Stable Carbon Isotope Variations in Cave Percolation Waters and their Implications in Four Caves of Guizhou, China

Monitoring and sampling of main plants,soil CO2,soil water,bedrock,spring water,drip water and its corresponding speleothem were performed at four cave systems of Guizhou,Southwest China,from April 2003 to May 2004,in order to understand stable carbon isotope ratios variations of dissolved inorganic Carbon(DIC) in cave percolation waters(δ13CDIC) and their implications for paleoclimate.Stable carbon isotopic compositions and ions(Ca,Mg,Sr,SO4,Cl etc.) were measured for all samples.The results indicate that there are significant differences among the δ13CDIC values from inter-cave,even inter-drip of intra-cave in the four caves.The δ13CDIC values from the Liangfeng Cave(LFC) is lightest among the four caves,where vegetation type overlying the cave is primary forest dominated by tall trees with lighter average δ13C value(–29.9‰).And there are remarkable differences in δ13CDIC values of different drip waters in the Qixing Cave(QXC) and Jiangjun Cave(JJC),up to 6.9‰ and 7.8‰,respectively.Further analyses show that the δ13CDIC values in cave drip waters are not only controlled by vegetation biomass overlying the cave,but also hydro-geochemical processes.Therefore,accurate interpreting of δ13C recorded in speleothems cannot be guaranteed if these effects of the above mentioned factors are not taken into consideration.     

喀斯特峰丛洼地不同植被类型土壤水分的空间异质性分析——以广西环江毛南族自治县西南峰丛洼地区为例

通过网格(5 m×5 m)取样,用地统计学方法研究了喀斯特峰丛洼地4个典型植被类型表层土壤（0～10 cm）水分的空间异质特征,探讨了其生态学过程和机制。结果表明,随着干扰强度的降低,植被产生了由农作物(Ⅰ)?人工林(Ⅱ)?次生林(Ⅲ)?原生林(Ⅳ)的变化,土壤水分显著提高,空间变异特征明显不同,Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ和Ⅳ分别符合指数模型、高斯模型、指数模型和球状模型,块金值与基台值之比(C0/(C0+C))在0.269～0.500之间,具有中等的空间相关性,Ⅰ和Ⅳ土壤水分的空间结构相似,(C0/(C0+C))值较大,随机因素和自相关异质性各占50%,分维数D值较大,空间依赖性较小,Ⅱ和Ⅳ相反;农业耕作区土壤水分的空间延续范围较大,变程达252.9 m,其他3个植被类型的变程均较小(141.2～163.2 m);Kriging等值线图从不同位置和方向上清楚地表明Ⅰ和Ⅳ土壤水分的空间分布均呈凸型分布,Ⅱ呈单峰分布,Ⅲ呈凹型分布;影响土壤水分空间分布的因子很多,其中干扰通过对植被的调控发挥了关键作用,降低干扰是喀斯特峰丛洼地脆弱生态系统水资源改善、合理利用及生态恢复重建的重要举措。      

Compound specific δD values of long chain n-alkanes derived from terrestrial higher plants are indicative of the δD of meteoric waters: Evidence from surface soils in eastern China

The stable carbon and hydrogen isotope composition of higher plant-derived long chain n-alkanes (δ¹³C_n-alkanes and δD_n-alkanes) from 45 surface soil samples (within well characterized vegetation zones) from eastern China (18°N–50°N) are reported. The weighted average δD_n-alkanes value for n-C₂₇, n-C₂₉ and n-C₃₁ in the samples and the annual average δD of meteoric water recorded at 12 weather stations proximal to the sampling sites show similar spatial variations. The δD of n-alkanes shows a gradual depletion in value with increasing latitude. The results demonstrate that, on a large spatial scale, the δD values of long chain n-alkanes derived from higher plants have the potential to record the δD of meteoric water, although many other factors can also influence the isotope values. There appears to be no apparent relationship between the δD of the n-alkanes extracted from the surface soil and the overlying vegetation type (i.e. forest/grassland or C₃/C₄ composition). Therefore, palaeoenvironmental studies utilizing δD_n-alkanes from higher plant-derived material in geological samples have the potential to provide additional information with regard to the past hydrological cycle.     

