Assessing modern arboreal phytolith sensitivity to vegetation variations in temperate forest regions

To assess the reliability of arboreal phytoliths for differentiating vegetation types in temperate forest regions, we systematically analysed arboreal leaf phytoliths from 72 arboreal plants and 49 modern soils from three forest types in northeast China. The arboreal leaf phytolith production and morphotypes were highly variable between species. The arboreal leaf phytolith assemblages could clearly distinguish between broadleaf and coniferous species, but they were much less successful in differentiating broadleaved trees into subtaxa. Coniferous leaf morphotypes were successfully used to differentiate coniferous trees into families and subtaxa, especially in the Pinaceae. Two diagnostic broadleaved and six coniferous phytolith morphotypes were recognized within the modern soil beneath forest ecosystems. These arboreal phytoliths comprised up to 10–15% of the total soil phytoliths, and were dominated by coniferous types. Arboreal phytolith concentrations and phytolith assemblages in the soils fluctuated substantially amongst the three forest types. Soil arboreal phytolith assemblages were successfully used to differentiate samples from Larix mixed forest, broadleaf forest and Pinus koraiensis mixed forest. In addition, the arboreal index quantitatively distinguished the three forest types, with B/BE values <0.4 for Larix mixed forest samples, values from 0.4 to 0.6 for broadleaf forest samples, and values from 0.6 to 0.9 for P. koraiensis mixed forest. Thus, our surface soil arboreal phytolith assemblages and arboreal index are a useful reference for differentiating forest ecotypes, and they also provide reliable analogues for arboreal phytoliths from palaeoecological contexts in temperate forest regions.     

长白山北坡垂直植被带表土植硅体组合研究

长白山垂直分布的植被是欧亚大陆从温带到寒带植被水平地带性的缩影。对其北坡不同海拔高度植被带土壤中的植硅体进行初次研究,结果发现,该山北坡海拔700m到2630m的土壤中发育了形态和数量丰富的植硅体。不同植被带植硅体组合的含量各不相同,主要特征表现为随海拔升高示冷型的植硅体含量整体呈上升趋势,而示暖型的植硅体含量整体呈下降趋势。温泉附近土壤中的植硅体则表现出明显的与其上下相邻地点不同的特点。它对中国东北第四纪沉积物中植硅体组合的研究及第四纪古植被和古环境的重建可提供重要的基础性资料。     

长白山区湿地表土植硅体特征及其环境意义*

湿地在全球环境变化中扮演着十分重要的角色,湿地表土中的植硅体分析是恢复第四纪古环境的重要途径。文中选取长白山区的桦南到哈尼一线的6处湿地表土,并采用PCA和CA分析植硅体组合的环境指示意义,结果显示：温度因子是造成长白山不同湿地表土植硅体组合差异的第1环境因子,且植硅体的种类和含量与采样点上覆植被、湿度与海拔等环境条件都存在相关性。结合方差分析和植硅体大小变化趋势分析曲线可以看出,不同表土中符合方差分析条件的植硅体类型的大小随着温度的升高而增大。总体来看,长白山区6处湿地中,植硅体类型基本相同,但温暖指数和植硅体的大小差异较显著,说明植硅体大小及其组合对温度都有较敏感的响应。     

Ovi-caprid dung as an indicator of paleovegetation and paleoclimate in northwestern China

Diverse palynomorphs and phytoliths recovered from coprolites of ovi-caprids (sheep, goat) collected from Yang-Hai Tomb at Xinjiang Province, China, have been used to elucidate the dietary pattern of ancient livestock and to reconstruct the paleovegetation and paleoclimate of this part of northwest China ca. 2500 ¹⁴C yr BP. Palynological and phytolith data suggest that a rich dry temperate vegetation prevailed in the area during the said period. Climatic conditions and grassland vegetation type of the area are explored using phytolith indices.     

