青藏高原东缘野生暗紫贝母生物量分配格局对高山生态环境的适应

从时空尺度研究了青藏高原东缘野生暗紫贝母(Fritillaria unibracteata)生物量分配特征对高山环境条件的生态适应。通过海拔梯度、群落类型、群落盖度、群落透光率4个变量的分析, 间接探讨了高山环境条件下水分、热量、光照和土壤养分等主要环境因子对暗紫贝母生物量分配的影响, 并主要研究了海拔梯度这一综合要素的生态效应。同时, 从时间尺度上研究了暗紫贝母不同生活史阶段的生物量分配模式, 以期了解不同发育阶段高山植物对于环境要素的适应特征。研究结果表明: 1)在一定的空间范围内, 4个环境变量中仅海拔梯度对暗紫贝母单株鳞茎生物量及总生物量的影响差异显著, 且生物量积累随海拔升高而减小。2)在空间尺度上, 海拔梯度为野生暗紫贝母生长的主要限制因子, 表明在高山地区热量条件对植物生长具有明显的制约作用, 同时不同生活史阶段的暗紫贝母其生物量分配模式对海拔梯度的响应也存在着一定的差异。2年生贝母的鳞茎生物量分配随海拔升高而降低, 叶生物量分配随之增加。3年生和4年生贝母鳞茎及叶生物量分配在不同海拔梯度上比较稳定, 而茎生物量分配随海拔升高而降低, 有性生殖(花)分配则随之而增加。各生活史阶段植株根生物量在不同海拔梯度上分配稳定。3)在时间尺度上, 不同生活史阶段贝母生物量分配模式存在显著差异。根和茎生物量分配随生活史阶段的增加而显著增加, 而鳞茎和叶生物量分配则随之显著减少。单株鳞茎生物量在3年生阶段达到最大。     

遮光和施氮对暗紫贝母生长和C-N平衡的影响

为了了解暗紫贝母对资源变化的适应策略,本研究通过田间控制试验,研究了遮光和施氮对暗紫贝母生物量、生物量分配,以及叶、根C、N状态的影响。结果表明：遮光和施氮处理后,暗紫贝母生物量均减少;遮光下叶片的生物量分配相对增加,叶根生物量比显著升高（P<0.05）,但施氮处理下叶根生物量比的变化不明显;遮光和施氮后,暗紫贝母叶、根N含量均显著升高（P<0.05）,叶片和根的C：N显著降低（P<0.05）;相关分析显示,叶片N、C：N与暗紫贝母总生物量、叶根生物量比有极显著的相关性（P<0.01）。本研究表明,与生物量分配相比,C-N平衡,尤其是叶片的C：N比能更好的解释暗紫贝母对资源变化的适应。     

太白山南北坡高山林线太白红杉对气候变化的响应差异

气候变化对秦岭植被生长的影响已经引起了人们的广泛关注,在相同的立地条件下,植被对气候变化的响应会因坡向不同而产生差异,秦岭的分水岭太白山尤为典型,为更进一步揭示不同坡向太白红杉(Larix chinensis)对气候变化响应的差异,以树木年代学为依据,利用采自太白山南、北坡相同海拔的太白红杉树芯样本分别建立了树轮年表,并分析了两者的年表特征,探讨了树轮宽度指数与气候因子之间的相关性及逐步线性回归方程。结果表明:太白山南、北坡太白红杉年表的平均敏感度、样本间平均相关系数、样本总体代表性等特征值较高,表明两个不同坡向年表中皆含有丰富的环境信息,相对而言,北坡样地植被对气候的响应较南坡样地敏感;由相关性分析可知,南北坡太白红杉差值年表对气温和降水响应显著的月份有所差异,北坡样地轮宽指数与当年和前一年1—6月平均气温皆为显著正相关关系,而南坡样地轮宽指数仅与当年5—6月平均气温通过显著性检验。南、北坡太白红杉径向生长都明显受到前一年6月降水"滞后效应"的一致影响,但北坡仅与当年8月的降水呈显著正相关,南坡与当年1—4月的平均降水量存在十分显著的负相关;多元线性逐步回归模型显示,气温因子对回归方程的贡献最大值均大于降水因子的贡献最大值,表明气温因子的变化更易引起太白红杉树轮宽度的变化,另外,气温因子对北坡样地回归模型的贡献值比气温因子对南坡样地回归模型的贡献值大,表明北坡样地处树轮宽度指数对气温因子更敏感,并且与相关分析结果一致。     

