[Ecological and physiological mechanisms of growth decline of Robinia pseudoacacia plantations in the Loess Plateau of China: A review.][Pubmed: 30039683]

刺槐是黄土高原广泛栽植的水土保持树种,然而人工刺槐林的树木个体生长衰退已经成为该区域开展植被恢复建设、实现森林可持续经营所面临的重大生态环境问题之一.目前人工刺槐林生长衰退的定义、界定标准、量化指标尚未形成统一标准.探讨刺槐生长衰退的机理不仅是植被恢复的理论基础,也是退耕还林还草工程持续开展的直接需求,具有实际价值和研究意义.通过汇集相关研究文献,综合国际和黄土高原关于森林生长衰退、死亡率增加的研究,从生态学(气候变化、土壤干化、群落结构失调、森林经营管理不当)和树木生理学(水力学故障、碳饥饿、遗传及分子调节)两个角度概述了黄土高原人工刺槐林生长衰退的机制以及取得的研究进展.最后提出黄土高原人工刺槐林生长衰退研究的不足,并对未来研究进行展望.

[Simulation on photosynthetic light-responses of leaves of Quercus variabilis and Robinia pseudoacacia under different light conditions.][Pubmed: 30039668]

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Foraging choices balanced between resource abundance and handling concerns: how the honeybee, Apis mellifera, select the flowers of Robinia pseudoacacia.[Pubmed: 30008279]

Nectar is a main resource harvested by foraging honeybees: their ability in selecting among flowers is the key to optimize resource collection. This ability is expected to be the result of co-evolutionary traits between the plant and the pollinator visiting it; notwithstanding, novel interactions may occur between native and invasive species. Analysing foraging efforts, flexibility and individual constrains has to be taken into account. The foraging pattern of the ubiquitous honeybee on Robinia pseudoacacia, a North-American species widely naturalized in European countries, grounds a perfect case study. The plant shows papilionate flowers especially reach in nectar, but their tripping mechanism is difficult for the small/light-weight honeybee. Yet Apis mellifera is known to pay frequent and constant visits to them: in fact, one of the most appreciated unifloral honey is produced out of R. pseudoacacia. The aim of this study was to understand when and how the bees overcome physical constraints to succeed in flower visits, and to what extent this flexibility extend from the individual to the species. Data were collected in Italy, through focal observations of foraging individuals, nectar content measurements and experiments with manipulated inflorescences. Results clearly indicate that nectar content changes accordingly to the state of flowers (visited or unvisited), which also show slight changes in appearance. Foraging individuals, able to detect these differences, perform active choices preferentially selecting already-visited flowers: lower in nectar content but easier to manipulate. Even if the choice is primarily driven by handling constraints, individual experience and strength of stimuli are prompting visits also to unvisited flowers, notwithstanding a higher risk of failure in resource collection. Behavioural plasticity matching a satisfactory compromise grounds the decision that maximizes the intake of resource balanced with the effort to gain it.

The invasion of abandoned fields by a major alien tree filters understory plant traits in novel forest ecosystems.[Pubmed: 29849056]

The abandonment of agricultural use is a common driver of spontaneous reforestation by alien trees. The N-fixing black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) is a major alien invader of old fields in Europe. Here we show that canopy dominance by this tree may filter the frequency distribution of plant functional traits in the understory of secondary woodlands. Higher soil C/N ratio and available P are associated with black locust stands, while higher soil phenols associate with native tree stands. These environmental effects result in differences in understory flowering periods, reproduction types and life forms. Our findings emphasize the effect of a major alien tree on functional plant trait composition in the early stages of spontaneous reforestation of abandoned lands, implying the development of a novel forest ecosystem on a large geographical scale.

Experimental arid land afforestation in Central Anatolia, Turkey.[Pubmed: 29789963]

The afforestation of arid lands faces many challenges, and perhaps the most important key for success is choosing one or more species that are adapted well for local environmental conditions. We explored species that would be suitable for the steppe region of Central Anatolia. Intensive site preparation included ripping the subsoil (to 80 cm) and plowing the upper soil before planting seedlings of Elaeagnus angustifolia, Robinia pseudoacacia, Fraxinus angustifolia, and Pinus nigra were used as tree species. We also tested the success of several shrub species: Amygdalus orientalis, Calligonum polygonoides, and Spartium junceum. After five growing seasons, E. angustifolia showed the highest survival, with 80% of planted seedlings remaining. For the shrubs, A. orientalis was the most successful species with a 95% survival rate. Broad-leaved trees grew a cumulative average of 34 cm in height in 5 years, whereas P. nigra seedings grew only 9 cm. The greatest height growth occurred in the shrubs, with A. orientalis gaining 40 cm in height in 5 years. Overall, E. angustifolia and A. orientalis appeared best suited for afforestation in these areas. R. pseodoacacia and F. angustifolia may also be used as alternative species.