Distribution and abundance of euphausiid larvae and salps during austral summers in Prydz Bay, Antarctica

The distribution and abundance of euphausiid larvae and salps was studied from samples collected in 2002 and 2006 from Prydz Bay, Antarctica.Larvae of Thysanoessa macrura and Euphausia superba were mainly distributed in the north of the continental shelf. T. macrura was more abundant and had a relatively wider distribution. In 2006, with ice having retreated and higher seawater temperatures and chlorophyll a levels, E. superba and T. macrura occurred in higher abundances and at more mature developmental stages. Euphausia crystallorophias was mainly distributed in the neritic region. In 2002, with severe ice conditions in the neritic region, abundance of E. crystallorophias was consisted of metanauplius (MN) and calyptopis I (CI). Salps, mostly Salpa thompsoni, had a low abundance in Prydz Bay. In 2002, S. thompsoni was only m)-3. In 2006, S. thompsoni was found at three stations located near the contimental factors, such as the timing of ice melt, polynya formation and food concentration appear to have a marked effect on the distribution and abundance of euphausiid larvae and salps.     

Composition and distribution of planktonic ciliates in the southern South China Sea during late summer: Comparison between surface and 75 m deep layer

Ciliates are very important components in most marine ecosystem.They are trophic link between the microbial food web and grazing food chain.In this study,ciliates were collected from 11 sites in the southern South China Sea(SCS) during August 25 to September 28,2011.Their composition and distribution at the surface and 75 m deep depth of the ocean were studied.A total of 30 species belonging to 22 genera were identified,and 22 species of 15 genera were Tintinnids.Eutintinnus fraknoii and E.stramentus were the most common species.The other dominants were strombidiids ciliates including Strombidium conicum and S.globosaneum,which were followed by the tide form,Mesodinium pulex.Ciliates abundance ranged from 46 ind L~(-1) to 368 ind L~(-1) in the open sites,46–368 ind L~(-1) at surface and 73–198 ind L~(-1) at 75 m deep layer.In the Yongshu reef,ciliates abundance ranged from 167 ind L~(-1) to 365 ind L~(-1) in the water column,similar to that in Sanya coral reef waters.Ciliates composition showed obvious difference between surface and 75 m deep layer at station S2(P 0.05),while no similar result was observed at other sites.At 75 m deep layer,salinity was negatively related to mixed layer depth(P 0.05),but positively to chlorophyll a concentration(P 0.05),indicating that the change of vertical mixing in water column influenced vertical distribution of ciliates in the southern SCS.     

Ecology of macrozoobenthic communities in two plateau lakes of Southwest China

Ecological studies on macrozoobenthos were conducted in two small plateau lakes in the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau, Southwest China： Xingyun Lake （XL）, a eutrophic lake whose main source of primary production was phytoplankton （Chl α=99.76±24.01 μg/L）, and Yangzong Lake （YL）, a mesotrophic lake. Sampling was carried out from October 2002 to May 2004. Altogether 23 benthic taxa were identified in XL and 21 taxa in YL. The density of benthos in XL was much lower than that in YL, but the biomass was about equal in the two lakes, being I 423 ind/m^2 and 8.71 g/m^2 in XL and 4 249 ind/m^2 and 8.60 g/m^2 in YL. The dominant species were Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri, Branchiura sowerbyi, Aulodrilus pluriseta and Chironomus sp. in XL and Limnodrilus hoffrneisteri, Aulodrilus pluriseta and Bellamya sp. in YL. Seasonal fluctuation occurred, showing richer species in summer and winter, but the density and biomass varied in different ways in the two lakes. Analyses on functional feeding groups indicate that collector-gatherers were predominant, but the relative abundances of other groups were different. Stepwise multiple regression analysis demonstrated that the water depth, conductivity and chlorophyll a were the key factors affecting macrozoobenthic abundance in the lakes.     

In-situ studies of microzooplankton grazing pressure on phytoplankton in Jiaozhou Bay, China

Preliminary studies on microzooplankton grazing were conducted with dilution method in Jiaozhou Bay from summer 1998 to spring 1999. Four experiments were carried out at St. 5 located at the center of Jiaozhou Bay. Chlorophyll a concentrations were consistently dominated by netphytoplankton (net-, >20μm), except during the autumn 1998 cruise, when they were dominated by nanophytoplankton(nano-, 2–20μm). The contribution of picophytoplankton (pico-, <2μm) to total chlorophyll a concentrations (<200μm) varied considerably between cruises. Instantaneous growth coefficients(u) of phytoplankton varied from 0.098 to 1.947d⁻¹, with mean value of 0.902d⁻¹. Instantaneous coefficients(g) of microzooplankton grazing on phytoplankton ranged from 0.066 to 0.567d⁻¹, mean value of 0.265d⁻¹, which was equivalent to daily lose of 21.9% of the initial standing stock and 58.1% of the daily potential production. Project No KZCX3-SW-214 supported by Chinese Academy of Sciences.     

