Hordeum Jubatum Research Articles

К синтаксономии и экологии сообществ с участием инвазионного вида Hordeum jubatum L. на Южном Урале

The synthaxonomy and ecology of communities with predominance of Hordeum jubatum L., included in the «black list» of the Republic of Bashkortostan (Abramova, Golovanov, 2016a), the preliminary «black list» of the Orenburg Region (Abramova et al., 2017) and the «Black book of flora of Middle Russia» (Vinogradova et al., 2010), are discussed in the article, which continues a series of publications on the classification of communities with alien species in the South Urals (Abramova, 2011, 2016; Abramova, Golovanov, 2016b). H. jubatum was first found in the South Urals in 1984 as an adventive plant occurring along streets in the town of Beloretsk, as well as in gardens where it was grown as an ornamental plant. During the 1980s, it was met also at some railway stations and in several rural localities. Its active distribution throughout the South Urals started in XXI century (Muldashev et al., 2017). Currently, H. jubatum, most naturalized in the native salted habitats of the steppe zone, is often found in disturbed habitats in all natural zones within the region. The short vegetating period and resistance to drought allowed it to be naturalized also in dry steppes, where it increasingly acts as the main weed on broken pastures. The aim of the work, conducted during 2011–2017, was further finding the centers of H. jubatum invasion in 3 regions adjacent to the South Urals — the Republic of Bashkortostan and the Chelyabinsk and Orenburg Regions (Fig. 1). In the main sites of H. jubatum invasion 71 relevès were performed on 10–100 m² sample plots with the information of location, date, the plot size, the total cover, average and maximum height of herb layer. Classification was carried out following the Braun-Blanquet method (Braun-Blanquet, 1964) with using the Kopecký–Hejný approach (Kopecký, Hejný, 1974). The community ecology was assessed by weighted average values according to the optimal ecological scales by E. Landolt with usfge of the software of IBIS (Zverev, 2007). PCA-ordination method with usage CANOCO 4.5 software package was applied to identify patterns of environmental differentiation of invasive communities. The current wide distribution area of H. jubatum and its naturalization in synanthropic, meadow and saline communities in the South Urals, as well as its occurrence within mountain-forest belt, forest-steppe and steppe zones both in the Cis- and Trans-Urals, indicates species wide ecological amplitude, high adaptive capability and invasive potential. Its vast thickets are known in the steppe zone, both in disturbed steppes around settlements and along the banks of water bodies. The invasion sites are smaller in the northern regions and mountain forest belt, where these are located in settlements or along communication lines. Therefore, the steppe zone is more favorable for invasive populations, and their distribution will continue from the south to the north. Communities with predominance of H. jubatum, described earlier (Abramova, Golovanov, 2016b) in the Cis-Urals as two derivative communities (associations Hordeum jubatum [Scorzonero–Juncetea gerardii], Hordeum jubatum [Artemisietea]) and Polygono avicularis–Hordeetum jubati, were met in other regions of the South Urals. Also a new derivative community Hordeum jubatum–Poa pratensis [Cynosurion cristati], occuring in the northern part of the Cis-Urals and Trans-Urals, was established. In new habitats this species forms three types of communities: ass. Polygono avicularis–Hordeetum jubati (Fig. 2) the most widespread in anthropogenic habitats throughout the South Urals; derivative community Hordeum jubatum–Juncus gerardii [Scorzonero–Juncetalia gerardii] (Fig. 5) which replaces saline meadows mainly in the steppe zone of the region; derivative community Hordeum jubatum–Poa pratensis [Cynosurion cristati] (Fig. 4) which y replaces low-herb meadows in the forest-steppe zone and mountain-forest belt. PCA ordination (Fig. 6) shows that moisture (H) and soil richness-salinization (S) factors are in priority in differentiation of communities with predominance H. jubatum. The first axis is mainly related to the salinization and soil richness. The community pattern along the second axis is associated with wetting factor. The cenoses of the derivative community Hordeum jubatum–Poa pratensis [Cynosurion cristati] (less salted substrates in drier conditions in the northern part of the forest-steppe zone and the mountain forest belt) are grouped in the upper part of the ordination diagram, while communities of ass. Polygono avicularis–Hordeetum jubati (drier conditions in settlements, the steppe zone) in its low left part. Thus, axis 1 also reflects the intensity of trampling. Another group is formed by cenoses of the derivate community Hordeum jubatum–Juncus gerardii [Scorzonero–Juncetalia gerardii], (salt substrates with a high level of moisturization, on not very damaged water body banks). All communities with H. jubatum are well differentiated in the space of the main ordination axes that indirectly confirms the correctness of our syntaxonomic decision. Undoubted is further expansion of H. jubatum with its entering both anthropogenic and natural plant communities within the South Urals that suggests a constant monitoring in centers of species invasion.

