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。     

东北地区泥炭表层沉积中植硅体分布特征

表土沉积物中的植硅体分析是了解第四纪沉积物中植硅体组成的重要途径,也是重建第四纪古环境的基础。对东北地区跨越3个气候带、6个地区的41处泥炭地表土中的植硅体进行提取,鉴定出东北泥炭表土中主要发育哑铃型、扇型、鞍型、方型、长方型、梯型、尖型、帽型、齿型、棒型和其它等11种植硅体类型。分析显示,它们的分布与纬度、地形和温热条件具有明显关系,即哑铃型、鞍型、扇型、方型、长方型和梯型植硅体随纬度和海拔较高而含量较小,其余类型反之;较高温度条件对应扇型、哑铃型植硅体含量较高,较高湿度对应扇型植硅体含量较高。     

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。     

贡嘎山东坡表土植硅体组合的海拔分布及其与植被的关系

山地生态系统对气候变化的敏感性和预警作用,使其成为全球变化领域里的重要研究内容之一,但是目前能够敏感记录山地乍态系统变化的环境指标非常有限.对青藏高原东南缘的贡嘎山东坡海拔高度1200～4600m不同植被带以约50m间距采集的70个表土样品进行植硅体分析,结合PCA(Principal Component Analysis)研究结果,发现表土植硅体组合沿海拔变化明显.植硅体类型和数量变化很好地反映了垂直植被带的变化:1)低海拔山地亚热带常绿阔叶林带(1200～2200m)为阔叶木本"Y"字型-哑铃型-十字型-短鞍型植硅体组合;2)山地暖温带针阔叶混交林带(2200～3200m)为阔叶木本"Y"字型-针叶树类型-方型-扇型-长鞍型的组合;3)山地寒温带暗针叶林带(3200～3700m)为针叶树类型-帽型-齿型-尖型-针茅哑铃型组合;4)亚高山亚寒带灌丛草甸带(3700～4600m)为帽型-齿型-团块型-针茅哑铃型组合.表土植硅体组合PCA分析的第1轴得分较好地指示了植被沿海拔的分布及其与温度的关系,反映山地植被带及其对应的植硅体组合变化可能主要受控于温度的影响.研究表明,植硅体分析可以作为恢复山地古植被演替和古环境变化的重要指标.     

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。     

碳酸盐岩红土植硅体记录的指示意义

选取广西桂林市雁山碳酸盐岩红土剖面,对红土中的植硅体类型、分布及含量进行了定量分析。发现:(1)表土植硅体形态多样、含量丰富,含量从剖面表层向下迅速减少,20cm及其以下植硅体含量极少或没有;(2)除了0~0.1m内有植硅体富集外,其他深度再也没有发现新的植硅体富集层;(3)受淋滤和生物扰动作用影响,植硅体可能出现向下10~20cm的运移,但运移对其形态和大小没有明显的选择性,植硅体形态组合受运移影响不大,能够很好地反映上覆植被的组成和所处地区的气候总体特征;(4)研究区植硅体富集于红土表层,且为剖面中的唯一富集层,是红土形成过程植硅体运移的反映,支持了红土的碳酸盐岩风化成因;(5)植硅体运移选择性不明显的特点,为利用碳酸盐岩红土植硅体客观分析和重建古环境提供了基础和可能。      

棕榈科植硅体形态分析及其环境意义

植硅体分析在古环境、古生态、环境考古、植物分类等众多领域研究中逐渐显示出其重要的作用,其应用潜力依赖于现代植硅体形态基础研究工作的深入。文章主要针对我国热带、亚热带地区常见的棕榈科15个属20个种植物进行了植硅体形态鉴定和多项形态参数(大小、突起等)的测量分析,同时对旅人蕉科的白花扇芭蕉、蝎尾蕉科的黄芭蝎尾蕉、苏木科的无忧树进行了对比研究。结合聚类分析方法把植硅体形态分为5个大的类型,棕榈科植硅体主要包括刺球形、水母形和草帽形3种形态。白花扇芭蕉植硅体呈褶球形,黄芭蝎尾蕉植硅体呈飞梭形,无忧树不含有植硅体。同时,给出了不同类型形态参数的大小和范围,为利用棕榈科植硅体等进行古环境研究提供了基础。     

鄱阳湖东南部地区全新统植硅体组合特征与古环境分析

通过分析鄱阳湖东南部地区zk10钻孔剖面植硅体及硅藻组合特征,探讨该区自全新世以来的古气候环境变化规律。zk10钻孔剖面主要为黏土,含少量粉质黏土,属滨湖相沉积。黏土中植硅体含量高,形态丰富,主要来源于禾本科植物,少数为蕨类植物、裸子植物和阔叶类植硅体。根据植物、植硅体类型组合及温度指数,划分为 7个植硅体组合带,自下而上分别为:Ⅰ方型、长方型、扇型、哑铃型-多面体型-薄板型、球型组合带; Ⅱ方型、长方型、尖型、平滑棒型-多面体型-薄板型组合带; Ⅲ方型、长方型、扇型、平滑棒型-多面体型-球型组合带; Ⅳ方型、长方型、平滑棒型-多面体型-纺锤型、球型组合带; Ⅴ方型、扇型-平滑棒型-多面体型组合带; Ⅵ长方型、扇型、尖型、刺边棒型-三棱柱型-多面体型-球型组合带和Ⅶ长方型、扇型、鞍型-刺边棒型-多面体型组合带。7个植硅体组合带反映了4次大规模的气候演化旋回,包括4次温暖湿润和3次温凉偏干的气候环境,植硅体可作为恢复古气候变化的重要参考。     