Distribution and abundance of pelagic tunicates in the North Yellow Sea

In this paper, the distribution patterns and abundance of pelagic tunicates in the North Yellow Sea of China during the period 2006-2007 were analyzed. Zooplankton samples were obtained with vertical towing from bottom to surface using a WP2 plankton net(200 μm mesh size; mouth area: 0.25 m2). Five species belonging to two classes were identified: Oikopleura dioica, O. longicauda and Fritillaria borealis belonging to class Appendicularia; Salpa fusiformis and Doliolum denticulatum of class Thaliacea. O. dioica and O. longicauda were the dominant species, occurring in the samples of all four seasons, with different distribution patterns. Their maximum abundance were 1664.7 ind. m-3(spring) and 1031.7 ind. m-3(spring) respectively. Following Oikopleura spp. were D. denticulatum, which was found only in autumn with an average abundance of 149.6 ind. m-3, and S. fusiformis, which was detected all the year long except for autumn with low abundance(max. abundance 289.4 ind. m-3 in summer). Only a very small amount of F. borealis was detected in summer samples, with an average abundance of 2.7 ind. m-3. The relationship between tunicates abundances and the environmental factors was analyzed using the stepwise regression model for each species. The variation of appendicularian abundance showed a significant correlation with the surface water temperature and with the concentration of Chl-a. No relationship was found between tunicates abundance and salinity, likely due to the slight changes in surface salinity of the studied area during the four seasons. Salps abundance and that of doliolids were significantly correlated to bottom water temperature, indicating that these two species(S. fusiformis and D. denticulatum) migrate vertically in the water column. In particular D. denticulatum, known to be a warm water species, showed not only an important correlation with water temperature, but also a spatial distribution connected to the warm currents in the North Yellow Sea. The occurrence of D. denticulatum represents an interesting result never found in past research work. Water temperature, algal distribution and currents were the most relevant environmental factors influencing the tunicate abundance and distribution in the North Yellow Sea. Further research is needed in order to get more information on the ecology of these organisms and to better understand their role in the ecosystem including the oceanic food web.     

The distribution feature of size-fractionated chlorophyll a and primary productivity in Prydz Bay and its north sea area during the austral summer

The investigation of size-fractionated chlorophyll a and primary productivity were carried out in three longitudinal sections (63°-69°12'S, 70°30'E, 73°E and 75(30'E) at December 18-26, 1998 and January 12-18, 1999 in Prydz Bay and its north sea area, Antarctica. The results showed that surface chlorophyll a concentration were 0. 16 -3. 99 μg dm-3. The high values of chlorophyll a concentration (more than 3.5 μg dm -3) were in Prydz Bay and in the west Ladies Bank. The average chlorophyll a concentration at sub-surface layer was higher than that at surface layer; its concentration at the deeper layers of 50 m decreased with increasing depth and that at 200 m depth was only 0. 01 -0. 95μg dm -3. The results of size-fractionated chlorophyll a showed that the contribution of the netplanktion to total chlorophyll a was 56% , those of the nanoplankton and the picoplankton were 24% and 20% respectively in the surveyed area. The potential primary productivity at the euphotic zone in the surveyed area wa     

Surface mass balance and ice flow of the glaciers Austre Lovénbreen and Pedersenbreen, Svalbard, Arctic

The glaciers Austre Lovenbreen and Pedersenbreen are located at Ny-Alesund, Svalbard. The surface mass balance and ice flow velocity of both glaciers have been determined from the first year of observations (2005/2006), while the front edge of Austre Lovenbreen was also surveyed. The results are as follows : (1) The net mass balances of Austre Lovenbreen and Pedersenbreen are -0. 44 and -0. 20 m w. e. , the annual ablation is -0. 99 and -0. 94 m w. e. . and the corresponding equilibrium line altitudes are 478. 10 and 494. 87 m, respectively. (2) Austre Lovenbreen and Pedersenbreen are characterized as ice flow models of surge-type glaciers in Svalbard. The horizontal vectors of the ice flow velocities are parallel or converge to the central lines of both glaciers, with lower velocities in the lower ablation areas and higher velocities in the middle and upper reaches of the glaciers. The vertical vectors of ice flow velocities show that there is a mass loss in the ablation areas, which reduces with increasing altitude, while there is a mass gain near the equilibrium line of Austre Lovenbreen. (3) The front edge of Austre Lovenbreen receded at an average rate of 21. 83 m·a-1, with remarkable variability-a maximum rate of 77. 30 m·a-1 and a minimum rate of 2. 76 m·a-1.     