The adaptation of alien Siberian and Euro-Siberian vascular plant species in conditions of Nizhegorod region

The results of observations on adaptation of cultivated and imported alien Siberian and Euro-Siberian vascular plant species to Nizhny Novgorod Region conditions are presented. 33 out of 46 species are on different stages ofsuccessful naturalization. Hippophaё rhamnoides L., Hordeum jubatum L. and Ulmus pumila L. are most successful naturalized species. They formed temporary communities in breaking ecosystems. It is assumed that the success of adaptationis due to the ecological plasticity of species and little depends on the similarity of soil-edaphic and climatic conditions ofSiberia and Nizhny Novgorod region.

ОСОБЕННОСТИ ЦЕНОФЛОРЫ ГАЗОНОВ ГОРОДА УФЫ (РЕСПУБЛИКА БАШКОРТОСТАН)

Lawns are the most important element of the modern urban landscape. They are made by planting grasses at specially prepared homogeneous plots. The coenoflora of Ufa lawns currently includes 112 species of higher plants from 90 genera and 26 families. The characteristic of coenoflora is given on the basis of the performed geobotanical descriptions. Classical floristical analysis of coenoflora is carried out for various floristic spectra: family-genus, biomorphological, horological, ecological, and phytosociological. An assessment of the economic significance of the species was also given. The adventive component of the coenoflora consisting of 29 species was analyzed individually. It accounts for 25.9 % of the total species composition. It is specified that indexes of adventization of coenoflora are relatively low in Ufa in comparison with many other coenofloras of large cities. It can be connected with nature of habitats (absence of soil cover movement and relatively dense cover of lawn grasses and, consequently, absence of soil areas not occupied by plants. Such conditions prevent growing of adventive species). Particularly aggressive invasive plant species (Erigeron annuus, Hordeum jubatum, Solidago canadensis ) are recorded in the group of adventive species. The research proves that in large cities with great disruption of vegetation cover there is an increasing necessity of arranging high-quality lawn ground covers of different types, based on the correct selection of lawn species, optimal agricultural techniques. Ongoing processes that take place in the lawn plant communities should be considered.

Адвентивные виды во флоре Верхнего Енисея

In the course of field research, analysis of previously published works and viewing materials stored in the herbarium of the Central Siberian Botanical Garden SB RAS named after I. M. Krasnoborov (NS) we clarified an information on the distribution of rare adventive plant species in the territory of the Upper Yenisei basin. Cosmos bipinnatus, Ipomoea hederacea, Setaria maximowiczii and Sonchus oleraceus were noted for the first time in the Tuva flora, Grossularia reclinata in the Western Sayan, and Polygonum calcatum and Spergula vulgaris in the territory of Khakassia. Echinochloa crusgalli, Fagopyrum esculentum, Fragaria ananassa, Galium mollugo and Grossularia reclinata were new to the flora of the Sayano-Shushensky nature reserve. For 14 rare species new localities were noted and the boundaries of the ranges were specified: Amaranthus albus, Carduus nutans, Echinochloa crusgalli, Epilobium adenocaulon, Galium aparine, G. mollugo, Hordeum jubatum, Lactuca serriola, Oenothera biennis, Portulaca oleracea, Psammophilliella muralis, Setaria faberi, Sisymbrium loeselii, Spergula vulgaris.