中更新世以来华北平原植被演化及其气候响应

中更新世以来气候转型与陆地植被生态系统演变是近年来全球变化研究领域关注的热点问题。基于华北平原东部G3孔上部的孢粉分析结果、磁性地层年代,对中更新世以来华北平原植被演化及其气候响应过程进行研究。结果显示华北平原地区近1.6Ma以来植被演化可分为4个阶段:1.6~1.2Ma为密度较高的暖温带针阔叶混交林,1.2~0.7Ma为开阔的暖温带落叶阔叶林,0.7~0.3Ma为阔叶疏林草原,0.3Ma以来为暖温带落叶阔叶林。华北平原地区中更新世植被转型期对应O同位素36阶段,显示转型开始发生于1.2Ma,与全球中更新世转型期对应良好。其主要特征表现为林地减少,针叶林比例下降,藜科、蒿属、禾本科等草地面积显著增加。0.7Ma前后华北平原林地进一步退化,区域植被由原来的落叶阔叶林向疏林草原转变,0.3Ma后区域乔木比例可能有所回升。周期性气候变化对植被的影响在花粉谱中也有一定显示,1.2Ma之前主要表现为植被林地类型的交替发展,而1.2Ma则主要表现为草原与森林交替发展。     

Advances in Study of Phytolith Carbon Sequestration in Terrestrial Ecosystems of China

Phytolith-Occluded Carbon (PhytOC), a relatively stable carbon fraction, plays an important role in biogeochemical carbon cycle and mitigation of global warming. The formation mechanisms of PhytOC, the influence factors of phytolith carbon sequestration, the advances in study of phytolith carbon sequestration, and the management for enhancing the potential of phytolith carbon sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems of China were summarized in this review. Finally, future researches on phytolith carbon sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems of China were prospected. Climates, vegetation types, soil circumstances, the chemical compositions of the phytoliths and other factors will directly or indirectly affect the potential of phytolith carbon sequestration. In China, the PhytOC production quantity in grassland, cropland, forest, wetland and shrub ecosystems is (0.6±0.1)×10⁶,(4.9±1.7)×10⁶,(1.9±0.4)×10⁶,(0.6±0.5)×10⁶ and (1.3±0.3)×10⁶ t CO₂/a, respectively. Application of silicon-containing fertilizer, cultivation of high-silicon plant, and traditional enhancement of the plant net primary productivity can significantly improve the potential of phytolith carbon sequestration in terrestrial ecosystems of China. Future studies should focus more on ①the mechanisms of phytolith formation in different plants, ②the phytolith carbon sequestration in underground parts of plants from different terrestrial ecosystems, ③the quantification of soil PhytOC in different terrestrial ecosystems. Furthermore, more comprehensive, economical and reasonable management practices of improving the potential of phytolith carbon sequestration should also be further studied in different terrestrial ecosystems.     

Simultaneous thin section and phytolith observations of finely stratified deposits from Neolithic Çatalhöyük,Turkey: implications for paleoeconomy and Early Holocene paleoenvironment

Simultaneous thin section and phytolith observations of finely stratified anthropogenic deposits from the Neolithic settlement of Çatalhöyük, Turkey, dated between 7400 and 6000 BC provide evidence for both the depositional context and phytolith assemblage of these deposits. Although extracted phytoliths provide a general picture of vegetation that supports existing evidence of a local wet marshland environment, comparisons with observations of phytoliths in situ indicate a diverse range of microcontexts, as well as depositional and post‐depositional processes that influence phytolith size. This has implications for studies that use conjoined phytolith size as a proxy for water availability and early agricultural practices. Observations indicate a significant background noise of phytoliths and micro‐charcoal in the deposits, linked to the frequent use of fire, which has implications for interpreting assemblages where phytolith counts are low, such as from floors of buildings. This study confirms the usefulness of phytoliths in providing information on human plant use and environment where the taphonomy of the deposits is clear, and provides new evidence for wet farming of at least some of the wheat found at the site. It also suggests there needs to be greater consideration of phytolith taphonomy, which can be provided to an extent by combining phytolith analysis with thin section micromorphology. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