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。     

增温、施氮、CO2浓度升高对羊草(C3)、芦苇(C4)植硅体组合的影响

研究未来全球变暖和氮沉降下C3、C4植物植硅体的变化规律,对松嫩草原优势群落演替方向的预判、古植被及古气候的重建和全球环境变化的预测等工作具有重要意义.本文选取松嫩草原的优势物种羊草(Leymus chinensis,C3)和芦苇(Phragmites communis,C4),对其进行模拟增温、施氮、CO2浓度升高处理,研究叶片部位植硅体的组合规律及形态变化特征,试图寻找在改变某一单一环境要素条件下,C3、C4植物所含各类型植硅体百分含量及形态的变化规律,以探究C3、C4植物植硅体对不同环境因素响应的异同.结果显示:CO2浓度升高、增温对羊草植硅体发育具有促进作用,对芦苇植硅体发育起抑制作用;氮素过高对羊草和芦苇植硅体的发育都不利,但增温能减轻施氮对羊草植硅体的负面效应.棒型、板型、方型、块状、蜂窝状植硅体对模拟增温、施氮、CO2浓度升高反应敏感,可作为指示环境变化的新指标.     

腾格里沙漠东缘26 ka来环境演化的植硅体记录

贺兰山中段西侧沙漠戈壁沉积发育,生态环境脆弱,对探讨末次冰期以来气候变化与沉积响应具有重要意义.选择了腾格里沙漠东缘晚更新世晚期以来的洪积物剖面进行了初步古环境研究.在数字填图系统和野外路线调查基础上,对贺兰山中段西侧、腾格里沙漠东缘地貌第四纪沉积物进行了较详细的调查研究.在AMS14C测年基础上,从内蒙古阿拉善高原腰坝地区Qp₃-Qhpl洪积剖面沉积物中获得较丰富的植硅体化石,主要类型有方型、长方型、扇型、哑铃型、齿型、帽型、尖型、平滑棒型、刺边棒型、突起棒型、三棱柱型等.此外,沉积物中赋存的大量炭屑和燃烧植硅体反映了古人类活动的历史.运用植硅体组合和温暖指数分析重建了研究区26 ka来的古植被、古气候演化,气候变化自早至晚经历了明显的干凉－暖干－暖湿－冷湿－干冷－暖干－暖湿7个阶段.洪积扇扇缘沉积环境变化反映了气候的干湿变化,且气候干湿变化与区域沙漠化和人类活动具有相关性.      

Phytolith reference study for identifying vegetation changes in the forest−grassland region of northeast China

To provide a basis for tracing changes in vegetation and tree cover density, we studied the phytoliths of 129 common temperate plant species, and extracted the phytoliths from 75 surface soil samples from sites in grassland, forest−grassland ecotone and forest habitats in northeast China. From the analysis of shapes and morphological parameters of the plant samples, we developed a reference data set of herbaceous and woody phytoliths, and subsequently identified 21 herbaceous and 13 woody phytolith types in the surface soil samples. To test the reliability of soil phytolith analysis for distinguishing forest, grassland and the forest−grassland ecotone, we used principal components analysis (PCA) and discriminant analysis (DA) to summarize the soil phytolith assemblage characteristics of the different ecosystems. The results show that the grassland and forest samples are characterized by abundant herbaceous and woody phytoliths, respectively; and that forest−grassland ecotone habitats are characterized by low abundances of blocky polyhedral, multifaceted epidermal and sclereid phytoliths. In general, the surface soil phytolith assemblages can reliably differentiate samples from forest, grassland and the forest−grassland ecotone, with up to 92% of the samples classified correctly. We also tested the reliability of phytolith indices (W/G (1), W/G (2), W/G (3)) for discriminating different vegetation types in our study area, and found that W/G (2) was the most reliable index and corresponded well with the species inventory data. The W/G values for grassland ranged from 0 to 0.3, from 0.3 to 0.6 for the forest−grassland ecotone, and exceeded 0.6 for forest. We conclude that our study provides reliable analogues for phytolith assemblages from palaeoecological contexts, which can be used to reconstruct shifts in forest−grassland ecotones and vegetation succession in temperate areas.     

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.     

An orthogonal experimental study of phytolith size of Phragmites communis in northeast China

Based on the widespread distribution and abundant phytoliths produced by Phragmites communis, phytoliths of P. communis in northeast China were investigated to identify the primary influencing factors on phytolith size using an orthogonal experimental method. Temperature and precipitation were found to be the prominent factors influencing the sizes of short‐cell phytoliths including the saddle and the rondel morphotypes, whereas there were no obvious variations in the width‐to‐length ratios of short‐cell phytoliths in response to environmental factors. These results indicate that short‐cell phytoliths are genetically stable, confirming that they can be used for the classification of grasses. Moreover, precipitation was the main factor influencing the sizes of the lanceolate phytoliths and silicified stomata, and their width‐to‐length ratios changed significantly in response to precipitation and habitat differences. These findings reveal that lanceolate and silicified stomata phytoliths are sensitive to environmental changes, indicating their usefulness for palaeoenvironment reconstruction. Moreover, variations in their width‐to‐length ratios and their sizes may provide some information for plant classification, even at species level. Finally, the results of a principal component analysis of the sizes of P. communis phytoliths further verify the reliability of the orthogonal experiment results, in that temperature and precipitation were the prominent factors influencing the size of all P. communis phytoliths except for the length of saddle and width of the saddle morphotypes. This research into the primary environmental significance of the sizes of P. communis phytoliths may contribute to improving the precision of plant classification and the model for quantitative reconstruction of the palaeoenvironment to aid in reconstructions of palaeovegetation and palaeoclimate.