四川盆地北缘大巴山前陆构造中—新生代构造隆升史

大巴山前陆构造的抬升剥蚀与保存条件对其矿床和油气藏勘探潜力评价极为重要。应用磷灰石裂变径迹热年代学方法,通过研究大巴山前陆构造热演化史,恢复构造隆升过程,确定其中—新生代构造抬升剥蚀量,探讨大巴山前陆晚期构造隆升对矿床和油气资源的影响。结果表明:大巴山前陆构造在152Ma以前快速沉降,沉降速率平均高达150m·Ma-1,此后便长期处于隆升过程;136~152Ma时期为快速隆升阶段,隆升速率平均为56.3m·Ma-1,隆升量约为900m,是燕山运动导致秦岭造山期后的一次陆内挤压;70~136Ma时期为较缓慢隆升阶段,隆升速率平均为39.4m·Ma-1,隆升量约为2 600m,是秦岭造山晚期挤压的结果;0~70Ma时期的隆升速率为42.8m·Ma-1,持续时间较长,隆升幅度约3 000m,是喜马拉雅构造运动的结果。中生代构造隆升对本区低温热液矿体和油气保存极为不利;上新统以来(8Ma或5Ma),青藏高原快速隆升向东扩展的远程效应对大巴山前陆构造的影响不明显。     

Primary productivity and chlorophyll a in Prydz Bay and its mouth in Antarctica during the austral summer of 1999/2000

The investigation of phytoplankton standing stock, euphotic layer and photosynthesis rate were carried out in 19 - 27 of January, 2000 at three longitudinal sections (70°30＇E, 73°00＇E and 75°30＇E). The results showed that the high value of chlorophyll a concentration was in inshore bay, polynya and the continental slope of the investigated sea area. At various investigated stations, average chlorophyll a concentration at sub-surface layer (25 m) was higher than that at surface layer; its concentration at the deeper layers of over 50 m decreased with increasing depth. At anchor station, the maximum chlorophyll az concentration appeared at surface layer in Antarctic summer's afternoon while the minimum value appeared in the morning; chlorophyll a concentration at water layer of 0 - 25 m was obviously higher than that at deep water layer, being related to the releasing of ice-algae. High productivity was in inshore bay and polynya of continental shelf. Chlorophyll a concentration at surface layer is closely correlated to the dissolved oxygen concentration in seawater. The sea ares with chlorophyll a concentration of over 1.0ag/dms may be the convergence of CO2 and that of below 1.0 μg/dms may be the source of CO2.     

盐度和体质量对波纹龙虾耗氧率和排氨率的影响

利用室内实验生态学方法研究不同盐度和体质量对波纹龙虾的呼吸和排泄的影响.结果表明:不同盐度和体质量对波纹龙虾耗氧率和排氨率有显著影响(p <0.05).盐度为18~34时,波纹龙虾的耗氧率和排氨率先下降再升高,盐度26和30时较小,耗氧率分别为0.1305±0.0105 mg/(g·h)和0.1314±0.0052 mg/(g·h),排氨率分别为0.1733±0.0039 mg/(g·h)和0.1724±0.0044 mg/(g·h).波纹龙虾耗氧量(MO)和排氨量(MN)与体质量(m)呈正相关,而耗氧率(RO)和排氨率(RN)与体质量呈负相关,其关系式可表示为:MO =1.4921 m 0.4190和MN=1.1295 m 0.6988;RO=2.9333 m -0.7343和RN=1.1291 m -0.3011.     