甘肃疏勒河冲积扇绿洲全新世孢粉组合和环境演化

通过甘肃疏勒河冲积扇九道沟下游剖面(JDG)沉积物系统的孢粉分析,探讨了这一极干旱区全新世植被和气候环境演化.约4.3 m厚沉积剖面的孢粉组合特征清楚地反映了研究区全新世植被经历了6个发展演替阶段,从老而新依次为:针叶林为主的针阔混交林-灌丛草原;灌丛草原;疏林灌木草原;针叶树为主的针阔混交林-灌丛草原;草原植被;针叶林-灌木草原.与植被发展演替相对应的气候环境经历了凉较湿→温干→暖湿→温较湿→温干→凉较湿的变化.这些结果对于了解该地区全新世气候演化以及中国西北干旱区未来环境预测方面都具有重要意义.     

Phytolith assemblages as a promising tool for reconstructing Mediterranean Holocene vegetation

The reliability of phytolith assemblage analysis for characterizing Mediterranean vegetation is investigated in this study. Phytolith assemblages are extracted from modern and buried Holocene soils from the middle Rhône valley (France). The relation between modern phytolith assemblages and the surrounding vegetation, as well as between fossil assemblages and contemporaneous vegetation, already reconstructed through other proxies, is discussed. We demonstrate that the main northwestern Mediterranean biomes are well distinguished by soil phytolith assemblage analysis. In particular, the density of pine and nonconiferous trees (densities expressed relatively to the grass cover) and the overall degree of opening of the vegetation appear well recorded by three phytolith indexes. North Mediterranean vegetation changes during the Holocene period, mainly tree line shifts, pine wood development and deforestation are poorly documented, due to the scarcity of proxy-preserving sites. Phytolith assemblage analysis of soils, buried soils, and sediments appears to be a promising technique to fill this gap.     

河北坝上地区植硅体空间分布特征及其环境意义

了解不同区域表土植硅体组合特征及其对气候环境的响应过程，是利用植硅体指标恢复古植被和古气候的基础。本文通过对河北坝上地区103块表土植硅体的分析鉴定，共统计出棒型、尖型、帽型、鞍型、哑铃型、齿型、块状、扁平状、扇型、三棱柱型、锥骨状、导管型、弓型和特殊型14种植硅体类型，其中植硅体类型主要以棒型和尖型为主，而短细胞植硅体的含量较少。通过研究区相对暖湿区、暖干区、冷湿区和冷干区的表土植硅体组合特征对比发现，在相对较冷的区域棒型量含量较高，在相对较暖的区域扇型、扁平状和鞍型含量较高，在相对较湿的区域尖型含量较高，在相对暖湿的区域块状含量较高，在相对冷湿的区域齿型含量较高，这表明研究区表土植硅体组合特征对气候环境响应较为敏感。本研究成果可为重建坝上地区古植被和古气候提供基础资料。     

东北地区湿度梯度下的表土植硅体的空间分布规律

植硅体的现代过程研究是恢复古环境的基础,探讨表土植硅体分布及组合特征对环境因子的响应尤为重要。沿中国东北地区年均温为4 ℃等温线采集70块表土样品,研究了单一温度因素控制下表土植硅体的空间分布规律,以期获得不同类型植硅体对降水的响应。研究结果表明:所有表土样品中植硅体丰富且数量较多,主要有棒型、尖型、块状、扇型、扁平状、短鞍型、帽型、哑铃型、齿型、三棱柱型、导管型、硅质突起、硅化气孔、弓型和多面表皮植硅体;且主要以短细胞、棒型、尖型为主,其平均百分含量之和高达80.77%,块状、扁平状、扇型次之,其他类型的植硅体含量较少。方差分析结果表明:棒型、三棱柱型、硅质突起、哑铃型和扁平状在大兴安岭、松嫩平原和长白山之间存在显著性差异,且棒型、三棱柱型、硅质突起的百分含量与年降水量具有极显著的正相关性,哑铃型的百分含量与年降水量具有极显著的负相关性。总之,年均温为4 ℃等温线上70块表土样品中植硅体类型基本相同,但不同类型植硅体的百分含量存在差异,说明本研究区域内表土植硅体组合特征对降水的响应较为敏感。     