1958-2008年太白山太白红杉林碳循环模拟

太白红杉(Larix chinensis林主要分布于我国秦岭太白山的林线位置,对气候变化的响应十分敏感.为了定量分析太白山太白红杉林在气候变化背景下的碳循环特征,基于模型(MTCLIM)模拟的温度和降水数据,应用植被动态过程模型(LPJ-GUESS)模拟了太白山南北坡1958-2008年太白红杉林的净初级生产力(NPP)、生物量和净生态系统碳交换量(NEE).结果表明:1)太白红杉和巴山冷杉(Abies fargesii)的NPP和生物量在太白红杉林占有优势,太白红杉的NPP和生物量均大于巴山冷杉.1958-2008年间太白红杉南北坡NPP的平均值为0.38 kgC·m-2·a-1,巴山冷杉为0.25 kgC·m-2,a-1,两者之和占整个太白红杉林NPP的86％;1958-2008年间太白红杉南北坡生物量的平均值为2.91 kgC/m2,巴山冷杉为2.02 kgC/m2,两者之和占太白红杉林生物量的94％.2)太白红杉和巴山冷杉的NPP均表现为北坡大于南坡,且南北坡均有逐年增加的趋势,北坡的增幅小于南坡,所以太白山南北坡太白红杉林的NPP差异有逐年减少的趋势.3)太白红杉生物量的年际波动较大,南北坡呈交替上升趋势,南坡的平均值(2.94 kgC/m2)大于北坡(2.89 kgC/m2).巴山冷杉生物量的年际波动相对较小,北坡生物量水平大于南坡.4)1958-2008年南北坡太白红杉林平均NEE均为-0.023 kgC·m-2·a-1,表现为碳汇.南北坡碳汇水平均呈逐年增加趋势,南坡的增加幅度(0.91 g·m-2·a-1)大于北坡(0.42 g·m-2·a-1).以气候和CO2为驱动因子对太白山太白红杉林的长期碳循环动态做了定量分析,从机理上揭示气候变化与生态系统碳循环的关系,还需要做进一步的野外观测和控制实验研究.     

祁连山北坡天然草地不同尺度地上生物量空间格局对地形的响应

草地群落地上生物量的空间格局反映了地形差异导致的群落资源配置空间异质性。采用草地群落调查与广义相加模型(GAM)相结合的方法,分析了祁连山北坡典型草原山体尺度和坡面尺度上群落地上生物量格局的响应特征。结果表明:山体尺度上,群落地上生物量受地形因子影响的顺序为海拔坡向变率≈坡度变率≈坡度;利用坡向作为划分条件将山体尺度缩小为坡面尺度后,东、西两个坡面群落地上生物量受坡向变率的影响最大,南、北坡则分别受海拔和坡度变率的影响最大,其中草地群落地上生物量在东坡随坡向变率的增大先减少后增加,西坡随坡向变率的增大先增加后减少,南坡随海拔的上升而增加,北坡随坡度变率的增大先不变后减少;草地群落地上生物量空间格局在山体尺度和坡面尺度上具有明显的尺度依赖特征。     