Distribution patterns and stable carbon isotopic composition of alkanes and alkan-1-ols from plant waxes of African rain forest and savanna C3 species

Leaf wax components of terrestrial plants are an important source of biomass in the geological records of soils, lakes and marine sediments. Relevant to the emerging use of plant wax derived biomarkers as proxies for past vegetation composition this study provides key data for C₃ plants of tropical and subtropical Africa. We present analytical results for 45 savanna species and 24 rain forest plants sampled in their natural habitats. Contents and distribution patterns of long chain n-alkanes (n-C₂₅ to n-C₃₅) and n-alkan-1-ols (n-C₂₄ to n-C₃₄) as well as bulk and molecular carbon isotopic data are presented. The variations of the analysed parameters among different growth forms (herb, shrub, liana and tree) are small within the vegetation zones, whereas characteristic differences occur between the signatures of rain forest and savanna plants. Therefore, we provide averaged histogram representations for rain forest and savanna C₃ plants.The findings were compared to previously published data of typical C₄ grass waxes of tropical and subtropical Africa. Generally, trends to longer n-alkane chains and less negative carbon isotopic values are evident from rain forest over C₃ savanna to C₄ vegetation. For n-alkanols of rain forest plants the maximum of the averaged distribution pattern is between those of C₃ savanna plants and C₄ grasses. The averaged presentations for tropical and subtropical vegetation and their characteristics may constitute useful biomarker proxies for studies analysing the expansion and contraction of African vegetation zones.     

Relationship of spatial heterogeneity for vegetation and aeolian sand soil properties on longitudinal dunes in Gurbantunggut Desert, China

On longitudinal dunes in the southern Gurbantunggut Desert, the vegetation was investigated, and the texture, water content, organic matter, total nitrogen, salt content and pH of aeolian sand soil were measured. By means of geostatistical methods, the spatial heterogeneity for vegetation and aeolian sand soil properties was analyzed. The vegetation pattern and aeolian sand soil properties were moderately to strongly spatially heterogeneous as a whole, with a spatially dependent range of 8.8–74.8 m. Because both of them had a nest structure of grading system, their spatial heterogeneity needed to be described by the fractal dimensions at different sampling scales. The autocorrelated spatial range A ₀ and fractal dimensions of the cover of vegetation and the diversity of herberious synusium were similar to these of soil water contents (SM). The coarse grain size (φ1) and sorting (σ) of soil, the diversity of herbaceous synusium and the cover of vegetation had a closer dependent range A₀, being 37.8–57.8 m. The trends of spatial variation for organic matter and total nitrogen contents were very similar to that of vegetation cover. The spatial heterogeneities of soil pH and salt content were mainly restricted by terrain and basically not related to vegetation.     

Biomarkers of novel ecosystem development in boreal forest soils

Novel ecosystem development is occurring within the western boreal forest of Canada due to land reclamation following oil sand surface mining. Sphagnum peat is the primary organic amendment used to reconstruct soil in these novel ecosystems. We hypothesised that ecosystem recovery would be indicated by an increasing similarity in the biomolecular characteristics of novel soil organic matter (SOM) derived from peat to those of natural boreal ecosystems. We evaluated the use of the homologous series of long chain (⩾ C₂₁) n-alkanes with odd/even predominance to monitor the re-establishment of boreal forest on these anthropogenic soils. The lipids were extracted from dominant vegetation inputs and SOM from a series of natural and novel ecosystem reference plots. Twice the concentration of n-alkanes was extracted from natural than from novel ecosystem SOM (p < 0.01). We observed unique n-alkane signatures for the source vegetation, e.g. peat material was dominated by C₃₁, and aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.) leaves by C₂₅. The n-alkane distribution differed between the two systems (p < 0.001) and reflected the dominant vegetation input, i.e. peat or tree species. Our results indicate that further research is required to clarify the influence of vegetation or disturbance on the signature of n-alkanes in SOM; however, the use of n-alkanes as biomarkers of novel ecosystem development is a promising application.     

