Saguaro Distribution under Nurse Plants in Arizona's Sonoran Desert: Directional and Microclimate Influences*

The saguaro cactus, an icon of the American southwestern desert, defines the extent of the Sonoran Desert through portions of its range. Saguaros rely upon nurse plants for establishment and survival in the harsh temperature and moisture regime of the desert. Freezing temperatures limit the range of the saguaro to the north in Arizona. However, nurse plants extend the range of saguaros by providing more moderate conditions beneath their canopies. This study focuses on precisely these small, highly localized temperature variations, which, we suggest, are linked to regional‐scale patterns of distribution of the species, particularly in marginal, cold‐limited locales. We sampled 291 saguaros over thirty populations in Arizona, in the northern portion of their range. Saguaros establish under the south side of their nurse's canopy in the coldest parts of their range more often than expected, while a significant distributional bias is not observed in those in warmer, more moderate plots. To further investigate air temperature as a possible factor in the directional bias of saguaro establishment, we collected microclimate data under the north and south sides of the canopies of two common nurse plants, Cercidium microphyllum (a tree) and Ambrosia deltoidea (a shrub) in Phoenix, Arizona. South sides of nurses have significantly higher minimum temperatures than do the north sides. Survivorship in the coldest areas appears to be greatest under the south side of a nurse's canopy, where warmer wintertime microclimatic conditions occur. We suggest that within‐canopy microclimatic variability under a single nurse plant may be reflected in regional distributional and in the survivorship patterns of saguaros throughout Arizona.     

Saguaro Distribution under Nurse Plants in Arizona's Sonoran Desert: Directional and Microclimate Influences*

Abstract

The saguaro cactus, an icon of the American southwestern desert, defines the extent of the Sonoran Desert through portions of its range. Saguaros rely upon nurse plants for establishment and survival in the harsh temperature and moisture regime of the desert. Freezing temperatures limit the range of the saguaro to the north in Arizona. However, nurse plants extend the range of saguaros by providing more moderate conditions beneath their canopies. This study focuses on precisely these small, highly localized temperature variations, which, we suggest, are linked to regional-scale patterns of distribution of the species, particularly in marginal, cold-limited locales.

We sampled 291 saguaros over thirty populations in Arizona, in the northern portion of their range. Saguaros establish under the south side of their nurse's canopy in the coldest parts of their range more often than expected, while a significant distributional bias is not observed in those in warmer, more moderate plots. To further investigate air temperature as a possible factor in the directional bias of saguaro establishment, we collected microclimate data under the north and south sides of the canopies of two common nurse plants, Cercidium microphyllum (a tree) and Ambrosia deltoidea (a shrub) in Phoenix, Arizona. South sides of nurses have significantly higher minimum temperatures than do the north sides. Survivorship in the coldest areas appears to be greatest under the south side of a nurse's canopy, where warmer wintertime microclimatic conditions occur. We suggest that within-canopy microclimatic variability under a single nurse plant may be reflected in regional distributional and in the survivorship patterns of saguaros throughout Arizona.     

Riparian thermal conditions across a mixed rural and urban landscape

Riparian corridors have the potential to function as thermal refuges, moderating extremes of local temperature variation. However, although demonstrated at individual sites, and over short periods, the consistency of this effect at wider temporal and spatial scales is poorly understood. The aim of this study is to assess the temperature differences between riparian corridors and adjacent non-riparian habitats and to explore the influence of environmental characteristics on these differences. Air temperature was monitored hourly at 20 paired locations (riparian and non-riparian) for two consecutive years. Urban index and canopy cover were characterised by calculating the percentage of impervious surface area and tree canopy cover within a 100 m radius from the centre of each sampling site. Canopy cover reduced summer thermal stresses in both urban and rural areas whereas high urban index tended to increase the daily thermal indices. Rivers had a significant mitigating effect on the urban riparian thermal condition, particularly in extreme hot weather. Riparian corridors were generally 1 °C cooler than non-riparian locations in summer and could be up to 3 °C cooler at some sites in extreme hot weather. Furthermore, riparian corridors at some sites were warmer than non-riparian locations in winter. These findings suggest that the proximity of rivers can modify riparian thermal environments, potentially reducing the heat stress of riparian corridors across landscapes.     