First Detection of Wheat streak mosaic virus in Two Perennial Weed Species, Agropyron cristatum and Hordeum jubatum subsp. intermedium, in Canada

First Detection of <i>Wheat streak mosaic virus</i> in Two Perennial Weed Species, <i>Agropyron cristatum</i> and <i>Hordeum jubatum</i> subsp. <i>intermedium</i>, in Canada

Uticaj bakterijskih izolata iz zemljišta rizosfere na indukciju klijavosti semena pšenice i ječma

Soil microorganisms, which are usually found in plant rhizosphere, have a wide spectrum of beneficial effects on the promotion of plant growth. The most comprehensively studied bacteria with these effects belong to the Bacillus genus. In this study, seven Bacillus isolates from Medicago sativa rhizosphere soils were isolated. Plant growth promoting characteristics of these isolates, such as production of indole-3aceticacid, siderophores and hydrogen cyanide were tested. The induction of wheat (Triticum aestivum) and barley (Hordeum jubatum) seed germination was evaluated in vitro. Isolate BMG2 produced the highest indole-3-aceticacid of 24.89 µg/mL. The length of roots of barley increased up to 60%, while the length of shoots of barley increased 2.23 times afterapplying isolatesPAZE-6 and BMG1, respectively. In addition, isolates BMG1, BMG2 and PAZE-6 improved germination of both types of seeds and showed ability to produce useful substances such as siderophores and indole-3-acetic acid. Further, these isolates could be used in the production of liquid crop additives that can improve the total yield of cultivated plants, especially barley.

Seeding Rate and Fertility Effects on AC Saltlander Forage Production on Saline Soils

Core Ideas AC Saltlander green wheatgrass is a new salinity tolerant cool season grass. Proper seeding rate is effective to save costs and suppress foxtail barley. The optimal seeding rate is 5.6 to 11.2 kg ha−1 in severe saline drylands. Large N application in severe saline soil was not beneficial over successive years. Suppressing foxtail barley by N addition in severe saline soil is not recommended. AC Saltlander green wheatgrass (Elymus hoffmannii Jensen &amp; Asay) (ACS) was developed to tolerate moderate to severe root‐zone salinity. However, effects of seeding rate and nitrogen (N) addition on ACS forage production and suppressing foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum L.) (FTB) weed infestation on saline environments are poorly understood. A 3‐yr experiment with four ACS seeding rates (2.8, 5.6, 11.2, and 16.8 kg ha−1 pure live seed) and a 3‐yr experiment with three N levels (0, 50, and 150 kg ha−1 actual N) were conducted on a severe to very severe range of saline dryland. The 5.6 and 11.2 kg ha−1 ACS seeding rates had similar forage yields to the 16.8 kg ha−1 seeding rate and better FTB suppress compared to the lowest seeding rate. Therefore, 5.6 kg ha−1 seeding rate may be suitable under certain conditions. However, high salinity ranges and challenging environments could justify recommending the higher seeding rate. The ACS forage yields and qualities were higher in 50 and 150 kg ha−1 of actual N in 2014, while yields in 2015 were only higher in 150 kg ha−1 compared with the control but was similar to the 50 kg ha−1. No yield and quality differences were observed in 2016 and no FTB yield and relative yield differences were detected in each year among treatments. Therefore, a single large N fertilizer application in severe salt‐affected drylands was not beneficial over successive years compared to lower N application, and the suppression of FTB in ACS pasture by N addition is not recommended.

RECORDS OF ALIEN VASCULAR PLANTS IN THE YAMALO-NENETS AUTONOMOUS DISTRICT (RUSSIA)