Normal Alkane Distributions in Soil Samples along a Lhasa-Bharatpur Transect

We present n-alkane distributions in the soil samples along a transect from Lhasa on the Tibetan Plateau to Bharatpur in Nepal, which covers a large geographical area and a wide range of climatic conditions. These data allow us to assess the significance of n-alkane distributions in different vegetation types and their relationships to temperature and precipitation. In the tropical rainforest and broadleaved forest zones, n-alkanes exhibit a bimodal distribution pattern with dominant homologues around n-C_(31) and n-C_(23). The bimodal distribution of tropical rainforest n-alkanes may be a general pattern because of the presence of many lianas, epiphytic plants, algae and the strong microbial activity and degradation involved in the postdepositional process. In the warm-temperate mixed forest and needle-leaved forest zones, the long-chain alkanes have a pattern of n-C_(31) n-C_(33) n-C_(27). In the alpine shrub and grassland zone, although the most abundant homologue is n-C_(31) , relatively high n-C_(23) concentrations have also been observed in some samples. The statistical results show a good correlation between n-alkane proxies and climatic factors. The average chain length(ACL) values are positively correlated with precipitation and temperature across the transect. The carbon preference index(CPI) values show a negative correlation with temperature and precipitation along a Lhasa–Bharatpur transect. Although there is a positive relationship between ACL and temperature, it is difficult to separate the two climatic variables(temperature and precipitation) because they are well coupled in the monsoon region.     

喀斯特地区不同植被下小生境土壤矿物组成及有机碳含量空间异质性初步研究

通过对喀斯特地区乔木林、灌木林和草丛不同植被类型覆盖下的土面、石面、石缝、石沟、石洞、石槽和石坑7类小生境土壤样品分析测定,探讨了小生境土壤矿物组成及有机碳的空间异质性特征。结果表明:(1)不同植被类型下土壤矿物组成存在明显差异,即从草丛→灌木林→乔木林,小生境土壤中的石英、高岭石基本保持不变,但草丛土壤中的白云石矿物全部消失,灌木林、乔木林土壤中逐渐出现绿泥石;(2)随着植被正向演替,土壤有机碳含量显著增加,小生境土壤有机碳含量在不同植被类型条件下存在明显的异质性,表现为草丛>乔木林>灌木林。与此同时,以小生境土壤有机碳含量及变异系数为评价因子,分别对乔木林、灌木林及草丛中小生境有机碳进行聚类分析,结果显示,小生境微地貌特征是土壤有机碳含量及空间变异性的重要影响因子。对于土壤有机碳保护,草丛及灌木林区应以提高植被覆盖率为主;乔木林区则主要是保持现有良好的植被状况,减少人为干扰。      

The impact of climate changes during the Holocene on vegetation in northern French Guiana

The impact of climatic changes that occurred during the last glacial maximum and the Holocene on vegetation changes in the Amazon Basin and the Guiana Shield are still widely debated. The aim of our study was to investigate whether major changes in vegetation (i.e. transitions between rainforests and C₄ savannas) occurred in northern French Guiana during the Holocene. We measured variations in the δ¹³C of soil organic matter at eight sites now occupied by forest or savannah. The forest sites were selected to cover two regions (forest refugia and peneplains) which are thought to have experienced different intensities of disturbance during the latest Pleistocene and the Holocene. We found that none of the forest sites underwent major disturbances during the Holocene, i.e. they were not replaced by C₄ savannahs or C₄ forest savannahs for long periods. Our results thus suggest that tropical rainforests in northern French Guiana were resilient to drier climatic conditions during the Holocene. Nevertheless, geographical and vertical variations in the ¹³C of SOM were compatible with minor changes in vegetation, variations in soil processes or in soil physical properties.     