The impact of tree cover loss on land surface temperature: A case study of central Massachusetts using Landsat Thematic Mapper thermal data

Land surface temperature (LST) variability results from diversity in urban surface materials over space and time such that locations with impervious urban cover experience higher temperature and larger temperature variation compared to non-impervious cover. There is growing awareness that warmer temperatures in urban locations negatively impact city residents by increasing heat related death and energy usage during heat waves. However, little previous work investigates the linkages between urban tree cover loss events related to invasive species eradication and urban heat trends. This paper examines the variation in LST using Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper (TM) thermal imagery in Worcester County, Massachusetts where over 30,000 trees were removed since 2008 to eradicate the invasive Asian Longhorned Beetle (ALB), most of which existed in urban residential areas. Throughout the study area a 10% loss in tree canopy cover caused a 0.7 °C increase in LST whereas a 10% increase in sub-canopy impervious surface area exposed due to tree loss caused 1.66 °C increase in LST. The Burncoat and Greendale neighborhoods in northern Worcester experienced a combined 48% tree cover loss from 2008 to 2010 due to ALB eradication and an average relative LST increase of 2.4 °C (range 0.6–4.1 °C). Given that areas with an increase in exposed impervious surface produce greater temperature increases than areas of tree loss, future tree replanting efforts may focus on locations that reduce exposed impervious surfaces.     

季节性积雪区不同遮挡条件下深霜发育比较

以中国科学院天山积雪雪崩研究站为研究区,在2009～2010年冬季观测期利用体视显微镜(XTZ-E)及拍照设备和雪特性分析仪(Snow Fork),对3种遮挡条件的开阔地(0遮挡)、树缘(50%遮挡)和树下(90%遮挡)的积雪深霜进行连续观测,比较和分析西北季节性积雪区不同遮挡条件下的深霜发育特征。研究表明:1)深霜发育主要受温度制约,其次是温度梯度。由不同遮挡条件引起积雪累积和太阳辐射差异而导致雪深不同,从而形成的温度环境差异,是深霜发育差异的根本原因。2)深霜发育厚度与雪深呈正相关关系,有开阔地(0遮挡)>树缘(50%遮挡)>树下(90%遮挡),融雪期深霜的消减速率为树下>开阔地>树缘。3)深霜冰晶粒径呈先减小(稳定累积期-过渡期)再增大(-融雪期)的变化,积雪稳定累积期后,深霜粒径开阔地>树缘>树下。4)2009～2010年冬季雪深大,因而圆角深霜(DHxr)和圆角刻面冰晶(FCxr)在深霜中发育最多,二者共占70%～80%。开阔地易发育杯型深霜(DHcp),树缘和树下则易发育柱状条纹深霜(DHla)、棱柱状深霜(DHpr)和刻面冰晶(FCso)。深霜中胶结态冰晶约占10%～30%,其比例在开阔地深霜中递减,而在树缘和树下处递增。     

Effects of shrubs and precipitation on spatial-temporal variability of soil temperature in microhabitats induced by desert shrubs

Soil temperatures at 0, 5, 10 and 20 cm depths were monitored continuously at different microhabitats (beneath shrub canopy (BSC); bare intershrub spaces (BIS)) induced by xerophytic shrub (Caragana korshinskii Kom.) canopy, respectively. We mainly aimed to assess the effects of shrub canopy and precipitation on the spatial-temporal variability of soil temperature. Results indicate that both precipitation and vegetation canopy significantly affect soil temperature. In clear days, soil temperatures within the BSC area were significantly lower than in the BIS at the same soil depth due to shading effects of shrub canopy. Diurnal variations of soil temperature show a unimodal sinusoidal curve. The amplitude of soil temperature tended to decrease and a hysteresis of diurnal maximum soil temperature existed at deeper soil layers. Vertical fluctuations of soil temperature displayed four typical curves. In the nighttime (approximately from sunset to sunrise), surface temperature within the BSC area was higher than in the BIS. In rainy days, however, soil temperatures were affected mainly by precipitation and the shrub canopy had a negligible effect on soil temperature, and little difference in soil temperature at the same soil depth was found between the BSC area and in the BIS. Diurnal variations in soil temperature decreased exclusively as rainfall continued and the vertical fluctuations of soil temperature show an increased tendency with increasing soil depth.     