The article contains information about the records of 43 species of alien vascular plants made in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District. Field surveys were carried out in 2012-2016. The detected invasive species were growing on wasteland, abandoned and new lawns, in ditches and on roadsides. A majority of the reported species (Avena fatua, A. sativa, Barbarea vulgaris., Brassica rapa, Bunias orientalis, Cannabis sativa, Cirsium arvense, Crepis tectorum, Cyanus segetum, Dactylis glomerata, Erodium cicutarium, Fallopia convolvulus, Geum aleppicum, Glechoma hederacea, Helianthus lenticularis, Lappula squarrosa, Lathyrus pratensis, Lepidium ruderale, Lycopersicon esculentum, Medicago falcata, Plantago media, Potentilla norvegica, Raphanus raphanistrum, Rubus idaeus, Rumex pseudonatronatus, Scorzoneroides autumnalis, Secale cereale, Silene tatarica, Solanum tuberosum, Sonchus arvensis, Trifolium hybridum, T. medium, Triticum aestivum, Tussilago farfara, Typha latifolia, Urtica dioica) have been previously known from a few locations in the district. Onobrychis viciifolia Scop. and Echium vulgare L. are new for the regional flora. There is little information in the literature and in herbaria about Hordeum jubatum, Lepidotheca suaveolens, Senecio vulgaris, Melilotus albus and M. officinalis in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District. However, these species are getting successfully naturalized, turning into common synanthropic plants in settlements of the district. Data from the herbarium label, information on the distribution in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous District and, if necessary, brief comments on the distribution in Siberia with specification for Western Siberia are provided for each species.

Phytoremediation of BTEX and Naphthalene from produced-water spill sites using Poaceae

ABSTRACTSurface spills of water produced from hydraulic fracturing can expose soil and groundwater to organics such as BTEX and naphthalene (BTEX&N) as well as high concentrations of salt. As an alternative to soil excavation, we evaluated the effectiveness of BTEX&N soil remediation using 2 grasses present in Colorado. Perennial ryegrass and foxtail barley were grown separately in pots in the greenhouse and exposed to salt or a synthesized produced-water slurry containing relevant levels of salt and BTEX&N. Plant biomass was measured 14 days post-spill, and levels of BTEX&N were quantified using GC/MS for soil, roots, and shoots at day 7 and 14 post-spill. Foxtail barley shoot growth was limited by BTEX&N, whereas perennial ryegrass shoot growth was enhanced by salt but not BTEX&N. While BTEX&N in soil associated with foxtail barley mainly decreased over time, the soil associated with perennial ryegrass mainly saw an increase in BTEX&N with time. However, further research is needed to determine the fate of BTEX&N within grasses and soil.

Selected forage crops control foxtail barley and downy brome in saline soils

The ability of forage crops to out-compete foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum L.) and downy brome (Bromus tectorum L.) weeds often fails in saline soils. Ten forage treatments [alfalfa (Medicago sativ...

The potential of seven native North American forage species to suppress weeds through allelopathy

We conducted a series of three greenhouse studies to study the allelopathic effects of seven native perennial North American forage species alone and mixed on three problematic weeds including dand...

A new aspect of grassland vegetation dynamics: cyanobacterium colonies affect establishment success of plants

AbstractAimsCyanobacteria may have considerable effects on community functioning, mostly because they produce various metabolites that adversely affect other organisms. Here we synthesized existing knowledge about the effects of toxic cyanobacteria on the germination and growth of terrestrial plants. We also aimed to test the chemical effects of a Nostoc (Cyanobacteria) extract on the germination and growth of species of alkali habitats to investigate whether cyanobacteria can alter community structure and diversity via affecting the establishment success of plants.LocationCyanobacterium colonies from the Hortobágy National Park, east Hungary; indoor experiments at the University of Debrecen, Hungary.MethodsTo review the effects of toxic cyanobacteria on terrestrial plants, we conducted a literature search. To test these effects on native plants, field‐collected Nostoc colonies were used to prepare a cell‐free water extract, and treatments (watering with Nostoc extract and watering with tap water) were tested on 3 × 100 seeds of nine alkali grassland species. After 5 wk, seedling number, seedling length and fresh and dry weights were measured.ResultsWe collected data on the effects of cyanobacteria on 27 species, but they were mostly focused on crops irrigated with cyanobacteria‐containing water, not on floras native to natural ecosystems. In the germination experiment species identity and treatment had a significant effect on almost all variables, but their interaction only affected germination rate and fresh weight. Fresh weight decreased significantly only in the invasive Hordeum jubatum, but germination rate decreased significantly in five species.ConclusionsBased on our findings, terrestrial cyanobacterium colonies can affect the establishment success of grassland plants, through which they may be important in determining which species can be incorporated into the community. Thus, cyanobacteria might play an important role in shaping diversity, species composition and the structure of natural plant communities.