新疆郁金香营养生长、个体大小和开花次序对繁殖分配的影响

植物有性繁殖与资源分配的关系研究对于揭示植物生活史特征及繁育系统进化具有重要意义。新疆郁金香(Tulipa sinkiangensis)是新疆天山北坡荒漠带特有的一种多年生早春短命植物。在自然生境中,该物种仅以有性繁殖产生后代,每株能产生1-8朵花,且不同植株上的花数及果实数以及花序不同位置上的花与果实大小明显不同。本文通过对新疆郁金香有性繁殖与营养生长及植株大小的关系以及花序中不同位置花及果实间的资源分配研究,旨在揭示营养生长、个体大小及开花次序对其繁殖分配的影响。结果表明:在开花和果实成熟阶段,新疆郁金香植株分配给营养器官(鳞茎和地上营养器官)与繁殖器官的资源间均存在极显著的负相关关系(P<0.01),说明其植株的营养生长与生殖生长间存在权衡关系。多花是新疆郁金香的一个稳定性状,其植株上花数目、花生物量、果实生物量和种子数量与植株生物量间均呈极显著的正相关关系(P<0.01),说明新疆郁金香植株的繁殖分配存在大小依赖性。在具2-5朵花的新疆郁金香植株中,花序内各花的生物量、花粉数和胚珠数、结实率、果实生物量、结籽数、结籽率及种子百粒重按其开花顺序依次递减,说明花序内各花和果实的资源分配符合资源竞争假说。植株通过减少晚发育的花或果实获得的资源来保障早发育的花或果实获得较多的资源,从而达到繁殖成功。     

基于功能性状及系统发育的亚高寒草甸群落构建北大核心CSCD

为了解甘南藏族自治州亚高寒草甸植物群落在坡向梯度上的构建机制,该文选取5个坡向的样地,构建了植物群落系统发育树,测定了各坡向土壤环境因子和植物叶片的功能性状,检验了叶片功能性状的系统发育信号。结果表明:坡向变化对土壤含水量、土壤养分含量影响显著。大部分植物的叶片特征在不同坡向的差异显著,叶片干物质含量在南坡、西南坡较高,比叶面积和叶片氮、磷含量在北坡和西北坡较高。叶片的磷含量具有微弱的系统发育信号,而叶片干物质含量、比叶面积、叶片的氮含量均没表现出显著的系统发育信号。从南坡到北坡,群落的系统发育结构由发散到聚集。生境过滤作用是南坡、西南坡群落构建的驱动因素,种间竞争是北坡和西北坡群落构建的主要驱动力。西坡系统发育指数相反,其构建机制比较复杂,可能是几种机制共同作用的结果。     

基于功能性状及系统发育的亚高寒草甸群落构建

为了解甘南藏族自治州亚高寒草甸植物群落在坡向梯度上的构建机制,该文选取5个坡向的样地,构建了植物群落系统发育树,测定了各坡向土壤环境因子和植物叶片的功能性状,检验了叶片功能性状的系统发育信号。结果表明:坡向变化对土壤含水量、土壤养分含量影响显著。大部分植物的叶片特征在不同坡向的差异显著,叶片干物质含量在南坡、西南坡较高,比叶面积和叶片氮、磷含量在北坡和西北坡较高。叶片的磷含量具有微弱的系统发育信号,而叶片干物质含量、比叶面积、叶片的氮含量均没表现出显著的系统发育信号。从南坡到北坡,群落的系统发育结构由发散到聚集。生境过滤作用是南坡、西南坡群落构建的驱动因素,种间竞争是北坡和西北坡群落构建的主要驱动力。西坡系统发育指数相反,其构建机制比较复杂,可能是几种机制共同作用的结果。     