极端干旱地区绿洲小气候特征及其生态意义

运用微气象学方法对极端干旱区荒漠绿洲小气候进行了观测,分析我国极端干旱区荒漠绿洲的微气象特征并与林地外进行了对比。同时讨论晴天、阴天和沙尘暴天气的PAR的差异．分析了产生这些差异的原因。结果表明荒漠绿洲具有改变太阳辐射、调节近地层地表及地下温度、缩小温差、降低风速、提高土壤及大气湿度等重要生态作用。绿洲内部的太阳总辐射比林冠层顶部减少49．3％-49．83％：生长季胡杨和柽柳林内的气温均低于林地外．胡杨林平均比林外低1．62℃,柽柳林比林外低0．83℃,而且森林覆盖率越高降温作用越明显：群落上层气温高于群落下层,气温随高度增加而增加;林内大气相对湿度均高于林地外．生长期,胡杨林内比林地外高8．5％,柽柳林高4．2％;胡杨林地平均风速为0．33m／s．比林地外低2．7m／s：柽柳林平均风速为0．72m／s,比林地外低2_3lm／s。在沙尘暴日,PAR明显小于阴天日和晴天日下的值．而ηQ非常大,且变化不稳定,该结论对研究大气层的稳定性有极其重要的意义。     

Microclimate, freezing tolerance, and cold acclimation along an elevation gradient for seedlings of the Great Basin Desert shrub, Artemisia tridentata

Vegetation, microclimate, seedling frequency, freezing tolerance, and cold acclimation were compared for seedlings of Artemisia tridentata collected from 1775, 2175, and 2575 m elevation in the eastern Sierra Nevada, California. Data were used to test the hypothesis that ecotypic differences in stress physiology are important for seedling survival along gradients from desert to montane ecosystems. The vegetation canopy cover and A. tridentata seedling frequency were greatest at 2575 m, compared to 1775 and 2175 m. Snow cover ameliorated temperatures near the soil surface for part of the winter and depth varied across elevations. Freezing tolerance was compared for seedlings maintained in growth chambers at day/night air temperatures of 25°C/15°C. The temperature at which electrolyte leakage and Photosystem II function (F_V/F_M) from leaves were half-maximum was approximately −13·5°C for leaves of seedlings from all three elevations. Shifting day/night air temperatures from 25°C/15°C to 15°C/5°C initiated about 1·5° of acclimation by plants from all three altitudes, with seedlings from the highest elevation exhibiting the greatest acclimation change. Measurements of ambient air and canopy temperatures at the three elevations indicated that wintertime average low temperatures were consistent with the measured degree of freezing tolerance. At small spatial scales used in this study, pollen and seed dispersal between study sites may have precluded resolution of ecotypic differences. Patterns of freezing tolerance and cold acclimation may depend on a combination of mesoclimate and microclimate temperatures, canopy cover, snow depth, and snow melt patterns.     

