科尔沁沙地草地植被对围封和放牧的响应

研究了科尔沁沙地疏林草地、针茅草原和草甸植被盖度、地上和地下生物量、物种多样性对围封和放牧的响应。结果表明：（1）围封与放牧草地的优势植物不同,围封草地植物群落优势植物为多年生禾本科植物,放牧草地中一年生植物和小半灌木优势明显。（2）围封和放牧草地的植物盖度、凋落物量、地上生物量和物种丰富度存在明显差异（P<0.05）;围封显著提高了植被盖度和地上生物量,由疏林草地、针茅草原到草甸,植物盖度和地上生物量逐渐增加,而3种草地植被凋落物量大小顺序为针茅草原> 疏林草地> 草甸;放牧条件下植物盖度、凋落物量和物种丰富度差异不显著（P>0.05）。（3）3种草地之间的地下生物量无显著差异（P>0.05）,但围封与放牧之间、不同土壤层次之间地下生物量存在明显差异（P<0.05）;围封显著提高草地的地下生物量（P<0.05）;草地地下生物量随着土壤深度表现出下降趋势（P<0.05）。长期放牧增加了草地一年生植物和小半灌木植物的优势,消除了不同草地之间植被盖度和物种丰富度的差异;而围封能提高草地多年生禾本科植物的优势、增加其物种丰富度,对于草地质量和植物多样性的恢复和保育具有积极作用。     

科尔沁沙地持续放牧和不同强度放牧后封育草场中生物结皮生物量和土壤因子的变化

通过对科尔沁沙地放牧后封育样地和放牧样地生物结皮生物量的研究,探讨了不同样地生物结皮生物量的变化规律及其与环境因子的相互关系。结果表明,封育样地藓类和藻类植物的生物量显著高于放牧样地;在封育样地内,轻度、中度放牧封育区显著高于重度放牧封育区（P＜0.05）。封育样地生物结皮的土壤微生物量碳、氮含量高于放牧样地,并且各样区藓结皮土壤微生物量碳、氮含量显著高于藻结皮（P＜0.05）。在封育样地内表现为轻度、中度放牧封育区土壤微生物量碳、氮含量较高,重度放牧封育区含量较低,体现出不同强度放牧封育停牧后对土壤微生物量碳、氮影响的滞后效应。藻类植物的生物量与结皮厚度、有机质含量和粉黏粒呈极显著正相关（P＜0.01）,与细沙呈显著正相关（P＜0.05）,与粗沙呈极显著负相关（P＜0.01）。藓类植物的生物量与结皮厚度、有机质含量、粉黏粒呈显著正相关（P＜0.05）,与粗沙呈负相关,但不显著。藻类植物的生物量与土壤因子之间的相关性更为密切。     

放牧强度对科尔沁沙地沙质草地植被的影响

为了研究科尔沁沙地沙质草地在不同放牧强度下植被特征的变化规律,比较了围封、中度放牧、重度放牧3种条件下的植被盖度、群落组成、物种多样性、地上/地下生物量和凋落物量等植被特征的变化特征。结果表明:(1)围封、中度放牧和重度放牧沙质草地的优势植物均为一年生植物,但围封和中度放牧中多年生禾本科植物优势度高于重度放牧,重度放牧沙质草地一年生植物所占优势度最大;(2)放牧强度对沙质草地植被盖度、地上生物量及凋落物量有显著影响。随着放牧强度的增加,植被盖度、地上生物量和凋落物量均降低;(3)围封、中度放牧和重度放牧沙质草地物种丰富度及多样性差异均不显著;(4)放牧强度和土壤深度及其交互作用均能影响地下生物量。随着放牧强度的增加,总的地下根系生物量减小。而重度放牧草地中, 3个土壤深度间地下根系生物量差异不显著。放牧改变了沙质草地植物群落的组成、极大降低了植被盖度和生产力;尤其是重度放牧急剧增加了一年生植物的优势、且对浅层根分布的减少影响最大。     