温度、光照对小环藻生长和叶绿素a含量的影响

用单因子和正交实验方法研究了温度和光照对小环藻生长和叶绿素a含量的影响。结果表明,温度对小环藻生长和叶绿素a含量有极显著影响(P<0.01),当温度在30~40℃时比增长率和叶绿素a含量分别为0.37~0.38 d-1和1 084.4~1 214.2μg.L-1,均显著高于其他温度组。光照对小环藻生长和叶绿素a含量有极显著影响(P<0.01),当光照强度从29.25~146.26μmol.m-2.s-1时比增长率最高,为0.30~0.32 d-1;而叶绿素a含量则在9.75~58.50μmol.m-2.s-1时最高,达709.7~731.8μg.L-1,极显著高于其他照度组。正交实验结果表明:在35℃、87.75μmol.m-2.s-1条件下种群增长最快,比增长率为0.4402 d-1;在30℃、29.25μmol.m-2.s-1时,叶绿素a含量最高,为1 746.6μg.L-1。     

Comparison of copepod collection efficiencies by three commonly used plankton nets: A case study in Bohai Sea,China

Selection of net with a suitable mesh size is a key concern in the quantitative assessment of zooplankton, which is crucial to understand pelagic ecosystem processes. This study compared the copepod collecting efficiency of three commonly used plankton nets, namely, the China standard coarse net(505 μm mesh), the China standard fine net(77 μm), and the WP-2 net(200 μm). The experiment was performed at six stations in the Bohai Sea during the autumn of 2012. The coarse net substantially under-sampled small individuals(body widths 672 μm) and led to the lowest species number in each tow, whereas the fine net collected all small copepod species but failed to collect rare species. The WP-2 net appeared to be a compromise of the two other nets, collecting both small copepods and rare species. The abundance of copepods collected by the coarse net(126.4 ± 86.5 ind m~(-3)) was one to two orders of magnitude lower than that by the WP-2 net(5802.4 ± 2595.4 ind m~(-3)), and the value of the fine net(11117.0 ± 4563.41 ind m~(-3)) was nearly twice that of the WP-2 net. The abundance of large copepods(i.e., adult Calanus sinicus) in the three nets showed no significant differences, but the abundance of small copepods declined with decreasing mesh size. The difference in abundance resulted from the under-sampling of small copepods with body widths 672 μm and 266 μm by the coarse and WP-2 nets, respectively.     

Preliminary studies on the role of protozoa in the food web of Donghu Lake

ＩＮＴＲＯＤＵＣＴＩＯＮＪｏｈａｎｎｅｓ (1 965)ｆｉｒｓｔｓｈｏｗｅｄｔｈｅｉｍｐｏｒｔａｎｃｅｏｆｐｒｏｔｏｚｏａａｓｒｅｍｉｎｅｒａｌｉｚｅｒｓｉｎｍａｒｉｎｅｅｎｖｉｒｏｎｍｅｎｔｓ.Ｔｈｅｓｉｇｎｉｆｉｃａｎｃｅｏｆｐｒｏｔｏｚｏａｉｎｔｈｅｆｒｅｓｈｗａｔｅｒｆｏｏｄｗｅｂｈａｓｂｅｅｎｋｎｏｗｎｆｏｒｔｈｅｐａｓｔ2 0ｙｅａｒｓ.Ｐｒｏｔｏｚｏａｉｓａｍａｉｎｐｒｅｄａｔｏｒｏｆｐｌａｎｋｔｏｎｉｃｂａｃｔｅｒｉａａｎｄｐｈｙｔｏｐｌａｎｋｔｏｎ ,ａｎｄａｌｓｏａｆｏｏｄｓｏｕｒｃｅｏ…     

Effect of dietary genistein on growth performance,digestive enzyme activity,and body composition of Nile tilapia <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oreochromis niloticus</Emphasis>

An 8-week feeding experiment was performed to evaluate the effect of dietary genistein on growth performance, body composition, and digestive enzymes activity of juvenile Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus). Four isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated containing four graded supplements of genistein: 0, 30, 300, and 3 000 μg/g. Each diet was randomly assigned in triplicate to tanks stocked with 15 juvenile tilapia (10.47±1.24 g). The results show that 30 and 300 μg/g dietary genistein had no significant effect on growth performance of Nile tilapia, but the higher level of genistein (3 000 μg/g) significantly depressed the final body weight and specific growth rate. There was no significant difference in survival rate, feed intake, feed efficiency ratio or whole body composition among all dietary treatments. An assay of digestive enzymes showed that the diet containing 3 000 μg/ggenistein decreased stomach and hepatopancreas protease activity, and amylase activity in the liver and intestine, while a dietary level of 300 μg/g genistein depressed stomach protease and intestine amylase activities. However, no significant difference in stomach amylase activity was found among dietary treatments. Overall, the results of the present study indicate that a high level of dietary genistein (3 000 μg/g, or above) would significantly reduce the growth of Nile tilapia, partly because of its inhibitory effect on the activity of major digestive enzymes. Accordingly, the detrimental effects of genistein, as found in soybean products, should not be ignored when applied as an alternative ingredient source in aquaculture.     