Распространение некоторых синантропных растений в историческом центре города Иркутска (Восточная Сибирь)

The article is devoted to the results of the grid mapping of some synanthropic herbaceous plant species, i.e. four alien plants (Atriplex sagittata Borkh., Hordeum jubatum L., Impatiens glandulifera Royle, Sisymbrium officinale (L.) Scop.), and one indigenous apofit species (Potentilla paradoxa Nutt.) in the historic center of Irkutsk. For mapping, we used a geographical grid system. The territory of the center of Irkutsk (total area is 2183.7 hectares) was divided into squares of size 10''. In the field, every square was equal to 310 m in latitude and 190 m in longitude. We determined the abundance of species in every square by a three-point scale: 1 - sporadically, or several small groups of plants, 2 - infrequently, or several few square meter populations, 3 - frequently, or forming large clusters. For Impatiens glandulifera, cultivated and spontaneous populations were considered separately. In total, we investigated 368 squares. For constructing maps, we used the QGIS 2.12.0. We found that all four alien plant species were successfully naturalized. Most common species is Hordeum jubatum. We registered it in 31% of squares. This species is one of the most aggressive aliens in the region, but in Irkutsk center we found usually small and not numerous (per grid) populations. Obviously, the reason for this fact is a lack of large free vegetation sites, the most preferred habitat of the species. Impatiens glandulifera is the only species used by local people as a cultivated plant. Although, we found now cultivated populations in 12 squares only. Spontaneous populations of I. glandulifera are much more frequent; we found them in 26% of investigated squares. Sisymbrium officinale and Potentilla paradoxa are recorded in 24 and 21% of investigated squares, respectively. Both of them are presented by small and not abundant populations. Atriplex sagittata is found only in 36 squares (10% of investigated), but this species, as well as Impatiens glandulifera, is phytosociologically active, composing monodominant stands. In case of Potentilla paradoxa, we face a methodological problem of separation of indigenous and adventive fractions of flora. In many sources, this species is treated as alien for Baikal region, but there is no evidence of its introduction to the flora. This Asian and North American species was accounted already in the first comprehensive flora of the Baikal-Dahuria region, published in the middle of the XIX-th century by NS Turczaninow. It means that if P. paradoxa is adventous for the regional flora, it is an archeophyte species, but the problem of detection of archeophytes is hardly developed for North Asian regions of Russia. Therefore, we prefer to treat only neophytes as an alien fraction of flora, introduced to the region in the second half of the XIX-th century or later, and not counted by NS Turczaninow. Funding: This research was conducted in the framework of budget projects of VB Sochava Institute of geography, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, projects No VIII.79.2.3 and VII.79.2.5. Acknowledgments: We are grateful to students of Irkutsk State University, G. Iljin and Ya. Sitnikova for participating in field investigations.

Классификация сообществ с инвазивными видами на Южном Урале. III. Сообщества с Bidens frondosa, Hordeum jubatum и Urtica cannabina

The Republic of Bashkortostan is located between 51°34′ –56 °10′ N and 53°10′ — 59°59′ E, its length from the north to the south — 550 km, from the west to the east — 450 km. The territory of Bashkortostan consists of three main natural regions (provinces): the Bashkir Cis-Urals (about 65 % of the area), the South Urals (29 %) and the Bashkir Trans-Urals (6 %). These areas differ not only by the natural conditions (topography, climate, soil, vegetation, etc.), but also by their level of economic development. Currently, an expansion and naturalization of a number of North American alien species of the family Asteraceae Dumort. of the genera Ambrosia L., Xanthium L., Bidens L., Galinsoga Ruiz &amp; Pav., Cyclachaena Fresen. etc. (Abramova, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015) are observed in the Republic of Bashkortostan. Since 1990th of XX century we conduct a geobotanical research of communities with alien species. The article represents the third part of series of publications devoted to the classification of communities with alien species in the South Urals. The results of vegetation classification of communities with species from the gene­ra Ambrosia L., Cyclachaena (Nutt.) Fresen and Xanthium L. were published earlier (Abramova, 2011, 2015). In this article the communities with participation of three aggressive alien species such as: Bidens frondosa L., Hordeum jubatum L. and Urtica cannabina L. are presented. Two of them— Bidens frondosa and Hordeum jubatum — are included in “The black book of flora of the Central Russia” (Vinogradova, et al., 2010), and they are invasive species of many regions of Russia, and the third – Urtica cannabina — an invasive species of the South Urals (Abramova, 2014). As a result of the carried-out classification a Prodrome of communities is made, the synoptic table of syntaxa is given.