2000-2016年秦岭山地植被覆盖变化地形分异效应

利用2000-2016年MODIS NDVI数据,采用趋势分析及地形差异修正法,探讨秦岭山地植被覆盖变化在南北坡、不同海拔以及不同坡度坡向下的空间分异性。结果表明：近17年来,秦岭山地植被覆盖度良好,整体呈上升趋势,南北坡、不同海拔、不同坡度、不同坡向下植被覆盖度有所差异,植被变化趋势也不同。（1）就南北坡而言,近17年来秦岭南坡植被覆盖度上升趋势大于北坡,南坡植被覆盖以上升趋势为主,而北坡以稳定为主。（2）不同的海拔高度上秦岭山地植被覆盖变化在存在分异性：低海拔区域呈减少趋势,中海拔区呈明显的上升趋势,2000 m以上的高海拔区域北坡的植被覆盖度较为稳定,而南坡的2500到3100 m区域内有较明显的减小趋势。（3）从坡度来看,随着坡度的增加秦岭山地植被覆盖度由减少转为增加再转为稳定,南北坡植被变化分异性不明显。（4）不同坡向上,秦岭南北坡植被覆盖度变化差异明显,由阴坡转为阳坡时,北坡植被覆盖有明显的增长趋势,而南坡则不明显,植被覆盖度减小区在南北坡的分布呈相反趋势,分别分布在南坡的阳坡以及北坡的阴坡。     

泰山南北坡植物物种多样性垂直梯度格局的比较

以泰山南北坡14块样方的调查资料为基础,分析了泰山植物物种多样性沿海拔梯度的分布格局。结果表明:在相同海拔范围内,南坡物种丰富度大于北坡,泰山物种丰富度随海拔的升高而减少。整个群落及不同层次的物种多样性沿海拔梯度在泰山南北坡呈现不同的分布格局。在人为干扰程度低的情况下,北坡的群落物种丰富度在各个层次均较高,而多样性指数在各个层次不一样,北坡乔木层的多样性指数较南坡低,但灌木层和草本层则是北坡明显大于南坡。整体上,物种多样性指数与海拔的相关性,北坡要比南坡好。     

Mechanisms driving understory evergreen herb distributions across slope aspects: as derived from landscape position

In the Northern Hemisphere, the surface of south-facing slopes orients toward the sun and thus receives a greater duration and intensity of solar irradiation, resulting in a relatively warmer, drier microclimate and seasonal environmental extremes. This creates potentially detrimental conditions for evergreen plants which must endure the full gamut of conditions. I hypothesize that (1) increased southerly aspect will correlate negatively with evergreen understory plant distributions; (2) derived environmental variables (summer and winter light and heat load) will predict variance in evergreen distributions as well as topographic position (aspect, slope, and elevation) and (3) winter light will best predict evergreen understory plant distributions. In order to test these hypotheses, survey data were collected characterizing 10 evergreen understory herb distributions (presence, abundance, and reproduction) as well as the corresponding topographical information across north- and south-facing slopes in the North Carolina mountains and Georgia piedmont. The best predictive models were selected using AIC, and Bayesian hierarchical generalized linear models were used to estimate the strength of the retained coefficients. As predicted, evergreen understory herbs occurred and reproduced less on south-facing than north-facing slopes, though slope and elevation also had robust predictive power, and both discriminated well between evergreen species. While the landscape variables explained where the plants occurred, winter light and heat load provided the best explanation why they were there. Evergreen plants likely are limited on south-facing slopes by low soil moisture combined with high temperatures in summer and high irradiance combined with lower temperatures in winter. The robust negative response of the understory evergreen herbs to increased winter light also suggested that the winter rather than the summer (or growing season) environment provided the best predictive power for understory evergreen distributions, which has substantive implications for predicting responses to global climate change.     

Responses of ring widths and maximum densities of Larix gmelinii to climate on contrasting north- and south-facing slopes in central Siberia

An analysis was performed of the climatic responses of the radial growth of Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr. at two sites—both of which included contrasting north- and south-facing slopes—in Tura, central Siberia, with the development of ring width and maximum-density chronologies for each slope. Both residual and standard chronologies of ring widths were positively correlated with temperature from late May until mid June on all four slopes. By contrast, standard chronologies of ring widths were negatively correlated with precipitation during the winter (from October to April) and in May on the north-facing slope at site 1 and on the south-facing slope at site 2 respectively. The negative correlations with precipitation during the winter and in May on some of the slopes suggested that delayed snowmelt in early spring might inhibit the radial growth of L. gmelinii, and the effects of snow are likely to vary with topography. Both residual and standard chronologies of maximum densities were positively correlated with temperature in early July on all four slopes. Maximum densities were also positively correlated with precipitation during summer of the previous year on all the slopes. These suggest that no major differences exist in terms of responses of maximum density to climatic factors between the north- and south-facing slopes.     