科尔沁沙质草地植物群落的放牧退化及其自然恢复过程

 为了了解不同放牧强度对我国北方沙质草地的影响及其封禁停牧后草地植被的自然恢复过程,我们于1992—2006年在科尔沁沙地开展了草地放牧和封育试验,分析研究了人类放牧活动对草地植被的影响,比较了不同程度退化草地恢复速度及其所受气候变化影响。研究结果表明:①在科尔沁沙地,随着放牧强度的增加,草地植被受放牧影响的程度会加重,但只有持续重牧才会导致植被的严重退化,而且持续重牧对植被盖度、高度和草地生产力的危害程度要大于对物种丰富度和多样性的危害程度;中度放牧可以导致植被盖度、高度、生物量的轻度下降,但对物种丰富度、多样性没有不良影响;对于退化草地而言,持续轻牧可促进植被的有效恢复;②封禁停牧以后,草地原受干扰程度不同,其恢复的相对速度也不同,表现为原草地退化越严重,其恢复速度相对越快,而且是植被高度、盖度、生物量的恢复速度要大于物种丰富度、多样性和频度的恢复速度;③草地植被的恢复演替明显受到气候变化的影响,暖湿气候有利于植被的恢复,暖干气候对于植被的恢复不利。     

阿拉善荒漠草地恢复初期植被与土壤环境的变化

对阿拉善荒漠草地恢复初期(1998-2001)植被特征和土壤养分的变化进行了研究。结果表明:草地恢复过程中,植被的盖度和生物量比封育前分别增加272%~536%和44.39%~305.3%。植被的恢复使土壤理化性质发生了变化,与封育前相比土壤中有机质、全N、速效K以及细砂、特别细砂和粘粒含量显著增加;速效N、速效P降低。土壤有机质、全N和全P的含量与土壤中<0.05 mm颗粒和速效K含量呈极显著正相关,并且前三者之间也呈极显著正相关(P<0.01)。     

围封对退化沙质草地植物群落的影响

对科尔沁沙地围封草地和放牧草地群落的种类组成、结构和多样性等特征进行比较研究。结果表明：（1）围封草地盖度、密度、地上生物量、高度均优于放牧草地（P<0.01）。与放牧相比,围封使植被盖度、密度、高度和地上生物量分别提高了237%、429%、77%和218%,植物群落结构得到明显改善。（2）与放牧草地相比,围封草地物种数增加了69%,多年生草本、灌木类种数和重要值均高于放牧草地。放牧草地的优势植物种依次是大果虫实（Corispermum macrocarpum）、狗尾草（Setaria viridis）、差巴嘎蒿（Artemisia halodendron）,重要值占72%;而围封草地优势植物种依次是达乌里胡枝子（Lespedeza davurica）、糙隐子草（Cleistogenes squarrosa）、虎尾草（Chloris virgate）和画眉草（Eragrostis pilosa）,重要值占57%,大果虫实、狗尾草和差巴嘎蒿逐渐处于群落的次要地位,取而代之的是与其环境条件相匹配的优质豆科和禾本科植物。围封使物种组成多样化,科属组成复杂化,优势物种发生了变化,群落结构和功能得到改善,沙地植被得以恢复。（3）围封草地的Shannon-Wiener指数、Simpson指数、Margalef指数、均匀度指数均大于放牧草地。围封增加了群落的物种多样性,群落的稳定性得以提高。     

科尔沁沙地沙质草地与固定沙丘植物群落结构对极端干旱的响应

为了探究沙地植物群落结构特征对极端干旱的响应,通过野外模拟试验开展了极端干旱（生长季减雨60%与干旱60 d）对沙质草地和固定沙丘植物群落丰富度、地上生物量和叶性状等群落结构特征影响的研究。结果表明：（1）生境变化对植物群落地上生物量和叶干物质含量（LDMC）具有显著影响（P<0.05）,草地地上生物量和LDMC显著高于固定沙丘,而物种数、植被盖度、高度和比叶面积（SLA）在两种生境间无显著差异（P>0.05）;（2）极端干旱处理显著影响沙地植物群落盖度、地上生物量和LDMC（P<0.05）,减雨60%显著降低了植物群落盖度和地上生物量,而干旱60 d显著降低了植物群落盖度、地上生物量、高度和LDMC;植被特征和叶性状在减雨60%和干旱60 d处理间无显著差异（P>0.05）;（3）减雨60%和干旱60 d显著降低了草地和固定沙丘的植被盖度和地上生物量,而干旱60 d也降低了固定沙丘的植物高度和LDMC（P<0.05）;（4）相关分析表明,沙地植物群落地上生物量与盖度、高度和LDMC显著正相关（P<0.05）。极端干旱事件的发生会极大地改变沙地一年生为主的植物群落组成和功能,而沙地不同生境植被则通过改变植物群落组成、优势种及其关键性状的变化来适应极端干旱。     