Characterizing dominant controls governing evapotranspiration within a natural saline fen in the Athabasca Oil Sands of Alberta, Canada

AbstractNatural Boreal saline fens provide analogues for reclaimed wetland systems constructed with sodium‐rich tailings materials. These natural analogues can improve our understanding of vegetative controls on dominant ecohydrological processes (i.e. evapotranspiration (ET)) in constructed landscapes. Therefore, the objective of this study is to characterize ET within a natural boreal saline fen over a growing season to determine the primary hydro‐climatic controls using community‐scale ET measurements targeting dominant vegetation communities within different microforms along with environmental controls.ET rates were highest during periods of peak vegetation growth and temperatures between June and August, with rates decreasing slightly in July. Vegetation species' physiology was the dominant variable governing ET. The more salt tolerant species maintained higher ET rates despite the lower leaf area index and water table levels found within these species. The lower ET rates measured in July can be attributed to high water tables from above average precipitation causing soil inundation and salt stress, increasing stomatal closure. However, community plots containing Triglochin maritima maintained transpiration rates under the coupled stress conditions. Therefore, this is a potentially important species for use in boreal reclamation planting schemes. Last, the findings emphasize that the dominant vegetation selected for reclamation projects must coincide with the materials used (peat and subsurface materials), as results within this study demonstrate that some native boreal fen species (Calamagrostis inexpansa, Hordeum jubatum, and Juncus balticus) were unable to maintain transpiration rates during flood and saline conditions that can occur within the mining area of this region. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Habitat Selection by the Endangered New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse on an Irrigated Floodplain

Abstract The New Mexico meadow jumping mouse Zapus hudsonius luteus is endemic to the American Southwest. It has undergone severe declines in distribution over the past century and it has been listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act. The goal of this study was to determine current status and habitat selection by the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse at three spatial scales (landscape, macrohabitat, microhabitat) on a managed high-order floodplain. We hypothesized that the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse is a habitat specialist that might rely on specific habitat components at multiple spatial scales. The study occurred at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico. In comparison with the status of the species 2 decades ago, the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse was rare, with only 29 individuals captured. Trapping results and radiotelemetry of 20 individuals revealed that the current population existed along 2.7 km of a single irrigation canal. At the landscape scale, the distribution of the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse was determined by selection of canals, water, foxtail barley Hordeum jubatum herbaceous temporarily flooded association, and narrowleaf willow Salix exigua mesic graminoids shrubland association. At the macrohabitat scale, jumping mice selected canals and Hordeum jubatum herbaceous temporarily flooded association. At the microhabitat scale, jumping mice selected areas that were near water and contained moist soils, dense herbaceous canopy cover, dogbane Apocynum cannabinum, foxtail barley, and common threesquare Schoenoplectus pungens; jumping mice avoided habitats represented by eight plant species, including mule-fat Baccharis salicifolia, kochia Bassia scoparia, and saltcedar Tamarix ramosissima. Jumping mice only occurred where there is an overlap of the required habitats at all three scales and this may be a key limiting factor for the New Mexico meadow jumping mice at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge. Habitats used by jumping mice during maternal nesting and hibernation contained more woody plants and woody debris than at other times of their life cycle. Information gained from this study can help land managers protect and create habitat conditions required by the New Mexico meadow jumping mouse.