Effect of high iron concentration enrichment on the phytoplankton in the Prydz Bay

1　IntroductionForthepast 1 5years,muchattentionofoceanographershasbeenfocusedontheroleofironinlimiting phytoplankton productivityinthehigh nutrient ,low chlorophyll(HNLC)regions.OnboardshipironenrichmentincubationshavebeencarriedoutinthethreewellknownHNLCregions :notablyequatorialPacificOcean ,subarcticPacificO ceanandSouthernOcean (seereferencesinTable 1 ) .Theinsituironenrichmentexper imentshavebeenaccomplishedintheequatorialPacific (IronEx1in 1 993 (Wells 1 994)andIronEx2in 1 996(…     

pH值和氧化剂对硫化锑氧化溶解的影响机制

矿山开采活动影响下辉锑矿的氧化溶解是影响岩-土-水环境介质中锑的迁移转化及其环境效应的重要过程。目前对于辉锑矿溶解的研究主要关注动力学特征,对于它氧化溶解的途径、环境因素的影响、锑的释放规律等重要问题的认识还不明确。为探究碳酸盐岩矿区地下水中锑释放过程,选取重要环境因素pH值和Fe（Ⅲ）,采用单因素控制条件下的批实验方法,精细刻画避光条件下辉锑矿（Sb₂S₃）氧化溶解速率及Sb和S氧化产物的组成特征。研究结果表明,Sb₂S₃的氧化溶解是一个产酸的过程,Sb和S的释放速率、途径和产物特征受pH值和Fe（Ⅲ）的显著影响。Sb₂S₃的氧化溶解速率由快变慢后趋于平衡,初始反应速率的量级为10-8 mol/（m2·s）,平衡反应速率的量级为10-10 mol/（m2·s）。Sb的释放氧化速率随pH值的增加而增加,强碱条件下最有利于Sb的释放和氧化。强酸条件下,H₂S、SO₂气体逸出和S（0）的沉淀促进了Sb₂S₃的溶解,Sb（Ⅲ）和S（0）为主要产物。中性条件下,溶解形成的HS-经逐步氧化生成SO₄2-和少量S₂O₃2-,Sb（Ⅲ）和Sb（Ⅴ）含量相近。强碱条件下,SbS₃3-和S_x-的生成显著提升了Sb₂S₃的氧化溶解速率,Sb（Ⅴ）和S₂O₃2-是主要产物。Fe（Ⅲ）单独氧化作用时,Sb（Ⅴ）和S（0）是主要产物,锑释放的表观速率无显著提升,可能与SbOCl和S（0）的生成有关。研究表明,O₂能够协同Fe（Ⅲ）氧化Sb₂S₃,但以Fe（Ⅲ）的作用为主导。本研究揭示了Sb₂S₃在不同pH值及氧化剂条件下氧化溶解的产物组成特征,提出了不同环境因素影响下的氧化溶解途径,证明碳酸盐岩天然缓冲地层更有利于锑的释放与氧化,岩溶地下水中锑诱发的环境效应会更为严重。      

Bioflocculant Produced by Klebsiella sp. MYC and Its Appli-cation in the Treatment of Oil-field Produced Water

1IntroductionWater co-produced with oil and gas recovery istermed oil-field produced water.This water is consid-ered to be of the largest volume in the waste streamfromoil and gas production processes.The volume ofproduced water can be more than10ti mes t…     

ABUNDANCE AND PRODUCTION OF LIMNODRILUS HOFFMEISTERI (OLIGOCHAETA: TUBIFICIDAE) IN ALGAE-DOMINATED LAKE HOUHU (WUHAN, CHINA)