晚更新世以来洛川黑木沟黄土地层中植物硅酸体研究及古植被演替

文中扼要介绍了植物硅酸体在古环境分析中的应用基础,详细研究了洛川黑木沟黄土剖面晚更新世以来植物硅酸体的组合特点、古植被及其演替规律,探讨了植物硅酸体分析在研究高分辨率气候事件及古气候空间格局中的意义。     

现代植物炭屑形态的初步分析及其古环境意义*

通过对23种现代植物炭屑的观察、测量以及对草本、木本炭屑模拟破碎试验后的测量统计发现:现代植物炭屑形态根据其长宽比(L/W)和形态特征可以分为3个类型:1)草本型炭屑,L/W最大,平均为10.2±1.3, 呈长-薄条型、针型、簇纤维型,边缘及断口截然,棱角分明,有些具有气孔构造,很少有不规则的形态出现; 2)木本型炭屑(灌木+乔木),L/W较小,平均3.1±0.2,多呈方~长方型或立方体型,边缘多参差不齐,有些横向断口有粗大木纤维露出,相对致密; 3)阔叶类植物叶片炭屑,L/W最小,平均1.7±0.1,薄片状、网状,絮状,易碎。进一步通过对6个典型草原和森林表土样品的实验室分析,发现现代土壤中的炭屑颗粒大小相对现代植物炭屑颗粒大小总体有所减小,但草原土壤中炭屑长宽比相对森林土壤炭屑仍然较大,土壤中炭屑形态和部分结构鉴别特征仍能保留。表明L/W值与炭屑结构特征可以用来区分多数草本与木本植物炭屑。在此基础上,通过对黄土高原渭南剖面S₁以来不同层位12个地层样品的炭屑形态分析,初步研究了不同草本、木本植物炭屑形态变化的特点和环境意义。     

末次间冰期以来黄土高原南部植被演替的植物硅酸体记录

对于本次间冰期以来黄土高原是否存在大面积森林植被的问题一直存在争议,本文通过对渭南、宝鸡和兰州剖面的植物硅酸体记录研究表明,末次间冰期以来,在黄土高原南部,主要发育草原和森林草原的植被类型,只有在气候最适宜期年降水量超过800mm以上,才可能有短期的森林植被发育。在黄土高原源区发育森林植被所需要的降水量要比基岩山地高250mm以上。     

Phytolith evidence for C4-dominated grassland since the early Holocene at Long Pocket, northeast Queensland, Australia

Preliminary phytolith analysis of ephemeral lake fill sediment at Long Pocket, near Toomba, northeast Queensland, Australia, indicates that a C4-dominated grassland with a minor woody component has been present in the region since ca. 8000 cal yr B.P. Based on the modern distribution of C4 and C3 native grasses in Australia, this suggests that mean summer temperatures of at least 14°C (ca. 10°C cooler than present) were maintained since the early Holocene. This interpretation is comparable with previous studies, which together imply that the establishment of C4-dominated grasses in central and northeast Australia occurred between the last glacial maximum (most likely after ca. 16,000 ¹⁴C yr B.P.) and ca. 7200 ¹⁴C yr B.P. (ca. 8000 cal yr B.P.). Taxonomic composition of the grassland appears relatively consistent since the early Holocene at Long Pocket and includes phytoliths comparable with those from modern Arundinoideae, Panicoideae, and Chloridoideae. Rare non-grass phytoliths are also present. A gradual decrease in abundance of saddle phytolith forms (attributed to Chloridoideae grasses) from the base of the record at ca. 6500-7000 cal yr B.P. suggests decreasing aridity throughout the Holocene. This trend could reflect a locally drawn out effect of the end of the postglacial arid period due to the well-drained basalt flow catchment maintaining a local arid habitat for the Chloridoideae grasses.     