Exponential fertilization and plant competition effects on the growth and N nutrition of trembling aspen and white spruce seedlings

Exponential fertilization has been shown to be a useful technique for improving seedling quality during nursery production. In this study, we evaluated (i) the impact of exponential vs. conventional fertilization on trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) and white spruce (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss) seedlings during nursery production and (ii) the growth performance and nitrogen (N) utilization of those seedlings in response to foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum L.) competition after the transplantation of seedlings in a greenhouse experiment. Exponential fertilization with an application rate higher than the conventional fertilization increased the internal N reserve in trembling aspen and white spruce seedlings during nursery production and also increased new leaf, new stem, and old stem biomass and N retranslocation rates in trembling aspen seedlings but not in white spruce seedlings after transplantation. Foxtail barley competition decreased N concentrations in seedlings and soil N uptake by the seedlings; however, increased N retranslocation rates with foxtail barley competition were observed in white spruce seedlings but not in trembling aspen seedlings. Our results suggest that the growth performance of seedlings was improved by N loading, whereas the impact of vegetation management was species specific.

Herbeal Feeding Behavior of the New Mexico Meadow Jumping Mouse (Zapus hudsonius luteus)

Abstract. We report the first observations of feeding behavior by free-ranging New Mexico meadow jumping mice (Zapus hudsonius luteus). We made observations during a radiotelemetry study of Z. h. luteus in the floodplain of the Rio Grande at Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, Socorro Co., New Mexico, in 2009 and 2010. We observed Z. h. luteus eat the achenes or seeds of the order Cyperales: common threesquare (Schoenoplectus pungens), spikerush (Eleocharis spp.), saltgrass (Distichlis spicata), foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum), Saunder's wildrye (Elymus saundersii), Japanese brome (Bromus japonicus), slender wheatgrass (Elymus trachycaulus), and knotgrass (Paspalum distichum). Mice frequently foraged 0.5–1 m above the ground in the canopy of herbaceous vegetation. Seed heads for consumption were harvested in several ways.

Accumulative Characteristics of Some Plant Species to Magnesium around a Magnesite Mine Area in Northeast China

The deposition of Mg-rich dust from magnesite calcination can lead to serious soil contamination. As an efficient remediation method, phytoremediation is often used to remove contaminants from the environment. However, no information is available on phytoremediation of Mg-contaminated soils. In this study, we determined the Mg concentrations in above- and belowground parts of six dominant plant species and soils (0–20 cm layer) beneath these plants in a magnesite mining region in Northeast China. Mg was enriched in leaves of all six species. Translocation factors (TF) of all six species were far greater than 1. Enrichment factors (EF) of Kochia scoparia, Cassia nomame, and Hordeum jubatum were 1.1, 1.1, and 1.0, respectively, while those of the other three species were not greater than 0.5. The results suggest that Kochia scoparia, Cassia nomame, and Hordeum jubatum are the potential Mg-accumulators, and could be used for remediation of Mg-contaminated soils.

Genetic diversity of Puccinia striiformis from cereals in Alberta, Canada

Stripe rust of wheat caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici has recently become a production problem on wheat in Alberta, Canada, and stripe rust of barley caused by P. striiformis f. sp. hordei occurs regularly. A total of 261 isolates of P. striiformis were collected from wheat, barley, Hordeum jubatum and triticale plants in Alberta, Canada from 2007 to 2012, and compared to isolates from other provinces and the USA. The genetic diversity of the pathogen was assessed using 11 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and by examining a length polymorphism in the ribosomal DNA (rDNA) intergenic spacer 1 (IGS1) region. A total of 28 SSR genotypes were detected within Alberta. The 13 genotypes common on wheat (P. striiformis f. sp. tritici) were distinct from the 15 genotypes common on barley (P. striiformis f. sp. hordei). Four SSR genotypes, two within each forma specialis, represented 85% of the isolates recovered. Genotypic diversity was low, population genetic analysis indicated a clonal structure, and the genotypes were widely dispersed. In both formae speciales, the dominant genotype varied between years. The second most common P. striiformis f. sp. hordei genotype was found to be more closely related to older P. striiformis f. sp. tritici genotypes from the USA than to other P. striiformis f. sp. hordei genotypes.