黄土丘陵沟壑区农林草地土壤热量状况及植被生长响应——以燕沟流域为例

利用CoupModel模型模拟了黄土丘陵沟壑区燕沟流域刺槐(Robinia pseudoacacia)林地、辽东栎(Quercus liaotungensis)林地、荒草地、农地等7种土地类型的土壤热量状况,分析了不同植被类型的潜热通量、感热通量、土壤热通量以及植被生长对土壤热量的响应.结果表明,农地潜热通量较小,林地和荒草地潜热通量较大,各地类潜热通量季节变化规律基本一致.潜热通量是黄土丘陵区土壤-植被-大气系统能量的主要支出项,占总净辐射的72.1%～81.4%以上;感热通量变化振幅相对较小,占总净辐射的16.4%～26.4%;土壤热通量仅占总净辐射的1.4%～2.4%,但直接影响土壤温度的变化速度和变化时间.试验地各地类地表温度随季节的变化趋势均呈单峰曲线型.2～7月份0～20cm平均土壤温度随累积土壤热通量的增大而升高,9月到翌年1月份0～20cm平均土壤温度随累积土壤热通量的减小而降低,但累积土壤热通量的变化滞后于土壤温度变化.同一植被类型条件下,阳坡土壤温度年变幅显著高于阴坡.在阴坡,0cm、10cm、20cm深土壤温度年变幅农地＞阴坡荒草地＞阴坡辽东栎林地＞阴坡刺槐林地;在阳坡,阳坡荒草地＞阳坡刺槐林地＞阳坡辽东栎林地.阴坡刺槐林地、阴坡荒草地和农地0～20cm土壤温度达到5℃以上的时间比阳坡刺槐林和阳坡荒草地推迟1周左右,根系开始生长活动的时间也推迟1周左右;而阴坡辽东栎林地则晚于阳坡辽东栎林地5d左右,根系开始生长活动的时间也较阳坡辽东栎林晚5d左右.出叶时间阳坡刺槐林和阳坡荒草地植物比阴坡刺槐林、阴坡荒草地和阳坡辽东栎林的早1周左右,比阴坡辽东栎林早12d左右.     

Frequencies, Microclimate and Root Properties for Three Codominant Perennials in the Northwestern Sonoran Desert on North-vs.South-facing Slopes

At a site in the northwestern Sonoran Desert the percent groundcover for the C₃subshrubEncelia farinosawas eight-times higheron more arid 20° south-facing slopes than on 20° north-facingslopes at 820 m elevation, and was six-times higher on north-facingslopes at a 300-m-lower elevation, also the more arid condition.The ground cover of the C₄bunchgrassPleuraphis rigidadecreasedover 50% from 20° north-facing slopes to the more arid conditionsof a 36° north-facing slope, a 20° south-facing slopeand a 20° north-facing slope at a 300-m-lower elevation.The CAM leaf succulentAgave desertialso had greater ground coverfor the 20° north-facing slopes at 820 m compared with 520m. For these three codominants that averaged 58% of the totalground cover, the key for the relative frequency ofE. farinosawasapparently its greater root growth on the warmer slopes duringthe winter. The key for the other two species was most likelysoil water availability, especially during the seedling stageforA. deserti. The wetter soil conditions on 20° north-facingslopes at 820 m apparently led to individual plants ofP. rigidathatwere twice as large as on south-facing slopes. Thus root propertiesmay exert the primary influence on relative plant frequencyin this desert ecosystem for which soil temperature and wateravailability are crucial.Copyright 1997 Annals of Botany Company Agave deserti; Encelia farinosa; Pleuraphis rigida; rooting patterns; soil temperature; Sonoran Desert; water availability     