ＩＮＴＲＯＤＵＣＴＩＯＮＬｉｍｎｏｄｒｉｌｕｓｈｏｆｆｍｅｉｓｔｅｒｉ,ａｕｂｉｑｕｉｔｏｕｓｔｕｂｉｆｉｃｉｄ ,ｉｓａｐｒｅｄｏｍｉｎａｎｔｂｅｎｔｈｉｃｉｎｖｅｒｔｅｂｒａｔｅｉｎｍｏｓｔｓｈａｌｌｏｗｅｕｔｒｏｐｈｉｃｌａｋｅｓｉｎＣｈｉｎａ (Ｌｉａｎｇ,1 979) .Ｓｏｆａｒ,ｔｈｅｒｅａｒｅｎｏｄａｔａｏｎｔｈｅｓｅｃｏｎｄａｒｙｐｒｏｄｕｃ ｔｉｏｎｏｆｔｈｉｓｗｏｒｍａｎｄｆｅｗｄａｔａｏｎｔｈａｔｏｆｏｔｈｅｒｚｏｏｂｅｎｔｈｏｓｒｅｐｏｒｔｅｄｉｎＣｈｉｎａ .Ｗｉｔｈｔｈｅｆｉｓｈｅｒ…     

小东江茂名段浮游生物及污染状况分析

2007年7月对茂名市小东江的浮游生物及污染状况进行调查和分析,结果共检出浮游植物122种,其中蓝藻门15属34种,占(总种类数,下同)27.9%,硅藻门16属26种,占21.3%,绿藻门29属52种,占42.6%,裸藻门3属6种,占4.9%,金藻门1属1种,占0.8%,黄藻门3属3种,占2.5%;浮游动物78种,其中原生动物门26属36种,占46.2%,轮虫动物门9属16种,占20.5%,节肢动物门枝角类8属14种,占17.9%,桡足类10属11种,占14.1%,水生昆虫1属1种,占1.3%。各调查断面浮游植物的种类数平均为37种,细胞密度在11.3×104~19.5×104/L,Ⅴ断面最高,Ⅰ断面最低,平均为14.4×104/L;浮游动物种类数平均为27种,密度平均为2 895/L。相邻断面间Jaccard种类相似性指数范围为0.13~0.23,各断面环境异质性相差较大,该季节河水流动性小。叶绿素a含量为19.9~45.3μg/L,它与细胞密度呈显著的正相关,与无机氮、无机磷和COD均不存在明显的相关性。各断面的浮游植物多样性指数为3.1~4.5,均匀度为0.62~0.85;浮游动物的多样性指数为2.7~3.9,均匀度我0.59~0.80。对βm-αm指示种种类组成和群落结构分析,Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ断面水质属生态中污类型,而Ⅰ断面属生态寡污类型。以国家地表水质量标准评判,各断面COD含量为Ⅰ类水;无机氮含量除Ⅰ断面外,其他断面均为Ⅲ类水;无机磷含量均优于Ⅱ类水;石油类除Ⅰ、Ⅱ断面为Ⅳ类水外,其他断面均为Ⅴ类水。单因子污染指数分析表明,小东江流域水质为中污染至重污染之间。     

Impact of grazing on soil,vegetation and ewe production performances in a semi-arid rangeland

Controlled grazing is considered a good management strategy to maintain or increase the live weight of livestock and to reduce vegetation degradation of rangelands. The present study investigated soil characteristics, aboveground vegetation biomass dynamics and controlled grazinginduced changes in the live weight of local ewes in the semi-arid rangeland of Ahmadun, Ziarat, Balochistan province of Pakistan. An area of 115 ha was protected from livestock grazing in April 2014. In June 2015, soil characteristics within 0-30 cm depth i.e. soil organic matter (SOM), mineral nitrogen, pH and texture in controlled and uncontrolled grazing sites were assessed. Aboveground vegetation biomass measured in early (June) and late summer (August) in 2015 and 2016. The nutritional value i.e. crude protein, phosphorus (P), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg) and potassium (K) of dominant plant species were assessed at the beginning of experiment in 2015. Vegetation cover of controlled and uncontrolled grazing sites was also measured during the two years of the study period using the VegMeasure software. From June to November in 2015 and 2016, controlled and uncontrolled livestock grazing sites were grazed on a daily basis by local ewes with a stocking rate of 2 and 1 head ha-1 respectively. Results reveal that the organic matter contents of coarse-textured, slightly alkaline soil of the study site were in the range of 9.4 - 17.6 g kg-1 soil and showed a strong positive correlation with aboveground vegetation biomass. The biomass of plants was 56.5% and 33% greater at controlled than uncontrolled grazing site in 2015 and 2016 respectively and plant cover was also higher at controlled than uncontrolled grazing site in both years. The nutrient contents were significantly (P<0.05) lower in grasses than shrubs. In both years, the controlled grazing increased the weight gain of ewes about two folds compared to the uncontrolled grazing. The results indicate that controlled grazing improved the vegetation biomass production and small ruminant productivity.