荒漠灌丛微生境土壤温度的时空变异特征——灌丛与降水的影响

对干旱区优势固沙灌木柠条群落不同微生境（灌丛外和灌丛下）的土壤温度（0 cm、5 cm、10 cm和20 cm剖面深度）进行了连续测定,对比分析了晴天、降水日与灌丛对其微生境土壤温度时空变异的影响。结果表明:降水和植被灌丛对土壤温度均具有显著影响。在无雨日,受灌丛遮阴影响,灌丛外土壤温度明显高于灌丛下相同深度的土壤温度;在降水日,土壤温度主要受降水影响,降水使土壤温度明显降低,灌丛的影响作用减弱,灌丛下和灌丛外同一剖面深度的土壤温度差异较小。无雨日土壤温度日变化呈单峰型正弦曲线,随剖面深度增加,土壤温度振幅逐渐减小,峰值出现时间滞后,土壤温度垂直分布变化呈现4种典型变化曲线。夜间（日落至日出）柠条灌丛下地表温度（0 cm土壤温度）比灌丛外地表温度略高。降水日土壤温度日变化随降水过程的持续呈逐渐递减趋势,土壤温度垂直分布变化表现为随深度增加而递增的趋势。     

Islands in a sea of sand: use of Acacia trees by tree skinks in the Kalahari Desert

In the Kalahari desert the tree skink Mabuya striata sparsa occupies Acacia trees separated by areas of open sand. On a single day in austral spring, the effects of tree size and structural complexity, presence of colonial nests of weavers, and fallen limbs on lizard abundance, and of time of day and air temperature on numbers of lizards active, location on trees, ground, or ground cover, and occupation of sunny, shaded, or partially shaded sites were examined. Multiple regression showed that the numbers of adult and total lizards increased with tree size, amount of ground cover, and air temperature. Neither number and size of sociable weaver nests nor complexity of tree shape affected lizard abundance. Proportions of lizards on trees and ground did not vary with time of day; neither did height above ground among individuals on trees. The proportions of lizards fully exposed to the sun was higher early and late in the day than at midday, when more lizards occupied shaded sites.     

Saguaro (Carnegiea Gigantea) Densities and Reproduction Over the Northern Sonoran Desert

Casual observations suggest that saguaro populations are densest in southeastern Arizona, although data have not been collected and no study has been done to address this topic. In addition, the topic of reproductive density has similarly never been addressed. Saguaro reproductive output is directly related to the number of adult individuals and the number of branches in the area. Thirty saguaro populations over their U.S. range were sampled to consider two variables: population density and reproductive stem density. Stepwise regression using climate and vegetation (e.g., availability of nurse plants) to predict density yielded tree + Ambrosia cover and maximum July precipitation. Nurse cover, however, is also influenced by summer rain. The partial correlation results suggest that high saguaro densities are linked with high quality nurse cover (i.e., not Larrea tridentata) in addition to summer rainfall. Total cover and mean annual precipitation are the best predictors of reproductive stem density. Mean annual precipitation may be a good predictor of reproductive stem density, because population density is linked with summer rain while branching is linked with winter rain. The plots were also divided into climatic regions. One-way ANOVA shows that the northeast (high winter precipitation) and west (dry) have lower saguaro densities than the southeast (high summer precipitation), while the northeast and southeast both have very high reproductive stem densities relative to the west. The warmer west is less susceptible to periodic freezing mortality, while previous work has shown that the southeast generally regenerates more successfully. Thus in the colder northeast, which is also outside of the primary summer rain and best nurse plant belt, low density populations seem to be maintained only with high reproductive density.     

Plant Area Index and microclimate underneath shrub species from a Chilean semiarid community

In drylands, environmental conditions under shrub canopy differ from those found in open sites. We should expect that microclimate conditions under shrubs with distinct canopy architecture should also be different. Plant Area Index (PAI) of the three most abundant shrubs species (Porlieria chilensis, Adesmia bedwellii and Proustia cuneifolia) in Bosque Fray Jorge National Park, north-central Chile was measured using a Plant Canopy Analyzer. During two years (2004-2005), we recorded the Relative Humidity and Air Temperature underneath and away from the canopy of the shrubs.The three shrub species showed significant differences in PAI. Microclimate at 30 cm and 2 m above the soil in the open conditions were drier and warmer than underneath shrub canopies. Vegetation patches generate moderate microclimate conditions.Canopy structure can buffer climatic variability, contributing to high herbaceous productivity as well as shrub recruitment. Reflecting shrub architecture and observed PAI values, the lowest microclimate variations were observed under the canopies of P. chilensis, followed by P. cuneifolia and finally A. bedwellii. We bring a novel approach quantifying the Plant Area Index instead of the Plant cover and using a low cost method that integrates the distribution of leaves and may be derived from remote sensing products.     