Assessing soil water content spatio-temporal variability at the hillslope scale in a headwater catchment using a multi variable interpolation model based on EMI surveys (Draix,South Alps,France)

To improve flood prediction in headwater catchments, hydrologists need to know initial soil moisture conditions that precede rain events. In torrential hydrology, soil moisture mapping provides a valuable tool for investigating surface runoff generation processes. In these mountainous environments, soil moisture prediction is challenging because of highly heterogeneous land cover and soil properties. This survey propose a methodology to study spatial soil moisture variations in the mountainous and torrential environment of the Draix Bléone experimental site—Laval 0.86 km². This approach associates water content measurements at the plot scale with spatialized soil bulk electrical conductivity (EC_a) measurements combined in a multivariate statistical analysis based on topographical parameters. Between the summer of 2015 and winter of 2016, four geophysical surveys were conducted under various moisture conditions and along the same pathway, using the Slingram electromagnetic induction (EMI) technique (EM31 device) in horizontal dipole to identify changes in soil properties to a depth of 3 m. These results were analyzed to determine water dynamics in this mountainous catchment. Temporal variations of EC_a vary among land cover types (forest, grassland, and black marl). A significant relationship was observed between EC_a and soil water content (SWC) measured with capacitive sensors in forest and grassland. A multiple linear regression produced using the spatial interpolation code LISDQS shows a significant correlation between EC_a and landform units depicted on a high-resolution DEM. EC_a variations decrease with distance to talwegs. Riparian zones appear as potential hydrological contributing areas with patterns varying according to moisture status. This study shows that multiple linear regression analysis and EMI make it possible to fill gaps between SWC plot measurements, over wide areas that are steep and that present numerous obstacles due to vegetation cover.     

Influences of revegetation mode on soil water dynamic in gully slope of the Chinese Loess hilly–gully region

Gully slope is one of the most active areas of soil erosion in small watershed of the Chinese Loess hilly–gully region. Although its soil erosion has been effectively controlled with the implementation of the “Grain-for-Green Program” in this region, the soil water storage and distribution have been also impacted. In particular, unreasonable revegetation model has aggravated the water shortage, which may in turn threaten the health of ecosystems. However, yet little is known about the effect mechanism of vegetation on soil water in the gully slope. In this study, we examined the relationship between two revegetation modes, including afforestation (i.e. black locust forest) and natural revegetation (i.e. the grassland), and soil water in a depth of 0–120 cm of the gully slope, during the rainy season. The results showed that the effect of the vegetation to the soil water was smaller than that of the precipitation. Furthermore, the response of soil water to the environmental factors was higher in afforestation vegetation due to its lower soil water content, resulting in higher space dependence for soil water, compared to the natural revegetation. The lower soil water content of the black locust forest was mainly caused by its higher recession rate, not its supply. The soil water was deficient for a long time, caused by afforestation, with a shallower formation depth of the dried soil layer and stronger desiccation degree. However, this deficient could not be effectively relieved until in wet year. In comparison with the ridge slope, the effect of vegetation to soil water in gully slope was stronger, with greater water consumption in afforestation vegetation and the higher water storage in natural revegetation. From the aspect of water resources conservation on the water scale, the natural revegetation was the optimal revegetation mode in the gully slope of the loess hilly region.

     

The relationship of vegetation and soil differentiation during the formation of black-soil-type degraded meadows in the headwater of the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, China

In alpine meadow ecosystems, considerable spatial heterogeneity in forb-dominant vegetation exists as a result of severe grassland degeneration; however, there is limited quantitative information on the vegetative differences between degenerated and pristine grasslands. Therefore, a field study, which seeks to identify the edaphic factors driving the variation in plant composition and distribution, was conducted in a severely degraded alpine meadow located in the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, NW China. Five meadows, an original meadow and four degraded meadows, were used to determine the differentiation and relationships between the vegetation and soil of degraded alpine meadows. The dominated species of these degraded meadows are Ligularia virgaurea–Artemisia gmelinii (LA), Oxytropis ochrocephala–Leontopodium nanum (OL), Aconitum pendulum–Potentilla anserina (AP) and Stellera chamaejasme–Artemisia nanschanica (SA), respectively. The results indicate that vegetation cover, grass biomass, species number and diversity indices clearly decrease from the original to the degraded meadow. Soil water, clay and nutrient content are also reduced with grassland degradation in surface and subsoil layers. The joint study of floristic and edaphic variables confirms that the soil features, especially the bulk density, sand content, pH, salinity, N and K, mainly determine the establishment of vegetation in the severely degraded fields of this study. These results may be useful for alpine grassland ecosystem restoration and management.     