Plant-parasitic Nematodes in Loess Toposequences Planted with Corn

Populations of plant-parasitic nematodes in an Iowa cornfield were studied along north- and west-facing toposequences. Samples were collected monthly during the growing season. The greatest biomass for Xiphinema americanum occurred at the footslope on the north face. Paratylenchus microdorus had its greatest biomass at the summit position, generally more in the west- than in the north-facing slope. Pratylenchus spp. in the roots peaked at the toeslope in the north-facing slope, but at the footslope in the west-facing slope. Helicotylenchus pseudorobustus peaked at the backslope and the toeslope along the north- and west-facing slopes, respectively. Diversity, as computed for each plot by the Shannon-Weiner diversity index, was highest at the backslope in both toposequences.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Hydrastis Canadensis</Emphasis> L. (Ranunculaceae) Distribution does not Reflect Response to Microclimate Gradients across a Mesophytic Forest Cove

Spatial patterns of understory plant distribution can reflect availability of suitable abiotic microsites. Hydrastis canadensis is a native, herbaceous perennial whose distribution may be constrained by microsite availability. We planted 5 transects each on south- and north-facing cove hillsides with clonally derived rhizomes of H. canadensis. Transects were spaced 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 m from a third-order stream. Because the transect 20 m from the stream on the south-facing hillside was adjacent to a natural H. canadensis patch, this transect was postulated to represent suitable habitat. We tested the effects of aspect and distance from stream on phytometer growth measures (survival, leaf area, and both rhizome and leaf area relative growth rates). We also monitored temperature, humidity, and light, then quantified environmental distances for these measures between each transect location and the transect in suitable habitat. Plant growth measures were then regressed on these distances to test hypotheses about factor effects. Neither survival nor relative growth rates depended on aspect or distance from the stream, although leaf area was greater on the north-facing aspect in both years and increased with proximity to the stream in 2003. Rhizome relative growth rate did not depend on any of the environmental distance measures, although leaf area change depended on cumulative light, increasing as the environmental distance from the suitable site increased. The relatively weak association between environmental variation across the forested cove reinforces other studies suggesting that H. canadensis has a relatively broad ecological niche, and its rarity is unlikely due to lack of availability of suitable habitat.     

Influence of slope aspect on Mediterranean woody formations: Comparison of a semiarid and an arid site in Israel

This study investigates the effects of slope aspect on plant community characteristics such as plant cover, species composition and above-ground biomass production in Mediterranean trees and shrubs in two climatological regions. Two experimental sites were selected in a climatic gradient that runs from the foothills of the Judean Hills to the northern Negev desert in Israel. In each site, 16 quadrats of 10 m × 10 m (eight south-facing and eight north-facing slopes) were established and the vegetation was recorded. Dominant tree and shrub species were measured using allometric parameters of area and volume, and representative branches were cut and weighed. Species studied were Quercus calliprinos, Phillyrea latifolia, Pistacia lentiscus, Cistus creticus, Coridothymus capitatus, and Sarcopoterium spinosum. The results showed that slope aspect had significant effects on the composition, structure and density of the plant communities developing in both sites. Vegetation structure within a site changed significantly in the short distance separating the north and south-facing slopes, and that pattern remained generally constant when comparing the two sites along the rainfall gradient. The data collected here provides new insight into the slope aspect effects on biomass allocation of different woody life forms of eastern Mediterranean plant communities.     