极端干旱地区绿洲小气候特征及其生态意义

1 Introduction Microclimate is one of the most important environmental factors for plant growth and development. Different plant communities create different microclimatic environments and different microclimatic environments support different biotic comm…     

Ground temperature variability on a glacier foreland,Storbreen, Jotunheimen,Norway

Two-years of ground temperatures (10 cm and 50 cm depths) from the foreland of Storbreen in the Jotunheimen Mountains of Norway demonstrate that seasonal and annual ground temperature differences induced by microtopographic position at a constant elevation are comparable to differences stemming from ～ 100 m to ～ 300 m in elevation. Between ～ 1460 m a.s.l. and ～ 1150 m a.s.l., mean annual lapse rates calculated for soil depths of 10 cm were≤0.8°C per100m beneath tundra, moraine crests, and moraine proximal base positions, each of which was calculated independently. Seasonal lapse rates were often larger,≥1.0°C per 100m in both summer and winter. The calculated ground temperature lapse rates compare favorably with those already reported in the literature for the region. Categorical data in the form of Thawed, Freeze-Thaw, Isothermal, and Frozen Days also showed considerable variability by elevation and microtopographic position. Variability in growing conditions was examined by calculating Thawing Degree Days and Growing Degree Days. These values sometimes, but not always, mimic ground temperature patterns. Although no wintertime field observations are available, the depth and duration of seasonal snow cover appears to be the primary source of variability.     

荒漠灌丛降雨再分配对土壤pH值的影响

对腾格里沙漠东南缘沙坡头地区1989年建植人工植被区优势固沙灌木柠条（Caragana korshinskii）和半灌木油蒿（Artemisia ordosica）树干茎流及穿透雨的pH值,以及灌丛基部、灌丛下和灌丛外裸地0～10 cm和10～20 cm剖面深度土壤pH值分别进行测定,并与大气降雨pH值进行比较,以探讨荒漠灌丛降雨再分配对土壤pH值空间变异的影响。结果表明:大气降雨pH值最高,穿透雨pH值次之,树干茎流pH值最低,三者之间具有显著差异（p<0.05）。灌丛外裸地土壤pH值最高,灌丛下次之,树干基部最低。总体而言,0～10 cm剖面深度土壤pH值小于其下方10～20 cm剖面深度土壤pH值。柠条灌丛产生的树干茎流对土壤的酸化作用强于油蒿灌丛。树干茎流和穿透雨的酸化作用是导致土壤pH值从灌丛间裸地到灌丛基部方向上降低的一个重要原因。     

青藏高原气温空间分布规律及其生态意义

作为世界第三极的青藏高原,其巨大的块体产生了显著的夏季增温作用,对亚洲乃至全球气候都具有重大影响。但由于高原自然条件严酷,山区气象观测台站很少,气象资料极度匮乏;如果依靠台站数据进行空间插值获得高原气温的空间分布数据,会由于插值点过少而产生较大误差并可能掩盖一些空间信息,因而难以全面反映高原气温的空间分布规律。利用基于MODIS地表温度数据估算的青藏高原气温数据,详细分析各月气温及重要等温线的空间分布格局,并结合林线和雪线数据,初步探讨了高原气温空间分布格局对高原地理生态格局的重要影响。研究表明：① 等温线的海拔高度自高原东北部、东部边缘向内部逐渐升高,等温线在高原内部比东部边缘高500~2000 m,表明相同海拔高度上气温自边缘向高原内部逐渐升高。② 高原西北部的羌塘高原、可可西里为高原的寒冷区,全年有7个月的气温低于0 ℃,3~4个月的气温低于-10 ℃;青藏高原南部（喜马拉雅山北坡—冈底斯山南坡）和中部（冈底斯山北坡—唐古拉山南坡）是高原的温暖区,全年有5个月的气温能达到5~10 ℃,有3个月的气温能超过10 ℃,尤其是拉萨—林芝—左贡一带在3500~4000 m以下的地区最冷月均温也能高于0 ℃。③ 北半球最高雪线和林线分别分布于高原的西南部和东南部,表明高原气温空间分布特征对本地的地理生态格局具有重要影响。     