长白山泥炭湿地主要植物植硅体形态特征研究

对长白山地区常见的泥炭地25个属31个种植物进行了植硅体形态鉴定统计,共发现植硅体类型15种,它们分别是硅化气孔、棒型、扇型、板型、硅质突起、尖型、导管型、帽型、齿型、哑铃型、鞍型、多边帽型、毛发型等。除禾本科和莎草科、菊科部分植物植硅体含量高外,木贼科、堇菜科、茜草科、蓼科等部分植物植硅体的含量也较高。禾本科植物的短细胞植硅体对植物分类有意义,但可能因采样环境和种类差异等原因,长白山泥炭湿地禾本科植物的植硅体在形态和数量上都与其他区域同类研究结果有所差异,如禾本科早熟禾亚科的菵草中新发现了含量丰富的枕木型植硅体,黍亚科的荩草和水稗中还发现少量帽型植硅体; 另外菊科兴安一枝黄花和齿苞风毛菊含有大量的特殊的尖形植硅体。硅化气孔宽度大小可指示环境湿度状况,对硅化气孔的数量和大小的深入研究将对古环境和古CO₂浓度的恢复有一定帮助。长白山泥炭湿地植物的植硅体与植物的分类关系密切,湿地植物植硅体中硅质突起、棒型、哑铃型和尖型植硅体特征组合代表湿冷组合,本研究中的5块泥炭湿地植硅体的组合特征受纬度变化影响不明显。     

陕西富平全新世古气候的初步研究

为了了解黄土高原中部全新世古气候演化特征,通过对陕西富平剖面的地质调查、密集采样和31个样品的孢粉分析,将孢粉图式划分为Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ3个带,分别代表早、中、晚3个时期的孢粉带:Ⅰ带为松-菊-香蒲组合带,以草本植物花粉占优势、针叶树植物花粉含量较高为特征;Ⅱ带为松-栎-蒿-环纹藻组合带,以乔木花粉增加、草本植物花粉减少为特征;Ⅲ带为栎-松-蒿组合带,以草本植物花粉增加、乔木花粉减少为特征.结果表明,早全新世植被为森林草原-干草原,气候干凉-干冷;中全新世植被为森林草原与针阔叶混交林草原,气候温暖半湿润;晚全新世植被为森林草原或疏林草原,气候干旱偏暖-温凉干旱.     

湖北荆门屈家岭遗址史前农业发展的植硅体证据

采用植硅体分析方法,对湖北荆门屈家岭遗址南部2015~2017年度主发掘区TN14W35探方内油子岭至石家河文化时期(5800~4200 a B.P.)的地层土样进行了系统取样分析,并重点对水稻扇型植硅体形态特征进行了研究.结果显示,遗址各文化时期土样中均含有丰富的水稻(Oryza sativa)特征型植硅体,表明稻作农业在屈家岭遗址各阶段先民植物资源的开发利用中始终占据着主导地位.同时,实验还在油子岭和屈家岭文化地层发现粟(Setaria italica)、黍(Panicum miliaceum)植硅体,但从发现数量看,粟类作物在屈家岭遗址先民农作物利用结构中只占据极小的比重.论文通过对水稻扇型植硅体形态参数测量和鱼鳞状纹饰统计发现,屈家岭遗址的水稻遗存主要属于粳稻类型,且驯化程度在油子岭文化早期时期就已经达到现代栽培稻水平.本文研究揭示了屈家岭遗址先民的农业结构、水稻类型及驯化水平,为了解江汉平原汉水东部地区新石器时代晚期人类生业形式与水稻驯化水平等提供了重要科学依据.