秦岭南北坡森林鼠类对板栗和锐齿栎种子扩散的影响

森林鼠类的种子贮藏行为对植物的扩散及更新会产生积极的影响。2012和2013年秋季,分别在秦岭北坡的周至国家级自然保护区和南坡的佛坪国家级自然保护区内,调查了森林鼠类对板栗(Castanea mollissima)和锐齿栎(Quercus aliena)种子的取食和扩散差异。结果显示:1)秦岭南北坡的环境因素,特别是植被因素,对鼠类扩散板栗和锐齿栎种子具有重要的影响。南坡较为丰富的壳斗科植被种类,导致2种种子在南坡存留时间均长于北坡,而北坡的扩散取食和丢失率均高于南坡。2)种子特征影响鼠类的取食或贮藏偏好。由于较高的蛋白、脂肪等营养含量,鼠类更喜好取食或搬运贮藏板栗种子。然而,低营养但高丹宁含量的锐齿栎种子仍然被鼠类大量贮藏。3)2种种子在南北坡的扩散历程在两个年份间有很大差异,在食物相对匮乏的年份(2012年),种子被扩散的速度更快且丢失的比率更高。这种差异反映了种子大小年现象对森林鼠类取食和贮藏策略的影响。4)无论在秦岭南坡还是北坡,营养价值含量(如蛋白和脂肪)较高的板栗种子的取食和贮藏距离都明显大于营养价值含量较低的锐齿栎种子,这与最优贮藏空间分布模型的预测一致。     

Effect of water availability on the phenotypic expression of herbivore resistance in northern red oak seedlings (Quercus rubra L.)

The phenotypic expression of quantitative characters is a function of the individual's genotype and the environment in which it is measured. In a previous reciprocal transplant study, we found that patterns of genetic differences in resistance to herbivores among adjacent subpopulations of northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.), were consistent with a local adaptation hypothesis. The goal of this study was to determine if variation in water availability may have been a mechanism responsible for these previously observed patterns. In 1989 a common garden study was initiated using acorns from maternal trees occupying either a north- or south-facing slope microhabitat in an oak-hickory forest in east central Missouri, USA. The seedlings were grown under one of two water treatments, irrigated or natural. In 1992, we utilized this experiment to examine the quantitative character of the percentage of leaf area damaged by herbivores, which is a measure of the phenotypically expressed level of resistance. Specifically, we made three predictions: (1) because northern red oak seem to grow best in mesic environments, seedlings receiving more water should show greater resistance to herbivores; (2) if the subpopulations from north- and south-facing slope microhabitats are genetically differentiated with respect to the quantitative character of resistance to herbivores, then there will be a significant effect of maternal slope microhabitat on the percentage of leaf area damaged; and (3) if the pattern of resistance to herbivores found among subpopulations reflects local adaptation to moisture levels in their own microhabitat, then we would expect to find a significant maternal slope microhabitat by water treatment interaction, with north-facing slope seedlings incurring less damage in the wetter (irrigated) treatment and south-facing slope seedlings incurring less damage in the drier (natural) treatment. Our data supported the first two predictions: seedlings in the irrigated treatment showed a significantly lower percentage of leaf area damage than those in the natural treatment, and the percentage of leaf area damaged was significantly lower on seedlings from maternal plants occupying the north-facing slope microhabitat. However, we found no significant interaction between maternal slope microhabitat and water treatment. These findings demonstrate that northern red oak supbopulations respond phenotypically to water availability, but this factor does not appear to be the underlying mechanism behind the previously observed local adaptation expressed as resistance to herbivores.     

Influence of slope orientation on sex ratio and size distribution in a dioecious plant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Bursera fagaroides</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">purpusii</Emphasis> (Brandeg.) McVaugh and Rzed. (Burseraceae)

It has been hypothesized that environmental variability can influence the sex ratio of a plant population, and it has been observed that in stressful environments, male plants are more abundant than females. However, it is unknown whether this is due to differential mortality rates between males and females. In this study, we analyzed sex ratio, mortality, and size distribution in a population of the neotropical tree/bush Bursera fagaroides in two different environments (east- and west-oriented slopes) over a 10-year period. We determined that the sex ratio favored males in the more stressful environment (east-facing slope) and that females were significantly larger in the less stressful environment (west-facing slope). Despite a significant difference in size between sexes by slope aspect, the difference in sex ratio cannot be explained by slope or by mortality during the 10 years of observation.