土地利用方式对荒漠草地生物量分配及碳密度的影响

草地生态系统群落生物量的分配模式对于研究生态系统碳储量和碳循环有着重要的意义。为了解内蒙古荒漠草地群落生物量垂直分配格局,从不同土地利用方式着手探讨群落生物量不同成层性分配规律并估算荒漠草地生物量碳密度。结果表明:(1)人工灌溉草地灌木层生物量明显高于放牧和原生草地,草本层生物量表现出灌溉草地>原生草地>放牧草地,而凋落物层表现出灌溉草地<放牧草地<原生草地,地上生物量集中在草本层(60%以上),地下0~10 cm生物量大于其他层生物量(P<0.05)。(2)灌木层生物量、草本层生物量、凋落物层间存在极显著的相关关系(P<0.0001);地下各层生物量之间存在极显著相关关系(P<0.0001);且灌溉草地与原生草地群落地上层生物量与地下层生物量之间存在显著相关关系(P<0.05),故可以建立生物量成层性分配模型。(3)生物量碳密度原生草地<放牧草地<灌溉草地。     

退化沙质草地土壤种子库和地上植被对封育的响应机理

从植物种和植物功能类群两个水平系统探讨退化沙质草地土壤种子库和地上植被对短期封育管理响应机理的研究尚不多。以内蒙古东部的科尔沁沙地退化沙质草地为研究对象,采取随机样方法对禁牧6 a的封育区及与其相邻的自由放牧草地的土壤种子库和地上植物群落的物种密度进行了比较研究,草本植物群落被区分为一年生禾本科植物、非禾本科一年生植物和多年生植物3个主要功能类群。利用测定数据,分析研究了短期禁牧封育对土壤种子库和地上群落不同植物种和各植物功能类群的生态恢复作用机理。主要研究结果是：①短期封育显著促进了退化沙质草地植被的生态恢复,但发现土壤种子库和地上植被对禁牧的响应模式和机理存在明显差异,短期禁牧使土壤种子库中所有3个植物功能类群的密度均得到显著提高,而仅提高了地上植被一年生禾本科植物和多年生植物两个类群的密度;相反,禁牧显著提高了地上植被所有3个功能类群的物种丰富度和多样性,仅提高了土壤种子库中多年生植物类群的物种多样性。②短期禁牧显著增加了地上植物群落组成中可食和优良牧草的比例,提高了草地的经济利用价值。主要结论是：短期禁牧封育是一种经济有效的提高退化沙质草地植被多样性、生产力及对植物群落物种组成和草地品质进行优化调控和改良的重要草地管理手段。研究建议,今后应重点开展不同禁牧时间下对退化沙质草地土壤种子库和地上植被多样性、生产力及其物种组成变化影响的长期生态学控制实验研究。     

降雨量对科尔沁沙地3种沙生植物生长和生理的影响

对降水格局变化的响应是植物适应环境的重要方面。通过野外增减雨试验，研究了降水变化对科尔沁沙地3种沙生植物生长特性和生理特征的影响。结果表明：（1）6月植被平均密度最大，7月平均盖度最大，降雨量增加60%时，植被盖度最大，为58.0%。（2）增雨区的主要植物为雾冰藜（Bassia dasyphylla）和猪毛菜（Salsola collina），减雨区主要植物为蒺藜（Tribulus terrestris），降雨量减少60%时，蒺藜在6、7、8月密度分别为70%、80%、79%，显著高于其他植物。（3）降雨量减少时，3种沙生植物的相对含水量（RWC）减少，而细胞膜透性增加；蒺藜RWC高于雾冰藜和猪毛菜，但是丙二醛（MDA）正好相反；蒺藜的耐脱水能力和细胞膜的耐伤害程度强于雾冰藜和猪毛菜。（4）随着降雨量的增加，3种植物的光能转化效率（F_v/F_m、ΦPSⅡ）逐渐增加，但随干旱天数的增加而减小。     

Seasonal changes in the relationship between species richness and community biomass in grassland under grazing and exclosure, Horqin Sandy Land, northern China