The variation of soil temperature and water content of seasonal frozen soil with different vegetation coverage in the headwater region of the Yellow River, China

The variation and distribution of temperature and water moisture in the seasonal frozen soil is an important factor in the study of both the soil water cycle and heat balance within the source region of the Yellow River, especially under the different conditions of vegetation coverage. In this study, the impact of various degrees of vegetation coverage on soil water content and temperature was assessed. Soil moisture (θ _v) and soil temperature (T _s) were monitored on a daily basis. Measurements were made under different vegetation coverage (95, 70–80, 40–50 and 10%) and on both thawed and frozen soils. Contour charts of T _s and θ _v as well as a θ _v–T _s coupling model were developed in order to account for the influence of vegetation cover and the interaction between T _s and θ _v. It was observed that soil water content affected both the overall range and trend in the soil temperature. The regression analysis of θ _v versus T _s plots indicated that the soil freezing and thawing processes were significantly affected by vegetation cover changes. Vegetation coverage changes also caused variations in the θ _v–T _s interaction. The effect of soil water content on soil temperature during the freezing period was larger than during the thawing period. Moreover, the soil with higher vegetation coverage retained more water than that with lower coverage. In the process of freezing, the higher vegetation coverage reduced the rate of the reduction in the soil temperature because the thermal capacity of water is higher than that of soil. Areas with higher vegetation coverage also functioned better for the purpose of heat-insulating. This phenomenon may thus play an important role in the environmental protection and effective uses of frozen soil.     

Understory vegetation as environmental factors indicator in forest ecosystems

Physiographic factors along with edaphic conditions play a crucial role in establishment of plant species throughout a region. Identification of the most effective factors is of high importance in sustainable management of a forest ecosystem. This study aims to investigate the relationships between understory vegetation and some environmental factors in natural forest ecosystems. This study has been carried out among the Fagetum orientalis communities of Ramsar Region, located in the north of Iran. For this purpose, 105 releves were sampled by a randomized-systematic method throughout the study area, using the Braun-Blanquet scale. Physiographic parameters such as elevation, as well as slope and orientation were measured. By identification of the herb-layer vegetation contained in each sampling, vegetation composition and cover abundance of species were separately identified. Then, the aforementioned properties of soil were entirely measured in the taken samples. Cluster analysis and detrended correspondence analysis have been applied to classify the site. Moreover, in order to determine the relation between species composition and environmental factors, canonical correspondence analysis was used. Results showed a significant relation between distribution of plant types and environmental factors. Eventually, environmental factors including slope, orientation, silt percent, pH, organic matter and soluble phosphorous were among the most effective factors in establishment of Hedera pastuchowii, Solanum kieseritzkii, Oplismenus undulatifolius, Sedum stoloniferum, Rubus hyrcanus and Saxifraga cymbalaria species.     

