均质化加剧。结论干旱和极端高温共同发生对高寒植被的恢复能力有显著影响，导致物种损失和群落均质化。随着未来气候情景预测的进一步下降，即使是湿润的高山气候地区也可能面临持续的干旱相关威胁。研究结果强调了气候变化背景下持续的野外监测和多尺度综合策略对保护高山生物多样性的重要性。

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