How species diversity–productivity relationships respond to temporal dynamics and land use is still not clear in semi-arid grassland ecosystems. We analyzed seasonal changes of the relationships between vegetation cover, plant density, species richness, and aboveground biomass in grasslands under grazing and exclosure in the Horqin Sandy Land of northern China. Our results showed that in grazed and fenced grassland, vegetation cover, richness, and biomass were lower in April than in August, whereas plant density showed a reverse trend. Vegetation cover during the growing season and biomass in June and August were higher in fenced grassland than in grazed grassland, whereas plant density in April and June was lower in fenced grassland than in grazed grassland. A negative relationship between species richness and biomass was found in August in fenced grassland, and in grazed grassland the relationship between plant density and biomass changed from positive in April to negative in August. The relationship between the density of the dominant plant species and the total biomass also varied with seasonal changes and land use (grazing and exclosure). These results suggest that long-term grazing, seasonal changes, and their interaction significantly influence vegetation cover, plant density, and biomass in grasslands. Plant species competition in fenced grassland results in seasonal changes of the relationship between species richness and biomass. Long-term grazing also affects seasonal changes of the density and biomass of dominant plant species, which further affects the seasonal relationship between plant density and biomass in grasslands. Our study demonstrates the importance of temporal dynamics and land use in understanding the relationship between species richness and ecosystem function.     

基于幂函数法则对放牧梯度上种群空间异质性的定量分析

 在呼伦贝尔草原的克氏针茅群落选择轻牧、中牧、重牧3个不同的放牧梯度,沿着50 m样线设置100个50 cm×50 cm的L型样方,每个L型样方内划分4个25 cm×25 cm的S型样方,以物种出现的频度（p）作为植被空间分布的观测指标,采用幂函数法则对放牧梯度上草原植物群落物种的空间异质性进行了定量研究。结果表明,在不同放牧强度下,种类结构发生明显改变,轻度放牧区羊草和星状刺骨藜、中度放牧区藜和糙隐子草、重度放牧区猪毛菜和多根葱具有高的出现频度,群落物种数随着放牧压力的增大而减小。整体来看,放牧梯度上物种的空间分布呈现明显的聚集分布,物种空间异质性（δi）随着放牧强度的增大而增加,拟合于幂函数规律曲线;群落的空间异质性（δc）随着轻牧-中牧-重牧放牧演替的进展呈现降低趋势,种群个体分布呈现片断化特征。在群落内部各个种群具有不同的异质化分布特点,物种结构主要表现出密集型种群和疏散型种群两大类型。这些趋势与种群的繁殖策略、生活史对策、群落的再生产策略等生理与生态特性密切相关。     

Changes in soil nutrients, vegetation structure and herbaceous biomass in response to grazing in a semi-arid savanna of Ethiopia

The effect of grazing was studied on vegetation structure, herbaceous biomass, basal and bare ground covers, together with soil nutrient concentrations in two locations in an Ethiopian semi-arid savanna. The lightly grazed sites had significantly higher herbaceous diversity, total abundance, basal cover and aboveground biomass, and a lower percentage of bare ground compared with the heavy grazed sites. Grazing pressure had no effect on the density and number of woody species as well as on the proportion of encroaching woody species. The light grazing sites had higher organic carbon, phosphorus and exchangeable bases, and therefore a higher pH and higher electrical conductance, indicating an improved soil nutrient status compared with heavy grazing sites, mainly attributed to the higher basal cover and standing biomass at light grazed sites, and the export of nutrients through grazing and dung collection from the heavily grazed sites. There were significantly higher soil nutrients, species diversity, aboveground biomass and basal cover in the light grazing sites compared with heavy grazing sites. We concluded that changes in herbaceous vegetation, standing biomass and soil compositions are caused by interactions between grazing, soil and vegetation, and these interactions determine the transitions of semi-arid savannas.     