Spatial variability of soil properties in relation to land use and topography in a typical small watershed of the black soil region,northeastern China

Soil degradation resulted from unreasonable land use and erosion has been a serious problem in the black soil region of northeastern China. This paper seeks to understand the relationships between topsoil properties and topography and land use for land management targeting at improving soil quality in this region. A total of 292 soil samples and 81 volumetric rings were taken from a typical small watershed of the region in June 2005 for examining total carbon (TC), total nitrogen (TN), soil texture (classified into gravel, sand, silt, and clay), and bulk density (ρ _b), respectively. Spatial variability of these soil properties was evaluated with classical statistics and geostatistics methods. The results of classical statistics indicated that TC, TN, sand, silt, clay content, and ρ _b were moderate variables while gravel had great variability. Soil properties were mainly correlated to slope position, elevation and land types. Geostatistical analyses showed that the spatial autocorrelation for TC, TN, and silt was weak, strong for clay and moderate for and ρ _b sand, respectively. The spatial variations of soil properties are affected comprehensively by topographic factors, land use, erosion, and erosion control in this watershed. Past erosion, however, is the most important component to induce change of soil properties. In this small watershed, current soil and water conservation measures play an important role in controlling soil loss. But the restoration of soil properties was unsatisfactory. Comparing with untilled soil of this region, TC, TN, silt content are excessively low; whereas ρ _b, sand and clay content are excessively high; gravel appears at most sampling locations. It is necessary for improving soil properties to protect forest and grassland and change cultivation system of farmlands.     

喀斯特小流域土壤石砾分布特征及其影响因素

为探究喀斯特土壤石砾含量的影响因素、形成机制及其分布规律,采集了3 180个土壤样品,分析后寨河流域不同影响因素下土壤石砾含量的分布规律,并利用相关性分析得出了影响后寨河流域土壤石砾含量的主要影响因子。结果表明,坡度、岩性、土层厚度和植被类型是影响土壤石砾含量分布的主要影响因素,其中坡度对喀斯特地区土壤石砾含量的分布特征影响作用最大。在不同坡度条件下,土壤石砾含量的分布规律为:坡度<30°时随坡度增加,土壤石砾含量增大。坡度>30°时随坡度增加,土壤石砾含量减小。不同土层厚度下,土壤石砾含量分布规律为:随土层厚度增加,土壤中石砾含量减少。植被类型不同,土壤石砾含量大小排序为:灌木>草本>乔木。不同岩性发育形成土壤,土壤石砾含量大小排序为:白云岩>石灰岩>泥灰岩>第四纪黄粘土>砂页岩。喀斯特地区岩性决定风化成土速率和土壤石砾总量,是土壤石砾含量的物质来源基础。坡度是促进土壤石砾含量迁移、再分配的驱动因素,植被类型和土层厚度是影响土壤石砾含量的响应因素。      

Preservation of an ancient grassland biomarker signature in a forest soil from the French Massif Central

In response to the lack of studies focussing on the residence time of molecular biomarkers in soils, the lipid content of three soil profiles from the French Massif Central with different land use history were examined. The free neutral lipid content of two reference soil profiles developed under grassland and forest vegetation, and of a former grassland soil converted to forest about 60 years ago, was analysed using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Wax esters as well as the ratio of major homologues of n-alkanes and n-alkan-2-ones could be used to characterise the overlying vegetation in the reference forest and grassland soil profiles, but failed to distinguish the respective grassland and forest contributions to the profile of the soil that had changed use. For n-alkanes and n-alkan-2-ones, the failure might be attributed either to mixing of the molecular patterns inherited from the former and current plant cover, whereas for compounds such as wax esters simple degradation is likely to be involved. Conversely, iso- and anteiso-C_15:0 fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs; of bacterial origin), steroids (tracing cattle faecal contamination), tricyclic diterpenoids and their oxygenated derivatives, as well as methoxyserratenes (inherited from Pinaceae) and triterpenyl acetates (specific to the Asteraceae), proved to be effective in distinguishing current land use for the reference soil profiles and for the converted soil. The persistence of these compounds in the changed use soil allowed us to estimate their residence time in soil.     

