Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica 

About: Acta Phytotaxonomica Sinica is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Genus & China. It has an ISSN identifier of 0529-1526. Over the lifetime, 437 publications have been published receiving 2445 citations.

Invasive Spartina alterniflora: biology, ecology and management

Abstract: Smooth cordgrass Spartina alterniflora Loisel., a perennial rhizomatous grass native to the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of North America, spreads rapidly in estuaries and coastal salt marshes in the Pacific coast of North America, Europe, New Zealand and China, and has caused considerable effects on the invaded regions. We here describe a comprehensive account of its biology and ecology, and discuss the management of this invasive plant. S. alterniflora was intentionally introduced to China in 1979 for the purposes of erosion check, soil melioration and dike protection. However, its rapid elongation rates, high leaf area indices, high photosynthetic rates, long photosynthetic season and clonal growth make S. alterniflora an aggressive competitor with native salt marsh plants in the coastal regions in China. The estimates made for the year 2002 show that S. alterniflora covered 112000 hectares throughout the eastern China, from Guangxi (21o N) to Tianjin (39o N), and is still spreading rapidly in the east coast of China. The successful invasion of S. alterniflora in non-native ranges is obviously the result of the interactions between its great invading ability and a high invasibility of the invaded ecosystems, which is further facilitated by human activities. On the basis of its population trend and potential impact on native ecosystems, S. alterniflora was officially placed on the list of most harmful invasive alien plants (nine species) in China in 2003. S. alterniflora invasions in the salt marshes have multiple effects on the abiotic and biotic properties and the functioning of the invaded ecosystems, including conversion of mudflats to Spartina meadows, loss of shorebirds' foraging habitats, alteration of ecosystem processes (e.g. carbon and nitrogen cycling), decrease in abundance of native species, degradation of native ecosystems and their functions, and considerable economic loss. It is predicted that the environmental changes driven by human activities in the coastal regions (e.g. eutrophication, sea level rise and saltwater intrusion) may favour its further invasions in coastal ecosystems in the future. Like other invasive species, it is quite difficult, expensive and even impossible to eradicate S. alterniflora once it has successfully invaded the coastal ecosystems. Obviously, further intentional introductions of S. alterniflora should be banned in China, and effective control

Hitoshi Kihara, Áskell Löve and the modern genetic concept of the genera in the tribe Triticeae (Poaceae)

Abstract: Taxonomy is a tool for organism recognition, an understanding of phylogenetic relationships among organisms, a guide for germplasm utilization, and a common language for communication. Therefore, a taxonomic treatment needs to reflect our current understanding of such relationships. In nature, there are only two absolute units of living organisms: individuals and species. A species is a group of individuals who are connected to each other as a unit by their indispensable relationships of breeding. Reproductive separation is an essential boundary between species, and the only factor to form independent gene pools during organismal evolution. Since there is no absolute boundary among taxa above species, any taxonomic treatments above species cannot avoid arbitrariness. Nevertheless, some classification should be made for the convenience of their description, utility and/or study. This paper classifies the biosystematic relationships among taxa in Triticeae on the basis of genetic studies. The principles for our taxonomic treatment are: (1) reflecting the current understanding of the phylogeny among the species involved, (2) being convenient for germplasm utilization, and (3) avoiding unnecessary radical change apart from the tradition.

Taxonomic notes on water bloom forming Microcystis species (Cyanophyta) from China—An example from samples of the Dianchi Lake

Abstract: Ten common species of Microcystis, based on the examination of water samples from the Dianchi Lake, Yunnan, China, were morphologically described, and their taxonomy was also discussed. They are Microcystis aeruginosa, M botrys, M firma, M flos-aquae, M ichthyoblabe, M novacekii, M pseudofilamentosa, M smithii, M viridis and M wesenbergii. Taxonomic status of other Microcystis species reported in China was also evaluated.

Phylogeny and Phytogeography of the Betulaceae (Cont.)

Abstract: The polarity of the characters was determined according to the criteria of outgroup comparison and compatibility analysis. A cladistic analysis was made using the methods of Maximal Same Steps and Minimal Parallel Evolution developed by Xu, the generic distributions in both modrn and fossil times were outlined, and their distribution centere, place and time of origin and the way of dispersal wee discussed. Supraspecific taxa, from section tribe, were systematically arranged.