Desert grassland canopy arthropod species richness: temporal patterns and effects of intense, short-duration livestock grazing

Arthropods living in the canopies of two woody shrub species (a sub-shrub (Gutierrezia sarothrae) and a large shrub (Prosopis glandulosa)) and perennial grasses plus associated herbaceous species, were sampled on 18, 0.5 hectare plots in a Chihuahuan Desert grassland for five consecutive years. Mesquite shrubs were removed from nine plots, six plots were grazed by yearling cattle in August and six plots were grazed in February for the last 3 years of the 5 year study. Arthropod species richness ranged between 154 and 353 on grasses, from 120 to 266 on G. sarothrae, and from 69 to 116 on P. glandulosa. There was a significant relationship between the number of families of insects on grass and G. sarothrae and growing season rainfall but species richness was not a function of growing season rainfall on any of the plants. Several of the arthropod families that were the most species rich in this grassland were found on all of the plants sampled, i.e. Salticid spiders, Bruchid and Curculionid beetles, Cicadellid and Psyllid homopterans, and ants (Formicidae). There were more species rich families that were shared by grasses and the sub-shrub G. sarothrae than with mesquite. The absence of a relationship between growing season rainfall and species richness was attributed to variation in life history characteristics of arthropods and to the non-linear responses of annual and perennial desert grassland plants to rainfall.There were no significant differences in insect family or species richness on any of the plant types as a result of removal of mesquite (P. glandulosa) from selected plots. Intense, short duration (24 h) grazing by livestock during in late summer resulted in reduced species richness in the grass-herb vegetation layer but had no effect on insect species richness on snakeweed or mesquite shrubs. Livestock grazing in winter had no effect on insect species richness on any of the vegetation sampled.     

Ecological and species diversity of arid Mediterranean grazing land vegetation

This study was conducted in the arid Mediterranean Reserve located in northern Jordan, representing a continuous grazed arid rangeland ecosystem. Quantitative analyses on species diversity in addition to phytogeographical analysis were conducted. Some ecological parameters such as, life forms, growth forms, species density and frequency were investigated. A total of 93 vascular plant taxa belonging to 78 genera and 26 families were reported. This constitutes about 4.3% of the total flora of Jordan. Reported taxa include 13 species of grasses, 69 forbs and 10 shrubs and semi-shrubs. The botanical survey pointed to the presence of four rare species in Jordan. Plant species were classified into 28 functional groups. Pairwise correlation analyses among the most abundant species, showed that neutral associations dominated (75%) those communities, followed by positive associations (19%), while only (6%) showed negative association. Positive association may be attributed to direct facultative mutualism, or to physical environmental heterogeneity. Such a positive cooperation in the plant community can significantly maintain species diversity in adverse environments.The relationship between primary productivity and species richness showed a humpbacked pattern. Maximum richness corresponded to a biomass level of 300–400 g m⁻². However, a sinusoidal curve-fitting model explained the relationship between graminoids biomass and species richness. These findings pointed to the adaptation of plant taxa to livestock grazing and to the small-scale spatial and environmental heterogeneity in arid Middle Eastern Mediterranean rangelands. Results suggest that optimal biodiversity conservation for the arid Middle Eastern grazing lands should consider their high level of spatial heterogeneity. Rangeland managers should adopt grazing plans that apply a range of grazing pressure across the area so as to maintain diversity at local and regional scales.     

Effect of sheep grazing on rangeland plant communities: Case study of landscape depressions within Syrian arid steppes

The arid rangelands of Syria cover over half of the nation's landmass. Punctuating this landscape are broad, dry basins, or wadis, and gentle landscape depressions that exhibit localized elevated vegetation productivity and unique edaphic and hydrologic properties. Historically, continuous heavy grazing and aggressive agricultural activities resulted in excessive ecological degradation within these sensitive environments. Information is needed to determine the influence of livestock grazing on plant communities in landscape depressions and the impact that this has on ecosystem resilience. The purpose of this research is to evaluate the effect of short-term sheep grazing on vegetation characteristics and plant community structure within depressions, and to provide recommendations for improved grazing management. Study plots were randomly located within paired topographic depressions located in northwestern Syria. Vegetation samples were collected along transects including plant biomass, plant density, herbaceous cover, and species diversity. In grazed plots, plant biomass was 49 g DM/m² compared to 234.4 g DM/m² in protected plots. Average plant density was 65 plants/m² in grazed plots compared to 1013 plants/m² in protected plots (P = 0.001). Herbaceous cover was 175% higher on protected sites compared to grazed plots. Average diversity (Shannon–Wiener index value) was 0.8 in grazed plots compared to 2.3 in protected plots. These results suggest that plant community structure will be impacted from short-term grazing and that a site's ability to positively respond to disturbance over time may be limited. We conclude that carefully planned grazing management should result in greater plant productivity and diversity.