土壤入渗特性的空间变异规律及其变异源

以封丘地区典型的4种土地利用类型(传统耕作地、免耕地、金银花地和杨树林地)为例,系统研究了不同土地利用方式下土壤入渗特性的空间变异强度、空间变异结构及其主要变异源。结果表明,频繁的耕作会降低土壤异质性,弱化土壤特性空间变异结构,扰动较小的免耕地和金银花地的土壤入渗特性则具有相对明显的空间变异结构,扰动最小的杨树林地土壤的入渗特性具有最为明显的空间变异结构和最小的变程。容重、有机质含量和初始含水量是耕作地入渗的最主要变异源,初始含水量则是金银花地入渗的唯一显著性变异源;杨树林地入渗变异的主要变异源是有机质和初始含水量;影响免耕地入渗特性变异的变异源并不显著。在有些情况下,水温也可能成为入渗特性空间变异研究的重要干扰因素。     

Relationship between soil physiochemistry and land degradation in the lower Heihe River basin of northwestern China

Monitoring of soil-water physiochemistry (pH, total salt content, ion types, and ion ratios) across the lower Heihe River basin of northwestern China indicated that the distribution of different soil hydrochemical types typically correlated with that of different levels of soil desertification, specifically: 1) lands with the potential for desertification showed a Cl⁻-SO₄²⁻-Na⁺-Mg²⁺ soil-water ion complement, 2) those under on-going desertification a SO₄²⁻-Cl⁻-Mg²⁺-Na⁺ ion complement, 3) those under severe desertification a HCO₃⁻-Cl⁻-Ca²⁺-Na⁺ ion complement, and 4) those under very severe desertification a Cl⁻-SO₄²⁻-Mg²⁺-Na⁺ ion complement. The total soil N, P, and K, pH and organic matter of desertified lands tend to be relatively spatially concentrated, whereas available N, P and K are scattered. Based on an analysis of the main nutrients, the cumulative percent contribution of total N, total P, organic matter, and available N reached 76.24% of ecosystem needs and basically reflect the level of soil fertility. According to a low-dimensional cluster analysis of principal components and the differentiation and alikeness of integrated nutrient gradients, the soils in the study region were classified into four types, which coincided spatially with the four desertification land types. With a decrease in the quantity of water exiting the upper and middle reaches of the Heihe River basin, the salinity of surface waters and shallow water table depth (WTD) in the lower reaches have significantly increased through evaporation. The changes in the hydrological process have caused an imbalance in water distribution across the basin, and altered the state of oasis-supporting water resources. The deterioration of soil water and expansion of desertification progress from non-salinized soils in the oasis, to soils slightly salinized through periodic salt accumulation, salinized Chao soils, and salinized forest shrub meadow soils along the riverbanks and on lake shores. These can then evolve into moderately to heavily salinized soils and eventually into alkali lands. All together, these degradative processes constitute the complex dynamics of oasis desertification, whereby the natural oases’ surface biotic productivity system is degraded, leading to oasis shrinkage, ecosystem deterioration, and land desertification. Consequently, there is an urgent need to extend the study of soil and surface water chemistry in the region.     

Carbon isotope and C/N ratios of suspended matter in rivers: an indicator of seasonal change in C4/C3 vegetation

A combination of δ ¹³C values with C/N ratios in suspended matter has been used to examine the seasonal relationship between C₄ and C₃ vegetation along the Loess Plateau, NW China. The C isotopic composition of suspended organic matter in rivers, together with C/N ratios can differentiate between soil and plant material, and can be used to estimate the relative contributions of soil organic C and plant litter to the suspended matter. The relationship between C isotopic composition and C/N ratios indicates that the samples are a mixture of two end members: (1) modern soils with relatively constant δ ¹³C values, low C content and low C/N ratios; (2) plant litter with varying δ ¹³C values, high C content and high C/N ratios. The results reflect the seasonal distribution of C₄/C₃ vegetation within the area studied, as part of the Loess Plateau. The abundance of C₄ grasses is about 20% for the current summer vegetation ecosystem in the eastern part of the Loess Plateau. Hence, the use of δ ¹³C values and C/N ratios of suspended matter in rivers and modern soil may be useful for reflecting seasonal distribution of C₄/C₃ vegetation in catchments. This could be a useful tool for distinguishing between catchments for GIS studies, and long term planning for ecological management of catchment areas.