Distribution of cacti in Larrea spp. shrublands in Mendoza, Argentina

In three Larrea shrublands, cacti grow under Larrea canopy at northern and southern exposures and in open spaces were counted. Cacti distribution was related to environmental variables. Seven out of the 15 cacti present were found to be associated with shrubs, whereas the other species were found in the open spaces. The lower temperature and radiation occurring under shrubs at south exposures would explain the absence of cacti in these places. The higher organic matter, nutrients, and moisture in the soils under shrubs appeared to be correlated with higher cacti density. The presence of cacti seedlings only under shrubs could be attributed to the favourable environmental conditions for cacti seed germination and seedling survival that occurred in these places.     

BUILDING DENSITY AND INTERIOR BUILDING TEMPERATURES: A PHYSICAL MODELING EXPERIMENT

The effect of building density on the interior temperatures of buildings is explored using scaled physical models. The urban canopy layer is modeled as a single-cube structure surrounded by a wall that represents neighboring structures. Each physical model was constructed of plywood and consisted of a cube 200 mm in height, enclosed by a wall 200 mm in height. Four models were constructed corresponding to height/width ratios (H/W) of 4, 2, 1, and 0.5 and placed at an exposed site located at 34°N. The interior air temperature of each cube, direct and diffuse solar radiation on a horizontal surface, and ambient air temperature and wind velocity were measured over a period from late November 1996 to early June 1997. To extract the influence of building density, air temperatures were compared against those measured in the model representing a H/W of 1. The results show that nighttime cooling is primarily a function of building density, but that daytime heating depends on the interaction of density with changing model-sun relationships. [Key words: urban canopy layer, building air temperature, building density, physical model.]     

Roads increase woody cover under varying geological,rainfall and fire regimes in African savanna

Roads extend throughout savannas, yet few studies have quantified their effects on adjoining woody vegetation structure. Airborne LiDAR imagery collected over 168 experimental fire plots in the Kruger National Park, all bounded by graded firebreak roads, provided an opportunity to study if, and to what extent, roads influence woody vegetation structure under different rainfall, geologic and fire conditions. In 91.7% of the plots, woody canopy cover was higher on the edges of roads compared to areas farther away. The increase was most pronounced within 5 m of the road edge, but was detectable 10–15 m from the edge. On average, the area within 15 m from the road had approximately 6% and 2% higher woody vegetation cover than areas further than 15 m from the edge on wetter granitic and drier basaltic savanna landscapes, respectively. Increased edge effects on woody cover were observed even in fire exclusion plots, suggesting that non-fire processes, likely altered hydrological regimes, may be the underlying reason for woody encroachment. This study illustrates that roads cause selective woody plant thickening in savannas, even in areas without road edge management, and therefore careful consideration should be paid on how road edges are managed and when roads are planned.     

阿尔金山-祁连山山地植被垂直带谱分布及地学分析

本文揭示阿尔金-祁连山区垂直带谱空间分布模式并进行地学解释。研究表明:北坡荒漠草原带的上限具有随经度变化的二次曲线分布模式,草原带的上限分布为线性模式,亚冰雪带的分布与7月份气温的零度层分布模式基本相同;北坡镜铁山以西的带谱中没有森林带,以东含有森林带,分布在2500³300米的高度范围内。利用气象台站的地面及高空数据,计算了湿度———生长季平均温度露点差随海拔变化的梯度、多年平均温度、1月多年均温、多年平均降水指标以解释带谱分布,结果表明:由东向西,湿度梯度增大,以酒泉为界,西侧的露点温度差梯度大于0.12℃/100米,东部小于0.09℃/100米,与北坡山地森林带分布基本吻合。